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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/15551-8.txt b/15551-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f5fc0e4 --- /dev/null +++ b/15551-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5409 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Stories from Le Morte D'Arthur and the +Mabinogion, by Beatrice Clay + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Stories from Le Morte D'Arthur and the Mabinogion + +Author: Beatrice Clay + +Release Date: April 5, 2005 [EBook #15551] +[Last updated: March 10, 2011] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK STORIES FROM LE MORTE *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Jennifer Goslee and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team. + + + + + + +_The_ KINGS TREASURIES OF LITERATURE + + GENERAL EDITOR + SIR A.T. QUILLER COUCH + + +[Illustration: THE LADY OF THE LAKE TELLETH ARTHUR +OF THE SWORD EXCALIBUR] + +NEW YORK--E.P. DUTTON & COMPANY + + +[Illustration: FIRST AND CHIEF OF ALL THE +THREE BEST MOST CHRISTIAN +AND WORTHY, KING ARTHUR] + + STORIES FROM LE MORTE D'ARTHUR + AND THE MABINOGION + + RETOLD BY + BEATRICE CLAY + +LONDON & TORONTO--J.M. DENT & SONS Ltd. + + +SOLE AGENT FOR SCOTLAND +THE GRANT EDUCATIONAL CO. LTD. +GLASGOW + +FIRST EDITION, 1920 +REPRINTED, 1922, 1924 + +PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN + + + + +CONTENTS + + +INTRODUCTION + + +BOOK I.--THE COMING OF ARTHUR + + I. OF ARTHUR'S BIRTH; AND HOW HE BECAME KING + II. THE ROUND TABLE + III. OF THE FINDING OF EXCALIBUR + IV. OF THE TREACHERY OF QUEEN MORGAN LE FAY + V. HOW THE SCABBARD OF EXCALIBUR WAS LOST + VI. MERLIN + VII. BALIN AND BALAN + + +BOOK II.--SIR LAUNCELOT + + VIII. SIR LAUNCELOT DU LAC + IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE CHAPEL PERILOUS + X. SIR LAUNCELOT AND THE FALCON + + +BOOK III.--SIR TRISTRAM + + XI. OF THE BIRTH OF ST. TRISTRAM + XII. HOW TRISTRAM FOUGHT WITH SIR MARHAUS OF IRELAND + XIII. THE FAIR ISOLT + XIV. HOW KING MARK SENT SIR TRISTRAM TO FETCH HIM A WIFE + XV. HOW SIR TRISTRAM AND THE FAIR ISOLT DRANK OF THE MAGIC POTION + XVI. OF THE END OF SIR TRISTRAM + + +BOOK IV.--KING ARTHUR'S NEPHEWS + + XVII. SIR GAWAIN AND THE LADY + XVIII. THE ADVENTURES OF SIR GARETH + + +BOOK V.--SIR GERAINT + + XIX. THE ADVENTURES OF GERAINT + XX. GERAINT AND ENID + + +BOOK VI.--THE LADY OF THE FOUNTAIN + + XXI. THE LADY OF THE FOUNTAIN + + +BOOK VII.--SIR PEREDUR + + XXII. THE ADVENTURES OF SIR PEREDUR + + +BOOK VIII.--THE HOLY GRAIL + + XXIII. THE COMING OF SIR GALAHAD + XXIV. HOW SIR GALAHAD WON THE RED-CROSS SHIELD + XXV. THE ADVENTURES OF SIR PERCIVALE + XXVI. THE ADVENTURES OF SIR BORS + XXVII. THE ADVENTURES OF SIR LAUNCELOT + XXVIII. HOW SIR LAUNCELOT SAW THE HOLY GRAIL + XXIX. THE END OF THE QUEST + + +BOOK IX.--THE FAIR MAID OF ASTOLAT + + XXX. THE FAIR MAID OF ASTOLAT + + +BOOK X.--QUEEN GUENEVERE + + XXXI. HOW MORDRED PLOTTED AGAINST SIR LAUNCELOT + XXXII. THE TRIAL OF THE QUEEN + XXXIII. HOW SIR GAWAIN DEFIED SIR LAUNCELOT + XXXIV. HOW KING ARTHUR AND SIR GAWAIN WENT TO FRANCE + + +BOOK XI.--THE MORTE D'ARTHUR + + XXXV. MORDRED THE TRAITOR + XXXVI. THE BATTLE IN THE WEST + XXXVII. THE PASSING OF ARTHUR +XXXVIII. THE DEATH OF SIR LAUNCELOT AND OF THE QUEEN + + + + +INTRODUCTION + + +Among the stories of world-wide renown, not the least stirring are +those that have gathered about the names of national heroes. The +_Ćneid_, the _Nibelungenlied_, the _Chanson de Roland_, the _Morte +D'Arthur_,--they are not history, but they have been as National +Anthems to the races, and their magic is not yet dead. + +In olden times our forefathers used to say that the world had seen +nine great heroes, three heathen, three Jewish, and three +Christian; among the Christian heroes was British Arthur, and of +none is the fame greater. Even to the present day, his name +lingers in many widely distant places. In the peninsula of Gower, a +huge slab of rock, propped up on eleven short pillars, is still +called Arthur's Stone; the lofty ridge which looks down upon +Edinburgh bears the name of Arthur's Seat; and--strangest, perhaps, +of all--in the Franciscan Church of far-away Innsbrück, the finest +of the ten statues of ancestors guarding the tomb of the Emperor +Maximilian I. is that of King Arthur. There is hardly a country in +Europe without its tales of the Warrior-King; and yet of any real +Arthur history tells us little, and that little describes, not the +knightly conqueror, but the king of a broken people, struggling for +very life. + +More than fifteen centuries ago, this country, now called England, +was inhabited by a Celtic race known as the Britons, a warlike +people, divided into numerous tribes constantly at war with each +other. But in the first century of the Christian era they were +conquered by the Romans, who added Britain to their vast empire and +held it against attacks from without and rebellions from within by +stationing legions, or troops of soldiers, in strongly fortified +places all over the country. Now, from their conquerors, the +Britons learnt many useful arts, to read and to write, to build +houses and to make roads; but at the same time, they unlearnt some +of their own virtues and, among others, how to think and act for +themselves. For the Romans never allowed a Briton any real part in +the government of his own country, and if he wished to become a +soldier, he was sent away from Britain to serve with a legion +stationed in some far-distant part of the empire. Thus it came +about that when, in the fifth century, the Romans withdrew from +Britain to defend Rome itself from invading hordes of savages, the +unhappy Britons had forgotten how to govern and how to defend +themselves, and fell an easy prey to the many enemies waiting to +pounce on their defenceless country. Picts from Scotland invaded +the north, and Scots from Ireland plundered the west; worst of all, +the heathen Angles and Saxons, pouring across the seas from their +homes in the Elbe country, wasted the land with fire and sword. +Many of the Britons were slain; those who escaped sought refuge in +the mountainous parts of the west from Cornwall to the Firth of +Clyde. There, forgetting, to some extent, their quarrels, they took +the name of the Cymry, which means the "Brethren," though the +English, unable to understand their language, spoke of them +contemptuously as the "Welsh," or the "Strangers." + +For a long time the struggle went on between the two races, and +nowhere mere fiercely than in the south-west, where the invaders set +up the Kingdom of Wessex; but at last there arose among the Britons a +great chieftain called Arthur. The old histories speak of him as +"Emperor," and he seems to have been obeyed by all the Britons; +perhaps, therefore, he had succeeded to the position of the Roman +official known as the Comes Britannić, whose duty it was to hasten to +the aid of the local governors in defending any part of Britain where +danger threatened. At all events, under his leadership, the oppressed +people defeated the Saxons in a desperate fight at Mons Badonicus, +perhaps the little place in Dorsetshire known as Badbury, or, it may +be, Bath itself, which is still called Badon by the Welsh. After that +victory, history has little to say about Arthur. The stories tell that +he was killed in a great battle in the west; but, nowadays, the wisest +historians think it more probable that he met his death in a conflict +near the River Forth. + +And so, in history, Arthur, the hero of such a mass of romantic +story, is little more than a name, and it is hardly possible to +explain how he attained to such renown as the hero of marvellous +and, sometimes, magical feats, unless on the supposition that he +became confused with some legendary hero, half god, half man, whose +fame he added to his own. Perhaps not the least marvel about him is +that he who was the hero of the Britons, should have become the +national hero of the English race that he spent his life in +fighting. Yet that is what did happen, though not till long +afterwards, when the victorious English, in their turn, bent before +their conquering kinsmen, the Normans. + +Now in the reign of the third Norman king, Henry I., there lived a +certain Welsh priest known as Geoffrey of Monmouth. Geoffrey seems +to have been much about the Court, and perhaps it was the Norman +love of stories that first made him think of writing his _History +of the British Kings_. A wonderful tale he told of all the British +kings from the time that Brut the Trojan settled in the country and +called it, after himself, Britain! For Geoffrey's book was history +only in name. What he tells us is that he was given an ancient +chronicle found in Brittany, and was asked to translate it from +Welsh into the better known language, Latin. It is hardly likely, +however, that Geoffrey himself expected his statement to be taken +quite seriously. Even in his own day, not every one believed in +him, for a certain Yorkshire monk declared that the historian had +"lied saucily and shamelessly"; and some years later, Gerald the +Welshman tells of a man who had intercourse with devils, from whose +sway, however, he could be freed if a Bible were placed upon his +breast, whereas he was completely under their control if Geoffrey's +_History_ were laid upon him, just because the book was so full of +lies. + +It is quite certain that Geoffrey did not write history, but he did +make a capital story, partly by collecting legends about British +heroes, partly by inventing stories of his own; so that though he +is not entitled to fame as an historian, he may claim to rank high +as a romantic story-teller who set a fashion destined to last for +some three centuries. + +So popular was his book that, not only in England, but, in an even +greater degree, on the Continent, writers were soon at work, +collecting and making more stories about the greatest of his kings, +Arthur. By some it is thought that the Normans took such delight in +the knightly deeds of Geoffrey's heroes that they spread the story +in France when they visited their homes in Normandy. Moreover, they +were in a good position to learn other tales of their favourite +knights, for Normandy bordered on Brittany, the home of the +Bretons, who, being of the same race as the Welsh, honoured the +same heroes in their legends. So in return for Geoffrey's tales, +Breton stories, perhaps, found their way into England; at all +events, marvellous romances of King Arthur and his Round Table were +soon being told in England, in France, in Germany and in Italy. + +Now, to some it may seem strange that story-tellers should care to +weave their stories so constantly about the same personages; +strange, too, that they should invent stories about men and women +who were believed actually to have existed. But it must be +remembered that, in those early days, very few could read and +write, and that, before printing was invented, books were so scarce +that four or five constituted quite a library. Those who knew how +to read, and were so fortunate as to have books, read them again +and again. For the rest, though kings and great nobles might have +poets attached to their courts, the majority depended for their +amusement on the professional story-teller. In the long winter +evening, no one was more welcome than the wandering minstrel. He +might be the knightly troubadour who, accompanied by a jongleur to +play his accompaniments, wandered from place to place out of sheer +love of his art and of adventure; more often, however, the minstrel +made story-telling his trade, and gained his living from the bounty +of his audience--be it in castle, market-place, or inn. Most +commonly, the narratives took the form of long rhyming poems; not +because the people in those days were so poetical--indeed, some of +these poems would be thought, in present times, very dreary +doggerel--but because rhyme is easier to remember than prose. +Story-tellers had generally much the same stock-in-trade--stories +of Arthur, Charlemagne, Sir Guy of Warwick, Sir Bevis of +Southampton, and so on. If a minstrel had skill of his own, he +would invent some new episode, and so, perhaps, turn a compliment +to his patron by introducing the exploit of an ancestor, at the +same time that he made his story last longer. People did not weary +of hearing the same tales over and over again, any more than little +children get tired of nursery rhymes, or their elders turn away +from "Punch and Judy," though the same little play has been +performed for centuries. As for inventing stories about real +people, that may well have seemed permissible in an age when +historians recorded mere hearsay as actual fact. Richard III., +perhaps, had one shoulder higher than the other, but within a few +years of his death grave historians had represented him as a +hunchbacked deformity. + +The romances connected with King Arthur and his knights went on +steadily growing in number until the fifteenth century; of them, +some have survived to the present day, but undoubtedly many have +been lost. Then, in the latter half of the fifteenth century, the +most famous of all the Arthurian stories was given to the world in +Sir Thomas Malory's _Morte D'Arthur_. By good luck, the great +printer who made it one of his first works, has left an account of +the circumstances that led to its production. In the reign of +Edward IV., William Caxton set up his printing-press (the first in +England) in the precincts of Westminster Abbey. There he was +visited, as he himself relates, by "many noble and divers gentlemen" +demanding why he had not printed the "noble history of the Saint Grail +and of the most-renowned Christian King ... Arthur." To please them, +and because he himself loved chivalry, Caxton printed Sir Thomas +Malory's story, in which all that is best in the many Arthurian +romances is woven into one grand narrative. + +Since then, in our own days, the story of Arthur and his knights +has been told in beautiful verse by Lord Tennyson; but for the +originals of some of his poems it would be useless to look in +Malory. The story of Geraint and Enid, Tennyson derived from a very +interesting collection of translations of ancient Welsh stories +made by Lady Charlotte Guest, and by her called _Mabinogion_,[1] +although not all Welsh scholars would consider the name quite +accurate. + +[Footnote 1: Meaning the apprentices of the bards.] + +And now it is time to say something about the stories themselves. +The Arthur of history was engaged in a life-long struggle with an +enemy that threatened to rob his people of home, of country, and of +freedom; in the stories, the king and his knights, like Richard +Coeur-de-Lion, sought adventure for adventure's sake, or, as in the +case of Sir Peredur, took fantastic vows for the love of a lady. +The Knights of the Round Table are sheathed from head to foot in +plate armour, although the real Arthur's warriors probably had only +shirts of mail and shields with which to ward off the blows of the +enemy. They live in moated castles instead of in halls of wood, +and they are more often engaged in tournaments than in struggles +with the heathen. In fact, those who wrote the stories represented +their heroes as living such lives as they themselves led. Just in +the same way, Dutch painters used to represent the shepherds in the +Bible story as Dutch peasants; just so David Garrick, the great +actor of the eighteenth century, used to act the part of a Roman in +his own full-bottomed wig and wide-skirted coat. + +It must not be forgotten that, in those far-away days when there +were few who could even read or write, there was little that, in +their ignorance, people were not prepared to believe. Stories of +marvels and magic that would deceive no one now, were then eagerly +accepted as truth. Those were the days when philosophers expected +to discover the Elixir of Life; when doctors consulted the stars in +treating their patients; when a noble of the royal blood, such as +Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, could fall into disgrace because his +wife was accused of trying to compass the king's death by melting a +wax image of him before a slow fire. + +Of all the stories, perhaps the most mystical is that of the Quest +of the Holy Grail, and it has features peculiar to itself. Nuns +take the place of fair ladies; there are hermitages instead of +castles; and the knights themselves, if they do not die, become +monks or hermits. The reason for this change in scene and character +is, that this is a romance in which the Church was trying to teach +men, by means of a tale such as they loved, the lesson of devotion +and purity of heart. + +The story sprang from certain legends which had grown up about the +name of Joseph of Arimathea. It was related that, when our Lord was +crucified, Joseph caught in a dish, or vessel, the blood which +flowed from His wounded side. In later years, the pious Jew left +his home and, taking with him the precious vessel, sailed away on +unknown seas until he came to the land of Britain. In that country +he landed, and at Glastonbury he built himself a hermitage, where +he treasured the sacred dish which came to be known as the Saint +Grail. After Joseph's death, the world grew more wicked, and so the +Holy Grail disappeared from the sight of sinful men, although, from +time to time, the vision of it was granted, as in the story, to the +pure in heart. + +In later days, legend said that where Joseph's hermitage had stood, +there grew up the famous monastery of Glastonbury, and it came to +have a special importance of its own in the Arthurian romance. In +the reign of Henry II., by the king's orders, the monks of +Glastonbury made search for the grave of King Arthur, and, in due +time, they announced that they had found it, nine feet below the +soil, the coffin covered with a stone in which was inlaid a leaden +cross bearing this inscription: "Hic iacet sepultus inclitus rex +Arthurius in insula Avalonia." Some, however, suggested that the +monks, less honest than anxious to please the masterful king, had +first placed the stone in position and then found it! + +One more feature of the tales remains to be mentioned: their +geography. There is no atlas that will make it plain in all cases; and +this is hardly wonderful, for so little was known of this subject +that, even in the reign of Henry VIII., the learned Lord Berners was +quite satisfied that his hero should journey to Babylon by way of the +Nile! Some of the places mentioned in the stories are, of course, +familiar, and others, less well known, can, with a little care, be +traced; but to identify all is not possible. Caerleon, where King +Arthur so often held his Court, still bears the same name, though its +glory has sorely shrank since the days when it had a bishop of its +own. Camelot, where stood the marvellous palace built for the king by +Merlin, is perhaps the village of Queen's Camel in Somersetshire. If +it is borne in mind that the French call Wales _Pays de Galles_, it is +not difficult to see that North Galis may well be North Wales. Gore is +the peninsula of Gower; Liones probably the land south-west of +Cornwall, now sunk beneath the sea; and Avalonia was the name given to +one of the many small islands of the once marshy, low-lying shore of +Somersetshire, which became afterwards better known as Glastonbury. + +Happily, it is neither on their history nor on their geography that +the tales depend for their interest. As long as a story of adventure +thrills; as long as gentleness, courtesy and consideration for the +weak excite respect, so long will be read the tales of the brave times + + "When every morning brought a noble chance, + And every chance brought out a noble knight." + + + + +STORIES FROM LE MORTE D'ARTHUR AND THE MABINOGION + + + + +BOOK I + +THE COMING OF ARTHUR + + + + +CHAPTER I + +OF ARTHUR'S BIRTH; AND HOW HE BECAME KING + + +Long years ago, there ruled over Britain a king called Uther +Pendragon. A mighty prince was he, and feared by all men; yet, when +he sought the love of the fair Igraine of Cornwall, she would have +naught to do with him, so that, from grief and disappointment, +Uther fell sick, and at last seemed like to die. + +Now in those days, there lived a famous magician named Merlin, so +powerful that he could change his form at will, or even make +himself invisible; nor was there any place so remote but that he +could reach it at once, merely by wishing himself there. One day, +suddenly he stood at Uther's bedside, and said: "Sir King, I know +thy grief, and am ready to help thee. Only promise to give me, at +his birth, the son that shall be born to thee, and thou shalt have +thy heart's desire." To this the king agreed joyfully, and Merlin +kept his word: for he gave Uther the form of one whom Igraine had +loved dearly, and so she took him willingly for her husband. + +When the time had come that a child should be born to the King and +Queen, Merlin appeared before Uther to remind him of his promise; +and Uther swore it should be as he had said. Three days later, a +prince was born, and, with pomp and ceremony, was christened by the +name of Arthur; but immediately thereafter, the King commanded that +the child should be carried to the postern-gate, there to be given +to the old man who would be found waiting without. + +Not long after, Uther fell sick, and he knew that his end was come; +so, by Merlin's advice, he called together his knights and barons, +and said to them: "My death draws near. I charge you, therefore, +that ye obey my son even as ye have obeyed me; and my curse upon +him if he claim not the crown when he is a man grown." Then the +King turned his face to the wall and died. + +Scarcely was Uther laid in his grave before disputes arose. Few of +the nobles had seen Arthur or even heard of him, and not one of +them would have been willing to be ruled by a child; rather, each +thought himself fitted to be king, and, strengthening his own +castle, made war on his neighbours until confusion alone was +supreme, and the poor groaned because there was none to help them. + +Now when Merlin carried away Arthur--for Merlin was the old man who +had stood at the postern-gate--he had known all that would happen, +and had taken the child to keep him safe from the fierce barons +until he should be of age to rule wisely and well, and perform all +the wonders prophesied of him. He gave the child to the care of the +good knight Sir Ector to bring up with his son Kay, but revealed +not to him that it was the son of Uther Pendragon that was given +into his charge. + +At last, when years had passed and Arthur was grown a tall youth +well skilled in knightly exercises, Merlin went to the Archbishop +of Canterbury and advised him that he should call together at +Christmas-time all the chief men of the realm to the great +cathedral in London; "For," said Merlin, "there shall be seen a +great marvel by which it shall be made clear to all men who is the +lawful King of this land." The Archbishop did as Merlin counselled. +Under pain of a fearful curse, he bade barons and knights come to +London to keep the feast, and to pray heaven to send peace to the +realm. + +The people hastened to obey the Archbishop's commands, and, from +all sides, barons and knights came riding in to keep the +birth-feast of our Lord. And when they had prayed, and were coming +forth from the cathedral, they saw a strange sight. There, in the +open space before the church, stood, on a great stone, an anvil +thrust through with a sword; and on the stone were written these +words: "Whoso can draw forth this sword, is rightful King of +Britain born." + +At once there were fierce quarrels, each man clamouring to be the +first to try his fortune, none doubting his own success. Then the +Archbishop decreed that each should make the venture in turn, from +the greatest baron to the least knight; and each in turn, having +put forth his utmost strength, failed to move the sword one inch, +and drew back ashamed. So the Archbishop dismissed the company, and +having appointed guards to watch over the stone, sent messengers +through all the land to give word of great jousts to be held in +London at Easter, when each knight could give proof of his skill +and courage, and try whether the adventure of the sword was for +him. + +Among those who rode to London at Easter was the good Sir Ector, +and with him his son, Sir Kay, newly made a knight, and the young +Arthur. When the morning came that the jousts should begin, Sir Kay +and Arthur mounted their horses and set out for the lists; but +before they reached the field, Kay looked and saw that he had left +his sword behind. Immediately Arthur turned back to fetch it for +him, only to find the house fast shut, for all were gone to view +the tournament. Sore vexed was Arthur, fearing lest his brother Kay +should lose his chance of gaining glory, till, of a sudden, he +bethought him of the sword in the great anvil before the cathedral. +Thither he rode with all speed, and the guards having deserted +their post to view the tournament, there was none to forbid him the +adventure. He leaped from his horse, seized the hilt, and instantly +drew forth the sword as easily as from a scabbard; then, mounting +his horse and thinking no marvel of what he had done, he rode after +his brother and handed him the weapon. + +When Kay looked at it, he saw at once that it was the wondrous +sword from the stone. In great joy he sought his father, and +showing it to him, said: "Then must I be King of Britain." But Sir +Ector bade him say how he came by the sword, and when Sir Kay told +how Arthur had brought it to him, Sir Ector bent his knee to the +boy, and said: "Sir, I perceive that ye are my King, and here I +tender you my homage"; and Kay did as his father. Then the three +sought the Archbishop, to whom they related all that had happened; +and he, much marvelling, called the people together to the great +stone, and bade Arthur thrust back the sword and draw it forth +again in the presence of all, which he did with ease. But an angry +murmur arose from the barons, who cried that what a boy could do, a +man could do; so, at the Archbishop's word, the sword was put back, +and each man, whether baron or knight, tried in his turn to draw it +forth, and failed. Then, for the third time, Arthur drew forth the +sword. Immediately there arose from the people a great shout: +"Arthur is King! Arthur is King! We will have no King but Arthur"; +and, though the great barons scowled and threatened, they fell on +their knees before him while the Archbishop placed the crown upon +his head, and swore to obey him faithfully as their lord and +sovereign. + +Thus Arthur was made King; and to all he did justice, righting +wrongs and giving to all their dues. Nor was he forgetful of those +that had been his friends; for Kay, whom he loved as a brother, he +made Seneschal and chief of his household, and to Sir Ector, his +foster-father, he gave broad lands. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +THE ROUND TABLE + + +Thus Arthur was made King, but he had to fight for his own; for +eleven great kings drew together and refused to acknowledge him as +their lord, and chief amongst the rebels was King Lot of Orkney who +had married Arthur's sister, Bellicent. + +By Merlin's advice, Arthur sent for help overseas, to Ban and Bors, +the two great Kings who ruled in Gaul. With their aid, he overthrew +his foes in a great battle near the river Trent; and then he passed +with them into their own lands and helped them drive out their +enemies. So there was ever great friendship between Arthur and the +Kings Ban and Bors, and all their kindred; and afterwards some of +the most famous Knights of the Round Table were of that kin. + +Then King Arthur set himself to restore order throughout his +kingdom. To all who would submit and amend their evil ways, he +showed kindness; but those who persisted in oppression and wrong he +removed, putting in their places others who would deal justly with +the people. And because the land had become overrun with forest +during the days of misrule, he cut roads through the thickets, that +no longer wild beasts and men, fiercer than the beasts, should lurk +in their gloom, to the harm of the weak and defenceless. Thus it +came to pass that soon the peasant ploughed his fields in safety, +and where had been wastes, men dwelt again in peace and prosperity. + +Amongst the lesser kings whom Arthur helped to rebuild their towns +and restore order, was King Leodegrance of Cameliard. Now +Leodegrance had one fair child, his daughter Guenevere; and from +the time that first he saw her, Arthur gave her all his love. So he +sought counsel of Merlin, his chief adviser. Merlin heard the King +sorrowfully, and he said: "Sir King, when a man's heart is set, he +may not change. Yet had it been well if ye had loved another." + +So the King sent his knights to Leodegrance, to ask of him his +daughter; and Leodegrance consented, rejoicing to wed her to so +good and knightly a King. With great pomp, the princess was +conducted to Canterbury, and there the King met her, and they two +were wed by the Archbishop in the great Cathedral, amid the +rejoicings of the people. + +On that same day did Arthur found his Order of the Round Table, the +fame of which was to spread throughout Christendom and endure +through all time. Now the Round Table had been made for King Uther +Pendragon by Merlin, who had meant thereby to set forth plainly to +all men the roundness of the earth. After Uther died, King +Leodegrance had possessed it; but when Arthur was wed, he sent it +to him as a gift, and great was the King's joy at receiving it. One +hundred and fifty knights might take their places about it, and for +them Merlin made sieges or seats. One hundred and twenty-eight did +Arthur knight at that great feast; thereafter, if any sieges were +empty, at the high festival of Pentecost new knights were ordained +to fill them, and by magic was the name of each knight found +inscribed, in letters of gold, in his proper siege. One seat only +long remained unoccupied, and that was the Siege Perilous. No +knight might occupy it until the coming of Sir Galahad; for, +without danger to his life, none might sit there who was not free +from all stain of sin. + +With pomp and ceremony did each knight take upon him the vows of +true knighthood: to obey the King; to show mercy to all who asked +it; to defend the weak; and for no worldly gain to fight in a +wrongful cause: and all the knights rejoiced together, doing honour +to Arthur and to his Queen. Then they rode forth to right the wrong +and help the oppressed, and by their aid, the King held his realm +in peace, doing justice to all. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +OF THE FINDING OF EXCALIBUR + + +Now when Arthur was first made King, as young knights will, he +courted peril for its own sake, and often would he ride unattended +by lonely forest ways, seeking the adventure that chance might send +him. All unmindful was he of the ruin to his realm if mischief +befell him; and even his trusty counsellors, though they grieved +that he should thus imperil him, yet could not but love him the +more for his hardihood. + +So, on a day, he rode through the Forest Perilous where dwelt the +Lady Annoure, a sorceress of great might, who used her magic powers +but for the furtherance of her own desires. And as she looked from +a turret window, she descried King Arthur come riding down a forest +glade, and the sunbeams falling upon him made one glory of his +armour and of his yellow hair. Then, as Annoure gazed upon the +King, her heart grew hot within her, and she resolved that, come +what might, she would have him for her own, to dwell with her +always and fulfil all her behests. And so she bade lower the +drawbridge and raise the portcullis, and sallying forth accompanied +by her maidens, she gave King Arthur courteous salutation, and +prayed him that he would rest within her castle that day, for that +she had a petition to make to him; and Arthur, doubting nothing of +her good faith, suffered himself to be led within. + +Then was a great feast spread, and Annoure caused the King to be +seated in a chair of state at her right hand, while squires and +pages served him on bended knee. So when they had feasted, the King +turned to the Lady Annoure and said courteously: "Lady, somewhat ye +said of a request that ye would make. If there be aught in which I +may pleasure you, I pray you let me know it, and I will serve you +as knightly as I may." "In truth," said the lady, "there is that +which I would fain entreat of you, most noble knight; yet suffer, I +beseech you, that first I may show you somewhat of my castle and my +estate, and then will I crave a boon of your chivalry." Then the +sorceress led King Arthur from room to room of her castle, and ever +each displayed greater store of beauty than the last. In some the +walls were hung with rich tapestries, in others they gleamed with +precious stones; and the King marvelled what might be the petition +of one that was mistress of such wealth. Lastly, Annoure brought +the King out upon the battlements, and as he gazed around him, he +saw that, since he had entered the castle, there had sprung up +about it triple walls of defence that shut out wholly the forest +from view. Then turned he to Annoure, and gravely he said: "Lady, +greatly I marvel in what a simple knight may pleasure one that is +mistress of so wondrous a castle as ye have shown me here; yet if +there be aught in which I may render you knightly service, right +gladly would I hear it now, for I must forth upon my way to render +service to those whose knight I am sworn." "Nay, now, King +Arthur," answered the sorceress mockingly, "ye may not think to +deceive me; for well I know you, and that all Britain bows to your +behest." "The more reason then that I should ride forth to right +wrong and succour them that, of their loyalty, render true +obedience to their lord." "Ye speak as a fool," said the sorceress; +"why should one that may command be at the beck and call of every +hind and slave within his realm? Nay, rest thee here with me, and I +will make thee ruler of a richer land than Britain, and give thee +to satisfy thy every desire." "Lady," said the King sternly, "I +will hear and judge of your petition at this time, and then will I +forth upon my way." "Nay," said Annoure, "there needs not this +harshness. I did but speak for thine advantage. Only vow thee to my +service, and there is naught that thou canst desire that thou shalt +not possess. Thou shalt be lord of this fair castle and of the +mighty powers that obey me. Why waste thy youth in hardship and in +the service of such as shall render thee little enough again?" + +Thereupon, without ever a word, the King turned him about and made +for the turret stair by which he had ascended, but nowhere could he +find it. Then said the sorceress, mocking him: "Fair sir, how think +ye to escape without my good-will? See ye not the walls that guard +my stronghold? And think ye that I have not servants enow to do my +bidding?" She clapped her hands and forthwith there appeared a +company of squires who, at her command, seized the King and bore +him away to a strong chamber where they locked him in. + +And so the King abode that night, the prisoner of that evil +sorceress, with little hope that day, when it dawned, should bring +him better cheer. Yet lost he not courage, but kept watch and vigil +the night through lest the powers of evil should assail him +unawares. And with the early morning light, Annoure came to visit +him. More stately she seemed than the night before, more tall and +more terrible; and her dress was one blaze of flashing gems, so +that scarce could the eye look upon her. As a queen might address a +vassal, so greeted she the King, and as condescending to one of low +estate, asked how he had fared that night. And the King made +answer: "I have kept vigil as behoves a knight who, knowing him to +be in the midst of danger, would bear himself meetly in any peril +that should offer." And the Lady Annoure, admiring his knightly +courage, desired more earnestly even than before to win him to her +will, and she said: "Sir Arthur, I know well your courage and +knightly fame, and greatly do I desire to keep you with me. Stay +with me and I promise you that ye shall bear sway over a wider +realm than any that ever ye heard of, and I, even I, its mistress, +will be at your command. And what lose ye if ye accept my offer? +Little enough, I ween, for never think that ye shall win the world +from evil and men to loyalty and truth." Then answered the King in +anger: "Full well I see that thou art in league with evil and that +thou but seekest to turn me from my purpose. I defy thee, foul +sorceress. Do thy worst; though thou slay me, thou shalt never sway +me to thy will"; and therewith the King raised his cross-hilted +sword before her. Then the lady quailed at that sight. Her heart +was filled with hate, but she said: "Go your way, proud King of a +petty realm. Rule well your race of miserable mortals, since more +it pleasures you than to bear sway over the powers of the air. I +keep you not against your will." With these words, she passed from +the chamber, and the King heard her give command to her squires to +set him without her gates, give him his horse, and suffer him to go +on his way. + +And so it came to pass that the King found himself once more at +large, and marvelled to have won so lightly to liberty. Yet knew he +not the depths of treachery in the heart of Annoure; for when she +found she might not prevail with the King, she bethought her how, +by mortal means, she might bring the King to dishonour and death. +And so, by her magic art, she caused the King to follow a path that +brought him to a fountain, whereby a knight had his tent, and, for +love of adventure, held the way against all comers. Now this knight +was Sir Pellinore, and at that time he had not his equal for +strength and knightly skill, nor had any been found that might +stand against him. So, as the King drew nigh, Pellinore cried: +"Stay, knight, for none passes this way except he joust with me." +"That is no good custom," said the King; "it were well that ye +followed it no more." "It is my custom, and I will follow it +still," answered Pellinore; "if ye like it not, amend it if ye +may." "I will do my endeavour," said Arthur, "but, as ye see, I +have no spear." "Nay, I seek not to have you at advantage," +replied Pellinore, and bade his squire give Arthur a spear. Then +they dressed their shields, laid their lances in rest, and rushed +upon each other. Now the King was wearied by his night's vigil, and +the strength of Pellinore was as the strength of three men; so, at +the first encounter, Arthur was unhorsed. Then said he: "I have +lost the honour on horseback, but now will I encounter thee with my +sword and on foot." "I, too, will alight," said Pellinore; "small +honour to me were it if I slew thee on foot, I being horsed the +while." So they encountered each other on foot, and so fiercely +they fought that they hewed off great pieces of each other's armour +and the ground was dyed with their blood. But at the last, Arthur's +sword broke off short at the hilt, and so he stood all defenceless +before his foe. "I have thee now," cried Pellinore; "yield thee as +recreant or I will slay thee." "That will I never," said the King, +"slay me if thou canst." Then he sprang on Pellinore, caught him by +the middle, and flung him to the ground, himself falling with him. +And Sir Pellinore marvelled, for never before had he encountered so +bold and resolute a foe; but exerting his great strength, he rolled +himself over, and so brought Arthur beneath him. Then had Arthur +perished, but at that moment Merlin stood beside him, and when Sir +Pellinore would have struck off the King's head, stayed his blow, +crying: "Pellinore, if thou slayest this knight, thou puttest the +whole realm in peril; for this is none other than King Arthur +himself." Then was Pellinore filled with dread, and cried: "Better +make an end of him at once; for if I suffer him to live, what hope +have I of his grace, that have dealt with him so sorely?" But +before Pellinore could strike, Merlin caused a deep sleep to come +upon him; and raising King Arthur from the ground, he staunched his +wounds and recovered him of his swoon. + +But when the King came to himself, he saw his foe lie, still as in +death, on the ground beside him; and he was grieved, and said: +"Merlin, what have ye done to this brave knight? Nay, if ye have +slain him, I shall grieve my life long; for a good knight he is, +bold and a fair fighter, though something wanting in knightly +courtesy." "He is in better case than ye are, Sir King, who so +lightly imperil your person, and thereby your kingdom's welfare; +and, as ye say, Pellinore is a stout knight, and hereafter shall he +serve you well. Have no fear. He shall wake again in three hours +and have suffered naught by the encounter. But for you, it were +well that ye came where ye might be tended for your wounds." "Nay," +replied the King, smiling, "I may not return to my court thus +weaponless; first will I find means to purvey me of a sword." "That +is easily done," answered Merlin; "follow me, and I will bring you +where ye shall get you a sword, the wonder of the world." + +So, though his wounds pained him sore, the King followed Merlin by +many a forest path and glade, until they came upon a mere, bosomed +deep in the forest; and as he looked thereon, the King beheld an +arm, clothed in white samite, shoot above the surface of the lake, +and in the hand was a fair sword that gleamed in the level rays of +the setting sun. "This is a great marvel," said the King, "what may +it mean?" And Merlin made answer: "Deep is this mere, so deep +indeed that no man may fathom it; but in its depths, and built upon +the roots of the mountains, is the palace of the Lady of the Lake. +Powerful is she with a power that works ever for good, and she +shall help thee in thine hour of need. For thee has she wrought +yonder sword. Go now, and take it." + +Then was Arthur aware of a little skiff, half hidden among the +bulrushes that fringed the lake; and leaping into the boat, without +aid of oar, he was wafted out into the middle of the lake, to the +place where, out of the water, rose the arm and sword. And leaning +from the skiff, he took the sword from the hand, which forthwith +vanished, and immediately thereafter the skiff bore him back to +land. + +Arthur drew from its scabbard the mighty sword, wondering the while +at the marvel of its workmanship, for the hilt shone with the light +of many twinkling gems--diamond and topaz and emerald, and many +another whose names none know. And as he looked on the blade, +Arthur was aware of mystic writings on the one side and the other, +and calling to Merlin, he bade him interpret them. "Sir," said +Merlin, "on the one side is written 'Keep me,' and on the other +'Throw me away.'" "Then," said the King, "which does it behove me +to do?" "Keep it," answered Merlin; "the time to cast it away is +not yet come. This is the good brand Excalibur, or Cut Steel, and +well shall it serve you. But what think ye of the scabbard?" "A +fair cover for so good a sword," answered Arthur. "Nay, it is more +than that," said Merlin, "for, so long as ye keep it, though ye be +wounded never so sore, yet ye shall not bleed to death." And when +he heard that, the King marvelled the more. + +Then they journeyed back to Caerleon, where the knights made great +joy of the return of their lord. And presently, thither came Sir +Pellinore, craving pardon of the King, who made but jest of his own +misadventure. And afterwards Sir Pellinore became of the Table +Round, a knight vowed, not only to deeds of hardihood, but also to +gentleness and courtesy; and faithfully he served the King, +fighting ever to maintain justice and put down wrong, and to defend +the weak from the oppressor. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +OF THE TREACHERY OF QUEEN MORGAN LE FAY + + +There was a certain Queen whose name was Morgan le Fay, and she was +a powerful sorceress. Little do men know of her save that, in her +youth, she was eager for knowledge and, having learnt all human +lore, turned her to magic, becoming so skilled therein that she was +feared of all. There was a time when great was her enmity towards +King Arthur, so that she plotted his ruin not once only nor twice; +and that is a strange thing, for it is said that she herself was +the kinswoman of the King. And truly, in the end, she repented her +of her malice, for she was, of those that came to bear Arthur to +the Delightful Islands from the field of his last bitter conflict; +but that was long after. + +Now when this enchantress learned how the Lady of the Lake had +given the King a sword and scabbard of strange might, she was +filled with ill-will; and all her thought was only how she might +wrest the weapon from him and have it for her own, to bestow as she +would. Even while she pondered thereon, the King himself sent her +the scabbard to keep for him; for Merlin never ceased to warn the +King to have in safe keeping the scabbard that had power to keep +him from mortal hurt; and it seemed to Arthur that none might +better guard it for him, till the hour of need, than Morgan le Fay, +the wise Queen that was of his own kindred. Yet was not the Queen +shamed of her treacherous intent by the trust that Arthur had in +her; but all her mind was set on how she might win to the +possession of the sword itself as well as of the scabbard. At the +last--so had her desire for the sword wrought upon her--she +resolved to compass the destruction of the King that, if she gained +the sword, never might she have need to fear his justice for the +wrong she had done. + +And her chance came soon. For, on a day, King Arthur resolved to +chase the hart in the forests near Camelot, wherefore he left +behind him his sword Excalibur, and took but a hunting spear with +him. All day long, he chased a white hart and, when evening fell, +he had far outstripped his attendants, save only two, Sir Accolon +of Gaul and Sir Uriens, King of Gore, the husband of Queen Morgan +le Fay herself. So when the King saw that darkness had come upon +them in the forest, he turned to his companions, saying: "Sirs, we +be far from Camelot and must lodge as we may this night. Let us go +forward until we shall find where we may shelter us a little." So +they rode forward, and presently Arthur espied a little lake +glinting in the beams of the rising moon, and, as they drew nearer, +they descried, full in the moonlight, a little ship, all hung with +silks even to the water's edge. Then said the King to his knights: +"Yonder is promise of shelter or, it may be, of adventure. Let us +tether our horses in the thicket and enter into this little ship." +And when they had so done, presently they found themselves in a +fair cabin all hung with silks and tapestries, and, in its midst, a +table spread with the choicest fare. And being weary and hungered +with the chase, they ate of the feast prepared and, lying down to +rest, were soon sunk in deep slumber. + +While they slept, the little ship floated away from the land, and +it came to pass that a great wonder befell; for when they woke in +the morning, King Uriens found himself at home in his own land, and +Sir Accolon was in his own chamber at Camelot; but the King lay a +prisoner, bound and fettered and weaponless, in a noisome dungeon +that echoed to the groans of hapless captives. + +When he was come to himself, King Arthur looked about him and saw +that his companions were knights in the same hard case as himself; +and he inquired of them how they came to be in that plight. "Sir," +said one of them, "we are in duresse in the castle of a certain +recreant knight, Sir Damas by name, a coward false to chivalry. +None love him, and so no champion can he find to maintain his cause +in a certain quarrel that he has in hand. For this reason, he lies +in wait with a great company of soldiers for any knights that may +pass this way, and taking them prisoners, holds them in captivity +unless they will undertake to fight to the death in his cause. And +this I would not, nor any of my companions here; but unless we be +speedily rescued, we are all like to die of hunger in this +loathsome dungeon." "What is his quarrel?" asked the King. "That we +none of us know," answered the knight. + +While they yet talked, there entered the prison a damsel. She went +up to the King at once, and said: "Knight, will ye undertake to +fight in the cause of the lord of this castle?" "That I may not +say," replied the King, "unless first I may hear what is his +quarrel." "That ye shall not know," replied the damsel, "but this I +tell you: if ye refuse, ye shall never leave this dungeon alive, +but shall perish here miserably." "This is a hard case," said the +King, "that I must either die or fight for one I know not, and in a +cause that I may not hear. Yet on one condition will I undertake +your lord's quarrel, and that is that he shall give me all the +prisoners bound here in this dungeon." "It shall be as ye say," +answered the damsel, "and ye shall also be furnished with horse and +armour and sword than which ye never saw better." Therewith the +damsel bade him follow her, and brought him to a great hall where +presently there came to him squires to arm him for the combat; and +when their service was rendered, the damsel said to him: "Sir +Knight, even now there has come one who greets you in the name of +Queen Morgan le Fay, and bids me tell you that the Queen, knowing +your need, has sent you your good sword." Then the King rejoiced +greatly, for it seemed to him that the sword that the damsel gave +him was none other than the good sword Excalibur. + +When all was prepared, the damsel led King Arthur into a fair +field, and there he beheld awaiting him a knight, all sheathed in +armour, his vizor down, and bearing a shield on which was no +blazonry. So the two knights saluted each other, and, wheeling +their horses, rode away from each other some little space. + +Then turning again, they laid lance in rest, and rushing upon each +other, encountered with the noise of thunder, and so great was the +shock that each knight was borne from the saddle. Swiftly they +gained their feet, and, drawing their swords, dealt each other +great blows; and thus they contended fiercely for some while. But +as he fought, a great wonder came upon Arthur, for it seemed to him +that his sword, that never before had failed him, bit not upon the +armour of the other, while every stroke of his enemy drew blood, +till the ground on which he fought was slippery beneath his feet; +and at the last almost his heart failed within him, knowing that he +was betrayed, and that the brand with which he fought was not +Excalibur. Yet would he not show aught of what he suffered, but +struggled on, faint as he was and spent; so that they that watched +the fight and saw how he was sore wounded, marvelled at his great +courage and endurance. But presently, the stranger knight dealt the +King a blow which fell upon Arthur's sword, and so fierce was the +stroke that the blade broke off at the pommel. "Knight," said the +other, "thou must yield thee recreant to my mercy." "That may I not +do with mine honour," answered the King, "for I am sworn to fight +in this quarrel to the death." "But weaponless thou must needs be +slain." "Slay me an ye will, but think not to win glory by slaying +a weaponless man." + +Then was the other wroth to find himself still withstood and, in +his anger, he dealt Arthur a great blow; but this the King shunned, +and rushing upon his foe, smote him so fiercely on the head with +the pommel of his broken sword that the knight swayed and let slip +his own weapon. With a bound, Arthur was upon the sword, and no +sooner had he it within his grasp than he knew it, of a truth, to +be his own sword Excalibur. Then he scanned more closely his enemy, +and saw the scabbard that he wore was none other than the magic +scabbard of Excalibur; and forthwith, leaping upon the knight, he +tore it from him and flung it far afield. + +"Knight," cried King Arthur, "ye have made me suffer sore, but now +is the case changed and ye stand within my power, helpless and +unarmed. And much I misdoubt me but that treacherously ye have +dealt with me. Nevertheless, yield you recreant and I will spare +your life." "That I may not do, for it is against my vow; so slay +me if ye will. Of a truth, ye are the best knight that ever I +encountered." + +Then it seemed to the King that the knight's voice was not unknown +to him, and he said: "Tell me your name and what country ye are of, +for something bids me think that ye are not all unknown to me." "I +am Accolon of Gaul, knight of King Arthur's Round Table." "Ah! +Accolon, Accolon," cried the King, "is it even thou that hast +fought against me? Almost hast thou undone me. What treason tempted +thee to come against me, and with mine own weapon too?" When Sir +Accolon knew that it was against King Arthur that he had fought, he +gave a loud cry and swooned away utterly. Then Arthur called to two +stout yeomen amongst those that had looked on at the fight, and +bade them bear Sir Accolon to a little hermitage hard by, and +thither he himself followed with pain, being weak from loss of +blood; but into the castle he would not enter, for he trusted not +those that held it. + +The hermit dressed their wounds, and presently, when Sir Accolon +had come to himself again, the King spoke gently to him, bidding +him say how he had come to bear arms against him. "Sir and my +lord," answered Sir Accolon, "it comes of naught but the treachery +of your kinswoman, Queen Morgan le Fay. For on the morrow after we +had entered upon the little ship, I awoke in my chamber at Camelot, +and greatly I marvelled how I had come there. And as I yet +wondered, there came to me a messenger from Queen Morgan le Fay, +desiring me to go to her without delay. And when I entered her +presence, she was as one sore troubled, and she said to me: 'Sir +Accolon, of my secret power, I know that now is our King, Arthur, +in great danger; for he lies imprisoned in a great and horrible +dungeon whence he may not be delivered unless one be found to do +battle for him with the lord of the castle. Wherefore have I sent +for you that ye may take the battle upon you for our lord the King. +And for greater surety, I give you here Excalibur, Arthur's own +sword, for, of a truth, we should use all means for the rescuing of +our lord.' And I, believing this evil woman, came hither and +challenged the lord of this castle to mortal combat; and, indeed, I +deemed it was with Sir Damas that I fought even now. Yet all was +treachery, and I misdoubt me that Sir Damas and his people are in +league with Queen Morgan le Fay to compass your destruction. But, +my lord Arthur, pardon me, I beseech you, the injuries that, all +unwitting, I have done you." + +King Arthur was filled with wrath against the Queen, more for the +wrong done to Sir Accolon than for the treason to himself. In all +ways that he might, he sought to comfort and relieve Sir Accolon, +but in vain, for daily the knight grew weaker, and, after many +days, he died. Then the King, being recovered of his wounds, +returned to Camelot, and calling together a band of knights, led +them against the castle of Sir Damas. But Damas had no heart to +attempt to hold out, and surrendered himself and all that he had to +the King's mercy. And first King Arthur set free those that Sir +Damas had kept in miserable bondage, and sent them away with rich +gifts. When he had righted the wrongs of others, then he summoned +Sir Damas before him, and said: "I command thee that thou tell me +why thou didst seek my destruction." And cringing low at the King's +footstool, Damas answered: "I beseech you, deal mercifully with me, +for all that I have done, I have done at the bidding of Queen +Morgan le Fay." "A coward's plea," said the King; "how camest thou +first to have traffic with her?" "Sir," replied Damas, "much have I +suffered, first by the greed of my younger brother and now by the +deceit of this evil woman, as ye shall hear. When my father died, I +claimed the inheritance as of right, seeing that I was his elder +son; but my young brother, Sir Ontzlake, withstood me, and demanded +some part of my father's lands. Long since, he sent me a challenge +to decide our quarrel in single combat, but it liked me ill, seeing +that I am of no great strength. Much, therefore, did I desire to +find a champion but, by ill fortune, none could I find until Queen +Morgan le Fay sent word that, of her good will to me, she had sent +me one that would defend my cause; and that same evening, the +little ship brought you, my lord, to my castle. And when I saw you, +I rejoiced, thinking to have found a champion that would silence my +brother for ever; nor knew I you for the King's self. Wherefore, I +entreat you, spare me, and avenge me on my brother." Therewith, Sir +Damas fawned upon the King, but Arthur sternly bade him rise and +send messengers to bring Sir Ontzlake before him. + +Presently, there stood before the King a youth, fair and of good +stature, who saluted his lord and then remained silent before him. +"Sir Ontzlake," said the King, "I have sent for you to know of your +dealings with Sir Accolon and of your quarrel with your brother." +"My lord Arthur," answered the youth, "that I was the cause of hurt +to yourself, I pray you to pardon me, for all unwitting was I of +evil. For ye shall know that I had challenged my brother to single +combat; but when word came to me that he was provided of a +champion, I might not so much as brook my armour for a sore wound +that I had got of an arrow shot at me as I rode through the forest +near his castle. And as I grieved for my hard case, there came a +messenger from Queen Morgan le Fay bidding me be of good courage, +for she had sent unto me one, Sir Accolon, who would undertake my +quarrel. This only she commanded me, that I should ask no question +of Sir Accolon. So Sir Accolon abode with me that night and, as I +supposed, fought in my cause the next day. Sure am I that there is +some mystery, yet may I not misdoubt my lady Queen Morgan le Fay +without cause; wherefore, if blame there be, let me bear the +punishment." + +Then was the King well pleased with the young man for his courage +and loyalty to others. "Fair youth," said he, "ye shall go with me +to Camelot, and if ye prove you brave and just in all your doings, +ye shall be of my Round Table." But to Sir Damas he said sternly: +"Ye are a mean-spirited varlet, unworthy of the degree of +knighthood. Here I ordain that ye shall yield unto your brother +the moiety of the lands that ye had of your father and, in payment +for it, yearly ye shall receive of Sir Ontzlake a palfrey; for that +will befit you better to ride than the knightly war-horse. And look +ye well to it, on pain of death, that ye lie no more in wait for +errant knights, but amend your life and live peaceably with your +brother." + +Thereafter, the fear of the King kept Sir Damas from deeds of +violence; yet, to the end, he remained cowardly and churlish, +unworthy of the golden spurs of knighthood. But Sir Ontzlake proved +him a valiant knight, fearing God and the King and naught else. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +HOW THE SCABBARD OF EXCALIBUR WAS LOST + + +Now when Queen Morgan le Fay knew that her plot had miscarried and +that her treachery was discovered, she feared to abide the return +of the King to Camelot; and so she went to Queen Guenevere, and +said: "Madam, of your courtesy, grant me leave, I pray you, to +depart." "Nay," said the Queen, "that were pity, for I have news of +my lord the King, that soon he will return to Camelot. Will ye not +then await his return, that ye may see your kinsman before ye +depart?" "Alas! madam," said Morgan le Fay, "that may not be, for +I have ill news that requires that immediately I get to my own +country." "Then shall ye depart when ye will," said the Queen. + +So before the next day had dawned, Morgan le Fay arose and, taking +her horse, departed unattended from Camelot. All that day and most +of the night she rode fast, and ere noon the next day, she was come +to a nunnery where, as she knew, King Arthur lay. Entering into the +house, she made herself known to the nuns, who received her +courteously and gave her of their best to eat and to drink. When +she was refreshed, she asked if any other had sought shelter with +them that day; and they told her that King Arthur lay in an inner +chamber and slept, for he had rested little for three nights. "Ah! +my dear lord!" exclaimed the false sorceress; "gladly would I speak +with him, but I will not that ye awaken him, and long I may not +tarry here; wherefore suffer me at least to look upon him as he +sleeps, and then will I continue my journey." And the nuns, +suspecting no treachery, showed Queen Morgan le Fay the room where +King Arthur slept, and let her enter it alone. + +So Morgan le Fay had her will and stood beside the sleeping King; +but again it seemed as if she must fail of her purpose, and her +heart was filled with rage and despair. For she saw that the King +grasped in his hand the hilt of the naked brand, that none might +take it without awakening him. While she mused, suddenly she espied +the scabbard where it hung at the foot of the bed, and her heart +rejoiced to know that something she might gain by her bold +venture. She snatched up the empty sheath, and wrapping it in a +fold of her garment, left the chamber. Brief were her farewells to +the holy nuns, and in haste she got to horse and rode away. + +Scarcely had she set forth, when the King awoke, and rising from +his couch, saw at once that the scabbard of his sword was gone. +Then summoned he the whole household to his presence and inquired +who had entered his chamber. "Sir," said the Abbess, "there has +none been here save only your kinswoman, the Queen Morgan le Fay. +She, indeed, desired to look upon you since she might not abide +your awakening." Then the King groaned aloud, saying, "It is my own +kinswoman, the wife of my true knight, Sir Uriens, that would +betray me." He bade Sir Ontzlake make ready to accompany him, and +after courteous salutation to the Abbess and her nuns, together +they rode forth by the path that Morgan le Fay had taken. + +Fast they rode in pursuit, and presently they came to a cross where +was a poor cowherd keeping watch over his few beasts, and of him +they asked whether any had passed that way. "Sirs," said the +peasant, "even now there rode past the cross a lady most lovely to +look upon, and with her forty knights." Greatly the King marvelled +how Queen Morgan le Fay had come by such a cavalcade, but nothing +he doubted that it was she the cowherd had seen. So thanking the +poor man, the King, with Sir Ontzlake, rode on by the path that had +been shown them, and presently, emerging from the forest, they were +aware of a glittering company of horsemen winding through a wide +plain that lay stretched before them. On the instant, they put +spurs to their horses and galloped as fast as they might in +pursuit. + +But, as it chanced, Queen Morgan le Fay looked back even as Arthur +and Sir Ontzlake came forth from the forest, and seeing them, she +knew at once that her theft had been discovered, and that she was +pursued. Straightway she bade her knights ride on till they should +come to a narrow valley where lay many great stones; but as soon as +they had left her, she herself rode, with all speed, to a mere hard +by. Sullen and still it lay, without even a ripple on its surface. +No animal ever drank of its waters nor bird sang by it, and it was +so deep that none might ever plumb it. And when the Queen had come +to the brink, she dismounted. From the folds of her dress she drew +the scabbard, and waving it above her head, she cried, "Whatsoever +becometh of me, King Arthur shall not have this scabbard." Then, +whirling it with all her might, she flung it far into the mere. The +jewels glinted as the scabbard flashed through the air, then it +clove the oily waters of the lake and sank, never again to be seen. + +When it had vanished, Morgan le Fay mounted her horse again, and +rode fast after her knights, for the King and Ontzlake were in hot +pursuit, and sore she feared lest they should come up with her +before she might reach the shelter of the Valley of Stones. But she +had rejoined her company of knights before the King had reached the +narrow mouth of the valley. Quickly she bade her men scatter among +the boulders, and then, by her magic art, she turned them all, men +and horses and herself too, into stones, that none might tell the +one from the other. + +When King Arthur and Sir Ontzlake reached the valley, they looked +about for some sign of the presence of the Queen or her knights, +but naught might they see though they rode through the valley and +beyond, and returning, searched with all diligence among the rocks +and boulders. Never again was Queen Morgan le Fay seen at Camelot, +nor did she attempt aught afterwards against the welfare of the +King. When she had restored her knights to their proper form, she +hastened with them back to her own land, and there she abode for +the rest of her days until she came with the other queens to carry +Arthur from the field of the Battle in the West. + +Nor would the King seek to take vengeance on a woman, though sorely +she had wronged him. His life long, he guarded well the sword +Excalibur, but the sheath no man ever saw again. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +MERLIN + + +Of Merlin and how he served King Arthur, something has been already +shown. Loyal he was ever to Uther Pendragon and to his son, King +Arthur, and for the latter especially he wrought great marvels. He +brought the King to his rights; he made him his ships; and some +say that Camelot, with its splendid halls, where Arthur would +gather his knights around him at the great festivals of the year, +at Christmas, at Easter, and at Pentecost, was raised by his magic, +without human toil. Bleise, the aged magician who dwelt in +Northumberland and recorded the great deeds of Arthur and his +knights, had been Merlin's master in magic; but it came to pass in +time that Merlin far excelled him in skill, so that his enemies +declared no mortal was his father, and called him devil's son. + +Then, on a certain time, Merlin said to Arthur: "The time draws +near when ye shall miss me, for I shall go down alive into the +earth; and it shall be that gladly would ye give your lands to have +me again." Then Arthur was grieved, and said: "Since ye know your +danger, use your craft to avoid it." But Merlin answered: "That may +not be." + +Now there had come to Arthur's court, a damsel of the Lady of the +Lake--her whose skill in magic, some say, was greater than Merlin's +own; and the damsel's name was Vivien. She set herself to learn the +secrets of Merlin's art, and was ever with him, tending upon the +old man and, with gentleness and tender service, winning her way to +his heart; but all was a pretence, for she was weary of him and +sought only his ruin, thinking it should be fame for her, by any +means whatsoever, to enslave the greatest wizard of his age. And so +she persuaded him to pass with her overseas into King Ban's land of +Benwick, and there, one day, he showed her a wondrous rock, formed +by magic art. Then she begged him to enter into it, the better to +declare to her its wonders; but when once he was within, by a charm +that she had learnt from Merlin's self, she caused the rock to +shut down that never again might he come forth. Thus was Merlin's +prophecy fulfilled, that he should go down into the earth alive. +Much they marvelled in Arthur's court what had become of the great +magician, till on a time, there rode past the stone a certain +Knight of the Round Table and heard Merlin lamenting his sad fate. +The knight would have striven to raise the mighty stone, but Merlin +bade him not waste his labour, since none might release him save +her who had imprisoned him there. Thus Merlin passed from the world +through the treachery of a damsel, and thus Arthur was without aid +in the days when his doom came upon him. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +BALIN AND BALAN + + +Among the princes that thought scorn of Arthur in the days when +first he became king, none was more insolent than Ryons of North +Wales. So, on a time when King Arthur held high festival at +Camelot, Ryons sent a herald who, in the presence of the whole +court, before brave knights and fair dames, thus addressed the +King: "Sir Arthur, my master bids me say that he has overcome +eleven kings with all their hosts, and, in token of their +submission, they have given him their beards to fringe him a +mantle. There remains yet space for the twelfth; wherefore, with +all speed, send him your beard, else will he lay waste your land +with fire and sword." "Viler message," said King Arthur, "was never +sent from man to man. Get thee gone, lest we forget thine office +protects thee." So spoke the King, for he had seen his knights clap +hand to sword, and would not that a messenger should suffer hurt in +his court. + +Now among the knights present the while was one whom men called +Balin le Savage, who had but late been freed from prison for +slaying a knight of Arthur's court. None was more wroth than he at +the villainy of Ryons, and immediately after the departure of the +herald, he left the hall and armed him; for he was minded to try +if, with good fortune, he might win to Arthur's grace by avenging +him on the King of North Wales. While he was without, there entered +the hall a Witch Lady who, on a certain occasion, had done the King +a service, and for this she now desired of him a boon. So Arthur +bade her name her request, and thus she said: "O King, I require of +you the head of the knight Balin le Savage." "That may I not grant +you with my honour," replied the King; "ask what it may become me +to give." But the Witch Lady would have naught else, and departed +from the hall, murmuring against the King. Then, as it chanced, +Balin met her at the door, and immediately when he saw her, he rode +upon her, sword in hand, and, with one blow, smote off her head. +Thus he took vengeance for his mother's death, of which she had +been the cause, and, well content, rode away. But when it was told +King Arthur of the deed that Balin had done, he was full wroth, +nor was his anger lessened though Merlin declared the wrong the +Witch Lady had done to Balin. "Whatsoever cause he had against her, +yet should he have done her no violence in my court," said the +King, and bade Sir Lanceour of Ireland ride after Balin and bring +him back again. + +Thus it came to pass that, as Sir Balin rode on his way, he heard +the hoof-beats of a horse fast galloping, and a voice cried loudly +to him: "Stay, Knight; for thou shalt stay, whether thou wilt or +not." "Fair Knight," answered Balin fiercely, "dost thou desire to +fight with me?" "Yea, truly," answered Lanceour; "for that cause +have I followed thee from Camelot." "Alas!" cried Balin, "then I +know thy quarrel. And yet, I dealt but justly by that vile woman, +and it grieves me to offend my lord King Arthur again." "Have done, +and make ready to fight," said Lanceour insolently; for he was +proud and arrogant, though a brave knight. So they rushed together, +and, at the first encounter, Sir Lanceour's spear was shivered +against the shield of the other, but Balin's spear pierced shield +and hauberk and Lanceour fell dead to the earth. + +Then Sir Balin, sore grieved that he had caused the death of a +knight of Arthur's court, buried Lanceour as well as he might, and +continued sorrowfully on his journey in search of King Ryons. +Presently, as he rode through a great forest, he espied a knight +whom, by his arms, he knew at once for his brother, Sir Balan. +Great joy had they in their meeting, for Balan had believed Balin +still to be in prison. So Balin told Balan all that had befallen +him, and how he sought Ryons to avenge Arthur upon him for his +insolent message, and hoped thereby to win his lord's favour again. +"I will ride with thee, brother," said Balan, "and help thee all I +may." So the two went on their way till, presently, they met with +an old man--Merlin's self, though they knew him not, for he was +disguised. "Ah, Knight," said Merlin to Balin, "swift to strike and +swift to repent, beware, or thou shalt strike the most dolorous +blow dealt by man; for thou shalt slay thine own brother." "If I +believed thy words true," cried Balin hotly, "I would slay myself +to make thee a liar." "I know the past and I know the future," said +Merlin; "I know, too, the errand on which thou ridest, and I will +help thee if thou wilt." "Ah!" said Balin, "that pleases me well." +"Hide you both in this covert," said Merlin; "for presently there +shall come riding down this path King Ryons with sixty of his +knights." With these words he vanished. So Balin and Balan did as +he had bidden them, and when King Ryons and his men entered the +little path, they fell upon them with such fury that they slew more +than forty knights, while the rest fled, and King Ryons himself +yielded him to them. So Sir Balan rode with King Ryons to Camelot +that he might deliver him to King Arthur; but Balin went not with +them, for he would see more adventures before he sought King +Arthur's presence again. + +After many days' travel and many encounters, it befell that, one +evening, Balin drew near to a castle; and when he would have sought +admittance, there stood by him an old man, and said: "Balin, turn +thee back, and it shall be better for thee," and so vanished. At +that moment there was blown a blast on a horn, such as is sounded +when the stag receives its death; and hearing it, Balin's heart +misgave him, and he cried: "That blast is blown for me, and I am +the prize. But not yet am I dead!" + +At that instant the castle gate was raised and there appeared many +knights and ladies welcoming Balin into the castle. So he entered, +and presently they were all seated at supper. Then the lady of the +castle said to Balin: "Sir Knight, to-morrow thou must have ado +with a knight that keeps an island near-by; else mayest thou not +pass that way." "That is an evil custom," answered Balin; "but if I +must, I must." So that night he rested, but with the dawn he arose, +and was arming himself for battle when there came to him a knight +and said: "Sir, your shield is not good; I pray you, take mine +which is larger and stouter." In an evil hour, Balin suffered +himself to be persuaded, and taking the stranger's shield, left; +behind his own on which his arms were blazoned. Then, entering a +boat, he was conveyed to the island where the unknown knight held +the ford. + +No sooner was he landed, than there came riding to him a knight +armed all in red armour, his horse, too, trapped all in red; and +without word spoken, they charged upon each other, and each bore +the other from the saddle. Thus for a while they lay, stunned by +the fall. The Red Knight was the first to rise, for Balin, all +wearied by his travels and many encounters, was sore shaken by the +fall. Then they fought together right fiercely, hacking away great +pieces of armour, and dealing each other dreadful wounds. But when +they paused to take breath, Balin, looking up, saw the battlements +of the castle filled with knights and ladies watching the struggle, +and immediately, shamed that the conflict should have so long +endured, he rushed again upon the Red Knight, aiming at him blows +that might have felled a giant. So they fought together a long +while; but at the last, the Red Knight drew back a little. Then +cried Balin: "Who art thou? for till now, never have I met my +match." Then said the Red Knight: "I am Balan, brother to the noble +knight, Sir Balin"; and with the word, he fell to the ground as one +dead. "Alas!" cried Balin, "that I should have lived to see this +day!" Then, as well as he might, for his strength was almost spent, +he crept on hands and knees to his brother's side and opened the +vizor of his helmet, and when he saw his brother's face all +ghastly, as it was, he cried: "O Balan, I have slain thee, as thou +hast also slain me! Oh! woeful deed I never to be forgotten of +men!" Then Balan, being somewhat recovered, told Balin how he had +been compelled by those at the castle to keep the ford against all +comers, and might never depart; and Balin told of the grievous +chance by which he had taken another's shield. + +So these two died, slain by each other's hands. In one tomb they +were buried; and Merlin, passing that way, inscribed thereon the +full story of their deaths. + + + + +BOOK II + +SIR LAUNCELOT + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +SIR LAUNCELOT DU LAC + + +Now, as time passed, King Arthur gathered into his Order of the +Round Table knights whose peers shall never be found in any age; +and foremost amongst them all was Sir Launcelot du Lac. Such was +his strength that none against whom he laid lance in rest could +keep the saddle, and no shield was proof against his sword dint; +but for his courtesy even more than for his courage and strength, +Sir Launcelot was famed far and near. Gentle he was and ever the +first to rejoice in the renown of another; and in the jousts, he +would avoid encounter with the young and untried knight, letting +him pass to gain glory if he might. + +It would take a great book to record all the famous deeds of Sir +Launcelot, and all his adventures. He was of Gaul, for his father, +King Ban, ruled over Benwick; and some say that his first name was +Galahad, and that he was named Launcelot du Lac by the Lady of the +Lake who reared him when his mother died. Early he won renown by +delivering his father's people from the grim King Claudas who, for +more than twenty years, had laid waste the fair land of Benwick; +then, when there was peace in his own land, he passed into Britain, +to Arthur's court, where the King received him gladly, and made him +Knight of the Round Table and took him for his trustiest friend. +And so it was that, when Guenevere was to be brought to Canterbury, +to be married to the King, Launcelot was chief of the knights sent +to wait upon her, and of this came the sorrow of later days. For, +from the moment he saw her, Sir Launcelot loved Guenevere, for her +sake remaining wifeless all his days, and in all things being her +faithful knight. But busy-bodies and mischief-makers spoke evil of +Sir Launcelot and the Queen, and from their talk came the undoing +of the King and the downfall of his great work. But that was after +long years, and after many true knights had lived their lives, +honouring the King and Queen, and doing great deeds whereby the +fame of Arthur and his Order passed through all the world. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +THE ADVENTURE OF THE CHAPEL PERILOUS + + +Now on a day, as he rode through the forest, Sir Launcelot met a +damsel weeping bitterly, and seeing him, she cried, "Stay, Sir +Knight! By your knighthood I require you to aid me in my distress." +Immediately Sir Launcelot checked his horse and asked in what she +needed his service. "Sir," said the maiden, "my brother lies at the +point of death, for this day he fought with the stout knight, Sir +Gilbert, and sorely they wounded each other; and a wise woman, a +sorceress, has said that nothing may staunch my brother's wounds +unless they be searched with the sword and bound up with a piece +of the cloth from the body of the wounded knight who lies in the +ruined chapel hard by. And well I know you, my lord Sir Launcelot, +and that, if ye will not help me, none may." "Tell me your +brother's name," said Sir Launcelot. "Sir Meliot de Logris," +answered the damsel. "A Knight of our Round Table," said Sir +Launcelot; "the more am I bound to your service. Only tell me, +gentle damsel, where I may find this Chapel Perilous." So she +directed him, and, riding through forest byeways, Sir Launcelot +came presently upon a little ruined chapel, standing in the midst +of a churchyard, where the tombs showed broken and neglected under +the dark yews. In front of the porch, Sir Launcelot paused and +looked, for thereon hung, upside down, dishonoured, the shield of +many a good knight whom Sir Launcelot had known. + +As he stood wondering, suddenly there pressed upon him from all +sides thirty stout knights, all giants and fully armed, their drawn +swords in their hands and their shields advanced. With threatening +looks, they spoke to him saying: "Sir Launcelot, it were well ye +turned back before evil befell you." But Sir Launcelot, though he +feared to have to do with thirty such warriors, answered boldly: "I +turn not back for high words. Make them good by your deeds." Then +he rode upon them fiercely, whereupon instantly they scattered and +disappeared, and, sword in hand, Sir Launcelot entered the little +chapel. All was dark within, save that a little lamp hung from the +roof, and by its dim light he could just espy how on a bier before +the altar there lay, stark and cold, a knight sheathed in armour. +And drawing nearer, Sir Launcelot saw that the dead man lay on a +blood-stained mantle, his naked sword by his side, but that his +left hand had been lopped off at the wrist by a mighty sword-cut. +Then Sir Launcelot boldly seized the sword and with it cut off a +piece of the bloody mantle. Immediately the earth shook and the +walls of the chapel rocked, and in fear Sir Launcelot turned to go. +But, as he would have left the chapel, there stood before him in +the doorway a lady, fair to look upon and beautifully arrayed, who +gazed earnestly upon him, and said: "Sir Knight, put away from you +that sword lest it be your death." But Sir Launcelot answered her: +"Lady, what I have said, I do; and what I have won, I keep." "It is +well," said the lady. "Had ye cast away the sword your life days +were done. And now I make but one request. Kiss me once." "That may +I not do," said Sir Launcelot. Then said the lady: "Go your way, +Launcelot; ye have won, and I have lost. Know that, had ye kissed +me, your dead body had lain even now on the altar bier. For much +have I desired to win you; and to entrap you, I ordained this +chapel. Many a knight have I taken, and once Sir Gawain himself +hardly escaped, but he fought with Sir Gilbert and lopped off his +hand, and so got away. Fare ye well; it is plain to see that none +but our lady, Queen Guenevere, may have your services." With that, +she vanished from his sight. So Sir Launcelot mounted his horse and +rode away from that evil place till he met Sir Meliot's sister, who +led him to her brother where he lay, pale as the earth, and +bleeding fast. And when he saw Sir Launcelot, he would have risen +to greet him; but his strength failed him, and he fell back on his +couch. Sir Launcelot searched his wounds with the sword, and bound +them up with the blood-stained cloth, and immediately Sir Meliot +was sound and well, and greatly he rejoiced. Then Sir Meliot and +his sister begged Sir Launcelot to stay and rest, but he departed +on his adventures, bidding them farewell until he should meet them +again at Arthur's court. + +As for the sorceress of the Chapel Perilous, it is said she died +of grief that all her charms had failed to win for her the good +knight Sir Launcelot. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +SIR LAUNCELOT AND THE FALCON + + +Sir Launcelot rode on his way, by marsh and valley and hill, till +he chanced upon a fair castle, and saw fly from it, over his head, +a beautiful falcon, with the lines still hanging from her feet. And +as he looked, the falcon flew into a tree where she was held fast +by the lines becoming entangled about the boughs. Immediately, from +the castle there came running a fair lady, who cried: "O Launcelot, +Launcelot! As ye are the noblest of all knights, I pray you help me +to recover my falcon. For if my husband discover its loss, he will +slay me in his anger." "Who is your husband, fair lady?" asked Sir +Launcelot. "Sir Phelot, a knight of Northgalis, and he is of a +hasty temper; wherefore, I beseech you, help me." "Well, lady," +said Sir Launcelot, "I will serve you if I may; but the tree is +hard to climb, for the boughs are few, and, in truth, I am no +climber. But I will do my best." So the lady helped Sir Launcelot +to unarm, and he led his horse to the foot of the tree, and +springing from its back, he caught at the nearest bough, and drew +himself up into the branches. Then he climbed till he reached the +falcon and, tying her lines to a rotten bough, broke it off, and +threw down bird and bough to the lady below. Forthwith, Sir Phelot +came from amongst the trees and said: "Ah! Sir Launcelot! Now at +length I have you as I would; for I have long sought your life." +And Sir Launcelot made answer: "Surely ye would not slay me, an +unarmed man; for that were dishonour to you. Keep my armour if ye +will; but hang my sword on a bough where I may reach it, and then +do with me as ye can." But Sir Phelot laughed mockingly and said: +"Not so, Sir Launcelot. I know you too well to throw away my +advantage; wherefore, shift as ye may." "Alas!" said Sir Launcelot, +"that ever knight should be so unknightly. And you, madam, how +could ye so betray me?" "She did but as I commanded her," said Sir +Phelot. + +Then Launcelot looked about him to see how he might help himself in +these straits, and espying above his head a great bare branch, he +tote it down. Then, ever watching his advantage, he sprang to the +ground on the far side of his horse, so that the horse was between +him and Sir Phelot. Sir Phelot rushed upon him with his sword, but +Sir Launcelot parried it with the bough, with which he dealt his +enemy such a blow on the head that Sir Phelot sank to the ground in +a swoon. Then Sir Launcelot seized his sword where it lay beside +his armour, and stooping over the fallen knight, unloosed his helm. +When the lady saw him do that, she shrieked and cried: "Spare his +life! spare his life, noble knight, I beseech you!" But Sir +Launcelot answered sternly: "A felon's death for him who does +felon's deeds. He has lived too long already," and with one blow, +he smote off his head. Then he armed himself, and mounting upon his +steed, rode away, leaving the lady to weep beside her lord. + + + + +BOOK III + +SIR TRISTRAM + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +OF THE BIRTH OF SIR TRISTRAM + + +In the days of Arthur, there ruled over the kingdom of Liones the +good knight Sir Meliodas; and his Queen was the fair Elizabeth, +sister of King Mark of Cornwall. + +Now there was a lady, an enchantress, who had no good-will towards +King Meliodas and his Queen; so one day, when the King was +hunting, she brought it to pass by her charms that Meliodas chased +a hart till he found himself, far from all his men, alone by an old +castle, and there he was taken prisoner by the lady's knights. + +When King Meliodas did not return home, the Queen was nigh crazed +with grief. Attended only by one of the ladies of her court, she +ran out into the forest to seek her lord. Long and far she +wandered, until she could go no further, but sank down at the foot +of a great tree, and there, in the midst of the forest, was her +little son born. When the Queen knew that she must die, she kissed +the babe and said: "Ah! little son, sad has been thy birth, +wherefore thy name shall be Tristram; but thou shalt grow to be a +brave knight and a strong." Then she charged her gentlewoman to +take care of the child and to commend her to King Meliodas; and +after that she died. All too late came many of the barons seeking +their Queen, and sorrowfully they bore her back to the castle where +presently the King arrived, released by the skill of Merlin from +the evil spells of the enchantress. Great indeed was his grief for +the death of his Queen. He caused her to be buried with all the +pomp and reverence due to so good and fair a lady, and long and +bitterly he mourned her loss and all the people with him. + +But at the end of seven years, King Meliodas took another wife. +Then, when the Queen had sons of her own, it angered her to think +that in the days to come, her stepson Tristram, and none other, +should rule the fair land of Liones. The more she thought of it, +the more she hated him till, at the last, she was resolved to do +away with him. So she filled a silver goblet with a pleasant drink +in which she had mixed poison, and she set it in the room where +Tristram played with the young princes, his half-brothers. Now the +day was hot, and presently, being heated with his play, the young +prince, the Queen's eldest son, drank of the poisoned goblet; and +immediately he died. Much the Queen grieved, but more than ever she +hated her stepson Tristram, as if, through him, her son had died. +Presently, again she mixed poison and set it in a goblet; and that +time, King Meliodas, returning thirsty from the chase, took the cup +and would have drunk of it, only the Queen cried to him to forbear. +Then the King recalled to mind how his young son had drunk of a +seeming pleasant drink and died on the instant; and seizing the +Queen by the hand, he cried: "False traitress! tell me at once what +is in that cup, or I will slay thee!" Then the Queen cried him +mercy and told him all her sin. But in his wrath the King would +have no mercy, but sentenced her to be burnt at the stake, which, +in those days, was the doom of traitors. The day having come when +the Queen should suffer for her fault, she was led out and bound to +a stake in the presence of all the court, and the faggots were +heaped about her. Then the young prince Tristram kneeled before the +King and asked of him a favour: and the King, loving him much, +granted him his request. "Then," said Tristram, "I require you to +release the Queen, my stepmother, and to take her again to your +favour." Greatly the King marvelled, and said: "Ye should of right +hate her, seeing that she sought your life." But Tristram answered: +"I forgive her freely." "I give you then her life," said the King; +"do ye release her from the stake." So Tristram unloosed the chains +which bound the Queen and led her back to the castle, and from that +day the Queen loved him well; but as for King Meliodas, though he +forgave her and suffered her to remain at court, yet never again +would he have aught to do with her. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +HOW TRISTRAM FOUGHT WITH SIR MARHAUS OF IRELAND + + +Now King Meliodas, though he had pardoned the Queen, would keep his +son Tristram no longer at the court, but sent him into France. +There Tristram learnt all knightly exercises, so that there was +none could equal him as harper or hunter; and after seven years, +being by then a youth of nineteen, he returned to his own land of +Liones. + +It chanced, in those days, that King Anguish of Ireland sent to +Cornwall, demanding the tribute paid him in former times by that +land. Then Mark, the Cornish King, called together his barons and +knights to take counsel; and by their advice, he made answer that +he would pay no tribute, and bade King Anguish send a stout knight +to fight for his right if he still dared claim aught of the land of +Cornwall. + +Forthwith there came from Ireland Sir Marhaus, brother of the Queen +of Ireland. Now Sir Marhaus was Knight of the Round Table and in +his time there were few of greater renown. He anchored his ships +under the Castle of Tintagil, and sent messengers daily to King +Mark, bidding him pay the tribute or find one to fight in his +cause. + +Then was King Mark sore perplexed, for not one of his knights dared +encounter Sir Marhaus. Criers were sent through all the land, +proclaiming that, to any knight that would take the combat upon +him, King Mark would give such gifts as should enrich him for life. +In time, word of all that had happened came to Liones, and +immediately Tristram sought his father, desiring his permission to +go to the court of his uncle, King Mark, to take the battle upon +him. Thus it came to pass that, with his father's good leave, +Tristram presented himself before King Mark, asking to be made +knight that he might do battle for the liberties of Cornwall. Then +when Mark knew that it was his sister's son, he rejoiced greatly, +and having made Tristram knight, he sent word to Sir Marhaus that +there was found to meet him a champion of better birth than Sir +Marhaus' self. + +So it was arranged that the combat should take place on a little +island hard by, where Sir Marhaus had anchored his ships. Sir +Tristram, with his horse and arms, was placed on board a ship, and +when the island was gained, he leaped on shore, bidding his squire +put off again and only return when he was slain or victorious. + +Now, when Sir Marhaus saw that Tristram was but a youth, he cried +aloud to him: "Be advised, young Sir, and go back to your ship. +What can ye hope to do against me, a proven knight of Arthur's +Table?" Then Tristram made answer: "Sir and most famous champion, I +have been made knight to do battle with you, and I promise myself +to win honour thereby, I who have never before encountered a proven +knight." "If ye can endure three strokes of my sword, it shall be +honour enough," said Sir Marhaus. Then they rushed upon each other, +and at the first encounter each unhorsed the other, and Sir +Marhaus' spear pierced Sir Tristram's side and made a grievous +wound. Drawing their swords, they lashed at each other, and the +blows fell thick as hail till the whole island re-echoed with the +din of onslaught. So they fought half a day, and ever it seemed +that Sir Tristram grew fresher and nimbler while Sir Marhaus became +sore wearied. And at the last, Sir Tristram aimed a great blow at +the head of his enemy, and the sword crashed through the helmet and +bit into the skull so that a great piece was broken away from the +edge of Tristram's sword. Then Sir Marhaus flung away sword and +shield, and when he might regain his feet, fled shrieking to his +ships. "Do ye flee?" cried Tristram. "I am but newly made knight; +but rather than flee, I would be hewn piecemeal." + +Then came Gouvernail, Sir Tristram's squire, and bore his master +back to land, where Mark and all the Cornish lords came to meet him +and convey him to the castle of Tintagil. Far and wide they sent +for surgeons to dress Sir Tristram's wound, but none might help +him, and ever he grew weaker. At the last, a wise woman told King +Mark that in that land alone whence came the poisoned spear could +Sir Tristram find cure. Then the King gave orders and a ship was +made ready with great stores of rich furnishings, to convey Sir +Tristram to Ireland, there to heal him of his wound. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +THE FAIR ISOLT + + +Thus Tristram sailed to Ireland, and when he drew nigh the coast, +he called for his harp, and sitting up on his couch on the deck, +played the merriest tune that was ever heard in that land. And the +warders on the castle wall, hearing him, sent and told King Anguish +how a ship drew near with one who harped as none other might. Then +King Anguish sent knights to convey the stranger into the castle. +So when he was brought into the King's presence, Tristram declared +that he was Sir Tramtrist of Liones, lately made knight, and +wounded in his first battle; for which cause he was come to +Ireland, to seek healing. Forthwith the King made him welcome, and +placed him in the charge of his daughter, Isolt. Now Isolt was +famed for her skill in surgery, and, moreover, she was the fairest +lady of that time, save only Queen Guenevere. So she searched and +bandaged Sir Tristram's wound, and presently it was healed. But +still Sir Tristram abode at King Anguish's court, teaching the Fair +Isolt to harp, and taking great pleasure in her company. And ever +the princess doubted whether Sir Tristram were not a renowned +knight and ever she liked him better. + +So the time passed merrily with feastings and in the jousts, and in +the lists Sir Tristram won great honour when he was recovered of +his wound. + +At last it befell upon a day that Sir Tristram had gone to the bath +and left his sword lying on the couch. And the Queen, entering, +espied it, and taking it up, drew the sword from the sheath and +fell to admiring the mighty blade. Presently she saw that the edge +was notched, and while she pondered how great a blow must have +broken the good steel, suddenly she bethought her of the piece +which had been found in the head of her brother, Sir Marhaus. +Hastening to her chamber, she sought in a casket for the fragment, +and returning, placed it by the sword edge, where it fitted as well +as on the day it was first broken. Then she cried to her daughter: +"This, then, is the traitor knight who slew my brother, Sir +Marhaus"; and snatching up the sword, she rushed upon Sir Tristram +where he sat in his bath, and would have killed him, but that his +squire restrained her. Having failed of her purpose, she sought her +husband, King Anguish, and told him all her story: how the knight +they had harboured was he who had slain Sir Marhaus. Then the King, +sore perplexed, went to Sir Tristram's chamber, where he found him +fully armed, ready to get to horse. And Tristram told him all the +truth, how in fair fight he had slain Sir Marhaus. "Ye did as a +knight should," said King Anguish; "and much it grieves me that I +may not keep you at my court; but I cannot so displease my Queen or +barons." "Sir," said Tristram, "I thank you for your courtesy, and +will requite it as occasion may offer. Moreover, here I pledge my +word, as I am good knight and true, to be your daughter's servant, +and in all places and at all times to uphold her quarrel. Wherefore +I pray you that I may take my leave of the princess." + +Then, with the King's permission, Sir Tristram went to the Fair +Isolt and told her all his story; "And here," said he, "I make my +vow ever to be your true knight, and at all times and in all places +to uphold your quarrel." "And on my part" answered the Fair Isolt, +"I make promise that never these seven years will I marry any man, +save with your leave and as ye shall desire." Therewith they +exchanged rings, the Fair Isolt grieving sore the while. Then Sir +Tristram strode into the court and cried aloud, before all the +barons: "Ye knights of Ireland, the time is come when I must +depart. Therefore, if any man have aught against me, let him stand +forth now, and I will satisfy him as I may." Now there were many +present of the kin of Sir Marhaus, but none dared have ado with Sir +Tristram; so, slowly he rode away, and with his squire took ship +again for Cornwall. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +HOW KING MARK SENT SIR TRISTRAM TO FETCH HIM A WIFE + + +When Sir Tristram had come back to Cornwall, he abode some time at +the court of King Mark. Now in those days the Cornish knights were +little esteemed, and none less than Mark himself, who was a coward, +and never adventured himself in fair and open combat, seeking +rather to attack by stealth and have his enemy at an advantage. But +the fame of Sir Tristram increased daily, and all men spoke well of +him. So it came to pass that King Mark, knowing himself despised, +grew fearful and jealous of the love that all men bore his nephew; +for he seemed in their praise of him to hear his own reproach. He +sought, therefore, how he might rid himself of Tristram even while +he spoke him fair and made as if he loved him much, and at the last +he bethought him how he might gain his end and no man be the wiser. +So one day, he said to Tristram: "Fair nephew, I am resolved to +marry, and fain would I have your aid." "In all things, I am yours +to command," answered Sir Tristram. "I pray you, then," said King +Mark, "bring me to wife the Fair Isolt of Ireland. For since I have +heard your praises of her beauty, I may not rest unless I have her +for my Queen." And this he said thinking that, if ever Sir Tristram +set foot in Ireland, he would be slain. + +But Tristram, nothing mistrusting, got together a company of +gallant knights, all fairly arrayed as became men sent by their +King on such an errand; and with them he embarked on a goodly ship. +Now it chanced that when he had reached the open sea, a great storm +arose and drove him back on to the coast of England, and landing +with great difficulty he set up his pavilion hard by the city of +Camelot. + +Presently, word was brought him by his squire that King Anguish +with his company lay hard by, and that the King was in sore +straits; for he was charged with the murder of a knight of Arthur's +court, and must meet in combat Sir Blamor, one of the stoutest +knights of the Round Table. Then Sir Tristram rejoiced, for he saw +in this opportunity of serving King Anguish the means of earning +his good will. So he betook himself to the King's tent, and +proffered to take upon him the encounter, for the kindness shown +him by King Anguish in former days. And the King gratefully +accepting of his championship, the next day Sir Tristram +encountered with Sir Blamor, overthrew him, and so acquitted the +Irish King of the charge brought against him. Then in his joy, King +Anguish begged Sir Tristram to voyage with him to his own land, +bidding Tristram ask what boon he would and he should have it. So +rejoicing in his great fortune, Sir Tristram sailed once again for +the Irish land. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +HOW SIR TRISTRAM AND THE FAIR ISOLT DRANK OF THE MAGIC POTION + + +Then King Anguish made haste to return to Ireland, taking Sir +Tristram with him. And when he was come there and had told all his +adventures, there was great rejoicing over Sir Tristram, but of +none more than of the Fair Isolt. So when Sir Tristram had stayed +there some while, King Anguish reminded him of the boon he should +ask and of his own willingness to grant it. "Sir King," replied Sir +Tristram, "now will I ask it. Grant me your daughter, the Fair +Isolt, that I may take her to Cornwall, there to become the wife of +my uncle, King Mark." Then King Anguish grieved when he heard Sir +Tristram's request, and said: "Far more gladly would I give her to +you to wife." "That may not be," replied Sir Tristram; "my honour +forbids." "Take her then," said King Anguish, "she is yours to wed +or to give to your uncle, King Mark, as seems good to you." + +So a ship was made ready and there entered it the Fair Isolt and +Sir Tristram, and Gouvernail, his squire, and Dame Bragwaine, who +was maid to the princess. But before they sailed, the Queen gave in +charge to Gouvernail and Dame Bragwaine a phial of wine which King +Mark and Isolt should drink together on their wedding-day; "For," +said the Queen, "such is the magic virtue of this wine, that, +having drunk of it, they may never cease from loving one another." + +Now it chanced, one day, that Sir Tristram sat and harped to the +Fair Isolt; and the weather being hot, he became thirsty. Then +looking round the cabin he beheld a golden flask, curiously shaped +and wrought; and laughing, he said to the Fair Isolt: "See, madam, +how my man and your maid care for themselves; for here is the best +wine that ever I tasted. I pray you, now, drink to me." So with +mirth and laughter, they pledged each other, and thought that never +before had they tasted aught so good. But when they had made an end +of drinking, there came upon them the might of the magic charm; and +never from that day, for good or for ill, might they cease from +their love. And so much woe was wrought; for, mindful of his pledge +to his uncle, Sir Tristram brought Isolt in all honour into the +land of Cornwall where she was wedded with pomp and ceremony to +King Mark, the craven King, who hated his nephew even more than +before, because he had returned in safety and made good his promise +as became an honourable knight. And from that day he never ceased +seeking the death of Sir Tristram. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +OF THE END OF SIR TRISTRAM + + +Then again Sir Tristram abode at King Mark's court, ever rendering +the Fair Isolt loyal and knightly service; for King Mark would +imperil his life for none, no matter what the need. + +Now among the Cornish knights, there was much jealousy of Sir +Tristram de Liones, and chief of his enemies was his own cousin, +Sir Andred. With lying words, Sir Andred sought to stir up King +Mark against his nephew, speaking evil of the Queen and of Sir +Tristram. Now Mark was afraid openly to accuse Sir Tristram, so he +set Sir Andred to spy upon him. At last, it befell one day that Sir +Andred saw Sir Tristram coming, alone and unarmed, from the Queen's +presence, and with twelve other knights, he fell upon him and bound +him. Then these felon knights bore Sir Tristram to a little chapel +standing upon a great rock which jutted out into the sea. There +they would have slain him, unarmed and bound. But Sir Tristram, +perceiving their intent, put forth suddenly all his strength, burst +his bonds, and wresting a sword from Sir Andred, cut him down; and +so he did with six other knights. Then while the rest, being but +cowards, gave back a little, he shut to and bolted the doors +against them, and sprang from the window on to the sea-washed rocks +below. There he lay as one dead, until his squire, Gouvernail, +coming in a little boat, took up his master, dressed his wounds, +and carried him to the coast of England. + +So Sir Tristram was minded to remain in that country for a time. +Then, one day, as he rode through the forest near Camelot, there +came running to him a fair lady who cried: "Sir Tristram, I claim +your aid for the truest knight in all the world, and that is none +other than King Arthur." "With a good heart," said Sir Tristram; +"but where may I find him?" "Follow me," said the lady, who was +none other than the Lady of the Lake herself, and ever mindful of +the welfare of King Arthur. So he rode after her till he came to a +castle, and in front of it he saw two knights who beset at once +another knight, and when Sir Tristram came to the spot, the two had +borne King Arthur to the ground and were about to cut off his head. +Then Sir Tristram called to them to leave their traitor's work and +look to themselves; with the word, one he pierced through with his +spear and the other he cut down, and setting King Arthur again upon +his horse, he rode with him until they met with certain of Arthur's +knights. But when King Arthur would know his name, Tristram would +give none, but said only that he was a poor errant knight; and so +they parted. + +But Arthur, when he was come back to Camelot, sent for Sir +Launcelot and other of his knights, bidding them seek for such an +one as was Sir Tristram and bring him to the court. So they +departed, each his own way, and searched for many days, but in +vain. Then it chanced, at last, as Sir Launcelot rode on his way, +he espied Sir Tristram resting beside a tomb; and, as was the +custom of knights errant, he called upon him to joust. So the two +ran together and each broke his spear. Then they sprang to the +ground and fought with their swords, and each thought that never +had he encountered so stout or so skilled a knight. So fiercely +they fought that, perforce, at last they must rest. Then said Sir +Launcelot: "Fair Knight, I pray you tell me your name, for never +have I met so good a knight." "In truth," said Sir Tristram, "I am +loth to tell my name." "I marvel at that," said Sir Launcelot; "for +mine I will tell you freely. I am Launcelot du Lac." Then was Sir +Tristram filled at once with joy and with sorrow; with joy that at +last he had encountered the noblest knight of the Round Table, with +sorrow that he had done him such hurt, and without more ado he +revealed his name. Now Sir Launcelot, who ever delighted in the +fame of another, had long desired to meet Sir Tristram de Liones, +and rejoicing to have found him, he knelt right courteously and +proffered him his sword, as if he would yield to him. But Tristram +would not have it so, declaring that, rather, he should yield to +Sir Launcelot. So they embraced right heartily, and when Sir +Launcelot questioned him, Sir Tristram acknowledged that it was he +who had come to King Arthur's aid. Together, then, they rode to +Camelot, and there Sir Tristram was received with great honour by +King Arthur, who made him Knight of the Round Table. + +Presently, to Tristram at Camelot, there came word that King Mark +had driven the Fair Isolt from court, and compelled her to have her +dwelling in a hut set apart for lepers. Then Sir Tristram was wroth +indeed, and mounting his horse, rode forth that same hour, and +rested not till he had found the lepers' hut, whence he bore the +Queen to the castle known as the Joyous Garde; and there he held +her, in safety and honour, in spite of all that King Mark could do. +And all men honoured Sir Tristram, and felt sorrow for the Fair +Isolt; while as for King Mark, they scorned him even more than +before. + +But to Sir Tristram, it was grief to be at enmity with his uncle +who had made him knight, and at last he craved King Arthur's aid to +reconcile him to Mark. So then the King, who loved Sir Tristram, +sent messengers to Cornwall to Mark, bidding him come forthwith to +Camelot; and when the Cornish King was arrived, Arthur required him +to set aside his enmity to Tristram, who had in all things been his +loyal nephew and knight. And King Mark, his head full of hate, but +fearful of offending his lord, King Arthur, made fair proffers of +friendship, begging Sir Tristram to return to Cornwall with him, +and promising to hold him in love and honour. So they were +reconciled, and when King Mark returned to Cornwall, thither Sir +Tristram escorted the Fair Isolt, and himself abode there, +believing his uncle to mean truly and honourably by him. + +But under a seeming fair exterior, King Mark hated Sir Tristram +more than ever, and waited only to have him at an advantage. At +length he contrived the opportunity he sought. For he hid him in +the Queen's chamber at a time when he knew Sir Tristram would come +there unarmed, to harp to the Fair Isolt the music that she loved. +So as Sir Tristram, all unsuspecting, bent over his harp, Mark +leaped from his lurking place and dealt him such a blow from behind +that, on the instant, he fell dead at the feet of the Fair Isolt. +So perished the good knight, Sir Tristram de Liones Nor did the +Fair Isolt long survive him, for refusing all comfort, she pined +away, and died within a few days, and was laid in a tomb beside +that of her true knight. But the felon King paid the price of his +treachery with his life; for Sir Launcelot himself avenged the +death of his friend and the wrongs of the Fair Isolt. + + + + +BOOK IV + +KING ARTHUR'S NEPHEWS + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +SIR GAWAIN AND THE LADY + + +Among the knights at King Arthur's court were his nephews, the sons +of his sister, Queen Bellicent, and of that King Lot of Orkney, who +had joined the league against Arthur in the first years of his +reign. + +Of each, many tales are told; of Sir Gawain and Sir Gareth to +their great renown, but of Sir Mordred to his shame. For Sir Gawain +and Sir Gareth were knights of great prowess; but Sir Mordred was a +coward and a traitor, envious of other men's fame, and a +tale-bearer. + +Now Sir Gawain was known as the Ladies' Knight, and this is how he +came by the name. It was at Arthur's marriage-feast, when Gawain +had just been made knight, that a strange thing befell. There +entered the hall a white hart, chased by a hound, and when it had +run round the hall, it fled through the doorway again, still +followed by the hound. Then, by Merlin's advice, the quest of the +hart was given to Gawain as a new-made knight, to follow it and see +what adventures it would bring him. So Sir Gawain rode away, taking +with him three couples of greyhounds for the pursuit. At the last, +the hounds caught the hart, and killed it just as it reached the +court-yard of a castle. Then there came forth from the castle a +knight, and he was grieved and wroth to see the hart slain, for it +was given him by his lady; so, in his anger, he killed two of the +hounds. At that moment Sir Gawain entered the court-yard, and an +angry man was he when he saw his greyhounds slain. "Sir Knight," +said he, "ye would have done better to have taken your vengeance on +me rather than on dumb animals which but acted after their kind." +"I will be avenged on you also," cried the knight; and the two +rushed together, cutting and thrusting that it was wonderful they +might so long endure. But at the last the knight grew faint, and +crying for mercy, offered to yield to Sir Gawain. "Ye had no mercy +on my hounds," said Sir Gawain. "I will make you all the amends in +my power," answered the knight. But Sir Gawain would not be turned +from his purpose, and unlacing the vanquished knight's helmet, was +about to cut off his head, when a lady rushed out from the castle +and flung herself on the body of the fallen knight. So it chanced +that Sir Gawain's sword descending smote off the lady's head. Then +was Sir Gawain grieved and sore ashamed for what he had done, and +said to the knight: "I repent for what I have done; and here I give +you your life. Go only to Camelot, to King Arthur's court, and tell +him ye are sent by the knight who follows the quest of the white +hart." "Ye have slain my lady," said the other, "and now I care not +what befalls me." So he arose and went to King Arthur's court. + +Then Sir Gawain prepared to rest him there for the night; but +scarcely had he lain down when there fell upon him four knights, +crying: "New-made knight, ye have shamed your knighthood, for a +knight without mercy is without honour." Then was Sir Gawain borne +to the earth, and would have been slain, but that there came forth +from the castle four ladies who besought the knights to spare his +life; so they consented and bound him prisoner. + +The next morning Sir Gawain was brought again before the knights +and their dames; and because he was King Arthur's nephew, the +ladies desired that he should be set free, only they required that +he should ride again to Camelot, the murdered lady's head hanging +from his neck, and her dead body across his saddle-bow; and that +when he arrived at the court he should confess his misdeeds. + +So Sir Gawain rode sadly back to Camelot, and when he had told his +tale, King Arthur was sore displeased. And Queen Guenevere held a +court of her ladies to pass sentence on Sir Gawain for his +ungentleness. These then decreed that, his life long, he must never +refuse to fight for any lady who desired his services, and that +ever he should be gentle and courteous and show mercy to all. From +that time forth, Sir Gawain never failed in aught that dame or +damsel asked of him, and so he won and kept the title of the +Ladies' Knight. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +THE ADVENTURES OF SIR GARETH + + +Gareth was the youngest of the sons of Lot and Bellicent, and had +grown up long after Gawain and Mordred left their home for King +Arthur's court; so that when he came before the King, all humbly +attired, he was known not even by his own brothers. + +King Arthur was keeping Pentecost at Kink Kenadon on the Welsh +border and, as his custom was, waited to begin the feast until some +adventure should befall. Presently there was seen approaching a +youth, who, to the wonderment of all that saw, leaned upon the +shoulders of two men, his companions; and yet as he passed up the +hall, he seemed a goodly youth, tall and broad-shouldered. When he +stood before the King, suddenly he drew himself up, and after due +greeting, said: "Sir King, I would ask of you three boons; one to +be granted now and two hereafter when I shall require them." And +Arthur, looking upon him, was pleased, for his countenance was open +and honest. So he made answer; "Fair son, ask of me aught that is +honourable and I will grant it." Then the youth said: "For this +present, I ask only that ye will give me meat and drink for a year +and a day." "Ye might have asked and had a better gift," replied +the King; "tell me now your name." "At this time, I may not tell +it," said the youth. Now King Arthur trusted every man until he +proved himself unworthy, and in this youth he thought he saw one +who should do nobly and win renown; so laughing, he bade him keep +his own counsel since so he would, and gave him in charge to Sir +Kay, the Seneschal. + +Now Sir Kay was but harsh to those whom he liked not, and from the +first he scorned the young man; "For none," said he, "but a +low-born lout would crave meat and drink when he might have asked +for a horse and arms." But Sir Launcelot and Sir Gawain took the +youth's part. Neither knew him for Gareth of the Orkneys, but both +believed him to be a youth of good promise who, for his own +reasons, would pass in disguise for a season. + +So Gareth lived the year among the kitchen-boys, all the time +mocked and scorned by Sir Kay, who called him Fairhands because his +hands were white and shapely. But Launcelot and Gawain showed him +all courtesy, and failed not to observe how, in all trials of +strength, he excelled his comrades, and that he was ever present to +witness the feats of the knights in the tournaments. + +So the year passed, and again King Arthur was keeping the feast of +Pentecost with his knights, when a damsel entered the hall and +asked his aid: "For," said she, "my sister is closely besieged in +her castle by a strong knight who lays waste all her lands. And +since I know that the knights of your court be the most renowned in +the world, I have come to crave help of your mightiest." "What is +your sister's name, and who is he that oppresses her?" asked the +King. "The Red Knight, he is called," replied the damsel. "As for +my sister I will not say her name, only that she is a high-born +lady and owns broad lands." Then the King frowned and said: "Ye +would have aid but will say no name. I may not ask knight of mine +to go on such an errand." + +Then forth stepped Gareth from among the serving men at the hall +end and said: "Sir King, I have eaten of your meat in your kitchen +this twelvemonth since, and now I crave my other two boons." "Ask +and have," replied the King. "Grant me then the adventure of this +damsel, and bid Sir Launcelot ride after me to knight me at my +desire, for of him alone would I be made knight." "It shall be so," +answered the King. "What!" cried the damsel, "I ask for a knight +and ye give me a kitchen-boy. Shame on you, Sir King." And in +great wrath she fled from the hall, mounted her palfrey and rode +away. Gareth but waited to array himself in the armour which he had +kept ever in readiness for the time when he should need it, and +mounting his horse, rode after the damsel. + +But when Sir Kay knew what had happened, he was wroth, and got to +horse to ride after Gareth and bring him back. Even as Gareth +overtook the damsel, so did Kay come up with him and cried: "Turn +back, Fairhands! What, sir, do ye not know me?" "Yes," answered +Gareth, "I know you for the most discourteous knight in Arthur's +court." Then Sir Kay rode upon him with his lance, but Gareth +turned it aside with his sword and pierced Sir Kay through the side +so that he fell to the ground and lay there without motion. So +Gareth took Sir Kay's shield and spear and was about to ride away, +when seeing Sir Launcelot draw near, he called upon him to joust. +At the first encounter, Sir Launcelot unhorsed Gareth, but quickly +helped him to his feet. Then, at Gareth's desire, they fought +together with swords, and Gareth did knightly till, at length, Sir +Launcelot said, laughing: "Why should we fight any longer? Of a +truth ye are a stout knight." "If that is indeed your thought, I +pray you make me knight," cried Gareth. So Sir Launcelot knighted +Gareth, who, bidding him farewell, hastened after the damsel, for +she had ridden on again while the two knights talked. When she saw +him coming, she cried: "Keep off! ye smell of the kitchen!" +"Damsel," said Sir Gareth, "I must follow until I have fulfilled +the adventure." "Till ye accomplish the adventure, Turn-spit? Your +part in it shall soon be ended." "I can only do my best," answered +Sir Gareth. + +Now as they rode through the forest, they met with a knight sore +beset by six thieves, and him Sir Gareth rescued. The knight then +bade Gareth and the damsel rest at his castle, and entertained them +right gladly until the morn, when the two rode forth again. +Presently, they drew near to a deep river where two knights kept +the ford. "How now, kitchen-knave? Will ye fight or escape while ye +may?" cried the damsel. "I would fight though there were six +instead of two," replied Sir Gareth. Therewith he encountered the +one knight in mid-stream and struck him such a blow on the head +that he fell, stunned, into the water and was drowned. Then, +gaining the land, Gareth cleft in two both helmet and head of the +other knight, and turned to the damsel, saying: "Lead on; I +follow." + +But the damsel mocked him, saying: "What a mischance is this that a +kitchen-boy should slay two noble knights! Be not over-proud, +Turn-spit. It was but luck, if indeed ye did not attack one knight +from behind." "Say what you will, I follow," said Sir Gareth. + +So they rode on again, the damsel in front and Sir Gareth behind, +till they reached a wide meadow where stood many fair pavilions; +and one, the largest, was all of blue, and the men who stood about +it were clothed in blue, and bore shields and spears of that +colour; and of blue, too, were the trappings of the horses. Then +said the damsel: "Yonder is the Blue Knight, the goodliest that +ever ye have looked upon, and five hundred knights own him lord." +"I will encounter him," said Sir Gareth; "for if he be good knight +and true as ye say, he will scarce set on me with all his +following; and man to man, I fear him not." "Fie!" said the damsel, +"for a dirty knave, ye brag loud. And even if ye overcome him, his +might is as nothing to that of the Red Knight who besieges my lady +sister. So get ye gone while ye may." "Damsel," said Sir Gareth, +"ye are but ungentle so to rebuke me; for, knight or knave, I have +done you good service, nor will I leave this quest while life is +mine." Then the damsel was ashamed, and, looking curiously at +Gareth, she said: "I would gladly know what manner of man ye are. +For I heard you call yourself kitchen-knave before Arthur's self, +but ye have ever answered patiently though I have chidden you +shamefully; and courtesy comes only of gentle blood." Thereat Sir +Gareth but laughed, and said: "He is no knight whom a maiden can +anger by harsh words." + +So talking, they entered the field, and there came to Sir Gareth a +messenger from the Blue Knight to ask him if he came in peace or in +war. "As your lord pleases," said Sir Gareth. So when the messenger +had brought back this word, the Blue Knight mounted his horse, took +his spear in his hand, and rode upon Sir Gareth. At their first +encounter their lances shivered to pieces, and such was the shock +that their horses fell dead. So they rushed on each other with +sword and shield, cutting and slashing till the armour was hacked +from their bodies; but at last, Sir Gareth smote the Blue Knight +to the earth. Then the Blue Knight yielded, and at the damsel's +entreaty, Sir Gareth spared his life. + +So they were reconciled, and at the request of the Blue Knight, Sir +Gareth and the damsel abode that night in his tents. As they sat at +table, the Blue Knight said: "Fair damsel, are ye not called +Linet?" "Yes," answered she, "and I am taking this noble knight to +the relief of my sister, the Lady Liones." "God speed you, Sir," +said the Blue Knight, "for he is a stout knight whom ye must meet. +Long ago might he have taken the lady, but that he hoped that Sir +Launcelot or some other of Arthur's most famous knights, coming to +her rescue, might fall beneath his lance. If ye overthrow him, then +are ye the peer of Sir Launcelot and Sir Tristram." "Sir Knight," +answered Gareth, "I can but strive to bear me worthily as one whom +the great Sir Launcelot made knight." + +So in the morning they bade farewell to the Blue Knight, who vowed +to carry to King Arthur word of all that Gareth had achieved; and +they rode on, till, in the evening, they came to a little ruined +hermitage where there awaited them a dwarf, sent by the Lady +Liones, with all manner of meats and other store. In the morning, +the dwarf set out again to bear word to his lady that her rescuer +was come. As he drew near the castle, the Red Knight stopped him, +demanding whence he came. "Sir," said the dwarf, "I have been with +my lady's sister, who brings with her a knight to the rescue of my +lady." "It is lost labour," said the Red Knight; "even though she +brought Launcelot or Tristram, I hold myself a match for them." +"He is none of these," said the dwarf, "but he has overthrown the +knights who kept the ford, and the Blue Knight yielded to him." +"Let him come," said the Red Knight; "I shall soon make an end of +him, and a shameful death shall he have at my hands, as many a +better knight has had." So saying, he let the dwarf go. + +Presently, there came riding towards the castle Sir Gareth and the +damsel Linet, and Gareth marvelled to see hang from the trees some +forty knights in goodly armour, their shields reversed beside them. +And when he inquired of the damsel, she told him how these were the +bodies of brave knights who, coming to the rescue of the Lady +Liones, had been overthrown and shamefully done to death by the Red +Knight. Then was Gareth shamed and angry, and he vowed to make an +end of these evil practices. So at last they drew near to the +castle walls, and saw how the plain around was covered with the Red +Knight's tents, and the noise was that of a great army. Hard by was +a tall sycamore tree, and from it hung a mighty horn, made of an +elephant's tusk. Spurring his horse, Gareth rode to it, and blew +such a blast that those on the castle walls heard it; the knights +came forth from their tents to see who blew so bold a blast, and +from a window of the castle the Lady Liones looked forth and waved +her hand to her champion. Then, as Sir Gareth made his reverence to +the lady, the Red Knight called roughly to him to leave his +courtesy and look to himself; "For," said he, "she is mine, and to +have her, I have fought many a battle." "It is but vain labour," +said Sir Gareth, "since she loves you not. Know, too, Sir Knight, +that I have vowed to rescue her from you." "So did many another who +now hangs on a tree," replied the Red Knight, "and soon ye shall +hang beside them." Then both laid their spears in rest, and spurred +their horses. At the first encounter, each smote the other full in +the shield, and the girths of the saddles bursting, they were borne +to the earth, where they lay for awhile as if dead. But presently +they rose, and setting their shields before them, rushed upon each +other with their swords, cutting and hacking till the armour lay on +the ground in fragments. So they fought till noon and then rested; +but soon they renewed the battle, and so furiously they fought, +that often they fell to the ground together. Then, when the bells +sounded for evensong, the knights rested again a while, unlacing +their helms to breathe the evening air. But looking up to the +castle windows, Gareth saw the Lady Liones gazing earnestly upon +him; then he caught up his helmet, and calling to the Red Knight, +bade him make ready for the battle; "And this time," said he, "we +will make an end of it." "So be it," said the Red Knight. Then the +Red Knight smote Gareth on the hand that his sword flew from his +grasp, and with another blow he brought him grovelling to the +earth. At the sight of this, Linet cried aloud, and hearing her, +Gareth, with a mighty effort, threw off the Red Knight, leaped to +his sword and got it again within his hand. Then he pressed the Red +Knight harder than ever, and at the last bore him to the earth, +and unlacing his helm, made ready to slay him; but the Red Knight +cried aloud: "Mercy; I yield." At first, remembering the evil +deaths of the forty good knights, Gareth was unwilling to spare +him; but the Red Knight besought him to have mercy, telling him +how, against his will, he had been bound by a vow to make war on +Arthur's knights. So Sir Gareth relented, and bade him set forth at +once for Kink Kenadon and entreat the King's pardon for his evil +past. And this the Red Knight promised to do. + +Then amidst much rejoicing, Sir Gareth was borne into the castle. +There his wounds were dressed by the Lady Liones, and there he +rested until he recovered his strength. And having won her love, +when Gareth returned to Arthur's court, the Lady Liones rode with +him, and they two were wed with great pomp in the presence of the +whole Fellowship of the Round Table; the King rejoicing much that +his nephew had done so valiantly. So Sir Gareth lived happily with +Dame Liones, winning fame and the love of all true knights. As for +Linet, she came again to Arthur's court and wedded Sir Gareth's +younger brother, Sir Gaheris. + + + + +BOOK V + +SIR GERAINT + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +THE ADVENTURES OF GERAINT + + +It befell, one Whitsunday, that Arthur was holding his court at +Caerleon, when word was brought to him of a splendid white stag +that ranged the Forest of Dean, and forthwith the King proclaimed a +hunt for the morrow. + +So, with the dawn, there was much trampling of hoofs and baying of +hounds as all the knights got to horse; but Queen Guenevere +herself, though she had said she would ride with the hunt, slept +late, and when she called her maidens to her, it was broad day. +Then, with much haste, she arrayed herself, and taking one of her +ladies with her, rode to a little rising ground in the forest, near +which, as she well knew, the hunt must pass. + +Presently, as she waited, there came riding by the gallant knight, +Geraint of Devon. He was arrayed neither for the chase nor for the +fight, but wore a surcoat of white satin and about him a loose +scarf of purple, with a golden apple at each corner. And when the +Queen had answered his salutation, she said: "How is it, Prince, +that ye be not ridden with the hunters?" "Madam," answered he, +"with shame I say it; I slept too late." Smiling, the Queen said: +"Then are we both in the same case, for I also arose too late. But +tarry with me, and soon ye will hear the baying of the hounds; for +often I have known them break covert here." + +Then as they waited on the little woodland knoll, there came riding +past a knight full armed, a lady with him, and behind them a dwarf, +misshapen and evil-looking, and they passed without word or +salutation to the Queen. + +Then said Guenevere to Geraint: "Prince, know ye yonder knight?" +"Nay, madam," said he; "his arms I know not, and his face I might +not see." Thereupon the Queen turned to her attendant and said: +"Ride after them quickly and ask the dwarf his master's name." So +the maiden did as she was bidden; but when she inquired of the +dwarf, he answered her roughly: "I will not tell thee my master's +name." "Since thou art so churlish," said she, "I will even ask him +himself." "That thou shalt not," he cried, and struck her across +the face with his whip. So the maiden, alarmed and angered, rode +back to the Queen and told her all that had happened. "Madam," +cried Geraint, "the churl has wronged your maiden and insulted your +person. I pray you, suffer me to do your errand myself." With the +word, he put spurs to his horse and rode after the three. And when +he had come up with the dwarf, he asked the knight's name as the +maiden had done, and the dwarf answered him as he had answered the +Queen's lady. "I will speak with thy master himself," said Geraint. +"Thou shalt not, by my faith!" said the dwarf. "Thou art not +honourable enough to speak with my lord." "I have spoken with men +of as good rank as he," answered Geraint, and would have turned his +horse's head that he might ride after the knight; but the dwarf +struck him across the face such a blow that the blood spurted forth +over his purple scarf. Then, in his wrath, Geraint clapped hand to +sword, and would have slain the churl, but that he bethought him +how powerless was such a misshapen thing. So refraining himself, he +rode back to the Queen and said: "Madam, for the time the knight +has escaped me. But, with your leave, I will ride after him, and +require of him satisfaction for the wrong done to yourself and to +your maiden. It must be that I shall come presently to a town where +I may obtain armour. Farewell; if I live, ye shall have tidings of +me by next even." "Farewell," said the Queen; "I shall ever hold +your good service in remembrance." + +So Geraint rode forth on his quest, and followed the road to the +ford of the Usk, where he crossed, and then went on his way until +he came to a town, at the further end of which rose a mighty +castle. And as he entered the town, he saw the knight and the lady, +and how, as they rode through the streets, from every window the +folk craned their necks to see them pass, until they entered the +castle and the gate fell behind them. Then was Geraint satisfied +that they would not pass thence that night, and turned him about to +see where he could obtain the use of arms that, the next day, he +might call the knight to account. + +Now it seemed that the whole town was in a ferment. In every house, +men were busy polishing shields, sharpening swords, and washing +armour, and scarce could they find time to answer questions put to +them; so at the last, finding nowhere in the town to rest, Geraint +rode in the direction of a ruined palace, which stood a little +apart from the town, and was reached by a marble bridge spanning a +deep ravine. Seated on the bridge was an old man, hoary-headed, and +clothed in the tattered remains of what had once been splendid +attire, who gave Geraint courteous greeting. "Sir," said Geraint, +"I pray you, know ye where I may find shelter for this night?" +"Come with me," said the old man, "and ye shall have the best my +old halls afford." So saying, he led Geraint into a great +stone-paved court-yard, surrounded by buildings, once strong +fortifications, but then half burned and ruinous. There he bade +Geraint dismount, and led the way into an upper chamber, where sat +an aged dame, and with her a maiden the fairest that ever Geraint +had looked upon, for all that her attire was but a faded robe and +veil. Then the old man spoke to the maiden, saying: "Enid, take the +good knight's charger to a stall and give him corn. Then go to the +town and buy us provision for a feast to-night." Now it pleased not +Geraint that the maiden should thus do him service; but when he +made to accompany her, the old man, her father, stayed him and kept +him in converse until presently she was returned from the town and +had made all ready for the evening meal. Then they sat them down to +supper, the old man and his wife with Geraint between them; and the +fair maid, Enid, waited upon them, though it irked the Prince to +see her do such menial service. + +So as they ate, they talked, and presently Geraint asked of the +cause why the palace was all in ruins. "Sir knight," said the old +man, "I am Yniol, and once I was lord of a broad earldom. But my +nephew, whose guardian I had been, made war upon me, affirming that +I had withheld from him his dues; and being the stronger, he +prevailed, and seized my lands and burnt my halls, even as ye see. +For the townsfolk hold with him, because that, with his tournaments +and feastings, he brings many strangers their way." "What then is +all the stir in the town even now?" asked Geraint. "To-morrow," +said the Earl, "they hold the tournament of the Sparrow-Hawk. In +the midst of the meadow are set up two forks, and on the forks a +silver rod, and on the rod the form of a Sparrow-Hawk. Two years +has it been won by the stout knight Edeyrn, and if he win it the +morrow, it shall be his for aye, and he himself known as the +Sparrow-Hawk." "Tell me," cried Geraint, "is that the knight that +rode this day with a lady and a dwarf to the castle hard by?" "The +same," said Yniol; "and a bold knight he is." Then Geraint told +them of the insult offered that morning to Queen Guenevere and her +maiden, and how he had ridden forth to obtain satisfaction. "And +now, I pray you," said Geraint, "help me to come by some arms, and +in to-morrow's lists will I call this Sparrow-Hawk to account." +"Arms have I," answered the Earl, "old and rusty indeed, yet at +your service. But, Sir Knight, ye may not appear in to-morrow's +tournament, for none may contend unless he bring with him a lady in +whose honour he jousts." Then cried Geraint: "Lord Earl, suffer me +to lay lance in rest in honour of the fair maiden, your daughter. +And if I fall to-morrow, no harm shall have been done her, and if I +win, I will love her my life long, and make her my true wife." Now +Enid, her service ended, had left them to their talk; but the Earl, +rejoicing that so noble a knight should seek his daughter's love, +promised that, with the maiden's consent, all should be as the +Prince desired. + +So they retired to rest that night, and the next day at dawn, +Geraint arose, and, donning the rusty old armour lent him by Earl +Yniol, rode to the lists; and there amongst the humbler sort of +onlookers, he found the old Earl and his wife and with them their +fair daughter. + +Then the heralds blew their trumpets, and Edeyrn bade his lady-love +take the Sparrow-Hawk, her due as fairest of the fair. "Forbear," +cried Geraint; "here is one fairer and nobler for whom I claim the +prize of the tournament." "Do battle for it, then!" cried Edeyrn. +So the two took their lances and rushed upon one another with a +crash like thunder, and each broke his spear. Thus they encountered +once and again; but at the last Geraint bore down upon Edeyrn with +such force that he carried him from his horse, saddle and all. Then +he dismounted, and the two rushed upon each other with their +swords. Long they fought, the sparks flying and their breath coming +hard, till, exerting all his strength, Geraint dealt the other such +a blow as cleft his helmet and bit to the bone. Then Edeyrn flung +away his sword and yielded him. "Thou shalt have thy life," said +Geraint, "upon condition that, forthwith, thou goest to Arthur's +court, there to deliver thyself to our Queen, and make such +atonement as shall be adjudged thee, for the insult offered her +yester morn." "I will do so," answered Edeyrn; and when his wounds +had been dressed he got heavily to horse and rode forth to +Caerleon. + +Then the young Earl, Yniol's nephew, adjudged the Sparrow-Hawk to +Geraint, as victor in the tourney, and prayed him to come to his +castle to rest and feast. But Geraint, declining courteously, said +that it behoved him to go there where he had rested the night +before. "Where may that have been?" asked the Earl; "for though ye +come not to my castle, yet would I see that ye fare as befits your +valour." "I rested even with Yniol, your uncle," answered Geraint. +The young Earl mused awhile, and then he said: "I will seek you, +then, in my uncle's halls, and bring with me the means to furnish +forth a feast." + +And so it was. Scarcely had Prince Geraint returned to the ruined +hall and bathed and rested him after his labours, when the young +Earl arrived, and with him forty of his followers bearing all +manner of stores and plenishings. And that same hour, the young +Earl was accorded with Yniol, his uncle, restoring to him the lands +of which he had deprived him, and pledging his word to build up +again the ruined palace. + +When they had gone to the banquet, then came to them Enid, attired +in beautiful raiment befitting her rank; and the old Earl led her +to Geraint, saying: "Prince, here is the maiden for whom ye fought, +and freely I bestow her upon you." So Geraint took her hand before +them all and said: "She shall ride with me to Caerleon, and there +will I wed her before Arthur's court." Then to Enid he said: +"Gentle maiden, bear with me when I pray you to don the faded robe +and veil in which first I saw you." And Enid, who was ever gentle +and meek, did as he desired, and that evening they rode to +Caerleon. + +So when they drew near the King's palace, word was brought to +Guenevere of their approach. Then the Queen went forth to greet the +good knight, and when she had heard all his story, she kissed the +maiden, and leading her into her own chamber, arrayed her right +royally for her marriage with the Prince. And that evening they +were wed amidst great rejoicing, in the presence of all the +knights and ladies of the court, the King himself giving Enid to +her husband. Many happy days they spent at Caerleon, rejoicing in +the love and good-will of Arthur and his Queen. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +GERAINT AND ENID + + +Geraint and the fair Enid abode more than a year at Arthur's court; +Enid winning daily more and more the love of all by her gentleness +and goodness, and Geraint being ever amongst the foremost in the +tournament. But presently there came word of robber raids upon the +borders of Devon; wherefore the Prince craved leave of Arthur to +return to his own land, there to put down wrong and oppression, and +maintain order and justice. And the King bade him go and secure to +every man his due. + +So Geraint passed to his own land, Enid going with him; and soon he +had driven the oppressors from their strongholds and established +peace and order, so that the poor man dwelt in his little cot +secure in his possessions. But when all was done, and there was +none dared defy him, Geraint abode at home, neglectful of the +tournament and the chase, and all those manly exercises in which he +had once excelled, content if he had but the companionship of his +wife; so that his nobles murmured because he withdrew himself from +their society, and the common people jeered at him for a laggard. + +Now these evil rumours came to Enid's ears, and it grieved her that +she should be the cause, however unwillingly, of her husband's +dishonour; and since she could not bring herself to speak to her +lord of what was in her heart, daily she grew more sorrowful, till +the Prince, aware of her altered demeanour, became uneasy, not +knowing its source. + +So time went by till it chanced, one summer morning, that with the +first rays of the sun, Enid awoke from her slumbers, and, rising, +gazed upon her husband as he lay, and marvelled at his strength. +"Alas!" said she, "to be the cause that my lord suffers shame! +Surely I should find courage to tell him all, were I indeed true +wife to him!" Then, by ill chance, her tears falling upon him awoke +him, so that he heard her words, but brokenly, and seeing her weep +and hearing her accuse herself, it came into his thought that, for +all his love and care for her, she was weary of him, nay, even that +perhaps she loved him not at all. In anger and grief he called to +his squire and bade him saddle his charger and a palfrey for Enid; +and to her he said: "Put on thy meanest attire, and thou shalt ride +with me into the wilderness. It seems that I have yet to win me +fame; but before thou seest home again, thou shalt learn if indeed +I am fallen so low as thou deemest." And Enid, wondering and +troubled, answered, "I know naught of thy meaning, my lord." "Ask +me nothing," said Geraint. So sorrowfully and in silence Enid +arrayed herself, choosing for her apparel the faded robe and veil +in which first her lord had seen her. + +Then the squire brought them their horses; but when he would have +mounted and ridden after, Geraint forbade him. And to Enid the +Prince said: "Ride before me and turn not back, no matter what thou +seest or hearest. And unless I speak to thee, say not a word to +me." + +So they rode forward along the least frequented road till they came +to a vast forest, which they entered. There Enid, as she rode in +front, saw four armed men lurking by the road, and one said to the +other: "See, now is our opportunity to win much spoil at little +cost; for we may easily overcome this doleful knight, and take from +him his arms and lady." And Enid hearing them, was filled with fear +and doubt; for she longed to warn her lord of his danger, yet +feared to arouse his wrath, seeing he had bidden her keep silence. +Then said she to herself: "Better to anger him, even to the slaying +of me, than have the misery of seeing him perish." So she waited +till Geraint drew near, and said: "Lord, there lie in wait for thee +four men fully armed, to slay and rob thee." Then he answered her +in anger: "Did I desire thy silence or thy warning? Look, then, and +whether thou desirest my life or my death, thou shalt see that I +dread not these robbers." Then, as the foremost of the four rode +upon him, Geraint drove upon him with his spear with such force +that the weapon stood out a cubit behind him; and so he did with +the second, and the third, and the fourth. Then, dismounting from +his horse, he stripped the dead felons of their armour, bound it +upon their horses, and tying the bridle reins together, bade Enid +drive the beasts before her. "And," said he, "I charge thee, at thy +peril, speak no word to me." + +So they went forward; and presently Enid saw how three horsemen, +well armed and well mounted, rode towards them. And one said to the +other: "Good fortune, indeed! Here are four horses and four suits +of armour for us, and but one knight to deal with; a craven too, by +the way he hangs his head." Then Enid thought within herself how +her lord was wearied with his former combat, and resolved to warn +him even at her own peril. So she waited till he was come up with +her, and said: "Lord, there be three men riding towards us, and +they promise themselves rich booty at small cost." Wrathfully spoke +Geraint: "Their words anger me less than thy disobedience"; and +immediately rushing upon the mid-most of the three knights, he bore +him from his horse; then he turned upon the other two who rode +against him at the same moment, and slew them both. As with the +former caitiffs, so now Geraint stripped the three of their armour, +bound it upon the horses, and bade Enid drive these forward with +the other four. + +Again they rode on their way, and, for all his anger, it smote +Geraint to the heart to see the gentle lady labouring to drive +forward the seven horses. So he bade her stay, for they would go no +farther then, but rest that night as best they might in the forest; +and scarcely had they dismounted and tethered the horses before +Geraint, wearied with his encounters, fell asleep; but Enid +remained watching, lest harm should come to her lord while he +slept. + +With the first ray of light, Geraint awoke, and his anger against +Enid was not passed; so, without more ado, he set her on her +palfrey and bade her drive the horses on in front as before, +charging her that, whatever befell, that day at least, she should +keep silence. + +Soon they passed from the forest into open land, and came upon a +river flowing through broad meadows where the mowers toiled. Then, +as they waited to let the horses drink their fill, there drew near +a youth, bearing a basket of bread and meat and a blue pitcher +covered over with a bowl. So when the youth saluted them, Geraint +stayed him, asking whence he came. "My lord," said the lad, "I am +come from the town hard by, to bring the mowers their breakfast." +"I pray thee, then," said the Prince, "give of the food to this +lady, for she is faint." "That will I gladly," answered the youth, +"and do ye also partake, noble sir"; and he spread the meal for +them on the grass while they dismounted. So when they had eaten and +were refreshed, the youth gathered up the basket and pitcher, +saying he would return to the town for food for the mowers. "Do +so," said the Prince, "and when thou art come there, take for me +the best lodging that thou mayst. And for thy fair service, take a +horse and armour, whichsoever thou wilt." "My lord, ye reward me +far beyond my deserts," cried the youth. "Right gladly will I make +all ready against your arrival, and acquaint my master, the Earl, +of your coming." + +So Geraint and Enid followed after the youth to the town, and +there they found everything prepared for their comfort, even as he +had promised; for they were lodged in a goodly chamber well +furnished with all that they might require. Then said Geraint to +Enid: "Abide at one end of the room and I will remain at the other. +And call the woman of the house if thou desirest her aid and +comfort in aught." "I thank thee, lord," answered Enid patiently; +but she called for no service, remaining silent and forlorn in the +farthest corner of the great chamber. + +Presently there came to the house the Earl, the youth's master, and +with him twelve goodly knights to wait upon him. And Geraint +welcomed them right heartily, bidding the host bring forth his best +to furnish a feast. So they sat them down at the table, each in his +degree according to his rank, and feasted long and merrily; but +Enid remained the while shrinking into her corner if perchance she +might escape all notice. + +As they sat at the banquet, the Earl asked Prince Geraint what +quest he followed. "None but mine own inclination and the adventure +it may please heaven to send," said Geraint. Then the Earl, whose +eye had oft sought Enid as she sat apart, said: "Have I your good +leave to cross the room and speak to your fair damsel? For she +joins us not in the feast." "Ye have it freely," answered the +Prince. So the Earl arose, and approaching Enid, bowed before her, +and spoke to her in low tones, saying: "Damsel, sad life is yours, +I fear, to journey with yonder man." "To travel the road he takes +is pleasant enough to me," answered Enid. "But see what slights he +puts upon you! To suffer you to journey thus, unattended by page or +maiden, argues but little love or reverence for you." "It is as +nothing, so that I am with him," said Enid. "Nay, but," said the +Earl, "see how much happier a life might be yours. Leave this +churl, who values you not, and all that I have, land and riches, +and my love and service for ever shall be yours." "Ye cannot tempt +me, with aught that ye can offer, to be false to him to whom I +vowed my faith," said she. "Ye are a fool!" said the Earl in a +fierce whisper. "One word to these my knights, and yonder is a dead +man. Then who shall hinder me that I take you by force? Nay, now, +be better advised, and I vow you my whole devotion for all time." +Then was Enid filled with dread of the man and his might, and +seeking but to gain time, she said: "Suffer me to be for this +present, my lord, and to-morrow ye shall come and take me as by +force. Then shall my name not suffer loss." "So be it," said he; "I +will not fail you." With that he left her, and taking his leave of +Geraint, departed with his followers. + +Never a word of what the Earl had said did Enid tell her husband +that night; and on the departure of his guests, the Prince, +unheedful of her, flung him on the couch, and soon slept, despite +his grief and wrath. But Enid watched again that night, and, before +cock-crow, arose, set all his armour ready in one place, and then, +though fearful of his wrath, stepped to his side and touching him +gently, said: "Awake, my lord, and arm you, and save me and +yourself." Then she told him of all the Earl had said and of the +device she had used to save them both. Then wrathfully he rose and +armed himself, bidding her rouse the host to saddle and bring forth +the horses. When all was ready, Prince Geraint asked the man his +reckoning. "Ye owe but little," said the host. "Take then the seven +horses and the suits of armour," said Geraint. "Why, noble sir," +cried the host, "I scarce have spent the value of one." "The richer +thou," answered Geraint. "Now show me the road from the town." + +So the man guided them from the town, and scarce was he returned +when Earl Durm--for so was the Earl named--hammered at the door, +with forty followers at his back. "Where is the knight who was here +erewhile?" "He is gone hence, my lord," answered the host. "Fool +and villain!" cried the Earl, "why didst thou suffer him to escape? +Which way went he?" And the man, fearful and trembling, directed +the Earl the road Geraint had gone. + +So it came to pass, as they rode on their way, Enid in front, the +Prince behind, that it seemed to Enid she heard the beat of many +horse-hoofs. And, as before, she broke Geraint's command, caring +little for aught that might befall her in comparison of loss to +him. "My lord," said she, "seest thou yonder knight pursuing thee +and many another with him?" "Yea, in good truth, I see him," said +Geraint, "and I see, too, that never wilt thou obey me." Then he +turned him about and, laying lance in rest, bore straight down upon +Earl Durm, who foremost rushed upon him; and such was the shock of +their encounter, that Earl Durm was borne from his saddle and lay +without motion as one dead. And Geraint charged fiercely upon the +Earl's men, unhorsing some and wounding others; and the rest, +having little heart for the fight after their master's overthrow, +turned and fled. + +Then Geraint signed to Enid to ride on as before, and so they +journeyed the space of another hour while the summer sun beat upon +them with ever increasing force. Now the Prince had received a +grievous hurt in the encounter with Earl Durm and his men; but such +was his spirit that he heeded it not, though the wound bled sore +under his armour. Presently, as they rode, there came to them the +sound of wailing, and by the wayside they saw a lady weeping +bitterly over a knight who lay dead on the ground. "Lady," said +Geraint, "what has befallen you?" "Noble knight," she replied, "as +we rode through the forest, my husband and I, three villains set +upon him at once, and slew him." "Which way went they?" asked +Geraint. "Straight on by this high-road that ye follow even now," +answered she. Then Geraint bade Enid remain with the lady while he +rode on to take vengeance on the miscreants. And Enid waited +fearfully the long while he was gone, and her heart rejoiced when +she saw him returning. But soon her joy was turned to sorrow, for +his armour was all dented and covered with blood and his face +ghastly; and even as he reached her side, he fell from his horse, +prone on the ground. Then Enid strove to loosen his armour, and +having found the wound, she staunched it as best she might and +bound it with her veil. And taking his head on her lap, she chafed +his hands and tried with her own body to shield him from the sun, +her tears falling fast the while. So she waited till, perchance, +help might come that way; and presently, indeed, she heard the +tramp of horses, and a troop came riding by with the Earl Limours +at their head. And when the Earl saw the two fallen knights and the +weeping women beside them, he stayed his horse, and said: "Ladies, +what has chanced to you?" Then she whose husband had been slain +said: "Sir, three caitiffs set on my husband at once and slew him. +Then came this good knight and went in pursuit of them, and as I +think, slew them; but when he came back, he fell from his horse, +sore wounded as ye see, and, I fear me, by now he is dead." "Nay, +gentle sir," cried Enid; "it cannot be that he is dead. Only, I +beseech you, suffer two of your men to carry him hence to some +place of shelter where he may have help and tendance." "I misdoubt +me, it is but labour wasted," said the Earl; "nevertheless, for the +sake of your fair face, it shall be as ye desire." Then he ordered +two of his men to carry Geraint to his halls and two more to stay +behind and bury the dead knight, while he caused the two women to +be placed on led horses; and so they rode to his castle. When they +were arrived there, the two spearmen who had carried Geraint, +placed him on a settle in the hall, and Enid crouched by his side, +striving if by any means she might bring him back to life. And +gradually Geraint recovered, though still he lay as in a swoon, +hearing indeed what passed around him, but dimly, as from a +distance. + +Soon there came into the hall many servitors, who brought forth +the tables and set thereon all manner of meats, haunches of venison +and boars' heads and great pasties, together with huge flagons of +wine. Then when all was set, there came trooping to the board the +whole company of Earl Limours' retainers; last of all came the Earl +himself and took his place on the raised dais. Suddenly, as he +feasted and made merry, he espied Enid, who, mistrusting him +utterly, would fain have escaped his eye. And when he saw her, he +cried: "Lady, cease wasting sorrow on a dead man and come hither. +Thou shalt have a seat by my side; ay, and myself, too, and my +Earldom to boot." "I thank you, lord," she answered meekly, "but, I +pray you, suffer me to be as I am." "Thou art a fool," said +Limours; "little enough he prized thee, I warrant, else had he not +put thy beauty to such scorn, dressing it in faded rags! Nay, be +wise; eat and drink, and thou wilt think the better of me and my +fair proffer." "I will not," cried Enid; "I will neither eat nor +drink, till my lord arise and eat with me." "Thou vowest more than +thou canst perform. He is dead already. Nay, thou shalt drink." +With the word, he strode to her and thrust into her hand a goblet +brimming with wine, crying, "Drink." "Nay, lord," she said, "I +beseech you, spare me and be pitiful." "Gentleness avails nothing +with thee," cried the Earl in wrath; "thou hast scorned my fair +courtesy. Thou shalt taste the contrary." So saying, he smote her +across the face. + +Then Enid, knowing all her helplessness, uttered an exceeding +bitter cry, and the sound roused Geraint. Grasping his sword, with +one bound he was upon the Earl and, with one blow, shore his neck +in two. Then those who sat at meat fled shrieking, for they +believed that the dead had come to life. + +But Geraint gazed upon Enid and his heart smote him, thinking of +the sorrow he had brought upon her. "Lady and sweet wife," he +cried, "for the wrong I have done thee, pardon me. For, hearing thy +words not three days since at morn, I doubted thy love and thy +loyalty. But now I know thee and trust thee beyond the power of +words to shake my faith." "Ah! my lord," cried Enid, "fly, lest +they return and slay thee." "Knowest thou where is my charger?" "I +will bring thee to it." So they found the war-horse and Geraint +mounted it, setting Enid behind him; thus they went forth in the +direction of the nearest town, that they might find rest and +succour. Then, as they rode, there came forth from a glade of the +forest a knight, who, seeing Geraint, at once laid lance in rest as +if he would ride upon him. And Enid, fearing for her husband, +shrieked aloud, crying: "Noble knight, whosoever ye be, encounter +not with a man nigh wounded to the death." Immediately the knight +raised his lance and looking more attentively upon, them, he +exclaimed: "What! is it Prince Geraint? Pardon me, noble knight, +that I knew you not at once. I am that Edeyrn whom once ye +overthrew and spared. At Arthur's court, whither ye sent me, I was +shown kindness and courtesy little deserved, and now am I knight of +Arthur's Round Table. But how came ye in such a case?" Then Geraint +told him of his encounter with the three caitiffs, and how he had +afterwards been borne to the castle of Earl Limours. "To do justice +on that same felon is Arthur himself here even now," cried Edeyrn. +"His camp is hard by." Then Geraint told Edeyrn how Limours lay +dead in his own halls, justly punished for the many wrongs he had +done, and how his people were scattered. "Come then yourself to +greet the King and tell him what has chanced." So he led the way to +Arthur's camp, where it lay in the forest hard by. Then were they +welcomed by the King himself and a tent assigned to them, where +Geraint rested until his wounds were healed. + +Never again, from that time forth, had Geraint a doubt of the love +and truth of Enid; and never from that time had she to mourn that +he seemed to set small store by his knightly fame. For after he was +cured, they returned to their own land, and there Geraint upheld +the King's justice, righting wrong and putting down robbery and +oppression, so that the people blessed him and his gentle wife. +Year by year, his fame grew, till his name was known through all +lands; and at last, when his time was come, he died a knightly +death, as he had lived a knightly life, in the service of his lord, +King Arthur. + + + + +BOOK VI + +THE LADY OF THE FOUNTAIN + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +THE LADY OF THE FOUNTAIN + + +King Arthur was holding his court at Caerleon-upon-Usk, and it was +the time of the evening banquet, when there entered the hall the +good knight, Sir Kynon. A brave warrior was he, and of good +counsel, but he seemed in weary plight as, after due salutation to +all, he took his place at the Round Table. So it was that all were +eager to hear of his adventure, yet none would question him until +he had eaten and drunk. But when he was refreshed, the King said to +him: "Whence come ye, Sir Kynon? For it would seem that ye have met +with hard adventure." "Sir King," answered Kynon, "it has been with +me as never before; for I have encountered with, and been +overthrown by, a single knight." All were filled with wonder at his +words, for never before had Sir Kynon been worsted in any meeting, +man to man. Then said the King: "The stoutest of us must some time +meet his match; yet did ye bear you valiantly, I doubt not. Tell us +now, I pray you, of your adventures." "Noble lord," said Kynon, "I +had determined to journey into other lands; for I would seek new +and untried adventures. So I passed into a far land, and it +chanced, one day, that I found myself in the fairest valley I had +ever seen. Through it there flowed a mighty river, which I +followed, until I came, as evening fell, to a castle, the largest +and strongest I have ever seen. At the castle gate I espied a man +of right noble mien, who greeted me courteously, and bade me enter. +So as we sat at supper, he inquired of my journey and the quest I +followed, and I told him how I sought but adventure, and whether, +perchance, I might encounter one stronger than myself. Then the +lord of the castle smiled and said: 'I can bring you to such an +one, if ye would rather that I showed you your disadvantage than +your advantage.' And when I questioned him further, he replied: +'Sleep here this night, and to-morrow I will show you such an one +as ye seek.' So I rested that night, and with the dawn I rose and +took my leave of the lord of the castle, who said to me: 'If ye +will persevere in your quest, follow the path to the head of the +glade, and ascend the wooded steep until ye come to an open space +in the forest, with but one great tree in its midst. Under the tree +is a fountain, and beside it a marble slab to which is chained a +silver bowl. Take a bowlful of water and dash it upon the slab, and +presently there will appear a knight spurring to encounter with +you. If ye flee, he will pursue, but if ye overcome him, there +exists none in this world whom ye need fear to have ado with.' + +"Forthwith I departed, and following these directions, I came at +last to such a space as he described, with the tree and fountain in +its midst. So I took the bowl and dashed water from the fountain +upon the marble slab, and, on the instant, came a clap of thunder +so loud as near deafened me, and a storm of hailstones the biggest +that ever man saw. Scarce was I recovered from my confusion, when I +saw a knight galloping towards me. All in black was he, and he rode +a black horse. Not a word we spoke, but we dashed against each +other, and at the first encounter I was unhorsed. Still not a word +spoke the Black Knight, but passing the butt-end of his lance +through my horse's reins, rode away, leaving me shamed and on foot. +So I made my way back to the castle, and there I was entertained +again that night right hospitably, none questioning me as to my +adventure. The next morning, when I rose, there awaited me a noble +steed, ready saddled and bridled, and I rode away and am returned +hither. And now ye know my story and my shame." + +Then were all grieved for the discomfiture of Sir Kynon, who had +ever borne himself boldly and courteously to all; and they strove +to console him as best they might. Presently there rose from his +siege the good knight Sir Owain of Rheged, and said: "My lord, I +pray you, give me leave to take upon me this adventure. For I would +gladly seek this wondrous fountain and encounter with this same +Black Knight." So the King consented, and on the morrow Sir Owain +armed him, mounted his horse, and rode forth the way Sir Kynon had +directed him. + +So he journeyed many a day until at last he reached the valley of +which Sir Kynon had told, and presently he came to the strong +castle and, at the gate, met the lord thereof, even as Sir Kynon +had done. And the lord of the castle gave him a hearty welcome and +made him good cheer, asking nothing of his errand till they were +seated about the board. Then, when questioned, Sir Owain declared +his quest, that he sought the knight who guarded the fountain. So +the lord of the castle, failing to dissuade Sir Owain from the +adventure, directed him how he might find the forest glade wherein +was the wondrous fountain. + +With the dawn, Sir Owain rose, mounted his horse, and rode forward +until he had found the fountain. Then he dashed water on the marble +slab and instantly there burst over him the fearful hailstorm, and +through it there came pricking towards him the Black Knight on the +black steed. In the first onset, they broke their lances and then, +drawing sword, they fought blade to blade. Sore was the contest, +but at the last Owain dealt the Black Knight so fierce a blow that +the sword cut through helmet and bone to the very brain. Then the +Black Knight knew that he had got his death-wound, and turning his +horse's head, fled as fast as he might, Sir Owain following close +behind. So they came, fast galloping, to the gate of a mighty +castle, and instantly the portcullis was raised and the Black +Knight dashed through the gateway. But Sir Owain, following close +behind, found himself a prisoner, fast caught between two gates; +for as the Black Knight passed through the inner of the two gates, +it was closed before Sir Owain could follow. For the moment none +noticed Sir Owain, for all were busied about the Black Knight, who +drew not rein till he was come to the castle hall; then as he +strove to dismount, he fell from his saddle, dead. + +All this Sir Owain saw through the bars of the gate that held him +prisoner; and he judged that his time was come, for he doubted not +but that the people of the castle would hold his life forfeit for +the death of their lord. So as he waited, suddenly there stood at +his side a fair damsel, who, laying finger on lip, motioned to him +to follow her. Much wondering, he obeyed, and climbed after her up +a dark winding staircase, that led from the gateway into a tiny +chamber high in the tower. There she set food and wine before him, +bidding him eat; then when he was refreshed, she asked him his name +and whence he came. "Truly," answered he, "I am Owain of Rheged, +knight of King Arthur's Round Table, who, in fair fight, have +wounded, I doubt not to the death, the Black Knight that guards the +fountain and, as I suppose, the lord of this castle. Wherefore, +maiden, if ye intend me evil, lead me where I may answer for my +deed, boldly, man to man." "Nay," answered the damsel eagerly, "in +a good hour ye are come. Well I know your name, for even here have +we heard of your mighty deeds; and by good fortune it may be that +ye shall release my lady." "Who is your lady?" asked Sir Owain. +"None other than the rightful Chatelaine of this castle and +Countess of broad lands besides; but this year and more has the +Black Knight held her prisoner in her own halls because she would +not listen to his suit." "Then lead me to your lady forthwith," +cried Sir Owain; "right gladly will I take her quarrel upon me if +there be any that will oppose me." So she led him to the Countess' +bower, and there he made him known to the fair lady and proffered +her his services. And she that had long deemed there was no +deliverance for her, accepted them right gladly. So taking her by +the hand, he led her down to the hall, and there, standing at the +door, he proclaimed her the lawful lady of that castle and all its +lands, and himself ready to do battle in her cause. But none +answered his challenge, for those that had held with the Black +Knight, deprived of their leader, had lost heart, whereas they that +for their loyalty to their lady had been held in subjection, +gathered fast about Sir Owain, ready to do battle. So in short +space, Sir Owain drove forth the lawless invaders of the Countess' +lands, and called together her vassals that they might do homage +to her anew. + +Thus he abode in the castle many days, seeking in all that he might +to do her service, until through all her lands order was restored, +and her right acknowledged. But when all was done, Sir Owain yet +tarried in the lady's castle; for he loved her much, but doubted +ever of her favour. So one day, Luned, the damsel who had come to +his aid on the day that he slew the Black Knight, said to him: +"Alas! Sir Knight, the time must come when ye will leave us. And +who will then defend my lady's fountain, which is the key to all +her lands? For who holds the fountain, holds the land also." "I +will never fail your lady while there is breath in my body," cried +Sir Owain. "Then were it well that ye stayed here ever," answered +Luned. "Gladly would I," answered Sir Owain, "if that I might." "Ye +might find a way if your wits were as sharp as your sword," she +answered, and laughing, left him, but herself sought her lady. Long +he pondered her words, and he was still deep in thought, when there +came to him the Countess, and said: "Sir Knight, I hear that ye +must leave us." "Nay, my lady," answered Sir Owain, "I will stay as +long as ye require my services." "There must ever be one to guard +the fountain, and he who guards the fountain, is lord of these +lands," answered the lady softly. Then Sir Owain found words at +last, and bending the knee, he said: "Lady, if ye love me, I will +stay and guard you and your lands; and if ye love me not, I will go +into my own country, and yet will I come again whensoever ye have +need of me. For never loved I any but you." Then the Countess bade +him stay, and calling her vassals together, she commanded all to do +homage to him, and took him for her husband in presence of them +all. + +Thus Sir Owain won the Lady of the Fountain. + + + + +BOOK VII + +SIR PEREDUR + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +THE ADVENTURES OF SIR PEREDUR + + +At one time there was in the North of Britain a great Earl named +Evrawc. A stout knight he was, and few were the tournaments at +which he was not to be found in company with six of his sons; the +seventh only, who was too young to bear arms, remaining at home +with his mother. But at the last, after he had won the prize at +many a tourney, Earl Evrawc was slain, and his six sons with him; +and then the Countess fled with Peredur, her youngest, to a lonely +spot in the midst of a forest, far from the dwellings of men; for +she was minded to bring him up where he might never hear of jousts +and feats of arms, that so at least one son might be left to her. + +So Peredur was reared amongst women and decrepit old men, and even +these were strictly commanded never to tell the boy aught of the +great world beyond the forest, or what men did therein. None the +less, he grew up active and fearless, as nimble and sure-footed as +the goats, and patient of much toil. + +Then, one day, when Peredur was grown a tall, strong youth, there +chanced what had never chanced before; for there came riding +through the forest, hard by where Peredur dwelt with his mother, a +knight in full armour, none other, indeed, than the good knight, +Sir Owain himself. And seeing him, Peredur cried out: "Mother, what +is that, yonder?" "An angel, my son," said his mother. "Then will I +go and become an angel with him," said Peredur; and before any one +could stay him, he was gone. + +When Sir Owain saw him approaching, he reined in his horse, and +after courteous salutation, said: "I pray thee, fair youth, tell +me, hast thou seen a knight pass this way?" "I know not what a +knight may be," answered Peredur. "Why, even such an one as I," +answered Sir Owain. "If ye will tell me what I ask you, I will tell +you what ye ask me," said Peredur; and when Owain, laughing, +consented, Peredur touched the saddle, demanding, "What is this?" +"Surely, a saddle," replied Sir Owain; and, in like manner, Peredur +asked him of all the parts of his armour, and Owain answered him +patiently and courteously. Then when he had ended his questions, +Peredur said: "Ride forward; for yesterday I saw from a distance +such an one as ye are, ride through the forest." + +Sir Peredur returned to his mother, and exclaimed: "Mother, that +was no angel, but a noble knight"; and hearing his words, his +mother fell into a swoon. But Peredur hastened to the spot where +were tethered the horses that brought them firewood and food from +afar, and from them he chose a bony piebald, which seemed the +strongest and in the best condition. Then he found a pack and +fastened it on the horse's back, in some way to resemble a saddle, +and strove with twigs to imitate the trappings he had seen upon Sir +Owain's horse. When his preparations were complete, he returned to +the Countess, who, by then, was recovered from her swoon; and she +saw that all her trouble had been in vain, and that the time was +come when she must part with her son. "Thou wilt ride forth, my +son?" she asked. "Yea, with your leave," he answered. "Hear, then, +my counsel," said she; "go thy way to Arthur's court, for there are +the noblest and truest knights. And wheresoever thou seest a +church, fail not to say thy prayers, and whatsoever woman demands +thy aid, refuse her not." + +So, bidding his mother farewell, Peredur mounted his horse, and +took in his hand a long, sharp-pointed stake. He journeyed many +days till, at last, he had come to Caerleon, where Arthur held his +court, and dismounting at the door, he entered the hall. Even as he +did so, a stranger knight, who had passed in before him, seized a +goblet and, dashing the wine in the face of Queen Guenevere, held +the goblet aloft and cried: "If any dare dispute this goblet with +me or venture to avenge the insult done to Arthur's Queen, let him +follow me to the meadow without, where I will await him." + +And for sheer amazement at this insolence, none moved save Peredur, +who cried aloud: "I will seek out this man and do vengeance upon +him." Then a voice exclaimed: "Welcome, goodly Peredur, thou flower +of knighthood"; and all turned in surprise to look upon a little +misshapen dwarf, who, a year before, had craved and obtained +shelter in Arthur's court, and since then had spoken no word. But +Kay the Seneschal, in anger that a mere boy, and one so strangely +equipped as Peredur, should have taken up the Queen's quarrel when +proven knights had remained mute, struck the dwarf, crying: "Thou +art ill-bred to remain mute a year in Arthur's court, and then to +break silence in praise of such a fellow." Then Peredur, who saw +the blow, cried, as he left the hall: "Knight, hereafter ye shall +answer to me for that blow." Therewith, he mounted his piebald and +rode in haste to the meadow. And when the knight espied him, he +cried to him: "Tell me, youth, saw'st thou any coming after me from +the court?" "I am come myself," said Peredur. "Hold thy peace," +answered the knight angrily, "and go back to the court and say +that, unless one comes in haste, I will not tarry, but will ride +away, holding them all shamed." "By my faith," said Peredur, +"willingly or unwillingly, thou shalt answer to me for thine +insolence; and I will have the goblet of thee, ay, and thy horse +and armour to boot." With that, in a rage, the knight struck +Peredur a violent blow between the neck and the shoulder with the +butt-end of his lance. "So!" cried Peredur, "not thus did my +mother's servants play with me; and thus will I play with thee"; +and drove at him with his pointed stake that it entered the eye of +the knight, who forthwith fell dead from his horse. Then Peredur +dismounted and began wrenching at the fastenings of the dead man's +armour, for he saw in the adventure the means of equipping himself +as a knight should ride; but knowing not the trick of the +fastenings, his efforts were in vain. While he yet struggled, there +rode up Sir Owain who had followed in hot haste from the court; and +when he saw the fallen knight, he was amazed that a mere lad, +unarmed and unskilled in knightly exercises, should thus have +prevailed. "Fair youth," said he, "what would ye?" "I would have +this knight's iron coat, but I cannot stir it for all my efforts." +"Nay, young Sir," said Sir Owain, "leave the dead his arms, and +take mine and my horse, which I give you right gladly; and come +with me to the King to receive the order of knighthood, for, by my +faith, ye have shown yourself worthy of it." "I thank you, noble +Sir," answered Peredur, "and gladly I accept your gift; but I will +not go with you now. Rather will I seek other adventures and prove +me further first; nor will I seek the King's presence until I have +encountered with the tall knight that so misused the dwarf, and +have called him to account. Only, I pray you, take this goblet to +Queen Guenevere, and say to my lord, King Arthur, that, in all +places and at all times, I am his true vassal, and will render him +such service as I may." Then, with Sir Owain's help, Peredur put on +the armour, and mounting his horse, after due salutation, rode on +his way. + +So, for many days, Peredur followed his adventures, and many a +knight he met and overthrew. To all he yielded grace, requiring +only that they should ride to Caerleon, there to give themselves up +to the King's pleasure, and say that Peredur had sent them. At last +he came to a fair castle that rose from the shores of a lake, and +there he was welcomed by a venerable old man who pressed him to +make some stay. So, as they sat at supper, the old man asked +Peredur many questions of himself and his adventure, gazing +earnestly on him the while; and, at last, he said: "I know thee who +thou art. Thou art my sister's son. Stay now with me, and I will +teach thee the arts and courtesy and noble bearing of a gentle +knight, and give thee the degree when thou art accomplished in all +that becomes an honourable knight." Thereto Peredur assented +gladly, and remained with his uncle until he had come to a perfect +knowledge of chivalry; after that, he received the order of +knighthood at the old man's hands, and rode forth again to seek +adventures. Presently he came to the city of Caerleon, but though +Arthur was there with all his court, Sir Peredur chose to make +himself known to none; for he had not yet avenged the dwarf on Sir +Kay. Now it chanced, as he walked through the city, he saw at her +casement a beautiful maiden whose name was Angharad; and at once he +knew that he had seen the damsel whom he must love his life long. +So he sought to be acquainted with her, but she scorned him, +thinking him but some unproved knight, since he consorted not with +those of Arthur's court; and, at last, finding he might in no wise +win her favour at that time, he made a vow that never would he +speak to Christian man or woman until he had gained her love, and +forthwith rode away again. After long journeyings, he came one +night to a castle, and, knocking, gained admittance and courteous +reception from the lady who owned it. But it seemed to Sir Peredur +that there hung over all a gloom, none caring to talk or make +merry, though there was no lack of the consideration due to a +guest. Then when the evening hour was come, they took their places +at the board, Peredur being set at the Countess' right hand; and +two nuns entered and placed before the lady a flagon of wine and +six white loaves, and that was all the fare. Then the Countess gave +largely of the food to Sir Peredur, keeping little for herself and +her attendants; but this pleased not the knight, who, heedless of +his oath, said: "Lady, permit me to fare as do the others," and he +took but a small portion of that which she had given him. Then the +Countess, blushing as with shame, said to him: "Sir Knight, if we +make you poor cheer, far otherwise is our desire, but we are in +sore straits." "Madam," answered Peredur courteously, "for your +welcome I thank you heartily; and, I pray you, if there is aught in +which a knight may serve you, tell me your trouble." Then the +Countess told him how she had been her father's one child, and heir +to his broad lands; and how a neighbouring baron had sought her +hand; but she, misliking him, had refused his suit, so that his +wrath was great. Then, when her father died, he had made war upon +her, overrunning all her lands till nothing was left to her but the +one castle. Long since, all the provision stored therein was +consumed, and she must have yielded her to the oppressor but for +the charity of the nuns of a neighbouring monastery, who had +secretly supplied her with food when, for fear, her vassals had +forsaken her. But that day the nuns had told her that no longer +could they aid her, and there was naught left save to submit to the +invader. This was the story that, with many tears, the Countess +related to Peredur. "Lady," said he, "with your permission, I will +take upon me your quarrel, and to-morrow I will seek to encounter +this felon." The Countess thanked him heartily and they retired to +rest for that night. + +In the morning betimes, Sir Peredur arose, donned his armour and, +seeking the Countess, desired that the portcullis might be raised, +for he would sally forth to seek her oppressor. So he rode out from +the castle and saw in the morning light a plain covered with the +tents of a great host. With him he took a herald to proclaim that +he was ready to meet any in fair fight, in the Countess' quarrel. +Forthwith, in answer to his challenge, there rode forward the baron +himself, a proud and stately knight mounted on a great black +horse. The two rushed together, and, at the first encounter, Sir +Peredur unhorsed his opponent, bearing him over the crupper with +such force that he lay stunned, as one dead. Then, Peredur, drawing +his sword, dismounted and stood over the fallen knight, who, when +he was recovered a little, asked his mercy. "Gladly will I grant +it," answered Peredur, "but on these conditions. Ye shall disband +this host, restore to the Countess threefold all of which ye have +deprived her, and, finally, ye shall submit yourself unto her as +her vassal." All this the baron promised to do, and Peredur +remained with the Countess in her castle until she was firmly +established in that which was rightfully hers. Then he bade her +farewell, promising his aid if ever she should need his services, +and so rode forth again. + +And as he rode, at times he was troubled, thinking on the scorn +with which the fair Angharad had treated him, and reproaching +himself bitterly for having broken his vow of silence. So he +journeyed many days, and at length, one morn, dismounting by a +little woodland stream, he stood lost in thought, heedless of his +surroundings. Now, as it chanced, Arthur and a company of his +knights were encamped hard by; for, returning from an expedition, +the King had been told of Peredur and how he had taken upon him the +Queen's quarrel, and forthwith had ridden out in search of him. +When the King espied Sir Peredur standing near the brook, he said +to the knights about him: "Know ye yonder knight?" "I know him +not," said Sir Kay, "but I will soon learn his name." So he rode +up to Sir Peredur and spoke to him, demanding his name. When +Peredur answered not, though questioned more than once, Sir Kay in +anger, struck him with the butt-end of his spear. On the instant, +Sir Peredur caught him with his lance under the jaw, and, though +himself unmounted, hurled Kay from the saddle. Then when Kay +returned not, Sir Owain mounted his horse and rode forth to learn +what had happened, and by the brook he found Sir Kay sore hurt, and +Peredur ready mounted to encounter any who sought a quarrel. But at +once Sir Owain recognised Sir Peredur and rejoiced to see him; and +when he found Sir Peredur would speak no word, being himself an +honourable knight, he thought no evil, but urged him to ride back +with him to Arthur's camp. And Sir Peredur, still speaking never a +word, went with Sir Owain, and all respected his silence save Kay, +who was long healing of the injuries he had received, and whose +angry words none heeded. So they returned to Caerleon and soon, +through the city, were noised the noble deeds of Sir Peredur, each +new-comer bringing some fresh story of his prowess. Then when +Angharad learnt how true and famous was the knight whom she had +lightly esteemed, she was sore ashamed; and seeing him ever +foremost in the tournament and courteous to all in deed, though +speaking not a word; she thought that never had there been so noble +a knight, or one so worthy of a lady's love. Thus in the winning of +her favour, Sir Peredur was released from his vow, and his marriage +was celebrated with much pomp before the King and Queen. Long and +happily he lived, famed through all Britain as one of the most +valiant and faithful knights of King Arthur's Round Table. + + + + +BOOK VIII + +THE HOLY GRAIL + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +THE COMING OF SIR GALAHAD + + +Many times had the Feast of Pentecost come round, and many were the +knights that Arthur had made since first he founded the Order of +the Round Table; yet no knight had appeared who dared claim the +seat named by Merlin the Siege Perilous. At last, one vigil of the +great feast, a lady came to Arthur's court at Camelot and asked Sir +Launcelot to ride with her into the forest hard by, for a purpose +not then to be revealed. Launcelot consenting, they rode together +until they came to a nunnery hidden deep in the forest; and there +the lady bade Launcelot dismount, and led him into a great and +stately room. Presently there entered twelve nuns and with them a +youth, the fairest that Launcelot had ever seen. "Sir," said the +nuns, "we have brought up this child in our midst, and now that he +is grown to manhood, we pray you make him knight, for of none +worthier could he receive the honour." "Is this thy own desire?" +asked Launcelot of the young squire; and when he said that so it +was, Launcelot promised to make him knight after the great festival +had been celebrated in the church next day. + +So on the morrow, after they had worshipped, Launcelot knighted +Galahad--for that was the youth's name--and asked him if he would +ride at once with him to the King's court; but the young knight +excusing himself, Sir Launcelot rode back alone to Camelot, where +all rejoiced that he was returned in time to keep the feast with +the whole Order of the Round Table. + +Now, according to his custom, King Arthur was waiting for some +marvel to befall before he and his knights sat down to the banquet. +Presently a squire entered the hall and said: "Sir King, a great +wonder has appeared. There floats on the river a mighty stone, as +it were a block of red marble, and it is thrust through by a sword, +the hilt of which is set thick with precious stones." On hearing +this, the King and all his knights went forth to view the stone +and found it as the squire had said; moreover, looking closer, they +read these words: "None shall draw me hence, but only he by whose +side I must hang; and he shall be the best knight in all the +world." Immediately, all bade Launcelot draw forth the sword, but +he refused, saying that the sword was not for him. Then, at the +King's command, Sir Gawain made the attempt and failed, as did Sir +Percivale after him. So the knights knew the adventure was not for +them, and returning to the hall, took their places about the Round +Table. + +No sooner were they seated than an aged man, clothed all in white, +entered the hall, followed by a young knight in red armour, by +whose side hung an empty scabbard. The old man approached King +Arthur and bowing low before him, said: "Sir, I bring you a young +knight of the house and lineage of Joseph of Arimathea, and through +him shall great glory be won for all the land of Britain." Greatly +did King Arthur rejoice to hear this, and welcomed the two right +royally. Then when the young knight had saluted the King, the old +man led him to the Siege Perilous and drew off its silken cover; +and all the knights were amazed, for they saw that where had been +engraved the words, "The Siege Perilous," was written now in +shining gold: "This is the Siege of the noble prince, Sir Galahad." +Straightway the young man seated himself there where none other had +ever sat without danger to his life; and all who saw it said, one +to another: "Surely this is he that shall achieve the Holy Grail." +Now the Holy Grail was the blessed dish from which Our Lord had +eaten the Last Supper, and it had been brought to the land of +Britain by Joseph of Arimathea; but because of men's sinfulness, it +had been withdrawn from human sight, only that, from time to time, +it appeared to the pure in heart. + +When all had partaken of the royal banquet, King Arthur bade Sir +Galahad come with him to the river's brink; and showing him the +floating stone with the sword thrust through it, told him how his +knights had failed to draw forth the sword. "Sir," said Galahad, +"it is no marvel that they failed, for the adventure was meant for +me, as my empty scabbard shows." So saying, lightly he drew the +sword from the heart of the stone, and lightly he slid it into the +scabbard at his side. While all yet wondered at this adventure of +the sword, there came riding to them a lady on a white palfrey who, +saluting King Arthur, said: "Sir King, Nacien the hermit sends thee +word that this day shall great honour be shown to thee and all +thine house; for the Holy Grail shall appear in thy hall, and thou +and all thy fellowship shall be fed therefrom." And to Launcelot +she said: "Sir Knight, thou hast ever been the best knight of all +the world; but another has come to whom thou must yield +precedence." Then Launcelot answered humbly: "I know well I was +never the best." "Ay, of a truth thou wast and art still, of sinful +men," said she, and rode away before any could question her +further. + +So, that evening, when all were gathered about the Round Table, +each knight in his own siege, suddenly there was heard a crash of +thunder, so mighty that the hall trembled, and there flashed into +the hall a sun-beam, brighter far than any that had ever before +been seen; and then, draped all in white samite, there glided +through the air what none might see, yet what all knew to be the +Holy Grail. And all the air was filled with sweet odours, and on +every one was shed a light in which he looked fairer and nobler +than ever before. So they sat in an amazed silence, till presently +King Arthur rose and gave thanks to God for the grace given to him +and to his court. Then up sprang Sir Gawain and made his avow to +follow for a year and a day the Quest of the Holy Grail, if +perchance he might be granted the vision of it. Immediately other +of the knights followed his example, binding themselves to the +Quest of the Holy Grail until, in all, one hundred and fifty had +vowed themselves to the adventure. + +Then was King Arthur grieved, for he foresaw the ruin of his noble +Order. And turning to Sir Gawain, he said: "Nephew ye have done +ill, for through you I am bereft of the noblest company of knights +that ever brought honour to any realm in Christendom. Well I know +that never again shall all of you gather in this hall, and it +grieves me to lose men I have loved as my life and through whom I +have won peace and righteousness for all my realm." So the King +mourned and his knights with him, but their oaths they could not +recall. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +HOW SIR GALAHAD WON THE RED-CROSS SHIELD + + +Great woe was there in Camelot next day when, after worship in the +Cathedral, the knights who had vowed themselves to the Quest of the +Holy Grail got to horse and rode away. A goodly company it was that +passed through the streets, the townfolk weeping to see them go; +Sir Launcelot du Lac and his kin, Sir Galahad of whom all expected +great deeds, Sir Bors and Sir Percivale, and many another scarcely +less famed than they. So they rode together that day to the Castle +of Vagon, where they were entertained right hospitably, and the +next day they separated, each to ride his own way and see what +adventures should befall him. + +So it came to pass that, after four days' ride, Sir Galahad reached +an abbey. Now Sir Galahad was still clothed in red armour as when +he came to the King's court, and by his side hung the wondrous +sword; but he was without a shield. They of the abbey received him +right heartily, as also did the brave King Bagdemagus, Knight of +the Round Table, who was resting there. When they had greeted each +other, Sir Galahad asked King Bagdemagus what adventure had brought +him there. "Sir," said Bagdemagus, "I was told that in this abbey +was preserved a wondrous shield which none but the best knight in +the world might bear without grievous harm to himself. And though I +know well that there are better knights than I, to-morrow I purpose +to make the attempt. But, I pray you, bide at this monastery awhile +until you hear from me; and if I fail, do ye take the adventure +upon you." "So be it," said Sir Galahad. + +The next day, at their request, Sir Galahad and King Bagdemagus +were led into the church by a monk and shown where, behind the +altar, hung the wondrous shield, whiter than snow save for the +blood-red cross in its midst. Then the monk warned them of the +danger to any who, being unworthy, should dare to bear the shield. +But King Bagdemagus made answer: "I know well that I am not the +best knight in the world, yet will I try if I may bear it." So he +hung it about his neck, and, bidding farewell, rode away with his +squire. + +The two had not journeyed far before they saw a knight approach, +armed all in white mail and mounted upon a white horse. Immediately +he laid his spear in rest and, charging King Bagdemagus, pierced +him through the shoulder and bore him from his horse; and standing +over the wounded knight, he said: "Knight, thou hast shown great +folly, for none shall bear this shield save the peerless knight, +Sir Galahad." Then, taking the shield, he gave it to the squire and +said: "Bear this shield to the good Knight Galahad and greet him +well from me." "What is your name?" asked the squire, "That is not +for thee or any other to know." "One thing, I pray you," said the +squire; "why may this shield be borne by none but Sir Galahad +without danger?" "Because it belongs to him only," answered the +stranger knight, and vanished. + +Then the squire took the shield and, setting King Bagdemagus on his +horse, bore him back to the abbey where he lay long, sick unto +death. To Galahad the squire gave the shield and told him all that +had befallen. So Galahad hung the shield about his neck and rode +the way that Bagdemagus had gone the day before; and presently he +met the White Knight, whom he greeted courteously, begging that he +would make known to him the marvels of the red-cross shield. "That +will I gladly," answered the White Knight. "Ye must know, Sir +Knight, that this shield was made and given by Joseph of Arimathea +to the good King Evelake of Sarras, that, in the might of the holy +symbol, he should overthrow the heathen who threatened his kingdom. +But afterwards, King Evelake followed Joseph to this land of +Britain where they taught the true faith unto the people who before +were heathen. Then when Joseph lay dying, he bade King Evelake set +the shield in the monastery where ye lay last night, and foretold +that none should wear it without loss until that day when it should +be taken by the knight, ninth and last in descent from him, who +should come to that place the fifteenth day after receiving the +degree of knighthood. Even so has it been with you, Sir Knight." So +saying, the unknown knight disappeared and Sir Galahad rode on his +way. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +THE ADVENTURES OF SIR PERCIVALE + + +After he had left his fellows, Sir Percivale rode long through the +forest until, one evening, he reached a monastery where he sought +shelter for the night. The next morning, he went into the chapel to +hear mass and there he espied the body of an old, old man, laid on +a richly adorned couch. At first it seemed as if the aged man were +dead, but presently, raising himself in his bed, he took off his +crown, and, delivering it to the priest, bade him place it on the +altar. So when the service was concluded, Sir Percivale asked who +the aged king might be. Then he was told that it was none other +than King Evelake who accompanied Joseph of Arimathea to Britain. +And on a certain occasion, the King had approached the Holy Grail +nigher than was reverent and, for his impiety, God had punished him +with blindness. Thereupon he repented and, entreating God +earnestly, had obtained his petition that he should not die until +he had seen the spotless knight who should be descended from him in +the ninth degree. (This his desire was fulfilled later when Sir +Galahad came thither; after which, he died and was buried by the +good knight.) + +The next day, Sir Percivale continued his journey and presently met +with twenty knights who bore on a bier the body of a dead knight. +When they espied Sir Percivale, they demanded of him who he was and +whence he came. So he told them, whereupon they all shouted, "Slay +him! slay him!" and setting upon him all at once, they killed his +horse and would have slain him but that the good knight, Sir +Galahad, passing that way by chance, came to his rescue and put his +assailants to flight. Then Galahad rode away as fast as he might, +for he would not be thanked, and Sir Percivale was left, horseless +and alone, in the forest. + +So Sir Percivale continued his journey on foot as well as he might; +and ever the way became lonelier, until at last he came to the +shores of a vast sea. There Sir Percivale abode many days, without +food and desolate, doubting whether he should ever escape thence. +At last it chanced that, looking out to sea, Sir Percivale descried +a ship and, as it drew nearer, he saw how it was all hung with +satin and velvet. Presently, it reached the land and out of it +there stepped a lady of marvellous beauty, who asked him how he +came there; "For know," said she, "ye are like to die here by +hunger or mischance." "He whom I serve will protect me," said Sir +Percivale. "I know well whom ye desire most to see," said the lady. +"Ye would meet with the Red Knight who bears the red-cross shield." +"Ah! lady, I pray you tell me where I may find him," cried Sir +Percivale. "With a good will," said the damsel; "if ye will but +promise me your service when I shall ask for it, I will lead you to +the knight, for I met him of late in the forest." So Sir Percivale +promised gladly to serve her when she should need him. Then the +lady asked him how long he had fasted. "For three days," answered +Sir Percivale. Immediately she gave orders to her attendants +forthwith to pitch a tent and set out a table with all manner of +delicacies, and of these she invited Sir Percivale to partake. "I +pray you, fair lady," said Sir Percivale, "who are ye that show me +such kindness?" "Truly," said the lady, "I am but a hapless damsel, +driven forth from my inheritance by a great lord whom I have +chanced to displease. I implore you, Sir Knight, by your vows of +knighthood, to give me your aid." Sir Percivale promised her all +the aid he could give, and then she bade him lie down and sleep, +and herself took off his helmet, and unclasped his sword-belt. So +Sir Percivale slept, and when he waked, there was another feast +prepared, and he was given the rarest and the strongest wines that +ever he had tasted. Thus they made merry and, when the lady begged +Percivale to rest him there awhile, promising him all that ever he +could desire if he would vow himself to her service, almost he +forgot the quest to which he was vowed, and would have consented, +but that his eye fell upon his sword where it lay. Now in the +sword-hilt there was set a red cross and, seeing it, Percivale +called to mind his vow, and, thinking on it, he signed him with the +cross on his forehead. Instantly, the tent was overthrown and +vanished in thick smoke; and she who had appeared a lovely woman +disappeared from his sight in semblance of a fiend. + +Then was Sir Percivale sore ashamed that almost he had yielded to +the temptings of the Evil One, and earnestly, he prayed that his +sin might be forgiven him. Thus he remained in prayer far into the +night, bewailing his weakness; and when the dawn appeared, a ship +drew nigh the land. Sir Percivale entered into it, but could find +no one there; so commending himself to God, he determined to remain +thereon, and was borne over the seas for many days, he knew not +whither. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + +THE ADVENTURES OF SIR BORS + + +Among the knights vowed to the Quest of the Holy Grail was Sir +Bors, one of the kin of Sir Launcelot, a brave knight and pious. He +rode through the forest many a day, making his lodging most often +under a leafy tree, though once on his journey he stayed at a +castle, that he might do battle for its lady against a felon knight +who would have robbed and oppressed her. + +So, on a day, as he rode through the forest, Sir Bors came to the +parting of two ways. While he was considering which he should +follow, he espied two knights driving before them a horse on which +was stretched, bound and naked, none other than Sir Bors' own +brother, Sir Lionel; and, from time to time, the two false knights +beat him with thorns so that his body was all smeared with blood, +but, so great was his heart, Sir Lionel uttered never a word. Then, +in great wrath, Sir Bors laid his lance in rest and would have +fought the felon knights to rescue his brother, but that, even as +he spurred his horse, there came a bitter cry from the other path +and, looking round, he saw a lady being dragged by a knight into +the darkest part of the forest where none might find and rescue +her. When she saw Sir Bors, she cried to him: "Help me! Sir Knight, +help me! I beseech you by your knighthood." Then Sir Bors was much +troubled, for he would not desert his brother; but bethinking him +that ever a woman must be more helpless than a man, he wheeled his +horse, rode upon her captor and beat him to the earth. The damsel +thanked him earnestly and told him how the knight was her own +cousin, who had that day carried her off by craft from her father's +castle. As they talked, there came up twelve knights who had been +seeking the lady everywhere; so to their care Sir Bors delivered +her, and rode with haste in the direction whither his brother had +been borne. On the way, he met with an old man, dressed as a +priest, who asked him what he sought. When Sir Bors had told him, +"Ah! Bors," said he, "I can give you tidings indeed. Your brother +is dead"; and parting the bushes, he showed him the body of a dead +man, to all seeming Sir Lionel's self. Then Sir Bors grieved +sorely, misdoubting almost whether he should not have rescued his +own brother rather than the lady; and at the last, he dug a grave +and buried the dead man; after which he rode sorrowfully on his +way. + +When he had ridden many days, he met with a yeoman whom he asked if +there were any adventures in those parts. "Sir," said the man, "at +the castle; hard by, they hold a great tournament." Sir Bors +thanked him and rode along the way pointed out to him; and +presently, as he passed a hermitage, whom should he see sitting at +its door but his brother, Sir Lionel, whom he had believed dead. +Then in great joy, he leaped from his horse, and running to Lionel, +cried: "Fair brother, how came ye hither?" "Through no aid of +yours," said Sir Lionel angrily; "for ye left me bound and beaten, +to ride to the rescue of a maiden. Never was brother so dealt with +by brother before. Keep you from me as ye may!" When Sir Bors +understood that his brother would slay him, he knelt before him +entreating his pardon. Sir Lionel took no heed, but mounting his +horse and taking his lance, cried: "Keep you from me, traitor! +Fight, or die!" And Sir Bors moved not; for to him it seemed a sin +most horrible that brother should fight with brother. Then Sir +Lionel, in his rage, rode his horse at him, bore him to the ground +and trampled him under the horse's hoofs, till Bors lay beaten to +the earth in a swoon. Even so, Sir Lionel's anger was not stayed; +for, alighting, he drew his sword and would have smitten off his +brother's head, but that the holy hermit, hearing the noise of +conflict, ran out of the hermitage and threw himself upon Sir Bors. +"Gentle knight," he cried, "have mercy upon him and on thyself; for +of the sin of slaying thy brother, thou couldst never be quit." +"Sir Priest," said Lionel, "if ye leave him not, I shall slay you +too." "It were a lesser sin than to slay thy brother," answered the +hermit. "So be it," cried Lionel, and with one blow, struck off the +hermit's head. Then he would have worked his evil will upon his +brother too, but that, even as he was unlacing Sir Bors' helm to +cut off his head, there rode up the good knight Sir Colgrevance, a +fellow of the Round Table. When he saw the dead hermit and was +aware how Lionel sought the life of Bors, he was amazed, and +springing from his horse, ran to Lionel and dragged him back from +his brother. "Do ye think to hinder me?" said Sir Lionel. "Let +come who will, I will have his life." "Ye shall have to do with me +first," cried Colgrevance. Therewith, they took their swords, and, +setting their shields before them, rushed upon each other. Now Sir +Colgrevance was a good knight, but Sir Lionel was strong and his +anger added to his strength. So long they fought that Sir Bors had +time to recover from his swoon, and raising himself with pain on +his elbow, saw how the two fought for his life; and as it seemed, +Sir Lionel would prevail, for Sir Colgrevance grew weak and weary. +Sir Bors tried to get to his feet, but, so weak he was, he could +not stand; and Sir Colgrevance, seeing him stir, called on him to +come to his aid, for he was in mortal peril for his sake. But even +as he called, Sir Lionel cut him to the ground and, as one +possessed, rushed upon his brother to slay him. Sir Bors entreated +him for mercy, and when he would not, sorrowfully he took his +sword, saying: "Now, God forgive me, though I defend my life +against my brother." + +Immediately there was heard a voice saying, "Flee, Bors, and touch +not thy brother"; and at the same time, a fiery cloud burned +between them, so that their shields glowed with the flame, and both +knights fell to the earth. But the voice came again, saying, "Bors, +leave thy brother and take thy way to the sea. There thou shalt +meet Sir Percivale." Then Sir Bors made ready to obey, and, turning +to Lionel, said: "Dear brother, I pray you forgive me for aught in +which I have wronged you." "I forgive you," said Lionel, for he was +too amazed and terrified to keep his anger. + +So Sir Bors continued his journey, and at the last, coming to the +sea shore, he espied a ship, draped all with white samite, and +entering thereon, he saw Sir Percivale, and much they rejoiced them +in each other's company. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + +THE ADVENTURES OF SIR LAUNCELOT + + +After Sir Launcelot had parted from his fellows at the Castle of +Vagon, he rode many days through the forest without adventure, till +he chanced upon a knight close by a little hermitage in the wood. +Immediately, as was the wont of errant knights, they prepared to +joust, and Launcelot, whom none before had overthrown, was borne +down, man and horse, by the stranger knight. Thereupon a nun, who +dwelt in the hermitage, cried: "God be with thee, best knight in +all this world," for she knew the victor for Sir Galahad. But +Galahad, not wishing to be known, rode swiftly away; and presently +Sir Launcelot got to horse again and rode slowly on his way, shamed +and doubting sorely in his heart whether this quest were meant for +him. + +When night fell, he came to a great stone cross which stood at the +parting of the way and close by a little ruined chapel. So Sir +Launcelot, being minded to pass the night there, alighted, fastened +his horse to a tree and hung his shield on a bough. Then he drew +near to the little chapel, and wondered to see how, all ruinous +though it was, yet within was an altar hung with silk and a great +silver candlestick on it; but when he sought entrance, he could +find none and, much troubled in his mind, he returned to his horse +where he had left it, and unlacing his helm and ungirding his +sword, laid him down to rest. + +Then it seemed to Sir Launcelot that, as he lay between sleeping +and waking, there passed him two white palfreys bearing a litter +wherein was a sick knight, who cried: "Sweet Lord, when shall I be +pardoned all my transgressions, and when shall the holy vessel come +to me, to cure me of my sickness?" And instantly it seemed that the +great candlestick came forth of itself from the chapel, floating +through the air before a table of silver on which was the Holy +Grail. Thereupon the sick knight raised himself, and on his bended +knees he approached so nigh that he kissed the holy vessel; and +immediately he cried: "I thank Thee, sweet Lord, that I am healed +of my sickness." And all the while Sir Launcelot, who saw this +wonder, felt himself held that he could not move. Then a squire +brought the stranger knight his weapons, in much joy that his lord +was cured. "Who think ye that this knight may be who remains +sleeping when the holy vessel is so near?" said the knight. "In +truth," said the squire, "he must be one that is held by the bond +of some great sin. I will take his helm and his sword, for here +have I brought you all your armour save only these two." So the +knight armed him from head to foot, and taking Sir Launcelot's +horse, rode away with his squire. On the instant, Sir Launcelot +awoke amazed, not knowing whether he had dreamed or not; but while +he wondered, there came a terrible voice, saying: "Launcelot, arise +and leave this holy place." In shame, Sir Launcelot turned to obey, +only to find horse and sword and shield alike vanished. Then, +indeed, he knew himself dishonoured. Weeping bitterly, he made the +best of his way on foot, until he came to a cell where a hermit was +saying prayer. Sir Launcelot knelt too, and, when all was ended, +called to the hermit, entreating him for counsel. "With good will," +said the hermit. So Sir Launcelot made himself known and told the +hermit all, lamenting how his good fortune was turned to +wretchedness and his glory to shame; and truly, the hermit was +amazed that Sir Launcelot should be in such case. "Sir," said he, +"God has given you manhood and strength beyond all other knights; +the more are ye bounden to his service." "I have sinned," said Sir +Launcelot; "for in all these years of my knighthood, I have done +everything for the honour and glory of my lady and naught for my +Maker; and little thank have I given to God for all his benefits to +me." Then the holy man gave Sir Launcelot good counsel and made him +rest there that night; and the next day he gave him a horse, a +sword and a helmet, and bade him go forth and bear himself knightly +as the servant of God. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + +HOW SIR LAUNCELOT SAW THE HOLY GRAIL + + +For many days after he had left the hermitage, Sir Launcelot rode +through the forest, but there came to him no such adventures as had +befallen him on other quests to the increase of his fame. At last, +one night-tide, he came to the shores of a great water and there he +lay down to sleep; but as he slept, a voice called on him: +"Launcelot, arise, put on thine armour and go on thy way until thou +comest to a ship. Into that thou shalt enter." Immediately, Sir +Launcelot started from his sleep to obey and, riding along the +shore, came presently to a ship beached on the strand; no sooner +had he entered it, than the ship was launched--how, he might not +know. So the ship sailed before the wind for many a day. No mortal +was on it, save only Sir Launcelot, yet were all his needs +supplied. Then, at last, the ship ran ashore at the foot of a great +castle; and it was midnight. Sir Launcelot waited not for the dawn, +but, his sword gripped in his hand, sprang ashore, and then, right +before him, he saw a postern where the gate stood open indeed, but +two grisly lions kept the way. And when Sir Launcelot would have +rushed upon the great beasts with his sword, it was struck from his +hand, and a voice said: "Ah! Launcelot, ever is thy trust in thy +might rather than thy Maker!" Sore ashamed, Sir Launcelot took his +sword and thrust it back into the sheath, and going forward, he +passed unhurt through the gateway, the lions that kept it falling +back from his path. So without more adventure, Launcelot entered +into the castle; and there he saw how every door stood open, save +only one, and that was fast barred, nor, with all his force, might +he open it. Presently from the chamber within came the sound of a +sweet voice in a holy chant, and then in his heart Launcelot knew +that he was come to the Holy Grail. So, kneeling humbly, he prayed +that to him might be shown some vision of that he sought. Forthwith +the door flew open and from the chamber blazed a light such as he +had never known before; but when he made to enter, a voice cried: +"Launcelot, forbear," and sorrowfully he withdrew. Then where he +knelt, far even from the threshold of the wondrous room, he saw a +silver table and, on it, covered with red samite, the Holy Grail. +At sight of that which he had sought so long, his joy became so +great that, unmindful of the warning, he advanced into the room and +drew nigh even to the Table itself. Then on the instant there burst +between him and it a blaze of light, and he fell to the ground. +There he lay, nor might he move nor utter any sound; only he was +aware of hands busy about him which bore him away from the chamber. + +For four-and-twenty days, Sir Launcelot lay as in a trance. At the +end of that time, he came to himself, and found those about him +that had tended him in his swoon. These, when they had given him +fresh raiment, brought him to the aged King--Pelles was his +name--that owned that castle. The King entertained him right +royally, for he knew of the fame of Sir Launcelot; and long he +talked with him of his quest and of the other knights who followed +it, for he was of a great age and knew much of men. At the end of +four days, he spoke to Sir Launcelot, bidding him return to +Arthur's court; "For," said he, "your quest is ended here, and all +that ye shall see of the Holy Grail, ye have seen." So Launcelot +rode on his way, grieving for the sin that hindered him from the +perfect vision of the Holy Grail, but thanking God for that which +he had seen. So in time he came to Camelot, and told to Arthur all +that had befallen him. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX + +THE END OF THE QUEST + + +After he had rescued Sir Percivale from the twenty knights who +beset him, Sir Galahad rode on his way till night-fall, when he +sought shelter at a little hermitage. Thither there came in the +night a damsel who desired to speak with Sir Galahad; so he arose +and went to her, "Galahad," said she, "arm you and mount your horse +and follow me, for I am come to guide you in your quest." So they +rode together until they had come to the sea-shore, and there the +damsel showed Galahad a great ship into which he must enter. Then +she bade him farewell, and he, going on to the ship, found there +already the good knights Sir Bors and Sir Percivale, who made much +joy of the meeting. They abode in that ship until they had come to +the castle of King Pelles, who welcomed them right gladly. Then, as +they all sat at supper that night, suddenly the hall was filled +with a great light, and the holy vessel appeared in their midst, +covered all in white samite. While they all rejoiced, there came a +voice saying: "My Knights whom I have chosen, ye have seen the +holy vessel dimly. Continue your journey to the city of Sarras and +there the perfect Vision shall be yours." + +Now in the city of Sarras had dwelt long time Joseph of Arimathea, +teaching its people the true faith, before ever he came into the +land of Britain; but when Sir Galahad and his fellows came there +after long voyage, they found it ruled by a heathen king named +Estorause, who cast them into a deep dungeon. There they were kept +a year, but at the end of that time, the tyrant died. Then the +great men of the land gathered together to consider who should be +their king; and, while they were in council, came a voice bidding +them take as their king the youngest of the three knights whom +Estorause had thrown into prison. So in fear and wonder they +hastened to the prison, and releasing the three knights, made +Galahad king as the voice had bidden them. + +Thus Sir Galahad became King of the famous city of Sarras, in far +Babylon. He had reigned a year when, one morning early, he and the +other two knights, his fellows, went into the chapel, and there +they saw, kneeling in prayer, an aged man, robed as a bishop, and +round him hovered many angels. The knights fell on their knees in +awe and reverence, whereupon he that seemed a bishop turned to them +and said: "I am Joseph of Arimathea, and I am come to show you the +perfect Vision of the Holy Grail." On the instant there appeared +before them, without veil or cover, the holy vessel, in a radiance +of light such as almost blinded them. Sir Bors and Sir Percivale, +when at length they were recovered from the brightness of that +glory, looked up to find that the holy Joseph and the wondrous +vessel had passed from their sight. Then they went to Sir Galahad +where he still knelt as in prayer, and behold, he was dead; for it +had been with him even as he had prayed; in the moment when he had +seen the vision, his soul had gone back to God. + +So the two knights buried him in that far city, themselves mourning +and all the people with them. And immediately after, Sir Percivale +put off his arms and took the habit of a monk, living a devout and +holy life until, a year and two months later, he also died and was +buried near Sir Galahad. Then Sir Bors armed him, and bidding +farewell to the city, sailed away until, after many weeks, he came +again to the land of Britain. There he took horse, and stayed not +till he had come to Camelot. Great was the rejoicing of Arthur and +all his knights when Sir Bors was once more among them. When he had +told all the adventures which had befallen him and the good +knights, his companions, all who heard were filled with amaze. But +the King, he caused the wisest clerks in the land to write in great +hooks this Quest of the Holy Grail, that the fame of it should +endure unto all time. + + + + +BOOK IX + +THE FAIR MAID OF ASTOLAT + + + + +CHAPTER XXX + +THE FAIR MAID OF ASTOLAT + + +At last, the Quest of the Holy Grail was ended, and by ones and +twos the knights came back to Camelot, though many who had set out +so boldly were never seen again about the Round Table. + +Great was the joy of King Arthur when Sir Launcelot and Sir Bors +returned, for, so long had they been away, that almost he had +feared that they had perished. In their honour there was high +festival for many days in London, where Arthur then had his court; +and the King made proclamation of a great tournament that he would +hold at Camelot, when he and the King of Northgalis would keep the +lists against all comers. + +So, one fair morning of spring, King Arthur made ready to ride to +Camelot and all his knights with him, save Launcelot, who excused +himself, saying that an old wound hindered him from riding. But +when the King, sore vexed, had departed, the Queen rebuked Sir +Launcelot, and bade him go and prove his great prowess as of old. +"Madam," said Sir Launcelot, "in this, as in all else, I obey you; +at your bidding I go, but know that in this tournament I shall +adventure me in other wise than ever before." + +The next day, at dawn, Sir Launcelot mounted his horse, and, riding +forth unattended, journeyed all that day till, as evening fell, he +reached the little town of Astolat, and there, at the castle, +sought lodgement for that night. The old Lord of Astolat was glad +at his coming, judging him at once to be a noble knight, though he +knew him not, for it was Sir Launcelot's will to remain unknown. + +So they went to supper, Sir Launcelot and the old lord, his son, +Sir Lavaine, and his daughter Elaine, whom they of the place called +the Fair Maid of Astolat. As they sat at meat, the Baron asked Sir +Launcelot if he rode to the tournament. "Yea," answered Launcelot; +"and right glad should I be if, of your courtesy, ye would lend me +a shield without device." "Right willingly," said his host; "ye +shall have my son, Sir Tirre's shield. He was but lately made +knight and was hurt in his first encounter, so his shield is bare +enough. If ye will take with you my young son, Sir Lavaine, he will +be glad to ride in the company of so noble a knight and will do you +such service as he may." "I shall be glad indeed of his +fellowship," answered Sir Launcelot courteously. + +Now it seemed to the fair Elaine that never had she beheld so noble +a knight as this stranger; and seeing that he was as gentle and +courteous as he was strong, she said to him: "Fair Knight, will ye +wear my favour at this tournament? For never have I found knight +yet to wear my crimson sleeve, and sure am I that none other could +ever win it such honour." "Maiden," said Sir Launcelot, "right +gladly would I serve you in aught; but it has never been my custom +to wear lady's favour." "Then shall it serve the better for +disguise," answered Elaine. Sir Launcelot pondered her words, and +at last he said: "Fair maiden, I will do for you what I have done +for none, and will wear your favour." So with great glee, she +brought it him, a crimson velvet sleeve embroidered with great +pearls, and fastened it in his helmet. Then Sir Launcelot begged +her to keep for him his own shield until after the tournament, when +he would come for it again and tell them his name. + +The next morn, Sir Launcelot took his departure with Sir Lavaine +and, by evening, they were come to Camelot. Forthwith Sir Lavaine +led Sir Launcelot to the house of a worthy burgher, where he might +stay in privacy, undiscovered by those of his acquaintance. Then, +when at dawn the trumpets blew, they mounted their horses and rode +to a little wood hard by the lists, and there they abode some +while; for Sir Launcelot would take no part until he had seen which +side was the stronger. So they saw how King Arthur sat high on a +throne to overlook the combat, while the King of Northgalis and all +the fellowship of the Round Table held the lists against their +opponents led by King Anguish of Ireland and the King of Scots. + +Then it soon appeared that the two Kings with all their company +could do but little against the Knights of the Round Table, and +were sore pressed to maintain their ground. Seeing this, Sir +Launcelot said to Sir Lavaine: "Sir Knight, will ye give me your +aid if I go to the rescue of the weaker side? For it seems to me +they may not much longer hold their own unaided." "Sir," answered +Lavaine, "I will gladly follow you and do what I may." So the two +laid their lances in rest and charged into the thickest of the +fight and, with one spear, Sir Launcelot bore four knights from the +saddle. Lavaine, too, did nobly, for he unhorsed the bold Sir +Bedivere and Sir Lucan the Butler. Then with their swords they +smote lustily on the left hand and on the right, and those whom +they had come to aid rallying to them, they drove the Knights of +the Round Table back a space. So the fight raged furiously, +Launcelot ever being in the thickest of the press and performing +such deeds of valour that all marvelled to see him, and would fain +know who was the Knight of the Crimson Sleeve. But the knights of +Arthur's court felt shame of their discomfiture, and, in especial, +those of Launcelot's kin were wroth that one should appear who +seemed mightier even than Launcelot's self. So they called to each +other and, making a rally, directed all their force against the +stranger knight who had so turned the fortunes of the day. With +lances in rest, Sir Lionel, Sir Bors, and Sir Ector, bore down +together upon Sir Launcelot, and Sir Bors' spear pierced Sir +Launcelot and brought him to the earth, leaving the spear head +broken off in his side. This Sir Lavaine saw, and immediately, with +all his might, he rode upon the King of Scots, unhorsed him and +took his horse to Sir Launcelot. Now Sir Launcelot felt as if he +had got his death-wound, but such was his spirit that he was +resolved to do some great deed while yet his strength remained. So, +with Lavaine's aid, he got upon the horse, took a spear and, laying +it in rest, bore down, one after the other, Sir Bors, Sir Lionel, +and Sir Ector. Next he flung him into the thickest of the fight, +and before the trumpets sounded the signal to cease, he had +unhorsed thirty good knights. + +Then the Kings of Scotland and Ireland came to Sir Launcelot and +said: "Sir Knight, we thank you for the service done us this day. +And now, we pray you, come with us to receive the prize which is +rightly yours; for never have we seen such deeds as ye have done +this day." "My fair lords," answered Sir Launcelot, "for aught that +I have accomplished, I am like to pay dearly; I beseech you, suffer +me to depart." With these words, he rode away full gallop, followed +by Sir Lavaine; and when he had come to a little wood, he called +Lavaine to him, saying: "Gentle Knight, I entreat you, draw forth +this spear head, for it nigh slayeth me." "Oh! my dear lord," said +Lavaine, "I fear sore to draw it forth lest ye die." "If ye love +me, draw it out," answered Launcelot. So Lavaine did as he was +bidden, and, with a deathly groan, Sir Launcelot fell in a swoon to +the ground. When he was a little recovered, he begged Lavaine to +help him to his horse and lead him to a hermitage hard by where +dwelt a hermit who, in bygone days, had been known to Launcelot for +a good knight and true. So with pain and difficulty they journeyed +to the hermitage, Lavaine oft fearing that Sir Launcelot would die. +And when the hermit saw Sir Launcelot, all pale and besmeared with +blood, he scarce knew him for the bold Sir Launcelot du Lac; but he +bore him within and dressed his wound and bade him be of good +cheer, for he should recover. So there Sir Launcelot abode many +weeks and Sir Lavaine with him; for Lavaine would not leave him, +such love had he for the good knight he had taken for his lord. + +Now when it was known that the victorious knight had departed from +the field sore wounded, Sir Gawain vowed to go in search of him. So +it chanced that, in his wanderings, he came to Astolat, and there +he had a hearty welcome of the Lord of Astolat, who asked him for +news of the tournament. Then Sir Gawain related how two stranger +knights, bearing white shields, had won great glory, and in +especial one, who wore in his helm a crimson sleeve, had surpassed +all others in knightly prowess. At these words, the fair Elaine +cried aloud with delight. "Maiden," said Gawain, "know ye this +knight?" "Not his name," she replied; "but full sure was I that he +was a noble knight when I prayed him to wear my favour." Then she +showed Gawain the shield which she had kept wrapped in rich +broideries, and immediately Sir Gawain knew it for Launcelot's. +"Alas!" cried he, "without doubt it was Launcelot himself that we +wounded to the death. Sir Bors will never recover the woe of it." + +Then, on the morrow, Sir Gawain rode to London to tell the court +how the stranger knight and Launcelot were one; but the Fair Maid +of Astolat rose betimes, and having obtained leave of her father, +set out to search for Sir Launcelot and her brother Lavaine. After +many journeyings, she came, one day, upon Lavaine exercising his +horse in a field, and by him she was taken to Sir Launcelot. Then, +indeed, her heart was filled with grief when she saw the good +knight to whom she had given her crimson sleeve thus laid low; so +she abode in the hermitage, waiting upon Sir Launcelot and doing +all within her power to lessen his pain. + +After many weeks, by the good care of the hermit and the fair +Elaine, Sir Launcelot was so far recovered that he might bear the +weight of his armour and mount his horse again. Then, one morn, +they left the hermitage and rode all three, the Fair Maid, Sir +Launcelot, and Sir Lavaine, to the castle of Astolat, where there +was much joy of their coming. After brief sojourn, Sir Launcelot +desired to ride to court, for he knew there would be much sorrow +among his kinsmen for his long absence. But when he would take his +departure, Elaine cried aloud: "Ah! my lord, suffer me to go with +you, for I may not bear to lose you." "Fair child," answered Sir +Launcelot gently, "that may not be. But in the days to come, when +ye shall love and wed some good knight, for your sake I will bestow +upon him broad lands and great riches; and at all times will I hold +me ready to serve you as a true knight may." Thus spoke Sir +Launcelot, but the fair Elaine answered never a word. + +So Sir Launcelot rode to London where the whole court was glad of +his coming; but from the day of his departure, the Fair Maid +drooped and pined until, when ten days were passed, she felt that +her end was at hand. So she sent for her father and two brothers, +to whom she said gently: "Dear father and brethren, I must now +leave you." Bitterly they wept, but she comforted them all she +might, and presently desired of her father a boon. "Ye shall have +what ye will," said the old lord; for he hoped that she might yet +recover. Then first she required her brother, Sir Tirre, to write a +letter, word for word as she said it; and when it was written, she +turned to her father and said: "Kind father, I desire that, when I +am dead, I may be arrayed in my fairest raiment, and placed on a +bier; and let the bier be set within a barge, with one to steer it +until I be come to London. Then, perchance, Sir Launcelot will come +and look upon me with kindness." So she died, and all was done as +she desired; for they set her, looking as fair as a lily, in a +barge all hung with black, and an old dumb man went with her as +helmsman. + +Slowly the barge floated down the river until it had come to +Westminster; and as it passed under the palace walls, it chanced +that King Arthur and Queen Guenevere looked forth from a window. +Marvelling much at the strange sight, together they went forth to +the quay, followed by many of the knights. Then the King espied the +letter clasped in the dead maiden's hand, and drew it forth gently +and broke the seal. And thus the letter ran: "Most noble Knight, +Sir Launcelot, I, that men called the Fair Maid of Astolat, am come +hither to crave burial at thy hands for the sake of the unrequited +love I gave thee. As thou art peerless knight, pray for my soul." + +Then the King bade fetch Sir Launcelot, and when he was come, he +showed him the letter. And Sir Launcelot, gazing on the dead +maiden, was filled with sorrow. "My lord Arthur," he said, "for the +death of this dear child I shall grieve my life long. Gentle she +was and loving, and much was I beholden to her; but what she +desired I could not give." "Yet her request now thou wilt grant, I +know," said the King; "for ever thou art kind and courteous to +all." "It is my desire," answered Sir Launcelot. + +So the Maid of Astolat was buried in the presence of the King and +Queen and of the fellowship of the Round Table, and of many a +gentle lady who wept, that time, the fair child's fate. Over her +grave was raised a tomb of white marble, and on it was sculptured +the shield of Sir Launcelot; for, when he had heard her whole +story, it was the King's will that she that in life had guarded the +shield of his noblest knight, should keep it also in death. + + + + +BOOK X + +QUEEN GUENEVERE + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI + +HOW MORDRED PLOTTED AGAINST SIR LAUNCELOT + + +Before Merlin passed from the world of men, imprisoned in the great +stone by the evil arts of Vivien, he had uttered many marvellous +prophecies, and one that boded ill to King Arthur; for he foretold +that, in the days to come, a son of Arthur's sister should stir up +bitter war against the King, and at last a great battle should be +fought in the West, when many a brave knight should find his doom. + +Now, among the nephews of Arthur, was one most dishonourable; his +name was Mordred. No knightly deed had he ever done, and he hated +to hear the good report of others because he himself was a coward +and envious. But of all the Round Table there was none that Mordred +hated more than Sir Launcelot du Lac, whom all true knights held in +most honour; and not the less did Mordred hate Launcelot that he +was the knight whom Queen Guenevere had in most esteem. So, at +last, his jealous rage passing all bounds, he spoke evil of the +Queen and of Launcelot, saying that they were traitors to the King. +Now Sir Gawain and Sir Gareth, Mordred's brothers, refused to give +ear to these slanders, holding that Sir Launcelot, in his knightly +service of the Queen, did honour to King Arthur also; but by +ill-fortune another brother, Sir Agravaine, had ill-will to the +Queen, and professed to believe Mordred's evil tales. So the two +went to King Arthur with their ill stories. + +Now when Arthur had heard them, he was wroth; for never would he +lightly believe evil of any, and Sir Launcelot was the knight whom +he loved above all others. Sternly then he bade them begone and +come no more to him with unproven tales against any, and, least of +all, against Sir Launcelot and their lady, the Queen. + +The two departed, but in their hearts was hatred against Launcelot +and the Queen, more bitter than ever for the rebuke they had +called down upon themselves; and they resolved, from that time +forth, diligently to watch if, perchance, they might find aught to +turn to evil account against Sir Launcelot. + +Not long after, it seemed to them that the occasion had come. For +King Arthur having ridden forth to hunt far from Carlisle, where he +then held court, the Queen sent for Sir Launcelot to speak with him +in her bower. Then Agravaine and Mordred got together twelve +knights, friends of Sir Gawain, their brother, and persuaded them +to come with them for they should do the King a service. So with +the twelve knights they watched and waited in a little room until +they saw Sir Launcelot, all unarmed, pass into the Queen's chamber; +and when the door was closed upon him, they came forth, and Sir +Agravaine and Sir Mordred thundered on the door, crying so that all +the court might hear: "Thou traitor, Sir Launcelot, come forth from +the Queen's chamber. Come forth, for thy treason against the King +is known to all!" + +Then Sir Launcelot and the Queen were amazed and filled with shame +that such a clamour should be raised where the Queen was. While +they waited and listened in dismay, Sir Mordred and Sir Agravaine +took up the cry again, the twelve knights echoing it: "Traitor +Launcelot, come forth and meet thy doom; for thy last hour is +come." Then Sir Launcelot, wroth more for the Queen than for +himself, exclaimed: "This shameful cry will kill me; better death +than such dishonour. Lady, as I have ever been your true knight, +since the day when my lord, King Arthur, knighted me, pray for me +if now I meet my death." Then he went to the door and cried to +those without: "Fair lords, cease this outcry. I will open the +door, and then ye shall do with me as ye will." With the word, he +set open the door, but only by so much that one knight could enter +at a time. So a certain Sir Colgrevance of Gore, a knight of great +stature, pushed into the room and thrust at Sir Launcelot with all +his might; but Sir Launcelot, with the arm round which he had +wrapped his cloak, turned aside the sword and, with his bare hand, +dealt Colgrevance such a blow on the helmet that he fell grovelling +to the earth. Then Sir Launcelot thrust to and barred the door, and +stripping the fallen knight of his armour, armed himself in haste +with the aid of the Queen and her ladies. + +All this while, Sir Agravaine and Sir Mordred continued their +outcry; so when he was armed, Sir Launcelot called to them to cease +their vile cries and the next day he would meet any or all of them +in arms and knightly disprove their vile slander. Now there was not +one among those knights who dared meet Sir Launcelot in the open +field, so they were resolved to slay him while they had the +advantage over him. When Sir Launcelot understood their evil +purpose, he set wide the door and rushed upon them. At the first +blow he slew Sir Agravaine, and soon eleven other knights lay cold +on the earth beside him. Only Mordred escaped, for he fled with all +his might; but, even so, he was sore wounded. + +Then Sir Launcelot spoke to the Queen. "Madam," said he, "here may +I no longer stay, for many a foe have I made me this night. And +when I am gone, I know not what evil may be spoken of you for this +night's work. I pray you, then, suffer me to lead you to a place of +safety." "Ye shall run no more risk for my sake," said the Queen; +"only go hence in haste before more harm befall you. But as for me, +here I abide. I will flee for no traitor's outcry." + +So Sir Launcelot, seeing that at that time there was naught he +might do for Queen Guenevere, withdrew with all his kin to a little +distance from Carlisle, and awaited what should befall. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII + +THE TRIAL OF THE QUEEN + + +When Mordred escaped Sir Launcelot, he got to horse, all wounded as +he was, and never drew rein till he had found King Arthur, to whom +he told all that had happened. + +Then great was the King's grief. Despite all that Mordred could +say, he was slow to doubt Sir Launcelot, whom he loved, but his +mind was filled with forebodings; for many a knight had been slain, +and well he knew that their kin would seek vengeance on Sir +Launcelot, and the noble fellowship of the Round Table be utterly +destroyed by their feuds. + +All too soon, it proved even as the King had feared. Many were +found to hold with Sir Mordred; some because they were kin to the +knights that had been slain, some from envy of the honour and +worship of the noble Sir Launcelot; and among them even were those +who dared to raise their voice against the Queen herself, calling +for judgment upon her as leagued with a traitor against the King, +and as having caused the death of so many good knights. Now in +those days the law was that if any one were accused of treason by +witnesses, or taken in the act, that one should die the death by +burning, be it man or woman, knight or churl. So then the murmurs +grew to a loud clamour that the law should have its course, and +that King Arthur should pass sentence on the Queen. Then was the +King's woe doubled; "For," said he, "I sit as King to be a rightful +judge and keep all the law; wherefore I may not do battle for my +own Queen, and now there is none other to help her." So a decree +was issued that Queen Guenevere should be burnt at the stake +outside the walls of Carlisle. + +Forthwith, King Arthur sent for his nephew, Sir Gawain, and said to +him: "Fair nephew, I give it in charge to you to see that all is +done as has been decreed." But Sir Gawain answered boldly: "Sir +King, never will I be present to see my lady the Queen die. It is +of ill counsel that ye have consented to her death." Then the King +bade Gawain send his two young brothers, Sir Gareth and Sir +Gaheris, to receive his commands, and these he desired to attend +the Queen to the place of execution. So Gareth made answer for +both: "My Lord the King, we owe you obedience in all things, but +know that it is sore against our wills that we obey you in this; +nor will we appear in arms in the place where that noble lady shall +die"; then sorrowfully they mounted their horses, and rode to +Carlisle. + +When the day appointed had come, the Queen was led forth to a place +without the walls of Carlisle, and there she was bound to the stake +to be burnt to death. Loud were her ladies' lamentations, and many +a lord was found to weep at that grievous sight of a Queen brought +so low; yet was there none who dared come forward as her champion, +lest he should be suspected of treason. As for Gareth and Gaheris, +they could not bear the sight and stood with their faces covered in +their mantles. Then, just as the torch was to be applied to the +faggots, there was a sound as of many horses galloping, and the +next instant a band of knights rushed upon the astonished throng, +their leader cutting down all who crossed his path until he had +reached the Queen, whom he lifted to his saddle and bore from the +press. Then all men knew that it was Sir Launcelot, come knightly +to rescue the Queen, and in their hearts they rejoiced. So with +little hindrance they rode away, Sir Launcelot and all his kin with +the Queen in their midst, till they came to the castle of the +Joyous Garde where they held the Queen in safety and all reverence. + +But of that day came a kingdom's ruin, for among the slain were +Gawain's brothers, Sir Gareth and Sir Gaheris. Now Sir Launcelot +loved Sir Gareth as if he had been his own younger brother, and +himself had knighted him; but, in the press, he struck at him and +killed him, not seeing that he was unarmed and weaponless; and in +like wise, Sir Gaheris met his death. So when word was brought to +King Arthur of what had passed, Sir Gawain asked straightway how +his brothers had fared. "Both are slain," said the messenger. +"Alas! my dear brothers!" cried Sir Gawain; "how came they by their +death?" "They were both slain by Sir Launcelot." "That will I never +believe," cried Sir Gawain; "for my brother, Sir Gareth, had such +love for Sir Launcelot that there was naught Sir Launcelot could +ask him that he would not do." But the man said again: "He is +slain, and by Sir Launcelot." + +Then, from sheer grief, Sir Gawain fell swooning to the ground. +When he was recovered, he said: "My Lord and uncle, is it even as +this man says, that Sir Launcelot has slain my brother Sir Gareth?" +"Alas!" said the King, "Launcelot rode upon him in the press and +slew him, not seeing who he was or that he was unarmed." "Then," +cried Gawain fiercely, "here I make my avow. Never, while my life +lasts, will I leave Sir Launcelot in peace until he has rendered me +account for the slaying of my brother." From that day forth, Sir +Gawain would not suffer the King to rest until he had gathered all +his host and marched against the Joyous Garde. Thus began the war +which broke up the fellowship of the Round Table. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII + +HOW SIR GAWAIN DEFIED SIR LAUNCELOT + + +Now it came to the ears of the Pope in Rome that King Arthur was +besieging Sir Launcelot in his castle of the Joyous Garde, and it +grieved him that there should be strife between two such goodly +knights, the like of whom was not to be found in Christendom. So he +called to him the Bishop of Rochester, and bade him carry word to +Britain, both to Arthur and to Sir Launcelot, that they should be +reconciled, the one to the other, and that King Arthur should +receive again Queen Guenevere. + +Forthwith Sir Launcelot desired of King Arthur assurance of liberty +and reverence for the Queen, as also safe conduct for himself and +his knights, that he might bring Dame Guenevere, with due honour, +to the King at Carlisle; and thereto the King pledged his word. + +So Launcelot set forth with the Queen, and behind them rode a +hundred knights arrayed in green velvet, the housings of the horses +of the same all studded with precious stones; thus they passed +through the city of Carlisle, openly, in the sight of all, and +there were many who rejoiced that the Queen was come again and Sir +Launcelot with her, though they of Gawain's party scowled upon him. + +When they were come into the great hall where Arthur sat, with Sir +Gawain and other great lords about him, Sir Launcelot led +Guenevere to the throne and both knelt before the King; then, +rising, Sir Launcelot lifted the Queen to her feet, and thus he +spoke to King Arthur, boldly and well before the whole court: "My +lord, Sir Arthur, I bring you here your Queen, than whom no truer +nor nobler lady ever lived; and here stand I, Sir Launcelot du Lac, +ready to do battle with any that dare gainsay it"; and with these +words Sir Launcelot turned and looked upon the lords and knights +present in their places, but none would challenge him in that +cause, not even Sir Gawain, for he had ever affirmed that Dame +Guenevere was a true and honourable lady. + +Then Sir Launcelot spoke again: "Now, my Lord Arthur, in my own +defence it behoves me to say that never in aught have I been false +to you. That I slew certain knights is true; but I hold me +guiltless, seeing that they brought death upon themselves. For no +sooner had I gone to the Queen's bower, as she had commanded me, +than they beset the door, with shameful outcry, that all the court +might hear, calling me traitor and felon knight." "And rightly they +called you," cried Sir Gawain fiercely. "My lord, Sir Gawain," +answered Sir Launcelot, "in their quarrel they proved not +themselves right, else had not I, alone, encountered fourteen +knights and come forth unscathed." + +Then said King Arthur: "Sir Launcelot, I have ever loved you above +all other knights, and trusted you to the uttermost; but ill have +ye done by me and mine." "My lord," said Launcelot, "that I slew +Sir Gareth I shall mourn as long as life lasts. As soon would I +have slain my own nephew, Sir Bors, as have harmed Sir Gareth +wittingly; for I myself made him knight, and loved him as my +brother." "Liar and traitor," cried Sir Gawain, "ye slew him, +defenceless and unarmed." "It is full plain, Sir Gawain," said +Launcelot, "that never again shall I have your love; and yet there +has been old kindness between us, and once ye thanked me that I +saved your life." "It shall not avail you now," said Sir Gawain; +"traitor ye are, both to the King and to me. Know that, while life +lasts, never will I rest until I have avenged my brother Sir +Gareth's death upon you." "Fair nephew," said the King, "cease your +brawling. Sir Launcelot has come under surety of my word that none +shall do him harm. Elsewhere, and at another time, fasten a quarrel +upon him, if quarrel ye must." "I care not," cried Sir Gawain +fiercely. "The proud traitor trusts so in his own strength that he +thinks none dare meet him. But here I defy him and swear that, be +it in open combat or by stealth, I shall have his life. And know, +mine uncle and King, if I shall not have your aid, I and mine will +leave you for ever, and, if need be, fight even against you." +"Peace," said the King; and to Sir Launcelot: "We give you fifteen +days in which to leave this kingdom." Then Sir Launcelot sighed +heavily and said: "Full well I see that no sorrow of mine for what +is past availeth me." Then he went to the Queen where she sat, and +said: "Madam, the time is come when I must leave this fair realm +that I have loved. Think well of me, I pray you, and send for me +if ever there be aught in which a true knight may serve lady." +Therewith he turned him about and, without greeting to any, passed +through the hall, and with his faithful knights rode to the Joyous +Garde, though ever thereafter, in memory of that sad day, he called +it the Dolorous Garde. + +There he called about him his friends and kinsmen, saying: "Fair +Knights, I must now pass into my own lands." Then they all, with +one voice, cried that they would go with him. So he thanked them, +promising them all fair estates and great honour when they were +come to his kingdom; for all France belonged to Sir Launcelot. Yet +was he loth to leave the land where he had followed so many +glorious adventures, and sore he mourned to part in anger from King +Arthur. "My mind misgives me," said Sir Launcelot, "but that +trouble shall come of Sir Mordred, for he is envious and a +mischief-maker, and it grieves me that never more I may serve Sir +Arthur and his realm." + +So Sir Launcelot sorrowed; but his kinsmen were wroth for the +dishonour done him, and making haste to depart, by the fifteenth +day they were all embarked to sail overseas to France. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV + +HOW KING ARTHUR AND SIR GAWAIN WENT TO FRANCE + + +From the day when Sir Launcelot brought the Queen to Carlisle, +never would Gawain suffer the King to be at rest; but always he +desired him to call his army together that they might go to attack +Sir Launcelot in his own land. + +Now King Arthur was loth to war against Sir Launcelot; and seeing +this, Sir Gawain upbraided him bitterly. "I see well it is naught +to you that my brother, Sir Gareth, died fulfilling your behest. +Little ye care if all your knights be slain, if only the traitor +Launcelot escape. Since, then, ye will not do me justice nor avenge +your own nephew, I and my fellows will take the traitor when and +how we may. He trusts in his own might that none can encounter with +him; let see if we may not entrap him." + +Thus urged, King Arthur called his army together and bade collect a +great fleet; for rather would he fight openly with Sir Launcelot +than that Sir Gawain should bring such dishonour upon himself as to +slay a noble knight treacherously. So with a great host, the King +passed overseas to France, leaving Sir Mordred to rule Britain in +his stead. + +When Launcelot heard that King Arthur and Sir Gawain were coming +against him, he withdrew into the strong castle of Benwick; for +unwilling indeed was he to fight with the King, or to do an injury +to Sir Gareth's brother. The army passed through the land, laying +it waste, and presently encamped about the castle, laying close +siege to it; but so thick were the walls, and so watchful the +garrison, that in no way could they prevail against it. + +One day, there came to Sir Launcelot seven brethren, brave knights +of Wales, who had joined their fortunes to his, and said: "Sir +Launcelot, bid us sally forth against this host which has invaded +and laid waste your lands, and we will scatter it; for we are not +wont to cower behind walls." "Fair lords," answered Launcelot, "it +is grief to me to war on good Christian knights, and especially on +my lord, King Arthur. Have but patience and I will send to him and +see if, even now, there may not be a treaty of peace between us; +for better far is peace than war." So Sir Launcelot sought out a +damsel and, mounting her upon a palfrey, bade her ride to King +Arthur's camp and require of the King to cease warring on his +lands, proffering fair terms of peace. When the damsel came to the +camp, there met her Sir Lucan the Butler, "Fair damsel," said Sir +Lucan, "do ye come from Sir Launcelot?" "Yea, in good truth," said +the damsel; "and, I pray you, lead me to King Arthur." "Now, may ye +prosper in your errand," said Sir Lucan. "Our King loves Sir +Launcelot dearly and wishes him well; but Sir Gawain will not +suffer him to be reconciled to him." So when the damsel had come +before the King, she told him all her tale, and much she said of +Sir Launcelot's love and good-will to his lord the King, so that +the tears stood in Arthur's eyes. But Sir Gawain broke in roughly: +"My Lord and uncle, shall it be said of us that we came hither with +such a host to hie us home again, nothing done, to be the scoff of +all men?" "Nephew," said the King, "methinks Sir Launcelot offers +fair and generously. It were well if ye would accept his proffer. +Nevertheless, as the quarrel is yours, so shall the answer be." +"Then, damsel," said Sir Gawain, "say unto Sir Launcelot that the +time for peace is past. And tell him that I, Sir Gawain, swear by +the faith I owe to knighthood that never will I forego my revenge." + +So the damsel returned to Sir Launcelot and told him all. Sir +Launcelot's heart was filled with grief nigh unto breaking; but his +knights were enraged and clamoured that he had endured too much of +insult and wrong, and that he should lead them forth to battle. Sir +Launcelot armed him sorrowfully, and presently the gates were set +open and he rode forth, he and all his company. But to all his +knights he had given commandment that none should seek King Arthur; +"For never," said he, "will I see the noble King, who made me +knight, either killed or shamed." + +Fierce was the battle between those two hosts. On Launcelot's side, +Sir Bors and Sir Lavaine and many another did right well; while on +the other side, King Arthur bore him as the noble knight he was, +and Sir Gawain raged through the battle, seeking to come at Sir +Launcelot. Presently, Sir Bors encountered with King Arthur, and +unhorsed him. This Sir Launcelot saw and, coming to the King's +side, he alighted and, raising him from the ground, mounted him +upon his own horse. Then King Arthur, looking upon Launcelot, +cried: "Ah! Launcelot, Launcelot! That ever there should be war +between us two!" and tears stood in the King's eyes. "Ah! my Lord +Arthur," cried Sir Launcelot, "I pray you stay this war." As they +spoke thus, Sir Gawain came upon them, and, miscalling Sir +Launcelot traitor and coward, had almost ridden upon him before +Launcelot could provide him of another horse. Then the two hosts +drew back, each on its own side, to see the battle between Sir +Launcelot and Sir Gawain; for they wheeled their horses, and +departing far asunder, rushed again upon each other with the noise +of thunder, and each bore the other from his horse. Then they put +their shields before them and set on each other with their swords; +but while ever Sir Gawain smote fiercely, Sir Launcelot was content +only to ward off blows, because he would not, for Sir Gareth's +sake, do any harm to Sir Gawain. But the more Sir Launcelot forbore +him, the more furiously Sir Gawain struck, so that Sir Launcelot +had much ado to defend himself, and at the last smote Gawain on the +helm so mightily that he bore him to the ground. Then Sir +Launcelot stood back from Sir Gawain. But Gawain cried: "Why do ye +draw back, traitor knight? Slay me while ye may, for never will I +cease to be your enemy while my life lasts." "Sir," said Launcelot, +"I shall withstand you as I may; but never will I smite a fallen +knight." Then he spoke to King Arthur: "My Lord, I pray you, if but +for this day, draw off your men. And think upon our former love if +ye may; but, be ye friend or foe, God keep you." Thereupon Sir +Launcelot drew off with his men into his castle, and King Arthur +and his company to their tents. As for Sir Gawain, his squires bore +him to his tent where his wounds were dressed. + + + + +BOOK XI + +THE MORTE D'ARTHUR + + + + +CHAPTER XXXV + +MORDRED THE TRAITOR + + +So Sir Gawain lay healing of the grim wound which Sir Launcelot had +given him, and there was peace between the two armies, when there +came messengers from Britain bearing letters for King Arthur; and +more evil news than they brought might not well be, for they told +how Sir Mordred had usurped his uncle's realm. First, he had caused +it to be noised abroad that King Arthur was slain in battle with +Sir Launcelot, and, since there be many ever ready to believe any +idle rumour and eager for any change, it had been no hard task for +Sir Mordred to call the lords to a Parliament and persuade them to +make him king. But the Queen could not be brought to believe that +her lord was dead, so she took refuge in the Tower of London from +Sir Mordred's violence, nor was she to be induced to leave her +strong refuge for aught that Mordred could promise or threaten. + +This was the news that came to Arthur as he lay encamped about Sir +Launcelot's castle of Benwick. Forthwith he bade his host make +ready to move, and when they had reached the coast, they embarked +and made sail to reach Britain with all possible speed. + +Sir Mordred, on his part, had heard of their sailing, and hasted to +get together a great army. It was grievous to see how many a stout +knight held by Mordred, ay, even many whom Arthur himself had +raised to honour and fortune; for it is the nature of men to be +fickle. Thus it was that, when Arthur drew near to Dover, he found +Mordred with a mighty host, waiting to oppose his landing. Then +there was a great sea-fight, those of Mordred's party going out in +boats, great and small, to board King Arthur's ships and slay him +and his men or ever they should come to land. Right valiantly did +King Arthur bear him, as was his wont, and boldly his followers +fought in his cause, so that at last they drove off their enemies +and landed at Dover in spite of Mordred and his array. For that +time Mordred fled, and King Arthur bade those of his party bury the +slain and tend the wounded. + +So as they passed from ship to ship, salving and binding the hurts +of the men, they came at last upon Sir Gawain, where he lay at the +bottom of a boat, wounded to the death, for he had received a great +blow on the wound that Sir Launcelot had given him. They bore him +to his tent, and his uncle, the King, came to him, sorrowing beyond +measure. "Methinks," said the King, "my joy on earth is done; for +never have I loved any men as I have loved you, my nephew, and Sir +Launcelot. Sir Launcelot I have lost, and now I see you on your +death-bed." "My King," said Sir Gawain, "my hour is come, and I +have got my death at Sir Launcelot's hand; for I am smitten on the +wound he gave me. And rightly am I served, for of my willfulness +and stubbornness comes this unhappy war. I pray you, my uncle, +raise me in your arms and let me write to Sir Launcelot before I +die." + +Thus, then, Sir Gawain wrote: "To Sir Launcelot, the noblest of all +knights, I, Gawain, send greeting before I die. For I am smitten on +the wound ye gave me before your castle of Benwick in France, and I +bid all men bear witness that I sought my own death and that ye are +innocent of it. I pray you, by our friendship of old, come again +into Britain, and when ye look upon my tomb, pray for Gawain of +Orkney. Farewell." + +So Sir Gawain died and was buried in the Chapel at Dover. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI + +THE BATTLE IN THE WEST + + +The day after the battle at Dover, King Arthur and his host pursued +Sir Mordred to Barham Down where again there was a great battle +fought, with much slaughter on both sides; but, in the end, Arthur +was victorious, and Mordred fled to Canterbury. + +Now, by this time, many that Mordred had cheated by his lying +reports, had drawn unto King Arthur, to whom at heart they had ever +been loyal, knowing him for a true and noble king and hating +themselves for having been deceived by such a false usurper as Sir +Mordred. Then when he found that he was being deserted, Sir Mordred +withdrew to the far West, for there men knew less of what had +happened, and so he might still find some to believe in him and +support him; and being without conscience, he even called to his +aid the heathen hosts that his uncle, King Arthur, had driven from +the land, in the good years when Launcelot was of the Round Table. + +King Arthur followed ever after; for in his heart was bitter anger +against the false nephew who had wrought woe upon him and all his +realm. At the last, when Mordred could flee no further, the two +hosts were drawn up near the shore of the great western sea; and it +was the Feast of the Holy Trinity. + +That night, as King Arthur slept, he thought that Sir Gawain stood +before him, looking just as he did in life, and said to him: "My +uncle and my King, God in his great love has suffered me to come +unto you, to warn you that in no wise ye fight on the morrow; for +if ye do, ye shall be slain, and with you the most part of the +people on both sides. Make ye, therefore, treaty for a month, and +within that time, Sir Launcelot shall come to you with all his +knights, and ye shall overthrow the traitor and all that hold with +him." Therewith, Sir Gawain vanished. Immediately, the King awoke +and called to him the best and wisest of his knights, the two +brethren, Sir Lucan the Butler and Sir Bedivere, and others, to +whom he told his dream. Then all were agreed that, on any terms +whatsoever, a treaty should be made with Sir Mordred, even as Sir +Gawain had said; and, with the dawn, messengers went to the camp of +the enemy, to call Sir Mordred to a conference. So it was +determined that the meeting should take place in the sight of both +armies, in an open space between the two camps, and that King +Arthur and Mordred should each be accompanied by fourteen knights. +Little enough faith had either in the other, so when they set forth +to the meeting, they bade their hosts join battle if ever they saw +a sword drawn. Thus they went to the conference. + +Now as they talked, it befell that an adder, coming out of a bush +hard by, stung a knight in the foot; and he, seeing the snake, drew +his sword to kill it and thought no harm thereby. But on the +instant that the sword flashed, the trumpets blared on both sides +and the two hosts rushed to battle. Never was there fought a fight +of such bitter enmity; for brother fought with brother, and comrade +with comrade, and fiercely they cut and thrust, with many a bitter +word between; while King Arthur himself, his heart hot within him, +rode through and through the battle, seeking the traitor Mordred. +So they fought all day, till at last the evening fell. Then Arthur, +looking around him, saw of his valiant knights but two left, Sir +Lucan and Sir Bedivere, and these sore wounded; and there, over +against him, by a great heap of the dead, stood Sir Mordred, the +cause of all this ruin. Thereupon the King, his heart nigh broken +with grief for the loss of his true knights, cried with a loud +voice: "Traitor! now is thy doom upon thee!" and with his spear +gripped in both hands, he rushed upon Sir Mordred and smote him +that the weapon stood out a fathom behind. And Sir Mordred knew +that he had his death-wound. With all the might that he had, he +thrust him up the spear to the haft and, with his sword, struck +King Arthur upon the head, that the steel pierced the helmet and +bit into the head; then he fell back, stark and dead. + +Sir Lucan and Sir Bedivere went to the King where he lay, swooning +from the blow, and bore him to a little chapel on the sea-shore. As +they laid him on the ground, Sir Lucan fell dead beside the King, +and Arthur, coming to himself, found but Sir Bedivere alive beside +him. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVII + +THE PASSING OF ARTHUR + + +So King Arthur lay wounded to the death, grieving, not that his end +was come, but for the desolation of his kingdom and the loss of his +good knights. And looking upon the body of Sir Lucan, he sighed and +said: "Alas! true knight, dead for my sake! If I lived, I should +ever grieve for thy death, but now mine own end draws nigh." Then, +turning to Sir Bedivere, who stood sorrowing beside him, he said: +"Leave weeping now, for the time is short and much to do. Hereafter +shalt thou weep if thou wilt. But take now my sword Excalibur, +hasten to the water side, and fling it into the deep. Then, watch +what happens and bring me word thereof." "My Lord," said Sir +Bedivere, "your command shall be obeyed"; and taking the sword, he +departed. But as he went on his way, he looked on the sword, how +wondrously it was formed and the hilt all studded with precious +stones; and, as he looked, he called to mind the marvel by which it +had come into the King's keeping. For on a certain day, as Arthur +walked on the shore of a great lake, there had appeared above the +surface of the water a hand brandishing a sword. On the instant, +the King had leaped into a boat, and, rowing into the lake, had got +the sword and brought it back to land. Then he had seen how, on one +side the blade, was written, "Keep me," but on the other, "Throw me +away," and, sore perplexed, he had shown it to Merlin, the great +wizard, who said: "Keep it now. The time for casting away has not +yet come." Thinking on this, it seemed to Bedivere that no good, +but harm, must come of obeying the King's word; so hiding the sword +under a tree, he hastened back to the little chapel. Then said the +King: "What saw'st thou?" "Sir," answered Bedivere, "I saw naught +but the waves, heard naught but the wind." "That is untrue," said +King Arthur; "I charge thee, as thou art true knight, go again and +spare not to throw away the sword." + +Sir Bedivere departed a second time, and his mind was to obey his +lord; but when he took the sword in his hand, he thought: "Sin it +is and shameful, to throw away so glorious a sword." Then, hiding +it again, he hastened back to the King, "What saw'st thou?" said +Sir Arthur. "Sir, I saw the water lap on the crags." Then spoke the +King in great wrath: "Traitor and unkind! Twice hast thou betrayed +me! Art dazzled by the splendour of the jewels, thou that, till +now, hast ever been dear and true to me? Go yet again, but if thou +fail me this time, I will arise and, with mine own hands, slay +thee." + +Then Sir Bedivere left the King and, that time, he took the sword +quickly from the place where he had hidden it and, forbearing even +to look upon it, he twisted the belt about it and flung it with all +his force into the water. A wondrous sight he saw, for, as the +sword touched the water, a hand rose from out the deep, caught it, +brandished it thrice, and drew it beneath the surface. + +Sir Bedivere hastened back to the King and told him what he had +seen. "It is well," said Arthur; "now, bear me to the water's edge; +and hasten, I pray thee, for I have tarried over-long and my wound +has taken cold." So Sir Bedivere raised the King on his back and +bore him tenderly to the lonely shore, where the lapping waves +floated many an empty helmet and the fitful moonlight fell on the +upturned faces of the dead. Scarce had they reached the shore when +there hove in sight a barge, and on its deck stood three tall +women, robed all in black and wearing crowns on their heads. "Place +me in the barge," said the King, and softly Sir Bedivere lifted the +King into it. And these three Queens wept sore over Arthur, and one +took his head in her lap and chafed his hands, crying: "Alas! my +brother, thou hast been over-long in coming and, I fear me, thy +wound has taken cold." Then the barge began to move slowly from the +land. When Sir Bedivere saw this, he lifted up his voice and cried +with a bitter cry: "Ah! my Lord Arthur, thou art taken from me! And +I, whither shall I go?" "Comfort thyself," said the King, "for in +me is no comfort more. I pass to the Valley of Avilion, to heal me +of my grievous wound. If thou seest me never again, pray for me." + +So the barge floated away out of sight, and Sir Bedivere stood +straining his eyes after it till it had vanished utterly. Then he +turned him about and journeyed through the forest until, at +daybreak, he reached a hermitage. Entering it, he prayed the holy +hermit that he might abide with him, and there he spent the rest of +his life in prayer and holy exercise. + +But of King Arthur is no more known. Some men, indeed, say that he +is not dead, but abides in the happy Valley of Avilion until such +time as his country's need is sorest, when he shall come again and +deliver it. Others say that, of a truth, he is dead, and that, in +the far West, his tomb may be seen, and written on it these words: + + "Here lies Arthur, once King and King to be." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVIII + +THE DEATH OF SIR LAUNCELOT AND OF THE QUEEN + + +When news reached Sir Launcelot in his own land of the treason of +Mordred, he gathered his lords and knights together, and rested not +till he had come to Britain to aid King Arthur. He landed at Dover, +and there the evil tidings were told him, how the King had met his +death at the hands of his traitor nephew. Then was Sir Launcelot's +heart nigh broken for grief. "Alas!" he cried, "that I should live +to know my King overthrown by such a felon! What have I done that I +should have caused the deaths of the good knights, Sir Gareth, Sir +Gaheris, and Sir Gawain, and yet that such a villain should escape +my sword!" Then he desired to be led to Sir Gawain's tomb where he +remained long in prayer and in great lamentation; after which he +called to him his kinsmen and friends, and said to them: "My fair +lords, I thank you all most heartily that, of your courtesy, ye +came with me to this land. That we be come too late is a misfortune +that might not be avoided, though I shall mourn it my life long. +And now I will ride forth alone to find my lady the Queen in the +West, whither men say she has fled. Wait for me, I pray you, for +fifteen days, and then, if ye hear naught of me, return to your own +lands." So Sir Launcelot rode forth alone, nor would he suffer any +to follow him, despite their prayers and entreaties. + +Thus he rode some seven or eight days until, at the last, he came +to a nunnery where he saw in the cloister many nuns waiting on a +fair lady; none other, indeed, than Queen Guenevere herself. And +she, looking up, saw Sir Launcelot, and at the sight, grew so pale +that her ladies feared for her; but she recovered, and bade them go +and bring Sir Launcelot to her presence. When he was come, she said +to him: "Sir Launcelot, glad am I to see thee once again that I may +bid thee farewell; for in this world shall we never meet again." +"Sweet Madam," answered Sir Launcelot, "I was minded, with your +leave, to bear you to my own country, where I doubt not but I +should guard you well and safely from your enemies." "Nay, +Launcelot," said the Queen, "that may not be; I am resolved never +to look upon the world again, but here to pass my life in prayer +and in such good works as I may. But thou, do thou get back to +thine own land and take a fair wife; and ye both shall ever have my +prayers." "Madam," replied Sir Launcelot, "ye know well that shall +never be. And since ye are resolved to lead a life of prayer, I, +too, will forsake the world if I can find hermit to share his cell +with me; for ever your will has been mine." Long and earnestly he +looked upon her as he might never gaze enough; then, getting to +horse, he rode slowly away. + +Nor did they ever meet again in life. For Queen Guenevere abode in +the great nunnery of Almesbury where Sir Launcelot had found her, +and presently, for the holiness of her life, was made Abbess. But +Sir Launcelot, after he had left her, rode on his way till he came +to the cell where Sir Bedivere dwelt with the holy hermit; and when +Sir Bedivere had told him all that had befallen, of the great +battle in the West, and of the passing away of Arthur, Sir +Launcelot flung down his arms and implored the holy hermit to let +him remain there as the servant of God. So Sir Launcelot donned the +serge gown and abode in the hermitage as the priest of God. + +Presently there came riding that way the good Sir Bors, Launcelot's +nephew; for, when Sir Launcelot returned not to Dover, Sir Bors and +many another knight went forth in search of him. There, then, Sir +Bors remained and, within a half-year, there joined themselves to +these three many who in former days had been fellows of the Round +Table; and the fame of their piety spread far and wide. + +So six years passed and then, one night, Launcelot had a vision. It +seemed to him that one said to him: "Launcelot, arise and go in +haste to Almesbury. There shalt thou find Queen Guenevere dead, and +it shall be for thee to bury her." Sir Launcelot arose at once and, +calling his fellows to him, told them his dream. Immediately, with +all haste, they set forth towards Almesbury and, arriving there the +second day, found the Queen dead, as had been foretold in the +vision. So with the state and ceremony befitting a great Queen, +they buried her in the Abbey of Glastonbury, in that same church +where, some say, King Arthur's tomb is to be found. Launcelot it +was who performed the funeral rites and chanted the requiem; but +when all was done, he pined away, growing weaker daily. So at the +end of six weeks, he called to him his fellows, and bidding them +all farewell, desired that his dead body should be conveyed to the +Joyous Garde, there to be buried; for that in the church at +Glastonbury he was not worthy to lie. And that same night he died, +and was buried, as he had desired, in his own castle. So passed +from the world the bold Sir Launcelot du Lac, bravest, most +courteous, and most gentle of knights, whose peer the world has +never seen ever shall. + +After Sir Launcelot's death, Sir Bors and the pious knights, his +companions, took their way to the Holy Land, and there they died in +battle against the Turk. + +So ends the story of King Arthur and his noble fellowship of the +Round Table. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Stories from Le Morte D'Arthur and the +Mabinogion, by Beatrice Clay + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK STORIES FROM LE MORTE *** + +***** This file should be named 15551-8.txt or 15551-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/5/5/5/15551/ + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Jennifer Goslee and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team. + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Stories from Le Morte D'Arthur and the Mabinogion + +Author: Beatrice Clay + +Release Date: April 5, 2005 [EBook #15551] +[Last updated: March 10, 2011] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK STORIES FROM LE MORTE *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Jennifer Goslee and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team. + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<h1>STORIES FROM</h1> +<h1>LE MORTE D'ARTHUR</h1> +<h3>AND THE</h3> +<h1>MABINOGION</h1> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h2><i>The</i> KINGS TREASURIES OF LITERATURE</h2> + +<h3>GENERAL EDITOR<br /> +SIR A.T. QUILLER COUCH</h3> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class="center"> +<img src="images/illus002.jpg" width="390" height="522" alt="THE LADY OF THE LAKE TELLETH ARTHUR +OF THE SWORD EXCALIBUR" /> +</div> + +<h3>NEW YORK—E.P. DUTTON & COMPANY</h3> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class="center"> +<img src="images/illus003.jpg" id="coverpage" width="409" height="544" alt="STORIES FROM LE MORTE D'ARTHUR AND THE MABINOGION" title="" /> +</div> + +<h3>LONDON & TORONTO—J.M. DENT & SONS Ltd.</h3> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="center"> +<span class="smcap">Sole Agent for Scotland</span><br /> +THE GRANT EDUCATIONAL CO. LTD.<br /> +GLASGOW<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">First Edition</span>, 1920<br /> +<span class="smcap">Reprinted</span>, 1922, 1924<br /> +<br /> +PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN<br /> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + + + + + +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + +<ul><li> <a href="#INTRODUCTION"><b>INTRODUCTION</b></a></li> +<li> <a href="#BOOK_I"><b>BOOK I—THE COMING OF ARTHUR</b></a></li> +<li><ol class="withroman"> +<li> <a href="#CHAPTER_I"><span class="smcap">Of Arthur's Birth; And How He Became King</span></a></li> +<li> <a href="#CHAPTER_II"><span class="smcap">The Round Table</span></a></li> +<li> <a href="#CHAPTER_III"><span class="smcap">Of The Finding Of Excalibur</span></a></li> +<li> <a href="#CHAPTER_IV"><span class="smcap">Of The Treachery Of Queen Morgan Le Fay</span></a></li> +<li> <a href="#CHAPTER_V"><span class="smcap">How The Scabbard Of Excalibur Was Lost</span></a></li> +<li> <a href="#CHAPTER_VI"><span class="smcap">Merlin</span></a></li> +<li> <a href="#CHAPTER_VII"><span class="smcap">Balin And Balan</span></a></li> +</ol></li> +<li> <a href="#BOOK_II"><b>BOOK II.—SIR LAUNCELOT</b></a></li> +<li><ol class="withroman" start="8"> +<li> <a href="#CHAPTER_VIII"><span class="smcap">Sir Launcelot Du Lac</span></a></li> +<li> <a href="#CHAPTER_IX"><span class="smcap">The Adventure Of The Chapel Perilous</span></a></li> +<li> <a href="#CHAPTER_X"><span class="smcap">Sir Launcelot And The Falcon</span></a></li> +</ol></li> +<li> <a href="#BOOK_III"><b>BOOK III.—SIR TRISTRAM</b></a></li> +<li><ol class="withroman" start="11"> +<li> <a href="#CHAPTER_XI"><span class="smcap">Of The Birth Of St. Tristram</span></a></li> +<li> <a href="#CHAPTER_XII"><span class="smcap">How Tristram Fought With Sir Marhaus Of Ireland</span></a></li> +<li> <a href="#CHAPTER_XIII"><span class="smcap">The Fair Isolt</span></a></li> +<li> <a href="#CHAPTER_XIV"><span class="smcap">How King Mark Sent Sir Tristram To Fetch Him A Wife</span></a></li> +<li> <a href="#CHAPTER_XV"><span class="smcap">How Sir Tristram And The Fair Isolt Drank Of The Magic Potion</span></a></li> +<li> <a href="#CHAPTER_XVI"><span class="smcap">Of The End Of Sir Tristram</span></a></li> +</ol></li> +<li> <a href="#BOOK_IV"><b>BOOK IV.—KING ARTHUR'S NEPHEWS</b></a></li> +<li><ol class="withroman" start="17"> +<li> <a href="#CHAPTER_XVII"><span class="smcap">Sir Gawain And The Lady</span></a></li> +<li> <a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII"><span class="smcap">The Adventures Of Sir Gareth</span></a></li> +</ol></li> +<li> <a href="#BOOK_V"><b>BOOK V.—SIR GERAINT</b></a></li> +<li><ol class="withroman" start="19"> +<li> <a href="#CHAPTER_XIX"><span class="smcap">The Adventures Of Geraint</span></a></li> +<li> <a href="#CHAPTER_XX"><span class="smcap">Geraint And Enid</span></a></li> +</ol></li> +<li> <a href="#BOOK_VI"><b>BOOK VI.—THE LADY OF THE FOUNTAIN</b></a></li> +<li><ol class="withroman" start="21"> +<li> <a href="#CHAPTER_XXI"><span class="smcap">The Lady Of The Fountain</span></a></li> +</ol></li> +<li> <a href="#BOOK_VII"><b>BOOK VII.—SIR PEREDUR</b></a></li> +<li><ol class="withroman" start="22"> +<li> <a href="#CHAPTER_XXII"><span class="smcap">The Adventures Of Sir Peredur</span></a></li> +</ol></li> +<li> <a href="#BOOK_VIII"><b>BOOK VIII.—THE HOLY GRAIL</b></a></li> +<li><ol class="withroman" start="23"> +<li> <a href="#CHAPTER_XXIII"><span class="smcap">The Coming Of Sir Galahad</span></a></li> +<li> <a href="#CHAPTER_XXIV"><span class="smcap">How Sir Galahad Won The Red-cross Shield</span></a></li> +<li> <a href="#CHAPTER_XXV"><span class="smcap">The Adventures Of Sir Percivale</span></a></li> +<li> <a href="#CHAPTER_XXVI"><span class="smcap">The Adventures Of Sir Bors</span></a></li> +<li> <a href="#CHAPTER_XXVII"><span class="smcap">The Adventures Of Sir Launcelot</span></a></li> +<li> <a href="#CHAPTER_XXVIII"><span class="smcap">How Sir Launcelot Saw The Holy Grail</span></a></li> +<li> <a href="#CHAPTER_XXIX"><span class="smcap">The End Of The Quest</span></a></li> +</ol></li> +<li> <a href="#BOOK_IX"><b>BOOK IX.—THE FAIR MAID OF ASTOLAT</b></a></li> +<li><ol class="withroman" start="30"> +<li> <a href="#CHAPTER_XXX"><span class="smcap">The Fair Maid Of Astolat</span></a></li> +</ol></li> +<li> <a href="#BOOK_X"><b>BOOK X.—QUEEN GUENEVERE</b></a></li> +<li><ol class="withroman" start="31"> +<li> <a href="#CHAPTER_XXXI"><span class="smcap">How Mordred Plotted Against Sir Launcelot</span></a></li> +<li> <a href="#CHAPTER_XXXII"><span class="smcap">The Trial Of The Queen</span></a></li> +<li> <a href="#CHAPTER_XXXIII"><span class="smcap">How Sir Gawain Defied Sir Launcelot</span></a></li> +<li> <a href="#CHAPTER_XXXIV"><span class="smcap">How King Arthur And Sir Gawain Went To France</span></a></li> +</ol></li> +<li> <a href="#BOOK_XI"><b>BOOK XI.—THE MORTE D'ARTHUR</b></a></li> +<li><ol class="withroman" start="35"> +<li> <a href="#CHAPTER_XXXV"><span class="smcap">Mordred The Traitor</span></a></li> +<li> <a href="#CHAPTER_XXXVI"><span class="smcap">The Battle In The West</span></a></li> +<li> <a href="#CHAPTER_XXXVII"><span class="smcap">The Passing Of Arthur</span></a></li> +<li> <a href="#CHAPTER_XXXVIII"><span class="smcap">The Death Of Sir Launcelot And Of The Queen</span></a></li> +</ol></li></ul> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="center"><a name="INTRODUCTION" id="INTRODUCTION"></a> +<img src="images/illus007.png" width="700" height="166" alt="INTRODUCTION" /> +</div> + +<p>Among the stories of world-wide renown, not the least stirring are +those that have gathered about the names of national heroes. The +<i>Æneid</i>, the <i>Nibelungenlied</i>, the <i>Chanson de Roland</i>, the <i>Morte +D'Arthur</i>,—they are not history, but they have been as National +Anthems to the races, and their magic is not yet dead.</p> + +<p>In olden times our forefathers used to say that the world had seen +nine great heroes, three heathen, three Jewish, and three +Christian; among the Christian heroes was British Arthur, and of +none is the fame greater. Even to the present day, his name +lingers in many widely distant places. In the peninsula of Gower, a +huge slab of rock, propped up on eleven short pillars, is still +called Arthur's Stone; the lofty ridge which looks down upon +Edinburgh bears the name of Arthur's Seat; and—strangest, perhaps, +of all—in the Franciscan Church of far-away Innsbrück, the finest +of the ten statues of ancestors guarding the tomb of the Emperor +Maximilian I. is that of King Arthur. There is hardly a country in +Europe without its tales of the Warrior-King; and yet of any real +Arthur history tells us little, and that little describes, not the +knightly conqueror, but the king of a broken people, struggling for +very life.</p> + +<p>More than fifteen centuries ago, this country, now called England, +was inhabited by a Celtic race known as the Britons, a warlike +people, divided into numerous tribes constantly at war with each +other. But in the first century of the Christian era they were +conquered by the Romans, who added Britain to their vast empire and +held it against attacks from without and rebellions from within by +stationing legions, or troops of soldiers, in strongly fortified +places all over the country. Now, from their conquerors, the +Britons learnt many useful arts, to read and to write, to build +houses and to make roads; but at the same time, they unlearnt some +of their own virtues and, among others, how to think and act for +themselves. For the Romans never allowed a Briton any real part in +the government of his own country, and if he wished to become a +soldier, he was sent away from Britain to serve with a legion +stationed in some far-distant part of the empire. Thus it came +about that when, in the fifth century, the Romans withdrew from +Britain to defend Rome itself from invading hordes of savages, the +unhappy Britons had forgotten how to govern and how to defend +themselves, and fell an easy prey to the many enemies waiting to +pounce on their defenceless country. Picts from Scotland invaded +the north, and Scots from Ireland plundered the west; worst of all, +the heathen Angles and Saxons, pouring across the seas from their +homes in the Elbe country, wasted the land with fire and sword. +Many of the Britons were slain; those who escaped sought refuge in +the mountainous parts of the west from Cornwall to the Firth of +Clyde. There, forgetting, to some extent, their quarrels, they took +the name of the Cymry, which means the "Brethren," though the +English, unable to understand their language, spoke of them +contemptuously as the "Welsh," or the "Strangers."</p> + +<p>For a long time the struggle went on between the two races, and +nowhere mere fiercely than in the south-west, where the invaders set +up the Kingdom of Wessex; but at last there arose among the Britons a +great chieftain called Arthur. The old histories speak of him as +"Emperor," and he seems to have been obeyed by all the Britons; +perhaps, therefore, he had succeeded to the position of the Roman +official known as the Comes Britanniæ, whose duty it was to hasten to +the aid of the local governors in defending any part of Britain where +danger threatened. At all events, under his leadership, the oppressed +people defeated the Saxons in a desperate fight at Mons Badonicus, +perhaps the little place in Dorsetshire known as Badbury, or, it may +be, Bath itself, which is still called Badon by the Welsh. After that +victory, history has little to say about Arthur. The stories tell that +he was killed in a great battle in the west; but, nowadays, the wisest +historians think it more probable that he met his death in a conflict +near the River Forth.</p> + +<p>And so, in history, Arthur, the hero of such a mass of romantic +story, is little more than a name, and it is hardly possible to +explain how he attained to such renown as the hero of marvellous +and, sometimes, magical feats, unless on the supposition that he +became confused with some legendary hero, half god, half man, whose +fame he added to his own. Perhaps not the least marvel about him is +that he who was the hero of the Britons, should have become the +national hero of the English race that he spent his life in +fighting. Yet that is what did happen, though not till long +afterwards, when the victorious English, in their turn, bent before +their conquering kinsmen, the Normans.</p> + +<p>Now in the reign of the third Norman king, Henry I., there lived a +certain Welsh priest known as Geoffrey of Monmouth. Geoffrey seems +to have been much about the Court, and perhaps it was the Norman +love of stories that first made him think of writing his <i>History +of the British Kings</i>. A wonderful tale he told of all the British +kings from the time that Brut the Trojan settled in the country and +called it, after himself, Britain! For Geoffrey's book was history +only in name. What he tells us is that he was given an ancient +chronicle found in Brittany, and was asked to translate it from +Welsh into the better known language, Latin. It is hardly likely, +however, that Geoffrey himself expected his statement to be taken +quite seriously. Even in his own day, not every one believed in +him, for a certain Yorkshire monk declared that the historian had +"lied saucily and shamelessly"; and some years later, Gerald the +Welshman tells of a man who had intercourse with devils, from whose +sway, however, he could be freed if a Bible were placed upon his +breast, whereas he was completely under their control if Geoffrey's +<i>History</i> were laid upon him, just because the book was so full of +lies.</p> + +<p>It is quite certain that Geoffrey did not write history, but he did +make a capital story, partly by collecting legends about British +heroes, partly by inventing stories of his own; so that though he +is not entitled to fame as an historian, he may claim to rank high +as a romantic story-teller who set a fashion destined to last for +some three centuries.</p> + +<p>So popular was his book that, not only in England, but, in an even +greater degree, on the Continent, writers were soon at work, +collecting and making more stories about the greatest of his kings, +Arthur. By some it is thought that the Normans took such delight in +the knightly deeds of Geoffrey's heroes that they spread the story +in France when they visited their homes in Normandy. Moreover, they +were in a good position to learn other tales of their favourite +knights, for Normandy bordered on Brittany, the home of the +Bretons, who, being of the same race as the Welsh, honoured the +same heroes in their legends. So in return for Geoffrey's tales, +Breton stories, perhaps, found their way into England; at all +events, marvellous romances of King Arthur and his Round Table were +soon being told in England, in France, in Germany and in Italy.</p> + +<p>Now, to some it may seem strange that story-tellers should care to +weave their stories so constantly about the same personages; +strange, too, that they should invent stories about men and women +who were believed actually to have existed. But it must be +remembered that, in those early days, very few could read and +write, and that, before printing was invented, books were so scarce +that four or five constituted quite a library. Those who knew how +to read, and were so fortunate as to have books, read them again +and again. For the rest, though kings and great nobles might have +poets attached to their courts, the majority depended for their +amusement on the professional story-teller. In the long winter +evening, no one was more welcome than the wandering minstrel. He +might be the knightly troubadour who, accompanied by a jongleur to +play his accompaniments, wandered from place to place out of sheer +love of his art and of adventure; more often, however, the minstrel +made story-telling his trade, and gained his living from the bounty +of his audience—be it in castle, market-place, or inn. Most +commonly, the narratives took the form of long rhyming poems; not +because the people in those days were so poetical—indeed, some of +these poems would be thought, in present times, very dreary +doggerel—but because rhyme is easier to remember than prose. +Story-tellers had generally much the same stock-in-trade—stories +of Arthur, Charlemagne, Sir Guy of Warwick, Sir Bevis of +Southampton, and so on. If a minstrel had skill of his own, he +would invent some new episode, and so, perhaps, turn a compliment +to his patron by introducing the exploit of an ancestor, at the +same time that he made his story last longer. People did not weary +of hearing the same tales over and over again, any more than little +children get tired of nursery rhymes, or their elders turn away +from "Punch and Judy," though the same little play has been +performed for centuries. As for inventing stories about real +people, that may well have seemed permissible in an age when +historians recorded mere hearsay as actual fact. Richard III., +perhaps, had one shoulder higher than the other, but within a few +years of his death grave historians had represented him as a +hunchbacked deformity.</p> + +<p>The romances connected with King Arthur and his knights went on +steadily growing in number until the fifteenth century; of them, +some have survived to the present day, but undoubtedly many have +been lost. Then, in the latter half of the fifteenth century, the +most famous of all the Arthurian stories was given to the world in +Sir Thomas Malory's <i>Morte D'Arthur</i>. By good luck, the great +printer who made it one of his first works, has left an account of +the circumstances that led to its production. In the reign of +Edward IV., William Caxton set up his printing-press (the first in +England) in the precincts of Westminster Abbey. There he was +visited, as he himself relates, by "many noble and divers gentlemen" +demanding why he had not printed the "noble history of the Saint Grail +and of the most-renowned Christian King ... Arthur." To please them, +and because he himself loved chivalry, Caxton printed Sir Thomas +Malory's story, in which all that is best in the many Arthurian +romances is woven into one grand narrative.</p> + +<p>Since then, in our own days, the story of Arthur and his knights +has been told in beautiful verse by Lord Tennyson; but for the +originals of some of his poems it would be useless to look in +Malory. The story of Geraint and Enid, Tennyson derived from a very +interesting collection of translations of ancient Welsh stories +made by Lady Charlotte Guest, and by her called <i>Mabinogion</i>,<a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a> +although not all Welsh scholars would consider the name quite +accurate.</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> Meaning the apprentices of the bards.</p></div> + +<p>And now it is time to say something about the stories themselves. +The Arthur of history was engaged in a life-long struggle with an +enemy that threatened to rob his people of home, of country, and of +freedom; in the stories, the king and his knights, like Richard +Coeur-de-Lion, sought adventure for adventure's sake, or, as in the +case of Sir Peredur, took fantastic vows for the love of a lady. +The Knights of the Round Table are sheathed from head to foot in +plate armour, although the real Arthur's warriors probably had only +shirts of mail and shields with which to ward off the blows of the +enemy. They live in moated castles instead of in halls of wood, +and they are more often engaged in tournaments than in struggles +with the heathen. In fact, those who wrote the stories represented +their heroes as living such lives as they themselves led. Just in +the same way, Dutch painters used to represent the shepherds in the +Bible story as Dutch peasants; just so David Garrick, the great +actor of the eighteenth century, used to act the part of a Roman in +his own full-bottomed wig and wide-skirted coat.</p> + +<p>It must not be forgotten that, in those far-away days when there +were few who could even read or write, there was little that, in +their ignorance, people were not prepared to believe. Stories of +marvels and magic that would deceive no one now, were then eagerly +accepted as truth. Those were the days when philosophers expected +to discover the Elixir of Life; when doctors consulted the stars in +treating their patients; when a noble of the royal blood, such as +Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, could fall into disgrace because his +wife was accused of trying to compass the king's death by melting a +wax image of him before a slow fire.</p> + +<p>Of all the stories, perhaps the most mystical is that of the Quest +of the Holy Grail, and it has features peculiar to itself. Nuns +take the place of fair ladies; there are hermitages instead of +castles; and the knights themselves, if they do not die, become +monks or hermits. The reason for this change in scene and character +is, that this is a romance in which the Church was trying to teach +men, by means of a tale such as they loved, the lesson of devotion +and purity of heart.</p> + +<p>The story sprang from certain legends which had grown up about the +name of Joseph of Arimathea. It was related that, when our Lord was +crucified, Joseph caught in a dish, or vessel, the blood which +flowed from His wounded side. In later years, the pious Jew left +his home and, taking with him the precious vessel, sailed away on +unknown seas until he came to the land of Britain. In that country +he landed, and at Glastonbury he built himself a hermitage, where +he treasured the sacred dish which came to be known as the Saint +Grail. After Joseph's death, the world grew more wicked, and so the +Holy Grail disappeared from the sight of sinful men, although, from +time to time, the vision of it was granted, as in the story, to the +pure in heart.</p> + +<p>In later days, legend said that where Joseph's hermitage had stood, +there grew up the famous monastery of Glastonbury, and it came to +have a special importance of its own in the Arthurian romance. In +the reign of Henry II., by the king's orders, the monks of +Glastonbury made search for the grave of King Arthur, and, in due +time, they announced that they had found it, nine feet below the +soil, the coffin covered with a stone in which was inlaid a leaden +cross bearing this inscription: "Hic iacet sepultus inclitus rex +Arthurius in insula Avalonia." Some, however, suggested that the +monks, less honest than anxious to please the masterful king, had +first placed the stone in position and then found it!</p> + +<p>One more feature of the tales remains to be mentioned: their +geography. There is no atlas that will make it plain in all cases; and +this is hardly wonderful, for so little was known of this subject +that, even in the reign of Henry VIII., the learned Lord Berners was +quite satisfied that his hero should journey to Babylon by way of the +Nile! Some of the places mentioned in the stories are, of course, +familiar, and others, less well known, can, with a little care, be +traced; but to identify all is not possible. Caerleon, where King +Arthur so often held his Court, still bears the same name, though its +glory has sorely shrank since the days when it had a bishop of its +own. Camelot, where stood the marvellous palace built for the king by +Merlin, is perhaps the village of Queen's Camel in Somersetshire. If +it is borne in mind that the French call Wales <i>Pays de Galles</i>, it is +not difficult to see that North Galis may well be North Wales. Gore is +the peninsula of Gower; Liones probably the land south-west of +Cornwall, now sunk beneath the sea; and Avalonia was the name given to +one of the many small islands of the once marshy, low-lying shore of +Somersetshire, which became afterwards better known as Glastonbury.</p> + +<p>Happily, it is neither on their history nor on their geography that +the tales depend for their interest. As long as a story of adventure +thrills; as long as gentleness, courtesy and consideration for the +weak excite respect, so long will be read the tales of the brave times</p> + +<span style="margin-left: 5em;">"When every morning brought a noble chance,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 5em;">And every chance brought out a noble knight."</span><br /><br /><br /><br /> + +<div class="center" > +<img src="images/illus017.png" width="154" height="150" alt="Head of a woman on a shield" /> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="center" > +<img src="images/illus019.png" width="700" height="308" alt="STORIES FROM LE MORTE D'ARTHUR AND THE MABINOGION" /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="BOOK_I" id="BOOK_I"></a>BOOK I</h2> + +<h2>THE COMING OF ARTHUR</h2> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I</h2> + +<h3>OF ARTHUR'S BIRTH; AND HOW HE BECAME KING</h3> + + +<p>Long years ago, there ruled over Britain a king called Uther +Pendragon. A mighty prince was he, and feared by all men; yet, when +he sought the love of the fair Igraine of Cornwall, she would have +naught to do with him, so that, from grief and disappointment, +Uther fell sick, and at last seemed like to die.</p> + +<p>Now in those days, there lived a famous magician named Merlin, so +powerful that he could change his form at will, or even make +himself invisible; nor was there any place so remote but that he +could reach it at once, merely by wishing himself there. One day, +suddenly he stood at Uther's bedside, and said: "Sir King, I know +thy grief, and am ready to help thee. Only promise to give me, at +his birth, the son that shall be born to thee, and thou shalt have +thy heart's desire." To this the king agreed joyfully, and Merlin +kept his word: for he gave Uther the form of one whom Igraine had +loved dearly, and so she took him willingly for her husband.</p> + +<p>When the time had come that a child should be born to the King and +Queen, Merlin appeared before Uther to remind him of his promise; +and Uther swore it should be as he had said. Three days later, a +prince was born, and, with pomp and ceremony, was christened by the +name of Arthur; but immediately thereafter, the King commanded that +the child should be carried to the postern-gate, there to be given +to the old man who would be found waiting without.</p> + +<p>Not long after, Uther fell sick, and he knew that his end was come; +so, by Merlin's advice, he called together his knights and barons, +and said to them: "My death draws near. I charge you, therefore, +that ye obey my son even as ye have obeyed me; and my curse upon +him if he claim not the crown when he is a man grown." Then the +King turned his face to the wall and died.</p> + +<p>Scarcely was Uther laid in his grave before disputes arose. Few of +the nobles had seen Arthur or even heard of him, and not one of +them would have been willing to be ruled by a child; rather, each +thought himself fitted to be king, and, strengthening his own +castle, made war on his neighbours until confusion alone was +supreme, and the poor groaned because there was none to help them.</p> + +<p>Now when Merlin carried away Arthur—for Merlin was the old man who +had stood at the postern-gate—he had known all that would happen, +and had taken the child to keep him safe from the fierce barons +until he should be of age to rule wisely and well, and perform all +the wonders prophesied of him. He gave the child to the care of the +good knight Sir Ector to bring up with his son Kay, but revealed +not to him that it was the son of Uther Pendragon that was given +into his charge.</p> + +<p>At last, when years had passed and Arthur was grown a tall youth +well skilled in knightly exercises, Merlin went to the Archbishop +of Canterbury and advised him that he should call together at +Christmas-time all the chief men of the realm to the great +cathedral in London; "For," said Merlin, "there shall be seen a +great marvel by which it shall be made clear to all men who is the +lawful King of this land." The Archbishop did as Merlin counselled. +Under pain of a fearful curse, he bade barons and knights come to +London to keep the feast, and to pray heaven to send peace to the +realm.</p> + +<p>The people hastened to obey the Archbishop's commands, and, from +all sides, barons and knights came riding in to keep the +birth-feast of our Lord. And when they had prayed, and were coming +forth from the cathedral, they saw a strange sight. There, in the +open space before the church, stood, on a great stone, an anvil +thrust through with a sword; and on the stone were written these +words: "Whoso can draw forth this sword, is rightful King of +Britain born."</p> + +<p>At once there were fierce quarrels, each man clamouring to be the +first to try his fortune, none doubting his own success. Then the +Archbishop decreed that each should make the venture in turn, from +the greatest baron to the least knight; and each in turn, having +put forth his utmost strength, failed to move the sword one inch, +and drew back ashamed. So the Archbishop dismissed the company, and +having appointed guards to watch over the stone, sent messengers +through all the land to give word of great jousts to be held in +London at Easter, when each knight could give proof of his skill +and courage, and try whether the adventure of the sword was for +him.</p> + +<p>Among those who rode to London at Easter was the good Sir Ector, +and with him his son, Sir Kay, newly made a knight, and the young +Arthur. When the morning came that the jousts should begin, Sir Kay +and Arthur mounted their horses and set out for the lists; but +before they reached the field, Kay looked and saw that he had left +his sword behind. Immediately Arthur turned back to fetch it for +him, only to find the house fast shut, for all were gone to view +the tournament. Sore vexed was Arthur, fearing lest his brother Kay +should lose his chance of gaining glory, till, of a sudden, he +bethought him of the sword in the great anvil before the cathedral. +Thither he rode with all speed, and the guards having deserted +their post to view the tournament, there was none to forbid him the +adventure. He leaped from his horse, seized the hilt, and instantly +drew forth the sword as easily as from a scabbard; then, mounting +his horse and thinking no marvel of what he had done, he rode after +his brother and handed him the weapon.</p> + +<p>When Kay looked at it, he saw at once that it was the wondrous +sword from the stone. In great joy he sought his father, and +showing it to him, said: "Then must I be King of Britain." But Sir +Ector bade him say how he came by the sword, and when Sir Kay told +how Arthur had brought it to him, Sir Ector bent his knee to the +boy, and said: "Sir, I perceive that ye are my King, and here I +tender you my homage"; and Kay did as his father. Then the three +sought the Archbishop, to whom they related all that had happened; +and he, much marvelling, called the people together to the great +stone, and bade Arthur thrust back the sword and draw it forth +again in the presence of all, which he did with ease. But an angry +murmur arose from the barons, who cried that what a boy could do, a +man could do; so, at the Archbishop's word, the sword was put back, +and each man, whether baron or knight, tried in his turn to draw it +forth, and failed. Then, for the third time, Arthur drew forth the +sword. Immediately there arose from the people a great shout: +"Arthur is King! Arthur is King! We will have no King but Arthur"; +and, though the great barons scowled and threatened, they fell on +their knees before him while the Archbishop placed the crown upon +his head, and swore to obey him faithfully as their lord and +sovereign.</p> + +<p>Thus Arthur was made King; and to all he did justice, righting +wrongs and giving to all their dues. Nor was he forgetful of those +that had been his friends; for Kay, whom he loved as a brother, he +made Seneschal and chief of his household, and to Sir Ector, his +foster-father, he gave broad lands.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II</h2> + +<h3>THE ROUND TABLE</h3> + + +<p>Thus Arthur was made King, but he had to fight for his own; for +eleven great kings drew together and refused to acknowledge him as +their lord, and chief amongst the rebels was King Lot of Orkney who +had married Arthur's sister, Bellicent.</p> + +<p>By Merlin's advice, Arthur sent for help overseas, to Ban and Bors, +the two great Kings who ruled in Gaul. With their aid, he overthrew +his foes in a great battle near the river Trent; and then he passed +with them into their own lands and helped them drive out their +enemies. So there was ever great friendship between Arthur and the +Kings Ban and Bors, and all their kindred; and afterwards some of +the most famous Knights of the Round Table were of that kin.</p> + +<p>Then King Arthur set himself to restore order throughout his +kingdom. To all who would submit and amend their evil ways, he +showed kindness; but those who persisted in oppression and wrong he +removed, putting in their places others who would deal justly with +the people. And because the land had become overrun with forest +during the days of misrule, he cut roads through the thickets, that +no longer wild beasts and men, fiercer than the beasts, should lurk +in their gloom, to the harm of the weak and defenceless. Thus it +came to pass that soon the peasant ploughed his fields in safety, +and where had been wastes, men dwelt again in peace and prosperity.</p> + +<p>Amongst the lesser kings whom Arthur helped to rebuild their towns +and restore order, was King Leodegrance of Cameliard. Now +Leodegrance had one fair child, his daughter Guenevere; and from +the time that first he saw her, Arthur gave her all his love. So he +sought counsel of Merlin, his chief adviser. Merlin heard the King +sorrowfully, and he said: "Sir King, when a man's heart is set, he +may not change. Yet had it been well if ye had loved another."</p> + +<p>So the King sent his knights to Leodegrance, to ask of him his +daughter; and Leodegrance consented, rejoicing to wed her to so +good and knightly a King. With great pomp, the princess was +conducted to Canterbury, and there the King met her, and they two +were wed by the Archbishop in the great Cathedral, amid the +rejoicings of the people.</p> + +<p>On that same day did Arthur found his Order of the Round Table, the +fame of which was to spread throughout Christendom and endure +through all time. Now the Round Table had been made for King Uther +Pendragon by Merlin, who had meant thereby to set forth plainly to +all men the roundness of the earth. After Uther died, King +Leodegrance had possessed it; but when Arthur was wed, he sent it +to him as a gift, and great was the King's joy at receiving it. One +hundred and fifty knights might take their places about it, and for +them Merlin made sieges or seats. One hundred and twenty-eight did +Arthur knight at that great feast; thereafter, if any sieges were +empty, at the high festival of Pentecost new knights were ordained +to fill them, and by magic was the name of each knight found +inscribed, in letters of gold, in his proper siege. One seat only +long remained unoccupied, and that was the Siege Perilous. No +knight might occupy it until the coming of Sir Galahad; for, +without danger to his life, none might sit there who was not free +from all stain of sin.</p> + +<p>With pomp and ceremony did each knight take upon him the vows of +true knighthood: to obey the King; to show mercy to all who asked +it; to defend the weak; and for no worldly gain to fight in a +wrongful cause: and all the knights rejoiced together, doing honour +to Arthur and to his Queen. Then they rode forth to right the wrong +and help the oppressed, and by their aid, the King held his realm +in peace, doing justice to all.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III</h2> + +<h3>OF THE FINDING OF EXCALIBUR</h3> + + +<p>Now when Arthur was first made King, as young knights will, he +courted peril for its own sake, and often would he ride unattended +by lonely forest ways, seeking the adventure that chance might send +him. All unmindful was he of the ruin to his realm if mischief +befell him; and even his trusty counsellors, though they grieved +that he should thus imperil him, yet could not but love him the +more for his hardihood.</p> + +<p>So, on a day, he rode through the Forest Perilous where dwelt the +Lady Annoure, a sorceress of great might, who used her magic powers +but for the furtherance of her own desires. And as she looked from +a turret window, she descried King Arthur come riding down a forest +glade, and the sunbeams falling upon him made one glory of his +armour and of his yellow hair. Then, as Annoure gazed upon the +King, her heart grew hot within her, and she resolved that, come +what might, she would have him for her own, to dwell with her +always and fulfil all her behests. And so she bade lower the +drawbridge and raise the portcullis, and sallying forth accompanied +by her maidens, she gave King Arthur courteous salutation, and +prayed him that he would rest within her castle that day, for that +she had a petition to make to him; and Arthur, doubting nothing of +her good faith, suffered himself to be led within.</p> + +<p>Then was a great feast spread, and Annoure caused the King to be +seated in a chair of state at her right hand, while squires and +pages served him on bended knee. So when they had feasted, the King +turned to the Lady Annoure and said courteously: "Lady, somewhat ye +said of a request that ye would make. If there be aught in which I +may pleasure you, I pray you let me know it, and I will serve you +as knightly as I may." "In truth," said the lady, "there is that +which I would fain entreat of you, most noble knight; yet suffer, I +beseech you, that first I may show you somewhat of my castle and my +estate, and then will I crave a boon of your chivalry." Then the +sorceress led King Arthur from room to room of her castle, and ever +each displayed greater store of beauty than the last. In some the +walls were hung with rich tapestries, in others they gleamed with +precious stones; and the King marvelled what might be the petition +of one that was mistress of such wealth. Lastly, Annoure brought +the King out upon the battlements, and as he gazed around him, he +saw that, since he had entered the castle, there had sprung up +about it triple walls of defence that shut out wholly the forest +from view. Then turned he to Annoure, and gravely he said: "Lady, +greatly I marvel in what a simple knight may pleasure one that is +mistress of so wondrous a castle as ye have shown me here; yet if +there be aught in which I may render you knightly service, right +gladly would I hear it now, for I must forth upon my way to render +service to those whose knight I am sworn." "Nay, now, King +Arthur," answered the sorceress mockingly, "ye may not think to +deceive me; for well I know you, and that all Britain bows to your +behest." "The more reason then that I should ride forth to right +wrong and succour them that, of their loyalty, render true +obedience to their lord." "Ye speak as a fool," said the sorceress; +"why should one that may command be at the beck and call of every +hind and slave within his realm? Nay, rest thee here with me, and I +will make thee ruler of a richer land than Britain, and give thee +to satisfy thy every desire." "Lady," said the King sternly, "I +will hear and judge of your petition at this time, and then will I +forth upon my way." "Nay," said Annoure, "there needs not this +harshness. I did but speak for thine advantage. Only vow thee to my +service, and there is naught that thou canst desire that thou shalt +not possess. Thou shalt be lord of this fair castle and of the +mighty powers that obey me. Why waste thy youth in hardship and in +the service of such as shall render thee little enough again?"</p> + +<p>Thereupon, without ever a word, the King turned him about and made +for the turret stair by which he had ascended, but nowhere could he +find it. Then said the sorceress, mocking him: "Fair sir, how think +ye to escape without my good-will? See ye not the walls that guard +my stronghold? And think ye that I have not servants enow to do my +bidding?" She clapped her hands and forthwith there appeared a +company of squires who, at her command, seized the King and bore +him away to a strong chamber where they locked him in.</p> + +<p>And so the King abode that night, the prisoner of that evil +sorceress, with little hope that day, when it dawned, should bring +him better cheer. Yet lost he not courage, but kept watch and vigil +the night through lest the powers of evil should assail him +unawares. And with the early morning light, Annoure came to visit +him. More stately she seemed than the night before, more tall and +more terrible; and her dress was one blaze of flashing gems, so +that scarce could the eye look upon her. As a queen might address a +vassal, so greeted she the King, and as condescending to one of low +estate, asked how he had fared that night. And the King made +answer: "I have kept vigil as behoves a knight who, knowing him to +be in the midst of danger, would bear himself meetly in any peril +that should offer." And the Lady Annoure, admiring his knightly +courage, desired more earnestly even than before to win him to her +will, and she said: "Sir Arthur, I know well your courage and +knightly fame, and greatly do I desire to keep you with me. Stay +with me and I promise you that ye shall bear sway over a wider +realm than any that ever ye heard of, and I, even I, its mistress, +will be at your command. And what lose ye if ye accept my offer? +Little enough, I ween, for never think that ye shall win the world +from evil and men to loyalty and truth." Then answered the King in +anger: "Full well I see that thou art in league with evil and that +thou but seekest to turn me from my purpose. I defy thee, foul +sorceress. Do thy worst; though thou slay me, thou shalt never sway +me to thy will"; and therewith the King raised his cross-hilted +sword before her. Then the lady quailed at that sight. Her heart +was filled with hate, but she said: "Go your way, proud King of a +petty realm. Rule well your race of miserable mortals, since more +it pleasures you than to bear sway over the powers of the air. I +keep you not against your will." With these words, she passed from +the chamber, and the King heard her give command to her squires to +set him without her gates, give him his horse, and suffer him to go +on his way.</p> + +<p>And so it came to pass that the King found himself once more at +large, and marvelled to have won so lightly to liberty. Yet knew he +not the depths of treachery in the heart of Annoure; for when she +found she might not prevail with the King, she bethought her how, +by mortal means, she might bring the King to dishonour and death. +And so, by her magic art, she caused the King to follow a path that +brought him to a fountain, whereby a knight had his tent, and, for +love of adventure, held the way against all comers. Now this knight +was Sir Pellinore, and at that time he had not his equal for +strength and knightly skill, nor had any been found that might +stand against him. So, as the King drew nigh, Pellinore cried: +"Stay, knight, for none passes this way except he joust with me." +"That is no good custom," said the King; "it were well that ye +followed it no more." "It is my custom, and I will follow it +still," answered Pellinore; "if ye like it not, amend it if ye +may." "I will do my endeavour," said Arthur, "but, as ye see, I +have no spear." "Nay, I seek not to have you at advantage," +replied Pellinore, and bade his squire give Arthur a spear. Then +they dressed their shields, laid their lances in rest, and rushed +upon each other. Now the King was wearied by his night's vigil, and +the strength of Pellinore was as the strength of three men; so, at +the first encounter, Arthur was unhorsed. Then said he: "I have +lost the honour on horseback, but now will I encounter thee with my +sword and on foot." "I, too, will alight," said Pellinore; "small +honour to me were it if I slew thee on foot, I being horsed the +while." So they encountered each other on foot, and so fiercely +they fought that they hewed off great pieces of each other's armour +and the ground was dyed with their blood. But at the last, Arthur's +sword broke off short at the hilt, and so he stood all defenceless +before his foe. "I have thee now," cried Pellinore; "yield thee as +recreant or I will slay thee." "That will I never," said the King, +"slay me if thou canst." Then he sprang on Pellinore, caught him by +the middle, and flung him to the ground, himself falling with him. +And Sir Pellinore marvelled, for never before had he encountered so +bold and resolute a foe; but exerting his great strength, he rolled +himself over, and so brought Arthur beneath him. Then had Arthur +perished, but at that moment Merlin stood beside him, and when Sir +Pellinore would have struck off the King's head, stayed his blow, +crying: "Pellinore, if thou slayest this knight, thou puttest the +whole realm in peril; for this is none other than King Arthur +himself." Then was Pellinore filled with dread, and cried: "Better +make an end of him at once; for if I suffer him to live, what hope +have I of his grace, that have dealt with him so sorely?" But +before Pellinore could strike, Merlin caused a deep sleep to come +upon him; and raising King Arthur from the ground, he staunched his +wounds and recovered him of his swoon.</p> + +<p>But when the King came to himself, he saw his foe lie, still as in +death, on the ground beside him; and he was grieved, and said: +"Merlin, what have ye done to this brave knight? Nay, if ye have +slain him, I shall grieve my life long; for a good knight he is, +bold and a fair fighter, though something wanting in knightly +courtesy." "He is in better case than ye are, Sir King, who so +lightly imperil your person, and thereby your kingdom's welfare; +and, as ye say, Pellinore is a stout knight, and hereafter shall he +serve you well. Have no fear. He shall wake again in three hours +and have suffered naught by the encounter. But for you, it were +well that ye came where ye might be tended for your wounds." "Nay," +replied the King, smiling, "I may not return to my court thus +weaponless; first will I find means to purvey me of a sword." "That +is easily done," answered Merlin; "follow me, and I will bring you +where ye shall get you a sword, the wonder of the world."</p> + +<p>So, though his wounds pained him sore, the King followed Merlin by +many a forest path and glade, until they came upon a mere, bosomed +deep in the forest; and as he looked thereon, the King beheld an +arm, clothed in white samite, shoot above the surface of the lake, +and in the hand was a fair sword that gleamed in the level rays of +the setting sun. "This is a great marvel," said the King, "what may +it mean?" And Merlin made answer: "Deep is this mere, so deep +indeed that no man may fathom it; but in its depths, and built upon +the roots of the mountains, is the palace of the Lady of the Lake. +Powerful is she with a power that works ever for good, and she +shall help thee in thine hour of need. For thee has she wrought +yonder sword. Go now, and take it."</p> + +<p>Then was Arthur aware of a little skiff, half hidden among the +bulrushes that fringed the lake; and leaping into the boat, without +aid of oar, he was wafted out into the middle of the lake, to the +place where, out of the water, rose the arm and sword. And leaning +from the skiff, he took the sword from the hand, which forthwith +vanished, and immediately thereafter the skiff bore him back to +land.</p> + +<p>Arthur drew from its scabbard the mighty sword, wondering the while +at the marvel of its workmanship, for the hilt shone with the light +of many twinkling gems—diamond and topaz and emerald, and many +another whose names none know. And as he looked on the blade, +Arthur was aware of mystic writings on the one side and the other, +and calling to Merlin, he bade him interpret them. "Sir," said +Merlin, "on the one side is written 'Keep me,' and on the other +'Throw me away.'" "Then," said the King, "which does it behove me +to do?" "Keep it," answered Merlin; "the time to cast it away is +not yet come. This is the good brand Excalibur, or Cut Steel, and +well shall it serve you. But what think ye of the scabbard?" "A +fair cover for so good a sword," answered Arthur. "Nay, it is more +than that," said Merlin, "for, so long as ye keep it, though ye be +wounded never so sore, yet ye shall not bleed to death." And when +he heard that, the King marvelled the more.</p> + +<p>Then they journeyed back to Caerleon, where the knights made great +joy of the return of their lord. And presently, thither came Sir +Pellinore, craving pardon of the King, who made but jest of his own +misadventure. And afterwards Sir Pellinore became of the Table +Round, a knight vowed, not only to deeds of hardihood, but also to +gentleness and courtesy; and faithfully he served the King, +fighting ever to maintain justice and put down wrong, and to defend +the weak from the oppressor.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV</h2> + +<h3>OF THE TREACHERY OF QUEEN MORGAN LE FAY</h3> + + +<p>There was a certain Queen whose name was Morgan le Fay, and she was +a powerful sorceress. Little do men know of her save that, in her +youth, she was eager for knowledge and, having learnt all human +lore, turned her to magic, becoming so skilled therein that she was +feared of all. There was a time when great was her enmity towards +King Arthur, so that she plotted his ruin not once only nor twice; +and that is a strange thing, for it is said that she herself was +the kinswoman of the King. And truly, in the end, she repented her +of her malice, for she was, of those that came to bear Arthur to +the Delightful Islands from the field of his last bitter conflict; +but that was long after.</p> + +<p>Now when this enchantress learned how the Lady of the Lake had +given the King a sword and scabbard of strange might, she was +filled with ill-will; and all her thought was only how she might +wrest the weapon from him and have it for her own, to bestow as she +would. Even while she pondered thereon, the King himself sent her +the scabbard to keep for him; for Merlin never ceased to warn the +King to have in safe keeping the scabbard that had power to keep +him from mortal hurt; and it seemed to Arthur that none might +better guard it for him, till the hour of need, than Morgan le Fay, +the wise Queen that was of his own kindred. Yet was not the Queen +shamed of her treacherous intent by the trust that Arthur had in +her; but all her mind was set on how she might win to the +possession of the sword itself as well as of the scabbard. At the +last—so had her desire for the sword wrought upon her—she +resolved to compass the destruction of the King that, if she gained +the sword, never might she have need to fear his justice for the +wrong she had done.</p> + +<p>And her chance came soon. For, on a day, King Arthur resolved to +chase the hart in the forests near Camelot, wherefore he left +behind him his sword Excalibur, and took but a hunting spear with +him. All day long, he chased a white hart and, when evening fell, +he had far outstripped his attendants, save only two, Sir Accolon +of Gaul and Sir Uriens, King of Gore, the husband of Queen Morgan +le Fay herself. So when the King saw that darkness had come upon +them in the forest, he turned to his companions, saying: "Sirs, we +be far from Camelot and must lodge as we may this night. Let us go +forward until we shall find where we may shelter us a little." So +they rode forward, and presently Arthur espied a little lake +glinting in the beams of the rising moon, and, as they drew nearer, +they descried, full in the moonlight, a little ship, all hung with +silks even to the water's edge. Then said the King to his knights: +"Yonder is promise of shelter or, it may be, of adventure. Let us +tether our horses in the thicket and enter into this little ship." +And when they had so done, presently they found themselves in a +fair cabin all hung with silks and tapestries, and, in its midst, a +table spread with the choicest fare. And being weary and hungered +with the chase, they ate of the feast prepared and, lying down to +rest, were soon sunk in deep slumber.</p> + +<p>While they slept, the little ship floated away from the land, and +it came to pass that a great wonder befell; for when they woke in +the morning, King Uriens found himself at home in his own land, and +Sir Accolon was in his own chamber at Camelot; but the King lay a +prisoner, bound and fettered and weaponless, in a noisome dungeon +that echoed to the groans of hapless captives.</p> + +<p>When he was come to himself, King Arthur looked about him and saw +that his companions were knights in the same hard case as himself; +and he inquired of them how they came to be in that plight. "Sir," +said one of them, "we are in duresse in the castle of a certain +recreant knight, Sir Damas by name, a coward false to chivalry. +None love him, and so no champion can he find to maintain his cause +in a certain quarrel that he has in hand. For this reason, he lies +in wait with a great company of soldiers for any knights that may +pass this way, and taking them prisoners, holds them in captivity +unless they will undertake to fight to the death in his cause. And +this I would not, nor any of my companions here; but unless we be +speedily rescued, we are all like to die of hunger in this +loathsome dungeon." "What is his quarrel?" asked the King. "That we +none of us know," answered the knight.</p> + +<p>While they yet talked, there entered the prison a damsel. She went +up to the King at once, and said: "Knight, will ye undertake to +fight in the cause of the lord of this castle?" "That I may not +say," replied the King, "unless first I may hear what is his +quarrel." "That ye shall not know," replied the damsel, "but this I +tell you: if ye refuse, ye shall never leave this dungeon alive, +but shall perish here miserably." "This is a hard case," said the +King, "that I must either die or fight for one I know not, and in a +cause that I may not hear. Yet on one condition will I undertake +your lord's quarrel, and that is that he shall give me all the +prisoners bound here in this dungeon." "It shall be as ye say," +answered the damsel, "and ye shall also be furnished with horse and +armour and sword than which ye never saw better." Therewith the +damsel bade him follow her, and brought him to a great hall where +presently there came to him squires to arm him for the combat; and +when their service was rendered, the damsel said to him: "Sir +Knight, even now there has come one who greets you in the name of +Queen Morgan le Fay, and bids me tell you that the Queen, knowing +your need, has sent you your good sword." Then the King rejoiced +greatly, for it seemed to him that the sword that the damsel gave +him was none other than the good sword Excalibur.</p> + +<p>When all was prepared, the damsel led King Arthur into a fair +field, and there he beheld awaiting him a knight, all sheathed in +armour, his vizor down, and bearing a shield on which was no +blazonry. So the two knights saluted each other, and, wheeling +their horses, rode away from each other some little space.</p> + +<p>Then turning again, they laid lance in rest, and rushing upon each +other, encountered with the noise of thunder, and so great was the +shock that each knight was borne from the saddle. Swiftly they +gained their feet, and, drawing their swords, dealt each other +great blows; and thus they contended fiercely for some while. But +as he fought, a great wonder came upon Arthur, for it seemed to him +that his sword, that never before had failed him, bit not upon the +armour of the other, while every stroke of his enemy drew blood, +till the ground on which he fought was slippery beneath his feet; +and at the last almost his heart failed within him, knowing that he +was betrayed, and that the brand with which he fought was not +Excalibur. Yet would he not show aught of what he suffered, but +struggled on, faint as he was and spent; so that they that watched +the fight and saw how he was sore wounded, marvelled at his great +courage and endurance. But presently, the stranger knight dealt the +King a blow which fell upon Arthur's sword, and so fierce was the +stroke that the blade broke off at the pommel. "Knight," said the +other, "thou must yield thee recreant to my mercy." "That may I not +do with mine honour," answered the King, "for I am sworn to fight +in this quarrel to the death." "But weaponless thou must needs be +slain." "Slay me an ye will, but think not to win glory by slaying +a weaponless man."</p> + +<p>Then was the other wroth to find himself still withstood and, in +his anger, he dealt Arthur a great blow; but this the King shunned, +and rushing upon his foe, smote him so fiercely on the head with +the pommel of his broken sword that the knight swayed and let slip +his own weapon. With a bound, Arthur was upon the sword, and no +sooner had he it within his grasp than he knew it, of a truth, to +be his own sword Excalibur. Then he scanned more closely his enemy, +and saw the scabbard that he wore was none other than the magic +scabbard of Excalibur; and forthwith, leaping upon the knight, he +tore it from him and flung it far afield.</p> + +<p>"Knight," cried King Arthur, "ye have made me suffer sore, but now +is the case changed and ye stand within my power, helpless and +unarmed. And much I misdoubt me but that treacherously ye have +dealt with me. Nevertheless, yield you recreant and I will spare +your life." "That I may not do, for it is against my vow; so slay +me if ye will. Of a truth, ye are the best knight that ever I +encountered."</p> + +<p>Then it seemed to the King that the knight's voice was not unknown +to him, and he said: "Tell me your name and what country ye are of, +for something bids me think that ye are not all unknown to me." "I +am Accolon of Gaul, knight of King Arthur's Round Table." "Ah! +Accolon, Accolon," cried the King, "is it even thou that hast +fought against me? Almost hast thou undone me. What treason tempted +thee to come against me, and with mine own weapon too?" When Sir +Accolon knew that it was against King Arthur that he had fought, he +gave a loud cry and swooned away utterly. Then Arthur called to two +stout yeomen amongst those that had looked on at the fight, and +bade them bear Sir Accolon to a little hermitage hard by, and +thither he himself followed with pain, being weak from loss of +blood; but into the castle he would not enter, for he trusted not +those that held it.</p> + +<p>The hermit dressed their wounds, and presently, when Sir Accolon +had come to himself again, the King spoke gently to him, bidding +him say how he had come to bear arms against him. "Sir and my +lord," answered Sir Accolon, "it comes of naught but the treachery +of your kinswoman, Queen Morgan le Fay. For on the morrow after we +had entered upon the little ship, I awoke in my chamber at Camelot, +and greatly I marvelled how I had come there. And as I yet +wondered, there came to me a messenger from Queen Morgan le Fay, +desiring me to go to her without delay. And when I entered her +presence, she was as one sore troubled, and she said to me: 'Sir +Accolon, of my secret power, I know that now is our King, Arthur, +in great danger; for he lies imprisoned in a great and horrible +dungeon whence he may not be delivered unless one be found to do +battle for him with the lord of the castle. Wherefore have I sent +for you that ye may take the battle upon you for our lord the King. +And for greater surety, I give you here Excalibur, Arthur's own +sword, for, of a truth, we should use all means for the rescuing of +our lord.' And I, believing this evil woman, came hither and +challenged the lord of this castle to mortal combat; and, indeed, I +deemed it was with Sir Damas that I fought even now. Yet all was +treachery, and I misdoubt me that Sir Damas and his people are in +league with Queen Morgan le Fay to compass your destruction. But, +my lord Arthur, pardon me, I beseech you, the injuries that, all +unwitting, I have done you."</p> + +<p>King Arthur was filled with wrath against the Queen, more for the +wrong done to Sir Accolon than for the treason to himself. In all +ways that he might, he sought to comfort and relieve Sir Accolon, +but in vain, for daily the knight grew weaker, and, after many +days, he died. Then the King, being recovered of his wounds, +returned to Camelot, and calling together a band of knights, led +them against the castle of Sir Damas. But Damas had no heart to +attempt to hold out, and surrendered himself and all that he had to +the King's mercy. And first King Arthur set free those that Sir +Damas had kept in miserable bondage, and sent them away with rich +gifts. When he had righted the wrongs of others, then he summoned +Sir Damas before him, and said: "I command thee that thou tell me +why thou didst seek my destruction." And cringing low at the King's +footstool, Damas answered: "I beseech you, deal mercifully with me, +for all that I have done, I have done at the bidding of Queen +Morgan le Fay." "A coward's plea," said the King; "how camest thou +first to have traffic with her?" "Sir," replied Damas, "much have I +suffered, first by the greed of my younger brother and now by the +deceit of this evil woman, as ye shall hear. When my father died, I +claimed the inheritance as of right, seeing that I was his elder +son; but my young brother, Sir Ontzlake, withstood me, and demanded +some part of my father's lands. Long since, he sent me a challenge +to decide our quarrel in single combat, but it liked me ill, seeing +that I am of no great strength. Much, therefore, did I desire to +find a champion but, by ill fortune, none could I find until Queen +Morgan le Fay sent word that, of her good will to me, she had sent +me one that would defend my cause; and that same evening, the +little ship brought you, my lord, to my castle. And when I saw you, +I rejoiced, thinking to have found a champion that would silence my +brother for ever; nor knew I you for the King's self. Wherefore, I +entreat you, spare me, and avenge me on my brother." Therewith, Sir +Damas fawned upon the King, but Arthur sternly bade him rise and +send messengers to bring Sir Ontzlake before him.</p> + +<p>Presently, there stood before the King a youth, fair and of good +stature, who saluted his lord and then remained silent before him. +"Sir Ontzlake," said the King, "I have sent for you to know of your +dealings with Sir Accolon and of your quarrel with your brother." +"My lord Arthur," answered the youth, "that I was the cause of hurt +to yourself, I pray you to pardon me, for all unwitting was I of +evil. For ye shall know that I had challenged my brother to single +combat; but when word came to me that he was provided of a +champion, I might not so much as brook my armour for a sore wound +that I had got of an arrow shot at me as I rode through the forest +near his castle. And as I grieved for my hard case, there came a +messenger from Queen Morgan le Fay bidding me be of good courage, +for she had sent unto me one, Sir Accolon, who would undertake my +quarrel. This only she commanded me, that I should ask no question +of Sir Accolon. So Sir Accolon abode with me that night and, as I +supposed, fought in my cause the next day. Sure am I that there is +some mystery, yet may I not misdoubt my lady Queen Morgan le Fay +without cause; wherefore, if blame there be, let me bear the +punishment."</p> + +<p>Then was the King well pleased with the young man for his courage +and loyalty to others. "Fair youth," said he, "ye shall go with me +to Camelot, and if ye prove you brave and just in all your doings, +ye shall be of my Round Table." But to Sir Damas he said sternly: +"Ye are a mean-spirited varlet, unworthy of the degree of +knighthood. Here I ordain that ye shall yield unto your brother +the moiety of the lands that ye had of your father and, in payment +for it, yearly ye shall receive of Sir Ontzlake a palfrey; for that +will befit you better to ride than the knightly war-horse. And look +ye well to it, on pain of death, that ye lie no more in wait for +errant knights, but amend your life and live peaceably with your +brother."</p> + +<p>Thereafter, the fear of the King kept Sir Damas from deeds of +violence; yet, to the end, he remained cowardly and churlish, +unworthy of the golden spurs of knighthood. But Sir Ontzlake proved +him a valiant knight, fearing God and the King and naught else.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V</h2> + +<h3>HOW THE SCABBARD OF EXCALIBUR WAS LOST</h3> + + +<p>Now when Queen Morgan le Fay knew that her plot had miscarried and +that her treachery was discovered, she feared to abide the return +of the King to Camelot; and so she went to Queen Guenevere, and +said: "Madam, of your courtesy, grant me leave, I pray you, to +depart." "Nay," said the Queen, "that were pity, for I have news of +my lord the King, that soon he will return to Camelot. Will ye not +then await his return, that ye may see your kinsman before ye +depart?" "Alas! madam," said Morgan le Fay, "that may not be, for +I have ill news that requires that immediately I get to my own +country." "Then shall ye depart when ye will," said the Queen.</p> + +<p>So before the next day had dawned, Morgan le Fay arose and, taking +her horse, departed unattended from Camelot. All that day and most +of the night she rode fast, and ere noon the next day, she was come +to a nunnery where, as she knew, King Arthur lay. Entering into the +house, she made herself known to the nuns, who received her +courteously and gave her of their best to eat and to drink. When +she was refreshed, she asked if any other had sought shelter with +them that day; and they told her that King Arthur lay in an inner +chamber and slept, for he had rested little for three nights. "Ah! +my dear lord!" exclaimed the false sorceress; "gladly would I speak +with him, but I will not that ye awaken him, and long I may not +tarry here; wherefore suffer me at least to look upon him as he +sleeps, and then will I continue my journey." And the nuns, +suspecting no treachery, showed Queen Morgan le Fay the room where +King Arthur slept, and let her enter it alone.</p> + +<p>So Morgan le Fay had her will and stood beside the sleeping King; +but again it seemed as if she must fail of her purpose, and her +heart was filled with rage and despair. For she saw that the King +grasped in his hand the hilt of the naked brand, that none might +take it without awakening him. While she mused, suddenly she espied +the scabbard where it hung at the foot of the bed, and her heart +rejoiced to know that something she might gain by her bold +venture. She snatched up the empty sheath, and wrapping it in a +fold of her garment, left the chamber. Brief were her farewells to +the holy nuns, and in haste she got to horse and rode away.</p> + +<p>Scarcely had she set forth, when the King awoke, and rising from +his couch, saw at once that the scabbard of his sword was gone. +Then summoned he the whole household to his presence and inquired +who had entered his chamber. "Sir," said the Abbess, "there has +none been here save only your kinswoman, the Queen Morgan le Fay. +She, indeed, desired to look upon you since she might not abide +your awakening." Then the King groaned aloud, saying, "It is my own +kinswoman, the wife of my true knight, Sir Uriens, that would +betray me." He bade Sir Ontzlake make ready to accompany him, and +after courteous salutation to the Abbess and her nuns, together +they rode forth by the path that Morgan le Fay had taken.</p> + +<p>Fast they rode in pursuit, and presently they came to a cross where +was a poor cowherd keeping watch over his few beasts, and of him +they asked whether any had passed that way. "Sirs," said the +peasant, "even now there rode past the cross a lady most lovely to +look upon, and with her forty knights." Greatly the King marvelled +how Queen Morgan le Fay had come by such a cavalcade, but nothing +he doubted that it was she the cowherd had seen. So thanking the +poor man, the King, with Sir Ontzlake, rode on by the path that had +been shown them, and presently, emerging from the forest, they were +aware of a glittering company of horsemen winding through a wide +plain that lay stretched before them. On the instant, they put +spurs to their horses and galloped as fast as they might in +pursuit.</p> + +<p>But, as it chanced, Queen Morgan le Fay looked back even as Arthur +and Sir Ontzlake came forth from the forest, and seeing them, she +knew at once that her theft had been discovered, and that she was +pursued. Straightway she bade her knights ride on till they should +come to a narrow valley where lay many great stones; but as soon as +they had left her, she herself rode, with all speed, to a mere hard +by. Sullen and still it lay, without even a ripple on its surface. +No animal ever drank of its waters nor bird sang by it, and it was +so deep that none might ever plumb it. And when the Queen had come +to the brink, she dismounted. From the folds of her dress she drew +the scabbard, and waving it above her head, she cried, "Whatsoever +becometh of me, King Arthur shall not have this scabbard." Then, +whirling it with all her might, she flung it far into the mere. The +jewels glinted as the scabbard flashed through the air, then it +clove the oily waters of the lake and sank, never again to be seen.</p> + +<p>When it had vanished, Morgan le Fay mounted her horse again, and +rode fast after her knights, for the King and Ontzlake were in hot +pursuit, and sore she feared lest they should come up with her +before she might reach the shelter of the Valley of Stones. But she +had rejoined her company of knights before the King had reached the +narrow mouth of the valley. Quickly she bade her men scatter among +the boulders, and then, by her magic art, she turned them all, men +and horses and herself too, into stones, that none might tell the +one from the other.</p> + +<p>When King Arthur and Sir Ontzlake reached the valley, they looked +about for some sign of the presence of the Queen or her knights, +but naught might they see though they rode through the valley and +beyond, and returning, searched with all diligence among the rocks +and boulders. Never again was Queen Morgan le Fay seen at Camelot, +nor did she attempt aught afterwards against the welfare of the +King. When she had restored her knights to their proper form, she +hastened with them back to her own land, and there she abode for +the rest of her days until she came with the other queens to carry +Arthur from the field of the Battle in the West.</p> + +<p>Nor would the King seek to take vengeance on a woman, though sorely +she had wronged him. His life long, he guarded well the sword +Excalibur, but the sheath no man ever saw again.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI</h2> + +<h3>MERLIN</h3> + + +<p>Of Merlin and how he served King Arthur, something has been already +shown. Loyal he was ever to Uther Pendragon and to his son, King +Arthur, and for the latter especially he wrought great marvels. He +brought the King to his rights; he made him his ships; and some +say that Camelot, with its splendid halls, where Arthur would +gather his knights around him at the great festivals of the year, +at Christmas, at Easter, and at Pentecost, was raised by his magic, +without human toil. Bleise, the aged magician who dwelt in +Northumberland and recorded the great deeds of Arthur and his +knights, had been Merlin's master in magic; but it came to pass in +time that Merlin far excelled him in skill, so that his enemies +declared no mortal was his father, and called him devil's son.</p> + +<p>Then, on a certain time, Merlin said to Arthur: "The time draws +near when ye shall miss me, for I shall go down alive into the +earth; and it shall be that gladly would ye give your lands to have +me again." Then Arthur was grieved, and said: "Since ye know your +danger, use your craft to avoid it." But Merlin answered: "That may +not be."</p> + +<p>Now there had come to Arthur's court, a damsel of the Lady of the +Lake—her whose skill in magic, some say, was greater than Merlin's +own; and the damsel's name was Vivien. She set herself to learn the +secrets of Merlin's art, and was ever with him, tending upon the +old man and, with gentleness and tender service, winning her way to +his heart; but all was a pretence, for she was weary of him and +sought only his ruin, thinking it should be fame for her, by any +means whatsoever, to enslave the greatest wizard of his age. And so +she persuaded him to pass with her overseas into King Ban's land of +Benwick, and there, one day, he showed her a wondrous rock, formed +by magic art. Then she begged him to enter into it, the better to +declare to her its wonders; but when once he was within, by a charm +that she had learnt from Merlin's self, she caused the rock to +shut down that never again might he come forth. Thus was Merlin's +prophecy fulfilled, that he should go down into the earth alive. +Much they marvelled in Arthur's court what had become of the great +magician, till on a time, there rode past the stone a certain +Knight of the Round Table and heard Merlin lamenting his sad fate. +The knight would have striven to raise the mighty stone, but Merlin +bade him not waste his labour, since none might release him save +her who had imprisoned him there. Thus Merlin passed from the world +through the treachery of a damsel, and thus Arthur was without aid +in the days when his doom came upon him.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII</h2> + +<h3>BALIN AND BALAN</h3> + + +<p>Among the princes that thought scorn of Arthur in the days when +first he became king, none was more insolent than Ryons of North +Wales. So, on a time when King Arthur held high festival at +Camelot, Ryons sent a herald who, in the presence of the whole +court, before brave knights and fair dames, thus addressed the +King: "Sir Arthur, my master bids me say that he has overcome +eleven kings with all their hosts, and, in token of their +submission, they have given him their beards to fringe him a +mantle. There remains yet space for the twelfth; wherefore, with +all speed, send him your beard, else will he lay waste your land +with fire and sword." "Viler message," said King Arthur, "was never +sent from man to man. Get thee gone, lest we forget thine office +protects thee." So spoke the King, for he had seen his knights clap +hand to sword, and would not that a messenger should suffer hurt in +his court.</p> + +<p>Now among the knights present the while was one whom men called +Balin le Savage, who had but late been freed from prison for +slaying a knight of Arthur's court. None was more wroth than he at +the villainy of Ryons, and immediately after the departure of the +herald, he left the hall and armed him; for he was minded to try +if, with good fortune, he might win to Arthur's grace by avenging +him on the King of North Wales. While he was without, there entered +the hall a Witch Lady who, on a certain occasion, had done the King +a service, and for this she now desired of him a boon. So Arthur +bade her name her request, and thus she said: "O King, I require of +you the head of the knight Balin le Savage." "That may I not grant +you with my honour," replied the King; "ask what it may become me +to give." But the Witch Lady would have naught else, and departed +from the hall, murmuring against the King. Then, as it chanced, +Balin met her at the door, and immediately when he saw her, he rode +upon her, sword in hand, and, with one blow, smote off her head. +Thus he took vengeance for his mother's death, of which she had +been the cause, and, well content, rode away. But when it was told +King Arthur of the deed that Balin had done, he was full wroth, +nor was his anger lessened though Merlin declared the wrong the +Witch Lady had done to Balin. "Whatsoever cause he had against her, +yet should he have done her no violence in my court," said the +King, and bade Sir Lanceour of Ireland ride after Balin and bring +him back again.</p> + +<p>Thus it came to pass that, as Sir Balin rode on his way, he heard +the hoof-beats of a horse fast galloping, and a voice cried loudly +to him: "Stay, Knight; for thou shalt stay, whether thou wilt or +not." "Fair Knight," answered Balin fiercely, "dost thou desire to +fight with me?" "Yea, truly," answered Lanceour; "for that cause +have I followed thee from Camelot." "Alas!" cried Balin, "then I +know thy quarrel. And yet, I dealt but justly by that vile woman, +and it grieves me to offend my lord King Arthur again." "Have done, +and make ready to fight," said Lanceour insolently; for he was +proud and arrogant, though a brave knight. So they rushed together, +and, at the first encounter, Sir Lanceour's spear was shivered +against the shield of the other, but Balin's spear pierced shield +and hauberk and Lanceour fell dead to the earth.</p> + +<p>Then Sir Balin, sore grieved that he had caused the death of a +knight of Arthur's court, buried Lanceour as well as he might, and +continued sorrowfully on his journey in search of King Ryons. +Presently, as he rode through a great forest, he espied a knight +whom, by his arms, he knew at once for his brother, Sir Balan. +Great joy had they in their meeting, for Balan had believed Balin +still to be in prison. So Balin told Balan all that had befallen +him, and how he sought Ryons to avenge Arthur upon him for his +insolent message, and hoped thereby to win his lord's favour again. +"I will ride with thee, brother," said Balan, "and help thee all I +may." So the two went on their way till, presently, they met with +an old man—Merlin's self, though they knew him not, for he was +disguised. "Ah, Knight," said Merlin to Balin, "swift to strike and +swift to repent, beware, or thou shalt strike the most dolorous +blow dealt by man; for thou shalt slay thine own brother." "If I +believed thy words true," cried Balin hotly, "I would slay myself +to make thee a liar." "I know the past and I know the future," said +Merlin; "I know, too, the errand on which thou ridest, and I will +help thee if thou wilt." "Ah!" said Balin, "that pleases me well." +"Hide you both in this covert," said Merlin; "for presently there +shall come riding down this path King Ryons with sixty of his +knights." With these words he vanished. So Balin and Balan did as +he had bidden them, and when King Ryons and his men entered the +little path, they fell upon them with such fury that they slew more +than forty knights, while the rest fled, and King Ryons himself +yielded him to them. So Sir Balan rode with King Ryons to Camelot +that he might deliver him to King Arthur; but Balin went not with +them, for he would see more adventures before he sought King +Arthur's presence again.</p> + +<p>After many days' travel and many encounters, it befell that, one +evening, Balin drew near to a castle; and when he would have sought +admittance, there stood by him an old man, and said: "Balin, turn +thee back, and it shall be better for thee," and so vanished. At +that moment there was blown a blast on a horn, such as is sounded +when the stag receives its death; and hearing it, Balin's heart +misgave him, and he cried: "That blast is blown for me, and I am +the prize. But not yet am I dead!"</p> + +<p>At that instant the castle gate was raised and there appeared many +knights and ladies welcoming Balin into the castle. So he entered, +and presently they were all seated at supper. Then the lady of the +castle said to Balin: "Sir Knight, to-morrow thou must have ado +with a knight that keeps an island near-by; else mayest thou not +pass that way." "That is an evil custom," answered Balin; "but if I +must, I must." So that night he rested, but with the dawn he arose, +and was arming himself for battle when there came to him a knight +and said: "Sir, your shield is not good; I pray you, take mine +which is larger and stouter." In an evil hour, Balin suffered +himself to be persuaded, and taking the stranger's shield, left; +behind his own on which his arms were blazoned. Then, entering a +boat, he was conveyed to the island where the unknown knight held +the ford.</p> + +<p>No sooner was he landed, than there came riding to him a knight +armed all in red armour, his horse, too, trapped all in red; and +without word spoken, they charged upon each other, and each bore +the other from the saddle. Thus for a while they lay, stunned by +the fall. The Red Knight was the first to rise, for Balin, all +wearied by his travels and many encounters, was sore shaken by the +fall. Then they fought together right fiercely, hacking away great +pieces of armour, and dealing each other dreadful wounds. But when +they paused to take breath, Balin, looking up, saw the battlements +of the castle filled with knights and ladies watching the struggle, +and immediately, shamed that the conflict should have so long +endured, he rushed again upon the Red Knight, aiming at him blows +that might have felled a giant. So they fought together a long +while; but at the last, the Red Knight drew back a little. Then +cried Balin: "Who art thou? for till now, never have I met my +match." Then said the Red Knight: "I am Balan, brother to the noble +knight, Sir Balin"; and with the word, he fell to the ground as one +dead. "Alas!" cried Balin, "that I should have lived to see this +day!" Then, as well as he might, for his strength was almost spent, +he crept on hands and knees to his brother's side and opened the +vizor of his helmet, and when he saw his brother's face all +ghastly, as it was, he cried: "O Balan, I have slain thee, as thou +hast also slain me! Oh! woeful deed I never to be forgotten of +men!" Then Balan, being somewhat recovered, told Balin how he had +been compelled by those at the castle to keep the ford against all +comers, and might never depart; and Balin told of the grievous +chance by which he had taken another's shield.</p> + +<p>So these two died, slain by each other's hands. In one tomb they +were buried; and Merlin, passing that way, inscribed thereon the +full story of their deaths.</p> + +<div class="center" ><br /><br /><br /> +<img src="images/illus056.png" width="140" height="150" alt="Figure and grapes"/> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="center"><a name="BOOK_II" id="BOOK_II"></a> +<img src="images/illus057.png" width="700" height="284" alt="BOOK II - SIR LAUNCELOT DU LAC" /> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII</h2> + +<h3>SIR LAUNCELOT DU LAC</h3> + + +<p>Now, as time passed, King Arthur gathered into his Order of the +Round Table knights whose peers shall never be found in any age; +and foremost amongst them all was Sir Launcelot du Lac. Such was +his strength that none against whom he laid lance in rest could +keep the saddle, and no shield was proof against his sword dint; +but for his courtesy even more than for his courage and strength, +Sir Launcelot was famed far and near. Gentle he was and ever the +first to rejoice in the renown of another; and in the jousts, he +would avoid encounter with the young and untried knight, letting +him pass to gain glory if he might.</p> + +<p>It would take a great book to record all the famous deeds of Sir +Launcelot, and all his adventures. He was of Gaul, for his father, +King Ban, ruled over Benwick; and some say that his first name was +Galahad, and that he was named Launcelot du Lac by the Lady of the +Lake who reared him when his mother died. Early he won renown by +delivering his father's people from the grim King Claudas who, for +more than twenty years, had laid waste the fair land of Benwick; +then, when there was peace in his own land, he passed into Britain, +to Arthur's court, where the King received him gladly, and made him +Knight of the Round Table and took him for his trustiest friend. +And so it was that, when Guenevere was to be brought to Canterbury, +to be married to the King, Launcelot was chief of the knights sent +to wait upon her, and of this came the sorrow of later days. For, +from the moment he saw her, Sir Launcelot loved Guenevere, for her +sake remaining wifeless all his days, and in all things being her +faithful knight. But busy-bodies and mischief-makers spoke evil of +Sir Launcelot and the Queen, and from their talk came the undoing +of the King and the downfall of his great work. But that was after +long years, and after many true knights had lived their lives, +honouring the King and Queen, and doing great deeds whereby the +fame of Arthur and his Order passed through all the world.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX</h2> + +<h3>THE ADVENTURE OF THE CHAPEL PERILOUS</h3> + + +<p>Now on a day, as he rode through the forest, Sir Launcelot met a +damsel weeping bitterly, and seeing him, she cried, "Stay, Sir +Knight! By your knighthood I require you to aid me in my distress." +Immediately Sir Launcelot checked his horse and asked in what she +needed his service. "Sir," said the maiden, "my brother lies at the +point of death, for this day he fought with the stout knight, Sir +Gilbert, and sorely they wounded each other; and a wise woman, a +sorceress, has said that nothing may staunch my brother's wounds +unless they be searched with the sword and bound up with a piece +of the cloth from the body of the wounded knight who lies in the +ruined chapel hard by. And well I know you, my lord Sir Launcelot, +and that, if ye will not help me, none may." "Tell me your +brother's name," said Sir Launcelot. "Sir Meliot de Logris," +answered the damsel. "A Knight of our Round Table," said Sir +Launcelot; "the more am I bound to your service. Only tell me, +gentle damsel, where I may find this Chapel Perilous." So she +directed him, and, riding through forest byeways, Sir Launcelot +came presently upon a little ruined chapel, standing in the midst +of a churchyard, where the tombs showed broken and neglected under +the dark yews. In front of the porch, Sir Launcelot paused and +looked, for thereon hung, upside down, dishonoured, the shield of +many a good knight whom Sir Launcelot had known.</p> + +<p>As he stood wondering, suddenly there pressed upon him from all +sides thirty stout knights, all giants and fully armed, their drawn +swords in their hands and their shields advanced. With threatening +looks, they spoke to him saying: "Sir Launcelot, it were well ye +turned back before evil befell you." But Sir Launcelot, though he +feared to have to do with thirty such warriors, answered boldly: "I +turn not back for high words. Make them good by your deeds." Then +he rode upon them fiercely, whereupon instantly they scattered and +disappeared, and, sword in hand, Sir Launcelot entered the little +chapel. All was dark within, save that a little lamp hung from the +roof, and by its dim light he could just espy how on a bier before +the altar there lay, stark and cold, a knight sheathed in armour. +And drawing nearer, Sir Launcelot saw that the dead man lay on a +blood-stained mantle, his naked sword by his side, but that his +left hand had been lopped off at the wrist by a mighty sword-cut. +Then Sir Launcelot boldly seized the sword and with it cut off a +piece of the bloody mantle. Immediately the earth shook and the +walls of the chapel rocked, and in fear Sir Launcelot turned to go. +But, as he would have left the chapel, there stood before him in +the doorway a lady, fair to look upon and beautifully arrayed, who +gazed earnestly upon him, and said: "Sir Knight, put away from you +that sword lest it be your death." But Sir Launcelot answered her: +"Lady, what I have said, I do; and what I have won, I keep." "It is +well," said the lady. "Had ye cast away the sword your life days +were done. And now I make but one request. Kiss me once." "That may +I not do," said Sir Launcelot. Then said the lady: "Go your way, +Launcelot; ye have won, and I have lost. Know that, had ye kissed +me, your dead body had lain even now on the altar bier. For much +have I desired to win you; and to entrap you, I ordained this +chapel. Many a knight have I taken, and once Sir Gawain himself +hardly escaped, but he fought with Sir Gilbert and lopped off his +hand, and so got away. Fare ye well; it is plain to see that none +but our lady, Queen Guenevere, may have your services." With that, +she vanished from his sight. So Sir Launcelot mounted his horse and +rode away from that evil place till he met Sir Meliot's sister, who +led him to her brother where he lay, pale as the earth, and +bleeding fast. And when he saw Sir Launcelot, he would have risen +to greet him; but his strength failed him, and he fell back on his +couch. Sir Launcelot searched his wounds with the sword, and bound +them up with the blood-stained cloth, and immediately Sir Meliot +was sound and well, and greatly he rejoiced. Then Sir Meliot and +his sister begged Sir Launcelot to stay and rest, but he departed +on his adventures, bidding them farewell until he should meet them +again at Arthur's court.</p> + +<p>As for the sorceress of the Chapel Perilous, it is said she died +of grief that all her charms had failed to win for her the good +knight Sir Launcelot.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X</h2> + +<h3>SIR LAUNCELOT AND THE FALCON</h3> + + +<p>Sir Launcelot rode on his way, by marsh and valley and hill, till +he chanced upon a fair castle, and saw fly from it, over his head, +a beautiful falcon, with the lines still hanging from her feet. And +as he looked, the falcon flew into a tree where she was held fast +by the lines becoming entangled about the boughs. Immediately, from +the castle there came running a fair lady, who cried: "O Launcelot, +Launcelot! As ye are the noblest of all knights, I pray you help me +to recover my falcon. For if my husband discover its loss, he will +slay me in his anger." "Who is your husband, fair lady?" asked Sir +Launcelot. "Sir Phelot, a knight of Northgalis, and he is of a +hasty temper; wherefore, I beseech you, help me." "Well, lady," +said Sir Launcelot, "I will serve you if I may; but the tree is +hard to climb, for the boughs are few, and, in truth, I am no +climber. But I will do my best." So the lady helped Sir Launcelot +to unarm, and he led his horse to the foot of the tree, and +springing from its back, he caught at the nearest bough, and drew +himself up into the branches. Then he climbed till he reached the +falcon and, tying her lines to a rotten bough, broke it off, and +threw down bird and bough to the lady below. Forthwith, Sir Phelot +came from amongst the trees and said: "Ah! Sir Launcelot! Now at +length I have you as I would; for I have long sought your life." +And Sir Launcelot made answer: "Surely ye would not slay me, an +unarmed man; for that were dishonour to you. Keep my armour if ye +will; but hang my sword on a bough where I may reach it, and then +do with me as ye can." But Sir Phelot laughed mockingly and said: +"Not so, Sir Launcelot. I know you too well to throw away my +advantage; wherefore, shift as ye may." "Alas!" said Sir Launcelot, +"that ever knight should be so unknightly. And you, madam, how +could ye so betray me?" "She did but as I commanded her," said Sir +Phelot.</p> + +<p>Then Launcelot looked about him to see how he might help himself in +these straits, and espying above his head a great bare branch, he +tote it down. Then, ever watching his advantage, he sprang to the +ground on the far side of his horse, so that the horse was between +him and Sir Phelot. Sir Phelot rushed upon him with his sword, but +Sir Launcelot parried it with the bough, with which he dealt his +enemy such a blow on the head that Sir Phelot sank to the ground in +a swoon. Then Sir Launcelot seized his sword where it lay beside +his armour, and stooping over the fallen knight, unloosed his helm. +When the lady saw him do that, she shrieked and cried: "Spare his +life! spare his life, noble knight, I beseech you!" But Sir +Launcelot answered sternly: "A felon's death for him who does +felon's deeds. He has lived too long already," and with one blow, +he smote off his head. Then he armed himself, and mounting upon his +steed, rode away, leaving the lady to weep beside her lord.</p> + +<div class="center"> +<img src="images/illus063.png" width="119" height="150" alt="Head of a queen" title="" /> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="center"><a name="BOOK_III" id="BOOK_III"></a> +<img src="images/illus064.png" width="700" height="216" alt="BOOK III - SIR TRISTRAM" title="" /> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI</h2> + +<h3>OF THE BIRTH OF SIR TRISTRAM</h3> + + +<p>In the days of Arthur, there ruled over the kingdom of Liones the +good knight Sir Meliodas; and his Queen was the fair Elizabeth, +sister of King Mark of Cornwall.</p> + +<p>Now there was a lady, an enchantress, who had no good-will towards +King Meliodas and his Queen; so one day, when the King was +hunting, she brought it to pass by her charms that Meliodas chased +a hart till he found himself, far from all his men, alone by an old +castle, and there he was taken prisoner by the lady's knights.</p> + +<p>When King Meliodas did not return home, the Queen was nigh crazed +with grief. Attended only by one of the ladies of her court, she +ran out into the forest to seek her lord. Long and far she +wandered, until she could go no further, but sank down at the foot +of a great tree, and there, in the midst of the forest, was her +little son born. When the Queen knew that she must die, she kissed +the babe and said: "Ah! little son, sad has been thy birth, +wherefore thy name shall be Tristram; but thou shalt grow to be a +brave knight and a strong." Then she charged her gentlewoman to +take care of the child and to commend her to King Meliodas; and +after that she died. All too late came many of the barons seeking +their Queen, and sorrowfully they bore her back to the castle where +presently the King arrived, released by the skill of Merlin from +the evil spells of the enchantress. Great indeed was his grief for +the death of his Queen. He caused her to be buried with all the +pomp and reverence due to so good and fair a lady, and long and +bitterly he mourned her loss and all the people with him.</p> + +<p>But at the end of seven years, King Meliodas took another wife. +Then, when the Queen had sons of her own, it angered her to think +that in the days to come, her stepson Tristram, and none other, +should rule the fair land of Liones. The more she thought of it, +the more she hated him till, at the last, she was resolved to do +away with him. So she filled a silver goblet with a pleasant drink +in which she had mixed poison, and she set it in the room where +Tristram played with the young princes, his half-brothers. Now the +day was hot, and presently, being heated with his play, the young +prince, the Queen's eldest son, drank of the poisoned goblet; and +immediately he died. Much the Queen grieved, but more than ever she +hated her stepson Tristram, as if, through him, her son had died. +Presently, again she mixed poison and set it in a goblet; and that +time, King Meliodas, returning thirsty from the chase, took the cup +and would have drunk of it, only the Queen cried to him to forbear. +Then the King recalled to mind how his young son had drunk of a +seeming pleasant drink and died on the instant; and seizing the +Queen by the hand, he cried: "False traitress! tell me at once what +is in that cup, or I will slay thee!" Then the Queen cried him +mercy and told him all her sin. But in his wrath the King would +have no mercy, but sentenced her to be burnt at the stake, which, +in those days, was the doom of traitors. The day having come when +the Queen should suffer for her fault, she was led out and bound to +a stake in the presence of all the court, and the faggots were +heaped about her. Then the young prince Tristram kneeled before the +King and asked of him a favour: and the King, loving him much, +granted him his request. "Then," said Tristram, "I require you to +release the Queen, my stepmother, and to take her again to your +favour." Greatly the King marvelled, and said: "Ye should of right +hate her, seeing that she sought your life." But Tristram answered: +"I forgive her freely." "I give you then her life," said the King; +"do ye release her from the stake." So Tristram unloosed the chains +which bound the Queen and led her back to the castle, and from that +day the Queen loved him well; but as for King Meliodas, though he +forgave her and suffered her to remain at court, yet never again +would he have aught to do with her.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII</h2> + +<h3>HOW TRISTRAM FOUGHT WITH SIR MARHAUS OF IRELAND</h3> + + +<p>Now King Meliodas, though he had pardoned the Queen, would keep his +son Tristram no longer at the court, but sent him into France. +There Tristram learnt all knightly exercises, so that there was +none could equal him as harper or hunter; and after seven years, +being by then a youth of nineteen, he returned to his own land of +Liones.</p> + +<p>It chanced, in those days, that King Anguish of Ireland sent to +Cornwall, demanding the tribute paid him in former times by that +land. Then Mark, the Cornish King, called together his barons and +knights to take counsel; and by their advice, he made answer that +he would pay no tribute, and bade King Anguish send a stout knight +to fight for his right if he still dared claim aught of the land of +Cornwall.</p> + +<p>Forthwith there came from Ireland Sir Marhaus, brother of the Queen +of Ireland. Now Sir Marhaus was Knight of the Round Table and in +his time there were few of greater renown. He anchored his ships +under the Castle of Tintagil, and sent messengers daily to King +Mark, bidding him pay the tribute or find one to fight in his +cause.</p> + +<p>Then was King Mark sore perplexed, for not one of his knights dared +encounter Sir Marhaus. Criers were sent through all the land, +proclaiming that, to any knight that would take the combat upon +him, King Mark would give such gifts as should enrich him for life. +In time, word of all that had happened came to Liones, and +immediately Tristram sought his father, desiring his permission to +go to the court of his uncle, King Mark, to take the battle upon +him. Thus it came to pass that, with his father's good leave, +Tristram presented himself before King Mark, asking to be made +knight that he might do battle for the liberties of Cornwall. Then +when Mark knew that it was his sister's son, he rejoiced greatly, +and having made Tristram knight, he sent word to Sir Marhaus that +there was found to meet him a champion of better birth than Sir +Marhaus' self.</p> + +<p>So it was arranged that the combat should take place on a little +island hard by, where Sir Marhaus had anchored his ships. Sir +Tristram, with his horse and arms, was placed on board a ship, and +when the island was gained, he leaped on shore, bidding his squire +put off again and only return when he was slain or victorious.</p> + +<p>Now, when Sir Marhaus saw that Tristram was but a youth, he cried +aloud to him: "Be advised, young Sir, and go back to your ship. +What can ye hope to do against me, a proven knight of Arthur's +Table?" Then Tristram made answer: "Sir and most famous champion, I +have been made knight to do battle with you, and I promise myself +to win honour thereby, I who have never before encountered a proven +knight." "If ye can endure three strokes of my sword, it shall be +honour enough," said Sir Marhaus. Then they rushed upon each other, +and at the first encounter each unhorsed the other, and Sir +Marhaus' spear pierced Sir Tristram's side and made a grievous +wound. Drawing their swords, they lashed at each other, and the +blows fell thick as hail till the whole island re-echoed with the +din of onslaught. So they fought half a day, and ever it seemed +that Sir Tristram grew fresher and nimbler while Sir Marhaus became +sore wearied. And at the last, Sir Tristram aimed a great blow at +the head of his enemy, and the sword crashed through the helmet and +bit into the skull so that a great piece was broken away from the +edge of Tristram's sword. Then Sir Marhaus flung away sword and +shield, and when he might regain his feet, fled shrieking to his +ships. "Do ye flee?" cried Tristram. "I am but newly made knight; +but rather than flee, I would be hewn piecemeal."</p> + +<p>Then came Gouvernail, Sir Tristram's squire, and bore his master +back to land, where Mark and all the Cornish lords came to meet him +and convey him to the castle of Tintagil. Far and wide they sent +for surgeons to dress Sir Tristram's wound, but none might help +him, and ever he grew weaker. At the last, a wise woman told King +Mark that in that land alone whence came the poisoned spear could +Sir Tristram find cure. Then the King gave orders and a ship was +made ready with great stores of rich furnishings, to convey Sir +Tristram to Ireland, there to heal him of his wound.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII</h2> + +<h3>THE FAIR ISOLT</h3> + + +<p>Thus Tristram sailed to Ireland, and when he drew nigh the coast, +he called for his harp, and sitting up on his couch on the deck, +played the merriest tune that was ever heard in that land. And the +warders on the castle wall, hearing him, sent and told King Anguish +how a ship drew near with one who harped as none other might. Then +King Anguish sent knights to convey the stranger into the castle. +So when he was brought into the King's presence, Tristram declared +that he was Sir Tramtrist of Liones, lately made knight, and +wounded in his first battle; for which cause he was come to +Ireland, to seek healing. Forthwith the King made him welcome, and +placed him in the charge of his daughter, Isolt. Now Isolt was +famed for her skill in surgery, and, moreover, she was the fairest +lady of that time, save only Queen Guenevere. So she searched and +bandaged Sir Tristram's wound, and presently it was healed. But +still Sir Tristram abode at King Anguish's court, teaching the Fair +Isolt to harp, and taking great pleasure in her company. And ever +the princess doubted whether Sir Tristram were not a renowned +knight and ever she liked him better.</p> + +<p>So the time passed merrily with feastings and in the jousts, and in +the lists Sir Tristram won great honour when he was recovered of +his wound.</p> + +<p>At last it befell upon a day that Sir Tristram had gone to the bath +and left his sword lying on the couch. And the Queen, entering, +espied it, and taking it up, drew the sword from the sheath and +fell to admiring the mighty blade. Presently she saw that the edge +was notched, and while she pondered how great a blow must have +broken the good steel, suddenly she bethought her of the piece +which had been found in the head of her brother, Sir Marhaus. +Hastening to her chamber, she sought in a casket for the fragment, +and returning, placed it by the sword edge, where it fitted as well +as on the day it was first broken. Then she cried to her daughter: +"This, then, is the traitor knight who slew my brother, Sir +Marhaus"; and snatching up the sword, she rushed upon Sir Tristram +where he sat in his bath, and would have killed him, but that his +squire restrained her. Having failed of her purpose, she sought her +husband, King Anguish, and told him all her story: how the knight +they had harboured was he who had slain Sir Marhaus. Then the King, +sore perplexed, went to Sir Tristram's chamber, where he found him +fully armed, ready to get to horse. And Tristram told him all the +truth, how in fair fight he had slain Sir Marhaus. "Ye did as a +knight should," said King Anguish; "and much it grieves me that I +may not keep you at my court; but I cannot so displease my Queen or +barons." "Sir," said Tristram, "I thank you for your courtesy, and +will requite it as occasion may offer. Moreover, here I pledge my +word, as I am good knight and true, to be your daughter's servant, +and in all places and at all times to uphold her quarrel. Wherefore +I pray you that I may take my leave of the princess."</p> + +<p>Then, with the King's permission, Sir Tristram went to the Fair +Isolt and told her all his story; "And here," said he, "I make my +vow ever to be your true knight, and at all times and in all places +to uphold your quarrel." "And on my part" answered the Fair Isolt, +"I make promise that never these seven years will I marry any man, +save with your leave and as ye shall desire." Therewith they +exchanged rings, the Fair Isolt grieving sore the while. Then Sir +Tristram strode into the court and cried aloud, before all the +barons: "Ye knights of Ireland, the time is come when I must +depart. Therefore, if any man have aught against me, let him stand +forth now, and I will satisfy him as I may." Now there were many +present of the kin of Sir Marhaus, but none dared have ado with Sir +Tristram; so, slowly he rode away, and with his squire took ship +again for Cornwall.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV</h2> + +<h3>HOW KING MARK SENT SIR TRISTRAM TO FETCH HIM A WIFE</h3> + + +<p>When Sir Tristram had come back to Cornwall, he abode some time at +the court of King Mark. Now in those days the Cornish knights were +little esteemed, and none less than Mark himself, who was a coward, +and never adventured himself in fair and open combat, seeking +rather to attack by stealth and have his enemy at an advantage. But +the fame of Sir Tristram increased daily, and all men spoke well of +him. So it came to pass that King Mark, knowing himself despised, +grew fearful and jealous of the love that all men bore his nephew; +for he seemed in their praise of him to hear his own reproach. He +sought, therefore, how he might rid himself of Tristram even while +he spoke him fair and made as if he loved him much, and at the last +he bethought him how he might gain his end and no man be the wiser. +So one day, he said to Tristram: "Fair nephew, I am resolved to +marry, and fain would I have your aid." "In all things, I am yours +to command," answered Sir Tristram. "I pray you, then," said King +Mark, "bring me to wife the Fair Isolt of Ireland. For since I have +heard your praises of her beauty, I may not rest unless I have her +for my Queen." And this he said thinking that, if ever Sir Tristram +set foot in Ireland, he would be slain.</p> + +<p>But Tristram, nothing mistrusting, got together a company of +gallant knights, all fairly arrayed as became men sent by their +King on such an errand; and with them he embarked on a goodly ship. +Now it chanced that when he had reached the open sea, a great storm +arose and drove him back on to the coast of England, and landing +with great difficulty he set up his pavilion hard by the city of +Camelot.</p> + +<p>Presently, word was brought him by his squire that King Anguish +with his company lay hard by, and that the King was in sore +straits; for he was charged with the murder of a knight of Arthur's +court, and must meet in combat Sir Blamor, one of the stoutest +knights of the Round Table. Then Sir Tristram rejoiced, for he saw +in this opportunity of serving King Anguish the means of earning +his good will. So he betook himself to the King's tent, and +proffered to take upon him the encounter, for the kindness shown +him by King Anguish in former days. And the King gratefully +accepting of his championship, the next day Sir Tristram +encountered with Sir Blamor, overthrew him, and so acquitted the +Irish King of the charge brought against him. Then in his joy, King +Anguish begged Sir Tristram to voyage with him to his own land, +bidding Tristram ask what boon he would and he should have it. So +rejoicing in his great fortune, Sir Tristram sailed once again for +the Irish land.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV</h2> + +<h3>HOW SIR TRISTRAM AND THE FAIR ISOLT DRANK OF THE MAGIC POTION</h3> + + +<p>Then King Anguish made haste to return to Ireland, taking Sir +Tristram with him. And when he was come there and had told all his +adventures, there was great rejoicing over Sir Tristram, but of +none more than of the Fair Isolt. So when Sir Tristram had stayed +there some while, King Anguish reminded him of the boon he should +ask and of his own willingness to grant it. "Sir King," replied Sir +Tristram, "now will I ask it. Grant me your daughter, the Fair +Isolt, that I may take her to Cornwall, there to become the wife of +my uncle, King Mark." Then King Anguish grieved when he heard Sir +Tristram's request, and said: "Far more gladly would I give her to +you to wife." "That may not be," replied Sir Tristram; "my honour +forbids." "Take her then," said King Anguish, "she is yours to wed +or to give to your uncle, King Mark, as seems good to you."</p> + +<p>So a ship was made ready and there entered it the Fair Isolt and +Sir Tristram, and Gouvernail, his squire, and Dame Bragwaine, who +was maid to the princess. But before they sailed, the Queen gave in +charge to Gouvernail and Dame Bragwaine a phial of wine which King +Mark and Isolt should drink together on their wedding-day; "For," +said the Queen, "such is the magic virtue of this wine, that, +having drunk of it, they may never cease from loving one another."</p> + +<p>Now it chanced, one day, that Sir Tristram sat and harped to the +Fair Isolt; and the weather being hot, he became thirsty. Then +looking round the cabin he beheld a golden flask, curiously shaped +and wrought; and laughing, he said to the Fair Isolt: "See, madam, +how my man and your maid care for themselves; for here is the best +wine that ever I tasted. I pray you, now, drink to me." So with +mirth and laughter, they pledged each other, and thought that never +before had they tasted aught so good. But when they had made an end +of drinking, there came upon them the might of the magic charm; and +never from that day, for good or for ill, might they cease from +their love. And so much woe was wrought; for, mindful of his pledge +to his uncle, Sir Tristram brought Isolt in all honour into the +land of Cornwall where she was wedded with pomp and ceremony to +King Mark, the craven King, who hated his nephew even more than +before, because he had returned in safety and made good his promise +as became an honourable knight. And from that day he never ceased +seeking the death of Sir Tristram.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI</h2> + +<h3>OF THE END OF SIR TRISTRAM</h3> + + +<p>Then again Sir Tristram abode at King Mark's court, ever rendering +the Fair Isolt loyal and knightly service; for King Mark would +imperil his life for none, no matter what the need.</p> + +<p>Now among the Cornish knights, there was much jealousy of Sir +Tristram de Liones, and chief of his enemies was his own cousin, +Sir Andred. With lying words, Sir Andred sought to stir up King +Mark against his nephew, speaking evil of the Queen and of Sir +Tristram. Now Mark was afraid openly to accuse Sir Tristram, so he +set Sir Andred to spy upon him. At last, it befell one day that Sir +Andred saw Sir Tristram coming, alone and unarmed, from the Queen's +presence, and with twelve other knights, he fell upon him and bound +him. Then these felon knights bore Sir Tristram to a little chapel +standing upon a great rock which jutted out into the sea. There +they would have slain him, unarmed and bound. But Sir Tristram, +perceiving their intent, put forth suddenly all his strength, burst +his bonds, and wresting a sword from Sir Andred, cut him down; and +so he did with six other knights. Then while the rest, being but +cowards, gave back a little, he shut to and bolted the doors +against them, and sprang from the window on to the sea-washed rocks +below. There he lay as one dead, until his squire, Gouvernail, +coming in a little boat, took up his master, dressed his wounds, +and carried him to the coast of England.</p> + +<p>So Sir Tristram was minded to remain in that country for a time. +Then, one day, as he rode through the forest near Camelot, there +came running to him a fair lady who cried: "Sir Tristram, I claim +your aid for the truest knight in all the world, and that is none +other than King Arthur." "With a good heart," said Sir Tristram; +"but where may I find him?" "Follow me," said the lady, who was +none other than the Lady of the Lake herself, and ever mindful of +the welfare of King Arthur. So he rode after her till he came to a +castle, and in front of it he saw two knights who beset at once +another knight, and when Sir Tristram came to the spot, the two had +borne King Arthur to the ground and were about to cut off his head. +Then Sir Tristram called to them to leave their traitor's work and +look to themselves; with the word, one he pierced through with his +spear and the other he cut down, and setting King Arthur again upon +his horse, he rode with him until they met with certain of Arthur's +knights. But when King Arthur would know his name, Tristram would +give none, but said only that he was a poor errant knight; and so +they parted.</p> + +<p>But Arthur, when he was come back to Camelot, sent for Sir +Launcelot and other of his knights, bidding them seek for such an +one as was Sir Tristram and bring him to the court. So they +departed, each his own way, and searched for many days, but in +vain. Then it chanced, at last, as Sir Launcelot rode on his way, +he espied Sir Tristram resting beside a tomb; and, as was the +custom of knights errant, he called upon him to joust. So the two +ran together and each broke his spear. Then they sprang to the +ground and fought with their swords, and each thought that never +had he encountered so stout or so skilled a knight. So fiercely +they fought that, perforce, at last they must rest. Then said Sir +Launcelot: "Fair Knight, I pray you tell me your name, for never +have I met so good a knight." "In truth," said Sir Tristram, "I am +loth to tell my name." "I marvel at that," said Sir Launcelot; "for +mine I will tell you freely. I am Launcelot du Lac." Then was Sir +Tristram filled at once with joy and with sorrow; with joy that at +last he had encountered the noblest knight of the Round Table, with +sorrow that he had done him such hurt, and without more ado he +revealed his name. Now Sir Launcelot, who ever delighted in the +fame of another, had long desired to meet Sir Tristram de Liones, +and rejoicing to have found him, he knelt right courteously and +proffered him his sword, as if he would yield to him. But Tristram +would not have it so, declaring that, rather, he should yield to +Sir Launcelot. So they embraced right heartily, and when Sir +Launcelot questioned him, Sir Tristram acknowledged that it was he +who had come to King Arthur's aid. Together, then, they rode to +Camelot, and there Sir Tristram was received with great honour by +King Arthur, who made him Knight of the Round Table.</p> + +<p>Presently, to Tristram at Camelot, there came word that King Mark +had driven the Fair Isolt from court, and compelled her to have her +dwelling in a hut set apart for lepers. Then Sir Tristram was wroth +indeed, and mounting his horse, rode forth that same hour, and +rested not till he had found the lepers' hut, whence he bore the +Queen to the castle known as the Joyous Garde; and there he held +her, in safety and honour, in spite of all that King Mark could do. +And all men honoured Sir Tristram, and felt sorrow for the Fair +Isolt; while as for King Mark, they scorned him even more than +before.</p> + +<p>But to Sir Tristram, it was grief to be at enmity with his uncle +who had made him knight, and at last he craved King Arthur's aid to +reconcile him to Mark. So then the King, who loved Sir Tristram, +sent messengers to Cornwall to Mark, bidding him come forthwith to +Camelot; and when the Cornish King was arrived, Arthur required him +to set aside his enmity to Tristram, who had in all things been his +loyal nephew and knight. And King Mark, his head full of hate, but +fearful of offending his lord, King Arthur, made fair proffers of +friendship, begging Sir Tristram to return to Cornwall with him, +and promising to hold him in love and honour. So they were +reconciled, and when King Mark returned to Cornwall, thither Sir +Tristram escorted the Fair Isolt, and himself abode there, +believing his uncle to mean truly and honourably by him.</p> + +<p>But under a seeming fair exterior, King Mark hated Sir Tristram +more than ever, and waited only to have him at an advantage. At +length he contrived the opportunity he sought. For he hid him in +the Queen's chamber at a time when he knew Sir Tristram would come +there unarmed, to harp to the Fair Isolt the music that she loved. +So as Sir Tristram, all unsuspecting, bent over his harp, Mark +leaped from his lurking place and dealt him such a blow from behind +that, on the instant, he fell dead at the feet of the Fair Isolt. +So perished the good knight, Sir Tristram de Liones Nor did the +Fair Isolt long survive him, for refusing all comfort, she pined +away, and died within a few days, and was laid in a tomb beside +that of her true knight. But the felon King paid the price of his +treachery with his life; for Sir Launcelot himself avenged the +death of his friend and the wrongs of the Fair Isolt.</p> + +<div class="center"> +<img src="images/illus080.png" width="119" height="150" alt="Rose shield" title="" /> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="center"><a name="BOOK_IV" id="BOOK_IV"></a> +<img src="images/illus081.png" width="700" height="241" alt="BOOK IV - KING ARTHUR'S NEPHEWS" title="" /> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII"></a>CHAPTER XVII</h2> + +<h3>SIR GAWAIN AND THE LADY</h3> + + +<p>Among the knights at King Arthur's court were his nephews, the sons +of his sister, Queen Bellicent, and of that King Lot of Orkney, who +had joined the league against Arthur in the first years of his +reign.</p> + +<p>Of each, many tales are told; of Sir Gawain and Sir Gareth to +their great renown, but of Sir Mordred to his shame. For Sir Gawain +and Sir Gareth were knights of great prowess; but Sir Mordred was a +coward and a traitor, envious of other men's fame, and a +tale-bearer.</p> + +<p>Now Sir Gawain was known as the Ladies' Knight, and this is how he +came by the name. It was at Arthur's marriage-feast, when Gawain +had just been made knight, that a strange thing befell. There +entered the hall a white hart, chased by a hound, and when it had +run round the hall, it fled through the doorway again, still +followed by the hound. Then, by Merlin's advice, the quest of the +hart was given to Gawain as a new-made knight, to follow it and see +what adventures it would bring him. So Sir Gawain rode away, taking +with him three couples of greyhounds for the pursuit. At the last, +the hounds caught the hart, and killed it just as it reached the +court-yard of a castle. Then there came forth from the castle a +knight, and he was grieved and wroth to see the hart slain, for it +was given him by his lady; so, in his anger, he killed two of the +hounds. At that moment Sir Gawain entered the court-yard, and an +angry man was he when he saw his greyhounds slain. "Sir Knight," +said he, "ye would have done better to have taken your vengeance on +me rather than on dumb animals which but acted after their kind." +"I will be avenged on you also," cried the knight; and the two +rushed together, cutting and thrusting that it was wonderful they +might so long endure. But at the last the knight grew faint, and +crying for mercy, offered to yield to Sir Gawain. "Ye had no mercy +on my hounds," said Sir Gawain. "I will make you all the amends in +my power," answered the knight. But Sir Gawain would not be turned +from his purpose, and unlacing the vanquished knight's helmet, was +about to cut off his head, when a lady rushed out from the castle +and flung herself on the body of the fallen knight. So it chanced +that Sir Gawain's sword descending smote off the lady's head. Then +was Sir Gawain grieved and sore ashamed for what he had done, and +said to the knight: "I repent for what I have done; and here I give +you your life. Go only to Camelot, to King Arthur's court, and tell +him ye are sent by the knight who follows the quest of the white +hart." "Ye have slain my lady," said the other, "and now I care not +what befalls me." So he arose and went to King Arthur's court.</p> + +<p>Then Sir Gawain prepared to rest him there for the night; but +scarcely had he lain down when there fell upon him four knights, +crying: "New-made knight, ye have shamed your knighthood, for a +knight without mercy is without honour." Then was Sir Gawain borne +to the earth, and would have been slain, but that there came forth +from the castle four ladies who besought the knights to spare his +life; so they consented and bound him prisoner.</p> + +<p>The next morning Sir Gawain was brought again before the knights +and their dames; and because he was King Arthur's nephew, the +ladies desired that he should be set free, only they required that +he should ride again to Camelot, the murdered lady's head hanging +from his neck, and her dead body across his saddle-bow; and that +when he arrived at the court he should confess his misdeeds.</p> + +<p>So Sir Gawain rode sadly back to Camelot, and when he had told his +tale, King Arthur was sore displeased. And Queen Guenevere held a +court of her ladies to pass sentence on Sir Gawain for his +ungentleness. These then decreed that, his life long, he must never +refuse to fight for any lady who desired his services, and that +ever he should be gentle and courteous and show mercy to all. From +that time forth, Sir Gawain never failed in aught that dame or +damsel asked of him, and so he won and kept the title of the +Ladies' Knight.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII"></a>CHAPTER XVIII</h2> + +<h3>THE ADVENTURES OF SIR GARETH</h3> + + +<p>Gareth was the youngest of the sons of Lot and Bellicent, and had +grown up long after Gawain and Mordred left their home for King +Arthur's court; so that when he came before the King, all humbly +attired, he was known not even by his own brothers.</p> + +<p>King Arthur was keeping Pentecost at Kink Kenadon on the Welsh +border and, as his custom was, waited to begin the feast until some +adventure should befall. Presently there was seen approaching a +youth, who, to the wonderment of all that saw, leaned upon the +shoulders of two men, his companions; and yet as he passed up the +hall, he seemed a goodly youth, tall and broad-shouldered. When he +stood before the King, suddenly he drew himself up, and after due +greeting, said: "Sir King, I would ask of you three boons; one to +be granted now and two hereafter when I shall require them." And +Arthur, looking upon him, was pleased, for his countenance was open +and honest. So he made answer; "Fair son, ask of me aught that is +honourable and I will grant it." Then the youth said: "For this +present, I ask only that ye will give me meat and drink for a year +and a day." "Ye might have asked and had a better gift," replied +the King; "tell me now your name." "At this time, I may not tell +it," said the youth. Now King Arthur trusted every man until he +proved himself unworthy, and in this youth he thought he saw one +who should do nobly and win renown; so laughing, he bade him keep +his own counsel since so he would, and gave him in charge to Sir +Kay, the Seneschal.</p> + +<p>Now Sir Kay was but harsh to those whom he liked not, and from the +first he scorned the young man; "For none," said he, "but a +low-born lout would crave meat and drink when he might have asked +for a horse and arms." But Sir Launcelot and Sir Gawain took the +youth's part. Neither knew him for Gareth of the Orkneys, but both +believed him to be a youth of good promise who, for his own +reasons, would pass in disguise for a season.</p> + +<p>So Gareth lived the year among the kitchen-boys, all the time +mocked and scorned by Sir Kay, who called him Fairhands because his +hands were white and shapely. But Launcelot and Gawain showed him +all courtesy, and failed not to observe how, in all trials of +strength, he excelled his comrades, and that he was ever present to +witness the feats of the knights in the tournaments.</p> + +<p>So the year passed, and again King Arthur was keeping the feast of +Pentecost with his knights, when a damsel entered the hall and +asked his aid: "For," said she, "my sister is closely besieged in +her castle by a strong knight who lays waste all her lands. And +since I know that the knights of your court be the most renowned in +the world, I have come to crave help of your mightiest." "What is +your sister's name, and who is he that oppresses her?" asked the +King. "The Red Knight, he is called," replied the damsel. "As for +my sister I will not say her name, only that she is a high-born +lady and owns broad lands." Then the King frowned and said: "Ye +would have aid but will say no name. I may not ask knight of mine +to go on such an errand."</p> + +<p>Then forth stepped Gareth from among the serving men at the hall +end and said: "Sir King, I have eaten of your meat in your kitchen +this twelvemonth since, and now I crave my other two boons." "Ask +and have," replied the King. "Grant me then the adventure of this +damsel, and bid Sir Launcelot ride after me to knight me at my +desire, for of him alone would I be made knight." "It shall be so," +answered the King. "What!" cried the damsel, "I ask for a knight +and ye give me a kitchen-boy. Shame on you, Sir King." And in +great wrath she fled from the hall, mounted her palfrey and rode +away. Gareth but waited to array himself in the armour which he had +kept ever in readiness for the time when he should need it, and +mounting his horse, rode after the damsel.</p> + +<p>But when Sir Kay knew what had happened, he was wroth, and got to +horse to ride after Gareth and bring him back. Even as Gareth +overtook the damsel, so did Kay come up with him and cried: "Turn +back, Fairhands! What, sir, do ye not know me?" "Yes," answered +Gareth, "I know you for the most discourteous knight in Arthur's +court." Then Sir Kay rode upon him with his lance, but Gareth +turned it aside with his sword and pierced Sir Kay through the side +so that he fell to the ground and lay there without motion. So +Gareth took Sir Kay's shield and spear and was about to ride away, +when seeing Sir Launcelot draw near, he called upon him to joust. +At the first encounter, Sir Launcelot unhorsed Gareth, but quickly +helped him to his feet. Then, at Gareth's desire, they fought +together with swords, and Gareth did knightly till, at length, Sir +Launcelot said, laughing: "Why should we fight any longer? Of a +truth ye are a stout knight." "If that is indeed your thought, I +pray you make me knight," cried Gareth. So Sir Launcelot knighted +Gareth, who, bidding him farewell, hastened after the damsel, for +she had ridden on again while the two knights talked. When she saw +him coming, she cried: "Keep off! ye smell of the kitchen!" +"Damsel," said Sir Gareth, "I must follow until I have fulfilled +the adventure." "Till ye accomplish the adventure, Turn-spit? Your +part in it shall soon be ended." "I can only do my best," answered +Sir Gareth.</p> + +<p>Now as they rode through the forest, they met with a knight sore +beset by six thieves, and him Sir Gareth rescued. The knight then +bade Gareth and the damsel rest at his castle, and entertained them +right gladly until the morn, when the two rode forth again. +Presently, they drew near to a deep river where two knights kept +the ford. "How now, kitchen-knave? Will ye fight or escape while ye +may?" cried the damsel. "I would fight though there were six +instead of two," replied Sir Gareth. Therewith he encountered the +one knight in mid-stream and struck him such a blow on the head +that he fell, stunned, into the water and was drowned. Then, +gaining the land, Gareth cleft in two both helmet and head of the +other knight, and turned to the damsel, saying: "Lead on; I +follow."</p> + +<p>But the damsel mocked him, saying: "What a mischance is this that a +kitchen-boy should slay two noble knights! Be not over-proud, +Turn-spit. It was but luck, if indeed ye did not attack one knight +from behind." "Say what you will, I follow," said Sir Gareth.</p> + +<p>So they rode on again, the damsel in front and Sir Gareth behind, +till they reached a wide meadow where stood many fair pavilions; +and one, the largest, was all of blue, and the men who stood about +it were clothed in blue, and bore shields and spears of that +colour; and of blue, too, were the trappings of the horses. Then +said the damsel: "Yonder is the Blue Knight, the goodliest that +ever ye have looked upon, and five hundred knights own him lord." +"I will encounter him," said Sir Gareth; "for if he be good knight +and true as ye say, he will scarce set on me with all his +following; and man to man, I fear him not." "Fie!" said the damsel, +"for a dirty knave, ye brag loud. And even if ye overcome him, his +might is as nothing to that of the Red Knight who besieges my lady +sister. So get ye gone while ye may." "Damsel," said Sir Gareth, +"ye are but ungentle so to rebuke me; for, knight or knave, I have +done you good service, nor will I leave this quest while life is +mine." Then the damsel was ashamed, and, looking curiously at +Gareth, she said: "I would gladly know what manner of man ye are. +For I heard you call yourself kitchen-knave before Arthur's self, +but ye have ever answered patiently though I have chidden you +shamefully; and courtesy comes only of gentle blood." Thereat Sir +Gareth but laughed, and said: "He is no knight whom a maiden can +anger by harsh words."</p> + +<p>So talking, they entered the field, and there came to Sir Gareth a +messenger from the Blue Knight to ask him if he came in peace or in +war. "As your lord pleases," said Sir Gareth. So when the messenger +had brought back this word, the Blue Knight mounted his horse, took +his spear in his hand, and rode upon Sir Gareth. At their first +encounter their lances shivered to pieces, and such was the shock +that their horses fell dead. So they rushed on each other with +sword and shield, cutting and slashing till the armour was hacked +from their bodies; but at last, Sir Gareth smote the Blue Knight +to the earth. Then the Blue Knight yielded, and at the damsel's +entreaty, Sir Gareth spared his life.</p> + +<p>So they were reconciled, and at the request of the Blue Knight, Sir +Gareth and the damsel abode that night in his tents. As they sat at +table, the Blue Knight said: "Fair damsel, are ye not called +Linet?" "Yes," answered she, "and I am taking this noble knight to +the relief of my sister, the Lady Liones." "God speed you, Sir," +said the Blue Knight, "for he is a stout knight whom ye must meet. +Long ago might he have taken the lady, but that he hoped that Sir +Launcelot or some other of Arthur's most famous knights, coming to +her rescue, might fall beneath his lance. If ye overthrow him, then +are ye the peer of Sir Launcelot and Sir Tristram." "Sir Knight," +answered Gareth, "I can but strive to bear me worthily as one whom +the great Sir Launcelot made knight."</p> + +<p>So in the morning they bade farewell to the Blue Knight, who vowed +to carry to King Arthur word of all that Gareth had achieved; and +they rode on, till, in the evening, they came to a little ruined +hermitage where there awaited them a dwarf, sent by the Lady +Liones, with all manner of meats and other store. In the morning, +the dwarf set out again to bear word to his lady that her rescuer +was come. As he drew near the castle, the Red Knight stopped him, +demanding whence he came. "Sir," said the dwarf, "I have been with +my lady's sister, who brings with her a knight to the rescue of my +lady." "It is lost labour," said the Red Knight; "even though she +brought Launcelot or Tristram, I hold myself a match for them." +"He is none of these," said the dwarf, "but he has overthrown the +knights who kept the ford, and the Blue Knight yielded to him." +"Let him come," said the Red Knight; "I shall soon make an end of +him, and a shameful death shall he have at my hands, as many a +better knight has had." So saying, he let the dwarf go.</p> + +<p>Presently, there came riding towards the castle Sir Gareth and the +damsel Linet, and Gareth marvelled to see hang from the trees some +forty knights in goodly armour, their shields reversed beside them. +And when he inquired of the damsel, she told him how these were the +bodies of brave knights who, coming to the rescue of the Lady +Liones, had been overthrown and shamefully done to death by the Red +Knight. Then was Gareth shamed and angry, and he vowed to make an +end of these evil practices. So at last they drew near to the +castle walls, and saw how the plain around was covered with the Red +Knight's tents, and the noise was that of a great army. Hard by was +a tall sycamore tree, and from it hung a mighty horn, made of an +elephant's tusk. Spurring his horse, Gareth rode to it, and blew +such a blast that those on the castle walls heard it; the knights +came forth from their tents to see who blew so bold a blast, and +from a window of the castle the Lady Liones looked forth and waved +her hand to her champion. Then, as Sir Gareth made his reverence to +the lady, the Red Knight called roughly to him to leave his +courtesy and look to himself; "For," said he, "she is mine, and to +have her, I have fought many a battle." "It is but vain labour," +said Sir Gareth, "since she loves you not. Know, too, Sir Knight, +that I have vowed to rescue her from you." "So did many another who +now hangs on a tree," replied the Red Knight, "and soon ye shall +hang beside them." Then both laid their spears in rest, and spurred +their horses. At the first encounter, each smote the other full in +the shield, and the girths of the saddles bursting, they were borne +to the earth, where they lay for awhile as if dead. But presently +they rose, and setting their shields before them, rushed upon each +other with their swords, cutting and hacking till the armour lay on +the ground in fragments. So they fought till noon and then rested; +but soon they renewed the battle, and so furiously they fought, +that often they fell to the ground together. Then, when the bells +sounded for evensong, the knights rested again a while, unlacing +their helms to breathe the evening air. But looking up to the +castle windows, Gareth saw the Lady Liones gazing earnestly upon +him; then he caught up his helmet, and calling to the Red Knight, +bade him make ready for the battle; "And this time," said he, "we +will make an end of it." "So be it," said the Red Knight. Then the +Red Knight smote Gareth on the hand that his sword flew from his +grasp, and with another blow he brought him grovelling to the +earth. At the sight of this, Linet cried aloud, and hearing her, +Gareth, with a mighty effort, threw off the Red Knight, leaped to +his sword and got it again within his hand. Then he pressed the Red +Knight harder than ever, and at the last bore him to the earth, +and unlacing his helm, made ready to slay him; but the Red Knight +cried aloud: "Mercy; I yield." At first, remembering the evil +deaths of the forty good knights, Gareth was unwilling to spare +him; but the Red Knight besought him to have mercy, telling him +how, against his will, he had been bound by a vow to make war on +Arthur's knights. So Sir Gareth relented, and bade him set forth at +once for Kink Kenadon and entreat the King's pardon for his evil +past. And this the Red Knight promised to do.</p> + +<p>Then amidst much rejoicing, Sir Gareth was borne into the castle. +There his wounds were dressed by the Lady Liones, and there he +rested until he recovered his strength. And having won her love, +when Gareth returned to Arthur's court, the Lady Liones rode with +him, and they two were wed with great pomp in the presence of the +whole Fellowship of the Round Table; the King rejoicing much that +his nephew had done so valiantly. So Sir Gareth lived happily with +Dame Liones, winning fame and the love of all true knights. As for +Linet, she came again to Arthur's court and wedded Sir Gareth's +younger brother, Sir Gaheris.</p> + +<div class="center"> +<img src="images/illus017.png" width="154" height="150" alt="Head of a woman" title="" /> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="center"><a name="BOOK_V" id="BOOK_V"></a> +<img src="images/illus094.png" width="700" height="230" alt="BOOK V - SIR GERAINT" title="" /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIX" id="CHAPTER_XIX"></a>CHAPTER XIX</h2> + +<h3>THE ADVENTURES OF GERAINT</h3> + + +<p>It befell, one Whitsunday, that Arthur was holding his court at +Caerleon, when word was brought to him of a splendid white stag +that ranged the Forest of Dean, and forthwith the King proclaimed a +hunt for the morrow.</p> + +<p>So, with the dawn, there was much trampling of hoofs and baying of +hounds as all the knights got to horse; but Queen Guenevere +herself, though she had said she would ride with the hunt, slept +late, and when she called her maidens to her, it was broad day. +Then, with much haste, she arrayed herself, and taking one of her +ladies with her, rode to a little rising ground in the forest, near +which, as she well knew, the hunt must pass.</p> + +<p>Presently, as she waited, there came riding by the gallant knight, +Geraint of Devon. He was arrayed neither for the chase nor for the +fight, but wore a surcoat of white satin and about him a loose +scarf of purple, with a golden apple at each corner. And when the +Queen had answered his salutation, she said: "How is it, Prince, +that ye be not ridden with the hunters?" "Madam," answered he, +"with shame I say it; I slept too late." Smiling, the Queen said: +"Then are we both in the same case, for I also arose too late. But +tarry with me, and soon ye will hear the baying of the hounds; for +often I have known them break covert here."</p> + +<p>Then as they waited on the little woodland knoll, there came riding +past a knight full armed, a lady with him, and behind them a dwarf, +misshapen and evil-looking, and they passed without word or +salutation to the Queen.</p> + +<p>Then said Guenevere to Geraint: "Prince, know ye yonder knight?" +"Nay, madam," said he; "his arms I know not, and his face I might +not see." Thereupon the Queen turned to her attendant and said: +"Ride after them quickly and ask the dwarf his master's name." So +the maiden did as she was bidden; but when she inquired of the +dwarf, he answered her roughly: "I will not tell thee my master's +name." "Since thou art so churlish," said she, "I will even ask him +himself." "That thou shalt not," he cried, and struck her across +the face with his whip. So the maiden, alarmed and angered, rode +back to the Queen and told her all that had happened. "Madam," +cried Geraint, "the churl has wronged your maiden and insulted your +person. I pray you, suffer me to do your errand myself." With the +word, he put spurs to his horse and rode after the three. And when +he had come up with the dwarf, he asked the knight's name as the +maiden had done, and the dwarf answered him as he had answered the +Queen's lady. "I will speak with thy master himself," said Geraint. +"Thou shalt not, by my faith!" said the dwarf. "Thou art not +honourable enough to speak with my lord." "I have spoken with men +of as good rank as he," answered Geraint, and would have turned his +horse's head that he might ride after the knight; but the dwarf +struck him across the face such a blow that the blood spurted forth +over his purple scarf. Then, in his wrath, Geraint clapped hand to +sword, and would have slain the churl, but that he bethought him +how powerless was such a misshapen thing. So refraining himself, he +rode back to the Queen and said: "Madam, for the time the knight +has escaped me. But, with your leave, I will ride after him, and +require of him satisfaction for the wrong done to yourself and to +your maiden. It must be that I shall come presently to a town where +I may obtain armour. Farewell; if I live, ye shall have tidings of +me by next even." "Farewell," said the Queen; "I shall ever hold +your good service in remembrance."</p> + +<p>So Geraint rode forth on his quest, and followed the road to the +ford of the Usk, where he crossed, and then went on his way until +he came to a town, at the further end of which rose a mighty +castle. And as he entered the town, he saw the knight and the lady, +and how, as they rode through the streets, from every window the +folk craned their necks to see them pass, until they entered the +castle and the gate fell behind them. Then was Geraint satisfied +that they would not pass thence that night, and turned him about to +see where he could obtain the use of arms that, the next day, he +might call the knight to account.</p> + +<p>Now it seemed that the whole town was in a ferment. In every house, +men were busy polishing shields, sharpening swords, and washing +armour, and scarce could they find time to answer questions put to +them; so at the last, finding nowhere in the town to rest, Geraint +rode in the direction of a ruined palace, which stood a little +apart from the town, and was reached by a marble bridge spanning a +deep ravine. Seated on the bridge was an old man, hoary-headed, and +clothed in the tattered remains of what had once been splendid +attire, who gave Geraint courteous greeting. "Sir," said Geraint, +"I pray you, know ye where I may find shelter for this night?" +"Come with me," said the old man, "and ye shall have the best my +old halls afford." So saying, he led Geraint into a great +stone-paved court-yard, surrounded by buildings, once strong +fortifications, but then half burned and ruinous. There he bade +Geraint dismount, and led the way into an upper chamber, where sat +an aged dame, and with her a maiden the fairest that ever Geraint +had looked upon, for all that her attire was but a faded robe and +veil. Then the old man spoke to the maiden, saying: "Enid, take the +good knight's charger to a stall and give him corn. Then go to the +town and buy us provision for a feast to-night." Now it pleased not +Geraint that the maiden should thus do him service; but when he +made to accompany her, the old man, her father, stayed him and kept +him in converse until presently she was returned from the town and +had made all ready for the evening meal. Then they sat them down to +supper, the old man and his wife with Geraint between them; and the +fair maid, Enid, waited upon them, though it irked the Prince to +see her do such menial service.</p> + +<p>So as they ate, they talked, and presently Geraint asked of the +cause why the palace was all in ruins. "Sir knight," said the old +man, "I am Yniol, and once I was lord of a broad earldom. But my +nephew, whose guardian I had been, made war upon me, affirming that +I had withheld from him his dues; and being the stronger, he +prevailed, and seized my lands and burnt my halls, even as ye see. +For the townsfolk hold with him, because that, with his tournaments +and feastings, he brings many strangers their way." "What then is +all the stir in the town even now?" asked Geraint. "To-morrow," +said the Earl, "they hold the tournament of the Sparrow-Hawk. In +the midst of the meadow are set up two forks, and on the forks a +silver rod, and on the rod the form of a Sparrow-Hawk. Two years +has it been won by the stout knight Edeyrn, and if he win it the +morrow, it shall be his for aye, and he himself known as the +Sparrow-Hawk." "Tell me," cried Geraint, "is that the knight that +rode this day with a lady and a dwarf to the castle hard by?" "The +same," said Yniol; "and a bold knight he is." Then Geraint told +them of the insult offered that morning to Queen Guenevere and her +maiden, and how he had ridden forth to obtain satisfaction. "And +now, I pray you," said Geraint, "help me to come by some arms, and +in to-morrow's lists will I call this Sparrow-Hawk to account." +"Arms have I," answered the Earl, "old and rusty indeed, yet at +your service. But, Sir Knight, ye may not appear in to-morrow's +tournament, for none may contend unless he bring with him a lady in +whose honour he jousts." Then cried Geraint: "Lord Earl, suffer me +to lay lance in rest in honour of the fair maiden, your daughter. +And if I fall to-morrow, no harm shall have been done her, and if I +win, I will love her my life long, and make her my true wife." Now +Enid, her service ended, had left them to their talk; but the Earl, +rejoicing that so noble a knight should seek his daughter's love, +promised that, with the maiden's consent, all should be as the +Prince desired.</p> + +<p>So they retired to rest that night, and the next day at dawn, +Geraint arose, and, donning the rusty old armour lent him by Earl +Yniol, rode to the lists; and there amongst the humbler sort of +onlookers, he found the old Earl and his wife and with them their +fair daughter.</p> + +<p>Then the heralds blew their trumpets, and Edeyrn bade his lady-love +take the Sparrow-Hawk, her due as fairest of the fair. "Forbear," +cried Geraint; "here is one fairer and nobler for whom I claim the +prize of the tournament." "Do battle for it, then!" cried Edeyrn. +So the two took their lances and rushed upon one another with a +crash like thunder, and each broke his spear. Thus they encountered +once and again; but at the last Geraint bore down upon Edeyrn with +such force that he carried him from his horse, saddle and all. Then +he dismounted, and the two rushed upon each other with their +swords. Long they fought, the sparks flying and their breath coming +hard, till, exerting all his strength, Geraint dealt the other such +a blow as cleft his helmet and bit to the bone. Then Edeyrn flung +away his sword and yielded him. "Thou shalt have thy life," said +Geraint, "upon condition that, forthwith, thou goest to Arthur's +court, there to deliver thyself to our Queen, and make such +atonement as shall be adjudged thee, for the insult offered her +yester morn." "I will do so," answered Edeyrn; and when his wounds +had been dressed he got heavily to horse and rode forth to +Caerleon.</p> + +<p>Then the young Earl, Yniol's nephew, adjudged the Sparrow-Hawk to +Geraint, as victor in the tourney, and prayed him to come to his +castle to rest and feast. But Geraint, declining courteously, said +that it behoved him to go there where he had rested the night +before. "Where may that have been?" asked the Earl; "for though ye +come not to my castle, yet would I see that ye fare as befits your +valour." "I rested even with Yniol, your uncle," answered Geraint. +The young Earl mused awhile, and then he said: "I will seek you, +then, in my uncle's halls, and bring with me the means to furnish +forth a feast."</p> + +<p>And so it was. Scarcely had Prince Geraint returned to the ruined +hall and bathed and rested him after his labours, when the young +Earl arrived, and with him forty of his followers bearing all +manner of stores and plenishings. And that same hour, the young +Earl was accorded with Yniol, his uncle, restoring to him the lands +of which he had deprived him, and pledging his word to build up +again the ruined palace.</p> + +<p>When they had gone to the banquet, then came to them Enid, attired +in beautiful raiment befitting her rank; and the old Earl led her +to Geraint, saying: "Prince, here is the maiden for whom ye fought, +and freely I bestow her upon you." So Geraint took her hand before +them all and said: "She shall ride with me to Caerleon, and there +will I wed her before Arthur's court." Then to Enid he said: +"Gentle maiden, bear with me when I pray you to don the faded robe +and veil in which first I saw you." And Enid, who was ever gentle +and meek, did as he desired, and that evening they rode to +Caerleon.</p> + +<p>So when they drew near the King's palace, word was brought to +Guenevere of their approach. Then the Queen went forth to greet the +good knight, and when she had heard all his story, she kissed the +maiden, and leading her into her own chamber, arrayed her right +royally for her marriage with the Prince. And that evening they +were wed amidst great rejoicing, in the presence of all the +knights and ladies of the court, the King himself giving Enid to +her husband. Many happy days they spent at Caerleon, rejoicing in +the love and good-will of Arthur and his Queen.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XX" id="CHAPTER_XX"></a>CHAPTER XX</h2> + +<h3>GERAINT AND ENID</h3> + + +<p>Geraint and the fair Enid abode more than a year at Arthur's court; +Enid winning daily more and more the love of all by her gentleness +and goodness, and Geraint being ever amongst the foremost in the +tournament. But presently there came word of robber raids upon the +borders of Devon; wherefore the Prince craved leave of Arthur to +return to his own land, there to put down wrong and oppression, and +maintain order and justice. And the King bade him go and secure to +every man his due.</p> + +<p>So Geraint passed to his own land, Enid going with him; and soon he +had driven the oppressors from their strongholds and established +peace and order, so that the poor man dwelt in his little cot +secure in his possessions. But when all was done, and there was +none dared defy him, Geraint abode at home, neglectful of the +tournament and the chase, and all those manly exercises in which he +had once excelled, content if he had but the companionship of his +wife; so that his nobles murmured because he withdrew himself from +their society, and the common people jeered at him for a laggard.</p> + +<p>Now these evil rumours came to Enid's ears, and it grieved her that +she should be the cause, however unwillingly, of her husband's +dishonour; and since she could not bring herself to speak to her +lord of what was in her heart, daily she grew more sorrowful, till +the Prince, aware of her altered demeanour, became uneasy, not +knowing its source.</p> + +<p>So time went by till it chanced, one summer morning, that with the +first rays of the sun, Enid awoke from her slumbers, and, rising, +gazed upon her husband as he lay, and marvelled at his strength. +"Alas!" said she, "to be the cause that my lord suffers shame! +Surely I should find courage to tell him all, were I indeed true +wife to him!" Then, by ill chance, her tears falling upon him awoke +him, so that he heard her words, but brokenly, and seeing her weep +and hearing her accuse herself, it came into his thought that, for +all his love and care for her, she was weary of him, nay, even that +perhaps she loved him not at all. In anger and grief he called to +his squire and bade him saddle his charger and a palfrey for Enid; +and to her he said: "Put on thy meanest attire, and thou shalt ride +with me into the wilderness. It seems that I have yet to win me +fame; but before thou seest home again, thou shalt learn if indeed +I am fallen so low as thou deemest." And Enid, wondering and +troubled, answered, "I know naught of thy meaning, my lord." "Ask +me nothing," said Geraint. So sorrowfully and in silence Enid +arrayed herself, choosing for her apparel the faded robe and veil +in which first her lord had seen her.</p> + +<p>Then the squire brought them their horses; but when he would have +mounted and ridden after, Geraint forbade him. And to Enid the +Prince said: "Ride before me and turn not back, no matter what thou +seest or hearest. And unless I speak to thee, say not a word to +me."</p> + +<p>So they rode forward along the least frequented road till they came +to a vast forest, which they entered. There Enid, as she rode in +front, saw four armed men lurking by the road, and one said to the +other: "See, now is our opportunity to win much spoil at little +cost; for we may easily overcome this doleful knight, and take from +him his arms and lady." And Enid hearing them, was filled with fear +and doubt; for she longed to warn her lord of his danger, yet +feared to arouse his wrath, seeing he had bidden her keep silence. +Then said she to herself: "Better to anger him, even to the slaying +of me, than have the misery of seeing him perish." So she waited +till Geraint drew near, and said: "Lord, there lie in wait for thee +four men fully armed, to slay and rob thee." Then he answered her +in anger: "Did I desire thy silence or thy warning? Look, then, and +whether thou desirest my life or my death, thou shalt see that I +dread not these robbers." Then, as the foremost of the four rode +upon him, Geraint drove upon him with his spear with such force +that the weapon stood out a cubit behind him; and so he did with +the second, and the third, and the fourth. Then, dismounting from +his horse, he stripped the dead felons of their armour, bound it +upon their horses, and tying the bridle reins together, bade Enid +drive the beasts before her. "And," said he, "I charge thee, at thy +peril, speak no word to me."</p> + +<p>So they went forward; and presently Enid saw how three horsemen, +well armed and well mounted, rode towards them. And one said to the +other: "Good fortune, indeed! Here are four horses and four suits +of armour for us, and but one knight to deal with; a craven too, by +the way he hangs his head." Then Enid thought within herself how +her lord was wearied with his former combat, and resolved to warn +him even at her own peril. So she waited till he was come up with +her, and said: "Lord, there be three men riding towards us, and +they promise themselves rich booty at small cost." Wrathfully spoke +Geraint: "Their words anger me less than thy disobedience"; and +immediately rushing upon the mid-most of the three knights, he bore +him from his horse; then he turned upon the other two who rode +against him at the same moment, and slew them both. As with the +former caitiffs, so now Geraint stripped the three of their armour, +bound it upon the horses, and bade Enid drive these forward with +the other four.</p> + +<p>Again they rode on their way, and, for all his anger, it smote +Geraint to the heart to see the gentle lady labouring to drive +forward the seven horses. So he bade her stay, for they would go no +farther then, but rest that night as best they might in the forest; +and scarcely had they dismounted and tethered the horses before +Geraint, wearied with his encounters, fell asleep; but Enid +remained watching, lest harm should come to her lord while he +slept.</p> + +<p>With the first ray of light, Geraint awoke, and his anger against +Enid was not passed; so, without more ado, he set her on her +palfrey and bade her drive the horses on in front as before, +charging her that, whatever befell, that day at least, she should +keep silence.</p> + +<p>Soon they passed from the forest into open land, and came upon a +river flowing through broad meadows where the mowers toiled. Then, +as they waited to let the horses drink their fill, there drew near +a youth, bearing a basket of bread and meat and a blue pitcher +covered over with a bowl. So when the youth saluted them, Geraint +stayed him, asking whence he came. "My lord," said the lad, "I am +come from the town hard by, to bring the mowers their breakfast." +"I pray thee, then," said the Prince, "give of the food to this +lady, for she is faint." "That will I gladly," answered the youth, +"and do ye also partake, noble sir"; and he spread the meal for +them on the grass while they dismounted. So when they had eaten and +were refreshed, the youth gathered up the basket and pitcher, +saying he would return to the town for food for the mowers. "Do +so," said the Prince, "and when thou art come there, take for me +the best lodging that thou mayst. And for thy fair service, take a +horse and armour, whichsoever thou wilt." "My lord, ye reward me +far beyond my deserts," cried the youth. "Right gladly will I make +all ready against your arrival, and acquaint my master, the Earl, +of your coming."</p> + +<p>So Geraint and Enid followed after the youth to the town, and +there they found everything prepared for their comfort, even as he +had promised; for they were lodged in a goodly chamber well +furnished with all that they might require. Then said Geraint to +Enid: "Abide at one end of the room and I will remain at the other. +And call the woman of the house if thou desirest her aid and +comfort in aught." "I thank thee, lord," answered Enid patiently; +but she called for no service, remaining silent and forlorn in the +farthest corner of the great chamber.</p> + +<p>Presently there came to the house the Earl, the youth's master, and +with him twelve goodly knights to wait upon him. And Geraint +welcomed them right heartily, bidding the host bring forth his best +to furnish a feast. So they sat them down at the table, each in his +degree according to his rank, and feasted long and merrily; but +Enid remained the while shrinking into her corner if perchance she +might escape all notice.</p> + +<p>As they sat at the banquet, the Earl asked Prince Geraint what +quest he followed. "None but mine own inclination and the adventure +it may please heaven to send," said Geraint. Then the Earl, whose +eye had oft sought Enid as she sat apart, said: "Have I your good +leave to cross the room and speak to your fair damsel? For she +joins us not in the feast." "Ye have it freely," answered the +Prince. So the Earl arose, and approaching Enid, bowed before her, +and spoke to her in low tones, saying: "Damsel, sad life is yours, +I fear, to journey with yonder man." "To travel the road he takes +is pleasant enough to me," answered Enid. "But see what slights he +puts upon you! To suffer you to journey thus, unattended by page or +maiden, argues but little love or reverence for you." "It is as +nothing, so that I am with him," said Enid. "Nay, but," said the +Earl, "see how much happier a life might be yours. Leave this +churl, who values you not, and all that I have, land and riches, +and my love and service for ever shall be yours." "Ye cannot tempt +me, with aught that ye can offer, to be false to him to whom I +vowed my faith," said she. "Ye are a fool!" said the Earl in a +fierce whisper. "One word to these my knights, and yonder is a dead +man. Then who shall hinder me that I take you by force? Nay, now, +be better advised, and I vow you my whole devotion for all time." +Then was Enid filled with dread of the man and his might, and +seeking but to gain time, she said: "Suffer me to be for this +present, my lord, and to-morrow ye shall come and take me as by +force. Then shall my name not suffer loss." "So be it," said he; "I +will not fail you." With that he left her, and taking his leave of +Geraint, departed with his followers.</p> + +<p>Never a word of what the Earl had said did Enid tell her husband +that night; and on the departure of his guests, the Prince, +unheedful of her, flung him on the couch, and soon slept, despite +his grief and wrath. But Enid watched again that night, and, before +cock-crow, arose, set all his armour ready in one place, and then, +though fearful of his wrath, stepped to his side and touching him +gently, said: "Awake, my lord, and arm you, and save me and +yourself." Then she told him of all the Earl had said and of the +device she had used to save them both. Then wrathfully he rose and +armed himself, bidding her rouse the host to saddle and bring forth +the horses. When all was ready, Prince Geraint asked the man his +reckoning. "Ye owe but little," said the host. "Take then the seven +horses and the suits of armour," said Geraint. "Why, noble sir," +cried the host, "I scarce have spent the value of one." "The richer +thou," answered Geraint. "Now show me the road from the town."</p> + +<p>So the man guided them from the town, and scarce was he returned +when Earl Durm—for so was the Earl named—hammered at the door, +with forty followers at his back. "Where is the knight who was here +erewhile?" "He is gone hence, my lord," answered the host. "Fool +and villain!" cried the Earl, "why didst thou suffer him to escape? +Which way went he?" And the man, fearful and trembling, directed +the Earl the road Geraint had gone.</p> + +<p>So it came to pass, as they rode on their way, Enid in front, the +Prince behind, that it seemed to Enid she heard the beat of many +horse-hoofs. And, as before, she broke Geraint's command, caring +little for aught that might befall her in comparison of loss to +him. "My lord," said she, "seest thou yonder knight pursuing thee +and many another with him?" "Yea, in good truth, I see him," said +Geraint, "and I see, too, that never wilt thou obey me." Then he +turned him about and, laying lance in rest, bore straight down upon +Earl Durm, who foremost rushed upon him; and such was the shock of +their encounter, that Earl Durm was borne from his saddle and lay +without motion as one dead. And Geraint charged fiercely upon the +Earl's men, unhorsing some and wounding others; and the rest, +having little heart for the fight after their master's overthrow, +turned and fled.</p> + +<p>Then Geraint signed to Enid to ride on as before, and so they +journeyed the space of another hour while the summer sun beat upon +them with ever increasing force. Now the Prince had received a +grievous hurt in the encounter with Earl Durm and his men; but such +was his spirit that he heeded it not, though the wound bled sore +under his armour. Presently, as they rode, there came to them the +sound of wailing, and by the wayside they saw a lady weeping +bitterly over a knight who lay dead on the ground. "Lady," said +Geraint, "what has befallen you?" "Noble knight," she replied, "as +we rode through the forest, my husband and I, three villains set +upon him at once, and slew him." "Which way went they?" asked +Geraint. "Straight on by this high-road that ye follow even now," +answered she. Then Geraint bade Enid remain with the lady while he +rode on to take vengeance on the miscreants. And Enid waited +fearfully the long while he was gone, and her heart rejoiced when +she saw him returning. But soon her joy was turned to sorrow, for +his armour was all dented and covered with blood and his face +ghastly; and even as he reached her side, he fell from his horse, +prone on the ground. Then Enid strove to loosen his armour, and +having found the wound, she staunched it as best she might and +bound it with her veil. And taking his head on her lap, she chafed +his hands and tried with her own body to shield him from the sun, +her tears falling fast the while. So she waited till, perchance, +help might come that way; and presently, indeed, she heard the +tramp of horses, and a troop came riding by with the Earl Limours +at their head. And when the Earl saw the two fallen knights and the +weeping women beside them, he stayed his horse, and said: "Ladies, +what has chanced to you?" Then she whose husband had been slain +said: "Sir, three caitiffs set on my husband at once and slew him. +Then came this good knight and went in pursuit of them, and as I +think, slew them; but when he came back, he fell from his horse, +sore wounded as ye see, and, I fear me, by now he is dead." "Nay, +gentle sir," cried Enid; "it cannot be that he is dead. Only, I +beseech you, suffer two of your men to carry him hence to some +place of shelter where he may have help and tendance." "I misdoubt +me, it is but labour wasted," said the Earl; "nevertheless, for the +sake of your fair face, it shall be as ye desire." Then he ordered +two of his men to carry Geraint to his halls and two more to stay +behind and bury the dead knight, while he caused the two women to +be placed on led horses; and so they rode to his castle. When they +were arrived there, the two spearmen who had carried Geraint, +placed him on a settle in the hall, and Enid crouched by his side, +striving if by any means she might bring him back to life. And +gradually Geraint recovered, though still he lay as in a swoon, +hearing indeed what passed around him, but dimly, as from a +distance.</p> + +<p>Soon there came into the hall many servitors, who brought forth +the tables and set thereon all manner of meats, haunches of venison +and boars' heads and great pasties, together with huge flagons of +wine. Then when all was set, there came trooping to the board the +whole company of Earl Limours' retainers; last of all came the Earl +himself and took his place on the raised dais. Suddenly, as he +feasted and made merry, he espied Enid, who, mistrusting him +utterly, would fain have escaped his eye. And when he saw her, he +cried: "Lady, cease wasting sorrow on a dead man and come hither. +Thou shalt have a seat by my side; ay, and myself, too, and my +Earldom to boot." "I thank you, lord," she answered meekly, "but, I +pray you, suffer me to be as I am." "Thou art a fool," said +Limours; "little enough he prized thee, I warrant, else had he not +put thy beauty to such scorn, dressing it in faded rags! Nay, be +wise; eat and drink, and thou wilt think the better of me and my +fair proffer." "I will not," cried Enid; "I will neither eat nor +drink, till my lord arise and eat with me." "Thou vowest more than +thou canst perform. He is dead already. Nay, thou shalt drink." +With the word, he strode to her and thrust into her hand a goblet +brimming with wine, crying, "Drink." "Nay, lord," she said, "I +beseech you, spare me and be pitiful." "Gentleness avails nothing +with thee," cried the Earl in wrath; "thou hast scorned my fair +courtesy. Thou shalt taste the contrary." So saying, he smote her +across the face.</p> + +<p>Then Enid, knowing all her helplessness, uttered an exceeding +bitter cry, and the sound roused Geraint. Grasping his sword, with +one bound he was upon the Earl and, with one blow, shore his neck +in two. Then those who sat at meat fled shrieking, for they +believed that the dead had come to life.</p> + +<p>But Geraint gazed upon Enid and his heart smote him, thinking of +the sorrow he had brought upon her. "Lady and sweet wife," he +cried, "for the wrong I have done thee, pardon me. For, hearing thy +words not three days since at morn, I doubted thy love and thy +loyalty. But now I know thee and trust thee beyond the power of +words to shake my faith." "Ah! my lord," cried Enid, "fly, lest +they return and slay thee." "Knowest thou where is my charger?" "I +will bring thee to it." So they found the war-horse and Geraint +mounted it, setting Enid behind him; thus they went forth in the +direction of the nearest town, that they might find rest and +succour. Then, as they rode, there came forth from a glade of the +forest a knight, who, seeing Geraint, at once laid lance in rest as +if he would ride upon him. And Enid, fearing for her husband, +shrieked aloud, crying: "Noble knight, whosoever ye be, encounter +not with a man nigh wounded to the death." Immediately the knight +raised his lance and looking more attentively upon, them, he +exclaimed: "What! is it Prince Geraint? Pardon me, noble knight, +that I knew you not at once. I am that Edeyrn whom once ye +overthrew and spared. At Arthur's court, whither ye sent me, I was +shown kindness and courtesy little deserved, and now am I knight of +Arthur's Round Table. But how came ye in such a case?" Then Geraint +told him of his encounter with the three caitiffs, and how he had +afterwards been borne to the castle of Earl Limours. "To do justice +on that same felon is Arthur himself here even now," cried Edeyrn. +"His camp is hard by." Then Geraint told Edeyrn how Limours lay +dead in his own halls, justly punished for the many wrongs he had +done, and how his people were scattered. "Come then yourself to +greet the King and tell him what has chanced." So he led the way to +Arthur's camp, where it lay in the forest hard by. Then were they +welcomed by the King himself and a tent assigned to them, where +Geraint rested until his wounds were healed.</p> + +<p>Never again, from that time forth, had Geraint a doubt of the love +and truth of Enid; and never from that time had she to mourn that +he seemed to set small store by his knightly fame. For after he was +cured, they returned to their own land, and there Geraint upheld +the King's justice, righting wrong and putting down robbery and +oppression, so that the people blessed him and his gentle wife. +Year by year, his fame grew, till his name was known through all +lands; and at last, when his time was come, he died a knightly +death, as he had lived a knightly life, in the service of his lord, +King Arthur.</p> + +<div class="center"> +<img src="images/illus114.png" width="161" height="150" alt="Crown" title="" /> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="center"><a name="BOOK_VI" id="BOOK_VI"></a> +<img src="images/illus115.png" width="700" height="225" alt="BOOK VI - THE LADY OF THE FOUNTAIN" title="" /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXI" id="CHAPTER_XXI"></a>CHAPTER XXI</h2> + +<h3>THE LADY OF THE FOUNTAIN</h3> + + +<p>King Arthur was holding his court at Caerleon-upon-Usk, and it was +the time of the evening banquet, when there entered the hall the +good knight, Sir Kynon. A brave warrior was he, and of good +counsel, but he seemed in weary plight as, after due salutation to +all, he took his place at the Round Table. So it was that all were +eager to hear of his adventure, yet none would question him until +he had eaten and drunk. But when he was refreshed, the King said to +him: "Whence come ye, Sir Kynon? For it would seem that ye have met +with hard adventure." "Sir King," answered Kynon, "it has been with +me as never before; for I have encountered with, and been +overthrown by, a single knight." All were filled with wonder at his +words, for never before had Sir Kynon been worsted in any meeting, +man to man. Then said the King: "The stoutest of us must some time +meet his match; yet did ye bear you valiantly, I doubt not. Tell us +now, I pray you, of your adventures." "Noble lord," said Kynon, "I +had determined to journey into other lands; for I would seek new +and untried adventures. So I passed into a far land, and it +chanced, one day, that I found myself in the fairest valley I had +ever seen. Through it there flowed a mighty river, which I +followed, until I came, as evening fell, to a castle, the largest +and strongest I have ever seen. At the castle gate I espied a man +of right noble mien, who greeted me courteously, and bade me enter. +So as we sat at supper, he inquired of my journey and the quest I +followed, and I told him how I sought but adventure, and whether, +perchance, I might encounter one stronger than myself. Then the +lord of the castle smiled and said: 'I can bring you to such an +one, if ye would rather that I showed you your disadvantage than +your advantage.' And when I questioned him further, he replied: +'Sleep here this night, and to-morrow I will show you such an one +as ye seek.' So I rested that night, and with the dawn I rose and +took my leave of the lord of the castle, who said to me: 'If ye +will persevere in your quest, follow the path to the head of the +glade, and ascend the wooded steep until ye come to an open space +in the forest, with but one great tree in its midst. Under the tree +is a fountain, and beside it a marble slab to which is chained a +silver bowl. Take a bowlful of water and dash it upon the slab, and +presently there will appear a knight spurring to encounter with +you. If ye flee, he will pursue, but if ye overcome him, there +exists none in this world whom ye need fear to have ado with.'</p> + +<p>"Forthwith I departed, and following these directions, I came at +last to such a space as he described, with the tree and fountain in +its midst. So I took the bowl and dashed water from the fountain +upon the marble slab, and, on the instant, came a clap of thunder +so loud as near deafened me, and a storm of hailstones the biggest +that ever man saw. Scarce was I recovered from my confusion, when I +saw a knight galloping towards me. All in black was he, and he rode +a black horse. Not a word we spoke, but we dashed against each +other, and at the first encounter I was unhorsed. Still not a word +spoke the Black Knight, but passing the butt-end of his lance +through my horse's reins, rode away, leaving me shamed and on foot. +So I made my way back to the castle, and there I was entertained +again that night right hospitably, none questioning me as to my +adventure. The next morning, when I rose, there awaited me a noble +steed, ready saddled and bridled, and I rode away and am returned +hither. And now ye know my story and my shame."</p> + +<p>Then were all grieved for the discomfiture of Sir Kynon, who had +ever borne himself boldly and courteously to all; and they strove +to console him as best they might. Presently there rose from his +siege the good knight Sir Owain of Rheged, and said: "My lord, I +pray you, give me leave to take upon me this adventure. For I would +gladly seek this wondrous fountain and encounter with this same +Black Knight." So the King consented, and on the morrow Sir Owain +armed him, mounted his horse, and rode forth the way Sir Kynon had +directed him.</p> + +<p>So he journeyed many a day until at last he reached the valley of +which Sir Kynon had told, and presently he came to the strong +castle and, at the gate, met the lord thereof, even as Sir Kynon +had done. And the lord of the castle gave him a hearty welcome and +made him good cheer, asking nothing of his errand till they were +seated about the board. Then, when questioned, Sir Owain declared +his quest, that he sought the knight who guarded the fountain. So +the lord of the castle, failing to dissuade Sir Owain from the +adventure, directed him how he might find the forest glade wherein +was the wondrous fountain.</p> + +<p>With the dawn, Sir Owain rose, mounted his horse, and rode forward +until he had found the fountain. Then he dashed water on the marble +slab and instantly there burst over him the fearful hailstorm, and +through it there came pricking towards him the Black Knight on the +black steed. In the first onset, they broke their lances and then, +drawing sword, they fought blade to blade. Sore was the contest, +but at the last Owain dealt the Black Knight so fierce a blow that +the sword cut through helmet and bone to the very brain. Then the +Black Knight knew that he had got his death-wound, and turning his +horse's head, fled as fast as he might, Sir Owain following close +behind. So they came, fast galloping, to the gate of a mighty +castle, and instantly the portcullis was raised and the Black +Knight dashed through the gateway. But Sir Owain, following close +behind, found himself a prisoner, fast caught between two gates; +for as the Black Knight passed through the inner of the two gates, +it was closed before Sir Owain could follow. For the moment none +noticed Sir Owain, for all were busied about the Black Knight, who +drew not rein till he was come to the castle hall; then as he +strove to dismount, he fell from his saddle, dead.</p> + +<p>All this Sir Owain saw through the bars of the gate that held him +prisoner; and he judged that his time was come, for he doubted not +but that the people of the castle would hold his life forfeit for +the death of their lord. So as he waited, suddenly there stood at +his side a fair damsel, who, laying finger on lip, motioned to him +to follow her. Much wondering, he obeyed, and climbed after her up +a dark winding staircase, that led from the gateway into a tiny +chamber high in the tower. There she set food and wine before him, +bidding him eat; then when he was refreshed, she asked him his name +and whence he came. "Truly," answered he, "I am Owain of Rheged, +knight of King Arthur's Round Table, who, in fair fight, have +wounded, I doubt not to the death, the Black Knight that guards the +fountain and, as I suppose, the lord of this castle. Wherefore, +maiden, if ye intend me evil, lead me where I may answer for my +deed, boldly, man to man." "Nay," answered the damsel eagerly, "in +a good hour ye are come. Well I know your name, for even here have +we heard of your mighty deeds; and by good fortune it may be that +ye shall release my lady." "Who is your lady?" asked Sir Owain. +"None other than the rightful Chatelaine of this castle and +Countess of broad lands besides; but this year and more has the +Black Knight held her prisoner in her own halls because she would +not listen to his suit." "Then lead me to your lady forthwith," +cried Sir Owain; "right gladly will I take her quarrel upon me if +there be any that will oppose me." So she led him to the Countess' +bower, and there he made him known to the fair lady and proffered +her his services. And she that had long deemed there was no +deliverance for her, accepted them right gladly. So taking her by +the hand, he led her down to the hall, and there, standing at the +door, he proclaimed her the lawful lady of that castle and all its +lands, and himself ready to do battle in her cause. But none +answered his challenge, for those that had held with the Black +Knight, deprived of their leader, had lost heart, whereas they that +for their loyalty to their lady had been held in subjection, +gathered fast about Sir Owain, ready to do battle. So in short +space, Sir Owain drove forth the lawless invaders of the Countess' +lands, and called together her vassals that they might do homage +to her anew.</p> + +<p>Thus he abode in the castle many days, seeking in all that he might +to do her service, until through all her lands order was restored, +and her right acknowledged. But when all was done, Sir Owain yet +tarried in the lady's castle; for he loved her much, but doubted +ever of her favour. So one day, Luned, the damsel who had come to +his aid on the day that he slew the Black Knight, said to him: +"Alas! Sir Knight, the time must come when ye will leave us. And +who will then defend my lady's fountain, which is the key to all +her lands? For who holds the fountain, holds the land also." "I +will never fail your lady while there is breath in my body," cried +Sir Owain. "Then were it well that ye stayed here ever," answered +Luned. "Gladly would I," answered Sir Owain, "if that I might." "Ye +might find a way if your wits were as sharp as your sword," she +answered, and laughing, left him, but herself sought her lady. Long +he pondered her words, and he was still deep in thought, when there +came to him the Countess, and said: "Sir Knight, I hear that ye +must leave us." "Nay, my lady," answered Sir Owain, "I will stay as +long as ye require my services." "There must ever be one to guard +the fountain, and he who guards the fountain, is lord of these +lands," answered the lady softly. Then Sir Owain found words at +last, and bending the knee, he said: "Lady, if ye love me, I will +stay and guard you and your lands; and if ye love me not, I will go +into my own country, and yet will I come again whensoever ye have +need of me. For never loved I any but you." Then the Countess bade +him stay, and calling her vassals together, she commanded all to do +homage to him, and took him for her husband in presence of them +all.</p> + +<p>Thus Sir Owain won the Lady of the Fountain.</p> + +<div class="center"> +<img src="images/illus063.png" width="119" height="150" alt="Head of a queen" title="" /> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="center"><a name="BOOK_VII" id="BOOK_VII"></a> +<img src="images/illus122.png" width="700" height="208" alt="BOOK VII - SIR PEREDUR" title="" /> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXII" id="CHAPTER_XXII"></a>CHAPTER XXII</h2> + +<h3>THE ADVENTURES OF SIR PEREDUR</h3> + + +<p>At one time there was in the North of Britain a great Earl named +Evrawc. A stout knight he was, and few were the tournaments at +which he was not to be found in company with six of his sons; the +seventh only, who was too young to bear arms, remaining at home +with his mother. But at the last, after he had won the prize at +many a tourney, Earl Evrawc was slain, and his six sons with him; +and then the Countess fled with Peredur, her youngest, to a lonely +spot in the midst of a forest, far from the dwellings of men; for +she was minded to bring him up where he might never hear of jousts +and feats of arms, that so at least one son might be left to her.</p> + +<p>So Peredur was reared amongst women and decrepit old men, and even +these were strictly commanded never to tell the boy aught of the +great world beyond the forest, or what men did therein. None the +less, he grew up active and fearless, as nimble and sure-footed as +the goats, and patient of much toil.</p> + +<p>Then, one day, when Peredur was grown a tall, strong youth, there +chanced what had never chanced before; for there came riding +through the forest, hard by where Peredur dwelt with his mother, a +knight in full armour, none other, indeed, than the good knight, +Sir Owain himself. And seeing him, Peredur cried out: "Mother, what +is that, yonder?" "An angel, my son," said his mother. "Then will I +go and become an angel with him," said Peredur; and before any one +could stay him, he was gone.</p> + +<p>When Sir Owain saw him approaching, he reined in his horse, and +after courteous salutation, said: "I pray thee, fair youth, tell +me, hast thou seen a knight pass this way?" "I know not what a +knight may be," answered Peredur. "Why, even such an one as I," +answered Sir Owain. "If ye will tell me what I ask you, I will tell +you what ye ask me," said Peredur; and when Owain, laughing, +consented, Peredur touched the saddle, demanding, "What is this?" +"Surely, a saddle," replied Sir Owain; and, in like manner, Peredur +asked him of all the parts of his armour, and Owain answered him +patiently and courteously. Then when he had ended his questions, +Peredur said: "Ride forward; for yesterday I saw from a distance +such an one as ye are, ride through the forest."</p> + +<p>Sir Peredur returned to his mother, and exclaimed: "Mother, that +was no angel, but a noble knight"; and hearing his words, his +mother fell into a swoon. But Peredur hastened to the spot where +were tethered the horses that brought them firewood and food from +afar, and from them he chose a bony piebald, which seemed the +strongest and in the best condition. Then he found a pack and +fastened it on the horse's back, in some way to resemble a saddle, +and strove with twigs to imitate the trappings he had seen upon Sir +Owain's horse. When his preparations were complete, he returned to +the Countess, who, by then, was recovered from her swoon; and she +saw that all her trouble had been in vain, and that the time was +come when she must part with her son. "Thou wilt ride forth, my +son?" she asked. "Yea, with your leave," he answered. "Hear, then, +my counsel," said she; "go thy way to Arthur's court, for there are +the noblest and truest knights. And wheresoever thou seest a +church, fail not to say thy prayers, and whatsoever woman demands +thy aid, refuse her not."</p> + +<p>So, bidding his mother farewell, Peredur mounted his horse, and +took in his hand a long, sharp-pointed stake. He journeyed many +days till, at last, he had come to Caerleon, where Arthur held his +court, and dismounting at the door, he entered the hall. Even as he +did so, a stranger knight, who had passed in before him, seized a +goblet and, dashing the wine in the face of Queen Guenevere, held +the goblet aloft and cried: "If any dare dispute this goblet with +me or venture to avenge the insult done to Arthur's Queen, let him +follow me to the meadow without, where I will await him."</p> + +<p>And for sheer amazement at this insolence, none moved save Peredur, +who cried aloud: "I will seek out this man and do vengeance upon +him." Then a voice exclaimed: "Welcome, goodly Peredur, thou flower +of knighthood"; and all turned in surprise to look upon a little +misshapen dwarf, who, a year before, had craved and obtained +shelter in Arthur's court, and since then had spoken no word. But +Kay the Seneschal, in anger that a mere boy, and one so strangely +equipped as Peredur, should have taken up the Queen's quarrel when +proven knights had remained mute, struck the dwarf, crying: "Thou +art ill-bred to remain mute a year in Arthur's court, and then to +break silence in praise of such a fellow." Then Peredur, who saw +the blow, cried, as he left the hall: "Knight, hereafter ye shall +answer to me for that blow." Therewith, he mounted his piebald and +rode in haste to the meadow. And when the knight espied him, he +cried to him: "Tell me, youth, saw'st thou any coming after me from +the court?" "I am come myself," said Peredur. "Hold thy peace," +answered the knight angrily, "and go back to the court and say +that, unless one comes in haste, I will not tarry, but will ride +away, holding them all shamed." "By my faith," said Peredur, +"willingly or unwillingly, thou shalt answer to me for thine +insolence; and I will have the goblet of thee, ay, and thy horse +and armour to boot." With that, in a rage, the knight struck +Peredur a violent blow between the neck and the shoulder with the +butt-end of his lance. "So!" cried Peredur, "not thus did my +mother's servants play with me; and thus will I play with thee"; +and drove at him with his pointed stake that it entered the eye of +the knight, who forthwith fell dead from his horse. Then Peredur +dismounted and began wrenching at the fastenings of the dead man's +armour, for he saw in the adventure the means of equipping himself +as a knight should ride; but knowing not the trick of the +fastenings, his efforts were in vain. While he yet struggled, there +rode up Sir Owain who had followed in hot haste from the court; and +when he saw the fallen knight, he was amazed that a mere lad, +unarmed and unskilled in knightly exercises, should thus have +prevailed. "Fair youth," said he, "what would ye?" "I would have +this knight's iron coat, but I cannot stir it for all my efforts." +"Nay, young Sir," said Sir Owain, "leave the dead his arms, and +take mine and my horse, which I give you right gladly; and come +with me to the King to receive the order of knighthood, for, by my +faith, ye have shown yourself worthy of it." "I thank you, noble +Sir," answered Peredur, "and gladly I accept your gift; but I will +not go with you now. Rather will I seek other adventures and prove +me further first; nor will I seek the King's presence until I have +encountered with the tall knight that so misused the dwarf, and +have called him to account. Only, I pray you, take this goblet to +Queen Guenevere, and say to my lord, King Arthur, that, in all +places and at all times, I am his true vassal, and will render him +such service as I may." Then, with Sir Owain's help, Peredur put on +the armour, and mounting his horse, after due salutation, rode on +his way.</p> + +<p>So, for many days, Peredur followed his adventures, and many a +knight he met and overthrew. To all he yielded grace, requiring +only that they should ride to Caerleon, there to give themselves up +to the King's pleasure, and say that Peredur had sent them. At last +he came to a fair castle that rose from the shores of a lake, and +there he was welcomed by a venerable old man who pressed him to +make some stay. So, as they sat at supper, the old man asked +Peredur many questions of himself and his adventure, gazing +earnestly on him the while; and, at last, he said: "I know thee who +thou art. Thou art my sister's son. Stay now with me, and I will +teach thee the arts and courtesy and noble bearing of a gentle +knight, and give thee the degree when thou art accomplished in all +that becomes an honourable knight." Thereto Peredur assented +gladly, and remained with his uncle until he had come to a perfect +knowledge of chivalry; after that, he received the order of +knighthood at the old man's hands, and rode forth again to seek +adventures. Presently he came to the city of Caerleon, but though +Arthur was there with all his court, Sir Peredur chose to make +himself known to none; for he had not yet avenged the dwarf on Sir +Kay. Now it chanced, as he walked through the city, he saw at her +casement a beautiful maiden whose name was Angharad; and at once he +knew that he had seen the damsel whom he must love his life long. +So he sought to be acquainted with her, but she scorned him, +thinking him but some unproved knight, since he consorted not with +those of Arthur's court; and, at last, finding he might in no wise +win her favour at that time, he made a vow that never would he +speak to Christian man or woman until he had gained her love, and +forthwith rode away again. After long journeyings, he came one +night to a castle, and, knocking, gained admittance and courteous +reception from the lady who owned it. But it seemed to Sir Peredur +that there hung over all a gloom, none caring to talk or make +merry, though there was no lack of the consideration due to a +guest. Then when the evening hour was come, they took their places +at the board, Peredur being set at the Countess' right hand; and +two nuns entered and placed before the lady a flagon of wine and +six white loaves, and that was all the fare. Then the Countess gave +largely of the food to Sir Peredur, keeping little for herself and +her attendants; but this pleased not the knight, who, heedless of +his oath, said: "Lady, permit me to fare as do the others," and he +took but a small portion of that which she had given him. Then the +Countess, blushing as with shame, said to him: "Sir Knight, if we +make you poor cheer, far otherwise is our desire, but we are in +sore straits." "Madam," answered Peredur courteously, "for your +welcome I thank you heartily; and, I pray you, if there is aught in +which a knight may serve you, tell me your trouble." Then the +Countess told him how she had been her father's one child, and heir +to his broad lands; and how a neighbouring baron had sought her +hand; but she, misliking him, had refused his suit, so that his +wrath was great. Then, when her father died, he had made war upon +her, overrunning all her lands till nothing was left to her but the +one castle. Long since, all the provision stored therein was +consumed, and she must have yielded her to the oppressor but for +the charity of the nuns of a neighbouring monastery, who had +secretly supplied her with food when, for fear, her vassals had +forsaken her. But that day the nuns had told her that no longer +could they aid her, and there was naught left save to submit to the +invader. This was the story that, with many tears, the Countess +related to Peredur. "Lady," said he, "with your permission, I will +take upon me your quarrel, and to-morrow I will seek to encounter +this felon." The Countess thanked him heartily and they retired to +rest for that night.</p> + +<p>In the morning betimes, Sir Peredur arose, donned his armour and, +seeking the Countess, desired that the portcullis might be raised, +for he would sally forth to seek her oppressor. So he rode out from +the castle and saw in the morning light a plain covered with the +tents of a great host. With him he took a herald to proclaim that +he was ready to meet any in fair fight, in the Countess' quarrel. +Forthwith, in answer to his challenge, there rode forward the baron +himself, a proud and stately knight mounted on a great black +horse. The two rushed together, and, at the first encounter, Sir +Peredur unhorsed his opponent, bearing him over the crupper with +such force that he lay stunned, as one dead. Then, Peredur, drawing +his sword, dismounted and stood over the fallen knight, who, when +he was recovered a little, asked his mercy. "Gladly will I grant +it," answered Peredur, "but on these conditions. Ye shall disband +this host, restore to the Countess threefold all of which ye have +deprived her, and, finally, ye shall submit yourself unto her as +her vassal." All this the baron promised to do, and Peredur +remained with the Countess in her castle until she was firmly +established in that which was rightfully hers. Then he bade her +farewell, promising his aid if ever she should need his services, +and so rode forth again.</p> + +<p>And as he rode, at times he was troubled, thinking on the scorn +with which the fair Angharad had treated him, and reproaching +himself bitterly for having broken his vow of silence. So he +journeyed many days, and at length, one morn, dismounting by a +little woodland stream, he stood lost in thought, heedless of his +surroundings. Now, as it chanced, Arthur and a company of his +knights were encamped hard by; for, returning from an expedition, +the King had been told of Peredur and how he had taken upon him the +Queen's quarrel, and forthwith had ridden out in search of him. +When the King espied Sir Peredur standing near the brook, he said +to the knights about him: "Know ye yonder knight?" "I know him +not," said Sir Kay, "but I will soon learn his name." So he rode +up to Sir Peredur and spoke to him, demanding his name. When +Peredur answered not, though questioned more than once, Sir Kay in +anger, struck him with the butt-end of his spear. On the instant, +Sir Peredur caught him with his lance under the jaw, and, though +himself unmounted, hurled Kay from the saddle. Then when Kay +returned not, Sir Owain mounted his horse and rode forth to learn +what had happened, and by the brook he found Sir Kay sore hurt, and +Peredur ready mounted to encounter any who sought a quarrel. But at +once Sir Owain recognised Sir Peredur and rejoiced to see him; and +when he found Sir Peredur would speak no word, being himself an +honourable knight, he thought no evil, but urged him to ride back +with him to Arthur's camp. And Sir Peredur, still speaking never a +word, went with Sir Owain, and all respected his silence save Kay, +who was long healing of the injuries he had received, and whose +angry words none heeded. So they returned to Caerleon and soon, +through the city, were noised the noble deeds of Sir Peredur, each +new-comer bringing some fresh story of his prowess. Then when +Angharad learnt how true and famous was the knight whom she had +lightly esteemed, she was sore ashamed; and seeing him ever +foremost in the tournament and courteous to all in deed, though +speaking not a word; she thought that never had there been so noble +a knight, or one so worthy of a lady's love. Thus in the winning of +her favour, Sir Peredur was released from his vow, and his marriage +was celebrated with much pomp before the King and Queen. Long and +happily he lived, famed through all Britain as one of the most +valiant and faithful knights of King Arthur's Round Table.</p> + +<div class="center"> +<img src="images/illus080.png" width="119" height="150" alt="Rose" title="" /> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="center"><a name="BOOK_VIII" id="BOOK_VIII"></a> +<img src="images/illus132.png" width="700" height="238" alt="BOOK VIII - THE HOLY GRAIL" title="" /> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIII" id="CHAPTER_XXIII"></a>CHAPTER XXIII</h2> + +<h3>THE COMING OF SIR GALAHAD</h3> + + +<p>Many times had the Feast of Pentecost come round, and many were the +knights that Arthur had made since first he founded the Order of +the Round Table; yet no knight had appeared who dared claim the +seat named by Merlin the Siege Perilous. At last, one vigil of the +great feast, a lady came to Arthur's court at Camelot and asked Sir +Launcelot to ride with her into the forest hard by, for a purpose +not then to be revealed. Launcelot consenting, they rode together +until they came to a nunnery hidden deep in the forest; and there +the lady bade Launcelot dismount, and led him into a great and +stately room. Presently there entered twelve nuns and with them a +youth, the fairest that Launcelot had ever seen. "Sir," said the +nuns, "we have brought up this child in our midst, and now that he +is grown to manhood, we pray you make him knight, for of none +worthier could he receive the honour." "Is this thy own desire?" +asked Launcelot of the young squire; and when he said that so it +was, Launcelot promised to make him knight after the great festival +had been celebrated in the church next day.</p> + +<p>So on the morrow, after they had worshipped, Launcelot knighted +Galahad—for that was the youth's name—and asked him if he would +ride at once with him to the King's court; but the young knight +excusing himself, Sir Launcelot rode back alone to Camelot, where +all rejoiced that he was returned in time to keep the feast with +the whole Order of the Round Table.</p> + +<p>Now, according to his custom, King Arthur was waiting for some +marvel to befall before he and his knights sat down to the banquet. +Presently a squire entered the hall and said: "Sir King, a great +wonder has appeared. There floats on the river a mighty stone, as +it were a block of red marble, and it is thrust through by a sword, +the hilt of which is set thick with precious stones." On hearing +this, the King and all his knights went forth to view the stone +and found it as the squire had said; moreover, looking closer, they +read these words: "None shall draw me hence, but only he by whose +side I must hang; and he shall be the best knight in all the +world." Immediately, all bade Launcelot draw forth the sword, but +he refused, saying that the sword was not for him. Then, at the +King's command, Sir Gawain made the attempt and failed, as did Sir +Percivale after him. So the knights knew the adventure was not for +them, and returning to the hall, took their places about the Round +Table.</p> + +<p>No sooner were they seated than an aged man, clothed all in white, +entered the hall, followed by a young knight in red armour, by +whose side hung an empty scabbard. The old man approached King +Arthur and bowing low before him, said: "Sir, I bring you a young +knight of the house and lineage of Joseph of Arimathea, and through +him shall great glory be won for all the land of Britain." Greatly +did King Arthur rejoice to hear this, and welcomed the two right +royally. Then when the young knight had saluted the King, the old +man led him to the Siege Perilous and drew off its silken cover; +and all the knights were amazed, for they saw that where had been +engraved the words, "The Siege Perilous," was written now in +shining gold: "This is the Siege of the noble prince, Sir Galahad." +Straightway the young man seated himself there where none other had +ever sat without danger to his life; and all who saw it said, one +to another: "Surely this is he that shall achieve the Holy Grail." +Now the Holy Grail was the blessed dish from which Our Lord had +eaten the Last Supper, and it had been brought to the land of +Britain by Joseph of Arimathea; but because of men's sinfulness, it +had been withdrawn from human sight, only that, from time to time, +it appeared to the pure in heart.</p> + +<p>When all had partaken of the royal banquet, King Arthur bade Sir +Galahad come with him to the river's brink; and showing him the +floating stone with the sword thrust through it, told him how his +knights had failed to draw forth the sword. "Sir," said Galahad, +"it is no marvel that they failed, for the adventure was meant for +me, as my empty scabbard shows." So saying, lightly he drew the +sword from the heart of the stone, and lightly he slid it into the +scabbard at his side. While all yet wondered at this adventure of +the sword, there came riding to them a lady on a white palfrey who, +saluting King Arthur, said: "Sir King, Nacien the hermit sends thee +word that this day shall great honour be shown to thee and all +thine house; for the Holy Grail shall appear in thy hall, and thou +and all thy fellowship shall be fed therefrom." And to Launcelot +she said: "Sir Knight, thou hast ever been the best knight of all +the world; but another has come to whom thou must yield +precedence." Then Launcelot answered humbly: "I know well I was +never the best." "Ay, of a truth thou wast and art still, of sinful +men," said she, and rode away before any could question her +further.</p> + +<p>So, that evening, when all were gathered about the Round Table, +each knight in his own siege, suddenly there was heard a crash of +thunder, so mighty that the hall trembled, and there flashed into +the hall a sun-beam, brighter far than any that had ever before +been seen; and then, draped all in white samite, there glided +through the air what none might see, yet what all knew to be the +Holy Grail. And all the air was filled with sweet odours, and on +every one was shed a light in which he looked fairer and nobler +than ever before. So they sat in an amazed silence, till presently +King Arthur rose and gave thanks to God for the grace given to him +and to his court. Then up sprang Sir Gawain and made his avow to +follow for a year and a day the Quest of the Holy Grail, if +perchance he might be granted the vision of it. Immediately other +of the knights followed his example, binding themselves to the +Quest of the Holy Grail until, in all, one hundred and fifty had +vowed themselves to the adventure.</p> + +<p>Then was King Arthur grieved, for he foresaw the ruin of his noble +Order. And turning to Sir Gawain, he said: "Nephew ye have done +ill, for through you I am bereft of the noblest company of knights +that ever brought honour to any realm in Christendom. Well I know +that never again shall all of you gather in this hall, and it +grieves me to lose men I have loved as my life and through whom I +have won peace and righteousness for all my realm." So the King +mourned and his knights with him, but their oaths they could not +recall.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIV" id="CHAPTER_XXIV"></a>CHAPTER XXIV</h2> + +<h3>HOW SIR GALAHAD WON THE RED-CROSS SHIELD</h3> + + +<p>Great woe was there in Camelot next day when, after worship in the +Cathedral, the knights who had vowed themselves to the Quest of the +Holy Grail got to horse and rode away. A goodly company it was that +passed through the streets, the townfolk weeping to see them go; +Sir Launcelot du Lac and his kin, Sir Galahad of whom all expected +great deeds, Sir Bors and Sir Percivale, and many another scarcely +less famed than they. So they rode together that day to the Castle +of Vagon, where they were entertained right hospitably, and the +next day they separated, each to ride his own way and see what +adventures should befall him.</p> + +<p>So it came to pass that, after four days' ride, Sir Galahad reached +an abbey. Now Sir Galahad was still clothed in red armour as when +he came to the King's court, and by his side hung the wondrous +sword; but he was without a shield. They of the abbey received him +right heartily, as also did the brave King Bagdemagus, Knight of +the Round Table, who was resting there. When they had greeted each +other, Sir Galahad asked King Bagdemagus what adventure had brought +him there. "Sir," said Bagdemagus, "I was told that in this abbey +was preserved a wondrous shield which none but the best knight in +the world might bear without grievous harm to himself. And though I +know well that there are better knights than I, to-morrow I purpose +to make the attempt. But, I pray you, bide at this monastery awhile +until you hear from me; and if I fail, do ye take the adventure +upon you." "So be it," said Sir Galahad.</p> + +<p>The next day, at their request, Sir Galahad and King Bagdemagus +were led into the church by a monk and shown where, behind the +altar, hung the wondrous shield, whiter than snow save for the +blood-red cross in its midst. Then the monk warned them of the +danger to any who, being unworthy, should dare to bear the shield. +But King Bagdemagus made answer: "I know well that I am not the +best knight in the world, yet will I try if I may bear it." So he +hung it about his neck, and, bidding farewell, rode away with his +squire.</p> + +<p>The two had not journeyed far before they saw a knight approach, +armed all in white mail and mounted upon a white horse. Immediately +he laid his spear in rest and, charging King Bagdemagus, pierced +him through the shoulder and bore him from his horse; and standing +over the wounded knight, he said: "Knight, thou hast shown great +folly, for none shall bear this shield save the peerless knight, +Sir Galahad." Then, taking the shield, he gave it to the squire and +said: "Bear this shield to the good Knight Galahad and greet him +well from me." "What is your name?" asked the squire, "That is not +for thee or any other to know." "One thing, I pray you," said the +squire; "why may this shield be borne by none but Sir Galahad +without danger?" "Because it belongs to him only," answered the +stranger knight, and vanished.</p> + +<p>Then the squire took the shield and, setting King Bagdemagus on his +horse, bore him back to the abbey where he lay long, sick unto +death. To Galahad the squire gave the shield and told him all that +had befallen. So Galahad hung the shield about his neck and rode +the way that Bagdemagus had gone the day before; and presently he +met the White Knight, whom he greeted courteously, begging that he +would make known to him the marvels of the red-cross shield. "That +will I gladly," answered the White Knight. "Ye must know, Sir +Knight, that this shield was made and given by Joseph of Arimathea +to the good King Evelake of Sarras, that, in the might of the holy +symbol, he should overthrow the heathen who threatened his kingdom. +But afterwards, King Evelake followed Joseph to this land of +Britain where they taught the true faith unto the people who before +were heathen. Then when Joseph lay dying, he bade King Evelake set +the shield in the monastery where ye lay last night, and foretold +that none should wear it without loss until that day when it should +be taken by the knight, ninth and last in descent from him, who +should come to that place the fifteenth day after receiving the +degree of knighthood. Even so has it been with you, Sir Knight." So +saying, the unknown knight disappeared and Sir Galahad rode on his +way.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXV" id="CHAPTER_XXV"></a>CHAPTER XXV</h2> + +<h3>THE ADVENTURES OF SIR PERCIVALE</h3> + + +<p>After he had left his fellows, Sir Percivale rode long through the +forest until, one evening, he reached a monastery where he sought +shelter for the night. The next morning, he went into the chapel to +hear mass and there he espied the body of an old, old man, laid on +a richly adorned couch. At first it seemed as if the aged man were +dead, but presently, raising himself in his bed, he took off his +crown, and, delivering it to the priest, bade him place it on the +altar. So when the service was concluded, Sir Percivale asked who +the aged king might be. Then he was told that it was none other +than King Evelake who accompanied Joseph of Arimathea to Britain. +And on a certain occasion, the King had approached the Holy Grail +nigher than was reverent and, for his impiety, God had punished him +with blindness. Thereupon he repented and, entreating God +earnestly, had obtained his petition that he should not die until +he had seen the spotless knight who should be descended from him in +the ninth degree. (This his desire was fulfilled later when Sir +Galahad came thither; after which, he died and was buried by the +good knight.)</p> + +<p>The next day, Sir Percivale continued his journey and presently met +with twenty knights who bore on a bier the body of a dead knight. +When they espied Sir Percivale, they demanded of him who he was and +whence he came. So he told them, whereupon they all shouted, "Slay +him! slay him!" and setting upon him all at once, they killed his +horse and would have slain him but that the good knight, Sir +Galahad, passing that way by chance, came to his rescue and put his +assailants to flight. Then Galahad rode away as fast as he might, +for he would not be thanked, and Sir Percivale was left, horseless +and alone, in the forest.</p> + +<p>So Sir Percivale continued his journey on foot as well as he might; +and ever the way became lonelier, until at last he came to the +shores of a vast sea. There Sir Percivale abode many days, without +food and desolate, doubting whether he should ever escape thence. +At last it chanced that, looking out to sea, Sir Percivale descried +a ship and, as it drew nearer, he saw how it was all hung with +satin and velvet. Presently, it reached the land and out of it +there stepped a lady of marvellous beauty, who asked him how he +came there; "For know," said she, "ye are like to die here by +hunger or mischance." "He whom I serve will protect me," said Sir +Percivale. "I know well whom ye desire most to see," said the lady. +"Ye would meet with the Red Knight who bears the red-cross shield." +"Ah! lady, I pray you tell me where I may find him," cried Sir +Percivale. "With a good will," said the damsel; "if ye will but +promise me your service when I shall ask for it, I will lead you to +the knight, for I met him of late in the forest." So Sir Percivale +promised gladly to serve her when she should need him. Then the +lady asked him how long he had fasted. "For three days," answered +Sir Percivale. Immediately she gave orders to her attendants +forthwith to pitch a tent and set out a table with all manner of +delicacies, and of these she invited Sir Percivale to partake. "I +pray you, fair lady," said Sir Percivale, "who are ye that show me +such kindness?" "Truly," said the lady, "I am but a hapless damsel, +driven forth from my inheritance by a great lord whom I have +chanced to displease. I implore you, Sir Knight, by your vows of +knighthood, to give me your aid." Sir Percivale promised her all +the aid he could give, and then she bade him lie down and sleep, +and herself took off his helmet, and unclasped his sword-belt. So +Sir Percivale slept, and when he waked, there was another feast +prepared, and he was given the rarest and the strongest wines that +ever he had tasted. Thus they made merry and, when the lady begged +Percivale to rest him there awhile, promising him all that ever he +could desire if he would vow himself to her service, almost he +forgot the quest to which he was vowed, and would have consented, +but that his eye fell upon his sword where it lay. Now in the +sword-hilt there was set a red cross and, seeing it, Percivale +called to mind his vow, and, thinking on it, he signed him with the +cross on his forehead. Instantly, the tent was overthrown and +vanished in thick smoke; and she who had appeared a lovely woman +disappeared from his sight in semblance of a fiend.</p> + +<p>Then was Sir Percivale sore ashamed that almost he had yielded to +the temptings of the Evil One, and earnestly, he prayed that his +sin might be forgiven him. Thus he remained in prayer far into the +night, bewailing his weakness; and when the dawn appeared, a ship +drew nigh the land. Sir Percivale entered into it, but could find +no one there; so commending himself to God, he determined to remain +thereon, and was borne over the seas for many days, he knew not +whither.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVI" id="CHAPTER_XXVI"></a>CHAPTER XXVI</h2> + +<h3>THE ADVENTURES OF SIR BORS</h3> + + +<p>Among the knights vowed to the Quest of the Holy Grail was Sir +Bors, one of the kin of Sir Launcelot, a brave knight and pious. He +rode through the forest many a day, making his lodging most often +under a leafy tree, though once on his journey he stayed at a +castle, that he might do battle for its lady against a felon knight +who would have robbed and oppressed her.</p> + +<p>So, on a day, as he rode through the forest, Sir Bors came to the +parting of two ways. While he was considering which he should +follow, he espied two knights driving before them a horse on which +was stretched, bound and naked, none other than Sir Bors' own +brother, Sir Lionel; and, from time to time, the two false knights +beat him with thorns so that his body was all smeared with blood, +but, so great was his heart, Sir Lionel uttered never a word. Then, +in great wrath, Sir Bors laid his lance in rest and would have +fought the felon knights to rescue his brother, but that, even as +he spurred his horse, there came a bitter cry from the other path +and, looking round, he saw a lady being dragged by a knight into +the darkest part of the forest where none might find and rescue +her. When she saw Sir Bors, she cried to him: "Help me! Sir Knight, +help me! I beseech you by your knighthood." Then Sir Bors was much +troubled, for he would not desert his brother; but bethinking him +that ever a woman must be more helpless than a man, he wheeled his +horse, rode upon her captor and beat him to the earth. The damsel +thanked him earnestly and told him how the knight was her own +cousin, who had that day carried her off by craft from her father's +castle. As they talked, there came up twelve knights who had been +seeking the lady everywhere; so to their care Sir Bors delivered +her, and rode with haste in the direction whither his brother had +been borne. On the way, he met with an old man, dressed as a +priest, who asked him what he sought. When Sir Bors had told him, +"Ah! Bors," said he, "I can give you tidings indeed. Your brother +is dead"; and parting the bushes, he showed him the body of a dead +man, to all seeming Sir Lionel's self. Then Sir Bors grieved +sorely, misdoubting almost whether he should not have rescued his +own brother rather than the lady; and at the last, he dug a grave +and buried the dead man; after which he rode sorrowfully on his +way.</p> + +<p>When he had ridden many days, he met with a yeoman whom he asked if +there were any adventures in those parts. "Sir," said the man, "at +the castle; hard by, they hold a great tournament." Sir Bors +thanked him and rode along the way pointed out to him; and +presently, as he passed a hermitage, whom should he see sitting at +its door but his brother, Sir Lionel, whom he had believed dead. +Then in great joy, he leaped from his horse, and running to Lionel, +cried: "Fair brother, how came ye hither?" "Through no aid of +yours," said Sir Lionel angrily; "for ye left me bound and beaten, +to ride to the rescue of a maiden. Never was brother so dealt with +by brother before. Keep you from me as ye may!" When Sir Bors +understood that his brother would slay him, he knelt before him +entreating his pardon. Sir Lionel took no heed, but mounting his +horse and taking his lance, cried: "Keep you from me, traitor! +Fight, or die!" And Sir Bors moved not; for to him it seemed a sin +most horrible that brother should fight with brother. Then Sir +Lionel, in his rage, rode his horse at him, bore him to the ground +and trampled him under the horse's hoofs, till Bors lay beaten to +the earth in a swoon. Even so, Sir Lionel's anger was not stayed; +for, alighting, he drew his sword and would have smitten off his +brother's head, but that the holy hermit, hearing the noise of +conflict, ran out of the hermitage and threw himself upon Sir Bors. +"Gentle knight," he cried, "have mercy upon him and on thyself; for +of the sin of slaying thy brother, thou couldst never be quit." +"Sir Priest," said Lionel, "if ye leave him not, I shall slay you +too." "It were a lesser sin than to slay thy brother," answered the +hermit. "So be it," cried Lionel, and with one blow, struck off the +hermit's head. Then he would have worked his evil will upon his +brother too, but that, even as he was unlacing Sir Bors' helm to +cut off his head, there rode up the good knight Sir Colgrevance, a +fellow of the Round Table. When he saw the dead hermit and was +aware how Lionel sought the life of Bors, he was amazed, and +springing from his horse, ran to Lionel and dragged him back from +his brother. "Do ye think to hinder me?" said Sir Lionel. "Let +come who will, I will have his life." "Ye shall have to do with me +first," cried Colgrevance. Therewith, they took their swords, and, +setting their shields before them, rushed upon each other. Now Sir +Colgrevance was a good knight, but Sir Lionel was strong and his +anger added to his strength. So long they fought that Sir Bors had +time to recover from his swoon, and raising himself with pain on +his elbow, saw how the two fought for his life; and as it seemed, +Sir Lionel would prevail, for Sir Colgrevance grew weak and weary. +Sir Bors tried to get to his feet, but, so weak he was, he could +not stand; and Sir Colgrevance, seeing him stir, called on him to +come to his aid, for he was in mortal peril for his sake. But even +as he called, Sir Lionel cut him to the ground and, as one +possessed, rushed upon his brother to slay him. Sir Bors entreated +him for mercy, and when he would not, sorrowfully he took his +sword, saying: "Now, God forgive me, though I defend my life +against my brother."</p> + +<p>Immediately there was heard a voice saying, "Flee, Bors, and touch +not thy brother"; and at the same time, a fiery cloud burned +between them, so that their shields glowed with the flame, and both +knights fell to the earth. But the voice came again, saying, "Bors, +leave thy brother and take thy way to the sea. There thou shalt +meet Sir Percivale." Then Sir Bors made ready to obey, and, turning +to Lionel, said: "Dear brother, I pray you forgive me for aught in +which I have wronged you." "I forgive you," said Lionel, for he was +too amazed and terrified to keep his anger.</p> + +<p>So Sir Bors continued his journey, and at the last, coming to the +sea shore, he espied a ship, draped all with white samite, and +entering thereon, he saw Sir Percivale, and much they rejoiced them +in each other's company.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVII" id="CHAPTER_XXVII"></a>CHAPTER XXVII</h2> + +<h3>THE ADVENTURES OF SIR LAUNCELOT</h3> + + +<p>After Sir Launcelot had parted from his fellows at the Castle of +Vagon, he rode many days through the forest without adventure, till +he chanced upon a knight close by a little hermitage in the wood. +Immediately, as was the wont of errant knights, they prepared to +joust, and Launcelot, whom none before had overthrown, was borne +down, man and horse, by the stranger knight. Thereupon a nun, who +dwelt in the hermitage, cried: "God be with thee, best knight in +all this world," for she knew the victor for Sir Galahad. But +Galahad, not wishing to be known, rode swiftly away; and presently +Sir Launcelot got to horse again and rode slowly on his way, shamed +and doubting sorely in his heart whether this quest were meant for +him.</p> + +<p>When night fell, he came to a great stone cross which stood at the +parting of the way and close by a little ruined chapel. So Sir +Launcelot, being minded to pass the night there, alighted, fastened +his horse to a tree and hung his shield on a bough. Then he drew +near to the little chapel, and wondered to see how, all ruinous +though it was, yet within was an altar hung with silk and a great +silver candlestick on it; but when he sought entrance, he could +find none and, much troubled in his mind, he returned to his horse +where he had left it, and unlacing his helm and ungirding his +sword, laid him down to rest.</p> + +<p>Then it seemed to Sir Launcelot that, as he lay between sleeping +and waking, there passed him two white palfreys bearing a litter +wherein was a sick knight, who cried: "Sweet Lord, when shall I be +pardoned all my transgressions, and when shall the holy vessel come +to me, to cure me of my sickness?" And instantly it seemed that the +great candlestick came forth of itself from the chapel, floating +through the air before a table of silver on which was the Holy +Grail. Thereupon the sick knight raised himself, and on his bended +knees he approached so nigh that he kissed the holy vessel; and +immediately he cried: "I thank Thee, sweet Lord, that I am healed +of my sickness." And all the while Sir Launcelot, who saw this +wonder, felt himself held that he could not move. Then a squire +brought the stranger knight his weapons, in much joy that his lord +was cured. "Who think ye that this knight may be who remains +sleeping when the holy vessel is so near?" said the knight. "In +truth," said the squire, "he must be one that is held by the bond +of some great sin. I will take his helm and his sword, for here +have I brought you all your armour save only these two." So the +knight armed him from head to foot, and taking Sir Launcelot's +horse, rode away with his squire. On the instant, Sir Launcelot +awoke amazed, not knowing whether he had dreamed or not; but while +he wondered, there came a terrible voice, saying: "Launcelot, arise +and leave this holy place." In shame, Sir Launcelot turned to obey, +only to find horse and sword and shield alike vanished. Then, +indeed, he knew himself dishonoured. Weeping bitterly, he made the +best of his way on foot, until he came to a cell where a hermit was +saying prayer. Sir Launcelot knelt too, and, when all was ended, +called to the hermit, entreating him for counsel. "With good will," +said the hermit. So Sir Launcelot made himself known and told the +hermit all, lamenting how his good fortune was turned to +wretchedness and his glory to shame; and truly, the hermit was +amazed that Sir Launcelot should be in such case. "Sir," said he, +"God has given you manhood and strength beyond all other knights; +the more are ye bounden to his service." "I have sinned," said Sir +Launcelot; "for in all these years of my knighthood, I have done +everything for the honour and glory of my lady and naught for my +Maker; and little thank have I given to God for all his benefits to +me." Then the holy man gave Sir Launcelot good counsel and made him +rest there that night; and the next day he gave him a horse, a +sword and a helmet, and bade him go forth and bear himself knightly +as the servant of God.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVIII" id="CHAPTER_XXVIII"></a>CHAPTER XXVIII</h2> + +<h3>HOW SIR LAUNCELOT SAW THE HOLY GRAIL</h3> + + +<p>For many days after he had left the hermitage, Sir Launcelot rode +through the forest, but there came to him no such adventures as had +befallen him on other quests to the increase of his fame. At last, +one night-tide, he came to the shores of a great water and there he +lay down to sleep; but as he slept, a voice called on him: +"Launcelot, arise, put on thine armour and go on thy way until thou +comest to a ship. Into that thou shalt enter." Immediately, Sir +Launcelot started from his sleep to obey and, riding along the +shore, came presently to a ship beached on the strand; no sooner +had he entered it, than the ship was launched—how, he might not +know. So the ship sailed before the wind for many a day. No mortal +was on it, save only Sir Launcelot, yet were all his needs +supplied. Then, at last, the ship ran ashore at the foot of a great +castle; and it was midnight. Sir Launcelot waited not for the dawn, +but, his sword gripped in his hand, sprang ashore, and then, right +before him, he saw a postern where the gate stood open indeed, but +two grisly lions kept the way. And when Sir Launcelot would have +rushed upon the great beasts with his sword, it was struck from his +hand, and a voice said: "Ah! Launcelot, ever is thy trust in thy +might rather than thy Maker!" Sore ashamed, Sir Launcelot took his +sword and thrust it back into the sheath, and going forward, he +passed unhurt through the gateway, the lions that kept it falling +back from his path. So without more adventure, Launcelot entered +into the castle; and there he saw how every door stood open, save +only one, and that was fast barred, nor, with all his force, might +he open it. Presently from the chamber within came the sound of a +sweet voice in a holy chant, and then in his heart Launcelot knew +that he was come to the Holy Grail. So, kneeling humbly, he prayed +that to him might be shown some vision of that he sought. Forthwith +the door flew open and from the chamber blazed a light such as he +had never known before; but when he made to enter, a voice cried: +"Launcelot, forbear," and sorrowfully he withdrew. Then where he +knelt, far even from the threshold of the wondrous room, he saw a +silver table and, on it, covered with red samite, the Holy Grail. +At sight of that which he had sought so long, his joy became so +great that, unmindful of the warning, he advanced into the room and +drew nigh even to the Table itself. Then on the instant there burst +between him and it a blaze of light, and he fell to the ground. +There he lay, nor might he move nor utter any sound; only he was +aware of hands busy about him which bore him away from the chamber.</p> + +<p>For four-and-twenty days, Sir Launcelot lay as in a trance. At the +end of that time, he came to himself, and found those about him +that had tended him in his swoon. These, when they had given him +fresh raiment, brought him to the aged King—Pelles was his +name—that owned that castle. The King entertained him right +royally, for he knew of the fame of Sir Launcelot; and long he +talked with him of his quest and of the other knights who followed +it, for he was of a great age and knew much of men. At the end of +four days, he spoke to Sir Launcelot, bidding him return to +Arthur's court; "For," said he, "your quest is ended here, and all +that ye shall see of the Holy Grail, ye have seen." So Launcelot +rode on his way, grieving for the sin that hindered him from the +perfect vision of the Holy Grail, but thanking God for that which +he had seen. So in time he came to Camelot, and told to Arthur all +that had befallen him.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIX" id="CHAPTER_XXIX"></a>CHAPTER XXIX</h2> + +<h3>THE END OF THE QUEST</h3> + + +<p>After he had rescued Sir Percivale from the twenty knights who +beset him, Sir Galahad rode on his way till night-fall, when he +sought shelter at a little hermitage. Thither there came in the +night a damsel who desired to speak with Sir Galahad; so he arose +and went to her, "Galahad," said she, "arm you and mount your horse +and follow me, for I am come to guide you in your quest." So they +rode together until they had come to the sea-shore, and there the +damsel showed Galahad a great ship into which he must enter. Then +she bade him farewell, and he, going on to the ship, found there +already the good knights Sir Bors and Sir Percivale, who made much +joy of the meeting. They abode in that ship until they had come to +the castle of King Pelles, who welcomed them right gladly. Then, as +they all sat at supper that night, suddenly the hall was filled +with a great light, and the holy vessel appeared in their midst, +covered all in white samite. While they all rejoiced, there came a +voice saying: "My Knights whom I have chosen, ye have seen the +holy vessel dimly. Continue your journey to the city of Sarras and +there the perfect Vision shall be yours."</p> + +<p>Now in the city of Sarras had dwelt long time Joseph of Arimathea, +teaching its people the true faith, before ever he came into the +land of Britain; but when Sir Galahad and his fellows came there +after long voyage, they found it ruled by a heathen king named +Estorause, who cast them into a deep dungeon. There they were kept +a year, but at the end of that time, the tyrant died. Then the +great men of the land gathered together to consider who should be +their king; and, while they were in council, came a voice bidding +them take as their king the youngest of the three knights whom +Estorause had thrown into prison. So in fear and wonder they +hastened to the prison, and releasing the three knights, made +Galahad king as the voice had bidden them.</p> + +<p>Thus Sir Galahad became King of the famous city of Sarras, in far +Babylon. He had reigned a year when, one morning early, he and the +other two knights, his fellows, went into the chapel, and there +they saw, kneeling in prayer, an aged man, robed as a bishop, and +round him hovered many angels. The knights fell on their knees in +awe and reverence, whereupon he that seemed a bishop turned to them +and said: "I am Joseph of Arimathea, and I am come to show you the +perfect Vision of the Holy Grail." On the instant there appeared +before them, without veil or cover, the holy vessel, in a radiance +of light such as almost blinded them. Sir Bors and Sir Percivale, +when at length they were recovered from the brightness of that +glory, looked up to find that the holy Joseph and the wondrous +vessel had passed from their sight. Then they went to Sir Galahad +where he still knelt as in prayer, and behold, he was dead; for it +had been with him even as he had prayed; in the moment when he had +seen the vision, his soul had gone back to God.</p> + +<p>So the two knights buried him in that far city, themselves mourning +and all the people with them. And immediately after, Sir Percivale +put off his arms and took the habit of a monk, living a devout and +holy life until, a year and two months later, he also died and was +buried near Sir Galahad. Then Sir Bors armed him, and bidding +farewell to the city, sailed away until, after many weeks, he came +again to the land of Britain. There he took horse, and stayed not +till he had come to Camelot. Great was the rejoicing of Arthur and +all his knights when Sir Bors was once more among them. When he had +told all the adventures which had befallen him and the good +knights, his companions, all who heard were filled with amaze. But +the King, he caused the wisest clerks in the land to write in great +hooks this Quest of the Holy Grail, that the fame of it should +endure unto all time.</p> + +<div class="center"> +<img src="images/illus056.png" width="140" height="150" alt="Figure and grapes" title="" /> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="center"><a name="BOOK_IX" id="BOOK_IX"></a> +<img src="images/illus155.png" width="700" height="196" alt="BOOK IX - THE FAIR MAID OF ASTOLAT" title="" /> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXX" id="CHAPTER_XXX"></a>CHAPTER XXX</h2> + +<h3>THE FAIR MAID OF ASTOLAT</h3> + + +<p>At last, the Quest of the Holy Grail was ended, and by ones and +twos the knights came back to Camelot, though many who had set out +so boldly were never seen again about the Round Table.</p> + +<p>Great was the joy of King Arthur when Sir Launcelot and Sir Bors +returned, for, so long had they been away, that almost he had +feared that they had perished. In their honour there was high +festival for many days in London, where Arthur then had his court; +and the King made proclamation of a great tournament that he would +hold at Camelot, when he and the King of Northgalis would keep the +lists against all comers.</p> + +<p>So, one fair morning of spring, King Arthur made ready to ride to +Camelot and all his knights with him, save Launcelot, who excused +himself, saying that an old wound hindered him from riding. But +when the King, sore vexed, had departed, the Queen rebuked Sir +Launcelot, and bade him go and prove his great prowess as of old. +"Madam," said Sir Launcelot, "in this, as in all else, I obey you; +at your bidding I go, but know that in this tournament I shall +adventure me in other wise than ever before."</p> + +<p>The next day, at dawn, Sir Launcelot mounted his horse, and, riding +forth unattended, journeyed all that day till, as evening fell, he +reached the little town of Astolat, and there, at the castle, +sought lodgement for that night. The old Lord of Astolat was glad +at his coming, judging him at once to be a noble knight, though he +knew him not, for it was Sir Launcelot's will to remain unknown.</p> + +<p>So they went to supper, Sir Launcelot and the old lord, his son, +Sir Lavaine, and his daughter Elaine, whom they of the place called +the Fair Maid of Astolat. As they sat at meat, the Baron asked Sir +Launcelot if he rode to the tournament. "Yea," answered Launcelot; +"and right glad should I be if, of your courtesy, ye would lend me +a shield without device." "Right willingly," said his host; "ye +shall have my son, Sir Tirre's shield. He was but lately made +knight and was hurt in his first encounter, so his shield is bare +enough. If ye will take with you my young son, Sir Lavaine, he will +be glad to ride in the company of so noble a knight and will do you +such service as he may." "I shall be glad indeed of his +fellowship," answered Sir Launcelot courteously.</p> + +<p>Now it seemed to the fair Elaine that never had she beheld so noble +a knight as this stranger; and seeing that he was as gentle and +courteous as he was strong, she said to him: "Fair Knight, will ye +wear my favour at this tournament? For never have I found knight +yet to wear my crimson sleeve, and sure am I that none other could +ever win it such honour." "Maiden," said Sir Launcelot, "right +gladly would I serve you in aught; but it has never been my custom +to wear lady's favour." "Then shall it serve the better for +disguise," answered Elaine. Sir Launcelot pondered her words, and +at last he said: "Fair maiden, I will do for you what I have done +for none, and will wear your favour." So with great glee, she +brought it him, a crimson velvet sleeve embroidered with great +pearls, and fastened it in his helmet. Then Sir Launcelot begged +her to keep for him his own shield until after the tournament, when +he would come for it again and tell them his name.</p> + +<p>The next morn, Sir Launcelot took his departure with Sir Lavaine +and, by evening, they were come to Camelot. Forthwith Sir Lavaine +led Sir Launcelot to the house of a worthy burgher, where he might +stay in privacy, undiscovered by those of his acquaintance. Then, +when at dawn the trumpets blew, they mounted their horses and rode +to a little wood hard by the lists, and there they abode some +while; for Sir Launcelot would take no part until he had seen which +side was the stronger. So they saw how King Arthur sat high on a +throne to overlook the combat, while the King of Northgalis and all +the fellowship of the Round Table held the lists against their +opponents led by King Anguish of Ireland and the King of Scots.</p> + +<p>Then it soon appeared that the two Kings with all their company +could do but little against the Knights of the Round Table, and +were sore pressed to maintain their ground. Seeing this, Sir +Launcelot said to Sir Lavaine: "Sir Knight, will ye give me your +aid if I go to the rescue of the weaker side? For it seems to me +they may not much longer hold their own unaided." "Sir," answered +Lavaine, "I will gladly follow you and do what I may." So the two +laid their lances in rest and charged into the thickest of the +fight and, with one spear, Sir Launcelot bore four knights from the +saddle. Lavaine, too, did nobly, for he unhorsed the bold Sir +Bedivere and Sir Lucan the Butler. Then with their swords they +smote lustily on the left hand and on the right, and those whom +they had come to aid rallying to them, they drove the Knights of +the Round Table back a space. So the fight raged furiously, +Launcelot ever being in the thickest of the press and performing +such deeds of valour that all marvelled to see him, and would fain +know who was the Knight of the Crimson Sleeve. But the knights of +Arthur's court felt shame of their discomfiture, and, in especial, +those of Launcelot's kin were wroth that one should appear who +seemed mightier even than Launcelot's self. So they called to each +other and, making a rally, directed all their force against the +stranger knight who had so turned the fortunes of the day. With +lances in rest, Sir Lionel, Sir Bors, and Sir Ector, bore down +together upon Sir Launcelot, and Sir Bors' spear pierced Sir +Launcelot and brought him to the earth, leaving the spear head +broken off in his side. This Sir Lavaine saw, and immediately, with +all his might, he rode upon the King of Scots, unhorsed him and +took his horse to Sir Launcelot. Now Sir Launcelot felt as if he +had got his death-wound, but such was his spirit that he was +resolved to do some great deed while yet his strength remained. So, +with Lavaine's aid, he got upon the horse, took a spear and, laying +it in rest, bore down, one after the other, Sir Bors, Sir Lionel, +and Sir Ector. Next he flung him into the thickest of the fight, +and before the trumpets sounded the signal to cease, he had +unhorsed thirty good knights.</p> + +<p>Then the Kings of Scotland and Ireland came to Sir Launcelot and +said: "Sir Knight, we thank you for the service done us this day. +And now, we pray you, come with us to receive the prize which is +rightly yours; for never have we seen such deeds as ye have done +this day." "My fair lords," answered Sir Launcelot, "for aught that +I have accomplished, I am like to pay dearly; I beseech you, suffer +me to depart." With these words, he rode away full gallop, followed +by Sir Lavaine; and when he had come to a little wood, he called +Lavaine to him, saying: "Gentle Knight, I entreat you, draw forth +this spear head, for it nigh slayeth me." "Oh! my dear lord," said +Lavaine, "I fear sore to draw it forth lest ye die." "If ye love +me, draw it out," answered Launcelot. So Lavaine did as he was +bidden, and, with a deathly groan, Sir Launcelot fell in a swoon to +the ground. When he was a little recovered, he begged Lavaine to +help him to his horse and lead him to a hermitage hard by where +dwelt a hermit who, in bygone days, had been known to Launcelot for +a good knight and true. So with pain and difficulty they journeyed +to the hermitage, Lavaine oft fearing that Sir Launcelot would die. +And when the hermit saw Sir Launcelot, all pale and besmeared with +blood, he scarce knew him for the bold Sir Launcelot du Lac; but he +bore him within and dressed his wound and bade him be of good +cheer, for he should recover. So there Sir Launcelot abode many +weeks and Sir Lavaine with him; for Lavaine would not leave him, +such love had he for the good knight he had taken for his lord.</p> + +<p>Now when it was known that the victorious knight had departed from +the field sore wounded, Sir Gawain vowed to go in search of him. So +it chanced that, in his wanderings, he came to Astolat, and there +he had a hearty welcome of the Lord of Astolat, who asked him for +news of the tournament. Then Sir Gawain related how two stranger +knights, bearing white shields, had won great glory, and in +especial one, who wore in his helm a crimson sleeve, had surpassed +all others in knightly prowess. At these words, the fair Elaine +cried aloud with delight. "Maiden," said Gawain, "know ye this +knight?" "Not his name," she replied; "but full sure was I that he +was a noble knight when I prayed him to wear my favour." Then she +showed Gawain the shield which she had kept wrapped in rich +broideries, and immediately Sir Gawain knew it for Launcelot's. +"Alas!" cried he, "without doubt it was Launcelot himself that we +wounded to the death. Sir Bors will never recover the woe of it."</p> + +<p>Then, on the morrow, Sir Gawain rode to London to tell the court +how the stranger knight and Launcelot were one; but the Fair Maid +of Astolat rose betimes, and having obtained leave of her father, +set out to search for Sir Launcelot and her brother Lavaine. After +many journeyings, she came, one day, upon Lavaine exercising his +horse in a field, and by him she was taken to Sir Launcelot. Then, +indeed, her heart was filled with grief when she saw the good +knight to whom she had given her crimson sleeve thus laid low; so +she abode in the hermitage, waiting upon Sir Launcelot and doing +all within her power to lessen his pain.</p> + +<p>After many weeks, by the good care of the hermit and the fair +Elaine, Sir Launcelot was so far recovered that he might bear the +weight of his armour and mount his horse again. Then, one morn, +they left the hermitage and rode all three, the Fair Maid, Sir +Launcelot, and Sir Lavaine, to the castle of Astolat, where there +was much joy of their coming. After brief sojourn, Sir Launcelot +desired to ride to court, for he knew there would be much sorrow +among his kinsmen for his long absence. But when he would take his +departure, Elaine cried aloud: "Ah! my lord, suffer me to go with +you, for I may not bear to lose you." "Fair child," answered Sir +Launcelot gently, "that may not be. But in the days to come, when +ye shall love and wed some good knight, for your sake I will bestow +upon him broad lands and great riches; and at all times will I hold +me ready to serve you as a true knight may." Thus spoke Sir +Launcelot, but the fair Elaine answered never a word.</p> + +<p>So Sir Launcelot rode to London where the whole court was glad of +his coming; but from the day of his departure, the Fair Maid +drooped and pined until, when ten days were passed, she felt that +her end was at hand. So she sent for her father and two brothers, +to whom she said gently: "Dear father and brethren, I must now +leave you." Bitterly they wept, but she comforted them all she +might, and presently desired of her father a boon. "Ye shall have +what ye will," said the old lord; for he hoped that she might yet +recover. Then first she required her brother, Sir Tirre, to write a +letter, word for word as she said it; and when it was written, she +turned to her father and said: "Kind father, I desire that, when I +am dead, I may be arrayed in my fairest raiment, and placed on a +bier; and let the bier be set within a barge, with one to steer it +until I be come to London. Then, perchance, Sir Launcelot will come +and look upon me with kindness." So she died, and all was done as +she desired; for they set her, looking as fair as a lily, in a +barge all hung with black, and an old dumb man went with her as +helmsman.</p> + +<p>Slowly the barge floated down the river until it had come to +Westminster; and as it passed under the palace walls, it chanced +that King Arthur and Queen Guenevere looked forth from a window. +Marvelling much at the strange sight, together they went forth to +the quay, followed by many of the knights. Then the King espied the +letter clasped in the dead maiden's hand, and drew it forth gently +and broke the seal. And thus the letter ran: "Most noble Knight, +Sir Launcelot, I, that men called the Fair Maid of Astolat, am come +hither to crave burial at thy hands for the sake of the unrequited +love I gave thee. As thou art peerless knight, pray for my soul."</p> + +<p>Then the King bade fetch Sir Launcelot, and when he was come, he +showed him the letter. And Sir Launcelot, gazing on the dead +maiden, was filled with sorrow. "My lord Arthur," he said, "for the +death of this dear child I shall grieve my life long. Gentle she +was and loving, and much was I beholden to her; but what she +desired I could not give." "Yet her request now thou wilt grant, I +know," said the King; "for ever thou art kind and courteous to +all." "It is my desire," answered Sir Launcelot.</p> + +<p>So the Maid of Astolat was buried in the presence of the King and +Queen and of the fellowship of the Round Table, and of many a +gentle lady who wept, that time, the fair child's fate. Over her +grave was raised a tomb of white marble, and on it was sculptured +the shield of Sir Launcelot; for, when he had heard her whole +story, it was the King's will that she that in life had guarded the +shield of his noblest knight, should keep it also in death.</p> + +<div class="center"> +<img src="images/illus114.png" width="161" height="150" alt="Crown" title="" /> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="center"><a name="BOOK_X" id="BOOK_X"></a> +<img src="images/illus164.png" width="700" height="243" alt="BOOK X - QUEEN GUENEVERE" title="" /> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXI" id="CHAPTER_XXXI"></a>CHAPTER XXXI</h2> + +<h3>HOW MORDRED PLOTTED AGAINST SIR LAUNCELOT</h3> + + +<p>Before Merlin passed from the world of men, imprisoned in the great +stone by the evil arts of Vivien, he had uttered many marvellous +prophecies, and one that boded ill to King Arthur; for he foretold +that, in the days to come, a son of Arthur's sister should stir up +bitter war against the King, and at last a great battle should be +fought in the West, when many a brave knight should find his doom.</p> + +<p>Now, among the nephews of Arthur, was one most dishonourable; his +name was Mordred. No knightly deed had he ever done, and he hated +to hear the good report of others because he himself was a coward +and envious. But of all the Round Table there was none that Mordred +hated more than Sir Launcelot du Lac, whom all true knights held in +most honour; and not the less did Mordred hate Launcelot that he +was the knight whom Queen Guenevere had in most esteem. So, at +last, his jealous rage passing all bounds, he spoke evil of the +Queen and of Launcelot, saying that they were traitors to the King. +Now Sir Gawain and Sir Gareth, Mordred's brothers, refused to give +ear to these slanders, holding that Sir Launcelot, in his knightly +service of the Queen, did honour to King Arthur also; but by +ill-fortune another brother, Sir Agravaine, had ill-will to the +Queen, and professed to believe Mordred's evil tales. So the two +went to King Arthur with their ill stories.</p> + +<p>Now when Arthur had heard them, he was wroth; for never would he +lightly believe evil of any, and Sir Launcelot was the knight whom +he loved above all others. Sternly then he bade them begone and +come no more to him with unproven tales against any, and, least of +all, against Sir Launcelot and their lady, the Queen.</p> + +<p>The two departed, but in their hearts was hatred against Launcelot +and the Queen, more bitter than ever for the rebuke they had +called down upon themselves; and they resolved, from that time +forth, diligently to watch if, perchance, they might find aught to +turn to evil account against Sir Launcelot.</p> + +<p>Not long after, it seemed to them that the occasion had come. For +King Arthur having ridden forth to hunt far from Carlisle, where he +then held court, the Queen sent for Sir Launcelot to speak with him +in her bower. Then Agravaine and Mordred got together twelve +knights, friends of Sir Gawain, their brother, and persuaded them +to come with them for they should do the King a service. So with +the twelve knights they watched and waited in a little room until +they saw Sir Launcelot, all unarmed, pass into the Queen's chamber; +and when the door was closed upon him, they came forth, and Sir +Agravaine and Sir Mordred thundered on the door, crying so that all +the court might hear: "Thou traitor, Sir Launcelot, come forth from +the Queen's chamber. Come forth, for thy treason against the King +is known to all!"</p> + +<p>Then Sir Launcelot and the Queen were amazed and filled with shame +that such a clamour should be raised where the Queen was. While +they waited and listened in dismay, Sir Mordred and Sir Agravaine +took up the cry again, the twelve knights echoing it: "Traitor +Launcelot, come forth and meet thy doom; for thy last hour is +come." Then Sir Launcelot, wroth more for the Queen than for +himself, exclaimed: "This shameful cry will kill me; better death +than such dishonour. Lady, as I have ever been your true knight, +since the day when my lord, King Arthur, knighted me, pray for me +if now I meet my death." Then he went to the door and cried to +those without: "Fair lords, cease this outcry. I will open the +door, and then ye shall do with me as ye will." With the word, he +set open the door, but only by so much that one knight could enter +at a time. So a certain Sir Colgrevance of Gore, a knight of great +stature, pushed into the room and thrust at Sir Launcelot with all +his might; but Sir Launcelot, with the arm round which he had +wrapped his cloak, turned aside the sword and, with his bare hand, +dealt Colgrevance such a blow on the helmet that he fell grovelling +to the earth. Then Sir Launcelot thrust to and barred the door, and +stripping the fallen knight of his armour, armed himself in haste +with the aid of the Queen and her ladies.</p> + +<p>All this while, Sir Agravaine and Sir Mordred continued their +outcry; so when he was armed, Sir Launcelot called to them to cease +their vile cries and the next day he would meet any or all of them +in arms and knightly disprove their vile slander. Now there was not +one among those knights who dared meet Sir Launcelot in the open +field, so they were resolved to slay him while they had the +advantage over him. When Sir Launcelot understood their evil +purpose, he set wide the door and rushed upon them. At the first +blow he slew Sir Agravaine, and soon eleven other knights lay cold +on the earth beside him. Only Mordred escaped, for he fled with all +his might; but, even so, he was sore wounded.</p> + +<p>Then Sir Launcelot spoke to the Queen. "Madam," said he, "here may +I no longer stay, for many a foe have I made me this night. And +when I am gone, I know not what evil may be spoken of you for this +night's work. I pray you, then, suffer me to lead you to a place of +safety." "Ye shall run no more risk for my sake," said the Queen; +"only go hence in haste before more harm befall you. But as for me, +here I abide. I will flee for no traitor's outcry."</p> + +<p>So Sir Launcelot, seeing that at that time there was naught he +might do for Queen Guenevere, withdrew with all his kin to a little +distance from Carlisle, and awaited what should befall.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXII" id="CHAPTER_XXXII"></a>CHAPTER XXXII</h2> + +<h3>THE TRIAL OF THE QUEEN</h3> + + +<p>When Mordred escaped Sir Launcelot, he got to horse, all wounded as +he was, and never drew rein till he had found King Arthur, to whom +he told all that had happened.</p> + +<p>Then great was the King's grief. Despite all that Mordred could +say, he was slow to doubt Sir Launcelot, whom he loved, but his +mind was filled with forebodings; for many a knight had been slain, +and well he knew that their kin would seek vengeance on Sir +Launcelot, and the noble fellowship of the Round Table be utterly +destroyed by their feuds.</p> + +<p>All too soon, it proved even as the King had feared. Many were +found to hold with Sir Mordred; some because they were kin to the +knights that had been slain, some from envy of the honour and +worship of the noble Sir Launcelot; and among them even were those +who dared to raise their voice against the Queen herself, calling +for judgment upon her as leagued with a traitor against the King, +and as having caused the death of so many good knights. Now in +those days the law was that if any one were accused of treason by +witnesses, or taken in the act, that one should die the death by +burning, be it man or woman, knight or churl. So then the murmurs +grew to a loud clamour that the law should have its course, and +that King Arthur should pass sentence on the Queen. Then was the +King's woe doubled; "For," said he, "I sit as King to be a rightful +judge and keep all the law; wherefore I may not do battle for my +own Queen, and now there is none other to help her." So a decree +was issued that Queen Guenevere should be burnt at the stake +outside the walls of Carlisle.</p> + +<p>Forthwith, King Arthur sent for his nephew, Sir Gawain, and said to +him: "Fair nephew, I give it in charge to you to see that all is +done as has been decreed." But Sir Gawain answered boldly: "Sir +King, never will I be present to see my lady the Queen die. It is +of ill counsel that ye have consented to her death." Then the King +bade Gawain send his two young brothers, Sir Gareth and Sir +Gaheris, to receive his commands, and these he desired to attend +the Queen to the place of execution. So Gareth made answer for +both: "My Lord the King, we owe you obedience in all things, but +know that it is sore against our wills that we obey you in this; +nor will we appear in arms in the place where that noble lady shall +die"; then sorrowfully they mounted their horses, and rode to +Carlisle.</p> + +<p>When the day appointed had come, the Queen was led forth to a place +without the walls of Carlisle, and there she was bound to the stake +to be burnt to death. Loud were her ladies' lamentations, and many +a lord was found to weep at that grievous sight of a Queen brought +so low; yet was there none who dared come forward as her champion, +lest he should be suspected of treason. As for Gareth and Gaheris, +they could not bear the sight and stood with their faces covered in +their mantles. Then, just as the torch was to be applied to the +faggots, there was a sound as of many horses galloping, and the +next instant a band of knights rushed upon the astonished throng, +their leader cutting down all who crossed his path until he had +reached the Queen, whom he lifted to his saddle and bore from the +press. Then all men knew that it was Sir Launcelot, come knightly +to rescue the Queen, and in their hearts they rejoiced. So with +little hindrance they rode away, Sir Launcelot and all his kin with +the Queen in their midst, till they came to the castle of the +Joyous Garde where they held the Queen in safety and all reverence.</p> + +<p>But of that day came a kingdom's ruin, for among the slain were +Gawain's brothers, Sir Gareth and Sir Gaheris. Now Sir Launcelot +loved Sir Gareth as if he had been his own younger brother, and +himself had knighted him; but, in the press, he struck at him and +killed him, not seeing that he was unarmed and weaponless; and in +like wise, Sir Gaheris met his death. So when word was brought to +King Arthur of what had passed, Sir Gawain asked straightway how +his brothers had fared. "Both are slain," said the messenger. +"Alas! my dear brothers!" cried Sir Gawain; "how came they by their +death?" "They were both slain by Sir Launcelot." "That will I never +believe," cried Sir Gawain; "for my brother, Sir Gareth, had such +love for Sir Launcelot that there was naught Sir Launcelot could +ask him that he would not do." But the man said again: "He is +slain, and by Sir Launcelot."</p> + +<p>Then, from sheer grief, Sir Gawain fell swooning to the ground. +When he was recovered, he said: "My Lord and uncle, is it even as +this man says, that Sir Launcelot has slain my brother Sir Gareth?" +"Alas!" said the King, "Launcelot rode upon him in the press and +slew him, not seeing who he was or that he was unarmed." "Then," +cried Gawain fiercely, "here I make my avow. Never, while my life +lasts, will I leave Sir Launcelot in peace until he has rendered me +account for the slaying of my brother." From that day forth, Sir +Gawain would not suffer the King to rest until he had gathered all +his host and marched against the Joyous Garde. Thus began the war +which broke up the fellowship of the Round Table.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXIII" id="CHAPTER_XXXIII"></a>CHAPTER XXXIII</h2> + +<h3>HOW SIR GAWAIN DEFIED SIR LAUNCELOT</h3> + + +<p>Now it came to the ears of the Pope in Rome that King Arthur was +besieging Sir Launcelot in his castle of the Joyous Garde, and it +grieved him that there should be strife between two such goodly +knights, the like of whom was not to be found in Christendom. So he +called to him the Bishop of Rochester, and bade him carry word to +Britain, both to Arthur and to Sir Launcelot, that they should be +reconciled, the one to the other, and that King Arthur should +receive again Queen Guenevere.</p> + +<p>Forthwith Sir Launcelot desired of King Arthur assurance of liberty +and reverence for the Queen, as also safe conduct for himself and +his knights, that he might bring Dame Guenevere, with due honour, +to the King at Carlisle; and thereto the King pledged his word.</p> + +<p>So Launcelot set forth with the Queen, and behind them rode a +hundred knights arrayed in green velvet, the housings of the horses +of the same all studded with precious stones; thus they passed +through the city of Carlisle, openly, in the sight of all, and +there were many who rejoiced that the Queen was come again and Sir +Launcelot with her, though they of Gawain's party scowled upon him.</p> + +<p>When they were come into the great hall where Arthur sat, with Sir +Gawain and other great lords about him, Sir Launcelot led +Guenevere to the throne and both knelt before the King; then, +rising, Sir Launcelot lifted the Queen to her feet, and thus he +spoke to King Arthur, boldly and well before the whole court: "My +lord, Sir Arthur, I bring you here your Queen, than whom no truer +nor nobler lady ever lived; and here stand I, Sir Launcelot du Lac, +ready to do battle with any that dare gainsay it"; and with these +words Sir Launcelot turned and looked upon the lords and knights +present in their places, but none would challenge him in that +cause, not even Sir Gawain, for he had ever affirmed that Dame +Guenevere was a true and honourable lady.</p> + +<p>Then Sir Launcelot spoke again: "Now, my Lord Arthur, in my own +defence it behoves me to say that never in aught have I been false +to you. That I slew certain knights is true; but I hold me +guiltless, seeing that they brought death upon themselves. For no +sooner had I gone to the Queen's bower, as she had commanded me, +than they beset the door, with shameful outcry, that all the court +might hear, calling me traitor and felon knight." "And rightly they +called you," cried Sir Gawain fiercely. "My lord, Sir Gawain," +answered Sir Launcelot, "in their quarrel they proved not +themselves right, else had not I, alone, encountered fourteen +knights and come forth unscathed."</p> + +<p>Then said King Arthur: "Sir Launcelot, I have ever loved you above +all other knights, and trusted you to the uttermost; but ill have +ye done by me and mine." "My lord," said Launcelot, "that I slew +Sir Gareth I shall mourn as long as life lasts. As soon would I +have slain my own nephew, Sir Bors, as have harmed Sir Gareth +wittingly; for I myself made him knight, and loved him as my +brother." "Liar and traitor," cried Sir Gawain, "ye slew him, +defenceless and unarmed." "It is full plain, Sir Gawain," said +Launcelot, "that never again shall I have your love; and yet there +has been old kindness between us, and once ye thanked me that I +saved your life." "It shall not avail you now," said Sir Gawain; +"traitor ye are, both to the King and to me. Know that, while life +lasts, never will I rest until I have avenged my brother Sir +Gareth's death upon you." "Fair nephew," said the King, "cease your +brawling. Sir Launcelot has come under surety of my word that none +shall do him harm. Elsewhere, and at another time, fasten a quarrel +upon him, if quarrel ye must." "I care not," cried Sir Gawain +fiercely. "The proud traitor trusts so in his own strength that he +thinks none dare meet him. But here I defy him and swear that, be +it in open combat or by stealth, I shall have his life. And know, +mine uncle and King, if I shall not have your aid, I and mine will +leave you for ever, and, if need be, fight even against you." +"Peace," said the King; and to Sir Launcelot: "We give you fifteen +days in which to leave this kingdom." Then Sir Launcelot sighed +heavily and said: "Full well I see that no sorrow of mine for what +is past availeth me." Then he went to the Queen where she sat, and +said: "Madam, the time is come when I must leave this fair realm +that I have loved. Think well of me, I pray you, and send for me +if ever there be aught in which a true knight may serve lady." +Therewith he turned him about and, without greeting to any, passed +through the hall, and with his faithful knights rode to the Joyous +Garde, though ever thereafter, in memory of that sad day, he called +it the Dolorous Garde.</p> + +<p>There he called about him his friends and kinsmen, saying: "Fair +Knights, I must now pass into my own lands." Then they all, with +one voice, cried that they would go with him. So he thanked them, +promising them all fair estates and great honour when they were +come to his kingdom; for all France belonged to Sir Launcelot. Yet +was he loth to leave the land where he had followed so many +glorious adventures, and sore he mourned to part in anger from King +Arthur. "My mind misgives me," said Sir Launcelot, "but that +trouble shall come of Sir Mordred, for he is envious and a +mischief-maker, and it grieves me that never more I may serve Sir +Arthur and his realm."</p> + +<p>So Sir Launcelot sorrowed; but his kinsmen were wroth for the +dishonour done him, and making haste to depart, by the fifteenth +day they were all embarked to sail overseas to France.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXIV" id="CHAPTER_XXXIV"></a>CHAPTER XXXIV</h2> + +<h3>HOW KING ARTHUR AND SIR GAWAIN WENT TO FRANCE</h3> + + +<p>From the day when Sir Launcelot brought the Queen to Carlisle, +never would Gawain suffer the King to be at rest; but always he +desired him to call his army together that they might go to attack +Sir Launcelot in his own land.</p> + +<p>Now King Arthur was loth to war against Sir Launcelot; and seeing +this, Sir Gawain upbraided him bitterly. "I see well it is naught +to you that my brother, Sir Gareth, died fulfilling your behest. +Little ye care if all your knights be slain, if only the traitor +Launcelot escape. Since, then, ye will not do me justice nor avenge +your own nephew, I and my fellows will take the traitor when and +how we may. He trusts in his own might that none can encounter with +him; let see if we may not entrap him."</p> + +<p>Thus urged, King Arthur called his army together and bade collect a +great fleet; for rather would he fight openly with Sir Launcelot +than that Sir Gawain should bring such dishonour upon himself as to +slay a noble knight treacherously. So with a great host, the King +passed overseas to France, leaving Sir Mordred to rule Britain in +his stead.</p> + +<p>When Launcelot heard that King Arthur and Sir Gawain were coming +against him, he withdrew into the strong castle of Benwick; for +unwilling indeed was he to fight with the King, or to do an injury +to Sir Gareth's brother. The army passed through the land, laying +it waste, and presently encamped about the castle, laying close +siege to it; but so thick were the walls, and so watchful the +garrison, that in no way could they prevail against it.</p> + +<p>One day, there came to Sir Launcelot seven brethren, brave knights +of Wales, who had joined their fortunes to his, and said: "Sir +Launcelot, bid us sally forth against this host which has invaded +and laid waste your lands, and we will scatter it; for we are not +wont to cower behind walls." "Fair lords," answered Launcelot, "it +is grief to me to war on good Christian knights, and especially on +my lord, King Arthur. Have but patience and I will send to him and +see if, even now, there may not be a treaty of peace between us; +for better far is peace than war." So Sir Launcelot sought out a +damsel and, mounting her upon a palfrey, bade her ride to King +Arthur's camp and require of the King to cease warring on his +lands, proffering fair terms of peace. When the damsel came to the +camp, there met her Sir Lucan the Butler, "Fair damsel," said Sir +Lucan, "do ye come from Sir Launcelot?" "Yea, in good truth," said +the damsel; "and, I pray you, lead me to King Arthur." "Now, may ye +prosper in your errand," said Sir Lucan. "Our King loves Sir +Launcelot dearly and wishes him well; but Sir Gawain will not +suffer him to be reconciled to him." So when the damsel had come +before the King, she told him all her tale, and much she said of +Sir Launcelot's love and good-will to his lord the King, so that +the tears stood in Arthur's eyes. But Sir Gawain broke in roughly: +"My Lord and uncle, shall it be said of us that we came hither with +such a host to hie us home again, nothing done, to be the scoff of +all men?" "Nephew," said the King, "methinks Sir Launcelot offers +fair and generously. It were well if ye would accept his proffer. +Nevertheless, as the quarrel is yours, so shall the answer be." +"Then, damsel," said Sir Gawain, "say unto Sir Launcelot that the +time for peace is past. And tell him that I, Sir Gawain, swear by +the faith I owe to knighthood that never will I forego my revenge."</p> + +<p>So the damsel returned to Sir Launcelot and told him all. Sir +Launcelot's heart was filled with grief nigh unto breaking; but his +knights were enraged and clamoured that he had endured too much of +insult and wrong, and that he should lead them forth to battle. Sir +Launcelot armed him sorrowfully, and presently the gates were set +open and he rode forth, he and all his company. But to all his +knights he had given commandment that none should seek King Arthur; +"For never," said he, "will I see the noble King, who made me +knight, either killed or shamed."</p> + +<p>Fierce was the battle between those two hosts. On Launcelot's side, +Sir Bors and Sir Lavaine and many another did right well; while on +the other side, King Arthur bore him as the noble knight he was, +and Sir Gawain raged through the battle, seeking to come at Sir +Launcelot. Presently, Sir Bors encountered with King Arthur, and +unhorsed him. This Sir Launcelot saw and, coming to the King's +side, he alighted and, raising him from the ground, mounted him +upon his own horse. Then King Arthur, looking upon Launcelot, +cried: "Ah! Launcelot, Launcelot! That ever there should be war +between us two!" and tears stood in the King's eyes. "Ah! my Lord +Arthur," cried Sir Launcelot, "I pray you stay this war." As they +spoke thus, Sir Gawain came upon them, and, miscalling Sir +Launcelot traitor and coward, had almost ridden upon him before +Launcelot could provide him of another horse. Then the two hosts +drew back, each on its own side, to see the battle between Sir +Launcelot and Sir Gawain; for they wheeled their horses, and +departing far asunder, rushed again upon each other with the noise +of thunder, and each bore the other from his horse. Then they put +their shields before them and set on each other with their swords; +but while ever Sir Gawain smote fiercely, Sir Launcelot was content +only to ward off blows, because he would not, for Sir Gareth's +sake, do any harm to Sir Gawain. But the more Sir Launcelot forbore +him, the more furiously Sir Gawain struck, so that Sir Launcelot +had much ado to defend himself, and at the last smote Gawain on the +helm so mightily that he bore him to the ground. Then Sir +Launcelot stood back from Sir Gawain. But Gawain cried: "Why do ye +draw back, traitor knight? Slay me while ye may, for never will I +cease to be your enemy while my life lasts." "Sir," said Launcelot, +"I shall withstand you as I may; but never will I smite a fallen +knight." Then he spoke to King Arthur: "My Lord, I pray you, if but +for this day, draw off your men. And think upon our former love if +ye may; but, be ye friend or foe, God keep you." Thereupon Sir +Launcelot drew off with his men into his castle, and King Arthur +and his company to their tents. As for Sir Gawain, his squires bore +him to his tent where his wounds were dressed.</p> + +<div class="center"> +<img src="images/illus179.png" width="160" height="150" alt="Head of a woman 2" title="" /> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="center"><a name="BOOK_XI" id="BOOK_XI"></a> +<img src="images/illus180.png" width="700" height="212" alt="BOOK XI - THE MORTE D'ARTHUR" title="" /> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXV" id="CHAPTER_XXXV"></a>CHAPTER XXXV</h2> + +<h3>MORDRED THE TRAITOR</h3> + + +<p>So Sir Gawain lay healing of the grim wound which Sir Launcelot had +given him, and there was peace between the two armies, when there +came messengers from Britain bearing letters for King Arthur; and +more evil news than they brought might not well be, for they told +how Sir Mordred had usurped his uncle's realm. First, he had caused +it to be noised abroad that King Arthur was slain in battle with +Sir Launcelot, and, since there be many ever ready to believe any +idle rumour and eager for any change, it had been no hard task for +Sir Mordred to call the lords to a Parliament and persuade them to +make him king. But the Queen could not be brought to believe that +her lord was dead, so she took refuge in the Tower of London from +Sir Mordred's violence, nor was she to be induced to leave her +strong refuge for aught that Mordred could promise or threaten.</p> + +<p>This was the news that came to Arthur as he lay encamped about Sir +Launcelot's castle of Benwick. Forthwith he bade his host make +ready to move, and when they had reached the coast, they embarked +and made sail to reach Britain with all possible speed.</p> + +<p>Sir Mordred, on his part, had heard of their sailing, and hasted to +get together a great army. It was grievous to see how many a stout +knight held by Mordred, ay, even many whom Arthur himself had +raised to honour and fortune; for it is the nature of men to be +fickle. Thus it was that, when Arthur drew near to Dover, he found +Mordred with a mighty host, waiting to oppose his landing. Then +there was a great sea-fight, those of Mordred's party going out in +boats, great and small, to board King Arthur's ships and slay him +and his men or ever they should come to land. Right valiantly did +King Arthur bear him, as was his wont, and boldly his followers +fought in his cause, so that at last they drove off their enemies +and landed at Dover in spite of Mordred and his array. For that +time Mordred fled, and King Arthur bade those of his party bury the +slain and tend the wounded.</p> + +<p>So as they passed from ship to ship, salving and binding the hurts +of the men, they came at last upon Sir Gawain, where he lay at the +bottom of a boat, wounded to the death, for he had received a great +blow on the wound that Sir Launcelot had given him. They bore him +to his tent, and his uncle, the King, came to him, sorrowing beyond +measure. "Methinks," said the King, "my joy on earth is done; for +never have I loved any men as I have loved you, my nephew, and Sir +Launcelot. Sir Launcelot I have lost, and now I see you on your +death-bed." "My King," said Sir Gawain, "my hour is come, and I +have got my death at Sir Launcelot's hand; for I am smitten on the +wound he gave me. And rightly am I served, for of my willfulness +and stubbornness comes this unhappy war. I pray you, my uncle, +raise me in your arms and let me write to Sir Launcelot before I +die."</p> + +<p>Thus, then, Sir Gawain wrote: "To Sir Launcelot, the noblest of all +knights, I, Gawain, send greeting before I die. For I am smitten on +the wound ye gave me before your castle of Benwick in France, and I +bid all men bear witness that I sought my own death and that ye are +innocent of it. I pray you, by our friendship of old, come again +into Britain, and when ye look upon my tomb, pray for Gawain of +Orkney. Farewell."</p> + +<p>So Sir Gawain died and was buried in the Chapel at Dover.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXVI" id="CHAPTER_XXXVI"></a>CHAPTER XXXVI</h2> + +<h3>THE BATTLE IN THE WEST</h3> + + +<p>The day after the battle at Dover, King Arthur and his host pursued +Sir Mordred to Barham Down where again there was a great battle +fought, with much slaughter on both sides; but, in the end, Arthur +was victorious, and Mordred fled to Canterbury.</p> + +<p>Now, by this time, many that Mordred had cheated by his lying +reports, had drawn unto King Arthur, to whom at heart they had ever +been loyal, knowing him for a true and noble king and hating +themselves for having been deceived by such a false usurper as Sir +Mordred. Then when he found that he was being deserted, Sir Mordred +withdrew to the far West, for there men knew less of what had +happened, and so he might still find some to believe in him and +support him; and being without conscience, he even called to his +aid the heathen hosts that his uncle, King Arthur, had driven from +the land, in the good years when Launcelot was of the Round Table.</p> + +<p>King Arthur followed ever after; for in his heart was bitter anger +against the false nephew who had wrought woe upon him and all his +realm. At the last, when Mordred could flee no further, the two +hosts were drawn up near the shore of the great western sea; and it +was the Feast of the Holy Trinity.</p> + +<p>That night, as King Arthur slept, he thought that Sir Gawain stood +before him, looking just as he did in life, and said to him: "My +uncle and my King, God in his great love has suffered me to come +unto you, to warn you that in no wise ye fight on the morrow; for +if ye do, ye shall be slain, and with you the most part of the +people on both sides. Make ye, therefore, treaty for a month, and +within that time, Sir Launcelot shall come to you with all his +knights, and ye shall overthrow the traitor and all that hold with +him." Therewith, Sir Gawain vanished. Immediately, the King awoke +and called to him the best and wisest of his knights, the two +brethren, Sir Lucan the Butler and Sir Bedivere, and others, to +whom he told his dream. Then all were agreed that, on any terms +whatsoever, a treaty should be made with Sir Mordred, even as Sir +Gawain had said; and, with the dawn, messengers went to the camp of +the enemy, to call Sir Mordred to a conference. So it was +determined that the meeting should take place in the sight of both +armies, in an open space between the two camps, and that King +Arthur and Mordred should each be accompanied by fourteen knights. +Little enough faith had either in the other, so when they set forth +to the meeting, they bade their hosts join battle if ever they saw +a sword drawn. Thus they went to the conference.</p> + +<p>Now as they talked, it befell that an adder, coming out of a bush +hard by, stung a knight in the foot; and he, seeing the snake, drew +his sword to kill it and thought no harm thereby. But on the +instant that the sword flashed, the trumpets blared on both sides +and the two hosts rushed to battle. Never was there fought a fight +of such bitter enmity; for brother fought with brother, and comrade +with comrade, and fiercely they cut and thrust, with many a bitter +word between; while King Arthur himself, his heart hot within him, +rode through and through the battle, seeking the traitor Mordred. +So they fought all day, till at last the evening fell. Then Arthur, +looking around him, saw of his valiant knights but two left, Sir +Lucan and Sir Bedivere, and these sore wounded; and there, over +against him, by a great heap of the dead, stood Sir Mordred, the +cause of all this ruin. Thereupon the King, his heart nigh broken +with grief for the loss of his true knights, cried with a loud +voice: "Traitor! now is thy doom upon thee!" and with his spear +gripped in both hands, he rushed upon Sir Mordred and smote him +that the weapon stood out a fathom behind. And Sir Mordred knew +that he had his death-wound. With all the might that he had, he +thrust him up the spear to the haft and, with his sword, struck +King Arthur upon the head, that the steel pierced the helmet and +bit into the head; then he fell back, stark and dead.</p> + +<p>Sir Lucan and Sir Bedivere went to the King where he lay, swooning +from the blow, and bore him to a little chapel on the sea-shore. As +they laid him on the ground, Sir Lucan fell dead beside the King, +and Arthur, coming to himself, found but Sir Bedivere alive beside +him.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXVII" id="CHAPTER_XXXVII"></a>CHAPTER XXXVII</h2> + +<h3>THE PASSING OF ARTHUR</h3> + + +<p>So King Arthur lay wounded to the death, grieving, not that his end +was come, but for the desolation of his kingdom and the loss of his +good knights. And looking upon the body of Sir Lucan, he sighed and +said: "Alas! true knight, dead for my sake! If I lived, I should +ever grieve for thy death, but now mine own end draws nigh." Then, +turning to Sir Bedivere, who stood sorrowing beside him, he said: +"Leave weeping now, for the time is short and much to do. Hereafter +shalt thou weep if thou wilt. But take now my sword Excalibur, +hasten to the water side, and fling it into the deep. Then, watch +what happens and bring me word thereof." "My Lord," said Sir +Bedivere, "your command shall be obeyed"; and taking the sword, he +departed. But as he went on his way, he looked on the sword, how +wondrously it was formed and the hilt all studded with precious +stones; and, as he looked, he called to mind the marvel by which it +had come into the King's keeping. For on a certain day, as Arthur +walked on the shore of a great lake, there had appeared above the +surface of the water a hand brandishing a sword. On the instant, +the King had leaped into a boat, and, rowing into the lake, had got +the sword and brought it back to land. Then he had seen how, on one +side the blade, was written, "Keep me," but on the other, "Throw me +away," and, sore perplexed, he had shown it to Merlin, the great +wizard, who said: "Keep it now. The time for casting away has not +yet come." Thinking on this, it seemed to Bedivere that no good, +but harm, must come of obeying the King's word; so hiding the sword +under a tree, he hastened back to the little chapel. Then said the +King: "What saw'st thou?" "Sir," answered Bedivere, "I saw naught +but the waves, heard naught but the wind." "That is untrue," said +King Arthur; "I charge thee, as thou art true knight, go again and +spare not to throw away the sword."</p> + +<p>Sir Bedivere departed a second time, and his mind was to obey his +lord; but when he took the sword in his hand, he thought: "Sin it +is and shameful, to throw away so glorious a sword." Then, hiding +it again, he hastened back to the King, "What saw'st thou?" said +Sir Arthur. "Sir, I saw the water lap on the crags." Then spoke the +King in great wrath: "Traitor and unkind! Twice hast thou betrayed +me! Art dazzled by the splendour of the jewels, thou that, till +now, hast ever been dear and true to me? Go yet again, but if thou +fail me this time, I will arise and, with mine own hands, slay +thee."</p> + +<p>Then Sir Bedivere left the King and, that time, he took the sword +quickly from the place where he had hidden it and, forbearing even +to look upon it, he twisted the belt about it and flung it with all +his force into the water. A wondrous sight he saw, for, as the +sword touched the water, a hand rose from out the deep, caught it, +brandished it thrice, and drew it beneath the surface.</p> + +<p>Sir Bedivere hastened back to the King and told him what he had +seen. "It is well," said Arthur; "now, bear me to the water's edge; +and hasten, I pray thee, for I have tarried over-long and my wound +has taken cold." So Sir Bedivere raised the King on his back and +bore him tenderly to the lonely shore, where the lapping waves +floated many an empty helmet and the fitful moonlight fell on the +upturned faces of the dead. Scarce had they reached the shore when +there hove in sight a barge, and on its deck stood three tall +women, robed all in black and wearing crowns on their heads. "Place +me in the barge," said the King, and softly Sir Bedivere lifted the +King into it. And these three Queens wept sore over Arthur, and one +took his head in her lap and chafed his hands, crying: "Alas! my +brother, thou hast been over-long in coming and, I fear me, thy +wound has taken cold." Then the barge began to move slowly from the +land. When Sir Bedivere saw this, he lifted up his voice and cried +with a bitter cry: "Ah! my Lord Arthur, thou art taken from me! And +I, whither shall I go?" "Comfort thyself," said the King, "for in +me is no comfort more. I pass to the Valley of Avilion, to heal me +of my grievous wound. If thou seest me never again, pray for me."</p> + +<p>So the barge floated away out of sight, and Sir Bedivere stood +straining his eyes after it till it had vanished utterly. Then he +turned him about and journeyed through the forest until, at +daybreak, he reached a hermitage. Entering it, he prayed the holy +hermit that he might abide with him, and there he spent the rest of +his life in prayer and holy exercise.</p> + +<p>But of King Arthur is no more known. Some men, indeed, say that he +is not dead, but abides in the happy Valley of Avilion until such +time as his country's need is sorest, when he shall come again and +deliver it. Others say that, of a truth, he is dead, and that, in +the far West, his tomb may be seen, and written on it these words:</p> + +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">"Here lies Arthur, once King and King to be."</span><br /> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXXVIII" id="CHAPTER_XXXVIII"></a>CHAPTER XXXVIII</h2> + +<h3>THE DEATH OF SIR LAUNCELOT AND OF THE QUEEN</h3> + + +<p>When news reached Sir Launcelot in his own land of the treason of +Mordred, he gathered his lords and knights together, and rested not +till he had come to Britain to aid King Arthur. He landed at Dover, +and there the evil tidings were told him, how the King had met his +death at the hands of his traitor nephew. Then was Sir Launcelot's +heart nigh broken for grief. "Alas!" he cried, "that I should live +to know my King overthrown by such a felon! What have I done that I +should have caused the deaths of the good knights, Sir Gareth, Sir +Gaheris, and Sir Gawain, and yet that such a villain should escape +my sword!" Then he desired to be led to Sir Gawain's tomb where he +remained long in prayer and in great lamentation; after which he +called to him his kinsmen and friends, and said to them: "My fair +lords, I thank you all most heartily that, of your courtesy, ye +came with me to this land. That we be come too late is a misfortune +that might not be avoided, though I shall mourn it my life long. +And now I will ride forth alone to find my lady the Queen in the +West, whither men say she has fled. Wait for me, I pray you, for +fifteen days, and then, if ye hear naught of me, return to your own +lands." So Sir Launcelot rode forth alone, nor would he suffer any +to follow him, despite their prayers and entreaties.</p> + +<p>Thus he rode some seven or eight days until, at the last, he came +to a nunnery where he saw in the cloister many nuns waiting on a +fair lady; none other, indeed, than Queen Guenevere herself. And +she, looking up, saw Sir Launcelot, and at the sight, grew so pale +that her ladies feared for her; but she recovered, and bade them go +and bring Sir Launcelot to her presence. When he was come, she said +to him: "Sir Launcelot, glad am I to see thee once again that I may +bid thee farewell; for in this world shall we never meet again." +"Sweet Madam," answered Sir Launcelot, "I was minded, with your +leave, to bear you to my own country, where I doubt not but I +should guard you well and safely from your enemies." "Nay, +Launcelot," said the Queen, "that may not be; I am resolved never +to look upon the world again, but here to pass my life in prayer +and in such good works as I may. But thou, do thou get back to +thine own land and take a fair wife; and ye both shall ever have my +prayers." "Madam," replied Sir Launcelot, "ye know well that shall +never be. And since ye are resolved to lead a life of prayer, I, +too, will forsake the world if I can find hermit to share his cell +with me; for ever your will has been mine." Long and earnestly he +looked upon her as he might never gaze enough; then, getting to +horse, he rode slowly away.</p> + +<p>Nor did they ever meet again in life. For Queen Guenevere abode in +the great nunnery of Almesbury where Sir Launcelot had found her, +and presently, for the holiness of her life, was made Abbess. But +Sir Launcelot, after he had left her, rode on his way till he came +to the cell where Sir Bedivere dwelt with the holy hermit; and when +Sir Bedivere had told him all that had befallen, of the great +battle in the West, and of the passing away of Arthur, Sir +Launcelot flung down his arms and implored the holy hermit to let +him remain there as the servant of God. So Sir Launcelot donned the +serge gown and abode in the hermitage as the priest of God.</p> + +<p>Presently there came riding that way the good Sir Bors, Launcelot's +nephew; for, when Sir Launcelot returned not to Dover, Sir Bors and +many another knight went forth in search of him. There, then, Sir +Bors remained and, within a half-year, there joined themselves to +these three many who in former days had been fellows of the Round +Table; and the fame of their piety spread far and wide.</p> + +<p>So six years passed and then, one night, Launcelot had a vision. It +seemed to him that one said to him: "Launcelot, arise and go in +haste to Almesbury. There shalt thou find Queen Guenevere dead, and +it shall be for thee to bury her." Sir Launcelot arose at once and, +calling his fellows to him, told them his dream. Immediately, with +all haste, they set forth towards Almesbury and, arriving there the +second day, found the Queen dead, as had been foretold in the +vision. So with the state and ceremony befitting a great Queen, +they buried her in the Abbey of Glastonbury, in that same church +where, some say, King Arthur's tomb is to be found. Launcelot it +was who performed the funeral rites and chanted the requiem; but +when all was done, he pined away, growing weaker daily. So at the +end of six weeks, he called to him his fellows, and bidding them +all farewell, desired that his dead body should be conveyed to the +Joyous Garde, there to be buried; for that in the church at +Glastonbury he was not worthy to lie. And that same night he died, +and was buried, as he had desired, in his own castle. So passed +from the world the bold Sir Launcelot du Lac, bravest, most +courteous, and most gentle of knights, whose peer the world has +never seen ever shall.</p> + +<p>After Sir Launcelot's death, Sir Bors and the pious knights, his +companions, took their way to the Holy Land, and there they died in +battle against the Turk.</p> + +<p>So ends the story of King Arthur and his noble fellowship of the +Round Table.</p> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Stories from Le Morte D'Arthur and the +Mabinogion, by Beatrice Clay + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK STORIES FROM LE MORTE *** + +***** This file should be named 15551-h.htm or 15551-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/5/5/5/15551/ + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Jennifer Goslee and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team. + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Stories from Le Morte D'Arthur and the Mabinogion + +Author: Beatrice Clay + +Release Date: April 5, 2005 [EBook #15551] +[Last updated: March 10, 2011] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK STORIES FROM LE MORTE *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Jennifer Goslee and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team. + + + + + + +_The_ KINGS TREASURIES OF LITERATURE + + GENERAL EDITOR + SIR A.T. QUILLER COUCH + + +[Illustration: THE LADY OF THE LAKE TELLETH ARTHUR +OF THE SWORD EXCALIBUR] + +NEW YORK--E.P. DUTTON & COMPANY + + +[Illustration: FIRST AND CHIEF OF ALL THE +THREE BEST MOST CHRISTIAN +AND WORTHY, KING ARTHUR] + + STORIES FROM LE MORTE D'ARTHUR + AND THE MABINOGION + + RETOLD BY + BEATRICE CLAY + +LONDON & TORONTO--J.M. DENT & SONS Ltd. + + +SOLE AGENT FOR SCOTLAND +THE GRANT EDUCATIONAL CO. LTD. +GLASGOW + +FIRST EDITION, 1920 +REPRINTED, 1922, 1924 + +PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN + + + + +CONTENTS + + +INTRODUCTION + + +BOOK I.--THE COMING OF ARTHUR + + I. OF ARTHUR'S BIRTH; AND HOW HE BECAME KING + II. THE ROUND TABLE + III. OF THE FINDING OF EXCALIBUR + IV. OF THE TREACHERY OF QUEEN MORGAN LE FAY + V. HOW THE SCABBARD OF EXCALIBUR WAS LOST + VI. MERLIN + VII. BALIN AND BALAN + + +BOOK II.--SIR LAUNCELOT + + VIII. SIR LAUNCELOT DU LAC + IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE CHAPEL PERILOUS + X. SIR LAUNCELOT AND THE FALCON + + +BOOK III.--SIR TRISTRAM + + XI. OF THE BIRTH OF ST. TRISTRAM + XII. HOW TRISTRAM FOUGHT WITH SIR MARHAUS OF IRELAND + XIII. THE FAIR ISOLT + XIV. HOW KING MARK SENT SIR TRISTRAM TO FETCH HIM A WIFE + XV. HOW SIR TRISTRAM AND THE FAIR ISOLT DRANK OF THE MAGIC POTION + XVI. OF THE END OF SIR TRISTRAM + + +BOOK IV.--KING ARTHUR'S NEPHEWS + + XVII. SIR GAWAIN AND THE LADY + XVIII. THE ADVENTURES OF SIR GARETH + + +BOOK V.--SIR GERAINT + + XIX. THE ADVENTURES OF GERAINT + XX. GERAINT AND ENID + + +BOOK VI.--THE LADY OF THE FOUNTAIN + + XXI. THE LADY OF THE FOUNTAIN + + +BOOK VII.--SIR PEREDUR + + XXII. THE ADVENTURES OF SIR PEREDUR + + +BOOK VIII.--THE HOLY GRAIL + + XXIII. THE COMING OF SIR GALAHAD + XXIV. HOW SIR GALAHAD WON THE RED-CROSS SHIELD + XXV. THE ADVENTURES OF SIR PERCIVALE + XXVI. THE ADVENTURES OF SIR BORS + XXVII. THE ADVENTURES OF SIR LAUNCELOT + XXVIII. HOW SIR LAUNCELOT SAW THE HOLY GRAIL + XXIX. THE END OF THE QUEST + + +BOOK IX.--THE FAIR MAID OF ASTOLAT + + XXX. THE FAIR MAID OF ASTOLAT + + +BOOK X.--QUEEN GUENEVERE + + XXXI. HOW MORDRED PLOTTED AGAINST SIR LAUNCELOT + XXXII. THE TRIAL OF THE QUEEN + XXXIII. HOW SIR GAWAIN DEFIED SIR LAUNCELOT + XXXIV. HOW KING ARTHUR AND SIR GAWAIN WENT TO FRANCE + + +BOOK XI.--THE MORTE D'ARTHUR + + XXXV. MORDRED THE TRAITOR + XXXVI. THE BATTLE IN THE WEST + XXXVII. THE PASSING OF ARTHUR +XXXVIII. THE DEATH OF SIR LAUNCELOT AND OF THE QUEEN + + + + +INTRODUCTION + + +Among the stories of world-wide renown, not the least stirring are +those that have gathered about the names of national heroes. The +_AEneid_, the _Nibelungenlied_, the _Chanson de Roland_, the _Morte +D'Arthur_,--they are not history, but they have been as National +Anthems to the races, and their magic is not yet dead. + +In olden times our forefathers used to say that the world had seen +nine great heroes, three heathen, three Jewish, and three +Christian; among the Christian heroes was British Arthur, and of +none is the fame greater. Even to the present day, his name +lingers in many widely distant places. In the peninsula of Gower, a +huge slab of rock, propped up on eleven short pillars, is still +called Arthur's Stone; the lofty ridge which looks down upon +Edinburgh bears the name of Arthur's Seat; and--strangest, perhaps, +of all--in the Franciscan Church of far-away Innsbrueck, the finest +of the ten statues of ancestors guarding the tomb of the Emperor +Maximilian I. is that of King Arthur. There is hardly a country in +Europe without its tales of the Warrior-King; and yet of any real +Arthur history tells us little, and that little describes, not the +knightly conqueror, but the king of a broken people, struggling for +very life. + +More than fifteen centuries ago, this country, now called England, +was inhabited by a Celtic race known as the Britons, a warlike +people, divided into numerous tribes constantly at war with each +other. But in the first century of the Christian era they were +conquered by the Romans, who added Britain to their vast empire and +held it against attacks from without and rebellions from within by +stationing legions, or troops of soldiers, in strongly fortified +places all over the country. Now, from their conquerors, the +Britons learnt many useful arts, to read and to write, to build +houses and to make roads; but at the same time, they unlearnt some +of their own virtues and, among others, how to think and act for +themselves. For the Romans never allowed a Briton any real part in +the government of his own country, and if he wished to become a +soldier, he was sent away from Britain to serve with a legion +stationed in some far-distant part of the empire. Thus it came +about that when, in the fifth century, the Romans withdrew from +Britain to defend Rome itself from invading hordes of savages, the +unhappy Britons had forgotten how to govern and how to defend +themselves, and fell an easy prey to the many enemies waiting to +pounce on their defenceless country. Picts from Scotland invaded +the north, and Scots from Ireland plundered the west; worst of all, +the heathen Angles and Saxons, pouring across the seas from their +homes in the Elbe country, wasted the land with fire and sword. +Many of the Britons were slain; those who escaped sought refuge in +the mountainous parts of the west from Cornwall to the Firth of +Clyde. There, forgetting, to some extent, their quarrels, they took +the name of the Cymry, which means the "Brethren," though the +English, unable to understand their language, spoke of them +contemptuously as the "Welsh," or the "Strangers." + +For a long time the struggle went on between the two races, and +nowhere mere fiercely than in the south-west, where the invaders set +up the Kingdom of Wessex; but at last there arose among the Britons a +great chieftain called Arthur. The old histories speak of him as +"Emperor," and he seems to have been obeyed by all the Britons; +perhaps, therefore, he had succeeded to the position of the Roman +official known as the Comes Britanniae, whose duty it was to hasten to +the aid of the local governors in defending any part of Britain where +danger threatened. At all events, under his leadership, the oppressed +people defeated the Saxons in a desperate fight at Mons Badonicus, +perhaps the little place in Dorsetshire known as Badbury, or, it may +be, Bath itself, which is still called Badon by the Welsh. After that +victory, history has little to say about Arthur. The stories tell that +he was killed in a great battle in the west; but, nowadays, the wisest +historians think it more probable that he met his death in a conflict +near the River Forth. + +And so, in history, Arthur, the hero of such a mass of romantic +story, is little more than a name, and it is hardly possible to +explain how he attained to such renown as the hero of marvellous +and, sometimes, magical feats, unless on the supposition that he +became confused with some legendary hero, half god, half man, whose +fame he added to his own. Perhaps not the least marvel about him is +that he who was the hero of the Britons, should have become the +national hero of the English race that he spent his life in +fighting. Yet that is what did happen, though not till long +afterwards, when the victorious English, in their turn, bent before +their conquering kinsmen, the Normans. + +Now in the reign of the third Norman king, Henry I., there lived a +certain Welsh priest known as Geoffrey of Monmouth. Geoffrey seems +to have been much about the Court, and perhaps it was the Norman +love of stories that first made him think of writing his _History +of the British Kings_. A wonderful tale he told of all the British +kings from the time that Brut the Trojan settled in the country and +called it, after himself, Britain! For Geoffrey's book was history +only in name. What he tells us is that he was given an ancient +chronicle found in Brittany, and was asked to translate it from +Welsh into the better known language, Latin. It is hardly likely, +however, that Geoffrey himself expected his statement to be taken +quite seriously. Even in his own day, not every one believed in +him, for a certain Yorkshire monk declared that the historian had +"lied saucily and shamelessly"; and some years later, Gerald the +Welshman tells of a man who had intercourse with devils, from whose +sway, however, he could be freed if a Bible were placed upon his +breast, whereas he was completely under their control if Geoffrey's +_History_ were laid upon him, just because the book was so full of +lies. + +It is quite certain that Geoffrey did not write history, but he did +make a capital story, partly by collecting legends about British +heroes, partly by inventing stories of his own; so that though he +is not entitled to fame as an historian, he may claim to rank high +as a romantic story-teller who set a fashion destined to last for +some three centuries. + +So popular was his book that, not only in England, but, in an even +greater degree, on the Continent, writers were soon at work, +collecting and making more stories about the greatest of his kings, +Arthur. By some it is thought that the Normans took such delight in +the knightly deeds of Geoffrey's heroes that they spread the story +in France when they visited their homes in Normandy. Moreover, they +were in a good position to learn other tales of their favourite +knights, for Normandy bordered on Brittany, the home of the +Bretons, who, being of the same race as the Welsh, honoured the +same heroes in their legends. So in return for Geoffrey's tales, +Breton stories, perhaps, found their way into England; at all +events, marvellous romances of King Arthur and his Round Table were +soon being told in England, in France, in Germany and in Italy. + +Now, to some it may seem strange that story-tellers should care to +weave their stories so constantly about the same personages; +strange, too, that they should invent stories about men and women +who were believed actually to have existed. But it must be +remembered that, in those early days, very few could read and +write, and that, before printing was invented, books were so scarce +that four or five constituted quite a library. Those who knew how +to read, and were so fortunate as to have books, read them again +and again. For the rest, though kings and great nobles might have +poets attached to their courts, the majority depended for their +amusement on the professional story-teller. In the long winter +evening, no one was more welcome than the wandering minstrel. He +might be the knightly troubadour who, accompanied by a jongleur to +play his accompaniments, wandered from place to place out of sheer +love of his art and of adventure; more often, however, the minstrel +made story-telling his trade, and gained his living from the bounty +of his audience--be it in castle, market-place, or inn. Most +commonly, the narratives took the form of long rhyming poems; not +because the people in those days were so poetical--indeed, some of +these poems would be thought, in present times, very dreary +doggerel--but because rhyme is easier to remember than prose. +Story-tellers had generally much the same stock-in-trade--stories +of Arthur, Charlemagne, Sir Guy of Warwick, Sir Bevis of +Southampton, and so on. If a minstrel had skill of his own, he +would invent some new episode, and so, perhaps, turn a compliment +to his patron by introducing the exploit of an ancestor, at the +same time that he made his story last longer. People did not weary +of hearing the same tales over and over again, any more than little +children get tired of nursery rhymes, or their elders turn away +from "Punch and Judy," though the same little play has been +performed for centuries. As for inventing stories about real +people, that may well have seemed permissible in an age when +historians recorded mere hearsay as actual fact. Richard III., +perhaps, had one shoulder higher than the other, but within a few +years of his death grave historians had represented him as a +hunchbacked deformity. + +The romances connected with King Arthur and his knights went on +steadily growing in number until the fifteenth century; of them, +some have survived to the present day, but undoubtedly many have +been lost. Then, in the latter half of the fifteenth century, the +most famous of all the Arthurian stories was given to the world in +Sir Thomas Malory's _Morte D'Arthur_. By good luck, the great +printer who made it one of his first works, has left an account of +the circumstances that led to its production. In the reign of +Edward IV., William Caxton set up his printing-press (the first in +England) in the precincts of Westminster Abbey. There he was +visited, as he himself relates, by "many noble and divers gentlemen" +demanding why he had not printed the "noble history of the Saint Grail +and of the most-renowned Christian King ... Arthur." To please them, +and because he himself loved chivalry, Caxton printed Sir Thomas +Malory's story, in which all that is best in the many Arthurian +romances is woven into one grand narrative. + +Since then, in our own days, the story of Arthur and his knights +has been told in beautiful verse by Lord Tennyson; but for the +originals of some of his poems it would be useless to look in +Malory. The story of Geraint and Enid, Tennyson derived from a very +interesting collection of translations of ancient Welsh stories +made by Lady Charlotte Guest, and by her called _Mabinogion_,[1] +although not all Welsh scholars would consider the name quite +accurate. + +[Footnote 1: Meaning the apprentices of the bards.] + +And now it is time to say something about the stories themselves. +The Arthur of history was engaged in a life-long struggle with an +enemy that threatened to rob his people of home, of country, and of +freedom; in the stories, the king and his knights, like Richard +Coeur-de-Lion, sought adventure for adventure's sake, or, as in the +case of Sir Peredur, took fantastic vows for the love of a lady. +The Knights of the Round Table are sheathed from head to foot in +plate armour, although the real Arthur's warriors probably had only +shirts of mail and shields with which to ward off the blows of the +enemy. They live in moated castles instead of in halls of wood, +and they are more often engaged in tournaments than in struggles +with the heathen. In fact, those who wrote the stories represented +their heroes as living such lives as they themselves led. Just in +the same way, Dutch painters used to represent the shepherds in the +Bible story as Dutch peasants; just so David Garrick, the great +actor of the eighteenth century, used to act the part of a Roman in +his own full-bottomed wig and wide-skirted coat. + +It must not be forgotten that, in those far-away days when there +were few who could even read or write, there was little that, in +their ignorance, people were not prepared to believe. Stories of +marvels and magic that would deceive no one now, were then eagerly +accepted as truth. Those were the days when philosophers expected +to discover the Elixir of Life; when doctors consulted the stars in +treating their patients; when a noble of the royal blood, such as +Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, could fall into disgrace because his +wife was accused of trying to compass the king's death by melting a +wax image of him before a slow fire. + +Of all the stories, perhaps the most mystical is that of the Quest +of the Holy Grail, and it has features peculiar to itself. Nuns +take the place of fair ladies; there are hermitages instead of +castles; and the knights themselves, if they do not die, become +monks or hermits. The reason for this change in scene and character +is, that this is a romance in which the Church was trying to teach +men, by means of a tale such as they loved, the lesson of devotion +and purity of heart. + +The story sprang from certain legends which had grown up about the +name of Joseph of Arimathea. It was related that, when our Lord was +crucified, Joseph caught in a dish, or vessel, the blood which +flowed from His wounded side. In later years, the pious Jew left +his home and, taking with him the precious vessel, sailed away on +unknown seas until he came to the land of Britain. In that country +he landed, and at Glastonbury he built himself a hermitage, where +he treasured the sacred dish which came to be known as the Saint +Grail. After Joseph's death, the world grew more wicked, and so the +Holy Grail disappeared from the sight of sinful men, although, from +time to time, the vision of it was granted, as in the story, to the +pure in heart. + +In later days, legend said that where Joseph's hermitage had stood, +there grew up the famous monastery of Glastonbury, and it came to +have a special importance of its own in the Arthurian romance. In +the reign of Henry II., by the king's orders, the monks of +Glastonbury made search for the grave of King Arthur, and, in due +time, they announced that they had found it, nine feet below the +soil, the coffin covered with a stone in which was inlaid a leaden +cross bearing this inscription: "Hic iacet sepultus inclitus rex +Arthurius in insula Avalonia." Some, however, suggested that the +monks, less honest than anxious to please the masterful king, had +first placed the stone in position and then found it! + +One more feature of the tales remains to be mentioned: their +geography. There is no atlas that will make it plain in all cases; and +this is hardly wonderful, for so little was known of this subject +that, even in the reign of Henry VIII., the learned Lord Berners was +quite satisfied that his hero should journey to Babylon by way of the +Nile! Some of the places mentioned in the stories are, of course, +familiar, and others, less well known, can, with a little care, be +traced; but to identify all is not possible. Caerleon, where King +Arthur so often held his Court, still bears the same name, though its +glory has sorely shrank since the days when it had a bishop of its +own. Camelot, where stood the marvellous palace built for the king by +Merlin, is perhaps the village of Queen's Camel in Somersetshire. If +it is borne in mind that the French call Wales _Pays de Galles_, it is +not difficult to see that North Galis may well be North Wales. Gore is +the peninsula of Gower; Liones probably the land south-west of +Cornwall, now sunk beneath the sea; and Avalonia was the name given to +one of the many small islands of the once marshy, low-lying shore of +Somersetshire, which became afterwards better known as Glastonbury. + +Happily, it is neither on their history nor on their geography that +the tales depend for their interest. As long as a story of adventure +thrills; as long as gentleness, courtesy and consideration for the +weak excite respect, so long will be read the tales of the brave times + + "When every morning brought a noble chance, + And every chance brought out a noble knight." + + + + +STORIES FROM LE MORTE D'ARTHUR AND THE MABINOGION + + + + +BOOK I + +THE COMING OF ARTHUR + + + + +CHAPTER I + +OF ARTHUR'S BIRTH; AND HOW HE BECAME KING + + +Long years ago, there ruled over Britain a king called Uther +Pendragon. A mighty prince was he, and feared by all men; yet, when +he sought the love of the fair Igraine of Cornwall, she would have +naught to do with him, so that, from grief and disappointment, +Uther fell sick, and at last seemed like to die. + +Now in those days, there lived a famous magician named Merlin, so +powerful that he could change his form at will, or even make +himself invisible; nor was there any place so remote but that he +could reach it at once, merely by wishing himself there. One day, +suddenly he stood at Uther's bedside, and said: "Sir King, I know +thy grief, and am ready to help thee. Only promise to give me, at +his birth, the son that shall be born to thee, and thou shalt have +thy heart's desire." To this the king agreed joyfully, and Merlin +kept his word: for he gave Uther the form of one whom Igraine had +loved dearly, and so she took him willingly for her husband. + +When the time had come that a child should be born to the King and +Queen, Merlin appeared before Uther to remind him of his promise; +and Uther swore it should be as he had said. Three days later, a +prince was born, and, with pomp and ceremony, was christened by the +name of Arthur; but immediately thereafter, the King commanded that +the child should be carried to the postern-gate, there to be given +to the old man who would be found waiting without. + +Not long after, Uther fell sick, and he knew that his end was come; +so, by Merlin's advice, he called together his knights and barons, +and said to them: "My death draws near. I charge you, therefore, +that ye obey my son even as ye have obeyed me; and my curse upon +him if he claim not the crown when he is a man grown." Then the +King turned his face to the wall and died. + +Scarcely was Uther laid in his grave before disputes arose. Few of +the nobles had seen Arthur or even heard of him, and not one of +them would have been willing to be ruled by a child; rather, each +thought himself fitted to be king, and, strengthening his own +castle, made war on his neighbours until confusion alone was +supreme, and the poor groaned because there was none to help them. + +Now when Merlin carried away Arthur--for Merlin was the old man who +had stood at the postern-gate--he had known all that would happen, +and had taken the child to keep him safe from the fierce barons +until he should be of age to rule wisely and well, and perform all +the wonders prophesied of him. He gave the child to the care of the +good knight Sir Ector to bring up with his son Kay, but revealed +not to him that it was the son of Uther Pendragon that was given +into his charge. + +At last, when years had passed and Arthur was grown a tall youth +well skilled in knightly exercises, Merlin went to the Archbishop +of Canterbury and advised him that he should call together at +Christmas-time all the chief men of the realm to the great +cathedral in London; "For," said Merlin, "there shall be seen a +great marvel by which it shall be made clear to all men who is the +lawful King of this land." The Archbishop did as Merlin counselled. +Under pain of a fearful curse, he bade barons and knights come to +London to keep the feast, and to pray heaven to send peace to the +realm. + +The people hastened to obey the Archbishop's commands, and, from +all sides, barons and knights came riding in to keep the +birth-feast of our Lord. And when they had prayed, and were coming +forth from the cathedral, they saw a strange sight. There, in the +open space before the church, stood, on a great stone, an anvil +thrust through with a sword; and on the stone were written these +words: "Whoso can draw forth this sword, is rightful King of +Britain born." + +At once there were fierce quarrels, each man clamouring to be the +first to try his fortune, none doubting his own success. Then the +Archbishop decreed that each should make the venture in turn, from +the greatest baron to the least knight; and each in turn, having +put forth his utmost strength, failed to move the sword one inch, +and drew back ashamed. So the Archbishop dismissed the company, and +having appointed guards to watch over the stone, sent messengers +through all the land to give word of great jousts to be held in +London at Easter, when each knight could give proof of his skill +and courage, and try whether the adventure of the sword was for +him. + +Among those who rode to London at Easter was the good Sir Ector, +and with him his son, Sir Kay, newly made a knight, and the young +Arthur. When the morning came that the jousts should begin, Sir Kay +and Arthur mounted their horses and set out for the lists; but +before they reached the field, Kay looked and saw that he had left +his sword behind. Immediately Arthur turned back to fetch it for +him, only to find the house fast shut, for all were gone to view +the tournament. Sore vexed was Arthur, fearing lest his brother Kay +should lose his chance of gaining glory, till, of a sudden, he +bethought him of the sword in the great anvil before the cathedral. +Thither he rode with all speed, and the guards having deserted +their post to view the tournament, there was none to forbid him the +adventure. He leaped from his horse, seized the hilt, and instantly +drew forth the sword as easily as from a scabbard; then, mounting +his horse and thinking no marvel of what he had done, he rode after +his brother and handed him the weapon. + +When Kay looked at it, he saw at once that it was the wondrous +sword from the stone. In great joy he sought his father, and +showing it to him, said: "Then must I be King of Britain." But Sir +Ector bade him say how he came by the sword, and when Sir Kay told +how Arthur had brought it to him, Sir Ector bent his knee to the +boy, and said: "Sir, I perceive that ye are my King, and here I +tender you my homage"; and Kay did as his father. Then the three +sought the Archbishop, to whom they related all that had happened; +and he, much marvelling, called the people together to the great +stone, and bade Arthur thrust back the sword and draw it forth +again in the presence of all, which he did with ease. But an angry +murmur arose from the barons, who cried that what a boy could do, a +man could do; so, at the Archbishop's word, the sword was put back, +and each man, whether baron or knight, tried in his turn to draw it +forth, and failed. Then, for the third time, Arthur drew forth the +sword. Immediately there arose from the people a great shout: +"Arthur is King! Arthur is King! We will have no King but Arthur"; +and, though the great barons scowled and threatened, they fell on +their knees before him while the Archbishop placed the crown upon +his head, and swore to obey him faithfully as their lord and +sovereign. + +Thus Arthur was made King; and to all he did justice, righting +wrongs and giving to all their dues. Nor was he forgetful of those +that had been his friends; for Kay, whom he loved as a brother, he +made Seneschal and chief of his household, and to Sir Ector, his +foster-father, he gave broad lands. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +THE ROUND TABLE + + +Thus Arthur was made King, but he had to fight for his own; for +eleven great kings drew together and refused to acknowledge him as +their lord, and chief amongst the rebels was King Lot of Orkney who +had married Arthur's sister, Bellicent. + +By Merlin's advice, Arthur sent for help overseas, to Ban and Bors, +the two great Kings who ruled in Gaul. With their aid, he overthrew +his foes in a great battle near the river Trent; and then he passed +with them into their own lands and helped them drive out their +enemies. So there was ever great friendship between Arthur and the +Kings Ban and Bors, and all their kindred; and afterwards some of +the most famous Knights of the Round Table were of that kin. + +Then King Arthur set himself to restore order throughout his +kingdom. To all who would submit and amend their evil ways, he +showed kindness; but those who persisted in oppression and wrong he +removed, putting in their places others who would deal justly with +the people. And because the land had become overrun with forest +during the days of misrule, he cut roads through the thickets, that +no longer wild beasts and men, fiercer than the beasts, should lurk +in their gloom, to the harm of the weak and defenceless. Thus it +came to pass that soon the peasant ploughed his fields in safety, +and where had been wastes, men dwelt again in peace and prosperity. + +Amongst the lesser kings whom Arthur helped to rebuild their towns +and restore order, was King Leodegrance of Cameliard. Now +Leodegrance had one fair child, his daughter Guenevere; and from +the time that first he saw her, Arthur gave her all his love. So he +sought counsel of Merlin, his chief adviser. Merlin heard the King +sorrowfully, and he said: "Sir King, when a man's heart is set, he +may not change. Yet had it been well if ye had loved another." + +So the King sent his knights to Leodegrance, to ask of him his +daughter; and Leodegrance consented, rejoicing to wed her to so +good and knightly a King. With great pomp, the princess was +conducted to Canterbury, and there the King met her, and they two +were wed by the Archbishop in the great Cathedral, amid the +rejoicings of the people. + +On that same day did Arthur found his Order of the Round Table, the +fame of which was to spread throughout Christendom and endure +through all time. Now the Round Table had been made for King Uther +Pendragon by Merlin, who had meant thereby to set forth plainly to +all men the roundness of the earth. After Uther died, King +Leodegrance had possessed it; but when Arthur was wed, he sent it +to him as a gift, and great was the King's joy at receiving it. One +hundred and fifty knights might take their places about it, and for +them Merlin made sieges or seats. One hundred and twenty-eight did +Arthur knight at that great feast; thereafter, if any sieges were +empty, at the high festival of Pentecost new knights were ordained +to fill them, and by magic was the name of each knight found +inscribed, in letters of gold, in his proper siege. One seat only +long remained unoccupied, and that was the Siege Perilous. No +knight might occupy it until the coming of Sir Galahad; for, +without danger to his life, none might sit there who was not free +from all stain of sin. + +With pomp and ceremony did each knight take upon him the vows of +true knighthood: to obey the King; to show mercy to all who asked +it; to defend the weak; and for no worldly gain to fight in a +wrongful cause: and all the knights rejoiced together, doing honour +to Arthur and to his Queen. Then they rode forth to right the wrong +and help the oppressed, and by their aid, the King held his realm +in peace, doing justice to all. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +OF THE FINDING OF EXCALIBUR + + +Now when Arthur was first made King, as young knights will, he +courted peril for its own sake, and often would he ride unattended +by lonely forest ways, seeking the adventure that chance might send +him. All unmindful was he of the ruin to his realm if mischief +befell him; and even his trusty counsellors, though they grieved +that he should thus imperil him, yet could not but love him the +more for his hardihood. + +So, on a day, he rode through the Forest Perilous where dwelt the +Lady Annoure, a sorceress of great might, who used her magic powers +but for the furtherance of her own desires. And as she looked from +a turret window, she descried King Arthur come riding down a forest +glade, and the sunbeams falling upon him made one glory of his +armour and of his yellow hair. Then, as Annoure gazed upon the +King, her heart grew hot within her, and she resolved that, come +what might, she would have him for her own, to dwell with her +always and fulfil all her behests. And so she bade lower the +drawbridge and raise the portcullis, and sallying forth accompanied +by her maidens, she gave King Arthur courteous salutation, and +prayed him that he would rest within her castle that day, for that +she had a petition to make to him; and Arthur, doubting nothing of +her good faith, suffered himself to be led within. + +Then was a great feast spread, and Annoure caused the King to be +seated in a chair of state at her right hand, while squires and +pages served him on bended knee. So when they had feasted, the King +turned to the Lady Annoure and said courteously: "Lady, somewhat ye +said of a request that ye would make. If there be aught in which I +may pleasure you, I pray you let me know it, and I will serve you +as knightly as I may." "In truth," said the lady, "there is that +which I would fain entreat of you, most noble knight; yet suffer, I +beseech you, that first I may show you somewhat of my castle and my +estate, and then will I crave a boon of your chivalry." Then the +sorceress led King Arthur from room to room of her castle, and ever +each displayed greater store of beauty than the last. In some the +walls were hung with rich tapestries, in others they gleamed with +precious stones; and the King marvelled what might be the petition +of one that was mistress of such wealth. Lastly, Annoure brought +the King out upon the battlements, and as he gazed around him, he +saw that, since he had entered the castle, there had sprung up +about it triple walls of defence that shut out wholly the forest +from view. Then turned he to Annoure, and gravely he said: "Lady, +greatly I marvel in what a simple knight may pleasure one that is +mistress of so wondrous a castle as ye have shown me here; yet if +there be aught in which I may render you knightly service, right +gladly would I hear it now, for I must forth upon my way to render +service to those whose knight I am sworn." "Nay, now, King +Arthur," answered the sorceress mockingly, "ye may not think to +deceive me; for well I know you, and that all Britain bows to your +behest." "The more reason then that I should ride forth to right +wrong and succour them that, of their loyalty, render true +obedience to their lord." "Ye speak as a fool," said the sorceress; +"why should one that may command be at the beck and call of every +hind and slave within his realm? Nay, rest thee here with me, and I +will make thee ruler of a richer land than Britain, and give thee +to satisfy thy every desire." "Lady," said the King sternly, "I +will hear and judge of your petition at this time, and then will I +forth upon my way." "Nay," said Annoure, "there needs not this +harshness. I did but speak for thine advantage. Only vow thee to my +service, and there is naught that thou canst desire that thou shalt +not possess. Thou shalt be lord of this fair castle and of the +mighty powers that obey me. Why waste thy youth in hardship and in +the service of such as shall render thee little enough again?" + +Thereupon, without ever a word, the King turned him about and made +for the turret stair by which he had ascended, but nowhere could he +find it. Then said the sorceress, mocking him: "Fair sir, how think +ye to escape without my good-will? See ye not the walls that guard +my stronghold? And think ye that I have not servants enow to do my +bidding?" She clapped her hands and forthwith there appeared a +company of squires who, at her command, seized the King and bore +him away to a strong chamber where they locked him in. + +And so the King abode that night, the prisoner of that evil +sorceress, with little hope that day, when it dawned, should bring +him better cheer. Yet lost he not courage, but kept watch and vigil +the night through lest the powers of evil should assail him +unawares. And with the early morning light, Annoure came to visit +him. More stately she seemed than the night before, more tall and +more terrible; and her dress was one blaze of flashing gems, so +that scarce could the eye look upon her. As a queen might address a +vassal, so greeted she the King, and as condescending to one of low +estate, asked how he had fared that night. And the King made +answer: "I have kept vigil as behoves a knight who, knowing him to +be in the midst of danger, would bear himself meetly in any peril +that should offer." And the Lady Annoure, admiring his knightly +courage, desired more earnestly even than before to win him to her +will, and she said: "Sir Arthur, I know well your courage and +knightly fame, and greatly do I desire to keep you with me. Stay +with me and I promise you that ye shall bear sway over a wider +realm than any that ever ye heard of, and I, even I, its mistress, +will be at your command. And what lose ye if ye accept my offer? +Little enough, I ween, for never think that ye shall win the world +from evil and men to loyalty and truth." Then answered the King in +anger: "Full well I see that thou art in league with evil and that +thou but seekest to turn me from my purpose. I defy thee, foul +sorceress. Do thy worst; though thou slay me, thou shalt never sway +me to thy will"; and therewith the King raised his cross-hilted +sword before her. Then the lady quailed at that sight. Her heart +was filled with hate, but she said: "Go your way, proud King of a +petty realm. Rule well your race of miserable mortals, since more +it pleasures you than to bear sway over the powers of the air. I +keep you not against your will." With these words, she passed from +the chamber, and the King heard her give command to her squires to +set him without her gates, give him his horse, and suffer him to go +on his way. + +And so it came to pass that the King found himself once more at +large, and marvelled to have won so lightly to liberty. Yet knew he +not the depths of treachery in the heart of Annoure; for when she +found she might not prevail with the King, she bethought her how, +by mortal means, she might bring the King to dishonour and death. +And so, by her magic art, she caused the King to follow a path that +brought him to a fountain, whereby a knight had his tent, and, for +love of adventure, held the way against all comers. Now this knight +was Sir Pellinore, and at that time he had not his equal for +strength and knightly skill, nor had any been found that might +stand against him. So, as the King drew nigh, Pellinore cried: +"Stay, knight, for none passes this way except he joust with me." +"That is no good custom," said the King; "it were well that ye +followed it no more." "It is my custom, and I will follow it +still," answered Pellinore; "if ye like it not, amend it if ye +may." "I will do my endeavour," said Arthur, "but, as ye see, I +have no spear." "Nay, I seek not to have you at advantage," +replied Pellinore, and bade his squire give Arthur a spear. Then +they dressed their shields, laid their lances in rest, and rushed +upon each other. Now the King was wearied by his night's vigil, and +the strength of Pellinore was as the strength of three men; so, at +the first encounter, Arthur was unhorsed. Then said he: "I have +lost the honour on horseback, but now will I encounter thee with my +sword and on foot." "I, too, will alight," said Pellinore; "small +honour to me were it if I slew thee on foot, I being horsed the +while." So they encountered each other on foot, and so fiercely +they fought that they hewed off great pieces of each other's armour +and the ground was dyed with their blood. But at the last, Arthur's +sword broke off short at the hilt, and so he stood all defenceless +before his foe. "I have thee now," cried Pellinore; "yield thee as +recreant or I will slay thee." "That will I never," said the King, +"slay me if thou canst." Then he sprang on Pellinore, caught him by +the middle, and flung him to the ground, himself falling with him. +And Sir Pellinore marvelled, for never before had he encountered so +bold and resolute a foe; but exerting his great strength, he rolled +himself over, and so brought Arthur beneath him. Then had Arthur +perished, but at that moment Merlin stood beside him, and when Sir +Pellinore would have struck off the King's head, stayed his blow, +crying: "Pellinore, if thou slayest this knight, thou puttest the +whole realm in peril; for this is none other than King Arthur +himself." Then was Pellinore filled with dread, and cried: "Better +make an end of him at once; for if I suffer him to live, what hope +have I of his grace, that have dealt with him so sorely?" But +before Pellinore could strike, Merlin caused a deep sleep to come +upon him; and raising King Arthur from the ground, he staunched his +wounds and recovered him of his swoon. + +But when the King came to himself, he saw his foe lie, still as in +death, on the ground beside him; and he was grieved, and said: +"Merlin, what have ye done to this brave knight? Nay, if ye have +slain him, I shall grieve my life long; for a good knight he is, +bold and a fair fighter, though something wanting in knightly +courtesy." "He is in better case than ye are, Sir King, who so +lightly imperil your person, and thereby your kingdom's welfare; +and, as ye say, Pellinore is a stout knight, and hereafter shall he +serve you well. Have no fear. He shall wake again in three hours +and have suffered naught by the encounter. But for you, it were +well that ye came where ye might be tended for your wounds." "Nay," +replied the King, smiling, "I may not return to my court thus +weaponless; first will I find means to purvey me of a sword." "That +is easily done," answered Merlin; "follow me, and I will bring you +where ye shall get you a sword, the wonder of the world." + +So, though his wounds pained him sore, the King followed Merlin by +many a forest path and glade, until they came upon a mere, bosomed +deep in the forest; and as he looked thereon, the King beheld an +arm, clothed in white samite, shoot above the surface of the lake, +and in the hand was a fair sword that gleamed in the level rays of +the setting sun. "This is a great marvel," said the King, "what may +it mean?" And Merlin made answer: "Deep is this mere, so deep +indeed that no man may fathom it; but in its depths, and built upon +the roots of the mountains, is the palace of the Lady of the Lake. +Powerful is she with a power that works ever for good, and she +shall help thee in thine hour of need. For thee has she wrought +yonder sword. Go now, and take it." + +Then was Arthur aware of a little skiff, half hidden among the +bulrushes that fringed the lake; and leaping into the boat, without +aid of oar, he was wafted out into the middle of the lake, to the +place where, out of the water, rose the arm and sword. And leaning +from the skiff, he took the sword from the hand, which forthwith +vanished, and immediately thereafter the skiff bore him back to +land. + +Arthur drew from its scabbard the mighty sword, wondering the while +at the marvel of its workmanship, for the hilt shone with the light +of many twinkling gems--diamond and topaz and emerald, and many +another whose names none know. And as he looked on the blade, +Arthur was aware of mystic writings on the one side and the other, +and calling to Merlin, he bade him interpret them. "Sir," said +Merlin, "on the one side is written 'Keep me,' and on the other +'Throw me away.'" "Then," said the King, "which does it behove me +to do?" "Keep it," answered Merlin; "the time to cast it away is +not yet come. This is the good brand Excalibur, or Cut Steel, and +well shall it serve you. But what think ye of the scabbard?" "A +fair cover for so good a sword," answered Arthur. "Nay, it is more +than that," said Merlin, "for, so long as ye keep it, though ye be +wounded never so sore, yet ye shall not bleed to death." And when +he heard that, the King marvelled the more. + +Then they journeyed back to Caerleon, where the knights made great +joy of the return of their lord. And presently, thither came Sir +Pellinore, craving pardon of the King, who made but jest of his own +misadventure. And afterwards Sir Pellinore became of the Table +Round, a knight vowed, not only to deeds of hardihood, but also to +gentleness and courtesy; and faithfully he served the King, +fighting ever to maintain justice and put down wrong, and to defend +the weak from the oppressor. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +OF THE TREACHERY OF QUEEN MORGAN LE FAY + + +There was a certain Queen whose name was Morgan le Fay, and she was +a powerful sorceress. Little do men know of her save that, in her +youth, she was eager for knowledge and, having learnt all human +lore, turned her to magic, becoming so skilled therein that she was +feared of all. There was a time when great was her enmity towards +King Arthur, so that she plotted his ruin not once only nor twice; +and that is a strange thing, for it is said that she herself was +the kinswoman of the King. And truly, in the end, she repented her +of her malice, for she was, of those that came to bear Arthur to +the Delightful Islands from the field of his last bitter conflict; +but that was long after. + +Now when this enchantress learned how the Lady of the Lake had +given the King a sword and scabbard of strange might, she was +filled with ill-will; and all her thought was only how she might +wrest the weapon from him and have it for her own, to bestow as she +would. Even while she pondered thereon, the King himself sent her +the scabbard to keep for him; for Merlin never ceased to warn the +King to have in safe keeping the scabbard that had power to keep +him from mortal hurt; and it seemed to Arthur that none might +better guard it for him, till the hour of need, than Morgan le Fay, +the wise Queen that was of his own kindred. Yet was not the Queen +shamed of her treacherous intent by the trust that Arthur had in +her; but all her mind was set on how she might win to the +possession of the sword itself as well as of the scabbard. At the +last--so had her desire for the sword wrought upon her--she +resolved to compass the destruction of the King that, if she gained +the sword, never might she have need to fear his justice for the +wrong she had done. + +And her chance came soon. For, on a day, King Arthur resolved to +chase the hart in the forests near Camelot, wherefore he left +behind him his sword Excalibur, and took but a hunting spear with +him. All day long, he chased a white hart and, when evening fell, +he had far outstripped his attendants, save only two, Sir Accolon +of Gaul and Sir Uriens, King of Gore, the husband of Queen Morgan +le Fay herself. So when the King saw that darkness had come upon +them in the forest, he turned to his companions, saying: "Sirs, we +be far from Camelot and must lodge as we may this night. Let us go +forward until we shall find where we may shelter us a little." So +they rode forward, and presently Arthur espied a little lake +glinting in the beams of the rising moon, and, as they drew nearer, +they descried, full in the moonlight, a little ship, all hung with +silks even to the water's edge. Then said the King to his knights: +"Yonder is promise of shelter or, it may be, of adventure. Let us +tether our horses in the thicket and enter into this little ship." +And when they had so done, presently they found themselves in a +fair cabin all hung with silks and tapestries, and, in its midst, a +table spread with the choicest fare. And being weary and hungered +with the chase, they ate of the feast prepared and, lying down to +rest, were soon sunk in deep slumber. + +While they slept, the little ship floated away from the land, and +it came to pass that a great wonder befell; for when they woke in +the morning, King Uriens found himself at home in his own land, and +Sir Accolon was in his own chamber at Camelot; but the King lay a +prisoner, bound and fettered and weaponless, in a noisome dungeon +that echoed to the groans of hapless captives. + +When he was come to himself, King Arthur looked about him and saw +that his companions were knights in the same hard case as himself; +and he inquired of them how they came to be in that plight. "Sir," +said one of them, "we are in duresse in the castle of a certain +recreant knight, Sir Damas by name, a coward false to chivalry. +None love him, and so no champion can he find to maintain his cause +in a certain quarrel that he has in hand. For this reason, he lies +in wait with a great company of soldiers for any knights that may +pass this way, and taking them prisoners, holds them in captivity +unless they will undertake to fight to the death in his cause. And +this I would not, nor any of my companions here; but unless we be +speedily rescued, we are all like to die of hunger in this +loathsome dungeon." "What is his quarrel?" asked the King. "That we +none of us know," answered the knight. + +While they yet talked, there entered the prison a damsel. She went +up to the King at once, and said: "Knight, will ye undertake to +fight in the cause of the lord of this castle?" "That I may not +say," replied the King, "unless first I may hear what is his +quarrel." "That ye shall not know," replied the damsel, "but this I +tell you: if ye refuse, ye shall never leave this dungeon alive, +but shall perish here miserably." "This is a hard case," said the +King, "that I must either die or fight for one I know not, and in a +cause that I may not hear. Yet on one condition will I undertake +your lord's quarrel, and that is that he shall give me all the +prisoners bound here in this dungeon." "It shall be as ye say," +answered the damsel, "and ye shall also be furnished with horse and +armour and sword than which ye never saw better." Therewith the +damsel bade him follow her, and brought him to a great hall where +presently there came to him squires to arm him for the combat; and +when their service was rendered, the damsel said to him: "Sir +Knight, even now there has come one who greets you in the name of +Queen Morgan le Fay, and bids me tell you that the Queen, knowing +your need, has sent you your good sword." Then the King rejoiced +greatly, for it seemed to him that the sword that the damsel gave +him was none other than the good sword Excalibur. + +When all was prepared, the damsel led King Arthur into a fair +field, and there he beheld awaiting him a knight, all sheathed in +armour, his vizor down, and bearing a shield on which was no +blazonry. So the two knights saluted each other, and, wheeling +their horses, rode away from each other some little space. + +Then turning again, they laid lance in rest, and rushing upon each +other, encountered with the noise of thunder, and so great was the +shock that each knight was borne from the saddle. Swiftly they +gained their feet, and, drawing their swords, dealt each other +great blows; and thus they contended fiercely for some while. But +as he fought, a great wonder came upon Arthur, for it seemed to him +that his sword, that never before had failed him, bit not upon the +armour of the other, while every stroke of his enemy drew blood, +till the ground on which he fought was slippery beneath his feet; +and at the last almost his heart failed within him, knowing that he +was betrayed, and that the brand with which he fought was not +Excalibur. Yet would he not show aught of what he suffered, but +struggled on, faint as he was and spent; so that they that watched +the fight and saw how he was sore wounded, marvelled at his great +courage and endurance. But presently, the stranger knight dealt the +King a blow which fell upon Arthur's sword, and so fierce was the +stroke that the blade broke off at the pommel. "Knight," said the +other, "thou must yield thee recreant to my mercy." "That may I not +do with mine honour," answered the King, "for I am sworn to fight +in this quarrel to the death." "But weaponless thou must needs be +slain." "Slay me an ye will, but think not to win glory by slaying +a weaponless man." + +Then was the other wroth to find himself still withstood and, in +his anger, he dealt Arthur a great blow; but this the King shunned, +and rushing upon his foe, smote him so fiercely on the head with +the pommel of his broken sword that the knight swayed and let slip +his own weapon. With a bound, Arthur was upon the sword, and no +sooner had he it within his grasp than he knew it, of a truth, to +be his own sword Excalibur. Then he scanned more closely his enemy, +and saw the scabbard that he wore was none other than the magic +scabbard of Excalibur; and forthwith, leaping upon the knight, he +tore it from him and flung it far afield. + +"Knight," cried King Arthur, "ye have made me suffer sore, but now +is the case changed and ye stand within my power, helpless and +unarmed. And much I misdoubt me but that treacherously ye have +dealt with me. Nevertheless, yield you recreant and I will spare +your life." "That I may not do, for it is against my vow; so slay +me if ye will. Of a truth, ye are the best knight that ever I +encountered." + +Then it seemed to the King that the knight's voice was not unknown +to him, and he said: "Tell me your name and what country ye are of, +for something bids me think that ye are not all unknown to me." "I +am Accolon of Gaul, knight of King Arthur's Round Table." "Ah! +Accolon, Accolon," cried the King, "is it even thou that hast +fought against me? Almost hast thou undone me. What treason tempted +thee to come against me, and with mine own weapon too?" When Sir +Accolon knew that it was against King Arthur that he had fought, he +gave a loud cry and swooned away utterly. Then Arthur called to two +stout yeomen amongst those that had looked on at the fight, and +bade them bear Sir Accolon to a little hermitage hard by, and +thither he himself followed with pain, being weak from loss of +blood; but into the castle he would not enter, for he trusted not +those that held it. + +The hermit dressed their wounds, and presently, when Sir Accolon +had come to himself again, the King spoke gently to him, bidding +him say how he had come to bear arms against him. "Sir and my +lord," answered Sir Accolon, "it comes of naught but the treachery +of your kinswoman, Queen Morgan le Fay. For on the morrow after we +had entered upon the little ship, I awoke in my chamber at Camelot, +and greatly I marvelled how I had come there. And as I yet +wondered, there came to me a messenger from Queen Morgan le Fay, +desiring me to go to her without delay. And when I entered her +presence, she was as one sore troubled, and she said to me: 'Sir +Accolon, of my secret power, I know that now is our King, Arthur, +in great danger; for he lies imprisoned in a great and horrible +dungeon whence he may not be delivered unless one be found to do +battle for him with the lord of the castle. Wherefore have I sent +for you that ye may take the battle upon you for our lord the King. +And for greater surety, I give you here Excalibur, Arthur's own +sword, for, of a truth, we should use all means for the rescuing of +our lord.' And I, believing this evil woman, came hither and +challenged the lord of this castle to mortal combat; and, indeed, I +deemed it was with Sir Damas that I fought even now. Yet all was +treachery, and I misdoubt me that Sir Damas and his people are in +league with Queen Morgan le Fay to compass your destruction. But, +my lord Arthur, pardon me, I beseech you, the injuries that, all +unwitting, I have done you." + +King Arthur was filled with wrath against the Queen, more for the +wrong done to Sir Accolon than for the treason to himself. In all +ways that he might, he sought to comfort and relieve Sir Accolon, +but in vain, for daily the knight grew weaker, and, after many +days, he died. Then the King, being recovered of his wounds, +returned to Camelot, and calling together a band of knights, led +them against the castle of Sir Damas. But Damas had no heart to +attempt to hold out, and surrendered himself and all that he had to +the King's mercy. And first King Arthur set free those that Sir +Damas had kept in miserable bondage, and sent them away with rich +gifts. When he had righted the wrongs of others, then he summoned +Sir Damas before him, and said: "I command thee that thou tell me +why thou didst seek my destruction." And cringing low at the King's +footstool, Damas answered: "I beseech you, deal mercifully with me, +for all that I have done, I have done at the bidding of Queen +Morgan le Fay." "A coward's plea," said the King; "how camest thou +first to have traffic with her?" "Sir," replied Damas, "much have I +suffered, first by the greed of my younger brother and now by the +deceit of this evil woman, as ye shall hear. When my father died, I +claimed the inheritance as of right, seeing that I was his elder +son; but my young brother, Sir Ontzlake, withstood me, and demanded +some part of my father's lands. Long since, he sent me a challenge +to decide our quarrel in single combat, but it liked me ill, seeing +that I am of no great strength. Much, therefore, did I desire to +find a champion but, by ill fortune, none could I find until Queen +Morgan le Fay sent word that, of her good will to me, she had sent +me one that would defend my cause; and that same evening, the +little ship brought you, my lord, to my castle. And when I saw you, +I rejoiced, thinking to have found a champion that would silence my +brother for ever; nor knew I you for the King's self. Wherefore, I +entreat you, spare me, and avenge me on my brother." Therewith, Sir +Damas fawned upon the King, but Arthur sternly bade him rise and +send messengers to bring Sir Ontzlake before him. + +Presently, there stood before the King a youth, fair and of good +stature, who saluted his lord and then remained silent before him. +"Sir Ontzlake," said the King, "I have sent for you to know of your +dealings with Sir Accolon and of your quarrel with your brother." +"My lord Arthur," answered the youth, "that I was the cause of hurt +to yourself, I pray you to pardon me, for all unwitting was I of +evil. For ye shall know that I had challenged my brother to single +combat; but when word came to me that he was provided of a +champion, I might not so much as brook my armour for a sore wound +that I had got of an arrow shot at me as I rode through the forest +near his castle. And as I grieved for my hard case, there came a +messenger from Queen Morgan le Fay bidding me be of good courage, +for she had sent unto me one, Sir Accolon, who would undertake my +quarrel. This only she commanded me, that I should ask no question +of Sir Accolon. So Sir Accolon abode with me that night and, as I +supposed, fought in my cause the next day. Sure am I that there is +some mystery, yet may I not misdoubt my lady Queen Morgan le Fay +without cause; wherefore, if blame there be, let me bear the +punishment." + +Then was the King well pleased with the young man for his courage +and loyalty to others. "Fair youth," said he, "ye shall go with me +to Camelot, and if ye prove you brave and just in all your doings, +ye shall be of my Round Table." But to Sir Damas he said sternly: +"Ye are a mean-spirited varlet, unworthy of the degree of +knighthood. Here I ordain that ye shall yield unto your brother +the moiety of the lands that ye had of your father and, in payment +for it, yearly ye shall receive of Sir Ontzlake a palfrey; for that +will befit you better to ride than the knightly war-horse. And look +ye well to it, on pain of death, that ye lie no more in wait for +errant knights, but amend your life and live peaceably with your +brother." + +Thereafter, the fear of the King kept Sir Damas from deeds of +violence; yet, to the end, he remained cowardly and churlish, +unworthy of the golden spurs of knighthood. But Sir Ontzlake proved +him a valiant knight, fearing God and the King and naught else. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +HOW THE SCABBARD OF EXCALIBUR WAS LOST + + +Now when Queen Morgan le Fay knew that her plot had miscarried and +that her treachery was discovered, she feared to abide the return +of the King to Camelot; and so she went to Queen Guenevere, and +said: "Madam, of your courtesy, grant me leave, I pray you, to +depart." "Nay," said the Queen, "that were pity, for I have news of +my lord the King, that soon he will return to Camelot. Will ye not +then await his return, that ye may see your kinsman before ye +depart?" "Alas! madam," said Morgan le Fay, "that may not be, for +I have ill news that requires that immediately I get to my own +country." "Then shall ye depart when ye will," said the Queen. + +So before the next day had dawned, Morgan le Fay arose and, taking +her horse, departed unattended from Camelot. All that day and most +of the night she rode fast, and ere noon the next day, she was come +to a nunnery where, as she knew, King Arthur lay. Entering into the +house, she made herself known to the nuns, who received her +courteously and gave her of their best to eat and to drink. When +she was refreshed, she asked if any other had sought shelter with +them that day; and they told her that King Arthur lay in an inner +chamber and slept, for he had rested little for three nights. "Ah! +my dear lord!" exclaimed the false sorceress; "gladly would I speak +with him, but I will not that ye awaken him, and long I may not +tarry here; wherefore suffer me at least to look upon him as he +sleeps, and then will I continue my journey." And the nuns, +suspecting no treachery, showed Queen Morgan le Fay the room where +King Arthur slept, and let her enter it alone. + +So Morgan le Fay had her will and stood beside the sleeping King; +but again it seemed as if she must fail of her purpose, and her +heart was filled with rage and despair. For she saw that the King +grasped in his hand the hilt of the naked brand, that none might +take it without awakening him. While she mused, suddenly she espied +the scabbard where it hung at the foot of the bed, and her heart +rejoiced to know that something she might gain by her bold +venture. She snatched up the empty sheath, and wrapping it in a +fold of her garment, left the chamber. Brief were her farewells to +the holy nuns, and in haste she got to horse and rode away. + +Scarcely had she set forth, when the King awoke, and rising from +his couch, saw at once that the scabbard of his sword was gone. +Then summoned he the whole household to his presence and inquired +who had entered his chamber. "Sir," said the Abbess, "there has +none been here save only your kinswoman, the Queen Morgan le Fay. +She, indeed, desired to look upon you since she might not abide +your awakening." Then the King groaned aloud, saying, "It is my own +kinswoman, the wife of my true knight, Sir Uriens, that would +betray me." He bade Sir Ontzlake make ready to accompany him, and +after courteous salutation to the Abbess and her nuns, together +they rode forth by the path that Morgan le Fay had taken. + +Fast they rode in pursuit, and presently they came to a cross where +was a poor cowherd keeping watch over his few beasts, and of him +they asked whether any had passed that way. "Sirs," said the +peasant, "even now there rode past the cross a lady most lovely to +look upon, and with her forty knights." Greatly the King marvelled +how Queen Morgan le Fay had come by such a cavalcade, but nothing +he doubted that it was she the cowherd had seen. So thanking the +poor man, the King, with Sir Ontzlake, rode on by the path that had +been shown them, and presently, emerging from the forest, they were +aware of a glittering company of horsemen winding through a wide +plain that lay stretched before them. On the instant, they put +spurs to their horses and galloped as fast as they might in +pursuit. + +But, as it chanced, Queen Morgan le Fay looked back even as Arthur +and Sir Ontzlake came forth from the forest, and seeing them, she +knew at once that her theft had been discovered, and that she was +pursued. Straightway she bade her knights ride on till they should +come to a narrow valley where lay many great stones; but as soon as +they had left her, she herself rode, with all speed, to a mere hard +by. Sullen and still it lay, without even a ripple on its surface. +No animal ever drank of its waters nor bird sang by it, and it was +so deep that none might ever plumb it. And when the Queen had come +to the brink, she dismounted. From the folds of her dress she drew +the scabbard, and waving it above her head, she cried, "Whatsoever +becometh of me, King Arthur shall not have this scabbard." Then, +whirling it with all her might, she flung it far into the mere. The +jewels glinted as the scabbard flashed through the air, then it +clove the oily waters of the lake and sank, never again to be seen. + +When it had vanished, Morgan le Fay mounted her horse again, and +rode fast after her knights, for the King and Ontzlake were in hot +pursuit, and sore she feared lest they should come up with her +before she might reach the shelter of the Valley of Stones. But she +had rejoined her company of knights before the King had reached the +narrow mouth of the valley. Quickly she bade her men scatter among +the boulders, and then, by her magic art, she turned them all, men +and horses and herself too, into stones, that none might tell the +one from the other. + +When King Arthur and Sir Ontzlake reached the valley, they looked +about for some sign of the presence of the Queen or her knights, +but naught might they see though they rode through the valley and +beyond, and returning, searched with all diligence among the rocks +and boulders. Never again was Queen Morgan le Fay seen at Camelot, +nor did she attempt aught afterwards against the welfare of the +King. When she had restored her knights to their proper form, she +hastened with them back to her own land, and there she abode for +the rest of her days until she came with the other queens to carry +Arthur from the field of the Battle in the West. + +Nor would the King seek to take vengeance on a woman, though sorely +she had wronged him. His life long, he guarded well the sword +Excalibur, but the sheath no man ever saw again. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +MERLIN + + +Of Merlin and how he served King Arthur, something has been already +shown. Loyal he was ever to Uther Pendragon and to his son, King +Arthur, and for the latter especially he wrought great marvels. He +brought the King to his rights; he made him his ships; and some +say that Camelot, with its splendid halls, where Arthur would +gather his knights around him at the great festivals of the year, +at Christmas, at Easter, and at Pentecost, was raised by his magic, +without human toil. Bleise, the aged magician who dwelt in +Northumberland and recorded the great deeds of Arthur and his +knights, had been Merlin's master in magic; but it came to pass in +time that Merlin far excelled him in skill, so that his enemies +declared no mortal was his father, and called him devil's son. + +Then, on a certain time, Merlin said to Arthur: "The time draws +near when ye shall miss me, for I shall go down alive into the +earth; and it shall be that gladly would ye give your lands to have +me again." Then Arthur was grieved, and said: "Since ye know your +danger, use your craft to avoid it." But Merlin answered: "That may +not be." + +Now there had come to Arthur's court, a damsel of the Lady of the +Lake--her whose skill in magic, some say, was greater than Merlin's +own; and the damsel's name was Vivien. She set herself to learn the +secrets of Merlin's art, and was ever with him, tending upon the +old man and, with gentleness and tender service, winning her way to +his heart; but all was a pretence, for she was weary of him and +sought only his ruin, thinking it should be fame for her, by any +means whatsoever, to enslave the greatest wizard of his age. And so +she persuaded him to pass with her overseas into King Ban's land of +Benwick, and there, one day, he showed her a wondrous rock, formed +by magic art. Then she begged him to enter into it, the better to +declare to her its wonders; but when once he was within, by a charm +that she had learnt from Merlin's self, she caused the rock to +shut down that never again might he come forth. Thus was Merlin's +prophecy fulfilled, that he should go down into the earth alive. +Much they marvelled in Arthur's court what had become of the great +magician, till on a time, there rode past the stone a certain +Knight of the Round Table and heard Merlin lamenting his sad fate. +The knight would have striven to raise the mighty stone, but Merlin +bade him not waste his labour, since none might release him save +her who had imprisoned him there. Thus Merlin passed from the world +through the treachery of a damsel, and thus Arthur was without aid +in the days when his doom came upon him. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +BALIN AND BALAN + + +Among the princes that thought scorn of Arthur in the days when +first he became king, none was more insolent than Ryons of North +Wales. So, on a time when King Arthur held high festival at +Camelot, Ryons sent a herald who, in the presence of the whole +court, before brave knights and fair dames, thus addressed the +King: "Sir Arthur, my master bids me say that he has overcome +eleven kings with all their hosts, and, in token of their +submission, they have given him their beards to fringe him a +mantle. There remains yet space for the twelfth; wherefore, with +all speed, send him your beard, else will he lay waste your land +with fire and sword." "Viler message," said King Arthur, "was never +sent from man to man. Get thee gone, lest we forget thine office +protects thee." So spoke the King, for he had seen his knights clap +hand to sword, and would not that a messenger should suffer hurt in +his court. + +Now among the knights present the while was one whom men called +Balin le Savage, who had but late been freed from prison for +slaying a knight of Arthur's court. None was more wroth than he at +the villainy of Ryons, and immediately after the departure of the +herald, he left the hall and armed him; for he was minded to try +if, with good fortune, he might win to Arthur's grace by avenging +him on the King of North Wales. While he was without, there entered +the hall a Witch Lady who, on a certain occasion, had done the King +a service, and for this she now desired of him a boon. So Arthur +bade her name her request, and thus she said: "O King, I require of +you the head of the knight Balin le Savage." "That may I not grant +you with my honour," replied the King; "ask what it may become me +to give." But the Witch Lady would have naught else, and departed +from the hall, murmuring against the King. Then, as it chanced, +Balin met her at the door, and immediately when he saw her, he rode +upon her, sword in hand, and, with one blow, smote off her head. +Thus he took vengeance for his mother's death, of which she had +been the cause, and, well content, rode away. But when it was told +King Arthur of the deed that Balin had done, he was full wroth, +nor was his anger lessened though Merlin declared the wrong the +Witch Lady had done to Balin. "Whatsoever cause he had against her, +yet should he have done her no violence in my court," said the +King, and bade Sir Lanceour of Ireland ride after Balin and bring +him back again. + +Thus it came to pass that, as Sir Balin rode on his way, he heard +the hoof-beats of a horse fast galloping, and a voice cried loudly +to him: "Stay, Knight; for thou shalt stay, whether thou wilt or +not." "Fair Knight," answered Balin fiercely, "dost thou desire to +fight with me?" "Yea, truly," answered Lanceour; "for that cause +have I followed thee from Camelot." "Alas!" cried Balin, "then I +know thy quarrel. And yet, I dealt but justly by that vile woman, +and it grieves me to offend my lord King Arthur again." "Have done, +and make ready to fight," said Lanceour insolently; for he was +proud and arrogant, though a brave knight. So they rushed together, +and, at the first encounter, Sir Lanceour's spear was shivered +against the shield of the other, but Balin's spear pierced shield +and hauberk and Lanceour fell dead to the earth. + +Then Sir Balin, sore grieved that he had caused the death of a +knight of Arthur's court, buried Lanceour as well as he might, and +continued sorrowfully on his journey in search of King Ryons. +Presently, as he rode through a great forest, he espied a knight +whom, by his arms, he knew at once for his brother, Sir Balan. +Great joy had they in their meeting, for Balan had believed Balin +still to be in prison. So Balin told Balan all that had befallen +him, and how he sought Ryons to avenge Arthur upon him for his +insolent message, and hoped thereby to win his lord's favour again. +"I will ride with thee, brother," said Balan, "and help thee all I +may." So the two went on their way till, presently, they met with +an old man--Merlin's self, though they knew him not, for he was +disguised. "Ah, Knight," said Merlin to Balin, "swift to strike and +swift to repent, beware, or thou shalt strike the most dolorous +blow dealt by man; for thou shalt slay thine own brother." "If I +believed thy words true," cried Balin hotly, "I would slay myself +to make thee a liar." "I know the past and I know the future," said +Merlin; "I know, too, the errand on which thou ridest, and I will +help thee if thou wilt." "Ah!" said Balin, "that pleases me well." +"Hide you both in this covert," said Merlin; "for presently there +shall come riding down this path King Ryons with sixty of his +knights." With these words he vanished. So Balin and Balan did as +he had bidden them, and when King Ryons and his men entered the +little path, they fell upon them with such fury that they slew more +than forty knights, while the rest fled, and King Ryons himself +yielded him to them. So Sir Balan rode with King Ryons to Camelot +that he might deliver him to King Arthur; but Balin went not with +them, for he would see more adventures before he sought King +Arthur's presence again. + +After many days' travel and many encounters, it befell that, one +evening, Balin drew near to a castle; and when he would have sought +admittance, there stood by him an old man, and said: "Balin, turn +thee back, and it shall be better for thee," and so vanished. At +that moment there was blown a blast on a horn, such as is sounded +when the stag receives its death; and hearing it, Balin's heart +misgave him, and he cried: "That blast is blown for me, and I am +the prize. But not yet am I dead!" + +At that instant the castle gate was raised and there appeared many +knights and ladies welcoming Balin into the castle. So he entered, +and presently they were all seated at supper. Then the lady of the +castle said to Balin: "Sir Knight, to-morrow thou must have ado +with a knight that keeps an island near-by; else mayest thou not +pass that way." "That is an evil custom," answered Balin; "but if I +must, I must." So that night he rested, but with the dawn he arose, +and was arming himself for battle when there came to him a knight +and said: "Sir, your shield is not good; I pray you, take mine +which is larger and stouter." In an evil hour, Balin suffered +himself to be persuaded, and taking the stranger's shield, left; +behind his own on which his arms were blazoned. Then, entering a +boat, he was conveyed to the island where the unknown knight held +the ford. + +No sooner was he landed, than there came riding to him a knight +armed all in red armour, his horse, too, trapped all in red; and +without word spoken, they charged upon each other, and each bore +the other from the saddle. Thus for a while they lay, stunned by +the fall. The Red Knight was the first to rise, for Balin, all +wearied by his travels and many encounters, was sore shaken by the +fall. Then they fought together right fiercely, hacking away great +pieces of armour, and dealing each other dreadful wounds. But when +they paused to take breath, Balin, looking up, saw the battlements +of the castle filled with knights and ladies watching the struggle, +and immediately, shamed that the conflict should have so long +endured, he rushed again upon the Red Knight, aiming at him blows +that might have felled a giant. So they fought together a long +while; but at the last, the Red Knight drew back a little. Then +cried Balin: "Who art thou? for till now, never have I met my +match." Then said the Red Knight: "I am Balan, brother to the noble +knight, Sir Balin"; and with the word, he fell to the ground as one +dead. "Alas!" cried Balin, "that I should have lived to see this +day!" Then, as well as he might, for his strength was almost spent, +he crept on hands and knees to his brother's side and opened the +vizor of his helmet, and when he saw his brother's face all +ghastly, as it was, he cried: "O Balan, I have slain thee, as thou +hast also slain me! Oh! woeful deed I never to be forgotten of +men!" Then Balan, being somewhat recovered, told Balin how he had +been compelled by those at the castle to keep the ford against all +comers, and might never depart; and Balin told of the grievous +chance by which he had taken another's shield. + +So these two died, slain by each other's hands. In one tomb they +were buried; and Merlin, passing that way, inscribed thereon the +full story of their deaths. + + + + +BOOK II + +SIR LAUNCELOT + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +SIR LAUNCELOT DU LAC + + +Now, as time passed, King Arthur gathered into his Order of the +Round Table knights whose peers shall never be found in any age; +and foremost amongst them all was Sir Launcelot du Lac. Such was +his strength that none against whom he laid lance in rest could +keep the saddle, and no shield was proof against his sword dint; +but for his courtesy even more than for his courage and strength, +Sir Launcelot was famed far and near. Gentle he was and ever the +first to rejoice in the renown of another; and in the jousts, he +would avoid encounter with the young and untried knight, letting +him pass to gain glory if he might. + +It would take a great book to record all the famous deeds of Sir +Launcelot, and all his adventures. He was of Gaul, for his father, +King Ban, ruled over Benwick; and some say that his first name was +Galahad, and that he was named Launcelot du Lac by the Lady of the +Lake who reared him when his mother died. Early he won renown by +delivering his father's people from the grim King Claudas who, for +more than twenty years, had laid waste the fair land of Benwick; +then, when there was peace in his own land, he passed into Britain, +to Arthur's court, where the King received him gladly, and made him +Knight of the Round Table and took him for his trustiest friend. +And so it was that, when Guenevere was to be brought to Canterbury, +to be married to the King, Launcelot was chief of the knights sent +to wait upon her, and of this came the sorrow of later days. For, +from the moment he saw her, Sir Launcelot loved Guenevere, for her +sake remaining wifeless all his days, and in all things being her +faithful knight. But busy-bodies and mischief-makers spoke evil of +Sir Launcelot and the Queen, and from their talk came the undoing +of the King and the downfall of his great work. But that was after +long years, and after many true knights had lived their lives, +honouring the King and Queen, and doing great deeds whereby the +fame of Arthur and his Order passed through all the world. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +THE ADVENTURE OF THE CHAPEL PERILOUS + + +Now on a day, as he rode through the forest, Sir Launcelot met a +damsel weeping bitterly, and seeing him, she cried, "Stay, Sir +Knight! By your knighthood I require you to aid me in my distress." +Immediately Sir Launcelot checked his horse and asked in what she +needed his service. "Sir," said the maiden, "my brother lies at the +point of death, for this day he fought with the stout knight, Sir +Gilbert, and sorely they wounded each other; and a wise woman, a +sorceress, has said that nothing may staunch my brother's wounds +unless they be searched with the sword and bound up with a piece +of the cloth from the body of the wounded knight who lies in the +ruined chapel hard by. And well I know you, my lord Sir Launcelot, +and that, if ye will not help me, none may." "Tell me your +brother's name," said Sir Launcelot. "Sir Meliot de Logris," +answered the damsel. "A Knight of our Round Table," said Sir +Launcelot; "the more am I bound to your service. Only tell me, +gentle damsel, where I may find this Chapel Perilous." So she +directed him, and, riding through forest byeways, Sir Launcelot +came presently upon a little ruined chapel, standing in the midst +of a churchyard, where the tombs showed broken and neglected under +the dark yews. In front of the porch, Sir Launcelot paused and +looked, for thereon hung, upside down, dishonoured, the shield of +many a good knight whom Sir Launcelot had known. + +As he stood wondering, suddenly there pressed upon him from all +sides thirty stout knights, all giants and fully armed, their drawn +swords in their hands and their shields advanced. With threatening +looks, they spoke to him saying: "Sir Launcelot, it were well ye +turned back before evil befell you." But Sir Launcelot, though he +feared to have to do with thirty such warriors, answered boldly: "I +turn not back for high words. Make them good by your deeds." Then +he rode upon them fiercely, whereupon instantly they scattered and +disappeared, and, sword in hand, Sir Launcelot entered the little +chapel. All was dark within, save that a little lamp hung from the +roof, and by its dim light he could just espy how on a bier before +the altar there lay, stark and cold, a knight sheathed in armour. +And drawing nearer, Sir Launcelot saw that the dead man lay on a +blood-stained mantle, his naked sword by his side, but that his +left hand had been lopped off at the wrist by a mighty sword-cut. +Then Sir Launcelot boldly seized the sword and with it cut off a +piece of the bloody mantle. Immediately the earth shook and the +walls of the chapel rocked, and in fear Sir Launcelot turned to go. +But, as he would have left the chapel, there stood before him in +the doorway a lady, fair to look upon and beautifully arrayed, who +gazed earnestly upon him, and said: "Sir Knight, put away from you +that sword lest it be your death." But Sir Launcelot answered her: +"Lady, what I have said, I do; and what I have won, I keep." "It is +well," said the lady. "Had ye cast away the sword your life days +were done. And now I make but one request. Kiss me once." "That may +I not do," said Sir Launcelot. Then said the lady: "Go your way, +Launcelot; ye have won, and I have lost. Know that, had ye kissed +me, your dead body had lain even now on the altar bier. For much +have I desired to win you; and to entrap you, I ordained this +chapel. Many a knight have I taken, and once Sir Gawain himself +hardly escaped, but he fought with Sir Gilbert and lopped off his +hand, and so got away. Fare ye well; it is plain to see that none +but our lady, Queen Guenevere, may have your services." With that, +she vanished from his sight. So Sir Launcelot mounted his horse and +rode away from that evil place till he met Sir Meliot's sister, who +led him to her brother where he lay, pale as the earth, and +bleeding fast. And when he saw Sir Launcelot, he would have risen +to greet him; but his strength failed him, and he fell back on his +couch. Sir Launcelot searched his wounds with the sword, and bound +them up with the blood-stained cloth, and immediately Sir Meliot +was sound and well, and greatly he rejoiced. Then Sir Meliot and +his sister begged Sir Launcelot to stay and rest, but he departed +on his adventures, bidding them farewell until he should meet them +again at Arthur's court. + +As for the sorceress of the Chapel Perilous, it is said she died +of grief that all her charms had failed to win for her the good +knight Sir Launcelot. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +SIR LAUNCELOT AND THE FALCON + + +Sir Launcelot rode on his way, by marsh and valley and hill, till +he chanced upon a fair castle, and saw fly from it, over his head, +a beautiful falcon, with the lines still hanging from her feet. And +as he looked, the falcon flew into a tree where she was held fast +by the lines becoming entangled about the boughs. Immediately, from +the castle there came running a fair lady, who cried: "O Launcelot, +Launcelot! As ye are the noblest of all knights, I pray you help me +to recover my falcon. For if my husband discover its loss, he will +slay me in his anger." "Who is your husband, fair lady?" asked Sir +Launcelot. "Sir Phelot, a knight of Northgalis, and he is of a +hasty temper; wherefore, I beseech you, help me." "Well, lady," +said Sir Launcelot, "I will serve you if I may; but the tree is +hard to climb, for the boughs are few, and, in truth, I am no +climber. But I will do my best." So the lady helped Sir Launcelot +to unarm, and he led his horse to the foot of the tree, and +springing from its back, he caught at the nearest bough, and drew +himself up into the branches. Then he climbed till he reached the +falcon and, tying her lines to a rotten bough, broke it off, and +threw down bird and bough to the lady below. Forthwith, Sir Phelot +came from amongst the trees and said: "Ah! Sir Launcelot! Now at +length I have you as I would; for I have long sought your life." +And Sir Launcelot made answer: "Surely ye would not slay me, an +unarmed man; for that were dishonour to you. Keep my armour if ye +will; but hang my sword on a bough where I may reach it, and then +do with me as ye can." But Sir Phelot laughed mockingly and said: +"Not so, Sir Launcelot. I know you too well to throw away my +advantage; wherefore, shift as ye may." "Alas!" said Sir Launcelot, +"that ever knight should be so unknightly. And you, madam, how +could ye so betray me?" "She did but as I commanded her," said Sir +Phelot. + +Then Launcelot looked about him to see how he might help himself in +these straits, and espying above his head a great bare branch, he +tote it down. Then, ever watching his advantage, he sprang to the +ground on the far side of his horse, so that the horse was between +him and Sir Phelot. Sir Phelot rushed upon him with his sword, but +Sir Launcelot parried it with the bough, with which he dealt his +enemy such a blow on the head that Sir Phelot sank to the ground in +a swoon. Then Sir Launcelot seized his sword where it lay beside +his armour, and stooping over the fallen knight, unloosed his helm. +When the lady saw him do that, she shrieked and cried: "Spare his +life! spare his life, noble knight, I beseech you!" But Sir +Launcelot answered sternly: "A felon's death for him who does +felon's deeds. He has lived too long already," and with one blow, +he smote off his head. Then he armed himself, and mounting upon his +steed, rode away, leaving the lady to weep beside her lord. + + + + +BOOK III + +SIR TRISTRAM + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +OF THE BIRTH OF SIR TRISTRAM + + +In the days of Arthur, there ruled over the kingdom of Liones the +good knight Sir Meliodas; and his Queen was the fair Elizabeth, +sister of King Mark of Cornwall. + +Now there was a lady, an enchantress, who had no good-will towards +King Meliodas and his Queen; so one day, when the King was +hunting, she brought it to pass by her charms that Meliodas chased +a hart till he found himself, far from all his men, alone by an old +castle, and there he was taken prisoner by the lady's knights. + +When King Meliodas did not return home, the Queen was nigh crazed +with grief. Attended only by one of the ladies of her court, she +ran out into the forest to seek her lord. Long and far she +wandered, until she could go no further, but sank down at the foot +of a great tree, and there, in the midst of the forest, was her +little son born. When the Queen knew that she must die, she kissed +the babe and said: "Ah! little son, sad has been thy birth, +wherefore thy name shall be Tristram; but thou shalt grow to be a +brave knight and a strong." Then she charged her gentlewoman to +take care of the child and to commend her to King Meliodas; and +after that she died. All too late came many of the barons seeking +their Queen, and sorrowfully they bore her back to the castle where +presently the King arrived, released by the skill of Merlin from +the evil spells of the enchantress. Great indeed was his grief for +the death of his Queen. He caused her to be buried with all the +pomp and reverence due to so good and fair a lady, and long and +bitterly he mourned her loss and all the people with him. + +But at the end of seven years, King Meliodas took another wife. +Then, when the Queen had sons of her own, it angered her to think +that in the days to come, her stepson Tristram, and none other, +should rule the fair land of Liones. The more she thought of it, +the more she hated him till, at the last, she was resolved to do +away with him. So she filled a silver goblet with a pleasant drink +in which she had mixed poison, and she set it in the room where +Tristram played with the young princes, his half-brothers. Now the +day was hot, and presently, being heated with his play, the young +prince, the Queen's eldest son, drank of the poisoned goblet; and +immediately he died. Much the Queen grieved, but more than ever she +hated her stepson Tristram, as if, through him, her son had died. +Presently, again she mixed poison and set it in a goblet; and that +time, King Meliodas, returning thirsty from the chase, took the cup +and would have drunk of it, only the Queen cried to him to forbear. +Then the King recalled to mind how his young son had drunk of a +seeming pleasant drink and died on the instant; and seizing the +Queen by the hand, he cried: "False traitress! tell me at once what +is in that cup, or I will slay thee!" Then the Queen cried him +mercy and told him all her sin. But in his wrath the King would +have no mercy, but sentenced her to be burnt at the stake, which, +in those days, was the doom of traitors. The day having come when +the Queen should suffer for her fault, she was led out and bound to +a stake in the presence of all the court, and the faggots were +heaped about her. Then the young prince Tristram kneeled before the +King and asked of him a favour: and the King, loving him much, +granted him his request. "Then," said Tristram, "I require you to +release the Queen, my stepmother, and to take her again to your +favour." Greatly the King marvelled, and said: "Ye should of right +hate her, seeing that she sought your life." But Tristram answered: +"I forgive her freely." "I give you then her life," said the King; +"do ye release her from the stake." So Tristram unloosed the chains +which bound the Queen and led her back to the castle, and from that +day the Queen loved him well; but as for King Meliodas, though he +forgave her and suffered her to remain at court, yet never again +would he have aught to do with her. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +HOW TRISTRAM FOUGHT WITH SIR MARHAUS OF IRELAND + + +Now King Meliodas, though he had pardoned the Queen, would keep his +son Tristram no longer at the court, but sent him into France. +There Tristram learnt all knightly exercises, so that there was +none could equal him as harper or hunter; and after seven years, +being by then a youth of nineteen, he returned to his own land of +Liones. + +It chanced, in those days, that King Anguish of Ireland sent to +Cornwall, demanding the tribute paid him in former times by that +land. Then Mark, the Cornish King, called together his barons and +knights to take counsel; and by their advice, he made answer that +he would pay no tribute, and bade King Anguish send a stout knight +to fight for his right if he still dared claim aught of the land of +Cornwall. + +Forthwith there came from Ireland Sir Marhaus, brother of the Queen +of Ireland. Now Sir Marhaus was Knight of the Round Table and in +his time there were few of greater renown. He anchored his ships +under the Castle of Tintagil, and sent messengers daily to King +Mark, bidding him pay the tribute or find one to fight in his +cause. + +Then was King Mark sore perplexed, for not one of his knights dared +encounter Sir Marhaus. Criers were sent through all the land, +proclaiming that, to any knight that would take the combat upon +him, King Mark would give such gifts as should enrich him for life. +In time, word of all that had happened came to Liones, and +immediately Tristram sought his father, desiring his permission to +go to the court of his uncle, King Mark, to take the battle upon +him. Thus it came to pass that, with his father's good leave, +Tristram presented himself before King Mark, asking to be made +knight that he might do battle for the liberties of Cornwall. Then +when Mark knew that it was his sister's son, he rejoiced greatly, +and having made Tristram knight, he sent word to Sir Marhaus that +there was found to meet him a champion of better birth than Sir +Marhaus' self. + +So it was arranged that the combat should take place on a little +island hard by, where Sir Marhaus had anchored his ships. Sir +Tristram, with his horse and arms, was placed on board a ship, and +when the island was gained, he leaped on shore, bidding his squire +put off again and only return when he was slain or victorious. + +Now, when Sir Marhaus saw that Tristram was but a youth, he cried +aloud to him: "Be advised, young Sir, and go back to your ship. +What can ye hope to do against me, a proven knight of Arthur's +Table?" Then Tristram made answer: "Sir and most famous champion, I +have been made knight to do battle with you, and I promise myself +to win honour thereby, I who have never before encountered a proven +knight." "If ye can endure three strokes of my sword, it shall be +honour enough," said Sir Marhaus. Then they rushed upon each other, +and at the first encounter each unhorsed the other, and Sir +Marhaus' spear pierced Sir Tristram's side and made a grievous +wound. Drawing their swords, they lashed at each other, and the +blows fell thick as hail till the whole island re-echoed with the +din of onslaught. So they fought half a day, and ever it seemed +that Sir Tristram grew fresher and nimbler while Sir Marhaus became +sore wearied. And at the last, Sir Tristram aimed a great blow at +the head of his enemy, and the sword crashed through the helmet and +bit into the skull so that a great piece was broken away from the +edge of Tristram's sword. Then Sir Marhaus flung away sword and +shield, and when he might regain his feet, fled shrieking to his +ships. "Do ye flee?" cried Tristram. "I am but newly made knight; +but rather than flee, I would be hewn piecemeal." + +Then came Gouvernail, Sir Tristram's squire, and bore his master +back to land, where Mark and all the Cornish lords came to meet him +and convey him to the castle of Tintagil. Far and wide they sent +for surgeons to dress Sir Tristram's wound, but none might help +him, and ever he grew weaker. At the last, a wise woman told King +Mark that in that land alone whence came the poisoned spear could +Sir Tristram find cure. Then the King gave orders and a ship was +made ready with great stores of rich furnishings, to convey Sir +Tristram to Ireland, there to heal him of his wound. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +THE FAIR ISOLT + + +Thus Tristram sailed to Ireland, and when he drew nigh the coast, +he called for his harp, and sitting up on his couch on the deck, +played the merriest tune that was ever heard in that land. And the +warders on the castle wall, hearing him, sent and told King Anguish +how a ship drew near with one who harped as none other might. Then +King Anguish sent knights to convey the stranger into the castle. +So when he was brought into the King's presence, Tristram declared +that he was Sir Tramtrist of Liones, lately made knight, and +wounded in his first battle; for which cause he was come to +Ireland, to seek healing. Forthwith the King made him welcome, and +placed him in the charge of his daughter, Isolt. Now Isolt was +famed for her skill in surgery, and, moreover, she was the fairest +lady of that time, save only Queen Guenevere. So she searched and +bandaged Sir Tristram's wound, and presently it was healed. But +still Sir Tristram abode at King Anguish's court, teaching the Fair +Isolt to harp, and taking great pleasure in her company. And ever +the princess doubted whether Sir Tristram were not a renowned +knight and ever she liked him better. + +So the time passed merrily with feastings and in the jousts, and in +the lists Sir Tristram won great honour when he was recovered of +his wound. + +At last it befell upon a day that Sir Tristram had gone to the bath +and left his sword lying on the couch. And the Queen, entering, +espied it, and taking it up, drew the sword from the sheath and +fell to admiring the mighty blade. Presently she saw that the edge +was notched, and while she pondered how great a blow must have +broken the good steel, suddenly she bethought her of the piece +which had been found in the head of her brother, Sir Marhaus. +Hastening to her chamber, she sought in a casket for the fragment, +and returning, placed it by the sword edge, where it fitted as well +as on the day it was first broken. Then she cried to her daughter: +"This, then, is the traitor knight who slew my brother, Sir +Marhaus"; and snatching up the sword, she rushed upon Sir Tristram +where he sat in his bath, and would have killed him, but that his +squire restrained her. Having failed of her purpose, she sought her +husband, King Anguish, and told him all her story: how the knight +they had harboured was he who had slain Sir Marhaus. Then the King, +sore perplexed, went to Sir Tristram's chamber, where he found him +fully armed, ready to get to horse. And Tristram told him all the +truth, how in fair fight he had slain Sir Marhaus. "Ye did as a +knight should," said King Anguish; "and much it grieves me that I +may not keep you at my court; but I cannot so displease my Queen or +barons." "Sir," said Tristram, "I thank you for your courtesy, and +will requite it as occasion may offer. Moreover, here I pledge my +word, as I am good knight and true, to be your daughter's servant, +and in all places and at all times to uphold her quarrel. Wherefore +I pray you that I may take my leave of the princess." + +Then, with the King's permission, Sir Tristram went to the Fair +Isolt and told her all his story; "And here," said he, "I make my +vow ever to be your true knight, and at all times and in all places +to uphold your quarrel." "And on my part" answered the Fair Isolt, +"I make promise that never these seven years will I marry any man, +save with your leave and as ye shall desire." Therewith they +exchanged rings, the Fair Isolt grieving sore the while. Then Sir +Tristram strode into the court and cried aloud, before all the +barons: "Ye knights of Ireland, the time is come when I must +depart. Therefore, if any man have aught against me, let him stand +forth now, and I will satisfy him as I may." Now there were many +present of the kin of Sir Marhaus, but none dared have ado with Sir +Tristram; so, slowly he rode away, and with his squire took ship +again for Cornwall. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +HOW KING MARK SENT SIR TRISTRAM TO FETCH HIM A WIFE + + +When Sir Tristram had come back to Cornwall, he abode some time at +the court of King Mark. Now in those days the Cornish knights were +little esteemed, and none less than Mark himself, who was a coward, +and never adventured himself in fair and open combat, seeking +rather to attack by stealth and have his enemy at an advantage. But +the fame of Sir Tristram increased daily, and all men spoke well of +him. So it came to pass that King Mark, knowing himself despised, +grew fearful and jealous of the love that all men bore his nephew; +for he seemed in their praise of him to hear his own reproach. He +sought, therefore, how he might rid himself of Tristram even while +he spoke him fair and made as if he loved him much, and at the last +he bethought him how he might gain his end and no man be the wiser. +So one day, he said to Tristram: "Fair nephew, I am resolved to +marry, and fain would I have your aid." "In all things, I am yours +to command," answered Sir Tristram. "I pray you, then," said King +Mark, "bring me to wife the Fair Isolt of Ireland. For since I have +heard your praises of her beauty, I may not rest unless I have her +for my Queen." And this he said thinking that, if ever Sir Tristram +set foot in Ireland, he would be slain. + +But Tristram, nothing mistrusting, got together a company of +gallant knights, all fairly arrayed as became men sent by their +King on such an errand; and with them he embarked on a goodly ship. +Now it chanced that when he had reached the open sea, a great storm +arose and drove him back on to the coast of England, and landing +with great difficulty he set up his pavilion hard by the city of +Camelot. + +Presently, word was brought him by his squire that King Anguish +with his company lay hard by, and that the King was in sore +straits; for he was charged with the murder of a knight of Arthur's +court, and must meet in combat Sir Blamor, one of the stoutest +knights of the Round Table. Then Sir Tristram rejoiced, for he saw +in this opportunity of serving King Anguish the means of earning +his good will. So he betook himself to the King's tent, and +proffered to take upon him the encounter, for the kindness shown +him by King Anguish in former days. And the King gratefully +accepting of his championship, the next day Sir Tristram +encountered with Sir Blamor, overthrew him, and so acquitted the +Irish King of the charge brought against him. Then in his joy, King +Anguish begged Sir Tristram to voyage with him to his own land, +bidding Tristram ask what boon he would and he should have it. So +rejoicing in his great fortune, Sir Tristram sailed once again for +the Irish land. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +HOW SIR TRISTRAM AND THE FAIR ISOLT DRANK OF THE MAGIC POTION + + +Then King Anguish made haste to return to Ireland, taking Sir +Tristram with him. And when he was come there and had told all his +adventures, there was great rejoicing over Sir Tristram, but of +none more than of the Fair Isolt. So when Sir Tristram had stayed +there some while, King Anguish reminded him of the boon he should +ask and of his own willingness to grant it. "Sir King," replied Sir +Tristram, "now will I ask it. Grant me your daughter, the Fair +Isolt, that I may take her to Cornwall, there to become the wife of +my uncle, King Mark." Then King Anguish grieved when he heard Sir +Tristram's request, and said: "Far more gladly would I give her to +you to wife." "That may not be," replied Sir Tristram; "my honour +forbids." "Take her then," said King Anguish, "she is yours to wed +or to give to your uncle, King Mark, as seems good to you." + +So a ship was made ready and there entered it the Fair Isolt and +Sir Tristram, and Gouvernail, his squire, and Dame Bragwaine, who +was maid to the princess. But before they sailed, the Queen gave in +charge to Gouvernail and Dame Bragwaine a phial of wine which King +Mark and Isolt should drink together on their wedding-day; "For," +said the Queen, "such is the magic virtue of this wine, that, +having drunk of it, they may never cease from loving one another." + +Now it chanced, one day, that Sir Tristram sat and harped to the +Fair Isolt; and the weather being hot, he became thirsty. Then +looking round the cabin he beheld a golden flask, curiously shaped +and wrought; and laughing, he said to the Fair Isolt: "See, madam, +how my man and your maid care for themselves; for here is the best +wine that ever I tasted. I pray you, now, drink to me." So with +mirth and laughter, they pledged each other, and thought that never +before had they tasted aught so good. But when they had made an end +of drinking, there came upon them the might of the magic charm; and +never from that day, for good or for ill, might they cease from +their love. And so much woe was wrought; for, mindful of his pledge +to his uncle, Sir Tristram brought Isolt in all honour into the +land of Cornwall where she was wedded with pomp and ceremony to +King Mark, the craven King, who hated his nephew even more than +before, because he had returned in safety and made good his promise +as became an honourable knight. And from that day he never ceased +seeking the death of Sir Tristram. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +OF THE END OF SIR TRISTRAM + + +Then again Sir Tristram abode at King Mark's court, ever rendering +the Fair Isolt loyal and knightly service; for King Mark would +imperil his life for none, no matter what the need. + +Now among the Cornish knights, there was much jealousy of Sir +Tristram de Liones, and chief of his enemies was his own cousin, +Sir Andred. With lying words, Sir Andred sought to stir up King +Mark against his nephew, speaking evil of the Queen and of Sir +Tristram. Now Mark was afraid openly to accuse Sir Tristram, so he +set Sir Andred to spy upon him. At last, it befell one day that Sir +Andred saw Sir Tristram coming, alone and unarmed, from the Queen's +presence, and with twelve other knights, he fell upon him and bound +him. Then these felon knights bore Sir Tristram to a little chapel +standing upon a great rock which jutted out into the sea. There +they would have slain him, unarmed and bound. But Sir Tristram, +perceiving their intent, put forth suddenly all his strength, burst +his bonds, and wresting a sword from Sir Andred, cut him down; and +so he did with six other knights. Then while the rest, being but +cowards, gave back a little, he shut to and bolted the doors +against them, and sprang from the window on to the sea-washed rocks +below. There he lay as one dead, until his squire, Gouvernail, +coming in a little boat, took up his master, dressed his wounds, +and carried him to the coast of England. + +So Sir Tristram was minded to remain in that country for a time. +Then, one day, as he rode through the forest near Camelot, there +came running to him a fair lady who cried: "Sir Tristram, I claim +your aid for the truest knight in all the world, and that is none +other than King Arthur." "With a good heart," said Sir Tristram; +"but where may I find him?" "Follow me," said the lady, who was +none other than the Lady of the Lake herself, and ever mindful of +the welfare of King Arthur. So he rode after her till he came to a +castle, and in front of it he saw two knights who beset at once +another knight, and when Sir Tristram came to the spot, the two had +borne King Arthur to the ground and were about to cut off his head. +Then Sir Tristram called to them to leave their traitor's work and +look to themselves; with the word, one he pierced through with his +spear and the other he cut down, and setting King Arthur again upon +his horse, he rode with him until they met with certain of Arthur's +knights. But when King Arthur would know his name, Tristram would +give none, but said only that he was a poor errant knight; and so +they parted. + +But Arthur, when he was come back to Camelot, sent for Sir +Launcelot and other of his knights, bidding them seek for such an +one as was Sir Tristram and bring him to the court. So they +departed, each his own way, and searched for many days, but in +vain. Then it chanced, at last, as Sir Launcelot rode on his way, +he espied Sir Tristram resting beside a tomb; and, as was the +custom of knights errant, he called upon him to joust. So the two +ran together and each broke his spear. Then they sprang to the +ground and fought with their swords, and each thought that never +had he encountered so stout or so skilled a knight. So fiercely +they fought that, perforce, at last they must rest. Then said Sir +Launcelot: "Fair Knight, I pray you tell me your name, for never +have I met so good a knight." "In truth," said Sir Tristram, "I am +loth to tell my name." "I marvel at that," said Sir Launcelot; "for +mine I will tell you freely. I am Launcelot du Lac." Then was Sir +Tristram filled at once with joy and with sorrow; with joy that at +last he had encountered the noblest knight of the Round Table, with +sorrow that he had done him such hurt, and without more ado he +revealed his name. Now Sir Launcelot, who ever delighted in the +fame of another, had long desired to meet Sir Tristram de Liones, +and rejoicing to have found him, he knelt right courteously and +proffered him his sword, as if he would yield to him. But Tristram +would not have it so, declaring that, rather, he should yield to +Sir Launcelot. So they embraced right heartily, and when Sir +Launcelot questioned him, Sir Tristram acknowledged that it was he +who had come to King Arthur's aid. Together, then, they rode to +Camelot, and there Sir Tristram was received with great honour by +King Arthur, who made him Knight of the Round Table. + +Presently, to Tristram at Camelot, there came word that King Mark +had driven the Fair Isolt from court, and compelled her to have her +dwelling in a hut set apart for lepers. Then Sir Tristram was wroth +indeed, and mounting his horse, rode forth that same hour, and +rested not till he had found the lepers' hut, whence he bore the +Queen to the castle known as the Joyous Garde; and there he held +her, in safety and honour, in spite of all that King Mark could do. +And all men honoured Sir Tristram, and felt sorrow for the Fair +Isolt; while as for King Mark, they scorned him even more than +before. + +But to Sir Tristram, it was grief to be at enmity with his uncle +who had made him knight, and at last he craved King Arthur's aid to +reconcile him to Mark. So then the King, who loved Sir Tristram, +sent messengers to Cornwall to Mark, bidding him come forthwith to +Camelot; and when the Cornish King was arrived, Arthur required him +to set aside his enmity to Tristram, who had in all things been his +loyal nephew and knight. And King Mark, his head full of hate, but +fearful of offending his lord, King Arthur, made fair proffers of +friendship, begging Sir Tristram to return to Cornwall with him, +and promising to hold him in love and honour. So they were +reconciled, and when King Mark returned to Cornwall, thither Sir +Tristram escorted the Fair Isolt, and himself abode there, +believing his uncle to mean truly and honourably by him. + +But under a seeming fair exterior, King Mark hated Sir Tristram +more than ever, and waited only to have him at an advantage. At +length he contrived the opportunity he sought. For he hid him in +the Queen's chamber at a time when he knew Sir Tristram would come +there unarmed, to harp to the Fair Isolt the music that she loved. +So as Sir Tristram, all unsuspecting, bent over his harp, Mark +leaped from his lurking place and dealt him such a blow from behind +that, on the instant, he fell dead at the feet of the Fair Isolt. +So perished the good knight, Sir Tristram de Liones Nor did the +Fair Isolt long survive him, for refusing all comfort, she pined +away, and died within a few days, and was laid in a tomb beside +that of her true knight. But the felon King paid the price of his +treachery with his life; for Sir Launcelot himself avenged the +death of his friend and the wrongs of the Fair Isolt. + + + + +BOOK IV + +KING ARTHUR'S NEPHEWS + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +SIR GAWAIN AND THE LADY + + +Among the knights at King Arthur's court were his nephews, the sons +of his sister, Queen Bellicent, and of that King Lot of Orkney, who +had joined the league against Arthur in the first years of his +reign. + +Of each, many tales are told; of Sir Gawain and Sir Gareth to +their great renown, but of Sir Mordred to his shame. For Sir Gawain +and Sir Gareth were knights of great prowess; but Sir Mordred was a +coward and a traitor, envious of other men's fame, and a +tale-bearer. + +Now Sir Gawain was known as the Ladies' Knight, and this is how he +came by the name. It was at Arthur's marriage-feast, when Gawain +had just been made knight, that a strange thing befell. There +entered the hall a white hart, chased by a hound, and when it had +run round the hall, it fled through the doorway again, still +followed by the hound. Then, by Merlin's advice, the quest of the +hart was given to Gawain as a new-made knight, to follow it and see +what adventures it would bring him. So Sir Gawain rode away, taking +with him three couples of greyhounds for the pursuit. At the last, +the hounds caught the hart, and killed it just as it reached the +court-yard of a castle. Then there came forth from the castle a +knight, and he was grieved and wroth to see the hart slain, for it +was given him by his lady; so, in his anger, he killed two of the +hounds. At that moment Sir Gawain entered the court-yard, and an +angry man was he when he saw his greyhounds slain. "Sir Knight," +said he, "ye would have done better to have taken your vengeance on +me rather than on dumb animals which but acted after their kind." +"I will be avenged on you also," cried the knight; and the two +rushed together, cutting and thrusting that it was wonderful they +might so long endure. But at the last the knight grew faint, and +crying for mercy, offered to yield to Sir Gawain. "Ye had no mercy +on my hounds," said Sir Gawain. "I will make you all the amends in +my power," answered the knight. But Sir Gawain would not be turned +from his purpose, and unlacing the vanquished knight's helmet, was +about to cut off his head, when a lady rushed out from the castle +and flung herself on the body of the fallen knight. So it chanced +that Sir Gawain's sword descending smote off the lady's head. Then +was Sir Gawain grieved and sore ashamed for what he had done, and +said to the knight: "I repent for what I have done; and here I give +you your life. Go only to Camelot, to King Arthur's court, and tell +him ye are sent by the knight who follows the quest of the white +hart." "Ye have slain my lady," said the other, "and now I care not +what befalls me." So he arose and went to King Arthur's court. + +Then Sir Gawain prepared to rest him there for the night; but +scarcely had he lain down when there fell upon him four knights, +crying: "New-made knight, ye have shamed your knighthood, for a +knight without mercy is without honour." Then was Sir Gawain borne +to the earth, and would have been slain, but that there came forth +from the castle four ladies who besought the knights to spare his +life; so they consented and bound him prisoner. + +The next morning Sir Gawain was brought again before the knights +and their dames; and because he was King Arthur's nephew, the +ladies desired that he should be set free, only they required that +he should ride again to Camelot, the murdered lady's head hanging +from his neck, and her dead body across his saddle-bow; and that +when he arrived at the court he should confess his misdeeds. + +So Sir Gawain rode sadly back to Camelot, and when he had told his +tale, King Arthur was sore displeased. And Queen Guenevere held a +court of her ladies to pass sentence on Sir Gawain for his +ungentleness. These then decreed that, his life long, he must never +refuse to fight for any lady who desired his services, and that +ever he should be gentle and courteous and show mercy to all. From +that time forth, Sir Gawain never failed in aught that dame or +damsel asked of him, and so he won and kept the title of the +Ladies' Knight. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +THE ADVENTURES OF SIR GARETH + + +Gareth was the youngest of the sons of Lot and Bellicent, and had +grown up long after Gawain and Mordred left their home for King +Arthur's court; so that when he came before the King, all humbly +attired, he was known not even by his own brothers. + +King Arthur was keeping Pentecost at Kink Kenadon on the Welsh +border and, as his custom was, waited to begin the feast until some +adventure should befall. Presently there was seen approaching a +youth, who, to the wonderment of all that saw, leaned upon the +shoulders of two men, his companions; and yet as he passed up the +hall, he seemed a goodly youth, tall and broad-shouldered. When he +stood before the King, suddenly he drew himself up, and after due +greeting, said: "Sir King, I would ask of you three boons; one to +be granted now and two hereafter when I shall require them." And +Arthur, looking upon him, was pleased, for his countenance was open +and honest. So he made answer; "Fair son, ask of me aught that is +honourable and I will grant it." Then the youth said: "For this +present, I ask only that ye will give me meat and drink for a year +and a day." "Ye might have asked and had a better gift," replied +the King; "tell me now your name." "At this time, I may not tell +it," said the youth. Now King Arthur trusted every man until he +proved himself unworthy, and in this youth he thought he saw one +who should do nobly and win renown; so laughing, he bade him keep +his own counsel since so he would, and gave him in charge to Sir +Kay, the Seneschal. + +Now Sir Kay was but harsh to those whom he liked not, and from the +first he scorned the young man; "For none," said he, "but a +low-born lout would crave meat and drink when he might have asked +for a horse and arms." But Sir Launcelot and Sir Gawain took the +youth's part. Neither knew him for Gareth of the Orkneys, but both +believed him to be a youth of good promise who, for his own +reasons, would pass in disguise for a season. + +So Gareth lived the year among the kitchen-boys, all the time +mocked and scorned by Sir Kay, who called him Fairhands because his +hands were white and shapely. But Launcelot and Gawain showed him +all courtesy, and failed not to observe how, in all trials of +strength, he excelled his comrades, and that he was ever present to +witness the feats of the knights in the tournaments. + +So the year passed, and again King Arthur was keeping the feast of +Pentecost with his knights, when a damsel entered the hall and +asked his aid: "For," said she, "my sister is closely besieged in +her castle by a strong knight who lays waste all her lands. And +since I know that the knights of your court be the most renowned in +the world, I have come to crave help of your mightiest." "What is +your sister's name, and who is he that oppresses her?" asked the +King. "The Red Knight, he is called," replied the damsel. "As for +my sister I will not say her name, only that she is a high-born +lady and owns broad lands." Then the King frowned and said: "Ye +would have aid but will say no name. I may not ask knight of mine +to go on such an errand." + +Then forth stepped Gareth from among the serving men at the hall +end and said: "Sir King, I have eaten of your meat in your kitchen +this twelvemonth since, and now I crave my other two boons." "Ask +and have," replied the King. "Grant me then the adventure of this +damsel, and bid Sir Launcelot ride after me to knight me at my +desire, for of him alone would I be made knight." "It shall be so," +answered the King. "What!" cried the damsel, "I ask for a knight +and ye give me a kitchen-boy. Shame on you, Sir King." And in +great wrath she fled from the hall, mounted her palfrey and rode +away. Gareth but waited to array himself in the armour which he had +kept ever in readiness for the time when he should need it, and +mounting his horse, rode after the damsel. + +But when Sir Kay knew what had happened, he was wroth, and got to +horse to ride after Gareth and bring him back. Even as Gareth +overtook the damsel, so did Kay come up with him and cried: "Turn +back, Fairhands! What, sir, do ye not know me?" "Yes," answered +Gareth, "I know you for the most discourteous knight in Arthur's +court." Then Sir Kay rode upon him with his lance, but Gareth +turned it aside with his sword and pierced Sir Kay through the side +so that he fell to the ground and lay there without motion. So +Gareth took Sir Kay's shield and spear and was about to ride away, +when seeing Sir Launcelot draw near, he called upon him to joust. +At the first encounter, Sir Launcelot unhorsed Gareth, but quickly +helped him to his feet. Then, at Gareth's desire, they fought +together with swords, and Gareth did knightly till, at length, Sir +Launcelot said, laughing: "Why should we fight any longer? Of a +truth ye are a stout knight." "If that is indeed your thought, I +pray you make me knight," cried Gareth. So Sir Launcelot knighted +Gareth, who, bidding him farewell, hastened after the damsel, for +she had ridden on again while the two knights talked. When she saw +him coming, she cried: "Keep off! ye smell of the kitchen!" +"Damsel," said Sir Gareth, "I must follow until I have fulfilled +the adventure." "Till ye accomplish the adventure, Turn-spit? Your +part in it shall soon be ended." "I can only do my best," answered +Sir Gareth. + +Now as they rode through the forest, they met with a knight sore +beset by six thieves, and him Sir Gareth rescued. The knight then +bade Gareth and the damsel rest at his castle, and entertained them +right gladly until the morn, when the two rode forth again. +Presently, they drew near to a deep river where two knights kept +the ford. "How now, kitchen-knave? Will ye fight or escape while ye +may?" cried the damsel. "I would fight though there were six +instead of two," replied Sir Gareth. Therewith he encountered the +one knight in mid-stream and struck him such a blow on the head +that he fell, stunned, into the water and was drowned. Then, +gaining the land, Gareth cleft in two both helmet and head of the +other knight, and turned to the damsel, saying: "Lead on; I +follow." + +But the damsel mocked him, saying: "What a mischance is this that a +kitchen-boy should slay two noble knights! Be not over-proud, +Turn-spit. It was but luck, if indeed ye did not attack one knight +from behind." "Say what you will, I follow," said Sir Gareth. + +So they rode on again, the damsel in front and Sir Gareth behind, +till they reached a wide meadow where stood many fair pavilions; +and one, the largest, was all of blue, and the men who stood about +it were clothed in blue, and bore shields and spears of that +colour; and of blue, too, were the trappings of the horses. Then +said the damsel: "Yonder is the Blue Knight, the goodliest that +ever ye have looked upon, and five hundred knights own him lord." +"I will encounter him," said Sir Gareth; "for if he be good knight +and true as ye say, he will scarce set on me with all his +following; and man to man, I fear him not." "Fie!" said the damsel, +"for a dirty knave, ye brag loud. And even if ye overcome him, his +might is as nothing to that of the Red Knight who besieges my lady +sister. So get ye gone while ye may." "Damsel," said Sir Gareth, +"ye are but ungentle so to rebuke me; for, knight or knave, I have +done you good service, nor will I leave this quest while life is +mine." Then the damsel was ashamed, and, looking curiously at +Gareth, she said: "I would gladly know what manner of man ye are. +For I heard you call yourself kitchen-knave before Arthur's self, +but ye have ever answered patiently though I have chidden you +shamefully; and courtesy comes only of gentle blood." Thereat Sir +Gareth but laughed, and said: "He is no knight whom a maiden can +anger by harsh words." + +So talking, they entered the field, and there came to Sir Gareth a +messenger from the Blue Knight to ask him if he came in peace or in +war. "As your lord pleases," said Sir Gareth. So when the messenger +had brought back this word, the Blue Knight mounted his horse, took +his spear in his hand, and rode upon Sir Gareth. At their first +encounter their lances shivered to pieces, and such was the shock +that their horses fell dead. So they rushed on each other with +sword and shield, cutting and slashing till the armour was hacked +from their bodies; but at last, Sir Gareth smote the Blue Knight +to the earth. Then the Blue Knight yielded, and at the damsel's +entreaty, Sir Gareth spared his life. + +So they were reconciled, and at the request of the Blue Knight, Sir +Gareth and the damsel abode that night in his tents. As they sat at +table, the Blue Knight said: "Fair damsel, are ye not called +Linet?" "Yes," answered she, "and I am taking this noble knight to +the relief of my sister, the Lady Liones." "God speed you, Sir," +said the Blue Knight, "for he is a stout knight whom ye must meet. +Long ago might he have taken the lady, but that he hoped that Sir +Launcelot or some other of Arthur's most famous knights, coming to +her rescue, might fall beneath his lance. If ye overthrow him, then +are ye the peer of Sir Launcelot and Sir Tristram." "Sir Knight," +answered Gareth, "I can but strive to bear me worthily as one whom +the great Sir Launcelot made knight." + +So in the morning they bade farewell to the Blue Knight, who vowed +to carry to King Arthur word of all that Gareth had achieved; and +they rode on, till, in the evening, they came to a little ruined +hermitage where there awaited them a dwarf, sent by the Lady +Liones, with all manner of meats and other store. In the morning, +the dwarf set out again to bear word to his lady that her rescuer +was come. As he drew near the castle, the Red Knight stopped him, +demanding whence he came. "Sir," said the dwarf, "I have been with +my lady's sister, who brings with her a knight to the rescue of my +lady." "It is lost labour," said the Red Knight; "even though she +brought Launcelot or Tristram, I hold myself a match for them." +"He is none of these," said the dwarf, "but he has overthrown the +knights who kept the ford, and the Blue Knight yielded to him." +"Let him come," said the Red Knight; "I shall soon make an end of +him, and a shameful death shall he have at my hands, as many a +better knight has had." So saying, he let the dwarf go. + +Presently, there came riding towards the castle Sir Gareth and the +damsel Linet, and Gareth marvelled to see hang from the trees some +forty knights in goodly armour, their shields reversed beside them. +And when he inquired of the damsel, she told him how these were the +bodies of brave knights who, coming to the rescue of the Lady +Liones, had been overthrown and shamefully done to death by the Red +Knight. Then was Gareth shamed and angry, and he vowed to make an +end of these evil practices. So at last they drew near to the +castle walls, and saw how the plain around was covered with the Red +Knight's tents, and the noise was that of a great army. Hard by was +a tall sycamore tree, and from it hung a mighty horn, made of an +elephant's tusk. Spurring his horse, Gareth rode to it, and blew +such a blast that those on the castle walls heard it; the knights +came forth from their tents to see who blew so bold a blast, and +from a window of the castle the Lady Liones looked forth and waved +her hand to her champion. Then, as Sir Gareth made his reverence to +the lady, the Red Knight called roughly to him to leave his +courtesy and look to himself; "For," said he, "she is mine, and to +have her, I have fought many a battle." "It is but vain labour," +said Sir Gareth, "since she loves you not. Know, too, Sir Knight, +that I have vowed to rescue her from you." "So did many another who +now hangs on a tree," replied the Red Knight, "and soon ye shall +hang beside them." Then both laid their spears in rest, and spurred +their horses. At the first encounter, each smote the other full in +the shield, and the girths of the saddles bursting, they were borne +to the earth, where they lay for awhile as if dead. But presently +they rose, and setting their shields before them, rushed upon each +other with their swords, cutting and hacking till the armour lay on +the ground in fragments. So they fought till noon and then rested; +but soon they renewed the battle, and so furiously they fought, +that often they fell to the ground together. Then, when the bells +sounded for evensong, the knights rested again a while, unlacing +their helms to breathe the evening air. But looking up to the +castle windows, Gareth saw the Lady Liones gazing earnestly upon +him; then he caught up his helmet, and calling to the Red Knight, +bade him make ready for the battle; "And this time," said he, "we +will make an end of it." "So be it," said the Red Knight. Then the +Red Knight smote Gareth on the hand that his sword flew from his +grasp, and with another blow he brought him grovelling to the +earth. At the sight of this, Linet cried aloud, and hearing her, +Gareth, with a mighty effort, threw off the Red Knight, leaped to +his sword and got it again within his hand. Then he pressed the Red +Knight harder than ever, and at the last bore him to the earth, +and unlacing his helm, made ready to slay him; but the Red Knight +cried aloud: "Mercy; I yield." At first, remembering the evil +deaths of the forty good knights, Gareth was unwilling to spare +him; but the Red Knight besought him to have mercy, telling him +how, against his will, he had been bound by a vow to make war on +Arthur's knights. So Sir Gareth relented, and bade him set forth at +once for Kink Kenadon and entreat the King's pardon for his evil +past. And this the Red Knight promised to do. + +Then amidst much rejoicing, Sir Gareth was borne into the castle. +There his wounds were dressed by the Lady Liones, and there he +rested until he recovered his strength. And having won her love, +when Gareth returned to Arthur's court, the Lady Liones rode with +him, and they two were wed with great pomp in the presence of the +whole Fellowship of the Round Table; the King rejoicing much that +his nephew had done so valiantly. So Sir Gareth lived happily with +Dame Liones, winning fame and the love of all true knights. As for +Linet, she came again to Arthur's court and wedded Sir Gareth's +younger brother, Sir Gaheris. + + + + +BOOK V + +SIR GERAINT + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +THE ADVENTURES OF GERAINT + + +It befell, one Whitsunday, that Arthur was holding his court at +Caerleon, when word was brought to him of a splendid white stag +that ranged the Forest of Dean, and forthwith the King proclaimed a +hunt for the morrow. + +So, with the dawn, there was much trampling of hoofs and baying of +hounds as all the knights got to horse; but Queen Guenevere +herself, though she had said she would ride with the hunt, slept +late, and when she called her maidens to her, it was broad day. +Then, with much haste, she arrayed herself, and taking one of her +ladies with her, rode to a little rising ground in the forest, near +which, as she well knew, the hunt must pass. + +Presently, as she waited, there came riding by the gallant knight, +Geraint of Devon. He was arrayed neither for the chase nor for the +fight, but wore a surcoat of white satin and about him a loose +scarf of purple, with a golden apple at each corner. And when the +Queen had answered his salutation, she said: "How is it, Prince, +that ye be not ridden with the hunters?" "Madam," answered he, +"with shame I say it; I slept too late." Smiling, the Queen said: +"Then are we both in the same case, for I also arose too late. But +tarry with me, and soon ye will hear the baying of the hounds; for +often I have known them break covert here." + +Then as they waited on the little woodland knoll, there came riding +past a knight full armed, a lady with him, and behind them a dwarf, +misshapen and evil-looking, and they passed without word or +salutation to the Queen. + +Then said Guenevere to Geraint: "Prince, know ye yonder knight?" +"Nay, madam," said he; "his arms I know not, and his face I might +not see." Thereupon the Queen turned to her attendant and said: +"Ride after them quickly and ask the dwarf his master's name." So +the maiden did as she was bidden; but when she inquired of the +dwarf, he answered her roughly: "I will not tell thee my master's +name." "Since thou art so churlish," said she, "I will even ask him +himself." "That thou shalt not," he cried, and struck her across +the face with his whip. So the maiden, alarmed and angered, rode +back to the Queen and told her all that had happened. "Madam," +cried Geraint, "the churl has wronged your maiden and insulted your +person. I pray you, suffer me to do your errand myself." With the +word, he put spurs to his horse and rode after the three. And when +he had come up with the dwarf, he asked the knight's name as the +maiden had done, and the dwarf answered him as he had answered the +Queen's lady. "I will speak with thy master himself," said Geraint. +"Thou shalt not, by my faith!" said the dwarf. "Thou art not +honourable enough to speak with my lord." "I have spoken with men +of as good rank as he," answered Geraint, and would have turned his +horse's head that he might ride after the knight; but the dwarf +struck him across the face such a blow that the blood spurted forth +over his purple scarf. Then, in his wrath, Geraint clapped hand to +sword, and would have slain the churl, but that he bethought him +how powerless was such a misshapen thing. So refraining himself, he +rode back to the Queen and said: "Madam, for the time the knight +has escaped me. But, with your leave, I will ride after him, and +require of him satisfaction for the wrong done to yourself and to +your maiden. It must be that I shall come presently to a town where +I may obtain armour. Farewell; if I live, ye shall have tidings of +me by next even." "Farewell," said the Queen; "I shall ever hold +your good service in remembrance." + +So Geraint rode forth on his quest, and followed the road to the +ford of the Usk, where he crossed, and then went on his way until +he came to a town, at the further end of which rose a mighty +castle. And as he entered the town, he saw the knight and the lady, +and how, as they rode through the streets, from every window the +folk craned their necks to see them pass, until they entered the +castle and the gate fell behind them. Then was Geraint satisfied +that they would not pass thence that night, and turned him about to +see where he could obtain the use of arms that, the next day, he +might call the knight to account. + +Now it seemed that the whole town was in a ferment. In every house, +men were busy polishing shields, sharpening swords, and washing +armour, and scarce could they find time to answer questions put to +them; so at the last, finding nowhere in the town to rest, Geraint +rode in the direction of a ruined palace, which stood a little +apart from the town, and was reached by a marble bridge spanning a +deep ravine. Seated on the bridge was an old man, hoary-headed, and +clothed in the tattered remains of what had once been splendid +attire, who gave Geraint courteous greeting. "Sir," said Geraint, +"I pray you, know ye where I may find shelter for this night?" +"Come with me," said the old man, "and ye shall have the best my +old halls afford." So saying, he led Geraint into a great +stone-paved court-yard, surrounded by buildings, once strong +fortifications, but then half burned and ruinous. There he bade +Geraint dismount, and led the way into an upper chamber, where sat +an aged dame, and with her a maiden the fairest that ever Geraint +had looked upon, for all that her attire was but a faded robe and +veil. Then the old man spoke to the maiden, saying: "Enid, take the +good knight's charger to a stall and give him corn. Then go to the +town and buy us provision for a feast to-night." Now it pleased not +Geraint that the maiden should thus do him service; but when he +made to accompany her, the old man, her father, stayed him and kept +him in converse until presently she was returned from the town and +had made all ready for the evening meal. Then they sat them down to +supper, the old man and his wife with Geraint between them; and the +fair maid, Enid, waited upon them, though it irked the Prince to +see her do such menial service. + +So as they ate, they talked, and presently Geraint asked of the +cause why the palace was all in ruins. "Sir knight," said the old +man, "I am Yniol, and once I was lord of a broad earldom. But my +nephew, whose guardian I had been, made war upon me, affirming that +I had withheld from him his dues; and being the stronger, he +prevailed, and seized my lands and burnt my halls, even as ye see. +For the townsfolk hold with him, because that, with his tournaments +and feastings, he brings many strangers their way." "What then is +all the stir in the town even now?" asked Geraint. "To-morrow," +said the Earl, "they hold the tournament of the Sparrow-Hawk. In +the midst of the meadow are set up two forks, and on the forks a +silver rod, and on the rod the form of a Sparrow-Hawk. Two years +has it been won by the stout knight Edeyrn, and if he win it the +morrow, it shall be his for aye, and he himself known as the +Sparrow-Hawk." "Tell me," cried Geraint, "is that the knight that +rode this day with a lady and a dwarf to the castle hard by?" "The +same," said Yniol; "and a bold knight he is." Then Geraint told +them of the insult offered that morning to Queen Guenevere and her +maiden, and how he had ridden forth to obtain satisfaction. "And +now, I pray you," said Geraint, "help me to come by some arms, and +in to-morrow's lists will I call this Sparrow-Hawk to account." +"Arms have I," answered the Earl, "old and rusty indeed, yet at +your service. But, Sir Knight, ye may not appear in to-morrow's +tournament, for none may contend unless he bring with him a lady in +whose honour he jousts." Then cried Geraint: "Lord Earl, suffer me +to lay lance in rest in honour of the fair maiden, your daughter. +And if I fall to-morrow, no harm shall have been done her, and if I +win, I will love her my life long, and make her my true wife." Now +Enid, her service ended, had left them to their talk; but the Earl, +rejoicing that so noble a knight should seek his daughter's love, +promised that, with the maiden's consent, all should be as the +Prince desired. + +So they retired to rest that night, and the next day at dawn, +Geraint arose, and, donning the rusty old armour lent him by Earl +Yniol, rode to the lists; and there amongst the humbler sort of +onlookers, he found the old Earl and his wife and with them their +fair daughter. + +Then the heralds blew their trumpets, and Edeyrn bade his lady-love +take the Sparrow-Hawk, her due as fairest of the fair. "Forbear," +cried Geraint; "here is one fairer and nobler for whom I claim the +prize of the tournament." "Do battle for it, then!" cried Edeyrn. +So the two took their lances and rushed upon one another with a +crash like thunder, and each broke his spear. Thus they encountered +once and again; but at the last Geraint bore down upon Edeyrn with +such force that he carried him from his horse, saddle and all. Then +he dismounted, and the two rushed upon each other with their +swords. Long they fought, the sparks flying and their breath coming +hard, till, exerting all his strength, Geraint dealt the other such +a blow as cleft his helmet and bit to the bone. Then Edeyrn flung +away his sword and yielded him. "Thou shalt have thy life," said +Geraint, "upon condition that, forthwith, thou goest to Arthur's +court, there to deliver thyself to our Queen, and make such +atonement as shall be adjudged thee, for the insult offered her +yester morn." "I will do so," answered Edeyrn; and when his wounds +had been dressed he got heavily to horse and rode forth to +Caerleon. + +Then the young Earl, Yniol's nephew, adjudged the Sparrow-Hawk to +Geraint, as victor in the tourney, and prayed him to come to his +castle to rest and feast. But Geraint, declining courteously, said +that it behoved him to go there where he had rested the night +before. "Where may that have been?" asked the Earl; "for though ye +come not to my castle, yet would I see that ye fare as befits your +valour." "I rested even with Yniol, your uncle," answered Geraint. +The young Earl mused awhile, and then he said: "I will seek you, +then, in my uncle's halls, and bring with me the means to furnish +forth a feast." + +And so it was. Scarcely had Prince Geraint returned to the ruined +hall and bathed and rested him after his labours, when the young +Earl arrived, and with him forty of his followers bearing all +manner of stores and plenishings. And that same hour, the young +Earl was accorded with Yniol, his uncle, restoring to him the lands +of which he had deprived him, and pledging his word to build up +again the ruined palace. + +When they had gone to the banquet, then came to them Enid, attired +in beautiful raiment befitting her rank; and the old Earl led her +to Geraint, saying: "Prince, here is the maiden for whom ye fought, +and freely I bestow her upon you." So Geraint took her hand before +them all and said: "She shall ride with me to Caerleon, and there +will I wed her before Arthur's court." Then to Enid he said: +"Gentle maiden, bear with me when I pray you to don the faded robe +and veil in which first I saw you." And Enid, who was ever gentle +and meek, did as he desired, and that evening they rode to +Caerleon. + +So when they drew near the King's palace, word was brought to +Guenevere of their approach. Then the Queen went forth to greet the +good knight, and when she had heard all his story, she kissed the +maiden, and leading her into her own chamber, arrayed her right +royally for her marriage with the Prince. And that evening they +were wed amidst great rejoicing, in the presence of all the +knights and ladies of the court, the King himself giving Enid to +her husband. Many happy days they spent at Caerleon, rejoicing in +the love and good-will of Arthur and his Queen. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +GERAINT AND ENID + + +Geraint and the fair Enid abode more than a year at Arthur's court; +Enid winning daily more and more the love of all by her gentleness +and goodness, and Geraint being ever amongst the foremost in the +tournament. But presently there came word of robber raids upon the +borders of Devon; wherefore the Prince craved leave of Arthur to +return to his own land, there to put down wrong and oppression, and +maintain order and justice. And the King bade him go and secure to +every man his due. + +So Geraint passed to his own land, Enid going with him; and soon he +had driven the oppressors from their strongholds and established +peace and order, so that the poor man dwelt in his little cot +secure in his possessions. But when all was done, and there was +none dared defy him, Geraint abode at home, neglectful of the +tournament and the chase, and all those manly exercises in which he +had once excelled, content if he had but the companionship of his +wife; so that his nobles murmured because he withdrew himself from +their society, and the common people jeered at him for a laggard. + +Now these evil rumours came to Enid's ears, and it grieved her that +she should be the cause, however unwillingly, of her husband's +dishonour; and since she could not bring herself to speak to her +lord of what was in her heart, daily she grew more sorrowful, till +the Prince, aware of her altered demeanour, became uneasy, not +knowing its source. + +So time went by till it chanced, one summer morning, that with the +first rays of the sun, Enid awoke from her slumbers, and, rising, +gazed upon her husband as he lay, and marvelled at his strength. +"Alas!" said she, "to be the cause that my lord suffers shame! +Surely I should find courage to tell him all, were I indeed true +wife to him!" Then, by ill chance, her tears falling upon him awoke +him, so that he heard her words, but brokenly, and seeing her weep +and hearing her accuse herself, it came into his thought that, for +all his love and care for her, she was weary of him, nay, even that +perhaps she loved him not at all. In anger and grief he called to +his squire and bade him saddle his charger and a palfrey for Enid; +and to her he said: "Put on thy meanest attire, and thou shalt ride +with me into the wilderness. It seems that I have yet to win me +fame; but before thou seest home again, thou shalt learn if indeed +I am fallen so low as thou deemest." And Enid, wondering and +troubled, answered, "I know naught of thy meaning, my lord." "Ask +me nothing," said Geraint. So sorrowfully and in silence Enid +arrayed herself, choosing for her apparel the faded robe and veil +in which first her lord had seen her. + +Then the squire brought them their horses; but when he would have +mounted and ridden after, Geraint forbade him. And to Enid the +Prince said: "Ride before me and turn not back, no matter what thou +seest or hearest. And unless I speak to thee, say not a word to +me." + +So they rode forward along the least frequented road till they came +to a vast forest, which they entered. There Enid, as she rode in +front, saw four armed men lurking by the road, and one said to the +other: "See, now is our opportunity to win much spoil at little +cost; for we may easily overcome this doleful knight, and take from +him his arms and lady." And Enid hearing them, was filled with fear +and doubt; for she longed to warn her lord of his danger, yet +feared to arouse his wrath, seeing he had bidden her keep silence. +Then said she to herself: "Better to anger him, even to the slaying +of me, than have the misery of seeing him perish." So she waited +till Geraint drew near, and said: "Lord, there lie in wait for thee +four men fully armed, to slay and rob thee." Then he answered her +in anger: "Did I desire thy silence or thy warning? Look, then, and +whether thou desirest my life or my death, thou shalt see that I +dread not these robbers." Then, as the foremost of the four rode +upon him, Geraint drove upon him with his spear with such force +that the weapon stood out a cubit behind him; and so he did with +the second, and the third, and the fourth. Then, dismounting from +his horse, he stripped the dead felons of their armour, bound it +upon their horses, and tying the bridle reins together, bade Enid +drive the beasts before her. "And," said he, "I charge thee, at thy +peril, speak no word to me." + +So they went forward; and presently Enid saw how three horsemen, +well armed and well mounted, rode towards them. And one said to the +other: "Good fortune, indeed! Here are four horses and four suits +of armour for us, and but one knight to deal with; a craven too, by +the way he hangs his head." Then Enid thought within herself how +her lord was wearied with his former combat, and resolved to warn +him even at her own peril. So she waited till he was come up with +her, and said: "Lord, there be three men riding towards us, and +they promise themselves rich booty at small cost." Wrathfully spoke +Geraint: "Their words anger me less than thy disobedience"; and +immediately rushing upon the mid-most of the three knights, he bore +him from his horse; then he turned upon the other two who rode +against him at the same moment, and slew them both. As with the +former caitiffs, so now Geraint stripped the three of their armour, +bound it upon the horses, and bade Enid drive these forward with +the other four. + +Again they rode on their way, and, for all his anger, it smote +Geraint to the heart to see the gentle lady labouring to drive +forward the seven horses. So he bade her stay, for they would go no +farther then, but rest that night as best they might in the forest; +and scarcely had they dismounted and tethered the horses before +Geraint, wearied with his encounters, fell asleep; but Enid +remained watching, lest harm should come to her lord while he +slept. + +With the first ray of light, Geraint awoke, and his anger against +Enid was not passed; so, without more ado, he set her on her +palfrey and bade her drive the horses on in front as before, +charging her that, whatever befell, that day at least, she should +keep silence. + +Soon they passed from the forest into open land, and came upon a +river flowing through broad meadows where the mowers toiled. Then, +as they waited to let the horses drink their fill, there drew near +a youth, bearing a basket of bread and meat and a blue pitcher +covered over with a bowl. So when the youth saluted them, Geraint +stayed him, asking whence he came. "My lord," said the lad, "I am +come from the town hard by, to bring the mowers their breakfast." +"I pray thee, then," said the Prince, "give of the food to this +lady, for she is faint." "That will I gladly," answered the youth, +"and do ye also partake, noble sir"; and he spread the meal for +them on the grass while they dismounted. So when they had eaten and +were refreshed, the youth gathered up the basket and pitcher, +saying he would return to the town for food for the mowers. "Do +so," said the Prince, "and when thou art come there, take for me +the best lodging that thou mayst. And for thy fair service, take a +horse and armour, whichsoever thou wilt." "My lord, ye reward me +far beyond my deserts," cried the youth. "Right gladly will I make +all ready against your arrival, and acquaint my master, the Earl, +of your coming." + +So Geraint and Enid followed after the youth to the town, and +there they found everything prepared for their comfort, even as he +had promised; for they were lodged in a goodly chamber well +furnished with all that they might require. Then said Geraint to +Enid: "Abide at one end of the room and I will remain at the other. +And call the woman of the house if thou desirest her aid and +comfort in aught." "I thank thee, lord," answered Enid patiently; +but she called for no service, remaining silent and forlorn in the +farthest corner of the great chamber. + +Presently there came to the house the Earl, the youth's master, and +with him twelve goodly knights to wait upon him. And Geraint +welcomed them right heartily, bidding the host bring forth his best +to furnish a feast. So they sat them down at the table, each in his +degree according to his rank, and feasted long and merrily; but +Enid remained the while shrinking into her corner if perchance she +might escape all notice. + +As they sat at the banquet, the Earl asked Prince Geraint what +quest he followed. "None but mine own inclination and the adventure +it may please heaven to send," said Geraint. Then the Earl, whose +eye had oft sought Enid as she sat apart, said: "Have I your good +leave to cross the room and speak to your fair damsel? For she +joins us not in the feast." "Ye have it freely," answered the +Prince. So the Earl arose, and approaching Enid, bowed before her, +and spoke to her in low tones, saying: "Damsel, sad life is yours, +I fear, to journey with yonder man." "To travel the road he takes +is pleasant enough to me," answered Enid. "But see what slights he +puts upon you! To suffer you to journey thus, unattended by page or +maiden, argues but little love or reverence for you." "It is as +nothing, so that I am with him," said Enid. "Nay, but," said the +Earl, "see how much happier a life might be yours. Leave this +churl, who values you not, and all that I have, land and riches, +and my love and service for ever shall be yours." "Ye cannot tempt +me, with aught that ye can offer, to be false to him to whom I +vowed my faith," said she. "Ye are a fool!" said the Earl in a +fierce whisper. "One word to these my knights, and yonder is a dead +man. Then who shall hinder me that I take you by force? Nay, now, +be better advised, and I vow you my whole devotion for all time." +Then was Enid filled with dread of the man and his might, and +seeking but to gain time, she said: "Suffer me to be for this +present, my lord, and to-morrow ye shall come and take me as by +force. Then shall my name not suffer loss." "So be it," said he; "I +will not fail you." With that he left her, and taking his leave of +Geraint, departed with his followers. + +Never a word of what the Earl had said did Enid tell her husband +that night; and on the departure of his guests, the Prince, +unheedful of her, flung him on the couch, and soon slept, despite +his grief and wrath. But Enid watched again that night, and, before +cock-crow, arose, set all his armour ready in one place, and then, +though fearful of his wrath, stepped to his side and touching him +gently, said: "Awake, my lord, and arm you, and save me and +yourself." Then she told him of all the Earl had said and of the +device she had used to save them both. Then wrathfully he rose and +armed himself, bidding her rouse the host to saddle and bring forth +the horses. When all was ready, Prince Geraint asked the man his +reckoning. "Ye owe but little," said the host. "Take then the seven +horses and the suits of armour," said Geraint. "Why, noble sir," +cried the host, "I scarce have spent the value of one." "The richer +thou," answered Geraint. "Now show me the road from the town." + +So the man guided them from the town, and scarce was he returned +when Earl Durm--for so was the Earl named--hammered at the door, +with forty followers at his back. "Where is the knight who was here +erewhile?" "He is gone hence, my lord," answered the host. "Fool +and villain!" cried the Earl, "why didst thou suffer him to escape? +Which way went he?" And the man, fearful and trembling, directed +the Earl the road Geraint had gone. + +So it came to pass, as they rode on their way, Enid in front, the +Prince behind, that it seemed to Enid she heard the beat of many +horse-hoofs. And, as before, she broke Geraint's command, caring +little for aught that might befall her in comparison of loss to +him. "My lord," said she, "seest thou yonder knight pursuing thee +and many another with him?" "Yea, in good truth, I see him," said +Geraint, "and I see, too, that never wilt thou obey me." Then he +turned him about and, laying lance in rest, bore straight down upon +Earl Durm, who foremost rushed upon him; and such was the shock of +their encounter, that Earl Durm was borne from his saddle and lay +without motion as one dead. And Geraint charged fiercely upon the +Earl's men, unhorsing some and wounding others; and the rest, +having little heart for the fight after their master's overthrow, +turned and fled. + +Then Geraint signed to Enid to ride on as before, and so they +journeyed the space of another hour while the summer sun beat upon +them with ever increasing force. Now the Prince had received a +grievous hurt in the encounter with Earl Durm and his men; but such +was his spirit that he heeded it not, though the wound bled sore +under his armour. Presently, as they rode, there came to them the +sound of wailing, and by the wayside they saw a lady weeping +bitterly over a knight who lay dead on the ground. "Lady," said +Geraint, "what has befallen you?" "Noble knight," she replied, "as +we rode through the forest, my husband and I, three villains set +upon him at once, and slew him." "Which way went they?" asked +Geraint. "Straight on by this high-road that ye follow even now," +answered she. Then Geraint bade Enid remain with the lady while he +rode on to take vengeance on the miscreants. And Enid waited +fearfully the long while he was gone, and her heart rejoiced when +she saw him returning. But soon her joy was turned to sorrow, for +his armour was all dented and covered with blood and his face +ghastly; and even as he reached her side, he fell from his horse, +prone on the ground. Then Enid strove to loosen his armour, and +having found the wound, she staunched it as best she might and +bound it with her veil. And taking his head on her lap, she chafed +his hands and tried with her own body to shield him from the sun, +her tears falling fast the while. So she waited till, perchance, +help might come that way; and presently, indeed, she heard the +tramp of horses, and a troop came riding by with the Earl Limours +at their head. And when the Earl saw the two fallen knights and the +weeping women beside them, he stayed his horse, and said: "Ladies, +what has chanced to you?" Then she whose husband had been slain +said: "Sir, three caitiffs set on my husband at once and slew him. +Then came this good knight and went in pursuit of them, and as I +think, slew them; but when he came back, he fell from his horse, +sore wounded as ye see, and, I fear me, by now he is dead." "Nay, +gentle sir," cried Enid; "it cannot be that he is dead. Only, I +beseech you, suffer two of your men to carry him hence to some +place of shelter where he may have help and tendance." "I misdoubt +me, it is but labour wasted," said the Earl; "nevertheless, for the +sake of your fair face, it shall be as ye desire." Then he ordered +two of his men to carry Geraint to his halls and two more to stay +behind and bury the dead knight, while he caused the two women to +be placed on led horses; and so they rode to his castle. When they +were arrived there, the two spearmen who had carried Geraint, +placed him on a settle in the hall, and Enid crouched by his side, +striving if by any means she might bring him back to life. And +gradually Geraint recovered, though still he lay as in a swoon, +hearing indeed what passed around him, but dimly, as from a +distance. + +Soon there came into the hall many servitors, who brought forth +the tables and set thereon all manner of meats, haunches of venison +and boars' heads and great pasties, together with huge flagons of +wine. Then when all was set, there came trooping to the board the +whole company of Earl Limours' retainers; last of all came the Earl +himself and took his place on the raised dais. Suddenly, as he +feasted and made merry, he espied Enid, who, mistrusting him +utterly, would fain have escaped his eye. And when he saw her, he +cried: "Lady, cease wasting sorrow on a dead man and come hither. +Thou shalt have a seat by my side; ay, and myself, too, and my +Earldom to boot." "I thank you, lord," she answered meekly, "but, I +pray you, suffer me to be as I am." "Thou art a fool," said +Limours; "little enough he prized thee, I warrant, else had he not +put thy beauty to such scorn, dressing it in faded rags! Nay, be +wise; eat and drink, and thou wilt think the better of me and my +fair proffer." "I will not," cried Enid; "I will neither eat nor +drink, till my lord arise and eat with me." "Thou vowest more than +thou canst perform. He is dead already. Nay, thou shalt drink." +With the word, he strode to her and thrust into her hand a goblet +brimming with wine, crying, "Drink." "Nay, lord," she said, "I +beseech you, spare me and be pitiful." "Gentleness avails nothing +with thee," cried the Earl in wrath; "thou hast scorned my fair +courtesy. Thou shalt taste the contrary." So saying, he smote her +across the face. + +Then Enid, knowing all her helplessness, uttered an exceeding +bitter cry, and the sound roused Geraint. Grasping his sword, with +one bound he was upon the Earl and, with one blow, shore his neck +in two. Then those who sat at meat fled shrieking, for they +believed that the dead had come to life. + +But Geraint gazed upon Enid and his heart smote him, thinking of +the sorrow he had brought upon her. "Lady and sweet wife," he +cried, "for the wrong I have done thee, pardon me. For, hearing thy +words not three days since at morn, I doubted thy love and thy +loyalty. But now I know thee and trust thee beyond the power of +words to shake my faith." "Ah! my lord," cried Enid, "fly, lest +they return and slay thee." "Knowest thou where is my charger?" "I +will bring thee to it." So they found the war-horse and Geraint +mounted it, setting Enid behind him; thus they went forth in the +direction of the nearest town, that they might find rest and +succour. Then, as they rode, there came forth from a glade of the +forest a knight, who, seeing Geraint, at once laid lance in rest as +if he would ride upon him. And Enid, fearing for her husband, +shrieked aloud, crying: "Noble knight, whosoever ye be, encounter +not with a man nigh wounded to the death." Immediately the knight +raised his lance and looking more attentively upon, them, he +exclaimed: "What! is it Prince Geraint? Pardon me, noble knight, +that I knew you not at once. I am that Edeyrn whom once ye +overthrew and spared. At Arthur's court, whither ye sent me, I was +shown kindness and courtesy little deserved, and now am I knight of +Arthur's Round Table. But how came ye in such a case?" Then Geraint +told him of his encounter with the three caitiffs, and how he had +afterwards been borne to the castle of Earl Limours. "To do justice +on that same felon is Arthur himself here even now," cried Edeyrn. +"His camp is hard by." Then Geraint told Edeyrn how Limours lay +dead in his own halls, justly punished for the many wrongs he had +done, and how his people were scattered. "Come then yourself to +greet the King and tell him what has chanced." So he led the way to +Arthur's camp, where it lay in the forest hard by. Then were they +welcomed by the King himself and a tent assigned to them, where +Geraint rested until his wounds were healed. + +Never again, from that time forth, had Geraint a doubt of the love +and truth of Enid; and never from that time had she to mourn that +he seemed to set small store by his knightly fame. For after he was +cured, they returned to their own land, and there Geraint upheld +the King's justice, righting wrong and putting down robbery and +oppression, so that the people blessed him and his gentle wife. +Year by year, his fame grew, till his name was known through all +lands; and at last, when his time was come, he died a knightly +death, as he had lived a knightly life, in the service of his lord, +King Arthur. + + + + +BOOK VI + +THE LADY OF THE FOUNTAIN + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +THE LADY OF THE FOUNTAIN + + +King Arthur was holding his court at Caerleon-upon-Usk, and it was +the time of the evening banquet, when there entered the hall the +good knight, Sir Kynon. A brave warrior was he, and of good +counsel, but he seemed in weary plight as, after due salutation to +all, he took his place at the Round Table. So it was that all were +eager to hear of his adventure, yet none would question him until +he had eaten and drunk. But when he was refreshed, the King said to +him: "Whence come ye, Sir Kynon? For it would seem that ye have met +with hard adventure." "Sir King," answered Kynon, "it has been with +me as never before; for I have encountered with, and been +overthrown by, a single knight." All were filled with wonder at his +words, for never before had Sir Kynon been worsted in any meeting, +man to man. Then said the King: "The stoutest of us must some time +meet his match; yet did ye bear you valiantly, I doubt not. Tell us +now, I pray you, of your adventures." "Noble lord," said Kynon, "I +had determined to journey into other lands; for I would seek new +and untried adventures. So I passed into a far land, and it +chanced, one day, that I found myself in the fairest valley I had +ever seen. Through it there flowed a mighty river, which I +followed, until I came, as evening fell, to a castle, the largest +and strongest I have ever seen. At the castle gate I espied a man +of right noble mien, who greeted me courteously, and bade me enter. +So as we sat at supper, he inquired of my journey and the quest I +followed, and I told him how I sought but adventure, and whether, +perchance, I might encounter one stronger than myself. Then the +lord of the castle smiled and said: 'I can bring you to such an +one, if ye would rather that I showed you your disadvantage than +your advantage.' And when I questioned him further, he replied: +'Sleep here this night, and to-morrow I will show you such an one +as ye seek.' So I rested that night, and with the dawn I rose and +took my leave of the lord of the castle, who said to me: 'If ye +will persevere in your quest, follow the path to the head of the +glade, and ascend the wooded steep until ye come to an open space +in the forest, with but one great tree in its midst. Under the tree +is a fountain, and beside it a marble slab to which is chained a +silver bowl. Take a bowlful of water and dash it upon the slab, and +presently there will appear a knight spurring to encounter with +you. If ye flee, he will pursue, but if ye overcome him, there +exists none in this world whom ye need fear to have ado with.' + +"Forthwith I departed, and following these directions, I came at +last to such a space as he described, with the tree and fountain in +its midst. So I took the bowl and dashed water from the fountain +upon the marble slab, and, on the instant, came a clap of thunder +so loud as near deafened me, and a storm of hailstones the biggest +that ever man saw. Scarce was I recovered from my confusion, when I +saw a knight galloping towards me. All in black was he, and he rode +a black horse. Not a word we spoke, but we dashed against each +other, and at the first encounter I was unhorsed. Still not a word +spoke the Black Knight, but passing the butt-end of his lance +through my horse's reins, rode away, leaving me shamed and on foot. +So I made my way back to the castle, and there I was entertained +again that night right hospitably, none questioning me as to my +adventure. The next morning, when I rose, there awaited me a noble +steed, ready saddled and bridled, and I rode away and am returned +hither. And now ye know my story and my shame." + +Then were all grieved for the discomfiture of Sir Kynon, who had +ever borne himself boldly and courteously to all; and they strove +to console him as best they might. Presently there rose from his +siege the good knight Sir Owain of Rheged, and said: "My lord, I +pray you, give me leave to take upon me this adventure. For I would +gladly seek this wondrous fountain and encounter with this same +Black Knight." So the King consented, and on the morrow Sir Owain +armed him, mounted his horse, and rode forth the way Sir Kynon had +directed him. + +So he journeyed many a day until at last he reached the valley of +which Sir Kynon had told, and presently he came to the strong +castle and, at the gate, met the lord thereof, even as Sir Kynon +had done. And the lord of the castle gave him a hearty welcome and +made him good cheer, asking nothing of his errand till they were +seated about the board. Then, when questioned, Sir Owain declared +his quest, that he sought the knight who guarded the fountain. So +the lord of the castle, failing to dissuade Sir Owain from the +adventure, directed him how he might find the forest glade wherein +was the wondrous fountain. + +With the dawn, Sir Owain rose, mounted his horse, and rode forward +until he had found the fountain. Then he dashed water on the marble +slab and instantly there burst over him the fearful hailstorm, and +through it there came pricking towards him the Black Knight on the +black steed. In the first onset, they broke their lances and then, +drawing sword, they fought blade to blade. Sore was the contest, +but at the last Owain dealt the Black Knight so fierce a blow that +the sword cut through helmet and bone to the very brain. Then the +Black Knight knew that he had got his death-wound, and turning his +horse's head, fled as fast as he might, Sir Owain following close +behind. So they came, fast galloping, to the gate of a mighty +castle, and instantly the portcullis was raised and the Black +Knight dashed through the gateway. But Sir Owain, following close +behind, found himself a prisoner, fast caught between two gates; +for as the Black Knight passed through the inner of the two gates, +it was closed before Sir Owain could follow. For the moment none +noticed Sir Owain, for all were busied about the Black Knight, who +drew not rein till he was come to the castle hall; then as he +strove to dismount, he fell from his saddle, dead. + +All this Sir Owain saw through the bars of the gate that held him +prisoner; and he judged that his time was come, for he doubted not +but that the people of the castle would hold his life forfeit for +the death of their lord. So as he waited, suddenly there stood at +his side a fair damsel, who, laying finger on lip, motioned to him +to follow her. Much wondering, he obeyed, and climbed after her up +a dark winding staircase, that led from the gateway into a tiny +chamber high in the tower. There she set food and wine before him, +bidding him eat; then when he was refreshed, she asked him his name +and whence he came. "Truly," answered he, "I am Owain of Rheged, +knight of King Arthur's Round Table, who, in fair fight, have +wounded, I doubt not to the death, the Black Knight that guards the +fountain and, as I suppose, the lord of this castle. Wherefore, +maiden, if ye intend me evil, lead me where I may answer for my +deed, boldly, man to man." "Nay," answered the damsel eagerly, "in +a good hour ye are come. Well I know your name, for even here have +we heard of your mighty deeds; and by good fortune it may be that +ye shall release my lady." "Who is your lady?" asked Sir Owain. +"None other than the rightful Chatelaine of this castle and +Countess of broad lands besides; but this year and more has the +Black Knight held her prisoner in her own halls because she would +not listen to his suit." "Then lead me to your lady forthwith," +cried Sir Owain; "right gladly will I take her quarrel upon me if +there be any that will oppose me." So she led him to the Countess' +bower, and there he made him known to the fair lady and proffered +her his services. And she that had long deemed there was no +deliverance for her, accepted them right gladly. So taking her by +the hand, he led her down to the hall, and there, standing at the +door, he proclaimed her the lawful lady of that castle and all its +lands, and himself ready to do battle in her cause. But none +answered his challenge, for those that had held with the Black +Knight, deprived of their leader, had lost heart, whereas they that +for their loyalty to their lady had been held in subjection, +gathered fast about Sir Owain, ready to do battle. So in short +space, Sir Owain drove forth the lawless invaders of the Countess' +lands, and called together her vassals that they might do homage +to her anew. + +Thus he abode in the castle many days, seeking in all that he might +to do her service, until through all her lands order was restored, +and her right acknowledged. But when all was done, Sir Owain yet +tarried in the lady's castle; for he loved her much, but doubted +ever of her favour. So one day, Luned, the damsel who had come to +his aid on the day that he slew the Black Knight, said to him: +"Alas! Sir Knight, the time must come when ye will leave us. And +who will then defend my lady's fountain, which is the key to all +her lands? For who holds the fountain, holds the land also." "I +will never fail your lady while there is breath in my body," cried +Sir Owain. "Then were it well that ye stayed here ever," answered +Luned. "Gladly would I," answered Sir Owain, "if that I might." "Ye +might find a way if your wits were as sharp as your sword," she +answered, and laughing, left him, but herself sought her lady. Long +he pondered her words, and he was still deep in thought, when there +came to him the Countess, and said: "Sir Knight, I hear that ye +must leave us." "Nay, my lady," answered Sir Owain, "I will stay as +long as ye require my services." "There must ever be one to guard +the fountain, and he who guards the fountain, is lord of these +lands," answered the lady softly. Then Sir Owain found words at +last, and bending the knee, he said: "Lady, if ye love me, I will +stay and guard you and your lands; and if ye love me not, I will go +into my own country, and yet will I come again whensoever ye have +need of me. For never loved I any but you." Then the Countess bade +him stay, and calling her vassals together, she commanded all to do +homage to him, and took him for her husband in presence of them +all. + +Thus Sir Owain won the Lady of the Fountain. + + + + +BOOK VII + +SIR PEREDUR + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +THE ADVENTURES OF SIR PEREDUR + + +At one time there was in the North of Britain a great Earl named +Evrawc. A stout knight he was, and few were the tournaments at +which he was not to be found in company with six of his sons; the +seventh only, who was too young to bear arms, remaining at home +with his mother. But at the last, after he had won the prize at +many a tourney, Earl Evrawc was slain, and his six sons with him; +and then the Countess fled with Peredur, her youngest, to a lonely +spot in the midst of a forest, far from the dwellings of men; for +she was minded to bring him up where he might never hear of jousts +and feats of arms, that so at least one son might be left to her. + +So Peredur was reared amongst women and decrepit old men, and even +these were strictly commanded never to tell the boy aught of the +great world beyond the forest, or what men did therein. None the +less, he grew up active and fearless, as nimble and sure-footed as +the goats, and patient of much toil. + +Then, one day, when Peredur was grown a tall, strong youth, there +chanced what had never chanced before; for there came riding +through the forest, hard by where Peredur dwelt with his mother, a +knight in full armour, none other, indeed, than the good knight, +Sir Owain himself. And seeing him, Peredur cried out: "Mother, what +is that, yonder?" "An angel, my son," said his mother. "Then will I +go and become an angel with him," said Peredur; and before any one +could stay him, he was gone. + +When Sir Owain saw him approaching, he reined in his horse, and +after courteous salutation, said: "I pray thee, fair youth, tell +me, hast thou seen a knight pass this way?" "I know not what a +knight may be," answered Peredur. "Why, even such an one as I," +answered Sir Owain. "If ye will tell me what I ask you, I will tell +you what ye ask me," said Peredur; and when Owain, laughing, +consented, Peredur touched the saddle, demanding, "What is this?" +"Surely, a saddle," replied Sir Owain; and, in like manner, Peredur +asked him of all the parts of his armour, and Owain answered him +patiently and courteously. Then when he had ended his questions, +Peredur said: "Ride forward; for yesterday I saw from a distance +such an one as ye are, ride through the forest." + +Sir Peredur returned to his mother, and exclaimed: "Mother, that +was no angel, but a noble knight"; and hearing his words, his +mother fell into a swoon. But Peredur hastened to the spot where +were tethered the horses that brought them firewood and food from +afar, and from them he chose a bony piebald, which seemed the +strongest and in the best condition. Then he found a pack and +fastened it on the horse's back, in some way to resemble a saddle, +and strove with twigs to imitate the trappings he had seen upon Sir +Owain's horse. When his preparations were complete, he returned to +the Countess, who, by then, was recovered from her swoon; and she +saw that all her trouble had been in vain, and that the time was +come when she must part with her son. "Thou wilt ride forth, my +son?" she asked. "Yea, with your leave," he answered. "Hear, then, +my counsel," said she; "go thy way to Arthur's court, for there are +the noblest and truest knights. And wheresoever thou seest a +church, fail not to say thy prayers, and whatsoever woman demands +thy aid, refuse her not." + +So, bidding his mother farewell, Peredur mounted his horse, and +took in his hand a long, sharp-pointed stake. He journeyed many +days till, at last, he had come to Caerleon, where Arthur held his +court, and dismounting at the door, he entered the hall. Even as he +did so, a stranger knight, who had passed in before him, seized a +goblet and, dashing the wine in the face of Queen Guenevere, held +the goblet aloft and cried: "If any dare dispute this goblet with +me or venture to avenge the insult done to Arthur's Queen, let him +follow me to the meadow without, where I will await him." + +And for sheer amazement at this insolence, none moved save Peredur, +who cried aloud: "I will seek out this man and do vengeance upon +him." Then a voice exclaimed: "Welcome, goodly Peredur, thou flower +of knighthood"; and all turned in surprise to look upon a little +misshapen dwarf, who, a year before, had craved and obtained +shelter in Arthur's court, and since then had spoken no word. But +Kay the Seneschal, in anger that a mere boy, and one so strangely +equipped as Peredur, should have taken up the Queen's quarrel when +proven knights had remained mute, struck the dwarf, crying: "Thou +art ill-bred to remain mute a year in Arthur's court, and then to +break silence in praise of such a fellow." Then Peredur, who saw +the blow, cried, as he left the hall: "Knight, hereafter ye shall +answer to me for that blow." Therewith, he mounted his piebald and +rode in haste to the meadow. And when the knight espied him, he +cried to him: "Tell me, youth, saw'st thou any coming after me from +the court?" "I am come myself," said Peredur. "Hold thy peace," +answered the knight angrily, "and go back to the court and say +that, unless one comes in haste, I will not tarry, but will ride +away, holding them all shamed." "By my faith," said Peredur, +"willingly or unwillingly, thou shalt answer to me for thine +insolence; and I will have the goblet of thee, ay, and thy horse +and armour to boot." With that, in a rage, the knight struck +Peredur a violent blow between the neck and the shoulder with the +butt-end of his lance. "So!" cried Peredur, "not thus did my +mother's servants play with me; and thus will I play with thee"; +and drove at him with his pointed stake that it entered the eye of +the knight, who forthwith fell dead from his horse. Then Peredur +dismounted and began wrenching at the fastenings of the dead man's +armour, for he saw in the adventure the means of equipping himself +as a knight should ride; but knowing not the trick of the +fastenings, his efforts were in vain. While he yet struggled, there +rode up Sir Owain who had followed in hot haste from the court; and +when he saw the fallen knight, he was amazed that a mere lad, +unarmed and unskilled in knightly exercises, should thus have +prevailed. "Fair youth," said he, "what would ye?" "I would have +this knight's iron coat, but I cannot stir it for all my efforts." +"Nay, young Sir," said Sir Owain, "leave the dead his arms, and +take mine and my horse, which I give you right gladly; and come +with me to the King to receive the order of knighthood, for, by my +faith, ye have shown yourself worthy of it." "I thank you, noble +Sir," answered Peredur, "and gladly I accept your gift; but I will +not go with you now. Rather will I seek other adventures and prove +me further first; nor will I seek the King's presence until I have +encountered with the tall knight that so misused the dwarf, and +have called him to account. Only, I pray you, take this goblet to +Queen Guenevere, and say to my lord, King Arthur, that, in all +places and at all times, I am his true vassal, and will render him +such service as I may." Then, with Sir Owain's help, Peredur put on +the armour, and mounting his horse, after due salutation, rode on +his way. + +So, for many days, Peredur followed his adventures, and many a +knight he met and overthrew. To all he yielded grace, requiring +only that they should ride to Caerleon, there to give themselves up +to the King's pleasure, and say that Peredur had sent them. At last +he came to a fair castle that rose from the shores of a lake, and +there he was welcomed by a venerable old man who pressed him to +make some stay. So, as they sat at supper, the old man asked +Peredur many questions of himself and his adventure, gazing +earnestly on him the while; and, at last, he said: "I know thee who +thou art. Thou art my sister's son. Stay now with me, and I will +teach thee the arts and courtesy and noble bearing of a gentle +knight, and give thee the degree when thou art accomplished in all +that becomes an honourable knight." Thereto Peredur assented +gladly, and remained with his uncle until he had come to a perfect +knowledge of chivalry; after that, he received the order of +knighthood at the old man's hands, and rode forth again to seek +adventures. Presently he came to the city of Caerleon, but though +Arthur was there with all his court, Sir Peredur chose to make +himself known to none; for he had not yet avenged the dwarf on Sir +Kay. Now it chanced, as he walked through the city, he saw at her +casement a beautiful maiden whose name was Angharad; and at once he +knew that he had seen the damsel whom he must love his life long. +So he sought to be acquainted with her, but she scorned him, +thinking him but some unproved knight, since he consorted not with +those of Arthur's court; and, at last, finding he might in no wise +win her favour at that time, he made a vow that never would he +speak to Christian man or woman until he had gained her love, and +forthwith rode away again. After long journeyings, he came one +night to a castle, and, knocking, gained admittance and courteous +reception from the lady who owned it. But it seemed to Sir Peredur +that there hung over all a gloom, none caring to talk or make +merry, though there was no lack of the consideration due to a +guest. Then when the evening hour was come, they took their places +at the board, Peredur being set at the Countess' right hand; and +two nuns entered and placed before the lady a flagon of wine and +six white loaves, and that was all the fare. Then the Countess gave +largely of the food to Sir Peredur, keeping little for herself and +her attendants; but this pleased not the knight, who, heedless of +his oath, said: "Lady, permit me to fare as do the others," and he +took but a small portion of that which she had given him. Then the +Countess, blushing as with shame, said to him: "Sir Knight, if we +make you poor cheer, far otherwise is our desire, but we are in +sore straits." "Madam," answered Peredur courteously, "for your +welcome I thank you heartily; and, I pray you, if there is aught in +which a knight may serve you, tell me your trouble." Then the +Countess told him how she had been her father's one child, and heir +to his broad lands; and how a neighbouring baron had sought her +hand; but she, misliking him, had refused his suit, so that his +wrath was great. Then, when her father died, he had made war upon +her, overrunning all her lands till nothing was left to her but the +one castle. Long since, all the provision stored therein was +consumed, and she must have yielded her to the oppressor but for +the charity of the nuns of a neighbouring monastery, who had +secretly supplied her with food when, for fear, her vassals had +forsaken her. But that day the nuns had told her that no longer +could they aid her, and there was naught left save to submit to the +invader. This was the story that, with many tears, the Countess +related to Peredur. "Lady," said he, "with your permission, I will +take upon me your quarrel, and to-morrow I will seek to encounter +this felon." The Countess thanked him heartily and they retired to +rest for that night. + +In the morning betimes, Sir Peredur arose, donned his armour and, +seeking the Countess, desired that the portcullis might be raised, +for he would sally forth to seek her oppressor. So he rode out from +the castle and saw in the morning light a plain covered with the +tents of a great host. With him he took a herald to proclaim that +he was ready to meet any in fair fight, in the Countess' quarrel. +Forthwith, in answer to his challenge, there rode forward the baron +himself, a proud and stately knight mounted on a great black +horse. The two rushed together, and, at the first encounter, Sir +Peredur unhorsed his opponent, bearing him over the crupper with +such force that he lay stunned, as one dead. Then, Peredur, drawing +his sword, dismounted and stood over the fallen knight, who, when +he was recovered a little, asked his mercy. "Gladly will I grant +it," answered Peredur, "but on these conditions. Ye shall disband +this host, restore to the Countess threefold all of which ye have +deprived her, and, finally, ye shall submit yourself unto her as +her vassal." All this the baron promised to do, and Peredur +remained with the Countess in her castle until she was firmly +established in that which was rightfully hers. Then he bade her +farewell, promising his aid if ever she should need his services, +and so rode forth again. + +And as he rode, at times he was troubled, thinking on the scorn +with which the fair Angharad had treated him, and reproaching +himself bitterly for having broken his vow of silence. So he +journeyed many days, and at length, one morn, dismounting by a +little woodland stream, he stood lost in thought, heedless of his +surroundings. Now, as it chanced, Arthur and a company of his +knights were encamped hard by; for, returning from an expedition, +the King had been told of Peredur and how he had taken upon him the +Queen's quarrel, and forthwith had ridden out in search of him. +When the King espied Sir Peredur standing near the brook, he said +to the knights about him: "Know ye yonder knight?" "I know him +not," said Sir Kay, "but I will soon learn his name." So he rode +up to Sir Peredur and spoke to him, demanding his name. When +Peredur answered not, though questioned more than once, Sir Kay in +anger, struck him with the butt-end of his spear. On the instant, +Sir Peredur caught him with his lance under the jaw, and, though +himself unmounted, hurled Kay from the saddle. Then when Kay +returned not, Sir Owain mounted his horse and rode forth to learn +what had happened, and by the brook he found Sir Kay sore hurt, and +Peredur ready mounted to encounter any who sought a quarrel. But at +once Sir Owain recognised Sir Peredur and rejoiced to see him; and +when he found Sir Peredur would speak no word, being himself an +honourable knight, he thought no evil, but urged him to ride back +with him to Arthur's camp. And Sir Peredur, still speaking never a +word, went with Sir Owain, and all respected his silence save Kay, +who was long healing of the injuries he had received, and whose +angry words none heeded. So they returned to Caerleon and soon, +through the city, were noised the noble deeds of Sir Peredur, each +new-comer bringing some fresh story of his prowess. Then when +Angharad learnt how true and famous was the knight whom she had +lightly esteemed, she was sore ashamed; and seeing him ever +foremost in the tournament and courteous to all in deed, though +speaking not a word; she thought that never had there been so noble +a knight, or one so worthy of a lady's love. Thus in the winning of +her favour, Sir Peredur was released from his vow, and his marriage +was celebrated with much pomp before the King and Queen. Long and +happily he lived, famed through all Britain as one of the most +valiant and faithful knights of King Arthur's Round Table. + + + + +BOOK VIII + +THE HOLY GRAIL + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +THE COMING OF SIR GALAHAD + + +Many times had the Feast of Pentecost come round, and many were the +knights that Arthur had made since first he founded the Order of +the Round Table; yet no knight had appeared who dared claim the +seat named by Merlin the Siege Perilous. At last, one vigil of the +great feast, a lady came to Arthur's court at Camelot and asked Sir +Launcelot to ride with her into the forest hard by, for a purpose +not then to be revealed. Launcelot consenting, they rode together +until they came to a nunnery hidden deep in the forest; and there +the lady bade Launcelot dismount, and led him into a great and +stately room. Presently there entered twelve nuns and with them a +youth, the fairest that Launcelot had ever seen. "Sir," said the +nuns, "we have brought up this child in our midst, and now that he +is grown to manhood, we pray you make him knight, for of none +worthier could he receive the honour." "Is this thy own desire?" +asked Launcelot of the young squire; and when he said that so it +was, Launcelot promised to make him knight after the great festival +had been celebrated in the church next day. + +So on the morrow, after they had worshipped, Launcelot knighted +Galahad--for that was the youth's name--and asked him if he would +ride at once with him to the King's court; but the young knight +excusing himself, Sir Launcelot rode back alone to Camelot, where +all rejoiced that he was returned in time to keep the feast with +the whole Order of the Round Table. + +Now, according to his custom, King Arthur was waiting for some +marvel to befall before he and his knights sat down to the banquet. +Presently a squire entered the hall and said: "Sir King, a great +wonder has appeared. There floats on the river a mighty stone, as +it were a block of red marble, and it is thrust through by a sword, +the hilt of which is set thick with precious stones." On hearing +this, the King and all his knights went forth to view the stone +and found it as the squire had said; moreover, looking closer, they +read these words: "None shall draw me hence, but only he by whose +side I must hang; and he shall be the best knight in all the +world." Immediately, all bade Launcelot draw forth the sword, but +he refused, saying that the sword was not for him. Then, at the +King's command, Sir Gawain made the attempt and failed, as did Sir +Percivale after him. So the knights knew the adventure was not for +them, and returning to the hall, took their places about the Round +Table. + +No sooner were they seated than an aged man, clothed all in white, +entered the hall, followed by a young knight in red armour, by +whose side hung an empty scabbard. The old man approached King +Arthur and bowing low before him, said: "Sir, I bring you a young +knight of the house and lineage of Joseph of Arimathea, and through +him shall great glory be won for all the land of Britain." Greatly +did King Arthur rejoice to hear this, and welcomed the two right +royally. Then when the young knight had saluted the King, the old +man led him to the Siege Perilous and drew off its silken cover; +and all the knights were amazed, for they saw that where had been +engraved the words, "The Siege Perilous," was written now in +shining gold: "This is the Siege of the noble prince, Sir Galahad." +Straightway the young man seated himself there where none other had +ever sat without danger to his life; and all who saw it said, one +to another: "Surely this is he that shall achieve the Holy Grail." +Now the Holy Grail was the blessed dish from which Our Lord had +eaten the Last Supper, and it had been brought to the land of +Britain by Joseph of Arimathea; but because of men's sinfulness, it +had been withdrawn from human sight, only that, from time to time, +it appeared to the pure in heart. + +When all had partaken of the royal banquet, King Arthur bade Sir +Galahad come with him to the river's brink; and showing him the +floating stone with the sword thrust through it, told him how his +knights had failed to draw forth the sword. "Sir," said Galahad, +"it is no marvel that they failed, for the adventure was meant for +me, as my empty scabbard shows." So saying, lightly he drew the +sword from the heart of the stone, and lightly he slid it into the +scabbard at his side. While all yet wondered at this adventure of +the sword, there came riding to them a lady on a white palfrey who, +saluting King Arthur, said: "Sir King, Nacien the hermit sends thee +word that this day shall great honour be shown to thee and all +thine house; for the Holy Grail shall appear in thy hall, and thou +and all thy fellowship shall be fed therefrom." And to Launcelot +she said: "Sir Knight, thou hast ever been the best knight of all +the world; but another has come to whom thou must yield +precedence." Then Launcelot answered humbly: "I know well I was +never the best." "Ay, of a truth thou wast and art still, of sinful +men," said she, and rode away before any could question her +further. + +So, that evening, when all were gathered about the Round Table, +each knight in his own siege, suddenly there was heard a crash of +thunder, so mighty that the hall trembled, and there flashed into +the hall a sun-beam, brighter far than any that had ever before +been seen; and then, draped all in white samite, there glided +through the air what none might see, yet what all knew to be the +Holy Grail. And all the air was filled with sweet odours, and on +every one was shed a light in which he looked fairer and nobler +than ever before. So they sat in an amazed silence, till presently +King Arthur rose and gave thanks to God for the grace given to him +and to his court. Then up sprang Sir Gawain and made his avow to +follow for a year and a day the Quest of the Holy Grail, if +perchance he might be granted the vision of it. Immediately other +of the knights followed his example, binding themselves to the +Quest of the Holy Grail until, in all, one hundred and fifty had +vowed themselves to the adventure. + +Then was King Arthur grieved, for he foresaw the ruin of his noble +Order. And turning to Sir Gawain, he said: "Nephew ye have done +ill, for through you I am bereft of the noblest company of knights +that ever brought honour to any realm in Christendom. Well I know +that never again shall all of you gather in this hall, and it +grieves me to lose men I have loved as my life and through whom I +have won peace and righteousness for all my realm." So the King +mourned and his knights with him, but their oaths they could not +recall. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +HOW SIR GALAHAD WON THE RED-CROSS SHIELD + + +Great woe was there in Camelot next day when, after worship in the +Cathedral, the knights who had vowed themselves to the Quest of the +Holy Grail got to horse and rode away. A goodly company it was that +passed through the streets, the townfolk weeping to see them go; +Sir Launcelot du Lac and his kin, Sir Galahad of whom all expected +great deeds, Sir Bors and Sir Percivale, and many another scarcely +less famed than they. So they rode together that day to the Castle +of Vagon, where they were entertained right hospitably, and the +next day they separated, each to ride his own way and see what +adventures should befall him. + +So it came to pass that, after four days' ride, Sir Galahad reached +an abbey. Now Sir Galahad was still clothed in red armour as when +he came to the King's court, and by his side hung the wondrous +sword; but he was without a shield. They of the abbey received him +right heartily, as also did the brave King Bagdemagus, Knight of +the Round Table, who was resting there. When they had greeted each +other, Sir Galahad asked King Bagdemagus what adventure had brought +him there. "Sir," said Bagdemagus, "I was told that in this abbey +was preserved a wondrous shield which none but the best knight in +the world might bear without grievous harm to himself. And though I +know well that there are better knights than I, to-morrow I purpose +to make the attempt. But, I pray you, bide at this monastery awhile +until you hear from me; and if I fail, do ye take the adventure +upon you." "So be it," said Sir Galahad. + +The next day, at their request, Sir Galahad and King Bagdemagus +were led into the church by a monk and shown where, behind the +altar, hung the wondrous shield, whiter than snow save for the +blood-red cross in its midst. Then the monk warned them of the +danger to any who, being unworthy, should dare to bear the shield. +But King Bagdemagus made answer: "I know well that I am not the +best knight in the world, yet will I try if I may bear it." So he +hung it about his neck, and, bidding farewell, rode away with his +squire. + +The two had not journeyed far before they saw a knight approach, +armed all in white mail and mounted upon a white horse. Immediately +he laid his spear in rest and, charging King Bagdemagus, pierced +him through the shoulder and bore him from his horse; and standing +over the wounded knight, he said: "Knight, thou hast shown great +folly, for none shall bear this shield save the peerless knight, +Sir Galahad." Then, taking the shield, he gave it to the squire and +said: "Bear this shield to the good Knight Galahad and greet him +well from me." "What is your name?" asked the squire, "That is not +for thee or any other to know." "One thing, I pray you," said the +squire; "why may this shield be borne by none but Sir Galahad +without danger?" "Because it belongs to him only," answered the +stranger knight, and vanished. + +Then the squire took the shield and, setting King Bagdemagus on his +horse, bore him back to the abbey where he lay long, sick unto +death. To Galahad the squire gave the shield and told him all that +had befallen. So Galahad hung the shield about his neck and rode +the way that Bagdemagus had gone the day before; and presently he +met the White Knight, whom he greeted courteously, begging that he +would make known to him the marvels of the red-cross shield. "That +will I gladly," answered the White Knight. "Ye must know, Sir +Knight, that this shield was made and given by Joseph of Arimathea +to the good King Evelake of Sarras, that, in the might of the holy +symbol, he should overthrow the heathen who threatened his kingdom. +But afterwards, King Evelake followed Joseph to this land of +Britain where they taught the true faith unto the people who before +were heathen. Then when Joseph lay dying, he bade King Evelake set +the shield in the monastery where ye lay last night, and foretold +that none should wear it without loss until that day when it should +be taken by the knight, ninth and last in descent from him, who +should come to that place the fifteenth day after receiving the +degree of knighthood. Even so has it been with you, Sir Knight." So +saying, the unknown knight disappeared and Sir Galahad rode on his +way. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +THE ADVENTURES OF SIR PERCIVALE + + +After he had left his fellows, Sir Percivale rode long through the +forest until, one evening, he reached a monastery where he sought +shelter for the night. The next morning, he went into the chapel to +hear mass and there he espied the body of an old, old man, laid on +a richly adorned couch. At first it seemed as if the aged man were +dead, but presently, raising himself in his bed, he took off his +crown, and, delivering it to the priest, bade him place it on the +altar. So when the service was concluded, Sir Percivale asked who +the aged king might be. Then he was told that it was none other +than King Evelake who accompanied Joseph of Arimathea to Britain. +And on a certain occasion, the King had approached the Holy Grail +nigher than was reverent and, for his impiety, God had punished him +with blindness. Thereupon he repented and, entreating God +earnestly, had obtained his petition that he should not die until +he had seen the spotless knight who should be descended from him in +the ninth degree. (This his desire was fulfilled later when Sir +Galahad came thither; after which, he died and was buried by the +good knight.) + +The next day, Sir Percivale continued his journey and presently met +with twenty knights who bore on a bier the body of a dead knight. +When they espied Sir Percivale, they demanded of him who he was and +whence he came. So he told them, whereupon they all shouted, "Slay +him! slay him!" and setting upon him all at once, they killed his +horse and would have slain him but that the good knight, Sir +Galahad, passing that way by chance, came to his rescue and put his +assailants to flight. Then Galahad rode away as fast as he might, +for he would not be thanked, and Sir Percivale was left, horseless +and alone, in the forest. + +So Sir Percivale continued his journey on foot as well as he might; +and ever the way became lonelier, until at last he came to the +shores of a vast sea. There Sir Percivale abode many days, without +food and desolate, doubting whether he should ever escape thence. +At last it chanced that, looking out to sea, Sir Percivale descried +a ship and, as it drew nearer, he saw how it was all hung with +satin and velvet. Presently, it reached the land and out of it +there stepped a lady of marvellous beauty, who asked him how he +came there; "For know," said she, "ye are like to die here by +hunger or mischance." "He whom I serve will protect me," said Sir +Percivale. "I know well whom ye desire most to see," said the lady. +"Ye would meet with the Red Knight who bears the red-cross shield." +"Ah! lady, I pray you tell me where I may find him," cried Sir +Percivale. "With a good will," said the damsel; "if ye will but +promise me your service when I shall ask for it, I will lead you to +the knight, for I met him of late in the forest." So Sir Percivale +promised gladly to serve her when she should need him. Then the +lady asked him how long he had fasted. "For three days," answered +Sir Percivale. Immediately she gave orders to her attendants +forthwith to pitch a tent and set out a table with all manner of +delicacies, and of these she invited Sir Percivale to partake. "I +pray you, fair lady," said Sir Percivale, "who are ye that show me +such kindness?" "Truly," said the lady, "I am but a hapless damsel, +driven forth from my inheritance by a great lord whom I have +chanced to displease. I implore you, Sir Knight, by your vows of +knighthood, to give me your aid." Sir Percivale promised her all +the aid he could give, and then she bade him lie down and sleep, +and herself took off his helmet, and unclasped his sword-belt. So +Sir Percivale slept, and when he waked, there was another feast +prepared, and he was given the rarest and the strongest wines that +ever he had tasted. Thus they made merry and, when the lady begged +Percivale to rest him there awhile, promising him all that ever he +could desire if he would vow himself to her service, almost he +forgot the quest to which he was vowed, and would have consented, +but that his eye fell upon his sword where it lay. Now in the +sword-hilt there was set a red cross and, seeing it, Percivale +called to mind his vow, and, thinking on it, he signed him with the +cross on his forehead. Instantly, the tent was overthrown and +vanished in thick smoke; and she who had appeared a lovely woman +disappeared from his sight in semblance of a fiend. + +Then was Sir Percivale sore ashamed that almost he had yielded to +the temptings of the Evil One, and earnestly, he prayed that his +sin might be forgiven him. Thus he remained in prayer far into the +night, bewailing his weakness; and when the dawn appeared, a ship +drew nigh the land. Sir Percivale entered into it, but could find +no one there; so commending himself to God, he determined to remain +thereon, and was borne over the seas for many days, he knew not +whither. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + +THE ADVENTURES OF SIR BORS + + +Among the knights vowed to the Quest of the Holy Grail was Sir +Bors, one of the kin of Sir Launcelot, a brave knight and pious. He +rode through the forest many a day, making his lodging most often +under a leafy tree, though once on his journey he stayed at a +castle, that he might do battle for its lady against a felon knight +who would have robbed and oppressed her. + +So, on a day, as he rode through the forest, Sir Bors came to the +parting of two ways. While he was considering which he should +follow, he espied two knights driving before them a horse on which +was stretched, bound and naked, none other than Sir Bors' own +brother, Sir Lionel; and, from time to time, the two false knights +beat him with thorns so that his body was all smeared with blood, +but, so great was his heart, Sir Lionel uttered never a word. Then, +in great wrath, Sir Bors laid his lance in rest and would have +fought the felon knights to rescue his brother, but that, even as +he spurred his horse, there came a bitter cry from the other path +and, looking round, he saw a lady being dragged by a knight into +the darkest part of the forest where none might find and rescue +her. When she saw Sir Bors, she cried to him: "Help me! Sir Knight, +help me! I beseech you by your knighthood." Then Sir Bors was much +troubled, for he would not desert his brother; but bethinking him +that ever a woman must be more helpless than a man, he wheeled his +horse, rode upon her captor and beat him to the earth. The damsel +thanked him earnestly and told him how the knight was her own +cousin, who had that day carried her off by craft from her father's +castle. As they talked, there came up twelve knights who had been +seeking the lady everywhere; so to their care Sir Bors delivered +her, and rode with haste in the direction whither his brother had +been borne. On the way, he met with an old man, dressed as a +priest, who asked him what he sought. When Sir Bors had told him, +"Ah! Bors," said he, "I can give you tidings indeed. Your brother +is dead"; and parting the bushes, he showed him the body of a dead +man, to all seeming Sir Lionel's self. Then Sir Bors grieved +sorely, misdoubting almost whether he should not have rescued his +own brother rather than the lady; and at the last, he dug a grave +and buried the dead man; after which he rode sorrowfully on his +way. + +When he had ridden many days, he met with a yeoman whom he asked if +there were any adventures in those parts. "Sir," said the man, "at +the castle; hard by, they hold a great tournament." Sir Bors +thanked him and rode along the way pointed out to him; and +presently, as he passed a hermitage, whom should he see sitting at +its door but his brother, Sir Lionel, whom he had believed dead. +Then in great joy, he leaped from his horse, and running to Lionel, +cried: "Fair brother, how came ye hither?" "Through no aid of +yours," said Sir Lionel angrily; "for ye left me bound and beaten, +to ride to the rescue of a maiden. Never was brother so dealt with +by brother before. Keep you from me as ye may!" When Sir Bors +understood that his brother would slay him, he knelt before him +entreating his pardon. Sir Lionel took no heed, but mounting his +horse and taking his lance, cried: "Keep you from me, traitor! +Fight, or die!" And Sir Bors moved not; for to him it seemed a sin +most horrible that brother should fight with brother. Then Sir +Lionel, in his rage, rode his horse at him, bore him to the ground +and trampled him under the horse's hoofs, till Bors lay beaten to +the earth in a swoon. Even so, Sir Lionel's anger was not stayed; +for, alighting, he drew his sword and would have smitten off his +brother's head, but that the holy hermit, hearing the noise of +conflict, ran out of the hermitage and threw himself upon Sir Bors. +"Gentle knight," he cried, "have mercy upon him and on thyself; for +of the sin of slaying thy brother, thou couldst never be quit." +"Sir Priest," said Lionel, "if ye leave him not, I shall slay you +too." "It were a lesser sin than to slay thy brother," answered the +hermit. "So be it," cried Lionel, and with one blow, struck off the +hermit's head. Then he would have worked his evil will upon his +brother too, but that, even as he was unlacing Sir Bors' helm to +cut off his head, there rode up the good knight Sir Colgrevance, a +fellow of the Round Table. When he saw the dead hermit and was +aware how Lionel sought the life of Bors, he was amazed, and +springing from his horse, ran to Lionel and dragged him back from +his brother. "Do ye think to hinder me?" said Sir Lionel. "Let +come who will, I will have his life." "Ye shall have to do with me +first," cried Colgrevance. Therewith, they took their swords, and, +setting their shields before them, rushed upon each other. Now Sir +Colgrevance was a good knight, but Sir Lionel was strong and his +anger added to his strength. So long they fought that Sir Bors had +time to recover from his swoon, and raising himself with pain on +his elbow, saw how the two fought for his life; and as it seemed, +Sir Lionel would prevail, for Sir Colgrevance grew weak and weary. +Sir Bors tried to get to his feet, but, so weak he was, he could +not stand; and Sir Colgrevance, seeing him stir, called on him to +come to his aid, for he was in mortal peril for his sake. But even +as he called, Sir Lionel cut him to the ground and, as one +possessed, rushed upon his brother to slay him. Sir Bors entreated +him for mercy, and when he would not, sorrowfully he took his +sword, saying: "Now, God forgive me, though I defend my life +against my brother." + +Immediately there was heard a voice saying, "Flee, Bors, and touch +not thy brother"; and at the same time, a fiery cloud burned +between them, so that their shields glowed with the flame, and both +knights fell to the earth. But the voice came again, saying, "Bors, +leave thy brother and take thy way to the sea. There thou shalt +meet Sir Percivale." Then Sir Bors made ready to obey, and, turning +to Lionel, said: "Dear brother, I pray you forgive me for aught in +which I have wronged you." "I forgive you," said Lionel, for he was +too amazed and terrified to keep his anger. + +So Sir Bors continued his journey, and at the last, coming to the +sea shore, he espied a ship, draped all with white samite, and +entering thereon, he saw Sir Percivale, and much they rejoiced them +in each other's company. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + +THE ADVENTURES OF SIR LAUNCELOT + + +After Sir Launcelot had parted from his fellows at the Castle of +Vagon, he rode many days through the forest without adventure, till +he chanced upon a knight close by a little hermitage in the wood. +Immediately, as was the wont of errant knights, they prepared to +joust, and Launcelot, whom none before had overthrown, was borne +down, man and horse, by the stranger knight. Thereupon a nun, who +dwelt in the hermitage, cried: "God be with thee, best knight in +all this world," for she knew the victor for Sir Galahad. But +Galahad, not wishing to be known, rode swiftly away; and presently +Sir Launcelot got to horse again and rode slowly on his way, shamed +and doubting sorely in his heart whether this quest were meant for +him. + +When night fell, he came to a great stone cross which stood at the +parting of the way and close by a little ruined chapel. So Sir +Launcelot, being minded to pass the night there, alighted, fastened +his horse to a tree and hung his shield on a bough. Then he drew +near to the little chapel, and wondered to see how, all ruinous +though it was, yet within was an altar hung with silk and a great +silver candlestick on it; but when he sought entrance, he could +find none and, much troubled in his mind, he returned to his horse +where he had left it, and unlacing his helm and ungirding his +sword, laid him down to rest. + +Then it seemed to Sir Launcelot that, as he lay between sleeping +and waking, there passed him two white palfreys bearing a litter +wherein was a sick knight, who cried: "Sweet Lord, when shall I be +pardoned all my transgressions, and when shall the holy vessel come +to me, to cure me of my sickness?" And instantly it seemed that the +great candlestick came forth of itself from the chapel, floating +through the air before a table of silver on which was the Holy +Grail. Thereupon the sick knight raised himself, and on his bended +knees he approached so nigh that he kissed the holy vessel; and +immediately he cried: "I thank Thee, sweet Lord, that I am healed +of my sickness." And all the while Sir Launcelot, who saw this +wonder, felt himself held that he could not move. Then a squire +brought the stranger knight his weapons, in much joy that his lord +was cured. "Who think ye that this knight may be who remains +sleeping when the holy vessel is so near?" said the knight. "In +truth," said the squire, "he must be one that is held by the bond +of some great sin. I will take his helm and his sword, for here +have I brought you all your armour save only these two." So the +knight armed him from head to foot, and taking Sir Launcelot's +horse, rode away with his squire. On the instant, Sir Launcelot +awoke amazed, not knowing whether he had dreamed or not; but while +he wondered, there came a terrible voice, saying: "Launcelot, arise +and leave this holy place." In shame, Sir Launcelot turned to obey, +only to find horse and sword and shield alike vanished. Then, +indeed, he knew himself dishonoured. Weeping bitterly, he made the +best of his way on foot, until he came to a cell where a hermit was +saying prayer. Sir Launcelot knelt too, and, when all was ended, +called to the hermit, entreating him for counsel. "With good will," +said the hermit. So Sir Launcelot made himself known and told the +hermit all, lamenting how his good fortune was turned to +wretchedness and his glory to shame; and truly, the hermit was +amazed that Sir Launcelot should be in such case. "Sir," said he, +"God has given you manhood and strength beyond all other knights; +the more are ye bounden to his service." "I have sinned," said Sir +Launcelot; "for in all these years of my knighthood, I have done +everything for the honour and glory of my lady and naught for my +Maker; and little thank have I given to God for all his benefits to +me." Then the holy man gave Sir Launcelot good counsel and made him +rest there that night; and the next day he gave him a horse, a +sword and a helmet, and bade him go forth and bear himself knightly +as the servant of God. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + +HOW SIR LAUNCELOT SAW THE HOLY GRAIL + + +For many days after he had left the hermitage, Sir Launcelot rode +through the forest, but there came to him no such adventures as had +befallen him on other quests to the increase of his fame. At last, +one night-tide, he came to the shores of a great water and there he +lay down to sleep; but as he slept, a voice called on him: +"Launcelot, arise, put on thine armour and go on thy way until thou +comest to a ship. Into that thou shalt enter." Immediately, Sir +Launcelot started from his sleep to obey and, riding along the +shore, came presently to a ship beached on the strand; no sooner +had he entered it, than the ship was launched--how, he might not +know. So the ship sailed before the wind for many a day. No mortal +was on it, save only Sir Launcelot, yet were all his needs +supplied. Then, at last, the ship ran ashore at the foot of a great +castle; and it was midnight. Sir Launcelot waited not for the dawn, +but, his sword gripped in his hand, sprang ashore, and then, right +before him, he saw a postern where the gate stood open indeed, but +two grisly lions kept the way. And when Sir Launcelot would have +rushed upon the great beasts with his sword, it was struck from his +hand, and a voice said: "Ah! Launcelot, ever is thy trust in thy +might rather than thy Maker!" Sore ashamed, Sir Launcelot took his +sword and thrust it back into the sheath, and going forward, he +passed unhurt through the gateway, the lions that kept it falling +back from his path. So without more adventure, Launcelot entered +into the castle; and there he saw how every door stood open, save +only one, and that was fast barred, nor, with all his force, might +he open it. Presently from the chamber within came the sound of a +sweet voice in a holy chant, and then in his heart Launcelot knew +that he was come to the Holy Grail. So, kneeling humbly, he prayed +that to him might be shown some vision of that he sought. Forthwith +the door flew open and from the chamber blazed a light such as he +had never known before; but when he made to enter, a voice cried: +"Launcelot, forbear," and sorrowfully he withdrew. Then where he +knelt, far even from the threshold of the wondrous room, he saw a +silver table and, on it, covered with red samite, the Holy Grail. +At sight of that which he had sought so long, his joy became so +great that, unmindful of the warning, he advanced into the room and +drew nigh even to the Table itself. Then on the instant there burst +between him and it a blaze of light, and he fell to the ground. +There he lay, nor might he move nor utter any sound; only he was +aware of hands busy about him which bore him away from the chamber. + +For four-and-twenty days, Sir Launcelot lay as in a trance. At the +end of that time, he came to himself, and found those about him +that had tended him in his swoon. These, when they had given him +fresh raiment, brought him to the aged King--Pelles was his +name--that owned that castle. The King entertained him right +royally, for he knew of the fame of Sir Launcelot; and long he +talked with him of his quest and of the other knights who followed +it, for he was of a great age and knew much of men. At the end of +four days, he spoke to Sir Launcelot, bidding him return to +Arthur's court; "For," said he, "your quest is ended here, and all +that ye shall see of the Holy Grail, ye have seen." So Launcelot +rode on his way, grieving for the sin that hindered him from the +perfect vision of the Holy Grail, but thanking God for that which +he had seen. So in time he came to Camelot, and told to Arthur all +that had befallen him. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX + +THE END OF THE QUEST + + +After he had rescued Sir Percivale from the twenty knights who +beset him, Sir Galahad rode on his way till night-fall, when he +sought shelter at a little hermitage. Thither there came in the +night a damsel who desired to speak with Sir Galahad; so he arose +and went to her, "Galahad," said she, "arm you and mount your horse +and follow me, for I am come to guide you in your quest." So they +rode together until they had come to the sea-shore, and there the +damsel showed Galahad a great ship into which he must enter. Then +she bade him farewell, and he, going on to the ship, found there +already the good knights Sir Bors and Sir Percivale, who made much +joy of the meeting. They abode in that ship until they had come to +the castle of King Pelles, who welcomed them right gladly. Then, as +they all sat at supper that night, suddenly the hall was filled +with a great light, and the holy vessel appeared in their midst, +covered all in white samite. While they all rejoiced, there came a +voice saying: "My Knights whom I have chosen, ye have seen the +holy vessel dimly. Continue your journey to the city of Sarras and +there the perfect Vision shall be yours." + +Now in the city of Sarras had dwelt long time Joseph of Arimathea, +teaching its people the true faith, before ever he came into the +land of Britain; but when Sir Galahad and his fellows came there +after long voyage, they found it ruled by a heathen king named +Estorause, who cast them into a deep dungeon. There they were kept +a year, but at the end of that time, the tyrant died. Then the +great men of the land gathered together to consider who should be +their king; and, while they were in council, came a voice bidding +them take as their king the youngest of the three knights whom +Estorause had thrown into prison. So in fear and wonder they +hastened to the prison, and releasing the three knights, made +Galahad king as the voice had bidden them. + +Thus Sir Galahad became King of the famous city of Sarras, in far +Babylon. He had reigned a year when, one morning early, he and the +other two knights, his fellows, went into the chapel, and there +they saw, kneeling in prayer, an aged man, robed as a bishop, and +round him hovered many angels. The knights fell on their knees in +awe and reverence, whereupon he that seemed a bishop turned to them +and said: "I am Joseph of Arimathea, and I am come to show you the +perfect Vision of the Holy Grail." On the instant there appeared +before them, without veil or cover, the holy vessel, in a radiance +of light such as almost blinded them. Sir Bors and Sir Percivale, +when at length they were recovered from the brightness of that +glory, looked up to find that the holy Joseph and the wondrous +vessel had passed from their sight. Then they went to Sir Galahad +where he still knelt as in prayer, and behold, he was dead; for it +had been with him even as he had prayed; in the moment when he had +seen the vision, his soul had gone back to God. + +So the two knights buried him in that far city, themselves mourning +and all the people with them. And immediately after, Sir Percivale +put off his arms and took the habit of a monk, living a devout and +holy life until, a year and two months later, he also died and was +buried near Sir Galahad. Then Sir Bors armed him, and bidding +farewell to the city, sailed away until, after many weeks, he came +again to the land of Britain. There he took horse, and stayed not +till he had come to Camelot. Great was the rejoicing of Arthur and +all his knights when Sir Bors was once more among them. When he had +told all the adventures which had befallen him and the good +knights, his companions, all who heard were filled with amaze. But +the King, he caused the wisest clerks in the land to write in great +hooks this Quest of the Holy Grail, that the fame of it should +endure unto all time. + + + + +BOOK IX + +THE FAIR MAID OF ASTOLAT + + + + +CHAPTER XXX + +THE FAIR MAID OF ASTOLAT + + +At last, the Quest of the Holy Grail was ended, and by ones and +twos the knights came back to Camelot, though many who had set out +so boldly were never seen again about the Round Table. + +Great was the joy of King Arthur when Sir Launcelot and Sir Bors +returned, for, so long had they been away, that almost he had +feared that they had perished. In their honour there was high +festival for many days in London, where Arthur then had his court; +and the King made proclamation of a great tournament that he would +hold at Camelot, when he and the King of Northgalis would keep the +lists against all comers. + +So, one fair morning of spring, King Arthur made ready to ride to +Camelot and all his knights with him, save Launcelot, who excused +himself, saying that an old wound hindered him from riding. But +when the King, sore vexed, had departed, the Queen rebuked Sir +Launcelot, and bade him go and prove his great prowess as of old. +"Madam," said Sir Launcelot, "in this, as in all else, I obey you; +at your bidding I go, but know that in this tournament I shall +adventure me in other wise than ever before." + +The next day, at dawn, Sir Launcelot mounted his horse, and, riding +forth unattended, journeyed all that day till, as evening fell, he +reached the little town of Astolat, and there, at the castle, +sought lodgement for that night. The old Lord of Astolat was glad +at his coming, judging him at once to be a noble knight, though he +knew him not, for it was Sir Launcelot's will to remain unknown. + +So they went to supper, Sir Launcelot and the old lord, his son, +Sir Lavaine, and his daughter Elaine, whom they of the place called +the Fair Maid of Astolat. As they sat at meat, the Baron asked Sir +Launcelot if he rode to the tournament. "Yea," answered Launcelot; +"and right glad should I be if, of your courtesy, ye would lend me +a shield without device." "Right willingly," said his host; "ye +shall have my son, Sir Tirre's shield. He was but lately made +knight and was hurt in his first encounter, so his shield is bare +enough. If ye will take with you my young son, Sir Lavaine, he will +be glad to ride in the company of so noble a knight and will do you +such service as he may." "I shall be glad indeed of his +fellowship," answered Sir Launcelot courteously. + +Now it seemed to the fair Elaine that never had she beheld so noble +a knight as this stranger; and seeing that he was as gentle and +courteous as he was strong, she said to him: "Fair Knight, will ye +wear my favour at this tournament? For never have I found knight +yet to wear my crimson sleeve, and sure am I that none other could +ever win it such honour." "Maiden," said Sir Launcelot, "right +gladly would I serve you in aught; but it has never been my custom +to wear lady's favour." "Then shall it serve the better for +disguise," answered Elaine. Sir Launcelot pondered her words, and +at last he said: "Fair maiden, I will do for you what I have done +for none, and will wear your favour." So with great glee, she +brought it him, a crimson velvet sleeve embroidered with great +pearls, and fastened it in his helmet. Then Sir Launcelot begged +her to keep for him his own shield until after the tournament, when +he would come for it again and tell them his name. + +The next morn, Sir Launcelot took his departure with Sir Lavaine +and, by evening, they were come to Camelot. Forthwith Sir Lavaine +led Sir Launcelot to the house of a worthy burgher, where he might +stay in privacy, undiscovered by those of his acquaintance. Then, +when at dawn the trumpets blew, they mounted their horses and rode +to a little wood hard by the lists, and there they abode some +while; for Sir Launcelot would take no part until he had seen which +side was the stronger. So they saw how King Arthur sat high on a +throne to overlook the combat, while the King of Northgalis and all +the fellowship of the Round Table held the lists against their +opponents led by King Anguish of Ireland and the King of Scots. + +Then it soon appeared that the two Kings with all their company +could do but little against the Knights of the Round Table, and +were sore pressed to maintain their ground. Seeing this, Sir +Launcelot said to Sir Lavaine: "Sir Knight, will ye give me your +aid if I go to the rescue of the weaker side? For it seems to me +they may not much longer hold their own unaided." "Sir," answered +Lavaine, "I will gladly follow you and do what I may." So the two +laid their lances in rest and charged into the thickest of the +fight and, with one spear, Sir Launcelot bore four knights from the +saddle. Lavaine, too, did nobly, for he unhorsed the bold Sir +Bedivere and Sir Lucan the Butler. Then with their swords they +smote lustily on the left hand and on the right, and those whom +they had come to aid rallying to them, they drove the Knights of +the Round Table back a space. So the fight raged furiously, +Launcelot ever being in the thickest of the press and performing +such deeds of valour that all marvelled to see him, and would fain +know who was the Knight of the Crimson Sleeve. But the knights of +Arthur's court felt shame of their discomfiture, and, in especial, +those of Launcelot's kin were wroth that one should appear who +seemed mightier even than Launcelot's self. So they called to each +other and, making a rally, directed all their force against the +stranger knight who had so turned the fortunes of the day. With +lances in rest, Sir Lionel, Sir Bors, and Sir Ector, bore down +together upon Sir Launcelot, and Sir Bors' spear pierced Sir +Launcelot and brought him to the earth, leaving the spear head +broken off in his side. This Sir Lavaine saw, and immediately, with +all his might, he rode upon the King of Scots, unhorsed him and +took his horse to Sir Launcelot. Now Sir Launcelot felt as if he +had got his death-wound, but such was his spirit that he was +resolved to do some great deed while yet his strength remained. So, +with Lavaine's aid, he got upon the horse, took a spear and, laying +it in rest, bore down, one after the other, Sir Bors, Sir Lionel, +and Sir Ector. Next he flung him into the thickest of the fight, +and before the trumpets sounded the signal to cease, he had +unhorsed thirty good knights. + +Then the Kings of Scotland and Ireland came to Sir Launcelot and +said: "Sir Knight, we thank you for the service done us this day. +And now, we pray you, come with us to receive the prize which is +rightly yours; for never have we seen such deeds as ye have done +this day." "My fair lords," answered Sir Launcelot, "for aught that +I have accomplished, I am like to pay dearly; I beseech you, suffer +me to depart." With these words, he rode away full gallop, followed +by Sir Lavaine; and when he had come to a little wood, he called +Lavaine to him, saying: "Gentle Knight, I entreat you, draw forth +this spear head, for it nigh slayeth me." "Oh! my dear lord," said +Lavaine, "I fear sore to draw it forth lest ye die." "If ye love +me, draw it out," answered Launcelot. So Lavaine did as he was +bidden, and, with a deathly groan, Sir Launcelot fell in a swoon to +the ground. When he was a little recovered, he begged Lavaine to +help him to his horse and lead him to a hermitage hard by where +dwelt a hermit who, in bygone days, had been known to Launcelot for +a good knight and true. So with pain and difficulty they journeyed +to the hermitage, Lavaine oft fearing that Sir Launcelot would die. +And when the hermit saw Sir Launcelot, all pale and besmeared with +blood, he scarce knew him for the bold Sir Launcelot du Lac; but he +bore him within and dressed his wound and bade him be of good +cheer, for he should recover. So there Sir Launcelot abode many +weeks and Sir Lavaine with him; for Lavaine would not leave him, +such love had he for the good knight he had taken for his lord. + +Now when it was known that the victorious knight had departed from +the field sore wounded, Sir Gawain vowed to go in search of him. So +it chanced that, in his wanderings, he came to Astolat, and there +he had a hearty welcome of the Lord of Astolat, who asked him for +news of the tournament. Then Sir Gawain related how two stranger +knights, bearing white shields, had won great glory, and in +especial one, who wore in his helm a crimson sleeve, had surpassed +all others in knightly prowess. At these words, the fair Elaine +cried aloud with delight. "Maiden," said Gawain, "know ye this +knight?" "Not his name," she replied; "but full sure was I that he +was a noble knight when I prayed him to wear my favour." Then she +showed Gawain the shield which she had kept wrapped in rich +broideries, and immediately Sir Gawain knew it for Launcelot's. +"Alas!" cried he, "without doubt it was Launcelot himself that we +wounded to the death. Sir Bors will never recover the woe of it." + +Then, on the morrow, Sir Gawain rode to London to tell the court +how the stranger knight and Launcelot were one; but the Fair Maid +of Astolat rose betimes, and having obtained leave of her father, +set out to search for Sir Launcelot and her brother Lavaine. After +many journeyings, she came, one day, upon Lavaine exercising his +horse in a field, and by him she was taken to Sir Launcelot. Then, +indeed, her heart was filled with grief when she saw the good +knight to whom she had given her crimson sleeve thus laid low; so +she abode in the hermitage, waiting upon Sir Launcelot and doing +all within her power to lessen his pain. + +After many weeks, by the good care of the hermit and the fair +Elaine, Sir Launcelot was so far recovered that he might bear the +weight of his armour and mount his horse again. Then, one morn, +they left the hermitage and rode all three, the Fair Maid, Sir +Launcelot, and Sir Lavaine, to the castle of Astolat, where there +was much joy of their coming. After brief sojourn, Sir Launcelot +desired to ride to court, for he knew there would be much sorrow +among his kinsmen for his long absence. But when he would take his +departure, Elaine cried aloud: "Ah! my lord, suffer me to go with +you, for I may not bear to lose you." "Fair child," answered Sir +Launcelot gently, "that may not be. But in the days to come, when +ye shall love and wed some good knight, for your sake I will bestow +upon him broad lands and great riches; and at all times will I hold +me ready to serve you as a true knight may." Thus spoke Sir +Launcelot, but the fair Elaine answered never a word. + +So Sir Launcelot rode to London where the whole court was glad of +his coming; but from the day of his departure, the Fair Maid +drooped and pined until, when ten days were passed, she felt that +her end was at hand. So she sent for her father and two brothers, +to whom she said gently: "Dear father and brethren, I must now +leave you." Bitterly they wept, but she comforted them all she +might, and presently desired of her father a boon. "Ye shall have +what ye will," said the old lord; for he hoped that she might yet +recover. Then first she required her brother, Sir Tirre, to write a +letter, word for word as she said it; and when it was written, she +turned to her father and said: "Kind father, I desire that, when I +am dead, I may be arrayed in my fairest raiment, and placed on a +bier; and let the bier be set within a barge, with one to steer it +until I be come to London. Then, perchance, Sir Launcelot will come +and look upon me with kindness." So she died, and all was done as +she desired; for they set her, looking as fair as a lily, in a +barge all hung with black, and an old dumb man went with her as +helmsman. + +Slowly the barge floated down the river until it had come to +Westminster; and as it passed under the palace walls, it chanced +that King Arthur and Queen Guenevere looked forth from a window. +Marvelling much at the strange sight, together they went forth to +the quay, followed by many of the knights. Then the King espied the +letter clasped in the dead maiden's hand, and drew it forth gently +and broke the seal. And thus the letter ran: "Most noble Knight, +Sir Launcelot, I, that men called the Fair Maid of Astolat, am come +hither to crave burial at thy hands for the sake of the unrequited +love I gave thee. As thou art peerless knight, pray for my soul." + +Then the King bade fetch Sir Launcelot, and when he was come, he +showed him the letter. And Sir Launcelot, gazing on the dead +maiden, was filled with sorrow. "My lord Arthur," he said, "for the +death of this dear child I shall grieve my life long. Gentle she +was and loving, and much was I beholden to her; but what she +desired I could not give." "Yet her request now thou wilt grant, I +know," said the King; "for ever thou art kind and courteous to +all." "It is my desire," answered Sir Launcelot. + +So the Maid of Astolat was buried in the presence of the King and +Queen and of the fellowship of the Round Table, and of many a +gentle lady who wept, that time, the fair child's fate. Over her +grave was raised a tomb of white marble, and on it was sculptured +the shield of Sir Launcelot; for, when he had heard her whole +story, it was the King's will that she that in life had guarded the +shield of his noblest knight, should keep it also in death. + + + + +BOOK X + +QUEEN GUENEVERE + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI + +HOW MORDRED PLOTTED AGAINST SIR LAUNCELOT + + +Before Merlin passed from the world of men, imprisoned in the great +stone by the evil arts of Vivien, he had uttered many marvellous +prophecies, and one that boded ill to King Arthur; for he foretold +that, in the days to come, a son of Arthur's sister should stir up +bitter war against the King, and at last a great battle should be +fought in the West, when many a brave knight should find his doom. + +Now, among the nephews of Arthur, was one most dishonourable; his +name was Mordred. No knightly deed had he ever done, and he hated +to hear the good report of others because he himself was a coward +and envious. But of all the Round Table there was none that Mordred +hated more than Sir Launcelot du Lac, whom all true knights held in +most honour; and not the less did Mordred hate Launcelot that he +was the knight whom Queen Guenevere had in most esteem. So, at +last, his jealous rage passing all bounds, he spoke evil of the +Queen and of Launcelot, saying that they were traitors to the King. +Now Sir Gawain and Sir Gareth, Mordred's brothers, refused to give +ear to these slanders, holding that Sir Launcelot, in his knightly +service of the Queen, did honour to King Arthur also; but by +ill-fortune another brother, Sir Agravaine, had ill-will to the +Queen, and professed to believe Mordred's evil tales. So the two +went to King Arthur with their ill stories. + +Now when Arthur had heard them, he was wroth; for never would he +lightly believe evil of any, and Sir Launcelot was the knight whom +he loved above all others. Sternly then he bade them begone and +come no more to him with unproven tales against any, and, least of +all, against Sir Launcelot and their lady, the Queen. + +The two departed, but in their hearts was hatred against Launcelot +and the Queen, more bitter than ever for the rebuke they had +called down upon themselves; and they resolved, from that time +forth, diligently to watch if, perchance, they might find aught to +turn to evil account against Sir Launcelot. + +Not long after, it seemed to them that the occasion had come. For +King Arthur having ridden forth to hunt far from Carlisle, where he +then held court, the Queen sent for Sir Launcelot to speak with him +in her bower. Then Agravaine and Mordred got together twelve +knights, friends of Sir Gawain, their brother, and persuaded them +to come with them for they should do the King a service. So with +the twelve knights they watched and waited in a little room until +they saw Sir Launcelot, all unarmed, pass into the Queen's chamber; +and when the door was closed upon him, they came forth, and Sir +Agravaine and Sir Mordred thundered on the door, crying so that all +the court might hear: "Thou traitor, Sir Launcelot, come forth from +the Queen's chamber. Come forth, for thy treason against the King +is known to all!" + +Then Sir Launcelot and the Queen were amazed and filled with shame +that such a clamour should be raised where the Queen was. While +they waited and listened in dismay, Sir Mordred and Sir Agravaine +took up the cry again, the twelve knights echoing it: "Traitor +Launcelot, come forth and meet thy doom; for thy last hour is +come." Then Sir Launcelot, wroth more for the Queen than for +himself, exclaimed: "This shameful cry will kill me; better death +than such dishonour. Lady, as I have ever been your true knight, +since the day when my lord, King Arthur, knighted me, pray for me +if now I meet my death." Then he went to the door and cried to +those without: "Fair lords, cease this outcry. I will open the +door, and then ye shall do with me as ye will." With the word, he +set open the door, but only by so much that one knight could enter +at a time. So a certain Sir Colgrevance of Gore, a knight of great +stature, pushed into the room and thrust at Sir Launcelot with all +his might; but Sir Launcelot, with the arm round which he had +wrapped his cloak, turned aside the sword and, with his bare hand, +dealt Colgrevance such a blow on the helmet that he fell grovelling +to the earth. Then Sir Launcelot thrust to and barred the door, and +stripping the fallen knight of his armour, armed himself in haste +with the aid of the Queen and her ladies. + +All this while, Sir Agravaine and Sir Mordred continued their +outcry; so when he was armed, Sir Launcelot called to them to cease +their vile cries and the next day he would meet any or all of them +in arms and knightly disprove their vile slander. Now there was not +one among those knights who dared meet Sir Launcelot in the open +field, so they were resolved to slay him while they had the +advantage over him. When Sir Launcelot understood their evil +purpose, he set wide the door and rushed upon them. At the first +blow he slew Sir Agravaine, and soon eleven other knights lay cold +on the earth beside him. Only Mordred escaped, for he fled with all +his might; but, even so, he was sore wounded. + +Then Sir Launcelot spoke to the Queen. "Madam," said he, "here may +I no longer stay, for many a foe have I made me this night. And +when I am gone, I know not what evil may be spoken of you for this +night's work. I pray you, then, suffer me to lead you to a place of +safety." "Ye shall run no more risk for my sake," said the Queen; +"only go hence in haste before more harm befall you. But as for me, +here I abide. I will flee for no traitor's outcry." + +So Sir Launcelot, seeing that at that time there was naught he +might do for Queen Guenevere, withdrew with all his kin to a little +distance from Carlisle, and awaited what should befall. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII + +THE TRIAL OF THE QUEEN + + +When Mordred escaped Sir Launcelot, he got to horse, all wounded as +he was, and never drew rein till he had found King Arthur, to whom +he told all that had happened. + +Then great was the King's grief. Despite all that Mordred could +say, he was slow to doubt Sir Launcelot, whom he loved, but his +mind was filled with forebodings; for many a knight had been slain, +and well he knew that their kin would seek vengeance on Sir +Launcelot, and the noble fellowship of the Round Table be utterly +destroyed by their feuds. + +All too soon, it proved even as the King had feared. Many were +found to hold with Sir Mordred; some because they were kin to the +knights that had been slain, some from envy of the honour and +worship of the noble Sir Launcelot; and among them even were those +who dared to raise their voice against the Queen herself, calling +for judgment upon her as leagued with a traitor against the King, +and as having caused the death of so many good knights. Now in +those days the law was that if any one were accused of treason by +witnesses, or taken in the act, that one should die the death by +burning, be it man or woman, knight or churl. So then the murmurs +grew to a loud clamour that the law should have its course, and +that King Arthur should pass sentence on the Queen. Then was the +King's woe doubled; "For," said he, "I sit as King to be a rightful +judge and keep all the law; wherefore I may not do battle for my +own Queen, and now there is none other to help her." So a decree +was issued that Queen Guenevere should be burnt at the stake +outside the walls of Carlisle. + +Forthwith, King Arthur sent for his nephew, Sir Gawain, and said to +him: "Fair nephew, I give it in charge to you to see that all is +done as has been decreed." But Sir Gawain answered boldly: "Sir +King, never will I be present to see my lady the Queen die. It is +of ill counsel that ye have consented to her death." Then the King +bade Gawain send his two young brothers, Sir Gareth and Sir +Gaheris, to receive his commands, and these he desired to attend +the Queen to the place of execution. So Gareth made answer for +both: "My Lord the King, we owe you obedience in all things, but +know that it is sore against our wills that we obey you in this; +nor will we appear in arms in the place where that noble lady shall +die"; then sorrowfully they mounted their horses, and rode to +Carlisle. + +When the day appointed had come, the Queen was led forth to a place +without the walls of Carlisle, and there she was bound to the stake +to be burnt to death. Loud were her ladies' lamentations, and many +a lord was found to weep at that grievous sight of a Queen brought +so low; yet was there none who dared come forward as her champion, +lest he should be suspected of treason. As for Gareth and Gaheris, +they could not bear the sight and stood with their faces covered in +their mantles. Then, just as the torch was to be applied to the +faggots, there was a sound as of many horses galloping, and the +next instant a band of knights rushed upon the astonished throng, +their leader cutting down all who crossed his path until he had +reached the Queen, whom he lifted to his saddle and bore from the +press. Then all men knew that it was Sir Launcelot, come knightly +to rescue the Queen, and in their hearts they rejoiced. So with +little hindrance they rode away, Sir Launcelot and all his kin with +the Queen in their midst, till they came to the castle of the +Joyous Garde where they held the Queen in safety and all reverence. + +But of that day came a kingdom's ruin, for among the slain were +Gawain's brothers, Sir Gareth and Sir Gaheris. Now Sir Launcelot +loved Sir Gareth as if he had been his own younger brother, and +himself had knighted him; but, in the press, he struck at him and +killed him, not seeing that he was unarmed and weaponless; and in +like wise, Sir Gaheris met his death. So when word was brought to +King Arthur of what had passed, Sir Gawain asked straightway how +his brothers had fared. "Both are slain," said the messenger. +"Alas! my dear brothers!" cried Sir Gawain; "how came they by their +death?" "They were both slain by Sir Launcelot." "That will I never +believe," cried Sir Gawain; "for my brother, Sir Gareth, had such +love for Sir Launcelot that there was naught Sir Launcelot could +ask him that he would not do." But the man said again: "He is +slain, and by Sir Launcelot." + +Then, from sheer grief, Sir Gawain fell swooning to the ground. +When he was recovered, he said: "My Lord and uncle, is it even as +this man says, that Sir Launcelot has slain my brother Sir Gareth?" +"Alas!" said the King, "Launcelot rode upon him in the press and +slew him, not seeing who he was or that he was unarmed." "Then," +cried Gawain fiercely, "here I make my avow. Never, while my life +lasts, will I leave Sir Launcelot in peace until he has rendered me +account for the slaying of my brother." From that day forth, Sir +Gawain would not suffer the King to rest until he had gathered all +his host and marched against the Joyous Garde. Thus began the war +which broke up the fellowship of the Round Table. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII + +HOW SIR GAWAIN DEFIED SIR LAUNCELOT + + +Now it came to the ears of the Pope in Rome that King Arthur was +besieging Sir Launcelot in his castle of the Joyous Garde, and it +grieved him that there should be strife between two such goodly +knights, the like of whom was not to be found in Christendom. So he +called to him the Bishop of Rochester, and bade him carry word to +Britain, both to Arthur and to Sir Launcelot, that they should be +reconciled, the one to the other, and that King Arthur should +receive again Queen Guenevere. + +Forthwith Sir Launcelot desired of King Arthur assurance of liberty +and reverence for the Queen, as also safe conduct for himself and +his knights, that he might bring Dame Guenevere, with due honour, +to the King at Carlisle; and thereto the King pledged his word. + +So Launcelot set forth with the Queen, and behind them rode a +hundred knights arrayed in green velvet, the housings of the horses +of the same all studded with precious stones; thus they passed +through the city of Carlisle, openly, in the sight of all, and +there were many who rejoiced that the Queen was come again and Sir +Launcelot with her, though they of Gawain's party scowled upon him. + +When they were come into the great hall where Arthur sat, with Sir +Gawain and other great lords about him, Sir Launcelot led +Guenevere to the throne and both knelt before the King; then, +rising, Sir Launcelot lifted the Queen to her feet, and thus he +spoke to King Arthur, boldly and well before the whole court: "My +lord, Sir Arthur, I bring you here your Queen, than whom no truer +nor nobler lady ever lived; and here stand I, Sir Launcelot du Lac, +ready to do battle with any that dare gainsay it"; and with these +words Sir Launcelot turned and looked upon the lords and knights +present in their places, but none would challenge him in that +cause, not even Sir Gawain, for he had ever affirmed that Dame +Guenevere was a true and honourable lady. + +Then Sir Launcelot spoke again: "Now, my Lord Arthur, in my own +defence it behoves me to say that never in aught have I been false +to you. That I slew certain knights is true; but I hold me +guiltless, seeing that they brought death upon themselves. For no +sooner had I gone to the Queen's bower, as she had commanded me, +than they beset the door, with shameful outcry, that all the court +might hear, calling me traitor and felon knight." "And rightly they +called you," cried Sir Gawain fiercely. "My lord, Sir Gawain," +answered Sir Launcelot, "in their quarrel they proved not +themselves right, else had not I, alone, encountered fourteen +knights and come forth unscathed." + +Then said King Arthur: "Sir Launcelot, I have ever loved you above +all other knights, and trusted you to the uttermost; but ill have +ye done by me and mine." "My lord," said Launcelot, "that I slew +Sir Gareth I shall mourn as long as life lasts. As soon would I +have slain my own nephew, Sir Bors, as have harmed Sir Gareth +wittingly; for I myself made him knight, and loved him as my +brother." "Liar and traitor," cried Sir Gawain, "ye slew him, +defenceless and unarmed." "It is full plain, Sir Gawain," said +Launcelot, "that never again shall I have your love; and yet there +has been old kindness between us, and once ye thanked me that I +saved your life." "It shall not avail you now," said Sir Gawain; +"traitor ye are, both to the King and to me. Know that, while life +lasts, never will I rest until I have avenged my brother Sir +Gareth's death upon you." "Fair nephew," said the King, "cease your +brawling. Sir Launcelot has come under surety of my word that none +shall do him harm. Elsewhere, and at another time, fasten a quarrel +upon him, if quarrel ye must." "I care not," cried Sir Gawain +fiercely. "The proud traitor trusts so in his own strength that he +thinks none dare meet him. But here I defy him and swear that, be +it in open combat or by stealth, I shall have his life. And know, +mine uncle and King, if I shall not have your aid, I and mine will +leave you for ever, and, if need be, fight even against you." +"Peace," said the King; and to Sir Launcelot: "We give you fifteen +days in which to leave this kingdom." Then Sir Launcelot sighed +heavily and said: "Full well I see that no sorrow of mine for what +is past availeth me." Then he went to the Queen where she sat, and +said: "Madam, the time is come when I must leave this fair realm +that I have loved. Think well of me, I pray you, and send for me +if ever there be aught in which a true knight may serve lady." +Therewith he turned him about and, without greeting to any, passed +through the hall, and with his faithful knights rode to the Joyous +Garde, though ever thereafter, in memory of that sad day, he called +it the Dolorous Garde. + +There he called about him his friends and kinsmen, saying: "Fair +Knights, I must now pass into my own lands." Then they all, with +one voice, cried that they would go with him. So he thanked them, +promising them all fair estates and great honour when they were +come to his kingdom; for all France belonged to Sir Launcelot. Yet +was he loth to leave the land where he had followed so many +glorious adventures, and sore he mourned to part in anger from King +Arthur. "My mind misgives me," said Sir Launcelot, "but that +trouble shall come of Sir Mordred, for he is envious and a +mischief-maker, and it grieves me that never more I may serve Sir +Arthur and his realm." + +So Sir Launcelot sorrowed; but his kinsmen were wroth for the +dishonour done him, and making haste to depart, by the fifteenth +day they were all embarked to sail overseas to France. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV + +HOW KING ARTHUR AND SIR GAWAIN WENT TO FRANCE + + +From the day when Sir Launcelot brought the Queen to Carlisle, +never would Gawain suffer the King to be at rest; but always he +desired him to call his army together that they might go to attack +Sir Launcelot in his own land. + +Now King Arthur was loth to war against Sir Launcelot; and seeing +this, Sir Gawain upbraided him bitterly. "I see well it is naught +to you that my brother, Sir Gareth, died fulfilling your behest. +Little ye care if all your knights be slain, if only the traitor +Launcelot escape. Since, then, ye will not do me justice nor avenge +your own nephew, I and my fellows will take the traitor when and +how we may. He trusts in his own might that none can encounter with +him; let see if we may not entrap him." + +Thus urged, King Arthur called his army together and bade collect a +great fleet; for rather would he fight openly with Sir Launcelot +than that Sir Gawain should bring such dishonour upon himself as to +slay a noble knight treacherously. So with a great host, the King +passed overseas to France, leaving Sir Mordred to rule Britain in +his stead. + +When Launcelot heard that King Arthur and Sir Gawain were coming +against him, he withdrew into the strong castle of Benwick; for +unwilling indeed was he to fight with the King, or to do an injury +to Sir Gareth's brother. The army passed through the land, laying +it waste, and presently encamped about the castle, laying close +siege to it; but so thick were the walls, and so watchful the +garrison, that in no way could they prevail against it. + +One day, there came to Sir Launcelot seven brethren, brave knights +of Wales, who had joined their fortunes to his, and said: "Sir +Launcelot, bid us sally forth against this host which has invaded +and laid waste your lands, and we will scatter it; for we are not +wont to cower behind walls." "Fair lords," answered Launcelot, "it +is grief to me to war on good Christian knights, and especially on +my lord, King Arthur. Have but patience and I will send to him and +see if, even now, there may not be a treaty of peace between us; +for better far is peace than war." So Sir Launcelot sought out a +damsel and, mounting her upon a palfrey, bade her ride to King +Arthur's camp and require of the King to cease warring on his +lands, proffering fair terms of peace. When the damsel came to the +camp, there met her Sir Lucan the Butler, "Fair damsel," said Sir +Lucan, "do ye come from Sir Launcelot?" "Yea, in good truth," said +the damsel; "and, I pray you, lead me to King Arthur." "Now, may ye +prosper in your errand," said Sir Lucan. "Our King loves Sir +Launcelot dearly and wishes him well; but Sir Gawain will not +suffer him to be reconciled to him." So when the damsel had come +before the King, she told him all her tale, and much she said of +Sir Launcelot's love and good-will to his lord the King, so that +the tears stood in Arthur's eyes. But Sir Gawain broke in roughly: +"My Lord and uncle, shall it be said of us that we came hither with +such a host to hie us home again, nothing done, to be the scoff of +all men?" "Nephew," said the King, "methinks Sir Launcelot offers +fair and generously. It were well if ye would accept his proffer. +Nevertheless, as the quarrel is yours, so shall the answer be." +"Then, damsel," said Sir Gawain, "say unto Sir Launcelot that the +time for peace is past. And tell him that I, Sir Gawain, swear by +the faith I owe to knighthood that never will I forego my revenge." + +So the damsel returned to Sir Launcelot and told him all. Sir +Launcelot's heart was filled with grief nigh unto breaking; but his +knights were enraged and clamoured that he had endured too much of +insult and wrong, and that he should lead them forth to battle. Sir +Launcelot armed him sorrowfully, and presently the gates were set +open and he rode forth, he and all his company. But to all his +knights he had given commandment that none should seek King Arthur; +"For never," said he, "will I see the noble King, who made me +knight, either killed or shamed." + +Fierce was the battle between those two hosts. On Launcelot's side, +Sir Bors and Sir Lavaine and many another did right well; while on +the other side, King Arthur bore him as the noble knight he was, +and Sir Gawain raged through the battle, seeking to come at Sir +Launcelot. Presently, Sir Bors encountered with King Arthur, and +unhorsed him. This Sir Launcelot saw and, coming to the King's +side, he alighted and, raising him from the ground, mounted him +upon his own horse. Then King Arthur, looking upon Launcelot, +cried: "Ah! Launcelot, Launcelot! That ever there should be war +between us two!" and tears stood in the King's eyes. "Ah! my Lord +Arthur," cried Sir Launcelot, "I pray you stay this war." As they +spoke thus, Sir Gawain came upon them, and, miscalling Sir +Launcelot traitor and coward, had almost ridden upon him before +Launcelot could provide him of another horse. Then the two hosts +drew back, each on its own side, to see the battle between Sir +Launcelot and Sir Gawain; for they wheeled their horses, and +departing far asunder, rushed again upon each other with the noise +of thunder, and each bore the other from his horse. Then they put +their shields before them and set on each other with their swords; +but while ever Sir Gawain smote fiercely, Sir Launcelot was content +only to ward off blows, because he would not, for Sir Gareth's +sake, do any harm to Sir Gawain. But the more Sir Launcelot forbore +him, the more furiously Sir Gawain struck, so that Sir Launcelot +had much ado to defend himself, and at the last smote Gawain on the +helm so mightily that he bore him to the ground. Then Sir +Launcelot stood back from Sir Gawain. But Gawain cried: "Why do ye +draw back, traitor knight? Slay me while ye may, for never will I +cease to be your enemy while my life lasts." "Sir," said Launcelot, +"I shall withstand you as I may; but never will I smite a fallen +knight." Then he spoke to King Arthur: "My Lord, I pray you, if but +for this day, draw off your men. And think upon our former love if +ye may; but, be ye friend or foe, God keep you." Thereupon Sir +Launcelot drew off with his men into his castle, and King Arthur +and his company to their tents. As for Sir Gawain, his squires bore +him to his tent where his wounds were dressed. + + + + +BOOK XI + +THE MORTE D'ARTHUR + + + + +CHAPTER XXXV + +MORDRED THE TRAITOR + + +So Sir Gawain lay healing of the grim wound which Sir Launcelot had +given him, and there was peace between the two armies, when there +came messengers from Britain bearing letters for King Arthur; and +more evil news than they brought might not well be, for they told +how Sir Mordred had usurped his uncle's realm. First, he had caused +it to be noised abroad that King Arthur was slain in battle with +Sir Launcelot, and, since there be many ever ready to believe any +idle rumour and eager for any change, it had been no hard task for +Sir Mordred to call the lords to a Parliament and persuade them to +make him king. But the Queen could not be brought to believe that +her lord was dead, so she took refuge in the Tower of London from +Sir Mordred's violence, nor was she to be induced to leave her +strong refuge for aught that Mordred could promise or threaten. + +This was the news that came to Arthur as he lay encamped about Sir +Launcelot's castle of Benwick. Forthwith he bade his host make +ready to move, and when they had reached the coast, they embarked +and made sail to reach Britain with all possible speed. + +Sir Mordred, on his part, had heard of their sailing, and hasted to +get together a great army. It was grievous to see how many a stout +knight held by Mordred, ay, even many whom Arthur himself had +raised to honour and fortune; for it is the nature of men to be +fickle. Thus it was that, when Arthur drew near to Dover, he found +Mordred with a mighty host, waiting to oppose his landing. Then +there was a great sea-fight, those of Mordred's party going out in +boats, great and small, to board King Arthur's ships and slay him +and his men or ever they should come to land. Right valiantly did +King Arthur bear him, as was his wont, and boldly his followers +fought in his cause, so that at last they drove off their enemies +and landed at Dover in spite of Mordred and his array. For that +time Mordred fled, and King Arthur bade those of his party bury the +slain and tend the wounded. + +So as they passed from ship to ship, salving and binding the hurts +of the men, they came at last upon Sir Gawain, where he lay at the +bottom of a boat, wounded to the death, for he had received a great +blow on the wound that Sir Launcelot had given him. They bore him +to his tent, and his uncle, the King, came to him, sorrowing beyond +measure. "Methinks," said the King, "my joy on earth is done; for +never have I loved any men as I have loved you, my nephew, and Sir +Launcelot. Sir Launcelot I have lost, and now I see you on your +death-bed." "My King," said Sir Gawain, "my hour is come, and I +have got my death at Sir Launcelot's hand; for I am smitten on the +wound he gave me. And rightly am I served, for of my willfulness +and stubbornness comes this unhappy war. I pray you, my uncle, +raise me in your arms and let me write to Sir Launcelot before I +die." + +Thus, then, Sir Gawain wrote: "To Sir Launcelot, the noblest of all +knights, I, Gawain, send greeting before I die. For I am smitten on +the wound ye gave me before your castle of Benwick in France, and I +bid all men bear witness that I sought my own death and that ye are +innocent of it. I pray you, by our friendship of old, come again +into Britain, and when ye look upon my tomb, pray for Gawain of +Orkney. Farewell." + +So Sir Gawain died and was buried in the Chapel at Dover. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI + +THE BATTLE IN THE WEST + + +The day after the battle at Dover, King Arthur and his host pursued +Sir Mordred to Barham Down where again there was a great battle +fought, with much slaughter on both sides; but, in the end, Arthur +was victorious, and Mordred fled to Canterbury. + +Now, by this time, many that Mordred had cheated by his lying +reports, had drawn unto King Arthur, to whom at heart they had ever +been loyal, knowing him for a true and noble king and hating +themselves for having been deceived by such a false usurper as Sir +Mordred. Then when he found that he was being deserted, Sir Mordred +withdrew to the far West, for there men knew less of what had +happened, and so he might still find some to believe in him and +support him; and being without conscience, he even called to his +aid the heathen hosts that his uncle, King Arthur, had driven from +the land, in the good years when Launcelot was of the Round Table. + +King Arthur followed ever after; for in his heart was bitter anger +against the false nephew who had wrought woe upon him and all his +realm. At the last, when Mordred could flee no further, the two +hosts were drawn up near the shore of the great western sea; and it +was the Feast of the Holy Trinity. + +That night, as King Arthur slept, he thought that Sir Gawain stood +before him, looking just as he did in life, and said to him: "My +uncle and my King, God in his great love has suffered me to come +unto you, to warn you that in no wise ye fight on the morrow; for +if ye do, ye shall be slain, and with you the most part of the +people on both sides. Make ye, therefore, treaty for a month, and +within that time, Sir Launcelot shall come to you with all his +knights, and ye shall overthrow the traitor and all that hold with +him." Therewith, Sir Gawain vanished. Immediately, the King awoke +and called to him the best and wisest of his knights, the two +brethren, Sir Lucan the Butler and Sir Bedivere, and others, to +whom he told his dream. Then all were agreed that, on any terms +whatsoever, a treaty should be made with Sir Mordred, even as Sir +Gawain had said; and, with the dawn, messengers went to the camp of +the enemy, to call Sir Mordred to a conference. So it was +determined that the meeting should take place in the sight of both +armies, in an open space between the two camps, and that King +Arthur and Mordred should each be accompanied by fourteen knights. +Little enough faith had either in the other, so when they set forth +to the meeting, they bade their hosts join battle if ever they saw +a sword drawn. Thus they went to the conference. + +Now as they talked, it befell that an adder, coming out of a bush +hard by, stung a knight in the foot; and he, seeing the snake, drew +his sword to kill it and thought no harm thereby. But on the +instant that the sword flashed, the trumpets blared on both sides +and the two hosts rushed to battle. Never was there fought a fight +of such bitter enmity; for brother fought with brother, and comrade +with comrade, and fiercely they cut and thrust, with many a bitter +word between; while King Arthur himself, his heart hot within him, +rode through and through the battle, seeking the traitor Mordred. +So they fought all day, till at last the evening fell. Then Arthur, +looking around him, saw of his valiant knights but two left, Sir +Lucan and Sir Bedivere, and these sore wounded; and there, over +against him, by a great heap of the dead, stood Sir Mordred, the +cause of all this ruin. Thereupon the King, his heart nigh broken +with grief for the loss of his true knights, cried with a loud +voice: "Traitor! now is thy doom upon thee!" and with his spear +gripped in both hands, he rushed upon Sir Mordred and smote him +that the weapon stood out a fathom behind. And Sir Mordred knew +that he had his death-wound. With all the might that he had, he +thrust him up the spear to the haft and, with his sword, struck +King Arthur upon the head, that the steel pierced the helmet and +bit into the head; then he fell back, stark and dead. + +Sir Lucan and Sir Bedivere went to the King where he lay, swooning +from the blow, and bore him to a little chapel on the sea-shore. As +they laid him on the ground, Sir Lucan fell dead beside the King, +and Arthur, coming to himself, found but Sir Bedivere alive beside +him. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVII + +THE PASSING OF ARTHUR + + +So King Arthur lay wounded to the death, grieving, not that his end +was come, but for the desolation of his kingdom and the loss of his +good knights. And looking upon the body of Sir Lucan, he sighed and +said: "Alas! true knight, dead for my sake! If I lived, I should +ever grieve for thy death, but now mine own end draws nigh." Then, +turning to Sir Bedivere, who stood sorrowing beside him, he said: +"Leave weeping now, for the time is short and much to do. Hereafter +shalt thou weep if thou wilt. But take now my sword Excalibur, +hasten to the water side, and fling it into the deep. Then, watch +what happens and bring me word thereof." "My Lord," said Sir +Bedivere, "your command shall be obeyed"; and taking the sword, he +departed. But as he went on his way, he looked on the sword, how +wondrously it was formed and the hilt all studded with precious +stones; and, as he looked, he called to mind the marvel by which it +had come into the King's keeping. For on a certain day, as Arthur +walked on the shore of a great lake, there had appeared above the +surface of the water a hand brandishing a sword. On the instant, +the King had leaped into a boat, and, rowing into the lake, had got +the sword and brought it back to land. Then he had seen how, on one +side the blade, was written, "Keep me," but on the other, "Throw me +away," and, sore perplexed, he had shown it to Merlin, the great +wizard, who said: "Keep it now. The time for casting away has not +yet come." Thinking on this, it seemed to Bedivere that no good, +but harm, must come of obeying the King's word; so hiding the sword +under a tree, he hastened back to the little chapel. Then said the +King: "What saw'st thou?" "Sir," answered Bedivere, "I saw naught +but the waves, heard naught but the wind." "That is untrue," said +King Arthur; "I charge thee, as thou art true knight, go again and +spare not to throw away the sword." + +Sir Bedivere departed a second time, and his mind was to obey his +lord; but when he took the sword in his hand, he thought: "Sin it +is and shameful, to throw away so glorious a sword." Then, hiding +it again, he hastened back to the King, "What saw'st thou?" said +Sir Arthur. "Sir, I saw the water lap on the crags." Then spoke the +King in great wrath: "Traitor and unkind! Twice hast thou betrayed +me! Art dazzled by the splendour of the jewels, thou that, till +now, hast ever been dear and true to me? Go yet again, but if thou +fail me this time, I will arise and, with mine own hands, slay +thee." + +Then Sir Bedivere left the King and, that time, he took the sword +quickly from the place where he had hidden it and, forbearing even +to look upon it, he twisted the belt about it and flung it with all +his force into the water. A wondrous sight he saw, for, as the +sword touched the water, a hand rose from out the deep, caught it, +brandished it thrice, and drew it beneath the surface. + +Sir Bedivere hastened back to the King and told him what he had +seen. "It is well," said Arthur; "now, bear me to the water's edge; +and hasten, I pray thee, for I have tarried over-long and my wound +has taken cold." So Sir Bedivere raised the King on his back and +bore him tenderly to the lonely shore, where the lapping waves +floated many an empty helmet and the fitful moonlight fell on the +upturned faces of the dead. Scarce had they reached the shore when +there hove in sight a barge, and on its deck stood three tall +women, robed all in black and wearing crowns on their heads. "Place +me in the barge," said the King, and softly Sir Bedivere lifted the +King into it. And these three Queens wept sore over Arthur, and one +took his head in her lap and chafed his hands, crying: "Alas! my +brother, thou hast been over-long in coming and, I fear me, thy +wound has taken cold." Then the barge began to move slowly from the +land. When Sir Bedivere saw this, he lifted up his voice and cried +with a bitter cry: "Ah! my Lord Arthur, thou art taken from me! And +I, whither shall I go?" "Comfort thyself," said the King, "for in +me is no comfort more. I pass to the Valley of Avilion, to heal me +of my grievous wound. If thou seest me never again, pray for me." + +So the barge floated away out of sight, and Sir Bedivere stood +straining his eyes after it till it had vanished utterly. Then he +turned him about and journeyed through the forest until, at +daybreak, he reached a hermitage. Entering it, he prayed the holy +hermit that he might abide with him, and there he spent the rest of +his life in prayer and holy exercise. + +But of King Arthur is no more known. Some men, indeed, say that he +is not dead, but abides in the happy Valley of Avilion until such +time as his country's need is sorest, when he shall come again and +deliver it. Others say that, of a truth, he is dead, and that, in +the far West, his tomb may be seen, and written on it these words: + + "Here lies Arthur, once King and King to be." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVIII + +THE DEATH OF SIR LAUNCELOT AND OF THE QUEEN + + +When news reached Sir Launcelot in his own land of the treason of +Mordred, he gathered his lords and knights together, and rested not +till he had come to Britain to aid King Arthur. He landed at Dover, +and there the evil tidings were told him, how the King had met his +death at the hands of his traitor nephew. Then was Sir Launcelot's +heart nigh broken for grief. "Alas!" he cried, "that I should live +to know my King overthrown by such a felon! What have I done that I +should have caused the deaths of the good knights, Sir Gareth, Sir +Gaheris, and Sir Gawain, and yet that such a villain should escape +my sword!" Then he desired to be led to Sir Gawain's tomb where he +remained long in prayer and in great lamentation; after which he +called to him his kinsmen and friends, and said to them: "My fair +lords, I thank you all most heartily that, of your courtesy, ye +came with me to this land. That we be come too late is a misfortune +that might not be avoided, though I shall mourn it my life long. +And now I will ride forth alone to find my lady the Queen in the +West, whither men say she has fled. Wait for me, I pray you, for +fifteen days, and then, if ye hear naught of me, return to your own +lands." So Sir Launcelot rode forth alone, nor would he suffer any +to follow him, despite their prayers and entreaties. + +Thus he rode some seven or eight days until, at the last, he came +to a nunnery where he saw in the cloister many nuns waiting on a +fair lady; none other, indeed, than Queen Guenevere herself. And +she, looking up, saw Sir Launcelot, and at the sight, grew so pale +that her ladies feared for her; but she recovered, and bade them go +and bring Sir Launcelot to her presence. When he was come, she said +to him: "Sir Launcelot, glad am I to see thee once again that I may +bid thee farewell; for in this world shall we never meet again." +"Sweet Madam," answered Sir Launcelot, "I was minded, with your +leave, to bear you to my own country, where I doubt not but I +should guard you well and safely from your enemies." "Nay, +Launcelot," said the Queen, "that may not be; I am resolved never +to look upon the world again, but here to pass my life in prayer +and in such good works as I may. But thou, do thou get back to +thine own land and take a fair wife; and ye both shall ever have my +prayers." "Madam," replied Sir Launcelot, "ye know well that shall +never be. And since ye are resolved to lead a life of prayer, I, +too, will forsake the world if I can find hermit to share his cell +with me; for ever your will has been mine." Long and earnestly he +looked upon her as he might never gaze enough; then, getting to +horse, he rode slowly away. + +Nor did they ever meet again in life. For Queen Guenevere abode in +the great nunnery of Almesbury where Sir Launcelot had found her, +and presently, for the holiness of her life, was made Abbess. But +Sir Launcelot, after he had left her, rode on his way till he came +to the cell where Sir Bedivere dwelt with the holy hermit; and when +Sir Bedivere had told him all that had befallen, of the great +battle in the West, and of the passing away of Arthur, Sir +Launcelot flung down his arms and implored the holy hermit to let +him remain there as the servant of God. So Sir Launcelot donned the +serge gown and abode in the hermitage as the priest of God. + +Presently there came riding that way the good Sir Bors, Launcelot's +nephew; for, when Sir Launcelot returned not to Dover, Sir Bors and +many another knight went forth in search of him. There, then, Sir +Bors remained and, within a half-year, there joined themselves to +these three many who in former days had been fellows of the Round +Table; and the fame of their piety spread far and wide. + +So six years passed and then, one night, Launcelot had a vision. It +seemed to him that one said to him: "Launcelot, arise and go in +haste to Almesbury. There shalt thou find Queen Guenevere dead, and +it shall be for thee to bury her." Sir Launcelot arose at once and, +calling his fellows to him, told them his dream. Immediately, with +all haste, they set forth towards Almesbury and, arriving there the +second day, found the Queen dead, as had been foretold in the +vision. So with the state and ceremony befitting a great Queen, +they buried her in the Abbey of Glastonbury, in that same church +where, some say, King Arthur's tomb is to be found. Launcelot it +was who performed the funeral rites and chanted the requiem; but +when all was done, he pined away, growing weaker daily. So at the +end of six weeks, he called to him his fellows, and bidding them +all farewell, desired that his dead body should be conveyed to the +Joyous Garde, there to be buried; for that in the church at +Glastonbury he was not worthy to lie. And that same night he died, +and was buried, as he had desired, in his own castle. So passed +from the world the bold Sir Launcelot du Lac, bravest, most +courteous, and most gentle of knights, whose peer the world has +never seen ever shall. + +After Sir Launcelot's death, Sir Bors and the pious knights, his +companions, took their way to the Holy Land, and there they died in +battle against the Turk. + +So ends the story of King Arthur and his noble fellowship of the +Round Table. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Stories from Le Morte D'Arthur and the +Mabinogion, by Beatrice Clay + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK STORIES FROM LE MORTE *** + +***** This file should be named 15551.txt or 15551.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/5/5/5/15551/ + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Jennifer Goslee and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team. + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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