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diff --git a/31900.txt b/31900.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..dc45449 --- /dev/null +++ b/31900.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11522 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, Historic Tales, Vol. XIII (of 15), by +Charles Morris + + +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: Historic Tales, Vol. XIII (of 15) + The Romance of Reality. King Arthur, Vol. I + + +Author: Charles Morris + + + +Release Date: April 6, 2010 [eBook #31900] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HISTORIC TALES, VOL. XIII (OF 15) +*** + + +E-text prepared by Christine Aldridge and the Project Gutenberg Online +Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 31900-h.htm or 31900-h.zip: + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/31900/31900-h/31900-h.htm) + or + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/31900/31900-h.zip) + + +Transcriber's note: + + Text in italics is enclosed by underscores (_italics_). + + Minor punctuation errors have been corrected. + + A complete list of spelling corrections and notations + is located at the end of this text. + + + + + +Edition d'Elite + +HISTORICAL TALES + +The Romance of Reality + +by + +CHARLES MORRIS + +Author of "Half-Hours with the Best American Authors," "Tales +from the Dramatists," etc. + +In Fifteen Volumes + +VOLUME XIII + +King Arthur + +1 + + +J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY + +PHILADELPHIA AND LONDON + + +Copyright, 1891, by J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY. + +Copyright, 1904, by J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY. + +Copyright, 1908, by J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY. + + * * * * * + + +[Illustration: FURNESS ABBEY.] + + + + + CONTENTS OF VOLUME I. + + + BOOK I. + + HOW ARTHUR WON THE THRONE. + + CHAPTER. PAGE. + + I.--THE MAGIC SWORD 19 + + II.--ARTHUR'S WARS AND THE MYSTERY OF HIS BIRTH 28 + + III.--THE LADY OF THE LAKE 39 + + IV.--GUENEVER AND THE ROUND TABLE 46 + + + BOOK II. + + THE DEEDS OF BALIN. + + I.--HOW BALIN WON AND USED THE ENCHANTED SWORD 55 + + II.--HOW ARTHUR TRIUMPHED OVER THE KINGS 65 + + III.--HOW BALIN GAVE THE DOLOROUS STROKE 72 + + IV.--THE FATE OF BALIN AND BALAN 81 + + V.--MERLIN'S FOLLY AND FATE 89 + + + BOOK III. + + THE TREASON OF MORGAN LE FAY. + + I.--THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENCHANTED SHIP 94 + + II.--THE COMBAT OF ARTHUR AND ACCOLAN 102 + + III.--HOW MORGAN CHEATED THE KING 110 + + IV.--THE COUNTRY OF STRANGE ADVENTURES 120 + + + BOOK IV. + + LANCELOT DU LAKE. + + I.--HOW TROUBLE CAME TO LIONEL AND HECTOR 137 + + II.--THE CONTEST OF THE FOUR QUEENS 143 + + III.--HOW LANCELOT AND TURQUINE FOUGHT 153 + + IV.--THE CHAPEL AND PERILOUS 164 + + V.--THE ADVENTURE OF THE FALCON 174 + + + BOOK V. + + THE ADVENTURES OF BEAUMAINS. + + I.--THE KNIGHTING OF KAY'S KITCHEN BOY 179 + + II.--THE BLACK, THE GREEN, AND THE RED KNIGHTS 187 + + III.--THE RED KNIGHT OF THE RED LAWNS 201 + + IV.--HOW BEAUMAINS WON HIS BRIDE 212 + + + BOOK VI. + + TRISTRAM OF LYONESSE AND THE FAIR ISOLDE. + + I.--HOW TRISTRAM WAS KNIGHTED 238 + + II.--LA BELLA ISOLDE 249 + + III.--THE WAGER OF BATTLE 258 + + IV.--THE DRAUGHT OF LOVE 267 + + V.--THE PERILS OF TRUE LOVE 275 + + VI.--THE MADNESS OF SIR TRISTRAM 289 + + + BOOK VII. + + HOW TRISTRAM CAME TO CAMELOT. + + I.--TRISTRAM AND DINADAN 304 + + II.--ON THE ROAD TO THE TOURNAMENT 312 + + III.--AT THE CASTLE OF MAIDENS 322 + + IV.--THE QUEST OF THE TEN KNIGHTS 335 + + V.--THE KNIGHT WITH THE COVERED SHIELD 345 + + + + + LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. + + KING ARTHUR. VOL. I. + + + PAGE + + FURNESS ABBEY _Frontispiece_. + + STATUE OF KING ARTHUR AT INNSBRUCK 24 + + KING ARTHUR'S FAIR LOVE 48 + + KING ARTHUR'S TOMB 70 + + MERLIN AND NIMUE 89 + + THE GREAT FOREST 94 + + NIMUE 105 + + THE LOVE OF PELLEAS AND NIMUE 134 + + DREAM OF SIR LANCELOT 139 + + OLD ARCHES OF THE ABBEY WALL 149 + + KING ARTHUR'S ROUND TABLE, WINCHESTER CATHEDRAL 179 + + BEAUMAINS, DAMSEL, AND DWARF 213 + + THE JOYOUS WEDDING 235 + + SIR TRISTRAM HARPING TO ISOLDE 250 + + A CASTLE OF CORNWALL 258 + + TRISTRAM AND THE FAIR ISOLDE 273 + + THE CLIFFS ABOVE THE SEA 288 + + TINTAGIL KING ARTHUR'S CASTLE 302 + + TRISTRAM THEREUPON DEPARTED TO HIS PAVILION 325 + + ADMISSION OF SIR TRISTRAM TO THE KING OF THE + ROUND TABLE 359 + + * * * * * + + + + +INTRODUCTORY. + + +Geoffrey of Monmouth, the famous chronicler of legendary British +history, tells us,--in reference to the time when the Celtic kings of +Britain were struggling against the Saxon invaders,--that "there +appeared a star of wonderful magnitude and brightness, darting its rays, +at the end of which was a globe of fire in the form of a dragon, out of +whose mouth issued two rays; one of which seemed to stretch itself +beyond the extent of Gaul, the other towards the Irish Sea, and ended in +two lesser rays." He proceeds to say, that Merlin, the magician, being +called on to explain this portent, declared that the dragon represented +Uther, the brother of King Ambrose, who was destined himself soon to +become king; that the ray extending towards Gaul indicated a great son, +who should conquer the Gallic Kingdoms; and that the ray with two lesser +rays indicated a daughter, whose son and grandson should successively +reign over Britain. Uther, in consequence, when he came to the throne, +had two gold dragons made, one of which he placed in the cathedral of +Winchester, which it brightly illuminated; the other he kept, and from +it gained the name of _Pendragon_. The powerful ray represented his +great son Arthur, destined to become the flower of chivalry, and the +favorite hero of mediaeval romance. + +This is history as Geoffrey of Monmouth understood it, but hardly so in +the modern sense, and Arthur remains as mystical a figure as Achilles, +despite the efforts of various writers to bring him within the circle of +actual kings. After the Romans left Britain, two centuries passed of +whose history hardly a coherent shred remains. This was the age of +Arthur, one of the last champions of Celtic Britain against the +inflowing tide of Anglo-Saxon invasion. That there was an actual Arthur +there is some, but no very positive, reason to believe. After all the +evidence has been offered, we still seem to have but a shadowy hero +before us, "a king of shreds and patches," whose history is so pieced +out with conjecture that it is next to impossible to separate its facts +from its fancies. + +The Arthur of the legends, of the Welsh and Breton ballads, of the later +_Chansons de Geste_, of Malory and Tennyson, has quite stepped out of +the historic page and become a hero without time or place in any real +world, a king of the imagination, the loftiest figure in that great +outgrowth of chivalric romance which formed the favorite fictitious +literature of Europe during three or four of the mediaeval centuries. +Charlemagne, the leading character in the earlier romances of chivalry, +was, in the twelfth century, replaced by Arthur, a milder and more +Christian-like hero, whose adventures, with those of his Knights of the +Round Table, delighted the tenants of court and castle in that +marvel-loving and uncritical age. That the stories told of him are all +fiction cannot be declared. Many of them may have been founded on fact. +But, like the stones of a prehistoric wall, their facts are so densely +enveloped by the ivy of fiction that it is impossible to delve them out. + +The ballads and romances in which the King Arthur of mediaeval story +figures as the hero, would scarcely prove pleasant and profitable +reading to us now, however greatly they delighted our ancestors. They +are marked by a coarseness and crudity which would be but little to our +taste. Nor have we anything of modern growth to replace them. Milton +entertained a purpose of making King Arthur the hero of an epic poem, +but fortunately yielded it for the nobler task of "Paradise Lost." +Spenser gives this hero a minor place in his "Fairie Queen." Dryden +projected a King Arthur epic, but failed to write it. Recently Bulwer +has given us a cumbersome "King Arthur," which nobody reads; and +Tennyson has handled the subject brilliantly in his "Idyls of the King," +splendid successes as poems, yet too infiltrated with the spirit of +modernism to be acceptable as a reproduction of the Arthur of romance. +For a true rehabilitation of this hero of the age of chivalry we must go +to the "Morte Darthur" of Sir Thomas Malory, a writer of the fifteenth +century, who lived when men still wore armor, and so near to the actual +age of chivalry as to be in full sympathy with the spirit of its +fiction, and its pervading love of adventure and belief in the magical. + +Malory did a work of high value in editing the confused mass of earlier +fiction, lopping off its excrescences and redundancies, reducing its +coarseness of speech, and producing from its many stories and episodes +a coherent and continuous narrative, in which the adventures of the +Round Table Knights are deftly interwoven with the record of the birth, +life, and death of the king, round whom as the central figure all these +knightly champions revolve. Malory seems to have used as the basis of +his work perhaps one, perhaps several, old French prose romances, and +possibly also material derived from Welsh and English ballads. Such +material in his day was doubtless abundant. Geoffrey had drawn much of +his legendary history from the ancient Welsh ballads. The mass of +romantic fiction which he called history became highly popular, first in +Brittany, and then in France, the Trouveres making Arthur, Lancelot, +Tristram, Percival, and others of the knightly circle the heroes of +involved romances, in which a multitude of new incidents were invented. +The Minnesingers of Germany took up the same fruitful theme, producing a +"Parzivale," a "Tristan and Isolt," and other heroic romances. From all +this mass of material, Malory wrought his "Morte Darthur," as Homer +wrought his "Iliad" from the preceding warlike ballads, and the unknown +compiler of the "Nibelungenlied" wrought his poem from similar ancient +sources. + +Malory was not solely an editor. He was in a large sense a creator. It +was coarse and crude material with which he had to deal, but in his +hands its rude prose gained a degree of poetic fervor. The legends which +he preserves he has in many cases transmuted from base into precious +coin. There is repulsive matter in the old romances, which he freely +cuts out. To their somewhat wooden heroes he gives life and character, +so that in Lancelot, Gawaine, Dinadan, Kay, and others we have to deal +with distinct personalities, not with the non-individualized +hard-hitters of the romances. And to the whole story he gives an epic +completeness which it lacked before. In the early days of Arthur's reign +Merlin warns him that fate has already woven its net about him and that +the sins of himself and his queen will in the end bring his reign to a +violent termination, and break up that grand fellowship of the Round +Table which has made Britain and its king illustrious. This epic +character of Malory's work is pointed out in the article "Geoffrey of +Monmouth" in the "Encyclopaedia Britannica," whose writer says that the +Arthurian legends "were converted into a magnificent prose poem by Sir +Thomas Malory in 1461. Malory's _Morte Darthur_ is as truly _the_ epic +of the English mind as the _Iliad_ is the epic of the Greek mind." + +Yet the "Morte Darthur," if epic in plan and treatment, is by no means +free from the defects of primitive literature. It was written before the +age of criticism, and confusion reigns supreme in many of its pages,--a +confusion which a very little critical supervision might have removed. +As an instance, we find that Galahad, two years after his birth, is made +a knight, being then fifteen years old. In like manner the "seat +perilous" at the Round Table is magically reserved for Galahad, the +author evidently forgetting that he had already given it to Percivale. +King Mark's murder of his brother Baldwin is revenged by Baldwin's +grandson, thirty or forty years afterward, though there is nothing to +show that the characters had grown a year older in the interval. Here a +knight finds one antagonist quite sufficient for one man; there he does +not hesitate to attack fifty at once; here a slight wound disables him; +there a dozen deep wounds are fully healed by a night's rest. Many +similar instances might be given, but these will suffice. The +discrepancies here indicated were perhaps due to the employment of +diverse legends, without care to bring them into accordance, but they +lay the work open to adverse criticism. + +This lack of critical accuracy may have been a necessary accompaniment +of the credulous frame of mind that could render such a work possible. +It needed an artlessness of mental make-up, a full capacity for +acceptance of the marvellous, a simple-minded faith in chivalry and its +doings, which could scarcely exist in common with the critical +temperament. In truth, the flavor of an age of credulity and simplicity +of thought everywhere permeates this quaint old work, than which nothing +more artless, simple, and unique exists in literature, and nothing with +a higher value as a presentation of the taste in fiction of our mediaeval +predecessors. + +Yet the "Morte Darthur" is not easy or attractive reading, to other than +special students of literature. Aside from its confusion of events and +arrangement, it tells the story of chivalry with a monotonous lack of +inflection that is apt to grow wearisome, and in a largely obsolete +style and dialect with whose difficulties readers in general may not +care to grapple. Its pages present an endless succession of single +combats with spear and sword, whose details are repeated with wearisome +iteration. Knights fight furiously for hours together, till they are +carved with deep wounds, and the ground crimsoned with gore. Sometimes +they are so inconsiderate as to die, sometimes so weak as to seek a +leech, but as often they mount and ride away in philosophical disregard +of their wounds, and come up fresh for as fierce a fight the next day. + +As for a background of scenery and architecture, it scarcely exists. +Deep interest in man and woman seems to have shut out all scenic +accessories from the mind of the good old knight. It is always but a +step from the castle to the forest, into which the knights-errant +plunge, and where most of their adventures take place; and the favorite +resting-and jousting-place is by the side of forest springs--or wells, +as in the text. We have mention abundant of fair castles, fair valleys, +fair meadows, and the like, the adjective "fair" going far to serve all +needs of description. But in his human characters, with their loves and +hates, jousts and battles, bewitchments and bewilderments, the author +takes deep interest, and follows the episodical stories which are woven +into the plot with a somewhat too satisfying fulness. In evidence of the +dramatic character of many of these episodes we need but refer to the +"Idyls of the King," whose various romantic and tragic narratives are +all derived from this quaint "old master" of fictitious literature. + +With all its faults of style and method, the "Morte Darthur" is a very +live book. It never stops to moralize or philosophize, but keeps +strictly to its business of tale-telling, bringing up before the reader +a group of real men and women, not a series of lay-figures on a +background of romance, as in his originals. + +Kay with his satirical tongue, Dinadan with his love of fun, Tristram +loving and noble, Lancelot bold and chivalrous, Gawaine treacherous and +implacable, Arthur kingly but adventurous, Mark cowardly and +base-hearted, Guenever jealous but queenly, Isolde tender and faithful, +and a host of other clearly individualized knights and ladies move in +rapid succession through the pages of the romance, giving it, with its +manners of a remote age, a vital interest that appeals to modern tastes. + +In attempting to adapt this old masterpiece to the readers of our own +day, we have no purpose to seek to paraphrase or improve on Malory. To +remove the antique flavor would be to destroy the spirit of the work. We +shall leave it as we find it, other than to reduce its obsolete +phraseology and crudities of style to modern English, abridge the +narrative where it is wearisomely extended, omit repetitions and +uninteresting incidents, reduce its confusion of arrangement, attempt a +more artistic division into books and chapters, and by other arts of +editorial revision seek to make it easier reading, while preserving as +fully as possible those unique characteristics which have long made it +delightful to lovers of old literature. + +The task here undertaken is no light one, nor is success in it assured. +Malory has an individuality of his own which gives a peculiar charm to +his work, and to retain this in a modernized version is the purpose with +which we set out and which we hope to accomplish. The world of to-day +is full of fiction, endless transcripts of modern life served up in a +great variety of palatable forms. Our castle-living forefathers were not +so abundantly favored. They had no books,--and could not have read them +if they had,--but the wandering minstrel took with them the place of the +modern volume, bearing from castle to court, and court to castle, his +budget of romances of magic and chivalry, and delighting the +hard-hitting knights and barons of that day with stirring ballads and +warlike tales to which their souls rose in passionate response. + +In the "Morte Darthur" is preserved to us the pith of the best of those +old romances, brought into a continuous narrative by one who lived when +chivalry yet retained some of its vital hold on the minds of men, and +who, being a knight himself, could enter with heartfelt sympathy into +the deeds of the knights of an earlier age. Certainly many of the +readers of modern fiction will find a pleasure in turning aside awhile +from the hot-pressed thought of the nineteenth-century novel to this +fresh and breezy outcrop from the fiction of an earlier day; with the +double purpose of learning on what food the minds of our ancestors were +fed, and of gaining a breath of wild perfume from the far-off field of +the romance of chivalry. That the story of Arthur and his Knights can +arouse in modern readers the intense interest with which it was received +by mediaeval auditors is not to be expected. We are too far removed in +time and manners from the age of knight-errantry to enter deeply into +sympathy with its unfamiliar ways. Yet a milder interest may still be +awakened in what gave our predecessors such enthusiastic delight, and +some at least may turn with pleasure from the most philosophic of modern +novels to wander awhile through this primitive domain of thought. + +To such we offer this work, which we have simply sought to make easy +reading, with little further liberty with Malory's quaint prose than to +put it into a modern dress, and with the hope that no such complete +divorce exists between the world of the present and that of the past as +to render the exploits of King Arthur and his Round Table Knights dull, +wearisome, and profitless reading, void of the human interest which they +once possessed in such large and satisfying measure. + + + + + KING ARTHUR + AND THE + KNIGHTS OF THE ROUND TABLE. + + + + + BOOK I. + + HOW ARTHUR WON THE THRONE. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +THE MAGIC SWORD. + + +Once upon a time, in that far-off and famous era of chivalry and +knight-errantry when wandering knights sought adventures far and wide +throughout the land, and no damsel in distress failed to enlist a +valiant champion in her cause, there reigned over England's broad realm +a noble monarch, King Arthur by name, the flower of chivalry, and the +founder of the world-renowned order of Knights of the Round Table. It is +the story of this far-famed monarch, and of the wonderful and valorous +deeds of his Knights, that we here propose to tell, as preserved in the +ancient legends of the land, and set forth at length in the chronicles +of the days of chivalry. + +Before the days of Arthur the King, there reigned over all England Uther +Pendragon, a monarch of might and renown. He died at length in years +and honor, and after his death anarchy long prevailed in the land, for +no son of his appeared to claim the throne, and many of the lords who +were high in rank and strong in men sought to win it by force of arms, +while everywhere lawlessness and wrong-doing made life a burden and +wealth a deceit. + +But by good fortune there still survived the famous magician Merlin, the +master of all mysteries, who long had been the stay of Uther's throne, +and in whose hands lay the destiny of the realm. For after years of +anarchy, and when men had almost lost hope of right and justice, Merlin, +foreseeing that the time for a change was at hand, went to the +Archbishop of Canterbury, and bade him summon to London by Christmas day +all the lords of the realm and the gentlemen of arms, for on that day a +miracle would be shown by which would be decided who should be ruler of +the kingless realm. + +The summons was issued, and by Christmas-tide many lords and knights, +the flower of England's chivalry, had gathered in London, most of them +full of ambition and many of them buoyed up by hope. In the greatest +church of that city prayers went up night and day, all who had been +guilty of wrong-doing seeking to clear their souls of sin; for all +believed that only through God's grace could any man come to dominion in +the realm, and those who aspired to the throne ardently sought to make +their peace with God. + +On Christmas day, after the hour of matins and the first mass, came the +miracle which Merlin had predicted; for there suddenly appeared before +the high altar in the church-yard a great four-square block of stone, +of the texture of marble, upon which stood an anvil of steel a foot in +height; and through the anvil and deep into the stone was thrust a +gleaming sword, upon which, in letters of gold, ran these words, "Whoso +pulleth this sword out of this stone is of right born king of all +England." + +Whether Merlin performed this strange thing by magic, or it was a +miracle of God's will, the chronicles say not, but all who saw it deeply +marvelled, and word of it was brought to the archbishop in the church. + +"Let no man stir," he enjoined. "This is God's doing, and must be dealt +with gravely and solemnly. I command that all stay within the church and +pray unto God until the high mass be done. Till then let no hand touch +the sword." + +And so the service went on until its end; but after it was done the +audience hastened to behold the miracle, and some of the higher lords, +who were ambitious for the throne, laid eager hold upon the sword and +sought with all their strength to draw it. Yet all in vain they tugged; +the mightiest among them could not stir the deep-thrust blade. + +"The man is not here," said the archbishop, "who shall draw that sword; +but God, in His own good season, will make him known. This, then, is my +counsel: let us set ten knights, men of fame and honor, to guard the +sword, and let every man that has faith in his good fortune seek to draw +it. He who is the destined monarch of England will in time appear." + +New Year's day came, and no man yet had drawn the sword, though many +had adventured. For that day the barons had ordered that a stately +tournament should be held, in which all knights who desired to break a +lance for God and their ladies might take part. This was greeted with +high acclaim, and after the services of the day had ended the barons and +knights together rode to the lists, while multitudes of the citizens of +London crowded thither to witness the knightly sports. Among those who +rode were Sir Hector, a noble lord, who held domains in England and +Wales, and with him his son Sir Kay, a new-made knight, and his younger +son Arthur, a youth still too young for knighthood. + +As they rode together to the lists, Kay discovered that he had forgotten +his sword, having left it behind at his father's lodging. He begged +young Arthur to ride back for it. + +"Trust me to bring it," replied Arthur, readily, and turning his horse +he rode briskly back to his father's lodging in the city. On reaching +the house, however, he found it fast locked, all its inmates having gone +to the tournament. The young man stood a moment in anger and indecision. + +"My brother Kay shall not be without a sword," he said. "I remember +seeing in the church-yard a handsome blade thrust into a stone, and +seeming to want an owner. I shall ride thither and get that sword. It +will serve Kay's turn." + +He accordingly turned his horse and rode back in all haste. On reaching +the church-yard he found no knights there, all those who had been placed +on guard having gone to the jousting, exchanging duty for sport. +Dismounting and tying his horse, he entered the tent which had been +erected over the stone. There stood the magic sword, its jewelled hilt +and half the shining blade revealed. Heedless of the inscription on the +polished steel, and ignorant of its lofty promise,--for the miracle had +been kept secret by the knights,--young Arthur seized the weapon +strongly by the hilt and gave the magic sword a vigorous pull. Then a +wondrous thing happened, which it was a pity there were none to see; for +the blade came easily out of stone and steel, as though they were +yielding clay, and lay naked in his hand. Not knowing the might and +meaning of what he had done, and thinking of naught but to keep his +word, the young man mounted his horse and rode to the field, where he +delivered the sword to his brother Sir Kay. + +"I have brought your sword," he said. + +The young knight started with surprise on beholding the blade, and gazed +on it with wonder and trepidation. It was not his, he knew, and he +recognized it at sight for the magic blade. But ambition quickly +banished the wonder from his heart, and he rode hastily to his father, +Sir Hector, exclaiming,-- + +"Behold! Here is the sword of the stone! I that bear it am the destined +king of England's realm." + +Sir Hector looked at him in doubt, and beheld the blade he bore with +deep surprise. + +"When and how did you obtain it?" he demanded. "Back to the church! Come +with us, Arthur. Here is a mystery that must be explained." + +Reaching the church, he made Kay swear upon the book how he came by that +weapon, for greatly he doubted. + +"I have not said I drew it," Kay replied, sullenly. "In truth, it was +not achieved by me. Arthur brought me the sword." + +"Arthur!" cried the lord. "Arthur brought it! How got you it, boy?" + +"I pulled it from the stone," replied the youth. "Kay sent me home for +his sword, but the house was empty and locked; and as I did not wish my +brother to be without a weapon, I rode hither and pulled this blade out +of the stone. Was there aught strange in that? It came out easily +enough." + +"Were there no knights about it?" + +"None, sir." + +"Then the truth is plain. God's will has been revealed. You are the +destined king of England." + +"I?" cried Arthur, in surprise. "Wherefore I?" + +"God has willed it so," repeated the baron. "But I must first learn for +myself if you have truly drawn the sword. Can you put it back again?" + +"I can try," said Arthur, and with an easy thrust he sunk the blade +deeply into the stone. + +Then Sir Hector and Kay pulled at the hilt with all their strength, but +failed to move the weapon. + +"Now you shall try," they said to Arthur. + +Thereupon the youth seized the hilt, and with a light effort the magic +sword came out naked in his hand. + +"You are our king!" cried Sir Hector, kneeling on the earth, and Kay +beside him. + +"My dear father and brother," cried Arthur in surprise and distress, +"why kneel you to me? Rise, I pray; it pains me deeply to see you thus." + +[Illustration: STATUE OF KING ARTHUR AT INNSBRUCK.] + +"I am not your father nor of your kindred," rejoined the baron. "I must +now reveal the secret I long have kept. You were brought to me in +infancy, and I and my wife have fostered you as our own. But you are no +son of mine. Who you truly are I cannot say; that only Merlin the +magician knows. But well I feel assured you are of nobler blood than I +can boast." + +These words filled Arthur with heartfelt pain. He had long revered the +worthy knight as his father, and it grieved him deeply to learn that +those whom he had so warmly loved were not of kin to him. + +"Sir," said Hector, "will you be my good and gracious lord when you are +king?" + +"You, my father, and your good lady, my mother,--to whom else in all the +world am I so beholden?" rejoined Arthur, warmly. "God forbid that I +should fail you in whatever you may desire, if by His will and grace I +shall be made king." + +"This only I ask of you," said the baron: "that you make Kay, my son and +your foster-brother, the seneschal of all your lands." + +"By the faith of my body, I promise," said Arthur. "No man but he shall +have that office while he and I live." + +These words said, Sir Hector went to the archbishop and told him, much +to his surprise, of the marvel that had been performed. By the advice of +the prelate it was kept secret until Twelfth Day, when the barons came +again, and another effort was made to draw the sword. + +After all had tried and failed, Arthur was brought forward, and while +many sneered at his youth and asked why a boy had been brought thither, +he seized the hilt and lightly drew the blade from the stone. Then all +stood aghast in wonder, marvelling greatly to see a youth perform the +feat which the strongest knights in the kingdom had attempted in vain; +but many beheld it with bitter anger and hostile doubt. + +"Who is this boy?" they cried. "What royal blood can he claim? Shall we +and the realm of England be shamed by being governed by a base-born +churl? There is fraud or magic in this." + +So high ran the tide of adverse feeling that the archbishop finally +decided that another trial should be had at Candlemas, ten knights +meanwhile closely guarding the stone. And when Candlemas day arrived +there came many more great lords, each eager for the throne; but, as +before, of all there none but Arthur could draw the magic sword. + +Again was there envy and hostility, and another trial was loudly +demanded, the time being fixed for Easter. This ended as before, and at +the demand of the angry lords a final trial was arranged for the feast +of Pentecost. The archbishop now, at Merlin's suggestion, surrounded +Arthur with a bodyguard of tried warriors, some of whom had been Uther +Pendragon's best and worthiest knights; for it was feared that some of +his enemies might seek to do him harm. They were bidden to keep watch +over him day and night till the season of Pentecost, for there were +lords that would have slain him had they dared. + +At the feast of Pentecost lords and knights gathered again, but in vain +they all essayed to draw the magic sword. Only to the hand of Arthur +would it yield, and he pulled it lightly from the stone and steel in the +presence of all the lords and commons. Then cried the commons in loud +acclaim,-- + +"Arthur shall be our king! We will have none to reign over us but him! +Let there be no more delay. God has willed that he shall be England's +king, and he that holdeth out longer against the will of God that man +shall we slay." + +Then rich and poor alike kneeled before Arthur, hailed him as king, and +craved his pardon for their long delay. He forgave them freely, and +taking the sword between his hands, laid it upon the altar before the +archbishop. This done, he was made a knight by the worthiest warrior +there, and thus taken into that noble fellowship of chivalry which he +was destined by his valor and virtue to so richly adorn. + +Shortly afterward Arthur was crowned king, with great pomp and ceremony, +before a noble assemblage of the lords and ladies of the realm, taking +solemn oath at the coronation to be true king to lords and commons, and +to deal justice to all while he should live. + +Justice, indeed, was greatly and urgently demanded, for many wrongs had +been done since the death of King Uther, and numerous complaints were +laid before the throne. All these evils Arthur redressed, forcing those +who had wrongfully taken the lands of others to return them, and +demanding that all should submit to the laws of the realm. In compliance +with his promise, Sir Kay was made seneschal of England, while other +knights were appointed to the remaining high offices of the realm, and +all the needs of the kingdom duly provided for. Thus the famous reign of +King Arthur auspiciously began, with God's and man's blessing upon its +early days. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +ARTHUR'S WARS AND THE MYSTERY OF HIS BIRTH. + + +After Arthur was crowned king he removed into Wales, where he gave +orders that a great feast should be held on the coming day of Pentecost, +at the city of Carlion. On the day appointed for the feast there +appeared before Carlion the Kings of Lothian and Orkney, Gore, Garloth, +Carados, and Scotland, each with a large following of knights. Their +coming greatly pleased King Arthur, who believed that they desired to do +honor to his reign, and he sent presents of great value to them and to +their knights. + +These they disdainfully refused, sending back a hostile challenge by the +messenger, and saying that they had not come to receive gifts from a +beardless boy, of ignoble blood, but to present him gifts with hard +swords between neck and shoulder. It was a shame, they said, to see such +a boy at the head of so noble a realm, and this wrong should be +redressed at their hands. + +On receiving this defiant message, Arthur threw himself, with five +hundred good men, into a strong tower near Carlion, for he was ill +prepared for attack. There he was closely besieged by his foes, but the +castle was well victualled, and held out stoutly against its assailants. + +During the siege Merlin appeared suddenly among the kings, and told them +privately who Arthur really was, assuring them that he was of nobler +blood than themselves, and was destined long to remain king of England, +and to reduce Scotland, Ireland, and Wales to his sway. Some of the +hostile monarchs believed the magician's story, but others doubted it, +King Lot of Orkney laughing him to scorn, while some among them called +him a prating wizard. + +But it was agreed that they should hold a conference with Arthur, they +promising if he came out to them to place no hindrance to his safe +return. Merlin then sought the king and advised him to accept the +conference, telling him that he had nothing to fear. Thereupon Arthur +armed himself, and taking with him the Archbishop of Canterbury and +several noble knights, went out boldly to meet his foes. + +The conference was an angry and bitter one, the kings speaking strongly, +and Arthur answering them with stout words of defiance, in which he told +them plainly that if he lived he would make them bow to his throne. In +the end they parted in wrath, the kings returning to their camp and +Arthur to the tower. + +"What do you propose to do?" said Merlin to the kings. "If you take a +wise man's advice you will withdraw, for I tell you that you shall not +prevail here, were you ten times as many." + +"We are not the men to be advised by a dream-reader," answered King Lot. +"If you are the wise man you say, you will take yourself away." At this +reply Merlin magically vanished from among them, and immediately +appeared to King Arthur in the tower, bidding him boldly to sally forth +and attack his enemies, and trust to fortune and valor for success. +Meanwhile three hundred of the best knights of the kings had deserted +their ranks and come to join him, much to his comfort, for he had been +greatly outnumbered. + +"Sir," said Merlin, "fight not with the sword that you had by miracle, +till you see things go to the worst; then draw it out and strike +shrewdly for your throne." + +These words said, Arthur sallied from the tower at the head of all his +knights, and fell fiercely on the besiegers in their camp. All went down +before his bold assault, the hosts of the hostile kings retreating in +dismay. Great deeds were done that day, Sir Kay and other knights +slaying all before them, while Arthur laid on nobly, and did such +marvellous feats of arms that all who saw him wondered greatly, for +until now he had been an untried youth. While the combat thus went on in +Arthur's favor in front, King Lot and others of the kings made a detour +and set fiercely upon his force from the rear, causing momentary dismay +in his ranks. But Arthur wheeled alertly with his knights, and smote +vigorously to right and left, keeping always in the foremost press, till +his horse was slain beneath him, and he hurled to the ground. + +King Lot took instant advantage of this, and with a mighty blow +prostrated the unhorsed king. But his knights hastily surrounded him, +drove back his crowding foes, and set him on horseback again. And now +King Arthur drew the magic sword, and as he waved it in the air there +flashed from it a gleaming lustre that blinded the eyes of his enemies. +Back they went before him, many of them falling under his mighty blows, +while his valiant knights followed hotly in the track of the flaming +sword, and the enemy fled in panic fear. + +Then the people of Carlion, seeing the enemy in retreat, came out with +clubs and staves, and fell upon the defeated host, killing numbers of +the dismounted knights; while the hostile kings, with such of their +followers as remained alive, fled in all haste from the disastrous +field, leaving the victory to Arthur and his knights. + +Thus ended in victory the first battle of Arthur's famous reign. It was +but the prelude to a greater one, the mighty deeds of which the +chroniclers tell at great length, but of which we shall give but brief +record. It was predicted by Merlin, who told the king that he should +have to fight far more strongly for his crown, that the defeated kings +would get others to join them, and would ere long proceed against him +with a mighty force. + +"I warn you," he said to the king and his council, "that your enemies +are very strong, for they have entered into alliance with four other +kings and a mighty duke, and unless our king obtain powerful allies he +shall be overcome and slain." + +"What then shall we do?" asked the barons. + +"I shall tell you," said Merlin. "There are two brethren beyond the sea, +both kings, and marvellously valiant men. One of these is King Ban of +Benwick, and the other King Bors of Gaul. These monarchs are at war with +a mighty warrior, King Claudas. My counsel then is, that our king ask +the aid of these monarchs in his wars, and engage in return to help them +in their war with their foe." + +"It is well counselled," said the king and his barons. + +Accordingly two knights with letters were sent across the seas, and +after various adventures reached the camp of Kings Ban and Bors. These +valiant monarchs gladly responded to Arthur's request, and, leaving +their castles well guarded, came with ten thousand of their best men to +the aid of the youthful king. Then were held great feasts, and a noble +tournament was given on All-hallowmas day, at which Sir Kay carried off +the honors of the lists and received the prize of valor. + +But sport had soon to give place to war, for the hostile kings, now +eleven in all, with a host of fifty thousand mounted men and ten +thousand footmen, were marching upon King Arthur's camp, then at the +Castle of Bedegraine, in Sherwood forest. + +Two nights before the hosts met in battle, one of the hostile leaders, +known as the king with the hundred knights, dreamed a wondrous dream. It +seemed to him that there came a mighty wind, which blew down all their +castles and towns, and that then there came a great flood and carried +all away. All who heard this dream said that it was a token of great +battle, but by its portent none were dismayed, for they felt too secure +in their strength to heed the warning of a dream. + +Soon the two armies drew together, and encamped at no great distance +asunder. Then, by advice of Merlin, a midnight attack was made by Arthur +and his allies upon the host of the eleven kings, as they lay sleeping +in their tents. But their sentinels were alert, the sound of the coming +host reached their wakeful ears, and loud the cry ran through the camp: + +"To arms! lords and knights, to arms! The enemy is upon us! To arms! to +arms!" + +On like a wave of war came the force of Arthur, Ban, and Bors. The tents +were overthrown, and all the valor of the eleven kings was needed to +save their army from defeat. So fiercely went the assault that by +day-dawn ten thousand of their men lay dead upon the field, while +Arthur's loss was but small. + +By Merlin's advice, while it was yet dark the forces of Ban and Bors had +been placed in ambush in the forest. Then Arthur, with his own army of +twenty thousand men, set fiercely on the overwhelming force of the foe, +and deeds of mighty prowess were done, men falling like leaves, and many +knights of tried valor staining the earth with their blood. + +Fiercely went the combat, hand to hand and blade to blade, till the +field was strewn with the dead, while none could tell how the battle +would end. But when Kings Ban and Bors broke from their ambush, with ten +thousand fresh men, the tide of battle turned against the foe. Back they +went, step by step, many of their men taking to flight, and hundreds +falling in death. King Bors did marvellous deeds of arms. King Ban, +whose horse was killed, fought on foot like an enraged lion, standing +among dead men and horses, and felling all who came within reach of his +sword. As for King Arthur, his armor was so covered with crimson stains +that no man knew him, and his horse went fetlock deep in blood. + +When night approached, the hostile force was driven across a little +stream, the eleven warrior kings still valiantly facing the victorious +foe. + +Then came Merlin into the press of struggling knights, mounted on a +great black horse, and cried to Arthur,-- + +"Wilt thou never have done? Of threescore thousand men this day thou +hast left alive but fifteen thousand, and it is time to cry, Halt! I bid +you withdraw, for if you continue the battle fortune will turn against +you. As for these kings, you will have no trouble with them for three +years to come, for more than forty thousand Saracens have landed in +their country, and are burning and despoiling all before them." + +This advice was taken, and the defeated kings were allowed to withdraw +the remnant of their forces without further harm, while King Arthur +richly rewarded his allies and their knights from the treasure found in +the hostile camp. + +Thus was King Arthur seated firmly on his throne. But who he was he knew +not yet, for the mystery that lay over his birth Merlin had never +revealed. After the battle Merlin went to his master Bleise, who dwelt +in Northumberland, and told him the events of the mighty contest. These +Bleise wrote down, word by word, as he did the after-events of King +Arthur's reign, and the deeds of his valiant knights. And so was made +the chronicle of the great achievements of arms, and the adventures of +errant knights, from which this history is drawn. + +Of some things that Merlin further did we must here speak. While Arthur +dwelt in the castle of Bedegraine, Merlin came to him so disguised that +the king knew him not. He was all befurred in black sheepskins, with a +great pair of boots and a bow and arrows, and brought wild geese in his +hand, as though he had been a huntsman. + +"Sir," he said to the king, "will you give me a gift?" + +"Why should I do so, churl?" asked the king. + +"You had better give me a gift from what you have in hand than to lose +great riches which are now out of your reach; for here, where the battle +was fought, is great treasure hidden in the earth." + +"Who told you that, churl?" + +"Merlin told me so." + +Then was the king abashed, for he now knew that it was Merlin who spoke, +and it troubled him that he had not known his best friend. + +Afterward, on a day when Arthur had been hunting in the forest, and +while he sat in deep thought over a strange dream he had dreamed and +some sinful deeds he had done, there came to him a child of fourteen +years, and asked him why he was so pensive. + +"I may well be so," replied Arthur, "for I have much to make me think." + +"I know that well," said the seeming child, "also who thou art and all +thy thoughts. I can tell thee who was thy father and how and when thou +wert born." + +"That is false," rejoined the king. "How should a boy of your years know +my father?" + +"He was Uther Pendragon, the king," replied the seeming boy, "and you +are of royal blood." + +"How can you know that? I will not believe you without better proof," +said Arthur. + +At these words the child departed, but quickly after there came to the +king an old man of fourscore years. + +"Why are you so sad?" asked the old man. + +"For many things," replied Arthur. "Here but now was a child who told me +things which it seems to me he could not know." + +"He told you the truth," said the old man, "and would have told you more +if you had listened. This I am bidden to tell you, that you have done +things which have displeased God, and that your sister shall bear a son +who will destroy you and all the knights of your land. That is the +meaning of your dream in which griffons and serpents burnt and slew all +before them, and wounded you to the death." + +"Who are you," said Arthur, "that tell me these things?" + +"I am Merlin," replied the old man. "And I was the child who came to +you." + +"You are a marvellous man," replied Arthur. "But how can you know that I +shall die in battle?" + +"How I know matters not, but this much more I am bidden to tell you: +your death will be a noble one; but I shall die a shameful death, and +shall be put in the earth alive for my follies. Such is the voice of +destiny." + +While they conversed thus, horses were brought to the king, and he and +Merlin mounted and rode to Carlion. Here Arthur told Sir Hector what he +had heard, and asked if it were true. + +"I believe it to be the truth," answered the old baron. "Merlin has told +me that the child he brought to my castle was the son of King Uther +Pendragon and of Queen Igraine, his wife." + +But Arthur was not yet convinced, and sent in all haste for Queen +Igraine, who dwelt in a castle not far away, and came quickly with +Morgan le Fay, her daughter, a fair lady, and one who had been taught +all the arts of necromancy. + +The king welcomed her with rich cheer, and made a feast in her honor, +without saying why he had asked her to his court. But when the feast was +at its height, Sir Ulfius, the chamberlain, and a knight of worth and +honor, rose in the midst, and boldly accused the queen of falsehood and +treason. + +"Beware what you say," cried the king. "Those are strong words, and this +lady is my guest." + +"I am well advised of what I say," replied Ulfius, "and here is my glove +to prove it upon any man who shall deny it. I declare that Queen Igraine +is the cause of your great wars and of deep damage to your throne. Had +she told in the life of King Uther of the birth of her son you would +have been spared your wars, for most of your barons know not to-day of +what blood you were born. Therefore I declare her false to God, to you, +and to all your realm, and if any man shall say me nay I stand ready to +prove it upon his body." + +"I am a woman, and I may not fight," said Queen Igraine to this. "But +there are men here will take my quarrel. Merlin will bear me witness +that it was King Uther's wish, for reasons of state, that the birth of +my child should be concealed, and if you seek a traitor you should +accuse Uther Pendragon and not me. At its birth the child was wrapped in +cloth of gold, by order of the king, and taken from me, and from that +day to this I have not set eyes upon my son." + +"Then," said Ulfius, "Merlin is more to blame than you." + +"I bowed to the will of my husband," replied the queen. "After the death +of my lord, the Duke of Tintagil, King Uther married me, and I bore him +a son, but I know not what has become of my child." + +Then Merlin took the king by the hand and led him to Queen Igraine. + +"This is your mother," he said. + +Therewith, Sir Hector bore witness how the child has been brought by +Merlin to the postern gate of his castle, wrapped in cloth of gold, and +how he had reared him as his own son, knowing not who he was, but full +sure he was of high birth. + +These words removed all doubt from Arthur's mind, and with warm +affection he took his mother in his arms, and kissed her lovingly, while +tears of joy flowed freely from the eyes of mother and son, for never +was gladder meeting than that which there took place. + +For eight days thereafter feasts and sports were held at the castle, and +great joy fell upon all men to learn that the son of great Uther +Pendragon had come to the throne. And far and wide the story spread +through the land that he who had drawn the magic sword was the rightful +heir to England's crown. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE LADY OF THE LAKE. + + +On a day at the end of the feasts given by King Arthur in honor of his +mother, there came into the court a squire, who bore before him on his +horse a knight that had been wounded unto death. He told how a stranger +knight in the forest had set up a pavilion by a well, and forced all who +passed to joust with him. This stranger had slain his master, and he +begged that some champion would revenge the slain knight. + +Then rose Griflet, a youthful squire who had done good service in the +wars, and begged to be knighted, that he might undertake this adventure. + +"Thou art but young for such a task," said Arthur. + +"I beseech you for the honor of it," pleaded Griflet. "I have done you +knightly service." + +Thereupon he was knighted and armed, and rode at day-dawn with a high +heart into the forest. But by night-fall back he came, with a +spear-thrust through his body, and scarce able to sit his horse for +weakness. He had met the knight, and barely escaped with his life. + +This angered the king, and he determined to undertake the adventure +himself, and to seek to punish the daring knight who had planted +himself, with hostile purpose, so near his court. By his order his best +armor and horse were set before day at a point outside the city, and at +day-dawn he met there his squire and rode with him secretly into the +forest. + +On the way thither he met three churls, who were chasing Merlin and +seeking to slay him. The king rode to them and sternly bade them desist, +and on seeing a knight before them they fled in craven fear. + +"O Merlin," cried Arthur, "for all your craft you would have been slain, +had I not come to your aid." + +"Not so. I but played with these churls," said Merlin. "I could have +saved myself easily enough. You are far more near your end than I, for +unless God be your friend you ride to your death." + +As they conversed they came to the forest fountain, and saw there a rich +pavilion, while under a cloth stood a fair horse, richly saddled and +bridled, and on a tree was a shield of varied colors and a great spear. +In a chair near by sat an armed knight. + +"How is it, sir knight," asked the king, sternly, "that you abide here +and force every knight that passes to joust with you? It is an ill +custom, and I bid you cease it." + +"He who is grieved with my custom may amend it if he will," said the +knight. + +"I shall amend it," said Arthur. + +"I shall defend it," replied the knight. + +With these words they mounted, placed their spears in rest, and put +their horses to their speed. Together they came in mid career with such +violence and equal fortune that both spears were shivered to splinters, +but both knights remained in their saddles. Taking new spears, once more +they rode, and once again met in mid course with the same fortune as +before. Then Arthur set hand to his sword. + +"Nay," said the knight. "You are the best jouster of all the men I ever +met. For the love of the high order of knighthood let us break another +spear." + +"I agree," said Arthur. + +Two more spears were brought them, and again they rode together with all +the might and speed of their horses. Arthur's spear once more shivered +into splinters from point to handle. But the knight struck him so fairly +in the centre of his shield that horse and man together fell to the +earth. + +Then Arthur drew his sword eagerly and cried: + +"Sir knight, I have lost the honor of horseback, and will fight you on +foot." + +"I will meet you on horse," replied the knight. + +Angry at this, Arthur advanced towards him with ready shield and sword. +But the knight, feeling that he was taking a noble adversary at unfair +advantage, dismounted, and advanced to meet Arthur on foot. + +Then began a mighty battle, in which many great sword-strokes were made, +and much blood was lost by both antagonists. After the affray had long +continued the two warriors by chance struck so evenly together that +their swords met in mid air, and the weapon of the knight smote that of +Arthur into two pieces. + +"You are in my power," cried the knight. "Yield you as overcome and +recreant, or you shall die." + +"As for death," said Arthur, "it will be welcome when it comes, but I +had rather die than be so shamed." + +Thus saying, he leaped upon his foeman, took him by the middle with a +vigorous grip, and threw him to the earth. Then he tore off his helmet. +The knight, however, was much the larger and stronger man, and in his +turn brought Arthur under him, deprived him of his helmet, and lifted +his sword to strike off his head. + +At this perilous moment Merlin advanced. + +"Knight, hold thy hand," he cried. "You little know in what peril you +put this realm, or who the warrior is beneath your sword." + +"Who is he?" asked the knight. + +"He is King Arthur." + +Then would the knight have slain Arthur for fear of his wrath, and +raised his sword again to do so, but at that moment Merlin threw him +into an enchanted sleep. + +"What have you done, Merlin?" cried Arthur. "God grant you have not +slain this worthy knight by your craft! I would yield a year of my +dominion to have him alive again." + +"Do not fear," said Merlin. "He is asleep only, and will awake within +three hours. And this I shall tell you, there is not a stronger knight +in your kingdom than he, and hereafter he will do you good service. His +name is King Pellinore, and he shall have two noble sons, whose names +will be Percivale and Lamorak of Wales. And this brave knight shall, in +the time to come, tell you the name of that son of your sister who is +fated to be the destruction of all this land." + +This being said, the king and the magician departed, leaving the knight +to his magic slumbers. Soon they reached the cell of a hermit who was a +noted leech, and who, with healing salves, in three days cured the +king's wounds so that he was able to ride again. As they now went +forward, through forest and over plain, Arthur said,-- + +"I have no sword. I shall be ill put to it should I meet a champion." + +"Heed not that," said Merlin. "That loss will be soon repaired." + +And so they rode till they came to a lake, a broad and fair sheet of +water, that stretched far before their eyes. As the king stood and +looked upon it, he saw in its midst, to his deep wonder, an arm clothed +in white samite lift itself above the water, and in the hand appeared a +glittering sword, that gleamed brightly in the sun's rays. + +"Lo! yonder is the sword I spoke of," said Merlin. + +Then another wonder met their eyes, for a woman came walking towards +them upon the surface of the lake. + +"What damsel is that?" asked Arthur. "And what means all this wondrous +thing?" + +"That is the Lady of the Lake," said Merlin. "Within that lake is a +great rock, and therein is a palace as fair as any on the earth, and +most richly adorned, wherein this lady dwells. When she comes to you ask +her in courtly phrase for the sword, for it is hers to give." + +Soon came the damsel to them and saluted Arthur, who courteously +returned her salutation. + +"Fair lady," he said, "what sword is it that yonder arm holds so +strangely above the water? I would it were mine, for I have lost my +weapon." + +"King Arthur," replied the damsel, "the sword you see is mine. But it +shall be yours if you will promise me a gift when I shall ask it of +you." + +"By my faith," rejoined Arthur, "I will give you whatever gift you may +ask, if it be within reason and justice." + +"Then," said the damsel, "go into the barge you see yonder and row +yourself to the sword, and take it and the scabbard. As for the gift, I +shall bide my time to ask it." + +Arthur and Merlin now alighted and entered the boat they saw near by, +rowing it to where the arm in white samite held up the sword. Reaching +boldly out, Arthur grasped the weapon by the handle, and at once the arm +and hand disappeared beneath the water, leaving the wondrous blade in +his hand, and the scabbard with it. + +When they reached the land again the Lady of the Lake was gone, and so +they mounted and rode away from that place of magic. Then Arthur looked +upon the sword and much he liked it, for the blade seemed to him of rare +promise. + +"Which like you the better, the sword or the scabbard?" asked Merlin. + +"The sword," answered Arthur. + +"There you lack wisdom," said Merlin, "for the scabbard is worth ten of +the sword. While you wear that scabbard you shall never lose blood, +however sorely you be wounded, so take good heed to keep it always with +you." + +So they rode unto Carlion, where Arthur's knights were glad enough to +see him, for his absence had greatly troubled them. And when they heard +of his adventures they marvelled that he would risk his person so alone. +But all men of worship said that it was merry to be under a chieftain +who would take upon himself such adventures as poor knights loved to +meet. + +During the absence of the king a messenger had come to the court from +King Ryons of North Wales, who was also King of Ireland, and of many +islands, bearing a message of most insulting purport. He said that King +Ryons had discomfited and overcome eleven kings, each of whom had been +forced to do him homage in the following manner: each had sent him his +beard, and the king had trimmed his mantle with these kings' beards. But +there lacked one place on the mantle, and he therefore sent for King +Arthur's beard to complete the fringe. If it were not sent him he would +enter the land and burn and slay, and never leave till he had head and +beard together. + +"Well," said Arthur, "you have said your message, and the most +villanous one it is that ever living man sent unto a king; you may see, +moreover, that my beard as yet is somewhat too young to serve as a +trimming to his mantle. This, then, you may tell your king. Neither I +nor my lords owe him any homage. But if he shall not before many days do +me homage on both his bended knees, by the faith of my body he shall +lose his head, in requital for the shameful and discourteous message +that he has sent me. Bear you this answer to your king." + +And so the messenger departed. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +GUENEVER AND THE ROUND TABLE. + + +And now we have to tell the story of how King Arthur got his fair wife +Guenever, and how the Round Table was brought to England's realm. + +After the defeat of the eleven kings, Arthur had rescued King +Leodegrance of Cameliard from King Ryons, and put the latter with all +his host to flight. And at the court of Leodegrance he saw his charming +daughter Guenever, whom he ever after loved. + +So it fell upon a time that Arthur said to Merlin,-- + +"My barons give me no peace, but day by day insist that I shall take a +wife. But whether I marry or not, I shall take no step without your +counsel and advice." + +"Your barons counsel well," said Merlin. "A man of your bounty and +nobleness should not be without a wife. Is there any one woman that you +love beyond others?" + +"Yes, by my faith there is," said Arthur. "I love Guenever, the daughter +of King Leodegrance, of Cameliard, he who has in his house the Round +Table, which you have told me he had of my father King Uther. This +damsel is the loveliest lady that I know, or could ever hope to find." + +"Of her beauty and fairness no man can question," said Merlin. "If your +heart were not set, I could find you a damsel of beauty and goodness +that would please you as well. But where a man's heart is fixed there +will he turn against the counsel of wise and foolish alike." + +"You speak the truth," said Arthur. + +Covertly, however, Merlin warned the king that Guenever would bring +trouble to his court and his heart, and counselled him to weigh well +what he thought to do. But Arthur's love was warm, and the wise man's +counsel, as he had said, fell like water on a stone. Thereupon Merlin +went to Cameliard and told King Leodegrance of Arthur's wish. + +"This is to me," said Leodegrance, "the best tidings that any man living +could bring; that a monarch of such prowess and nobleness should ask to +wed my daughter. Cheerfully will I give her, and I would give lands in +dowry with her, but of that he has enough already. Yet I can send him a +gift that will please him far more than lands or treasure, no less a +gift than the Table Round, which Uther Pendragon gave me, and around +which may be seated a hundred and fifty knights. As for myself, I have +but a hundred knights worthy to sit at the table, but these I will send +to Arthur, who must complete the tale himself." + +And so, with Guenever, and the Round Table, and the hundred knights, +Merlin set out for London, where Arthur then was, and whither the noble +cavalcade rode in royal procession through the land. + +When King Arthur heard of their coming his heart was filled with joy, +and he said to those around him,-- + +"This fair lady is very welcome to me, for I have loved her long. And +these knights with the Round Table please me more than if the greatest +riches had been sent, for I value worth and prowess far above wealth and +honors." + +He ordered the marriage and coronation to be prepared for in royal pomp, +but with no needless delay. + +"And, Merlin," he said, "I pray you to go and seek me out fifty knights +of the highest honor and valor, to complete the tale of my Round Table +Knights." + +Merlin went, and in a short time brought twenty-eight knights whom he +deemed worthy of that high honor, but no more could he find. + +Then the Archbishop of Canterbury was brought, and he blessed the seats +of the Round Table with great worship and ceremony, and placed the +twenty-eight knights in their chairs. When this was done Merlin said,-- + +[Illustration: Copyright by Frederick Hollyer, London, England. + +KING ARTHUR'S FAIR LOVE.] + +"Fair sirs, you must all rise and come to King Arthur and do him homage. +For henceforth you are his chosen knights, and must so declare. And know +you well, that great shall be the future honor and fame of all who +worthily occupy these seats." + +At this request the knights arose, and did homage to the king. And when +they had risen from their seats there appeared in each in letters of +gold the name of him who had sat therein. But two seats were wanting +from the full tale. + +"What is the reason of this?" asked Arthur. "Why are there two seats +lacking?" + +"Sir," answered Merlin, "no man shall occupy those places but the most +worshipful of knights. And in the Seat Perilous, which adjoins them, no +man shall sit but one, and if any one unworthy of this honor shall be so +hardy as to attempt it, he shall be destroyed. He that shall sit there +shall have no fellow." + +Anon came young Gawaine, the son of King Lot, a squire of handsome mien, +who asked of the king a gift. + +"Ask, and I shall grant it," answered the king. + +"I ask that you make me knight on the day you wed fair Guenever." + +"That shall I do willingly," said Arthur, "and with what worship I may, +since you are my nephew, my sister's son." + +[Here it is proper to say that Arthur had three sisters, the daughters +of Queen Igraine and her first husband, the Duke of Tintagil. One of +these, Margawse, had married King Lot, and had four sons, all of whom +became valiant knights; Elaine, the second, had married King Neutres of +Garlot; the third sister, Morgan le Fay, had been put to school, where +she became learned in the art of necromancy; of the fourth the +chronicles fail to speak.] + +Hardly had Gawaine spoken when there came riding into the court a poor +man, who brought with him a fair-faced youth, of eighteen years of age, +riding upon a lean mare. + +"Sir, will you grant me a gift?" the old man asked of the king. "I was +told that you would at the time of your marriage grant any gift that was +asked for in reason." + +"That is true," said the king. "What would you have?" + +"Jesu save you, most gracious king. I ask nothing more than that you +make my son a knight." + +"It is a great thing you ask," said the king. "Who are you, and what +claim has your son to this high honor?" + +"I am but a cowherd, great sir, and am the father of thirteen sons. But +this one is unlike all the rest. He will do no labor, and cares for +nothing but warlike sports, and seeing knights and battles. And day and +night he craves for knighthood." + +"What is thy name?" the king asked the young man. + +"Sir, my name is Tor." + +The king looked at him closely. He was of handsome face, and was very +well made and strong of limb and body. + +"Where is the sword with which this youth shall be made knight?" asked +the king. + +"It is here," said Tor. + +"Then draw it from the scabbard, and require me to make you a knight." + +At these words the youth sprang lightly and gladly from his mare, drew +the sword, and kneeled before the king, asking him in earnest tones to +make him a Knight of the Round Table. + +"A knight I will make you," answered the king. "But the Round Table is +not for untried youth." + +Thereupon he smote him upon the neck with the sword, and said,-- + +"Be you a good knight, and I pray God you may be so. If you prove of +prowess and worth I promise you shall in good time have a seat at the +Round Table." + +"Now, Merlin," said Arthur, "tell me whether this Tor will be a good +knight or not." + +"He should be so," answered Merlin, "for he comes of kingly blood. The +cowherd here is no more his father than I, but he is the son of the good +knight, King Pellinore, whose prowess you have much reason to know." + +By good hap King Pellinore himself came next morning to the court, and +was glad to find what honor had been done his son, whom he gladly +acknowledged as his. + +Then Merlin took Pellinore by the hand and led him to the seat next the +Seat Perilous. + +"This is your place at the Round Table," he said. "There is none here so +worthy as yourself to sit therein." + +At a later hour of that eventful day, in the city of London, and at the +Church of Saint Stephen, King Arthur was wedded unto Dame Guenever, +with the highest pomp and ceremony, and before as noble an assemblage of +knights and ladies as the land held. + +Afterwards a high feast was made, and as the knights sat, each in his +appointed place, at the Round Table, Merlin came to them and bade them +sit still. + +"For you shall see a strange and marvellous happening," he said. + +Hardly had he spoken before there came running a white hart into the +hall, closely followed by a white brachet,[1] while thirty couple of +black hounds in full cry came after, and chased the hart round the +feasting boards and then round the Round Table. + +[Footnote 1: A small scenting dog.] + +As they ran the brachet caught the hart by the haunch, and bit out a +piece, whereupon the wounded animal made a great leap over a table, and +through a window, with such force as to overthrow a knight. Through the +window the hounds followed, in full cry. + +The fallen knight quickly rose, took up the brachet in his arms, and +left the hall. Seeking his horse, he rode away, carrying the brachet +with him. But hardly had he gone when a lady came riding into the hall +on a white palfrey, and crying aloud to King Arthur,-- + +"Sir, suffer not yonder knight to do me this wrong. The brachet that he +has taken away is mine." + +She had but ceased speaking when an armed knight rode up on a great +horse, and took her away by force, though she bitterly cried and called +for aid. + +"This affair must not be taken lightly," said Merlin to the king. "The +honor of your court requires that you shall redress all wrongs, and +here, at your marriage feast, have great wrongs been done." + +"What do you advise?" asked the king. "I shall be governed by your +counsel." + +"Then," answered Merlin, "call Sir Gawaine, for he must bring again the +white hart. Also call Sir Tor, for to him must be assigned the adventure +of the knight and the brachet. As for the lady and the knight, King +Pellinore must bring them, or slay the knight if he will not come." + +Thereupon they were all three called, and they armed and rode forth on +the errands assigned them. Many and strange were the adventures of these +valiant knights, but we have matter of more moment to tell, and so +cannot relate their valorous deeds. We can but say that Gawaine brought +back the head of the hart, and little honor with it, for by an evil +accident he killed a lady, and barely escaped with life from her +champions. + +Sir Tor had better fortune, for he brought the brachet alive, and won +much honor from his deeds. + +King Pellinore was also successful in his quest, for he brought back the +lady in safety, after having fought with and slain her kidnapper. This +lady's name was Nimue, and of her we shall have many strange things to +tell hereafter. + +Thus ended the three quests which followed the marriage of King Arthur +and Guenever the fair. Afterwards the king established his knights, +giving lands to those who were poor, and enjoining all against outrage, +and in favor of mercy and gentleness. He also bade them to succor all +ladies in distress, and never to engage in a wrongful quarrel, or to +strive for worldly goods. + +Unto this were sworn all the Knights of the Round Table, old and young. +And it was ordained that they should renew their oaths every year at the +high feast of Pentecost, that their obligations might never be +forgotten, and the honor and renown of the glorious fellowship of the +Round Table never decline. + +In this manner began, that illustrious career of the Knights of the +Round Table, which was destined to shed the greatest glory on Arthur's +reign, and to fill the whole world with its fame. Valorous as were the +knights who first composed that noble order of chivalry, it was +afterwards to include such world-renowned warriors as Lancelot du Lake, +Tristram de Lyonesse, and others of little less prowess, the story of +whose noble exploits and thrilling adventures was destined to be told by +bards and sung by minstrels till all time should ring with the tale, and +men of honor in far future days be stirred to emulation of these worthy +knights of old. + + + + + BOOK II. + + THE DEEDS OF BALIN. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +HOW BALIN WON AND USED THE ENCHANTED SWORD. + + +It befell upon a time when King Arthur was at London, that tidings came +to him that King Ryons of North Wales was carrying out his threat. He +had crossed the borders with an army, and was burning and harrying his +lands and slaying his people without mercy. On learning this the king +sent word to his lords and knights to assemble with all haste at +Camelot, where a council would be held and measures of defence and +reprisal taken. + +And it so fell out that while this assembly was in session at Camelot, a +damsel came into the court who had been sent by the great lady Lile of +Avelion. When she came before King Arthur she let fall her mantle, which +was richly furred, and revealed a noble sword, with which she was girt. + +"Damsel," said the king in wonder, "why wear you that sword? It beseems +you not." + +"Indeed, sir, it is a sore burden to me," replied the damsel, "but I +must wear it till a knight of the highest honor and virtue can be found +to deliver me of my charge. None other than such a one may draw this +sword from its sheath, for so it is ordained. I have been to King +Ryons's camp, where I was told there were knights of high excellence, +and he and all his knights tried it, but in vain. I have therefore come +to your court with my burden, and hope that the knight fit to draw it +may here be found." + +"This is surely a great marvel," said Arthur. "I shall try to draw the +sword myself; not that I claim to be the best knight, but as an example +to my barons." + +Then Arthur took the sword by the sheath and the girdle, and pulled at +it eagerly, but it failed to yield. + +"You need not pull so hard," said the damsel. "He who shall draw it will +need little strength, but much virtue." + +"Now try ye, all my barons," said Arthur. "But beware ye be not defiled +with shame, treachery, or guile." + +"That is well advised," said, the damsel, "for none shall draw it but a +clean knight without villany, and of gentle birth both by father and +mother." + +Then most of the Knights of the Round Table who were there tried their +fortunes, but none succeeded in the magic task. + +"Alas!" said the damsel, "I hoped to find in this court the best knights +upon earth." + +"By my faith," said Arthur, "the world holds no better knights; but it +grieves me to find that none here seem to have the grace or power to +draw this sword." + +It happened that at that time there was a poor knight of Northumberland +birth in Arthur's court, Balin by name. He had been held prisoner there +more than half a year, for slaying a knight who was cousin to the king, +and had just been set free through the good services of some of the +barons, who knew that he was not at fault in this deed. + +When he learned what was being done his heart bade him try his fortune, +but he was so poor and so shabbily dressed that he held back in shame. +Yet when the damsel took her leave of Arthur and his barons, and was +passing from the court, Balin called to her and said,-- + +"Suffer me, I pray you, to try this venture. Though I am poorly clad, +and but ill considered, I feel in my heart that in honor and grace I +stand as high as any of those knights." + +The damsel looked on him with some disdain, and begged him not to put +her to useless trouble, for he seemed not the man to succeed where so +many of noble guise had failed. + +"Fair damsel," he replied, "you should well know that worthiness and +good qualities do not dwell in attire, but that manhood and virtue lie +hidden within man's person, not in his dress; and therefore many a +worshipful knight is not known to all people." + +"You speak wisely," said the damsel. "You shall essay the task, and may +fortune befriend you." + +Then Balin took the sword by the girdle and sheath, and drew it out with +such ease that king and barons alike were filled with wonder, and many +of the knights, in spite and jealousy, cried that Balin had done this +not by might, but by witchcraft. + +"He is a good knight," cried the damsel, "the best and worthiest among +you all, even if fortune has dealt with him shabbily. Now, gentle and +courteous knight, give me the sword again." + +"No," said Balin, "I have fairly won this sword, and well it pleases me. +I shall keep it unless it be taken from me by force." + +"You are not wise to keep it," said the damsel. "I warn you that if you +do so you will slay with the sword your best friend and the man you most +love in the world, and that it will be your destruction." + +"I shall take such adventure as God may ordain me," said Balin, "but by +the faith of my body I shall keep the sword." + +"You will quickly repent it," said the damsel. "It is more for your good +than for mine that I ask it back. I am sad to find that you will not +believe me, and will bring destruction on yourself. The wilful man makes +his own destiny." With this the damsel departed, in great sorrow. + +Then Balin sent for his horse and his armor, and made ready to depart, +though Arthur begged him to remain. + +"I knew not your worth," he said, "or you should not have been so +unkindly treated. I was misinformed concerning you." + +"My heartfelt thanks are yours," said Balin. "But asking your good +grace, I must needs depart." + +"Then tarry not long, fair knight; you shall always be welcome to my +court." + +So Balin donned his armor and made ready to depart. But while he still +tarried there came to the court a lady richly attired, and riding on a +handsome horse. + +She saluted King Arthur, and presented herself as the Lady of the Lake, +from whom he had received the sword, saying that she had now come to +demand the gift which he had promised her whenever she should ask for +it. + +"A gift I promised you, indeed," said Arthur, "and you do well to ask +it. But first I would know the name of the sword you gave me." + +"The name of it," said the lady, "is Excalibur, which signifies +cut-steel." + +"Then well is it named," said the king. "Now ask what gift you will. If +it is in my power to present you shall have it." + +"What I ask," said the Lady of the Lake, "is the head of the knight who +has just won the sword, or of the damsel who brought it; or both their +heads, if you will. He slew my brother, and she caused my father's +death." + +"Truly," said the king, in pain and wonder, "you ask what I cannot in +honor grant. Ask what you will else and you shall not be denied, but +even a king cannot pay his debts with murder." + +"I shall ask nothing else," said the lady. "Little deemed I that King +Arthur would be recreant to his word." + +When Balin was told of the demand of the Lady of the Lake, he went +straight to her, where she stood before the king, and said, "Evil you +are in heart and voice, and evil have ever been. Vile enchantress, you +would have my head, and therefore, shall lose yours." And with a light +stroke of his sword he smote off her head before the king, so that it +fell bleeding at his feet. + +"What shame is this?" cried Arthur, in hot wrath. "Why have you dared +treat thus a lady to whom I was beholden, and who came here under my +safe-conduct?" + +"Your displeasure grieves me," said Balin. "But you know not this lady, +or you would not blame me for her death, for she was of all women the +vilest that ever breathed. By enchantment and sorcery she has slain many +good knights, and I have sought her during three years, to repay her for +the falsehood and treachery by which she caused my mother to be burnt." + +"Whatever your grievance, you should not have sought your revenge in my +presence. You have done me a foul disgrace, sir knight. Leave my court +in all haste while you may, and believe me you shall be made to repent +this insult to my dignity." + +Then Balin took up the head of the lady, and meeting his squire at his +inn, they rode together from the town. + +"Now," said the knight, "we must part. Take this head and bear it to my +friends in Northumberland, and tell them that my mortal foe is dead. +Also tell them that I am out of prison, and by what adventure I got this +sword." + +"You were greatly to blame to displease King Arthur," said the squire. + +"As for that," said Balin, "I hope to win his grace again by the death +or capture of King Ryons, whom I go to meet. The woman sought my death, +and has had her just deserts." + +"Where shall I find you again?" asked the squire. + +"In King Arthur's court." + +And so they parted. Meanwhile King Arthur and all the court grieved +deeply over the death of the Lady of the Lake, and felt greatly shamed +that they had not hindered the sudden and bloody deed. And the king +ordered that she should have a rich and stately funeral. + +At this time there was in Arthur's court a knight named Lanceor, the son +of the king of Ireland, a proud and valiant warrior, who was angry at +Balin for winning the sword, and sought revenge on him. He asked the +king to give him leave to ride after Balin and revenge the insult to his +crown. + +"Go and do your best," said the king. "Balin has done me a great +despite, and richly deserves punishment." + +Thereupon the knight of Ireland armed and rode at all speed after Balin, +whom he quickly overtook on a mountain side. He called to him in loud +tones,-- + +"Stop, sir knight. You shall halt whether you will or not, and the +shield you bear shall prove but light defence to you, for I am come to +punish you for your crime." + +Hearing this outcry, Balin turned fiercely, and demanded,-- + +"What do you wish, sir knight? Are you here to joust with me?" + +"It is for that I have followed you," said the Irish knight. + +"It might have been better for you to stay at home," answered Balin. +"Many a knight who thinks to chastise his enemy finds ill fortune to +fall upon himself. From what court have you been sent?" + +"From the court of King Arthur, to revenge the insult you put upon him +in murdering his guest before his face." + +"Then must I fight with you," said Balin. "Yet I warn you your quarrel +is a weak one. The lady that is dead richly deserved her fate, or I +should have been as loath as any knight living to kill a woman." + +"Make ready," said Lanceor. "Fight we must, and one of us shall remain +dead upon this field. Our combat is to the utterance." + +Then they put their spears in rest, and rode together at the full speed +of their horses, meeting with a shock in mid career. Lanceor struck +Balin a blow upon the shield that shivered the spear in his hand. But +Balin smote him with such force that the spear-point went through shield +and hauberk, and pierced his body, so that he fell dead to the earth. + +As the victorious knight stood looking on the corpse of his slain foe, +there came from Camelot a damsel, who rode up at full speed upon a fair +palfrey. When she saw that Lanceor was dead she fell into a passion of +sorrow, and cried out in tones of deep lamentation,-- + +"Oh, Balin, thou hast slain two bodies and one heart! Yes, two hearts +in one body, and two souls thou hast murdered with thy fatal spear." + +Then she took the sword from her love, and as she took it fell to the +ground in a swoon. When she arose again her sorrow was so great that +Balin was grieved to the heart, and he sought to take the sword from her +hands, but she held it so firmly that he could not wrest it from her +without hurting her. Suddenly, before he could move to hinder, she set +the pommel of the sword to the ground and threw her body upon the naked +blade. Pierced through the heart, she fell dead upon the body of her +slain love. + +"Alas!" said Balin, "that this should have happened. I deeply regret the +death of this knight for the love of this damsel; for such true love as +this I never saw before. Yet his death was forced on me, and hers I +could not hinder." + +Full of sorrow, he turned his horse, and as he looked towards a great +forest near by he saw a knight riding towards him, whom he knew, by his +arms, to be his brother Balan. + +When they were met they took off their helmets and kissed each other, +and wept for joy and pity. + +"I little expected to meet you thus," said Balan. "A man in the Castle +of Four Stones told me that you were freed from prison, and therefore I +came hither in hope to find you at the court." + +Then Balin told his brother of all that had happened at Camelot, and of +the displeasure of the king, and that he had determined to win Arthur's +favor at the risk of his life. + +"King Ryons lies not far away besieging the Castle Terrabil," he said. +"Thither will we ride, to prove our worth and prowess upon him." + +"I shall be your comrade," said Balan. "We shall help each other as +brethren should, and trust to God for fortune." + +As they stood conversing there came a dwarf riding in all haste from +Camelot. When he saw the dead bodies he tore his hair for sorrow. + +"Which of you knights has done this foul deed?" he demanded. + +"Why do you ask?" queried Balin. + +"Because I have the right to know." + +"It was I," said Balin. "He pursued me hither, and forced me to fight. +One of us had to die. As for the damsel, she died by her own hand, for +which no man can be sorrier than I. For her sake I shall owe all women +the better love and favor." + +"You have done yourself great damage," said the dwarf. "The kindred of +this knight will follow you through the world till they have revenged on +you his death." + +"That I do not greatly dread," said Balin. "But I am sorry to have +displeased King Arthur for the death of this knight; and sorrier still +for the fate of this lovelorn damsel." + +As they thus talked there chanced to pass a king of Cornwall, named King +Mark, who halted on seeing the dead bodies, and demanded what had been +done. When the tale was told him he was grieved that true love should +have met so sad a fate, and said, "I shall not leave here till I have +built them a tomb, for they have earned a rich interment." + +Then he pitched his tents, and buried them nobly, placing above them a +rich and fair tomb which he found in a church near by, and upon this +tomb he wrote their epitaph, as follows: + +"Here lieth Lanceor, the son of Ireland's king, who was slain in fair +combat by the hands of Balin; and his lady Colombe, who for deep love +and sorrow slew herself with her true love's sword. May lovers +henceforth make this their place of pilgrimage." + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +HOW ARTHUR TRIUMPHED OVER THE KINGS. + + +While the tomb was being erected over the dead knight and his love, +Merlin appeared at the scene. + +"You have done yourself great harm," he said to Balin. "Why saved you +not this lady?" + +"By the faith of my body, I could not," said Balin, "she slew herself so +suddenly." + +"This must I tell you," said Merlin. "Because of the death of this lady +you shall strike a stroke the most dolorous that ever man struck, except +the stroke of our Lord; for you shall hurt the truest knight and the man +of most worship that now lives, and through that stroke three kingdoms +shall be in great poverty, misery, and wretchedness for twelve years, +and the knight you will hurt shall not be whole of his wound for many +years." + +"If I knew that it were true as you say," answered Balin, "I would do +such a rash deed as to slay myself to make you a liar. But the future +must reveal itself. I trust no man's predictions." + +Thereupon Merlin suddenly vanished away, leaving them in deep marvel at +his coming and going. Soon after Balin and his brother took leave of +King Mark. + +"First," said the king, "tell me your name." + +"You see he bears two swords," said Balan. "You may call him the knight +with the two swords." + +And so King Mark rode towards Camelot, and the brothers towards +Terrabil. As they rode, Merlin again met them, but now in disguise. + +"Whither do you ride?" he asked. + +"Why should we tell you that?" said the knights. + +"You need not, for I know already. And I can tell you this. You will +gain no advantage over King Ryons without my counsel." + +"Ah! you are Merlin," said Balin. "Then we shall be glad of your +counsel." + +"Come then with me. But look that you brace yourself to knightly deeds, +for you will have great need to do so." + +"As for that," said Balin, "we will do what we can. No knight can do +more." + +Then Merlin lodged them in a leafy wood beside the highway, where they +rested till it was near midnight. He then awakened them and bade them +rise and make ready, for the king they sought was near at hand. He had +stolen away from his host with threescore of his best knights to visit a +lady. + +"How shall we know the king?" asked Balin. + +"Hereby is a narrow way where you shall meet him," said Merlin. + +They followed him to the place, where they lay in ambush till the rattle +of harness showed that the party approached. Then, at Merlin's +suggestion, the two knights rode from their covert and assailed the king +at the head of his followers, wounding him sorely and hurling him to the +ground. They then, in the darkness, attacked the array of knights with +the fury of lions, slaying more than forty of them, and putting the +remnant to flight. + +This done, they returned to King Ryons where he lay helpless, and with a +threat of death forced him to yield himself to their grace. + +"Valiant knights, slay me not," he asked. "You may profit by my life, +but can win nothing by my death." + +"There you speak truly," said they, and lifting him carefully they +placed him on a horse-litter for conveyance to Camelot. + +Then Merlin vanished and came to King Arthur, whom he told that his +greatest enemy was vanquished and taken. + +"By whom?" asked the king. + +"By two of the most valorous knights in your realm. To-morrow you shall +learn who they are." + +In good time Balin and his brother came with the wounded king and +delivered him to the porters at the gates, charging them to bear him to +King Arthur. Then they turned again and departed in the dawning of the +day. + +When King Ryons was brought to the court, Arthur received him +graciously. + +"Sir king," he said, "you are heartily welcome. By what adventure came +you hither?" + +"By a hard one," said the captive, "as you well may see." + +"Who won you?" asked Arthur. + +"The knight with the two swords and his brother," said Ryons. "And +knights of marvellous prowess they are." + +"I know them not," said Arthur, "but none the less am I deeply beholden +to them." + +"I shall tell you," said Merlin. "One of these knights was Balin, he +that won the sword; the other was Balan, his brother, and as good a +knight. And it is the most sorrowful thing that tongue can say that +neither of these brave knights shall live long to win the fame of which +they are so worthy." + +"Alas!" said Arthur, "if that be so, it is indeed a great pity. I am +much beholden to Balin, for he has highly redeemed the despite he did +me. I have not deserved such good service at his hands." + +"He shall do more for you, and that soon," said Merlin. "I must now +depart, for I have duties elsewhere; but before I go let me warn you to +prepare your forces for battle at once. To-morrow before noon you will +be set upon by a great host, led by Nero, King Ryons's brother. +Therefore make all haste for your defence." + +Merlin's departure was for a purpose which he told not to the king. He +well knew that King Lot of Orkney, Arthur's bitterest foe, was marching +to join Nero with a powerful host, and foresaw that if they fell +together on King Arthur he and all his army would be destroyed. The +shrewd magician thereupon repaired to King Lot, and held him with idle +tales of prophecy till Nero and his people were destroyed. + +For between Nero and Arthur a vigorous battle was fought, in which many +knights won honor and renown, while King Arthur with his own hand slew +twenty knights and maimed forty. But Balin and his brother Balan, who +came in during the fight, did such mighty deeds of prowess that all who +beheld them said they fought like angels from heaven or devils from +hell, while Arthur beheld their prowess with wonder and delight, and +vowed that he owed to them his victory. + +The combat, which took place at the Castle Terrabil, ended in the +complete defeat of Nero, and the destruction of nearly all his host. +Word of this disaster was brought to King Lot, where he lay resting with +his army. + +"Alas!" he said, "why did I let myself be beguiled? Had I been there no +host under heaven could have matched us. That false prattler, with his +prophecy, has mocked and befooled me. But what shall now be done? Shall +we treat with Arthur, or is it wise to fight him with half an army?" + +"His men are weary with fighting and we are fresh," said a knight. "Now +is the time to set upon him." + +"So be it, then. And I hope that every knight will bear himself in the +fray as well as I, for it is no laggard's task we have now before us." + +Then with waving banners and serried spears they assailed Arthur's +weary host. But the Round Table Knights, with the aid of the two valiant +brothers Balin and Balan, roused themselves vigorously to the fray, and +bore all before them, so that only where King Lot himself fought did his +host hold its ground. But where he battled in the van all his men seemed +borne up by his valor, and not a knight met him but was overthrown or +forced back by his prowess. + +Then King Pellinore pushed through the press of knights and horses, and +struck a mighty stroke at King Lot as he fought at the head of his host. +The sword failed in its aim, but struck the neck of the king's horse, so +that the wounded animal fell to the ground with its rider. Then +Pellinore struck so furious a stroke that his sword cut King Lot's +helmet in twain, and cleft his head to the brows, hurling him lifeless +to the earth. + +Seeing their king thus slain, all the host of Orkney turned and fled, +and great was the slaughter in the pursuit. That day there fell in all +twelve kings, who fought with Lot and Nero, and all these were buried in +the church of Saint Stevens at Camelot. + +[Illustration: Copyright by Frederick Hollyer, London, England. + +KING ARTHUR'S TOMB.] + +Of the tombs that were made for these kings that of King Lot was most +richly adorned, and King Arthur had a tomb prepared for himself beside +it. For this he had made twelve images of brass and copper, which were +gilt with gold. These represented the twelve kings, and each of them +held a taper of wax, that burned night and day. An image of King Arthur +was also made, in the form of a statue that stood above the twelve kings +with a drawn sword in its hand, while the faces of the twelve images +were those of men that had been overcome. All these figures were made by +Merlin through his subtle craft. + +"When I am dead," he said to the king, "these tapers shall burn no +longer. Then the end will be near, and the adventures of the Sangreal +shall be achieved." + +Much more he told the king of the strange events that would come to pass +in the future time; and further he said,-- + +"Look well to the scabbard of Excalibur. You shall lose no blood while +you wear this scabbard, even though you be covered with wounds." + +Thus admonished, Arthur, in loving trust, took the scabbard to Morgan le +Fay, his sister, and gave it into her care to keep for him. Much did he +peril in doing so, for Morgan was false at heart, and proved recreant to +her trust, from love for a knight named Accolan, whom she cherished in +her soul beyond her husband, while she had grown to hate her brother. +She made, by enchantment, another scabbard like the one given her in +trust, and gave the scabbard of Excalibur to her love. By this deed of +treachery she hoped in her false soul to bring King Arthur to his death. +And well-nigh she succeeded therein, as shall be told hereafter. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +HOW BALIN GAVE THE DOLOROUS STROKE. + + +A day or two after King Arthur had placed the magical scabbard in the +hands of his evil-thinking sister, he grew unwell, and had his tent +pitched in a meadow near Camelot for the benefit of the fresh air and +the green verdure. Here he sought in vain to sleep, lying long in uneasy +wakefulness. As he thus lay he heard a horse approaching, and looking +through the door of his tent, beheld a knight, who lamented deeply as he +came. + +"Halt! fair sir," cried Arthur. "Tell me the cause of your sorrow." + +"You can little aid me," said the knight, and he rode onward without +further answer. + +Soon afterward Balin rode up, and on seeing King Arthur sprang from his +horse and saluted him. + +"By my head, you are welcome," said the king. "A knight has just ridden +past here moaning sadly, but has declined to tell me the cause of his +sorrow. I desire of your courtesy to bring that knight to me, either by +force or good-will, for I wish greatly to know why he so deeply +grieves." + +"That is little to what I should be glad to do for you," said Balin. He +rode on apace, and ere long found the knight in a neighboring forest in +company with a damsel. + +"Sir knight," he said, "you must come with me to King Arthur. He demands +to see you and learn the cause of your sorrow." + +"That I shall not do," said the knight. "It will injure me greatly, and +do no good to you or him." + +"Then you must make ready to fight," said Balin. "I have my order to +bring you willingly or by force, and I should be loath to have a fight +with you." + +"Will you be my warrant if I go with you?" asked the knight. "For truly +you lead me into danger." + +"Yes. And I shall die rather than let you come to harm, if it is in my +power to avert it." + +This said, the knight turned and rode back with Balin, accompanied by +the damsel. But as they reached King Arthur's pavilion a strange thing +happened. A spear was thrust through the body of the knight, inflicting +a mortal wound. Yet the hand and form of him who did this fatal deed +remained unseen. + +"Alas!" said the knight, "it is as I feared. Under your conduct and +guard I have been slain by a traitorous knight called Garlon, who +through enchantment rides invisible, and does such deeds as this. My day +is done. As you are a true knight, I charge you to take my horse, which +is better than yours, and ride with this damsel on the quest which for +me is at an end. Follow as she will lead, and revenge my death when best +you may." + +"That shall I do," said Balin. "Upon the honor of knighthood I vow to +follow your quest, and to revenge you on this false foe, or die as you +have done." + +Then, leaving the king, Balin rode with the damsel, who bore with her +the truncheon of the spear with which the knight had been killed. After +they had gone, King Arthur had the knight buried richly and honorably, +and had written upon the tomb his name, Herleus de Berbeus, and how he +came to his death through the treachery of the invisible knight Garlon. + +Meanwhile Balin and the damsel rode onward until they found themselves +in a forest. Here they met a knight engaged in hunting, who asked Balin +why he showed such grief. + +"That I do not care to tell," said Balin. + +"You should if I were armed as you are, for your answer is too curt to +be courteous." + +"My story is not worth fighting for," answered Balin. "I will tell you +if you so greatly desire to know." He thereupon told him the fatal event +which had just occurred, and that he mourned the untimely death of the +knight who had been so treacherously slain. + +"This is a sad story," said the knight. "As I am a true cavalier I will +go with you on your quest, and leave you not while life lasts." + +Then he went with Balin to his inn, armed himself, and rode forth with +him. But as they passed by a hermitage near a church-yard the invisible +knight Garlon came again, and smote Balin's companion through the body, +as he had done to Herleus before. + +"Alas!" cried the knight. "I too am slain by this invisible traitor, who +does murder at will under cover of enchantment." + +"It is not the first despite the wretch has done me," cried Balin. +"Could I see him I would soon repay this outrage. I am bound by the +honor of a knight to a double revenge on this unworthy caitiff." + +He and the hermit thereupon buried the slain knight, Perin de +Mountbeliard, under a rich stone in a noble tomb, inscribing thereon the +cause of his death. + +In the morning the knight and damsel proceeded on their quest, and in +good time found themselves before a castle, which rose high and broad by +the roadside. Here Balin alighted, and he and the damsel turned towards +the castle, with purpose to enter. But as Balin entered in advance the +portcullis was suddenly let fall behind him, cutting him off from his +companion. Immediately a number of men assailed the damsel with drawn +swords. + +When Balin saw this treacherous proceeding his soul burned within him. +What to do at first he knew not. Then he ran hastily into the gate +tower, and leaped, all armed, over the wall into the ditch. Finding +himself unhurt, he drew his sword and rushed furiously upon the armed +men who surrounded his companion. + +"Traitors and dogs!" he cried. "If you are eager for fight, I will give +you your fill." + +"We cannot fight you," they answered. "We do nothing but keep the old +custom of the castle." + +"What is that?" asked Balin. "It is an ill custom, methinks, that thus +displays itself." + +"Our lady is sick, and has lain so for many years. Nothing will cure her +but a dish full of blood from a maid and a king's daughter. It is, +therefore, the custom that no damsel shall pass this way without +leaving a silver dish full of blood." + +"That is for the damsel to say," replied Balin. "If she chooses to bleed +for the good of your lady she may, but her life shall not be taken while +mine lasts." + +The damsel thereupon yielded a dish full of her blood, but it helped not +the lady. She and Balin rested in the castle for the night, where they +had good cheer. In the morning they proceeded again on their quest. + +Three or four days now passed without adventure. At the end of that time +the knight and damsel found lodging in the house of a rich gentleman, +the owner of a fair estate. As they sat at supper Balin was moved by the +grievous complaints of one who sat beside him, and asked his host the +cause of this lamentation. + +"It is this," said the host. "I was lately at a tournament, where I +twice overthrew a knight who is brother to King Pellam. He threatened to +revenge his defeat on my best friend, and has done so by wounding my +son. The hurt is a grievous one, and cannot be cured till I have some of +that knight's blood; but how to find him I know not, for his name is +unknown to me, and he always rides invisible." + +"Aha!" cried Balin, "has that treacherous dog been at his murderous work +again? I know his name well. It is Garlon, and he has lately slain two +knightly companions of mine in the same base manner. I should rather +meet with that invisible wretch than have all the gold in this kingdom. +Let me see him once and he or I dies." + +"I shall tell you what to do, then," said the host. "King Pellam of +Listeneise has announced a great feast, to be given within twenty days, +to which no knight can come unless he brings with him his wife or his +love. That false knight, your enemy and mine, will be there, and visible +to human eyes." + +"Then, as I am a true knight," cried Balin, "you shall have of his blood +enough to twice heal your son's wound, if I die in the getting it." + +"We shall set forward to-morrow," said the host, "and I hope it may be +as you say." + +In the morning they rode towards Listeneise, which it took them fifteen +days to reach, and where the great feast began on the day of their +arrival. Leaving their horses in the stables, they sought to enter the +castle, but Balin's companion was refused admittance, as he had no lady +with him. Balin, however, having the damsel with him, was at once +received, and taken to a chamber where he laid aside his armor and put +on rich robes which the attendants brought him. They wished him to leave +his sword, but to this he objected. + +"It is the custom of my country," he said, "for a knight always to keep +his weapon with him. This custom shall I keep, or depart as I came." + +Hearing this, they objected no longer to his wearing his sword, and he +thereupon entered the feasting chambers with his lady companion. Here he +found himself among many worshipful knights and fair ladies. + +Balin, after looking carefully round him, asked a guest,-- + +"Is there not a knight in this good company named Garlon?" + +"Yes. Yonder knight is he, the one with the dark face. And let me tell +you that there is no more marvellous knight living. He has the power of +going invisible, and has destroyed many good knights unseen." + +"I have heard of this," said Balin. "A marvellous gift, indeed. This, +then, is Garlon? Thanks for your information." + +Then Balin considered anxiously what had best be done. "If I slay him +here my own life will pay the forfeit," he said to himself. "But if I +let him escape me now it may be long before I have such an opportunity, +and in the meanwhile he may do much harm." + +As he stood thus reflecting, with his eyes fixed on Garlon's face, the +latter observed his close and stern regard. In haughty anger he came to +him and smote him on the face with the back of his hand. + +"Sir knight," he said, "take that for your impertinent stare. Now eat +your meat, and do what you came here for. Hereafter learn to use your +eyes to better purpose." + +"You dog!" cried Balin, "this is not your first insult to me. You bid me +do what I came for. It is this." As he spoke he rose furiously from his +seat, drew his sword, and with one fierce blow clove Garlon's head to +the shoulders. + +"That is my errand here," cried Balin to the guests. "Now give me the +truncheon," he said to the damsel, "with which he slew your knight." + +She gave it to him, and Balin thrust it through Garlon's body, +exclaiming,-- + +"With that truncheon you killed a good knight, and with this blow I +revenge him." + +Then he called his late host, who had by this gained entrance to the +feast, and said,-- + +"Here lies your foe. Take with you enough of his blood to heal your +son." + +All this had happened so quickly that none had time to interfere, but +the knights now sprang hastily from their seats, and rushed from the +hall for their weapons, that they might revenge their slain companion. +Among them rose King Pellam, crying furiously,-- + +"Why have you killed my brother! Villain and murderer, you shall die for +this!" + +"Here I stand," said Balin. "If you wish revenge, seek it yourself. I +stand in my defence." + +"It is well said," cried the king. "Stand back, all. For the love I bore +my brother I will take his revenge on myself. Let no one interfere. This +murderer is mine." + +Then King Pellam snatched up a mighty weapon and struck fiercely at +Balin, who threw up his own sword in guard. He was in time to save his +head, but the treacherous blade went into pieces beneath the stroke, +leaving him unarmed before the furious king. + +Balin, finding himself thus in danger of death, ran into a neighboring +chamber in search of a weapon, closely pursued by his enraged adversary. +Finding none there, he ran on from chamber to chamber, seeking a weapon +in vain, with King Pellam raging like a maddened lion behind him. + +At length Balin entered a rich and marvellously adorned chamber, within +which was a bed covered with cloth of gold of the noblest texture, and +in this bed a person lay. Near by was a table with a top of solid gold +and four curiously-shaped pillars of silver for its legs, while upon it +stood a mighty spear, whose handle was strangely wrought, as though it +had been made for a mighty king. + +But of all this marvel and magnificence Balin saw only the spear, which +he seized at once with a strong grip, and turned with it to face his +adversary. King Pellam was close at hand, with sword uplifted for a +fatal stroke, but as he rushed in blind rage forward Balin pierced his +body with the spear, hurling him insensible to the floor. + +Little dreamed the fated warrior of all that thrust portended. The spear +he used was a magical weapon, and prophecy had long declared that the +deadliest evil should come from its use. King Pellam had no sooner +fallen beneath that fatal thrust than all the castle rocked and tottered +as if a mighty earthquake had passed beneath its walls, and the air was +filled with direful sounds. Then down crushed the massive roof, and with +a sound like that of the trumpet-blast of disaster the strong walls rent +asunder, and rushed downward in a torrent of ruin. One moment that +stately pile lifted its proud battlements in majesty toward the skies; +the next it lay prostrate as though it had been stricken by the hand of +God to the earth. + +Men say who saw it that when fell that fatal blow--thereafter to be +known in history and legend as the "dolorous stroke"--the castle +shivered like a forest struck by a strong wind, and then fell with a +mighty crash, burying hundreds beneath its walls. Among these were Balin +and King Pellam, who lay there for three days without aid or relief, in +deep agony and peril of death. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +THE FATE OF BALIN AND BALAN. + + +At the end of the three days came Merlin, who rescued Balin from under +the ruined walls. + +"Your horse is dead," he said, "but I have brought you another, and the +sword you won in Arthur's hall. My counsel is that you ride out of this +country with all speed; for little you know the evil you have done." + +"The damsel I brought hither must go with me," said Balin. + +"She shall never go farther," answered Merlin. "The damsel is dead, and +with her many a good knight and fair lady. That blow of yours was the +fatalest ever struck, as you may see in the ruin of this castle, and as +you will see further when you ride abroad through this distracted +country." + +"What have I done?" cried Balin. "How could I know that such dread +disaster dwelt within that spear? Who was he that lay within the bed, +and what does this strange thing portend?" + +"You did but what destiny commanded," said Merlin. "It is fate, not you, +that is at fault. Let me tell you the meaning of this mighty and +terrible event, which destiny has thrown into your hands. He who lay in +that rich bed was Joseph of Arimathea, who came years ago into this +land, and bore with him part of the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. And +that spear was the same fatal weapon with which Longius smote our Lord +to the heart. King Pellam was nigh akin to Joseph of Arimathea, and +great pity is it of his hurt, for that stroke has filled the land with +trouble, grief, and mourning. As for King Pellam, he shall lie for many +years in sore pain from the wound you dealt him, and shall never be +whole again until Galahad, the high prince, shall heal him when he comes +this way in the quest of the Sangreal." + +These words said, Balin mounted his horse, and departed in deep grief +for the harm he had wrought, saying to Merlin as he left, "In this world +we shall never meet again, for I feel that destiny has marked me for its +victim." But little knew he the full effects of that fatal blow till he +rode forth through the land. Then as he went through the once fair +cities and fertile country he saw the people lying dead on every side, +and cities and lands in ruin together. Few remained alive of all the +inhabitants of that populous realm, and as he passed these cried out to +him,-- + +"Oh, Balin, terrible is the harm that thou hast done to this innocent +land! Three countries lie destroyed through the dolorous stroke thou +gavest unto King Pellam. Woe to thee for this dread deed! Thou hast +escaped alive, yet doubt not but the vengeance of heaven will fall on +thee at last!" + +Great was the grief and suffering with which the good knight heard these +words, and glad at heart was he when at length he left behind him that +land of woe and ruin, to which his innocent hand had wrought such deadly +harm. + +But as he rode onward the feeling came to him that his end was at hand, +though this grieved him little, for he felt as one set apart to do +heaven's work of destiny. And for eight days thereafter he rode over +many leagues of strange country without adventure. + +At length came a day when he saw before him, by the roadside, a cross, +on which in letters of gold was written, "It is not wise for any knight +alone to ride towards this castle," Then he saw a white-haired old man +approach, who said,-- + +"Balin le Savage, you pass your bounds to come this way. Turn again, if +you would leave this place in safety." + +With these words he vanished, and as he did so there rang on the air a +bugle-blast like that blown for the death of a beast of the chase. + +"That blast is blown for me," said Balin. "I am the prize of the +invisible powers. I am not yet dead, but they claim me for their own." + +As he stood lost in deep thought there came trooping from the castle, +which he now saw in the distance, a hundred fair ladies and many +knights, who welcomed him with great show of gladness, and led him with +them to the castle, where he found dancing and minstrelsy, and all +manner of sport and pleasure. As he stood observing all this the chief +lady of the castle said to him,-- + +"Knight of the two swords, there is a custom of this castle which all +who come here must keep. Hereby is an island which is held by a knight, +and no man can pass this way unless he joust with him." + +"That is an unhappy custom," said Balin. "Why should every traveller be +forced to fight?" + +"You shall have to do with but one knight," said the lady. + +"That troubles me little," said Balin. "I and my horse are both weary +from our journey, but I am not weary at heart, and, if fight I must, I +am ready to do it now. If death comes to me, it will not come +unwelcome." + +"Your shield does not seem to be a good one," said a knight. "Let me +lend you a larger one." + +Balin took the proffered shield and left his own, and rode to the +island, where he and his horse were taken over in a great boat. On +reaching the island shore he met a damsel, who said in sorrowful +accents,-- + +"O Knight Balin, why have you left your own shield? Alas! you have put +yourself in great danger. Had you borne your own you would have been +known. It is a great pity that a knight of your prowess and hardiness +should fight unknown." + +"I repent that I ever came into this country," said Balin. "But now that +I am here I shall not turn again, and whatever comes to me, be it life +or death, I shall take it as my lot." + +Then he mounted and rode into the island, in whose midst he saw a +castle, from which rode a knight wearing red armor, and mounted on a +horse which bore trappings of the same color. The warriors looked at +each other, but neither knew the other, though the two swords that Balin +wore should have revealed him, had not he borne a shield of strange +device. + +Then, couching their spears, the hostile knights rode together at the +full speed of their war-horses, meeting with such mighty force and equal +fortune that both horses went down, and both knights were hurled to the +earth, where they lay in a swoon. + +Balin was sorely bruised and weary with travel, and the red knight was +the first to gain his feet. But as he advanced with drawn sword, Balin +sprang up and met him with ready shield, returning his blow with such +force that he cut through his shield and cleft his helmet. + +And now began the mightiest battle that island had ever beheld. As they +fought, Balin looked at the castle and saw that its towers were full of +ladies who were watching the deadly contest, and who applauded each blow +as though this combat was meant for their sport. The valiant knights +fought till their breath failed, and then took rest and fought again, +until each was sorely wounded and the spot upon which they stood was +deeply stained with blood. + +They fought on until each of them had seven great wounds, the least of +which might have brought death to the mightiest giant of the world. But +still the terrible sword-play continued, until their coats of mail were +so hewn that they stood unarmed, and the blood poured piteously from +their veins. At length the red knight withdrew a little and lay down. +Then said Balin,-- + +"Tell me what knight you are. For never did I meet a man of your prowess +before." + +"I am Balan," was the answer, "brother to the good knight Balin." + +"Alas!" cried Balin, "that ever I should see this day!" and he fell to +the earth in a swoon. + +Then Balan dragged himself up on his hands and feet, and took off his +brother's helmet, but the face was so scarred and blood-stained that he +did not know it. But when Balin came to himself he cried,-- + +"Oh, Balan, my brother, thou hast slain me, and I thee! Fate has done +deadly work this day." + +"Heaven aid me!" cried Balan. "I should have known you by your two +swords, but your shield deceived me." + +"A knight in the castle caused me to leave my own shield," said Balin. +"If I had life enough left me I would destroy that castle for its evil +customs." + +"And I should aid you," said Balan. "They have held me here because I +happened to slay a knight that kept this island. And if you had slain me +and lived, you would have been held in the same way as their champion." + +As they thus conversed there came to them the lady of the castle, with +four knights and six ladies and as many yeomen. The lady wept as she +heard them moan that they as brothers had slain each other, and she +promised them that they should be richly entombed on the spot in which +the battle had been fought. + +"Now will you send for a priest," asked Balan, "that we may receive the +sacrament?" + +"It shall be done," said the lady. + +And so she sent for a priest and gave them the rites of the church. + +"When we are buried in one tomb," said Balin, "and the inscription is +placed over us telling how two brothers here slew each other in +ignorance and valor, there will never good knight nor good man see our +tomb but they will pray for our souls, and bemoan our fate." + +At this all the ladies wept for pity. Soon after Balan died, but Balin +lived till midnight. The lady thereupon had them both richly buried, and +the tomb inscribed as they had asked, though she knew not Balin's name. + +But in the morning came the magician Merlin, who wrote Balin's name upon +the tomb in letters of gold, as follows: "Here lieth Balin le Savage, +the knight with the two swords, and he that smote the Dolorous Stroke." + +More than this did Merlin, through this magic art. In that castle he +placed a bed, and ordained that whoever should lie therein would lose +his wits. And he took the sword which Balin had won from the damsel, and +removed its pommel, placing upon it another pommel. Then he asked a +knight beside him to lift that sword, but he tried to do so in vain. + +"No man shall have power to handle that sword," said Merlin, "but the +best knight in the world; and that shall be Sir Launcelot, or his son +Sir Galahad. And Launcelot with this sword shall slay Sir Gawaine, the +man he loves best in the world." All this he wrote in the pommel of the +sword. + +Then Merlin built to the island a bridge of steel and iron that was but +half a foot broad, and ordained that no man should cross that bridge +unless he were of virtuous life and free from treachery or evil thoughts +and deeds. + +This done, Merlin by magical skill fixed Balin's sword in a block of +marble as great as a millstone, and set it afloat upon the stream in +such a way that the sword always stood upright above the water. And for +years this stone swam down the stream, for no man could take it from the +water or draw the sword, until in time it came to the city of Camelot +(which is in English Winchester), where the sword was drawn, and many +strange things followed thereupon, as shall be hereafter related. + +Soon after this was done, Merlin came to King Arthur and told him the +story of the dolorous stroke which Balin had given to King Pellam, and +of the marvellous battle Balin and Balan had fought, and how they were +buried in one tomb. + +"Alas!" cried Arthur, "I never heard a sadder tale. And much is the loss +to knighthood and chivalry, for in the world I know not two such +knights." + +Thus endeth the tale of Balin and Balan, two brethren born in +Northumberland, good knights. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +MERLIN'S FOLLY AND FATE. + + +And now we have again a tale of disaster to tell, namely, how Merlin the +wise fell into love's dotage, and through folly brought himself to a +living death, so that thenceforth he appeared no more upon the earth, +and his wise counsels were lost to Arthur and his knights. + +For the old magician, who had so long kept free from love's folly, +became besotted with the damsel named Nimue, she whom King Pellinore had +brought to the court on his quest at Arthur's marriage. + +Merlin quite lost his wits and wisdom through his mad passion for this +young lady, to whom he would give no rest, but followed her wherever she +went. The shrewd damsel, indeed, encouraged her doting lover, for he was +ready to teach her all the secrets of his art, so that in time she +learned from him so much of his craft that she became skilled in +necromancy beyond all enchantresses of her time. + +The wise magician knew well that his end was at hand, and that the woman +whom he loved would prove his ruin, but his doting passion was such that +he had no strength of mind to resist. He came thereupon unto King +Arthur, and told him what he foresaw, and which it was not in his power +to prevent; and warned him of many coming events, that he might be +prepared for them when Merlin was with him no more. + +[Illustration: MERLIN AND NIMUE.] + +"I have charged you," he said, "to keep in your own hands the sword +Excalibur and its scabbard, yet well I know that both sword and scabbard +will be stolen from you by a woman whom you foolishly trust, and that +your lack of wisdom will bring you near to your death. This also I may +say, you will miss me deeply. When I am gone you would give all your +lands to have me again. For Merlin will find no equal in the land." + +"That I well know already," said the king. "But, since you foresee so +fully what is coming upon you, why not provide for it, and by your craft +overcome it?" + +"No," said Merlin, "that may not be. Strong I am, but destiny is +stronger. There is no magic that can set aside the decrees of fate." + +Soon afterwards the damsel departed from the court, but her doting old +lover followed her wherever she went. And as he sought to practise upon +her some of his subtle arts, she made him swear, if he would have her +respond to his love, never to perform enchantment upon her again. + +This Merlin swore. Then he and Nimue crossed the sea to the land of +Benwick, the realm of King Ban, who had helped King Arthur so nobly in +his wars, and here he saw young Lancelot, the son of King Ban and his +wife Elaine, who was in the time to come to win world-wide fame. + +The queen lamented bitterly to Merlin the mortal war which King Claudas +made upon her lord and his lands, and the ruin that she feared. + +"Be not disturbed thereby," said Merlin. "Your son Lancelot shall +revenge you upon King Claudas, so that all Christendom shall ring with +the story of his exploits. And this same youth shall become the most +famous knight in the world." + +"O Merlin!" said the queen, "shall I live to see my son a man of such +prowess?" + +"Yes, my lady and queen, this you shall see, and live many years to +enjoy his fame." + +Soon afterwards Merlin and his lady-love returned to England and came to +Cornwall, the magician showing her many wonders of his art as they +journeyed. But he pressed her so for her love that she grew sorely weary +of his importunate suit, and would have given aught less than her life +to be rid of him, for she feared him as one possessed of the arts of the +foul fiend. But say or do what she would, her doting lover clung to her +all the more devotedly, and wearied her the more with his endless tale +of love. + +Then it came to pass that as they wandered through Cornwall, and Merlin +showed her all the wonders of that land, they found themselves by a +rocky steep, under which he told her was a wonderful cavern that had +been wrought by enchantment in the solid rock, its mouth being closed by +a mighty mass of stone. + +Here, with all her art of love, and a subtle show of affection, the +faithless damsel so bewitched Merlin that for joy he knew not what he +did; and at her earnest wish he removed by his craft the stone that +sealed the cavern's mouth, and went under it that he might show her all +the marvels that lay there concealed. + +But hardly had he entered when, using the magic arts which she had +learned from him, the faithless woman caused the great stone to sink +back with a mighty sound into its place, shutting up the enchanter so +firmly in that underground cavern that with all his craft he could never +escape. For he had taught her his strongest arts of magic, and do what +he would he could never move that stone. + +This faithless act performed, the damsel departed and left Merlin a +prisoner in the rock. She alone of all the world could set him free, and +that she would not do, but kept her secret, and thanked heaven for her +deliverance. + +And so Merlin, through his doting folly, passed out of the world of men +into a living tomb. + +Long days and months passed before his fate was known, and then chance +brought to his cavern prison a valiant knight named Bagdemagus, who had +left Arthur's court in anger because Sir Tor was given a vacant seat at +the Round Table which he claimed as his due. + +As he wandered through that part of Cornwall in quest of adventures, he +came one day past a great rock from which dire lamentations seemed to +issue. Hearing those woeful sounds, Bagdemagus sought to remove the +stone that closed the cavern's mouth, but so firmly was it fixed by +enchantment that a hundred men could not have stirred it from its place. + +"Strive no longer," came a voice from within. "You labor in vain." + +"Who is it that speaks?" asked the knight. + +"I am Merlin, the enchanter; brought here by my doting folly. I loved +not wisely but too well; and here you find me, locked in this cliff by +my strongest spells, which in love's witlessness I taught to a woman +traitor. Go now, worthy sir, and leave me to my fate." + +"Alas! that this should be! Tell me who did this thing, and by what +dismal chance, that I may tell the king." + +Then Merlin related the story of his folly and fate, in the end bidding +the knight to leave him, for only death could free him from that prison. + +Hearing this, Bagdemagus departed, full of sorrow and wonder, and after +many days returned to Arthur's court, where he told the story of the +magician's fate. Great was the marvel of all and the grief of the king +on learning this, and much he besought Nimue to set Merlin free. But +neither threats nor entreaties could move her obdurate heart, and at +length she left the court in anger and defiance, vowing that she would +never set free her old tormentor. + + + + + BOOK III. + + THE TREASON OF MORGAN LE FAY. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENCHANTED SHIP. + + +On a day not long after the event of Balin's death, it befell that +Arthur and many of his knights went out hunting in a great forest, +where, as fortune willed, King Arthur, Sir Accolan of Gaul, and King +Uriens, who had wedded Morgan le Fay, followed far on the track of a +great hart, which led them astray till they were ten miles distant from +their late companions. + +They were all well mounted, but so hot was the chase, and so far did it +lead them, that the horses at length fell dead beneath the ardent +huntsmen, leaving them on foot in the remote depths of the forest. But +the hart was in no better condition, for the hot chase had worn it out, +and it dragged wearily on before them, barely able to keep its feet. + +"What shall we do?" said Arthur. "We are far from human habitation, and +the night comes fast upon us." + +"Let us go forward on foot," said Uriens. "We shall surely soon meet +with some place of shelter." + +[Illustration: THE GREAT FOREST.] + +Taking this advice, they advanced in the track of the hart, and soon +came up with it where it lay on the bank of a large stream, while a +hound had it by the throat, and others were coming up in full bay. + +Then Arthur blew the death-note of the chase, and killed the hart. This +done, he looked about him, and to his surprise saw approaching on the +stream a small vessel, with flowing sails of silk. As it came near it +veered towards the shore, and finally touched land on the sands before +them. Arthur walked to the bank and looked over the sides upon the deck, +but to his wonder not a living person was to be seen. + +"This is a marvellous thing," said the king. "Has the vessel been blown +here by a wind of magic? Let us enter and see what is in the ship." + +They did so, and found it richly adorned with silken hangings and +royally equipped. As they stood on the deck looking about them in +surprise, night came upon them, but suddenly the darkness was dispelled +by a hundred torches, which flared out around the sides of the ship, +brilliantly illuminating it. And immediately, from somewhere in the +depths of the ship, appeared twelve fair damsels, who fell upon their +knees before King Arthur, saluting him by name, and welcoming him to the +best cheer that their means could provide. + +"You are welcome, whoever you be," said Arthur, "and have our thanks for +your kindly good will." + +"Follow us then, noble sir." + +Arthur and his companions followed their fair guides into a cabin of the +ship, where they were glad to see a table richly provided with the most +delicate viands, and set with the rarest wines. The king marvelled +greatly at this, for never in his life had he fared better at supper +than at this royal feast. + +The meal ended, Arthur was led into a richly-appointed chamber, whose +regal furniture and appointments he had never seen surpassed. His +companions were conducted to chambers no less richly appointed, and +quickly the three weary hunters fell asleep, for they were exhausted +with their day's labor. + +Perilous was the sleep that came upon them, for they little dreamed that +they had been lured into an enchanted ship, and that strange adventures +awaited them all, and deadly danger threatened the king. + +For when the next day dawned, Uriens woke to find himself at Camelot, in +his own chamber, with his wife. Much he marvelled at this, for he had +fallen asleep the evening before at two days' journey distant. As for +Accolan, we shall tell later what befell him. Arthur woke to find +himself in utter darkness, while the air was full of doleful sounds. On +feeling round him he soon discovered that he was in a dismal dungeon, +and on listening he discovered that the sounds he heard were the woeful +complaints of prisoners. + +"What place is this, and who are ye that bewail so bitterly?" asked +Arthur. + +"We are twenty knights that have long been held prisoners here, some for +seven years and some for less." + +"For what cause?" inquired Arthur. + +"How came you here, that you know not the cause?" + +"I came by foul enchantment," said Arthur, and told them his adventure, +at which they wondered greatly. "Now tell me," he asked, "how came you +in this direful state?" + +"We are victims of an evil-hearted villain," they answered. "The lord of +this castle, Sir Damas by name, is a coward and traitor, who keeps his +younger brother, Sir Ontzlake, a valiant and worthy knight, out of his +estate. Hostility has long ruled between them, and Ontzlake proffers to +fight Damas for his livelihood, or to meet in arms any knight who may +take up his quarrel. Damas is too faint-hearted to fight himself, and is +so hated that no knight will fight for him. This is why we are here. +Finding no knight of his own land to take up his quarrel, he has lain in +wait for knights-errant, and taken prisoner every one that entered his +country. All of us preferred imprisonment to fighting for such a +scoundrel, and here we have long lain half dead with hunger while +eighteen good knights have perished in this prison; yet not a man of us +would fight in so base a quarrel." + +"This is a woeful story, indeed," said Arthur. "I despise treason as +much as the best of you, but it seems to me I should rather take the +choice of combat than of years in this dungeon. God can be trusted to +aid the just cause. Moreover, I came not here like you, and have but +your words for your story. Fight I will, then, rather than perish." + +As they spoke a damsel came to King Arthur, bearing a light. + +"How fare you?" she asked. + +"None too well," he replied. + +"I am bidden to say this to you," she remarked. "If you will fight for +my lord, you shall be delivered from this prison. Otherwise you shall +stay here for life." + +"It is a hard alternative," said Arthur; "I should deem only a madman +would hesitate. I should rather fight with the best knight that ever +wore armor than spend a week in such a vile place. To this, then, I +agree. If your lord will deliver all these prisoners, I will fight his +battle." + +"Those are the terms he offers," said the damsel. + +"Then tell him I am ready. But he must provide me with horse and armor, +and vow on his knightly honor to keep his word." + +"All this he will freely do." + +"It seems to me, damsel, that I have seen you before. Have you not been +at the court of King Arthur?" + +"Not so," said the damsel. "I have never been there, but am the daughter +of the lord of this castle, who has always kept me at home." + +In this, as the chronicles tell us, she spoke falsely, for she was one +of the damsels of Morgan le Fay, and well she knew the king. + +Damas was glad at heart to learn that a knight had at last consented to +fight for him, and the more so when he saw Arthur and marked his strong +limbs and the high spirit in his face. But he and none there save the +damsel, knew who his prisoner was. + +"It were a pity," said all who saw him, "that such a knight should die +in prison. It is wise in him to fight, whatever betide." + +Then agreement was made that Arthur should do battle to the uttermost +for the lord of the castle, who, on his part, agreed to set free the +imprisoned knights. To this covenant both parties took oath, whereupon +the twenty knights were brought from their dark prison to the castle +hall, and given their freedom and the privilege of seeing the battle. + +But now we must leave the story of Arthur and Damas, and turn to that of +Accolan of Gaul, the third of the three knights who had gone to sleep in +the enchanted ship. This knight was, unknown to Arthur, a lover of +Morgan le Fay, being he for whose sake she had counterfeited the magic +scabbard of the sword Excalibur. + +She loved him, indeed, as ardently as she had grown to hate her royal +brother, and through this love had laid a treacherous plot for Arthur's +death. + +When Accolan awoke, to his surprise he found himself no longer in the +ship, but lying within half a foot of the side of a deep well, in +seeming peril of his life, for he might at any moment have fallen into +the water. Out of this well there came a pipe of silver, from which a +crystal stream ran into a high marble basin. When Accolan beheld all +this he crossed himself and said,-- + +"God save my lord King Arthur, and King Uriens, for those damsels in the +ship have betrayed us all. They were not women, but devils, and if I +escape this misadventure I shall destroy all enchantresses wherever I +find them." + +As he spoke, there came to him a dwarf with a great mouth and a flat +nose, who saluted him, and said that he came from Morgan le Fay. + +"She sends you her greetings, and bids you be of strong heart, for +to-morrow it shall be your task to fight a knight of the greatest +prowess. That you may win in the combat she has sent you Arthur's sword +Excalibur, with its magical scabbard. She bids you do the battle to the +uttermost without mercy, and promises to make a queen of the damsel whom +you shall send to her with the head of the knight you fight with." + +"I shall do her bidding," said Accolan, "and cannot fail to win, now +that I have this sword, for which I fervently thank her. When saw you my +lady queen?" + +"I am just from her." + +"Recommend me to her, and tell her I shall do all I have promised, or +die for it. These crafts and enchantments that have happened--are they +of her making?" + +"That you may well believe. She has prepared them to bring on this +battle." + +"Who, then, is the knight with whom I shall fight? It seems to me he +should be a noble one, for such preparation." + +"That my lady has not told me." + +As they spoke there came to them a knight and a lady, with six squires, +who asked Sir Accolan why he lay there, and begged him to rise and come +with them to a neighboring manor, where he might rest in better ease. As +fortune willed it, this manor was the dwelling of Sir Ontzlake, the +brother of the traitor Damas. + +Accolan gladly accepted the invitation, but not long had he been in the +manor when word came from Damas, saying that he had found a knight who +was ready to do battle to the death for their claims, and challenging +Ontzlake to make ready without delay for the field, or to send a knight +to take his side in the combat. + +This challenge troubled Ontzlake sorely. Not long before he had been +sadly hurt in a joust, and was still weak from his wound. Accolan, to +whom all this was made known, at once came, with the generous impulse of +a true knight, to his host, and offered to do battle in his stead. In +his heart, too, he felt that this might be the combat of which Morgan +had warned him, and with the aid of Arthur's sword and scabbard he could +not fail to win. + +Ontzlake thanked him deeply for his generous offer, and without delay +sent word to Damas that he would be ready with a champion at the hour +appointed, and trust to God's grace for the issue of the combat. + +When morning came, Arthur was arrayed in a suit of chain mail and +provided with a strong horse, which he viewed with knightly ardor. + +"When shall we to the field?" he asked Damas. + +"As soon as you have heard Mass." + +Mass was scarcely ended when a squire rode up from Ontzlake, to say that +his knight was already in the field, and to bid Damas bring his champion +to the lists, for he was prepared to do battle to the utterance. + +Then Arthur mounted his war-horse and rode to the field, attended by all +the knights and commons of the country round; twelve good men of the +district having been chosen to wait upon the two knights, and see that +the battle was conducted fairly and according to the rules of chivalry. + +As they rode forward a damsel came to Arthur, bringing him a sword like +unto Excalibur, with a scabbard that seemed in every point the same. + +"Morgan le Fay sends you your sword, for the great love she bears you," +said the messenger, "and hopes it may do you worthy service in the +fray." + +Arthur took it and thanked her, never dreaming that he had been treated +falsely. But the sword that was sent him was but a brittle and worthless +blade, and the scabbard was a base counterfeit of that magic one which +he who wore could lose no blood, and which he in brotherly trust had +given to the care of his faithless sister. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE COMBAT OF ARTHUR AND ACCOLAN. + + +The time for the battle having come, the two knights took their places +at the opposite sides of the lists, neither knowing with whom he fought, +and both bent on doing battle to the death. Then putting spurs to their +steeds, they dashed across the field with headlong speed, each striking +the other in the middle of the shield with his spear, and with such +force that horses and men alike were hurled to the earth. In a moment +both the combatants started up in warlike fury and drew their swords. + +At this juncture there came among the spectators the damsel Nimue, she +who had put Merlin under the stone. She knew, by the art that Merlin had +taught her, how Morgan le Fay had plotted that Arthur should be slain +that day, and she came to save his life if it lay in her power, for she +loved the king as deeply as she hated Merlin. + +Eagerly to battle went the two knights, hewing at each other like giants +with their swords. But Arthur's blade bit not like Accolan's, which +wounded him at nearly every stroke, so that soon his blood was flowing +from a dozen wounds, while his opponent remained unhurt. + +Arthur was in deep dismay on beholding this. That some treason had been +practised on him he felt sure, for his sword bit not steel as a good +blade should, while the sword in Accolan's hand seemed to have the +trenchant edge of Excalibur. + +"Sir knight," said Accolan, "keep well your guard if you care for life." + +"Thus will I," answered Arthur, and he dealt him a blow on the helm that +nearly brought him to the ground. + +Accolan drew back from the staggering stroke, and then with a furious +onset rushed on Arthur, and dealt him so fierce a blow that the king had +much ado to keep his feet. Thus stroke by stroke went on the battle, +each knight roused to fury, and each fighting with his utmost skill and +strength; but Accolan lost scarcely a drop of blood, while Arthur's +life-blood flowed so freely that only his knightly soul and unyielding +courage kept him on his feet. He grew so feeble that he felt as if +death was upon him, yet, though he staggered like a drunken man, he +faced Accolan with the unquenched spirit of a noble knight. + +All who saw the field marvelled that Arthur could fight after such a +loss of blood. So valiant a knight none there had ever beheld, and many +prayed the two brothers to come into accord and stop this deadly fray. +But this Damas would not do, and though Ontzlake trembled for his cause +he could not end the combat. + +At this juncture Arthur withdrew a little to rest, but Accolan called +him fiercely to the fight, saying, "I shall not suffer you to rest; +neither of us must rest except in death." + +With these words he advanced towards the king, who, with the strength of +rage, sprang upon him and struck him so mighty a blow on the helm as to +make him totter on his feet and nearly fall. But the blow had a serious +ending, for Arthur's sword broke at the cross, the blade falling into +the blood-stained grass, and only the hilt and pommel remaining in his +hand. + +When Arthur saw himself thus disarmed he felt sure that his hour of +death had come, yet he let not his dread be seen, but held up his shield +and lost no ground, facing his mortal foe as boldly as though he was +trebly armed. + +"Sir knight," cried Accolan, "you are overcome, and can no longer +sustain the battle. You are weaponless, and have lost so much blood that +I am loath to slay you. Therefore yield to me as recreant, and force me +not to kill a helpless foe." + +"That I may not do," said Arthur. "I have promised, by the faith of my +body, to fight this battle to the uttermost; and I had rather die in +honor than live in shame. If I lack weapon, I lack not spirit; and if +you slay me weaponless, the shame be on you." + +"That shame I can bear," said Accolan. "What I have sworn I will +perform. Since you will not yield, you are a dead man." + +This said, he struck Arthur a furious blow, that almost felled him to +the earth, bidding him at the same time to crave for mercy if he would +live. Arthur's only reply was to press upon him with his shield, and +deal him such a buffet with the pommel of his sword as to send him +staggering three paces back. + +And now the damsel Nimue, stirred by the prowess of the king, and +fearful of his death, determined to aid him by all her power of +enchantment. + +Therefore, when Accolan recovered himself and struck Arthur another +stroke, she threw a spell upon him and caused the sword to fall from his +hand to the earth. At once the king lightly leaped to it and seized it, +thrusting Accolan fiercely back. As soon as his hand had touched the +hilt he knew it for his sword Excalibur. + +"You have been too long from me," he said, "and no small damage you have +done me. Treason has been at work, and treason shall have its deserts." + +Then, seeing the scabbard hanging by Accolan's side, he sprang suddenly +forward and wrenched it from him, flinging it across the field as far as +he could throw it. + +[Illustration: Copyright by Frederick Hollyer, London, England. + +NIMUE.] + +"Now, sir knight," cried Arthur, "my turn has come. You have nearly +brought my life to an end with this sword, and I warrant that you shall +be rewarded for the blood I have lost and the pain I have endured this +day." + +Therewith, furious as a wounded lion, Arthur rushed upon his foe, hurled +him with all his strength to the earth, tore off his helm, and gave him +such a blow upon the head that blood burst out from his ears, nose, and +mouth. + +"Now shall I slay you," said Arthur. + +"Do so if you will," said Accolan. "You are the best knight I ever met, +and I see now that God is with you. But I promised to do this battle to +the uttermost, and never to yield me recreant. Therefore kill me if you +will, for my voice shall never ask for mercy." + +Then Arthur, looking closer, saw something familiar in his face. + +"Tell me who you are," he cried; "of what country and court." + +"Sir knight," said Accolan, "I am of the court of King Arthur, and my +name is Accolan of Gaul." + +Arthur heard this with deep dismay. For there came into his mind the +enchantment of the ship, and his heart sank with fear of the treason of +his sister. + +"Tell me this also, sir knight," he asked, "from whom had you this +sword?" + +"Woe worth that sword," cried Accolan; "I have gotten my death by it." + +"That may well be," answered Arthur, "and I fancy have got no more than +you deserve." + +"Yesterday," said the knight, "Morgan le Fay sent me that sword by a +dwarf, that with it I might slay the knight with whom I should fight +this day! And she would also pledge me to slay King Arthur, her brother, +for she hates him above any man in the world." + +"How know you that to be so?" + +"I have loved her long, and know her purposes well, nor shall I longer +keep them secret. If by craft she could slay Arthur, she would quickly +dispose of her husband, King Uriens. Then it was her intent to make me +king of this realm, and to reign herself as its queen. But all this now +is at an end, for death is upon me." + +"It would have been great wrong in you to destroy your lord," said +Arthur. + +"That I never could have had the heart to do," said Accolan. "But I pray +you to tell me your name, and from what court you come?" + +"I am from Camelot, and men know me as King Arthur. I am he against whom +you plotted such deep treason." + +Then Accolan cried out in anguish,-- + +"My fair, sweet lord, have mercy on me, for I knew you not." + +"You knew me not at this time, Accolan, but you have confessed that you +plotted treason against me, and laid plans to compass my death. Yet I +blame you the less that Morgan le Fay has worked on you with her false +arts. I have honored and loved her most of all my kin, and have trusted +her as I would my wife, and this is how she repays me. By the faith of +my body, if I live I shall be deeply revenged upon her for this." + +Then he called to the keepers of the field, and said,-- + +"Here, fair sirs, are two knights who have fought nearly to the death +through ignorance of each other. For had either of us known the other +you would have seen no battle to-day, and no stroke given or returned." + +Then Accolan called out to those who had gathered around,-- + +"Lords and knights, this noble warrior with whom I have fought is the +man of most valor, manhood, and worship on English soil, for he is no +less than our liege lord, King Arthur. Had I but dreamed it was he, I +would have killed myself rather than have drawn sword against him." + +At this surprising news the people fell upon their knees before the king +and begged mercy and pardon. + +"Pardon you shall have," said the king, "for you were ignorant of my +person. It is my fault if harm came to me in disguise. And here you may +all see what adventures and dangers knights-errant are exposed to; for, +unknown to each other, I and one of my own knights have fought for +hours, to the great damage of us both. We are both sorely hurt, but +before seeking rest it is my duty to settle the dispute which gave rise +to this combat. I have been your champion, Sir Damas, and have won your +cause. But as the victor I claim the right to give judgment, and as I +know you for a villain and coward, I adjudge unto your brother all the +manor in dispute, with the provision that he hold it of you, and yearly +give you in lieu of rent a palfrey to ride upon, which will become such +a base poltroon much better than a war-horse. And I charge you, upon +pain of death, to restore to these twenty knights their armor and +property, and never again to distress a knight-errant. If complaint of +such shall be made to me, by my head, you shall die for it. Sir +Ontzlake, you are said to be a good and valiant knight, and true and +worthy in your deeds. I desire you to come to my court as soon as +possible, where you shall be one of my knights, and, if your deeds +hereafter conform to the good report I have heard of you, you soon shall +equal your brother in estate." + +"I am at your command," said Ontzlake, "and thank you humbly for your +goodness and bounty. As for this battle, I would have fought it myself, +only that lately I was deeply wounded in a combat with a wandering +knight." + +"I would it had been so," said Arthur, "for treason was used against me +in this combat, and had I fought with you I should not have been so +badly hurt. My own sword was stolen and I was given a false and brittle +blade, which failed me in my greatest need." + +"Great pity it is that a king so noble and a knight so worthy should +have been thus foully dealt with." + +"I shall reward the traitor in short time, by the grace of God," said +Arthur. "Now tell me how far I am from Camelot?" + +"You are two days' journey distant." + +"Then where can I obtain shelter and rest?" + +"There is an abbey but three miles distant where you will find skilled +leeches and good nursing." + +Then King Arthur took his leave of the people, and repaired with Accolan +to the abbey, where he and the knight were placed under medical care. +Arthur's wounds, though deep and painful, proved not serious, and he +rapidly recovered, but Accolan had lost so much blood that he died +within four days. Then Arthur had the corpse sent on a horse-bier, +attended by six knights, to Camelot, saying to the messengers,-- + +"Bear this body to my sister, Morgan le Fay, and say to her that I send +it as a present. Tell her, moreover, that, through her sisterly +kindness, I have again my sword Excalibur and the scabbard, and shall +visit her ere long." + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +HOW MORGAN CHEATED THE KING. + + +In the meantime Morgan le Fay was so sure of the success of her +murderous plot, to aid which she had used all her power of necromancy, +that she felt it safe to complete her scheme. Seeing her husband, King +Uriens, lying asleep upon his couch, she called a maiden, who was in her +confidence, and said,-- + +"Bring me my lord's sword. Now shall my work be ended." + +"Oh, madam," cried the damsel, "would you slay your lord! If you do so +you can never escape." + +"Leave that to me, girl. Bring me the sword at once; I am the best judge +of what it is fit to do." + +The damsel departed with a heavy heart, but finding Sir Uwaine, King +Uriens' son, asleep in another chamber, she waked him and said,-- + +"Rise at once and go to your mother. She has vowed to kill the king, +your father, and has sent me in all haste for his sword." + +"To kill him!" cried Uwaine. "What treachery is this?--But go, bring the +sword as she bids. Leave it to me to deal with her." + +The damsel did as she was bidden, and brought the sword to the queen, +giving it to her with hands that quaked with fear. Morgan seized it with +a firm grasp, and went boldly to the bedside, where she stood looking +with cruel eyes on the sleeping king. As she lifted the sword for the +murderous blow, Uwaine, who had silently entered, sprang upon her and +seized her hand in a crushing grip. + +"You fiend, what would you do?" he fiercely cried. "If you were not my +mother I would smite off your head with this sword. Men say that Merlin +was born of a devil; but well I believe that I have an earthly fiend for +mother. To kill my father thus!--in his slumber!--what foul device is +this?" + +His face and voice were so full of righteous fury that the queen quaked +to her heart with fear, and she clasped her hands in terror upon her +throat. + +"Oh, Uwaine, my dear son, have mercy on me! The foul fiend tempted me to +this deed. Let me live to repent of this base intent, which I pray you +to keep secret. I swear never again to attempt so foul a deed." + +"Can I trust you? Truth and murder do not go together." + +"On my soul, I vow to keep my word!" + +"Live, then; but beware you rouse me not again by such a murderous +thought." + +Hardly had the false-hearted queen escaped from the indignation of her +son when tidings came to her which filled her with as deep a dread as +when Uwaine had threatened her with the sword, while the grief it +brought her was deeper than her fear. For she learned that Accolan had +been slain in the battle, and that his dead body had been sent her. +Soon, indeed, came the funeral train, with the message that Arthur had +sent. Then sorrow and terror together filled her heart till it +threatened to break, for she had loved Accolan with all her soul, and +his fate wounded her almost to death. But she dared not let this grief +be seen upon her countenance, lest the secret of her love should be +discovered; and she was forced to wear a cheerful aspect above a +bleeding heart. And this she knew, besides, that if she should remain in +Camelot until Arthur's return, all the gold in the realm would not buy +her life. + +She went, therefore, unto Queen Guenever and asked leave to ride into +the country. + +"Why not remain to greet your brother on his return? He sends word that +he will soon be here." + +"I should much like to, Guenever, but hasty tidings have come which +require that I should make no delay." + +"If that be so," answered Guenever, "let me not stay you. You may depart +when you will." + +On the next morning, before daybreak, Morgan took horse, and rode all +that day and the greater part of the night. On the following day by +noon she came to the abbey where Arthur lay. Here she asked the nuns +where he was, and they answered that he was sleeping in his chamber, for +he had had but little rest during the three nights past. + +"Then see that none of you waken him," she said. "I will go visit him in +his chamber. I am his sister, Morgan le Fay." + +Saying this, she sprang from her horse and entered the abbey, going +straight to Arthur's chamber. None dare hinder her, and she suffered no +one to accompany her. Reaching the chamber she found her brother asleep +in bed, with the sword Excalibur clasped with a vigorous grip in his +right hand. + +When she saw this her heart sank, for it was to steal that sword she +came, and she knew her treacherous purpose was at an end. She could not +take the sword from his hand without wakening him, and that might be the +warrant for her instant death. But the scabbard lay on a chair by the +bedside. This she took and left the chamber, concealing it under her +mantle as she went. Mounting her horse again, she rode hastily away with +her train. + +Not long afterwards Arthur woke, and at once missed his scabbard. +Calling his attendants in a loud voice, he angrily asked who had been +there, and who had dared remove the missing scabbard. They told him that +it was his sister, Morgan le Fay, and that she had put it under her +mantle and ridden away with it. + +"Then have you watched me falsely," cried Arthur, in hasty passion. + +"What could we do?" they answered. "We dared not disobey your sister's +command." + +"Fetch me at once the best horse that can be found," he ordered, "and +bid Sir Ontzlake arm himself in all haste, and come here well mounted to +ride with me." + +By the hour's end these commands had been obeyed, and Arthur and +Ontzlake rode from the abbey in company, well armed and on good horses, +though the king was yet feeble from his wounds. After riding some +distance they reached a wayside cross, by which stood a cowherd, whom +they asked if any lady had lately ridden that way. + +"Yes, your honors," said the cowherd. "Not long ago a lady passed here +at easy speed, followed by about forty horsemen. They rode into yonder +forest." + +Arthur and Ontzlake at this news put spurs to their horses and followed +fast on the track of the fugitives. An hour of this swift pursuit +brought them in sight of Morgan's party, and with a heart hot with anger +Arthur rode on at the utmost pace of his horse. + +The fugitives, seeing themselves thus hotly chased, spurred on their own +steeds, soon leaving the forest and entering a neighboring plain, beside +which was a lake. When Morgan saw that she was in danger of being +overtaken she rode quickly to the lake-side, her heart filled with +spiteful hatred of her brother. + +"Whatsoever may happen to me," she cried, "I vow that Arthur shall +never again wear this scabbard. I here consign it to the lake. From the +water it came; to the water it returns." + +And with a strong hand she flung it far out over the deep waters, into +which it sank like a stone, for it was heavy with gold and precious +stones. + +Then she rode on, followed by her train, till they entered a valley +where there were many great stones, and where they were for the moment +out of sight of their pursuers. Here Morgan le Fay brought her deepest +powers of enchantment to work, and in a trice she and her horse were +changed into marble, while each of her followers became converted into a +statue of stone. + +Hardly had this been done when Arthur and Ontzlake entered the valley, +where they beheld with starting eyes the marvellous transformation. For +in place of the fugitives they saw only horses and riders of solid +stone, and so changed that the king could not tell his sister from her +men, nor one knight from another. + +"A marvel is here, indeed!" cried the king. "The vengeance of God has +fallen upon our foes, and Morgan le Fay is justly punished for her +treachery. It grieves me, indeed, that so heavy a fate has befallen her, +yet her own deeds have brought on her this mighty punishment." + +Then he sought on all sides for the scabbard, but it could nowhere be +found. Disappointed in this, he at length turned and rode slowly back +with his companion to the abbey whence they had come, their souls filled +with wonder and awe. + +Yet no sooner were they well gone than the enchantress brought another +charm to work, and at once she and all her people were turned again from +stone into flesh and blood. + +"Now we can go where we will; and may joy go with King Arthur," she +said, with a laugh of triumph to her knights. "Did you note him?" + +"Yes," they replied. "And his countenance was so warlike that had we not +been stone we could scarce have stood before him." + +"I believe you," said Morgan. "He would have made sad havoc among us but +for my spells." + +They now rode onward, and soon afterwards met a knight who bore before +him on his horse another knight, who was unarmed, blindfolded, and bound +hand and foot. + +"What are you about to do with that knight?" asked Morgan. + +"To drown him in yonder fountain," was the reply. "He has caused my wife +to prove false to me, and only his death will avenge my honor." + +"Is this the truth?" she asked the bound knight. + +"It is false," he replied. "He is a villain to whom I have done no +wrong. He took me unawares or I should not have been in such a state." + +"Who are you, and of what country?" + +"My name is Manassen. I am of the court of King Arthur, and cousin to +Accolan of Gaul." + +"Then for the love I bore your cousin you shall be delivered, and this +villain be put in your plight." + +By her orders Manassen was loosed from his bonds and the other knight +bound. Manassen took from him his armor and horse, and riding with him +to the fountain, flung him remorselessly in, where he met the fate +which he had devised for his late prisoner. Then Manassen rode back to +Morgan, and asked her if she had any word to send King Arthur. + +"Tell him," she answered, "that I rescued you not for love of him, but +of Accolan; and that I fear him not while I can turn myself and my +knights into stones. Let him know that you saw us riding in good flesh +and blood, and laughing him to scorn. Tell him, moreover, that I can do +stranger things than that if the need should come." + +Bidding Manassen to return with this message, she rode with her train +into the country of Gore, where she was well received, and in the might +of whose castles and towns she felt secure from Arthur's wrath, for much +she feared his vengeance should she fall into his hands. + +Meantime the king rode back to Camelot, where he was gladly received by +his queen and his knights, to whom he told in full the story of Morgan +le Fay's treason. They were all angry at this, and many knights declared +that she should be burned. + +"Stone will not burn," said Arthur. "But God has punished her." + +But as they thus conversed, Manassen came to the court and told the king +of his adventure, delivering to him Morgan's message. + +"Then the witch has tricked me!" cried the king, in a tone of vexation. +"I might have known it, had I been wise. A kind sister she is, indeed! +But my turn will come. Treachery and magic may succeed for a time, but +honor must win in the end." + +Yet despite the king's awakened distrust, he nearly fell a victim to his +sister's vile enchantments. For on the succeeding morning there came a +damsel to the court from Morgan le Fay, bearing with her the richest +mantle that had ever been seen there. It was set so full of precious +stones that it might almost have stood alone, and some of them were gems +worth a king's ransom. + +"Your sister sends you this mantle," said the bearer. "That she has done +things to offend you she knows and is sorry for; and she desires that +you shall take this gift from her as a tribute for her evil thoughts. +What else can be done to amend her acts she will do, for she bitterly +regrets her deeds of wickedness." + +The mantle pleased the king greatly, though he made but brief reply as +he accepted it from the hand of the messenger. + +At that perilous moment there came to him the damsel Nimue, who had so +recently helped him in his dire need. + +"Sir, may I speak with you in private?" she asked the king. + +"What have you to say?" he replied, withdrawing from the throng. + +"It is this. Beware that you do not put on this mantle, and that no +knight of yours puts it on, till you know more. The serpent does not so +soon lose its venom. There is death in the mantle's folds. At least do +this: before you wear it, command that she who brought it shall put it +on." + +"Well said," answered the king. "It shall be done as you advise." + +Then he returned to the messenger and said,-- + +"Damsel, I wish to see the mantle you have brought me tried upon +yourself." + +"A king's garment on me, sir! That would not be seemly." + +"Seemly or not, I command it. By my head, you shall wear it before it +come on my back, or that of any man here." + +The damsel drew back, quivering with fear and growing pale as death. But +the king commanded those about him to put it on her. Then was seen a +marvellous and fearful thing. For no sooner had the enchanted robe been +clasped around her form than flames burst out from its every thread, and +in a minute she fell to the floor dead, while her body was burnt to a +coal. + +The king's anger burst out fiercely at this, and his face flamed with +the fire of rage. He turned to King Uriens and his son, who stood among +the knights. + +"My sister, your wife, is doing her utmost to destroy me," he said, in +burning wrath. "Are you and my nephew, your son, joined with her in this +work of treachery? Yet I suspect not you, King Uriens, for Accolan +confessed to me that she would have slain you as well as me. But as for +your son, Uwaine, I hold him suspected, and banish him from my court. I +can have no traitors about me." + +When these words had been spoken, Gawaine rose in anger, and said,-- + +"Whoever banishes my cousin banishes me. When and where Uwaine goes I go +also." + +And with a stride of anger he left the great hall, followed by Uwaine. +Then the two knights armed themselves, and rode together from Camelot, +Gawaine vowing never to return till his cousin had been fully and freely +pardoned. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +The Country of Strange Adventures. + + +The two knights who had so hastily departed from Arthur's court were +destined to see many and strange adventures before they should return. +And as their wanderings and deeds were caused by the treason of Morgan +le Fay, it is meet that they should here be told. + +They spent their first night in an abbey not far from Camelot, and on +the next morning rode forward until they came to a forest. Passing +through this, they at length found themselves in a valley near a tower. +Here they beheld two knights fully armed and seated on their war-horses, +while twelve damsels were seen to pass to and fro beneath a tree. + +When the wanderers came nearer they saw that on that tree hung a white +shield, and that as the damsels passed by this they spat upon it and +befouled it with mire. + +"Why do you do this despite to the shield?" they asked, as they came up. + +"Sir knights," answered the damsels, "we have good cause for what we do. +He who has hung his shield here is a knight of great prowess, but he is +one who hates all ladies, and this is how we repay him for his hatred." + +"I think little of such a knight," said Gawaine. "Yet it may be that he +has good cause for his hatred. He must love ladies elsewhere, if not +here, if he be so good a knight as you say. For it is said that the +despiser of ladies is never worthy in arms. What is the name of this +knight?" + +"His name is Marhaus. He is the son of the king of Ireland." + +"I know him well," said Uwaine. "There is no man of more valor living. I +saw him once at a tournament where no knight could stand before him." + +"If this is his shield," said Gawaine, "he will soon be here in person, +and it may not prove so easy for these knights to face him on horseback +as for them to stand by and see his shield befouled. It is not our +quarrel, but we shall stay no longer to see this dishonor." + +Before they had withdrawn far, however, they saw the Irish knight riding +towards his shield, and halted to note what would follow. At sight of +him the damsels shrieked with terror, and ran so wildly towards the +turret that some of them fell by the way. But one of the knights +advanced his shield and cried loudly,-- + +"Sir Marhaus, defend yourself!" + +Then he and Marhaus rode fiercely together, the knight breaking his +spear without effect, while Marhaus smote him in return so hard a blow +that he was hurled to the ground with a broken neck. Then the other +knight rode against Marhaus, but with the same ill success, for both +horse and man were smitten so furiously that they fell to the earth +dead. + +Then the knight of Ireland rode to his shield, and when he saw how +foully it had been used he cried,-- + +"This is a foul shame; but I have requited it upon those dastards. For +the love of her who gave me this white shield I shall wear it, and hang +mine where it was." + +Thereupon he took the white shield, and left in its place the one he had +just used. + +Then, seeing the two errant knights, he asked them what they did there. +They answered that they were from Arthur's court, and had ridden in +search of adventures. + +"Then you can have one here," said Marhaus. "I shall be glad to joust +with you." + +He rode away from them to the proper range, without waiting for a reply. + +"Let him go," said Uwaine. "I fear he is more than our match." + +"I care not if he is," said Gawaine. "However good a knight he be, he +shall not challenge us unanswered." + +"Then let me meet him first. I am the weaker, and if he strikes me down +you can revenge me." + +With these words Uwaine took his place and rode against the Irish +knight, but with such ill fortune that he was hurled to the earth with a +wounded side. When Gawaine saw this he prepared for the joust, and the +two knights rode together with great force. But, as luck would have it, +Gawaine's spear broke, while that of Marhaus held firm. In consequence, +both Gawaine and his horse went to the ground. + +In an instant the knight was on his feet, sword in hand, and advancing +towards his adversary. Marhaus drew his sword and moved upon him +mounted. + +"Meet me on foot," cried Gawaine, "or I will kill your horse." + +"Gramercy, you teach me courtesy," said Marhaus, "It is not fair for one +knight to be on foot and the other on horse." + +Then he sprang to the ground, set his spear against a tree, and tied his +horse. This done, he drew his sword and advanced upon Gawaine. + +The combat that succeeded was long and hotly contested, beginning at +nine in the morning and lasting till the day was well advanced. Never +had that forest known so obstinate and fierce a fight. And from nine of +the clock till the hour of noon Gawaine grew stronger and stronger, till +his might was thrice increased and Marhaus had much ado to stand before +him. But as the day waned from noon onwards Gawaine grew feeble, while +the strength of Marhaus steadily increased, his form seeming to grow +larger with every hour. At length it came that Gawaine could scarcely +stand before him. + +"Sir knight," said Marhaus, "this I will say, that I never met a better +man than yourself, and we have had a noble passage at arms. But as we +have no quarrel, and I can see you are growing feeble, it were a pity to +do you more harm. If you are willing, I agree to end the fight." + +"That should I have said, gentle knight," answered Gawaine. "I am much +beholden to your courtesy." + +Thereupon they took off their helmets and kissed each other, and swore +to love one another thenceforth as brethren in arms. Marhaus prayed that +the two knights would lodge with him that night, and they rode together +towards his dwelling. + +"I marvel," said Gawaine, as they rode forward, "that so good a knight +as you should love no ladies." + +"I love not such as those minxes of the tower, nor any of their sort," +said Marhaus. "They are a false-hearted and vile-thinking crew. But to +all honorable women I owe the best of my knightly service." + +They soon reached the dwelling, which was in a little priory, and here +Marhaus gave them the best cheer at his disposal, the more so when he +learned that they were sons of King Arthur's sisters. Here they remained +seven days, until their wounds had fully healed. On the eighth day they +took horse again to continue their journey. + +"We shall not part so lightly," said Marhaus. "I shall bring you through +the forest, and mayhap ride farther with you." + +For seven days more they rode onward without adventure. Then they found +themselves on the borders of a still greater forest, in what was known +as the country and forest of Arroy and the land of strange adventures. + +"It is well named," said Marhaus. "For it is said that no knight ever +rode into this country and failed to find adventures many and +marvellous." + +They rode onward into the forest before them, and in good time found +themselves in a deep and stony valley, traversed by a fair stream of +water. + +Following this upward, they soon came to a fair fountain, the head of +the stream, beside which three damsels were seated. + +Of these, the eldest was not less than threescore years of age. She wore +a garland of gold upon her head, and her hair was white beneath it. The +second damsel was thirty years of age, and she also wore a circlet of +gold. The third was not over fifteen years old, and her garland was of +flowers. + +The knights halted and looked at them in surprise, asking them why they +sat by that lonely fountain. + +"We are here to await knights-errant who come in quest of adventures," +they said. "If you three knights are in search of things strange and +stirring, each of you must choose one of us. When this is done we shall +lead you unto three highways, one of which each of you must take, and +his damsel with him. This day twelvemonth you must meet here again, and +to all this you must pledge your troth, if God give you your lives to +return." + +"You speak well," said Marhaus. "Adventures we seek, and no true +knight-errant hesitates before the unknown and the dangerous. We shall +do as you say, each of us choose one of you, and then, whatsoever +fortune wills, let it come." + +"As for me," said Uwaine, "since I am the youngest and weakest of the +three, I choose the eldest damsel. I have more need of help than either +of you, and her age and knowledge may aid me well." + +"Then I shall take her of middle age," said Marhaus. "She fits me best." + +"I thank you both," said Gawaine. "You have left me the youngest and +fairest, and the one most to my liking." + +This said, each damsel took the reins of her knight, and they led them +to the parting of the three ways. Here the knights took oath to meet at +the fountain that day twelvemonth if they were living, kissed each +other, and departed, each knight taking his chosen lady on his steed +behind him. Of the three ways, Uwaine took that which lay west, Marhaus +that which lay south, and Gawaine took the way that lay north. + +Of the three we shall first follow Gawaine, who rode forward until he +came to a fair manor, where dwelt an old knight. + +"Are there any adventures to be found in this country?" he asked him. + +"I shall show you some marvellous ones to-morrow," said his host. + +In the morning, Gawaine and the old knight rode into the forest of +adventures till they came to a wide, open lawn, upon which stood a +cross. Here they halted and looked about them, and ere long saw +approaching a knight of seemly aspect, who made the bitterest +lamentations as he advanced. When he saw Gawaine he saluted him, and +hoped that God would send him honor. + +"As to that, gramercy," said Gawaine. "I pray God, in return, that he +send you honor and worship." + +"That will not come," said the knight. "He sendeth me but sorrow and +shame." + +As he spoke he passed on to the other side of the lawn. Here Gawaine saw +ten knights, standing with shields and spears ready against this one +warrior. But he rode against them one by one, thrusting some over their +horses' tails, and hurling others to the ground, horse and man, until +with one spear he had unhorsed them all. + +But when they were all ten on foot they went to the dolorous knight, who +stood stone still, pulled him from his horse, and tied him beneath the +animal, without the least resistance on his part. This done, they led +him away, thus shamefully bound. + +"That is an ugly sight," said Gawaine. "Why does a knight of such +prowess as this suffer himself to be so vilely treated?" + +"Sir," said, the damsel to Gawaine, "why helped you not that good +knight?" + +"He seems to want no help," said Gawaine. "He could have taken care of +himself if he would." + +"You had no desire to help him," retorted the damsel, "or you would not +have stood by and seen so noble a warrior so foully served." + +As they talked a knight appeared on the other side of the lawn, all +armed but the head. And opposite him came a dwarf on horseback similarly +armed. He had a great mouth and a short nose, and was as ill favored as +one would care to see. + +"Where is the lady who should meet us here?" asked the dwarf. + +In response thereto a fair lady rode from the wood, mounted on a +handsome palfrey. On seeing her the knight and the dwarf began to +strive in hot words for her, each saying that she should be his prize. + +"Yonder is a knight at the cross," said the dwarf, at length. "Let us +leave it to him, and abide by his decision." + +"I agree to that," said the knight. + +Thereupon they rode to Gawaine and told him the purpose of their strife. + +"Do you put the matter into my hands?" he asked. + +"Yes," they both replied. + +"Then this is my decision. Let the lady stand between you and make her +own choice. The one she chooses, he shall have her." + +This was done, and at once the lady turned from the knight and went to +the dwarf. Then the dwarf took her and went singing away, while the +knight rode in grief and sorrow into the forest. + +But the adventures of that day were not ended, for soon afterwards two +armed knights rode from the forest, and one of them cried out loudly,-- + +"Sir Gawaine, knight of King Arthur, I am here to joust with you. So +make ready." + +"Since you know me, I shall not fail you," answered Gawaine. + +Then the knights drew apart, and rode so furiously together that both +were unhorsed. Springing up, they drew their swords and continued the +battle on foot. + +Meanwhile, the second knight went to the damsel and asked why she stayed +with that knight, and begged her to go with him. + +"That I will do," she replied. "I like not the way Gawaine acted just +now, when one brave knight was overturned by ten dastards. So let us go +while they fight." + +The combat continued long, and then, as the knights seemed evenly +matched, they ceased in amity, the stranger knight inviting Gawaine to +spend the night at his lodge. As they rode thither he asked his host,-- + +"Who is this valiant champion that overturns ten knights, and then +suffers them to bear him off bound hand and foot? I never saw so +shameful a thing done." + +"The thing has happened ten times and more," said Sir Carados. "The +knight is one of noble prowess, named Sir Pelleas, and he loves a great +lady of this country named Ettard, who loves him not in return. What you +have seen came about in this way. There was of late days a great +tournament in this country, at which Pelleas struck down every knight +who was opposed to him, unhorsing twenty knights within three days. His +valor and prowess won him the prize, which was a good sword, and a +golden circlet to be given to the fairest lady at the lists. This +circlet of gold he gave to the lady Ettard, whom he chose for the +sovereign of his heart and the lady he loved above all women. But she +was so proud and haughty that she returned him scorn for his love, and +though he has followed her to her home she will not listen to his suit, +or admit him in honor to her presence. He is lodged here near her, but +can gain sight of her only in a shameful way. Every week she sends +knights to fight with him, and when he has overcome them he suffers +them to take him prisoner that he may feast his eyes on the face of his +loved lady. But she does him great despite, for sometimes she has him +brought in tied to his horse's tail, and sometimes bound under the +horse, or in any other shameful manner she can think of. For all this he +will not leave, but makes himself a martyr to his love." + +"He is a noble knight, and I greatly pity him," said Gawaine. "I shall +seek him to-morrow in the forest, and do what I can to help him." + +In the morning he met Sir Pelleas, as he had promised, and heard from +him the story of his woe. + +"If I loved her not so truly I should rather die a hundred times than +suffer such despite," he said. "But I trust that she will pity and love +me at last." + +"Let me aid you, so far as I can," said Gawaine. "I promise to do my +utmost to gain you the love of your lady." + +"Tell me who, and of what court, you are, my good friend?" asked +Pelleas. + +"My name is Gawaine; I am nephew to King Arthur, and King Lot of Orkney +was my father." + +"My name is Pelleas," answered the lovelorn knight. "I was born in the +Isles, and am lord of many isles, but never till this unhappy time have +I loved a lady. I pray you help me faithfully, for I get nothing from +her but vile rebuke. She will not even hold me as prisoner, that I might +see her daily, but robs me of my horse and armor, and has me thrust +despitefully from her gates. She lives in a strong castle near by, and +is lady of all this country. I fear you will not find it easy to obtain +entrance." + +"I shall use art instead of strength," said Gawaine. "Lend me your horse +and armor, and I will ride to her castle and tell her I have slain you. +She will let me in at that. Once admitted, I shall do my best to win you +her love." + +He plighted his honor to this, and therewith they changed horses and +armor. + +Leaving the knight of the doleful visage, Gawaine rode to Ettard's +castle, whom he found in her pavilion outside the gate. On seeing him +she hastily fled to the castle, but he called her loudly, declaring that +he was not Pelleas, and that he had slain the knight and won his horse +and armor. + +"Take off your helm," she replied. "Let me see your face." + +Gawaine did so, and when she saw that he spoke the truth she bade him +alight and led him into the castle, questioning him who he was and how +he had slain her tormenting admirer. + +"I am sorry for his death," she said, "for he was a worthy knight; but +of all men I hated him most, and could never rid myself of his +importunities. As for you, Sir Gawaine, since you have done me this +service, I shall be your lady, for I cannot but love you." + +Then Gawaine was so entranced by the lady Ettard's blue eyes and fair +face that he shamefully forgot his word of honor, and warmly returned +her love. He remained with her and her knights in the castle, so happy +in her presence as to ignore all the claims of duty and knightly faith. + +It was now the month of May, and the air had grown warm and balmy. So it +happened one evening that they all left the castle to enjoy themselves +on the flowery meads outside. Believing Pelleas to be dead, Ettard lost +all dread of unwelcome intrusion, and suggested that they should spend +the night in the open air, lulled to sleep by the soft winds and the +perfume of flowers. + +But by fortune it chanced that Pelleas, hearing no word from Gawaine, +that night mounted his horse and rode to the castle. It was a late hour, +and he was surprised to see pavilions erected outside the gate, and +couches spread in the open air. As he came near he saw knights and +ladies asleep on these, while side by side lay Ettard and Gawaine, +locked in deep slumber. + +Anger and pain so filled the knight's heart at this that he drew his +sword to slay his faithless friend, but on calmer thought he laid the +naked blade athwart the throats of knight and lady and rode away. On +reaching his tent, he told his attendants what treachery he had endured, +and that he had resolved to take to his bed and lie there till he should +die. + +"And when I am dead I charge you to take my heart and bear it to the +lady Ettard in a silver dish, and tell her that her falseness has slain +the faithfulest of lovers." + +Meanwhile Gawaine and Ettard awoke, and their dread was great on finding +the sword across their throats. + +"It is Pelleas's sword!" she cried. "You have betrayed him and me both, +for you lied to me in saying that you had killed him. Only that he has +proved himself a man of true honor, he would have slain us both. Leave +me, traitor! Never let me see your false face again!" + +Gawaine had no words in answer, but hastily mounted his horse and rode +into the forest, feeling at heart that he had proved a traitor both to +honor and love. + +When morning dawned it happened that Nimue, the damsel of the lake, who +by chance had come into that country, met with a follower of Sir +Pelleas, who was grieving sorely for the ill fortune of his master. She +asked him the cause of his grief, and he told her the woeful tale of the +lovelorn knight, and how he had taken to his bed, vowing never again to +rise. + +"He shall not die of love, I warrant you that," she said. "Bring me to +him. I promise you that she who has treated him so vilely shall feel all +the pain she has made him endure." + +She was accordingly brought to the tent of Pelleas, and a feeling of +pity and love grew in her heart as she looked on his noble and woe-worn +face while he lay asleep. Therefore she deepened his slumber with a +spell of enchantment, and charging that no man should wake him before +her return, she rode through the forest to Ettard's castle. + +Within two hours she brought the lady Ettard to the tent, where Pelleas +still lay wrapped in deep slumber. + +"You should do penance for life to murder such a knight as this," she +said. "You have treated a true lover with shameful despite, and for +love's sake you shall pay the penalty of your misdeeds." + +Then she threw so deep a spell of enchantment on the proud lady that her +former scorn turned to the deepest love, and her heart went out to +Pelleas as if it would break with sorrow and remorse. + +"Alas!" she cried, "I hated him above all men. What has befallen me that +I love him now with my whole soul?" + +"It is God's righteous judgment," said Nimue. + +As they spoke Pelleas awoke, and when he looked upon Ettard his eyes +filled with scorn and hatred. + +"Away, traitress!" he cried. "Never again come within my sight. You have +taught me to hate you as much as I ever loved." + +These scornful words wounded Ettard to the soul. She turned away weeping +bitterly, and left the tent overwhelmed with anguish. + +"Take your horse and leave this country, Sir Pelleas," said the damsel. +"Love not again till you can give your heart to a lady who is worthy of +it." + +"I have found such a one now," said the knight, fixing his eyes with +warm feeling upon her face. "This lady Ettard has treated me +despitefully and turned all my love for her to hatred and scorn. But the +love I felt for her has gone out to you." + +"Thank me for your delivery," said Nimue. "It is too soon to talk of +love. But this I may say, that if you love me as you vow, you shall not +find me another Ettard." + +Soon after Pelleas arose and armed, and bidding his men to follow with +the pavilions and furniture, rode into the forest with the damsel of the +lake, for whom the love in his heart grew each moment warmer. + +[Illustration: THE LOVE OF PELLEAS AND NIMUE.] + +And thus this woeful story ends in true love's joy and retribution; for +the false lady Ettard died in lovelorn sorrow, but Pelleas and Nimue +lived together in true love during the remainder of their days, she +becoming his dear lady and wife. + +Meanwhile Marhaus and Uwaine pursued their course and had their +adventures, but they were not so many and strange as those of Gawaine, +and therefore we shall not tell them in full. + +As for Uwaine, who rode away with the old damsel, he gained great honor +at a tournament near the Welsh marches, winning the prize, which was a +gerfalcon, and a white steed with trappings of cloth of gold. Many other +adventures he had, and at last came to the castle of a noble lady, who +was called the Lady of the Rock. Her lands had been taken from her by +two robber knights, named Sir Edward and Sir Hue of the Red Castle. +These Uwaine fought together, and with such good fortune that he killed +Sir Edward and forced Sir Hue to surrender the lady's lands. Then he +dwelt at the castle of the Lady of the Rock for six months, till he was +healed of the many and deep wounds he had received in his battle with +the robber knights. + +Meanwhile, Marhaus rode southward with the damsel of thirty summers. +Many adventures he had, and he won a circlet of gold as the victor in a +tournament. At length he stopped at the castle of a noble earl named +Fergus, whose lands were harried by a giant named Taulard. Him Marhaus +proffered to fight, as neither the earl nor any of his men dared meet +him. + +Fierce and perilous was the battle that followed, for the giant was of +monstrous height and strength, and armed with iron clubs and great +battle-axes. But after a terrible contest, Marhaus, by a nimble stroke, +cut off Taulard's right arm. Then the giant, bellowing with pain and +terror, fled, and rushed into a stream of water beyond his pursuer's +reach. But stones were brought to Marhaus by Fergus's men, and with +these he battered the giant so sorely that at length he fell over into +the water, where he was quickly drowned. + +Afterwards the victorious champion went to the giant's castle, where he +found in close captivity twenty-four ladies and twelve knights. These he +delivered from prison. He found also a great store of wealth, enough to +make him rich for the remainder of his life. + +When the year ended the three knights met again at the fountain, two of +them with their damsels; but Gawaine had lost his, and had come back +much shorn of honor. Soon after they met by chance a messenger from King +Arthur, who had long been seeking the banished knights, with orders to +bring them back to the court. + +So the three knights journeyed to Camelot, where the king received them +graciously, and listened with admiration to the story of their +adventures. And there, at the feast of Pentecost, came Pelleas and +Nimue, true lovers plighted. Then were held high feasts and tournaments, +where many noble knights splintered spears and much honor was lost and +won. And here Marhaus and Pelleas bore themselves with such noble and +mighty prowess, that all men vowed the glory of the tournament was +theirs, and King Arthur, glad to reward such deeds of valor, made them +Knights of the Table Round. + + + + + BOOK IV. + + LANCELOT OF THE LAKE. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +HOW TROUBLE CAME TO LIONEL AND HECTOR. + + +After the strange deeds and adventures that have just been described, a +season of war came again to King Arthur and his realm, through which he +won great honor and renown. For Lucius, the Emperor of Rome, sent +ambassadors to Arthur, demanding tribute; and when he proudly refused +this demand Lucius gathered a great army and invaded the tributary +domains of Arthur, in Gaul. + +Long and fierce was the war that followed, for Arthur crossed to Gaul +with all the power of his realm; fought and killed, single-handed, a +huge giant who dwelt on St. Michael's Mount; defeated the army of Rome, +and killed the emperor in single combat; and in the end was crowned +emperor, in the imperial city of Rome. + +All this story the chronicles give at length, and tell us also that in +this war the noble Lancelot du Lake, son of King Ban of Gaul, gained his +first measure of renown. + +After the war had ended and the victorious host returned to England, +many adventures came to Lancelot, some of which we must here tell. +Great indeed was the valor and might of this worthiest of knights, who +in after years proved himself in knightly prowess and chivalric honor +the noblest of men. In tournaments and deeds of arms, in sportive war or +battle for life or death, he passed all other knights, and was never +overcome but by treason or enchantment. + +After Arthur's return from Rome sports and feasts were given, and jousts +and tournaments held, in which the Knights of the Round Table took part, +many who had gained no great fame in the war now proving themselves able +and worthy warriors. But above them all Lancelot displayed such skill +and prowess that he increased in honor and worship beyond any knight of +Arthur's court. + +And, as fortune and fate decreed, he loved Queen Guenever above all +other ladies, while she held him in favor above all other knights,--a +favor that was destined thereafter to bring deep sorrow and trouble to +England's realm. For her sake he did many noble deeds of arms, and he +was looked upon as her especial champion by all the court. + +After the return from Rome Lancelot rested long at the court, taking +part in all its feasts and gayeties. But in time he grew weary of sport +and play, and of the idle ways and empty flatteries of courtiers, and +felt a strong desire to wander abroad in search of strange adventures. +So he bade his nephew, Sir Lionel, to make ready, saying to him that +they two would leave the court and ride as knights-errant through the +land, to right wrongs and punish crimes, to rescue the oppressed and +overthrow the proud and haughty, and knightly to do and dare wherever +they went. + +So on a day in spring, when the summer was coming with its flowers to +adorn the rich green of the grassy meads, and the birds sang gayly in +the trees, the two knights armed themselves at all points and rode +abroad, passing soon through a deep forest and into a verdant plain +beyond. + +Noon now came on, and the weather grew close and sultry, so that +Lancelot became drowsy. This he told to Lionel, who pointed to a large +apple-tree by a hedge, and said,-- + +"Yonder is a cool shadow. There we may rest ourselves and our horses +till the noontide heat has passed." + +"You speak to the point," said Lancelot. "Not for seven years have I +been so sleepy as I am now?" + +They thereupon alighted, and tied their horses to neighboring trees, and +Lancelot laid himself down beneath the apple-boughs, with his helmet +under his head for a pillow. Soon he was in deep slumber, though Lionel +kept awake. + +As they lay thus three knights came riding by in panic fear, pushing +their horses to the utmost speed, while a single knight followed them in +furious pursuit. So well-made and strong-limbed a man as this Lionel +thought he had never seen nor one in all respects so fully armed. + +As he looked, the pursuing knight overtook one of the fugitives, and +with a thrust of his spear flung him prostrate to the ground. Then he +served the other two in the same manner. This done, he alighted and +bound the three knights with their own bridle-reins. + +[Illustration: Copyright by Frederick Hollyer, London, England. + +DREAM OF SIR LANCELOT.] + +When Lionel saw this, anger filled his soul, and he thought to win +honor in a bout of arms with this vigorous champion, so he quietly took +his horse, so as not to waken Lancelot, and rode towards the victor, +loudly bidding him turn and try his fortune in a joust. + +But the ambitious young knight soon found that he had let youthful pride +bring him into trouble, for the strong warrior smote him so hard a blow +that horse and man went together to the earth. Then the victor alighted +and served Lionel as he had done the others, binding him and flinging +him athwart his own horse. + +He did the same with the three others, and rode away with his prisoners, +until he came to a castle that lay beyond the plain. Here he forced them +to remove their armor, and beat their naked skin with thorns till they +were ready to swoon with the pain. Then he had them thrust into a deep +prison where were many other knights, whose groans and lamentations +filled the air with doleful sounds. + +Through all this Lancelot slept on, nor did he waken from his slumber +till another misadventure had taken place. For Sir Hector de Maris, the +brother of Lionel, finding that Lancelot had left the court to seek +adventures, was angry that he had not been asked to keep him company, +and rode hastily after him, hoping to overtake him. + +After he had ridden long in the forest he met a man dressed like a +forester, and asked him if any knightly adventures could be found near +by. + +"Sir knight," answered the forester, "I know this country well, and can +promise you all, and mayhap more, than you want. Within a mile of here +is a strong manor; by that manor, on the left hand, is a fair ford for +horses to drink at; over that ford there grows a spreading tree; and on +that tree hang many shields which good knights once wielded. On the +trunk of the tree you will see a basin of brass and copper, and if you +seek an adventure you have but to strike that basin thrice with the butt +of your spear. If then you do not soon hear tidings of interest, you +will have the best fortune of any knight who has passed through this +forest for many a long year." + +"Gramercy, for your tidings," said Hector, and rode rapidly on. + +Soon he came to the manor and the tree, and saw the shields of which the +forester had told him, and to his surprise and grief he noted among them +the shield of his brother Lionel, and many more that he knew belonged to +Round Table knights. Then, with a heart full of thoughts of revenge, he +beat upon the basin roundly with his spear, until its clang rung far and +wide. This done, he turned his horse and let him drink at the ford. + +As he stood there he heard a loud voice behind him, bidding him come out +of the water and make ready, and looking round he beheld a +powerfully-built knight on a strong horse. + +Hector wheeled his horse sharply, and putting his spear in rest rode +furiously upon this knight, striking him so fierce a blow that his horse +turned twice around. + +"Well done," said the stranger. "That was a knightly blow. But beware, +it is my turn now." + +As he spoke he spurred his horse at full speed upon Hector, and struck +him so skilfully that the spear-head passed under his right arm and bore +him clear of the saddle into the air. Then, carrying the knight like a +trussed hare on his spear, the victor rode onward into his own open +hall, and flung his captive down in the middle of the floor. + +"You have done more to me than any knight has done for twelve years +past," said the victor, whose name was Sir Turquine. "Therefore I will +grant you your life and the liberty of the castle, but you must swear to +be my prisoner until death." + +"That will I never promise," said Hector. "I will remain captive to no +man if I can free myself." + +"Then I shall take care that you do not escape," said Turquine. + +With these words he made Hector, on pain of death, remove his armor, and +then scourged him with thorns as he had done the others, and flung him +into the prison where lay so many of his fellows. + +When Hector saw his brother Lionel among these his heart was ready to +break with sorrow. + +"What has happened to Lancelot?" he demanded. "You rode with him, and +here you are a prisoner. Alas! tell me not that any harm has come to +him." + +"Where he is and what he does I cannot tell," said Lionel. "I left him +asleep under an apple-tree and rode alone on this dolorous venture. +Would that I had wakened him first." + +"Alas!" cried the knights, "we may never be delivered unless Lancelot +comes to our aid. Of all knights living we know none but him who is a +fair match for Turquine, our robber lord." + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE CONTEST OF THE FOUR QUEENS. + + +Noon had passed by, but the day was still warm, and Lancelot lay yet in +deep slumber, dreaming nothing of what had happened while he slept. But +now there rode by the apple-tree under which he lay a royal and +brilliant cavalcade. For in it were four queens of high estate, who were +mounted on white mules, and attired in regal robes, while beside them +rode four knights who bore on their spear-points a cloth of green silk, +so held as to shield the queens from the heat of the sun. + +As they rode by Lancelot's place of slumber they were startled by the +loud neigh of a war-horse, and looking about them they became aware of +the sleeping knight beneath the apple-tree. They drew near and looked +upon his face, and at once knew him for Lancelot du Lake. Then they +began pleasantly to strive as to which of them should have the sleeping +knight for her lover. + +"Let me settle this debate," said Morgan le Fay, who was one of the +queens. "I shall by enchantment make his sleep hold for six hours to +come, and shall have him borne to my castle. When he is safely within my +power I shall remove the enchantment, and then he shall be made to +choose which of us he will have for his love. If he refuse us all he +shall pay the penalty." + +She did as she had said. Lancelot was laid sleeping upon his shield and +borne on horseback between two knights, and so brought to a castle +named Chariot, where he was laid, still slumbering, in a chamber. At +night-fall a fair damsel was sent to him with his supper ready prepared. +By that time the enchantment was past, and Lancelot woke as the damsel +came into his chamber and asked him how he fared. + +"That I am not ready to say," answered Lancelot; "for I know not how I +came into this castle unless it were by enchantment." + +"As to that I cannot speak," she replied. "I can but bid you eat. If you +be such a knight as men say, I shall tell you more to-morrow morn." + +"Thanks, fair damsel," said Lancelot. "It pleases me to have your good +will." + +Little comfort had the good knight of that night's sleep; but early in +the morning there came to him the four queens, each dressed in her +richest attire, adorned with rare jewels, and as beautiful as art and +skill could make them. + +They bade him good morning and he returned their greeting, looking upon +them with eyes of admiration, but not of love. + +"You are our prisoner, sir knight," said Morgan. "We know you well. You +are Lancelot of the Lake, King Ban's son. And well we understand that +you are named the worthiest knight living, and that men say that no lady +in the land but Queen Guenever can have your love. But this we would +have you know, that you must choose one of us four as your heart's +queen, for if you refuse you shall never see Arthur's queen again. I am +Morgan le Fay, queen of the land of Gore, and here is the Queen of +Northgalis, the Queen of East-land, and the Queen of the Out Islands. We +bid you to forget Guenever and choose of us the one you will have for +your love. If you choose not it will be worse for you, for I shall hold +you in prison until death." + +"This is a hard chance," said Lancelot, "that I must die in prison or +profess a love that I do not feel. Let me tell you this, though I die +twice in your dungeon I will have none of you, for you are false +enchantresses and not true dames for honest men to love. As for dame +Guenever, were I at liberty I would prove it on all the knights whom you +command that she is of all ladies the truest to her lord." + +"Is this, then, your answer," said Morgan, "that you disdain our love?" + +"On my life it is!" cried Lancelot. "Such love as yours is not for +honest knights; and my love is not to be had for the bidding." + +"You may live to change your mind," said Morgan. "Prison life and prison +fare may cure your pride." + +With these words they departed, leaving Lancelot in gloom of mind but +steadfastness of heart. + +At noon, the damsel who had brought him his supper the night before came +with his dinner, and asked him again how he fared. + +"Never so ill," said Lancelot. "For never before was I held under lock +and key, and never was worthy knight so shamefully entreated." + +"It grieves me deeply to see you in such distress," she said. "If you +will be ruled by me, and make me a promise, you shall be set free from +this prison, though at the risk of my life." + +"I will grant your wish if it be in my power," said Lancelot. "These +queenly sorceresses have destroyed many a good knight, and I would give +much to be out of their hands." + +"They crave your love from what they have heard of your honor and +renown," answered the damsel. "They say your name is Lancelot du Lake, +the flower of knights, and your refusal of their love has filled their +souls with anger. But for my aid you might die in their hands. The +promise I ask is this. On Tuesday morning next there is to be a +tournament between my father and the King of Northgalis. My father was +lately overpowered by three of Arthur's knights, and if you will be +there and help him in this coming fray I will engage to deliver you from +your bondage at dawn to-morrow." + +"Tell me your father's name," said Lancelot, "and then you shall have my +answer." + +"His name is King Bagdemagus." + +"I know him well," said Lancelot. "He is a noble king and a good knight. +By the faith of my body, I promise to give him what aid I can." + +"A hundred thanks, dear sir," she said. "Be ready to-morrow early. I +shall be here to deliver you, and take you to where you can find your +horse and armor. Within ten miles of this castle is an abbey of white +monks. There I beg you to stay and thither I shall bring my father to +you." + +"As I am a true knight you can trust me," said Lancelot. + +With this the damsel departed. But at early dawn of the next day she +came again, as she had promised, and found Lancelot ready and eager for +flight. Then they crept through hall and passage, with heedful tread and +bated breath, until she had opened twelve locked doors and reached the +castle yard. + +The sun was just giving its rose tints to the east when she brought him +to the place where his horse and armor were kept, and with hasty fingers +helped him to arm. Then, taking a great spear and mounting his noble +steed, Lancelot rode forth, saying cheerily,-- + +"Fair damsel, by the grace of God I shall not fail you." + +And still slumber lay deep upon the castle, and not one of the queens +nor a soul of those who dwelt therein was wakened by the sound. + +But not far had the escaping knight departed from the castle before he +entered a thick forest, in whose depths he wandered lost all that day, +finding no high road, and no trace of the abbey of white monks. Night at +length came upon him, and now he found himself in a valley where he saw +a pavilion of red sendal. + +"Fortune aids me," said Lancelot. "Whoever owns that pavilion, it shall +give me shelter for the night." + +He thereupon alighted, tied his horse to a tree near by, and entered the +pavilion, in which was a comfortable bed. Disarming, he laid himself +therein, and very soon was lost in heavy slumber. + +Within an hour afterwards the knight who owned the pavilion came +thither, and laid himself upon the bed without noticing that it was +already occupied. His entrance wakened Lancelot, who, on feeling this +intrusion, sprang in quick alarm from the bed and grasped his sword. The +other knight, no less alarmed, did the same, and sword in hand they +rushed out from the pavilion into the open air, and fell into mortal +combat by the side of a little stream that there ran past. + +The fight was quickly at an end, for after a few passes the knight of +the pavilion fell to the earth, wounded nearly unto death. + +"I yield me, sir knight," he cried. "But I fear I have fought my last." + +"Why came you into my bed?" demanded Lancelot. + +"The pavilion is my own," said the knight. "It is ill fortune that I +should die for seeking my own bed." + +"Then I am sorry to have hurt you," said Lancelot. "I have lately been +beguiled by treason, and was in dread of it. Come into the pavilion. It +may be that I can stanch your blood." + +They entered the pavilion, where Lancelot, with skilful hands, dressed +the knight's wound and stopped the bleeding. As he did so the knight's +lady entered the pavilion, and fell into deep lamentation and accusal of +Lancelot, on seeing how sorely her lord was hurt. + +"Peace, my lady and love," said the knight. "This is a worthy and +honorable gentleman. I am in fault for my hurt, and he has saved my life +by his skill and care." + +"Will you tell me what knight you are?" asked the lady. + +"Fair lady," he replied, "my name is Lancelot du Lake." + +"So your face and voice told me," she replied, "for I have seen you +often, and know you better than you deem. And I would ask of your +courtesy, for the harm you have done to my lord Beleus and the grief you +have given me, that you will cause my lord to be made a Knight of the +Round Table. This I can say for him, that he is a man of warlike +prowess, and the lord of many islands." + +"Let him come to the court at the next high feast," said Lancelot; "and +come you with him. I shall do what I can for him, and if he prove as +good a knight as you say, I doubt not but King Arthur will grant your +request." + +While they still talked the night passed and the day dawned. Then +Lancelot armed himself, and asking of them the way to the abbey, rode +thither, where he arrived within the space of two hours. + +As Lancelot rode within the abbey yard, the damsel to whom he owed his +deliverance from the prison of Morgan le Fay sprang from a couch and ran +to a window, roused by the loud clang of hoofs upon the pavement. + +Seeing who it was, she hurried gladly down, and bade some of the men to +take his horse to the stable, and others to lead him to a chamber, +whither she sent him a robe to wear when he had laid off his armor. + +[Illustration: OLD ARCHES OF THE ABBEY WALL.] + +Then she entered the chamber and bade him heartily welcome, saying that +of all knights in the world he was the one she most wished to see. +Ordering breakfast to be prepared for the hungry knight, she sent in +haste for her father, who was within twelve miles of the abbey. Before +eventide he came, and with him a fair following of knights. + +As soon as King Bagdemagus reached the abbey, he went straight to the +room where were Lancelot and his daughter in conversation, and took +Lancelot in his arms, bidding him warmly welcome. + +In the talk that followed, Lancelot told the king of his late +adventures, the loss of his nephew Lionel, his own betrayal, and his +rescue by the maiden, his daughter: "For which," he said, "I owe my best +service to her and hers while I live." + +"Then can I trust in your help on Tuesday next?" asked the king. + +"That I have already promised your daughter," said Lancelot. "I shall +not fail. But she tells me that in your last bout you lost the field +through three of King Arthur's knights, who aided the King of +Northgalis, and that it is against these knights you need assistance. +What knights were they?" + +"They were Sir Mador de la Porte, Sir Mordred, and Sir Gahalatine. Do +what we could, neither I nor my knights could make head against them." + +"I would not have them know me," said Lancelot. "My plan, therefore, is +this. Send me here three of your best knights, and see that they have +white shields, with no device, and that I also have such a shield. Then +shall we four, when the fight is well on, come out of a wood into the +midst of the fray, and do what we can to defeat these champions." + +This plan was carried out as Lancelot had devised. On the day fixed for +the tournament he, with his three white-shielded companions, placed +himself in ambush in a leafy grove near where the lists were raised. +Around the field were rows of benches where the spectators might sit, +and richly-adorned seats for the lords and ladies who were to adjudge +the combat and award the prize of skill and valor. + +Then into the lists rode the King of Northgalis, with a following of +fourscore knights, and attended by the three knights of Arthur's court, +who stood apart by themselves. Into the opposite side of the lists rode +King Bagdemagus, with as many knights in his train. + +When all were in place the signal for the onset was given, and the +knights put their spears in rest and rode together with a great rush, +and with such fatal fortune that twelve of the party of Bagdemagus and +six of that of Northgalis were slain at the first encounter, while the +knights of King Bagdemagus were driven back in disorder. + +At this critical juncture Lancelot and his companions broke from their +concealment and rode into the lists, forcing their horses into the thick +of the press. Then Lancelot did deeds of such marvellous strength and +skill that all men deeply wondered who could be the valiant knight of +the white shield. For with one spear he smote down five knights, with +such force that four of them broke their backs in the fall. Then turning +on the King of Northgalis, he hurled him from his horse and broke his +thigh. + +The three knights of Arthur's court, who had not yet joined in the fray, +saw this, and rode forward. + +"A shrewd guest that," said Mador. "Let me have at him." + +But his fortune was not equal to his hopes, for Lancelot bore down horse +and man, so that Mador's shoulder was put out of joint by the fall. + +"Now is my turn," said Mordred. + +He rode fiercely on Lancelot, who turned nimbly and met him in full +career, Mordred's spear shivering unto his hand when it struck the firm +white shield. But Lancelot gave him so shrewd a buffet that the bow of +his saddle broke, and he was flung over his horse's tail with such +violence that his helmet went more than a foot into the earth. Fortune +saved him from a broken neck, but he lay long in a swoon. + +Then Gahalatine and Lancelot rode together with all their force, the +spears of both breaking, but both keeping their seats. They now drew +their swords, and struck each other many a keen blow. At length +Lancelot, with a burst of wrath, smote Gahalatine so fierce a stroke on +the helm that blood burst from his nose, mouth, and ears, and his head +drooped on his breast. His horse ran in fright from the fray, while he +fell headlong from his saddle to the ground. + +Lancelot now drew back and received from the attendants a stout, strong +spear, and with this rode again into the fray. Before that spear broke +he had unhorsed sixteen knights, some of them being borne from their +saddles, while others were hurled horse and man together to the earth. +Then getting another spear he unhorsed twelve more knights, some of whom +never throve afterwards. This ended the tournament, for the knights of +Northgalis refused to fight any longer against a champion of such +mighty prowess, and the prize was awarded to King Bagdemagus. + +Lancelot now rode with King Bagdemagus from the lists to his castle, +where they had great feasting and rejoicing, and where Lancelot was +proffered rich gifts for the noble service he had rendered. But these he +refused to accept. + +On the following morning Lancelot took his leave, saying that he must go +in search of Lionel, who had vanished from his side during his sleep. +But before going he commended all present to God's grace, and said to +the king's daughter,-- + +"If you have need any time of my service I pray you let me know, and I +shall not fail you, as I am a true knight." + +And so Lancelot departed, having had strange adventures and won much +renown since he had parted from his nephew Lionel. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +HOW LANCELOT AND TURQUINE FOUGHT. + + +Not far nor long had Lancelot ridden before he found himself in familiar +scenes, and in a short time he beheld that same apple-tree under which +he had lain asleep. + +"I shall take care never to sleep again beneath your shade," he said, +grimly. "The fruit you bear is not wholesome for errant knights." + +He rode by it, but had not followed the highway far when he met a damsel +riding on a white palfrey, who saluted him. He courteously returned her +salute, and said,-- + +"Fair damsel, know you of any adventures that may be had in this land?" + +"Sir knight," she replied, "if you crave adventures you will not need to +go far to find one. But it is one it might be safest for you not to +undertake." + +"Why should I not?" said Lancelot. "I came here seeking adventures, and +am not the man to turn back from a shadow." + +"You seem to be a good knight," she replied, regarding him closely. "If +you dare face a powerful fighter, I can bring you where is the best and +mightiest in this land. But first I would know what knight you are." + +"As for my name, you are welcome to it," he replied. "Men call me +Lancelot du Lake." + +"This, then, is the adventure. Near by there dwells a knight who has +never yet found his match, and who is ever ready for a joust. His name +is Sir Turquine. As I am told, he has overcome and has in prison in his +castle sixty-four knights of Arthur's court, whom he has met and +vanquished in single combat. You shall fight with him if you will. And +if you overcome him, then I shall beg for your aid against a false +knight who daily distresses me and other damsels. Have I your promise?" + +"There is nothing I would rather do," said Lancelot. "Bring me now where +I may meet this Turquine. When I have ended with him I shall be at your +service." + +"Come this way," she replied, and led him to the ford and the tree where +hung the basin. + +Lancelot waited here until his horse had drunk, and then he beat on the +basin with the butt of his spear with such force that its bottom fell +out, but no one answered his challenge. He knocked then loudly at the +manor gates, but they remained closed. Finding no entrance, he rode for +half an hour along the manor walls, looking heedfully for Sir Turquine, +whom he fancied must be abroad. At the end of that time he saw a knight +who drove a horse before him, and athwart that horse lay an armed +knight, bound. + +As they drew near, Lancelot noticed something familiar in the aspect of +the bound knight, and when they had come close he recognized him as +Gaheris, the brother of Gawaine, and a Knight of the Round Table. + +"That prisoner is a fellow of mine," he said to the damsel. "I shall +begin, I promise you, by God's help, with rescuing him; and unless his +captor sit better than I in the saddle, I shall deliver all his +prisoners, among whom, I am sure, are some of my near kindred." + +By this time Turquine was close at hand, and on seeing an armed knight +thus confront him he drew up his horse and gripped his spear fiercely. + +"Fair sir," said Lancelot, "put down that wounded knight and let him +rest a while, while you and I find out who is the better man. I am told +you have done much wrong to Knights of the Round Table, and I am here to +revenge them. Therefore, defend yourself." + +"If you be of the Round Table," said Turquine, "I defy you and all your +fellowship." + +"That is easy to say," retorted Lancelot. "Now let me see what you are +ready to do." + +Then, they put their spears in the rests, and rode together with the +force of two ships meeting in mid-ocean, smiting each other so strongly +in the midst of their shields that the backs of both horses broke +beneath them. The knights, astonished at this result, leaped hastily to +the ground to avoid being overthrown. + +Then, drawing their swords and bearing their shields in front, they came +hotly together, striking with such force that shield and armor alike +gave way beneath the mighty blows, and blood soon began to flow freely +from their wounds. Thus for two hours and more the deadly contest +continued, the knights striking, parrying, advancing, and retiring with +all the skill of perfect swordsmen. At the last they both paused through +lack of breath, and stood leaning upon their swords, and facing each +other grimly. + +"Hold thy hand a while, fellow," said Turquine, "and tell me what I +shall ask thee." + +"Say on," rejoined Lancelot, briefly. + +"Thou art the strongest and best-breathed man that ever I met with, and +art much like the knight that I hate most of all men. If you are not he, +then for the esteem I have for you I will release all my prisoners, and +we shall be fellows together while we live. But first of all I would +know your name." + +"You speak well," said Lancelot. "But since you promise me your +friendship, tell me what knight it is you hate so deeply?" + +"His name," said Turquine, "is Lancelot du Lake. He slew my brother +Carados at the dolorous tower, and I have vowed that, if I should meet +him, one of us shall make an end of the other. Through hate of him I +have slain a hundred knights, and maimed as many more, while of those I +have thrown in prison, many are dead, and threescore and four yet live. +If you will tell me your name, and it be not Lancelot, all these shall +be delivered." + +"It stands, then," said Lancelot, "that if I be one man I may have your +peace and friendship, and if I be another man there will be mortal war +between us. If you would know my name, it is Lancelot du Lake, son of +King Ban of Benwick, and Knight of the Table Round. And now do your +best, for I defy you." + +"Ah, Lancelot!" said Turquine, "never was knight so welcome to me. This +is the meeting I have long sought, and we shall never part till one of +us be dead." + +Then they rushed together like two wild bulls, lashing at each other +with shield and sword, and striking such fiery blows that pieces of +steel flew from their armor of proof, and blood poured from many new +wounds. + +Two hours longer the fight continued, Turquine giving Lancelot many +wounds and receiving stinging blows in return, till at the end he drew +back faint with loss of breath and of blood, and bore his shield low +through weakness. This Lancelot quickly perceived, and leaped fiercely +upon him, seizing him by the beaver of his helmet and dragging him down +to his knees. Then he tore off his helm, and swinging in the air his +fatal blade, smote off his head so that it leaped like a live thing upon +the ground, while the body fell prostrate in death. + +"So much for Turquine," said Lancelot. "He will take prisoner no more +Round Table knights. But by my faith, there are not many such men as he, +and he and I might have faced the world. Now, damsel, I am ready to go +with you where you will, but I have no horse." + +"Take that of this wounded knight; and let him go into the manor and +release the prisoners." + +"That is well advised," said Lancelot, who thereupon went to Gaheris and +begged that he would lend him his horse. + +"Lend it!" cried Gaheris. "I will give it, and would give ten if I had +them, for I owe my life and my horse both to you. You have slain in my +sight the mightiest man and the best knight that I ever saw, except +yourself. And, fair sir, I pray you tell me your name?" + +"My name is Lancelot du Lake. I owe you rescue for King Arthur's sake, +and for that of Gawaine, your brother and my comrade. Within that manor +you will find many Knights of the Round Table, whose shields you may see +on yonder tree. I pray you greet them all from me, and say I bid them +take for their own such stuff as they find there. I must ride on with +this damsel to keep my promise, but I hope to be back at the court by +the feast of Pentecost. Bid Lionel and Hector await me there." + +This said, he mounted and rode on, while Gaheris went into the +manor-house. Here he found a yeoman porter, who accosted him surlily. +Gaheris flung the dogged fellow to the floor, and took from him his +keys. With these he opened the prison doors and released the captives, +who thanked him warmly for their rescue, for they saw that he was +wounded, and deemed that he had vanquished Turquine. + +"It was not I," said Gaheris, "that slew your tyrant. You have Lancelot +to thank for that. He greets you all, and asks Lionel and Hector to wait +for him at the court." + +"That we shall not do," said they. "While we live we shall seek him." + +"So shall I," said Kay, who was among the prisoners, "as I am a true +knight." + +Then the released knights sought their armor and horses, and as they did +so a forester rode into the court, with four horses laden with fat +venison. + +"Here is for us," said Kay. "We have not had such a repast as this +promises for many a long day. That rogue Turquine owes us a dinner at +least." + +Then the manor-kitchens were set in a blaze, and the venison was +roasted, baked, and sodden, the half-starved knights enjoying such a +hearty meal as they had long been without. Some of them afterwards +stayed in the manor-house for the night, though in more agreeable +quarters than they had of late occupied. But Lionel, Hector, and Kay +rode in quest of Lancelot, resolved to find him if it were possible, +and to lose no time in the search. + +As for the victorious knight, he had many strange adventures, of which +we can tell only those of most interest. First of all, he performed the +task which the damsel required of him, for he met and killed that false +knight against whom she prayed for redress. + +"You have done this day a double service to mankind," said the damsel, +gratefully. "As Turquine destroyed knights, so did this villain, whose +name was Peris de Forest Savage, destroy and distress ladies and +gentlewomen, and he is well repaid for his villany." + +"Do you want any more service of me?" asked Lancelot. + +"Not at this time. But may heaven preserve you wherever you go, for you +deserve the prayers of all who are in distress. But one thing, it seems +to me, you lack: you are a wifeless knight. The world says that you will +love no maiden, but that your heart is turned only to Queen Guenever, +who has ordained by enchantment that you shall love none but her. This I +hold to be a great pity, and many in the land are sorry to see so noble +a knight so enchained." + +"I cannot stop people from thinking what they will," said Lancelot, "but +as for marrying, I shall not soon consent to be a stay-at-home knight. +And as for Guenever's enchantment, it is only that of beauty and womanly +graciousness. What time may bring me I know not, but as yet it has not +brought me a fancy for wedded life. I thank you for your good wishes, +fair damsel, and courteously bid you farewell." + +With these words Lancelot and she parted, she seeking her home, and the +knight riding in quest of new adventures. For two days his journey +continued, through a country strange to him. On the morning of the third +day he found himself beside a wide stream, which was crossed by a long +bridge, beyond which rose the battlemented towers of a strong castle. + +Lancelot rode upon the bridge, but before he had reached its middle +there started out a foul-faced churl, who smote his horse a hard blow on +the nose, and asked him surlily why he dared cross that bridge without +license. + +"Why should I not, if I wish?" asked the knight. "Who has the right to +hinder?" + +"I have," cried the churl. "You may choose what you will, but you shall +not ride here," and he struck at him furiously with a great iron-shod +club. + +At this affront Lancelot angrily drew his sword, and with one stroke +warded off the blow, and cut the churl's head in twain. + +"So much for you, fool," he said. + +But when he reached the end of the bridge he found there a village, +whose people cried out to him, "You have done a sorry deed for yourself, +for you have slain the chief porter of our castle." + +Lancelot rode on, heedless of their cries, and forcing his great horse +through the throng till he came to the castle walls. The gates of these +stood open, and he rode in, where he saw a fair green court, and beyond +it the stately walls and towers. At the windows were the faces of many +people, who cried to him in dismay,-- + +"Fair knight, turn and fly. Death awaits you here." + +"Fly! I have not learned how," answered Lancelot, as he sprang from his +horse and tied him to a ring in the wall. "This court seems a fair place +for knightly combat, and it fits better with my mood to fight than fly." + +Hardly had he spoken when from the castle doors came two strong giants, +armed all but their heads, and bearing as weapons great iron clubs. They +set upon Lancelot together, the foremost making a stroke that would have +slain him had it reached him. But the knight warded it off with his +shield, and agilely returned the blow with his sword, with so vigorous a +stroke that he cleft the giant's head in twain. + +When his fellow saw this, he turned and ran in panic fear, but Lancelot +furiously pursued him, and struck him so fierce a blow that the sword +clove his great body asunder from shoulder to waist. + +"Is it not better to fight than to fly?" cried Lancelot to the glad +faces which he now saw at the windows, and, leaving the dead giants +crimsoning the green verdure, he strode into the castle hall, where +there came before him threescore ladies, who fell on their knees and +thanked God and him for their deliverance. + +"Blessed be the day thou wert born, sir knight," they said, "for many +brave warriors have died in seeking to do what thou hast achieved this +day. We are all of us gentlewomen born, and many of us have been +prisoners here for seven years, working in silk for these giants that we +might earn our food. We pray you to tell us your name, that our friends +may know who has delivered us, and remember you in their prayers." + +"Fair ladies," he said, "my name is Lancelot du Lake." + +"You may well be he," they replied. "For we know no other knight that +could have faced those giants together, and slain them as you have +done." + +"Say unto your friends," said Lancelot, "that I send them greeting, and +that I shall expect good cheer from them if ever I should come into +their manors. As for the treasure in this castle, I give it to you in +payment for your captivity. For the castle itself, its lord, whom these +giants have dispossessed, may claim again his heritage." + +"The castle," they replied, "is named Tintagil. The duke who owned it +was the husband of Queen Igraine, King Arthur's mother. But it has long +been held by these miscreant giants." + +"Then," said Lancelot, "the castle belongs to the king, and shall be +returned to him. And now farewell, and God be with you." + +So saying, he mounted his horse and rode away, followed by the thanks +and prayers of the rescued ladies. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +THE CHAPEL PERILOUS. + + +Lancelot rode onward day after day, passing through many strange and +wild countries, and over many rivers, and finding but sorry cheer and +ill lodging as he went. At length fortune brought him to a comfortable +wayside mansion, where he was well received, and after a good supper was +lodged in a chamber over the gateway. + +But he had not been long asleep when he was aroused by a furious +knocking at the gate. Springing from his bed, he looked from the window, +and there by the moonlight saw one knight defending himself against +three, who were pressing him closely. The knight fought bravely, but was +in danger of being overpowered. + +"Those are not fair odds," said Lancelot. "I must to the rescue, and the +more so as I see that it is my old friend, Sir Kay, who is being so +roughly handled." + +Then he hastily put on his armor, and by aid of a sheet lowered himself +from a window to the ground. + +"Turn this way," he cried to the assailants, "and leave that knight. +Three to one is not knightly odds." + +At these words they turned upon him, all three striking at him together, +and forcing him to defend himself. Kay would have come to his aid, but +he cried out,-- + +"I will have none of your help. Stand off and leave me alone, or fight +them yourself." + +At this Kay stood aside, and Lancelot attacked the three miscreants so +fiercely that within six strokes he felled them all to the ground. They +now begged for mercy, yielding to him as a man of matchless skill. + +"I will not take your yielding," he replied. "Yield to Sir Kay, here, +whom you foully over-matched." + +"You ask too much of us, fair sir. It is not just that we should yield +to him whom we would have vanquished but for you." + +"Think well," returned Lancelot. "You shall yield or die. The choice is +yours." + +"That is a choice with but one side. Yield we must, if death is the +alternative." + +"Then I bid you on Whitsunday next, to present yourselves to Queen +Guenever at King Arthur's court, and put yourselves in her grace and +mercy, saying that Sir Kay sent you there as prisoners." + +This they took oath to do, each knight swearing upon his sword; +whereupon Lancelot suffered them to depart. + +He now knocked at the gate with the pommel of his sword, till his host +came, who started with surprise on seeing him there. + +"I thought you were safe a-bed," he said. + +"So I was. But I sprang from the window to help an old fellow of mine." + +When they came to the light, Kay recognized Lancelot, and fell on his +knees to thank him for saving his life. + +"What I have done is nothing but what duty and good fellowship +demanded," said Lancelot. "Are you hungry?" + +"Half starved," answered Kay. + +"Mayhap our good host can find you food." + +Meat was thereupon brought, of which Kay ate heartily, after which he +and Lancelot sought their beds in the gate chamber. + +But in the morning Lancelot rose while Kay was still asleep, and took +his guest's armor and shield, leaving his own. Then he proceeded to the +stable, mounted his horse, and rode away. Shortly afterwards Kay awoke, +and quickly perceived what his comrade had done. + +"Good," he said, with a laugh. "Lancelot is after some sport. I fancy +that more than one knight will get more than he bargains for if he +thinks he has me to deal with. As for me, with Lancelot's armor and +shield, I shall be left to ride in peace, for few, I fancy, will trouble +me." + +Kay thereupon put on Lancelot's armor, and, thanking his host, rode +away. Meanwhile Lancelot had ridden on till he found himself in a low +country full of meadows and rivers. Here he passed a bridge at whose end +were three pavilions of silk and sendal, and at the door of each a white +shield on the truncheon of a spear, while three squires stood at the +pavilion doors. Lancelot rode leisurely by, without a word and hardly a +look. + +When he had passed, the knights looked after him, saying to one another, +"That is the proud Kay. He deems no knight so good as he, though it has +often been proved otherwise." + +"I shall ride after him," said one. "We shall see if his pride does not +have a fall. Watch me, comrades, if you would see some sport." + +He sped but poorly, as it proved, for within a short time he was hurled +grovelling to the earth. Then the two others rode in succession against +the disguised knight, and both met with the same sorry fate. + +"You are not Kay, the seneschal," they cried. "He never struck such +blows. Tell us your name and we will yield." + +"You shall yield, whether you will or not," he replied. "Look that you +be at court by Whitsunday, and yield yourselves to Queen Guenever, +saying to her that Sir Kay sent you thither as prisoners." + +This they swore to do, in dread of worse handling, and Lancelot rode on, +leaving them to help themselves as best they might. Not far had he gone +when he entered a forest, and in an open glade of this saw four knights +resting under an oak. He knew them at sight to be from Arthur's court, +two of them being Gawaine and Uwaine; the other two Hector de Maris, and +Sagramour le Desirous. + +They, as the three previous knights had done, mistook Lancelot for Kay, +and Sagramour rode after him, vowing that he would try what skill the +seneschal had. He quickly found, for horse and man together were hurled +to the ground, while Lancelot sat unmoved in his saddle. + +"I would have sworn that Kay could not give such a buffet as that," said +Hector. "Let us see what I can do with him." + +His luck was even worse, for he went to the earth with a spear-hole in +his shoulder, his shield and armor being pierced. + +"By my faith!" said Uwaine, "that knight is a bigger and stronger man +than Kay. He must have slain the seneschal and taken his armor. He has +proved himself a hard man to match, but if Kay has been slain it is our +duty to revenge him." + +He thereupon rode against Lancelot, but with as ill fortune as his +fellows, for he was flung so violently to the earth that he lay long out +of his senses. + +"Whoever he be," cried Gawaine, "he has overturned my comrades, and I +must encounter him. Defend yourself, sir knight." + +Then the two knights rode fiercely together, each striking the other in +the midst of the shield. But Gawaine's spear broke, while that of +Lancelot held good, and struck so strong a blow that the horse was +overturned, Gawaine barely escaping being crushed beneath him. + +This done, Lancelot rode slowly on, smiling to himself, and saying, "God +give joy to the man that made this spear, for a better no knight ever +handled." + +"What say you of this knight, who with one spear has felled us all?" +said Gawaine. "To my thinking, it is Lancelot or the devil. He rides +like Lancelot." + +"We shall find out in good time," said the others; "but he has left us +sore bodies and sick hearts, and our poor horses are the worse for the +trial." + +Lancelot rode on through the forest, thinking quietly to himself of the +surprise he had given to his late assailants, and of the sport it would +thereafter make in the court. But new and stranger adventures awaited +him, for he was now coming into a land of enchantment, where more than +mere strength would be needed. + +What he saw, after he had ridden long and far, was a black brachet, +which was coursing as if in the track of a hurt deer; but he quickly +perceived that the dog was upon a trail of fresh blood. He followed the +brachet, which looked behind as it ran, as if with desire to lead him +on. In time he saw before him an old manor, over whose bridge ran the +dog. When Lancelot had ridden over the bridge, that shook beneath his +hoofs as if it was ready to fall, he came into a great hall, where lay a +dead knight whose wounds the dog was licking. As he stood there a lady +rushed weeping from a chamber, and wrung her hands in grief as she +accused him of having slain her lord. + +"Madam, it was not I," said Lancelot. "I never saw him till his dog led +me here, and I am sorry enough for your misfortune." + +"I should have known it could not be you," she said. "I was led by my +grief to speak wildly. For he that killed my husband is sorely wounded +himself, and I can promise him this, that he will never recover. I have +wrought him a charm that no leech's skill can overcome." + +"What was your husband's name?" asked Lancelot. + +"Sir Gilbert," she replied. "As for him that slew him, I know not his +name." + +"God send you better comfort," said Lancelot. "I am sorry for your +misfortune." + +Then he rode again into the forest, and in a short space met a damsel +who knew him well, for his visor was up and his face shown. + +"You are well found, my lord Lancelot," she said. "I beg you of your +knighthood to help my brother, who lies near by sorely wounded, and +never stops bleeding. He fought to-day with Sir Gilbert and slew him in +fair battle, and now is dying through foul enchantment. Not far from +here dwells a lady sorceress, who has wrought this harm, and who told me +to-day that my brother's wounds would never heal till I could find a +knight who would go into the Chapel Perilous, and bring thence the sword +of the slain knight and a piece of the bloody cloth that he is wrapped +in. My brother will die unless his wounds are touched with that sword +and that cloth, for nothing else on earth will stop their bleeding." + +"This is a marvellous tale," said Lancelot. "Who is your brother?" + +"His name is Meliot de Logres." + +"Then he is one of my fellows of the Round Table, and I will do all I +can to help him. What and where the Chapel Perilous is I know not, but I +do not fear its perils." + +"This highway will bring you to it, and at no great distance," she +replied. "I shall here await your return. I know no knight but you who +can achieve this task, and truly you will find it no light one, for you +have enchantment and sorcery to encounter." + +Little was Lancelot downcast by these words, and he rode on to the +Chapel Perilous with no dread in his bold heart. Reaching the building +indicated, he alighted and tied his horse beside the gate. Then he +entered the church-yard, and there he saw on the chapel front many +shields hung upside down, some of them being well known to him. + +But his eyes were quickly drawn from these, for suddenly there appeared +before him thirty gigantic knights, all clad in jet-black armor, and +every man of them a foot higher than common men. All bore swords and +shields, and as they stood there they grinned and gnashed at him with +baleful faces. + +Dread came into Lancelot's heart on seeing this frightful throng of +black warriors, with their demon-like countenances. But commending his +soul to God, he took his sword in hand and advanced resolutely upon +them. Then, to his surprise and gladness, when they saw this bold +advance they scattered right and left before him, like dead leaves +before the wind, and gave him open passage to the chapel, which he +entered without further opposition. + +Here was no light but that of a dim lamp, and on a bier in the centre of +the aisle there lay a corpse that was covered with a cloth of silk. On +coming up, Lancelot gazed upon the face and saw that it was that of Sir +Gilbert, whose dead body he had seen but lately in the hall of the +manor-house. + +Then he bent over the corpse and cut away a piece of the silk, and as he +did so he felt the floor to sink and rock beneath him as if the earth +had quaked. This gave him a thrill of dread, and seizing the sword that +lay by the side of the corpse he hastened out of the chapel. + +When he reached the chapel-yard the black knights thronged again in his +pathway, and cried to him with voices of thunder,-- + +"Knight, yield us that sword, or you shall die!" + +"Whether I live or die, it will need more than loud words to force me to +yield it. You may fight for it if you will. And I warn you, you will +need to fight hard." + +Then, as before, they scattered before his bold advance, and left him +free passage. Lancelot strode resolutely on through the chapel-yard, but +in the highway beyond he met a fair damsel, who said to him,-- + +"Sir Lancelot, you know not what risk you run. Leave that sword, or you +will die for it." + +"I got it not so easy that I should leave it for a threat," he replied. + +"You are wise," she answered. "I did but test your judgment. If you had +yielded the sword you would never have looked on Queen Guenever again." + +"Then I would have been a fool indeed to leave it." + +"Now, gentle knight, I have but one request to make of you ere you +depart. That is, that you kiss me." + +"Nay," said Lancelot, "that God forbid. I save my kisses till my love is +given." + +"Then are you beyond my power," she cried, with a groan of pain. "Had +you kissed me your life would have ended; but now I have lost my labor, +for it was for you and Gawaine that I prepared this chapel with its +enchantments. Gawaine was once in my power, and at that time he fought +with Sir Gilbert and struck off his left hand. As for you, I have loved +you these seven years. But I know that none but Guenever will ever have +your love, and so, as I could not have you alive, I wished to have you +dead. If you had yielded to my wiles I should have embalmed and +preserved your body, and kissed it daily in spite of Guenever, or any +woman living. Now farewell, Lancelot; I shall never look upon your face +again." + +"I pray to Heaven you shall not. And may God preserve me from your vile +craft." + +Mounting his horse, Lancelot departed. Of the lady, we are told by the +chronicles that she died within a fortnight of pure sorrow, and that she +was a sorceress of high renown. + +Lancelot rode on till he met the sister of the wounded knight, who +clapped her hands and wept for joy on seeing him safely returned. Then +she led him to a castle near by, where Sir Meliot lay. Lancelot knew him +at sight, though he was pale as death from loss of blood. + +On seeing Lancelot, he fell on his knees before him, crying, in tones of +hope,-- + +"Oh, my lord Lancelot, help me, for you alone can!" + +"I can and will," rejoined the knight, and, as he had been advised, he +touched his wounds with the sword and rubbed them with the bloody cloth +he had won. + +No sooner was this done, than Meliot sprang to his feet a whole and +sound man, while his heart throbbed with joy and gratefulness. And he +and his sister entertained their noble guest with the best the castle +afforded, doing all in their power to show their gratitude. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +THE ADVENTURE OF THE FALCON. + + +After his departure from the castle of Sir Meliot, Lancelot rode through +many strange regions, over marshes and highlands, through valleys and +forests, and at length found himself in front of a handsome castle. This +he passed, and as he did so thought he heard two bells ring. + +Then he saw a falcon fly over his head towards a high elm, with long +cords hanging from her feet, and as she perched in the elm these became +coiled round a bough, so that when she tried to fly again the lines held +her and she hung downward by the legs. + +Then there came a lady running from the castle, who cried, as she +approached,-- + +"Oh, Lancelot, Lancelot, as thou art the flower of knights, help me to +get my hawk, lest my lord destroy me! The hawk escaped me, and if my +husband finds it gone, he is so hasty that I fear he will kill me." + +"What is his name?" asked Lancelot. + +"His name is Phelot. He is a knight of the king of Northgalis." + +"Well, fair lady, since you know my name so well, and ask me on my +knighthood to help you, I will try to get your hawk. But I am a poor +climber, and the tree is high, with few boughs to help me." + +"I trust you may," she replied, "for my life depends on your success." + +Then Lancelot alighted and tied his horse to the tree, and begged the +lady to help him remove his armor. When he was fully unarmed he climbed +with much difficulty into the tree, and at length succeeded in reaching +the hawk. He now tied the lines to a rotten branch and threw it and the +bird down to the lady. + +But as she picked it up with a show of joy, there suddenly came from a +grove an armed knight, who rode rapidly up, with his drawn sword in his +hand. + +"Now, Lancelot du Lake," he cried, "I have you as I wanted you. Your day +has come." + +And he stood by the trunk of the tree, ready to slay him when he should +descend. + +"What treason is this?" demanded Lancelot. "False woman, why have you +led me into this?" + +"She did as I bade her," said Phelot. "I hate you, Lancelot, and have +laid this trap for you. You have fought your last fight, my bold +champion, for you come out of that tree but to your death." + +"That would be a shameful deed," cried Lancelot, "for you, an armed +knight, to slay a defenceless man through treachery." + +"Help yourself the best you can," said Phelot; "you get no grace from +me." + +"You will be shamed all your life by so base an act," cried Lancelot. +"If you will do no more, at least hang my sword upon a bough where I may +get it, and then you may do your best to slay me." + +"No, no," said Phelot. "I know you too well for that. You get no weapon +if I can hinder you." + +Lancelot was now in the most desperate strait he was likely ever to +endure. He could not stay forever in the tree, and if he should attempt +to descend there stood that armed villain awaiting him with ready sword. +What to do he knew not, but his eyes glanced warily round, till he saw +just above him a big leafless branch, which he broke off close to the +body of the tree. Thus armed, he climbed down to a lower bough, and +looked down to note the position of the knight and his own horse. + +A quick look told him that there was still a chance for life, and with a +nimble leap he sprang to the ground on the other side of his horse from +the knight. + +Phelot at once struck at him savagely with his sword, thinking to kill +him with the blow; but Lancelot parried it with his heavy club, and in +return dealt his antagonist so fierce a blow on the head as to hurl him +from his horse to the ground. Then wrenching the sword from his hand, he +struck off his villanous head. + +"Alas!" cried the lady, "you have slain my husband!" + +"If I should slay you with him it would be but justice," said Lancelot, +"for you would have killed me through falsehood and treachery, and you +have but your deserts." + +Then the lady swooned away as if she would die, but Lancelot, seeing +that the knight's castle was so nigh, hastened to resume his armor, for +he knew not what other treachery might await him. Then, leaving the lady +still in a swoon, he mounted and rode away, thanking God that he had +come so well through that deadly peril. + +As to Lancelot's other adventures at that time, they were of no great +moment. The chronicles tell that he saw a knight chasing a lady with +intent to kill her, and that he rescued her. Afterwards the knight, who +was her husband and mad with jealousy, struck off her head in Lancelot's +presence. + +Then when Lancelot would have slain him, he grovelled in the dirt and +begged for mercy so piteously, that the knight at length granted him his +shameful life, but made him swear that he would bear the dead body on +his back to Queen Guenever, and tell her of his deed. + +This he accomplished, and was ordered by the queen, as a fitting +penance, to bear the body of his wife to the Pope of Rome and there beg +absolution, and never to sleep at night but with the dead body in the +bed with him. All this the knight did, and the body was buried in Rome +by the Pope's command. Afterwards Pedivere, the knight, repented so +deeply of his vile deed that he became a hermit, and was known as a man +of holy life. + +Two days before the feast of Pentecost, Lancelot returned to Camelot +from his long journey and his many adventures. And there was much +laughter in the court when the knights whom he had smitten down saw him +in Kay's armor, and knew who their antagonist had been. + +"By my faith," said Kay, "I never rode in such peace as I have done in +Lancelot's armor, for I have not found a man willing to fight with me, +and have ruled lord of the land." + +Then the various knights whom Lancelot had bidden to seek the court came +in, one by one, and all were glad to learn that it was by no common man +that they had been overcome. Among them came Sir Belleus, whom Lancelot +had wounded at the pavilion, and who at his request was made a Knight of +the Round Table, and Sir Meliot de Logres, whom he had rescued from the +enchantment of the Chapel Perilous. Also the adventure of the four +queens was told, and how Lancelot had been delivered from the power of +the sorceresses, and had won the tournament for King Bagdemagus. + +And so at that time Lancelot had the greatest name of any knight in the +world, and was the most honored, by high and low alike, of all living +champions. + + + + + BOOK V. + + THE ADVENTURES OF BEAUMAINS. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +THE KNIGHTING OF KAY'S KITCHEN BOY. + + +King Arthur had, early in his reign, established the custom that at the +feast of Pentecost he would never dine until he had seen or heard of +some marvellous event. Through that custom many strange adventures were +brought to his notice. It happened on one day of Pentecost that the king +held his Round Table at a castle called Kinkenadon, on the borders of +Wales. On that day, a little before noon, as Gawaine looked from a +window, he saw three men on horseback and a dwarf on foot approaching +the castle. When they came near the men alighted, and, leaving their +horses in care of the dwarf, they walked towards the castle-gate. One of +these men was very tall, being a foot and a half higher than his +companions. + +On seeing this, Gawaine went to the king and said,-- + +"Sire, I deem you can now safely go to your dinner, for I fancy we have +an adventure at hand." + +[Illustration: KING ARTHUR'S ROUND TABLE, WINCHESTER CATHEDRAL.] + +The king thereupon went to the table with his knights and the kings who +were guests at his court. They were but well seated when there came into +the hall two men, richly attired, upon whose shoulders leaned the +fairest and handsomest young man that any there had ever seen. In body +he was large and tall, with broad shoulders and sturdy limbs, yet he +moved as if he could not bear himself erect, but needed support from his +comrades' shoulders. + +When Arthur saw this youth he bade those around him to make room, and +the stranger with his companions walked up to the high dais without +speaking. + +Then he drew himself up straight and stood erect before the king. + +"King Arthur," he said, "may God bless you and your fellowship, and, +above all, the fellowship of the Round Table. I am come hither to beg of +you three gifts, promising that they shall not be unreasonable, and that +you can honorably grant them without hurt or loss to yourself. The first +I shall ask now, and the other two this day twelvemonth." + +"Ask what you will," said Arthur. "You shall have your gift, if it be so +easy to grant." + +"This is my first petition, that you furnish me meat and drink +sufficient for this year, and until the time has come to ask for my +other gifts." + +"My fair son," said Arthur, "I counsel you to ask more than this. If my +judgment fail not, you are of good birth and fit for noble deeds." + +"However that may be, I have asked all that I now desire." + +"Well, well, you shall have meat and drink enough. I have never denied +that to friend or foe. But what is your name?" + +"Great sir, that I cannot tell you." + +"There is a mystery here. A youth of so handsome face and vigorous form +as you must be of noble parentage. But if you desire secrecy, I shall +not press you." + +Then Arthur bade Kay to take charge of the youth and see that he had the +best fare of the castle, and to find out if he was a lord's son, if +possible. + +"A churl's son, I should say," answered Kay, scornfully, "and not worth +the cost of his meals. Had he been of gentle birth he would have asked +for horse and armor; but he demands that which fits his base-born +nature. Since he has no name, I shall give him one. Let him be called +Beaumains, or Fair Hands. I shall keep him in the kitchen, where he can +have fat broth every day, so that at the years end he will be fat as a +swollen hog." + +Then the two men departed and left the youth with Kay, who continued to +scorn and mock him. + +Gawaine and Lancelot were angry at this, and bade Kay to cease his +mockery, saying that they were sure the youth would prove of merit. + +"Never will he," said Kay. "He has asked as his nature bade him." + +"Beware," said Lancelot. "This is not the first youth you have given a +name in mockery, which turned on yourself at last." + +"I do not fear that of this fellow. I wager that he has been brought up +in some abbey, and came hither because good eating failed him there." + +Kay then bade him get a place and sit down to his meal, and Beaumains +sought a place at the hall-door among boys and menials. + +Gawaine and Lancelot thereupon asked him to come to their chambers, +where he should be well fed and lodged; but he refused, saying that he +would do only as Kay commanded, since the king had so bidden. + +It thus came about that Beaumains ate in the kitchen among the menials, +and slept in sorry quarters. And during the whole year he was always +meek and mild, and gave no cause for displeasure to man or child. + +But whenever there was jousting of knights he was always present to see, +and seemed in this sport to take great delight. And Gawaine and +Lancelot, who felt sure that the youth but bided his time, gave him +clothes and what money he needed. Also, wherever there were sports of +skill or strength he was sure to be on hand, and in throwing the bar or +stone he surpassed all contestants by two yards. + +"How like you my boy of the kitchen?" Kay would say, on seeing these +feats. "Fat broth is good for the muscles." + +And so the year passed on till the festival of Whitsuntide came again. +The court was now at Carlion, where royal feasts were held. But the +king, as was his custom, refused to eat until he should hear of some +strange adventure. + +While he thus waited a damsel came into the hall and saluted the king, +and begged aid and succor of him. + +"For whom?" asked Arthur. "Of what do you complain?" + +"Sire," she replied, "I serve a lady of great worth and merit, who is +besieged in her castle by a tyrant, and dares not leave her gates for +fear of him. I pray you send with me some knight to succor her." + +"Who is your lady, and where does she dwell? And what is the name of the +man who besieges her?" + +"Her name I must not now tell. I shall only say that she has wide lands +and is a noble lady. As for the tyrant that distresses her, he is called +the Red Knight of the Red Lawns." + +"I know him not," said the king. + +"I know him well," said Gawaine. "Men say he has seven men's strength. I +escaped him once barely with life." + +"Fair damsel," said the king, "there are knights here who would do their +utmost to rescue your lady. But if you will not tell me her name nor +where she lives, none of them shall go with my consent." + +"Then I must seek further," said the damsel, "for that I am forbidden to +tell." + +At this moment Beaumains came to the king, and said,-- + +"Royal sir, I have been twelve months in your kitchen, and have had all +you promised me; now I desire to ask for my other two gifts." + +"Ask, if you will. I shall keep to my word." + +"This, then, is what I request. First, that you send me with the damsel, +for this adventure belongs to me." + +"You shall have it," said the king. + +"My third request is that you shall bid Lancelot du Lake make me a +knight, for he is the only man in your court from whom I will take that +honor. When I am gone let him ride after me, and dub me knight when I +require it of him." + +"I grant your wish," said the king. "All shall be done as you desire." + +"Fie on you all!" cried the damsel. "I came here for a knight, and you +offer me a kitchen scullion. Is this King Arthur's way of rescuing a +lady in distress? If so, I want none of it, and will seek my knight +elsewhere." + +She left the court, red with anger, mounted her horse, and rode away. + +She had hardly gone when a page of the court came to Beaumains and told +him that his dwarf was without, with a noble horse and a rich suit of +armor, and all other necessaries of the best. + +At this all the court marvelled, for they could not imagine who had sent +all this rich gear to a kitchen menial. But when Beaumains was armed, +there were none in the court who presented a more manly aspect than he. +He took courteous leave of the king, and of Gawaine and Lancelot, +praying the latter that he would soon ride after him. This done, he +mounted his horse and pursued the damsel. + +But those who observed him noticed that, while he was well horsed and +had trappings of cloth of gold, he bore neither shield nor spear. Among +those who watched him was Kay, who said,-- + +"Yonder goes my kitchen drudge, as fine a knight as the best of us, if a +brave show were all that a knight needed. I have a mind to ride after +him, to let him know that I am still his superior." + +"You had better let him alone," said Gawaine. "You may find more than +you bargain for." + +But Kay armed himself and rode after Beaumains, whom he overtook just as +he came up with the damsel. + +"Hold there, Beaumains," he cried, in mockery. "Do you not know me?" + +"Yes," answered the young man. "I know you for an ungentle knight of the +court, who has put much despite upon me. It is my turn to repay you for +your insults; so, sirrah, defend yourself." + +Kay thereupon put his spear in rest and rode upon Beaumains, who awaited +him sword in hand. When they came together, Beaumains, with a skilful +parry, turned aside the spear, and then with a vigorous thrust wounded +Kay in the side, so that he fell from his horse like a dead man. This +done, he dismounted and took Kay's shield and spear, and bade his dwarf +take his horse. + +All this was observed by the damsel, and also by Lancelot, who had +followed closely upon the track of the seneschal. + +"Now, Sir Lancelot, I am ready to accept your offer to knight me," said +Beaumains, "but, first, I would prove myself worthy of the honor, and so +will joust with you, if you consent." + +"That I shall certainly not decline," said Lancelot, counting upon an +easy victory. + +But when the knight and the youth rode against each other both were +hurled from their horses to the earth, and sorely bruised. But Beaumains +was entangled in his harness, and Lancelot helped him from his horse. + +Then Beaumains flung aside his shield and proffered to fight Lancelot +on foot, to which the latter consented. For an hour they fought, +Beaumains showing such strength that Lancelot marvelled at it, and +esteemed him more a giant than a knight. He began, indeed, to fear that +he might be vanquished in the end, and at length cried out,-- + +"Beaumains, you fight too hard, considering that there is no quarrel +between us. I fancy you need no further proof." + +"That is true enough, my lord," said Beaumains. "But it did me good to +feel your might. As for my own strength, I hardly know it yet." + +"It is as much as I want to deal with," said Lancelot. "I had to do my +best to save my honor." + +"Then you think I may prove myself a worthy knight?" + +"I warrant you that, if you do as well as you have done to-day." + +"I pray you, then, to invest me with the order of knighthood." + +"That shall I willingly do. But you must first tell me your name, and +that of your father." + +"You will keep my secret?" + +"I promise you that on my faith, until you are ready to reveal it +yourself." + +"Then, sir, my name is Gareth, and I am Gawaine's brother, though he +knows it not. I was but a child when he became a knight, but King Lot +was my father." + +"I am very glad to hear that," said Lancelot. "I knew you were of gentle +blood, and came to court for something else than meat and drink." + +Then Gareth kneeled before Lancelot, who made him a knight, and bade +him be a good and worthy one, and to honor his birth by his deeds. + +Lancelot then left him and returned to Kay, who lay half dead in the +road. He had him borne back to the court, but his wound proved long in +healing, and he found himself the scorn of the court for his +discourteous treatment of the youth who had been put in his care. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE BLACK, THE GREEN, AND THE RED KNIGHTS. + + +When Beaumains overtook the damsel, he received from her but a sorry +greeting. + +"How dare you follow me?" she said. "You smell too much of the kitchen +for my liking. Your clothes are foul with grease and tallow, and I +marvel much that King Arthur made a knight of such a sorry rogue. As for +yonder knight whom you wounded, there is no credit in that, for it was +done by treachery and cowardice, not by skill and valor. I know well why +Kay named you Beaumains, for you are but a lubber and turner of spits, +and a washer of soiled dishes." + +"Say what you will, damsel," answered Beaumains, "you shall not drive me +away. King Arthur chose me to achieve your adventure, and I shall +perform it or die." + +"Fie on you, kitchen knave! you would not dare, for all the broth you +ever supped, to look the red knight in the face." + +"Would I not? That is to be seen." + +As they thus angrily debated, there came to them a man flying at full +speed. + +"Help me, sir knight!" he cried. "Six thieves have taken my lord and +bound him, and I fear they will slay him if he be not rescued." + +"Lead me to him," said Beaumains. + +He followed the man to a neighboring glade, where he saw a knight bound +and prostrate, surrounded by six sorry-looking villains. At sight of +this the heart of Beaumains leaped with anger. With a ringing battle-cry +he rushed upon the knaves, and with three vigorous strokes laid three of +them dead upon the earth. The others fled, but he followed at full +speed, and quickly overtook them. Then they turned and assailed him +fiercely, but after a short fight he slew them all. He then rode back to +the knight, whom his man had unbound. + +The rescued knight thanked him warmly, and begged him to ride with him +to his castle, where he would reward him for his great service. But +Beaumains answered that he was upon a quest which could not be left, and +as for reward he would leave that to God. + +Then he turned and rode back to the damsel, who greeted him with the +same contempt as before, bidding him ride farther from her, as she could +not bear the smell of the kitchen. + +"Do you fancy that I esteem you any the nobler for having killed a few +churls? You shall see a sight yet, sir knave, that will make you turn +your back, and that quickly." + +Not much farther had they ridden when they were overtaken by the rescued +knight, who begged them, as it was near night, and his castle close at +hand, to spend the night there. The damsel agreed to this, and they rode +together to the castle, where they were well entertained. + +But at supper the knight set Beaumains before the damsel. + +"Fie, fie! sir knight," she exclaimed. "This is discourteous, to seat a +kitchen page before a lady of high birth. This fellow is more used to +carve swine than to sit at lords' tables." + +To this Beaumains made no answer, but the knight was ashamed, and +withdrew with his guest to a side table, leaving her to the honor of the +high table alone. When morning came they thanked the knight for their +entertainment, and rode refreshed away. + +Other adventures were ready for Beaumains before they had ridden far, +for they soon found themselves at the side of a river that had but a +single ford, and on the opposite side stood two knights, ready to +dispute the passage with any who should attempt it. + +"What say you to this?" asked the damsel. "Will you face yonder knights, +or turn back?" + +"I shall not turn; nor would I, if there were six more of them. You +shall see that I can deal with knights as well as knaves." + +Then he rode into the water, in the midst of which he met one of the +knights, their spears breaking as they came fiercely together. They then +drew their swords and began a fierce fight in the centre of the ford. +But at last Beaumains dealt his opponent a blow on the helm that stunned +him, and hurled him from his horse into the water, where he was quickly +drowned. + +Beaumains now spurred forward to the land, where the other knight rushed +upon him as he touched shore, breaking his spear, but not shaking the +young champion in his seat. Then they went at it with sword and shield, +and with the same fortune as before, for Beaumains quickly cleaved the +helmet and brain of his opponent, and left him dead on the ground. + +He now turned and called proudly to the damsel, bidding her to ride +forward, as he had cleared the ford for her passage. + +"Alas!" she cried, "that a kitchen page should have the fortune to kill +two valiant knights. You fancy you have done a doughty deed, but I deny +it. The first knight was drowned through his horse stumbling, and the +other one you struck a foul blow from behind. Never brag of this, for I +can attest it was not honestly done." + +"You may say what you will," rejoined Beaumains. "Whoever seeks to +hinder me shall make way or kill me, for nothing less than death shall +stop me on my quest to aid your lady." + +"You can boast loudly before a woman. Wait till you meet the knights I +take you to, and you will be taught another lesson." + +"Fair damsel, if you will but give me courteous language, I shall ask no +more. As for the knights you speak of, let come what will come." + +"I say this for your own good; for if you continue to follow me you +will be slain. What you have done is by misadventure, not by prowess. If +you are wise, you will turn back with what little honor you may claim." + +"Say what you choose, damsel, but wherever you go there go I, and it +will take more than insulting words to turn me back." + +So they rode on till evening, she continuing to chide and berate him, +and bid him leave her, and he answering meekly, but with no abatement of +his resolution. + +Finally a strange sight came to them. For before them they saw a black +lawn, in whose midst grew a black hawthorn. On one side of this hung a +black banner, and on the other a black shield, while near by stood a +black spear of great size, and a massive black horse covered with silk. +Near by was a knight armed in black armor, who was known as the Knight +of the Black Lawn. + +The damsel, on seeing this knight, bade Beaumains flee down the valley, +telling him that he might still escape, for the knight's horse was not +saddled. + +"Gramercy," said Beaumains, "will you always take me for a coward? I fly +not from one man, though he be as black as ten ravens." + +The black knight, seeing them approach, thus addressed the damsel,-- + +"So, my lady, you are here again! Have you brought this knight from King +Arthur's court to be your champion?" + +"Hardly so, fair sir. This is but a kitchen knave, who was fed in +Arthur's court through charity, and has followed me as a cur follows +his master." + +"Why comes he then in knightly guise? And what do you in such foul +company?" + +"I cannot get rid of him, sir. He rides with me in my despite. I bring +him here that you may rid me of the unhappy knave. Through mishap and +treachery he killed two knights at the river ford, and did other deeds +that might have been of worth were they fairly done. Yet he is but a +sorry poltroon." + +"I am surprised," said the black knight, "that any man of worth will +fight with him." + +"They knew him not," she answered, "and fancy him of some credit from +his riding with me, and from his brave show of armor." + +"That may be," said the black knight. "Yet, knave or not, he looks like +a strong fellow. This much I shall do to relieve you of him. I shall put +him on foot, and take from him his horse and armor. It would be a shame +to do him more harm." + +Beaumains had heard all this, biting his lips in anger. He now +scornfully replied,-- + +"Sir knight, you are liberal in disposing of my horse and armor, but +beware you do not pay a fair price for them. Whether you like it or not, +this lawn I shall pass, and you will get no horse or armor of mine till +you win them in open fight. Let me see if you can do it." + +"Say you so? You shall yield me this lady, or pay dearly for it; for it +does not beseem a kitchen page to ride with a lady of high degree." + +"If you want her, you must win her," said Beaumains, "and much comfort +may you get from her tongue. As for me, I am a gentleman born, and of +higher birth than you; and will prove this on your body if you deny it." + +Then in hot anger they rode apart, and came together with a sound of +thunder. The spear of the black knight broke, but Beaumains thrust him +through the side, the spear breaking in his body, and leaving the +truncheon in his flesh. Yet, despite his wound, he drew his sword and +struck with strength and fury at his antagonist. But the fight lasted +not long, for the black knight, faint with loss of blood, fell from his +horse in a swoon, and quickly died. + +Then Beaumains, seeing that the horse and armor were better than his +own, dismounted and put on the dead knight's armor. Now, mounting the +sable horse, he rode after the damsel. On coming up she greeted him as +before. + +"Away, knave, the smell of thy clothes displeases me. And what a pity it +is that such as you should by mishap slay so good a knight! But you will +be quickly repaid, unless you fly, for there is a knight hereby who is +double your match." + +"I may be beaten or slain, fair damsel," said Beaumains; "but you cannot +drive me off by foul words, or by talking of knights who will beat or +kill me. Somehow I ride on and leave your knights on the ground. You +would do well to hold your peace, for I shall follow you, whatever may +happen, unless I be truly beaten or slain." + +So they rode on, Beaumains in silence, but the damsel still at times +reviling, till they saw approaching them a knight who was all in green, +both horse and harness. As he came nigh, he asked the damsel,-- + +"Is that my brother, the black knight, who rides with you?" + +"No," she replied. "Your brother is dead. This unhappy kitchen knave has +slain him through mishap." + +"Alas!" cried the green knight, "has so noble a warrior as he been slain +by a knave! Traitor, you shall die for your deed!" + +"I defy you," said Beaumains. "I slew him knightly and not shamefully, +and am ready to answer to you with sword and spear." + +Then the knight took a green horn from his saddle-bow, and blew on it +three warlike notes. Immediately two damsels appeared, who aided him in +arming. This done, he mounted his steed, took from their hands a green +spear and green shield, and stationed himself opposite Beaumains. + +Setting spurs to their horses they rode furiously together, both +breaking their spears, but keeping their seats. Then they attacked each +other, sword in hand, and cut and slashed with knightly vigor. At +length, in a sudden wheel, Beaumains's horse struck that of the green +knight on the side and overturned it, the knight having to leap quickly +to escape being overthrown. + +When Beaumains saw this, he also sprang to the earth and met his +antagonist on foot. Here they fought for a long time, till both had lost +much blood. + +"You should be ashamed to stand so long fighting with a kitchen knave," +cried the damsel at last to the green knight. "Who made you knight, that +you let such a lad match you, as the weed overgrows the corn?" + +Her words of scorn so angered the green knight that he struck a wrathful +blow at Beaumains, which cut deeply into his shield. Beaumains, roused +by this and by the damsel's language, struck back with such might on the +helm of his foe as to hurl him to his knees. Then, seizing him, he flung +him to the ground, and towered above him with upraised sword. + +"I yield me!" cried the knight. "Slay me not, I beg of you." + +"You shall die," answered Beaumains, "unless this damsel pray me to +spare your life," and he unlaced his helm, as with intent to slay him. + +"Pray you to save his life!" cried the damsel, in scorn. "I shall never +so demean myself to a page of the kitchen." + +"Then he shall die." + +"Slay him, if you will. Ask me not to beg for his life." + +"Alas!" said the green knight, "you would not let me die when you can +save my life with a word? Fair sir, spare me, and I will forgive you my +brother's death, and become your man, with thirty knights who are at my +command." + +"In the fiend's name!" cried the damsel, "shall such a knave have +service of thee and thirty knights?" + +"All this avails nothing," said Beaumains. "You shall have your life +only at this damsel's request," and he made a show as if he would slay +him. + +"Let him be, knave," said the damsel. "Slay him not, or you shall repent +it." + +"Damsel," said Beaumains, "your request is to me a command and a +pleasure. His life shall be spared, since you ask it. Sir knight of the +green array, I release you at the damsel's request, for I am bound by +her wish, and will do all that she commands." + +Then the green knight kneeled down and did homage with his sword. + +"I am sorry, sir knight, for your mishap, and for your brother's death," +said the damsel. "I had great need of your help, for I dread the passage +of this forest." + +"You need not," he replied. "To-night you shall lodge at my castle, and +to-morrow I will aid you to pass the forest." + +So they rode to his manor, which was not far distant. Here it happened +as it had on the evening before, for the damsel reviled Beaumains, and +would not listen to his sitting at the same table with her. + +"Why deal you such despite to this noble warrior?" said the green +knight. "You are wrong, for he will do you good service, and whatever he +declares himself to be, I warrant in the end you will find him to come +of right noble blood." + +"You say far more of him than he deserves," she replied. "I know him too +well." + +"And so do I, for he is the best champion I ever found; and I have +fought in my day with many worthy knights." + +That night, when they went to rest, the green knight set a guard over +Beaumains's chamber, for he feared some harm to him from the bitter +scorn and hatred of the damsel. In the morning he rode with them through +the forest, and at parting said,-- + +"My lord Beaumains, I and my knights shall always be at your summons, +early or late, or whatever be the service you demand." + +"That is well said. When I require your service it will be to yield +yourself and your knights to King Arthur." + +"If you bid us do so, we shall be ready at all times." + +"Fie on you!" said the damsel. "It shames me to see good knights +obedient to a kitchen knave." + +After they had parted she turned to Beaumains, and said, despitefully,-- + +"Why wilt thou follow me, lackey of the kitchen? Cast away thy spear and +shield and fly while you may, for that is at hand which you will not +easily escape. Were you Lancelot himself, or any knight of renown, you +would not lightly venture on a pass just in advance of us, called the +pass perilous." + +"Damsel," said Beaumains, "he who is afraid let him flee. It would be a +shame for me to turn back, after having ridden so far with you." + +"You soon shall, whether it be to your liking or not," replied the +damsel, scornfully. + +What the damsel meant quickly appeared, for in a little time they came +in sight of a tower which was white as snow in hue, and with every +appliance for defence. Over the gateway hung fifty shields of varied +colors, and in front spread a level meadow. On this meadow were +scaffolds and pavilions, and many knights were there, for there was to +be a tournament on the morrow. + +The lord of the castle was at a window, and as he looked upon the +tournament field he saw approaching a damsel, a dwarf, and a knight +armed at all points. + +"A knight-errant, as I live!" said the lord. "By my faith, I shall joust +with him, and get myself in train for the tournament." + +He hastily armed and rode from the gates. What Beaumains saw was a +knight all in red, his horse, harness, shield, spear, and armor alike +being of this blood-like color. The red knight was, indeed, brother to +those whom Beaumains had lately fought, and on seeing the black array of +the youth, he cried,-- + +"Brother, is it you? What do you in these marshes?" + +"No, no, it is not he," said the damsel, "but a kitchen knave who has +been brought up on alms in Arthur's court." + +"Then how got he that armor?" + +"He has slain your brother, the black knight, and taken his horse and +arms. He has also overcome your brother, the green knight. I hope you +may revenge your brothers on him, for I see no other way of getting rid +of him." + +"I will try," said the red knight, grimly. "Sir knight, take your place +for a joust." + +Beaumains, who had not yet spoken, rode to a proper distance, and then +the two knights rushed together with such even force that both horses +fell to the ground, the riders nimbly leaping from them. + +Then with sword and shield they fought like wild boars for the space of +two hours, advancing, retreating, feigning, striking, now here, now +there, till both were well weary of the fray. But the damsel, who looked +on, now cried loudly to the red knight,-- + +"Alas, noble sir, will you let a kitchen knave thus endure your might, +after all the honor you have won from worthy champions?" + +Then the red knight flamed with wrath, and attacked Beaumains with such +fury that he wounded him so that the blood flowed in a stream to the +ground. Yet the young knight held his own bravely, giving stroke for +stroke, and by a final blow hurled his antagonist to the earth. He had +raised his sword to slay him, when the red knight craved mercy, +saying,-- + +"Noble, sir, you have me at advantage, but I pray you not to slay me. I +yield me with the fifty knights at my command. And I forgive you all you +have done to my brothers." + +"That will not suffice," said Beaumains. "You must die, unless the +damsel shall pray me to spare your life." And he raised his sword as if +for the fatal blow. + +"Let him live, then, Beaumains. He is a noble knight, and it is only by +a chance blow that you have overcome him." + +"It is enough that you ask it," said Beaumains. "Rise, sir knight, and +thank this damsel for your life." + +The red knight did so, and then prayed that they would enter his castle +and spend the night there. To this they consented, but as they sat at +supper the damsel continued to berate her champion, in such language +that their host marvelled at the meekness of the knight. + +In the morning the red knight came to Beaumains with his followers, and +proffered to him his homage and fealty at all times. + +"I thank you," said Beaumains, "but all I ask is, that when I demand it +you shall go to Arthur's court, and yield yourself as his knight." + +"I and my fellowship will ever be ready at your summons," replied the +red knight. + +Then Beaumains and the damsel resumed their journey, while she, as if in +a fury of spite, berated him more vilely than ever before. + +"Fair lady," he said, with all meekness, "you are discourteous to revile +me as you do. What would you have of me? The knights that you have +threatened me with are all dead or my vassals. When you see me beaten, +then you may bid me go in shame and I will obey, but till then I will +not leave you. I were worse than a fool to be driven off by insulting +words when I am daily winning honor." + +"You shall soon meet a knight who will test your boasted strength. So +far you have fought with boys. Now you have a man who would try Arthur's +self." + +"Let him come," said Beaumains. "The better a man he is, the more honor +shall I gain from a joust with him." + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE RED KNIGHT OF THE RED LAWNS. + + +Beaumains rode forward with the damsel till it was close upon the hour +of noon, when he saw that they were approaching a rich and fair city, +well walled, and with many noble buildings. + +Between them and the city extended a new-mown meadow, a mile and a half +in width, on which were placed many handsome pavilions. + +"These pavilions belong to the lord who owns that city," said the +damsel. "It is his custom, during fair weather, to joust and tourney in +this meadow. He has around him five hundred knights and gentlemen of +arms, and they have knightly games of all sorts." + +"I shall be glad to see that worthy lord," said Beaumains. + +"That you shall, and very soon." + +She rode on till she came in sight of the lord's pavilion. + +"Look yonder," she said. "That rich pavilion, of the color of India, is +his. All about him, men and women, and horse-trappings, shields, and +spears, are of the same rare color. His name is Sir Persant of India, +and you will find him the lordliest knight you ever saw." + +"Be he never so stout a knight," answered Beaumains, "I shall abide in +this field till I see him behind his shield." + +"That is a fool's talk," she replied. "If you were a wise man, you +would fly." + +"Why should I?" rejoined Beaumains. "If he be as noble a knight as you +say, he will meet me alone; not with all his men. And if there come but +one at a time I shall not fail to face them while life lasts." + +"That is a proud boast for a greasy kitchen lout," she answered. + +"Let him come and do his worst," said Beaumains. "I would rather fight +him five times over than endure your insults. You are greatly to blame +to treat me so vilely." + +"Sir," she replied, with a sudden change of tone, "I marvel greatly who +you are, and of what kindred you come. This I will admit, that you have +performed as boldly as you have promised. But you and your horse have +had great labor, and I fear we have been too long on the road. The place +we seek is but seven miles away, and we have passed all points of peril +except this. I dread, therefore, that you may receive some hurt from +this strong knight that will unfit you for the task before you. For +Persant, strong as he is, is no match for the knight who besieges my +lady, and I would have you save your strength for the work you have +undertaken." + +"Be that as it may," said Beaumains, "I have come so near the knight +that I cannot withdraw without shame. I hope, with God's aid, to become +his master within two hours, and then we can reach your lady's castle +before the day ends." + +"Much I marvel," cried the damsel, "what manner of man you are. You must +be of noble blood, for no woman ever before treated a knight so +shamefully as I have you, and you have ever borne it courteously and +meekly. Such patience could never come but from gentle blood." + +"A knight who cannot bear a woman's words had better doff his armor," +answered Beaumains. "Do not think that I heeded not your words. But the +anger they gave me was the worse for my adversaries, and you only aided +to make me prove myself a man of worth and honor. If I had meat in +Arthur's kitchen, what odds? I could have had enough of it in many a +place. I did it but to prove who were worthy to be my friends, and that +I will in time make known. Whether I be a gentleman born or not, I have +done you a gentleman's service, and may do better before we part." + +"That you have, fair Beaumains," she said. "I ask your forgiveness for +all I have said or done." + +"I forgive you with all my heart," he replied. "It pleases me so to be +with you that I have found joy even in your evil words. And now that you +are pleased to speak courteously to me, it seems to me that I am stout +at heart enough to meet any knight living." + +As to the battle that followed between Beaumains and Persant, it began +and ended much like those that we have related, Persant in the end being +overcome, and gaining his life at the lady's request. He yielded himself +and a hundred knights to be at Beaumains's command, and invited the +travellers to his pavilion, where they were feasted nobly. + +In the morning Beaumains and the damsel after breakfasting, prepared to +continue their journey. + +"Whither do you lead this knight?" asked Persant of the damsel. + +"Sir knight," she replied, "he is going to the aid of my sister, who is +besieged in the Castle Dangerous." + +"Ah!" cried Persant, "then he will have to do with the Knight of the Red +Lawns, a man without mercy, and with the strength of seven men. I fear +you take too perilous a task, fair sir. This villain has done great +wrong to the lady of the castle, Dame Lioness. I think, fair damsel, you +are her sister, Linet?" + +"That is my name," replied the damsel. + +"This I may say," rejoined Persant: "the Knight of the Red Lawns would +have had the castle long ago, but it is his purpose to draw to the +rescue Lancelot, Gawaine, Tristram, or Lamorak, whom he is eager to +match his might against." + +"My Lord Persant of India," said Linet, "will you not make this +gentleman a knight before he meets this dread warrior?" + +"With all my heart," answered Persant. + +"I thank you for your good will," said Beaumains, "but I have been +already knighted, and that by the hand of Sir Lancelot." + +"You could have had the honor from no more renowned knight," answered +Persant. "He, Tristram, and Lamorak now bear the meed of highest renown, +and if you fairly match the red knight you may claim to make a fourth in +the world's best champions." + +"I shall ever do my best," answered Beaumains. "This I may tell you: I +am of noble birth. If you and the damsel will keep my secret I will tell +it you." + +"We shall not breathe it except with your permission," they replied. + +"Then I will acknowledge that my name is Gareth of Orkney, that King Lot +was my father, and that I am a nephew of King Arthur, and brother to +Gawaine, Gaheris, and Agravaine. Yet none of these know who I am, for +they left my father's castle while I was but a child." + +While they were thus taking leave, Beaumains's dwarf had ridden ahead to +the besieged castle, where he saw the Lady Lioness, and told her of the +champion her sister was bringing, and what deeds he had done. + +"I am glad enough of these tidings," said the lady. "There is a +hermitage of mine near by, where I would have you go, and take thither +two silver flagons of wine, of two gallons each; also bread, baked +venison, and fowls. I give you also a rich cup of gold for the knight's +use. Then go to my sister, and bid her present my thanks to the knight, +and pray him to eat and drink, that he may be strong for the great task +he undertakes. Tell him I thank him for his courtesy and goodness, and +that he whom he is to meet has none of these qualities, but strong and +bold as he is, cares for nothing but murder." + +This message the dwarf brought back, and led the knight and damsel to +the hermitage, where they rested and feasted on the rich food provided. +They spent the night there, and in the morning heard mass and broke +their fast. Then they mounted and rode towards the besieged castle. + +Their journey soon brought them to a plain, where they saw many tents +and pavilions, and a castle in the distance. And there was a great noise +and much smoke, as from a large encampment. As they came nearer the +castle Beaumains saw before him a number of great trees, and from these +hung by the neck armed knights, with their shields and swords, and gilt +spurs on their heels. Of these there were in all nearly forty. + +"What means this sorrowful sight?" asked Beaumains, with a look of deep +concern. + +"Do not be depressed by what you see," said Linet. "You must keep in +spirit, or it will be the worse for you and us all. These knights came +here to the rescue of my sister, and the red knight, when he had +overcome them, put them to this shameful death, without mercy or pity. +He will serve you in the same way if he should vanquish you." + +"Jesu defend me from such a shameful death and disgrace!" cried +Beaumains. "If I must die, I hope to be slain in open battle." + +"It would be better, indeed. But trust not to his courtesy, for thus he +treats all." + +"It is a marvel that so vile a murderer has been left to live so long. I +shall do my best to end his career of crime." + +Then they rode to the castle, and found it surrounded with high and +strong walls, with double ditches, and lofty towers within. Near the +walls were lodged many lords of the besieging army, and there was great +sound of minstrelsy and merry-making. On the opposite side of the castle +was the sea, and here vessels rode the waves and the cries of mariners +were heard. + +Near where they stood was a lofty sycamore-tree, and on its trunk hung a +mighty horn made from an elephant's tusk. This the Knight of the Red +Lawns had hung there, in order that any errant knight, who wished to +battle for the castle, might summons him to the fray. + +"But let me warn you," said Linet, "not to blow it till noon. For it is +now nearly day, and men say that his strength increases till the +noontide hour. To blow it now would double your peril." + +"Do not advise me thus, fair damsel," said Beaumains. "I shall meet him +at his highest might, and win worshipfully or die knightly in the field. +It must be man to man and might to might." + +Therewith he spurred his horse to the sycamore, and, taking the horn in +hand, blew with it such a blast that castle and camp rang with the +sound. + +At the mighty blast knights leaped from their tents and pavilions, and +those in the castle looked from walls and windows, to see what manner of +man was this that blew so lustily. But the Red Knight of the Red Lawns +armed in all haste, for he had already been told by the dwarf of the +approach of this champion. He was all blood-red in hue, armor, shield, +and spurs. An earl buckled on his helm, and they then brought him a red +steed and a red spear, and he rode into a little vale near the castle, +so that all within and without the castle might behold the battle. + +"Look you be light and glad," said Linet to the knight, "for yonder is +your deadly enemy, and at yonder window is my sister, Dame Lioness." + +"Where?" asked Beaumains. + +"Yonder," she said, pointing. + +"I see her," said Beaumains. "And from here she seems the fairest lady I +ever looked upon. I ask no better quarrel than to fight for her, and +wish no better fate than to greet her as my lady," and his face grew +glad as he looked up to the window. + +As he did so the Lady Lioness made a grateful courtesy to him, bending +to the earth and holding up her hands. This courtesy was returned by +Beaumains; but now the Knight of the Red Lawns rode forward. + +"Leave your looking, sir knight," he said. "Or look this way, for I warn +you that she is my lady, and I have done many battles for her." + +"You waste your time, then, it seems to me, for she wants none of your +love. And to waste love on those who want it not is but folly. If I +thought she would not thank me for it, I would think twice before doing +battle for her. But she plainly wants not you, and I will tell you this: +I love her, and will rescue her or die." + +"Say you so? The knights who hang yonder might give you warning." + +"You shame yourself and knighthood by such an evil custom," said +Beaumains, hotly. "How can any lady love such a man as you? That +shameful sight gives me more courage than fear, for I am nerved now to +revenge those knights as well as to rescue yonder lady." + +"Make ready," cried the red knight; "we have talked enough." + +Then Beaumains bade the damsel retire to a safe distance. Taking their +places, they put their spears in rest, and came together like two +thunderbolts, each smiting the other so fiercely that the breast-plates, +horse-girths, and cruppers burst, and both fell to the earth with the +bridle-reins still in their hands, and they lay awhile stunned by the +fall. + +So long they lay indeed that all who looked on thought that both their +necks were broken, and said that the stranger knight must be of mighty +prowess, for never had the red knight been so roughly handled before. + +But ere long the knights regained their breath and sprang to their feet. +Then, drawing their swords, they ran like fierce lions together, giving +each other such buffets on the helms that both reeled backwards, while +pieces were hewed out from their armor and shields and fell into the +field. + +Thus they fought on till it was past noon, when both stopped for breath, +and stood panting and bleeding till many who beheld them wept for pity. +When they had rested awhile they again went to battle, now gnashing at +each other with their swords like tusked boars, and now running together +like furious rams, so that at times both fell to the ground; and at +times they were grappled so closely that they changed swords in the +wrestle. + +This went on till evening was near at hand, and so evenly they continued +matched that none could know which would win. Their armor was so hewn +away that the naked flesh showed in places, and these places they did +their utmost to defend. The red knight was a wily fighter, and Beaumains +suffered sorely before he learned his methods and met him in his own +way. + +At length, by mutual assent, they granted each other a short time for +rest, and seated themselves upon two hillocks, where each had his page +to unlace his helm and give him a breath of the cold air. + +While Beaumains's helm was off he looked at the castle window, and there +saw the Lady Lioness, who looked at him in such wise that his heart grew +light with joy, and he bade the red knight to make ready, for the battle +must begin again. + +Then they laced their helms and stepped together and fought freshly. But +Beaumains came near to disaster, for the red knight, by a skilful sword +sweep, struck his sword from his hand, and then gave him such a buffet +on the helm as hurled him to the earth. + +The red knight ran forward to his fallen foe, but Linet cried loudly,-- + +"Oh, Beaumains, where is thy valor gone? Alas, my sister sobs and weeps +to see you overthrown, till my own heart is heavy for her grief." + +Hearing this, Beaumains sprang to his feet before his foe could reach +him, and with a leap recovered his sword, which he gripped with a strong +hand. And thus he faced again his surprised antagonist. + +Then the young knight, nerved by love and desperation, poured such +fierce blows on his enemy that he smote the sword from his hand and +brought him to the earth with a fiery blow on the helm. + +Before the red knight could rise, Beaumains threw himself upon him, and +tore his helm from his head with intent to slay him. But the fallen +knight cried loudly,-- + +"O noble knight, I yield me to thy mercy." + +"Why should you have it, after the shameful death you have given to so +many knights?" + +"I did all this through love," answered the red knight. "I loved a lady +whose brother was slain by Lancelot or Gawaine, as she said. She made me +swear on my knighthood to fight till I met one of them, and put to a +shameful death all I overcame. And I vowed to fight King Arthur's +knights above all, till I should meet him that had slain her brother." + +Then there came up many earls, and barons, and noble knights, who fell +upon their knees and prayed for mercy to the vanquished, saying,-- + +"Sir, it were fairer to take homage and fealty of him, and let him hold +his lands of you, than to slay him. Nothing wrong that he has done will +be undone by his death, and we will all become your men, and do you +homage and fealty." + +"Fair lords," said Beaumains, "I am loath to slay this knight, though +his deeds have been ill and shameful. But as he acted through a lady's +request I blame him the less, and will release him on these conditions: +He must go into the castle and yield to the Lady Lioness, and make +amends to her for his trespass on her lands; then if she forgives him I +will. Afterwards he must go to the court of King Arthur and obtain +forgiveness from Lancelot and Gawaine for the ill will he has borne +them." + +"All this I will do," said the red knight, "and give you pledges and +sureties therefore." + +Then Beaumains granted him his life, and permitted him to rise. +Afterwards the damsel Linet disarmed Beaumains and applied healing +unguents to his wounds, and performed the same service for the red +knight. For ten days thereafter Beaumains dwelt with the red knight, who +showed him all the honor possible, and who afterwards went into the +castle and submitted himself to the Lady Lioness, according to the terms +of his compact. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +HOW BEAUMAINS WON HIS BRIDE. + + +After the ten days of feasting and pleasure that followed the events we +have just related, the Red Knight of the Red Lawns set out with his +noblest followers to Arthur's court, to make submission as he had +covenanted. When he had gone, Beaumains armed himself, took his horse +and spear, and rode to the castle of the Lady Lioness. But when he came +to the gate he found there many armed men, who pulled up the drawbridge +and let fall the portcullis. + +Marvelling deeply that he was denied admittance, Beaumains looked up at +the window, where he saw the lady of the castle, who called out to +him,-- + +"Go thy way, Sir Beaumains. You shall not yet have my love till you have +earned for yourself a name of world-wide honor. I bid you, therefore, +go strive for fame and glory this twelvemonth, and when you return you +shall hear new tidings." + +"Alas, fair lady," said Beaumains, "is this all I have deserved of you? +I thought I had bought your love at the price of some of the best blood +in my body." + +"Fair, courteous knight, be not so hasty," answered Lioness. "Your labor +and your love shall not be lost. A twelvemonth will soon pass away; and +trust me that I shall be true to you, and to my death shall love no +other than you." + +With this she turned from the window, and Beaumains rode slowly away +from the castle in deep sorrow, and heeding not whither he went till +deep night came upon him. The next day he rode in the same heedless +fashion, and at night couched in a wayside lodge, bidding the dwarf +guard his horse and watch all night. + +But near day dawn came a knight in black armor, who, seeing that +Beaumains slept soundly, crept slyly behind the dwarf, caught him up +under his arm, and rode away with him at full speed. But as he rode, the +dwarf called loudly to his master for help, waking the sleeping knight, +who sprang to his feet and saw the robber and the dwarf vanishing into +the distance. + +Then Beaumains armed himself in a fury, and rode straight forward +through marshes and dales, so hot upon the chase that he heeded not the +road, and was more than once flung by his stumbling horse into the mire. +At length he met a country-man, whom he asked for information. + +[Illustration: BEAUMAINS, DAMSEL, AND DWARF.] + +"Sir knight," he answered, "I have seen the rider with the dwarf. But I +advise you to follow him no farther. His name is Sir Gringamore; he +dwells but two miles from here, and he is one of the most valiant +knights of the country round." + +With little dread from this warning, Beaumains rode on, with double fury +as he came near the robber's castle. Soon he thundered through the +gates, which stood wide open, and sword in hand cried, in a voice that +rang through the castle,-- + +"Thou traitor, Sir Gringamore, yield me my dwarf again, or by the faith +that I owe to the order of knighthood I will make you repent bitterly +your false deed." + +Meanwhile, within the castle matters of interest were occurring. For +Gringamore was brother to the Lady Lioness, and had stolen the dwarf at +her request, that she might learn from him who Beaumains really was. The +dwarf, under threat of imprisonment for life, thus answered,-- + +"I fear to tell his name and kindred. Yet if I must I will say that he +is a king's son, that his mother is sister to King Arthur, and that his +name is Sir Gareth of Orkney. Now, I pray you, let me go to him again, +for he will have me in spite of you, and if he be angry, he will work +you much rack and ruin." + +"As for that," said Gringamore, "it can wait. Let us go to dinner." + +"He may well be a king's son," said Linet to her sister, "for he is the +most courteous and long-suffering man I ever met. I tried him with such +reviling as never lady uttered before, but he bore it all with meek and +gentle answers. Yet to armed knights he was like a lion." + +As they thus talked, the challenge of Beaumains rang loud from the +castle court. Then Gringamore called loudly to him from a window,-- + +"Cease your boasting, Gareth of Orkney, you will not get your dwarf +again." + +"Thou coward knight," cried Beaumains. "Bring him here, and do battle +with me. Then if you can win him, keep him." + +"So I will when I am ready. But you will not get him by loud words." + +"Do not anger him, brother," said Lioness. "I have all I want from the +dwarf, and he may have him again. But do not let him know who I am. Let +him think me a strange lady." + +"Very well," said Gringamore; "if that is your wish, he can have the +dwarf." Then he went down to the court and said,-- + +"Sir, I beg your pardon, and am ready to amend all the harm I have done +you. Pray alight, and take such cheer as my poor castle affords." + +"Shall I have my dwarf?" said Gareth. + +"Yes. Since he told me who you are, and of your noble deeds, I am ready +to return him." + +Then Gareth dismounted, and the dwarf came and took his horse. + +"Oh, my little fellow," said Gareth, "I have had many adventures for +your sake." + +Gringamore then led him into the hall and presented him to his wife. And +while they stood there conversing Dame Lioness came forth dressed like a +princess, and was presented to the knight. + +When Gareth saw her his feeling for the Lady Lioness weakened in his +heart, and it grew ready to vanish as the day passed, and he conversed +much with this strange and lovely lady. There were all manner of games, +and sports of dancing and singing, and the more he beheld her the more +he loved her, while through his heart ran ever the thought: "Would that +the lady of the Castle Dangerous were half so lovely and charming as +this beautiful stranger." + +When supper came, Gareth could not eat, and hardly knew where he was, so +hot had his love grown. All this was noted by Gringamore, who after +supper took his sister aside and said,-- + +"I can well see how matters stand between you and this noble knight. And +it seems to me you cannot do better than to bestow your hand upon him." + +"I should like to try him further," she replied, "though he has done me +noble service, and my heart is warmly turned to him." + +Gringamore then went to Gareth and said,-- + +"Sir, I welcome you gladly to my house, for I can see that you dearly +love my sister, and that she loves you as well. With my will she is +yours if you wish her." + +"If she will accept me," answered Gareth, "there will be no happier man +on earth." + +"Trust me for that," said Gringamore. + +"I fancied I loved the Lady Lioness," said Gareth, "and promised for her +sake to return to this country in a twelvemonth. But since I have seen +your sister I fear my love for her is gone." + +"It was too sudden to be deep," said Gringamore. "She will be consoled, +doubt not. Now let me take you to my sister." + +Then he led Gareth to his sister and left them together, where they told +each other their love, and Gareth kissed her many times, and their +hearts were filled with joy. + +"But how is it with the Lady Lioness, to whom you vowed your love?" she +asked. + +"Promised; not vowed," he answered. "And she was not ready to accept it, +but gave me a twelvemonth's probation. Moreover, I saw but her face at a +window, and that was little to base love upon." + +"Did she look like me?" + +"Somewhat, but not half so lovely." + +"Do you think you could have loved her so well?" + +"No, indeed; for I will vow by sword and spear that there is no woman in +the world so charming as you." + +"I fear that the Lady Lioness loves you, and that her heart will be +broken." + +"How could she? She saw so little of me." + +"I know she loves you; she has told me so. I bid you to forget me and +make her happy." + +"That I can never do. You do not love me, or you could not say this." + +"You are my heart's desire. But I feel deeply for the Lady Lioness, +whose love I know. If you cannot love her alone, you may love us both +together. I grant you this privilege." + +"I will not accept it," said Gareth, looking strangely at her smiling +countenance. "I love but you; my heart can hold no more." + +"You blind fellow," she answered, with a merry laugh, "you looked not at +the Lady Lioness closely, or you would not so easily forget your troth +plight. Know, sirrah, that I am the lady of the Castle Dangerous, that +my name is Lioness, and that I am she whom you have so lightly thrown +aside for the love of a strange lady." + +Then Gareth looked into her glowing countenance, and saw there that she +spoke the truth and that he had been pleasantly beguiled. With a warm +impulse of love he caught her in his arms and kissed her rosy lips, +exclaiming,-- + +"I withdraw it all. I love you both; the lady of the Castle Dangerous a +little; but the lady of the Castle Amorous as my heart's mistress, to +dwell there while life remains." + +Then they conversed long and joyfully, and she told him why she had made +her brother steal the dwarf, and why she had deceived him, so as to win +his love for herself alone. And they plighted their troth, and vowed +that their love for each other should never cease. + +Other strange things happened to Gareth in that castle, through the +spells of the damsel Linet, who knew something of sorcery. But these we +shall not tell, but return to King Arthur's court, in which at the next +feast of Pentecost a high festival was held at Carlion. + +Hither, during the feast, came all those whom Gareth had overcome, and +yielded themselves, saying that they had been sent thither by a knight +named Beaumains. But most of all was Arthur surprised by the deeds of +his kitchen boy when the Red Knight of the Red Lawns rode up with six +hundred followers, and yielded himself as vassal to Beaumains and to the +king. Arthur then, charging him strictly that he should do no more deeds +of murder, gave to Sir Ironside, which was the knight's name, the +greatest honors of his court, and also to the green and the red knights, +and to Sir Persant of Inde, who were all present with their followers. + +But while the court was at feast there came in the queen of Orkney, with +a great following of knights and ladies, seeking her young son Gareth. +She was lovingly saluted by her sons Gawaine, Gaheris, and Agravaine, +who for fifteen years had not seen her, but she loudly demanded Gareth +of her brother King Arthur. + +"He was here among you a twelvemonth, and you made a kitchen knave of +him, which I hold to be a shame to you all. What have you done to the +dear son who was my joy and bliss?" + +These words filled all hearts with a strange sensation, and most of all +that of Gawaine, who thought it marvellous that he should have made so +much of his brother and not known him. Then Arthur told his sister of +all that had happened, and cheered her heart with a recital of her son's +great deeds, and promised to have the whole realm searched till he +should be found. + +"You shall not need," said Lancelot. "My advice is that you send a +messenger to Dame Lioness, and request her to come in all haste to +court. Let her give you counsel where to find him. I doubt not she knows +where he is." + +This counsel seemed judicious to the king, and he sent the messenger as +requested, who came in due time to the Castle Dangerous, and delivered +his letters to Lioness. + +She brought these to her brother and Gareth, and asked what she should +do. + +"My lady and love," said Gareth, "if you go to Arthur's court I beg that +you will not let them know where I am. But give this advice to the king, +that he call a great tournament, to be held at your castle at the feast +of the Assumption, and announce that whatever knight proves himself best +shall wed you and win your lands. Be sure that I will be there to do my +best in your service." + +This advice pleased the lady, whose warm faith in the prowess of her +lover told her that he would win in the tournament. She therefore set +out with a noble escort and rode to King Arthur's court, where she was +received with the highest honors. The king closely questioned her about +Sir Gareth, desiring particularly to know what had become of him. She +answered that where he was she was not at liberty to tell, and said +further to the king,-- + +"Sir, there is a way to find him. It is my purpose to call a tournament, +which shall be held before my castle at the feast of the Assumption. +You, my lord Arthur, must be there with your knights, and my knights +shall be against you. I doubt me not that then you shall hear of Sir +Gareth." + +"That is well advised," said the king. + +"It shall be announced," she continued, "that the knight who proves the +best shall wed me and be lord of my lands. If he be already wedded, his +wife shall have a coronal of gold, set with precious stones to the value +of a thousand pounds, and a white jerfalcon." + +"It is well," said the king. "That will bring Sir Gareth, if he be alive +and able to come. If he would win you, he must do his duty nobly." + +Soon after the Lady Lioness departed and returned to her castle, where +she told all that had passed, and began preparations for the tournament, +which was to be held two months from that day. + +Gareth sent for Sir Persant of Inde, and for Sir Ironside, the Red +Knight of the Red Lawns, bidding them be ready with all their followers, +to fight on his side against King Arthur and his knights. And the cry +for the tournament was made in England, Wales and Scotland, Ireland, and +Cornwall, and in all the out islands, and in Brittany and other +countries. Many good knights came from afar, eager to win honor in the +lists, the most of whom held with the party of the castle against King +Arthur and his knights. + +In due time King Arthur and his following appeared at the Castle +Dangerous, there being with him Gawaine and the other brothers of +Gareth, Lancelot with his nephews and cousins, and all the most valiant +Knights of the Round Table, with various kings who owed him knightly +service, as noble a band of warriors as had ever been seen in the land. + +Meanwhile Dame Lioness had hospitably entertained the knights of her +party, providing ample lodging and food, though abundance was left to be +had for gold and silver by King Arthur and his knights. + +But Gareth begged her and all who knew him in no manner to make known +his name, but to deal with him as if he were the least of their company, +as he wished to fight in secret and bide his own time to declare +himself. + +"Sir," said Dame Lioness to him, "if such be your desire, I will lend +you a ring, whose virtue is such that it will turn that which is green +to red, and that which is red to green; and also turn blue to white, and +white to blue, and so with all colors. And he who wears it will lose no +blood, however desperately he fights. For the great love I bear you I +lend you this ring; but as you love me heartily in return, let me have +it again when the tournament is done, for this ring increases my beauty +more than it is of itself." + +"My own dear lady," cried Gareth, "now indeed you prove your love for +me. Gladly shall I wear that ring, for I much desire not to be known." + +Then Sir Gringamore gave Gareth a powerful bay courser, and a suit of +the best of armor; and with them a noble sword which his father had long +before won from a heathen tyrant. And so the lover made ready for the +tournament, of which his lady-love was to be the prize. + +Two days before the Assumption of our Lady, King Arthur reached the +castle, and for those two days rich feasting was held, while royal +minstrelsy and merry-making of all kinds filled every soul with joy. But +when came the morning of the Assumption all was restless bustle and +warlike confusion. At an early hour the heralds were commanded to blow +to the field, and soon from every side a throng of knights was to be +seen riding gayly to the lists, while a goodly host of spectators made +haste to take their seats, all eager to behold that noble +passage-at-arms. + +Valorous and worthy were the deeds that followed, for hosts of the best +knights in the world had gathered in the lists, and there was wondrous +breaking of spears and unhorsing of knights, while many who boasted of +their firm seat in the saddle went headlong to the earth. + +At length there rode into the lists Sir Gareth and Sir Ironside from the +castle, each of whom smote to the ground the first knights that +encountered them, and before long time had passed Gareth had with one +spear unhorsed seven knights of renown. + +When King Agwisance of Ireland saw this new-comer fare so nobly, he +marvelled much who he might be, for at one time he seemed green and at +another blue, his color appearing to change at every course as he rode +to and fro, so that no eye could readily follow him. + +"I must try this strange turn-color knight myself," said Sir Agwisance, +and he spurred his horse vigorously on Gareth. + +But with a mighty stroke of his spear Gareth thrust him from his horse, +saddle and all. Then King Carados of Scotland rode against him, and was +hurled to the earth, horse and man. King Uriens of Gore, King +Bagdemagus, and others who tried their fortune, were served in the same +manner. Then Sir Galahalt, the high prince, cried loudly,-- + +"Knight of the many colors, well hast thou jousted; now make ready, +that I may joust with thee." + +Gareth heard him, and got a great spear, and quickly the two knights +encountered, the prince breaking his spear. But Gareth smote him on the +left side of the helm so that he reeled in his saddle, and would have +fallen had not his men supported him. + +"Truly," said King Arthur, "that knight with the many colors is a lusty +fighter. Lancelot, do you try his mettle, before he beats all our best +men." + +"Sir," said Lancelot, "I should hold it unjust to meet him fresh after +his hard labors. It is not the part of a good knight to rob one of the +honor for which he has worked so nobly. It may be that he is best +beloved of the lady of all that are here, for I can see that he enforces +himself to do great deeds. Therefore, for me, he shall have what honor +he has won; though it lay in my power to put him from it, I would not." + +And now, in the lists, the breaking of spears was followed by drawing of +swords; and then there began a sore tournament. There did Sir Lamorak +marvellous deeds of arms, and betwixt him and Sir Ironside there was a +strong battle, and one also between Palamides and Bleoberis. Then came +in Lancelot, who rode against Sir Turquine and his brother Carados, +fighting them both together. + +Seeing Lancelot thus hard pressed, Gareth pushed his horse between him +and his opponents, and hurtled them asunder, but no stroke would he +smite Sir Lancelot, but rode briskly on, striking to right and left, so +that his path was marked by the knights he overturned. + +Afterward Gareth rode out of the press of knights to adjust his helm, +which had become loosened. Here his dwarf came briskly up with drink, +and said to him,-- + +"Let me hold your ring, that you lose it not while you drink." + +Gareth gave it to him, and quaffed deeply of the refreshing draught, for +he was burning with thirst. This done, his eagerness to return to the +fray was so great that he forgot the ring, which he left in the keeping +of the dwarf, while he replaced his helm, mounted his horse, and rode +briskly back to the lists. + +When he reached the field again he was in yellow armor, and there he +rashed off helms and pulled down knights till King Arthur marvelled more +than ever what knight this was, for though his color changed no more, +the king saw by his hair that he was the same knight. + +"Go and ride about that yellow knight," said the king to several +heralds, "and see if you can learn who he is. I have asked many knights +of his party to-day, and none of them know him." + +So a herald rode as near Gareth as he could, and there he saw written +about his helm in letters of gold, "This helm is Sir Gareth's of +Orkney." + +Then the herald cried out as if he were mad, and many others echoed his +words, "The knight in the yellow arms is Sir Gareth of Orkney, King +Lot's son!" + +When Gareth saw that he was discovered he doubled his strokes in his +anger, and smote down Sir Sagramore, and his brother Gawaine. + +"Oh, brother!" cried Gawaine, "I did not deem that you would strike me. +Can you not find food enough for your sword, without coming so near +home?" + +On hearing this, Gareth was troubled in soul, and with great force made +his way out of the press, meeting his dwarf outside. + +"Faithless boy!" he cried; "you have beguiled me foully to-day by +keeping my ring. Give it to me again; I am too well known without it." + +He took the ring, and at once he changed color again, so that all lost +sight of him but Gawaine, who had kept his eyes fixed upon him. Leaving +the lists, Gareth now rode into the forest, followed at a distance by +his brother, who soon lost sight of him in the woodland depths. + +When Gareth saw that he had thus distanced his pursuer, he turned to the +dwarf and asked his counsel as to what should now be done. + +"Sir," said the dwarf, "it seems best to me, now that you are free from +danger of spying, that you send my lady, Dame Lioness, her ring. It is +too precious a thing to keep from her." + +"That is well advised," said Gareth. "Take it to her, and say that I +recommend myself to her good grace, and will come when I may; and pray +her to be true and faithful to me, as I will be to her." + +"It shall be done as you command," said the dwarf, and, receiving the +ring, he rode on his errand. + +The Lady Lioness received him graciously, and listened with beaming eyes +to Gareth's message. + +"Where is my knight?" she asked. + +"He bade me say that he would not be long from you," answered the dwarf. + +Then, bearing a tender reply from the lady, the dwarf sought his master +again, and found him impatiently waiting, for he was weary and needed +repose. + +As they rode forward through the forest a storm of thunder and lightning +came up suddenly, and it rained as if heaven and earth were coming +together. On through this conflict of the elements rode the weary knight +and the disconsolate dwarf, under the drenching leaves of the forest, +until night was near at hand. And still it thundered and lightened as if +all the spirits of the air had gone mad. + +At last, through an opening in the trees, Gareth to his delight beheld +the towers of a castle, and heard the watchman's call upon its walls. + +"Good luck follows bad, my worthy dwarf," he cried. "Here is shelter; +let us to it." + +He rode to the barbican of the castle and called to the porter, praying +him in courteous language to let him in from the storm. + +"Go thy way," cried the porter, surlily; "thou gettest no lodging here." + +"Say not so, fair sir. I am a knight of King Arthur's, and pray the lord +or lady of this castle to give me harbor for love of the king." + +Then the porter went to the duchess, and told her that a knight of King +Arthur's sought shelter. + +"I will see him," said the duchess; "for King Arthur's sake he shall not +go harborless." + +Then she went up into a tower over the gate, with great torch-light, +that she might behold the storm-stayed wayfarer. When Gareth saw the +light, he cried loudly,-- + +"Whether thou be lord or lady, giant or champion, I pray for harbor this +night. If it be that I must fight for my lodging, spare me that till +morning, when I have rested, for I and my horse are both weary." + +"Sir knight," said the lady, "you speak like a bold knight errant. This +you must know, that the lord of this castle loves not King Arthur nor +any of his court. Therefore, it were better for you not to enter here. +If you come in it must be under this contract, that wherever you meet my +lord, by road, by lane, or by street, you shall yield to him as his +prisoner." + +"Madam," asked Gareth, "what is your lord's name?" + +"He is the Duke de la Rowse," she answered. + +"Well, madam, it shall be as you say. I promise that wherever I meet +your lord I shall yield me to his good grace, with the covenant that he +will do me no harm. If I understand that he will, then shall I release +myself as best I can with sword and spear." + +"You speak well and wisely," answered the duchess, and she ordered that +the drawbridge be lowered. + +Gareth rode into the court-yard, where he alighted and gave his horse to +a stableman. Then he was led to the hall, where his dwarf removed his +armor. + +"Madam," he said, "I shall not leave this hall to-night. When it comes +daylight if any one wants to fight me he will find me ready." + +Supper was now prepared, the table being garnished with many goodly +dishes, and the duchess and other fair ladies sat by while Gareth ate, +some of them saying that they never saw a man of nobler carriage or +aspect. Shortly after he had supped, his bed was made in the hall, and +there he rested all night. + +In the morning he heard mass and took his leave of the duchess and her +lady attendants, thanking her warmly for his lodging and the good cheer +she had set before him. She now asked him his name. + +"Madam," he replied, "my name is Gareth of Orkney, though some men call +me Beaumains." + +Hearing this, she bade him adieu with great courtesy, for she now knew +that she had entertained the knight who had rescued Dame Lioness, and +the victor at the tournament. + +As for Gareth, he rode onward mile after mile, till he found himself on +a mountain side, where he was confronted by a knight named Sir +Bendelaine, who demanded that he should joust or yield himself prisoner. +Gareth, angry at this demand, rode against the freebooter and smote him +so furiously that his spear pierced his body, so that he died on +reaching his castle. + +Quickly a throng of his knights and servants, furious at their lord's +death, rode after the victor and assailed him fiercely. When they saw +how well he defended himself, they attacked his horse and killed it +with spear-thrusts, and then rushed in a body on the dismounted knight. +But they found him still more than their match, for one after another of +them fell beneath his sword till only four were left. These fled in +terror to the castle, and Gareth, taking the best of their horses, rode +leisurely on his way. + +Many miles farther had he gone when he found himself near a roadside +castle, from whose walls there came to his ears dismal lamentations in +ladies' voices. While he stood wondering at this there came by a page. + +"What noise is that within the castle?" asked Gareth. + +"Sir knight," answered the page, "within this castle there are thirty +ladies, all widows, for their husbands have been slain by the lord of +the castle, who is called the brown knight without pity, and there is no +more perilous knight now living. Therefore," continued the page, "I bid +you flee." + +"You may be afraid of him," said Gareth; "but I shall not flee for +that." + +Then the page saw the brown knight coming. + +"Lo! yonder he cometh," he said. + +"Let me deal with him," said Gareth. + +When the brown knight saw a champion in the road, with spear in rest, +awaiting him, he prepared quickly for the combat, and spurring his +strong war-horse, rode furiously upon Gareth, breaking his spear in the +middle of his shield. But Gareth struck him a fatal blow in return, for +his spear went through his body, so that he fell to the ground stark +dead. + +Then the victor rode into the castle, and prayed the ladies that he +might find repose there for the night. + +"Alas!" they cried, "that cannot be." + +"Give him your best cheer," said the page, "for this knight has killed +your enemy." + +Hearing this, they joyfully did their utmost to make him comfortable. In +the morning, when he was ready to depart, he went to mass, and there saw +the thirty ladies kneeling, and some of them grovelling upon the tombs, +with the greatest sorrow and lamentation. + +"Fair ladies, you have my pity," he said. "Grieve no more, I pray you; +your enemy is justly punished for his crimes." + +So with few words he departed, and rode onward till fortune brought him +into another mountain. Not far up its slope had he gone when he saw +before him a sturdy knight, who bade him stand and joust. + +"Who are you?" asked Gareth. + +"I am the Duke de la Rowse." + +"Then I lodged lately in your castle, and promised your lady that I +should yield unto you." + +"Ah!" said the duke, "are you that proud knight who proffered to fight +with any of my followers? Make ready, sirrah; I must have a +passage-at-arms with you, for I would know which of us is the better +man." + +So they spurred together, and Gareth smote the duke from his horse. But +in a moment he was on his feet, sword in hand, and bidding his +antagonist to alight and continue the battle on foot. Nothing loath, +Gareth obeyed, and for more than an hour they fought, until both were +sorely hurt. But in the end Gareth got the duke to the earth, and bade +him yield if he would save his life. At this the duke lost no time in +yielding. + +"Then must you go," said Gareth, "unto my lord King Arthur at the next +feast, and say that I, Sir Gareth of Orkney, sent you." + +"It shall be done," said the duke. "And I am at your command all the +days of my life, with a hundred knights in my train." + +This said, the duke departed, leaving Gareth there alone. But not long +had he stood when he saw another armed knight approaching. Then Gareth +took the duke's shield, and mounted, waiting the new-comer, who rode +upon him without a word of greeting. And now, for the first time, Gareth +met his match, for the stranger knight held his seat unharmed, and +wounded him in the side with his spear. + +Then they alighted and drew their swords, and for two hours they fought, +till the blood flowed freely from them both. + +As they thus fought there came that way the damsel Linet, riding on an +ambling mule. When she saw them, she cried,-- + +"Sir Gawaine, Sir Gawaine, leave off fighting with thy brother Gareth." + +When Gawaine, for it was indeed he, heard this, he threw down his shield +and sword and ran to Gareth, whom he took in his arms, and then kneeled +down and asked his mercy. + +"Who are you," asked Gareth, "that one minute fight me so strongly and +yield the next?" + +"Oh, Gareth, I am your brother Gawaine." + +Then Gareth unlaced his helm, and kneeled to him and asked his mercy. +Both now rose and embraced each other, weeping so that it was long +before they could speak. When their voices returned they entered into a +brotherly contest, for each insisted that the other had won the battle. +As they thus stood in loving converse, the damsel Linet came up to them, +and stanched their wounds, from which the blood was flowing freely. + +"What will you do now?" she asked. "It seems to me that my lord Arthur +should have news of you, for your horses are too bruised to carry you." + +"It is well said," answered Gawaine. "Will you, fair damsel, bear word +to him?" + +Then she took her mule and rode to where the king abode, he then being +at a castle scarcely two miles distant. The tidings she brought him +cheered his heart wonderfully, for much had the disappearance of Gareth +troubled him. Turning to his attendants, he ordered that a palfrey +should be saddled in all haste. + +When he was in the saddle he turned to the wondering lords and ladies +and told them whither he went, bidding all who wished to greet Sir +Gareth to follow. Then was there hasty saddling and bridling of queens' +horses and princes' horses, and happiest were they who soonest got +ready. + +But the king rode on till he came where Gawaine and Gareth sat upon a +little hill-side, and here he sprang from his horse and embraced Gareth +as though he were his own son. Quickly behind him came his sister +Morgause, who fell into a swoon when she saw her dear young son. And the +other knights and ladies came up in all haste, and great was the joy +that all felt. After congratulations had passed, and the two brothers +been removed to a place where their wounds could be attended to, the +Dame Lioness was sent for, and came at the utmost speed, with her +brother Sir Gringamore and forty knights. + +Among all the ladies there she was the fairest and peerless. And when +Gareth saw her, so loving were the looks and joyous the words between +them, that all who beheld it were filled with delight. + +Eight days passed before Gareth and his brother recovered from their +wounds. Then Arthur came to him, with Guenever, and Morgause, and others +of high degree, and asked him if he would have the Lady Lioness for his +wife. + +"My lord, I love her above all ladies living." + +"Now, fair lady, what say you?" asked the king. + +"Most noble king," replied Lioness, with blushing face, "my lord Gareth +is more to me than any king or prince that was ever christened. If I may +not have him, none will I ever have. My first love is he, and my last he +shall be." + +"And if I have you not as my wife," broke in Gareth, "never shall lady +living give joy to my heart." + +"What, nephew," said the king, "is the wind in that door? Then not for +my crown would I sever two such loving hearts, but would much prefer to +increase than to distress your love." + +And words to the same effect said Gareth's mother. + +Then provision was made for a brilliant and joyous wedding, the king +advising that it should take place on the Michaelmas following, at +Kinkenadon by the seaside, where is a plentiful country. And so it was +cried in all places through the realm. + +Dame Lioness and the damsel Linet, with Sir Gringamore, now rode to +their castle, where she gave Gareth a jewelled ring and received one +from him, while Arthur gave her a rich bee of gold. Then Arthur and his +following rode towards Kinkenadon. Gareth soon followed, and joined +Arthur on his way. + +Oh, the great cheer that Lancelot now made of Gareth, and Gareth of him; +for there was never knight that Gareth loved as he did Lancelot. But he +cared less for his brother Gawaine, who was revengeful, and disposed to +murder where he hated, a feeling which the young knight abhorred. + +When Michaelmas came near, Dame Lioness with her brother and sister rode +to Kinkenadon, where they were lodged at the expense of King Arthur, who +had prepared for them royally. + +And upon Michaelmas day the bishop of Canterbury performed the wedding +ceremony between Gareth and the Lady Lioness with all solemnity, and in +the presence of a noble and splendid gathering of the greatest lords and +highest ladies of England's realm. + +And here other weddings took place, for King Arthur devised that Gaheris +should wed the damsel Linet, and that Agravaine should wed Dame Laurel, +a fair lady, niece to the Lady Lioness. + +[Illustration: THE JOYOUS WEDDING.] + +When these weddings were done another solemnity took place; for there +came into the church the various knights whom Gareth had overcome, each +with his knightly followers, and with them the thirty ladies whom he had +delivered from the brown knight, attended by many gentlewomen. All the +knights did homage and fealty to Gareth, and the ladies kneeled and +prayed heartily that happiness might be his lot throughout his life. + +Afterwards there was high feasting, and all manner of games and revels, +with the richest minstrelsy, and jousts that lasted three days. But the +king would not suffer Sir Gareth to joust because of his new bride; for +the Dame Lioness had desired that none who were newly married should +joust at that feast. + +On the first day Sir Lamorak won the honor of the lists, for he +overthrew thirty knights and did marvellous feats of arms. And that day +King Arthur made Sir Persant of Inde and his two brothers, Knights of +the Round Table, and gave them great lands. + +On the second day Sir Tristram jousted best, and overthrew forty +knights. And on that day the king made Sir Ironside, the Red Knight of +the Red Lawns, a Knight of the Round Table, and gave him great lands. + +On the third day the prize of valor fell to Sir Lancelot, who overthrew +fifty knights and did such marvellous deeds that all men wondered at +him. And now King Arthur made the Duke de la Rowse a Knight of the Round +Table, and gave him great lands to spend. + +Thus ended the festivities at the marriage of Sir Gareth of Orkney and +the Lady Lioness. But Gareth and his lovely bride lived long and happily +together afterwards, and much knightly renown he won, and great honor +from all men. + + + + + BOOK VI. + + TRISTRAM OF LYONESSE AND THE FAIR ISOLDE. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +HOW TRISTRAM WAS KNIGHTED. + + +Sad was the day when the renowned knight, Tristram of Lyonesse, was +born, for on that day his mother died, and his father lay in prison +through the arts of an enchantress. Therefore he was called Tristram, +which signifies one of a sorrowful birth. + +It happened that when he was seven years of age his father, King +Meliodas, of the country of Lyonesse, married again. His first wife had +been Elizabeth, sister of King Mark of Cornwall. He now married the +daughter of King Howell of Brittany, a woman who proved of evil soul. + +For after the new queen had children of her own she grew to hate the boy +who stood between her son and the throne of Lyonesse, and so bitter grew +her hatred that in the end she laid a foul plot for his murder. She put +poison in a silver cup in the chamber where the young princes were used +to play together, with the hope that Tristram when thirsty would drink +from that cup. But fate so willed that the queen's own son drank of the +poisoned cup, when thirsty from play, and died of it. + +This fatal error filled the queen with deep anguish, but it added doubly +to her hate, and with murderous intent she again put the poisoned cup +into the chamber. But God protected the boy, for this time King +Meliodas, being thirsty, saw the envenomed cup of wine, and took it up +with purpose to drink. Before he could do so the queen, who was near by, +ran hastily forward, snatched the deadly cup from his hand, and threw +its contents on the floor. + +This hasty act filled the king with suspicion, for the sudden death of +his young son had seemed to him like the work of poison. In a burst of +passion he caught the guilty woman fiercely by the hand, drew his sword, +and swore a mighty oath that he would kill her on the spot, unless she +told him what had been in the cup and why it was put there. + +At this threat the queen, trembling and weeping with fright, +acknowledged that it had been her design to kill Tristram, in order that +her son should inherit the kingdom of Lyonesse. + +"Thou false traitress and murderess!" cried the king in redoubled +passion. "By my royal soul, you shall have the fate you designed for my +son. A worse one you shall have, for you shall be burned at the stake as +a poisoner." + +Then he called a council of his barons, who confirmed this sentence on +learning the dark crime of the queen, and by the order of the court a +fire of execution was prepared, and the murderess bound to the stake, +while fagots were heaped about her drooping form. + +The flames were already kindled, and were crawling like deadly serpents +through the dry wood, but before they could reach the condemned queen +young Tristram kneeled before his father and begged him a boon. + +"You shall have it, my son. What would you ask?" + +"Grant me the life of the queen. I cannot bear to see her die so +terrible a death." + +"Ask not that," said the king. "You should hate her who would have +poisoned you. I have condemned her more for your sake than my own." + +"Yet I beseech you to be merciful to her. I have forgiven her, and pray +God to do so. You granted me my boon for God's love, and I hold you to +your promise." + +"If you will have it so, I cannot withdraw my word," said the king. "I +give her to you. Go to the fire and take her, and do with her what you +will." + +This gladdened the boy's heart, which had been full of horror at the +dreadful spectacle, and he hastened to release the victim from the +flames. + +But after that Meliodas would have nothing to do with her until after +years had passed, when Tristram reconciled them with each other. And he +sent his son from the court, being afraid the pardoned murderess might +devise some new scheme for his destruction. The noble-hearted lad was +therefore given as tutor a learned gentleman named Gouvernail, who took +him to France, that he might learn the language and be taught the use of +arms. There he remained seven years, learning not only the language, +but the art of minstrelsy, till he became so skilful that few could +equal him in the use of the harp and other instruments of music. And as +he grew older he practised much in hunting and hawking, and in time +became famous also for his skill in this noble art. He in after-life +devised many terms used in hunting, and bugle calls of the chase, so +that from him the book of venery, or of hunting and hawking, came to be +called the "Book of Sir Tristram." + +Thus Tristram grew in accomplishments and nobleness till he attained the +age of nineteen years, when he had become a youth of handsome face and +powerful form, being large of size and vigorous of limb. The king, his +father, had great joy in his promise of lusty manhood, and so had the +queen, whose heart had been won to Tristram when he saved her from the +flames, and who loved him ever afterwards as much as she had hated him +in his childhood. Every one loved him, indeed, for he proved himself a +noble and gentle-hearted youth, loyal and kind to all he met, and with a +heart free from evil thoughts or selfish desires. + +He had learned the use of arms, and knew well how to wield the shield +and sword, though as yet he had not sought knighthood by deeds of +battle; but events were preparing that would bring him soon from youth +to manhood. For it so happened that King Anguish of Ireland sent to King +Mark of Cornwall, demanding from him tribute which he said was due, but +had not been paid for many years. King Mark sent word back that he owed +and would pay no tribute; and that if the King of Ireland wished to +prove his claim, he must send a knight who could overcome King Mark's +champion. + +King Anguish was very angry at this answer, but accepted the challenge, +and sent as his champion Sir Marhaus, brother to his wife, that valiant +knight who had gone with Gawaine and Uwaine to the country of strange +adventures, and had afterwards been made a Knight of the Round Table. + +Marhaus accepted the championship, and hastened to Cornwall, where he +sent his challenge to King Mark; but the latter had taken no steps to +provide himself with a worthy champion. Marhaus thereupon encamped near +the castle of Tintagil, whither he daily sent a demand to King Mark +either to pay the tribute or to find a knight to fight his battle. + +Anxious efforts were now made by the Cornish monarch to find a champion, +some of the barons advising him to send to King Arthur's court for +Lancelot du Lake. But others dissuaded the king from this, saying that +neither Lancelot nor any Knight of the Round Table would fight against +their fellow-knight Marhaus. Thus the King of Cornwall was sore put to +it to find a champion fit to hold the field against such a knight as +Marhaus. + +Word of this soon spread over the country and quickly reached the castle +of Meliodas, to which young Tristram had long before returned. The heart +of the ardent youth filled with anger when he learned that not a knight +could be found in all Cornwall able and willing to do battle with the +Irish champion. + +In fervent haste he sought his father, and asked him what was to be +done to save Cornwall from this disgrace. + +"I know not," answered the king. "Marhaus is one of the best knights of +the Round Table, and there is no knight in this country fit to cope with +him." + +"I wish heartily that I were a knight," cried Tristram hotly. "If I +were, Sir Marhaus should never depart to Ireland and boast that all +Cornwall could not furnish a knight ready to break a spear with him. I +pray you, dear father, to let me ride to King Mark's court, and beg of +him to make me a knight and choose me as his champion." + +"Your spirit honors you, my son," said Meliodas. "You have it in you to +become an able knight, and I give you full leave to do as your courage +prompts you." + +Tristram thanked his father warmly for this assent, and, taking horse, +rode without delay to the castle of his uncle King Mark. When he reached +there he found the king depressed in spirit and the whole court deep in +gloom, for it seemed as if no champion could be found, and that the +tribute must be paid. Tristram went at once to his uncle and said with +modest ardor,-- + +"Sir, it is a shame and disgrace that Cornwall has no champion. I am but +an untried youth, yet, if you will give me the order of knighthood, I +stand ready to do battle for you with Sir Marhaus." + +"Who are you, and whence come you?" asked the king. + +"I come from King Meliodas, who wedded your sister, and I am a gentleman +born." + +Hope came into the king's eyes when he saw how large and strongly built +was his youthful visitor, and marked the spirit of battle in his eyes, +but he again demanded his name and place of birth. + +"My name is Tristram and I was born in the country of Lyonesse," +answered the youth. + +"You speak with spirit, and look like the making of a good warrior," +said the king. "If you agree to do this battle, I will grant you +knighthood." + +"It is that, and that alone, brings me here," answered Tristram. + +Then the king knighted him, and at once sent word to Sir Marhaus that he +had a champion ready to do battle with him to the uttermost. + +"That may well be," answered Marhaus, "but I fight not with every +springal. Tell King Mark that I shall fight with none but one of royal +blood. His champion must be son either of a king or a queen." + +This answer King Mark gave to Tristram, and said, gloomily,-- + +"I fear this rules out your championship." + +"Not so," said Tristram. "I came not here to boast, but if I must tell +my lineage, you may let him know that I am of as noble blood as he. My +father is King Meliodas, and my mother was Elizabeth, your own sister. I +am the heir of Lyonesse." + +"Is it so?" cried the king, clasping the youth's hands gladly. "Then I +bid you warmly welcome, my fair nephew, and I could ask no better nor +nobler champion." + +He sent word in all haste to Marhaus that a better born man than himself +should fight with him, the son of King Meliodas, and his own nephew. +And while he waited an answer he took care to find for his nephew the +best horse and the finest suit of armor that gold could procure. By the +time he was thus provided word came back from Marhaus that he would be +glad and blithe to fight with a gentleman of such noble birth. And he +requested that the combat should take place in an island near which lay +his ships. This being accepted, Tristram was sent thither in a vessel, +with his horse and armor, but attended only by his tutor Gouvernail, +whom he now made his squire. + +On reaching the island Tristram saw on the further shore six ships, but +he saw no knight. Then he bade Gouvernail to bring his horse ashore and +arm him. This done, he mounted and took his shield, and then said,-- + +"Where is this knight with whom I have to fight? I see him not." + +"Yonder he hovers," answered Gouvernail, "under the shadow of the ships. +He waits you on horseback, and fully armed." + +"True enough. I see him now. All is well. Do you take the vessel and go +back to my uncle Mark, and tell him that if I be slain it will not be +through cowardice, and pray him, if I die in fair fight, to see that I +be interred honorably; but if I should prove recreant then he shall give +me no Christian burial. And come you not near the island, on your life, +till you see me overcome or slain, or till I give you the signal of +victory." + +Then Gouvernail departed, weeping, for his young master had spoken so +resolutely that he dared not disobey. Tristram now rode boldly towards +Sir Marhaus, who came forward to meet him. Much courteous conversation +passed between the two knights, Tristram at the end saying,-- + +"I trust, Sir Marhaus, to win honor and renown from you, and to deliver +Cornwall from tribute forever, and to this end I shall do my best in all +valor and honor." + +"Fair sir," answered Marhaus, "your spirit pleases me; but as for +gaining honor from me, you will lose none if you keep back three strokes +beyond my reach, for King Arthur made me not Knight of the Round Table +except for good cause." + +"That may well be," answered Tristram; "but if I show the white feather +in my first battle may I never bear arms again." + +Then they put their spears in rest and rode so furiously together that +both were hurled to the earth, horse and man alike. But Tristram had the +ill fortune to receive a severe wound in the side from the spear of his +adversary. + +Heedless of this, he drew his sword and met Marhaus boldly and bravely. +Then they began a fierce and desperate fight, striking and foining, +rushing together in furious onset, and drawing back in cautious heed, +while the ring of sword on armor was like that of hammer on anvil. Hours +passed in the fight, and the blood flowed freely from the wounds which +each had received, yet still they stood boldly up to the combat. But +Tristram proved a stronger and better-winded man than Marhaus, and was +still fresh when his enemy was growing weary and faint. At the end he +threw all his strength into his right arm, and smote Marhaus so mighty +a blow on the helm that it cut down through the steel covering and deep +into his head, the sword sticking so fast that Tristram could hardly +pull it out. + +When he did so the edge of the sword was left in the skull, and the +wounded knight fell heavily on his knees. But in a minute he rose and, +flinging his sword and shield away, fled hastily to his ships. + +"Why do you withdraw, Knight of the Round Table?" cried Tristram. "I am +but a young knight, but before I would fly from an adversary I would +abide to be cut into a thousand pieces." + +Marhaus answered only with deep groans of pain and distress. + +"Go thy way then, sir knight," said Tristram. "I promise you your sword +and shield shall be mine, and I will wear your shield in the sight of +King Arthur and all the Round Table, to let them see that Cornwall is +not a land of cowards." + +While he stood thus, hot with anger, the sails of the ships were spread, +and the fleet sailed away, leaving the victor alone on the island. He +was deeply wounded and had bled profusely, and when he grew cold from +rest could hardly move his limbs. So he seated himself upon a little +hillock, while his wounds still bled freely. But Gouvernail, who had +kept within sight in the vessel, and had seen the end of the combat, now +hastened gladly to the island, where he bound up the young knight's +wounds, and then brought him to the main land. Here King Mark and his +barons came in procession to meet him, their hearts full of joy and +triumph, and the victor was borne in glad procession to the castle of +Tintagil. When King Mark saw his deep and perilous wounds he wept +heartily, and cried,-- + +"God help me, I would not for all my lands that my nephew should die!" + +But Tristram lay in groaning pain for more than a month, ever in danger +of death from the spear-wound he had received from Sir Marhaus. For the +spear-head was poisoned, and no leech in the land, with his most healing +remedy, could overcome the deadly effect of that venom. The king sent +far and wide for skilled doctors, but none could be found whose skill +was of any avail. At length there came a learned woman to the court, who +told them plainly that the wounded man could never be cured except in +the country from which the venom came. He might be helped there, but +nowhere else. + +When King Mark heard this he had a good vessel prepared, in which +Tristram was placed, under charge of Gouvernail, and so set sail for +Ireland, though all were strictly warned not to tell who they were or +whence they came. + +Long before this the fleet of Marhaus had arrived on the Irish coast, +and the wounded knight been borne to the king's court, where all was +done that could be to save his life, but in vain. + +He died soon of his deep wound, and when his head was examined by the +surgeons they found therein a piece of Tristram's sword, which had sunk +deep into his skull. This piece the queen, his sister, kept, for she was +full of revengeful thoughts, and she hoped by its aid to find the man to +whom he owed his death. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +LA BELLE ISOLDE. + + +When Tristram arrived in Ireland, chance so provided that he landed near +a castle in which the king and queen, with all their court, then were. +He had brought his harp with him, and on his arrival sat up in his bed +and played a merry lay, which gave joy to all that heard it. + +Word was quickly brought to the king that a harper of wonderful skill +had reached his shores, and he at once sent to have him brought to the +castle, where he asked him his name and whence he came. + +"My name," replied the wounded knight, "is Tramtrist; I am of the +country of Lyonesse, and the wound from which I suffer was received in a +battle I fought for a lady who had been wronged." + +"You shall have all the help here we can give you," said King Anguish. +"I have just met with a sad loss myself, for the best knight in my +kingdom has been slain." + +Then he told Tristram of the battle with King Mark's champion, little +dreaming that the knight to whom he spoke knew far more about it than he +did himself. + +"As for your wound," said the king, "my daughter, La Belle Isolde, is a +leech of wonderful skill, and as you seem so worthy a man I shall put +you under her care." + +This said, he departed, and sent his daughter to the knight; but no +sooner did Tristram behold her than he received a deeper wound from love +than he had yet had from sword or spear. For La Belle Isolde was the +most beautiful lady in the world, a maiden of such wondrous charm and +grace that no land held her equal. + +When she examined the young knight's wound she quickly saw that he was +suffering from poison, but it was a venom with which she knew well how +to deal, and she was not long in healing his deep hurt. In return for +this great service, he taught her the art of harping, while the love he +felt for her soon left some reflection of its warm presence in her soul. + +But she already had a lover in the court, a worthy and valiant Saracen +knight named Palamides, who sought her day after day, and made her many +gifts, for his love for her was deep. He was well esteemed by the king +and queen, and had declared his willingness to be made a Christian for +the sake of La Belle Isolde. In consequence there soon arose hot blood +between Tristram and Palamides, for each feared that the other was a +favored rival. + +And now it happened that King Anguish announced a tournament to be held +in honor of a cousin of his called the Lady of the Lawns, it being +declared that the grand prize of the tournament should be the hand of +the lady and the lordship of her lands. The report of this tournament +spread through England, Wales, and Scotland, reaching even to Brittany, +and France, and many knights came to try their fortune in the lists. + +[Illustration: SIR TRISTRAM HARPING TO ISOLDE.] + +When the day drew near the fair Isolde told Tristram of the tournament, +and expressed a warm desire that he would take part in it. + +"Fair lady," he answered, "I am as yet but feeble, and only for your +generous care might be dead. I should be glad to obey any wish of yours, +but you know that I am not in condition for the lists." + +"Ah, Tramtrist," she replied, "I trust that you may be able to take part +in this friendly joust. Palamides will be there, and I hoped that you +would meet him, for I fear that otherwise he will not find his equal." + +"You do me great honor," he replied. "You forget that I am but a young +knight, and that in the only battle I have fought I was wounded nearly +unto death. But for the love I have for you I shall attend the +tournament, and jeopard my poor person for your sake, if you will only +keep my counsel and let no person know that I have entered the lists." + +"That shall I," she replied, gladly. "Horse and armor shall be ready for +you, and I but ask you to do your best. I am sure your best must win." + +"With Isolde's eyes upon me I can do no less," answered Tristram, with a +glad heart. "I am at your command in all things, and for your love would +dare tenfold this risk." + +When the day of the tournament came, Palamides appeared in the lists +with a black shield, and so many knights fell before him that all the +people marvelled at his prowess. Throughout the first day's fight he +held his own against all comers, bearing off the honors of the lists. +As for Tristram, he sat among the spectators, and when King Anguish +asked him why he did not joust, replied that he was still too weak from +his wound. + +On the morning of the next day Palamides came early into the field, and +began the same career of conquest as on the day before. But in the midst +of his good fortune there rode into the lists an unknown knight, who +seemed to the spectators like an angel, for his horse and his armor were +of the whiteness of snow. + +No sooner had Palamides espied this stranger than he put his spear in +rest and rode against him at furious speed. But there came a sudden +change in his fortunes, for the white knight struck him with such force +as to hurl him from his horse to the ground. + +Then there arose a great noise and uproar among the people, for they had +grown to think that no knight could face the Saracen, and Gawaine and +others whom he had overthrown marvelled who this stranger knight could +be. But Isolde was glad at heart, for the love of Palamides was a burden +to her, and well she knew the knight of the white arms. + +As for the Palamides, he was so ashamed and disconcerted by his fall +that, on mounting his horse again, he sought privately to withdraw from +the field. But the white knight rode hastily after him and bade him +turn, saying that he should not leave the lists so lightly. At these +words Palamides turned and struck a fierce sword-blow at the white +champion. But the latter put the stroke aside, and returned it with so +mighty a buffet on the Saracen's head that he fell from his horse to the +earth. + +Then Tristram--for he was the white knight--bade him yield and consent +to do his command, or he would slay him. To this Palamides agreed, for +he was hurt past defence. + +"This, then, is my command," said Tristram. "First, upon pain of your +life, you shall cease your suit of the lady La Belle Isolde, and come +not near her. Second, for a year and a day you shall wear no armor or +weapons of war. Promise me this, or you shall die." + +"This is a bitter penance," cried Palamides. "You shame me before the +world. For nothing less than life would I consent." + +But he took the oath as Tristram commanded, and then in anger and +despite threw off his armor and cut it into pieces, flinging the +fragments away. Then he departed, weighed down with sadness and shame. + +This done, Tristram left the lists, where he could find no knight +willing to fight with him, and rode to the private postern of the castle +whence he had come to the field. Here he found the fair Isolde awaiting +him with a joyous face and a voice of thanks, praising him so highly +that the knight was abashed with modest shame, though gladness filled +his heart. And when she had told the king and queen that it was +Tramtrist who had vanquished the Saracen, they treated him as if he had +been of royal blood, for he had shown such prowess as Lancelot himself +could not exceed. + +After this Tristram dwelt long in the castle, highly esteemed by the +king and queen, and loved by La Belle Isolde, whose heart he had fully +won by his prowess in the tournament. Those were days of joy and +gladness, too soon, alas to end, for he loved her with all his soul, and +saw his heaven in her eyes, while for all his love she gave him the warm +devotion of a true heart in return. + +But fate at length brought this dream of happiness to an end. For on a +day when Tristram was in the bath, attended by his squire Gouvernail, +chance brought the queen and Isolde into the chamber of the knight. On +the bed lay his sword, and this the queen picked up and held it out for +Isolde's admiration, as the blade which had done such noble work in the +tournament. + +But as she held it so she saw that there was a gap in the edge, a piece +being broken out about a foot from the point. At sight of this she let +the weapon fall, while her heart gave a great bound of pain and anger. + +"Liar and traitor, have I found you at last!" she cried, in an outbreak +of rage. "It is this false villain that slew my brother Marhaus!" + +With these words she ran in haste from the chamber, leaving Isolde +trembling with dread for her lover, for though she knew not the cause of +the queen's rage, she knew well how cruel she could be in her passion. + +Quickly the queen returned, bringing with her the fragment of steel that +had been found in Marhaus's skull, and, snatching up the sword, she +fitted this into the broken place. It fitted so closely that the blade +seemed whole. Then with a cry of passionate rage the furious woman ran +to where Tristram was in the bath, and would have run him through had +not Gouvernail caught her in his arms and wrested the sword from her +hand. + +Failing in this deadly intent, she tore herself from the squire's grasp +and flew to the king, throwing herself on her knees before him and +crying,-- + +"Oh, my lord and husband! you have here in your house that murderous +wretch who killed my brother, the noble Sir Marhaus!" + +"Ha! can that be?" said the king. "Where is he?" + +"It is Tramtrist," she replied. "It is that villanous knight whom our +daughter healed, and who has shamefully abused our hospitality." And she +told him by what strange chance she had made this discovery. + +"Alas!" said the king, "what you tell me grieves me to the heart. I +never saw a nobler knight than he, and I would give my crown not to have +learned this. I charge you to leave him to me. I will deal with him as +honor and justice demand." + +Then the king sought Tristram in his chamber, and found him there fully +armed and ready to mount his horse. + +"So, Tramtrist, you are ready for the field," he said. "I tell you this, +that it will not avail you to match your strength against my power. But +I honor you for your nobility and prowess, and it would shame me to slay +my guest in my court; therefore, I will let you depart in safety, on +condition that you tell me your name and that of your father, and if it +was truly you that slew my brother, Sir Marhaus." + +"Truly it was so," said Tristram. "But what I did was done in honor and +justice, as you well know. He came as a champion and defied all the +knights of Cornwall to battle, and I fought him for the honor of +Cornwall. It was my first battle, for I was made a knight that very day. +And no man living can say that I struck him foully." + +"I doubt me not that you acted in all knightly honor," answered the +king. "But you cannot stay in my country against the ill-will of my +barons, my wife, and her kindred." + +"As for who I am," continued the knight, "my father is King Meliodas of +Lyonesse, and my uncle King Mark of Cornwall. My name is Tristram; but +when I was sent to your country to be cured of my wound I called myself +Tramtrist, for I feared your anger. I thank you deeply for the kind +welcome you have given me, and the goodness my lady, your daughter, has +shown me. It may happen that you will win more by my life than by my +death, for in England I may yet do you some knightly service. This I +promise you, as I am a true knight, that in all places I shall hold +myself the servant and knight of my lady, your daughter, and shall never +fail to do in her honor and service all that a knight may. Also I +beseech you that I may take leave of your barons and knights, and pray +you to grant me leave to bid adieu to your daughter." + +"I cannot well refuse you this," said the king. + +With this permission, Tristram sought La Belle Isolde, and sadly bade +her farewell, telling her who he was, why he had changed his name, and +for what purpose he had come to Ireland. + +"Had it not been for your care and skill I should now have been dead," +he said. + +"Gentle sir," she sadly replied, "I am woeful indeed that you should go, +for I never saw man to whom I felt such good-will as to you." + +And she wept bitterly as she held out her hand in adieu. But Tristram +took her in his arms and kissed away her tears. + +"I love you, Isolde, as my soul," he said. "If this despite of fate +shall stand between you and me, this I promise, to be your knight while +life is left to me." + +"And this I promise," answered Isolde, "that if I am married within +these seven years it shall only be by your assent! If they stand between +me and my love, at least they shall not force me to wed against your +will." + +Then she gave Tristram a ring and received one from him in return, and +he departed from her with a pain as if the parting wrenched their hearts +asunder, while she beheld him go with such tears and lamentation that it +seemed as if her faithful heart would break. + +Tristram next sought the great hall of the court, where were assembled +the barons of King Anguish, and took his leave of them all, saying,-- + +"Fair lords, fortune wills that I must leave you. If there be any man +here whom I have offended or aggrieved let him make complaint now, and I +shall amend the wrong so far as it is in my power. If there be any who +may incline to say a wrongful thing of me behind my back, let him speak +now, and I will make it good with him, body against body." + +But no man spoke in reply. There were knights there of the blood of Sir +Marhaus and the queen, but none that cared to have to do in the field +against Sir Tristram. + +So bidding them all adieu, he departed, and took ship for Tintagil, in +Cornwall. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE WAGER OF BATTLE. + + +When tidings came to King Mark that Tristram had returned to Cornwall, +cured of his wounds, the king and all his barons were glad, and on the +arrival of the knight he was treated with the greatest honor. No long +time passed before he rode to the castle of his father, King Meliodas, +who received him with fatherly love and pride, while the queen greeted +him with the warmest joy. And that their knightly son should have +wherewithal to make a fair show in the world, they parted with much of +their lands and wealth to him, endowing him with broad estates and +lordly castles. + +[Illustration: A CASTLE OF CORNWALL.] + +Afterwards, at his father's desire, who wished his son to gain all +honor, Tristram returned to the court of Cornwall, where he was gladly +welcomed. And here, though his love for La Belle Isolde lay deep in his +heart, it was dimmed by later feelings, for there were many fair ladies +at the court, and the young knight was at that age when the heart is +soft and tender. + +In the end it happened that a jealousy and unfriendliness arose between +King Mark and him. This grew with time, and in the end the king, who was +base and treacherous of soul, waylaid Tristram, aided by two knights of +his counsel, and sought to slay him. But so valiantly did he defend +himself that he hurled the three to the earth, wounding the king so +deeply that he was long in recovering. + +The king now grew to hate his young guest bitterly, and laid plans to +destroy him. Finally, it occurred to him to send Tristram to Ireland for +La Belle Isolde, whose beauty and goodness the young knight had praised +so warmly that King Mark had it in his heart to wed her. But his main +purpose in sending Tristram to Ireland was to compass his destruction, +for he knew how he was hated there. + +Tristram was not blind to the danger into which this mission might bring +him, and suspected the purpose of the king, but his love of adventure +was so great that for it he was ready to dare any risk. + +As for Isolde, absence and affection for other ladies had dimmed his +passion for her, so that for the time his love was forgotten, and he +came to look upon it as a youthful episode not knowing how deeply it +still lay under all these later feelings. He, therefore, accepted the +mission, and made ready to go in royal state. + +He selected for his companions a number of the ablest knights of the +court, and saw that they were richly arrayed and appointed, with the +hope that such a noble train might win him favor at the Irish court. +With this array he departed, and set sail for the coast of Ireland. + +But when they had reached the mid-channel a tempest arose that blew the +fleet back towards the coast of England, and, as chance had it, they +came ashore near Camelot. Here they were forced to land, for their ships +were no longer seaworthy. Tristram, therefore, set up his pavilion upon +the coast of Camelot, and hung his shield before it. + +That same day two knights of Arthur's court, Sir Morganor and Sir Hector +de Maris, chanced to ride that way, and, seeing the shield, they touched +it with their spears, bidding the knight of the pavilion to come out and +joust, if he had an inclination to do so. + +"I hold myself ready alike for sport or battle," answered Tristram. "If +you tarry a little while, you will find me ready to meet you." + +This said, he armed himself, and mounting his horse rode against his two +challengers with such fortune that he first smote Sir Hector to the +earth, and then Sir Morganor, felling them both with one spear. Rising +painfully to their feet, the disconcerted knights asked Tristram who he +was and of what country. + +"My noble sirs, I am a knight of Cornwall," he answered. "You have been +in the habit of scorning the warriors of my country, but you see we have +some good blood there." + +"A Cornish knight!" cried Hector. "That I should be overcome by a knight +from that land! I am not fit to wear armor more." And in despite he put +off his armor and left the place on foot, too full of shame to ride. + +As it turned out, fortune had worked more favorably for Tristram than he +supposed. For King Anguish was then on his way to Camelot, whither he +had been summoned by King Arthur as his vassal, for a purpose which he +was not told. + +It happened that when he reached Camelot neither King Arthur nor +Lancelot was there to give judgment on the charge against him, but the +kings of Carados and of Scotland were left as judges. And when King +Anguish demanded why he had been summoned, Blamor de Ganis, a Knight of +the Round Table, accused him of treason, declaring that he had +treacherously slain a cousin of his at his court in Ireland. + +This accusation threw King Anguish into great trouble, for he did not +dream that he had been brought for such a purpose, and knew well that +there was but one answer to make to such a charge. For the custom in +those days was that any man who was accused of murder or treason should +decide the case by the Wager of Battle, fighting his accuser to the +death, or finding a knight who would take up his quarrel. And murders of +all kinds in those days were called treason. + +King Anguish was thrown into a sorrowful frame of mind, for he knew that +Blamor de Ganis was a knight of prowess beyond his own strength, nor had +he a suitable champion in his train. He therefore withheld his answer, +and the judges gave him three days for his decision. + +All this was told to Tristram by his squire Gouvernail, who had heard it +from people of the country. + +"Truly," said Tristram, "no man in England could bring me better +tidings, for the king of Ireland will be glad of my aid, since no knight +of this country not of Arthur's court will dare fight with Blamor. As I +wish to win the good will of King Anguish, I will take on myself his +battle. So, Gouvernail, go to the king for me, and tell him there is a +champion ready to assume his cause." + +Gouvernail thereupon went to Camelot, and greeted King Anguish, who +returned his greeting and asked his errand. + +"There is a knight near at hand who desires to speak with you," was the +reply. "He bade me say that he was ready to do you knightly service." + +"What knight may he be?" asked the king. + +"Sir, it is Tristram of Lyonesse. For the grace you showed him in your +country he is ready to repay you here, and to take the field as your +champion." + +"God be praised for this welcome news!" cried the king. "Come, good +fellow, show me the way to Sir Tristram. Blamor will find he has no boy +to handle." + +He mounted a hackney, and with few followers rode under Gouvernail's +guidance till they came to Tristram's pavilion. The knight, when he saw +his visitor, ran to him and would have held his stirrup, but this the +king would not permit. He leaped lightly from his horse and took +Tristram warmly in his arms. + +"My gracious lord," said Tristram, "I have not forgot the goodness which +you formerly showed me, and which at that time I promised to requite by +knightly service if it should ever be in my power." + +"I have great need of you, indeed, gentle sir," answered the king. +"Never before was I in such deep necessity of knightly aid." + +"How so, my noble lord?" asked Tristram. + +"I shall tell you. I am held answerable for the death of a knight who +was akin to Lancelot, and for which I must fight his relative, Blamor de +Ganis, or find a knight in my stead. And well you know the knights of +King Ban's blood are hard men to overcome in battle." + +"That may be," said Tristram, "yet I dread not to meet them. For the +honor which you showed me in Ireland, and for the sake of your gracious +daughter La Belle Isolde, I will take the battle on two conditions: +first, that you swear that you are in the right, and had no hand in the +knight's death; second, that if I win in this fight you grant me the +reward I may ask, if you deem it reasonable." + +"Truly, I am innocent, and you shall have whatever you ask," said the +king. + +"Then I accept the combat," said Tristram. "You may return to Camelot +and make answer that your champion is ready, for I shall die in your +quarrel rather than be recreant. Blamor is said to be a hardy knight, +but I would meet him were he the best warrior that now bears shield and +spear." + +King Anguish then departed and told the judges that he had his champion +ready, and was prepared for the wager of battle at any time that pleased +them. In consequence, Blamor and Tristram were sent for to hear the +charge. But when the knights of the court learned that the champion was +he who had vanquished Marhaus and Palamides, there was much debate and +shaking of the head, and many who had felt sure of the issue now grew +full of doubt, the more so when they learned the story of Hector de +Maris and his companion. + +But the combatants took their charge in all due dignity, and then +withdrew to make ready for the battle. Blamor was attended by his +brother Sir Bleoberis, who said to him, feelingly,-- + +"Remember, dear brother, of what kin we are, being cousins to Lancelot +du Lake, and that there has never been a man of our blood but would +rather die than be shamed in battle." + +"Have no doubt of me," answered Blamor. "I know well this knight's +record; but if he should strike me down through his great might, he +shall slay me before I will yield as recreant." + +"You will find him the strongest knight you have ever had to do with. I +know that well, for I had once a bout with him at King Mark's court. So +God speed you!" + +"In God and my cause I trust," answered Blamor. + +Then he took his horse and rode to one end of the lists, and Tristram to +the other, where, putting their spears in rest, they spurred their +gallant steeds and rushed together with the speed of lightning. The +result was that Blamor and his horse together were hurled to the earth, +while Tristram kept his seat. Then Blamor drew his sword and threw his +shield before him, bidding Tristram to alight. + +"Though a horse has failed me," he said, "I trust that the earth will +stand me in good stead." + +Without hesitation Tristram consented, springing to the ground, sword in +hand, and the combatants broke at once into fierce battle, fighting like +madmen, till all who saw them marvelled at their courage and strength. +Never had knights been seen to fight more fiercely, for Blamor was so +furious and incessant in his attacks, and Tristram so active in his +defence, that it was a wonder they had breath to stand. But at last +Tristram smote his antagonist such a blow on the helm that he fell upon +his side, while his victor stood looking grimly down upon him. + +When Blamor could gain breath to speak, he said,-- + +"Sir Tristram de Lyonesse, I require thee, as thou art a true knight, to +slay me, for I would not live in shame, though I might be lord of the +earth. You must slay me, indeed, if you would win the field, for I shall +never speak the hateful word of surrender." + +When Tristram heard this knightly defiance he knew not what to do. The +thought of slaying one of Lancelot's blood hurt him sorely, but his duty +as a champion required him to force his antagonist to yield, or else to +slay him. In deep distress of mind he went to the kingly judges and +kneeled before them, beseeching them for the sake of King Arthur and +Lancelot, and for their own credit, to take this matter out of his +hands. + +"It were a pity and shame that the noble knight who lies yonder should +be slain," he said, "yet he refuses to yield. As for the king I fight +for, I shall require him, as I am his true knight and champion, to have +mercy on the vanquished." + +"That yield I freely," said King Anguish. "And I heartily pray the +judges to deal with him mercifully." + +Then the judges called Bleoberis to them and asked his advice. + +"My lords," he replied, "my brother is beaten, I acknowledge, yet, +though Sir Tristram has vanquished his body, he has not conquered his +heart, and I thank God he is not shamed by his defeat. And rather than +he should be shamed I require you to bid Tristram to slay him." + +"That shall not be," replied the judges. "Both his adversaries, the king +and his champion, have pity on him, and you should have no less." + +"I leave his fate to you," said Bleoberis. "Do what seems to you well." + +Then, after further consultation, the judges gave their verdict that the +vanquished knight should live, and by their advice Tristram and +Bleoberis took him up and brought him to King Anguish, who forgave and +made friends with him. Then Blamor and Tristram kissed each other and +the two brothers took oath that neither of them would ever fight with +their noble antagonist, who took the same oath. And from the day of +that battle there was peace and love between Tristram and all the +kindred of Lancelot forever. + +The happy close of this contest made great rejoicing in Arthur's court, +King Anguish and his champion being treated with all the honor that +could be laid upon them, and for many days thereafter feasting and +merry-making prevailed. In the end the king and his champion sailed for +Ireland with great state and ceremony, while many noble knights attended +to bid them farewell. + +When they reached Ireland, King Anguish spread far and wide the story of +what Tristram had done for him, and he was everywhere greeted with honor +and delight. Even the queen forgot her anger, and did all that lay in +her power to give her lord's champion a glad welcome to the court. + +As for La Belle Isolde, she met Tristram with the greatest joy and +gladness. Absence had dimmed the love in both their hearts, and it no +longer burned as of yore, yet only time and opportunity were needed to +make it as warm as ever. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +THE DRAUGHT OF LOVE. + + +At length there came a day, after Tristram had dwelt long at King +Anguish's court, that the king asked him why he had not demanded his +boon, since the royal word had been passed that whatever he asked +should be his without fail. + +"I asked you not," said Tristram, "since it is a boon that will give me +no pleasure, but so much pain that with every day that passes I grow +less inclined to ask it." + +"Then why ask it at all?" + +"That I must, for I have passed my word of honor, and the word of a +knight is his best possession. What I am forced to demand, then, is that +you will give me the hand of La Belle Isolde,--not for myself, and that +is what makes my heart so sore, but for my uncle, King Mark, who desires +to wed her, and for whom I have promised to demand her." + +"Alas!" cried the king, "that you should ask me so despiteful a boon. I +had rather than all King Mark's dominions that you should wed her +yourself." + +"I never saw woman whom I would rather wed," he replied. "But if I +should do so I would be the shame of the world forever, as a false +knight, recreant to his promise. Therefore, I must stand by my word, and +hold you to your boon, that you will give me La Belle Isolde to go with +me to Cornwall, there to be wedded to King Mark, my uncle." + +"As for that, I cannot deny you. She shall go with you, but as to what +may happen thereafter, I leave that for you to decide. If you choose to +wed her yourself, that will give me the greatest joy. But if you +determine to give her to King Mark, the right rests with you. I have +passed my word, though I wish now that I had not." + +Then Isolde was told of what had passed, and bade to make ready to go +with Tristram, a lady named Bragwaine going with her as chief +gentlewoman, while many others were selected as her attendants. When the +preparations were fully made, the queen, Isolde's mother, gave to Dame +Bragwaine and Gouvernail a golden flask containing a drink, and charged +them that on the day of Isolde's wedding they should give King Mark that +drink, bidding him to quaff it to the health of La Belle Isolde, and her +to quaff his health in return. + +"It is a love draught," continued the queen, "and if they shall drink it +I undertake to say that each shall love the other for all the days of +their life." + +Not many days passed before Tristram took to the sea, with the fair +maiden who had been committed to his charge, and they sailed away on a +mission that had for them both far more of sadness than of joy, for +their love grew as the miles passed. + +One day, as they sat together in the cabin, it happened that they became +thirsty, and by chance they saw on a shelf near them a little golden +flask, filled with what by the color seemed to be a noble wine. Tristram +took it down and said, with a laugh,-- + +"Madam Isolde, here is the best drink that ever you drank, a precious +draught which Dame Bragwaine, your maiden, and Gouvernail, my servant, +are keeping for themselves. Let us drink from their private store." + +Then with laughter and merriment they drank freely from the flask, and +both thought that they had never tasted draught so sweet and delicious +in their lives before. But when the magic wine got into their blood, +they looked upon each other with new eyes, for their hearts were +suddenly filled with such passionate love as they had not dreamed that +heart could feel. Tristram thought that never had mortal eyes gazed upon +a maiden of such heavenly charms, and Isolde that there was never man +born so grand and graceful as the knight of her love. + +Then all at once she fell into bitter weeping as the thought of her +destiny came upon her, and Tristram took her in his arms and kissed her +sweet lips again and again, speaking words of love that brought some +comfort to her love-sick heart. And thus it was between them day by day +to the end of their voyage, for a love had grown between them of such +fervent depth that it could never leave them while blood flowed in their +veins. + +Such magic power had the draught which the queen had prepared for King +Mark, and which the unthinking lovers drank in fate's strange error. It +was the bitter-sweet of love; for it was destined to bring them the +deepest joy and sorrow in the years to come. + +Many days passed before the lovers reached Cornwall, and strange +adventures met them by the way, of which we have but little space to +speak. For chance brought them to land near a castle named Pleure, or +the weeping castle. It was the custom of the lord of that castle, when +any knight passed by with a lady, to take them prisoners. Then, when the +knight's lady was compared with the lady of the castle, whichever was +the least lovely of the two was put to death, and the knight was made to +fight with the lord of the castle for the other, and was put to death if +vanquished. Through this cruel custom many a noble knight and fair lady +had been slain, for the castle lord was of great prowess and his lady of +striking beauty. + +It chanced that Tristram and Isolde demanded shelter at this castle, and +that they were made prisoners under its cruel custom. At this outrage +Tristram grew bitterly indignant, and demanded passionately what it +meant, as honor demanded that those who sought harbor should be received +hospitably as guests, and not despitefully as prisoners. In answer he +was told the custom of the castle, and that he must fight for his lady +and his liberty. + +"It is a foul and shameful custom," he replied. "I do not fear that your +lord's lady will surpass mine in beauty, nor that I cannot hold my own +in the field, but I like to have a voice in my own doings. Tell him, +however, if he is so hot for battle, that I shall be ready for the test +to-morrow morning, and may heaven be on the side of truth and justice." + +When morning came the test of beauty was made, and the loveliness of +Isolde shone so far beyond that of the castle lady that Breunor, the +lord, was forced to admit it. And now Tristram grew stern and pitiless, +for he said that this lady had consented to the death of many innocent +rivals, and richly deserved death as a punishment for the ruthless deeds +done in her behalf, and to gratify her cruel vanity. Thereupon her head +was struck off without mercy. + +Full of anger at this, Breunor attacked Tristram with all his strength +and fury, and a long and fiery combat took place, yet in the end he fell +dead beneath the sword of the knight of Cornwall. + +But, as it happened, the castle lord had a valiant son, named Sir +Galahad the high prince, a knight who in after years was to do deeds of +great emprise. Word was brought to him of the death of his father and +mother, and he rode in all haste to the castle, having with him that +renowned warrior known as the king with the hundred knights. + +Reaching the castle, Galahad fiercely challenged Tristram to battle, and +a mighty combat ensued. But at the last Galahad was forced to give way +before the deadly strokes of his antagonist, whose strength seemed to +grow with his labor. + +When the king with the hundred knights saw this, he rushed upon Tristram +with many of his followers, attacking him in such force as no single +knight could hope to endure. + +"This is no knightly deed," cried Tristram to Galahad. "I deemed you a +noble knight, but it is a shameful act to let all your men set on me at +once." + +"However that be," said Galahad, "you have done me a great wrong, and +must yield or die." + +"Then I must yield, since you treat me so unfairly. I accepted your +challenge, not that of all your followers. To yield thus puts me to no +dishonor." + +And he took his sword by the point and put the pommel in the hand of his +opponent. But despite this action the king and his knights came on, and +made a second attack on the unarmed warrior. + +"Let him be," cried Sir Galahad. "I have given him his life, and no man +shall harm him." + +"Shame is it in you to say so!" cried the king. "Has he not slain your +father and mother?" + +"For that I cannot blame him greatly. My father held him in prison, and +forced him to fight to the death. The custom was a wicked and cruel one, +and could have but one end. Long ago, it drove me from my father's +castle, for I could not favor it by any presence." + +"It was a sinful custom, truly," said the king. + +"So I deem it, and it would be a pity that this brave knight should die +in such a cause, for I know no one save Lancelot du Lake who is his +equal. Now, fair knight, will you tell me your name?" + +"My name is Tristram of Lyonesse, and I am on my way to the court of +King Mark of Cornwall, taking to him La Belle Isolde, the daughter of +King Anguish of Ireland, whom he desires to wed." + +"Then you are welcome to these marches, and all that I demand of you is +that you promise to go to Lancelot du Lake, and become his fellow. I +shall promise that no such custom shall ever be used in this castle +again." + +"You will do well," said Tristram. "I would have you know that when I +began to fight with you I fancied you were Lancelot. And I promise, as +soon as I may, to seek him, for of all the knights in the world I most +desire his fellowship." + +[Illustration: TRISTRAM AND THE FAIR ISOLDE.] + +Soon afterwards Tristram and his fair companion resumed their journey, +and in due time reached Cornwall. But as they came near Tintagil their +hearts were ready to break, for that magic draught was still in their +veins, and they loved each other with a love that was past all telling. + +Thoughts came into Tristram's heart to marry the maiden in despite of +custom and his plighted word, and gladly would she have consented +thereto. But strong as was his love, his honor was stronger, and Isolde, +deeply as she grieved, could not ask him to break his word. And thus for +many long miles they journeyed onward side by side in silence, their +eyes alone speaking, but they telling a story of love and grief to which +they dared not give words, lest their hearts' desire should burst all +boundaries of faith and honor, and men's condemnation come to them both. + +So they came with drooping hearts to the court of King Mark, where the +king and his barons received them with state and ceremony. Quickly +thereafter the wedding took place, for the king looked with eyes of warm +approval upon the beautiful maiden, and prepared richly and nobly for +the ceremony, at which many noble knights and lords were present, but +from which Tristram withdrew in the deepest anguish, as he could not +endure the sight. And so his knightly word was kept, though to keep it +almost broke his heart. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +THE PERILS OF TRUE LOVE. + + +The marriage of King Mark with La Belle Isolde was celebrated with rich +feasts and royal tournaments, and for many days pleasure ruled supreme +at Tintagil Castle, whither noble guests came and went. Among those who +came was Palamides the Saracen, drawn thither by his love of Isolde, +which his overthrow by Tristram had not banished from his heart. + +Strange events soon followed. Two ladies of Isolde's train, who envied +and hated Dame Bragwaine, laid a plot for her destruction. She was sent +into the forest to obtain herbs, and there was met by men sent by her +enemies, who bound her hand and foot to a tree, where she remained for +three days. By good fortune, at the end of that time, she was found by +Palamides, who saved her from death, and took her to a nunnery that she +might recover from her pain and exhaustion. + +The disappearance of Dame Bragwaine troubled the queen greatly, for she +loved her most of all women, and as the days went by and she returned +not, the grief of Isolde grew deep. She wandered into the forest, which +had been searched in vain for the lost lady, and, plunged in sad +thought, seated herself by a woodland spring, where she moaned bitterly +for her favorite. + +As she sat there Palamides appeared, and, after listening awhile to her +sad complaining, said,-- + +"Queen Isolde, I know well the cause of your grief, and if you will +grant the boon I shall ask, I promise to bring you Dame Bragwaine, safe +and sound." + +The queen was so glad to hear this, that without thought she agreed to +grant his wish, thinking more of the lost lady than of what he might +demand. + +"I trust to your promise," said Palamides. "Remain here half an hour and +you shall see her." + +"I shall remain," said the queen. + +Palamides then rode away, and within the time mentioned returned with +the maiden, whom Isolde clasped to her heart with happy tears. + +"Now, madam, I have kept my word," said Palamides; "you must keep +yours." + +"I promised you hastily," answered the queen; "and I warn you now that I +will grant you nothing evil; so beware of your asking." + +"My boon will keep till I meet you before the king," said Palamides. +"What it is I shall not tell you now." + +Then the queen rode home with her maiden, and Palamides followed close +after, entering the court while Isolde was telling the king of what had +happened. + +"Sir king," said the knight, "your lady has told you of the boon she +proffered me. The honor of knighthood requires that you shall make her +word good." + +"Why made you this promise, my lady?" asked the king. + +"I did so for grief at the loss of Dame Bragwaine, and for joy to +recover her." + +"Then what you have hastily proffered you must truly perform. The word +of king and queen is not to be lightly spoken or lightly broken." + +"What I demand is this," said Palamides, "that you deliver to me your +queen, to lead her where I wish and govern her as I will." + +At this bold request the king frowned deeply, and anger leaped to his +lips. But his word had been passed, and the thought came to him that he +could trust to Tristram quickly to rescue the queen, and punish this +bold adventurer. + +"Take her if you will," he cried. "But I tell you this, you will not +keep her long, and that you are asking a dangerous gift." + +"As for that, I shall dare the risk." + +Then he took Isolde by the hand, and led her from the court, and from +the presence of the king and his barons, not one of whom moved, though +the queen looked round with suppliant eyes. Leading her to his +war-horse, he set her behind him on the saddle, and rode proudly away. + +No sooner had they gone than the king sent for Tristram, but by despite +he was nowhere to be found, for he was in the forest hunting, as was +always his custom when not engaged in feats of arms. + +"What shall be done?" cried the king. "Can no one find Tristram? My +honor will be shamed if the Saracen be not met and overcome." + +"I shall follow him, and seek to rescue the queen," said a knight named +Lambegus, one of Tristram's followers. + +"I thank you, Sir Lambegus. If I live, I will remember the service." + +So Lambegus got to horse and followed Palamides hotly, but to his own +sorrow, as it proved, for he was no match for the Saracen, who soon laid +him upon the earth wounded nearly to death. + +But while the battle went on, Isolde, who had been set upon the earth +pending the combat, ran into the forest, and continued to fly till she +came to a deep spring, where in her grief she sought to drown herself. +But good fortune brought thither a knight named Sir Adtherp, who had a +castle near by. Seeing the despair of the queen, he led her to his +castle, and then, learning her story, took upon himself her battle, and +rode forth to meet the Saracen. + +But he, too, fared badly, for Palamides wounded him severely, and made +him tell what he had done with the queen, and where his castle might be +found. + +Palamides, leaving him bleeding on the ground, rode in all haste to the +castle. But as he approached, Isolde saw him from a window, and gave +orders that the gate should be shut and the drawbridge raised. When +Palamides came up and saw that the castle was closed against him, and +entrance denied, he took the saddle and bridle from his horse and put +him to pasture, while he seated himself before the gate like a man who +cared not what became of him. + +Meanwhile, Tristram had returned from the hunt, and when he learned what +had happened, he was half beside himself with anger. + +"Lambegus is no match for the Saracen," he said. "Would I had been here +in his stead. The unchristianed villain shall answer for this outrage if +he can be found." + +Then he armed himself in all haste, and rode into the forest. Not far +had he gone when he found Lambegus, sorely wounded, and had him borne to +a place of shelter. Somewhat farther on he found Adtherp, also hurt and +bleeding, and from him he learned what had taken place. + +"Where is my lady now?" he asked. + +"Safe in my castle," said the knight. "And there she can hold herself +secure against the Saracen." + +"Then I owe you much," said Tristram. "Trust me to see that some of your +men be sent to your aid." + +He continued his journey till he came to the castle, and here he saw +Palamides sitting by the gate fast asleep, with his horse grazing beside +him. + +"The misbegotten rogue takes life easy," said Tristram. "Go rouse him, +Gouvernail. Bid him make ready to answer for his outrage." + +But he was in such deep slumber that Gouvernail called to him in vain. +He returned and told Tristram that the knight was either asleep or mad. + +"Go again and tell him that I, his mortal foe, am here." + +Gouvernail now prodded him with the butt of his spear, and cried,-- + +"Arise, Sir Palamides, and make ready, for yonder is Sir Tristram, and +he sends you word that he is your mortal foe." + +Then Palamides rose without a word of answer, and saddled and bridled +his horse, upon which he sprang, putting his spear in rest. But he +remained not long in his saddle, for when they met in mid career, +Tristram smote him so hard a blow as to thrust him over his horse's tail +to the ground. + +Then they drew their swords and fought with all their strength, for the +lady whom they both loved looked upon them from the walls, and well-nigh +swooned for grief and distress on seeing how sorely each was hurt. + +"Alas!" she cried, "one of them I love, and the other loves me. It would +be a great pity to see Sir Palamides slain, much as he has troubled me, +and slain he will be if this fight goes on." + +Then, moved by her tender heart, she went down and besought Tristram to +fight no more. + +"What mean you?" he asked. "Would you have me shamed?" + +"I desire not your dishonor; but for my sake I would have you spare this +unhappy knight, whose love for me has made him mad." + +"As you wish," he replied. "The fight shall end, since you desire it." + +"As for you, Sir Palamides," she said, "I command that you shall go out +of this country while I am in it." + +"If it must be, it must," he answered, in bitter anguish; "but it is +sorely against my will, for not to see you is not to live." + +"Take your way to the court of King Arthur," she said, "and there +recommend me to Queen Guenever. Tell her that Isolde says that in all +the land there are but four lovers, and that these are Lancelot du Lake +and Queen Guenever, and Tristram de Lyonesse and Queen Isolde." + +This message filled Palamides with the greatest heaviness of heart, and +mounting his steed he rode away moaning bitterly. But Isolde was full of +gladness in being well rid of her troublesome lover, and Tristram in +having rescued her from his rival. So he brought her back to King Mark, +and there was great joy over her home-coming, while the king and all the +court showered honors on the successful champion. Sir Lambegus was +brought back to the court and put under the care of skilful leeches, and +for a long time joy and good-will reigned. + +But Tristram had in King Mark's court a bitter foe, who sought to work +him injury, though he was his near cousin. This traitor, Sir Andred by +name, knew well of the love between Tristram and Isolde, and that they +had secret meetings and tender conversations, so he lay in wait to spy +upon them and slander them before the court. + +A day came at length when Andred observed Tristram in secret parley with +Isolde at a window, and he hastened to the king and poisoned his mind +with a false report of what he had seen. King Mark, on hearing this, +burst into a fury of passion, and seizing a sword, ran to where Tristram +stood. Here he violently berated him as a traitor, and struck at him a +furious blow. + +But Tristram took the sword-point under his arm, and ran in on the king, +wresting the weapon from his hand. + +"Where are my knights and men?" cried the enraged king. "I charge you to +kill this traitor!" + +But of those present not a man would move. When Tristram saw this, he +shook the sword threateningly against the king, and took a step forward +as if he would have slain him. At this movement King Mark fled, while +Tristram followed, and struck him so strong a blow with the flat of the +sword on his neck that he was flung prostrate on his nose. Then Tristram +hastened to his room and armed himself, after which he took his horse +and his squire and rode into the forest. + +Here the valorous champion killed some of the knights whom the king had +sent against him and put to flight thirty more, so that King Mark in +fear and fury called a council of his lords, and asked what was to be +done with his rebellious subject. + +"Our counsel is," said the barons, "that you send for Sir Tristram and +make friends with him, for you well know that if you push him hard many +of your men will join him. He is peerless and matchless among Christian +knights except Sir Lancelot, and if you drive him to seek King Arthur's +court he will find such friends there that he may defy your power. +Therefore we counsel you to beg him to return to the court, under +assurance of safety." + +"You may send for him, then," said the king, though his heart burned +with secret fury. The barons now sent for Tristram under a safe-conduct, +and he returned to the court, where he was welcomed by the king, and all +that had passed seemed to be forgotten. + +Shortly after this the king and queen went hunting, accompanied by +Tristram and many knights and gentlemen of the court. Entering the +forest, they set up their pavilions and tents beside a river, where they +hunted and jousted daily, for King Mark had with him thirty knights who +stood ready to meet all comers. + +Fortune brought thither two knights-errant, one being Lamorak de Galis, +who of all knights was counted next to Lancelot and Tristram. The other +was Sir Driant, both being Knights of the Round Table. + +Driant jousted first with the Cornish knights, and, after unhorsing some +of them, got a stunning fall. Then Lamorak offered to meet them, and of +the thirty knights not one kept his seat before him, while some were +sorely hurt. + +"What knight is this who fights so well?" asked the king. + +"Sir," said Tristram, "it is Lamorak de Galis, one of the best knights +who ever put spear in rest." + +"Then, Sir Tristram, you must meet him. It were a shame to us all to let +him go away victor." + +"It were a greater shame to overthrow a noble knight when he and his +horse are worn out with over-labor." + +"He shall not leave here and boast of how he vanquished King Mark's +knights. I charge you, as you love me and my lady La Belle Isolde, to +take your arms and joust with this Lamorak." + +"You charge me to do what is against knighthood, for it is no honor for +a fresh man and horse to master spent and weary ones. Since you command +it I must do it, but it is sorely against my will." + +Then he armed himself and took his horse, and in the joust easily +overthrew Lamorak and his weary steed. The knight lightly sprang from +the falling charger and drew his sword, boldly challenging Tristram to +meet him on foot. But this Tristram would by no means do, though Lamorak +hotly renewed the challenge. + +"You are great of heart, Sir Lamorak," said Tristram, "but no knight nor +horse was ever made that could forever endure. Therefore I will not meet +you, and I am sorry for having jousted with you." + +"You have done me an evil turn," said Lamorak, angrily, "for which I +shall repay you when an opportunity comes." + +Lamorak soon got his revenge. For as he rode with Sir Driant towards +Camelot he met by the way a boy who had been sent by Morgan le Fay to +King Arthur. For the false enchantress still held to her hatred against +her noble brother, and by all means sought his harm. So by magic art she +had made a drinking-horn of such strange virtue that if any lady drank +of it who had been false to her husband all the wine would be spilled, +but if she had been true to him, she might drink in peace and safety. + +This horn she sent to Arthur's court, hoping that Guenever might drink +thereof and be dishonored, for her love for Lancelot was known to all +but the king. + +Lamorak, learning from the boy his errand, bade him bear the horn to +King Mark's court, and tell the king that it was sent to prove the +falseness of his lady, who loved Sir Tristram more than she did her +wedded lord. + +Soon afterwards, therefore, the boy appeared at Tintagil Castle, and +presented King Mark the magic horn, telling him of its virtues, and all +that Sir Lamorak had bidden him say. + +"By my royal faith we shall try it, then!" said the king. "Not only my +queen, but all the ladies of the court, shall drink of it, and we shall +learn who among them has other lovers than their liege lords." + +Much to their unwillingness, Queen Isolde and a hundred ladies of the +court were made to drink from the magic horn, and of them all only four +drank without spilling the wine. + +"Now, by my knightly honor, all these false dames shall be burnt!" cried +the king. "My court shall be purged of this vile stain." + +"That shall they not," cried the barons. "We shall never consent that +the queen and all these ladies shall be destroyed for a horn wrought by +sorcery, and sent here to make mischief by as foul a sorceress and witch +as the earth holds. She has always been an enemy to all true lovers and +sought to do them harm, and if we meet with Morgan le Fay she will get +but scant courtesy at our hands. We would much rather believe the horn +false than all our ladies untrue." + +But Tristram's anger was turned towards Lamorak for this affront, for he +knew well what had been his purpose. And he vowed in his heart that he +would yet repay him for this treacherous act. + +His affection for Queen Isolde kept as warm as though the love-draught +still flowed in his veins, and he sought her at every opportunity, for +the two greatest joys that life held for him were to tell her of his +love and hear from her lips that her love for him had never dimmed. + +But his treacherous cousin Andred watched his every movement, and kept +the king advised that Tristram continued his secret interviews with the +queen. So an ambush of twelve knights was set, and one day, when +Tristram had just paid a stolen visit to the queen, and sat in loving +converse by her side, these ambushed knights broke suddenly upon him, +took him prisoner, and bound him hand and foot. + +Then, by order of the king, he was borne to a chapel that stood on a +rocky height above the sea, where Andred and some others of the barons +who were his enemies came together to pass judgment upon him. + +Tristram in all his life had never stood in such peril, for his hands +were bound fast to two knights, and forty others surrounded him, every +one a foe. Care had been taken to get rid of his friends among the +barons by sending them away from the court on various pretexts. Like a +lion surrounded by jackals he chafed in his bonds, while his great heart +swelled as if it would break. No escape seemed possible, but with a +reproachful voice he said,-- + +"Fair lords, I have in my time done something for Cornwall, and taken +upon myself great peril for your benefit. Who among you all was ready to +meet Sir Marhaus, or to cope with Palamides? Is this shameful death my +reward for my services to your country? You know well that I never met a +knight but that I was his match or his better." + +"Boast not, false traitor," cried Andred. "For all thy vaunting, thou +shalt die this day." + +"O Andred, Andred, that you my kinsman should treat me thus!" said +Tristram sorrowfully. "You can be bold when I am bound, but if there +were none here but you and me, you would crouch like a cur at my feet." + +"Would I so?" cried Andred, angrily. "You shall see what I would do." + +And as he spoke he drew his sword, and advanced upon his cousin with +intent to slay him on the spot. But Tristram, when he saw him coming +with murderous looks, suddenly drew inwards with all his strength the +two knights to whom he was bound, and with a mighty wrench broke the +strong cords asunder. Then with the leap of a tiger he sprang upon his +treacherous cousin, wrested the sword from his hand, and smote him a +blow that hurled him insensible to the earth. This done, he rushed with +the fury of a madman on his enemies, striking mighty blows to right and +left, till in a few minutes ten of them lay dead and wounded on the +earth. + +But seeing that they were pressing on him in too great force, he +retreated into the chapel, in whose door-way he stood, sword in hand, +holding it against all their assaults. + +Soon, however, the cry went forth that the prisoner had escaped, and had +felled Andred and killed many of the barons, and others of his foes +hastened up, till more than a hundred beleaguered him in the chapel. + +Tristram now looked despairingly on his unarmed form, and saw that many +of his assailants wore armor of proof. Death was sure unless he could +find some means of escape. He knew that the chapel stood on the brow of +the cliff, and here seemed his only hope of safety, though it was a +perilous one. Quickly retreating, he shut and barred the door, and then +with hand and sword wrenched and tore the iron bars from a window over +the cliff, out of which he desperately leaped. + +The descent was a deep one, but he fortunately reached the sea below +without striking any of the rocks in his descent. Here he drew himself +into a crevice at the foot of the cliff. + +Those above rushed to the rocky edge and looked down into the boiling +waters far below, but they saw nothing of the daring knight, and after a +long and vain effort to see him, went away to report to the king that +his enemy was drowned. + +But while King Mark and Tristram's enemies were congratulating one +another upon this, there came to the top of the cliff, Gouvernail, +Lambegus, and others of Tristram's men, who, looking down, saw him +creeping up from the water to a safer place of shelter among the rocks. +Hailing him, they bade him to be of good heart, and, letting down a rope +which they quickly procured, they managed to draw him up to the summit, +where they congratulated him warmly on his escape. Without delay, +however, he left that spot, for fear of his foes returning, and sought a +place of shelter in the forest. + +[Illustration: THE CLIFFS ABOVE THE SEA.] + +Here he abode for some time, but the news of his escape got abroad, to +the discomfiture of his foes. And on a day when he had fallen asleep, a +man to whom he had done some injury crept up and shot him in the +shoulder with an arrow. Tristram sprang up and killed the man, but the +wound pained him day by day. And on news of it being brought to La Belle +Isolde she sent him word by Dame Bragwaine that the arrow had been +poisoned, and with a venom that no leech in England could cure. "My +lady, La Belle Isolde, bids you haste into Brittany to King Howell," +said Dame Bragwaine, "for she knows no one who can help you but his +daughter, Isolde la Blanche Mains." + +Hearing this, the wounded knight sent a sad farewell to his lady love, +and took ship with Gouvernail his squire, and sailed to Brittany, where +he was warmly welcomed by King Howell. + +And when Isolde of the white hands heard of the errand of the knight, +she applied to his wound healing herbs of such virtue that in a little +while he was whole again. + +Afterwards Tristram dwelt long in Brittany, and helped King Howell much +in his wars. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +THE MADNESS OF SIR TRISTRAM. + + +Of the visit of Sir Tristram to Brittany, and the healing of his wound, +with the great deeds he did there, and how he overthrew the giant knight +Nabon le Noire, we shall not further speak. Letters at length came to +him from La Belle Isolde, in which she spoke pitifully of tales that had +been brought her, saying that he had been false to her, and had married +Isolde the White Handed, daughter of King Howell of Brittany. + +On receiving these letters, Tristram set out in all haste for Cornwall, +bringing with him Kehydius, King Howell's son. On his way there he had +many adventures, and rescued King Arthur from an enchantress, who had +brought him near to death in the forest perilous. When at length he came +to Cornwall he sought the castle of Dinas the seneschal, his warmest +friend, and sent him to tell Queen Isolde that he had secretly returned. + +At this longed-for news the queen swooned from pure joy. When she +recovered and was able to speak, she said, in pitiful accents,-- + +"Gentle seneschal, I pray you bring him where I may speak with him, or +my heart will break." + +"Trust me for that," answered Dinas. + +Then he and Dame Bragwaine brought Tristram and Kehydius privately to +the court, and to a chamber which Isolde had assigned for them. But to +tell the joy of the meeting between Tristram and La Belle Isolde we +shall not endeavor, for no tongue could tell it, nor heart think it, nor +pen write it. + +Yet misfortune still pursued these true lovers, and this time it came +from friends instead of foes, for the presence of Kehydius in the castle +led to the most doleful and melancholy misfortune which the world ever +knew. For, as the chronicles make mention, no sooner had Kehydius seen +La Belle Isolde, than he became so enamoured of her that his heart might +never more be free. And at last, as we are told, he died from pure love +of this beautiful queen, but with that we are not here concerned. But +privately he wrote her letters which were full of moving tales of his +love, and composed love poems to her which no minstrel of those days +might surpass. + +All these he managed to put into the queen's hands privately, and at +length, when she saw how deeply he was enamoured, she was moved by such +pity for his hopeless love that, out of the pure kindness of her heart, +she unwisely wrote him a letter, seeking to comfort him in his distress. + +Sad was it that pity should bring such sorrow and pain to two loving +hearts as came from that fatal letter. For on a day when King Mark sat +playing chess at a chamber window, it chanced that La Belle Isolde and +Kehydius were in the chamber above, where they awaited the coming of +Tristram from the turret-room in which he was secretly accommodated. But +as ill luck would have it, there fell into Tristram's hands the last +letter which Kehydius had written to the queen, and her answer, which +was so worded that it seemed as if she returned his love. + +These the young lover had carelessly left in Tristram's chamber, where +he found them and thoughtlessly began reading them. But not far had he +read when his heart sank deep in woe, and then leaped high in anger. He +hurried in all haste to the chamber where Isolde and Kehydius were, the +letters in his hand. + +"Isolde," he cried, pitifully, "what mean these letters,--this which +Kehydius has written you, and this, your answer, with its vile tale of +love? Alas! is this my repayment for the love I have lavished on you, +that you thus treacherously desert me for the viper that I have brought +hither?--As for you, Kehydius, you have foully repaid my trust in you +and all my services. But bear you well in mind that I shall be amply +revenged for your falsehood and treason." + +Then he drew his sword with such a fierce and threatening countenance +that Isolde swooned out of pure fear; and Kehydius, when he saw him +advancing with murder in his face, saw but one chance for life, and +leaped out of a bay window immediately over that where King Mark sat +playing at chess. + +When the king saw the body of a man hurtling down over his head, so +close that he almost touched him as he sat at the window, he sprang up +in alarm and cried,-- + +"What the foul fiend is this? Who are you, fellow? and where in the wide +world have you come from?" + +Kehydius, who had fallen on his feet, answered the king with ready wit. + +"My lord, the king," he said, "blame me not, for I fell in my sleep. I +was seated in the window above you, and slumbered there, and you see +what has come of it." + +"The next time you are sleepy, good fellow, hunt a safer couch," laughed +the king, and turned again to his chess. + +But Tristram was sure that his presence in the castle would now be known +to the king, and hastened to arm himself with such armor as he could +find, in dread of an assault in force. But as no one came against him, +he sent Gouvernail for his horse and spear, and rode in knightly guise +openly from the gates of Tintagil. + +At the gate it chanced that he met with Gingalin, the son of Gawaine, +who had just arrived; and the young knight, being full of ardor, and +having a fancy to tilt with a Cornish warrior, put his spear in rest and +rode against Tristram, breaking his spear on him. + +Tristram had yet no spear, but he drew his sword and put all his grief +and anger into the blow he gave the bold young knight. So hard he struck +that Gingalin was flung from his saddle, and the sword, slipping down, +cut through the horse's neck, leaving the knight with a headless +charger. + +Then Tristram rode on until he disappeared in the forest. All this was +seen by King Mark, who sent a squire to the hurt knight and asked him +who he was. When he knew it was Sir Gingalin, he welcomed him, and +proffered him another horse, asking what knight it was he had +encountered. + +"That I know not," said Gingalin, "but he has a mighty wrist, whoever he +is. And he sighed and moaned as if some great disaster had happened him. +I shall beware of weeping knights hereafter, if they all strike like +this." + +As Tristram rode on he met Sir Fergus, one of his own knights, but by +this time his grief and pain of heart had grown so bitter that he fell +from his horse in a swoon, and lay thus for three days and nights. + +When at length he came to himself, he sent Fergus, who had remained +with him, to the court, to bring him what tidings he might learn. As +Fergus rode forward he met a damsel whom Palamides had sent to inquire +about Sir Tristram. Fergus told her how he had met him, and that he was +almost out of his mind. + +"Where shall I find him?" asked the damsel. + +"In such a place," explained Fergus, and rode on to the court, where he +learned that Queen Isolde was sick in bed, moaning pitifully, though no +one knew the source of her pain. + +The damsel meanwhile sought Tristram, whom she found in such grief as +she had never before seen, and the more she tried to console him the +more he moaned and bewailed. At the last he took his horse and rode +deeply into the forest, as if he would be away from all human company. + +The damsel now sought him diligently, but it was three days before she +could find him, in a miserable woodland hut. Here she brought him meat +and drink, but he would eat nothing, and seemed as if he wished to +starve himself. + +A few days afterwards he fled from her again, and on this occasion it +chanced that he rode by the castle before which he and Palamides had +fought for La Belle Isolde. Here the damsel found him again, moaning +dismally, and quite beside himself with grief. In despair what to do, +she went to the lady of the castle and told her of the misfortune of the +knight. + +"It grieves me to learn this," said the lady. "Where is he?" + +"Here, near by your castle." + +"I am glad he is so near. He shall have meat and drink of the best, and +a harp which I have of his, and on which he taught me to play. For in +harping he has no peer in the world." + +So they took him meat and drink, but had much ado to get him to eat. And +during the night his madness so increased that he drove his horse from +him, and unlaced his armor and threw it wildly away. For days afterwards +he roamed like a wild man about the wilderness; now in a mad frenzy +breaking boughs from the trees, and even tearing young trees up by the +roots, and now for hours playing on the harp which the lady had given +him, while tears flowed in rivulets from his eyes. + +Sometimes, again, when the lady knew not where he was, she would sit +down in the wood and play upon the harp, which he had left hanging on a +bough. Then Tristram would come like a tamed fawn and listen to her, +hiding in the bushes; and in the end would come out and take the harp +from her hand and play on it himself, in mournful strains that brought +the tears to her eyes. + +Thus for a quarter of a year the demented lover roamed the forest near +the castle. But at length he wandered deeper into the wilderness, and +the lady knew not whither he had gone. Finally, his clothes torn into +tatters by the thorns, and he fallen away till he was lean as a hound, +he fell into the fellowship of herdsmen and shepherds, who gave him +daily a share of their food, and made him do servile tasks. And when he +did any deed not to their liking they would beat him with rods. In the +end, as they looked upon him as witless, they clipped his hair and +beard, and made him look like a fool. + +To such a vile extremity had love, jealousy, and despair brought the +brave knight Tristram de Lyonesse, that from being the fellow of lords +and nobles he became the butt of churls and cowherds. About this time it +happened that Dagonet, the fool and merry-maker of King Arthur, rode +into Cornwall with two squires, and chance brought them to a well in the +forest which was much haunted by the demented knight. The weather was +hot, and they alighted and stooped to drink at the well, while their +horses ran loose. As they bent over the well in their thirst, Tristram +suddenly appeared, and, moved by a mad freak, he seized Dagonet and +soused him headforemost in the well, and the two squires after him. The +dripping victims crawled miserably from the water, amid the mocking +laughter of the shepherds, while Tristram ran after the stray horses. +These being brought, he forced the fool and the squires to mount, soaked +as they were, and ride away. + +But after Tristram had departed, Dagonet and the squires returned, and +accusing the shepherds of having set that madman on to assail them, they +rode upon the keepers of beasts and beat them shrewdly. Tristram, as it +chanced, was not so far off but that he saw this ill-treatment of those +who had fed him, and he ran back, pulled Dagonet from the saddle, and +gave him a stunning fall to the earth. Then he wrested the sword from +his hand and with it smote off the head of one of the squires, while the +other fled in terror. Tristram followed him, brandishing the sword +wildly, and leaping like a madman as he rushed into the forest. + +When Dagonet had recovered from his swoon, he rode to King Mark's court, +and there told what had happened to him in the wildwood. + +"Let all beware," he said, "how they come near that forest well. For it +is haunted by a naked madman, and that fool soused me, King Arthur's +fool, and had nearly slain me." + +"That must be Sir Matto le Breune," said King Mark, "who lost his wit +because Sir Gaheris robbed him of his lady." + +Meanwhile, Kehydius had been ordered out of Cornwall by Queen Isolde, +who blamed him for all that had happened, and with a dolorous heart he +obeyed. By chance he met Palamides, to whom the damsel had reported the +sad condition of the insane knight, and for days they sought him +together, but in vain. + +But at Tintagil a foul scheme was laid by Andred, Tristram's cousin and +foe, to gain possession of his estates. This villain got a lady to +declare that she had nursed Tristram in a fatal illness, that he had +died in her care, and had been buried by her near a forest well; and she +further said that before his death he had left a request that King Mark +would make Andred king of Lyonesse, of which country Tristram now was +lord. + +On hearing these tidings, King Mark made a great show of grief, weeping +and lamenting as if he had lost his best friend in the world. But when +the news came to La Belle Isolde, so deep a weight of woe fell upon her +that she nearly went out of her mind. So deeply did she grieve, indeed, +that she vowed to destroy herself, declaring bitterly that she would not +live if Tristram was dead. + +So she secretly got a sword and went with it into her garden, where she +forced the hilt into a crevice in a plum-tree so that the naked point +stood out breast high. Then she kneeled down and prayed piteously: +"Sweet Lord Jesus, have pity on me, for I may not live after the death +of Sir Tristram. My first love he was, and he shall be my last." + +All this had been seen by King Mark, who had followed her privily, and +as she rose and was about to cast herself on the sword he came behind +and caught her in his arms. Then he tore the sword from the tree, and +bore her away, struggling and moaning, to a strong tower, where he set +guards upon her, bidding them to watch her closely. After that she lay +long sick, and came nigh to the point of death. + +Meanwhile, Tristram ran wildly through the forest, with Dagonet's sword +in his hand, till he came to a hermitage, where he lay down and slept. +While he slumbered, the hermit, who knew of his madness, stole the sword +from him and laid meat beside him. Here he remained ten days, and +afterwards departed and returned to the herdsmen. + +And now another adventure happened. There was in that country a giant +named Tauleas, brother to that Taulard whom Sir Marhaus had killed. For +fear of Tristram he had for seven years kept close in his castle, daring +not to go at large and commit depredations as of old. But now, hearing +the rumor that Tristram was dead, he resumed his old evil courses. And +one day he came to where the herdsmen were engaged, and seated himself +to rest among them. By chance there passed along the road near by a +Cornish knight named Sir Dinant, with whom rode a lady. + +When the giant saw them coming, he left the herdsmen and hid himself +under a tree near a well, deeming that the knight would stop there to +drink. This he did, but no sooner had he sought the well than the giant +slipped from his covert and leaped upon the horse. Then he rode upon Sir +Dinant, took him by the collar, and pulled him before him upon the +horse, reaching for his dagger to strike off his head. + +At this moment the herdsmen called to Tristram, who had just come from +the forest depths: "Help the knight." + +"Help him yourselves," said Tristram. + +"We dare not," they replied. + +Then Tristram ran up and seized the sword of the knight, which had +fallen to the ground, and with one broad sweep struck off the head of +Tauleas clean from the shoulders. This done he dropped the sword as if +he had done but a trifle and went back to the herdsmen. + +Shortly after this, Sir Dinant appeared at Tintagil, bearing with him +the giant's head, and there told what had happened to him and how he had +been rescued. + +"Where had you this adventure?" asked the king. + +"At the herdsmen's fountain in the forest," said Dinant. "There where so +many knights-errant meet. They say this madman haunts that spot." + +"He cannot be Matto le Breune, as I fancied," said the king. "It was a +man of no small might who made that stroke. I shall seek this wild man +myself." + +On the next day King Mark, with a following of knights and hunters, rode +into the forest, where they continued their course till they came to the +well. Lying beside it they saw a gaunt, naked man, with a sword beside +him. Who he was they knew not, for madness and exposure had so changed +Tristram's face that no one knew it. + +By the king's command he was picked up slumbering and covered with +mantles, and thus borne in a litter to Tintagil. Here they bathed and +washed him, and gave him warm food and gentle care, till his madness +passed away and his wits came back to him. But no one knew him, so much +had he changed, while all deemed Tristram dead, and had no thought of +him. + +Word of what had happened came to Isolde where she lay sick, and with a +sudden whim she rose from her bed and bade Bragwaine come with her, as +she had a fancy to see the forest madman. + +Asking where he was, she was told that he was in the garden, resting in +an arbor, in a light slumber. Hither they sought him and looked down +upon him, knowing him not. + +But as they stood there Tristram woke, and when he saw the queen he +turned away his head, while tears ran from his eyes. It happened that +the queen had with her a little brachet, which Tristram had given her +when she first came to Cornwall, and which always remembered and loved +its old master. + +When this little creature came near the sick man, she leaped upon him +and licked his cheeks and hands, and whined about him, showing great joy +and excitement. + +"The dog is wiser than us all," cried Dame Bragwaine. "She knows her +master. They spoke falsely who said he was dead. It is Sir Tristram." + +But Isolde fell to the ground in a swoon, and lay there long insensible. +When at length she recovered, she said,-- + +"My dear lord and knight, I thank God deeply that you still live, for +the story of your death had nearly caused mine. Your life is in dread +danger, for when King Mark knows you he will either banish or destroy +you. Therefore I beg you to fly from this court and seek that of King +Arthur where you are beloved. This you may trust, that at all times, +early and late, my love for you will keep fresh in my heart." + +"I pray you leave me, Isolde," answered the knight. "It is not well that +you should be seen here. Fear not that I will forget what you have +said." + +Then the queen departed, but do what she would the brachet would not +follow her, but kept with the sick knight. Soon afterwards King Mark +visited him, and to his surprise the brachet sat upon the prostrate man +and bayed at the king. + +"What does this mean?" he asked. + +"I can tell you," answered a knight. "That dog was Sir Tristram's before +it was the queen's. The brachet is wiser than us all. It knows its +master." + +"That I cannot believe," said the king. "Tell me your name, my good +man." + +"My name is Tristram of Lyonesse," answered the knight. "I am in your +power. Do with me what you will." + +The king looked at him long and strangely, with anger in his eyes. + +"Truly," he said, "you had better have died while you were about it. It +would have saved me the need of dealing with you as you deserve." + +Then he returned to the castle, and called his barons hastily to +council, sternly demanding that the penalty of death should be adjudged +against the knight. Happily for Tristram, the barons would not consent +to this, and proposed instead that the accused knight should be +banished. + +So in the end the sentence was passed that Tristram should be banished +for ten years from the country of Cornwall, not to return under pain of +death. To this the knight assented, taking an oath before the king and +his barons that he would abide by the decision of the court. + +Many barons accompanied him to the ship in which he was to set sail. And +as he was going, there arrived at Tintagil a knight of King Arthur's +court named Dinadan, who had been sent to seek Sir Tristram and request +him to come to Camelot. + +On being shown the banished knight, he went to him and told his errand. + +"You come in good season," said Tristram, "for to Camelot am I now +bound." + +"Then I would go with you in fellowship." + +"You are right welcome, Sir Dinadan." Then Tristram turned to the others +and said,-- + +[Illustration: TINTAGIL, KING ARTHUR'S CASTLE, FROM THE VALLEY.] + +"Greet King Mark from me, and all my enemies as well, and tell them that +I shall come again in my own good time. I am well rewarded for all I +have done for him, but revenge has a long life, as he may yet learn." + +Then he took ship and put to sea, a banished man. And with him went +Dinadan to cheer him in his woe, for, of all the knights of the Round +Table, Dinadan was the merriest soul. + + + + + BOOK VII. + + HOW TRISTRAM CAME TO CAMELOT. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +TRISTRAM AND DINADAN. + + +And now it behooves us to follow the banished knight in his adventures, +for they were many and various, and arduous were the labors with which +he won his right to a seat at the Round Table. We have told the tale of +his love and madness, and now must relate the marvellous exploits of his +banishment. + +Hardly, indeed, had Tristram and Dinadan landed in Arthur's realms when +they met two knights of his court, Hector de Maris and Bors de Ganis. +This encounter took place upon a bridge, where Hector and Dinadan +jousted, and Dinadan and his horse were overthrown. But Bors refused to +fight with Tristram, through the contempt he felt for Cornish knights. +Yet the honor of Cornwall was soon retrieved, for Sir Bleoberis and Sir +Driant now came up, and Bleoberis proffered to joust with Tristram, who +quickly smote him to the earth. + +This done, Tristram and Dinadan departed, leaving their opponents in +surprise that such valor and might could come out of Cornwall. But not +far had the two knights-errant gone when they entered a forest, where +they met a damsel, who was in search of some noble knights to rescue Sir +Lancelot. Morgan le Fay, who hated him bitterly since his escape from +her castle, had laid an ambush of thirty knights at a point which +Lancelot was approaching, thinking to attack him unawares and so slay +him. + +The damsel, who had learned of this plot, had already met the four +knights whom Tristram and Dinadan had encountered, and obtained their +promise to come to the rescue. + +She now told her story of crime and treachery to the two wanderers, with +the same request. + +"Fair damsel," said Tristram, "you could set me no more welcome task. +Guide me to the place where those dastards lie in ambush for Lancelot." + +"What would you do?" cried Dinadan. "We cannot match thirty knights. Two +or three are enough for any one knight, if they be men. I hope you don't +fancy that I will take fifteen to my share!" + +"Come, come, good comrade," said Tristram. "Do not show the white +feather." + +"I would rather wear the white feather than the fool's cap," said +Dinadan. "Lend me your shield if you will; for I had sooner carry a +Cornish shield, which all men say only cowards bear, than try any such +foolhardy adventure." + +"Nay; I will keep my shield for the sake of her who gave it to me," +answered Tristram. "But this I warn you, if you will not abide with me +I shall slay you before we part, for a coward has no right to cumber +the earth. I ask no more of you than to fight one knight. If your heart +is too faint for that, then stand by and see me meet the whole crew." + +"Very well," said Dinadan, "you can trust me to look on bravely, and +mayhap to do something to save my head from hard knocks; but I would +give my helmet if I had not met you. Folks say you are cured of your mad +fit, but I vow if I have much faith in your sound sense." + +Tristram smiled grimly at Dinadan's scolding, and kept on after the +damsel. Not far had they gone before they met the thirty knights. These +had already passed the four knights of Arthur's court, without a combat, +and they now rode in the same way past Tristram and Dinadan, with no +show of hostility. + +But Tristram was of different mettle. Turning towards them he cried with +a voice of thunder,--"Lo! sir villains. I have heard of your plot to +murder Lancelot. Turn and defend yourselves. Here is a knight ready to +fight you all for the love of Lancelot du Lake!" + +Then, spurring his good war-steed, he rode upon them with the fury of a +lion, slaying two with his spear. He then drew his mighty blade, and +attacked them with such fierce spirit and giant strength that ten more +soon fell dead beneath his furious blows. Nor did Dinadan stand and look +on, as he had grumblingly threatened, but rode in and aided Tristram +nobly, more than one of the villains falling before his blows. When, at +length, the murderous crew took to flight, there were but ten of them +alive. + +Sir Bors and his companions had seen this battle at a distance, but it +was all over before they could reach the scene of fray. High was their +praise of the valor and prowess of the victor, who, they said, had done +such a deed as they had deemed only Lancelot could perform. + +They invited him with knightly warmth and courtesy to go with them to +their lodging. + +"Many thanks, fair sirs," said Tristram, "but I cannot go with you." + +"Then tell us your name, that we may remember it as that of one of the +best of knights, and give you the honor which is your due." + +"Nor that either," answered Tristram. "In good time you shall know my +name, but not now." + +Leaving them with the dead knights, Tristram and Dinadan rode forward, +and in time found themselves near a party of shepherds and herdsmen, +whom they asked if any lodging was to be had near by. + +"That there is," said the herdsmen, "and good lodging, in a castle close +at hand. But it is not to be had for the asking. The custom of that +castle is that no knight shall lodge there except he fight with two +knights of the castle. But as you are two, you can fight your battle man +for man, if you seek lodging there." + +"That is rough pay for a night's rest," said Dinadan. "Lodge where you +will, I will not rest in that castle. I have done enough to-day to spoil +my appetite for fighting." + +"Come, come," said Tristram, "and you a Knight of the Round Table! You +cannot refuse to win your lodging in knightly fashion." + +"Win it you must if you want it," said the herdsmen; "for if you have +the worse of the battle no lodging will you gain in these quarters, +except it be in the wild wood." + +"Be it so, if it must," said Dinadan. "In flat English, I will not go to +the castle." + +"Are you a man?" demanded Tristram, scornfully. "Come, Dinadan, I know +you are no coward. On your knighthood, come." + +Growling in his throat, Dinadan followed his comrade, sorely against his +will, and together they rode into the castle court. Here they found, as +they had been told, two armed knights ready to meet them. + +To make a long story short, Tristram and Dinadan smote them both down, +and afterwards entered the castle, where the best of good cheer was +served them. But when they had disarmed, and were having a merry time at +the well-filled table, word was brought them that two other knights, +Palamides and Gaheris, had entered the gates, and demanded a joust +according to the castle custom. + +"The foul fiend take them!" cried Dinadan. "Fight I will not; I am here +for rest." + +"We are now the lords of the castle, and must defend its custom," said +Tristram. "Make ready, therefore, for fight you must." + +"Why, in the devil's name, came I here in your company?" cried Dinadan. +"You will wear all the flesh off my bones." + +But there was nothing to do but arm themselves and meet the two knights +in the court-yard. Of these Gaheris encountered Tristram, and got a fall +for his pains; but Palamides hurled Dinadan from his horse. So far, +then, it was fall for fall, and the contest could be decided only by a +fight on foot. But Dinadan was bruised from his fall and refused to +fight. Tristram unlaced his helmet to give him air, and prayed him for +his aid. + +"Fight them yourself, if you will; two such knights are but a morsel to +you," said Dinadan. "As for me, I am sore wounded from our little +skirmish with the thirty knights, and have no valor left in me. Sir +Tristram, you are a madman yet, and I curse the time that ever I saw +you. In all the world there are no two such mad freaks as Lancelot and +you. Once I fell into fellowship with Lancelot as I have now with you, +and what followed? Why, he set me a task that kept me a quarter of a +year in bed. Defend me from such head-splitters, and save me from your +fellowship." + +"Then if you will not fight I must face them both," said Tristram. "Come +forth, both of you, I am ready for you." + +At this challenge Palamides and Gaheris advanced and struck at the two +knights. But after a stroke or two at Gaheris, Dinadan withdrew from the +fray. + +"This is not fair, two to one," said Palamides. "Stand aside, Gaheris, +with that knight who declines to fight, and let us two finish the +combat." + +Then he and Tristram fought long and fiercely, Tristram in the end +driving him back three paces. At this Gaheris and Dinadan pushed +between them and bade them cease fighting, as both had done enough for +honor. + +"So be it," said Tristram, "and these brave knights are welcome to lodge +with us in the castle if they will." + +"With you, not with us," said Dinadan, dryly. "When I lodge in that +devil's den may I sell my sword for a herring. We will be called up +every hour of the night to fight for our bedding. And as for you, good +friend, when I ride with you again, it will be when you have grown older +and wiser, or I younger and more foolish." + +With these words he mounted his horse and rode in an ill-humor out of +the castle gates. + +"Come, good sirs, we must after him," said Tristram, with a laugh. "He +is a prime good fellow, if he has taken himself off in a pet; it is +likely I gave him an overdose of fighting." + +So, asking a man of the castle to guide them to a lodging, they rode +after Dinadan, whom they soon overtook, though he gave them no hearty +welcome. Two miles farther brought them to a priory, where they spent +the night in comfort. + +Early the next day Tristram mounted and rode away, leaving Dinadan at +the priory, for he was too much bruised to mount his horse. There +remained at the priory with him a knight named Pellinore, who sought +earnestly to learn Tristram's name, and at last said angrily to +Dinadan,-- + +"Since you will not tell me his name, I will ride after him and make him +tell it himself, or leave him on the ground to repent." + +"Beware, my good sir," said Dinadan, "or the repentance will be yours +instead of his. No wise man is he who thrusts his own hand in the fire." + +"Good faith, I fear him not," said Pellinore, haughtily, and rode on his +way. + +But he paid dearly for his hardiness, for a half-hour afterwards he lay +on the earth with a spear wound in his shoulder, while Tristram rode +unscathed on his way. + +On the day following Tristram met with pursuivants, who were spreading +far and wide the news of a great tournament that was to be held between +King Carados and the king of North Wales, at the Castle of Maidens. They +were seeking for good knights to take part in that tournament, and in +particular King Carados had bidden them to seek Lancelot, and the king +of Northgalis to seek Tristram de Lyonesse. + +"Lancelot is not far away," said Tristram. "As for me, I will be there, +and do my best to win honor in the fray." + +And so he rode away, and soon after met with Sir Kay and Sir Sagramore, +with whom he refused to joust, as he wished to keep himself fresh for +the tournament. + +But as Kay twitted him with being a cowardly knight of Cornwall, he +turned on him and smote him from his horse. Then, to complete the tale, +he served Sagramore with the same sauce, and serenely rode on his way, +leaving them to heal their bruises with repentance. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +ON THE ROAD TO THE TOURNAMENT. + + +Tristram now rode far alone through a country strange to him, and void +of knightly adventures. At length, however, chance brought to him a +damsel, who told him disconsolately that she sought a champion to cope +with a villanous knight, who was playing the tyrant over a wide +district, and who defied all errant knights. + +"If you would win great honor come with me," she said. + +"To win honor is the breath of my life," said Tristram. "Lead on, fair +maiden." + +Then he rode with her a matter of six miles, when good fortune brought +them in contact with Sir Gawaine, who recognized the damsel as one of +Morgan le Fay's. On seeing her with an unknown knight he at once +surmised that there was some mischief afoot. + +"Fair sir," said Gawaine, "whither ride you with that damsel?" + +"Whither she may lead me," said Tristram. "That is all I know of the +matter." + +"Then, by my good blade, you shall ride no farther with her, for she has +a breeder of ill for mistress, and means you a mischief." + +He drew his sword as he spoke, and said in stern accents to the +damsel,-- + +"Tell me wherefore and whither you lead this knight, or you shall die on +the spot. I know you, minx, and the false-hearted witch who sends you." + +"Mercy, Sir Gawaine!" she cried, trembling in mortal fear. "Harm me not, +and I will tell you all I know." + +"Say on, then. I crave not your worthless life, but will have it if you +tell me not the truth." + +"Good and valiant sir," she answered, "Queen Morgan le Fay, my lady, has +sent me and thirty ladies more, in search of Sir Lancelot or Sir +Tristram. Whoever of us shall first meet either of these knights is to +lead him to her castle, with a tale of worshipful deeds to be done and +wrongs to be righted. But thirty knights lie in wait in a tower ready to +sally forth and destroy them." + +"Foul shame is this," cried Gawaine, "that such treachery should ever be +devised by a queen's daughter and the sister of the worshipful King +Arthur. Sir knight, will you stand with me, and unmask the malice of +these thirty ambushed rogues?" + +"That shall I willingly," said Tristram. "Trust me to do my share to +punish these dogs. Not long since I and a fellow met with thirty of that +lady's knights, who were in ambush for Lancelot, and we gave them +something else to think of. If there be another thirty on the same vile +quest, I am for them." + +Then they rode together towards the queen's castle, Gawaine with a +shrewd fancy that he knew his Cornish companion, for he had heard the +story of how two knights had beaten thirty. When they reached the +castle, Gawaine called in a loud voice,-- + +"Queen Morgan le Fay, send out the knights whom you hold in ambush +against Lancelot and Tristram. I know your treason, and will tell of it +wherever I ride. I, Sir Gawaine, and my fellow here, dare your thirty +knights to come out and meet us like men." + +"You bluster bravely, friend Gawaine," answered the knights. "But we +well know that your pride and valor come from the knight who is there +with you. Some of us have tried conclusions with that head-splitter who +wears the arms of Cornwall, and have had enough of him. You alone would +not keep us long in the castle, but we have no fancy to measure swords +with him. So ride your way; you will get no glory here." + +In vain did Gawaine berate them as dastards and villains; say what he +would, not a soul of them would set foot beyond the walls, and in time +the two knights rode away in a rage, cursing all cowards in their +beards. + +For several days they rode together without adventure. Then they beheld +a shameful sight, that roused their souls to anger. For they saw a +villanous knight, known in those parts as Breuse Sans Pite, who chased a +lady with intent to kill her, having slain her lover before. Many +dastardly deeds of this kind had he done, yet so far had escaped all +retribution for his crimes. + +"Let me ride alone against him," said Gawaine. "I know his tricks. He +will stand to face one man, but if he sees us both, he will fly, and he +always rides so swift a horse that none can overtake him." + +Then he rode at full speed between the lady and her pursuer, and cried +loudly,-- + +"False knight and murderer, leave that lady and try your tricks on me." + +Sir Breuse, seeing but one, put his spear in rest and rode furiously +against Gawaine, whom he struck so strong a blow that he flung him +prostrate to the ground. Then, with deadly intent, he forced his horse +to trample over him twenty times backward and forward, thinking to +destroy him. But when Tristram saw this villany he broke from his covert +and rushed in fury upon the murderous wretch. + +But Breuse Sans Pite had met with Tristram before, and knew him by his +arms. Therefore he turned his horse and fled at full speed, hotly +pursued by the furious knight. Long he chased him, full of thirst for +revenge, but the well-horsed villain rode at such a pace that he left +him in the distance. At length Tristram, despairing of overtaking him, +and seeing an inviting forest spring, drew up his horse and rode thither +for rest and refreshment. + +Dismounting and tying his horse to a tree, he washed his face and hands +and took a deep and grateful draught of the cool water. Then laying +himself to rest by the spring side, he fell sound asleep. + +While he lay there good fortune brought to that forest spring a lady who +had sought him far and wide. This was Dame Bragwaine, the lady companion +of La Belle Isolde, who bore him letters from the queen. She failed to +recognize the sleeping knight, but at first sight knew his noble +charger, Passe Brewel, which Tristram had ridden for years. So she +seated herself gladly by the knight, and waited patiently till he awoke. +Then she saluted him, and he her, for he failed not to recognize his +old acquaintance. + +"What of my dear lady, La Belle Isolde?" he asked, eagerly. + +"She is well, and has sent me to seek you. Far and wide have I sought +for you through the land, and glad enough am I to hand you the letters I +bear." + +"Not so glad as I am to receive them," said Tristram, joyfully, taking +them from her hand and opening them with eager haste, while his soul +overflowed with joy as he read Isolde's words of love and constancy, +though with them was mingled many a piteous complaint. + +"Come with me, Dame Bragwaine," he said. "I am riding to the tournament +to be held at the Castle of Maidens. There will I answer these letters, +and to have you there, to tell the tale of my doings to my Lady Isolde, +will give me double strength and valor." + +To this Dame Bragwaine willingly agreed, and mounting they rode till +they came to the castle of a hospitable old knight, near where the +tournament was to be held. Here they were given shelter and +entertainment. + +As they sat at supper with Sir Pellounes, their ancient host, he told +them much of the great tournament that was at hand, among other things +that Lancelot would be there, with thirty-two knights of his kindred, +each of whom would bear a shield with the arms of Cornwall. + +In the midst of their conversation a messenger entered, who told +Pellounes that his son, Persides de Bloise, had come home, whereupon +the old knight held up his hands and thanked God, telling Tristram that +he had not seen his son for two years. + +"I know him," said Tristram, "and a good and worthy knight he is." + +On the next morning, when Tristram came into the castle hall clad in his +house attire, he met with Persides, similarly unarmed, and they saluted +each other courteously. + +"My father tells me that you are of Cornwall," said Persides. "I jousted +there once before King Mark, and fortune helped me to overthrow ten +knights. But Tristram de Lyonesse overthrew me and took my lady from me. +This I have not forgotten, and I will repay him for it yet." + +"You hate Sir Tristram, then? Do you think that will trouble him much, +and that he is not able to withstand your malice?" + +"He is a better knight than I, that I admit. But for all that I owe him +no good will." + +As thus they stood talking at a bay window of the castle, they saw many +knights ride by on their way to the tournament. Among these Tristram +marked a strongly-built warrior mounted on a great black horse, and +bearing a black shield. + +"What knight is that?" he asked. "He looks like a strong and able one." + +"He is one of the best in the world," said Persides. "I know him well." + +"Is it Sir Lancelot?" + +"No, no. It is Palamides, an unchristened Saracen, but a noble man." + +"Palamides! I should know him too, but his arms deceived me." + +As they continued to look they saw many of the country people salute the +black knight. Some time afterwards a squire came to Pellounes, the lord +of the castle, and told him that a fierce combat had taken place in the +road some distance in advance, and that a knight with a black shield had +smitten down thirteen others. He was still there, ready for any who +might wish to meet him, and holding a tournament of his own in the +highway. + +"On my faith, that is Palamides!" said Tristram. "The worthy fellow must +be brimful of fight. Fair brother, let us cast on our cloaks and see the +play." + +"Not I," said Persides. "Let us not go like courtiers there, but like +men ready to withstand their enemies." + +"As you will. To fight or to look on is all one to me." + +Then they armed and rode to the spot where so many knights had tried +their fortune before the tournament. When Palamides saw them approach, +he said to his squire,-- + +"Go to yonder knight with a green shield and in it a lion of gold. Tell +him that I request a passage-at-arms with him, and that my name is +Palamides." + +Persides, who wore the shield thus described, did not hesitate to accept +the challenge, and rode against Palamides, but quickly found himself +felled to the earth by his powerful antagonist. Then Tristram made ready +to avenge his comrade, but before he could put his spear in rest +Palamides rode upon him like a thunderbolt, taking him at advantage, and +hurling him over his horse's tail. + +At this Tristram sprang up in furious anger and sore shame, and leaped +into his saddle. + +Then he sent Gouvernail to Palamides, accusing him of treachery, and +demanding a joust on equal terms. + +"Not so," answered Palamides. "I know that knight better than he +fancies, and will not meet him now. But if he wants satisfaction he may +have it to-morrow at the Castle of Maidens, where I will be ready to +meet him in the lists." + +As Tristram stood fretting and fuming in wrathful spite, Dinadan, who +had seen the affair, came up, and seeing the anger of the Cornish +knight, restrained his inclination to jest. + +"Here it is proved," he said, "that a man can never be so strong but he +may meet his equal. Never was man so wise but that his brain might fail +him, and a passing good rider is he that never had a fall." + +"Let be," cried Tristram, angrily. "You are readier with your tongue +than with your sword, friend Dinadan. I will revenge myself, and you +shall see it." + +As they stood thus talking there came by them a likely knight, who rode +soberly and heavily, bearing a black shield. + +"What knight is that?" asked Tristram. + +"It is Sir Briant of North Wales," answered Persides. "I know him well." + +Just behind him came a knight who bore a shield with the arms of +Cornwall, and as he rode up he sent a squire to Sir Briant, whom he +required to joust with him. + +"Let it be so, if he will have it so," said Briant. "Bid him make +ready." + +Then they rode together, and the Welsh knight got a severe fall. + +"What Cornish knight is this?" asked Tristram. + +"None, as I fancy," said Dinadan. "I warrant he is of King Ban's blood, +which counts the noblest knights of the world." + +Then two other knights came up and challenged him with the Cornish +shield, and in a trice he smote them both down with one spear. + +"By my faith," said Tristram, "he is a good knight, whoever he be, and I +never saw one yet that rode so well." + +Then the king of Northgalis rode to Palamides, and prayed him for his +sake to joust with that knight who had just overturned two Welsh +knights. + +"I beg you ask me not," said Palamides. "I have had my full share of +jousting already, and wish to keep fresh for the tournament to-morrow." + +"One ride only, for the honor of North Wales," beseeched the king. + +"Well, if you will have it so; but I have seen many a man have a fall at +his own request." + +Then he sent a squire to the victor knight, and challenged him to a +joust. + +"Fair fellow," said the knight, "tell me your lord's name." + +"It is Sir Palamides." + +"He is well met, then. I have seen no knight in seven years with whom I +would rather tilt." + +Then the two knights took spears from their squires, and rode apart. + +"Now," said Dinadan, "you will see Palamides come off the victor." + +"I doubt it," answered Tristram. "I wager the knight with the Cornish +shield will give him a fall." + +"That I do not believe," said Dinadan. + +As they spoke, the two knights put spears in rest, and spurred their +horses, riding hotly together. Palamides broke a spear on his +antagonist, without moving him in his saddle; but on his side he +received such a blow that it broke through his shield and hauberk, and +would have slain him outright had he not fallen. + +"How now?" cried Tristram. "Am I not right? I knew by the way those +knights ride which would fall." + +The unknown knight now rode away and sought a well in the forest edge, +for he was hot and thirsty with the fray. This was seen by the king of +Northgalis, who sent twelve knights after him to do him a mischief, so +that he would not be able to appear at the tournament and win the +victory. + +They came upon him so suddenly that he had scarcely time to put on his +helm and spring to his horse's back before they assailed him in mass. + +"Ye villains!" he cried, "twelve to one! And taking a man unawares! You +want a lesson, and by my faith you shall have it." + +Then spurring his horse he rode on them so fiercely that he smote one +knight through the body, breaking his spear in doing so. Now he drew his +sword and smote stoutly to right and left, killing three others and +wounding more. + +"Dogs and dastards! know you me not?" he cried in a voice of thunder. +"My name is Lancelot du Lake. Here's for you, cowards and traitors!" + +But the name he had shouted was enough. Those who were still able, fled, +followed by the angry knight. By hard riding they escaped his wrath, and +he, hot and furious, turned aside to a lodging where he designed to +spend the night. In consequence of his hard labor in this encounter +Lancelot fought not on the first day of the tournament, but sat beside +King Arthur, who had come hither from Camelot to witness the +passage-at-arms. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +AT THE CASTLE OF MAIDENS. + + +When came the dawn of the first day of the tournament, many ladies and +gentlemen of the court took their seats on a high gallery, shaded by a +rich canopy of parti-colored silk, while in the centre of the gallery +sat King Arthur and Queen Guenever, and, by the side of the king, +Lancelot du Lake. Many other noble lords and ladies of the surrounding +country occupied the adjoining seats, while round the circle that closed +in the lists sat hosts of citizens and country people, all eager for the +warlike sports. + +Knights in glittering armor stood in warlike groups outside the entrance +gates, where rose many pavilions of red and white silk, each with its +fluttering pennon, and great war-horses that impatiently champed the +bit, while the bright steel heads of the lances shone like star-points +in the sun. + +Within the lists the heralds and pursuivants busied themselves, while +cheery calls, and bugle-blasts, and the lively chat of the assembled +multitude filled the air with joyous sound. + +Tristram de Lyonesse still dwelt with the old knight Sir Pellounes, in +company with Sir Persides, whom he yet kept in ignorance of his name. +And as it was his purpose to fight that day unknown, he ordered +Gouvernail, his squire, to procure him a black-faced shield, without +emblem or device of any kind. + +So accoutred, he and Persides mounted in the early morn and rode +together to the lists, where the parties of King Carados and the king of +Northgalis were already being formed. Tristram and his companion joined +the side of Carados, the Scottish king, and hardly had they ridden to +their place when King Arthur gave the signal for the onset, the bugles +loudly sounded, and the two long lines of knights rode together with a +crash as of two thunder-clouds meeting in mid-air. + +Many knights and horses went to the earth in that mad onset, and many +others who had broken their spears drew their swords and so kept up the +fray. The part of the line where Tristram and Persides was drove back +the king of Northgalis and his men, with many noble knights who fought +on the side of the Welsh king. But through the rush and roar of the +onset there pushed forward Bleoberis de Ganis and Gaheris, who hurled +Persides to the earth, where he was almost slain, for as he lay there +helpless more than forty horsemen rode over him in the fray. + +Seeing this, and what valiant deeds the two knights did, Tristram +marvelled who they were. But perceiving the danger in which his comrade +Persides lay, he rushed to the rescue with such force that Gaheris was +hurled headlong from his horse. Then Bleoberis in a rage put his spear +in rest and rode furiously against Tristram, but he was met in +mid-career, and flung from his saddle by the resistless spear of the +Cornish knight. + +The king with the hundred knights now rode angrily forward, pressed back +the struggling line, and horsed Gaheris and Bleoberis. Then began a +fierce struggle, in which Bleoberis and Tristram did many deeds of +knightly skill and valor. + +As the violent combat continued, Dinadan, who was on the other side, +rode against Tristram, not knowing him, and got such a buffet that he +swooned in his saddle. He recovered in a minute, however, and, riding to +his late companion, said in a low voice,-- + +"Sir knight, is this the way you serve an old comrade, masking under a +black shield? I know you now better than you deem. I will not reveal +your disguise, but by my troth I vow I will never try buffets with you +again, and, if I keep my wits, sword of yours shall never come near my +headpiece." + +As Dinadan withdrew to repair damages, Bleoberis rode against Tristram, +who gave him such a furious sword-blow on the helm that he bowed his +head to the saddle. Then Tristram caught him by the helm, jerked him +from his horse, and flung him down under the feet of the steed. + +This ended the fray, for at that moment Arthur bade the heralds to blow +to lodging, and the knights who still held saddle sheathed their swords. +Tristram thereupon departed to his pavilion and Dinadan with him. + +But Arthur, and many of those with him, wondered who was the knight with +the black shield, who had with sword and spear done such wondrous deeds. +Many opinions were given, and some suspected him of being Tristram, but +held their peace. To him the judges awarded the prize of the day's +combat, though they named him only the knight of the black shield, not +knowing by what other name to call him. + +When the second day of the tournament dawned, and the knights prepared +for the combat, Palamides, who had fought under Northgalis, now joined +King Arthur's party, that led by Carados, and sent to Tristram to know +his name. + +"As to that," answered Tristram, "tell Sir Palamides that he shall not +know till I have broken two spears with him. But you may tell him that I +am the same knight that he smote down unfairly the day before the +tournament, and that I owe him as shrewd a turn. So whichever side he +takes I will take the opposite." + +"Sir," said the messenger, "he will be on King Arthur's side, in company +with the noblest knights." + +"Then I will fight for Northgalis, though yesterday I held with +Carados." + +[Illustration: TRISTRAM THEREUPON DEPARTED TO HIS PAVILION.] + +When King Arthur blew to field and the fray began, King Carados opened +the day by a joust with the king with the hundred knights, who gave him +a sore fall. Around him there grew up a fierce combat, till a troop of +Arthur's knights pushed briskly in and bore back the opposite party, +rescuing Carados from under the horses' feet. While the fight went on +thus in one part of the field, Tristram, in jet-black armor, pressed +resistlessly forward in another part, and dealt so roughly and grimly +with Arthur's knights that not a man of them could withstand him. + +At length he fell among the fellowship of King Ban, all of whom bore +Cornish shields, and here he smote right and left with such fury and +might that cries of admiration for his gallant bearing went up from +lords and ladies, citizens and churls. But he would have had the worse +through force of numbers had not the king with the hundred knights come +to his rescue, and borne him away from the press of his assailants, who +were crowding upon him in irresistible strength. + +Hardly had Tristram escaped from this peril than he saw another group of +about forty knights, with Kay the seneschal at their head. On them he +rode like a fury, smote Kay from his horse, and fared among them all +like a greyhound among conies. + +At this juncture Lancelot, who had hitherto taken little part, met a +knight retiring from the lists with a sore wound in the head. + +"Who hurt you so badly?" he asked. + +"That knight with the black shield, who is making havoc wherever he +goes," was the answer. "I may curse the time I ever faced him, for he is +more devil than mortal man." + +Lancelot at these words drew his sword and advanced to meet Tristram, +and as he rode forward saw the Cornish champion hurtling through a press +of foes, bringing down one with nearly every stroke of his sword. + +"A fellow of marvellous prowess he, whoever he be," said Lancelot. "If I +set upon this knight after all his heavy labor, I will shame myself more +than him." And he put up his sword. + +Then the king with the hundred knights, with his following, and a +hundred more of the Welsh party, set upon the twenty of Lancelot's kin, +and a fearful fray began, for the twenty held together like wild boars, +none failing the others, and faced the odds against them without +yielding a step. + +When Tristram, who had for the moment withdrawn, beheld their noble +bearing, he marvelled at their valor, for he saw by their steadfastness +that they would die together rather than leave the field. + +"Valiant and noble must be he who has such knights for his kin," he +said, meaning Lancelot; "and likely to be a worthy man is he who leads +such knights as these." + +Then he rode to the king with the hundred knights and said,-- + +"Sir, leave off fighting with these twenty knights. You can win no honor +from them, you being so many and they so few. I can see by their bearing +that they will die rather than leave the field, and that will bring you +no glory. If this one sided fray goes on I will join them and give them +what help I can." + +"You shall not do so," said the king. "You speak in knightly courtesy, +and I will withdraw my men at your request. I know how courage favors +courage, and like draws to like." + +Then the king called off his knights, and withdrew from the combat with +Lancelot's kindred. + +Meanwhile Lancelot was watching for an opportunity to meet Tristram and +hail him as a fellow in heart and hand, but before he could do so +Tristram, Dinadan, and Gouvernail suddenly left the lists and rode into +the forest, no man perceiving whither they had gone. + +Then Arthur blew to lodging, and gave the prize of the day to the king +of Northgalis, as the true champion of the tournament was on his side +and had vanished. Lancelot rode hither and thither, vainly seeking him, +while a cry that might have been heard two miles off went up: "The +knight with the black shield has won the day!" + +"Alas, where has that knight gone!" said Arthur. "It is a shame that +those in the field have let him thus vanish. With gentleness and +courtesy they might have brought him to me at the Castle of Maidens, +where I should have been glad to show him the highest honor." + +Then he went to the knights of his party and comforted them for their +discomfiture. + +"Be not dismayed, my fair fellows," he said, "though you have lost the +field, and many of you are the worst in body and mind. Be of good cheer, +for to-morrow we fight again. How the day will go I cannot say, but I +will be in the lists with you, and lend you what aid is in my arm." + +During that day's fight Dame Bragwaine had sat near Queen Guenever, +observing Tristram's valorous deeds. But when the queen asked her why +she had come thither, she would not tell the real reason, but said +only,-- + +"Madam, I came for no other cause than that my lady, La Belle Isolde, +sent me to inquire after your welfare." + +After the fray was done she took leave of the queen and rode into the +forest in search of Sir Tristram. As she went onward she heard a great +cry, and sent her squire to learn what it might mean. He quickly came to +a forest fountain, and here he found a knight bound to a tree, crying +out like a madman, while his horse and harness stood by. When he saw the +squire, he started so furiously that he broke his bonds, and then ran +after him, sword in hand, as if to slay him. The squire at this spurred +his horse and rode swiftly back to Dame Bragwaine, whom he told of his +adventure. + +Soon afterwards she found Tristram, who had set up his pavilion in the +forest, and told him of the incident. + +"Then, on my head, there is mischief here afloat," said Tristram; "some +good knight has gone distracted." + +Taking his horse and sword he rode to the place, and there he found the +knight complaining woefully. + +"What misfortune has befallen me?" he lamented; "I, woeful Palamides, +who am defiled with falsehood and treason through Sir Bors and Sir +Hector! Alas, why live I so long?" + +Then he took his sword in his hands, and with many strange signs and +movements flung it into the fountain. This done, he wailed bitterly and +wrung his hands, but at the end he ran to his middle in the water and +sought again for his sword. Tristram, seeing this, ran upon him and +clasped him in his arms, fearing he would kill himself. + +"Who are you that holds me so tightly?" said Palamides. + +"I am a man of this forest, and mean you no harm, but would save you +from injury." + +"Alas!" said the knight, "I shall never win honor where Sir Tristram is. +Where he is not, only Lancelot or Lamorak can win from me the prize. +More than once he has put me to the worse." + +"What would you do if you had him?" + +"I would fight him and ease my heart. And yet, sooth to say, he is a +gentle and noble knight." + +"Will you go with me to my lodging?" + +"No; I will go to the king with the hundred knights. He rescued me from +Bors and Hector, or they had slain me treacherously." + +But by kind words Tristram got him to his pavilion, where he did what he +could to cheer him. But Palamides could not sleep for anguish of soul, +and rose before dawn and secretly left the tent, making his way to the +pavilions of Gaheris and Sagramour le Desirous, who had been his +companions in the tournament. + +Not far had the next day's sun risen in the eastern sky, when King +Arthur bade the heralds blow the call to the lists, and with warlike +haste the knights came crowding in to the last day of the well-fought +tournament. + +Fiercely began the fray, King Carados and his ally, the king of Ireland, +being smitten from their horses early in the day. Then came in Palamides +full of fury, and made sad work among his foes, being known to all by +his indented shield. + +But this day King Arthur, as he had promised, rode in shining armor into +the field, and fought so valorously that the king of Northgalis and his +party had much the worse of the combat. + +While the fight thus went on in all its fury, Tristram rode in, still +bearing his black shield. Encountering Palamides, he gave him such a +thrust that he was driven over his horse's croup. Then King Arthur +cried,-- + +"Knight with the black shield, make ready for me!" + +But the king met with the same fate from Tristram's spear that Palamides +had done, and was hurled to the earth. Seeing this, a rush of the +knights of his party drove back the foe, and Arthur and Palamides were +helped to their saddles again. + +And now the king, his heart burning with warlike fury, rushed fiercely +on Tristram, and struck him so furious a blow that he was hurled from +his horse. As he lay there Palamides spurred upon him in a violent rage, +and sought to override him as he was rising to his feet. But Tristram +saw his purpose and sprang aside. As Palamides rode past he wrathfully +caught him by the arm and pulled him from his horse. + +"Sword to sword let it be!" cried Tristram. + +Palamides, nothing loth, drew his weapon, and so fierce a combat began +in the midst of the arena that lords and ladies alike stood in their +seats in eagerness to behold it. But at the last Tristram struck +Palamides three mighty strokes on the helm, crying with each stroke, +"Take this for Sir Tristram's sake!" + +So fierce were the blows that Palamides was felled to the earth. Then +the king with the hundred knights dashed forward and brought Tristram +his horse. Palamides was horsed at the same time, and with burning ire +he rushed upon Tristram, spear in rest, before he could make ready to +meet him. But Tristram lightly avoided the spear, and, enraged at his +repeated treachery, he caught him with both hands by the neck as his +horse bore him past, tore him clean from the saddle, and carried him +thus ten spears' length across the field before he let him fall. + +At that moment King Arthur spurred upon the Cornish champion, sword in +hand, and Tristram fixed his spear to meet him, but with a sword-blow +Arthur cut the spear in two, and then dealt him three or four vigorous +strokes before he could draw. But at the last Tristram drew his sword +and assailed the king with equal energy. + +This battle continued not long, for the press of battling knights forced +the combatants asunder. Then Tristram rode hither and thither, striking +and parrying, so that that day he smote down in all eleven of the good +knights of King Ban's blood, while all in seats and gallery shouted in +loud acclaim for the mighty warrior with the black shield. + +This cry met the ears of Lancelot, who was engaged in another part of +the field. Then he got a spear and came towards the cry. Seeing +Tristram standing without an antagonist, he cried out,-- + +"Knight with the black shield, well and worthily have you done; now make +ready to joust with me." + +When Tristram heard this he put his spear in rest, and both with lowered +heads rode together with lightning speed. Tristram's spear broke into +fragments on Lancelot's shield; but Lancelot, by ill-fortune, smote him +in the side, wounding him deeply. He kept his saddle, however, and, +drawing his sword, rushed upon Lancelot and gave him three such strokes +that fire flew from his helm, and he was forced to lower his head +towards his saddle-bow. This done, Tristram left the field, for he felt +as if he would die. But Dinadan espied him and followed him into the +forest. + +After Tristram left the lists, Lancelot fought like a man beside +himself, many a noble knight going down before his spear and sword. King +Arthur, seeing against what odds he fought, came quickly to his aid, +with the knights of his own kindred, and in the end they won the day +against the king of Northgalis and his followers. So the prize was +adjudged to Lancelot. + +But neither for king, queen, nor knights would he accept it, and when +the cry was raised by the heralds,-- + +"Sir Lancelot, Sir Lancelot has won the field this day!" he bade them +change, and cry instead,-- + +"The knight with the black shield has won the day." + +But the estates and the commonalty cried out together,-- + +"Sir Lancelot has won the field, whoever say nay!" + +This filled Lancelot with shame and anger, and he rode with a lowering +brow to King Arthur, to whom he cried,-- + +"The knight with the black shield is the hero of the lists. For three +days he held against all, till he got that unlucky wound. The prize, I +say, is his." + +"Sir Tristram it is," said the king. "I heard him shout his name three +times when he gave those mighty strokes to Palamides. Never better nor +nobler knight took spear or sword in hand. He was hurt indeed; but when +two noble warriors encounter one must have the worst." + +"Had I known him I would not have hurt him for all my father's lands," +said Lancelot. "Only lately he risked his life for me, when he fought +with thirty knights, with no help but Dinadan. This is poor requital for +his noble service." + +Then they sought Tristram in the forest, but in vain. They found the +place where his pavilion had been pitched, but it was gone and all trace +of its owner vanished. Thereupon they returned to the Castle of Maidens, +where for three days was held high feast and frolic, and where all who +came were warmly welcomed by King Arthur and Queen Guenever. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +THE QUEST OF THE TEN KNIGHTS. + + +When Tristram was well within the forest shades, he alighted and unlaced +his armor and sought to stanch his wound. But so pale did he become that +Dinadan thought he was like to die. + +"Never dread thee, Dinadan," said Tristram, cheerily, "for I am heart +whole, and of this wound I shall soon be healed, by God's mercy." + +As they sat conversing Dinadan saw at a distance Sir Palamides, who was +riding straight upon them, with seeming evil intent. Dinadan hastily bid +Tristram to withdraw, and offered himself to meet the Saracen and take +the chance of life and death with him. + +"I thank you, Sir Dinadan, for your good will," said Tristram, "but you +shall see that I am able to handle him." + +He thereupon hastily armed himself, and, mounting his horse, rode to +meet Palamides. Then a challenge to joust passed between them, and they +rode together. But Tristram kept his seat and Palamides got a grievous +fall, and lay on the earth like one dead. + +Leaving him there with a comrade, Tristram and Dinadan rode on, and +obtained lodging for that night at the castle of an old knight, who had +five sons at the tournament. + +As for Palamides, when he recovered from his swoon, he well-nigh lost +his wits through sheer vexation. He rode headlong forward, wild with +rage, and meeting a deep stream sought to make his horse leap it. But +the horse fell in and was drowned, and the knight himself reached shore +only by the barest chance. + +Now, mad with chagrin, he flung off his armor, and sat roaring and +crying like a man distracted. As he sat there, a damsel passed by, who +on seeing his distressful state sought to comfort him, but in vain. Then +she rode on till she came to the old knight's castle, where Tristram +was, and told how she had met a mad knight in the forest. + +"What shield did he bear?" asked Tristram. + +"It was indented with black and white," answered the damsel. + +"That was Palamides. The poor fellow has lost his wits through his bad +luck. I beg that you bring him to your castle, Sir Darras." + +This the old knight did, for the frenzy of the Saracen had now passed, +and he readily accompanied him. On reaching the castle he looked +curiously at Tristram, whom he felt sure he had seen before, but could +not place him in his mind. But his anger against his fortunate rival +continued, and he boasted proudly to Dinadan of what he would do when he +met that fellow Tristram. + +"It seems to me," answered Dinadan, "that you met him not long since, +and got little good of him. Why did you not hold him when you had him in +your hands? You were too easy with the fellow not to pummel him when you +had so fine an opportunity." + +This scornful reply silenced the boastful Saracen, who fell into an +angry moodiness. + +Meanwhile King Arthur was sore at heart at the disappearance of +Tristram, and spoke in reproach to Lancelot as being the cause of his +loss. + +"My liege Arthur," answered Lancelot, "you do me ill justice in this. +When men are hot in battle they may well hurt their friends as well as +their foes. As for Tristram, there is no man living whom I would rather +help. If you desire, I will make one of ten knights who will go in +search of him, and not rest two nights in the same place for a year +until we find him." + +This offer pleased the king, who quickly chose nine other knights for +the quest, and made them all swear upon the Scriptures to do as Lancelot +had proposed. + +With dawn of the next day these ten knights armed themselves, and rode +from the Castle of Maidens, continuing in company until they came to a +roadside cross, from which ran out four highways. Here they separated +into four parties, each of which followed one of the highways. And far +and wide they rode through field and forest for many days in quest of +the brave knight of Cornwall. + +Of them all, Sir Lucan, the butler, came nearest to good fortune, for +chance brought him to the castle of the old knight, Sir Darras. Here he +asked harbor, sending in his name by the porter. + +"He shall not rest here unless he first joust with me," cried Sir +Daname, the old knight's nephew. "Bid him make ready, for he must earn +his lodging." + +But better had Daname held his peace, for Lucan smote him over his +horse's croup, and followed him hotly when he fled into the castle. + +"This is a shame to our host," said Dinadan. "Let me try conclusions +with our doughty butler. It will not do to let him take our castle by +storm." + +He thereupon rode against Lucan, and fared still worse, for he got for +his pains a spear thrust through the thigh. Then Tristram, in anger, +armed and followed Lucan, who had ridden on, in search of a more +peaceful place of shelter. Within a mile he overtook him and bade him +turn and joust. Nothing loth, Lucan did so, and in his turn got a sore +fall, though he little dreamed that he had been overthrown by the knight +of his quest. At this juncture another of the ten knights, Sir Uwaine, +came up, and seeing Sir Lucan's misfortune, rode furiously against the +victor. His luck was no better, for he was hurled to the ground with a +sorely wounded side. Having thus revenged his comrades, Tristram +returned to the castle. + +Meanwhile a damsel from the Castle of Maidens had come thither, and told +Sir Darras a woeful story. Of his five sons, three had been slain at the +tournament, and the other two were dangerously wounded, all this having +been done by the knight of the black shield. Deep grief filled the old +knight's heart at this sad tale. But his sorrow turned to rage when the +damsel was shown Tristram's shield and recognized it as that of the +champion of the tournament. + +"So," cried the old knight in a hot passion. "I am harboring here my +sons' murderer, and troubling myself to give him noble cheer. By my +father's grave, I will revenge my boys' death on him and his +companions." + +Then in grief and rage he ordered his knights and servants to seize +Tristram, Dinadan, and Palamides, and put them in a strong dungeon he +had in the keep of his castle. + +This was done before the three knights could defend themselves, and for +many days they lay in this dismal cell, until Tristram grew so sick from +his wound and confinement that he came near to dying. While they lay +thus in durance vile some knights of Darras's kindred came to the +castle, and on hearing the story wished to kill the captives, but this +the old knight would not permit, though he determined to hold them close +prisoners. So deep in time grew Tristram's sickness that his mind nearly +failed him, and he was ready to slay himself for pain and grief. +Palamides gave him what aid he could, though all the time he spoke of +his hatred to Tristram, the Cornishman, and of the revenge he yet hoped +to have. To this Tristram made no reply, but smiled quietly. + +Meanwhile the ten knights continued their fruitless search, some here, +some there, while one of them, Gaheris, nephew to King Arthur, made his +way to King Mark's court, where he was well received. + +As they sat at table together the king asked his guest what tidings he +brought from Arthur's realm of Logris. + +"Sir," he answered, "King Arthur still reigns nobly, and he lately +presided at a grand tournament where fought many of the noblest knights +of the kingdom. But best of them all was a valiant knight who bore a +black shield, and who kept the lordship of the lists for three days." + +"Then by my crown it must have been Lancelot, or Palamides the Pagan." + +"Not so. These knights were against him of the black shield." + +"Was it Sir Tristram?" asked the king. + +"In sooth you have it now." + +The king held down his head at this, but La Belle Isolde, who was at the +feast, heard it with great secret joy, and her love for Tristram grew +warmer in her soul. + +But King Mark nourished treason in his heart, and sought within his +brain some device to do dishonor to Tristram and to Arthur's knights. +Soon afterward Uwaine came to his court and challenged any knight of +Cornwall to meet him in the lists. Two of these, Andred, and Dinas the +seneschal, accepted the challenge, but both were overthrown. Then King +Mark in a fury cried out against his knights, and Gaheris, as his guest, +proffered to meet the champion. But when Uwaine saw his shield, he knew +him for his own cousin, and refused to joust with him, reproving him for +breaking his oath of fellowship as a Knight of the Round Table. + +This reproof cut Gaheris deeply, and returning to King Mark he took his +leave of him and his court, saying,-- + +"Sir king, this I must say, that you did a foul shame to yourself and +your kingdom when you banished Sir Tristram. Had he stayed here you +would not have wanted a champion." + +All this added to the king's rage, and arming himself he waylaid Uwaine +at a secret place as he was passing unawares, and ran him through the +body. But before he could kill him as he designed, Kay the seneschal +came that way and flew to the aid of the wounded knight, while King Mark +rode in dastardly haste away. Kay sought to learn from Uwaine who had +hurt him, but this he was not able to tell. + +He then bore him to a neighboring abbey of the black cross, where he +left him in the care of the monks. Not far had he ridden from there when +he met King Mark, who accosted him courteously, and bade him, if he +sought an adventure, to ride into the forest of Morris, where he would +find one to try his prowess. + +"I will prove what it is worth," said Kay, and bade adieu to the king. + +A mile or two further on he met Gaheris, who, learning his errand, +warned him against doing anything at the suggestion of King Mark, who +meant but treachery and harm. + +"Come with me, then," said Kay. "Adventures are not so abundant, and we +two should be able to match the wiles of this dastard king." + +"I shall not fail you," said Gaheris. + +Into the forest they then rode till they came to the edge of a little +lake, known as the Perilous Lake, and here they waited under the +woodland shadows. + +It was now night, but the moon rode high in the skies, and flung its +silvery rays wide over the forest glade. As they stood thus, there rode +into the moonlit opening a knight all in black armor and on a great +black horse, who tilted against Sir Kay. The seneschal's horse was +smaller than that of the stranger, and was overthrown by the shock, +falling upon its rider, whom it bruised severely. + +During this encounter Gaheris had remained hidden under the woodland +shadows. He now cried sternly,-- + +"Knight, sit thou fast in thy saddle, for I will revenge my fellow;" and +rode against the black knight with such fury that he was flung from his +horse. Then he turned to a companion of the black knight, who now +appeared, and hurled him to the earth so violently that he came near to +breaking his neck in the fall. + +Leaping from his horse and helping Kay to his feet, Gaheris sternly bade +his antagonists to tell their names or they should die. + +"Beware what you do," said the second knight. "This is King Mark of +Cornwall, and I am his cousin Andred." + +"You are traitors both," cried Gaheris, in a fury, "and have laid this +ambush for us. It were a pity to let such craven rascals live." + +"Spare my life," prayed the king, "and I will make full amends." + +"You a king; and dealing in treachery!" cried Gaheris. "You have lived +long enough." + +With this he struck fiercely at King Mark with his sword, while the +dastard king cowered under his shield. Kay attacked Andred at the same +time. + +King Mark now flung himself on his knees before Gaheris and swore on the +cross of his sword never while he lived to do aught against errant +knights. And he also swore to be a friend unto Sir Tristram if he should +come into Cornwall. + +With this they let them go, though Kay was eager to slay Andred, for his +deeds of treachery against his cousin Tristram. The two knights now rode +out of the kingdom of Cornwall, and soon after met Lancelot, who asked +them what tidings they brought from King Mark's country, and if they had +learned aught of Tristram. They answered that they had not, and told him +of their adventure, at which Lancelot smiled. + +"You will find it hard to take out of the flesh that which is bred in +the bone," he said. + +Then Lancelot, Kay, and Gaheris rode together to seek Tristram in the +country of Surluse, not dreaming that he lay in prison not many miles +from the Castle of Maidens. + +Leaving them to pursue their useless journey, we must return to the +three prisoners. Tristram still continued sick almost unto death, while +Palamides, while giving him daily care, continued to rail loudly against +him and to boast of how he would yet deal with him. Of this idle +boasting Dinadan in time had more than he could bear, and broke out +angrily on the Saracen. + +"I doubt if you would do him harm if he were here before you," he said; +"for if a wolf and a sheep were together in prison the wolf would leave +the sheep in peace. As for Sir Tristram, against whom you rail like a +scold, here he lies before you. Now do your worst upon him, Sir +Saracen, while he is too sick to defend himself." + +Surprise and shame overcame Palamides at this announcement, and he +dropped his head in confusion. + +"I have heard somewhat too much of your ill will against me;" said +Tristram, "but shall let it pass at present, for we are in more danger +here from the lord of this place than from each other." + +As they spoke, a damsel brought them their noontide meal, and said as +she gave it them,-- + +"Be of good cheer, sir knights, for you are in no peril of your lives. +So much I heard my lord, Sir Darras, say this morning." + +"So far your news is good," cried Dinadan. "Good for two of us at least, +for this good knight promises to die without waiting for the +executioner." + +The damsel looked upon Tristram, and observing the thinness of his face +and hands, went and told Sir Darras of what she had heard and seen. + +"That must not be," cried the knight. "God defend that I should suffer +those who came to me for succor to die in my prison. Bring them hither." + +Then Tristram was brought to the castle hall on his couch, with the +other two knights beside him. + +"Sir knight," said the castle lord, "I am sorry for your sickness, and +would not have so noble a knight as you die in prison, though I owe to +you the death of three of my sons." + +"As for that," said Tristram, "it was in fair fight, and if they were my +next of kin I could not have done otherwise. If I had slain them by +treachery, I would have deserved death at your hands." + +"You acted knightly, and for that reason I could not put you to death," +said Sir Darras. "You and your fellows shall go at full liberty, with +your horses and armor, on this covenant, that you will be a good friend +to my two sons who are still living, and that you tell me your name." + +"My name is Tristram de Lyonesse. I was born in Cornwall, and am nephew +to King Mark. And I promise you by the faith of my body that while I +live I shall be a friend to you and your sons, for what you have done to +us was but by force of nature." + +"If you be the good knight Sir Tristram, I am sorry to have held you in +durance, and thank you for your proffer of service. But you must stay +with me still till you are well and strong." + +To this Tristram agreed, and staid many more days with the old knight, +growing well rapidly under the healing influence of hope and liberty. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +THE KNIGHT WITH THE COVERED SHIELD. + + +When Tristram's strength had all come back again he took his leave of +Sir Darras, and rode away with Palamides and Dinadan. Soon they came to +a cross-way, and here Tristram said,-- + +"Good sirs, let us here take each his own road, and many fair adventures +may come to us all." + +To this they agreed, and Tristram rode on along the main highway, chance +bringing him that night to a castle in which was Queen Morgan le Fay. +Here he was given lodging and good cheer, but when he was ready to +depart the next day the queen said to him,-- + +"Sir knight, it is one thing to enter this castle and another to leave +it. You will not depart so easily as you came. Know that you are a +prisoner." + +"God forfend," said Tristram. "I am just released from prison, and have +had enough of that regimen." + +"You shall stay here, nevertheless, till I learn who you are and whence +you came, but I promise you no hard quarters." + +She set him, therefore, by her side at table, and made so much of him +that a knight who loved her clutched his sword-hilt in jealous rage, +half disposed to rush upon Tristram and run him through unawares. + +"Tell me your name," said the queen, at the end of the repast, "and you +shall depart when you will." + +"Thanks for your promise, fair lady. My name is Tristram de Lyonesse." + +"Then I am sorry I made so hasty a promise. But I will hold to my word +if you will engage to bear a shield which I shall give you to the Castle +of the Hard Rock, where King Arthur has announced that a tournament is +to be held. I have heard of your deeds of arms at the Castle of Maidens, +and hope you will do as much for me at this new tournament." + +"Let me see the shield that you wish me to bear," asked Tristram. + +So the shield was brought. It was golden on its face, and on it was +painted a king and queen, with a knight standing above them with a foot +on the head of each. + +"This is a fair shield," said Tristram; "but what signifies the device?" + +"It signifies King Arthur and Queen Guenever," said Morgan, "and a +knight that holds them both in bondage." + +"And who is the knight?" + +"That you shall not know at present." + +So Tristram took the shield, not dreaming that it was intended as a +rebuke to Sir Lancelot, and promised to bear it at the tournament. + +But as he rode away he was followed by Sir Hemison, the knight who loved +Morgan le Fay, and whose jealous anger had been roused. Overtaking +Tristram before he had gone far, he rushed upon him at the speed of his +horse, crying, in a voice of thunder,-- + +"Sir knight, defend yourself!" + +This Tristram did with good effect, for his assailant's spear broke upon +his body, while he thrust him through and hurled him to the earth with a +mortal wound. + +"Fool, you have brought it on yourself," said Tristram. "It is not my +fault if you got what you designed for me." + +Then he rode on, and left the wounded knight to the care of his squire, +who removed his helmet, and asked if his life was in any danger. + +"There is little life in me," said the knight, "and that is ebbing fast. +Therefore help me to my saddle, and mount behind me and hold me on so +that I shall not fall, and so bring me to Queen Morgan le Fay. For deep +draughts of death draw to my heart, and I would fain speak to her before +I die." + +The squire did as commanded, and brought his bleeding master to the +castle, but he died as he entered the hall, falling lifeless at the feet +of the lady of his love. Much she wept and great lamentation she made +for his untimely fate, and buried him in a stately tomb, on which was +written, "Here lieth Sir Hemison, slain by the hands of Tristram de +Lyonesse." + +On the next day Tristram arrived at the castle of Roche-dure, where he +saw the lists prepared for the tournament, with gay pennons flying, +while full five hundred tents were pitched in a fair meadow by the +gates. Over the seats of honor were silken canopies, that shaded noble +lords and beautiful ladies clad in gay apparel. Within the lists the +kings of Scotland and Ireland held out strongly against King Arthur's +knights, and dread was the noise and turmoil within. + +Tristram at once joined in the fray, and smote down many knights; King +Arthur marvelling the while at the device on his shield, while Guenever +grew heavy at heart, for well she guessed its meaning. + +Ever King Arthur's eye was on that shield, and much he wondered who the +knight could be, for he had heard that Tristram was in Brittany, and he +knew that Lancelot was in quest of him, while he knew no other knight of +equal prowess. + +As the combat went on, Arthur's knights drove back their antagonists, +who began to withdraw from the field. On seeing this the king determined +that the knight with the strange shield should not escape, so he armed +and called Sir Uwaine, entering the lists with him and riding up to +confront the unknown knight. + +"Sir stranger," said the king, "before we fight, I require you to tell +me where you got that shield." + +"I had it from Morgan le Fay, sister to King Arthur," answered Tristram. + +"Then, if you are worthy to bear it, you are able to tell me its +meaning." + +"That I cannot," answered the knight. "It was given me by Queen Morgan, +not through any asking of mine. She told me not what it signified, nor +do I know, but I promised to bear it worthily." + +"In truth," said Arthur, "no knight should bear arms he cannot +understand. But at least you will tell me your name." + +"To what intent?" asked Tristram. + +"Simply that I wish to know." + +"That is small reason. I decline to tell you." + +"If not, we must do battle together." + +"What!" cried Tristram; "you will fight me on so small a cause? My name +is my own, to be given or withheld as I will. It is not honorable for a +fresh knight to challenge me to battle, after all I have done this day. +But if you think you have me at advantage, you may find that I am able +to hold my own." + +Then they put their spears in rest and furiously dashed together across +the lists. But King Arthur's spear shivered to splinters on Tristram's +shield, while he himself got such a blow from the Cornish knight that +horse and man fell headlong to the earth, the king with a dangerous +wound in the side. + +When Uwaine saw this he reined back his horse in haste, and crying +loudly, "Knight, defend thyself!" he rode furiously on Tristram. But man +fared no better than master. Uwaine was borne out of his saddle to the +earth, while Tristram sat unmoved. + +Then Tristram wheeled his horse and said,-- + +"Fair sirs, I had no need to joust with you, for I have done enough +to-day; but you forced me to it." + +"We have had what we deserved," answered Arthur. "Yet I would fain know +your name, and would further learn if that device on your shield is +intended as an insult to King Arthur." + +"That you must ask Morgan le Fay: she alone knows. But report says she +does not love her royal brother over much. Yet she told me not what it +means, and I have borne it at her command. As for my name, it shall be +known when I will." + +So Tristram departed, and rode far over hill and dale, everywhere +seeking for Lancelot, with whom he in his heart wished to make +fellowship. As he went on he came by a forest, on the edge of which +stood a tall tower, and in front of it a fair level meadow. And here he +saw one knight fighting against ten, and bearing himself so well that it +seemed marvellous that a single man could hold his own so bravely +against such odds. He had slain half their horses, and unhorsed the +remaining knights, so that their chargers ran free in the field. The ten +had then assailed him on foot, and he was bearing up bravely against +them. + +"Cease that battle!" cried Tristram, loudly, as he came up. "Ten to one +are cowards' odds." And as he came nearer he saw by his shield that the +one knight was Sir Palamides. + +"You would be wise not to meddle," said the leader of the ten, who was +the villanous knight called Breuse San Pite. "Go your way while your +skin is whole. As for this knight, he is our prey." + +"Say you so!" cried Tristram. "There may be two words to that." + +As he spoke he sprang from his horse, lest they should kill it, and +attacked them on foot with such fury that with every stroke a knight +fell before him. + +This was more than they had bargained for, and Breuse fled hastily to +the tower, followed by all that were able, while Tristram hotly pursued. +But they quickly closed and barred the door, shutting him out. When he +saw this he returned to Palamides, whom he found sitting under a tree, +sorely wounded. + +"Thanks for your timely aid," said the Saracen. "You have saved my +life." + +"What is your name?" asked Tristram. + +"It is Sir Palamides." + +"Then have I saved my greatest enemy; and I here challenge you to +battle." + +"What is your name?" asked Palamides. + +"I am Tristram of Lyonesse." + +"My enemy indeed! yet I owe you thanks for your rescue, nor am I in +condition for jousting. But I desire nothing better than to meet you in +battle. If you are as eager for it, fix day and place, and I will be +there." + +"Well said," answered Tristram. "Let it be in the meadow by the river at +Camelot, there where Merlin set the tombstone." + +"Agreed. I shall not fail you." + +"How came you in battle with these ten dastards?" + +"The chance of journeying brought me into this forest, where I saw a +dead knight with a lady weeping beside him. I asked her who slew her +lord, and she told me it was the most villanous knight in the world, +named Breuse Sans Pite. I then took her on my horse and promised to see +that her lord was properly interred. But as I passed by this tower its +rascally owner suddenly rode from the gate and struck me unawares so +hard that I fell from my horse. Before I could recover he killed the +lady. It was thus the battle began, at which you arrived in good time." + +"It is not safe for you to stay here," said Tristram. "That fellow is +out of our reach for the present, but you are not in condition to meet +him again." + +So they mounted and rode into the forest, where they soon came to a +sparkling fountain, whose clear water bubbled freshly from the ground. +Here they alighted and refreshed themselves. + +As they did so Tristram's horse neighed loudly and was answered by +another horse near by. They mounted and rode towards the sound, and +quickly came in sight of a great war-horse tied to a tree. Under an +adjoining tree lay a knight asleep, in full armor, save that his helmet +was placed under his head for a pillow. + +"A stout-looking fellow that," said Tristram. "What shall we do?" + +"Awake him," said Palamides. + +Tristram did so, stirring him with the butt of his spear. + +But they had better have let him sleep, for he sprang angrily to his +feet, put on his helmet in haste, and mounting his war-horse seized his +spear. Without a word he spurred upon Tristram and struck him such a +blow as to fling him from his saddle to the earth. Then he galloped back +and came hurling upon Palamides, whom he served in the same rude +fashion. Leaving them laying there, he turned his horse and rode +leisurely away. + +When the two overthrown knights gained their feet again, they looked at +one another with faces of shame and anger. + +"Well, what now?" asked Tristram. "That is the worst waking I ever did +in my life. By my troth, I did not fancy there was a knight in Arthur's +realm that could have served you and me such a trick. Whatever you do, I +am going after this woodland champion to have a fairer trial." + +"So would I were I well," said Palamides. "But I am so hurt that I must +seek rest with a friend of mine near by." + +"I can trust you to meet me at the place appointed?" + +"I have cause to have more doubt of you than you of me; for if you +follow this strong knight you may not escape with whole bones from the +adventure. I wish you success." + +"And I wish you health." + +With these words they parted, each riding his own way. + +But news came to Tristram as he rode on that would have turned many a +knight from that adventure. For the first day he found a dead knight and +a lady weeping over him, who said that her lord had jousted with a +strong champion, who had run him through. On the third day he met the +good knights Gawaine and Bleoberis, both wounded, who said they had been +so served by a knight with a covered shield. + +"He treated me and Palamides the same way," said Tristram, "and I am on +his track to repay him." + +"By my faith, you had best turn back," said Gawaine. + +"By my head, I will not," said Tristram, and he rode on in pursuit. + +The next day he met Kay the seneschal and Dinadan in a meadow. + +"What tidings have you?" he asked. + +"Not good," they answered. + +"Tell me what they are. I ride in search of a knight." + +"What cognizance does he bear?" + +"He carries a shield covered by a cloth." + +"Then you are not far from him," said Kay. "We lodged last night in a +widow's house, and that knight sought the same lodging. And when he +knew we were of Arthur's court he spoke villanous things of the king, +and worse of Queen Guenever. The next day we waged battle with him for +this insult. But at the first encounter he flung me from my horse with a +sore hurt. And when Dinadan here saw me down he showed more prudence +than valor, for he fled to save his skin." + +After some further words Tristram rode on; but days passed and he found +not the knight with the covered shield, though he heard more tales of +his irresistible prowess. Then, finding that his armor was bruised and +broken with long use, he sent Gouvernail, his squire, to a city near by +to bring him fresh apparel, and rested at a priory till he came. + +On Gouvernail's return he donned his new armor, and turned his horse's +head towards Camelot, seeking the point where he had engaged to do +battle with Palamides. This was at the tomb of Lanceor, son of the king +of Ireland, who had been slain by Balin, and whose lady Columbe had +slain herself, as we have already told. His tomb had been set up near +the river by Merlin, and it had become a place of pilgrimage for true +lovers and faithful wedded pairs. + +Tristram did not get there without more battling, for the roads around +Camelot then swarmed with errant knights, eager to show their strength. +Yet he was none the worse for these encounters when he rode up to the +tomb where he hoped to find Palamides in waiting. But instead of the +Saracen he saw a knight approaching in white armor, who bore a shield +covered with a dark cloth. + +"Sir knight, you are welcome; none more so," cried Tristram. "I have +sought you far and near, and have an ugly fall to repay you for; and +also owe you a lesson for your revilement of King Arthur and his fair +queen." + +"Shorter words and longer deeds would serve better," said the stranger +knight. "Make ready, my good fellow, if one fall is not enough to +satisfy you." + +Then they rode apart to a fair distance, and putting spurs to their +horses hurtled together with headlong speed. So fiercely met they, +indeed, that horses and knights together went toppling to the earth, +both those brave warriors kissing the dust. + +With all haste they regained their feet, put their shields before them, +and struck at each other with bright swords like men of might. The +battle that followed was such a one as that ground had never seen, for +those two knights seemed rather giants than men. For four hours they +kept up the combat, neither speaking a word, till at the end their armor +was hewn off in many places, and blood had flowed from their wounds till +the grass was turned from green to crimson. + +The squires looked on in wonder, and boasted of the might of their +lords, though their hearts grew heavy when they saw the bright swords so +reddened with blood. + +At last the unknown knight rested on his weapon, and said,-- + +"Sir stranger, you are the best fighter I ever saw in armor. I would +know you better, and beg to learn your name." + +"I care not to tell it," said Tristram. + +"Why not? I never make my name a secret." + +"Then pray tell it, for I would give much to know the name of the +stoutest knight I ever drew sword upon." + +"Fair sir, my name is Lancelot du Lake." + +"Alas, can this be so? Have I fought thus against the man I love best in +the world?" + +"Then who are you?" + +"My name is Tristram de Lyonesse." + +"Oh, what strange chance is this! Take my sword, Sir Tristram, for you +have earned it well." + +And he knelt and yielded Tristram his sword. + +Tristram in turn knelt and yielded up his. And thus with exchange of +words they gave each other the degree of brotherhood. Then they sat +together on the stone, and took off their helms to cool their heated +faces, and kissed each other with brotherly ardor. + +When they had rested and conversed long in the most loving amity, and +their squires had salved and bandaged their wounds, they mounted and +rode towards Camelot. + +Near the gates of the city they met Gawaine and Gaheris, who were +setting out in search of Tristram, having promised King Arthur never to +return till they could bring the valiant knight of Cornwall with them. + +"Return, then, for your quest is done," said Lancelot. "I have found Sir +Tristram, and here he is in person." + +"Then, by my life, you are heartily welcome!" cried Gawaine. "You have +eased me from great labor, and there are ten others seeking you. Why +came you hither of yourself?" + +"I had a challenge with Sir Palamides to do battle with him at Lanceor's +tomb this day, and I know not why he has failed me. By lucky chance my +lord Lancelot and I met there, and well have we tried each other's +strength." + +Thus conversing they came to the court, where King Arthur, when he +learned the name of Lancelot's companion, was filled with joy. Taking +Tristram warmly by both hands, he welcomed him to Camelot. + +"There is no other man in the world whom I would so gladly have here," +he said. "Much have you been sought for since you left the tournament, +but in vain. I would fain learn your adventures." + +These Tristram told, and the king was amazed when he learned that it was +he who had overthrown him at the Castle of Hard Rock. Then he told of +his pursuit of the knight with the covered shield, and of the deeds he +had done. + +"By our faith," cried Gawaine, Bleoberis, and Kay, "we can testify to +that, for he left us all on the ground." + +"Aha! who could this strong fellow have been?" asked Arthur. "Did any of +you know him?" + +They all declared that he was a stranger to them, though Tristram kept +silent. + +"If you know not, I do; it was Lancelot or none," cried the king. + +"In faith, I fancy so," said Tristram, "for I found him to-day, and we +had a four hours' fight together, before each found out the other." + +"So," they all cried, "it is he who has beguiled us with his covered +shield!" + +"You say truly," answered Lancelot, with a smile. "And I called myself +an enemy of King Arthur so that none should suspect me. I was in search +of sport." + +"That is an old trick of yours," said Arthur. + +"One must go in disguise in these days, or go untried," laughed +Lancelot. + +Then Queen Guenever, and many ladies of the court, learning that +Tristram was there, came and bade him welcome, ladies and knights +together crying, "Welcome, Sir Tristram! welcome to Camelot!" + +"Welcome, indeed," said Arthur, "to one of the best and gentlest knights +of the world, and the man of highest esteem. For of all modes of +hunting, you bear the prize, and of all bugle hunting calls you are the +origin, and all the terms of hunting and hawking began with you; on all +instruments of music no man surpasses you: therefore, you are trebly +welcome to this court. And here I pray you to grant me a boon." + +"I am at your command," said Tristram. + +"It is that you abide in my court, and be one of my knights." + +"That I am loath to do, for I have work laid out elsewhere." + +"Yet you have passed your word. You shall not say me nay." + +"Then be it as you will," said Tristram. + +[Illustration: ADMISSION OF SIR TRISTRAM TO THE KING OF THE ROUND +TABLE.] + +These words spoken, Arthur took Tristram by the hand and led him to the +Round Table, going with him round its circle, and looking into every +seat that lacked a knight. When at length he came to that in which Sir +Marhaus had formerly sat, he saw there engraved in letters of gold, +"This is the seat of the noble knight Sir Tristram." + +Then Arthur made Tristram a Knight of the Round Table with noble +ceremony and great pomp, and with feasts that lasted many days. Glad +were all there to have a knight of such prowess and high esteem in their +company, and many friends Tristram made among his new brothers-in-arms. + +But chief of all these was Lancelot, and for days together Lancelot and +Tristram kept genial company, while their brotherhood gave joy to all, +and most of all to King Arthur, who felt that the glory of his reign was +now at its height, and that two such knights as these would spread the +renown of the Round Table throughout the world. + +END OF VOL. I. + + + + + * * * * * + + + + +Transcriber's note: + +Fifteen spelling errors have been corrected as follows: + + Pg. 38 "Tintagel" to "Tintagil" (15) (the Duke of Tintagil) + + Pg. 74 "churchyard" to "church-yard" (4) (near a church-yard) + + Pg. 114 "way-side" to "wayside" (2) (they reached a wayside) + + Pg. 166 "eat" to "ate" (of which Kay ate heartily) + + Pg. 200 "vassels" to "vassals" (4) (dead or my vassals) + + Pg. 206 "swept" to "wept" (wept for pity.) + + Pg. 212 "therefor" to "therefore" (24) (and sureties therefore.") + + Pg. 223 "Badgemagus" to "Bagdemagus" (11) (King Bagdemagus) + + Pg. 246 "togther" to "together" (together in furious) + + Pg. 281 "threatingly" to "threateningly" (shook the sword + threateningly) + + Pg. 284 "say" to "saw" (when he saw him coming) + + Pg. 287 "beleagured" to "beleaguered" (a hundred beleaguered him) + + Pg. 291 "is" to "if" (seemed as if she returned his love) + + Pg. 298 "Taulurd" to "Taulard" (2) (brother to that Taulard) + + Pg. 336 "wellnigh" to "well-nigh" (2) (he well-nigh lost his wits) + +The following list of similar words appear in the original text and +have been retained. + + "Percival" (p 12) and "Percivale" (elsewhere) + + "lady Colombe" (p 65) and "lady Columbe" (p 355) + + "gerfalcon" (p 135) and "jerfalcon" (p 221) + + "Sagramore" and "Sagramour" + + "villain" (17) and "villanous" (8) and villany (3) + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HISTORIC TALES, VOL. 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