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THE LEGENDS

OF

KING ARTHUR

AND HIS KNIGHTS

see p. 85.

The marriage of King Arthur

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THE LEGENDS

OF

KING ARTHUR

AND HIS KNIGHTS

COMPILED AND ARRANGED BY

SIR JAMES KNOWLES, K.C.V.O

(J.T.K.)

A glorious company, the flower of men "

Tennyson

FREDERICK WARNE AND CO., LTD.

LONDON AND NEW YORK

^

Ete

06237

Copyright

Frederick Warne & Co. Ltd.,

London.

PrinUd in Greta Britain.

J

I

K73

TO

ALFRED TENNYSON, D.C.L.

POET LAUREATE

THIS ATTEMPT AT A POPULAR VERSION OF

THE ARTHUR LEGENDS

IS BY HIS PERMISSION DEDICATED

AS A TRIBUTE

OF THE SINCEREST AND WARMEST RESPECT

[1862]

PREFACE TO THE EIGHTH EDITION

THE Publishers have asked me to authorise a
new edition, in my own name, of this little book
now long out of print — which was written by
me thirty-five years ago under the initials J. T. K.

In acceding to their request I wish to say that the
book as now published is merely a word-for-word
reprint of my early effort to help to popularise the
Arthur legends.

It is little else than an abridgment of Sir Thomas
Malory's version of them as printed by Caxton — with
a few additions from Geoffrey of Monmouth and other
sources — and an endeavour to arrange the many tales
into a more or less consecutive story.

The chief pleasure which came to me from it was,
and is, that it began for me a long and intimate acquaint-
ance with Lord Tennyson, to whom, by his permission,
I dedicated it before I was personally known to him.

James Knowles.

Addendum by Lady Knowles

In response to a widely expressed wish for a fresh
edition of this little book — now for some years out of
print — a new and ninth edition has been prepared.

In his preface my husband says that the intimacy
with Lord Tennyson to which it led was the chief
pleasure the book brought him. I have been asked
to furnish a few more particulars on this point that
may be generally interesting, and feel that I cannot

vii

viii Preface

do better than give some extracts from a letter written
by himself to a friend in July 1896.

"Dear ,

"I am so very glad you approve of my little
effort to popularise the Arthur Legends. Tennyson
had written his first four 'Idylls of the King' before
my book appeared, which was in 1861. Indeed, it
was in consequence of the first four Idylls that I sought
and obtained, while yet a stranger to him, leave to
dedicate my venture to him. He was extremely kind
about it — declared 'it ought to go through forty editions '
— and when I came to know him personally talked
very frequently about it and Arthur with me, and
made constant use of it when he at length yielded to
my perpetual urgency and took up again his forsaken
project of treating the whole subject of King Arthur.

"He discussed and rediscussed at any amount of
length the way in which this could now be done —
and the Symbolism, which had from his earliest time
haunted him as the inner meaning to be given to it,
brought him back to the Poem in its changed shape
of separate pictures.

• •••••

"He used often to say that it was entirely my doing
that he revived his old plan, and added, 'I know more
about Arthur than any other man in England, and
I think you know next most.' It would amuse you
to see in what intimate detail he used to consult with
me — and often with -my little book in front of us —
over the various tales, and when I wrote an article
(in the shape of a long letter) in the Spectator of January
1870 he asked to reprint it, and published it with the
collected Idylls.

"For years, while his boys were at school and college,
I acted as his confidential friend in business and many
other matters, and I suppose he told me more about
himself and his life than any other man now living
knows."

Isabel Knowles.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I

The Finding of Merlin— The Fight of the Dragons—
The Giants' Dance — The Prophecies of Merlin
and the Birth of Arthur — Uther attacks the Saxons
—The Death of Uther . . .Pp. 1-13

CHAPTER II

Merlin's Advice to the Archbishop — The Miracle of
the Sword and Stone — The Coronation of King
Arthur— The Opposition of the Six Kings— The
Sword Excalibur— The Defeat of the Six Kings—
The War with the Eleven Kings . Pp. 14-33

CHAPTER III

The Adventure of the Questing Beast— The Siege of
York — King Arthur drives the Saxons from
the Realm— The Battles of Celidon Forest and
Badon Hill— The Embassy from Rome— The King
rescues Merlin— The Knight of the Fountain

Pp- 34-50

CHAPTER IV

King Arthur conquers Ireland and Norway — Slays
the Giant of St. Michael's Mount and conquers
Gaul — King Ryence's Insolent Message — The Dam-
sel and the Sword— The Lady of the Lake— The
Adventures of Sir Balin . . .Pp. 5I_65

ix

x Contents

CHAPTER V

Sir Balin kills Sir Lancear— The Sullen Knight — The
Knight Invisible is killed — Sir Balin smites the
Dolorous Stroke, and fights with his brother Sir
Balan Pp. 66-82

CHAPTER VI

The Marriage of King Arthur and Guinevere — The
Coronation of the Queen — The Founding of the
Round Table— The Quest of the White Hart—
The Adventures of Sir Gawain — The Quest of the
White Hound — Sir Tor kills Abellius — The Adven-
tures of King Pellinore — The Death of Sir Hantzlake
— Merlin saves King Arthur . . Pp. 83-103

CHAPTER VII

King Arthur and Sir Accolon of Gaul are entrapped by
Sir Damas — They fight each other through Enchant-
ment of Queen Morgan le Fay — Sir Damas is
compelled to surrender all his Lands to Sir Outzlake
his Brother their Rightful Owner — Queen Morgan
essays to kill King Arthur with a Magic Garment
— Her Damsel is compelled to wear it and is
thereby burned to Cinders . . Pp. 104-117

CHAPTER VIII

A Second Embassy from Rome — King Arthur's Answer
— The Emperor assembles his Armies — King Arthur
slays the Emperor — Sir Gawain and Sir Prianius —
The Lombards are defeated — King Arthur crowned
at Rome Pp. 118-132

CHAPTER IX

The Adventures of Sir Lancelot — He and his Cousin
Sir Lionel set forth — The Four Witch-Queens —
King Bagdemagus — Sir Lancelot slays Sir Turquine
and delivers his Captive Knights — The Foul

Contents xi

Knight — Sir Gaunter attacks Sir Lancelot — The
Four Knights — Sir Lancelot comes to the Chapel
Perilous — Ellawes the Sorceress — The Lady and
the Falcon— Sir Bedivere and the Dead Lady

Pp. 133-160

CHAPTER X

Beaumains is made a Kitchen Page by Sir Key —
He claims the Adventure of the Damsel Linet —
He fights with Sir Lancelot and is knighted by
him in his True Name of Gareth — Is flouted by
the Damsel Linet — But overthrows all Knights
he meets and sends them to King Arthur's Court
— He delivers the Lady Lyones from the Knight
of the Redlands — The Tournament before Castle
Perilous — Marriage of Sir Gareth and the Lady
Lyones Pp. 161-199

CHAPTER XI

The Adventures of Sir Tristram — His Stepmother —
He is knighted — Fights with Sir Marhaus — Sir
Palomedes and La Belle Isault— Sir Bleoberis and
Sir Segwarides— Sir Tristram's Quest— His Return
—The Castle Pleure— Sir Brewnor is slain— Sir
Kay Hedius— La Belle Isault's Hound— Sir Dinedan
refuses to fight — Sir Pellinore follows Sir Tristram
— Sir Brewse-without-pity — The Tournament at
the Maiden's Castle — Sir Palomedes and Sir
Tristram Pp. 200-243

CHAPTER XII

Merlin is bewitched by a Damsel of the Lady of the
Lake— Galahad knighted by Sir Lancelot — The
Perilous Seat — The Marvellous Sword — Sir Galahad
in the Perilous Seat— The Sangreal— The Knights
vow themselves to its Quest — The Shield of the
White Knight— The Fiend of the Tomb— Sir

xii Contents

Galahad at the Maiden's Castle — The Sick Knight
and the Sangreal — Sir Lancelot declared unworthy
to find the Holy Vessel — Sir Percival seeks Sir
Galahad— The Black Steed— Sir Bors and the
Hermit — Sir Pridan le Noir — Sir Lionel's Anger —
He meets Sir Percival — The ship "Faith" — Sir
Galahad and Earl Hernox — The Leprous Lady —
Sir Galahad discloses himself to Sir Lancelot —
They part — The Blind King Evelake — Sir Galahad
finds the Sangreal — His Death Pp. 244-297

CHAPTER XIII

The Queen quarrels with Sir Lancelot — She is accused
of Murder — Her Champion proves her Innocence
— The Tourney at Camelot — Sir Lancelot in the
Tourney — Sir Baldwin the Knight-Hermit — Elaine,
the Maid of Astolat, seeks for Sir Lancelot — She
tends his Wounds — Her Death — The Queen and
Sir Lancelot are reconciled . . Pp. 298-322

CHAPTER XIV

Sir Lancelot attacked by Sir Agravaine, Sir Modred,
and thirteen other Knights — He slays them all
but Sir Modred — He leaves the Court — Sir Modred
accuses him to the King — The Queen condemned
to be burnt — Her Rescue by Sir Lancelot and
Flight with him — The War between Sir Lancelot
and the King — The Enmity of Sir Gawain — The
Usurpation of Sir Modred — The Queen retires to
a Nunnery — Sir Lancelot goes on Pilgrimage —
The Battle of Barham Downs — Sir Bedivere and
the Sword Excalibur — The Death of King Arthur

Pp- 323-340

THE LEGENDS OF
KING ARTHUR

CHAPTER I

The Prophecies of Merlin, and the Birth of Arthur

KING VORTIGERN the usurper sat upon
his throne in London, when, suddenly,
upon a certain day, ran in a breathless
messenger, and cried aloud —

" Arise, Lord King, for the enemy is come ;
even Ambrosius and Uther, upon whose throne
thou sittest — and full twenty thousand with
them — and they have sworn by a great oath,
lord, to slay thee, ere this year be done ; and
even now they march towards thee as the north
wind of winter for bitterness and haste."

At those words Vortigern's face grew white as
ashes, and, rising, in confusion and disorder, he
sent for all the best artificers and craftsmen and
mechanics, and commanded them vehemently to
go and build him straightway in the furthest
west of his lands a great and strong castle, where
he might fly for refuge and escape the vengeance
of his master's sons — " and, moreover," cried he,
" let the work be done within a hundred days

1

2 The Legends of King Arthur

from now, or I will surely spare no life amongst
you all."

Then all the host of craftsmen, fearing for
their lives, found out a proper site whereon to
build the tower, and eagerly began to lay in the
foundations. But no sooner were the walls
raised up above the ground than all their work
was overwhelmed and broken down by night
invisibly, no man perceiving how, or by whom,
or what. And the same thing happening again,
and yet again, all the workmen, full of terror,
sought out the king, and threw themselves upon
their faces before him, beseeching him to interfere
and help them or to deliver them from their
dreadful work.

Filled with mixed rage and fear, the king called
for the astrologers and wizards, and took counsel
with them what these things might be, and how
to overcome them. The wizards worked their
spells and incantations, and in the end declared
that nothing but the blood of a youth born with-
out mortal father, smeared on the foundations of
the castle, could avail to make it stand. Messen-
gers were therefore sent forthwith through all the
land to find, if it were possible, such a child.
And, as some of them went down a certain village
street, they saw a band of lads fighting and
quarrelling, and heard them shout at one —
" Avaunt, thou imp ! — a vaunt 1 Son of no
mortal man ! go, find thy father, and leave us in
peace."

At that the messengers looked steadfastly on
the lad, and asked who he was. One said his

Merlin 3

name was Merlin ; another, that his birth and
parentage were known by no man ; a third, that
the foul fiend alone was his father. Hearing these
things, the officers seized Merlin, and carried him
before the king by force.

But no sooner was he brought to him than he
asked in a loud voice, for what cause he was thus
dragged there ?

"My magicians," answered Vortigern, "told
me to seek out a man that had no human father,
and to sprinkle my castle with his blood, that it
may stand."

11 Order those magicians," said Merlin, " to
come before me, and I will convict them of a
lie."

The king was astonished at his words, but com-
manded the magicians to come and sit down
before Merlin, who cried to them —

11 Because ye know not what it is that hinders
the foundation of the castle, ye have advised my
blood for a cement to it, as if that would avail ;
but tell me now rather what there is below that
ground, for something there is surely underneath
that will not suffer the tower to stand ? "

The wizards at these words began to fear, and
made no answer. Then said Merlin to the king —

" I pray, lord, that workmen may be ordered
to dig deep down into the ground till they shall
come to a great pool of water."

This then was done, and the pool discovered
far beneath the surface of the ground.

Then, turning again to the magicians, Merlin
said, " Tell me now, false sycophants, what there

4 The Legends of King Arthur

is underneath that pool ? " — but they were
silent. Then said he to the king, " Command
this pool to be drained, and at the bottom shall
be found two dragons, great and huge, which
now are sleeping, but which at night awake and
fight and tear each other. At their great struggle
all the ground shakes and trembles, and so casts
down thy towers, which, therefore, never yet
could find secure foundations."

The king was amazed at these words, but
commanded the pool to be forthwith drained ;
and surely at the bottom of it did they presently
discover the two dragons, fast asleep, as Merlin
had declared.

But Vortigern sat upon the brink of the pool
till night to see what else would happen.

Then those two dragons, one of which was
white, the other red, rose up and came near one
another, and began a sore fight, and cast forth
fire with their breath. But the white dragon
had the advantage, and chased the other to the
end of the lake. And he, for grief at his flight,
turned back upon his foe, and renewed the com-
bat, and forced him to retire in turn. But in the
end the red dragon was worsted, and the white
dragon disappeared no man knew where.

When their battle was done, the king desired
Merlin to tell him what it meant. Whereat he,
bursting into tears, cried out this prophecy,
which first foretold the coming of King Arthur.

" Woe to the red dragon, which figureth the
British nation, for his banishment cometh quickly;
his lurking-holes shall be seized by the white

Vortigern's Tower 5

dragon — the Saxon whom thou, O king, hast
called to the land. The mountains shall be
levelled as the valleys, and the rivers of the
valleys shall run blood ; cities shall be burned,
and churches laid in ruins ; till at length the
oppressed shall turn for a season and prevail
against the strangers. For a Boar of Cornwall
shall arise and rend them, and trample their
necks beneath his feet. The island shall be sub-
ject to his power, and he shall take the forests
of Gaul. The house of Romulus shall dread him
— all the world shall fear him — and his end shall
no man know ; he shall be immortal in the
mouths of the people, and his works shall be food
to those that tell them.

11 But as for thee, O Vortigern, flee thou the
sons of Constantine, for they shall burn thee in
thy tower. For thine own ruin wast thou
traitor to their father, and didst bring the Saxon
heathens to the land. Aurelius and Uther are
even now upon thee to revenge their father's
murder ; and the brood of the white dragon shall
waste thy country, and shall lick thy blood. Find
out some refuge, if thou wilt ! But who may
escape the doom of God ? "

The king heard all this, trembling greatly ;
and, convicted of his sins, said nothing in reply.
Only he hasted the builders of his tower by day
and night, and rested not till he had fled thereto.

In the meantime, Aurelius, the rightful king,
was hailed with joy by the Britons, who flocked
to his standard, and prayed to be led against the
Saxons. But he, till he had first killed Vortigern,

B

6 The Legends of King Arthur

would begin no other war. He marched there-
fore to Cambria, and came before the tower
which the usurper had built. Then, crying out
to all his knights, " Avenge ye on him who hath
ruined Britain and slain my father and your
king 1 " he rushed with many thousands at the
castle walls. But, being driven back again and
yet again, at length he thought of fire, and ordered
blazing brands to be cast into the building from
all sides. These finding soon a proper fuel,
ceased not to rage, till spreading to a mighty con-
flagration, they burned down the tower and
Vortigern within it.

Then did Aurelius turn his strength against
Hengist and the Saxons, and, defeating them in
many places, weakened their power for a long
season, so that the land had peace.

Anon the king, making many journeys to and
fro, restoring ruined churches and creating
order, came to the monastery near Salisbury,
where all those British knights lay buried who
had been slain there by the treachery of Hengist.
For when in former times Hengist had made a
solemn truce with Vortigern, to meet in peace
and settle terms, whereby himself and all his
Saxons should depart from Britain, the Saxon
soldiers carried every one of them beneath his
garment a long dagger, and, at a given signal,
fell upon the Britons, and slew them, to the
number of nearly five hundred.

The sight of the place where the dead lay
moved Aurelius to great sorrow, and he cast
about in his mind how to make a worthy tomb

The Giants' Dance y

over so many noble martyrs, who had died there
for their country.

When he had in vain consulted many craftsmen
and builders, he sent, by the advice of the arch-
bishop, for Merlin, and asked him what to do.
" If you would honour the burying-place of these
men," said Merlin, " with an everlasting monu-
ment, send for the Giants' Dance which is in
Killaraus, a mountain in Ireland ; for there is a
structure of stone there which none of this age
could raise without a perfect knowledge of the
arts. They are stones of a vast size and wondrous
nature, and if they can be placed here as they
are there, round this spot of ground, they will
stand for ever."

At these words of Merlin, Aurelius burst into
laughter, and said, " How is it possible to remove
such vast stones from so great a distance, as
if Britain, also, had no stones fit for the
work ? "

" I pray the king," said Merlin, " to forbear
vain laughter ; what I have said is true, for those
stones are mystical and have healing virtues.
The giants of old brought them from the furthest
coast of Africa, and placed them in Ireland while
they lived in that country ; and their design was
to make baths in them, for use in time of grievous
illness. For if they washed the stones and put
the sick in the water, it certainly healed them, as
also it did them that were wounded in battle ;
and there is no stone among them but hath the
same virtue still."

When the Britons heard this, they resolved to

8 The Legends of King Arthur

send for the stones, and to make war upon the
people of Ireland if they offered to withhold
them. So, when they had chosen Uther the
king's brother for their chief, they set sail, to the
number of 15,000 men, and came to Ireland.
There Gillomanius, the king, withstood them
fiercely, and not till after a great battle could they
approach the Giants' Dance, the sight of which
filled them with joy and admiration. But when
they sought to move the stones, the strength of
all the army was in vain, until Merlin, laughing
at their failures, contrived machines of wondrous
cunning, which took them down with ease, and
placed them in the ships.

When they had brought the whole to Salisbury,
Aurelius, with the crown upon his head, kept for
four days the feast of Pentecost with royal pomp ;
and in the midst of all the clergy and the people,
Merlin raised up the stones, and set them round
the sepulchre of the knights and barons, as they
stood in the mountains of Ireland.

Then was the monument called " Stonehenge,"
which stands, as all men know, upon the plain of
Salisbury to this very day.

Soon thereafter it befell that Aurelius was slain
by poison at Winchester, and was himself buried
within the Giants' Dance.

At the same time came forth a comet of amazing
size and brightness, darting out a beam, at the
end whereof was a cloud of fire shaped like a
dragon, from wnose mouth went out two rays,
one stretching over Gaul, the other ending in
seven lesser rays over the Irish sea.

Uther becomes King 9

At the appearance of this star a great dread fell
upon the people, and Uther, marching into Cam-
bria against the son of Vortigern, himself was
very troubled to learn what it might mean. Then
Merlin, being called before him, cried with a loud
voice : " O mighty loss ! O stricken Britain !
Alas ! the great prince is gone from us. Aurelius
Ambrosius is dead, whose death will be ours also,
unless God help us. Haste, therefore, noble
Uther, to destroy the enemy ; the victory shall
be thine, and thou shalt be king of all Britain.
For the star with the fiery dragon signifies thy-
self ; and the ray over Gaul portends that thou
shalt have a son, most mighty, whom all those
kingdoms shall obey which the ray covers."

Thus, for the second time, did Merlin foretell
the coming of King Arthur. And Uther, when
he was made king, remembered Merlin's words,
and caused two dragons to be made in gold, in
likeness of the dragon he had seen in the star.
One of these he gave to Winchester Cathedral,
and had the other carried into all his wars before
him, whence he was ever after called Uther
Pendragon, or the dragon's head.

Now, when Uther Pendragon had passed
through all the land, and settled it — and even
voyaged into all the countries of the Scots, and
tamed the fierceness of that rebel people — he
came to London, and ministered justice there.
And it befell at a certain great banquet and high
feast which the king made at Easter-tide, there
came, with many other earls and barons, Gorloi's,
Duke of Cornwall, and his wife Igerna, who was

io The Legends of King Arthur

the most famous beauty in all Britain. And soon
thereafter, Gorloi's being slain in battle, Uther
determined to make Igerna his own wife. But in
order to do this, and enable him to come to her —
for she was shut up in the high castle of Tintagil,
on the furthest coast of Cornwall — the king sent
for Merlin, to take counsel with him and to pray
his help. This, therefore, Merlin promised him
on one condition — namely, that the king should
give him up the- first son born of the marriage.
For Merlin by his arts foreknew that this first-
born should be the long-wished prince, King
Arthur.

When Uther, therefore, was at length happily
wedded, Merlin came to the castle on a certain
day, and said, " Sir, thou must now provide thee
for the nourishing of thy child."

And the king, nothing doubting, said, " Be it
as thou wilt."

" I know a lord of thine in this land," said
Merlin, " who is a man both true and faithful ;
let him have the nourishing of the child. His
name is Sir Ector, and he hath fair possessions
both in England and in Wales. When, therefore,
the child is born, let him be delivered unto me,
unchristened, at yonder postern-gate, and I will
bestow him in the care of this good knight."

So when the child was born, the king bid two
knights and two ladies to take it, bound in rich
cloth of gold, and deliver it to a poor man whom
they should discover at the postern-gate. And the
child being delivered thus to Merlin, who himself
took the guise of a poor man, was carried by him

Uther Attacks the Saxons II

to a holy priest and christened by the name of
Arthur, and then was taken to Sir Ector's house,
and nourished at Sir Ector's wife's own breasts.
And in the same house he remained privily
for many years, no man soever knowing where he
was, save Merlin and the king.

Anon it befell that the king was seized by a
lingering distemper, and the Saxon heathens,
taking their occasion, came back from over sea,
and swarmed upon the land, wasting it with fire
and sword. When Uther heard thereof, he fell
into a greater rage than his weakness could bear,
and commanded all his nobles to come before
him, that he might upbraid them for their coward-
ice. And when he had sharply and hotly re-
buked them, he swore that he himself, nigh unto
death although he lay, would lead them forth
against the enemy. Then causing a horse-litter
to be made, in which he might be carried — for he
was too faint and weak to ride — he went up with
all his army swiftly against the Saxons.

But they, when they heard that Uther was
coming in a litter, disdained to fight with him,
saying it would be shame for brave men to fight
with one half dead. So they retired into their
city ; and, as it were in scorn of danger, left the
gates wide open. But Uther straightway com-
manding his men to assault the town, they did so
without loss of time, and had already reached the
gates, when the Saxons, repenting too late of their
haughty pride, rushed forth to the defence. The
battle raged till night, and was begun again next
day ; but at last, their leaders, Octa and Eosa,

12 The Legends of King Arthur

being slain, the Saxons turned their backs and
fled, leaving the Britons a full triumph.

The king at this felt so great joy, that, whereas
before he could scarce raise himself without help,
he now sat upright in his litter by himself, and
said, with a laughing and merry face, " They
called me the half-dead king, and so indeed I was ;
but victory to me half dead is better than defeat
and the best health. For to die with honour is
far better than to live disgraced."

But the Saxons, although thus defeated, were
ready still for war. Uther would have pursued
them ; but his illness had by now so grown,
that his knights and barons kept him from the
adventure. Whereat the enemy took courage,
and left nothing undone to destroy the land ;
until, descending to the vilest treachery, they
resolved to kill the king by poison.

To this end, as he lay sick at Verulam, they sent
and poisoned stealthily a spring of clear water,
whence he was wont to drink daily ; and so, on
the very next day, he was taken with the pains of
death, as were also a hundred others after him,
before the villainy was discovered, and heaps of
earth thrown over the well.

The knights and barons, full of sorrow, now
took counsel together, and came to Merlin for his
help to learn the king's will before he died, for he
was by this time speechless. " Sirs, there is no
remedy," said Merlin, " and God's will must be
done ; but be ye all to-morrow before him, for
God will make him speak before he die."

So on the morrow all the barons, with Merlin,

The Death of Uther 13

stood round the bedside of the king ; and
Merlin said aloud to Uther, " Lord, shall thy
son Arthur be the king of all this realm after
thy days ? "

Then Uther Pendragon turned him about, and
said, in the hearing of them all, " God's blessing
and mine be upon him. I bid him pray for my
soul, and also that he claim my crown, or forfeit
all my blessing ; " and with those words he died.

Then came together all the bishops and the
clergy, and great multitudes of people, and be-
wailed the king ; and carrying his body to the
convent of Ambrius, they buried it close by his
brother's grave, within the " Giants' Dance."

CHAPTER II

The Miracle of the Sword and Stone, and the

Coronation of King Arthur — The Sword

Excalibur — The War with the Eleven Kings

NOW Arthur the prince had all this time
been nourished in Sir Ector's house as his
own son, and was fair and tall and comely,
being of the age of fifteen years, great in strength,
gentle in manner, and accomplished in all exer-
cises proper for the training of a knight.

But as yet he knew not of his father ; for
Merlin had so dealt, that none save Uther and
himself knew aught about him. Wherefore it
befell, that many of the knights and barons who
heard King Uther speak before his death, and
call his son Arthur his successor, were in great
amazement ; and some doubted, and others were
displeased.

Anon the chief lords and princes set forth each
to his own land, and, raising armed men and
multitudes of followers, determined every one to
gain the crown for himself ; for they said in their
hearts, " If there be any such a son at all as he
of whom this wizard forced the king to speak,
who are we that a beardless boy should have rule
over us ? "

So the land stood long in great peril, for every

14

The Sword of the Stone 15

lord and baron sought but his own advantage ;
and the Saxons, growing ever more adventurous,
wasted and overran the towns and villages in
every part.

Then Merlin went to Brice, the Archbishop of
Canterbury, and advised him to require all the
earls and barons of the realm and all knights and
gentlemen-at-arms to come to him at London,
before Christmas, under pain of cursing, that they
might learn the will of Heaven who should be
king. This, therefore, the archbishop did, and
upon Christmas Eve were met together in London
all the greatest princes, lords, and barons ; and
long before day they prayed in St. Paul's Church,
and the archbishop besought Heaven for a sign
who should be lawful king of all the realm.

And as they prayed, there was seen in the
churchyard, set straight before the doorways of
the church, a huge square stone having a naked
sword stuck in the midst of it. And on the
sword was written in letters of gold, " Whoso
pulleth out the sword from this stone is born the
rightful King of Britain."

At this all the people wondered greatly ; and,
when Mass was over, the nobles, knights, and
princes ran out eagerly from the church to see the
stone and sword ; and a law was forthwith made
that whoso should pull out the sword should be
acknowledged straightway King of Britain.

Then many knights and barons pulled at the
sword with all their might, and some of them
tried many times, but none could stir or move it.

When all had tried in vain, the archbishop

16 The Legends of King Arthur

declared the man whom Heaven had chosen was
not yet there. " But God," said he, " will
doubtless make him known ere many days."

So ten knights were chosen, being men of high
renown, to watch and keep the sword ; and there
was proclamation made through all the land that
whosoever would, had leave and liberty to try
to pull it from the stone. But though great
multitudes of people came, both gentle and simple,
for many days, no man could ever move the
sword a hair's breadth from its place.

Now, at the New Year's Eve a great tourna-
ment was to be held in London, which the arch-
bishop had devised to keep together lords and
commons, lest they should grow estranged in the
troublous and unsettled times. To the which
tournament there came with many other knights,
Sir Ector, Arthur's foster-father, who had great
possessions near to London ; and with him came
his son, Sir Key, but recently made knight, to
take his part in the jousting, and young Arthur
also to witness all the sports and fighting.

But as they rode towards the jousts, Sir Key
found suddenly he had no sword, for he had left
it at his father's house ; and turning to young
Arthur, he prayed him to ride back and fetch it
for him. " I will with a good will," said Arthur ;
and rode fast back after the sword.

But when he came to the house he found it
locked and empty, for all were gone forth to see
the tournament. Whereat, being angry and
impatient, he said within himself, " I will ride to
the churchyard and take with me the sword

Arthur draweth forth the Sword 17

that sticketh in the stone, for my brother shall
not go without a sword this day."

So he rode and came to the churchyard, and
alighting from his horse he tied him to the gate,
and went to the pavilion, which was pitched near
the stone, wherein abode the ten knights who
watched and kept it ; but he found no knights
there, for all were gone to see the jousting.

Then he took the sword by its handle, and
lightly and fiercely he pulled it out of the stone,
and took his horse and rode until he came to
Sir Key and delivered him the sword. But as
soon as Sir Key saw it he knew well it was the
sword of the stone, and, riding swiftly to his
father, he cried out, " Lo 1 here, sir, is the sword
of the stone, wherefore it is I who must be king
of all this land."

When Sir Ector saw the sword, he turned
back straight with Arthur and Sir Key and came
to the churchyard, and there alighting, they
went all three into the church, and Sir Key was
sworn to tell truly how he came by the sword.
Then he confessed it was his brother Arthur who
had brought it to him.

Whereat Sir Ector, turning to young Arthur,
asked him — " How gottest thou the sword ? "

" Sir," said he, " I will tell you. When I
went home to fetch my brother's sword, I found
nobody to deliver it to me, for all were abroad
to the jousts. Yet was I loath to leave my
brother swordless, and, bethinking me of this
one, I came hither eagerly to fetch it for him,
and pulled it out of the stone without any pain."

1 8 The Legends of King Arthur

Then said Sir Ector, much amazed and looking
steadfastly on Arthur, " If this indeed be thus,
'tis thou who shalt be king of all this land — and
God will have it so — for none but he who should
be rightful Lord of Britain might ever draw this
sword forth from that stone. But let me now
with mine own eyes see thee put back the sword
into its place and draw it forth again."

" That is no mystery," said Arthur ; and
straightway set it in the stone. And then Sir
Ector pulled at it himself, and after him Sir
Key, with all his might, but both of them in
vain : then Arthur reaching forth his hand and
grasping at the pommel, pulled it out easily, and
at once.

Then fell Sir Ector down upon his knees upon
the ground before young Arthur, and Sir Key
also with him, and straightway did him homage
as their sovereign lord.

But Arthur cried aloud, " Alas ! mine own
dear father and my brother, why kneel ye thus
to me ? "

11 Nay, my Lord Arthur," answered then Sir
Ector, " we are of no blood-kinship with thee,
and little though I thought how high thy kin
might be, yet wast thou never more than foster-
child of mine." And then he told him all he
knew about his infancy, and how a stranger had
delivered him, with a great sum of gold, into his
hands to be brought up and nourished as his
own born child, and then had disappeared.

But when young Arthur heard of it, he fell
upon Sir Ector's neck, and wept, and made

Arthur draweth forth the Sword 19

great lamentation, " For now," said he, " I have
in one day lost my father and my mother and my
brother."

" Sir," said Sir Ector presently, " when thou
shalt be made king be good and gracious unto me
and mine."

" If not," said Arthur, " I were no true man's
son at all, for thou art he in all the world to whom
I owe the most ; and my good lady and mother,
thy wife, hath ever kept and fostered me as
though I were her own ; so if it be God's will that
I be king hereafter as thou sayest, desire of me
whatever thing thou wilt and I will do it ; and
God forbid that I should fail thee in it."

" I will but pray," replied Sir Ector, " that
thou wilt make my son Sir Key, thy foster-
brother, seneschal of all the lands."

11 That shall he be," said Arthur ; " and never
shall another hold that office, save thy son,
while he and I do live."

Anon, they left the church and went to the
archbishop to tell him that the sword had been
achieved. And when he saw the sword in
Arthur's hand he set a day and summoned all
the princes, knights, and barons to meet again
at St. Paul's Church and see the will of Heaven
signified. So when they came together, the
sword was put back in the stone, and all tried,
from the greatest to the least, to move it ; but
there before them all not one could take it out
save Arthur only.

But then befell a great confusion and dispute,
for some cried out it was the will of Heaven, and,

20 The Legends of King Arthur

" Long live King Arthur," but many more were
full of wrath and said, " What ! would ye give
the ancient sceptre of this land unto a boy born
none know how ? " And the contention growing
greatly, till nothing could be done to pacify their
rage, the meeting was at length broken up by the
archbishop and adjourned till Candlemas, when
all should meet again.

But when Candlemas was come, Arthur alone
again pulled forth the sword, though more than
ever came to win it ; and the barons, sorely
vexed and angry, put it in delay till Easter.
But as he had sped before so he did at Easter,
and the barons yet once more contrived delays
till Pentecost.

But now the archbishop, fully seeing God's
will, called together, by Merlin's counsel, a band
of knights and gentlemen-at-arms, and set them
about Arthur to keep him safely till the feast of
Pentecost. And when at the feast Arthur still
alone prevailed to move the sword, the people
all with one accord cried out, " Long live King
Arthur ! We will have no more delay, nor any
other king, for so it is God's will ; and we will
slay whoso resisteth Him and Arthur ; " and
wherewithal they kneeled down all at once, and
cried for Arthur's grace and pardon that they
had so long delayed him from his crown. Then
he full sweetly and majestically pardoned them ;
and taking in his hand the sword, he offered it
upon the high ?ltar of the church.

Anon was he solemnly knighted with great
pomp by the most famous knight there present,

The Coronation Banquet 21

and the crown was placed upon his head ; and,
having taken oath to all the people, lords and
commons, to be true king and deal in justice
only unto his life's end, he received homage and
service from all the barons who held lands and
castles from the crown. Then he made Sir
Key, High Steward of England, and Sir Bade-
waine of Britain, Constable, and Sir Ulfius,
Chamberlain : and after this, with all his court
and a great retinue of knights and armed men,
he journeyed into Wales, and was crowned again
in the old city of Caerleon-upon-Usk.

Meanwhile those knights and barons who had
so long delayed him from the crown, met together
and went up to the coronation feast at Caerleon,
as if to do him homage ; and there they ate and
drank such things as were set before them at the
royal banquet, sitting with the others in the
great hall.

But when after the banquet Arthur began,
according to the ancient royal custom, to bestow
great boons and fiefs on whom he would, they all
with one accord rose up, and scornfully refused
his gifts, crying that they would take nothing
from a beardless boy come of low or unknown
birth, but would instead give him good gifts of
hard sword-strokes between neck and shoulders.

Whereat arose a deadly tumult in the hall, and
every man there made him ready to fight. But
Arthur leaped up as a flame of fire against them,
and all his knights and barons drawing their
swords, rushed after him upon them and began
a full sore battle ; and presently the king's party

C

22 The Legends of King Arthur

prevailed, and drave the rebels from the hall
and from the city, closing the gates behind them ;
and King Arthur brake his sword upon them in
his eagerness and rage.

But amongst them were six kings of great
renown and might, who more than all raged
against Arthur and determined to destroy him,
namely, King Lot, King Nanters, King Urien,
King Carados, King Yder, and King Anguisant.
These six, therefore, joining their armies together,
laid close siege to the city of Caerleon, where-
from King Arthur had so shamefully driven
them.

And after fifteen days Merlin came suddenly
into their camp and asked them what this treason
meant. Then he declared to them that Arthur
was no base adventurer, but King Uther's son,
whom they were bound to serve and honour
even though Heaven had not vouchsafed the
wondrous miracle of the sword. Some of the
kings, when they heard Merlin speak thus,
marvelled and believed him ; but others, as
King Lot, laughed him and his words to scorn,
and mocked him for a conjurer and wizard. But
it was agreed with Merlin that Arthur should
come forth and speak with the kings.

So he went forth to them to the city gate, and
with him the archbishop and Merlin, and Sir
Key, Sir Brastias, and a great company of others.
And he spared them not in his speech, but spoke
to them as king and chieftain, telling them plainly
he would make them all bow to him if he lived,
unless they chose to do him homage there and

The Sword Excalibur 23

then ; and so they parted in great wrath, and
each side armed in haste.

" What will ye do ? " said Merlin to the kings ;
11 ye had best hold your hands, for were ye ten
times as many ye should not prevail."

" Shall we be afraid of a dream-reader ? "
quoth King Lot in scorn.

With that Merlin vanished away and came to
King Arthur.

Then Arthur said to Merlin, " I have need now
of a sword that shall chastise these rebels ter-
ribly."

" Come then with me," said Merlin, " for hard
by there is a sword that I can gain for thee."

So they rode out that night till they came to a
fair and broad lake, and in the midst of it King
Arthur saw an arm thrust up, clothed in white
samite, and holding a great sword in the hand.

" Lo ! yonder is the sword I spoke of," said
Merlin.

Then saw they a damsel floating on the lake
in the moonlight. " What damsel is that ? "
said the king.

" The lady of the lake," said Merlin ; "for
upon this lake there is a rock, and on the rock a
noble palace, where she abideth, and she will
come towards thee presently, when thou shalt
ask her courteously for the sword."

Therewith the damsel came to King Arthur,
and saluted him, and he saluted her, and said,
" Lady, what sword is that the arm holdeth
above the water ? I would that it were mine, for
I have no sword."

24 The Legends of King Arthur

" Sir King," said the lady of the lake, " that
sword is mine, and if thou wilt give me in return
a gift whenever I shall ask it of thee, thou shalt
have it."

" By my faith," said he, " I will give thee any
gift that thou shalt ask."

" Well," said the damsel, " go into yonder
barge, and row thyself unto the sword, and take
it and the scabbard with thee, and I will ask my
gift of thee when I see my time."

So King Arthur and Merlin alighted, and tied
their horses to two trees, and went into the barge ;
and when they came to the sword that the hand
held, King Arthur took it by the handle and bore
it with him, and the arm and hand went down
under the water ; and so they came back to
land, and rode again to Caerleon.

On the morrow Merlin bade King Arthur to
set fiercely on the enemy ; and in the meanwhile
three hundred good knights went over to King
Arthur from the rebels' side. Then at the
spring of day, when they had scarce left their
tents, he fell on them with might and main, and
Sir Badewaine, Sir Key, and Sir Brastias slew
on the right hand and on the left marvellously ;
and ever in the thickest of the fight King Arthur
raged like a young lion, and laid on with his
sword, and did wondrous deeds of arms, to the
joy and admiration of the knights and barons
who beheld him.

Then King Lot, King Carados, and the King
of the Hundred Knights — who also was with
them — going round to the rear, set on King

The Battle with the Eleven Kings 25

Arthur fiercely from behind ; but Arthur,
turning to his knights, fought ever in the fore-
most press until his horse was slain beneath him.
At that, King Lot rode furiously at him, and
smote him down ; but rising straightway, and
being set again on horseback, he drew his sword
Excalibur that he had gained by Merlin from the
lady of the lake, which, shining brightly as the
light of thirty torches, dazzled the eyes of his
enemies. And therewith falling on them afresh
with all his knights, he drove them back and slew
them in great numbers, and Merlin by his arts
scattered among them fire and pitchy smoke, so
that they broke and fled. Then all the common
people of Caerleon, seeing them give way, rose
up with one accord, and rushed at them with
clubs and staves, and chased them far and wide,
and slew many great knights and lords, and the
remainder of them fled and were seen no more.
Thus won King Arthur his first battle and put
his enemies to shame.

But the six kings, though sorely routed, pre-
pared for a new war, and joining to themselves
five others swore together that, whether for
weal or woe, they would keep steadfast alliance
till they had destroyed King Arthur. Then,
with a host of 50,000 men-at-arms on horseback,
and 10,000 foot, they were soon ready, and sent
forth their fore-riders, and drew from the northern
country towards King Arthur, to the castle of
Bedgraine.

But he by Merlin's counsel had sent over sea
to King Ban of Benwick and King Bors of Gaul,

26 The Legends of King Arthur

praying them to come and help him in his wars,
and promising to help them in return against
King Claudas, their foe. To which those kings
made answer that they would joyfully fulfil his
wish, and shortly after came to London, with
300 knights, well arrayed for both peace and war,
leaving behind them a great army on the other
side of the sea till they had consulted with King
Arthur and his ministers how they might best
dispose of it.

And Merlin being asked for his advice and
help, agreed to go himself and fetch it over sea
to England, which in one night he did ; and
brought with him 10,000 horsemen and led them
northward privately to the forest of Bedgraine,
and there lodged them in a valley secretly.

Then, by the counsel of Merlin, when they
knew which way the eleven kings would ride and
sleep, King Arthur with Kings Ban and Bors
made themselves ready with their army for the
fight, having yet but 30,000 men, counting the
10,000 who had come from Gaul.

" Now shall ye do my advice," said Merlin ;
11 I would that King Ban and King Bors, with all
their fellowship of 10,000 men, were led to ambush
in this wood ere daylight, and stir not therefrom
until the battle hath been long waged. And
thou, Lord Arthur, at the spring of day draw
forth thine army before the enemy, and dress
the battle so that they may at once see all thy
host, for they will be the more rash and hardy
when they see you have but 20,000 men."

To this the three knights and the barons

The Battle with the Eleven Kings 27

heartily consented, and it was done as Merlin
had devised. So on the morrow when the hosts
beheld each other, the host of the north was
greatly cheered to find so few led out against
them.

Then gave King Arthur the command to Sir
Ulfius and Sir Brastias to take 3,000 men-at-
arms, and to open battle. They therefore setting
fiercely on the enemy slew them on the right
hand and the left till it was wonderful to see their
slaughter.

When the eleven kings beheld so small a band
doing such mighty deeds of arms they were
ashamed, and charged them fiercely in return.
Then was Sir Ulfius 's horse slain under him ; but
he fought well and marvellously on foot against
Duke Eustace and King Clarience, who set upon
him grievously, till Sir Brastias, seeing his great
peril, pricked towards them swiftly, and so smote
the duke through with his spear that horse and
man fell down and rolled over. Whereat King
Clarience turned upon Sir Brastias, and rushing
furiously together they each unhorsed the other
and fell both to the ground, and there lay a long
time stunned, their horses' knees being cut to
the bone. Then came Sir Key the seneschal
with six companions, and did wondrous well,
till the eleven kings went out against them and
overthrew Sir Griflet and Sir Lucas the butler.
And when Sir Key saw Sir Griflet unhorsed and
on foot, he rode against King Nanters hotly
and smote him down, and led his horse to Griflet
and horsed him again ; with the same spear did

28 The Legends of King Arthur

Sir Key smite down King Lot and wounded him
full sore.

But seeing that, the King of the Hundred
Knights rushed at Sir Key and overthrew him
in return, and took his horse and gave it to King
Lot. And when Sir Griflet saw Sir Key's mis-
chance, he set his spear in rest, and riding at a
mighty man-at-arms, he cast him down headlong
and caught his horse and led it straightway to
Sir Key.

By now the battle was growing perilous and
hard, and both sides fought with rage and fury.
And Sir Ulfius and Sir Brastias were both afoot
and in great danger of their death, and foully
stained and trampled under horses' feet. Then
King Arthur, putting spurs to his horse, rushed
forward like a lion into the midst of all the miUe,
and singling out King Cradlemont of North
Wales, smote him through the left side and over-
threw him, and taking his horse by the rein he
brought it to Sir Ulfius in haste and said, " Take
this horse, mine old friend, for thou hast great
need of one, and charge by side of me." And
even as he spoke he saw Sir Ector, Sir Key's
father, smitten to the earth by the King of the
Hundred Knights, and his horse taken to King
Cradlemont.

But when King Arthur saw him ride
upon Sir Ector's horse his wrath was very
great, and with his sword he smote King
Cradlemont upon the helm, and shore off
the fourth part thereof and of the shield,
and drave the sword onward to the horse's

The Battle with the Eleven Kings 29

neck and slew the horse, and hurled the king
upon the ground.

And now the battle waxed so great and furious
that all the noise and sound thereof rang out by
water and by wood, so that Kings Ban and Bors,
with all their knights and men-at-arms in am-
bush, hearing the tumult and the cries, trembled
and shook for eagerness, and scarce could stay
in secret, but made them ready for the fray and
dressed their shields and harness.

But when King Arthur saw the fury of the
enemy, he raged like a mad lion, and stirred and
drove his horse now here, now there, to the right
hand and to the left, and stayed not in his wrath
till he had slain full twenty knights. He wounded
also King Lot so sorely in the shoulder that he
left the field, and in great pain and dolour cried
out to the other kings, "Do ye as I devise,
or we shall be destroyed. I, with the King of the
Hundred Knights, King Anguisant, King Yder,
and the Duke of Cambinet, will take fifteen
thousand men and make a circuit, meanwhile
that ye do hold the battle with twelve thousand.
Then coming suddenly we will fall fiercely
on them from behind and put them to the
rout, but else shall we never stand against
them."

So Lot and four kings departed with their
party to one side, and the six other kings dressed
their ranks against King Arthur and fought long
and stoutly.

But now Kings Ban and Bors, with all their
army fresh and eager, broke from their ambush

30 The Legends of King Arthur

and met face to face the five kings and their host
as they came round behind, and then began a
frantic struggle with breaking of spears and
clashing of swords and slaying of men and horses.
Anon King Lot, espying in the midst King Bors,
cried out in great dismay, " Our Lady now
defend us from our death and fearful wounds ;
our peril groweth great, for yonder cometh one
of the worshipfullest kings and best knights in all
the world."

" Who is he ? " said the King of the Hundred
Knights.

" It is King Bors of Gaul," replied King Lot,
" and much I marvel how he may have come with
all his host into this land without our know-
ledge."

11 Aha ! " cried King Carados, " I will en-
counter with this king if ye will rescue me when
there is need."

11 Ride on," said they.

So King Carados and all his host rode softly
till they came within a bow-shot of King Bors,
and then both hosts, spurring their horses to their
greatest swiftness, rushed at each other. And
King Bors encountered in the onset with a knight,
and struck him through with a spear, so that he
fell dead upon the earth ; then drawing his
sword, he did such mighty feats of arms that all
who saw him gazed with wonder. Anon King
Ban came also forth upon the field with all his
knights, and added yet more fury, sound, and
slaughter, till at length both hosts of the eleven
kings began to quake, and drawing all together

The Battle with the Eleven Kings 31

into one body, they prepared to meet the worst,
while a great multitude already fled.

Then said King Lot, " Lords, we must take yet
other means, or worse loss still awaits us. See
ye not what people we have lost in waiting on
the footmen, and that it costs ten horsemen to
save one of them ? Therefore it is my counsel
to put away our footmen from us, for it is almost
night, and King Arthur will not stay to slaughter
them. So they can save their lives in this great
wood hard by. Then let us gather into one band
all the horsemen that remain, and whoso breaketh
rank or leaveth us, let him be straightway slain
by him that seeth him, for it is better that we
slay a coward than through a coward be all slain.
How say ye ? " said King Lot ; " answer me,
all ye kings."

" It is well said," replied they all.

And swearing they would never fail each other,
they mended and set right their armour and their
shields, and took new spears and set them stead-
fastly against their thighs, waiting, and so stood
still as a clump of trees stands on the plain ; and
no assaults could shake them, they held so hard
together ; which when King Arthur saw he mar-
velled greatly, and was very wroth. !< Yet,"
cried he, " I may not blame them, by my faith,
for they do as brave men ought to do, and are
the best fighting men and knights of most
prowess that I ever saw or heard tell of." And
so said also Kings Ban and Bors, and praised
them greatly for their noble chivalry.

But now came forty noble knights out of

32 The Legends of King Arthur

King Arthur's host, and prayed that he would
suffer them to break the enemy. And when they
were allowed, they rode forth with their spears
upon their thighs, and spurred their horses to
their hottest. Then the eleven kings, with a
party of their knights, rushed with set spears as
fast and mightily to meet them ; and when
they were encountered, all the crash and splinter
of their spears and armour rang with a mighty
din, and so fierce and bloody was their onset
that in all that day there had been no such cruel
press, and rage, and smiting. At that same
moment rode fiercely into the thickest of the
struggle King Arthur and Kings Ban and Bors,
and slew downright on both hands right and
left, until their horses went in blood up to the
fetlocks.

And while the slaughter and the noise and
shouting were at their greatest, suddenly there
came down through the battle Merlin the Wizard
upon a great black horse, and riding to King
Arthur, he cried out, " Alas, my lord ! Will ye
have never done ? Of sixty thousand have ye
left but fifteen thousand men alive. Is it not
time to stay this slaying ? For God is ill pleased
with ye that ye have never ended, and yonder
kings shall not be altogether overthrown this
time. But if ye fall upon them any more, the
fortune of this day will turn, and go to them.
Withdraw, lord, therefore, to thy lodging, and
there now take thy rest, for to-day thou hast
won a great victory, and overcome the noblest
chivalry of all the world. And now for many

Merlin ends the Battle 33

years those kings shall not disturb thee. There-
fore, I tell thee, fear them no more, for now they
are sore beaten, and have nothing left them but
their honour ; and why shouldest thou slay them
to take that ? "

Then said King Arthur, " Thou say est well,
and I will take thy counsel." With that he
cried out, " Ho 1 " for the battle to cease, and
sent forth heralds through the field to stay more
fighting. And gathering all the spoil, he gave
it not amongst his own host, but to Kings Ban
and Bors and all their knights and men-at-
arms, that he might treat them with the greater
courtesy as strangers.

Then Merlin took his leave of Arthur and the
two other kings, and went to see his master,
Blaise, a holy hermit, dwelling in Northumber-
land, who had nourished him through all his
youth. And Blaise was passing glad to see him,
for there was a great love ever between them ;
and Merlin told him how King Arthur had sped
in the battle, and how it had ended ; and told
him the names of every king and knight of wor-
ship who was there. So Blaise wrote down the
battle, word for word, as Merlin told him ; and
in the same way ever after, all the battles of
King Arthur's days Merlin caused Blaise, his
master, to record.

CHAPTER III

The Adventure of the Questing Beast — King Arthur

drives the Saxons from the Realm — The

Battles of Celidon Forest and Badon Hill

ANON, thereafter, came word to King
Arthur that Ryence, King of North
Wales, was making war upon King
Leodegrance of Camelgard ; whereat he was
passing wroth, for he loved Leodegrance well,
and hated Ryence. So he departed with Kings
Ban and Bors and twenty thousand men, and
came to Camelgard, and rescued Leodegrance,
and slew ten thousand of Ryence 's men and put
him to flight. Then Leodegrance made a great
festival to the three kings, and treated them with
every manner of mirth and pleasure which could
be devised. And there had King Arthur the
first sight of Guinevere, daughter of Leodegrance,
whom in the end he married, as shall be told
hereafter.

Then did Kings Ban and Bors take leave, and
went to their own country, where King Claudas
worked great mischief. And King Arthur would
have gone with them, but they refused him,
saying, " Nay, ye shall not at this time, for ye
have yet much to do in these lands of your own ;
and we with the riches we have won here by

34

Belisent visits King Arthur 35

your gifts shall hire many good knights, and, by
the grace of God, withstand the malice of King
Claudas ; and if we have need we will send to ye
for succour ; and likewise ye, if ye have need,
send for us, and we will not tarry, by the faith of
our bodies."

When the two kings had left, King Arthur rode
to Caerleon, and thither came to him his half-
sister Belisent, wife to King Lot, sent as a mes-
senger, but in truth to espy his power ; and with
her came a noble retinue, and also her four sons
— Gawain, Gaheris, Agravaine, and Gareth.
But when she saw King Arthur and his nobleness,
and all the splendour of his knights and service,
she forebore to spy upon him as a foe, and told
him of her husband's plots against him and his
throne. And the king, not knowing that she
was his half-sister, made great court to her ; and
being full of admiration for her beauty, loved her
out of measure, and kept her a long season at
Caerleon. Wherefore her husband, King Lot,
was more than ever King Arthur's enemy, and
hated him till death with a passing great hatred.

At that time King Arthur had a marvellous
dream, which gave him great quietness of heart.
He dreamed that the whole land was full of many
fiery griffins and serpents, which burnt and slew
the people everywhere ; and then that he himself
fought with them, and that they did him mighty
injuries, and wounded him nigh to death, but
that at last he overcame and slew them all.
When he woke, he sat in great heaviness of spirit
and pensiveness, thinking what this dream might

36 The Legends of King Arthur

signify, but by-and-by, when he could by no
means satisfy himself what it might mean, to rid
himself of all his thoughts of it, he made ready
with a great company to ride out hunting.

As soon as he was in the forest, the king saw a
great hart before him, and spurred his horse, and
rode long eagerly after it, and chased until his
horse lost breath and fell down dead from under
him. Then, seeing the hart escaped and his
horse dead, he sat down by a fountain, and fell
into deep thought again. And as he sat there
alone, he thought he heard the noise of hounds,
as it were some thirty couple in number, and
looking up he saw coming towards him the
strangest beast that ever he had seen or heard
tell of, which ran towards the fountain and drank
of the water. Its head was like a serpent's, with
a leopard's body and a lion's tail, and it was
footed like a stag ; and the noise was in its
belly, as it were the baying or questing of thirty
couple of hounds. While it drank there was no
noise within it ; but presently, having finished,
it departed with a greater sound than ever.

The king was amazed at all this ; but being
greatly wearied, he fell asleep, and was before
long waked up by a knight on foot, who said,
" Knight, full of thought and sleepy, tell me if
thou sawest a strange beast pass this way ? "

" Such a one I saw," said King Arthur to the
knight, " but that is now two miles distant at the
least. What would you with that beast ? "

" Sir," said the knight, " I have followed it for
a long time, and have killed my horse, and would

The Questing Beast 37

to heaven I had another to pursue my quest
withal."

At that moment came a yeoman with another
horse for the king, which, when the knight saw, he
earnestly prayed to be given him. " For I have
followed this quest," said he, " twelve months,
and either I shall achieve him or bleed of the best
blood of my body."

It was King Pellinore who at that time fol-
lowed the questing beast, but neither he nor
King Arthur knew each other.

" Sir Knight," said King Arthur, " leave that
quest and suffer me to have it, and I will follow
it other twelve months."

" Ah, fool," said the knight, " thy desire is
utterly in vain, for it shall never be achieved but
by me, or by my next of kin."

Therewith he started to the king's horse, and
mounted to the saddle, crying out, " Grammercy,
this horse is mine ! "

" Well," said the king, " thou mayest take my
horse by force, and I will not say nay ; but till
we prove whether thou or I be best on horseback
I shall not rest content."

" Seek me here," said the knight, " whenever
thou wilt, and here by this fountain thou shalt
find me ; " and so he passed forth on his way.

Then sat King Arthur in a deep fit of study,
and bade his yeomen fetch him yet another horse
as quickly as they could. And when they left
him all alone came Merlin, disguised as a child of
fourteen years of age, and saluted the king, and
asked him why he was so pensive and heavy.

D

38 The Legends of King Arthur

" I may well be pensive and heavy," he replied,
" for here even now I have seen the strangest
sight I ever saw."

11 That know I well," said Merlin, " as well as
thyself, and also all thy thoughts ; but thou art
foolish to take thought, for it will not amend thee.
Also I know what thou art, and know thy father
and thy mother."

" That is false," said King Arthur ; " how
shouldst thou know ? Thy years are not enough."

" Yea," said Merlin, " but I know better than
thou how thou wast born, and better than any
man living."

" I will not believe thee," said King Arthur,
and was wroth with the child.

So Merlin departed, and came again in the
likeness of an old man of fourscore years of age ;
and the king was glad at his coming, for he seemed
wise and venerable. Then said the old man,
" Why art thou so sad ? "

" For divers reasons," said King Arthur ; " for
I have seen strange things to-day, and but this
moment there was here a child who told me
things beyond his years to know."

" Yea," said the old man, " but he told thee
truth, and more he would have told thee hadst
thou suffered him. But I will tell thee wherefore
thou art sad, for thou hast done a thing of late
for which God is displeased with thee, and what
it is thou knowest in thy heart, though no man
else may know."

'• What art thou," said King Arthur, starting
up all pale, " that tellest me these tidings ? "

Merlin's Prophecy 39

" I am Merlin," said he, " and I was he in the
child's likeness, also."

" Ah," said King Arthur, " thou art a marvel-
lous and right fearful man, and I would ask and
tell thee many things this day."

As they talked came one with the king's horses,
and so, King Arthur mounting one, and Merlin
another, they rode together to Caerleon, and
Merlin prophesied to Arthur of his death, and also
foretold his own end.

And now King Arthur, having utterly dis-
persed and overwhelmed those kings who had so
long delayed his coronation, turned all his mind
to overthrow the Saxon heathens who yet in
many places spoiled the land. Calling together,
therefore, his knights and men-at-arms, he rode
with all his hosts to York, where Colgrin, the
Saxon, lay with a great army ; and there he
fought a mighty battle, long and bloody, and
drove him into the city, and besieged him. Then
Baldulph, Colgrin 's brother, came secretly with
six thousand men to assail King Arthur and to
raise the siege. But King Arthur was aware of
him, and sent six hundred horsemen and three
thousand foot to meet and fall on him instead.
This therefore they did, encountering them at
midnight, and utterly defeated them, till they
fled away for life. But Baldulph, full of grief,
resolved to share his brother's peril ; wherefore
he shaved his head and beard, and disguised him-
self as a jester, and so passed through King
Arthur's camp, singing and playing on a harp,
till by degrees he drew near to the city walls,

40 The Legends of King Arthur

where presently he made himself known, and was
drawn up by ropes into the town.

Anon, while Arthur closely watched the city,
came news that full six hundred ships had landed
countless swarms of Saxons, under Cheldric, on
the eastern coast. At that he raised the siege,
and marched straight to London, and there
increased his army, and took counsel with his
barons how to drive the Saxons from the land
for evermore.

Then with his nephew, Hoel, King of the
Armorican Britons, who came with a great force
to help him, King Arthur, with a mighty multi-
tude of barons, knights, and fighting men, went
swiftly up to Lincoln, which the Saxons lay
besieging. And there he fought a passing fierce
battle, and made grievous slaughter, killing above
six thousand men, till the main body of them
turned and fled. But he pursued them hotly
into the wood of Celidon, where, sheltering them-
selves among the trees from his arrows, they made
a stand, and for a long season bravely defended
themselves. Anon, he ordered all the trees in
that part of the forest to be cut down, leaving no
shelter or ambush ; and with their trunks and
branches made a mighty barricade, which shut
them in and hindered their escape. After three
days, brought nigh to death by famine, they
offered to give up their wealth of gold and silver
spoils, and to depart forthwith in their empty
ships ; moreover, to pay tribute to King Arthur
when they reached their home, and to leave him
hostages till all was paid.

King Arthur's Oath 41

This offer, therefore, he accepted, and suffered
them to depart. But when they had been a few
hours at sea, they repented of their shameful
flight, and turned their ships back again, and
landing at Totnes, ravaged all the land as far as
the Severn, and, burning and slaying on all sides,
bent their steps towards Bath.

When King Arthur heard of their treachery and
their return, he burned with anger till his eyes
shone like two torches, and then he swore a
mighty oath to rest no more until he had utterly
destroyed those enemies of God and man, and
had rooted them for ever out of the land of
Britain. Then marching hotly with his armies
on to Bath, he cried aloud to them, " Since these
detestable and impious heathens disdain to keep
their faith with me, I, to keep faith with God, to
whom I sware to cherish and defend this realm,
will now this day avenge on them the blood of all
that they have slain in Britain ! "

In like manner after him spoke the archbishop,
standing upon a hill, and crying that to-day they
should fight both for their country and for
Paradise. " For whoso," he said, " shall in this
holy war be slain, the angels shall forthwith
receive him ; for death in this cause shall be
penance and absolution for all sins."

At these words every man in the whole army
raged with hatred, and pressed eagerly to rush
upon those savages.

Anon King Arthur, dressed in armour shining
with gold and jewels, and wearing on his head a
helmet with a golden dragon, took a shield

42 The Legends of King Arthur

painted with the likeness of the blessed Mary.
Then girding on Excalibur and taking in his right
hand his great lance Ron, he placed his men in
order and led them out against the enemy, who
stood for battle on the slope of Badon Hill,
ranged in the form of a wedge, as their custom
was. And they, resisting all the onslaughts of
King Arthur and his host, made that day a stout
defence, and at night lay down upon the hill.

But on the next day Arthur led his army once
again to the attack, and with wounds and slaugh-
ter such as no man had ever seen before, he drove
the heathen step by step before him, backwards
and upwards, till he stood with all his noblest
knights upon the summit of the hill.

And then men saw him, " red as the rising sun
from spur to plume," lift up his sword, and,
kneeling, kiss the cross of it ; and after, rising
to his feet, set might and main with all his fellow-
ship upon the foe, till, as a troop of lions roaring
for their prey, they drove them like a scattered
herd along the plains, and cut them down till
they could cut no more for weariness.

That day King Arthur by himself alone slew
with his sword Excalibur four hundred and
seventy heathens. Colgrin also, and his brother
Baldulph, were slain.

Then the king bade Cador, Duke of Cornwall,
follow Cheldric, the chief leader, and the remnant
of his hosts, unto the uttermost. He, therefore,
when he had first seized their fleet, and filled it
with chosen men, to beat them back when they
should fly to it at last, chased them and slew them

A Fifteen Days* Siege 43

without mercy so long as he could overtake them.
And though they crept with trembling hearts
for shelter to the coverts of the woods and dens of
mountains, yet even so they found no safety, for
Cador slew them, even one by one. Last of all he
caught and slew Cheldric himself, and slaughter-
ing a great multitude took hostages for the sur-
render of the rest.

Meanwhile, King Arthur turned from Badon
Hill, and freed his nephew Hoel from the Scots
and Picts, who besieged him in Alclud. And when
he had defeated them in three sore battles, he
drove them before him to a lake, which was one
of the most wondrous lakes in all the world, for
it was fed by sixty rivers, and had sixty islands,
and sixty rocks, and on every island sixty eagles'
nests. But King Arthur with a great fleet sailed
round the rivers and besieged them in the lake
for fifteen days, so that many thousands died of
hunger.

Anon the King of Ireland came with an army
to relieve them ; but Arthur, turning on them
fiercely, routed him, and compelled him to
retreat in terror to his land. Then he pursued
his purpose, which was no less than to destroy
the race of Picts and Scots, who, beyond memory,
had been a ceaseless torment to the Britons by
their barbarous malice.

So bitterly, therefore, did he treat them, giving
quarter to none, that at length the bishops of
that miserable country with the clergy met
together, and, bearing all the holy relics, came
barefooted to the king to pray his mercy for their

44 The Legends of King Arthur

people. As soon as they were led before him they
fell down upon their knees, and piteously be-
sought him to spare the few survivors of their
countrymen, and grant them any corner of the
land where they might live in peace. When he
thus heard them, and knew that he had now fully
punished them, he consented to their prayer, and
withdrew his hosts from any further slaughter.

Then turned he back to his own realm, and
came to York for Christmas, and there with high
solemnity observed that holy tide ; and being
passing grieved to see the ruin of the churches
and houses, which the rage of the pagans had
destroyed, he rebuilt them, and restored the city
to its ancient happy state.

And on a certain day, as the king sat with his
barons, there came into the court a squire on
horseback, carrying a knight before him wounded
to the death, and told the king that hard by in
the forest was a knight who had reared up a
pavilion by the fountain, " and hath slain my
master, a valiant knight, whose name was
Nirles ; wherefore I beseech thee, lord, my
master may be buried, and that some good knight
may avenge his death."

At that stepped forth a squire named Griflet,
who was very young, being of the same age with
King Arthur, and besought the king, for all the
service he had done, to give him knighthood.

" Thou art full young and tender of age," said
King Arthur, " to take so high an order upon
thee."

" Sir," said Griflet, " I beseech thee make me

Sir Griflet and the Strange Knight 45

a knight ; " and Merlin also advising the king to
grant his request, " Well," said Arthur, " be it
then so," and knighted him forthwith. Then
said he to him, " Since I have granted thee this
favour, thou must in turn grant me a gift."

" Whatsoever thou wilt, my lord," replied Sir
Griflet.

11 Promise me," said King Arthur, " by the
faith of thy body, that when thou hast jousted
with this knight at the fountain, thou wilt return
to me straightway, unless he slay thee."

" I promise," said Sir Griflet ; and taking his
horse in haste, he dressed his shield, and took a
spear in his hand and rode full gallop till he came
to the fountain, by the side of which he saw a
rich pavilion, and a great horse standing well
saddled and bridled, and on a tree close by there
hung a shield of many colours and a long lance.

Then Sir Griflet smote upon the shield with the
butt of his spear until he cast it to the ground.
At that a knight came out of the pavilion and
said, " Fair knight, why smote ye down my
shield ? "

" Because," said Griflet, " I would joust with
thee."

" It were better not," replied the knight ;
11 for thou art young and but lately made a knight,
and thy strength is small compared to mine."

" For all that," said Sir Griflet, " I will joust
with ye."

" I am full loath," replied the knight ; " but
if I must I must."

Then did they wheel their horses far apart, and

46 The Legends of King Arthur

running them together, the strange knight
shivered Sir Griflet's spear to fragments, and
smote him through the shield and the left side,
and broke his own spear into Sir Griflet's body,
so that the truncheon stuck there, and Sir Griflet
and his horse fell down. But when the strange
knight saw him overthrown, he was sore grieved,
and hastily alighted, for he thought that he had
slain him. Then he unlaced his helm and gave
him air, and tended him carefully till he came
out of his swoon, and leaving the truncheon of
his spear in his body, he set him upon horse, and
commended him to God, and said he had a mighty
heart, and if he lived would prove a passing good
knight. And so Sir Griflet rode to the court,
where, by aid of good physicians, he was healed
in time and his life saved.

At that same time there came before the king
twelve old men, ambassadors from Lucius
Tiberius, Emperor of Rome, and demanded of
Arthur tribute unto Caesar for his realm, or else,
said they, the emperor would destroy both him
and his land. To whom King Arthur answered
that he owed the emperor no tribute, nor would
send him any ; but said he, " On a fair field I will
pay him his proper tribute — with a sharp spear
and sword ; and by my father's soul that tribute
shall he take from me, whether he will or not."
So the ambassadors departed passing wroth, and
King Arthur was as wroth as they.

But on the morrow of Sir Griflet's hurt, the
king commanded to take his horse and armour
secretly outside the city walls before sunrise of

The King rescues Merlin 47

the next morning, and, rising a long while before
dawn, he mounted up and took his shield and
spear, and bade his chamberlain tarry till he
came again ; but he forbore to take Excalibur,
for he had given it for safety into charge of his
sister, Queen Morgan le Fay. And as the king
rode at a soft pace he saw suddenly three villains
chasing Merlin and making to attack and slay
him. Clapping spurs to his horse, he rushed
towards them, and cried out in a terrible voice,
" Flee, churls, or take your deaths ; " but they,
as soon as they perceived a knight, fled away
with the haste of hares.

11 O Merlin," said the king, " here hadst thou
been killed, despite thy many crafts, had I not
chanced to pass."

" Not so," said Merlin, " for when I would, I
could have saved myself ; but thou art nearer
to thy death than I, for without special help from
heaven thou ridest now towards thy grave."

And as they were thus talking, they came to the
fountain and the rich pavilion pitched beside it,
and saw a knight sitting all armed on a chair in
the opening of the tent. " Sir knight," said King
Arthur, " for what cause abidest thou here ? To
joust with any knight that passeth by ? If so,
I caution thee to quit that custom."

" That custom," said the knight, " have I
followed and will follow, let whosoever will say
nay, and if any is aggrieved at it, let him who will
amend it."

" I will amend it," said King Arthur.

" And I will defend it," answered the knight.

48 The Legends of King Arthur

Then the knight mounted his horse and made
himself ready, and charging at each other they
met so hard that both their lances splintered
into pieces. Then King Arthur drew his sword,
but the knight cried out, " Not so ; but let us
run another tilt together with sharp spears."

11 I would with a good will," said King Arthur ;
" but I have no more spears."

" I have enough of spears," replied the knight,
and called a squire, who brought two good new
lances.

Then spurring their horses, they rushed to-
gether with all their might, and broke each one
his own spear short off in his hand. Then the
king again put his hand to his sword, but the
knight once more cried out, " Nay, yet abide
awhile ; ye are the best jouster that I ever met
with ; for the love of knighthood, let us joust
yet once again."

So once again they tilted with the fullest force,
and this time King Arthur's spear was shivered,
but the knight's held whole, and drove so furi-
ously against the king that both his horse and
he were hurled to the ground.

At that, King Arthur was enraged and drew
his sword and said, " I will attack thee now, Sir
knight, on foot, for on horseback I have lost the
honour."

" I will be on horseback," said the knight.
But when he saw him come on foot, he lighted
from his horse, thinking it shame to have so great
advantage.

And then began they a strong battle, with

The Knight of the Fountain 49

many great strokes and grievous blows, and so
hewed with their swords that the fragments of
their armour flew about the fields, and both so
bled that all the ground around was like a marsh
of blood. Thus they fought long and mightily,
and anon, after brief rest, fell to again, and so
hurtled together like two wild boars that they
both rolled to the ground. At last their swords
clashed furiously together, and the knight's
sword shivered the king's in two.

Then said the knight, " Now art thou in my
power, to save thee or to slay. Yield therefore
as defeated, and a recreant knight, or thou shalt
surely die."

" As for death," replied King Arthur, " wel-
come be it when it cometh ; but as for yielding
me to thee as a recreant because of this poor
accident upon my sword, I had far liefer die than
be so shamed."

So saying, he sprang on the knight, and took
him by the middle and threw him down, and tore
off his helm. But the knight, being a huge man,
wrestled and struggled in a frenzy with the king
until he brought him under, and tore off his helm
in turn, and would have smitten off his head.

At that came Merlin and said, " Knight, hold
thy hand, for if thou slayest yonder knight, thou
puttest all this realm to greater loss and damage
than ever realm was in ; for he is a man of greater
worship than thou dreamest of."

" Who then is he ? " cried the knight.

" Arthur Pendragon ! " answered Merlin.

Then would he have slain him for dread of his

50 The Legends of King Arthur

wrath, but Merlin cast a spell upon the knight,
so that he fell suddenly to the earth in a deep
sleep. Then raising up the king, he took the
knight's horse for himself and rode away.

" Alas," said King Arthur, " what hast thou
done, Merlin ? Hast thou slain this good knight
by thy crafts ? There never lived a better knight ;
I had rather lose my kingdom for a year than
have him dead."

" Be not afraid," said Merlin ; " he is more
whole and sound than thou art, and is but in a
sleep, wherefrom in three hours' time he will
awake. I told thee what a knight he was, and
how near thou wast to death. There liveth not
a better knight than he in all the world, and here-
after he shall do thee good service. His name is
King Pellinore, and he shall have two sons, who
shall be passing valiant men, and, save one
another, shall have no equal in prowess and in
purity of life. The one shall be named Percival,
and the other Lamoracke of Wales."

So they rode on to Caerleon, and all the knights
grieved greatly when they heard of this adventure,
that the king would jeopardise his person thus
alone. Yet could they not hide their joy at
serving under such a noble chief, who adventured
his own life as much as did the poorest knight
among them all.

CHAPTER IV

King Arthur Conquers Ireland and Norway, Slays

the Giant of St. Michael's Mount, and Conquers

Gaul — The Adventures of Sir Balin

THE land of Britain being now in peace,
and many great and valiant knights
therein ready to take part in whatsoever
battles or adventures might arise, King Arthur
resolved to follow all his enemies to their own
coasts. Anon he fitted out a great fleet, and
sailing first to Ireland, in one battle he miserably
routed the people of the country. The King of
Ireland also he took prisoner, and forced all earls
and barons to pay him homage.

Having conquered Ireland, he went next to
Iceland, and subdued it also, and the winter
being then arrived, returned to Britain.

In the next year he set forth to Norway,
whence many times the heathen had descended
on the British coasts ; for he was determined to
give so terrible a lesson to those savages as
should be told through all their tribes both far
and near, and make his name fearful to them.

As soon as he was come, Riculf, the king,
with all the power of that country, met and
gave him battle ; but, after mighty slaughter,
the Britons had at length the advantage,

51

52 The Legends of King Arthur

and slew Riculf and a countless multitude
besides.

Having thus defeated them, they set the cities
on fire, dispersed the country people, and pursued
the victory till they had reduced all Norway, as
also Dacia, under the dominion of King Arthur.

Now, therefore, having thus chastised those
pagans who so long had harassed Britain, and
put his yoke upon them, he voyaged on to Gaul,
being steadfastly set upon defeating the Roman
governor of that province, and so beginning to
make good the threats which he had sent the
emperor by his ambassadors.

So soon as he was landed on the shores of Gaul,
there came to him a countryman who told him
of a fearful giant in the land of Brittany, who had
slain, murdered, and devoured many people, and
had lived for seven years upon young children
only, " insomuch," said the man, " that all the
children of the country are destroyed ; and but
the other day he seized upon our duchess, as she
rode out with her men, and took her away to his
lodging in a cave of a mountain, and though five
hundred people followed her, yet could they give
her no help or rescue, but left her shrieking and
crying lamentably in the giant's hands ; and,
lord, she is thy cousin Hoel's wife, who is of thy
near kindred ; wherefore, as thou art a rightful
king, have pity on this lady ; and as thou art a
valiant conqueror, avenge us and deliver us."

11 Alas ! " said King Arthur, " this is a great
mischief that ye tell of. I had rather than the
best realm I have, that I had rescued that lady

PI.

see p. 54.

The giant sat at supper, gnawing on a limb of a man,
and baking his huge frame by the fire.

E.53.

The Giant of St. Michael's Mount 53

ere the giant laid his hand on her ; but tell me
now, good fellow, canst thou bring me where this
giant haunteth ? "

" Yea, lord ! " replied the man. " Lo, yonder,
where thou seest two great fires, there shalt thou
find him, and more treasure also than is in all
Gaul besides."

Then the king returned to his tent, and,
calling Sir Key and Sir Bedwin, desired them to
get horses ready for himself and them, for that
after evensong he would ride a pilgrimage with
them alone to St. Michael's Mount. So in the
evening they departed, and rode as fast as they
could till they came near the mount, and there
alighted ; and the king commanded the two
knights to await him at the hill foot, while he
went up alone.

Then he ascended the mountain till he came to
a great fire. And there he found a sorrowful
widow wringing her hands and weeping miserably,
sitting by a new-made grave. And saluting her,
King Arthur prayed her wherefore she made such
heavy lamentations.

" Sir knight," she said, " speak softly, for
yonder is a devil, who, if he hear thy voice, will
come and straightway slay thee. Alas I What
dost thou here ? Fifty such men as thou were
powerless to resist him. Here lieth dead my
lady, Duchess of Brittany, wife to Sir Hoel, who
was the fairest lady in the world, foully and shame-
fully slaughtered by that fiend ! Beware that
thou go not too nigh, for he hath overcome and
vanquished fifteen kings, and hath made himself

54 The Legends of King Arthur

a coat of precious stones, embroidered with their
beards ; but if thou art so hardy, and wilt speak
with him, at yonder great fire he is at supper."

11 Well," said King Arthur, " I will accomplish
mine errand, for all thy fearful words ; " and so
went forth to the crest of the hill, and saw where
the giant sat at supper, gnawing on a limb of a
man, and baking his huge frame by the fire, while
three damsels turned three spits, whereon were
spitted, like larks, twelve young children lately
born.

When King Arthur saw all that, his heart bled
for sorrow, and he trembled for rage and indigna-
tion ; then lifting up his voice he cried aloud —
" God, that wieldeth all the world, give thee short
life and shameful death, and may the devil have
thy soul ! Why hast thou slain those children
and that fair lady ? Wherefore arise, and prepare
thee to perish, thou glutton and fiend, for this
day thou shalt die by my hands."

Then the giant, mad with fury at these words,
started up, and seizing a great club, smote the
king, and struck his crown from off his head.
But King Arthur smote him with his sword so
mightily in return, that all his blood gushed forth
in streams.

At that the giant, howling in great anguish,
threw away his club of iron, and caught the king
in both his arms and strove to crush his ribs
together. But King Arthur struggled and
writhed, and twisted him about, so that the giant
could not hold him tightly ; and as they fiercely
wrestled, they both fell, and rolling over one

The Giant of St. Michael's Mount 55

another, tumbled — wrestling, and struggling, and
fighting frantically — from rock to rock, till they
came to the sea.

And as they tore and strove and tumbled, the
king ever and anon smote at the giant with his
dagger, till his arms stiffened in death around
King Arthur's body, and groaning horribly, he
died. So presently the two knights came and
found the king locked fast in the giant's arms,
and very faint and weary, and loosed him from
their hold.

Then the king bade Sir Key to " smite off the
giant's head, and set it on the truncheon of a
spear, and bear it to Sir Hoel, and tell him that his
enemy is slain ; and afterwards let it be fastened
to the castle gate, that all the people may behold
it. And go ye two up on the mountain and fetch
me my shield and sword, and also the great club
of iron ye will see there ; and as for the treasure,
ye shall find there wealth beyond counting, but
take as much as ye will, for if I have his kirtle and
the club, I desire no more."

Then the knights fetched the club and kirtle,
as the king had ordered, and took the treasure to
themselves, as much as they could carry and
returned to the army. But when this deed was
noised abroad, all the people came in multitudes
to thank the king, who told them " to give thanks
to God, and to divide the giant's spoils amongst
them equally." And King Arthur desired Sir
Hoel to build a church upon the mount, and
dedicate it to the Archangel Michael.

On the morrow, all the host moved onwards

56 The Legends of King Arthur

into the country of Champagne, and FIollo, the
Roman tribune, retired before them into Paris.
But while he was preparing to collect more forces
from the neighbouring countries, King Arthur
came upon him unawares, and besieged him in the
town.

And when a month had passed, Floilo — full of
grief at the starvation of his people, who died in
hundreds day by day — sent to King Arthur, and
desired that they two might fight together ; for
he was a man of mighty stature and courage, and
thought himself sure of the victory. This chal-
lenge, King Arthur, full weary of the siege,
accepted with great joy, and sent back word to
FIollo that he would meet him whensoever he
appointed.

And a truce being made on both sides, they met
together the next day on the island without the
city, where all the people also were gathered to see
the issue. And as the king and Floilo rode up to
the lists, each was so nobly armed, and horsed,
and sat so mightily upon his saddle, that no man
could tell which way the battle would end.

When they had saluted one another, and pre-
sented themselves against each other with their
lances aloft, they put spurs to their horses and
began a fierce encounter. But King Arthur,
carrying his spear more warily, struck it on the
upper part of Floilo 's breast, and flung him from
his saddle to the earth. Then drawing his
sword, he cried to him to rise, and rushed upon
him ; but Floilo, starting up, met him with his
spear couched, and pierced the breast of King

F lotto's Duel with King Arthur 57

Arthur's horse, and overthrew both horse and
man.

The Britons, when they saw their king upon the
ground, could scarcely keep themselves from
breaking up the truce and falling on the Gauls.
But as they were about to burst the barriers, and
rush upon the lists, King Arthur hastily arose,
and, guarding himself with his shield, ran with
speed on Flollo. And now they renewed the
assault with great rage, being sorely bent upon
each other's death.

At length, Flollo, seizing his advantage, gave
King Arthur a huge stroke upon the helm, which
nigh overthrew him, and drew forth his blood in
streams.

But when King Arthur saw his armour and
shield all red with blood, he was inflamed with
fury, and lifting up Excalibur on high, with all
his might, he struck straight through the helmet
into Flollo 's head, and smote it into halves ; and
Flollo falling backwards, and tearing up the
ground with his spurs, expired.

As soon as this news spread, the citizens all ran
together, and, opening the gates, surrendered the
city to the conqueror.

And when he had overrun the whole province
with his arms, and reduced it everywhere to sub-
jection, he returned again to Britain, and held his
court at Caerleon, with greater state than ever.

Anon he invited thereto all the kings, dukes,
earls, and barons, who owed him homage, that he
might treat them royally, and reconcile them to
each other, and to his rule.

58 The Legends of King Arthur

And never was there a city more fit and pleas-
ant for such festivals. For on one side it was
washed by a noble river, so that the kings and
princes from the countries beyond sea might con-
veniently sail up to it ; and on the other side, the
beauty of the groves and meadows, and the state-
liness and magnificence of the royal palaces,
with lofty gilded roofs, made it even rival the
grandeur of Rome. It was famous also for two
great and noble churches, whereof one was built
in honour of the martyr Julius, and adorned with
a choir of virgins who had devoted themselves
wholly to the service of God ; and the other,
founded in memory of St. Aaron, his companion,
maintained a convent of canons, and was the
third metropolitan church of Britain. Besides,
there was a college of two hundred philosophers,
learned in astronomy, and all the other sciences
and arts.

In this place, therefore, full of such delights,
King Arthur held his court, with many jousts and
tournaments, and royal huntings, and rested
for a season after all his wars.

And on a certain day there came into the court
a messenger from Ryence, King of North Wales,
bearing this message from his master : That
King Ryence had discomfited eleven kings, and
had compelled each one of them to cut off his
beard ; that he had trimmed a mantle with these
beards, and lacked but one more beard to finish
it ; and that he therefore now sent for King
Arthur's beard, which he required of him forth-
with, or else he would enter his lands and burn

King Arthur at Caerleon 59

and slay, and never leave them till he had taken
by force not his beard only, but his head also.

When King Arthur heard these words he
flushed all scarlet, and rising in great anger said,
" Well is it for thee that thou speakest another
man's words with thy lips, and not thine own.
Thou hast said thy message, which is the most
insolent and villainous that ever man heard sent
to any king ; now hear my reply. My beard is
yet too young to trim that mantle of thy master's
with ; yet, young although I be, I owe no homage
either to him or any man — nor will ever owe.
But, young although I be, I will have thy master's
homage upon both his knees before this year be
past, or else he shall lose his head, by the faith of
my body, for this message is the shamefullest
I ever heard speak of. I see well thy king hath
never yet met a worshipful man ; but tell him
that King Arthur will have his head or his worship
right soon."

Then the messenger departed, and Arthur,
looking round upon his knights, demanded of
them if any there knew this King Ryence.
" Yea," answered Sir Noran, " I know him well,
and there be few better or stronger knights upon
a field than he ; and he is passing proud and
haughty in his heart ; wherefore I doubt not,
lord, he will make war on thee with mighty
power."

" Well," said King Arthur, " I shall be ready
for him, and that shall he find."

While the king thus spoke, there came into the
hall a damsel having on a mantle richly furred,

60 The Legends of King Arthur

which she let fall, and showed herself to be girded
with a noble sword. The king being surprised at
this, said, " Damsel, wherefore art thou girt
with that sword, for it beseemeth thee not ? "
" Sir," said she, " I will tell thee. This sword
wherewith I am thus girt gives me great sorrow
and encumbrance, for I may not be delivered
from it till I find a knight faithful and pure and
true, strong of body and of valiant deeds, without
guile or treachery, who shall be able to draw it
from its scabbard, which no man else can do.
And I have but just now come from the
court of King Ryence, for there they told me
many great and good knights were to be ever
found ; but he and all his knights have tried to
draw it forth in vain — for none of them can
move it."

" This is a great marvel," said King Arthur ;
" I will myself try to draw forth this sword, not
thinking in my heart that I am the best knight,
but rather to begin and give example that all
may try after me." Saying this, he took the
sword and pulled at it with all his might, but could
not shake or move it.

" Thou needest not strive so hard, lord," said
the damsel, " for whoever may be able to pull it
forth shall do so very easily."

" Thou say est well," replied the king, remem-
bering how he had himself drawn forth the sword
from the stone before St. Paul's. " Now try ye,
all my barons ; but beware ye be not stained with
shame, or any treachery, or guile." And turning
away his face from them, King Arthur mused

The Damsel and the Sword 61

full heavily of sins within his breast he knew of,
and which his failure brought to mind right sadly.

Then all the barons present tried each after
other, but could none of them succeed ; whereat
the damsel greatly wept, and said, " Alas, alas !
I thought in this court to have found the best
knight, without shame or treachery or treason."

Now by chance there was at that time a poor
knight with King Arthur, who had been prisoner
at his court for half a year and more, charged with
slaying unawares a knight who was a cousin of
the king's. He was named Balin le Savage, and
had been by the good offices of the barons
delivered from prison, for he was of good and
valiant address and gentle blood. He being
secretly present at the court saw this adventure,
and felt his heart rise high within him, and
longed to try the sword as did the others ; but
being poor and poorly clad, he was ashamed to
come forward in the press of knights and nobles.
But in his heart he felt assured that he could do
better — if Heaven willed — than any knight
among them all.

So as the damsel left the king, he called to her
and said, " Damsel, I pray thee of thy courtesy,
suffer me to try the sword as well as all these
lords ; for though I be but poorly clad, I feel
assurance in my heart."

The damsel looking at him, saw in him a likely
and an honest man, but because of his poor gar-
ments could not think him to be any knight of
worship, and said, " Sir, there is no need to put
me to any more pain or labour ; why shouldst

62 The Legends of King Arthur

thou succeed where so many worthy ones have
failed ? "

" Ah, fair lady," answered Balin, " worthiness
and brave deeds are not shown by fair raiment,
but manhood and truth lie hid within the heart.
There be many worshipful knights unknown to
all the people."

" By my faith, thou sayest truth," replied the
damsel ; " try therefore, if thou wilt, what thou
canst do."

So Balin took the sword by the girdle and hilt,
and drew it lightly out, and looking on its work-
manship and brightness, it pleased him greatly.

But the king and all the barons marvelled at
Sir Balin 's fortune, and many knights were
envious of him, for, " Truly, " said the damsel,
" this is a passing good knight, and the best man
I have ever found, and the most worshipfully free
from treason, treachery, or villainy, and many
wonders shall he achieve.

" Now, gentle and courteous knight," con-
tinued she, turning to Balin, " give me the sword
again."

" Nay," said Sir Balin, " save it be taken from
me by force, I shall preserve this sword for ever-
more."

" Thou art not wise," replied the damsel, " to
keep it from me ; for if thou wilt do so, thou shalt
slay with it the best friend thou hast, and the
sword shall be thine own destruction also."

" I will take whatever adventure God may
send," said Balin ; "but the sword will I keep, by
the faith of my body."

The Lady of the Lake 63

" Thou will repent it shortly," said the damsel ;
" I would take the sword for thy sake rather than
for mine, for I am passing grieved and heavy for
thy sake, who wilt not believe the peril I foretell
thee." With that she departed, making great
lamentation.

Then Balin sent for his horse and armour, and
took his leave of King Arthur, who urged him to
stay at his court. " For," said he, "I believe
that thou art displeased that I showed thee
unkindness ; blame me not overmuch, for I
was misinformed against thee, and knew not
truly what a knight of worship thou art. Abide
in this court with my good knights, and I will
so advance thee that thou shalt be well
pleased."

11 God thank thee, lord," said Balin, " for no
man can reward thy bounty and thy nobleness ;
but at this time I must needs depart, praying
thee ever to hold me in thy favour."

" Truly," said King Arthur, " I am grieved for
thy departure ; but tarry not long, and thou shalt
be right welcome to me and all my knights when
thou returnest, and I will repair my neglect and
all that I have done amiss against thee."

" God thank thee, lord," again said Balin,
and made ready to depart.

But meanwhile came into the court a lady upon
horseback, full richly dressed, and saluted King
Arthur, and asked him for the gift that he had
promised her when she gave him his sword
Excalibur, " for," said she, "lam the lady of the
lake."

64 The Legends of King Arthur

" Ask what thou wilt," said the king, " and
thou shalt have it, if I have power to give."

" I ask," said she, " the head of that knight
who hath just achieved the sword, or else the
damsel's head who brought it, or else both ; for
the knight slew my brother, and the lady caused
my father's death."

" Truly," said King Arthur, " I cannot grant
thee this desire ; it were against my nature and
against my name ; but ask whatever else thou
wilt, and I will do it."

" I will demand no other thing," said she.

And as she spake came Balin, on his way to
leave the court, and saw her where she stood, and
knew her straightway for his mother's murderess,
whom he had sought in vain three years. And
when they told him that she had asked King
Arthur for his head, he went up straight to her
and said, " May evil have thee ! Thou desirest
my head, therefore shalt thou lose thine ; " and
with his sword he lightly smote her head off, in
the presence of the king and all the court.

" Alas, for shame ! " cried out King Arthur,
rising up in wrath ; " why hast thou done this,
shaming both me and my court ? I am beholden
greatly to this lady, and under my safe conduct
came she here ; thy deed is passing shameful ;
never shall I forgive thy villainy."

" Lord," cried Sir Balin, " hear me ; this lady
was the falsest living, and by her witchcraft
hath destroyed many, and caused my mother
also to be burnt to death by her false arts and
treachery."

Sir Balin Departs 65

" What cause soever thou mightest have had,"
said the king, " thou shouldst have forborne her
in my presence. Deceive not thyself, thou shalt
repent this sin, for such a shame was never
brought upon my court ; depart now from my
face with all the haste thou mayest."

Then Balin took up the head of the lady and
carried it to his lodgings, and rode forth with his
squire from out the town. Then said he, " Now
must we part ; take ye this head and bear it to
my friends in Northumberland, and tell them how
I speed, and that our worst foe is dead ; also tell
them that I am free from prison, and of the
adventure of my sword."

" Alas ! " said the squire, " ye are greatly to
blame to have so displeased King Arthur."

" As for that," said Sir Balin, " I go now to
find King Ryence and destroy him or lose my
life ; for should I take him prisoner, and lead him
to the court, perchance King Arthur would for-
give me, and become my good and gracious lord."

" Where shall I meet thee again ? " said the
squire.

" In King Arthur's court," said Balin.

CHAPTER V

Sir Balin Smites the Dolorous Stroke, and
Fights with his Brother, Sir Balan

NOW there was a knight at the court more
envious than the others of Sir Balin, for
he counted himself one of the best knights
in Britain. His name was Lancear ; and going
to the king, he begged leave to follow after Sir
Balin and avenge the insult he had put upon the
court. " Do thy best," replied the king, " for I
am passing wroth with Balin."

In the meantime came Merlin, and was told
of this adventure of the sword and lady of the
lake.

" Now hear me," said he, " when I tell ye that
this lady who hath brought the sword is the
falsest damsel living."

" Say not so," they answered, " for she hath
a brother a good knight, who slew another knight
this damsel loved ; so she, to be revenged upon
her brother, went to the Lady Lile, of Avilion,
and besought her help. Then Lady Lile gave her
the sword, and told her that no man should draw
it forth but one, a valiant knight and strong,
who should avenge her on her brother. This,
therefore, was the reason why the damsel came
here."

66

Sir Lancear's Challenge 67

" I know it all as well as ye do," answered
Merlin ; " and would to God she had never come
hither, for never came she into any company
but to do harm ; and that good knight who hath
achieved the sword shall be himself slain by it,
which shall be great harm and loss, for
a better knight there liveth not ; and he
shall do unto my lord the king great honour and
service."

Then Sir Lancear, having armed himself at all
points, mounted, and rode after Sir Balin, as fast
as he could go, and overtaking him, he cried aloud,
" Abide, Sir knight ! Wait yet awhile, or I shall
make thee do so."

Hearing him cry, Sir Balin fiercely turned his
horse, and said, " Fair knight, what wilt thou
with me ? Wilt thou joust ? "

" Yea," said Sir Lancear, " it is for that I have
pursued thee."

" Perad venture," answered Balin, " thou hadst
best have staid at home, for many a man who
thinketh himself already victor, endeth by his own
downfall. Of what court art thou ? "

" Of King Arthur's court," cried Lancear,
" and I am come to revenge the insult thou hast
put on it this day."

11 Well," said Sir Balin, " I see that I must
fight thee, and I repent to be obliged to grieve
King Arthur or his knights ; and thy quarrel
seemeth full foolish to me, for the damsel that is
dead worked endless evils through the land, or
else I had been loath as any knight that liveth to
have slain a lady."

68 .The Legends of King Arthur

" Make thee ready," shouted Lancear, " for
one of us shall rest for ever in this field."

But at their first encounter Sir Lancear 's spear
flew into splinters from Sir Balin's shield, and Sir
Balin's lance pierced with such might through
Sir Lancear 's shield, that it rove the hauberk
also, and passed through the knight's body and
the horse's crupper. And Sir Balin turning
fiercely round again, drew out his sword, and
knew not that he had already slain him ; and
then he saw him lie a corpse upon the ground.

At that same moment came a damsel riding
towards him as fast as her horse could gallop,
who, when she saw Sir Lancear dead, wept and
sorrowed out of measure, crying, " O, Sir Balin,
two bodies hast thou slain, and one heart ; and
two hearts in one body ; and two souls also hast
thou lost."

Therewith she took the sword from her dead
lover's side — for she was Sir Lancear 's lady-love
— and setting the pommel of it on the ground, ran
herself through the body with the blade.

When Sir Balin saw her dead he was sorely
hurt and grieved in spirit, and repented the death
of Lancear, which had also caused so fair a lady's
death. And being unable to look on their bodies
for sorrow, he turned aside into a forest, where
presently as he rode, he saw the arms of his
brother, Sir Balan. And when they were met
they put off their helms, and embraced each other,
kissing, and weeping for joy and pity. Then Sir
Balin told Sir Balan all his late adventures, and
that he was on his way to King Ryence, who at

Sir Balin and Sir Balan 69

that time was besieging Castle Terrabil. " I will
be with thee," answered Sir Balan, " and we will
help each other, as brethren ought to do."

Anon by chance, as they were talking, came
King Mark, of Cornwall, by that way, and when
he saw the two dead bodies of Sir Lancear and
his lady lying there, and heard the story of their
death, he vowed to build a tomb to them before
he left that place. So pitching his pavilion there,
he sought through all the country round to find
a monument, and found at last a rich and fair one
in a church, which he took and raised above the
dead knight and his damsel, writing on it — " Here
lieth Lancear, son of the King of Ireland, who, at
his own request, was slain by Balin ; and here
beside him also lieth his lady Colombe, who slew
herself with her lover's sword for grief and
sorrow."

Then as Sir Balin and Sir Balan rode away,
Merlin met with them, and said to Balin, " Thou
hast done thyself great harm not to have saved
that lady's life who slew herself ; and because of
it, thou shalt strike the most Dolorous Stroke
that ever man struck, save he that smote our
Lord. For thou shalt smite the truest and most
worshipful of living knights, who shall not be
recovered from his wounds for many years, and
through that stroke three kingdoms shall be over-
whelmed in poverty and misery."

" If I believed," said Balin, " what thou sayest,
I would slay myself to make thee a liar."

At that Merlin vanished suddenly away ; but
afterwards he met them in disguise towards night,

F

yo The Legends of King Arthur

and told them he could lead them to King
Ryence, whom they sought. " For this night
he is to ride with sixty lances only through a
wood hard by."

So Sir Balin and Sir Balan hid themselves
within the wood, and at midnight came out from
their ambush among the leaves by the highway,
and waited for the king, whom presently they
heard approaching with his company. Then did
they suddenly leap forth and smote at him and
overthrew him and laid him on the ground, and
turning on his company wounded and slew forty
of them, and put the rest to flight. And return-
ing to King Ryence they would have slain him
there, but he craved mercy, and yielded to their
grace, crying, " Knights full of prowess, slay me
not ; for by my life ye may win something — but
my death can avail ye nought."

" Ye say truth," said the two knights, and put
him in a horse-litter, and went swiftly through
all the night, till at cock-crow they came to King
Arthur's palace. There they delivered him to
the warders and porters, to be brought before the
king, with this message — " That he was sent to
King Arthur by the knight of the two swords
(for so was Balin known by name, since his
adventure with the damsel) and by his brother."
And so they rode away again ere sunrise.

Within a month or two thereafter, King Arthur
being somewhat sick, went forth outside the town,
and had his pavilion pitched in a meadow, and
there abode, and laid him down on a pallet to
sleep, but could get no rest. And as he lay he

The Sullen Knight yi

heard the sound of a great horse, and looking
out of the tent door, saw a knight ride by, making
great lamentation.

" Abide, fair sir," said King Arthur, " and tell
me wherefore thou makest this sorrow."

11 Ye may little amend it," said the knight, and
so passed on.

Presently after Sir Balin rode, by chance, past
that meadow, and when he saw the king he
alighted and came to him on foot, and kneeled
and saluted him.

" By my head," said King Arthur, "ye be
welcome, Sir Balin ; " and then he thanked him
heartily for revenging him upon King Ryence, and
for sending him so speedily a prisoner to his
castle, and told him how King Nero, Ryence 's
brother, had attacked him afterwards to deliver
Ryence from prison ; and how he had defeated
him and slain him, and also King Lot, of Orkney,
who was joined with Nero, and whom King
Pellinore had killed in the battle. Then when
they had thus talked, King Arthur told Sir Balin
of the sullen knight that had just passed his tent,
and desired him to pursue him and to bring him
back.

So Sir Balin rode and overtook the knight in a
forest with a damsel, and said, " Sir knight, thou
must come back with me unto my lord, King
Arthur, to tell him the cause of thy sorrow, which
thou hast refused even now to do."

" That will I not," replied the knight, " for it
would harm me much, and do him no advantage. "

" Sir," said Sir Balin, " I pray thee make ready,

72 The Legends of King Arthur

for thou must needs go with me — or else I must
fight with thee and take thee by force."

" Wilt thou be warrant for safe conduct, if I
go with thee ? " inquired the knight.

" Yea, surely," answered Balin, " I will die
else."

So the knight made ready to go with Sir Balin,
and left the damsel in the wood.

But as they went, there came one invisible, and
smote the knight through the body with a spear.
" Alas," cried Sir Herleus (for so was he named),
" I am slain under thy guard and conduct, by that
traitor knight called Garlon, who through magic
and witchcraft rideth invisibly. Take, therefore,
my horse, which is better than thine, and ride to
the damsel whom we left, and follow the quest
I had in hand, as she will lead thee — and revenge
my death when thou best mayest."

"That will I do," said Sir Balin, "by my
knighthood, and so I swear to thee."

Then went Sir Balin to the damsel, and rode
forth with her ; she carrying ever with her the
truncheon of the spear wherewith Sir Herleus
had been slain. And as they went, a good knight,
Perin de Mountbelgard, joined their company,
and vowed to take adventure with them whereso-
ever they might go. But presently as they passed
a hermitage fast by a churchyard, came the
knight Garlon, again invisible, and smote Sir
Perin through the body with a spear, and slew
him as he had slain Sir Herleus. Whereat, Sir
Balin greatly raged, and swore to have Sir
Garlon 's life, whenever next he might encounter

The Knight Invisible 73

and behold him in his bodily shape. Anon, he
and the hermit buried the good knight Sir Perin,
and rode on with the damsel till they came to a
great castle, whereinto they were about to enter.
But when Sir Balin had passed through the gate-
way, the portcullis fell behind him suddenly,
leaving the damsel on the outer side, with men
around her, drawing their swords as if to slay her.

When he saw that, Sir Balin climbed with eager
haste by wall and tower, and leaped into the
castle moat, and rushed towards the damsel and
her enemies, with his sword drawn, to fight and
slay them. But they cried out, " Put up thy
sword, Sir knight, we will not fight thee in this
quarrel, for we do nothing but an ancient custom
of this castle."

Then they told him that the lady of the castle
was passing sick, and had lain ill for many years,
and might never more be cured, unless she had a
silver dish full of the blood of a pure maid and a
king's daughter. Wherefore the custom of the
castle was, that never should a damsel pass that
way but she must give a dish full of her blood.
Then Sir Balin suffered them to bleed the damsel
with her own consent, but her blood helped not
the lady of the castle. So on the morrow they
departed, after right good cheer and rest.

Then they rode three or four days without
adventure, and came at last to the abode of a
rich man, who sumptuously lodged and fed them.
And while they sat at supper Sir Balin heard a
voice of some one groaning grievously. " What
noise is this ? " said he.

74 The Legends of King Arthur

" Forsooth," said the host, " I will tell you. I
was lately at a tournament, and there I fought a
knight who is brother to King Pelles, and over-
threw him twice, for which he swore to be re-
venged on me through my best friend, and so he
wounded my son, who cannot be recovered till I
have that knight's blood, but he rideth through
witchcraft always invisibly, and I know not his
name."

11 Ah," said Sir Balin, " but I know him ; his
name is Garlon, and he hath slain two knights,
companions of mine own, in the same fashion,
and I would rather than all the riches in this
realm that I might meet him face to face."

" Well," said his host, " let me now tell thee
that King Pelles hath proclaimed in all the
country a great festival, to be held at Listeniss, in
twenty days from now, whereto no knight may
come without a lady. At that great feast we
might perchance find out this Garlon, for many
will be there ; and if it please thee we will set
forth together."

So on the morrow they rode all three towards
Listeniss, and travelled fifteen days, and reached
it on the day the feast began. Then they alighted
and stabled their horses, and went up to the
castle, and Sir Balin 's host was denied entrance,
having no lady with him. But Sir Balin was
right heartily received, and taken to a chamber,
where they unarmed him, and dressed him in
rich robes, of any colour that he chose, and told
him he must lay aside his sword. This, however,
he refused, and said, " It is the custom of my

Sir Balin Meets the Invisible Knight 75

country for a knight to keep his sword ever with
him ; and if I may not keep it here, I will forth-
with depart." Then they gave him leave to wear
his sword. So he went to the great hall, and was
set among knights of rank and worship, and his
lady before him.

Soon he found means to ask one who sat near
him, " Is there not here a knight whose name is
Garlon ? "

" Yonder he goeth," said his neighbour, " he
with that black face ; he is the most marvellous
knight alive, for he rideth invisibly, and de-
stroy eth whom he will."

" Ah, well," said Balin, drawing a long breath,
11 is that indeed the man ? I have aforetime
heard of him."

Then he mused long within himself, and
thought, " If I shall slay him here and now, I shall
not escape myself ; but if I leave him, peradven-
ture I shall never meet with him again at such
advantage ; and if he live, how much more
harm and mischief will he do ! "

But while he deeply thought, and cast his eyes
from time to time upon Sir Garlon, that false
knight saw that he watched him, and thinking
that he could at such a time escape revenge, he
came and smote Sir Balin on the face with the
back of his hand, and said, " Knight, why dost
thou so watch me ? Be ashamed, and eat thy
meat, and do that which thou earnest for."

11 Thou say est well," cried Sir Balin, rising
fiercely ; " now will I straightway do that which
I came to do, as thou shalt find." With that he

76 The Legends of King Arthur

whirled his sword aloft and struck him downright
on the head, and clove his skull asunder to the
shoulder.

" Give me the truncheon," cried out Sir Balin
to his lady, "wherewith he slew thy knight."
And when she gave it him — for she had always
carried it about with her, wherever she had gone —
he smote him through the body with it, and said,
" With that truncheon didst thou treacherously
murder a good knight, and now it sticketh in thy
felon body."

Then he called to the father of the wounded son,
who had come with him to Listeniss, and said,
" Now take as much blood as thou wilt, to heal
thy son withal."

But now arose a terrible confusion, and all the
knights leaped from the table to slay Balin, King
Pelles himself the foremost, who cried out,
" Knight, thou hast slain my brother at my
board ; die, therefore, die, for thou shalt never
leave the castle."

" Slay me, thyself, then," shouted Balin.

" Yea," said the king, " that will I ! For no
other man shall touch thee, for the love I bear
my brother."

Then King Pelles caught in his hand a grim
weapon and smote eagerly at Balin, but Balin
put his sword between his head and the king's
stroke, and saved himself but lost his sword,
which fell down smashed and shivered into pieces
by the blow. So being weaponless he ran to the
next room to find a sword, and so from room to
room, with King Pelles after him, he in vain

The Dolorous Stroke yy

ever eagerly casting his eyes round every place
to find some weapon.

At last he ran into a chamber wondrous richly
decked, where was a bed all dressed with cloth of
gold, the richest that could be thought of, and one
who lay quite still within the bed ; and by the
bedside stood a table of pure gold, borne on four
silver pillars, and on the table stood a marvellous
spear, strangely wrought.

When Sir Balin saw the spear he seized it in
his hand, and turned upon King Pelles, and smote
at him so fiercely and so sore that he dropped
swooning to the ground.

But at that Dolorous and awful Stroke the
castle rocked and rove throughout, and all the
walls fell crashed and breaking to the earth, and
Balin himself fell also in their midst, struck as it
were to stone, and powerless to move a hand or
foot. And so three days he lay amidst the ruins,
until Merlin came and raised him up and brought
him a good horse, and bade him ride out of that
land as swiftly as he could.

" May I not take the damsel with me I brought
hither ? " said Sir Balin.

" Lo ! where she lieth dead," said Merlin.
" Ah, little knowest thou, Sir Balin, what thou
hast done ; for in this castle and that chamber
which thou didst defile, was the blood of our Lord
Christ, and also that most holy cup — the
Sangreal — wherefrom the wine was drunk at the
Last Supper of our Lord. Joseph of Arimathea
brought it to this land, when first he came here
to convert and save it. And on that bed of gold

yS The Legends of King Arthur

it was himself who lay, and the strange spear
beside him was the spear wherewith the soldier
Longus smote our Lord, which evermore had
dripped with blood. King Pelles is the nearest
kin to Joseph in direct descent, wherefore he held
these holy things in trust ; but now have they
all gone at thy Dolorous Stroke, no man knoweth
whither ; and great is the damage to this land,
which until now hath been the happiest of all
lands, for by that stroke thou hast slain thousands
and by the loss and parting of the Sangreal, the
safety of this realm is put in peril, and its great
happiness is gone for evermore."

Then Balin departed from Merlin, struck to his
soul with grief and sorrow, and said, " In this
world shall we meet never more."

So he rode forth through the fair cities and the
country, and found the people lying dead on
every side. And all the living cried out to him
as he passed, " O Balin, all this misery hast thou
done ! For the Dolorous Stroke thou gavest
King Pelles, three countries are destroyed, and
doubt not but revenge will fall on thee at last 1 "

When he passed the boundary of those coun-
tries, he was somewhat comforted, and rode eight
days without adventure. Anon he came to a
cross, whereon was written in letters of gold,
" It is not for a knight alone to ride towards this
castle." Looking up, he saw a hoary ancient
man come towards him, who said, " Sir Balin le
Savage, thou passeth thy bounds this way ;
therefore turn back again, it will be best for
thee ;" and with these words he vanished.

Sir Balin and Sir Balan 79

Then did he hear a horn blow as it were the
deathnote of some hunted beast. " That blast,"
said Balin, " is blown for me, for I am the prey ;
though yet I be not dead." But as he spoke he
saw a hundred ladies with a great troop of knights
come forth to meet him, with bright faces and
great welcome, who led him to the castle and made
a great feast, with dancing and minstrelsy and all
manner of joy.

Then the chief lady of the castle said, " Knight
with the two swords, thou must encounter and
fight with a knight hard by, who dwelleth on an
island, for no man may pass this way without
encountering him."

" It is a grievous custom," answered Sir Balin.

" There is but one knight to defeat," replied
the lady.

11 Well," said Sir Balin, " be it as thou wilt. I
am ready and quite willing, and though my horse
and my body be full weary, yet is my heart not
weary, save of life. And truly I were glad if I
might meet my death."

" Sir," said one standing by, " methinketh
your shield is not good ; I will lend you a bigger."

" I thank thee, sir," said Balin, and took the
unknown shield and left his own, and so rode
forth, and put himself and horse into a boat and
came to the island.

As soon as he had landed, he saw come riding
towards him, a knight dressed all in red, upon a
horse trapped in the same colour. When the
red knight saw Sir Balin, and the two swords he
wore, he thought it must have been his brother

80 The Legends of King Arthur

(for the red knight was Sir Balan), but when he
saw the strange arms on his shield, he forgot the
thought, and came against him fiercely. At the
first course they overthrew each other, and both
lay swooning on the ground ; but Sir Balin was
the most hurt and bruised, for he was weary and
spent for travelling. So Sir Balan rose up first
to his feet and drew his sword, and Sir Balin
painfully rose against him and raised his shield.
Then Sir Balan smote him through the shield
and brake his helmet ; and Sir Balin, in return,
smote at him with his fated sword, and had well-
nigh slain his brother. And so they fought till
their breaths failed.

Then Sir Balin, looking up, saw all the castle
towers stand full of ladies. So they went again
to battle, and wounded each other full sore, and
paused, and breathed again, and then again
began the fight ; and this for many times they
did, till all the ground was red with blood. And
by now, each had full grievously wounded the
other with seven great wounds, the least of which
might have destroyed the mightiest giant in the
world. But still they rose against each other,
although their hauberks now were all unnailed,
and they smiting at each other's naked bodies,
with their sharp swords. At the last, Sir Balan,
the younger brother, withdrew a little space and
laid him down.

Then said Sir Balin le Savage, " What knight
art thou ? For never before have I found a knight
to match me thus."

" My name," said he, all faintly, " is

Sir Balin and Sir Balan 81

Balan, brother to the good knight Sir
Balin."

11 Ah, God ! " cried Balin, " that ever I should
see this day ! " and therewith fell down back-
wards in a swoon.

Then Sir Balan crept with pain upon his feet
and hands, and put his brother's helmet off his
head, but could not know him by his face, it was
so hewed and bloody. But presently, when Sir
Balin came to, he said, " Oh ! Balan, mine own
brother, thou hast slain me, and I thee ! All the
wide world saw never greater grief ! "

" Alas ! " said Sir Balan, " that I ever saw
this day ; and through mishap alone I knew thee
not, for when I saw thy two swords, if it had not
been for thy strange shield, I should have known
thee for my brother."

11 Alas ! " said Balin, " all this sorrow lieth at
the door of one unhappy knight within the castle,
who made me change my shield. If I might
live, I would destroy that castle and its evil
customs."

" It were well done," said Balan, " for since I
first came hither I have never been able to depart,
for here they made me fight with one who kept
this island, whom I slew, and by enchantment I
might never quit it more ; nor couldst thou,
brother, hadst thou slain me, and escaped with
thine own life."

Anon came the lady of the castle, and when she
heard their talk, and saw their evil case, she
wrung her hands and wept bitterly. So Sir
Balan prayed the lady of her gentleness that, for

82 The Legends of King Arthur

ljis true service, she would bury them both to-
gether in that place. This she granted, weeping
full sore, and said it should be done right solemnly
and richly, and in the noblest manner possible.
Then did they send for a priest, and received the
holy sacrament at his hands. And Balin said,
" Write over us upon our tomb, that here two
brethren slew each other ; then shall never good
knight or pilgrim pass this way but he will pray
for both our souls." And anon Sir Balan died,
but Sir Balin died not till the midnight after ;
and then they both were buried.

On the morrow of their death came Merlin,
and took Sir Balin 's sword and fixed on it a new
pommel, and set it in a mighty stone, which then,
by magic, he made float upon the water. And
so, for many years, it floated to and fro around
the island, till it swam down the river to Camelot,
where young Sir Galahad achieved it, as shall
be told hereafter.

CHAPTER VI

The Marriage of King Arthur and Queen
Guinevere, and the Founding of the Round
Table — The Adventure of the Hart
and Hound

IT befell upon a certain day, that King Arthur
said to Merlin, " My lords and knights do
daily pray me now to take a wife ; but I will
have none without thy counsel, for thou hast ever
helped me since I came first to this crown."

" It is well," said Merlin, " that thou shouldst
take a wife, for no man of bounteous and noble
nature should live without one ; but is there any
lady whom thou lovest better than another ? "

" Yea," said King Arthur, " I love Guinevere,
the daughter of King Leodegrance, of Camelgard,
who also holdeth in his house the Round Table
that he had from my father Uther ; and as I
think, that damsel is the gentlest and the fairest
lady living."

11 Sir," answered Merlin, " as for her beauty,
she is one of the fairest that do live ; but if ye
had not loved her as ye do, I would fain have had
ye choose some other who was both fair and good.
But where a man's heart is set, he will be loath
to leave." This Merlin said, knowing the misery
that should hereafter happen from this marriage.

83

84 The Legends of King Arthur

Then King Arthur sent word to King Leode-
grance that he mightily desired to wed his
daughter, and how that he had loved her since he
saw her first, when with Kings Ban and Bors he
rescued Leodegrance from King Ryence of North
Wales.

When King Leodegrance heard the message,
he cried out, " These be the best tidings I have
heard in all my life — so great and worshipful a
prince to seek my daughter for his wife ! I would
fain give him half my lands with her straightway,
but that he needeth none — and better will it
please him that I send him the Round Table of
King Uther, his father, with a hundred good
knights towards the furnishing of it with guests,
for he will soon find means to gather more, and
make the table full."

Then King Leodegrance delivered his daughter
Guinevere to the messengers of King Arthur, and
also the Round Table with the hundred knights.

So they rode royally and freshly, sometimes by
water and sometimes by land, towards Camelot.
And as they rode along in the spring weather,
they made full many sports and pastimes. And,
in all those sports and games, a young knight
lately come to Arthur's court, Sir Lancelot by
name, was passing strong, and won praise from
all, being full of grace and hardihood ; and
Guinevere also ever looked on him with joy.
And always in the eventide, when the tents were
set beside some stream or forest, many minstrels
came and sang before the knights and ladies as
they sat in the tent-doors, and many knights

A Fateful Journey 85

would tell adventures ; and still Sir Lancelot was
foremost, and told the knightliest tales, and sang
the goodliest songs, of all the company.

And when they came to Camelot, King Arthur
made great joy, and all the city with him ; and
riding forth with a great retinue he met Guinevere
and her company, and led her through the streets
all filled with people, and in the midst of all their
shoutings and the ringing of church bells, to a
palace hard by his own.

Then, in all haste, the king commanded to pre-
pare the marriage and the coronation with the
stateliest and most honourable pomp that could
be made. And when the day was come, the arch-
bishops led the king to the cathedral, whereto
he walked, clad in his royal robes, and having
four kings, bearing four golden swords, before
him ; a choir of passing sweet music going also
with him.

In another part was the queen dressed in her
richest ornaments, and led by archbishops and
bishops to the Chapel of the Virgins, the four
queens also of the four kings last mentioned
walked before her, bearing four white doves,
according to ancient custom ; and after her
there followed many damsels, singing and
making every sign of joy.

And when the two processions were come to the
churches, so wondrous was the music and the
singing, that all the knights and barons who were
there pressed on each other, as in the crowd of
battle, to hear and see the most they might.

When the king was crowned, he called together

G

86 The Legends of King Arthur

all the knights that came with the Round Table
from Camelgard, and twenty-eight others, great
and valiant men, chosen by Merlin out of all the
realm, towards making up the full number of the
table. Then the Archbishop of Canterbury
blessed the seats of all the knights, and when they
rose again therefrom to pay their homage to
King Arthur, there was found upon the back of
each knight's seat his name, written in letters of
gold. But upon one seat was found written,
" This is the Siege Perilous, wherein if any man
shall sit save him whom Heaven hath chosen, he
shall be devoured by fire."

Anon came young Gawain, the king's nephew,
praying to be made a knight, whom the king
knighted then and there. Soon after came a poor
man, leading with him a tall fair lad of eighteen
years of age, riding on a lean mare. And falling
at the king's feet, the poor man said, " Lord, it
was told me, that at this time of thy marriage
thou wouldst give to any man the gift he asked
for, so it were not unreasonable."

" That is the truth," replied King Arthur,
" and I will make it good."

" Thou sayest graciously and nobly," said the
poor man. " Lord, I ask nothing else but that
thou wilt make my son here a knight."

" It is a great thing that thou askest," said the
king. " What is thy name ? "

" Aries, the cowherd," answered he.

" Cometh this prayer from thee or from thy
son ? " inquired King Arthur.

" Nay, lord, not from myself," said he, " but

A Strange Request 87

from him only, for I have thirteen other sons, and
all of them will fall to any labour that I put them
to. But this one will do no such work for any-
thing that I or my wife may do, but is for ever
shooting or fighting, and running to see knights
and joustings, and torments me both night and
day that he be made a knight."

" What is thy name ? " said the king to the
young man.

" My name is Tor," said he.

Then the king, looking at him steadfastly, was
well pleased with his face and figure, and with his
look of nobleness and strength.

" Fetch all thy other sons before me," said the
king to Aries. But when he brought them, none
of them resembled Tor in size or shape or feature.

Then the king knighted Tor, saying, " Be thou
to thy life's end a good knight and a true, as I
pray God thou mayest be ; and if thou provest
worthy, and of prowess, one day thou shalt be
counted in the Round Table." Then turning to
Merlin, Arthur said, " Prophesy now, O Merlin,
shall Sir Tor become a worthy knight, or not ? "

" Yea, lord," said Merlin, " so he ought to be,
for he is the son of that King Pellinore whom thou
hast met, and proved to be one of the best knights
living. He is no cowherd's son."

Presently after came in King Pellinore, and
when he saw Sir Tor he knew him for his son, and
was more pleased than words can tell to find him
knighted by the king. And Pellinore did homage
to King Arthur, and was gladly and graciously
accepted of the king ; and then was led by Merlin

88 The Legends of King Arthur

to a high seat at the Table Round, near to the
Perilous Seat.

But Sir Gawain was full of anger at the honour
done to King Pellinore, and said to his brother
Gaheris, " He slew our father, King Lot, there-
fore will I slay him."

" Do it not yet," said he ; " wait till I also be a
knight, then will I help ye in it : it is best ye
suffer him to go at this time, and not trouble this
high feast with bloodshed."

" As ye will, be it," said Sir Gawain.

Then rose the king and spake to all the Table
Round, and charged them to be ever true and
noble knights, to do neither outrage nor murder,
nor any unjust violence, and always to flee
treason ; also by no means ever to be cruel, but
give mercy unto him that ask-^d for mercy, upon
pain of forfeiting the liberty of his court for ever-
more. Moreover, at all times, on pain of death,
to give all succour unto ladies and young damsels ;
and lastly, never to take part in any wrongful
quarrel, for reward or payment. And to all this
he swore them knight by knight.

Then he ordained that, every year at Pentecost,
they should all come before him, wheresoever he
might appoint a place, and give account of all
their doings and adventures of the past twelve-
month. And so, with prayer and blessing, and
high words of cheer, he instituted the most noble
order of the Round Table, whereto the best and
bravest knights in all the world sought after-
wards to find admission.

Then was the high feast made ready, and the

The White Hart 89

king and queen sat side by side, before the whole
assembly ; and great and royal was the banquet
and the pomp.

And as they sat, each man in his place, Merlin
went round and said, " Sit still awhile, for ye shall
see a strange and marvellous adventure."

So as they sat, there suddenly came running
through the hall, a white hart, with a white hound
next after him, and thirty couple of black running
hounds, making full cry ; and the hart made
circuit of the Table Round, and past the other
tables ; and suddenly the white hound flew upon
him and bit him fiercely, and tore out a piece
from his haunch. Whereat the hart sprang
suddenly with a great leap, and overthrew a
knight sitting at the table, who rose forthwith,
and, taking up the hound, mounted, and rode
fast away.

But no sooner had he left, than there came in a
lady, mounted on a white palfrey, who cried out
to the king, " Lord, suffer me not to have this
injury ! — the hound is mine which that knight
taketh." And as she spake, a knight rode in all
armed, on a great horse, and suddenly took up
the lady and rode away with her by force, al-
though she greatly cried and moaned.

Then the king desired Sir Gawain, Sir Tor, and
King Pellinore to mount and follow this ad-
venture to the uttermost ; and told Sir Gawain
to bring back the hart, Sir Tor the hound and
knight, and King Pellinore the knight and the
lady.

So Sir Gawain rode forth at a swift pace, and

90 The Legends of King Arthur

with him Gaheris, his brother, for a squire. And
as they went, they saw two knights fighting on
horseback, and when they reached them they
divided them and asked the reason of their
quarrel. " We fight for a foolish matter," one
replied, " for we be brethren ; but there came by
a white hart this way, chased by many hounds,
and thinking it was an adventure for the high
feast of King Arthur, I would have followed it
to have gained worship ; whereat my younger
brother here declared he was the better knight
and would go after it instead, and so we fight to
prove which of us be the better knight."

" This is a foolish thing," said Sir Gawain.
" Fight with all strangers, if ye will, but not
brother with brother. Take my advice, set on
against me, and if ye yield to me, as I shall do my
best to make ye, ye shall go to King Arthur and
yield ye to his grace."

" Sir knight," replied the brothers, " we are
weary, and will do thy wish without encountering
thee ; but by whom shall we tell the king that
we were sent ? "

" By the knight that folio weth the quest of the
white hart," said Sir Gawain. " And now tell
me your names, and let us part."

" Sorlous and Brian of the Forest," they re-
plied ; and so they went their way to the king's
court.

Then Sir Gawain, still following his quest by
the distant baying of the hounds, came to a great
river, and saw the hart swimming over and near
to the further bank. And as he was about to

The Quest of the White Hart 91

plunge in and swim after, he saw a knight upon
the other side, who cried, " Come not over here,
Sir knight, after that hart, save thou wilt joust
with me."

" I will not fail for that," said Sir Gawain ; and
swam his horse across the stream.

Anon they got their spears, and ran against
each other fiercely ; and Sir Gawain smote the
stranger off his horse, and turning, bade him
yield.

" Nay," replied he, " not so ; for though ye
have the better of me on horseback, I pray thee,
valiant knight, alight, and let us match together
with our swords on foot."

" What is thy name ? " quoth Gawain.

" Allardin of the Isles," replied the stranger.

Then they fell on each other ; but soon Sir
Gawain struck him through the helm, so deeply
and so hard, that all his brains were scattered,
and Sir Allardin fell dead. " Ah," said Gaheris,
" that was a mighty stroke for a young knight ! "

Then did they run again to follow the white
hart, and let slip three couple of greyhounds
after him ; and at the last they chased him to a
castle, and there they overtook and slew him, in
the chief courtyard.

At that there rushed a knight forth from a
chamber, with a drawn sword in his hand, and
slew two of the hounds before their eyes, and
chased the others from the castle, crying " Oh,
my white hart ! Alas, that thou art dead ! For
thee my sovereign lady gave to me, and evil have
I kept thee ; but if I live, thy death shall be dear

92 The Legends of King Arthur

bought." Anon he went within and armed, and
came out fiercely, and met Sir Gawain face to
face.

" Why have ye slain my hounds ? " said Sir
Gawain ; " they did but after their nature : and
ye had better have taken vengeance on me than
on the poor dumb beasts."

" I will avenge me on thee, also," said the other,
" ere thou depart this place."

Then did they fight with each other savagely
and madly, till the blood ran down to their feet.
But at last Sir Gawain had the better, and felled
the knight of the castle to the ground. Then he
cried out for mercy, and yielded to Sir Gawain,
and besought him as he was a knight and gentle-
man to save his life. " Thou shalt die," said Sir
Gawain, " for slaying my hounds."

" I will make thee all amends within my
power," replied the knight.

But Sir Gawain would have no mercy, and un-
laced his helm to strike his head off ; and so
blind was he with rage, that he saw not where a
lady ran out from her chamber and fell down
upon his enemy. And making a fierce blow at
him, he smote off by mischance the lady's
head.

" Alas ! " cried Gaheris, " foully and shame-
fully have ye done — the shame shall never leave
ye ! Why give ye not your mercy unto them that
ask it ? A knight without mercy is without
worship also."

Then Sir Gawain was sore amazed at that fair
lady's death, and knew not what to do, and said

Athmore of the Marsh 93

to the fallen knight, " Arise, for I will give thee
mercy."

" Nay, nay," said he, " I care not for thy mercy
now, for thou hast slain my lady and my love —
that of all earthly things I loved the best."

" I repent me sorely of it," said Sir Gawain,
" for I meant to have struck thee : but now shalt
thou go to King Arthur and tell him this adven-
ture, and how thou hast been overcome by the
knight that followeth the quest of the white hart."

" I care not whether I live or die, or where I
go," replied the knight.

So Sir Gawain sent him to the court toCamelot,
making him bear one dead greyhound before and
one behind him on his horse. " Tell me thy
name before we part," said he.

" My name is Athmore of the Marsh," he
answered.

Then went Sir Gawain into the castle, and pre-
pared to sleep there and began to unarm ; but
Gaheris upbraided him, saying, " Will ye disarm
in this strange country ? Bethink ye, ye must
needs have many enemies about."

No sooner had he spoken than there came out
suddenly four knights, well armed, and assailed
them hard, saying to Sir Gawain, " Thou new-
made knight, how hast thou shamed thy knight-
hood 1 A knight without mercy is dishonoured !
Slayer of fair ladies, shame to thee evermore !
Doubt not thou shalt thyself have need of mercy
ere we leave thee."

Then were the brothers in great jeopardy, and
feared for their lives, for they were but two to

94 The Legends of King Arthur

four, and weary with travelling ; and one of the
four knights shot Sir Gawain with a bolt, and hit
him through the arm, so that he could fight no
more. But when there was nothing left for them
but death, there came four ladies forth and
prayed the four knights' mercy for the strangers.
So they gave Sir Gawain and Gaheris their lives,
and made them yield themselves prisoners.

On the morrow, came one of the ladies to Sir
Gawain, and talked with him, saying, " Sir
knight, what cheer? "

" Not good," said he.

" It is your own default, sir," said the lady,
" for ye have done a passing foul deed in slaying
that fair damsel yesterday — and ever shall it be
great shame to you. But ye be not of King
Arthur's kin."

" Yea, truly am I," said he ; " my name is
Gawain, son of King Lot of Orkney, whom King
Pellinore slew — and my mother, Belisent, is half-
sister to the king."

When the lady heard that, she went and pres-
ently got leave for him to quit the castle ; and they
gave him the head of the white hart to take with
him, because it was in his quest ; but made him
also carry the dead lady with him — her head hung
round his neck and her body lay before him on
his horse's neck.

So in that fashion he rode back to Camelot ;
and when the king and queen saw him and heard
tell of his adventures, they were heavily dis-
pleased, and, by the order of the queen, he was
put upon his trial before a court of ladies — who

Sir Tor and the Dwarf 95

judged him to be evermore, for all his life, the
knight of ladies' quarrels, and to fight always on
their side, and never against any, except he
fought for one lady and his adversary for another ;
also they charged him never to refuse mercy to
him that asked it, and swore him to it on the
Holy Gospels. Thus ended the adventure of the
white hart.

Meanwhile, Sir Tor had made him ready, and
followed the knight who rode away with the
hound. And as he went, there suddenly met
him in the road a dwarf, who struck his horse so
viciously upon the head with a great staff, that
he leaped backwards a spear's length.

" Wherefore so smitest thou my horse, foul
dwarf ? " shouted Sir Tor.

11 Because thou shalt not pass this way," re-
plied the dwarf, " unless thou fight for it with
yonder knights in those pavilions," pointing
to two tents, where two great spears stood
out, and two shields hung upon two trees hard
by.

" I may not tarry, for I am on a quest I needs
must follow," said Sir Tor.

" Thou shalt not pass," replied the dwarf, and
therewith blew his horn. Then rode out quickly
at Sir Tor one armed on horseback, but Sir Tor
was quick as he, and riding at him bore him from
his horse, and made him yield. Directly after
came another still more fiercely, but with a few
great strokes and buffets Sir Tor unhorsed him
also, and sent them both to Camelot to King
Arthur. Then came the dwarf and begged Sir

96 The Legends of King Arthur

Tor to take him in his service, " for," said he,
" I will serve no more recreant knights."

" Take then a horse, and come with me," said
Tor.

" Ride ye after the knight with the white
hound ? " said the dwarf. " I can soon bring
ye where he is."

So they rode through the forest till they came
to two more tents. And Sir Tor alighting, went
into the first, and saw three damsels lie there,
sleeping. Then went he to the other, and found
another lady also sleeping, and at her feet the
white hound he sought for, which instantly began
to bay and bark so loudly, that the lady woke.
But Sir Tor had seized the hound and given it to
the dwarf's charge.

11 What will ye do, Sir knight ? " cried out the
lady ; " will ye take away my hound from me by
force ? "

" Yea, lady," said Sir Tor ; " for so I must,
having the king's command ; and I have followed
it from King Arthur's court, at Camelot, to this
place."

" Well," said the lady, " ye will not go far
before ye be ill handled, and will repent ye of the
quest."

" I shall cheerfully abide whatsoever adventure
cometh, by the grace of God," said Sir Tor ; and
so mounted his horse and began to ride back on
his way. But night coming on, he turned aside
to a hermitage that was in the forest, and there
abode till the next day, making but sorrowful
cheer of such poor food as the hermit had to

Abellius, the False Knight 97

give him, and hearing a Mass devoutly before he
left on the morrow.

And in the early morning, as he rode forth with
the dwarf towards Camelot, he heard a knight
call loudly after him, " Turn, turn ! Abide, Sir
knight, and yield me up the hound thou tookest
from my lady." At which he turned, and saw a
great and strong knight, armed full splendidly,
riding down upon him fiercely through a glade
of the forest.

Now Sir Tor was very ill provided, for he had
but an old courser, which was as weak as himself,
because of the hermit's scanty fare. He waited,
nevertheless, for the strange knight to come, and
at the first onset with their spears, each unhorsed
the other, and then fell to with their swords like
two mad lions. Then did they smite through
one another's shields and helmets till the frag-
ments flew on all sides, and their blood ran out
in streams ; but yet they carved and rove
through the thick armour of the hauberks, and
gave each other great and ghastly wounds. But
in the end, Sir Tor, finding the strange knight
faint, doubled his strokes until he beat him to the
earth. Then did he bid him yield to his mercy.

" That will I not," replied Abellius, " while my
life lasteth and my soul is in my body, unless thou
give me first the hound."

" I cannot," said Sir Tor, " and will not, for it
was my quest to bring again that hound and thee
unto King Arthur, or otherwise to slay thee."

With that there came a damsel riding on a
palfrey, as fast as she could drive, and cried out

98 The Legends of King Arthur

to Sir Tor with a loud voice, " I pray thee, for
King Arthur's love, give me a gift."

" Ask," said Sir Tor, " and I will give thee."
" Grammercy," said the lady, " I ask the head
of this false knight Abellius, the most out-
rageous murderer that liveth."

" I repent me of the gift I promised," said Sir
Tor. " Let him make thee amends for all his
trespasses against thee."

" He cannot make amends," replied the
damsel, " for he hath slain my brother, a far
better knight than he, and scorned to give him
mercy, though I kneeled for half an hour before
him in the mire, to beg it, and though it was but
by a chance they fought, and for no former injury
or quarrel. I require my gift of thee as a true
knight, or else will I shame thee in King Arthur's
court ; for this Abellius is the falsest knight alive,
and a murderer of many."

When Abellius heard this, he trembled greatly,
and was sore afraid, and yielded to Sir Tor, and
prayed his mercy.

" I cannot now, Sir knight," said he, " lest I
be false to my promise. Ye would not take my
mercy when I offered it ; and now it is too late."

Therewith he unlaced his helmet, and took it
off ; but Abellius, in dismal fear, struggled to his
feet, and fled, until Sir Tor overtook him, and
smote off his head entirely with one blow.

" Now, sir," said the damsel, " it is near night.
I pray ye come and lodge at my castle hard
by."

" I will, with a good will," said he, for both his

King Pellinore's Quest 99

horse and he had fared but poorly since they left
Camelot.

So he went to the lady's castle and fared sump-
tuously, and saw her husband, an old knight, who
greatly thanked him for his service, and urged
him oftentimes to come again.

On the morrow he departed, and reached Came-
lot by noon, where the king and queen rejoiced
to see him, and the king made him Earl ; and
Merlin prophesied that these adventures were
but little to the things he should achieve hereafter.

Now while Sir Gawain and Sir Tor had fulfilled
their quests, King Pellinore pursued the lady
whom the knight had seized away from the
wedding-feast. And as he rode through the
woods, he saw in a valley a fair young damsel
sitting by a well-side, and a wounded knight
lying in her arms, and King Pellinore saluted her
as he passed by.

As soon as she perceived him she cried out,
" Help, help me, knight, for our Lord's sake 1 "
But Pellinore was far too eager in his quest to
stay or turn, although she cried a hundred times
to him for help ; at which she prayed to heaven
he might have such sore need before he died as
she had now. And presently thereafter her
knight died in her arms ; and she, for grief and
love, slew herself with his sword.

But King Pellinore rode on till he met a poor
man, and asked him had he seen a knight pass
by that way, leading by force a lady with him.

" Yea, surely," said the man, " and greatly
did she moan and cry ; but even now another

ioo The Legends of King Arthur

knight is fighting with him to deliver the lady ;
ride on and thou shalt find them fighting still."

At that King Pellinore rode swiftly on, and
came to where he saw the two knights fighting,
hard by where two pavilions stood. And when
he looked in one of them, he saw the lady that
was his quest, and with her the two squires of
the two knights who fought.

" Fair lady," said he, " ye must come with me
unto King Arthur's court."

" Sir knight," said the two squires, " yonder be
two knights fighting for this lady ; go part them,
and get their consent to take her, ere thou touch
her."

" Ye say well," said King Pellinore, and rode
between the combatants, and asked them why
they fought.

" Sir knight," said the one, " yon lady is my
cousin, mine aunt's daughter whom I met borne
away against her will, by this knight here, with
whom I therefore fight to free her."

" Sir knight," replied the other, whose name
was Hantzlake of Wentland, " this lady got I,
by my arms and prowess, at King Arthur's court
to-day."

11 That is false," said King Pellinore ; "ye
stole the lady suddenly, and fled away with her,
before any knight could arm to stay thee. But it
is my service to take her back again. Neither
of ye shall therefore have her ; but if ye will
fight for her, fight with me now and here."

11 Well," said the knights, " make ready, and
we will assail thee with all our might."

The Two Knights 101

Then Sir Hantzlake ran King Pellinore's horse
through with his sword, so that they might be all
alike on foot. But King Pellinore at that was
passing wroth, and ran upon Sir Hantzlake, with
a cry, " Keep well thy head ! " and gave him
such a stroke upon the helm as clove him to the
chin, so that he fell dead to the ground. When
he saw that, the other knight refused to fight,
and kneeling down, said, " Take my cousin the
lady with thee, as thy quest is ; but as thou art a
true knight, suffer her to come to neither shame
nor harm."

So the next day King Pellinore departed for
Camelot, and took the lady with him ; and as they
rode in a valley full of rough stones, the damsel's
horse stumbled and threw her, so that her arms
were sorely bruised and hurt. And as they rested
in the forest for the pain to lessen, night came on,
and there they were compelled to make their
lodging. A little before midnight they heard the
trotting of a horse. "Be ye still," said King
Pellinore, " for now we may hear of some ad-
venture," and therewith he armed him.
Then he heard two knights meet and salute each
other, in the dark ; one riding from Camelot,
the other from the north.

" What tidings at Camelot ? " said one.

" By my head," said the other, " I have but
just left there, and have espied King Arthur's
court, and such a fellowship is there as never may
be broke or overcome ; for wellnigh all the
chivalry of the world is there, and all full loyal
to the king, and now I ride back homewards to

H

102 The Legends of King Arthur

the north to tell our chiefs, that they waste not
their strength in wars against him."

" As for all that," replied the other knight, " I
am but now from the north, and bear with me a
remedy, the deadliest poison that ever was heard
tell of, and to Camelot will I with it ; for there
we have a friend close to the king, and greatly
cherished of him, who hath received gifts from
us to poison him, as he hath promised soon to do."

" Beware," said the first knight, " of Merlin,
for he knoweth all things, by the devil's craft."

" I will not fear for that," replied the other,
and so rode on his way.

Anon King Pellinore and the lady passed on
again ; and when they came to the well at which
the lady with the wounded knight had sat, they
found both knight and damsel utterly devoured
by lions and wild beasts, all save the lady's head.

When King Pellinore saw that, he wept
bitterly, saying, " Alas ! I might have saved her
life had I but tarried a few moments in my
quest."

" Wherefore make so much sorrow now ? "
said the lady.

" I know not," answered he, " but my heart
grieveth greatly for this poor lady's death, so fair
she was and young."

Then he required a hermit to bury the remains
of the bodies, and bare the lady's head with him
to Camelot, to the court.

When he was arrived, he was sworn to tell the
truth of his quest before the king and queen, and
when he had entered the queen somewhat

Merlin Saves King Arthur 103

upbraided him, saying, " Ye were much to blame
that ye saved not that lady's life."

11 Madam," said he, " I shall repent it all my
life."

11 Ay, king," quoth Merlin, who suddenly came
in, " and so ye ought to do, for that lady was your
daughter, not seen since infancy by thee. And
she was on her way to court, with a right good
young knight, who would have been her husband,
but was slain by treachery of a felon knight,
Lorraine le Savage, as they came ; and because
thou wouldst not abide and help her, thy best
friend shall fail thee in thine hour of greatest
need, for such is the penance ordained thee for
that deed."

Then did King Pellinore tell Merlin secretly of
the treason he had heard in the forest, and Merlin
by his craft so ordered that the knight who bare
the poison was himself soon after slain by it, and
so King Arthur's life was saved.

CHAPTER VII
King Arthur and Sir Accolon of Gaul

BEING now happily married, King Arthur
for a season took his pleasure, with great
tournaments, and jousts, and huntings.
So once upon a time the king and many of his
knights rode hunting in a forest, and Arthur,
King Urience, and Sir Accolon of Gaul, followed
after a great hart, and being all three well
mounted, they chased so fast that they outsped
their company, and left them many miles behind ;
but riding still as rapidly as they could go, at
length their horses fell dead under them. Then
being all three on foot, and seeing the stag not far
before them, very weary and nigh spent — " What
shall we do," said King Arthur, " for we are hard
bested ? " " Let us go on afoot," said King
Urience, " till we can find some lodging." At
that they saw the stag lying upon the bank of a
great lake, with a hound springing at his throat,
and many other hounds trooping towards him.
So, running forward, Arthur blew the death-note
on his horn, and slew the hart. Then lifting up
his eyes he saw before him on the lake a barge,
all draped down to the water's edge, with silken
folds and curtains, which swiftly came towards
him, and touched upon the sands ; but when he
went up close and looked in, he saw no earthly

104

King Arthur and Sir Accolon of Gaul 105

creature. Then he cried out to his companions,
" Sirs, come ye hither, and let us see what there
is in this ship." So they all three went in, and
found it everywhere throughout furnished, and
hung with rich draperies of silk and gold.

By this time eventide had come, when suddenly
a hundred torches were set up on all sides of the
barge, and gave a dazzling light, and at the same
time came forth twelve fair damsels, and saluted
King Arthur, by his name, kneeling on their
knees, and telling him that he was welcome, and
should have their noblest cheer, for which the
king thanked them courteously. Then did they
lead him and his fellows to a splendid chamber,
where was a table spread with all the richest
furniture, and costliest wines and viands ; and
there they served them with all kinds of wines
and meats, till Arthur wondered at the splendour
of the feast, declaring he had never in his life
supped better, or more royally. After supper
they led him to another chamber, than which he
had never beheld a richer, where he was left to
rest. King Urience, also, and Sir Accolon were
each conducted into rooms of like magnificence.
And so they all three fell asleep, and being very
weary slept deeply all that night.

But when the morning broke, King Urience
found himself in his own house in Camelot,
he knew not how ; and Arthur awaking found
himself in a dark dungeon, and heard around
him nothing but the groans of woful knights,
prisoners like himself. Then said King Arthur,
11 Who are ye, thus groaning and complaining ? '

io6 The Legends of King Arthur

And some one answered him, " Alas, we be all
prisoners, even twenty good knights, and some of
us have lain here seven years — some more — nor
seen the light of day for all that time." " For
what cause ? " said King Arthur. " Know ye
not then yourself ? " they answered — " we will
soon tell you. The lord of this strong castle is
Sir Damas, and is the falsest and most traitorous
knight that liveth ; and he hath a younger
brother, a good and noble knight, whose name is
Outzlake. This traitor Damas, although passing
rich, will give his brother nothing of his wealth,
and save what Outzlake keepeth to himself by
force, he hath no share of the inheritance. He
owneth, nevertheless, one fair rich manor, where-
upon he liveth, loved of all men far and near.
But Damas is as altogether hated as his brother
is beloved, for he is merciless and cowardly :
and now for many years there hath been war
between these brothers, and Sir Outzlake ever-
more defieth Damas to come forth and fight with
him, body to body, for the inheritance ; and if he
be too cowardly, to find some champion knight
that will fight for him. And Damas hath agreed
to find some champion, but never yet hath found
a knight to take his evil cause in hand, or wager
battle for him. So with a strong band of men-
at-arms he lieth ever in ambush, and taketh
captive every passing knight who may unwarily
go near, and bringeth him into this castle, and
desireth him either to fight Sir Outzlake, or to lie
for evermore in durance. And thus hath he
dealt with all of us, for we all scorned to take up

King Arthur and Sir Accolon of Gaul 107

such a cause for such a false foul knight — but
rather one by one came here, where many a good
knight hath died of hunger and disease. But if
one of us would fight, Sir Damas would deliver
all the rest."

" God of his mercy send you deliverance,"
said King Arthur, and sat turning in his mind how
all these things should end, and how he might
himself gain freedom for so many noble hearts.

Anon there came a damsel to the king, saying,
" Sir, if thou wilt fight for my lord thou shalt be
delivered out of prison, but else nevermore shalt
thou escape with thy life." " Nay," said King
Arthur, " that is but a hard choice, yet had I
rather fight than die in prison, and if I may
deliver not myself alone, but all these others, I
will do the battle." " Yea," said the damsel,
" it shall be even so." " Then," said King
Arthur, " I am ready now, if but I had a horse
and armour." " Fear not," said she, " that shalt
thou have presently, and shalt lack nothing proper
for the fight." " Have I not seen thee," said the
king, " at King Arthur's court ? For it seemeth
that thy face is known to me." " Nay," said the
damsel, " I was never there ; I am Sir Damas 's
daughter, and have never been but a day's journey
from this castle." But she spoke falsely, for she
was one of the damsels of Morgan le Fay, the great
enchantress, who was King Arthur's half-sister.

When Sir Damas knew that there had been at
length a knight found who would fight for him,
he sent for Arthur, and finding him a man so
tall and strong, and straight of limb, he was

io8 The Legends of King Arthur

passingly well pleased, and made a covenant
with him that he should fight unto the uttermost
for his cause, and that all the other knights should
be delivered. And when they were sworn to each
other on the holy gospels, all those imprisoned
knights were straightway led forth and delivered,
but abode there one and all to see the battle.

In the meanwhile there had happened to Sir
Accolon of Gaul a strange adventure ; for when
he awoke from his deep sleep upon the silken
barge, he found himself upon the edge of a deep
well, and in instant peril of falling thereinto.
Whereat, leaping up in great affright, he crossed
himself and cried aloud, " May God preserve my
lord King Arthur and King Urience, for those
damsels in the ship have betrayed us, and were
doubtless devils and no women ; and if I may
escape this misadventure, I will certainly destroy
them wheresoever I may find them." With that
there came to him a dwarf with a great mouth,
and a flat nose, and saluted him, saying that he
came from Queen Morgan le Fay. " And she
greeteth you well," said he, " and biddeth you be
strong of heart, for to-morrow you shall do battle
with a strange knight, and therefore she hath sent
you here Excalibur, King Arthur's sword, and
the scabbard likewise. And she desireth you as
you do love her to fight this battle to the utter-
most, and without any mercy, as you have
promised her you would fight when she should
require it of you ; and she will make a rich
queen for ever of any damsel that shall bring
her that knight 's head with whom you are to fight. ' '

King Arthur and Sir Accolon of Gaul 109

"Well," said Sir Accolon, " tell you my lady
Queen Morgan, that I shall hold to that I prom-
ised her, now that I have this sword — and," said
he, " I suppose it was to bring about this battle
that she made all these enchantments by her
craft." " You have guessed rightly," said the
dwarf, and therewithal he left him.

Then came a knight and lady, and six squires,
to Sir Accolon, and took him to a manor house
hard by, and gave him noble cheer ; and the
house belonged to Sir Outzlake, the brother of
Sir Damas, for so had Morgan le Fay contrived
with her enchantments. Now Sir Outzlake him-
self was at that time sorely wounded and disabled,
having been pierced through both his thighs by a
spear-thrust. When, therefore, Sir Damas sent
down messengers to his brother, bidding him
make ready by to-morrow morning, and be in the
field to fight with a good knight, for that he had
found a champion ready to do battle at all points,
Sir Outzlake was sorely annoyed and distressed,
for he knew he had small chance of victory,
while yet he was disabled by his wounds ; not-
withstanding, he determined to take the battle
in hand, although he was so weak that he must
needs be lifted to his saddle. But when Sir
Accolon of Gaul heard this, he sent a message to
Sir Outzlake offering to take the battle in his
stead, which cheered Sir Outzlake mightily, who
thanked Sir Accolon with all his heart, and
joyfully accepted him.

So, on the morrow, King Arthur was armed and
well horsed, and asked Sir Damas, " When shall

no The Legends of King Arthur

we go to the field ? " " Sir, "said Sir Damas," you
shall first hear mass." And when mass was done,
there came a squire on a great horse, and asked
Sir Damas if his knight were ready, " for our
knight is already in the field." Then King
Arthur mounted on horseback, and there around
were all the knights, and barons, and people of
the country ; and twelve of them were chosen to
wait upon the two knights who were about to
fight. And as King Arthur sat on horseback,
there came a damsel from Morgan le Fay, and
brought to him a sword, made like Excalibur,
and a scabbard also, and said to him, " Morgan
le Fay sendeth you here your sword for her great
love's sake." And the king thanked her, and
believed it to be as she said ; but she traitorously
deceived him, for both sword and scabbard were
counterfeit, brittle, and false, and the true sword
Excalibur was in the hands of Sir Accolon.
Then, at the sound of a trumpet, the champions
set themselves on opposite sides of the field, and
giving rein and spur to their horses urged them
to so great a speed that each smiting the other in
the middle of the shield, rolled his opponent to
the ground, both horse and man. Then starting
up immediately, both drew their swords and
rushed swiftly together. And so they fell to
eagerly, and gave each other many great and
mighty strokes.

And as they were thus fighting, the damsel
Vivien, lady of the lake, who loved King Arthur,
came upon the ground, for she knew by her en-
chantments how Morgan le Fay had craftily

King Arthur and Sir Accolon of Gaul in

devised to have King Arthur slain by his own sword
that day, and therefore came to save his life.
And Arthur and Sir Accolon were now grown hot
against each other, and spared not strength nor
fury in their fierce assaults ; but the king's
sword gave way continually before Sir Accolon 's,
so that at every stroke he was sore wounded, and
his blood ran from him so fast that it was a marvel
he could stand. When King Arthur saw the
ground so sore be-blooded, he bethought him in
dismay that there was magic treason worked
upon him, and that his own true sword was
changed, for it seemed to him that the sword in
Sir Accolon 's hand was Excalibur, for fearfully
it drew his blood at every blow, while what he
held himself kept no sharp edge, nor fell with any
force upon his foe.

" Now, knight, look to thyself, and keep thee
well from me," cried out Sir Accolon. But King
Arthur answered not, and gave him such a buffet
on the helm as made him stagger and nigh fall
upon the ground. Then Sir Accolon withdrew a
little, and came on with Excalibur on high, and
smote King Arthur in return with such a mighty
stroke as almost felled him ; and both being
now in hottest wrath, they gave each other
grievous and savage blows. But Arthur all the
time was losing so much blood that scarcely
could he keep upon his feet, yet so full was he of
knighthood, that knightly he endured the pain,
and still sustained himself, though now he was
so feeble that he thought himself about to die.
Sir Accolon, as yet, had lost no drop of blood, and

112 The Legends of King Arthur

being very bold and confident in Excalibur, even
grew more vigorous and hasty in his assaults.
But all men who beheld them said they never
saw a knight fight half so well as did King
Arthur ; and all the people were so grieved for
him that they besought Sir Damas and Sir
Outzlake to make up their quarrel and so stay
the fight ; but they would not.

So still the battle raged, till Arthur drew a little
back for breath and a few moments' rest ; but
Accolon came on after him, following fiercely and
crying loud, " It is no time for me to suffer thee
to rest," and therewith set upon him. Then
Arthur, full of scorn and rage, lifted up his sword
and struck Sir Accolon upon the helm so mightily
that he drove him to his knees ; but with the
force of that great stroke his brittle, treacherous
sword broke short off at the hilt, and fell down in
the grass among the blood, leaving the pommel
only in his hand. At that, King Arthur thought
within himself that all was over, and secretly
prepared his mind for death, yet kept himself so
knightly sheltered by his shield that he lost no
ground, and made as though he yet had hope and
cheer. Then said Sir Accolon, " Sir knight, thou
now art overcome and canst endure no longer,
seeing thou art weaponless, and hast lost already
so much blood. Yet am I fully loth to slay thee ;
yield, then, therefore, to me as recreant."
" Nay," said King Arthur, " that may I not, for
I have promised to do battle to the uttermost by
the faith of my body while my life lasteth ; and
I had rather die with honour than live with shame;

King Arthur and Sir Accolon of Gaul 113

and if it were possible for me to die a hundred
times, I had rather die as often than yield me to
thee, for though I lack weapons, I shall lack no
worship, and it shall be to thy shame to slay me
weaponless." " Aha," shouted then Sir Accolon,
" as for the shame, I will not spare ; look to thyself,
Sir knight, for thou art even now but a dead
man." Therewith he drove at him with pitiless
force, and struck him nearly down ; but Arthur
evermore waxing in valour as he waned in blood,
pressed on Sir Accolon with his shield, and hit
at him so fiercely with the pommel in his hand,
as hurled him three strides backwards.

This, therefore, so confused Sir Accolon, that
rushing up, all dizzy, to deliver once again a
furious blow, even as he struck, Excalibur, by
Vivien's magic, fell from out his hands upon the
earth. Beholding which, King Arthur lightly
sprang to it, and grasped it, and forthwith felt it
was his own good sword, and said to it, " Thou
hast been from me all too long, and done me too
much damage." Then spying the scabbard
hanging by Sir Accolon 's side, he sprang and
pulled it from him, and cast it away as far as he
could throw it ; for so long as he had worn it,
Arthur knew his life would have been kept
secure. " Oh, knight ! " then said the king,
" thou hast this day wrought me much damage
by this sword, but now art thou come to thy
death, for I shall not warrant thee but that thou
shalt suffer, ere we part, somewhat of that thou
hast made me suffer." And therewithal King
Arthur flew at him with all his might, and pulled

ii4 The Legends of King Arthur

him to the earth, and then struck off his helm,
and gave him on the heaji a fearful buffet, till the
bJood leaped forth. " Now will I slay thee ! "
cried King Arthur ; for his heart was hardened,
and his body all on fire with fever, till for a
moment he forgot his knightly mercy. " Slay
me thou mayest," said Sir Accolon, " for thou art
the best knight I ever found, and I see well that
God is with thee ; and I as thou hast, have prom-
ised to fight this battle to the uttermost, and
never to be recreant while I live ; therefore shall
I never yield me with my mouth, and God must
do with my body what He will." And as Sir
Accolon spoke, King Arthur thought he knew
his voice ; and parting all his blood-stained hair
from out his eyes, and leaning down towards
him, saw, indeed, it was his friend and own true
knight. Then said he — keeping his own visor down
— " I pray thee tell me of what country art
thou, and what court ? " " Sir knight," he
answered, " I am of King Arthur's court, and my
name is Sir Accolon of Gaul." Then said the
king, " Oh, Sir knight ! I pray thee tell me who
gave thee this sword, and from whom thou
hadst it ? "

Then said Sir Accolon, " Woe worth this sword,
for by it I have gotten my death. This sword
hath been in my keeping now for almost twelve
months, and yesterday Queen Morgan le Fay,
wife of King Urience, sent it to me by a dwarf
that therewith I might in some way slay her
brother, King Arthur ; for thou must under-
stand that King Arthur is the man she hateth

King Arthur and Sir Accolon of Gaul 115

most in all the world, being full of envy and
jealousy because he is of greater worship and
renown than any other of her blood. She loveth
me also as much as she doth hate him ; and if
she might contrive to slay King Arthur by her
craft and magic, then would she straightway kill
her husband also, and make me the king of all
this land, and herself my queen, to reign with me ;
but now," said he, " all that is over, for this day
I am come to my death."

" It would have been sore treason of thee to
destroy thy lord," said Arthur. " Thou sayest
truly," answered he ; " but now that I have told
thee, and openly confessed to thee all that foul
treason whereof I now do bitterly repent, tell me,
I pray thee, whence art thou, and of what
court ? " " O, Sir Accolon ! " said King Arthur,
" learn that I am myself King Arthur." When
Sir Accolon heard this he cried aloud, " Alas,
my gracious lord ! have mercy on me, for I
knew thee not." " Thou shalt have mercy,"
said he, " for thou knewest not my person at
this time ; and though by thine own confession
thou art a traitor, yet do I blame thee less,
because thou hast been blinded by the false
crafts of my sister Morgan le Fay, whom I have
trusted more than all others of my kin, and whom
I now shall know well how to punish." Then did
Sir Accolon cry loudly, " O, lords, and all good
people ! This noble knight that I have fought
with is the noblest and most worshipful in all the
world ; for it is King Arthur, our liege lord and
sovereign king ; and full sorely I repent that I

n6 The Legends of King Arthur

have ever lifted lance against him, though in
ignorance I did it."

Then all the people fell down on their knees and
prayed the pardon of the king for suffering him
to come to such a strait. But he replied, " Par-
don ye cannot have, for, truly, ye have nothing
sinned ; but here ye see what ill adventure may
ofttimes befall knights-errant, for to my own hurt,
and his danger also, I have fought with one of my
own knights."

Then the king commanded Sir Damas to sur-
render to his brother the whole manor, Sir
Outzlake only yielding him a palfrey every year ;
" for," said he scornfully, " it would become thee
better to ride on than a courser ; " and ordered
Damas, upon pain of death, never again to touch
or to distress knights-errants riding on their
adventures ; and also to make full compensation
and satisfaction to the twenty knights whom he
had held in prison, " And if any of them," said
the king, " come to my court complaining that
he hath not had full satisfaction of thee for his
injuries, by my head, thou shalt die therefor."

Afterwards, King Arthur asked Sir Outzlake
to come with him to his court, where he
should become a knight of his, and, if his
deeds were noble, be advanced to all he might
desire.

So then he took his leave of all the people and
mounted upon horseback, and Sir Accolon went
with him to an abbey hard by, where both their
wounds were dressed. But Sir Accolon died
within four days after. And when he was dead,

King Arthur and Sir Accolon of Gaul ny

the king sent his body to Queen Morgan, to
Camelot, saying that he sent her a present in
return for the sword Excalibur, which she had
sent him by the damsel.

So, on the morrow, there came a damsel from
Queen Morgan to the king, and brought with her
the richest mantle that ever was seen, for it was
set as full of precious stones as they could stand
against each other, and they were the richest
stones that ever the king saw. And the damsel
said, " Your sister sendeth you this mantle, and
prayeth you to take her gift, and in whatsoever
thing she hath offended you, she will amend it at
your pleasure." To this the king replied not,
although the mantle pleased him much. With
that came in the lady of the lake, and said, " Sir,
put not on this mantle till thou hast seen more ;
and in nowise let it be put upon thee, or any of
thy knights, till ye have made the bringer of it
first put it on her." " It shall be done as thou
dost counsel," said the king. Then said he to the
damsel that came from his sister, " Damsel, I
would see this mantle ye have brought me upon
yourself." " Sir," said she, " it will not beseem
me to wear a knight's garment." " By my
head," said King Arthur, " thou shalt wear it ere
it go on any other person's back ! " And so they
put it on her by force, and forthwith the garment
burst into flames and burned the damsel into
cinders. When the king saw that, he hated that
false witch Morgan le Fay with all his heart, and
evermore was deadly quarrel between her and
Arthur to their lives' end.
I

CHAPTER VIII

King Arthur conquers Rome, and is crowned

Emperor

AND now again the second time there came
ambassadors from Lucius Tiberius, Em-
peror of Rome, demanding, under pain of
war, tribute and homage from King Arthur, and
the restoration of all Gaul, which he had con-
quered from the tribune Flollo.

When they had delivered their message, the
king bade them withdraw while he consulted
with his knights and barons what reply to send.
Then some of the younger knights would have
slain the ambassadors, saying that their speech
was a rebuke to all who heard the king insulted
by it. But when King Arthur heard that, he
ordered none to touch them upon pain of death ;
and sending officers, he had them taken to a
noble lodging, and there entertained with the
best cheer. " And," said he, " let no dainty be
spared, for the Romans are great lords ; and
though their message please me not, yet must I
remember mine honour."

Then the lords and knights of the Round Table
were called on to declare their counsel — what
should be done upon this matter ; and Sir Cador
of Cornwall speaking first, said, " Sir, this mes-

118

King Arthur's Message to Rome 119

sage is the best news I have heard for a long time
for we have been now idle and at rest for many-
days, and I trust that thou wilt make sharp
war upon the Romans, wherein, I doubt not, we
shall all gain honour."

" I believe well," said Arthur, " that thou art
pleased, Sir Cador ; but that is scarce an answer
to the Emperor of Rome, and his demand doth
grieve me sorely, for truly I will never pay him
tribute ; wherefore, lords, I pray ye counsel me.
Now, I have understood that Belinus and Bren-
nius, knights of Britain, held the Roman Empire
in their hands for many days, and also Constan-
tine, the son of Helen, which is open evidence,
not only that we owe Rome no tribute, but that
I, being descended from them, may, of right,
myself claim the empire."

Then said King Anguish of Scotland, " Sir,
thou oughtest of right to be above all other kings,
for in all Christendom is there not thine equal ;
and I counsel thee never to obey the Romans.
For when they reigned here they grievously dis-
tressed us, and put the land to great and heavy
burdens ; and here, for my part, I swear to avenge
me on them when I may, and will furnish thee
with twenty thousand men-at-arms, whom I will
pay and keep, and who shall wait on thee with
me, when it shall please thee."

Then the King of Little Britain rose and prom-
ised King Arthur thirty thousand men ; and
likewise many other kings, and dukes, and barons,
promised aid — as the lord of West Wales thirty
thousand men, Sir Ewaine and his cousin thirty

120 The Legends of King Arthur

thousand men, and so forth ; Sir Lancelot also,
and every other knight of the Round Table,
promised each man a great host.

So the king, passing joyful at their courage and
good will, thanked them all heartily, and sent for
the ambassadors again, to hear his answer. " I
will," said he, " that ye now go back straightway
unto the Emperor your master, and tell him that
I give no heed to his words, for I have conquered
all my kingdoms by the will of God and by my
own right arm, and I am strong enough to keep
them, without paying tribute to any earthly
creature. But, on the other hand, I claim both
tribute and submission from himself, and also
claim the sovereignty of all his empire, whereto I
am entitled by the right of my own ancestors —
sometime kings of this land. And say to him
that I will shortly come to Rome, and by God's
grace will take possession of my empire and sub-
due all rebels. Wherefore, lastly, I command
him and all the lords of Rome that they forth-
with pay me their homage, under pain of my
chastisement and wrath."

Then he commanded his treasurers to give the
ambassadors great gifts, and defray all their
charges, and appointed Sir Cador to convey them
worshipfully out of the land.

So when they returned to Rome and came
before Lucius, he was sore angry at their words,
and said, " I thought this Arthur would have
instantly obeyed my orders and have served me
as humbly as any other king ; but because of his
fortune in Gaul, he hath grown insolent."

The- Emperor's Host 121

" Ah, lord," said one of the ambassadors,
" refrain from such vain words, for truly I and
all with me were fearful at his royal majesty and
angry countenance. I fear me thou hast
made a rod for thee more sharp than thou hast
counted on. He meaneth to be master of this
empire ; and is another kind of man than thou
supposest, and holdeth the most noble court of
all the world. We saw him on the new year's
day, served at his table by nine kings, and the
noblest company of other princes, lords, and
knights that ever was in all the world ; and in his
person he is the most manly-seeming man that
liveth, and looketh like to conquer all the earth."

Then Lucius sent messengers to all the subject
countries of Rome, and brought together a mighty
army, and assembled sixteen kings, and many
dukes, princes, lords, and admirals, and a won-
drous great multitude of people. Fifty giants
also, born of fiends, were set around him for a
body-guard. With all that host he straightway
went from Rome, and passed beyond the moun-
tains into Gaul, and burned the towns and ravaged
all the country of that province, in rage for its
submission to King Arthur. Then he moved on
towards Little Britain.

Meanwhile, King Arthur having held a parlia-
ment at York, left the realm in charge of Sir
Badewine and Sir Constantine, and crossed the
sea from Sandwich to meet Lucius. And so soon
as he was landed, he sent Sir Gawain, Sir Bors, Sir
Lionel, and Sir Bedivere to the Emperor, com-
manding him " to move swiftly and in haste out

122 The Legends of King Arthur

of his land, and, if not, to make himself ready
for battle, and not continue ravaging the country
and slaying harmless people." Anon, those noble
knights attired themselves and set forth on horse-
back to where they saw, in a meadow, many
silken tents of divers colours, and the Emperor's
pavilion in the midst, with a golden eagle set
above it.

Then Sir Gawain and Sir Bors rode forward,
leaving the other two behind in ambush, and gave
King Arthur's message. To which the Emperor
replied, " Return, and tell your lord that I am
come to conquer him and all his land."

At this, Sir Gawain burned with anger, and
cried out, " I had rather than all France that I
might fight with thee alone ! "

" And I also," said Sir Bors.

Then a knight named Ganius, a near cousin of
the Emperor, laughed out aloud, and said,
" Lo ! how these Britons boast and are full of
pride, bragging as though they bare up all the
world ! "

At these words, Sir Gawain could refrain no
longer, but drew forth his sword and with one
blow shore off Ganius 's head ; then with Sir Bors,
he turned his horse and rode over waters and
through woods, back to the ambush, where Sir
Lionel and Sir Bedivere were waiting. The
Romans followed fast behind them till the
knights turned and stood, and then Sir Bors
smote the foremost of them through the body
with a spear, and slew him on the spot. Then
came on Calibere, a huge Pavian, but Sir Bors

The Emperor Attacks 123

overthrew him also. And then the company of
Sir Lionel and Sir Bedivere brake from their
ambush and fell on the Romans, and slew and
hewed them down, and forced them to return and
flee, chasing them to their tents.

But as they neared the camp, a great host more
rushed forth, and turned the battle backwards,
and in the turmoil, Sir Bors and Sir Berel fell
into the Romans' hands. When Sir Gawain saw
that, he drew his good sword Galotine, and swore
to see King Arthur's face no more if those two
knights were not delivered ; and then, with
good Sir Idrus, made so sore an onslaught that
the Romans fled and left Sir Bors and Sir Berel
to their friends. So the Britons returned in
triumph to King Arthur, having slain more than
ten thousand Romans, and lost no man of wor-
ship from amongst themselves.

When the Emperor Lucius heard of that dis-
comfiture he arose, with all his army, to crush
King Arthur, and met him in the vale of Soissons.
Then speaking to all his hosts, he said, " Sirs, I
admonish you that this day ye fight and acquit
yourselves as men ; and remembering how Rome
is chief of all the earth, and mistress of the
universal world, suffer not these barbarous and
savage Britons to abide our onset." At that, the
trumpets blew so loud, that the ground trembled
and shook.

Then did the rival hosts draw near each other
with great shoutings ; and when they closed, no
tongue can tell the fury of their smiting, and the
sore struggling, wounds, and slaughter. Then

124 The Legends of King Arthur

King Arthur, with his mightiest knights, rode
down into the thickest of the fight, and drew
Excalibur, and slew as lightning slays for swift-
ness and for force. And in the midmost crowd
he met a giant, Galapas by name, and struck off
both his legs at the knee-joints ; then saying,
" Now art thou a better size to deal with ! "
smote his head off at a second blow : and the
body killed six men in falling down.

Anon, King Arthur spied where Lucius fought
and worked great deeds of prowess with his own
hands. Forthwith he rode at him, and each
attacked the other passing fiercely ; till at the
last, Lucius struck King Arthur with a fearful
wound across the face, and Arthur, in return,
lifting up Excalibur on high, drove it with all his
force upon the Emperor's head, shivering his
helmet, crashing his head in halves, and splitting
his body to the breast. And when the Romans
saw their Emperor dead, they fled in hosts of
thousands ; and King Arthur and his knights,
and all his army followed them, and slew one
hundred thousand men.

Then returning to the field, King Arthur rode
to the place where Lucius lay dead, and round
him the kings of Egypt and Ethiopia, and seven-
teen other kings, with sixty Roman senators, all
noble men. All these he ordered to be carefully
embalmed with aromatic gums, and laid in
leaden coffins, covered with their shields and
arms and banners. Then calling for three
senators who were taken prisoners, he said to
them, " As the ransom of your lives, I will that

Arthur's Message to Rome 125

ye take these dead bodies and carry them to
Rome, and there present them for me, with these
letters saying I will myself be shortly there.
And I suppose the Romans will beware how they
again ask tribute of me ; for tell them, these
dead bodies that I send them are for the tribute
they have dared to ask of me ; and if they wish
for more, when I come I will pay them the rest."

So, with that charge, the three senators de-
parted with the dead bodies, and went to Rome ;
the body of the Emperor being carried in a chariot
blazoned with the arms of the empire, all alone,
and the bodies of the kings two and two in chariots
following.

After the battle, King Arthur entered Lorraine,
Brabant, and Flanders, and thence, subduing all
the countries as he went, passed into Germany,
and so beyond the mountains into Lombardy and
Tuscany. At length he came before a city which
refused to obey him, wherefore he sat down
before it to besiege it. And after a long time
thus spent, King Arthur called Sir Florence, and
told him they began to lack food for his hosts —
" And not far from hence," said he, " are great
forests full of cattle belonging to my enemies.
Go then, and bring by force all that thou canst
find ; and take with thee Sir Gawain, my
nephew, and Sir Clegis, Sir Claremond, the
Captain of Cardiff, and a strong band."

Anon, these knights made ready, and rode over
holts and hills, and through forests and woods,
till they came to a great meadow full of fair
flowers and grass, and there they rested them-

126 The Legends of King Arthur

selves and their horses that night. And at the
dawn of the next day, Sir Gawain took his horse
and rode away from his fellows to seek some
adventure. Soon he saw an armed knight
walking his horse by a wood's side, with his
shield laced to his shoulder, and no attendant
with him save a page, bearing a mighty spear ;
and on his shield were blazoned three gold
griffins. When Sir Gawain spied him, he put his
spear in rest, and riding straight to him, asked who
he was. " A Tuscan," said he ; " and thou
mayest prove me when thou wilt, for thou shalt
be my prisoner ere we part."

Then said Sir Gawain, " Thou vauntest thee
greatly, and speakest proud words ; yet I
counsel thee for all thy boastings, look to thyself
the best thou canst."

At that they took their spears and ran at each
other with all the might they had, and smote
each other through their shields into their
shoulders ; and then drawing swords smote with
great strokes, till the fire sprang out of their
helms. Then was Sir Gawain enraged, and with
his good sword Galotine struck his enemy
through shield and hauberk, and splintered into
pieces all the precious stones of it, and made so
huge a wound that men might see both lungs
and liver. At that the Tuscan, groaning loudly,
rushed on to Sir Gawain, and gave him a deep
slanting stroke, and made a mighty wound and
cut a great vein asunder, so that he bled fast.
Then he cried out, " Bind thy wound quickly up,
Sir knight, for thou be-bloodest all thy horse and

Sir Gawain and Sir Prianius 127

thy fair armour, and all the surgeons of the world
shall never staunch thy blood ; for so shall it
be to whomsoever is hurt with this good sword."

Then answered Sir Gawain, " It grieveth me
but little, and thy boastful words give me no
fear, for thou shalt suffer greater grief and sorrow
ere we part ; but tell me quickly who can staunch
this blood."

" That can I do," said the strange knight,
" and will, if thou wilt aid and succour me to
become christened, and to believe on God, which
now I do require of thee upon thy manhood."

" I am content," said Sir Gawain ; " and may
God help me to grant all thy wishes. But tell me
first, what soughtest thou thus here alone, and
of what land art thou ? "

" Sir," said the knight, " my name is Prianius,
and my father is a great prince, who hath rebelled
against Rome. He is descended from Alexander
and Hector, and of our lineage also were Joshua
and Maccabaeus. I am of right the king of
Alexandria, and Africa, and all the outer isles,
yet I would believe in the Lord thou worshippest,
and for thy labour I will give thee treasure
enough. I was so proud in heart that I thought
none my equal, but now have I encountered with
thee, who hast given me my fill of fighting ;
wherefore, I pray thee, Sir knight, tell me of
thyself."

" I am no knight," said Sir Gawain ; " I have
been brought up many years in the wardrobe of
the noble prince King Arthur, to mind his
armour and array."

128 The Legends of King Arthur

" Ah," said Prianius, " if his varlets be so keen
and fierce, his knights must be passing good !
Now, for the love of heaven, whether thou be
knight or knave, tell me thy name."

" By heaven ! " said Gawain, " now will I tell
thee the truth. My name is Sir Gawain, and I
am a knight of the Round Table."

" Now am I better pleased," said Prianius,
" than if thou hadst given me all the province
of Paris the rich. I had rather have been torn
by wild horses than that any varlet should have
won such victory over me as thou hast done.
But now, Sir knight, I warn thee that close by is
the Duke of Lorraine, with sixty thousand good
men of war ; and we had both best flee at once,
for he will find us else, and we be sorely wounded
and never likely to recover. And let my page
be careful that he blow no horn, for hard by are a
hundred knights, my servants ; and if they seize
thee, no ransom of gold or silver would acquit
thee."

Then Sir Gawain rode over a river to save
himself, and Sir Prianius after him, and so they
both fled till they came to his companions who
were in the meadow, where they spent the night.
When Sir Whishard saw Sir Gawain so hurt, he
ran to him weeping, and asked him who it was
had wounded him ; and Sir Gawain told him
how he had fought with that man — pointing to
Prianius — who had salves to heal them both.
11 But I can tell ye other tidings," said he — " that
soon we must encounter many enemies, for a
great army is close to us in our front."

Sir Gawain and Sir Prianius 129

Then Prianius and Sir Gawain alighted and let
their horses graze while they unarmed, and when
they took their armour and their clothing off,
the hot blood ran down freshly from their wounds
till it was piteous to see. But Prianius took from
his page a vial filled from the four rivers that flow
out of Paradise, and anointed both their wounds
with a certain balm, and washed them with that
water, and within an hour afterwards they were
both as sound and whole as ever they had been.
Then, at the sound of a trumpet, all the knights
were assembled to council ; and after much
talking, Prianius said, " Cease your words, for I
warn you in yonder wood ye shall find knights
out of number, who will put out cattle for a
decoy to lead you on ; and ye are not seven
hundred ! "

" Nevertheless," said Sir Gawain, " let us at
once encounter them, and see what they can do ;
and may the best have the victory."

Then they saw suddenly an earl named Sir
Ethelwold, and the Duke of Duchmen come leap-
ing out of ambush of the wood in front, with
many a thousand after them, and all rode straight
down to the battle. And Sir Gawain, full of
ardour and courage, comforted his knights,
saying, " They all are ours." Then the seven
hundred knights, in one close company, set spurs
to their horses and began to gallop, and fiercely
met their enemies. And then were men and
horses slain and overthrown on every side, and
in and out amidst them all, the knights of the
Round Table pressed and thrust, and smote

130 The Legends of King Arthur

down to the earth all who withstood them, till at
length the whole of them turned back and fled.

" By heaven ! " said Sir Gawain, " this glad-
deneth well my heart, for now behold them as they
flee ! They are full seventy thousand less in
number than they were an hour ago ! "

Thus was the battle quickly ended, and a great
host of high lords and knights of Lombardy and
Saracens left dead upon the field. Then Sir
Gawain and his company collected a great plenty
of cattle, and of gold and silver, and all kind of
treasure, and returned to King Arthur, where he
still kept the siege.

" Now God be thanked," cried he ; " but who
is he that standeth yonder by himself, and seem-
eth not a prisoner ? "

" Sir," said Sir Gawain, " he is a good man with
his weapons, and hath matched me ; but cometh
hither to be made a Christian. Had it not been
for his warnings, we none of us should have been
here this day. I pray thee, therefore, let him be
baptized, for there can be few nobler men, or
better knights."

So Prianius was christened, and made a duke
and knight of the Round Table.

Presently afterwards, they made a last attack
upon the city, and entered by the walls on every
side ; and as the men were rushing to the pillage,
came the Duchess forth, with many ladies and
damsels, and kneeled before King Arthur ; and
besought him to receive their submission. To
whom the king made answer, with a noble coun-
tenance, " Madam, be well assured that none

Arthur crowned Emperor 131

shall harm ye, or your ladies ; neither shall any
that belong to thee be hurt ; but the Duke must
abide my judgment." Then he commanded to
stay the assault and took the keys from the
Duke's eldest son, who brought them kneeling.
Anon the Duke was sent a prisoner to Dover for
his life, and rents and taxes were assigned for
dowry of the Duchess and her children.

Then went he on with all his hosts, winning all
towns and castles, and wasting them that refused
obedience, till he came to Viterbo. From thence
he sent to Rome, to ask the senators whether they
would receive him for their lord and governor.
In answer, came out to him all the Senate who
remained alive, and the Cardinals, with a majestic
retinue and procession ; and laying great treas-
ures at his feet, they prayed him to come in at
once to Rome, and there be peaceably crowned as
Emperor. " At this next Christmas," said King
Arthur, " will I be crowned, and hold my Round
Table in your city."

Anon he entered Rome, in mighty pomp and
state ; and after him came all his hosts, and his
knights, and princes, and great lords, arrayed in
gold and jewels, such as never were beheld before.
And then was he crowned Emperor by the Pope's
hands, with all the highest solemnity that could
be made.

Then after his coronation, he abode in Rome
for a season, settling his lands and giving king-
doms to his knights and servants, to each one
after his deserving, and in such wise fashion that
no man among them all complained. Also he

132 The Legends of King Arthur

made many dukes and earls, and loaded all his
men-at-arms with riches and great treasures.

When all this was done, the lords and knights,
and all the men of great estate, came together
before him, and said, " Noble Emperor ! by the
blessing of Eternal God, thy mortal warfare is all
finished, and thy conquests all achieved ; for
now in all the world is none so great and mighty
as to dare make war with thee. Wherefore we
beseech and heartily pray thee of thy noble grace,
to turn thee homeward, and to give us also leave
to see our wives and homes again, for now we have
been from them a long season, and all thy
journey is completed with great honour and
worship."

" Ye say well," replied he, " and to tempt God
is no wisdom ; therefore make ready in all haste,
and turn ye home to England."

So King Arthur returned with his knights and
lords and armies, in great triumph and joy,
through all the countries he had conquered, and
commanded that no man, upon pain of death,
should rob or do any violence by the way. And
crossing the sea, he came at length to Sandwich,
where Queen Guinevere received him, and made
great joy at his arrival. And through all the
realm of Britain was there such rejoicing as no
tongue can tell.

CHAPTER IX

The Adventures of Sir Lancelot du Lake

THEN, at the following Pentecost, was held
a feast of the Round Table at Caerleon,
with high splendour ; and all the knights
thereof resorted to the court, and held many-
games and jousts. And therein Sir Lancelot
increased in fame and worship above all men,
for he overthrew all comers, and never was un-
horsed or worsted, save by treason and enchant-
ment.

When Queen Guinevere had seen his wondrous
feats, she held him in great favour, and smiled
more on him than on any other knight. And
ever since he first had gone to bring her to King
Arthur, had Lancelot thought on her as fairest
of all ladies, and done his best to win her grace.
So the queen often sent for him, and bade him
tell of his birth and strange adventures : how he
was only son of great King Ban of Brittany, and
how, one night, his father, with his mother Helen
and himself, fled from his burning castle ; how
his father, groaning deeply, fell to the ground and
died of grief and wounds, and how his mother,
running to her husband, left himself alone ; how,
as he thus lay wailing, came the lady of the lake,
and took him in her arms and went with him into
K 133

134 The Legends of King Arthur

the midst of the waters, where, with his cousins
Lionel and Bors, he had been cherished all his
childhood until he came to King Arthur's court ;
and how this was the reason why men called him
Lancelot du Lake.

Anon it was ordained by King Arthur, that in
every year at Pentecost there should be held a
festival of all the knights of the Round Table at
Caerleon, or such other place as he should choose.
And at those festivals should be told publicly
the most famous adventures of any knight during
the past year.

So, when Sir Lancelot saw Queen Guinevere
rejoiced to hear his wanderings and adventures, he
resolved to set forth yet again, and win more
worship still, that he might more increase her
favour. Then he bade his cousin Sir Lionel make
ready, " for," said he, " we two will seek ad-
venture." So they mounted their horses —
armed at all points — and rode into a vast
forest ; and when they had passed through it,
they came to a great plain, and the
weather being very hot about noontide, Sir
Lancelot greatly longed to sleep. Then Sir
Lionel espied a great apple-tree standing by a
hedge, and said, " Brother, yonder is a fair
shadow where we may rest ourselves and horses."

" I am full glad of it," said Sir Lancelot, " for
all these seven years I have not been so sleepy."

So they alighted there, and tied their horses up
to sundry trees, and Sir Lionel waked and watched
while Sir Lancelot fell asleep, and slept passing
fast.

Sir Turquine 135

In the meanwhile came three knights, riding as
fast flying as ever they could ride, and after them
followed a single knight ; but when Sir Lionel
looked at him, he thought he had never seen so
great and strong a man, or so well furnished and
apparelled. Anon he saw him overtake the last
of those who fled, and smite him to the ground ;
then came he to the second, and smote him such
a stroke that horse and man went to the earth ;
then rode he to the third, likewise, and struck him
off his horse more than a spear's length. With
that he lighted from his horse, and bound all
three knights fast with the reins of their own
bridles.

When Sir Lionel saw this he thought the time
was come to prove himself against him, so quietly
and cautiously, lest he should wake Sir Lancelot,
he took his horse and mounted and rode after him.
Presently overtaking him, he cried aloud to him
to turn, which instantly he did, and smote Sir
Lionel so hard that horse and man went down
forthwith. Then took he up Sir Lionel, and
threw him bound over his own horse's back ; and
so he served the three other knights, and rode
them away to his own castle. There they were
disarmed, stripped naked, and beaten with
thorns, and afterwards thrust into a deep prison,
where many more knights, also, made great
moans and lamentations, saying, " Alas, alas !
there is no man can help us but Sir Lancelot, for
no other knight can match this tyrant Turquine,
our conqueror."

But all this while, Sir Lancelot lay sleeping

136 The Legends of King Arthur

soundly under the apple-tree. And, as it chanced
there passed that way four queens, of high estate,
riding upon four white mules, under four canopies
of green silk borne on spears, to keep them from
the sun. As they rode thus, they heard a great
horse grimly neigh, and, turning them about,
soon saw a sleeping knight that lay all armed
under an apple-tree ; and when they saw his
face, they knew it was Sir Lancelot of the Lake.

Then they began to strive which of them should
have the care of him. But Queen Morgan le Fay,
King Arthur's half-sister, the great sorceress,
was one of them, and said, " We need not strive
for him, I have enchanted him, so that for six
hours more he shall not wake. Let us take him
to my castle, and, when he wakes, himself shall
choose which one of us he would rather serve."
So Sir Lancelot was laid upon his shield and borne
on horseback between two knights, to the castle,
and there laid in a cold chamber, till the spell
should pass.

Anon, they sent him a fair damsel, bearing his
supper, who asked him, " What cheer ? "

" I cannot tell, fair damsel," said he, "for I
know not how I came into this castle, if it were
not by enchantment."

" Sir," said she, "be of good heart, and to-
morrow at the dawn of day, ye shall know more."

And so she left him alone, and there he lay all
night. In the morning early came the four
queens to him, passing richly dressed ; and said,
" Sir knight, thou must understand that thou art
our prisoner, and that we know thee well for

The Four Witch-Queens 137

King Ban's son, Sir Lancelot du Lake. And
though we know full well there is one lady only
in this world may have thy love, and she Queen
Guinevere — King Arthur's wife — yet now are we
resolved to have thee to serve one of us ; choose,
therefore, of us four which thou wilt serve. I am
Queen Morgan le Fay, Queen of the land of Gore,
and here also is the Queen of Northgales, and the
Queen of Eastland, and the Queen of the Out
Isles. Choose, then, at once, for else shalt thou
abide here, in this prison, till thy death."

" It is a hard case," said Sir Lancelot, " that
either I must die, or choose one of you for my
mistress ! Yet had I rather die in this prison than
serve any living creature against my will. So
take this for my answer. I will serve none of ye,
for ye be false enchantresses. And as for my
lady, Queen Guinevere, whom lightly ye have
spoken of, were I at liberty, I would prove it
upon you or upon yours she is the truest lady
living to her lord the king."

" Well," said the queen, " is this your answer,
that ye refuse us all ? "

11 Yea, on my life," said Lancelot, " refused ye
be of me."

So they departed from him in great wrath, and
left him sorrowfully grieving in his dungeon.

At noon the damsel came to him and brought
his dinner, and asked him as before, " What
cheer ? "

" Truly, fair damsel," said Sir Lancelot, " in
all my life never so ill."

" Sir," replied she, " I grieve to see ye so, but

138 The Legends of King Arthur

if ye do as I advise, I can help ye out of this
distress, and will do so if you promise me a boon."

" Fair damsel," said Sir Lancelot, " right
willingly will I grant it thee, for sorely do I dread
these four witch-queens, who have destroyed and
slain many a good knight with their enchant-
ments."

Then said the damsel, " Sir, wilt thou promise
me to help my father on next Tuesday, for he
hath a tournament with the King of Northgales,
and last Tuesday lost the field through three
Knights of King Arthur's court, who came
against him. And if next Tuesday thou wilt aid
him, to-morrow, before daylight, by God's grace,
I will deliver thee."

" Fair maiden," said Sir Lancelot, " tell me thy
father's name and I will answer thee."

" My father is King Bagdemagus," said she.

" I know him well," replied Sir Lancelot, " for
a noble king and a good knight ; and by the
faith 'of my body I will do him all the service I
am able on that day."

" Grammercy to thee, Sir knight," said the
damsel. " To-morrow, when thou art delivered
from this place, ride ten miles hence unto an
abbey of white monks, and there abide until I
bring my father to thee."

" So be it," said Sir Lancelot, " as I am a true
knight."

So she departed, and on the morrow, early,
came again, and let him out of twelve gates,
differently locked, and brought him to his
armour ; and when he was all armed, she brought

Sir Lancelot and the Damsel 139

him his horse also, and lightly he saddled him,
and took a great spear in his hand, and
mounted and rode forth, saying, as he went,
" Fair damsel, I shall not fail thee, by the grace
of God."

And all that day he rode in a great forest, and
could find no highway, and spent the night in the
wood ; but the next morning found his road, and
came to the abbey of white monks. And there
he saw King Bagdemagus and his daughter
waiting for him. So when they were together in
a chamber, Sir Lancelot told the king how he had
been betrayed by an enchantment, and how his
cousin Lionel was gone he knew not where, and
how the damsel had delivered him from the castle
of Queen Morgan le Fay. " Wherefore- while I
live," said he, " I shall do service to herself and
all her kindred."

" Then am I sure of thy aid," said the king,
" on Tuesday now next coming ? "

" Yea, sir, I shall not fail thee," said Sir Lance-
lot ; " but what knights were they who last week
defeated thee, and took part with the King of
Northgales ? "

11 Sir Mador de la Port, Sir Modred, and Sir
Gahalatine," replied the king.

" Sir," said Sir Lancelot, " as I understand, the
tournament shall take place but three miles from
this abbey ; send then to me here three knights
of thine, the best thou hast, and let them all have
plain white shields, such as I also will ; then will
we four come suddenly into the midst between
both parties, and fall upon thy enemies, and

140 The Legends of King Arthur

grieve them all we can, and none will know us
who we are."

So, on the Tuesday, Sir Lancelot and the three
knights lodged themselves in a small grove hard
by the lists. Then came into the field the King
of Northgales, with one hundred and sixty helms,
and the three knights of King Arthur's court,
who stood apart by themselves. And when
King Bagdemagus had arrived, with eighty
helms, both companies set all their spears in rest
and came together with a mighty clash, wherein
were slain twelve knights of King Bagdemagus,
and six of the King of Northgales ; and the party
of King Bagdemagus was driven back.

With that, came Sir Lancelot, and thrust into
the thickest of the press, and smote down with
one spear five knights, and brake the backs of
four, and cast down the King of Northgales, and
brake his thigh by the fall. When the three
knights of Arthur's court saw this, they rode at
Sir Lancelot, and each after other attacked him ;
but he overthrew them all, and smote them nigh
to death. Then, taking a new spear, he bore
down to the ground sixteen more knights, and
hurt them all so sorely, that they could carry
arms no more that day. And when his spear at
length was broken, he took yet another, and
smote down twelve knights more, the most of
whom he wounded mortally, till in the end the
party of the King of Northgales would joust no
more, and the victory was cried to King Bagde-
magus.

Then Sir Lancelot rode forth with King

Sir Lancelot and Sir Turquine 141

Bagdemagus to his castle, and there he feasted
with great cheer and welcome, and received
many royal gifts. And on the morrow he took
leave and went to find his cousin Lionel.

Anon, by chance, he came to the same forest
where the four queens had found him sleeping,
and there he met a damsel riding on a white
palfrey. When they had saluted each other, Sir
Lancelot said, " Fair damsel, knowest thou where
any adventures may be had in this country? "

" Sir knight," said she, " there are adventures
great enough close by if thou darest prove them."

" Why should I not," said he, " since for that
cause I came here ? "

" Sir," said the damsel, " hard by this place
there dwelleth a knight that cannot be defeated
by any man, so great and perilously strong he is.
His name is Sir Turquine, and in the prisons of
his castle lie three score knights and four, mostly
from King Arthur's court, whom he hath taken
with his own hands. But promise me, ere thou
undertakest their deliverance, to go and help me
afterwards, and free me and many other ladies
that are distressed by a false knight."

" Bring me but to this felon Turquine," quoth
Sir Lancelot, " and I will afterwards fulfil all
your wishes."

So the damsel went before, and brought him
to a ford, and a tree whereon a great brass basin
hung ; and Sir Lancelot beat with his spear-end
upon the basin, long and hard, until he beat the
bottom of it out, but he saw nothing. Then he
rode to and fro before the castle gates for well-

142 The Legends of King Arthur

nigh half-an-hour, and anon saw a great knight
riding from the distance, driving a horse before
him, across which hung an armed man bound.
And when they came near, Sir Lancelot knew the
prisoner for a knight of the Round Table. By
that time, the great knight who drove the prisoner
saw Sir Lancelot, and each of them began to
settle his spear, and to make ready.

" Fair sir," then said Sir Lancelot, " put off
that wounded knight, I pray thee, from his
horse, and let him rest while thou and I shall
prove our strength upon each other ; for, as I
am told, thou doest, and hast done, great shame
and injury to knights of the Round Table.
Wherefore, I warn thee now, defend thyself."

" If thou mayest be of the Round Table,"
answered Turquine, " I defy thee, and all thy
fellows."

" That is saying overmuch," said Sir Lancelot.

Then, setting their lances in rest, they spurred
their horses towards each other, as fast as they
could go, and smote so fearfully upon each other's
shields, that both their horses' backs brake under
them. As soon as they could clear their saddles,
they took their shields before them, and drew
their swords, and came together eagerly, and
fought with great and grievous strokes ; and soon
they both had many grim and fearful wounds,
and bled in streams. Thus they fought two
hours and more, thrusting and smiting at each
other, wherever they could hit.

Anon, they both were breathless, and stood
leaning on their swords.

Sir Lancelot and Sir Turquine 143

" Now, comrade," said Sir Turquine, " let us
wait awhile, and answer me what I shall ask thee. "

" Say on," said Lancelot.

" Thou art," said Turquine, " the best man I
ever met, and seemest like one that I hate above
all other knights that live ; but if thou be not
he, I will make peace with thee, and for sake of
thy great valour, will deliver all the three score
prisoners and four who lie within my dungeons,
and thou and I will be companions evermore.
Tell me, then, thy name."

" Thou sayest well," replied Sir Lancelot ;
" but who is he thou hatest so above all others ? "

" His name," said Turquine, " is Sir Lancelot
of the Lake ; and he slew my brother Sir Carados,
at the dolorous tower ; wherefore, if ever I shall
meet with him, one of us two shall slay the other ;
and thereto I have sworn by a great oath. And
to discover and destroy him I have slain a hun-
dred knights, and crippled utterly as many more,
and many have died in my prisons ; and now, as
I have told thee, I have many more therein,
who all shall be delivered, if thou tell me thy
name, and it be not Sir Lancelot."

" Well," said Lancelot, " I am that knight, son
of King Ban of Benwick, and Knight of the
Round Table ; so now I defy thee to do thy best!"

" Aha ! " said Turquine, with a shout, "is it
then so at last ? Thou art more welcome to my
sword than ever knight or lady was to feast,
for never shall we part till one of us be dead."

Then did they hurtle together like two wild
bulls, slashing and lashing with their shields and

144 The Legends of King Arthur

swords, and sometimes falling both on to the
ground. For two more hours they fought so,
and at the last Sir Turquine grew very faint, and
gave a little back, and bare his shield full low for
weariness. When Sir Lancelot saw him thus, he
leaped upon him fiercely as a lion, and took him
by the crest of his helmet, and dragged him to his
knees ; and then he tore his helmet off and
smote his neck asunder.

Then he arose, and went to the damsel who
had brought him to Sir Turquine, and said, " I
am ready, fair lady, to go with thee upon thy
service, but I have no horse."

" Fair sir," said she, " take ye this horse of the
wounded knight whom Turquine but just now
was carrying to his prisons, and send that knight
on to deliver all the prisoners."

So Sir Lancelot went to the knight and prayed
him for the loan of his horse.

" Fair lord," said he, " ye are right welcome,
for to-day ye have saved me and my horse ; and
I see that ye are the best knight in all the world,
for in my sight have ye slain the mightiest man
and the best knight, except thyself, I ever saw."

" Sir," said Sir Lancelot, " I thank thee well ;
and now go into yonder castle, where thou shalt
find many noble knights of the Round Table, for
I have seen their shields hung on the trees around.
On yonder tree alone there are Sir Key's, Sir
Brandel's, Sir Marhaus's, Sir Galind's, and Sir
Aliduke's, and many more ; and also my two
kinsmen's shields, Sir Ector de Maris 's and Sir
Lionel's. And I pray you greet them all from

Sir Lancelot slays the Foul Knight 145

me, Sir Lancelot of the Lake, and tell them that
I bid them help themselves to any treasures they
can find within the castle ; and that I pray my
brethren, Lionel and Ector, to go to King Arthur's
court and stay there till I come. And by the
high feast at Pentecost I must be there ; but now
I must ride forth with this damsel to fulfil my
promise."

So, as they went, the damsel told him, " Sir,
we are now near the place where the foul knight
haunteth, who robbeth and distresseth all ladies
and gentlewomen travelling past this way,
against whom I have sought thy aid."

Then they arranged that she should ride on
foremost, and Sir Lancelot should follow under
cover of the trees by the roadside, and if he saw
her come to any mishap, he should ride forth and
deal with him that troubled her. And as the
damsel rode on at a soft ambling pace, a knight
and page burst forth from the roadside and
forced the damsel from her horse, till she cried
out for help.

Then came Sir Lancelot rushing through the
wood as fast as he might fly, and all the branches
of the trees crackled and waved around him. " O
thou false knight and traitor to all knighthood ! "
shouted he, " who taught thee to distress fair
ladies thus ? "

The foul knight answered nothing, but drew
out his sword and rode at Sir Lancelot, who
threw his spear away and drew his own sword
likewise, and struck him such a mighty blow as
clave his head down to the throat. " Now hast

146 The Legends of King Arthur

thou the wages thou long hast earned ! " said
he ; and so departed from the damsel.

Then for two days he rode in a great forest,
and had but scanty food and lodging, and on the
third day he rode over a long bridge, when sud-
denly there started up a passing foul churl, and
smote his horse across the nose, so that he
started and turned back, rearing with pain.
" Why ridest thou over here without my leave ? "
said he.

" Why should I not ? " said Sir Lancelot ;
" there is no other way to ride."

" Thou shalt not pass by here," cried out the
churl, and dashed at him with a great club full of
iron spokes, till Sir Lancelot was fain to draw his
sword and smite him dead upon the earth.

At the end of the bridge was a fair village, and
all the people came and cried, " Ah, sir ! a worse
deed for thyself thou never didst, for thou hast
slain the chief porter of the castle yonder ! " But
he let them talk as they pleased, and rode
straight forward to the castle.

There he alighted, and tied his horse to a ring
in the wall ; and going in, he saw a wide green
court, and thought it seemed a noble place to
fight in. And as he looked about, he saw many
people watching him from doors and windows,
making signs of warning, and saying, " Fair
knight, thou art unhappy." In the next moment
came upon him two great giants, well armed save
their heads, and with two horrible clubs in their
hands. Then he put his shield before him, and
with it warded off one giant's stroke, and clove

Sir Lancelot delivers the Ladies 147

the other with his sword from the head down-
ward to the chest. When the first giant saw that,
he ran away mad with fear ; but Sir Lancelot
ran after him, and smote him through the
shoulder, and shore him down his back, so that
he fell dead.

Then he walked onward to the castle hall, and
saw a band of sixty ladies and young damsels
coming forth, who knelt to him, and thanked him
for their freedom. " For, sir," said they, " the
most of us have been prisoners here these seven
years ; and have been kept at all manner of work
to earn our meat, though we be all great gentle-
women born. Blessed be the time that thou was
born, for never did a knight a deed of greater
worship than thou hast this day, and thereto
will we all bear witness in all times and places !
Tell us, therefore, noble knight, thy name and
court, that we may tell them to our friends ! "
And when they heard it, they all cried aloud,
" Well may it be so, for we knew that no knight
save thou shouldst ever overcome those giants ;
and many a long day have we sighed for thee ;
for the giants feared no other name among all
knights but thine."

Then he told them to take the treasures of the
castle as a reward for their grievances, and to
return to their homes, and so rode away into
many strange and wild countries. And at last,
after many days, by chance he came, near the
night time, to a fair mansion, wherein he found
an old gentlewoman, who gave him and his horse
good cheer. And when bed time was come, his

148 The Legends of King Arthur

host brought him to a chamber over a gate, and
there he unarmed, and went to bed and fell
asleep.

But soon thereafter came one riding in great
haste, and knocking vehemently at the gate
below, which when Sir Lancelot heard, he rose
and looked out of the window, and, by the moon-
light, saw three knights come riding fiercely
after one man, and lashing on him all at once
with their swords, while the one knight nobly
fought them all.

Then Sir Lancelot quickly armed himself, and
getting through the window, let himself down by
a sheet into the midst of them, crying out,
" Turn ye on me, ye cowards, and leave fighting
with that knight ! " Then they all left Sir Key,
for the first knight was he, and began to fall upon
Sir Lancelot furiously. And when Sir Key
would have come forward to assist him, Sir
Lancelot refused, and cried, " Leave me alone to
deal with them." And presently, with six great
strokes, he felled them all.

Then they cried out, " Sir knight, we yield us
unto thee, as to a man of might ! "

" I will not take your yielding ! " said he;
" yield ye to Sir Key, the seneschal, or I will have
your lives."

" Fair knight," said they, " excuse us in that
thing, for we have chased Sir Key thus far, and
should have overcome him but for thee."

" Well," said Sir Lancelot, " do as ye will, for
ye may live or die ; but, if ye live, ye shall be
holden to Sir Key."

The White Shields 149

Then they yielded to him ; and Sir Lancelot
commanded them to go unto King Arthur's court
at the next Pentecost, and say, Sir Key had sent
them prisoners to Queen Guinevere. And this
they sware to do upon their swords.

Then Sir Lancelot knocked at the gate with his
sword-hilt till his hostess came and let him in
again, and Sir Key also. And when the light
came, Sir Key knew Sir Lancelot, and knelt and
thanked him for his courtesy, and gentleness,
and kindness. " Sir," said he, " I have done no
more than what I ought to do, and ye are wel-
come ; therefore let us now take rest."

So when Sir Key had supped, they went to
sleep, and Sir Lancelot and he slept in the same
bed. On the morrow, Sir Lancelot rose early,
and took Sir Key's shield and armour and set
forth. When Sir Key arose, he found Sir
Lancelot's armour by his bedside, and his own
arms gone. " Now, by my faith," thought he,
" I know that he will grieve some knights of our
king's court ; for those who meet him will be
bold to joust with him, mistaking him for me,
while I, dressed in his shield and armour, shall
surely ride in peace."

Then Sir Lancelot, dressed in Sir Key's apparel,
rode long in a great forest, and came at last to a
low country, full of rivers and fair meadows, and
saw a bridge before him, whereon were three silk
tents of divers colours, and to each tent was hung
a white shield, and by each shield stood a knight.
So Sir Lancelot went by without speaking a
word. And when he had passed, the three knights

I*

150 The Legends of King Arthur

said it was the proud Sir Key, " who thinketh no
knight equal to himself, although the contrary-
is full often proved upon him."

" By my faith ! " said one of them, named
Gaunter, " I will ride after and attack him for
all his pride, and ye shall watch my speed."

Then, taking shield and spear, he mounted and
rode after Sir Lancelot and cried, " Abide, proud
knight, and turn, for thou shalt not pass free ! "

So Sir Lancelot turned, and each one put his
spear in rest and came with all his might against
the other. And Sir Gaunter 's spear brake short,
but Sir Lancelot smote him down, both horse
and man.

When the other knights saw this, they said,
" Yonder is not Sir Key, but a bigger man."

" I dare wager my head," said Sir Gilmere,
" yonder knight hath slain Sir Key, and taken
his horse and harness."

" Be it so, or not," said Sir Reynold, the third
brother ; " let us now go to our brother Gaunter 's
rescue ; we shall have enough to do to match that
knight, for, by his stature, I believe it is Sir
Lancelot or Sir Tristram."

Anon, they took their horses and galloped after
Sir Lancelot ; and Sir Gilmere first assailed him,
but was smitten down forthwith, and lay stunned
on the earth. Then said Sir Reynold, " Sir
knight, thou art a strong man, and, I believe,
hast slain my two brothers, wherefore my heart
is sore against thee ; yet, if I might with honour,
I would avoid thee. Nevertheless, that cannot
be, so keep thyself." And so they hurtled

Sir Gaunter attacks Sir Lancelot 151

together with all their might, and each man
shivered his spear to pieces ; and then they drew
their swords and lashed out eagerly.

And as they fought, Sir Gaunter and Sir
Gilmere presently arose and mounted once again,
and came down at full tilt upon Sir Lancelot.
But, when he saw them coming, he put forth all
his strength, and struck Sir Reynold off his
horse. Then, with two other strokes, he served
the others likewise.

Aribn, Sir Reynold crept along the ground,
with his head all bloody, and came towards Sir
Lancelot. " It is enough," said Lancelot, " I
was not far from thee when thou wast made a
knight, Sir Reynold, and know thee for a good
and valiant man, and was full loth to slay thee."

" Grammercy for thy gentleness ! " said Sir
Reynold. " I and my brethren will straightway
yield to thee when we know thy name, for well
we know that thou art not Sir Key."

" As for that," said Sir Lancelot, " be it as it
may, but ye shall yield to Queen Guinevere at
the next feast of Pentecost as prisoners, and say
that Sir Key sent ye."

Then they swore to him it should be done as he
commanded. And so Sir Lancelot passed on,
and the three brethren helped each other's
wounds as best they might.

Th'en rode Sir Lancelot, forward into a deep
forest, and came upon four knights of King
Arthur's court, under an oak tree — Sir Sagramour,
Sir Ector, Sir Gawain, and Sir Ewaine. And
when they spied him, they thought he was Sir

152 The Legends of King Arthur

Key. " Now by my faith," said Sir Sagramour,
" I will prove Sir Key's might ! " and taking his
spear he rode towards Sir Lancelot.

But Sir Lancelot was aware of him, and,
setting his spear in rest, smote him so sorely, that
horse and man fell to the earth.

" Lo ! " cried Sir Ector, " I see by the buffet
that knight hath given our fellow he is stronger
than Sir Key. Now will I try what I can do
against him ! " So Sir Ector took his spear, and
galloped at Sir Lancelot ; and Sir Lancelot met
him as he came, and smote him through shield
and shoulder, so that he fell, but his own spear
was not broken.

" By my faith," cried Sir Ewaine, " yonder is a
strong knight, and must have slain Sir Key, and
taken his armour ! By his strength, I see it will be
hard to match him." So saying, he rode towards
Sir Lancelot, who met him halfway and struck him
so fiercely, that at one blow he overthrew him also.

" Now," said Sir Gawain, " will I encounter
him." So he took a good spear in his hand, and
guarded himself with his shield. And he and Sir
Lancelot rode against each other, with their
horses at full speed, and furiously smote each
other on the middle of their shields ; but Sir
Gawain 's spear broke short asunder, and Sir
Lancelot charged so mightily upon him, that his
horse and he both fell, and rolled upon the ground.

" Ah," said Sir Lancelot, smiling, as he rode
away from the four knights, " heaven give joy
to him who made this spear, for never held I
better in my hand."

The Dead Knight 153

But the four knights said to each other,
" Truly one spear hath felled us all."

" I dare lay my life," said Sir Gawain, " it is
Sir Lancelot. I know him by his riding."

So they all departed for the court.

And as Sir Lancelot rode still in the forest, he
saw a black bloodhound, running with its head
towards the ground, as if it tracked a deer. And
following after it, he came to a great pool of
blood. But the hound, ever and anon looking
behind, ran through a great marsh, and over a
bridge, towards an old manor house. So Sir
Lancelot followed, and went into the hall, and
saw a dead knight lying there, whose wounds the
hound licked. And a lady stood behind him,
weeping, and wringing her hands, who cried
" O knight ! too great is the sorrow which thou
hast brought me ! "

" Why say ye so ? " replied Sir Lancelot ;
" for I never harmed this knight, and am full
sorely grieved to see thy sorrow."

' ' Nay, sir, "said the lady, ' ' I see it is not thou hast
slain my husband, for he that truly did that deed
is deeply wounded, and shall never more recover."

" What is thy husband's name ? " said Sir
Lancelot.

" His name," she answered, " was Sir Gilbert —
one of the best knights in all the world ; but I
know not his name who hath slain him."

u God send thee comfort," said Sir Lancelot,
and departed again into the forest.

And as he rode, he met with a damsel who
knew him, who cried out, " Well found, my lord !

154 The Legends of King Arthur

I pray ye of your knighthood help my brother,
who is sore wounded and ceases not to bleed, for
he fought this day with Sir Gilbert, and slew him,
but was himself well nigh slain. And there is a
sorceress, who dwelleth in a castle hard by, and
she this day hath told me that my brother's
wound shall never be made whole until I find a
knight to go into the Chapel Perilous, and bring
from thence a sword and the bloody cloth in
which the wounded knight was wrapped."

" This is a marvellous thing ! " said Sir
Lancelot ; " but what is your brother's name ? "

" His name, sir," she replied, " is Sir Meliot de
Logres."

" He is a Fellow of the Round Table," said Sir
Lancelot, "and truly will I do my best to help him."

" Then, sir," said she, " follow this way, and it
will bring ye to the Chapel Perilous. I will abide
here till God send ye hither again ; for if ye speed
not, there is no living knight who may achieve
that adventure."

So Sir Lancelot departed, and when he came to
the Chapel Perilous he alighted, and tied his horse
to the gate. And as soon as he was within the
churchyard, he saw on the front of the chapel
many shields of knights whom he had known,
turned upside down. Then saw he in the path-
way thirty mighty knights, taller than any men
whom he had ever seen, all armed in black ar-
mour, with their swords drawn ; and they
gnashed their teeth upon him as he came. But
he put his shield before him, and took his sword
in hand, ready to do battle with them. And

The Chapel Perilous 155

when he would have cut his way through them,
they scattered on every side and let him pass.
Then he went into the chapel, and saw therein
no light but of a dim lamp burning. Then he
was aware of a corpse in the midst of the chapel
covered with a silken cloth, and so stooped down
and cut off a piece of the cloth, whereat the earth
beneath him trembled, Then saw he a sword
lying by the dead knight, and taking it in his
hand, he hied him from the chapel. As soon as
he was in the churchyard again, all the thirty
knights cried out to him with fierce voices, " Sir
Lancelot ! lay that sword from thee, or thou diest ! "

" Whether I live or die," said he, " ye shall
fight for it ere ye take it from me."

With that they let him pass.

And further on, beyond the chapel, he met a
fair damsel, who said, " Sir Lancelot, leave that
sword behind thee, or thou diest."

" I will not leave it," said Sir Lancelot, " for
any asking."

" Then, gentle knight," said the damsel, " I
pray thee kiss me once."

" Nay," said Sir Lancelot, " that God forbid ! "

" AJas ! " cried she, " I have lost all my
labour, but hadst thou kissed me, thy life's days
had been all done ! "

" Heaven save me from thy subtle crafts ! "
said Sir Lancelot ; and therewith took his horse
and galloped forth.

And when he was departed, the damsel sor-
rowed greatly, and died in fifteen days. Her
name was Ellawes, the sorceress.

156 The Legends of King Arthur

Then came Sir Lancelot to Sir Meliot's sister,
who, when she saw him, clapped her hands and
wept for joy, and took him to the castle hard by,
where Sir Meliot was. And when Sir Lancelot
saw Sir Meliot, he knew him, though he was pale
as ashes for loss of blood. And Sir Meliot, when
he saw Sir Lancelot, kneeled to him and cried
aloud, " O lord, Sir Lancelot ! help me ! "

And thereupon, Sir Lancelot went to him and
touched his wounds with the sword, and wiped
them with the piece of bloody cloth. And im-
mediately he was as whole as though he had been
never wounded. Then was there great joy
between him and Sir Meliot ; and his sister made
Sir Lancelot good cheer. So on the morrow, he
took his leave, that he might go to King Arthur's
court, " for," said he, " it draweth nigh the feast
of Pentecost, and there, by God's grace, shall ye
then find me."

And riding through many strange countries,
over marshes and valleys, he came at length
before a castle. As he passed by he heard two
little bells ringing, and looking up, he saw a
falcon flying overhead, with bells tied to her feet,
and long strings dangling from them. And as the
falcon flew past an elm-tree, the strings caught
in the boughs, so that she could fly no further.

In the meanwhile, came a lady from the castle,
and cried, " Oh, Sir Lancelot ! as thou art the
flower of all knights in the world, help me to get
my hawk, for she hath slipped away from me,
and if she be lost, my lord my husband is so
hasty, he will surely slay me ! "

Sir Lancelot and Sir Phelot 157

" What is thy lord's name ? " said Sir Lancelot.

" His name," said she, " is Sir Phelot, a knight
of the King of Northgales."

' ' Fair lady, ' ' said Sir Lancelot , ' ' since you know
my name, and require me, on my knighthood, to
help you, I will do what I can to get your hawk."

And thereupon alighting, he tied his horse to
the same tree, and prayed the lady to unarm him.
So when he was unarmed, he climbed up and
reached the falcon, and threw it to the lady.

Then suddenly came down, out of the wood,
her husband, Sir Phelot, all armed, with a drawn
sword in his hand, and said, " Oh, Sir Lancelot !
now have I found thee as I would have thee ! "
and stood at the trunk of the tree to slay him.

" Ah, lady ! " cried Sir Lancelot, " why have
ye betrayed me ? "

" She hath done as I commanded her," said Sir
Phelot, "and thine hour is come that thou must die."

" It were shame," said Lancelot, " for an
armed to slay an unarmed man."

" Thou hast no other favour from me," said
Sir Phelot.

" Alas ! " cried Sir Lancelot, " that ever any
knight should die weaponless ! " And looking
overhead, he saw a great bough without leaves,
and wrenched it off the tree, and suddenly
leaped down. Then Sir Phelot struck at him
eagerly, thinking to have slain him, but Sir
Lancelot put aside the stroke with the bough,
and therewith smote him on the side of the head,
till he fell swooning to the ground. And tearing
his sword from out his hands, he shore his neck

158 The Legends of King Arthur

through from the body. Then did the lady shriek
dismally, and swooned as though she would
die. But Sir Lancelot put on his armour, and
with haste took his horse and departed thence,
thanking God he had escaped that peril.

And as he rode through a valley, among many
wild ways, he sawa knight, witha drawn sword, chas-
ing a lady to slay her. And seeing Sir Lancelot,
she cried and prayed to him to come and rescue her.

At that he went up, saying, " Fie on thee,
knight ! Why wilt thou slay this lady ? Thou
doest shame to thyself and all knights."

" What hast thou to do between me and my
wife ? " replied the knight. " I will slay her
in spite of thee."

" Thou shalt not harm her," said Sir Lancelot,
" till we have first fought together."

" Sir," answered the knight, " thou doest ill,
for this lady hath betrayed me."

" He speaketh falsely," said the lady, " for he
is jealous of me without cause, as I shall answer
before Heaven ; but as thou art named the most
worshipful knight in the world, I pray thee of thy
trueknighthoodtosaveme, for he is without mercy."

" Be of good cheer," said Sir Lancelot ; "it
shall not lie within his power to harm thee."

" Sir," said the knight, " I will be ruled as ye
will have me."

So Sir Lancelot rode between the knight and
the lady. And when they had ridden awhile,
the knight cried out suddenly to Sir Lancelot to
turn and see what men they were who came
riding after them ; and while Sir Lancelot,

Sir Lancelot and Sir Pedivere 159

thinking not of treason, turned to look, the knight,
with one great stroke, smote off the lady's head.

Then was Sir Lancelot passing wroth, and
cried, " Thou traitor ! Thou hast shamed me for
ever ! " and, alighting from his horse, he drew
his sword to have slain him instantly ; but the
knight fell on the ground and clasped Sir Lance-
lot's knees, and cried out for mercy. " Thou
shameful knight," answered Lancelot, " thou
mayest have no mercy, for thou showedst none,
therefore arise and fight with me."

" Nay," said the knight, " I will not rise till
thou dost grant me mercy."

" Now will I deal fairly by thee," said Sir
Lancelot ; "I will unarm me to my shirt, and
have my sword only in my hand, and if thou
canst slay me thou shalt be quit for ever."

11 That will I never do," said the knight.

" Then," answered Sir Lancelot, " take this
lady and the head, and bear it with thee, and
swear to me upon thy sword never to rest until
thou comest to Queen Guinevere."

" That will I do," said he.

" Now," said Sir Lancelot, " tell me thy name."

" It is Pedivere," answered the knight.

" In a shameful hour wert thou born," said Sir
Lancelot.

So Sir Pedivere departed, bearing with him the
dead lady and her head. And when he came to
Winchester, where the queen was with King
Arthur, he told them all the truth ; and after-
wards did great and heavy penance many years,
and became an holy hermit.

160 The Legends of King Arthur

So, two days before the Feast of Pentecost,
Sir Lancelot returned to the court, and King
Arthur was full glad of his coming. And when
Sir Gawain, Sir Ewaine, Sir Sagramour, and Sir
Ector, saw him in Sir Key's armour, they knew
well it was he who had smitten them all down
with one spear. Anon, came all the knights Sir
Turquine had taken prisoners, and gave worship
and honour to Sir Lancelot. Then Sir Key told
the King how Sir Lancelot had rescued him when
he was in near danger of his death ; " and," said
Sir Key, " he made the knights yield, not to him-
self, but me. And by Heaven ! because Sir
Lancelot took my armour and left me his, I rode
in peace, and no man would have aught to do
with me." Then came the knights who fought
with Sir Lancelot at the long bridge and yielded
themselves also to Sir Key, but he said nay, he
had not fought with them. " It is Sir Lancelot,"
said he, " that overcame ye." Next came Sir
Meliot le Logres, and told King Arthur how Sir
Lancelot had saved him from death.

And so all Sir Lancelot's deeds and great ad-
ventures were made known ; how the four
sorceress-queens had him in prison ; how he was
delivered by the daughter of King Bagdemagus,
and what deeds of arms he did at the tournament
between the King of North Wales and King
Bagdemagus. And so, at that festival, Sir
Lancelot had the greatest name of any knight in
all the world, and by high and low was he the
most honoured of all men.

CHAPTER X
The Adventures of Sir Beaumains or Sir Gareth

AGAIN King Arthur held the Feast of
Pentecost, with all the Table Round, and
after his custom sat in the banquet hall,
before beginning meat, waiting for some adven-
ture. Then came there to the king a squire and
said, " Lord, now may ye go to meat, for here a
damsel cometh with some strange adventure."
So the king was glad, and sat down to meat.

Anon the damsel came in and saluted him,
praying him for succour. " What wilt thou ? "
said the king. " Lord," answered she, " my
mistress is a lady of great renown, but is at this
time besieged by a tyrant, who will not suffer her
to go out of her castle ; and because here in thy
court the knights are called the noblest in the
world, I come to pray thee for thy succour."
" Where dwelleth your lady ? " answered the
king. " What is her name, and who is he that
hath besieged her ? " " For her name," replied
the damsel, " as yet I may not tell it ; but she is
a lady of worship and great lands. The tyrant
that besiegeth her and wasteth her lands is called
the Red Knight of the Redlands." " I know
him not," said Arthur. " But I know him, lord,"
said Sir Gawain, " and he is one of the most

161

162 The Legends of King Arthur

perilous knights in all the world. Men say he
hath the strength of seven ; and from him I
myself once hardly escaped with life." " Fair
damsel," said the king, " there be here many
knights that would gladly do their uttermost to
rescue your lady, but unless ye tell me her name,
and where she dwelleth, none of my knights shall
go with you by my leave."

Now, there was a stripling at the court called
Beaumains, who served in the king's kitchen, a
fair youth and of great stature. Twelve months
before this time he had come to the king as he sat
at meat, at Whitsuntide, and prayed three gifts
of him. And being asked what gifts, he answered,
" As for the first gift I will ask it now, but the
other two gifts I will ask on this day twelve
months, wheresoever ye hold your high feast."
Then said King Arthur, " What is thy first
request ? " " This, lord," said he, " that thou
wilt give me meat and drink enough for twelve
months from this time, and then will I ask my
other two gifts." And the king seeing that he
was a goodly youth, and deeming that he was
come of honourable blood, had granted his desire,
and given him into the charge of Sir Key, the
steward. But Sir Key scorned and mocked the
youth, calling him Beaumains, because his hands
were large and fair, and putting him into the
kitchen, where he had served for twelve months
as a scullion, and, in spite of all his churlish treat-
ment, had faithfully obeyed Sir Key. But Sir
Lancelot and Sir Gawain were angered when they
saw Sir Key so churlish to a youth that had so

The Adventures of Sir Gareth 163

worshipful a bearing, and ofttimes had they
given him gold and clothing.

And now at this time came young Beaumains to
the king, while the damsel was there, and said,
" Lord, now I thank thee well and heartily that
I have been twelve months kept in thy kitchen,
and have had full sustenance. Now will I ask
my two remaining gifts." " Ask," said King
Arthur, " on my good faith." " These, lord,"
said he, " shall be my two gifts — the one, that
thou wilt grant me this adventure of the damsel,
for to me of right it belongeth ; and the other,
that thou wilt bid Sir Lancelot make me a knight,
for of him only will I have that honour ; and I
pray that he may ride after me and make me a
knight when I require him." "Be it as thou
wilt," replied the king. But thereupon the
damsel was full wroth, and said, " Shall I have a
kitchen page for this adventure ? " and so she
took horse and departed.

Then came one to Beaumains, and told him
that a dwarf with a horse and armour were
waiting for him. And all men marvelled whence
these things came. But when he was on horse-
back and armed, scarce any one at the court was
a goodlier man than he. And coming into the
hall, he took his leave of the king and Sir Gawain,
and prayed Sir Lancelot to follow him. So he
rode after the damsel, and many of the court
went out to see him, so richly arrayed and horsed ;
yet he had neither shield nor spear. Then Sir
Key cried, " I also will ride after the kitchen boy,
and see whether he will obey me now." And

164 The Legends of King Arthur

taking his horse, he rode after him, and said,
" Know ye not me, Beaumains ? " " Yea," said
he, " I know thee for an ungentle knight, there-
fore beware of me." Then Sir Key put his spear
in rest and ran at him, but Beaumains rushed
upon him with his sword in his hand, and there-
with, putting aside the spear, struck Sir Key so
sorely in the side, that he fell down, as if dead.
Then he alighted, and took his shield and spear,
and bade his dwarf ride upon Sir Key's horse.

By this time, Sir Lancelot had come up, and
Beaumains offering to tilt with him, they both
made ready. And their horses came together
so fiercely that both fell to the earth, full sorely
bruised. Then they arose, and Beaumains,
putting up his shield before him, offered to fight
Sir Lancelot on foot. So they rushed upon each
other, striking, and thrusting, and parrying, for
the space of an hour. And Lancelot marvelled
at the strength of Beaumains, for he fought more
like a giant than a man, and his fighting was
passing fierce and terrible. So, at the last, he
said, " Fight not so sorely, Beaumains ; our
quarrel is not such that we may not now cease."
" True," answered Beaumains ; " yet it doth me
good to feel thy might, though I have not yet
proved my uttermost." " By my faith," said
Lancelot, " I had as much as I could do to save
myself from you unshamed, therefore be in no
doubt of any earthly knight." " May I, then,
stand as a proved knight ? " said Beaumains.
" For that will I be thy warrant," answered
Lancelot. " Then, I pray thee," said he, " give

The Adventures of Sir Gareth 165

me the order of knighthood." " First, then,
must thou tell me of thy name and kindred," said
Sir Lancelot. " If thou wilt tell them to no
other, I will tell thee," answered he. " My name
is Gareth of Orkney, and I am own brother to
Sir Gawain." " Ah ! " said Sir Lancelot, " at
that am I full glad ; for, truly, I deemed thee to
be of gentle blood." So then he knighted Beau-
mains, and, after that, they parted company, and
Sir Lancelot, returning to the court, took up
Sir Key on his shield. And hardly did Sir Key
escape with his life, from the wound Beaumains
had given him ; but all men blamed him for his
ungentle treatment of so brave a knight.

Then Sir Beaumains rode forward, and soon
overtook the damsel ; but she said to him, in
scorn, " Return again, base kitchen page ! What
art thou, but a washer-up of dishes ! " " Damsel,"
said he, " say to me what thou wilt, I will not
leave thee ; for I have undertaken to King
Arthur to relieve thy adventure, and I will finish
it to the end, or die." " Thou finish my adven-
ture ! " said she — " anon, thou shalt meet one,
whose face thou wilt not even dare to look at."
" I shall attempt it," answered he. So, as they
rode thus, into a wood, there met them a man,
fleeing as for his life. " Whither fleest thou ? "
said Sir Beaumains. " O lord ! " he answered,
" help me ; for, in a valley hard by, there are
six thieves, who have taken my lord, and bound
him, and I fear will slay him." " Bring me
thither," said Sir Beaumains. So they rode to
the place, and Sir Beaumains rushed after the

M

1 66 The Legends of King Arthur

thieves, and smote one, at the first stroke, so that
he died ; and then, with two other blows, slew
a second and third. Then fled the other three,
and Sir Beaumains rode after them, and overtook
and slew them all. Then he returned and un-
bound the knight. And the knight thanked him,
and prayed him to ride to his castle, where he
would reward him. " Sir," answered Sir Beau-
mains, " I will have no reward of thee, for but
this day was I made knight by the most noble
Sir Lancelot ; and besides, I must go with this
damsel." Then the knight begged the damsel
to rest that night at his castle. So they all rode
thither, and ever the damsel scoffed at Sir
Beaumains as a kitchen boy, and laughed at him
before the knight their host, so that he set his
meat before him at a lower table, as though he
were not of their company.

And on the morrow, the damsel and Sir
Beaumains took their leave of the knight, and
thanking him departed. Then they rode on
their way till they came to a great forest, through
which flowed a river, and there was but one
passage over it, whereat stood two knights
armed to hinder the way. " Wilt thou match
those two knights," said the damsel to Sir
Beaumains, " or return again ? " "I would not
return," said he, " though they were six."
Therewith he galloped into the water, and swam
his horse into the middle of the stream. And
there, in the river, one of the knights met him, and
they brake their spears together, and then drew
their swords, and smote fiercely at each other.

The Adventures of Sir Gareth 167

And at the last, Sir Beaumains struck the other
mightily upon the helm, so that he fell down
stunned into the water, and was drowned. Then
Sir Beaumains spurred his horse on to the land,
where instantly the other knight fell on him.
And they also brake their spears upon each other,
and then drew their swords, and fought savagely
and long together. And after many blows, Sir
Beaumains clove through the knight's skull down
to the shoulders. Then rode Sir Beaumains to
the damsel, but ever she still scoffed at him, and
said, " Alas ! that a kitchen page should chance
to slay two such brave knights ! Thou deemest
now that thou hast done a mighty deed, but it is
not so ; for the first knight's horse stumbled, and
thus was he drowned — not by thy strength ; and
as for the second knight, thou wentest by chance
behind him, and didst kill him shamefully."
" Damsel," said Sir Beaumains, " say what ye
list, I care not so I may win your lady ; and
wouldst thou give me but fair language, all my
care were past ; for whatsoever knights I meet,
I fear them not." " Thou shalt see knights that
shall abate thy boast, base kitchen knave,"
replied she ; " yet say I this for thine advantage,
for if thou followest me thou wilt be surely slain,
since I see all thou doest is but by chance, and
not by thy own prowess." " Well, damsel,"
said he, " say what ye will, wherever ye go I will
follow."

So they rode on until the eventide, and still the
damsel evermore kept chiding Sir Beaumains.
Then came they to a black space of land, whereon

1 68 The Legends of King Arthur

was a black hawthorn tree, and on the tree there
hung a black banner, and on the other side was
a black shield and spear, and by them a great
black horse, covered with silk ; and hard by sat a
knight armed in black armour, whose name was
the Knight of the Blacklands. When the damsel
saw him, she cried out to Beaumains, " Flee
down the valley, for thy horse is not saddled 1 "
" Wilt thou for ever deem me coward ? " an-
swered he. With that came the Black Knight
to the damsel, and said, " Fair damsel, hast thou
brought this knight from Arthur's court to be thy
champion ? " " Not so, fair knight," said she ;
" he is but a kitchen knave." " Then wherefore
cometh he in such array ? " said he ; " it is a
shame that he should bear thee company." " I
cannot be delivered from him," answered she :
" for in spite of me he rideth with me ; and would
to Heaven you would put him from me, or now
slay him, for he hath slain two knights at the river
passage yonder, and done many marvellous deeds
through pure mischance." " I marvel," said the
Black Knight, " that any man of worship will
fight with him." " They know him not," said
the damsel, " and think, because he rideth with
me, that he is well born." " Truly, he hath a
goodly person, and is likely to be a strong man,"
replied the knight ; " but since he is no man of
worship, he shall leave his horse and armour with
me, for it were a shame for me to do him more
harm."

When Sir Beaumains heard him speak thus, he
said, " Horse or armour gettest thou none of me,

The Adventures of Sir Gareth 169

Sir knight, save thou winnest them with thy
hands ; therefore defend thyself, and let me see
what thou canst do." "How sayest thou?"
answered the Black Knight. " Now quit this
lady also, for it beseemeth not a kitchen knave
like thee to ride with such a lady." " I am of
higher lineage than thou," said Sir Beaumains,
11 and will straightway prove it on thy body."
Then furiously they drove their horses at each
other, and came together as it had been thunder.
But the Black Knight's spear brake short, and
Sir Beaumains thrust him through the side, and
his spear breaking at the head, left its point stick-
ing fast in the Black Knight's body. Yet did
the Black Knight draw his sword, and smite at
Sir Beaumains with many fierce and bitter blows ;
but after they had fought an hour and more, he
fell down from his horse in a swoon, and forth-
with died. Then Sir Beaumains lighted down
and armed himself in the Black Knight's armour,
and rode on after the damsel. But notwith-
standing all his valour, still she scoffed at him, and
said, " Away ! for thou savourest ever of the
kitchen. Alas ! that such a knave should by
mishap destroy so good a knight ; yet once again
I counsel thee to flee, for hard by is a knight who
shall repay thee ! " " It may chance that I am
beaten or slain," answered Sir Beaumains, " but
I warn thee, fair damsel, that I will not flee away,
nor leave thy company, or my quest, for all that
ye can say."

Anon, as they rode, they saw a knight come
swiftly towards them, dressed all in green, who

170 The Legends of King Arthur

calling to the damsel said, " Is that my brother,
the Black Knight, that ye have brought with
you ? " " Nay, and alas ! " said she, " this
kitchen knave hath slain thy brother through
mischance." " Alas ! " said the Green Knight,
" that such a noble knight as he was should be
slain by a knave's hand. Traitor ! " cried he to
Sir Beaumains, " thou shalt die for this ! Sir
Pereardwas my brother, and a full noble knight."
" I defy thee," said Sir Beaumains, "for I slew
him knightly and not shamefully." Then the
Green Knight rode to a thorn whereon hung a
green horn, and, when he blew three notes, there
came three damsels forth, who quickly armed him,
and brought him a great horse and a green shield
and spear. Then did they run at one another
with their fullest might, and break their spears
asunder ; and, drawing their swords, they closed
in fight, and sorely smote and wounded each
other with many grievous blows.

At last, Sir Beaumains 's horse jostled against
the Green Knight's horse, and overthrew him.
Then both alighted, and, hurtling together like
mad lions, fought a great while on foot. But the
damsel cheered the Green Knight, and said, " My
lord, why wilt thou let a kitchen knave so long
stand up against thee ? " Hearing these words, he
was ashamed, and gave Sir Beaumains such a
mighty stroke as clave his shield asunder. When
Sir Beaumains heard the damsel's words, and felt
that blow, he waxed passing wroth, and gave the
Green Knight such a buffet on the helm that he
fell on his knees, and with another blow Sir

The Adventures of Sir Gareth 171

Beaumains threw him on the ground. Then the
Green Knight yielded, and prayed him to spare
his life. " All thy prayers are vain," said he,
" unless this damsel who came with me pray for
thee." " That will I never do, base kitchen
knave," said she. " Then shall he die," said
Beaumains. " Alas ! fair lady," said the Green
Knight, " suffer me not to die for a word ! O,
Sir knight," cried he to Beaumains, " give me my
life, and I will ever do thee homage ; and thirty
knights, who owe me service, shall give allegiance
to thee." " All availeth not," answered Sir
Beaumains, " unless the damsel ask me for thy
life ; " and thereupon he made as though he
would have slain him. Then cried the damsel,
" Slay him not ; for if thou do thou shalt repent
it." " Damsel," said Sir Beaumains, " at thy
command, he shall obtain his life. Arise, Sir
knight of the green armour, I release thee ! "
Then the Green Knight knelt at his feet, and did
him homage with his words. " Lodge with me this
night," said he, " and to-morrow will I guide ye
through the forest." So, taking their horses,
they rode to his castle, which was hard by.

Yet still did the damsel rebuke and scoff at
Sir Beaumains, and would not suffer him to sit
at her table. " I marvel," said the Green Knight
to her, " that ye thus chide so noble a knight, for
truly I know none to match him ; and be sure,
that whatsoever he appeareth now, he will
prove, at the end, of noble blood and royal
lineage." But of all this would the damsel take
no heed, and ceased not to mock at Sir Beaumains.

172 The Legends of King Arthur

On the morrow, they arose and heard mass ; and
when they had broken their fast, took their
horses and rode on their way, the Green Knight
conveying them through the forest. Then, when
he had led them for a while, he said to Sir Beau-
mains, " My lord, my thirty knights and I shall
always be at thy command whensoever thou shalt
send for us." " It is well said," replied he ;
" and when I call upon you, you shall yield
yourself and all your knights unto King Arthur."
" That will we gladly do," said the Green Knight,
and so departed.

And the damsel rode on before Sir Beaumains,
and said to him, " Why dost thou follow me, thou
kitchen boy ? I counsel thee to throw aside thy
spear and shield, and flee betimes, for wert thou
as mighty as Sir Lancelot or Sir Tristram, thou
shouldest not pass a valley near this place, called
the Pass Perilous." " Damsel," answered he,
" let him that feareth flee ; as for me, it were
indeed a shameful thing to turn after so long a
journey." As he spake, they came upon a tower
as white as snow, with mighty battlements, and
double moats round it, and over the tower-gate
hung fifty shields of divers colours. Before the
tower walls, they saw a fair meadow, wherein
were many knights and squires in pavilions, for
on the morrow there was a tournament at that
castle.

Then the lord of the castle, seeing a knight
armed at all points, with a damsel and a page,
riding towards the tower, came forth to meet
them ; and his horse and harness, with his shield

PL 3.

see p. 17(i.

'Lady," replied Sir Beaumains, "a knight is little
worth who may not bear with a damsel."

m.\--i.

The Adventures of Sir Gareth 173

and spear, were all of a red colour. When he
came near Sir Beaumains, and saw his armour all
of black, he thought him his own brother, the
Black Knight, and so cried aloud, " Brother !
what do ye here, within these borders ? " " Nay!"
said the damsel, " it is not thy brother, but a
kitchen knave of Arthur's court, who hath slain
thy brother, and overcome thy other brother
also, the Green Knight." " Now do I defy
thee ! " cried the Red Knight to Sir Beaumains,
and put his spear in rest and spurred his horse.
Then both knights turned back a little space, and
ran together with all their might, till their
horses fell to the earth. Then, with their swords,
they fought fiercely for the space of three hours.
And at last, Sir Beaumains overcame his foe,
and smote him to the ground. Then the Red
Knight prayed his mercy, and said, " Slay me
not, noble knight, and I will yield to thee with
sixty knights that do my bidding." " All avails
not," answered Sir Beaumains, " save this damsel
pray me to release thee." Then did he lift his
sword to slay him ; but the damsel cried aloud,
" Slay him not, Beaumains, for he is a noble
knight." Then Sir Beaumains bade him rise up
and thank the damsel, which straightway he did,
and afterwards invited them to his castle, and
made them goodly cheer.

But notwithstanding all Sir Beaumains 's mighty
deeds, the damsel ceased not to revile and chide
him, at which the Red Knight marvelled much ;
and caused his sixty knights to watch Sir Beau-
mains, that no villainy might happen to him.

174 The Legends of King Arthur

And on the morrow, they heard mass and broke
their fast, and the Red Knight came before Sir
Beaumains, with his sixty knights, and proffered
him homage and fealty. " I thank thee," an-
swered he ; " and when I call upon thee thou
shalt come before my lord King Arthur at his
court, and yield yourselves to him." " That will
we surely do," said the Red Knight. So Sir
Beaumains and the damsel departed.

And as she constantly reviled him and tor-
mented him, he said to her, " Damsel, ye are dis-
courteous thus always to rebuke me, for I have
done you service ; and for all your threats of
knights that shall destroy me, all they who come
lie in the dust before me. Now, therefore, I pray
you rebuke me no more till you see me beaten or
a recreant, and then bid me go from you."
" There shall soon meet thee a knight who shall
repay thee all thy deeds, thou boaster," answered
she, " for, save King Arthur, he is the man of
most worship in the world." " It will be the
greater honour to encounter him," said Sir
Beaumains.

Soon after, they saw before them a city passing
fair, and between them and the city was a meadow
newly mown, wherein were many goodly tents.
" Seest thou yonder blue pavilion ? " said the
damsel to Sir Beaumains ; "it is Sir Perseant's,
the lord of that great city, whose custom is, in all
fair weather, to lie in this meadow, and joust with
his knights."

And as she spake, Sir Perseant, who had espied
them coming, sent a messenger to meet Sir

The Adventures of Sir Gareth 175

Beaumains, and to ask him if he came in war or
peace. " Say to thy lord," he answered, " that I
care not whether of the twain it be." So when
the messenger gave this reply, Sir Perseant came
out to fight with Sir Beaumains. And making
ready, they rode their steeds against each other ;
and when their spears were shivered asunder,
they fought with their swords. And for more
than two hours did they hack and hew at each
other, till their shields and hauberks were all
dinted with many blows, and they themselves
were sorely wounded. And at the last, Sir
Beaumains smote Sir Perseant on the helm, so
that he fell grovelling on the earth. And when
he unlaced his helm to slay him, the damsel
prayed for his life. " That will I grant gladly,"
answered Sir Beaumains, " for it were pity such
a noble knight should die." " Grammercy ! "
said Sir Perseant, " for now I certainly know that
it was thou who slewest my brother, the Black
Knight, Sir Pereard ; and overcame my brothers,
the Green Knight, Sir Pertolope, and the Red
Knight, Sir Perimones ; and since thou hast
overcome me also, I will do thee homage and
fealty, and place at thy command one hundred
knights to do thy bidding."

But when the damsel saw Sir Perseant over-
thrown, she marvelled greatly at the might of Sir
Beaumains, and said, " What manner of man may
ye be, for now am 1 sure that ye be come of noble
blood ? And truly, never did woman revile knight
as I have done thee, and yet ye have ever courte-
ously borne with me, which surely never had

176 The Legends of King Arthur

been were ye not of gentle blood and line-
age."

" Lady," replied Sir Beaumains, " a knight is
little worth who may not bear with a damsel ;
and so whatsoever ye said to me I took no heed,
save only that at times when your scorn angered
me, it made me all the stronger against those
with whom I fought, and thus have ye furthered
me in my battles. But whether I be born of
gentle blood or not, I have done you gentle
service, and peradventure will do better still,
ere I depart from you."

" Alas ! " said she, weeping at his courtesy,
" forgive me, fair Sir Beaumains, all that I have
missaid and misdone against you." " With all
my heart," said he ; " and since you now speak
fairly to me, I am passing glad of heart, and me-
thinks I have the strength to overcome whatever
knights I shall henceforth encounter."

Then Sir Perseant prayed them to come to his
pavilion, and set before them wines and spices,
and made them great cheer. So they rested that
night ; and on the morrow, the damsel and Sir
Beaumains rose, and heard mass. And when
they had broken their fast, they took their leave
of Sir Perseant. " Fair damsel," said he,
" whither lead ye this knight ? " " Sir," an-
swered she, " to the Castle Dangerous, where my
sister is besieged by the Knight of the Redlands."
" I know him well," said Sir Perseant, " for the
most perilous knight alive — a man without mercy,
and with the strength of seven men. God save
thee, Sir Beaumains, from him, and enable thee

The Adventures of Sir Gareth 177

to overcome him, for the Lady Lyones, whom he
besiegeth, is as fair a lady as there liveth in this
world." " Thou sayest truth, sir," said the
damsel ; " for I am her sister ; and men call me
Linet, or the Wild Maiden." " Now, I would
have thee know," said Sir Perseant to Sir Beau-
mains, " that the Knight of the Redlands hath
kept that siege more than two years, and pro-
longeth the time hoping that Sir Lancelot, or Sir
Tristram, or Sir Lamoracke, may come and battle
with him ; for these three knights divide between
them all knighthood ; and thou if thou mayest
match the Knight of the Redlands, shalt well be
called the fourth knight of the world." " Sir,"
said Sir Beaumains, " I would fain have that
good fame ; and truly, I am come of great and
honourable lineage. And so that you and this
fair damsel will conceal it, I will tell ye my
descent." And when they swore to keep it
secret, he told them, " My name is Sir Gareth of
Orkney, my father was King Lot, and my mother
the Lady Belisent, King Arthur's sister. Sir
Gawain, Sir Agravain, and Sir Gaheris, are my
brethren, and I am the youngest of them all.
But, as yet King Arthur and the court know me
not, who I am." When he had thus told them,
they both wondered greatly.

And the damsel Linet sent the dwarf forward
to her sister, to tell her of their coming. Then
did Dame Lyones inquire what manner of man
the knight was who was coming to her rescue.
And the dwarf told her of all Sir Beaumains 's deeds
by the way : how he had overthrown Sir Key,

178 The Legends of King Arthur

and left him for dead ; how he had battled with
Sir Lancelot, and was knighted of him ; how he
had fought with, and slain, the thieves ; how he
had overcome the two knights who kept the
river passage ; how he had fought with, and slain,
the Black Knight ; and how he had overcome the
Green Knight, the Red Knight, and last of all,
the Blue Knight, Sir Perseant. Then was Dame
Lyones passing glad, and sent the dwarf back to
Sir Beaumains with great gifts, thanking him for
his courtesy, in taking such a labour on him for
her sake, and praying him to be of good heart
and courage. And as the dwarf returned, he
met the Knight of the Redlands, who asked him
whence he came. " I came here with the sister
of my lady of the castle," said the dwarf, " who
hath been now to King Arthur's court and brought
a knight with her to take her battle on him."
" Then is her travail lost," replied the knight ;
" for, though she had brought Sir Lancelot, Sir
Tristram, Sir Lamoracke, or Sir Gawain, I count
myself their equal, and who besides shall be so
called ? " Then the dwarf told the knight what
deeds Sir Beaumains had done ; but he answered,
" I care not for him, whosoever he be, for I shall
shortly overcome him, and give him shameful
death, as to so many others I have done."

Then the damsel Linet and Sir Beaumains left
Sir Perseant, and rode on through a forest to a
large plain, where they saw many pavilions, and
hard by, a castle passing fair.

But as they came near Sir Beaumains saw upon
the branches of some trees which grew there, the

The Adventures of Sir Gareth 179

dead bodies of forty knights hanging, with rich
armour on them, their shields and swords about
their necks, and golden spurs upon their heels.
" What meaneth this ? " said he, amazed.
" Lose not thy courage, fair sir," replied the
damsel, " at this shameful sight, for all these
knights came hither to rescue my sister ; and
when the Knight of the Redlands had overcome
them, he put them to this piteous death, without
mercy ; and in such wise will he treat thee also
unless thou bearest thee more valiantly than
they." " Truly he useth shameful customs,"
said Sir Beaumains ; " and it is a marvel that he
hath endured so long."

So they rode onward to the castle walls, and
found them double-moated, and heard the sea
waves dashing on one side the walls. Then said
the damsel, " See you that ivory horn hanging
upon the sycamore-tree ? The Knight of the
Redlands hath hung it there, that any knight
may blow thereon, and then will he himself
come out and fight with him. But I pray thee
sound it not till high noontide, for now it is but
daybreak, and till noon his strength increases to
the might of seven men." " Let that be as it
may, fair damsel," answered he, " for were he
stronger knight than ever lived, I would not fail
him. Either will I defeat him at his mightiest,
or die knightly in the field." With that he
spurred his horse unto the sycamore, and blew
the ivory horn so eagerly, that all the castle rang
its echoes. Instantly, all the knights who were
in the pavilions ran forth, and those within the

180 The Legends of King Arthur

castle looked out from the windows, or above the
walls. And the Knight of the Redlands, arming
himself quickly in blood-red armour, with spear,
and shield, and horse's trappings of like colour,
rode forth into a little valley by the castle walls,
so that all in the castle, and at the siege, might
see the battle.

" Be of good cheer," said the damsel Linet to
Sir Beaumains, " for thy deadly enemy now
cometh ; and at yonder window is my lady and
sister, Dame Lyones." " In good sooth," said
Sir Beaumains, " she is the fairest lady I have
ever seen, and I would wish no better quarrel than
to fight for her." With that, he looked up to the
window, and saw the Lady Lyones, who waved
her handkerchief to her sister and to him to cheer
them. Then called the Knight of the Redland
to Sir Beaumains, " Leave now thy gazing, Sir
knight, and turn to me, for I warn thee that lady
is mine." " She loveth none of thy fellowship,"
he answered ; " but know this, that I love her,
and will rescue her from thee, or die." " Say ye
so ! " said the Red Knight. " Take ye no
warning from those knights that hang on yonder
trees ? " " For shame that thou so boastest ! "
said Sir Beaumains. " Be sure that sight hath
raised a hatred for thee that will not lightly be
put out, and given me not fear, but rage." " Sir
knight, defend thyself," said the Knight of the
Redlands, " for we will talk no longer."

Then did they put their spears in rest, and came
together at the fullest speed of their horses, and
smote each other in the midst of their shields, so

The Adventures of Sir Gareth 181

that their horses' harness sundered by the shock,
and they fell to the ground. And both lay there
so long time, stunned, that many deemed their
necks were broken. And all men said the strange
knight was a strong man, and a noble jouster,
for none had ever yet so matched the Knight of
the Redlands. Then, in a while, they rose, and
putting up their shields before them, drew their
swords, and fought with fury, running at each
other like wild beasts — now striking such buffets
that both reeled backwards, now hewing at each
other till they shore the harness off in pieces, and
left their bodies naked and unarmed. And thus
they fought till noon was past, when, for a time,
they rested to get breath, so sorely staggering and
bleeding, that many who beheld them wept for
pity. Then they renewed the battle — sometimes
rushing so furiously together, that both fell to the
ground, and anon changing swords in their con-
fusion. Thus they endured, and lashed, and
struggled, until eventide, and none who saw knew
which was the likeliest to win ; for though the
Knight of the Redlands was a wily and subtle
warrior, his subtlety made Sir Beaumains wilier
and wiser too. So once again they rested for a
little space, and took their helms off to find
breath.

But when Sir Beaumains 's helm was off, he
looked up to Dame Lyones, where she leaned,
gazing and weeping, from her window. And when
he saw the sweetness of her smiling, all his heart
was light and joyful, and starting up, he bade the
Knight of the Redlands make ready. Then did

N

1 82 The Legends of King Arthur

they lace their helms and fight together yet
afresh, as though they had never fought before.
And at the last, the Knight of the Redlands with
a sudden stroke smote Sir Beaumains on the
hand, so that his sword fell from it, and with a
second stroke upon the helm he drove him to
the earth. Then cried aloud the damsel Linet,
" Alas ! Sir Beaumains, see how my sister weep-
eth to behold thee fallen ! " And when Sir
Beaumains heard her words, he sprang upon his
feet with strength, and leaping to his sword, he
caught it ; and with many heavy blows pressed
so sorely on the Knight of the Redlands, that in
the end he smote his sword from out his hand,
and, with a mighty blow upon the head, hurled
him upon the ground.

Then Sir Beaumains unlaced his helm, and
would have straightway slain him, but the
Knight of the Redlands yielded, and prayed for
mercy. " I may not spare thee," answered he,
" because of the shameful death which thou hast
given to so many noble knights." " Yet hold
thy hand, Sir knight," said he, " and hear the
cause. I loved once a fair damsel, whose brother
was slain, as she told me, by a knight of Arthur's
court, either Sir Lancelot, or Sir Gawain ; and
she prayed me, as I truly loved her, and by the
faith of my knighthood, to labour daily in deeds
of arms, till I should meet with him ; and to put
all knights of the Round Table whom I should
overcome to a villainous death. And this I
swore to her." Then prayed the earls, and
knights, and barons, who stood round Sir Beau-

The Adventures of Sir Gareth 183

mains, to spare the Red Knight's life. " Truly,"
replied he, " I am loth to slay him, notwithstand-
ing he hath done such shameful deeds. And inas-
much as what he did was done to please his lady
and to gain her love, I blame him less, and for
your sakes I will release him. But on this agree-
ment only shall he hold his life — that straightway
he depart into the castle, and yield him to the
lady there, and make her such amends as she
shall ask, for all the trespass he hath done upon
her lands ; and afterwards, that he shall go unto
King Arthur's court, and ask the pardon of Sir
Lancelot and Sir Gawain for all the evil he hath
done against them." " All this, Sir knight, I
swear to do," said the Knight of the Redlands ;
and therewith he did him homage and fealty.

Then came the damsel Linet to Sir Beaumains
and the Knight of the Redlands, and disarmed
them, and staunched their wrounds. And when
the Knight of the Redlands had made amends
for all his trespasses, he departed for the court.

Then Sir Beaumains, being healed of his
wounds, armed himself, and took his horse and
spear and rode straight to the castle of Dame
Lyones, for greatly he desired to see her. But
when he came to the gate they closed it fast, and
pulled the drawbridge up. And as he marvelled
thereat, he saw the Lady Lyones, standing at a
window, who said, " Go thy way as yet, Sir
Beaumains, for thou shalt not wholly have my
love until thou be among the worthiest knights
of all the world. Go, therefore, and labour yet
in arms for twelve months more, and then return

184 The Legends of King Arthur

to me." " Alas ! fair lady," said Sir Beaumains,
" I have scarce deserved this of thee, for sure I am
that I have bought thy love with all the best
blood in my body." " Be not aggrieved, fair
knight," said she, " for none of thy service is
forgot or lost. Twelve months will soon be
passed in noble deeds ; and trust that to my
death I shall love thee and not another." With
that she turned and left the window.

So Sir Beaumains rode away from the castle
very sorrowful at heart, and rode he knew not
whither, and lay that night in a poor man's
cottage. On the morrow he went forward, and
came at noon to a broad lake, and thereby he
alighted, being very sad and weary, and rested
his head upon his shield, and told his dwarf to
keep watch while he slept.

Now, as soon as he had departed, the Lady
Lyones repented, and greatly longed to see him
back, and asked her sister many times of what
lineage he was ; but the damsel would not tell
her, being bound by her oath to Sir Beaumains,
and said his dwarf best knew. So she called Sir
Gringamors, her brother, who dwelt with her,
and prayed him to ride after Sir Beaumains till
he found him sleeping, and then to take his dwarf
away and bring him back to her. Anon Sir
Gringamors departed, and rode till he came to
Sir Beaumains, and found him as he lay sleeping
by the water-side. Then stepping stealthily
behind the dwarf he caught him in his arms and
rode off in haste. And though the dwarf cried
loudly to his lord for help, and woke Sir Beau-

The Adventures of Sir Gareth 185

mains, yet, though he rode full quickly after him,
he could not overtake Sir Gringamors.

When Dame Lyones saw her brother come back,
she was passing glad of heart, and forthwith
asked the dwarf his master's lineage. " He is a
king's son," said the dwarf, " and his mother is
King Arthur's sister. His name is Sir Gareth of
Orkney, and he is brother to the good knight, Sir
Gawain. But I pray you suffer me to go back to
my lord, for truly he will never leave this country
till he have me again." But when the Lady
Lyones knew her deliverer was come of such a
kingly stock, she longed more than ever to see
him again.

Now as Sir Beaumains rode in vain to rescue
his dwarf, he came to a fair green road and met a
poor man of the country, and asked him had he
seen a knight on a black horse, riding with a
dwarf of a sad countenance behind him. " Yea,"
said the man, " I met with such a knight an hour
agone, and his name is Sir Gringamors. He
liveth at a castle two miles from hence ; but he is
a perilous knight, and I counsel ye not to follow
him save ye bear him goodwill." Then Sir
Beaumains followed the path which the poor man
showed him, and came to the castle. And riding
to the gate in great anger, he drew his sword, and
cried aloud, " Sir Gringamors, thou traitor !
deliver me my dwarf again or by my knighthood
it shall be ill for thee 1 " Then Sir Gringamors
looked out of a window and said, " Sir Gareth
of Orkney, leave thy boasting words, for thou
wilt not get thy dwarf again." But the Lady

186 The Legends of King Arthur

Lyones said to her brother, " Nay, brother, but
I will that he have his dwarf, for he hath done
much for me, and delivered me from the Knight
of the Redlands, and well do I love him above all
other knights." So Sir Gringamors went down
to Sir Gareth and cried him mercy, and prayed
him to alight and take good cheer.

Then he alighted, and his dwarf ran to him.
And when he was in the hall came the Lady
Lyones dressed royally like a princess. And Sir
Gareth was right glad of heart when he saw her.
Then she told him how she had made her brother
take away his dwarf and bring him back to her.
And then she promised him her love, and faith-
fully to cleave to him and none other all the days
of her life. And so they plighted their troth to
each other. Then Sir Gringamors prayed him
to sojourn at the castle, which willingly he did.
" For," said he, " I have promised to quit the
court for twelve months, though sure I am that
in the meanwhile I shall be sought and found by
my lord King Arthur and many others." So he
sojourned long at the castle.

Anon the knights, Sir Perseant, Sir Perimones,
and Sir Pertolope, whom Sir Gareth had over-
thrown, went to King Arthur's court with all the
knights who did them service, and told the king
they had been conquered by a knight of his
named Beaumains. And as they yet were talk-
ing, it was told the king there came another great
lord with five hundred knights, who, entering in,
did homage, and declared hinself to be the Knight
of the Redlands. " But my true name," said he,

The Adventures of Sir Gareth 187

" is Ironside, and I am hither sent by one Sir
Beaumains, who conquered me, and charged me
to yield unto your grace." " Thou art wel-
come," said King Arthur, " for thou hast been
long a foe to me and mine, and truly I am much
beholden to the knight who sent thee. And
now, Sir Ironside, if thou wilt amend thy life
and hold of me, I will entreat thee as a friend,
and make thee Knight of the Round Table ; but
thou mayst no more be a murderer of noble
knights." Then the Knight of the Redlands
knelt to the king, and told him of his promise to
Sir Beaumains to use never more such shameful
customs ; and how he had so done but at the
prayer of a lady whom he loved. Then knelt he
to Sir Lancelot and Sir Gawain, and prayed their
pardon for the hatred he had borne them.

But the king and all the court marvelled
greatly who Sir Beaumains was. " For," said
the king, " he is a full noble knight." Then said
Sir Lancelot, " Truly he is come of honourable
blood, else had I not given him the order of
knighthood ; but he charged me that I should
conceal his secret."

Now as they talked thus it was told King
Arthur that his sister, the Queen of Orkney, was
come to the court with a great retinue of knights
and ladies. Then was there great rejoicing, and
the king rose and saluted his sister. And her
sons, Sir Gawain, Sir Agravain, and Sir Gaheris
knelt before her and asked her blessing, for during
fifteen years last past they had not seen her.
Anon she said, " Where is my youngest son, Sir

1 88 The Legends of King Arthur

Gareth ? For I know that he was here a twelve-
month with you, and that ye made a kitchen
knave of him." Then the king and all the knights
knew that Sir Beaumains and Sir Gareth were the
same. " Truly," said the king, " I knew him
not." " Nor I," said Sir Gawain, and both his
brothers. Then said the king, " God be thanked,
fair sister, that he is proved as worshipful a
knight as any now alive, and by the grace of
Heaven he shall be found forthwith if he be any-
where within these seven realms." Then said
Sir Gawain and his brethren, " Lord, if ye will
give us leave we will go seek him." But Sir
Lancelot said, " It were better that the king
should send a messenger to Dame Lyones and
pray her to come hither with all speed, and she
will counsel where ye shall find him." " It is
well said," replied the king ; and sent a messen-
ger quickly unto Dame Lyones.

When she heard the message she promised she
would come forthwith, and told Sir Gareth what
the messenger had said, and asked him what to
do. " I pray you," said he, " tell them not where
I am, but when my lord King Arthur asketh for
me, advise him thus — that he proclaim a tourna-
ment before this castle on Assumption Day, and
that the knight who proveth best shall win your-
self and all your lands." So the Lady Lyones
departed and came to King Arthur's court, and
there was right nobly welcomed. And when
they asked her where Sir Gareth was, she said she
could not tell. " But, lord," said she, " with thy
goodwill I will proclaim a tournament before my

The Adventures of Sir Gareth 189

castle on the Feast of the Assumption, whereof
the prize shall be myself and all my lands. Then
if it be proclaimed that you, lord, and your
knights will be there, I will find knights on my
side to fight you and yours, and thus am I sure
ye will hear tidings of Sir Gareth." " Be it so
done," replied the king.

So Sir Gareth sent messengers privily to Sir
Perseant and Sir Ironside, and charged them to
be ready on the day appointed, with their com-
panies of knights to aid him and his party against
the king. And when they were arrived he said,
" Now be ye well assured that we shall be
matched with the best knights of the world, and
therefore must we gather all the good knights we
can find."

So proclamation was made throughout all
England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, and Cornwall,
and in the out isles and other countries, that at
the Feast of the Assumption of our Lady, next
coming, all knights who came to joust at Castle
Perilous should make choice whether they would
side with the king or with the castle. Then
came many good knights on the side of the castle.
Sir Epinogris, the son of the King of N orthumber-
land, and Sir Palomedes the Saracen, and Sir
Grummore Grummorsum, a good knight of
Scotland, and Sir Brian des lies, a noble knight,
and Sir Carados of the Tower Dolorous, and Sir
Tristram, who as yet was not a knight of the
Round Table, and many others. But none among
them knew Sir Gareth, for he took no more upon
him than any mean person.

190 The Legends of King Arthur

And on King Arthur's side there came the
King of Ireland and the King of Scotland,
the noble prince Sir Galahaut, Sir Gawain and
his brothers Sir Agravain and Sir Gaheris, Sir
Ewaine, Sir Tor, Sir Perceval, and Sir Lamoracke,
Sir Lancelot also and his kindred, Sir Lionel, Sir
Ector, Sir Bors and Sir Bedivere, likewise Sir
Key and the most part of the Table Round. The
two queens also, Queen Guinevere and the Queen
of Orkney, Sir Gareth's mother, came with the
king. So there was a great array both within
and without the castle, with all manner of feast-
ing and minstrelsy.

Now before the tournament began, Sir Gareth
privily prayed Dame Lyones, Sir Gringamors,
Sir Ironside, and Sir Perseant, that they would in
nowise disclose his name, nor make more of him
than of any common knight. Then said Dame
Lyones, " Dear lord, I pray thee take this ring,
which hath the power to change the wearer's
clothing into any colour he may will, and guard-
eth him from any loss of blood. But give it me
again, I pray thee, when the tournament is done,
for it greatly increaseth my beauty whensoever
I wear it." " Grammercy, mine own lady,"
said Sir Gareth, " I wished for nothing better, for
now I may be certainly disguised as long as I
will." Then Sir Gringamors gave Sir Gareth a
bay courser that was a passing good horse, with
sure armour, and a noble sword, won by his
father from a heathen tyrant. And then every
knight made him ready for the tournament.

So on the day of the Assumption, when mass

The Adventures of Sir Gareth 191

and matins were said, the heralds blew their
trumpets and sounded for the tourney. Anon
came out the knights of the castle and the knights
of King Arthur, and matched themselves to-
gether.

Then Sir Epinogris, son of the King of Northum-
berland, a knight of the castle, encountered Sir
Ewaine, and both broke off their spears short to
their hands. Then came Sir Palomedes from the
castle, and met Sir Gawain, and they so hardly
smote each other, that both knights and horses
fell to the earth. Then Sir Tristram, from the
castle, encountered with Sir Bedivere, and smote
him to the earth, horse and man. Then the
Knight of the Redlands and Sir Gareth met with
Sir Bors and Sir Bleoberis ; and the Knight of
the Redlands and Sir Bors smote together so
hard that their spears burst, and their horses
fell grovelling to the ground. And Sir Bleoberis
brake his spear upon Sir Gareth, but himself was
hurled upon the ground. When Sir Galihodin
saw that, he bade Sir Gareth keep him, but Sir
Gareth lightly smote him to the earth. Then
Sir Galihud got a spear to avenge his brother,
but was served in like manner. And Sir Dina-
dam, and his brother La-cote-male-taile, and Sir
Sagramour le Desirous, and Dodinas le Savage,
he bore down all with one spear.

When King Anguish of Ireland saw this, he
marvelled what that knight could be who seemed
at one time green and at another blue ; for so at
every course he changed his colour that none
might know him. Then he ran towards him and

192 The Legends of King Arthur

encountered him, and Sir Gareth smote the king
from his horse, saddle and all. And in like
manner he served the King of Scotland, and
King Urience of Gore, and King Bagdemagus.

Then Sir Galahaut, the noble prince, cried out,
" Knight of the many colours ! thou hast
jousted well ; now make thee ready to joust with
me." When Sir Gareth heard him, he took a
great spear and met him swiftly. And the
prince's spear broke off, but Sir Gareth smote
him on the left side of the helm, so that he reeled
here and there, and had fallen down had not his
men recovered him. " By my faith," said King
Arthur, " that knight of the many colours is a
good knight. I pray thee, Sir Lancelot du Lake,
encounter with him." " Lord," said Sir Lancelot,
" by thy leave I will forbear. I find it in my
heart to spare him at this time, for he hath done
enough work for one day ; and when a good
knight doth so well it is no knightly part to hinder
him from this honour. And peradventure his
quarrel is here to-day, and he may be the best
beloved of the Lady Lyones of all that be here ;
for I see well he paineth and forceth himself to
do great deeds. Therefore, as for me, this day
he shall have the honour ; for though I were able
to put him from it, I would not." " You speak
well and truly," said the king.

Then after the tilting, they drew swords, and
there began a great tournament, and there Sir
Lancelot did marvellous deeds of arms, for first
he fought with both Sir Tristram and Sir Carados,
albeit they were the most perilous in all the world.

The Adventures of Sir Gareth 193

Then came Sir Gareth and put them asunder, but
would not smite a stroke against Sir Lancelot,
for by him he had been knighted. Anon Sir
Gareth 's helm had need of mending, and he rode
aside to see to it and to drink water, for he was
sore athirst with all his mighty feats of strength.
And while he drank, his dwarf said to him,
" Give me your ring, lest ye lose it while ye
drink." So Sir Gareth took it off. And when
he had finished drinking, he rode back eagerly
to the field, and in his haste forgot to take the
ring again. Then all the people saw that he
wore yellow armour. And King Arthur told a
herald, " Ride and espy the cognizance of that
brave knight, for I have asked many who he is,
and none can tell me."

Then the herald rode near, and saw written
round about his helmet in letters of gold, " Sir
Gareth of Orkney." And instantly the herald cried
his name aloud, and all men pressed to see him.

But when he saw he was discovered, he pushed
with haste through all the crowd, and cried to his
dwarf, " Boy, thou hast beguiled me foully in
keeping my ring ; give it me again, that I may
be hidden." And as soon as he had put it on,
his armour changed again, and no man knew
where he had gone. Then he passed forth from
the field ; but Sir Gawain, his brother, rode after
him.

And when Sir Gareth had ridden far into the
forest, he took off his ring, and sent it back by
the dwarf to the Lady Lyones, praying her to be
true and faithful to him while he was away.

194 The Legends of King Arthur

Then rode Sir Gareth long through the forest,
till night fell, and coming to a castle he went up
to the gate, and prayed the porter to let him in.
But churlishly he answered " that he should not
lodge there." Then said Sir Gareth, " Tell thy
lord and lady that I am a knight of King Arthur's
court, and for his sake I pray their shelter."
With that the porter went to the duchess who
owned the castle. " Let him in straightway,"
cried she ; " for the king's sake he shall not be
harbourless ! " and went down to receive him.
When Sir Gareth saw her coming, he saluted her,
and said, " Fair lady, I pray you give me shelter
for this night, and if there be here any champion
or giant with whom I must needs fight, spare me
till to-morrow, when I and my horse shall have
rested, for we are full weary." " Sir knight," she
said, " thou speakest boldly ; for the lord of this
castle is a foe to King Arthur and his court, and
if thou wilt rest here to-night thou must agree,
that wheresoever thou mayest meet my lord,
thou must yield to him a prisoner." " What is
thy lord's name, lady ? " said Sir Gareth. " The
Duke de la Rowse," said she. " I will promise
thee," said he, " to yield to him, if he promise to
do me no harm ; but if he refuse, I will release
myself with my sword and spear."

" It is well," said the duchess ; and com-
manded the drawbridge to be let down. So he
rode into the hall and alighted. And when he
had taken off his armour, the duchess and her
ladies made him passing good cheer. And after
supper his bed was made in the hall, and there he

The Adventures of Sir Gareth 195

rested that night. On the morrow he rose and
heard mass, and having broken his fast, took his
leave and departed.

And as he rode past a certain mountain there
met him a knight named Sir Bendelaine, and
cried unto him, " Thou shalt not pass unless thou
joust with me or be my prisoner ! " " Then will
we joust," replied Sir Gareth. So they let their
horses run at full speed, and Sir Gareth smote Sir
Bendelaine through his body so sorely that he
scarcely reached his castle ere he fell dead. And
as Sir Gareth presently came by the castle, Sir
Bendelaine's knights and servants rode out to
revenge their lord. And twenty of them fell on
him at once, although his spear was broken.
But drawing his sword he put his shield before
him. And though they break their spears upon
him, one and all, and sorely pressed on him, yet
ever he defended himself like a noble knight.
Anon, finding they could not overcome him,
they agreed to slay his horse ; and having killed
it with their spears, they set upon Sir Gareth as
he fought on foot. But every one he struck he
slew, and drave at them with fearful blows, till
he had slain them all but four, who fled. Then
taking the horse of one of those that lay there
dead, he rode upon his way.

Anon he came to another castle and heard from
within a sound as of many women moaning and
weeping, Then said he to a page who stood
without, " What noise is this I hear ? " " Sir
knight," said he, " there be within thirty ladies,
the widows of thirty knights who have been slain

196 The Legends of King Arthur

by the lord of this castle. He is called the Brown
Knight without pity, and is the most perilous
knight living, wherefore I warn thee to flee."
" That will I never do," said Sir Gareth, " for I
fear him not." Then the page saw the Brown
Knight coming and said to Gareth, " Lo ! my
lord is near."

So both knights made them ready and galloped
their horses towards each other, and the Brown
Knight brake his spear upon Sir Gareth 's shield ;
but Sir Gareth smote him through the body so
that he fell dead. At that he rode into the castle
and told the ladies he had slain their foe. Then
were they right glad of heart and made him all
the cheer they could, and thanked him out of
measure. But on the morrow as he went to
mass he found the ladies weeping in the chapel
upon divers tombs that were there. And he
knew that in those tombs their husbands lay.
Then he bade them be comforted, and with noble
and high words he desired and prayed them all
to be at Arthur's court on the next Feast of
Pentecost.

So he departed and rode past a mountain
where was a goodly knight waiting, who said to
him, " Abide, Sir knight, and joust with me ! "
" How are ye named ? " said Sir Gareth. " I
am the Duke de la Rowse," answered he. " In
good sooth," then said Sir Gareth, " not long ago
I lodged within your castle, and there promised
I would yield to you whenever we might meet."
" Art thou that proud knight," said the duke,
" who was ready to fight with me ? Guard thy-

The Adventures of Sir Gareth 197

self therefore and make ready." So they ran
together, and Sir Gareth smote the duke from
his horse. Then they alighted and drew their
swords, and fought full sorely for the space of
an hour ; and at the last Sir Gareth smote the
duke to the earth and would have slain him, but
he yielded. " Then must ye go," said Sir Gareth,
" to my lord King Arthur at the next Feast of
Pentecost and say that I, Sir Gareth, sent ye."
" As ye will, be it," said the duke ; and gave
him up his shield for pledge.

And as Sir Gareth rode alone he saw an armed
knight coming towards him. And putting the
duke's shield before him he rode fast to tilt with
him ; and so they ran together as it had been
thunder, and brake their spears upon each other.
Then fought they fiercely with their swords, and
lashed together with such mighty strokes that
blood ran to the ground on every side. And
after they had fought together for two hours or
more, it chanced the damsel Linet passed that
way ; and when she saw them, she cried out,
" Sir Gawain and Sir Gareth, leave your fighting,
for ye are brethren ! " At that they threw away
their shields and swords, and took each other in
their arms, and wept a great while ere they could
speak. And each gave to the other the honour
of the battle, and there was many a kind word
between them. Then said Sir Gawain, " O my
brother, for your sake have I had great sorrow
and labour 1 But truly I would honour you
though ye were not my brother, for ye have done
great worship to King Arthur and his court, and

O

198 The Legends of King Arthur

sent more knights to him than any of the Table
Round, except Sir Lancelot."

Then the damsel Linet staunched their wounds,
and their horses being weary she rode her palfrey
to King Arthur and told him of this strange
adventure. When she had told her tidings, the
king himself mounted his horse and bade all
come with him to meet them. So a great com-
pany of lords and ladies went forth to meet the
brothers. And when King Arthur saw them he
would have spoken hearty words, but for gladness
he could not. And both Sir Gawain and Sir
Gareth fell down at their uncle's knees and did
him homage, and there was passing great joy and
gladness among them all.

Then said the king to the damsel Linet, " Why
cometh not the Lady Lyones to visit her knight,
Sir Gareth, who hath had such travail for her
love ? " " She knoweth not, my lord, that he is
here," replied the damsel, " for truly she desireth
greatly to see him." " Go ye and bring her
hither," said the king. So the damsel rode to
tell her sister where Sir Gareth was, and when she
heard it she rejoiced full heartily and came with
all the speed she could. And when Sir Gareth
saw her, there was great joy and comfort between
them.

Then the king asked Sir Gareth whether he
would have that lady for his wife ? " My lord,"
replied Sir Gareth, " know well that I love her
above all ladies living." " Now, fair lady," said
King Arthur, "what say ye?" "Most noble
king," she answered, " my lord, Sir Gareth, is my

The Adventures of Sir Gareth 199

first love and shall be my last, and if I may not
have him for my husband I will have none."
Then said the king to them, " Be well assured that
for my crown I would not be the cause of parting
your two hearts."

Then was high preparation made for the mar-
riage, for the king desired it should be at the
Michaelmas next following, at Kinkenadon-by-
the-Sea.

So Sir Gareth sent out messages to all the
knights whom he had overcome in battle that
they should be there upon his marriage-day.

Therefore, at the next Michaelmas, came a
goodly company to Kinkenadon-by-the-Sea. And
there did the Archbishop of Canterbury marry
Sir Gareth and the Lady Lyones with all solem-
nity. And all the knights whom Sir Gareth had
overcome were at the feast ; and every manner
of revels and games was held with music and
minstrelsy. And there was a great jousting for
three days. But because of his bride the king
would not suffer Sir Gareth to joust. Then did
King Arthur give great lands and fair, with store
of gold, to Sir Gareth and his wife, that so they
might live royally together to their lives' end.

CHAPTER XI

The Adventures of Sir Tristram of Lyonesse

AGAIN King Arthur held high festival at
Caerleon, at Pentecost, and gathered
round him all the fellowship of the Round
Table, and so, according to his custom, sat and
waited till some adventure should rise, or some
knight return to court whose deeds and perils
might be told.

Anon he saw Sir Lancelot and a crowd of
knights coming through the doors and leading in
their midst the mighty knight, Sir Tristram. As
soon as King Arthur saw him, he rose up and
went through half the hall, and held out both his
hands and cried, " Right welcome to thee, good
Sir Tristram, as welcome art thou as any knight
that ever came before into this court. A long
time have I wished for thee amongst my fellow-
ship." Then all the knights and barons rose up
with one accord and came around, and cried out,
" Welcome." Queen Guinevere came also, and
many ladies with her, and all with one voice said
the same.

Then the king took Sir Tristram by the hand
and led him to the Round Table and said, " Wel-
come again for one of the best and gentlest knights
in all the world ; a chief in war, a chief in peace,

200

Birth of Tristram 20 1

a chief in field and forest, a chief in the ladies'
chamber — right heartily welcome to this court,
and mayest thou long abide in it."

When he had so said he looked at every empty
seat until he came to what had been Sir Marhaus's,
and there he found written in gold letters, " This
is the seat of the noble knight, Sir Tristram."
Whereat they made him, with great cheer and
gladness, a Fellow of the Round Table.
(Now the story of Sir Tristram was as follows : — '

There was a king of Lyonesse, named Meliodas,
married to the sister of King Mark of Cornwall, a
right fair lady and a good. And so it happened
that King Meliodas hunting in the woods was
taken by enchantment and made prisoner in a
castle. When his wife Elizabeth heard it she was
nigh mad with grief, and ran into the forest to
seek out her lord. But after many days of wan-
dering and sorrow she found no trace of him, and
laid her down in a deep valley and prayed to meet
her death. And so indeed she did, but ere she
died she gave birth in the midst of all her sorrow
to a child, a boy, and called him with her latest
breath Tristram ; for she said, " His name shall
show how sadly he hath come into this world."

Therewith she gave up her ghost, and the
gentlewoman who was with her took the child and
wrapped it from the cold as well as she was able,
and lay down with it in her arms beneath the
shadow of a tree hard by, expecting death to
come to her in turn.

But shortly after came a company of lords and
barons seeking for the queen, and found the lady

202 The Legends of King Arthur

and the child and took them home. And on the
next day came King Meliodas, whom Merlin had
delivered, and when he heard of the queen's death
his sorrow was greater than tongue can tell. And
anon he buried her solemnly and nobly, and called
the child Tristram as she had desired.

Then for seven years King Meliodas mourned
and took no comfort, and all that time young
Tristram was well nourished ; but in a while he
wedded with the daughter of Howell, King of
Brittany, who, that her own children might enjoy
the kingdom, cast about in her mind how she
might destroy Tristram. So on a certain day
she put poison in a silver cup, where Tristram and
her children were together playing, that when he
was athirst he might drink of it and die. But so
it happened that her own son saw the cup, and,
thinking it must hold good drink, he climbed and
took it, and drank deeply of it, and suddenly
thereafter burst and fell down dead.

When the queen heard that, her grief was very
great, but her anger and envy were fiercer than
before, and soon again she put more poison in the
cup. And by chance one day her husband find-
ing it when thirsty, took it up and was about to
drink therefrom, when, seeing him, she sprang
up with a mighty cry and dashed it from his
hands.

At that King Meliodas, wondering greatly,
called to mind the sudden death of his young
child, and taking her fiercely by the hand he
cried :

" Traitress, tell me what drink is in this cup or

Tristram's Stepmother 203

I will slay thee in a moment ; " and therewith
pulling out his sword he swore by a great oath to
slay her if she straightway told him not the truth.

" Ah, mercy, lord," said she, and fell down at
his feet ; " mercy, and I will tell thee all."

And then she told him of her plot to murder
Tristram, that her own sons might enjoy the
kingdom.

" The law shall judge thee," said the king.

And so anon she was tried before the barons,
and condemned to be burnt to death.

But when the fire was made, and she brought
out, came Tristram kneeling at his father's feet
and besought of him a favour.

" Whatsoever thou desirest I will give thee,"
said the king.

" Give me the life, then, of the queen, my step-
mother," said he.

" Thou doest wrong to ask it," said Meliodas ;
" for she would have slain thee with her poisons
if she could, and chiefly for thy sake she ought to
die."

" Sir," said he, " as for that, I beseech thee of
thy mercy to forgive it her, and for my part may
God pardon her as I do ; and so I pray thee grant
me my boon, and for God's sake hold thee to thy
promise."

" If it must be so," said the king, " take thou
her life, for to thee I give it, and go and do with
her as thou wilt."

Then went young Tristram to the fire and
loosed the queen from all her bonds and delivered
her from death.

204 The Legends of King Arthur

And after a great while by his good means the
king again forgave and lived in peace with her,
though never more in the same lodgings.

Anon was Tristram sent abroad to France in
care of one named Governale. And there for
seven years he learned the language of the land,
and all knightly exercises and gentle crafts, and
especially was he foremost in music and in hunt-
ing, and was a harper beyond all others. And
when at nineteen years of age he came back to
his father, he was as lusty and strong of body and
as noble of heart as ever man was seen.

Now shortly after his return it befell that King
Anguish of Ireland sent to King Mark of Cornwall
for the tribute due to Ireland, but which was now
seven years behindhand. To whom King Mark
sent answer, if he would have it he must send and
fight for it, and they would find a champion to
fight against it.

So King Anguish called for Sir Marhaus, his
wife's brother, a good knight of the Round Table,
who lived then at his court, and sent him with a
knightly retinue in six great ships to Cornwall.
And, casting anchor by the castle of Tintagil,
he sent up daily to King Mark for the tribute or
the champion. But no knight there would
venture to assail him, for his fame was very high
in all the realm for strength and hardihood.

Then made King Mark a proclamation through-
out Cornwall, that if any knight would fight Sir
Marhaus he should stand at the king's right hand
for evermore, and have great honour and riches
all the rest of his days. Anon this news came to

Tristram Knighted 205

the land of Lyonesse, and when young Tristram
heard it he was angry and ashamed to think no
knight of Cornwall durst assail the Irish cham-
pion. " Alas," said he, " that I am not a knight,
that I might match this Marhaus ! I pray you
give me leave, sir, to depart to King Mark's court
and beg him of his grace to make me knight."

" Be ruled by thy own courage," said his father.

So Tristram rode away forthwith to Tintagil to
King Mark, and went up boldly to him and said,
" Sir, give me the order of knighthood, and I will
fight to the uttermost with Sir Marhaus of Ire-
land."

" What are ye, and whence come ye ? " said
the king, seeing he was but a young man, though
strong and well made both in body and limb.

" My name is Tristram," said he, " and I was
born in the country of Lyonesse."

" But know ye," said the king, " this Irish
knight will fight with none who be not come of
royal blood and near of kin to kings or queens, as
he himself is, for his sister is the Queen of Ireland."

Then said Tristram, " Let him know that I am
come both on my father's and my mother's side
of blood as good as his, for my father is King
Meliodas and my mother was that Queen Eliza-
beth, thy sister, who died in the forest at my
birth."

When King Mark heard that he welcomed him
with all his heart, and knighted him forthwith,
and made him ready to go forth as soon as he
would choose, and armed him royally in armour
covered with gold and silver.

206 The Legends of King Arthur

Then he sent Sir Marhaus word, " That a better
man than he should fight with him, Sir Tristram
of Lyonesse, son of King Meliodas and of King
Mark's own sister." So the battle was ordained
to be fought in an island near Sir Marhaus's ships,
and there Sir Tristram landed on the morrow,
with Governale alone attending him for squire,
and him he sent back to the land when he had
made himself ready.

When Sir Marhaus and Sir Tristram were thus
left alone, Sir Marhaus said, " Young knight Sir
Tristram, what doest thou here ? I am full sorry
for thy rashness, for ofttimes have I been assailed
in vain, and by the best knights of the world.
Be warned in time, return to them that sent thee."

" Fair knight, and well-proved knight," replied
Sir Tristram, " be sure that I shall never quit
this quarrel till one of us be overcome. For this
cause have I been made knight, and thou shalt
know before we part that though as yet unproved,
I am a king's son and first-born of a queen.
Moreover I have promised to deliver Cornwall
from this ancient burden, or to die. Also, thou
shouldst have known, Sir Marhaus, that thy
valour and thy might are but the better reasons
why I should assail thee ; for whether I win or
lose I shall gain honour to have met so great a
knight as thou art."

Then they began the battle, and tilted at their
hardest against each other, so that both knights
and horses fell to the earth. But Sir Marhaus's
spear smote Sir Tristram a great wound in the
side. Then, springing up from their horses, they

Sir Tristram and Sir Marhaus 207

lashed together with their swords like two wild
boars. And when they had stricken together
a great while they left off strokes and lunged at
one another's breasts and visors ; but seeing this
availed not they hurtled together again to bear
each other down.

Thus fought they more than half the day, till
both were sorely spent and blood ran from them
to the ground on every side. But by this time
Sir Tristram remained fresher than Sir Marhaus
and better winded, and with a mighty stroke he
smote him such a buffet as cut through his helm
into his brain-pan, and there his sword stuck in
so fast that thrice Sir Tristram pulled ere he could
get it from his head. Then fell Sir Marhaus down
upon his knees, and the edge of Sir Tristram's
sword broke off into his brain-pan. And sudden-
ly when he seemed dead, Sir Marhaus rose and
threw his sword and shield away from him and
ran and fled into his ship. And Tristram cried
out after him, " Aha ! Sir knight of the Round
Table, dost thou withdraw thee from so young a
knight ? It is a shame to thee and all thy kin ; I
would rather have been hewn into a hundred
pieces than have fled from thee."

But Sir Marhaus answered nothing, and sorely
groaning fled away.

" Farewell, Sir knight, farewell," laughed Tris-
tram, whose own voice now was hoarse and faint
with loss of blood ; " I have thy sword and shield
in my safe keeping, and will wear them in all
places where I ride on my adventures, and before
King Arthur and the Table Round."

208 The Legends of King Arthur

Then was Sir Marhaus taken back to Ireland by
his company ; and as soon as he arrived his
wounds were searched, and when they searched
his head they found therein a piece of Tristram's
sword ; but all the skill of surgeons was in vain
to move it out. So anon Sir Marhaus died.

But the queen, his sister, took the piece of
sword-blade, and put it safely by, for she thought
that some day it might help her to revenge her
brother's death.

Meanwhile, Sir Tristram, being sorely wounded,
sat down softly on a little mound and bled passing
fast ; and in that evil case was found anon by
Governale and King Mark's knights. Then they
gently took him up and brought him in a barge
back to the land, and lifted him into a bed within
the castle, and had his wounds dressed carefully.

But for a great while he lay sorely sick, and was
likely to have died of the first stroke Sir Marhaus
had given him with the spear, for the point of it
was poisoned. And, though the wisest surgeons
and leeches — both men and women — came from
every part, yet could he be by no means cured.
At last came a wise lady, and said plainly that
Sir Tristram never should be healed, until he
went and stayed in that same country whence the
poison came. When this was understood, the
king sent Sir Tristram in a fair and goodly ship
to Ireland, and by fortune he arrived fast by a
castle where the king and queen were. And as
the ship was being anchored, he sat upon his bed
and harped a merry lay, and made so sweet a
music as was never equalled.

Sir Palomedes and La Belle Isault 209

When the king heard that the sweet harper was
a wounded knight, he sent for him, and asked his
name. " I am of the country of Lyonesse," he
answered, " and my name is Tramtrist ; " for he
dared not tell his true name lest the vengeance of
the queen should fall upon him for her brother's
death.

" Well," said King Anguish, " thou art right
welcome here and shalt have all the help this land
can give thee ; but be not anxious if I am at
times cast down and sad, for but lately in Corn-
wall the best knight in the world, fighting for my
cause, was slain ; his name was Sir Marhaus, a
knight of King Arthur's Round Table." And
then he told Sir Tristram all the story of Sir Mar-
haus's battle, and Sir Tristram made pretence of
great surprise and sorrow, though he knew all far
better than the king himself.

Then was he put in charge of the king's
daughter, La Belle Isault, to be healed of his
wound, and she was as fair and noble a lady as
men's eyes might see. And so marvellously was
she skilled in medicine, that in a few days she
fully cured him ; and in return Sir Tristram
taught her the harp ; so, before long, they two
began to love each other greatly.

But at that time a heathen knight, Sir Palo-
medes, was in Ireland, and much cherished by the
king and queen. He also loved mightily La
Belle Isault, and never wearied of making her
great gifts, and seeking for her favour, and was
ready even to be christened for her sake. Sir
Tristram therefore hated him out of measure, and

210 The Legends of King Arthur

Sir Palomedes was full of rage and envy against
Tristram.

And so it befell that King Anguish proclaimed
a great tournament to be held, the prize whereof
should be a lady called the Lady of the Launds,
of near kindred to the king : and her the winner
of the tournament should wed in three days after-
wards, and possess all her lands. When La Belle
Isault told Sir Tristram of this tournament, he
said, " Fair lady ! I am yet a feeble knight, and
but for thee had been a dead man now : what
wouldest thou I should do ? Thou knowest well
I may not joust."

" Ah, Tramtrist," said she, " why wilt thou not
fight in this tournament ? Sir Palomedes will be
there, and will do his mightiest ; and therefore
be thou there, I pray thee, or else he will be winner
of the prize."

" Madam," said Tristram, " I will go, and for
thy sake will do my best ; but let me go unknown
to all men ; and do thou, I pray thee, keep my
counsel, and help me to a disguise."

So on the day of jousting came Sir Palomedes,
with a black shield, and overthrew many knights.
And all the people wondered at his prowess ; for
on the first day he put to the worse Sir Gawain,
Sir Gaheris, Sir Agravaine, Sir Key, and many
more from far and near. And on the morrow he
was conqueror again, and overthrew the king
with a hundred knights and the King of Scotland.
But presently Sir Tristram rode up to the lists,
having been let out at a privy postern of the
castle, where none could see. La Belle Isault had

Sir Palomedes and La Belle Isault 211

dressed him in white armour and given him a
white horse and shield, and so he came suddenly
into the field as it had been a bright angel.

As soon as Sir Palomedes saw him he ran at
him with a great spear in rest, but Sir Tristram
was ready, and at the first encounter hurled him
to the ground. Then there arose a great cry that
the knight with the black shield was overthrown.
And Palomedes, sorely hurt and shamed, sought
out a secret way and would have left the field ;
but Tristram watched him, and rode after him,
and bade him stay, for he had not yet done with
him. Then did Sir Palomedes turn with fury,
and lash at Sir Tristram with his sword ; but at
the first stroke Sir Tristram smote him to the
earth, and cried, " Do now all my commands, or
take thy death." Then he yielded to Sir Tris-
tram's mercy, and promised to forsake La Belle
Isault, and for twelve months to wear no arms or
armour. And rising up, he cut his armour off
him into shreds with rage and madness, and
turned and left the field : and Sir Tristram also
left the lists, and rode back to the castle through
the postern gate.

Then was Sir Tristram long cherished by the
King and Queen of Ireland, and ever with La
Belle Isault. But on a certain day, while he was
bathing, came the queen with La Belle Isault by
chance into his chamber, and saw his sword lie
naked on the bed : anon she drew it from the
scabbard and looked at it a long while, and both
thought it a passing fair sword ; but within a foot
and a half of the end there was a great piece

212 The Legends of King Arthur

broken out, and while the queen was looking at
the gap, she suddenly remembered the piece
of sword-blade that was found in the brain-pan
of her brother Sir Marhaus.

Therewith she turned and cried, " By my faith,
this is the felon knight who slew thy uncle ! "
And running to her chamber she sought in her
casket for the piece of iron from Sir Marhaus 's
head and brought it back, and fitted it in Tris-
tram's sword ; and surely did it fit therein as
closely as it had been but yesterday broke out.

Then the queen caught the sword up fiercely in
her hand, and ran into the room where Sir Tris-
tram was yet in his bath, and making straight
for him, had run him through the body, had not
his squire, Sir Hebes, got her in his arms, and
pulled the sword away from her.

Then ran she to the king, and fell upon her
knees before him, saying, " Lord and husband,
thou hast here in thy house that felon knight who
slew my brother Marhaus ! "

" Who is it ? " said the king.

" It is Sir Tramtrist," said she, " whom Isault
hath healed."

" Alas ! " replied the king, " I am full grieved
thereat, for he is a good knight as ever I have
seen in any field ; but I charge thee leave thou
him, and let me deal with him."

Then the king went to Sir Tristram's chamber
and found him all armed and ready to mount his
horse, and said to him, " Sir Tramtrist, it is not
to prove me against thee I come, for it were
shameful of thy host to seek thy life. Depart in

Sir Tristram tells his Name 213

peace, but tell me first thy name, and whether
thou slewest my brother, Sir Marhaus."

Then Sir Tristram told him all the truth, and
how he had hid his name, to be unknown in
Ireland ; and when he had ended, the king
declared he held him in no blame. " Howbeit, I
cannot for mine honour's sake retain thee at this
court, for so I should displease my barons, and
my wife, and all her kin."

" Sir," said Sir Tristram, " I thank thee for the
goodness thou hast shown me here, and for the
great goodness my lady, thy daughter, hath
shown me ; and it may chance to be more for thy
advantage if I live than if I die ; for wheresoever
I may be, I shall ever seek thy service, and shall
be my lady thy daughter's servant in all places,
and her knight in right and wrong, and shall
never fail to do for her as much as knight can do."

Then Sir Tristram went to La Belle Isault, and
took his leave of her. " O gentle knight," said
she, " full of grief am I at your departing, for
never yet I saw a man to love so well."

" Madam," said he, " I promise faithfully that
all my life I shall be your knight."

Then Sir Tristram gave her a ring, and she
gave him another, and after that he left her,
weeping and lamenting, and went among the
barons, and openly took his leave of them all,
saying, " Fair lords, it so befalleth that I now must
depart hence ; therefore, if there be any here
whom I have offended or who is grieved with me,
let him now say it, and before I go I will amend
it to the utmost of my power. And if there be

P

214 The Legends of King Arthur

but one who would speak shame of me behind my
back, let him say it now or never, and here is my
body to prove it on — body against body."

And all stood still and said no word, though
some there were of the queen's kindred who would
have assailed him had they dared.

So Sir Tristram departed from Ireland and took
the sea and came with a fair wind to Tintagil.
And when the news came to King Mark that Sir
Tristram was returned, healed of his wound, he
was passing glad, and so were all his barons. And
when he had visited the king his uncle, he rode to
his father King Meliodas, and there had all the
heartiest welcome that could be made him. And
both the king and queen gave largely to him of
their lands and goods.

Anon he came again to King Mark's court, and
there lived in great joy and pleasure, till within
a while the king grew jealous of his fame, and of
the love and favour shown him by all damsels.
And as long as King Mark lived, he never after
loved Sir Tristram, though there was much fair
speech between them.

Then it befell upon a certain day that the good
knight Sir Bleoberis de Ganis, brother to Sir
Blamor de Ganis, and nigh cousin to Sir Lancelot
of the Lake, came to King Mark's court and asked
of him a favour. And though the king marvelled,
seeing he was a man of great renown, and a knight
of the Round Table, he granted him all his asking.
Then said Sir Bleoberis, " I will have the fairest
lady in your court, at my own choosing."

" I may not say thee nay," replied the king ;

Sir Bleoberis de Ganis 215

" choose therefore, but take all the issues of thy
choice."

So when he had looked around, he chose the
wife of Earl Segwarides, and took her by the hand,
and set her upon horseback behind his squire, and
rode forth on his way.

Presently thereafter came in the earl, and rode
out straightway after him in rage. But all the
ladies cried out shame upon Sir Tristram that he
had not gone, and one rebuked him foully and
called him coward knight, that he would stand
and see a lady forced away from his uncle's
court. But Sir Tristram answered her, " Fair
lady, it is not my place to take part in this
quarrel while her lord and husband is here to do
it. Had he not been at this court, peradventure
I had been her champion. And if it so befall
that he speed ill, then may it happen that I
speak with that foul knight before he pass out of
this realm."

Anon ran in one of Sir Segwarides 's squires, and
told that his master was sore wounded, and at
the point of death. When Sir Tristram heard
that, he was soon armed and on his horse, and
Governale, his servant, followed him with shield
and spear.

And as he rode, he met his cousin Sir Andret,
who had been commanded by King Mark to bring
home to him two knights of King Arthur's court
who roamed the country thereabouts seeking
adventures.

" What tidings ? " said Sir Tristram.

" God help me, never worse," replied his

216 The Legends of King Arthur

cousin ; "for those I went to bring have beaten
and defeated me, and set my message at naught."

" Fair cousin," said Sir Tristram, " ride ye on
your way, perchance if I should meet them ye may
be revenged."

So Sir Andret rode into Cornwall, but Sir
Tristram rode after the two knights who had
misused him, namely, Sir Sagramour le Desirous,
and Sir Dodinas le Savage. And before long he
saw them but a little way before him.

11 Sir," said Governale, " by my advice thou
wilt leave them alone, for they be two well-
proved knights of Arthur's court."

" Shall I not therefore rather meet them ? "
said Sir Tristram, and, riding swiftly after them,
he called to them to stop, and asked them whence
they came, and whither they were going, and
what they were doing in those marches.

Sir Sagramour looked haughtily at Sir Tristram,
and made mocking at his words, and said, " Fair
knight, be ye a knight of Cornwall ? "

" Wherefore askest thou that ? " said Tristram.

" Truly, because it is full seldom seen," replied
Sir Sagramour, " that Cornish knights are valiant
with their arms as with their tongues. It is but
two hours since there met us such a Cornish
knight, who spoke great words with might and
prowess, but anon, with little mastery, he
was laid on earth, as I trow wilt thou be also."

" Fair lords," said Sir Tristram, " it may chance
I be a better man than he ; but, be that as it
may, he was my cousin, and for his sake I will
assail ye both ; one Cornish knight against ye two."

Sir Tristram's Quest 217

When Sir Dodinas le Savage heard this speech,
he caught at his spear and said, " Sir knight, keep
well thyself ; " and then they parted and came
together as it had been thunder, and Sir Dodinas 's
spear split asunder ; but Sir Tristram smote him
with so full a stroke as hurled him over his horse's
crupper, and nearly brake his neck. Sir Sagra-
mour, seeing his fellow's fall, marvelled who this
new knight might be, and dressed his spear, and
came against Sir Tristram as a whirlwind ; but
Sir Tristram smote him a mighty buffet, and
rolled him with his horse down on the ground ;
and in the falling he brake his thigh.

Then, looking at them both as they lay grovel-
ling on the grass, Sir Tristram said, " Fair
knights, will ye joust any more ? Are there no
bigger knights in King Arthur's court ? Will ye
soon again speak shame of Cornish knights ? "

" Thou hast defeated us, in truth," replied Sir
Sagramour, " and on the faith of knighthood I
require thee tell us thy right name."

" Ye charge me by a great thing," said Sir
Tristram, " and I will answer ye."

And when they heard his name the two knights
were right glad that they had met Sir Tristram,
for his deeds were known through all the land,
and they prayed him to abide in their company.

" Nay," said he, " I must find a fellow-knight
of yours, Sir Bleoberis de Ganis, whom I seek."

" God speed you well," said the two knights ;
and Sir Tristram rode away.

Soon he saw before him in a valley Sir Bleoberis
with Sir Segwarides's wife riding behind his squire

218 The Legends of King Arthur

upon a palfrey. At that he cried out aloud,
" Abide, Sir knight of King Arthur's court, bring
back again that lady or deliver her to me."

" I will not," said Bleoberis, "for I dread no
Cornish knight."

" Why," said Sir Tristram, " may not a Cor-
nish knight do well as any other ? This day, but
three miles back, two knights of thy own court
met me, and found one Cornish knight enough for
both before we parted."

" What were their names ? " said Sir Bleoberis.

" Sir Sagramour le Desirous and Sir Dodinas
le Savage," said Sir Tristram.

" Ah," said Sir Bleoberis, amazed ; " hast thou
then met with them ? By my faith, they were
two good knights and men of worship, and if thou
hast beat both thou must needs be a good knight ;
but for all that thou shalt beat me also ere thou
hast this lady."

" Defend thee, then," cried out Sir Tristram,
and came upon him swiftly with his spear in rest.
But Sir Bleoberis was as swift as he, and each
bore down the other, horse and all, on to the
earth.

Then they sprang clear of their horses, and
lashed together full eagerly and mightily with
their swords, tracing and traversing on the right
hand and on the left more than two hours, and
sometimes rushing together with such fury that
they both lay grovelling on the ground. At last
Sir Bleoberis started back and said, " Now, gentle
knight, hold hard awhile, and let us speak
together."

Sir Tristram and Sir Bleoberis 219

" Say on," said Sir Tristram, " and I will
answer thee."

" Sir," said Sir Bleoberis, " I would know thy
name, and court, and country."

" I have no shame to tell them," said Sir Tris-
tram. " I am King Meliodas's son, and my
mother was sister to King Mark, from whose court
I now come. My name is Sir Tristram de
Lyonesse."

" Truly," said Sir Bleoberis, " I am right glad
to hear it, for thou art he that slew Sir Marhaus
hand-to-hand, fighting for the Cornish tribute ;
and overcame Sir Palomedes at the great Irish
tournament, where also thou didst overthrow Sir
Gawain and his nine companions."

" I am that knight," said Sir Tristram, " and
now I pray thee tell me thy name."

" I am Sir Bleoberis de Ganis, cousin of Sir
Lancelot of the Lake, one of the best knights in
all the world," he answered.

" Thou say est truth," said Sir Tristram ; " for
Sir Lancelot, as all men know, is peerless in
courtesy and knighthood, and for the great love
I bear to his name I will not willingly fight more
with thee his kinsman."

" In good faith, sir," said Sir Bleoberis, " I am
as loth to fight thee more ; but since thou hast
followed me to win this lady, I proffer thee kind-
ness, courtesy, and gentleness ; this lady shall
be free to go with which of us she pleaseth best."

" I am content," said Sir Tristram, " for I
doubt not she will come to me."

" That shalt thou shortly prove," said he, and

220 The Legends of King Arthur

called his squire, and set the lady in the midst
between them, who forthwith walked to Sir
Bleoberis and elected to abide with him. Which,
when Sir Tristram saw, he was in wondrous anger
with her, and felt that he could scarce for shame
return to King Mark's court. But Sir Bleoberis
said, " Hearken to me, good knight, Sir Tristram,
because King Mark gave me free choice of any
gift, and because this lady chose to go with me,
I took her ; but now I have fulfilled my quest and
my adventure, and for thy sake she shall be sent
back to her husband at the abbey where he lieth."

So Sir Tristram rode back to Tintagil, and Sir
Bleoberis to the abbey where Sir Segwarides lay
wounded, and there delivered up his lady, and
departed as a noble knight.

After this adventure Sir Tristram abode still at
his uncle's court, till in the envy of his heart King
Mark devised a plan to be rid of him. So on a
certain day he desired him to depart again to
Ireland, and there demand La Belle Isault on his
behalf, to be his queen — for ever had Sir Tristram
praised her beauty and her goodness, till King
Mark desired to wed her for himself. Moreover,
he believed his nephew surely would be slain by
the queen's kindred if he once were found again
in Ireland.

But Sir Tristram, scorning fear, made ready to
depart, and took with him the noblest knights
that could be found, arrayed in the richest fashion.

And when they were come to Ireland, upon a
certain day Sir Tristram gave his uncle's message,
and King Anguish consented thereto.

Sir Tristram and La Belle Isault 221

But when La Belle Isault was told the tidings
she was very sorrowful and loth — yet made she
ready to set forth with Sir Tristram, and took with
her Dame Bragwaine, her chief gentlewoman.
Then the queen gave Dame Bragwaine, and
Governale, Sir Tristram's servant, a little flask,
and charged them that La Belle Isault and King
Mark should both drink of it on their marriage
day, and then should they surely love each other
all their lives.

Anon, Sir Tristram and Isault, with a great
company, took the sea and departed. And so it
chanced that one day sitting in their cabin they
were athirst, and saw a little flask of gold which
seemed to hold good wine. So Sir Tristram took
it up, and said, " Fair lady, this looketh to be the
best of wines, and your maid, Dame Bragwaine,
and my servant, Governale, have kept it for
themselves." Thereat they both laughed merri-
ly, and drank each after other from the flask, and
never before had they tasted any wine which
seemed so good and sweet. But by the time they
had finished drinking they loved each other so
well that their love nevermore might leave them
for weal or woe. And thus it came to pass that
though Sir Tristram might never wed La Belle
Isault, he did the mightiest deeds of arms for her
sake only all his life.

Then they sailed onwards till they came to a
castle called Pluere, where they would have
rested. But anon there ran forth a great com-
pany and took them prisoners. And when they
were in prison, Sir Tristram asked a knight and

222 The Legends of King Arthur

lady whom they found therein wherefore they
were so shamefully dealt with ; " for," said he,
" it was never the custom of any place of honour
that I ever came unto to seize a knight and lady
asking shelter and thrust them into prison, and a
full evil and discourteous custom is it."

" Sir," said the knight, " know ye not that this
is called the Castle Pluere, or the weeping castle,
and that it is an ancient custom here that what-
soever knight abideth in it must needs fight the
lord of it, Sir Brewnor, and he that is the weakest
shall lose his head. And if the lady he hath with
him be less fair than the lord's wife, she shall lose
her head ; but if she be fairer, then must the lady
of the castle lose her head."

" Now Heaven help me," said Sir Tristram,
" but this is a foul and shameful custom. Yet
have I one advantage, for my lady is the fairest
that doth live in all the world, so that I nothing
fear for her ; and as for me, I will full gladly fight
for my own head in a fair field."

Then said the knight, " Look ye be up betimes
to-morrow, and make you ready and your lady."

And on the morrow came Sir Brewnor to Sir
Tristram, and put him and Isault forth out of
prison, and brought him a horse and armour, and
bade him make ready, for all the commons and
estates of that lordship waited in the field to see
and judge the battle.

Then Sir Brewnor, holding his lady by the hand,
all muffled, came forth, and Sir Tristram went
to meet him with La Belle Isault beside him,
muffled also. Then said Sir Brewnor, " Sir

The Castle Pluere 223

knight, if thy lady be fairer than mine, with thy
sword smite off my lady's head ; but if my lady
be fairer than thine, with my sword I will smite
off thy lady's head. And if I overcome thee thy
lady shall be mine, and thou shalt lose thy head."

" Sir knight," replied Sir Tristram, " this is a
right foul and felon custom, and rather than my
lady shall lose her head will I lose my own."

" Nay," said Sir Brewnor, " but the ladies shall
be now compared together and judgment shall be
had."

" I consent not," cried Sir Tristram, " for who
is here that will give rightful judgment ? Yet
doubt not that my lady is far fairer than thine
own, and that will I prove and make good."
Therewith Sir Tristram lifted up the veil from off
La Belle Isault, and stood beside her with his
naked sword drawn in his hand.

Then Sir Brewnor unmuffled his lady and did
in like manner. But when he saw La Belle Isault
he knew that none could be so fair, and all there
present gave their judgment so. Then said Sir
Tristram, " Because thou and thy lady have long
used this evil custom, and have slain many good
knights and ladies, it were a just thing to destroy
thee both."

" In good sooth," said Sir Brewnor, " thy lady
is fairer than mine, and of all women I never saw
any so fair. Therefore, slay my lady if thou wilt,
and I doubt not but I shall slay thee and have
thine."

" Thou shalt win her," said Sir Tristram, " as
dearly as ever knight won lady ; and because of thy

224 The Legends of King Arthur

own judgment and of the evil custom that thy lady
hath consented to, I will slay her as thou sayest."

And therewithal Sir Tristram went to him and
took his lady from him, and smote off her head at
a stroke.

" Now take thy horse," cried out Sir Brewnor,
" for since I have lost my lady I will win thine
and have thy life."

So they took their horses and came together as
fast as they could fly, and Sir Tristram lightly
smote Sir Brewnor from his horse. But he rose
right quickly, and when Sir Tristram came again
he thrust his horse through both the shoulders, so
that it reeled and fell. But Sir Tristram was
light and nimble, and voided his horse, and rose
and dressed his shield before him, though mean-
while, ere he could draw out his sword, Sir Brew-
nor gave him three or four grievous strokes. Then
they rushed furiously together like two wild boars,
and fought hurtling and hewing here and there
for nigh two hours, and wounded each other full
sorely. Then at the last Sir Brewnor rushed upon
Sir Tristram and took him in his arms to throw
him, for he trusted in his strength. But Sir
Tristram was at that time called the strongest
and biggest knight of the world ; for he was
bigger than Sir Lancelot, though Sir Lancelot
was better breathed. So anon he thrust Sir
Brewnor grovelling to the earth, and then un-
laced his helm and struck off his head. Then all
they that belonged to the castle came and did him
homage and fealty, and prayed him to abide there
for a season and put an end to that foul custom.

King Mark weds La Belle Isault 225

But within a while he departed and came to
Cornwall, and there King Mark was forthwith
wedded to La Belle Isault with great joy and
splendour.

And Sir Tristram had high honour, and ever
lodged at the king's court. But for all he had
done him such services King Mark hated him, and
on a certain day he set two knights to fall upon
him as he rode in the forest. But Sir Tristram
lightly smote one's head off, and sorely wounded
the other, and made him bear his fellow's body to
the king. At that the king dissembled and hid
from Sir Tristram that the knights were sent by
him ; yet more than ever he hated him in secret,
and sought to slay him.

So on a certain day, by the assent of Sir Andret,
a false knight, and forty other knights, Sir Tris-
tram was taken prisoner in his sleep and carried
to a chapel on the rocks above the sea to be cast
down. But as they were about to cast him in,
suddenly he brake his bonds asunder, and rushing
at Sir Andret, took his sword and smote him down
therewith. Then, leaping down the rocks where
none could follow, he escaped them. But one
shot after him and wounded him full sorely with
a poisoned arrow in the arm.

Anon, his servant Governale, with Sir Lam-
begus, sought him and found him safe among the
rocks, and told him that King Mark had banished
him and all his followers to avenge Sir Andret 's
death. So they took ship and came to Brittany.

Now Sir Tristram, suffering great anguish from
his wound, was told to seek Isoude, the daughter

226 The Legends of King Arthur

of the King of Brittany, for she alone could cure
such wounds. Wherefore he went to King
Howell's court, and said, " Lord, I am come into
this country to have help from thy daughter, for
men tell me none but she may help me." And
Isoude gladly offering to do her best, within a
month he was made whole.

While he abode still at that court, an earl named
Grip made war upon King Howell, and besieged
him ; and Sir Kay Hedius, the king's son, went
forth against him, but was beaten in battle and
sore wounded. Then the king praying Sir Tris-
tram for his help, he took with him such knights
as he could find, and on the morrow, in another
battle, did such deeds of arms that all the land
spake of him. For there he slew the earl with his
own hands, and more than a hundred knights
besides.

When he came back King Howell met him, and
saluted him with every honour and rejoicing that
could be thought of, and took him in his arms,
and said, " Sir Tristram, all my kingdom will I
resign to thee."

" Nay," answered he, " God forbid, for truly
am I beholden to you for ever for your daughter's
sake."

Then the king prayed him to take Isoude in
marriage, with a great dower of lands and castles.
To this Sir Tristram presently consenting, anon
they were wedded at the court.

But within a while Sir Tristram greatly longed
to see Cornwall, and Sir Kay Hedius desired to go
with him. So they took ship ; but as soon as

Sir Kay Hedius 227

they were at sea the wind blew them upon the
coast of North Wales, nigh to Castle Perilous,
hard by a forest wherein were many strange
adventures ofttimes to be met. Then said Sir
Tristram to Sir Kay Hedius, " Let us prove some
of them ere we depart." So they took their
horses and rode forth.

When they had ridden a mile or more, Sir
Tristram spied a goodly knight before him well
armed, who sat by a clear fountain with a strong
horse near him, tied to an oak-tree. " Fair sir,"
said he, when they came near, " ye seem to be a
knight errant by your arms and harness, therefore
make ready now to joust with one of us, or both."

Thereat the knight spake not, but took his
shield and buckled it round his neck, and leaping
on his horse caught a spear from his squire's hand.

Then said Sir Kay Hedius to Sir Tristram,
" Let me assay him."

" Do thy best," said he.

So the two knights met, and Sir Kay Hedius
fell sorely wounded in the breast.

" Thou hast well jousted," cried Sir Tristram
to the knight ; " now make ready for me ! "

" I am ready," answered he, and encountered
him, and smote him so heavily that he fell down
from his horse. Whereat being ashamed, he put
his shield before him, and drew his sword, crying
to the strange knight to do likewise. Then they
fought on foot for well nigh two hours, till they
were both weary.

At last Sir Tristram said, " In all my life I never
met a knight so strong and well-breathed as ye

228 The Legends of King Arthur

be. It were a pity we should further hurt each
other. Hold thy hand, fair knight, and tell me
thy name."

" That will I," answered he, " if thou wilt tell
me thine."

" My name," said he, " is Sir Tristram of
Lyonesse."

" And mine, Sir Lamoracke of Gaul."

Then both cried out together, " Well met ; "
and Sir Lamoracke said, " Sir, for your great
renown, I will that ye have all the worship of this
battle, and therefore will I yield me unto you."
And therewith he took his sword by the point to
yield him.

" Nay," said Sir Tristram, " ye shall not do so,
for well I know ye do it of courtesy, and not of
dread." And therewith he offered his sword to
Sir Lamoracke, saying, " Sir, as an overcome
knight, I yield me unto you as unto the man of
noblest powers I have ever met with."

" Hold," said Sir Lamoracke, " let us now swear
together never more to fight against each other."

Then did they swear as he said.

Then Sir Tristram returned to Sir Kay Hedius,
and when he was whole of his wounds, they de-
parted together in a ship, and landed on the coast
of Cornwall. And when they came ashore, Sir
Tristram eagerly sought news of La Belle Isault.
And one told him in mistake that she was dead.
Whereat, for sore and grievous sorrow, he fell
down in a swoon, and so lay for three days and
nights.

When he awoke therefrom he was crazed, and

Sir Tristram kills Tauleas 229

ran into the forest and abode there like a wild man
many days ; whereby he waxed lean and weak
of body, and would have died, but that a hermit
laid some meat beside him as he slept. Now in
that forest was a giant named Tauleas, who, for
fear of Tristram, had hid himself within a castle,
but when they told him he was mad, came forth
and went at large again. And on a certain day
he saw a knight of Cornwall, named Sir Dinaunt,
pass by with a lady, and when he had alighted by
a well to rest, the giant leaped out from his am-
bush, and took him by the throat to slay him.
But Sir Tristram, as he wandered through the
forest, came upon them as they struggled ; and
when the knight cried out for help, he rushed
upon the giant, and taking up Sir Dinaunt 's
sword, struck off therewith the giant's head, and
straightway disappeared among the trees.

Anon, Sir Dinaunt took the head of Tauleas,
and bare it with him to the court of King Mark,
whither he was bound, and told of his adventures.
' ' Where had ye this adventure ? ' ' said King Mark.

" At a fair fountain in thy forest," answered he.

" I would fain see that wild man," said the king.

So within a day or two he commanded his
knights to a great hunting in the forest. And
when the king came to the well, he saw a wild man
lying there asleep, having a sword beside him ;
but he knew not that it was Sir Tristram. Then
he blew his horn, and summoned all his knights
to take him gently up and bear him to the court.

And when they came thereto they bathed and
washed him, and brought him somewhat to his

Q

230 The Legends of King Arthur

right mind. Now La Belle Isault knew not that
Sir Tristram was in Cornwall ; but when she
heard that a wild man had been found in the
forest, she came to see him. And so sorely was he
changed, she knew him not. " Yet," said she to
Dame Bragwaine, " in good faith I seem to have
beheld him ofttimes before."

As she thus spoke a little hound, which Sir
Tristram had given her when she first came to
Cornwall, and which was ever with her, saw Sir
Tristram lying there, and leapt upon him, licking
his hands and face, and whined and barked for joy.

" Alas," cried out La Belle Isault, "it is my
own true knight, Sir Tristram 1"

And at her voice Sir Tristram's senses wholly
came again and wellnigh he wept for joy to see his
lady living.

But never would the hound depart from Tris-
tram ; and when King Mark and other knights
came up to see him, it sat upon his body and
bayed at all who came too near. Then one of the
knights said, " Surely this is Sir Tristram ; I see
it by the hound."

11 Nay," said the king, " it cannot be," and
asked Sir Tristram on his faith who he was.

" My name," said he, " is Sir Tristram of
Lyonesse, and now ye may do what ye list with
me."

Then the king said, " It repents me that ye are
recovered," and sought to make his barons slay
him. But most of them would not assent thereto,
and counselled him instead to banish Tristram
for ten years again from Cornwall, for returning

Sir Tristram and Sir Bors 231

without orders from the king. So he was sworn
to depart forthwith.

And as he went towards the ship a knight of
King Arthur, named Sir Dinadan, who sought
him, came and said, " Fair knight, ere that you
pass out of this country, I pray you joust with me ! ' '

" With a good will," said he.

Then they ran together, and Sir Tristram lightly
smote him from his horse. Anon he prayed Sir
Tristram's leave to bear him company, and when
he had consented they rode together to the ship.

Then was Sir Tristram full of bitterness of
heart, and said to all the knights who took him to
the shore, " Greet well King Mark and all mine
enemies from me, and tell them I will come again
when I may. Well am I now rewarded for slay-
ing Sir Marhaus, and delivering his kingdom from
its bondage, and for the perils wherewithal I
brought La Belle Isault from Ireland to the king,
and rescued her at the Castle Pluere, and for the
slaying of the giant Tauleas, and all the other
deeds that I have done for Cornwall and King
Mark." Thus angrily and passing bitterly he
spake, and went his way.

And after sailing awhile the ship stayed at a
landing-place upon the coast of Wales ; and there
Sir Tristram and Sir Dinadan alighted, and on
the shore they met two knights, Sir Ector and
Sir Bors. And Sir Ector encountered with Sir
Dinadan and smote him to the ground ; but Sir
Bors would not encounter with Sir Tristram.
11 For," said he, " no Cornish knights are men of
worship." Thereat Sir Tristram was full wroth,

232 The Legends of King Arthur

but presently there met them two more knights,
Sir Bleoberis and Sir Driant ; and Sir Bleoberis
proffered to joust with Sir Tristram, who shortly
smote him down.

" I had not thought," cried out Sir Bors, " that
any Cornish knight could do so valiantly."

Then Sir Tristram and Sir Dinadan departed,
and rode into a forest, and as they rode a
damsel met them, who for Sir Lancelot's sake was
seeking any noble knights to rescue him. For
Queen Morgan le Fay, who hated him, had
ordered thirty men-at-arms to lie in ambush for
him as he passed, with the intent to kill him. So
the damsel prayed them to rescue him.

Then said Sir Tristram, " Bring me to that
place, fair damsel."

But Sir Dinadan cried out, " It is not possible
for us to meet with thirty knights ! I will take no
part in such a hardihood, for to match one or two
or three knights is enough ; but to match fifteen
I will never assay."

" For shame," replied Sir Tristram, " do but
your part."

" That will I not," said he ; " wherefore, I pray
ye, lend me your shield, for it is of Cornwall, and
because men of that country are deemed cowards,
ye are but little troubled as ye ride with knights
to joust with."

" Nay," said Sir Tristram, " I will never give
my shield up for her sake who gave it me ; but if
thou wilt not stand by me to-day I will surely
slay thee ; for I ask no more of thee than to fight
one knight, and if thy heart will not serve thee

Sir Dinadan refuses to fight 233

that much, thou shalt stand by and look on me
and them."

11 Would God that I had never met with ye ! "
cried Sir Dinadan ; " but I promise to look on
and do all that I may to save myself."

Anon they came to where the thirty knights lay
waiting, and Sir Tristram rushed upon them,
saying, " Here is one who fights for love of Lance-
lot ! " Then slew he two of them at the first onset
with his spear, and ten more swiftly after with his
sword. At that Sir Dinadan took courage, and as-
sailed the others with him, till they turned and fled.

But Sir Tristram and Sir Dinadan rode on till
nightfall, and meeting with a shepherd, asked
him if he knew of any lodging thereabouts.

" Truly, fair lords," said he, " there is good
lodging in a castle hard by, but it is a custom
there that none shall lodge therein save ye first
joust with two knights, and as soon as ye be
within, ye shall find your match."

11 That is an evil lodging," said Sir Dinadan ;
11 lodge where ye will, I will not lodge there."

" Shame on thee ! " said Sir Tristram ; "art
thou a knight at all ? "

Then he required him on his knighthood to go
with him, and they rode together to the castle.
As soon as they were near, two knights came out
and ran full speed against them ; but both of
them they overthrew, and went within the castle,
and had noble cheer. Now, when they were un-
armed and ready to take rest, there came to the
castle-gate two knights, Sir Palomedes and Sir
Gaheris, and desired the custom of the castle.

234 The Legends of King Arthur

" I would far rather rest than fight," said Sir
Dmadan.

" That may not be," replied Sir Tristram, " for
we must needs defend the custom of the castle,
seeing we have overcome its lords ; therefore,
make ready."

" Alas that I ever came into your company !"
said Sir Dinadan.

So they made ready, and Sir Gaheris encount-
ered Sir Tristram and fell before him ; but Sir
Palomedes overthrew Sir Dinadan, Then would
all fight on foot save Sir Dinadan, for he was
sorely bruised and frightened by his fall. And
when Sir Tristram prayed him to fight, " I will
not," answered he, " for I was wounded by those
thirty knights with whom we fought this morn-
ing ; and as to you, ye are in truth like one gone
mad, and who would cast himself away ! There
be but two knights in the world so mad, and the
other is Sir Lancelot, with whom I once rode
forth, who kept me evermore at battling so that
for a quarter of a year thereafter I lay in my bed.
Heaven defend me again from either of your
fellowships ! "

" Well," said Sir Tristram, " if it must be, I
will fight them both."

Therewith he drew his sword and assailed Sir
Palomedes and Sir Gaheris together ; but Sir
Palomedes said, " Nay, but it is a shame for two
to fight with one." So he bade Sir Gaheris stand
by, and he and Sir Tristram fought long together ;
but in the end Sir Tristram drave him backward,
whereat Sir Gaheris and Sir Dinadan with one

Sir Tristram overthrows Sir Pellinore 235

accord sundered them . Then Sir Tristram prayed
the two knights to lodge there ; but Sir Dinadan
departed and rode away into a priory hard by,
and there he lodged that night.

And on the morrow came Sir Tristram to the
priory to find him, and seeing him so weary that
he could not ride, he left him, and departed. At
that same priory was lodged Sir Pellinore, who
asked Sir Dinadan Sir Tristram's name, but could
not learn it, for Sir Tristram had charged that he
should remain unknown. Then said Sir Pellinore,
" Since ye will not tell it me, I will ride after him
and find it myself."

" Beware, Sir knight," said Sir Dinadan, " ye
will repent it if ye follow him."

But Sir Pellinore straightway mounted and
overtook him, and cried to him to joust ; whereat
Sir Tristram forthwith turned and smote him
down, and wounded him full sorely in the shoulder.

On the day after, Sir Tristram met a herald,
who told him of a tournament proclaimed be-
tween King Carados of Scotland, and the King of
North Wales, to be held at the Maiden's Castle.
Now King Carados sought Sir Lancelot to fight
there on his side, and the King of North Wales
sought Sir Tristram. And Sir Tristram purposed
to be there. So as he rode, he met Sir Key, the
seneschal, and Sir Sagramour, and Sir Key
proffered to joust with him. But he refused, de-
siring to keep himself unwearied for the tourney.
Then Sir Key cried, " Sir knight of Cornwall, joust
with me, or yield as recreant." When Sir Tristram
heard that, he fiercely turned and set his spear in

236 The Legends of King Arthur

rest, and spurred his horse towards him. But
when Sir Key saw him so madly coming on, he in
his turn refused, whereat Sir Tristram called him
coward, till for shame he was compelled to meet
him. Then Sir Tristram lightly smote him down,
and rode away. But Sir Sagramour pursued him,
crying loudly to joust with him also. So Sir
Tristram turned and quickly overthrew him
likewise, and departed.

Anon a damsel met him as he rode, and told
him of a knight adventurous who did great harm
thereby, and prayed him for his help. But as he
went with her he met Sir Gawain, who knew the
damsel for a maiden of Queen Morgan le Fay.
Knowing, therefore, that she needs must have
evil plots against Sir Tristram, Sir Gawain de-
manded of him courteously whither he went.

11 I know not whither," said he, " save as this
damsel leadeth me."

" Sir," said Sir Gawain, " ye shall not ride with
her, for she and her lady never yet did good to
any ; " and, drawing his sword, he said to the
damsel, " Tell me now straightway for what cause
thou leadest this knight, or else shalt thou die ;
for I know of old thy lady's treason."

" Mercy, Sir Gawain," cried the damsel, " and
I will tell thee all." Then she told him that
Queen Morgan had ordained thirty fair damsels to
seek out Sir Lancelot and Sir Tristram, and by
their wiles persuade them to her castle, where she
had thirty knights in wait to slay them.

" Oh, shame ! " cried Sir Gawain, " that ever
such foul treason should be wrought by a queen,

Tournament at the Maiden's Castle 237

and a king's sister." Then said he to Sir Tristram,
" Sir knight, if ye will stand with me, we will
together prove the malice of these thirty knights."

" I will not fail you," answered he, " for but
few days since I had to do with thirty knights of
that same queen, and trust we may win honour as
lightly now as then."

So they rode together, and when they came to
the castle, Sir Gawain cried aloud, " Queen
Morgan le Fay, send out thy knights that we may
fight with them."

Then the queen urged her knights to issue forth,
but they durst not, for they well knew Sir Tris-
tram, and feared him greatly.

So Sir Tristram and Sir Gawain went on their
way, and as they rode they saw a knight, named
Sir Brewse-without-pity, chasing a lady, with in-
tent to slay her. Then Sir Gawain prayed Sir
Tristram to hold still and let him assail that
knight. So he rode up between Sir Brewse and
the lady, and cried, " False knight, turn thee to
me and leave that lady." Then Sir Brewse
turned and set his spear in rest, and rushed
against Sir Gawain and overthrew him, and rode
his horse upon him as he lay, which when Sir
Tristram saw, he cried, " Forbear that villainy,"
and galloped at him. But when Sir Brewse saw
by the shield it was Sir Tristram, he turned
and fled. And though Sir Tristram followed
swiftly after him, yet he was so well horsed
that he escaped.

Anon Sir Tristram and Sir Gawain came nigh
the Maiden's Castle, and there an old knight

238 The Legends of King Arthur

named Sir Pellonnes gave them lodging. And
Sir Persides, the son of Sir Pellonnes, a good
knight, came out to welcome them. And, as they
stood talking at a bay window of the castle, they
saw a goodly knight ride by on a black horse, and
carrying a black shield. " What knight is
that ? " asked Tristram.

" One of the best knights in all the world," said
Sir Persides.

" Is he Sir Lancelot ? " said Sir Tristram.

" Nay," answered Sir Persides, "it is Sir
Palomedes, who is yet unchristened."

Within a while one came and told them that a
knight with a black shield had smitten down
thirteen knights. " Let us go and see this joust-
ing," said Sir Tristram. So they armed them-
selves and went down. And when Sir Palomedes
saw Sir Persides, he sent a squire to him and
proffered him to joust. So they jousted, and Sir
Persides was overthrown. Then Sir Tristram
made ready to joust, but ere he had his spear in
rest, Sir Palomedes took him at advantage, and
struck him on the shield so that he fell. At that
Sir Tristram was wroth out of measure and sore
ashamed, wherefore he sent a squire and prayed
Sir Palomedes to joust once again. But he would
not, saying, " Tell thy master to revenge himself
to-morrow at the Maiden's Castle, where he shall
see me again."

So on the morrow Sir Tristram commanded his
servant to give him a black shield with no cog-
nizance thereon, and he and Sir Persides rode into
the tournament and joined King Carados's side.

Tournament at the Maiden s Castle 239

Then the knights of the King of North Wales
came forth, and there was a great fighting and
breaking of spears, and overthrow of men and
horses.

Now King Arthur sat above in a high gallery to
see the tourney and give the judgment, and Sir
Lancelot sat beside him. Then came against
Sir Tristram and Sir Persides, two knights with
them of North Wales, Sir Bleoberis and Sir
Gaheris ; and Sir Persides was smitten down and
nigh slain, for four horsemen rode over him. But
Sir Tristram rode against Sir Gaheris and smote
him from his horse, and when Sir Bleoberis next
encountered him, he overthrew him also. Anon
they horsed themselves again, and with them
came Sir Dinadan, whom Sir Tristram forthwith
smote so sorely, that he reeled off his saddle.
Then cried he, " Ah ! Sir knight, I know ye better
than ye deem, and promise nevermore to come
against ye." Then rode Sir Bleoberis at him the
second time, and had a buffet that felled him to
the earth. And soon thereafter the king com-
manded to cease for that day, and all men mar-
velled who Sir Tristram was, for the prize of the
first day was given him in the name of the Knight
of the Black Shield.

Now Sir Palomedes was on the side of the King
of North Wales, but knew not Sir Tristram again.
And, when he saw his marvellous deeds, he sent
to ask his name. " As to that," said Sir Tris-
tram, " he shall not know at this time, but tell
him he shall know when I have broken two spears
upon him, for I am the knight he smote down

240 The Legends of King Arthur

yesterday, and whatever side he taketh, I will
take the other."

So when they told him that Sir Palomedes
would be on King Carados's side — for he was
kindred to King Arthur — " Then will I be on the
King of North Wales's side," said he, " but else
would I be on my lord King Arthur's."

Then on the morrow, when King Arthur was
come, the heralds blew unto the tourney. And
King Carados jousted with the King of a Hundred
Knights and fell before him, and then came in
King Arthur's knights and bare back those of
North Wales. But anon Sir Tristram came to
aid them and bare back the battle, and fought: so
mightily that none could stand against him, for he
smote down on the right and on the left, so that all
the knights and common people shouted his praise.

" Since I bare arms," said King Arthur, "never
saw I a knight do more marvellous deeds."

Then the King of the Hundred Knights and
those of North Wales, set upon twenty knights
who were of Sir Lancelot's kin, who fought all
together, none failing the others. When Sir
Tristram beheld their nobleness and valour, he
marvelled much. " Well may he be valiant and
full of prowess," said he, " who hath such noble
knights for kindred." So, when he had looked on
them awhile, he thought it shame to see two
hundred men assailing twenty, and riding to the
King of a Hundred Knights, he said, " I pray thee,
Sir king, leave your fighting with those twenty
knights, for ye be too many and they be too few.
For ye shall gain no honour if ye win, and that I

Sir Palomedes and Sir Tristram 241

see verily ye will not do unless ye slay them ; but
if ye will not stay, I will ride with them and help
them."

" Nay," said the king, " ye shall not do so ; for
full gladly I will do you courtesy," and with that
he withdrew his knights.

Then Sir Tristram rode his way into the forest,
that no man might know him. And King Arthur
caused the heralds to blow that the tourney
should end that day, and he gave the King
of North Wales the prize, because Sir Tristram
was on his side. And in all the field there
was such a cry that the sound thereof was heard
two miles away — " The Knight with the Black
Shield hath won the field."

" Alas ! " said King Arthur, " where is that
knight ? It is shame to let him thus escape us."
Then he comforted his knights, and said, " Be
not dismayed, my friends, howbeit ye have lost
the day ; be of good cheer ; to-morrow I myself
will be in the field, and fare with you." So they
all rested that night.

And -on the morrow the heralds blew unto the
field. So the King of North Wales and the King
of a Hundred Knights encountered with- King
Carados and the King of Ireland, and overthrew
them. With that came King Arthur, and did
mighty deeds of arms, and overthrew the King
of North Wales and his fellows, and put twenty
valiant knights to the worse. Anon came in Sir
Palomedes, and made great fight upon King
Arthur's side. But Sir Tristram rode furiously
against him, and Sir Palomedes was thrown from

242 The Legends of King Arthur

his horse. Then cried King Arthur, " Knight of
the Black Shield, keep thyself." And as he spake
he came upon him, and smote him from his saddle
to the ground, and so passed on to other knights.
Then Sir Palomedes having now another horse
rushed at Sir Tristram, as he was on foot, thinking
to run over him. But he was aware of him, and
stepped aside, and grasped Sir Palomedes by the
arms, and pulled him off his horse. Then they
rushed together with their swords, and many
stood still to gaze on them. And Sir Tristram
smote Sir Palomedes with three mighty strokes
upon the helm, crying at each stroke, " Take this
for Sir Tristram's sake," and with that Sir Palo-
medes fell to the earth.

Anon the King of North Wales brought Sir
Tristram another horse, and Sir Palomedes found
one also. Then did they joust again with passing
rage, for both by now were like mad lions. But
Sir Tristram avoided his spear, and seized Sir
Palomedes by the neck, and pulled him from his
saddle, and bore him onward ten spears' length,
and so let him fall. Then King Arthur drew
forth his sword and smote the spear asunder, and
gave Sir Tristram two or three sore strokes ere he
could get at his own sword. But when he had it
in his hand he mightily assailed the king. With
that eleven knights of Lancelot's kin went forth
against him, but he smote them all down to the
earth, so that men marvelled at his deeds.

And the cry was now so great that Sir Lancelot
got a spear in his hand, and came down to assay
Sir Tristram, saying, " Knight with the Black

Sir Tristram and Sir Lancelot 243

Shield, make ready." When Sir Tristram heard
him he levelled his spear, and both stooping their
heads, they ran together mightily, as it had been
thunder. And Sir Tristram's spear brake short,
but Sir Lancelot struck him with a deep wound
in the side and broke his spear, yet overthrew him
not. Therewith Sir Tristram, smarting at his
wound, drew forth his sword, and rushing at Sir
Lancelot, gave him mighty strokes upon the helm,
so that the sparks flew from it, and Sir Lancelot
stooped his head down to the saddle-bow. But
then Sir Tristram turned and left the field, for he
felt his wound so grievous that he deemed he
should soon die. Then did Sir Lancelot hold the
field against all comers, and put the King of
North Wales and his party to the worse. And
because he was the last knight in the field the
prize was given him.

But he refused to take it, and when the cry
was raised, " Sir Lancelot hath won the day," he
cried out, " Nay, but Sir Tristram is the victor,
for he first began and last endured, and so hath
he done each day." And all men honoured
Lancelot more for his knightly words than if he
had taken the prize.

Thus was the tournament ended, and King
Arthur departed to Caerleon, for the Whitsun
feast was now nigh come, and all the knights
adventurous went their ways. And many sought
Sir Tristram in the forest whither he had gone,
and at last Sir Lancelot found him, and brought
him to King Arthur's court, as hath been told
already.

CHAPTER XII

The Quest of the Sangreal, and the Adventures of
Sir Percival, Sir Bors, and Sir Galahad

AFTER these things, Merlin fell into a
dotage of love for a damsel of the lady of
the lake, and would let her have no rest,
but followed her in every place. And ever she
encouraged him, and made him welcome till she
had learned all his crafts that she desired to know.
Then upon a time she went with him beyond
the sea to the land of Benwick, and as they went
he showed her many wonders, till at length she
was afraid, and would fain have been delivered
from him.

And as they were in the forest of Broceliande,
they sat together under an oak-tree, and the
damsel prayed to see all that charm whereby men
might be shut up yet alive in rocks or trees. But
he refused her a long time, fearing to let her know,
yet in the end, her prayers and kisses overcame
him, and he told her all. Then did she make
him great cheer, but anon, as he lay down to sleep,
she softly rose, and walked about him waving her
hands and muttering the charm, and presently
enclosed him fast within the tree whereby he slept.
And therefrom nevermore he could by any means

244

Sir Lancelot departs 245

come out for all the crafts that he could do. And
so she departed and left Merlin.

At the vigil of the next Feast of Pentecost,
when all the Knights of the Round Table were
met together at Camelot, and had heard mass,
and were about to sit down to meat, there rode
into the hall a fair lady on horseback, who went
straight up to King Arthur where he sat upon his
throne, and reverently saluted him.

" God be with thee, fair damsel," quoth the
king ; " what desireth thou of me ? "

" I pray thee tell me, lord," she answered,
" where Sir Lancelot is."

11 Yonder may ye see him," said King Arthur.

Then went she to Sir Lancelot and said, " Sir,
I salute thee in King Pelles's name, and require
thee to come with me into the forest hereby."

Then asked he her with whom she dwelt, and
what she wished of him.

" I dwell with King Pelles," said she, " whom
Balin erst so sorely wounded when he smote
the Dolorous Stroke. It is he who hath sent me
to call thee."

11 I will go with thee gladly," said Sir Lancelot,
and bade his squire straightway saddle his horse
and bring his armour.

Then came the queen to him and said, " Sir
Lancelot, will ye leave me thus at this high
feast ? "

" Madam," replied the damsel, " by dinner-
time to-morrow he shall be with you."

" If I thought not," said the queen, " he should
not go with thee by my goodwill."

R

246 The Legends of King Arthur

Then Sir Lancelot and the lady rode forth till
they came to the forest, and in a valley thereof
found an abbey of nuns, whereby the squire stood
ready to open the gates. When they had en-
tered, and descended from their horses, a joyful
crowd pressed round Sir Lancelot and heartily
saluted him, and led him to the abbess's chamber,
and unarmed him. Anon he saw his cousins
likewise there, Sir Bors and Sir Lionel, who also
made great joy at seeing him, and said, " By
what adventure art thou here, for we thought to
have seen thee at Camelot to-morrow ? "

" A damsel brought me here," said he, " but as
yet I know not for what service."

As they thus talked twelve nuns came in, who
brought with them a youth so passing fair and
well made, that in all the world his match could
not be found. His name was Galahad, and
though he knew him not, nor Lancelot him, Sir
Lancelot was his father.

" Sir," said the nuns, " we bring thee here this
child whom we have nourished from his youth,
and pray thee to make him a knight, for from no
worthier hand can he receive that order."

Then Sir Lancelot, looking on the youth, saw
that he was seemly and demure as a dove, with
every feature good and noble, and thought he
never had beheld a better fashioned man of his
years. "Cometh this desire from himself?"
said he.

" Yea," answered Galahad and all the nuns.

" To-morrow, then, in reverence for the feast,
he shall have his wish," said Sir Lancelot.

Galahad knighted by Sir Lancelot 247

And the next day at the hour of prime, he
knighted him, and said, " God make of thee as
good a man as He hath made thee beautiful."

Then with Sir Lionel and Sir Bors he returned
to the court, and found all gone to the minster to
hear service. When they came into the banquet-
hall each knight and baron found his name
written in some seat in letters of gold, " as here
ought to sit Sir Lionel," " here ought to sit Sir
Gawain," — and so forth. And in the Perilous
Seat, at the high centre of the table, a name was
also written, whereat they marvelled greatly, for
no living man had ever yet dared sit upon that
seat, save one, and him a flame leaped forth and
drew down under earth, so that he was no more
seen.

Then came Sir Lancelot and read the letters in
that seat, and said, " My counsel is that this in-
scription be now covered up until the knight be
come who shall achieve this great adventure."
So they made a veil of silk and put it over the
letters.

In the meanwhile came Sir Gawain to the court
and told the king he had a message to him from
beyond the sea, from Merlin.

" For," said he, " as I rode through the forest
of Broceliande but five days since, I heard the
voice of Merlin speaking to me from the midst of
an oak-tree, whereat, in great amazement, I
besought him to come forth. But he, with many
groans, replied he never more might do so, for
that none could free him, save the damsel of the
lake, who had enclosed him there by his own

248 The Legends of King Arthur

spells which he had taught her. ' But go,' said
he, ' to King Arthur, and tell him, that he now
prepare his knights and all his Table Round to
seek the Sangreal, for the time is come when it
shall be achieved.' "

When Sir Gawain had spoken thus, King Arthur
sat pensive in spirit, and mused deeply of the
Holy Grale and what saintly knight should come
who might achieve it.

Anon he bade them hasten to set on the ban-
quet. " Sir," said Sir Key, the seneschal, " if
ye go now to meat ye will break the ancient
custom of your court, for never have ye dined at
this high feast till ye have seen some strange
adventure."

11 Thou sayest truly," said the king, " but my
mind was full of wonders and musings, till I
bethought me not of mine old custom."

As they stood speaking thus, a squire ran in and
cried, " Lord, I bring thee marvellous tidings."

" What be they ? " said King Arthur.

" Lord," said he, " hereby at the river is a
marvellous great stone, which I myself saw swim
down hitherwards upon the water, and in it there
is set a sword, and ever the stone heaveth and
swayeth on the water, but floateth down no
further with the stream."

" I will go and see it," said the king. So all
the knights went with him, and when they came
to the river, there surely found they a mighty
stone of red marble floating on the water, as the
squire had said, and therein stuck a fair and rich
sword, on the pommel whereof were precious

The Marvellous Sword 249

stones wrought skilfully with gold into these
words : "No man shall take me hence but he
by whose side I should hang, and he shall be the
best knight in the world."

When the king read this he turned round to Sir
Lancelot, and said, " Fair sir, this sword ought
surely to be thine, for thou art the best knight in
all the world."

But Lancelot answered soberly, " Certainly,
sir, it is not for me ; nor will I have the hardihood
to set my hand upon it. For he that toucheth
it and faileth to achieve it shall one day be
wounded by it mortally. But I doubt not, lord,
this day will show the greatest marvels that we
yet have seen, for now the time is fully come, as
Merlin hath forewarned us, when all the pro-
phecies about the Sangreal shall be fulfilled."

Then stepped Sir Gawain forward and pulled at
the sword, but could not move it, and after him
Sir Percival, to keep him fellowship in any peril
he might suffer. But no other knight durst be
so hardy as to try.

" Now may ye go to your dinner," said Sir
Key, " for a marvellous adventure ye have had."

So all returned from the river, and every knight
sat down in his own place, and the high feast and
banquet then was sumptuously begun, and all the
hall was full of laughter and loud talk and jests,
and running to and fro of squires who served
their knights, and noise of jollity and mirth.

Then suddenly befell a wondrous thing, for all
the doors and windows of the hall shut violently
of themselves, and made thick darkness ; and

250 The Legends of King Arthur

presently there came a fair and gentle light from
out of Perilous Seat, and filled the place with its
beams. Then a dead silence fell on all the
knights, and each man anxiously beheld his
neighbour.

But King Arthur rose and said, " Lords and
fair knights, have ye no fear, but rejoice ; we have
seen strange things to-day, but stranger yet
remain. For now I know we shall to-day see him
who may sit in the Siege Perilous, and shall
achieve the Sangreal. For as ye all well know,
that holy vessel, wherefrom at the Supper of our
Lord before His death He drank the wine with
His disciples, hath been held ever since the holiest
treasure of the world, and wheresoever it hath
rested peace and prosperity have rested with it on
the land. But since the Dolorous Stroke which
Balin gave King Pelles none have seen it, for
Heaven, wroth with that presumptuous blow,
hath hid it none know where. Yet somewhere
in the world it still may be, and may be it is left
to us, and to this noble order of the Table
Round, to find and bring it home, and make of
this our realm the happiest in the earth. Many
great quests and perilous adventures have ye all
taken and achieved, but this high quest he only
shall attain who hath clean hands and a pure heart,
and valour and hardihood beyond all other men."

While the king spoke there came in softly an
old man robed all in white, leading with him a
young knight clad in red from top to toe, but
without armour or shield, and having by his side
an empty scabbard.

Sir Galahad in the Perilous Seat 251

The old man went up to the king, and said,
" Lord, here I bring thee this young knight of
royal lineage, and of the blood of Joseph of
Arimathea, by whom the marvels of thy court
shall fully be accomplished."

The king was right glad at his words, and said,
" Sir, ye be right heartily welcome, and the young
knight also."

Then the old man put on Sir Galahad (for it was
he) a crimson robe trimmed with fine ermine, and
took him by the hand and led him to the Perilous
Seat, and lifting up the silken cloth which hung
upon it, read these words written in gold letters,
" This is the seat of Sir Galahad, the good knight."

" Sir," said the old man, " this place is thine."

Then sat Sir Galahad down firmly and surely,
and said to the old man, " Sir, ye may now go
your way, for ye have done well and truly all ye
were commanded, and commend me to my grand-
sire, King Pelles, and say that I shall see him
soon." So the old man departed with a retinue
of twenty noble squires.

But all the knights of the Round Table mar-
velled at Sir Galahad, and at his tender age, and
at his sitting there so surely in the Perilous Seat.

Then the king led Sir Galahad forth from the
palace, to show him the adventure of the floating
stone. " Here," said he, "is as great a marvel
as I ever saw, and right good knights have tried
and failed to gain that sword."

" I marvel not thereat," said Galahad, " for
this adventure is not theirs, but mine ; and for
the certainty I had thereof, I brought no sword

252 The Legends of King Arthur

with me, as thou mayst see here by this empty
scabbard."

Anon he laid his hand upon the sword, and
lightly drew it from the stone, and put it in his
sheath, and said, " This sword was that enchanted
one which erst belonged to the good knight, Sir
Balin, wherewith he slew through piteous mis-
take his brother Balan ; who also slew him at the
same time : all which great woe befell him
through the Dolorous Stroke he gave my grand-
sire, King Pelles, the wound whereof is not yet
whole, nor shall be till I heal him."

As he stood speaking thus, they saw a lady
riding swiftly down the river's bank towards
them, on a white palfrey ; who, saluting the king
and queen, said, " Lord king, Nacien the hermit
sendeth thee word that to thee shall come to-day
the greatest honour and worship that hath yet
ever befallen a king of Britain ; for this day shall
the Sangreal appear in thy house."

With that the damsel took her leave, and de-
parted the same way she came.

" Now," said the king, " I know that from
to-day the quest of the Sangreal shall begin, and
all ye of the Round Table will be scattered so that
nevermore shall I see ye again together as ye are
now ; let me then see a joust and tournament
amongst ye for the last time before ye go."

So they all took their harness and met together
in the meadows by Camelot, and the queen and
all her ladies sat in a tower to see.

Then Sir Galahad, at the prayer of the king and
queen, put on a coat of light armour, and a

The Sangreal 253

helmet, but shield he would take none, and
grasping a lance, he drove into the middle of the
press of knights, and began to break spears mar-
vellously, so that all men were full of wonder.
And in so short a time he had surmounted and
exceeded the rest, save Sir Lancelot and Sir
Percival, that he took the chief worship of thefield.

Then the king and all the court and fellowship
of knights went back to the palace, and so to
evensong in the great minster, a royal and goodly
company, and after that sat down to supper in
the hall, every knight in his own seat, as they had
been before.

Anon suddenly burst overhead the cracking
and crying of great peals of thunder, till the
palace walls were shaken sorely, and they thought
to see them riven all to pieces.

And in the midst of the blast there entered in a
sunbeam, clearer by seven times than ever they
saw day, and a marvellous great glory fell upon
them all. Then each knight, looking on his
neighbour, found his face fairer than he had ever
seen, and so, all standing on their feet, they
gazed as dumb men on each other, not knowing
what to say.

Then entered into the hall the Sangreal, borne
aloft without hands through the midst of the sun-
beam, and covered with white samite, so that
none might see it. And all the hall was filled
with perfume and incense, and every knight was
fed with the food he best loved. And when the
holy vessel had been thus borne through the hall,
it suddenly departed, no man saw whither.

254 The Legends of King Arthur

When they recovered breath to speak, King
Arthur first rose up, and yielded thanks to God
and to our Lord.

Then Sir Gawain sprang up and said, " Now
have we all been fed by miracle with whatsoever
food we thought of or desired ; but with our eyes
we have not seen the blessed vessel whence it
came, so carefully and preciously it was concealed.
Therefore, I make a vow, that from to-morrow I
shall labour twelve months and a day in quest
of the Sangreal, and longer if needs be ; nor will
I come again into this court until mine eyes have
seen it evidently."

When he had spoken thus, knight after knight
rose up and vowed himself to the same quest, till
the most part of the Round Table had thus
sworn.

But when King Arthur heard them all, he could
not refrain his eyes from tears, and said, " Sir
Gawain, Sir Gawain, thou hast set me in great
sorrow, for I fear me my true fellowship shall
never meet together here again ; and surely never
Christian king had such a company of worthy
knights around his table at one time."

And when the queen and her ladies and gentle-
women heard the vows, they had such grief and
sorrow as no tongue could tell ; and Queen
Guinevere cried out, " I marvel that my lord will
suffer them to depart from him." And many of
the ladies who loved knights would have gone
with them, but were forbidden by the hermit
Nacien, who sent this message to all who had
sworn themselves to the quest : " Take with ye

Departure of the Knights 255

no lady nor gentlewoman, for into so high a ser-
vice as ye go in, no thought but of our Lord and
heaven may enter."

On the morrow morning all the knights rose
early, and when they were fully armed, save
shields and helms, they went in with the king and
queen to service in the minster. Then the king
counted all who had taken the adventure on
themselves, and found them a hundred and fifty
knights of the Round Table ; and so they all put
on their helms, and rode away together in the
midst of cries and lamentations from the court,
and from the ladies, and from all the town.

But the queen went alone to her chamber, that
no man might see her sorrow ; and Sir Lancelot
followed her to say farewell.

When she saw him she cried out, " Oh, Sir
Lancelot, thou hast betrayed me ; thou hast put
me to death thus to depart and leave my lord the
king."

11 Ah, madam," said he, " be not displeased or
angry, for I shall come again as soon as I can with
honour."

11 Alas ! " said she, " that ever I saw thee ; but
He that suffered death upon the Cross for all
mankind be to thee safety and good conduct,
and to all thy company."

Then Sir Lancelot saluted her and the king, and
went forth with the rest, and came with them that
night to Castle Vagon, where they abode, and on
the morrow they departed from each other on
their separate ways, every knight taking the way
that pleased him best.

256 The Legends of King Arthur

Now Sir Galahad went forth without a shield,
and rode so four days without adventure ; and
on the fourth day, after evensong, he came to an
abbey of white monks, where he was received in
the house, and led into a chamber. And there
he was unarmed, and met two knights of the
Round Table, King Bagdemagus and Sir Uwaine.

" Sirs," said Sir Galahad, " what adventure
hath brought ye here ? "

" Within this place, as we are told," they
answered, " there is a shield no man may bear
around his neck without receiving sore mischance,
or death within three days."

" To-morrow," said King Bagdemagus, " I
shall attempt the adventure ; and if I fail, do
thou, Sir Galahad, take it up after me."

" I will willingly," said he ; " for as ye see I
have no shield as yet."

So on the morrow they arose and heard mass,
and afterwards King Bagdemagus asked where
the shield was kept. Then a monk led him
behind the altar, where the shield hung, as white
as any snow, and with a blood-red cross in the
midst of it.

" Sir," said the monk, " this shield should
hang from no knight's neck unless he be the
worthiest in the world. I warn ye, therefore,
knights ; consider well before ye dare to touch
it."

" Well," said King Bagdemagus, " I know well
that I am far from the best knight in all the
world, yet shall I make the trial ; " and so he
took the shield, and bore it from the monastery.

The Shield of the White Knight 257

" If it please thee," said he to Sir Galahad,
" abide here till thou nearest how I speed."

" I will abide thee," said he.

Then taking with him a squire who might
return with any tidings to Sir Galahad, the king
rode forth ; and before he had gone two miles, he
saw in a fair valley a hermitage, and a knight who
came forth dressed in white armour, horse and all,
who rode fast against him. When they encount-
ered, Bagdemagus brake his spear upon the White
Knight's shield, but was himself struck through
the shoulder with a sore wound, and hurled down
from his horse. Then the White Knight alight-
ing, came and took the white shield from the king,
and said, " Thou hast done great folly, for this
shield ought never to be borne but by one who
hath no living peer." And turning to the squire,
he said, " Bear thou this shield to the good
knight, Sir Galahad, and greet him well from me."

" In whose name shall I greet him ? " said the
squire.

11 Take thou no heed of that," he answered ;
" it is not for thee or any earthly man to know."

" Now tell me, fair sir, at the least," said the
squire, " why may this shield be never borne
except its wearer come to injury or death ? "

" Because it shall belong to no man save its
rightful owner, Galahad," replied the knight.

Then the squire went to his master, and found
him wounded nigh to death, wherefore he fetched
his horse, and bore him back with him to the
abbey. And there they laid him in a bed, and
looked to his wounds : and when he had lain

258 The Legends of King Arthur

many days grievously sick, he at the last barely
escaped with his life.

" Sir Galahad," said the squire, " the knight
who overthrew King Bagdemagus sent you greet-
ing, and bade you bear this shield."

" Now blessed be God and fortune," said Sir
Galahad, and hung the shield about his neck,
and armed him, and rode forth.

Anon he met the White Knight by the hermit-
age, and each saluted courteously the other.

" Sir," said Sir Galahad, " this shield I bear
hath surely a full marvellous history."

" Thou sayest rightly," answered he. " That
shield was made in the days of Joseph of Arima-
thea, the gentle knight who took our Lord down
from the cross. He, when he left Jerusalem with
his kindred, came to the country of King Eve-
lake, who warred continually with one Tollome ;
and when, by the teaching of Joseph, King Eve-
lake became a Christian, this shield was made for
him in our Lord's name ; and through its aid
King Tollome was defeated. For when King
Evelake met him next in battle, he hid it in a veil,
and suddenly uncovering it, he showed his ene-
mies the figure of a bleeding man nailed to a cross,
at sight of which they were discomfited and fled.
Presently after that, a man whose hand was
smitten off touched the cross upon the shield,
and had his hand restored to him ; and many
other miracles it worked. But suddenly the cross
that was upon it vanished away. Anon both
Joseph and King Evelake came to Britain, and
by the preaching of Joseph the people were made

The Fiend of the Tomb 259

Christians. And when at length he lay upon his
death-bed, King Evelake begged of him some
token ere he died. Then, calling for his shield,
he dipped his finger in his own blood, for he was
bleeding fast, and none could staunch the wound,
and marked that cross upon it, saying, ' This
cross shall ever show as bright as now, and the
last of my lineage shall wear this shield about his
neck, and go forth to all the marvellous deeds he
will achieve.' "

When the White Knight had thus spoken he
vanished suddenly away, and Sir Galahad re-
turned to the abbey.

As he alighted, came a monk, and prayed him
to go see a tomb in the churchyard, wherefrom
came such a great and hideous noise, that none
could hear it but they went nigh mad, or lost all
strength. " And sir," said he, "I deem it is a
fiend."

" Lead me thither," said Sir Galahad.

When they were come near the place, " Now,"
said the monk, " go thou to the tomb, and lift it
up.

And Galahad, nothing afraid, quickly lifted up
the stone, and forthwith came out a foul smoke,
and from the midst thereof leaped up the loath-
liest figure that ever he had seen in the likeness
of man ; and Galahad blessed himself, for he
knew it was a fiend of hell. Then he heard a
voice crying out, " Oh, Galahad, I cannot tear
thee as I would ; I see so many angels round thee,
that I may not come at thee."

Then the fiend suddenly disappeared with a

260 The Legends of King Arthur

marvellous great cry ; and Sir Galahad, looking
in the tomb, saw there a body all armed, with a
sword beside it. " Now, fair brother/' said he
to the monk, " let us remove this cursed body,
which is not fit to lie in a churchyard, for when it
lived, a false and perjured Christian man dwelt
in it. Cast it away, and there shall come no
more hideous noises from the tomb."

" And now must I depart," he added, " for I
have much in hand, and am upon the holy quest
of the Sangreal, with many more good knights."

So he took his leave, and rode many journeys
backwards and forwards as adventure would
lead him ; and at last one day he departed from
a castle without first hearing mass, which was
it ever his custom to hear before he left his lodg-
ing. Anon he found a ruined chapel on a moun-
tain, and went in and kneeled before the altar,
and prayed for wholesome counsel what to do ;
and as he prayed he heard a voice, which said,
" Depart, adventurous knight, unto the Maiden's
Castle, and redress the violence and wrongs there
done ! "

Hearing these words, he cheerfully arose, and
mounted his horse, and rode but half a mile,
when he saw before him a strong castle, with deep
ditches round it, and a fair river running past.
And seeing an old churl hard by, he asked him
what men called that castle.

" Fair sir," said he, " it is the Maiden's Castle."

" It is a cursed place," said Galahad, " and all
its masters are but felons, full of mischief and
hardness and shame."

Sir Galahad at the Maiden's Castle 261

" For that good reason," said the old man,
" thou wert well-advised to turn thee back."

" For that same reason," quoth Sir Galahad,
" will I the more certainly ride on."

Then, looking at his armour carefully, to see
that nothing failed him, he went forward, and
presently there met him seven damsels, who cried
out, " Sir knight, thou ridest in great peril, for
thou hast two waters to pass over."

11 Why should I not pass over them ? " said
he, and rode straight on.

Anon he met a squire, who said, " Sir knight,
the masters of this castle defy thee, and bid thee
go no further, till thou showest them thy business
here."

" Fair fellow," said Sir Galahad, " I am come
here to destroy their wicked customs."

"If that be thy purpose," answered he, " thou
wilt have much to do."

" Go thou," said Galahad, " and hasten with
my message."

In a few minutes after rode forth furiously from
the gateways of the castle seven knights, all
brothers, and crying out, " Knight, keep thee,"
bore down all at once upon Sir Galahad. But
thrusting forth his spear, he smote the foremost
to the earth, so that his neck was almost broken,
and warded with his shield the spears of all the
others, which every one brake off from it, and
shivered into pieces. Then he drew out his sword ,
and set upon them hard and fiercely, and by his
wondrous force drave them before him, and chased
them to the castle gate, and there he slew them.

S

262 The Legends of King Arthur

At that came out to him an ancient man, in
priest's vestments, saying, " Behold, sir, here, the
keys of this castle."

Then he unlocked the gates, and found within
a multitude of people, who cried out, " Sir knight,
ye be welcome, for long have we waited thy
deliverance," and told him that the seven felons
he had slain had long enslaved the people round
about, and killed all knights who passed that
way, because the maiden whom they had robbed
of the castle had foretold that by one knight they
should themselves be overthrown.

" Where is the maiden ? " asked Sir Galahad.

" She lingereth below in a dungeon," said they.

So Sir Galahad went down and released her, and
restored her her inheritance ; and when he had
summoned the barons of the country to do her
homage, he took his leave, and departed.

Presently thereafter, as he rode, he entered a
great forest, and in a glade thereof met two
knights, disguised, who proffered him to joust.
These were Sir Lancelot, his father, and Sir
Percival, but neither knew the other. So he and
Sir Lancelot encountered first, and Sir Galahad
smote down his father. Then drawing his sword,
for his spear was broken, he fought with Sir
Percival, and struck so mightily that he clave
Sir Percival's helm, and smote him from his horse.

Now hard by where they fought there was a
hermitage, where dwelt a pious woman, a recluse,
who, when she heard the sound, came forth, and
seeing Sir Galahad ride, she cried, " God be with
thee, the best knight in the world ; had yonder

The Sick Knight and the Sangreal 263

knights known thee as well as I do, they would
not have encountered with thee."

When Sir Galahad heard that, fearing to be
made known, he forthwith smote his horse with
his spurs, and departed at a great pace.

Sir Lancelot and Sir Percival heard her words
also, and rode fast after him, but within a while
he was out of their sight. Then Sir Percival rode
back to ask his name of the recluse ; but Sir
Lancelot went forward on his quest, and following
any path his horse would take, he came by-and-
by after nightfall to a stone cross hard by an
ancient chapel. When he had alighted and tied
his horse up to a tree, he went and looked in
through the chapel door, which was all ruinous
and wasted, and there within he saw an altar,
richly decked with silk, whereon there stood a fair
candlestick of silver, bearing six great lights. And
when Sir Lancelot saw the light, he tried to get
within the chapel, but could find no place. So
being passing weary and heavy, he came again
to his horse, and when he had unsaddled him, and
set him free to pasture, he unlaced his helm, and
ungirded his sword, and laid him down to sleep
upon his shield before the cross.

And while he lay between waking and sleeping,
he saw come by him two white palfreys bearing
a litter, wherein a sick knight lay, and the palfreys
stood still by the cross. Then Sir Lancelot heard
the sick man say, " O sweet Lord, when shall this
sorrow leave me, and the holy vessel pass by me,
wherethrough I shall be blessed ? For I have long
endured."

264 The Legends of King Arthur

With that Sir Lancelot saw the chapel open,
and the candlestick with the six tapers come
before the cross, but he could see none who bare
it. Then came there also a table of silver, and
thereon the holy vessel of the Sangreal. And
when the sick knight saw that, he sat up, and
lifting both his hands, said, " Fair Lord, sweet
Lord, who art here within this holy vessel, have
mercy on me, that I may be whole ; " and there-
with he crept upon his hands and knees so nigh,
that he might touch the vessel ; and when he had
kissed it, he leaped up, and stood and cried aloud,
" Lord God, I thank Thee, for I am made whole."
Then the Holy Grale departed with the table and
the silver candlestick into the chapel, so that Sir
Lancelot saw it no more, nor for his sins' sake
could he follow it. And the knight who was
healed went on his way.

Then Sir Lancelot awake, and marvelled
whether he had seen aught but a dream. And as
he marvelled, he heard a voice saying, " Sir
Lancelot, thou art unworthy, go thou hence, and
withdraw thee from this holy place." And when
he heard that, he was passing heavy, for he be-
thought him of his sins.

So he departed weeping, and cursed the day
of his birth, for the words went into his heart,
and he knew wherefore he was thus driven forth.
Then he went to seek his arms and horse, but
could not find them ; and then he called himself
the wretchedest and most unhappy of all knights,
and said, " My sin hath brought me unto great
dishonour : for when I sought earthly honours, I

Sir Lancelot's Promise 265

achieved them ever ; but now I take upon me
holy things, my guilt doth hinder me, and
shameth me ; therefore had I no power to stir
or speak when the holy blood appeared before me. ' '

So thus he sorrowed till it was day, and he
heard the birds sing ; then was he somewhat
comforted, and departing from the cross on foot,
he came into a wild forest, and to a high mountain
and there he found a hermitage ; and, kneeling
before the hermit down upon both his knees, he
cried for mercy for his wicked works, and prayed
him to hear his confession. But when he told
his name, the hermit marvelled to see him in so
sore a case, and said, " Sir, ye ought to thank God
more than any knight living, for He hath given
thee more honour than any ; yet for thy pre-
sumption, while in deadly sin to come into the
presence of His flesh and blood, He suffered thee
neither to see nor follow it. Wherefore, believe
that all thy strength and manhood will avail
thee little, when God is against thee."

Then Sir Lancelot wept and said, " Now know
I well ye tell me truth."

Then he confessed to him, and told him all his
sins, and how he had for fourteen years served but
Queen Guinevere only, and forgotten God, and
done great deeds of arms for her, and not for
Heaven, and had little or nothing thanked God
for the honour that he won. And then Sir
Lancelot said, " I pray you counsel me."

' ' I will counsel thee, ' ' said he : " never more enter
into that queen's company when ye can avoid it."

So Sir Lancelot promised him.

266 The Legends of King Arthur

" Look that your heart and your mouth ac-
cord," said the good man, " and ye shall have
more honour and more nobleness than ever ye
have had."

Then were his arms and horse restored to him,
and so he took his leave, and rode forth, repenting
greatly.

Now Sir Percival had ridden back to the re-
cluse, to learn who that knight was whom she
had called the best in the world. And when he
had told her that he was Sir Percival, she made
passing great joy of him, for she was his mother's
sister, wherefore she opened her door to him, and
made him good cheer. And on the morrow she
told him of her kindred to him, and they both
made great rejoicing. Then he asked her who
that knight was, and she told him, " He it is who
on Whit Sunday last was clad in the red robe,
and bare the red arms ; and he hath no peer, for
he worketh all by miracle, and shall be never
overcome by any earthly hands."

" By my good will," said Sir Percival, " I will
never after these tidings have to do with Sir
Galahad but in the way of kindness ; and I would
fain learn where I may find him."

" Fair nephew," said she, " ye must ride to the
Castle of Goth, where he hath a cousin ; by him
ye may be lodged, and he will teach you the way
to go ; but if he can tell you no tidings, ride
straight to the Castle of Carbonek, where the
wounded king is lying, for there shall ye surely
hear true tidings of him."

So Sir Percival departed from his aunt, and

Sir Per civ al seeks Sir Galahad 267

rode till evensong time, when he was ware of a
monastery closed round with walls and deep
ditches, where he knocked at the gate, and anon
was let in. And there he had good cheer that
night, and on the morrow heard mass. And
beside the altar where the priest stood, was a
rich bed of silk and cloth of gold ; and on the bed
there lay a man passing old, having a crown of
gold upon his head, and all his body was full of
great wounds, and his eyes almost wholly blind ;
and ever he held up his hands and said, " Sweet
Lord, forget me not ! "

Then Sir Percival asked one of the brethren
who he was.

" Sir," said the good man, " ye have heard of
Joseph of Arimathea, how he was sent of Jesus
Christ into this land to preach and teach the
Christian faith. Now, in the city of Sarras he
converted a king named Evelake, and this is he.
He came with Joseph to this land, and ever de-
sired greatly to see the Sangreal ; so on a time he
came nigh thereto, and was struck almost blind.
Then he cried out for mercy, and said, ' Fair
Lord, I pray thee let me never die until a good
knight of my blood achieve the Sangreal, and I
may see and kiss him.' When he had thus
prayed, he heard a voice that said, ' Thy prayers
be heard and answered, for thou shalt not die till
that knight kiss thee ; and when he cometh shall
thine eyes be opened and thy wounds be healed.'
And now hath he lived here for three hundred
winters in a holy life, and men say a certain knight
of King Arthur's court shall shortly heal him."

268 The Legends of King Arthur

Thereat Sir Percival marvelled greatly, for he
well knew who that knight should be ; and so,
taking his leave of the monk, departed.

Then he rode on till noon, and came into a
valley where he met twenty men-at-arms bearing
a dead knight on a bier. And they cried to him,
11 Whence comest thou ? "

11 From King Arthur's court," he answered.

Then they all cried together, " Slay him," and
set upon him.

But he smote down the first man to the ground,
and his horse upon him ; whereat seven of them
all at once assailed him, and others slew his horse.
Thus he had been either taken or slain, but by
good chance Sir Galahad was passing by that
way, who, seeing twenty men attacking one, cried,
" Slay him not," and rushed upon them ; and,
as fast as his horse could drive, he encountered
with the foremost man, and smote him down.
Then, his spear being broken, he drew forth his
sword and struck out on the right hand and on the
left, at each blow smiting down a man, till the
remainder fled, and he pursued them.

Then Sir Percival, knowing that it was Sir
Galahad, would fain have overtaken him, but
could not, for his horse was slain. Yet followed
he on foot as fast as he could go ; and as he went
there met him a yeoman riding on a palfrey, and
leading in his hand a great black steed. So Sir
Percival prayed him to lend him the steed, that he
might overtake Sir Galahad. But he replied,
" That can I not do, fair sir, for the horse is my
master's, and should I lend it he would slay me."

Sir Percival and the Black Steed 269

So he departed, and Sir Percival sat down be-
neath a tree in heaviness of heart. And as he sat,
anon a knight went riding past on the black steed
which the yeoman had led. And presently after
came the yeoman back in haste, and asked Sir
Percival if he had seen a knight riding his horse.

" Yea," said Sir Percival.

" Alas," said the yeoman, " he hath reft him
from me by strength, and my master will slay me."

Then he besought Sir Percival to take his
hackney and follow, and get back his steed. So
he rode quickly, and overtook the knight, and
cried, " Knight, turn again." Whereat he turned
and set his spear, and smote Sir Percival's hackney
in the breast, so that it fell dead, and then went
on his way. Then cried Sir Percival after him,
" Turn now, false knight, and fight with me on
foot ; " but he would not, and rode out of sight.

Then was Sir Percival passing wroth and heavy
of heart, and lay down to rest beneath a tree, and
slept till midnight. When he awoke he saw a
woman standing by him, who said to him right
fiercely, " Sir Percival, what doest thou here ? "

" I do neither good nor evil," said he.

" If thou wilt promise me," said she, " to do
my will whenever I shall ask thee, I will bring thee
here a horse that will bear thee wheresoever
thou desirest."

At that he was full glad, and promised as she
asked. Then anon she came again, with a great
black steed, strong and well apparelled. So Sir
Percival mounted, and rode through the clear
moonlight, and within less than an hour had gone

270 The Legends of King Arthur

a four days' journey, till he came to a rough water
that roared ; and his horse would have borne him
into it, but Sir Percival would not suffer him, yet
could he scarce restrain him. And seeing the
water so furious, he made the sign of the cross
upon his forehead, whereat the horse suddenly
shook him off, and with a terrible sound leaped
into the water and disappeared, the waves all
burning up in flames around him. Then Sir
Percival knew it was a fiend which had brought
him the horse ; so he commended himself to God,
and prayed that he might escape temptations,
and continued in prayer till it was day.

Then he saw that he was on a wild mountain,
nigh surrounded on all sides by the sea, and filled
with wild beasts ; and going on into a valley, he
saw a serpent carrying a young lion by the neck.
With that came another lion, crying and roaring
after the serpent, and anon overtook him, and
began to battle with him. And Sir Percival
helped the lion, and drew his sword, and gave the
serpent such a stroke that it fell dead. Thereat the
lion fawned upon him like a dog, licking his hands,
and crouching at his feet, and at night lay down
by him and slept at his side.

And at noon the next day Sir Percival saw a
ship come sailing before a strong wind upon the
sea towards him, and he rose and went towards it.
And when it came to shore, he found it covered
with white samite, and on the deck there stood an
old man dressed in priest's robes, who said,
" God be with you, fair sir ; whence come
ye?"

Sir Bors and the Hermit 271

" I am a knight of King Arthur's court," said
he, " and follow the quest of the Sangreal ; but
here have I lost myself in this wilderness."

" Fear nothing," said the old man, " for I have
come from a strange country to comfort thee."

Then he told Sir Percival it was a fiend of hell
upon which he had ridden to the sea, and that the
lion, whom he had delivered from the serpent,
meant the Church. And Sir Percival rejoiced at
these tidings, and entered into the ship, which
presently sailed from the shore into the sea.

Now when Sir Bors rode forth from Camelot to
seek the Sangreal, anon he met a holy man riding
on an ass, and courteously saluted him.

" Who are ye, son ? " said the good man.

" I am a knight," said he, " in quest of the
Sangreal, and would fain have thy counsel, for he
shall have much earthly honour who may bring
it to a favourable end."

" That is truth," said the good man, " for he
shall be the best knight of the world ; yet know
that none shall gain it save by sinless living."

So they rode to his hermitage together, and
there he prayed Sir Bors to abide that night, and
anon they went into the chapel, and Sir Bors
was confessed. And they eat bread and drank
water together.

" Now," said the hermit, " I pray thee eat no
other food till thou sit at the table where the
Sangreal shall be." Thereto Sir Bors agreed.

" Also," said the hermit, " it were wise that ye
should wear a sackcloth garment next your skin,
for penance ; " and in this also did Sir Bors as he

272 The Legends of King Arthur

was counselled. And afterwards he armed him-
self and took his leave.

Then rode he onwards all that day, and as he
rode he saw a passing great bird sit in an old dry
tree, whereon no leaves were left ; and many little
birds lay round the great one, nigh dead with
hunger. Then did the big bird smite himself
with his own bill, and bled till he died amongst
his little ones, and they recovered life in drinking
up his blood. When Sir Bors saw this he knew
it was a token, and rode on full of thought. And
about eventide he came to a tower, whereto he
prayed admission, and he was received gladly by
the lady of the castle. But when a supper of
many meats and dainties was set before him, he
remembered his vow, and bade a squire to bring
him water, and therein he dipped his bread, and
ate.

Then said the lady, " Sir Bors, I fear ye like
not my meat."

" Yea, truly," said he ; " God thank thee,
madam ; but I may eat no other meat this day."

After supper came a squire, and said, " Madam,
bethink thee to provide a champion for thee to-
morrow for the tourney, or else shall thy sister
have thy castle."

At that the lady wept, and made great sorrow.
But Sir Bors prayed her to be comforted, and
asked her why the tournament was held. Then
she told him how she and her sister were the
daughters of King Anianse, who left all his lands
between them ; and how her sister was the wife
of a strong knight, named Sir Pridan le Noir, who

Sir Bors and Sir Pridan le Noir 273

had taken from herself all her lands, save the one
tower wherein she dwelt. " And now," said she,
" this also will they take, unless I find a champion
by to-morrow."

Then said Sir Bors, " Be comforted ; to-morrow
I will fight for thee ; " whereat she rejoiced not
a little, and sent word to Sir Pridan that she was
provided and ready. And Sir Bors lay on the
floor, and in no bed, nor ever would do otherwise
till he had achieved his quest.

On the morrow he arose and clothed himself,
and went into the chapel, where the lady met him,
and they heard mass together. Anon he called
for his armour, and went with a goodly company
of knights to the battle. And the lady prayed
him to refresh himself ere he should fight, but he
refused to break his fast until the tournament
were done. So they all rode together to the lists,
and there they saw the lady's eldest sister, and
her husband, Sir Pridan le Noir. And a cry was
made by the heralds that, whichever should win,
his lady should have all the other's lands.

Then the two knights departed asunder a little
space, and came together with such force, that
both their spears were shivered, and their shields
and hauberks pierced through ; and both fell to
the ground sorely wounded, with their horses
under them. But swiftly they arose, and drew
their swords, and smote each other on the head
with many great and heavy blows, till the blood
ran down their bodies ; and Sir Pridan was a full
good knight, so that Sir Bors had more ado than
he had thought for to overcome him.

274 The Legends of King Arthur

But at last Sir Pridan grew a little faint ; that
instantly perceived Sir Bors, and rushed upon
him the more vehemently, and smote him fiercely
till he rent off his helm, and then gave him great
strokes upon his visage with the flat of his sword,
and bade him yield or be slain.

And then Sir Pridan cried him mercy, and said,
" For God's sake slay me not, and I will never
war against thy lady more." So Sir Bors let him
go, and his wife fled away with all her knights.

Then all those who had held lands of the lady
of the tower came and did homage to her again,
and swore fealty. And when the country was at
peace Sir Bors departed, and rode forth into a
forest until it was mid-day, and there befell him
a marvellous adventure.

For at a place where two ways parted, there met
him two knights, bearing Sir Lionel, his brother,
all naked, bound on a horse, and as they rode,
they beat him sorely with thorns, so that the
blood trailed down in more than a hundred places
from his body ; but for all this he uttered no word
or groan, so great he was of heart. As soon as
Sir Bors knew his brother, he put his spear in
rest to run and rescue him ; but in the same
moment heard a woman's voice cry close beside
him in the wood, " St. Mary, succour thy maid ; "
and looking round, he saw a damsel whom a felon
knight dragged after him into the thickets ; and
she, perceiving him, cried piteously for help, and
adjured him to deliver her as he was a sworn
knight. Then was Sir Bors sore troubled, and
knew not what to do, for he thought within him-

Sir Bors and the Captive Maid 275

self, " If I let my brother be, he will be murdered ;
but if I help not the maid, she is shamed for ever,
and my vow compelleth me to set her free ;
wherefore must I first help her, and trust my
brother unto God."

So, riding to the knight who held the damsel,
he cried out, " Sir knight, lay your hand off that
maid, or else ye be but dead."

At that the knight set down the maid, and
dropped his shield, and drew forth his sword
against Sir Bors, who ran at him, and smote him
through both shield and shoulder, and threw him
to the earth ; and when he pulled his spear forth,
the knight swooned. Then the maid thanked
Sir Bors heartily, and he set her on the knight's
horse, and brought her to her men-at-arms, who
presently came riding after her. And they made
much joy, and besought him to come to her
father, a great lord, and he should be right
welcome. But " truly," said he, " I may not at
this time, for I have a great adventure yet to do ; "
and commending them to God, he departed in
great haste to find his brother.

So he rode seeking him by the track of the
horses a great while. Anon he met a seeming
holy man riding upon a strong black horse, and
asked him, had he seen pass by that way a knight
led bound and beaten with thorns by two others.

" Yes, truly, such an one I saw," said the man ;
" but he is dead, and lo 1 his body is hard by in
a bush."

Then he showed him a newly slain body lying
in a thick bush, which seemed indeed to be Sir

276 The Legends of King Arthur

Lionel. Then made Sir Bors such mourning and
sorrow that by-and-by he fell into a swoon upon
the ground. And when he came to himself again,
he took the body in his arms and put it on his
horse's saddle, and bore it to a chapel hard by,
and would have buried it. But when he made
the sign of the cross, he heard a full great noise
and cry as though all the fiends of hell had been
about him, and suddenly the body and the chapel
and the old man vanished all away. Then he
knew that it was the devil who had thus beguiled
him, and that his brother yet lived.

Then held he up his hands to heaven, and
thanked God for his own escape from hurt, and
rode onwards ; and anon, as he passed by an
hermitage in a forest, he saw his brother sitting
armed by the door. And when he saw him he
was filled with joy, and lighted from his horse,
and ran to him and said, " Fair brother, when
came ye hither ? "

But Sir Lionel answered, with an angry face,
" What vain words be these, when for you I might
have been slain ? Did ye not see me bound and
led away to death, and left me in that peril to go
succouring a gentlewoman, the like whereof no
brother ever yet hath done ? Now, for thy false mis-
deed, I do defy thee, and ensure thee speedy death."

Then Sir Bors prayed his brother to abate his
anger, and said, " Fair brother, remember the
love that should be between us twain."

But Sir Lionel would not hear, and prepared to
fight, and mounted his horse and came before
him, crying, " Sir Bors, keep thee from me, for I

PL 4.

see p. 282.

'This girdle, lords," said she, "is made for the most

part of mine own hair, which, while I was yet in the

world, I loved full well."

1.217.

Sir Lionel fights his Brother 277

shall do to thee as a felon and a traitor ; therefore
start upon thy horse, for if thou wilt not, I will
run upon thee as thou standest."

But for all his words Sir Bors would not defend
himself against his brother. And anon the fiend
stirred up Sir Lionel to such rage, that he rushed
over him and overthrew him with his horse's
hoofs, so that he lay swooning on the ground.
Then would he have rent off his helm and slain
him, but the hermit of that place ran out, and
prayed him to forbear, and shielded Sir Bors with
his body.

Then Sir Lionel cried out, " Now, God so help
me, Sir priest, but I shall slay thee else thou de-
part, and him too after thee."

And when the good man utterly refused to leave
Sir Bors, he smote him on the head until he died,
and then he took his brother by the helm and
unlaced it, to have stricken off his head, and so he
would have done, but suddenly was pulled off
backwards by a knight of the Round Table, who,
by the will of Heaven, was passing by that place
— Sir Colgrevance by name.

" Sir Lionel," he cried, " will ye slay your
brother, one of the best knights of all the world ?
That ought no man to suffer."

" Why," said Sir Lionel, " will ye hinder me
and meddle in this strife ? Beware, lest I shall slay
both thee and him."

And when Sir Colgrevance refused to let them
be, Sir Lionel defied him, and gave him a great
stroke through the helmet, whereat Sir Col-
grevance drew his sword, and smote again right

T

278 The Legends of King Arthur

manfully. And so long they fought together
that Sir Bors awoke from his swoon, and tried to
rise and part them, but had no strength to stand
upon his feet.

Anon Sir Colgrevance saw him, and cried out to
him for help, for now Sir Lionel had nigh defeated
him. When Sir Bors heard that, he struggled to
his feet, and put his helmet on, and took his
sword. But before he could come to him, Sir
Lionel had smitten off Sir Colgrevance 's helm,
and thrown him to the earth and slain him. Then
turned he to his brother as a man possessed by
fiends, and gave him such a stroke as bent him
nearly double.

But still Sir Bors prayed him for God's sake to
quit that battle, " For if it befell us that we either
slew the other we should die for care of that sin."

11 Never will I spare thee if I master thee,"
cried out Sir Lionel.

Then Sir Bors drew his sword all weeping, and
said, " Now, God have mercy on me, though I
defend my life against my brother ; " with that
he lifted up his sword to strike, but suddenly he
heard a mighty voice, " Put up thy sword, Sir
Bors, and flee, or thou shalt surely slay him."
And then there fell upon them both a fiery cloud,
which flamed and burned their shields, and they
fell to the earth in sore dread.

Anon Sir Bors rose to his feet, and saw that Sir
Lionel had taken no harm. Then came the voice
again, and said, " Sir Bors, go hence and leave
thy brother, and ride thou forward to the sea,
for there Sir Percival abideth thee. "

Sir Galahad fights Sir Gawain 279

Then he said to his brother, " Brother, forgive
me all my trespass against thee."

And Sir Lionel answered, " God forgive it
thee, as I do."

Then he departed and rode to the sea, and on
the strand he found a ship all covered with white
samite, and as soon as he had entered thereinto,
it put forth from the shore. And in the midst of
the ship there stood an armed knight, whom he
knew to be Sir Percival. Then they rejoiced
greatly over each other, and said, " We lack
nothing now but the good knight Sir Galahad."

Now when Sir Galahad had rescued Sir Percival
from the twenty knights he rode into a vast
forest. And after many days it befell that he
came to a castle whereat was a tournament. And
the knights of the castle were put to the worse ;
which when he saw, he set his spear in rest and
ran to help them, and smote down many of then-
adversaries. And as it chanced, Sir Gawain was
amongst the stranger knights, and when he saw
the white shield with the red cross, he knew it was
Sir Galahad, and proffered to joust with him.
So they encountered, and having broken their
spears, they drew their swords, and Sir Galahad
smote Sir Gawain so sorely on the helm that he
clove it through, and struck on slanting to the
earth, carving the horse's shoulder in twain, and
Sir Gawain fell to the earth. Then Sir Galahad
beat back all who warred against the castle, yet
would he not wait for thanks, but rode away that
no man might know him.

And he rested that night at a hermitage, and

280 The Legends of King Arthur

when he was asleep, he heard a knocking at the
door. So he rose, and found a damsel there, who
said, " Sir Galahad, I will that ye arm you, and
mount upon your horse and follow me, for I will
show you within these three days the highest
adventure that ever any knight saw."

Anon Sir Galahad armed him, and took his
horse, and commended himself to God, and bade
the gentlewoman go, and he would follow where
she liked.

So they rode onwards to the sea as fast as their
horses might gallop, and at night they came to a
castle in a valley, inclosed by running water, and
by strong and high walls, whereinto they entered
and had great cheer, for the lady of the castle
was the damsel's mistress.

And when he was unarmed, the damsel said to
her lady , " Madam, shall we abide here this night ? ' '

" Nay," said she, " but only till he hath dined
and slept a little."

So he ate and slept a while, till the maid called
him, and armed him by torchlight ; and when he
had saluted the lady of the castle, the damsel and
Sir Galahad rode on.

Anon they came to the seaside, and lo ! the
ship, wherein were Sir Percival and Sir Bors,
abode by the shore. Then they cried, " Welcome,
Sir Galahad, for we have awaited thee long."

Then they rejoiced to see each other, and told of
all their adventures and temptations. And the
damsel went into the ship with them, and spake
to Sir Percival : " Sir Percival, know ye not who
lam?"

The Ship "Faith" 281

And he replied, " Nay, certainly, I know thee
not."

Then said she, "lam thy sister, the daughter
of King Pellinore, and am sent to help thee and
these knights, thy fellows, to achieve the quest
which ye all follow."

So Sir Percival rejoiced to see his sister, and
they departed from the shore. And after a while
they came upon a whirlpool, where their ship
could not live. Then saw they another greater
ship hard by and went towards it, but saw neither
man nor woman therein. And on the end of it
these words were written, " Thou who shalt enter
me, beware that thou be in steadfast belief, for I
am Faith ; and if thou doubtest, I cannot help
thee." Then were they all adread, but, com-
mending themselves to God, they entered in.

As soon as they were on board they saw a fair
bed whereon lay a crown of silk, and at the foot
was a fair and rich sword drawn from its scabbard
half a foot and more. The pommel was of
precious stones of many colours, every colour
having a different virtue, and the scales of the
haft were of two ribs of different beasts. The one
was bone of a serpent from Calidone forest, named
the serpent of the fiend ; and its virtue saveth all
men who hold it from weariness. The other was
of a fish that haunteth the floods of Euphrates,
named Ertanax ; and its virtue causeth whoever
holdeth it to forget all other things, whether of
joy or pain, save the thing he seeth before him.

" In the name of God," said Sir Percival, " I
shall essay to handle this sword ; " and set his

282 The Legends of King Arthur

hand to it, but could not grasp it. "By my faith,"
said he, " now have I failed."

Sir Bors set his hand to it, and failed also.

Then came Sir Galahad, and saw these letters
written red as blood, " None shall draw me forth
save the hardiest of all men ; but he that draweth
me shall never be ashamed or wounded to death."
" By my faith," said Sir Galahad, " I would draw
it forth, but dare not try."

" Ye may try safely," said the gentlewoman,
Sir Percival's sister, " for be ye well assured the
drawing of this sword is forbid to all but you.
For this was the sword of David, King of Israel,
and Solomon his son made for it this marvellous
pommel and this wondrous sheath, and laid it
on this bed till thou shouldest come and take it
up ; and though before thee some have dared to
raise it, yet have they all been maimed or wounded
for their daring."

" Where," said Sir Galahad, " shall we find a
girdle for it ? "

" Fair sir," said she, " dismay you not ; " and
therewith took from out a box a girdle, nobly
wrought with golden thread, set full of precious
stones, and with a rich gold buckle. " This
girdle, lords," said she, " is made for the most
part of mine own hair, which, while I was yet in
the world, I loved full well, but when I knew that
this adventure was ordained me, I cut off and
wove as ye now see."

Then they all prayed Sir Galahad to take the
sword, and so anon he gripped it in his fingers ;
and the maiden girt it round his waist, saying,

The Castle of Carteloise 283

" Now reck I not though I die, for I have made
thee the worthiest knight of all the world."

" Fair damsel," said Sir Galahad, " ye have
done so much that I shall be your knight all the
days of my life."

Then the ship sailed a great way on the sea,
and brought them to land near the Castle of
Carteloise. When they were landed came a
squire and asked them, " Be ye of King Arthur's
court ? "

" We are," said they.

" In an evil hour are ye come," said he, and
went back swiftly to the castle.

Within a while they heard a great horn blow,
and saw a multitude of well-armed knights come
forth, who bade them yield or die. At that they
ran together, and Sir Percival smote one to the
earth and mounted his horse, and so likewise did
Sir Bors and Sir Galahad, and soon had they
routed all their enemies and alighted on foot, and
with their swords slew them downright, and
entered into the castle.

Then came there forth a priest, to whom Sir
Galahad kneeled and said, " In sooth, good father,
I repent me of this slaughter ; but we were first
assailed, or else it had not been."

" Repent ye not," said the good man, " for if
ye lived as long as the world lasted ye could do
no better deed, for these were all the felon sons
of a good knight, Earl Hernox, whom they have
thrown into a dungeon, and in his name have
slain priests and clerks, and beat down chapels
far and near."

284 The Legends of King Arthur

Then Sir Galahad prayed the priest to bring
him to the earl ; who, when he saw Sir Galahad,
cried out, " Long have I waited for thy coming,
and now I pray thee hold me in thine arms that I
may die in peace."

And therewith, when Sir Galahad had taken
him in his arms, his soul departed from his body.

Then came a voice in the hearing of them all,
" Depart now, Sir Galahad, and go quickly to the
maimed king, for he hath long abided to receive
health from thy hand."

So the three knights departed, and Sir Percival's
sister with them, and came to a vast forest, and
saw before them a white hart, exceeding fair, led
by four lions ; and marvelling greatly at that
sight, they followed.

Anon they came to a hermitage and a chapel,
whereunto the hart entered, and the lions with it.
Then a priest offered mass, and presently they
saw the hart change into the figure of a man, most
sweet and comely to behold ; and the four lions
also changed and became a man, an eagle, a lion,
and an ox. And suddenly all those five figures
vanished without sound. Then the knights
marvelled greatly, and fell upon their knees, and
when they rose they prayed the priest to tell them
what that sight might mean.

" What saw ye, sirs ? " said he, "for I saw
nothing." Then they told him.

11 Ah, lords ! " said he, " ye are full welcome ;
now know I well ye be the knights who shall
achieve the Sangreal, for unto them alone such
mysteries are revealed. The hart ye saw is One

The Castle of the Leprous Lady 285

above all men, white and without blemish, and
the four lions with Him are the four evangelists."

When they heard that they heartily rejoiced,
and thanking the priest, departed.

Anon, as they passed by a certain castle, an
armed knight suddenly came after them, and
cried out to the damsel, " By the Holy Cross, ye
shall not go till ye have yielded to the custom of
the castle."

11 Let her go," said Sir Percival, " for a maiden
wheresoever she cometh, is free."

" Whatever maiden passeth here," replied the
knight, " must give a dishful of her blood from
her right arm."

" It is a foul and shameful custom," cried Sir
Galahad and both his fellows, " and sooner will
we die than let this maiden yield thereto."

" Then shall ye die," replied the knight, and as
he spake there came out from a gate hard by, ten
or twelve more, and encountered with them,
running upon them vehemently with a great cry.
But the three knights withstood them, and set
their hands to their swords, and beat them down
and slew them.

At that came forth a company of threescore
knights, all armed. " Fair lords," said Sir
Galahad, " have mercy on yourselves and keep
from us."

" Nay, fair lords," they answered, " rather be
advised by us, and yield ye to our custom."

" It is an idle word," said Galahad, " in vain ye
speak it."

" Well," said they, " will ye die ? "

286 The Legends of King Arthur

" We be not come thereto as yet," replied Sir
Galahad.

Then did they fall upon each other, and Sir
Galahad drew forth his sword, and smote on the
right hand and on the left, and slew so mightily
that all who saw him thought he was a monster
and no earthly man. And both his comrades
helped him well, and so they held the field against
that multitude till it was night. Then came a
good knight forward from the enemy and said,
" Fair knights, abide with us to-night, and be
right welcome ; by the faith of our bodies as we
are true knights, to-morrow ye shall rise un-
harmed, and meanwhile maybe ye will, of your
own accord, accept the custom of the castle when
ye know it better."

So they entered and alighted and made great
cheer. Anon, they asked them whence that
custom came. ' ' The lady of this castle is a leper, ' '
said they, " and can be no way cured save by the
blood of a pure virgin and a king's daughter ;
therefore to save her life are we her servants
bound to stay every maid that passeth by, and
try if her blood may not cure our mistress."

Then said the damsel, " Take ye of my blood
as much as ye will, if it may avail your lady."

And though the three knights urged her not to
put her life in that great peril, she replied, " If I
die to heal another's body, I shall get health to my
soul," and would not be persuaded to refuse.

So on the morrow she was brought to the sick
lady, and her arm was bared, and a vein thereof
was opened, and the dish filled with her blood.

Death of Sir Percival's Sister 287

Then the sick lady was anointed therewith, and
anon she was whole of her malady. With that
Sir Percival's sister lifted up her hand and blessed
her, saying, " Madam, I am come to my death
to make you whole ; for God's love pray for
me ; " and thus saying she fell down in a swoon.

Then Sir Galahad, Sir Percival, and Sir Bors
started to lift her up and staunch her blood, but
she had lost too much to live. So when she came
to herself she said to Sir Percival, " Fair brother,
I must die for the healing of this lady, and now,
I pray thee, bury me not here, but when I am
dead put me in a boat at the next haven and let
me float at venture on the sea. And when ye
come to the city of Sarras, to achieve the Sangreal,
shall ye find me waiting by a tower, and there I
pray thee bury me, for there shall Sir Galahad and
ye also be laid." Thus having said, she died.

Then Sir Percival wrote all the story of her life
and put it in her right hand, and so laid her in a
barge and covered it with silk. And the wind
arising drove the barge from land, and all the
knights stood watching it till it was out of sight.

Anon they returned to the castle, and forth-
with fell a sudden tempest of thunder and light-
ning and rain, as if the earth were broken up :
and half the castle was thrown down. Then came
a voice to the three knights which said, " Depart
ye now asunder till ye meet again where the
maimed king is lying." So they parted and rode
divers ways.

Now after Sir Lancelot had left the hermit, he
rode a long while till he knew not whether to turn,

288 The Legends of King Arthur

and so he lay down to sleep, if haply he might
dream whither to go.

And in his sleep a vision came to him saying,
" Lancelot, rise up and take thine armour, and
enter the first ship that thou shalt find."

When he awoke he obeyed the vision, and rode
till he came to the sea-shore, and found there a
ship without sails or oars, and as soon as he was
in it he smelt the sweetest savour he had ever
known, and seemed filled with all things he could
think of or desire. And looking round he saw a
fair bed, and thereon a gentlewoman lying dead,
who was Sir Percival's sister. And as Sir Lance-
lot looked on her he spied the writing in her right
hand, and taking it, he read therein her story.
And more than a month thereafter he abode in
that ship and was nourished by the grace of
Heaven, as Israel was fed with manna in the
desert.

And on a certain night he went ashore to pass
the time, for he was somewhat weary, and, listen-
ing, he heard a horse come towards him, from
which a knight alighted and went up into the
ship ; who, when he saw Sir Lancelot, said, " Fair
sir, ye be right welcome to mine eyes, for I am thy
son Galahad, and long time I have sought for
thee." With that he kneeled and asked his
blessing, and took off his helm and kissed him,
and the great joy there was between them no
tongue can tell.

Then for half a year they dwelt together in the
ship, and served God night and day with all their
powers, and went to many unknown islands,

Sir Galahad parts from his Father 289

where none but wild beasts haunted, and there
found many strange and perilous adventures.

And upon a time they came to the edge of a
forest, before a cross of stone, and saw a knight
armed all in white, leading a white horse. Then
the knight saluted them, and said to Galahad,
" Ye have been long time enough with your
father; now, therefore, leave him and ride this
horse till ye achieve the Holy Quest."

Then went Sir Galahad to his father and kissed
him full courteously, and said, " Fair father, I
know not when I shall see thee again."

And as he took his horse a voice spake in their
hearing, " Ye shall meet no more in this life."

11 Now, my son, Sir Galahad," said Sir Lance-
lot, " since we must so part and see each other
never more, I pray the High Father of Heaven
to preserve both you and me."

Then they bade farewell, and Sir Galahad
entered the forest, and Sir Lancelot returned to
the ship, and the wind rose and drove him more
than a month through the sea, whereby he slept
but little, yet ever prayed that he might see the
Sangreal.

So it befell upon a certain midnight, the moon
shining clear, he came before a fair and rich castle,
whereof the postern gate was open towards the
sea, having no keeper save two lions in the entry.

Anon Sir Lancelot heard a voice : " Leave now
thy ship and go within the castle, and thou shalt
see a part of thy desire."

Then he armed and went towards the gate, and
coming to the lions he drew out his sword, but

290 The Legends of King Arthur

suddenly a dwarf rushed out and smote him on
the arm, so that he dropt his sword, and heard
again the voice, " Oh, man of evil faith, and poor
belief, wherefore trustest thou thine arms above
thy Maker ? " Then he put up his sword and
signed the cross upon his forehead, and so passed
by the lions without hurt.

And going in, he found a chamber with the
door shut, which in vain he tried to open. And
listening thereat he heard a voice within, which
sang so sweetly that it seemed no earthly thing,
11 Joy and honour be to the Father of Heaven ! "
Then he kneeled down at the door, for he knew
well the Sangreal was there within.

Anon the door was opened without hands, and
forthwith came thereout so great a splendour as
if all the torches of the world had been alight
together. But when he would have entered in, a
voice forbad him ; wherefore he drew back, and
looked, standing upon the threshold of the door.
And there he saw a table of silver, and the holy
vessel covered with red samite, and many angels
round it holding burning candles and a cross and
all the ornaments of the altar.

Then a priest stood up and offered mass, and
when he took the vessel up, he seemed to sink
beneath that burden. At that Sir Lancelot
cried, " O Father, take it not for sin that I go in
to help the priest, who hath much need thereof."
So saying, he went in, but when he came towards
the table he felt a breath of fire which issued out
therefrom and smote him to the ground, so that
he had no power to rise.

Sir Galahad and King Evelake 291

Then felt he many hands about him, which
took him up and laid him down outside the chapel
door. There lay he in a swoon all through that
night, and on the morrow certain people found
him senseless, and bore him to an inner chamber
and laid him on a bed. And there he rested,
living, but moving no limbs, twenty-four days
and nights.

On the twenty-fifth day he opened his eyes and
saw those standing round, and said, " Why have
ye waked me ? For I have seen marvels that no
tongue can tell, and more than any heart can
think."

Then he asked where he was, and they told him,
" In the Castle of Carbonek."

" Tell your lord, King Pelles," said he, " that I
am Sir Lancelot."

At that they marvelled greatly, and told their
lord it was Sir Lancelot who had lain there so long.

Then was King Pelles wondrous glad and went
to see him, and prayed him to abide there for a
season. But Sir Lancelot said, " I know well
that I have now seen as much as mine eyes may
behold of the Sangreal ; wherefore I will return
to my own country." So he took leave of King
Pelles, and departed towards Logris.

Now after Sir Galahad had parted from Sir
Lancelot, he rode many days, till he came to the
monastery where the blind King Evelake lay,
whom Sir Percival had seen. And on the morrow,
when he had heard mass, Sir Galahad desired to
see the king, who cried out, " Welcome, Sir
Galahad, servant of the Lord ! Long have I abided

292 The Legends of King Arthur

thy coming. Take me now in thine arms, that
I may die in peace."

At that Sir Galahad embraced him ; and when
he had so done the king's eyes were opened, and
he said, " Fair Lord Jesus, suffer me now to come
to Thee ; " and anon his soul departed.

Then they buried him royally, as a king should
be ; and Sir Galahad went on his way.

Within a while he came to a chapel in a forest,
in the crypt whereof he saw a tomb which always
blazed and burnt. And asking the brethren what
that might mean, they told him, " Joseph of
Arimathea's son did found this monastery, and
one who wronged him hath lain here these three
hundred and fifty years and burneth evermore,
until that perfect knight who shall achieve the
Sangreal doth quench the fire."

Then said he, " I pray ye bring me to the tomb."

And when he touched the place immediately
the fire was quenched, and a voice came from the
grave and cried, " Thanks be to God, who now
hath purged me of my sin, and draweth me from
earthly pain into the joys of Paradise."

Then Sir Galahad took the body in his arms and
bore it to the abbey, and on the morrow put it
in the earth before the high altar.

Anon he departed from thence and rode five
days in a great forest ; and after that he met Sir
Percival, and a little further on Sir Bors. When
they had told each other their adventures, they
rode together to the Castle of Carbonek : and
there King Pelles gave them hearty welcome, for
he knew they should achieve the Holy Quest.

The Sangreal 293

As soon as they were come into the castle, a
voice cried in the midst of the chamber, " Let
them who ought not now to sit at the table of the
Lord rise and depart hence ! " Then all, save
those three knights, departed.

Anon they saw other knights come in with
haste at the hall doors and take their harness off,
who said to Sir Galahad, " Sir, we have tried sore
to be with you at this table."

" Ye be welcome," said he, " but whence are
ye?"

So three of them said they were from Gaul ; and
three from Ireland ; and three from Denmark.

Then came forth the likeness of a bishop, with
a cross in his hand, and four angels stood by him,
and a table of silver was before them, whereon
was set the vessel of the Sangreal. Then came
forth other angels also — two bearing burning
candles, and the third a towel, and the fourth a
spear which bled marvellously, the drops where-
from fell into a box he held in his left hand. Anon
the bishop took the wafer up to consecrate it,
and at the lifting up, they saw the figure of a
Child, whose visage was as bright as any fire,
which smote itself into the midst of the wafer and
vanished, so that all saw the flesh made bread.

Thereat the bishop went to Galahad and kissed
him, and bade him go and kiss his fellows ; and
said, " Now, servants of the Lord, prepare for
food such as none ever yet were fed with since the
world began."

With that he vanished, and the knights were
filled with a great dread and prayed devoutly.

U

294 The Legends of King Arthur

Then saw they come forth from the holy vessel
the vision of a man bleeding all openly, whom they
knew well by the tokens of His passion for the
Lord Himself. At that they fell upon their faces
and were dumb. Anon he brought the Holy
Grale to them and spake high words of comfort,
and, when they drank therefrom, the taste thereof
was sweeter than any tongue could tell or heart
desire. Then a voice said to Galahad, " Son, with
this blood which drippeth from the spear anoint
thou the maimed king and heal him. And when
thou hast this done, depart hence with thy
brethren in a ship that ye shall find, and go to the
city of Sarras. And bear with thee the holy
vessel, for it shall no more be seen in the realm
of Logris."

At that Sir Galahad walked to the bleeding
spear, and therefrom anointing his fingers went
out straightway to the maimed King Pelles, and
touched his wound. Then suddenly he uprose
from his bed as whole a man as ever he was, and
praised God passing thankfully with all his heart.

Then Sir Galahad, Sir Bors, and Sir Percival
departed as they had been told ; and when they
had ridden three days they came to the sea-shore,
and found the ship awaiting them. Therein they
entered, and saw in the midst the silver table and
the vessel of the Sangreal, covered with red samite.
Then were they passing glad, and made great
reverence thereto. And Sir Galahad prayed that
now he might leave the world and pass to God.
And presently, the while he prayed, a voice said
to him, " Galahad, thy prayer is heard, and when

The Sangreal 295

thou asketh the death of the body thou shalt have
it, and find the life of thy soul."

But while they prayed and slept the ship sailed
on, and when they woke they saw the city of
Sarras before them, and the other ship wherein
was Sir Percival's sister. Then the three knights
took up the holy table and the Sangreal and went
into the city ; and there, in a chapel, they buried
Sir Percival's sister right solemnly.

Now at the gate of the town they saw an old
cripple sitting, whom Sir Galahad called to help
them bear their weight.

" Truly," said the old man, "it is ten years
since I have gone a step without these crutches."

" Care ye not," said Sir Galahad ; " rise now
and show goodwill."

So he essayed to move, and found his limbs as
strong as any man's might be, and running to the
table helped to carry it.

Anon there rose a rumour in the city that a
cripple had been healed by certain marvellous
strange knights.

But the king, named Estouranse, who was a
heathen tyrant, when he heard thereof took Sir
Galahad and his fellows, and put them in prison
in a deep hole. Therein they abode a great
while, but ever the Sangreal was with them and
fed them with marvellous sweet food, so that they
fainted not, but had all joy and comfort they
could wish.

At the year's end the king fell sick and felt that
he should die. Then sent he for the three knights,
and when they came before him prayed their

296 The Legends of King Arthur

mercy for his trespasses against them. So they
forgave him gladly, and anon he died.

Then the chief men of the city took counsel
together who should be king in his stead, and as
they talked, a voice cried in their midst, " Choose
ye the youngest of the three knights King
Estouranse cast into prison for your king." At
that they sought Sir Galahad and made him
king with the assent of all the city, and else they
would have slain him.

But within a twelvemonth came to him, upon
a certain day, as he prayed before the Sangreal, a
man in likeness of a bishop, with a great company
of angels round about him, who offered mass, and
afterwards called to Sir Galahad, " Come forth,
thou servant of the Lord, for the time hath come
thou hast desired so long."

Then Sir Galahad lifted up his hands and
prayed, " Now, blessed Lord ! would I no longer
live if it might please Thee."

Anon the bishop gave him the sacrament, and
when he had received it with unspeakable glad-
ness, he said, " Who art thou, father ? "

" I am Joseph of Arimathea," answered he,
11 whom our Lord hath sent to bear thee fellow-
ship."

When he heard that, Sir Galahad went to Sir
Percival and Sir Bors and kissed them and com-
mended them to God, saying, " Salute for me Sir
Lancelot, my father, and bid him remember this
unstable world."

Therewith he kneeled down and prayed, and
suddenly his soul departed, and a multitude of

The Death of Sir Galahad 297

angels bare it up to heaven. Then came a hand
from heaven and took the vessel and the spear
and bare them out of sight.

Since then was never man so hardy as to say-
that he had seen the Sangreal.

And after these things, Sir Percival put off his
armour and betook him to an hermitage, and
within a little while passed out of this world. And
Sir Bors, when he had buried him beside his sister,
returned, weeping sore for the loss of his two
brethren, to King Arthur, at Camelot.

CHAPTER XIII
Sir Lancelot and the Fair Maid of Astolat

NOW after the quest of the Sangreal was
fulfilled and all the knights who were left
alive were come again to the Round Table,
there was great joy in the court. And passing
glad were King Arthur and Queen Guinevere to
see Sir Lancelot and Sir Bors, for they had been
long absent in that quest.

And so greatly was Sir Lancelot's fame now
spread abroad that many ladies and damsels daily
resorted to him and besought him for their cham-
pion ; and all right quarrels did he gladly under-
take for the pleasure of our Lord Christ. And
always as much as he might he withdrew him
from the queen. •

Wherefore Queen Guinevere, who counted him
for her own knight, grew wroth with him, and on
a certain day she called him to her chamber, and
said thus : "Sir Lancelot, I daily see thy loyalty
to me doth lack, for ever thou art absent from
this court, and takest other ladies' quarrels on
thee more than ever thou wert wont. Now do I
understand thee, false knight, and therefore shall
I never trust thee more. Depart now from my

298

Sir Patrice poisoned 299

sight, and come no more within this court upon
pain of thy head." With that she turned from
him and would hear no excuses.

So Sir Lancelot departed in heaviness of heart,
and calling Sir Bors, Sir Ector, and Sir Lionel, he
told them how the queen had dealt with him.

" Fair sir," replied Sir Bors, " remember what
honour ye have in this country, and how ye are
called the noblest knight in the world ; wherefore
go not, for women are hasty, and do often what
they sore repent of afterwards. Be ruled by my
advice. Take horse and ride to the hermitage
beside Windsor, and there abide till I send ye
better tidings."

To that Sir Lancelot consented, and departed
with a sorrowful countenance.

Now when the queen heard of his leaving she
was inwardly sorry, but made no show of grief,
bearing a proud visage outwardly. And on a cer-
tain day she made a costly banquet to all the
knights of the Round Table, to show she had as
great joy in all others as in Sir Lancelot. And at
the banquet were Sir Gawain, and his brothers
Sir Agravaine, Sir Gaheris, and Sir Gareth ; also
Sir Modred, Sir Bors, Sir Blamor, Sir Bleoberis,
Sir Ector, Sir Lionel, Sir Palomedes, Sir Mador
de la Port, and his cousin Sir Patrice — a knight
of Ireland, Sir Pinell le Savage, and many more.

Now Sir Pinell hated Sir Gawain because he had
slain one of his kinsmen by treason ; and Sir
Gawain had a great love for all kinds of fruit,
which, when Sir Pinell knew, he poisoned certain
apples that were set upon the table, with intent

300 The Legends of King Arthur

to slay him. And so it chanced as they ate and
made merry, Sir Patrice, who sat next to Sir
Gawain, took one of the poisoned apples and eat
it, and when he had eaten he suddenly swelled
up and fell down dead.

At that every knight leapt from the board
ashamed and enraged nigh out of their wits, for
they knew not what to say, yet seeing that the
queen had made the banquet they all had sus-
picion of her.

" My lady the queen," said Sir Gawain, " I wit
well this fruit was meant for me, for all men know
my love for it, and now had I been nearly slain;
wherefore, I fear me, ye will be ashamed."

" This shall not end so," cried Sir Mador de la
Port ; " now have I lost a noble knight of my
own blood, and for this despite and shame I will
be revenged to the uttermost."

Then he challenged Queen Guinevere concern-
ing the death of his cousin, but she stood still,
sore abashed, and anon with her sorrow and dread
she swooned.

At the noise and sudden cry came in King
Arthur, and to him appealed Sir Mador, and
impeached the queen.

" Fair lords," said he, " full sorely am I
troubled at this matter, for I must be rightful
judge, and therein it repenteth me I may not do
battle for my wife, for, as I deem, this deed was
none of hers. But I suppose she will not lack a
champion, and some good knight surely will put
his body in jeopardy to save her."

But all who had been bidden to the banquet

PI. 5.

see p. 304.

At last the strange knight smote him to the earth, and
gave him such a buffet on the helm as well-nigh killed

him.

r son

The Queen sends for Sir Bors 301

said they could not hold the queen excused, or be
her champions, for she had made the feast, and
either by herself or servants must it have come.

" Alas ! " said the queen, " I made this dinner
for a good intent, and no evil, so God help me in
my need."

" My lord the king," said Sir Mador, " I require
you heartily as you be a righteous king give me a
day when I may have justice."

" Well," said the king, " I give ye this day
fifteen days, when ye shall be ready and armed in
the meadow beside Westminster, and if there be
a knight to fight with you, God speed the right,
and if not, then must my queen be burnt."

When the king and queen were alone together
he asked her how this case befell.

" I wot not how or in what manner," answered
she.

" Where is Sir Lancelot ? " said King Arthur,
" for he would not grudge to do battle for thee."

11 Sir," said she, " I cannot tell you, but all his
kinsmen deem he is not in this realm."

" These be bad tidings," said the king ; "I
counsel ye to find Sir Bors, and pray him for Sir
Lancelot's sake to do this battle for you."

So the queen departed and sent for Sir Bors to
her chamber,, and besought his succour.

11 Madam," said he, " what would you have me
do ? For I may not with my honour take this
matter on me, for I was at that same dinner, and
all the other knights would have me ever in sus-
picion. Now do ye miss Sir Lancelot, for he
would not have failed you in right nor yet in

302 The Legends of King Arthur

wrong, as ye have often proved, but now ye have
driven him from the country."

" Alas ! fair knight," said the queen, " I put
me wholly at your mercy, and all that is done
amiss I will amend as ye will counsel me."

And therewith she kneeled down upon both
her knees before Sir Bors, and besought him to
have mercy on her.

Anon came in King Arthur also, and prayed
him of his courtesy to help her, saying, "I re-
quire you for the love of Lancelot."

" My lord," said he, " ye require the greatest
thing of me that any man can ask, for if I do this
battle for the queen I shall anger all my fellows
of the Table Round ; nevertheless, for my lord
Sir Lancelot's sake, and for yours, I will that day
be the queen's champion, unless there chance to
come a better knight than I am to do battle for
her." And this he promised on his faith.

Then were the king and queen passing glad, and
thanked him heartily, and so departed.

But Sir Bors rode in secret to the hermitage
where Sir Lancelot was, and told him all these
tidings.

" It has chanced as I would have it," said Sir
Lancelot ; " yet make ye ready for the battle,
but tarry till ye see me come."

" Sir," said Sir Bors, " doubt not but ye shall
have your will."

But many of the knights were greatly wroth
with him when they heard he was to be the queen's
champion, for there were few in the court but
deemed her guilty.

The Queen's Champion 303

Then said Sir Bors, " Wit ye well, fair lords, it
were a shame to us all to suffer so fair and noble
a lady to be burnt for lack of a champion, for ever
hath she proved herself a lover of good knights ;
wherefore I doubt not she is guiltless of this
treason."

At that were some well pleased, but others
rested passing wroth.

And when the day was come, the king and
queen and all the knights went to the meadow
beside Westminster, where the battle should be
fought. Then the queen was put in ward, and
a great fire was made round the iron stake,
where she must be burnt if Sir Mador won the
day.

So when the heralds blew, Sir Mador rode forth,
and took oath that Queen Guinevere was guilty
of Sir Patrice's death, and his oath he would
prove with his body against any who would say
the contrary. Then came forth Sir Bors, and
said, " Queen Guinevere is in the right, and that
will I prove with my hands."

With that they both departed to their tents
to make ready for the battle. But Sir Bors
tarried long, hoping Sir Lancelot would come, till
Sir Mador cried out to King Arthur, " Bid thy
champion come forth, unless he dare not." Then
was Sir Bors ashamed, and took his horse and
rode to the end of the lists.

But ere he could meet Sir Mador he was ware
of a knight upon a white horse, armed at all
points, and with a strange shield, who rode to
him and said, " I pray you withdraw from this

304 The Legends of King Arthur

quarrel, for it is mine, and I have ridden far to
fight in it."

Thereat Sir Bors rode to King Arthur, and told
him that another knight was come who would
do battle for the queen.

11 Who is he ? " said King Arthur.

" I may not tell you," said Sir Bors ; " but he
made a covenant with me to be here to-day,
wherefore I am discharged."

Then the king called that knight, and asked
him if he would fight for the queen.

" Therefore came I hither, Sir king," answered
he ; " but let us tarry no longer, for anon I have
other matters to do. But wit ye well," said he
to the Knights of the Round Table, " it is shame
to ye for such a courteous queen to suffer this
dishonour."

And all men marvelled who this knight might
be, for none knew him save Sir Bors.

Then Sir Mador and the knight rode to either
end of the lists, and couching their spears, ran one
against the other with all their might ; and Sir
Mador's spear broke short, but the strange knight
bore both him and his horse down to the ground.
Then lightly they leaped from their saddles and
drew their swords, and so came eagerly to the
battle, and either gave the other many sad
strokes and sore and deep wounds.

Thus they fought nigh an hour, for Sir Mador was
a full strong and valiant knight. But at last the
strange knight smote him to the earth, and gave
him such a buffet on the helm as wellnigh killed
him. Then did Sir Mador yield, and prayed his life.

The Queen's Champion 305

" I will but grant it thee," said the strange
knight, " if thou wilt release the queen from this
quarrel for ever, and promise that no mention
shall be made upon Sir Patrice's tomb that ever
she consented to that treason."

" All this shall be done," said Sir Mador.

Then the knights parters took up Sir Mador and
led him to his tent, and the other knight went
straight to the stair foot of King Arthur's throne ;
and by that time was the queen come to the king
again, and kissed him lovingly.

Then both the king and she stooped down, and
thanked the knight, and prayed him to put off
his helm and rest him, and to take a cup of wine.
And when he put his helmet off to drink, all
people saw it was Sir Lancelot. But when the
queen beheld him she sank almost to the ground
weeping for sorrow and for joy, that he had done
her such great goodness when she had showed
him such unkindness.

Then the knights of his blood gathered round
him, and there was great joy and mirth in the
court. And Sir Mador and Sir Lancelot were
soon healed of their wounds ; and not long after
came the lady of the lake to the court, and told
all there by her enchantments how Sir Pinell, and
not the queen, was guilty of Sir Patrice's death.
Whereat the queen was held excused of all men,
and Sir Pinell fled the country.

So Sir Patrice was buried in the church of
Winchester, and it was written on his tomb that
Sir Pinell slew him with a poisoned apple, in
error for Sir Gawain. Then, through Sir Lance-

306 The Legends of King Arthur

lot's favour, the queen was reconciled to Sir
Mador, and all was forgiven.

Now fifteen days before the Feast of the
Assumption of our Lady, the king proclaimed a
tourney to be held that feast-day at Camelot,
whereat himself and the King of Scotland would
joust with all who should come against them. So
thither went the King of North Wales, and King
Anguish of Ireland, and Sir Galahaut the noble
prince, and many other nobles of divers countries.

And King Arthur made ready to go, and would
have had the queen go with him, but she said that
she was sick. Sir Lancelot, also, made excuses,
saying he was not yet whole of his wounds.

At that the king was passing heavy and grieved,
and so departed alone towards Camelot. And
by the way he lodged in a town called Astolat,
and lay that night in the castle.

As soon as he had gone, Sir Lancelot said to the
queen, " This night I will rest, and to-morrow
betimes will I take my way to Camelot ; for at
these jousts I will be against the king and his
fellowship."

" Ye may do as ye list," said Queen Guinevere ;
" but by my counsel ye will not be against the
king, for in his company are many hardy knights,
as ye well know."

" Madam," said Sir Lancelot, " I pray ye be
not displeased with me, for I will take the ad-
venture that God may send me."

And on the morrow he went to the church and
heard mass, and took his leave of the queen, and
so departed.

The Fair Maid of Astolat 307

Then he rode long till he came to Astolat, and
there lodged at the castle of an old baron called
Sir Bernard of Astolat, which was near the castle
where King Arthur lodged. And as Sir Lancelot
entered the king espied him, and knew him.
Then said he to the knights, " I have just seen
a knight who will fight full well at the joust
towards which we go."

" Who is it ? " asked they.

11 As yet ye shall not know," he answered,
smiling.

When Sir Lancelot was in his chamber unarm-
ing, the old baron came to him saluting him,
though as yet he knew not who he was.

Now Sir Bernard had a daughter passing
beautiful, called the Fair Maid of Astolat, and
when she saw Sir Lancelot she loved him from that
instant with her whole heart, and could not stay
from gazing on him.

On the morrow, Sir Lancelot asked the old
baron to lend him a strange shield. " For," said
he, " I would be unknown."

" Sir," said his host, " ye shall have your desire,
for here is the shield of my eldest son, Sir Torre,
who was hurt the day he was made knight, so
that he cannot ride ; and his shield, therefore,
is not known. And, if it please you, my youngest
son, Sir Lavaine, shall ride with you to the
jousts, for he is of his age full strong and mighty ;
and I deem ye be a noble knight, wherefore I pray
ye tell me your name."

" As to that," said Sir Lancelot, " ye must
hold me excused at this time, but if I speed well

308 The Legends of King Arthur

at the jousts, I will come again and tell you ;
but in anywise let me have your son, Sir Lavaine,
with me, and lend me his brother's shield."

Then, ere they departed, came Elaine, the
baron's daughter, and said to Sir Lancelot, " I
pray thee, gentle knight, to wear my token at
to-morrow's tourney."

" If I should grant you that, fair damsel," said
he, " ye might say that I did more for you than
ever I have done for lady or damsel."

Then he bethought him that if he granted her
request he would be the more disguised, for never
before had he worn any lady's token. So anon
he said, " Fair damsel, I will wear thy token on
my helmet if thou wilt show it me."

Thereat was she passing glad, and brought him
a scarlet sleeve broidered with pearls, which Sir
Lancelot took, and put upon his helm. Then he
prayed her to keep his shield for him until he
came again, and taking Sir Torre's shield instead,
rode forth with Sir Lavaine towards Camelot.

On the morrow the trumpets blew for the
tourney, and there was a great press of dukes
and earls and barons and many noble knights ;
and King Arthur sat in a gallery to behold who
did the best. So the King of Scotland and his
knights, and King Anguish of Ireland rode forth
on King Arthur's side ; and against them came
the King of North Wales, the King of a Hundred
Knights, the King of Northumberland, and the
noble prince Sir Galahaut.

But Sir Lancelot and Sir Lavaine rode into a
little wood behind the party which was against

The Tourney at Camelot 309

King Arthur, to watch which side should prove
the weakest.

Then was there a strong fight between the two
parties, for the King of a Hundred Knights smote
down the King of Scotland ; and Sir Palomedes,
who was on King Arthur's side, overthrew Sir
Galahaut. Then came fifteen Knights of the
Round Table and beat back the Kings of North-
umberland and North Wales with their knights.

" Now," said Sir Lancelot to Sir Lavaine, " if
ye will help me, ye shall see yonder fellowship
go back as fast as they came."

" Sir," said Sir Lavaine, " I will do what I can."

Then they rode together into the thickest of the
press, and there, with one spear, Sir Lancelot
smote down five Knights of the Round Table,
one after other, and Sir Lavaine overthrew two.
And taking another spear, for his own was
broken, Sir Lancelot smote down four more
knights, and Sir Lavaine a fifth. Then, drawing
his sword, Sir Lancelot fought fiercely on the
right hand and the left, and unhorsed Sir Safire,
Sir Epinogris, and Sir Galleron. At that the
Knights of the Round Table withdrew themselves
as well as they were able.

11 Now, mercy," said Sir Gawain, who sat by
King Arthur ; " what knight is that who doth
such marvellous deeds of arms ? I should deem
him by his force to be Sir Lancelot, but that he
wears a lady's token on his helm as never Lance-
lot doth."

" Let him be," said King Arthur ; " he will be
better known, and do more ere he depart."

X

310 The Legends of King Arthur

Thus the party against King Arthur prospered
at this time, and his knights were sore ashamed.
Then Sir Bors, Sir Ector, and Sir Lionel called
together the knights of their blood, nine in num
ber, and agreed to join together in one band
against the two strange knights. So they en-
countered Sir Lancelot all at once, and by main
force smote his horse to the ground ; and by
misfortune Sir Bors struck Sir Lancelot through
the shield into the side, and the spear broke off
and left the head in the wound.

When Sir Lavaine saw that, he ran to the King
of Scotland and struck him off his horse, and
brought it to Sir Lancelot, and helped him to
mount. Then Sir Lancelot bore Sir Bors and his
horse to the ground, and in like manner served
Sir Ector and Sir Lionel ; and turning upon three
other knights he smote them down also ; while
Sir Lavaine did many gallant deeds.

But feeling himself now sorely wounded Sir
Lancelot drew his sword, and proffered to fight
with Sir Bors, who, by this time, was mounted
anew. And as they met, Sir Ector and Sir
Lionel came also, and the swords of all three drave
fiercely against him. When he felt their buffets,
and his wound that was so grievous, he deter-
mined to do all his best while he could yet endure,
and smote Sir Bors a blow that bent his head
down nearly to the ground and razed his helmet
off and pulled him from his horse.

Then rushing at Sir Ector and Sir Lionel, he
smote them down, and might have slain all
three, but when he saw their faces his heart

Sir Lancelot in the Tourney 311

forbade him. Leaving them, therefore, on the
field, he hurled into the thickest of the press, and
did such feats of arms as never were beheld before.

And Sir Lavaine was with him through it all,
and overthrew ten knights ; but Sir Lancelot
smote down more than thirty, and most of them
Knights of the Round Table.

Then the king ordered the trumpets to blow for
the end of the tourney, and the prize to be given
by the heralds to the knight with the white shield
who bore the red sleeve.

But ere Sir Lancelot was found by the heralds,
came the King of the Hundred Knights, the King
of North Wales, the King of Northumberland,
and Sir Galahaut, and said to him, " Fair knight,
God bless thee, for much have ye done this day
for us ; wherefore we pray ye come with us and
receive the honour and the prize as ye have
worshipfully deserved it."

" My fair lords," said Sir Lancelot, " wit ye
well if I have deserved thanks, I have sore bought
them, for I am like never to escape with my life ;
therefore I pray ye let me depart, for I am sore
hurt. I take no thought of honour, for I had
rather rest me than be lord of all the world."
And therewith he groaned piteously, and rode a
great gallop away from them.

And Sir Lavaine rode after him, sad at heart,
for the broken spear still stuck fast in Sir Lance-
lot's side, and the blood streamed sorely from the
wound. Anon they came near a wood more than
a mile from the lists, where he knew he could be
hidden.

312 The Legends of King Arthur

Then said he to Sir Lavaine, " O gentle knight,
help me to pull out this spear-head from my side,
for the pain thereof nigh killeth me."

" Dear lord," said he, " I fain would help ye ;
but I dread to draw it forth, lest ye should die
for loss of blood."

" I charge you as you love me," said Sir
Lancelot, " draw it out."

So they dismounted, and with a mighty wrench
Sir Lavaine drew the spear forth from Sir Lance-
lot's side ; whereat he gave a marvellous great
shriek and ghastly groan, and all his blood leaped
forth in a full stream. Then he sank swooning
to the earth, with a visage pale as death.

" Alas ! " cried Sir Lavaine, " what shall I do
now ? "

And then he turned his master's face towards
the wind, and sat by him nigh half an hour while
he lay quiet as one dead. But at the last he
lifted up his eyes, and said, " I pray ye bear me
on my horse again, and lead me to a hermit who
dwelleth within two miles hence, for he was
formerly a knight of Arthur's court, and now hath
mighty skill in medicine and herbs."

So with great pain Sir Lavaine got him to his
horse> and led him to the hermitage within the
wood, beside a stream. Then knocked he with
his spear upon the door, and prayed to enter. At
that a child came out, to whom he said, " Fair
child, pray the good man thy master to
come hither and let in a knight who is sore
wounded."

Anon came out the knight-hermit, whose name

Sir Baldwin the Knight-Hermit 313

was Sir Baldwin, and asked, " Who is this
wounded knight ? "

" I know not," said Sir Lavaine, " save that he
is the noblest knight I ever met with, and hath
done this day such marvellous deeds of arms
against Sir Arthur that he hath won the prize of
the tourney."

Then the hermit gazed long on Sir Lancelot, and
hardly knew him, so pale he was with bleeding,
yet said he at the last, " Who art thou, lord ? "

Sir Lancelot answered feebly, " I am a stranger
knight adventurous, who laboureth through
many realms to win worship."

" Why hidest thou thy name, dear lord, from
me ? " cried Sir Baldwin. " For in sooth I know
thee now to be the noblest knight in all the world
— my lord Sir Lancelot du Lake, with whom I
long had fellowship at the Round Table."

" Since ye know me, fair sir," said he, " I pray
ye, for Christ's sake, to help me if ye may."

" Doubt not," replied he, " that ye shall live
and fare right well."

Then he staunched his wound, and gave him
strong medicines and cordials till he was refreshed
from his faintness and came to himself again.

Now after the jousting was done King Arthur
held a feast, and asked to see the knight with the
red sleeve that he might take the prize. So they
told him how that knight had ridden from the
field wounded nigh to death. " These be the
worst tidings I have heard for many years," cried
out the king ; " I would not for my kingdom he
were slain."

314 The Legends of King Arthur

Then all men asked, " Know ye him, lord ? "

" I may not tell ye at this time," said he ; " but
would to God we had good tidings of him."

Then Sir Gawain prayed leave to go and seek
that knight, which the king gladly gave him. So
forthwith he mounted and rode many leagues
round Camelot, but could hear no tidings.

Within two days thereafter King Arthur and
his knights returned from Camelot, and Sir
Gawain chanced to lodge at Astolat, in the house
of Sir Bernard. And there came in the fair
Elaine to him, and prayed him news of the tour-
nament, and who won the prize. " A knight
with a white shield," said he, " who bare a red
sleeve in his helm, smote down all comers and
won the day."

At that the visage of Elaine changed suddenly
from white to red, and heartily she thanked our
Lady.

Then said Sir Gawain, " Know ye that knight?"
and urged her till she told him that it was her
sleeve he wore. So Sir Gawain knew it was for
love that she had given it ; and when he heard
she kept his proper shield he prayed to see it.

As soon as it was brought he saw Sir Lancelot's
arms thereon, and cried, " Alas ! now am I
heavier of heart than ever yet."

" Wherefore ? " said fair Elaine.

" Fair damsel," answered he, " know ye not
that the knight ye love is of all knights the noblest
in the world, Sir Lancelot du Lake ? With all my
heart I pray ye may have joy of each other, but
hardly dare I think that ye shall see him in this

Elaine seeks for Sir Lancelot 315

world again, for he is so sore wounded he may
scarcely live, and is gone out of sight where none
can find him."

Then was Elaine nigh mad with grief and sor-
row, and with piteous words she prayed her
father that she might go seek Sir Lancelot and
her brother. So in the end her father gave her
leave, and she departed.

And on the morrow came Sir Gawain to the
court, and told how he had found Sir Lancelot's
shield in Elaine's keeping, and how it was her
sleeve which he had worn ; whereat all marvelled,
for Sir Lancelot had done for her more than he
had ever done for any woman.

But when Queen Guinevere heard it she was
beside herself with wrath, and sending privily for
Sir Bors, who sorrowed sorely that through him
Sir Lancelot had been hurt — " Have ye now
heard," said she, " how falsely Sir Lancelot hath
betrayed me ? "

" I beseech thee, madam," said he, " speak not
so, for else I may not hear thee."

" Shall I not call him traitor," cried she, " who
hath worn another lady's token at the jousting ? "

" Be sure he did it, madam, for no ill intent,"
replied Sir Bors, " but that he might be better
hidden, for never did he in that wise before."

" Now shame on him, and thee who wouldest
help him," cried the queen.

" Madam, say what ye will," said he ; " but I
must haste to seek him, and God send me soon
good tidings of him."

So with that he departed to find Sir Lancelot.

316 The Legends of King Arthur

Now Elaine had ridden with full haste from
Astolat, and come to Camelot, and there she
sought throughout the country for any news of
Lancelot. And so it chanced that Sir Lavaine
was riding near the hermitage to exercise his
horse, and when she saw him she ran up and
cried aloud, " How doth my lord Sir Lancelot
fare ? "

Then said Sir Lavaine, marvelling greatly,
" How know ye my lord's name, fair sister ? "

So she told him how Sir Gawain had lodged with
Sir Bernard, and knew Sir Lancelot's shield.

Then prayed she to see his lord forthwith, and
when she came to the hermitage and found him
lying there sore sick and bleeding, she swooned
for sorrow. Anon, as she revived, Sir Lancelot
kissed her, and said, " Fair maid, I pray ye take
comfort, for, by God's grace, I shall be shortly
whole of this wound, and if ye be come to tend
me, I am heartily bounden to your great kind-
ness." Yet was he sore vexed to hear Sir Gawain
had discovered him, for he knew Queen Guinevere
would be full wroth because of the red sleeve.

So Elaine rested in the hermitage, and ever
night and day she watched and waited on Sir
Lancelot, and would let none other tend him.
And as she saw him more, the more she set her
love upon him, and could by no means withdraw
it. Then said Sir Lancelot to Sir Lavaine, " I
pray thee set some to watch for the good knight
Sir Bors, for as he hurt me, so will he surely seek
for me."

Now Sir Bors by this time had come to Came-

PI. 0.

see p. 321.

Then was Sir Lancelot sent for, and the letter read aloud

by a clerk.

A'.317.

Sir Lancelot tended by Elaine 317

lot, and was seeking for Sir Lancelot everywhere,
so Sir Lavaine soon found him, and brought him
to the hermitage.

And when he saw Sir Lancelot pale and feeble,
he wept for pity and sorrow that he had given
him that grievous wound. " God send thee a
right speedy cure, dear lord," said he ; " for I am
of all men most unhappy to have wounded thee,
who art our leader, and the noblest knight in all
the world."

" Fair cousin," said Sir Lancelot, " be com-
forted, for I have but gained what I sought, and
it was through pride that I was hurt, for had I
warned ye of my coming it had not been ; where-
fore let us speak of other things."

So they talked long together, and Sir Bors told
him of the queen's anger. Then he asked Sir
Lancelot, " Was it from this maid who tendeth
you so lovingly ye had the token ? "

" Yea," said Sir Lancelot ; " and would I could
persuade her to withdraw her love from me."

" Why should ye do so ? " said Sir Bors. " For
she is passing fair and loving. I would to heaven
ye could love her."

" That may not be," replied he ; " but it
repenteth me in sooth to grieve her."

Then they talked of other matters, and of the
great jousting at Allhallowtide next coming,
between King Arthur and the King of North
Wales.

" Abide with me till then," said Sir Lancelot,
" for by that time I trust to be all whole again,
and we will go together."

318 The Legends of King Arthur

So Elaine daily and nightly tending him, within
a month he felt so strong he deemed himself full
cured. Then on a day, when Sir Bors and Sir
Lavaine were from the hermitage, and the knight-
hermit also was gone forth, Sir Lancelot prayed
Elaine to bring him some herbs from the
forest.

When she was gone he rose and made haste to
arm himself, and try if he were whole enough to
joust, and mounted on his horse, which was fresh
with lack of labour for so long a time. But when
he set his spear in the rest and tried his armour,
the horse bounded and leapt beneath him, so that
Sir Lancelot strained to keep him back. And
therewith his wound, which was not wholly
healed, burst forth again, and with a mighty
groan he sank down swooning on the ground.

At that came fair Elaine and wept and piteously
moaned to see him lying so. And when Sir Bors
and Sir Lavaine came back, she called them
traitors to let him rise, or to know any rumour of
the tournament. Anon the hermit returned and
was wroth to see Sir Lancelot risen, but within
a while he recovered him from his swoon and
staunched the wound. Then Sir Lancelot told
him how he had risen of his own will to assay his
strength for the tournament. But the hermit
bad him rest and let Sir Bors go alone, for else
would he sorely peril his life. And Elaine, with
tears, prayed him in the same wise, so that Sir
Lancelot in the end consented.

So Sir Bors departed to the tournament, and
there he did such feats of arms that the prize was

Elaine's Request 319

given between him and Sir Gawain, who did like
valiantly.

And when all was over he came back and told
Sir Lancelot, and found him so nigh well that he
could rise and walk. And within a while there-
after he departed from the hermitage and went
with Sir Bors, Sir Lavaine, and fair Elaine to
Astolat, where Sir Bernard joyfully received them.

But after they had lodged there a few days Sir
Lancelot and Sir Bors must needs depart and
return to King Arthur's court.

So when Elaine knew Sir Lancelot must go, she
came to him and said, " Have mercy on me, fair
knight, and let me not die for your love."

Then said Sir Lancelot, very sad at heart,
" Fair maid, what would ye that I should do for
you ? "

" If I may not be your wife, dear lord," she
answered, " I must die."

" Alas ! " said he, " I pray heaven that may
not be ; for in sooth I may not be your husband.
But fain would I show ye what thankfulness I can
for all your love and kindness to me. And ever
will I be your knight, fair maiden ; and if it
chance that ye shall ever wed some noble knight,
right heartily will I give ye such a dower as half
my lands will bring."

" Alas ! what shall that aid me ? " answered
she. " For I must die," and therewith she fell to
the earth in a deep swoon.

Then was Sir Lancelot passing heavy of heart,
and said to Sir Bernard and Sir Lavaine, " What
shall I do for her ? "

320 The Legends of King Arthur

" Alas I " said Sir Bernard, " I know well that
she will die for your sake."

And Sir Lavaine said, " I marvel not that she
so sorely mourneth your departure, for truly I do
as she doth, and since I once have seen you, lord,
I cannot leave you."

So anon, with a full sorrowful heart, Sir Lance-
lot took his leave, and Sir Lavaine rode with him
to the court. And King Arthur and the Knights
of the Round Table joyed greatly to see him
whole of his wound, but Queen Guinevere was
sorely wroth, and neither spake with him nor
greeted him.

Now when Sir Lancelot had departed, the Maid
of Astolat could neither eat, nor drink, nor sleep
for sorrow ; and having thus endured ten days,
she felt within herself that she must die.

Then sent she for a holy man, and was shriven
and received the sacrament. But when he told
her she must leave her earthly thoughts, she
answered, " Am I not an earthly woman ? What
sin is it to love the noblest knight of all the
world ? And, by my truth, I am not able to with-
stand the love whereof I die ; wherefore, I pray
the High Father of Heaven to have mercy on my
soul."

Then she besought Sir Bernard to indite a letter
as she should devise and said, " When I am dead
put this within my hand, and dress me in my
fairest clothes, and lay me in a barge all covered
with black samite, and steer it down the river till
it reach the court. Thus, father, I beseech thee,
let it be."

The Death of Elaine 321

Then, full of grief, he promised her it should be
so. And anon she died, and all the household
made a bitter lamentation over her.

Then did they as she had desired, and laid her
body, richly dressed, upon a bed within the barge,
and a trusty servant steered it down the river
towards the court.

Now King Arthur and Queen Guinevere sat at
a window of the palace, and saw the barge come
floating with the tide, and marvelled what was
laid therein, and sent a messenger to see, who,
soon returning, prayed them to come forth.

When they came to the shore they marvelled
greatly, and the king asked of the serving-man
who steered the barge what this might mean.
But he made signs that he was dumb, and pointed
to the letter in the damsel's hands. So King
Arthur took the letter from the hand of the corpse,
and found thereon written, " To the noble knight,
Sir Lancelot du Lake."

Then was Sir Lancelot sent for, and the letter
read aloud by a clerk, and thus it was written : —

" Most noble knight, my lord Sir Lancelot, now
hath death for ever parted us. I, whom men call
the Maid of Astolat, set my love upon you, and
have died for your sake. This is my last request,
that ye pray for my soul and give me burial.
Grant me this, Sir Lancelot, as thou art a peerless
knight."

At these words the queen and all the knights
wept sore for pity.

Then said Sir Lancelot, " My lord, I am right
heavy for the death of this fair damsel ; and God

322 The Legends of King Arthur

knoweth that right unwillingly I caused'it, for she
was good as she was fair, and much was I beholden
to her ; but she loved me beyond measure, and
asked me that I could not give her."

" Ye might have shown her gentleness enough
to save her life," answered the queen.

" Madam," said he, " she would but be repaid
by my taking her to wife, and that I could not
grant her, for love cometh of the heart and not
by constraint."

" That is true," said the king ; "for love is
free."

" I pray you," said Sir Lancelot, " let me now
grant her last asking, to be buried by me."

So on the morrow, he caused her body to be
buried richly and solemnly, and ordained masses
for her soul, and made great sorrow over her.

Then the queen sent for Sir Lancelot, and
prayed his pardon for her wrath against him with-
out cause. " This is not the first time it hath
been so," answered he ; " yet must I ever bear
with ye, and so do I now forgive you."

So Queen Guinevere and Sir Lancelot were
made friends again ; but anon such favour did
she show him, as in the end brought many evils
on them both and all the realm.

CHAPTER XIV

The War between King Arthur and Sir Lancelot
and the Death of King Arthur

WITHIN a while thereafter was a jousting
at the court, wherein Sir Lancelot won
the prize. And two of those he smote
down were Sir Agravaine, the brother of Sir
Gawain, and Sir Modred, his false brother — King
Arthur's son by Belisent. And because of his
victory they hated Sir Lancelot, and sought how
they might injure him.

So on a night, when King Arthur was hunting
in the forest, and the queen sent for Sir Lancelot
to her chamber, they two espied him ; and
thinking now to make a scandal and a quarrel be-
tween Lancelot and the king, they found twelve
others, and said Sir Lancelot was ever now in the
queen's chamber, and King Arthur was dis-
honoured.

Then, all armed, they came suddenly round the
queen's door, and cried, " Traitor ! now art thou
taken."

" Madam, we be betrayed," said Sir Lancelot ;
" yet shall my life cost these men dear."

Then did the queen weep sore, and dismally she
cried, " Alas ! there is no armour here whereby
ye might withstand so many ; wherefore ye will

323

324 The Legends of King Arthur

be slain, and I be burnt for the dread crime they
will charge on me."

But while she spake the shouting of the knights
was heard without, " Traitor, come forth, for now
thou art snared ! "

" Better were twenty deaths at once than this
vile outcry," said Sir Lancelot.

Then he kissed her and said, " Most noble lady,

I beseech ye, as I have ever been your own true
knight, take courage ; pray for my soul if I be
now slain, and trust my faithful friends, Sir Bors
and Sir Lavaine, to save you from the fire."

But ever bitterly she wept and moaned, and
cried, " Would God that they would take and
slay me, and that thou couldest escape."

" That shall never be," said he. And wrapping
his mantle round his arm he unbarred the door a
little space, so that but one could enter.

Then first rushed in Sir Chalaunce, a full
strong knight, and lifted up his sword to smite
Sir Lancelot ; but lightly he avoided him, and
struck Sir Chalaunce with his hand, such a sore
buffet on the head as felled him dead upon the floor.

Then Sir Lancelot pulled in his body and
barred the door again, and dressed himself in his
armour, and took his drawn sword in his hand.

But still the knights cried mightily without the
door, " Traitor, come forth ! "

11 Be silent and depart," replied Sir Lancelot ;

II for be ye sure ye will not take me, and to-
morrow will I meet ye face to face before the king. "

11 Ye shall have no such grace," they cried ;
" but we will slay thee, or take thee as we list."

Sir Lancelot attacked by the Knights 325

" Then save yourselves who may," he thun-
dered, and therewith suddenly unbarred the door
and rushed forth at them. And at the first blow
he slew Sir Agravaine, and after him twelve other
knights, with twelve more mighty buffets. And
none of all escaped him save Sir Modred, who,
sorely wounded, fled away for life.

Then returned he to the queen, and said,
" Now, madam, will I depart, and if ye be in any
danger I pray ye come to me."

" Surely will I stay here, for I am queen," she
answered ; " yet if to-morrow any harm come to
me I trust to thee for rescue."

" Have ye no doubt of me," said he, " for ever
while I live am I your own true knight."

Therewith he took his leave, and went and told
Sir Bors and all his kindred of this adventure.
" We will be with thee in this quarrel," said they
all ; " and if the queen be sentenced to the fire,
we certainly will save her."

Meanwhile Sir Modred, in great fear and pain,
fled from the court, and rode until he found King
Arthur, and told him all that had befallen. But
the King would scarce believe him till he came and
saw the bodies of Sir Agravaine and all the other
knights.

Then felt he in himself that all was true, and
with his passing grief his heart nigh broke.
" Alas 1 " cried he, " now is the fellowship of
the Round Table for ever broken : yea, woe is
me 1 I may not with my honour spare my
queen."

Anon it was ordained that Queen Guinevere

Y

326 The Legends of King Arthur

should be burned to death, because she had dis-
honoured King Arthur.

But when Sir Gawain heard thereof, he came
before the king, and said, " My lord, I counsel
thee be not too hasty in this matter, but stay the
judgment of the queen a season, for it may well be
that Sir Lancelot was in her chamber for no evil,
seeing she is greatly beholden to him for so many
deeds done for her sake, and peradventure she
had sent to him to thank him, and did it secretly
that she might avoid slander."

But King Arthur answered, full of grief,
" Alas ! I may not help her ; she is judged as any
other woman."

Then he required Sir Gawain and his brethren
Sir Gaheris and Sir Gareth, to be ready to bear
the queen to-morrow to the place of execution.

" Nay, noble lord," replied Sir Gawain, " that
can I never do ; for neither will my heart suffer
me to see the queen die, nor shall men ever say
I was of your counsel in this matter."

Then said his brothers, " Ye may command us
to be there, but since it is against our will, we will
be without arms, that we may do no battle
against her."

So on the morrow was Queen Guinevere led
forth to die by fire, and a mighty crowd was there,
of knights and nobles, armed and unarmed. And
all the lords and ladies wept sore at that piteous
sight. Then was she shriven by a priest, and the
men came nigh to bind her to the stake and light
the fire.

At that Sir Lancelot's spies rode hastily and told

Flight of Sir Lancelot and the Queen 327

him and his kindred, who lay hidden in a wood hard
by, and suddenly, with twenty knights, he rushed
into the midst of all the throng to rescue her.

But certain of King Arthur's knights rose up
and fought with them, and there was a full great
battle and confusion. And Sir Lancelot drave
fiercely here and there among the press, and
smote on every side, and at every blow struck
down a knight, so that many were slain by him
and his fellows.

Then was the queen set free, and caught up on
Sir Lancelot's saddle and fled away with him and
all his company to the Castle of La Joyous Garde.

Now so it chanced that, in the turmoil of the
fighting, Sir Lancelot had unawares struck down
and slain the two good knights Sir Gareth and
Sir Gaheris, knowing it not, for he fought wildly,
and saw not that they were unarmed.

When King Arthur heard thereof, and of all
that battle, and the rescue of the queen, he sor-
rowed heavily for those good knights, and was
passing wroth with Lancelot and the queen.

But when Sir Gawain heard of his brethren's
death he swooned for sorrow and wrath, for he
wist that Sir Lancelot had killed them in malice.
And as soon as he recovered he ran in to the king,
and said, " Lord king and uncle, hear this oath
which now I swear, that from this day I will not
fail Sir Lancelot till one of us hath slain the other.
And now, unless ye haste to war with him, that we
may be avenged, will I myself alone go after him."

Then the king, full of wrath and grief, agreed
thereto, and sent letters throughout the realm to

328 The Legends of King Arthur

summon all his knights, and went with a vast
army to besiege the Castle of La Joyous Garde.
And Sir Lancelot, with his knights, mightily
defended it ; but never would he suffer any to go
forth and attack one of the king's army, for he
was right loth to fight against him.

So when fifteen weeks were passed, and King
Arthur's army wasted itself in vain against the
castle, for it was passing strong, it chanced upon
a day Sir Lancelot was looking from the walls and
espied King Arthur and Sir Gawain close beside.

" Come forth, Sir Lancelot," said King Arthur
right fiercely, " and let us two meet in the midst
of the field."

" God forbid that I should encounter with thee,
lord, for thou didst make me a knight," replied
Sir Lancelot.

Then cried Sir Gawain, " Shame on thee, traitor
and false knight, yet be ye well assured we will
regain the queen and slay thee and thy company ;
yea, double shame on ye to slay my brother
Gaheris unarmed, Sir Gareth also, who loved ye
so well. For that treachery, be sure I am thine
enemy till death."

" Alas ! " cried Sir Lancelot, " that I hear such
tidings, for I knew not I had slain those noble
knights, and right sorely now do I repent it with
a heavy heart. Yet abate thy wrath, Sir Gawain,
for ye know full well I did it by mischance, for I
loved them ever as my own brothers."

" Thou liest, false recreant," cried Sir Gawain,
fiercely.

At that Sir Lancelot was wroth, and said, " I

War between Sir Lancelot and the King 329

well see thou art now mine enemy, and that there
can be no more peace with thee, or with my lord
the king, else would I gladly give back the queen."

Then the king would fain have listened to Sir
Lancelot, for more than all his own wrong did he
grieve at the sore waste and damage of the realm,
but Sir Gawain persuaded him against it, and
ever cried out foully on Sir Lancelot.

When Sir Bors and the other knights of Lance-
lot's party heard the fierce words of Sir Gawain,
they were passing wroth, and prayed to ride forth
and be avenged on him, for they were weary of
so long waiting to no good. And in the end Sir
Lancelot, with a heavy heart, consented.

So on the morrow the hosts on either side met
in the field, and there was a great battle. And
Sir Gawain prayed his knights chiefly to set upon
Sir Lancelot ; but Sir Lancelot commanded his
company to forbear King Arthur and Sir Gawain.

So the two armies jousted together right
fiercely, and Sir Gawain proffered to encounter
with Sir Lionel, and overthrew him. But Sir
Bors, and Sir Blamor, and Sir Palomedes, who
were on Sir Lancelot's side, did great feats of arms,
and overthrew many of King Arthur's knights.

Then the king came forth against Sir Lancelot,
but Sir Lancelot forbore him and would not strike
again.

At that Sir Bors rode up against the king and
smote him down. But Sir Lancelot cried,
" Touch him not on pain of thy head," and going
to King Arthur he alighted and gave him his own
horse, saying, " My lord, I pray thee forbear this

v*

330 The Legends of King Arthur

strife, for it can bring to neither of us any hon-

our."

And when King Arthur looked on him the tears
came to his eyes as he thought of his noble
courtesy, and he said within himself, " Alas I
that ever this war began."

But on the morrow Sir Gawain led forth the
army again, and Sir Bors commanded on Sir
Lancelot's side. And they two struck together so
fiercely that both fell to the ground sorely
wounded ; and all the day they fought till night
fell, and many were slain on both sides, yet in
the end neither gained the victory.

But by now the fame of this fierce war spread
through all Christendom, and when the Pope heard
thereof he sent a Bull, and charged King Arthur to
make peace with Lancelot, and receive back Queen
Guinevere ; and for the offence imputed to her
absolution should be given by the Pope.

Thereto would King Arthur straightway have
obeyed, but Sir Gawain ever urged him to refuse.

When Sir Lancelot heard thereof, he wrote thus
to the king : " It was never in my thought, lord,
to withhold thy queen from thee ; but since she
was condemned for my sake to death, I deemed it
but a just and knightly part to rescue her there-
from ; wherefore I recommend me to your grace,
and within eight days will I come to thee and
bring the queen in safety."

Then, within eight days, as he had said, Sir
Lancelot rode from out the castle with Queen
Guinevere, and a hundred knights for company,
each carrying an olive branch, in sign of peace.

The Enmity of Sir Gawain 331

And so they came to the court, and found King
Arthur sitting on his throne, with Sir Gawain and
many other knights around him. And when Sir
Lancelot entered with the queen, they both
kneeled down before the king.

Anon Sir Lancelot rose and said, " My lord, I
have brought hither my lady the queen again, as
right requireth, and by commandment of the
Pope and you. I pray ye take her to your heart
again and forget the past. For myself I may ask
nothing, and for my sin I shall have sorrow and
sore punishment ; yet I would to heaven I might
have your grace."

But ere the king could answer, for he was
moved with pity at his words, Sir Gawain cried
aloud, " Let the king do as he will, but be sure,
Sir Lancelot, thou and I shall never be accorded
while we live, for thou hast slain my brethren
traitorously and unarmed."

" As heaven is my help," replied Sir Lancelot,
" I did it ignorantly, for I loved them well, and
while I live I shall bewail their death ; but to
make war with me were no avail, for I must needs
fight with thee if thou assailest, and peradventure

I might kill thee also, which I were right loth to do. "

" I will forgive thee never," cried Sir Gawain,
" and if the king accordeth with thee he shall lose
my service."

Then the knights who stood near tried to recon-
cile Sir Gawain to Sir Lancelot, but he would not
hear them. So, at the last, Sir Lancelot said,

II Since peace is vain, I will depart, lest I bring
more evil on my fellowship."

332 The Legends of King Arthur

And as he turned to go, the tears fell from him,
and he said, " Alas, most noble Christian realm,
which I have loved above all others, now shall I
see thee never more ! " Then said he to the queen,
" Madam, now must I leave ye and this noble
fellowship for ever. And, I beseech ye, pray for
me, and if ye ever be defamed of any, let me hear
thereof, and as I have been ever thy true knight
in right and wrong, so will I be again."

With that he kneeled and kissed King Arthur's
hands, and departed on his way. And there was
none in all that court, save Sir Gawain alone, but
wept to see him go.

So he returned with all his knights to the Castle
of La Joyous Garde, and, for his sorrow's sake,
he named it Dolorous Garde thenceforth.

Anon he left the realm, and went with many of
his fellowship beyond the sea to France, and there
divided all his lands among them equally, he
sharing but as the rest.

And from that time forward peace had been
between him and King Arthur, but for Sir Gawain,
who left the king no rest, but constantly per-
suaded him that Lancelot was raising mighty
hosts against him.

So in the end his malice overcame the king, who
left the government in charge of Modred, and
made him guardian of the queen, and went with
a great army to invade Sir Lancelot's lands.

Yet Sir Lancelot would make no war upon the
king, and sent a message to gain peace on any
terms King Arthur chose. But Sir Gawain met
the herald ere he reached the king, and sent him

Sir Lancelot fights Sir Gawain 333

back with taunting and bitter words, Whereat Sir
Lancelot sorrowfully called his knights together
and fortified the Castle of Benwick, and there was
shortly besieged by the army of King Arthur.

And every day Sir Gawain rode up to the walls,
and cried out foully on Sir Lancelot, till, upon a
time, Sir Lancelot answered him that he would
meet him in the field and put his boasting to the
proof. So it was agreed on both sides that there
should none come nigh them or separate them till
one had fallen or yielded ; and they two rode forth.

Then did they wheel their horses apart, and
turning, came together as it had been thunder, so
that both horses fell, and both their lances broke.
At that they drew their swords and set upon each
other fiercely, with passing grievous strokes.

Now Sir Gawain had through magic a marvel-
lous great gift. For every day, from morning till
noon, his strength waxed to the might of seven
men, but after that waned to his natural force.
Therefore till noon he gave Sir Lancelot many
mighty buffets, which scarcely he endured. Yet
greatly he forbore Sir Gawain, for he was aware
of his enchantment, and smote him slightly till
his own knights marvelled. But after noon Sir
Gawain's strength sank fast, and then, with one
full blow, Sir Lancelot laid him on the earth.
Then Sir Gawain cried out, " Turn not away,
thou traitor knight, but slay me if thou wilt, or
else I will arise and fight with thee again some
other time."

" Sir knight," replied Sir Lancelot, " I never
yet smote a fallen man."

334 The Legends of King Arthur

At that they bore Sir Gawain sorely wounded
to his tent, and King Arthur withdrew his men, for
he was loth to shed the blood of so many knights
of his own fellowship.

But now came tidings to King Arthur from
across the sea, which caused him to return in
haste. For thus the news ran, that no sooner was
Sir Modred set up in his regency, than he had
forged false tidings from abroad that the king had
fallen in a battle with Sir Lancelot. Whereat he
had proclaimed himself the king, and had been
crowned at Canterbury, where he had held a coro-
nation feast for fifteen days. Then he had gone
to Winchester, where Queen Guinevere abode,
and had commanded her to be his wife ; whereto,
for fear and sore perplexity, she had feigned con-
sent, but, under pretext of preparing for the
marriage, had fled in haste to London and taken
shelter in the Tower, fortifying it and providing
it with all manner of victuals, and defending it
against Sir Modred, and answering to all his
threats that she would rather slay herself than be
his queen.

Thus was it written to King Arthur. Then, in
passing great wrath and haste, he came with all
his army swiftly back from France and sailed to
England. But when Sir Modred heard thereof,
he left the Tower and marched with all his host
to meet the king at Dover.

Then fled Queen Guinevere to Amesbury to a
nunnery, and there she clothed herself in sack-
cloth, and spent her time in praying for the king
and in good deeds and fasting. And in that

Death of Sir Gawain 335

nunnery evermore she lived, sorely repenting and
mourning for her sin, and for the ruin she had
brought on all the realm. And there anon she
died.

And when Sir Lancelot heard thereof, he put his
knightly armour off, and bade farewell to all his
kin, and went a mighty pilgrimage for many
years, and after lived a hermit till his death.

When Sir Modred came to Dover, he found
King Arthur and his army but just landed ; and
there they fought a fierce and bloody battle, and
many great and noble knights fell on both sides.

But the king's side had the victory, for he was
beyond himself with might and passion, and all
his knights so fiercely followed him, that, in spite
of all their multitude, they drove Sir Modred 's
army back with fearful wounds and slaughter,
and slept that night upon the battle-field.

But Sir Gawain was smitten by an arrow in the
wound Sir Lancelot gave him, and wounded to
the death. Then was he borne to the king's tent,
and King Arthur sorrowed over him as it had
been his own son. " Alas ! " said he ; ' in Sir
Lancelot and in you I had my greatest earthly
joy, and now is all gone from me."

And Sir Gawain answered, with a feeble voice,
" My lord and king, I know well my death is
come, and through my own wilfulness, for I am
smitten in the wound Sir Lancelot gave me. Alas I
that I have been the cause of all this war, for but
for me thou hadst been now at peace with Lance-
lot, and then had Modred never done this treason.
I pray ye, therefore, my dear lord, be now agreed

336 The Legends of King Arthur

with Lancelot, and tell him, that although he
gave me my death wound, it was through my
own seeking ; wherefore I beseech him to come
back to England, and here to visit my tomb, and
pray for my soul."

When he had thus spoken, Sir Gawain gave up
his ghost, and the king grievously mourned for
him.

Then they told him that the enemy had camped
on Barham Downs, whereat, with all his hosts, he
straightway marched there, and fought again a
bloody battle, and overthrew Sir Modred utterly.
Howbeit, he raised yet another army, and re-
treating ever from before the king, increased his
numbers as he went, till at the farthest west
in Lyonesse, he once more made a stand.

Now, on the night of Trinity Sunday, being the
eve of the battle, King Arthur had a vision, and
saw Sir Gawain in a dream, who warned him not
to fight with Modred on the morrow, else he would
be surely slain ; and prayed him to delay till
Lancelot and his knights should come to aid him.

So when King Arthur woke he told his lords and
knights that vision, and all agreed to wait the
coming of Sir Lancelot. Then a herald was sent
with a message of truce to Sir Modred, and a
treaty was made that neither army should assail
the other.

But when the treaty was agreed upon, and the
heralds returned, King Arthur said to his knights,
11 Beware, lest Sir Modred deceive us, for I in no
wise trust him, and if swords be drawn be ready
to encounter ! " And Sir Modred likewise gave

The Battle in Lyonesse 337

an order, that if any man of the king's army drew
his sword, they should begin to fight.

And as it chanced, a knight of the king's side
was bitten by an adder in the foot, and hastily
drew forth his sword to slay it. That saw Sir
Modred, and forthwith commanded all his army
to assail the king's.

So both sides rushed to battle, and fought pass-
ing fiercely. And when the king saw there was
no hope to stay them, he did right mightily and
nobly as a king should do, and ever, like a lion,
raged in the thickest of the press, and slew on the
right hand and on the left, till his horse went fet-
lock deep in blood. So all day long they fought,
and stinted not till many a noble knight was slain.

But the king was passing sorrowful to see his
trusty knights lie dead on every side. And at the
last but two remained beside him, Sir Lucan, and
his brother, Sir Bedivere, and both were sorely
wounded.

" Now am I come to mine end," said King
Arthur ; " but lo ! that traitor Modred liveth
yet, and I may not die till I have slain him. Now,
give me my spear, Sir Lucan."

" Lord, let him be," replied Sir Lucan ; "for
if ye pass through this unhappy day, ye shall be
right well revenged upon him. My good lord,
remember well your dream, and what the spirit
of Sir Gawain did forewarn ye."

" Betide me life, betide me death," said the
king ; " now I see him yonder alone, he shall
never escape my hands, for at a better vantage
shall I never have him."

338 The Legends of King Arthur

" God speed you well," said Sir Bedivere.

Then King Arthur got his spear in both his
hands, and ran towards Sir Modred, crying,
" Traitor, now is thy death-day come ! " And
when Sir Modred heard his words, and saw him
come, he drew his sword and stood to meet him.
Then King Arthur smote Sir Modred through the
body more than a fathom. And when Sir Modred
felt he had his death wound, he thrust himself
with all his might up to the end of King Arthur's
spear, and smote his father, Arthur, with his
sword upon the head, so that it pierced both
helm and brain-pan.

And therewith Sir Modred fell down stark dead
to the earth, and King Arthur fell down also in a
swoon, and swooned many times.

Then Sir Lucan and Sir Bedivere came and
bare him away to a little chapel by the sea-shore.
And there Sir Lucan sank down with the bleeding
of his own wounds, and fell dead.

And King Arthur lay long in a swoon, and when
he came to himself, he found Sir Lucan lying dead
beside him, and Sir Bedivere weeping over the
body of his brother.

Then said the king to Sir Bedivere, " Weeping
will avail no longer, else would I grieve for ever-
more. Alas ! now is the fellowship of the Round
Table dissolved for ever, and all my realm I have
so loved is wasted with war. But my time hieth
fast, wherefore take thou Excalibur, my good
sword, and go therewith to yonder water-side
and throw it in, and bring me word what thing
thou seest."

Sir Bedivere and the Sword Excalibur 339

So Sir Bedivere departed ; but as he went he
looked upon the sword, the hilt whereof was all
inlaid with precious stones exceeding rich. And
presently he said within himself, " If I now throw
this sword into the water, what good should come
of it ? " So he hid the sword among the reeds,
and came again to the king.

" What sawest thou ? " said he to Sir Bedivere.

11 Lord," said he, " I saw nothing else but wind
and waves."

11 Thou hast untruly spoken," said the king ;
" wherefore go lightly back and throw it in, and
spare not."

Then Sir Bedivere returned again, and took the
sword up in his hand ; but when he looked on it,
he thought it sin and shame to throw away a
thing so noble. Wherefore he hid it yet again,
and went back to the king.

11 What saw ye ? " said King Arthur.

" Lord," answered he, " I saw nothing but the
water ebbing and flowing."

" Oh, traitor and untrue ! " cried out the king ;
" twice hast thou now betrayed me. Art thou
called of men a noble knight, and wouldest betray
me for a jewelled sword ? Now, therefore, go
again for the last time, for thy tarrying hath put
me in sore peril of my life, and I fear my wound
hath taken cold ; and if thou do it not this time,
by my faith I will arise and slay thee with my
hands."

Then Sir Bedivere ran quickly and took up the
sword, and went down to the water's edge, and
bound the girdle round the hilt and threw it far

340 The Legends of King Arthur

into the water. And lo ! an arm and hand came
forth above the water, and caught the sword, and
brandished it three times, and vanished.

So Sir Bedivere came again to the king and
told him what he had seen.

" Help me from hence," said King Arthur ;
" for I dread me I have tarried over long."

Then Sir Bedivere took the king up in his arms,
and bore him to the water's edge. And by the
shore they saw a barge with three fair queens
therein, all dressed in black, and when they saw
King Arthur they wept and wailed.

" Now put me in the barge," said he to Sir
Bedivere, and tenderly he did so.

Then the three queens received him, and he laid
his head upon the lap of one of them, who cried,
" Alas I dear brother, why have ye tarried so
long, for your wound hath taken cold ? "

With that the barge put from the land, and
when Sir Bedivere saw it departing, he cried with
a bitter cry, " Alas ! my lord King Arthur, what
shall become of me now ye have gone from me ? "

" Comfort ye," said King Arthur, " and be
strong, for I may no more help ye. I go to the
Vale of Avilion to heal me of my grievous wound,
and if ye see me no more, pray for my soul."

Then the three queens kneeled down around
the king and sorely wept and wailed, and the
barge went forth to sea, and departed slowly out
of Sir Bedivere 's sight.

THE END

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398. 2X Knowles, J.
K']3 The legends of King Arthur

and his knights.

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