Skip to main content

Full text of "Le morte d'Arthur"

See other formats 


NY  PUBLIC  LIBRARY         THE  BRANCH  LIBRARIES 


3  3333  18427  9251 


H 
M 


?-5 


Ill 


o 
o 


-I 

z 

ARROL 

LECTIO 

U 

LU 

Z 

O 

U 

z 

UUI 

I 

H 


•S 


Everyman,  I  will  go  with  thee,  and  be  thy  guide, 
In  thy  most  need  to  go  by  thy  side. 


This  is  No.  4^  of  Everyman's  Library.  A 
list  of  authors  and  their  works  in  this  series 
will  be  found  at  the  end  of  this  volume.  The 
publishers  will  be  pleased  to  send  freely  to  all 
applicants  a  separate,  annotated  list  of  the 

Library. 

J.  M.  DENT  &  SONS  LIMITED 

10-13    BEDFORD    STREET    LONDON    W.C.2 

E.  P.  DUTTON  &  CO.  INC. 

286-302    FOURTH    AVENUE 
NEW    YORK 


EVERYMAN'S    LIBRARY 
EDITED    BY    ERNEST    RHYS 


ROMANCE 


LE  MORTE  D'ARTHUR 
BY  SIR  THOMAS  MALORY  •  INTRO- 
DUCTION   BY    PROFESSOR    RHYS 
IN  2  VOLS.  VOL,  i 


All  rights  reserved 

Made  in  Great  Britain 

at  The  Temple  Tress  Letchworth 

and  decorated  by  Eric  Ravilious 


J.  M.  Dent  &.  Sons  Ltd. 

Aldine  House  Bedford  St.  London 

First  Published  in  this  Edition  1906 

Reprinted  1906,  1908,  1910,  1912,  1916, 

1919 
1923,  1926,  1928,  1930,  1935 


PREFACE 

SIR  THOMAS  MALORY  has  given  us  no  account  of  himself  or 
his  family,  but  he  has  left  his  name  and  his  work.  The  name 
Malory  is  found  connected  with  estates  in  Yorkshire  in  the 
sixteenth  century,  and  with  estates  in  Leicestershire  in  that 
which  follows.  As  the  name  of  the  knight  to  whom  we  owe 
the  Morte  Darthur,  it  is  found  written  not  only  Malory  or 
Malorye,  but  also  Maleore.  It  occurred  to  me  some  years  ago 
that  this  fact  lent  countenance  to  the  statement  ascribed  to 
Leland  and  others,  that  Sir  Thomas  Malory  was  a  Welshman  ; 
for  Maleore  reminded  me  of  Maylawr,  Maelawr  or  Maelor, 
the  name  of  two  districts  on  the  confines  of  England  and 
Wales  :  a  *  Welsh  Maelor '  is  included  in  the  County  of 
Denbigh,  and  an  'English  Maelor'  in  that  of  Flint.  How  such 
a  name  could  readily  become  a  surname  may  be  seen  from  the 
designation,  for  instance,  of  a  lord  of  the  two  Maelors  in  the 
twelfth  century,  named  Gruffud  Maelawr.  Literally  rendered, 
this  would  mean  '  Griffith  of  Maelor.'  Similarly,  the  name  of 
a  Welsh  poet  of  the  fifteenth  century,  Edward  ab  Rhys  Maelor, 
might  now  be  rendered  *  Edward  Price  of  Maelor.' 

Since  then  Dr.  Sommer,  in  a  Supplement  to  the  second 
volume  of  his  great  edition  of  the  Morte  Darthur,  has  called 
attention  to  the  following  passage  in  Bale's  Illustrium  Maioris 
Britannia  Scriptorum,  fol.  208  verso  : — 

"Thomas  Mailorius,  Britannus  natione,  heroic!  spiritus  homo,  ab 
ipsa  adolescentia  uariis  animi  corporisque  dotibus  insigniter  emicuit. 
Est  Mailoria  (inquit  in  Antiquarum  Dictionum  Syllabo  Joannes  Le- 
landus)  in  finibus  Cambria  regio,  Deuse  flumini  uicina.  Quam  et 
alibi  a  fertilitate  atque  armorum  fabrefactura  commendat.  Inter  multi- 
plices  reipublicae  curas,  non  intermisit  hie  literarum  studia,  sed  succisiuis 
horis  uniuersas  disparsse  uetustatis  reliquias,  sedulus  perquisiuit.  Vnde 
in  historiarum  lectione  diu  uersatus,  ex  uariis  autoribus  undique  selegit, 
de  fortitudine  ac  uictoriis  inclytissimi  Brytannorum  regis  Arthurii." 

The  first  edition  of  Bale's  work  was  published  at  Ipswich  in 
1548,  while  Malory  s  Morte  Darthur  was  only  completed  by  him 
in  1469.  These  dates  are  not  so  far  apart  that  we  must  suppose 
either  Bale  or  Leland  unable  to  obtain  reliable  information 
concerning  Malory's  history  and  origin.  Bale's  statement  that 
Malory  was  Britannus  natione,  that  is  to  say,  Welsh,  brings 

•  • 

VU 


viii  Preface 

with  it  the  solution  of  what  was  my  difficulty, — to  wit,  the 
relation  between  the  name  Malory  and  the  dissyllabic  form 
Maleore  j  for  one  can  hardly  help  seeing  that  while  the  latter 
postulates  the  Welsh  place-name  Maelor,  the  former  more 
naturally  connects  itself  with  the  derived  Latin  Mailorius. 

Thus  far  of  Malory's  name  :  we  now  come  to  his  work, 
which,  as  already  mentioned,  was  finished  in  1469.  It  was, 
however,  not  printed  till  1485,  when  its  publication  was  under- 
taken by  Caxton.  Then  followed  two  editions  by  Wynkyn  de 
Worde  in  1498  and  1529,  and  before  the  middle  of  the  seven- 
teenth century  four  more  editions  appeared  :  all  these  seven 
were  in  black  letter.  The  eighteenth  century  appears  to  have 
been  content  with  what  the  three  previous  ones  had  done  for 
the  text  of  Malory ;  but  the  nineteenth  century  has  already 
seen  it  edited  no  less  than  six  times,  notably  by  Southey, 
Wright,  Sir  E.  Strachey,  and  H.  Oskar  Sommer.  Dr.  Sommer's 
edition  is  comprised  in  three  stately  volumes,  published  in 
London  by  David  Nutt :  the  first  volume,  consisting  of  the 
Text,  appeared  in  1889;  then  followed  a  volume  of  Introduction 
in  1890,  and  one  of  Studies  on  the  Sources  in  1891.  This 
edition  marks  an  era  in  the  history  of  the  Morte  Darthur, 
seeing  that  special  pains  have  been  taken  to  make  it  reproduce 
the  Caxton  original,  which  is  not  known  to  exist  in  more  than 
two  copies,  one  of  which  is  not  quite  perfect.  This  latter  copy 
belongs  to  the  Althorp  Library,  while  the  other,  the  perfect 
copy,  once  belonged  to  the  Harleian  Library.  As  regards  its 
later  history,  we  are  told  that  it  was  purchased  by  the  Earl  of 
Jersey  for  his  library  at  Osterley  Park,  and  that  in  1885  it 
became  the  property  of  a  citizen  of  the  United  States,  Mrs. 
Abby  E.  Pope  of  Brooklyn.1  Lastly,  I  must  add  that  no  trace 
of  Malory's  own  manuscript  has  ever  been  found. 

The  question  of  the  sources  of  Malory's  work  is  no  new  one, 
and  it  had  been  to  some  extent  discussed  by  M.  Gaston  Paris 
and  M.  J.  Ulrich,  in  the  introduction  to  their  Merlin,  edited 
from  a  manuscript  belonging  to  Mr.  Alfred  Huth,  London,  and 
published  in  Paris  in  1888  by  the  Societi  des  anciens  Textes 
franqaisj  but  the  exhaustive  treatment  of  the  subject  was 
reserved  for  Dr.  Sommer,  who  has  devoted  to  it  his  third 
volume.  The  space  at  my  disposal  will  only  allow  of  my 
mentioning  his  conclusions  in  the  briefest  manner  possible. 
Most  of  Malory's  originals  prove  to  have  been  romances  written 

1  See  Sommer's  Malory,  ii.  1-3. 


Preface  ix 

in  French,  which   he,  as  a  rule,  reduced  greatly  in  length   in 
the  process  of  giving  the  work  an  English  garb.     His  sources, 
however,  were  not  exclusively  French  ;   thus,  for  instance,  he 
used  for  his  fifth  book  of  the  Morte  Darthur,  a  poem  composed 
by  the  Scotch  poet  Huchown,  which  is  extant  in  a  manuscript 
of  Thornton's  in  the  library  of  Lincoln  Cathedral.     Here  and 
there  Malory  alters  the  sequence  of  the  incidents  given  in  his 
originals,  and  in  some  cases  he  interpolates  facts  not  contained 
in  them,  while  in  other  instances  he  omits  certain  incidents 
which  he  did  not  find  to  his  purpose  ;  but  he  is  rarely  found  to 
have  inserted  entire  chapters  of  his  own.     Taking  the  work  as 
a  whole,  Dr.  Sommer  has  succeeded  in  assigning  with  more  or 
less   precision   the    originals  forming   the   groundwork   of  the 
whole,  with  one  remarkable  exception  :    I  allude  to  Malory's 
seventh  book,  which  relates  the  adventures  of  Sir  Gareth,  the 
story  of  his  first  coming  to  Arthur's  court,  of  his  being  fed  for 
a  year  in  the  kitchen,  and  of  his  receiving  the  nickname  of 
Beaumayns  at  the  hands  of  Syr  Kay.     Dr.  Sommer  admits  that 
he  has  failed  to  trace  any  part  of  the  contents  of  this  book  in 
any  of  the  numerous  manuscripts  studied  by  him.     He  is  in- 
clined to  regard  it  as  a  folk-tale  which  had  no  connection  with 
the  Arthurian  cycle,  until  Malory,  or  some  unknown  writer  before 
him,  adapted  it  from  a  French  poem  now  lost,  as  he  conjectures. 
After  this  brief  reference  to  the  works  used  by  Malory,  we 
come  to  a  much  larger  and  harder  question  of  source,  namely, 
the  origin  of  the  whole  cycle  of  Arthurian  stories  and  romances. 
For  the  most  fruitful  speculations  on  this  subject  in  our  day, 
one   has  to  thank    Dr.    Zimmer,  professor  of  Sanskrit  in   the 
University  of  Greifswald.1     He  believes  the  romances   to   be 
based    on   stories   of    Breton   rather    than   of    Welsh    origin. 
Briefly  described,  his   theory2  sets  out  with  the  facts  of  the 
permanent   conquest   of  a   considerable   tract   of  the   east   of 
Brittany  by  the  Normans  in  the  first  half  of  the  tenth  century, 
and  the  intimate  relationship  which  eventually  grew  up  between 
the   great  families  of  Brittany  and    Normandy.     Now,   if  we 
suppose  the  Bretons  in  their  migration  from  Great  Britain  to 
their  new  country,  called  after  them  the  Lesser  Britain,  to  have 

1  Now  professor  of  Celtic  at  Berlin. 

2  See  Zimmer's  review  of  the  thirtieth  volume  of  the  Hittoire  littt- 
raire  de  la  France  in  the  Gottingische  gelehrte  Anzeigen  for  October  I, 
1890,  pp.  802-4.     But  M.  Loth  in  the  Revue  Celtique,  xiii.  480-503, 
has  justly  charged  Zimmer  wkh  underrating  the  Welsh  element. 


x  Preface 

carried   with   them   the   stories   current   about   Arthur   in   the 
southern  districts  of  this  country,  it  may  be  further  supposed 
that,  ages  later,  those  of  their  descendants  who  submitted  to 
the   Normans   in   the  eastern  portion  of  Brittany  must  have 
translated  their  popular  stories  about  Arthur  into  their  adopted 
Norman  French.     Thus  a  channel  would  be  opened  for  Breton 
stories  to  reach  the  ears  of  Normans  and  Frenchmen.     It  is 
natural,  further,  to  infer   that,  in   the  transition  from  the  one 
language  to  the  other,  the  Celtic  names  of  most  importance  in 
the  stories  would  inevitably  undergo  a  considerable  modification 
of  form.     This  would  seem  to  be  countenanced  by  the  circum- 
stance, that  certain  of  these  names  in  the  romances  cannot  be 
identified   with   the  Welsh   ones   by  merely  allowing  for  the 
errors  in  copying  and  reading  incident  to  the  manuscripts  of 
the  time   in   question.     Such   is   the   fact,   for   example,   with 
Galvain,   Perceval,   Calibor?   as   compared    with    the    Welsh 
Gwalchmei,  Peredur,  and  Caletvwlch.    For  my  own  part,  I  have 
found  this  to  be  much  less  marked  in  the  case,  for  example, 
of  the  Grail  legend,  the  proper  names  in  which  lend  themselves. 
on  the  whole,  more  readily  to  identification  with  their  original, 
in  Welsh.     In  other  words,  Professor  Zimmer's  views  led  me 
to    draw  the   following  two-fold    conclusion  : — (i)   The   older 
romances  relating  chiefly  to  Arthur  and  his  Men  are  of  Breton 
rather  than  of  Welsh  origin,  while  (2)  the  reverse  is  the  case 
with  the  Grail  romances.    The  Welsh  origin  of  the  Grail  legend 
has  been  discussed  by  me  elsewhere,2  so  that  I  think  it  needless 
to  endeavour  to  prove  it  here.     But  as  to  the  alleged  Breton 
origin  of  the  romances  about  Arthur,  it  is  to  be  observed  that 
if  the  picture  presented  in  them  of  Arthur  and  his  Men  be 
mainly   Breton,  one  may  expect  to  find   those  warriors  repre- 
sented differently  in  Welsh   literature,  especially  such  Welsh 
literature  as  one  finds  to  be  fairly  free  from  the  influence  of  the 
romances  when  they  reached  the  Welsh.   So  one  could,  perhaps, 
not  do  better  than  devote  the  rest  of  this  introduction  to  a 
review  of  the  more  important  passages  concerning   Arthur  in 
manuscripts  which  have  come  down  to  us  from  Welsh  sources. 
I  have,  however,  to  confess  at  the  outset  that  those  of  them 
which  happen  to  be  in  Welsh,  as  most  of  them  are,  prove  to  be 
couched  in  very  obscure  language,  so  that  my  rendering  must 
be  regarded  as  only  tentative. 

1  See  Zimmer's  review,  ibid.  p.  830. 

2  See  my  Arthurian  Legend,  pp.  300-27. 


Preface 


XI 


The  first  passage  to  demand  attention  is  written  in  Latin, 
for  it  occurs  in  the  Historia  Brittonum  with  which  the  name 
of  Nennius  is  associated.  The  year  of  the  composition  of  the 
Historia  Brittonum  was,  according  to  M.  A.  de  la  Borderie,  no 
other  than  A.D.  822,1  and  the  words  relating  to  Arthur  read  as 
follows  2 : — 

In  illo  tempore  Saxones  invalescebant  in  multitudine,  et  crescebant 
in  Britannia.  Mortuo  autem  Hengisto,  Octha  ejusfilius  transivit  de 
sinistrali  parte  Brittannia  ad  regnum  Cantiorum,  et  de  ipso  orti  sunt 
rcges  Cantiorum.  Tune  Arthur pugnabat  contra  illos  in  tilts  diebus  cum 
regibus  Brittonum,  sed  ipse  dux  erat  bellorum.  Primum  bellumfuit  in 
ostium  fluminis  quod  dicitur  Glein  ;  secundum,  et  tertium,  et  quartum, 
et  quintum,  super  aliudflumen,  quod  dicitur  Dubglas,  et  est  in  regione 
Linnuis.  Sexturn  bellum  super flumen  quod  vocatur  Bassas.  Septi- 
nutm  fuit  bellum  in  Silva  Celidonis,  id  est  ^  Cat  Coit  Celidon.  Octavum 
f uit  bellum  in  castello  Guinnion,  in  quo  Arthur  port avit  imaginem  Sanctce 
MaricE  perpetua  virginis  super  humeros  suos,  et  pagani  versi  sunt  in 
fugam  in  illo  die,  et  cades  rnagnafuit  super  illos  per  virtutem  Domini 
nostri  Jesu  Christi,  et  per  virtutem  Sanctce  Maria  virginis  genetricis 
ejus.  Nonum  bellum  gestum  est  in  Urbc  Legionis.  Decimum  gessit 
bellum  in  littore  fluminis,  quod  vocatur  Tribruit.  Undecimum  factum 
est  bellum  in  montc,  qui  dicitur  Agned.  Duodecimu?n  fuit  bellum  in 
monte  Badonis,  in  quo  corrucrunt  in  uno  die  nongenti  sexaginta  viri 
de  uno  impetu  Arthur ;  et  nemo  prostravit  eos  nisi  ipse  sohis,  et  in 
omnibus  bellis  victor  exstitit.  Et  ipsit  dum  in  omnibus  bellis  proster- 
nebantur^  auxilium  a  Germania  petebant,  et  augebantur  multipliciter 
sine  intermissione,  et  reges  a  Germania  deducebant,  ut  regnarent  super 
illos  in  Brittannia,  usque  ad  tempus  quo  Ida  regnavit,  qui  fuit  Eobba 
filius,  ipse  fuit  primus  rex  in  Beornicia^  id  est,  im  Berneich. 

As  regards  a  historical  Arthur,  the  words  here  cited  are  very 
suggestive,  for  without  explicitly  saying  that  Arthur  was  one 
of  the  kings  of  the  Brythons,  they  make  him  the  general  or 
dux  bellorum,  in  whom  one  readily  recognises  the  superior 
officer,  known  in  the  time  of  Roman  rule  as  the  Comes 
Britannia.  This  office,  it  may  be  presumed,  was  continued 
after  the  Roman  forces  left,  with  the  only  difference  that  the 

1  See  t  Historia  Britonum  attribute  a   Nennius  et  F  Historia   Bri- 
tannica  avant  Geoffro  de  Monmouth,  par  Arthur  de  la  Borderie  (Paris 
and    London,    1883),  p.   20.     Since    the  above  was  written   Zimmer's 
work  entitled  Nennius  Vindicatus  (Berlin,  1893)  has  reached  me,  and 
in  it  he  gives  it  as  his  conclusion,  p.  82,  that  the  Historia  Brittonum 
was  put  together  as  early  as  the  year  796. 

2  Nennii  Historia  Britonum  ad  fidem  codicum  manuscriptorum  re- 
censtiit  Josephus  Stevenson  (London,  1838),  pp.  47-9. 


xii  Preface 

man  filling  it  would  be  himself  supreme,  having  no  longer  any 
lord,  such  as  the  Roman  emperor,  over  him.  This  position 
seems  to  have  been  Arthur's,  and  one  has  accordingly  no 
difficulty  in  understanding  how  he  came  to  fight  battles  at 
places  so  far  apart  from  one  another.  For,  though  the  majority 
of  the  twelve  battles  were  fought  in  what  we  now  call  the  North 
of  England  or  the  South  of  Scotland,  some  of  them  undoubtedly 
took  place  in  the  south  of  the  Island,  such  as  the  battle  of  Urbs 
Legionis,  which  must  have  been  either  Chester  on  the  Dee  or 
Caerleon  on  the  Usk  ;  and  still  farther  south  must  have  been 
that  of  Mons  B adonis.  In  a  word,  Arthur  moved  about  in 
Britain  just  as  Agricola  or  Severus  would  have  done,  and  with- 
out necessarily  being  one  of  the  kings  of  the  Brythons,  he 
would  seem  to  have  been  over  and  above  them.  This  must 
have  been  a  position  which  would  in  time  cause  all  kinds  of 
heroic  legends  to  be  associated  with  the  name  of  the  man 
filling  it.  Add  to  this  the  numerous  opportunities  for  the 
display  of  valour  on  behalf  of  a  bleeding  country  provided  by 
the  invasions  of  Germanic  tribes  from  the  Continent,  and  by 
the  incursions  of  Picts  and  Scots  from  the  outlying  portions  of 
the  British  Isles,  and  we  have  the  full  explanation  of  no  in- 
considerable part  of  the  wondrous  fame  of  Arthur  and  his  Men 
in  subsequent  ages. 

The  next  references  to  Arthur,  which  deserve  to  be  mentioned, 
occur  in  the  Annales  Cambria,  the  oldest  existing  manuscript  of 
which  was  completed  in  954  or  955. *  The  first  entry  occurs 
under  the  year  516,  and  reads  as  follows  : — 

Bellum  Badonis  in  quo  Arthur  portauit  criicem  domini  nostri  Ihesu 
Christi  tribus  diebus  et  tribus  noctibus  in  humeros  suos  et  Brittones 
uictores  fuerunt. 

The  next  entry  in  point  comes  under  the  year  537,  and  runs 
thus2— 

Gueith  cam  lann  [i.e.,  the  Battle  of  Camlati\  in  qua  Arthur  et  Me- 
draut  corruerunt.  et  mortalitas  in  Brittannia  et  in  Hibernia  fuit. 

The  Bellum  Badonis  of  the  Annales  Cambrics  is  the  same 
battle  undoubtedly  33  Nennius'  bellum  in  Monte  Bado?iis.  But 
the  statement  as  to  Arthur  carrying  the  cross  of  Christ  on  his 
shoulders  has  been  surmised  to  be  a  mistranslation  of  Welsh 
words  representing  him  carrying  a  figure  of  the  cross  in  his 
shield  ;  since  the  Welsh  for  shoulder  would  have  been  written 

1  See  Phillimore's  edition  in  the  Cymmrodor^  vol.  ix.  p.  144. 

2  Ibid.  p.  154. 


Preface  xiii 

iscuit  or  iscttid  which  would  also  be  spellings  of  the  word  for  a 
shield.1  This  seems  to  shew  that  there  was  a  Welsh  tradition 
as  to  Arthur's  personal  appearance  at  one  of  his  great  battles. 
The  other  entry  is  remarkable  as  representing  the  death  of 
Arthur  and  Medraut  or  Medrod  (the  Modred  and  Mordred  of 
the  romances)  as  an  ordinary  event  of  war. 

The  next  two  passages  to  be  cited  occur  in  the  Mirabilia 
usually  associated  with  the  Historia  Brittonum;  and  most  of 
them  are  probably  to  be  referred  to  the  same  date  as  the 
Historia  itself.a  The  words  in  point  read  as  follows  : — 

Est  alind  miracTilum  in  regione  qtuz  dicitur  Buelt.  Est  ibi  cumulus 
lapidum,  et  unus  lapis  superpositus  super  congestum,  cum  vestigio  cants 
in  eo.  Qziando  venatus  esl  porcum  Troit*  impressit  Cabal,  qui  erat 
cam's  Arthuri  militis,  vestigium  in  lapide,  et  Arthur postea  congregavii 
congestum  lapidum  sub  lapide  in  quo  erat  vestigium  cants  sui,  et  vocatur 
Cam  Cabal.  Et  veniunt  homines  et  tollunt  lapidem  in  manibus  suis 
per  spacium  diei  et  noctis,  et  in  crastino  die  invenitur  super  congestum 
siium. 

Est  aliud  miraculum.  in  regione  qua  vocatur  Ercing.  Habefztr  ibi 
sepulchrum  juxtajontem  qui  cogiiominatur  Licat  Amir,  et  viri  nomen, 
qui  ispultus  est  in  tuimilo,  sic  vocabatur.  Amir*  filius  Arthuri  militi^ 
erat,  et  ipse  occidit  eum  ibidem,  et  sepelivit.  Et  veniunt  homines  ad 
mensurandtim  ttimulutn  ;  in  longitudine  aliquando  sex  pedes,  aliquando 
novem,  aliquando  quindecim.  In  qiia  mensura  metieris  eum  in  isla 
vice,  itertim  non  invenies  eum  in  una  mensura  ;  et  ego  solus  probavi. 

The  Porcus  Troit  occupies  a  great  place,  as  Twrch  Trwyth^ 
in  the  story  of  Kulhwch  and  Olwen,  where  Cabal &  also  occurs 
in  its  ordinary  Welsh  form  of  Cavall j  but  the  lesson  these  two 

1  In  later  Welsh  the  words  are ysgivydd,  "a  shoulder,"  and ysgwyd, 
"a  shield." 

This  is  Zimmer's  view  in  his  Nennius  Vindicatus,  p.  115. 

3  Stevenson  seems  to  have  found  two  readings  of  this  word,  namely, 
Troit  and    Troynt,  and  he  selected  for  his  text  the  latter,  which  is 
gibberish  :  see  his  Nennius,  p.  60.     In  Welsh  literature  the  word  has 
the  two  forms  Trwyd  and  Trwyth. 

4  The  same  manuscript  E,  which  reads  Troit,  and  is  supposed  by 
Stevenson  to  have  been  written  about  the  beginning  of  the  thirteenth 
century,  reads  here  amirmur ;  but,  as  was  to  be  expected,  he  inserted 
in  his  text  a  vox  nihili,  namely  Anir :  Amirmur  =  Amir  mur  "the 
Great  Amir,"  and  in  the  Liber  Landavensis,  Amir  is  written  Amyr ; 
but  a  man's  name  Amhyr  occurs  also  in  that  manuscript,  while  the 
name  of  Arthur's  son   in  question  is  given  as  Amhar  in  the  Welsh 
romance  of  Gereint  and  Enid:  I  do  not  recollect  meeting  with  it  elsewhere. 

5  It  is  to  be  noticed  that  Cabal  with  its  b  and  single  /  belongs  to  the 
same  school  of  orthography  as  the  ninth  century  triplets  beginning  with 
Noigrucosam :  see  Skene's  Four  anc.  Books  of  Wales^  ii,  2. 


xiv  Preface 

passages  in  common  teach  us  is,  that  at  a  comparatively  early 
date  Arthurian  names  had  begun  to  figure  in  the  topography  of 
Wales. 

Attention  is  next  claimed  by  some  of  the  references  to  Arthur 
in  Welsh  literature,  and  here  the  Black  Book  of  Carmarthen 
is  entitled  to  the  first  place.  The  manuscript  may  be  supposed 
to  have  been  written  in  the  reigns  of  Stephen,  Henry  II.,  and 
Richard.1  One  of  the  allusions  to  Arthur  in  this  manuscript 
consists  of  a  triplet  occurring  in  the  Stanzas  of  the  Graves, 
apprising  the  reader  of  the  futility  of  looking  for  Arthur's  grave, 
as  follows  2  : — 

Bet   y  march,  bet  y  guythur. 

bet  y  gugaun  cletyfrut. 

anoeth  bid  bet  y  arthur. 

A  grave  for  March,  a  grave  for  Gwythur, 
A  grave  for  Gwgawn  of  the  ruddy  Sword, 
Not  wise  (the  thought)  a  grave  for  Arthur.3 

It  might  be  objected  that  these  lines  are  of  no  value  here,  as 
the  idea  suggested  by  them  might  have  been  derived  from  the 
romances  which  represent  Arthur  departing  to  the  Isle  of 
Avallon  to  be  healed  of  his  wounds,  and  not  dying  at  all.  But 
it  may  as  reasonably  be  regarded  as  an  expression  of  the  native 
belief  fixed  in  various  localities,  that  Arthur  and  his  knights 
were  slumbering  in  a  cave  awaiting  the  destined  hour  of  their 
return.  This  prevailed  among  Arthur's  countrymen  from  Cad- 
bury  to  the  Eildon  Hills,  and  has  never  been  more  charmingly 
sung  than  by  the  poet  Leyden,  when  he  speaks  of  the  enchanted 
sleep  to  be  broken  at  length  by  somebody 

"  That  bids  the  charmed  sleep  of  ages  fly, 
Rolls  the  long  sound  through  Eildon's  caverns  vast, 
While  each  dark  warrior  rouses  at  the  blast, 
His  horn,  his  falchion,  grasps  with  mighty  hand, 
And  peals  proud  Arthur's  march  from  Fairyland." 

The  time  likewise  is  not  long  past  when  the  shepherds  of  North 
Wales  used  to  entertain  one  another  with  stories  describing  one 

1  See  Mr.  J.  G.   Evans'  preface  (p.  xvi.)  to  his  Autotype  Facsimile 
of  the  Black  Book,  Oxford,  1888. 

2  Ibid.  fol.  34°. 

3  I  believe  that  such  is  the  sense  of  the  third  line  of  the  triplet,  but 
I  cannot  attain  to  any  certainty  approaching  the  assurance  with  which 
Prof.  Zimmer  categorically  declares  that,  "  sie  sagt  bloss  aus,  dass  man 
Arthur's  Grab  nichtkenne": — see  the  Zeitschrift  fur  franzosische  Spracht 
und  Litleratur,  xij.  238. 


Preface 


xv 


of  their  number  finding  his  way  to  the  presence  of  Arthur  and 
his  Men,  all  asleep  in  a  Snowdonian  cave  resplendent  with 
untold  wealth  of  gold  and  other  treasure  :  the  armed  sleepers 
were  believed  to  be  merely  awaiting  the  signal  for  their  return 
to  take  an  active  part  in  the  affairs  of  this  world.  In  South 
Wales  an  elaborate  but  popular  story  lodges  Arthur  and  his 
Knights  in  a  cave  at  Craig  y  Ddinas,  in  Glamorgan,1  while  the 
peasanty  of  South  Cardiganshire,  relating  the  same  story,  locate 
it  elsewhere,  and  call  the  sleeping  hero  not  Arthur  but  Owen,2 
a  name  the  memory  of  which  used  to  be  kept  fresh  by  ballad 
singers,  who  made  country  fairs  ring  with  such  strains  as  the 
following  : — 

Yr  Owen  hwn  yw  Harri  'r  Nawfed^ 

Sydd  yn  trigo  ngwlad  estronied. 

This  Owen  is  Henry  the  Ninth, 
Who  lives  in  the  land  of  strangers. 

The  Owen  of  the  Cardiganshire  legend  is  known  as  Owen 
Lawgoch  or  Owen  of  the  Red  Hand,  and  he  is  represented  as 
a  man  of  seven  feet  in  stature  with  a  right  hand  which  was  all 
red.  The  whole  story  reminds  one  of  him  of  the  red  beard, 
Frederic  Barbarossa.  I  mention  this  lest  anyone  should  sup- 
pose such  stories  had  anything  originally  to  do  with  the 
historical  Arthur.  Some  light  is  shed  on  their  genesis  by  a 
passage  in  the  writings  of  an  ancient  author  who  lived  in  the 
first  century  of  our  era,  namely  Plutarch.  In  his  work  De 
Defectu  Oraculorum,  xviij.,  he  uses  words  to  the  following 
effect3 — the  Italics  are  mine: — 

"Demetrius  further  said,  that  of  the  islands  around  Britain  many  lie 
scattered  about  uninhabited,  of  which  some  are  named  after  deities  and 
heroes.  He  told  us  also,  that,  being  sent  by  the  emperor  with  the 
object  of  reconnoitring  and  inspecting,  he  went  to  the  island  which* 
lay  nearest  to  those  uninhabited,  and  found  it  occupied  by  few  inhabi- 
tants, who  were,  however,  sacrosanct  and  inviolable  in  the  eyes  of  the 
Britons.  Soon  after  his  arrival  a  great  disturbance  of  the  atmosphere 
took  place,  accompanied  by  many  portents,  by  the  winds  bursting  forth 
into  hurricanes,  and  by  fiery  bolts  falling.  When  it  was  over,  the. 

1  The  story  is  given  in  the  Brython  for  1858,  p.  162. 

2  Ibid.  p.  179.     The  editor,  who  was,  I  believe,  no  other  than  the 
Rev.  Canon  Silvan  Evans,  adds  in  a  note  that  this  sort  of  story  might 
be  found  current  also  in  Cumberland. 

3  For  the  original  see  the  Didot  edition  of  Plutarch,  vol.  iii.  p.  511 
{De  Defectu  Oraculorum,  xviij.)  ;  it  is  also  to  be  found  printed  in  my 
Arthurian  legend ',  p.  367. 


xvi  Preface 

islanders  said  that  some  of  the  mighty  had  passed  away.  For  as  a 
lamp  on  being  lit,  they  said,  brings  with  it  no  danger,  while  on  being 
extinguished  it  is  grievous  to  many,  just  so  with  regard  to  great  souls, 
their  beginning  to  shine  forth  is  pleasant  and  the  reverse  of  grievous, 
whereas  the  extinction  and  destruction  of  them  frequently  disturb  the 
winds  and  the  surge  as  at  present ;  oftentimes  also  do  they  infect  the 
atmosphere  with  pestilential  diseases.  Moreover,  there  is  there,  they 
said,  an  island  in  which  Cronus  is  imprisoned,  with  Briareus  keeping 
guard  over  him  as  he  sleeps  ;  for,  as  they  put  it,  sleep  is  the  bond 
forged  for  Cronus.  They  add  that  around  him  are  many  deities^  his 
henchmen  and  attendants" 

To  return  to  the  Black  Book,  I  may  mention  that  another  of 
the  Stanzas  of  the  Graves  is  worth  citing  here,  though  it  does 
not  name  Arthur.  It  alludes,  however,  to  Camlan,  the  Camelot 
of  Malory  and  the  romances,  and  that  in  the  same  strain  of 
apparently  historical  definiteness  as  the  entry  in  the  Annales 
Cambrics  cited  as  mentioning  Camlan.  The  lines  in  question 
run  thus x — 

Bet  mab  csvran  yg  camlan. 

gvydi  llauer  kywlavan. 

Bet  bedwir  in  alld  tryvan. 

Osvran's  son's  grave  (is)  at  Camlan, 

After  many  a  slaughter, 

Bedwyr's  grave  (is)  in  Allt  Tryvan.2 

We  next  come  to  a  poem  headed  Gereint  Jilius  Erbin,  which 
describes  a  battle  at  a  place  called  Llongborth.  Gereint  is  the 
poet's  hero,  but  he  introduces  Arthur  as  Gereint's  superior  and 
lord,  as  follows  3  :— 

En  llogporth  y  gtteleise.  y  arthur 

guir  deur  kymynint  a  d^lr. 

ameraudur*  llywiaudir  ilawur. 

At  Llongborth  saw  I  of  Arthur's 

Brave  men  hewing  Avith  steel, 

(Men  of  the)  emperor,4  director  of  toil. 

1  Evans'  Facsimile,  fol.  32*. 

2  There  are  several  mountain  tops  in  the   Snowdon   district  called 
y    Tryfan,    "the    Tryvan,"    and    Moel   Tryfan,    "the    round-topped 
hill   of  Tryvan."     Lady   Charlotte   Guest    (Mabinogion,    ii.  167)   has 
been  misled  by  somebody  to  indulge  in  the  impossible  spelling  Trivaen. 

3  Evans"  Facsimile,  fol.  36*. 

4  I  am  not  certain  what  documents  exactly  Prof.  Zimmer  had  in  view 
when  he  wrote  as  to  Arthur,  "  Nirgends  fuhrt  er  den  Titel  amherawdyr"  ; 
or  whether  he  would  regard  ameraudur  here  as  a  title  or  not :  see  the 
Gott.  gel.  Anz.  for  1890,  p.  524. 


Preface 


xvi  i 


En  llogporth  y  lias  y  gereint. 
euir  deur  o  odir  diwneint. 
a  chin  rillethid  ve.  llatysseint. 

At  Llongborth  there  fell  of  Gereint's 
Brave  men  from  the  border  of  Devon, 
And  ere  they  were  slain  they  slew. 

In  these  triplets  the  position  of  Arthur  seems  to  be  very 
clearly  indicated  :  the  men  fighting  on  his  side  are   Gereint's 
men  from  Devon.     That  is  to  say,  Arthur  is  Gereint's  superior  : 
he  fills  in  fact  the  role  assigned  him  in  the  Historia  Brittonum 
when  he  is  there  termed  a  Dux  Bellorum.     This  raises  the 
question  of  Arthur's  title  ;  for  passing  on  from  the  description 
of  him  as  a  Dux  Bellorum,  we  have  him  twice  in  the  Mirabilia 
called    Arthur   Miles.     Further  the    Vita    Gildce,   sometimes 
ascribed  to  the  twelfth  century  author,  Caradoc  of  Llancarvan, 
in   giving   the    story   of  the    carrying    away   of    Guenever  by 
Mehvas,1  speaks  of  the   latter  as  rex,  or  king,  reigning  over 
the   sEstiva    Regio   or    Somerset,    while    it    styles    Arthur    a 
tyrannies.     To  this  must  be  added  the  fact  that  in  the  story 
of  Kulhwch  and  Ohven  the  hero  salutes  Arthur  as  Penteyrned 
yr  Ynys  honn,  or  "the  Head  of  the  Princes  of  this  Island,"  and 
one  should  notice  that,  in  common  with  all  these,  the  passage 
last  cited  from  the  Black   Book  avoids  calling  Arthur  a  king. 
On   the   other   hand    the   word   ameraudur  which    it   applies 
to    Arthur    is    one    of   the    forms    given    in    Welsh    to    the 
Latin  word   iinperator  borrowed ;   but   as   it   is   used   of  him 
commonly  in  the  stories  of  Peredur,  Owein,  Gereint  and  others 
which  betray  the  influence  of  the  French  romances,  it  might 
perhaps  be  supposed  that  its  presence  in  Gereint's  Elegy  was 
due  to  that  influence.     There  is,  however,  no  evidence,  and  the 
way  in  which  the  word  is  used  rather  inclines  me  to  regard  it 
as  spontaneous  on  the  part  of  the  poet  :    I  am  only  doubtful 
whether  instead    of   rendering,   as    I   have    done,    "  emperor, 
director  of  toil,"  it  would  not  have  been  more  correct  to  write 
"  commander,  director  of  toil  "  :  that  is  to  say,  to  suppose  the 
word  to  retain   here  the  meaning  which   it   had  primarily  in 
Latin.     In  any  case,  the  instances  which  have  been  adduced 
will  suffice,  it  seems   to  me,  to  shew  that  it  was  not   due  to 
accident  that  other  terms  than  that  of  king  were  thought  more 
suitable  in  speaking  of  Arthur.     In  that  fact  one  seems  to  trace 

1  For  the  text  of  that  story,  see  San-Marte's  Nennius  et  Gildas,  pp.  122, 
3,  also  the  Romania,  vol.  x.  491,  where  it  is  given  by  M.  Gaston  Paris. 
145  A 


xviii  Preface 

one  of  the  logical  consequences  of  Arthur's  having,  as  I  have 
ventured  to  suppose,  occupied  the  historical  position  of  the 
Comes  Britannia,  in  other  words,  that  of  the  Imperator  himself, 
which  it  became  when  Britain  ceased  to  form  a  part  of  the 
dominions  of  Rome. 

We  next  have  a  poem  consisting  of  a  dialogue  between 
Arthur  and  Glewlwyd  Gavaelvawr,  who  in  the  Welsh  stories 
about  Arthur  is  represented  as  one  of  his  chief  porters  ;  but 
here  he  seems  to  have  a  castle  of  his  own,  the  gates  of  which 
he  appears  in  no  hurry  to  open  for  Arthur  and  his  companions. 
He  asks  Arthur  who  he  is  and  what  followers  he  has,  which 
Arthur  is  made  to  seize  as  an  opportunity  for  describing  some 
of  them,  especially  Kei,  Malory's  Sir  Kay  the  seneschal.  Un- 
fortunately, the  poem  is  so  obscure  that  I  can  only  guess  its 
meaning,  as  follows l: — 

Pa gur yv y porthaur.  Who  is  the  porter? 

Gleuluid gauaeluaur.  Glewlwyd  Gavaelvawr. 

Pa  gur  ae  gouin.  Who  asks  the  question  ? 

arthiir.  a  chci  guin?  Arthur  and  worthy  Kei. 

Pa  imda  genhid.  What  following  (?)  hast  thou? 

Guir  goreti  im  bid.  The  best  of  men  are  mine. 

Ym  ty  ny  dot.  To  my  house  thou  shalt  not  come 

onys  guaredi.  Unless  thou  plead  (?)  for  them. 

Mi  ae  guar\_e~[di.  I  will  plead  (?)  for  them. 

athi  ae  gueli.  And  thou  shalt  see  them  : — 

Vythneint  elei.  Wythneint  of  Elei, 

Assivyon  ell  tri.  And  the  wise  men  three — • 

Mabon  am  mydron.  Mabon  son  of  Modron, 

guas  uthir  pen  dragon.  (Uther  Pendragon's  man) 

Kysceint  '  mab  '  Banon.  Kyscaint  son  of  Banon, 

A  guin  godybrion.  And  Gwyn  Godyvrion. 

Oet  rinn  vy  gueisson  Sturdy  would  be  my  men 

in  amuin  ev  detvon.  In  defence  of  their  laws— 

Manawidan  ab  llyr.  Manawydan  son  of  Llyr 

oet  duis  y  cusil.  Profound  in  counsel ; 

1  Evans'  Facsimile,  fol.  476— 48*. 

2  Guin,  now  written  gwyn  means  as  a  colour  adjective  white,  but  it 
is  a  very  difficult  word  to  render,  one  of  its  uses  being  somewhat  like 
that  of  French  beau  in  beau  fere.     On  the  banks  of  the  Dovey  in  Mid- 
Wales  a  stepfather  is  respectfully  called  tad  gwyn,   literally    "white 
father,"  and  I  surmise  that  it  had  a  somewhat  similar  force  here.     It  is 
to  be  borne  in  mind  that  Kei  is,  so  far  as  I  can  remember,  elsewhere 
called  Kei  guin  only  in  the  story  of  Kulhwch.     See  Red  Book  Mabino- 
gion,  p.  105,  and  for  further  remarks  on  gwyn  see  my  Hibbert  Lectures, 
pp.  527-8. 


Preface 


xix 


Neustuc  manauid 
eis  lull  o  tryivruid 
A  mabon  am  melld. 
maglei  guaed  ar  guelld, 
Ac  anguas  edeinauc. 
a  Jluch  *  llauynnauc. 
Oetin  diffreidauc 
ar  eidin  cyminauc 
Argluit  ae  llochei 
my  nei  ymtiwygei 
Kei  ae  heiriolei. 
trae  llathei  pop  tri 
Pan  colled  kelli. 
caffad  cuelli. 
Aseirolei  kei 
kid  trae  kymynhei. 
Arthur  ced  huarhei 
y  guaed  gouerei. 
In  neuat  awarnach 
in  imlat  ew  a  gurach. 
Ew  a  guant  pen  palach. 
in  atodeu  dissethach. 
Ym  minit  eidin 
amiic  '  a  '  chinbin. 
Pop  cant  id  ctiitin. 
id  cuitin  '  pop  cant, 
roc  beduir  bedrydant. 
Ar  traethev  trywruid. 
in  amuin  a  garvlitid. 
Oet  guythir  y  annuyd. 
o  cletyw  ac  yscuid. 
Oet  gtcaget  bragad 
vrth  kei  ig  kad. 
Oet  cletyw  ighad. 
oe  lav  diguistlad. 
Oet  hyneiw  guastad 
cr  lleg  ar  lies  gulad. 
Bedtiir  '  A  Bridlav* 
Nau  cant  guarandau. 


(Manawyd  brought  home 
A  pierced  buckler  from  Tryvrwyd). 
And  Mabon  son  of  Mellt 
Who  stained  the  grass  with  gore ; 
And  Angwas  the  Winged, 
And  Llwch  Llawynnawc, 
Who  were  protective 
Against  Eidyn1  the  gashing. 
His  lord  would  shelter  him, 
My  nephew  would  amend  (?), 
Kei  would  plead  for  (?)  them, 
While  slaying  them  three  at  a  time. 
When  Kelli  was  lost 
Savagery  was  experienced. 
Kei  would  plead  for  them  (?) 
Until  he  might  hew  them  down. 
Though  Arthur  was  playing 
The  blood  was  dripping. 
In  Awarnach's  hall 
A-fighting  with  a  hag, 
He  slew  Pen-palach 
In  the  tasks  (?)  of  Dissethach. 
On  Eidyn's  mountain 
He  combated  with  champions  (?), 
By  the  hundred  they  fell — 
They  fell  a  hundred  at  a  time 
Before  Bedwyr  .  .  . 
On  the  shores  of  Tryvrwyd ; 
Combating  with  Garwlwyd. 
Victorious  was  his  wrath 
Both  with  sword  and  shield. 
It  were  vain  to  boast 
Against  Kei  in  battle. 
His  sword  in  battle  was 
Not  to  be  pledged  from  his  hand. 
He  was  an  equable  lord 
Of  a  legion  for  the  state's  good. 
Bedwyr  son  of  Bridlaw, 
Nine  hundred  to  watch, 


1  Mention  is  made  of  this  man  in  Triads  i.  38,  39  ;  iii.  47,  48  (Myv. 
Arch.  vol.  ii.   9,  65),  where  he  is  described  as  the  slayer  of  the  bard 
Aneurin. 

2  This  should  probably  give  the   parentage   of  Bedwyr,   and   it  is 
natural  to  suggest  as  an  emendation  Beduir  ab  Bridlav  ;  but  in  Gereint 
and  Enid 'he  is  described  as  son  of  Bedrawt:  see  Red  Book  Mab.  p. 
265. 


XX 


Preface 


chuechant  y  eirthau. 
a  talei  y  ortinav. 
Gueisson  am  buyini 
oet  guell  ban  tiitint. 
roc  ricu  emreis. 
gueleise  '  kei  ar  uris. 
Preitev  gort.howis. 
oet  gur  hir  in  ewnis. 
Oet  trum  y  dial, 
oet  tost  y  cynial. 
Pan  yuei  o  wual 
yuei  urth  peduar 
ygkad  pan  delhsi. 
vrth  cant  id  lathei. 
Ny  bei  duv  ae  digonhci. 
Oet  diheit  aghev  kei. 
Kei  guin  a  llachev. 
digonint  we  kadev. 
kin  glees  glas  verev. 
yguarthaw  ystawingun. 
kei  a  guant  nav  guiton. 
Kei  -win  aaeth  von 
y  dilein  lleuon. 
y  iscuid  oet  mymid 
erbin  cath  paluc. 
Pan  gogiueirch  tud. 
Puy  guant  cath  pahic. 
Nau  ugein  kinlhtc. 
a  cuytei  in  y  bityd. 
Nau  ugein  kinran 


Six  hundred  to  attack 

Was  his  onslaught  (?)  wcu'th. 

The  young  men  I  have — 

It  is  well  where  they  are 

Before  the  kings  of  Emrys 

Have  I  seen  Kei  in  haste. 

Leader  of  the  harryings, 

Long  would  he  be  in  his  wrath  ; 

Heavy  was  he  in  his  vengeance ; 

Terrible  in  his  fighting. 

When  from  a  horn  he  drank 

He  drank  as  much  as  four  men  ; 

When  he  came  into  battle 

He  slew  as  would  a  hundred. 

Unless  it  should  be  God's  act x 

Kei's  death  would  be  unachieved. 

Worthy  Kei  and  Llacheu 

Used  to  fight  battles, 

Before  the  pang  of  livid  spears, 

On  the  top  of  Ystavingun 

Kei  slew  nine  witches.2 

Worthy  Kei  went  to  Mona 

To  destroy  lions. 

His  shield  was  small 

Against  Palug's  Cat. 

When  people  shall  ask 

"Who  slew  Palug's  Cat?" 

Nine  score  .  .   . 

Used  to  fall  for  her  food 

Nine  score  leaders 


A  .  .  .  Used  to  ... 

The  manuscript  is  imperfect,  and  it  breaks  off  just  where  one 
should  have  heard  more  about  Cath  Paluc,  or  "  Palug-'s  Cat,"  a 
monster,  said  in  the  Red  Book  Triads  to  have  been  reared  by 

1  With  this  sentiment  compare  the  following  passage  put  into  the 
mouth  of  Llew  in  the  Mabinogi  of  Math  son  of  Mathonwy  :   Onym  Had 
i  duw  hagen  nyt  hawd  vy  Had  i.     "  Unless  God  slay  me,  however,  it  is 
not  easy  to  slay  me."     See  the  Red  Book  Mabinogion,  p.  75,  also  Lady 
Charlotte  Guest's  Mab.  iii.  242,  where  she  imparts  to  her  translation  a 
Christian  tone  not  to  be  detected  in  the  original,  thus:  "But  until 
Heaven  take  me  I  shall  not  easily  be  slain." 

2  This  looks  as  if  it  might  be  the  incident  in  which  the  story  of 
Peredur  makes  that  hero  take  a  leading  part;    he  encounters  the  witches 
of  Caer  Loyw  at  a  castle  on  a  mountain,  and  he  together  with  Arthur 
and  his  Men  afterwards  kills  them  all  at  the  end  of  the  story  :  see  the 
Red  Book  Mab.,  pp.  210-1,  242-3,  and  Guest's  Mab.  i.  322-3,  369-70. 


Preface  xxi 

the  Sons  of  Palug,  in  Anglesey.  The  contests  hsre  mentioned 
with  monsters,  hags  and  witches,  form  also  a  feature  of  the 
story  of  Kulkwch  and  Oliuen,  not  to  mention  Irish  stories,  such 
as  that  of  Bricrius  Feast?-  which  abound  in  them.  Moreover, 
the  majority  of  Arthur's  followers  in  the  Black  Book  poem, 
figure  as  such  in  the  Kulhwch  also,  namely  Glewlwyd,  Kei, 
Mabon  son  of  Modron,  Gwyn  Godyvron,  Mabon  son  of  Mellt, 
Angwas  Edeinawc,  Llwch  Llawyniawc,  Bedwyr,  and  Arthurs 
son  Llacheu  ;  not  to  mention  Manawyddan,  who  is  forced  into 
Arthur's  train  in  both  poem  and  story.  On  the  other  hand, 
only  two  of  Arthur's  men  enumerated  in  the  former,  evade 
identification  elsewhere,  namely,  Wythneint  and  Kysceint.2 
Perhaps  the  most  remarkable  thing  in  the  Black  Book  poem, 
is  the  position  which  it  assigns  to  Kei,  who  there  towers  far 
above  all  the  rest  of  the  Arthurian  train  :  he  is,  in  fact,  not  to 
be  conquered  by  man  or  beast,  so  that  his  death  could  only  be 
attributed  to  the  direct  interference  of  the  Almighty.  The  next 
in  importance  to  Kei  was  Bedwyr,  the  Bedewere  or  Bedyuere 
of  Malory's  Morte  Darthur,  and  the  positions  of  both  heroes 
are  relatively  the  same  in  the  Kulhwch  story. 

Another  allusion  to  Arthur  occurs  in  the  Black  Book,  to  wit 
in  an  elegy  to  Madog  son  of  Meredydd,  prince  of  Powys,  who 
died  in  the  year  1159.  The  poem  is  ascribed  to  Madog's  con- 
temporary, the  well-known  Welsh  poet  Cynddelw,  who,  in 
alluding  to  the  mourning  and  grief  among  Madog's  men, 
characterises  the  uproar  as  being — Mai  gavr  toryw  teulu 
arthur? 

"  Like  the  shout  of  the  multitude  of  Arthur's  host." 

This  leads,  however,  to  no  inference  of  any  importance  in 
this  context.  The  same  remark  may  be  made  concerning  a 
mention  of  Arthur  in  a  poem  called  Gorchan  Maelderw  in  the 
Book  of  Aneurin,  a  manuscript  of  the  latter  part  of  the  thir- 
teenth or  of  the  beginning  of  the  fourteenth  century:  the 
passage  is  unfortunately  obscure.4 

1  The  Irish   text   is   given  at   length   in  Windisch's  Irische   Texte, 

'2  Kysceint  is  probably  a  raiscopying  of  Kysteintt  the  Welsh  form  of 
Constantius  ;  a  name  Wytheint  appears  in  the  Book  of  Taliessin,  as 
that  of  one  who  fights  with  Gwydion  son  of  D6n,  see  Skene's  Four 
anc.  Books  of  Wales,  ii.  158. 

3  Evans'  Facsimile,  fol.  52". 

4  For  the  text  see  Skene's  Four  anc.  Books  of  Wales,  vol.  11.  106, 
and  for  the  translation  vol.  i.  426.    Both  will  also  be  found  in  Thomas 


xxii  Preface 

The  next  manuscript  to  be  mentioned  is  one  of  approximately 
the  same  data  as  the  last-mentioned  :    I  allude  to  the  Book  of 
Taliessin,  where  an  obscure  poem  occurs,  headed  Kat  Godeu. 
There,  near  the  end,  we  have  the  following  couplet  : — 
derwydon  doethur.  Druids  erudite, 

darogen-wch  y  Arthur.  Prophesy  for  Arthur. 

Another  allusion  to  Arthur  in  the   Book  of  Taliessin  runs 

thus l : — 

heilyn  pascadiir.  Heilyn  of  the  Passover 

(reded  dofyn  doethur  One  of  three  deeply  wise 

y  vendigaw  Arthur.  To  bless  Arthur. 

Arthur  vendigan  Arthur  they  will  bless 

ar  gerd  gyfaenat  In  elaborate  song. 

Who  the  Heilyn  mentioned  here  was  does  not  appear,  but  he 
may  be  supposed  to  have  been  a  priest  or  a  bard. 

Other  references  to  Arthur  occur  in  the  Book  of  Taliessin, 
but  the  most  important  by  far  is  the  poem  known  as  Preiddeu 
Annwfn,  or  the  Harryings  of  Hades,  which  I  subjoin,  so  far  as 
it  is  in  point,  with  an  attempt  to  translate  into  English,  as 
follows  : — 

Golychaf  wledic  pendeuic  gwlat  ri. 

py  ledas  y  pennaeth  dros  traeth  mundi. 

bu  kyweir  karchar  gweir  ygkaer  sidi. 

trwy  ebostol  pwyll  aphryderi. 

Neb  kyn  noc  ef  nyt  aeth  idi 

yr  gadwyn  tromlas  kywirwas  ae  ketwi. 

A  rac  preideu  annwfyn  tost  yt  gent. 

Ac  yt  urawt  parahawt  yn  bard  ivedi. 

Tri  lloneit  prytwen  yd  aetham  ni  idi. 

nam  seith  ny  dyrreith  o  goer  sidi. 

I  adore  the  noble  prince  and  high  king 
Who  extended  his  sway  over  the  world's  strand. 
Perfect  was  the  captivity  of  Gwair  in  Caer  Sidi, 
Through  the  warning2  of  Pwyll  and  Pryderi. 

Stephens'  Gododin,  pp.  352-3  ;  but  I  am  convinced  that  the  meaning 
of  the  words  still  remains  to  be  discovered. 

1  See   Skene,    ii.    456 :    vol.    i.    259,   gives   a   translation   differing 
considerably  from  the  one  proposed  here  with  great  diffidence. 

2  As   to   this   meaning    of  the    word    tbostol>    see    Llyvyr    Agkyt 
Llandeivivrevi  (in   the  Anecdota    Oxoniensia),   p.    159.     It  is  epistola 
borrowed  and  sometimes  confounded  with  abostol  from  apostolus:  the 
sequence   of  meanings   seems   to   have   been   a   letter,  a  message   or 
admonition  by  letter,  a  warning.     See  a  note  on  the  word   by  Prof. 
Powel  in  the  Cymmrodor,  ix.  199. 


Preface  xxiii 

Before  him  no  one  entered  into  it, 
Into  the  heavy  dark  chain  a  trusty  youth  guarded ; 
And  at  the  harryings  of  Hades  grievously  did  he  sing, 
And  till  doom  will  he  remain  a  bard  afterwards. 
Three  freights  of  Prydwen  went  we  into  it — 
Seven  alone  did  we  return  from  Caer  Sidi. 

Neut  wyf  glot  geinmyn  cerd  o  c/ilywtr. 

ygkaer  pedryuan  pedyr  y  chwelyt. 

vgkynneir  or  peir  pan  leferit. 

Oanadyl  naw  morwyn  gochyneuit. 

Neu  peir  pen  annwfyn  pwy  y  vynut, 

gwrym  am  yoror  a  mererit. 

ny  beirw  bwyt  llwfyr  ny  rytyghit. 

dedyf  lluch  lleawc  idaw  rydyrchit. 

Ac  yn  Haw  leminawc  yd  edewit. 

Arac  drws  forth  vffern  llugyrn  lloscit. 

Aphan  aetham  ni  gan  arthur  trafferth  lethrit. 

namyn  seith  ny  dyrreith  o  goer  vedwit. 

I  am  a  seeker  (?)  of  praise,  if  (my)  song  be  heard  : 

In  Caer  Pedryvan  .  .  . 

.  .  .  from  the  cauldron  it  would  be  spoken 

By  the  breath  of  nine  maidens  it  would  be  kindled. 

The  head  of  Hades'  cauldron — what  is  it  like? 

A  rim  it  has,  with  pearls,  round  its  border: 

It  boils  not  a  coward's  food :    it  would  not  be  perjured. 

The  sword  of  Llwch  Lleawc  would  be  lifted  to  it. 

And  in  the  hand  of  Lleminawc  was  it  left. 

And  before  the  door  of  Hell's  gate  lamps  were  burning, 

And  when  we  accompanied  Arthur,  a  brilliant  effort, 

Seven  alone  did  we  return  from  Caer  Veddwit. 

Neut  wyf  glot  geinmyn  kerd  glywanawr. 

ygkaer  Pedryfan  ynys  pybyrdor. 

eckwyd  amuchyd  kymysgetor 

gwin  gloyw  eu  gwirawt  rac  eu  gorgord. 

Tri  lloneit  prytwen  yd  aetham  ni  ar  vor. 

namyn  seith  ny  dyrreith  o  gear  rigor. 
I  am  a  seeker  (?)  of  praise,  (my)  song  being  (?)  heard : 
At  Caer  Pedryvan  in  Quick-door  Island, 
At  dusk  and  in  the  blackness  (of  night)  they  mix 
The  sparkling  wine,  their  drink  before  their  retinue. 
Three  freights  of  Prydwen  went  we  on  sea : 
Seven  alone  did  we  return  from  Caer  Rigor. 

Ny  obrynafi  lawyr  lien  llywyadttr 

tra  chaer  wydyr  ny  welsynt  wrhyt  artlmr. 


xxiv  Preface 

Tri  vgeint  canhwr  a  sezii  arymur. 
oed  an  haw  d  ymadrawd  ae  gwylyadur. 
tri  lloneit  prytwen  yd  aeth  gan  arthur. 
namyn  seith  ny  dyrreith  o  gaer  golnd. 

I  merit  not  the  laurel  of  the  ruler  of  letters — 

Beyond  the  Glass  Fort  they  had  not  seen  Arthur's  valour. 

Three  score  hundreds  stood  on  the  wall : 

Hard  it  was  found  to  converse  with  their  sentinel. 

Three  freights  of  Prydwen  (were  they  that)  went  with  Arthur, 

Seven  alone  did  they  return  from  Caer  Goludd. 

Ny  obrynaf  y  lawyr  llaes  eu  kylchwy. 

ny  wdant  ivy  py  dyd  peridyd  pwy. 

py  awr  ymeindyd  y  ganet  cwy. 

Pwy  gwnaeth  arnyt  aeth  doleu  defwy, 

Ny  wdant  ivy  yr  ych  brych  bras  ypenrwy. 

Seith  vgein  kygwng  yny  aervjy, 

A  phan  aetham  ni  gan  arthur  aurydol  gofwy. 

namyn  seith  ny  dyrreith  o  gaer  vandwy. 
I  merit  not  the  laurel  of  them  of  the  long  shields  (?) : 
They  know  not  which  is  the  ruler's  day  (or)  who  (he  is), 
At  what  hour  of  early  day  he  was  born  (or)  where  (?), 
Who  made  .   .  .   went  not  .   .  . 

They  know  not  the  Speckled  Ox  with  the  stout  halter, 
With  seven  score  joints  in  his  collar. 
When  we  went  with  Arthur,  anxious  visit, 
Seven  alone  did  we  return  from  Caer  Vanddwy. 

Ny  obrynafy  lawyr  llaes  eu  goken 

ny  wdant  py  dyd  peridyd  pen. 

Py  awr  ymeindyd  y  ganet  perchen. 

Py  vil  a  gativant  aryant  y  pen. 

pan  aetham  ni  gan  arthur  afyrdwl  gynken 

namyn  seith  ny  dyrreith  a  gaer  ochren. 

I  merit  not  the  laurel  of  those  of  long  .  .   . 

They  know  not  which  is  the  day  of  the  ruler  (and)  chief, 

At  what  hour  of  early  day  was  born  the  owner, 

(Or)  what  myriad  guards  the  silver  of  the  head. 

When  we  went  with  Arthur,  anxious  contest, 

Seven  alone  did  we  return  from  Caer  Ochren. 

Of  the  eight  castles  or  strongholds  mentioned  in  this  poem 
not  a  single  one  has  been  identified  with  any  real  place,  and  the 
Isle  of  the  Active  Door  belongs  probably  to  the  same  sort  of 
geography  as  Annwvyn  or  Hades,  and  Uffern  or  Hell.  The 
poem  evidently  deals  with  expeditions  conducted  by  Arthur 


Preface  xxv 

by  sea  to  the  realms  of  twilight  and  darkness ;  but  the  one  in 
quest  of  the  cauldron  of  the  Head  of  Hades  reminds  me  of  that 
described  in  the  Kulhwch  as  having  for  its  object  the  cauldron 
of  Diwrnach  the  Goidel  :  Arthur  sets  out  with  a  small  number 
of  men  on  board  his  ship  Prydwen,  and  after  severe  fighting 
brought  away  the  cauldron  full  of  the  money  of  the  country, 
which  was,  however,  according  to  the  Kulhwch,  not  Hades  but 
Ireland.  But  with  this  difference  the  stories  agree,  not  to 
mention  ihatyr  Yc/i  Brych,  or  "the  Speckled  Ox,''  of  the  poem 
figures  also  in  the  Kulhwch.  To  do  justice  to  this  part  of  the 
comparison,  and  to  complete  the  outline  which  I  have  sug- 
gested, I  should  have  here  to  append  at  length  the  story  of 
Kulhwch  ;  but  as  that  is  out  of  the  question,  I  will  only  add 
that  a  translation  of  it  into  English  will  be  found  in  the 
second  volume  of  Lady  Charlotte  Guest's  Mabinogion,  The 
Kulhwch  is  contained  in  the  Jesus  College  manuscript,  the  Red 
Book  of  Hergest,  which  belongs  to  the  latter  half  of  the  four- 
teenth century  ;  but  the  present  version  carries  with  it  some 
evidence  that  it  was  copied  from  a  manuscript  written  in  the 
Kymric  hand  usual  in  Wales  before  the  Norman  Conquest 
and  its  influences  had  introduced  another  hand.  On  the 
whole,  one  cannot  go  far  wrong  in  supposing  that  it  was 
composed  in  the  tenth  century ;  and  as  to  its  contents,  it  has 
been  pronounced  purely  1  Kymric  by  Professor  Zimmer, — that 
is  to  say,  as  contrasted  with  stories  in  which  the  influence  of  the 
romances  cannot,  as  he  thinks,  be  mistaken. 

It  is  not  to  be  supposed,  however,  that  other  manuscripts, 
whether  belonging  to  the  same  period  as  that  of  the  Kulhwch 
or  to  later  dates,  relate  nothing  concerning  Arthur  but  the  echo 
of  incidents  occurring  in  the  French  romances.  Instances 
could  readily  be  cited  to  the  contrary  :  take  for  example  the 
episode  in  which  the  Welsh  Triads2  bring  Arthur  in  contact 
with  Drystan  the gal-ofydd  or  "war-leader"  of  March  and  the 
lover  of  Essyllt,  that  is  to  say,  Malory's  Tristram,  kynge  Mark, 
and  Isoud  respectively.  Drystan  is  represented  sending  March's 
swineherd  on  an  errand  to  Essyllt,  Drystan  in  the  meantime 
taking  upon  himself  the  charge  of  the  swine.  The  story  then 
makes  Arthur,  assisted  by  March,  Kei  and  Bedwyr,  attempt  to 
get  possession  of  some  of  the  swine  by  every  means  in  their 

1  In  the  Gottingische  gel.  Anzeigen  for  June  10,  1890,  pp.  517,  523-4. 

2  Triads  i.  30,  ii.  56,  iii,  IOI  :  see  the  Myv.  Anh.,  vol.  ii.  pp.  6, 
20,  72-3. 


xxvi  Preface 

power,  but  all  in  vain,  so  that  Drystan  came  to  be  styled  one 
of  "the  Three  stout  Swineherds  of  the  Isle  of  Britain."  Or 
take  another  instance,  namely  the  statement  that  Arthur  had 
not  one  wife  Gwenhwyvar,  Malory's  Guenever,  but  three  wives 
in  succession,  all  called  Gwenhwyvar.  This  strange  piece  of 
information  likewise  comes  from  the  Triads,1  and  I  should  be 
surprised  to  learn  that  it  found  its  way  into  them  from  the 
French  romances  rather  than  from  some  far  older  source. 

Speaking  generally  of  the  Arthur  of  Welsh  literature,  one 
may  characterise  him  in  few  words  : — His  first  appearance  is 
found  to  conform  itself  with  the  role  of  a  Comes  Britannia^  on 
whom  it  devolved  to  help  the  inhabitants  of  what  was  once 
Roman  Britain  against  invasion  and  insult,  whether  at  the 
hands  of  Angles  and  Saxons  or  of  Picts  and  Scots  :  so  we  read 
of  him  acting  for  the  kings  of  the  Brythons  as  their  dux 
bellorum.  We  next  find  his  fame  re-echoed  by  the  topography 
of  the  country  once  under  his  protection,  and  his  name  gather- 
ing round  it  the  legends  of  heroes  and  divinities  of  a  past  of 
indefinite  extent.  In  other  words,  he  and  his  men,  especially 
Kei  and  Bedwyr,  are  represented  undertaking  perilous  expedi- 
tions to  realms  of  mythic  obscurity,  bringing  home  treasures, 
fighting  with  hags  and  witches,  despatching  giants,  and  destroy- 
ing monsters.  How  greatly  this  rude  delineation  of  the  triumph 
of  man  over  violence  and  brute  force  differs  from  the  more 
finished  picture  of  the  Arthur  of  Malory's  painting,  it  would  be 
needless  to  try  to  shew  to  any  one  bent  on  the  pleasure  of 
perusing  the  Morte  Darthur.  Such  a  reader  may  be  trusted 
to  pursue  the  comparison  unassisted,  in  the  fascinating  pages 

of  this  incomparable  book. 

JOHN    RHYS. 

The  more  important  editions  of  the  Morte  Darthur  have  already  been 
mentioned  in  the  foregoing  introduction  (see  p.  vii).  But  since  Principal 
Rhys  wrote  it  (for  the  same  publishers'  large  two- volume  edition  of  1893- 
4)  many  popular  reprints  and  volumes  of  selections  and  adaptations  from 
Malory's  romance  have  appeared.  A  convenient  pocket-guide  to  the 
wider  field  it  indicates  may  be  had  in  Miss  Jessie  L.  Weston's  Survey 
of  Arthurian  Romance  (in  Nutt's  "  Popular  Studies  in  Mythology, 
Romance  and  Folklore").  The  best  companion  romance-book  is  '2 lie 
Mabinogiont  also  republished  in  "EVERYMAN'S  LIBRARY." 

1906. 


1  Triad i.  59,  ii.  16,  iii.  109  :  seethe  Myv.  Arch.,  vol.  ii.  pp.  12,  14,  73. 


LE  MORTE  D'ARTHUR 


CAXTON'S   ORIGINAL   PREFACE 

AFTER  that  I  had  accomplished  and  finished  divers  histories, 
as  well  of  contemplation  as  of  other  historical  and  worldly  acts  of 
great  conquerors  and  princes,  and  also  certain  books  of  en- 
samples  and  doctrine,  many  noble  and  divers  gentlemen  of  this 
realm  of  England  came  and  demanded  me,  many  and  ofttimes, 
wherefore  that  I  have  not  do  made  and  imprinted  the  noble  history 
of  the  Sangreal,  and  of  the  most  renowned  Christian  king,  first 
and  chief  of  the  three  best  Christian  and  worthy,  King  Arthur, 
which  ought  most  to  be  remembered  among  us  English  men 
tofore  all  other  Christian  kings.  For  it  is  notoriously  known 
through  the  universal  world  that  there  be  nine  worthy  and  the 
best  that  ever  were.  That  is  to  wit  three  paynims,  three  Jews, 
and  three  Christian  men.  As  for  the  paynims  they  were  tofore 
the  Incarnation  of  Christ,  which  were  named,  the  first  Hector  of 
Troy,  of  whom  the  history  is  come  both  in  ballad  and  in  prose  ; 
the  second  Alexander  the  Great  ;  and  the  third  Julius  Caesar, 
Emperor  of  Rome,  of  whom  the  histories  be  well-known  and 
had.  And  as  for  the  three  Jews  which  also  were  tofore  the 
Incarnation  of  our  Lord,  of  whom  the  first  was  Duke  Joshua 
which  brought  the  children  of  Israel  into  the  land  of  behest;  the 
second  David,  King  of  Jerusalem  ;  and  the  third  Judas  Macca- 
basus :  of  these  three  the  Bible  rehearseth  all  their  noble  histories 
and  acts.  And  sith  the  said  Incarnation  have  been  three  noble 
Christian  men  stalled  and  admitted  through  the  universal  world 
into  the  number  of  the  nine  best  and  worthy,  of  whom  was  first 
the  noble  Arthur,  whose  noble  acts  I  purpose  to  write  in  this 
present  book  here  following.  The  second  was  Charlemagne  or 
Charles  the  Great,  of  whom  the  history  is  had  in  many  places 
both  in  French  and  English  ;  and  the  third  and  last  was  Godfrey 
of  Bouillon,  of  whose  acts  and  life  I  made  a  book  unto  the 
excellent  prince  and  king  of  noble  memory,  King  Edward  the 
Fourth.  The  said  noble  gentlemen  instantly  required  me  to 
imprint  the  history  of  the  said  noble  king  and  conqueror,  King 
Arthur,  and  of  his  knights,  with  the  history  of  the  Sangreal,  and 
of  the  death  and  ending  of  the  said  Arthur ;  affirming  that  I 
ought  rather  to  imprint  his  acts  and  noble  feats,  than  of  Godfrey 
of  Bouillon,  or  any  of  the  other  eight,  considering  that  he  was  a 
man  born  within  this  realm,  and  king  and  emperor  of  the  same ; 


2  Caxton's  Original  Preface 

and  that  there  be  in  French  divers  and  many  noble  volumes  of 
his  acts,  and  also  of  his  knights.  To  whom  I  answered,  that 
divers  men  hold  opinion  that  there  was  no  such  Arthur,  and  that 
all  such  books  as  be  made  of  him  be  but  feigned  and  fables,  by 
cause  that  some  chronicles  make  of  him  no  mention  nor  remem- 
ber him  no  thing,  nor  of  his  knights.  Whereto  they  answered 
and  one  in  special  said,  that  in  him  that  should  say  or  think 
that  there  was  never  such  a  king  called  Arthur,  might  well  be 
credited  great  folly  and  blindness  ;  for  he  said  that  there  were 
many  evidences  of  the  contrary :  first  ye  may  see  his  sepulture 
in  the  Monastery  of  Glastonbury.  And  also  in  Polichronicon, 
in  the  fifth  book  the  sixth  chapter,  and  in  the  seventh  book 
the  twenty-third  chapter,  where  his  body  was  buried  and  after 
found  and  translated  into  the  said  monastery.  Ye  shall  see  also 
in  the  history  of  Bochas,  in  his  book  De  Casu  Principum,  part 
of  his  noble  acts,  and  also  of  his  fall.  Also  Galfridus  in  his 
British  book  recounteth  his  life  ;  and  in  divers  places  of  England 
many  remembrances  be  yet  of  him  and  shall  remain  perpetually, 
and  also  of  his  knights.  First  in  the  Abbey  of  Westminster,  at 
Saint  Edward's  shrine,  remaineth  the  print  of  his  seal  in  red 
wax  closed  in  beryl,  in  which  is  written  Patricius  Arthurus, 
Britannie,  Gallic,  Germanie,  Dacie,  Imperator.  Item  in  the 
castle  of  Dover  ye  may  see  Gawaine's  skull  and  Craddock's 
mantle :  at  Winchester  the  Round  Table :  at  other  places 
Launcelot's  sword  and  many  other  things.  Then  all  these 
things  considered,  there  can  no  man  reasonably  gainsay  but 
there  was  a  king  of  this  land  named  Arthur.  For  in  all  places, 
Christian  and  heathen,  he  is  reputed  and  taken  for  one  of  the 
nine  worthy,  and  the  first  of  the  three  Christian  men.  And  also 
he  is  more  spoken  of  beyond  the  sea,  more  books  made  of  his 
noble  acts  than  there  be  in  England,  as  well  in  Dutch,  Italian, 
Spanish,  and  Greek,  as  in  French.  And  yet  of  record  remain  in 
witness  of  him  in  Wales,  in  the  town  of  Camelot,  the  great 
stones  and  marvellous  works  of  iron,  lying  under  the  ground, 
and  royal  vaults,  which  divers  now  living  hath  seen.  Wherefore 
it  is  a  marvel  why  he  is  no  more  renowned  in  his  own  country, 
save  only  it  accordeth  to  the  Word  of  God,  which  saith  that  no 
man  is  accept  for  a  prophet  in  his  own  country.  Then  all  these 
things  foresaid  alleged,  I  could  not  well  deny  but  that  there  was 
such  a  noble  king  named  Arthur,  and  reputed  one  of  the  nine 
worthy,  and  first  and  chief  of  the  Christian  men  ;  and  many 
noble  volumes  be  made  of  him  and  of  his  noble  knights  in  French, 


Caxton's  Original  Preface  3 

which  I  have  seen  and  read  beyond  the  sea,  which  be  not  had 
in  our  maternal  tongue,  but  in  Welsh  be  many  and  also  in 
French,  and  some  in  English,  but  no  where  nigh  all.  Where 
fore,  such  as  have  late  been  drawn  out  briefly  into  English  I 
have  after  the  simple  conning  that  God  hath  sent  to  me,  under 
the  favour  and  correction  of  all  noble  lords  and  gentlemen, 
emprised  to  imprint  a  book  of  the  noble  histories  of  the  said 
King  Arthur,  and  of  certain  of  his  knights,  after  a  copy  unto  me 
delivered,  which  copy  Sir  Thomas  Malory  did  take  out  of  certain 
books  of  French,  and  reduced  it  into  English.  And  I,  accord- 
ing to  my  copy,  have  done  set  it  in  imprint,  to  the  intent  that 
noble  men  may  see  and  learn  the  noble  acts  of  chivalry,  the 
gentle  and  virtuous  deeds  that  some  knights  used  in  those  days, 
by  which  they  came  to  honour  ;  and  how  they  that  were  vicious 
were  punished  and  oft  put  to  shame  and  rebuke ;  humbly 
beseeching  all  noble  lords  and  ladies,  with  all  other  estates,  of 
what  estate  or  degree  they  be  of,  that  shall  see  and  read  in  this 
said  book  and  work,  that  they  take  the  good  and  honest  acts  in 
their  remembrance,  and  to  follow  the  same.  Wherein  they  shall 
find  many  joyous  and  pleasant  histories,  and  noble  and  renowned 
acts  of  humanity,  gentleness,  and  chivalries.  For  herein  may 
be  seen  noble  chivalry,  courtesy,  humanity,  friendliness,  hardi- 
ness, love,  friendship,  cowardice,  murder,  hate,  virtue,  and  sin. 
Do  after  the  good  and  leave  the  evil,  and  it  shall  bring  you  to 
good  fame  and  renown.  And  for  to  pass  the  time  this  book 
shall  be  pleasant  to  read  in  ;  but  for  to  give  faith  and  believe 
that  all  is  true  that  is  contained  herein,  ye  be  at  your  liberty  ; 
but  all  is  written  for  our  doctrine,  and  for  to  beware  that  we  fall 
not  to  vice  nor  sin  ;  but  to  exercise  and  follow  virtue  ;  by  which 
we  may  come  and  attain  to  good  fame  and  renown  in  this  life, 
and  after  this  short  and  transitory  life,  to  come  unto  everlasting 
bliss  in  heaven,  the  which  he  grant  us  that  reigneth  in  heaven, 
the  blessed  Trinity.  Amen. 

Then  to  proceed  forth  in  this  said  book,  which  I  direct  unto 
all  noble  princes,  lords  and  ladies,  gentlemen  or  gentlewomen, 
that  desire  to  read  or  hear  read  of  the  noble  and  joyous  history 
of  the  great  conqueror  and  excellent  king,  King  Arthur,  sometime 
king  of  this  noble  realm,  then  called  Britain.  I,  William  Caxton, 
simple  person,  present  this  book  following,  which  I  have 
emprised  to  imprint ;  and  treateth  of  the  noble  acts,  feats  of 
arms  of  chivalry,  prowess,  hardiness,  humanity,  love,  courtesy 
and  very  gentleness,  with  many  wonderful  histories  and  adven- 


4  Caxton's  Original  Preface 

fares.  And  for  to  understand  briefly  the  content  of  this  volume, 
I  have  divided  it  into  twenty-one  books,  and  every  book 
chaptered  as  hereafter  shall  by  God's  grace  follow.  The  first 
book  shall  treat  how  Uther  Pendragon  gat  the  noble  conqueror 
King  Arthur,  and  containeth  twenty-eight  chapters.  The  second 
book  treateth  of  Balin  the  noble  knight,  and  containeth  nineteen 
chapters.  The  third  book  treateth  of  the  marriage  of  King 
Arthur  to  Queen  Guenever,  with  other  matters,  and  containeth 
fifteen  chapters.  The  fourth  book,  how  Merlin  was  assotted, 
and  of  war  made  to  King  Arthur,  and  containeth  twenty-nine 
chapters.  The  fifth  book  treateth  of  the  conquest  of  Lucius  the 
emperor,  and  containeth  twelve  chapters.  The  sixth  book 
treateth  of  Sir  Launcelot  and  Sir  Lionel,  and  marvellous  ad- 
ventures, and  containeth  eighteen  chapters.  The  seventh  book 
treateth  of  a  noble  knight  called  Sir  Gareth,  and  named  by  Sir 
Kay,  Beaumains,  and  containeth  thirty-six  chapters.  The  eight 
book  treateth  of  the  birth  of  Sir  Tristram  the  noble  knight,  and 
of  his  acts,  and  containeth  forty-one  chapters.  The  ninth  book 
treateth  of  a  knight  named  by  Sir  Kay,  La  Cote  Male  Taile,  and 
also  of  Sir  Tristram,  and  containeth  forty-four  chapters.  The 
tenth  book  treateth  of  Sir  Tristram  and  other  marvellous  ad- 
ventures, and  containeth  eighty-eight  chapters.  The  eleventh 
book  treateth  of  Sir  Launcelot  and  Sir  Galahad,  and  containeth 
fourteen  chapters.  The  twelfth  book  treateth  of  Sir  Launcelot 
and  his  madness,  and  containeth  fourteen  chapters.  The 
thirteenth  book  treateth  how  Galahad  came  first  to  King  Arthur's 
court,  and  the  quest  how  the  Sangreal  was  begun,  and  containeth 
twenty  chapters.  The  fourteenth  book  treateth  of  the  quest  of 
the  Sangreal,  and  containeth  ten  chapters.  The  fifteenth  book 
treateth  of  Sir  Launcelot,  and  containeth  six  chapters.  The  six- 
teenth book  treateth  of  Sir  Bors  and  Sir  Lionel  his  brother, 
and  containeth  seventeen  chapters.  The  seventeenth  book 
treateth  of  the  Sangreal,  and  containeth  twenty-three  chapters. 
The  eighteenth  book  treateth  of  Sir  Launcelot  and  the  queen,  and 
containeth  twenty-five  chapters.  The  nineteenth  book  treateth 
of  Queen  Guenever  and  Launcelot,  and  containeth  thirteen 
chapters.  The  twentieth  book  treateth  of  the  piteous  death  of 
Arthur,  and  containeth  twenty-two  chapters.  The  twenty-first 
book  treateth  of  his  last  departing,  and  how  Sir  Launcelot  came 
to  revenge  his  death,  and  containeth  thirteen  chapters.  The 
sum  is  twenty-one  books,  which  contain  the  sum  of  five  hundred 
and  seven  chapters,  as  more  plainly  shall  follow  hereafter. 


KING    ARTHUR 


BOOK  I 

CHAPTER   I 

HOW    UTHER   PENDRAGON    SENT    FOR   THE   DUKE  OF   CORNWALL   AND 
IGRAINE  HIS  WIFE,  AND  OF  THEIR  DEPARTING  SUDDENLY  AGAIN 

IT  befell  in  the  days  of  Uther  Pendragon,  when  he  was 
king  of  all  England,  and  so  reigned,  that  there  was  a  mighty 
duke  in  Cornwall  that  held  war  against  him  long  time. 
And  the  duke  was  called  the  duke  of  Tintagil.  And  so  by 
means  King  Uther  sent  for  this  duke,  charging  him  to  bring 
his  wife  with  him,  for  she  was  called  a  fair  lady,  and  a  passing 
wise,  and  her  name  was  called  Igraine.  So  when  the  duke 
and  his  wife  were  come  unto  the  king,  by  the  means  of  great 
lords  they  were  accorded  both  :  the  king  liked  and  loved 
this  lady  well,  and  he  made  them  great  cheer  out  of  measure, 
and  desired  to  have  lain  by  her.  But  she  was  a  passing 
good  woman,  and  would  not  assent  unto  the  king.  And 
then  she  told  the  duke  her  husband,  and  said,  I  suppose 
that  we  were  sent  for  that  I  should  be  dishonoured,  where- 
fore, husband,  I  counsel  you,  that  we  depart  from  hence 
suddenly,  that  we  may  ride  all  night  unto  our  own  castle. 
And  in  like  wise  as  she  said  so  they  departed,  that  neither 
the  king  nor  none  of  his  council  were  ware  of  their  departing. 
All  so  soon  as  King  Uther  knew  of  their  departing  so 
suddenly,  he  was  wonderly  wroth.  Then  he  called  to  him 
his  privy  council,  and  told  them  of  the  sudden  departing  of 
the  duke  and  his  wife.  Then  they  asked  the  king  to  send 
for  the  duke  and  his  wife  by  a  great  charge  ;  And  if  he  will 
not  come  at  your  summons,  then  may  ye  do  your  best,  then 
have  ye  cause  to  make  mighty  war  upon  him.  So  that  was 
done,  and  the  messengers  had  their  answers,  and  that  was 
this  shortly,  that  neither  he  nor  his  wife  would  not  come  at 
him.  Then  was  the  king  wonderly  wroth.  And  then  the 
king  sent  him  plain  word  again,  and  bade  him  be  ready  and 

I  45  C  B 


6  King  Arthur 

stuff  him  and  garnish  him,  for  within  forty  days  he  would 
fetch  him  out  of  the  biggest  castle  that  he  had.  When  the 
duke  had  this  warning,  anon  he  went  and  furnished  and 
garnished  two  strong  castles  of  his,  of  the  which  the  one 
hight  Tintagil,  and  the  other  castle  hight  Terrabil.  So  his 
wife  Dame  Igraine  he  put  in  the  castle  of  Tintagil,  and 
himself  he  put  in  the  castle  of  Terrabil,  the  which  had  many 
issues  and  posterns  out.  Then  in  all  haste  came  Uther  with 
a  great  host,  and  laid  a  siege  about  the  castle  of  Terrabil. 
And  there  he  pyght  many  pavilions,  and  there  was  great  war 
made  on  both  parties,  and  much  people  slain.  Then  for 
pure  anger  and  for  great  love  of  fair  Igraine  the  King  Uther 
fell  sick.  So  came  to  the  King  Uther,  Sir  Ulfius  a  noble 
knight,  and  asked  the  king  why  he  was  sick.  I  shall  tell 
thee,  said  the  king,  I  am  sick  for  anger  and  for  love  of  fair 
Igraine  that  I  may  not  be  hool.  Well,  my  lord,  said  Sir 
Ulfius,  I  shall  seek  Merlin,  and  he  shall  do  you  remedy,  that 
your  heart  shall  be  pleased.  So  Ulfius  departed,  and  by 
adventure  he  met  Merlin  in  a  beggar's  array,  and  then 
Merlin  asked  Ulfius  whom  he  sought.  And  he  said  he  had 
little  ado  to  tell  him.  Well,  said  Merlin,  I  know  whom 
thou  seekest,  for  thou  seekest  Merlin ;  therefore  seek  no 
farther,  for  I  am  he,  and  if  King  Uther  will  well  reward  me, 
and  be  sworn  unto  me  to  fulfil  my  desire,  that  shall  be  his 
honour  and  profit  more  than  mine,  for  I  shall  cause  him  to 
have  all  his  desire.  All  this  will  I  undertake,  said  Ulfius, 
that  there  shall  be  nothing  reasonable  but  thou  shalt  have 
thy  desire.  Well,  said  Merlin,  he  shall  have  his  entente  and 
desire.  And  therefore,  said  Merlin,  ride  on  your  way,  for 
I  will  not  be  long  behind. 


CHAPTER    II 

HOW  UTHER  PENDRAGON  MADE  WAR  ON  THE  DUKE  OF  CORNWALL, 
AND  HOW  BY  THE  MEANS  OF  MERLIN  HE  LAY  BY  THE  DUCHESS 
AND  GAT  ARTHUR 

THEN  Ulfius  was  glad,  and  rode  on  more  than  a  paas  till 
that  he  came  to  King  Uther  Pendragon,  and  told  him  he 
had  met  with  Merlin.  Where  is  he?  said  the  king.  Sir, 
said  Ulfius,  he  will  not  dwell  long  ;  therewithal  Ulfius  was 
ware  where  Merlin  stood  at  the  porch  of  the  pavilion's  door. 


King  Arthur  7 

And  then  Merlin  was  bound  to  come  to  the  king.     When 
King  Uther  saw  him,  he   said  he  was  welcome.     Sir,  said 
Merlin,   I  know  all  your  heart  every  deal ;  so  ye  will  be 
sworn  unto  me  as  ye  be  a  true  king  anointed,  to  fulfil  my 
desire,  ye  shall  have  your  desire.     Then  the  king  was  sworn 
upon   the  four   Evangelists.     Sir, :  said  Merlin,    this   is    my 
desire  :  the  first  night  that  ye  shall  lie  by  Igraine  ye  shall 
get  a  child  on  her,  and  when  that  is  born,  that  it  shall  be 
delivered  to  me  for  to  nourish  there  as  I  will  have  it ;  for  it 
shall  be  your  worship,  and  the  child's  avail  as  mickle  as  the 
child  is  worth.     I  will  well,  said  the  king,  as  thou  wilt  have 
it.     Now  make  you  ready,  said  Merlin,  this  night  ye  shall 
lie  with  Igraine  in   the  castle  of  Tintagil,  and  ye  shall  be 
like  the  duke  her  husband,  Ulfius  shall  be  like  Sir  Brastias, 
a  knight  of  the  duke's,  and   I  will  be  like  a  knight  that 
hight  Sir  Jordans,  a  knight  of  the  duke's.     But  wayte  ye 
make  not  many  questions  with  her  nor  her  men,  but  say  ye 
are  diseased,  and  so  hie  you   to  bed,  and  rise  not  on  the 
morn  till  I  come  to  you,  for  the  castle  of  Tintagil   is  but 
ten  miles  hence ;  so  this  was  done  as  they  devised.     But 
the  duke  of  Tintagil  espied  how  the  king  rode  from  the 
siege  of  Terrabil,  and  therefore  that  night  he  issued  out  of 
the  castle  at  a  postern  for  to  have  distressed  the  king's  host. 
And  so,  through  his  own  issue,  the  duke  himself  was  slain 
or-ever  the  king  came  at  the  castle  of  Tintagil.     So  after 
the  death  of  the  duke,  King  Uther  lay  with  Igraine  more 
than  three  hours  after  his  death,  and  begat  on  her  that  night 
Arthur,  .and  or  day  came  Merlin  came  to  the  king,  and  bade 
him  make  him  ready,  and  so  he  kissed  the  lady  Igraine  and 
departed  in  all  haste.     But  when  the  lady  heard  tell  of  the 
duke  her  husband,  and  by  all  record  he  was  dead  or-ever 
King  Uther  came  to  her ;    then  she  marvelled  who  that 
might  be  that  lay  with  her  in  likeness  of  her  lord ;  so  she 
mourned  privily  and  held  her  peace.     Then  all  the  barons 
by  one  assent  prayed  the  king  of  accord  betwixt  the  lady 
Igraine  and  him  ;  the  king  gave  them  leave,  for  fain  would 
he  have  been  accorded  with  her.     So  the  king  put  all  the 
trust  in  Ulfius  to  entreat  between  them,  so  by  the  entreaty  at 
the  last  the  king  and  she  met  together.     Now  will  we  do 
well,  said  Ulfius,  our  king  is  a  lusty  knight  and  wifeless,  and 
my  lady  Igraine  is  a  passing  fair  lady ;  it  were  great  joy  unto 
us  all,  an  it  might  please  the  king  to  make  her  his  queen. 
Unto  that  they  all  well  accorded  and  moved  it  to  the  king. 


8  King  Arthur 

And  anon,  like  a  lusty  knight,  he  assented  thereto  with  good 
will,  and  so  in  all  haste  they  were  married  in  a  morning  with 
great  mirth  and  joy.  And  King  Lot  of  Lothian  and  of 
Orkney  then  wedded  Margawse  that  was  Gawaine's  mother, 
and  King  Nentres  of  the  land  of  Garlot  wedded  Elaine. 
All  this  was  done  at  the  request  of  King  Uther.  And  the 
third  sister  Morgan  le  Fay  was  put  to  school  in  a  nunnery, 
and  there  she  learned  so  much  that  she  was  a  great  clerk  of 
necromancy,  and  after  she  was  wedded  to  King  Uriens  of  the 
land  of  Gore,  that  was  Sir  Ewain's  le  Blanchemain's  father. 


CHAPTER    III 

OF   THE   BIRTH   OF   KING   ARTHUR   AND   OF   HIS    NURTURE 

THEN  Queen  Igraine  waxed  daily  greater  and  greater,  so 
it  befell  after  within  half  a  year,  as  King  Uther  lay  by  his 
queen,  he  asked  her,  by  the  faith  she  owed  to  him,  whose 
was  the  child  within  her  body ;  then  was  she  sore  abashed 
to  give  answer.  Dismay  you  not,  said  the  king,  but  tell  me 
the  truth,  and  I  shall  love  you  the  better,  by  the  faith  of  my 
body.  Sir,  said  she,  I  shall  tell  you  the  truth.  The  same 
night  that  my  lord  was  dead,  the  hour  of  his  death,  as  his 
knights  record,  there  came  into  my  castle  of  Tintagil  a  man 
like  my  lord  in  speech  and  in  countenance,  and  two  knights 
with  him  in  likeness  of  his  two  knights  Brastias  and  Jordans, 
and  so  I  went  unto  bed  with  him  as  I  ought  to  do  with  my 
lord,  and  the  same  night,  as  I  shall  answer  unto  God,  this 
child  was  begotten  upon  me.  That  is  truth,  said  the  king, 
as  ye  say ;  for  it  was  I  myself  that  came  in  the  likeness, 
and  therefore  dismay  you  not,  for  I  am  father  of  the  child ; 
and  there  he  told  her  all  the  cause,  how  it  was  by  Merlin's 
counsel.  Then  the  queen  made  great  joy  when  she  knew 
who  was  the  father  of  her  child.  Soon  came  Merlin  unto 
the  king,  and  said,  Sir,  ye  must  purvey  you  for  the  nourishing 
of  your  child.  As  thou  wilt,  said  the  king,  be  it.  Well, 
said  Merlin,  I  know  a  lord  of  yours  in  this  land,  that  is 
a  passing  true  man  and  a  faithful,  and  he  shall  have  the 
nourishing  of  your  child,  and  his  name  is  Sir  Ector,  and 
he  is  a  lord  of  fair  livelihood  in  many  parts  in  England 
and  Wales  ;  and  this  lord,  Sir  Ector,  let  him  be  sent  for, 
for  to  come  and  speak  with  you,  and  desire  him  yourself 


King  Arthur  9 

as  he  loveth  you,  that  he  will  put  his  own  child  to  nourishing 
to  another  woman,  and  that  his  wife  nourish  yours.  And 
when  the  child  is  born  let  it  be  delivered  to  me  at  yonder 
privy  postern  unchristened.  So  like  as  Merlin  devised  it 
was  done.  And  when  Sir  Ector  was  come  he  made  fyaunce 
to  the  king  for  to  nourish  the  child  like  as  the  king  desired ; 
and  there  the  king  granted  Sir  Ector  great  rewards.  Then 
when  the  lady  was  delivered,  the  king  commanded  two 
knights  and  two  ladies  to  take  the  child,  bound  in  a  cloth 
of  gold,  and  that  ye  deliver  him  to  what  poor  man  ye  meet 
at  the  postern  gate  of  the  castle.  So  the  child  was  delivered 
unto  Merlin,  and  so  he  bare  it  forth  unto  Sir  Ector,  and 
made  an  holy  man  to  christen  him,  and  named  him  Arthur; 
and  so  Sir  Ector's  wife  nourished  him  with  her  own  pap. 


CHAPTER   IV 

OF  THE    DEATH   OF    KING   UTHER   PENDRAGON 

THEN  within  two  years  King  Uther  fell  sick  of  a  great 
malady.  And  in  the  meanwhile  his  enemies  usurped  upon 
him,  and  did  a  great  battle  upon  his  men,  and  slew  many 
of  his  people.  Sir,  said  Merlin,  ye  may  not  lie  so  as  ye  do, 
for  ye  must  to  the  field  though  ye  ride  on  an  horse-litter : 
for  ye  shall  never  have  the  better  of  your  enemies  but  if 
your  person  be  there,  and  then  shall  ye  have  the  victory. 
So  it  was  done  as  Merlin  had  devised,  and  they  carried  the 
king  forth  in  an  horse-litter  with  a  great  host  towards  his 
enemies.  And  at  St.  Albans  there  met  with  the  king  a 
great  host  of  the  North.  And  that  day  Sir  Ulfius  and 
Sir  Brastias  did  great  deeds  of  arms,  and  King  Uther's  men 
overcame  the  Northern  battle  and  slew  many  people,  and 
put  the  remnant  to  flight.  And  then  the  king  returned 
unto  London,  and  made  great  joy  of  his  victory.  And  then 
he  fell  passing  sore  sick,  so  that  three  days  and  three  nights 
he  was  speechless :  wherefore  all  the  barons  made  great 
sorrow,  and  asked  Merlin  what  counsel  were  best.  There 
is  none  other  remedy,  said  Merlin,  but  God  will  have  his 
will.  But  look  ye,  all  barons,  be  before  King  Uther 
to-morn,  and  God  and  I  shall  make  him  to  speak.  So  on 
the  morn  all  the  barons  with  Merlin  came  before  the  king ; 
then  Merlin  said  aloud  unto  King  Uther,  Sir,  shall  your 


io  King  Arthur 

son  Arthur  be  king  after  your  days,  of  this  realm  with  all 
the  appurtenance?  Then  Uther  Pendragon  turned  him, 
and  said  in  hearing  of  them  all,  I  give  him  God's  blessing 
and  mine,  and  bid  him  pray  for  my  soul,  and  righteously 
and  worshipfully  that  he  claim  the  crown  upon  forfeiture  of 
my  blessing ;  and  therewith  he  yielded  up  the  ghost,  and 
then  was  he  interred  as  longed  to  a  king.  Wherefore  the 
queen,  fair  Igraine,  made  great  sorrow,  and  all  the  barons. 


CHAPTER   V 

HOW  ARTHUR   WAS  CHOSEN    KING,  AND   OF   WONDERS    AND    MARVELS 
OF    A   SWORD    TAKEN    OUT    OF   A    STONE    B\    THE   SAID   ARTHUR 

THEN  stood  the  realm  in  great  jeopardy  long  while,  for 
every  lord  that  was  mighty  of  men  made  him  strong,  and 
many  weened  to  have  been  king.  Then  Merlin  went  to 
the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  and  counselled  him  for  to 
send  for  all  the  lords  of  the  realm,  and  all  the  gentlemen  of 
arms,  that  they  should  to  London  come  by  Christmas,  upon 
pain  of  cursing;  and  for  this  cause,  that  Jesus,  that  was 
born  on  that  night,  that  he  would  of  his  great  mercy  show 
some  miracle,  as  he  was  come  to  be  king  of  mankind,  for 
to  show  some  miracle  who  should  be  rightways  king  of  this 
realm.  So  the  Archbishop,  by  the  advice  of  Merlin,  sent 
for  all  the  lords  and  gentlemen  of  arms  that  they  should 
come  by  Christmas  even  unto  London.  And  many  of 
them  made  them  clean  of  their  life,  that  their  prayer  might 
be  the  more  acceptable  unto  God.  So  in  the  greatest 
church  of  London,  whether  it  were  Paul's  or  not  the  French 
book  maketh  no  mention,  all  the  estates  were  long  or  day 
in  the  church  for  to  pray.  And  when  matins  and  the  first 
mass  was  done,  there  was  seen  in  the  churchyard,  against 
the  high  altar,  a  great  stone  four  square,  like  unto  a  marble 
stone,  and  in  midst  thereof  was  like  an  anvil  of  steel  a  foot 
on  high,  and  therein  stuck  a  fair  sword  naked  by  the  point, 
and  letters  there  were  written  in  gold  about  the  sword  that 
said  thus  : — Whoso  pulleth  out  this  sword  of  this  stone  and 
anvil,  is  rightwise  king  born  of  all  England.  Then  the 
people  marvelled,  and  told  it  to  the  Archbishop.  I  command, 
said  the  Archbishop,  that  ye  keep  you  within  your  church, 
and  pray  unto  God  still ;  that  no  man  touch  the  sword  till 


King  Arthur  n 

the  high  mass  be  all  done.  So  when  all  masses  were  done 
all  the  lords  went  to  behold  the  stone  and  the  sword.  And 
when  they  saw  the  scripture,  some  assayed ;  such  as  would 
have  been  king.  But  none  might  stir  the  sword  nor  move 
it.  He  is  not  here,  said  the  Archbishop,  that  shall  achieve  the 
sword,  but  doubt  not  God  will  make  him  known.  But  this 
is  my  counsel,  said  the  Archbishop,  that  we  let  purvey  ten 
knights,  men  of  good  fame,  and  they  to  keep  this  sword. 
So  it  was  ordained,  and  then  there  was  made  a  cry,  that 
every  man  should  essay  that  would,  for  to  win  the  sword. 
And  upon  New  Year's  Day  the  barons  let  make  a  jousts 
and  a  tournament,  that  all  knights  that  would  joust  or 
tourney  there  might  play,  and  all  this  was  ordained  for  to 
keep  the  lords  and  the  commons  together,  for  the  Archbishop 
trusted  that  God  would  make  him  known  that  should  win 
the  sword.  So  upon  New  Year's  Day,  when  the  service 
was  done,  the  barons  rode  unto  the  field,  some  to  joust  and 
some  to  tourney,  and  so  it  happened  that  Sir  Ector,  that 
had  great  livelihood  about  London,  rode  unto  the  jousts, 
and  with  him  rode  Sir  Kay  his  son,  and  young  Arthur  that 
was  his  nourished  brother ;  and  Sir  Kay  was  made  knight 
at  All  Hallowmass  afore.  So  as  they  rode  to  the  jousts- 
ward,  Sir  Kay  had  lost  his  sword,  for  he  had  left  it  at  his 
father's  lodging,  and  so  he  prayed  young  Arthur  for  to  ride 
for  his  sword.  I  will  well,  said  Arthur,  and  rode  fast  after 
the  sword,  and  when  he  came  home,  the  lady  and  all  were 
out  to  see  the  jousting.  Then  was  Arthur  wroth,  and  said 
to  himself,  I  will  ride  to  the  churchyard,  and  take  the 
sword  with  me  that  sticketh  in  the  stone,  for  my  brother 
Sir  Kay  shall  not  be  without  a  sword  this  day.  So  when 
he  came  to  the  churchyard,  Sir  Arthur  alit  and  tied  his 
horse  to  the  stile,  and  so  he  went  to  the  tent,  and  found  no 
knights  there,  for  they  were  at  jousting ;  and  so  he  handled 
the  sword  by  the  handles,  and  lightly  and  fiercely  pulled 
it  out  of  the  stone,  and  took  his  horse  and  rode  his  way 
until  he  came  to  his  brother  Sir  Kay,  and  delivered  him  the 
sword.  And  as  soon  as  Sir  Kay  saw  the  sword,  he  wist 
well  it  was  the  sword  of  the  stone,  and  so  he  rode  to  his 
father  Sir  Ector,  and  said :  Sir,  lo  here  is  the  sword  of  the 
stone,  wherefore  I  must  be  king  of  this  land.  When  Sir 
Ector  beheld  the  sword,  he  returned  again  and  came  to  the 
church,  and  there  they  alit  all  three,  and  went  into  the 
church.  And  anon  he  made  Sir  Kay  to  swear  upon  a 


12  King  Arthur 

book  how  he  came  to  that  sword.  Sir,  said  Sir  Kay,  by 
my  brother  Arthur,  for  he  brought  it  to  me.  How  gat  ye 
this  sword  ?  said  Sir  Ector  to  Arthur.  Sir,  I  will  tell  you. 
When  I  came  home  for  my  brother's  sword,  I  found 
nobody  at  home  to  deliver  me  his  sword,  and  so  I  thought 
my  brother  Sir  Kay  should  not  be  swordless,  and  so  I 
came  hither  eagerly  and  pulled  it  out  of  the  stone  without 
any  pain.  Found  ye  any  knights  about  this  sword  ?  said 
Sir  Ector.  Nay,  said  Arthur.  Now,  said  Sir  Ector  to 
Arthur,  I  understand  ye  must  be  king  of  this  land.  Where- 
fore I,  said  Arthur,  and  for  what  cause  ?  Sir,  said  Ector, 
for  God  will  have  it  so,  for  there  should  never  man  have 
drawn  out  this  sword,  but  he  that  shall  be  rightways  king 
of  this  land.  Now  let  me  see  whether  ye  can  put  the 
sword  there  as  it  was,  and  pull  it  out  again.  That  is  no 
mastery,  said  Arthur,  and  so  he  put  it  in  the  stone,  there- 
withal Sir  Ector  essayed  to  pull  out  the  sword  and  failed. 


CHAPTER    VI 

HOW    KING   ARTHUR   PULLED   OUT   THE    SWORD   DIVERS   TIMES 

Now  assay,  said  Sir  Ector  unto  Sir  Kay.  And  anon  he 
pulled  at  the  sword  with  all  his  might,  but  it  would  not  be. 
Now  shall  ye  essay,  said  Sir  Ector  to  Arthur.  I  will  well, 
said  Arthur,  and  pulled  it  out  easily.  And  therewithal  Sir 
Ector  knelt  down  to  the  earth,  and  Sir  Kay.  Alas,  said 
Arthur,  my  own  dear  father  and  brother,  why  kneel  ye  to 
me  ?  Nay,  nay,  my  lord  Arthur,  it  is  not  so,  I  was  never 
your  father  nor  of  your  blood,  but  I  wot  well  ye  are  of  an 
higher  blood  than  I  weened  ye  were.  And  then  Sir  Ector 
told  him  all,  how  he  was  bitaken  him  for  to  nourish  him, 
and  by  whose  commandment,  and  by  Merlin's  deliverance. 
Then  Arthur  made  great  doole  when  he  understood  that 
Sir  Ector  was  not  his  father.  Sir,  said  Ector  unto  Arthur, 
will  ye  be  my  good  and  gracious  lord  when  ye  are  king  ? 
Else  were  I  to  blame,  said  Arthur,  for  ye  are  the  man  in 
the  world  that  I  am  most  beholden  to,  and  my  good  lady 
and  mother  your  wife,  that  as  well  as  her  own  hath  fostered 
me  and  kept.  And  if  ever  it  be  God's  will  that  I  be  king 
as  ye  say,  ye  shall  desire  of  me  what  I  may  do,  and  I  shall 
not  fail  you,  God  forbid  I  should  fail  you.  Sir,  said  Sir 


King  Arthur  13 

Ector,  I  will  ask  no  more  of  you,  but  that  ye  will  make  my 
son,  your  foster  brother,  Sir  Kay,  seneschal  of  all  your 
lands.  That  shall  be  done,  said  Arthur,  and  more,  by  the 
faith  of  my  body,  that  never  man  shall  have  that  office  but 
he,  while  he  and  I  live.  Therewithal  they  went  unto  the 
Archbishop,  and  told  him  how  the  sword  was  achieved,  and 
by  whom ;  and  on  Twelfth-day  all  the  barons  came  thither, 
and  to  essay  to  take  the  sword,  who  that  would  essay.  But 
there  afore  them  all,  there  might  none  take  it  out  but 
Arthur ;  wherefore  there  were  many  lords  wroth,  and  said  it 
was  great  shame  unto  them  all  and  the  realm,  to  be  over- 
governed  with  a  boy  of  no  high  blood  born,  and  so  they  fell 
out  at  that  time  that  it  was  put  off  till  Candlemas,  and  then 
all  the  barons  should  meet  there  again ;  but  always  the  ten 
knights  were  ordained  to  watch  the  sword  day  and  night, 
and  so  they  set  a  pavilion  over  the  stone  and  the  sword, 
and  five  always  watched.  So  at  Candlemas  many  more 
great  lords  came  thither  for  to  have  won  the  sword,  but 
there  might  none  prevail.  And  right  as  Arthur  did  at 
Christmas,  he  did  at  Candlemas,  and  pulled  out  the  sword 
easily,  whereof  the  barons  were  sore  agrieved  and  put  it  off 
in  delay  till  the  high  feast  of  Easter.  And  as  Arthur  sped 
before,  so  did  he  at  Easter,  yet  there  were  some  of  the 
great  lords  had  indignation  that  Arthur  should  be  king,  and 
put  it  off  in  a  delay  till  the  feast  of  Pentecost.  Then  the 
Archbishop  of  Canterbury  by  Merlyn's  providence  let  purvey 
then  of  the  best  knights  that  they  might  get,  and  such 
knights  as  Uther  Pendragon  loved  best  and  most  trusted  in 
his  days.  And  such  knights  were  put  about  Arthur  as  Sir 
Baudwin  of  Britain,  Sir  Kay,  Sir  Ulfius,  Sir  Brastias.  All 
these  with  many  other,  were  always  about  Arthur,  day  and 
night,  till  the  feast  of  Pentecost. 


CHAPTER    VII 

HOW   KING   ARTHUR   WAS  CROWNED,    AND    HOW    HE   MADE    OFFICERS 

AND  at  the  feast  of  Pentecost  all  manner  of  men  essayed 
to  pull  at  the  sword  that  would  essay,  but  none  might 
prevail  but  Arthur,  and  pulled  it  out  afore  all  the  lords  and 
commons  that  were  there,  wherefore  all  the  commons  cried 
at  once,  We  will  have  Arthur  unto  our  king,  we  will  put  him 

I  45  *B 


14  King  Arthur 

no  more  in  delay,  for  we  all  see  that  it  is  God's  will  that  he 
shall  be  our  king,  and  who  that  holdeth  against  it,  we  will 
slay  him.  And  therewith  they  all  kneeled  at  once,  both 
rich  and  poor,  and  cried  Arthur  mercy  because  they  had 
delayed  him  so  long,  and  Arthur  forgave  them,  and  took 
the  sword  between  both  his  hands,  and  offered  it  upon  the 
altar  where  the  Archbishop  was,  and  so  was  he  made  knight 
of  the  best  man  that  was  there.  And  so  anon  was  the 
coronation  made.  And  there  was  he  sworn  unto  his  lords 
and  the  commons  for  to  be  a  true  king,  to  stand  with  true 
justice  from  thenceforth  the  days  of  this  life.  Also  then  he 
made  all  lords  that  held  of  the  crown  to  come  in,  and  to  do 
service  as  they  ought  to  do.  And  many  complaints  were 
made  unto  Sir  Arthur  of  great  wrongs  that  were  done  since 
the  death  of  King  Uther,  of  many  lands  that  were  bereaved 
lords,  knights,  ladies,  and  gentlemen.  Wherefore  King 
Arthur  made  the  lands  to  be  given  again  unto  them  that 
owned  them.  When  this  was  done,  that  the  king  had 
stablished  all  the  countries  about  London,  then  he  let  make 
Sir  Kay  seneschal  of  England ;  and  Sir  Baudwin  of  Britain 
was  made  constable;  and  Sir  Ulfius  was  made  chamberlain; 
and  Sir  Brastias  was  made  warden  to  wait  upon  the  north 
from  Trent  forwards,  for  it  was  that  time  the  most  part  the 
king's  enemies.  But  within  few  years  after,  Arthur  won 
all  the  north,  Scotland,  and  all  that  were  under  their 
obeissance.  Also  Wales,  a  part  of  it  held  against  Arthur, 
but  he  overcame  them  all,  as  he  did  the  remnant,  through 
the  noble  prowess  of  himself  and  his  knights  of  the  Round 
Table. 


CHAPTER    VIII 

HOW    KING    ARTHUR    HELD    IN    WALES,  AT    A    PENTECOST,    A    GREAT 
FEAST,     AND    WHAT    KINGS    AND    LORDS    CAME   TO    HIS    FEAST 

THEN  the  king  removed  into  Wales,  and  let  cry  a  great 
feast  that  it  should  be  holden  at  Pentecost  after  the  incoro- 
nation  of  him  at  the  city  of  Carlion.  Unto  the  feast  came 
King  Lot  of  Lothian  and  of  Orkney,  with  five  hundred 
knights  with  him.  Also  there  came  to  the  feast  King 
Uriens  of  Gore  with  four  hundred  knights  with  him.  Also 
there  came  to  that  feast  King  Nentres  of  Garlot,  with  seven 


King  Arthur  15 

hundred  knights  with  him.  Also  there  came  to  the  feast 
the  king  of  Scotland  with  six  hundred  knights  with  him, 
and  he  was  but  a  young  man.  Also  there  came  to  the 
feast  a  king  that  was  called  the  king  with  the  hundred 
knights,  but  he  and  his  men  were  passing  well  bisene  at  all 
points.  Also  there  came  the  king  of  Carados  with  five 
hundred  knights.  And  King  Arthur  was  glad  of  their 
coming,  for  he  weened  that  all  the  kings  and  knights  had 
come  for  great  love,  and  to  have  done  him  worship  at  his 
feast,  wherefore  the  king  made  great  joy,  and  sent  the  kings 
and  knights  great  presents.  But  the  kings  would  none 
receive,  but  rebuked  the  messengers  shamefully,  and  said 
they  had  no  joy  to  receive  no  gifts  of  a  beardless  boy  that 
was  come  of  low  blood,  and  sent  him  word  they  would  none 
of  his  gifts,  but  that  they  were  come  to  give  him  gifts  with 
hard  swords  betwixt  the  neck  and  the  shoulders :  and  there- 
fore they  came  thither,  so  they  told  to  the  messengers 
plainly,  for  it  was  great  shame  to  all  them  to  see  such  a  boy 
to  have  a  rule  of  so  noble  a  realm  as  this  land  was.  With 
this  answer  the  messengers  departed  and  told  to  King 
Arthur  this  answer.  Wherefore,  by  the  advice  of  his  barons, 
he  took  him  to  a  strong  tower  with  five  hundred  good  men 
with  him :  and  all  the  kings  aforesaid  in  a  manner  laid  a 
siege  tofore  him,  but  King  Arthur  was  well  victualed.  And 
within  fifteen  days  there  came  Merlin  among  them  into  the 
city  of  Carlion.  Then  all  the  kings  were  passing  glad  of 
Merlin,  and  asked  him,  For  what  cause  is  that  boy  Arthur 
made  your  king?  Sirs,  said  Merlin,  I  shall  tell  you  the 
cause,  for  he  is  King  Uther  Pendragons  son,  born  in 
wedlock,  gotten  on  Igraine,  the  duke's  wife  of  Tintagil. 
Then  is  he  a  bastard,  they  said  all.  Nay,  said  Merlin, 
after  the  death  of  the  duke,  more  than  three  hours,  was 
Arthur  begotten,  and  thirteen  days  after  King  Uther  weddsd 
Igraine ;  and  therefore  I  prove  him  he  is  no  bastard,  and 
who  saith  nay,  he  shall  be  king  and  overcome  all  his 
enemies ;  and,  or  he  die,  he  shall  be  long  king  of  all  England, 
and  have  under  his  obeissance  Wales,  Ireland,  and  Scotland, 
and  more  realms  than  I  will  now  rehearse.  Some  of  the 
kings  had  marvel  of  Merlin's  words,  and  deemed  well  that 
it  should  be  as  he  said ;  and  some  of  them  laughed  him  to 
scorn,  as  King  Lot ;  and  more  other  called  him  a  witch. 
But  then  were  they  accorded  with  Merlin,  that  King  Arthur 
should  come  out  and  speak  with  the  kings,  and  to  come 


1 6  King  Arthur 

safe  and  to  go  safe,  such  assurance  there  was  made.  So 
Merlin  went  unto  King  Arthur,  and  told  him  how  he  had 
done,  and  bade  him  fear  not,  but  come  out  boldly  and 
speak  with  them,  and  spare  them  not,  but  answer  them  as 
their  king  and  chieftain,  for  ye  shall  overcome  them  all, 
whether  they  will  or  nill. 


CHAPTER    IX 

OF   THE    FIRST    WAR   THAT    KING    ARTHUR    HAD,    AND  HOW    HE    WON 

THE    FIELD 

THEN  King  Arthur  came  out  of  his  tower,  and  had  under 
his  gown  a  jesseraunte  of  double  mail,  and  there  went  with 
him  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  and  Sir  Baudwin  of 
Britain,  and  Sir  Kay,  and  Sir  Brastias  :  these  were  the  men 
of  most  worship  that  were  with  him.  And  when  they  were 
met  there  was  no  meekness,  but  stout  words  on  both  sides  ; 
but  always  King  Arthur  answered  them,  and  said  he  would 
make  them  to  bow  an  he  lived.  Wherefore  they  departed 
with  wrath,  and  King  Arthur  bade  keep  them  well,  and 
they  bade  the  king  keep  him  well.  So  the  king  returned 
him  to  the  tower  again  and  armed  him  and  all  his  knights. 
What  will  ye  do  ?  said  Merlin  to  the  kings ;  ye  were  better 
for  to  stynte,  for  ye  shall  not  here  prevail  though  ye  were 
ten  times  so  many.  Be  we  well  advised  to  be  afeard 
of  a  dream-reader?  said  King  Lot.  With  that  Merlin 
vanished  away,  and  came  to  King  Arthur,  and  bade  him  set 
on  them  fiercely ;  and  in  the  meanwhile  there  were  three 
hundred  good  men  of  the  best  that  were  with  the  kings,  that 
went  straight  unto  King  Arthur  and  that  comforted  him 
greatly.  Sir,  said  Merlin  to  Arthur,  fight  not  with  the 
sword  that  ye  had  by  miracle,  till  that  ye  see  ye  go  unto  the 
worse,  then  draw  it  out  and  do  your  best.  So  forthwithal 
King  Arthur  set  upon  them  in  their  lodging.  And  Sir 
Baudwin,  Sir  Kay,  and  Sir  Brastias  slew  on  the  right  hand 
and  on  the  left  hand  that  it  was  marvel ;  and  always  King 
Arthur  on  horseback  laid  on  with  a  sword,  and  did  marvel- 
lous deeds  of  arms  that  many  of  the  kings  had  great  joy  of 
his  deeds  and  hardiness.  Then  King  Lot  brake  out  on  the 
back  side,  and  the  king  with  the  hundred  knights,  and  King 
Carados,  and  set  on  Arthur  fiercely  behind  him.  With  that 


King  Arthur  17 

Sir  Arthur  turned  with  his  knights,  and  smote  behind  and 
before,  and  ever  Sir  Arthur  was  in  the  foremost  press  till  his 
horse  was  slain  underneath  him.  And  therewith  King  Lot 
smote  down  King  Arthur.  With  that  his  four  knights 
received  him  and  set  him  on  horseback.  Then  he  drew  his 
sword  Excalibur,  but  it  was  so  bright  in  his  enemies'  eyes, 
that  it  gave  light  like  thirty  torches.  And  therewith  he  put 
them  on  back,  and  slew  much  people.  And  then  the 
commons  of  Carlion  arose  with  clubs  and  staves  and  slew 
many  knights ;  but  all  the  kings  held  them  together  with 
their  knights  that  were  left  alive,  and  so  fled  and  departed. 
And  Merlin  came  unto  Arthur,  and  counselled  him  to 
follow  them  no  further. 


CHAPTER  X 

HOW  MERLIN  COUNSELLED  KING  ARTHUR  TO  SEND  FOR  KING  BAN 
AND  KING  BORS,  AND  OF  THEIR  COUNSEL  TAKEN  FOR  THE 
WAR 

So  after  the  feast  and  journey,  King  Arthur  drew  him 
unto  London,  and  so  by  the  counsel  of  Merlin,  the  king  let 
call  his  barons  to  council,  for  Merlin  had  told  the  king  that 
the  six  kings  that  made  war  upon  him  would  in  all  haste  be 
awroke  on  him  and  on  his  lands.  Wherefore  the  king 
asked  counsel  at  them  all.  They  could  no  counsel  give, 
but  said  they  were  big  enough.  Ye  say  well,  said  Arthur ; 
I  thank  you  for  your  good  courage,  but  will  ye  all  that 
loveth  me  speak  with  Merlin  ?  ye  know  well  that  he  hath 
done  much  for  me,  and  he  knoweth  many  things,  and  when 
he  is  afore  you,  I  would  that  ye  prayed  him  heartily  of  his 
best  advice.  AH  the  barons  said  they  would  pray  him  and 
desire  him.  So  Merlin  was  sent  for,  and  fair  desired  of  all 
the  barons  to  give  them  best  counsel.  I  shall  say  you,  said 
Merlin,  I  warn  you  all,  your  enemies  are  passing  strong  for 
you,  and  they  are  good  men  of  arms  as  be  alive,  and  by  this 
time  they  have  gotten  to  them  four  kings  more  and  a  mighty 
duke;  and  unless  that  our  king  have  more  chivalry  with 
him  than  he  may  make  within  the  bounds  of  his  own 
realm,  an  he  fight  with  them  in  battle,  he  shall  be  overcome 
and  slain.  What  were  best  to  do  in  this  cause?  said  all  the 
barons.  I  shall  tell  you,  said  Merlin,  my  advice  ;  there  are 
two  brethren  beyond  the  sea,  and  they  be  kings  both  and 


1 8  King  Arthur 

marvellous  good  men  of  their  hands  ;  and  that  one  hight 
King  Ban  of  Benwick,  and  that  other  hight  King  Bors  of 
Gaul,  that  is  France.  And  on  these  two  kings  warreth  a 
mighty  man  of  men,  the  King  Claudas,  and  striveth  with 
them  for  a  castle,  and  great  war  is  betwixt  them  :  but  this 
Claudas  is  so  mighty  of  goods  whereof  he  getteth  good 
knights,  that  he  putteth  these  two  kings  most  part  to  the 
worse ;  wherefore  this  is  my  counsel,  that  our  king  and 
sovereign  lord  send  unto  the  kings  Ban  and  Bors  by  two 
trusty  knights  with  letters  well  devised,  that  if  they  will  come 
and  see  King  Arthur  and  his  court,  and  so  help  him  in  his 
wars,  that  he  will  be  sworn  unto  them  to  help  them  in  their 
wars  against  King  Claudas.  Now,  what  say  ye  unto  this 
counsel  ?  said  Merlin.  This  is  well  counselled,  said  the 
king  and  all  the  barons.  Right  so  in  all  haste  there  were 
ordained  to  go  two  knights  on  the  message  unto  the  two 
kings.  So  were  there  made  letters  in  the  pleasant  wise 
according  unto  King  Arthur's  desire.  Ulfius  and  Brastias 
were  made  the  messengers,  and  so  rode  forth  well  horsed 
and  well  armed,  and  as  the  guise  was  that  time,  and  so 
passed  the  sea  and  rode  toward  the  city  of  Benwick.  And 
there  besides  were  eight  knights  that  espied  them,  and  at  a 
straight  passage  they  met  with  Ulfius  and  Brastias,  and 
would  have  taken  them  prisoners  ;  so  they  prayed  them  that 
they  might  pass,  for  they  were  messengers  unto  King  Ban 
and  Bors  sent  from  King  Arthur.  Therefore,  said  the  eight 
knights,  ye  shall  die  or  be  prisoners,  for  we  be  knights  of 
King  Claudas.  And  therewith  two  of  them  dressed  their 
spears,  and  Ulfius  and  Brastias  dressed  their  spears,  and 
ran  together  with  great  raundon,  and  Claudas'  knights 
brake  their  spears,  and  theirs  to-held  and  bare  the  two 
knights  out  of  their  saddles  to  the  earth,  and  so  left 
them  lying,  and  rode  their  ways.  And  the  other  six  knights 
rode  afore  to  a  passage  to  meet  with  them  again,  and  so 
Ulfius  and  Brastias  smote  other  two  down,  and  so  passed  on 
their  ways.  And  at  the  fourth  passage  there  met  two  for 
two,  and  both  were  laid  unto  the  earth  ;  so  there  was  none 
of  the  eight  knights  but  he  was  sore  hurt  or  bruised.  And 
when  they  come  to  Benwick  it  fortuned  there  were  both 
Kings  Ban  and  Bors.  And  when  it  was  told  the  kings  that 
there  were  come  messengers,  there  were  sent  unto  them  two 
knights  of  worship,  the  one  hight  Lionses,  lord  of  the 
country  of  Payarne,  and  Sir  Phariance  a  worshipful  knight. 


King  Arthur  19 

Anon  they  asked  from  whence  they  came,  and  they  said 
from  King  Arthur,  king  of  England ;  so  they  took  them  in 
their  arms  and  made  great  joy  each  of  other.  But  anon,  as 
the  two  kings  wist  they  were  messengers  of  Arthur's,  there 
was  made  no  tarrying,  but  forthwith  they  spake  with  the 
knights,  and  welcomed  them  in  the  faithfullest  wise,  and  said 
they  were  most  welcome  unto  them  before  all  the  kings 
living.  And  therewith  they  kissed  the  letters  and  delivered 
them ;  and  when  Ban  and  Bors  understood  the  letters,  then 
they  were  more  welcome  than  they  were  before.  And  after 
the  haste  of  the  letters,  they  gave  them  this  answer,  that  they 
would  fulfil  the  desire  of  King  Arthur's  writing,  and  Ulfius 
and  Brastias  tarry  there  as  long  as  they  would,  they  should 
have  such  cheer  as  might  be  made  them  in  those  marches. 
Then  Ulfius  and  Brastias  told  the  king  of  the  adventure  at 
their  passages  of  the  eight  knights.  Ha  !  ah  !  said  Ban  and 
Bors,  they  were  my  good  friends.  I  would  I  had  wist  of 
them,  they  should  not  have  escaped  so.  So  Ulfius  and 
Brastias  had  good  cheer  and  great  gifts  as  much  as  they 
might  bear  away,  and  had  their  answer  by  mouth  and  by 
writing,  that  those  two  kings  would  come  unto  Arthur  in  all 
the  haste  that  they  might.  So  the  two  knights  rode  on 
afore,  and  passed  the  sea,  and  come  to  their  lord,  and  told 
him  how  they  had  sped,  whereof  King  Arthur  was  passing 
glad.  At  what  time  suppose  ye  the  two  kings  will  be  here  ? 
Sir,  said  they,  afore  All  Hallowmass.  Then  the  king  let 
purvey  for  a  great  feast,  and  let  cry  a  great  jousts.  And  by 
All  Hallowmass  the  two  kings  were  come  over  the  sea  with 
three  hundred  knights  well  arrayed  both  for  the  peace  and 
for  the  war.  And  King  Arthur  met  with  them  ten  mile  out 
of  London,  and  there  was  great  joy  as  could  be  thought  or 
made.  And  on  All  Hallowmass  at  the  great  feast,  sat  in 
the  hall  the  three  kings,  and  Sir  Kay  seneschal  served  in  the 
hall,  and  Sir  Lucas  the  butler,  that  was  Duke  Corneus'  son, 
and  Sir  Griflet,  that  was  the  son  of  Cardol,  these  three 
knights  had  the  rule  of  all  the  service  that  served  the  kings. 
And  anon,  as  they  had  washen  and  risen,  all  knights  that 
would  joust  made  them  ready.  By  when  they  were  ready 
on  horseback  there  were  seven  hundred  knights.  And 
Arthur,  Ban,  and  Bors,  with  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury, 
and  Sir  Ector,  Kay's  father,  they  were  in  a  place  covered 
with  cloth  of  gold  like  an  hali,  with  ladies  and  gentlewomen, 
for  to  behold  who  did  best,  and  thereon  to  give  judgment. 


2O  King  Arthur 


CHAPTER   XI 

OF    A    GREAT    TOURNEY    MADE    BY    KING     ARTHUR    AND    THE    TWO 
KINGS    BAN   AND    BORS,    AND    HOW   THEY   WENT   OVER    THE   SEA 

AND  King  Arthur  and  the  two  kings  let  depart  the  seven 
hundred  knights  in  two  parties.  And  there  were  three 
hundred  knights  of  the  realm  of  Benwick  and  of  Gaul 
turned  on  the  other  side.  Then  they  dressed  their  shields, 
and  began  to  couch  their  spears  many  good  knights.  So 
Griflet  was  the  first  that  met  with  a  knight,  one  Ladinas, 
and  they  met  so  eagerly  that  all  men  had  wonder ;  and  they 
so  fought  that  their  shields  fell  to  pieces,  and  horse  and 
man  fell  to  the  earth ;  and  both  the  French  knight  and  the 
English  knight  lay  so  long  that  all  men  weened  they  had 
been  dead.  When  Lucas  the  butler  saw  Griflet  so  lie,  he 
horsed  him  again  anon,  and  they  two  did  marvellous  deeds 
of  arms  with  many  bachelors.  Also  Sir  Kay  came  out  of  an 
embushment  with  five  knights  with  him,  and  they  six  smote 
other  six  down.  But  Sir  Kay  did  that  day  marvellous  deeds 
of  arms  that  there  was  none  did  so  well  as  he  that  day. 
Then  there  come  Ladinas  and  Gracian,  two  knights  of 
France,  and  did  passing  well,  that  all  men  praised  them. 
Then  come  there  Sir  Placidas,  a  good  knight,  and  met  with 
Sir  Kay,  and  smote  him  down  horse  and  man,  wherefore  Sir 
Griflet  was  wroth,  and  met  with  Sir  Placidas  so  hard,  that 
horse  and  man  fell  to  the  earth.  But  when  the  five  knights 
wist  that  Sir  Kay  had  a  fall,  they  were  wroth  out  of  wit,  and 
therewith  each  of  them  five  bare  down  a  knight.  When 
King  Arthur  and  the  two  kings  saw  them  begin  to  wax  wroth 
on  both  parties,  they  leapt  on  small  hackneys,  and  let  cry 
that  all  men  should  depart  unto  their  lodging.  And  so  they 
went  home  and  unarmed  them,  and  so  to  evensong  and 
supper.  And  after,  the  three  kings  went  into  a  garden,  and 
gave  the  prize  unto  Sir  Kay,  and  to  Lucas  the  butler,  and 
unto  Sir  Griflet.  And  then  they  went  unto  council,  and 
with  them  Gwenbaus,  the  brother  unto  Sir  Ban  and  Bors,  a 
wise  clerk,  and  thither  went  Ulfius  and  Brastias,  and  Merlin. 
And  after  they  had  been  in  council,  they  went  unto  bed. 
And  on  the  morn  they  heard  mass,  and  to  dinner,  and  so  to 
their  council,  and  made  many  arguments  what  were  best  to 
do.  At  the  last  they  were  concluded,  that  Merlin  should  go 
with  a  token  of  King  Ban,  and  that  was  a  ring,  unto  his  men 


King  Arthur  21 

and  King  Bors's  ;  and  Gracian  and  Placidas  should  go  again 
and  keep  their  castles  and  their  countries,  as  King  Ban  of 
Benvvick,  and  King  Bors  of  Gaul  had  ordained  them,  and  so 
they  passed  the  sea  and  came  to  Benwick,  And  when  the 
people  saw  King  Ban's  ring,  and  Gracian  and  Placidas,  they 
were  glad,  and  asked  how  the  kings  fared,  and  made  great 
joy  of  their  welfare  and  cordyng,  and  according  unto  the 
sovereign  lords'  desire,  the  men  of  war  made  them  ready  in 
all  haste  possible,  so  that  they  were  fifteen  thousand  on 
horse  and  foot,  and  they  had  great  plenty  of  victual  with 
them,  by  Merlin's  provision.  But  Gracian  and  Placidas 
were  left  to  furnish  and  garnish  the  castles,  for  dread  of  King 
Claudas.  Right  so  Merlin  passed  the  sea  well  victualled 
both  by  water  and  by  land.  And  when  he  came  to  the  sea 
he  sent  home  the  foot  men  again,  and  took  no  more  with 
him  but  ten  thousand  men  on  horseback,  the  most  part  men 
of  arms,  and  so  shipped  and  passed  the  sea  into  England, 
and  landed  at  Dover ;  and  through  the  wit  of  Merlin,  he  led 
the  host  northward,  the  priviest  way  that  could  be  thought, 
unto  the  forest  of  Bedegraine,  and  there  in  a  valley  he  lodged 
them  secretly.  Then  rode  Merlin  unto  Arthur  and  the  two 
kings,  and  told  them  how  he  had  sped ;  whereof  they  had 
great  marvel,  that  man  on  earth  might  speed  so  soon,  and  go 
and  come.  So  Merlin  told  them  ten  thousand  were  in  the 
forest  of  Bedegraine,  well  armed  at  all  points.  Then  was 
there  no  more  to  say,  but  to  horseback  went  all  the  host  as 
Arthur  had  afore  purveyed.  So  with  twenty  thousand  he 
passed  by  night  and  day,  but  there  was  made  such  an 
ordinance  afore  by  Merlin,  that  there  should  no  man  of  war 
ride  nor  go  in  no  country  on  this  side  Trent  water,  but  if  he 
had  a  token  from  King  Arthur,  where  through  the  king's 
enemies  durst  not  ride  as  they  did  tofore  to  espy. 


CHAPTER   XII 

HOW   ELEVEN    KINGS   GATHERED    A   GREAT   HOST   AGAINST 

KING   ARTHUR 

AND  so  within  a  little  space  the  three  kings  came  unto 
the  castle  of  Bedegraine,  and  found  there  a  passing  fair 
fellowship,  and  well  besene,  whereof  they  had  great  joy,  and 
victual  they  wanted  none.  This  was  the  cause  of  the 
northern  host :  that  they  were  reared  for  the  despite  and 


22  King  Arthur 

rebuke  the  six  kings  had  at  Carlion.  And  those  six  kings 
by  their  means,  gat  unto  them  five  other  kings ;  and  thus 
they  began  to  gather  their  people ;  and  how  they  sware  that 
for  weal  nor  woe,  they  should  not  leave  other,  till  they  had 
destroyed  Arthur.  And  then  they  made  an  oath.  The 
first  that  began  the  oath  was  the  Duke  of  Cambenet,  that  he 
would  bring  with  him  five  thousand  men  of  arms,  the  which 
were  ready  on  horseback.  Then  sware  King  Brandegoris  of 
Stranggore  that  he  would  bring  five  thousand  men  of  arms 
on  horseback.  Then  sware  King  Clariance  of  Northumber- 
land he  would  bring  three  thousand  men  of  arms.  Then 
sware  the  king  of  the  hundred  knights,  that  was  a  passing 
good  man  and  a  young,  that  he  would  bring  four  thousand 
men  of  arms  on  horseback.  Then  there  swore  King  Lot,  a 
passing  good  knight,  and  Sir  Gawain's  father,  that  he  would 
bring  five  thousand  men  of  arms  on  horseback.  Also  there 
swore  King  Urience,  that  was  Sir  Uwain's  father,  of  the  land 
of  Gore,  and  he  would  bring  six  thousand  men  of  arms  on 
horseback.  Also  there  swore  King  Idres  of  Cornwall,  that 
he  would  bring  five  thousand  men  of  arms  on  horseback. 
Also  there  swore  King  Cradelmas  to  bring  five  thousand 
men  on  horseback.  Also  there  swore  King  Agwisance  of 
Ireland  to  bring  five  thousand  men  of  arms  on  horseback. 
Also  there  swore  King  Nentres  to  bring  five  thousand  men 
of  arms  on  horseback.  Also  there  swore  King  Carados  to 
bring  five  thousand  men  of  arms  on  horseback.  So  their 
whole  host  was  of  clene  men  of  arms  on  horseback  fifty 
thousand,  and  a-foot  ten  thousand,  of  good  men's  bodies. 
Then  were  they  soon  ready,  and  mounted  upon  horse  and 
sent  forth  their  fore-riders,  for  these  eleven  kings  in  their 
ways  laid  a  siege  unto  the  castle  of  Bedegraine  ;  and  so  they 
departed  and  drew  toward  Arthur,  and  left  few  to  abide  at 
the  siege,  for  the  castle  of  Bedegraine  was  holden  of  King 
Arthur,  and  the  men  that  were  therein  were  Arthur's. 


CHAPTER   XIII 

OF   A    DREAM   OF  THE    KING   WITH   THE    HUNDRED    KNIGHTS 

So  by  Merlin's  advice  there  were  sent  fore-riders  to  skim 
the  country,  and  they  met  with  the  fore-riders  of  the  north, 
and  made  them  to  tell  which  way  the  host  came,  and  then 
they  told  it  to  Arthur,  and  by  King  Ban  and  Bors'  council 


King  Arthur  23 

they  let  burn  and  destroy  all  the  country  afore  them,  where 
they  should  ride.  The  king  with  the  hundred  knights  mette 
a  wonder  dream  two  nights  afore  the  battle,  that  there  blew 
a  great  wind,  and  blew  down  their  castles  and  their  towns, 
and  after  that  came  a  water  and  bare  it  all  away.  All  that 
heard  of  the  sweven,  said  it  was  a  token  of  great  battle. 
Then  by  counsel  of  Merlin,  when  they  wist  which  way  the 
eleven  kings  would  ride  and  lodge  that  night,  at  midnight 
they  set  upon  them,  as  they  were  in  their  pavilions.  But  the 
scout-watch  by  their  host  cried,  Lords !  at  arms !  for  here 
be  your  enemies  at  your  hand ! 


CHAPTER   XIV 

HOW     THE     ELEVEN     KINGS     WITH     THEIR     HOST     FOUGHT    AGAINST 
ARTHUR  AND    HIS    HOST,  AND    MANY    GREAT   FEATS  OF  THE  WAR 

THEN  King  Arthur  and  King  Ban  and  King  Bors,  with 
their  good  and  trusty  knights,  set  on  them  so  fiercely  that 
they  made  them  overthrow  their  pavilions  on  their  heads, 
but  the  eleven  kings,  by  manly  prowess  of  arms,  took  a  fair 
champaign,  but  there  was  slain  that  morrowtide  ten  thousand 
good  men's  bodies.  And  so  they  had  afore  them  a  strong 
passage,  yet  were  they  fifty  thousand  of  hardy  men.  Then 
it  drew  toward  day.  Now  shall  ye  do  by  mine  advice,  said 
Merlin  unto  the  three  kings :  I  would  that  King  Ban  and 
King  Bors,  with  their  fellowship  of  ten  thousand  men,  were 
put  in  a  wood  here  beside,  in  an  embushment,  and  keep 
them  privy,  and  that  they  be  laid  or  the  light  of  the  day 
come,  and  that  they  stir  not  till  ye  and  your  knights  have 
fought  with  them  long.  And  when  it  is  daylight,  dress  your 
battle  even  afore  them  and  the  passage,  that  they  may  see 
all  your  host,  for  then  will  they  be  the  more  hardy,  when 
they  see  you  but  about  twenty  thousand  men,  and  cause 
them  to  be  the  gladder  to  suffer  you  and  your  host  to  come 
over  the  passage.  All  the  three  kings  and  the  whole  barons 
said  that  Merlin  said  passingly  well,  and  it  was  done  anon 
as  Merlin  had  devised.  So  on  the  morn,  when  either  host 
saw  other,  the  host  of  the  north  was  well  comforted.  Then 
to  Ulfius  and  Brastias  were  delivered  three  thousand  men 
of  arms,  and  they  set  on  them  fiercely  in  the  passage,  and 
slew  on  the  right  hand  and  on  the  left  hand  that  it  was 


24  Kin"  Arthur 


wonder  to  tell.  When  that  the  eleven  kings  saw  that  there 
was  so  few  a  fellowship  did  such  deeds  of  arms,  they  were 
ashamed  and  set  on  them  again  fiercely  ;  and  there  was  Sir 
Ulfius's  horse  slain  under  him,  but  he  did  marvellously  well 
on  foot.  But  the  Duke  Eustace  of  Cambenet  and  King 
Clariance  of  Northumberland,  were  alway  grievous  on 
Ulfius.  When  Brastias  saw  his  fellow  fared  so  withal,  he 
smote  the  duke  with  a  spear,  that  horse  and  man  fell  down. 
That  saw  King  Clariance  and  returned  unto  Brastias,  and 
either  smote  other  so  that  horse  and  man  went  to  the  earth, 
and  so  they  lay  long  astonied,  and  their  horse  knees  brast 
to  the  hard  bone.  Then  came  Sir  Kay  the  seneschal  with 
six  fellows  with  him,  and  did  passing  well.  With  that  came 
the  eleven  kings,  and  there  was  Griflet  put  to  the  earth, 
horse  and  man,  and  Lucas  the  butler,  horse  and  man,  by 
King  Brandegoris,  and  King  Idres,  and  King  Agwisance. 
Then  waxed  the  medley  passing  hard  on  both  parties. 
When  Sir  Kay  saw  Griflet  on  foot,  he  rode  on  King  Nentres 
and  smote  him  down,  and  led  his  horse  unto  Sir  Griflet, 
and  horsed  him  again.  Also  Sir  Kay  with  the  same  spear 
smote  down  King  Lot,  and  hurt  him  passing  sore.  That 
saw  the  king  with  the  hundred  knights,  and  ran  unto  Sir 
Kay  and  smote  him  down,  and  took  his  horse,  and  gave 
him  King  Lot,  whereof  he  said  gramercy.  When  Sir  Griflet 
saw  Sir  Kay  and  Lucas  the  butler  on  foot,  he  took  a  sharp 
spear,  great  and  square,  and  rode  to  Pinel,  a  good  man  of 
arms,  and  smote  horse  and  man  down,  and  then  he  took 
his  horse,  and  gave  him  unto  Sir  Kay.  When  King  Lot 
saw  King  Nentres  on  foot,  he  ran  unto  Melot  de  la  Roche, 
and  smote  him  down,  horse  and  man,  and  gave  King 
Nentres  the  horse,  and  horsed  him  again.  Also  the  king  of 
the  hundred  knights  saw  King  Idres  on  foot,  then  he  ran 
unto  Gwimiart  de  Bloi,  and  smote  him  down,  horse  and 
man,  and  gave  King  Idres  the  horse,  and  horsed  him  again  ; 
and  King  Lot  smote  down  Clariance  de  la  Forest  Savage, 
and  gave  the  horse  unto  Duke  Eustace.  And  so  when  they 
had  horsed  the  kings  again  they  drew  them  all  eleven  kings 
together,  and  said  they  would  be  revenged  of  the  damage 
that  they  had  taken  that  day.  The  meanwhile  came  in  Sir 
Ector  with  an  eager  countenance,  and  found  Ulfias  and 
Brastias  on  foot,  in  great  peril  of  death,  that  were  foul 
defoyled  under  horse-feet.  Then  King  Arthur  as  a  lion, 
ran  unto  King  Cradelment  of  North  Wales,  and  smote  him 


King  Arthur  25 

through  the  left  side,  that  the  horse  and  the  king  fell  down ; 
and  then  he  took  the  horse  by  the  rein,  and  led  him  unto 
Ulfius,  and  said,  Have  this  horse,  mine  old  friend,  for  great 
need  hast  thou  of  horse.     Gramercy,  said  Ulfias.     Then  Sir 
Arthur   did   so   marvellously   in   arms,    that   all    men   had 
wonder.     When  the  king  with   the  hundred   knights  saw 
King  Cradelment  on  foot,  he  ran  unto  Sir  Ector,  that  was 
well  horsed,  Sir   Kay's  father,  and  smote  horse  and  man 
down,  and  gave  the  horse  unto  the  king,  and  horsed  him 
again ;   and  when  King  Arthur  saw  the  king  ride  on  Sir 
Ector's  horse,  he  was  wroth  and  with  his  sword  he  smote 
the  king  on  the  helm,  that  a  quarter  of  the  helm  and  shield 
fell   down,  and   the  sword  carved  down  unto  the  horse's 
neck,  and  so  the  king  and   the   horse  fell   down   to   the 
ground.    Then  Sir  Kay  came  unto  Sir  Morganore,  seneschal 
with  the  king  of  the  hundred  knights,  and  smote  him  down, 
horse  and    man,  and   led   the   horse  unto  his  father,   Sir 
Ector;  then  Sir  Ector  ran  unto  a  knight,  hight  Lardans, 
and  smote  horse  and  man  down,  and  led  the  horse  unto  Sir 
Brastias,  that  great  need  had  of  an  horse,  and  was  greatly 
defoyled.     When  Brastias  beheld  Lucas  the  butler,  that  lay 
like  a  dead  man  under  the  horse's  feet,  and  ever  Sir  Griflet 
did  marvellously  for  to  rescue  him,  and  there  were  always 
fourteen  knights  on  Sir  Lucas ;  then  Brastias  smote  one  of 
them  on  the  helm,  that  it  went  to  the  teeth,  and  he  rode  to 
another  and  smote  him,  that  the  arm  flew  into  the  field. 
Then  he  went  to  the  third  and  smote  him  on  the  shoulder, 
that  shoulder  and  arm  flew  in  the  field.     And  when  Griflet 
saw  rescues,  he  smote  a  knight  on  the  temples,  that  head 
and  helm  went  to  the  earth,  and  Griflet  took  the  horse  of 
that  knight,  and    led  him  unto  Sir  Lucas,  and    bad    him 
mount  upon  the  horse  and  revenge  his  hurts.     For  Brastias 
had  slain  a  knight  tofore  and  horsed  Griflet. 


CHAPTER   XV 

YET   OF   THE   SAME    BATTLE 

THEN  Lucas  saw  King  Agwisance,  that  late  had  slain 
Moris  de  la  Roche,  and  Lucas  ran  to  him  with  a  short 
spear  that  was  great,  that  he  gave  him  such  a  fall,  that  the 
horse  fell  down  to  the  earth.  Also  Lucas  found  there  on 


26  King  Arthur 

foot,  Bloias  de  La  Flandres,  and  Sir  Gwinas,  two  hardy 
knights,  and  in  that  woodness  that  Lucas  was  in,  he  slew 
two  bachelors  and  horsed  them  again.  Then  waxed  the 
battle  passing  hard  on  both  parties,  but  Arthur  was  glad 
that  his  knights  were  horsed  again,  and  then  they  fought 
together,  that  the  noise  and  sound  rang  by  the  water  and 
the  wood.  Wherefore  King  Ban  and  King  Bors  made 
them  ready,  and  dressed  their  shields  and  harness,  and 
they  were  so  courageous  that  many  knights  shook  and 
bevered  for  eagerness.  All  this  while  Lucas,  and  Gwinas, 
and  Briant,  and  Bellias  of  Flanders,  held  strong  medley 
against  six  kings,  that  was  King  Lot,  King  Nentres,  King 
Brandegoris,  King  Idres,  King  Uriens,  and  King  Agwisance. 
So  with  the  help  of  Sir  Kay  and  of  Sir  Griflet  they  held 
these  six  kings  hard,  that  unnethe  they  had  any  power  to 
defend  them.  But  when  Sir  Arthur  saw  the  battle  would 
not  be  ended  by  no  manner,  he  ferd  wood  as  a  lion,  and 
steered  his  horse  here  and  there,  on  the  right  hand,  and  on 
the  left  hand,  that  he  stinted  not  till  he  had  slain  twenty 
knights.  Also  he  wounded  King  Lot  sore  on  the  shoulder, 
and  made  him  to  leave  that  ground,  for  Sir  Kay  and  Griflet 
did  with  King  Arthur  there  great  deeds  of  arms.  Then 
Ulfius,  and  Brastias,  and  Sir  Ector  encountered  against 
the  Duke  Eustace,  and  King  Cradelment,  and  King 
Clariance  of  Northumberland,  and  King  Carados,  and 
against  the  king  with  the  hundred  knights.  So  these 
knights  encountered  with  these  kings,  that  they  made  them 
to  avoid  the  ground.  Then  King  Lot  made  great  dole  for 
his  damages  and  his  fellows,  and  said  unto  the  ten  kings, 
But  if  ye  will  do  as  I  advise  we  shall  be  slain  and  destroyed ; 
let  me  have  the  king  with  the  hundred  knights,  and  King 
Agwisance,  and  King  Idres,  and  the  Duke  of  Cambenet, 
and  we  five  kings  will  have  fifteen  thousand  men  of  arms 
with  us,  and  we  will  go  apart  while  ye  six  kings  hold  medley 
with  twelve  thousand ;  an  we  see  that  ye  have  foughten 
with  them  long,  then  will  we  come  on  fiercely,  and  else 
shall  we  never  match  them,  said  King  Lot,  but  by  this 
mean.  So  they  departed  as  they  here  devised,  and  six 
kings  made  their  party  strong  against  Arthur,  and  made 
great  war  long.  In  the  meanwhile  brake  the  embushment 
of  King  Ban  and  King  Bors,  and  Lyonses  and  Phariance 
had  the  vanguard,  and  they  two  knights  met  with  King 
Idres  and  his  fellowship,  and  there  began  a  great  medley  of 


King  Arthur  27 

breaking  of  spears,  and  smiting  of  swords,  with  slaying  of 
men  and  horses,  and  King  Idres  was  near  at  discomforture. 
That  saw  Agwisance  the  king,  and  put  Lionses  and  Phari- 
ance  in  point  of  death  ;  for  the  Duke  of  Cambenet  came  on 
withal  with  a  great  fellowship,  so  these  two  knights  were  in 
great  danger  of  their  lives  that  they  were  fain  to  return,  but 
always  they  rescued  themselves  and  their  fellowship  marvel- 
lously. When  King  Bors  saw  those  knights  put  aback,  it 
grieved  him  sore ;  then  he  came  on  so  fast  that  his  fellow- 
ship seemed  as  black  as  Inde.  When  King  Lot  had  espied 
King  Bors,  he  knew  him  well,  then  he  said,  O  Jesu,  defend 
us  from  death  and  horrible  maims !  for  I  see  well  we  be  in 
great  peril  of  death ;  for  I  see  yonder  a  king,  one  of  the 
most  worshipfullest  men  and  one  of  the  best  knights  of  the 
world,  is  inclined  unto  his  fellowship.  What  is  he  ?  said 
the  king  with  the  hundred  knights.  It  is,  said  King  Lot, 
King  Bors  of  Gaul ;  I  marvel  how  they  come  into  this 
country  without  witting  of  us  all.  It  was  by  Merlin's 
advice,  said  the  knight.  As  for  him,  said  King  Carados,  I 
will  encounter  with  King  Bors,  an  ye  will  rescue  me  when 
myster  is.  Go  on,  said  they  all,  we  will  do  all  that  we 
may.  Then  King  Carados  and  his  host  rode  on  a  soft 
pace,  till  that  they  come  as  nigh  King  Bors  as  bow-draught, 
then  either  battle  let  their  horse  run  as  fast  as  they  might. 
And  Bleoberis  that  was  godson  unto  King  Bors  he  bare  his 
chief  standard,  that  was  a  passing  good  knight.  Now  shall 
we  see,  said  King  Bors,  how  these  northern  Britons  can 
bear  the  arms :  and  King  Bors  encountered  with  a  knight, 
and  smote  him  throughout  with  a  spear  that  he  fell  dead 
unto  the  earth,  and  after  drew  his  sword  and  did  marvellous 
deeds  of  arms,  that  all  parties  had  great  wonder  thereof; 
and  his  knights  failed  not,  but  did  their  part,  and  King 
Carados  was  smitten  to  the  earth.  With  that  came  the 
king  with  the  hundred  knights  and  rescued  King  Carados 
mightily  by  force  of  arms,  for  he  was  a  passing  good  knight 
of  a  king,  and  but  a  young  man. 


28  King  Arthur 


CHAPTER   XVI 

YET   MORE   OF   THE   SAME   BATTLE 

BY  then  came  into  the  field  King  Ban  as  fierce  as  a  lion, 
with  bands  of  green  and  thereupon  gold.  Ha  !  ha !  said 
King  Lot,  we  must  be  discomfited,  for  yonder  I  see  the 
most  valiant  knight  of  the  world,  and  the  man  of  the  most 
renown,  for  such  two  brethren  as  is  King  Ban  and  King 
Bors  are  not  living,  wherefore  we  must  needs  void  or  die ; 
and  but  if  we  avoid  manly  and  wisely  there  is  but  death. 
When  King  Ban  came  into  the  battle,  he  came  in  so  fiercely 
that  the  strokes  redounded  again  from  the  wood  and  the 
water ;  wherefore  King  Lot  wept  for  pity  and  dole  that  he 
saw  so  many  good  knights  take  their  end.  But  through  the 
great  force  of  King  Ban  they  made  both  the  northern  battles 
that  were  departed  hurtle  together  for  great  dread,  and  the 
three  kings  and  their  knights  slew  on  ever,  that  it  was  pity 
on  to  behold  that  multitude  of  the  people  that  fled.  But 
King  Lot,  and  king  of  the  hundred  knights,  and  King 
Morganore  gathered  the  people  together  passing  knightly, 
and  did  great  prowess  of  arms,  and  held  the  battle  all  that 
day,  like  hard.  When  the  king  of  the  hundred  knights 
beheld  the  great  damage  that  King  Ban  did,  he  threst  unto 
him  with  his  horse,  and  smote  him  on  high  upon  the  helm, 
a  great  stroke,  and  astonied  him  sore.  Then  King  Ban  was 
wroth  with  him,  and  followed  on  him  fiercely ;  the  other 
saw  that,  and  cast  up  his  shield,  and  spurred  his  horse 
forward,  but  the  stroke  of  King  Ban  fell  down  and  carved  a 
cantel  off  the  shield,  and  the  sword  slid  down  by  the 
hauberk  behind  his  back,  and  cut  through  the  trappings  of 
steel  and  the  horse  even  in  two  pieces,  that  the  sword  felt 
the  earth.  Then  the  king  of  the  hundred  knights  voided 
the  horse  lightly,  and  with  his  sword  he  broched  the  horse 
of  King  Ban  through  and  through.  With  that  King  Ban 
voided  lightly  from  the  dead  horse,  and  then  King  Ban 
smote  at  the  other  so  eagerly,  and  smote  him  on  the  helm 
that  he  fell  to  the  earth.  Also  in  that  ire  he  felled  King 
Morganore,  and  there  was  great  slaughter  of  good  knights 
and  much  people.  By  then  came  into  the  press  King 
Arthur,  and  found  King  Ban  standing  among  dead  men 
and  dead  horse,  fighting  on  foot  as  a  wood  lion,  that  there 


King  Arthur  29 

came  none  nigh  him  as  far  as  he  might  reach  with  his  sword 
but  he  caught  a  grievous  buffet ;  whereof  King  Arthur  had 
great  pity.    And  Arthur  was  so  bloody,  that  by  his  shield  there 
might  no  man  know  him,  for  all  was  blood  and  brains  on 
his  sword.     And  as  Arthur  looked  by  him  he  saw  a  knight 
that  was  passingly  well  horsed,  and  therewith  Sir  Arthur  ran 
to  him,  and  smote  him  on  the  helm,  that  his  sword  went 
unto  his  teeth,  and  the  knight  sank  down  to  the  earth  dead, 
and  anon  Arthur  took  the  horse  by  the  rein,  and  led  him 
unto  King  Ban,  and  said,  Fair  brother,  have  this  horse,  for 
ye   have  great  myster  thereof,  and  me   repenteth    sore    of 
your  great  damage.     It  shall  be  soon  revenged,  said  King 
Ban,  for  I  trust  in  God  mine  cure  is  not  such  but  some  of 
them  may  sore  repent  this.     I  will  well,  said  Arthur,  for  I 
see  your  deeds  full  actual ;  nevertheless,  I  might  not  come 
at  you  at  that  time.     But  when  King  Ban  was  mounted  on 
horseback,  then  there  began  new  battle  the  which  was  sore 
and  hard,  and  passing  great  slaughter.     And  so  through 
great  force  King  Arthur,  King  Ban,  and  King  Bors  made 
their  knights  a  little  to  withdraw  them.     But   alway   the 
eleven  kings  with  their  chivalry  never  turned  back ;  and  so 
withdrew  them  to  a  little  wood,  and  so  over  a  little  river, 
and  there  they  rested  them,  for  on  the  night  they  might  have 
no   rest   on  the   field.     And  then   the   eleven   kings   and 
knights  put  them  on  a  heap  all  together,  as  men  adread  and 
out  of  all  comfort.     But  there  was  no  man  might  pass  them, 
they  held  them  so  hard  together  both  behind  and  before, 
that  King  Arthur  had  marvel  of  their  deeds  of  arms,  and 
was  passing   wroth.      Ah,  Sir  Arthur,  said  King  Ban  and 
King  Bors,  blame  them  not,  for  they  do  as  good  men  ought 
to  do.     For,  by  my  faith,  said  King  Ban,  they  are  the  best 
fighting  men,  and  knights  of  most  prowess,  that  ever  I  saw 
or  heard  speak  of,  and  those  eleven  kings  are  men  of  great 
worship  ;  and  if  they  were  longing  unto  you  there  were  no 
king  under  the  heaven  had  such  eleven  knights,  and  of  such 
worship.     I   may  not  love  them,  said  Arthur,  they  would 
destroy  me.     That  wot  we  well,  said  King  Ban  and  King 
Bors,    for  they   are   your   mortal   enemies,   and   that   hath 
been  proved  aforehand,  and  this  day  they  have  done  their 
part,  and  that  is  great  pity  of  their  wilfulness.     Then  all  the 
eleven  kings  drew  them  together,  and  then  said  King  Lot, 
Lords,  ye  must  other  ways  than  ye  do,  or  else  the  great  loss 
is   behind;    ye   may  see  what   people  we   have   lost,   and 


30  King  Arthur 

what  good  men  we  lose,  because  we  wait  always  on  these 
foot-men,  and  ever  in  saving  of  one  of  the  foot-men 
we  lose  ten  horsemen  for  him ;  therefore  this  is  mine 
advice,  let  us  put  our  foot-men  from  us,  for  it  is  near  night, 
for  the  noble  Arthur  will  not  tarry  on  the  foot-men,  for  they 
may  save  themselves,  the  wood  is  near  hand.  And  when  we 
horsemen  be  together,  look  every  each  of  you  kings  let 
make  such  ordinance  that  none  break  upon  pain  of  death. 
And  who  that  seeth  any  man  dresse  him  to  flee,  lightly  that 
he  be  slain,  for  it  is  better  that  we  slay  a  coward,  than 
through  a  coward  all  we  to  be  slain.  How  say  ye  ?  said 
King  Lot,  answer  me  all  ye  kings.  It  is  well  said,  quoth 
King  Nentres  ;  so  said  the  king  of  the  hundred  knights  ; 
the  same  said  the  King  Carados,  and  King  Uriens ;  so  did 
King  Idres  and  King  Brandegoris  ;  and  so  did  King 
Cradelment,  and  the  Duke  of  Cambenet ;  the  same  said 
Kling  Clariance  and  King  Agwisance,  and  sware  they  would 
never  fail  other,  neither  for  life  nor  for  death.  And  whoso 
that  fled,  but  did  as  they  did,  should  be  slain.  Then  they 
amended  their  harness,  and  righted  their  shields,  and  took 
new  spears  and  set  them  on  their  thighs,  and  stood  still  as  it 
had  been  a  plompe  of  wood. 


CHAPTER   XVII 

YET    MORE     OF    THE    SAME    BATTLE,    AND    HOW     IT    WAS    ENDED    BY 

MERLIN 

WHEN  Sir  Arthur  and  King  Ban  and  Bors  beheld  them 
and  all  their  knights,  they  praised  them  much  for  their  noble 
cheer  of  chivalry,  for  the  hardiest  fighters  that  ever  they  heard 
or  saw.  With  that,  there  dressed  them  a  forty  noble  knights, 
and  said  unto  the  three  kings,  they  would  break  their  battle; 
these  were  their  names  :  Lionses,  Phariance,  Ulfius,  Brastias, 
Ector,  Kay,  Lucas  the  butler,  Griflet  le  Fise  de  Dieu, 
Mariet  de  la  Roche,  Guinas  de  Bloi,  Briant  de  la  Forest 
Savage,  Bellaus,  Morians  of  the  Castle  of  Maidens,  Flan- 
nedrius  of  the  Castle  of  Ladies,  Annecians  that  was  King 
Bors'  godson,  a  noble  knight,  Ladinas  de  la  Rouse,  Emer- 
ause,  Caulas,  Graciens  le  Castlein,  one  Blois  de  la  Case,  and 
Sir  Colgrevaunce  de  Gorre,  all  these  knights  rode  on  afore 
with  spears  on  their  thighs,  and  spurred  their  horses  mightily 


King  Arthur  31 

as  the  horses  might  run.  And  the  eleven  kings  with  part  of 
their  knights  rushed  with  their  horses  as  fast  as  they  might 
with  their  spears,  and  there  they  did  on  both  parts  marvellous 
deeds  of  arms.  So  came  into  the  thick  of  the  press,  Arthur, 
Ban,  and  Bors,  and  slew  down  right  on  both  hands,  that  their 
horses  went  in  blood  up  to  the  fetlocks.  But  ever  the 
eleven  kings  and  their  host  was  ever  in  the  visage  of  Arthur. 
Wherefore  Ban  and  Bors  had  great  marvel,  considering  the 
great  slaughter  that  there  was,  but  at  the  last  they  were 
driven  aback  over  a  little  river.  With  that  came  Merlin  on 
a  great  black  horse,  and  said  unto  Arthur,  Thou  hast  never 
done,  hast  thou  not  done  enough  ?  of  three  score  thousand 
this  day  hast  thou  left  alive  but  fifteen  thousand,  and  it  is 
time  to  say  Ho  !  For  God  is  wroth  with  thee,  that  thou 
wilt  never  have  done,  for  yonder  eleven  kings  at  this  time 
will  not  be  overthrown,  but  an  thou  tarry  on  them  any 
longer,  thy  fortune  will  turn  and  they  shall  increase.  And 
therefore  withdraw  you  unto  your  lodging,  and  rest  you  as 
soon  as  ye  may,  and  reward  your  good  knights  with  gold 
and  with  silver,  for  they  have  well  deserved  it ;  there  may 
no  riches  be  too  dear  for  them,  for  of  so  few  men  as  ye 
have,  there  were  never  men  did  more  of  prowess  than  they 
have  done  to-day,  for  ye  have  matched  this  day  with  the 
best  fighters  of  the  world.  That  is  truth,  said  King  Ban. 
and  Bors.  Also  said  Merlin,  withdraw  you  where  ye  list,  for 
this  three  year  I  dare  undertake  they  shall  not  dare  you  ; 
and  by  then  ye  shall  hear  new  tidings.  And  then  Merlin 
said  unto  Arthur,  These  eleven  kings  have  more  on  hand 
than  they  are  ware  of,  for  the  Saracens  are  landed  in  their 
countries,  more  than  forty  thousand,  that  burn  and  slay, 
and  have  laid  siege  at  the  castle  Wandesborow,  and  make 
great  destruction ;  therefore  dread  you  not  this  three  year. 
Also,  sir,  all  the  goods  that  be  gotten  at  this  battle,  let  it  be 
searched,  and  when  ye  have  it  in  your  hands,  let  it  be  given 
freely  unto  these  two  kings,  Ban  and  Bors,  that  they  may 
reward  their  knights  withal ;  and  that  shall  cause  strangers 
to  be  of  better  will  to  do  you  service  at  need.  Also  you 
be  able  to  reward  your  own  knights  of  your  own  goods 
whensomever  it  liketh  you.  It  is  well  said,  quoth  Arthur, 
and  as  thou  hast  devised,  so  shall  it  be  done.  When  it  was 
delivered  to  Ban  and  Bors,  they  gave  the  goods  as  freely  to 
their  knights  as  freely  as  it  was  given  to  them.  Then  Merlin 
took  his  leave  of  Arthur  and  of  the  two  kings,  for  to  go  and 


32  King  Arthur 

see  his  master  Bleise,  that  dwelt  in  Northumberland ;  and 
so  he  departed  and  came  to  his  master,  that  was  passing 
glad  of  his  coming ;  and  there  he  told  how  Arthur  and  the 
two  kings  had  sped  at  the  great  battle,  and  how  it  was  ended, 
and  told  the  names  of  every  king  and  knight  of  worship 
that  was  there.  And  so  Bleise  wrote  the  battle  word  by 
word,  as  Merlin  told  him  how  it  began,  and  by  whom,  and 
in  likewise  how  it  was  ended,  and  who  had  the  worse.  All 
the  battles  that  were  done  in  Arthur's  days,  Merlin  did  his 
master  Bleise  do  write  ;  also  he  did  do  write  all  the  battles 
that  every  worthy  knight  did  of  Arthur's  court.  After  this 
Merlin  departed  from  his  master  and  came  to  King  Arthur, 
that  was  in  the  castle  of  Bedegraine,  that  was  one  of  the 
castles  that  stood  in  the  forest  of  Sherwood.  And  Merlin 
was  so  disguised  that  King  Arthur  knew  him  not,  for  he  was 
all  befurred  in  black  sheep  skins,  and  a  great  pair  of  boots, 
and  a  bow  and  arrows,  in  a  russet  gown,  and  brought  wild 
geese  in  his  hand,  and  it  was  on  the  morn  after  Candlemas 
day  ;  but  King  Arthur  knew  him  not.  Sir,  said  Merlin  unto 
the  king,  will  ye  give  me  a  gift  ?  Wherefore,  said  King 
Arthur,  should  I  give  thee  a  gift,  churl  ?  Sir,  said  Merlin, 
ye  were  better  to  give  me  a  gift  that  is  not  in  your  hand  than 
to  lose  great  riches,  for  here  in  the  same  place  where  the 
great  battle  was,  is  great  treasure  hid  in  the  earth.  Who 
told  thee  so,  churl  ?  said  Arthur.  Merlin  told  me  so,  said 
he.  Then  Ulfius  and  Brastias  knew  him  well  enough,  and 
smiled.  Sir,  said  these  two  knights,  it  is  Merlin  that  so 
speaketh  unto  you.  Then  King  Arthur  was  greatly  abashed, 
and  had  marvel  of  Merlin,  and  so  had  King  Ban  and  King 
Bors,  and  so  they  had  great  disport  at  him.  So  in  the 
meanwhile  there  came  a  damosel  that  was  an  earl's  daughter : 
his  name  was  Sanam,  and  her  name  was  Lionors,  a  passing 
fair  damosel ;  and  so  she  came  thither  for  to  do  homage,  as 
other  lords  did  after  the  great  battle.  And  King  Arthur  set 
his  love  greatly  upon  her,  and  so  did  she  upon  him,  and  the 
king  had  ado  with  her,  and  gat  on  her  a  child :  his  name 
was  Borre,  that  was  after  a  good  night,  and  of  the  Table 
Round.  Then  there  came  word  that  the  King  Rience  of 
North  Wales  made  great  war  on  King  Leodegrance  of 
Cameliard,  for  the  which  thing  Arthur  was  wroth,  for 
he  loved  him  well,  and  hated  King  Rience,  for  he  was 
alway  against  him.  So  by  ordinance  of  the  three  kings 
that  were  sent  home  unto  Benvvick,  all  they  would  depart 


King  Arthur  33 

for  dread  of  King  Claudas ;  Phariance,  and  Antemes,  and 
Gratian,  and  Lionses  of  Payarne,  with  the  leaders  of  those 
that  should  keep  the  kings'  lands. 


CHAPTER   XVIII 

HOW    KING    ARTHUR,    KING     BAN,    AND     KING    BORS     RESCUED     KING 
LEODEGRANCE,    AND   OTHER    INCIDENTS 

AND  then  King  Arthur,  and  King  Ban,  and  King  Bors 
departed  with  their  fellowship,  a  twenty  thousand,  and  came 
within  six  days  into  the  country  of  Cameliard,  and  there 
rescued  King  Leodegrance,  and  slew  there  much  people  of 
King  Rience,  unto  the  number  of  ten  thousand  men,  and  put 
him  to  flight.  And  then  had  these  three  kings  great  cheer  of 
King  Leodegrance,  that  thanked  them  of  their  great  goodness, 
that  they  would  revenge  him  of  his  enemies ;  and  there 
had  Arthur  the  first  sight  of  Guenever,  the  king's  daughter 
of  Cameliard,  and  ever  after  he  loved  her.  After  they  were 
wedded,  as  it  telleth  in  the  book.  So,  briefly  to  make  an 
end,  they  took  their  leave  to  go  into  their  own  countries, 
for  King  Claudas  did  great  destruction  on  their  lands. 
Then  said  Arthur,  I  will  go  with  you.  Nay,  said  the  kings, 
ye  shall  not  at  this  time,  for  ye  have  much  to  do  yet  in 
these  lands,  therefore  we  will  depart,  and  with  the  great 
goods  that  we  have  gotten  in  these  lands  by  your  gifts,  we 
shall  wage  good  knights  and  withstand  the  King  Claudas' 
malice,  for  by  the  grace  of  God,  an  we  have  need  we 
shall  send  to  you  for  your  succour ;  and  if  ye  have  need, 
send  for  us,  and  we  will  not  tarry,  by  the  faith  of  our 
bodies.  It  shall  not,  said  Merlin,  need  that  these  two 
kings  come  again  in  the  way  of  war,  but  I  know  well  King 
Arthur  may  not  be  long  from  you,  for  within  a  year  or  two 
ye  shall  have  great  need,  and  then  shall  he  revenge  you  on 
your  enemies,  as  ye  have  done  on  his.  For  these  eleven 
kings  shall  die  all  in  a  day,  by  the  great  might  and 
prowess  of  arms  of  two  valiant  knights  (as  it  telleth  after), 
their  names  be  Balin  le  Savage,  and  Balan,  his  brother,  that 
be  marvellous  good  knights  as  be  any  living.  Now  turn  we 
to  the  eleven  kings  that  returned  unto  a  city  that  hight 
Sorhaute,  the  which  city  was  within  King  Uriens',  and  there 
they  refreshed  them  as  well  as  they  might,  and  made  leeches 


34  King  Arthur 

search  their  wounds,  and  sorrowed  greatly  for  the  death  of 
their  people.  With  that  there  came  a  messenger  and  told 
how  there  was  come  into  their  lands  people  that  were 
lawless  as  well  as  Saracens,  a  forty  thousand,  and  have 
burnt  and  slain  all  the  people  that  they  may  come  by,  with- 
out mercy,  and  have  laid  siege  on  the  castle  of  Wandes- 
borow.  Alas,  said  the  eleven  kings,  here  is  sorrow  upon 
sorrow,  and  if  we  had  not  warred  against  Arthur  as  we 
have  done,  he  would  soon  revenge  us ;  as  for  King 
Leodegrance,  he  loveth  Arthur  better  than  us,  and  as  for 
King  Rience,  he  hath  enough  to  do  with  Leodegrance, 
for  he  hath  laid  siege  unto  him.  So  they  consented  to- 
gether to  keep  all  the  marches  of  Cornwall,  of  Wales,  and 
of  the  North.  So  first,  they  put  King  Idres  in  the  City 
of  Nauntes  in  Britain,  with  four  thousand  men  of  arms, 
to  watch  both  the  water  and  the  land.  Also  they  put  in 
the  city  of  Windesan,  King  Nentres  of  Garlot,  with  four 
thousand  knights  to  watch  both  on  water  and  on  land.  Also 
they  had  of  other  men  of  war  more  than  eight  thousand,  for 
to  fortify  all  the  fortresses  in  the  marches  of  Cornwall.  Also 
they  put  more  knights  in  all  the  marches  of  Wales  and 
Scotland,  with  many  good  men  of  arms,  and  so  they  kept 
them  together  the  space  of  three  year,  and  ever  allied  them 
with  mighty  kings  and  dukes  and  lords.  And  to  them  fell 
King  Rience  of  North  Wales,  the  which  was  a  mighty  man 
of  men,  and  Nero  that  was  a  mighty  man  of  men.  And 
all  this  while  they  furnished  them  and  garnished  them  of 
good  men  of  arms,  and  victual,  and  of  all  manner  of  habili- 
ments that  pretendeth  to  the  war,  to  avenge  them  for  the 
battle  of  Bedegraine,  as  it  telleth  in  the  book  of  adventures 
following. 


CHAPTER   XIX 

HOW   KING    ARTHUR    RODE   TO   CARLION,    AND    OF    HIS    DREAM,    AND 
HOW   HE   SAW   THE   QUESTING    BEAST 

THEN  after  the  departure  of  King  Ban  and  of  King 
Bors,  King  Arthur  rode  unto  Carlion.  And  thither  came 
to  him,  King  Lot's  wife,  of  Orkney,  in  manner  of  a  mes- 
sage, but  she  was  sent  thither  to  espy  the  court  of  King 
Arthur ;  and  she  came  richly  bisene,  with  her  four  sons 


King  Arthur  35 

Gawaine,  Gaheris,  Agravine,  and  Gareth,  with  many  other 
knights  and  ladies.  For  she  was  a  passing  fair  lady,  there- 
fore the  king  cast  great  love  unto  her,  and  desired  to  lie 
by  her ;  so  they  were  agreed,  and  he  begat  upon  her 
Mordred,  and  she  was  his  sister,  on  his  mother's  side, 
Igraine.  So  there  she  rested  her  a  month,  and  at  the  last 
departed.  Then  the  king  dreamed  a  marvellous  dream 
whereof  he  was  sore  adread.  But  all  this  time  King 
Arthur  knew  not  that  King  Lot's  wife  was  his  sister.  Thus 
was  the  dream  of  Arthur :  Him  thought  there  was  come 
into  this  land  griffins  and  serpents,  and  him  thought 
they  burnt  and  slew  all  the  people  in  the  land,  and  then 
him  thought  he  fought  with  them,  and  they  did  him 
passing  great  harm,  and  wounded  him  full  sore,  but  at  the 
last  he  slew  them.  When  the  king  awaked,  he  was  passing 
heavy  of  his  dream,  and  so  to  put  it  out  of  thoughts,  he 
made  him  ready  with  many  knights  to  ride  a-hunting.  As 
soon  as  he  was  in  the  forest  the  king  saw  a  great  hart  afore 
him.  This  hart  will  I  chase,  said  King  Arthur,  and  so  he 
spurred  the  horse,  and  rode  after  long,  and  so  by  fine  force 
oft  he  was  like  to  have  smitten  the  hart ;  whereas  the  king 
had  chased  the  hart  so  long,  that  his  horse  lost  his  breath, 
and  fell  down  dead  ;  then  a  yeoman  fetched  the  king  another 
horse.  So  the  king  saw  the  hart  embushed,  and  his  horse 
dead  ;  he  set  him  down  by  a  fountain,  and  there  he  fell  in 
great  thoughts.  And  as  he  sat  so,  him  thought  he  heard  a 
noise  of  hounds,  to  the  sum  of  thirty.  And  with  that  the  king 
saw  coming  toward  him  the  strangest  beast  that  ever  he  saw 
or  heard  of ;  so  the  beast  went  to  the  well  and  drank,  and 
the  noise  was  in  the  beast's  belly  like  unto  the  questyng 
of  thirty  couple  hounds  ;  but  all  the  while  the  beast  drank 
there  was  no  noise  in  the  beast's  belly :  and  therewith  the 
beast  departed  with  a  great  noise,  whereof  the  king  had  great 
marvel.  And  so  he  was  in  a  great  thought,  and  therewith 
he  fell  asleep.  Right  so  there  came  a  knight  afoot  unto 
Arthur  and  said,  Knight  full  of  thought  and  sleepy,  tell  me 
if  thou  sawest  a  strange  beast  pass  this  way.  Such  one 
saw  I,  said  King  Arthur,  that  is  past  two  mile  ;  what  would 
ye  with  the  beast  ?  said  Arthur.  Sir,  I  have  followed  that 
beast  long  time,  and  killed  mine  horse,  so  would  God 
I  had  another  to  follow  my  quest.  Right  so  came  one  with 
the  king's  horse,  and  when  the  knight  saw  the  horse,  he 
prayed  the  king  to  give  him  the  horse :  for  I  have  followed 


36  King  Arthur 

this  quest  this  twelvemonth,  and  either  1  shall  achieve  him, 
or  bleed  of  the  best  blood  of  my  body.  Pellinore,  that  time 
king,  followed  the  questing  beast,  and  after  his  death 
Sir  Palamides  followed  it. 


CHAPTER   XX 

HOW  KING    PELLINORE  TOOK    ARTHUR'S    HORSE   AND    FOLLOWED  THE 
QUESTING  BEAST,   AND  HOW  MERLIN  MET  WITH  ARTHUR 

SIR  knight,  said  the  king,  leave  that  quest,  and  suffer  me 
to  have  it,  and  I  will  follow  it  another  twelvemonth.  Ah, 
fool,  said  the  knight  unto  Arthur,  it  is  in  vain  thy  desire,  for 
it  shall  never  be  achieved  but  by  me,  or  my  next  kin. 
Therewith  he  started  unto  the  king's  horse  and  mounted 
into  the  saddle,  and  said,  Gramercy,  this  horse  is  my  own. 
Well,  said  the  king,  thou  mayst  take  my  horse  by  force,  but 
an  I  might  prove  thee  whether  thou  were  better  on  horse- 
back or  I.  Well,  said  the  knight,  seek  me  here  when  thou 
wilt,  and  here  nigh  this  well  thou  shalt  find  me,  and  so 
passed  on  his  way.  Then  the  king  sat  in  a  study,  and  bade 
his  men  fetch  his  horse  as  fast  as  ever  they  might.  Right 
so  came  by  him  Merlin  like  a  child  of  fourteen  year  of  age, 
and  saluted  the  king,  and  asked  him  why  he  was  so  pensive. 
I  may  well  be  pensive  said  the  king,  for  I  have  seen  the 
marvellest  sight  that  ever  I  saw.  That  know  I  well,  said 
Merlin,  as  well  as  thyself,  and  of  all  thy  thoughts,  but  thou 
art  but  a  fool  to  take  thought,  for  it  will  not  amend  thee. 
Also  I  know  what  thou  art,  and  who  was  thy  father,  and  of 
whom  thou  wert  begotten  ;  King  Uther  Pendragon  was  thy 
father,  and  begat  thee  on  Igraine.  That  is  false,  said  King 
Arthur,  how  shouldest  thou  know  it,  for  thou  are  not  so  old 
of  years  to  know  my  father  ?  Yes,  said  Merlin,  I  know  it 
better  than  ye  or  any  man  living.  I  will  not  believe  thee, 
said  Arthur,  and  was  wroth  with  the  child.  So  departed 
Merlin,  and  came  again  in  the  likeness  of  an  old  man  of 
fourscore  year  of  age,  whereof  the  king  was  right  glad,  for  he 
seemed  to  be  right  wise.  Then  said  the  old  man,  Why  are 
ye  so  sad  ?  I  may  well  be  heavy,  said  Arthur,  for  many 
things.  Also  here  was  a  child,  and  told  me  many  things 
that  meseemeth  he  should  not  know,  for  he  was  not  of  age 
to  know  my  father.  Yes,  said  the  old  man,  the  child  told 


King  Arthur  37 

you  truth,  and  more  would  he  have  told  you  an  ye  would 
have  suffered  him  ;  but  ye  have  done  a  thing  late  that  God 
is  displeased  with  you,  for  ye  have  lain  by  your  sister,  and 
on  her  ye  have  gotten  a  child  that  shall  destroy  you  and  all 
the  knights  of  your  realm.  What  are  ye,  said  Arthur,  that 
tell  me  these  tidings  ?  I  am  Merlin,  and  I  was  he  in  the 
child's  likeness.  Ah,  said  King  Arthur,  ye  are  a  marvellous 
man,  but  I  marvel  much  of  thy  words  that  I  must  die  in 
battle.  Marvel  not,  said  Merlin,  for  it  is  God's  will  your 
body  to  be  punished  for  your  foul  deeds ;  but  I  may  well  be 
sorry,  said  Merlin,  for  I  shall  die  a  shameful  death  to  be  put 
in  the  earth  quick,  and  ye  shall  die  a  worshipful  death.  And 
as  they  talked  this,  came  one  with  the  king's  horse,  and  so 
the  king  mounted  on  his  horse,  and  Merlin  on  another,  and 
so  rode  unto  Carlion.  And  anon  the  king  asked  Ector  and 
Ulfius  how  he  was  begotten,  and  they  told  him  Uther 
Pendragon  was  his  father  and  Queen  Igraine  his  mother. 
Then  he  said  to  Merlin,  I  will  that  my  mother  be  sent  for, 
that  I  may  speak  with  her ;  and  if  she  say  so  herself,  then 
will  I  believe  it.  In  all  haste,  the  queen  was  sent  for,  and 
she  came  and  brought  with  her  Morgan  le  Fay,  her  daughter, 
that  was  as  fair  a  lady  as  any  might  be,  and  the  king 
welcomed  Igraine  in  the  best  manner. 


CHAPTER   XXI 

HOW  ULFIUS  IMPEACHED  QUEEN  IGRAINE,  ARTHUR'S  MOTHER,  OF 
TREASON  ;  AND  HOW  A  KNIGHT  CAME  AND  DESIRED  TO  HAVE 
THE  DEATH  OF  HIS  MASTER  REVENGED 

RIGHT  so  came  Ulfius,  and  said  openly  that  the  king  and 
all  might  hear  that  were  feasted  that  day,  Ye  are  the  falsest 
lady  of  the  world,  and  the  most  traitress  unto  the  king's 
person.  Beware,  said  Arthur,  what  thpu  sayest ;  thou 
speakest  a  great  word.  I  am  well  ware,  said  Ulfius,  what  I 
speak,  and  here  is  my  glove  to  prove  it  upon  any  man  that 
will  say  the  contrary,  that  this  Queen  Igraine  is  causer  of 
your  great  damage,  and  of  your  great  war.  For,  an  she 
would  have  uttered  it  in  the  life  of  King  Uther  Pendragon, 
of  the  birth  of  you,  and  how  ye  were  begotten,  ye  had  never 
had  the  mortal  wars  that  ye  have  had  ;  for  the  most  part  of 
your  barons  of  your  realm  knew  never  whose  son  ye  were, 
nor  of  whom  ye  were  begotten ;  and  she  that  bare  you  of  her 

I  45  C 


38  King  Arthur 

body  should  have  made  it  known  openly  in  excusing  of  her 
worship  and  yours,  and  in  likewise  to  all  the  realm,  wherefore 
I  prove  her  false  to  God  and  to  you  and  to  all  your  realm, 
and  who  will  say  the  contrary  I  will  prove  it  on  his  body. 
Then  spake  Igraine  and  said,  I  am  a  woman  and  I  may  not 
fight,  but  rather  than  I  should  be  dishonoured,  there  would 
some  good  man  take  my  quarrel.  More,  she  said,  Merlin 
knoweth  well,  and  ye  Sir  Ulfius,  how  King  Uther  came  to 
me  in  the  Castle  of  Tintagel  in  the  likeness  of  my  lord,  that 
was  dead  three  hours  tofore,  and  thereby  gat  a  child  that 
night  upon  me.  And  after  the  thirteenth  day  King  Uther 
wedded  me,  and  by  his  commandment  when  the  child  was 
born  it  was  delivered  unto  Merlin  and  nourished  by  him,  and 
so  I  saw  the  child  never  after,  nor  wot  not  what  is  his  name, 
for  I  knew  him  never  yet.  And  there  Ulfius  said  to  the 
queen,  Merlin  is  more  to  blame  than  ye.  Well  I  wot,  said 
the  queen,  I  bare  a  child  by  my  lord  King  Uther,  but  I  wot 
not  where  he  is  become.  Then  Merlin  took  the  king  by  the 
hand,  saying,  This  is  your  mother.  And  therewith  Sir  Ector 
bare  witness  how  he  nourished  him  by  Uther's  command- 
ment. And  therewith  King  Arthur  took  his  mother,  Queen 
Igraine,  in  his  arms  and  kissed  her,  and  either  wept  upon 
other.  And  then  the  king  let  make  a  feast  that  lasted  eight 
days.  Then  on  a  day  there  come  in  the  court  a  squire  on 
horseback,  leading  a  knight  before  him  wounded  to  the  death, 
and  told  him  how  there  was  a  knight  in  the  forest  had  reared 
up  a  pavilion  by  a  well,  and  hath  slain  my  master,  a  good 
knight,  his  name  was  Miles ;  wherefore  I  beseech  you  that 
my  master  may  be  buried,  and  that  some  knight  may  revenge 
my  master's  death.  Then  the  noise  was  great  of  that  knight's 
death  in  the  court,  and  every  man  said  his  advice.  Then 
came  Griflet  that  was  but  a  squire,  and  he  was  but  young,  of 
the  age  of  the  King  Arthur,  so  he  besought  the  king  for  all 
his  service  that  he  had  done  him  to  give  him  the  order  of 
knighthood. 


CHAPTER   XXII 

HOW  GRIFLET  WAS  MADE  KNIGHT,  AND  JOUSTED  WITH  A  KNIGHT 

THOU  art  full  young  and  tender  of  age,  said  Arthur,  for  to 
take  so  high  an  order  on  thee.  Sir,  said  Griflet,  I  beseech 
you  make  me  knight.  Sir,  said  Merlin,  it  were  great  pity  to 


King  Arthur  39 

lose  Griflet,  for  he  will  be  a  passing  good  man  when  he  is  of 
age,  abiding  with  you    the    term   of  his    life.     And    if  he 
adventure  his  body  with  yonder  knight  at  the  fountain,  it  is 
in  great  peril  if  ever  he  come  again,  for  he  is  one  of  the  best 
knights  of  the  world,  and  the  strongest  man  of  arms.     Well, 
said  Arthur.     So  at  the  desire  of  Griflet  the  king  made  him 
knight.     Now,  said  Arthur  unto  Sir  Griflet,  sith  I  have  made 
you  knight  thou  must  give  me  a  gift.     What  ye  will,  said 
Griflet.     Thou  shalt  promise  me  by  the  faith  of  thy  body, 
when  thou  has   jousted  with   the   knight  at  the  fountain, 
whether  it  fall  ye  be  on  foot  or  on  horseback,  that  right  so 
ye  shall  come   again   unto  me  without  making  any  more 
debate.    I  will  promise  you,  said  Griflet,  as  you  desire.    Then 
took  Griflet  his  horse  in  great  haste,  and  dressed  his  shield 
and  took  a  spear  in  his  hand,  and  so  he  rode  a  great  wallop 
till   he  came  to   the  fountain,  and  thereby  he  saw  a  rich 
pavilion,  and  thereby  under  a  cloth  stood  a  fair  horse  well 
saddled  and  bridled,  and  on  a  tree  a  shield  of  divers  colours 
and  a  great  spear.    Then  Griflet  smote  on  the  shield  with  the 
butt  of  his  spear,  that  the  shield  fell  down  to  the  ground. 
With  that  the  knight  came  out  of  the  pavilion,  and  said,  Fair 
knight,  why  smote  ye  down  my  shield  ?     For  I  will  joust 
with  you,  said  Griflet.    It  is  better  ye  do  not,  said  the  knight, 
for  ye  are  but  young,  and  late  made  knight,  and  your  might 
is  nothing  to  mine.    As  for  that,  said  Griflet,  I  will  joust  with 
you.     That  is  me  loath,  said  the  knight,  but  sith  I  must 
needs,  I  will  dress  me  thereto :  of  whence  be  ye  ?  said  the 
knight.    Sir,  I  am  of  Arthur's  court.    So  the  two  knights  ran 
together  that  Griflet's  spear  all  to-shivered ;  and  therewithal 
he  smote  Griflet  through  the  shield  and  the  left  side,  and 
brake  the  spear  that  the  truncheon  stuck  in  his  body,  that 
horse  and  knight  fell  down. 


CHAPTER   XXIII 

HOW  TWELVE  KNIGHTS  CAME  FROM  ROME  AND  ASKED  TRDAGE 
FOR  THIS  LAND  OF  ARTHUR,  AND  HOW  ARTHUR  FOUGHT  WITH 
A  KNIGHT 

WHEN  the  knight  saw  him  lie  so  on  the  ground,  he  alit, 
and  was  passing  heavy,  for  he  weened  he  had  slain  him, 
and  then  he  unlaced  his  helm  and  gat  him  wind,  and  so 
with  the  truncheon  he  set  him  on  his  horse  and  gat  him 
wind,  and  so  betook  him  to  God,  and  said  he  had  a  mighty 


4O  King  Arthur 

heart,  and  if  he  might  live  he  would  prove  a  passing  good 
knight.     And  so  Sir  Griflet  rode  to  the  court,  where  great 
dole  was  made  for  him.     But  through  good  leeches  he  was 
healed  and  saved.     Right  so  came  into  the  court  twelve 
knights,   and   were   aged   men,   and   they  came   from   the 
Emperor  of  Rome,  and  they  asked  of  Arthur  truage  for  this 
realm,  other-else  the  emperor  would    destroy  him  and  his 
land.     Well,  said  King  Arthur,  ye  are  messengers,  therefore 
ye  may  say  what  ye  will,  other-else  ye  should  die  therefore. 
But  this  is  mine  answer :  I  owe  the  emperor  no  truage,  nor 
none  will  I  hold  him,  but  on  a  fair  field  I  shall  give  him  my 
truage  that  shall  be  with  a  sharp  spear,  or  else  with  a  sharp 
sword,  and  that  shall  not  be  long,  by  my  father's  soul,  Uther 
Pendragon.     And  therewith  the  messengers  departed  pass- 
ingly wroth,  and    King  Arthur  as  wroth,  for  in  evil   time 
carne  they  then ;  for  the  king  was  passingly  wroth  for  the 
hurt  of  Sir  Griflet.     And  so  he  commanded  a  privy  man  of 
his  chamber  that  or  it  be  day  his  best  horse  and  armour, 
with  all  that  longeth  unto  his  person,  be  without  the  city  or 
to-morrow  day.     Right  so  or  to-morrow  day  he  met  with  his 
man  and  his  horse,  and  so  mounted  up  and  dressed  his 
shield  and  took  his  spear,  and  bade  his  chamberlain  tarry 
there  till  he  came  again.     And  so  Arthur  rode  a  soft  pace 
till  it  was  day,  and  then  was  he  ware  of  three  churls  chasing 
Merlin,  and  would   have  slain  him.      Then  the  king  rode 
unto  them,  and  bade  them :   Flee,  churls  !  then  were  they 
afeard  when  they  saw  a  knight,  and  fled.     O  Merlin,  said 
Arthur,  here  hadst  thou  been  slain  for  all  thy  crafts  had  I 
not  been.     Nay,  said  Merlin,  not  so,  for  I  could  save  myself 
an  I  would ;  and  thou  art  more  near  thy  death  than  I  am, 
for  thou  goest  to  the  deathward,  an  God  be  not  thy  friend. 
So  as  they  went  thus  talking  they  came  to  the  fountain,  and 
the  rich  pavilion  there  by  it.     Then  King  Arthur  was  ware 
where  sat  a  knight   armed   in  a  chair.      Sir  knight,   said 
Arthur,  for  what  cause  abidest  thou  here,  that  there  may  no 
knight  ride  this  way  but  if  he  joust  with  thee  ?   said  the 
king.     I  rede  thee  leave  that  custom,  said  Arthur.     This 
custom,  said  the  knight,  have  I  used  and  will  use  maugre 
who  saith  nay,  and  who  is  grieved  with  my  custom  let  him 
amend  it  that  will.     I  will  amend  it,  said  Arthur.     I  shall 
defend  thee,  said  the  knight.     Anon  he  took  his  horse  and 
dressed  his  shield  and  took  a  spear,  and  they  met  so  hard 
either  in  other's  shields,  that  all  to-shivered  their  spears. 
Therewith  anon  Arthur  pulled  out  his  sword.     Nay,  not  so, 


King  Arthur  41 

said  the  knight ;  it  is  fairer,  said  the  knight,  that  we  twain 
run   more  together  with   sharp  spears.      I   will  well,  said 
Arthur,  an  I  had  any  more  spears.     I  have  enow,  said  the 
knight;    so   there   came  a  squire  and   brought  two  good 
spears,   and   Arthur  chose  one  and   he  another;    so  they 
spurred  their  horses  and  came  together  with  all  their  mights, 
that  either  brake  their  spears  to  their  hands.     Then  Arthur 
set  hand  on  his  sword.     Nay,  said  the  knight,  ye  shall  do 
better,  ye  are  a  passing  good  jouster  as  ever  I  met  withal, 
and  once  for  the  love  of  the  high  order  of  knighthood  let  us 
joust  once  again.    I  assent  me,  said  Arthur.    Anon  there  were 
brought  two  great  spears,  and  every  knight  gat  a  spear,  and 
therewith  they  ran  together  that  Arthur's  spear  all  to-shivered. 
But  the  other  knight  hit  him  so  hard  in  midst  of  the  shield, 
that  horse  and  man  fell  to  the  earth,  and  therewith  Arthur 
was  eager,  and  pulled  out  his  sword,  and  said,  I  will  assay  thee, 
sir  knight,  on  foot,  for  I  have  lost  the  honour  on  horse- 
back.    I  will  be  on  horseback,  said  the  knight.     Then  was 
Arthur  wroth,  and  dressed  his  shield  toward  him  with  his 
sword  drawn.     When  the  knight  saw  that,  he  alit,  for  him 
thought  no  worship  to  have  a  knight  at  such  avail,  he  to  be 
on  horseback  and  he  on  foot,  and  so  he  alit  and  dressed  his 
shield  unto  Arthur.     And  there  began  a  strong  battle  with 
many  great  strokes,  and  so  hewed  with  their  swords  that  the 
cantels  flew  in  the  fields,  and  much  blood  they  bled  both, 
that  all  the  place  there  as  they  fought  was  overbled  with 
blood,  and  thus  they  fought  long  and  rested  them,  and  then 
they  went  to  the  battle  again,  and  so  hurtled  together  like 
two  rams  that  either  fell  to  the  earth.     So  at  the  last  they 
smote  together  that  both  their  swords  met  even  together. 
But  the  sword  of  the  knight  smote  King  Arthur's  sword  in 
two  pieces,  wherefore  he  was  heavy.     Then  said  the  knight 
unto  Arthur,  Thou  art  in  my  daunger  whether  me  list  to 
save  thee  or  slay  thee,  and  but  thou  yield  thee  as  overcome 
and  recreant,  thou  shalt  die.      As   for   death,   said    King 
Arthur,  welcome  be  it  when  it  cometh,  but  to  yield  me 
unto  thee  as  recreant  I  had  liefer  die  than  to  be  so  shamed. 
And  therewithal   the  king  leapt  unto  Pellinore,  and  took 
him  by  the  middle  and  threw  him  down,  and  rased  off  his 
helm.  '  When  the  knight  felt  that  he  was  adread,  for  he  was 
a  passing  big  man  of  might,  and  anon  he  brought  Arthur 
under  him,  and  rased  off  his  helm  and  would  have  smitten 
off  his  head. 


42  King  Arthur 


CHAPTER   XXIV 

HOW    MERLIN     SAVED    ARTHUR'S    LIFE,    AND   THREW    AN    ENCHANT 
MENT    ON    KING    PELLINORE   AND   MADE   HIM   TO   SLEEP 

THEREWITHAL  came  Merlin  and  said,  Knight,  hold  thy 
hand,  for  an  thou  slay  that  knight  thou  puttest  this  realm 
in  the  greatest  damage  that  ever  was  realm  :  for  this  knight 
is  a  man  of  more  worship  than  thou  wotest  of.  Why,  who 
is  he?  said  the  knight.  It  is  King  Arthur.  Then  would 
he  have  slain  him  for  dread  of  his  wrath,  and  heaved  up  his 
sword,  and  therewith  Merlin  cast  an  enchantment  to  the 
knight,  that  he  fell  to  the  earth  in  a  great  sleep.  Then 
Merlin  took  up  King  Arthur,  and  rode  forth  on  the  knight's 
horse.  Alas !  said  Arthur,  what  hast  thou  done,  Merlin  ? 
hast  thou  slain  this  good  knight  by  thy  crafts?  There 
liveth  not  so  worshipful  a  knight  as  he  was ;  I  had  liefer 
than  the  stint  of  my  land  a  year  that  he  were  alive.  Care 
ye  not,  said  Merlin,  for  he  is  wholer  than  ye;  for  he  is  but 
a-sleep,  and  will  awake  within  three  hours.  I  told  you,  said 
Merlin,  what  a  knight  he  was ;  here  had  ye  been  slain  had 
I  not  been.  Also  there  liveth  not  a  bigger  knight  than  he 
is  one,  and  he  shall  hereafter  do  you  right  good  service ; 
and  his  name  is  Pellinore,  and  he  shall  have  two  sons  that 
shall  be  passing  good  men ;  save  one  they  shall  have  no 
fellow  of  prowess  and  of  good  living,  and  their  names  shall 
be  Percivale  of  Wales  and  Lamerake  of  Wales,  and  he  shall 
tell  you  the  name  of  your  own  son  begotten  of  your  sister 
that  shall  be  the  destruction  of  all  this  realm. 


CHAPTER   XXV 

HOW   ARTHUR    BY   THE    MEAN    OF    MERLIN    GAT   EXCALIBUR   HIS 
SWORD    OF   THE   LADY   OF   THE   LAKE 

RIGHT  so  the  king  and  he  departed,  and  went  unto  an 
hermit  that  was  a  good  man  and  a  great  leech.  So  the 
hermit  searched  all  his  wounds  and  gave  him  good  salves ; 
so  the  king  was  there  three  days,  and  then  were  his  wounds 
well  amended  that  he  might  ride  and  go,  and  so  departed. 
And  as  they  rode,  Arthur  said,  I  have  no  sword.  No  force, 
said  Merlin,  hereby  is  a  sword  that  shall  be  yours,  an  I 


King  Arthur  43 

may.  So  they  rode  till  they  came  to  a  lake,  the  which  was 
a  fair  water  and  broad,  and  in  the  midst  of  the  lake  Arthur 
was  ware  of  an  arm  clothed  in  white  samite,  that  held  a  fair 
sword  in  that  hand.  Lo  !  said  Merlin,  yonder  is  that  sword 
that  I  spake  of.  With  that  they  saw  a  damosel  going  upon 
the  lake.  What  damosel  is  that  ?  said  Arthur.  That  is  the 
Lady  of  the  Lake,  said  Merlin ;  and  within  that  lake  is  a 
rock,  and  therein  is  as  fair  a  place  as  any  on  earth,  and 
richly  beseen ;  and  this  damosel  will  come  to  you  anon, 
and  then  speak  ye  fair  to  her  that  she  will  give  you  that 
sword.  Anon  withal  came  the  damosel  unto  Arthur,  and 
saluted  him,  and  he  her  again.  Damosel,  said  Arthur,  what 
sword  is  that,  that  yonder  the  arm  holdeth  above  the  water  ? 
I  would  it  were  mine,  for  I  have  no  sword.  Sir  Arthur, 
king,  said  the  damosel,  that  sword  is  mine,  and  if  ye  will 
give  me  a  gift  when  I  ask  it  you,  ye  shall  have  it.  By  my 
faith,  said  Arthur,  I  will  give  you  what  gift  ye  will  ask. 
Well !  said  the  damosel,  go  ye  into  yonder  barge,  and  row 
yourself  to  the  sword,  and  take  it  and  the  scabbard  with 
you,  and  I  will  ask  my  gift  when  I  see  my  time.  So  Sir 
Arthur  and  Merlin  alit  and  tied  their  horses  to  two  trees, 
and  so  they  went  into  the  ship,  and  when  they  came  to  the 
sword  that  the  hand  held,  Sir  Arthur  took  it  up  by  the 
handles,  and  took  it  with  him,  and  the  arm  and  the  hand  went 
under  the  water.  And  so  they  came  unto  the  land  and 
rode  forth,  and  then  Sir  Arthur  saw  a  rich  pavilion.  What 
signifieth  yonder  pavilion  ?  It  is  the  knight's  pavilion,  said 
Merlin,  that  ye  fought  with  last,  Sir  Pellinore ;  but  he  is  out, 
he  is  not  there.  He  hath  ado  with  a  knight  of  yours  that 
hight  Egglame,  and  they  have  foughten  together,  but  at  the 
last  Egglame  fled,  and  else  he  had  been  dead,  and  he  hath 
chased  him  even  to  Carlion,  and  we  shall  meet  with  him 
anon  in  the  highway.  That  is  well  said,  said  Arthur,  now 
have  I  a  sword,  now  will  I  wage  battle  with  him,  and  be 
avenged  on  him.  Sir,  you  shall  not  so,  said  Merlin,  for  the 
knight  is  weary  of  fighting  and  chasing,  so  that  ye  shall  have 
no  worship  to  have  ado  with  him ;  also  he  will  not  be  lightly 
matched  of  one  knight  living,  and  therefore  it  is  my  counsel, 
let  him  pass,  for  he  shall  do  you  good  service  in  short  time, 
and  his  sons  after  his  days.  Also  ye  shall  see  that  day  in 
short  space,  you  shall  be  right  glad  to  give  him  your  sister 
to  wed.  When  I  see  him,  I  will  do  as  ye  advise  me,  said 
Arthur.  Then  Sir  Arthur  looked  on  the  sword,  and  liked 


44  King  Arthur 

it  passing  well.  Whether  liketh  you  better,  said  Merlin,  the 
sword  or  the  scabbard?  Me  liketh  better  the  sword,  said 
Arthur.  Ye  are  more  unwise,  said  Merlin,  for  the  scabbard 
is  worth  ten  of  the  swords,  for  whiles  ye  have  the  scabbard 
upon  you,  ye  shall  never  lose  no  blood  be  ye  never  so  sore 
wounded,  therefore  keep  well  the  scabbard  always  with  you. 
So  they  rode  unto  Carlion,  and  by  the  way  they  met  with 
Sir  Pellinore;  but  Merlin  had  done  such  a  craft,  that 
Pellinore  saw  not  Arthur,  and  he  passed  by  without  any 
words.  I  marvel,  said  Arthur,  that  the  knight  would  not 
speak.  Sir,  said  Merlin,  he  saw  you  not,  for  an  he  had 
seen  you,  ye  had  not  lightly  departed.  So  they  came  unto 
Carlion,  whereof  his  knights  were  passing  glad.  And  when 
they  heard  of  his  adventures,  they  marvelled  that  he  would 
jeopard  his  person  so,  alone.  But  all  men  of  worship  said 
it  was  merry  to  be  under  such  a  chieftain,  that  would  put 
his  person  in  adventure  as  other  poor  knights  did. 


CHAPTER   XXVI 

HOW  TIDINGS  CAME  TO  ARTHUR  THAT  KING  RIENCE  HAD  OVER- 
COME ELEVEN  KINGS,  AND  HOW  HE  DESIRED  ARTHUR'S  BEARD 
TO  TRIM  HIS  MANTLE 

THIS  meanwhile  came  a  messenger  from  King  Rience  of 
North  Wales,  and  king  he  was  of  all  Ireland,  and  of  many 
isles.  And  this  was  his  message,  greeting  well  King  Arthur 
in  this  manner  wise,  saying  that  King  Rience  had  discomfited 
and  overcome  eleven  kings,  and  every  each  of  them  did  him 
homage,  and  that  was  this,  they  gave  him  their  beards  clean 
flayed  off,  as  much  as  there  was ;  wherefore  the  messenger 
came  for  King  Arthur's  beard.  For  King  Rience  had 
purfled  a  mantle  with  kings'  beards,  and  there  lacked  one 
place  of  the  mantle ;  wherefore  he  sent  for  his  beard,  or 
else  he  would  enter  into  his  lands,  and  burn  and  slay,  and 
never  leave  till  he  have  the  head  and  the  beard.  Well,  said 
Arthur,  thou  hast  said  thy  message,  the  which  is  the  most 
villainous  and  lewdest  message  that  ever  man  heard  sent 
unto  a  king ;  also  thou  mayest  see  my  beard  is  full  young 
yet  to  make  a  purfle  of  it.  But  tell  thou  thy  king  this:  I 
owe  him  none  homage,  nor  none  of  mine  elders,  but  or  it 
be  long  to,  he  shall  do  me  homage  on  both  his  knees,  or 
else  he  shall  lose  his  head,  by  the  faith  of  my  body,  for  this 


King   Arthur  45 

is  the  most  shamefulest  message  that  ever  I  heard  speak  of. 
I  have  espied  thy  king  met  never  yet  with  worshipful  man, 
but  tell  him,  I  will  have  his  head  without  he  do  me  homage. 
Then  the  messenger  departed.  Now  is  there  any  here,  said 
Arthur,  that  knoweth  King  Rience?  Then  answered  a 
knight  that  hight  Naram,  Sir,  I  know  the  king  well ;  he  is 
a  passing  good  man  of  his  body,  as  few  be  living,  and  a 
passing  proud  man,  and  Sir,  doubt  ye  not  he  will  make 
war  on  you  with  a  mighty  puissance.  Well,  said  Arthur, 
I  shall  ordain  for  him  in  short  time. 


CHAPTER    XXVII 

HOW    ALL   THE     CHILDREN    WERE    SENT    FOR    THAT    WERE    BORN    ON 
MAY-DAY,    AND    HOW    MORDRED    WAS    SAVED 

THEN  King  Arthur  let  send  for  all  the  children  born  on 
May-day,  begotten  of  lords  and  born  of  ladies ;  for  Merlin 
told  King  Arthur  that  he  that  should  destroy  him  should  be 
bom  on  May-day,  wherefore  he  sent  for  them  all,  upon  pain 
of  death  ;  and  so  there  were  found  many  lords'  sons,  and  all 
were  sent  unto  the  king,  and  so  was  Mordred  sent  by  King 
Lot's  wife,  and  all  were  put  in  a  ship  to  the  sea,  and  some 
were  four  weeks  old,  and  some  less.  And  so  by  fortune  the 
ship  drave  unto  a  castle,  and  was  all  to-riven,  and  destroyed 
the  most  part,  save  that  Mordred  was  cast  up,  and  a  good 
man  found  him,  and  nourished  him  till  he  was  fourteen  year 
old,  and  then  he  brought  him  to  the  court,  as  it  rehearseth 
afterward,  toward  the  end  of  the  Death  of  Arthur.  So  many 
lords  and  barons  of  this  realm  were  displeased,  for  their 
children  were  so  lost,  and  many  put  the  wyte  on  Merlin 
more  than  on  Arthur ;  so  what  for  dread  and  for  love,  they 
held  their  peace.  But  when  the  messenger  came  to  King 
Rience,  then  was  he  woode  out  of  measure,  and  purveyed 
him  for  a  great  host,  as  it  rehearseth  after  in  the  book  of 
Balin  le  Savage,  that  followeth  next  after,  how  by  adventure 
Balin  gat  the  sword. 

Explicit  Liber  Primus 


I  45 


46  King   Arthur 


BOOK   II 

CHAPTER   I 

OF   A    DAMOSEL    WHICH    CAME    GIRT    WITH    A    SWORD    FOR    TO    FIND 
A    MAN    OF   SUCH    VIRTUE  TO    DRAW    IT   OUT   OF   THE   SCABBARD 

AFTER  the  death  of  Uther  Pendragon  reigned  Arthur 
his  son,  the  which  had  great  war  in  his  days  for  to  get  all 
England  into  his  hand.  For  there  were  many  kings  within 
the  realm  of  England,  and  in  Wales,  Scotland,  and  Cornwall. 
So  it  befell  on  a  time  when  King  Arthur  was  at  London, 
there  came  a  knight  and  told  the  king  tidings  how  that  the 
King  Rience  of  North  Wales  had  reared  a  great  number  of 
people,  and  were  entered  into  the  land,  and  burnt  and  slew 
the  king's  true  liege  people.  If  this  be  true,  said  Arthur,  it 
were  great  shame  unto  mine  estate  but  that  he  were  mightily 
withstood.  It  is  truth,  said  the  knight,  for  I  saw  the  host 
myself.  Well,  said  the  king,  let  make  a  cry,  that  all  the 
lords,  knights,  and  gentlemen  of  arms,  should  draw  unto  a 
castle  called  Camelot  in  those  days,  and  there  the  king 
would  let  make  a  council-general  and  a  great  jousts.  So 
when  the  king  was  come  thither  with  all  his  baronage,  and 
lodged  as  they  seemed  best,  there  was  come  a  damosel  the 
which  was  sent  on  message  from  the  great  lady  Lile  of 
Avelion.  And  when  she  came  before  King  Arthur,  she  told 
from  whom  she  came,  and  how  she  was  sent  on  message 
unto  him  for  these  causes.  Then  she  let  her  mantle  fall 
that  was  richly  furred ;  and  then  was  she  girt  with  a  noble 
sword  whereof  the  king  had  marvel,  and  said,  Damosel,  for 
what  cause  are  ye  girt  with  that  sword?  it  beseemeth  you 
not.  Now  shall  I  tell  you,  said  the  damosel ;  this  sword 
that  I  am  girt  withal  doth  me  great  sorrow  and  cumberance, 
for  I  may  not  be  delivered  of  this  sword  but  by  a  knight,  but 
he  must  be  a  passing  good  man  of  his  hands  and  of  his 
deeds,  and  without  villainy  or  treachery,  and  without  treason. 
And  if  I  may  find  such  a  knight  that  hath  all  these  virtues, 
he  may  draw  out  this  sword  out  of  the  sheath,  for  I  have 
been  at  King  Rience's,  it  was  told  me  there  were  passing 
good  knights,  and  he  and  all  his  knights  have  assayed  it  and 
none  can  speed.  This  is  a  great  marvel,  said  Arthur,  if  this 


King   Arthur  47 

be  sooth ;  I  will  myself  assay  to  draw  out  the  sword,  not 
presuming  upon  myself  that  I  am  the  best  knight,  but  that 
I  will  begin  to  draw  at  your  sword  in  giving  example  to  all 
the  barons  that  they  shall  assay  every  each  one  after  other 
when  I  have  assayed  it.  Then  Arthur  took  the  sword  by 
the  sheath  and  by  the  girdle  and  pulled  at  it  eagerly,  but  the 
sword  would  not  out.  Sir,  said  the  damosel,  you  need  not 
to  pull  half  so  hard,  for  he  that  shall  pull  it  out  shall  do  it 
with  little  might.  Ye  say  well,  said  Arthur;  now  assay  ye 
all  my  barons,  but  beware  ye  be  not  defiled  with  shame, 
treachery,  nor  guile.  Then  it  will  not  avail,  said  the  damosel, 
for  he  must  be  a  clean  knight  without  villainy,  and  of  a 
gentle  strain  of  father  side  and  mother  side.  Most  of  all  the 
barons  of  the  Round  Table  that  were  there  at  that  time 
assayed  all  by  row,  but  there  might  none  speed ;  wherefore 
the  damosel  made  great  sorrow  out  of  measure,  and  said, 
Alas  !  I  weened  in  this  Court  had  been  the  best  knights 
without  treachery  or  treason.  By  my  faith,  said  Arthur,  here 
are  good  knights,  as  I  deem,  as  any  be  in  the  world,  but 
their  grace  is  not  to  help  you,  wherefore  I  am  displeased. 


CHAPTER   II 

HOW    BALIN,    ARRAYED    LIKE    A    POOR    KNIGHT,    PULLED     OUT    THE 
SWORD,  WHICH   AFTERWARD   WAS   THE   CAUSE    OF    HIS    DEATH 

THEN  fell  it  so  that  time  there  was  a  poor  knight  with 
King  Arthur,  that  had  been  prisoner  with  him  half  a  year 
and  more  for  slaying  of  a  knight,  the  which  was  cousin  unto 
King  Arthur.  The  name  of  this  knight  was  called  Balin, 
and  by  good  means  of  the  barons  he  was  delivered  out  of 
prison,  for  he  was  a  good  man  named  of  his  body,  and  he 
was  born  in  Northumberland ;  and  so  he  went  privily  into 
the  court,  and  saw  this  adventure,  whereof  it  reysed  his 
heart,  and  he  would  assay  it  as  other  knights  did,  but  for  he 
was  poor  and  poorly  arrayed  he  put  him  not  far  in  press ; 
but  in  his  heart  he  was  fully  assured  to  do  as  well,  if  his 
grace  happed  him,  as  any  knight  that  there  was.  And  as 
the  damosel  took  her  leave  of  Arthur  and  of  all  the  barons, 
so  departing,  this  knight  Balin  called  unto  her,  and  said, 
Damosel,  I  pray  you  of  your  courtesy,  suffer  me  as  well  to 
assay  as  these  lords ;  though  that  I  be  so  poorly  clothed,  in 


48  King   Arthur 

my  heart  meseemeth  I  am  fully  assured  as  some  of  these 

others,  and   meseemeth   in  my   heart  to  speed  right  well. 

The  damosel  beheld  the  poor  knight,  and  saw  he  was  a 

likely  man,  but  for  his  poor  arrayment  she  thought  he  should 

be  of  no  worship  without  villainy  or  treachery.     And  then 

she  said  unto  the  knight,  Sir,  it  needeth  not  to  put  me 

to  more  pain  or  labour,  for  it  seemeth  not  you  to  speed 

there  as  other  have  failed.     Ah  !  fair  Damosel,  said  Balm, 

worthiness,  and  good  tatches,  and  good  deeds,  are  not  only 

in  arrayment,  but  manhood  and  worship  is  hid  within  man's 

person,  and  many  a  worshipful  knight  is  not  known  unto 

all  people,  and  therefore  worship  and  hardiness  is  not  in 

arrayment.      By    God,    said    the    Damosel,    ye   say   sooth; 

therefore  ye  shall  assay  to  do  what  ye  may.     Then  Balin 

took  the  sword  by  the  girdle  and  sheath,  and  drew  it  out 

easily ;  and  when  he  looked  on  the  sword  it  pleased  him 

much.     Then  had  the  king  and  all  the  barons  great  marvel 

that  Balin  had  done  that  adventure,  and  many  knights  had 

great  despite  of  Balin.     Certes,  said  the  damosel,  this  is  a 

passing  good  knight,  and  the  best  that  ever  I  found,  and 

most  of  worship  without  treason,  treachery,  or  villainy,  and 

many   marvels    shall    he   do.     Now,   gentle  and  courteous 

knight,  give  me  the  sword  again.     Nay,  said  Balin,  for  this 

sword  will  I  keep,  but  it  be  taken  from   me   with  force. 

Well,  said  the  damosel,  ye  are  not  wise  to  keep  the  sword 

from  me,  for  ye  shall  slay  with  the  sword  the  best  friend 

that  ye  have,  and  the  man  that  ye  most  love  in  the  world, 

and  the  sword  shall  be  your  destruction.     I  shall  take  the 

adventure,   said  Balin,  that  God  will  ordain  me,  but  the 

sword  ye  shall  not  have  at  this  time,  by  the  faith  of  my 

body.    Ye  shall  repent  it  within  short  time,  said  the  damosel, 

for  I  would  have  the  sword  more  for  your  avail  than  for 

mine,  for  I  am  passing  heavy  for  your  sake ;  for  ye  will  not 

believe  that  sword  shall  be  your  destruction,  and  that  is 

great  pity.     With  that  the  damosel  departed,  making  great 

sorrow.     Anon  after,  Balin  sent  for  his  horse  and  armour, 

and  so  would  depart  from  the  court,  and  took  his  leave  of 

King  Arthur.     Nay,  said  the  king,  I  suppose  ye  will  not 

depart  so  lightly   from  this  fellowship,    I   suppose  ye   are 

displeased  that  I  have  shewed  you  unkindness ;  blame  me 

the  less,  for  I  was  misinformed  against  you,  but  I  weened 

ye  had  not  been  such  a  knight  as  ye  are,  of  worship  and 

prowess,  and  if  ye  will  abide  in  this  court  among  my  fellow- 


King   Arthur  49 

ship,  I  shall  so  advance  you  as  ye  shall  be  pleased.  God 
thank  your  highness,  said  Balin,  your  bounty  and  highness 
may  no  man  praise  half  to  the  value ;  but  at  this  time  I 
must  needs  depart,  beseeching  you  ahvay  of  your  good 
grace.  Truly,  said  the  king,  I  am  right  wroth  for  your 
departing;  I  pray  you,  fair  knight,  that  ye  tarry  not  long, 
and  ye  shall  be  right  welcome  to  me,  and  to  my  barons, 
and  I  shall  amend  all  amiss  that  I  have  done  against  you. 
God  thank  your  great  lordship,  said  Balin,  and  therewith 
made  him  ready  to  depart.  Then  the  most  part  of  the 
knights  of  the  Round  Table  said  that  Balin  did  not  this 
adventure  all  only  by  might,  but  by  witchcraft. 


CHAPTER   III 

HOW  THE  LADY  OF  THE  LAKE  DEMANDED  THE  KNIGHT'S  HEAD 
THAT  HAD  WON  THE  SWORD,  OR  THE  MAIDEN'S  HEAD 

THE  meanwhile,  that  this  knight  was  making  him  ready 
to  depart,  there  came  into  the  court  a  lady  that  hight  the 
Lady  of  the  Lake.  And  she  came  on  horseback,  richly 
bysene,  and  saluted  King  Arthur,  and  there  asked  him  a 
gift  that  he  promised  her  when  she  gave  him  the  sword. 
That  is  sooth,  said  Arthur,  a  gift  I  promised  you,  but  I 
have  forgotten  the  name  of  my  sword  that  ye  gave  me. 
The  name  of  it,  said  the  lady,  is  Excalibur,  that  is  as  much 
to  say  as  Cut-steel.  Ye  say  well,  said  the  king,  ask  what  ye 
will  and  ye  shall  have  it,  an  it  lie  in  my  power  to  give  it. 
Well,  said  the  lady,  I  ask  the  head  of  the  knight  that  hath 
won  the  sword,  or  else  the  damosel's  head  that  brought  it ; 
I  take  no  force  though  I  have  both  their  heads,  for  he  slew 
my  brother,  a  good  knight  and  a  true,  and  that  gentlewoman 
was  causer  of  my  father's  death.  Truly,  said  King  Arthur, 
I  may  not  grant  neither  of  their  heads  with  my  worship, 
therefore  ask  what  ye  will  else,  and  I  shall  fulfil  your  desire. 
I  will  ask  none  other  thing,  said  the  lady.  When  Balin  was 
ready  to  depart,  he  saw  the  Lady  of  the  Lake,  that  by  her 
means  had  slain  Balin's  mother,  and  he  had  sought  her 
three  years  ;  and  when  it  was  told  him  that  she  asked  his 
head  of  King  Arthur,  he  went  to  her  straight  and  said,  Evil 
be  you  found ;  ye  would  have  my  head,  and  therefore  ye 
shall  lose  yours,  and  with  his  sword  lightly  he  smote  off  her 
head  before  King  Arthur.  Alas,  for  shame  !  said  Arthur, 


50  King  Arthur 

why  have  ye  done  so?  ye  have  shamed  me  and  all  my 
court,  for  this  was  a  lady  that  I  was  beholden  to,  and  hither 
she  came  under  my  safe-conduct ;  I  shall  never  forgive  you 
that  trespass.  Sir,  said  Balin,  me  forthynketh  of  your 
displeasure,  for  this  same  lady  was  the  untruest  lady  living, 
and  by  enchantment  and  sorcery  she  hath  been  the  destroyer 
of  many  good  knights,  and  she  was  causer  that  my  mother 
was  burnt,  through  her  falsehood  and  treachery.  What 
cause  soever  ye  had,  said  Arthur,  ye  should  have  forborne 
her  in  my  presence ;  therefore,  think  not  the  contrary,  ye 
shall  repent  it,  for  such  another  despite  had  I  never  in  my 
court ;  therefore  withdraw  you  out  of  my  court  in  all  haste 
ye  may.  Then  Balin  took  up  the  head  of  the  lady,  and 
bare  it  with  him  to  his  hostelry,  and  there  he  met  with  his 
squire,  that  was  sorry  he  had  displeased  King  Arthur,  and 
so  they  rode  forth  out  of  the  town.  Now,  said  Balin,  we 
must  depart,  take  thou  this  head  and  bear  it  to  my  friends, 
and  tell  them  how  I  have  sped,  and  tell  my  friends  in 
Northumberland  that  my  most  foe  is  dead.  Also  tell  them 
how  I  am  out  of  prison,  and  what  adventure  befel  me  at  the 
getting  of  this  sword.  Alas  !  said  the  squire,  ye  are  greatly 
to  blame  for  to  displease  King  Arthur.  As  for  that,  said 
Balin,  I  will  hie  me  in  all  the  haste  that  I  may  to  meet  with 
King  Rience  and  destroy  him,  either  else  to  die  therefore ; 
and  if  it  may  hap  me  to  win  him,  then  will  King  Arthur  be 
my  good  and  gracious  lord.  Where  shall  I  meet  with  you  ? 
said  the  squire.  In  King  Arthur's  court,  said  Balin.  So 
his  squire  and  he  departed  at  that  time.  Then  King  Arthur 
and  all  the  court  made  great  dole  and  had  shame  of  the 
death  of  the  Lady  of  the  Lake.  Then  the  king  buried  her 
richly. 


CHAPTER    IV 

HOW    MERLIN    TOLD   THE   ADVENTURE   OF   THIS   DAMOSEL 

AT  that  time  there  was  a  knight,  the  which  was  the  king's 
son  of  Ireland,  and  his  name  was  Lanceor,  the  which  was 
an  orgulous  knight,  and  counted  himself  one  of  the  best  of 
the  court ;  and  he  had  great  despite  at  Balin  for  the  achiev- 
ing of  the  sword,  that  any  should  be  accounted  more  hardy, 
or  more  of  prowess  ;  and  he  asked  King  Arthur  if  he  would 


King   Arthur  51 

• 

give  him  leave  to  ride  after  Balin  and  to  revenge  the  despite 
that  he  had  none.  Do  your  best,  said  Arthur,  I  am  right 
wroth  with  Balin ;  I  would  he  were  quit  of  the  despite  that 
he  hath  done  to  me  and  to  my  court.  Then  this  Lanceor 
went  to  his  hostelry  to  make  him  ready.  In  the  meanwhile 
came  Merlin  unto  the  court  of  King  Arthur,  and  there  was 
told  him  the  adventure  of  the  sword,  and  the  death  of  the 
Lady  of  the  Lake.  Now  shall  I  say  you,  said  Merlin ;  this 
same  damosel  that  here  standeth,  that  brought  the  sword 
unto  your  court,  I  shall  tell  you  the  cause  of  her  coming : 
she  was  the  falsest  damosel  that  liveth.  Say  not  so,  said 
they.  She  hath  a  brother,  a  passing  good  knight  of  prowess 
and  a  full  true  man ;  and  this  damosel  loved  another  knight 
that  held  her  to  paramour,  and  this  good  knight  her  brother 
met  with  the  knight  that  held  her  to  paramour,  and  slew  him 
by  force  of  his  hands.  When  this  false  damosel  understood 
this,  she  went  to  the  Lady  Lile  of  Avelion,  and  besought 
her  of  help,  to  be  avenged  on  her  own  brother. 


CHAPTER   V 

HOW    BALIN    WAS    PURSUED    BY   SIR   LANCEOR,  KNIGHT   OF    IRELAND, 
AND    HOW    HE  JOUSTED   AND   SLEW   HIM 

AND  so  this  Lady  Lile  of  Avelion  took  her  this  sword  that 
she  brought  with  her,  and  told  there  should  no  man  pull  it 
out  of  the  sheath  but  if  he  be  one  of  the  best  knights  of  this 
realm,  and  he  should  be  hard  and  full  of  prowess,  and  with 
that  sword  he  should  slay  her  brother.  This  was  the  cause 
that  the  damosel  came  into  this  court.  I  know  it  as  well  as 
ye.  Would  God  she  had  not  come  into  this  court,  but  she 
came  never  in  fellowship  of  worship  to  do  good,  but  always 
great  harm  ;  and  that  knight  that  hath  achieved  the  sword 
shall  be  destroyed  by  that  sword,  for  the  which  will  be  great 
dommage,  for  there  liveth  not  a  knight  of  more  prowess  than 
he  is,  and  he  shall  do  unto  you,  my  Lord  Arthur,  great 
honour  and  kindness;  and  it  is  great  pity  he  shall  not 
endure  but  a  while,  for  of  his  strength  and  hardiness  I  know 
not  his  match  living.  So  the  knight  of  Ireland  armed  him 
at  all  points,  and  dressed  his  shield  on  his  shoulder,  and 
mounted  upon  horseback,  and  took  his  spear  in  his  hand, 
and  rode  after  a  great  pace,  as  much  as  his  horse  might  go  ; 


52  King   Arthur 

• 

and  within  a  little  space  on  a  mountain  he  had  a  sight  of 
Balin,  and  with  a  loud  voice  he  cried,  Abide,  knight,  for  ye 
shall  abide  whether  ye  will  or  nill,  and  the  shield  that  is 
tofore  you  shall  not  help.  When  Balin  heard  the  noise,  he 
turned  his  horse  fiercely,  and  said,  Fair  knight,  what  will  ye 
with  me,  will  ye  joust  with  me  ?  Yea,  said  the  Irish  knight, 
therefore  come  I  after  you.  Peradventure,  said  Balin,  it  had 
been  better  to  have  holden  you  at  home,  for  many  a  man 
weeneth  to  put  his  enemy  to  a  rebuke,  and  oft  it  falleth  to 
himself.  Of  what  court  be  ye  sent  from  ?  said  Balin.  I  am 
come  from  the  court  of  King  Arthur,  said  the  knight  of 
Ireland,  that  come  hither  for  to  revenge  the  despite  ye  did 
this  day  to  King  Arthur  and  to  his  court.  Well,  said  Balin, 
I  see  well  I  must  have  ado  with  you,  that  me  forthynketh 
for  to  grieve  King  Arthur,  or  any  of  his  court ;  and  your 
quarrel  is  full  simple,  said  Balin,  unto  me,  for  the  lady  that 
is  dead,  did  me  great  damage,  and  else  would  I  have  been 
loath  as  any  knight  that  liveth  for  to  slay  a  lady.  Make 
you  ready,  said  the  knight  Lanceor,  and  dress  you  unto  me, 
for  that  one  shall  abide  in  the  field.  Then  they  took  their 
spears,  and  came  together  as  much  as  their  horses  might 
drive,  and  the  Irish  knight  smote  Balin  on  the  shield,  that 
all  went  shivers  of  his  spear,  and  Balin  hit  him  through  the 
shield,  and  the  hauberk  perished,  and  so  pierced  through 
his  body  and  the  horse's  croup,  and  anon  turned  his  horse 
fiercely,  and  drew  out  his  sword,  and  wist  not  that  he  had 
slain  him,  and  then  he  saw  him  lie  as  a  dead  corpse. 


CHAPTER   VI 

HOW   A    DAMOSEL,    WHICH    WAS    LOVE    TO   LANCEOR,    SLEW    HERSELF 
FOR   LOVE,    AND   HOW   BALIN    MET    WITH    HIS   BROTHER   BALAN 

THEN  he  looked  by  him,  and  was  ware  of  a  damosel  that 
came  riding  full  fast  as  the  horse  might  ride,  on  a  fair 
palfrey.  And  when  she  espied  that  Lanceor  was  slain,  she 
made  sorrow  out  of  measure,  and  said,  O  Balin,  two  bodies 
thou  hast  slain  and  one  heart,  and  two  hearts  in  one  body, 
and  two  souls  thou  hast  lost.  And  therewith  she  took  the 
sword  from  her  love  that  lay  dead,  and  fell  to  the  ground  in 
a  swoon.  And  when  she  arose  she  made  great  dole  out  of 
measure,  the  which  sorrow  grieved  Balin  passingly  sore,  and 
he  went  unto  her  for  to  have  taken  the  sword  out  of  her 


King   Arthur  53 

hand,  but  she  held  it  so  fast  he  might  not  take  it  out  of  her 
hand  unless  he  should  have  hurt  her,  and  suddenly  she  set 
the  pommel  to  the  ground,  and  rove  herself  through  the 
body.  When  Balin  espied  her  deeds,  he  was  passing  heavy 
in  his  heart,  and  ashamed  that  so  fair  a  damosel  had 
destroyed  herself  for  the  love  of  his  death.  Alas,  said 
Balin,  me  repenteth  sore  the  death  of  this  knight,  for  the 
love  of  this  damosel,  for  there  was  much  true  love  betwixt 
them  both.  And  for  sorrow  he  might  not  longer  behold 
him,  but  turned  his  horse  and  looked  toward  a  great  forest, 
and  there  he  was  ware,  by  the  arms,  of  his  brother  Balan. 
And  when  they  were  met  they  put  off  their  helms  and 
kissed  together,  and  wept  for  joy  and  pity.  Then  Balan 
said,  I  little  weened  to  have  met  with  you  at  this  sudden 
adventure ;  I  am  right  glad  of  your  deliverance  out  of  your 
dolorous  prisonment,  for  a  man  told  me,  in  the  castle  of 
Four  Stones,  that  ye  were  delivered,  and  that  man  had 
seen  you  in  the  court  of  King  Arthur,  and  therefore  I  came 
hither  into  this  country,  for  here  I  supposed  to  find  you. 
Anon  the  knight  Balin  told  his  brother  of  his  adventure  of 
the  sword,  and  of  the  death  of  the  Lady  of  the  Lake,  and 
how  King  Arthur  was  displeased  with  him.  Wherefore  he 
sent  this  knight  after  me,  that  lieth  here  dead,  and  the 
death  of  this  damosel  grieveth  me  sore.  So  doth  it  me, 
said  Balan,  but  ye  must  take  the  adventure  that  God  will 
ordain  you.  Truly,  said  Balin,  I  am  right  heavy  that  my 
Lord  Arthur  is  displeased  with  me,  for  he  is  the  most 
worshipful  knight  that  reigneth  now  on  earth,  and  his  love 
will  I  get  or  else  will  I  put  my  life  in  adventure,  for  the 
King  Rience  lieth  at  a  siege  at  Castle  Terrabil,  and  thither 
will  we  draw  in  all  haste,  to  prove  our  worship  and  prowess 
upon  him.  I  will  well,  said  Balan,  that  we  do,  and  we  will 
help  each  other  as  brethren  ought  to  do. 


CHAPTER   VII 

HOW  A  DWARF  REPROVED  BALIN  FOR  THE  DEATH  OF  LANCEOR, 
AND  HOW  KING  MARK  OF  CORNWALL  FOUND  THEM,  AND  MADE 
A  TOMB  OVER  THEM 

Now  go  we  hence,  said  Balin,  and  well  be  we  met. 
The  meanwhile  as  they  talked,  there  came  a  dwarf  from  the 
city  of  Camelot  on  horseback,  as  much  as  he  might,  and 
found  the  dead  bodies,  wherefore  he  made  great  dole,  and 


54  King   Arthur 

pulled  out  his  hair  for  sorrow,  and  said,  Which  of  you  knights 
have  done  this  deed  ?  Whereby  askest  thou  it  ?  said  Balan. 
For  I  would  wit  it,  said  the  dwarf.  It  was  I,  said  Balin, 
that  slew  this  knight  in  my  defence,  for  hither  he  came  to 
chase  me,  and  either  I  must  slay  him  or  he  me ;  and  this 
damosel  slew  herself  for  his  love,  which  repenteth  me,  and 
for  her  sake  I  shall  owe  all  women  the  better  love.  Alas, 
said  the  dwarf,  thou  hast  done  great  damage  unto  thyself, 
for  this  knight  that  is  here  dead  was  one  of  the  most 
valiantest  men  that  lived,  and  trust  well,  Balin,  the  kin  of 
this  knight  will  chase  you  through  the  world  till  they  have 
slain  you.  As  for  that,  said  Balin,  I  fear  not  greatly,  but  I 
am  right  heavy  that  I  have  displeased  my  lord  King 
Arthur,  for  the  death  of  this  knight.  So  as  they  talked 
together,  there  came  a  king  of  Cornwall  riding,  the  which 
hight  King  Mark.  And  when  he  saw  these  two  bodies 
dead,  and  understood  how  they  were  dead,  by  the  two 
knights  above  said,  then  made  the  king  great  sorrow  for  the 
true  love  that  was  betwixt  them,  and  said,  I  will  not  depart 
till  I  have  on  this  earth  made  a  tomb,  and  there  he  pyght 
his  pavilions  and  sought  through  all  the  country  to  find  a 
tomb,  and  in  a  church  they  found  one  was  fair  and  rich, 
and  then  the  king  let  put  them  both  in  the  earth,  and  put 
the  tomb  upon  them,  and  wrote  the  names  of  them  both 
on  the  tomb.  How  here  lieth  Lanceor  the  king's  son  of 
Ireland,  that  at  his  own  request  was  slain  by  the  hands  of 
Balin ;  and  how  his  lady,  Colombe,  and  paramour,  slew 
herself  with  her  love's  sword  for  dole  and  sorrow. 


CHAPTER   VIII 

HOW  MERLIN  PROPHESIED  THAT  TWO  THE  BEST  KNIGHTS  OF  THE 
WORLD  SHOULD  FIGHT  THERE,  WHICH  WERE  SIR  LANCELOT 
AND  SIR  TRISTRAM 

THE  meanwhile  as  this  was  a-doing,  in  came  Merlin  to 
King  Mark,  and  seeing  all  his  doing,  said,  Here  shall  be  in 
this  same  place  the  greatest  battle  betwixt  two  knights  that 
was  or  ever  shall  be,  and  the  truest  lovers,  and  yet  none 
,of  them  shall  slay  other.  And  there  Merlin  wrote  their  names 
upon  the  tomb  with  letters  of  gold  that  should  fight  in  that 
place,  whose  names  were  Launcelot  de  Lake,  and  Tristram. 


King   Arthur  55 

Thou  art  a  marvellous  man,  said  King  Mark  unto  Merlin, 
that  speakest  of  such  marvels,  thou  art  a  boystous  man  and 
an  unlikely  to  tell  of  such  deeds.  What  is  thy  name  ?  said 
King  Mark.  At  this  time,  said  Merlin,  I  will  not  tell,  but 
at  that  time  when  Sir  Tristram  is  taken  with  his  sovereign 
lady,  then  ye  shall  hear  and  know  my  name,  and  at  that 
time  ye  shall  hear  tidings  that  shall  not  please  you.  Then 
said  Merlin  to  Balin,  Thou  hast  done  thyself  great  hurt, 
because  that  thou  savest  not  this  lady  that  slew  herself, 
that  might  have  saved  her  an  thou  wouldest.  By  the  faith  of 
my  body,  said  Balin,  I  might  not  save  her,  for  she  slew 
herself  suddenly.  Me  repenteth,  said  Merlin;  because  of 
the  death  of  that  lady  thou  shalt  strike  a  stroke  most 
dolorous  that  ever  man  struck,  except  the  stroke  of  our  Lord, 
for  thou  shalt  hurt  the  truest  knight  and  the  man  of  most 
worship  that  now  liveth,  and  through  that  stroke  three 
kingdoms  shall  be  in  great  poverty,  misery  and  wretched- 
ness twelve  years,  and  the  knight  shall  not  be  whole  of  that 
wound  for  many  years.  Then  Merlin  took  his  leave  of 
Balin.  And  Balin  said,  If  I  wist  it  were  sooth  that  ye  say 
I  should  do  such  a  perilous  deed  as  that,  I  would  slay  my- 
self to  make  thee  a  liar.  Therewith  Merlin  vanished  away 
suddenly.  And  then  Balan  and  his  brother  took  their 
leave  of  King  Mark.  First,  said  the  king,  tell  me  your 
name.  Sir,  said  Balan,  ye  may  see  he  beareth  two  swords, 
thereby  ye  may  call  him  the  knight  with  the  two  swords. 
And  so  departed  King  Mark  unto  Camelot  to  King  Arthur, 
and  Balin  took  the  way  toward  King  Rience ;  and  as  they 
rode  together  they  met  with  Merlin  disguised,  but  they 
knew  him  not.  Whither  ride  you  ?  said  Merlin.  We  have 
little  to  do,  said  the  two  knights,  to  tell  thee,  but  what  is 
thy  name  ?  said  Balin.  At  this  time,  said  Merlin,  I  will 
not  tell  it  thee.  It  is  evil  seen,  said  the  knights,  that  thou 
art  a  true  man  that  thou  wilt  not  tell  thy  name.  As  for 
that,  said  Merlin,  be  it  as  it  be  may,  I  can  tell  you^wherefore 
ye  ride  this  way,  for  to  meet  King  Rience ;  but  it  will  not 
avail  you  without  ye  have  my  counsel.  Ah  !  said  Balin,  ye 
are  Merlin ;  we  will  be  ruled  by  your  counsel.  Come  on, 
said  Merlin,  ye  shall  have  great  worship,  and  look  that  ye 
do  knightly,  for  ye  shall  have  great  need.  As  for  that,  said 
Balin,  dread  you  not,  we  will  do  what  we  may. 


56  King   Arthur 


CHAPTER    IX 

HOW     BALIN     AND     HIS     BROTHER,    BY     THK    COUNSEL     OF    MERLIN, 
TOOK    KING    RIENCE    AND    BROUGHT     HIM    TO    KING    ARTHUR 

THEN  Merlin  lodged  them  in  a  wood  among  leaves 
beside  the  highway,  and  took  off  the  bridles  of  their  horses 
and  put  them  to  grass  and  laid  them  down  to  rest  till  it  was 
nigh  midnight.  Then  Merlin  bade  them  rise,  and  make 
them  ready,  for  the  king  was  nigh  them,  that  was  stolen 
away  from  his  host  with  a  three  score  horses  of  his  best 
knights,  and  twenty  of  them  rode  tofore  to  warn  the  Lady 
de  Vance  that  the  king  was  coming,  for  that  night  King 
Rience  should  have  lain  with  her.  Which  is  the  king  ?  said 
Balin.  Abide,  said  Merlin,  here  in  a  straight  way  ye  shall 
meet  with  him ;  and  therewith  he  showed  Balin  and  his 
brother  where  he  rode.  Anon  Balin  and  his  brother  met 
with  the  king,  and  smote  him  down,  and  wounded  him 
fiercely,  and  laid  him  to  the  ground ;  and  there  they  slew 
on  the  right  hand  and  the  left  hand,  and  slew  more  than 
forty  of  his  men,  and  the  remnant  fled.  Then  went  they 
again  to  King  Rience  and  would  have  slain  him  had  he  not 
yielded  him  unto  their  grace.  Then  said  he  thus  :  Knights 
full  of  prowess,  slay  me  not,  for  by  my  life  ye  may  win,  and 
by  my  death  ye  shall  win  nothing.  Then  said  these  two 
knights,  Ye  say  sooth  and  truth,  and  so  laid  him  on  a 
horse-litter.  With  that  Merlin  was  vanished,  and  came  to 
King  Arthur  aforehand,  and  told  him  how  his  most  enemy 
was  taken  and  discomfited.  By  whom  ?  said  King  Arthur. 
By  two  knights,  said  Merlin,  that  would  please  your  lord- 
ship, and  to-morrow  ye  shall  know  what  knights  they  are. 
Anon  after  came  the  knight  with  the  two  swords  and  Balan 
his  brother,  and  brought  with  them  King  Rience  of  North 
Wales,  and  there  delivered  him  to  the  porters,  and  charged 
them  with  him ;  and  so  they  two  returned  again  in  the 
dawning  of  the  day.  King  Arthur  came  then  to  King 
Rience,  and  said,  Sir  king,  ye  are  welcome  :  by  what  adven- 
ture come  ye  hither?  Sir,  said  King  Rience,  I  came 
hither  by  an  hard  adventure.  Who  won  you  ?  said  King 
Arthur.  Sir,  said  the  king,  the  knight  with  the  two  swords 
and  his  brother,  which  are  two  marvellous  knights  of 
prowess.  I  know  them  not,  said  Arthur,  but  much  I  am 
beholden  to  them.  Ah,  said  Merlin,  I  shall  tell  you :  it  is 


King   Arthur  qy 

Balm  that  achieved  the  sword,  and  his  brother  Balan,  a  good 
knight,  there  liveth  not  a  better  of  prowess  and  of  worthi- 
ness, and  it  shall  be  the  greatest  dole  of  him  that  ever  I 
knew  of  knight,  for  he  shall  not  long  endure.  Alas,  said 
King  Arthur,  that  is  great  pity ;  for  I  am  much  beholden 
unto  him,  and  I  have  ill  deserved  it  unto  him  for  his  kind- 
ness. Nay,  said  Merlin,  he  shall  do  much  more  for  you. 
and  that  shall  ye  know  in  haste.  But,  sir,  are  ye  purveyed, 
said  Merlin,  for  to-mom  the  host  of  Nero,  King  Rierice's 
brother,  will  set  on  you  or  noon  with  a  great  host,  and 
therefore  make  you  ready,  for  I  will  depart  from  you. 


CHAPTER    X 

HOY/  KING  ARTHUR  HAD  A  BATTLE  AGAINST  NERO  AND  KING 
LOT  OF  ORKNEY,  AND  HOW  KING  LOT  WAS  DECEIVED  BY 
MERLIN,  AND  HOW  TWELVE  KINGS  WERE  SLAIN 

THEN  King  Arthur  made  ready  his  host  in  ten  battles, 
and  Nero  was  ready  in  the  Held  afore  the  Castle  Terrabil 
with  a  great  host,  and  he  had  ten  battles,  with  many  more 
people  than  Arthur  had.  Then  Nero  had  the  vanguard 
with  the  most  part  of  his  people,  and  Merlin  came  to  King 
Lot  of  the  Isle  of  Orkney,  and  held  him  with  a  tale  of 
prophecy,  till  Nero  and  his  people  were  destroyed.  And 
there  Sir  Kay  the  Seneschal  did  passingly  well,  that  the 
days  of  his  life  the  worship  went  never  from  him ;  and 
Sir  Hervis  de  Revel  did  marvellous  deeds  with  King  Arthur, 
and  King  Arthur  slew  that  day  twenty  knights  and  maimed 
forty.  At  that  time  came  in  the  knight  with  the  two  swords 
and  his  brother  Balan,  but  they  two  did  so  marvellously  that 
the  king  and  all  the  knights  marvelled  of  them,  and  all  they 
that  beheld  them  said  they  were  sent  from  heaven  as  angels, 
or  devils  from  hell ;  and  King  Arthur  said  himself  they  were 
the  best  knights  that  ever  he  saw,  for  they  gave  such  strokes 
that  all  men  had  wonder  of  them.  In  the  meanwhile  came 
one  to  King  Lot,  and  told  him  while  he  tarried  there  Nero 
was  destroyed  and  slain  with  all  his  people.  Alas,  said 
King  Lot,  I  am  ashamed,  for  by  my  default  there  is  many  a 
worshipful  man  slain,  for  an  we  had  been  together  there  had 
been  none  host  under  the  heaven  that  had  been  able  for  to 
have  matched  with  us ;  this  fayter  with  his  prophecy  hath 


58  King   Arthur 

mocked  me.  All  that  did  Merlin,  for  he  knew  well  that  an 
King  Lot  had  been  with  his  body  there  at  the  first  battle, 
King  Arthur  had  been  slain,  and  all  his  people  destroyed; 
and  well  Merlin  knew  that  one  of  the  kings  should  be  dead 
that  day,  and  loath  was  Merlin  that  any  of  them  both  should 
be  slain  ;  but  of  the  twain,  he  had  liefer  King  Lot  had  been 
slain  than  King  Arthur.  Now  what  is  best  to  do  ?  said  King 
Lot  of  Orkney ;  whether  is  me  better  to  treat  with  King 
Arthur  or  to  fight,  for  the  greater  part  of  our  people  are 
slain  and  destroyed  ?  Sir,  said  a  knight,  set  on  Arthur  for 
they  are  weary  and  forfoughten  and  we  be  fresh.  As  for  me, 
said  King  Lot,  I  would  every  knight  would  do  his  part  as  I 
would  do  mine.  And  then  they  advanced  banners  and 
smote  together  and  all  to-shivered  their  spears  ;  and  Arthur's 
knights,  with  the  help  of  the  knight  with  the  two  swords  and 
his  brother  Balan  put  King  Lot  and  his  host  to  the  worse. 
But  always  King  Lot  held  him  in  the  foremost  front,  and 
did  marvellous  deeds  of  arms,  for  all  his  host  was  borne  up 
by  his  hands,  for  he  abode  all  knights.  Alas  he  might  not 
endure,  the  which  was  great  pity,  that  so  worthy  a  knight  as 
he  was  one  should  be  overmatched,  that  of  late  time  afore 
had  been  a  knight  of  King  Arthur's,  and  wedded  the  sister 
of  King  Arthur  ;  and  for  King  Arthur  lay  by  King  Lot's 
wife,  the  which  was  Arthur's  sister,  and  gat  on  her  Mordred, 
therefore  King  Lot  held  against  Arthur.  So  there  was  a 
knight  that  was  called  the  knight  with  the  strange  beast,  and 
at  that  time  his  right  name  was  called  Pellinore,  the  which 
was  a  good  man  of  prowess,  and  he  smote  a  mighty  stroke 
at  King  Lot  as  he  fought  with  all  his  enemies,  and  he  failed 
of  his  stroke,  and  smote  the  horse's  neck,  that  he  fell  to  the 
ground  with  King  Lot ;  and  therewith  anon  Pellinore  smote 
him  a  great  stroke  through  the  helm  and  head  unto  the 
brows.  And  then  all  the  host  of  Orkney  fled  for  the  death 
of  King  Lot,  and  there  were  slain  many  mothers'  sons.  But 
King  Pellinore  bare  the  wytte  of  the  death  of  King  Lot, 
wherefore  Sir  Gawaine  revenged  the  death  of  his  father  the 
tenth  year  after  he  was  made  knight,  and  slew  King  Pellinore 
with  his  own  hands.  Also  there  were  slain  at  that  battle 
twelve  kings  on  the  side  of  King  Lot  with  Nero,  and  all  were 
buried  in  the  Church  of  Saint  Stephen's  in  Camelot,  and  the 
remnant  of  knights  and  of  others  were  buried  in  a  great 
rock. 


King   Arthur  59 


CHAPTER   XI 

OF  THE  INTERMENT  OF  TWELVE  KINGS,  AND  OF  THE  PROPHECY 
OF  MERLIN,  AND  HOW  BALIN  SHOULD  GIVE  THE  DOLOROUS 
STROKE 

So  at  the  interment  came  King  Lot's  wife  Margawse  with 
her  four  sons,  Gawaine,  Agravaine,  Gaheris,  and  Gareth. 
Also  there  came  thither  King  Uriens,  Sir  Ewaine's  father, 
and  Morgan  le  Fay  his  wife  that  was  King  Arthur's  sister. 
All  these  came  to  the  interment.  But  of  all  these  twelve 
kings,  King  Arthur  let  make  the  tomb  of  King  Lot  passing 
richly,  and  made  his  tomb  by  his  own  ;  and  then  Arthur  let 
make  twelve  images  of  laton  and  copper,  and  over-gilt  it  with 
gold,  in  the  sign  of  twelve  kings,  and  each  one  of  them  held 
a  taper  of  wax  that  burnt  day  and  night ;  and  King  Arthur 
was  made  in  sign  of  a  figure  standing  above  them  with  a 
sword  drawn  in  his  hand,  and  all  the  twelve  figures  had 
countenance  like  unto  men  that  were  overcome.  All  this 
made  Merlin  by  his  subtle  craft,  and  there  he  told  the  king, 
When  I  am  dead  these  tapers  shall  burn  no  longer,  and  soon 
after  the  adventures  of  the  Sangreal  shall  come  among  you 
and  be  achieved.  Also  he  told  Arthur  how  Balin  the 
worshipful  knight  shall  give  the  dolorous  stroke,  whereof 
shall  fall  great  vengeance.  Oh,  where  is  Balin  and  Balan 
and  Pellinore?  said  King  Arthur.  As  for  Pellinore,  said 
Merlin,  he  will  meet  with  you  soon  ;  and  as  for  Balin  he 
will  not  be  long  from  you  ;  but  the  other  brother  will  depart, 
ye  shall  see  him  no  more.  By  my  faith,  said  Arthur,  they 
are  two  marvellous  knights,  and  namely  Balin  passeth  of 
prowess  of  any  knight  that  ever  I  found,  for  much  beholden 
am  I  unto  him  ;  would  God  he  would  abide  with  me.  Sir,  said 
Merlin,  look  ye  keep  well  the  scabbard  of  Excalibur,  for  ye 
shall  lose  no  blood  while  ye  have  the  scabbard  upon  you, 
though  ye  have  as  many  wounds  upon  you  as  ye  may  have. 
So  after,  for  great  trust,  Arthur  betook  the  scabbard  to 
Morgan  le  Fay  his  sister,  and  she  loved  another  knight 
better  than  her  husband  King  Uriens  or  King  Arthur,  and 
she  would  have  had  Arthur  her  brother  slain,  and  therefore 
she  let  make  another  scabbard  like  it  by  enchantment,  and 
gave  the  scabbard  Excalibur  to  her  love ;  and  the  knight's 
name  was  called  Accolon,  that  after  had  near  slain  King 
Arthur.  After  this  Merlin  told  unto  King  Arthur  of  the 


60  King   Arthur 

prophecy  that  there  should  be  a  great  battle  beside  Salisbury, 
and  Mordred  his  own  son  should  be  against  him.  Also  he 
told  him  that  Basdemegus  was  his  cousin,  and  germain  unto 
King  Uriens. 


CHAPTER   XII 

HOW  A  SORROWFUL  KNIGHT  CAME  BEFORE  ARTHUR,  AND  HOW 
BALIN  FETCHED  HIM,  AND  HOW  THAT  KNIGHT  WAS  SLAIN  BY 
A  KNIGHT  INVISIBLE 

WITHIN  a  day  or  two  King  Arthur  was  somewhat  sick, 
and  he  let  pitch  his  pavilion  in  a  meadow,  and  there  he  laid 
him  down  on  a  pallet  to  sleep,  but  he  might  have  no  rest. 
Right  so  he  heard  a  great  noise  of  an  horse,  and  therewith 
the  king  looked  out  at  the  porch  of  the  pavilion,  and  saw  a 
knight  coming  even  by  him  and  making  great  dole.  Abide, 
fair  sir,  said  Arthur,  and  tell  me  wherefore  thou  makest  this 
sorrow.  Ye  may  little  amend  me,  said  the  knight,  and  so 
passed  forth  to  the  castle  of  Meliot.  Anon  after  there  came 
Balm,  and  when  he  saw  King  Arthur  he  alit  off  his  horse, 
and  came  to  the  king  on  foot,  and  saluted  him.  By  my 
head,  said  Arthur,  ye  be  welcome.  Sir,  right  now  came 
riding  this  way  a  knight  making  great  mourn,  for  what  cause 
I  cannot  tell ;  wherefore  I  would  desire  of  you  of  your 
courtesy  and  of  your  gentleness  to  fetch  again  that  knight 
either  by  force  or  else  by  his  good  will.  I  will  do  more  for 
your  lordship  than  that,  said  Balin ;  and  so  he  rode  more 
than  a  pace,  and  found  the  knight  with  a  damosel  in  a  forest, 
and  said,  Sir  knight,  ye  must  come  with  me  unto  King 
Arthur,  for  to  tell  him  of  your  sorrow.  That  will  I  not, 
said  the  knight,  for  it  will  scathe  me  greatly,  and  do  you 
none  avail.  Sir,  said  Balin,  I  pray  you  make  you  ready,  for 
ye  must  go  with  me,  or  else  I  must  fight  with  you  and  bring 
you  by  force,  and  that  were  me  loath  to  do.  Will  ye  be  my 
warrant,  said  the  knight,  an  I  go  with  you  ?  Yea,  said  Balin, 
or  else  I  will  die  therefor.  And  so  he  made  him  ready  to  go 
with  Balin,  and  left  the  damosel  still.  And  as  they  were 
even  afore  King  Arthur's  pavilion,  there  came  one  invisible, 
and  smote  this  knight  that  went  with  Balin  throughout  the 
body  with  a  spear.  Alas,  said  the  knight,  I  am  slain  under 
your  conduct  with  a  knight  called  Garlon  ;  therefore  take 
my  horse  that  is  better  than  yours,  and  ride  to  the  damosel, 


King   Arthur  61 

and  follow  the  quest  that  I  was  in  as  she  will  lead  you,  and 
revenge  my  death  when  ye  may.  That  shall  I  do,  said 
Balin,  and  that  I  make  a  vow  unto  knighthood  ;  and  so  he 
departed  from  this  knight  with  great  sorrow.  So  King 
Arthur  let  bury  this  knight  richly,  and  made  a  mention  on 
his  tomb,  how  there  was  slain  Herlews  le  Berbeus,  and  by 
whom  the  treachery  was  done,  the  knight  Garlon.  But  ever 
the  damosel  bare  the  truncheon  of  the  spear  with  her  that  Sir 
Herlews  was  slain  withal. 


CHAPTER   XIII 

HOW  BALIN  AND  THE  DAMOSEL  MET  WITH  A  KNIGHT  WHICH  WAS 
IN  LIKEWISE  SLAIN,  AND  HOW  THE  DAMOSEL  BLED  FOR  THE 
CUSTOM  OF  A  CASTLE 

So  Balin  and  the  damosel  rode  into  a  forest,  and  there 
met  with  a  knight  that  had  been  a-hunting,  and  that  knight 
asked  Balin  for  what  cause  he  made  so  great  sorrow.  Me 
list  not  to  tell  you,  said  Balin.  Now,  said  the  knight,  an  I 
were  armed  as  ye  be  I  would  fight  with  you.  That  should 
little  need,  said  Balin,  I  am  not  afeard  to  tell  you,  and  told 
him  all  the  cause  how  it  was.  Ah,  said  the  knight,  is  this 
all?  here  I  ensure  you  by  the  faith  of  my  body  never  to 
depart  from  you  while  my  life  lasteth.  And  so  they  went  to 
the  hostelry  and  armed  them,  and  so  rode  forth  with  Balin. 
And  as  they  came  by  an  hermitage  even  by  a  churchyard, 
there  came  the  knight  Garlon  invisible,  and  smote  this 
knight,  Perin  de  Mountbeliard,  through  the  body  with  a 
spear.  Alas,  said  the  knight,  I  am  slain  by  this  traitor 
knight  that  rideth  invisible.  Alas,  said  Balin,  it  is  not  the 
first  despite  he  hath  done  me ;  and  there  the  hermit  and 
Balin  buried  the  knight  under  a  rich  stone  and  a  tomb 
royal.  And  on  the  morn  they  found  letters  of  gold  written, 
how  Sir  Gawaine  shall  revenge  his  father's  death.  King  Lot, 
on  the  King  Pellinore.  Anon  after  this  Balin  and  the 
damosel  rode  till  they  came  to  a  castle,  and  there  Balin  alit, 
and  he  and  the  damosel  went  to  go  into  the  castle,  and 
anon  as  Balin  came  within  the  castle's  gate  the  portcullis 
fell  down  at  his  back,  and  there  fell  many  men  about  the 
damosel,  and  would  have  slain  her.  When  Balin  saw 
that,  he  was  sore  aggrieved,  for  he  might  not  help  the 
damosel;  and  then  he  went  up  into  the  tower,  and  leapt 


62  King   Arthur 

over  the  walls  into  the  ditch,  and  hurt  him  not ;  and  anon 
he  pulled  out  his  sword  and  would  have  foughten  with 
them.  And  they  all  said  nay,  they  would  not  fight  with 
him,  for  they  did  nothing  but  the  old  custom  of  the  castle, 
and  told  him  how  their  lady  was  sick,  and  had  lain  many 
years,  and  she  might  not  be  whole  but  if  she  had  a  dish  of 
silver  full  of  blood  of  a  clean  maid  and  a  king's  daughter ; 
and  therefore  the  custom  of  this  castle  is,  there  shall  no 
damosel  pass  this  way  but  she  shall  bleed  of  her  blood  in  a 
silver  dish  full.  Well,  said  Balin,  she  shall  bleed  as  much 
as  she  may  bleed,  but  I  will  not  lose  the  life  of  her  whiles 
my  life  lasteth.  And  so  Balin  made  her  to  bleed  by  her 
good  will,  but  her  blood  helped  not  the  lady.  And  so  he 
and  she  rested  there  all  night,  and  had  there  right  good 
cheer,  and  on  the  morn  they  passed  on  their  ways.  And  as 
it  telleth  after  in  the  Sangreal,  that  Sir  Percivale's  sister 
helped  that  lady  with  her  blood,  whereof  she  was  dead. 


CHAPTER   XIV 

HOW  BALIN  MET  WITH  THAT  KNIGHT  NAMED  GARLON  AT  A 
FEAST,  AND  THERE  HE  SLEW  HIM  TO  HAVE  HIS  BLOOD  TO 
HEAL  THEREWITH  THE  SON  OF  HIS  HOST 

THEN  they  rode  three  or  four  days  and  never  met  with 
adventure,  and  by  hap  they  were  lodged  with  a  gentle  man 
that  was  a  rich  man  and  well  at  ease.  And  as  they  sat  at 
their  supper  Balin  overheard  one  complain  grievously  by 
him  in  a  chair.  What  is  this  noise  ?  said  Balin.  Forsooth, 
said  his  host,  I  will  tell  you.  I  was  but  late  at  a  jousting, 
and  there  I  jousted  with  a  knight  that  is  brother  unto  King 
Pellam,  and  twice  smote  I  him  down,  and  then  he  promised 
to  requite  me  on  my  best  friend  ;  and  so  he  wounded  my 
son,  that  cannot  be  whole  till  I  have  of  that  knight's  blood, 
and  he  rideth  always  invisible,  but  I  know  not  his  name. 
Ah  !  said  Balin,  I  know  that  knight,  his  name  is  Garlon,  he 
hath  slain  two  knights  of  mine  in  the  same  manner,  there- 
fore I  had  lever  meet  with  that  knight  than  all  the  gold  in 
this  realm,  for  the  despite  he  hath  done  me.  Well,  said  his 
host,  I  shall  tell  you,  King  Pellam  of  Listeneise  hath  made 
do  cry  in  all  this  country  a  great  feast  that  shall  be  within 
these  twenty  days,  and  no  knight  may  come  there  but  if  he 


King    Arthur  63 

bring  his  wife  with  him,  or  his  paramour ;  and  that  knight, 
your  enemy  and  mine,  ye  shall  see  that  day.  Then  I  behote 
you,  said  Balin,  part  of  his  blood  to  heal  your  son  withal. 
We  will  be  forward  to-morn,  said  his  host.  So  on  the  morn 
they  rode  all  three  toward  Pellam,  and  they  had  fifteen  days' 
journey  or  they  came  thither ;  and  that  same  day  began  the 
great  feast.  And  so  they  alit  and  stabled  their  horses,  and 
went  into  the  castle ;  but  Balin's  host  might  not  be  let  in 
by  cause  he  had  no  lady.  Then  Balin  was  well  received 
and  brought  unto  a  chamber  and  unarmed  him,  and  there 
were  brought  him  robes  to  his  pleasure,  and  would  have  had 
Balin  leave  his  sword  behind  him.  Nay,  said  Balin,  that  do 
I  not,  for  it  is  the  custom  of  my  country  a  knight  always  to 
keep  his  weapon  with  him,  and  that  custom  will  I  keep,  or 
else  I  will  depart  as  I  came.  Then  they  gave  him  leave  to 
wear  his  sword,  and  so  he  went  unto  the  castle,  and  was  set 
among  knights  of  worship,  and  his  lady  afore  him.  Soon 
Balin  asked  a  knight,  Is  there  not  a  knight  in  this  court 
whose  name  is  Garlon  ?  Yonder  he  goeth,  said  a  knight,  he 
with  the  black  face  ;  he  is  the  marvellest  knight  that  is  now 
living,  for  he  destroyeth  many  good  knights,  for  he  goeth 
invisible.  Ah  well,  said  Balin,  is  that  he?  Then  Balin 
advised  him  long :  If  I  slay  him  here  I  shall  not  escape, 
and  if  I  leave  him  now,  peradventure  I  shall  never  meet 
with  him  again  at  such  a  Steven,  and  much  harm  he  will  do 
an  he  live.  Therewith  this  Garlon  espied  that  this  Balin 
beheld  him,  and  then  he  came  and  smote  Balin  on  the  face 
with  the  back  of  his  hand,  and  said,  Knight,  why  beholdest 
me  so?  for  shame  therefor,  eat  thy  meat  and  do  that  thou 
came  for.  Thou  sayest  sooth,  said  Balin,  this  is  not  the 
first  despite  that  thou  hast  done  me,  and  therefore  I  will  do 
what  I  came  for,  and  rose  up  fiercely  and  clave  his  head  to 
the  shoulders.  Give  me  the  truncheon,  said  Balin  to  his 
lady,  wherewith  he  slew  your  knight.  Anon  she  gave  it 
him,  for  always  she  bare  the  truncheon  with  her.  And 
therewith  Balin  smote  him  through  the  body,  and  said 
openly,  With  that  truncheon  thou  has  slain  a  good  knight, 
and  now  it  sticketh  in  thy  body.  And  then  Balin  called 
unto  him  his  host,  saying,  Now  may  ye  fetch  blood  enough 
to  heal  your  son  withal. 


64  King   Arthur 


CHAPTER   XV 

HOW  BALIN  FOUGHT  WITH  KING  PELLAM,  AND  HOW  HIS  SWORD 
BRAKE,  AND  HOW  HE  GAT  A  SPEAR  WHEREWITH  HE  SMOTE 
THE  DOLOROUS  STROKE 

ANON  all  the  knights  arose  from  the  table  for  to  set  on 
Balin,  and  King  Pellam  himself  arose  up  fiercely,  and  said, 
Knight,  hast  thou  slain  my  brother  ?  thou  shalt  die  therefor 
or  thou  depart.  Well,  said  Balin,  do  it  yourself.  Yes,  said 
King  Pellam,  there  shall  no  man  have  ado  with  thee  but 
myself,  for  the  love  of  my  brother.  Then  King  Pellam 
caught  in  his  hand  a  grim  weapon  and  smote  eagerly  at 
Balin ;  but  Balin  put  the  sword  betwixt  his  head  and  the 
stroke,  and  therewith  his  sword  burst  in  sunder.  And  when 
Balin  was  weaponless  he  ran  into  a  chamber  for  to  seek 
some  weapon,  and  so  from  chamber  to  chamber,  and  no 
weapon  he  could  find,  and  always  King  Pellam  after  him. 
And  at  the  last  he  entered  into  a  chamber  that  was 
marvellously  well  dight  and  richly,  and  a  bed  arrayed  with 
cloth  of  gold  the  richest  that  might  be  thought,  and  one 
lying  therein,  and  thereby  stood  a  table  of  clene  gold  with 
four  pillars  of  silver  that  bare  up  the  table,  and  upon  the 
table  stood  a  marvellous  spear  strangely  wrought.  And 
when  Balin  saw  that  spear,  he  gat  it  in  his  hand  and  turned 
him  to  King  Pellam,  and  smote  him  passingly  sore  with 
that  spear,  that  King  Pellam  fell  down  in  a  swoon,  and 
therewith  the  castle  roof  and  walls  brake  and  fell  to  the 
earth,  and  Balin  fell  down  so  that  he  might  not  stir  foot  nor 
hand.  And  so  the  most  part  of  the  castle,  that  was  fallen 
down  through  that  dolorous  stroke,  lay  upon  Pellam  and 
Balin  three  days. 


CHAPTER   XVI 

HOW    BALIN    WAS     DELIVERED    BY     MERLIN,    AND    SAVED    A   KNIGHT 
THAT   WOULD    HAVE   SLAIN    HIMSELF    FOR    LOVE 

THEN  Merlin  came  thither  and  took  up  Balin,  and  gat 
him  a  good  horse,  for  his  was  dead,  and  bad  him  ride  out 
of  that  country.  I  would  have  my  damosel,  said  Balin. 
Lo,  said  Merlin,  where  she  lieth  dead.  And  King  Pellam 
lay  so,  many  years  sore  wounded,  and  might  never  be  whole 


King   Arthur  65 

till  Galahad  the  haughty  prince  healed  him  in  the  quest  of 
the  Sangreal,  for  in  that  place  was  part  of  the  blood  of  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  that  Joseph  of  Arimathea  brought  into 
this  land,  and  there  himself  lay  in  that  rich  bed.  And  that 
was  the  same  spear  that  Longius  smote  our  Lord  to  the 
heart ;  and  King  Pellam  was  nigh  of  Joseph's  kin,  and  that 
was  the  most  worshipful  man  that  lived  in  those  days,  and 
great  pity  it  was  of  his  hurt,  for  through  that  stroke,  turned 
to  great  dole,  tray  and  tene.  Then  departed  Balin  from 
Merlin,  and  said,  In  this  world  we  meet  never  no  more.  So 
he  rode  forth  through  the  fair  countries  and  cities,  and 
found  the  people  dead,  slain  on  every  side.  And  all  that 
were  alive  cried,  O  Balin,  thou  hast  caused  great  damage  in 
these  countries ;  for  the  dolorous  stroke  thou  gavest  unto  King 
Pellam,  three  countries  are  destroyed,  and  doubt  not  but  the 
vengeance  will  fall  on  thee  at  the  last.  When  Balin  was  past 
those  countries  he  was  passing  fayne.  So  he  rode  eight 
days  or  he  met  with  adventure.  And  at  the  last  he  came  into 
a  fair  forest  in  a  valley,  and  was  ware  of  a  tower,  and  there 
beside  he  saw  a  great  horse  of  war,  tied  to  a  tree,  and  there 
beside  sat  a  fair  knight  on  the  ground  and  made  great 
mourning,  and  he  was  a  likely  man,  and  a  well  made.  Balin 
said,  God  save  you,  why  be  ye  so  heavy  ?  tell  me  and  I  will 
amend  it,  an  I  may  to  my  power.  Sir  knight,  said  he  again, 
thou  doest  me  great  grief,  for  I  was  in  merry  thoughts,  and 
now  thou  puttest  me  to  more  pain.  Balin  went  a  little  from 
him,  and  looked  on  his  horse ;  then  heard  Balin  him  say 
thus  :  Ah,  fair  lady,  why  have  ye  broken  my  promise,  for 
thou  promisest  me  to  meet  me  here  by  noon,  and  I  may 
curse  thee  that  ever  ye  gave  me  this  sword,  for  with  this 
sword  I  slay  myself,  and  pulled  it  out.  And  therewith  Balin 
sterte  unto  him  and  took  him  by  the  hand.  Let  go  my 
hand,  said  the  knight,  or  else  I  shall  slay  thee.  That  shall 
not  need,  said  Balin,  for  I  shall  promise  you  my  help  to  get 
you  your  lady,  an  ye  will  tell  me  where  she  is.  What  is 
your  name  ?  said  the  knight.  My  name  is  Balin  le  Savage. 
Ah,  sir,  I  know  you  well  enough,  ye  are  the  knight  with  the 
two  swords,  and  the  man  of  most  prowess  of  your  hands 
living.  What  is  your  name?  said  Balin.  My  name  is 
Garnish  of  the  Mount,  a  poor  man's  son,  but  by  my  prowess 
and  hardiness  a  duke  hath  made  me  knight,  and  gave  me 
lands ;  his  name  is  Duke  Hermel,  and  his  daughter  is  she 
that  I  love,  and  she  me  as  I  deemed.  How  far  is  she 


66  King   Arthur 

hence?  said  Balin.  But  six  mile,  said  the  knight.  Now 
ride  we  hence,  said  these  two  knights.  So  they  rode  more 
than  a  pace,  till  that  they  came  to  a  fair  castle  well  walled 
and  ditched.  I  will  into  the  castle,  said  Balin,  and  look  if 
she  be  there.  So  he  went  in  and  searched  from  chamber  to 
chamber,  and  found  her  bed,  but  she  was  not  there.  Then 
Balin  looked  into  a  fair  little  garden,  and  under  a  laurel  tree 
he  saw  her  lie  upon  a  quilt  of  green  samite  and  a  knight  in 
her  arms,  fast  halsynge  either  other,  and  under  their  heads 
grass  and  herbs.  When  Balin  saw  her  lie  so  with  the  foulest 
knight  that  ever  he  saw,  and  she  a  fair  lady,  then  Balin  went 
through  all  the  chambers  again,  and  told  the  knight  how  he 
found  her  as  she  had  slept  fast,  and  so  brought  him  in  the 
place  where  she  lay  fast  sleeping. 


CHAPTER    XVII 

HOW  THAT  KNIGHT  SLEW  HIS  LOVE  AND  A  KNIGHT  LYING  BY 
HER,  AND  AFTER,  HOW  HE  SLEW  HIMSELF  WITH  HIS  OWN 
SWORD,  AND  HOW  BALIN  RODE  TOWARD  A  CASTLE  WHERE  HE 
LOST  HIS  LIFE 

AND  when  Garnish  beheld  her  so  lying,  for  pure  sorrow 
his  mouth  and  nose  burst  out  on  bleeding,  and  with  his 
sword  he  smote  off  both  their  heads,  and  then  he  made 
sorrow  out  of  measure,  and  said,  O  Balin,  much  sorrow  hast 
thou  brought  unto  me,  for  haddest  thou  not  shewed  me  that 
sight  I  should  have  passed  my  sorrow.  Forsooth,  said 
Balin,  I  did  it  to  this  intent  that  it  should  better  thy  courage, 
and  that  ye  might  see  and  know  her  falsehood,  and  to  cause 
you  to  leave  love  of  such  a  lady ;  God  knoweth  I  did  none 
other  but  as  I  would  ye  did  to  me.  Alas,  said  Garnish,  now 
is  my  sorrow  double  that  I  may  not  endure,  now  have  I  slain 
that  I  most  loved  in  all  my  life ;  and  therewith  suddenly  he 
rove  himself  on  his  own  sword  unto  the  hilts.  When  Balin 
saw  that,  he  dressed  him  thenceward,  lest  folk  would  say  he 
had  slain  them  ;  and  so  he  rode  forth,  and  within  three  days 
he  came  by  a  cross,  and  thereon  were  letters  of  gold  written, 
that  said,  It  is  not  for  no  knight  alone  to  ride  toward  this 
castle.  Then  saw  he  an  old  hoar  gentleman  coming  toward 
him,  that  said,  Balin  le  Savage,  thou  passest  thy  bounds  to 
come  this  way,  therefore  turn  again  and  it  will  avail  thee. 


King   Arthur  67 

And  he  vanished  away  anon  ;  and  so  he  heard  an  horn  blow 
as  it  had  been  the  death  of  a  beast.    That  blast,  said  Balin, 
is  blown  for  me,  for  I  am  the  prize  and  yet  am  I  not  dead. 
Anon  withal  he  saw  an  hundred  ladies  and  many  knights, 
that  welcomed  him  with  fair  semblance,  and  made  him  pass- 
ing good  cheer  unto  his  sight,  and  led  him  into  the  castle, 
and  there  was  dancing  and  minstrelsy  and  all  manner  of  joy. 
Then  the  chief  lady  of  the  castle  said,  Knight  with  the  two 
swords,  ye  must  have  ado  and  joust  with  a  knight  hereby 
that  keepeth  an  island,  for  there  may  no  man  pass  this  way 
but  he  must  joust  or  he  pass.     That  is  an  unhappy  custom, 
said  Balin,  that  a  knight  may  not  pass  this  way  but  if  he 
joust.     Ye  shall  not  have  ado  but  with  one  knight,  said  the 
lady.    Well,  said  Balin,  syne  I  shall  thereto  I  am  ready,  but 
travelling   men  are    oft   weary  and  their  horses  too  ;    but 
though  my  horse  be  weary  my  heart  is  not  weary,  I  would 
be  fain  there  my  death  should  be.     Sir,  said  a  knight  to 
Balin,  methinketh  your  shield  is  not  good,  I  will  lend  you  a 
bigger,  thereof  I  pray  you.     And  so  he  took  the  shield  that 
was  unknown  and  left  his  own,  and  so  rode  unto  the  island, 
and  put  him  and  his  horse  in  a  great  boat ;  and  when  he 
came  on  the  other  side  he  met  with  a  damosel,  and  she  said, 
O  knight  Balin,  why  have  ye  left  your  own  shield  ?  alas  ye 
have  put  yourself  in  great  danger,  for  by  your  shield  ye 
should  have  been  known ;  it  is  great  pity  of  you  as  ever  was 
of  knight,  for  of  thy  prowess  and  hardiness  thou  hast  no 
fellow  living.     Me  repenteth,  said  Balin,  that  ever  I  came 
within  this  country,  but  I  may  not  turn  now  again  for  shame, 
and  what  adventure  shall  fall  to  me,  be  it  life  or  death,  I 
will  take  the  adventure  that  shall  come  to  me      And  then 
he  looked  on  his  armour,  and  understood  he  was  well  armed, 
and  therewith  blessed  him  and  mounted  upon  his  horse. 


CHAPTER   XVIII 

HOW  BALIN  MET  WITH  HIS  BROTHER  BALAN,  AND  HOW  EACH  OF 
THEM  SLEW  OTHER  UNKNOWN,  TILL  THEY  WERE  WOUNDED 
TO  DEATH 

THEN  afore  him  he  saw  come  riding  out  of  a  castle  a 
knight,  and  his  horse  trapped  all  red,  and  himself  in  the 
same  colour.  When  this  knight  in  the  red  beheld  Balin, 
him  thought  it  should  be  his  brother  Balin  by  cause  of  his 


68  King  Arthur 

two  swords,  but  by  cause  he  knew  not  his  shield  he  deemed 
it  was  not  he.  And  so  they  aventryd  their  spears  and  came 
marvellously  fast  together,  and  they  smote  each  other  in  the 
shields,  but  their  spears  and  their  course  were  so  big  that  it 
bare  down  horse  and  man  that  they  lay  both  in  a  swoon. 
But  Balin  was  bruised  sore  with  the  fall  of  his  horse,  for  he 
was  weary  of  travel.  And  Balan  was  the  first  that  rose  on 
foot  and  drew  his  sword,  and  went  toward  Balin,  and  he 
arose  and  went  against  him ;  but  Balan  smote  Balin  first, 
and  he  put  up  his  shield  and  smote  him  through  the  shield 
and  tamyd  his  helm.  Then  Balin  smote  him  again  with 
that  unhappy  sword,  and  well  nigh  had  felled  his  brother 
Balan,  and  so  they  fought  there  together  till  their  breaths 
failed.  Then  Balin  looked  up  to  the  castle  and  saw  the 
towers  stand  full  of  ladies.  So  they  went  unto  battle  again, 
and  wounded  every  each  other  dolefully,  and  then  they 
breathed  ofttimes,  and  so  went  unto  battle  that  all  the  place 
there  as  they  fought  was  blood  red.  And  at  that  time  there 
was  none  of  them  both  but  they  had  either  smitten  other 
seven  great  wounds,  so  that  the  least  of  them  might  have 
been  the  death  of  the  mightiest  giant  in  this  world.  Then 
they  went  to  battle  again  so  marvellously  that  doubte  it  was 
to  hear  of  that  battle  for  the  great  blood-shedding,  and  their 
hauberks  unnailed  that  naked  they  were  on  every  side.  At 
last  Balan  the  younger  brother  withdrew  him  a  little  and 
laid  him  down.  Then  said  Balin  le  Savage,  What  knight 
art  thou  ?  for  or  now  I  found  never  no  knight  that  matched 
me.  My  name  is,  said  he,  Balan,  brother  unto  the  good 
knight,  Balin.  Alas,  said  Balin,  that  ever  I  should  see  this 
day,  and  therewith  he  fell  backward  in  a  swoon.  Then 
Balan  yede  on  all  four  feet  and  hands,  and  put  off  the  helm 
of  his  brother,  and  might  not  know  him  by  the  visage  it  was 
so  ful  hewen  and  bledde ;  but  when  he  awoke  he  said,  O 
Balan,  my  brother,  thou  hast  slain  me  and  I  thee,  wherefore 
all  the  wide  world  shall  speak  of  us  both.  Alas,  said  Balan, 
that  ever  I  saw  this  day,  that  through  mishap  I  might  not 
know  you,  for  I  espied  well  your  two  swords,  but  by  cause 
ye  had  another  shield  I  deemed  ye  had  been  another  knight. 
Alas,  said  Balin,  all  that  made  an  unhappy  knight  in  the 
castle,  for  he  caused  me  to  leave  my  own  shield  to  our  both's 
destruction,  and  if  I  might  live  I  would  destroy  that  castle 
for  ill  customs.  That  were  well  done,  said  Balan,  for  I  had 
never  grace  to  depart  from  them  syne  that  I  came  hither, 


King   Arthur  69 

for  here  it  happed  me  to  slay  a  knight  that  kept  this  island, 
and  syne  might  I  never  depart,  and  no  more  should  ye, 
brother,  an  ye  might  have  slain  me  as  ye  have,  and  escaped 
yourself  with  the  life.  Right  so  came  the  lady  of  the  tower 
with  four  knights  and  six  ladies  and  six  yeomen  unto  them, 
and  there  she  heard  how  they  made  their  moan  either  to 
other,  and  said,  We  came  both  out  of  one  tomb,  that  is  to 
say  one  mother's  belly,  and  so  shall  we  lie  both  in  one  pit. 
So  Balan  prayed  the  lady  of  her  gentleness,  for  his  true 
service,  that  she  would  bury  them  both  in  that  same  place 
where  the  battle  was  done.  And  she  granted  them  with 
weeping  it  should  be  done  richly  in  the  best  manner.  Now, 
will  ye  send  for  a  priest,  that  we  may  receive  our  sacrament, 
and  receive  the  blessed  body  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ? 
Yea,  said  the  lady,  it  shall  be  done ;  and  so  she  sent  for  a 
priest  and  gave  them  their  rites.  Now,  said  Balin,  when 
we  are  buried  in  one  tomb,  and  the  mention  made  over  us 
how  two  brethren  slew  each  other,  there  will  never  good 
knight  nor  good  man  see  our  tomb  but  they  will  pray  for 
our  souls.  And  so  all  the  ladies  and  gentlewomen  wept  for 
pity.  Then  anon  Balan  died,  but  Balin  died  not  till  the 
midnight  after,  and  so  were  they  buried  both,  and  the  lady 
let  make  a  mention  of  Balan  how  he  was  there  slain  by  his 
brother's  hands,  but  she  knew  not  Balm's  name. 


CHAPTER  XIX 

HOW   MERLIN    BURIED   THEM    BOTH    IN    ONE   TOMB,    AND   OF    BALIN'S 

SWORD 

IN  the  morning  came  Merlin  and  let  write  Balin's  name 
on  the  tomb  with  letters  of  gold,  that  here  lieth  Balin  le 
Savage  that  was  the  knight  with  the  two  swords,  and  he  that 
smote  the  dolorous  stroke.  Also  Merlin  let  make  there  a 
bed,  that  there  should  never  man  lie  therein  but  he  went 
out  of  his  wit,  yet  Launcelot  de  Lake  fordyd  that  bed 
through  his  noblesse.  And  anon  after  Balin  was  dead, 
Merlin  took  his  sword,  and  took  off  the  pommel  and  set  on 
another  pommel.  So  Merlin  bad  a  knight  that  stood  afore 
him  handle  that  sword,  and  he  assayed,  and  he  might  not 
handle  it.  Then  Merlin  laughed.  Why  laugh  ye  ?  said  the 
knight.  This  is  the  cause,  said  Merlin  :  there  shall  never 

I  45  D 


70  King  Arthur 

man  handle  this  sword  but  the  best  knight  of  the  world,  and 
that  shall  be  Sir  Launcelot  or  else  Galahad  his  son,  and 
Launcelot  with  this  sword  shall  slay  the  man  that  in  the 
world  he  loved  best,  that  shall  be  Sir  Gawaine.  All  this  he 
let  write  in  the  pommel  of  the  sword.  Then  Merlin  let 
make  a  bridge  of  iron  and  of  steel  into  that  island,  and  it 
was  but  half  a  foot  broad,  and  there  shall  never  man  pass 
that  bridge,  nor  have  hardiness  to  go  over,  but  if  he  were  a 
passing  good  man  and  a  good  knight  without  treachery  or 
villainy.  Also  the  scabbard  of  Balin's  sword  Merlin  left  it 
on  this  side  the  island,  that  Galahad  should  find  it.  Also 
Merlin  let  make  by  his  subtilty  that  Balin's  sword  was  put 
in  a  marble  stone  standing  upright  as  great  as  a  mill  stone, 
and  the  stone  hoved  always  above  the  water  and  did  many 
years,  and  so  by  adventure  it  swam  down  the  stream  to  the 
City  of  Camelot,  that  is  in  English  Winchester.  And  that 
same  day  Galahad  the  haughty  prince  came  with  King 
Arthur,  and  so  Galahad  brought  with  him  the  scabbard  and 
achieved  the  sword  that  was  there  in  the  marble  stone 
hoving  upon  the  water.  And  on  Whitsunday  he  achieved 
the  sword  as  it  is  rehearsed  in  the  book  of  Sangreal.  Soon 
after  this  was  done  Merlin  came  to  King  Arthur  and  told 
him  of  the  dolorous  stroke  that  Balin  gave  to  King  Pellam, 
and  how  Balin  and  Balan  fought  together  the  marvellest 
battle  that  ever  was  heard  of,  and  how  they  were  buried 
both  in  one  tomb.  Alas,  said  King  Arthur,  this  is  the 
greatest  pity  that  ever  I  heard  tell  of  two  knights,  for  in  the 
world  I  know  not  such  two  knights.  Thus  endeth  the  tale 
of  Balin  and  of  Balan,  two  brethren  born  in  Northumberlands 
good  knights. 

Seqaitur  tit.  Uczr 


King  Arthur  71 


BOOK    III 

CHAPTER  I 

HOW  KING  ARTHUR  TOOK  A  WIFE,  AND  WEDDED  GUENEVER, 
DAUGHTER  TO  LEODEGRANCE,  KING  OF  THE  LAND  OF 
CAMELIARD,  WITH  WHOM  HE  HAD  THE  ROUND  TABLE 

IN  the  beginning  of  Arthur,  after  he  was  chosen  king  by 
adventure  and  by  grace  ;  for  the  most  part  of  the  barons 
knew  not  that  he  was  Uther  Pendragon's  son,  but  as  Merlin 
made  it  openly  known.  But  yet  many  kings  and  lords  held 
great  war  against  him  for  that  cause,  but  well  Arthur  over- 
came them  all,  for  the  most  part  the  days  of  his  life  he  was 
ruled  much  by  the  counsel  of  Merlin.  So  it  fell  on  a  time 
King  Arthur  said  unto  Merlin,  My  barons  will  let  me  have 
no  rest,  but  needs  I  must  take  a  wife,  and  I  will  none  take 
but  by  thy  counsel  and  by  thine  advice.  It  is  well  done, 
said  Merlin,  that  ye  take  a  wife,  for  a  man  of  your  bounty 
and  noblesse  should  not  be  without  a  wife.  Now  is  there 
any  that  ye  love  more  than  another  ?  Yea,  said  King  Arthur, 
I  love  Guenever  the  king's  daughter,  Leodegrance  of  the 
land  of  Cameliard,  the  which  holdeth  in  his  house  the 
Table  Round  that  ye  told  he  had  of  my  father  Uther. 
And  this  damosel  is  the  most  valiant  and  fairest  lady  that  I 
know  living,  or  yet  that  ever  I  could  find.  Sir,  said  Merlin, 
as  of  her  beauty  and  fairness  she  is  one  of  the  fairest  on 
live,  but,  an  ye  loved  her  not  so  well  as  ye  do,  I  should  find 
you  a  damosel  of  beauty  and  of  goodness  that  should  like 
you  and  please  you,  an  your  heart  were  not  set ;  but  there 
as  a  man's  heart  is  set,  he  will  be  loth  to  return.  That 
is  truth,  said  King  Arthur.  But  Merlin  warned  the  king 
covertly  that  Guenever  was  not  wholesome  for  him  to  take 
to  wife,  for  he  warned  him  that  Launcelot  should  love  her, 
and  she  him  again;  and  so  he  turned  his  tale  to  the 
adventures  of  Sangreal.  Then  Merlin  desired  of  the  king 
for  to  have  men  with  him  that  should  enquire  of  Guenever, 
and  so  the  king  granted  him,  and  Merlin  went  forth  unto 
King  Leodegrance  of  Cameliard,  and  told  him  of  the  desire 
of  the  king  that  he  would  have  unto  his  wife  Guenever  his 
daughter.  That  is  to  me,  said  King  Leodegrance,  the  best 


72  King  Arthur 

tidings  that  ever  I  heard,  that  so  worthy  a  king  of  prowess 
and  noblesse  will  wed  my  daughter.  And  as  for  my  lands, 
I  will  give  him,  wist  I  it  might  please  him,  but  he  hath  lands 
enow,  him  needeth  none,  but  I  shall  send  him  a  gift  shall 
please  him  much  more,  for  I  shall  give  him  the  Table 
Round,  the  which  Uther  Pendragon  gave  me,  and  when  it 
is  full  complete,  there  is  an  hundred  knights  and  fifty.  And 
as  for  an  hundred  good  knights  I  have  myself,  but  I  fawte 
fifty,  for  so  many  have  been  slain  in  my  days.  And  so 
Leodegrance  delivered  his  daughter  Guenever  unto  Merlin, 
and  the  Table  Round  with  the  hundred  knights,  and  so  they 
rode  freshly,  with  great  royalty,  what  by  water  and  what  by 
land,  till  that  they  came  nigh  unto  London. 


CHAPTER   II 

HOW    THE    KNIGHTS   OF    THE    ROUND   TABLE   WERE   ORDAINED   AND 
THEIR   SIEGES    BLESSED    BY  THE   BISHOP   OF   CANTERBURY 

WHEN  King  Arthur  heard  of  the  coming  of  Guenever  and 
the  hundred  knights  with  the  Table  Round,  then  King 
Arthur  made  great  joy  for  her  coming,  and  that  rich  present, 
and  said  openly,  This  fair  lady  is  passing  welcome  unto  me, 
for  I  have  loved  her  long,  and  therefore  there  is  nothing 
so  lief  to  me.  And  these  knights  with  the  Round  Table 
please  me  more  than  right  great  riches.  And  in  all  haste 
the  king  let  ordain  for  the  marriage  and  the  coronation  in 
the  most  honourable  wise  that  could  be  devised.  Now, 
Merlin,  said  King  Arthur,  go  thou  and  espy  me  in  all  this 
land  fifty  knights  which  be  of  most  prowess  and  worship. 
Within  short  time  Merlin  had  found  such  knights  that 
should  fulfil  twenty  and  eight  knights,  but  no  more  he  could 
find.  Then  the  Bishop  of  Canterbury  was  fetched,  and  he 
blessed  the  sieges  with  great  royalty  and  devotion,  and 
there  set  the  eight  and  twenty  knights  in  their  sieges.  And 
when  this  was  done  Merlin  said,  Fair  sirs,  you  must  all  arise 
and  come  to  King  Arthur  for  to  do  him  homage  ;  he  will 
have  the  better  will  to  maintain  you.  And  so  they  arose 
and  did  their  homage,  and  when  they  were  gone  Merlin 
found  in  every  sieges  letters  of  gold  that  told  the  knights' 
names  that  had  sitten  therein.  But  two  sieges  were  void. 
And  so  anon  came  young  Gawaine  and  asked  the  king  a 


King  Arthur  73 

gift.  Ask,  said  the  king,  and  I  shall  grant  it  you.  Sir,  I 
ask  that  ye  will  make  me  knight  that  same  day  ye  shall  wed 
fair  Guenever.  I  will  do  it  with  a  good  will,  said  King 
Arthur,  and  do  unto  you  all  the  worship  that  I  may,  for  I 
must  by  reason  ye  are  my  nephew,  my  sister's  son. 


CHAPTER    III 

HOW   A    POOR    MAN    RIDING    UPON   A    LEAN    MARE   DESIRED    KING 
ARTHUR   TO    MAKE    HIS    SON    KNIGHT 

FORTHWITHAL  there  came  a  poor  man  into  the  court,  and 
brought  with  him  a  fair  young  man  of  eighteen  years  of  age 
riding  upon  a  lean  mare;  and  the  poor  man  asked  all  men 
that  he  met,  Where  shall  I  find  King  Arthur  ?     Yonder  he 
is,  said  the  knights,  wilt  thou  anything  with  him  ?    Yea,  said 
the  poor  man,  therefore  I  came  hither.     Anon  as  he  came 
before  the  king,  he  saluted  him  and  said  :  O  King  Arthur, 
the   flower  of  all  knights   and  kings,  I  beseech  Jesu  save 
thee.     Sir,  it  was  told  me  that  at  this  time  of  your  marriage 
ye  would  give  any  man  the  gift  that  he  would  ask,  out  except 
that  were  unreasonable.     That  is  truth,  said  the  king,  such 
cries  I  let  make,  and  that  will  I  hold,  so  it  impair  not  my 
realm  nor  mine  estate.     Ye  say  well  and  graciously,  said  the 
poor  man  ;  Sir,  I  ask  nothing  else  but  that  ye  will  make  my 
son  here  a  knight.     It  is  a  great  thing  thou  askest  of  me 
said  the  king.     What  is  thy  name?  said  the  king  to  the 
poor  man.     Sir,  my  name  is  Aries  the  cowherd.    Whether 
cometh  this  of  thee  or  of  thy  son  ?  said  the  king.     Nay,  sir, 
said  Aries,  this  desire  cometh  of  my  son  and  not  of  me,  for 
I  shall  tell  you  I  have  thirteen  sons,  and  all  they  will  fall 
to  what  labour  I  put  them,  and  will  be  right  glad  to  do 
labour,  but  this  child  will  not  labour  for  me,  for  anything 
that  my  wife  or  I  may  do,  but  always  he  will  be  shooting  or 
casting  darts,  and  glad  for  to  see  battles  and  to  behold 
knights,  and  always  day  and  night  he  desireth  of  me  to  be 
made  a  knight.     What  is  thy  name  ?  said  the  king  unto  the 
young  man.     Sir,  my  name  is  Tor.     The  king  beheld   him 
fast,  and  saw  he  was  passingly  well-visaged  and  passingly 
well  made  of  his  years.     Well,  said  King  Arthur  unto  Aries 
the  cowherd,  fetch  all  thy  sons  afore  me  that  I  may  see  them. 
And  so  the  poor  man  did,  and  all  were  shaped  much  like 


74  King  Arthur 

the  poor  man.  But  Tor  was  not  like  none  of  them  all  in 
shape  nor  in  countenance,  for  he  was  much  more  than  any 
of  them.  Now,  said  King  Arthur  unto  the  cowherd,  where 
is  the  sword  he  shall  he  made  knight  withal  ?  It  is  here, 
said  Tor.  Take  it  out  of  the  sheath,  said  the  king,  and 
require  me  to  make  you  a  knight.  Then  Tor  alit  off  his 
mare  and  pulled  out  his  sword,  kneeling,  and  requiring 
the  king  that  he  would  make  him  knight,  and  that  he  might 
be  a  knight  of  the  Table  Round.  As  for  a  knight  I  will 
make  you,  and  therewith  smote  him  in  the  neck  with  the 
sword,  saying,  Be  ye  a  good  knight,  and  so  1  pray  to  God 
so  ye  may  be,  and  if  ye  be  of  prowess  and  of  worthiness  ye 
shall  be  a  knight  of  the  Table  Round.  Now  Merlin,  said 
Arthur,  say  whether  this  Tor  shall  be  a  good  knight 
or  no.  Yea,  sir,  he  ought  to  be  a  good  knight,  for  he 
is  come  of  as  good  a  man  as  any  is  alive,  and  of  kings' 
blood.  How  so,  sir  ?  said  the  king.  I  shall  tell  you,  said 
Merlin:  This  poor  man,  Aries  the  cowherd,  is  not  his  father, 
he  is  nothing  syb  to  him,  for  King  Pellinore  is  his  father. 
I  suppose  nay,  said  the  cowherd.  Fetch  thy  wife  afore  me, 
said  Merlin,  and  she  shall  not  say  nay.  Anon  the  wife  was 
fetched,  which  was  a  fair  housewife,  and  there  she  answered 
Merlin  full  womanly,  and  there  she  told  the  king  and 
Merlin  that  when  she  was  a  maid,  and  went  to  milk  kine, 
there  met  with  her  a  stern  knight,  and  half  by  force  he  had 
my  maidenhead,  and  at  that  time  he  begat  my  son  Tor,  and 
he  took  away  from  me  my  greyhound  that  I  had  that  time 
with  me,  and  said  that  he  would  keep  the  greyhound  for  my 
love.  Ah,  said  the  cowherd,  I  weened  not  this,  but  I  may 
believe  it  well,  for  he  had  never  no  tatches  of  me.  Sir,  said 
Tor  unto  Merlin,  dishonour  not  my  mother.  Sir,  said 
Merlin,  it  is  more  for  your  worship  than  hurt,  for  your 
father  is  a  good  man  and  a  king,  and  he  may  right  well 
advance  you  and  your  mother,  for  ye  were  begotten  or  ever 
she  was  wedded.  That  is  truth,  said  the  wife.  It  is  the 
less  grief  unto  me,  said  the  cowherd. 


King  Arthur  75 


CHAPTER    IV 

HOW    SIR    TOR    WAS    KNOWN    FOR    SON    OF    KING    PELLINORE,    AND 
HOW   GAWAINE   WAS    MADE   KNIGHT 

So  on  the  morn  King  Pellinore  came  to  the  court  of 
King  Arthur,  which  had  great  joy  of  him,  and  told  him  of 
Tor,  how  he  was  his  son,  and  how  he  had  made  him  knight 
at  the  request  of  the  cowherd.  When  Pellinore  beheld  Tor, 
he  pleased  him  much.  So  the  king  made  Gawaine  knight, 
but  Tor  was  the  first  he  made  at  the  feast.  What  is  the 
cause,  said  King  Arthur,  that  there  be  two  places  void  in 
the  sieges  ?  Sir,  said  Merlin,  there  shall  no  man  sit  in  those 
places  but  they  that  shall  be  of  most  worship.  But  in  the 
Siege  Perilous  there  shall  no  man  sit  therein  but  one,  and  if 
there  be  any  so  hardy  to  do  it  he  shall  be  destroyed,  and  he 
that  shall  sit  there  shall  have  no  fellow.  And  therewith 
Merlin  took  King  Pellinore  by  the  hand,  and  in  the  one 
hand  next  the  two  sieges  and  the  Siege  Perilous  he  said,  in 
open  audience,  This  is  your  place  and  best  ye  are  worthy  to 
sit  therein  of  any  that  is  here.  Thereat  sat  Sir  Gawaine  in 
great  envy  and  told  Gaheris  his  brother,  yonder  knight  is 
put  to  great  worship,  the  which  grieveth  me  sore,  for  he  slew 
our  father  King  Lot,  therefore  I  will  slay  him,  said  Gawaine, 
with  a  sword  that  was  sent  me  that  is  passing  trenchant. 
Ye  shall  not  so,  said  Gaheris,  at  this  time,  for  at  this  time 
I  am  but  a  squire,  and  when  I  am  made  knight  I  would  be 
avenged  on  him,  and  therefore,  brother,  it  is  best  ye  suffer 
till  another  time,  that  we  may  have  him  out  of  the  court,  for 
an  we  did  so  we  should  trouble  this  high  feast.  I  will  well, 
said  Gawaine,  as  ye  will. 


CHAPTER   V 

HOW  AT  FEAST  OF  THE  WEDDING  OF  KING  ARTHUR  TO  GUENEVER, 
A  WHITE  HART  CAME  INTO  THE  HALL,  AND  THIRTY  COUPLE 
HOUNDS,  AND  HOW  A  BRACKET  PINCHED  THE  HART  WHICH 
WAS  TAKEN  AWAY 

THEN  was  the  high  feast  made  ready,  and  the  king  was 
wedded  at  Camelot  unto  Dame  Guenever  in  the  church  of 
Saint  Stephen's,  with  great  solemnity.  And  as  every  man 
was  set  after  his  degree,  Merlin  went  to  all  the  knights  of 


76  King  Arthur 

the  Round  Table,  and  bad  them  sit  still,  that  none  of  them 
remove.  For  ye  shall  see  a  strange  and  a  marvellous  adven- 
ture. Right  so  as  they  sat  there  came  running  in  a  white 
hart  into  the  hall,  and  a  white  brachet  next  him,  and  thirty 
couple  of  black  running  hounds  came  after  with  a  great 
cry,  and  the  hart  went  about  the  Table  Round  as  he  went 
by  other  boards,  the  white  brachet  bit  him  by  the  buttock 
and  pulled  out  a  piece,  wherethrough  the  hart  leapt  a  great 
leap  and  overthrew  a  knight  that  sat  at  the  board  side,  and 
therewith  the  knight  arose  and  took  up  the  brachet,  and  so 
went  forth  out  of  the  hall,  and  took  his  horse  and  rode  his 
way  with  the  brachet.  Right  so  anon  came  in  a  lady  on  a 
white  palfrey,  and  cried  aloud  to  King  Arthur,  Sir,  suffer  me 
not  to  have  this  despite,  for  the  brachet  was  mine  that  the 
knight  led  away.  I  may  not  do  therewith,  said  the  king. 
With  this  there  came  a  knight  riding  all  armed  on  a  great 
horse,  and  took  the  lady  away  with  him  with  force,  and  ever 
she  cried  and  made  great  dole.  When  she  was  gone  the 
king  was  glad,  for  she  made  such  a  noise.  Nay,  said  Merlin, 
ye  may  not  leave  these  adventures  so  lightly,  for  these 
adventures  must  be  brought  again  or  else  it  would  be  dis- 
worship  to  you  and  to  your  feast  I  will,  said  the  king,  that 
all  be  done  by  your  advice.  Then,  said  Merlin,  let  call  Sir 
Gawaine,  for  he  must  bring  again  the  white  hart.  Also,  sir, 
ye  must  let  call  Sir  Tor,  for  he  must  bring  again  the  brachet 
and  the  knight,  or  else  slay  him.  Also  let  call  King  Pellinore, 
for  he  must  bring  again  the  lady  and  the  knight,  or  else  slay 
him.  And  these  three  knights  shall  do  marvellous  adven- 
tures or  they  come  again.  Then  were  they  called  all  three 
as  it  rehearseth  afore,  and  every  each  of  them  took  his 
charge,  and  armed  them  surely.  But  Sir  Gawaine  had  the 
first  request,  and  therefore  we  will  begin  at  him. 


CHAPTER  VI 

HOW  SIR  GAWAINE  RODE  FOR  TO  FETCH  AGAIN  THE  HART,  AND 
HOW  TWO  BRETHREN  FOUGHT  EACH  AGAINST  OTHER  FOR  THE 
HART 

SIR  GAWAINE  rode  more  than  a  pace,  and  Gaheris  his 
brother  that  rode  with  him  instead  of  a  squire  to  do  him 
service.  So  as  they  rode  they  saw  two  knights  fight  on 


King  Arthur  77 

horseback  passing  sore,  so  Sir  Gawaine  and  his  brother  rode 
betwixt  them,  and  asked  them  for  what  cause  they  fought  so. 
The  one  knight  answered  and  said,  We  fight  for  a  simple 
matter,  for  we  two  be  two  brethren  born  and  begotten  of  one 
man  and  of  one  woman.    Alas,  said  Sir  Gawaine,  why  do  ye 
so  ?     Sir,  said  the  elder,  there  came  a  white  hart  this  way 
this  day,  and  many  hounds  chased  him,  and  a  white  brachet 
was  always  next  him,  and  we  understood  it  was  adventure 
made  for  the  high  feast  of  King  Arthur,   and  therefore  I 
would  have  gone  after  to  have  won  me  worship ;  and  here 
my  younger  brother  said  he  would  go  after  the  hart,   for 
he  was  better  knight  than  I :  and  for  this  cause  we  fell  at 
debate,  and  so  we  thought  to  prove  which  of  us  both  was 
better  knight.     This  is  a  simple  cause,  said  Sir  Gawaine; 
uncouth  men  ye  should  debate  withal,  and  not  brother  with 
brother ;  therefore  but  if  you  will  do  by  my  counsel  I  will 
have  ado  with  you,  that  is  ye  shall  yield  you  unto  me,  and 
that  ye  go  unto  King  Arthur  and  yield  you  unto  his  grace. 
Sir    knight,    said   the   two    brethren,    we    are    forfoughten 
and  much  blood  have  we  lost  through  our  wilfulness,  and 
therefore  we  would  be  loth  to  have  ado  with  you.     Then  do 
as  I  will  have  you,  said  Sir  Gawaine.    We  will  agree  to  fulfil 
your  will ;  but  by  whom  shall  we  say  that  we  be  thither 
sent  ?     Ye  may  say,  By  the  knight  that  followeth  the  quest 
of  the  hart  that  was  white.     Now  what  is  your  name  ?  said 
Gawaine.     Sorlouse  of  the  Forest,  said  the  elder.     And  my 
name  is,  said  the  younger,  Brian  of  the  Forest.    And  so  they 
departed  and  went  to  the  king's  court,  and  Sir  Gawaine  on 
his  quest.     And  as  Gawaine  followed  the  hart  by  the  cry  of 
the  hounds,  even  afore  him  there  was  a  great  river,  and  the 
hart  swam  over ;  and  as  Sir  Gawaine  would  follow  after, 
there  stood  a  knight  over  the  other  side,  and  said,  Sir  knight, 
come  not  over  after  this  hart  but  if  thou  wilt  joust  with  me. 
I  will  not  fail  as  for  that,   said  Sir  Gawaine,  to  follow  the 
quest  that  I  am  in,  and  so  made  his  horse  to  swim  over  the 
water.    And  anon  they  gat  their  spears  and  ran  together  full 
hard ;  but  Sir  Gawaine  smote  him  off  his  horse,  and  then  he 
turned  his  horse  and  bade  him  yield  him.     Nay,  said  the 
knight,  not  so,  though  thou  have  the  better  of  me  on  horse- 
back.    I  pray  thee,  valiant  knight,  alight  afoot,  and  match 
we  together  with  swords.     What  is  your  name?    said  Sir 
Gawaine.    Allardin  of  the  Isles,  said  the  other.    Then  either 
dressed  their  shields  and  smote  together,  but  Sir  Gawaine 

I  45  *D 


78  King  Arthur 

smote  him  so  hard  through  the  helm  that  it  went  to  the 
brains,  and  the  knight  fell  down  dead.  Ah !  said  Gaheris, 
that  was  a  mighty  stroke  of  a  young  knight. 


CHAPTER   VII 

HOW    THE     HART    WAS    CHASED    INTO   A   CASTLE   AND   THERE   SLAIN, 
AND    HOW   SIR   GAWAINE   SLEW    A   LADY 

THEN  Gawaine  and  Gaheris  rode  more  than  a  pace  after 
the  white  hart,  and  let  slip  at  the  hart  three  couple  of  grey- 
hounds, and  so  they  chased  the  hart  into  a  castle,  and  in  the 
chief  place  of  the  castle  they  slew  the  hart ;  Sir  Gawaine  and 
Gaheris  followed  after.    Right  so  there  came  a  knight  out 
of  a  chamber  with  a  sword  drawn  in  his  hand  and  slew 
two  of  the  greyhounds,  even  in  the  sight  of  Sir  Gawaine,  and 
the  remnant  he  chased  them  with  his  sword  out  of  the  castle. 
And  when  he  came  again,  he  said,  O  my  white  hart,  me 
repenteth  that  thou  art  dead,   for  my  sovereign  lady  gave 
thee  to  me,  and  evil  have  I  kept  thee,  and  thy  death  shall 
be  dear  bought  an  I   live.     And  anon   he  went  into  his 
chamber  and  armed  him,  and  came  out  fiercely,  and  there 
met  he  with  Sir  Gawaine.    Why  have  ye  slain  my  hounds  ? 
said  Sir  Gawaine,  for  they  did  but  their  kind,  and  lever  I  had 
ye  had  wroken  your  anger   upon  me  than  upon  a  dumb 
beast.     Thou  sayest  truth,  said  the  knight,  I  have  avenged 
me  on  thy  hounds,  and  so  I  will  on  thee  or  thou  go.     Then 
Sir  Gawaine  alit  afoot  and  dressed  his  shield,  and  they  struck 
together  mightily,  and  clave  their  shields,  and  stoned  their 
helms,  and  brake  their  hauberks  that  the  blood  ran  down  to 
their  feet.     At  last  Sir  Gawaine  smote  the  knight  so  hard 
that  he  fell  to  the  earth,  and  then  he  cried  mercy,  and 
yielded  him,   and  besought  him  as  he  was  a  knight  and 
gentleman,    to   save   his   life.      Thou    shalt   die,    said    Sir 
Gawaine,  for  slaying  of  my  hounds.     I  will  make  amends, 
said  the  knight,  unto  my  power.     Sir  Gawaine  would  no 
mercy  have  but  unlaced  his  helm  to  have  stricken  off  his 
head.     Right  so  came  his  lady  out  of  a  chamber  and  fell 
over  him,  and  so  he  smote  off  her  head  by  misadventure. 
Alas,  said  Gaheris,  that  is  foully  and  shamefully  done,  that 
shame  shall  never  from  you ;  also  ye  should  give  mercy  unto 
them  that  ask  mercy,  for  a  knight  without  mercy  is  without 
worship.    Sir  Gawaine  was  so  stonyed  of  the  death  of  this  fair 


King  Arthur  79 

lady  that  he  wist  not  what  he  did,  and  said  unto  the  knight, 
Arise,  I  will  give  thee  mercy.  Nay,  nay,  said  the  knight,  I 
take  no  force  of  mercy  now,  for  thou  hast  slain  my  love 
and  my  lady  that  I  loved  best  of  all  earthly  things.  Me 
sore  repenteth  it,  said  Sir  Gawaine,  for  I  thought  to  strike 
unto  thee ;  but  now  thou  shalt  go  unto  King  Arthur  and 
tell  him  of  thine  adventures,  and  how  thou  art  overcome  by 
the  knight  that  went  in  the  quest  of  the  white  hart.  I  take 
no  force,  said  the  knight,  whether  I  live  or  1  die ;  but  so  for 
dread  of  death  he  swore  to  go  unto  King  Arthur,  and  he 
made  him  to  bear  one  greyhound  before  him  on  his  horse, 
and  another  behind  him.  What  is  your  name  ?  said  Sir 
Gawaine,  or  we  depart.  My  name  is,  said  the  knight, 
Ablamar  of  the  Marsh.  So  he  departed  toward  Camelot. 


CHAPTER  VIII 

HOW  FOUR  KNIGHTS  FOUGHT  AGAINST  GAWAINE  AND  GAHERIS,  AND 
HOW  THEY  WERE  OVERCOME,  AND  THEIR  LIVES  SAVED  AT 
REQUEST  OF  FOUR  LADIES 

AND  Sir  Gawaine  went  into  the  castle,  and  made  him 
ready  to  lie  there  all  night,  and  would  have  unarmed  him. 
What  will  ye  do,  said  Gaheris,  will  ye  unarm  you  in  this 
country?  Ye  may  think  ye  have  many  enemies  here. 
They  had  not  sooner  said  that  word  but  there  came  four 
knights  well  armed,  and  assailed  Sir  Gawaine  hard,  and 
said  unto  him,  Thou  new-made  knight,  thou  hast  shamed 
thy  knighthood,  for  a  knight  without  mercy  is  dishonoured. 
Also  thou  hast  slain  a  fair  lady  to  thy  great  shame  to  the 
world's  end,  and  doubt  thou  not  thou  shalt  have  great  need 
of  mercy  or  thou  depart  from  us.  And  therewith  one  of 
them  smote  Sir  Gawaine  a  great  stroke  that  nigh  he  fell  to 
the  earth,  and  Gaheris  smote  him  again  sore,  and  so  they 
were  on  the  one  side  and  on  the  other,  that  Sir  Gawaine 
and  Gaheris  were  in  jeopardy  of  their  lives ;  and  one  with  a 
bow,  an  archer,  smote  Sir  Gawaine  through  the  arm  that  it 
grieved  him  wonderly  sore.  And  as  they  should  have  been 
slain,  there  came  four  fair  ladies,  and  besought  the  knights 
of  grace  for  Sir  Gawaine  ;  and  goodly  at  request  of  the 
ladies  they  gave  Sir  Gawaine  and  Gaheris  their  lives,  and 
made  them  to  yield  them  as  prisoners.  Then  Gawaine  and 
Gaheris  made  great  dole.  Alas  !  said  Sir  Gawaine,  mine 


8o  King  Arthur 

arm  grieveth  me  sore,  I  am  like  to  be  maimed  ;  and  so 
made  his  complaint  piteously.  Early  on  the  morrow  there 
came  to  Sir  Gawaine  one  of  the  four  ladies  that  had  heard 
all  his  complaint,  and  said,  Sir  knight,  what  cheer  ?  Not 
good,  said  he.  It  is  your  own  default,  said  the  lady,  for  ye 
have  done  a  passing  foul  deed  in  the  slaying  of  the  lady,  the 
which  will  be  great  villainy  unto  you.  But  be  ye  not  of 
King  Arthur's  kin  ?  said  the  lady.  Yes  truly,  said  Sir 
Gawaine.  What  is  your  name  ?  said  the  lady,  ye  must  tell 
it  me  or  ye  pass.  My  name  is  Gawaine,  the  King  Lot  ot 
Orkney's  son,  and  my  mother  is  King  Arthur's  sister.  Ah  ! 
then  are  ye  nephew  unto  King  Arthur,  said  the  lady,  and  I 
shall  so  speak  for  you  that  ye  shall  have  conduct  to  go  to 
King  Arthur  for  his  love.  And  so  she  departed  and  told 
the  four  knights  how  their  prisoner  was  King  Arthur's 
nephew,  and  his  name  is  Sir  Gawaine,  King  Lot's  son  of 
Orkney.  And  they  gave  him  the  hart's  head  because  it  was 
in  his  quest.  Then  anon  they  delivered  Sir  Gawaine  under 
this  promise,  that  he  should  bear  the  dead  lady  with  him  in 
this  manner ;  the  head  of  her  was  hanged  about  his  neck, 
and  the  whole  body  of  her  lay  before  him  on  his  horse's 
mane.  Right  so  rode  he  forth  unto  Camelot.  And  anon 
as  he  was  come,  Merlin  desired  of  King  Arthur  that  Sir 
Gawaine  should  be  sworn  to  tell  of  all  his  adventures,  and 
how  he  slew  the  lady,  and  how  he  would  give  no  mercy 
unto  the  knight,  wherethrough  the  lady  was  slain.  Then 
the  king  and  the  queen  were  greatly  displeased  with  Sir 
Gawaine  for  the  slaying  of  the  lady.  And  there  by  ordin- 
ance of  the  queen  there  was  set  a  quest  of  ladies  on  Sir 
Gawaine,  and  they  judged  him  for  ever  while  he  lived  to  be 
with  all  ladies,  and  to  fight  for  their  quarrels ;  and  that  ever 
he  should  be  courteous,  and  never  to  refuse  mercy  to  him 
that  asketh  mercy.  Thus  was  Gawaine  sworn  upon  the 
four  Evangelists  that  he  should  never  be  against  lady  nor 
gentlewoman,  but  if  he  fought  for  a  lady  and  his  adversary 
fought  for  another.  And  thus  endeth  the  adventure  of  Sir 
Gawaine  that  he  did  at  the  marriage  of  King  Arthur. 
Amen. 


King  Arthur  81 


CHAPTER   IX 

HOW     SIR    TOR     RODE    AFTER    THE    KNIGHT    WITH    THE    BRACKET, 
AND    OF    HIS    ADVENTURE   BY   THE    WAY 

WHEN  Sir  Tor  was  ready,  he  mounted  upon  his  horseback, 
and  rode  after  the  knight  with  the  brachet.  So  as  he  rode 
he  met  with  a  dwarf  suddenly  that  smote  his  horse  on  the 
head  with  a  staff,  that  he  went  backward  his  spear  length. 
Why  dost  thou  so  ?  said  Sir  Tor.  For  thou  shalt  not  pass 
this  way,  but  if  thou  joust  with  yonder  knights  of  the 
pavilions.  Then  was  Tor  ware  where  two  pavilions  were, 
and  great  spears  stood  out,  and  two  shields  hung  on  trees 
by  the  pavilions.  I  may  not  tarry,  said  Sir  Tor,  for  I  am  in 
a  quest  that  I  must  needs  follow.  Thou  shalt  not  pass,  said 
the  dwarf,  and  therewithal  he  blew  his  horn.  Then  there 
came  one  armed  on  horseback,  and  dressed  his  shield,  and 
came  fast  toward  Tor,  and  he  dressed  him  against  him,  and 
so  ran  together  that  Tor  bare  him  from  his  horse.  And 
anon  the  knight  yielded  him  to  his  mercy.  But,  sir,  I  have 
a  fellow  in  yonder  pavilion  that  will  have  ado  with  you  anon. 
He  shall  be  welcome,  said  Sir  Tor.  Then  was  he  ware  of 
another  knight  coming  with  great  raundon,  and  each  of 
them  dressed  to  other,  that  marvel  it  was  to  see ;  but  the 
knight  smote  Sir  Tor  a  great  stroke  in  midst  of  the  shield 
that  his  spear  all  to-shivered.  And  Sir  Tor  smote  him 
through  the  shield  below  of  the  shield  that  it  went  through 
the  coost  of  the  knight,  but  the  stroke  slew  him  not.  And 
therewith  Sir  Tor  alit  and  smote  him  on  the  helm  a  great 
stroke,  and  therewith  the  knight  yielded  him  and  besought 
him  of  mercy.  I  will  well,  said  Sir  Tor,  but  thou  and  thy 
fellow  must  go  unto  King  Arthur,  and  yield  you  prisoners 
unto  him.  By  whom  shall  we  say  are  we  thither  sent  ? 
Ye  shall  say  by  the  knight  that  went  in  the  quest  of  the 
knight  that  went  with  the  brachet.  Now,  what  be  your  two 
names  ?  said  Sir  Tor.  My  name  is,  said  the  one,  Sir  Felot 
of  Langduk;  and  my  name  is,  said  the  other,  Sir  Petipase 
of  Winchelsea.  Now  go  ye  forth,  said  Sir  Tor,  and  God 
speed  you  and  me.  Then  came  the  dwarf  and  said  unto 
Sir  Tor,  I  pray  you  give  me  a  gift.  I  will  well,  said  Sir  Tor, 
ask.  I  ask  no  more,  said  the  dwarf,  but  that  ye  will  suffer 
me  to  do  you  service,  for  I  will  serve  no  more  recreant 


82  King  Arthur 

knights.  Take  an  horse,  said  Sir  Tor,  and  ride  on  with  me. 
I  wot  ye  ride  after  the  knight  with  the  white  brachet,  and  I 
shall  bring  you  where  he  is,  said  the  dwarf.  And  so  they 
rode  throughout  a  forest,  and  at  the  last  they  were  ware  of 
two  pavilions  even  by  a  priory  with  two  shields,  and  the  one 
shield  was  enewed  with  white,  and  the  other  shield  was  red. 


CHAPTER   X 

HOW   SIR    TOR    FOUND    THE    BRACHET    WITH     A    LADY,     AND    HOW    A 
KNIGHT   ASSAILED    HIM    FOR   THE   SAID    BRACHET 

THEREWITH  Sir  Tor  alit  and  took  the  dwarf  his  glaive, 

and    so   he   came   to    the   white   pavilion,    and    saw  three 

damosels  lie  in  it,  on  one  pallet  sleeping,  and  so  he  went  to 

the  other  pavilion,  and  found  a  lady  lying  sleeping  therein, 

but  there  was  the  white  brachet  that  bayed  at  her  fast,  and 

therewith  the  lady  yede  out  of  the  pavilion  and  all  her 

damosels.     But  anon  as  Sir  Tor  espied  the  white  brachet, 

he  took  her  by  force  and  took  her  to  the  dwarf.     What, 

will  ye  so,  said  the  lady,  take  my  brachet  from  me  ?    Yea, 

said  Sir  Tor,  this  brachet  have  I  sought  from  King  Arthur's 

court  hither.     Well,  said  the  lady,  knight,  ye  shall  not  go 

far  with  her,  but  that  ye  shall  be  met  and  grieved.     I  shall 

abide  what  adventure  that  cometh  by  the  grace  of  God,  and 

so  mounted  upon  his  horse,  and  passed  on  his  way  toward 

Camelot ;  but  it  was  so  near  night  he  might  not  pass  but 

little  further.     Know  ye  any  lodging?  said  Tor.     I  know 

none,  said  the  dwarf,  but  here  beside  is  an  hermitage,  and 

here  ye  must  take  lodging  as  ye  find.    And  within  a  while 

they  came  to  the  hermitage  and  took  lodging ;   and  was 

there  grass,  oats  and  bread  for  their  horses ;  soon  it  was 

sped,  and  full  hard  was  their  supper;  but  there  they  rested 

them  all  night  till  on  the  morn,  and  heard  a  mass  devoutly, 

and  took  their  leave  of  the  hermit,  and  Sir  Tor  prayed  the 

hermit  to  pray  for  him.    He  said  he  would,  and  betook  him 

to  God.    And  so  he  mounted  upon  horseback  and  rode 

towards  Camelot  a  long  while.     With  that  they  heard  a 

knight  call  loud  that  came  after  them,  and  he  said,  Knight, 

abide  and  yield  my  brachet  that  thou  took  from  my  lady, 

Sir  Tor  returned  again,  and  beheld  him   how  he  was   a 

seemly  knight  and  well  horsed,  and  well  armed  at  all  points ; 


King  Arthur  83 

then  Sir  Tor  dressed  his  shield,  and  took  his  spear  in  his 
hands,  and  the  other  came  fiercely  upon  him,  and  smote 
both  horse  and  man  to  the  earth.  Anon  they  arose  lightly 
and  drew  their  swords  as  eagerly  as  lions,  and  put  their 
shields  afore  them,  and  smote  through  the  shields,  that  the 
cantels  fell  off  both  parties.  Also  they  tamyd  their  helms 
that  the  hot  blood  ran  out,  and  the  thick  mails  of  their 
hauberks  they  carved  and  rove  in  sunder  that  the  hot 
blood  ran  to  the  earth,  and  both  they  had  many  wounds 
and  were  passing  weary.  But  Sir  Tor  espied  that  the  other 
knight  fainted,  and  then  he  sewed  fast  upon  him,  and 
doubled  his  strokes,  and  garte  him  go  to  the  earth  on  the 
one  side.  Then  Sir  Tor  bad  him  yield  him.  That  will  I 
not,  said  Abelleus,  while  my  life  lasteth  and  the  soul  is 
within  my  body,  unless  that  thou  wilt  give  me  the  brachet. 
That  will  I  not  do,  said  Sir  Tor,  for  it  was  my  quest  to 
bring  again  thy  brachet,  thee,  or  both. 


CHAPTER  XI 

HOW  SIR.  TOR  OVERCAME  THE  KNIGHT,  AND  HOW  HE  LOST  HIS   HEAD 

AT  THE  REQUEST  OF  A  LADY 

WITH  that  came  a  damosel  riding  on  a  palfrey  as  fast  as 
she  might  drive,  and  cried  with  a  loud  voice  unto  Sir  Tor. 
What  will  ye  with  me  ?  said  Sir  Tor.  I  beseech  thee,  said 
the  damosel,  for  King  Arthur's  love,  give  me  a  gift ;  I  require 
thee  gentle  knight,  as  thou  art  a  gentleman.  Now,  said 
Tor,  ask  a  gift  and  I  will  give  it  you.  Gramercy,  said  the 
damosel ;  now  I  ask  the  head  of  the  false  knight  Abelleus, 
for  he  is  the  most  outrageous  knight  that  liveth,  and  the 
greatest  murderer.  I  am  loth,  said  Sir  Tor,  of  that  gift  I 
have  given  you  ;  let  him  make  amends  in  that  he  hath 
trespassed  unto  you.  Now,  said  the  damosel,  he  may  not, 
for  he  slew  mine  own  brother  afore  mine  own  eyes,  that  was 
a  better  knight  than  he,  an  he  had  had  grace ;  and  I  kneeled 
half  an  hour  afore  him  in  the  mire  for  to  save  my  brother's 
life,  that  had  done  him  no  damage,  but  fought  with  him  by 
adventure  of  arms,  and  so  for  all  that  I  could  do  he  struck  off 
his  head  ;  wherefore  I  require  thee,  as  thou  art  a  true  knight, 
to  give  me  my  gift,  or  else  I  shall  shame  thee  in  all  the 
court  of  King  Arthur ;  for  he  is  the  falsest  knight  living,  and 


84  King  Arthur 

a  great  destroyer  of  good  knights.  Then  when  Abelleus 
heard  this,  he  was  more  afeard,  and  yielded  him  and  asked 
mercy.  I  may  not  now,  said  Sir  Tor,  but  if  I  should  be 
found  false  of  my  promise ;  for  while  I  would  have  taken 
you  to  mercy  ye  would  none  ask  but  if  ye  had  the  brachet 
again  that  was  my  quest.  And  therewith  he  took  off  his 
helm,  and  he  arose  and  fled,  and  Sir  Tor  after  him,  and 
smote  off  his  head  quite.  Now  sir,  said  the  damosel,  it  is 
near  night ;  I  pray  you  come  and  lodge  with  me  here  at  my 
place,  it  is  here  fast  by.  I  will  well,  said  Sir  Tor,  for  his 
horse  and  he  had  fared  evil  syne  they  departed  from  Camelot, 
and  so  he  rode  with  her,  and  had  passing  good  cheer  with 
her ;  and  she  had  a  passing  fair  old  knight  to  her  husband 
that  made  him  passing  good  cheer,  and  well  eased  both  his 
horse  and  him.  And  on  the  morn  he  heard  his  mass,  and 
brake  his  fast,  and  took  his  leave  of  the  knight  and  of  the  lady, 
that  besought  him  to  tell  them  his  name.  Truly,  he  said, 
my  name  is  Sir  Tor  that  was  late  made  knight,  and  this  was 
the  first  quest  of  arms  that  ever  I  did,  to  bring  again  that 
this  knight  Abelleus  took  away  from  King  Arthur's  court. 
O  fair  knight,  said  the  lady  and  her  husband,  an  ye  come 
here  in  our  marches,  come  and  see  our  poor  lodging,  and  it 
shall  be  always  at  your  commandment.  So  Sir  Tor  departed 
and  came  to  Camelot  on  the  third  day  by  noon,  and  the 
king  and  the  queen  and  all  the  court  was  passing  fain  of  his 
coming,  and  made  great  joy  that  he  was  come  again ;  for  he 
went  from  the  court  with  little  succour,  but  as  King  Pellinore 
his  father  gave  him  an  old  courser,  and  King  Arthur  gave 
him  armour  and  a  sword,  and  else  had  he  none  other 
succour,  but  rode  so  forth  himself  alone.  And  then  the 
king  and  the  queen  by  Merlin's  advice  made  him  to  swear  to 
tell  of  his  adventures,  and  so  he  told  and  made  proofs  of  his 
deeds  as  it  is  afore  rehearsed,  wherefore  the  king  and  the 
queen  made  great  joy.  Nay,  nay,  said  Merlin,  these  be  but 
japes  to  that  he  shall  do ;  for  he  shall  prove  a  noble  knight 
of  prowess,  as  good  as  any  is  living,  and  gentle  and  courteous, 
and  of  good  tatches,  and  passing  true  of  his  promise,  and 
never  shall  outrage.  Wherethrough  Merlin's  words  King 
Arthur  gave  him  an  earldom  of  lands  that  fell  unto  him. 
And  here  endeth  the  quest  of  Sir  Tor,  King  Pellinore's  son. 


King  Arthur  85 


CHAPTER   XII 

HOW  KING  PELLINORE  RODE  AFTER  THE  LADY  AND  THE  KNIGHT 
THAT  LED  HER  AWAY,  AND  HOW  A  LADY  DESIRED  HELP  OF  HIM, 
AND  HOW  HE  FOUGHT  WITH  TWO  KNIGHTS  FOR  THAT  LADY,  OF 
WHOM  HE  SLEW  THE  ONE  AT  THE  FIRST  STROKE 

THEN  King  Pellinore  armed  him  and  mounted  upon  his 
horse,  and  rode  more  than  a  paas  after  the  lady  that  the 
knight  led  away.  And  as  he  rode  in  a  forest,  he  saw  in  a 
valley  a  damosel  sit  by  a  well,  and  a  wounded  knight  in  her 
arms,  and  Pellinore  saluted  her.  And  when  she  was  ware 
of  him,  she  cried  overloud,  Help  me,  knight,  for  Christ's 
sake,  King  Pellinore.  And  he  would  not  tarry,  he  was  so 
eager  in  his  quest,  and  ever  she  cried  an  hundred  times  after 
help.  When  she  saw  he  would  not  abide,  she  prayed  unto 
God  to  send  him  as  much  need  of  help  as  she  had,  and  that 
he  might  feel  it  or  he  died.  So,  as  the  book  telleth,  the 
knight  there  died  that  there  was  wounded,  wherefore  the 
lady  for  pure  sorrow  slew  herself  with  his  sword.  As  King 
Pellinore  rode  in  that  valley  he  met  with  a  poor  man,  a 
labourer.  Sawest  thou  not,  said  Pellinore,  a  knight  riding 
and  leading  away  a  lady  ?  Yea,  said  the  man,  I  saw  that 
knight,  and  the  lady  that  made  great  dole ;  and  yonder 
beneath  in  a  valley  there  shall  ye  see  two  pavilions,  and  one 
of  the  knights  of  the  pavilions  challenged  that  lady  of  that 
knight,  and  said  she  was  his  cousin  near,  wherefore  he 
should  lead  her  no  farther.  And  so  they  waged  battle  in 
that  quarrel,  the  one  said  he  would  have  her  by  force, 
and  the  other  said  he  would  have  the  rule  of  her,  by 
cause  he  was  her  kinsman,  and  would  lead  her  to  her  kin. 
For  this  quarrel  he  left  them  fighting.  And  if  ye  will  ride  a 
pace  ye  shall  find  them  fighting,  and  the  lady  was  beleft 
with  the  two  squires  in  the  pavilions.  God  thank  thee,  said 
King  Pellinore.  Then  he  rode  a  wallop  till  he  had  a  sight 
of  the  two  pavilions,  and  the  two  knights  fighting.  Anon 
he  rode  unto  the  pavilions,  and  saw  the  lady  that  was  his 
quest,  and  said,  Fair  lady,  ye  must  go  with  me  unto  the 
court  of  King  Arthur.  Sir  knight,  said  the  two  squires  that 
were  with  her,  yonder  are  two  knights  that  fight  for  this 
lady,  go  thither  and  depart  them,  and  be  agreed  with  them, 
and  then  may  ye  have  her  at  your  pleasure.  Ye  say  well, 
said  King  Pellinore.  And  anon  he  rode  betwixt  them,  and 


86  King  Arthur 

departed  them,  and  asked  them  the  causes  why  that  they 
fought  ?  Sir  knight,  said  the  one,  I  shall  tell  you,  this  lady 
is  my  kinswoman  nigh,  mine  aunt's  daughter,  and  when  I 
heard  her  complain  that  she  was  with  him  maugre  her  head, 
I  waged  battle  to  fight  with  him.  Sir  knight,  said  the  other, 
whose  name  was  Hontzlake  of  Wentland,  and  this  lady  I  gat 
by  my  prowess  of  arms  this  day  at  Arthur's  court.  That  is 
untruly  said,  said  King  Pellinore,  for  ye  came  in  suddenly  there 
as  we  were  at  the  high  feast,  and  took  away  this  lady  or  any 
man  might  make  him  ready,  and  therefore  it  was  my  quest 
to  bring  her  again  and  you  both,  or  else  the  one  of  us  to 
abide  in  the  field ;  therefore  the  lady  shall  go  with  me,  or  I 
will  die  for  it,  for  I  have  promised  it  King  Arthur.  And 
therefore  fight  ye  no  more,  for  none  of  you  shall  have  no 
part  of  her  at  this  time,  and  if  ye  list  to  fight  for  her,  fight 
with  me,  and  I  will  defend  her.  Well,  said  the  knights, 
make  you  ready,  and  we  shall  assail  you  with  all  our  power, 
And  as  King  Pellinore  would  have  put  his  horse  from  them, 
Sir  Hontzlake  rove  his  horse  through  with  a  sword,  and  said  : 
Now  art  thou  on  foot  as  well  as  we  are.  When  King 
Pellinore  espied  that  his  horse  was  slain,  lightly  he  leapt  from 
his  horse  and  pulled  out  his  sword,  and  put  his  shield  afore 
him,  and  said,  Knight,  keep  well  thy  head,  for  thou  shalt 
have  a  buffet  for  the  slaying  of  my  horse.  So  King  Pellinore 
gave  him  such  a  stroke  upon  the  helm  that  he  clave  the 
head  down  to  the  chin,  that  he  fell  to  the  earth  dead. 


CHAPTER   XIII 

HOW    KING    PELLINORE    GAT    THE    LADY    AND    BROUGHT    HER    TO 
CAMELOT   TO   THE   COURT   OF    KING   ARTHUR 

AND  then  he  turned  him  to  the  other  knight  that  was 
sore  wounded.  But  when  he  saw  the  other's  buffet,  he 
would  not  fight,  but  kneeled  down  and  said,  Take  my 
cousin  the  lady  with  you  at  your  request,  and  I  require  you, 
as  ye  be  a  true  knight,  put  her  to  no  shame  nor  villainy. 
What,  said  King  Pellinore,  will  ye  not  fight  for  her  ?  No, 
sir,  said  the  knight,  I  will  not  fight  with  such  a  knight 
of  prowess  as  ye  be.  Well,  said  Pellinore,  ye  say  well;  I 
promise  you  she  shall  have  no  villainy  by  me,  as  I  am 
true  knight ;  but  now  me  lacketh  an  horse,  said  Pellinore, 


King  Arthur  87 

but  I  will  have  Hontzlake's  horse.  Ye  shall  not  need,  said 
the  knight,  for  I  shall  give  you  such  an  horse  as  shall  please 
you,  so  that  you  will  lodge  with  me,  for  it  is  near  night.  I 
will  well,  said  King  Pellinore,  abide  with  you  all  night.  And 
there  he  had  with  him  right  good  cheer,  and  fared  of  the 
best  with  passing  good  wine,  and  had  merry  rest  that  night. 
And  on  the  morn  he  heard  a  mass  and  dined ;  and  then 
was  brought  him  a  fair  bay  courser,  and  King  Pellinore's 
saddle  set  upon  him.  Now,  what  shall  I  call  you  ?  said  the 
knight,  inasmuch  as  ye  have  my  cousin  at  your  desire  of 
your  quest.  Sir,  I  shall  tell  you,  my  name  is  King  Pellinore 
of  the  Isles  and  knight  of  the  Table  Round.  Now  I  am 
glad,  said  the  knight,  that  such  a  noble  man  shall  have  the 
rule  of  my  cousin.  Now,  what  is  your  name  ?  said  Pellinore, 
I  pray  you  tell  me.  Sir,  my  name  is  Sir  Meliot  of  Logurs, 
and  this  lady  my  cousin  hight  Nimue,  and  the  knight  that 
was  in  the  other  pavilion  is  my  sworn  brother,  a  passing 
good  knight,  and  his  name  is  Brian  of  the  Isles,  and  he  is 
full  loth  to  do  wrong,  and  full  loth  to  fight  with  any  man, 
but  if  he  be  sore  sought  on,  so  that  for  shame  he  may  not 
leave  it.  It  is  marvel,  said  Pellinore,  that  he  will  not  have 
ado  with  me.  Sir,  he  will  not  have  ado  with  no  man  but  if 
it  be  at  his  request.  Bring  him  to  the  court,  said  Pellinore, 
one  of  these  days.  Sir,  we  will  come  together.  And  ye 
shall  be  welcome,  said  Pellinore,  to  the  court  of  King 
Arthur,  and  greatly  allowed  for  your  coming.  And  so  he 
departed  with  the  lady,  and  brought  her  to  Camelot.  So  as 
they  rode  in  a  valley  it  was  full  of  stones,  and  there  the 
lady's  horse  stumbled  and  threw  her  down,  that  her  arm 
was  sore  bruised  and  near  she  swooned  for  pain.  Alas  ! 
sir,  said  the  lady,  mine  arm  is  out  of  lythe,  wherethrough  I 
must  needs  rest  me.  Ye  shall  well,  said  King  Pellinore. 
And  so  he  alit  under  a  fair  tree  where  was  fair  grass,  and  he 
put  his  horse  thereto,  and  so  laid  him  under  the  tree  and 
slept  till  it  was  nigh  night.  And  when  he  awoke  he  would 
have  ridden.  Sir,  said  the  lady,  it  is  so  dark  that  ye  may  as 
well  ride  backward  as  forward.  So  they  abode  still  and 
made  there  their  lodging.  Then  Sir  Pellinore  put  off  his 
armour ;  then  a  little  afore  midnight  they  heard  the  trotting 
of  an  horse.  Be  ye  still,  said  King  Pellinore,  for  we  shall 
hear  of  some  adventure. 


King  Arthur 


CHAPTER   XIV 

HOW   ON   THE   WAY   HE   HEARD   TWO   KNIGHTS,    AS    HE   LAY   BY 
NIGHT    IN    A   VALLEY,    AND   OF   THEIR   ADVENTURES 

AND  therewith  he  armed  him.  So  right  even  afore  him 
there  met  two  knights,  the  one  came  fro  ward  Camelot,  and 
the  other  from  the  north,  and  either  saluted  other.  What 
tidings  at  Camelot?  said  the  one.  By  my  head,  said  the 
other,  there  have  I  been  and  espied  the  court  of  King 
Arthur,  and  there  is  such  a  fellowship  they  may  never  be 
broken,  and  well-nigh  all  the  world  holdeth  with  Arthur,  for 
there  is  the  flower  of  chivalry.  Now  for  this  cause  I  am 
riding  into  the  north,  to  tell  our  chieftains  of  the  fellowship 
that  is  withholden  with  King  Arthur.  As  for  that,  said  the 
other  knight,  I  have  brought  a  remedy  with  me,  that  is  the 
greatest  poison  that  ever  ye  heard  speak  of,  and  to  Camelot 
will  I  with  it,  for  we  have  a  friend  right  nigh  King  Arthur, 
and  well  cherished,  that  shall  poison  King  Arthur ;  for  so 
he  hath  promised  our  chieftains,  and  received  great  gifts  for 
to  do  it.  Beware,  said  the  other  knight,  of  Merlin,  for  he 
knoweth  all  things  by  the  devil's  craft.  Therefore  will  I  not 
let  it,  said  the  knight.  And  so  they  departed  asunder. 
Anon  after  Pellinore  made  him  ready,  and  his  lady,  and 
rode  toward  Camelot ;  and  as  they  came  by  the  well  there 
as  the  wounded  knight  was  and  the  lady,  there  he  found  the 
knight,  and  the  lady  eaten  with  lions  or  wild  beasts,  all  save 
the  head,  wherefore  he  made  great  sorrow,  and  wept  passing 
sore,  and  said,  Alas  !  her  life  might  I  have  saved,  but  I  was 
so  fierce  in  my  quest  therefore  I  would  not  abide.  Where- 
fore make  ye  such  dole  ?  said  the  lady.  I  wot  not,  said 
Pellinore,  but  my  heart  mourneth  sore  of  the  death  of  her, 
for  she  was  a  passing  fair  lady  and  a  young.  Now,  will  ye 
do  by  mine  advice  ?  said  the  lady,  take  this  knight  and  let 
him  be  buried  in  an  hermitage,  and  then  take  the  lady's 
head  and  bear  it  with  you  unto  Arthur.  So  King  Pellinore 
took  this  dead  knight  on  his  shoulders,  and  brought  him  to 
the  hermitage,  and  charged  the  hermit  with  the  corpse,  that 
service  should  be  done  for  the  soul ;  and  take  his  harness 
for  your  pain.  It  shall  be  done,  said  the  hermit,  as  I  will 
answer  unto  God. 


King  Arthur  89 


CHAPTER  xv 

WHEN    HE   WAS   COME   TO   CAMELOT   HE   WAS   SWORN    UPON 
A   BOOK   TO   TELL   THE   TRUTH    OF   HIS   QUEST 

AND  therewith  they  departed,  and  came  there  as  the  head 
of  the  lady  lay  with  a  fair  yellow  hair,  that  grieved  King 
Pellinore  passingly  sore  when  he  looked  on  it,  for  much  he 
cast  his  heart  on  the  visage.  And  so  by  noon  they  came  to 
Camelot ;  and  the  king  and  the  queen  were  passing  fain  of 
his  coming  to  the  court.  And  there  he  was  made  to  swear 
upon  the  four  Evangelists,  to  tell  the  truth  of  his  quest  from 
the  one  to  the  other.  Ah !  Sir  Pellinore,  said  Queen 
Guenever,  ye  were  greatly  to  blame  that  ye  saved  not  this 
lady's  life.  Madam,  said  Pellinore,  ye  were  greatly  to  blame 
an  ye  would  not  save  your  own  life  an  ye  might,  but,  save 
your  pleasure,  I  was  so  furious  in  my  quest  that  I  would  not 
abide,  and  that  repenteth  me,  and  shall  the  days  of  my  life. 
Truly,  said  Merlin,  ye  ought  sore  to  repent  it,  for  that  lady 
was  your  own  daughter  begotten  on  the  lady  of  the  Rule, 
and  that  knight  that  was  dead  was  her  love,  and  should  have 
wedded  her,  and  he  was  a  right  good  knight  of  a  young 
man,  and  would  have  proved  a  good  man,  and  to  this  court 
was  he  coming,  and  his  name  was  Sir  Miles  of  the  Launds, 
and  a  knight  came  behind  him  and  slew  him  with  a  spear, 
and  his  name  is  Loraine  le  Savage,  a  false  knight  and  a 
coward ;  and  she  for  great  sorrow  and  dole  slew  herself  with 
his  sword,  and  her  name  was  Eleine.  And  because  ye 
would  not  abide  and  help  her,  ye  shall  see  your  best  friend 
fail  you  when  ye  be  in  the  greatest  distress  that  ever  ye  were 
or  shall  be.  And  that  penance  God  hath  ordained  you  for 
that  deed,  that  he  that  ye  shall  most  trust  to  of  any  man  alive, 
he  shall  leave  you  where  ye  shall  be  slain.  Me  forthynketh, 
said  King  Pellinore,  that  this  shall  me  betide,  but  God  may 
fordo  well  destiny.  Thus,  when  the  quest  was  done  of  the 
white  hart,  the  which  followed  Sir  Gawaine ;  and  the  quest 
of  the  brachet,  followed  of  Sir  Tor,  Pellinore's  son ;  and 
the  quest  of  the  lady  that  the  knight  took  away,  the  which 
King  Pellinore  at  that  time  followed ;  then  the  king  stab- 
lished  all  his  knights,  and  gave  them  that  were  of  lands  not 
rich,  he  gave  them  lands,  and  charged  them  never  to  do 
outrageousity  nor  murder,  and  always  to  flee  treason ;  also, 


90  King  Arthur 

by  no  means  to  be  cruel,  but  to  give  mercy  unto  him  that 
asketh  mercy,  upon  pain  of  forfeiture  of  their  worship  and 
lordship  of  King  Arthur  for  evermore ;  and  always  to  do 
ladies,  damosels,  and  gentlewomen  succour,  upon  pain  of 
death.  Also,  that  no  man  take  no  battles  in  a  wrongful 
quarrel  for  no  law,  nor  for  no  world's  goods.  Unto  this 
were  all  the  knights  sworn  of  the  Table  Round,  both  old 
and  young.  And  every  year  were  they  sworn  at  the  high 
feast  of  Pentecost. 

Explicit  the  Wedding  of  King  Arthur. 
Sequiiur  quartus  liber. 


BOOK    IV 

CHAPTER  I 

HOW  MERLIN  WAS  ASSOTTED  AND  BOATED  ON  ONE  OF  THE  LADIES 
OF  THE  LAKE.  AND  HOW  HE  WAS  SHUT  IN  A  ROCK  UNDER  A 
STONE  AND  THERE  DIED 

So  after  these  quests  of  Sir  Gawaine,  Sir  Tor,  and  King 
Pellinore,  it  fell  so  that  Merlin  fell  in  a  dotage  on  the 
damosel  that  King  Pellinore  brought  to  court,  and  she  was 
one  of  the  damosels  of  the  lake,  that  hight  Nimue.  But 
Merlin  would  let  have  her  no  rest,  but  always  he  would  be 
with  her.  And  ever  she  made  Merlin  good  cheer  till  she 
had  learned  of  him  all  manner  thing  that  she  desired ;  and 
he  was  assotted  upon  her,  that  he  might  not  be  from  her. 
So  on  a  time  he  told  King  Arthur  that  he  should  not  dure 
long,  but  for  all  his  crafts  he  should  be  put  in  the  earth 
quick,  and  so  he  told  the  king  many  things  that  should 
befall,  but  always  he  warned  the  king  to  keep  well  his  sword 
and  the  scabbard,  for  he  told  him  how  the  sword  and  the 
scabbard  should  be  stolen  by  a  woman  from  him  that  he 
most  trusted.  Also  he  told  King  Arthur  that  he  should 
miss  him, — Yet  had  ye  lever  than  all  your  lands  to  have  me 
again.  Ah,  said  the  king,  since  ye  know  of  your  adventure, 
purvey  for  it,  and  put  away  by  your  crafts  that  misadventure. 
Nay,  said  Merlin,  it  will  not  be ;  so  he  departed  from  the 
king.  And  within  a  while  the  damosel  of  the  lake  departed, 


King  Arthur  91 

and  Merlin  went  with  her  evermore  wheresomever  she  went. 
And  ofttimes  Merlin  would  have  had  her  privily  away  by  his 
subtle  crafts ;  then  she  made  him  to  swear  that  he  should 
never  do  none  enchantment  upon  her  if  he  would  have  his 
will.  And  so  he  sware ;  so  she  and  Merlin  went  over  the 
sea  unto  the  land  of  Benwick,  whereas  King  Ban  was  king 
that  had  great  war  against  King  Claudas,  and  there  Merlin 
spake  with  King  Ban's  wife,  a  fair  lady  and  a  good,  and  her 
name  was  Elaine,  and  there  he  saw  young  Launcelot.  There 
the  queen  made  great  sorrow  for  the  mortal  war  that  King 
Claudas  made  on  her  lord  and  on  her  lands.  Take  none 
heaviness,  said  Merlin,  for  this  same  child  within  this  twenty 
year  shall  revenge  you  on  King  Claudas,  that  all  Christendom 
shall  speak  of  it ;  and  this  same  child  shall  be  the  most  man 
of  worship  of  the  world,  and  his  first  name  is  Galahad,  that 
know  I  well,  said  Merlin,  and  syne  ye  have  confirmed  him 
Launcelot.  That  is  truth,  said  the  queen,  his  first  name  was 
Galahad.  O  Merlin,  said  the  queen,  shall  I  live  to  see  my  son 
such  a  man  of  prowess  ?  Yea,  lady,  on  my  peril  ye  shall  see 
it,  and  live  many  winters  after.  And  so  soon  after  the  lady  and 
Merlin  departed,  and  by  the  way  Merlin  showed  her  many 
wonders,  and  came  into  Cornwall.  And  always  Merlin  lay 
about  the  lady  to  have  her  maidenhood,  and  she  was  ever 
passing  weary  of  him,  and  fain  would  have  been  delivered  of 
him,  for  she  was  afeared  of  him  because  he  was  a  devil's  son, 
and  she  could  not  beskyfte  him  by  no  mean.  And  so  on  a 
time  it  happed  that  Merlin  showed  to  her  in  a  rock  whereas 
was  a  great  wonder,  and  wrought  by  enchantment,  that  went 
under  a  great  stone.  So  by  her  subtle  working  she  made 
Merlin  to  go  under  that  stone  to  let  her  wit  of  the  marvels 
there,  but  she  wrought  so  there  for  him  that  he  came  never 
out  for  all  the  craft  he  could  do.  And  so  she  departed  and 
left  Merlin. 


CHAPTER    II 

HOW    FIVE    KINGS    CAME     INTO   THIS    LAND    TO    WAR    AGAINST    KING 
ARTHUR,    AND    WHAT    COUNSEL    ARTHUR    HAD   AGAINST  THEM 

AND  as  King  Arthur  rode  to  Camelot,  and  held  there  a 
great  feast  with  mirth  and  joy,  so  soon  after  he  returned  unto 
Cardoile,  and  there  came  unto  Arthur  new  tidings  that  the 
king  of  Denmark,  and  the  king  of  Ireland  that  was  his 


92  King  Arthur 

brother,  and  the  king  of  the  Vale,  and  the  king  of  Soleise, 
and  the  king  of  the  Isle  of  Longtains,  all  these  five  kings 
with  a  great  host  were  entered  into  the  land  of  King  Arthur, 
and  burnt  and  slew  clean  afore  them,  both  cities  and  castles, 
that  it  was  pity  to  hear.  Alas,  said  Arthur,  yet  had  I  never 
rest  one  month  syne  I  was  crowned  king  of  this  land.  Now 
shall  I  never  rest  till  I  meet  with  those  kings  in  a  fair  field, 
that  I  make  mine  avow ;  for  my  true  liege  people  shall  not 
be  destroyed  in  my  default,  go  with  me  who  will,  and  abide 
who  that  will.  Then  the  king  let  write  unto  King  Pellinore, 
and  prayed  him  in  all  haste  to  make  him  ready  with  such 
people  as  he  might  lightliest  rear  and  hie  him  after  in  all 
haste.  All  the  barons  were  privily  wroth  that  the  king 
would  depart  so  suddenly  ;  but  the  king  by  no  mean  would 
abide,  but  made  writing  unto  them  that  were  not  there,  and 
bade  them  hie  after  him,  such  as  were  not  at  that  time  in 
the  court.  Then  the  king  came  to  Queen  Guenever,  and 
said,  Lady,  make  you  ready,  for  ye  shall  go  with  me,  for  I  may 
not  long  miss  you,  ye  shall  cause  me  to  be  the  more  hardy, 
what  adventure  so  befall  me ;  I  will  not  wit  my  lady  to  be  in 
no  jeopardy.  Sir,  said  she,  I  am  at  your  commandment, 
and  shall  be  ready  what  time  so  ye  be  ready.  So  on  the 
morn  the  king  and  the  queen  departed  with  such  fellowship 
as  they  had,  and  came  into  the  north,  into  a  forest  beside 
Humber,  and  there  lodged  them.  When  the  word  and 
tiding  came  unto  the  five  kings  above  said,  that  Arthur  was 
beside  Humber  in  a  forest,  there  was  a  knight,  brother  unto 
one  of  the  five  kings,  that  gave  them  this  counsel :  Ye  know 
well  that  Sir  Arthur  hath  the  flower  of  chivalry  of  the  world 
with  him,  as  it  is  proved  by  the  great  battle  he  did  with  the 
eleven  kings  ;  and  therefore  hie  unto  him  night  and  day  till 
that  we  be  nigh  him,  for  the  longer  he  tarrieth  the  bigger  he 
is,  and  we  ever  the  weaker ;  and  he  is  so  courageous  of 
himself  that  he  is  come  to  the  field  with  little  people,  and 
therefore  let  us  set  upon  him  or  day  and  we  shall  slay  down ; 
of  his  knights  there  shall  none  escape. 


King  Arthur  93 


CHAPTER    III 

HOW  KING  ARTHUR  HAD  ADO  WITH  THEM  AND  OVERTHREW 
THEM,  AND  SLEW  THE  FIVE  KINGS  AND  MADE  THE  REMNANT 
TO  FLEE 

UNTO  this  counsel  these  five  kings  assented,  and  so  they 
passed  forth  with  their  host  through  North  Wales,  and  came 
upon  Arthur  by  night,  and  set  upon  his  host  as  the  king  and 
his  knights  were  in  their  pavilions.  King  Arthur  was  un- 
armed, and  had  lain  him  to  rest  with  his  Queen  Guenever. 
Sir,  said  Sir  Kay,  it  is  not  good  we  be  unarmed.  We  shall 
have  no  need,  said  Sir  Gawaine  and  Sir  Griflet,  that  lay  in  a 
little  pavilion  by  the  king.  With  that  they  heard  a  great 
noise,  and  many  cried,  Treason,  treason  !  Alas,  said  King 
Arthur,  we  be  betrayed !  Unto  arms,  fellows,  then  he  cried. 
So  they  were  armed  anon  at  all  points.  Then  came  there  a 
wounded  knight  unto  the  king,  and  said,  Sir,  save  yourself 
and  my  lady  the  queen,  for  our  host  is  destroyed,  and  much 
people  of  ours  slain.  So  anon  the  king  and  the  queen  and 
the  three  knights  took  their  horses,  and  rode  toward  Humber 
to  pass  over  it,  and  the  water  was  so  rough  that  they  were 
afraid  to  pass  over.  Now  may  ye  choose,  said  King  Arthur ; 
whether  ye  will  abide  and  take  the  adventure  on  this  side, 
for  an  ye  be  taken  they  will  slay  you.  It  were  me  lever,  said 
the  queen,  to  die  in  the  water  than  to  fall  in  your  enemies' 
hands  and  there  be  slain.  And  as  they  stood  so  talking,  Sir 
Kay  saw  the  five  kings  coming  on  horseback  by  themself 
alone,  with  their  spears  in  their  hands  even  toward  them. 
Lo,  said  Sir  Kay,  yonder  be  the  five  kings ;  let  us  go  to 
them  and  match  them.  That  were  folly,  said  Sir  Gawaine, 
for  we  are  but  three  and  they  be  five.  That  is  truth,  said 
Sir  Griflet.  No  force,  said  Sir  Kay,  I  will  undertake  for  two 
of  them,  and  then  may  ye  three  undertake  for  the  other  three. 
And  therewithal,  Sir  Kay  let  his  horse  run  as  fast  as  he 
might,  and  struck  one  of  them  through  the  shield  and  the 
body  a  fathom,  that  the  king  fell  to  the  earth  stark  dead. 
That  saw  Sir  Gawaine,  and  ran  unto  another  king  so  hard 
that  he  smote  him  through  the  body.  And  therewithal 
King  Arthur  ran  to  another,  and  smote  him  through  the 
body  with  a  spear,  that  he  fell  to  the  earth  dead.  Then  Sir 
Griflet  ran  unto  the  fourth  king,  and  gave  him  such  a  fall 
that  his  neck  brake.  Anon  Sir  Kay  ran  unto  the  fifth  king, 


94  King  Arthur 

and  smote  him  so  hard  on  the  helm  that  the  stroke  clave 
the  helm  and  the  head  to  the  earth.  That  was  well  stricken, 
said  King  Arthur,  and  worshipfully  hast  thou  holden  thy 
promise,  therefore  I  shall  honour  thee  while  that  I  live,  and 
therewithal  they  set  the  queen  in  a  barge  into  Humber ; 
but  always  Queen  Guenever  praised  Sir  Kay  for  his 
deeds,  and  said,  What  lady  that  ye  love,  and  she  love  you 
not  again  she  were  greatly  to  blame  ;  and  among  ladies, 
said  the  queen,  I  shall  bear  your  noble  fame,  for  ye 
spake  a  great  word,  and  fulfilled  it  worshipfully.  And 
therewith  the  queen  departed.  Then  the  king  and  the 
three  knights  rode  into  the  forest,  for  there  they  supposed 
to  hear  of  them  that  were  escaped  ;  and  there  he  found  the 
most  part  of  his  people,  and  told  them  all  how  the  five 
kings  were  dead.  And  therefore  let  us  hold  us  together  till 
it  be  day,  and  when  their  host  have  espied  that  their  chief- 
tains be  slain,  they  will  make  such  dole  that  they  shall  no 
more  help  themselves.  And  right  so  as  the  king  said,  so  it 
was  ;  for  when  they  found  the  five  kings  dead,  they  made 
such  dole  that  they  fell  from  their  horses.  Therewithal 
came  King  Arthur  but  with  a  few  people,  and  slew  on  the 
left  hand  and  on  the  right  hand,  that  well-nigh  there  escaped 
no  man,  but  all  were  slain  to  the  number  thirty  thousand. 
And  when  the  battle  was  all  ended,  the  king  kneeled  down 
and  thanked  God  meekly.  And  then  he  sent  for  the  queen, 
and  soon  she  was  come,  and  she  made  great  joy  of  the 
overcoming  of  that  battle. 


CHAPTER    IV 

HOW   THE   BATTLE   WAS    FINISHED   OR    HE   CAME,    AND   HOW   KING 
ARTHUR    FOUNDED   AN   ABBEY    WHERE   THE   BATTLE   WAS 

THEREWITHAL  came  one  to  King  Arthur,  and  told  him  that 
King  Pellinore  was  within  three  mile  with  a  great  host ; 
and  he  said,  Go  unto  him,  and  let  him  understand  how  we 
have  sped.  So  within  a  while  King  Pellinore  came  with  a 
great  host,  and  saluted  the  people  and  the  king,  and  there 
was  great  joy  made  on  every  side.  Then  the  king  let  search 
how  much  people  of  his  party  there  was  slain  ;  and  there 
were  found  but  little  past  two  hundred  men  slain  and  eight 
knights  of  the  Table  Round  in  their  pavilions.  Then  the 
king  let  rear  and  devise  in  the  same  place  whereat  the  battle 


King  Arthur  95 

was  done  a  fair  abbey,  and  endowed  it  with  great  livelihood, 
and  let  it  call  the  Abbey  of  La  Beale  Adventure.  But  when 
some  of  them  came  into  their  countries,  whereof  the  five 
kings  were  kings,  and  told  them  how  they  were  slain,  there 
was  made  great  dole.  And  when  all  King  Arthur's  enemies, 
as  the  King  of  North  Wales,  and  the  kings  of  the  North, 
wist  of  the  battle,  they  were  passing  heavy.  And  so  the 
king  returned  unto  Camelot  in  haste.  And  when  he  was 
come  to  Camelot  he  called  King  Pellinore  unto  him,  and 
said,  Ye  understand  well  that  we  have  lost  eight  knights  of  the 
best  of  the  Table  Round,  and  by  your  advice  we  will  choose 
eight  again  of  the  best  we  may  find  in  this  court.  Sir,  said 
Pellinore,  I  shall  counsel  you  after  my  conceit  the  best : 
there  are  in  your  court  full  noble  knights  both  of  old  and 
young ;  and  therefore  by  mine  advice  ye  shall  choose  half 
of  the  old  and  half  of  the  young.  Which  be  the  old  ?  said 
King  Arthur.  Sir,  said  King  Pellinore,  meseemeth  that  King 
Uriens  that  hath  wedded  your  sister  Morgan  le  Fay,  and 
the  King  of  the  Lake,  and  Sir  Hervise  de  Revel,  a  noble 
knight,  and  Sir  Galagars,  the  fourth.  This  is  well  devised, 
said  King  Arthur,  and  right  so  shall  it  be.  Now,  which  are 
the  four  young  knights?  said  Arthur.  Sir,  said  Pellinore, 
the  first  is  Sir  Gawaine,  your  nephew,  that  is  as  good  a 
knight  of  his  time  as  any  is  in  this  land ;  and  the  second  as 
meseemeth  best  is  Sir  Griflet  le  Fise  de  Dieu,  that  is  a  good 
knight  and  full  desirous  in  arms,  and  who  may  see  him  live 
he  shall  prove  a  good  knight ;  and  the  third  as  meseemeth  is 
well  to  be  one  of  the  knights  of  the  Round  Table,  Sir  Kay 
the  Seneschal,  for  many  times  he  hath  done  full  worship- 
fully,  and  now  at  your  last  battle  he  did  full  honourably  for 
to  undertake  to  slay  two  kings.  By  my  head,  said  Arthur, 
he  is  best  worth  to  be  a  knight  of  the  Round  Table  of 
any  that  ye  have  rehearsed,  an  he  had  done  no  more 
prowess  in  his  life  days. 


CHAPTER   V 

HOW   SIR   TOR   WAS    MADE    KNIGHT    OF  THE    ROUND   TABLE,  AND 
HOW    BAGDEMAGUS    WAS    DISPLEASED 

Now,  said  King  Pellinore,  I  shall  put  to  you  two  knights, 
and  ye  shall  choose  which  is  most  worthy,  that  is  Sir  Bagde- 
magus,  and  Sir  Tor,  my  son.  But  because  Sir  Tor  is  my 


96  King  Arthur 

son  I  may  not  praise  him,  but  else,  an  he  were  not  my  son, 
I  durst  say  that  of  his  age  there  is  not  in  this  land  a  better 
knight  than  he  is,  nor  of  better  conditions  and  loth  to  do 
any  wrong,  and  loth  to  take  any  wrong.  By  my  head,  said 
Arthur,  he  is  a  passing  good  knight  as  any  ye  spake  of  this 
day,  that  wot  I  well,  said  the  king ;  for  I  have  seen  him 
proved,  but  he  sayeth  little  and  he  doth  more,  for  I  know 
none  in  all  this  court  an  he  were  as  well  born  on  his 
mother's  side  as  he  is  on  your  side,  that  is  like  him  of 
prowess  and  of  might :  and  therefore  I  will  have  him  at  this 
time,  and  leave  Sir  Bagdemagus  till  another  time.  So  when 
they  were  so  chosen  by  the  assent  of  all  the  barons,  so  were 
there  found  in  their  sieges  every  knights'  names  that  here 
are  rehearsed  ;  and  so  were  they  set  in  their  sieges,  whereof 
Sir  Bagdemagus  was  wonderly  wroth,  that  Sir  Tor  was 
advanced  afore  him,  and  therefore  suddenly  he  departed 
from  the  court,  and  took  his  squire  with  him,  and  rode  long 
in  a  forest  till  they  came  to  a  cross,  and  there  alit  and  said 
his  prayers  devoutly.  The  meanwhile  his  squire  found 
written  upon  the  cross,  that  Bagdemagus  should  never 
return  unto  the  court  again,  till  he  had  won  a  knight's  body 
of  the  Round  Table,  body  for  body.  So,  sir,  said  the  squire, 
here  I  find  writing  of  you,  therefore  I  rede  you  return  again 
to  the  court.  That  shall  I  never,  said  Bagdemagus,  till  men 
speak  of  me  great  worship,  and  that  I  be  worthy  to  be  a 
knight  of  the  Round  Table.  And  so  he  rode  forth,  and 
there  by  the  way  he  found  a  branch  of  an  holy  herb  that 
was  the  sign  of  the  Sangreal,  and  no  knight  found  such 
tokens  but  he  were  a  good  liver.  So,  as  Sir  Bagdemagus 
rode  to  see  many  adventures,  it  happed  him  to  come  to 
the  rock  whereas  the  Lady  of  the  Lake  had  put  Merlin 
under  the  stone,  and  there  he  heard  him  make  great  dole ; 
whereof  Sir  Bagdemagus  would  have  holpen  him,  and 
went  unto  the  great  stone,  and  it  was  so  heavy  that  an 
hundred  men  might  not  lift  it  up.  When  Merlin  wist  he 
was  there,  he  bad  leave  his  labour,  for  all  was  in  vain,  for 
he  might  never  be  holpen  but  by  her  that  put  him  there. 
And  so  Bagdemagus  departed  and  did  many  adventures,  and 
proved  after  a  full  good  knight,  and  came  again  to  the  court 
and  was  made  knight  of  the  Round  Table.  So  on  the  morn 
there  fell  new  tidings  and  other  adventures. 


King  Arthur  97 


CHAPTER    VI 

HOW    KING    ARTHUR,    KING    URIENS,    AND    SIR     ACCOLON     OF     GAUL, 
CHASED    AN    HART,    AND   OF   THEIR    MARVELLOUS    ADVENTURES 

THEN  it  befell  that  Arthur  and  many  of  his  knights  rode 
a-hunting  into  a  great  forest,  and  it  happed  King  Arthur, 
King  Uriens,  and  Sir  Accolon  of  Gaul,  followed  a  great  hart, 
for  they  three  were  well  horsed,  and  so  they  chased  so  fast 
that  within  a  while  they  three  were  then  ten  mile  from  their 
fellowship.     And  at  the  last  they  chased  so  sore  that  they 
slew  their  horses   underneath  them.     Then  were  they  all 
three  on  foot,  and  ever  they  saw  the  hart  afore  them  passing 
weary  and  embushed.     What  will  we  do  ?  said  King  Arthur, 
we  are  hard  bestad.     Let  us  go  on  foot,  said  King  Uriens, 
till  we  may  meet  with  some  lodging.     Then  were  they  ware 
of  the  hart  that  lay  on  a  great  water  bank,  and  a  brachet 
biting  on  his  throat,  and  more  other  hounds  came  after. 
Then  King  Arthur  blew  the  prise  and  dight  the  hart.     Then 
the  king  looked  about  the  world,  and  saw  afore  him  in  a 
great  water  a  little  ship,  all  apparelled  with  silk  down  to  the 
water,  and  the  ship  came  right  unto  them  and  landed  on  the 
sands.     Then  Arthur  went  to  the  bank  and  looked  in,  and 
saw  none  earthly  creature  therein.     Sirs,  said  the  king,  come 
thence,  and  let  us  see  what  is  in  this  ship.     So  they  went  in 
all  three,  and  found  it  richly  behanged  with  cloth  of  silk. 
By  then  it  was  dark  night,  and  there  suddenly  were  about 
them  an  hundred  torches   set  upon  all  the  sides  of  the  ship 
boards,  and  it  gave  great  light ;  and  therewithal  there  came 
out  twelve  fair  damosels  and  saluted  King  Arthur  on  their 
knees,  and  called  him  by  his  name,  and  said  he  was  right 
welcome,  and  such  cheer  as  they  had  he  should  have  of  the 
best.     The  king  thanked  them  fair.     Therewithal  they  led 
the  king  and  his  two  fellows  into  a  fair  chamber,  and  there 
was  a  cloth  laid  richly  bisene  of  all  that  longed  unto  a  table, 
and  there  were  they  served  of  all  wines  and  meats  that  they 
could  think  ;  of  that  the  king  had  great  marvel,  for  he  fared 
never  better  in  his  life  as  for  one  supper.     And  so  when  they 
had   supped  at  their  leisure,  King  Arthur  was  led  into  a 
chamber,  a  richer  bisene  chamber  saw  he  never  none,  and  so 
was  King  Uriens  served,  and  led  into  such  another  chamber, 
and  Sir  Accolon  was  led  into  the  third  chamber  passing  richly 


98  King  Arthur 

and  well  bisene ;  and  so  they  were  laid  in  their  beds  easily. 
And  anon  they  fell  a-sleep,  and  slept  marvellously  sore  all 
the  night.  And  on  the  morrow  King  Uriens  was  in  Game- 
lot  abed  in  his  wife's  arms,  Morgan  le  Fay.  And  when  he 
awoke  he  had  great  marvel,  how  he  came  there,  for  on  the 
even  afore  he  was  two  days'  journey  from  Camelot.  And 
when  King  Arthur  awoke  he  found  himself  in  a  dark  prison, 
hearing  about  him  many  complaints  of  woful  knights. 


CHAPTER    VII 

HOW  ARTHUR  TOOK  UPON  HIM  TO  FIGHT  TO  BE  DELIVERED  OUT 
OF  PRISON,  AND  ALSO  FOR  TO  DELIVER  TWENTY  KNIGHTS 
THAT  WERE  IN  PRISON 

WHAT  are  ye  that  so  complain  ?  said  King  Arthur.  We 
be  here  twenty  knights,  prisoners,  said  they,  and  some  of  us 
have  lain  here  seven  year,  and  some  more  and  some  less. 
For  what  cause  ?  said  Arthur.  We  shall  tell  you,  said  the 
knights  ;  this  lord  of  this  castle,  his  name  is  Sir  Darnas,  and 
he  is  the  falsest  knight  that  liveth,  and  full  of  treason,  and  a 
very  coward  as  any  liveth,  and  he  hath  a  younger  brother,  a 
good  knight  of  prowess,  his  name  is  Sir  Ontzlake,  and 
this  traitor  Damas,  the  elder  brother  will  give  him  no  part 
of  his  livelihood,  but  as  Sir  Ontzlake  keepeth  thorough 
prowess  of  his  hands,  and  so  he  keepeth  from  him 
a  full  fair  manor  and  a  rich,  and  therein  Sir  Ontzlake 
dwelleth  worshipfully,  and  is  well  beloved  of  all  people.  And 
this  Sir  Damas,  our  master  is  as  evil  beloved,  for  he  is 
without  mercy,  and  he  is  a  coward,  and  great  war  hath  been 
betwixt  them  both,  but  Ontzlake  hath  ever  the  better,  and 
ever  he  proffereth  Sir  Damas  to  fight  for  the  livelihood, 
body  for  body,  but  he  will  not  do  ;  other  els  to  find  a 
knight  to  fight  for  him.  Unto  that  Sir  Damas  had  granted 
to  find  a  knight,  but  he  is  so  evil  beloved  and  hated,  that 
there  is  never  a  knight  will  fight  for  him.  And  when  Damas 
saw  this,  that  there  was  never  a  knight  would  fight  for  him, 
he  hath  daily  lain  await  with  many  knights  with  him,  and 
taken  all  the  knights  in  this  country  to  see  and  espy  their 
adventures,  he  hath  taken  them  by  force  and  brought  them 
to  his  prison.  And  so  he  took  us  separately  as  we  rode  on 
our  adventures,  and  many  good  knights  have  died  in  this 


King  Arthur  99 

prison  for  hunger,  to  the  number  of  eighteen  knights ;  and 
if  any  of  us  all  that  here  is,  or  hath  been,  would  have 
foughten  with  his  brother  Ontzlake,  he  would  have  delivered 
us,  but  for  because  this  Damas  is  so  false  and  so  full  of 
treason  we  would  never  fight  for  him  to  die  for  it.  And  we 
be  so  lean  for  hunger  that  unnethe  we  may  stand  on  our 
feet.  God  deliver  you,  for  his  mercy,  said  Arthur.  Anon, 
therewithal  there  came  a  damosel  unto  Arthur,  and  asked 
him,  What  cheer  ?  I  cannot  say,  said  he.  Sir,  said  she,  an 
ye  will  fight  for  my  lord,  ye  shall  be  delivered  out  of  prison, 
and  else  ye  escape  never  the  life.  Now,  said  Arthur,  that  is 
hard,  yet  had  I  lever  to  fight  with  a  knight  than  to  die  in 
prison;  with  this,  said  Arthur,  I  may  be  delivered  and  all 
these  prisoners,  I  will  do  the  battle.  Yes,  said  the  damosel. 
I  am  ready,  said  Arthur,  an  I  had  horse  and  armour.  Ye 
shall  lack  none,  said  the  damosel.  Meseemeth,  damosel,  I 
should  have  seen  you  in  the  court  of  Arthur.  Nay,  said  the 
damosel,  I  came  never  there,  I  am  the  lord's  daughter  of 
this  castle.  Yet  was  she  false,  for  she  was  one  of  the 
damosels  of  Morgan  le  Fay.  Anon  she  went  unto  Sir 
Damas,  and  told  him  how  he  would  do  battle  for  him,  and 
so  he  sent  for  Arthur.  And  when  he  came  he  was  well 
coloured,  and  well  made  of  his  limbs,  that  all  knights  that 
saw  him  said  it  were  pity  that  such  a  knight  should  die  in 
prison.  So  Sir  Damas  and  he  were  agreed  that  he  should 
fight  for  him  upon  this  covenant,  that  all  other  knights  should 
be  delivered ;  and  unto  that  was  Sir  Damas  sworn  unto 
Arthur,  and  also  to  do  the  battle  to  the  uttermost.  And 
with  that  all  the  twenty  knights  were  brought  out  of  the 
dark  prison  into  the  hall,  and  delivered,  and  so  they  all 
abode  to  see  the  battle. 


CHAPTER   VIII 

HOW   ACCOLON    FOUND    HIMSELF    BY    A   WELL,    AND    HE    TOOK    UPON 
HIM    TO   DO    BATTLE   AGAINST  ARTHUR 

Now  turn  we  unto  Accolon  of  Gaul,  that  when  he  awoke 
he  found  himself  by  a  deep  well-side,  within  half  a  foot,  in 
great  peril  of  death.  And  there  came  out  of  that  fountain  a 
pipe  of  silver,  and  out  of  that  pipe  ran  water  all  on  high  in  a 
stone  of  marble.  When  Sir  Accolon  saw  this,  he  blessed 


ioo  King  Arthur 

him  and  said,  Jesus  save  my  lord  King  Arthur,  and  King 
Uriens,  for  these  damosels  in  this  ship  have  betrayed  us, 
they  were  devils  and  no  women ;  and  if  I  may  escape  this 
misadventure,  I  shall  destroy  all  where  I  may  find  these 
false  damosels  that  use  enchantments.  Right  with  that 
there  came  a  dwarf  with  a  great  mouth  and  a  flat  nose,  and 
saluted  Sir  Accolon,  and  said  how  he  came  from  Queen 
Morgan  le  Fay,  and  she  greeteth  you  well,  and  biddeth  you 
be  of  strong  heart,  for  ye  shall  fight  to-morrow  with  a  knight 
at  the  hour  of  prime,  and  therefore  she  hath  sent  you  here 
Excalibur  Arthur's  sword,  and  the  scabbard,  and  she  biddeth 
you  as  ye  love  her,  that  ye  do  the  battle  to  the  uttermost, 
without  any  mercy,  like  as  ye  had  promised  her  when  ye 
spake  together  in  private  ;  and  what  damosel  that  bringeth 
her  the  knight's  head,  which  ye  shall  fight  withal,  she  will 
make  her  a  queen.  Now  I  understand  you  well,  said 
Accolon,  I  shall  hold  that  I  have  promised  her  now  I  have 
the  sword :  when  saw  ye  my  lady  Queen  Morgan  le  Fay  ? 
Right  late,  said  the  dwarf.  Then  Accolon  took  him  in  his 
arms  and  said,  Recommend  me  unto  my  lady  queen,  and 
tell  her  all  shall  be  done  that  I  have  promised  her,  and  else 
I  will  die  for  it.  Now  I  suppose,  said  Accolon,  she  hath 
made  all  these  crafts  and  enchantments  for  this  battle.  Ye 
may  well  believe  it,  said  the  dwarf.  Right  so  there  came  a 
knight  and  a  lady  with  six  squires,  and  saluted  Accolon,  and 
prayed  him  for  to  arise,  and  come  and  rest  him  at  his 
manor.  And  so  Accolon  mounted  upon  a  void  horse,  and 
went  with  the  knight  unto  a  fair  manor  by  a  priory,  and 
there  he  had  passing  good  cheer.  Then  Sir  Damas  sent 
unto  his  brother  Sir  Ontzlake,  and  bade  make  him  ready  by 
to-morn  at  the  hour  of  prime,  and  to  be  in  the  field  to  fight 
with  a  good  knight,  for  he  had  found  a  good  knight  that  was 
ready  to  do  battle  at  all  points.  When  this  word  came 
unto  Sir  Ontzlake  he  was  passing  heavy,  for  he  was  wounded 
a  little  tofore  through  both  his  thighs  with  a  spear,  and 
made  great  dole ;  but  as  he  was  wounded  he  would  have 
taken  the  battle  on  hand.  So  it  happed  at  that  time,  by  the 
means  of  Morgan  le  Fay,  Accolon  was  with  Sir  Ontzlake 
lodged ;  and  when  he  heard  of  that  battle,  and  how 
Ontzlake  was  wounded,  he  said  that  he  would  fight  for  him, 
because  Morgan  le  Fay  had  sent  him  Excalibur  and  the 
sheath  for  to  fight  with  the  knight  on  the  morn  :  this  was 
the  cause  Sir  Accolon  took  the  battle  on  hand.  Then  Sir 


King  Arthur  101 

Ontzlake  was  passing  glad,  and  thanked  Sir  Accolon  with  all 
his  heart  that  he  would  do  so  much  for  him.  And  there- 
withal Sir  Ontzlake  sent  word  unto  his  brother  Sir  Damas, 
that  he  had  a  knight  that  for  him  should  be  ready  in  the 
field  by  the  hour  of  prime.  So  on  the  morn  Sir  Arthur 
was  armed  and  well  horsed,  and  asked  Sir  Damas,  When 
shall  we  to  the  field  ?  Sir,  said  Sir  Damas,  ye  shall  hear 
mass.  And  so  Arthur  heard  a  mass,  and  when  mass  was 
done  there  came  a  squire  on  a  great  horse,  and  asked  Sir 
Damas  if  his  knight  were  ready,  for  our  knight  is  ready  in 
the  field.  Then  Sir  Arthur  mounted  upon  horseback,  and 
there  were  all  the  knights  and  commons  of  that  country ; 
and  so  by  all  advices  there  were  chosen  twelve  good  men  of 
the  country  for  to  wait  upon  the  two  knights.  And  right  as 
Arthur  was  on  horseback  there  came  a  damosel  from  Morgan 
le  Fay,  and  brought  unto  Sir  Arthur  a  sword  like  unto 
Excalibur,  and  the  scabbard,  and  said  unto  Arthur,  Morgan 
le  Fay  sendeth  here  your  sword  for  great  love.  And  he 
thanked  her,  and  weened  it  had  been  so,  but  she  was  false, 
for  the  sword  and  the  scabbard  were  counterfeit,  and  brittle, 
and  false. 


CHAPTER   IX 

OF   THE    BATTLE    BETWEEN    KING    ARTHUR    AND    ACCOLON 

AND  then  they  dressed  them  on  both  parties  of  the  field, 
and  let  their  horses  run  so  fast  that  either  smote  other  in  the 
middes  of  the  shield  with  their  spear-heads,  that  both  horse 
and  man  went  to  the  earth ;  and  then  they  started  up  both, 
and  pulled  out  their  swords.  The  meanwhile  that  they  were 
thus  at  the  battle,  came  the  damosel  of  the  lake  into  the  field, 
that  put  Merlin  under  the  stone ;  and  she  came  thither  for 
love  of  King  Arthur,  for  she  knew  how  Morgan  le  Fay  had 
so  ordained  that  King  Arthur  should  have  been  slain  that 
day,  and  therefore  she  came  to  save  his  life.  And  so  they 
went  eagerly  to  the  battle,  and  gave  many  great  strokes,  but 
always  Arthur's  sword  bit  not  like  Accolon's  sword ;  but  for 
the  most  part,  every  stroke  that  Accolon  gave  he  wounded 
sore  Arthur,  that  it  was  marvellous  he  stood,  and  always  his 
blood  fe)l  from  him  fast.  When  Arthur  beheld  the  ground 
so  sore  be-bled  he  was  dismayed,  and  then  he  deemed  treason 
that  his  sword  was  changed  ;  for  his  sword  bit  not  steel  as  it 

I  45  E 


IO2  King  Arthur 

was  wont  to  do,  therefore  he  dread  him  sore  to  be  dead,  for 
ever  him  seemed  that  the  sword  in  Accolon's  hand  was 
Excalibur,  for  at  every  stroke  that  Accolon  struck  he  drew 
blood  on  Arthur.  Now,  knight,  said  Accolon  unto  Arthur, 
keep  thee  well  from  me ;  but  Arthur  answered  not  again, 
and  gave  him  such  a  buffet  on  the  helm  that  it  made  him 
to  stoop,  nigh  falling  down  to  the  earth.  Then  Sir  Accolon 
withdrew  him  a  little,  and  came  on  with  Excalibur  on  high, 
and  smote  Sir  Arthur  such  a  buffet  that  he  fell  nigh  to  the 
earth.  Then  were  they  wroth  both,  and  gave  each  other 
many  sore  strokes,  but  always  Sir  Arthur  lost  so  much  blood 
that  it  was  marvel  he  stood  on  his  feet,  but  he  was  so  full  of 
knighthood  that  knightly  he  endured  the  pain.  And  Sir 
Accolon  lost  not  a  dele  of  blood,  therefore  he  waxed  passing 
light,  and  Sir  Arthur  was  passing  feeble,  and  weened  verily 
to  have  died  ;  but  for  all  that  he  made  countenance  as 
though  he  might  endure,  and  held  Accolon  as  short  as  he 
might.  But  Accolon  was  so  bold  because  of  Excalibur  that 
he  waxed  passing  hardy.  But  all  men  that  beheld  him  said 
they  saw  never  knight  fight  so  well  as  Arthur  did  considering 
the  blood  that  he  bled.  So  was  all  the  people  sorry  for  him, 
but  the  two  brethren  would  not  accord ;  then  always  they 
fought  together  as  fierce  knights,and  Sir  Arthur  withdrew  him 
a  little  for  to  rest  him,  and  Sir  Accolon  called  him  to  battle 
and  said,  It  is  no  time  for  me  to  suffer  thee  to  rest.  And 
therewith  he  came  fiercely  upon  Arthur,  and  Sir  Arthur  was 
wroth  for  the  blood  that  he  had  lost,  and  smote  Accolon  on 
high  upon  the  helm,  so  mightily,  that  he  made  him  nigh  to 
fall  to  the  earth ;  and  therewith  Arthur's  sword  brast  at  the 
cross,  and  fell  in  the  grass  among  the  blood,  and  the  pommel 
and  the  sure  handles  he  held  in  his  hands.  When  Sir 
Arthur  saw  that,  he  was  in  great  fear  to  die,  but  always  he 
held  up  his  shield  and  lost  no  ground,  nor  bated  no  cheer. 


CHAPTER   X 

HOW  KING  ARTHUR'S  SWORD  THAT  HE  FOUGHT  WITH  BRAKE,  AND 
HOW  HE  RECOVERED  OF  ACCOLON  HIS  OWN  SWORD  EXCALIBUR, 
AND  OVERCAME  HIS  ENEMY 

THEN  Sir  Accolon  began  with  words  of  treason,  and  said, 
Knight,  thou  art  overcome,  and  mayst  not  endure,  and  also 
thou  art  weaponless,  and  thou  hast  lost  much  of  thy  blood, 


King  Arthur  103 

and  I  am  full  loath  to  slay  thee,  therefore  yield  thee  to  me 
as  recreant.  Nay,  said  Sir  Arthur,  I  may  not  so,  for  I  have 
promised  to  do  the  battle  to  the  uttermost,  by  the  faith  of  my 
body,  while  me  lasteth  the  life,  and  therefore  I  had  lever  to 
die  with  honour  than  to  live  with  shame ;  and  if  it  were 
possible  for  me  to  die  an  hundred  times,  I  had  lever  to  die 
so  oft  than  yield  me  to  thee ;  for  though  I  lack  weapon,  I 
shall  lack  no  worship,  and  if  thou  slay  me  weaponless  that 
shall  be  thy  shame.  Well,  said  Accolon,  as  for  the  shame  I 
will  not  spare,  now  keep  thee  from  me,  for  thou  art  but  a 
dead  man.  And  therewith  Accolon  gave  him  such  a  stroke 
that  he  fell  nigh  to  the  earth,  and  would  have  had  Arthur  to 
have  cried  him  mercy.  But  Sir  Arthur  pressed  unto  Accolon 
with  his  shield,  and  gave  him  with  the  pommel  in  his  hand 
such  a  buffet  that  he  went  three  strides  aback.  When  the 
damosel  of  the  lake  beheld  Arthur,  how  full  of  prowess  his 
body  was,  and  the  false  treason  that  was  wrought  for  him  to 
have  had  him  slain  ;  she  had  great  pity  that  so  good  a  knight 
and  such  a  man  of  worship  should  so  be  destroyed.  And  at 
the  next  stroke  Sir  Accolon  struck  him  such  a  stroke  that  by 
the  damosel's  enchantment  the  sword  Excalibur  fell  out  of 
Accolon's  hand  to  the  earth.  And  therewithal  Sir  Arthur 
lightly  leapt  to  it,  and  gat  it  in  his  hand,  and  forthwithal  he 
knew  that  it  was  his  sword  Excalibur,  and  said,  Thou  hast 
been  from  me  all  too  long,  and  much  damage  hast  thou  done 
me ;  and  therewith  he  espied  the  scabbard  hanging  by  his 
side,  and  suddenly  he  sterte  to  him  and  pulled  the  scabbard 
from  him,  and  threw  it  from  him  as  far  as  he  might  throw  it. 

0  knight,  said  Arthur,  this  day  hast  thou  done  me  great 
damage  with  this  sword ;  now  are  ye  come  unto  your  death, 
for  I  shall  not  warrant  you  but  ye  shall  as  well  be  rewarded 
with  this  sword  or  ever  we  depart  as  thou  hast  rewarded  me, 
for  much  pain  have  ye  made  me  to  endure,  and  much  blood 
have  I  lost.     And  therewith  Sir  Arthur  rushed  on  him  with 
all  his  might  and  pulled  him  to  the  earth,  and  then  rushed 
off  his  helm,  and  gave  him  such  a  buffet  on  the  head  that  the 
blood  came  out  at  his  ears,  his  nose,  and  his  mouth.     Now 
will  I  slay  thee,   said  Arthur.     Slay  me  ye  may  well,  said 
Accolon,  an  it  please  you,  for  ye  are  the  best  knight  that  ever 

1  found,  and  I  see  well  that  God  is  with  you.     But  for  I 
promised  to  do  this  battle,  said  Accolon,  to  the  uttermost, 
and  never  to  be  recreant  while  I  lived,  therefore  shall  I  never 
yield  me  with  my  mouth,  but  God  do  with  my  body  what  he 


IO4  King  Arthur 

will.  Then  Sir  Arthur  remembered  him,  and  thought  he 
should  have  seen  this  knight.  Now  tell  me,  said  Arthur,  or 
I  will  slay  thee,  of  what  country  art  thou,  and  of  what  court  ? 
Sir  knight,  said  Sir  Accolon,  I  am  of  the  court  of  King 
Arthur,  and  my  name  is  Accolon  of  Gaul.  Then  was  Arthur 
more  dismayed  than  he  was  beforehand;  for  then  he  re- 
membered him  of  his  sister  Morgan  le  Fay,  and  of  the 
enchantment  of  the  ship.  O  sir  knight,  said  he,  I  pray  you 
tell  me  who  gave  you  this  sword,  and  by  whom  ye  had  it. 


CHAPTER    XI 

HOW    ACCOLON   CONFESSED    THE  TREASON    OF  MORGAN    LE  FAY, 
KING  ARTHUR'S  SISTER,  AND   HOW  SHE   WOULD  HAVE  DONE 

SLAY    HIM 

THEN  Sir  Accolon  bethought  him,  and  said,  Woe  worth 
this  sword,  for  by  it  have  I  gotten  my  death.  It  may  well 
be,  said  the  king.  Now,  sir,  said  Accolon,  I  will  tell  you ; 
this  sword  hath  been  in  my  keeping  the  most  part  of  this 
twelvemonth ;  and  Morgan  le  Fay,  King  Uriens'  wife,  sent 
it  me  yesterday  by  a  dwarf,  to  this  intent,  that  I  should 
slay  King  Arthur,  her  brother.  For  ye  shall  understand 
King  Arthur  is  the  man  in  the  world  that  she  most  hateth, 
because  he  is  most  of  worship  and  of  prowess  of  any  of  her 
blood ;  also  she  loveth  me  out  of  measure  as  paramour,  and 
I  her  again ;  and  if  she  'might  bring  about  to  slay  Arthur 
by  her  crafts,  she  would  slay  her  husband  King  Uriens 
lightly,  and  then  had  she  me  devised  to  be  king  in  this  land, 
and  so  to  reign,  and  she  to  be  my  queen ;  but  that  is  now 
done,  said  Accolon,  for  I  am  sure  of  my  death.  Well,  said 
Sir  Arthur,  I  feel  by  you  ye  would  have  been  king  in  this 
land.  It  had  been  great  damage  to  have  destroyed  your 
lord,  said  Arthur.  It  is  truth,  said  Accolon,  but  now  I 
have  told  you  truth,  wherefore  I  pray  you  tell  me  of  whence 
ye  are,  and  of  what  court  ?  O  Accolon,  said  King  Arthur, 
now  I  let  thee  wit  that  I  am  King  Arthur,  to  whom  thou 
hast  done  great  damage.  When  Accolon  heard  that  he 
cried  aloud,  Fair,  sweet  lord,  have  mercy  on  me,  for  I  knew 
not  you.  O  Sir  Accolon,  said  King  Arthur,  mercy  shalt 
thou  have,  because  I  feel  by  thy  words  at  this  time  thou 
knewest  not  my  person;  but  I  understand  well  by  thy 


King  Arthur  105 

words  that  thou  hast  agreed  to  the  death  of  my  person,  and 
therefore  thou  art  a  traitor;  but  I  wyte  thee  the  less,  for 
my  sister  Morgan  le  Fay  by  her  false  crafts  made  thee  to 
agree  and  consent  to  her  false  lusts,  but  I  shall  be  sore 
avenged  upon  her  an  I  live,  that  all  Christendom  shall 
speak  of  it ;  God  knoweth  I  have  honoured  her  and  wor- 
shipped her  more  than  all  my  kin,  and  more  have  I  trusted 
her  than  mine  own  wife  and  all  my  kin  after.  Then  Sir 
Arthur  called  the  keepers  of  the  field,  and  said,  Sirs,  come 
hither,  for  here  are  we  two  knights  that  have  fought  unto  a 
great  damage  unto  us  both,  and  like  each  one  of  us  to  have 
slain  other,  if  it  had  happed  so ;  and  had  any  of  us  known 
other,  here  had  been  no  battle,  nor  stroke  stricken.  Then 
all  aloud  cried  Accolon  unto  all  the  knights  and  men  that 
were  then  there  gathered  together,  and  said  to  them  in  this 
manner,  O  lords,  this  noble  knight  that  I  have  fought  withal, 
the  which  me  sore  repenteth,  is  the  most  man  of  prowess,  of 
manhood,  and  of  worship  in  the  world,  for  it  is  himself 
King  Arthur,  our  alther  liege  lord,  and  with  mishap  and 
with  misadventure  have  I  done  this  battle  with  the  king 
and  lord  that  I  am  holden  withall. 


CHAPTER   XII 

HOW    ARTHUR    ACCORDED    THE    TWO     BRETHREN,     AND    DELIVERED 
THE   TWENTY   KNIGHTS,    AND    HOW    SIR   ACCOLON    DIED 

THEN  all  the  people  fell  down  on  their  knees  and  cried 
King  Arthur  mercy.  Mercy  shall  ye  have,  said  Arthur  : 
here  may  ye  see  what  adventures  befall  ofttime  of  errant 
knights,  how  that  I  have  fought  with  a  knight  of  mine  own 
unto  my  great  damage  and  his  both.  But,  sirs,  because  I 
am  sore  hurt,  and  he  both,  and  I  had  great  need  of  a  little 
rest,  ye  shall  understand  the  opinion  betwixt  you  two 
brethren :  As  to  thee,  Sir  Damas,  for  whom  I  have  been 
champion  and  won  the  field  of  this  knight,  yet  will  I  judge 
because  ye,  Sir  Damas,  are  called  an  orgulous  knight,  and 
full  of  villainy,  and  not  worth  of  prowess  your  deeds,  there- 
fore I  will  that  ye  give  unto  your  brother  all  the  whole 
manor  with  the  appurtenance,  under  this  form,  that  Sir 
Ontzlake  hold  the  manor  of  you,  and  yearly  to  give  you 
a  palfrey  to  ride  upon,  for  that  will  become  you  better  to 


io6  King  Arthur 

ride  on  than  upon  a  courser.  Also  I  charge  thee,  Sir  Damas, 
upon  pain  of  death,  that  thou  never  distress  no  knights 
errant  that  ride  on  their  adventure.  And  also  that  thou 
restore  these  twenty  knights  that  thou  hast  long  kept 
prisoners,  of  all  their  harness,  that  they  be  content  for ;  and 
if  any  of  them  come  to  my  court  and  complain  of  thee,  by 
my  head  thou  shalt  die  therefor.  Also,  Sir  Ontzlake,  as 
to  you,  because  ye  are  named  a  good  knight,  and  full  of 
prowess,  and  true  and  gentle  in  all  your  deeds,  this  shall  be 
your  charge.  I  will  give  you  that  in  all  goodly  haste  ye 
come  unto  me  and  my  court,  and  ye  shall  be  a  knight  of 
mine,  and  if  your  deeds  be  thereafter  I  shall  so  prefer  you, 
by  the  grace  of  God,  that  ye  shall  in  short  time  be  in  ease 
for  to  live  as  worshipfully  as  your  brother  Sir  Damas.  God 
thank  your  largeness  of  your  goodness  and  of  your  bounty,  I 
shall  be  from  henceforward  at  all  times  at  your  command- 
ment ;  for,  sir,  said  Sir  Ontzlake,  as  God  would,  as  I  was 
hurt  but  late  with  an  adventurous  knight  through  both  my 
thighs,  that  grieved  me  sore,  and  else  had  I  done  this  battle 
with  you.  God  would,  said  Arthur,  it  had  been  so,  for  then 
had  not  I  been  hurt  as  I  am.  I  shall  tell  you  the  cause  why  : 
for  I  had  not  been  hurt  as  I  am,  had  it  not  been  mine  own 
sword,  that  was  stolen  from  me  by  treason ;  and  this  battle 
was  ordained  aforehand  to  have  slain  me,  and  so  it  was 
brought  to  the  purpose  by  false  treason,  and  by  false  enchant- 
ment. Alas,  said  Sir  Ontzlake,  that  is  great  pity  that  ever  so 
noble  a  man  as  ye  are  of  your  deeds  and  prowess,  that  any  man 
or  woman  might  find  in  their  hearts  to  work  any  treason 
against  you.  I  shall  reward  them,  said  Arthur,  in  short 
time,  by  the  grace  of  God.  Now,  tell  me,  said  Arthur,  how 
far  am  I  from  Camelot?  Sir,  ye  are  two  days'  journey 
therefrom.  I  would  fain  be  at  some  place  of  worship,  said 
Sir  Arthur,  that  I  might  rest  me.  Sir,  said  Sir  Ontzlake, 
hereby  is  a  rich  abbey  of  your  elders'  foundation,  of  nuns, 
but  three  miles  hence.  So  the  king  took  his  leave  of  all  the 
people,  and  mounted  upon  horseback,  and  Sir  Accolon 
with  him.  And  when  they  were  come  to  the  abbey,  he  let 
fetch  leeches  and  search  his  wounds  and  Accolon's  both ; 
but  Sir  Accolon  died  within  four  days,  for  he  had  bled  so 
much  blood  that  he  might  not  live,  but  King  Arthur  was 
well  recovered.  So  when  Accolon  was  dead  he  let  send 
him  on  an  horse-bier  with  six  knights  unto  Camelot,  and 
said :  Bear  him  to  my  sister  Morgan  le  Fay,  and  say  that  I 


King  Arthur  107 

send  her  him  to  a  present,  and  tell  her  I  have  my  sword 
Excalibur  and  the  scabbard;  so  they  departed  with  the 
body. 


CHAPTER   XIII 

HOW    MORGAN  WOULD    HAVE    SLAIN  SIR  URIENS    HER    HUSBAND,  AND 
HOW   SIR    UWAINE   HER   SON    SAVED    HIM 

THE  meanwhile  Morgan  le  Fay  had  weened  King  Arthur 
had  been  dead.  So  on  a  day  she  espied  King  Uriens  lay 
in  his  bed  sleeping.  Then  she  called  unto  her  a  maiden  of 
her  counsel,  and  said,  Go  fetch  me  my  lord's  sword,  for  I  saw 
never  better  time  to  slay  him  than  now.  O  madam,  said 
the  damosel,  an  ye  slay  my  lord  ye  can  never  escape.  Care 
not  you,  said  Morgan  le  Fay,  for  now  I  see  my  time  in  the 
which  it  is  best  to  do  it,  and  therefore  hie  thee  fast  and 
fetch  me  the  sword.  Then  the  damosel  departed,  and 
found  Sir  Uwaine  sleeping  upon  a  bed  in  another  chamber, 
so  she  went  unto  Sir  Uwaine,  and  awaked  him,  and  bad 
him,  Arise,  and  waite  on  my  lady  your  mother,  for  she  will 
slay  the  king  your  father  sleeping  in  his  bed,  for  I  go  to 
fetch  his  sword.  Well,  said  Sir  Uwaine,  go  on  your  way, 
and  let  me  deal.  Anon  the  damosel  brought  Morgan  the 
sword  with  quaking  hands,  and  she  lightly  took  the  sword, 
and  pulled  it  out,  and  went  boldly  unto  the  bed's  side,  and 
awaited  how  and  where  she  might  slay  him  best.  And  as 
she  lifted  up  the  sword  to  smite,  Sir  Uwaine  leapt  unto  his 
mother,  and  caught  her  by  the  hand,  and  said,  Ah,  fiend, 
what  wilt  thou  do?  An  thou  wert  not  my  mother,  with 
this  sword  I  should  smite  off  thy  head.  Ah,  said  Sir  Uwaine, 
men  saith  that  Merlin  was  begotten  of  a  devil,  but  I  may 
say  an  earthly  devil  bare  me.  O  fair  son,  Uwaine,  have 
mercy  upon  me,  I  was  tempted  with  a  devil,  wherefore  I 
cry  thee  mercy ;  I  will  never  more  do  so ;  and  save  my 
worship  and  discover  me  not.  On  this  covenant,  said  Sir 
Uwaine,  I  will  forgive  it  you,  so  ye  will  never  be  about  to 
do  such  deeds.  Nay,  son,  said  she,  and  that  I  make  you 
assurance. 


io8  King  Arthur 


CHAPTER  xiv 

HOW  QUEEN  MORGAN  LE  FAY  MADE  GREAT  SORROW  FOR  THE  DEATH 
OF  ACCOLON,  AND  HOW  SHE  STOLE  AWAY  THE  SCABBARD  FROM 
ARTHUR 

THEN  came  tidings  unto  Morgan  le  Fay  that  Accolon 
was  dead,  and  his  body  brought  unto  the  church,  and  how 
King  Arthur  had  his  sword  again.  But  when  Queen 
Morgan  wist  that  Accolon  was  dead,  she  was  so  sorrowful 
that  near  her  heart  to-brast.  But  because  she  would  not  it 
were  known,  outward  she  kept  her  countenance,  and  made 
no  semblance  of  sorrow.  But  well  she  wist  an  she  abode  till 
her  brother  Arthur  came  thither,  there  should  no  gold  go 
for  her  life.  Then  she  went  unto  Queen  Guenever,  and 
asked  her  leave  to  ride  into  the  country.  Ye  may  abide, 
said  Queen  Guenever,  till  your  brother  the  king  come  home. 
I  may  not,  said  Morgan  le  Fay,  for  I  have  such  hasty 
tidings,  that  I  may  not  tarry.  Well,  said  Guenever,  ye  may 
depart  when  ye  will.  So  early  on  the  morn,  or  it  was  day, 
she  took  her  horse  and  rode  all  that  day  and  most  part  of 
the  night,  and  on  the  morn  by  noon  she  came  to  the  same 
abbey  of  nuns  whereat  lay  King  Arthur ;  and  she  knowing 
he  was  there,  she  asked  where  he  was.  And  they  answered 
how  he  had  laid  him  in  his  bed  to  sleep,  for  he  had  had  but 
little  rest  these  three  nights.  Well,  said  she,  I  charge  you 
that  none  of  you  awake  him  till  I  do,  and  then  she  alit  off 
her  horse,  and  thought  for  to  steal  away  Excalibur  his  sword, 
and  so  she  went  straight  unto  his  chamber,  and  no  man 
durst  disobey  her  commandment,  and  there  she  found 
Arthur  asleep  in  his  bed,  and  Excalibur  in  his  right  hand 
naked.  When  she  saw  that  she  was  passing  heavy  that  she 
might  not  come  by  the  sword  without  she  had  awaked  him, 
and  then  she  wist  well  she  had  been  dead.  Then  she 
took  the  scabbard  and  went  her  way  on  horseback.  When 
the  king  awoke  and  missed  his  scabbard,  he  was  wroth,  and 
he  asked  who  had  been  there,  and  they  said  his  sister, 
Queen  Morgan  had  been  there,  and  had  put  the  scabbard 
under  her  mantle  and  was  gone.  Alas,  said  Arthur,  falsely 
ye  have  watched  me.  Sir,  said  they  all,  we  durst  not 
disobey  your  sister's  commandment.  Ah,  said  the  king,  let 
fetch  the  best  horse  may  be  found,  and  bid  Sir  Ontzlake 
arm  him  in  all  haste,  and  take  another  good  horse  and  ride 


King  Arthur  109 

with  me.  So  anon  the  king  and  Ontzlake  were  well  armed, 
and  rode  after  this  lady,  and  so  they  came  by  a  cross  and 
found  a  cowherd,  and  they  asked  the  poor  man  if  there 
came  any  lady  late  riding  that  way.  Sir,  said  this  poor 
man,  right  late  came  a  lady  riding  with  a  forty  horses,  and 
to  yonder  forest  she  rode.  Then  they  spurred  their  horses, 
and  followed  fast,  and  within  a  while  Arthur  had  a  sight 
of  Morgan  le  Fay,  then  he  chased  as  fast  as  he  might. 
When  she  espied  him  following  her,  she  rode  a  greater  pace 
through  the  forest  till  she  came  to  a  plain,  and  when  she 
saw  she  might  not  escape,  she  rode  unto  a  lake  thereby, 
and  said,  Whatsoever  come  of  me,  my  brother  shall  not  have 
this  scabbard.  And  then  she  let  throw  the  scabbard  in  the 
deepest  of  the  water  so  it  sank,  for  it  was  heavy  of  gold  and 
precious  stones.  Then  she  rode  into  a  valley  where  many 
great  stones  were,  and  when  she  saw  she  must  be  overtaken, 
she  shaped  herself,  horse  and  man,  by  enchantment  unto  a 
great  marble  stone.  Anon  withal  came  Sir  Arthur  and  Sir 
Ontzlake  whereas  the  king  might  know  his  sister  and  her 
men,  and  one  knight  from  another.  Ah,  said  the  king,  here 
may  ye  see  the  vengeance  of  God,  and  now  am  I  sorry  that 
this  misadventure  is  befallen.  And  then  he  looked  for  the 
scabbard,  but  it  would  not  be  found,  so  he  returned  to  the 
abbey  where  he  came  from.  So  when  Arthur  was  gone  she 
turned  all  into  the  likeliness  as  she  and  they  were  before, 
and  said,  Sirs,  now  may  we  go  where  we  will. 


CHAPTER   XV 

HOW    MORGAN    LE   FAY  SAVED   A    KNIGHT   THAT   SHOULD    HAVE  BEEN 
DROWNED,    AND    HOW   KING   ARTHUR    RETURNED   HOME  AGAIN 

THEN  said  Morgan,  Saw  ye  Arthur,  my  brother  ?  Yea, 
said  her  knights,  right  well,  and  that  ye  should  have  found 
an  we  might  have  stered  from  one  stede,  for  by  his  army- 
vestal  countenance  he  would  have  caused  us  to  have  fled. 
I  believe  you,  said  Morgan.  Anon  after  as  she  rode  she 
met  a  knight  leading  another  knight  on  his  horse  before 
him,  bound  hand  and  foot,  blindfold,  to  have  drowned  him 
in  a  fountain.  When  she  saw  this  knight  so  bound,  she 
asked  him,  What  will  ye  do  with  that  knight  ?  Lady,  said 
he,  I  will  drown  him.  For  what  cause  ?  she  asked.  For  I 

I  45  *E 


no  King  Arthur 

found  him  with  my  wife,  and  she  shall  have  the  same  death 
anon.  That  were  pity,  said  Morgan  le  Fay  !  Now,  what 
say  ye,  knight,  is  it  truth  that  he  saith  of  you  ?  she  said  to 
the  knight  that  should  be  drowned.  Nay  truly,  madam,  he 
saith  not  right  on  me.  Of  whence  be  ye,  said  Morgan  le 
Fay,  and  of  what  country?  I  am  of  the  court  of  King 
Arthur,  and  my  name  is  Manassen,  cousin  unto  Accolon  of 
Gaul.  Ye  say  well,  said  she,  and  for  the  love  of  him  ye 
shall  be  delivered,  and  ye  shall  have  your  adversary  in  the 
same  case  ye  be  in.  So  Manassen  was  loosed  and  the 
other  knight  bound.  And  anon  Manassen  unarmed  him, 
and  armed  himself  in  his  harness,  and  so  mounted  on 
horseback,  and  the  knight  afore  him,  and  so  threw  him  into 
the  fountain  and  drowned  him.  And  then  he  rode  unto 
Morgan  again,  and  asked  if  she  would  anything  unto  King 
Arthur.  Tell  him  that  I  rescued  thee,  not  for  the  love  of 
him  but  for  the  love  of  Accolon,  and  tell  him  I  fear  him 
not  while  I  can  make  me  and  them  that  be  with  me  in 
likeness  of  stones ;  and  let  him  wit  I  can  do  much  more 
when  I  see  my  time.  And  so  she  departed  into  the  country 
of  Gore,  and  there  was  she  richly  received,  and  made  her 
castles  and  towns  passing  strong,  for  always  she  dread  much 
King  Arthur.  When  the  king  had  well  rested  him  at  the 
abbey,  he  rode  unto  Camelot,  and  found  his  queen  and  his 
barons  right  glad  of  his  coming.  And  when  they  heard  of 
his  strange  adventures  as  is  afore  rehearsed,  then  all  had 
marvel  of  the  falsehood  of  Morgan  le  Fay ;  many  knights 
wished  her  burnt.  Then  came  Manassen  to  court  and  told 
the  king  of  his  adventure.  Well,  said  the  king,  she  is  a 
kind  sister ;  I  shall  so  be  avenged  on  her  an  I  live,  that  all 
Christendom  shall  speak  of  it.  So  on  the  morn  there  came 
a  damosel  from  Morgan  to  the  king,  and  she  brought  with 
her  the  richest  mantle  that  ever  was  seen  in  that  court,  for 
it  was  set  as  full  of  precious  stones  as  one  might  stand  by 
another,  and  there  were  the  richest  stones  that  ever  the  king 
saw.  And  the  damosel  said,  Your  sister  sendeth  you  this 
mantle,  and  desireth  that  ye  should  take  this  gift  of  her ; 
and  in  what  thing  she  hath  offended  you,  she  will  amend  it 
at  your  own  pleasure.  When  the  king  beheld  this  mantle 
it  pleased  him  much,  but  he  said  but  little. 


King  Arthur  1 1 1 


CHAPTER   XVI 

HOW    THE    DAMOSEL    OF   THE    LAKE    SAVED    KING    ARTHUR     FROM    A 
MANTLE   THAT   SHOULD    HAVE   BURNT    HIM 

WITH  that  came  the  damosel  of  the  lake  unto  the  king, 
and  said,  Sir,  1  must  speak  with  you  in  private.  Say  on, 
said  the  king,  what  ye  will.  Sir,  said  the  damosel,  put  not 
on  you  this  mantle  till  ye  have  seen  more,  and  in  no  wise 
let  it  not  come  on  you  nor  on  no  knight  of  yours  till  ye 
command  the  bringer  thereof  to  put  it  upon  her.  Well,  said 
King  Arthur,  it  shall  be  done  as  ye  counsel  me.  And  then 
he  said  unto  the  damosel  that  came  from  his  sister,  Damosel, 
this  mantle  that  ye  have  brought  me,  I  will  see  it  upon  you. 
Sir,  she  said,  it  will  not  beseem  me  to  wear  a  king's  garment. 
By  my  head,  said  Arthur,  ye  shall  wear  it  or  it  come  on  my 
back,  or  any  man's  that  here  is.  And  so  the  king  made  it 
to  be  put  upon  her,  and  forthwithal  she  fell  down  dead,  and 
never  more  spake  word  after  and  burnt  to  coals.  Then  was  the 
king  wonderly  wroth,  more  than  he  was  toforehand,  and  said 
unto  King  Uriens,  My  sister,  your  wife,  is  alway  about  to 
betray  me,  and  well  I  wot  either  ye,  or  my  nephew,  your 
son,  is  of  counsel  with  her  to  have  me  destroyed ;  but  as  for 
you,  said  the  king  to  King  Uriens,  I  deem  not  greatly  that 
ye  be  of  her  counsel,  for  Accolon  confessed  to  me  by  his 
own  mouth,  that  he  would  have  destroyed  you  as  well  as 
me,  therefore  I  hold  you  excused  ;  but  as  for  your  son,  Sir 
Uwaine,  I  hold  him  suspect,  therefore  I  charge  you  put  him 
out  of  my  court.  So  Sir  Uwaine  was  discharged.  And 
when  Sir  Gawaine  wist  that,  he  made  him  ready  to  go  with 
him;  and  said,  Whoso  banisheth  my  cousin-germain  shall 
banish  me.  So  they  two  departed,  and  rode  into  a  great 
forest,  and  so  they  came  to  an  abbey  of  monks,  and  there 
were  well  lodged.  But  when  the  king  wist  that  Sir  Gawaine 
was  departed  from  the  court,  there  was  made  great  sorrow 
among  all  the  estates.  Now,  said  Gaheris,  Gawaine's  brother, 
we  have  lost  two  good  knights  for  the  love  of  one.  So  on 
the  mom  they  heard  their  masses  in  the  abbey,  and  so  they 
rode  forth  till  that  they  came  to  a  great  forest.  _  Then  was 
Sir  Gawaine  ware  in  a  valley  by  a  turret,  twelve  fair  damosels, 
and  two  knights  armed  on  great  horses,  and  the  damosels 
went  to  and  fro  by  a  tree.  And  then  was  Sir  Gawaine  ware 


H2  King  Arthur 

how  there  hung  a  white  shield  on  that  tree,  and  ever  as  the 
damosels  came  by  it  they  spit  upon  it,  and  some  threw  mire 
upon  the  shield. 

CHAPTER   XVII 

HOW     SIR     GAWAINE    AND    SIR     UWAINE     MET    WITH     TWELVE     FAIR 
DAMOSELS,    AND    HOW   THEY   COMPLAINED   ON    SIR    MARHAUS 

THEN  Sir  Gawaine  and  Sir  Uwaine  went  and  saluted 
them,  and  asked  why  they  did  that  despite  to  the  shield. 
Sirs,  said  the  damosels,  we  shall  tell  you.  There  is  a  knight 
in  this  country  that  owneth  this  white  shield,  and  he  is  a 
passing  good  man  of  his  hands,  but  he  hateth  all  ladies  and 
gentlewomen,  and  therefore  we  do  all  this  despite  to  the 
shield.  I  shall  say  you,  said  Sir  Gawaine,  it  beseemeth 
evil  a  good  knight  to  despise  all  ladies  and  gentlewomen, 
and  peradventure  though  he  hate  you  he  hath  some  certain 
cause,  and  peradventure  he  loveth  in  some  other  places 
ladies  and  gentlewomen,  and  to  be  loved  again,  an  he  be 
such  a  man  of  prowess  as  ye  speak  of.  Now,  what  is  his 
name  ?  Sir,  said  they,  his  name  is  Marhaus,  the  king's  son 
of  Ireland.  I  know  him  well,  said  Sir  Uwaine,  he  is  a 
passing  good  knight  as  any  is  a-live,  for  I  saw  him  once 
proved  at  a  jousts  where  many  knights  were  gathered,  and 
that  time  there  might  no  man  withstand  him.  Ah  !  said  Sir 
Gawaine,  damosels,  methinketh  ye  are  to  blame,  for  it  is  to 
suppose,  he  that  hung  that  shield  there,  he  will  not  be  long 
therefrom,  and  then  may  those  knights  match  him  on  horse- 
back, and  that  is  more  your  worship  than  thus ;  for  I  will 
abide  no  longer  to  see  a  knight's  shield  dishonoured.  And 
therewith  Sir  Uwaine  and  Gawaine  departed  a  little  from 
them,  and  then  were  they  ware  where  Sir  Marhaus  came 
riding  on  a  great  horse  straight  towards  them.  And  when 
the  twelve  damosels  saw  Sir  Marhaus  they  fled  into  the 
turret  as  they  were  wild,  so  that  some  of  them  fell  by  the 
way.  Then  the  one  of  the  knights  of  the  tower  dressed  his 
shield,  and  said  on  high,  Sir  Marhaus,  defend  thee.  And 
so  they  ran  together  that  the  knight  brake  his  spear  on 
Marhaus,  and  Marhaus  smote  him  so  hard  that  he  brake 
his  neck  and  the  horse's  back.  That  saw  the  other  knight 
of  the  turret,  and  dressed  him  toward  Marhaus,  and  they 
met  so  eagerly  together  that  the  knight  of  the  turret  was 
soon  smitten  down,  horse  and  man,  stark  dead. 


King  Arthur  113 


CHAPTER    XVIII 

HOW  SIR  MARHAUS  JOUSTED   WITH    SIR   GAWAINE   AND   SIR    UWAINE, 

AND   OVERTHREW   THEM    BOTH 

AND  then  Sir  Marhaus  rode  unto  his  shield,  and  saw  how 
it  was  defouled,  and  said,  Of  this  despite  I  am  a  part  avenged, 
but  for  her  love  that  gave  me  this  white  shield  I  shall  wear 
thee,  and  hang  mine  where  thou  wast ;  and  so  he  hanged  it 
about  his  neck.  Then  he  rode  straight  unto  Sir  Gawaine 
and  to  Sir  Uwaine,  and  ask  them  what  they  did  there? 
They  answered  him  that  they  came  from  King  Arthur's 
court  to  see  adventures.  Well,  said  Sir  Marhaus,  here  am 
I  ready,  an  adventurous  knight  that  will  fulfil  any  adventure 
that  ye  will  desire ;  and  so  departed  from  them,  to  fetch  his 
range.  Let  him  go,  said  Sir  Uwaine  unto  Sir  Gawaine,  for 
he  is  a  passing  good  knight  as  any  is  living ;  I  would  not  by 
my  will  that  any  of  us  were  matched  with  him.  Nay,  said 
Sir  Gawaine,  not  so,  it  were  shame  to  us  were  he  not 
assayed,  were  he  never  so  good  a  knight.  Well,  said  Sir 
Uwaine,  I  will  assay  him  afore  you,  for  I  am  more  weaker 
than  ye,  and  if  he  smite  me  down  then  may  ye  revenge  me. 
So  these  two  knights  came  together  with  great  raundon,  that 
Sir  Uwaine  smote  Sir  Marhaus  that  his  spear  brast  in  pieces 
on  the  shield,  and  Sir  Marhaus  smote  him  so  sore  that  horse 
and  man  he  bare  to  the  earth,  and  hurt  Sir  Uwaine  on  the 
left  side.  Then  Sir  Marhaus  turned  his  horse  and  rode 
toward  Gawaine  with  his  spear,  and  when  Sir  Gawaine  saw 
that  he  dressed  his  shield,  and  they  aventred  their  spears, 
and  they  came  together  with  all  the  might  of  their  horses, 
that  either  knight  smote  other  so  hard  in  middes  of  their 
shields,  but  Sir  Gawaine's  spear  brake,  but  Sir  Marhaus's 
spear  held;  and  therewith  Sir  Gawaine  and  his  horse  rushed 
down  to  the  earth.  And  lightly  Sir  Gawaine  rose  on  his 
feet,  and  pulled  out  his  sword,  and  dressed  him  toward  Sir 
Marhaus  on  foot,  and  Sir  Marhaus  saw  that,  and  pulled  out 
his  sword  and  began  to  come  to  Sir  Gawaine  on  horseback. 
Sir  knight,  said  Sir  Gawaine,  alight  on  foot,  or  else  I  will 
slay  thy  horse.  Gramercy,  said  Sir  Marhaus,  of  your  gentle- 
ness ye  teach  me  courtesy,  for  it  is  not  for  one  knight  to  be 
on  foot,  and  the  other  on  horseback.  And  therewith  Sir 
Marhaus  set  his  spear  against  a  tree  and  alit  and  tied  his 
horse  to  a  tree,  and  dressed  his  shield,  and  either  came  unto 


H4  King  Arthur 

other  eagerly,  and  smote  together  with  their  swords  that 
their  shields  flew  in  cantels,  and  they  bruised  their  helms 
and  their  hauberks,  and  wounded  either  other.  But  Sir 
Gawaine  from  it  passed  nine  of  the  clock  waxed  ever  stronger 
and  stronger,  for  then  it  came  to  the  hour  of  noon,  and  thrice 
his  might  was  increased.  All  this  espied  Sir  Marhaus  and 
had  great  wonder  how  his  might  increased,  and  so  they 
wounded  other  passing  sore.  And  then  when  it  was  past 
noon,  and  when  it  drew  toward  evensong,  Sir  Gawaine's 
strength  feebled,  and  waxed  passing  faint  that  unnethes  he 
might  dure  any  longer,  and  Sir  Marhaus  was  then  bigger 
and  bigger.  Sir  knight,  said  Sir  Marhaus,  I  have  well 
felt  that  ye  are  a  passing  good  knight  and  a  marvellous 
man  of  might  as  ever  I  felt  any,  while  it  lasteth,  and 
our  quarrels  are  not  great,  and  therefore  it  were  pity  to  do 
you  hurt,  for  I  feel  ye  are  passing  feeble.  Ah,  said  Sir 
Gawaine,  gentle  knight,  ye  say  the  word  that  I  should  say. 
And  therewith  they  took  off  their  helms,  and  either  kissed 
other,  and  there  they  swore  together  either  to  love  other  as 
brethren.  And  Sir  Marhaus  prayed  Sir  Gawaine  to  lodge 
with  him  that  night.  And  so  they  took  their  horses,  and 
rode  toward  Sir  Marhaus's  house.  And  as  they  rode  by  the 
way,  Sir  knight,  said  Sir  Gawaine,  I  have  marvel  that  so 
valiant  a  man  as  ye  be  love  no  ladies  nor  damosels.  Sir, 
said  Sir  Marhaus,  they  name  me  wrongfully  those  that  give 
me  that  name,  but  well  I  wot  it  be  the  damosels  of  the 
turret  that  so  name  me,  and  other  such  as  they  be;  now 
shall  I  tell  you  for  what  cause  I  hate  them  :  for  they  be 
sorceresses  and  enchanters  many  of  them,  and  be  a  knight 
never  so  good  of  his  body  and  full  of  prowess  as  man  may 
be,  they  will  make  him  a  stark  coward  to  have  the  better  of 
him,  and  this  is  the  principal  cause  that  I  hate  them ;  and 
to  all  good  ladies  and  gentlewomen  I  owe  my  service  as 
a  knight  ought  to  do.  As  the  book  rehearseth  in  French, 
there  were  many  knights  that  overmatched  Sir  Gawaine,  for 
all  the  thrice  might  that  he  had  :  Sir  Launcelot  de  Lake,  Sir 
Tristram,  Sir  Bors  de  Ganis,  Sir  Percivale,  Sir  Pelleas,  and 
Sir  Marhaus,  these  six  knights  had  the  better  of  Sir  Gawaine. 
Then  within  a  little  while  they  came  to  Sir  Marhaus's  place, 
which  was  in  a  little  priory,  and  there  they  alit,  and  ladies 
and  damosels  unarmed  them,  and  hastily  looked  to  their 
hurts,  for  they  were  all  three  hurt.  And  so  they  had  all 
three  good  lodging  with  Sir  Marhaus,  and  good  cheer ;  for 


King  Arthur  115 

when  he  wist  that  they  were  King  Arthur's  sisters'  sons  he 
made  them  all  the  cheer  that  lay  in  his  power,  and  so  they 
sojourned  there  a  se'nnight,  and  were  well  eased  of  their 
wounds,  and  at  the  last  departed.  Now,  said  Sir  Marhaus, 
we  will  not  depart  so  lightly,  for  I  will  bring  you  through 
the  forest ;  and  rode  day  by  day  well  a  seven  days  or  they 
found  any  adventure.  At  the  last  they  came  into  a  great 
forest,  that  was  named  the  country  and  forest  of  Arroy,  and 
the  country  of  strange  adventures.  In  this  country,  said  Sir 
Marhaus,  came  never  knight  syne  it  was  christened,  but  he 
found  strange  adventures,  and  so  they  rode,  and  came  into 
a  deep  valley  full  of  stones,  and  thereby  they  saw  a  fair 
stream  of  water  ;  above  thereby  was  the  head  of  the  stream 
a  fair  fountain,  and  three  damosels  sitting  thereby.  And 
then  they  rode  to  them,  and  either  saluted  other,  and  the 
eldest  had  a  garland  of  gold  about  her  head,  and  she  was 
three  score  winter  of  age  or  more,  and  her  hair  was  white 
under  the  garland.  The  second  damosel  was  of  thirty  winter 
of  age,  with  a  circlet  of  gold  about  her  head.  The  third 
damosel  was  but  fifteen  year  of  age,  and  a  garland  of  flowers 
about  her  head.  When  these  knights  had  so  beheld  them, 
they  asked  them  the  cause  why  they  sat  at  that  fountain  ? 
We  be  here,  said  the  damosels,  for  this  cause :  if  we  may  see 
any  errant  knights,  to  teach  them  unto  strange  adventures;  and 
ye  be  three  knights  that  seeken  adventures,  and  we  be  three 
damosels,  and  therefore  each  one  of  you  must  choose  one 
of  us ;  and  when  ye  have  done  so  we  will  lead  you  unto 
three  highways,  and  there  each  of  you  shall  choose  a  way 
and  his  damosel  with  him.  And  this  day  twelvemonth  ye 
must  meet  here  again,  and  God  send  you  your  lives,  and 
thereto  ye  must  plight  your  troth.  This  is  well  said,  said 
Sir  Marhaus. 

CHAPTER   XIX 

HOW   SIR    MARHAUS,    SIR    GAWAINE,    AND    SIR    UVVAINE    MET  THREE 
DAMOSELS,  AND    EACH    OF   THEM   TOOK    ONE 

Now  shall  every  each  of  us  choose  a  damosel.  I  shall 
tell  you,  said  Sir  Uwaine,  I  am  the  youngest  and  most 
weakest  of  you  both,  therefore  I  will  have  the  eldest  damosel, 
for  she  hath  seen  much,  and  can  best  help  me  when  I  have 
need,  for  I  have  most  need  of  help  of  you  both.  Now,  said 
Sir  Marhaus,  I  will  have  the  damosel  of  thirty  winter  age, 


n6  King  Arthur 

for  she  falleth  best  to  me.  Well,  said  Sir  Gawaine,  I  thank 
you,  for  ye  have  left  me  the  youngest  and  the  fairest,  and 
she  is  most  liefest  to  me.  Then  every  damosel  took 
her  knight  by  the  reins  of  his  bridle,  and  brought  him 
to  the  three  ways,  and  there  was  their  oath  made  to 
meet  at  the  fountain  that  day  twelvemonth  an  they  were 
living,  and  so  they  kissed  and  departed,  and  every  each 
knight  set  his  lady  behind  him.  And  Sir  Uwaine  took  the 
way  that  lay  west,  and  Sir  Marhaus  took  the  way  that  lay 
south,  and  Sir  Gawaine  took  the  way  that  lay  north.  Now 
will  we  begin  at  Sir  Gawaine,  that  held  that  way  till  that  he 
came  unto  a  fair  manor,  where  dwelled  an  old  knight  and  a 
good  householder,  and  there  Sir  Gawaine  asked  the  knight 
if  he  knew  any  adventures  in  that  country.  I  shall  show 
you  some  to-morn,  said  the  old  knight,  and  that  marvellous. 
So,  on  the  morn  they  rode  into  the  forest  of  adventures  to  a 
launde,  and  thereby  they  found  a  cross,  and  as  they  stood 
and  hoved,  there  came  by  them  the  fairest  knight  and  the 
seemliest  man  that  ever  they  saw,  making  the  greatest 
dole  that  ever  man  made.  And  then  he  was  ware  of  Sir 
Gawaine,  and  saluted  him,  and  prayed  God  to  send  him 
much  worship.  As  to  that,  said  Sir  Gawaine,  gramercy ; 
also  I  pray  to  God  that  he  send  you  honour  and  worship. 
Ah,  said  the  knight,  I  may  lay  that  a-side,  for  sorrow  and 
shame  cometh  to  me  after  worship. 


CHAPTER   XX 

HOW   A    KNIGHT   AND   A    DWARF   STROVE   FOR   A   LADY 

AND  therewith  he  passed  unto  the  one  side  of  the  launde ; 
and  on  the  other  side  saw  Sir  Gawaine  ten  knights  that 
hoved  still  and  made  them  ready  with  their  shields  and 
spears  against  that  one  knight  that  came  by  Sir  Gawaine. 
Then  this  one  knight  aventred  a  great  spear,  and  one  of  the 
ten  knights  encountered  with  him,  but  this  woful  knight 
smote  him  so  hard  that  he  fell  over  his  horse's  tail.  So  this 
same  dolorous  knight  served  them  all,  that  at  the  leastway 
he  smote  down  horse  and  man,  and  all  he  did  with  one 
spear ;  and  so  when  they  were  all  ten  on  foot,  they  went  to 
that  one  knight,  and  he  stood  stone  still,  and  suffered  them 
to  pull  him  down  off  his  horse,  and  bound  him  hand  and 


King  Arthur  117 

foot,  and  tied  him  under  the  horse's  belly,  and  so  led  him 
with  them.  O  Jesu  !  said  Sir  Gawaine,  this  is  a  doleful 
sight,  to  see  the  yonder  knight  so  to  be  entreated,  and  it 
seemeth  by  the  knight  that  he  sufifereth  them  to  bind  him 
so,  for  he  maketh  no  resistance.  No,  said  his  host,  that  is 
truth,  for  an  he  would  they  all  were  too  weak  so  to  do  him. 
Sir,  said  the  damosel  unto  Sir  Gawaine,  meseemeth  it  were 
your  worship  to  help  that  dolorous  knight,  for  methinketh 
he  is  one  of  the  best  knights  that  ever  I  saw.  I  would  do 
for  him,  said  Sir  Gawaine,  but  it  seemeth  he  will  have  no 
help.  Then,  said  the  damosel,  methinketh  ye  have  no  lust 
to  help  him.  Thus  as  they  talked  they  saw  a  knight  on  the 
other  side  of  the  launde  all  armed  save  the  head.  And  on  the 
other  side  there  came  a  dwarf  on  horseback  all  armed  save  the 
head,  with  a  great  mouth  and  a  short  nose ;  and  when  the 
dwarf  came  nigh  he  said,  Where  is  the  lady  should  meet  us 
here  ?  and  therewithal  she  came  forth  out  of  the  wood.  And 
then  they  began  to  strive  for  the  lady ;  for  the  knight  said 
he  would  have  her,  and  the  dwarf  said  he  would  have  her. 
Will  we  do  well?  said  the  dwarf;  yonder  is  a  knight  at  the 
cross,  let  us  put  it  both  upon  him,  and  as  he  deemeth  so 
shall  it  be.  I  will  well,  said  the  knight,  and  so  they  went  all 
three  unto  Sir  Gawaine  and  told  him  wherefore  they  strove. 
Well,  sirs,  said  he,  will  ye  put  the  matter  in  my  hand  ?  Yea, 
they  said  both.  Now  damosel,  said  Sir  Gawaine,  ye  shall 
stand  betwixt  them  both,  and  whether  ye  list  better  to  go 
to,  he  shall  have  you.  And  when  she  was  set  between 
them  both,  she  left  the  knight  and  went  to  the  dwarf,  and 
the  dwarf  took  her  and  went  his  way  singing,  and  the  knight 
went  his  way  with  great  mourning.  Then  came  there  two 
knights  all  armed,  and  cried  on  high,  Sir  Gawaine  !  knight 
of  King  Arthur's  make  thee  ready  in  all  haste  and  joust  with 
me.  So  they  ran  together,  that  either  fell  down,  and  then 
on  foot  they  drew  their  swords,  and  did  full  actually.  The 
meanwhile  the  other  knight  went  to  the  damosel,  and  asked 
her  why  she  abode  with  that  knight,  and  if  ye  would  abide 
with  me,  I  will  be  your  faithful  knight.  And  with  you  will 
I  be,  said  the  damosel,  for  with  Sir  Gawaine  I  may  not  find 
in  mine  heart  to  be  with  him ;  for  now  here  was  one  knight 
discomfited  ten  knights,  and  at  the  last  he  was  cowardly  led 
away ;  and  therefore  let  us  two  go  whilst  they  fight.  And 
Sir  Gawaine  fought  with  that  other  knight  long,  but  at  the 
last  they  accorded  both.  And  then  the  knight  prayed  Sir 


n8  King  Arthur 

Gawaine  to  lodge  with  him  that  night.  So  as  Sir  Gawaine 
went  with  this  knight  he  asked  him,  What  knight  is  he  in  this 
country  that  smote  down  the  ten  knights  ?  For  when  he 
had  done  so  manfully  he  suffered  them  to  bind  him  hand 
and  foot,  and  so  led  him  away.  Ah,  said  the  knight,  that  is 
the  best  knight  I  trow  in  the  world,  and  the  most  man  of 
prowess,  and  he  hath  been  served  so  as  he  was  even  more 
than  ten  times,  and  his  name  hight  Sir  Pelleas,  and  he 
loveth  a  great  lady  in  this  country  and  her  name  is  Ettard. 
And  so  when  he  loved  her  there  was  cried  in  this  country  a 
great  jousts  three  days,  and  all  the  knights  of  this  country 
were  there  and  gentlewomen,  and  who  that  proved  him  the 
best  knight  should  have  a  passing  good  sword  and  a  circlet 
of  gold,  and  the  circlet  the  knight  should  give  it  to  the 
fairest  lady  that  was  at  the  jousts.  And  this  knight  Sir 
Pelleas  was  the  best  knight  that  was  there,  and  there  were 
five  hundred  knights,  but  there  was  never  man  that  ever  Sir 
Pelleas  met  withal  but  he  struck  him  down,  or  else  from  his 
horse ;  and  every  day  of  three  days  he  struck  down  twenty 
knights,  therefore  they  gave  him  the  prize,  and  forthwithal 
he  went  thereas  the  lady  Ettard  was,  and  gave  her  the 
circlet,  and  said  openly  she  was  the  fairest  lady  that  there 
was,  and  that  would  he  prove  upon  any  knight  that  would 
say  nay. 

CHAPTER   XXI 

HOW  KING  PELLEAS  SUFFERED  HIMSELF  TO  BE  TAKEN  PRISONER 
BECAUSE  HE  WOULD  HAVE  A  SIGHT  OF  HIS  LADY,  AND  HOW 
SIR  GAWAINE  PROMISED  HIM  TO  GET  TO  HIM  THE  LOVE  OF 
HIS  LADY 

AND  so  he  chose  her  for  his  sovran  lady,  and  never  to 
love  other  but  her,  but  she  was  so  proud  that  she  had  scorn 
of  him,  and  said  that  she  would  never  love  him  though  he 
would  die  for  her.  Wherefore  all  ladies  and  gentlewomen  had 
scorn  of  her  that  she  was  so  proud,  for  there  were  fairer  than 
she,  and  there  was  none  that  was  there  but  an  Sir  Pelleas 
would  have  proffered  them  love,  they  would  have  loved  him 
for  his  noble  prowess.  And  so  this  knight  promised  the 
lady  Ettard  to  follow  her  into  this  country,  and  never  to 
leave  her  till  she  loved  him.  And  thus  he  is  here  the  most 
part  nigh  her,  and  lodged  by  a  priory,  and  every  week  she 
sendeth  knights  to  fight  with  him.  And  when  he  hath  put 
them  to  the  worse,  then  will  he  suffer  them  wilfully  to  take 


King  Arthur  119 

him  prisoner,  by  cause  he  would  have  a  sight  of  this  lady. 
And  always  she  doth  him  great  despite,  for  sometime  she 
maketh  her  knights  to  tie  him  to  his  horse's  tail,  and  some 
to  bind  him  under  the  horse's  belly  ;  thus  in  the  most 
shamefullest  ways  that  she  can  think  he  is  brought  to  her ; 
and  all  she  doth  it  for  to  cause  him  to  leave  this  country, 
and  to  leave  his  loving ;  but  all  this  cannot  make  him  to 
leave,  for  an  he  would  have  fought  on  foot  he  might  have 
had  the  better  of  the  ten  knights  as  well  on  foot  as  on 
horseback.  Alas,  said  Sir  Gawaine,  it  is  great  pity  of  him  ; 
and  after  this  night  I  will  seek  him  to-morrow,  in  this  forest, 
to  do  him  all  the  help  I  can.  So  on  the  morn  Sir  Gawaine 
took  his  leave  of  his  host  Sir  Carados,  and  rode  into  the 
forest ;  and  at  the  last  he  met  with  Sir  Pelleas,  making  great 
moan  out  of  measure,  so  each  of  them  saluted  other,  and 
asked  him  why  he  made  such  sorrow.  And  as  it  is  above 
rehearsed,  Sir  Pelleas  told  Sir  Gawaine  :  But  always  I  suffer 
her  knights  to  fare  so  with  me  as  ye  saw  yesterday,  in  trust 
at  the  last  to  win  her  love,  for  she  knoweth  well  all  her 
knights  should  not  lightly  win  me,  an  me  list  to  fight  with 
them  to  the  uttermost.  Wherefore  an  I  loved  her  not  so 
sore,  I  had  lever  die  an  hundred  times,  an  I  might  die  so 
oft,  rather  than  I  would  suffer  that  despite  ;  but  I  trust 
she  will  have  pity  upon  me  at  the  last,  for  love  causeth  many 
a  good  knight  to  suffer  to  have  his  entent,  but  alas  I  am 
unfortunate.  And  therewith  he  made  so  great  dole  and 
sorrow  that  unnethe  he  might  hold  him  on  horseback.  Now, 
said  Sir  Gawaine,  leave  your  mourning  and  I  shall  promise 
you  by  the  faith  of  my  body  to  do  all  that  lieth  in  my  power 
to  get  you  the  love  of  your  lady,  and  thereto  I  will  plight 
you  my  troth.  Ah,  said  Sir  Pelleas,  of  what  court  are  ye  ?  tell 
me,  I  pray  you,  my  good  friend.  And  then  Sir  Gawaine 
said,  I  am  of  the  court  of  King  Arthur,  and  his  sister's  son, 
and  King  Lot  of  Orkney  was  my  father,  and  my  name  is  Sir 
Gawaine.  And  then  he  said,  My  name  is  Sir  Pelleas,  born 
in  the  Isles,  and  of  many  isles  I  am  lord,  and  never  have  I 
loved  lady  nor  damosel  till  now  in  an  unhappy  time  ;  and,  sir 
knight,  syne  ye  are  so  nigh  cousin  unto  King  Arthur,  and 
a  king's  son,  therefore  betray  me  not  but  help  me,  for  I  may 
never  come  by  her  but  by  some  good  knight,  for  she  is  in  a 
strong  castle  here,  fast  by  within  this  four  mile,  and  over  all 
this  country  she  is  lady  of.  And  so  I  may  never  come  to 
her  presence,  but  as  I  suffer  her  knights  to  take  me,  and 


i2o  King  Arthur 

but  if  I  did  so  that  I  might  have  a  sight  of  her,  I  had  been 
dead  long  or  this  time  ;  and  yet  fair  word  had  I  never  of 
her,  but  when  I  am  brought  tofore  her  she  rebuketh  me  in 
the  foulest  manner,  and  then  they  take  my  horse  and  harness 
and  putten  me  out  of  the  gates,  and  she  will  not  suffer  me 
to  eat  nor  drink  ;  and  always  I  offer  me  to  be  her  prisoner, 
but  that  she  will  not  suffer  me,  for  I  would  desire  no  more, 
what  pains  so  ever  I  had,  so  that  I  might  have  a  sight  of  her 
daily.  Well,  said  Sir  Gawaine,  all  this  shall  I  amend  an  ye 
will  do  as  I  shall  devise  :  I  will  have  your  horse  and  your 
armour,  and  so  will  I  ride  unto  her  castle  and  tell  her  that 
I  have  slain  you,  and  so  shall  I  come  within  her  to  cause 
her  to  cherish  me,  and  then  shall  I  do  my  true  part  that  ye 
shall  not  fail  to  have  the  love  of  her. 


CHAPTER  XXII 

HOW   SIR     GAWAINE   CAME   TO   THE    LADY    ETTARD,    AND   HOW   SIR 
PELLEAS    FOUND   THEM    SLEEPING 

AND  therewith  Sir  Gawaine  plight  his  troth  unto  Sir 
Pelleas  to  be  true  and  faithful  unto  him  ;  so  each  one  plight 
their  troth  to  other,  and  so  they  changed  horses  and  harness, 
and  Sir  Gawaine  departed,  and  came  to  the  castle  whereas 
stood  the  pavilions  of  this  lady  without  the  gate.  And  as 
soon  as  Ettard  had  espied  Sir  Gawaine  she  fled  in  toward 
the  castle.  Sir  Gawaine  spake  on  high,  and  bade  her  abide, 
for  he  was  not  Sir  Pelleas ;  I  am  another  knight  that  have 
slain  Sir  Pelleas.  Do  off  your  helm,  said  the  Lady  Ettard, 
that  I  may  see  your  visage.  And  so  when  she  saw  that  it  was 
not  Sir  Pelleas,  she  bade  him  alight  and  led  him  unto  her 
castle,  and  asked  him  faithfully  whether  he  had  slain  Sir 
Pelleas.  And  he  said  her  yea,  and  told  her  his  name  was 
Sir  Gawaine  of  the  court  of  King  Arthur,  and  his  sister's  son. 
Truly,  said  she,  that  is  great  pity,  for  he  was  a  passing  good 
knight  of  his  body,  but  of  all  men  a-live  I  hated  him  most, 
for  I  could  never  be  quit  of  him  ;  and  for  ye  have  slain  him 
I  shall  be  your  woman,  and  to  do  anything  that  might 
please  you.  So  she  made  Sir  Gawaine  good  cheer.  Then 
Sir  Gawaine  said  that  he  loved  a  lady  and  by  no  means  she 
would  love  him.  She  is  to  blame,  said  Ettard,  an  she  will 
not  love  you,  for  ye  that  be  so  well  born  a  man,  and  such  a 


King  Arthur  121 

man  of  prowess,  there  is  no  lady  in  the  world  too  good  for 
you.     Will  ye,  said  Sir  Gawaine,  promise  me  to  do  all  that 
ye  may,  by  the  faith  of  your  body,  to  get  me  the  love  of  my 
lady?     Yea,  sir,  said  she,  and  that  I  promise  you  by  the 
faith  of  my  body.     Now,  said  Sir  Gawaine,  it  is  yourself 
that  I  love  so  well,  therefore  I  pray  you  hold  your  promise. 
I  may  not  choose,  said  the  Lady  Ettard,  but  if  I  should  be 
forsworn ;  and  so  she  granted  him  to  fulfil  all  his  desire.    So 
it  was  then  in  the  month  of  May  that  she  and  Sir  Gawaine 
went  out  of  the  castle  and  supped  in  a  pavilion,  and  there 
was  made  a  bed,  and  there  Sir  Gawaine  and  the  Lady  Ettard 
went  to  bed  together,  and  in  another  pavilion  she  laid  her 
damosels,  and  in   the  third   pavilion  she  laid  part  of  her 
knights,  for  then  she  had  no  dread  of  Sir  Pelleas.     And 
there  Sir  Gawaine  lay  with  her  in  that  pavilion  two  days  and 
two  nights.    And  on  the  third  day,  in  the  morning  early,  Sir 
Pelleas  armed  him,  for  he  had  never  slept  syne  Sir  Gawaine 
departed  from  him  ;  for  Sir  Gawaine  had  promised  him  by 
the  faith  of  his  body,  to  come  to  him  unto  his  pavilion  by 
that  priory  within  the  space  of  a  day  and  a  night.     Then  Sir 
Pelleas  mounted  upon  horseback,  and  came  to  the  pavilions 
that  stood  without  the  castle,  and  found  in  the  first  pavilion 
three  knights  in  three  beds,  and  three  squires  lying  at  their 
feet.     Then  went  he  to  the  second  pavilion  and  found  four 
gentlewomen  lying  in  four  beds.     And  then  he  yede  to  the 
third  pavilion  and  found  Sir  Gawaine  lying  in  bed  with  his 
Lady  Ettard,  and  either  clipping  other  in  arms,  and  when 
he  saw  that  his  heart  wellnigh  brast  for  sorrow,  and  said  : 
Alas  !  that  ever  a  knight  should  be  found  so  false ;  and  then 
he  took  his  horse  and  might  not  abide  no  longer  for  pure 
sorrow.     And  when  he  had  ridden  nigh  half  a   mile   he 
turned  again  and  thought  to  slay  them  both ;  and  when  he 
saw  them  both  so  lie  sleeping  fast,  unnethe  he  might  hold 
him  on  horseback  for  sorrow,  and  said  thus   to   himself, 
Though  this  knight  be  never  so  false,  I  will  never  slay  him 
sleeping,  for  I  will  never  destroy  the  high  order  of  knight- 
hood ;  and  therewith  he  departed  again.     And  or  he  had 
ridden  half  a  mile  he  returned  again,  and  thought  then  to 
slay  them  both,  making  the  greatest  sorrow  that  ever  man 
made.     And  when  he  came  to  the  pavilions  he  tied  his 
horse  unto  a  tree,  and  pulled  out  his  sword  naked  in  his 
hand,  and  went  to  them  thereas  they  lay,  and  yet  he  thought 
it  were  shame  to  slay  them  sleeping,  and  laid  the  naked 


122  King  Arthur 

sword  overthwart  both  their  throats,  and  so  took  his  horse 
and  rode  his  way.  And  when  Sir  Pelleas  came  to  his 
pavilions  he  told  his  knights  and  his  squires  how  he  had 
sped,  and  said  thus  to  them,  For  your  true  and  good  service 
ye  have  done  me  I  shall  give  you  all  my  goods,  for  I  will  go 
unto  my  bed  and  never  arise  until  I  am  dead.  And  when 
that  I  am  dead  I  charge  you  that  ye  take  the  heart  out  of 
my  body  and  bear  it  her  betwixt  two  silver  dishes,  and  tell 
her  how  I  saw  her  lie  with  the  false  knight  Sir  Gawaine. 
Right  so  Sir  Pelleas  unarmed  himself,  and  went  unto  his 
bed  making  marvellous  dole  and  sorrow.  When  Sir  Gawaine 
and  Ettard  awoke  of  their  sleep,  and  found  the  naked 
sword  overthwart  their  throats,  then  she  knew  well  it  was 
Sir  Pelleas'  sword.  Alas  !  said  she  to  Sir  Gawaine,  ye  have 
betrayed  me  and  Sir  Pelleas  both,  for  ye  told  me  ye  had 
slain  him,  and  now  I  know  well  it  is  not  so,  he  is  on  live. 
And  if  Sir  Pelleas  had  been  as  uncourteous  to  you  as  ye 
have  been  to  him  ye  had  been  a  dead  knight ;  but  ye  have 
deceived  me  and  betrayed  me  falsely,  that  all  ladies  and 
damosels  may  beware  by  you  and  me.  And  therewith  Sir 
Gawaine  made  him  ready,  and  went  into  the  forest.  So  it 
happed  then  that  the  damosel  of  the  lake  Nimue  met  with 
a  knight  of  Sir  Pelleas,  that  went  on  his  foot  in  the  forest 
making  great  dole,  and  she  asked  him  the  cause.  And  so 
the  woful  knight  told  her  how  his  master  and  lord  was 
betrayed  through  a  knight  and  lady,  and  how  he  will  never 
arise  out  of  his  bed  till  he  be  dead.  Bring  me  to  him,  said 
she  anon,  and  I  will  warrant  his  life  he  shall  not  die  for 
love,  and  she  that  hath  caused  him  so  to  love,  she  shall  be 
in  as  evil  plight  as  he  is  or  it  be  long  to,  for  it  is  no  joy  of 
such  a  proud  lady  that  will  have  no  mercy  of  such  a  valiant 
knight.  Anon  that  knight  brought  her  unto  him,  and  when 
she  saw  him  lie  in  his  bed,  she  thought  she  saw  never  so 
likely  a  knight ;  and  therewith  she  threw  an  enchantment 
upon  him,  and  he  fell  on  sleep.  And  therewhile  she  rode 
unto  the  Lady  Ettard,  and  charged  no  man  to  awake  him 
till  she  came  again.  So  within  two  hours  she  brought  the 
Lady  Ettard  thither,  and  both  ladies  found  him  on  sleep : 
Lo,  said  the  damosel  of  the  lake,  ye  ought  to  be  ashamed 
for  to  murder  such  a  knight.  And  therewith  she  threw 
such  an  enchantment  upon  her  that  she  loved  him  sore, 
that  well  nigh  she  was  out  of  her  mind.  O  Lord  Jesu,  said 
the  Lady  Ettard,  how  is  it  befallen  unto  me  that  I  love  now 


King  Arthur  123 

him  that  I  have  most  hated  of  any  man  alive  ?  That  is  the 
righteous  judgment  of  God,  said  the  damosel.  And  then 
anon  Sir  Pelleas  awaked  and  looked  upon  Ettard ;  and 
when  he  saw  her  he  knew  her,  and  then  he  hated  her  more 
than  any  woman  alive,  and  said  :  Away,  traitress,  come 
never  in  my  sight.  And  when  she  heard  him  say  so,  she 
wept  and  made  great  sorrow  out  of  measure. 


CHAPTER   XXIII 

HOW    SIR    PELLEAS     LOVED    NO     MORE    ETTARD    BY     MEANS    OF    THE 
DAMOSEL    OF    THE    LAKE,     WHOM    HE    LOVED    EVER    AFTER 

SIR  knight  Pelleas,  said  the  damosel  of  the  lake,  take 
your  horse  and  come  forth  with  me  out  of  this  country,  and 
ye  shall  love  a  lady  that  shall  love  you.  I  will  well,  said 
Sir  Pelleas,  for  this  lady  Ettard  hath  done  me  great  despite 
and  shame,  and  there  he  told  her  the  beginning  and  ending, 
and  how  he  had  purposed  never  to  have  arisen  till  that  he 
had  been  dead. — And  now  such  grace  God  hath  sent  me, 
that  I  hate  her  as  much  as  ever  I  loved  her,  thanked  be  our 
Lord  Jesus  !  Thank  me,  said  the  damosel  of  the  lake. 
Anon  Sir  Pelleas  armed  him,  and  took  his  horse,  and 
commanded  his  men  to  bring  after  his  pavilions  and  his 
stuff  where  the  damosel  of  the  lake  would  assign.  So  the 
Lady  Ettard  died  for  sorrow,  and  the  damosel  of  the  lake 
rejoiced  Sir  Pelleas,  and  loved  together  during  their  life 
days. 


CHAPTER   XXIV 

HOW   SIR   MARHAUS   RODE   WITH  THE  DAMOSEL,  AND    HOW   HE    CAME 
TO    THE    DUKE    OF    THE    SOUTH    MARCHES 

Now  turn  we  unto  Sir  Marhaus,  that  rode  with  the 
damosel  of  thirty  winter  of  age,  southward.  And  so  they 
came  into  a  deep  forest,  and  by  fortune  they  were  nighted, 
and  rode  long  in  a  deep  way,  and  at  the  last  they  came  unto 
a  courtelage,  and  there  they  asked  harbour.  But  ihe  man 
of  the  courtelage  would  not  lodge  them  for  no  treaty  that 
they  could  treat,  but  thus  much  the  good  man  said,  An  ye 
will  take  the  adventure  of  your  lodging,  I  shall  bring  you 


124  King  Arthur 


where  ye  shall  be  lodged.  What  adventure  is  that  that  I 
shall  have  for  my  lodging  ?  said  Sir  Marhaus.  Ye  shall  wit 
when  ye  come  there,  said  the  good  man.  Sir,  what  adven- 
ture so  it  be,  bring  me  thither  I  pray  thee,  said  Sir  Marhaus  ; 
for  I  am  weary,  my  damosel,  and  my  horse.  So  the  good 
man  went  and  opened  the  gate,  and  within  an  hour  he 
brought  him  unto  a  fair  castle,  and  then  the  poor  man 
called  the  porter,  and  anon  he  was  let  into  the  castle,  and 
so  he  told  the  lord  how  he  brought  him  a  knight  errant  and 
a  damosel  that  would  be  lodged  with  him.  Let  him  in, 
said  the  lord,  it  may  happen  he  shall  repent  that  they  took 
their  lodging  here.  So  Sir  Marhaus  was  let  in  with  torch- 
light, and  there  was  a  goodly  sight  of  young  men  that 
welcomed  him.  And  then  his  horse  was  led  into  the  stable, 
and  he  and  the  damosel  were  brought  into  the  hall,  and 
there  stood  a  mighty  duke  and  many  goodly  men  about 
him.  Then  this  lord  asked  him  what  he  hyghte,  and  from 
whence  he  came,  and  with  whom  he  dwelt.  Sir,  he  said,  I 
am  a  knight  of  King  Arthur's  and  knight  of  the  Table 
Round,  and  my  name  is  Sir  Marhaus,  and  born  I  am  in 
Ireland.  And  then  said  the  duke  to  him,  That  me  sore 
repenteth  :  the  cause  is  this,  for  I  love  not  thy  lord  nor 
none  of  thy  fellows  of  the  Table  Round  ;  and  therefore 
ease  thyself  this  night  as  well  as  thou  mayest,  for  as  to-morn 
I  and  my  six  sons  shall  match  with  you.  Is  there  no 
remedy  but  that  I  must  have  ado  with  you  and  your  six 
sons  at  once  ?  said  Sir  Marhaus.  No,  said  the  duke,  for 
this  cause  I  made  mine  avow,  for  Sir  Gawaine  slew  my 
seven  sons  in  a  recounter,  therefore  I  made  mine  avow, 
there  should  never  knight  of  King  Arthur's  court  lodge  with 
me,  or  come  there  as  I  might  have  ado  with  him,  but  that  I 
would  have  a  revenging  of  my  sons'  death.  What  is  your 
name  ?  said  Sir  Marhaus  ;  I  require  you  tell  me,  an  it  please 
you.  Wit  thou  well  I  am  the  Duke  of  South  Marches.  Ah, 
said  Sir  Marhaus,  I  have  heard  say  that  ye  have  been  long 
time  a  great  foe  unto  my  lord  Arthur  and  to  his  knights. 
That  shall  ye  feel  to-morn,  said  the  duke.  Shall  I  have  ado 
with  you?  said  Sir  Marhaus.  Yea,  said  the  duke,  thereof 
shalt  thou  not  choose,  and  therefore  take  you  to  your 
chamber,  and  ye  shall  have  all  that  to  you  longeth.  So  Sir 
Marhaus  departed  and  was  led  to  a  chamber,  and  his 
damosel  was  led  unto  her  chamber.  And  on  the  morn  the 
•duke  sent  unto  Sir  Marhaus  and  bad  make  him  ready.  And 


King  Arthur  125 

so  Sir  Marhaus  arose  and  armed  him,  and  then  there  was  a 
mass  sung  afore  him,  and  brake  his  fast,  and  so  mounted  on 
horseback  in  the  court  of  the  castle  where  they  should  do 
the  battle.  So  there  was  the  duke  all  ready  on  horseback, 
clene  armed,  and  his  six  sons  by  him,  and  every  each  had  a 
spear  in  his  hand,  and  so  they  encountered,  whereas  the 
duke  and  his  two  sons  brake  their  spears  upon  him,  but  Sir 
Marhaus  held  up  his  spear  and  touched  none  of  them. 


CHAPTER    XXV 

HOW  SIR  MARHAUS   FOUGHT   WITH   THE    DUKE    AND    HIS  FOUR   SONS 
AND    MADE    THEM    TO    YIELD    THEM 

THEN  came  the  four  sons  by  couple,  and  two  of  them 
brake  their  spears,  and  so  did  the  other  two.  And  all  this 
while  Sir  Marhaus  touched  them  not.  Then  Sir  Marhaus 
ran  to  the  duke,  and  smote  him  with  his  spear  that  horse 
and  man  fell  to  the  earth,  and  so  he  served  his  sons ;  and 
then  Sir  Marhaus  alit  down  and  bad  the  duke  yield  him  or 
else  he  would  slay  him.  And  then  some  of  his  sons  re- 
covered, and  would  have  set  upon  Sir  Marhaus ;  then  Sir 
Marhaus  said  to  the  duke,  Cease  thy  sons,  or  else  I  will  do 
the  uttermost  to  you  all.  When  the  duke  saw  he  might  not 
escape  the  death,  he  cried  to  his  sons,  and  charged  them  to 
yield  them  to  Sir  Marhaus ;  and  they  kneeled  all  down  and 
put  the  pommels  of  their  swords  to  the  knight,  and  so  he 
received  them.  And  then  they  helped  up  their  father,  and 
so  by  their  comynal  assent  promised  to  Sir  Marhaus  never 
to  be  foes  unto  King  Arthur,  and  thereupon  at  Whitsuntide 
after,  to  come  he  and  his  sons,  and  put  them  in  the  king's 
grace.  Then  Sir  Marhaus  departed,  and  within  two  days 
his  damosel  brought  him  whereas  was  a  great  tournament 
that  the  Lady  de  Vawse  had  cried.  And  who  that  did  best 
should  have  a  rich  circlet  of  gold  worth  a  thousand  besauntes. 
And  there  Sir  Marhaus  did  so  nobly  that  he  was  renowned, 
and  had  sometime  down  forty  knights,  and  so  the  circlet  of 
gold  was  rewarded  him.  Then  he  departed  from  thence 
with  great  worship ;  and  so  within  seven  nights  his  damosel 
brought  him  to  an  earl's  place,  his  name  was  the  Earl 
Fergus,  that  after  was  Sir  Tristram's  knight ;  and  this  earl 
was  but  a  young  man,  and  late  come  into  his  lands,  and 


126  King  Arthur 

there  was  a  giant  fast  by  him  that  hight  Taulurd,  and  he 
had  another  brother  in  Cornwall  that  hight  Taulas,  that  Sir 
Tristram  slew  when  he  was  out  of  his  mind.  So  this  earl 
made  his  complaint  unto  Sir  Marhaus,  that  there  was  a 
giant  by  him  that  destroyed  all  his  lands,  and  how  he  durst 
nowhere  ride  nor  go  for  him.  Sir,  said  the  knight,  whether 
useth  he  to  fight,  on  horseback  or  on  foot  ?  Nay,  said  the 
earl,  there  may  no  horse  bare  him.  Well,  said  Sir  Marhaus, 
then  will  I  fight  with  him  on  foot ;  so  on  the  morn  Sir 
Marhaus  prayed  the  earl  that  one  of  his  men  might  bring 
him  whereas  the  giant  was  ;  and  so  he  was,  for  he  saw  him 
sit  under  a  tree  of  holly,  and  many  clubs  of  iron  and  gysarms 
about  him.  So  this  knight  dressed  him  to  the  giant,  putting 
his  shield  afore  him,  and  the  giant  took  an  iron  club  in  his 
hand,  and  at  the  first  stroke  he  clave  Sir  Marhaus'  shield  in 
two  pieces.  And  there  he  was  in  great  peril,  for  the  giant 
was  a  wily  fighter,  but  at  last  Sir  Marhaus  smote  off  his 
right  arm  above  the  elbow.  Then  the  giant  fled  and  the 
knight  after  him,  and  so  he  drove  him  into  a  water,  but  the 
giant  was  so  high  that  he  might  not  wade  after  him.  And 
then  Sir  Marhaus  made  the  Earl  Fergus'  man  to  fetch  him 
stones,  and  with  those  stones  the  knight  gave  the  giant 
many  sore  knocks,  till  at  the  last  he  made  him  fall  down 
into  the  water,  and  so  was  he  there  dead.  Then  Sir  Marhaus 
went  unto  the  giant's  castle,  and  there  he  delivered  twenty- 
four  ladies  and  twelve  knights  out  of  the  giant's  prison,  and 
there  he  had  great  riches  without  number,  so  that  the  days 
of  his  life  he  was  never  poor  man.  Then  he  returned  to 
the  Earl  Fergus,  the  which  thanked  him  greatly,  and  would 
have  given  him  half  his  lands,  but  he  would  none  take.  So 
Sir  Marhaus  dwelled  with  the  earl  nigh  half  a  year,  for  he 
was  sore  bruised  with  the  giant,  and  at  the  last  he  took  his 
leave.  And  as  he  rode  by  the  way,  he  met  with  Sir  Gawaine 
and  Sir  Uwaine,  and  so  by  adventure  he  met  with  four 
knights  of  Arthur's  court,  the  first  was  Sir  Sagramore  le 
Desirous,  Sir  Osanna,  Sir  Dodinas  le  Savage,  and  Sir  Felot 
of  Listinoise  ;  and  there  Sir  Marhaus  with  one  spear  smote 
down  these  four  knights,  and  hurt  them  sore.  So  he 
departed  to  meet  at  his  day  aforeset. 


King  Arthur  127 

CHAPTER    XXVI 

HOW  SIR  UWAINE  RODE  WITH  THE  DAMOSEL  OF  SIXTY  YEAR  OF  AGE, 
AND  HOW  HE  GAT  THE  PRIZE  AT  TOURNEYING 

^  Now  turn  we  unto  Sir  Uwaine,  that  rode  westward  with 
his  damosel  of  three  score  winter  of  age,  and  she  brought 
him  there  as  was  a  tournament  nigh  the  march  of  Wales. 
And  at  that  tournament  Sir  Uwaine  smote  down  thirty 
knights,  therefore  was  given  him  the  prize,  and  that  was  a 
gerfalcon,  and  a  white  steed  trapped  with  cloth  of  gold. 
So  then  Sir  Uwaine  did  many  strange  adventures  by  the 
means  of  the  old  damosel,  and  so  she  brought  him  to  a  lady 
that  was  called  the  Lady  of  the  Rock,  the  which  was  much 
courteous.  So  there  were  in  the  country  two  knights  that 
were  brethren,  and  they  were  called  two  perilous  knights, 
the  one  knight  hight  Sir  Edward  of  the  Red  Castle,  and  the 
other  Sir  Hue  of  the  Red  Castle ;  and  these  two  brethren 
had  disherited  the  Lady  of  the  Rock  of  a  barony  of  lands 
by  their  extortion.  And  as  this  knight  was  lodged  with  this 
lady  she  made  her  complaint  to  him  of  these  two  knights. 
Madam,  said  Sir  Uwaine,  they  are  to  blame,  for  they  do 
against  the  high  order  of  knighthood,  and  the  oath  that  they 
made ;  and  if  it  like  you  I  will  speak  with  them,  by  cause  I 
am  a  knight  of  King  Arthur's,  and  I  will  entreat  them  with 
fairness  ;  and  if  they  will  not,  I  shall  do  battle  with  them, 
and  in  the  defence  of  your  right.  Gramercy,  said  the  lady, 
and  thereas  I  may  not  acquit  you,  God  shall.  So  on  the 
morn  the  two  knights  were  sent  for,  that  they  should  come 
thither  to  speak  with  the  Lady  of  the  Rock,  and  wit  ye  well 
they  failed  not,  for  they  came  with  an  hundred  horse.  But 
when  this  lady  saw  them  in  this  manner  so  big,  she  would 
not  suffer  Sir  Uwaine  to  go  out  to  them  upon  no  surety  nor 
for  no  fair  language,  but  she  made  him  speak  with  them 
over  a  tower,  but  finally  these  two  brethren  would  not  be 
entreated,  and  answered  that  they  would  keep  that  they  had. 
Well,  said  Sir  Uwaine,  then  will  I  fight  with  one  of  you,  and 
prove  that  ye  do  this  lady  wrong.  That  will  we  not,  said 
they,  for  an  we  do  battle,  we  two  will  fight  with  one  knight 
at  once,  and  therefore  if  ye  will  fight  so,  we  will  be  ready  at 
what  hour  ye  will  assign.  And  if  ye  win  us  in  battle  the 
lady  shall  have  her  lands  again.  Ye  say  well,  said  Sir 
Uwaine,  therefore  make  you  ready  so  that  ye  be  here  to- 
morn  in  the  defence  of  the  lady's  right. 


128  King  Arthur 


CHAPTER   XXVII 

HOW   SIR    UWAINE    FOUGHT   WITH   TWO   KNIGHTS   AND   OVERCAME 

THEM 

So  was  there  sykernesse  made  on  both  parties  that  no 
treason  should  be  wrought  on  neither  party ;  so  then  the 
knights  departed  and  made  them  ready,  and  that  night  Sir 
Uwaine  had  great  cheer.  And  on  the  morn  he  arose  early 
and  heard  mass,  and  brake  his  fast,  and  so  he  rode  unto  the 
plain  without  the  gates,  where  hoved  the  two  brethren 
abiding  him.  So  they  rode  together  passing  sore,  that  Sir 
Edward  and  Sir  Hue  brake  their  spears  upon  Sir  Uwaine. 
And  Sir  Uwaine  smote  Sir  Edward  that  he  fell  over  his 
horse  and  yet  his  spear  brast  not.  And  then  he  spurred 
his  horse  and  came  upon  Sir  Hue  and  overthrew  him,  but 
they  soon  recovered  and  dressed  their  shields  and  drew 
their  swords  and  bad  Sir  Uwaine  alight  and  do  his  battle  to 
the  uttermost.  Then  Sir  Uwaine  devoided  his  horse 
suddenly,  and  put  his  shield  afore  him  and  drew  his  sword, 
and  so  they  dressed  together,  and  either  gave  other  such 
strokes,  and  there  these  two  brethren  wounded  Sir  Uwaine 
passing  grievously  that  the  Lady  of  the  Rock  weened  he 
should  have  died.  And  thus  they  fought  together  five  hours 
as  men  raged  out  of  reason.  And  at  the  last  Sir  Uwaine 
smote  Sir  Edward  upon  the  helm  such  a  stroke  that  his 
sword  carved  unto  his  canel  bone,  and  then  Sir  Hue  abated 
his  courage,  but  Sir  Uwaine  pressed  fast  to  have  slain  him. 
That  saw  Sir  Hue :  he  kneeled  down  and  yielded  him  to 
Sir  Uwaine.  And  he  of  his  gentleness  received  his  sword, 
and  took  him  by  the  hand,  and  went  into  the  castle  together, 
Then  the  Lady  of  the  Rock  was  passing  glad,  and  the  other 
brother  made  great  sorrow  for  his  brother's  death.  Then 
the  lady  was  restored  of  all  her  lands,  and  Sir  Hue  was 
commanded  to  be  at  the  court  of  King  Arthur  at  the  next 
feast  of  Pentecost.  So  Sir  Uwaine  dwelt  with  the  lady  nigh 
half  a  year,  for  it  was  long  or  he  might  be  whole  of  his 
great  hurts.  And  so  when  it  drew  nigh  the  term -day  that 
Sir  Gawaine,  Sir  Marhaus,  and  Sir  Uwaine  should  meet  at 
the  cross-way,  then  every  knight  drew  him  thither  to  hold 
his  promise  that  they  had  made ;  and  Sir  Marhaus  and  Sir 
Uwaine  brought  their  damosels  with  them,  but  Sir  Gawaine 
had  lost  his  damosel  as  it  is  afore  rehearsed. 


King  Arthur  129 


CHAPTER   XXVIII 

HOW  AT  THE  YEAR'S  END  ALL  THREE    KNIGHTS   WITH   THEIR   THREE 
DAMOSELS  MET  AT  THE  FOUNTAIN 

RIGHT  so  at  the  twelvemonths'  end  they  met  all  three 
knights  at  the  fountain  and  their  damosels,  but  the  damosel 
that  Sir  Gawaine  had  could  say  but  little  worship  of  him ; 
so  they  departed  from  the  damosels  and  rode  through  a 
great  forest,  and  there  they  met  with  a  messenger  that 
came  from  King  Arthur,  that  had  sought  them  well  nigh  a 
twelvemonth  throughout  all  England,  Wales,  and  Scotland, 
and  charged  if  ever  he  might  find  Sir  Gawaine  and  Sir 
Uwaine  to  bring  them  to  the  court  again.  And  then  were 
they  all  glad,  and  so  prayed  they  Sir  Marhaus  to  ride  with 
them  to  the  king's  court.  And  so  within  twelve  days  they 
came  to  Camelot,  and  the  king  was  passing  glad  of  their 
coming,  and  so  was  all  the  court.  Then  the  king  made 
them  to  swear  upon  a  book  to  tell  him  all  their  adventures 
that  had  befallen  them  that  twelvemonth,  and  so  they  did. 
And  there  was  Sir  Marhaus  well-known,  for  there  were 
knights  that  he  had  matched  aforetime,  and  he  was  named 
one  of  the  best  knights  living.  Against  the  feast  of 
Pentecost  came  the  damosel  of  the  Lake  and  brought  with 
her  Sir  Pelleas  ;  and  at  that  high  feast  there  was  great 
jousting  of  knights,  and  of  all  knights  that  were  at  that 
jousts,  Sir  Pelleas  had  the  prize,  and  Sir  Marhaus  was 
named  the  next ;  but  Sir  Pelleas  was  so  strong  there  might 
but  few  knights  sit  him  a  buffet  with  a  spear.  And  at  that 
next  feast  Sir  Pelleas  and  Sir  Marhaus  were  made  knights 
of  the  Table  Round,  for  there  were  two  sieges  void,  for  two 
knights  were  slain  that  twelvemonth,  and  great  joy  had  King 
Arthur  of  Sir  Pelleas  and  of  Sir  Marhaus.  But  Pelleas 
loved  never  after  Sir  Gawaine,  but  as  he  spared  him  for  the 
love  of  King  Arthur  ;  but  ofttimes  at  jousts  and  tournaments 
Sir  Pelleas  quyte  Sir  Gawaine,  for  so  it  rehearseth  in  the 
book  of  French.  So  Sir  Tristram  many  days  after  fought 
with  Sir  Marhaus  in  an  island,  and  there  they  did  a  great 
battle,  but  at  the  last  Sir  Tristram  slew  him,  so  Sir  Tristram 
was  wounded  that  unnethe  he  might  recover,  and  lay  at 
a  nunnery  half  a  year.  And  Sir  Pelleas  was  a  worshipful 
knight,  and  was  one  of  the  four  that  achieved  the  Sangreal, 


130  King  Arthur 

and  the  damosel  of  the  Lake  made  by  her  means  that  never 
he  had  ado  with  Sir  Launcelot  de  Lake,  for  where  Sir 
Launcelot  was  at  any  jousts  or  any  tournament,  she  would 
not  suffer  him  be  there  that  day,  but  if  it  were  on  the  side 
of  Sir  Launcelot. 

Explicit  Liber  Quartus. 
Incipit  Liber  Quintus. 


BOOK   V 

CHAPTER   I 

HOW  TWELVE   AGED   AMBASSADORS   OF  ROME  CAME  TO  KING  ARTHUR 
TO   DEMAND   TRUAGE    FOR   BRITAIN 

WHEN  King  Arthur  had  after  long  war  rested,  and  held  a 
royal  feast  and  Table  Round  with  his  allies  of  kings,  princes, 
and  noble  knights  all  of  the  Round  Table,  there  came  into 
his  hall,  he  sitting  in  his  throne  royal,  twelve  ancient  men, 
bearing  each  of  them  a  branch  of  olive,  in  token  that  they 
came  as  ambassadors  and  messengers  from  the  Emperor 
Lucius,  which  was  called  at  that  time,  Dictator  or  Procurer 
of  the  Public  Weal  of  Rome ;  which  said  messengers,  after 
their  entering  and  coming  into  the  presence  of  King  Arthur, 
did  to  him  their  obeisance  in  making  to  him  reverence,  and 
said  to  him  in  this  wise :  The  high  and  mighty  Emperor 
Lucius  sendeth  to  the  King  of  Britain  greeting,  commanding 
thee  to  acknowledge  him  for  thy  lord,  and  to  send  him  the 
truage  due  of  this  realm  unto  the  Empire,  which  thy  father 
and  other  tofore  thy  precessors  have  paid  as  is  of  record, 
and  thou  as  rebel  not  knowing  him  as  thy  sovereign,  with- 
holdest  and  retainest  contrary  to  the  statutes  and  decrees 
made  by  the  noble  and  worthy  Julius  Cesar,  conqueror  of 
this  realm,  and  first  Emperor  of  Rome.  And  if  thou  refuse 
his  demand  and  commandment,  know  thou  for  certain  that 
he  shall  make  strong  war  against  thee,  thy  realms  and  lands, 
and  shall  chastise  thee  and  thy  subjects,  that  it  shall  be 
ensample  perpetual  unto  all  kings  and  princes,  for  to  deny 
their  truage  unto  that  noble  empire  which  domineth  upon 


King  Arthur  131 

the  universal  world.  Then  when  they  had  showed  the 
effect  of  their  message,  the  king  commanded  them  to  with- 
draw them,  and  said  he  should  take  advice  of  council  and 
give  to  them  an  answer.  Then  some  of  the  young  knights, 
hearing  this  their  message,  would  have  run  on  them  to  have 
slain  them,  saying  that  it  was  a  rebuke  to  all  the  knights 
there  being  present  to  suffer  them  to  say  so  to  the  king. 
And  anon  the  king  commanded  that  none  of  them,  upon 
pain  of  death,  to  myssaye  them  nor  do  them  any  harm,  and 
commanded  a  knight  to  bring  them  to  their  lodging,  and 
see  that  they  have  all  that  is  necessary  and  requisite  for 
them,  with  the  best  cheer,  and  that  no  dainty  be  spared,  for 
the  Romans  be  great  lords,  and  though  their  message  please 
me  not  nor  my  court,  yet  I  must  remember  mine  honour. 
After  this  the  king  let  call  all  his  lords  and  knights  of  the 
Round  Table  to  counsel  upon  this  matter,  and  desired  them 
to  say  their  advice.  Then  Sir  Cador  of  Cornwall  spake  first 
and  said,  Sir,  this  message  liketh  me  well,  for  we  have  many 
days  rested  us  and  have  been  idle,  and  now  I  hope  ye  shall 
make  sharp  war  on  the  Romans,  where  I  doubt  not  we  shall 
get  honour.  I  believe  well,  said  Arthur,  that  this  matter 
pleaseth  thee  well,  but  these  answers  may  not  be  answered, 
for  the  demand  grieveth  me  sore,  for  truly  I  will  never  pay 
truage  to  Rome,  wherefore  I  pray  you  to  counsel  me.  I 
have  understood  that  Belinus  and  Brenius,  kings  of  Britain, 
have  had  the  empire  in  their  hands  many  days,  and  also 
Constantine  the  son  of  Heleine,  which  is  an  open  evidence 
that  we  owe  no  tribute  to  Rome,  but  of  right  we  that  be 
descended  of  them  have  right  to  claim  the  title  of  the 
empire. 


CHAPTER  II 

HOW   THE    KINGS   AND    LORDS    PROMISED   TO   KING   ARTHUR   AID 
AND    HELP   AGAINST   THE    ROMANS 

THEN  answered  King  Anguish  of  Scotland,  Sir,  ye  ought 
of  right  to  be  above  all  other  kings,  for  unto  you  is  none 
like  nor  pareylle  in  Christendom,  of  knighthood  nor  of 
dignity,  and  I  counsel  you  never  to  obey  the  Romans,  for 
when  they  reigned  on  us  they  distressed  our  elders,  and  put 
this  land  to  great  extortions  and  taylles,  wherefore  I  make 
here  mine  avow  to  avenge  me  on  them ;  and  for  to 


132  King  Arthur 

strengthen  your  quarrel  I  shall  furnish  twenty  thousand 
good  men  of  war,  and  wage  them  on  my  costs,  which  shall 
await  on  you  with  myself  when  it  shall  please  you.  And 
the  king  of  Little  Britain  granted  him  to  the  same  thirty 
thousand ;  wherefore  King  Arthur  thanked  them.  And 
then  every  man  agreed  to  make  war,  and  to  aid  after  their 
power ;  that  is  to  wit,  the  lord  of  West  Wales  promised  to 
bring  thirty  thousand  men,  and  Sir  Uwaine,  Sir  Ider  his 
son,  with  their  cousins,  promised  to  bring  thirty  thousand. 
Then  Sir  Launcelot  with  all  other  promised  in  likewise 
every  man  a  great  multitude.  And  when  King  Arthur 
understood  their  courages  and  good  wills  he  thanked  them 
heartily,  and  after  let  call  the  ambassadors  to  hear  their 
answer.  And  in  presence  of  all  his  lords  and  knights  he 
said  to  them  in  this  wise :  I  will  that  ye  return  unto  your 
lord  and  Procurer  of  the  Common  Weal  for  the  Romans, 
and  say  ye  to  him,  Of  his  demand  and  commandment  I  set 
nothing,  and  that  I  know  of  no  trua^e  nor  tribute  that  I 

^j*  tj 

owe  to  him,  nor  to  none  earthly  prince,  Christian  nor 
heathen ;  but  I  pretend  to  have  and  occupy  the  sovereignty 
of  the  empire,  wherein  I  am  entitled  by  the  right  of  my 
predecessors,  sometime  kings  of  this  land ;  and  say  to  him 
that  I  am  delibered  and  fully  concluded,  to  go  with  mine 
army  with  strength  and  power  unto  Rome,  by  the  grace  of 
God,  to  take  possession  in  the  empire  and  subdue  them 
that  be  rebel.  Wherefore  I  command  him  and  all  them  of 
Rome,  that  incontinent  they  make  to  me  their  homage,  and 
to  acknowledge  me  for  their  Emperor  and  Governor,  upon 
pain  that  shall  ensue.  And  then  he  commanded  his  treasurer 
to  give  to  them  great  and  large  gifts,  and  to  pay  all  their 
dispenses,  and  assigned  Sir  Cador  to  convey  them  out  of 
the  land.  And  so  they  took  their  leave  and  departed,  and 
took  their  shipping  at  Sandwich,  and  passed  forth  by 
Flanders,  Almaine,  the  mountains,  and  all  Italy,  until  they 
came  unto  Lucius.  And  after  the  reverence  made,  they 
made  relation  of  their  answer,  like  as  ye  tofore  have  heard. 
When  the  Emperor  Lucius  had  well  understood  their 
credence,  he  was  sore  moved  as  he  had  been  all  araged, 
and  said,  I  had  supposed  that  Arthur  would  have  obeyed  to 
my  commandment,  and  have  served  you  himself,  as  him 
well  beseemed  or  any  other  king  to  do.  O  Sir,  said  one  of 
the  senators,  let  be  such  vain  words,  for  we  let  you  wit  that 
I  and  my  fellows  were  full  sore  afeared  to  behold  his 


King  Arthur  133 

countenance  ;  I  fear  me  ye  have  made  a  rod  for  yourself, 
for  he  intendeth  to  be  lord  of  this  empire,  which  sore  is  to 
be  doubted  if  he  come,  for  he  is  all  another  man  than  ye 
ween,  and  holdeth  the  most  noble  court  of  the  world,  all 
other  kings  nor  princes  may  not  compare  unto  his  noble 
maintenance.  On  New  Year's  Day  we  saw  him  in  his 
estate,  which  was  the  royalest  that  ever  we  saw,  for  he  was 
served  at  his  table  with  nine  kings,  and  the  noblest  fellow- 
ship of  other  princes,  lords,  and  knights  that  be  in  the 
world,  and  every  knight  approved  and  like  a  lord,  and 
holdeth  Table  Round :  and  in  his  person  the  most  manly 
man  that  liveth,  and  is  like  to  conquer  all  the  world,  for 
unto  his  courage  it  is  too  little :  wherefore  I  advise  you  to 
keep  well  your  marches  and  straits  in  the  mountains  ;  for 
certainly  he  is  a  lord  to  be  doubted.  Well,  said  Lucius, 
before  Easter  I  suppose  to  pass  the  mountains,  and  so  forth 
into  France,  and  there  bereave  him  his  lands  with  Genoese 
and  other  mighty  warriors  of  Tuscany  and  Lombardy.  And 
I  shall  send  for  them  all  that  be  subjects  and  allied  to  the 
empire  of  Rome  to  come  to  mine  aid.  And  forthwith  sent 
old  wise  knights  unto  these  countries  following  :  first  to 
Ambage  and  Arrage,  to  Alexandria,  to  India,  to  Armenia, 
whereas  the  river  of  Euphrates  runnelh  into  Asia,  to  Africa, 
and  Europe  the  Large,  to  Ertayne  and  Elamye,  to  Araby, 
Egypt,  and  to  Damascus,  to  Damietta  and  Caver,  to  Cappa- 
docia,  to  Tarsus,  Turkey,  Pontus  and  Pamphylia,  to  Syria 
and  Galatia.  And  all  these  were  subject  to  Rome  and 
many  more,  as  Greece,  Cyprus,  Macedonia,  Calabria, 
Cateland,  Portugal,  with  many  thousands  of  Spaniards. 
Thus  all  these  kings,  dukes,  and  admirals,  assembled  about 
Rome,  with  sixteen  kings  at  ©nee,  with  great  _  multitude  of 
people.  When  the  emperor  understood  their  coming  he 
made  ready  his  Romans  and  all  the  people  between  him 
and  Flanders.  Also  he  had  gotten  with  him  fifty  giants 
which  had  been  engendered  of  fiends ;  and  they  were 
ordained  to  guard  his  person,  and  to  break  the  front  of  the 
battle  of  King  Arthur.  And  thus  departed  from  Rome,  and 
came  down  the  mountains  for  to  destroy  the  lands  that 
Arthur  had  conquered,  and  came  unto  Cologne,  and 
besieged  a  castle  thereby,  and  won  it  soon,  and  stuffed 
it  with  two  hundred  Saracens  or  Infidels,  and  after 
destroyed  many  fair  countries  which  Arthur  had  won  of 
King  Claudas.  And  thus  Lucius  came  with  all  his  host 

I  45  f 


134  King  Arthur 

which  were  disperplyd  sixty  mile  in  breadth,  and  com- 
manded them  to  meet  with  him  in  Burgoyne,  for  he 
purposed  to  destroy  the  realm  of  Little  Britain. 


CHAPTER    III 

HOW    KING    ARTHUR   HELD    A    PARLIAMENT   AT   YORK,    AND    HOW   HE 
ORDAINED   THE    REALM    SHOULD    BE    GOVERNED   IN   HIS  ABSENCE 

Now  leave  we  of  Lucius  the  Emperor  and  speak  we  of 
King  Arthur,  that  commanded  all  them  of  his  retinue  to  be 
ready  at  the  utas  of  Hilary  for  to  hold  a  Parliament  at  York. 
And  at  that  Parliament  was  concluded  to  arrest  all  the  navy 
of  the  land,  and  to  be  ready  within  fifteen  days  at  Sandwich, 
and  there  he  showed  to  his  army  how  he  purposed  to  con- 
quer the  empire  which  he  ought  to  have  of  right.  And 
there  he  ordained  two  governors  of  this  realm,  that  is  to  say, 
Sir  Bawdwin  of  Britain,  for  to  counsel  to  the  best,  and  Sir 
Constantine,  son  to  Sir  Cador  of  Cornwall,  which  after  the 
death  of  Arthur  was  king  of  this  realm.  And  in  the  presence 
of  all  his  lords  he  resigned  the  rule  of  the  realm  and 
Gwenever  his  queen  to  them,  wherefore  Sir  Launcelot  was 
wroth,  for  he  left  Sir  Tristram  with  King  Mark  for  the  love 
of  Beale  Isoud.  Then  the  Queen  Gwenever  made  great 
sorrow  for  the  departing  of  her  lord  and  other,  and  swooned 
in  such  wise  that  the  ladies  bare  her  into  her  chamber. 
Thus  the  king  with  his  great  army  departed,  leaving  the 
queen  and  realm  in  the  governance  of  Sir  Bawdwin  and 
Constantine.  And  when  he  was  on  his  horse  he  said  with 
an  high  voice,  If  I  die  in  this  journey  I  will  that  Sir  Con- 
stantine be  mine  heir  and  king  crowned  of  this  realm  as 
next  of  my  blood.  And  after  departed  and  entered  into 
the  sea  at  Sandwich  with  all  his  army,  with  a  great  multi- 
tude of  ships,  galleys,  cogges,  and  dromoundes,  sailing  on 
the  sea. 


CHAPTER    IV 

HOW    KING   ARTHUR    BEING   SHIPPED  AND  LYING    IN   HIS  CABIN   HAD 
A    MARVELLOUS    DREAM    AND   OF   THE    EXPOSITION   THEREOF 

AND  as  the  king  lay  in  his  cabin  in  the  ship,  he  fell  in  a 
slumbering  and  dreamed  a  marvellous  dream  :  him  seemed 
that  a  dreadful  dragon  did  drown  much  of  his  people,  and 
he  came  flying  out  of  the  west,  and  his  head  was  enamelled 


King  Arthur  135 

with  azure,  and  his  shoulders  shone  as  gold,  his  belly  like 
mails  of  a  marvellous  hue,  his  tail  full  of  tatters,  his  feet  full 
of  fine  sable,  and  his  claws  like  fine  gold ;  and  an  hideous 
flame  of  fire  flew  out  of  his  mouth,  like  as  the  land  and 
water  had   flamed  all  of  fire.     After,    him    seemed    there 
came  out  of  the  orient,  a  grimly  boar  all  black  in  a  cloud, 
and  his  paws  as   big  as  a  post ;  he    was    rugged   looking 
roughly,  he  was  the  foulest  beast  that  ever  man  saw,  he 
roared  and  romed  so  hideously  that  it  were  marvel  to  hear. 
Then  the  dreadful  dragon  advanced  him  and  came  in  the 
wind  like  a  falcon  giving  great  strokes  on  the  boar,  and  the 
boar  hit  him  again  with  his  grizzly  tusks  that  his  breast  was 
all  bloody,  and  that  the  hot  blood  made  all  the  sea  red  of 
his  blood.     Then  the  dragon  flew  away  all  on  an  hight,  and 
came  down  with  such  a  swough,  and  smote  the  boar  on  the 
ridge,  which  was  ten  foot  large  from  the  head  to  the  tail, 
and  smote  the  boar  all  to  powder  both  flesh  and  bones,  that 
it  flittered  all  abroad  on  the  sea.     And  therewith  the  king 
awoke  anon,  and  was  sore  abashed  of  this  dream,  and  sent 
anon  for  a  wise  philosopher,  commanding  to  tell  him  the 
signification  of  his  dream.     Sir,  said  the  philosopher,  the 
dragon  that  thou  dreamedst  of  betokeneth  thine  own  person 
that  sailest  here,  and  the  colours  of  his  wings  be  thy  realms 
that  thou  hast  won,   and  his  tail  which  is  all  to-tattered 
signifieth  the  noble  knights  of  the  Round  Table ;  and  the 
boar  that  the  dragon  slew  coming  from  the  clouds  betokeneth 
some  tyrant  that  tormenteth  the  people,  or  else  thou  art  like 
to  fight  with  some  giant  thyself,  being  horrible  and  abomin- 
able, whose  peer  ye  saw  never  in  your  days,  wherefore  of  this 
dreadful  dream   doubt  thee   nothing,  but  as  a  conqueror 
come  forth  thyself.     Then  after  this  soon  they  had  sight  of 
land,  and  sailed  till  they  arrived  at  Barflete  in  Flanders,  and 
when  they  were  there  he  found  many  of  his  great  lords 
ready,  as  they  had  been  commanded  to  wait  upon  him. 


CHAPTER   V 

HOW  A  MAN  OF  THE  COUNTRY  TOLD  TO  HIM  OF  A  MARVELLOUS 
GIANT,  AND  HOW  HE  FOUGHT  AND  CONQUERED  HIM 

THEN  came  to  him  an  husbandman  of  the  country,  and 
told  him  how  there  was  in  the  country  of  Constantine, 
beside  Brittany,  a  great  giant  which  had  slain,  murdered 


136  King  Arthur 

and  devoured  much  people  of  the  country,  and  had  been 
sustained  seven  year  with  the  children  of  the  commons  of 
that  land,  insomuch  that  all  the  children  be  all  slain  and 
destroyed ;  and  now  late  he  hath  taken  the  Duchess  of 
Brittany  as  she  rode  with  her  meyne,  and  hath  led  her  to 
his  lodging  which  is  in  a  mountain,  for  to  ravish  and  lie  by 
her  to  her  life's  end,  and  many  people  followed  her,  more 
than  five  hundred,  but  all  they  might  not  rescue  her,  but 
they  left  her  shrieking  and  crying  lamentably,  wherefore  I 
suppose  that  he  hath  slain  her  in  fulfilling  his  foul  lust  of 
lechery.  She  was  wife  unto  thy  cousin  Sir  Howell,  whom 
we  call  full  nigh  of  thy  blood.  Now,  as  thou  art  a  rightful 
king,  have  pity  on  this  lady,  and  revenge  us  all  as  thou  art 
a  noble  conqueror.  Alas,  said  King  Arthur,  this  is  a  great 
mischief,  I  had  lever  than  the  best  realm  that  I  have  that  I 
had  been  a  furlong  way  tofore  him  for  to  have  rescued  that 
lady.  Now,  fellow,  said  King  Arthur,  canst  thou  bring  me 
thereas  this  giant  haunteth  ?  Yea,  Sir,  said  the  good  man, 
look  yonder  whereas  thou  seest  those  two  great  fires,  there 
shalt  thou  find  him,  and  more  treasure  than  I  suppose  is  in 
all  France.  When  the  king  had  understood  this  piteous 
case,  he  returned  into  his  tent.  Then  he  called  to  him  Sir 
Kay  and  Sir  Bedivere,  and  commanded  them  secretly  to 
make  ready  horse  and  harness  for  himself  and  them  twain  ; 
for  after  evensong  he  would  ride  on  pilgrimage  with  them 
two  only  unto  Saint  Michael's  mount.  And  then  anon  he 
made  him  ready,  and  armed  him  at  all  points,  and  took  his 
horse  and  his  shield.  And  so  they  three  departed  thence 
and  rode  forth  as  fast  as  ever  they  might  till  that  they  came 
to  the  forbond  of  that  mount.  And  there  they  alighted, 
and  the  king  commanded  them  to  tarry  there,  for  he  would 
himself  go  up  into  that  mount.  And  so  he  ascended  up 
into  that  hill  till  he  came  to  a  great  fire,  and  there  he  found 
a  careful  widow  wringing  her  hands  and  making  great 
sorrow,  sitting  by  a  grave  new  made.  And  then  King 
Arthur  saluted  her,  and  demanded  of  her  wherefore  she 
made  such  lamentation,  to  whom  she  answered  and  said, 
Sir  knight,  speak  soft,  for  yonder  is  a  devil,  if  he  hear  thee 
speak  he  will  come  and  destroy  thee  ;  I  hold  thee  unhappy  ; 
what  dost  thou  here  in  this  mountain  ?  for  if  ye  were  such 
fifty  as  ye  be,  ye  were  not  able  to  make  resistance  against 
this  devil :  here  lieth  a  duchess  dead,  the  which  was  the 
fairest  of  all  the  world,  wife  to  Sir  Howell,  Duke  of  Brittany, 


King  Arthur  137 

he  hath  murdered  her  in  forcing  her,  and  hath  slit  her  unto 
the  navel.  Dame,  said  the  king,  I  come  from  the  noble 
conqueror  King  Arthur,  for  to  treat  with  that  tyrant  for  his 
liege  people.  Fie  on  such  treaties,  said  she,  he  setteth  not 
by  the  king  nor  by  no  man  else  ;  but  an  if  thou  have 
brought  Arthur's  wife,  dame  Gwenever,  he  shall  be  gladder 
than  thou  hadst  given  to  him  half  France.  Beware, 
approach  him  not  too  nigh,  for  he  hath  vanquished  fifteen 
kings,  and  hath  made  him  a  coat  full  of  precious  stones 
enbroidered  with  their  beards,  which  they  sent  him  to  have 
his  love  for  salvation  of  their  people  at  this  last  Christmas. 
And  if  thou  wilt,  speak  with  him  at  yonder  great  fire  at 
supper.  Well,  said  Arthur,  I  will  accomplish  my  message 
for  all  your  fearful  words ;  and  went  forth  by  the  crest  of 
that  hill,  and  saw  where  he  sat  at  supper  gnawing  on  a  limb 
of  a  man,  baking  his  broad  limbs  by  the  fire,  and  breechless, 
and  three  fair  damosels  turning  three  broaches  whereon 
were  broached  twelve  young  children  late  born,  like  young 
birds.  When  King  Arthur  beheld  that  piteous  sight  he  had 
great  compassion  on  them,  so  that  his  heart  bled  for  sorrow, 
and  hailed  him  saying  in  this  wise :  He  that  all  the  world 
wieldeth  give  thee  short  life  and  shameful  death ;  and  the 
devil  have  thy  soul ;  why  hast  thou  murdered  these  young 
innocent  children,  and  murdered  this  duchess  ?  Therefore, 
arise  and  dress  thee,  thou  glutton,  for  this  day  shalt  thou  die 
of  my  hand.  Then  the  glutton  anon  started  up,  and  took  a 
great  clu£>  in  his  hand,  and  smote  at  the  king  that  his 
coronal  fell  to  the  earth.  And  the  king  hit  him  again  that 
he  carve  his  belly  and  cut  off  his  genytours,  that  his  guts 
and  his  entrails  fell  down  to  the  ground.  Then  the  giant 
threw  away  his  club,  and  caught  the  king  in  his  arms  that 
he  crushed  his  ribs.  Then  the  three  maidens  kneeled  down 
and  called  to  Christ  for  help  and  comfort  of  Arthur.  And 
then  Arthur  weltered  and  wrung,  that  he  was  other  while 
under  and  another  time  above.  And  so  weltering  and 
wallowing  they  rolled  down  the  hill  till  they  came  to  the 
sea  mark,  and  ever  as  they  so  weltered  Arthur  smote  him 
with  his  dagger.  And  it  fortuned  they  came  to  the  place 
whereas  the  two  knights  were  and  kept  Arthur's  horse  ;  then 
when  they  saw  the  king  fast  in  the  giant's  arms  they  came 
and  loosed  him.  And  then  the  king  commanded  Sir  Kay 
to  smite  off  the  giant's  head,  and  to  set  it  upon  a  truncheon 
of  a  spear,  and  bear  it  to  Sir  Howell,  and  tell  him  that  his 


138  King  Arthur 

enemy  was  slain ;  and  after  let  this  head  be  bounden  to  a 
barbican  that  all  the  people  may  see  and  behold  it ;  and  go 
ye  two  up  to  the  mountain,  and  fetch  me  my  shield,  my 
sword,  and  the  club  of  iron  ;  and  as  for  the  treasure,  take  ye 
it,  for  ye  shall  find  there  goods  out  of  number ;  so  I  have 
the  kirtle  and  the  club  I  desire  no  more.  This  was  the 
fiercest  giant  that  ever  I  met  with,  save  one  in  the  mount 
of  Araby,  which  I  overcame,  but  this  was  greater  and  fiercer. 
Then  the  knights  fetched  the  club  and  the  kirtle,  and  some 
of  the  treasure  they  took  to  themselves,  and  returned  again 
to  the  host.  And  anon  this  was  known  through  all  the 
country,  wherefore  the  people  came  and  thanked  the  king. 
And  he  said  again,  Give  the  thanks  to  God,  and  depart  the 
goods  among  you.  And  after  that  King  Arthur  said  and 
commanded  his  cousin  Howell,  that  he  should  ordain  for  a 
church  to  be  builded  on  the  same  hill  in  the  worship  of 
Saint  Michael.  And  on  the  morn  the  king  removed  with 
his  great  battle,  and  came  into  Champayne  and  in  a  valley, 
and  there  they  pyght  their  tents  ;  and  the  king  being  set  at 
his  dinner,  there  came  in  two  messengers,  of  whom  that  one 
was  Marshal  of  France,  and  said  to  the  king  that  the 
emperor  was  entered  into  France,  and  had  destroyed  a  great 
part,  and  was  in  Burgoyne,  and  had  destroyed  and  made 
great  slaughter  of  people,  and  burnt  towns  and  boroughs ; 
wherefore,  if  thou  come  not  hastily,  they  must  yield  up  their 
bodies  and  goods. 


CHAPTER   VI 

HOW    KING     ARTHUR   SENT   SIR     GAWAINE   AND   OTHER   TO     LUCIUS, 
AND    HOW   THEY    WERE   ASSAILED   AND    ESCAPED    WITH   WORSHIP 

THEN  the  king  did  do  call  Sir  Gawaine,  Sir  Bors,  Sir  Lionel, 
and  Sir  Bedivere,  and  commanded  them  to  go  straight  to  Sir 
Lucius,  and  say  ye  to  him  that  hastily  he  remove  out  of  my 
land ;  and  if  he  will  not,  bid  him  make  him  ready  to  battle 
and  not  distress  the  poor  people.  Then  anon  these  noble 
knights  dressed  themselves  to  horseback,  and  when  they 
came  to  the  green  wood,  they  saw  many  pavilions  set  in  a 
meadow,  of  silk  of  divers  colours,  beside  a  river,  and  the 
emperor's  pavilion  was  in  the  middle  with  an  eagle  dis- 
played above.  To  the  which  tent  our  knights  rode  toward, 
and  ordained  Sir  Gawaine  and  Sir  Bors  to  do  the  message, 


King  Arthur  139 

and  left  in  a  bushment  Sir  Lionel  and  Sir  Bedivere.  And 
then  Sir  Gawaine  and  Sir  Bors  did  their  message,  and 
commanded  Lucius,  in  Arthur's  name  to  avoid  his  land, 
or  shortly  to  address  him  to  battle.  To  whom  Lucius 
answered  and  said,  Ye  shall  return  to  your  lord,  and  say  ye 
to  him  that  I  shall  subdue  him  and  all  his  lands.  Then  Sir 
Gawaine  was  wroth  and  said,  I  had  lever  than  all  France 
fight  against  thee ;  and  so  had  I,  said  Sir  Bors,  lever  than 
ail  Brittany  or  Burgoyne.  Then  a  knight  named  Sir  Gainus, 
nigh  cousin  to  the  emperor,  said,  Lo,  how  these  Britons  be 
full  of  pride  and  boast,  and  they  brag  as  though  they  bare 
up  all  the  world.  Then  Sir  Gawaine  was  sore  grieved  with 
these  words,  and  pulled  out  his  sword  and  smote  oft"  his 
head.  And  therewith  turned  their  horses  and  rode  over 
waters  and  through  woods  till  they  came  to  their  bushment, 
whereas  Sir  Lionel  and  Sir  Bedivere  were  hovyng.  The 
Romans  folio \ved  fast  after,  on  horseback  and  on  foot,  over 
a  champaign  unto  a  wood ;  then  Sir  Bors  turned  his  horse 
and  saw  a  knight  come  fast  on,  whom  he  smote  through  the 
body  with  a  spear  that  he  fell  dead  down  to  the  earth  ;  then 
came  Caliburn  one  of  the  strongest  of  Pavie,  and  smote 
down  many  of  Arthur's  knights.  And  when  Sir  Bors  saw 
him  do  so  much  harm,  he  addressed  toward  him,  and  smote 
him  through  the  breast,  that  he  fell  down  dead  to  the  earth. 
Then  Sir  Feldenak  thought  to  revenge  the  death  of  Gainus 
upon  Sir  Gawaine,  but  Sir  Gawaine  was  ware  thereof,  and 
smote  him  on  the  head,  which  stroke  stinted  not  till  it  came 
to  his  breast.  And  then  he  returned  and  came  to  his 
fellows  in  the  bushment.  And  there  was  a  recounter,  for 
the  bushment  brake  on  the  Romans,  and  slew  and  hew 
down  the  Romans,  and  forced  the  Romans  to  flee  and 
return,  whom  the  noble  knights  chased  unto  their  tents. 
Then  the  Romans  gathered  more  people,  and  also  foot-men 
came  on,  and  there  was  a  new  battle,  and  so  much  people 
that  Sir  Bors  and  Sir  Berel  were  taken.  But  when  Sir 
Gawaine  saw  that,  he  took  with  him  Sir  Idrus  the  good 
knight,  and  said  he  would  never  see  King  Arthur  but  if  he 
rescued  them,  and  pulled  out  Galatine  his  good  sword,  and 
followed  them  that  led  those  two  knights  away;  and  he 
smote  him  that  led  Sir  Bors,  and  took  Sir  Bors  from  him 
and  delivered  him  to  his  fellows.  And  Sir  Idrus  in  likewise 
rescued  Sir  Berel.  Then  began  the  battle  to  be  great,  that 
our  knights  were  in  great  jeopardy,  wherefore  Sir  Gawaine 


140  King  Arthur 

sent  to  King  Arthur  for  succour,  and  that  he  hie  him,  for  I 
am  sore  wounded,  and  that  our  prisoners  may  pay  goods 
out  of  number.  And  the  messenger  came  to  the  king  and 
told  him  his  message.  And  anon  the  king  did  do  assemble 
his  army,  but  anon,  or  he  departed  the  prisoners  were  come, 
and  Sir  Gawaine  and  his  fellows  gat  the  field  and  put  the 
Romans  to  flight,  and  after  returned  and  came  with  their 
fellowship  in  such  wise  that  no  man  of  worship  was  lost  of 
them,  save  that  Sir  Gawaine  was  sore  hurt.  Then  the  king 
did  do  ransake  his  wounds  and  comforted  him.  And  thus 
was  the  beginning  of  the  first  journey  of  the  Britons  and 
Romans,  and  there  were  slain  of  the  Romans  more  than  ten 
thousand,  and  great  joy  and  mirth  was  made  that  night  in 
the  host  of  King  Arthur.  And  on  the  morn  he  sent  all  the 
prisoners  into  Paris  under  the  guard  of  Sir  Launcelot,  with 
many  knights,  and  of  Sir  Cador. 


CHAPTER    VII 

HOW  LUCIUS  SENT  CERTAIN  SPIES  IN  A  BUSHMENT  FOR  TO  HAVE 
TAKEN  HIS  KNIGHTS  BEING  PRISONERS,  AND  HOW  THEY  WERE 
LETTED 

Now  turn  we  to  the  Emperor  of  Rome,  which  espied  that 
these  prisoners  should  be  sent  to  Paris,  and  anon  he  sent  to 
lie  in  a  bushrnent  certain  knights  and  princes  with  sixty 
thousand  men,  for  to  rescue  his  knights  and  lords  that  were 
prisoners.  And  so  on  the  morn  as  Launcelot  and  Sir 
Cador,  chieftains  and  governors  of  all  them  that  conveyed 
the  prisoners,  as  they  should  pass  through  a  wood,  Sir 
Launcelot  sent  certain  knights  to  espy  if  any  were  in  the 
woods  to  let  them.  And  when  the  said  knights  came  into 
the  wood,  anon  they  espied  and  saw  the  great  embushment, 
and  returned  and  told  Sir  Launcelot  that  there  lay  in  await 
for  them  three  score  thousand  Romans.  And  then  Sir 
Launcelot  with  such  knights  as  he  had,  and  men  of  war  to 
the  number  of  ten  thousand,  put  them  in  array,  and  met 
with  them  and  fought  with  them  manly,  and  slew  and 
dretenchid  many  of  the  Romans,  and  slew  many  knights 
and  admirals  of  the  party  of  the  Romans  and  Saracens ; 
there  was  slain  the  king  of  Lyly  and  three  great  lords, 
Aladuke,  Herawd,  and  Heringdale.  But  Sir  Launcelot 
fought  so  nobly  that  no  man  might  endure  a  stroke  of  his 


King  Arthur  141 

hand,  but  where  he  came  he  shewed  his  prowess  and  might, 
for  he  slew  down  right  on  every  side ;  and  the  Romans  and 
Saracens  fled  from  him  as  the  sheep  from  the  wolf  or  from 
the  lion,  and  put  them  all  that  abode  alive  to  flight.  And 
so  long  they  fought  that  tidings  came  to  King  Arthur,  and 
anon  he  graythed  him  and  came  to  the  battle,  and  saw  his 
knights  how  they  had  vanquished  the  battle,  he  embraced 
them  knight  by  knight  in  his  arms,  and  said,  Ye  be  worthy 
to  wield  all  your  honour  and  worship ;  there  was  never  king 
save  myself  that  had  so  noble  knights.  Sir,  said  Cador, 
there  was  none  of  us  failed  other,  but  of  the  prowess  and 
manhood  of  Sir  Launcelot  were  more  than  wonder  to  tell, 
and  also  of  his  cousins  which  did  that  day  many  noble 
feats  of  war.  And  also  Sir  Cador  told  who  of  his  knights 
were  slain,  as  Sir  Beriel,  and  other  Sir  Moris  and  Sir 
Maurel,  two  good  knights.  Then  the  king  wept,  and  dried 
his  eyes  with  a  kerchef,  and  said,  Your  courage  had  near 
hand  destroyed  you,  for  though  ye  had  returned  again,  ye 
had  lost  no  worship  ;  for  I  call  it  folly,  knights  to  abide 
when  they  be  overmatched.  Nay,  said  Launcelot  and  the 
other,  for  once  shamed  may  never  be  recovered. 


CHAPTER   VIII 

HOW    A    SENATOR    TOLD    TO    LUCIUS   OF   THEIR    DISCOMFITURE,    AND 
ALSO   OF  THE   GREAT   BATTLE   BETWEEN    ARTHUR   AND    LUCIUS 

Now  leave  we  King  Arthur  and  his  noble  knights  which 
had  won  the  field,  and  had  brought  their  prisoners  to  Paris, 
and  speak  we  of  a  senator  which  escaped  from  the  battle, 
and  came  to  Lucius  the  emperor,  and  said  to  him,  Sir 
emperor,  I  advise  thee  for  to  withdraw  thee ;  what  dost  thou 
here?  thou  shalt  win  nothing  in  these  marches  but  great 
strokes  out  of  all  measure,  for  this  day  one  of  Arthur's 
knights  was  worth  in  the  battle  an  hundred  of  ours.  Fie  on 
thee,  said  Lucius,  thou  speakest  cowardly ;  for  thy  words 
grieve  me  more  than  all  the  loss  that  I  had  this  day.  And 
anon  he  sent  forth  a  king,  which  hight  Sir  Leomie,  with  a 
great  army,  and  bad  him  hie  him  fast  tofore,  and  he  would 
follow  hastily  after.  King  Arthur  was  warned  privily,  and 
sent  his  people  to  Sessome,  and  took  up  the  towns  and 
castles  from  the  Romans.  Then  the  king  commanded  Sir 

I  45  *F 


142  King  Arthur 

Cador  to  take  the  rearward,  and  to  take  with  him  certain 
knights  of  the  Round  Table, — And  Sir  Launcelot,  Sir  Bors, 
Sir  Kay,  Sir  Marrok,  with  Sir  Marhaus,  shall  await  on  our 
person.  Thus  the  King  Arthur  disperplyd  his  host  in  divers 
parties,  to  the  end  that  his  enemies  should  not  escape. 
When  the  emperor  was  entered  into  the  vale  of  Sessoine,  he 
might  see  where  King  Arthur  was  embattled  and  his  banner 
displayed ;  and  he  was  beset  round  about  with  his  enemies, 
that  needs  he  must  fight  or  yield  him,  for  he  might  not  flee, 
but  said  openly  unto  the  Romans,  Sirs,  I  admonish  you  that 
this  day  ye  fight  and  acquit  you  as  men,  and  remember  how 
Rome  domineth  and  is  chief  and  head  over  all  the  earth 
and  universal  world,  and  suffer  not  these  Britons  this  day 
to  abide  against  us ;  and  therewith  he  did  command  his 
trumpets  to  blow  the  bloody  sounds,  in  such  wise  that  the 
ground  trembled  and  dyndled.  Then  the  battles  approached 
and  shove  and  shouted  on  both  sides,  and  great  strokes 
were  smitten  on  both  sides,  many  men  overthrown,  hurt, 
and  slain ;  and  great  valiances,  prowesses  and  appertyces  of 
war  were  that  day  showed,  which  were  over  long  to  recount 
the  noble  feats  of  every  man,  for  they  should  contain  an 
whole  volume.  But  in  especial,  King  Arthur  rode  in  the 
battle  exhorting  his  knights  to  do  well,  and  himself  did  as 
nobly  with  his  hands  as  was  possible  a  man  to  do ;  he  drew 
out  Excalibur  his  sword,  and  awaited  ever  whereas  the 
Romans  were  thickest  and  most  grieved  his  people,  and 
anon  he  addressed  him  on  that  part,  and  hew  and  slew 
down  right,  and  rescued  his  people ;  and  he  slew  a  great 
giant  named  Galapas,  which  was  a  man  of  an  huge  quantity 
and  height,  he  shorted  him  and  smote  off  both  his  legs  by 
the  knees,  saying,  Now  art  thou  better  of  a  size  to  deal  with 
than  thou  were,  and  after  smote  off  his  head.  There  Sir 
Gawaine  fought  nobly  and  slew  three  admirals  in  that  battle. 
And  so  did  all  the  knights  of  the  Round  Table.  Thus  the 
battle  between  King  Arthur  and  Lucius  the  Emperor  en- 
dured long.  Lucius  had  on  his  side  many  Saracens  which 
were  slain.  And  thus  the  battle  was  great,  and  oftsydes 
that  one  party  was  at  a  fordele  and  anon  at  an  afterdele, 
which  endured  so  long  till  at  the  last  King  Arthur  espied 
where  Lucius  the  Emperor  fought,  and  did  wonder  with  his 
own  hands.  And  anon  he  rode  to  him.  And  either  smote 
other  fiercely,  and  at  last  Lucius  smote  Arthur  thwart  the 
visage,  and  gave  him  a  large  wound.  And  when  King 


King  Arthur  143 

Arthur  felt  himself  hurt,  anon  he  smote  him  again  with 
Excalibur  that  it  cleft  his  head,  from  the  summit  of  his 
head,  and  stinted  not  till  it  came  to  his  breast.  And  then 
the  emperor  fell  down  dead  and  there  ended  his  life.  And 
ivhen  it  was  known  that  the  emperor  was  slain,  anon  all  the 
Romans  with  all  their  host  put  them  to  flight,  and  King 
Arthur  with  all  his  knights  followed  the  chase,  and  slew 
down  right  all  them  that  they  might  attain.  And  thus  was 
the  victory  given  to  King  Arthur,  and  the  triumph;  and 
there  were  slain  on  the  part  of  Lucius  more  than  an 
hundred  thousand.  And  after  King  Arthur  did  do  ransack 
the  dead  bodies,  and  did  do  bury  them  that  were  slain  of 
his  retinue,  every  man  according  to  the  estate  and  degree 
that  he  was  of.  And  them  that  were  hurt  he  let  the  surgeons 
do  search  their  hurts  and  wounds,  and  commanded  to  spare 
no  salves  nor  medicines  till  they  were  whole.  Then  the 
king  rode  straight  to  the  place  where  the  Emperor  Lucius 
lay  dead,  and  with  him  he  found  slain  the  Sultan  of  Syria, 
the  King  of  Egypt  and  of  Ethiopia,  which  were  two  noble 
kings,  with  seventeen  other  kings  of  divers  regions,  and  also 
sixty  senators  of  Rome,  all  noble  men,  whom  the  king  did 
do  bawme  and  gum  with  many  good  gums  aromatic,  and 
after  did  do  cere  them  in  sixty  fold  of  cered  cloth  of  Sendal, 
and  laid  them  in  chests  of  lead,  by  cause  they  should  not 
chafe  nor  savour,  and  upon  all  these  bodies  their  shields 
with  their  arms  and  banners  were  set,  to  the  end  they  should 
be  known  of  what  country  they  were.  And  after  he  found 
three  senators  which  were  on  live,  to  whom  he  said,  For  to 
save  your  lives  I  will  that  ye  take  these  dead  bodies,  and 
carry  them  with  you  unto  great  Rome,  and  present  them  to 
the  Potestate  on  my  behalf,  shewing  him  my  letters,  and  tell 
them  that  I  in  my  person  shall  hastily  be  at  Rome.  And  I 
suppose  the  Romans  shall  beware  how  they  shall  demand 
any  tribute  of  me.  And  I  command  you  to  say  when  ye 
shall  come  to  Rome,  to  the  Potestate  and  all  the  Council 
and  Senate,  that  I  send  to  them  these  dead  bodies  for  the 
tribute  that  they  have  demanded.  And  if  they  be  not 
content  with  these,  I  shall  pay  more  at  my  coming,  for  other 
tribute  owe  I  none,  nor  none  other  will  I  pay.  And  me- 
thinketh  this  sufficeth  for  Britain,  Ireland  and  all  Almaine 
with  Germany.  And  furthermore,  I  charge  you  to  say  to 
them,  that  I  command  them  upon  pain  of  their  heads 
never  to  demand  tribute  nor  tax  of  me  nor  of  my  lands. 


144  King  Arthur 

Then  with  this  charge  and  commandment,  the  three  senators 
aforesaid  departed  with  all  the  said  dead  bodies,  laying  the 
body  of  Lucius  in  a  car  covered  with  the  arms  of  the 
Empire  all  alone ;  and  after  alway  two  bodies  of  kings  in  a 
chariot,  and  then  the  bodies  of  the  senators  after  them,  and 
so  went  toward  Rome,  and  showed  their  legation  and 
message  to  the  Potestate  and  Senate,  recounting  the  battle 
done  in  France,  and  how  the  field  was  lost  and  much  people 
and  innumerable  slain.  Wherefore  they  advised  them  in  no 
wise  to  move  no  more  war  against  that  noble  conqueror 
Arthur,  for  his  might  and  prowess  is  most  to  be  doubted, 
seeing  the  noble  kings  and  great  multitude  of  knights  of 
the  Round  Table,  to  whom  none  earthly  prince  may 
compare. 


CHAPTER    IX 

HOW    ARTHUR,     AFTER    HE    HAD    ACHIEVED    THE    BATTLE     AGAINST 
THE    ROMANS,    ENTERED    INTO   ALMAINE,    AND   SO    INTO    ITALY 

Now  turn  we  unto  King  Arthur  and  his  noble  knights, 
which,  after  the  great  battle  achieved  against  the  Romans, 
entered  into  Loraine,  Brabant  and  Flanders,  and  sythen 
returned  into  Haut  Almaine,  and  so  over  the  mountains  into 
Lombardy,  and  after,  into  Tuscany  wherein  was  a  city  which 
in  no  wise  would  yield  themself  nor  obey,  wherefore  King 
Arthur  besieged  it,  and  lay  long  about  it,  and  gave  many 
assaults  to  the  city  ;  and  they  within  defended  them  valiantly. 
Then,  on  a  time,  the  king  called  Sir  Florence,  a  knight,  and 
said  to  him  they  lacked  victual,  And  not  far  from  hence  be 
great  forests  and  woods,  wherein  be  many  of  mine  enemies 
with  much  bestyayl :  I  will  that  thou  make  thee  ready  and 
go  thither  in  foraging,  and  take  with  thee  Sir  Gawaine  my 
nephew,  Sir  Wisshard,  Sir  Clegis,  Sir  Cleremond,  and  the 
Captain  of  Cardiff  with  other,  and  bring  with  you  all  the 
beasts  that  ye  there  can  get.  And  anon  these  knights  made 
them  ready,  and  rode  over  holts  and  hills,  through  forests 
and  woods,  till  they  came  into  a  fair  meadow  full  of  fair 
flowers  and  grass ;  and  there  they  rested  them  and  their 
horses  all  that  night.  And  in  the  springing  of  the  day  in 
the  next  morn,  Sir  Gawaine  took  his  horse  and  stole  away 
from  his  fellowship,  to  seek  some  adventures.  And  anon 
he  was  ware  of  a  man  armed,  walking  his  horse  easily  by  a 


King  Arthur  145 

wood  side,  and  his  shield  laced  to  his  shoulder,  sitting  on 
a  strong  courser,  without  any  man  saving  a  page  bearing  a 
mighty  spear.  The  knight  bare  in  his  shield  three  griffins 
of  gold,  in  sable  carbuncle,  the  chief  of  silver.  When  Sir 
Gawaine  espied  this  gay  knight,  he  fewtryd  his  spear,  and 
rode  straight  to  him,  and  demanded  of  him  from  whence 
that  he  was.  That  other  answered  and  said  he  was  of 
Tuscany,  and  demanded  of  Sir  Gawaine,  What,  profferest 
thou,  proud  knight,  thee  so  boldly?  here  gettest  thou  no 
prey,  thou  mayest  prove  what  thou  wilt,  for  thou  shalt  be 
my  prisoner  or  thou  depart.  Then  said  Gawaine,  thou 
avauntest  thee  greatly  and  speakest  proud  words,  I  counsel 
thee  for  all  thy  boast  that  thou  make  thee  ready,  and  take 
thy  gear  to  thee,  tofore  greater  grame  fall  to  thee. 


CHAPTER  X 

OF  A    RATTLE   DONE   BY   SIR   GAWAINE   AGAINST    A   SARACEN,  WHICH 
AFTER   WAS    YIELDEN   AND    BECAME   CHRISTIAN 

THEN  they  took  their  spears  and  ran  each  at  other  with 
all  the  might  they  had,  and  smote  each  other  through  their 
shields  into  their  shoulders,  wherefore  anon  they  pulled  out 
their  swords,  and  smote  great  strokes  that  the  fire  sprang 
out  of  their  helms.  Then  Sir  Gawaine  was  all  abashed,  and 
with  Galatine  his  good  sword  he  smote  through  shield  and 
thick  hauberk  made  of  thick  mails,  and  all  to-rushed  and 
break  the  precious  stones,  and  made  him  a  large  wound, 
that  men  might  see  both  liver  and  lung.  Then  groaned 
that  knight,  and  addressed  him  to  Sir  Gawaine,  and  with  an 
awke  stroke  gave  him  a  great  wound  and  cut  a  vein,  which 
grieved  Gawaine  sore,  and  he  bled  sore.  Then  the  knight 
said  to  Sir  Gawaine,  bind  thy  wound  or  thy  bleeding  change, 
for  thou  be-bleedest  all  thy  horse  and  thy  fair  arms,  for  all 
the  barbers  of  Brittany  shall  not  conne  staunch  thy  blood, 
for  whosomever  is  hurt  with  this  blade  he  shall  never  be 
staunched  of  bleeding.  Then  answered  Gawaine,  it  grieveth 
me  but  little,  thy  great  words  shall  not  fear  me  nor  lessen 
my  courage,  but  thou  shalt  suffer  tene  and  sorrow  or  we 
depart,  but  tell  me  in  haste  who  may  staunch  my  bleeding. 
That  may  I  do,  said  the  knight,  if  I  will,  and  so  will  I  if 
thou  wilt  succour  and  aid  me,  that  I  may  be  christened  and 


146 


Arthur 


believe  on  God,  and  thereof  I  require  thee  of  thy  manhood, 
and  it   shall    be  great   merit   for  thy   soul.     I   grant,   said 
Gawaine,  so  God  help  me,  to  accomplish  all  thy  desire,  but 
first  tell  me  what  thou  soughtest  here  thus  alone,  and  of 
what  land  and  liegiance  thou  art  of.     Sir,  he  said,  my  name 
is  Priamus,  and  a  great  prince  is  my  father,  and  he  hath 
been  rebel  unto  Rome  and  overridden  many  of  their  lands. 
My  father  is  lineally  descended  of  Alexander  and  of  Hector 
by  right  line.     And  Duke  Joshua  and  Maccabaeus  were  of 
our  lineage.     I  am  right  inheritor  of  Alexandria  and  Africa, 
and  all  the  out  isles,  yet  will  I  believe  on  thy  Lord  that 
thou   believest  on  ;  and   for  thy   labour  I  shall  give  thee 
treasure  enough.     I  was  so  elate  and  haughty  in  my  heart 
that  I  thought  no  man  my  peer,  nor  to  me  semblable.     I 
was  sent  into  this  war  with  seven  score  knights,  and  now  I 
have  encountered   with  thee,   which   hast  given  to  me  of 
fighting  my  fill,  wherefore  sir  knight,  I  pray  thee  to  tell  me 
what  thou  art.     I  am  no  knight,  said  Gawayn,  I  have  been 
brought  up  in  the  guardrobe  with  the  noble  King  Arthur 
many  years,  for  to  take  heed  to  his  armour  and  his  other 
array,  and  to  poynt  his  paltockes  that  long  to  himself.     At 
yule  last  he  made  me  yeoman,  and  gave  to  me  horse  and 
harness,  and  an  hundred  pound  in  money  ;  and  if  fortune 
be   my  friend,  I  doubt  not  but  to  be  well  advanced  and 
holpen  by  my  liege  lord.     Ah,  said  Priamus,  if  his  knaves 
be  so  keen  and  fierce,  his  knights  be  passing  good  :  now 
for  the  King's  love  of  Heaven,  whether  thou  be  a  knave  or 
a  knight,  tell  thou  me  thy  name.    By  God,  said  Sir  Gawaine, 
now  I  will  say  thee  sooth,  my  name  is  Sir  Gawaine,  and 
known  I  am  in  his  court  and  in  his  chamber,  and  one  of 
the  knights  of  the  Round  Table,  he  dubbed  me  a  duke  with 
his  own  hand.     Therefore  grudge  not  if  this  grace  is  to  me 
fortuned,   it  is  the  goodness  of  God  that  lent  to  me  my 
strength.     Now  am  I  better  pleased,  said   Priamus,  than 
thou  hadst  given  to  me  all  the  Provence  and  Paris  the  rich. 
I  had  liever  to  have  been  torn  with  wild  horses,  than  any 
varlet  had  won  such  loos,  or  any  page  or  pryker  should  have 
had  prize  on  me.     But  now  sir  knight  I  warn  thee  that 
hereby  is  a  Duke  of  Lorraine  with  his  army,  and  the  noblest 
men  of  Dolphiny,  and  lords  of  Lombardy,  with  the  garrison 
of  Godard,  and  Saracens  of  Southland,  that  numbered  sixty- 
thousand  of  good  men  of  arms  ;  wherefore  but  if  we  hie  us 
hence,  it  will  harm  us  both,  for  we  be  sore  hurt,  never  like 


King  Arthur  147 

to  recover ;  but  take  heed  to  my  page,  that  he  no  horn 
blow,  for  if  he  do,  there  be  hoving  here  fast  by  an  hundred 
knights  awaiting  on  my  person,  and  if  they  take  thee,  there 
shall  no  ransom  of  gold  nor  silver  acquit  thee.  Then  Sir 
Gawaine  rode  over  a  water  for  to  save  him,  and  the  knight 
followed  him,  and  so  rode  forth  till  they  carne  to  his  fellows 
which  were  in  the  meadow,  where  they  had  been  all  the 
night.  Anon  as  Sir  Wisshard  was  ware  of  Sir  Gawaine  and 
saw  that  he  was  hurt,  he  ran  to  him  sorrowfully  weeping, 
and  demanded  of  him  who  had  so  hurt  him ;  and  Gawaine 
told  how  he  had  foughten  with  that  man,  and  each  of  them 
had  hurt  other,  and  how  he  had  salves  to  heal  them ;  but  I 
can  tell  you  other  tidings,  that  soon  we  shall  have  ado  with 
many  enemies.  Then  Sir  Priamus  and  Sir  Gawaine  alighted, 
and  let  their  horses  graze  in  the  meadow,  and  unarmed 
them,  and  then  the  blood  ran  freshly  from  their  wounds. 
And  Priamus  took  from  his  page  a  phial  full  of  the  four 
waters  that  came  out  of  paradise,  and  with  certain  balm 
anointed  their  wounds,  and  washed  them  with  that  water, 
and  within  an  hour  after  they  were  both  as  whole  as  ever 
they  were.  And  then  with  a  trumpet  were  they  all  assembled 
to  council,  and  there  Priamus  told  unto  them  what  lords 
and  knights  had  sworn  to  rescue  him,  and  that  without  fail 
they  should  be  assailed  with  many  thousands,  wherefore  he 
counselled  them  to  withdraw  them.  Then  Sir  Gawaine 
said,  it  were  great  shame  to  them  to  avoid  without  any 
strokes ;  Wherefore  I  advise  to  take  our  arms  and  to  make 
us  ready  to  meet  with  these  Saracens  and  misbelieving  men, 
and  with  the  help  of  God  we  shall  overthrow  them  and  have 
a  fair  day  on  them.  And  Sir  Florence  shall  abide  still  in 
this  field  to  keep  the  stale  as  a  noble  knight,  and  we  shall 
not  forsake  yonder  fellows.  Now,  said  Priamus,  cease  your 
words,  for  I  warn  you  ye  shall  find  in  yonder  woods  many 
perilous  knights ;  they  will  put  forth  beasts  to  call  you  on, 
they  be  out  of  number,  and  ye  are  not  past  seven  hundred, 
which  be  over  few  to  fight  with  so  many.  Nevertheless  said 
Sir  Gawaine  we  shall  once  encounter  them,  and  see  what 
they  can  do,  and  the  best  shall  have  the  victory. 


148  King  Arthur 


CHAPTER   XI 

HOW   THE   SARACENS  CAME  OUT  OF   A    WOOD   FOR    TO  RESCUE   THEIR 
BEASTS,    AND   OF   A   GREAT   BATTLE 

THEN  Sir  Florence  called  to  him  Sir  Floridas,  with  an 
hundred  knights,  and  drove  forth  the  herd  of  beasts.  Then 
followed  him  seven  hundred  men  of  arms ;  and  Sir  Ferant 
of  Spain  on  a  fair  steed  came  springing  out  of  the  woods, 
and  came  to  Sir  Florence  and  asked  him  why  he  fled.  Then 
Sir  Florence  took  his  spear  and  rode  against  him,  and  smote 
him  in  the  forehead  and  brake  his  neck  bone.  Then  all 
the  other  were  moved,  and  thought  to  avenge  the  death  of 
Sir  Ferant,  and  smote  in  among  them,  and  there  was  great 
fight,  and  many  slain  and  laid  down  to  ground,  and  Sir 
Florence  with  his  hundred  knights  alway  kept  the  stale,  and 
fought  manly.  Then  when  Priamus  the  good  knight  per- 
ceived the  great  fight,  he  went  to  Sir  Gawaine,  and  bad 
him  that  he  should  go  and  succour  his  fellowship,  which 
were  sore  bystad  with  their  enemies.  Sir,  grieve  you  not, 
said  Sir  Gawaine,  for  their  gree  shall  be  theirs.  I  shall  not 
once  move  my  horse  to  them  ward,  but  if  I  see  more  than 
there  be ;  for  they  be  strong  enough  to  match  them.  And 
with  that  he  saw  an  earl  called  Sir  Ethelwold,  and  the  duke 
of  Dutchmen  come  leaping  out  of  a  wood  with  many 
thousands,  and  Priamus'  knights,  and  come  straight  unto 
the  battle.  Then  Sir  Gawaine  comforted  his  knights,  and 
bade  them  not  to  be  abashed,  for  all  shall  be  ours.  Then 
they  began  to  wallop  and  met  with  their  enemies,  there  were 
men  slain  and  overthrown  on  every  side.  Then  thrust  in 
among  them  the  knights  of  the  Table  Round,  and  smote 
down  to  the  earth  all  them  that  withstood  them,  in  so  much 
that  they  made  them  to  recoil  and  flee.  By  God,  said  Sir 
Gawaine,  this  gladdeth  my  heart,  for  now  be  they  less  in 
number  by  twenty  thousand.  Then  entered  into  the  battle 
Jubance  a  giant,  and  fought  and  slew  downright,  and  dis- 
tressed many  of  our  knights,  among  whom  was  slain  Sir 
Gherard,  a  knight  of  Wales.  Then  our  knights  took  heart 
to  them,  and  slew  many  Saracens.  And  then  came  in  Sir 
Priamus  with  his  pennon,  and  rode  with  the  knights  of  the 
Round  Table,  and  fought  so  manfully  that  many  of  their 
enemies  lost  their  lives.  And  there  Sir  Priamus  slew  the 


King  Arthur  149 

Marquis  of  Moises  land,  and  Sir  Gawame  with  his  fellows 
so  quit  them  that  they  had  the  field,  but  in  that  stour  was 
Sir  Chestelaine,  a  child  and  ward  of  Sir  Gawaine  slain, 
wherefor  was  much  sorrow  made,  and  his  death  was  soon 
avenged.  Thus  was  the  battle  ended,  and  many  lords  of 
Lombardy  and  Saracens  left  dead  in  the  field.  Then  Sir 
Florence  and  Sir  Gawaine  harboured  surely  their  people, 
and  took  great  plenty  of  bestial,  of  gold  and  silver,  and 
great  treasure  and  riches,  and  returned  unto  King  Arthur, 
which  lay  still  at  the  siege.  And  when  they  came  to  the 
king  they  presented  their  prisoners  and  recounted  their 
adventures,  and  how  they  had  vanquished  their  enemies. 


CHAPTER   XII 

HOW  SIR  GAWAINE  RETURNED  TO  KING  ARTHUR  WITH  HIS 
PRISONERS,  AND  HOW  THE  KING  WON  A  CITY,  AND  HOW  HE 
WAS  CROWNED  EMPEROR 

Now  thanked  be  God,  said  the  noble  King  Arthur.  But 
what  manner  man  is  he  that  standeth  by  himself,  him 
seemeth  no  prisoner.  Sir,  said  Gawaine,  this  is  a  good  man 
of  arms,  he  hath  matched  me,  but  he  is  yielden  unto  God, 
and  to  me,  for  to  become  Christian  ;  had  not  he  have  been 
we  should  never  have  returned,  wherefore  I  pray  you  that 
he  may  be  baptised,  for  there  liveth  not  a  nobler  man  nor 
better  knight  of  his  hands.  Then  the  king  let  him  anon  be 
christened,  and  did  do  call  his  first  name  Priamus,  and  made 
him  a  duke  and  knight  of  the  Table  Round.  And  then 
anon  the  king  let  do  cry  assault  to  the  city,  and  there  was 
rearing  of  ladders,  breaking  of  walls,  and  the  ditch  filled, 
that  men  with  little  pain  might  enter  into  the  city.  Then 
came  out  a  duchess,  and  Clarisin  the  countess,  with  many 
ladies  and  damosels,  and  kneeling  before  King  Arthur,  re- 
quired him  for  the  love  of  God  to  receive  the  city,  and  not 
to  take  it  by  assault,  for  then  should  many  guiltless  be  slain. 
Then  the  king  avalyd  his  visor  with  a  meek  and  noble 
countenance,  and  said,  Madam,  there  shall  none  of  my 
subjects  misdo  you  nor  your  maidens,  nor  to  none  that  to 
you  belong,  but  the  duke  shall  abide  my  judgment.  Then 
anon  the  king  commanded  to  leave  the  assault,  and  anon 
the  duke's  oldest  son  brought  out  the  keys,  and  kneeling 


150  King"  Arthur 

delivered  them  to  the  king,  and  besought  him  of  grace  ;  and 
the  king  seized  the  town  by  assent  of  his  lords,  and  took  the 
duke  and  sent  him  to  Dover,  there  for  to  abide  prisoner  term 
of  his  life,  and  assigned  certain  rents  for  the  dower  of  the 
duchess  and  for  her  children.  Then  he  ma.<ie  lords  to  rule 
those  lands,  and  laws  as  a  lord  ought  to  do  in  his  own 
country ;  and  after  he  took  his  journey  toward  Rome,  and 
sent  Sir  Floris  and  Sir  Floridas  tofore,  with  five  hundred 
men  of  arms,  and  they  came  to  the  city  of  Urbino  and  laid 
there  a  bushment,  thereas  them  seemed  most  best  for  them, 
and  rode  tofore  the  town,  where  anon  issued  out  much 
people  and  skirmished  with  the  fore-riders.  Then  brake 
out  the  bushment  and  won  the  bridge,  and  after  the  town, 
and  set  upon  the  walls  the  king's  banner.  Then  came  the 
king  upon  an  hill,  and  saw  the  city  and  his  banner  on  the 
walls,  by  which  he  knew  that  the  city  was  won.  And  anon  he 
sent  and  commanded  that  none  of  his  lie^e  men  should 

O 

defoul  nor  lie  by  no  lady,  wife,  nor  maiden ;  and  when  he 
came  into  the  city,  he  passed  to  the  castle,  and  comforted 
them  that  were  in  sorrow,  and  ordained  there  a  captain,  a 
knight  of  his  own  country.  And  when  they  of  Milan  heard 
that  thilk  city  was  won,  they  sent  to  King  Arthur  great  sums 
of  money,  and  besought  him  as  their  lord  to  have  pity  on 
them,  promising  to  be  his  subjects  for  ever,  and  yield  to  him 
homage  and  fealty  for  the  lands  of  Pleasance  and  Pavia, 
Petersaint,  and  the  Port  of  Tremble,  and  to  give  him  yearly 
a  million  of  gold  all  his  lifetime.  Then  he  rideth  into 
Tuscany,  and  winneth  towns  and  castles,  and  wasted  all  in 
his  way  that  to  him  will  not  obey,  and  so  to  Spolute  and 
Viterbe,  and  from  thence  he  rode  into  the  Vale  of  Vicecount 
among  the  vines.  And  from  thence  he  sent  to  the  senators, 
to  wit  whether  they  would  know  him  for  their  lord.  But 
soon  after  on  a  Saturday  came  unto  King  Arthur  all  the 
senators  that  were  left  on  live,  and  the  noblest  cardinals  that 
then  dwelt  in  Rome,  and  prayed  him  of  peace,  and  preferred 
him  full  large,  and  besought  him  as  governor  to  give  licence 
for  six  weeks  for  to  assemble  all  the  Romans,  and  then  to 
crown  him  emperor  with  chrism  as  it  belongeth  to  so  high 
estate.  I  assent,  said  the  king,  like  as  ye  have  devised,  and 
at  Christmas  there  to  be  crowned,  and  to  hold  my  Round 
Table  with  my  knights  as  me  liketh.  And  then  the  senators 
made  ready  for  his  enthronization.  And  at  the  day  ap- 
pointed, as  the  romance  telleth,  he  came  into  Rome,  and 


Kino;  Arthur  1^1 

O  »-/ 

was  crowned  emperor  by  the  pope's  hand,  with  all  the  royalty 
that  could  be  made,  and  sojourned  there  a  time,  and  es- 
tablished all  his  lands  from  Rome  into  France,  and  gave 
lands  and  realms  unto  his  servants  and  knights,  to  even-  each 
after  his  desert,  in  such  wise  that  none  complained,  rich  nor 
poor.  And  he  gave  to  Sir  Priamus  the  duchy  of  Lorraine  : 
and  he  thanked  him,  and  said  he  would  serve  him  the  days 
of  his  life  ;  and  after  made  dukes  and  earls,  and  made  every 
man  rich.  Then  after  this  all  his  knights  and  lords  d- 
sembled  them  afore  him,  and  said  :  Blessed  be  God.  vour 

• 

war  is  finished  and  your  conquest  achieved,  in  so  much  that 
we  know  none  so  great  nor  mighty  that  dare  make  w.ir 
against  you  :  wherefore  we  beseech  you  to  return  homeward, 
and  give  us  licence  to  go  home  to  our  wives,  from  whom  we 
have  been  long,  and  to  rest  us,  for  your  journey  is  finished 
with  honour  and  worship.  Then  said  the  king.  Ye  say  truth, 
and  fo,-  to  temot  God  it  is  no  wisdom,  and  therefore  make 

L 

you  ready  and  return  we  into   England.     Then  there  v. 
trussing  of  harness  and  bainjajre  and  s;reat  carriage.     Ar  . 

O  wC*      O  O  C* 

after  licence  given,  he  returned  and  commanded  that  no 
man  in  pain  of  death  should  not  rob  nor  take  victual,  nor 
other  thing  by  the  way  but  that  he  should  pay  therefor. 
And  thus  he  came  over  the  sea  and  landed  at  Sandwich. 
against  whom  Queen  Gwenever  his  wife  came  and  met  him, 
and  he  was  nobly  received  of  all  his  commons  in  every 
city  and  burgh,  and  great  gifts  presented  to  him  at  his 
home-comin  to  welcome  him  with. 


ftfi  '  hoo'k  of  the  cc-~::<-\~?  that  Kir.g 
r\:.:  against  Lucius  ::v  E-'icc-c*  of  .\c~ne,  ar.z  'v 
the  sixth  book,  -i-~ich  ts  of  S:~ 
met  tot  da  1    be, 


152  King  Arthur 


BOOK    VI 

CHAPTER   I 

HOW  SIR  LAUNCELOT   AND  SIR  LIONEL  DEPARTED  FROM   THE  COURT, 
AND  HOW  SIR  LIONEL  LEFT  HIM  SLEEPING  AND  WAS  TAKEN 

SOON  after  that  King  Arthur  was  come  from  Rome  into 
England,  then  all  the  knights  of  the  Table  Round  resorted 
unto  the  king,  and  made  many  jousts  and  tournaments,  and 
some  there  were  that  were  but  knights,  which  increased  so  in 
arms  and  worship  that  they  passed  all  their  fellows  in  prowess 
and  noble  deeds,  and  that  was  well  proved  on  many ;  but 
in  especial  it  was  proved  on  Sir  Launcelot  du  Lake,  for  in 
all  tournaments  and  jousts  and  deeds  of  arms,  both  for  life 
and  death,  he  passed  all  other  knights,  and  at  no  time  he 
was  never  overcome  but  if  it  were  by  treason  or  enchantment, 
so  Sir  Launcelot  increased  so  marvellously  in  worship,  and 
in  honour,  therefore  is  he  the  first  knight  that  the  French 
book  maketh  mention  of  after  King  Arthur  came  from  Rome. 
Wherefore  Queen  Guenever  had  him  in  great  favour  above  all 
other  knights,  and  in  certain  he  loved  the  queen  again  above 
all  other  ladies  and  damosels  of  his  life,  and  for  her  he  did 
many  deeds  of  arms,  and  saved  her  from  the  fire  through  his 
noble  chivalry.  Thus  Sir  Launcelot  rested  him  long  with 
play  and  game.  And  then  he  thought  himself  to  prove 
himself  in  strange  adventures,  then  he  bade  his  nephew,  Sir 
Lionel,  for  to  make  him  ready ;  for  we  too  will  seek  adven- 
tures. So  "they  mounted  on  their  horses,  armed  at  all  rights, 
and  rode  into  a  deep  forest  and  so  into  a  deep  plain.  And 
then  the  weather  was  hot  about  noon,  and  Sir  Launcelot  had 
great  lust  to  sleep.  Then  Sir  Lionel  espied  a  great  apple 
tree  that  stood  by  an  hedge,  and  said,  Brother,  yonder  is  a 
fair  shadow,  there  may  we  rest  us  on  our  horses.  It  is  well 
said,  fair  brother,  said  Sir  Launcelot,  for  this  seven  year  I 
was  not  so  sleepy  as  I  am  now ;  and  so  they  there  alighted 
and  tied  their  horses  unto  sundry  trees,  and  so  Sir  Launcelot 
laid  him  down  under  an  apple  tree,  and  his  helm  he  laid 
under  his  head.  And  Sir  Lionel  waked  while  he  slept.  So 
Sir  Launcelot  was  asleep  passing  fast.  And  in  the  mean- 
while there  came  three  knights  riding,  as  fast  fleeing  as  ever 
they  might  ride.  And  there  followed  them  three  but  one 


King  Arthur  .     153 

knight.  And  when  Sir  Lionel  saw  him,  him  thought  he  saw 
never  so  great  a  knight,  nor  so  well  faring  a  man,  neither 
so  well  apparelled  unto  all  rights.  So  within  a  while  this 
strong  knight  had  overtaken  one  of  these  knights,  and  there 
he  smote  him  to  the  cold  earth  that  he  lay  still.  And  then 
he  rode  unto  the  second  knight,  and  smote  him  so  that  man 
and  horse  fell  down.  And  then  straight  to  the  third  knight 
he  rode,  and  smote  him  behind  his  horse  arse  a  spear  length. 
And  then  he  alit  down  and  reined  his  horse  on  the  bridle, 
and  bound  all  the  three  knights  fast  with  the  reins  of  their 
own  bridles.  When  Sir  Lionel  saw  him  do  thus,  he  thought 
to  assay  him,  and  made  him  ready,  and  stilly  and  privily  he 
took  his  horse,  and  thought  not  for  to  awake  Sir  Launcelot. 
And  when  he  was  mounted  upon  his  horse,  he  overtook  this 
strong  knight,  and  bade  him  turn,  and  the  other  smote  Sir 
Lionel  so  hard  that  horse  and  man  he  bare  to  the  earth,  and 
so  he  alit  down  and  bound  him  fast,  and  threw  him  over 
thwart  his  own  horse,  and  so  he  served  them  all  four,  and 
rode  with  them  away  to  his  own  castle.  And  when  he  came 
there  he  garte  unarm  them,  and  beat  them  with  thorns  all 
naked,  and  after  put  them  in  a  deep  prison  where  were  many 
more  knights  that  made  great  dolour. 


CHAPTER   II 

HOW  SIR  ECTOR  FOLLOWED  FOR  TO  SEEK  SIR    LAUNCELOT,    AND    HOW 
HE  WAS  TAKEN  BY  SIR  TURQUINE 

WHEN  Sir  Ector  de  Maris  wist  that  Sir  Launcelot  was 
passed  out  of  the  court  to  seek  adventures,  he  was  wroth  with 
himself,  and  made  him  ready  to  seek  Sir  Launcelot,  and  as 
he  had  ridden  long  in  a  great  forest  he  met  with  a  man  was 
like  a  forester.  Fair  fellow,  said  Sir  Ector,  knowest  thou  in 
this  country  any  adventures  that  be  here  nigh  hand  ?  Sir, 
said  the  forester,  this  country  know  I  well,  and  hereby, 
within  this  mile,  is  a  strong  manor,  and  well  dyked,  and  by 
that  manor,  on  the  left  hand,  there  is  a  fair  ford  for  horses  to 
drink  of,  and  over  that  ford  there  groweth  a  fair  tree,  and 
thereon  hang  many  fair  shields  that  wielded  sometime  good 
knights,  and  at  the  hole  of  the  tree  hangeth  a  basin  of  copper 
and  laton,  and  strike  upon  that  basin  with  the  butt  of  thy 
spear  thrice,  and  soon  after  thou  shalt  hear  new  tidings,  and 


154  K'm§  Arthur 


else  hast  thou  the  fairest  grace  that  many  a  year  had  ever 
knight  that  passed  through  this  forest.  Gramercy,  said  Sir 
Ector,  and  departed  and  came  to  the  tree,  and  saw  many 
fair  shields.  And  among  them  he  saw  his  brother's  shield, 
Sir  Lionel,  and  many  more  that  he  knew  that  were  his  fellows 
of  the  Round  Table,  the  which  grieved  his  heart,  and  he  pro- 
mised to  revenge  his  brother.  Then  anon  Sir  Ector  beat 
on  the  basin  as  he  were  wood,  and  then  he  gave  his  horse 
drink  at  the  ford,  and  there  came  a  knight  behind  him  and 
bade  him  come  out  of  the  water  and  make  him  ready;  and 
Sir  Ector  anon  turned  him  shortly,  and  in  fewter  cast  his 
spear,  and  smote  the  other  knight  a  great  buffet  that  his  horse 
turned  twice  about.  This  was  well  done,  said  the  strong 
knight,  and  knightly  thou  hast  stricken  me  ;  and  therewith 
he  rushed  his  horse  on  Sir  Ector,  and  cleyghte  him  under 
his  right  arm,  and  bare  him  clean  out  of  the  saddle,  and 
rode  with  him  away  into  his  own  hall,  and  threw  him  down 
in  myddes  of  the  floor.  The  name  of  this  knight  was  Sir 
Turqafne.  Then  he  said  unto  Sir  Ector,  For  thou  hast  done 
this  day  more  unto  me  than  any  knight  did  these  twelve 
years,  now  will  I  grant  thee  thy  life,  so  thou  wilt  be  sworn  to 
be  my  prisoner  all  thy  life  days.  Nay,  said  Sir  Ector,  that 
will  I  never  promise  thee,  but  that  I  will  do  mine  advantage. 
That  me  repenteth,  said  Sir  Turquine.  And  then  he  garte 
to  unarm  him,  and  beat  him  with  thorns  all  naked,  and 
sythen  put  him  down  in  a  deep  dungeon,  where  he  knew 
many  of  his  fellows.  But  when  Sir  Ector  saw  Sir  Lionel, 
then  made  he  great  sorrow.  Alas,  brother,  said  Sir  Ector, 
where  is  my  brother,  Sir  Launcelot  ?  Fair  brother,  I  left 
him  on  sleep  when  that  I  from  him  yode,  under  an  apple 
tree  ;  and  what  is  become  of  him  I  cannot  tell  you.  Alas, 
said  the  knights,  but  Sir  Launcelot  help  us  we  may  never 
be  delivered,  for  we  know  now  no  knight  that  is  able  to 
match  our  master  Turquine. 


CHAPTER   III 

HOW  FOUR   QUEENS  FOUND  LAUNCELOT  SLEEPING,  AND    HOW    BY  EN- 
CHANTMENT  HE   WAS   TAKEN    AND    LED    INTO   A   CASTLE 

Now  leave  we  these  knights  prisoners,  and  speak  we  of 
Sir  Launcelot  du  Lake-  that  lieth  under  the  Apple  Tree 
sleeping.  Even  about  the  noon  there  come  by  him  four 


King  Arthur  155 

queens  of  great  estate  ;  and,  for  the  heat  should  not  annoy 
them,  there  rode  four  knights  about  them,  and  bare  a  cloth 
of  green  silk  on  four  spears,  betwixt  them  and  the  sun,  and 
the  queens  rode  on  four  white  mules.  Thus  as  they  rode 
they  heard  by  them  a  great  horse  grimly  neigh,  then  were 
they  ware  of  a  sleeping  knight,  that  lay  all  armed  under  an 
apple  tree  ;  anon  as  these  queens  looked  on  his  face,  they 
knew  it  was  Sir  Launcelot.  Then  they  began  for  to  strive 
for  that  knight,  every  each  one  said  they  would  have  him  to 
her  love.  We  shall  not  strive,  said  Morgan  le  Fay,  that  was 
King  Arthur's  sister,  I  shall  put  an  enchantment  upon  him 
that  he  shall  not  awake  in  six  hours,  and  then  I  will  lead 
him  away  unto  my  castle,  and  when  he  is  surely  within  my 
hold,  I  shall  take  the  enchantment  from  him,  and  then  let 
him  choose  which  of  us  he  will  have  unto  paramour.  So 
this  enchantment  was  cast  upon  Sir  Launcelot,  and  then  they 
laid  him  upon  his  shield,  and  bare  him  so  on  horseback  be- 
twixt two  knights,  and  brought  him  unto  the  castle  Chariot, 
and  there  they  laid  him  in  a  chamber  cold,  and  at  night  they 
sent  unto  him  a  fair  damosel  with  his  supper  ready  dight. 
By  that  the  enchantment  was  past,  and  when  she  came  she 
saluted  him,  and  asked  him  what  cheer.  I  cannot  say,  fair 
damosel,  said  Sir  Launcelot,  for  I  wot  not  how  I  came  into 
this  castle  but  it  be  by  an  enchantment.  Sir,  said  she,  ye 
must  make  good  cheer,  and  if  ye  be  such  a  knight  as  it  is 
said  ye  be,  I  shall  tell  you  more  to-morn  by  prime  of  the 
day.  Gramercy,  fair  damosel,  said  Sir  Launcelot,  of  your 
good  will  I  require  you.  And  so  she  departed.  And  there 
he  lay  all  on  that  night  without  comfort  of  anybody.  And 
on  the  morn  early  came  these  four  queens,  passingly  well 
bysene,  all  they  bidding  him  good  morn,  and  he  them 
again.  Sir  knight,  the  four  queens  said,  thou  must  under- 
stand thou  art  our  prisoner,  and  we  here  know  thee  well  that 
thou  art  Sir  Launcelot  du  Lake,  King  Ban's  son,  and 
by  cause  we  understand  your  worthiness,  that  thou  art  the 
noblest  knight  living,  and  as  we  know  well  there  can  no  lady 
have  thy  love  but  one,  and  that  is  Queen  Guenever,  and 
now  thou  shalt  lose  her  for  ever,  and  she  thee,  and  therefore 
thee  behoveth  now  to  choose  one  of  us  four.  I  am  the 
Queen  Morgan  le  Fay,  queen  of  the  land  of  Gore,  and  here 
is  the  queen  of  Northgalis,  and  the  queen  of  Eastland,  and 
the  queen  of  the  Out  Isles ;  now  choose  one  of  us  which 
thou  wilt  have  to  thy  paramour,  for  thou  mayest  not  choose 


156  King  Arthur 

or  else  in  this  prison  to  die.  This  is  an  hard  case,  said  Sir 
Launcelot,  that  either  I  must  die  or  else  chose  one  of  you, 
yet  had  I  lever  to  die  in  this  prison  with  worship,  than  to 
have  one  of  you  to  my  paramour  maugre  my  head.  And 
therefore  ye  be  answered,  I  will  none  of  you,  for  ye  be  false 
enchantresses,  and  as  for  my  lady,  Dame  Guenever,  were  I 
at  my  liberty  as  I  was,  I  would  prove  it  on  you  or  on  yours, 
that  she  is  the  truest  lady  unto  her  lord  living.  Well,  said 
the  queens,  is  this  your  answer,  that  ye  will  refuse  us.  Yea, 
on  my  life,  said  Sir  Launcelot,  refused  ye  be  of  me.  So 
they  departed  and  left  him  there  alone  and  made  great 
sorrow. 


CHAPTER    IV 

HOW    SIR    LAUNCELOT   WAS    DELIVERED   BY   THE    MEAN   OF 

A    DAMOSEL 

RIGHT  so  at  the  noon  came  the  damosel  unto  him  with  his 
dinner,  and  asked  him  what  cheer.  Truly,  fair  damosel,  said 
Sir  Launcelot,  in  my  life  days  never  so  ill.  Sir,  she  said, 
that  me  repentest,  but  an  ye  will  be  ruled  by  me,  I  shall 
help  you  out  of  this  distress,  and  ye  shall  have  no  shame 
nor  villainy,  so  that  ye  hold  me  a  promise.  Fair  damosel,  I 
will  grant  you,  and  sore  I  am  of  these  queen-sorceresses 
afeard,  for  they  have  destroyed  many  a  good  knight.  Sir, 
said  she,  that  is  sooth,  and  for  the  renown  and  bounte  that 
they  hear  of  you  they  would  have  your  love,  and  Sir,  they 
say,  your  name  is  Sir  Launcelot  du  Lake,  the  flower  of 
knights,  and  they  be  passing  wroth  with  you  that  ye 
have  refused  them.  But  Sir,  an  ye  would  promise  me  to 
help  my  father  on  Tuesday  next  coming,  that  hath  made  a 
tournament  betwixt  him  and  the  king  of  Northgalis ;  for  the 
last  Tuesday  past  my  father  lost  the  field  through  three 
knights  of  Arthur's  court ;  an  ye  will  be  there  on  Tuesday 
next  coming,  and  help  my  father,  to-morn  or  prime,  by  the 
grace  of  God,  I  shall  deliver  you  clene.  Fair  maiden,  said 
Sir  Launcelot,  tell  me  what  is  your  father's  name,  and  then 
shall  I  give  you  an  answer.  Sir  knight,  she  said,  my  father 
is  King  Bagdemagus,  that  was  foul  rebuked  at  the  last 
tournament.  I  know  your  father  well,  said  Sir  Launcelot, 
for  a  noble  king  and  a  good  knight,  and  by  the  faith  of  my 
body,  ye  shall  have  my  body  ready  to  do  your  father  and 


King  Arthur  157 

you  service  at  that  day.  Sir,  she  said,  gramercy,  and 
to-morn  await  ye  be  ready  betimes,  and  I  shall  be  she  that 
shall  deliver  you,  and  take  you  your  armour  and  your  horse, 
shield  and  spear,  and  hereby,  within  this  ten  mile,  is  an 
abbey  of  white  monks,  there  I  pray  you  that  ye  me  abide, 
and  thither  shall  I  bring  my  father  unto  you.  All  this  shall 
be  done,  said  Sir  Launcelot,  as  I  am  true  knight.  And  so 
she  departed,  and  came  on  the  morn  early,  and  found  him 
ready ;  then  she  brought  him  out  of  twelve  locks,  and 
brought  him  unto  his  armour,  and  when  he  was  clene 
armed,  she  brought  him  until  his  own  horse,  and  lightly  he 
saddled  him  and  took  a  great  spear  in  his  hand,  and  so  rode 
forth,  and  said,  Fair  damosel,  I  shall  not  fail  you  by  the 
grace  of  God.  And  so  he  rode  into  a  great  forest  all  that 
day,  and  never  could  find  no  highway,  and  so  the  night  fell 
on  him,  and  then  was  he  ware  in  a  slade,  of  a  pavilion  of  red 
sendal.  By  my  faith,  said  Sir  Launcelot,  in  that  pavilion 
will  I  lodge  all  this  night,  and  so  there  he  alit  down,  and 
tied  his  horse  to  the  pavilion,  and  there  he  unarmed  him, 
and  there  he  found  a  bed,  and  laid  him  therein  and  fell  on 
sleep  sadly. 


CHAPTER   V 

HOW    A    KNIGHT     FOUND    SIR    LAUNCELOT    LYING     IN     HIS    LEMAN's 
BED,    AND    HOW    SIR    LAUNCELOT    FOUGHT   WITH    THE   KNIGHT 

THEN  within  an  hour  there  came  the  knight  to  whom  the 
pavilion  ought,  and  he  weened  that  his  leman  had  lain  in 
that  bed,  and  so  he  laid  him  down  beside  Sir  Launcelot, 
and  took  him  in  his  arms  and  began  to  kiss  him.  And 
when  Sir  Launcelot  felt  a  rough  beard  kissing  him,  he 
started  out  of  the  bed  lightly,  and  the  other  knight  after 
him,  and  either  of  them  gat  their  swords  in  their  hands,  and 
out  at  the  pavilion  door  went  the  knight  of  the  pavilion,  and 
Sir  Launcelot  followed  him,  and  there  by  a  little  slake  Sir 
Launcelot  wounded  him  sore,  nigh  unto  the  death.  And  then 
he  yielded  him  unto  Sir  Launcelot,  and  so  he  granted  him, 
so  that  he  would  tell  him  why  he  came  in  to  the  bed.  Sir, 
said  the  knight,  the  pavilion  is  mine  own,  and  there  this 
night  I  had  assigned  my  lady  to  have  slept  with  me,  and  now 
I  am  likely  to  die  of  this  wound.  That  me  repenteth,  said 
Launcelot,  of  your  hurt,  but  I  was  adread  of  treason,  for  I 


158  King  Arthur 

was  late  beguiled,  and  therefore  come  on  your  way  into 
your  pavilion  and  take  your  rest,  and  as  I  suppose  I 
shall  staunch  your  blood.  And  so  they  went  both  into 
the  pavilion,  and  anon  Sir  Launcelot  staunched  his  blood. 
Therewithal  came  the  knight's  lady,  that  was  a  passing  fair 
lady,  and  when  she  espied  that  her  Lord  Belleus  was  sore 
wounded,  she  cried  out  on  Sir  Launcelot,  and  made  great 
dole  out  of  measure.  Peace,  my  lady  and  my  love,  said 
Belleus,  for  this  knight  is  a  good  man,  and  a  knight 
adventurous,  and  there  he  told  her  all  the  cause  how  he 
was  wounded ;  And  when  that  I  yielded  me  unto  him,  he 
left  me  goodly  and  hath  staunched  my  blood.  Sir,  said  the 
lady,  I  require  thee  tell  me  what  knight  ye  be,  and  what  is 
your  name  ?  Fair  lady,  he  said,  my  name  is  Sir  Launcelot 
du  Lake.  So  me  thought  ever  by  your  speech,  said  the 
lady,  for  I  have  seen  you  oft  or  this,  and  I  know  you  better 
than  ye  ween.  But  now  an  ye  would  promise  me  of  your 
courtesy,  for  the  harms  that  ye  have  done  to  me  and  my  Lord 
Belleus,  that  when  he  cometh  unto  Arthur's  court  for  to 
cause  him  to  be  made  knight  of  the  Round  Table,  for  he  is 
a  passing  good  man  of  arms,  and  a  mighty  lord  of  lands  of 
many  out  isles.  Fair  lady,  said  Sir  Launcelot,  let  him  come 
unto  the  court  the  next  high  feast,  and  look  that  ye  come 
with  him,  and  I  shall  do  my  power,  an  ye  prove  you 
doughty  of  your  hands,  that  ye  shall  have  your  desire.  So 
thus  within  a  while  as  they  thus  talked  the  night  passed,  and 
the  day  shone,  and  then  Sir  Launcelot  armed  him,  and  took 
his  horse,  and  they  taught  him  to  the  Abbey,  and  thither  he 
rode  within  the  space  of  two  hours. 


CHAPTER   VI 

HOW     SIR      LAUNCELOT      WAS      RECEIVED     OF      KING     BAGDEMAGUS' 
DAUGHTER,    AND     HOW    HE   MADE    HIS   COMPLAINT    TO    HER    FATHER 

AND  soon  as  Sir  Launcelot  came  within  the  abbey  yard, 
the  daughter  of  King  Bagdemagus  heard  a  great  horse  go  on 
the  pavement.  And  she  then  arose  and  yede  unto  a  window, 
and  there  she  saw  Sir  Launcelot,  and  anon  she  made  men 
fast  to  take  his  horse  from  him  and  let  lead  him  into  a 
stable,  and  himself  was  led  into  a  fair  chamber,  and  unarmed 
him,  and  the  lady  sent  him  a  long  gown,  and  anon  she  came 


King  Arthur  159 

herself.  And  then  she  made  Launcelot  passing  good  cheer, 
and  she  said  he  was  the  knight  in  the  world  was  most 
welcome  to  her.  Then  in  all  haste  she  sent  for  her  father 
Bagdemagus  that  was  within  twelve  mile  of  that  Abbey,  and 
afore  even  he  came  with  a  fair  fellowship  of  knights  with 
him.  And  when  the  king  was  alit  off  his  horse  he  yode 
straight  unto  Sir  Launcelot's  chamber  and  there  he  found 
his  daughter,  and  then  the  king  embraced  Sir  Launcelot  in 
his  arms,  and  either  made  other  good  cheer.  Anon  Sir 
Launcelot  made  his  complaint  unto  the  king  how  he  was 
betrayed,  and  how  his  brother  Sir  Lionel  was  departed  from 
him  he  wist  not  where,  and  how  his  daughter  had  delivered 
him  out  of  prison;  Therefore  while  I  live  I  shall  do  her 
service  and  all  her  kindred.  Then  am  I  sure  of  your  help, 
said  the  king,  on  Tuesday  next  coming  ?  Yea,  sir,  said  Sir 
Launcelot,  I  shall  not  fail  you,  for  so  I  have  promised  my 
lady  your  daughter.  But,  sir,  what  knights  be  they  of  my 
lord  Arthur's  that  were  with  the  King  of  Northgalis  ?  And 
the  king  said  it  was  Sir  Mador  de  la  Porte,  and  Sir  Mordred 
and  Sir  Gahalantine  that  all  for-fared  my  knights,  for  against 
them  three  I  nor  my  knights  might  bear  no  strength.  Sir, 
said  Sir  Launcelot,  as  I  hear  say  that  the  tournament  shall 
be  here  within  this  three  mile  of  this  abbey,  ye  shall  send 
unto  me  three  knights  of  yours,  such  as  ye  trust,  and  look 
that  the  three  knights  have  all  white  shields,  and  I  also, 
and  no  painture  on  the  shields,  and  we  four  will  come  out  of 
a  little  wood  in  middes  of  both  parties,  and  we  shall  fall  in 
the  front  of  our  enemies  and  grieve  them  that  we  may ;  and 
thus  shall  I  not  be  known  what  knight  I  am.  So  they  took 
their  rest  that  night,  and  this  was  on  the  Sunday,  and  so 
the  king  departed,  and  sent  unto  Sir  Launcelot  three  knights 
with  the  four  white  shields.  And  on  the  Tuesday  they 
lodged  them  in  a  little  leaved  wood  beside  where  the 
tournament  should  be.  And  there  were  scaffolds  and 
holes  that  lords  and  ladies  might  behold  and  to  give  the 
prize.  Then  came  into  the  field  the  King  of  Northgalis 
with  eight  score  helms.  And  then  the  three  knights  of 
Arthur's  stood  by  themself.  Then  came  into  the  field  King 
Bagdemagus  with  four  score  of  helms.  And  then  they 
fewtryd  their  spears,  and  came  together  with  a  great  dash, 
and  there  were  slain  of  knights  at  the  first  recounter  twelve 
of  King  Bagdemagus'  party,  and  six  of  the  King  of  North- 
galis' party,  and  King  Bagdemagus'  party  was  far  set  aback. 


160  King"  Arthur 


CHAPTER   VII 

HOW    SIR   LAUNCELOT   BEHAVED   HIM   IN   A   TOURNAMENT,  AND   HOW 
HE   MET   WITH    SIR   TURQUINE   LEADING   SIR    GAHERIS 

WITH  that  came  Sir  Launcelot  du  Lake,  and  he  thrust  in 
with  his  spear  in  the  thickest  of  the  press,  and  there  he 
smote  down  with  one  spear  five  knights,  and  of  four  of  them 
he  brake  their  backs.  And  in  that  throng  he  smote  down 
the  King  of  Northgalis,  and  brake  his  thigh  in  that  fall.  All 
this  doing  of  Sir  Launcelot  saw  the  three  knights  of  Arthur's. 
Yonder  is  a  shrewd  guest,  said  Sir  Mador  de  la  Porte,  there- 
fore have  here  once  at  him.  So  they  encountered,  and  Sir 
Launcelot  bare  him  down  horse  and  man,  so  that  his 
shoulder  went  out  of  lyth.  Now  befalleth  it  to  me  to  joust, 
said  Mordred,  for  Sir  Mador  hath  a  sore  fall.  Sir  Launcelot 
was  ware  of  him,  and  gat  a  great  spear  in  his  hand,  and  met 
him,  and  Sir  Mordred  brake  a  spear  upon  him,  and  Sir 
Launcelot  gave  him  such  a  buffet  that  the  arsson  of  his 
saddle  brake,  and  so  he  flew  over  his  horse's  tail,  that  his 
helm  butted  into  the  earth  a  foot  and  more,  that  nigh  his 
neck  was  broken,  and  there  he  lay  long  in  a  swoon.  Then 
came  in  Sir  Gahalantine  with  a  great  spear  and  Launcelot 
against  him,  with  all  their  strength  that  they  might  drive, 
that  both  their  spears  to-brast  even  to  their  hands,  and  then 
they  flang  out  with  their  swords  and  gave  many  a  grim 
stroke.  Then  was  Sir  Launcelot  wroth  out  of  measure,  and 
then  he  smote  Sir  Gahalantine  on  the  helm  that  his  nose 
brast  out  on  blood,  and  ears  and  mouth  both,  and  therewith 
his  head  hung  low.  And  therewith  his  horse  ran  away  with 
him,  and  he  fell  down  to  the  earth.  Anon  therewithal  Sir 
Launcelot  gat  a  great  spear  in  his  hand,  and  or  ever  that 
great  spear  brake,  he  bare  down  to  the  earth  sixteen  knights, 
some  horse  and  man,  and  some  the  man  and  not  the  horse, 
and  there  was  none  but  that  he  hit  surely,  he  bare  none 
arms  that  day.  And  then  he  gat  another  great  spear,  and 
smote  down  twelve  knights,  and  the  most  part  of  them 
never  throve  after.  And  then  the  knights  of  the  King  of 
Northgalis  would  joust  no  more.  And  there  the  gree  was 
given  to  King  Bagdemagus.  So  either  party  departed  unto 
his  own  place,  and  Sir  Launcelot  rode  forth  with  King 
Bagdemagus  unto  his  castle,  and  there  he  had  passing  good 


King  Arthur  161 

cheer  both  with  the  king  and  with  his  daughter,  and  they 
proffered  him  great  gifts.  And  on  the  morn  he  took  his 
leave,  and  told  the  king  that  he  would  go  and  seek  his 
brother  Sir  Lionel,  that  went  from  him  when  that  he  slept, 
so  he  took  his  horse,  and  betaught  them  all  to  God.  And 
there  he  said  unto  the  king's  daughter,  If  ye  have  need  any 
time  of  my  service  I  pray  you  let  me  have  knowledge,  and  I 
shall  not  fail  you  as  I  am  true  knight.  And  so  Sir  Launcelot 
departed,  and  by  adventure  he  came  into  the  same  forest  where 
he  was  taken  sleeping.  And  in  the  midst  of  a  highway  he 
met  a  damosel  riding  on  a  white  palfrey,  and  there  either 
saluted  other.  Fair  damosel,  said  Sir  Launcelot,  know  ye 
in  this  country  any  adventures  ?  Sir  knight,  said  that 
damosel,  here  are  adventures  near  hand,  an  thou  durst  prove 
them.  Why  should  I  not  prove  adventures?  said  Sir 
Launcelot,  for  that  cause  come  I  hither.  Well,  said  she, 
thou  seemest  well  to  be  a  good  knight,  and  if  thou  dare 
meet  with  a  good  knight,  I  shall  bring  thee  where  is  the  best 
knight,  and  the  mightiest  that  ever  thou  found,  so  thou  wilt 
tell  me  what  is  thy  name,  and  what  knight  thou  art. 
Damosel,  as  for  to  tell  thee  my  name  I  take  no  great  force, 
truly  my  name  is  Sir  Launcelot  du  Lake.  Sir,  thou  be- 
seemest  well,  here  be  adventures  by  that  fall  for  thee,  for 
hereby  dwelleth  a  knight  that  will  not  be  overmatched  for 
no  man  I  know  but  ye  overmatch  him,  and  his  name  is  Sir 
Turquine.  And,  as  I  understand,  he  hath  in  his  prison,  of 
Arthur's  court,  good  knights  three  score  and  four,  that  he 
hath  won  with  his  own  hands.  But  when  ye  have  done  that 
journey  ye  shall  promise  me  as  ye  are  a  true  knight  for  to  go 
with  me,  and  to  help  me  and  other  damosels  that  are 
distressed  daily  with  a  false  knight.  All  your  intent, 
damosel,  and  desire  I  will  fulfil,  so  ye  will  bring  me  unto 
this  knight.  Now,  fair  knight,  come  on  your  way ;  and  so 
she  brought  him  unto  the  ford  and  the  tree  where  hung  the 
basin.  So  Sir  Launcelot  let  his  horse  drink,  and  then  he 
beat  on  the  basin  with  the  butt  of  his  spear  so  hard  with  all 
his  might  till  the  bottom  fell  out,  and  long  he  did  so  but 
he  saw  nothing.  Then  he  rode  endlong  the  gates  of  that 
manor  nigh  half-an-hour.  And  then  was  he  ware  of  a  great 
knight  that  drove  an  horse  afore  him,  and  overthwart  the 
horse  there  lay  an  armed  knight  bound.  And  ever  as  they 
came  near  and  near,  Sir  Launcelot  thought  he  should  know 
him.  Then  Sir  Launcelot  was  ware  that  it  was  Sir  Gaheris, 


1  62  Kin     Arthur 


Gawaine's  brother,  a  knight  of  the  Table  Round.  Now, 
fair  damosel,  said  Sir  Launcelot,  I  see  yonder  cometh  a 
knight  fast  bounden  that  is  a  fellow  of  mine,  and  brother  he 
is  unto  Sir  Gawaine.  And  at  the  first  beginning  I  promise 
you,  by  the  love  of  God,  to  rescue  that  knight  ;  but  if  his 
master  sit  better  in  the  saddle  I  shall  deliver  all  the  prisoners 
that  he  hath  out  of  danger,  for  I  am  sure  he  hath  two 
brethren  of  mine  prisoners  with  him.  By  that  time  that 
either  had  seen  other,  they  gripped  their  spears  unto  them. 
Now,  fair  knight,  said  Sir  Launcelot,  put  that  wounded 
knight  off  the  horse,  and  let  him  rest  awhile,  and  let  us  two 
prove  our  strengths  ;  for  as  it  is  informed  me,  thou  doest 
and  hast  done  great  despite  and  shame  unto  knights  of  the 
Round  Table,  and  therefore  now  defend  thee.  An  thou  be 
of  the  Table  Round,  said  Turquine,  I  defy  thee  and  all  thy 
fellowship.  That  is  overmuch  said,  said  Sir  Launcelot. 


CHAPTER   VIII 

HOW   SIR   LAUNCELOT   AND   SIR   TURQUINE    FOUGHT   TOGETHER 

AND  then  they  put  their  spears  in  the  rests,  and  came 
together  with  their  horses  as  fast  as  they  might  run,  and 
either  smote  other  in  middes  of  their  shields,  that  both  their 
horses'  backs  brast  under  them,  and  the  knights  were  both 
stonied,  and  as  soon  as  they  might  avoid  their  horses,  they 
took  their  shields  afore  them,  and  drew  out  their  swords,  and 
came  together  eagerly,  and  either  gave  other  many  strong 
strokes,  for  there  might  neither  shields  nor  harness  hold 
their  strokes.  And  so  within  a  while  they  had  both  grimly 
wounds,  and  bled  passing  grievously.  Thus  they  fared  two 
hours  or  more  trasyng  and  rasyng  either  other  where  they 
might  hit  any  bare  place.  Then  at  the  last  they  were 
breathless  both,  and  stood  leaning  on  their  swords.  Now 
fellow,  said  Sir  Turquine,  hold  thy  hand  a  while,  and  tell  me 
what  I  shall  ask  thee.  Say  on.  Then  Turquine  said,  Thou 
art  the  biggest  man  that  ever  I  met  withal,  and  the  best 
breathed,  and  like  one  knight  that  I  hate  above  all  other 
knights ;  so  be  it  that  thou  be  not  he  I  will  lightly  accord 
with  thee,  and  for  thy  love  I  will  deliver  all  the  prisoners 
that  I  have,  that  is  three  score  and  four,  so  thou  wilt  tell  me 
thy  name.  And  thou  and  I  we  will  be  fellows  together,  and 


King  Arthur  163 

never  to  fail  the  while  that  I  live.  It  is  well  said,  said  Sir 
Launcelot,  but  sithen  it  is  so  that  I  may  have  thy  friendship, 
what  knight  is  he  that  thou  so  hatest  above  all  other  ?  Faith- 
fully, said  Sir  Turquine,  his  name  is  Sir  Launcelot  du  Lake, 
for  he  slew  my  brother,  Sir  Carados,  at  the  dolorous  tower, 
that  was  one  of  the  best  knights  on  live  ;  and  therefore  him 
1  expect  of  all  knights,  for  may  I  once  meet  with  him,  the 
one  of  us  shall  make  an  end  of  other,  I  make  mine  avow. 
And  for  Sir  Launcelot's  sake  I  have  slain  an  hundred  good 
knights,  and  as  many  I  have  maimed  all  utterly  that  they 
might  never  after  help  themself,  and  many  have  died  in 
prison,  and  yet  have  I  three  score  and  four,  and  all  shall  be 
delivered  so  thou  wilt  tell  me  thy  name,  so  be  it  that  thou 
be  not  Sir  Launcelot.  Now,  see  I  well,  said  Sir  Launcelot, 
that  such  a  man  I  might  be,  I  might  have  peace,  and  such 
a  man  I  might  be,  that  there  should  be  war  mortal  betwixt 
us.  And  now,  sir  knight,  at  thy  request  I  will  that  thou  wit 
and  know  that  I  am  Launcelot  du  Lake,  King  Ban's  son  of 
Benwick,  and  very  knight  of  the  Table  Round.  And  now 
I  defy  thee,  and  do  thy  best.  Ah,  said  Turquine,  Launcelot, 
thou  art  unto  me  most  welcome  that  ever  was  knight,  for  we 
shall  never  depart  till  the  one  of  us  be  dead.  Then  they 
hurtled  together  as  two  wild  bulls  rashing  and  lashing  with 
their  shields  and  swords,  that  sometime  they  fell  both  over 
their  noses.  Thus  they  fought  still  two  hours  and  more,  and 
never  would  have  rest,  and  Sir  Turquine  gave  Sir  Launcelot 
many  wounds  that  all  the  ground  thereas  they  fought  was 
ail  bespeckled  with  blood. 


CHAPTER    IX 

HOW    SIR   TURQUINE   WAS    SLAIN,    AND    HOW    SIR    LAUNCELOT    BADE 
SIR    GAHERIS    DELIVER    ALL   THE    PRISONERS 

THEN  at  the  last  Sir  Turquine  waxed  faint,  and  gave 
somewhat  aback,  and  bare  his  shield  low  for  weariness. 
That  espied  Sir  Launcelot,  and  leapt  upon  him  fiercely  and 
gat  him  by  the  beaver  of  his  helmet,  and  plucked  him  down 
on  his  knees,  and  anon  he  rased  off  his  helm,  and  smote  his 
neck  in  sunder.  And  when  Sir  Launcelot  had  done  this,  he 
yode  unto  the  damosel  and  said,  Damosel,  I  am  ready  to  go 
with  you  where  ye  will  have  me,  but  I  have  no  horse.  Fair 


164 


Arthur 


sir,  said  she,  take  this  wounded  knight's  horse  and  send  him 
into  this  manor,  and  command  him  to  deliver  all  the  prisoners. 
So  Sir  Launcelot  went  unto  Gaheris,  and  prayed  him  not  to 
be  aggrieved  for  to  lend  him  his  horse.  Nay,  fair  lord,  said 
Gaheris,  I  will  that  ye  take  my  horse  at  your  own  command- 
ment, for  ye  have  both  saved  me  and  my  horse,  and  this 
day  I  say  ye  are  the  best  knight  in  the  world,  for  ye  have 
slain  this  day  in  my  sight  the  mightiest  man  and  the  best 
knight  except  you  that  ever  I  saw,  and,  fair  sir,  said  Gaheris, 
I  pray  you  tell  me  your  name.  Sir,  my  name  is  Sir  Launce- 
lot du  Lake,  that  ought  to  help  you  of  right  for  King  Arthur's 
sake,  and  in  especial  for  my  lord  Sir  Gawaine's  sake,  your 
own  dear  brother  ;  and  when  that  ye  come  within  yonder 
manor,  I  am  sure  ye  shall  find  there  many  knights  of  the 
Round  Table,  for  I  have  seen  many  of  their  shields  that  I 
know  on  yonder  tree.  There  is  Kay's  shield,  and  Sir 
Erandel's  shield,  and  Sir  Marhaus'  shield,  and  Sir  Galind's 
shield,  and  Sir  Brian  de  Listonois's  shield,  and  Sir  Aliduke's 
shield,  with  many  more  that  I  am  not  now  advised  of,  and 
also  my  two  brethren's  shields,  Sir  Ector  de  Maris  and  Sir 
Lionel  ;  wherefore  I  pray  you  greet  them  all  from  me,  and 
say  that  I  bid  them  take  such  stuff  there  as  they  find,  and 
that  in  any  wise  my  brethren  go  unto  the  court  and  abide  me 
there  till  that  I  come,  for  by  the  feast  of  Pentecost  I  cast  me 
to  be  there,  for  as  at  this  time  I  must  ride  with  this  damosel 
for  to  save  my  promise.  And  so  he  departed  from  Gaheris, 
and  Gaheris  yede  in  to  the  manor,  and  there  he  found  a 
yeoman  porter  keeping  there  many  keys.  Anon  withal  Sir 
Gaheris  threw  the  porter  unto  the  ground  and  took  the  keys 
from  him,  and  hastily  he  opened  the  prison  door,  and  there 
he  let  out  all  the  prisoners,  and  every  man  loosed  other  of 
their  bonds.  And  when  they  saw  Sir  Gaheris,  all  they  thanked 
him,  for  they  weened  that  he  was  wounded.  Not  so,  said 
Gaheris,  it  was  Launcelot  that  slew  him  worshipfully  with  his 
own  hands.  I  saw  it  with  mine  own  eyes.  And  he  greeteth 
you  all  well,  and  prayeth  you  to  haste  you  to  the  court  ;  and 
as  unto  Sir  Lionel  and  Ector  de  Maris  he  prayeth  you  to 
abide  him  at  the  court.  That  shall  we  not  do,  says  his 
brethren,  we  will  find  him  an  we  may  live.  So  shall  I,  said 
Sir  Kay,  find  him  or  I  come  at  the  court  as  I  am  true 
knight.  Then  all  those  knights  sought  the  house  where  as 
the  armour  was,  and  then  they  armed  them,  and  every  knight 
found  his  own  horse,  and  all  that  ever  longed  unto  him. 


King  Arthur  165 

And  when  this  was  done,  there  came  a  forester  with  four 
horses  laden  with  fat  venison.  Anon,  Sir  Kay  said,  Here  is 
good  meat  for  us  for  one  meal,  for  we  had  not  many  a  day  no 
good  repast.  And  so  that  venison  was  roasted,  baken,  and 
sodden,  and  so  after  supper  some  abode  there  all  night,  but 
Sir  Lionel  and  Ector  de  Maris  and  Sir  Kay  rode  after  Sir 
Launcelot  for  to  find  him  if  they  might. 


CHAPTER   X 

HOW  SIR  LAUNCELOT  RODE  WITH  A  DAMOSEL  AND  SLEW  A  KNIGHT 
THAT  DISTRESSED  ALL  LADIES  AND  ALSO  A  VILLAIN  THAT 
KEPT  A  BRIDGE 

Now  turn  we  unto  Sir  Launcelot,  that  rode  with  the 
damosel  in  a  fair  highway.  Sir,  said  the  damosel,  here  by  this 
way  haunteth  a  knight  that  distressed  all  ladies  and  gentle- 
women, and  at  the  least  he  robbeth  them  or  lieth  by  them. 
What,  said  Sir  Launcelot,  is  he  a  thief  and  a  knight  and  a 
ravisher  of  women  ?  he  doth  shame  unto  the  order  of  knight- 
hood, and  contrary  unto  his  oath ;  it  is  pity  that  he  liveth. 
But,  fair  damosel,  ye  shall  ride  on  afore,  yourself,  and  I  will 
keep  myself  in  covert,  and  if  that  he  trouble  you  or  distress 
you  I  shall  be  your  rescue  and  learn  him  to  be  ruled  as  a 
knight.  So  the  maid  rode  on  by  the  way  a  soft  ambling  pace. 
And  within  a  while  came  out  that  knight  on  horseback  out 
of  the  wood,  and  his  page  with  him,  and  there  he  put  the 
damosel  from  her  horse,  and  then  she  cried.  With  that  came 
Launcelot  as  fast  as  he  might  till  he  came  to  that  knight, 
saying,  O  thou  false  knight  and  traitor  unto  knighthood,  who 
did  learn  thee  to  distress  ladies  and  gentlewomen?  When 
the  knight  saw  Sir  Launcelot  thus  rebuking  him  he  answered 
not,  but  drew  his  sword  and  rode  unto  Sir  Launcelot,  and 
Sir  Launcelot  threw  his  spear  from  him,  and  drew  out  his 
sword,  and  struck  him  such  a  buffet  on  the  helmet  that  he 
clave  his  head  and  neck  unto  the  throat.  Now  hast  thou 
thy  payment  that  long  thou  hast  deserved,  that  is  truth,  said 
the  damosel.  For  like  as  Sir  Turquine  watched  to  destroy 
knights,  so  did  this  knight  attend  to  destroy  and  distress 
ladies,  damosels,  and  gentlewomen,  and  his  name  was  Sir 
Peris  de  Forest  Savage.  Now,  damosel,  said  Sir  Launcelot, 
will  ye  any  more  service  of  me  ?  Nay,  sir,  she  said,  at  this 
time,  but  almighty  Jesu  preserve  you  wheresomever  ye  ride 

T.  45 


1 66  King  Arthur 

or  go,  for  the  curtiest  knight  thou  art,  and  meekest,  unto  all 
ladies  and  gentlewomen  that  now  liveth.  But  one  thing,  sh 
knight,  methinketh  ye  lack,  ye  that  are  a  knight  wifeless, 
that  ye  will  not  love  some  maiden  or  gentlewoman,  for  I 
could  never  hear  say  that  ever  ye  loved  any  of  no  manner 
degree,  and  that  is  great  pity ;  but  it  is  noised  that  ye  love 
Queen  Gwenever,  and  that  she  hath  ordained  by  enchantment 
that  ye  shall  never  love  none  other  but  her,  nor  none  other 
damosel  nor  lady  shall  rejoice  you  ;  wherefore  many  in  this 
land  of  high  estate  and  low  make  great  sorrow.  Fair 
damosel,  said  Sir  Launcelot,  I  may  not  warne  people  to 
speak  of  me  what  it  pleaseth  them  ;  but  for  to  be  a  wedded 
man,  I  think  it  not ;  for  then  I  must  couch  with  her,  and 
leave  arms  and  tournaments,  battles,  and  adventures  ;  and  as 
for  to  say  for  to  take  my  pleasaunce  with  paramours,  that 
will  I  refuse  in  principle  for  dread  of  God  ;  for  knights  that 
be  adventurous  or  lecherous  shall  not  be  happy  nor  fortunate 
unto  the  wars,  for  either  they  shall  be  overcome  with  a 
simpler  knight  than  they  be  themself,  other  else  they  shall  by 
unhap  and  their  cursedness  slay  better  men  than  they  be 
themself.  And  so  who  that  useth  paramours  shall  be 
unhappy,  and  all  thing  is  unhappy  that  is  about  them.  And 
so  Sir  Launcelot  and  she  departed.  And  then  he  rode  in  a 
deep  forest  two  days  and  more,  and  had  strait  lodging.  So 
on  the  third  day  he  rode  over  a  long  bridge,  and  there  started 
upon  him  suddenly  a  passing  foul  churl,  and  he  smote  his 
horse  on  the  nose  that  he  turned  about,  and  asked  him  why 
he  rode  over  that  bridge  without  his  licence.  Why  should  I 
not  ride  this  way  ?  said  Sir  Launcelot,  I  may  not  ride  beside. 
Thou  shalt  not  choose,  said  the  churl,  and  lashed  at  him  with 
a  great  club  shod  with  iron.  Then  Sir  Launcelot  drew  his 
sword  and  put  the  stroke  aback,  and  clave  his  head  unto  the 
paps.  At  the  end  of  the  bridge  was  a  fair  village,  and  all 
the  people,  men  and  women,  cried  on  Sir  Launcelot,  and 
said,  A  worse  deed  didst  thou  never  for  thyself,  for  thou  hast 
slain  the  chief  porter  of  our  castle.  Sir  Launcelot  let  them 
say  what  they  would,  and  straight  he  went  into  the  castle ; 
and  when  he  came  into  the  castle  he  alit,  and  tied  his  horse 
to  a  ring  on  the  wall,  and  there  he  saw  a  fair  green  court, 
and  thither  he  dressed  him,  for  there  him  thought  was  a  fair 
place  to  fight  in.  So  he  looked  about,  and  saw  much  people 
in  doors  and  windows  that  said.  Fair  knight,  thou  art 
unhappy. 


King  Arthur  167 


CHAPTER    XI 

HOW  SIR  LAUNCELOT  SLEW   TWO  GIANTS,  AND    MADE  A  CASTLE    FREE 

ANON  withal  came  there  upon  him  two  great  giants,  well 
armed  all  save  the  heads,  with  two  horrible  clubs  in  their 
hands.  Sir  Launcelot  put  his  shield  afore  him  and  put  the 
stroke  away  of  the  one  giant,  and  with  his  sword  he  clave 
his  head  asunder.  When  his  fellow  saw  that  he  ran  away 
as  he  were  wood,  for  fear  of  the  horrible  strokes,  and 
Launcelot  after  him  with  all  his  might,  and  smote  him  on 
the  shoulder,  and  clave  him  to  the  navel.  Then  Sir  Launcelot 
went  into  the  hall,  and  there  came  afore  him  three  score 
ladies  and  damosels,  and  all  kneeled  unto  him,  and  thanked 
God  and  him  of  their  deliverance ;  For  sir,  said  they,  the 
most  part  of  us  have  been  here  this  seven  year  their  prisoners, 
and  we  have  worked  all  manner  of  silk  works  for  our  meat, 
and  we  are  all  great  gentlewomen  born,  and  blessed  be  the 
time,  knight,  that  ever  thou  be  born ;  for  thou  hast  done  the 
most  worship  that  ever  did  knight  in  this  world,  that  will  we 
bear  record,  and  we  all  pray  you  to  tell  us  your  name,  that 
we  may  tell  our  friends  who  delivered  us  out  of  prison.  Fair 
damosel,  he  said,  my  name  is  Sir  Launcelot  du  Lake.  Ah, 
sir,  said  they  all,  well  mayest  thou  be  he,  for  else  save  your- 
self, as  we  deemed,  there  might  never  knight  have  the 
better  of  these  two  giants ;  for  many  fair  knights  have  assayed 
it,  and  here  have  ended,  and  many  times  have  we  wished  after 
you,  and  these  two  giants  dread  never  knight  but  you.  Now 
may  ye  say,  said  Sir  Launcelot,  unto  your  friends  how  and 
who  hath  delivered  you,  and  greet  them  all  from  me,  and  if 
that  I  come  in  any  of  your  marches,  show  me  such  cheer  as 
ye  have  cause,  and  what  treasure  that  there  in  this  castle  is 
I  give  it  you  for  a  reward  for  your  grievance.  And  the  lord 
that  is  owner  of  this  castle  I  would  he  received  it  as  is 
right.  Fair  sir,  said  they,  the  name  of  this  castle  is  Tintagil, 
and  a  duke  ought  it  sometime  that  had  wedded  fair  Igraine, 
and  after  wedded  her  Uther  Pendragon,  and  gat  on  her 
Arthur.  Well,  said  Sir  Launcelot,  I  understand  to  whom 
this  castle  longeth ;  and  so  he  departed  from  them,  and  by- 
taughte  them  unto  God.  And  then  he  mounted  upon  his 
horse,  and  rode  into  many  strange  and  wild  countries,  and 
through  many  waters  and  valleys,  and  evil  was  he  lodged. 


1 68  King  Arthur 

And  at  the  last  by  fortune  him  happened,  against  a  night 
to  come  to  a  fair  courtelage,  and  therein  he  found  an  old 
gentlewoman  that  lodged  him  with  good  will,  and  there  he 
had  good  cheer  for  him  and  his  horse.  And  when  time 
was,  his  host  brought  him  into  a  fair  garret,  over  the  gate,  to 
his  bed.  There  Sir  Launcelot  unarmed  him,  and  set  his 
harness  by  him,  and  went  to  bed,  and  anon  he  fell  on  sleep. 
So,  soon  after,  there  came  one  on  horseback,  and  knocked 
at  the  gate  in  great  haste,  and  when  Sir  Launcelot  heard 
this,  he  arose  up  and  looked  out  at  the  window,  and  saw  by 
the  moonlight  three  knights  came  riding  after  that  one  man, 
and  all  three  lashed  on  him  at  once  with  swords,  and  that 
one  knight  turned  on  them  knightly  again,  and  defended 
him.  Truly,  said  Sir  Launcelot,  yonder  one  knight  shall  I 
help,  for  it  were  shame  for  me  to  see  three  knights  on  one. 
And  if  he  be  slain  I  am  partner  of  his  death,  and  therewith 
he  took  his  harness,  and  went  out  at  a  window  by  a  sheet 
down  to  the  four  knights,  and  then  Sir  Launcelot  said  on 
high,  Turn  you  knights  unto  me,  and  leave  your  fighting 
with  that  knight.  And  then  they  all  three  left  Sir  Kay,  and 
turned  unto  Sir  Launcelot,  and  there  began  great  battle,  for 
they  alit  all  three,  and  struck  many  great  strokes  at  Sir 
Launcelot,  and  assailed  him  on  every  side.  Then  Sir  Kay 
dressed  him  for  to  have  holpen  Sir  Launcelot.  Nay,  sir, 
said  he,  I  will  none  of  your  help ;  therefore  as  ye  will  have 
my  help,  let  me  alone  with  them.  Sir  Kay,  for  the  pleasure 
of  the  knight,  suffered  him  for  to  do  his  will,  and  so  stood 
on  side.  And  then  anon  within  six  strokes,  Sir  Launcelot 
had  stricken  them  to  the  earth.  And  then  they  all  three 
cried  :  Sir  knight,  we  yield  us  unto  you  as  a  man  of  might, 
makeless.  As  to  that,  said  Sir  Launcelot,  I  will  not  take 
your  yielding  unto  me.  But  so  that  ye  will  yield  you  unto 
Sir  Kay  the  Seneschal,  on  that  covenant  I  will  save  your 
lives,  and  else  not.  Fair  knight,  said  they,  that  were  we 
loth  to  do ;  for  as  for  Sir  Kay,  we  chased  him  hither,  and 
had  overcome  him  had  not  ye  been,  therefore  to  yield  us 
unto  him  it  were  no  reason.  Well,  as  to  that,  said  Launcelot, 
advise  you  well,  for  ye  may  choose  whether  ye  will  die  or 
live,  for  an  ye  be  yolden  it  shall  be  unto  Sir  Kay.  Fair 
knight,  then  they  said,  in  saving  of  our  lives  we  will  do  as 
thou  commandest  us.  Then  shall  ye,  said  Sir  Launcelot, 
on  Whitsunday  next  coming,  go  unto  the  court  of 
King  Arthur  and  there  shall  ye  yield  you  unto  Queen 


King  Arthur  169 

Gwenever,  and  put  you  all  three  in  her  grace  and  mercy, 
and  say  that  Sir  Kay  sent  you  thither  to  be  her  prisoners. 
Sir,  they  said,  it  shall  be  done  by  the  faith  of  our  bodies,  an 
we  be  living,  and  there  they  swore  every  knight  upon  his 
sword.  And  so  Sir  Launcelot  suffered  them  so  to  depart. 
And  then  Sir  Launcelot  knocked  at  the  gate  with  the  pom- 
mel of  his  sword,  and  with  that  came  his  host,  and  in  they 
entered  Sir  Kay  and  he.  Sir,  said  his  host,  I  weened  ye 
had  been  in  your  bed.  So  I  was,  said  Sir  Launcelot,  but  I 
rose  and  leapt  out  at  my  window  for  to  help  an  old  fellow 
of  mine.  And  so  when  they  came  nigh  the  light,  Sir  Kay 
knew  well  that  it  was  Sir  Launcelot,  and  therewith  he 
kneeled  down  and  thanked  him  of  all  his  kindness  that  he 
had  holpen  him  twice  from  the  death.  Sir,  he  said,  I  have 
nothing  done  but  that  me  ought  for  to  do,  and  ye  are 
welcome,  and  here  shall  ye  repose  you  and  take  your  rest. 
So  when  Sir  Kay  was  unarmed,  he  asked  after  meat ;  so 
there  was  meat  fetched  him,  and  he  ate  strongly.  And 
when  he  had  supped  they  went  to  their  beds  and  were 
lodged  together  in  one  bed.  On  the  morn  Sir  Launcelot 
arose  early,  and  left  Sir  Kay  sleeping,  and  Sir  Launcelot 
took  Sir  Kay's  armour  and  his  shield,  and  armed  him,  and 
so  he  went  to  the  stable,  and  took  his  horse,  and  took  his 
leave  of  his  host,  and  so  he  departed.  Then  soon  after 
arose  Sir  Kay  and  missed  Sir  Launcelot.  And  then  he 
espied  that  he  had  his  armour  and  his  horse.  Now  by  my 
faith  I  know  well  that  he  will  grieve  some  of  the  court  of 
King  Arthur ;  for  on  him  knights  will  be  bold,  and  deem 
that  it  is  I,  and  that  will  beguile  them.  And  bycause  of  his 
armour  and  shield  I  am  sure  I  shall  ride  in  peace.  And 
then  soon  after  departed  Sir  Kay  and  thanked  his  host. 


CHAPTER  XII 

HOW    SIR    LAUNCELOT    RODE  DISGUISED    IN    SIR  KAY'S  HARNESS,  AND 
HOW    HE    SMOTE    DOWN    A   KNIGHT 

Now  turn  we  unto  Sir  Launcelot  that  had  ridden  long  in 
a  great  forest,  and  at  the  last  he  came  into  a  low  country, 
full  of  fair  rivers  and  meadows.  And  afore  him  he  saw  a 
long  bridge,  and  three  pavilions  stood  thereon,  of  silk  and 
sendal  of  divers  hue.  And  without  the  pavilions  hung  three 


1 70  King  Arthur 

white  shields  on  truncheons  of  spears,  and  great  long  spears 
stood  upright  by  the  pavilions,  and  at  every  pavilion's  door 
stood  three  fresh  squires,  and  so  Sir  Launcelot  passed  by 
them  and  spake  no  word.  When  he  was  passed  the  three 
knights  saiden  him  that  it  was  the  proud  Kay ;  He  weeneth 
no  knight  so  good  as  he,  and  the  contrary  is  ofttime  proved. 
By  my  faith,  said  one  of  the  knights,  his  name  was  Sir 
Gaunter,  I  will  ride  after  him  and  assay  him  for  all  his 
pride,  and  ye  may  behold  how  that  I  speed.  So  this 
knight,  Sir  Gaunter,  armed  him,  and  hung  his  shield  upon 
his  shoulder,  and  mounted  upon  a  great  horse,  and  gat  his 
spear  in  his  hand,  and  walloped  after  Sir  Launcelot.  And 
when  he  came  nigh  him,  he  cried,  Abide,  thou  proud  knight 
Sir  Kay,  for  thou  shalt  not  pass  quit.  So  Sir  Launcelot 
turned  him,  and  either  feutryd  their  spears,  and  came 
together  with  all  their  mights,  and  Sir  Gaunter's  spear  brake, 
but  Sir  Launcelot  smote  him  down  horse  and  man.  And 
when  Sir  Gaunter  was  at  the  earth  his  brethren  said  each 
one  to  other,  Yonder  knight  is  not  Sir  Kay,  for  he  is  bigger 
than  he.  I  dare  lay  my  head,  said  Sir  Gilmere,  yonder 
knight  hath  slain  Sir  Kay  and  hath  taken  his  horse  and  his 
harness.  Whether  it  be  so  or  no,  said  Sir  Raynold,  the 
third  brother,  let  us  now  go  mount  upon  our  horses  and 
rescue  our  brother  Sir  Gaunter,  upon  pain  of  death.  We 
all  shall  have  work  enough  to  match  that  knight,  for  ever 
meseemeth  by  his  person  it  is  Sir  Launcelot,  or  Sir  Tristram, 
or  Sir  Pelleas,  the  good  knight.  Then  anon  they  took  their 
horses  and  overtook  Sir  Launcelot,  and  Sir  Gilmere  put 
forth  his  spear,  and  ran  to  Sir  Launcelot,  and  Sir  Launcelot 
smote  him  down  that  he  lay  in  a  swoon.  Sir  knight,  said 
Sir  Raynold,  thou  art  a  strong  man,  and  as  I  suppose  thou 
hast  slain  my  two  brethren,  for  the  which  rasyth  my  heart 
sore  against  thee,  and  if  I  might  with  my  worship  I  would 
not  have  ado  with  you,  but  needs  I  must  take  part  as  they 
do,  and  therefore,  knight,  he  said,  keep  thyself.  And  so 
they  hurtled  together  with  all  their  mights,  and  all  to- 
shivered  both  their  spears.  And  then  they  drew  their 
swords  and  lashed  together  eagerly.  Anon  therewith  arose 
Sir  Gaunter,  and  came  unto  his  brother  Sir  Gilmere,  and 
bade  him,  Arise,  and  help  we  our  brother  Sir  Raynold,  that 
yonder  marvellously  matched  yonder  good  knight.  There- 
withal, they  leapt  on  their  horses  and  hurtled  unto  Sir 
Launcelot.  And  when  he  saw  them  come  he  smote  a  sore 


King  Arthur  171 

stroke  unto  Sir  Raynold,  that  he  fell  off  his  horse  to  the 
ground,  and  then  he  struck  to  the  other  two  brethren,  and 
at  two  strokes  he  strake  them  down  to  the  earth.  With 
that  Sir  Raynold  began  to  start  up  with  his  head  all  bloody, 
and  came  straight  unto  Sir  Launcelot.  Now  let  be,  said 
Sir  Launcelot,  I  was  not  far  from  thee  when  thou  wert 
made  knight,  Sir  Raynold,  and  also  I  know  thou  art  a 
good  knight,  and  loth  I  were  to  slay  thee.  Gramercy, 
said  Sir  Raynold,  as  for  your  goodness ;  and  I  dare  say  as 
for  me  and  my  brethren,  we  will  not  be  loth  to  yield  us 
unto  you,  with  that  we  knew  your  name,  for  well  we  know 
ye  are  not  Sir  Kay.  As  for  that  be  it  as  it  be  may,  for  ye 
shall  yield  you  unto  dame  Gwenever,  and  look  that  ye  be 
with  her  on  Whitsunday,  and  yield  you  unto  her  as 
prisoners,  and  say  that  Sir  Kay  sent  you  unto  her.  Then 
they  swore  it  should  be  done,  and  so  passed  forth  Sir 
Launcelot,  and  each  one  of  the  brethren  help  other  as  well 
as  they  might. 


CHAPTER   XIII 

HOW    SIR    LAUNCELOT    JOUSTED    AGAINST     FOUR    KNIGHTS    OF    THE 
ROUND   TABLE   AND   OVERTHREW   THEM 

So  Sir  Launcelot  rode  into  a  deep  forest,  and  thereby  in 
a  slade,  he  saw  four  knights  hoving  under  an  oak,  and  they 
were  of  Arthur's  court,  one  was  Sir  Sagramour  le  Desirous, 
and  Ector  de  Maris,  and  Sir  Gawaine,  and  Sir  Uwaine. 
Anon  as  these  four  knights  had  espied  Sir  Launcelot,  they 
weened  by  his  arms  it  had  been  Sir  Kay.  Now  by  my 
faith,  said  Sir  Sagramour,  I  will  prove  Sir  Kay's  might,  and 
gat  his  spear  in  his  hand,  and  came  toward  Sir  Launcelot. 
Therewith  Sir  Launcelot  was  ware  and  knew  him  well,  and 
feutryd  his  spear  against  him,  and  smote  Sir  Sagramour  so 
sore  that  horse  and  man  fell  both  to  the  earth.  Lo,  my 
fellows,  said  he,  yonder  ye  may  see  what  a  buffet  he  hath ; 
that  knight  is  much  bigger  than  ever  was  Sir  Kay.  Now 
shall  ye  see  what  I  may  do  to  him.  So  Sir  Ector  gat  his 
spear  in  his  hand  and  walloped  toward  Sir  Launcelot,  and 
Sir  Launcelot  smote  him  through  the  shield  and  shoulder, 
that  man  and  horse  went  to  the  earth,  and  ever  his  spear 
held.  By  my  faith,  said  Sir  Uwaine,  yonder  is  a  strong 
knight,  and  I  am  sure  he  hath  slain  Sir  Kay ;  and  I  see 


172  King  Arthur 

by  his  great  strength  it  will  be  hard  to  match  him.  And 
therewithal,  Sir  Uwaine  gat  his  spear  in  his  hand  and  rode 
toward  Sir  Launcelot,  and  Sir  Launcelot  knew  him  well, 
and  so  he  met  him  on  the  plain,  and  gave  him  such  a  buffet 
that  he  was  astonied,  that  long  he  wist  not  where  he  was. 
Now  see  I  well,  said  Sir  Gawaine,  I  must  encounter  with 
that  knight.  Then  he  dressed  his  shield  and  gat  a  good 
spear  in  his  hand,  and  Sir  Launcelot  knew  him  well ;  and 
then  they  let  run  their  horses  with  all  their  mights,  and 
either  knight  smote  other  in  middes  of  the  shield.  But  Sir 
Gawaine's  spear  to-brast,  and  Sit  Launcelot  charged  so  sore 
upon  him  that  his  horse  reversed  up-so-down.  And  much 
sorrow  had  Sir  Gawaine  to  avoid  his  horse,  and  so  Sir 
Launcelot  passed  on  a  pace  and  smiled,  and  said,  God  give 
him  joy  that  this  spear  made,  for  there  came  never  a  better 
in  my  hand.  Then  the  four  knights  went  each  one  to  other 
and  comforted  each  other.  What  say  ye  by  this  guest  ?  said 
Sir  Gawaine,  that  one  spear  hath  felled  us  all  four.  We 
commend  him  unto  the  devil,  they  said  all,  for  he  is  a  man 
of  great  might.  Ye  may  well  say  it,  said  Sir  Gawaine,  that 
he  is  a  man  of  might,  for  I  dare  lay  my  head  it  is  Sir 
Launcelot,  I  know  it  by  his  riding.  Let  him  go,  said  Sir 
Gawaine,  for  when  we  come  to  the  court  then  shall  we  wit ; 
and  then  had  they  much  sorrow  to  get  their  horses  again. 


CHAPTER   XIV 

HOW  SIR  LAUNCELOT  FOLLOWED  A  BRACKET  INTO  A  CASTLE, 
WHERE  HE  FOUND  A  DEAD  KNIGHT,  AND  HOW  HE  AFTER  WAS 
REQUIRED  OF  A  DAMOSEL  TO  HEAL  HER  BROTHER 

Now  leave  we  there  and  speak  of  Sir  Launcelot  that  rode 
a  great  while  in  a  deep  forest,  where  he  saw  a  black  brachet, 
seeking  in  manner  as  it  had  been  in  the  feute  of  an  hurt 
deer.  And  therewith  he  rode  after  the  brachet,  and  he  saw 
lie  on  the  ground  a  large  feute  of  blood.  And  then  Sir 
Launcelot  rode  after.  And  ever  the  brachet  looked  behind 
her,  and  so  she  went  through  a  great  marsh,  and  ever  Sir 
Launcelot  followed.  And  then  was  he  ware  of  an  old 
manor,  and  thither  ran  the  brachet,  and  so  over  the  bridge. 
So  Sir  Launcelot  rode  over  that  bridge  that  was  old  and 
feeble ;  and  when  he  came  in  middes  of  a  great  hall,  there 


King  Arthur  173 

he  saw  lie  a  dead  knight  that  was  a  seemly  man,  and  that 
brachet  licked  his  wounds.  And  therewithal  came  out  a 
lady  weeping  and  wringing  her  hands ;  and  then  she  said, 

0  knight,  too  much  sorrow  hast  thou  brought  me.     Why 
say  ye  so  ?     said  Sir  Launcelot,  I  did  never  this  knight  no 
harm,  for  hither  by  feute  of  blood  this  brachet  brought  me  ; 
and  therefore,  fair  lady,  be  not  displeased  with  me,  for  I  am 
full  sore  aggrieved  of  your  grievance.     Truly,  sir,  she  said, 

1  trow  it  be  not  ye  that  hath  slain  my  husband,  for  he  that 
did  that  deed  is  sore  wounded,  and  he  is  never  likely  to 
recover,  that  shall  I  ensure  him.     What  was  your  husband's 
name  ?  said   Sir  Launcelot.      Sir,  said  she,  his  name  was 
called  Sir  Gilbert  the  Bastard,  one  of  the  best  knights  of 
the  world,  and  he  that  hath  slain  him  I  know  not  his  name. 
Now  God  send  you  better  comfort,  said  Sir  Launcelot ;  and 
so  he  departed  and  went  into  the  forest  again,  and  there 
he  met  with  a  damosel,  the  which  knew  him  well,  and  she 
said  on  loud,  Well  be  ye  found,  my  lord  ;  and  now  I  require 
thee,  on  thy  knighthood,  help  my  brother  that  is  sore  wounded, 
and  never  stinteth  bleeding ;  for  this  day  he  fought  with 
Sir  Gilbert  the  Bastard  and  slew  him  in  plain  battle,  and 
there  was  my  brother  sore  wounded,  and  there  is  a  lady  a 
sorceress  that  dwelleth  in  a  castle  here  beside,  and  this  day 
she  told  me  my  brother's  wounds  should  never  be  whole 
till  I  could  find  a  knight  that  would  go  into  the  Chapel 
Perilous,  and  there  he  should  find  a  sword  and  a  bloody 
cloth  that  the  wounded  knight  was  lapped  in,  and  a  piece 
of  that  cloth  and  sword  should  heal  my  brother's  wounds, 
so  that  his  wounds  were  searched  with  the  sword  and  the 
cloth.     This  is  a  marvellous  thing,  said  Sir  Launcelot,  but 
what  is  your  brother's  name?     Sir,  she  said,  his  name  was 
Sir    Meliot    de    Logres.      That    me   repenteth,    said    Sir 
Launcelot,  for  he  is  a  fellow  of  the  Table  Round,  and  to 
his  help  I  will  do  my  power.     Then,  sir,  said  she,  follow 
even  this  highway,  and  it  will  bring  you  unto  the  Chapel 
Perilous ;  and  here  I  shall  abide  till  God  send  you  here 
again,  and,  but  you  speed,  I  know  no  knight  living  that  may 
achieve  that  adventure. 


I  45  * 


G 


174  King  Arthur 


CHAPTER  xv 

HOW  SIR  LAUNCELOT  CAME  INTO  THE  CHAPEL  PERILOUS  AND 
GAT  THERE  OF  A  DEAD  CORPSE  A  PIECE  OF  THE  CLOTH  AND 
A  SWORD 

RIGHT  so  Sir  Launcelot  departed,  and  when  he  came 
unto  the  Chapel  Perilous  he  alit  down,  and  tied  his  horse 
unto   a   little   gate.     And   as  soon   as    he  was  within   the 
churchyard  he  saw  on  the  front  of  the  chapel  many  fair 
rich  shields  turned  up  so  down,  and  many  of  the  shields 
Sir  Launcelot  had    seen  knights  bear   beforehand.     With 
that  he  saw  by  him  there  stand  thirty  great  knights,  more 
by  a  yard  than  any  man  that  ever  he  had  seen,  and  all 
those  grinned  and  gnashed  at  Sir  Launcelot.    And  when  he 
saw  their  countenance  he  dread  him  sore,  and  so  put  his 
shield   afore  him,  and  took  his  sword  ready  in  his  hand 
ready   unto   battle,    and   they   were   all    armed    in    black 
harness  ready  with  their  shields  and  their  swords  drawn. 
And   when   Sir    Launcelot   would   have   gone    throughout 
them,    they   scattered   on    every   side   of    him,    and    gave 
him    the   way,    and    therewith    he   waxed    all    bold,    and 
entered   into  the  chapel,  and   then    he  saw  no  light   but 
a  dim  lamp  burning,  and  then  was   he  ware  of  a  corpse 
hylled  with  a  cloth  of  silk.     Then  Sir  Launcelot  stooped 
down,  and  cut  a  piece  away  of  that  cloth,  and  then  it  fared 
under  him  as  the  earth  had  quaked  a  little ;  therewithal  he 
feared.     And   then   he   saw   a   fair  sword  lie  by  the  dead 
knight,  and  that  he  gat  in  his  hand  and  hied  him  out  of 
the  chapel.     Anon  as  ever  he  was  in  the  chapel  yard  all 
the  knights  spake  to  him  with  a  grimly  voice,  and  said, 
Knight  Sir  Launcelot,  lay  that  sword  from  thee  or  else  thou 
shalt  die.     Whether  that  I  live  or  die,  said  Sir  Launcelot, 
with  no  great  word  get  ye  it  again,  therefore  fight  for  it  an 
ye  list.     Then   right  so  he  passed  throughout  them,  and 
beyond  the  chapel  yard  there  met  him  a  fair  damosel,  and 
said,  Sir  Launcelot,  leave  that  sword  behind  thee,  or  thou 
wilt  die  for  it.     I  leave  it  not,  said  Sir  Launcelot,  for  no 
entreaties.     No,  said  she,  an  thou  didst  leave  that  sword, 
Queen  Guenever  should  thou  never  see.     Then  were  I  a 
fool  an  I  would  leave  this  sword,  said  Launcelot.     Now, 
gentle  knight,  said  the  damosel,  I  require  thee  to  kiss  me 
but  once.     Nay,  said  Sir  Launcelot,  that  God  me  forbid. 


King  Arthur  175 

Well,  sir,  said  she,  an  thou  hadst  kissed  me  thy  life  days 
had  been  done,  but  now,  alas,  she  said,  I  have  lost  all  my 
labour,  for  I  ordained  this  chapel  for  thy  sake,  and  for  Sir 
Gawaine.  And  once  I  had  Sir  Gawaine  within  me,  and  at 
that  time  he  fought  with  that  knight  that  lieth  there  dead 
in  yonder  chapel,  Sir  Gilbert  the  Bastard ;  and  at  that  time 
he  smote  the  left  hand  off  of  Sir  Gilbert  the  Bastard.  And, 
Sir  Launcelot,  now  I  tell  thee,  I  have  loved  thee  this  seven 
year,  but  there  may  no  woman  have  thy  love  but  Queen 
Guenever.  But  sythen  I  may  not  rejoice  thee  to  have  thy 
body  on  live,  I  had  kept  no  more  joy  in  this  world  but  to 
have  thy  body  dead.  Then  would  I  have  balmed  it  and 
served  it,  and  so  have  kept  it  my  life  days,  and  daily  I 
should  have  clipped  thee,  and  kissed  thee,  in  despite  of 
Queen  Guenever.  Ye  say  well,  said  Sir  Launcelot,  Jesu 
preserve  me  from  your  subtle  crafts.  And  therewithal  he 
took  his  horse  and  so  departed  from  her.  And  as  the  book 
saith,  when  Sir  Launcelot  was  departed  she  took  such 
sorrow  that  she  died  within  a  fourteen  night,  and  her  name 
was  Hellawes  the  sorceress,  Lady  of  the  Castle  Nigramous. 
Anon  Sir  Launcelot  met  with  the  damosel,  Sir  Meliot's 
sister.  And  when  she  saw  him  she  clapped  her  hands, 
and  wept  for  joy.  And  then  they  rode  unto  a  castle 
thereby  where  lay  Sir  Meliot.  And  anon  as  Sir  Launcelot 
saw  him  he  knew  him,  but  he  was  passing  pale  as 
the  earth  for  bleeding.  When  Sir  Meliot  saw  Sir  Launce- 
lot he  kneeled  upon  his  knees  and  cried  on  high :  O  lord 
Sir  Launcelot,  help  me  !  Anon  Sir  Launcelot  leapt  unto 
him  and  touched  his  wounds  with  Sir  Gilbert's  sword.  And 
then  he  wiped  his  wounds  with  a  part  of  the  bloody  cloth 
that  Sir  Gilbert  was  wrapped  in,  and  anon  an  wholer  man 
in  his  life  was  he  never.  And  then  there  was  great  joy 
between  them,  and  they  made  Sir  Launcelot  all  the  cheer 
that  they  might,  and  so  on  the  morn  Sir  Launcelot  took  his 
leave,  and  bade  Sir  Meliot  hie  him  to  the  court  of  my  lord 
Arthur,  for  it  draweth  nigh  to  the  Feast  of  Pentecost,  and 
there  by  the  grace  of  God  ye  shall  find  me.  And  therewith 
they  departed. 


176  King  Arthur 


CHAPTER  XVI 

HOW  SIR   LAUNCELOT   AT  THE   REQUEST    OF   A   LADY    RECOVERED    A 
FALCON,    EY   WHICH    HE   WAS   DECEIVED 

AND   so    Sir    Launcelot    rode    through    many    strange 
countries,    over   marshes   and   valleys,    till   by    fortune   he 
came  to  a  fair  castle,  and  as  he  passed  beyond  the  castle 
him  thought  he  heard  two  bells  ring.     And  then  was  he 
ware  of  a  falcon  came  flying  over  his  head  toward  an  high 
elm,  and  long  lines  about  her  feet,  and  as  she  flew  unto  the 
elm  to  take  her  perch  the  lines  over-cast  about  a  bough. 
And  when  she  would  have  taken  her  flight  she  hung  by  the 
legs  fast ;  and  Sir  Launcelot  saw  how  she  hung,  and  beheld 
the  fair  falcon  perigot,   and  he  was  sorry   for   her.     The 
meanwhile  came  a  lady  out  of  the  castle  and  cried  on  high  : 
O  Launcelot,  Launcelot,  as  thou  art  flower  of  all  knights, 
help  me  to  get  my  hawk,  for  an  my  hawk  be  lost  my  lord 
will  destroy  me ;  for  I  kept  the  hawk  and  she  slipped  from 
me,  and  if  my  lord  my  husband  wit  it  he  is  so  hasty  that  he 
will  slay  me.     What  is  your  lord's  name  ?  said  Sir  Launce- 
lot.    Sir,  she  said,  his  name  is  Sir  Phelot,  a  knight  that 
longeth  unto  the  King  of  Northgalis.     Well,  fair  lady,  syne 
that  ye  know  my  name,  and  require  me  of  knighthood  to 
help  you,  I  will  do  what  I  may  to  get  your  hawk,  and  yet 
God  knoweth  I  am  an  ill  climber,  and  the  tree  is  passing 
high,  and  few  boughs  to  help  me  withal.     And  therewith 
Sir  Launcelot  alit,  and  tied  his  horse  to  the  same  tree,  and 
prayed   the    lady  to  unarm    him.     And    so   when  he  was 
unarmed,    he   put   off  all   his   clothes  unto  his  shirt  and 
breech,    and   with  might  and   force   he  clomb  up  to  the 
falcon,   and  tied  the  lines  to  a  great  rotten  boyshe,   and 
threw  the  hawk  down  and  it  withal.     Anon  the  lady  gat 
the   hawk   in    her   hand ;    and   therewithal   came   out   Sir 
Phelot  out  of  the  groves  suddenly,  that  was  her  husband, 
all  armed  and  with  his  naked  sword  in  his  hand,  and  said  : 
O  knight  Launcelot,  now  have  I  found  thee  as   I  would, 
and  stood  at  the  bole  of  the  tree  to  slay  him.     Ah,  lady, 
said  Sir  Launcelot,  why  have  ye  betrayed  me  ?     She  hath 
done,  said  Sir  Phelot,  but  as  I  commanded  her,  and  there- 
fore there  nys  none  other  boote  but  thine  hour  is  come 
that  thou  must  die.     That  were  shame  unto  thee,  said  Sir 
Launcelot,  thou  an  armed  knight  to  slay  a  naked  man  by 


King  Arthur  177 

treason.  Thou  gettest  none  other  grace,  said  Sir  Phelot, 
and  therefore  help  thyself  an  thou  canst.  Truly,  said  Sir 
Launcelot,  that  shall  be  thy  shame,  but  syne  thou  wilt  do 
none  other,  take  mine  harness  with  thee,  and  hang  my 
sword  upon  a  bough  that  I  may  get  it,  and  then  do  thy 
best  to  slay  me  an  thou  canst.  Nay,  nay,  said  Sir  Phelot, 
for  I  know  thee  better  than  thou  weenest,  therefore  thou 
gettest  no  weapon  an  I  may  keep  you  therefrom.  Alas, 
said  Sir  Launcelot,  that  ever  a  knight  should  die  weaponless. 
And  therewith  he  wayted  above  him  and  under  him,  and 
over  his  head  he  saw  a  rownsepyk,  a  big  bough  leafless,  and 
therewith  he  brake  it  off  by  the  body.  And  then  he  came 
lower  and  awaited  how  his  own  horse  stood,  and  suddenly 
he  leapt  on  the  further  side  of  the  horse,  froward  the 
knight.  And  then  Sir  Phelot  lashed  at  him  eagerly, 
weening  to  have  slain  him.  But  Sir  Launcelot  put  away 
the  stroke  with  the  rownsepyk,  and  therewith  he  smote 
him  on  the  one  side  of  the  head,  that  he  fell  down  in  a 
swoon  to  the  ground.  So  then  Sir  Launcelot  took  his 
sword  out  of  his  hand,  and  struck  his  neck  from  the  bodv. 

'  .- 

Then  cried  the  lady,  Alas  !  why  hast  thou  slain  my  husband  ? 
I  am  not  causer,  said  Sir  Launcelot,  for  with  falsehood  ye 
would  have  had  slain  me  with  treason,  and  now  it  is  fallen 
on  you  both.  And  then  she  swooned  as  though  she  would 
die.  And  therewithal  Sir  Launcelot  gat  all  his  armour  as  well 
as  he  might,  and  put  it  upon  him  for  dread  of  more  resort, 
for  he  dread  that  the  knight's  castle  was  so  nigh.  And  so 
as  soon  as  he  might  he  took  his  horse  and  departed,  and 
thanked  God  that  he  had  escaped  that  adventure. 


CHAPTER   XVII 

HOW    SIR    LAUNCELOT     OVERTOOK    A    KNIGHT    WHICH    CHASED     HIS 
WIFE   TO    HAVE   SLAIN    HER,    AND    HOW   HE   SAID    TO     HIM 

So  Sir  Launcelot  rode  many  wild  ways,  throughout  marches 
and  many  wild  ways.  And  as  he  rode  in  a  valley  he  saw  a 
knight  chasing  a  lady,  with  a  naked  sword,  to  have  slain  her. 
And  by  fortune  as  this  knight  should  have  slain  this  lady, 
she  cried  on  Sir  Launcelot  and  prayed  him  to  rescue  her. 
When  Sir  Launcelot  saw  that  mischief,  he  took  his  horse 
and  rode  between  them,  saying,  Knight,  fie  for  shame,  why 


178  King  Arthur 

wilt  thou  slay  this  lady  ?  thou  dost  shame  unto  thee  and  all 
knights.  What  hast  thou  to  do  betwixt  me  and  my  wife? 
said  the  knight.  I  will  slay  her  maugre  thy  head.  That 
shall  ye  not,  said  Sir  Launcelot,  for  rather  we  two  will  have 
ado  together.  Sir  Launcelot,  said  the  knight,  thou  dost  not 
thy  part,  for  this  lady  hath  betrayed  me.  It  is  not  so,  said 
the  ladv,  trulv  he  saith  wrong  on  me.  And  for  because  I 

o 

love  and  cherish  my  cousin  germain,  he  is  jealous  betwixt 
him  and  me  ;  and  as  I  shall  answer  to  God  there  was  never 
sin  betwixt  us.  But,  sir,  said  the  lady,  as  thou  art  called  the 
worshipfullest  knight  of  the  world,  I  require  thee  of  true 
knighthood,  keep  me  and  save  me.  For  whatsomever  ye  say 
he  will  slay  me,  for  he  is  without  mercy.  Have  ye  no  doubt, 
said  Launcelot,  it  shall  not  lie  in  his  power.  Sir,  said  the 
knight,  in  your  sight  I  will  be  ruled  as  ye  will  have  me. 
And  so  Sir  Launcelot  rode  on  the  one  side  and  she  on  the 
other :  he  had  not  ridden  but  a  while,  but  the  knight  bade 
Sir  Launcelot  turn  him  and  look  behind  him,  and  said,  Sir, 
vender  come  men  of  arms  after  us  riding.  And  so  Sir 

O 

Launcelot  turned  him  and  thought  no  treason,  and  therewith 
was  the  knight  and  the  lady  on  one  side,  and  suddenly  he 
swapped  off  his  lady's  head.  And  when  Sir  Launcelot  had 
espied  him  what  he  had  done,  he  said,  and  called  him, 
Traitor,  thou  hast  shamed  me  for  ever.  And  suddenly  Sir 
Launcelot  alit  off  his  horse,  and  pulled  out  his  sword  to  slay 
him,  and  therewithal  he  fell  flat  to  the  earth,  and  gripped 
Sir  Launcelot  bv  the  thighs,  and  cried  mercv.  Fie  on  thee, 

•  V_  m 

-,..d  Sir  Launcelot,  thou  shameful  knight,  thou  mayest  have 
no  mercy,  and  therefore  arise  and  fight  with  me.  Nay,  said 
the  knight,  I  will  never  arise  till  ye  grant  me  mercy.  Now 
will  I  proffer  thee  fair,  said  Launcelot,  I  will  unarm  me  unto 
my  shirt,  and  I  will  have  nothing  upon  me  but  my  shirt,  and 
my  sword  in  my  hand.  And  if  thou  canst  slay  me,  quit  be 

,^u  for  ever.  N.iy,  sir.  said  Pedivere,  that  will  I  never. 
Well,  said  Sir  Launcelot,  take  this  lady  and  the  head,  and 

.11  it  upon  thee.  and  here  shalt  thou  swear  upon  my  sword, 
to  bear  it  always  upon  thy  back,  and  never  to  rest  till  thou 
-  Hne  to  Queen  Guenever.  Sir,  said  he,  that  will  I  do,  by 
the  faith  of  my  body.  Now,  said  Launcelot,  tell  me  what  is 
your  name  ?  Sir.  my  name  is  Pedivere.  In  a  shameful  hour 
wen  thou  bom,  said  Launcelot.  So  Pedivere  departed  with 
the  dead  lady  and  the  head,  and  found  the  queen  with  King 
Arthur  a:  Winchester,  and  there  he  told  all  the  truth.  Sir 


King  Arthur  179 

knight,  said  the  queen,  this  is  an  horrible  deed  and  a  shameful, 
and  a  great  rebuke  unto  Sir  Launcelot ;  but  notwithstanding 
his  worship  is  not  known  in  many  divers  countries ;  but  this 
shall  I  give  you  in  penance,  make  ye  as  good  shift  as  ye  can, 
ye  shall  bear  this  lady  with  you  on  horseback  unto  the  Pope 
of  Rome,  and  of  him  receive  your  penance  for  your  foul 
deeds ;  and  ye  shall  never  rest  one  night  whereas  ye  do 
another,  an  ye  go  to  any  bed  the  dead  body  shall  lie  with 
you.  This  oath  there  he  made,  and  so  departed.  And  as 
it  telleth  in  the  French  book,  when  he  came  to  Rome,  the 
Pope  bad  him  go  again  unto  Queen  Guenever,  and  in  Rome 
was  his  lady  buried  by  the  Pope's  commandment.  And 
after  this  Sir  Pedivere  fell  to  great  goodness,  and  was  an  holy 
man  and  an  hermit. 


CHAPTER   XVIII 

HOW   SIR    LAUNCELOT   CAME   TO    KING    ARTHUR'S    COURT,    AND     HOW 
THERE   WERE   RECOUNTED    ALL    HIS    NOBLE    FEATS   AND   ACTS 

Now  turn  we  unto  Sir  Launcelot  du  Lake,  that  came 
home  two  days  afore  the  Feast  of  Pentecost ;  and  the  king 
and  all  the  court  were  passing  fain  of  his  coming.  And 
when  Sir  Gawaine,  Sir  Uwaine,  Sir  Sagramore,  Sir  Ector  de 
Maris,  saw  Sir  Launcelot  in  Kay's  armour,  then  they  wist  well 
it  was  he  that  smote  them  down  all  with  one  spear.  Then 
there  was  laughing  and  smiling  among  them.  And  ever 
now  and  now  came  all  the  knights  home  that  Sir  Turquine 
had  prisoners,  and  they  all  honoured  and  worshipped  Sir 
Launcelot.  When  Sir  Gaheris  heard  them  speak,  he  said, 
I  saw  all  the  battle  from  the  beginning  to  the  ending, 
and  there  he  told  King  Arthur  all  how  it  was,  and  how  Sir 
Turquine  was  the  strongest  knight  that  ever  he  saw  except 
Sir  Launcelot :  there  were  many  knights  bare  him  record, 
nigh  three  score.  Then  Sir  Kay  told  the  king  how  Sir 
Launcelot  had  rescued  him  when  he  should  have  been  slain, 
and  how  he  made  the  knights  yield  them  to  me,  and  not 
to  him.  And  there  they  were  all  three,  and  bare  record. 
And  by  Jesu,  said  Sir  Kay,  because  Sir  Launcelot  took  my 
harness  and  left  me  his  I  rode  in  good  peace,  and  no  man 
would  have  ado  with  me.  Anon  therewithal  there  came  the 
three  knights  that  fought  with  Sir  Launcelot  at  the  long 


180  King  Arthur 

bridge.  And  there  they  yielded  them  unto  Sir  Kay,  and  Sir 
Kay  forsook  them  and  said  he  fought  never  with  them.  But 
I  shall  ease  your  heart,  said  Sir  Kay,  yonder  is  Sir  Launcelot 
that  overcame  you.  When  they  wist  that  they  were  glad. 
And  then  Sir  Meliot  de  Logres  came  home,  and  told  the 
king  how  Sir  Launcelot  had  saved  him  from  the  death. 
And  all  his  deeds  were  known,  how  four  queens,  sorceresses, 
had  him  in  prison,  and  how  he  was  delivered  by  King 
Bagdemagus's  daughter.  Also  there  were  told  all  the  great 
deeds  of  arms  that  Sir  Launcelot  did  betwixt  the  two  kings, 
that  is  for  to  say  the  King  of  Northgalis  and  King  Bagde- 
magus.  All  the  truth  Sir  Gahalantine  did  tell,  and  Sir 
Mador  de  la  Porte  and  Sir  Mordred,  for  they  were  at  that 
same  tournament.  Then  came  in  the  lady  that  knew  Sir 
Launcelot  when  that  he  wounded  Sir  Belleus  at  the  pavilion. 
And  there,  at  request  of  Sir  Launcelot,  Sir  Belleus  was 
made  knight  of  the  Round  Table.  And  so  at  that  time  Sir 
Launcelot  had  the  greatest  name  of  any  knight  of  the  world, 
and  most  he  was  honoured  of  high  and  low. 

Explicit  the  noble  tale  of  Sir  Launcelot  da  Lake,  'which  is  the 

<vi.  book.     Here  follo<weth  the  tale  of  Sir  Gareth  of 

Orkney  that  was  called  Beavmains  by  Sir 

Kay,  and  is  the  seventh  book. 


BOOK   VII 

CHAPTER   I 

HOW   BEAUMAINS   CAME   TO   KING   ARTHUR'S  COURT  AND  DEMANDED 
THREE    PETITIONS    OF   KING   ARTHUR 

WHEN  Arthur  held  his  Round  Table  most  plenour,  it 
fortuned  that  he  commanded  that  the  high  feast  of  Pentecost 
should  be  holden  at  a  site  and  a  castle,  the  which  in  those 
days  was  called  Kynke  Kenadonne,  upon  the  sands  that 
marched  nigh  Wales.  So  ever  the  king  had  a  custom  that 
at  the  feast  of  Pentecost  in  especial,  afore  other  feasts  in 
the  year,  he  would  not  go  that  day  to  meat  until  he  had 
heard  or  seen  of  a  great  marvel.  And  for  that  custom  all 


King  Arthur  181 

manner  of  strange  adventures  came  before  Arthur  as  at  that 
feast  before  all  other  feasts.  And  so  Sir  Gawaine,  a  little 
tofore  noon  of  the  day  of  Pentecost,  espied  at  a  window 
three  men  upon  horseback,  and  a  dwarf  on  foot,  and  so  the 
three  men  alit,  and  the  dwarf  kept  their  horses,  and  one  of 
the  three  men  was  higher  than  the  other  twain  by  a  foot 
and  an  half.  Then  Sir  Gawaine  went  unto  the  king  and 
said,  Sir,  go  to  your  meat,  for  here  at  the  hand  come  strange 
adventures.  So  Arthur  went  unto  his  meat  with  many  other 
kings.  And  there  were  all  the  knights  of  the  Round  Table 
only  those  that  were  prisoners  or  slain  at  a  recounter. 
Then  at  the  high  feast  evermore  they  should  be  fulfilled  the 
whole  number  of  an  hundred  and  fifty,  for  then  was  the 
Round  Table  fully  complished.  Right  so  came  into  the 
hall  two  men  well  bisene  and  richly,  and  upon  their 
shoulders  there  leaned  the  goodliest  young  man  and  the 
fairest  that  ever  they  all  saw,  and  he  was  large  and  long  and 
broad  in  the  shoulders,  and  well  visaged,  and  the  fairest 
and  the  largest  handed  that  ever  man  saw,  but  he  fared  as 
though  he  might  not  go  nor  bear  himself  but  if  he  leaned 
upon  their  shoulders.  Anon  as  Arthur  saw  him  there  was 
made  peace  and  room,  and  right  so  they  yede  with  him 
unto  the  high  dais,  without  saying  of  any  words.  Then 
this  much  young  man  pulled  him  aback,  and  easily  stretched 
up  straight,  saying,  King  Arthur,  God  you  bless  and  all  your 
fair  fellowship,  and  in  especial  the  fellowship  of  the  Table 
Round.  And  for  this  cause  I  am  come  hither,  to  pray  you 
and  require  you  to  give  me  three  gifts,  and  they  shall  not  be 
unreasonably  asked,  but  that  ye  may  worshipfully  and 
honourably  grant  them  me,  and  to  you  no  great  hurt  nor 
loss.  And  the  first  done  and  gift  I  will  ask  now,  and  the 
other  two  gifts  I  will  ask  this  day  twelvemonth,  where- 
somever  ye  hold  your  high  feast.  Now  ask,  said  Arthur, 
and  ye  shall  have  your  asking.  Now,  sir,  this  is  my  petition 
for  this  feast,  that  ye  will  give  me  meat  and  drink  sufficiently 
for  this  twelvemonth,  and  at  that  day  I  will  ask  mine  other 
two  gifts.  My  fair  son,  said  Arthur,  ask  better,  I  counsel 
thee,  for  this  is  but  a  simple  asking ;  for  my  heart  giveth 
me  to  thee  greatly,  that  thou  art  come  of  men  of  worship, 
and  greatly  my  conceit  faileth  me  but  thou  shalt  prove  a 
man  of  right  great  worship.  Sir,  he  said,  thereof  be  as  it 
be  may,  I  have  asked  that  I  will  ask.  Well,  said  the  king, 
ye  shall  have  meat  and  drink  enough ;  I  never  defended 


1 82  King  Arthur 

that  none,  neither  my  friend  nor  my  foe.  But  what  is  thy 
name  I  would  wit  ?  I  cannot  tell  you,  said  he.  That  is 
marvel,  said  the  king,  that  thou  knowest  not  thy  name,  and 
thou  art  the  goodliest  young  man  one  that  ever  I  saw. 
Then  the  king  betook  him  to  Sir  Kay  the  steward,  and 
charged  him  that  he  should  give  him  of  all  manner  of 
meats  and  drinks  of  the  best,  and  also  that  he  had  all 
manner  of  finding  as  though  he  were  a  lord's  son.  That 
shall  little  need,  said  Sir  Kay,  to  do  such  cost  upon  him  ; 
for  I  dare  undertake  he  is  a  villain  born,  and  never  will 
make  man,  for  an  he  had  come  of  gentlemen  he  would 
have  asked  of  you  horse  and  armour,  but  such  as  he  is,  so 
he  asketh.  And  sythen  he  hath  no  name,  I  shall  give  him 
a  name  that  shall  be  Beaumains,  that  is  Fair-hands,  and 
into  the  kitchen  I  shall  bring  him,  and  there  he  shall  have 
fat  brose  every  day,  that  he  shall  be  as  fat  by  the  twelve- 
months' end  as  a  pork  hog.  Right  so  the  two  men  departed 
and  beleft  him  to  Sir  Kay,  that  scorned  him  and  mocked 
him. 


CHAPTER   II 

HOW  SIR  LAUNCELOT  AND  SIR  GAWAINE  WERE  WROTH  BY  CAUSE 
SIR  KAY  MOCKED  BEAUMAINS,  AND  OF  A  DAMO5EL  WHICH 
DESIRED  A  KNIGHT  TO  FIGHT  FOR  A  LADY 

THEREAT  was  Sir  Gawaine  wroth,  and  in  especial  Sir 
Launcelot  bade  Sir  Kay  leave  his  mocking,  for  I  dare  lay 
my  head  he  shall  prove  a  man  of  great  worship.  Let  be, 
said  Sir  Kay,  it  may  not  be  by  no  reason,  for  as  he  is,  so  he 
hath  asked.  Beware,  said  Sir  Launcelot,  so  ye  gave  the 
good  knight  Brewnor,  Sir  Dinadan's  brother,  a  name,  and 
ye  called  him  La  Cote  Male  Taile,  and  that  turned  you  to 
anger  afterward.  As  for  that,  said  Sir  Kay,  this  shall  never 
prove  none  such.  For  Sir  Brewnor  desired  ever  worship, 
and  this  desireth  bread  and  drink  and  broth ;  upon  pain  of 
my  life  he  was  fostered  up  in  some  abbey,  and,  howsomever 
it  was,  they  failed  meat  and  drink,  and  so  hither  he  is  come 
for  his  sustenance.  And  so  Sir  Kay  bad  get  him  a  place, 
and  sit  down  to  meat ;  so  Beaumains  went  to  the  hall  door, 
and  set  him  down  among  boys  and  lads,  and  there  he  ate 
sadly.  And  then  Sir  Launceiot  after  meat  bad  him  come 


King  Arthur  183 

to  his  chamber,  and  there  he  should  have  meat  and  drink 
enough.     And  so  did  Sir  Gawaine  :  but  he  refused  them 
all ;  he  would  do  none  other  but  as  Sir  Kay  commanded 
him,  for  no  proffer.     But  as  touching  Sir  Gawaine,  he  had 
reason  to  proffer  him  lodging,   meat,  and  drink,  for  that 
proffer  came  of  his  blood,  for  he  was  nearer  kin  to  him 
than  he  wist.     But  that  as  Sir  Launcelot  did  was  of  his 
great  gentleness  and  courtesy.     So  thus  he  was  put  into  the 
kitchen,  and  lay  nightly  as  the  boys  of  the  kitchen  did. 
And  so  he  endured  all  that  twelvemonth,  and  never  dis- 
pleased man  nor  child,  but  always  he  was  meek  and  mild. 
But  ever  when  that  he  was  any  jousting  of  knights,  that 
would  he  see  an  he  might.     And  ever  Sir  Launcelot  would 
give  him  gold  to  spend,  and  clothes,  and  so  did  Sir  Gawaine, 
and  where  there  were  any  masteries  done,  thereat  would  he 
be,  and  there  might  none  cast  bar  nor  stone  to  him  by  two 
yards.     Then  would  Sir  Kay  say,  How  liketh  you  my  boy 
of  the  kitchen  ?     So  it  passed  on  till  the  feast  of  Whitsun- 
tide.    And  at  that  time  the  king  held  it  at  Carlion  in  the 
most  royallest  wise  that  might  be,  like  as  he  did  yearly. 
But   the  king  would  no  meat  eat  upon  the  Whitsunday, 
until  he  heard  some  adventures.     Then  came  there  a  squire 
to  the  king  and  said,  Sir,  ye  may  go  to  your  meat,  for  here 
cometh  a  damosel   with  some  strange  adventures.     Then 
was  the  king  glad  and  sat  him  down.     Right  so  there  came 
a  damosel  into  the  hall  and  saluted  the  king,  and  prayed 
him  of  succour.     For  whom  ?  said  the  king,  what  is  the 
adventure  ?     Sir,  she  said,  I  have  a  lady  of  great  worship 
and  renown,  and  she  is  besieged  with  a  tyrant,  so  that  she 
may  not  out  of  her  castle ;  and  by  cause  here  are  called  the 
noblest  knights  of  the  world,  I  come  to  you  to  pray  you  of 
succour.     What  hight  your  lady,  and  where  dwelleth  she, 
and  who  is  she,  and  what  is  his  name  that  hath  besieged 
her  ?     Sir  King,  she  said,  as  for  my  lady's  name  that  shall 
not  ye  know  for  me  as  at  this  time,  but  I  let  you  wit  she  is 
a  lady  of  great  worship  and  of  great  lands ;  and  as  for  the 
tyrant  that  besiegeth  her  and  destroyeth  her  lands,  he  is 
called  the  Red  Knight  of  the  Red  Laundes.     I  know  him 
not,  said  the  king.     Sir,  said  Sir  Gawaine,  I  know  him  well, 
for  he  is  one  of  the  perilloust  knights  of  the  world ;  men 
say  that  he  hath  seven  men's  strength,  and  from  him   I 
escaped  once  full  hard  with  my  life.     Fair  damosel,  said 
the  king,  there  be  knights  here  would  do  their  power  for  to 


184  King  Arthur 

rescue  your  lady,  but  by  cause  you  will  not  tell  her  name, 
nor  where  she  dwelleth,  therefore  none  of  my  knights  that 
here  be  now  shall  go  with  you  by  my  will.  Then  must  I 
speak  further,  said  the  damosel. 


CHAPTER   III 

HOW  BEAUMAINS  DESIRED  THE  BATTLE,  AND  HOW  IT  WAS  GRANTED 
TO  HIM,  AND  HOW  HE  DESIRED  TO  BE  MADE  KNIGHT  OF  SIR 
LAUNCELOT 

WITH  these  words  came  before  the  king  Beaumains, 
while  the  damosel  was  there,  and  thus  he  said,  Sir  king, 
God  thank  you  I  have  been  this  twelvemonth  in  your 
kitchen,  and  have  had  my  full  sustenance,  and  now  I  will 
ask  my  two  gifts  that  be  behind.  Ask,  upon  my  peril,  said 
the  king.  Sir,  this  shall  be  my  two  gifts,  first  that  ye  will 
grant  me  to  have  this  adventure  of  the  damosel,  for  it 
belongeth  unto  me.  Thou  shalt  have  it,  said  the  king,  I 
grant  it  thee.  Then,  sir,  this  is  the  other  gift,  that  ye  shall 
bid  Launcelot  du  Lake  to  make  me  knight,  for  of  him  I 
will  be  made  knight  and  else  of  none.  And  when  I  am 
passed  I  pray  you  let  him  ride  after  me,  and  make  me  knight 
when  I  require  him.  All  this  shall  be  done,  said  the  king. 
Fie  on  thee,  said  the  damosel,  shall  I  have  none  but  one 
that  is  your  kitchen  page  ?  Then  was  she  wroth,  and  took 
her  horse  and  departed.  And  with  that  there  came  one  to 
Beaumains  and  told  him  his  horse  and  armour  was  come 
for  him  ;  and  there  was  the  dwarf  come  with  all  thing  that 
him  needed,  in  the  richest  manner ;  thereat  all  the  court 
had  much  marvel  from  whence  came  all  that  gear.  So 
when  he  was  armed  there  was  none  but  few  so  goodly  a 
man  as  he  was ;  and  right  so  as  he  came  into  the  hall  and 
took  his  leave  of  King  Arthur,  and  Sir  Gawaine,  and  Sir 
Launcelot,  and  prayed  that  he  would  hie  after  him,  and  so 
departed  and  rode  after  the  damosel. 


King  Arthur  185 


CHAPTER    IV 

HOW  BEAUMAINS  DEPARTED,  AND  HOW  HE  GAT   OF   SIR    KAY  A  SPEAR 
AND   A   SHIELD,    AND    HOW   HE  JOUSTED    WITH    SIR   LAUNCELOT 

BUT  there  went  many  after  to  behold  how  well  he  was 
horsed  and  trapped  in  cloth  of  gold,  but  he  had  neither 
shield  nor  spear.  Then  Sir  Kay  said  all  open  in  the  hall, 
I  will  ride  after  my  boy  in  the  kitchen,  to  wit  whether  he 
will  know  me  for  his  better.  Said  Sir  Launcelot  and  Sir 
Gawaine,  Yet  abide  at  home.  So  Sir  Kay  made  him  ready 
and  took  his  horse  and  his  spear,  and  rode  after  him.  And 
right  as  Beaumains  overtook  the  damosel,  right  so  came 
Sir  Kay  and  said,  Beaumains,  what,  sir,  know  ye  not  me  ? 
Then  he  turned  his  horse,  and  knew  it  was  Sir  Kay,  that 
had  done  him  all  the  despite  as  ye  have  heard  afore.  Yea, 
said  Beaumains,  I  know  you  for  an  ungentle  knight  of  the 
court,  and  therefore  beware  of  me.  Therewith  Sir  Kay 
put  his  spear  in  the  rest,  and  ran  straight  upon  him ;  and 
Beaumains  came  as  fast  upon  him  with  his  sword  in  his 
hand,  and  so  he  put  away  his  spear  with  his  sword,  and 
with  a  foyne  thrust  him  through  the  side,  that  Sir  Kay  fell 
down  as  he  had  been  dead ;  and  he  alit  down  and  took  Sir 
Kay's  shield  and  his  spear,  and  start  upon  his  own  horse  and 
rode  his  way.  All  that  saw  Sir  Launcelot,  and  so  did  the 
damosel.  And  then  he  bad  his  dwarf  start  upon  Sir  Kay's 
horse,  and  so  he  did.  By  that  Sir  Launcelot  was  come, 
then  he  proffered  Sir  Launcelot  to  joust ;  and  either  made 
them  ready,  and  they  came  together  so  fiercely  that  either 
bare  down  other  to  the  earth,  and  sore  were  they  bruised. 
Then  Sir  Launcelot  arose  and  helped  him  from  his  horse. 
And  then  Beaumains  threw  his  shield  from  him,  and 
proffered  to  fight  with  Sir  Launcelot  on  foot ;  and  so  they 
rushed  together  like  boars,  tracynge,  racynge,  and  foyning 
to  the  mountenance  of  an  hour ;  and  Sir  Launcelot  felt 
him  so  big  that  he  marvelled  of  his  strength,  for  he  fought 
more  liker  a  giant  than  a  knight,  and  that  his  fighting  was 
durable  and  passing  perilous.  For  Sir  Launcelot  had  so 
much  ado  with  him  that  he  dread  himself  to  be  shamed, 
and  said,  Beaumains,  fight  not  so  sore,  your  quarrel  and 
mine  is  not  so  great  but  we  may  leave  off.  Truly  that  is 
truth,  said  Beaumains,  but  it  doth  me  good  to  feel  your 
might,  and  yet,  my  lord,  I  showed  not  the  utteraunce. 


1 86  King  Arthur 


CHAPTER    V 

HOW  BEAUMAINS  TOLD  TO  SIR  LAUNCELOT  HIS  NAME,  AND  HOW 
HE  WAS  DUBBED  KNIGHT  OF  SIR  LAUNCELOT,  AND  AFTER 
OVERTOOK  THE  DAMOSEL 

IN  God's  name,  said  Sir  Launcelot,  for  I  promise  you, 
by  the  faith  of  my  body,  I  had  as  much  to  do  as  I  might 
to  save  myself  from  you  unshamed,  and  therefore  have  ye 
no  doubt  of  none  earthly  knight.     Hope  ye  so  that  I  may 
any  while  stand  a  proved  knight  ?  said  Beaumains.     Yea, 
said  Launcelot,  do  as  ye  have  done,  and  I  shall  be  your 
warrant.     Then,  I  pray  you,  said  Beaumains,  give  me  the 
order  of  knighthood.     Then  must  ye  tell  me  your  name, 
said  Launcelot,  and  of  what  kin  ye  be  born.     Sir,  so  that 
ye  will   not   discover  me  I    shall,  said   Beaumains.     Nay, 
said  Sir  Launcelot,  and  that  I  promise  you  by  the  faith  of 
my  body  until  it  be  openly  known.     Then,  sir,  he  said,  my 
name  is  Gareth,  and  brother  unto  Sir  Gawaine  of  father 
and  mother.    Ah,  sir,  said  Sir  Launcelot,  I  am  more  gladder 
of  you  than  I  was ;  for  ever  me  thought  ye  should  be  of 
great  blood,  and  that  ye  came  not  to  the  court  neither  for 
meat  nor  for  drink.     And  then  Sir  Launcelot  gave  him  the 
order  of  knighthood,  and  then  Sir  Gareth  prayed  him  for 
to  depart  and  let  him  go.     So  Sir  Launcelot  departed  from 
him  and  came  to  Sir  Kay,  and  made  him  to  be  borne  home 
upon  his  shield,  and  so  he  was  healed  hard  with  the  life ; 
and  all  men  scorned  Sir  Kay,  and  in  especial  Sir  Gawaine 
and  Sir  Launcelot  said  it  was  not  his  part  to  rebuke  no 
young  man,  for  full  little  knew  he  of  what  birth  he  is  come, 
and  for  what  cause  he  came  to  this  court ;  and  so  we  leave 
Sir  Kay  and  turn  we  unto  Beaumains.     When  he  had  over- 
taken the  damosel,  anon  she  said,  What  dost  thou  here  ? 
thou  stinkest  all    of  the  kitchen,  thy  clothes  be  bawdy  of 
the  grease  and  tallow  that  thou  gainest  in  King  Arthur's 
kitchen;   weenest   thou,   said   she,   that    I    allow   thee,  for 
yonder  knight  that  thou  killest.    Nay  truly,  for  thou  slewest 
him  unhappily  and  cowardly ;  therefore  turn  again,  bawdy 
kitchen  page,  I  know  thee  well,  for  Sir   Kay  named  thee 
Beaumains.     What  art  thou  but  a  luske  and  a  turner  of 
broches  and  a  ladle- washer  ?      Damosel,  said    Beaumains, 
say  to  me  what  ye  will,  I  will  not  go  from  you  whatsomever 
ye  say,  for  I  have  undertaken  to  King  Arthur  for  to  achieve 


King  Arthur  187 

your  adventure,  and  so  shall  I  finish  it  to  the  end,  either  I 
shall  die  therefor.  Fie  on  thee,  kitchen  knave,  wilt  thou 
finish  mine  adventure?  thou  shalt  anon  be  met  withal, 
that  thou  wouldest  not  for  all  the  broth  that  ever  thou 
suppest  once  look  him  in  the  face.  I  shall  essay,  said 
Beaumains.  So  thus  as  they  rode  in  the  wood,  there  came 
a  man  flying  all  that  ever  he  might.  Whither  wilt  thou  ? 
said  Beaumains.  O  lord,  he  said,  help  me,  for  here  by  in 
a  slade  are  six  thieves  that  have  taken  my  lord  and  bound 
him,  so  I  am  afeard  lest  they  will  slay  him.  Bring  me 
thither,  said  Beaumains.  And  so  they  rode  together  until 
they  came  thereas  was  the  knight  bounden ;  and  then  he 
rode  unto  them,  and  struck  one  unto  the  death,  and  then 
another,  and  at  the  third  stroke  he  slew  the  third  thief,  and 
then  the  other  three  fled.  And  he  rode  after  them,  and  he 
overtook  them ;  and  then  those  three  thieves  turned  again 
and  assailed  Beaumains  hard,  but  at  the  last  he  slew  them, 
and  returned  and  unbound  the  knight.  And  the  knight 
thanked  him,  and  prayed  him  to  ride  with  him  to  his  castle 
there  a  little  beside,  and  he  should  worshipfully  reward  him 
for  his  good  deeds.  Sir,  said  Beaumains,  I  will  no  reward 
have :  I  was  this  day  made  knight  of  noble  Sir  Launcelot, 
and  therefore  I  will  no  reward  have,  but  God  reward  me. 
And  also  I  must  follow  this  damosel.  And  when  he  came 
nigh  her  she  bad  him  ride  from  her,  For  thou  smellest 
all  of  the  kitchen :  weenest  thou  that  I  have  joy  of  thee, 
for  all  this  deed  that  thou  hast  done  is  but  mishapped  thee : 
but  thou  shalt  see  a  sight  shall  make  thee  turn  again,  and 
that  lightly.  Then  the  same  knight  which  was  rescued 
of  the  thieves  rode  after  that  damosel,  and  prayed  her  to 
lodge  with  him  all  that  night.  And  because  it  was  near 
night  the  damosel  rode  with  him  to  his  castle,  and  there 
they  had  great  cheer,  and  at  supper  the  knight  sat  Sir 
Beaumains  afore  the  damosel.  Fie,  fie,  said  she,  Sir  knight, 
ye  are  uncourteous  to  set  a  kitchen  page  afore  me ;  him 
beseemeth  better  to  stick  a  swine  than  to  sit  afore  a  damosel 
of  high  parage.  Then  the  knight  was  ashamed  at  her 
words,  and  took  him  up,  and  set  him  at  a  sideboard,  and 
set  himself  afore  him,  and  so  all  that  night  they  had  good 
cheer  and  merry  rest. 


1 88  King  Arthur 


CHAPTER  VI 

HOW   BEAUMAINS    FOUGHT   AND    SLEW   TWO    KNIGHTS   AT  A 

PASSAGE 

AND  on  the  morn  the  damosel  and  he  took  their  leave 
and  thanked  the  knight,  and  so  departed,  and  rode  on  their 
way  until  they  came  to  a  great  forest.     And  there  was  a 
great  river  and  but  one  passage,  and  there  were  ready  two 
knights  on  the  farther  side  to  let  them  the  passage.   What 
sayest  thou,  said  the  damosel,   wilt    thou    match    yonder 
knights  or  turn  again  ?     Nay,  said  Sir  Beaumains,  I  will  not 
turn  again  an  they  were  six  more.     And    therewithal  he 
rushed  into  the  water,  and  in  middes  of  the   water  either 
brake  their  spears  upon  other  to  their  hands,  and  then  they 
drew  their  swords,  and  smote  eagerly  at  other.     And  at  the 
last  Sir  Beaumains  smote  the  other  upon  the  helm  that  his 
head  stonied,  and  therewithal  he  fell  down  in  the  water,  and 
there  was  he  drowned.    And  then  he  spurred  his  horse  upon 
the  land,  where  the  other  knight  fell  upon  him,  and  brake 
his  spear,  and  so  they  drew  their  swords  and  fought  long 
together.     At  the  last  Sir  Beaumains  clave  his  helm  and 
his  head  down  to  the  shoulders ;  and  so  he  rode  unto  the 
damosel  and  bad  her  ride  forth  on  her  way.     Alas,  she  said, 
that  ever  a  kitchen  page  should  have  that  fortune  to  destroy 
such  two  doughty  knights :  thou  weenest  thou  hast  done 
doughtily,  that  is  not   so ;    for  the  first  knight   his  horse 
stumbled,  and  there  he  was  drowned  in  the  water,  and  never 
it  was  by  thy  force,  nor  by  thy  might.     And  the  last  knight 
by  mishap  thou  earnest  behind  him  and  mishappily  thou 
slew  him.     Damosel,  said  Beaumains,  ye  may  say  what  ye 
will,  but  with  whomsomever  I  have  ado  withal,   I  trust  to 
God  to  serve  him  or  he  depart.     And  therefore  I  reck  not 
what    ye    say,   so    that   I    may   win    your    lady.     Fie,    fie, 
foul  kitchen  knave,  thou  shalt  see  knights  that  shall  abate 
thy  boast.     Fair  damosel,  give  me  goodly  language,  and 
then  my  care  is  past,  for  what  knights  somever  they  be,  I 
care  not,  nor  I  doubt  them  not.     Also,  said  she,  I  say  it  for 
thine  avail,  yet  mayest  thou  turn  again  with  thy  worship ;  for 
an  thou  follow  me,  thou  art  but  slain,  for  I  see  all  that  ever 
thou  dost  is  but  by  misadventure,  and  not  by  prowess  of  thy 
hands.     Well,  damosel,  ye  may  say  what  ye  will,  but  where- 
somever  ye  go  I  will  follow  you.     So  this  Beaumains  rode 


King  Arthur  189 

with  that  lady  till  evensong  time,  and  ever  she  chid  him, 
and  would  not  rest.  And  they  came  to  a  black  launde ; 
and  there  was  a  black  hawthorn,  and  thereon  hung  a  black 
banner,  and  on  the  other  side  there  hung  a  black  shield, 
and  by  it  stood  a  black  spear  great  and  long,  and  a  great 
black  horse  covered  with  silk,  and  a  black  stone  fast  by. 


CHAPTER   VII 

HOW  BEAUMAINS  FOUGHT  WITH  THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  BLACK 
LAUNDES,  AND  FOUGHT  WITH  HIM  TILL  HE  FELL  DOWN 
AND  DIED 

THERE    sat    a   knight    all   armed  in  black  harness,  and 

his   name  was   the  knight  of   the    black  land.     Then  the 

damosel,  when  she  saw  that  knight,  she  bad  him  flee  down 

that  valley,  for  his  horse  was  not  saddled.     Gramercy,  said 

Beaumains,  for  always  ye  would  have  me  a  coward.     With 

that  the  black  knight,  when  she  came  nigh  him,  spake  and 

said,  Damosel,  have  ye  brought  this  knight  of  King  Arthur 

to  be  your  champion?     Nay,  fair  knight,  said  she,  this  is 

but  a  kitchen  knave  that  was  fed  in  King  Arthur's  kitchen 

for  alms.     Why  cometh  he,  said  the  knight,  in  such  array  ? 

it  is  shame  that  he  beareth  you  company.     Sir,  I  cannot  be 

delivered  of  him,  said  she,  for  with  me  he  rideth  maugre 

mine  head  :  God  would  that  ye  should  put  him  from  me, 

outher  to  slay  him  an  ye  may,  for  he  is  an  unhappy  knave, 

and  unhappily  he  hath  done  this  day  :  through  mishap  I 

saw  him  slay  two  knights  at  the  passage  of  the  water ;  and 

other  deeds  he  did  before  right   marvellous   and   through 

unhappiness.     That  marvelleth  me,  said  the  black  knight, 

that  any  man  that  is  of  worship  will  have  ado  with  him. 

They  know  him  not,  said  the  damosel,  and  for  because  he 

rideth  with  me,  they  ween  that  he  be  some  man  of  worship 

born.     That  may  be,  said  the  black  knight ;  howbeit  as  ye 

say  that  he  be  no  man  of  worship,  he  is  a  full  likely  person, 

and  full  like  to  be  a  strong  man :  but  thus  much  shall  I 

grant  you,  said  the  black  knight ;  I   shall  put  him  down 

upon  one  foot,  and  his  horse  and  his  harness  he  shall  leave 

with  me,  for  it  were  shame  to  me  to  do  him  any  more  harm. 

When  Sir  Beaumains  heard  him  say  thus,  he  said,  Sir  knight, 

thou  art  full  large  of  my  horse  ancl  my  harness ;  I  let  thee 


190  King  Arthur 

wit  it  cost  thee  nought,  and  whether  it  liketh  thee  or  not, 
this  launde  will  I  pass  maugre  thine  head.  And  horse  nor 
harness  gettest  thou  none  of  mine,  but  if  thou  win  them 
with  thy  hands ;  and  therefore  let  see  what  thou  canst  do. 
Sayest  thou  that?  said  the  black  knight,  now  yield  thy 
lady  from  thee,  for  it  beseemeth  never  a  kitchen  page  to 
ride  with  such  a  lady.  Thou  liest,  said  Beaumains,  I  am  a 
gentleman  born,  and  of  more  high  lineage  than  thou,  and 
that  will  I  prove  on  thy  body.  Then  in  great  wrath  they 
departed  with  their  horses,  and  came  together  as  it  had  been 
the  thunder,  and  the  black  knight's  spear  brake,  and 
Beaumains  thrust  him  through  both  his  sides,  and  there- 
with his  spear  brake,  and  the  truncheon  left  still  in  his  side. 
But  nevertheless  the  black  knight  drew  his  sword,  and  smote 
many  eager  strokes,  and  of  great  might,  and  hurt  Beaumains 
full  sore.  But  at  the  last  the  black  knight,  within  an  hour 
and  an  half,  he  fell  down  off  his  horse  in  swoon,  and  there 
he  died.  And  when  Beaumains  saw  him  so  well  horsed 
and  armed,  then  he  alit  down  and  armed  him  in  his  armour, 
and  so  took  his  horse  and  rode  after  the  damosel.  When 
she  saw  him  come  nigh,  she  said,  Away,  kitchen  knave,  out 
of  the  wind,  for  the  smell  of  thy  bawdy  clothes  grieveth  me. 
Alas,  she  said,  that  ever  such  a  knave  should  by  mishap 
slay  so  good  a  knight  as  thou  hast  done,  but  all  this  is  thine 
unhappiness.  But  here  by  is  one  shall  pay  thee  all  thy 
payment,  and  therfore  yet  I  counsel  thee,  flee.  It  may 
happen  me,  said  Beaumains,  to  be  beaten  or  slain,  but  I 
warn  you,  fair  damosel,  I  will  not  flee  away,  nor  leave  your 
company,  for  all  that  ye  can  say ;  for  ever  ye  say  that  they 
will  kill  me  or  beat  me,  but  howsomever  it  happeneth  I 
escape,  and  they  lie  on  the  ground.  And  therefore  it  were 
as  good  for  you  to  hold  you  still  thus  all  day  rebuking  me, 
for  away  will  I  not  till  I  see  the  uttermost  of  this  journey, 
or  else  I  will  be  slain,  outher  truly  beaten  ;  therefore  ride  on 
your  way,  for  follow  you  I  will  whatsomever  happen. 


King  Arthur  191 


CHAPTER    VIII 

HOW  THE  BROTHER  OF  THE  KNIGHT  THAT  WAS  SLAIN  MET  WITH 
BEAUMAINS,  AND  FOUGHT  WITH  BEAUMAINS  TILL  HE  WAS 
YIELDEN 

THUS  as  they  rode  together,  they  saw  a  knight  come 
driving  by  them  all  in  green,  both  his  horse  and  his  harness ; 
and  when  he  came  nigh  the  damosel,  he  asked  her,  Is  that 
my  brother  the  black  knight  that  ye  have  brought  with  you  ? 
Nay,  nay,  she  said,  this  unhappy  kitchen  knave  hath  slain 
your  brother  through  unhappiness.  Alas,  said  the  green 
knight,  that  is  great  pity,  that  so  noble  a  knight  as  he  was 
should  so  unhaply  be  slain,  and  namely  of  a  knave's  hand,  as 
ye  say  that  he  is.  Ah !  traitor,  said  the  green  knight,  thou 
shalt  die  for  slaying  of  my  brother ;  he  was  a  full  noble 
knight,  and  his  name  was  Sir  Percard.  I  defy  thee,  said 
Beaumains,  for  I  let  thee  wit  I  slew  him  knightly  and  not 
shamefully.  Therewithal  the  green  knight  rode  unto  an 
horn  that  was  green,  and  it  hung  upon  a  thorn,  and  there 
be  blew  three  deadly  motys,  and  there  came  two  damosels 
and  armed  him  lightly.  And  then  he  took  a  great  horse, 
and  a  green  shield  and  a  green  spear.  And  then  they  ran 
together  with  all  their  mights,  and  brake  their  spears  unto 
their  hands.  And  then  they  drew  their  swords,  and  gave 
many  sad  strokes,  and  either  of  them  wounded  other 
full  ill.  And  at  the  last  at  an  overthwart  Beaumains 
with  his  horse  struck  the  green  knight's  horse  upon  the 
side,  that  he  fell  to  the  earth.  And  then  the  green  knight 
avoided  his  horse  lightly,  and  dressed  him  upon  foot.  That 
saw  Beaumains,  and  therewithal  he  alit,  and  they  rushed 
together  like  two  mighty  kempys  a  long  while,  and  sore  they 
bled  both.  With  that  came  the  damosel,  and  said,  My  lord 
the  green  knight,  why  for  shame  stand  ye  so  long  fighting 
with  the  kitchen  knave  ?  Alas,  it  is  shame  that  ever  ye 
were  made  knight,  to  see  such  a  lad  to  match  such  a  knight, 
as  the  weed  overgrew  the  corn.  Therewith  the  green  knight 
was  ashamed,  and  therewithal  he  gave  a  great  stroke  of 
might,  and  clave  his  shield  through.  When  Beaumains  saw 
his  shield  cloven  asunder  he  was  a  little  ashamed  of  that 
stroke  and  of  her  language  ;  and  then  he  gave  him  such  a 
buffet  upon  the  helm  that  he  fell  on  his  knees.  And  so 
suddenly  Beaumains  pulled  him  upon  the  ground  grovelling. 


192  King  Arthur 

And  then  the  green  knight  cried  him  mercy,  and  yielded 
him  unto  Sir  Beaumains,  and  prayed  him  to  slay  him  not. 
All  is  in  vain,  said  Beaumains,  for  thou  shalt  die  but  if  this 
damosel  that  came  with  me  pray  me  to  save  thy  life.  And 
therewithal  he  unlaced  his  helm  like  as  he  would  slay  him. 
Fie  upon  thee,  false  kitchen  page,  I  will  never  pray  thee  to 
save  his  life,  for  I  will  never  be  so  much  in  thy  danger. 
Then  shall  he  die,  said  Beaumains.  Not  so  hardy,  thou 
bawdy  knave,  said  the  damosel,  that  thou  slay  him.  Alas, 
said  the  green  knight,  suffer  me  not  to  die  for  a  fair  word 
may  save  me.  Fair  knight,  said  the  green  knight,  save  my 
life,  and  I  will  forgive  thee  the  death  of  my  brother,  and 
for  ever  to  become  thy  man,  and  thirty  knights  that  hold  of 
me  for  ever  shall  do  you  service.  In  the  devil's  name,  said 
the  damosel,  that  such  a  bawdy  kitchen  knave  should  have 
thee  and  thirty  knights'  service.  Sir  knight,  said  Beaumains, 
all  this  availeth  thee  not,  but  if  my  damosel  speak  with  me 
for  thy  life.  And  therewithal  he  made  a  semblaunt  to  slay 
him.  Let  be,  said  the  damosel,  thou  bawdy  knave ;  slay 
him  not,  for  an  thou  do  thou  shalt  repent  it.  Damosel,  said 
Beaumains,  your  charge  is  to  me  a  pleasure,  and  at  your 
commandment  his  life  shall  be  saved,  and  else  not.  Then 
he  said,  Sir  knight  with  the  green  arms,  I  release  thee  quit 
at  this  damosel's  request,  for  I  will  not  make  her  wroth,  I 
will  fulfil  all  that  she  chargeth  me.  And  then  the  green 
knight  kneeled  down,  and  did  him  homage  with  his  sword. 
Then  said  the  damosel,  Me  repenteth,  green  knight,  of  your 
dommage,  and  of  your  brother's  death,  the  black  knight, 
for  of  your  help  I  had  great  myster,  for  I  dread  me  sore  to 
pass  this  forest.  Nay,  dread  you  not,  said  the  green  knight, 
for  ye  shall  lodge  with  me  this  night,  and  to-morn  I  shall 
help  you  through  this  forest.  So  they  took  their  horses  and 
rode  to  his  manor,  which  was  fast  there  beside. 


CHAPTER   IX 

HOW  THE  DAMOSEL  AGAIN  REBUKED  BEAUMAINS,  AND  WOULD  NOT 
SUFFER  HIM  TO  SIT  AT  HER  TABLE,  BUT  CALLED  HIM  KITCHEN  BOY 

AND  ever  she  rebuked  Beaumains,  and  would  not  suffer 
him  to  sit  at  her  table,  but  as  the  green  knight  took  him 
and  sat  him  at  a  side  table.  Marvel  methinketh,  said  the 


King  Arthur  193 

green  knight  to  the  damosel,  why  ye  rebuke  this  noble 
knight  as  ye  do,  for  I  warn  you,  damosel,  he  is  a  full  noble 
knight,  and  I  know  no  knight  is  able  to  match  him ;  there- 
fore ye  do  great  wrong  to  rebuke  him,  for  he  shall  do  you 
right  good  service,  for  whatsomever  he  maketh  himself,  ye 
shall  prove  at  the  end  that  he  is  come  of  a  noble  blood  and 
of  king's  lineage.  Fie,  fie,  said  the  damosel,  it  is  shame  for 
you  to  say  of  him  such  worship.  Truly,  said  the  green  knight, 
it  were  shame  for  me  to  say  of  him  any  disworship,  for  he 
hath  proved  himself  a  better  knight  than  I  am,  yet  have  I 
met  with  many  knights  in  my  days,  and  never  or  this  time 
have  I  found  no  knight  his  match.  And  so  that  night  they 
yede  unto  rest,  and  all  that  night  the  green  knight  com- 
manded thirty  knights  privily  to  watch  Beaumains,  for  to 
keep  him  from  all  treason.  And  so  on  the  morn  they  all 
arose,  and  heard  their  mass  and  brake  their  fast ;  and  then 
they  took  their  horses  and  rode  on  their  way,  and  the  green 
knight  conveyed  them  through  the  forest ;  and  there  the 
green  knight  said,  My  lord  Beaumains,  I  and  these  thirty 
knights  shall  be  always  at  your  summons,  both  early  and 
late,  at  your  calling  and  whither  that  ever  ye  will  send  us. 
It  is  well  said,  said  Beaumains ;  when  that  I  call  upon  you 
ye  must  yield  you  unto  King  Arthur,  and  all  your  knights. 
If  that  ye  so  command  us,  we  shall  be  ready  at  all  times, 
said  the  green  knight.  Fie,  fie  upon  thee,  in  the  devil's 
name,  said  the  damosel,  that  any  good  knights  should  be 
obedient  unto  a  kitchen  knave.  So  then  departed  the  green 
knight  and  the  damosel.  And  then  she  said  unto  Beaumains, 
Why  followest  thou  me,  thou  kitchen  boy  ?  Cast  away  thy 
shield  and  thy  spear,  and  flee  away  ;  yet  I  counsel  thee 
betimes  or  thou  shalt  say  right  soon,  alas ;  for  wert  thou  as 
wight  as  ever  was  Wade  or  Launcelot,  Tristram,  or  the  good 
knight  Sir  Lamorak,  thou  shalt  not  pass  a  pass  here  that  is 
called  the  Pass  Perilous.  Damosel,  said  Beaumains,  who 
is  afeared  let  him  flee,  for  it  were  shame  to  turn  again  sythen 
I  have  ridden  so  long  with  you.  Well,  said  the  damosel, 
ye  shall  soon,  whether  ye  will  or  not. 


194  King  Arthur 


CHAPTER  x 

HOW  THE  THIRD  BROTHER,  CALLED  THE  RED  KNIGHT,  JOUSTED  AND 
FOUGHT  AGAINST  BEAUMAINS,  AND  HOW  BEAUMAINS  OVERCAME 
HIM 

So  within  a  while  they  saw  a  tower  as  white  as  any  snow, 
well  matchecold  all  about,  and  double  dyked.  And  over 
the  tower  gate  there  hung  a  fifty  shields  of  divers  colours, 
and  under  that  tower  there  was  a  fair  meadow.  And  therein 
were  many  knights  and  squires  to  behold,  scaffolds  and 
pavilions ;  for  there  upon  the  morn  should  be  a  great 
tournament :  and  the  lord  of  the  tower  was  in  his  castle  and 
looked  out  at  a  window,  and  saw  a  damosel,  a  dwarf,  and  a 
knight  armed  at  all  points.  So  God  me  help,  said  the  lord, 
with  that  knight  will  I  joust,  for  I  see  that  he  is  a  knight- 
errant.  And  so  he  armed  him  and  horsed  him  hastily. 
And  when  he  was  on  horseback  with  his  shield  and  his 
spear,  it  was  all  red  both  his  horse  and  his  harness,  and  all 
that  to  him  longeth.  And  when  that  he  came  nigh  him  he 
weened  it  had  been  his  brother  the  black  knight ;  and  then 
he  cried  aloud,  Brother,  what  do  ye  in  these  marches  ?  Nay, 
nay,  said  the  damosel,  it  is  not  he ;  this  is  but  a  kitchen 
knave  that  was  brought  up  for  alms  in  King  Arthur's  court. 
Nevertheless,  said  the  Red  Knight,  I  will  speak  with  him  or 
he  depart.  Ah,  said  the  damosel,  this  knave  hath  killed  thy 
brother,  and  Sir  Kay  named  him  Beaumains,  and  this  horse 
and  this  harness  was  thy  brother's,  the  black  knight.  Also  I 
saw  thy  brother  the  green  knight  overcome  of  his  hands.  Now 
may  ye  be  revenged  upon  him,  for  I  may  never  be  quit  of  him. 
With  this  either  knights  departed  in  sunder,  and  they  came 
together  with  all  their  might,  and  either  of  their  horses  fell 
to  the  earth,  and  they  avoided  their  horses,  and  put  their 
shields  afore  them  and  drew  their  swords,  and  either  gave 
other  sad  strokes,  now  here,  now  there,  racynge,  tracynge, 
foining,  and  hurling  like  two  boars,  the  space  of  two  hours. 
And  then  she  cried  on  high  to  the  red  knight,  Alas,  thou 
noble  red  knight,  think  what  worship  hath  followed  thee,  let 
never  a  kitchen  knave  endure  thee  so  long  as  he  doth. 
Then  the  red  knight  waxed  wroth  and  doubled  his  strokes, 
and  hurt  Beaumains  wonderly  sore,  that  the  blood  ran  down 
to  the  ground,  that  it  was  wonder  to  see  that  strong  battle. 
Yet  at  the  last  Sir  Beaumains  struck  him  to  the  earth,  and 


King  Arthur  195 

as  he  would  have  slain  the  red  knight,  he  cried  mercy,  saying, 
Noble  knight,  slay  me  not,  and  I  shall  yield  me  to  thee  with 
fifty  knights  with  me  that  be  at  my  commandment.  And  I 
forgive  thee  all  the  despite  that  thou  hast  done  to  me,  and 
the  death  of  my  brother  the  black  knight.  All  this  availeth 
not,  said  Beaumains,  but  if  my  damosel  pray  me  to  save  thy 
life.  And  therewith  he  made  semblaunt  to  strike  off  his 
head.  Let  be,  thou  Beaumains,  slay  him  not,  for  he  is  a 
noble  knight,  and  not  so  hardy  upon  thine  head  but  thou 
save  him.  Then  Beaumains  bad  the  red  knight,  Stand  up, 
and  thank  the  damosel  now  of  thy  life.  Then  the  red 
knight  prayed  him  to  see  his  castle,  and  to  be  there  all 
night.  So  the  damosel  then  granted  him,  and  there  they 
had  merry  cheer.  But  always  the  damosel  spake  many  foul 
words  unto  Beaumains,  whereof  the  red  knight  had  great 
marvel ;  and  all  that  night  the  red  knight  made  three  score 
knights  to  watch  Beaumains,  that  he  should  have  no  shame 
nor  villainy.  And  upon  the  morn  they  heard  mass  and 
dined,  and  the  red  knight  came  before  Beaumains  with  his 
three  score  knights,  and  there  he  proffered  him  his  homage  and 
fealty  at  all  times,  he  and  his  knights  to  do  him  service.  I 
thank  you,  said  Beaumains,  but  this  ye  shall  grant  me  :  when 
I  call  upon  you,  to  come  afore  my  lord  King  Arthur,  and 
yield  you  unto  him  to  be  his  knights.  Sir,  said  the  red 
knight,  I  will  be  ready  and  my  fellowship  at  your 
summons.  So  Sir  Beaumains  departed  and  the  damosel, 
and  ever  she  rode  chiding  him  in  the  foulest  manner. 


CHAPTER   XI 

HOW    SIR    BEAUMAINS   SUFFERED     GREAT    REBUKES    OF    THE 
DAMOSEL,    AND    HE   SUFFERED    IT   PATIENTLY 

DAMOSEL,  said  Beaumains,  ye  are  uncourteous  so  to 
rebuke  me  as  ye  do,  for  meseemeth  I  have  done  you  good 
service,  and  ever  ye  threaten  me  I  shall  be  beaten  with 
knights  that  we  meet,  but  ever  for  all  your  boast  they  lie  in 
the  dust  or  in  the  mire,  and  therefore  I  pray  you  rebuke 
me  no  more ;  and  when  ye  see  me  beaten  or  yielden  as 
recreant,  then  may  ye  bid  me  go  from  you  shamefully  ;  but 
first  I  let  you  wit  I  will  not  depart  from  you,  for  I  were 
worse  than  a  fool  an  I  would  depart  from  you  all  the  while 


196  King  Arthur 

that  I  win  worship.  Well,  said  she,  right  soon  there  shall 
meet  a  knight  shall  pay  thee  all  thy  wages,  for  he  is  the 
most  man  of  worship  of  the  world,  except  King  Arthur.  I 
will  well,  said  Beaumains,  the  more  he  is  of  worship,  the 
more  shall  be  my  worship  to  have  ado  with  him.  Then 
anon  they  were  ware  where  was  afore  them  a  city  rich  and 
fair.  And  betwixt  them  and  the  city  a  mile  and  an  half 
there  was  a  fair  meadow  that  seemed  new  mown,  and  therein 
were  many  pavilions  fair  to  behold.  Lo,  said  the  damosel, 
yonder  is  a  lord  that  owneth  yonder  city,  and  his  custom  is 
when  the  weather  is  fair  to  lie  in  this  meadow  to  joust  and 
tourney.  And  ever  there  be  about  him  five  hundred  knights 
and  gentlemen  of  arms,  and  there  be  all  manner  of  games 
that  any  gentleman  can  devise.  That  goodly  lord,  said 
Beaumains,  would  I  fain  see.  Thou  shalt  see  him  time 
enough,  said  the  damosel,  and  so  as  she  rode  near  she  espied 
the  pavilion  where  he  was.  Lo,  said  she,  seest  thou  yonder 
pavilion  that  is  all  of  the  colour  of  Inde,  and  all  manner  of 
thing  that  there  is  about,  men  and  women,  and  horses 
trapped,  shields  and  spears  were  all  of  the  colour  of  Inde, 
and  his  name  is  Sir  Persant  of  Inde,  the  most  lordliest  knight 
that  ever  thou  lookedst  on.  It  may  well  be,  said  Beaumains, 
but  be  he  never  so  stout  a  knight,  in  this  field  I  shall  abide 
till  that  I  see  him  under  his  shield.  Ah,  fool,  said  she, 
thou  wert  better  flee  betimes.  Why,  said  Beaumains,  an  he 
be  such  a  knight  as  ye  make  him,  he  will  not  set  upon  me 
with  all  his  men,  or  with  his  five  hundred  knights.  For  an 
there  come  no  more  but  one  at  once,  I  shall  him  not  fail 
whilst  my  life  lasteth.  Fie,  fie,  said  the  damosel,  that  ever 
such  a  stinking  knave  should  blow  such  a  boast.  Damosel, 
he  said,  ye  are  to  blame  so  to  rebuke  me,  for  I  had  lever  do 
five  battles  than  so  to  be  rebuked,  let  him  come  and  then  let 
him  do  his  worst.  Sir,  she  said,  I  marvel  what  thou  art  and 
of  what  kin  thou  art  come  ;  boldly  thou  speakest,  and  boldly 
thou  hast  done,  that  have  I  seen  ;  therefore  I  pray  thee  save 
thyself  an  thou  mayest,  for  thy  horse  and  thou  have  had  great 
travail,  and  I  dread  we  dwell  over  long  from  the  siege,  for 
it  is  but  hence  seven  mile,  and  all  perilous  passages  we  are 
passed  save  all  only  this  passage ;  and  here  I  dread  me  sore 
lest  ye  shall  catch  some  hurt,  therefore  I  would  ye  were 
hence,  that  ye  were  not  bruised  nor  hurt  with  this  strong 
knight.  But  I  let  you  wit  that  Sir  Persant  of  Inde  is  nothing 
of  might  nor  strength  unto  the  knight  that  laid  the  siege 


King  Arthur  197 

about  my  lady.  As  for  that,  said  Sir  Beaumains,  be  it  as 
it  be  may.  For  sythen  I  am  come  so  nigh  this  knight  I  will 
prove  his  might  or  1  depart  from  him,  and  else  I  shall  be 
shamed  an  I  now  withdraw  me  from  him.  And  therefore, 
damosel,  have  ye  no  doubt  by  the  grace  of  God  I  shall  so 
deal  with  this  knight  that  within  two  hours  after  noon  I 
shall  deliver  him.  And  then  shall  we  come  to  the  siege  by 
daylight.  O  Jesu,  marvel  have  I,  said  the  damosel,  what 
manner  a  man  ye  be,  for  it  may  never  be  otherwise  but  that 
ye  be  come  of  a  noble  blood,  for  so  foul  nor  shamefully  did 
never  woman  rule  a  knight  as  I  have  done  you,  and  ever 
courteously  ye  have  suffered  me,  and  that  came  never  but 
of  a  gentle  blood.  Damosel,  said  Beaumains,  a  knight  may 
little  do  that  may  not  suffer  a  damosel,  for  whatsomever  ye 
said  unto  me  I  took  none  heed  to  your  words,  for  the  more 
ye  said  the  more  ye  angered  me,  and  my  wrath  I  wreaked 
upon  them  that  I  had  ado  withal.  And  therefore  all  the 
missaying  that  ye  missaid  me  furthered  me  in  my  battle,  and 
caused  me  to  think  to  show  and  prove  myself  at  the  end 
what  I  was ;  for  peradventure  though  I  had  meat  in  King 
Arthur's  kitchen,  yet  I  might  have  had  meat  enough  in  other 
places,  but  all  that  I  did  it  for  to  prove  and  assay  my  friends, 
and  that  shall  be  known  another  day ;  and  whether  that  I  be  a 
gentleman  born  or  none,  I  let  you  wit,  fair  damosel,  I  have 
done  you  gentleman's  service,  and  peradventure  better 
service  yet  will  I  do  or  I  depart  from  you.  Alas,  she  said, 
fair  Beaumains,  forgive  me  all  that  I  have  missaid  or  done 
against  thee.  With  all  my  heart,  said  he,  I  forgive  it  you, 
for  ye  did  nothing  but  as  ye  should  do,  for  all  your  evil 
words  pleased  me ;  and  damosel,  said  Beaumains,  syne  it 
liketh  you  to  say  thus  fair  unto  me,  wit  ye  well  it  gladdeth 
my  heart  greatly,  and  now  meseemeth  there  is  no  knight 
living  but  I  am  able  enough  for  him. 


CHAPTER   XII 

HOW    BEAUMAINS    FOUGHT   WITH  SIR  PERSANT   OF   INDE,    AND    MADE 

HIM    TO    BE    YIELDEN 

WITH  this  Sir  Persant  of  Inde  had  espied  them  as  they 
hoved  in  the  field,  and  knightly  he  sent  to  them  whether  he 
came  in  war  or  in  peace.  Say  to  thy  lord,  said  Beaumains, 

145  H 


198  King  Arthur 

I  take  no  force,  but  whether  as  him  list  himself.  So  the 
messenger  went  again  unto  Sir  Persant  and  told  him  all  his 
answer.  Well  then  will  I  have  ado  with  him  to  the 
utterance,  and  so  he  purveyed  him  and  rode  against  him. 
And  Beaumains  saw  him  and  made  him  ready,  and  there 
:r.±y  met  with  all  that  ever  their  horses  might  run,  and  brast 
their  spears  either  in  three  pieces,  and  their  horses  rushed  so 
together  that  both  their  horses  fell  dead  to  the  earth  ;  and 
..jr.tly  they  avoided  their  horses  and  put  their  shields  afore 
them,  and  drew  their  swords,  and  gave  many  great  strokes 
that  5C~e:ime  they  hurtled  together  that  they  fell  grovelling 
on  the  ground.  Thus  they  fought  two  hours  and  more,  that 
their  shields  and  their  hauberks  were  all  forhewen,  and 
in  manv  stedvs  thev  were  wounded.  So  at  the  last  Sir 

.  j  j 

Beaumains  smote  him  through  the  cost  of  the  body,  and 
then  he  retrayed  him  here  and  there,  and  knightly  main- 
tained his  battle  long  time.  And  at  the  last,  though  him 
loath  were,  Beaumains  smote  Sir  Persant  above  upon  the 
:.-'.".  :r.at  he  fell  grovelling  to  the  earth ;  and  then  he  leapt 
upon  him  overthwart  and  unlaced  his  helm  to  have  slain  him. 
Then  Sir  Persant  yielded  him  and  asked  him  mercy.  With 
that  came  the  damosel  and  prayed  to  save  his  life.  I  will 
well,  for  it  were  pity  this  noble  knight  should  die.  Gramercy, 
said  Persant,  gentle  knight  and  damosel.  For  certainly  now 
I  wot  well  it  was  ye  that  slew  my  brother  the  black  knight 
at  the  black  thorn  ;  he  was  a  full  noble  knight,  his  name 
was  Sir  Percard.  Also  I  am  sure  that  ye  are  he  that  won 

ne  other  brother  the  green  knight,  his  name  was  Sir 
Pertolepe,  Also  ye  won  my  brother  the  red  knight,  Sir 
Perimones.  And  now  syne  ye  have  won  these,  this  shall  I 
do  for  to  please  you  :  ye  shall  have  homage  and  fealty  of  me, 
and  an  hundred  knights  to  be  always  at  your  commandment, 
to  go  and  ride  where  ye  will  command  us.  And  so  they 
went  unto  Sir  Persant's  pavilion  and  drank  the  wine,  and  ate 

ces,  and  afterward  Sir  Persant  made  him  to  rest  upon  a 
bed  until  supper  time,  and  after  supper  to  bed  again.  When 
Beaumains  was  abed,  Sir  Persant  had  a  lady,  a  fair  daughter 
of  eighteen  year  of  age,  and  there  he  called  her  unto  him, 
and  charged  her  and  commanded  her  upon  his  blessing  to  go 
unto  the  knight's  bed.  and  lie  down  by  his  side,  and  make 
him  no  strange  cheer,  but  good  cheer,  and  take  him  in  thine 
arms  and  kiss  him,  and  look  that  this  be  done,  I  charge  you, 
as  ye  will  have  my  love  and  my  good  will  So  Sir  Persant's 


King  Arthur  199 

daughter  did  as  her  father  bad  her,  and  so  she  went  unto 
Sir  Beaumains'  bed,  and  privily  she  disposed  her,  and  laid 
her  down  by  him,  and  then  he  awoke  and  saw  her,  and  asked 
her  what  she  was.  Sir,  she  said,  I  am  Sir  Persant's  daughter, 
that  by  the  commandment  of  my  father  am  come  hither.  Be 
ye  a  maid  or  a  wife  ?  said  he.  Sir,  she  said.  I  am  a  clene 
maiden,  God  defend,  said  he,  that  I  should  defoil  you  to  do 
Sir  Persant  such  a  shame ;  therefore,  fair  damosel,  arise  ou: 
of  this  bed  or  else  I  will.  Sir,  she  said,  I  came  not  to  you 
by  mine  own  will,  but  as  I  was  commanded.  Alas,  said  Sir 
Beaumains,  I  were  a  shameful  knight  an  I  would  do  your 
father  any  disworship ;  and  so  he  kissed  her,  and  so  she 
departed  and  came  unto  Sir  Persant  her  father,  and  told  him 
all  how  she  had  sped.  Truly,  said  Sir  Persant,  whatsomever 
he  be,  he  is  come  of  a  noble  blood.  And  so  we  leave  them 
there  till  on  the  morn. 


CHAPTER    XIII 

OF  THE  GOODLY  COMMUNICATION  BETWEEN  SIR  PERSANT  AND 
EUAUMAINS,  AND  HOW  HE  TOLD  HIM  THAT  HIS  NAME  WAS 
SIR  GARETH 

AND  so  on  the  morn  the  damosel  and  Sir  Beaumains 
heard  mass  and  brake  their  fast,  and  so  took  their  leave. 
Fair  damosel,  said  Persant,  whitherward  are  ye  way-leading 
this  knight  ?  Sir,  she  said,  this  knkht  is  soing;  to  the  sie^e 

^j  f  ^_  •—  *-j  *— • 

that  besiegeth  my  sister  in  the  Castle  Dangerous.  Ah,  ah, 
said  Persant,  that  is  the  Knight  of  the  Red  Launde,  the 
which  is  the  most  perilous  knight  that  I  know  now  living, 
and  a  man  that  is  without  mercv,  and  men  sav  that  he  hath 

*  *  * 

seven  men's  strength.  God  save  you,  said  he  to  Beaumains, 
from  that  knight,  for  he  doth  great  •wrong  to  that  lady,  and 
that  is  great  pit}-,  for  she  is  one  of  the  fairest  ladies  of  the 
world,  and  meseemeth  that  your  damosel  is  her  sister  :  is  not 
your  name  Linet  ?  said  he.  Yea,  sir,  said  she,  and  my  lacy 
mv  sister's  name  is  Dame  Lionesse.  Now  shall  I  tell  vou, 

* 

said  Sir  Persant,  this  Red  Knight  of  the  Red  Launde  hath 
lain  long  at  the  siege,  well-nigh  this  two  years,  and  many 
times  he  might  have  had  her  an  he  had  would,  but  he  pro- 
longeth  the  time  to  this  intent,  for  to  have  Sir  Launcelot  du 
Lake  to  do  battle  with  him,  or  Sir  Tristram,  or  Sir  Lamorak 
de  Galis,  or  Sir  Gawaine,  and  this  is  his  tarrying  so  long  at 


2oo  King  Arthur 

the  siege.  Now  my  lord  Sir  Persant  of  Inde,  said  the 
damosel  Linet,  I  require  you  that  ye  will  make  this  gentle- 
man knight  or  ever  he  fight  with  the  red  knight.  I  will 
with  all  my  heart,  said  Sir  Persant,  an  it  please  him  to  take 
the  order  of  knighthood  of  so  simple  a  man  as  I  am.  Sir, 
said  Beaumains,  I  thank  you  for  your  good  will,  for  I  am 
better  sped,  for  certainly  the  noble  knight  Sir  Launcelot 
made  me  knight.  Ah,  said  Sir  Persant,  of  a  more  renowned 
knight  might  ye  not  be  made  knight ;  for  of  all  knights  he 
may  be  called  chief  of  knighthood  ;  and  so  all  the  world  saith, 
that  betwixt  three  knights  is  departed  clearly  knighthood, 
that  is  Launcelot  du  Lake,  Sir  Tristram  de  Liones,  and  Sir 
Lamorak  de  Galis  :  these  bear  now  the  renown.  There  be 
many  other  knights,  as  Sir  Palamides  the  Saracen  and  Sir 
Sasere  his  brother ;  also  Sir  Bleoberis  and  Sir  Blamore  de 
Ganis  his  brother ;  also  Sir  Bors  de  Ganis  and  Sir  Ector  de 
Maris  and  Sir  Percivale  de  Galis ;  these  and  many  more  be 
noble  knights,  but  there  be  none  that  pass  that  four  above 
said ;  therefore  God  speed  you  well,  said  Sir  Persant,  for  an 
ye  may  match  the  red  knight  ye  shall  be  called  the  fourth 
of  the  world.  Sir,  said  Beaumains,  I  would  fain  be  of  good 
fame  and  of  knighthood.  And  I  let  you  wit  I  came  of  good 
men,  for  I  dare  say  my  father  was  a  noble  man,  and  so  that 
ye  will  keep  it  in  close,  and  this  damosel,  I  will  tell  you  of 
what  kin  I  am.  We  will  not  discover  you,  said  they  both, 
till  ye  command  us,  by  the  faith  we  owe  unto  God.  Truly 
then,  said  he,  my  name  is  Gareth  of  Orkney,  and  King  Lot 
was  my  father,  and  my  mother  is  King  Arthur's  sister,  her 
name  is  Dame  Morgawse,  and  Sir  Gawaine  is  my  brother, 
and  Sir  Agravaine  and  Sir  Gaheris,  and  I  am  the  youngest 
of  them  all.  And  yet  wot  not  King  Arthur  nor  Sir  Gawaine 
what  I  am. 


CHAPTER   XIV 

HOW  THE  LADY  THAT  WAS  BESIEGED  HAD  WORD  FROM  HER  SISTER 
HOW  SHE  HAD  BROUGHT  A  KNIGHT  TO  FIGHT  FOR  HER,  AND 
WHAT  BATTLES  HE  HAD  ACHIEVED 

So  the  book  saith  that  the  lady  that  was  besieged  had 
word  of  her  sister's  coming  by  the  dwarf,  and  a  knight  with 
her,  and  how  he  had  passed  all  the  perilous  passages.  What 
manner  a  man  is  he  ?  said  the  lady.  He  is  a  noble  knight. 


King  Arthur  201 

truly,  madam,  said  the  dwarf,  and  but  a  young  man,  but  he  is 
as  likely  a  man  as  ever  ye  saw  any.  What  is  he  ?  said  the 
damosel,  and  of  what  kin  is  he  come,  and  of  whom  was  he 
made  knight  ?  Madam,  said  the  dwarf,  he  is  the  king's  son 
of  Orkney,  but  his  name  1  will  not  tell  you  as  at  this  time ; 
but  wit  ye  well,  of  Sir  Launcelot  was  he  made  knight,  for  of 
none  other  would  he  be  made  knight,  and  Sir  Kay  named 
him  Beaumams.  How  escaped  he,  said  the  lady,  from  the 
brethren  of  Persant  ?  Madam,  he  said,  as  a  noble  knight 
should.  First,  he  slew  two  brethren  at  a  passage  of  a  water. 
Ah  !  said  she,  they  were  good  knights,  but  they  were  mur- 
derers, the  one  hight  Gherard  de  Breuse,  and  the  other 
knight  hight  Sir  Arnold  de  Breuse.  Then,  madam,  he 
recountered  with  the  black  knight,  and  slew  him  in  plain 
battle,  and  so  he  took  his  horse  and  his  armour  and  fought 
with  the  green  knight  and  won  him  in  plain  battle,  and  in 
like  wise  he  served  the  red  knight,  and  after  in  the  same  wise 
he  served  the  blue  knight  and  won  him  in  plain  battle.  Then, 
said  the  lady,  he  hath  overcome  Sir  Persant  of  Inde,  one  of 
the  noblest  knights  of  the  world,  and  the  dwarf  said,  He 
hath  won  all  the  four  brethren  and  slain  the  black  knight, 
and  yet  he  did  more  tofore  :  he  overthrew  Sir  Kay  and  left 
him  nigh  dead  upon  the  ground ;  also  he  did  a  great  battle 
with  Sir  Launcelot,  and  there  they  departed  on  even  hands  : 
and  then  Sir  Launcelot  made  him  knight.  Dwarf,  said  the 
lady,  I  am  glad  of  these  tidings,  therefore  go  thou  in  an  her- 
mitage of  mine  hereby,  and  there  shalt  thou  bear  with  thee 
of  my  wine  in  two  flagons  of  silver,  they  are  of  two  gallons, 
and  also  two  cast  of  bread  with  fat  venison  baked,  and  dainty 
fowls ;  and  a  cup  of  gold  here  I  deliver  thee,  that  is  rich  and 
precious  ;  and  bear  all  this  to  mine  hermitage,  and  put  it  in 
the  hermit's  hands.  And  sythen  go  thou  unto  my  sister  and 
greet  her  well,  and  commend  me  unto  that  gentle  knight, 
and  pray  him  to  eat  and  to  drink  and  make  him  strong,  and 
say  ye  him  I  thank  him  of  his  courtesy  and  goodness,  that 
he  would  take  upon  him  such  labour  for  me  that  never  did 
him  bounte  nor  courtesy.  Also  pray  him  that  he  be  of  good 
heart  and  courage,  for  he  shall  meet  with  a  full  noble  knight, 
but  he  is  neither  of  bounte,  courtesy,  nor  gentleness  ;  for  he 
attendeth  unto  nothing  but  to  murder,  and  that  is  the  cause 
I  cannot  praise  him  nor  love  him.  So  this  dwarf  departed, 
and  came  to  Sir  Persant,  where  he  found  the  damosel  Linet 
and  Sir  Beaumains,  and  there  he  told  them  all  as  ye  have 


2O2  King   Arthur 

heard ;  and  then  they  took  their  leave,  but  Sir  Persant  took 
an  ambling  hackney  and  conveyed  them  on  their  ways,  and 
then  beleft  them  to  God  ;  and  so  within  a  little  while  they 
came  to  that  hermitage,  and  there  they  drank  the  wine,  and 
ate  the  venison  and  the  fowls  baken.  And  so  when  they  had 
repasted  them  well,  the  dwarf  returned  again  with  his  vessel 
unto  the  castle  again ;  and  there  mef  with  him  the  red 
knight  of  the  red  laundes,  and  asked  him  from  whence 
that  he  came,  and  where  he  had  been.  Sir,  said  the  dwarf, 
I  have  been  with  my  lady's  sister  of  this  castle,  and  she  hath 
been  at  King  Arthur's  court,  and  brought  a  knight  with  her. 
Then  I  account  her  travail  but  lost ;  for  though  she  had 
brought  with  her  Sir  Launcelot,  Sir  Tristram,  Sir  Lamorak, 
or  Sir  Gawaine,  I  would  think  myself  good  enough  for  them 
all.  It  may  well  be,  said  the  dwarf,  but  this  knight  hath 
passed  all  the  perilous  passages,  and  slain  the  black  knight 
and  other  two  more,  and  won  the  green  knight,  the  red 
knight,  and  the  blue  knight.  Then  is  he  one  of  these  four 
that  I  have  afore  rehearsed.  He  is  none  of  those,  said  the 
dwarf,  but  he  is  a  king's  son.  What  is  his  name  ?  said  the 
red  knight  of  the  red  laundes.  That  will  I  not  tell  you,  said 
the  dwarf,  but  Sir  Kay  upon  scorn  named  him  Beaumains. 
I  care  not,  said  the  knight,  what  knight  so  ever  he  be,  for  I 
shall  soon  deliver  him.  And  if  I  ever  match  him  he  shall 
have  a  shameful  death  as  many  other  have  had.  That  were 
pity,  said  the  dwarf,  and  it  is  marvel  that  ye  make  such 
shameful  war  upon  noble  knights. 


CHAPTER   XV 

HOW  THE  DAMOSEL  AND  BEAUMAINS  CAME  TO  THE  SIEGE,  AND  CAME 
TO  A  SYCAMORE  TREE,  AND  THERE  BEAUMAINS  BLEW  A  HORN, 
AND  THEN  THE  KNIGHT  OF  THE  RED  LAUNDES  CAME  TO  FIGHT 
WITH  HIM 

Now  leave  we  the  knight  and  the  dwarf,  and  speak  we  of 
Beaumains,  that  all  night  lay  in  the  hermitage ;  and  upon 
the  morn  he  and  the  damosel  Linet  heard  their  mass  and 
brake  their  fast.  And  then  they  took  their  horses  and  rode 
throughout  a  fair  forest ;  and  then  they  came  to  a  plain,  and 
saw  where  were  many  pavilions  and  tents,  and  a  fair  castle, 
and  there  was  much  smoke  and  great  noise ;  and  when  they 


King   Arthur  203 

came  near  the  siege  Sir  Beaumains  espied  upon  great  trees, 
as  he  rode,  how  there  hung  full  goodly  armed  knights  by  the 
neck,  and  their  shields  about  their  necks  with  their  swords, 
and  gilt  spurs  upon  their  heels,  and  so  there  hung  nigh  a  forty 
knights  shamefully  with  full  rich  arms.  Then  Sir  Beaumains 
abated  his  countenance  and  said,  What  meaneth  this  ?  Fair 
sir,  said  the  damosel,  abate  not  your  cheer  for  all  this  sight, 
for  ye  must  courage  yourself,  or  else  ye  be  all  shente,  for  all 
these  knights  came  hither  to  this  siege  to  rescue  my  sister 
Dame  Liones,  and  when  the  red  knight  of  the  red  laundes 
had  overcome  them,  he  put  them  to  this  shameful  death 
without  mercy  and  pity.  And  in  the  same  wise  he  will  serve 
you  but  if  you  quit  you  the  better.  Now  Jesu  defend  me, 
said  Beaumains,  from  such  a  villainous  death  and  shenship 
of  arms.  For  rather  than  I  should  so  be  faren  withal,  I 
would  rather  be  slain  manly  in  plain  battle.  So  were  ye 
better,  said  the  damosel ;  for  trust  not,  in  him  is  no  courtesy, 
but  all  goeth  to  the  death  or  shameful  murder,  and  that  is 
pity,  for  he  is  a  full  likely  man,  well  made  of  body,  and  a  full 
noble  knight  of  prowess,  and  a  lord  of  great  lands  and  posses- 
sions. Truly,  said  Beaumains,  he  may  well  be  a  good  knight, 
but  he  useth  shameful  customs,  and  it  is  marvel  that  he 
endureth  so  long  that  none  of  the  noble  knights  of  my  lord 
Arthur's  have  not  dealt  with  him.  And  then  they  rode  to  the 
dykes,  and  saw  them  double  dyked  with  full  warlike  walls  ; 
and  there  were  lodged  many  great  lords  nigh  the  walls  ;  and 
there  was  great  noise  of  minstrelsy  ;  and  the  sea  beat  upon 
the  one  side  of  the  walls,  where  were  many  ships  and  mariners' 
noise  with  *  hale  and  how.'  And  also  there  was  fast  by  a 
sycamore  tree,  and  there  hung  an  horn,  the  greatest  that  ever 
they  saw,  of  an  elephant's  bone  ;  and  this  Knight  of  the  Red 
Laundes  had  hanged  it  up  there,  that  if  there  came  any 
errant-knight,  he  must  blow  that  horn,  and  then  will  he  make 
him  ready  and  come  to  him  to  do  battle.  But,  sir,  I  pray 
you,  said  the  damosel  Linet,  blow  ye  not  the  horn  till  it  be 
high  noon,  for  now  it  is  about  prime,  and  now  increaseth  his 
might,  that  as  men  say  he  hath  seven  men's  strength.  Ah, 
fie  for  shame,  fair  damosel,  say  ye  never  so  more  to  me  ;  for, 
an  he  were  as  good  a  knight  as  ever  was,  I  shall  never  fail 
him  in  his  most  might,  for  either  I  will  win  worship  worship- 
fully,  or  die  knightly  in  the  field.  And  therewith  he  spurred 
his  horse  straight  to  the  sycamore  tree,  and  blew  so  the  horn 
eagerly  that  all  the  siege  and  the  castle  rang  thereof.  And 


2O4  King    Arthur 

then  there  leapt  out  knights  out  of  their  tents  and  pavilions, 
and  they  within  the  castle  looked  over  the  walls  and  out  at 
windows.  Then  the  red  knight  of  the  red  laundes  armed 
him  hastily,  and  two  barons  set  on  his  spurs  upon  his  heels, 
and  all  was  blood  red,  his  armour,  spear  and  shield.  And 
an  earl  buckled  his  helm  upon  his  head,  and  then  they 
brought  him  a  red  spear  and  a  red  steed,  and  so  he  rode 
into  a  little  vale  under  the  castle,  that  all  that  were  in  the 
castle  and  at  the  siege  might  behold  the  battle. 


CHAPTER   XVI 

HOW   THE   TWO   KNIGHTS    MET   TOGETHER,  AND  OF   THEIR   TALKING, 
AND    HOW   THEY   BEGAN   THEIR   BATTLE 

SIR,  said  the  damosel  Linet  unto  Sir  Beaumains,  look  ye 
be  glad  and  light,  for  yonder  is  your  deadly  enemy,  and 
at  yonder  window  is  my  lady,  my  sister,  Dame  Liones. 
Where?  said  Beaumains.  Yonder,  said  the  damosel,  and 
pointed  with  her  finger.  That  is  truth,  said  Beaumains. 
She  beseemeth  afar  the  fairest  lady  that  ever  I  looked  upon  ; 
and  truly,  he  said,  I  ask  no  better  quarrel  than  now  for  to 
do  battle,  for  truly  she  shall  be  my  lady,  and  for  her  I  will 
fight  And  ever  he  looked  up  to  the  window  with  glad 
countenance.  And  the  Lady  Liones  made  curtsey  to  him 
down  to  the  earth,  with  holding  up  both  [their]  hands. 
With  that  the  red  knight  of  the  red  laundes  called  to  Sir 
Beaumains,  Leave,  sir  knight,  thy  looking,  and  behold  me, 
I  counsel  thee  ;  for  I  warn  thee  well  she  is  my  lady,  and  for 
her  I  have  done  many  strong  battles.  If  thou  have  so  done, 
said  Beaumains,  meseemeth  it  was  but  waste  labour,  for  she 
loveth  none  of  thy  fellowship,  and  thou  to  love  that  loveth 
not  thee  is  but  great  folly.  For  an  I  understood  that  she 
were  not  glad  of  my  coming,  I  would  be  advised  or  I  did 
battle  for  her.  But  I  understand  by  the  besieging  of  this 
castle  she  may  forbear  thy  fellowship.  And  therefore  wit 
thou  well,  thou  red  knight  of  the  red  laundes,  I  love  her, 
and  will  rescue  her,  or  else  to  die.  Sayest  thou  that  ?  said 
the  red  knight,  meseemeth  thou  ought  of  reason  to  be  ware 
by  yonder  knights  that  thou  sawest  hang  upon  yonder  trees. 
Fie  for  shame,  said  Beaumains,  that  ever  thou  shouldest  say 
or  do  so  evil,  for  in  that  thou  shamest  thyself  and  knight- 


King   Arthur  205 

hood,  and  thou  mayest  be  sure  there  will  no  lady  love  thee 
that  knoweth  thy  wicked  customs.  And  now  thou  weenest 
that  the  sight  of  these  hanged  knights  should  fear  me.  Nay 
truly,  not  so;  that  shameful  sight  causeth  me  to  have 
courage  and  hardiness  against  thee,  more  than  I  would  have 
had  against  thee  an  thou  wert  a  well-ruled  knight.  Make 
thee  ready,  said  the  red  knight  of  the  red  laundes,  and  talk 
no  longer  with  me.  Then  Sir  Beaumains  bade  the  damosel 
go  from  him  ;  and  then  they  put  their  spears  in  their  rests, 
and  came  together  with  all  their  might  that  they  had  both, 
and  either  smote  other  in  middes  of  their  shields  that  the 
paytrellys,  surcingles,  and  cruppers  brast,  and  fell  to  the 
earth  both,  and  the  reins  of  their  bridles  in  their  hands ; 
and  so  they  lay  a  great  while  sore  astoned,  that  all  that  were 
in  the  castle  and  in  the  siege  weened  their  necks  had  been 
broken;  and  then  many  a  stranger  and  other  said  the 
strange  knight  was  a  big  man,  and  a  noble  j ouster,  for  or 
now  we  saw  never  no  knight  match  the  red  knight  of  the 
red  laundes  :  thus  they  said  both  within  the  castle  and 
without.  Then  lightly  they  avoided  their  horses  and  put 
their  shields  afore  them,  and  drew  their  swords  and  ran 
together  like  two  fierce  lions,  and  either  gave  other  such 
buffets  upon  their  helms  that  they  reeled  backward  both 
two  strides  ;  and  then  they  recovered  both,  and  hewed  great 
pieces  off  their  harness  and  their  shields  that  a  great  part 
fell  into  the  fields. 


CHAPTER    XVII 

HOW  AFTER  LONG  FIGHTING  BEAUMAINS  OVERCAME  THE  KNIGHT 
AND  WOULD  HAVE  SLAIN  HIM,  BUT  AT  THE  REQUEST  OF  THE 
LORDS  HE  SAVED  HIS  LIFE,  AND  MADE  HIM  TO  YIELD  HIM  TO 
THE  LADY 

AND  then  thus  they  fought  till  it  was  past  noon,  and 
never  would  stint,  till  at  the  last  they  lacked  wind  both  ; 
and  then  they  stood  wagging  and  scattering,  panting,  blowing 
and  bleeding,  that  all  that  beheld  them  for  the  most  part 
wept  for  pity.  So  when  they  had  rested  them  a  while  they 
yede  to  battle  again,  tracyng,  racyng,  foynyng  as  two  boars. 
And  at  some  time  they  took  their  run  as  it  had  been  two 
rams,  and  hurtled  together  that  sometime  they  fell  grovelling 

I  45  *H 


206  King   Arthur 

to  the  earth  :  and  at  sometime  they  were  so  amazed  that 
either  took  other's  sword  instead  of  his  own.     Thus  they 
endured  till  evensong  time,  that  there  was  none  that  beheld 
them  might  know  whether  was  like  to  win  the  battle ;  and 
their  armour   was  so   forhewen  that  men  might  see  their 
naked  sides ;    and  in  other  places  they   were   naked,    but 
ever   the   naked   places   they   did   defend.     And    the   red 
knight   was   a   wily   knight   of  war,   and   his  wily  fighting 
taught  Sir  Beaumains  to   be  wise ;  but  he  abought  it  full 
sore  or  he  did  espy  his  fighting.     And  thus  by  assent  of 
them  both  they  granted  either  other  to  rest ;  and  so  they 
set  them  down  upon  two  mole-hills  there  beside  the  fighting 
place,  and  either  of  them  unlaced  his  helm,  and  took  the 
cold  wind ;  for  either  of  their  pages  was  fast  by  them,  to 
come  when  they  called  to  unlace  their  harness  and  to  set 
them  on  again  at  their  commandment.     And  then  when  Sir 
Beaumains'  helm  was  off,  he  looked  up  to  the  window,  and 
there  he  saw  the  fair  lady  Dame  Liones,  and  she  made  him 
such  countenance  that  his  heart  waxed  light  and  jolly ;  and 
therewith  he  bad  the  red  knight  of  the  red  laundes  make 
him  ready,  and  let  us  do  the  battle  to  the  utterance.     I  will 
well,  said  the  knight,  and  then  they  laced  up  their  helms, 
and   their   pages  avoided,  and  they  stepped  together   and 
fought  freshly  ;  but  the  red  knight  of  the  red  laundes  awaited 
him,  and  at  an  overthwart  smote  him  within  the  hand,  that 
his  sword  fell  out  of  his  hand ;  and  yet  he  gave  him  another 
buffet  upon  the  helm  that  he  fell  grovelling  to  the  earth,  and 
the   red   knight   fell   over   him,    for   to   hold    him    down. 
Then  cried  the  maiden  Linet  on  high :  O  Sir  Beaumains, 
where  is  thy  courage  become  ?     Alas,   my  lady  my  sister 
beholdeth  thee,  and  she  sobbeth  and  weepeth,  that  maketh 
mine  heart  heavy.     When  Sir  Beaumains  heard  her  say  so, 
he  abrayed  up  with  a  great  might  and  gat  him  upon  his  feet, 
and  lightly  he  leapt  to  his  sword  and  gripped  it  in  his  hand, 
and  doubled  his  pace  unto  the  red  knight,  and  there  they 
fought   a  new   battle   together.     But  Sir  Beaumains   then 
doubled  his  strokes,  and  smote  so  thick  that  he  smote  the 
sword  out  of  his  hand,  and  then  he  smote  him  upon  the 
helm  that  he  fell  to  the  earth,  and  Sir  Beaumains  fell  upon 
him,  and  unlaced  his  helm  to  have  slain  him  ;  and  then  he 
yielded  him  and  asked  mercy,  and  said  with  a  loud  voice : 
O   noble   knight,    I    yield   me   to    thy   mercy.     Then    Sir 
Beaumains  bethought   him  upon  the  knights  that  he  had 


King   Arthur  207 

made  to  be  hanged  shamefully,  and  then  he  said :  I  may 
not  with  my  worship  save  thy  life,  for  the  shameful  deaths 
that  thou  hast  caused  many  full  good  knights  to  die.  Sir, 
said  the  red  knight  of  the  red  laundes,  hold  your  hand  and 
ye  shall  know  the  causes  why  I  put  them  to  so  shameful  a 
death.  Say  on,  said  Sir  Beaumains.  Sir,  I  loved  once  a 
lady,  a  fair  damosel,  and  she  had  her  brother  slain  ;  and  she 
said  it  was  Sir  Launcelot  du  Lake,  or  else  Sir  Gawaine ;  and 
she  prayed  me  as  that  I  loved  her  heartily,  that  I  would 
make  her  a  promise  by  the  faith  of  my  knighthood,  for  to 
labour  daily  in  arms  unto  I  met  with  one  of  them  ;  and  all 
that  I  might  overcome  I  should  put  them  unto  a  villainous 
death ;  and  this  is  the  cause  that  I  have  put  all  these  knights 
to  death,  and  so  I  ensured  her  to  do  all  the  villainy  unto 
King  Arthur's  knights,  and  that  I  should  take  vengeance 
upon  all  these  knights.  And,  sir,  now  I  will  thee  tell  that 
every  day  my  strength  increaseth  till  noon,  and  all  this  time 
have  I  seven  men's  strength. 


CHAPTER   XVIII 

HOW  THE  KNIGHT  YIELDED  HIM,  AND  HOW  BEAUMAINS  MADE 
HIM  TO  GO  UNTO  KING  ARTHUR'S  COURT,  AND  TO  CRY  SIR 
LAUNCELOT  MERCY 

THEN  came  there  many  earls,  and  barons,  and  noble 
knights,  and  prayed  that  knight  to  save  his  life,  and  take  him 
to  your  prisoner.  And  all  they  fell  upon  their  knees,  and 
prayed  him  of  mercy,  and  that  he  would  save  his  life ;  and, 
Sir,  they  all  said,  it  were  fairer  of  him  to  take  homage 
and  fealty,  and  let  him  hold  his  lands  of  you  than  for  to  slay 
him ;  by  his  death  ye  shall  have  none  advantage,  and  his 
misdeeds  that  be  done  may  not  be  undone ;  and  therefore 
he  shall  make  amends  to  all  parties,  and  we  all  will  become 
your  men  and  do  you  homage  and  fealty.  Fair  lords,  said 
Beaumains,  wit  you  well  I  am  full  loath  to  slay  this  knight, 
nevertheless  he  hath  done  passing  ill  and  shamefully ;  but 
insomuch  all  that  he  did  was  at  a  lady's  request  I  blame  him 
the  less ;  and  so  for  your  sake  I  will  release  him  that  he 
shall  have  his  life  upon  this  covenant,  that  he  go  within  the 
castle,  and  yield  him  there  to  the  lady,  and  if  she  will  forgive 
and  quit  him,  I  will  well ;  with  this  he  make  her  amends  of 


2o8  King   Arthur 

all  the  trespass  he  hath  done  against  her  and  her  lands. 
And  also,  when  that  is  done,  that  ye  go  unto  the  court  of 
King  Arthur,  and  there  that  ye  ask  Sir  Launcelot  mercy, 
and  Sir  Gawaine,  for  the  evil  will  ye  have  had  against  them. 
Sir,  said  the  red  knight  of  the  red  laundes,  all  this  will  I  do 
as  ye  command,  and  syker  assurance  and  borowes  ye  shall 
have.  And  so  then  when  the  assurance  was  made,  he  made 
his  homage  and  fealty,  and  all  those  earls  and  barons  with 
him.  And  then  the  maiden  Linet  came  to  Sir  Beaumains, 
and  unarmed  him  and  searched  his  wounds,  and  stinted  his 
blood,  and  in  likewise  she  did  to  the  red  knight  of  the  red 
laundes.  And  there  they  sojourned  ten  days  in  their  tents ; 
and  the  red  knight  made  his  lords  and  servants  to  do  all  the 
pleasure  that  they  might  unto  Sir  Beaumains.  And  so 
within  a  while  the  red  knight  of  the  red  laundes  yede  unto 
the  castle,  and  put  him  in  her  grace.  And  so  she  received 
him  upon  sufficient  surety,  so  all  her  hurts  were  well  restored 
of  all  that  she  could  complain.  And  then  he  departed  unto 
the  court  of  King  Arthur,  and  there  openly  the  red  knight 
of  the  red  laundes  put  him  in  the  mercy  of  Sir  Launcelot 
and  Sir  Gawaine,  and  there  he  told  openly  how  he  was  over- 
come and  by  whom,  and  also  he  told  all  the  battles  from 
the  beginning  unto  the  ending.  Jesu  mercy,  said  King 
Arthur  and  Sir  Gawaine,  we  marvel  much  of  what  blood  he 
is  come,  for  he  is  a  noble  knight.  Have  ye  no  marvel,  said 
Sir  Launcelot,  for  ye  shall  right  well  wit  that  he  is  come  of  a 
full  noble  blood ;  and  as  for  his  might  and  hardiness,  there 
be  but  few  now  living  that  is  so  mighty  as  he  is,  and  so 
noble  of  prowess.  It  seemeth  by  you,  said  King  Arthur, 
that  ye  know  his  name,  and  from  whence  he  is  come,  and  of 
what  blood  he  is.  I  suppose  I  do  so,  said  Launcelot,  or 
else  I  would  not  have  given  him  the  order  of  knighthood ; 
but  he  gave  me  such  charge  at  that  time  that  I  should  never 
discover  him  until  he  required  me,  or  else  it  be  known 
openly  by  some  other. 


King   Arthur  209 


CHAPTER   XIX 

HOW  BEAUMAINS  CAME  TO  THE  LADY,  AND  WHEN  HE  CAME  TO 
THE  CASTLE  THE  GATES  WERE  CLOSED  AGAINST  HIM,  AND  OF 
THE  WORDS  THAT  THE  LADY  SAID  TO  HIM 

Now  turn  we  unto  Sir  Beaumains  that  desired  of  Linet 
that  he  might  see  her  sister,  his  lady.  Sir,  she  said,  I  would 
fain  ye  saw  her.  Then  Sir  Beaumains  all  armed  him,  and 
took  his  horse  and  his  spear,  and  rode  straight  unto  the 
castle.  And  when  he  came  to  the  gate  he  found  there  many 
men  armed,  and  pulled  up  the  drawbridge  and  drew  the  port 
close.  Then  marvelled  he  why  they  would  not  suffer  him  to 
enter.  And  then  he  looked  up  to  the  window ;  and  there 
he  saw  the  fair  Liones  that  said  on  high  :  Go  thy  way,  Sir 
Beaumains,  for  as  yet  thou  shalt  not  have  wholly  my  love, 
unto  the  time  that  thou  be  called  one  of  the  number  of  the 
worthy  knights.  And  therefore  go  labour  in  worship  this 
twelvemonth,  and  then  thou  shalt  hear  new  tidings.  Alas, 
fair  lady,  said  Beaumains,  I  have  not  deserved  that  ye 
should  show  me  this  strangeness,  and  I  had  weened  that  I 
should  have  right  good  cheer  with  you,  and  unto  my  power 
I  have  deserved  thank,  and  well  I  am  sure  I  have  bought 
your  love  with  part  of  the  best  blood  within  my  body.  Fair 
courteous  knight,  said  Dame  Liones,  be  not  displeased  nor 
over-hasty ;  for  wit  you  well  your  great  travail  nor  good  love 
shall  not  be  lost,  for  I  consider  your  great  travail  and  labour, 
your  bounty  and  your  goodness  as  me  ought  to  do.  And 
therefore  go  on  your  way,  and  look  that  ye  be  of  good  com- 
fort, for  all  shall  be  for  your  worship  and  for  the  best,  and 
perdy  a  twelvemonth  will  soon  be  done,  and  trust  me,  fair 
knight,  I  shall  be  true  to  you,  and  never  to  betray  you,  but  to 
my  death  I  shall  love  you  and  none  other.  And  therewithal 
she  turned  her  from  the  window,  and  Sir  Beaumains  rode 
awayward  from  the  castle,  making  great  dole,  and  so  he  rode 
here  and  there  and  wist  not  where  he  rode,  till  it  was  dark 
night.  And  then  it  happened  him  to  come  to  a  poor  man's 
house,  and  there  he  was  harboured  all  that  night.  But  Sir 
Beaumains  had  no  rest,  but  wallowed  and  writhed  for  the 
love  of  the  lady  of  the  castle.  And  so  upon  the  morrow  he 
took  his  horse  and  rode  until  underne,  and  then  he  came 
to  a  broad  water,  and  thereby  was  a  great  lodge,  and  there 
he  alit  to  sleep  and  laid  his  head  upon  the  shield,  and 


2io  King   Arthur 

betook  his  horse  to  the  dwarf,  and  commanded  him  to 
watch  all  night.  Now  turn  we  to  the  lady  of  the  same 
castle,  that  thought  much  upon  Beaumains,  and  then  she 
called  unto  her  Sir  Gringamore  her  brother,  and  prayed  him 
in  all  manner,  as  he  loved  her  heartily,  that  he  would  ride 
after  Sir  Beaumains  :  And  ever  have  ye  wayte  upon  him  till 
ye  may  find  him  sleeping,  for  I  am  sure  in  his  heaviness  he 
will  alight  down  in  some  place,  and  lie  him  down  to  sleep ; 
and  therefore  have  ye  your  wayte  upon  him,  and  in  the 
priviest  manner  ye  can,  take  his  dwarf,  and  go  ye  your  way 
with  him  as  fast  as  ever  ye  may  or  Sir  Beaumains  awake. 
For  my  sister  Linet  telleth  me  that  he  can  tell  of  what 
kindred  he  is  come,  and  what  is  his  right  name.  And  the 
meanwhile  I  and  my  sister  will  ride  unto  your  castle  to  await 
when  ye  bring  with  you  the  dwarf.  And  then  when  ye  have 
brought  him  unto  your  castle,  I  will  have  him  in  examina- 
tion myself:  unto  the  time  that  I  know  what  is  his  right 
name,  and  of  what  kindred  he  is  come,  shall  I  never  be 
merry  at  my  heart.  Sister,  said  Sir  Gringamore,  all  this  shall 
be  done  after  your  intent.  And  so  he  rode  all  the  other 
day  and  the  night  till  that  he  found  Sir  Beaumains  lying  by 
a  water,  and  his  head  upon  his  shield,  for  to  sleep.  And 
then  when  he  saw  Sir  Beaumains  fast  on  sleep,  he  came 
stilly  stalking  behind  the  dwarf,  and  plucked  him  fast  under 
his  arm,  and  so  he  rode  away  with  him  as  fast  as  ever 
he  might  unto  his  own  castle.  And  this  Sir  Gringamore's 
arms  were  all  black,  and  that  to  him  longeth.  But  ever  as 
he  rode  with  the  dwarf  toward  his  castle,  he  cried  unto  his 
lord  and  prayed  him  of  help.  And  therewith  awoke  Sir 
Beaumains,  and  up  he  leapt  lightly,  and  saw  where  Sir 
Gringamore  rode  his  way  with  the  dwarf,  and  so  Sir 
Gringamore  rode  out  of  his  sight. 


CHAPTER   XX 

HOW  SIR   BEAUMAINS  RODE  AFTER  TO  RESCUE  HIS  DWARF,   AND  CAME 
INTO  THE  CASTLE  WHERE  HE  WAS 

THEN  Sir  Beaumains  put  on  his  helm  anon,  and  buckled 
his  shield,  and  took  his  horse,  and  rode  after  him  all  that 
ever  he  might  ride  through  marshes,  and  fields,  and  great 
dales,  that  many  times  his  horse  and  he  plunged  over  the 


King   Arthur  211 

head  in  deep  mires,  for  he  knew  not  the  way,  but  took  the 
gainest  way  in  that  woodness,  that  many  times  he  was  like 
to  perish.  And  at  the  last  him  happened  to  come  to  a  fair 
green  way,  and  there  he  met  with  a  poor  man  of  the  country, 
whom  he  saluted  and  asked  him  whether  he  met  not  with  a 
knight  upon  a  black  horse  and  all  black  harness,  a  little 
dwarf  sitting  behind  him  with  heavy  cheer.  Sir,  said  the 
poor  man,  here  by  me  came  Sir  Gringamore  the  knight,  with 
such  a  dwarf  mourning  as  ye  say  ;  and  therefore  I  rede  you 
not  follow  him,  for  he  is  one  of  the  periloust  knights  of  the 
world,  and  his  castle  is  here  nigh  hand  but  two  mile ;  there- 
fore we  advise  you  ride  not  after  Sir  Gringamore,  but  if  ye 
owe  him  good  will.  So  leave  we  Sir  Beaumains  riding 
toward  the  castle,  and  speak  we  of  Sir  Gringamore  and  the 
dwarf.  Anon  as  the  dwarf  was  come  to  the  castle,  Dame 
Liones  and  Dame  Linet  her  sister,  asked  the  dwarf  where 
was  his  master  born,  and  of  what  lineage  he  was  come. 
And  but  if  thou  tell  me,  said  Dame  Liones,  thou  shalt 
never  escape  this  castle,  but  ever  here  to  be  prisoner.  As 
for  that,  said  the  dwarf,  I  fear  not  greatly  to  tell  his  name 
and  of  what  kin  he  is  come.  Wit  you  well  he  is  a  king's 
son,  and  his  mother  is  sister  to  King  Arthur,  and  he  is 
brother  to  the  good  knight  Sir  Gawaine,  and  his  name  is  Sir 
Gareth  of  Orkney.  And  now  I  have  told  you  his  right 
name,  I  pray  you,  fair  lady,  let  me  go  to  my  lord  again,  for 
he  will  never  out  of  this  country  until  that  he  have  me  again. 
And  if  he  be  angry  he  will  do  much  harm  or  that  he  be 
stint,  and  work  you  wrack  in  this  country.  As  for  that 
threatening,  said  Sir  Gringamore,  be  it  as  it  be  may,  we  will 
go  to  dinner.  And  so  they  washed  and  went  to  meat,  and 
made  them  merry  and  well  at  ease,  and  because  the  Lady 
Liones  of  the  castle  was  there,  they  made  great  joy.  Truly, 
madam,  said  Linet  unto  her  sister,  well  may  he  be  a  king's 
son,  for  he  hath  many  good  tatches  on  him,  for  he  is  courteous 
and  mild,  and  the  most  suffering  man  that  ever  I  met  withal. 
For  I  dare  say  there  was  never  gentlewoman  reviled  man 
in  so  foul  a  manner  as  I  have  rebuked  him ;  and  at  all 
times  he  gave  me  goodly  and  meek  answers  again.  And  as 
they  sat  thus  talking,  there  came  Sir  Gareth  in  at  the  gate 
with  an  angry  countenance,  and  his  sword  drawn  in  his 
hand,  and  cried  aloud  that  all  the  castle  might  hear  it, 
saying :  Thou  traitor,  Sir  Gringamore,  deliver  me  my  dwarf 
again,  or  by  the  faith  that  I  owe  to  the  order  of  knighthood, 


212  King   Arthur 

I  shall  do  thee  all  the  harm  that  I  can.  Then  Sir  Gringa- 
more  looked  out  at  a  window  and  said,  Sir  Gareth  of  Orkney, 
leave  thy  boasting  words,  for  thou  gettest  not  thy  dwarf 
again.  Thou  coward  knight,  said  Sir  Gareth,  bring  him  with 
thee,  and  come  and  do  battle  with  me,  and  win  him  and 
take  him.  So  will  I  do,  said  Sir  Gringamore,  an  me  list, 
but  for  all  thy  great  words  thou  gettest  him  not.  Ah  !  fair 
brother,  said  Dame  Liones,  I  would  he  had  his  dwarf  again, 
for  I  would  he  were  not  wroth,  for  now  he  hath  told  me  all 
my  desire  I  keep  no  more  of  the  dwarf.  And  also,  brother, 
he  hath  done  much  for  me,  and  delivered  me  from  the  red 
knight  of  the  red  laundes,  and  therefore,  brother,  I  owe 
him  my  service  afore  all  knights  living.  And  wit  ye  well 
that  I  love  him  before  all  other,  and  full  fain  I  would  speak 
with  him.  But  in  nowise  I  would  that  he  wist  what  I  were, 
but  that  I  were  another  strange  lady.  Well,  said  Sir  Gringa- 
more, sythen  I  know  now  your  will,  I  will  obey  now  unto 
him.  And  right  therewithal  he  went  down  unto  Sir  Gareth, 
and  said  :  Sir,  I  cry  you  mercy,  and  all  that  I  have  misdone 
I  will  amend  it  at  your  will.  And  therefore  I  pray  you  that 
ye  would  alight,  and  take  such  cheer  as  I  can  make  you  in 
this  castle.  Shall  I  have  my  dwarf  ?  said  Sir  Gareth.  Yea, 
sir,  and  all  the  pleasaunce  that  I  can  make  you,  for  as  soon 
as  your  dwarf  told  me  what  ye  were  and  of  what  blood  ye 
are  come,  and  what  noble  deeds  ye  have  done  in  these 
marches,  then  I  repented  of  my  deeds.  And  then  Sir 
Gareth  alit,  and  there  came  his  dwarf  and  took  his  horse. 
O  my  fellow,  said  Sir  Gareth,  I  have  had  many  adventures 
for  thy  sake.  And  so  Sir  Gringamore  took  him  by  the 
hand  and  led  him  into  the  hall  where  his  own  wife  was. 


CHAPTER   XXI 

HOW  SIR  GARETH,  OTHERWISE  CALLED  BEAUMAINS,  CAME  TO  THE 
PRESENCE  OF  HIS  LADY,  AND  HOW  THEY  TOOK  ACQUAINTANCE, 
AND  OF  THEIR  LOVE 

AND  then  came  forth  Dame  Liones  arrayed  like  a  prin- 
cess, and  there  she  made  him  passing  good  cheer,  and  he 
her  again  ;  and  they  had  goodly  language  and  lovely  coun- 
tenance together.  And  Sir  Gareth  thought  many  times, 
Jesu,  would  that  the  lady  of  the  Castle  Perilous  were  so  fair 


King   Arthur  213 

as  she  was.  There  were  all  manner  of  games  and  plays,  of 
dancing  and  singing.  And  ever  the  more  Sir  Gareth  beheld 
that  lady,  the  more  he  loved  her ;  and  so  he  burned  in  love 
that  he  was  past  himself  in  his  reason  ;  and  forth  toward 
night  they  yede  unto  supper,  and  Sir  Gareth  might  not  eat, 
for  his  love  was  so  hot  that  he  wist  not  where  he  was.  All 
these  looks  espied  Sir  Gringamore,  and  then  at  after-supper 
he  called  his  sister  Dame  Liones  into  a  chamber,  and  said  : 
Fair  sister,  I  have  well  espied  your  countenance  betwixt  you 
and  this  knight,  and  I  will,  sister,  that  ye  wit  he  is  a  full 
noble  knight,  and  if  ye  can  make  him  to  abide  here  I  will 
do  him  all  the  pleasure  that  I  can,  for  an  ye  were  better 
than  ye  are,  ye  were  well  bywaryd  upon  him.  Fair  brother, 
said  Dame  Liones,  I  understand  well  that  the  knight  is  good, 
and  come  he  is  of  a  noble  house.  Notwithstanding,  I  will 
assay  him  better,  howbeit  I  am  most  beholden  to  him  of  any 
earthly  man  ;  for  he  hath  had  great  labour  for  my  love,  and 
passed  many  a  dangerous  passage.  Right  so  Sir  Gringamore 
went  unto  Sir  Gareth,  and  said,  Sir,  make  ye  good  cheer,  for 
ye  shall  have  none  other  cause,  for  this  lady,  my  sister,  is 
yours  at  all  times,  her  worship  saved,  for  wit  ye  well  she 
loveth  you  as  well  as  ye  do  her,  and  better  if  better  may  be. 
An  I  wist  that,  said  Sir  Gareth,  there  lived  not  a  gladder 
man  than  I  would  be.  Upon  my  worship,  said  Sir  Gringa- 
more, trust  unto  my  promise ;  and  as  long  as  it  liketh  you 
ye  shall  sojourn  with  me,  and  this  lady  shall  be  with  us  daily 
and  nightly  to  make  you  all  the  cheer  that  she  can.  I  will 
well,  said  Sir  Gareth,  for  I  have  promised  to  be  nigh  this 
country  this  twelvemonth.  And  well  I  am  sure  King 
Arthur  and  other  noble  knights  will  find  me  where  that  I 
am  within  this  twelvemonth.  For  I  shall  be  sought  and 
found,  if  that  I  be  on  live.  And  then  the  noble  knight  Sir 
Gareth  went  unto  the  Dame  Liones,  which  he  then  much 
loved,  and  kissed  her  many  times,  and  either  made  great  joy 
of  other.  And  there  she  promised  him  her  love  certainly,  to 
love  him  and  none  other  the  days  of  her  life.  Then  this 
lady,  Dame  Liones,  by  the  assent  of  her  brother,  told  Sir 
Gareth  all  the  truth  what  she  was,  and  how  she  was  the 
same  lady  that  he  did  battle  for,  and  how  she  was  lady  of  the 
Castle  Perilous,  and  there  she  told  him  how  she  caused  her 
brother  to  take  away  his  dwarf. 


214  King   Arthur 


CHAPTER    XXII 

HOW  AT    NIGHT  CAME   AN    ARMED    KNIGHT,  AND    FOUGHT    WITH    SIR 
GARETH,  AND    HE,    SORE  HURT    IN  THE  THIGH,  SMOTE    OFF  THE 


KNIGHT'S  HEAD 


FOR  this  cause,  to  know  the  certainty  what  was  your 
name,  and  of  what  kin  ye  were  come.  And  then  she  let 
fetch  tofore  him  Linet,  the  damosel  that  had  ridden  with 
him  many  wildsome  ways.  Then  was  Sir  Gareth  more 
gladder  than  he  was  tofore.  And  then  they  troth-plight  each 
other  to  love,  and  never  to  fail  whiles  their  life  lasteth. 
And  so  they  burnt  both  in  love,  that  they  were  accorded  to 
abate  their  lusts  secretly.  And  there  Dame  Liones 
counselled  Sir  Gareth  to  sleep  in  none  other  place  but  in 
the  hall.  And  there  she  promised  him  to  come  to  his  bed 
a  little  afore  midnight.  This  counsel  was  not  so  privily 
kept  but  it  was  understood  ;  for  they  were  but  young  both, 
and  tender  of  age,  and  had  not  used  none  such  crafts 
tofore.  Wherefore  the  damosel  Linet  was  a  little  displeased, 
and  she  thought  her  sister  Dame  Liones  was  a  little  over- 
hasty,  that  she  might  not  abide  the  time  of  her  marriage ; 
and  for  saving  their  worship,  she  thought  to  abate  their  hot 
lusts.  And  so  she  let  ordain  by  her  subtle  crafts  that  they 
had  not  their  intents  neither  with  other,  as  in  their  delights, 
until  they  were  married.  And  so  it  passed  on.  At  after- 
supper  was  made  clean  avoidance,  that  every  lord  and  lady 
should  go  unto  his  rest.  But  Sir  Gareth  said  plainly  he 
would  go  no  farther  than  the  hall,  for  in  such  places,  he  said, 
was  convenient  for  an  errant-knight  to  take  his  rest  in  ;  and 
so  there  were  ordained  great  couches,  and  thereon  feather 
beds,  and  there  laid  him  down  to  sleep  ;  and  within  a  while 
came  Dame  Liones,  wrapped  in  a  mantle  furred  with  ermine, 
and  laid  her  down  beside  Sir  Gareth.  And  therewithal  he 
began  to  kiss  her.  And  then  he  looked  afore  him,  and 
there  he  perceived  and  saw  come  an  armed  knight,  with 
many  lights  about  him  ;  and  this  knight  had  a  long  gysarme 
in  his  hand,  and  made  grim  countenance  to  smite  him. 
When  Sir  Gareth  saw  him  come  in  that  wise,  he  leapt 
out  of  his  bed,  and  gat  in  his  hand  his  sword,  and  leapt 
straight  toward  that  knight.  And  when  the  knight  saw 
Sir  Gareth  come  so  fiercely  upon  him,  he  smote  him 
with  a  foyne  through  the  thick  of  the  thigh  that  the  wound 


King   Arthur  215 

was  a  shaftmon  broad  and  had  cut  a-two  many  veins  and 
sinews.  And  therewithal  Sir  Gareth  smote  him  upon  the 
helm  such  a  buffet  that  he  fell  grovelling ;  and  then  he  leapt 
over  him  and  unlaced  his  helm,  and  smote  off  his  head  from 
the  body.  And  then  he  bled  so  fast  that  he  might  not  stand, 
but  so  he  laid  him  down  upon  his  bed,  and  there  he  swooned 
and  lay  as  he  had  been  dead.  Then  Dame  Liones  cried  aloud, 
that  her  brother  Sir  Gringamore  heard,  and  came  down. 
And  when  he  saw  Sir  Gareth  so  shamefully  wounded  he  was  sore 
displeased,  and  said :  I  am  shamed  that  this  noble  knight  is 
thus  honoured.  Sir,  said  Sir  Gringamore,  how  may  this  be, 
that  ye  be  here,  and  this  noble  knight  wounded  ?  Brother, 
she  said,  I  can  not  tell  you,  for  it  was  not  done  by  me,  nor 
by  mine  assent.  For  he  is  my  lord  and  I  am  his,  and  he 
must  be  mine  husband ;  therefore,  my  brother,  I  will  that 
ye  wit  I  shame  me  not  to  be  with  him,  nor  to  do  him  all  the 
pleasure  that  I  can.  Sister,  said  Sir  Gringamore,  and  I  will 
that  ye  wit  it,  and  Sir  Gareth  both,  that  it  was  never  done  by 
me,  nor  by  my  assent  that  this  unhappy  deed  was  done.  And 
there  they  staunched  his  bleeding  as  well  as  they  might,  and 
great  sorrow  made  Sir  Gringamore  and  Dame  Liones.  And 
forth  withal  came  Dame  Linet,  and  took  up  the  head  in  the 
sight  of  them  all,  and  anointed  it  with  an  ointment  thereas 
it  was  smitten  off ;  and  in  the  same  wise  she  did  to  the  other 
part  thereas  the  head  stuck,  and  then  she  set  it  together,  and 
it  stuck  as  fast  as  ever  it  did.  And  the  knight  arose  lightly 
up,  and  the  damosel  Linet  put  him  in  her  chamber.  All  this 
saw  Sir  Gringamore  and  Dame  Liones,  and  so  did  Sir  Gareth  ; 
and  well  he  espied  that  it  was  the  damosel  Linet,  that  rode 
with  him  through  the  perilous  passages.  Ah  well,  damosel, 
said  Sir  Gareth,  I  weened  ye  would  not  have  done  as  ye 
have  done.  My  lord  Gareth,  said  Linet,  all  that  I  have 
done  I  will  avow,  and  all  that  I  have  done  shall  be  for  your 
honour  and  worship,  and  to  us  all.  And  so  within  a  while 
Sir  Gareth  was  nigh  whole,  and  waxed  light  and  jocund,  and 
sang,  danced,  and  gamed ;  and  he  and  Dame  Liones  were 
so  hot  in  burning  love  that  they  made  their  covenant  at  the 
tenth  night  after,  that  she  should  come  to  his  bed.  And 
by  cause  he  was  wounded  afore,  he  laid  his  armour  and  his 
sword  nigh  his  bed's  side. 


216  King   Arthur 


CHAPTER   XXIII 

HOW  THE  SAID  KNIGHT  CAME  AGAIN  THE  NEXT  NIGHT  AND  WAS 
BEHEADED  AGAIN,  AND  HOW  AT  THE  FEAST  OF  PENTECOST  ALL 
THE  KNIGHTS  THAT  SIR  GARETH  HAD  OVERCOME  CAME  AND 
YIELDED  THEM  TO  KING  ARTHUR 

RIGHT  as  she  promised  she  came ;  and  she  was  not  so  soon 
in  his  bed  but  she  espied  an  armed  knight  coming  toward 
the  bed :  therewithal  she  warned  Sir  Gareth,  and  lightly 
through  the  good  help  of  Dame  Liones  he  was  armed ;  and 
they  hurtled  together  with  great  ire  and  malice  all  about  the 
hall ;  and  there  was  great  light  as  it  had  been  the  number 
of  twenty  torches  both  before  and  behind,  so  that  Sir  Gareth 
strained  him,  so  that  his  old  wound  brast  again  on  bleeding ; 
but  he  was  hot  and  courageous  and  took  no  keep,  but  with 
his  great  force  he  struck  down  that  knight,  and  voided  his 
helm,  and  struck  off  his  head.  Then  he  hewed  the  head  in 
an  hundred  pieces.  And  when  he  had  done  so  he  took  up 
all  those  pieces,  and  threw  them  out  at  a  window  into  the 
ditches  of  the  castle ;  and  by  this  done  he  was  so  faint  that 
unnethes  he  might  stand  for  bleeding.  And  by  when  he 
was  almost  unarmed  he  fell  in  a  deadly  swoon  on  the  floor ; 
and  then  Dame  Liones  cried  so  that  Sir  Gringamore  heard ; 
and  when  he  came  and  found  Sir  Gareth  in  that  plight  he 
made  great  sorrow ;  and  there  he  awaked  Sir  Gareth,  and 
gave  him  a  drink  that  relieved  him  wonderly  well ;  but  the 
sorrow  that  Dame  Liones  made  there  may  no  tongue  tell,  for 
she  so  fared  with  herself  as  she  would  have  died.  Right  so 
came  this  damosel  Linet  before  them  all,  and  she  had 
fetched  all  the  gobbets  of  the  head  that  Sir  Gareth  had 
thrown  out  at  a  window,  and  there  she  anointed  them  as 
she  had  done  tofore,  and  set  them  together  again.  Well, 
damosel  Linet,  said  Sir  Gareth,  I  have  not  deserved  all  this 
despite  that  ye  do  unto  me.  Sir  knight,  she  said,  I  have 
nothing  done  but  I  will  avow,  and  all  that  I  have  done 
shall  be  to  your  worship,  and  to  us  all.  And  then  was  Sir 
Gareth  staunched  of  his  bleeding.  But  the  leeches  said  that 
there  was  no  man  that  bare  the  life  should  heal  him 
throughout  of  his  wound  but  if  they  healed  him  that  caused 
that  stroke  by  enchantment.  So  leave  we  Sir  Gareth  there 
with  Sir  Gringamore  and  his  sisters,  and  turn  we  unto  King 
Arthur,  that  at  the  next  feast  of  Pentecost  held  his  feast; 


King   Arthur  217 

and  there  came  the  Green  Knight  with  fifty  knights,  and 
yielded  them  all  unto  King  Arthur.     And  so  there  came 
the  Red    Knight   his   brother,  and  yielded   him   to  King 
Arthur,  and  three  score  knights  with  him.     Also  there  came 
the  Blue  Knight,  brother  to  them,  with  an  hundred  knights, 
and   yielded   them    unto    King    Arthur ;    and    the   Green 
Knight's  name  was  Pertolepe,  and  the  Red  Knight's  name 
was  Perimones,  and  the  Blue  Knight's  name  was  Sir  Persant 
of  Inde.    These  three  brethren  told  King  Arthur  how  they 
were  overcome  by  a  knight  that  a  damosel  had  with  her, 
and  called  him  Beaumains.     Jesu,  said  the  king,  I  marvel 
what  knight  he  is,  and  of  what  lineage  he  is  come.     He  was 
with  me  a  twelvemonth,  and  poorly  and  shamefully  he  was 
fostered,  and  Sir  Kay  in  scorn  named  him  Beaumains.     So 
right  as  the  king  stood  so  talking  with  these  three  brethren, 
there  came  Sir  Launcelot  du  Lake,  and  told  the  king  that 
there  was  come  a  goodly  lord  with  six  hundred  knights  with 
him.     Then  the  king  went  out  of  Carlion,  for  there  was  the 
feast,  and  there  came  to  him  this  lord,  and  saluted  the  king 
in  a  goodly  manner.     What  will  ye,  said  King  Arthur,  and 
what  is  your  errand  ?     Sir,  he  said,  my  name  is  the  red 
knight  of  the   red  laundes,  but  my  name  is  Sir  Ironside  ; 
and  sir,  wit  ye  well,  here  I  am  sent  to  you  of  a  knight  that 
is  called  Beaumains,  for  he  won  me  in  plain  battle  hand  for 
hand,  and  so  did  never  no   knight  but   he,  that  ever  had 
the  better  of  me  this  thirty  winter ;  the  which  commanded 
to  yield  me  to  you  at  your  will.     Ye  are  welcome,  said  the 
king,  for  ye  have  been  long  a  great  foe  to  me  and  my  court, 
and  now  I  trust  to  God  I  shall  so  entreat  you  that  ye  shall 
be  my  friend.     Sir,  both  I  and  these  five  hundred  knights 
shall  always  be  at  your  summons  to  do  you  service  as  may  lie 
in  our  powers.     Jesu  mercy,  said  King  Arthur,  I  am  much 
beholden  unto  that  knight  that  hath  put  so  his  body  in 
devoir  to  worship  me  and  my  court.     And  as  to  thee,  Iron- 
side,  that   are   called   the  red  knight  of  the  red  laundes, 
thou  art  called   a  perilous  knight ;  and  if  thou  wilt  hold 
of  me  I  shall  worship   thee  and  make  thee  knight  of  the 
Table  Round ;  but  then  thou  must  be  no  more  a  murderer. 
Sir,  as  to  that,  I  have  promised  unto  Sir  Beaumains  never 
more  to  use  such  customs,  for  all  the  shameful  customs  that 
I  used  I  did  at  the  request  of  a  lady  that  I  loved  ;  and 
therefore  I  must   go   unto   Sir   Launcelot,    and    unto    Sir 
Gawaine,  and  ask  them  forgiveness  of  the  evil  will  I  had 


218  King   Arthur 

unto  them  ;  for  all  that  I  put  to  death  was  all  only  for  the 
love  of  Sir  Launcelot  and  of  Sir  Gawaine.  They  be  here 
now,  said  the  king,  afore  thee,  now  may  ye  say  to  them  what 
ye  will.  And  then  he  kneeled  down  unto  Sir  Launcelot, 
and  to  Sir  Gawaine,  and  prayed  them  of  forgiveness  of  his 
enmity  that  ever  he  had  against  them. 


CHAPTER   XXIV 

HOW    KING    ARTHUR    PARDONED    THEM,    AND    DEMANDED    OF   THEM 

WHERE   SIR   GARETH   WAS 

THEN  goodly  they  said  all  at  once,  God  forgive  you,  and 
we  do,  and  pray  you  that  ye  will  tell  us  where  we  may  find 
Sir  Beaumains.  Fair  lords,  said  Sir  Ironside,  I  cannot  tell 
you,  for  it  is  full  hard  to  find  him ;  for  such  young  knights 
as  he  is  one,  when  they  be  in  their  adventures  be  never 
abiding  in  no  place.  But  to  say  the  worship  that  the  red 
knight  of  the  red  laundes,  and  Sir  Persant  and  his  brother 
said  of  Beaumains,  it  was  marvel  to  hear.  Well,  my  fair 
lords,  said  King  Arthur,  wit  you  well  I  shall  do  you  honour 
for  the  love  of  Sir  Beaumains,  and  as  soon  as  ever  I  meet 
with  him  I  shall  make  you  all  upon  one  day  knights  of  the 
Table  Round.  And  as  to  thee,  Sir  Persant  of  Inde,  thou 
hast  been  ever  called  a  full  noble  knight,  and  so  have  ever 
been  thy  three  brethren  called.  But  I  marvel,  said  the  king, 
that  I  hear  not  of  the  Black  Knight  your  brother,  he  was 
a  full  noble  knight.  Sir,  said  Pertolepe,  the  Green  Knight, 
Sir  Beaumains  slew  him  in  a  recounter  with  his  spear,  his 
name  was  Sir  Percard.  That  was  great  pity,  said  the  king, 
and  so  said  many  knights.  For  these  ifour  brethren  were 
full  well  known  in  the  court  of  King  Arthur  for  noble 
knights,  for  long  time  they  had  holden  war  against  the 
knights  of  the  Round  Table.  Then  said  Pertolepe,  the 
Green  Knight,  to  the  king :  At  a  passage  of  the  water  of 
Mortaise  there  encountered  Sir  Beaumains  with  two  brethren 
that  ever  for  the  most  part  kept  that  passage,  and  they  were 
two  deadly  knights,  and  there  he  slew  the  eldest  brother  in 
the  water,  and  smote  him  upon  the  head  such  a  buffet  that 
he  fell  down  in  the  water,  and  there  he  was  drowned,  and 
his  name  was  Sir  Gherard  le  Breusse ;  and  after  he  slew  the 
other  brother  upon  the  land,  his  name  was  Sir  Arnold  le 
Breusse. 


King   Arthur  219 


CHAPTER   XXV 

HOW  THE  QUEEN  OF  ORKNEY  CAME  TO  THIS  FEAST  OF  PENTECOST, 
AND  SIR  GAWAINE  AND  HIS  BRETHREN  CAME  TO  ASK  HER 
BLESSING 

So  then  the  king  and  they  went  to  meat,  and  were  served 
in  the  best  manner.  And  as  they  sat  at  the  meat,  there 
came  in  the  queen  of  Orkney,  with  ladies  and  knights  a 
great  number.  And  then  Sir  Gawaine,  Sir  Agravaine,  and 
Gaheris  arose,  and  went  to  her  and  saluted  her  upon  their 
knees,  and  asked  her  blessing ;  for  in  fifteen  year  they  had 
not  seen  her.  Then  she  spake  on  high  to  her  brother  King 
Arthur :  Where  have  ye  done  my  young  son  Sir  Gareth  ? 
He  was  here  amongst  you  a  twelvemonth,  and  ye  made  a 
kitchen  knave  of  him,  the  which  is  shame  to  you  all.  Alas, 
where  have  ye  done  my  dear  son  that  was  my  joy  and  bliss  ? 
O  dear  mother,  said  Sir  Gawaine,  I  knew  him  not.  Nor 
I,  said  the  king,  that  now  me  repenteth,  but  thanked  be 
God  he  is  proved  a  worshipful  knight  as  any  is  now  living 
of  his  years,  and  I  shall  never  be  glad  till  I  may  find  him. 
Ah,  brother,  said  the  queen  unto  King  Arthur,  and  unto 
Sir  Gawaine,  and  to  all  her  sons,  ye  did  yourself  great  shame 
when  ye  amongst  you  kept  my  son  in  the  kitchen  and  fed 
him  like  a  poor  hog.  Fair  sister,  said  King  Arthur,  ye  shall 
right  well  wit  I  knew  him  not,  nor  no  more  did  Sir  Gawaine, 
nor  his  brethren ;  but  sythen  it  is  so,  said  the  king,  that  he 
is  thus  gone  from  us  all,  we  must  shape  a  remedy  to  find 
him.  Also,  sister,  meseemeth  ye  might  have  done  me  to 
wit  of  his  coming,  and  then  an  I  had  not  done  well  to  him 
ye  might  have  blamed  me.  For  when  he  came  to  this  court 
he  came  leaning  upon  two  men's  shoulders,  as  though  he 
might  not  have  gone.  And  then  he  asked  me  three  gifts ; 
and  one  he  asked  the  same  day,  that  was  that  I  would  give 
him  meat  enough  that  twelvemonth ;  and  the  other  two 
gifts  he  asked  that  day  a  twelvemonth,  and  that  was  that 
he  might  have  the  adventure  of  the  damosel  Linet,  and  the 
third  was  that  Sir  Launcelot  should  make  him  knight  when 
he  desired  him.  And  so  I  granted  him  all  his  desire,  and 
many  in  this  court  marvelled  that  he  desired  his  sustenance 
for  a  twelvemonth.  And  thereby,  we  deemed,  many  of  us, 
that  he  was  not  come  of  a  noble  house.  Sir,  said  the  queen 
of  Orkney  unto  King  Arthur  her  brother,  wit  ye  well  that 


22O  King"   Arthur 

I  sent  him  unto  you  right  well  armed  and  horsed,  and 
worshipfully  bisene  of  his  body,  and  gold  and  silver  plenty 
to  spend.  It  may  be,  said  the  King,  but  thereof  saw  we 
none,  save  that  same  day  as  he  departed  from  us,  knights 
told  me  that  there  came  a  dwarf  hither  suddenly,  and  brought 
him  armour  and  a  good  horse  full  well  and  richly  bisene ; 
and  thereat  we  all  had  marvel  from  whence  that  riches  came, 
that  we  deemed  all  that  he  was  come  of  men  of  worship. 
Brother,  said  the  queen,  all  that  ye  say  I  believe,  for  ever 
sithin  he  was  grown  he  was  marvellously  witted,  and  ever  he 
was  faithful  and  true  of  his  promise.  But  I  marvel,  said 
she,  that  Sir  Kay  did  mock  him  and  scorn  him,  and  gave 
him  that  name  Beaumains ;  yet,  Sir  Kay,  said  the  queen, 
named  him  more  righteously  than  he  weened ;  for  I  dare 
say  an  he  be  on  live,  he  is  as  fair  an  handed  man  and  well 
disposed  as  any  is  living.  Sir,  said  Arthur,  let  this  language 
be  still,  and  by  the  grace  of  God  he  shall  be  found  an  he 
be  within  this  seven  realms,  and  let  all  this  pass  and  be 
merry,  for  he  is  proved  to  be  a  man  of  worship,  and  that  is 
my  joy. 


CHAPTER   XXVI 

HOW  KING  ARTHUR  SENT  FOR  THE  LADY  LIONES,  AND  HOW  SHE 
LET  CRY  A  TOURNEY  AT  HER  CASTLE,  WHEREAS  CAME  MANY 
KNIGHTS 

THEN  said  Sir  Gawaine  and  his  brethren  unto  Arthur,  Sir, 
an  ye  will  give  us  leave,  we  will  go  and  seek  our  brother. 
Nay,  said  Sir  Launcelot,  that  shall  ye  not  need;  and  so 
said  Sir  Baudwin  of  Britain :  for  as  by  our  advice  the  king 
shall  send  unto  Dame  Liones  a  messenger,  and  pray  her 
that  she  will  come  to  the  court  in  all  the  haste  that  she 
may,  and  doubt  ye  not  she  will  come;  and  then  she  may 
give  you  best  counsel  where  ye  shall  find  him.  This  is  well 
said  of  you,  said  the  king.  So  then  goodly  letters  were 
made,  and  the  messenger  sent  forth,  that  night  and  day  he 
went  till  he  came  unto  the  Castle  Perilous.  And  then  the 
lady  Dame  Liones  was  sent  for  thereas  she  was  with  Sir 
Gringamore  her  brother  and  Sir  Gareth.  And  when  she 
^understood  this  message,  she  bad  him  ride  on  his  way  unto 
King  Arthur,  and  she  would  come  after  in  all  goodly  haste. 


King   Arthur  221 

Then  when  she  came  to  Sir  Gringamore  and  to  Sir  Gareth, 
she  told  them  all  how  King  Arthur  had  sent  for  her.  That 
is  by  cause  of  me,  said  Sir  Gareth.  Now  advise  me,  said 
Dame  Liones,  what  shall  I  say,  and  in  what  manner  I  shall 
rule  me.  My  lady  and  my  love,  said  Sir  Gareth,  I  pray  you 
in  no  wise  be  ye  aknowen  where  I  am ;  but  well  I  wot  my 
mother  is  there  and  all  my  brethren,  and  they  will  take  upon 
them  to  seek  me,  I  wot  well  that  they  do.  But  this,  madam, 
I  would  ye  said  and  advised  the  king  when  he  questioned 
with  you  of  me.  Then  may  ye  say,  this  is  your  advice  that, 
an  it  like  his  good  grace,  ye  will  do  make  a  cry  against  the 
feast  of  the  Assumption  of  our  Lady,  that  what  knight  there 
proveth  him  best  he  shall  welde  you  and  all  your  land. 
And  if  so  be  that  he  be  a  wedded  man,  that  his  wife 
shall  have  the  degree,  and  a  coronal  of  gold  beset  with 
stones  of  virtue  to  the  value  of  a  thousand  pound,  and 
a  white  gerfalcon.  So  Dame  Liones  departed  and  came 
to  King  Arthur,  where  she  was  nobly  received,  and 
there  she  was  sore  questioned  of  the  king  and  of  the  Queen 
of  Orkney.  And  she  answered,  where  Sir  Gareth  was  she 
could  not  tell.  But  thus  much  she  said  unto  Arthur  :  Sir,  I 
will  let  cry  a  tournament  that  shall  be  done  before  my 
castle  at  the  Assumption  of  our  Lady,  and  the  cry  shall  be 
this :  that  you,  my  lord  Arthur,  shall  be  there,  and  your 
knights,  and  I  will  purvey  that  my  knights  shall  be  against 
yours  ;  and  then  I  am  sure  ye  shall  hear  of  Sir  Gareth. 
This  is  well  advised,  said  King  Arthur ;  and  so  she  departed. 
And  the  King  and  she  made  great  provision  to  that  tourna- 
ment. When  Dame  Liones  was  come  to  the  Isle  of 
Avilion,  that  was  the  same  isle  thereas  her  brother  Sir 
Gringamore  dwelt,  then  she  told  them  all  how  she  had  done, 
and  what  promise  she  had  made  to  King  Arthur.  Alas,  said 
Sir  Gareth,  I  have  been  so  wounded  with  unhappiness 
sythen  I  came  into  this  castle  that  I  shall  not  be  able  to  do 
at  that  tournament  like  a  knight ;  for  I  was  never  thoroughly 
whole  syne  I  was  hurt.  Be  ye  of  good  cheer,  said  the 
damosel  Linet,  for  I  undertake  within  these  fifteen  days  to 
make  ye  whole,  and  as  lusty  as  ever  ye  were.  And  then  she 
laid  an  ointment  and  a  salve  to  him  as  it  pleased  to  her,  that 
he  was  never  so  fresh  nor  so  lusty.  Then  said  the  damosel 
Linet :  Send  you  unto  Sir  Persant  of  Inde,  and  summon 
him  and  his  knights  to  be  here  with  you  as  they  have  pro- 
mised. Also,  that  ye  send  unto  Sir  Ironside,  that  is  the  red 


222  King   Arthur 

knight  of  the  red  laundes,  and  charge  him  that  he  be  ready 
with  you  with  his  whole  sum  of  knights,  and  then  shall  ye 
be  able  to  match  with  King  Arthur  and  his  knights.  So  this 
was  done,  and  all  knights  were  sent  for  unto  the  Castle 
Perilous ;  and  then  the  Red  Knight  answered  and  said  unto 
Dame  Liones,  and  to  Sir  Gareth,  Madam,  and  my  lord  Sir 
Gareth,  ye  shall  understand  that  I  have  been  at  the  court  of 
King  Arthur,  and  Sir  Persant  of  Inde  and  his  brethren,  and 
there  we  have  done  our  homage  as  ye  commanded  us.  Also 
Sir  Ironside  said,  I  have  taken  upon  me  with  Sir  Persant  of 
Inde  and  his  brethren  to  hold  part  against  my  lord  Sir 
Launcelot  and  the  knights  of  that  court.  And  this  have  I 
done  for  the  love  of  my  lady  Dame  Liones,  and  you  my 
lord  Sir  Gareth.  Ye  have  well  done,  said  Sir  Gareth ;  but 
wit  you  well  ye  shall  be  full  sore  matched  with  the  most 
noble  knights  of  the  world  ;  therefore  we  must  purvey  us  ot 
good  knights,  where  we  may  get  them.  That  is  well  said, 
said  Sir  Persant,  and  worshipfully.  And  so  the  cry  was 
made  in  England,  Wales,  and  Scotland,  Ireland,  Cornwall, 
and  in  all  the  Out  Isles,  and  in  Brittany  and  in  many 
countries ;  that  at  the  feast  of  our  Lady  the  Assumption 
next  coming,  men  should  come  to  the  Castle  Perilous  beside 
the  Isle  of  Avilion ;  and  there  all  the  knights  that  there 
came  should  have  the  choice  whether  them  list  to  be  on  the 
one  party  with  the  knights  of  the  castle,  or  on  the  other 
party  with  King  Arthur.  And  two  months  was  to  the 
day  that  the  tournament  should  be.  And  so  there  came 
many  good  knights  that  were  at  their  large,  and  held  them 
for  the  most  part  against  King  Arthur  and  his  knights  of  the 
Round  Table,  and  came  in  the  side  of  them  of  the  castle. 
For  Sir  Epinogrus  was  the  first,  and  he  was  the  king's  son  of 
Northumberland,  and  Sir  Palamides  the  Saracen  was  another, 
and  Sir  Safere  his  brother,  and  Sir  Segwarides  his  brother, 
but  they  were  christened,  and  Sir  Malegrine  another,  and  Sir 
Brian  de  les  Isles,  a  noble  knight,  and  Sir  Grummore  Grum- 
mursum,  a  good  knight  of  Scotland,  and  Sir  Carados  of  the 
dolorous  tower,  a  noble  knight,  and  Sir  Turquine  his 
brother,  and  Sir  Arnold  and  Sir  Gauter,  two  brethren,  good 
knights  of  Cornwall,  there  came  Sir  Tristram  de  Liones,  and 
with  him  Sir  Dinadan,  the  Seneschal,  and  Sir  Sadok ;  but 
this  Sir  Tristram  was  not  at  that  time  knight  of  the  Table 
Round,  but  he  was  one  of  the  best  knights  of  the  world. 
And  so  all  these  noble  knights  accompanied  them  with  the 


King   Arthur  223 

lady  of  the  castle,  and  with  the  red  knight  of  the  red 
laundes  ;  but  as  for  Sir  Gareth,  he  would  not  take  upon  him 
more  but  as  other  mean  knights. 


CHAPTER   XXVII 

HOW  KING  ARTHUR  WENT  TO  THE  TOURNAMENT  WITH  HIS 
KNIGHTS,  AND  HOW  THE  LADY  RECEIVED  HIM  WORSHIPFULLY, 
AND  HOW  THE  KNIGHTS  ENCOUNTERED 

AND  then  there  came  with  King  Arthur  Sir  Gawaine, 
Agravaine,  Gaheris,  his  brethren.  And  then  his  nephews 
Sir  Uwaine  le  Blanchemains,  and  Sir  Aglovale,  Sir  Tor,  Sir 
Percivale  de  Galis,  and  Sir  Lamorak  de  Galis.  Then  came 
Sir  Launcelot  du  Lake  with  his  brethren,  nephews,  and 
cousins,  as  Sir  Lionel,  Sir  Ector  de  Maris,  Sir  Bors  de  Ganis, 
and  Sir  Galihodin,  Sir  Galihud,  and  many  more  of  Sir 
Launcelot's  blood,  and  Sir  Dinadan,  Sir  La  Cote  Male 
Taile,  his  brother,  a  good  knight,  and  Sir  Sagramore,  a  good 
knight ;  and  all  the  most  part  of  the  Round  Table.  Also 
there  came  with  King  Arthur  these  knights,  the  King  of 
Ireland,  King  Agwisance,  and  the  King  of  Scotland,  King 
Carados  and  King  Uriens  of  the  land  of  Gore,  and  King 
Bagdemagus  and  his  son  Sir  Meliaganus,  and  Sir  Galahault 
the  noble  prince.  All  these  kings,  princes,  and  earls,  barons, 
and  other  noble  knights,  as  Sir  Brandiles,  Sir  Uwaine  les 
Avoutres,  and  Sir  Kay,  Sir  Bedevere,  Sir  Meliot  de  Logres, 
Sir  Petipase  of  Winchelsea,  Sir  Godelake  :  all  these  came 
with  King  Arthur,  and  more  that  cannot  be  rehearsed. 
Now  leave  we  of  these  kings  and  knights,  and  let  us  speak 
of  the  great  array  that  was  made  within  the  castle  and  about 
the  castle  for  both  parties.  The  Lady  Dame  Liones  or- 
dained great  array  upon  her  part  for  her  noble  knights,  for 
all  manner  of  lodging  and  victual  that  came  by  land  and  by 
water,  that  there  lacked  nothing  for  her  party,  nor  for  the 
other,  but  there  was  plenty  to  be  had  for  gold  and  silver  for 
King  Arthur  and  his  knights.  And  then  there  came  the 
harbingers  from  King  Arthur  for  to  harbour  him,  and  his 
kings,  dukes,  earls,  barons,  and  knights.  And  then  Sir 
Gareth  prayed  Dame  Liones  and  the  red  knight  of  the 
red  laundes,  and  Sir  Persant  and  his  brother,  and  Sir 
Gringamore,  that  in  no  wise  there  should  none  of  them  tell 


224  King   Arthur 

not  his  name,  and  make  no  more  of  him  than  of  the  least 
knight  that  there  was,  for,  he  said,  I  will  not  be  known  of 
neither  more  nor  less,  neither  at  the  beginning  neither  at 
the  ending.  Then  Dame  Liones  said  unto  Sir  Gareth  : 
Sir,  I  will  lend  you  a  ring,  but  I  would  pray  you  as  you  love 
me  heartily  let  me  have  it  again  when  the  tournament  is 
done,  for  that  ring  increaseth  my  beauty  much  more  than  it 
is  of  himself.  And  the  virtue  of  my  ring  is  that,  that  is 
green  it  will  turn  to  red,  and  that  is  red  it  will  turn  in  like- 
ness to  green,  and  that  is  blue  it  will  turn  to  likeness  of  v/hite, 
and  that  is  white  it  will  turn  in  likeness  to  blue,  and  so  it 
will  do  of  all  manner  of  colours.  Also  who  that  beareth  my 
ring  shall  lose  no  blood,  and  for  great  love  I  will  give  you 
this  ring.  Gramercy,  said  Sir  Gareth,  mine  own  lady,  for 
this  ring  is  passing  meet  for  me,  for  it  will  turn  all  manner 
of  likeness  that  I  am  in,  and  that  shall  cause  me  that  I  shall 
not  be  known.  Then  Sir  Gringamore  gave  Sir  Gareth  a  bay 
courser  that  was  a  passing  good  horse;  also  he  gave  him 
good  armour  and  sure,  and  a  noble  sword  that  sometime 
Sir  Gringamore's  father  won  upon  an  heathen  tyrant.  And 
so  thus  every  knight  made  him  ready  to  that  tournament. 
And  King  Arthur  was  come  two  days  tofore  the  Assumption 
of  our  Lady.  And  there  was  all  manner  of  royalty  of  all 
minstrelsy  that  might  be  found.  Also  there  came  Queen 
Gwenever  and  the  Queen  of  Orkney,  Sir  Gareth's  mother. 
And  upon  the  Assumption  Day,  when  mass  and  matins 
were  done,  there  were  heralds  with  trumpets  commanded  to 
blow  to  the  field.  And  so  there  came  out  Sir  Epinogrus,  the 
king's  son  of  Northumberland,  from  the  castle,  and  there 
encountered  with  him  Sir  Sagramore  le  Desirous,  and  either 
of  them  brake  their  spears  to  their  hands.  And  then  came 
in  Sir  Palamides  out  of  the  castle,  and  there  encountered 
with  him  Gawaine,  and  either  of  them  smote  other  so  hard 
that  both  the  good  knights  and  their  horses  fell  to  the  earth. 
And  then  knights  of  either  party  rescued  their  knights. 
And  then  came  in  Sir  Safere  and  Sir  Segwarides,  brethren 
to  Sir  Palamides ;  and  there  encountered  Sir  Agravaine  with 
Sir  Safere  and  Sir  Gaheris  encountered  with  Sir  Segwarides. 
So  Sir  Safere  smote  down  Agravaine,  Sir  Gawaine's  brother ; 
and  Sir  Segwarides,  Sir  Safere's  brother.  And  Sir  Malgrine, 
a  knight  of  the  castle,  encountered  with  Sir  Uwaine  le 
Blanchemains,  and  there  Sir  Uwaine  gave  Sir  Malgrine  a 
fall,  that  he  had  almost  broke  his  neck. 


King   Arthur  225 


CHAPTER   XXVIII 

HOW   THE    KNIGHTS   BARE   THEM    IN    THE   BATTLE 

THEN  Sir  Brian  de  les  Isles  and  Gmmmore  Grummursum, 
knights  of  the  castle,  encountered  with  Sir  Aglovale,  and 
Sir  Tor  smote  down  Sir  Grummore  Grummursum  to  the 
earth.  Then  came  in  Sir  Carados  of  the  dolorous  tower, 
and  Sir  Turquine,  knights  of  the  castle ;  and  there  encoun- 
tered with  them  Sir  Percivale  de  Galis  and  Sir  Lamorak 
de  Galis,  that  were  two  brethren.  And  there  encountered 
Sir  Percivale  with  Sir  Carados,  and  either  brake  their  spears 
unto  their  hands,  and  then  Sir  Turquine  with  Sir  Lamorak, 
and  either  of  them  smote  down  other's  horse  and  all  to  the 
earth,  and  either  parties  rescued  other,  and  horsed  them 
again.  And  Sir  Arnold  and  Sir  Gauter,  knights  of  the  castle, 
encountered  with  Sir  Brandiles  and  Sir  Kay,  and  these  four 
knights  encountered  mightily,  and  brake  their  spears  to 
their  hands.  Then  came  in  Sir  Tristram,  Sir  Sadok,  and 
Sir  Dinas,  knights  of  the  castle,  and  there  encountered  Sir 
Tristram  with  Sir  Bedivere,  and  there  Sir  Bedivere  was 
smitten  to  the  earth  both  horse  and  man.  And  Sir  Sadok 
encountered  with  Sir  Petipase,  and  there  Sir  Sadok  was 
overthrown.  And  there  Uwaine  les  Avoutres  smote  down 
Sir  Dinas,  the  Seneschal.  Then  came  in  Sir  Persant  of 
Inde,  a  knight  of  the  castle,  and  there  encountered  with  him 
Sir  Launcelot  du  Lake,  and  there  he  smote  Sir  Persant,  horse 
and  man,  to  the  earth.  Then  came  Sir  Pertolepe  from  the 
castle,  and  there  encountered  with  him  Sir  Lionel,  and  there 
Sir  Pertolepe,  the  Green  Knight,  smote  down  Sir  Lionel, 
brother  to  Sir  Launcelot.  All  this  was  marked  by  noble 
heralds,  who  bare  him  best,  and  their  names.  And  then 
came  into  the  field  Sir  Perimones,  the  Red  Knight,  Sir 
Persant's  brother,  that  was  a  knight  of  the  castle,  and  he 
encountered  with  Sir  Ector  de  Maris,  and  either  smote  other 
so  hard  that  both  their  horses  and  they  fell  to  the  earth. 
And  then  came  in  the  red  knight  of  the  red  laundes,  and 
Sir  Gareth,  fro  m  the  castle,  and  there  encountered  with  them 
Sir  Bors  de  Ganis  and  Sir  Bleoberis,  and  there  the  Red 
Knight  and  Sir  Bors  smote  other  so  hard  that  their  spears 
brast,  and  their  horses  fell  grovelling  to  the  earth.  Then 
Sir  Bleoberis  brake  his  spear  upon  Sir  Gareth,  but  of  that 
stroke  Sir  Bleoberis  fell  to  the  earth.  ^When  Sir  Galihodin 


226  King   Arthur 

saw  that  he  bade  Sir  Gareth  keep  him,  and  Sir  Gareth  smote 
him  to  the  earth.  Then  Sir  Galihud  gat  a  spear  to  avenge 
his  brother,  and  in  the  same  wise  Sir  Gareth  served  him,  and 
Sir  Dinadan  and  his  brother,  La  Cote  Male  Taile,  and  Sir 
Sagramore  le  Desirous,  and  Sir  Dodinas  le  Savage.  All 
these  he  bare  down  with  one  spear.  When  King  Agwisance 
of  Ireland  saw  Sir  Gareth  fare  so,  he  marvelled  what  he 
might  be  that  one  time  seemed  green,  and  another  time,  at 
his  again  coming,  he  seemed  blue.  And  thus  at  every  course 
that  he  rode  to  and  fro  he  changed  his  colour,  so  that  there 
might  neither  king  nor  knight  have  ready  cognisance  of 
him.  Then  Sir  Agwisance,  the  King  of  Ireland,  encoun- 
tered with  Sir  Gareth,  and  there  Sir  Gareth  smote  him  from 
his  horse,  saddle  and  all.  And  then  came  King  Carados  of 
Scotland,  and  Sir  Gareth  smote  him  down  horse  and  man. 
And  in  the  same  wise  he  served  King  Uriens  of  the  land  of 
Gore.  And  then  came  in  Sir  Bagdemagus,  and  Sir  Gareth 
smote  him  down,  horse  and  man,  to  the  earth.  And  Bag- 
demagus' son,  Meliganus,  brake  a  spear  upon  Sir  Gareth 
mightily  and  knightly.  And  then  Sir  Galahault,  the  noble 
prince,  cried  on  high :  Knight  with  the  many  colours,  well 
hast  thou  jousted ;  now  make  thee  ready  that  I  may  joust 
with  thee.  Sir  Gareth  heard  him,  and  he  gat  a  great 
spear,  and  so  they  encountered  together,  and  there  the 
prince  brake  his  spear ;  but  Sir  Gareth  smote  him  upon 
the  left  side  of  the  helm  that  he  reeled  here  and  there, 
and  he  had  fallen  down  had  not  his  men  recovered  him. 
So  God  me  help,  said  King  Arthur,  that  same  knight  with 
the  many  colours  is  a  good  knight.  Wherefore  the  king 
called  unto  him  Sir  Launcelot,  and  prayed  him  to  encounter 
with  that  knight.  Sir,  said  Launcelot,  I  may  well  find  in 
my  heart  for  to  forbear  him  as  at  this  time,  for  he  hath  had 
travail  enough  this  day ;  and  when  a  good  knight  doth  so 
well  upon  some  day,  it  is  no  good  knight's  part  to  let  him 
of  his  worship,  and  namely,  when  he  seeth  a  knight  hath 
done  so  great  labour ;  for  peradventure,  said  Sir  Launcelot, 
his  quarrel  is  here  this  day,  and  peradventure  he  is  best 
beloved  with  this  lady  of  all  that  be  here ;  for  I  see  well  he 
paineth  him  and  enforceth  him  to  do  great  deeds,  and  there- 
fore, said  Sir  Launcelot,  as  for  me,  this  day  he  shall  have  the 
honour ;  though  it  lay  in  my  power  to  put  him  from  it  I 
would  not. 


King   Arthur  227 


CHAPTER   XXIX 

YET   OF   THE   SAID   TOURNAMENT 

THEN  when  this  was  done  there  was  drawing  of  swords, 
and  then  there  began  a  sore  tournament.  And  there  did 
Sir  Lamorak  marvellous  deeds  of  arms  ;  and  betwixt  Sir 
Lamorak  and  Sir  Ironside,  that  was  the  red  knight  of  the 
red  laundes,  there  was  strong  battle ;  and  betwixt  Sir  Pala- 
mides  and  Bleoberis  there  was  a  strong  battle ;  and  Sir 
Gawaine  and  Sir  Tristram  met,  and  there  Sir  Gawaine  had 
the  worse,  for  he  pulled  Sir  Gawaine  from  his  horse,  and 
there  he  was  long  upon  foot,  and  defouled.  Then  came 
in  Sir  Launcelot,  and  he  smote  Sir  Turquine,  and  he  him  ; 
and  then  came  Sir  Carados  his  brother,  and  both  at  once 
they  assailed  him,  and  he  as  the  most  noblest  knight  of  the 
world  worshipfully  fought  with  them  both,  that  all  men 
wondered  of  the  noblesse  of  Sir  Launcelot.  And  then  came 
in  Sir  Gareth,  and  knew  that  it  was  Sir  Launcelot  that 
fought  with  the  two  perilous  knights.  And  then  Sir  Gareth 
came  with  his  good  horse  and  hurtled  them  in-sunder,  and 
no  stroke  would  he  smite  to  Sir  Launcelot.  That  espied  Sir 
Launcelot,  and  deemed  it  should  be  the  good  knight  Sir 
Gareth  :  and  then  Sir  Gareth  rode  here  and  there,  and 
smote  on  the  right  hand  and  on  the  left  hand,  and  all  the 
folk  might  well  espy  where  that  he  rode.  And  by  fortune 
he  met  with  his  brother  Sir  Gawaine,  and  there  he  put  Sir 
Gawaine  to  the  worse,  for  he  put  off  his  helm,  and  so  he 
served  five  or  six  knights  of  the  Round  Table,  that  all  men 
said  he  put  him  in  the  most  pain,  and  best  he  did  his  devoir. 
For  when  Sir  Tristram  beheld  him  how  he  first  jousted  and 
after  fought  so  well  with  a  sword,  then  he  rode  unto  Sir 
Ironside  and  to  Sir  Persant  of  Inde,  and  asked  them,  by 
their  faith,  What  manner  a  knight  is  yonder  knight  that 
seemeth  in  so  many  divers  colours  ?  Truly,  meseemeth, 
said  Tristram,  that  he  putteth  himself  in  great  pain,  for  he 
never  ceaseth.  Wot  ye  not  what  he  is  ?  said  Sir  Ironside. 
No,  said  Sir  Tristram.  Then  shall  ye  know  that  this  is  he 
that  loveth  the  lady  of  the  castle,  and  she  him  again  ;  and  this 
is  he  that  won  me  when  I  besieged  the  lady  of  this  castle, 
and  this  is  he  that  won  Sir  Persant  of  Inde,  and  his  three 
brethren.  What  is  his  name,  said  Sir  Tristram,  and  of  what 
blood  is  he  come  ?  He  was  called  in  the  court  of  King 


228  King   Arthur 

Arthur,  Beaumains,  but  his  right  name  is  Sir  Gareth  of 
Orkney,  brother  to  Sir  Gawaine.  By  my  head,  said  Sir 
Tristram,  he  is  a  good  knight,  and  a  big  man  of  arms,  and 
if  he  be  young  he  shall  prove  a  full  noble  knight.  He  is 
but  a  child,  they  all  said,  and  of  Sir  Launcelot  he  was  made 
knight.  Therefore  he  is  mickle  the  better,  said  Tristram. 
And  then  Sir  Tristram,  Sir  Ironside,  Sir  Persant,  and  his 
brother,  rode  together  for  to  help  Sir  Gareth  ;  and  then  there 
were  given  many  strong  strokes.  And  then  Sir  Gareth  rode 
out  on  the  one  side  to  amend  his  helm  ;  and  then  said  his 
dwarf :  Take  me  your  ring,  that  ye  lose  it  not  while  that  ye 
drink.  And  so  when  he  had  drunk  he  gat  on  his  helm,  and 
eagerly  took  his  horse  and  rode  into  the  field,  and  left  his 
ring  with  his  dwarf;  and  the  dwarf  was  glad  the  ring  was 
from  him,  for  then  he  wist  well  he  should  be  known.  And 
then  when  Sir  Gareth  was  in  the  field  all  folks  saw  him  well 
and  plainly  that  he  was  in  yellow  colours  ;  and  there  he  rased 
off  helms  and  pulled  down  knights,  that  King  Arthur  had 
marvel  what  knight  he  was,  for  the  king  saw  by  his  hair  that 
it  was  the  same  knight. 


CHAPTER   XXX 

HOW   SIR   GARETH    WAS   ESPIED    BY   THE    HERALDS,    AND    HOW    HE 
ESCAPED   OUT   OF   THE    FIELD 

BUT  before  he  was  in  so  many  colours,  and  now  he  is  but 
in  one  colour ;  that  is  yellow.  Now  go,  said  King  Arthur 
unto  divers  heralds,  and  ride  about  him,  and  espy  what 
manner  knight  he  is,  for  I  have  speryd  of  many  knights  this 
day  that  be  upon  his  party,  and  all  say  they  know  him  not. 
And  so  an  herald  rode  nigh  Gareth  as  he  could ;  and  there 
he  saw  written  about  his  helm  in  gold,  This  helm  is  Sir 
Gareth  of  Orkney.  Then  the  herald  cried  as  he  were 
wood,  and  many  heralds  with  him : — This  is  Sir  Gareth  of 
Orkney  in  the  yellow  arms  ;  that  by  all  kings  and  knights  of 
Arthur's  beheld  him  and  awaited  ;  and  then  they  pressed  all 
to  behold  him,  and  ever  the  heralds  cried  :  This  is  Sir 
Gareth  of  Orkney,  King  Lot's  son.  And  when  Sir  Gareth 
espied  that  he  was  discovered,  then  he  doubled  his  strokes, 
and  smote  down  Sir  Sagramore,  and  his  brother  Sir  Gawaine. 
O  brother,  said  Sir  Gawaine,  I  weened  ye  would  not  have 


King   Arthur  229 

stricken  me.  So  when  he  heard  him  say  so  he  thrang  here 
and  there,  and  so  with  great  pain  he  gat  out  of  the  press, 
and  there  he  met  with  his  dwarf.  O  boy,  said  Sir  Gareth, 
thou  hast  beguiled  me  foul  this  day  that  thou  kept  my  ring ; 
give  it  me  anon  again,  that  I  may  hide  my  body  withal  • 
and  so  he  took  it  him.  And  then  they  all  wist  not  where 
he  was  become ;  and  Sir  Gawaine  had  in  manner  espied 
where  Sir  Gareth  rode,  and  then  he  rode  after  with  all  his 
might.  That  espied  Sir  Gareth,  and  rode  lightly  into  the 
forest,  that  Sir  Gawaine  wist  not  where  he  was  become. 
And  when  Sir  Gareth  wist  that  Sir  Gawaine  was  passed,  he 
asked  the  dwarf  of  best  counsel.  Sir,  said  the  dwarf, 
meseemeth  it  were  best,  now  that  ye  are  escaped  from 
spying,  that  ye  send  my  lady  Dame  Liones  her  ring.  It  is 
well  advised,  said  Sir  Gareth ;  now  have  it  here  and  bear  it 
to  her,  and  say  that  I  recommend  me  unto  her  good  grace, 
and  say  her  I  will  come  when  I  may,  and  I  pray  her  to  be 
true  and  faithful  to  me  as  I  will  be  to  her.  Sir,  said  the 
dwarf,  it  shall  be  done  as  ye  command  :  and  so  he  rode  his 
way,  and  did  his  errand  unto  the  lady.  Then  she  said, 
Where  is  my  knight,  Sir  Gareth  ?  Madam,  said  the  dwarf, 
he  bad  me  say  that  he  would  not  be  long  from  you.  And 
so  lightly  the  dwarf  came  again  unto  Sir  Gareth,  that  would 
full  fain  have  had  a  lodging,  for  he  had  need  to  be  reposed. 
And  then  fell  there  a  thunder  and  a  rain,  as  heaven  and 
earth  should  go  together.  And  Sir  Gareth  was  not  a  little 
weary,  for  of  all  that  day  he  had  but  little  rest,  neither  his 
horse  nor  he.  So  this  Sir  Gareth  rode  so  long  in  that  forest 
until  the  night  came.  And  ever  it  lightened  and  thundered, 
as  it  had  been  wood.  At  the  last  by  fortune  he  came  to  a 
castle,  and  there  he  heard  the  waits  upon  the  walls. 


CHAPTER   XXXI 

HOW     SIR     GARETH    CAME     TO     A     CASTLE     WHERE     HE     WAS     WELL 
LODGED,    AND    HE  JOUSTED   WITH    A    KNIGHT   AND   SLEW    HIM 

THEN  Sir  Gareth  rode  unto  the  barbican  of  the  castle, 
and  prayed  the  porter  fair  to  let  him  into  the  castle.  The 
porter  answered  ungoodly  again,  and  said,  Thou  gettest  no 
lodging  here.  Fair  sir,  say  not  so,  for  I  am  a  knight  of 
King  Arthur's,  and  pray  the  lord  or  the  lady  of  this  castle 

145 


230  King  Arthur 

to  give  me  harbour  for  the  love  of  King  Arthur.  Then  the 
porter  went  unto  the  duchess,  and  told  her  how  there  was  a 
knight  of  King  Arthur's  would  have  harbour.  Let  him  in, 
said  the  duchess,  for  I  will  see  that  knight,  and  for  King 
Arthur's  sake  he  shall  not  be  harbourless.  Then  she  yode 
up  into  a  tower  over  the  gate,  with  great  torch-light.  When 
Sir  Gareth  saw  that  torch-light  he  cried  on  high :  Whether 
thou  be  lord  or  lady,  giant  or  champion,  I  take  no  force  so 
that  I  may  have  harbour  this  night;  and  if  it  so  be  that 
I  must  needs  fight,  spare  me  not  to-morn  when  I  have 
rested  me,  for  both  I  and  mine  horse  be  weary.  Sir  knight, 
said  the  lady,  thou  speakest  knightly  and  boldly ;  but  wit 
thou  well  the  lord  of  this  castle  loveth  not  King  Arthur,  nor 
none  of  his  court,  for  my  lord  hath  ever  been  against  him  ; 
and  therefore  thou  were  better  not  to  come  within  this 
castle ;  for  an  thou  come  in  this  night,  thou  must  come  in 
under  such  form,  that  wheresomever  thou  meet  my  lord,  by 
stigh  or  by  street,  thou  must  yield  thee  to  him  as  prisoner. 
Madam,  said  Sir  Gareth,  what  is  your  lord,  and  what  is  his 
name?  Sir,  my  lord's  name  is  the  Duke  de  la  Rowse. 
Well  madam,  said  Sir  Gareth,  I  shall  promise  you  in  what 
place  I  meet  your  lord  I  shall  yield  me  unto  him  and  to  his 
good  grace  ;  with  that  I  understand  he  will  do  me  no  harm  : 
and  if  I  understand  that  he  will,  I  will  release  myself  an  I 
can  with  my  spear  and  my  sword.  Ye  say  well,  said  the 
duchess ;  and  then  she  let  the  drawbridge  down,  and  so  he 
rode  into  the  hall,  and  there  he  alit,  and  his  horse  was  led 
into  a  stable  ;  and  in  the  hall  he  unarmed  him  and  said, 
Madam,  I  will  not  out  of  this  hall  this  night;  and  when 
it  is  daylight,  let  see  who  will  have  ado  with  me,  he  shall 
find  me  ready.  Then  was  he  set  unto  supper,  and  had 
many  good  dishes.  Then  Sir  Gareth  list  well  to  eat,  and 
knightly  he  ate  his  meat,  and  eagerly  ;  there  was  many 
a  fair  lady  by  him,  and  some  said  they  never  saw  a  goodlier 
man  nor  so  well  of  eating.  Then  they  made  him  passing 
good  cheer,  and  shortly  when  he  had  supped  his  bed  was 
made  there  ;  so  he  rested  him  all  night.  And  on  the  morn 
he  heard  mass,  and  brake  his  fast  and  took  his  leave  at  the 
duchess,  and  at  them  all ;  and  thanked  her  goodly  of  her 
lodging,  and  of  his  good  cheer ;  and  then  she  asked  him  his 
name.  Madam,  he  said,  truly  my  name  is  Gareth  of  Orkney, 
and  some  men  call  me  Beaumains.  Then  knew  she  well  it 
was  the  same  knight  that  fought  for  Dame  Liones.  So  Sir 


King   Arthur  231 

Gareth  departed  and  rode  up  into  a  mountain,  and  there 
met  him  a  knight,  his  name  was  Sir  Bendelaine,  and  said  to 
Sir  Gareth  :  Thou  shalt  not  pass  this  way,  for  either  thou 
shalt  joust  with  me,  or  else  be  my  prisoner.  Then  will 
I  joust,  said  Sir  Gareth.  And  so  they  let  their  horses  run, 
and  there  Sir  Gareth  smote  him  throughout  the  body  ;  and 
Sir  Bendelaine  rode  forth  to  his  castle  there  beside,  and 
there  died.  So  Sir  Gareth  would  have  rested  him,  and  he 
came  riding  to  Bendelaine's  castle.  Then  his  knights  and 
servants  espied  that  it  was  he  that  had  slain  their  lord. 
Then  they  armed  twenty  good  men,  and  came  out  and 
assailed  Sir  Gareth ;  and  so  he  had  no  spear,  but  his  sword, 
and  put  his  shield  afore  him  ;  and  there  they  brake  their 
spears  upon  him,  and  they  assailed  him  passingly  sore. 
But  ever  Sir  Gareth  defended  him  as  a  knight. 


CHAPTER   XXXII 

HOW   SIR   GARETH     FOUGHT   WITH    A     KNIGHT    THAT    HELD   WITHIN 
HIS   CASTLE   THIRTY    LADIES,    AND    HOW    HE   SLEW    HIM 

So  when  they  saw  that  they  might  not  overcome  him,  they 
rode  from  him,  and  took  their  counsel  to  slay  his  horse ;  and 
so  they  came  in  upon  Sir  Gareth,  and  with  spears  they  slew 
his  horse,  and  then  they  assailed  him  hard.  But  when  he 
was  on  foot,  there  was  none  that  he  fought  but  he  gave  him 
such  a  buffet  that  he  did  never  recover.  So  he  slew  them 
by  one  and  one  till  they  were  but  four,  and  there  they  fled ; 
and  Sir  Gareth  took  a  good  horse  that  was  one  of  theirs, 
and  rode  his  way.  Then  he  rode  a  great  pace  till  that  he 
came  to  a  castle,  and  there  he  heard  much  mourning  of 
ladies  and  gentlewomen.  So  there  came  by  him  a  page. 
What  noise  is  this,  said  Sir  Gareth,  that  I  hear  within  this 
castle  ?  Sir  knight,  said  the  page,  here  be  within  this  castle 
thirty  ladies,  and  all  they  be  widows  ;  for  here  is  a  knight 
that  waiteth  daily  upon  this  castle,  and  his  name  is  the 
brown  knight  without  pity,  and  he  is  the  periloust  knight 
that  now  liveth  ;  and  therefore  sir,  said  the  page,  I  rede  you 
flee.  Nay,  said  Sir  Gareth,  I  will  not  flee  though  thou  be 
afeard  of  him.  And  then  the  page  saw  where  came  the 
brown  knight :  Lo,  said  the  page,  yonder  he  cometh.  Let 
me  deal  with  him,  said  Sir  Gareth.  And  when  either  of 


232  King   Arthur 

other  had  a  sight  they  let  their  horses  run,  and  the  brown 
knight  brake  his  spear,  and  Sir  Gareth  smote  him  through- 
out the  body,  that  he  overthrew  him  to  the  ground  stark 
dead.  So  Sir  Gareth  rode  into  the  castle,  and  prayed  the 
ladies  that  he  might  repose  him.  Alas,  said  the  ladies,  ye 
may  not  be  lodged  here.  Make  him  good  cheer,  said  the 
page,  for  this  knight  hath  slain  your  enemy.  Then  they  all 
made  him  good  cheer  as  lay  in  their  power.  But  wit  ye 
well  they  made  him  good  cheer,  for  they  might  none  other- 
wise do,  for  they  were  but  poor.  And  so  on  the  morn  he 
went  to  mass,  and  there  he  saw  the  thirty  ladies  kneel,  and 
lay  grovelling  upon  divers  tombs,  making  great  dole  and 
sorrow.  Then  Sir  Gareth  wist  well  that  in  the  tombs  lay 
their  lords.  Fair  ladies,  said  Sir  Gareth,  ye  must  at  the  next 
feast  of  Pentecost  be  at  the  court  of  King  Arthur,  and  say 
that  I,  Sir  Gareth,  sent  you  thither.  We  shall  do  this,  said 
the  ladies.  So  he  departed,  and  by  fortune  he  came  to  a 
mountain,  and  there  he  found  a  goodly  knight  that  bad 
him,  Abide  sir  knight,  and  joust  with  me.  What  are  ye? 
said  Sir  Gareth.  My  name  is,  said  he,  the  Duke  de  la 
Rowse.  Ah  sir,  ye  are  the  same  knight  that  I  lodged  once  in 
your  castle  ;  and  there  I  made  promise  unto  your  lady  that 
I  should  yield  me  unto  you.  Ah,  said  the  duke,  art  thou 
that  proud  knight  that  profferest  to  fight  with  my  knights  ; 
therefore  make  thee  ready,  for  I  will  have  ado  with  you.  So 
they  let  their  horses  run,  and  there  Sir  Gareth  smote  the 
duke  down  from  his  horse.  But  the  duke  lightly  avoided 
his  horse,  and  dressed  his  shield  and  drew  his  sword,  and 
bad  Sir  Gareth  alight  and  fight  with  him.  So  he  did  alight, 
and  they  did  great  battle  together  more  than  an  hour,  and 
either  hurt  other  full  sore.  At  the  last  Sir  Gareth  gat  the 
duke  to  the  earth,  and  would  have  slain  him,  and  then  he 
yield  him  to  him.  Then  must  ye  go,  said  Sir  Gareth,  unto 
Sir  Arthur  my  lord  at  the  next  feast,  and  say  that  I,  Sir 
Gareth  of  Orkney,  sent  you  unto  him.  It  shall  be  done, 
said  the  duke,  and  I  will  do  to  you  homage  and  fealty  with 
an  hundred  knights  with  me ;  and  all  the  days  of  my  life  to 
do  you  service  where  ye  will  command  me. 


King   Arthur  233 


CHAPTER   XXXIII 

HOW  SIR  GARETH  AND   SIR  GAWAINE  FOUGHT  EACH  AGAINST  OTHER, 
AND  HOW  THEY  KNEW  EACH  OTHER  BY  THE  DAMOSEL  LINET 

So  the  duke  departed,  and  Sir  Gareth  stood  there  alone ; 
and  there  he  saw  an  armed  knight  coming  toward  him. 
Then  Sir  Gareth  took  the  duke's  shield,  and  mounted  upon 
horseback,  and  so  without  bidding  they  ran  together  as  it 
had  been  the  thunder.  And  there  that  knight  hurt  Sir 
Gareth  under  the  side  with  his  spear.  And  then  they  alit 
and  drew  their  swords,  and  gave  great  strokes  that  the  blood 
trailed  to  the  ground.  And  so  they  fought  two  hours.  At 
the  last  there  came  the  damosel  Linet,  that  some  men  called 
the  damosel  Savage,  and  she  came  riding  upon  an  ambling 
mule ;  and  there  she  cried  all  on  high,  Sir  Gawaine,  Sir 
Gawaine,  leave  thy  fighting  with  thy  brother  Sir  Gareth. 
And  when  he  heard  her  say  so  he  threw  away  his  shield  and 
his  sword,  and  ran  to  Sir  Gareth,  and  took  him  in  his  arms, 
and  sythen  kneeled  down  and  asked  him  mercy.  What  are 
ye,  said  Sir  Gareth,  that  right  now  were  so  strong  and  so 
mighty,  and  now  so  suddenly  yield  you  to  me  ?  O  Gareth, 
I  am  your  brother  Sir  Gawaine,  that  for  your  sake  have  had 
great  sorrow  and  labour.  Then  Sir  Gareth  unlaced  his  helm, 
and  kneeled  down  to  him,  and  asked  him  mercy.  Then 
they  rose  both,  and  embraced  either  other  in  their  arms,  and 
wept  a  great  while  or  they  might  speak,  and  either  of  them 
gave  other  the  prize  of  the  battle.  And  there  were  many 
kind  words  between  them.  Alas,  my  fair  brother,  said  Sir 
Gawaine,  perdy  I  owe  of  right  to  worship  you  an  ye  were 
not  my  brother,  for  ye  have  worshipped  King  Arthur  and  all 
his  court,  for  ye  have  sent  me  more  worshipful  knights  this 
twelvemonth  than  six  the  best  of  the  Round  Table  have 
done,  except  Sir  Lancelot.  Then  came  the  damosel  Savage 
that  was  the  Lady  Linet,  that  rode  with  Sir  Gareth  so  long 
and  there  she  did  staunch  Sir  Gareth's  wounds  and  Sir 
Gawaine' s.  Now  what  will  ye  do  ?  said  the  damosel  Sav- 
age ;  meseemeth  that  it  were  well  done  that  Arthur  had 

O  4 

witting  of  you  both,  for  your  horses  are  so  bruised  that  they 
may  not  bear.  Now,  fair  damosel,  said  Sir  Gawaine,  I  pray 
you  ride  unto  my  lord  mine  uncle,  King  Arthur,  and  tell 
him  what  adventure  is  to  me  betid  here,  and  I  suppose  he 
will  not  tarry  long.  Then  she  took  her  mule,  and  lightly 


234  King   Arthur 

she  came  to  King  Arthur  that  was  but  two  mile  thence. 
And  when  she  had  told  him  tidings  the  king  bad  get  him 
a  palfrey.  And  when  he  was  upon  his  back  he  bad  the 
lords  and  ladies  come  after,  who  that  would ;  and  there  was 
saddling  and  bridling  of  queens'  horses  and  princes'  horses, 
and  well  was  him  that  soonest  might  be  ready.  So  when 
the  king  came  thereas  they  were,  he  saw  Sir  Gawaine  and  Sir 
Gareth  sit  upon  a  little  hill-side,  and  then  the  king  avoided 
his  horse.  And  when  he  came  nigh  Sir  Gareth  he  would 
have  spoken  but  he  might  not ;  and  therewith  he  sank  down 
in  a  swoon  for  gladness.  And  so  they  stert  unto  their  uncle, 
and  required  him  of  his  good  grace  to  be  of  good  comfort. 
Wit  ye  well  the  king  made  great  joy,  and  many  a  piteous 
complaint  he  made  to  Sir  Gareth,  and  ever  he  wept  as  he 
had  been  a  child.  With  that  came  his  mother,  the  queen 
of  Orkney,  Dame  Morgawse,  and  when  she  saw  Sir  Gareth 
readily  in  the  visage  she  might  not  weep,  but  suddenly  fell 
down  in  a  swoon,  and  lay  there  a  great  while  like  as  she  had 
been  dead.  And  then  Sir  Gareth  recomforted  his  mother  in 
such  wise  that  she  recovered  and  made  good  cheer.  Then 
the  king  commanded  that  all  manner  of  knights  that  were 
under  his  obeissance  should  make  their  lodging  right  there 
for  the  love  of  his  nephews.  And  so  it  was  done,  and  all 
manner  of  purveyance  purveyed,  that  there  lacked  nothing 
that  might  be  gotten  of  tame  nor  wild  for  gold  or  silver. 
And  then  by  the  means  of  the  damosel  Savage  Sir  Gawaine 
and  Sir  Gareth  were  healed  of  their  wounds  ;  and  there  they 
sojourned  eight  days.  Then  said  King  Arthur  unto  the 
damosel  Savage  :  I  marvel  that  your  sister,  Dame  Liones, 
cometh  not  here  to  me,  and  in  especial  that  she  cometh  not 
to  visit  her  knight,  my  nephew  Sir  Gareth,  that  hath  had  so 
much  travail  for  her  love.  My  lord,  said  the  damosel  Linet, 
ye  must  of  your  good  grace  hold  her  excused,  for  she  knoweth 
not  that  my  lord,  Sir  Gareth,  is  here.  Go  then  for  her,  said 
King  Arthur,  that  we  may  be  appointed  what  is  best  to  be 
done,  according  to  the  pleasure  of  my  nephew.  Sir,  said  the 
damosel,  that  shall  be  done,  and  so  she  rode  unto  her  sister. 
And  as  lightly  as  she  might  she  made  her  ready  ;  and  she 
came  on  the  morn  with  her  brother  Sir  Gringamore,  and  with 
her  forty  knights.  And  so  when  she  was  come  she  had  all 
the  cheer  that  might  be  done,  both  of  the  King,  and  of 
many  other  kings  and  queens. 


King   Arthur  235 


CHAPTER  XXXIV 

HOW  SIR  GARETH  ACKNOWLEDGED  THAT  THEY  LOVED  EACH  OTHER 
TO  KING  ARTHUR,  AND  OF  THE  APPOINTMENT  OF  THEIR 
WEDDING 

AND  among  all  these  ladies  she  was  named  the  fairest, 
and  peerless.  Then  when  Sir  Gawaine  saw  her  there  was 
many  a  goodly  look  and  goodly  words,  that  all  men  of 
worship  had  joy  to  behold  them.  Then  came  King  Arthur 
and  many  other  kings,  and  Dame  Guenever,  and  the  queen 
of  Orkney.  And  there  the  king  asked  his  nephew,  Sir 
Gareth,  whether  he  would  have  that  lady  as  paramour,  or  to 
have  her  to  his  wife.  My  lord,  wit  you  well  that  I  love  her 
above  all  ladies  living.  Now,  fair  lady,  said  King  Arthur, 
what  say  ye?  Most  noble  King,  said  Dame  Liones,  wit 
you  well  that  my  lord,  Sir  Gareth,  is  to  me  more  lever  to  have 
and  welde  as  my  husband,  than  any  king  or  prince  that  is 
christened  ;  and  if  I  may  not  have  him  I  promise  you  I  will 
never  have  none.  For,  my  lord  Arthur,  said  Dame  Liones, 
wit  ye  well  he  is  my  first  love,  and  he  shall  be  the  last ;  and 
if  ye  will  suffer  him  to  have  his  will  and  free  choice  I  dare 
say  he  will  have  me.  That  is  truth,  said  Sir  Gareth  ;  an  I 
have  not  you  and  welde  not  you  as  my  wife,  there  shall  never 
lady  nor  gentlewoman  rejoice  me.  What,  nephew,  said  the 
king,  is  the  wind  in  that  door  ?  for  wit  ye  well  I  would  not 
for  the  stint  of  my  crown  to  be  causer  to  withdraw  your 
hearts ;  and  wit  ye  well  ye  cannot  love  so  well  but  I  shall 
rather  increase  it  than  distress  it.  And  also  ye  shall  have 
my  love  and  my  lordship  in  the  uttermost  wise  that  may  lie 
in  my  power.  And  in  the  same  wise  said  Sir  Gareth's 
mother.  Then  there  was  made  a  provision  for  the  day  of 
marriage ;  and  by  the  king's  advice  it  was  provided  that  it 
should  be  at  Michaelmas  following,  at  Kink  Kenadon  by  the 
seaside,  for  there  is  a  plentiful  country.  And  so  it  was  cried 
in  all  the  places  through  the  realm.  And  then  Sir  Gareth  sent 
his  summons  to  all  these  knights  and  ladies  that  he  had  won 
in  battle  tofore,  that  they  should  be  at  his  day  of  marriage 
at  Kink  Kenadon  by  the  sands.  And  then  Dame  Liones, 
and  the  damosel  Linet  with  Sir  Gringamore,  rode  to  their 
castle ;  and  a  goodly  and  a  rich  ring  she  gave  to  Sir  Gareth, 
and  he  gave  her  another.  And  King  Arthur  gave  her  a  rich 
bee  of  gold ;  and  so  she  departed  ;  and  King  Arthur  and  his 


236  King   Arthur 

fellowship  rode  toward  Kink  Kenadon,  and  Sir  Gareth 
brought  his  lady  on  the  way,  and  so  came  to  the  king  again 
and  rode  with  him.  Lord  !  the  great  cheer  that  Sir  Latmce- 
lot  made  of  Sir  Gareth  and  he  of  him,  for  there  was  never 
no  knight  that  Sir  Gareth  loved  so  well  as  he  did  Sir 
Launcelot ;  and  ever  for  the  most  part  he  would  be  in  Sir 
Launcelot's  company ;  for  after  Sir  Gareth  had  espied  Sir 
Gawaine's  conditions,  he  withdrew  himself  from  his  brother, 
Sir  Gawaine;s,  fellowship,  for  he  was  vengeable,  and  where 
he  hated  he  would  be  avenged  with  murder,  and  that  hated 
Sir  Gareth. 


CHAPTER   XXXV 

OF  THE  GREAT  ROYALTY,  AND  WHAT  OFFICERS  WERE  MADE  AT 
THE  FEAST  OF  THE  WEDDING,  AND  OF  THE  JOUSTS  AT  THE 
FEAST 

So  it  drew  fast  to  Michaelmas ;  and  thither  came  Dame 
Liones,  the  lady  of  the  Castle  Perilous,  and  her  sister, 
Dame  Linet,  with  Sir  Gringamore,  her  brother,  with  them, 
for  he  had  the  conduct  of  these  ladies.  And  there  they  were 
lodged  at  the  device  of  King  Arthur.  And  upon  Michael- 
mas Day  the  Bishop  of  Canterbury  made  the  wedding 
betwixt  Sir  Gareth  and  the  Lady  Liones  with  great  solemnity. 
And  King  Arthur  made  Gaheris  to  wed  the  damosel  Savage, 
that  was  Dame  Linet ;  and  King  Arthur  made  Sir  Agravaine 
to  wed  Dame  Liones'  niece,  a  fair  lady,  her  name  was  Dame 
Laurel.  And  so  when  this  solemnization  was  done,  then 
came  in  the  green  knight,  Sir  Pertolepe,  with  thirty  knights, 
and  there  he  did  homage  and  fealty  to  Sir  Gareth,  and  these 
knights  to  hold  of  him  for  evermore.  Also  Sir  Pertolepe 
said :  I  pray  you  that  at  this  feast  I  may  be  your  chamber- 
lain. With  a  good  will,  said  Sir  Gareth,  syth  it  liketh  you 
to  take  so  simple  an  office.  Then  came  in  the  red  knight, 
with  three  score  knights  with  him,  and  did  to  Sir  Gareth 
homage  and  fealty,  and  all  those  knights  to  hold  of  him  for 
evermore.  And  then  this  Sir  Perimones  prayed  Sir  Gareth 
to  grant  him  to  be  his  chief  butler  at  that  high  feast.  I  will 
well,  said  Sir  Gareth,  that  ye  have  this  office,  and  it  were 
better.  Then  came  in  Sir  Persant  of  Inde,  with  an  hundred 
knights  with  him,  and  there  he  did  homage  and  fealty,  and 
all  his  knights  should  do  him  service,  and  hold  their  lands 


King   Arthur  237 

of  him  for  ever ;  and  there  he  prayed  Sir  Gareth  to  make 
him  his  sewer-chief  at  the  feast.  I  will  well,  said  Sir  Gareth, 
that  ye  have  it,  and  it  were  better.  Then  came  the  Duke 
de  la  Rowse,  with  an  hundred  knights  with  him,  and  there 
he  did  homage  and  fealty  to  Sir  Gaxeth,  and  so  to  hold  their 
lands  of  him  for  ever.  And  he  required  Sir  Gareth  that  he 
might  serve  him  of  the  wine  that  day  of  that  feast.  I  will 
well,  said  Sir  Gareth,  and  it  were  better.  Then  came  in  the 
red  knight  of  the  red  laundes,  that  was  Sir  Ironside,  and  he 
brought  with  him  three  hundred  knights,  and  there  he  did 
homage  and  fealty,  and  all  these  knights  to  hold  their  lands 
of  him  for  ever.  And  then  he  asked  Sir  Gareth  to  be  his 
carver.  I  will  well,  said  Sir  Gareth,  an  it  please  you.  Then 
came  into  the  court  thirty  ladies,  and  all  they  seemed  widows, 
and  those  thirty  ladies  brought  with  them  many  fair  gentle- 
women. And  all  they  kneeled  down  at  once  unto  King 
Arthur  and  unto  Sir  Gareth,  and  there  all  those  ladies  told 
the  king  how  Sir  Gareth  delivered  them  from  the  dolorous 
tower,  and  slew  the  brown  knight  without  pity :  And  there- 
fore we,  and  our  heirs  for  evermore,  will  do  homage  unto  Sir 
Gareth  of  Orkney.  So  then  the  kings  and  queens,  princes 
and  earls,  barons  and  many  bold  knights,  went  unto  meat ; 
and  well  may  ye  wit  there  were  all  manner  of  meat 
plenteously,  all  manner  revels  and  games,  with  all  manner 
of  minstrelsy  that  was  used  in  those  days.  Also  there  was 
great  jousts  three  days.  But  the  king  would  not  suffer  Sir 
Gareth  to  joust,  by  cause  of  his  new  bride  ;  for,  as  the  French 
book  sayeth,  that  Dame  Liones  desired  of  the  king  that 
none  that  were  wedded  should  joust  at  that  feast.  So  the 
first  day  there  jousted  Sir  Lamorak  de  Galis,  for  he  ovei- 
threw  thirty  knights,  and  did  passing  marvellously  deeds  of 
arms ;  and  then  King  Arthur  made  Sir  Persant  and  his  two 
brethren  knights  of  the  Round  Table  to  their  lives'  end,  and 
gave  them  great  lands.  Also  the  second  day  there  jousted 
Tristram  best,  and  he  overthrew  forty  knights,  and  did  there 
marvellous  deeds  of  arms.  And  there  King  Arthur  made 
Ironside,  that  was  the  red  knight  of  the  red  laundes,  a  knight 
of  the  Table  Round  to  his  life's  end,  and  gave  him  great 
lands.  The  third  day  there  jousted  Sir  Launcelot  du  Lake, 
and  he  overthrew  fifty  knights,  and  did  many  marvellous 
deeds  of  arms,  that  all  men  wondered  on  him.  And  there 
King  Arthur  made  the  Duke  de  la  Rowse  a  knight  of  the 
Round  Table  to  his  life's  end,  and  gave  him  great  lands  to 

I  45  * 


238  King   Arthur 

spend.  But  when  these  jousts  were  done,  Sir  Lamorak  and 
Sir  Tristram  departed  suddenly,  and  would  not  be  known,  for 
the  which  King  Arthur  and  all  the  court  were  sore  displeased. 
And  so  they  held  the  court  forty  days  with  great  solemnity. 
And  this  Sir  Gareth  was  a  noble  knight,  and  a  well-ruled, 
and  fair-languaged. 

Thus  endeth  this  tale  of  Sir  Gareth  of  Orkney  that  wedded  Dame 
Liones  of  the  Castle  Perilous.  And  also  Sir  Gaheris  wedded  her 
sister.  Dame  Linet,  that  was  called  the  damosel  Savage.  And  Sir 
Agravaine  -wedded  Dame  Laurel,  a.  fair  lady  and  great,  and  mighty 
ands  with  great  riches  gave  with  them  King  Arthur,  that  royally 
they  might  live  till  their  lives'  end. 

Here  followeth  the  viii.  book,  the  'which  is  the  first  book  of  Sir 

Tristram  de  Liones,  and  who  'was  his  father  and  his 

mother,  and  how  he  was  born  and  fostered, 

and  bow  he  'was  made  knight. 


BOOK   VIII 


CHAPTER   I 

HOW   SIR   TRISTRAM   DE   LIONES   WAS   BORN,    AND   HOW   HIS    MOTHER 
DIED   AT   HIS    BIRTH,    WHEREFORE   SHE   NAMED   HIM   TRISTRAM 

IT  was  a  king  that  hight  Meliodas,  and  he  was  lord  and 
king  of  the  country  of  Liones,  and  this  Meliodas  was  a 
likely  knight  as  any  was  that  time  living.  And  by  fortune 
he  wedded  King  Mark's  sister  of  Cornwall,  and  she  was 
called  Elizabeth,  that  was  called  both  good  and  fair.  And 
at  that  time  King  Arthur  reigned,  and  he  was  whole  king  of 
England,  Wales,  and  Scotland,  and  of  many  other  realms : 
howbeit  there  were  many  kings  that  were  lords  of  many 
countries,  but  all  they  held  their  lands  of  King  Arthur ;  for 
in  Wales  were  two  kings,  and  in  the  north  were  many  kings  ; 
and  in  Cornwall  and  in  the  west  were  two  kings ;  also  in 
Ireland  were  two  or  three  kings,  and  all  were  under  the 
obeissance  of  King  Arthur.  So  was  the  King  of  France, 
and  the  King  of  Brittany,  and  all  the  lordships  unto  Rome. 
So  when  this  King  Meliodas  had  been  with  his  wife,  within 


King   Arthur  239 

a  while  she  waxed  great  with  child,  and  she  was  a  full  meek 
lady,  and  well  she  loved  her  lord,  and  he  her  again,  so 
there  was  great  joy  betwixt  them.  Then  there  was  a  lady 
in  that  country  that  had  loved  King  Meliodas  long,  and  by 
no  mean  she  never  could  get  his  love ;  therefore  she  let 
ordain  upon  a  day,  as  King  Meliodas  rode  on  hunting,  for 
he  was  a  great  chaser,  and  there  by  an  enchantment  she 
made  him  chase  an  hart  by  himself  alone  till  that  he  came 
to  an  old  castle,  and  there  anon  he  was  taken  prisoner  by 
the  lady  that  him  loved.  When  Elizabeth,  King  Meliodas' 
wife,  missed  her  lord,  and  she  was  nigh  out  of  her  wit,  and 
also  as  great  with  child  as  she  was,  she  took  a  gentle- 
woman with  her,  and  ran  into  the  forest  to  seek  her  lord. 
And  when  she  was  far  in  the  forest  she  might  no  farther, 
for  she  began  to  travail  fast  of  her  child.  And  she  had 
many  grimly  throes  ;  her  gentlewoman  helped  her  all  that 
she  might,  and  so  by  miracle  of  Our  Lady  of  Heaven  she 
was  delivered  with  great  pains.  But  she  had  taken  such 
cold  for  the  default  of  help  that  deep  draughts  of  death 
took  her,  that  needs  she  must  die  and  depart  out  of  this 
world,  there  was  none  other  bote.  And  when  this  Queen 
Elizabeth  saw  that  there  was  none  other  bote,  then  she 
made  great  dole,  and  said  unto  her  gentlewoman :  When  ye 
see  my  lord,  King  Meliodas,  recommend  me  unto  him,  and 
tell  him  what  pains  I  endure  here  for  his  love,  and  how  I 
must  die  here  for  his  sake  for  default  of  good  help ;  and 
let  him  wit  that  I  am  full  sorry  to  depart  out  of  this  world 
from  him,  therefore  pray  him  to  be  friend  to  my  soul. 
Now  let  me  see  my  little  child,  for  whom  I  have  had  all 
this  sorrow.  And  when  she  saw  him  she  said  thus :  Ah, 
my  little  son,  thou  hast  murdered  thy  mother,  and  therefore 
I  suppose,  thou  that  art  a  murderer  so  young,  thou  art  full 
likely  to  be  a  manly  man  in  thine  age.  And  by  cause  I 
shall  die  of  the  birth  of  thee,  I  charge  thee,  gentlewoman, 
that  thou  pray  my  lord,  King  Meliodas,  that  when  he  is 
christened  let  call  him  Tristram,  that  is  as  much  to  say  as  a 
sorrowful  birth.  And  therewith  this  queen  gave  up  the 
ghost  and  died.  Then  the  gentlewoman  laid  her  under  an 
umbre  of  a  great  tree,  and  then  she  lapped  the  child  as  well 
as  she  might  for  cold.  Right  so  there  came  the  barons, 
following  after  the  queen,  and  when  they  saw  that  she  was 
dead,  and  understood  none  other  but  the  king  was 
destroyed. 


240  King   Arthur 


CHAPTER   II 

HOW   THE    STEPMOTHER    OF    SIR    TRISTRAM     HAD   ORDAINED    POISON 
FOR   TO   HAVE    POISONED    SIR   TRISTRAM 

THEN  certain  of  them  would  have  slain  the  child,  by  cause 
they  would  have  been  lords  of  the  country  of  Liones.  But 
then  through  the  fair  speech  of  the  gentlewoman,  and  by 
the  means  that  she  made,  the  most  part  of  the  barons  would 
not  assent  thereto.  And  then  they  let  carry  home  the  dead 
queen,  and  much  dole  was  made  for  her.  Then  this  mean- 
while Merlin  delivered  King  Meliodas  out  of  prison  on  the 
morn  after  his  queen  was  dead.  And  so  when  the  king 
was  come  home  the  most  part  of  the  barons  made  great  joy. 
But  the  sorrow  that  the  king  made  for  his  queen  that  might 
no  tongue  tell.  So  then  the  king  let  inter  her  richly,  and 
after  he  let  christen  his  child  as  his  wife  had  commanded 
afore  her  death.  And  then  he  let  call  him  Tristram,  the 
sorrowful  born  child.  Then  the  King  Meliodas  endured 
seven  years  without  a  wife,  and  all  this  time  Tristram  was 
nourished  well.  Then  it  befell  that  King  Meliodas  wedded 
King  Howell's  daughter  of  Brittany,  and  anon  she  had 
children  of  King  Meliodas :  then  was  she  heavy  and  wroth 
that  her  children  should  not  rejoice  the  country  of  Liones, 
wherefore  this  queen  ordained  for  to  poison  young  Tristram. 
So  she  let  poison  be  put  in  a  piece  of  silver  in  the  chamber 
whereas  Tristram  and  her  children  were  together,  unto  that 
intent  that  when  Tristram  were  thirsty  he  should  drink  that 
drink.  And  so  it  fell  upon  a  day,  the  queen's  son,  as  he 
was  in  that  chamber,  espied  the  piece  with  poison,  and  he 
weened  it  had  been  good  drink,  and  by  cause  the  child  was 
thirsty  he  took  the  piece  with  poison  and  drank  freely ;  and 
therewithal  suddenly  the  child  brast  and  was  dead.  When 
the  queen  of  Meliodas  wist  of  the  death  of  her  son,  wit  ye 
well  that  she  was  heavy.  But  yet  the  king  understood 
nothing  of  her  treason.  Notwithstanding  the  queen  would 
not  leave  this,  but  efte  she  let  ordain  more  poison,  and  put 
it  in  a  piece.  And  by  fortune  King  Meliodas,  her  husband, 
found  the  piece  with  wine  where  was  the  poison,  and  he 
that  was  much  thirsty  took  the  piece  for  to  drink  thereout. 
And  as  he  would  have  drunken  thereof  the  queen  espied 
him,  and  then  she  ran  unto  him,  and  pulled  the  piece  from 
him  suddenly.  The  king  marvelled  why  she  did  so,  and 


King   Arthur  241 

remembered  him  how  her  son  was  suddenly  slain  with 
poison.  And  then  he  took  her  by  the  hand,  and  said  : 
Thou  false  traitress,  thou  shalt  tell  me  what  manner  of 
drink  this  is,  or  else  I  shall  slay  thee.  And  therewith  he 
pulled  out  his  sword,  and  sware  a  great  oath  that  he  should 
slay  her  but  if  she  told  him  truth.  Ah  !  mercy,  my  lord, 
said  she,  and  I  shall  tell  you  all.  And  then  she  told  him 
why  she  would  have  slain  Tristram,  by  cause  her  children 
should  rejoice  his  land.  Well,  said  King  Meliodas,  and 
therefore  shall  ye  have  the  law.  And  so  she  was  condemned 
by  the  assent  of  the  barons  to  be  burnt;  and  then  was 
there  made  a  great  fire,  and  right  as  she  was  at  the  fire  to 
take  her  execution,  young  Tristram  kneeled  afore  King 
Meliodas,  and  besought  him  to  give  him  a  boon.  I  will 
well,  said  the  king  again.  Then  said  young  Tristram,  Give 
me  the  life  of  thy  queen,  my  stepmother.  That  is  unright- 
fully asked,  said  King  Meliodas,  for  thou  ought  of  right  to 
hate  her,  for  she  would  have  slain  thee  with  that  poison  an 
she  might  have  had  her  will ;  and  for  thy  sake  most  is  my 
cause  that  she  should  die.  Sir,  said  Tristram,  as  for  that, 
I  beseech  you  of  your  mercy  that  you  will  forgive  it  her, 
and  as  for  my  part,  God  forgive  it  her,  and  I  do  ;  and  so 
much  it  liked  your  highness  to  grant  me  my  boon,  for 
God's  love  I  require  you  hold  your  promise.  Sylhen  it  is 
so,  said  the  king,  I  will  that  ye  have  her  life.  Then,  said 
the  king,  I  give  her  to  you,  and  go  ye  to  the  fire  and  take 
her,  and  do  with  her  what  ye  will.  So  Sir  Tristram  went  to 
the  fire,  and  by  the  commandment  of  the  king  delivered 
her  from  the  death.  But  after  that  King  Meliodas  would 
never  have  ado  with  her  as  at  bed  and  board.  But  by  the 
good  means  of  young  Tristram  he  made  the  king  and  her 
accorded.  But  then  the  king  would  not  suffer  young 
Tristram  to  abide  no  longer  in  his  court. 


CHAPTER    III 

HOW  SIR  TRISTRAM  WAS  SENT  INTO  FRANCE,  AND  HAD  ONE  TO 
GOVERN  HIM  NAMED  GOUVERNAIL,  AND  HOW  HE  LEARNED 
TO  HARP,  HAWK,  AND  HUNT 

AND  then  he  let  ordain  a  gentleman  that  was  well  learned 
and  taught,  his  name  was  Gouvernail ;  and  then  he  sent 
young  Tristram  with  Gouvernail  into  France  to  learn  the 


242  King   Arthur 

language,  and  nurture,  and  deeds  of  arms.  And  there  was 
Tristram  more  than  seven  years.  And  then  when  he  well 
could  speak  the  language,  and  had  learned  all  that  he  might 
learn  in  that  country,  then  he  came  home  to  his  father, 
King  Meliodas,  again.  And  so  Tristram  learned  to  be  an 
harper  passing  all  other,  that  there  was  none  such  called  in 
no  country,  and  so  on  harping  and  on  instruments  of  music 
he  applied  him  in  his  youth  for  to  learn.  And  after,  as  he 
growed  in  might  and  strength,  he  laboured  ever  in  hunting 
and  in  hawking,  so  that  never  gentleman  more,  that  ever 
we  heard  read  of.  And  as  the  book  saith,  he  began  good 
measures  of  blowyng  of  beasts  of  venery,  and  beasts  of 
chase,  and  all  manner  of  vermin,  and  all  these  terms  we 
have  yet  of  hawking  and  hunting.  And  therefore  the  book 
of  venery,  of  hawking,  and  hunting,  is  called  the  book  of  Sir 
Tristram.  Wherefore,  as  meseemeth,  all  gentlemen  that 
bear  old  arms  ought  of  right  to  honour  Sir  Tristram  for  the 
goodly  terms  that  gentlemen  have  and  use,  and  shall  to  the 
day  of  doom,  that  thereby  in  a  manner  all  men  of  worship 
may  dissever  a  gentleman  from  a  yeoman,  and  from  a 
yeoman  a  villain.  For  he  that  gentle  is  will  draw  him  unto 
gentle  tatches,  and  to  follow  the  customs  of  noble  gentle- 
men. Thus  Sir  Tristram  endured  in  Cornwall  until  he  was 
big  and  strong,  of  the  age  of  nineteen  years.  And  then  the 
King  Meliodas  had  great  joy  of  Sir  Tristram,  and  so  had 
the  queen,  his  wife.  For  ever  after  in  her  life,  by  cause  Sir 
Tristram  saved  her  from  the  fire,  she  did  never  hate  him 
more  after,  but  loved  him  ever  after,  and  gave  Tristram  many 
great  gifts ;  for  every  estate  loved  him,  where  that  he  went. 


CHAPTER    IV 

HOW   SIR     MARHAUS     CAME    OUT   OF    IRELAND    FOR   TO    ASK   TRUAGE 
OF   CORNWALL,    OR   ELSE   HE   WOULD    FIGHT   THEREFOR 

THEN  it  befell  that  King  Anguish  of  Ireland  sent  unto 
King  Mark  of  Cornwall  for  his  truage,  that  Cornwall  had 
paid  many  winters.  And  all  that  time  King  Mark  was 
behind  of  the  truage  for  seven  years.  And  King  Mark  and 
his  barons  gave  unto  the  messenger  of  Ireland  these  words 
and  answer,  that  they  would  none  pay ;  and  bad  the 
messenger  go  unto  his  King  Anguish,  And  tell  him  we  will 
pay  him  no  truage,  but  tell  your  lord,  an  he  will  always 


King   Arthur  243 

have  truage  of  us  of  Cornwall,  bid  him  send  a  trusty  knight 
of  his  land,  that  will  fight  for  his  right,  and  we  shall  find 
another  for  to  defend  our  right.  With  this  answer  the 
messengers  departed  into  Ireland.  And  when  King  Anguish 
understood  the  answer  of  the  messengers  he  was  wonderly 
wroth.  And  then  he  called  unto  him  Sir  Marhaus,  the 
good  knight,  that  was  nobly  proved,  and  a  Knight  of  the 
Table  Round.  And  this  Marhaus  was  brother  unto  the 
queen  of  Ireland.  Then  the  king  said  thus  :  Fair  brother, 
Sir  Marhaus,  I  pray  you  go  into  Cornwall  for  my  sake,  and 
do  battle  for  our  truage  that  of  right  we  ought  to  have  ;  and 
whatsomever  ye  spend  ye  shall  have  sufficiently  more  than 
ye  shall  need.  Sir,  said  Marhaus,  wit  ye  well  that  I  shall 
not  be  loth  to  do  battle  in  the  right  of  you  and  your  land 
with  the  best  knight  of  the  Table  Round ;  for  I  know  them, 
for  the  most  part,  what  be  their  deeds ;  and  for  to  advance 
my  deeds  and  to  increase  my  worship  I  will  right  gladly  go 
unto  this  journey  for  our  right.  So  in  all  haste  there  was 
made  purveyance  for  Sir  Marhaus,  and  he  had  all  things 
that  to  him  needed ;  and  so  he  departed  out  of  Ireland, 
and  arrived  up  in  Cornwall  even  fast  by  the  Castle  of 
Tintagil.  And  when  King  Mark  understood  that  he  was 
there  arrived  to  fight  for  Ireland,  then  made  King  Mark 
great  sorrow  when  he  understood  that  the  good  and  noble 
knight  Sir  Marhaus  was  come.  For  they  knew  no  knight 
that  durst  have  ado  with  him.  For  at  that  time  Sir  Marhaus 
was  called  one  of  the  famousest  and  renowned  knights  of 
the  world.  And  thus  Sir  Marhaus  abode  in  the  sea,  and  every 
day  he  sent  unto  King  Mark  for  to  pay  the  truage  that  was 
behind  of  seven  year,  other-else  to  find  a  knight  to  fight 
with  him  for  the  truage.  This  manner  of  message  Sir 
Marhaus  sent  daily  unto  King  Mark.  Then  they  of  Cornwall 
let  make  cries  in  every  place,  that  what  knight  would  fight 
for  to  save  the  truage  of  Cornwall,  he  should  be  rewarded 
so  that  he  should  fare  the  better  the  term  of  his  life.  Then 
some  of  the  barons  said  to  King  Mark,  and  counselled  him 
to  send  to  the  Court  of  King  Arthur  for  to  seek  Sir 
Launcelot  du  Luke,  that  was  that  time  named  for  the 
marvelloust  knight  of  all  the  world.  Then  there  were  some 
other  barons  that  counselled  the  king  not  to  do  so,  and 
said  that  it  was  labour  in  vain,  by  cause  Sir  Marhaus  was  a 
knight  of  the  Round  Table,  therefore  any  of  them  will  be 
loth  to  have  ado  with  other,  but  if  it  were  any  knight  at  his 


244  King   Arthur 

own  request  would  fight  disguised  and  unknown.  So  the 
king  and  all  his  barons  assented  that  it  was  no  bote  to  seek 
any  knight  of  the  Round  Table.  This  meanwhile  came  the 
language  and  the  noise  unto  King  Meliodas,  how  that  Sir 
Marhaus  abode  battle  fast  by  Tintagil,  and  how  King  Mark 
could  find  no  manner  knight  to  fight  for  him.  When  young 
Tristram  heard  of  this  he  was  wroth,  and  sore  ashamed  that 
there  durst  no  knight  in  Cornwall  have  ado  with  Sir 
Marhaus  of  Ireland. 


CHAPTER   V 

HOW    TRISTRAM     ENTERPRIZED    THE     BATTLE     TO     FIGHT    FOR    THE 
TRUAGE   OF   CORNWALL,    AND    HOW    HE    WAS    MADE    KNIGHT 

THERE  withal  Tristram  went  unto  his  father,  King 
Meliodas,  and  asked  him  counsel  what  was  best  to  do  for 
to  recover  Cornwall  from  truage.  For,  as  meseemeth,  said 
Sir  Tristram,  it  were  shame  that  Sir  Marhaus,  the  queen's 
brother  of  Ireland,  should  go  away  .unless  that  he  were 
foughten  withal.  As  for  that,  said  King  Meliodas,  wit  you 
well,  son  Tristram,  that  Sir  Marhaus  is  called  one  of  the 
best  knights  of  the  world,  and  knight  of  the  Table  Round ; 
and  therefore  I  know  no  knight  in  this  country  that  is  able 
to  match  with  him.  Alas,  said  Sir  Tristram,  that  I  am  not 
made  knight ;  and  if  Sir  Marhaus  should  thus  depart  into 
Ireland,  God  let  me  never  have  worship :  an  I  were  made 
knight  I  should  match  him.  And  sir,  said  Tristram,  I  pray 
you  give  me  leave  to  ride  to  King  Mark ;  and  so  ye  be  not 
displeased  of  King  Mark  will  I  be  made  knight.  I  will 
well,  said  King  Meliodas,  that  ye  be  ruled  as  your  courage 
will  rule  you.  Then  Sir  Tristram  thanked  his  father  much. 
And  then  he  made  him  ready  to  ride  into  Cornwall.  In 
the  meanwhile  there  came  a  messenger  with  letters  of  love 
from  King  Faramon  of  France's  daughter  unto  Sir  Tristram, 
that  were  full  piteous  letters,  and  in  them  were  written  many 
complaints  of  love ;  but  Sir  Tristram  had  no  joy  of  her 
letters  nor  regard  unto  her.  Also  she  sent  him  a  little 
brachet  that  was  passing  fair.  But  when  the  king's  daughter 
understood  that  Sir  Tristram  would  not  love  her,  as  the 
book  saith,  she  died  for  sorrow.  And  then  the  same  squire 
that  brought  the  letter  and  the  brachet  came  again  unto 
Sir  Tristram,  as  after  ye  shall  hear  in  the  tale.  So  this 


King   Arthur  245 

young  Sir  Tristram  rode  unto  his  erne  King  Mark  of 
Cornwall.  And  when  he  came  there  he  heard  say  that 
there  would  no  knight  fight  with  Sir  Marhaus.  Then  yede 
Sir  Tristram  unto  his  eme  and  said :  Sir,  if  ye  will  give  me 
the  order  of  knighthood,  I  will  do  battle  with  Sir  Marhaus. 
What  are  ye,  said  the  king,  and  from  whence  be  ye  come  ? 
Sir,  said  Tristram,  I  come  from  King  Meliodas  that  wedded 
your  sister,  and  a  gentleman  wit  ye  well  I  am.  King  Mark 
beheld  Sir  Tristram  and  saw  that  he  was  but  a  young  man 
of  age,  but  he  was  passingly  well  made  and  big.  Fair  sir, 
said  the  king,  what  is  your  name,  and  where  were  ye  born  ? 
Sir,  said  he  again,  my  name  is  Tristram,  and  in  the  country 
of  Liones  was  I  born.  Ye  say  well,  said  the  king ;  and  if 
ye  will  do  this  battle  I  shall  make  you  knight.  Therefore  I 
come  to  you,  said  Sir  Tristram,  and  for  none  other  cause. 
But  then  King  Mark  made  him  knight.  And  therewithal, 
anon  as  he  had  made  him  knight,  he  sent  a  messenger  unto 
Sir  Marhaus  with  letters  that  said  that  he  had  found  a 
young  knight  ready  for  to  take  the  battle  to  the  uttermost. 
It  may  well  be,  said  Sir  Marhaus ;  but  tell  King  Mark  I 
will  not  fight  with  no  knight  but  he  be  of  blood  royal,  that 
is  to  say,  outher  king's  son,  outher  queen's  son,  born  of  a 
prince  or  princess.  When  King  Mark  understood  that,  he 
sent  for  Sir  Tristram  de  Liones  and  told  him  what  was  the 
answer  of  Sir  Marhaus.  Then  said  Sir  Tristram  :  Sythen 
that  he  sayeth  so,  let  him  wit  that  I  am  come  of  father  side 
and  mother  side  of  as  noble  blood  as  he  is :  for,  sir, 
now  shall  ye  know  that  I  am  King  Meliodas'  son,  born 
of  your  own  sister,  Dame  Elizabeth,  that  died  in  the 
forest  in  the  birth  of  me.  O  Jesu,  said  King  Mark,  ye  are 
welcome  fair  nephew  to  me.  Then  in  all  the  haste  the 
king  let  horse  Sir  Tristram,  and  armed  him  in  the  best 
manner  that  might  be  had  or  gotten  for  gold  or  silver.  And 
then  King  Mark  sent  unto  Sir  Marhaus,  and  did  him  to  wit 
that  a  better  born  man  than  he  was  himself  should  fight 
with  him,  and  his  name  is  Sir  Tristram  de  Liones,  gotten  of 
King  Meliodas,  and  born  of  King  Mark's  sister.  Then  was 
Sir  Marhaus  glad  and  blithe  that  he  should  fight  with  such 
a  gentleman.  And  so  by  the  assent  of  King  Mark  and  of  Sir 
Marhaus  that  let  ordain  that  they  should  fight  within  an 
island  nigh  Sir  Marhaus'  ships ;  and  so  was  Sir  Tristram  put 
into  a  vessel  both  his  horse  and  he,  and  all  that  to  him  longed 
both  for  his  body  and  for  his  horse.  Sir  Tristram  lacked 


246  King   Arthur 

nothing.  And  when  King  Mark  and  his  barons  of  Cornwall 
beheld  how  young  Sir  Tristram  departed  with  such  a  carriage 
to  fight  for  the  right  of  Cornwall,  there  was  neither  man  nor 
woman  of  worship  but  they  wept  to  see  and  understand  so 
young  a  knight  to  jeopardy  himself  for  their  right 


CHAPTER    VI 

HOW   SIR    TRISTRAM    ARRIVED    INTO   THE    ISLAND   FOR  TO    FURNISH 
THE   BATTLE   WITH    SIR    MARHAUS 

So  to  shorten  this  tale,  when  Sir  Tristram  was  arrived  within 
the  island  he  looked  to  the  farther  side,  and  there  he  saw  at  an 
anchor  six  ships  nigh  to  the  land  ;  and  under  the  shadow  of 
the  ships  upon  the  land,  there  hoved  the  noble  knight,  Sir 
Marhaus  of  Ireland.  Then  Sir  Tristram  commanded  his 
servant  Gouvernail  to  bring  his  horse  to  the  land,  and  dress 
his  harness  at  all  manner  of  rights.  And  then  when  he  had 
so  done  he  mounted  upon  his  horse ;  and  when  he  was  in 
his  saddle  well  apparelled,  and  his  shield  dressed  upon  his 
shoulder,  Tristram  asked  Gouvernail,  Where  is  this  knight 
that  I  shall  have  ado  withal  ?  Sir,  said  Gouvernail,  see  ye 
him  not  ?  I  weened  ye  had  seen  him  ;  yonder  he  hoveth  under 
the  umbre  of  his  ships  on  horseback,  with  his  spear  in  his 
hand  and  his  shield  upon  his  shoulder.  That  is  truth,  said 
the  noble  knight,  Sir  Tristram,  now  I  see  him  well  enough. 
Then  he  commanded  his  servant  Gouvernail  to  go  to  his 
vessel  again :  And  commend  me  unto  mine  erne  King  Mark, 
and  pray  him  if  that  I  be  slain  in  this  battle  for  to  inter  my 
body  as  him  seemed  best ;  and  as  for  me,  let  him  wit  that  I 
will  never  yield  me  for  cowardice  ;  and  if  I  be  slain  and  flee 
not,  then  they  have  lost  no  truage  for  me ;  and  if  so  be  that 
I  flee  or  yield  me  as  recreant,  bid  mine  eme  never  bury  me 
in  Christian  burials.  And  upon  thy  life,  said  Sir  Tristram  to 
Gouvernail,  come  thou  not  nigh  this  island  till  that  thou 
see  me  overcome  or  slain,  or  else  that  I  win  yonder  knight. 
So  either  departed  from  other  sore  weeping. 


CHAPTER   VII 

HOW   SIR   TRISTRAM    FOUGHT   AGAINST   SIR  MARHAUS  AND  ACHIEVED 
HIS   BATTLE,  AND    HOW   SIR    MARHAUS    FLED   TO    HIS    SHIP 

AND  then  Sir  Marhaus  avised  Sir  Tristram,  and  said  thus  ; 
Young  knight,  Sir  Tristram,  what  dost  thou  here  ?  me  sore 


King   Arthur  247 

repenteth  of  thy  courage,  for  wit  thou   well  I   have  been 
assayed,  and  the  best  knights  of  this  land  have  been  assayed 
of  my  hand  ;  and  also  I  have  matched  with  the  best  knights 
of  the  world,  and  therefore  by  my  counsel  return  again  unto 
thy  vessel.     And  fair  knight,  and  well-proved  knight,  said  Sir 
Tristram,  thou  shalt  well  wit  I  may  not  forsake  thee  in  this 
quarrel,  for  I  am  for  thy  sake  made  knight.     And  thou  shalt 
well  wit  that  I  am  a  king's  son  born,  and  gotten  upon  a 
queen  ;  and  such  promise  I  have  made  at  my  uncle's  request 
and  mine  own  seeking,  that  I  shall  fight  with  thee  unto  the 
uttermost,  and  deliver  Cornwall  from  the  old  truage.     And 
also  wit  thou  well,  Sir  Marhaus,  that  this  is  the  greatest  cause 
that  thou  couragest  me  to  have  ado  with  thee,  for  thou  art 
called  one  of  the  most  renowned  knights  of  the  world,  and 
by  cause  of  that  noise  and  fame  that  thou  hast  thou  givest  me 
courage  to  have  ado  with  thee,  for  never  yet  was  I  proved 
with  good  knight ;  and  sythen  I  took  the  order  of  knighthood 
this  day,  I  am  well  pleased  that  I  may  have  ado  with  so  good 
a  knight  as  thou  art.     And  now  wit  thou  well,  Sir  Marhaus, 
that  I  cast  me  to  get  worship  on  thy  body ;  and  if  that  I  be 
not  proved,  I  trust  to  God  that  I  shall  be  worshipfully  proved 
upon  thy  body,  and  to  deliver  the  country  of  Cornwall  for 
ever  from  all  manner  of  truage  from  Ireland  for  ever.     When 
Sir  Marhaus  had  heard  him  say  what  he  would,  he  said  then 
thus  again  :  Fair  knight,  sythen  it  is  so  that  thou  castest  to 
win  worship  of  me,  I  let  thee  wit  worship  may  thou  none 
lose  by  me  if  thou  mayest  stand  me  three  strokes ;  for  I  let 
thee  wit  for  my  noble  deeds,  proved  and  seen,  King  Arthur 
made  me  knight  of  the  Table  Round.     Then  they  began  to 
feutre  their  spears,  and  they  met  so  fiercely  together  that  they 
smote  either  other  down,  both  horse  and  all.      But  Sir  Mar- 
haus smote  Sir  Tristram  a  great  wound  in  the  side  with  his 
spear,  and  then  they  avoided  their  horses,  and  pulled  out 
their  swords,  and  threw  their  shields  afore  them.     And  then 
they  lashed  together  as  men  that  were  wild  and  courageous. 
And  when  they  had  stricken  so  together  long,  then  they  left 
their  strokes,  and  foyned  at  their  breaths  and  visors ;  and 
when  they  saw  that  that  might  not  prevail  them,  then  they 
hurtled  together  like  rams  to  bear  either  other  down.     Thus 
they  fought  still   more   than  half  a  day,  and  either  were 
wounded   passing  sore,   that  the   blood  ran    down    freshly 
from  them  upon  the  ground.     By  then  Sir  Tristram  waxed 
more   fresher  than   Sir   Marhaus,  and   better   winded   and 


248  King   Arthur 

bigger ;  and  with  a  mighty  stroke  he  smote  Sir  Marhaus 
upon  the  helm  such  a  buffet  that  it  went  through  his  helm, 
and  through  the  coif  of  steel,  and  through  the  brain-pan,  and 
the  sword  stuck  so  fast  in  the  helm  and  in  his  brain-pan  that 
Sir  Tristram  pulled  thrice  at  his  sword  or  ever  he  might  pull 
it  out  from  his  head ;  and  there  Marhaus  fell  down  on  his 
knees,  the  edge  of  Tristram's  sword  left  in  his  brain-pan. 
And  suddenly  Sir  Marhaus  rose  grovelling,  and  threw  his 
sword  and  his  shield  from  him,  and  so  ran  to  his  ships  and 
fled  his  way,  and  Sir  Tristram  had  ever  his  shield  and  his 
sword.  And  when  Sir  Tristram  saw  Sir  Marhaus  withdraw 
him,  he  said  :  Ah  !  sir  knight  of  the  Round  Table,  why 
withdrawest  thou  thee  ?  thou  dost  thyself  and  thy  kin  great 
shame,  for  I  am  but  a  young  knight,  or  now  I  was  nevei 
proved,  and  rather  than  I  should  withdraw  me  from  thee,  1 
had  rather  be  hewn  in  an  hundred  pieces.  Sir  Marhaus 
answered  no  word  but  yede  his  way  sore  groaning.  Well, 
sir  knight,  said  Sir  Tristram,  I  promise  thee  thy  sword  and 
thy  shield  shall  be  mine ;  and  thy  shield  shall  I  wear  in  all 
places  where  I  ride  on  mine  adventures,  and  in  the  sight  of 
King  Arthur  and  all  the  Round  Table. 


CHAPTER   VIII 

HOW  SIR  MARHAUS  AFTER  THAT  HE  WAS  ARRIVED  IN  IRELAND  DIED 
OF  THE  STROKE  THAT  SIR  TRISTRAM  HAD  GIVEN  HIM,  AND  HOW 
TRISTRAM  WAS  HURT 

ANON  Sir  Marhaus  and  his  fellowship  departed  into 
Ireland.  And  as  soon  as  he  came  to  the  king,  his  brother, 
he  let  search  his  wounds.  And  when  his  head  was  searched 
a  piece  of  Sir  Tristram's  sword  was  found  therein,  and  might 
never  be  had  out  of  his  head  for  no  surgeons,  and  so  he  died 
of  Sir  Tristram's  sword  ;  and  that  piece  of  the  sword  the 
queen,  his  sister,  kept  it  for  ever  with  her,  for  she  thought 
to  be  revenged  an  she  might.  Now  turn  we  again  unto  Sir 
Tristram,  that  was  sore  wounded,  and  full  sore  bled  that  he 
might  not  within  a  little  while,  when  he  had  taken  cold, 
unnethe  stir  him  of  his  limbs.  And  then  he  set  him  down 
softly  upon  a  little  hill,  and  bled  fast.  Then  anon  came 
Gouvernail,  his  man,  with  his  vessel ;  and  the  king  and  his 
barons  came  with  procession  against  him.  And  when  he 
was  come  unto  the  land,  King  Mark  took  him  in  his  arms, 


King   Arthur  249 

and  the  king  and  Sir  Dinas,  the  seneschal,  led  Sir  Tristram 
into  the  castle  of  Tintagil.     And  then  was  he  searched  in  the 
best  manner,  and  laid  in  his  bed.     And  when  King  Mark 
saw  his  wounds  he  wept  heartily,  and  so  did  all  his  lords. 
So  God  me  help,  said  King  Mark,  I  would  not  for  all  my 
lands  that  my  nephew  died.     So  Sir  Tristram  lay  there  a 
month  and  more,  and  ever  he  was  like  to  die  of  that  stroke 
that  Sir  Marhaus  smote  him  first  with  the  spear.    For,  as  the 
French  book  saith,  the  spear's  head  was  envenomed,  that  Sir 
Tristram  might  not  be  whole.     Then  was  King  Mark  and  all 
his  barons  passing  heavy,  for  they  deemed  none  other  but 
that  Sir  Tristram  should  not  recover.    Then  the  king  let  send 
after  all  manner  of  leeches  and  surgeons,  both  unto  men  and 
women,  and  there  was  none  that  would  behote  him  the  life. 
Then  came  there  a  lady  that  was  a  right  wise  lady,  and  she  said 
plainly  unto  King  Mark,  and  to  Sir  Tristram,  and  to  all  his 
barons,  that  he  should  never  be  whole  but  if  Sir  Tristram 
went  in  the  same  country  that  the  venom  came  from,  and  in 
that  country  should  he  be  holpen  or  else  never.     Thus  said 
the  lady  unto  the  king.     When  King  Mark  understood  that, 
he  let  purvey  for  Sir  Tristram  a  fair  vessel,  well  victualled, 
and  therein  was  put  Sir  Tristram,  and  Gouvernail  with  him, 
and  Sir  Tristram  took  his  harp  with  him,  and  so  he  was  put 
into  the  sea  to  sail  into  Ireland  ;  and  so  by  good  fortune  he 
arrived  up  in  Ireland,  even  fast  by  a  castle  where  the  king 
and  the  queen  was  ;  and  at  his  arrival  he  sat  and  harped  in 
his  bed  a  merry  lay,  such  one  heard  they  never  none  in 
Ireland  before  that  time.     And  when  it  was  told  the  king 
and  the  queen  of  such  a  knight  that  was  such  an  harper,  anon 
the  king  sent  for  him,  and  let  search  his  wounds,  and  then 
asked   him  his  name.     Then   he   answered,  I    am   of  the 
country  of  Liones,  and  my  name  is  Tramtrist,  that  thus  was 
wounded  in  a  battle  as  I  fought  for  a  lady's  right.     So  God 
me  help,  said  King  Anguish,  ye  shall  have  all  the  help  in 
this  land  that  ye  may  have  here  ;  but  I  let  you  wit,  in  Corn- 
wall I  had  a  great  loss  as  ever  had  king,  for  there  I  lost  the 
best  knight  of  the  world;  his  name  was  Marhaus,  a  full  noble 
knight,  and  Knight  of  the  Table  Round ;  and  there  he  told 
Sir  Tristram  wherefore  Sir  Marhaus  was  slain.     Sir  Tristram 
made  semblant  as  he  had  been  sorry,  and  better  knew  he 
how  it  was  than  the  king. 


250  King   Arthur 


CHAPTER    IX 

HOW    SIR    TRISTRAM      WAS      PUT     TO     THE     KEEPING     OF    LA    BEALE 
ISOUD    FIRST    FOR   TO   BE    HEALED    OF    HIS    WOUND 

THEN  the  king  for  great  favour  made  Tramtrist  to  be  put 
in  his  daughter's  ward  and  keeping,  because  she  was  a 
noble  surgeon.  And  when  she  had  searched  him  she  found 
in  the  bottom  of  his  wound  that  therein  was  poison,  and  so 
she  healed  him  within  a  while ;  and  therefore  Tramtrist  cast 
great  love  to  La  Beale  Isoud,  for  she  was  at  that  time  the 
fairest  maid  and  lady  of  the  world.  And  there  Tramtrist 
learned  her  to  harp,  and  she  began  to  have  a  great  fantasy 
unto  him.  And  at  that  time  Sir  Palamides,  the  Saracen, 
was  in  that  country,  and  well  cherished  with  the  king  and 
the  queen.  And  every  day  Sir  Palamides  drew  unto  La 
Beale  Isoud  and  proffered  her  many  gifts,  for  he  loved  her 
passingly  well.  All  that  espied  Tramtrist,  and  full  well  knew 
he  Sir  Palamides  for  a  noble  knight  and  a  mighty  man. 
And  wit  you  well  Sir  Tramtrist  had  great  despite  at  Sir 
Palamides,  for  La  Beale  Isoud  told  Tramtrist  that  Palamides 
was  in  will  to  be  christened  for  her  sake.  Thus  was  there 
great  envy  betwixt  Tramtrist  and  Sir  Palamides.  Then  it 
befell  that  King  Anguish  let  cry  a  great  jousts  and  a  great 
tournament  for  a  lady  that  was  called  the  lady  of  the 
laundes,  and  she  was  nigh  cousin  unto  the  king.  And  what 
man  won  her,  three  days  after  he  should  wed  her  and  have 
all  her  lands.  This  cry  was  made  in  England,  Wales, 
Scotland,  and  also  in  France  and  in  Brittany.  It  befell 
upon  a  day  La  Beale  Isoud  came  unto  Sir  Tramtrist,  and 
told  him  of  this  tournament.  He  answered  and  said  :  Fair 
lady,  I  am  but  a  feeble  knight,  and  but  late  I  had  been  dead 
had  not  your  good  ladyship  been.  Now,  fair  lady,  what 
would  ye  I  should  do  in  this  matter?  Well  ye  wot,  my  lady, 
that  I  may  not  joust.  Ah,  Tramtrist,  said  La  Beale  Isoud, 
why  will  ye  not  have  ado  at  that  tournament  ?  well  I  wot 
Sir  Palamides  shall  be  there,  and  to  do  what  he  may ;  and 
therefore  Tramtrist,  I  pray  you  for  to  be  there,  for  else  Sir 
Palamides  is  like  to  win  the  degree.  Madam,  said  Tram- 
trist, as  for  that,  it  may  be  so,  for  he  is  a  proved  knight,  and 
I  am  but  a  young  knight  and  late  made  ;  and  the  first 
battle  that  I  did  it  mishapped  me  to  be  sore  wounded  as  ye 
see.  But  an  I  wist  ye  would  be  my  better  lady,  at  that 


King   Arthur  251 

tournament  I  will  be,  so  that  ye  will  keep  my  counsel  and 
let  no  creature  have  knowledge  that  I  shall  joust  but  your- 
self, and  such  as  ye  will  to  keep  your  counsel ;  my  poor 
person  shall  I  jeopard  there  for  your  sake,  that,  peradventure, 
Sir  Palamides  shall  know  when  that  I  come.  Thereto,  said 
La  Beale  Isoud,  do  your  best,  and  as  I  can,  said  La  Beale 
Isoud,  I  shall  purvey  horse  and  armour  for  you  at  my 
device.  As  ye  will  so  be  it,  said  Sir  Tramtrist,  I  will  be  at 
your  commandment.  So  at  the  day  of  jousts  there  came 
Sir  Palamides  with  a  black  shield,  and  he  overthrew  many 
knights,  that  all  the  people  had  marvel  of  him.  For  he  put 
to  the  worse  Sir  Gawaine,  Gaheris,  Agravaine,  Bagdemagus, 
Kay,  Dodias  le  Savage,  Sagramore  le  Desirous,  Gumret  le 
Petit,  and  Griflet  le  Fise  de  Dieu.  All  these  the  first  day 
Sir  Palamides  struck  down  to  the  earth.  And  then  all 
manner  of  knights  were  adread  of  Sir  Palamides,  and  many 
called  him  the  knight  with  the  black  shield.  So  that  day  Sir 
Palamides  had  great  worship.  Then  came  King  Anguish 
unto  Tramtrist,  and  asked  him  why  he  would  not  joust.  Sir, 
he  said,  I  was  but  late  hurt,  and  as  yet  I  dare  not  adven- 
ture me.  Then  came  there  the  same  squire  that  was  sent 
from  the  king's  daughter  of  France  unto  Sir  Tristram. 
And  when  he  had  espied  Sir  Tristram  he  fell  flat  to  his  feet. 
All  that  espied  La  Beale  Isoud,  what  courtesy  the  squire 
made  unto  Sir  Tristram.  And  therewithal  suddenly  Sir 
Tristram  ran  unto  his  squire,  whose  name  was  Hebes  le 
Renoumes,  and  prayed  him  heartily  in  no  wise  to  tell  his 
name.  Sir,  said  Hebes,  I  will  not  discover  your  name  but 
if  ye  command  me. 


CHAPTER    X 

HOW  SIR  TRISTRAM  WON  THE  DEGREE  AT  A  TOURNAMENT  IN 
IRELAND,  AND  THERE  MADE  PALAMIDES  TO  BEAR  NO  MORE 
HARNESS  IN  A  YEAR 

THEN  Sir  Tristram  asked  him  what  he  did  in  those 
countries.  Sir,  he  said,  I  came  hither  with  Sir  Gawaine  for 
to  be  made  knight,  and  if  it  please  you,  of  your  hands  that  I 
may  be  made  knight.  Await  upon  me  as  tomorn  secretly, 
and  in  the  field  I  shall  make  you  a  knight.  Then  had  La 
Beale  Isoud  great  suspicion  unto  Tramtrist,  that  he  was 
some  man  of  worship  proved,  and  therewith  she  comforted 


252 


Arthur 


herself,  and  cast  more  love  unto  him  than  she  had  done  to- 
fore.     And  so  on  the  mom  Sir  Palamides  made  him  ready 
to  come   into    the    field    as    he    did    the   first   day.     And 
there  he  smote  down  the  king  with  the  hundred  knights,  and 
the  King  of  Scots.     Then  had  La  Beale  Isoud  ordained  and 
well  arrayed  Sir  Tristram  in  white  horse  and  harness.     And 
right  so  she  let  put  him  out  at  a   privy   postern,    and  so 
he  came  into  the  field  as  it  had  been  a  bright  angel.     And 
anon  Sir  Palamides  espied  him,  and  therewith  he  feutred 
a  spear  unto  Sir  Tramtrist,  and  he  again  unto  him.     And 
there  Sir  Tristram  smote  down  Sir  Palamides  unto  the  earth. 
And  then  there  was  a  great  noise    of   people  :  some   said 
Sir  Palamides  had  a  fall,  some  said   the  knight   with   the 
black   shield    had    a    fall.     And    wit   you    well    La    Beale 
Isoud   was  passing  glad.     And  then    Sir  Gawaine  and  his 
fellows  nine  had  marvel  what  knight  it  might  be  that  had 
smitten  down  Sir  Palamides.     Then  would  there  none  joust 
with  Tramtrist,  but  all  that  there  were  forsook  him,  most  and 
least.     Then  Sir  Tristram  made  Hebes  a  knight,  and  caused 
him  to  put  himself  forth,  and  did  right  well  that  day.     So 
after  Sir  Hebes  held  him  with  Sir   Tristram.     And   when 
Sir  Palamides  had  received  this  fall,  wit  ye  well    that    he 
was  sore  ashamed,  and  as  privily  as  he  might  he  withdrew 
him  out  of  the  field.      All  that  espied  Sir    Tristram,  and 
lightly    he    rode    after    Sir    Palamides    and  overtook  him, 
and  bad  him  turn,  for  better  he  would  essay  him  or  ever  he 
departed.     Then    Sir   Palamides   turned    him,    and   either 
lashed  at  other  with  their  swords.     But  at  the  first  stroke  Sir 
Tristram  smote  down  Palamides,  and  gave  him  such  a  stroke 
upon  the  head  that  he  fell  to  the  earth.     So  then  Tristram 
bad  yield  him,  and  do  his  commandment,  or  else  he  would 
slay  him.     When  Sir  Palamides  beheld  his  countenance,  he 
dread  his  buffets  so,  that  he  granted  all  his  askings.     Well 
said,  said  Sir  Tristram,  this  shall  be  your  charge.     First,  upon 
pain  of  your  life  that  ye  forsake  my  lady  La  Beale  Isoud,  and 
in  no  manner  wise  that    ye    draw    not  to  her.     Also  this 
twelvemonth  and  a  day  that  ye  bear  none  armour  nor  none 
harness  of  war.     Now  promise  me  this,  or  here  shalt  thou 
die.     Alas,  said  Palamides,  for  ever  am  I  ashamed.     Then 
he   sware   as   Sir   Tristram   had   commanded    him.     Then 
for  despite  and  anger  Sir  Palamides  cut  off  his  harness,  and 
threw  them  away.     And  so  Sir  Tristram  turned  again  to  the 
castle  where  was  La  Beale  Isoud  ;  and  by  the  way  he  met 


King   Arthur  253 

with  a  damosel  that  asked  after  Sir  Launcelot,  that  won  the 
Dolorous  Guard  worshipfully ;  and  this  damosel  asked  Sir 
Tristram  what  he  was.  For  it  was  told  her  that  it  was  he 
that  smote  down  Sir  Palamides,  by  whom  the  ten  knights 
of  King  Arthur's  were  smitten  down.  Then  the  damosel 
prayed  Sir  Tristram  to  tell  her  what  he  was,  and  whether 
that  he  were  Sir  Launcelot  du  Lake,  for  she  deemed  that 
there  was  no  knight  in  the  world  might  do  such  deeds  of 
arms  but  if  it  were  Launcelot.  Fair  damosel,  said  Sir 
Tristram,  wit  ye  well  that  I  am  not  Sir  Launcelot,  for  I  was 
never  of  such  prowess,  but  in  God  is  all  that  he  may  make 
me  as  good  a  knight  as  the  good  knight  Sir  Launcelot. 
Now,  gentle  knight,  said  she,  put  up  thy  visor  ;  and  when  she 
beheld  his  visage  she  thought  she  saw  never  a  better  man's 
visage,  nor  a  better  faring  knight.  And  then  when  the 
damosel  knew  certainly  that  he  was  not  Sir  Launcelot,  then 
she  took  her  leave,  and  departed  from  him.  And  then  Sir 
Tristram  rode  privily  unto  the  postern,  where  kept  him  La 
Beale  Isoud,  and  there  she  made  him  good  cheer,  and 
thanked  God  of  his  good  speed.  So  anon,  within  a  while 
the  king  and  the  queen  understood  that  it  was  Tramtrist 
that  smote  down  Sir  Palamides  ;  then  was  he  much  made  of, 
more  than  he  was  before. 


CHAPTER   XI 

HOW  THE  QUEEN  ESPIED  THAT  SIR  TRISTRAM  HAD  SLAIN  HER 
BROTHER  SIR  MARHAUS  BY  HIS  SWORD,  AND  IN  WHAT 
JEOPARDY  HE  WAS 

THUS  was  Sir  Tramtrist  long  there  well  cherished  with 
the  king  and  the  queen,  and  namely  with  La  Beale  Isoud. 
So  upon  a  day  the  queen  and  La  Beale  Isoud  made  a  bayne 
for  Sir  Tramtrist.  And  when  he  was  in  his  bayne  the  queen 
and  Isoud,  her  daughter,  roamed  up  and  down  in  the 
chamber ;  and  therewhiles  Gouvernail  and  Hebes  attended 
upon  Tramtrist,  and  the  queen  beheld  his  sword  there  as  it 
lay  upon  his  bed.  And  then  by  unhap  the  queen  drew  out 
his  sword  and  beheld  it  a  long  while,  and  both  they  thought 
it  a  passing  fair  sword ;  but  within  a  foot  and  an  half  of  the 
point  there  was  a  great  piece  thereof  out  broken  of  the 
edge.  And  when  the  queen  espied  that  gap  hi  the  sword, 
she  remembered  her  of  a  piece  of  a  sword  that  was  found  in 


254  King   Arthur 

the  brain-pan  of  Sir  Marhaus,  the  good  knight  that  was  her 
brother.  Alas  then,  said  she  unto  her  daughter,  La  Beale 
Isoud,  this  is  the  same  traitor  knight  that  slew  my  brother, 
thine  erne.  When  Isoud  heard  her  say  so  she  was  passing 
sore  abashed,  for  passing  well  she  loved  Tramtrist,  and  full 
well  she  knew  the  cruelness  of  her  mother  the  queen.  Anon 
therewithal  the  queen  went  unto  her  own  chamber,  and 
sought  her  coffer,  and  there  she  took  out  the  piece  of  the 
sword  that  was  pulled  out  of  Sir  Marhaus'  head  after  that  he 
was  dead.  And  then  she  ran  with  that  piece  of  iron  to  the 
sword  that  lay  upon  the  bed.  And  when  she  put  that  piece 
of  steel  and  iron  unto  the  sword,  it  was  as  meet  as  it  might 
be  when  it  was  new  broken.  And  then  the  queen  gripped 
that  sword  in  her  hand  fiercely,  and  with  all  her  might  she 
ran  straight  upon  Tramtrist  where  he  sat  in  his  bayne,  and 
there  she  had  rived  him  through  had  not  Sir  Hebes  gotten 
her  in  his  arms,  and  pulled  the  sword  from  her,  and  else  she 
had  thrust  him  through.  Then  when  she  was  let  of  her  evil 
will  she  ran  to  the  King  Anguish,  her  husband,  and  said  on 
her  knees :  O  my  lord,  here  have  ye  in  your  house  that 
traitor  knight  that  slew  my  brother  and  your  servant,  that 
noble  knight,  Sir  Marhaus.  Who  is  that,  said  King  Anguish, 
and  where  is  he  ?  Sir,  she  said,  it  is  Sir  Tramtrist,  the 
same  knight  that  my  daughter  healed.  Alas,  said  the  king, 
therefore  am  I  right  heavy,  for  he  is  a  full  noble  knight  as 
ever  I  saw  in  field.  But  I  charge  you,  said  the  king  to  the 
queen,  that  ye  have  not  ado  with  that  knight,  but  let  me 
deal  with  him.  Then  the  king  went  into  the  chamber  unto 
Sir  Tramtrist,  and  then  was  he  gone  unto  his  chamber,  and 
the  king  found  him  all  ready  armed  to  mount  upon  his 
horse.  When  the  king  saw  him  all  ready  armed  to  go  unto 
horseback,  the  king  said:  Nay,  Tramtrist,  it  will  not  avail  to 
compare  thee  against  me ;  but  thus  much  I  shall  do  for  my 
worship  and  for  thy  love  ;  in  so  much  as  thou  art  within  my 
court  it  were  no  worship  for  me  to  slay  thee  :  therefore  upon 
this  condition  I  will  give  thee  leave  for  to  depart  from  this 
court  in  safety,  so  thou  wilt  tell  me  who  was  thy  father,  and 
what  is  thy  name,  and  if  thou  slew  Sir  Marhaus,  my 
brother. 


King   Arthur  255 


CHAPTER   XII 

HOW    SIR    TRISTRAM    DEPARTED    FROM    THE    KING    AND    LA    BEALE 
ISOUD   OUT   OF    IRELAND    FOR   TO   COME    INTO   CORNWALL 

SIR,  said  Tristram,  now  I  shall  tell  you  all  the  truth:  my 
father's  name  is  Sir  Meliodas,  King  of  Liones,  and  my 
mother  hight  Elizabeth,  that  was  sister  unto  King  Mark  of 
Cornwall ;  and  my  mother  died  of  me  in  the  forest,  and  by 
cause  thereof  she  commanded  or  she  died  that  when  I  were 
christened  they  should  christen  me  Tristram ;  and  by  cause 
I  would  not  be  known  in  this  country  I  turned  my  name  and 
let  me  call  Tramtrist ;  and  for  the  truage  of  Cornwall  I 
fought  for  my  erne's  sake,  and  for  the  right  of  Cornwall  that 
ye  had  posseded  many  years.  And  wit  ye  well,  said  Tristram 
unto  the  king,  I  did  the  battle  for  the  love  of  mine  uncle, 
King  Mark,  and  for  the  love  of  the  country  of  Cornwall, 
and  for  to  increase  mine  honour ;  for  that  same  day  that  I 
fought  with  Sir  Marhaus  I  was  made  knight,  and  never  or 
then  did  I  battle  with  no  knight,  and  from  me  he  went  alive, 
and  left  his  shield  and  his  sword  behind.  So  God  me  help, 
said  the  king,  I  may  not  say  but  ye  did  as  a  knight  should, 
and  it  was  your  part  to  do  for  your  quarrel,  and  to  increase 
your  worship  as  a  knight  should ;  howbeit  I  may  not  main- 
tain you  in  this  country  with  my  worship,  unless  that  I 
should  displease  my  barons,  and  my  wife  and  her  kin.  Sir, 
said  Tristram,  I  thank  you  of  your  good  lordship  that  I  have 
had  with  you  here,  and  the  great  goodness  my  lady,  your 
daughter,  hath  shewed  me,  and  therefore,  said  Sir  Tristram, 
it  may  so  happen  that  ye  shall  win  more  by  my  life  than  by 
my  death,  for  in  the  parts  of  England  it  may  happen  I  may 
do  you  service  at  some  season,  that  ye  shall  be  glad  that  ever 
ye  shewed  me  your  good  lordship.  With  more  I  promise 
you  as  I  am  true  knight,  that  in  all  places  I  shall  be  my 
lady,  your  daughter's,  servant  and  knight  in  right  and  in 
wrong,  and  I  shall  never  fail  her  to  do  as  much  as  a  knight 
may  do.  Also  I  beseech  your  good  grace  that  I  may  take 
my  leave  at  my  lady,  your  daughter,  and  at  all  the  barons 
and  knights.  I  will  well,  said  the  king.  Then  Sir  Tristram 
went  unto  La  Beale  Isoud  and  took  his  leave  of  her.  And 
then  he  told  her  all,  what  he  was,  and  how  he  had  changed 
his  name  by  cause  he  would  not  be  known,  and  how  a  lady 
told  him  that  he  should  never  be  whole  till  he  came  into  this 


256 


Arthur 


country  where  the  poison  was  made,  wherethrough  I  was 
near  my  death  had  not  your  ladyship  been.  O  gentle  knight, 
said  La  Beale  Isoud,  full  woe  am  I  of  thy  departing,  for  I 
saw  never  man  that  I  owed  so  good  will  to.  And  there- 
withal she  wept  heartily.  Madam,  said  Sir  Tristram,  ye 
shall  understand  that  my  name  is  Sir  Tristram  de  Liones, 
gotten  of  King  Meliodas,  and  born  of  his  queen.  And 
I  promise  you  faithfully  that  I  shall  be  all  the  days  of  my 
life  your  knight.  Gramercy,  said  La  Beale  Isoud,  and  I 
promise  you  thereagainst  that  I  shall  not  be  married  this 
seven  years  but  by  your  assent  ;  and  to  whom  that  ye  will  I 
shall  be  married  to  him  will  I  have,  and  he  will  have  me  if 
ye  will  consent.  And  then  Sir  Tristram  gave  her  a  ring,  and 
she  gave  him  another  ;  and  therewith  he  departed  from  her, 
leaving  her  making  great  dole  and  lamentation  ;  and  he 
straight  went  unto  the  court  among  all  the  barons,  and  there 
he  took  his  leave  at  most  and  least  and  openly  he  said 
among  them  all  :  Fair  lords,  now  it  is  so  that  I  must  depart  : 
if  there  be  any  man  here  that  I  have  offended  unto,  or  that 
any  man  be  with  me  grieved,  let  complain  him  here  afore 
me  or  that  ever  I  depart,  and  I  shall  amend  it  unto  my 
power.  And  if  there  be  any  that  will  proffer  me  wrong,  or 
say  of  me  wrong  or  shame  behind  my  back,  say  it  now  or 
never,  and  here  is  my  body  to  make  it  good,  body  against 
body.  And  all  they  stood  still,  there  was  not  one  that 
would  say  one  word  ;  yet  were  there  some  knights  that 
were  of  the  queen's  blood,  and  of  Sir  Marhaus'  blood, 
but  they  would  not  meddle  with  him. 


CHAPTER   XIII 

HOW    SIR    TRISTRAM     AND     KING    MARK    HURTED    EACH    OTHER    FOR 


THE    LOVE    OF   A    KNIGHT'S    WIFE 


So  Sir  Tristram  departed,  and  took  the  sea,  and  with 
good  wind  he  arrived  up  at  Tintagil  in  Cornwall ;  and  when 
King  Mark  was  whole  in  his  prosperity  there  came  tidings 
that  Sir  Tristram  was  arrived,  and  whole  of  his  wounds : 
thereof  was  King  Mark  passing  glad,  and  so  were  all  the 
barons  ;  and  when  he  saw  his  time  he  rode  unto  his  father, 
King  Meliodas,  and  there  he  had  all  the  cheer  that  the 
king  and  the  queen  could  make  him.  And  then  largely 
King  Meliodas  and  his  queen  departed  of  their  lands  and 


King   Arthur  23- 

goods   to    .Sir  'Tri.r.ram.     Then   by   the    license    of    Kir 
M.          r.   his  father,   he  returned  again  unto  the  court 

King  .Mark,  and  there  he  lived  m  great  joy  v.e.  until 

at  the  last  t  Befell  a  jealousy  and  an  unkindness  be:v. 

King    Mark    and  Sir   Tristram,    for    they 
lady.     And  she  was  an  earl's  wife  that  hight  Sir  S 
And  this  lady  loved  Sir  Tristram  passingly  well.     And 
loved  her  a^.in,  for  she  was  a  y^.       :  fair  lady,  and  that 
espied  Sir  Tristram    well      Then  King  Mark    unce: 
that  and  was  is,  for  King  Mark  loved  her  passim 

well.     So  it  fell  upon  a  day  this  lady  sent  a  d          unto 
Tristram,  and  bad  him,  as  he  loved  her,  that  he  would  be 
with  her  the  night  next  :          ing.     Also  she  charred  y    . 
that  ye  come  not  to  her  but  if  ye  ;il  armed,  for  I 

lover  was  called  a  rood  knight.  Sir  Tristram  c..  red  to 
the  dwarf:  Recommend  me  unto  my  lady,  and  tell  her  I 
will  not  fail  but  I  will  be  wil  e  term  that  she  ha::. 

set  me.  And  with  this  answer  the  dwarf  d-:  A.  Ana 
King  Mark  espied  that  the  dwarf  was  with  Sir  Tristram 
upon  message  from  Segwarides''  rife  :  tr.en  King  Mark  sent 
for  the  dwarf,  and  when  he  was  come  he  made  the  dwarf  by 
force  to  tell  him  all,  why  and  wherefore  that  he  came  on 
message  from  Sir  Tristram.  Now,  said  King  Mark,  go 
where  thou  wilt,  and  upon  pain  of  death  that  thou  - 
word  that  thou  spaker.  with  me  :  so  the  dwarf  departed 
from  the  king.  And  that  same  night  that  the  Steven  was 
set  betwixt  Segv/arides'  wife  and  Sir  Tri-tram,  King  Mark 
armed  him,  and  made  him  ready,  and  took  two  k: 
of  his  council  with  him ;  and  so  he  rode  afore  for  to 
abide  by  the  way,  for  to  wait  upon  Sir  Tristram.  And 
as  Sir  Tristram  came  riding  upon  his  way  v.v.h  his  spear 
in  his  hand,  King  Mark  came  hurtling  upon  him  with  his 
two  knights  suddenly.  And  all  three  smote  him  with  their 
spears,  and  King  Mark  hurt  Sir  Tristram  on  the  breast 
right  sore.  And  then  Sir  Tristram  feutred  his  .-.  and 
smote  his  uncle,  King  Mark,  so  sore,  that  he  rashed  him  to 
the  earth,  and  bruised  him  that  he  lay  still  in  a  swoon, 
and  long  it  was  or  ever  he  might  welde  himself.  And  then 
he  ran  to  the  one  knight,  and  efte  to  the  other,  and  smote 
them  to  the  cold  earth,  that  they  lay  still.  And  therewithal 
Sir  Tristram  rode  forth  sore  wounded  to  the  lady,  and 
found  her  abiding  him  at  a  postern. 


258  King   Arthur 


CHAPTER   XIV 

HOW   SIR    TRISTRAM    LAY  WITH    THE   LADY,  AND  HOW  HER  HUSBAND 

FOUGHT   WITH    SIR   TRISTRAM 

AND  there  she  welcomed  him  fair,  and  either  halsed 
other  in  arms,  and  so  she  let  put  up  his  horse  in  the  best 
wise,  and  then  she  unarmed  him.  And  so  they  supped 
lightly,  and  went  to  bed  with  great  joy  and  pleasaunce ; 
and  so  in  his  raging  he  took  no  keep  of  his  green  wound 
that  King  Mark  had  given  him.  And  so  Sir  Tristram  bled 
both  the  over  sheet  and  the  nether,  and  pillows,  and  head 
sheet.  And  within  a  while  there  came  one  afore,  that 
warned  her  that  her  lord  was  near  hand  within  a  bow 
draught.  So  she  made  Sir  Tristram  to  arise,  and  so  he 
armed  him,  and  took  his  horse,  and  so  departed.  By  then 
was  come  Segwarides,  her  lord,  and  when  he  found  her  bed 
troubled  and  broken,  and  went  near  and  beheld  it  by 
candle  light,  then  he  saw  that  there  had  lain  a  wounded 
knight.  Ah,  false  traitress,  then  he  said,  why  hast  thou 
betrayed  me?  And  therewithal  he  swang  out  a  sword, 
and  said :  But  if  thou  tell  me  who  hath  been  here,  here 
thou  shalt  die.  Ah,  my  lord,  mercy,  said  the  lady,  and 
held  up  her  hands,  saying  :  Slay  me  not,  and  I  shall  tell 
you  all  who  hath  been  here.  Tell  anon,  said  Segwarides, 
to  me  all  the  truth.  Anon  for  dread  she  said  :  Here  was 
Sir  Tristram  with  me,  and  by  the  way  as  he  came  to  me 
ward,  he  was  sore  wounded.  Ah,  false  traitress,  said 
Segwarides,  where  is  he  become?  Sir,  she  said,  he  is 
armed,  and  departed  on  horseback,  not  yet  hence  half  a 
mile.  Ye  say  well,  said  Segwarides.  Then  he  armed 
him  lightly,  and  gat  his  horse,  and  rode  after  Sir 
Tristram  that  rode  straightway  unto  Tintagil.  And  within 
a  while  he  overtook  Sir  Tristram,  and  then  he  bad  him, 
Turn,  false  traitor-knight.  And  Sir  Tristram  anon  turned 
him  against  him.  And  therewithal  Segwarides  smote  Sir 
Tristram  with  a  spear  that  it  all  to  brast;  and  then  he 
swang  out  his  sword  and  smote  fast  at  Sir  Tristram.  Sir 
knight,  said  Sir  Tristram,  I  counsel  you  that  ye  smite  no 
more,  howbeit  for  the  wrongs  that  I  have  done  you  I  will 
forbear  you  as  long  as  I  may.  Nay,  said  Segwarides,  that 
shall  not  be,  for  either  thou  shalt  die  or  I.  Then  Sir 
Tristram  drew  out  his  sword,  and  hurtled  his  horse  unto 


King   Arthur  259 

him  fiercely,  and  through  the  waist  of  the  body  he  smote 
Sir  Segwarides  that  he  fell  to  the  earth  in  a  swoon.  And 
so  Sir  Tristram  departed  and  left  him  there.  And  so  he 
rode  unto  Tintagil  and  took  his  lodging  secretly,  for  he 
would  not  be  known  that  he  was  hurt.  Also  Sir  Segwarides' 
men  rode  after  their  master,  whom  they  found  lying  in  the 
field  sore  wounded,  and  brought  him  home  on  his  shield, 
and  there  he  lay  long  or  that  he  were  whole,  but  at  the  last 
he  recovered.  Also  King  Mark  would  not  be  aknown  of  that 
Sir  Tristram  and  he  had  met  that  night.  And  as  for  Sir 
Tristram,  he  knew  not  that  King  Mark  had  met  with  him. 
And  so  the  king  askance  came  to  Sir  Tristram,  to  comfort 
him  as  he  lay  sick  in  his  bed.  But  as  long  as  King  Mark 
lived  he  loved  never  Sir  Tristram  after  that ;  though  there 
was  fair  speech,  love  was  there  none.  And  thus  it  passed 
many  weeks  and  days,  and  all  was  forgiven  and  forgotten ; 
for  Sir  Segwarides  durst  not  have  ado  with  Sir  Tristram, 
because  of  his  noble  prowess,  and  also  because  he  was 
nephew  unto  King  Mark ;  therefore  he  let  it  overslip :  for 
he  that  hath  a  privy  hurt  is  loth  to  have  a  shame  outward. 


CHAPTER   XV 

HOW  SIR  BLEOBERIS  DEMANDED  THE  FAIREST  LADY  IN  KING 
MARK'S  COURT,  WHOM  HE  TOOK  AWAY,  AND  HOW  HE  WAS 
FOUGHT  WITH 

THEN  it  befell  upon  a  day  that  the  good  knight  Bleoberis 
de  Ganis,  brother  to  Blamore  de  Ganis,  and  nigh  cousin 
unto  the  good  knight  Sir  Launcelot  du  Lake,  this  Bleoberis 
came  unto  the  court  of  King  Mark,  and  there  he  asked  of 
King  Mark  a  boon,  to  give  him  what  gift  that  he  would  ask 
in  his  court.  When  the  king  heard  him  ask  so,  he  mar- 
velled of  his  asking,  but  because  he  was  a  knight  of  the 
Round  Table,  and  of  a  great  renown,  King  Mark  granted 
him  his  whole  asking.  Then,  said  Sir  Bleoberis,  I  will  have 
the  fairest  lady  in  your  court  that  me  list  to  choose.  I  may 
not  say  nay,  said  King  Mark ;  now  choose  at  your  adventure. 
And  so  Sir  Bleoberis  did  choose  Sir  Segwarides'  wife,  and 
took  her  by  the  hand,  and  so  went  his  way  with  her ;  and  so 
he  took  his  horse  and  gart  set  her  behind  his  squire,  and 
rode  upon  his  way.  When  Sir  Segwarides  heard  tell  that  his 
lady  was  gone  with  a  knight  of  King  Arthur's  court,  then  he 


260  King"   Arthur 

armed  him  and  rode  after  that  knight  for  to  rescue  his  lady. 
So  when  Bleoberis  was  gone  with  this  lady,  King  Mark  and 
all  the  court  was  wroth  that  she  was  away.  Then  were 
there  certain  ladies  that  knew  that  there  were  great  love 
between  Sir  Tristram  and  her,  and  also  that  lady  loved  Sir 
Tristram  above  all  other  knights.  Then  there  was  one  lady 
that  rebuked  Sir  Tristram  in  the  horriblest  wise,  and  called 
him  coward  knight,  that  he  would  for  shame  of  his  knight- 
hood see  a  lady  so  shamefully  be  taken  away  from  his  uncle's 
court.  But  she  meant  that  either  of  them  had  loved  other 
with  entire  heart.  But  Sir  Tristram  answered  her  thus  :  Fair 
lady,  it  is  not  my  part  to  have  ado  in  such  matters  while  her 
lord  and  husband  is  present  here  ;  and  if  it  had  been  that 
her  lord  had  not  been  here  in  this  court,  then  for  the 
worship  of  this  court  perad venture  I  would  have  been  her 
champion,  and  if  so  be  Sir  Segwarides  speed  not  well,  it  may 
happen  that  I  will  speak  with  that  good  knight  or  ever  he 
pass  from  this  country.  Then  within  a  while  came  one  of 
Sir  Segwarides'  squires,  and  told  in  the  court  that  Sir 
Segwarides  was  beaten  sore  and  wounded  to  the  point  of 
death  ;  as  he  would  have  rescued  his  lady  Sir  Bleoberis  over- 
threw him  and  sore  hath  wounded  him.  Then  was  Kins; 

o 

Mark  heavy  thereof,  and  all  the  court.  When  Sir  Tristram 
heard  of  this  he  was  ashamed  and  sore  grieved ;  and  then 
was  he  soon  armed  and  on  horseback,  and  Gouvernail,  his 
servant,  bare  his  shield  and  spear.  And  so  as  Sir  Tristram 
rode  fast  he  met  with  Sir  Andret  his  cousin,  that  by  the 
commandment  of  King  Mark  was  sent  to  bring  forth,  an  ever 
it  lay  in  his  power,  two  knights  of  Arthur's  court,  that  rode 
by  the  country  to  seek  their  adventures.  When  Sir  Tristram 
saw  Sir  Andret  he  asked  him  what  tidings.  So  God  me  help, 
said  Sir  Andret,  there  was  never  worse  with  me,  for  here  by 
the  commandment  of  King  Mark  I  was  sent  to  fetch  two 
knights  of  King  Arthur's  court,  and  that  one  beat  me  and 
wounded  me,  and  set  nought  by  my  message.  Fair  cousin, 
said  Sir  Tristram,  ride  on  your  way,  and  if  I  may  meet  them 
it  may  happen  I  shall  revenge  you.  So  Sir  Andret  rode  into 
Cornwall,  and  Sir  Tristram  rode  after  the  two  knights,  the 
which  one  hight  Sagramore  Le  Desirous,  and  the  other 
night  Dodinas  Le  Savage. 


King   Arthur  261 


CHAPTER   XVI 

HOW    SIR    TRISTRAM    FOUGHT   WITH   TWO    KNIGHTS   OF  THE    ROUND 

TABLE 

THEN  within  a  while  Sir  Tristram  saw  them  afore  him, 
two  likely  knights.  Sir,  said  Gouvernail  unto  his  master, 
Sir,  I  would  counsel  you  not  to  have  ado  with  them,  for 
they  be  two  proved  knights  of  Arthur's  court.  As  for  that, 
said  Sir  Tristram,  have  ye  no  doubt  but  I  will  have  ado  with 
them  to  increase  my  worship,  for  it  is  many  day  sythen  I  did 
any  deeds  of  arms.  Do  as  ye  list,  said  Gouvernail.  And 
therewithal  anon  Sir  Tristram  asked  them  from  whence  they 
came,  and  whither  they  would,  and  what  they  did  in  those 
marches.  Sir  Sagramore  looked  upon  Sir  Tristram,  and  had 
scorn  of  his  words,  and  asked  him  again,  Fair  knight,  be  ye 
a  knight  of  Cornwall  ?  Whereby  ask  ye  it  ?  said  Sir  Tristram. 
For  it  is  seldom  seen,  said  Sir  Sagramore,  that  ye  Cornish 
knights  be  valiant  men  of  arms  ;  for  within  these  two  hours 
there  met  us  one  of  your  Cornish  knights,  and  great  words 
he  spake,  and  anon  with  little  might  he  was  laid  to  the  earth. 
And,  as  I  trow,  said  Sir  Sagramore,  ye  shall  have  the  same 
handsel  that  he  had.  Fair  lords,  said  Sir  Tristram,  it  may 
so  happen  that  I  may  better  withstand  than  he  did,  and 
whether  ye  will  or  no  I  will  have  ado  with  you,  because  he 
was  my  cousin  that  ye  beat.  And  therefore  here  do  your 
best,  and  wit  ye  well  but  if  ye  quit  you  the  better  here  upon 
this  ground,  one  knight  of  Cornwall  shall  beat  you  both. 
When  Sir  Dodinas  le  Savage  heard  him  say  so  he  gat  a 
spear  in  his  hand,  and  said,  Sir  knight,  keep  well  thyself. 
And  then  they  departed  and  came  together  as  it  had  been 
thunder.  And  Sir  Dodinas'  spear  brast  in  sunder,  but  Sir 
Tristram  smote  him  with  a  more  might,  that  he  smote  him 
clean  over  the  horse  croup,  that  nigh  he  had  broken  his 
neck.  When  Sir  Sagramore  saw  his  fellow  have  such  a  fall 
he  marvelled  what  knight  he  might  be.  And  he  dressed  his 
spear  with  all  his  might,  and  Sir  Tristram  against  him,  and 
they  came  together  as  the  thunder,  and  there  Sir  Tristram 
smote  Sir  Sagramore  a  strong  buffet,  that  he  bare  his  horse 
and  him  to  the  earth,  and  in  the  falling  he  brake  his  thigh. 
When  this  was  done  Sir  Tristram  asked  them  :  Fair  knights, 
will  ye  any  more  ?  Be  there  no  bigger  knights  in  the  court 
of  King  Arthur?  it  is  to  you  shame  to  say  of  us  knights  of 

i«  K 


262  King   Arthur 

Cornwall  dishonour,  for  it  may  happen  a  Cornish  knight  may 
match  you.  That  is  truth,  said  Sir  Sagramore,  that  have  we 
well  proved  ;  but  I  require  thee,  said  Sir  Sagramore,  tell  us 
your  right  name,  by  the  faith  and  troth  that  ye  owe  to  the 
high  order  of  knighthood.  Ye  charge  me  with  a  great  thing, 
said  Sir  Tristram,  and  sythen  ye  list  to  wit  it,  ye  shall  know 
and  understand  that  my  name  is  Sir  Tristram  de  Liones, 
King  Meliodas'  son,  and  nephew  unto  King  Mark.  Then 
were  they  two  knights  fain  that  they  had  met  with  Tristram, 
and  so  they  prayed  him  to  abide  in  their  fellowship.  Nay, 
said  Sir  Tristram,  for  I  must  have  ado  with  one  of  your 
fellows,  his  name  is  Sir  Bleoberis  de  Ganis.  God  speed  you 
well,  said  Sir  Sagramore  and  Dodinas.  Sir  Tristram 
departed  and  rode  onward  on  his  way.  And  then  was  he 
ware  before  him  in  a  valley  where  rode  Sir  Bleoberis  with  Sir 
Segwarides'  lady  that  rode  behind  his  squire  upon  a  palfrey. 


CHAPTER   XVII 

HOW  SIR  TRISTRAM  FOUGHT  WITH  SIR  BLEOBERIS  FOR  A  LADY, 
AND  HOW  THE  LADY  WAS  PUT  TO  CHOICE  TO  WHOM  SHE 
WOULD  GO 

THEN  Sir  Tristram  rode  more  than  a  pace  until  that  he 
had  overtaken  him.  Then  spake  Sir  Tristram :  Abide,  he 
said,  Knight  of  Arthur's  court,  bring  again  that  lady,  or 
deliver  her  to  me.  I  will  do  neither,  said  Bleoberis,  for  I 
dread  no  Cornish  knight  so  sore  that  me  list  to  deliver  her. 
Why,  said  Sir  Tristram,  may  not  a  Cornish  knight  do  as 
well  as  another  knight  ?  this  same  day  two  knights  of  your 
court  within  this  three  mile  met  with  me,  and  or  ever  we 
departed  they  found  a  Cornish  knight  good  enough  for 
them  both.  What  were  their  names  ?  said  Bleoberis.  They 
told  me,  said  Sir  Tristram,  that  the  one  of  them  hight  Sir 
Sagramore  le  Desirous,  and  the  other  hight  Dodinas  le 
Savage.  Ah,  said  Sir  Bleoberis,  have  ye  met  with  them  ? 
so  God  me  help,  they  were  two  good  knights  and  men  of 
great  worship,  and  if  ye  have  beat  them  both  ye  must  needs 
be  a  good  knight ;  but  if  it  so  be  ye  have  beat  them  both, 
yet  shall  ye  not  fear  me,  but  ye  shall  beat  me  or  ever  ye 
have  this  lady.  Then  defend  you,  said  Sir  Tristram.  So 
they  departed  and  came  together  like  thunder,  and  either 
bare  other  down,  horse  and  all,  to  the  earth.  Then  they 


King   Arthur  263 

avoided  their  horses,  and  lashed  together  eagerly  with 
swords,  and  mightily,  now  tracing  and  traversing  on  the 
right  hand  and  on  the  left  hand  more  than  two  hours.  And 
sometime  they  rushed  together  with  such  a  might  that  they 
lay  both  grovelling  on  the  ground.  Then  Sir  Bleoberis  de 
Ganis  start  aback,  and  said  thus  :  Now,  gentle  good  knight, 
a  while  hold  your  hands,  and  let  us  speak  together.  Say 
what  ye  will,  said  Tristram,  and  I  will  answer  you.  Sir, 
said  Bleoberis,  I  would  wit  of  whence  ye  be,  and  of  whom 
ye  be  come,  and  what  is  your  name?  So  God  me  help, 
said  Sir  Tristram,  I  fear  not  to  tell  you  my  name.  Wit  ye 
well  I  am  King  Meliodas'  son,  and  my  mother  is  King 
Mark's  sister,  and  my  name  is  Sir  Tristram  de  Liones,  and 
King  Mark  is  mine  uncle.  Truly,  said  Bleoberis,  I  am 
right  glad  of  you,  for  ye  are  he  that  slew  Marhaus  the 
knight,  hand  for  hand  in  an  island,  for  the  truage  of  Corn- 
wall;  also  ye  overcame  Sir  Palamides  the  good  knight,  at  a 
tournament  in  an  island,  where  ye  beat  Sir  Gawaine  and  his 
nine  fellows.  So  God  me  help,  said  Sir  Tristram,  wit  ye 
well  that  I  am  the  same  knight ;  now  I  have  told  you  my 
name,  tell  me  yours  with  good  will.  Wit  ye  well  that  my 
name  is  Sir  Bleoberis  de  Ganis,  and  my  brother  hight  Sir 
Blamore  de  Ganis,  that  is  called  a  good  knight,  and  we  be 
sister's  children  unto  my  lord  Sir  Launcelot  du  Lake,  that 
we  call  one  of  the  best  knights  of  the  world.  That  is  truth, 
said  Sir  Tristram,  Sir  Launcelot  is  called  peerless  of  courtesy 
and  of  knighthood ;  and  for  his  sake,  said  Sir  Tristram,  I 
will  not  with  my  good  will  fight  no  more  with  you,  for  the 
great  love  I  have  to  Sir  Launcelot  du  Lake.  In  good  faith, 
said  Bleoberis,  as  for  me  I  will  be  loth  to  fight  with  you  ; 
but  sythen  ye  follow  me  here  to  have  this  lady,  I  shall 
proffer  you  kindness,  courtesy,  and  gentleness  right  here 
upon  this  ground.  This  lady  shall  be  betwixt  us  both,  and 
to  whom  that  she  will  go,  let  him  have  her  in  peace.  I  will 
well,  said  Tristram,  for,  as  I  deem,  she  will  leave  you  and 
come  to  me.  Ye  shall  prove  it  anon,  said  Bleoberis 


CHAPTER  XVIII 

HOW    THE    LADY     FORSOOK    SIR    TRISTRAM     AND     ABODE     WITH    SIR 
BLEOBERIS,    AND    HOW   SHE    DESIRED   TO   GO   TO    HER    HUSBAND 

So  when  she  was  set  betwixt  them  both  she  said  these 
words   unto  Sir  Tristram :    Wit   ye  well,   Sir  Tristram   de 


264 


Arthur 


Liones,  that  but  late  thou  wast  the  man  in  the  world  that  I 
most  loved  and  trusted,  and  I  weened  thou  hadst  loved  me 
again  above  all  ladies ;  but  when  thou  sawest  this  knight 
lead  me  away  thou  madest  no  cheer  to  rescue  me,   but 
suffered  my  lord  Segwarides  ride  after  me ;  but  until  that 
time  I  weened  thou  haddest  loved  me,  and  therefore  now  I 
will   leave  thee,  and   never  love  thee  more.     And   there- 
withal she   went  unto  Sir  Bleoberis.     When  Sir  Tristram 
saw  her  do  so  he  was  wonderly  wroth  with  that  lady,  and 
ashamed  to  come   to   the   court.     Sir   Tristram,   said   Sir 
Bleoberis,  ye  are  in  the  default,  for  I  hear  by  this  lady's 
words  she  before  this  day  trusted   you  above  all  earthly 
knights,  and,  as  she  sayeth,  ye  have  deceived  her,  therefore 
wit  ye  well,  there  may  no  man  hold  that  will  away ;  and 
rather  than  ye  should    be   heartily  displeased  with  me   I 
would  ye  had  her,  an  she  would  abide  with  you.     Nay, 
said  the  lady,  so  God  me  help  I  will  never  go  with  him  ; 
for  he  that  I  loved  most  I  weened  he  had  loved  me.     And 
therefore,  Sir  Tristram,  she  said,  ride  as    thou  came,   for 
though  thou  haddest  overcome  this  knight,  as  ye  was  likely, 
with  thee  never  would  I  have  gone.     And  I  shall  pray  this 
knight  so  fair  of  his  knighthood,  that  or  ever  he  pass  this 
country  that  he  will  lead  me  to  the  abbey  where  my  lord 
Sir  Segwarides  lieth.     So  God  me  help,  said  Bleoberis,  I 
let  you  wit,  good  knight  Sir  Tristram,  because  King  Mark 
gave  me  the  choice  of  a  gift  in  this  court,  and  so  this  lady 
liked  me  best,  notwithstanding  she  is  wedded  and  hath  a 
lord  ;  and  I  have  fulfilled  my  quest :  she  shall  be  sent  unto 
her  husband  again,  and  in  especial  most  tor  your  sake,  Sir 
Tristram ;  and  if  she  would  go  with  you  I  would  ye  had 
her.     I  thank  you,  said  Sir  Tristram,  but  for  her  love  I 
shall  beware  what  manner  a  lady  I  shall  love  or  trust ;  for 
had  her  lord,  Sir  Segwarides,  been  away  from  the  court,  I 
should  have  been  the  first  that  should  have  followed  you  ; 
but  sythen  that  ye  have  refused  me,  as  I  am  true  knight  I 
shall  her  know  passingly  well  that  I  shall  love  or  trust.    And 
so  they  took  their  leave  one  from  the  other  and  departed. 
And  so  Sir  Tristram  rode  unto  Tintagil,  and  Sir  Bleoberis 
rode  unto  the  abbey  where  Sir  Segwarides  lay  sore  wounded, 
and  there  he  delivered  his  lady,  and  departed  as  a  noble 
knight ;    and  when   Sir    Segwarides   saw  his  lady,  he   was 
greatly  comforted ;  and  then  she  told  him  that  Sir  Tristram 
had  done  great  battle  with  Sir  Bleoberis,  and  caused  him  to 


King   Arthur  265 

bring  her  again.  These  words  pleased  Sir  Segwarides  right 
well,  that  Sir  Tristram  would  do  so  much ;  and  so  that  lady 
told  all  the  battle  unto  King  Mark  betwixt  Sir  Tristram  and 
Sir  Bleoberis. 


CHAPTER   XIX 

HOW  KING  MARK  SENT  SIR  TRISTRAM  FOR  LA  BEALE  ISOUD 
TOWARD  IRELAND,  AND  HOW  BY  FORTUNE  HE  ARRIVED  INTO 
ENGLAND 

THP;N  when  this  was  done  King  Mark  cast  always  in  his 
heart  how  he  might  destroy  Sir  Tristram.     And  then  he 
imagined  in  himself  to  send  Sir  Tristram  into  Ireland  for 
La  Beale   Isoud.     For   Sir   Tristram    had    so  praised   her 
beauty  and  her  goodness    that    King  Mark   said   that   he 
would  wed  her,  whereupon  he  prayed  Sir  Tristram  to  take 
his  way  into  Ireland  for  him  on  message.     And  all  this  was 
done  to  the  intent  to  slay  Sir  Tristram.     Notwithstanding, 
Sir  Tristram  would  not  refuse  the  message  for  no  danger 
nor  peril  that  might  fall,  for  the  pleasure  of  his  uncle,  but 
to  go  he  made  him  ready  in  the  most  goodliest  wise  that 
might  be  devised.    For  Sir  Tristram  took  with  him  the  most 
goodliest  knights  that  he  might  find  in  the  court ;  and  they 
were  arrayed,  after  the  guise  that  was  then  used,  in  the 
goodliest  manner.     So  Sir  Tristram  departed  and  took  the 
sea  with  all  his  fellowship.     And  anon,  as  he  was  in  the 
broad  sea  a  tempest  took  him  and  his  fellowship,  and  drove 
them    back  into    the  coast   of   England ;    and   there   they 
arrived  fast  by  Camelot,  and  full  fain  they  were  to  take  the 
land.     And  when  they  were  landed  Sir  Tristram  set  up  his 
pavilion  upon  the  land  of  Camelot,  and  there  he  let  hang 
his  shield  upon  the  pavilion.     And  that  same  day  came  two 
knights  of  King  Arthur's,  that  one  was  Sir  Ector  de  Maris, 
and  Sir  Morganor.     And  they  touched  the  shield,  and  bade 
him  come  out  of  the  pavilion  for  to  joust  an  he  would 
joust.     Ye  shall  be  answered,  said  Sir  Tristram,  an  ye  will 
tarry  a  little  while.     So  he  made  him  ready,  and  first  he 
smote  down  Sir  Ector  de  Maris,  and  after  he  smote  down 
Sir  Morganor,  all  with  one  spear,  and  sore  bruised  them. 
And  when  they  lay  upon  the  earth  they  asked  Sir  Tristram 
what  he  was,  and  of  what  country  he  was  knight.     Fair 
lords,  said  Sir  Tristram,  wit  ye  well  that  I  am  of  Cornwall. 
Alas,  said  Sir  Ector,   now  am   I   ashamed  that  ever  any 


266  King   Arthur 

Cornish  knight  should  overcome  me.  And  then  for  despite 
Sir  Ector  put  off  his  armour  from  him,  and  went  on  foot, 
and  would  not  ride. 


CHAPTER   XX 

HOW  KING    ANGUISH  OF    IRELAND  WAS   SUMMONED   TO    COME  TO 
KING  ARTHUR'S  COURT  FOR  TREASON 

THEN  it  fell  that  Sir  Bleoberis  and  Sir  Blamore  de  Gams, 
that  were  brethren,  they  had  summoned  the  King  Anguish 
of   Ireland  for   to  come  to  Arthur's  court  upon    pain  of 
forfeiture  of  King  Arthur's  good  grace.     And  if  the  King  of 
Ireland  came  not  in  at  the  day  assigned  and  set  the  king 
should  lose  his  hands.     So  by  it  happened  that  at  the  day 
assigned,  King  Arthur  neither  Sir  Launcelot  might  not  be 
there  for  to  give  the  judgment,  for  King  Arthur  was  with 
Sir  Launcelot  at  the  Castle  Joyous  Card.     And  so  King 
Arthur  assigned  King  Carados  and  the  King  of  Scots  to 
be  there  that  day  as  judges.     So  when  the  kings  were  at 
Camelot  King  Anguish  of  Ireland  was  come  to  know  his 
accusers.     Then   was   there   Sir   Blamore   de   Ganis,    and 
appeled  the  King  of  Ireland  of  treason,  that  he  had  slain  a 
cousin  of  his  in  his  court  in  Ireland  by  treason.     The  king 
was  sore  abashed  of  his  accusation,  for  why  ?  he  was  come 
at  the  summons  of  King  Arthur,  and  or  he  came  at  Camelot 
he  wist  not  wherefore  he  was  sent  after.     And  when  the 
king  heard  Sir  Blamore  say  his  will,   he  understood  well 
there  was  none  other  remedy  but  for  to  answer  him  knightly ; 
for  the  custom  was  such  in  those  days,  that  an  any  man 
were  appeled  of   any  treason  or  murder   he  should  fight 
body  for  body,  or  else  to  find  another  knight  for  him.     And 
all  manner  of  murderers  in  those  days  were  called  treason. 
So  when   King  Anguish  understood   his  accusing  he  was 
passing  heavy,  for  he  knew  Sir  Blamore  de  Ganis  that  he 
was  a  noble  knight,  and  of  noble  knights  come.     Then  the 
King  of  Ireland  was  simply  purveyed  of  his  answer ;  there- 
fore the  judges  gave  him  respite  by  the  third  day  to  give 
his  answer.     So  the  king  departed  unto  his  lodging.     The 
meanwhile  there  came  a   lady  by  Sir  Tristram's   pavilion 
making  great  dole.     What   aileth  you,   said   Sir  Tristram, 
that  ye  make  such  dole  ?     Ah,  fair  knight,  said  the  lady,  I 
am  ashamed  unless  that  some  good  knight  help  me ;  for  a 


King   Arthur  267 

great  lady  of  worship  sent  by  me  a  fair  child  and  a  rich, 
unto  Sir  Launcelot  du  Lake,  and  hereby  there  met  with  me 
a  knight,  and  threw  me  down  from  my  palfrey,  and  took 
away  the  child  from  me.  Well,  my  lady,  said  Sir  Tristram, 
and  for  my  lord  Sir  Launcelot's  sake  I  shall  get  you  that 
child  again,  or  else  I  shall  be  beaten  for  it.  And  so  Sir 
Tristram  took  his  horse,  and  asked  the  lady  which  way  the 
knight  rode:  and  then  she  told  him.  And  he  rode  after 
him,  and  within  a  while  he  overtook  that  knight.  And 
then  Sir  Tristram  bad  him  turn  and  give  again  the  child. 


CHAPTER   XXI 

HOW   SIR   TRISTRAM    RESCUED   A    CHILD    FROM    A    KNIGHT,  AND   HOW 
GOUVERNAIL  TOLD    HIM   OF   KING   ANGUISH 

THE  knight  turned  his  horse  and   made   him  ready  to 
nsfht.     And  then  Sir  Tristram  smote  him  with  a  sword  such 

^j 

a  buffet  that  he  tumbled  to  the  earth.  And  then  he  yielded 
him  unto  Sir  Tristram.  Then  come  thy  way,  said  Sir 
Tristram,  and  bring  the  child  to  the  lady  again.  So  he 
took  his  horse  meekly  and  rode  with  Sir  Tristram ;  and 
then  by  the  way  Sir  Tristram  asked  him  his  name.  Then 
he  said,  My  name  is  Breuse  Saunce  Pite.  So  when  he  had 
delivered  that  child  to  the  lady,  he  said :  Sir,  as  in  this  the 
child  is  well  remedied.  Then  Sir  Tristram  let  him  go  again 
that  sore  repented  him  after,  for  he  was  a  great  foe  unto 
many  good  knights  of  King  Arthur's  court.  Then  when 
Sir  Tristram  was  in  his  pavilion  Gouvernail,  his  man,  came 
and  told  him  how  that  King  Anguish  of  Ireland  was  come 
thither,  and  he  was  put  in  great  distress ;  and  there  Gouver- 
nail told  Sir  Tristram  how  King  Anguish  was  summoned 
and  appeled  of  murder.  So  God  me  help,  said  Sir  Tristram, 
these  be  the  best  tidings  that  ever  came  to  me  these  seven 
years,  for  now  shall  the  king  of  Ireland  have  need  of  my 
help ;  for  I  daresay  there  is  no  knight  in  this  country  that 
is  not  of  Arthur's  court  dare  do  battle  with  Sir  Blamore 
de  Ganis ;  and  for  to  win  the  love  of  the  King  of  Ireland  I 
will  take  the  battle  upon  me;  and  therefore  Gouvernail 
bring  me,  I  charge  thee,  to  the  king.  Then  Gouvernail 
went  unto  King  Anguish  of  Ireland,  and  saluted  him  fair. 
The  king  welcomed  him  and  asked  him  what  he  would.  Sir, 
said  Gouvernail,  here  is  a  knight  near  hand  that  desireth 


268  King   Arthur 

to  speak  with  you :  he  bad  me  say  he  would  do  you 
service.  What  knight  is  he  ?  said  the  king.  Sir,  said  he,  it 
is  Sir  Tristram  de  Liones,  that  for  your  good  grace  that  ye 
showed  him  in  your  lands  will  reward  you  in  this  country. 
Come  on,  fellow,  said  the  king,  with  me  anon  and  show  me 
unto  Sir  Tristram.  So  the  king  took  a  little  hackney  and 
but  few  fellowship  with  him,  until  he  came  unto  Sir  Tris- 
tram's pavilion.  And  when  Sir  Tristram  saw  the  king  he 
ran  unto  him  and  would  have  holden  his  stirrup.  But 
the  king  leapt  from  his  horse  lightly,  and  either  halsed 
other  in  their  arms.  My  gracious  lord,  said  Sir  Tristram, 
gramercy  of  your  great  goodnesses  showed  unto  me  in  your 
marches  and  lands  :  and  at  that  time  I  promised  you  to  do 
you  service  an  ever  it  lay  in  my  power.  And,  gentle  knight, 
said  the  king  unto  Sir  Tristram,  now  have  I  great  need 
of  you,  never  had  I  so  great  need  of  no  knight's  help. 
How  so,  my  good  lord?  said  Sir  Tristram.  I  shall  tell 
you,  said  the  king :  I  am  summoned  and  appeled  from  my 
country  for  the  death  of  a  knight  that  was  kin  unto  the 
good  knight  Sir  Launcelot ;  wherefore  Sir  Blamore  de 
Ganis,  brother  to  Sir  Bleoberis  hath  appeled  me  to  fight 
with  him,  outher  to  find  a  knight  in  my  stead.  And  well  I 
wot,  said  the  king,  these  that  are  come  of  King  Ban's 
blood,  as  Sir  Launcelot  and  these  other,  are  passing  good 
knights,  and  hard  men  for  to  win  in  battle  as  any  that  I 
know  now  living.  Sir,  said  Sir  Tristram,  for  the  good  lord- 
ship ye  showed  me  in  Ireland,  and  for  my  lady  your 
daughter's  sake,  La  Beale  Isoud,  I  will  take  the  battle  for 
you  upon  this  condition  that  ye  shall  grant  me  two  things  : 
that  one  is  that  ye  shall  swear  to  me  that  ye  are  in  the 
right,  that  ye  were  never  consenting  to  the  knight's  death ; 
Sir,  then  said  Sir  Tristram,  when  that  I  have  done  this 
battle,  if  God  give  rne  grace  that  I  speed,  that  ye  shall  give 
me  a  reward,  what  thing  reasonable  that  I  will  ask  of  you. 
So  God  me  help,  said  the  king,  ye  shall  have  whatsomever 
ye  will  ask.  It  is  well  said,  said  Sir  Tristram. 


King  Arthur  269 


CHAPTER   XXII 

HOW   SIR   TRISTRAM  FOUGHT   FOR    SIR    ANGUISH    AND    OVERCAME  HIS 
ADVERSARY,  AND  HOW  HIS  ADVERSARY  WOULD  NEVER  YIELD  HIM 

Now  make  your  answer  that  your  champion  is  ready,  for 
I  shall  die  in  your  quarrel  rather  than  to  be  recreant.     I 
have  no  doubt  of  you,  said  the  king,  that,  an  ye  should  have 
ado  with  Sir  Launcelot  du  Lake.     Sir,  said  Sir  Tristram,  as 
for  Sir  Launcelot,  he  is  called   the  noblest   knight  of  the 
world,  and  wit  ye  well   that  the  knights  of  his  blood  are 
noble  men,  and  dread  shame  ;  and  as  for  Bleoberis,  brother 
unto  Sir  Blamore,  I  have  done  battle  with  him,  therefore 
upon  my  head  it  is  no  shame  to  call  him  a  good  knight.     It 
is  noised,  said  the  king,  that  Blamore  is  the  hardier  knight. 
Sir,  as  for  that  let  him  be,  he  shall  never  be  refused,  an  as 
he  were  the  best  knight  that  now  beareth  shield  or  spear. 
So   King  Anguish  departed    unto   King  Carados  and    the 
kings  that  were  that  time  as  judges,  and  told  them  that  he 
had  found  his  champion  ready.     Then  by  the  command- 
ment of  the  kings  Sir  Blamore  de  Ganis  and  Sir  Tristram 
were  sent  for  to  hear  the  charge.     And  when   they  were 
come  before  the  judges  there  were  many  kings  and  knights 
beheld  Sir  Tristram,   and  much  speech  they  had  of  him 
because  that  he  slew  Sir   Marhaus,  the  good  knight,  and 
because  he  forjousted  Sir  Palamides  the  good  knight.     So 
when  they  had  taken  their  charge  they  withdrew  them  to 
make  them  ready  to  do  battle.     Then   said  Sir  Bleoberis 
unto  his  brother,  Sir  Blamore  :  Fair  dear  brother,  remember 
of  what  kin  we  be  come  of,  and  what  a  man  is  Sir  Launcelot 
du  Lake,  neither  farther  nor  nearer  but  brother's  children, 
and  there  was  never  none  of  our  kin  that  ever  was  shamed 
in   battle ;    and   rather   suffer   death,   brother,  than    to  be 
shamed.     Brother,  said  Blamore,  have  ye  no  doubt  of  me, 
for  I  shall  never  shame  none  of  my  blood ;  howbeit  I  am 
sure  that  yonder  knight  is  called  a  passing  good  knight  as 
of  his  time  one  of  the  world,  yet  shall  I  never  yield  me,  nor 
say  the  loth  word  :  well  may  he  happen  to  smite  me  down 
with  his  great  might  of  chivalry,  but  rather  shall  he  slay  me 
than  I  shall  yield  me  as  recreant.     God  speed  you  well,  said 
Sir  Bleoberis,  for  ye  shall  find  him  the  mightiest  knight  that 
ever  ye  had  ado  withal,  for  I  know  him,  for  I  have  had  ado 
with  him.     God  me  speed,  said  Sir  Blamore  de  Ganis ;  and 

145  *K 


270  King   Arthur 

therewith  he  took  his  horse  at  the  one  end  of  the  lists,  and 
Sir  Tristram  at  the  other  end  of  the  lists,  and  so  they  feutred 
their  spears  and  came  together  as  it  had  been  thunder ;  and 
there  Sir  Tristram  through  great  might  smote  down  Sir 
Blamore  and  his  horse  to  the  earth.  Then  anon  Sir  Blamore 
avoided  his  horse  and  pulled  out  his  sword  and  threw  his 
shield  afore  him,  and  bad  Sir  Tristram  alight :  For  though 
an  horse  hath  failed  me,  I  trust  to  God  the  earth  will  not 
fail  me.  And  then  Sir  Tristram  alit,  and  dressed  him  unto 
battle ;  and  there  they  lashed  together  strongly  as  racing 
and  tracing,  foyning  and  dashing,  many  sad  strokes,  that 
the  kings  and  knights  had  great  wonder  that  they  might 
stand ;  for  ever  they  fought  like  wood  men,  so  that  there 
was  never  knights  seen  fight  more  fiercely  than  they  did ; 
for  Sir  Blamore  was  so  hasty  that  he  would  have  no  rest, 
that  all  men  wondered  that  they  had  breath  to  stand  on 
their  feet ;  and  all  the  place  was  bloody  that  they  fought  in. 
And  at  the  last,  Sir  Tristram  smote  Sir  Blamore  such  a 
buffet  upon  the  helm  that  he  there  fell  down  upon  his  side, 
and  Sir  Tristram  stood  and  beheld  him. 


CHAPTER   XXIII 

HOW   SIR   BLAMORE   DESIRED   TRISTRAM   TO  SLAY  HIM,  AND   HOW  SIR 
TRISTRAM    SPARED   HIM,    AND    HOW   THEY   TOOK    APPOINTMENT 

THEN  when  Sir  Blamore  might  speak,  he  said  thus :  Sir 
Tristram  de  Liones,  I  require  thee,  as  thou  art  a  noble 
knight,  and  the  best  knight  that  ever  I  found,  that  thou  wilt 
slay  me  out,  for  I  would  not  live  to  be  made  lord  of  all  the 
earth,  for  I  have  lever  die  with  worship  than  live  with  shame ; 
and  needs,  Sir  Tristram,  thou  must  slay  me,  or  else  thou 
shalt  never  win  the  field,  for  I  will  never  say  the  loth  word. 
And  therefore  if  thou  dare  slay  me,  slay  me,  I  require  thee. 
When  Sir  Tristram  heard  him  say  so  knightly,  he  wist  not 
what  to  do  with  him  ;  he  remembering  him  of  both  parties, 
of  what  blood  he  was  come,  and  for  Sir  Launcelot's  sake  he 
would  be  loth  to  slay  him  ;  and  in  the  other  party  in  no 
wise  he  might  not  choose,  but  that  he  must  make  him  to 
say  the  loth  word,  or  else  to  slay  him.  Then  Sir  Tristram 
start  aback,  and  went  to  the  kings  that  were  judges,  and 
there  he  kneeled  down  tofore  them,  and  besought  them  for 
their  worships,  and  for  King  Arthur's  and  Sir  Launcelot's 


King   Arthur  271 

sake,  that  they  would  take  this  matter  in  their  hands.  For, 
my  fair  lords,  said  Sir  Tristram,  it  were  shame  and  pity  that 
this  noble  knight  that  yonder  lieth  should  be  slain  ;  for  ye 
hear  well,  shamed  will  he  not  be,  and  I  pray  to  God  that  he 
never  be  slain  nor  shamed  for  me.  And  as  for  the  king  for 
whom  I  fight  for,  I  shall  require  him,  as  I  am  his  true 
champion  and  true  knight  in  this  field,  that  he  will  have 
mercy  upon  this  good  knight.  So  God  me  help,  said  King 
Anguish,  I  will  for  your  sake,  Sir  Tristram,  be  ruled  as  ye 
will  have  me,  for  I  know  you  for  my  true  knight ;  and 
therefore  I  will  heartily  pray  the  kings  that  be  here  as 
judges  to  take  it  in  their  hands.  And  the  kings  that  were 
judges  called  Sir  Bleoberis  to  them,  and  asked  him  his 
advice.  My  lords,  said  Bleoberis,  though  my  brother  be 
beaten,  and  hath  the  worse  through  might  of  arms,  I  dare 
say,  though  Sir  Tristram  hath  beaten  his  body  he  hath  not 
beaten  his  heart,  and  I  thank  God  he  is  not  shamed  this 
day ;  and  rather  than  he  should  be  shamed  I  require  you, 
said  Bleoberis,  let  Sir  Tristram  slay  him  out.  It  shall  not 
be  so,  said  the  kings,  for  his  part  adversary,  both  the  king 
and  the  champion,  have  pity  of  Sir  Blamore's  knighthood. 
My  lords,  said  Bleoberis,  I  will  right  well  as  ye  will.  Then 
the  kings  called  the  king  of  Ireland,  and  found  him  goodly 
and  treatable.  And  then,  by  all  their  advices,  Sir  Tristram 
and  Sir  Bleoberis  took  up  Sir  Blamore,  and  the  two  brethren 
were  accorded  with  King  Anguish,  and  kissed  and  made 
friends  for  ever.  And  then  Sir  Blamore  and  Sir  Tristram 
kissed  together,  and  there  they  made  their  oaths  that  they 
would  never  none  of  them  two  brethren  fight  with  Sir 
Tristram,  and  Sir  Tristram  made  the  same  oath.  And  for 
that  gentle  battle  all  the  blood  of  Sir  Launcelot  loved  Sir 
Tristram  for  ever.  Then  King  Anguish  and  Sir  Tristram 
took  their  leave,  and  sailed  into  Ireland  with  great  noblesse 
and  joy.  So  when  they  were  in  Ireland  the  king  let  make 
it  known  throughout  all  the  land  how  and  in  what  manner 
Sir  Tristram  had  done  for  him.  Then  the  queen  and  all 
that  there  were  made  the  most  of  him  that  they  might. 
But  the  joy  that  La  Beale  Isoud  made  of  Sir  Tristram  there 
might  no  tongue  tell,  for  of  all  men  earthly  she  loved  him 
most. 


272 


Kine   Arthur 


CHAPTER   XXIV 


HOW    SIR   TRISTRAM    DEMANDED   LA  BEALE    ISOUD    FOR    KING    MARK, 
AND    HOW   SIR   TRISTRAM    AND    ISOUD    DRANK   THE   LOVE    DRINK 

THEN  upon  a  day  King  Anguish  asked  Sir  Tristram  why 
he  asked  not  his  boon,  for  whatsomever  he  had  promised 
him  he  should  have  it  without  fail.  Sir,  said  Sir  Tristram, 
now  is  it  time  ;  this  is  all  that  I  will  desire,  that  ye  will 
give  me  La  Beale  Isoud,  your  daughter,  not  for  myself,  but 
for  mine  uncle,  King  Mark,  that  shall  have  her  to  wife,  for 
so  have  I  promised  him.  Alas,  said  the  king,  I  had  liefer 
than  all  the  land  that  I  have  ye  would  wed  her  yourself. 
Sir,  an  I  did  then  I  were  shamed  for  ever  in  this  world, 
and  false  of  my  promise.  Therefore,  said  Sir  Tristram,  I 
pray  you  hold  your  promise  that  ye  promised  me  ;  for  this 
is  my  desire,  that  ye  will  give  me  La  Beale  Isoud  to  go 
with  me  into  Cornwall  for  to  be  wedded  to  King  Mark, 
mine  uncle.  As  for  that,  said  King  Anguish,  ye  shall  have 
her  with  you  to  do  with  her  what  it  please  you  ;  that  is  for 
to  say  if  that  ye  list  to  wed  her  yourself,  that  is  me  liefest, 
and  if  ye  will  give  her  unto  King  Mark,  your  uncle,  that 
is  in  your  choice.  So  to  make  short  conclusion,  La  Beale 
Isoud  was  made  ready  to  go  with  Sir  Tristram,  and  Dame 
Bragwaine  went  with  her  for  her  chief  gentlewoman,  with 
many  other.  Then  the  queen,  Isoud's  mother,  gave  to  her 
and  Dame  Bragwaine,  her  daughter's  gentlewoman,  and 
unto  Gouvernail,  a  drink,  and  charged  them  that  what  day 
King  Mark  should  wed,  that  same  day  they  should  give 
him  that  drink,  so  that  King  Mark  should  drink  to  La 
Beal  Isoud,  and  then,  said  the  queen,  I  undertake  either 
shall  love  other  the  days  of  their  life.  So  this  drink  was 
given  unto  Dame  Bragwaine,  and  unto  Gouvernail.  And 
then  anon  Sir  Tristram  took  the  sea,  and  La  Beale  Isoud  ; 
and  when  they  were  in  their  cabin,  it  happed  so  that 
they  were  thirsty,  and  they  saw  a  little  flacket  of  gold  stand 
by  them,  and  it  seemed  by  the  colour  and  the  taste  that  it 
was  noble  wine.  Then  Sir  Tristram  took  the  flacket  in  his 
hand,  and  said,  Madam  I  so  ad,  here  is  the  best  drink  that 
ever  ye  drank,  that  Dame  Bragwaine,  your  maiden,  and 
Gouvernail,  my  servant,  have  kept  for  themself.  Then  they 
laughed  and  made  good  cheer,  and  either  drank  to  other 
freely,  and  they  thought  never  drink  that  ever  they  drank 


King   Arthur  273 

to  other  was  so  sweet  nor  so  good.  But  by  that  their  drink 
was  in  their  bodies,  they  loved  either  other  so  well  that 
never  their  love  departed  for  weal  neither  for  woe.  And 
thus  it  happed  the  love  first  betwixt  Sir  Tristram  and  La 
Beale  Isoud,  the  which  love  never  departed  the  days  of 
their  life.  So  then  they  sailed  till  by  fortune  they  came 
nigh  a  castle  that  hight  Pluere,  and  thereby  arrived  for  to 
repose  them,  weening  to  them  to  have  had  good  harbourage. 
But  anon  as  Sir  Tristram  was  within  the  castle  they  were 
taken  prisoners ';  for  the  custom  of  the  castle  was  such,  who 
that  rode  by  that  castle  and  brought  any  lady,  he  must 
needs  fight  with  the  lord,  that  hight  Breunor.  And  if  it 
were  so  that  Breunor  won  the  field,  then  should  the  knight 
stranger  and  his  lady  be  put  to  death,  what  that  ever  they 
were ;  and  if  it  were  so  that  the  strange  knight  won  the 
field  of  Sir  Breunor,  then  should  he  die  and  his  lady  both. 
This  custom  was  used  many  winters,  for  it  was  called  the 
Castle  Pluere,  that  is  to  say  the  Weeping  Castle. 


CHAPTER   XXV 

HOW  SIR  TRISTRAM  AND  ISOUD  WERE  IN  PRISON,  AND  HOW  HE 
FOUGHT  FOR  HER  BEAUTY,  AND  SMOTE  OFF  ANOTHER  LADY'S 
HEAD 

THUS  as  Sir  Tristram  and  La  Beale  Isoud  were  in  prison, 
it  happed  a  knight  and  a  lady  came  unto  them  where  they 
were,  to  cheer  them.  I  have  marvel,  said  Tristram  unto 
the  knight  and  the  lady,  what  is  the  cause  the  lord  of  this 
castle  holdeth  us  in  prison  :  it  was  never  the  custom  of  no 
place  of  worship  that  ever  I  came  in,  when  a  knight  and  a 
lady  asked  harbour,  and  they  to  receive  them,  and  after  to 
destroy  them  that  be  his  guests.  Sir,  said  the  knight,  this 
is  the  old  custom  of  this  castle,  that  when  a  knight  cometh 
here  he  must  needs  fight  with  our  lord,  and  he  that  is  the 
weaker  must  lose  his  head.  And  when  that  is  done,  if  his 
lady  that  he  bringeth  be  fouler  than  our  lord's  wife,  she 
must  lose  her  head  :  and  if  she  be  fairer  proved  than  is 
our  lady,  then  shall  the  lady  of  this  castle  lose  her  head.  So 
God  me  help,  said  Sir  Tristram,  this  is  a  foul  custom  and 
a  shameful.  But  one  advantage  have  I,  said  Sir  Tristram, 
I  have  a  lady  is  fair  enough,  fairer  saw  I  never  in  all  my 
life  days,  and  I  doubt  not  for  lack  of  beauty  she  shall  not 


274  King   Arthur 

lose  her  head ;  and  rather  than  I  should  lose  my  head  I 
will  fight  for  it  on  a  fair  field.  Wherefore,  sir  knight,  I  pray 
you  tell  your  lord  that  I  will  be  ready  as  tomorn  with  my 
lady,  and  myself  to  do  battle,  if  it  be  so  I  may  have  my 
horse  and  mine  armour.  Sir,  said  that  knight,  I  undertake 
that  your  desire  shall  be  sped  right  well.  And  then  he 
said  :  Take  your  rest,  and  look  that  ye  be  up  by  times  and 
make  you  ready  and  your  lady,  for  ye  shall  want  no  thing 
that  you  behoveth.  And  therewith  he  departed,  and  on  the 
morn  betimes  that  same  knight  came  to  Sir  Tristram,  and 
fetched  him  out  and  his  lady,  and  brought  him  horse  and 
armour  that  was  his  own,  and  bade  him  make  him  ready 
to  the  field,  for  all  the  estates  and  commons  of  that  lordship 
were  there  ready  to  behold  that  battle  and  judgment.  Then 
came  Sir  Breunor,  the  lord  of  that  castle,  with  his  lady  in 
his  hand,  muffled,  and  asked  Sir  Tristram  where  was  his  lady : 
For  an  thy  lady  be  fairer  than  mine,  with  thy  sword  smite 
off  my  lady's  head ;  and  if  my  lady  be  fairer  than  thine, 
with  my  sword  I  must  strike  off  her  head.  And  if  I  may 
win  thee,  yet  shall  thy  lady  be  mine,  and  thou  shalt  lose 
thy  head.  Sir,  said  Tristram,  this  is  a  foul  custom  and 
horrible ;  and  rather  than  my  lady  should  lose  her  head, 
yet  had  I  lever  lose  my  head.  Nay,  nay,  said  Sir  Breunor, 
the  ladies  shall  be  first  showed  together,  and  the  one  shall 
have  her  judgment.  Nay,  I  will  not  so,  said  Sir  Tristram, 
for  here  is  none  that  will  give  righteous  judgment.  But  I 
doubt  not,  said  Sir  Tristram,  my  lady  is  fairer  than  thine, 
and  that  will  I  prove  and  make  good  with  my  hand.  And 
whosomever  he  be  that  will  say  the  contrary  I  will  prove  it 
on  his  head.  And  therewith  Sir  Tristram  showed  La  Beale 
Isoud,  and  turned  her  thrice  about  with  his  naked  sword  in 
his  hand.  And  when  Sir  Breunor  saw  that,  he  did  the 
same  wise  turn  his  lady.  But  when  Sir  Breunor  beheld 
La  Beale  Isoud,  him  thought  he  saw  never  a  fairer  lady, 
and  then  he  dread  his  lady's  head  should  be  off.  And 
so  all  the  people  that  were  there  present  gave  judgment 
that  La  Beale  Isoud  was  the  fairer  lady  and  the  better 
made.  How  now,  said  Sir  Tristram,  meseemeth  it  were 
pity  that  my  lady  should  lose  her  head,  but  because  thou 
and  she  of  long  time  have  used  this  wicked  custom,  and 
by  you  both  have  many  good  knights  and  ladies  been 
destroyed,  for  that  cause  it  were  no  loss  to  destroy  you 
both.  So  God  me  help,  said  Sir  Breunor,  for  to  say  the 


King   Arthur  275 

sooth,  thy  lady  is  fairer  than  mine,  and  that  me  sore 
repenteth.  And  so  I  hear  the  people  privily  say,  for  of 
all  women  I  saw  none  so  fair ;  and  therefore,  an  thou  wilt 
slay  my  lady,  I  doubt  not  but  I  shall  slay  thee  and  have 
thy  lady.  Thou  shalt  win  her,  said  Sir  Tristram,  as  dear 
as  ever  knight  won  lady.  And  by  cause  of  thine  own 
judgment,  as  thou  wouldst  have  done  to  my  lady  if  that 
she  had  been  fouler,  and  because  of  the  evil  custom,  give 
me  thy  lady,  said  Sir  Tristram.  And  therewithal  Sir 
Tristram  strode  unto  him  and  took  his  lady  from  him, 
and  with  an  awk  stroke  he  smote  off  her  head  clene.  Well, 
knight,  said  Sir  Breunor,  now  hast  thou  done  me  a  despite. 


CHAPTER   XXVI 

HOW    SIR   TRISTRAM    FOUGHT   WITH    SIR   BREUNOR,    AND    AT   THE 
LAST   SMOTE   OFF    HIS    HEAD 

Now  take  thine  horse :  sythen  I  am  ladyless  I  will  win 
thy  lady  an  I  may.  Then  they  took  their  horses  and  came 
together  as  it  had  been  the  thunder  ;  and  Sir  Tristram  smote 
Sir  Breunor  clean  from  his  horse,  and  lightly  he  rose  up  ; 
and  as  Sir  Tristram  came  again  by  him  he  thrust  his  horse 
throughout  both  the  shoulders,  that  his  horse  hurled  here 
and  there  and  fell  dead  to  the  ground.  And  ever  Sir 
Breunor  ran  after  to  have  slain  Sir  Tristram,  but  Sir  Tris- 
tram was  light  and  nimble,  and  voided  his  horse  lightly. 
And  or  ever  Sir  Tristram  might  dress  his  shield  and  his 
sword  the  other  gave  him  three  or  four  sad  strokes.  Then 
they  rushed  together  like  two  boars,  tracing  and  traversing 
mightily  and  wisely  as  two  noble  knights.  For  this  Sir 
Breunor  was  a  proved  knight,  and  had  been  or  then  the 
death  of  many  good  knights,  that  it  was  pity  that  he  had  so 
long  endured.  Thus  they  fought,  hurling  here  and  there 
nigh  two  hours,  and  either  were  wounded  sore.  Then  at 
the  last  Sir  Breunor  rushed  upon  Sir  Tristram  and  took  him 
in  his  arms,  for  he  trusted  much  in  his  strength.  Then  was 
Sir  Tristram  called  the  strongest  and  the  highest  knight  of 
the  world ;  for  he  was  called  bigger  than  Sir  Launcelot,  but 
Sir  Launcelot  was  better  breathed.  So  anon  Sir  Tristram 
thrust  Sir  Breunor  down  grovelling,  and  then  he  unlaced 
his  helm  and  struck  off  his  head.  And  then  all  they  that 
longed  to  the  catle  came  to  him5  and  did  him  homage  and 


276  King   Arthur 

fealty,  praying  him  that  he  would  abide  there  still  a  little 
while  to  fordo  that  foul  custom.  Sir  Tristram  granted 
thereto.  The  meanwhile  one  of  the  knights  of  the  castle 
rode  unto  Sir  Galahad,  the  haut  prince,  the  which  was  Sir 
Breunor's  son,  which  was  a  noble  knight,  and  told  him  what 
misadventure  his  father  had  and  his  mother. 


CHAPTER  XXVII 

HOW  SIR  GALAHAD  FOUGHT  WITH  SIR  TRISTRAM,  AND  HOW  SIR 
TRISTRAM  YIELDED  HIM  AND  PROMISED  TO  FELLOWSHIP  WITH 
LAUNCELOT 

THEN  came  Sir  Galahad,  and  the  king  with  the  hundred 
knights  with  him ;  and  this  Sir  Galahad  proffered  to  fight 
with  Sir  Tristram  hand  for  hand.  And  so  they  made  them 
ready  to  go  unto  battle  on  horseback  with  great  courage. 
Then  Sir  Galahad  and  Sir  Tristram  met  together  so  hard 
that  either  bare  other  down,  horse  and  all,  to  the  earth. 
And  then  they  avoided  their  horses  as  noble  knights,  and 
dressed  their  shields,  and  drew  their  swords  with  ire  and 
rancour,  and  they  lashed  together  many  sad  strokes,  and 
one  while  striking,  another  while  foyning,  tracing  and 
traversing  as  noble  knights ;  thus  they  fought  long,  near 
half  a  day,  and  either  were  sore  wounded.  At  the  last  Sir 
Tristram  waxed  light  and  big,  and  doubled  his  strokes,  and 
drove  Sir  Galahad  aback  on  the  one  side  and  on  the  other, 
so  that  he  was  like  to  have  been  slain.  With  that  came  the 
king  with  the  hundred  knights,  and  all  that  fellowship  went 
fiercely  upon  Sir  Tristram.  When  Sir  Tristram  saw  them 
coming  upon  him,  then  he  wist  well  he  might  not  endure. 
Then  as  a  wise  knight  of  war,  he  said  to  Sir  Galahad,  the 
haut  prince :  Sir,  ye  show  to  me  no  knighthood,  for  to 
suffer  all  your  men  to  have  ado  with  me  all  at  once ;  and  as 
meseemeth  ye  be  a  noble  knight  of  your  hands  it  is  great 
shame  to  you.  So  God  me  help,  said  Sir  Galahad,  there  is 
none  other  way  but  thou  must  yield  thee  to  me,  other  else 
to  die,  said  Sir  Galahad  to  Sir  Tristram.  I  will  rather  yield 
me  to  you  than  die,  for  that  is  more  for  the  might  of  your 
men  than  of  your  hands.  And  therewithal  Sir  Tristram 
took  his  own  sword  by  the  point,  and  put  the  pommel  in 
the  hand  of  Sir  Galahad.  Therewithal  came  the  king  with 
the  hundred  knights,  and  hard  began  to  assail  Sir  Tristram. 


King   Arthur  277 

Let  be,  said  Sir  Galahad,  be  ye  not  so  hardy  to  touch  him, 
for  I  have  given  this  knight  his  life.  That  is  your  shame, 
said  the  king  with  the  hundred  knights  ;  hath  he  not  slain 
your  father  and  your  mother  ?  As  for  that,  said  Sir  Galahad, 
I  may  not  wyte  him  greatly,  for  my  father  had  him  in  prison, 
and  inforced  him  to  do  battle  with  him  ;  and  my  father  had 
such  a  custom  that  was  a  shameful  custom,  that  what  knight 
came  there  to  ask  harbour  his  lady  must  needs  die  but  if  she 
were  fairer  than  my  mother  ;  and  if  my  father  overcame  that 
knight  he  must  needs  die.  This  was  a  shameful  custom 
and  usage,  a  knight  for  his  harbour  asking  to  have  such 
harbourage.  And  for  this  custom  I  would  never  draw 
about  him.  So  God  me  help,  said  the  king,  this  was  a 
shameful  custom.  Truly,  said  Sir  Galahad,  so  seemed  me ; 
and  meseemed  it  had  been  great  pity  that  this  knight  should 
have  been  slain,  for  I  dare  say  he  is  the  noblest  man  that 
beareth  life,  but  if  it  were  Sir  Lancelot  du  Lake.  Now, 
fair  knight,  said  Sir  Galahad,  I  require  thee  tell  me  thy 
name,  and  of  whence  thou  art,  and  whither  thou  wilt.  Sir, 
he  said,  my  name  is  Sir  Tristram  de  Liones,  and  from  King 
Mark  of  Cornwall  I  was  sent  on  message  unto  King  Anguish 
of  Ireland,  for  to  fetch  his  daughter  to  be  his  wife,  and  here 
she  is  ready  to  go  with  me  into  Cornwall,  and  her  name  is 
La  Beale  Isoud.  And,  Sir  Tristram,  said  Sir  Galahad,  the 
haut  prince,  well  be  ye  found  in  these  marches,  and  so  ye 
will  promise  me  to  go  unto  Sir  Launcelot  du  Lake,  and 
accompany  with  him,  ye  shall  go  where  ye  will,  and  your 
fair  lady  with  you  ;  and  I  shall  promise  you  never  in  all  my 
days  shall  such  customs  be  used  in  this  castle  as  have  been 
used.  Sir,  said  Sir  Tristram,  now  I  let  you  wit,  so  God  me 
help,  I  weened  ye  had  been  Sir  Launcelot  du  Lake  when  I 
saw  you  first,  and  therefore  I  dread  you  the  more ;  and  sir, 
I  promise  you,  said  Sir  Tristram,  as  soon  as  I  may  I  will  see 
Sir  Launcelot  and  infellowship  me  with  him ;  for  of  all  the 
knights  of  the  world  I  most  desire  his  fellowship. 


CHAPTER   XXVIII 

HOW   SIR   LAUNCELOT   MET   WITH    SIR   CARADOS    BEARING    AWAY    SIR 
GAWAINE,    AND   OF   THE   RESCUE    OF   SIR    GAWAINE 

AND  then  Sir  Tristram  took  his  leave  when  he  saw  his 
time,  and  took  the  sea.  And  in  the  meanwhile  word  came 
unto  Sir  Launcelot  and  to  Sir  Tristram  that  Sir  Carados,  the 


278  King   Arthur 

mighty  king,  that  was  made  like  a  giant,  fought  with  Sir 
Gawaine,  and  gave  him  such  strokes  that  he  swooned  in  his 
saddle,  and  after  that  he  took  him  by  the  collar  and  pulled 
him  out  of  his  saddle,  and  fast  bound  him  to  the  saddle-bow, 
and  so  rode  his  way  with  him  toward  his  castle.  And  as 
he  rode,  by  fortune  Sir  Launcelot  met  with  Sir  Carados,  and 
anon  he  knew  Sir  Gawaine  that  lay  bound  after  him.  Ah, 
said  Sir  Launcelot  unto  Sir  Gawaine,  how  stands  it  with 
you  ?  Never  so  hard,  said  Sir  Gawaine,  unless  that  ye  help 
me,  for  so  God  me  help,  without  ye  rescue  me  I  know  no 
knight  that  may,  but  outher  you  or  Sir  Tristram.  Where- 
fore Sir  Launcelot  was  heavy  of  Sir  Gawaine's  words.  And 
then  Sir  Launcelot  bad  Sir  Carados  :  Lay  down  that  knight 
and  fight  with  me.  Thou  art  but  a  fool,  said  Sir  Carados, 
for  I  will  serve  you  in  the  same  wise.  As  for  that,  said  Sir 
Launcelot,  spare  me  not,  for  I  warn  thee  I  will  not  spare 
thee.  And  then  he  bound  Sir  Gawaine  hand  and  foot,  and 
so  threw  him  to  the  ground.  And  then  he  gat  his  spear  of 
his  squire,  and  departed  from  Sir  Launcelot  to  fetch  his 
course.  And  so  either  met  with  other,  and  brake  their 
spears  to  their  hands ;  and  then  they  pulled  out  swords, 
and  hurtled  together  on  horseback  more  than  an  hour. 
And  at  the  last  Sir  Launcelot  smote  Sir  Carados  such  a 
buffet  upon  the  helm  that  it  pierced  his  brain  pan.  So  then 
Sir  Launcelot  took  Sir  Carados  by  the  collar  and  pulled  him 
under  his  horse's  feet,  and  then  he  alit  and  pulled  off  his 
helm  and  struck  off  his  head.  And  then  Sir  Launcelot 
unbound  Sir  Gawaine.  So  this  same  tale  was  told  to  Sir 
Galahad  and  to  Sir  Tristram  : — here  may  ye  hear  the  noble- 
ness that  followeth  Sir  Launcelot.  Alas,  said  Sir  Tristram, 
an  I  had  not  this  message  in  hand  with  this  fair  lady,  truly 
I  would  never  stint  or  I  had  found  Sir  Launcelot.  Then 
Sir  Tristram  and  La  Beale  Isoud  went  to  the  sea  and  came 
into  Cornwall,  and  there  all  the  barons  met  them. 


CHAPTER   XXIX 

OF    THE    WEDDING    OF    KING    MARK     TO     LA    BEALE     ISOUD,    AND   OF 
BRAGWAINE   HER    MAID,    AND   OF    PALAMIDES 

AND  anon  they  were  richly  wedded  with  great  noblesse. 
But  ever,  as  the  French  book  saith,  Sir  Tristram  and  La 
Beale  Isoud  loved  ever  together.  Then  was  there  great 
jousts  and  great  tourneying,  and  many  lords  and  ladies  were 


King   Arthur  279 

at  that  feast,  and  Sir  Tristram  was  most  praised  of  all  other. 
Thus  dured  the  feast  long,  and  after  the  feast  was  done, 
within  a  little  while  after,  by  the  assent  of  two  ladies  that 
were  with  Queen  Isoud,  they  ordained  for  hate  and  envy  for 
to  destroy  Dame  Bragwaine,  that  was  maiden  and  lady  unto 
La  Beale  Isoud  ;  and  she  was  sent  into  the  forest  for  to  fetch 
herbs,  and  there  she  was  met,  and  bound  feet  and  hand  to  a 
tree,  and  so  she  was  bounden  three  days.  And  by  fortune, 
Sir  Palamides  found  Dame  Bragwaine,  and  there  he  delivered 
her  from  the  death,  and  brought  her  to  a  nunnery  there 
beside,  for  to  be  recovered.  When  Isoud  the  queen  missed 
her  maiden,  wit  ye  well  she  was  right  heavy  as  ever  was  any 
queen,  for  of  all  earthly  women  she  loved  her  best :  the 
cause  was  for  she  came  with  her  out  of  her  country.  And 
so  upon  a  day  Queen  Isoud  walked  into  the  forest  to  put 
away  her  thoughts,  and  there  she  went  herself  unto  a  well 
and  made  great  moan.  And  suddenly  there  came  Palamides 
to  her,  and  had  heard  all  her  complaint,  and  said  :  Madam 
Isoud,  an  ye  will  grant  me  my  boon,  I  shall  bring  to  you 
Dame  Bragwaine  safe  and  sound.  And  the  queen  was  so 
glad  of  his  proffer  that  suddenly  unadvised  she  granted  all 
his  asking.  Well,  madam,  said  Palamides,  I  trust  to  your 
promise,  and  if  ye  will  abide  here  half  an  hour  I  shall  bring 
her  to  you.  I  shall  abide  you,  said  La  Beale  Isoud.  And 
Sir  Palamides  rode  forth  his  way  to  that  nunnery,  and  lightly 
he  came  again  with  Dame  Bragwaine ;  but  by  her  good  will 
she  would  not  have  come  again,  by  cause  for  love  of  the 
queen  she  stood  in  adventure  of  her  life.  Notwithstanding, 
half  against  her  will,  she  went  with  Sir  Palamides  unto  the 
queen.  And  when  the  queen  saw  her  she  was  passing  glad. 
Now,  madam,  said  Palamides,  remember  upon  your  promise, 
for  I  have  fulfilled  my  promise.  Sir  Palamides,  said  the 
queen,  I  wot  not  what  is  your  desire,  but  I  will  that  ye  wit, 
howbeit  I  promised  you  largely,  I  thought  none  evil,  nor  I 
warn  you  none  evil  will  I  do.  Madam,  said  Sir  Palamides, 
as  at  this  time,  ye  shall  not  know  my  desire,  but  before  my 
lord  your  husband  there  shall  ye  know  that  I  will  have  my 
desire  that  ye  have  promised  me.  And  therewith  the  queen 
departed,  and  rode  home  to  the  king,  and  Sir  Palamides 
rode  after  her.  And  when  Sir  Palamides  came  before  the 
king,  he  said :  Sir  King,  I  require  you  as  ye  be  a  righteous 
king,  that  ye  will  judge  me  the  right.  Tell  me  your  cause, 
said  the  king,  and  ye  shall  have  right. 


280  King   Arthur 


CHAPTER   XXX 

HOW    PALAMIDES     DEMANDED     QUEEN     ISOUD,    AND    HOW   LAMBEGUS 
RODE   AFTER   TO    RESCUE    HER,    AND   OF   THE    ESCAPE   OF    ISOUD 

SIR,  said  Palamides,  I  promised  your  Queen  Isoud  to  bring 
again  Dame  Bragwaine  that  she  had  lost,  upon  this  cove- 
nant, that  she  should  grant  me  a  boon  that  I  would  ask,  and 
without  grudging,  outner  advisement,  she  granted  me.  What 
say  ye,  my  lady  ?  said  the  king.  It  is  as  he  saith,  so  God 
me  help,  said  the  queen  ;  to  say  thee  sooth  I  promised  him 
his  asking  for  love  and  joy  that  I  had  to  see  her.  Well, 
madam,  said  the  king,  and  if  ye  were  hasty  to  grant  him 
what  boon  he  would  ask,  I  will  well  that  ye  perform  your 
promise.  Then,  said  Palamides,  I  will  that  ye  wit  that  I 
will  have  your  queen  to  lead  her  and  govern  her  whereas 
me  list.  Therewith  the  king  stood  still,  and  bethought  him 
of  Sir  Tristram,  and  deemed  that  he  would  rescue  her. 
And  then  hastily  the  king  answered :  Take  her  with  the 
adventures  that  shall  fall  of  it,  for  as  I  suppose  thou  wilt  not 
enjoy  her  no  while.  As  for  that,  said  Palamides,  I  dare 
right  well  abide  the  adventure.  And  so,  to  make  short  tale, 
Sir  Palamides  took  her  by  the  hand  and  said :  Madam, 
grudge  not  to  go  with  me,  for  I  desire  nothing  but  your  own 
promise.  As  for  that,  said  the  queen,  I  fear  not  greatly  to 
go  with  thee,  howbeit  thou  hast  me  at  advantage  upon  my 
promise,  for  I  doubt  not  I  shall  be  worshipfully  rescued  from 
thee.  As  for  that,  said  Sir  Palamides,  be  it  as  it  be  may. 
So  Queen  Isoud  was  set  behind  Palamides,  and  rode  his 
way.  Anon  the  king  sent  after  Sir  Tristram,  but  in  no  wise 
he  could  be  found,  for  he  was  in  the  forest  an  hunting  ;  for 
that  was  always  his  custom,  but  if  he  used  arms,  to  chase 
and  to  hunt  in  the  forests.  Alas,  said  the  king,  now  I  am 
shamed  for  ever,  that  by  mine  own  assent  my  lady  and  my 
queen  shall  be  devoured.  Then  came  forth  a  knight,  his 
name  was  Lambegus,  and  he  was  a  knight  of  Sir  Tristram. 
My  lord,  said  this  knight,  sith  ye  have  trust  in  my  lord,  Sir 
Tristram,  wit  ye  well  for  his  sake  I  will  ride  after  your  queen 
and  rescue  her,  or  else  1  shall  be  beaten.  Gramercy,  said 
the  king,  as  I  live.  Sir  Lambegus,  I  shall  deserve  it.  And 
then  Sir  Lambegus  armed  him,  and  rode  after  as  fast  as  he 
might.  And  then  within  a  while  he  overtook  Sir  Palamides. 
And  then  Sir  Palamides  left  the  queen.  What  art  thou,  said 


King   Arthur  281 

Palamides,   art   thou   Tristram  ?     Nay,  he  said,   I   am   his 
servant,  and  my  name  is  Sir  Lambegus.    That  me  repenteth, 
said  Palamides.    I  had  liefer  thou  haddest  been  Sir  Tristram. 
I  believe  you  well,  said  Lambegus,  but  when  thou  meetest 
with  Sir  Tristram  thou  shalt  have  thy  hands  full.     And  then 
they  hurtled  together  and  all  to  brast  their  spears,  and  then 
they  pulled  out   their   swords,  and  hewed  on  helms  and 
hauberks.     At  the  last  Sir  Palamides  gave   Sir   Lambegus 
such  a  wound  that  he  fell  down  like  a  dead  knight  to  the 
earth.     Then  he  looked  after  La  Eeale  Isoud,  and  then  she 
was  gone  he  nyst  where.    Wit  ye  well  Sir  Palamides  was  never 
so  heavy.     So  the  queen  ran  into  the  forest,  and  there  she 
found  a  well,  and  therein  she  had  thought  to  have  drowned 
herself.     And  as  good  fortune  would,  there  came  a  knight  to 
her  that  had  a  castle  thereby,  his  name  was  Sir  Adtherp. 
And  when  he  found  the  queen  in  that  mischief  he  rescued 
her,  and  brought  her  to  his  castle.     And  when  he  wist  what 
she  was  he  armed  him,  and  took  his  horse,   and   said  he 
would  be  avenged  upon  Palamides  ;  and  so  he  rode  on  till 
he  met  with  him,  and  there  Sir  Palamides  wounded   him 
sore,  and  by  force  he  made  him  to  tell  him  the  cause  why  he 
did  battle  with  him,  and  how  he  had  led  the  queen  unto  his 
castle.     Now  bring  me  there,  said  Palamides,  or  thou  shalt 
die  of  my  hands.     Sir,  said  Sir  Adtherp,  I  am  so  wounded  I 
may  not  follow,  but  ride  you  this  way  and  it  shall  bring  you 
into  my  castle,  and  there  within  is  the   queen.     Then  Sir 
Palamides  rode  still  till  he  came  to  the  castle.     And  at  a 
window  La  Beale  Isoud  saw  Sir  Palamides ;  then  she  made 
the  gates  to  be  shut  strongly.     And  when  he  saw  he  might 
not  come  within  the  castle,  he  put  off  his  bridle  and  his 
saddle,  and  put  his  horse  to  pasture,  and  set  himself  down 
at  the  gate  like  a  man  that  was  out  of  his  wit  that  recked 
not  of  himself. 


CHAPTER   XXXI 

HOW  SIR  TRISTRAM  RODE  AFTER  PALAMIDES,  AND  HOW  HE  FOUND 
HIM  AND  FOUGHT  WITH  HIM,  AND  BY  THE  MEANS  OF  ISOUD 
THE  BATTLE  CEASED 

Now  turn  we  unto  Sir  Tristram,  that  when  he  was  come 
home  and  wist  La  Beale  Isoud  was  gone  with  Sir  Palamides, 
wit  ye  will  he  was  wroth  out  of  measure.  Alas,  said  Sir 


282  King   Arthur 

Tristram,  I  am  this  day  shamed.  Then  he  cried  to 
Gouvernail  his  man :  Haste  thee  that  I  were  armed  and 
on  horseback,  for  well  I  wot  Lambegus  hath  no  might 
nor  strength  to  withstand  Sir  Palamides :  alas  that  I 
have  not  been  in  his  stead !  So  anon  as  he  was  armed 
and  horsed  Sir  Tristram  and  Gouvernail  rode  after  into 
the  forest,  and  within  a  while  he  found  his  knight 
Lambegus  almost  wounded  to  the  death  ;  and  Sir  Tristram 
bare  him  to  a  forester,  and  charged  him  to  keep  him 
well.  And  then  he  rode  forth,  and  there  he  found  Sir 
Adtherp  sore  wounded,  and  he  told  him  how  the  queen 
would  have  drowned  herself  had  he  not  been,  and  how 
for  her  sake  and  love  he  had  taken  upon  him  to  do 
battle  with  Sir  Palamides.  Where  is  my  lady?  said  Sir 
Tristram.  Sir,  said  the  knight,  she  is  sure  enough  within 
my  castle,  an  she  can  hold  her  within  it.  Gramercy, 
said  Sir  Tristram,  of  thy  great  goodness.  And  so  he 
rode  till  he  came  nigh  to  that  castle ;  and  then  Sir 
Tristram  saw  where  Sir  Palamides  sat  at  the  gate  sleep- 
ing, and  his  horse  pastured  fast  afore  him.  Now  go 
thou,  Gouvernail,  said  Sir  Tristram,  and  bid  him  awake, 
and  make  him  ready.  So  Gouvernail  rode  unto  him  and 
said :  Sir  Palamides,  arise,  and  take  to  thine  harness. 
But  he  was  in  such  a  study  he  heard  not  what  Gouver- 
nail said.  So  Gouvernail  came  again  and  told  Sir  Tristram 
he  slept,  or  else  he  was  mad.  Go  thou  again,  said  Sir 
Tristram,  and  bid  him  arise,  and  tell  him  that  I  am  here, 
his  mortal  foe.  So  Gouvernail  rode  again  and  put  upon 
him  the  butt  of  his  spear,  and  said  :  Sir  Palamides,  make 
thee  ready,  for  wit  ye  well  Sir  Tristram  hoveth  yonder, 
and  sendeth  thee  word  he  is  thy  mortal  foe.  And  there- 
withal Sir  Palamides  arose  stilly,  without  words,  and  gat 
his  horse,  and  saddled  him  and  bridled  him,  and  lightly 
he  leapt  upon,  and  gat  his  spear  in  his  hand,  and  either 
feutred  their  spears  and  hurtled  fast  together;  and  there 
Tristram  smote  down  Sir  Palamides  over  his  horse's  tail. 
Then  lightly  Sir  Palamides  put  his  shield  afore  him  and 
drew  his  sword.  And  there  began  strong  battle  on  both 
parts,  for  both  they  fought  for  the  love  of  one  lady,  and 
ever  she  lay  on  the  walls  and  beheld  them  how  they 
fought  out  of  measure,  and  either  were  wounded  passing 
sore,  but  Palamides  was  much  sorer  wounded.  Thus  they 
fought  tracing  and  traversing  more  than  two  hours,  that 


King   Arthur  283 

well-nigh  for  dole  and  sorrow  La  Beale  Isoud  swooned. 
Alas,  she  said,  that  one  I  loved  and  yet  do,  and  the 
other  I  love  not,  yet  it  were  great  pity  that  I  should  see 
Sir  Palamides  slain;  for  well  I  know  by  that  time  the 
end  be  done  Sir  Palamides  is  but  a  dead  knight :  because 
he  is  not  christened  I  would  be  loath  that  he  should  die 
a  Saracen.  And  therewithal  she  came  down  and  besought 
Sir  Tristram  to  fight  no  more.  Ah,  madam,  said  he,  what 
mean  you,  will  ye  have  me  shamed?  Well  ye  know  I 
will  be  ruled  by  you.  I  will  not  your  dishonour,  said 
La  Beale  Isoud,  but  I  would  that  ye  would  for  my  sake 
spare  this  unhappy  Saracen  Palamides.  Madam,  said  Sir 
Tristram,  I  will  leave  fighting  at  this  time  for  your  sake. 
Then  she  said  to  Sir  Palamides :  This  shall  be  your 
charge,  that  thou  shalt  go  out  of  this  country  while  I 
am  therein.  I  will  obey  your  commandment,  said  Sir 
Palamides,  the  which  is  sore  against  my  will.  Then  take 
thy  way,  said  La  Beale  Isoud,  unto  the  court  of  King 
Arthur,  and  there  recommend  me  unto  Queen  Guenever, 
and  tell  her  that  I  send  her  word  that  there  be  within 
this  land  but  four  lovers,  that  is,  Sir  Launcelot  du  Lake 
and  Queen  Guenever,  and  Sir  Tristram  de  Liones  and 
Queen  Isoud. 


CHAPTER   XXXII 

HOW    SIR    TRISTRAM    BROUGHT    QUEEN     ISOUD     HOME,  AND   OF    THE 
DEBATE   OF    KING    MARK   AND    SIR   TRISTRAM 

AND  so  Sir  Palamides  departed  with  great  heaviness. 
And  Sir  Tristram  took  the  queen  and  brought  her  again 
to  King  Mark,  and  then  was  there  made  great  joy  of 
her  home-coming.  Who  was  cherished  but  Sir  Tristram  ! 
Then  Sir  Tristram  let  fetch  Sir  Lambegus,  his  knight, 
from  the  forester's  house,  and  it  was  long  or  he  was  whole, 
but  at  the  last  he  was  well  recovered.  Thus  they  lived 
with  joy  and  play  a  long  while.  But  ever  Sir  Andred, 
that  was  nigh  cousin  to  Sir  Tristram,  lay  in  a  watch  to 
wait  betwixt  Sir  Tristram  and  La  Beale  Isoud,  for  to  take 
them  and  slander  them.  So  upon  a  day  Sir  Tristram 
talked  with  La  Beale  Isoud  in  a  window,  and  that  espied 
Sir  Andred,  and  told  it  to  the  king.  Then  King  Mark. 


284  king   Arthur 

took  a  sword  in  his  hand  and  came  to  Sir  Tristram,  and 
called  him  false  traitor,  and  would  have  stricken  him. 
But  Sir  Tristram  was  nigh  him,  and  ran  under  his  sword, 
and  took  it  out  of  his  hand.  And  then  the  king  cried  : 
"Where  are  my  knights  and  my  men  ?  I  charge  you  slay 
this  traitor.  But  at  that  time  there  was  not  one  would 
move  for  his  words.  When  Sir  Tristram  saw  that  there 
was  not  one  would  be  against  him,  he  shook  the  sword 
to  the  king,  and  made  countenance  as  though  he  would 
have  stricken  him.  And  then  King  Mark  fled,  and  Sir 
Tristram  followed  him,  and  smote  upon  him  five  or  six 
strokes  fiatling  on  the  neck,  that  he  made  him  to  fall 
upon  the  nose.  And  then  Sir  Tristram  yede  his  way 
and  armed  him,  and  took  his  horse  and  his  man,  and  so 
he  rode  into  that  forest.  And  there  upon  a  day  Sir 
Tristram  met  with  two  brethren  that  were  knights  with 
King  Mark,  and  there  he  struck  off  the  head  of  the  one, 
and  wounded  the  other  to  the  death ;  and  he  made  him 
to  bear  his  brothers  head  in  his  helm  unto  the  king,  and 
thirty  more  there  he  wounded.  And  when  that  knight 
came  before  the  king  to  say  his  message,  he  there  died 
afore  the  king  and  the  queen.  Then  King  Mark  called 
his  council  unto  him,  and  asked  advice  of  his  barons 
what  was  best  to  do  with  Sir  Tristram.  Sir,  said  the 
barons,  in  especial  Sir  Dinas,  the  Seneschal.  Sir,  we  will 
give  you  counsel  for  to  send  for  Sir  Tristram,  for  we  will 
that  ye  wit  many  men  will  hold  with  Sir  Tristram  an  he 

»  j 

were  hard  bestad.  And  sir,  said  Sir  Dinas,  ye  shall 
understand  that  Sir  Tristram  is  called  peerless  and 
makeless  of  anv  Christian  knight,  and  of  his  mijht  and 

f  cj         f  — • 

hardiness  we  knew  none  so  good  a  knight,  but  if  it  be  Sir 
Lmincelot  du  Lake.  And  if  he  depart  from  your  court  and 
go  to  King  Arthur's  court,  wit  ye  well  he  will  get  him  such 
friends  there  that  he  will  not  set  by  your  malice.  And 
therefore,  sir,  I  counsel  you  to  take  him  to  your  grace.  I 
-1  well,  said  the  king,  that  he  be  sent  for,  that  we  may 
be  friends.  Then  the  barons  sent  for  Sir  Tristram  under 
a  safe  conduct.  And  so  when  Sir  Tristram  came  to  the 
k:::g  he  was  welcome,  and  no  rehearsal  was  made,  and 
there  was  game  and  play.  And  then  the  king  and  the 
queen  went  a-hunting,  and  Sir  Tristram. 


King   Arthur  285 


CHAPTER   XXXIII 

HOW  SIR  LAMORAK  JOUSTED  WITH  THIRTY  KNI3KTS,  AND  SIR 
TRISTRAM  AT  THE  REQUEST  OF  KING  MARK  SMOTE  HIS  HOJ.il 
DOWN 

THE  king  and  the  queen  made  their  pavilions  and  their 
tents  in  that  forest  beside  a  river,  and  there  was  daily  hunting 
and  jousting,  for  there  were  ever  thirty  knights  ready  to 
joust  unto  all  them  that  came  in  at  that  time.  And  there 
by  fortune  came  Sir  Larnorak  de  Galis  and  Sir  Driant ;  and 
there  Sir  Driant  jousted  right  well,  but  at  the  last  he  had  .\ 
fall.  Then  Sir  Lamorak  proffered  to  joust.  And  when  he 
began  he  fared  so  with  the  thirty  knights  that  there  was  not 
one  of  them  but  that  he  gave  him  a  fall,  and  some  of  them 
were  sore  hurt.  I  marvel,  said  King  Mark,  what  knight  he 
is  that  doth  such  deeds  of  arms.  Sir,  said  Sir  Tristram.  I 
know  him  well  for  a  noble  knight  as  few  now  be  living,  and 
his  name  is  Sir  Lamorak  de  Galis.  It  were  great  shame, 
said  the  king,  that  he  should  go  thus  away,  unless  that  some 
of  you  meet  with  him  better.  Sir,  said  Sir  Tristram,  me- 
seemeth  it  were  no  worship  for  a  noble  man  to  have  ado 
with  him  :  and  for  bv  cause  at  this  time  he  hath  done  over 

j 

much  for  any  mean  knight  living,  therefore,  as  rr.rf-ierneth, 
it  were  great  shame  and  villainy  to  tempt  him  any  more  at 
this  time,  insomuch  as  he  and  his  horse  are  weary  both ;  for 
the  deeds  of  arms  that  he  hath  done  this  day,  an  they  be 
well  considered,  it  were  enough  for  Si:  Launcelot  du  Lake. 
As  for  that,  said  King  Mark,  I  require  you,  as  ye  love  me 
and  my  lady  the  queen,  La  Beale  Isoud,  take  your  arms  and 
joust  with  Sir  Lamorak  de  Galis.  Sir,  said  Sir  Tristram,  ye 
bid  me  do  a  thing  that  is  against  knighthood,  and  well  I  can 
deem  that  I  shall  give  him  a  fall,  for  it  is  no  mastery,  for 
my  horse  and  I  be  fresh  both,  and  so  is  not  his  horse  and 
he ;  and  wit  ye  well  that  he  will  take  it  for  great  unkindness. 
for  ever  one  good  knight  is  loath  to  take  another  i:  dis- 
advantage ;  but  by  cause  I  will  not  displease  you,  as  ye 
require  me  so  will  I  do,  and  obey  your  command™. en:.  And 
so  Sir  Tristram  armed  him  and  took  his  horse,  and  put  hi" 
forth,  and  there  Sir  Lamorak  met  him  mightily,  and  wh.3,: 
with  the  might  of  his  own  spear,  and  of  Sir  Tristram's  spear, 
Sir  Lamorak's  horse  fell  to  the  earth,  and  he  sitting  in  the 
saddle.  Then  anon  as  lightly  as  he  might  he  avoided  the 


286  King   Arthur 

saddle  and  his  horse,  and  put  his  shield  afore  him  and  drew 
his  sword.  And  then  he  bad  Sir  Tristram :  Alight,  thou 
knight,  an  thou  durst.  Nay,  said  Sir  Tristram,  I  will  no 
more  have  ado  with  thee,  for  I  have  done  to  thee  over  much 
unto  my  dishonour  and  to  thy  worship.  As  for  that,  said 
Sir  Lamorak,  I  can  thee  no  thank ;  syn  thou  hast  for-j  ousted 
me  on  horseback  I  require  thee  and  I  beseech  thee,  an  thou 
be  Sir  Tristram,  fight  with  me  on  foot.  I  will  not  so,  said 
Sir  Tristram ;  and  wit  ye  well  my  name  is  Sir  Tristram  de 
Liones,  and  well  I  know  ye  be  Sir  Lamorak  de  Galis,  and 
this  that  I  have  done  to  you  was  against  my  will,  but  I  was 
required  thereto  ;  but  to  say  that  I  will  do  at  your  request 
as  at  this  time,  I  will  have  no  more  ado  with  you,  for  me 
shameth  of  that  I  have  done.  As  for  the  shame,  said  Sir 
Lamorak,  on  thy  part  or  on  mine,  bear  thou  it  an  thou  wilt, 
for  though  a  mare's  son  hath  failed  me,  now  a  queen's  son 
shall  not  fail  thee ;  and  therefore,  an  thou  be  such  a  knight 
as  men  call  thee,  I  require  thee,  alight,  and  fight  with  me. 
Sir  Lamorak,  said  Sir  Tristram,  I  understand  your  heart  is 
great,  and  cause  why  ye  have,  to  say  thee  sooth  ;  for  it  would 
grieve  me  an  any  knight  should  keep  him  fresh  and  then  to 
strike  down  a  weary  knight,  for  that  knight  nor  horse  was 
never  formed  that  alway  might  stand  or  endure.  And  there- 
fore, said  Sir  Tristram,  I  will  not  have  ado  with  you,  for  me 
forthinketh  of  that  I  have  done.  As  for  that,  said  Sir 
Lamorak,  I  shall  quit  you  and  ever  I  see  my  time. 


CHAPTER   XXXIV 

HOW  SIR  LAMORAK  SENT  AN  HORN  TO  KING  MARK  IN  DESPITE  OF 
SIR  TRISTRAM,  AND  HOW  SIR  TRISTRAM  WAS  DRIVEN  INTO  A 
CHAPEL 

So  he  departed  from  him  with  Sir  Driant,  and  by  the  way 
they  met  with  a  knight  that  was  sent  from  Morgan  le  Fay 
unto  King  Arthur ;  and  this  knight  had  a  fair  horn  harnessed 
with  gold,  and  the  horn  had  such  a  virtue  that  there  might 
no  lady  nor  gentlewoman  drink  of  that  horn  but  if  she  were 
true  to  her  husband,  and  if  she  were  false  she  should  spill 
all  the  drink,  and  if  she  were  true  to  her  lord  she  might 
drink  peaceable.  And  by  cause  of  the  Queen  Guenever, 
and  in  the  despite  of  Sir  Launcelot,  this  horn  was  sent  unto 


King   Arthur  287 

King  Arthur ;  and  by  force  Sir  Lamorak  made  that  knight 
to  tell  all  the  cause  why  he  bare  that  horn.  Now  shalt  thou 
bear  this  horn,  said  Lamorak,  unto  King  Mark,  or  else 
choose  thou  to  die  for  it ;  for  I  tell  thee  plainly,  in  despite 
and  reproof  of  Sir  Tristram  thou  shalt  bear  that  horn  unto 
King  Mark,  his  uncle,  and  say  thou  to  him  that  I  sent  it  him 
for  to  assay  his  lady,  and  if  she  be  true  to  him  he  shall  prove 
her.  So  the  knight  went  his  way  unto  King  Mark,  and 
brought  him  that  rich  horn,  and  said  that  Sir  Lamorak  sent 
it  him,  and  thereto  he  told  him  the  virtue  of  that  horn. 
Then  the  king  made  Queen  Isoud  to  drink  thereof,  and  an 
hundred  ladies,  and  there  were  but  four  ladies  of  all  those 
that  drank  clene.  Alas,  said  King  Mark,  this  is  a  great 
despite,  and  sware  a  great  oath  that  she  should  be  burnt  and 
the  other  ladies.  Then  the  barons  gathered  them  together, 
and  said  plainly  they  would  not  have  those  ladies  burnt  for 
an  horn  made  by  sorcery,  that  came  from  as  false  a  sorceress 
and  witch  as  then  was  living.  For  that  horn  did  never 
good,  but  caused  strife  and  debate,  and  always  in  her  days 
she  had  been  an  enemy  to  all  true  lovers.  So  there  were 
many  knights  made  their  avow  an  ever  they  met  with  Morgan 
le  Fay  that  they  would  show  her  short  courtesy.  Also  Sir 
Tristram  was  passing  wroth  that  Sir  Lamorak  sent  that  horn 
unto  King  Mark,  for  well  he  knew  that  it  was  done  in  the 
despite  of  him.  And  therefore  he  thought  to  requite  Sir 
Lamorak.  Then  Sir  Tristram  used  daily  and  nightly  to  go 
to  Queen  Isoud  when  he  might,  and  ever  Sir  Andred  his 
cousin  watched  him  night  and  day  for  to  take  him  with  La 
Beale  Isoud.  And  so  upon  a  night  Sir  Andred  espied  the 
hour  and  the  time  when  Sir  Tristram  went  to  his  lady.  Then 
Sir  Andred  gat  unto  him  twelve  knights,  and  at  midnight  he 
set  upon  Sir  Tristram  secretly  and  suddenly,  and  there  Sir 
Tristram  was  taken  naked  abed  with  La  Beale  Isoud,  and 
then  was  he  bound  hand  and  foot,  and  so  was  he  kept  until 
day.  And  then  by  the  assent  of  King  Mark,  and  of  Sir 
Andred,  and  of  some  of  the  barons,  Sir  Tristram  was  led 
unto  a  chapel  that  stood  upon  the  sea  rocks,  there  for  to 
take  his  judgment :  and  so  he  was  led  bounden  with  forty 
knights.  And  when  Sir  Tristram  saw  that  there  was  none 
other  boot  but  needs  that  he  must  die,  then  said  he :  Fair 
lords,  remember  what  I  have  done  for  the  country  of  Corn- 
wall, and  in  what  jeopardy  I  have  been  in  for  the  weal  of  you 
all ;  for  when  I  fought  for  the  truage  of  Cornwall  with  Sir 


288  King   Arthur 

Marhaus,  the  good  knight,  I  was  promised  for  to  be  better 
rewarded,  when  ye  all  refused  to  take  the  battle ;  therefore, 
as  ye  be  good  gentle  knights,  see  me  not  thus  shamefully  to 
die',  for  it  is  shame  to  all  knighthood  thus  to  see  me  die ;  for 
I  daresay,  said  Sir  Tristram,  that  I  never  met  with  no  knight 
but  I  was  as  good  as  he,  or  better.  Fie  upon  thee,  said  Sir 
Andred,  false  traitor  that  thou  art,  with  thine  avaunting ;  for 
all  thy  boast  thou  shalt  die  this  day.  O  Andred,  Andred, 
said  Sir  Tristram,  thou  shouldst  be  my  kinsman,  and  now 
thou  art  to  me  full  unfriendly,  but  an  there  were  no  more 
but  thou  and  I,  thou  wouldst  not  put  me  to  death.  No, 
said  Sir  Andred,  and  therewith  he  drew  his  sword,  and 
would  have  slain  him.  When  Sir  Tristram  saw  him  make 
such  countenance  he  looked  upon  both  his  hands  that  were 
fast  bounden  unto  two  knights,  and  suddenly  he  pulled  them 
both  to  him,  and  unwrast  his  hands,  and  then  he  leapt  unto 
his  cousin,  Sir  Andred,  and  wrested  his  sword  out  of  his 
hands  ;  then  he  smote  Sir  Andred  that  he  fell  to  the  earth, 
and  so  Sir  Tristram  fought  till  that  he  had  killed  ten  knights. 
So  then  Sir  Tristram  gat  the  chapel  and  kept  it  mightily. 
Then  the  cry  was  great,  and  the  people  drew  fast  unto  Sir 
Andred,  more  than  an  hundred.  When  Sir  Tristram  saw 
the  people  draw  unto  him,  he  remembered  he  was  naked, 
and  sperd  fast  the  chapel  door,  and  brake  the  bars  of  a 
window,  and  so  he  leapt  out  and  fell  upon  the  crags  in  the 
sea.  And  so  at  that  time  Sir  Andred  nor  none  of  his  fellows 
might  get  to  him  at  that  time. 


CHAPTER   XXXV 

HOW  SIR  TRISTRAM  WAS  HOLPEN  BY  HIS  MEN,  AND  OF  QUEEN 
ISOUD  WHICH  WAS  PUT  IN  A  LAZAR-COTE,  AND  HOW  TRISTRAM 
WAS  HURT 

So  when  they  were  departed,  Gouvernail,  and  Sir 
Lambegus,  and  Sir  Sentraille  de  Lushon,  that  were  Sir 
Tristram's  men,  sought  their  master.  When  they  heard  he 
was  escaped  then  they  were  passing  glad ;  and  on  the  rocks 
they  found  him,  and  with  towels  they  pulled  him  up.  And 
then  Sir  Tristram  asked  them  where  was  La  Beale  Isoud, 
for  he  weened  she  had  been  had  away  of  Andred's  people. 
Sir,  said  Gouvernail,  she  is  put  in  a  lazar-cote.  Alas,  said  Sir 


King   Arthur  289 

Tristram,  this  is  a  full  ungoodly  place  for  such  a  fair  lady, 
and  if  I  may  she  shall  not  be  long  there.  And  so  he  took 
his  men  and  went  there  as  was  La  Beale  Isoud,  and  fetched 
her  away,  and  brought  her  into  a  forest  to  a  fair  manor,  and 
Sir  Tristram  there  abode  with  her.  So  the  good  knight 
bad  his  men  go  from  him :  For  at  this  time  I  may  not 
help  you.  So  they  departed  all  save  Gouvernail.  And  so 
upon  a  day  Sir  Tristram  yede  into  the  forest  for  to  disport 
him,  and  then  it  happened  that  there  he  fell  on  sleep ;  and 
there  came  a  man  that  Sir  Tristram  aforehand  had  slain  his 
brother,  and  when  this  man  had  found  him  he  shot  him 
through  the  shoulder  with  an  arrow,  and  Sir  Tristram  leapt 
up  and  killed  that  man.  And  in  the  meantime  it  was  told 
King  Mark  how  Sir  Tristram  and  La  Beale  Isoud  were  in 
that  same  manor,  and  as  soon  as  ever  he  might  thither  he 
came  with  many  knights  to  slay  Sir  Tristram.  And  when 
he  came  there  he  found  him  gone ;  and  there  he  took  La 
Beale  Isoud  home  with  him,  and  kept  her  straight  that  by  no 
means  never  she  might  wit  nor  send  unto  Tristram,  nor  he 
unto  her.  And  then  when  Sir  Tristram  came  toward  the  old 
manor  he  found  the  track  of  many  horses,  and  thereby  he 
wist  his  lady  was  gone.  And  then  Sir  Tristram  took  great 
sorrow,  and  endured  with  great  pain  long  time,  for  the  arrow 
that  he  was  hurt  withal  was  envenomed.  Then  by  the  mean 
of  La  Beale  Isoud  she  told  a  lady  that  was  cousin  unto 
Dame  Bragwaine,  and  she  came  to  Sir  Tristram,  and  told 
him  that  he  might  not  be  whole  by  no  means.  For  thy  lady, 
La  Beale  Isoud,  may  not  help  thee,  therefore  she  biddeth 
you  haste  into  Brittany  to  King  Howel,  and  there  ye  shall 
find  his  daughter,  Isoud  La  Blanche  Mains,  and  she  shall 
help  thee.  Then  Sir  Tristram  and  Gouvernail  gat  them 
shipping,  and  so  sailed  into  Brittany.  And  when  King 
Howel  wist  that  it  was  Sir  Tristram  he  was  full  glad  of  him. 
Sir,  he  said,  I  am  come  into  this  country  to  have  help  of 
your  daughter,  for  it  is  told  me  that  there  is  none  other 
may  heal  me  but  she ;  and  so  within  a  while  she  healed 
him. 


290  King   Arthur 


CHAPTER   XXXVI 

HOW   SIR   TRISTRAM    SERVED     IN    WAR    KING     HOWEL   OF   BRITTANY, 
AND   SLEW    HIS   ADVERSARY    IN   THE    FIELD 

THERE  was  an  earl  that  hight  Grip,  and  this  earl  made 
great  war  upon  the  king,  and  put  the  king  to  the  worse,  and 
besieged  him.  And  on  a  time  Sir  Kehydius,  that  was  son 
to  King  Howel,  as  he  issued  out  he  was  sore  wounded  nigh 
to  the  death.  Then  Gouvernail  went  to  the  king  and  said  : 
Sir,  I  counsel  you  to  desire  my  lord,  Sir  Tristram,  as  in  your 
need  to  help  you.  I  will  do  by  your  counsel,  said  the  king. 
And  so  he  yede  unto  Sir  Tristram,  and  prayed  him  in  his 
wars  to  help  him  :  For  my  son,  Sir  Kehydius,  may  not  go 
into  the  field.  Sir,  said  Sir  Tristram,  I  will  go  to  the  field 
and  do  what  I  may.  Then  Sir  Tristram  issued  out  of  the 
town  with  such  fellowship  as  he  might  make,  and  did  such 
deeds  that  all  Brittany  spake  of  him.  And  then,  at  the  last, 
by  great  might  and  force,  he  slew  the  Earl  Grip  with  his  own 
hands,  and  more  than  an  hundred  knights  he  slew  that  day. 
And  then  Sir  Tristram  was  received  worshipfully  with  pro- 
cession. Then  King  Howel  embraced  him  in  his  arms, 
and  said :  Sir  Tristram,  all  my  kingdom  I  will  resign  to  thee. 
God  defend,  said  Sir  Tristram,  for  I  am  beholden  unto  you 
for  your  daughter's  sake  to  do  for  you.  Then  by  the  great 
means  of  King  Howel  and  Kehydius  his  son,  by  great 
proffers,  there  grew  great  love  betwixt  Isoud  and  Sir 
Tristram,  for  that  lady  was  both  good  and  fair,  and  a  woman 
of  noble  blood  and  fame.  And  for  by  cause  Sir  Tristram 
had  such  cheer  and  riches,  and  all  other  pleasaunce  that  he 
had,  almost  he  had  forsaken  La  Beale  Isoud.  And  so  upon 
a  time  Sir  Tristram  agreed  to  wed  Isoud  La  Blanche  Mains. 
And  at  the  last  they  were  wedded,  and  solemnly  held  their 
marriage.  And  so  when  they  were  abed  both  Sir  Tristram 
remembered  him  of  his  old  lady  La  Beale  Isoud.  And  then 
he  took  such  a  thought  suddenly  that  he  was  all  dismayed, 
and  other  cheer  made  he  none  but  with  clipping  and  kissing ; 
as  for  other  fleshly  lusts  Sir  Tristram  never  thought  nor  had 
ado  with  her :  such  mention  maketh  the  French  book  ;  also 
it  maketh  mention  that  the  lady  weened  there  had  been  no 
pleasure  but  kissing  and  clipping.  And  in  the  meantime 
there  was  a  knight  in  Brittany,  his  name  was  Suppinabiles, 
and  he  came  over  the  sea  into  England,  and  then  he  came 


King   Arthur  291 

into  the  court  of  King  Arthur,  and  there  he  met  with  Sir 
Launcelot  du  Lake,  and  told  him  of  the  marriage  of  Sir 
Tristram.  Then  said  Sir  Launcelot :  Fie  upon  him,  untrue 
knight  to  his  lady  that  so  noble  a  knight  as  Sir  Tristram  is 
should  be  found  to  his  first  lady  false,  La  Beale  Isoud, 
Queen  of  Cornwall;  but  say  ye  him  this,  said  Sir  Launcelot, 
that  of  all  knights  in  the  world  I  loved  him  most,  and  had 
most  joy  of  him,  and  all  was  for  his  noble  deeds ;  and  let 
him  wit  the  love  between  him  and  me  is  done  for  ever,  and 
that  I  give  him  warning  from  this  day  forth  as  his  mortal 
enemy. 


CHAPTER   XXXVII 

HOW   SIR   SUPPINABILES   TOLD   SIR  TRISTRAM  HOW  HE  WAS  DEFAMED 
IN   THE    COURT   OF    KING   ARTHUR,    AND   OF    SIR    LAMORAK 

THEN  departed  Sir  Suppinabiles  unto  Brittany  again,  and 
there  he  found  Sir  Tristram,  and  told  him  that  he  had  been 
in  King  Arthur's  court.  Then  said  Sir  Tristram  :  Heard  ye 
anything  of  me?  So  God  me  help,  said  Sir  Suppinabiles, 
there  I  heard  Sir  Launcelot  speak  of  you  great  shame,  and 
that  ye  be  a  false  knight  to  your  lady,  and  he  bad  me  do 
you  to  wit  that  he  will  be  your  mortal  enemy  in  every  place 
where  he  may  meet  you.  That  me  repenteth,  said  Tristram, 
for  of  all  knights  I  loved  to  be  in  his  fellowship.  So  Sir 
Tristram  made  great  moan  and  was  ashamed  that  noble 
knights  should  defame  him  for  the  sake  of  his  lady.  And 
in  this  meanwhile  La  Beale  Isoud  made  a  letter  unto  Queen 
Guenever,  complaining  her  of  the  untruth  of  Sir  Tristram, 
and  how  he  had  wedded  the  king's  daughter  of  Brittany. 
Queen  Guenever  sent  her  another  letter,  and  bad  her  be 
of  good  cheer,  for  she  should  have  joy  after  sorrow,  for  Sir 
Tristram  was  so  noble  a  knight  called,  that  by  crafts  of 
sorcery,  ladies  would  make  such  noble  men  to  wed  them. 
But  in  the  end,  Queen  Guenever  said,  it  shall  be  thus,  that 
he  shall  hate  her,  and  love  you  better  than  ever  he  did 
tofore.  So  leave  we  Sir  Tristram  in  Brittany,  and  speak  we 
of  Sir  Lamorak  de  Galis,  that  as  he  sailed  his  ship  fell  on  a 
rock  and  perished  all,  save  Sir  Lamorak  and  his  squire ; 
and  there  he  swam  mightily,  and  fishers  of  the  Isle  of 
Servage  took  him  up,  and  his  squire  was  drowned,  and  the 


292  King   Arthur 

shipmen  had  great  labour  to  save  Sir  Lamorak's  life  for  all 
the  comfort  that  they  could  do.  And  the  lord  of  that  isle, 
hight  Sir  Nabon  le  Noire,  a  great  mighty  giant.  And  this 
Sir  Nabon  hated  all  the  knights  of  King  Arthur's,  and  in  no 
wise  he  would  do  them  favour.  And  these  fishers  told  Sir 
Lamorak  all  the  guise  of  Sir  Nabon  ;  how  there  came  never 
knight  of  King  Arthur's  but  he  destroyed  him.  And  at  the 
last  battle  that  he  did  was  slain  Sir  Nanowne  le  Petite,  the 
which  he  put  to  a  shameful  death  in  despite  of  King  Arthur, 
for  he  was  drawn  lymme  meale.  That  forthinketh  me,  said 
Sir  Lamorak,  for  that  knight's  death,  for  he  was  my  cousin ; 
and  if  I  were  at  mine  ease  as  well  as  ever  I  was,  I  would 
revenge  his  death.  Peace,  said  the  fishers,  and  make  here 
no  words,  for  or  ever  ye  depart  from  hence  Sir  Nabon  must 
know  that  ye  have  been  here,  or  else  we  should  die  for  your 
sake.  So  that  I  be  whole,  said  Lamorak,  of  my  disease 
that  I  have  taken  in  the  sea,  I  will  that  ye  tell  him  that 
1  am  a  knight  of  King  Arthur's,  for  I  was  never  afeared 
to  deny  my  lord. 


CHAPTER   XXXVIII 

HOW   SIR   TRISTRAM    AND    HIS   WIFE   ARRIVED    IN    WALES,    AND    HOW 
HE   MET   THERE    WITH    SIR    LAMORAK 

Now  turn  we  unto  Sir  Tristram,  that  upon  a  day  he  took 
a  little  barge,  and  his  wife  Isoud  La  Blanche  Mains,  with 
Sir  Kehydius  her  brother,  to  play  them  in  the  coasts.  And 
when  they  were  from  the  land,  there  was  a  wind  drove  them 
in  to  the  coast  of  Wales  upon  this  Isle  of  Servage,  where  as 
was  Sir  Lamorak,  and  there  the  barge  all  to  rove  ;  and  there 
Dame  Isoud  was  hurt ;  and  as  well  as  they  might  they  gat 
into  the  forest,  and  there  by  a  well  he  saw  Sagwarides 
and  a  damosel.  And  then  either  saluted  other.  Sir,  said 
Sagwarides,  I  know  you  for  Sir  Tristram  de  Liones,  the 
man  in  the  world  that  I  have  most  cause  to  hate,  because 
ye  departed  the  love  between  me  and  my  wife ;  but  as  for 
that,  said  Sir  Sagwarides,  I  will  never  hate  a  noble  knight 
for  a  light  lady ;  and  therefore,  I  pray  you,  be  my  friend, 
and  I  will  be  yours  unto  my  power ;  for  wit  ye  well  ye  are 
hard  bestead  in  this  valley,  and  we  shall  have  enough  to  do 
either  of  us  to  succour  other.  And  then  Sir  Sagwarides 


King   Arthur  293 

brought  Sir  Tristram  to  a  lady  there  by  that  was  born  in 
Cornwall,  and  she  told  him  all  the  perils  of  that  valley,  and 
how  there  came  never  knight  there  but  he  were  taken  prisoner 
or  slain.  Wit  you  well,  fair  lady,  said  Sir  Tristram,  that  I 
slew  Sir  Marhaus  and  delivered  Cornwall  from  the  truage  of 
Ireland,  and  I  am  he  that  delivered  the  king  of  Ireland 
from  Sir  Blamore  de  Ganis,  and  I  am  he  that  beat  Sir 
Palamides ;  and  wit  ye  well  I  am  Sir  Tristram  de  Liones, 
that  by  the  grace  of  God  shall  deliver  this  woful  Isle  of 
Servage.  So  Sir  Tristram  was  well  eased.  Then  one  told 
him  there  was  a  knight  of  King  Arthur's  that  was  wrecked 
on  the  rocks.  What  is  his  name  ?  said  Sir  Tristram.  We 
wot  not,  said  the  fishers,  but  he  keepeth  it  no  counsel  but 
that  he  is  a  knight  of  King  Arthur's,  and  by  the  mighty  lord 
of  this  isle  he  setteth  nought  by.  I  pray  you,  said  Sir 
Tristram,  an  ye  may,  bring  him  hither  that  I  may  see  him, 
and  if  he  be  any  of  the  knights  of  Arthur's  I  shall  know  him. 
Then  the  lady  prayed  the  fishers  to  bring  him  to  her  place. 
So  on  the  morrow  they  brought  him  thither  in  a  fisher's 
raiment ;  and  as  soon  as  Sir  Tristram  saw  him  he  smiled 
upon  him  and  knew  him  well,  but  he  knew  not  Sir 
Tristram.  Fair  sir,  said  Sir  Tristram,  meseemeth  by  your 
cheer  ye  have  been  diseased  but  late,  and  also  methinketh 
I  should  know  you  heretofore.  I  will  well,  said  Sir 
Lamorak,  that  ye  have  seen  me  and  met  with  me.  Fair 
sir,  said  Sir  Tristram,  tell  me  your  name.  Upon  a  covenant 
I  will  tell  you,  said  Sir  Lamorak,  that  is,  that  ye  will  tell 
me  whether  ye  be  lord  of  this  island  or  no,  that  is  called 
Nabon  le  Noire.  Forsooth,  said  Sir  Tristram,  I  am  not  he, 
nor  I  hold  not  of  him ;  I  am  his  foe  as  well  as  ye  be,  and 
so  shall  I  be  found  or  I  depart  out  of  this  isle.  Well,  said 
Sir  Lamorak,  syn  ye  have  said  so  largely  unto  me,  my  name 
is  Sir  Lamorak  de  Galis,  son  unto  King  Pellinore.  For- 
sooth, I  trow  well,  said  Sir  Tristram,  for  an  ye  said  other  I 
know  the  contrary.  What  are  ye,  said  Sir  Lamorak,  that 
knoweth  me  ?  I  am  Sir  Tristram  de  Liones.  Ah,  sir, 
remember  ye  not  of  the  fall  ye  did  give  me  once,  and  after 
ye  refused  me  to  fight  on  foot.  That  was  not  for  fear  I  had 
of  you,  said  Sir  Tristram,  but  me  shamed  at  that  time  to 
have  more  ado  with  you,  for  meseemed  ye  had  enough ;  but, 
Sir  Lamorak,  for  my  kindness  many  ladies  ye  put  to  a 
reproof  when  ye  sent  the  horn  from  Morgan  le  Fay  to  King 
Mark,  where  as  ye  did  this  in  despite  of  me.  Well,  said  he, 

I  45  T 


294  King   Arthur 

an  it  were  to  do  again,  so  would  I  do,  for  I  had  liefer  strife 
and  debate  fell  in  King  Mark's  court  rather  than  Arthur's 
court,  for  the  honour  of  both  courts  be  not  alike.  As  to 
that,  said  Sir  Tristram,  I  know  well ;  but  that  that  was  done 
it  was  for  despite  of  me,  but  all  your  malice,  I  thank  God, 
hurt  not  greatly.  Therefore,  said  Sir  Tristram,  ye  shall 
leave  all  your  malice,  and  so  will  I,  and  let  us  assay  how  we 
may  win  worship  between  you  and  me  upon  this  giant,  Sir 
Nabon  le  Noire  that  is  lord  of  this  island,  to  destroy  him. 
Sir,  said  Sir  Lamorak,  now  I  understand  your  knighthood, 
it  may  not  be  false  that  all  men  say,  for  of  your  bounty, 
noblesse,  and  worship,  of  all  knights  ye  are  peerless,  and  for 
your  courtesy  and  gentleness  I  showed  you  ungentleness, 
and  that  now  me  repenteth. 


CHAPTER    XXXIX 

HOW   SIR    TRISTRAM     FOUGHT    WITH     SIR     NABON,     AND     OVERCAME 
HIM,    AND    MADE   SIR   SAGWARIDES   LORD   OF   THE    ISLE 

IN  the  meantime  there  came  word  that  Sir  Nabon  had 
made  a  cry  that  all  the  people  of  that  isle  should  be  at  his 
castle  the  fifth  day  after.  And  the  same  day  the  son  of 
Nabon  should  be  made  knight,  and  all  the  knights  of  that 
valley  and  thereabout  should  be  there  to  joust,  and  all  those 
of  the  realm  of  Logris  should  be  there  to  joust  with  them  of 
North  Wales  :  and  thither  came  five  hundred  knights,  and 
they  of  the  country  brought  thither  Sir  Lamorak,  and  Sir 
Tristram,  and  Sir  Kehydius,  and  Sir  Sagwarides,  for  they 
durst  none  otherwise  do  ;  and  then  Sir  Nabon  lent  Sir 
Lamorak  horse  and  armour  at  Sir  Lamorak's  desire,  and  Sir 
Lamorak  jousted  and  did  such  deeds  of  arms  that  Nabon 
and  all  the  people  said  there  was  never  knight  that  ever  they 
saw  do  such  deeds  of  arms  ;  for,  as  the  French  book  saith, 
he  forjousted  all  that  were  there  for  the  most  part  of  five 
hundred  knights,  that  none  abode  him  in  his  saddle.  Then 
Sir  Nabon  proffered  to  play  with  him  his  play  :  For  I  saw 
never  no  knight  do  so  much  upon  a  day.  I  will  well,  said 
Sir  Lamorak,  play  as  I  may,  but  I  am  weary  and  sore 
bruised.  And  there  either  gat  a  spear,  but  Nabon  would 
not  encounter  with  Sir  Lamorak,  but  smote  his  horse  in  the 
forehead,  and  so  slew  him ;  and  then  Sir  Lamorak  yede  on 


King  Arthur  295 

foot,  and  turned  his  shield  and  drew  his  sword,  and  there 
began  strong  battle  on  foot.  But  Sir  Lamorak  was  so  sore 
bruised  and  short  breathed,  that  he  traced  and  traversed 
somewhat  aback.  Fair  fellow,  said  Sir  Nabon,  hold  thy 
hand  and  I  shall  show  thee  more  courtesy  than  ever  I 
showed  knight,  by  cause  I  have  seen  this  day  thy  noble 
knighthood,  and  therefore  stand  thou  by,  and  1  will  wit 
whether  any  of  thy  fellows  will  have  ado  with  me.  Then 
when  Sir  Tristram  heard  that,  he  stepped  forth  and  said  : 
Nabon,  lend  me  horse  and  sure  armour,  and  I  will  have  ado 
with  thee.  Well,  fellow,  said  Sir  Nabon,  go  thou  to  yonder 
pavilion,  and  arm  thee  of  the  best  thou  fmdest  there,  and  I 
shall  play  a  marvellous  play  with  thee.  Then  said  Sir 
Tristram :  Look  ye  play  well,  or  else  peradventure  I  shall 
learn  you  a  new  play.  That  is  well  said,  fellow,  said  Sir 
Nabon.  So  when  Sir  Tristram  was  armed  as  him  liked  best, 
and  well  shielded  and  sworded,  he  dressed  to  him  on  foot ; 
for  well  he  knew  that  Sir  Nabon  would  not  abide  a  stroke 
with  a  spear,  therefore  he  would  slay  all  knights'  horses. 
Now,  fair  fellow,  Sir  Nabon,  let  us  play.  So  then  they 
fought  long  on  foot,  tracing  and  traversing,  smiting  and 
foyning  long  without  any  rest.  At  the  last  Sir  Nabon 
prayed  him  to  tell  him  his  name.  Sir  Nabon,  I  tell  thee  my 
name  is  Sir  Tristram  de  Liones,  a  knight  of  Cornwall  under 
King  Mark.  Thou  art  welcome,  said  Sir  Nabon,  for  of  all 
knights  I  have  most  desired  to  fight  with  thee  or  with  Sir 
Launcelot.  So  then  they  went  eagerly  together,  and  Sir 
Tristram  slew  Sir  Nabon,  and  so  forthwith  he  leapt  to  his 
son,  and  struck  off  his  head  ;  and  then  all  the  country  said 
they  would  hold  of  Sir  Tristram.  Nay,  said  Sir  Tristram,  I 
will  not  so ;  here  is  a  worshipful  knight,  Sir  Lamorak  de 
Galis,  that  for  me  he  shall  be  lord  of  this  country,  for  he 
hath  done  here  great  deeds  of  arms.  Nay,  said  Sir 
Lamorak,  I  will  not  be  lord  of  this  country,  for  I  have  not 
deserved  it  as  well  as  ye,  therefore  give  ye  it  where  ye  will, 
for  I  will  none  have.  Well,  said  Sir  Tristram,  syn  ye  nor  I 
will  not  have  it,  let  us  give  it  to  him  that  hath  not  so  well 
deserved  it.  Do  as  ye  list,  said  Sagwarides,  for  the  gift  is 
yours,  for  I  will  none  have  an  I  had  deserved  it.  So  was  it 
given  to  Sagwarides,  whereof  he  thanked  them  ;  and  so  was 
he  lord,  and  worshipfully  he  did  govern  it.  And  then  Sir 
Sagwarides  delivered  all  prisoners,  and  set  good  governance 
in  that  valley ;  and  so  he  returned  into  Cornwall,  and  told 


296  King   Arthur 

King  Mark  and  La  Beale  Isoud  how  Sir  Tristram  had  ad- 
vanced him  to  the  Isle  of  Servage,  and  there  he  proclaimed 
in  all  Cornwall  of  all  the  adventures  of  these  two  knights, 
so  was  it  openly  known.  But  full  woe  was  La  Beale  Isoud 
when  she  heard  tell  that  Sir  Tristram  was  wedded  to  Isoud 
La  Blanche  Mains. 


CHAPTER    XL 

HOW   SIR   LAMORAK    DEPARTED    FROM    SIR   TRISTRAM,    AND   HOW  HE 
MET   WITH    SIR    FROL,    AND   AFTER   WITH   SIR   LAUNCELOT 

So  turn  we  unto  Sir  Lamorak,  that  rode  toward  Arthur's 
court,  and  Sir  Tristram's  wife  and  Kehydius  took  a  vessel 
and  sailed  into  Brittany,  unto  King  Howel,  where  he  was 
welcome.  And  when  he  heard  of  these  adventures  they 
marvelled  of  his  noble  deeds.  Now  turn  we  unto  Sir 
Lamorak,  that  when  he  was  departed  from  Sir  Tristram  he 
rode  out  of  the  forest,  till  he  came  to  an  hermitage.  When 
the  hermit  saw  him,  he  asked  him  from  whence  he  came. 
Sir,  said  Sir  Lamorak,  I  come  from  this  valley.  Sir,  said 
the  hermit :  Thereof  I  marvel.  For  this  twenty  winter  I 
saw  never  no  knight  pass  this  country  but  he  was  either 
slain  or  villainously  wounded,  or  pass  as  a  poor  prisoner. 
Those  ill  customs,  said  Sir  Lamorak,  are  fordone,  for  Sir 
Tristram  slew  your  lord,  Sir  Nabon,  and  his  son.  Then  was 
the  hermit  glad,  and  all  his  brethren,  for  he  said  there  was 
never  such  a  tyrant  among  Christian  men.  And  therefore, 
said  the  hermit,  this  valley  and  franchise  we  will  hold  of  Sir 
Tristram.  So  on  the  morrow  Sir  Lamorak  departed  ;  and 
as  he  rode  he  saw  four  knights  fight  against  one,  and  that 
one  knight  defended  him  well,  but  at  the  last  the  four 
knights  had  him  down.  And  then  Sir  Lamorak  went  be- 
twixt them,  and  asked  them  why  they  would  slay  that  one 
knight,  and  said  it  was  shame,  four  against  one.  Thou 
shalt  well  wit,  said  the  four  knights,  that  he  is  false.  That  is 
your  tale,  said  Sir  Lamorak,  and  when  I  hear  him  also 
speak,  I  will  say  as  ye  say.  Then  said  Lamorak  :  Ah, 
knight,  can  ye  not  excuse  you,  but  that  ye  are  a  false 
knight.  Sir,  said  he,  yet  can  I  excuse  me  both  with 
my  word  and  with  my  hands,  that  I  will  make  good 
upon  one  of  the  best  of  them,  my  body  to  his  body. 


King   Arthur  297 

Then  spake  they  all  at  once  :  We  will  not  jeopardy  our 
bodies  as  for  thee.  But  wit  thou  well,  they  said,  an 
King  Arthur  were  here  himself,  it  should  not  lie  in  his 
power  to  save  his  life.  That  is  too  much  said,  said  Sir 
Lamorak,  but  many  speak  behind  a  man  more  than  they  will 
say  to  his  face  ;  and  by  cause  of  your  words  ye  shall  under- 
stand that  I  am  one  of  the  simplest  of  King  Arthur's  court ; 
in  the  worship  of  my  lord  now  do  your  best,  and  in  despite 
of  you  I  shall  rescue  him.  And  then  they  lashed  all  at  once 
to  Sir  Lamorak,  but  anon  at  two  strokes  Sir  Lamorak  had 
slain  two  of  them,  and  then  the  other  two  fled.  So  then  Sir 
Lamorak  turned  again  to  that  knight,  and  asked  him  his 
name.  Sir,  he  said,  my  name  is  Sir  Frol  of  the  Out  Isles. 
Then  he  rode  with  Sir  Lamorak  and  bare  him  company. 
And  as  they  rode  by  the  way  they  saw  a  seemly  knight  riding 
against  them,  and  all  in  white.  Ah,  said  Frol,  yonder 
knight  jousted  late  with  me  and  smote  me  down,  therefore  I 
will  joust  with  him.  Ye  shall  not  do  so,  said  Sir  Lamorak, 
by  my  counsel,  an  ye  will  tell  me  your  quarrel,  whether  ye 
jousted  at  his  request,  or  he  at  yours.  Nay,  said  Sir  Frol,  I 
jousted  with  him  at  my  request.  Sir,  said  Lamorak,  then  will 
I  counsel  you  deal  no  more  with  him,  for  meseemeth  by  his 
countenance  he  should  be  a  noble  knight,  and  no  japer ;  for 
methinketh  he  should  be  of  the  Table  Round.  Therefore  I 
will  not  spare,  said  Sir  Frol.  And  then  he  cried  and  said  : 
Sir  knight,  make  thee  ready  to  joust.  That  needeth  not, 
said  the  White  Knight,  for  I  have  no  lust  to  joust  with  thee ; 
but  yet  they  feutred  their  spears,  and  the  White  Knight 
overthrew  Sir  Frol,  and  then  he  rode  his  way  a  soft  pace. 
Then  Sir  Lamorak  rode  after  him,  and  prayed  him  to  tell  him 
his  name  :  For  meseemeth  ye  should  be  of  the  fellowship  of 
the  Round  Table.  Upon  a  covenant,  said  he,  I  will  tell  you 
my  name,  so  that  ye  will  not  discover  my  name,  and  also  that 
ye  will  tell  me  yours.  Then,  said  he,  my  name  is  Sir 
Lamorak  de  Galis.  And  my  name  is  Sir  Launcelot  du  Lake. 
Then  they  put  up  their  swords,  and  kissed  heartily  together, 
and  either  made  great  joy  of  other.  Sir,  said  Sir  Lamorak, 
an  it  please  you  I  will  do  you  service.  God  defend,  said 
Launcelot,  that  any  of  so  noble  a  blood  as  ye  be  should  do 
me  service.  Then  he  said :  More,  I  am  in  a  quest  that  I 
must  do  myself  alone.  Now  God  speed  you,  said  Sir 
Lamorak,  and  so  they  departed.  Then  Sir  Lamorak  came 
to  Sir  Frol  and  horsed  him  again.  What  knight  is  that  ?  said 


298  King   Arthur 

Sir  Frol.  Sir,  he  said,  it  is  not  for  you  to  know,  nor  it  is  no 
point  of  my  charge.  Ye  are  the  more  uncourteous,  said  Sir 
Frol,  and  therefore  I  will  depart  from  you.  Ye  may  do  as 
ye  list,  said  Sir  Lamorak,  and  yet  by  my  company  ye  have 
saved  the  fairest  flower  of  your  garland ;  so  they  departed. 


CHAPTER    XLI 

HOW  SIR  LAMORAK  SLEW  SIR  FROL,  AND  OF  THE  COURTEOUS  FIGHTING 
WITH    SIR    BELLIANCE  HIS   BROTHER 

THEN  within  two  or  three  days  Sir  Lamorak  found  a 
knight  at  a  well  sleeping,  and  his  lady  sat  with  him  and 
waked.  Right  so  came  Sir  Gawaine  and  took  the  knight's 
lady,  and  set  her  up  behind  his  squire.  So  Sir  Lamorak 
rode  after  Sir  Gawaine,  and  said :  Sir  Gawaine,  turn  again. 
And  then  said  Sir  Gawaine  :  What  will  ye  do  with  me  ?  for 
I  am  nephew  unto  King  Arthur.  Sir,  said  he,  for  that 
cause  I  will  spare  you,  else  that  lady  should  abide  with  me, 
or  else  ye  should  joust  with  me.  Then  Sir  Gawaine  turned 
him  and  ran  to  him  that  ought  the  lady,  with  his  spear,  but 
the  knight  with  pure  might  smote  down  Sir  Gawaine,  and 
took  his  lady  with  him.  All  this  Sir  Lamorak  saw,  and  said 
to  himself:  But  I  revenge  my  fellow  he  will  say  of  me 
dishonour  in  King  Arthur's  court.  Then  Sir  Lamorak 
returned  and  proffered  that  knight  to  joust.  Sir,  said  he, 
I  am  ready.  And  there  they  came  together  with  all  their 
might,  and  there  Sir  Lamorak  smote  the  knight  through 
both  sides  that  he  fell  to  the  earth  dead.  Then  that  lady 
rode  to  that  knight's  brother  that  hight  Belliance  le  Orgulus, 
that  dwelt  fast  thereby,  and  then  she  told  him  how  his 
brother  was  slain.  Alas,  said  he,  I  will  be  revenged.  And 
so  he  horsed  him,  and  armed  him,  and  within  a  while  he 
overtook  Sir  Lamorak,  and  bad  him  :  Turn  and  leave  that 
lady,  for  thou  and  I  must  play  a  new  play;  for  thou  hast 
slain  my  brother  Sir  Frol,  that  was  a  better  knight  than  ever 
wert  thou.  It  might  well  be,  said  Sir  Lamorak,  but  this  day 
in  the  field  I  was  found  the  better.  So  they  rode  together, 
and  unhorsed  other,  and  turned  their  shields,  and  drew 
their  swords,  and  fought  mightily  as  noble  knights  proved, 
by  the  space  of  two  hours.  So  then  Sir  Belliance  prayed 
him  to  tell  him  his  name.  Sir,  said  he,  my  name  is  Sir 
Lamorak  de  Galis.  Ah,  said  Sir  Belliance,  thou  art  the 


King   Arthur  299 

man  in  the  world  that  I  most  hate,  for  I  slew  my  sons  for 
thy  sake,  where  I  saved  thy  life,  and  now  thou  hast  slain  my 
brother  Sir  Frol.  Alas,  how  should  I  be  accorded  with 
thee ;  therefore  defend  thee,  for  thou  shalt  die,  there  is 
none  other  remedy.  Alas,  said  Sir  Lamorak,  full  well  me 
ought  to  know  you,  for  ye  are  the  man  that  most  have 
done  for  me.  And  therewithal  Sir  Lamorak  kneeled  down, 
and  besought  him  of  grace.  Arise,  said  Sir  Belliance,  or 
else  thereas  thou  kneelest  I  shall  slay  thee.  That  shall 
not  need,  said  Sir  Lamorak,  for  I  will  yield  me  unto  you, 
not  for  fear  of  you,  nor  for  your  strength,  but  your  goodness 
maketh  me  full  loath  to  have  ado  with  you ;  wherefore  I 
require  you  for  God's  sake,  and  for  the  honour  of  knight- 
hood, forgive  me  all  that  I  have  offended  unto  you.  Alas, 
said  Belliance,  leave  thy  kneeling,  or  else  I  shall  slay  thee 
without  mercy.  Then  they  yede  again  unto  battle,  and 
either  wounded  other,  that  all  the  ground  was  bloody  there 
as  they  fought.  And  at  the  last  Belliance  withdrew  him 
aback  and  set  him  down  softly  upon  a  little  hill,  for  he  was 
so  faint  for  bleeding  that  he  might  not  stand.  Then  Sir 
Lamorak  threw  his  shield  upon  his  back,  and  asked  him 
what  cheer.  Well,  said  Sir  Belliance.  Ah,  sir,  yet  shall  I 
show  you  favour  in  your  mal-ease.  Ah,  knight  Sir  Belliance, 
said  Sir  Lamorak,  thou  art  a  fool,  for  an  I  had  had  thee  at 
such  advantage  as  thou  hast  done  me,  I  should  slay  thee  ;  but 
thy  gentleness  is  so  good  and  so  large,  that  I  must  needs 
forgive  thee  mine  evil  will.  And  then  Sir  Lamorak  kneeled 
down,  and  unlaced  first  his  umberere,  and  then  his  own,  and 
then  either  kissed  other  with  weeping  tears.  Then  Sir 
Lamorak  led  Sir  Belliance  to  an  abbey  fast  by,  and  there 
Sir  Lamorak  would  not  depart  from  Belliance  till  he  was 
whole.  And  then  they  sware  together  that  none  of  them 
should  never  fight  against  other.  So  Sir  Lamorak  departed 
and  went  to  the  court  of  King  Arthur. 

Here  leave  *we  of  Sir  Lamorak 

and  of  Sir  Tristram.     And 

here  beginneth  the  history 

of  La.  Cote  Male  Taile, 


300  King   Arthur 


BOOK    IX 


CHAPTER   I 

HOW  A   YOUNG   MAN  CAME  INTO  THE  COURT  OF  KING  ARTHUR,  AND 
HOW  SIR  KAY  CALLED  HIM    IN  SCORN  LA  COTE  MALE  TAILE 

AT  the  court  of  King  Arthur  there  came  a  young  man 
bigly  made,  and  he  was  richly  bisene :  and  he  desired  to  be 
made  knight  of  the  king,  but  his  over-garment  sat  over- 
thwartly,  howbeit  it  was  rich  cloth  of  gold.  What  is  your 
name  ?  said  King  Arthur.  Sir,  said  he,  my  name  is  Breunor 
le  Noire,  and  within  short  space  ye  shall  know  that  I  am  of 
good  kin.  It  may  well  be,  said  Sir  Kay,  the  Seneschal,  but 
in  mockage  ye  shall  be  called  La  Cote  Male  Taile,  that  is 
as  much  to  say,  the  evil-shapen  coat.  It  is  a  great  thing 
that  thou  askest,  said  the  king ;  and  for  what  cause  wearest 
thou  that  rich  coat  ?  tell  me,  for  I  can  well  think  for  some 
cause  it  is.  Sir,  he  answered,  I  had  a  father,  a  noble  knight, 
and  as  he  rode  a-hunting,  upon  a  day  it  happed  him  to 
lay  him  down  to  sleep  ;  and  there  came  a  knight  that  had 
been  long  his  enemy,  and  when  he  saw  he  was  fast  on  sleep 
he  all  to  hewed  him ;  and  this  same  coat  had  my  father  on 
the  same  time ;  and  that  maketh  this  coat  to  sit  so  evil  upon 
me,  for  the  strokes  be  on  it  as  I  found  it,  and  never  shall 
be  amended  for  me.  Thus  to  have  my  father's  death  in 
remembrance  I  wear  this  coat  till  1  be  revenged ;  and  by 
cause  ye  are  called  the  most  noblest  king  of  the  world  I 
come  to  you  that  ye  should  make  me  knight.  Sir,  said  Sir 
Lamorak  and  Sir  Gaheris,  it  were  well  done  to  make  him 
knight ;  for  him  beseem  eth  well  of  person  and  of  counten- 
ance, that  he  shall  prove  a  good  man,  and  a  good  knight, 
and  a  mighty  ;  for,  sir,  an  ye  be  remembered,  even  such 
one  was  Sir  Launcelot  du  Lake  when  he  came  first  into  this 
court,  and  full  few  of  us  knew  from  whence  he  came ;  and 
now  is  he  proved  the  man  of  most  worship  in  the  world ; 
and  all  your  court  and  all  your  Round  Table  is  by  Sir 
Launcelot  worshipped  and  amended  more  than  by  any 
knight  now  living.  That  is  truth,  said  the  king,  and  to- 
morrow at  your  request  I  shall  make  him  knight.  So  on 


King   Arthur  301 

the  morrow  there  was  an  hart  found,  and  thither  rode  King 
Arthur  with  a  company  of  his  knights  to  slay  the  hart.  And 
this  young  man  that  Sir  Kay  named  La  Cote  Male  Taile 
was  there  left  behind  with  Queen  Guenever ;  and  by  sudden 
adventure  there  was  an  horrible  lion  kept  in  a  strong  tower 
of  stone,  and  it  happened  that  he  at  that  time  brake  loose, 
and  came  hurling  afore  the  queen  and  her  knights.  And 
when  the  queen  saw  the  lion  she  cried  and  fled,  and  prayed 
her  knights  to  rescue  her.  And  there  was  none  of  them  all 
but  twelve  that  abode,  and  all  the  other  fled.  Then  said 
La  Cote  Male  Taile :  Now  I  see  well  that  all  coward  knights 
be  not  dead ;  and  therewithal  he  drew  his  sword  and  dressed 
him  afore  the  lion.  And  that  lion  gaped  wide  and  came 
upon  him  ramping  to  have  slain  him.  And  he  then  smote 
him  in  the  middes  of  the  head  such  a  mighty  stroke  that  it 
clave  his  head  in  sunder,  and  dashed  to  the  earth.  Then 
was  it  told  the  queen  how  the  young  man  that  Sir  Kay 
named  by  scorn  La  Cote  Male  Taile  had  slain  the  lion. 
With  that  the  king  came  home.  And  when  the  queen  told 
him  of  that  adventure,  he  was  well  pleased,  and  said :  Upon 
pain  of  mine  head  he  shall  prove  a  noble  man  and  a  faithful 
knight,  and  true  of  his  promise :  then  the  king  forthwithal 
made  him  knight.  Now  sir,  said  this  young  knight,  I  require 
you  and  all  the  knights  of  your  court,  that  ye  call  me  by 
none  other  name  but  La  Cote  Male  Taile :  in  so  much  as 
Sir  Kay  hath  so  named  me  so  will  I  be  called.  I  assent  me 
well  thereto,  said  the  king. 


CHAPTER   II 

HOW  A  DAMOSEL  CAME  INTO  THE  COURT  AND  DESIRED  A  KNIGHT 
TO  TAKE  ON  HIM  AN  ENQUEST,  WHICH  LA  COTE  MALE  TAILE 
EM  PRISED 

THEN  that  same  day  there  came  a  damosel  into  the  court, 
and  she  brought  with  her  a  great  black  shield,  with  a  white 
hand  in  the  middes  holding  a  sword.  Other  picture  was 
there  none  in  that  shield.  When  King  Arthur  saw  her  he 
asked  her  from  whence  she  came  and  what  she  would.  Sir, 
she  said,  I  have  ridden  long  and  many  a  day  with  this  shield 
many  ways,  and  for  this  cause  I  am  come  to  your  court :  there 
was  a  good  knight  that  ought  this  shield,  and  this  knight 

I    45  *L 


302  King   Arthur 

had  undertaken  a  great  deed  of  arms  to  achieve  it ;  and  so  it 
misfortuned  him  another  strong  knight  met  with  him  by 
sudden  adventure,  and  there  they  fought  long,  and  either 
wounded  other  passing  sore ;  and  they  were  so  wary  that 
they  left  that  battle  even  hand.  So  this  knight  that  ought 
this  shield  saw  none  other  way  but  he  must  die  ;  and  then 
he  commanded  me  to  bear  this  shield  to  the  court  of  King 
Arthur,  he  requiring  and  praying  some  good  knight  to  take 
this  shield,  and  that  he  would  fulfil  the  quest  that  he  was  in. 
Now  what  say  ye  to  this  quest  ?  said  King  Arthur ;  is  there 
any  of  you  here  that  will  take  upon  him  to  welde  this  shield? 
Then  was  there  not  one  that  would  speak  one  word.  Then 
Sir  Kay  took  the  shield  in  his  hands.  Sir  knight,  said  the 
damosel,  what  is  your  name  ?  Wit  ye  well,  said  he,  my 
name  is  Sir  Kay,  the  Seneschal,  that  wide-where  is  known. 
Sir,  said  that  damosel,  lay  down  that  shield,  for  wit  ye  well 
it  falleth  not  for  you,  for  he  must  be  a  better  knight  than  ye 
that  shall  welde  this  shield.  Damosel,  said  Sir  Kay,  wit  ye 
well  I  took  this  shield  in  my  hands  by  your  leave  for  to 
behold  it,  not  to  that  intent ;  but  go  wheresomever  thou 
wilt,  for  I  will  not  go  with  you.  Then  the  damosel  stood 
still  a  great  while  and  beheld  many  of  those  knights.  Then 
spake  the  knight,  La  Cote  Male  Taile :  Fair  damosel,  I  will 
take  the  shield  and  that  adventure  upon  me,  so  I  wist  I 
should  know  whitherward  my  journey  might  be ;  for  by 
cause  I  was  this  day  made  knight  I  would  take  this  adven- 
ture upon  me.  What  is  your  name,  fair  young  man  ?  said 
the  damosel.  My  name  is,  said  he,  La  Cote  Male  Taile. 
Well  mayest  thou  be  called  so,  said  the  damosel,  the  knight 
with  the  evil-shapen  coat ;  but  an  thou  be  so  hardy  to  take 
upon  thee  to  bear  that  shield  and  to  follow  me,  wit  thou 
well  thy  skin  shall  be  as  well  hewn  as  thy  coat.  As  for  that, 
said  La  Cote  Male  Taile,  when  I  am  so  hewn  I  will  ask  you 
no  salve  to  heal  me  withal.  And  forthwithal  there  came 
into  the  court  two  squires  and  brought  him  great  horses, 
and  his  armour,  and  his  spears,  and  anon  he  was  armed  and 
took  his  leave.  I  would  not  by  my  will,  said  the  king,  that 
ye  took  upon  you  that  hard  adventure.  Sir,  said  he,  this 
adventure  is  mine,  and  the  first  that  ever  I  took  upon  me, 
and  that  will  I  follow  whatsomever  come  of  me.  Then 
that  damosel  departed,  and  La  Cote  Male  Taile  fast  followed 
after.  And  within  a  while  he  overtook  the  damosel,  and 
anon  she  missaid  him  in  the  foulest  manner. 


King   Arthur  303 


CHAPTER   III 

HOW    LA    COTE    MALE   TAILE    OVERTHREW   SIR    DAGONET   THE    KING'S 
FOOL,    AND    OF   THE    REBUKE   THAT    HE    HAD    OF   THE    DAMOSEL 

THEN  Sir  Kay  ordained  Sir  Dagonet,  King  Arthur's  fool, 
to  follow  after  La  Cote   Male  Taile ;  and  there   Sir  Kay 
ordained  that  Sir  Dagonet  was  horsed  and  armed,  and  bad 
him  follow  La  Cote  Alale  Taile  and  proffer  him  to  joust,  and 
so  he  did  ;  and  when  he  saw  La  Cote  Male  Taile,  he  cried 
and  bad  him  make  him  ready  to  joust.     So  Sir  La  Cote 
Male  Taile  smote  Sir  Dagonet  over  his  horse's  croup.     Then 
the  damosel  mocked  La  Cote  Male  Taile,  and  said  :  Fie  for 
shame  !  now  art  thou  shamed  in  Arthur's  court,  when  they 
send  a  fool  to  have  ado  with  thee,  and  specially  at  thy  first 
jousts ;  thus  she  rode  long,  and  chid.     And  within  a  while 
there  came  Sir   Bleoberis,  the  good  knight,  and  there  he 
jousted  with  La  Cote  Male  Taile,  and  there  Sir  Bleoberis 
smote   him  so  sore,   that  horse  and  all  fell  to  the  earth. 
Then  La  Cote  Male  Taile  arose  up  lightly,  and  dressed  his 
shield,  and  drew  his  sword,  and  would  have  done  battle  to 
the  utterance,  for  he  was  wood  wroth.     Not  so,  said  Sir 
Bleoberis  de  Ganis,  as  at  this  time  I  will  not  fight  upon  foot. 
Then  the  damosel  Maledisant  rebuked  him  in  the  foulest 
manner,  and  bad  him :  Turn  again,  coward.     Ah,  damosel, 
he   said,    I  pray  you   of    mercy  to  missay  me   no  more, 
my  grief  is  enough  though  ye  give  me  no  more ;  I  call 
myself  never  the  worse  knight  when  a  mare's  son  faileth  me, 
and  also  I  count  me  never  the  worse  knight  for  a  fall  of  Sir 
Bleoberis.     So  thus  he  rode  with  her  two  days ;  and  by 
fortune  there  came  Sir  Palomides  and  encountered  with  him, 
and  he  in  the  same  wise  served  him  as  did  Bleoberis  tofore 
hand.     What  dost  thou  here  in  my  fellowship  ?  said  the 
damosel  Maledisant,  thou  canst  not  sit  no  knight,  nor  with- 
stand him  one  buffet,  but  if  it  were  Sir  Dagonet.     Ah,  fair 
damosel,  I  am  not  the  worse  to  take  a  fall  of  Sir  Palomides, 
and  yet  great  disworship  have  I  none,  for  neither  Bleoberis 
nor  yet  Palomides  would  not  fight  with  me  on  foot.     As  for 
that,  said  the  damosel,  wit  thou  well  they  have  disdain  and 
scorn  to  light  off  their  horses  to  fight  with  such  a   lewd 
knight  as  thou  art.     So  in  the  meanwhile  there  came  Sir 
Mordred,  Sir  Gawaine's  brother,  and  so  he  fell  in  the  fellow- 
ship with  the  damosel  Maledisant.     And  then  they  came 


304  King   Arthur 

afore  the  Castle  Orgulous,  and  there  was  such  a  custom  that 
there  might  no  knight  come  by  that  castle  but  either  he 
must  joust  or  be  prisoner,  or  at  the  least  to  lose  his  horse  and 
his  harness.  And  there  came  out  two  knights  against  them, 
and  Sir  Mordred  jousted  with  the  foremost,  and  that  knight 
of  the  castle  smote  Sir  Mordred  down  off  his  horse.  And 
then  La  Cote  Male  Taile  jousted  with  that  other,  and  either 
of  them  smote  other  down,  horse  and  all,  to  the  earth.  And 
when  they  avoided  their  horses,  then  either  of  them  took 
other's  horses.  And  then  La  Cote  Male  Taile  rode  unto 
that  knight  that  smote  down  Sir  Mordred,  and  jousted  with 
him.  And  there  Sir  La  Cote  Male  Taile  hurt  and  wounded 
him  passing  sore,  and  put  him  from  his  horse  as  he  had 
been  dead.  So  he  turned  unto  him  that  met  him  afore, 
and  he  took  the  flight  towards  the  castle,  and  Sir  La  Cote 
Male  Taile  rode  after  him  into  the  Castle  Orgulous,  and 
there  La  Cote  Male  Taile  slew  him. 


CHAPTER   IV 

HOW  LA  COTE  MALE  TAILE  FOUGHT  AGAINST  AN  HUNDRED  KNIGHTS, 
AND    HOW    HE    ESCAPED    BY   THE    MEAN    OF   A   LADY 

AND  anon  there  came  an  hundred  knights  about  him  and 
assailed  him  ;  and  when  he  saw  his  horse  should  be  slain  he 
alit  and  voided  his  horse,  and  put  the  bridle  under  his  feet, 
and  so  put  him  out  of  the  gate.  And  when  he  had  so  done 
he  hurled  in  among  them,  and  dressed  his  back  unto  a  lady's 
chamber-wall,  thinking  himself  that  he  had  liefer  die  there 
with  worship  than  to  abide  the  rebukes  of  the  damosel 
Maledisant.  And  in  the  meantime  as  he  stood  and  fought, 
that  lady  whose  was  the  chamber  went  out  slily  at  her 
postern,  and  without  the  gates  she  found  La  Cote  Male 
Taile's  horse,  and  lightly  she  gat  him  by  the  bridle,  and 
tied  him  to  the  postern.  And  then  she  went  unto  her 
chamber  slily  again  for  to  behold  how  that  one  knight  fought 
against  an  hundred  knights.  And  when  she  had  beheld 
him  long  she  went  to  a  window  behind  his  back,  and  said : 
Thou  knight,  thou  fightest  wonderly  well,  but  for  all  that  at 
the  last  thou  must  needs  die,  but  an  thou  canst  through  thy 
mighty  prowess  win  unto  yonder  postern,  for  there  have  I 
fastened  thy  horse  to  abide  thee :  but  wit  thou  well  thou 


King   Arthur  305 

must  think  on  thy  worship,  and  think  not  to  die,  for  thou 
mayst  not  win  unto  that  postern  without  thou  do  nobly  and 
mightily.  When  La  Cote  Male  Taile  heard  her  say  so  he 
gripped  his  sword  in  his  hands,  and  put  his  shield  fair  afore 
him,  and  through  the  thickest  press  he  thrulled  through  them. 
And  when  he  came  to  the  postern  he  found  there  ready  four 
knights,  and  at  two  the  first  strokes  he  slew  two  of  the  knights, 
and  the  other  fled ;  and  so  he  won  his  horse  and  rode  from 
them.  And  all  as  it  was  it  was  rehearsed  in  King  Arthur's  court, 
how  he  slew  twelve  knights  within  the  Castle  Orgulous  ;  and 
so  he  rode  on  his  way.  And  in  the  meanwhile  the  damosel 
said  to  Sir  Mordred  :  I  ween  my  foolish  knight  be  either 
slain  or  taken  prisoner  :  then  were  they  ware  where  he  came 
riding.  And  when  he  was  come  unto  them  he  told  all  how 
he  had  sped  and  escaped  in  despite  of  them  all :  And  some 
of  the  best  of  them  will  tell  no  tales.  Thou  liest  falsely, 
said  the  damosel,  that  dare  I  make  good,  but  as  a  fool  and 
a  dastard  to  all  knighthood  they  have  let  thee  pass.  That 
may  ye  prove,  said  La  Cote  Male  Taile.  With  that  she 
sent  a  courier  of  hers  that  rode  alway  with  her  for  to  know 
the  truth  of  this  deed ;  and  so  he  rode  thither  lightly,  and 
asked  how  and  in  what  manner  that  La  Cote  Male  Taile 
was  escaped  out  of  the  castle.  Then  all  the  knights  cursed 
him,  and  said  that  he  was  a  fiend  and  no  man  :  for  he  hath 
slain  here  twelve  of  our  best  knights,  and  we  weened  unto 
this  day  that  it  had  been  too  much  for  Sir  Launcelot  du 
Lake  or  for  Sir  Tristram  de  Liones.  And  in  despite  of  us 
all  he  is  departed  from  us  and  maugre  our  heads.  With 
this  answer  the  courier  departed  and  came  to  Maledisant  his 
lady,  and  told  her  all  how  Sir  La  Cote  Male  Taile  had  sped 
at  the  Castle  Orgulous.  Then  she  smote  down  her  head, 
and  said  little.  By  my  head,  said  Sir  Mordred  to  the 
damosel,  ye  are  greatly  to  blame  so  to  rebuke  him,  for  I 
warn  you  plainly  he  is  a  good  knight,  and  I  doubt  not  but 
he  shall  prove  a  noble  knight ;  but  as  yet  he  may  not  yet  sit 
sure  on  horseback,  for  he  that  shall  be  a  good  horseman  it 
must  come  of  usage  and  exercise.  But  when  he  cometh  to 
the  strokes  of  his  sword  he  is  then  noble  and  mighty,  and 
that  saw  Sir  Bleoberis  and  Sir  Palomides,  for  wit  ye  well 
they  are  wily  men  of  arms,  and  anon  they  know  when  they 
see  a  young  knight  by  his  riding,  how  they  are  sure  to  give 
him  a  fall  from  his  horse  or  a  great  buffet.  But  for  the 
most  part  they  will  not  light  on  foot  with  young  knights,  for 


306  King   Arthur 

they  are  wight  and  strongly  armed.  For  in  likewise  Sir 
Launcelot  du  Lake,  when  he  was  first  made  knight,  he  was 
often  put  to  the  worse  upon  horseback,  but  ever  upon  foot 
he  recovered  his  renown,  and  slew  and  defoiled  many 
knights  of  the  Round  Table.  And  therefore  the  rebukes 
that  Sir  Launcelot  did  unto  many  knights  causeth  them 
that  be  men  of  prowess  to  beware ;  for  often  I  have  seen  the 
old  proved  knights  rebuked  and  slain  by  them  that  were  but 
young  beginners.  Thus  they  rode  sure  talking  by  the  way 
together.  Here  leave  we  off  a  while  of  this  tale,  and  speak 
we  of  Sir  Launcelot  du  Lake ; 


CHAPTER  V 

HOW  SIR  LAUNCELOT  CAME  TO  THE  COURT  AND  HEARD  OF  LA  COTE 
MALE  TAILE,  AND  HOW  HE  FOLLOWED  AFTER  HIM,  AND  HOW 
LA  COTE  MALE  TAILE  WAS  PRISONER 

THAT  when  he  was  come  to  the  court  of  King  Arthur, 
then  heard  he  tell  of  the  young  knight  La  Cote  Male  Taile, 
how  he  slew  the  lion,  and  how  he  took  upon  him  the 
adventure  of  the  black  shield,  the  which  was  named  at  that 
time  the  hardiest  adventure  of  the  world.  So  God  me  save, 
said  Sir  Launcelot  unto  many  of  his  fellows,  it  was  shame 
to  all  the  noble  knights  to  suffer  such  a  young  knight  to 
take  such  adventure  upon  him  for  his  destruction ;  for  I 
will  that  ye  wit,  said  Sir  Launcelot,  that  that  damosel 
Maledisant  hath  borne  that  shield  many  a  day  for  to  seek 
the  most  proved  knights,  and  that  was  she  that  Breuse 
Saunce  Pite  took  that  shield  from  her,  and  after  Tristram 
de  Liones  rescued  that  shield  from  him  and  gave  it  to  the 
damosel  again,  a  little  afore  that  time  that  Sir  Tristram 
fought  with  my  nephew  Sir  Blamore  de  Ganis,  for  a  quarrel 
that  was  betwixt  the  King  of  Ireland  and  him.  Then  many 
knights  were  sorry  that  Sir  La  Cote  Male  Taile  was  gone 
forth  to  that  adventure.  Truly,  said  Sir  Launcelot,  I  cast 
me  to  ride  after  him.  And  within  seven  days  Sir  Launcelot 
overtook  La  Cote  Male  Taile,  and  then  he  saluted  him  and 
the  damosel  Maledisant.  And  when  Sir  Mordred  saw  Sir 
Launcelot,  then  he  left  their  fellowship ;  and  so  Sir  Launce- 
lot rode  with  them  all  a  day,  and  ever  that  damosel  rebuked 
La  Cote  Male  Taile,  and  then  Sir  Launcelot  answered  for 


King   Arthur  307 

him ;  then  she  left  off,  and  rebuked  Sir  Launcelot.  So 
this  meantime  Sir  Tristram  sent  by  a  damosel  a  letter  unto 
Sir  Launcelot,  excusing  him  of  the  wedding  of  Isoud  la 
Blanche  Mains ;  and  said  in  the  letter,  as  he  was  a  true 
knight  he  had  never  ado  fleshly  with  Isoud  la  Blanche 
Mains ;  and  passing  courteously  and  gentily  Sir  Tristram 
wrote  unto  Sir  Launcelot,  ever  beseeching  him  to  be  his 
good  friend  and  unto  La  Beale  Isoud  of  Cornwall,  and  that 
Sir  Launcelot  would  excuse  him  if  that  ever  he  saw  her. 
And  within  short  time  by  the  grace  of  God,  said  Sir  Tristram, 
that  he  would  speak  with  La  Beale  Isoud,  and  with  him 
right  hastily.  Then  Sir  Launcelot  departed  from  the  damosel 
and  from  Sir  La  Cote  Male  Taile,  for  to  oversee  that  letter, 
and  to  write  another  letter  unto  Sir  Tristram  de  Liones. 
And  in  the  meanwhile  La  Cote  Male  Taile  rode  with  the 
damosel  until  they  came  to  a  castle  that  hight  Pendragon  ; 
and  there  were  six  knights  stood  afore  him,  and  one  of  them 
proffered  to  joust  with  La  Cote  Male  Taile.  And  there  La 
Cote  Male  Taile  smote  him  over  his  horse's  croup.  And 
then  the  five  knights  set  upon  him  all  at  once  with  their 
spears,  and  there  they  smote  La  Cote  Male  Taile  down, 
horse  and  man.  And  then  they  alit  suddenly,  and  set 
their  hands  upon  him  all  at  once,  and  took  him  prisoner, 
and  so  led  him  unto  the  castle  and  kept  him  as  prisoner. 
And  on  the  morn  Sir  Launcelot  arose,  and  delivered  the 
damosel  with  letters  unto  Sir  Tristram,  and  then  he  took 
his  way  after  La  Cote  Male  Taile ;  and  by  the  way  upon  a 
bridge  there  was  a  knight  proffered  Sir  Launcelot  to  joust, 
and  Sir  Launcelot  smote  him  down,  and  then  they  fought 
upon  foot  a  noble  battle  together,  and  a  mighty;  and  at 
the  last  Sir  Launcelot  smote  him  down  grovelling  upon  his 
hands  and  his  knees.  And  then  that  knight  yielded  him, 
and  Sir  Launcelot  received  him  fair.  Sir,  said  the  knight, 
I  require  thee  tell  me  your  name,  for  much  my  heart  giveth 
unto  you.  Nay,  said  Sir  Launcelot,  as  at  this  time  I  will 
not  tell  you  my  name,  unless  then  that  ye  tell  me  your  name. 
Certainly,  said  the  knight,  my  name  is  Sir  Nerovens,  that 
was  made  knight  of  my  lord  Sir  Launcelot  du  Lake.  Ah, 
Nerovens  de  Lile,  said  Sir  Launcelot,  I  am  right  glad  that 
ye  are  proved  a  good  knight,  for  now  wit  ye  well  my  name 
is  Sir  Launcelot  du  Lake.  Alas,  said  Sir  Nerovens  de  Lile, 
what  have  I  done !  And  therewithal  flatling  he  fell  to  his 
feet,  and  would  have  kissed  them,  but  Sir  Launcelot  would 


308  King   Arthur 

not  let  him  ;  and  then  either  made  great  joy  of  other.  And 
then  Sir  Nerovens  told  Sir  Launcelot  that  he  should  not  go 
by  the  Castle  of  Pendragon :  For  there  is  a  lord,  a  mighty 
knight,  and  many  knights  with  him,  and  this  night  I  heard 
say  that  they  took  a  knight  prisoner  yesterday  that  rode 
with  a  damosel,  and  they  say  he  is  a  Knight  of  the  Round 
Table. 


CHAPTER   VI 

HOW    SIR    LAUNCELOT    FOUGHT    WITH     SIX     KNIGHTS,     AND    AFTER 
WITH    SIR    BRIAN,    AND    HOW    HE    DELIVERED    THE    PRISONERS 

AH,  said  Sir  Launcelot,  that  knight  is  my  fellow,  and  him 
shall  I  rescue  or  else  I  shall  lose  my  life  therefor.     And 
therewithal  he  rode  fast  till  he  came  before  the  Castle  of 
Pendragon ;  and  anon  therewithal  there  came  six  knights, 
and   all  made  them  ready  to    set  upon  Sir  Launcelot  at 
once;  then  Sir  Launcelot  feutred  his  spear,  and  smote  the 
foremost  that  he  brake   his  back    insunder,  and  three  of 
them  hit  and  three  failed.     And  then  Sir  Launcelot  passed 
through  them,  and  lightly  he  turned  in  again,  and  smote 
another  knight  through  the  breast  and  throughout  the  back 
more  than  an  ell,  and  therewithal  his  spear  brake.     So  then 
all  the  remnant  of  the  four  knights  drew  their  swords  and 
lashed  at  Sir  Launcelot.    And  at  every  stroke  Sir  Launcelot 
bestowed  so  his  strokes  that  at  four  strokes  sundry  they 
avoided  their  saddles,  passing   sore  wounded ;   and  forth- 
withal  he  rode  hurling  into  that  castle.     And  anon  the  lord 
of  the  castle,  that  was  that  time  cleped  Sir  Brian  de  les  Isles, 
the  which  was  a  noble  man  and  a  great  enemy  unto  King 
Arthur,  within  a  while  he  was  armed  and  upon  horseback. 
And  then  they  feutred  their  spears  and  hurled  together  so 
strongly  that  both  their  horses  rashed  to  the  earth.     And 
then  they  avoided  their  saddles,  and  dressed  their  shields, 
and  drew  their  swords,  and  flang  together  as  woodmen,  and 
there  were  many  strokes  given  in  a  while.     At  the  last  Sir 
Launcelot  gave  to  Sir  Brian  such  a  buffet  that  he  kneeled 
upon  his  knees,  and  then  Sir  Launcelot  rushed  upon  him, 
and  with  great  force  he  pulled  off  his  helm  ;  and  when  Sir 
Brian  saw  that  he  should  be  slain  he  yielded  him,  and  put 
him  in  his  mercy  and  in  his  grace.     Then  Sir  Launcelot 


King   Arthur  309 

made  him  to  deliver  all  his  prisoners  that  he  had  within  his 
castle,  and  therein  Sir  Laimcelot  found  of  Arthur's  knights 
thirty,  and  forty  ladies,  and  so  he  delivered  them  ;  and  then 
he  rode  his  way.  And  anon  as  La  Cote  Male  Taile  was 
delivered  he  gat  his  horse,  and  his  harness,  and  his  Damosel 
Maledisant.  The  meanwhile  Sir  Nerovens,  that  Sir  Launcelot 
had  foughten  withal  afore  at  the  bridge,  he  sent  a  damosel 
after  Sir  Launcelot  to  wit  how  he  sped  at  the  Castle  of 
Pendragon.  And  then  they  within  the  castle  marvelled 
what  knight  he  was,  when  Sir  Brian  and  his  knights  delivered 
all  those  prisoners.  Have  ye  no  marvel,  said  the  damosel, 
for  the  best  knight  in  this  world  was  here,  and  did  this 
journey,  and  wit  ye  well,  she  said,  it  was  Sir  Launcelot. 
Then  was  Sir  Brian  full  glad,  and  so  was  his  lady,  and  all 
his  knights,  that  such  a  man  should  win  them.  And  when 
the  damosel  and  La  Cote  Male  Taile  understood  that  it  was 
Sir  Launcelot  du  Lake  that  had  ridden  with  them  in  fellow- 
ship, and  that  she  remembered  her  how  she  had  rebuked 
him  and  called  him  coward,  then  was  she  passing  heavy. 


CHAPTER   VII 

HOW   SIR  LAUNCELOT  MET  WITH  THE  DAMOSEL  NAMED  MALEDISANT, 
AND   NAMED    HER   THE    DAMOSEL   BIENPENSANT 

So  then  they  took  their  horses  and  rode  forth  a  pace 
after  Sir  Launcelot.  And  within  two  mile  they  overtook 
him,  and  saluted  him,  and  thanked  him,  and  the  damosel 
cried  Sir  Launcelot  mercy  of  her  evil  deed  and  saying :  For 
now  I  know  the  flower  of  all  knighthood  is  departed  even 
between  Sir  Tristram  and  you.  For  God  knoweth,  said  the 
damosel,  that  I  have  sought  you  my  lord,  Sir  Launcelot,  and 
Sir  Tristram  long,  and  now  I  thank  God  I  have  met  with 
you ;  and  once  at  Camelot  I  met  with  Sir  Tristram,  and 
there  he  rescued  this  black  shield  with  the  white  hand 
holding  a  naked  sword  that  Sir  Breuse  Saunce  Pite  had  taken 
from  me.  Now,  fair  damosel,  said  Sir  Launcelot,  who  told 
you  my  name  ?  Sir,  said  she,  there  came  a  damosel  from  a 
knight  that  ye  fought  withal  at  the  bridge,  and  she  told  me 
your  name  was  Sir  Launcelot  du  Lake.  Blame  have  she 
then,  said  Sir  Launcelot,  but  her  lord,  Sir  Nerovens,  hath 
told  her.  But,  damosel,  said  Sir  Launcelot,  upon  this 


3io  King   Arthur 

covenant  I  will  ride  with  you,  so  that  ye  will  not  rebuke  this 
knight  Sir  La  Cote  Male  Taile  no  more ;  for  he  is  a  good 
knight,  and  I  doubt  not  he  shall  prove  a  noble  knight,  and 
for  his  sake   and  pity  that  he  should  not  be  destroyed  I 
followed  him  to  succour  him  in  this  great  need.     Ah,  Jesu 
thank  you,  said  the  damosel,  for  now  I  will  say  unto  you 
and  to  him  both,  I  rebuked  him  never  for  no  hate  that  I 
hated  him,  but  for  great  love  that  I  had  to  him.     For  ever 
I  supposed  that  he  had  been  too  young  and  too  tender  to 
take  upon  him  these  adventures.     And   therefore   by   my 
will  I  would  have  driven  him  away  for  jealousy  that  I  had 
of  his  life,  for  it  may  be  no  young  knight's  deed  that  shall 
achieve  this  adventure  to  the  end.     Pardie,  said  Sir  Launce- 
lot,  it  is  well  said,  and  where  ye  are  called  the  Damosel 
Maledisant  I  will  call  you  the  Damosel  Bienpensant.     And 
so  they  rode  forth  a  great  while  unto  they  came  to  the  border 
of  the  country  of  Surluse,  and  there  they  found  a  fair  village 
with  a  strong  bridge  like  a  fortress.     And  when  Sir  Launce- 
lot  and  they  were  at  the  bridge  there  start  forth  afore  them 
of  gentlemen  and  yeomen  many,  that  said :  Fair  lords,  ye 
may  not  pass  this  bridge  and  this  fortress  by  cause  of  that 
black  shield  that  I  see  one  of  you  bear,  and  therefore  there 
shall  not  pass  but  one  of  you  at  once ;  therefore  choose  you 
which  of  you  shall  enter  within  this  bridge  first.     Then  Sir 
Launcelot  proffered  himself  first  to  enter  within  this  bridge. 
Sir,  said  La  Cote  Male  Taile,  I  beseech  you  let  me  enter 
within  this  fortress,  and  if  I  may  speed  well  I  will  send  for 
you,  and  if  it  happened  that  I  be  slain,  there  it  goeth.     And 
if  so  be  that  I  am  a  prisoner  taken,  then  may  ye  rescue  me. 
I  am  loth,  said  Sir  Launcelot,  to  let  you  pass  this  passage. 
Sir,  said  La  Cote  Male  Taile,  I  pray  you  let  me  put  my  body 
in  this  adventure.     Now  go  your  way,  said  Sir  Launcelot, 
and  Jesu  be  your  speed.     So  he  entered,  and  anon  there 
met  with  him  two  brethren,  the  one  hight  Sir  Plaine  de  Force, 
and  the  other  hight  Sir  Plaine  de  Amours.     And  anon  they 
met  with  Sir  La  Cote  Male  Taile ;  and  first  La  Cote  Male 
Taile  smote  down  Plaine  de  Force,  and  after  he  smote  down 
Plaine   de  Amours ;  and  then  they  dressed  them  to  their 
shields  and  swords,  and  bad  La  Cote  Male   Taile   alight, 
and  so  he  did ;   and   there  was  dashing  and  foining  with 
swords,  and  so  they  began  to  assail  full  hard  La  Cote  Male 
Taile,  and  many  great  wounds  they  gave  him  upon  his  head, 
and  upon  his  breast,  and  upon  his  shoulders.     And  as  he 


King   Arthur  311 

might  ever  among  he  gave  sad  strokes  again.  And  then  the 
two  brethren  traced  and  traversed  for  to  be  of  both  hands  of 
Sir  La  Cote  Male  Taile,  but  he  by  fine  force  and  knightly 
prowess  gat  them  afore  him.  And  then  when  he  felt  himself 
so  wounded,  then  he  doubled  his  strokes,  and  gave  them  so 
many  wounds  that  he  felled  them  to  the  earth,  and  would 
have  slain  them  had  they  not  yielded  them.  And  right  so 
Sir  La  Cote  Male  Taile  took  the  best  horse  that  there  was  of 
them  three,  and  so  rode  forth  his  way  to  the  other  fortress  and 
bridge;  and  there  he  met  with  the  third  brother  whose  name 
was  Sir  Plenorius,  a  full  noble  knight,  and  there  they  jousted 
together,  and  either  smote  other  down,  horse  and  man,  to 
the  earth.  And  then  they  avoided  their  horses,  and  dressed 
their  shields,  and  drew  their  swords,  and  gave  many  sad 
strokes,  and  one  while  the  one  knight  was  afore  on  the  bridge, 
and  another  while  the  other.  And  thus  they  fought  two 
hours  and  more,  and  never  rested.  And  ever  Sir  Launcelot 
and  the  damosel  beheld  them.  Alas,  said  the  damosel,  my 
knight  fighteth  passing  sore  and  over  long.  Now  may  ye 
see,  said  Sir  Launcelot,  that  he  is  a  noble  knight,  for  to  con- 
sider his  first  battle,  and  his  grievous  wounds ;  and  even 
forthwithal  so  wounded  as  he  is,  it  is  marvel  that  he  may 
endure  this  long  battle  with  that  good  knight. 


CHAPTER   VIII 

HOW  LA  COTE  MALE  TAILE  WAS  TAKEN  PRISONER,  AND  AFTER 
RESCUED  BY  SIR  LAUNCELOT,  AND  HOW  SIR  LAUNCELOT  OVER- 
CAME FOUR  BRETHREN 

THIS  meanwhile  Sir  La  Cote  Male  Taile  sank  right  down 
upon  the  earth,  what  forwounded  and  what  forbled  he 
might  not  stand.  Then  the  other  knight  had  pity  of  him, 
and  said  :  Fair  young  knight,  dismay  you  not,  for  had  ye  been 
fresh  when  ye  met  with  me,  as  I  was,  I  wot  well  that  I  should 
not  have  endured  so  long  as  ye  have  done ;  and  therefore 
for  your  noble  deeds  of  arms  I  shall  show  to  you  kindness 
and  gentleness  in  all  that  I  may.  And  forthwithal  this  noble 
knight,  Sir  Plenorius,  took  him  up  in  his  arms,  and  led  him 
into  his  tower.  And  then  he  commanded  him  the  wine,  and 
made  to  search  him  and  to  stop  his  bleeding  wounds.  Sir. 
said  La  Cote  Male  Taile,  withdraw  you  from  me,  and  hie  you 


312  King   Arthur 

to  yonder  bridge  again,  for  there  will  meet  with  you  another 
manner  knight  than  ever  was  I.  Why,  said  Plenorius,  is 
there  another  manner  knight  behind  of  your  fellowship  ? 
Yea,  said  La  Cote  Male  Taile,  there  is  a  much  better  knight 
than  I  am.  What  is  his  name?  said  Plenorius.  Ye  shall 
not  know  for  me,  said  La  Cote  Male  Taile.  Well,  said  the 
knight,  he  shall  be  encountered  withal  whatsomever  he  be. 
Then  Sir  Plenorius  heard  a  knight  call  that  said :  Sir 
Plenorius,  where  art  thou  ?  either  thou  must  deliver  me  the 
prisoner  that  thou  hast  led  unto  thy  tower,  or  else  come  and 
do  battle  with  me.  Then  Plenorius  gat  his  horse,  and  came 
with  a  spear  in  his  hand  walloping  toward  Sir  Launcelot ; 
and  then  they  began  to  feuter  their  spears,  and  came  together 
as  thunder,  and  smote  either  other  so  mightily  that  their 
horses  fell  down  under  them.  And  then  they  avoided  their 
horses,  and  pulled  out  their  swords,  and  like  two  bulls  they 
lashed  together  with  great  strokes  and  foynes ;  but  ever  Sir 
Launcelot  recovered  ground  upon  him,  and  Sir  Plenorius 
traced  to  have  gone  about  him.  But  Sir  Launcelot  would 
not  suffer  that,  but  bare  him  backer  and  backer,  till  he  came 
nigh  his  tower  gate.  And  then  said  Sir  Launcelot :  I  know 
thee  well  for  a  good  knight,  but  wit  thou  well  thy  life  and 
death  is  in  my  hand,  and  therefore  yield  thee  to  me,  and  thy 
prisoner.  The  other  answered  no  word,  but  struck  mightily 
upon  Sir  Launcelot's  helm,  that  the  fire  sprang  out  of  his 
eyes.  Then  Sir  Launcelot  doubled  his  strokes  so  thick,  and 
smote  at  him  so  mightily,  that  he  made  him  kneel  upon  his 
knees.  And  therewith  Sir  Launcelot  leapt  upon  him,  and 
pulled  him  grovelling  down.  Then  Sir  Plenorius  yielded 
him,  and  his  tower,  and  all  his  prisoners  at  his  will.  Then 
Sir  Launcelot  received  him  and  took  his  troth ;  and  then  he 
rode  to  the  other  bridge,  and  there  Sir  Launcelot  jousted 
with  other  three  of  his  brethren,  the  one  hight  Pillounes, 
and  the  other  hight  Pellogris,  and  the  third  Sir  Pellandris. 
And  first  upon  horseback  Sir  Launcelot  smote  them  down, 
and  afterward  he  beat  them  on  foot,  and  made  them  to  yield 
them  unto  him ;  and  then  he  returned  unto  Sir  Plenorius, 
and  there  he  found  in  his  prison  King  Carados  of  Scotland, 
and  many  other  knights,  and  all  they  were  delivered.  And 
then  Sir  La  Cote  Male  Taile  came  to  Sir  Launcelot,  and  then 
Sir  Launcelot  would  have  given  him  all  these  fortresses  and 
these  bridges.  Nay,  said  La  Cote  Male  Taile,  I  will  not 
have  Sir  Plenorius'  livelihood ;  with  that  he  will  grant  you, 


King   Arthur  313 

my  lord  Sir  Launcelot,  to  come  unto  King  Arthur's  court, 
and  to  be  his  knight,  and  all  his  brethren,  I  will  pray  you, 
my  lord,  to  let  him  have  his  livelihood.  I  will  well,  said  Sir 
Launcelot,  with  this  that  he  will  come  to  the  court  of  King 
Arthur  and  become  his  man,  and  his  brethren  five.  And  as 
for  you,  Sir  Plenorius,  I  will  undertake,  said  Sir  Launcelot, 
at  the  next  feast,  so  there  be  a  place  voided,  that  ye  shall 
be  Knight  of  the  Round  Table.  Sir,  said  Plenorius,  at  the 
next  feast  of  Pentecost  I  will  be  at  Arthur's  court,  and  at 
that  time  I  will  be  guided  and  ruled  as  King  Arthur  and  ye 
will  have  me.  Then  Sir  Launcelot  and  Sir  La  Cote  Male 
Taile  reposed  them  there,  unto  the  time  that  Sir  La  Cote 
Male  Taile  was  whole  of  his  wounds,  and  there  they  had 
merry  cheer,  and  good  rest,  and  many  good  games,  and  there 
were  many  fair  ladies. 


CHAPTER   IX 

HOW  SIR  LAUNCELOT  MADE  LA  COTE  MALE  TAILE  LORD  OF  THE 
CASTLE  OF  PENDRAGON,  AND  AFTER  WAS  MADE  KNIGHT  OF 
THE  ROUND  TABLE 

AND  in  the  meanwhile  came  Sir  Kay,  the  Seneschal,  and 
Sir  Brandiles,  and  anon  they  fellowshipped  with  them.  And 
then  within  ten  days,  then  departed  those  knights  of  Arthur's 
court  from  these  fortresses.  And  as  Sir  Launcelot  came  by 
the  Castle  of  Pendragon  there  he  put  Sir  Brian  de  les  Isles 
from  his  lands,  for  cause  he  would  never  be  withhold  with 
King  Arthur ;  and  all  that  Castle  of  Pendragon  and  all  the 
lands  thereof  he  gave  to  Sir  La  Cote  Male  Taile.  And  then 
Sir  Launcelot  sent  for  Nerovens  that  he  made  once  knight, 
and  he  made  him  to  have  all  the  rule  of  that  castle  and  of 
that  country,  under  La  Cote  Male  Taile ;  and  so  they  rode 
to  Arthur's  court  all  wholly  together.  And  at  Pentecost 
next  following  there  was  Sir  Plenorius  and  Sir  La  Cote 
Male  Taile,  called  otherwise  by  right  Sir  Breunor  le  Noire, 
both  made  Knights  of  the  Table  Round ;  and  great  lands 
King  Arthur  gave  them,  and  there  Breunor  le  Noire  wedded 
that  damosel  Maledisant.  And  after  she  was  called  Beau- 
vivante,  but  ever  after  for  the  more  part  he  was  called  La 
Cote  Male  Taile ;  and  he  proved  a  passing  noble  knight, 
and  mighty ;  and  many  worshipful  deeds  he  did  after  in  his 


314  King   Arthur 

life ;  and  Sir  Plenorius  proved  a  noble  knight  and  full  of 
prowess,  and  all  the  days  of  their  life  for  the  most  part  they 
awaited  upon  Sir  Launcelot ;  and  Sir  Plenorius'  brethren 
were  ever  knights  of  King  Arthur.  And  also,  as  the  French 
book  maketh  mention,  Sir  La  Cote  Male  Taile  avenged  his 
father's  death. 


CHAPTER  X 

HOW  LA  BEALE  ISOUD  SENT  LETTERS  TO  SIR  TRISTRAM  BY  HER 
MAID  BRAGWAINE,  AND  OF  DIVERS  ADVENTURES  OF  SIR 
TRISTRAM 

Now  leave  we  here  Sir  La  Cote  Male  Taile,  and  turn  we 
unto  Sir  Tristram  de  Liones  that  was  in  Brittany.  When 
La  Beale  Isoud  understood  that  he  was  wedded  she  sent  to 
him  by  her  maiden  Bragwaine  as  piteous  letters  as  could  be 
thought  and  made,  and  her  conclusion  was  that,  an  it 
pleased  Sir  Tristram,  that  he  would  come  to  her  court,  and 
bring  with  him  Isoud  La  Blanche  Mains,  and  they  should 
be  kept  as  well  as  she  herself.  Then  Sir  Tristram  called 
unto  him  Sir  Kehydius,  and  asked  him  whether  he  would 
go  with  him  into  Cornwall  secretly.  He  answered  him  that 
he  was  ready  at  all  times.  And  then  he  let  ordain  privily  a 
little  vessel,  and  therein  they  went,  Sir  Tristram,  Kehydius, 
Dame  Bragwaine,  and  Gouvernail,  Sir  Tristram's  squire. 
So  when  they  were  in  the  sea  a  contrarious  wind  blew  them 
on  the  coasts  of  North  Wales,  nigh  the  Castle  Perilous. 
Then  said  Sir  Tristram :  Here  shall  ye  abide  me  these  ten 
days,  and  Gouvernail,  my  squire,  with  you.  And  if  so  be 
I  come  not  again  by  that  day  take  the  next  way  into  Corn- 
wall ;  for  in  this  forest  are  many  strange  adventures,  as  I 
have  heard  say,  and  some  of  them  I  cast  me  to  prove  or  I 
depart.  And  when  I  may  I  shall  hie  me  after  you.  Then 
Sir  Tristram  and  Kehydius  took  their  horses  and  departed 
from  their  fellowship.  And  so  they  rode  within  that  forest 
a  mile  and  more;  and  at  the  last  Sir  Tristram  saw  afore 
him  a  likely  knight  armed  sitting  by  a  well,  and  a  strong 
mighty  horse  passing  nigh  him  tied  to  an  oak,  and  a  man 
hoving  and  riding  by  him  leading  an  horse  laden  with 
spears.  And  this  knight  that  sat  at  the  well  seemed  by  his 
countenance  to  be  passing  heavy.  Then  Sir  Tristram  rode 


King   Arthur  315 

near  him  and  said  :  Fair  knight,  why  sit  ye  so  drooping  ?  ye 
seem  to  be  a  knight-errant  by  your  arms  and  harness,  and 
therefore  dress  you  to  joust  with  one  of  us,  or  with  both. 
Therewithal  that  knight  made  no  words,  but  took  his  shield 
and  buckled  it  about  his  neck,  and  lightly  he  took  his  horse 
and  leapt  upon  him.  And  then  he  took  a  great  spear  of 
his  squire,  and  departed  his  way  a  furlong.  Sir  Kehydius 
asked  leave  of  Sir  Tristram  to  joust  first.  Do  your  best, 
said  Sir  Tristram.  So  they  met  together,  and  there  Sir 
Kehydius  had  a  fall,  and  was  sore  wounded  on  high  above 
the  paps.  Then  Sir  Tristram  said :  Knight,  that  is  well 
jousted,  now  make  you  ready  unto  me.  I  am  ready,  said 
the  knight.  And  then  that  knight  took  a  greater  spear  in 
his  hand,  and  encountered  with  Sir  Tristram,  and  there  by 
great  force  that  knight  smote  down  Sir  Tristram  from  his 
horse  and  had  a  great  fall.  Then  Sir  Tristram  was  sore 
ashamed,  and  lightly  he  avoided  his  horse,  and  put  his 
shield  afore  his  shoulder,  and  drew  his  sword.  And  then 
Sir  Tristram  required  that  knight  of  his  knighthood  to  alight 
upon  foot  and  fight  with  him.  I  will  well,  said  the  knight ; 
and  so  he  alit  upon  foot,  and  avoided  his  horse,  and  cast  his 
shield  upon  his  shoulder,  and  drew  his  sword,  and  there 
they  fought  a  long  battle  together  full  nigh  two  hours. 
Then  Sir  Tristram  said  :  Fair  knight,  hold  thine  hand,  and 
tell  me  of  whence  thou  art,  and  what  is  thy  name.  As  for 
that,  said  the  knight,  I  will  be  avised ;  but  an  thou  wilt  tell 
me  thy  name  peradventure  I  will  tell  thee  mine. 


CHAPTER  XI 

HOW  SIR  TRISTRAM  MET  WITH  SIR  LAMORAK  DE  GALIS,  AND 
HOW  THEY  FOUGHT,  AND  AFTER  ACCORDED  NEVER  TO  FIGHT 
TOGETHER 

Now  fair  knight,  he  said,  my  name  is  Sir  Tristram  de 
Liones.  Sir,  said  the  other  knight,  and  my  name  is  Sir 
Lamorak  de  Galis.  Ah,  Sir  Lamorak,  said  Sir  Tristram, 
well  be  we  met,  and  bethink  thee  now  of  the  despite  thou 
didst  me  of  the  sending  of  the  horn  unto  King  Mark's 
court,  to  the  intent  to  have  slain  or  dishonoured  my  lady 
the  Queen,  La  Beale  Isoud ;  and  therefore  wit  thou  well, 
said  Sir  Tristram,  the  one  of  us  shall  die  or  we  depart.  Sir, 


316  King   Arthur 

said  Sir  Lamorak,  remember  that  we  were  together  in  the  Isle 
of  Servage,  and  at  that  time  ye  promised  me  great  friend- 
ship. Then  Sir  Tristram  would  make  no  longer  delays,  but 
lashed  at  Sir  Lamorak ;  and  thus  they  fought  long  till  either 
were  weary  of  other.  Then  Sir  Tristram  said  to  Sir 
Lamorak :  In  all  my  life  met  I  never  with  such  a  knight 
that  was  so  big  and  well  breathed  as  ye  be,  therefore,  said 
Sir  Tristram,  it  were  pity  that  any  of  us  both  should  here  be 
mischieved.  Sir,  said  Sir  Lamorak,  for  your  renown  and 
name  I  will  that  ye  have  the  worship  of  this  battle,  and 
therefore  I  will  yield  me  unto  you.  And  therewith  he  took 
the  point  of  his  sword  to  yield  him.  Nay,  said  Sir  Tristram, 
ye  shall  not  do  so,  for  well  I  know  your  proffers,  and  more 
of  your  gentleness  than  for  any  fear  or  dread  ye  have  of  me. 
And  therewithal  Sir  Tristram  proffered  him  his  sword  and 
said :  Sir  Lamorak,  as  an  overcome  knight  I  yield  me  unto 
you  as  to  a  man  of  the  most  noble  prowess  that  ever  I  met 
withal.  Nay,  said  Sir  Lamorak,  I  will  do  you  gentleness ; 
I  require  you  let  us  be  sworn  together  that  never  none  of  us 
shall  after  this  day  have  ado  with  other.  And  therewithal 
Sir  Tristram  and  Sir  Lamorak  sware  that  never  none  of 
them  should  fight  against  other,  nor  for  weal  nor  for  woe. 


CHAPTER   XII 

HOW   SIR   PALOMIDES    FOLLOWED   THE   QUESTING    BEAST,  AND  SMOTE 
DOWN    SIR   TRISTRAM    AND   SIR    LAMORAK    WITH    ONE    SPEAR 

AND  this  meanwhile  there  came  Sir  Palomides,  the  good 
knight,  following  the  questing  beast  that  had  in  shape  a 
head  like  a  serpent's  head,  and  a  body  like  a  leopard, 
buttocks  like  a  lion,  and  footed  like  an  hart;  and  in  his 
body  there  was  such  a  noise  as  it  had  been  the  noise  of 
thirty  couple  of  hounds  questing,  and  such  a  noise  that 
beast  made  wheresomever  he  went ;  and  this  beast  ever- 
more Sir  Palomides  followed,  for  it  was  called  his  quest. 
And  right  so  as  he  followed  this  beast  it  came  by  Sir 
Tristram,  and  soon  after  came  Palomides.  And  to  brief 
this  matter  he  smote  down  Sir  Tristram  and  Sir  Lamorak 
both  with  one  spear ;  and  so  he  departed  after  the  beast 
Galtisant,  that  was  called  the  questing  beast ;  wherefore 
these  two  knights  were  passing  wroth  that  Sir  Palomides 


King   Arthur  317 

would  not  fight  on  foot  with  them.  Here  men  may  under- 
stand that  be  of  worship,  that  he  was  never  formed  that  all 
times  might  stand,  but  sometime  he  was  put  to  the  worse 
by  mal-fortune ;  and  at  sometime  the  worse  knight  put  the 
better  knight  to  a  rebuke.  Then  Sir  Tristram  and  Sir 
Lamorak  gat  Sir  Kehydius  upon  a  shield  betwixt  them  both, 
and  led  him  to  a  forester's  lodge,  and  there  they  gave  him 
in  charge  to  keep  him  well,  and  with  him  they  abode  three 
days.  Then  the  two  knights  took  their  horses  and  at  the 
cross  they  departed.  And  then  said  Sir  Tristram  to  Sir 
Lamorak :  I  require  you  if  ye  hap  to  meet  with  Sir  Palo- 
mides,  say  him  that  he  shall  find  me  at  the  same  well  where 
I  met  him,  and  there  I,  Sir  Tristram,  shall  prove  whether 
he  be  better  knight  than  I.  And  so  either  departed  from 
other  a  sundry  way,  and  Sir  Tristram  rode  nigh  there  as 
was  Sir  Kehydius ;  and  Sir  Lamorak  rode  until  he  came  to 
a  chapel,  and  there  he  put  his  horse  unto  pasture.  And 
anon  there  came  Sir  Meliagaunce,  that  was  King  Bagde- 
magus'  son,  and  he  there  put  his  horse  to  pasture,  and  was 
not  ware  of  Sir  Lamorak ;  and  then  this  knight  Sir  Melia- 
gaunce made  his  moan  of  the  love  that  he  had  to  Queen 
Guenever,  and  there  he  made  a  woful  complaint.  All  this 
heard  Sir  Lamorak,  and  on  the  morn  Sir  Lamorak  took  his 
horse  and  rode  unto  the  forest,  and  there  he  met  with  two 
knights  hoving  under  the  wood  shaw.  Fair  knights,  said 
Sir  Lamorak,  what  do  ye  hoving  here  and  watching?  and 
if  ye  be  knights-errant  that  will  joust,  lo  I  am  ready.  Nay, 
sir  knight,  they  said,  not  so,  we  abide  not  here  to  joust  with 
you,  but  we  lie  here  in  await  of  a  knight  that  slew  our 
brother.  What  knight  was  that,  said  Sir  Lamorak,  that  you 
would  fain  meet  withal?  Sir,  they  said,  it  is  Sir  Launcelot 
that  slew  our  brother,  and  if  ever  we  may  meet  with  him  he 
shall  not  escape,  but  we  shall  slay  him.  Ye  take  upon  you 
a  great  charge,  said  Sir  Lamorak,  for  Sir  Launcelot  is  a 
noble  proved  knight.  As  for  that  we  doubt  not,  for  there 
nys  none  of  us  but  we  are  good  enough  for  him.  I  will  not 
believe  that,  said  Sir  Lamorak,  for  I  heard  never  yet  of  no 
knight  the  days  of  my  life  but  Sir  Launcelot  was  too  big 
for  him. 


318  King   Arthur 


CHAPTER   XIII 

HOW    SIR    LAMORAK     MET    WITH    SIR    MELIAGAUNCE,    AND     FOUGHT 
TOGETHER    FOR   THE   BEAUTY   OF    DAME    GUENEVER 

RIGHT  so  as  they  stood  talking  thus  Sir  Lamorak  was 
ware  how  Sir  Launcelot  came  riding  straight  toward  them ; 
then  Sir  Lamorak  saluted  him,  and  he  him  again.  And 
then  Sir  Lamorak  asked  Sir  Launcelot  if  there  were  anything 
that  he  might  do  for  him  in  these  marches.  Nay,  said  Sir 
Launcelot,  not  at  this  time  I  thank  you.  Then  either 
departed  from  other,  and  Sir  Lamorak  rode  again  there  as 
he  left  the  two  knights,  and  then  he  found  them  hid  in  the 
leaved  wood.  Fie  on  you,  said  Sir  Lamorak,  false  cowards, 
pity  and  shame  it  is  that  any  of  you  should  take  the  high 
order  of  knighthood.  So  Sir  Lamorak  departed  from  them, 
and  within  a  while  he  met  with  Sir  Meliagaunce.  And  then 
Sir  Lamorak  asked  him  why  he  loved  Queen  Guenever  as 
he  did :  For  I  was  not  far  from  you  when  ye  made  your 
complaint  by  the  chapel.  Did  ye  so  ?  said  Sir  Meliagaunce, 
then  will  I  abide  by  it :  I  love  Queen  Guenever,  what  will 
ye  with  it?  I  will  prove  and  make  good  that  she  is  the 
fairest  lady  and  most  of  beauty  in  the  world.  As  to  that, 
said  Sir  Lamorak,  I  say  nay  thereto,  for  Queen  Morgawse 
of  Orkney,  mother  to  Sir  Gawaine,  and  his  mother  is  the 
fairest  queen  and  lady  that  beareth  the  life.  That  is  not 
so,  said  Sir  Meliagaunce,  and  that  will  I  prove  with  my 
hands  upon  thy  body.  Will  ye  so  ?  said  Sir  Lamorak,  and 
in  a  better  quarrel  keep  I  not  to  fight.  Then  they  departed 
either  from  other  in  great  wrath.  And  then  they  came 
riding  together  as  it  had  been  thunder,  and  either  smote 
other  so  sore  that  their  horses  fell  backward  to  the  earth. 
And  then  they  avoided  their  horses,  and  dressed  their 
shields,  and  drew  their  swords.  And  then  they  hurtled 
together  as  wild  boars,  and  thus  they  fought  a  great  while. 
For  Meliagaunce  was  a  good  man  and  of  great  might,  but 
Sir  Lamorak  was  hard  big  for  him,  and  put  him  always 
aback,  but  either  had  wounded  other  sore.  And  as  they 
stood  thus  fighting,  by  fortune  came  Sir  Launcelot  and  Sir 
Bleoberis  riding.  And  then  Sir  Launcelot  rode  betwixt 
them,  and  asked  them  for  what  cause  they  fought  so  together: 
And  ye  are  both  knights  of  King  Arthur !  Sir,  said  Melia- 
gaunce, I  shall  tell  you  for  what  cause  we  do  this  battle. 


King   Arthur  319 

I  praised  my  lady.  Queen  Guenever,  and  said  she  was  the 
fairest  lady  of  the  world,  and  Sir  Lamorak  said  nay  thereto, 
for  he  said  Queen  Morgawse  of  Orkney  was  fairer  than  she 
and  more  of  beauty.  Ah,  Sir  Lamorak,  why  sayest  thou 
so  ?  it  is  not  thy  part  to  dispraise  thy  princess  that  thou  art 
under  their  obeisance,  and  we  all.  And  therewith  he  alit 
on  foot,  and  said :  For  this  quarrel,  make  thee  ready,  for 
I  will  prove  upon  thee  that  Queen  Guenever  is  the  fairest 
lady  and  most  of  bounte  in  the  world.  Sir,  said  Sir  Lamorak, 
I  am  loath  to  have  ado  with  you  in  this  quarrel,  for  every 
man  thinketh  his  own  lady  fairest ;  and  though  I  praise  the 
lady  that  I  love  most  ye  should  not  be  wroth ;  for  though 
my  lady,  Queen  Guenever,  be  fairest  in  your  eye,  wit  ye 
well  Queen  Morgawse  of  Orkney  is  fairest  in  mine  eye,  and 
so  every  knight  thinketh  his  own  lady  fairest ;  and  wit  ye 
well,  sir,  ye  are  the  man  in  the  world  except  Sir  Tristram 
that  I  am  most  loathest  to  have  ado  withal,  but,  an  ye  will 
needs  fight  with  me  I  shall  endure  you  as  long  as  I  may. 
Then  spake  Sir  Bleoberis  and  said :  My  lord  Sir  Launcelot, 
I  wist  you  never  so  misadvised  as  ye  are  now,  for  Sir  Lamorak 
sayeth  you  but  reason  and  knightly ;  for  I  warn  you  I  have 
a  lady,  and  methinketh  that  she  is  the  fairest  lady  of  the 
world.  Were  this  a  great  reason  that  ye  should  be  wroth 
with  me  for  such  language  ?  And  well  ye  wot,  that  Sir 
Lamorak  is  as  noble  a  knight  as  I  know,  and  he  hath  ought 
you  and  us  ever  good  will,  and  therefore  I  pray  you  be  good 
friends.  Then  Sir  Launcelot  said  unto  Sir  Lamorak :  I 
pray  you  forgive  me  mine  evil  will,  and  if  I  was  misadvised 
I  will  amend  it.  Sir,  said  Sir  Lamorak,  the  amends  is  soon 
made  betwixt  you  and  me.  And  so  Sir  Launcelot  and  Sir 
Bleoberis  departed,  and  Sir  Meliagaunce  and  Sir  Lamorak 
took  their  horses,  and  either  departed  from  other.  And 
within  a  while  came  King  Arthur,  and  met  with  Sir  Lamorak, 
and  jousted  with  him ;  and  there  he  smote  down  Sir  Lamorak, 
and  wounded  him  sore  with  a  spear,  and  so  he  rode  from 
him ;  wherefore  Sir  Lamorak  was  wroth  that  he  would  not 
fight  with  him  on  foot,  howbeit  that  Sir  Lamorak  knew  not 
King  Arthur. 


320  King   Arthur 


CHAPTER   XIV 

HOW  SIR  KAY  MET  WITH  SIR  TRISTRAM,  AND  AFTER  OF  THE 
SHAME  SPOKEN  OF  THE  KNIGHTS  OF  CORNWALL,  AND  HOW 
THEY  JOUSTED 

Now  leave  we  of  this  tale,  and  speak  we  of  Sir  Tristram, 
that  as  he  rode  he  met  with  Sir  Kay,  the  Seneschal ;  and 
there  Sir  Kay  asked  Sir  Tristram  of  what  country  he  was. 
He  answered  that  he  was  of  the  country  of  Cornwall.  It 
may  well  be,  said  Sir  Kay,  for  yet  heard  I  never  that  ever 
good  knight  came  out  of  Cornwall.  That  is  evil  spoken, 
said  Sir  Tristram,  but  an  it  please  you  to  tell  me  your  name 
I  require  you.  Sir,  wit  ye  well,  said  Sir  Kay,  that  my  name 
is  Sir  Kay,  the  Seneschal.  Is  that  your  name?  said  Sir 
Tristram,  now  wit  ye  well  that  ye  are  named  the  shamefullest 
knight  of  your  tongue  that  now  is  living ;  howbeit  ye  are 
called  a  good  knight,  but  ye  are  called  unfortunate,  and 
passing  overthwart  of  your  tongue.  And  thus  they  rode 
together  till  they  came  to  a  bridge.  And  there  was  a  knight 
would  not  let  them  pass  till  one  of  them  jousted  with  him  ; 
and  so  that  knight  jousted  with  Sir  Kay,  and  there  that 
knight  gave  Sir  Kay  a  fall :  his  name  was  Sir  Tor,  Sir 
Lamorak's  half-brother.  And  then  they  two  rode  to  their 
lodging,  and  there  they  found  Sir  Brandiles,  and  Sir  Tor 
came  thither  anon  after.  And  as  they  sat  at  supper  these 
four  knights,  three  of  them  spake  all  shame  by  Cornish 
knights.  Sir  Tristram  heard  all  that  they  said  and  he  said 
but  little,  but  he  thought  the  more,  but  at  that  time  he 
discovered  not  his  name.  Upon  the  morn  Sir  Tristram 
took  his  horse  and  abode  them  upon  their  way.  And  there 
Sir  Brandiles  proffered  to  joust  with  Sir  Tristram,  and  Sir 
Tristram  smote  him  down,  horse  and  all,  to  the  earth. 
Then  Sir  Tor  le  Fise  de  Vayshoure  encountered  with  Sir 
Tristram,  and  there  Sir  Tristram  smote  him  down,  and  then 
he  rode  his  way,  and  Sir  Kay  followed  him,  but  he  would 
not  of  his  fellowship.  Then  Sir  Brandiles  came  to  Sir  Kay 
and  said  :  I  would  wit  fain  what  is  that  knight's  name.  Come 
on  with  me,  said  Sir  Kay,  and  we  shall  pray  him  to  tell  us 
his  name.  So  they  rode  together  till  they  came  nigh  him, 
and  then  they  were  ware  where  he  sat  by  a  well,  and  had 
put  off  his  helm  to  drink  at  the  well.  And  when  he  saw 
them  come  he  laced  on  his  helm  lightly,  and  took  his  horse, 


King   Arthur  321 

and  proffered  them  to  joust.  Nay,  said  Sir  Brandiles,  we 
jousted  late  enough  with  you,  we  come  not  in  that  intent. 
But  for  this  we  come  to  require  you  of  knighthood  to  tell  us 
your  name.  My  fair  knights,  sythen  that  is  your  desire,  and 
to  please  you,  ye  shall  wit  that  my  name  is  Sir  Tristram  de 
Liones,  nephew  unto  King  Mark  of  Cornwall.  In  good 
time,  said  Sir  Brandiles,  and  well  be  ye  found,  and  wit  ye 
well  that  we  be  right  glad  that  we  have  found  you,  and  we 
be  of  a  fellowship  that  would  be  right  glad  of  your  company. 
For  ye  are  the  knight  in  the  world  that  the  noble  fellowship 
of  the  Round  Table  most  desireth  to  have  the  company  of. 
God  thank  them,  said  Sir  Tristram,  of  their  great  goodness, 
but  as  yet  I  feel  well  that  I  am  unable  to  be  of  their  fellow- 
ship, for  I  was  never  yet  of  such  deeds  of  worthiness  to  be 
in  the  company  of  such  a  fellowship.  Ah,  said  Sir  Kay,  an 
ye  be  Sir  Tristram  de  Liones,  ye  are  the  man  called  now 
most  of  prowess  except  Sir  Launcelot  du  Lake;  for  he 
beareth  not  the  life,  Christian  nor  heathen,  that  can  find 
such  another  knight,  to  speak  of  his  prowess,  and  of  his 
hands,  and  his  truth  withal.  For  yet  could  there  never 
creature  say  of  him  dishonour  and  make  it  good.  Thus  they 
talked  a  great  while,  and  then  they  departed  either  from 
other  such  ways  as  them  seemed  best. 


CHAPTER    XV 

HOW    KING    ARTHUR    WAS    BROUGHT    INTO    THE    FOREST   PERILOUS, 
AND   HOW   SIR   TRISTRAM   SAVED   HIS   LIFE 

Now  shall  ye  hear  what  was  the  cause  that  King  Arthur 
came  into  the  Forest  Perilous,  that  was  in  North  Wales,  by 
the  means  of  a  lady.  Her  name  was  Annowre,  and  this  lady 
came  to  King  Arthur  at  Cardiff;  and  she  by  fair  promise 
and  fair  behests  made  King  Arthur  to  ride  with  her  into  that 
Forest  Perilous ;  and  she  was  a  great  sorceress ;  and  many 
days  she  had  loved  King  Arthur,  and  by  cause  she  would 
have  him  to  lie  by  her  she  came  into  that  country.  So  when 
the  king  was  gone  with  her  many  of  his  knights  followed 
after  King  Arthur  when  they  missed  him,  as  Sir  Launcelot, 
Brandiles,  and  many  other ;  and  when  she  had  brought  him 
to  her  tower  she  desired  him  to  lie  by  her ;  and  then  the 
king  remembered  him  of  his  lady,  and  would  not  lie  by 


322  King   Arthur 

her  for  no  craft  that  she  could  do.  Then  every  day  she 
would  make  him  ride  into  that  forest  with  his  own  knights, 
to  the  intent  to  have  had  King  Arthur  slain.  For  when 
this  Lady  Annowre  saw  that  she  might  not  have  him  at  her 
will,  then  she  laboured  by  false  means  to  have  destroyed 
King  Arthur,  and  slain.  Then  the  lady  of  the  lake  that  was 
alway  friendly  to  King  Arthur,  she  understood  by  her 
subtle  crafts  that  King  Arthur  was  like  to  be  destroyed. 
And  therefore  this  lady  of  the  lake  that  hight  Nimue,  came 
into  that  forest  to  seek  after  Sir  Launcelot  du  Lake  or  Sir 
Tristram  for  to  help  King  Arthur ;  foras  that  same  day  this 
lady  of  the  lake  knew  well  that  King  Arthur  should  be  slain, 
unless  that  he  had  help  of  one  of  these  two  knights.  And 
thus  she  rode  up  and  down  till  she  met  with  Sir  Tristram, 
and  anon  as  she  saw  him  she  knew  him.  O  my  lord  Sir 
Tristram,  she  said,  well  be  ye  met,  and  blessed  be  the  time 
that  I  have  met  with  you ;  for  this  same  day,  and  within 
these  two  hours,  shall  be  done  the  foulest  deed  that  ever 
was  done  in  this  land.  O  fair  damosel,  said  Sir  Tristram, 
may  I  amend  it.  Come  on  with  me,  she  said,  and  that  in  all 
the  haste  ye  may,  for  ye  shall  see  the  most  worshipfullest 
knight  of  the  world  hard  bested.  Then  said  Sir  Tristram  : 
I  am  ready  to  help  such  a  noble  man.  He  is  neither  better 
nor  worse,  said  the  lady  of  the  lake,  but  the  noble  King 
Arthur  himself.  God  defend,  said  Sir  Tristram,  that  ever  he 
should  be  in  such  distress.  Then  they  rode  together  a  great 
pace,  until  they  came  to  a  little  turret  or  castle ;  and  under- 
neath that  castle  they  saw  a  knight  standing  upon  foot 
fighting  with  two  knights ;  and  so  Sir  Tristram  beheld  them, 
and  at  the  last  the  two  knights  smote  down  the  one  knight, 
and  that  one  of  them  unlaced  his  helm  to  have  slain  him. 
And  the  Lady  Annowre  gat  King  Arthur's  sword  in  her  hand 
to  have  stricken  off  his  head.  And  therewithal  came  Sir 
Tristram  with  all  his  might,  crying :  Traitress,  traitress, 
leave  that.  And  anon  there  Sir  Tristram  smote  the  one  of 
the  knights  through  the  body  that  he  fell  dead ;  and  then 
he  rushed  to  the  other  and  smote  his  back  in  sunder ;  and 
in  the  meanwhile  the  lady  of  the  lake  cried  to  King  Arthur  : 
Let  not  that  false  lady  escape.  Then  King  Arthur  over- 
took her,  and  with  the  same  sword  he  smote  off  her  head, 
and  the  lady  of  the  lake  took  up  her  head  and  hung  it  up 
by  the  hair  of  her  saddle-bow.  And  then  Sir  Tristram 
horsed  King  Arthur  and  rode  forth  with  him,  but  he 


King   Arthur  323 

charged  the  lady  of  the  lake  not  to  discover  his  name  as 
at  that  time.  When  the  king  was  horsed  he  thanked  heartily 
Sir  Tristram,  and  desired  to  wit  his  name ;  but  he  would 
not  tell  him,  but  that  he  was  a  poor  knight  adventurous  ; 
and  so  he  bare  King  Arthur  fellowship  till  he  met  with  some 
of  his  knights.  And  within  a  while  he  met  with  Sir  Ector 
de  Maris,  and  he  knew  not  King  Arthur  nor  Sir  Tristram, 
and  he  desired  to  joust  with  one  of  them.  Then  Sir 
Tristram  rode  unto  Sir  Ector,  and  smote  him  from  his  horse. 
And  when  he  had  done  so  he  came  again  to  the  king  and 
said  :  My  lord,  yonder  is  one  of  your  knights,  he  may  bare 
you  fellowship,  and  another  day  that  deed  that  I  have  done 
for  you  I  trust  to  God  ye  shall  understand  that  I  would  do 
you  service.  Alas,  said  King  Arthur,  let  me  wit  what  ye 
are  ?  Not  at  this  time,  said  Sir  Tristram.  So  he  departed 
and  left  King  Arthur  and  Sir  Ector  together. 


CHAPTER    XVI 

HOW  SIR  TRISTRAM  CAME  TO  LA  BEALE  ISOUD,  AND  HOW  KE- 
HYDIUS  BEGAN  TO  LOVE  BEALE  ISOUD,  AND  OF  A  LETTER 
THAT  TRISTRAM  FOUND 

AND  then  at  a  day  set  Sir  Tristram  and  Sir  Lamorak  met 
at  the  well ;  and  then  they  took  Kehydius  at  the  forester's 
house,  and  so  they  rode  with  him  to  the  ship  where  they 
left  Dame  Bragwaine  and  Gouvernail,  and  so  they  sailed 
into  Cornwall  all  wholly  together.  And  by  assent  and 
information  of  Dame  Bragwaine  when  they  were  landed 
they  rode  unto  Sir  Dinas,  the  Seneschal,  a  trusty  friend  of 
Sir  Tristram's.  And  so  Dame  Bragwaine  and  Sir  Dinas 
rode  to  the  court  of  King  Mark,  and  told  the  queen,  La 
Beale  Isoud,  that  Sir  Tristram  was  nigh  her  in  that  country. 
Then  for  very  pure  joy  La  Beale  Isoud  swooned ;  and  when 
she  might  speak  she  said  :  Gentle  knight  Seneschal,  help 
that  I  might  speak  with  him,  outher  my  heart  will  brast. 
Then  Sir  Dinas  and  Dame  Bragwaine  brought  Sir  Tristram 
and  Kehydius  privily  unto  the  court,  unto  a  chamber  where 
as  La  Beale  Isoud  had  assigned  it ;  and  to  tell  the  joys  that 
were  betwixt  La  Beale  Isoud  and  Sir  Tristram,  there  is  no 
tongue  can  tell  it,  nor  heart  think  it,  nor  pen  write  it.  And 
as  the  French  book  maketh  mention,  at  the  first  time  that 


324  King   Arthur 

ever  Sir  Kehydius  saw  La  Beale  Isoud  he  was  so  enamoured 
upon  her  that  for  very  pure  love  he  might  never  withdraw 
it.  And  at  the  last,  as  ye  shall  hear  or  the  book  be  ended, 
Sir  Kehydius  died  for  the  love  of  La  Beale  Isoud.  And 
then  privily  he  wrote  unto  her  letters  and  ballads  of  the 
most  goodliest  that  were  used  in  those  days.  And  when 
La  Beale  Isoud  understood  his  letters  she  had  pity  of  his 
complaint,  and  unavised  she  wrote  another  letter  to  com- 
fort him  withal.  And  Sir  Tristram  was  all  this  while  in  a 
turret  at  the  commandment  of  La  Beale  Isoud,  and  when 
she  might  she  came  unto  Sir  Tristram.  So  on  a  day  King 
Mark  played  at  the  chess  under  a  chamber  window ;  and  at 
that  time  Sir  Tristram  and  Sir  Kehydius  were  within  the 
chamber  over  King  Mark,  and  as  it  mishapped  Sir  Tristram 
found  the  letter  that  Kehydius  sent  unto  La  Beale  Isoud, 
also  he  had  found  the  letter  that  she  wrote  unto  Kehydius, 
and  at  that  same  time  La  Beale  Isoud  was  in  the  same 
chamber.  Then  Sir  Tristram  came  unto  La  Beale  Isoud  and 
said :  Madam,  here  is  a  letter  that  was  sent  unto  you,  and  here 
is  the  letter  that  ye  sent  unto  him  that  sent  you  that  letter. 
Alas,  Madam,  the  good  love  that  I  have  loved  you;  and 
many  lands  and  riches  have  I  forsaken  for  your  love,  and 
now  ye  are  a  traitress  to  me,  the  which  doth  me  great  pain. 
But  as  for  thee,  Sir  Kehydius,  I  brought  thee  out  of  Brittany 
into  this  country,  and  thy  father,  King  Howel,  I  won  his 
lands,  howbeit  I  wedded  thy  sister  Isoud  La  Blanche  Mains 
for  the  goodness  she  did  unto  me.  And  yet,  as  I  am  true 
knight,  she  is  a  clene  maiden  for  me ;  but  wit  thou  well,  Sir 
Kehydius,  for  this  falsehood  and  treason  thou  hast  done 
me,  I  will  revenge  it  upon  thee.  And  therewithal  Sir 
Tristram  drew  out  his  sword  and  said :  Sir  Kehydius,  keep 
thee,  and  then  La  Beale  Isoud  swooned  to  the  earth.  And 
when  Sir  Kehydius  saw  Sir  Tristram  come  upon  him  he  saw 
none  other  boot,  but  leapt  out  at  a  bay-window  even  over 
the  head  where  sat  King  Mark  playing  at  the  chess.  And 
when  the  king  saw  one  come  hurling  over  his  head  he 
said  :  Fellow,  what  art  thou,  and  what  is  the  cause  thou 
leapest  out  at  that  window  ?  My  lord  the  king,  said 
Kehydius,  it  fortuned  me  that  I  was  asleep  in  the  window 
above  your  head,  and  as  I  slept  I  slumbered,  and  so  I  fell 
down.  And  thus  Sir  Kehydius  excused  him. 


King   Arthur  325 


CHAPTER   XVII 

HOW  SIR  TRISTRAM  DEPARTED  FROM  TINTAGIL,  AND  HOW  HE 
SORROWED  AND  WAS  SO  LONG  IN  A  FOREST  TILL  HE  WAS  OUT 
OF  HIS  MIND 

THEN  Sir  Tristram  dread  sore  lest  he  were  discovered 
unto  the  king  that  he  was  there ;  wherefore  he  drew  him  to 
the  strength  of  the  Tower,  and  armed  him  in  such  armour  as 
he  had  for  to  fight  with  them  that  would  withstand  him. 
And  so  when  Sir  Tristram  saw  there  was  no  resistance  against 
him  he  sent  Gouvernail  for  his  horse  and  his   spear,  and 
knightly  he  rode  forth  out  of  the  castle  openly,  that  was 
called  the  Castle  of  Tintagil.     And  even  at  gate  he  met 
with  Gingalin,  Sir  Gawaine's  son.     And  anon  Sir  Gingalin 
put  his  spear  in  his  rest,  and  ran  upon  Sir  Tristram  and 
brake  his  spear ;  and  Sir  Tristram  at  that  time  had  but  a 
sword,  and  gave  him  such  a  buffet  upon  the  helm  that  he 
fell  down  from  his  saddle,  and  his  sword  slid  adown,  and 
carved  asunder  his  horse's  neck.     And  so  Sir  Tristram  rode 
his  way  into  the  forest,  and  all  this  doing  saw  King  Mark. 
And  then  he  sent  a  squire  unto  the  hurt  knight,  and  com- 
manded him  to  come  to  him,  and  so  he  did.     And  when 
King  Mark  wist  that  it  was  Sir  Gingalin  he  welcomed  him 
and  gave  him  an  horse,  and  asked  him  what  knight  it  was 
that  had  encountered  with  him.     Sir,  said  Gingalin,  I  wot 
not  what  knight  he  was,  but  well  I  wot  that  he  sigheth  and 
maketh  great  dole.     Then  Sir  Tristram  within  a  while  met 
with  a  knight  of  his  own,  that  hight  Sir  Fergus.     And  when 
he  had  met  with  him  he  made  great  sorrow,  insomuch  that 
he  fell  down  off  his  horse  in  a  swoon,  and  in  such  sorrow 
he  was  in  three  days  and  three  nights.     Then  at  the  last 
Sir  Tristram  sent  unto  the  court  by  Sir  Fergus,  for  to  spere 
what  tidings.     And  so  as  he  rode  by  the  way  he  met  with  a 
damosel  that  came  from  Sir  Palomides,  to  know  and  seek 
how  Sir  Tristram  did.     Then  Sir  Fergus  told  her  how  he 
was  almost  out  of  his  mind.     Alas,  said  the  damosel,  where 
shall  I  find  him  ?     In  such  a  place,  said  Sir  Fergus.     Then 
Sir  Fergus  found  Queen  Isoud  sick  in  her  bed,  making  the 
greatest   dole   that   ever   any  earthly  woman   made.     And 
when  the  damosel  found  Sir  Tristram  she  made  great  dole 
by  cause  she  might  not  amend  him,  for  the  more  she  made 
of  him  the  more  was  his  pain.     And  at  the  last  Sir  Tristram 

I  45  M 


326  King   Arthur 

took  his  horse  and  rode  away  from  her.  And  then  was  it 
three  days  or  that  she  could  find  him,  and  then  she  brought 
him  meat  and  drink,  but  he  would  none ;  and  then  another 
time  Sir  Tristram  escaped  away  from  the  damosel,  and  it 
happed  him  to  ride  by  the  same  castle  where  Sir  Palom- 
ides  and  Sir  Tristram  did  battle  when  La  Beale  Isoud 
departed  them.  And  there  by  fortune  the  damosel  met 
with  Sir  Tristram  again,  making  the  greatest  dole  that  ever 
earthly  creature  made ;  and  she  yede  to  the  lady  of  that 
castle  and  told  her  of  the  misadventure  of  Sir  Tristram. 
Alas,  said  the  lady  of  that  castle,  where  is  my  lord,  Sir 
Tristram?  Right  here  by  your  castle,  said  the  damosel. 
In  good  time,  said  the  lady,  is  he  so  nigh  me ;  he  shall 
have  meat  and  drink  of  the  best ;  and  an  harp  I  have  of  his 
whereupon  he  taught  me,  for  of  goodly  harping  he  beareth 
the  prize  in  the  world.  So  this  lady  and  damosel  brought 
him  meat  and  drink,  but  he  ate  little  thereof.  Then  upon 
a  night  he  put  his  horse  from  him,  and  then  he  unlaced  his 
armour,  and  then  Sir  Tristram  would  go  into  the  wilderness, 
and  brast  down  the  trees  and  boughs ;  and  otherwhile  when 
he  found  the  harp  that  the  lady  sent  him,  then  would  he 
harp,  and  play  thereupon  and  weep  together.  And  some- 
time when  Sir  Tristram  was  in  the  wood  that  the  lady  wist 
not  where  he  was,  then  would  she  sit  her  down  and  play 
upon  that  harp  :  then  would  Sir  Tristram  come  to  that  harp, 
and  hearken  thereto,  and  sometime  he  would  harp  himself. 
Thus  he  there  endured  a  quarter  of  a  year.  Then  at  the 
last  he  ran  his  way,  and  she  wist  not  where  he  was  become. 
And  then  was  he  naked  and  waxed  lean  and  poor  of  flesh  ; 
and  so  he  fell  in  the  fellowship  of  herdmen  and  shepherds, 
and  daily  they  would  give  him  some  of  their  meat  and 
drink.  And  when  he  did  any  shrewd  deed  they  would  beat 
him  with  rods,  and  so  they  clipped  him  with  shears  and 
made  him  like  a  fool. 


CHAPTER   XVIII 

HOW  SIR  TRISTRAM  SOUSED  DAGONET  IN  A  WP.T.L,  AND  HOW 
PALOMIDES  SENT  A  DAMOSEL  TO  SEEK  TRISTRAM,  AND  HOW 
PALOMIDES  MET  WITH  KING  MARK 

AND  upon  a  day  Dagonet,  King  Arthur's  fool,  came  into 
Cornwall  with  two  squires  with  him ;  and  as  they  rode 
through  that  forest  they  came  by  a  fair  well  where  Sir 


King   Arthur  327 

Tristram  was  wont  to  be ;  and  the  weather  was  hot,  and  they 
alit  to  drink  of  that  well,  and  in  the  meanwhile  their  horses 
brake  loose.  Right  so  Sir  Tristram  came  unto  them,  and 
first  he  soused  Sir  Dagonet  in  that  well,  and  after  his  squires, 
and  thereat  laughed  the  shepherds ;  and  forthwithal  he  ran 
after  their  horses  and  brought  them  again  one  by  one,  and 
right  so,  wet  as  they  were,  he  made  them  leap  up  and  ride 
their  ways.  Thus  Sir  Tristram  endured  there  an  half  year 
naked,  and  would  never  come  in  town  nor  village.  The 
meanwhile  the  damosel  that  Sir  Palomides  sent  to  seek  Sir 
Tristram,  she  yede  unto  Sir  Palomides  and  told  him  all  the 
mischief  that  Sir  Tristram  endured.  Alas,  said  Sir  Palom- 
ides, it  is  great  pity  that  ever  so  noble  a  knight  should 
be  so  mischieved  for  the  love  of  a  lady ;  but  nevertheless,  I 
will  go  and  seek  him,  and  comfort  him  an  I  may.  Then  a 
little  before  that  time  La  Beale  Isoud  had  commanded  Sir 
Kehydius  out  of  the  country  of  Cornwall.  So  Sir  Kehydius 
departed  with  a  dolorous  heart,  and  by  adventure  he  met 
with  Sir  Palomides,  and  they  enfellowshipped  together ;  and 
either  complained  to  other  of  their  hot  love  that  they  loved 
La  Beale  Isoud.  Now  let  us,  said  Sir  Palomides,  seek  Sir 
Tristram,  that  loved  her  as  well  as  we,  and  let  us  prove 
whether  we  may  recover  him.  So  they  rode  into  that  forest, 
and  three  days  and  three  nights  they  would  never  take  their 
lodging,  but  ever  sought  Sir  Tristram.  And  upon  a  time,  by 
adventure,  they  met  with  King  Mark  that  was  ridden  from 
his  men  all  alone.  When  they  saw  him  Sir  Palomides  knew 
him,  but  Sir  Kehydius  knew  him  not.  Ah,  false  king,  said 
Sir  Palomides,  it  is  pity  thou  hast  thy  life,  for  thou  art  a 
destroyer  of  all  worshipful  knights,  and  by  thy  mischief  and 
thy  vengeance  thou  hast  destroyed  that  most  noble  knight, 
Sir  Tristram  de  Liones.  And  therefore  defend  thee,  said 
Sir  Palomides,  for  thou  shalt  die  this  day.  That  were 
shame,  said  King  Mark,  for  ye  two  are  armed  and  I  am 
unarmed.  As  for  that,  said  Sir  Palomides,  I  shall  find  a 
remedy  therefor ;  here  is  a  knight  with  me,  and  thou  shalt 
have  his  harness.  Nay,  said  King  Mark,  I  will  not  have 
ado  with  you,  for  cause  have  ye  none  to  me ;  for  all  the 
misease  that  Sir  Tristram  hath  was  for  a  letter  that  he  found ; 
for  as  to  me  I  did  to  him  no  displeasure,  and  God  knoweth 
I  am  full  sorry  for  his  disease  and  malady.  So  when  the 
king  had  thus  excused  him  they  were  friends,  and  King 
Mark  would  have  had  them  unto  Tintagil ;  but  Sir  Palomides 


328  King   Arthur 

would  not,  but  turned  unto  the  realm  of  Logris,  and  Sir 
Kehydius  said  that  he  would  go  into  Brittany.  Now  turn 
we  unto  Sir  Dagonet  again,  that  when  he  and  his  squires 
were  upon  horseback  he  deemed  that  the  shepherds  had  sent 
that  fool  to  array  them  so,  by  cause  that  they  laughed  at 
them,  and  so  they  rode  unto  the  keepers  of  beasts  and  all  to 
beat  them.  Sir  Tristram  saw  them  beat  that  were  wont 
to  give  him  meat  and  drink,  then  he  ran  thither  and  gat  Sir 
Dagonet  by  the  head,  and  gave  him  such  a  fall  to  the  earth 
that  he  bruised  him  sore  so  that  he  lay  still.  And  then 
he  wrast  his  sword  out  of  his  hand,  and  therewith  he  ran  to 
one  of  his  squires  and  smote  off  his  head,  and  the  other  fled. 
And  so  Sir  Tristram  took  his  way  with  that  sword  in  his 
hand,  running  as  he  had  been  wild  wood.  Then  Sir 
Dagonet  rode  to  King  Mark  and  told  him  how  he  had  sped 
in  that  forest.  And  therefore,  said  Sir  Dagonet,  beware, 
King  Mark,  that  thou  come  not  about  that  well  in  the  forest, 
for  there  is  a  fool  naked,  and  that  fool  and  I  fool  met 
together,  and  he  had  almost  slain  me.  Ah,  said  King  Mark, 
that  is  Sir  Matto  le  Breune,  that  fell  out  of  his  wit  by  cause 
he  lost  his  lady  ;  for  when  Sir  Gaheris  smote  down  Sir 
Matto  and  won  his  lady  of  him,  never  since  was  he  in  his 
mind,  and  that  was  pity,  for  he  was  a  good  knight. 


CHAPTER   XIX 

HOW    IT   WAS    NOISED    HOW    SIR    TRISTRAM    WAS    DEAD,     AND    HOW 
LA   BEALE    ISOUD   WOULD   HAVE    SLAIN    HERSELF 

THEN  Sir  Andred,  that  was  cousin  unto  Sir  Tristram, 
made  a  lady  that  was  his  paramour  to  say  and  to  noise  it 
that  she  was  with  Sir  Tristram  or  ever  he  died.  And  this 
tale  she  brought  unto  King  Mark's  court,  that  she  buried 
him  by  a  well,  and  that  or  he  died  he  besought  King  Mark 
to  make  his  cousin,  Sir  Andred,  king  of  the  country  of 
Liones,  of  the  which  Sir  Tristram  was  lord  of.  All  this 
did  Sir  Andred  by  cause  he  would  have  had  Sir  Tristram's 
lands.  And  when  King  Mark  heard  tell  that  Sir  Tristram 
was  dead  he  wept  and  made  great  dole.  But  when  Queen 
Isoud  heard  of  these  tidings  she  made  such  sorrow  that  she 
was  nigh  out  of  her  mind ;  and  so  upon  a  day  she  thought 
to  slay  herself  and  never  to  live  after  Sir  Tristram's  death. 


King   Arthur  329 

And  so  upon  a  day  La  Beale  Isoud  gat  a  sword  privily  and 
bare  it  to  her  garden,  and  there  she  pitched  the  sword 
through  a  plum  tree  up  to  the  hilt,  so  that  it  stuck  fast,  and 
it  stood  breast  high.  And  as  she  would  have  run  upon  the 
sword  and  to  have  slain  herself  all  this  espied  King  Mark, 
how  she  kneeled  down  and  said :  Sweet  Lord  Jesu,  have 
mercy  upon  me,  for  I  may  not  live  after  the  death  of  Sir 
Tristram  de  Liones,  for  he  was  my  first  love  and  he  shall  be 
the  last.  And  with  these  words  came  King  Mark  and  took 
her  in  his  arms,  and  then  he  took  up  the  sword,  and  bare 
her  away  with  him  into  a  tower ;  and  there  he  made  her  to 
be  kept,  and  watched  her  surely,  and  after  that  she  lay  long 
sick,  nigh  at  the  point  of  death.  This  meanwhile  ran  Sir 
Tristram  naked  in  the  forest  with  the  sword  in  his  hand,  and 
so  he  came  to  an  hermitage,  and  there  he  laid  him  down 
and  slept ;  and  in  the  meanwhile  the  hermit  stole  away  his 
sword,  and  laid  meat  down  by  him.  Thus  was  he  kept 
there  ten  days ;  and  at  the  last  he  departed  and  came  to  the 
herdmen  again.  And  there  was  a  giant  in  that  country  that 
hight  Tawleas,  and  for  fear  of  Sir  Tristram  more  than  seven 
year  he  durst  never  much  go  at  large,  but  for  the  most  part 
he  kept  him  in  a  sure  castle  of  his  own ;  and  so  this  Tawleas 
heard  tell  that  Sir  Tristram  was  dead,  by  the  noise  of  the 
court  of  King  Mark.  Then  this  Tawleas  went  daily  at  large. 
And  so  he  happed  upon  a  day  he  came  to  the  herdmen 
wandering  and  lingering,  and  there  he  set  him  down  to  rest 
among  them.  The  meanwhile  there  came  a  knight  of 
Cornwall  that  led  a  lady  with  him,  and  his  name  was  Sir 
Dinaunt ;  and  when  the  giant  saw  him  he  went  from  the 
herdmen  and  hid  him  under  a  tree,  and  so  the  knight  came 
to  that  well,  and  there  he  alit  to  repose  him.  And  as  soon 
as  he  was  from  his  horse  this  giant  Tawleas  came  betwixt 
this  knight  and  his  horse,  and  took  the  horse  and  leapt  upon 
him.  So  forthwith  he  rode  unto  Sir  Dinaunt  and  took  him 
by  the  collar,  and  pulled  him  afore  him  upon  his  horse,  and 
there  would  have  stricken  off  his  head.  Then  the  herdmen 
said  unto  Sir  Tristram  :  Help  yonder  knight.  Help  ye  him, 
said  Sir  Tristram.  We  dare  not,  said  the  herdmen.  Then 
Sir  Tristram  was  ware  of  the  sword  of  the  knight  thereas  it 
lay ;  and  so  thither  he  ran  and  took  up  the  sword  and 
struck  off  Sir  Tawleas'  head,  and  so  he  yede  his  way  to  the 
herdmen. 


330  King   Arthur 


CHAPTER   XX 

HOW  KING  MARK  FOUND  SIR  TRISTRAM  NAKED,  AND  MADE  HIM 
TO  BE  BORNE  HOME  TO  TINTAGIL,  AND  HOW  HE  WAS  THERE 
KNOWN  BY  A  BRACKET 

THEN  the  knight  took  up  the  giant's  head  and  bare  it 
with  him  unto  King  Mark,  and  told  him  what  adventure 
betid  him  in  the  forest,  and  how  a  naked  man  rescued  him 
from  the  grimly  giant,  Tawleas.  Where  had  ye  this  adven- 
ture ?  said  King  Mark.  Forsooth,  said  Sir  Dinaunt,  at  the 
fair  fountain  in  your  forest  where  many  adventurous  knights 
meet,  and  there  is  the  mad  man.  Well,  said  King  Mark,  I 
will  see  that  wild  man.  So  within  a  day  or  two  King  Mark 
commanded  his  knights  and  his  hunters  that  they  should 
be  ready  on  the  morn  for  to  hunt,  and  so  upon  the  morn 
he  went  unto  that  forest.  And  when  the  king  came  to  that 
well  he  found  there  lying  by  that  well  a  fair  naked  man, 
and  a  sword  by  him.  Then  King  Mark  blew  and  straked, 
and  therewith  his  knights  came  to  him ;  and  then  the  king 
commanded  his  knights  to  :  Take  that  naked  man  with 
fairness,  and  bring  him  to  my  castle.  So  they  did  softly 
and  fair,  and  cast  mantles  upon  Sir  Tristram,  and  so  led  him 
unto  Tintagil ;  and  there  they  bathed  him,  and  washed  him, 
and  gave  hot  suppings  till  they  had  brought  him  well  to  his 
remembrance;  but  all  this  while  there  was  no  creature 
that  knew  Sir  Tristram,  nor  what  man  he  was.  So  it  fell 
upon  a  day  that  the  Queen,  La  Beale  Isoud,  heard  of  such 
a  man,  that  ran  naked  in  the  forest,  and  how  the  king  had 
brought  him  home  to  the  court.  Then  La  Beale  Isoud 
called  unto  her  Dame  Bragwaine  and  said :  Come  on  with 
me,  for  we  will  go  see  this  man  that  my  lord  brought 
from  the  forest  the  last  day.  So  they  passed  forth,  and 
spered  where  was  the  sick  man.  And  then  a  squire  told 
the  queen  that  he  was  in  the  garden  taking  his  rest,  and 
reposing  him  against  the  sun.  So  when  the  queen  looked 
upon  Sir  Tristram  she  was  not  remembered  of  him.  But 
ever  she  said  unto  Dame  Bragwaine :  Meseemeth  I  should 
have  seen  him  heretofore  in  many  places.  But  as  soon  as 
Sir  Tristram  saw  her  he  knew  her  well  enough.  And  then 
he  turned  away  his  visage  and  wept.  Then  the  queen  had 
always  a  little  brachet  with  her  that  Sir  Tristram  gave  her  the 
first  time  that  ever  she  came  into  Cornwall,  and  never  would 


King   Arthur  331 

that  brachet  depart  from  her  but  if  Sir  Tristram  was  nigh 
there  as  was  La  Beale  Isoud ;  and  this  brachet  was  sent 
from  the  king's  daughter  of  France  unto  Sir  Tristram  for 
great  love.  And  anon  as  this  little  brachet  felt  a  savour  of 
Sir  Tristram,  she  leapt  upon  him  and  licked  his  learys  and 
his  ears,  and  then  she  whined  and  quested,  and  she  smelled 
at  his  feet  and  at  his  hands,  and  on  all  parts  of  his  body 
that  she  might  come  to.  Ah,  my  lady,  said  Dame  Brag- 
waine  unto  La  Beale  Isoud,  alas,  alas,  said  she,  I  see  it  is 
mine  own  lord,  Sir  Tristram.  And  thereupon  Isoud  fell 
down  in  a  swoon,  and  so  lay  a  great  while.  And  when  she 
might  speak  she  said :  My  lord  Sir  Tristram,  blessed  be 
God  ye  have  your  life,  and  now  I  am  sure  ye  shall  be 
discovered  by  this  little  brachet,  for  she  will  never  leave 
you.  And  also  I  am  sure  as  soon  as  my  lord,  King 
Mark,  do  know  you  he  will  banish  you  out  of  the  country 
of  Cornwall,  or  else  he  will  destroy  you ;  for  God's  sake, 
mine  own  lord,  grant  King  Mark  his  will,  and  then  draw 
you  unto  the  court  of  King  Arthur,  for  there  are  ye 
beloved,  and  ever  when  I  may  I  shall  send  unto  you ;  and 
when  ye  list  ye  may  come  to  me,  and  at  all  times  early  and 
late  I  will  be  at  your  commandment,  to  live  as  poor  a  life 
as  ever  did  queen  or  lady.  O  madam,  said  Sir  Tristram, 
go  from  me,  for  mickle  anger  and  danger  have  I  escaped 
for  your  love. 


CHAPTER   XXI 

HOW    KING   MARK,    BY   THE   ADVICE   OF   HIS   COUNCIL,  BANISHED  SIR 
TRISTRAM    OUT   OF    CORNWALL   THE   TERM    OF   TEN    YEARS 

THEN  the  queen  departed,  but  the  brachet  would  not 
from  him ;  and  therewithal  came  King  Mark,  and  the 
brachet  set  upon  him,  and  bayed  at  them  all.  Therewithal 
Sir  Andred  spake  and  said :  Sir,  this  is  Sir  Tristram,  I  see 
by  the  brachet.  Nay,  said  the  king,  I  cannot  suppose  that. 
Then  the  king  asked  him  upon  his  faith  what  he  was,  and 
what  was  his  name.  So  God  me  help,  said  he,  my  name  is 
Sir  Tristram  de  Liones ;  now  do  by  me  what  ye  list.  Ah, 
said  King  Mark,  me  repenteth  of  your  recovery.  And  then 
he  let  call  his  barons  to  judge  Sir  Tristram  to  the  death. 
Then  many  of  his  barons  would  not  assent  thereto,  and  in 
especial  Sir  Dinas,  the  Seneschal,  and  Sir  Fergus.  And  so 
by  the  advice  of  them  all  Sir  Tristram  was  banished  out  of 


332  King"   Arthur 

the  country  for  ten  year,  and  thereupon  he  took  his  oath 
upon  a  book  before  the  king  and  his  barons.  And  so  he 
was  made  to  depart  out  of  the  country  of  Cornwall ;  and 
there  were  many  barons  brought  him  unto  his  ship,  of 
the  which  some  were  his  friends  and  some  his  foes.  And  in 
the  meanwhile  there  came  a  knight  of  King  Arthur's,  his 
name  was  Dinadan,  and  his  coming  was  for  to  seek  after  Sir 
Tristram ;  then  they  showed  him  where  he  was  armed  at  all 
points  going  to  the  ship.  Now  fair  knight,  said  Sir  Dinadan, 
or  ye  pass  this  court  that  ye  will  joust  with  me  I  require 
thee.  With  a  good  will,  said  Sir  Tristram,  an  these  lords 
will  give  me  leave.  Then  the  barons  granted  thereto,  and 
so  they  ran  together,  and  there  Sir  Tristram  gave  Sir  Dina- 
dan a  fall.  And  then  he  prayed  Sir  Tristram  to  give  him 
leave  to  go  in  his  fellowship.  Ye  shall  be  right  welcome, 
said  then  Sir  Tristram.  And  so  they  took  their  horses  and 
rode  to  their  ships  together,  and  when  Sir  Tristram  was  in 
the  sea  he  said :  Greet  well  King  Mark  and  all  mine 
enemies,  and  say  them  I  will  come  again  when  I  may ;  and 
well  am  I  rewarded  for  the  fighting  with  Sir  Marhaus,  and 
delivered  all  this  country  from  servage ;  and  well  am  I 
rewarded  for  the  fetching  and  costs  of  Queen  Isoud 
out  of  Ireland,  and  the  danger  that  I  was  in  first  and 
last,  and  by  the  way  coming  home  what  danger  I  had  to 
bring  again  Queen  Isoud  from  the  Castle  Pluere ;  and  well 
am  I  rewarded  when  I  fought  with  Sir  Bleoberis  for  Sir 
Sagwarides'  wife ;  and  well  am  I  rewarded  when  I  fought 
with  Sir  Blamore  de  Ganis  for  King  Anguish,  father  unto 
La  Beale  Isoud ;  and  well  am  I  rewarded  when  I  smote 
down  the  good  knight,  Sir  Lamorak  de  Galis,  at  King 
Mark's  request ;  and  well  am  I  rewarded  when  I  fought 
with  the  King  with  the  hundred  knights,  and  the  King  of 
Northgalis,  and  both  these  would  have  put  his  land  in 
servage,  and  by  me  they  were  put  to  a  rebuke  ;  and  well  am 
I  rewarded  for  the  slaying  of  Tawleas,  the  mighty  giant, 
and  many  other  deeds  have  I  done  for  him,  and  now  have 
I  my  warison.  And  tell  King  Mark  that  many  noble 
knights  of  the  Table  Round  have  spared  the  barons  of  this 
country  for  my  sake.  Also  am  I  not  well  rewarded  when  I 
fought  with  the  good  knight  Sir  Palomides  and  rescued 
Queen  Isoud  from  him ;  and  at  that  time  King  Mark  said 
afore  all  his  barons  I  should  have  been  better  rewarded. 
And  forthwithal  he  took  the  sea. 


King   Arthur  333 


CHAPTER   XXII 

HOW  A  DAMOSEL  SOUGHT  HELP  TO  HELP  SIR  LAUNCELOT  AGAINST 
THIRTY  KNIGHTS,  AND  HOW  SIR  TRISTRAM  FOUGHT  WITH 
THEM 

AND  at  the  next  landing,  fast  by  the  sea,  there  met  with 
Sir  Tristram  and  with  Sir  Dinadan,  Sir  Ector  de  Maris 
and  Sir  Bors  de  Ganis  ;  and  there  Sir  Ector  jousted 
with  Sir  Dinadan,  and  he  smote  him  and  his  horse 
down.  And  then  Sir  Tristram  would  have  jousted  with 
Sir  Bors,  and  Sir  Bors  said  that  he  would  not  joust 
with  no  Cornish  knights,  for  they  are  not  called  men  of 
worship  ;  and  all  this  was  done  upon  a  bridge.  And  with 
this  came  Sir  Bleoberis  and  Sir  Driant,  and  Sir  Bleoberis 
proffered  to  joust  with  Sir  Tristram,  and  there  Sir  Tristram 
smote  down  Sir  Bleoberis.  Then  said  Sir  Bors  de  Ganis  :  I 
wist  never  Cornish  knight  of  so  great  valour  nor  so  valiant 
as  that  knight  that  beareth  the  trappours  embroidered  with 
crowns.  And  then  Sir  Tristram  and  Sir  Dinadan  departed 
from  them  into  a  forest,  and  there  met  them  a  damosel  that 
came  for  the  love  of  Sir  Launcelot  to  seek  after  some  noble 
knights  of  King  Arthur's  court  for  to  rescue  Sir  Launcelot. 
And  so  Sir  Launcelot  was  ordained,  for  by  the  treason  of 
Queen  Morgan  le  Fay  to  have  slain  Sir  Launcelot,  and  for 
that  cause  she  ordained  thirty  knights  to  lie  in  await  for 
Sir  Launcelot,  and  this  damsel  knew  this  treason.  And  for 
this  cause  the  damosel  came  for  to  seek  noble  knights  to 
help  Sir  Launcelot.  For  that  night,  or  the  day  after,  Sir 
Launcelot  should  come  where  these  thirty  knights  were. 
And  so  this  damosel  met  with  Sir  Bors  and  Sir  Ector  and 
with  Sir  Driant,  and  there  she  told  them  all  four  of  the 
treason  of  Morgan  le  Fay ;  and  then  they  promised  her  that 
they  would  be  nigh  where  Sir  Launcelot  should  meet 
with  the  thirty  knights.  And  if  so  be  they  set  upon  him  we 
will  do  rescues  as  we  can.  So  the  damosel  departed,  and  by 
adventure  the  damosel  met  with  Sir  Tristram  and  with  Sir 
Dinadan,  and  there  the  damosel  told  them  all  the  treason 
that  was  ordained  for  Sir  Launcelot.  Fair  damosel,  said 
Sir  Tristram,  bring  me  to  that  same  place  where  they  should 
meet  with  Sir  Launcelot.  Then  said  Sir  Dinadan  :  What 
will  ye  do  ?  it  is  not  for  us  to  fight  with  thirty  knights,  and 
wit  you  well  I  will  not  thereof;  as  to  match  one  knight  two 

1 45  *M 


334  King  Arthur 

or  three  is  enough  an  they  be  men,  but  for  to  match  fifteen 
knights  that, will  I  never  undertake.  Fie  for  shame,  said  Sir 
Tristram,  do  but  your  part.  Nay,  said  Sir  Dinadan,  I  will 
not  thereof  but  if  ye  will  lend  me  your  shield,  for  ye  bear  a 
shield  of  Cornwall ;  and  for  the  cowardice  that  is  named  to 
the  knights  of  Cornwall,  by  your  shields  ye  be  ever  forborne. 
Nay,  said  Sir  Tristram,  I  will  not  depart  from  my  shield  for 
her  sake  that  gave  it  me.  But  one  thing,  said  Sir  Tristram, 
I  promise  thee,  Sir  Dinadan,  but  if  thou  wilt  promise  me  to 
abide  with  me,  here  I  shall  slay  thee,  for  I  desire  no  more 
of  thee  but  answer  one  knight.  And  if  thy  heart  will  not 
serve  thee,  stand  by  and  look  upon  me  and  them.  Sir,  said 
Sir  Dinadan,  I  promise  you  to  look  upon  and  to  do  what  I 
may  to  save  myself,  but  I  would  I  had  not  met  with  you.  So 
then  anon  these  thirty  knights  came  fast  by  these  four 
knights,  and  they  were  ware  of  them,  and  either  of  other. 
And  so  these  thirty  knights  let  them  pass,  for  this  cause, 
that  they  would  not  wrath  them,  if  cause  be  that  they  had 
ado  with  Sir  Launcelot ;  and  the  four  knights  let  them  pass 
to  this  intent,  that  they  would  see  and  behold  what  they 
would  do  with  Sir  Launcelot.  And  so  the  thirty  knights 
passed  on  and  came  by  Sir  Tristram  and  by  Sir  Dinadan, 
and  then  Sir  Tristram  cried  on  high  :  Lo,  here  is  a  knight 
against  you  for  the  love  of  Sir  Launcelot.  And  there  he  slew 
two  with  one  spear  and  ten  with  his  sword.  And  then  came 
in  Sir  Dinadan  and  he  did  passing  well,  and  so  of  the  thirty 
knights  there  went  but  ten  away,  and  they  fled.  All  this 
battle  saw  Sir  Bors  de  Ganis  and  his  three  fellows,  and  then 
they  saw  well  it  was  the  same  knight  that  jousted  with  them 
at  the  bridge ;  then  they  took  their  horses  and  rode  unto 
Sir  Tristram,  and  praised  him  and  thanked  him  of  his  good 
deeds,  and  they  all  desired  Sir  Tristram  to  go  with  them  to 
their  lodging ;  and  he  said  :  Nay,  he  would  not  go  to  no 
lodging.  Then  they  all  four  knights  prayed  him  to  tell 
them  his  name.  Fair  lords,  said  Sir  Tristram,  as  at  this  time 
I  will  not  tell  you  my  name. 


King   Arthur  335 


CHAPTER    XXIII 

HOW     SIR     TRISTRAM     AND     SIR     DINADAN      CAME     TO     A     LODGING 
WHERE   THEY    MUST  JOUST   WITH   TWO   KNIGHTS 

THEN  Sir  Tristram  and  Sir  Dinadan  rode  forth  their  way 
till  they  came  to  the  shepherds  and  to  the  herdmen,  and 
there  they  asked  them  if  they  knew  any  lodging  or  harbour 
there  nigh  hand.  Forsooth,  Sirs,  said  the  herdmen,  hereby 
is  good  lodging  in  a  castle ;  but  there  is  such  a  custom  that 
there  shall  no  knight  be  harboured  but  if  he  joust  with 
two  knights,  and  if  he  be  but  one  knight  he  must  joust  with 
two.  And  as  ye  be  therein  soon  shall  ye  be  matched. 
There  is  shrewd  harbour,  said  Sir  Dinadan  ;  lodge  where  ye 
will,  for  I  will  not  lodge  there.  Fie  for  shame,  said  Sir 
Tristram,  are  ye  not  a  knight  of  the  Table  Round  ?  wherefore 
ye  may  not  with  your  worship  refuse  your  lodging.  Not  so, 
said  the  herdmen,  for  an  ye  be  beaten  and  have  the  worse 
ye  shall  not  be  lodged  there,  and  if  ye  beat  them  ye  shall  be 
well  harboured.  Ah,  said  Sir  Dinadan,  they  are  two  sure 
knights.  Then  Sir  Dinadan  would  not  lodge  there  in  no 
manner  but  as  Sir  Tristram  required  him  of  his  knighthood ; 
and  so  they  rode  thither.  And  to  make  short  tale,  Sir 
Tristram  and  Sir  Dinadan  smote  them  down  both,  and  so 
they  entered  into  the  castle  and  had  good  cheer  as  they 
could  think  or  devise.  And  when  they  were  unarmed,  and 
thought  to  be  merry  and  in  good  rest,  there  came  in  at  the 
gates  Sir  Palomides  and  Sir  Gaheris,  requiring  to  have  the 
custom  of  the  castle.  What  array  is  this  ?  said  Sir  Dinadan, 
I  would  have  my  rest.  That  may  not  be,  said  Sir  Tris- 
tram ;  now  must  we  needs  defend  the  custom  of  this  castle, 
insomuch  as  we  have  the  better  of  the  lords  of  this  castle, 
and  therefore,  said  Sir  Tristram,  needs  must  ye  make  you 
ready.  In  the  devil's  name,  said  Sir  Dinadan,  came  I  into 
your  company.  And  so  they  made  them  ready ;  and  Sir 
Gaheris  encountered  with  Sir  Tristram,  and  Sir  Gaheris  had 
a  fall ;  and  Sir  Palomides  encountered  with  Sir  Dinadan, 
and  Sir  Dinadan  had  a  fall :  then  was  it  fall  for  fall.  So 
then  must  they  fight  on  foot.  That  would  not  Sir 
Dinadan,  for  he  was  so  sore  bruised  of  the  fall  that  Sir 
Palomides  gave  him.  Then  Sir  Tristram  unlaced  Sir 
Dinadan's  helm,  and  prayed  him  to  help  him.  I  will  not, 
said  Sir  Dinadan.  for  I  am  sore  wounded  of  the  thirty 


336  King   Arthur 

knights  that  we  had  but  late  ago  to  do  withal.  But  ye  fare, 
said  Sir  Dinadan  unto  Sir  Tristram,  as  a  madman  and  as  a 
man  that  is  out  of  his  mind  that  would  cast  himself  away, 
and  I  may  curse  the  time  that  ever  I  saw  you,  for  in  all 
the  world  are  not  two  such  knights  that  be  so  wood  as  is  Sir 
Launcelot  and  ye  Sir  Tristram ;  for  once  I  fell  in  the 
fellowship  of  Sir  Launcelot  as  I  have  done  now  with  you, 
and  he  set  me  a  work  that  a  quarter  of  a  year  I  kept  my 
bed.  Jesu  defend  me,  said  Sir  Dinadan,  from  such  two 
knights,  and  specially  from  your  fellowship.  Then,  said  Sir 
Tristram,  I  will  fight  with  them  both.  Then  Sir  Tristram 
bade  them  come  forth  both,  for  I  will  fight  with  you.  Then 
Sir  Palomides  and  Sir  Gaheris  dressed  them,  and  smote  at 
them  both.  Then  Dinadan  smote  at  Sir  Gaheris  a  stroke  or 
two,  and  turned  from  him.  Nay,  said  Sir  Palomides,  it  is  too 
much  shame  for  us  two  knights  to  fight  with  one.  And  then 
he  did  bid  Sir  Gaheris  stand  aside  with  that  knight  that  hath 
no  list  to  fight.  Then  they  rode  together  and  fought  long, 
and  at  the  last  Sir  Tristram  doubled  his  strokes,  and  drove 
Sir  Palomides  aback  more  than  three  strides.  And  then  by 
one  assent  Sir  Gaheris  and  Sir  Dinadan  went  betwixt  them, 
and  departed  them  in  sunder.  And  then  by  assent  of  Sir 
Tristram  they  would  have  lodged  together.  But  Sir  Dinadan 
would  not  lodge  in  that  castle.  And  then  he  cursed  the 
time  that  ever  he  came  in  their  fellowship,  and  so  he  took  his 
horse,  and  his  harness,  and  departed.  Then  Sir  Tristram 
prayed  the  lords  of  that  castle  to  lend  him  a  man  to 
bring  him  to  a  lodging,  and  so  they  did,  and  overtook  Sir 
Dinadan,  and  rode  to  their  lodging  two  mile  thence  with  a 
good  man  in  a  priory,  and  there  they  were  well  at  ease. 
And  that  same  night  Sir  Bors  and  Sir  Bleoberis,  and  Sir 
Ector  and  Sir  Driant,  abode  still  in  the  same  place  thereas 
Sir  Tristram  fought  with  the  thirty  knights ;  and  there  they 
met  with  Sir  Launcelot  the  same  night,  and  had  made 
promise  to  lodge  with  Sir  Colgrevance  the  same  night. 


King   Arthur  337 


CHAPTER   XXIV 

HOW  SIR  TRISTRAM  JOUSTED  WITH  SIR  KAY  AND  SIR  SAGRAMORE 
LE  DESIROUS,  AND  HOW  SIR  GAWAINE  TURNED  SIR  TRISTRAM 
FROM  MORGAN  LE  FAY 

BUT  anon  as  the  noble  knight,  Sir  Launcelot,  heard  of 
the  shield  of  Cornwall,  then  wist  he  well  that  it  was  Sir 
Tristram  that  fought  with  his  enemies.  And  then  Sir 
Launcelot  praised  Sir  Tristram,  and  called  him  the  man  of 
most  worship  in  the  world.  So  there  was  a  knight  in  that 
priory  that  hight  Pellinore,  and  he  desired  to  wit  the  name 
of  Sir  Tristram,  but  in  no  wise  he  could  not ;  and  so  Sir 
Tristram  departed  and  left  Sir  Dinadan  in  the  priory,  for 
he  was  so  weary  and  so  sore  bruised  that  he  might  not 
ride.  Then  this  knight,  Sir  Pellinore,  said  to  Sir  Dinadan  : 
Sithen  that  ye  will  not  tell  me  that  knight's  name  I  will  ride 
after  him  and  make  him  to  tell  me  his  name,  or  he  shall  die 
therefor.  Beware,  sir  knight,  said  Sir  Dinadan,  for  an  ye 
follow  him  ye  shall  repent  it.  So  that  knight,  Sir  Pellinore, 
rode  after  Sir  Tristram  and  required  him  of  jousts.  Then 
Sir  Tristram  smote  him  down  and  wounded  him  through  the 
shoulder,  and  so  he  passed  on  his  way.  And  on  the  next 
day  following  Sir  Tristram  met  with  pursuivants,  and  they 
told  him  that  there  was  made  a  great  cry  of  tournament 
between  King  Carados  of  Scotland  and  the  King  of  North 
Wales,  and  either  should  joust  against  other  at  the  Castle  of 
Maidens  ;  and  these  pursuivants  sought  all  the  country  after 
the  good  knights,  and  in  especial  King  Carados  let  make 
seeking  for  Sir  Launcelot  du  Lake,  and  the  King  of  North- 
galis  let  seek  after  Sir  Tristram  de  Liones.  And  at  that 
time  Sir  Tristram  thought  to  be  at  that  jousts  ;  and  so  by 
adventure  they  met  with  Sir  Kay,  the  Seneschal,  and  Sir 
Sagramore  le  Desirous ;  and  Sir  Kay  required  Sir  Tristram 
to  joust,  and  Sir  Tristram  in  a  manner  refused  him,  by  cause 
he  would  not  be  hurt  nor  bruised  against  the  great  jousts 
that  should  be  before  the  Castle  of  Maidens,  and  therefore 
thought  to  repose  him  and  to  rest  him.  And  alway  Sir  Kay 
cried :  Sir  knight  of  Cornwall,  joust  with  me,  or  else  yield 
thee  to  me  as  recreant.  When  Sir  Tristram  heard  him  say 
so  he  turned  to  him,  and  then  Sir  Kay  refused  him  and 
turned  his  back.  Then  Sir  Tristram  said  :  As  I  find  thee 
I  shall  take  thee.  Then  Sir  Kay  turned  with  evil  will,  and 


338  King"   Arthur 

Sir  Tristram  smote  Sir  Kay  down,  and  so  he  rode  forth. 
Then  Sir  Sagramore  le  Desirous  rode  after  Sir  Tristram,  and 
made  him  to  joust  with  him,  and  there  Sir  Tristram  smote 
down  Sir  Sagramore  le  Desirous  from  his  horse,  and  rode 
his  way ;  and  the  same  day  he  met  with  a  damosel  that  told 
him  that  he  should  win  great  worship  of  a  knight  adventurous 
that  did  much  harm  in  all  that  country.  When  Sir  Tristram 
heard  her  say  so,  he  was  glad  to  go  with  her  to  win  worship. 
So  Sir  Tristram  rode  with  that  damosel  a  six  mile,  and  then 
met  him  Sir  Gawaine,  and  therewithal  Sir  Gawaine  knew  the 
damosel,  that  she  was  a  damosel  of  Queen  Morgan  le  Fay. 
Then  Sir  Gawaine  understood  that  she  led  that  knight  to 
some  mischief.  Fair  knight,  said  Sir  Gawaine,  whither  ride 
you  now  with  that  damosel  ?  Sir,  said  Sir  Tristram,  I  wot 
not  whither  I  shall  ride  but  as  the  damosel  will  lead  me. 
Sir,  said  Sir  Gawaine,  ye  shall  not  ride  with  her,  for  she  and 
her  lady  did  never  good,  but  ill.  And  then  Sir  Gawaine, 
pulled  out  his  sword  and  said  :  Damosel,  but  if  thou  tell  me 
anon  for  what  cause  thou  leadest  this  knight  with  thee  thou 
shalt  die  for  it  right  anon :  I  know  all  your  lady's  treason, 
and  yours.  Mercy,  Sir  Gawaine,  she  said,  and  if  ye  will  save 
my  life  I  will  tell  you.  Say  on,  said  Sir  Gawaine,  and  thou 
shalt  have  thy  life.  Sir,  she  said,  Queen  Morgan  le  Fay, 
my  lady,  hath  ordained  a  thirty  ladies  to  seek  and  espy  after 
Sir  Launcelot  or  Sir  Tristram,  and  by  the  trains  of  these 
ladies,  who  that  may  first  meet  any  of  these  two  knights,  they 
should  turn  them  unto  Morgan  le  Fay's  castle,  saying  that 
they  should  do  deeds  of  worship ;  and  if  any  of  the  two 
knights  came  there,  there  be  thirty  knights  lying  and  watch- 
ing in  a  tower  to  wait  upon  Sir  Launcelot  or  upon  Sir 
Tristram.  Fie  for  shame,  said  Sir  Gawaine,  that  ever  such 
false  treason  should  be  wrought  or  used  in  a  queen,  and  a 
king's  sister,  and  a  king  and  queen's  daughter. 


CHAPTER   XXV 

HOW  SIR  TRISTRAM  AND  SIR  GAWAINE  RODE  TO  HAVE  FOUGHTEN 
WITH  THE  THIRTY  KNIGHTS,  BUT  THEY  DURST  NOT  COME 
OUT 

SIR,  said  Sir  Gawaine,  will  ye  stand  with  me,  and  we  will 
see  the  malice  of  these  thirty  knights.  Sir,  said  Sir  Tristram, 
go  ye  to  them,  an  it  please  you,  and  ye  shall  see  I  will  not 


King   Arthur  339 

fail  you,  for  it  is  not  long  ago  syn  I  and  a  fellow  met  with 
thirty  knights  of  that  queen's  fellowship  ;  and  God  speed  us 
so  that  we  may  win  worship.  So  then  Sir  Gawaine  and  Sir 
Tristram  rode  toward  the  castle  where  Morgan  le  Fay  was, 
and  ever  Sir  Gawaine  deemed  well  that  he  was  Sir  Tristram 
de  Liones,  by  cause  he  heard  that  two  knights  had  slain 
and  beaten  thirty  knights.  And  when  they  came  afore  the 
castle  Sir  Gawaine  spake  on  high  and  said  :  Queen  Morgan 
le  Fay,  send  out  your  knights  that  ye  have  laid  in  a  watch 
for  Sir  Launcelot  and  for  Sir  Tristram.  Now,  said  Sir 
Gawaine,  I  know  your  false  treason,  and  through  all  places 
where  that  I  ride  men  shall  know  of  your  false  treason  ;  and 
now  let  see  Sir  Gawaine  whether  ye  dare  come  out  of  your 
castle,  ye  thirty  knights.  Then  the  queen  spake  and  all  the 
thirty  knights  at  once,  and  said  :  Sir  Gawaine,  full  well 
wotest  thou  what  thou  dost  and  sayest ;  for  by  God 
we  know  thee  passing  well,  but  all  that  thou  speakest  and 
dost,  thou  sayest  it  upon  pride  of  that  good  knight  that  is 
there  with  thee.  For  there  be  some  of  us  that  know  full 
well  the  hands  of  that  knight  over  all  well.  And  wit  thou 
well,  Sir  Gawaine,  it  is  more  for  his  sake  than  for  thine  that 
we  will  not  come  out  of  this  castle.  For  wit  ye  well,  Sir 
Gawaine,  the  knight  that  beareth  the  arms  of  Cornwall,  we 
know  him  and  what  he  is.  Then  Sir  Gawaine  and  Sir 
Tristram  departed  and  rode  on  their  ways  a  day  or  two 
together;  and  there  by  adventure,  they  met  with  Sir  Kay 
and  Sir  Sagramore  le  Desirous.  And  then  they  were  glad 
of  Sir  Gawaine,  and  he  of  them,  but  they  wist  not  what  he 
was  with  the  shield  of  Cornwall,  but  by  deeming.  And  thus 
they  rode  together  a  day  or  two.  And  then  they  were  ware 
of  Sir  Breuse  Saunce  Pite  chasing  a  lady  for  to  have  slain 
her,  for  he  had  slain  her  paramour  afore.  Hold  you  all 
still,  said  Sir  Gawaine,  and  show  none  of  you  forth,  and  ye 
shall  see  me  reward  yonder  false  knight ;  for  an  he  espy  you 
he  is  so  well  horsed  that  he  will  escape  away.  And  then 
Sir  Gawaine  rode  betwixt  Sir  Breuse  and  the  lady,  and  said  : 
False  knight,  leave  her,  and  have  ado  with  me.  When  Sir 
Breuse  saw  no  more  but  Sir  Gawaine  he  feutred  his  spear, 
and  Sir  Gawaine  against  him ;  and  there  Sir  Breuse  over- 
threw Sir  Gawaine,  and  then  he  rode  over  him,  and 
overthwart  him  twenty  times  to  have  destroyed  him ;  and 
when  Sir  Tristram  saw  him  do  so  villainous  a  deed,  he 
hurled  out  against  him.  And  when  Sir  Breuse  saw  him  with 


340  King   Arthur 

the  shield  of  Cornwall  he  knew  him  well  that  it  was  Sir 
Tristram,  and  then  he  fled,  and  Sir  Tristram  followed  after 
him  ;  and  Sir  Breuse  Saunce  Pite  was  so  horsed  that  he 
went  his  way  quite,  and  Sir  Tristram  followed  him  long,  for 
he  would  fain  have  been  avenged  upon  him.  And  so  when 
he  had  long  chased  him,  he  saw  a  fair  well,  and  thither  he 
rode  to  repose  him,  and  tied  his  horse  till  a  tree. 


CHAPTER   XXVI 

HOW    DAMOSEL  BRAGWAINE    FOUND  TRISTRAM  SLEEPING  BY  A  WELL, 
AND  HOW  SHE  DELIVERED  LETTERS  TO  HIM  FROM  LA  BEALE  ISOUD 

AND  then  he  pulled  off  his  helm  and  washed  his  visage 
and  his  hands,  and  so  he  fell  on  sleep.  In  the  meanwhile 
came  a  damosel  that  had  sought  Sir  Tristram  many  ways  and 
days  within  this  land.  And  when  she  came  to  the  well  she 
looked  upon  him,  and  had  forgotten  him  as  in  remembrance 
of  Sir  Tristram,  but  by  his  horse  she  knew  him,  that  hight 
Passe-Brewel  that  had  been  Sir  Tristram's  horse  many  years. 
For  when  he  was  mad  in  the  forest  Sir  Fergus  kept  him.  So 
this  lady,  Dame  Bragwaine,  abode  still  till  he  was  awake. 
So  when  she  saw  him  wake  she  saluted  him,  and  he  her 
again,  for  either  knew  other  of  old  acquaintance ;  then  she 
told  him  how  she  had  sought  him  long  and  broad,  and  there 
she  told  him  how  she  had  letters  from  Queen  La  Beale 
Isoud.  Then  anon  Sir  Tristram  read  them,  and  wit  ye 
well  he  was  glad,  for  therein  was  many  a  piteous  complaint. 
Then  Sir  Tristram  said :  Lady  Bragwaine,  ye  shall  ride  with 
me  till  that  tournament  be  done  at  the  Castle  of  Maidens, 
and  then  shall  bear  letters  and  tidings  with  you.  And  then 
Sir  Tristram  took  his  horse  and  sought  lodging,  and  there  he 
met  with  a  good  ancient  knight  and  prayed  him  to  lodge 
with  him.  Right  so  came  Gouvernail  unto  Sir  Tristram, 
that  was  glad  of  that  lady.  So  this  old  knight's  name  was 
Sir  Pellounes,  and  he  told  of  the  great  tournament  that 
should  be  at  the  Castle  of  Maidens.  And  there  Sir  Launcelot 
and  thirty-two  knights  of  his  blood  had  ordained  shields  of 
Cornwall.  And  right  so  there  came  one  unto  Sir  Pellounes, 
and  told  him  that  Sir  Persides  de  Bloise  was  come  home ; 
then  that  knight  held  up  his  hands  and  thanked  God  of  his 
coming  home.  And  there  Sir  Pellounes  told  Sir  Tristram 


King   Arthur  341 


that  in  two  years  he  had  not  seen  his  son,  Sir  Persides.  Sir, 
said  Sir  Tristram,  I  know  your  son  well  enough  for  a  good 
knight.  So  on  a  time  Sir  Tristram  and  Sir  Persides  came 
to  their  lodging  both  at  once,  and  so  they  unarmed  them,  and 
put  upon  them  their  clothing.  And  then  these  two  knights 
each  welcomed  other.  And  when  Sir  Persides  understood 
that  Sir  Tristram  was  of  Cornwall,  he  said  he  was  once  in 
Cornwall :  And  there  I  jousted  afore  King  Mark ;  and  so  it 
happed  me  at  that  time  to  overthrow  ten  knights,  and  then 
came  to  me  Sir  Tristram  de  Liones  and  overthrew  me,  and 
took  my  lady  away  from  me,  and  that  shall  I  never  forget, 
but  I  shall  remember  me  an  ever  I  see  my  time.  Ah,  said 
Sir  Tristram,  now  I  understand  that  ye  hate  Sir  Tristram. 
What  deem  ye,  ween  ye  that  Sir  Tristram  is  not  able  to 
withstand  your  malice  ?  Yes,  said  Sir  Persides,  I  know 
well  that  Sir  Tristram  is  a  noble  knight,  and  a  much 
better  knight  than  I,  yet  shall  I  not  owe  him  my 
good  will.  Right  as  they  stood  thus  talking  at  a  bay- 
window  of  that  castle,  they  saw  many  knights  riding  to 
and  fro  toward  the  tournament.  And  then  was  Sir  Tristram 
ware  of  a  likely  knight  riding  upon  a  great  black  horse,  and 
a  black-covered  shield.  What  knight  is  that,  said  Sir 
Tristram,  with  the  black  horse  and  the  black  shield?  he 
seemeth  a  good  knight.  I  know  him  well,  said  Sir  Persides, 
he  is  one  of  the  best  knights  of  the  world.  Then  is  it  Sir 
Launcelot,  said  Tristram.  Nay,  said  Sir  Persides,  it  is  Sir 
Palomides,  that  is  yet  unchristened. 


CHAPTER   XXVII 

HOW    SIR    TRISTRAM    HAD    A    FALL    WITH    SIR    PALOMIDES,  AND  HOW 
LAUNCELOT   OVERTHREW   TWO    KNIGHTS 

THEN  they  saw  much  people  of  the  country  salute  Sir 
Palomides.  And  within  a  while  after  there  came  a  squire  of 
the  castle,  that  told  Sir  Pellounes  that  was  lord  of  that 
castle,  that  a  knight  with  a  black  shield  had  smitten  down 
thirteen  knights.  Fair  brother,  said  Sir  Tristram  unto  Sir 
Persides,  let  us  cast  upon  us  cloaks,  and  let  us  go  see 
the  play.  Not  so,  said  Sir  Persides,  we  will  not  go  like 
knaves  thither,  but  we  will  ride  like  men  and  good  knights 
to  withstand  our  enemies.  So  they  armed  them,  and  took 


342  King   Arthur 

their  horses  and  great  spears,  and  thither  they  went  there  as 
many  knights  assayed  themself  before  the  tournament. 
And  anon  Sir  Palomides  saw  Sir  Persides,  and  then  he 
sent  a  squire  unto  him  and  said :  Go  thou  to  the  yonder 
knight  with  the  green  shield  and  therein  a  lion  of  gold,  and 
say  him  I  require  him  to  joust  with  me,  and  tell  him  that  my 
name  is  Sir  Palomides.  When  Sir  Persides  understood  that 
request  of  Sir  Palomides,  he  made  him  ready,  and  there 
anon  they  met  together,  but  Sir  Persides  had  a  fall.  Then 
Sir  Tristram  dressed  him  to  be  revenged  upon  Sir  Palomides, 
and  that  saw  Sir  Palomides  that  was  ready  and  so  was  not 
Sir  Tristram,  and  took  him  at  an  advantage  and  smote 
him  over  his  horse's  tail  when  he  had  no  spear  in  his  rest. 
Then  start  up  Sir  Tristram  and  took  his  horse  lightly,  and 
was  wroth  out  of  measure,  and  sore  ashamed  of  that  fall. 
Then  Sir  Tristram  sent  unto  Sir  Palomides  by  Gouvernail, 
and  prayed  him  to  joust  with  him  at  his  request.  Nay,  said 
Sir  Palomides,  as  at  this  time  I  will  not  joust  with  that  knight, 
for  I  know  him  better  than  he  weeneth.  And  if  he  be  wroth 
he  may  right  it  tomorn  at  the  Castle  of  Maidens,  where 
he  may  see  me  and  many  other  knights.  With  that  came 
Sir  Dinadan,  and  when  he  saw  Sir  Tristram  wroth  he  list 
not  to  jape.  Lo,  said  Sir  Dinadan,  here  may  a  man  prove, 
be  a  man  never  so  good  yet  may  he  have  a  fall,  and  he  was 
never  so  wise  but  he  might  be  overseen,  and  he  rideth  well 
that  never  fell.  So  Sir  Tristram  was  passing  wroth,  and 
said  to  Sir  Persides  and  to  Sir  Dinadan  :  I  will  revenge  me. 
Right  so  as  they  stood  talking  there,  there  came  by  Sir 
Tristram  a  likely  knight  riding  passing  soberly  and  heavily 
with  a  black  shield.  What  knight  is  that  ?  said  Sir  Tristram 
unto  Sir  Persides.  I  know  him  well,  said  Sir  Persides,  for 
his  name  is  Sir  Briant  of  North  Wales ;  so  he  passed  on 
among  other  knights  of  North  Wales.  And  there  came  in 
Sir  Launcelot  du  Lake  with  a  shield  of  the  arms  of  Cornwall, 
and  he  sent  a  squire  unto  Sir  Briant,  and  required  him  to 
joust  with  him.  Well,  said  Sir  Briant,  sithen  I  am  required 
to  joust  I  will  do  what  I  may ;  and  there  Sir  Launcelot 
smote  down  Sir  Briant  from  his  horse  a  great  fall.  And 
then  Sir  Tristram  marvelled  what  knight  he  was  that  bare 
the  shield  of  Cornwall.  Whatsoever  he  be,  said  Sir  Dinadan, 
I  warrant  you  he  is  of  King  Ban's  blood,  the  which  be 
knights  of  the  most  noble  prowess  in  the  world,  for  to 
account  so  many  for  so  many.  Then  there  came  two 


King   Arthur  343 

knights  of  Northgalis,  that  one  hight  Hew  de  la  Montaine, 
and  the  other  Sir  Maddok  de  la  Montaine,  and  they  chal- 
lenged Sir  Launcelot  foot  hot.  Sir  Launcelot  not  refusing 
them  but  made  him  ready,  with  one  spear  he  smote  them 
down  both  over  their  horse's  croups  ;  and  so  Sir  Launcelot 
rode  his  way.  By  the  good  lord,  said  Sir  Tristram,  he  is  a 
good  knight  that  beareth  the  shield  of  Cornwall,  and 
raeseemeth  he  rideth  in  the  best  manner  that  ever  I  saw 
knight  ride.  Then  the  King  of  Northgalis  rode  unto  Sir 
Palomides,  and  prayed  him  heartily  for  his  sake  to  joust  with 
that  knight  that  hath  done  us  of  Northgalis  despite.  Sir, 
said  Sir  Palomides,  I  am  full  loath  to  have  ado  with  that 
knight,  and  cause  why  is,  for  as  tomorn  the  great  tournament 
shall  be ;  and  therefore  I  will  keep  myself  fresh  by  my  will. 
Nay,  said  the  King  of  Northgalis,  I  pray  you  require  him  of 
jousts.  Sir,  said  Sir  Palomides,  I  will  joust  at  your  request, 
and  require  that  knight  to  joust  with  me,  and  often  I  have 
seen  a  man  have  a  fall  at  his  own  request. 


CHAPTER   XXVIII 

HOW   SIR   LAUNCELOT  JOUSTED  WITH    PALOMIDES   AND    OVERTHREW 
HIM,  AND  AFTER  HE  WAS  ASSAILED  WITH  TWELVE  KNIGHTS 

THEN  Sir  Palomides  sent  unto  Sir  Launcelot  a  squire, 
and  required  him  of  jousts.  Fair  fellow,  said  Sir  Launcelot, 
tell  me  thy  lord's  name.  Sir,  said  the  squire,  my  lord's  name 
is  Sir  Palomides,  the  good  knight.  In  good  hour,  said  Sir 
Launcelot,  for  there  is  no  knight  that  I  saw  this  seven  years 
that  I  had  liefer  ado  withal  than  with  him.  And  so  either 
knights  made  them  ready  with  two  great  spears.  Nay,  said 
Sir  Dinadan,  ye  shall  see  that  Sir  Palomides  will  quit  him 
right  well.  It  may  be  so,  said  Sir  Tristram,  but  I  undertake 
that  knight  with  the  shield  of  Cornwall  shall  give  him  a  fall. 
I  believe  it  not,  said  Sir  Dinadan.  Right  so  they  spurred 
their  horses  and  feutred  their  spears,  and  either  hit  other, 
and  Sir  Palomides  brake  a  spear  upon  Sir  Launcelot,  and 
he  sat  and  moved  not ;  but  Sir  Launcelot  smote  him  so 
lightly  that  he  made  his  horse  to  avoid  the  saddle,  and  the 
stroke  brake  his  shield  and  the  hauberk,  and  had  he  not 
fallen  he  had  been  slain.  How  now,  said  Sir  Tristram,  I 
wist  well  by  the  manner  of  their  riding  both  that  Sir 


344  Kmg   Arthur 


Palomides  should  have  a  fall.  Right  so  Sir  Launcelot  rode 
his  way,  and  rode  to  a  well  to  drink  and  to  repose  him,  and 
they  of  Northgalis  espied  him  whither  he  rode  ;  and  then 
there  followed  him  twelve  knights  for  to  have  mischieved 
him,  for  this  cause  that  upon  the  morn  at  the  tournament  of 
the  Castle  of  Maidens  that  he  should  not  win  the  victory. 
So  they  came  upon  Sir  Launcelot  suddenly,  and  unnethe 
he  might  put  upon  him  his  helm  and  take  his  horse,  but 
they  were  in  hands  with  him  ;  and  then  Sir  Launcelot  gat 
his  spear,  and  rode  through  them,  and  there  he  slew  a  knight 
and  brake  a  spear  in  his  body.  Then  he  drew  his  sword 
and  smote  upon  the  right  hand  and  upon  the  left  hand,  so 
that  within  a  few  strokes  he  had  slain  other  three  knights, 
and  the  remnant  that  abode  he  wounded  them  sore 
all  that  did  abide.  Thus  Sir  Launcelot  escaped  from  his 
enemies  of  North  Wales,  and  then  Sir  Launcelot  rode  his 
way  till  a  friend,  and  lodged  him  till  on  the  morn  ;  for  he 
would  not  the  first  day  have  ado  in  the  tournament  by 
cause  of  his  great  labour.  And  on  the  first  day  he  was  with 
King  Arthur  there  as  he  was  set  on  high  upon  a  scaffold  to 
discern  who  was  best  worthy  of  his  deeds.  So  Sir  Launcelot 
was  with  King  Arthur,  and  jousted  not  the  first  day. 


CHAPTER   XXIX 

HOW   SIR   TRISTRAM    BEHAVED   HIM   THE    FIRST   DAY    OF   THE 
TOURNAMENT,    AND   THERE   HE   HAD   THE    PRIZE 

Now  turn  we  unto  Sir  Tristram  de  Liones,  that 
commanded  Gouvernail,  his  servant,  to  ordain  him  a  black 
shield  with  none  other  remembrance  therein.  And  so  Sir 
Persides  and  Sir  Tristram  departed  from  their  host  Sir 
Pellounes,  and  they  rode  early  toward  the  tournament,  and 
then  they  drew  them  to  King  Carados'  side,  of  Scotland ; 
and  anon  knights  began  the  field  what  of  King  Northgalis' 
part,  and  what  of  King  Carados'  part,  and  there  began  great 
party.  Then  there  was  hurling  and  rushing.  Right  so 
came  in  Sir  Persides  and  Sir  Tristram,  and  so  they  did  fare 
that  they  put  the  king  of  Northgalis  aback.  Then  came  in 
Sir  Bleoberis  de  Ganis  and  Sir  Gaheris  with  them  of 
Northgalis,  and  then  was  Sir  Persides  smitten  down  and 
almost  slain,  for  more  than  fortv  horsemen  went  over  him. 


King   Arthur  345 

For  Sir  Bleoberis  did  great  deeds  of  arms,  and  Sir  Gaheris 
failed  him  not.  When  Sir  Tristram  beheld  them,  and  saw 
them  do  such  deeds  of  arms,  he  marvelled  what  they  were. 
Also  Sir  Tristram  thought  shame  that  Sir  Persides  was  so 
done  to  ;  and  then  he  gat  a  great  spear  in  his  hand,  and  then 
he  rode  to  Sir  Gaheris  and  smote  him  down  from  his  horse. 
And  then  was  Sir  Bleoberis  wroth,  and  gat  a  spear  and  rode 
against  Sir  Tristram  in  great  ire ;  and  there  Sir  Tristram 
met  with  him,  and  smote  Sir  Bleoberis  from  his  horse.  So 
then  the  king  with  the  hundred  knights  was  wroth,  and  he 
horsed  Sir  Bleoberis  and  Sir  Gaheris  again,  and  there  began 
a  great  medley  ;  and  ever  Sir  Tristram  held  them  passing 
short,  and  ever  Sir  Bleoberis  was  passing  busy  upon  Sir 
Tristram  ;  and  there  came  Sir  Dinadan  against  Sir  Tristram, 
and  Sir  Tristram  gave  him  such  a  buffet  that  he  swooned 
in  his  saddle.  Then  anon  Sir  Dinadan  came  to  Sir 
Tristram  and  said :  Sir,  I  know  thee  better  than  thou 
weenest;  but  here  I  promise  thee  my  troth  I  will  never 
come  against  thee  more,  for  I  promise  thee  that  sword  of 
thine  shall  never  come  on  mine  helm.  With  that  came  Sir 
Bleoberis,  and  Sir  Tristram  gave  him  such  a  buffet  that 
down  he  laid  his  head  ;  and  then  he  caught  him  so  sore  by 
the  helm  that  he  pulled  him  under  his  horse's  feet.  And 
then  King  Arthur  blew  to  lodging.  Then  Sir  Tristram 
departed  to  his  pavilion,  and  Sir  Dinadan  rode  with  him ; 
and  Sir  Persides  and  King  Arthur  then,  and  the  kings  upon 
both  parties,  marvelled  what  knight  that  was  with  the  black 
shield.  Many  said  their  advice,  and  some  knew  him  for  Sir 
Tristram,  and  held  their  peace  and  would  nought  say.  So 
that  first  day  King  Arthur,  and  all  the  kings  and  lords  that 
were  judges,  gave  Sir  Tristram  the  prize  ;  howbeit  they  knew 
him  not,  but  named  him  the  knight  with  the  black  shield. 


CHAPTER   XXX 

HOW   SIR   TRISTRAM    RETURNED  AGAINST    KING   ARTHUR'S  PARTY   BY 
CAUSE  HE  SAW  SIR  PALOMIDES  ON  THAT  PARTY 

THEN  upon  the  morn  Sir  Palomides  returned  from  the 
king  of  Northgalis,  and  rode  to  King  Arthur's  side,  where 
was  King  Carados,  and  the  king  of  Ireland,  and  Sir 
Launcelot's  kin  and  Sir  Gawaine's  kin.  So  Sir  Palomides 


346  King   Arthur 


sent  the  damosel  unto  Sir  Tristram  that  he  sent  to  seek  him 
when  he  was  out  of  his  mind  in  the  forest,  and  this  damosel 
asked  Sir  Tristram  what  he  was  and  what  was  his  name  ? 
As  for  that,  said  Sir  Tristram,  tell  Sir  Palomides  ye  shall 
not  wit  as  at  this  time  unto  the  time  I  have  broken  two 
spears  upon  him.  But  let  him  wit  thus  much,  said  Sir 
Tristram,  that  I  am  the  same  knight  that  he  smote  down  in 
over  evening  at  the  tournament  ;  and  tell  him  plainly  on 
what  party  that  Sir  Palomides  be  I  will  be  of  the  contrary 
party.  Sir,  said  the  damosel,  ye  shall  understand  that  Sir 
Palomides  will  be  on  King  Arthur's  side,  where  the  most 
noble  knights  of  the  world  be.  In  the  name  of  God,  said 
Sir  Tristram,  then  will  I  be  with  the  king  of  Northgalis, 
because  Sir  Palomides  will  be  on  King  Arthur's  side,  and 
else  I  would  not  but  for  his  sake.  So  when  King  Arthur 
was  come  they  blew  unto  the  field  ;  and  then  there  began  a 
great  party,  and  so  King  Carados  jousted  with  the  king  of 
the  hundred  knights,  and  there  King  Carados  had  a  fall  : 
then  was  there  hurling  and  rushing,  and  right  so  came  in 
knights  of  King  Arthur's,  and  they  bare  aback  the  king  of 
Northgalis'  knights.  Then  Sir  Tristram  came  in,  and  began 
so  roughly  and  so  bigly  that  there  was  none  might  withstand 
him,  and  thus  Sir  Tristram  dured  long.  And  at  the  last 
Sir  Tristram  fell  among  the  fellowship  of  King  Ban,  and 
there  fell  upon  him  Sir  Bors  de  Ganis,  and  Sir  Ector  de 
Maris,  and  Sir  Blamore  de  Ganis,  and  many  other  knights. 
And  then  Sir  Tristram  smote  on  the  right  hand  and  on  the 
left  hand,  that  all  lords  and  ladies  spake  of  his  noble  deeds. 
But  at  the  last  Sir  Tristram  should  have  had  the  worse  had 
not  the  king  with  the  hundred  knights  been.  And  then  he 
came  with  his  fellowship  and  rescued  Sir  Tristram,  and 
brought  him  away  from  those  knights  that  bare  the  shields 
of  Cornwall.  And  then  Sir  Tristram  saw  another  fellowship 
by  themself,  and  there  were  a  forty  knights  together,  and 
Sir  Kay,  the  Seneschal,  was  their  governor.  Then  Sir 
Tristram  rode  in  amongst  them,  and  there  he  smote  down 
Sir  Kay  from  his  horse  ;  and  there  he  fared  among  those 
knights  like  a  greyhound  among  conies.  Then  Sir  Launce- 
lot  found  a  knight  that  was  sore  wounded  upon  the  head. 
Sir,  said  Sir  Launcelot,  who  wounded  you  so  sore  ?  Sir,  he 
said,  a  knight  that  beareth  a  black  shield,  and  I  may  curse 
the  time  that  ever  I  met  with  him,  for  he  is  a  devil  and  no 
man.  So  Sir  Launcelot  departed  from  him  and  thought  to 


King   Arthur  347 

meet  with  Sir  Tristram,  and  so  he  rode  with  his  sword, 
drawn  in  his  hand  to  seek  Sir  Tristram  ;  and  then  he  espied 
him  how  he  hurled  here  and  there,  and  at  every  stroke  Sir 
Tristram  well-nigh  smote  down  a  knight.  O  mercy  Jesu  ! 
said  the  king,  sith  the  times  I  bare  arms  saw  I  never  no 
knight  do  so  marvellous  deeds  of  arms.  And  if  I  should 
set  upon  this  knight,  said  Sir  Launcelot  to  himself,  I  did 
shame  to  myself,  and  therewithal  Sir  Launcelot  put  up  his 
sword.  And  then  the  king  with  the  hundred  knights  and 
an  hundred  more  of  North  Wales  set  upon  the  twenty  of 
Sir  Launcelot's  kin :  and  they  twenty  knights  held  them 
ever  together  as  wild  swine,  and  none  would  fail  other. 
And  so  when  Sir  Tristram  beheld  the  noblesse  of  these 
twenty  knights  he  marvelled  of  their  good  deeds,  for  he  saw 
by  their  fare  and  by  their  rule  that  they  had  liefer  die  than 
avoid  the  field.  Now  Jesu,  said  Sir  Tristram,  well  may  he 
be  valiant  and  full  of  prowess  that  hath  such  a  sort  of  noble 
knights  unto  his  kin,  and  full  like  is  he  to  be  a  noble  man 
that  is  their  leader  and  governor.  He  meant  it  by  Sir 
Launcelot  du  Lake.  So  when  Sir  Tristram  had  beholden 
them  long  he  thought  shame  to  see  two  hundred  knights 
battering  upon  twenty  knights.  Then  Sir  Tristram  rode 
unto  the  king  with  the  hundred  knights  and  said  :  Sir,  leave 
your  fighting  with  those  twenty  knighls,  for  ye  win  no 
worship  of  them,  ye  be  so  many  and  they  so  few ;  and  wit 
ye  well  they  will  not  out  of  the  field  I  see  by  their  cheer  and 
countenance ;  and  worship  get  ye  none  an  ye  slay  them. 
Therefore  leave  your  fighting  with  them,  for  I  to  increase 
my  worship  I  will  ride  to  the  twenty  knights  and  help  them 
with  all  my  might  and  power.  Nay,  said  the  king  with  the 
hundred  knights,  ye  shall  not  do  so;  now  I  see  your  courage 
and  courtesy  I  will  withdraw  my  knights  for  your  pleasure, 
for  evermore  a  good  knight  will  favour  another,  and  like  will 
draw  to  like. 


CHAPTER  XXXI 

HOW   SIR   TRISTRAM    FOUND    PALOMIDES    BY   A   WELL,  AND   BROUGHT 
HIM    WITH    HIM    TO   HIS    LODGING 

THEN  the  king  with  the  hundred  knights  withdrew  his 
knights.  And  all  this  while,  and  long  tofore,  Sir  Launcelot 
had  watched  upon  Sir  Tristram  with  a  very  purpose  to  have 


348  King  Arthur 

fellowshipped  with  him.  And  then  suddenly  Sir  Tristram, 
Sir  Dinadan,  and  Gouvernail,  his  man,  rode  their  way  into 
the  forest,  that  no  man  perceived  where  they  went.  So 
then  King  Arthur  blew  unto  lodging,  and  gave  the  king 
of  Northgalis  the  prize  by  cause  Sir  Tristram  was  upon 
his  side.  Then  Sir  Launcelot  rode  here  and  there,  so 
wood  as  lion  that  fauted  his  fill,  by  cause  he  had  lost  Sir 
Tristram,  and  so  he  returned  unto  King  Arthur.  And 
then  in  all  the  field  was  a  noise  that  with  the  wind  it  might 
be  heard  two  mile  thence,  how  the  lords  and  ladies  cried : 
The  knight  with  the  black  shield  hath  won  the  field.  Alas, 
said  King  Arthur,  where  is  that  knight  become  ?  It  is  shame 
to  all  those  in  the  field  so  to  let  him  escape  away  from  you ; 
but  with  gentleness  and  courtesy  ye  might  have  brought 
him  unto  me  to  the  Castle  of  Maidens.  Then  the  noble 
King  Arthur  went  unto  his  knights  and  comforted  them  in 
the  best  wise  that  he  could,  and  said :  My  fair  fellows,  be 
not  dismayed,  howbeit  ye  have  lost  the  field  this  day.  And 
many  were  hurt  and  sore  wounded,  and  many  were  whole. 
My  fellows,  said  King  Arthur,  look  that  ye  be  of  good 
cheer,  for  to-morn  I  will  be  in  the  field  with  you  and 
revenge  you  of  your  enemies.  So  that  night  King  Arthur  and 
his  knights  reposed  themself.  The  damosel  that  came 
from  La  Beale  Isoud  unto  Sir  Tristram,  all  the  while  the 
tournament  was  adoing  she  was  with  Queen  Guenever,  and 
ever  the  queen  asked  her  for  what  cause  she  came  into  that 
country.  Madam,  she  answered,  I  come  for  none  other 
cause  but  from  my  lady  La  Beale  Isoud  to  wit  of  your 
welfare.  For  in  no  wise  she  would  not  tell  the  queen  that 
she  came  for  Sir  Tristram's  sake.  So  this  lady,  Dame 
Bragwaine,  took  her  leave  of  Queen  Guenever,  and  she 
rode  after  Sir  Tristram.  And  as  she  rode  through  the 
forest  she  heard  a  great  cry;  then  she  commanded  her 
squire  to  go  into  the  forest  to  wit  what  was  that  noise. 
And  so  he  came  to  a  well,  and  there  he  found  a  knight 
bounden  till  a  tree  crying  as  he  had  been  wood,  and  his 
horse  and  his  harness  standing  by  him.  And  when  he 
espied  that  squire,  therewith  he  abraide  and  brake  himself 
loose,  and  took  his  sword  in  his  hand,  and  ran  to  have 
slain  the  squire.  Then  he  took  his  horse  and  fled  all  that 
ever  he  might  unto  Dame  Bragwaine,  and  told  her  of  his 
adventure.  Then  she  rode  unto  Sir  Tristram's  pavilion, 
and  told  Sir  Tristram  what  adventure  she  had  found  in 


King   Arthur  349 

the  forest.  Alas,  said  Sir  Tristram,  upon  my  head  there 
is  some  good  knight  at  mischief.  Then  Sir  Tristram  took 
his  horse  and  his  sword  and  rode  thither,  and  there  he 
heard  how  the  knight  complained  unto  himself  and  said : 
I,  woful  knight  Sir  Palomides,  what  misadventure  befalleth 
me,  that  thus  am  defoiled  with  falsehood  and  treason, 
through  Sir  Bors  and  Sir  Ector.  Alas,  he  said,  why  live  I  so 
long  !  And  then  he  gat  his  sword  in  his  hands,  and  made 
many  strange  signs  and  tokens ;  and  so  through  his  raging 
he  threw  his  sword  into  that  fountain.  Then  Sir  Palomides 
wailed  and  wrang  his  hands.  And  at  the  last  for  pure  sorrow 
he  ran  into  that  fountain,  over  his  belly,  and  sought  after 
his  sword.  Then  Sir  Tristram  saw  that,  and  ran  upon  Sir 
Palomides,  and  held  him  in  his  arms  fast.  What  art  thou, 
said  Palomides,  that  holdeth  me  so  ?  I  am  a  man  of  this 
forest  that  would  thee  none  harm.  Alas,  said  Sir  Palomides, 
I  may  never  win  worship  where  Sir  Tristram  is ;  for  ever 
where  he  is  an  I  be  there,  then  get  I  no  worship ;  and  if  he 
be  away  for  the  most  part  I  have  the  gree,  unless  that  Sir 
Launcelot  be  there  or  Sir  Lamorak.  Then  Sir  Palomides 
said  :  Once  in  Ireland  Sir  Tristram  put  me  to  the  worse, 
and  another  time  in  Cornwall,  and  in  other  places  in  this 
land.  What  would  ye  do,  said  Sir  Tristram,  an  ye  had  Sir 
Tristram  ?  I  would  fight  with  him,  said  Sir  Palomides,  and 
ease  my  heart  upon  him ;  and  yet,  to  say  thee  sooth,  Sir 
Tristram  is  the  gentlest  knight  in  this  world  living.  What 
will  ye  do,  said  Sir  Tristram,  will  ye  go  with  me  to  your 
lodging  ?  Nay,  said  he,  I  will  go  to  the  king  with  the  hun- 
dred knights,  for  he  rescued  me  from  Sir  Bors  de  Ganis  and 
Sir  Ector,  and  else  had  I  been  slain  traitourly.  Sir  Tristram 
said  him  such  kind  words  that  Sir  Palomides  went  with  him 
to  his  lodging.  Then  Gouvernail  went  tofore,  and  charged 
Dame  Bragwaine  to  go  out  of  the  way  to  her  lodging.  And 
bid  ye  Sir  Persides  that  he  make  him  no  quarrels.  And  so 
they  rode  together  till  they  came  to  Sir  Tristram's  pavilion, 
and  there  Sir  Palomides  had  all  the  cheer  that  might  be 
had  all  that  night.  But  in  no  wise  Sir  Palomides  might  not 
know  what  was  Sir  Tristram  ;  and  so  after  supper  they  yede 
to  rest,  and  Sir  Tristram  for  great  travail  slept  till  it  was  day. 
And  Sir  Palomides  might  not  sleep  for  anguish  ;  and  in  the 
dawning  of  the  day  he  took  his  horse  privily,  and  rode  his 
way  unto  Sir  Gaheris  and  unto  Sir  Sagramore  le  Desirous, 
where  they  were  in  their  pavilions ;  for  they  three  were 


350  King   Arthur 

fellows  at  the  beginning  of  the  tournament.  And  then 
upon  the  morn  the  king  blew  unto  the  tournament  upon 
the  third  day. 


CHAPTER   XXXII 

HOW   SIR   TRISTRAM     SMOTE    DOWN    SIR   PALOMIDES,     AND     HOW    HE 
JOUSTED   WITH    KING    ARTHUR,    AND    OTHER    FEATS 

So  the  king  of  Northgalis  and  the  king  with  the  hundred 
knights,  they  two  encountered  with  King  Carados  and  with 
the  king  of  Ireland ;  and  there  the  king  with  the  hundred 
knights  smote  down  King  Carados,  and  the  king  of  North- 
galis smote  down  the  king  of  Ireland.  With  that  came  in  Sir 
Palomides,  and  when  he  came  he  made  great  work,  for  by 
his  indented  shield  he  was  well  known.  So  came  in  King 
Arthur,  and  did  great  deeds  of  arms  together,  and  put  the 
king  of  Northgalis  and  the  king  with  the  hundred  knights 
to  the  worse.  With  this  came  in  Sir  Tristram  with  his  black 
shield,  and  anon  he  jousted  with  Sir  Palomides,  and  there 
by  fine  force  Sir  Tristram  smote  Sir  Palomides  over  his 
horse's  croup.  Then  King  Arthur  cried :  Knight  with  the 
black  shield,  make  thee  ready  to  me,  and  in  the  same  wise 
Sir  Tristram  smote  King  Arthur.  And  then  by  force  of 
King  Arthur's  knights  the  king  and  Sir  Palomides  were 
horsed  again.  Then  King  Arthur  with  a  great  eager  heart 
he  gat  a  spear  in  his  hand,  and  there  upon  the  one  side 
he  smote  Sir  Tristram  over  his  horse.  Then  foot-hot  Sir 
Palomides  came  upon  Sir  Tristram,  as  he  was  upon  foot, 
to  have  overridden  him.  Then  Sir  Tristram  was  ware  of 
him,  and  there  he  stooped  aside,  and  with  great  ire  he  gat 
him  by  the  arm,  and  pulled  him  down  from  his  horse. 
Then  Sir  Palomides  lightly  arose,  and  then  they  dashed 
together  mightily  with  their  swords ;  and  many  kings, 
queens,  and  lords,  stood  and  beheld  them.  And  at  the  last 
Sir  Tristram  smote  Sir  Palomides  upon  the  helm  three 
mighty  strokes,  and  at  every  stroke  that  he  gave  him  he 
said  :  Have  this  for  Sir  Tristram's  sake.  With  that  Sir 
Palomides  fell  to  the  earth  grovelling.  Then  came  the 
king  with  the  hundred  knights,  and  brought  Sir  Tristram 
an  horse,  and  so  was  he  horsed  again.  By  then  was  Sir 
Palomides  horsed,  and  with  great  ire  he  jousted  upon  Sir 


King  Arthur  351 

Tristram  with  his  spear  as  it  was  in  the  rest,  and  gave  him 
a  great  dash  with  his  sword.  Then  Sir  Tristram  avoided 
his  spear,  and  gat  him  by  the  neck  with  his  both  hands, 
and  pulled  him  clean  out  of  his  saddle,  and  so  he  bare  him 
afore  him  the  length  of  ten  spears,  and  then  in  the  presence 
of  them  all  he  let  him  fall  at  his  adventure.  Then  Sir 
Tristram  was  ware  of  King  Arthur  with  a  naked  sword  in 
his  hand,  and  with  his  spear  Sir  Tristram  ran  upon 
King  Arthur ;  and  then  King  Arthur  boldly  abode  him 
and  with  his  sword  he  smote  a-two  his  spear,  and  there- 
withal Sir  Tristram  stonied ;  and  so  King  Arthur  gave  him 
three  or  four  strokes  or  he  might  get  out  his  sword,  and  at 
the  last  Sir  Tristram  drew  his  sword  and  assailed  the  other 
passing  hard.  With  that  the  great  press  departed.  Then 
Sir  Tristram  rode  here  and  there  and  did  his  great  pain, 
that  eleven  of  the  good  knights  of  the  blood  of  King  Ban, 
that  was  of  Sir  Launcelot's  kin,  that  day  Sir  Tristram  smote 
down  ;  that  all  the  estates  marvelled  of  his  great  deeds  and 
all  cried  upon  the  knight  with  the  black  shield. 


CHAPTER    XXXIII 

HOW    SIR    LAUNCELOT     HURT    SIR    TRISTRAM,    AND    HOW    AFTER   SIR 
TRISTRAM    SMOTE    DOWN   SIR   PALOMIUES 

THEN  this  cry  was  so  large  that  Sir  Launcelot  heard  it. 
And  then  he  gat  a  great  spear  in  his  hand  and  came  towards 
the  cry.  Then  Sir  Launcelot  cried :  The  knight  with  the 
black  shield,  make  thee  ready  to  joust  with  me.  When  Sir 
Tristram  heard  him  say  so  he  gat  his  spear  in  his  hand,  and 
either  abashed  down  their  heads,  and  came  together  as 
thunder;  and  Sir  Tristram's  spear  brake  in  pieces,  and  Sir 
Launcelot  by  malfortune  struck  Sir  Tristram  on  the  side  a 
deep  wound  nigh  to  the  death ;  but  yet  Sir  Tristram  avoided 
not  his  saddle,  and  so  the  spear  brake.  Therewithal  Sir 
Tristram  that  was  wounded  gat  out  his  sword,  and  he  rushed 
to  Sir  Launcelot,  and  gave  him  three  great  strokes  upon  the 
helm  that  the  fire  sprang  thereout,  and  Sir  Launcelot  abashed 
his  head  lowly  toward  his  saddle-bow.  And  therewithal  Sir 
Tristram  departed  from  the  field,  for  he  felt  him  so  wounded 
that  he  weened  he  should  have  died;  and  Sir  Dinadan 
espied  him  and  followed  him  into  the  forest.  Then  Sir 


352  King   Arthur 

Launcelot  abode  and  did  many  marvellous  deeds.  So  when 
Sir  Tristram  was  departed  by  the  forest's  side  he  alit,  and 
unlaced  his  harness  and  freshed  his  wound ;  then  weened 
Sir  Dinadan  that  he  should  have  died.  Nay,  nay,  said  Sir 
Tristram,  Dinadan  never  dread  thee,  for  I  am  heart  whole, 
and  of  this  wound  I  shall  soon  be  whole,  by  the  mercy  of 
God.  By  that  Sir  Dinadan  was  ware  where  came  Palomides 
riding  straight  upon  them.  And  then  Sir  Tristram  was  ware 
that  Sir  Palomides  came  to  have  destroyed  him.  And  so 
Sir  Dinadan  gave  him  warning,  and  said :  Sir  Tristram,  my 
lord,  ye  are  so  sore  wounded  that  ye  may  not  have  ado  with 
him,  therefore  I  will  ride  against  him  and  do  to  him  what  I 
may,  and  if  I  be  slain  ye  may  pray  for  my  soul ;  and  in  the 
meanwhile  ye  may  withdraw  you  and  go  into  the  castle,  or 
in  the  forest,  that  he  shall  not  meet  with  you.  Sir  Tristram 
smiled  and  said :  1  thank  you,  Sir  Dinadan,  of  your  good 
will,  but  ye  shall  wit  that  I  am  able  to  handle  him.  And 
then  anon  hastily  he  armed  him,  and  took  his  horse,  and  a 
great  spear  in  his  hand,  and  said  to  Sir  Dinadan :  Adieu ; 
and  rode  toward  Sir  Palomides  a  soft  pace.  Then  when  Sir 
Palomides  saw  that,  he  made  countenance  to  amend  his 
horse,  but  he  did  it  for  this  cause,  for  he  abode  Sir  Gaheris 
that  came  after  him.  And  when  he  was  come  he  rode 
toward  Sir  Tristram.  Then  Sir  Tristram  sent  unto  Sir 
Palomides,  and  required  him  to  joust  with  him ;  and  if  he 
smote  down  Sir  Palomides  he  would  do  no  more  to  him ; 
and  if  it  so  happened  that  Sir  Palomides  smote  down  Sir 
Tristram,  he  bade  him  do  his  utterance.  So  they  were 
accorded.  Then  they  met  together,  and  Sir  Tristram  smote 
down  Sir  Palomides  that  he  had  a  grievous  fall,  so  that  he 
lay  still  as  he  had  been  dead.  And  then  Sir  Tristram  ran 
upon  Sir  Gaheris,  and  he  would  not  have  jousted;  but 
whether  he  would  or  not  Sir  Tristram  smote  him  over  his 
horse's  croup,  that  he  lay  still  as  though  he  had  been  dead. 
And  then  Sir  Tristram  rode  his  way  and  left  Sir  Persides' 
squire  within  the  pavilions,  and  Sir  Tristram  and  Sir  Dinadan 
rode  to  an  old  knight's  place  to  lodge  them.  And  that  old 
knight  had  five  sons  at  the  tournament,  for  whom  he  prayed 
God  heartily  for  their  coming  home.  And  so,  as  the  French 
book  saith,  they  came  home  all  five  well  beaten.  And  when 
Sir  Tristram  departed  into  the  forest  Sir  Launcelot  held 
alway  the  stoure  like  hard,  as  a  man  araged  that  took  no 
heed  to  himself,  and  wit  ye  well  there  was  many  a  noble 


King   Arthur  353 

knight  against  him.  And  when  King  Arthur  saw  Sir 
Launcelot  do  so  marvellous  deeds  of  arms  he  then  armed 
him,  and  took  his  horse  and  his  armour,  and  rode  into  the 
field  to  help  Sir  Launcelot;  and  so  many  knights  came  in 
with  King  Arthur.  And  to  make  short  tale  in  conclusion, 
the  king  of  Northgalis  and  the  king  of  the  hundred  knights 
were  put  to  the  worse ;  and  by  cause  Sir  Launcelot  abode 
and  was  the  last  in  the  field  the  prize  was  given  him.  But 
Sir  Launcelot  would  neither  for  king,  queen,  nor  knight, 
have  the  prize,  but  where  the  cry  was  cried  through  the 
field :  Sir  Launcelot,  Sir  Launcelot  hath  won  the  field  this 
day,  Sir  Launcelot  let  make  another  cry  contrary :  Sir 
Tristram  hath  won  the  field,  for  he  began  first,  and  last  he 
hath  endured,  and  so  hath  he  done  the  first  day,  the  second, 
and  the  third  day. 


CHAPTER    XXXIV 

HOW  THE   PRIZE   OF   THE  THIRD  DAY  WAS  GIVEN  TO  SIR  LAUNCELOT, 
AND   SIR   LAUNCELOT  GAVE    IT  TO   SIR   TRISTRAM 

THEN  all  the  estates  and  degrees  high  and  low  said  of  Sir 
Launcelot  great  worship,  for  the  honour  that  he  did  unto 
Sir  Tristram ;  and  for  that  honour  doing  to  Sir  Tristram  he 
was  at  that  time  more  praised  and  renowned  than  an  he  had 
overthrown  five  hundred  knights ;  and  all  the  people  wholly 
for  this  gentleness,  first  the  estates  both  high  and  low,  and 
after  the  commonalty  cried  at  once  :  Sir  Launcelot  hath  won 
the  field  whosoever  say  nay.  Then  was  Sir  Launcelot  wroth 
and  ashamed,  and  so  therewithal  he  rode  to  King  Arthur. 
Alas,  said  the  king,  we  are  all  dismayed  that  Sir  Tristram  is 
thus  departed  from  us.  By  God,  said  King  Arthur,  he  is 
one  of  the  noblest  knights  that  ever  I  saw  hold  spear  or 
sword  in  hand,  and  the  most  courteoust  knight  in  his  fight- 
ing ;  for  full  hard  I  saw  him,  said  King  Arthur,  when  he 
smote  Sir  Palomides  upon  the  helm  thrice,  that  he  abashed 
his  helm  with  his  strokes,  and  also  he  said  :  Here  is  a  stroke 
for  Sir  Tristram,  and  thus  thrice  he  said.  Then  King 
Arthur,  Sir  Launcelot,  and  Sir  Dodinas  le  Savage  took  their 
horses  to  seek  Sir  Tristram,  and  by  the  means  of  Sir 
Persides  he  had  told  King  Arthur  where  Sir  Tristram  was 
in  his  pavilion.  But  when  they  came  there,  Sir  Tristram 


354  King   Arthur 

and  Sir  Dinadan  were  gone.     Then  King  Arthur  and  Sir 
Launcelot  were  heavy,   and  returned  again  to  the  Castle 
of  Maidens  making  great  dole  for  the  hurt  of  Sir  Tristram, 
and  his  sudden  departing.      So  God  me  help,  said  King 
Arthur,  I  am  more  heavy  that  I  cannot  meet  with  him  than 
for  all  the  hurts  that  all  my  knights  have  had  at  the  tourna- 
ment.    Right  so  came  Sir  Gaheris  and  told   King  Arthur 
how  Sir  Tristram  had  smitten  down  Sir  Palomides,  and  it 
was  at  Sir  Palomides'  own  request.     Alas,  said  King  Arthur, 
that  was  great  dishonour  to  Sir  Palomides,  in  as  much  as 
Sir  Tristram  was  sore  wounded,  and  now  may  we  all,  kings 
and  knights,  and  men  of  worship,  say  that  Sir  Tristram  may 
be  called  a  noble  knight,  and  one  of  the  best  knights  that 
ever  I  saw  the  days  of  my  life.     For  I  will  that  ye  all,  kings 
and   knights,    know,   said   King  Arthur,   that   I  never  saw 
knight  do  so  marvellously  as  he  hath  done  these  three  days ; 
for  he  was  the  first  that  began  and  that  longest  held  on, 
save  this  last  day.     And  though  he  was  hurt,  it  was  a  manly 
adventure  of  two  noble  knights,  and  when  two  noble  men 
encounter  needs  must  the  one  have  the  worse,  like  as  God 
will   suffer   at   that   time.     As  for  me,  said  Sir  Launcelot, 
for  all  the  lands  that  ever  my  father  left  me  I  would  not 
have  hurt  Sir  Tristram  an  I  had  known  him  at  that  time ; 
that  I  hurt  him  was  for  I  saw  not  his  shield.     For  an  I  had 
seen   his   black   shield,  I  would   not   have   meddled   with 
him  for  many  causes ;  for  late  he  did  as  much  for  me  as 
ever  did  knight,  and  that  is  well  known  that  he  had  ado 
with  thirty  knights,  and  no  help  save  Sir  Dinadan.     And 
one  thing  shall  I  promise,  said  Sir  Launcelot,  Sir  Palomides 
shall  repent  it  as  in  his  unkindly  dealing  for  to  follow  that 
noble  knight  that  I  by  mishap  hurted  thus.     Sir  Launcelot 
said  all  the  worship  that  might  be  said  by  Sir  Tristram. 
Then  King  Arthur  made  a  great  feast  to  all  that  would  come. 
And  thus  we  let  pass  King  Arthur,  and  a  little  we  will  turn 
unto  Sir  Palomides,  that  after  he  had  a  fall  of  Sir  Tristram, 
he  was  nigh  hand  araged  out  of  his  wit  for  despite  of  Sir 
Tristram.     And  so  he  followed  him  by  adventure.     And  as 
he  came  by  a  river,  in  his  woodness  he  would  have  made 
his  horse  to  have  leapt  over ;  and  the  horse  failed  footing 
and  fell  in  the  river,  wherefore  Sir  Palomides  was  adread 
lest  he  should  have  been  drowned ;  and  then  he  avoided  his 
horse,  and  swam  to  the  land,  and  let  his  horse  go  down  by 
adventure. 


King   Arthur  355 


CHAPTER   XXXV 

HOW  PALOMIDES  CAME  TO  THE  CASTLE  WHERE  SIR  TRISTRAM  WAS, 
AND  OF  THE  QUEST  THAT  SIR  LAUNCELOT  AND  TEN  KNIGHTS 
MADE  FOR  SIR  TRISTRAM 

AND  when  he  came  to  the  land  he  took  off  his  harness, 
and  sat  roaring  and  crying  as  a  man  out  of  his  mind.  Right 
so  came  a  damosel  even  by  Sir  Palomides,  that  was  sent 
from  Sir  Gawaine  and  his  brother  unto  Sir  Mordred,  that 
lay  sick  in  the  same  place  with  that  old  knight  where  Sir 
Tristram  was.  For,  as  the  French  book  saith,  Sir  Persides 
hurt  so  Sir  Mordred  a  ten  days  afore ;  and  had  it  not  been 
for  the  love  of  Sir  Gawaine  and  his  brother,  Sir  Persides 
had  slain  Sir  Mordred.  And  so  this  damosel  came  by  Sir 
Palomides,  and  she  and  he  had  language  together,  the  which 
pleased  neither  of  them ;  and  so  the  damosel  rode  her  ways 
till  she  came  to  the  old  knight's  place,  and  there  she  told 
that  old  knight  how  she  met  with  the  woodest  knight  by 
adventure  that  ever  she  met  withal.  What  bare  he  in  his 
shield  ?  said  Sir  Tristram.  It  was  indented  with  white  and 
black,  said  the  damosel.  Ah,  said  Sir  Tristram,  that  was 
Sir  Palomides,  the  good  knight.  For  well  I  know  him,  said 
Sir  Tristram,  for  one  of  the  best  knights  living  in  this  realm. 
Then  that  old  knight  took  a  little  hackney,  and  rode  for  Sir 
Palomides,  and  brought  him  unto  his  own  manor ;  and  full 
well  knew  Sir  Tristram  Sir  Palomides,  but  he  said  but  little, 
for  at  that  time  Sir  Tristram  was  walking  upon  his  feet,  and 
well  amended  of  his  hurts ;  and  always  when  Sir  Palomides 
saw  Sir  Tristram  he  would  behold  him  full  marvellously,  and 
ever  him  seemed  that  he  had  seen  him.  Then  would  he  say 
unto  Sir  Dinadan :  An  ever  I  may  meet  with  Sir  Tristram 
he  shall  not  escape  mine  hands.  I  marvel,  said  Sir  Dinadan, 
that  ye  boast  behind  Sir  Tristram,  for  it  is  but  late  that  he 
was  in  your  hands,  and  ye  in  his  hands ;  why  would  ye  not 
hold  him  when  ye  had  him  ?  for  I  saw  myself  twice  or  thrice 
that  ye  gat  but  little  worship  of  Sir  Tristram.  Then  was  Sir 
Palomides  ashamed.  So  leave  we  them  a  little  while  in  the 
old  castle  with  the  old  knight  Sir  Darras.  Now  shall  we 
speak  of  King  Arthur,  that  said  to  Sir  Launcelot :  Had  not 
ye  been  we  had  not  lost  Sir  Tristram,  for  he  was  here  daily 
unto  the  time  ye  met  with  him,  and  in  an  evil  time,  said 
Arthur,  ye  encountered  with  him.  My  lord  Arthur,  said 


356  King   Arthur 

Launcelot,  ye  put  upon  me  that  I  should  be  cause  of  his 
departtion ;  God  knoweth  it  was  against  my  will.  But  when 
men  be  hot  in  deeds  of  arms  oft  they  hurt  their  friends  as 
well  as  their  foes.  And  my  lord,  said  Sir  Launcelot,  ye  shall 
understand  that  Sir  Tristram  is  a  man  that  I  am  loath  to 
offend,  for  he  hath  done  for  me  more  than  ever  I  did  for  him 
as  yet.  But  then  Sir  Launcelot  made  bring  forth  a  book  : 
and  then  Sir  Launcelot  said :  Here  we  are  ten  knights  that 
will  swear  upon  a  book  never  to  rest  one  night  where  we  rest 
another  this  twelvemonth  until  that  we  find  Sir  Tristram. 
And  as  for  me,  said  Sir  Launcelot,  I  promise  you  upon  this 
book  that  an  I  may  meet  with  him,  either  with  fairness  or 
foulness  I  shall  bring  him  to  this  court,  or  else  I  shall  die 
therefor.  And  the  names  of  these  ten  knights  that  had 
undertaken  this  quest  were  these  following :  First  was  Sir 
Launcelot,  Sir  Ector  de  Maris,  Sir  Bors  de  Ganis,  and 
Bleoberis,  and  Sir  Blamore  de  Ganis,  and  Lucan  the  Butler, 
Sir  Uwaine,  Sir  Galihud,  Lionel,  and  Galiodin.  So  these 
ten  noble  knights  departed  from  the  court  of  King  Arthur, 
and  so  they  rode  upon  their  quest  together  until  they  came 
to  a  cross  where  departed  four  ways,  and  there  departed  the 
fellowship  in  four  to  seek  Sir  Tristram.  And  as  Sir  Launce- 
lot rode  by  adventure  he  met  with  Dame  Bragwaine  that 
was  sent  into  that  country  to  seek  Sir  Tristram,  and  she  fled 
as  fast  as  her  palfrey  might  go.  So  Sir  Launcelot  met  with 
her  and  asked  her  why  she  fled.  Ah,  fair  knight,  said  Dame 
Bragwaine,  I  flee  for  dread  of  my  life,  for  here  followeth  me 
Sir  Breuse  Saunce  Pite"  to  slay  me.  Hold  you  nigh  me,  said 
Sir  Launcelot.  Then  when  Sir  Launcelot  saw  Sir  Breuse 
Saunce  Pite,  Sir  Launcelot  cried  unto  him,  and  said  :  False 
knight,  destroyer  of  ladies  and  damosels,  now  thy  last  days 
be  come.  When  Sir  Breuse  Saunce  Pite  saw  Sir  Launcelot's 
shield  he  knew  it  well,  for  at  that  time  he  bare  not  the  arms 
of  Cornwall,  but  he  bare  his  own  shield.  And  then  Sir 
Breuse  fled,  and  Sir  Launcelot  followed  after  him.  But  Sir 
Breuse  was  so  well  horsed  that  when  him  list  to  flee  he 
might  well  flee,  and  also  abide  when  him  list.  And  then 
Sir  Launcelot  returned  unto  Dame  Bragwaine,  and  she 
thanked  him  of  his  great  labour. 


King   Arthur  357 


CHAPTER   XXXVI 

HOW     SIR    TRISTRAM,     SIR     PALOMIDES,     AND     SIR     DINADAN    WERE 

TAKEN    AND    PUT    IN    PRISON 

Now  will  we    speak  of  Sir   Lucan   the    butler,  that  by 
fortune  he  came  riding  to  the  same  place  there  as  was  Sir 
Tristram,  and  in  he  came  in  none  other  intent  but  to  ask 
harbour.     Then  the  porter  asked  what  was  his  name.     Tell 
your  lord  that  my  name  is  Sir  Lucan,  the  butler,  a  knight 
of  the  Round  Table.     So  the  porter  went  unto  Sir  Darras, 
lord   of  the   place,    and  told   him    who  was   there  to   ask 
harbour.     Nay,  nay,  said  Sir  Daname,  that  was  nephew  to 
Sir  Darras,  say  him  that  he  shall   not  be  lodged  here,  but 
let  him  wit  that  I,  Sir  Daname,  will  meet  with  him  anon, 
and  bid  him  make  him  ready.     So  Sir  Daname  came  forth 
on  horseback,  and  there  they  met  together  with  spears,  and 
Sir  Lucan  smote  down  Sir  Daname  over  his  horse's  croup, 
and  then  he  fled  into  that  place,  and  Sir  Lucan  rode  after 
him,  and  asked  after  him  many  times.    Then  Sir  Dinadan  said 
to  Sir  Tristram  :  It  is  shame  to  see  the  lord's  cousin  of  this 
place  defoiled.     Abide,  said  Sir  Tristram,  and  I  shall  redress 
it.     And  in  the  meanwhile  Sir  Dinadan  was  on  horseback, 
and  he  jousted  with  Lucan  the  butler,  and  there  Sir  Lucan 
smote  Dinadan  through  the  thick  of  the  thigh,  and  so  he 
rode  his  way ;  and  Sir  Tristram  was  wroth  that  Sir  Dinadan 
was  hurt,  and  followed  after,  and  thought  to  avenge  him ; 
and  within  a  while  he  overtook  Sir  Lucan,  and  bade  him 
turn ;  and  so  they  met  together  so  that  Sir  Tristram  hurt 
Sir   Lucan  passing  sore  and  gave  him  a  fall.     With  that 
came  Sir  Uwaine,  a  gentle  knight,  and  when  he  saw  Sir 
Lucan  so  hurt  he  called  Sir  Tristram  to  joust  with  him. 
Fair  knight,  said  Sir  Tristram,  tell  me  your  name  I  require 
you.     Sir  knight,  wit  ye  well  my  name  is  Sir  Uwaine  le  Fise 
de  Roy  Ureine.     Ah,  said  Sir  Tristram,  by  my  will  I  would 
not  have  ado  with  you  at  no  time.     Ye  shall  not  so,  said 
Sir  Uwaine,  but  ye  shall  have  ado  with  me.     And  then  Sir 
Tristram  saw  none  other  boot,  but  rode  against  him,  and 
overthrew  Sir  Uwaine  and  hurt  him  in  the  side,  and  so  he 
departed  unto  his  lodging  again.     And  when  Sir  Dinadan 
understood  that  Sir  Tristram  had  hurt  Sir  Lucan  he  would 
have  ridden  after  Sir   Lucan  for  to  have  slain  him,  but  Sir 
Tristram  would  not  suffer  him.     Then  Sir  Uwaine  let  ordain 

145 


358  King   Arthur 

an  horse  litter,  and  brought  Sir  Lucan  to  the  abbey  of  Gam's, 
and  the  castle  thereby  hight  the  Castle  of  Ganis,  of  the 
which  Sir  Bleoberis  was  lord.  And  at  that  castle  Sir 
Launcelot  promised  all  his  fellows  to  meet  in  the  quest 
of  Sir  Tristram.  So  when  Sir  Tristram  was  come  to  his 
lodging  there  came  a  damosel  that  told  Sir  Darras  that 
three  of  his  sons  were  slain  at  that  tournament,  and  two 
grievously  wounded  that  they  were  never  like  to  help  them- 
self.  And  all  this  was  done  by  a  noble  knight  that  bare  the 
black  shield,  and  that  was  he  that  bare  the  prize.  Then 
came  there  one  and  told  Sir  Darras  that  the  same  knight 
was  within,  him  that  bare  the  black  shield.  Then  Sir 
Darras  yede  _  unto  Sir  Tristram's  chamber,  and  there  he 
found  his  shield  and  showed  it  to  the  damosel.  Ah  sir, 
said  the  damosel,  that  same  is  he  that  slew  your  three  sons. 
Then  without  any  tarrying  Sir  Darras  put  Sir  Tristram,  and 
Sir  Palomides,  and  Sir  Dinadan,  within  a  strong  prison,  and 
there  Sir  Tristram  was  like  to  have  died  of  great  sickness  ; 
and  every  day  Sir  Palomides  would  reprove  Sir  Tristram  of 
old  hate  betwixt  them.  And  ever  Sir  Tristram  spake  fair 
and  said  little.  But  when  Sir  Palomides  saw  the  falling  of 
sickness  of  Sir  Tristram,  then  was  he  heavy  for  him,  and 
comforted  him  in  all  the  best  wise  he  could.  And  as  the 
French  book  saith,  there  came  forty  knights  to  Sir  Darras 
that  were  of  his  own  kin,  and  they  would  have  slain  Sir 
Tristram  and  his  two  fellows,  but  Sir  Darras  would  not 
suffer  that,  but  kept  them  in  prison,  and  meat  and  drink 
they  had.  So  Sir  Tristram  endured  there  great  pain,  for 
sickness  had  undertaken  him,  and  that  is  the  greatest  pain 
a  prisoner  may  have.  For  all  the  while  a  prisoner  may 
have  his  health  of  body  he  may  endure  under  the  mercy  of 
God  and  in  hope  of  good  deliverance ;  but  when  sickness 
toucheth  a  prisoner's  body,  then  may  a  prisoner  say  all 
wealth  is  him  bereft,  and  then  he  hath  cause  to  wail  and  to 
weep.  Right  so  did  Sir  Tristram  when  sickness  had  under- 
taken him,  for  then  he  took  such  sorrow  that  he  had  almost 
slain  himself. 


King   Arthur  359 


CHAPTER   XXXVII 

HOW  KING  MARK  WAS  SORRY  FOR  THE  GOOD  RENOWN  OF  SIR 
TRISTRAM.  SOME  OF  KING  ARTHUR'S  KNIGHTS  JOUSTED  WITH 
KNIGHTS  OF  CORNWALL 

Now  will  we  speak,  and  leave  Sir  Tristram,  Sir  Palomides, 
and  Sir  Dinadan  in  prison,  and  speak  we  of  other  knights 
that  sought  after  Sir  Tristram  many  divers  parts  of  this 
land.  And  some  yede  into  Cornwall ;  and  by  adventure  Sir 
Gaheris,  nephew  unto  King  Arthur,  came  unto  King  Mark, 
and  there  he  was  well  received  and  sat  at  King  Mark's  own 
table  and  ate  of  his  own  mess.  Then  King  Mark  asked  Sir 
Gaheris  what  tidings  there  were  in  the  realm  of  Logris. 
Sir,  said  Sir  Gaheris,  the  king  reigneth  as  a  noble  knight ; 
and  now  but  late  there  was  a  great  jousts  and  tournament  as 
ever  I  saw  any  in  the  realm  of  Logris,  and  the  most  noble 
knights  were  at  that  jousts.  But  there  was  one  knight  that 
did  marvellously  three  days,  and  he  bare  a  black  shield,  and 
of  all  knights  that  ever  I  saw  he  proved  the  best  knight. 
Then,  said  King  Mark,  that  was  Sir  Launcelot,  or  Sir 
Palomides  the  payninx  Not  so,  said  Sir  Gaheris,  for  both 
Sir  Launcelot  and  Sir  Palomides  were  on  the  contrary  party 
against  the  knight  with  the  black  shield.  Then  was  it  Sir 
Tristram,  said  the  king.  Yea,  said  Sir  Gaheris.  And 
therewithal  the  king  smote  down  his  head,  and  in  his  heart 
he  feared  sore  that  Sir  Tristram  should  get  him  such 
worship  in  the  realm  of  Logris  wherethrough  that  he 
himself  should  not  be  able  to  withstand  him.  Thus  Sir 
Gaheris  had  great  cheer  with  King  Mark,  and  with  Queen 
La  Beale  Isoud,  the  which  was  glad  of  Sir  Gaheris'  words  ; 
for  well  she  wist  by  his  deeds  and  manners  that  it  was  Sir 
Tristram.  And  then  the  king  made  a  feast  royal,  and  to 
that  feast  came  Sir  Uwaine  le  Fise  de  Roy  Ureine,  and 
some  called  him  Uwaine  le  Blanche  Mains.  And  this  Sir 
Uwaine  challenged  all  the  knights  of  Cornwall.  Then  was 
the  king  wood  wroth  that  he  had  no  knights  to  answer  him. 
Then  Sir  Andred,  nephew  unto  King  Mark,  leapt  up  and 
said  :  I  will  encounter  with  Sir  Uwaine.  Then  he  yede  and 
armed  him  and  horsed  him  in  the  best  manner.  Aiid  there 
Sir  Uwaine  met  with  Sir  Andred,  and  smote  him  down  that 
he  swooned  on  the  earth.  Then  was  King  Mark  sorry  and 


360  King   Arthur 

\vroth  out  of  measure  that  he  had  no  knight  to  revenge  his 
nephew,  Sir  Andred.  So  the  king  called  unto  him  Sir 
Dinas,  the  Seneschal,  and  prayed  him  for  his  sake  to  take 
upon  him  to  joust  with  Sir  Uwaine.  Sir,  said  Sir  Dinas,  I 
am  full  loath  to  have  ado  with  any  knight  of  the  Round 
Table.  Yet,  said  the  King,  for  my  love  take  upon  thee  to 
joust.  So  Sir  Dinas  made  him  ready,  and  anon  they 
encountered  together  with  great  spears,  but  Sir  Dinas  was 
overthrown,  horse  and  man,  a  great  fall.  Who  was  wroth 
but  King  Mark  !  Alas,  he  said,  have  I  no  knight  that  will 
encounter  with  yonder  knight?  Sir,  said  Sir  Gaheris,  for 
your  sake  I  will  joust.  So  Sir  Gaheris  made  him  read}7, 
and  when  he  was  armed  he  rode  into  the  field.  And  when 
Sir  Uwaine  saw  Sir  Gaheris's  shield  he  rode  to  him  and  said : 
Sir,  ye  do  not  your  part.  For,  sir,  the  first  time  ye  were 
made  knight  of  the  Round  Table  ye  sware  that  ye  should 
not  have  ado  with  your  fellowship  wittingly.  And  pardie, 
Sir  Gaheris,  ye  knew  me  well  enough  by  my  shield,  and  so 
do  I  know  you  by  your  shield,  and  though  ye  would  break 
your  oath  I  would  not  break  mine ;  for  there  is  not  one 
here  nor  ye  that  shall  think  I  am  afeared  of  you,  but  I 
durst  right  well  have  ado  with  you,  and  yet  we  be  sisters' 
sons.  Then  was  Sir  Gaheris  ashamed,  and  so  therewithal 
every  knight  went  their  way,  and  Sir  Uwaine  rode  into  the 
country.  Then  King  Mark  armed  him,  and  took  his  horse 
and  his  spear,  with  a  squire  with  him.  And  then  he  rode 
afore  Sir  Uwaine,  and  suddenly  at  a  gap  he  ran  upon  him 
as  he  that  was  not  ware  of  him,  and  there  he  smote  him 
almost  through  the  body,  and  there  left  him.  So  within  a 
while  there  came  Sir  Kay  and  found  Sir  Uwaine,  and  asked 
him  how  he  was  hurt.  I  wot  not,  said  Sir  Uwaine,  why 
nor  wherefore,  but  by  treason  I  am  sure  I  gat  this  hurt ;  for 
there  came  a  knight  suddenly  upon  me  or  that  I  was  ware, 
and  suddenly  hurt  me.  Then  there  was  come  Sir  Andred 
to  seek  King  Mark.  Thou  traitor  knight,  said  Sir  Kay, 
an  I  wist  it  were  thou  that  thus  traitorly  hast  hurt  this 
noble  knight  thou  shouldst  never  pass  my  hands.  Sir,  said 
Sir  Andred,  I  did  never  hurt  him,  and  that  I  will  report  me 
to  himself.  Fie  on  you  false  knight,  said  Sir  Kay,  for  ye  of 
Cornwall  are  nought  worth.  So  Sir  Kay  made  carry  Sir 
Uwaine  to  the  Abbey  of  the  Black  Cross,  and  there  he  was 
healed.  And  then  Sir  Gaheris  took  his  leave  of  King  Mark, 
but  or  he  departed  he  said :  Sir  king,  ye  did  a  foul  shame 


King   Arthur  361 

unto  you  and  your  court,  when  ye  banished  Sir  Tristram 
out  of  this  country,  for  ye  needed  not  to  have  doubted  no 
knight  an  he  had  been  here.  And  so  he  departed. 


CHAPTER   XXXVII! 

OF   THE   TREASON    OF    KING    MARK,    AND    HOW     SIR     GAHERIS    SMOTE 
HIM    DOWN   AND    ANDRED    HIS   COUSIN 

THEN  there  came  Sir  Kay,  the  Seneschal,  unto  King 
Mark,  and  there  he  had  good  cheer  showing  outward.  Now 
fair  lords,  said  he,  will  ye  prove  any  adventure  in  the  forest 
of  Morris  in  the  which  I  know  well  is  as  hard  an  adventure 
as  I  know  any.  Sir,  said  Sir  Kay,  I  will  prove  it.  And  Sir 
Gaheris  said  he  would  be  avised,  for  King  Mark  was  ever 
full  of  treason :  and  therewithal  Sir  Gaheris  departed  and 
rode  his  way.  And  by  the  same  way  that  Sir  Kay  should 
ride  he  laid  him  down  to  rest,  charging  his  squire  to 
wait  upon  Sir  Kay ;  And  warn  me  when  he  cometh. 
So  within  a  while  Sir  Kay  came  riding  that  way,  and 
then  Sir  Gaheris  took  his  horse  and  met  him,  and  said : 
Sir  Kay,  ye  are  not  wise  to  ride  at  the  request  of  King 
Mark,  for  he  dealeth  all  with  treason.  Then  said  Sir 
Kay :  I  require  you  let  us  prove  this  adventure.  I  shall 
not  fail  you,  said  Sir  Gaheris.  And  so  they  rode  that  time 
til  a  lake  that  was  that  time  called  the  Perilous  Lake,  and 
there  they  abode  under  the  shaw  of  the  wood.  The  mean- 
while King  Mark  within  the  castle  of  Tintagil  avoided  all 
his  barons,  and  all  other  save  such  as  were  privy  with  him 
were  avoided  out  of  his  chamber.  And  then  he  let  call  his 
nephew  Sir  Andred,  and  bad  arm  him  and  horse  him 
lightly ;  and  by  that  time  it  was  midnight.  And  so  King 
Mark  was  armed  in  black,  horse  and  all ;  and  so  at  a  privy 
postern  they  two  issued  out  with  their  varlets  with  them, 
and  rode  till  they  came  to  that  lake.  Then  Sir  Kay  espied 
them  first,  and  gat  his  spear,  and  proffered  to  joust.  And 
King  Mark  rode  against  him,  and  smote  each  other  full 
hard,  for  the  moon  shone  as  the  bright  day.  And  there  at 
that  jousts  Sir  Kay's  horse  fell  down,  for  his  horse  was  not 
so  big  as  the  king's  horse,  and  Sir  Kay's  horse  bruised  him 
full  sore.  Then  Sir  Gaheris  was  wroth  that  Sir  Kay  had  a 
fall.  Then  he  cried :  Knight,  sit  thou  fast  in  thy  saddle, 


362  King   Arthur 

for  I  will  revenge  my  fellow.     Then  King  Mark  was  afeard 
of  Sir  Gaheris,  and  so  with  evil  will  King  Mark  rode  against 
him,  and  Sir  Gaheris  gave  him  such  a  stroke  that  he  fell 
down.     So  then  forthwithal  Sir  Gaheris  ran  unto  Sir  Andred 
and  smote  him  from  his  horse  quite,  that  his  helm  smote  in 
the  earth,  and  nigh  had  broken  his  neck.     And  therewithal 
Sir  Gaheris  alit,  and  gat  up  Sir  Kay.     And  then  they  yode 
both  on  foot  to  them,  and  bad  them  yield  them,  and  tell 
their  names  outher  they  should  die.     Then  with  great  pain 
Sir  Andred  spake  first,  and  said :  It  is  King  Mark  of  Corn- 
wall, therefore  be  ye  ware  what  ye  do,  and  I  am  Sir  Andred, 
his  cousin.     Fie  on  you  both,  said  Sir  Gaheris,  for  a  false 
traitor,  and  false  treason  hast  thou  wrought  and  he  both, 
under  the  feigned  cheer  that  ye  made  us  !  it  were  pity,  said 
Sir  Gaheris,  that  thou  shouldst  live  any  longer.     Save  my 
life,  said  King  Mark,  and  I  will  make  amends  ;  and  consider 
that  I  am  a  king  anointed.     It  were  the  more  shame,  said 
Sir  Gaheris,  to  save  thy  life ;  thou  art  a  king  anointed  with 
chrism,  and  therefore  thou  shouldest  hold  with  all  men  of 
worship ;  and  therefore  thou  art  worthy  to  die.     With  that 
he  lashed  at  King  Mark  without   saying   any   more,  and 
covered  him  with  his  shield  and  defended  him  as  he  might. 
And  then  Sir  Kay  lashed  at  Sir  Andred,  and  therewithal 
King  Mark  yielded  him  unto  Sir  Gaheris.     And  then  he 
kneeled  adown,  and  made  his  oath  upon  the  cross  of  the 
sword,  that  never  while  he  lived  he  would  be  against  errant- 
knights.     And  also   he  sware  to  be  good  friend  unto  Sir 
Tristram    if  ever   he   came  into   Cornwall.      By  then   Sir 
Andred  was  on  the  earth,  and  Sir  Kay  would  have  slain 
him.     Let  be,  said  Sir  Gaheris,  slay  him  not  I  pray  you. 
It  were  pity,  said  Sir  Kay,  that  he  should  live  any  longer, 
for  this  is  nigh  cousin  unto  Sir  Tristram,  and  ever  he  hath 
been  a  traitor  unto  him,  and  by  him  he  was  exiled  out  of 
Cornwall,  and  therefore  I  will  slay  him,  said  Sir  Kay.     Ye 
shall  not,  said  Sir  Gaheris  ;  sythen  I  have  given  the  king  his 
life,  I  pray  you  give  him  his  life.     And  therewithal  Sir  Kay 
let  him  go.     And  so  Sir  Kay  and  Sir  Gaheris  rode  their 
way  unto  Dinas,  the  Seneschal,  for  by  cause  they  heard  say 
that  he  loved  well  Sir  Tristram.     So  they   reposed  them 
there,  and  soon  after  they  rode  unto  the  realm  of  Logris. 
And  so  within  a  little  while  they  met  with  Sir  Launcelot 
that  always  had  Dame  Bragwaine  with  him,  to  that  intent 
he  weened  to  have  met  the  sooner  with  Sir  Tristram ;  and 


King   Arthur  363 

Sir  Launcelot  asked  what  tidings  in  Cornwall,  and  whether 
they  heard  of  Sir  Tristram  or  not.  Sir  Kay  and  Sir  Gaheris 
answered  and  said,  that  they  heard  not  of  him.  Then  they 
told  Sir  Launcelot  word  bv  word  of  their  adventure.  Then 

j 

Sir  Launcelot  smiled  and  said :  Hard  it  is  to  take  out  of 
the  flesh  that  is  bred  in  the  bone ;  and  so  made  them  merry 
together. 


CHAPTER   XXXIX 

HOW  AFTER  THAT  SIR  TRISTRAM,  SIR  PALOMIDES,   AND  SIR   DINADAN 
HAD    BEEN    LONG    IN    PRISON   THEY   WERE    DELIVERED 

Now  leave  we  off  this  tale,  and  speak  we  of  Sir  Dinas  that 
had  within  the  castle  a  paramour,  and  she  loved  another 
knight  better  than  him.  And  so  when  Sir  Dinas  went  out 
on  hunting  she  slipped  down  by  a  towel,  and  took  with  her 
two  brachets,  and  so  she  yede  to  the  knight  that  she  loved, 
and  he  her  again.  And  when  Sir  Dinas  come  home  and 
missed  his  paramour  and  his  brachets,  then  was  he  the  more 
wrother  for  his  brachets  than  for  the  lady.  So  then  he 
rode  after  the  knight  that  had  his  paramour,  and  bad  him 
turn  and  joust.  So  Sir  Dinas  smote  him  down,  that  with 
the  fall  he  brake  his  leg  and  his  arm.  And  then  his  lady 
and  paramour  cried  Sir  Dinas'  mercy,  and  said  she  would 
love  him  better  than  ever  she  did.  Nay,  said  Sir  Dinas,  I 
shall  never  trust  them  that  once  betrayed  me,  and  therefore 
as  ye  have  begun  so  end,  for  I  will  never  meddle  with  you. 
And  so  Sir  Dinas  departed,  and  took  his  brachets  with  him, 
and  so  rode  to  his  castle.  Now  will  we  turn  unto  Sir 
Launcelot,  that  was  right  heavy  that  he  could  never  hear 
no  tidings  of  Sir  Tristram,  for  all  this  while  he  was  in 
prison  with  Sir  Darras,  Palomides,  and  Dinadan.  Then 
Dame  Bragwaine  took  her  leave  to  go  into  Cornwall,  and 
Sir  Launcelot,  Sir  Kay,  and  Sir  Gaheris  rode  to  seek  Sir 
Tristram  in  the  country  of  Surleuse.  Now  speaketh  this  tale 
of  Sir  Tristram  and  of  his  two  fellows,  for  every  day  Sir  Palo- 
mides brawled  and  said  language  against  Sir  Tristram.  I 
marvel,  said  Sir  Dinadan,  of  thee,  Sir  Palomides,  an  thou 
hadest  Sir  Tristram  here  thou  wouldst  do  him  no  harm ;  for 
an  a  wolf  and  a  sheep  were  together  in  a  prison  the  wolf  would 
suffer  the  sheep  to  be  in  peace.  And  wit  thou  well,  said 
Sir  Dinadan,  this  same  is  Sir  Tristram  at  a  word,  and  now 


King   Arthur 

must  thou  do  thy  best  with  him,  and  let  see  now  if  ye  can 
skift  it  with  your  hands.  Then  was  Sir  Palomides  abashed 
and  said  little.  Sir  Palomides,  then  said  Sir  Tristram,  I 
have  heard  much  of  your  maugre  against  me,  but  I  will 
not  meddle  with  you  as  at  this  time  by  my  will,  by  cause  I 
dread  the  lord  of  this  place  that  hath  us  in  governance ; 
for  an  I  dread  him  not  more  than  I  do  thee,  soon  it  should 
be  skift :  so  they  peaced  themself.  Right  so  came  in  a 
damosel  and  said  :  Knights,  be  of  good  cheer,  for  ye  are 
sure  of  your  lives,  and  that  I  heard  say  my  lord,  Sir  Darras. 
Then  were  they  glad  all  three,  for  daily  they  weened  they 
should  have  died.  Then  soon  after  this  Sir  Tristram  fell 
sick  that  he  weened  to  have  died  ;  then  Sir  Dinadan  wept, 
and  so  did  Sir  Palomides  under  them  both  making  great 
sorrow.  So  a  damosel  came  in  to  them  and  found  them 
mourning.  Then  she  went  unto  Sir  Darras,  and  told  him 
how  that  mighty  knight  that  bare  the  black  shield  was 
likely  to  die.  That  shall  not  be,  said  Sir  Darras,  for  God 
defend  when  knights  come  to  me  for  succour  that  I  should 
suffer  them  to  die  within  my  prison.  Therefore,  said  Sir 
Darras  to  the  damosel,  fetch  that  knight  and  his  fellows 
afore  me.  And  then  anon  Sir  Darras  saw  Sir  Tristram 
brought  afore  him.  He  said :  Sir  knight,  me  repenteth  of 
thy  sickness,  for  thou  art  called  a  full  noble  knight,  and  so 
it  seemeth  by  thee  ;  and  wit  ye  well  it  shall  never  be  said 
that  Sir  Darras  shall  destroy  such  a  noble  knight  as  thou 
art  in  prison,  howbeit  that  thou  hast  slain  three  of  my  sons, 
whereby  I  was  greatly  aggrieved.  But  now  shalt  thou  go 
and  thy  fellows,  and  your  harness  and  horses  have  been 
fair  and  clean  kept,  and  ye  shall  go  where  it  liketh  you, 
upon  this  covenant,  that  thou,  knight,  wilt  promise  me  to 
be  good  friend  to  my  sons  two  that  be  now  on  live  and  also 
that  thou  tell  me  thy  name.  Sir,  said  he,  as  for  me  my 
name  is  Sir  Tristram  de  Liones,  and  in  Cornwall  was  I 
bom,  and  nephew  I  am  unto  King  Mark.  And  as  for  the 
death  of  your  sons  I  might  not  do  withal,  for  an  they  had 
been  the  next  kin  that  I  have  I  might  have  done  none 
otherwise.  And  if  I  had  slain  them  by  treason  or  treachery 
I  had  been  worthy  to  have  died.  All  this  I  consider,  said 
Sir  Darras,  that  all  that  ye  did  was  by  force  of  knighthood, 
and  that  was  the  cause  I  would  not  put  you  to  death.  But 
syth  ye  be  Sir  Tristram,  the  good  knight,  I  pray  you  heartily 
to  be  rny  good  friend  and  to  my  sons.  Sir,  said  Sir  Tristram, 


King   Arthur  365 

I  promise  you  by  the  faith  of  my  body,  ever  while  I  live  I 
will  do  you  service,  for  ye  have  done  to  us  but  as  a  natural 
knight  ought  to  do.  Then  Sir  Tristram  reposed  him  there 
till  that  he  was  amended  of  his  sickness ;  and  when  he  was 
big  and  strong  they  took  their  leave,  and  every  knight  took 
their  horses,  and  so  departed  and  rode  together  till  they 
came  to  a  cross  way.  Now  fellows,  said  Sir  Tristram,  here 
will  we  depart  in  sundry  ways.  And  by  cause  Sir  Dinadan 
had  the  first  adventure  of  him  I  will  begin. 


CHAPTER    XL 

HOW  SIR  DINADAN  RESCUED  A  LADY  FROM  SIR  BREUSE  SAUNCE 
PITE,  AND  HOW  SIR  TRISTRAM  RECEIVED  A  SHIELD  OF  MORGAN 
LE  FAY 

So  as  Sir  Dinadan  rode  by  a  well  he  found  a  lady  making 
great  dole.  What  aileth  you  ?  said  Sir  Dinadan.  Sir 
knight,  said  the  lady,  I  am  the  wofullest  lady  of  the  world, 
for  within  these  five  days  here  came  a  knight  called  Sir 
Breuse  Saunce  Pitd,  and  he  slew  mine  own  brother,  and 
ever  since  he  hath  kept  me  at  his  own  will,  and  of  all  men 
in  the  world  I  hate  him  most ;  and  therefore  I  require  you 
of  knighthood  to  avenge  me,  for  he  will  not  tarry,  but  be 
here  anon.  Let  him  come,  said  Sir  Dinadan,  and  by  cause 
of  honour  of  all  women  I  will  do  my  part.  With  this 
came  Sir  Breuse,  and  when  he  saw  a  knight  with  his  lady 
he  was  wood  wroth.  And  then  he  said :  Sir  knight,  keep 
thee  from  me.  So  they  hurtled  together  as  thunder,  and 
either  smote  other  passing  sore,  but  Sir  Dinadan  put  him 
through  the  shoulder  a  grievous  wound,  and  or  ever  Sir 
Dinadan  might  turn  him  Sir  Breuse  was  gone  and  fled. 
Then  the  lady  prayed  him  to  bring  her  to  a  castle  there 
beside  but  four  mile  thence  ;  and  so  Sir  Dinadan  brought 
her  there,  and  she  was  welcome,  for  the  lord  of  that  castle 
was  her  uncle ;  and  so  Sir  Dinadan  rode  his  way  upon  his 
adventure.  Now  turn  we  this  tale  unto  Sir  Tristram,  that 
by  adventure  he  came  to  a  castle  to  ask  lodging,  wherein 
\vas  Queen  Morgan  le  Fay ;  and  so  when  Sir  Tristram  was 
let  into  that  castle  he  had  good  cheer  all  that  night.  And 
upon  the  morn  when  he  would  have  departed  the  queen 
said  :  Wit  ye  well  ye  shall  not  depart  lightly,  for  ye  are  here 
as  a  prisoner.  Jesu  defend  !  said  Sir  Tristram,  for  I  was  but 

I  45  *N 


366  King   Arthur 

late  a  prisoner.  Fair  knight,  said  the  queen,  ye  shall  abide 
with  me  till  that  I  wit  what  ye  are  and  from  whence  ye 
come.  And  ever  the  queen  would  set  Sir  Tristram  on  her 
own  side,  and  her  paramour  on  the  other  side.  And  ever 
Queen  Morgan  would  behold  Sir  Tristram,  and  there  at  the 
knight  was  jealous,  and  was  in  will  suddenly  to  have  run  upon 
Sir  Tristram  with  a  sword,  but  he  left  it  for  shame.  Then  the 
queen  said  to  Sir  Tristram :  Tell  me  thy  name,  and  I  shall 
suffer  you  to  depart  when  ye  will.  Upon  that  covenant  I 
tell  you  my  name  is  Sir  Tristram  de  Liones.  Ah,  said 
Morgan  le  Fay,  an  I  had  wist  that,  thou  shouldst  not  have 
departed  so  soon  as  thou  shalt.  But  sythen  I  have  made 
a  promise  I  will  hold  it,  with  that  thou  wilt  promise  me  to 
bear  upon  thee  a  shield  that  I  shall  deliver  thee,  unto  the 
castle  of  the  Hard  Rock,  where  King  Arthur  had  cried  a 
great  tournament,  and  there  I  pray  you  that  ye  will  be,  and 
to  do  for  me  as  much  deeds  of  arms  as  ye  may  do.  For 
at  the  Castle  of  Maidens,  Sir  Tristram,  ye  did  marvellous 
deeds  of  arms  as  ever  I  heard  knight  do.  Madam,  said 
Sir  Tristram,  let  me  see  the  shield  that  I  shall  bear.  Then 
the  shield  was  brought  forth,  and  the  field  was  goldish 
with  a  king  and  a  queen  therein  painted,  and  a  knight 
standing  above  them  upon  the  king's  head,  and  the  other 
upon  the  queen's.  Madam,  said  Sir  Tristram,  this  is  a  fair 
shield  and  a  mighty ;  but  what  signifieth  this  king  and  this 
queen,  and  the  knight  standing  upon  both  their  heads  ? 
I  shall  tell  you,  said  Morgan  le  Fay,  it  signifieth  King 
Arthur  and  Queen  Guenever,  and  a  knight  who  holdeth 
them  both  in  bondage  and  in  servage.  Who  is  that  knight  ? 
said  Sir  Tristram.  That  shall  ye  not  wit  as  at  this  time, 
said  the  Queen.  But  as  the  French  book  saith,  Queen 
Morgan  loved  Sir  Launcelot  best,  and  ever  she  desired  him, 
and  he  would  never  love  her  nor  do  nothing  at  her  request, 
and  therefore  she  held  many  knights  together  for  to  have 
taken  him  by  strength.  And  by  cause  she  deemed  that 
Sir  Launcelot  loved  Queen  Guenever  paramour,  and  she 
him  again,  therefore  Queen  Morgan  le  Fay  ordained  that 
shield  to  put  Sir  Launcelot  to  a  rebuke,  to  that  intent  that 
King  Arthur  might  understand  the  love  between  them. 
Then  Sir  Tristram  took  that  shield  and  promised  her  to 
bear  it  at  the  tournament  at  the  Castle  of  the  Hard  Rock. 
But  Sir  Tristram  knew  not  that  that  shield  was  ordained 
against  Sir  Launcelot,  but  afterward  he  knew  it. 


King   Arthur  367 


CHAPTER    XLI 

HOW  SIR  TRISTRAM  TOOK  WITH  HIM  THE  SHIELD,  AND  ALSO  HOW  HE 
SLEW   THE    PARAMOUR    OF    MORGAN    LE    FAY 

So  then  Sir  Tristram  took  his  leave  of  the  queen,  and 
took  the  shield  with  him.  Then  came  the  knight  that  held 
Queen  Morgan  le  Fay,  his  name  was  Sir  Hemison,  and  he 
made  him  ready  to  follow  Sir  Tristram.  Fair  friend,  said 
Morgan,  ride  not  after  that  knight,  for  ye  shall  not  win  no 
worship  of  him.  Fie  on  him,  coward,  said  Sir  Hemison, 
for  I  wist  never  good  knight  come  out  of  Cornwall  but  if  it 
were  Sir  Tristram  de  Liones.  What  an  that  be  he?  said 
she.  Nay,  nay,  said  he,  he  is  with  La  Beale  Isoud,  and  this 
is  but  a  daffish  knight.  Alas,  my  fair  friend,  ye  shall  find 
him  the  best  knight  that  ever  ye  met  withal,  for  I  know  him 
better  than  ye  do.  For  your  sake,  said  Sir  Hemison,  I 
shall  slay  him.  Ah,  fair  friend,  said  the  Queen,  me 
repenteth  that  ye  will  follow  that  knight,  for  I  fear  me  sore 
of  your  again  coming.  With  this  this  knight  rode  his  way 
wood  wroth,  and  he  rode  after  Sir  Tristram  as  fast  as  he 
had  been  chased  with  knights.  When  Sir  Tristram  heard 
a  knight  come  after  him  so  fast  he  returned  about,  and  saw 
a  knight  coming  against  him.  And  when  he  came  nigh  to 
Sir  Tristram  he  cried  on  high :  Sir  knight,  keep  thee  from 
me.  Then  they  rushed  together  as  it  had  been  thunder, 
and  Sir  Hemison  bruised  his  spear  upon  Sir  Tristram,  but 
his  harness  was  so  good  that  he  might  not  hurt  him.  And 
Sir  Tristram  smote  him  harder,  and  bare  him  through  the 
body,  and  he  fell  over  his  horse's  croup.  Then  Sir  Tristram 
turned  to  have  done  more  with  his  sword,  but  he  saw  so 
much  blood  go  from  him  that  him  seemed  he  was  likely  to 
die,  and  so  he  departed  from  him  and  came  to  a  fair  manor 
to  an  old  knight,  and  there  Sir  Tristram  lodged. 


CHAPTER    XLII 

HOW  MORGAN    LE  FAY  BURIED  HER  PARAMOUR,  AND    HOW  SIR  TRIST- 
RAM   PRAISED   SIR   LAUNCELOT   AND    HIS    KIN 

Now  leave  to  speak  of  Sir  Tristram,  and  speak  we  of  the 
knight  that  was  wounded  to  the  death.  Then  his  varlet 
alit,  and  took  off  his  helm,  and  then  he  asked  his  lord 
whether  there  were  any  life  in  him.  There  is  in  me  life, 
said  the  knight,  but  it  is  but  little ;  and  therefore  leap  thou 


363  King   Arthur 

up  behind  me  when  thou  hast  holpen  me  up,  and  hold  me 
fast  that  1  fall  not,  and  bring  me  to  Queen  Morgan  le  Fay ; 
for  deep  draughts  of  death  draw  to  my  heart  that  1  may  not 
live,  for  I  would  fain  speak  with  her  or  I  died  :  for  else  my 
soul  will  be  in  great  peril  an  I  die.  For  with  great  pain  his 
varlet  brought  him  to  the  castle,  and  there  Sir  Hemison  fell 
down  dead.  When  Morgan  le  Fay  saw  him  dead  she  made 
great  sorrow  out  of  reason ;  and  then  she  let  despoil  him 
unto  his  shirt,  and  so  she  let  him  put  into  a  tomb.  And 
about  the  tomb  she  let  write  :  Here  lieth  Sir  Hemison,  slain 
by  the  hands  of  Sir  Tristram  de  Liones.  Now  turn  we  unto 
Sir  Tristram,  that  asked  the  knight  his  host  if  he  saw  late 
any  knight's  adventurous.  Sir,  he  said,  the  last  night  here 
lodged  with  me  Ector  de  Maris  and  a  damosel  with  him, 
and  that  damosel  told  me  that  he  was  one  of  the  best 
knights  of  the  world.  That  is  not  so,  said  Sir  Tristram,  for 
I  know  four  better  knights  of  his  own  blood,  and  the  first  is 
Sir  Launcelot  du  Lake,  call  him  the  best  knight,  and  Sir 
Bors  de  Ganis,  Sir  Bleoberis,  Sir  Blcimore  de  Ganis,  and  Sir 
Gaheris.  Nay,  said  his  host,  Sir  Gawaine  is  a  better  knight 
than  he.  That  is  not  so,  said  Sir  Tristram,  for  I  have  met 
with  them  both,  and  I  felt  Sir  Gaheris  for  the  better  knight, 
and  Sir  Lamorak  I  call  him  as  good  as  any  of  them  except 
Sir  Launcelot.  Why  name  ye  not  Sir  Tristram  ?  said  his 
host,  for  I  account  him  as  good  as  any  of  them.  I  know 
not  Sir  Tristram,  said  Tristram.  Thus  they  talked  and 
bourded  as  long  as  them  list,  and  then  went  to  rest.  And 
on  the  morn  Sir  Tristram  departed,  and  took  his  leave  of 
his  host,  and  rode  toward  the  Roche  Dure,  and  none 
adventure  had  Sir  Tristram  but  that ;  and  so  he  rested  not 
till  he  came  to  the  castle  where  he  saw  five  hundred  tents. 


CHAPTER   XU.II 

HOW    SIR    TRISTRAM    AT    A    TOURNAMENT    BARE    THE    SHIELD    THAT 
MORGAN    LE    FAY    DELIVERED    TO    HIM 

THEN  the  King  of  Scots  and  the  King  of  Ireland  held 
against  King  Arthur's  knights,  and  there  began  a  great 
medley.  So  came  in  Sir  Tristram  and  did  marvellous  deeds 
of  arms,  for  there  he  smote  down  many  knights.  And  ever 
he  was  afore  King  Arthur  with  that  shield.  And  when 
King  Arthur  saw  that  shield  he  marvelled  greatly  in  what 


King   Arthur  369 

intent  it  was  made ;  but  Queen  Guenever  deemed  as  it  was, 
wherefore  she  was  heavy.  Then  was  there  a  damosel  of 
Queen  Morgan  in  a  chamber  by  King  Arthur,  and  when 
she  heard  King  Arthur  speak  of  that  shield,  then  she  spake 
openly  unto  King  Arthur.  Sir  King,  wit  ye  well  this  shield 
was  ordained  for  you,  to  warn  you  of  your  shame  and  dis- 
honour, and  that  longeth  to  you  and  your  queen.  And 
then  anon  that  damosel  pyked  her  away  privily,  that  no 
man  wist  where  she  was  become.  Then  was  King  Arthur 
sad  and  wroth,  and  asked  from  whence  came  that  damosel. 
There  was  not  one  that  knew  her  nor  wist  where  she  was 
become.  Then  Queen  Guenever  called  to  her  Sir  Ector  de 
Maris,  and  there  she  made  her  complaint  to  him,  and  said : 
I  wot  well  this  shield  was  made  by  Morgan  le  Fay  in  despite 
of  me  and  of  Sir  Launcelot,  wherefore  I  dread  me  sore  lest 
I  should  be  destroyed.  And  ever  the  King  beheld  Sir 
Tristram,  that  did  so  marvellous  deeds  of  arms  that  he 
wondered  sore  what  knight  he  might  be,  and  well  he  wist  it 
was  not  Sir  Launcelot.  And  it  was  told  him  that  Sir 
Tristram  was  in  Petit  Britain  with  Isoud  La  Blanche  Mains, 
for  he  deemed  an  he  had  been  in  the  realm  of  Logris  Sir 
Launcelot  or  some  of  his  fellows  that  were  in  the  quest  of 
Sir  Tristram  that  they  should  have  found  him  or  that  time. 
So  King  Arthur  had  marvel  what  knight  he  might  be.  And 
ever  Sir  Arthur's  eye  was  on  that  shield.  All  that  espied 
the  queen,  and  that  made  her  sore  afeard.  Then  ever  Sir 
Tristram  smote  down  knights  wonderly  to  behold,  what 
upon  the  right  hand  and  upon  the  left  hand,  that  unnethe 
no  knight  might  withstand  him.  And  the  king  of  Scots 
and  the  king  of  Ireland  began  to  withdraw  them.  When 
Arthur  espied  that,  he  thought  that  that  knight  with  the 
strange  shield  should  not  escape  him.  Then  he  called  unto 
him  Sir  Uwaine  Le  Blanche  Mains,  and  bad  him  arm  him 
and  make  him  ready.  So  anon  King  Arthur  and  Sir 
Uwaine  dressed  them  before  Sir  Tristram,  and  required  him 
to  tell  them  where  he  had  that  shield.  Sir,  he  said,  I  had 
it  of  Queen  Morgan  le  Fay,  sister  unto  King  Arthur. 

So  here  endeth  this  history  of 
this  book,  for  it  is  the  first 
book  of  Sir  Tristram  de 
Liones  and  the  second 
book  of  Sir  Tristram 
fottowetb. 


370  King   Arthur 


BOOK   X 


CHAPTER    I 

HOW  SIR  TRISTRAM  JOUSTED,  AND  SMOTE  DOWN  KING  ARTHUR, 
BECAUSE  HE  TOLD  HIM  NOT  THE  CAUSE  WHY  HE  BARE  THAT 
SHIELD 

AND  if  so  be  ye  can  descrive  what  ye  bear,  ye  are  worthy 
to  bear  the  arms.  As  for  that,  said  Sir  Tristram,  I  will 
answer  you ;  this  shield  was  given  me,  not  desired,  of 
Queen  Morgan  le  Fay ;  and  as  for  me,  I  can  not  descrive 
these  arms,  for  it  is  no  point  of  my  charge,  and  yet  1  trust 
to  God  to  bear  them  with  worship.  Truly,  said  King 
Arthur,  ye  ought  not  to  bear  none  arms  but  if  ye  wist  what 
ye  bear :  but  I  pray  you  tell  me  your  name.  To  what 
intent?  said  Sir  Tristram.  For  I  would  wit,  said  Arthur. 
Sin,  ye  shall  not  wit  as  at  this  time.  Then  shall  ye  and  I 
do  battle  together,  said  King  Arthur.  Why,  said  Sir 
Tristram,  will  ye  do  battle  with  me  but  if  I  tell  you  my 
name?  and  that  little  needeth  you  an  ye  were  a  man  of 
worship,  for  ye  have  seen  me  this  day  have  had  great 
travail,  and  therefore  ye  are  a  villainous  knight  to  ask 
battle  of  me,  considering  my  great  travail ;  howbeit  I  will 
not  fail  you,  and  have  ye  no  doubt  that  I  fear  not  you ; 
though  you  think  you  have  me  at  a  great  advantage  yet  shall 
I  right  well  endure  you.  And  therewithal  King  Arthur 
dressed  his  shield  and  his  spear,  and  Sir  Tristram  against 
him,  and  they  came  so  eagerly  together.  And  there  King 
Arthur  brake  his  spear  all  to  pieces  upon  Sir  Tristram's 
shield.  But  Sir  Tristram  hit  Arthur  again,  that  horse  and 
man  fell  to  the  earth.  And  there  was  King  Arthur  wounded 
on  the  left  side,  a  great  wound  and  a  perilous.  Then  when 
Sir  Uwaine  saw  his  lord  Arthur  lie  on  the  ground  sore 
wounded,  he  was  passing  heavy.  And  then  he  dressed  his 
shield  and  his  spear,  and  cried  aloud  unto  Sir  Tristram  and 
said:  Knight,  defend  thee.  So  they  came  together  as 
thunder,  and  Sir  Uwaine  brysed  his  spear  all  to  pieces  upon 
Sir  Tristram's  shield,  and  Sir  Tristram  smote  him  harder 
and  sorer,  with  such  a  might  that  he  bare  him  clean  out  of 
his  saddle  to  the  earth.  With  that  Sir  Tristram  turned 


King   Arthur  371 

about  and  said :  Fair  knights,  I  had  no  need  to  joust 
with  you,  for  I  have  had  enough  to  do  this  day.  Then 
arose  Arthur  and  went  to  Sir  Uwaine,  and  said  to  Sir 
Tristram :  We  have  as  we  have  deserved,  for  through  our 
orgulyte  we  demanded  battle  of  you,  and  yet  we  knew  not 
your  name.  Nevertheless,  by  Saint  Cross,  said  Sir  Uwaine, 
he  is  a  strong  knight  at  mine  advice  as  any  is  now  living. 
Then  Sir  Tristram  departed,  and  in  every  place  he  asked 
and  demanded  after  Sir  Launcelot,  but  in  no  place  he  could 
not  hear  of  him  whether  he  were  dead  or  on  live  ;  where- 
fore Sir  Tristram  made  great  dole  and  sorrow.  So 
Sir  Tristram  rode  by  a  forest,  and  then  was  he  ware  of  a  fair 
tower  by  a  marsh  on  that  one  side,  and  on  that  other  side  a 
fair  meadow.  And  there  he  saw  ten  knights  fighting 
together.  And  ever  the  nearer  he  came  he  saw  how  there 
was  but  one  knight  did  battle  against  nine  knights,  and  that 
one  did  so  marvellously  that  Sir  Tristram  had  great  wonder 
that  ever  one  knight  might  do  so  great  deeds  of  arms. 
And  then  within  a  little  while  he  had  slain  half  their  horses 
and  unhorsed  them,  and  their  horses  ran  in  the  fields  and 
forest.  Then  Sir  Tristram  had  so  great  pity  of  that  one 
knight  that  endured  so  great  pain,  and  ever  he  thought  it 
should  be  Sir  Palomides,  by  his  shield.  And  so  he  rode 
unto  the  knights  and  cried  unto  them,  and  bade  them  cease 
of  their  battle,  for  they  did  themselves  great  shame  so  many 
knights  to  fight  with  one.  Then  answered  the  master  of 
those  knights,  his  name  was  called  Breuse  Saunce  Pite',  that 
was  at  that  time  the  most  mischievoust  knight  living,  and 
said  thus  :  Sir  knight,  what  have  ye  ado  with  us  to  meddle  ? 
and  therefore,  an  ye  be  wise,  depart  on  your  way  as  ye 
came,  for  this  knight  shall  not  escape  us.  That  were  pity, 
said  Sir  Tristram,  that  so  good  a  knight  as  he  is  should  be 
slain  so  cowardly  ;  and  therefore  I  warn  you  I  will  succour 
him  with  all  my  puissance. 


CHAPTER   II 

HOW    SIR   TRISTRAM    SAVED    SIR    PALOMIDES*   LIFE,    AND   HOW   THEY 
PROMISED   TO   FIGHT   TOGETHER   WITHIN    A    FORTNIGHT 

So  Sir  Tristram  alit  off  his  horse  by  cause  they  were  on 
foot,  that  they  should  not  slay  his  horse,  and  then  dressed  his 
shield,  with  his  sword  in  his  hand,  and  he  smote  on  the 


372  King   Arthur 

right  hand  and  on  the  left  hand  passing  sore,  that  well-nigh 
at  every  stroke  he  struck  down  a  knight.  And  when  they 
espied  his  strokes  they  fled  all  with  Breuse  Saunce  Pite'  unto 
the  tower,  and  Sir  Tristram  followed  fast  after  with  his 
sword  in  his  hand,  but  they  escaped  into  the  tower,  and  shut 
Sir  Tristram  without  the  gate.  And  when  Sir  Tristram  saw 
this  he  returned  aback  unto  Sir  Palomides,  and  found  him 
sitting  under  a  tree  sore  wounded.  Ah,  fair  knight,  said  Sir 
Tristram,  well  be  ye  found.  Gramercy,  said  Sir  Palomides, 
of  your  great  goodness,  for  ye  have  rescued  me  of  my  life, 
and  saved  me  from  my  death.  What  is  your  name  ?  said 
Sir  Tristram.  He  said:  My  name  is  Sir  Palomides.  O 
Jesu,  said  Sir  Tristram,  thou  hast  a  fair  grace  of  me  this  day 
that  I  should  rescue  thee,  and  thou  art  the  man  in  the 
world  that  I  most  hate;  but  now  make  thee  ready,  for  I  will  do 
battle  with  thee.  What  is  your  name  ?  said  Sir  Palomides. 
My  name  is  Sir  Tristram,  your  mortal  enemy.  It  may  be 
so,  said  Sir  Palomides ;  but  ye  have  done  over  much  for  me 
this  day  that  I  should  fight  with  you ;  for  inasmuch  as  ye 
have  saved  my  life  it  will  be  no  worship  for  you  to  have  ado 
with  me,  for  ye  are  fresh  and  I  am  wounded  sore,  and 
therefore,  an  ye  will  needs  have  ado  with  me,  assign  me  a 
day  and  then  I  shall  meet  with  you  without  fail.  Ye  say 
well,  said  Sir  Tristram,  now  I  assign  you  to  meet  me  in  the 
meadow  by  the  river  of  Camelot,  where  Merlin  set  the 
peron.  So  they  were  agreed.  Then  Sir  Tristram  asked  Sir 
Palomides  why  the  ten  knights  did  battle  with  him.  For  this 
cause,  said  Sir  Palomides  ;  as  I  rode  upon  mine  adventures  in 
a  forest  here  beside  I  espied  where  lay  a  dead  knight,  and  a 
lady  weeping  beside  him.  And  when  I  saw  her  making 
such  dole,  I  asked  her  who  slew  her  lord.  Sir,  she  said,  the 
falsest  knight  of  the  world  now  living,  and  he  is  the  most 
villain  that  ever  man  heard  speak  of,  and  his  name  is  Sir 
Breuse  Saunce  Pite'.  Then  for  pity  I  made  the  damosel  to 
leap  on  her  palfrey,  and  I  promised  her  to  be  her  warrant, 
and  to  help  her  to  inter  her  lord.  And  so,  suddenly,  as  I 
came  riding  by  this  tower,  there  came  out  Sir  Breuse  Saunce 
Pite,  and  suddenly  he  struck  me  from  my  horse.  And  then 
or  I  might  recover  my  horse  this  Sir  Breuse  slew  the 
damosel.  And  so  I  took  my  horse  again,  and  I  was  sore 
ashamed,  and  so  began  the  medley  betwixt  us ;  and  this  is 
the  cause  wherefore  we  did  this  battle.  Well,  said  Sir 
Tristram,  now  I  understand  the  manner  of  your  battle,  but 


King   Arthur  373 

in  any  wise  have  remembrance  of  your  promise  that  ye  have 
made  with  me  to  do  battle  with  me  this  day  fortnight.  I 
shall  not  fail  you,  said  Sir  Palomides.  Well,  said  Sir 
Tristram,  as  at  this  time  I  will  not  fail  you  till  that  ye  be  out 
of  the  danger  of  your  enemies.  So  they  mounted  upon  their 
horses,  and  rode  together  unto  that  forest,  and  there  they 
found  a  fair  well,  with  clear  water  bubbling.  Fair  sir,  said 
Sir  Tristram,  to  drink  of  that  water  have  I  courage ;  and 
then  they  alit  off  their  horses.  And  then  were  they  ware 
by  them  where  stood  a  great  horse  tied  to  a  tree,  and  ever 
he  neighed.  And  then  were  they  ware  of  a  fair  knight 
armed,  under  a  tree,  lacking  no  piece  of  harness,  save  his 
helm  lay  under  his  head.  By  the  good  lord,  said  Sir 
Tristram,  yonder  lieth  a  well-faring  knight ;  what  is  best  to 
do  ?  Awake  him,  said  Sir  Palomides.  So  Sir  Tristram 
awaked  him  with  the  butt  of  his  spear.  And  so  the  knight 
rose  up  hastily  and  put  his  helm  upon  his  head,  and  gat  a 
great  spear  in  his  hand  ;  and  without  any  more  words  he 
hurled  unto  Sir  Tristram,  and  smote  him  clean  from  his 
saddle  to  the  earth,  and  hurt  him  on  the  left  side,  that  Sir 
Tristram  lay  in  great  peril.  Then  he  wallopped  farther,  and 
fetched  his  course,  and  came  hurling  upon  Sir  Palomides, 
and  there  he  struck  him  a  part  through  the  body,  that  he 
fell  from  his  horse  to  the  earth.  And  then  this  strange 
knight  left  them  there,  and  took  his  way  through  the  forest. 
With  this  Sir  Palomides  and  Sir  Tristram  were  on  foot,  and 
gat  their  horses  again,  and  either  asked  counsel  of  other, 
what  was  best  to  do.  By  my  head,  said  Sir  Tristram,  I  will 
follow  this  strong  knight  that  thus  hath  shamed  us.  Well, 
said  Sir  Palomides,  and  I  will  repose  me  hereby  with  a 
friend  of  mine.  Beware,  said  Sir  Tristram  unto  Palomides, 
that  ye  fail  not  that  day  that  ye  have  set  with  me  to  do 
battle,  for,  as  I  deem,  ye  will  not  hold  your  day,  for  I  am 
much  bigger  than  ye.  As  for  that,  said  Sir  Palomides,  be  it 
as  it  be  may,  for  I  fear  you  not,  for  an  I  be  not  sick  nor 
prisoner,  I  will  not  fail  you ;  but  I  have  cause  to  have  more 
doubt  of  you  that  ye  will  not  meet  with  me,  for  ye  ride  after 
yonder  strong  knight.  And  if  ye  meet  with  him  it  is  an 
hard  adventure  an  ever  ye  escape  his  hands.  Right  so  Sir 
Tristram  and  Sir  Palomides  departed,  and  either  took  their 
ways  diverse. 


374  King   Arthur 


CHAPTER   III 

HOW  SIR  TRISTRAM  SOUGHT  A  STRONG  KNIGHT  THAT  HAD  SMITTEN 
HIM  DOWN,  AND  MANY  OTHER  KNIGHTS  OF  THE  ROUND 
TABLE 

AND  so  Sir  Tristram  rode  long  after  this  strong  knight. 
And  at  the  last  he  saw  where  lay  a  lady  overthwart  a  dead 
knight.  Fair  lady,  said  Sir  Tristram,  who  hath  slain  your 
lord  ?  Sir,  she  said,  here  came  a  knight  riding,  as  my  lord 
and  I  rested  us  here,  and  asked  him  of  whence  he  was,  and 
my  lord  said  of  Arthur's  court.  Therefore,  said  the  strong 
knight,  I  will  joust  with  thee,  for  I  hate  all  these  that  be  of 
Arthur's  court.  And  my  lord  that  lieth  here  dead  amounted 
upon  his  horse,  and  the  strong  knight  and  my  lord  en- 
countered together,  and  there  he  smote  my  lord  throughout 
with  his  spear,  and  thus  he  hath  brought  me  in  great  woe 
and  damage.  That  me  repenteth,  said  Sir  Tristram,  of 
your  great  anger ;  an  it  please  you  tell  me  your  husband's 
name.  Sir,  said  she,  his  name  was  Galardoun,  that  would 
have  proved  a  good  knight.  So  departed  Sir  Tristram  from 
that  dolorous  lady,  and  had  much  evil  lodging.  Then  on 
the  third  day  Sir  Tristram  met  with  Sir  Gawaine  and  with 
Sir  Bleoberis  in  a  forest  at  a  lodge,  and  either  were  sore 
wounded.  Then  Sir  Tristram  asked  Sir  Gawaine  and  Sir 
Bleoberis  if  they  met  with  such  a  knight,  with  such  a 
cognisance,  with  a  covered  shield.  Fair  sir,  said  these 
knights,  such  a  knight  met  with  us  to  our  great  damage. 
And  first  he  smote  down  my  fellow,  Sir  Bleoberis,  and  sore 
wounded  him  because  he  bade  me  I  should  not  have  ado 
with  him,  for  why  he  was  overstrong  for  me.  That  strong 
knight  took  his  words  at  scorn,  and  said  he  said  it  for 
mockery.  And  then  they  rode  together,  and  so  he  hurt  my 
fellow.  And  when  he  had  done  so  I  might  not  for  shame 
but  I  must  joust  with  him.  And  at  the  first  course  he 
smote  me  down  and  my  horse  to  the  earth.  And  there  he 
had  almost  slain  me,  and  from  us  he  took  his  horse  and 
departed,  and  in  an  evil  time  we  met  with  him.  Fair 
knights,  said  Sir  Tristram,  so  he  met  with  me,  and  with 
another  knight  that  hight  Palomides,  and  he  smote  us  both 
down  with  one  spear,  and  hurt  us  right  sore.  By  my  faith, 
said  Sir  Gawaine,  by  my  counsel  ye  shall  let  him  pass  and 
seek  him  no  further ;  for  at  the  next  feast  of  the  Round 


King   Arthur  375 

Table,  upon  pain  of  my  head  ye  shall  find  him  there.  By 
my  faith,  said  Sir  Tristram,  I  shall  never  rest  till  that  I  find 
him.  And  then  Sir  Gawaine  asked  him  his  name.  Then 
he  said :  My  name  is  Sir  Tristram.  And  so  either  told 
other  their  names,  and  then  departed  Sir  Tristram  and  rode 
his  way.  And  by  fortune  in  a  meadow  Sir  Tristram  met 
with  Sir  Kay,  the  Seneschal,  and  Sir  Dinadan.  What 
tidings  with  you,  said  Sir  Tristram,  with  you  knights  ?  Not 
good,  said  these  knights.  Why  so  ?  said  Sir  Tristram  ;  I 
pray  you  tell  me,  for  I  ride  to  seek  a  knight.  What 
cognisance  beareth  he  ?  said  Sir  Kay.  He  beareth,  said  Sir 
Tristram,  a  covered  shield  close  with  cloth.  By  my  head, 
said  Sir  Kay,  that  is  the  same  knight  that  met  with  us,  for 
this  night  we  were  lodged  within  a  widow's  house,  and  there 
was  that  knight  lodged ;  and  when  he  wist  we  were  of 
Arthur's  court  he  spoke  great  villainy  by  the  king,  and 
specially  by  the  Queen  Guenever,  and  then  on  the  morn 
was  waged  battle  with  him  for  that  cause.  And  at  the  first 
recounter,  said  Sir  Kay,  he  smote  me  down  from  my  horse 
and  hurt  me  passing  sore  ;  and  when  my  fellow,  Sir  Dina- 
dan, saw  me  smitten  down  and  hurt  he  would  not  revenge 
me,  but  fled  from  me ;  and  thus  he  departed.  And  then 
Sir  Tristram  asked  them  their  names,  and  so  either  told 
other  their  names.  And  so  Sir  Tristram  departed  from  Sir 
Kay,  and  from  Sir  Dinadan,  and  so  he  passed  through  a 
great  forest  into  a  plain,  till  he  was  ware  of  a  priory,  and 
there  he  reposed  him  with  a  good  man  six  days. 


CHAPTER   IV 

HOW     SIR     TRISTRAM     SMOTE     DOWN     SIR    SAGRAMORE    LE   DESIROUS 

AND    SIR    DODINAS    LE   SAVAGE 

AND  then  he  sent  his  man  that  hight  Gouvernail,  and 
commanded  him  to  go  to  a  city  thereby  to  fetch  him  new 
harness ;  for  it  was  long  time  afore  that  that  Sir  Tristram 
had  been  refreshed,  his  harness  was  bruised  and  broken. 
And  when  Gouvernail,  his  servant,  was  come  with  his 
apparel,  he  took  his  leave  at  the  widow,  and  mounted 
upon  his  horse,  and  rode  his  way  early  on  the  morn.  And 
by  sudden  adventure  Sir  Tristram  met  with  Sir  Sagramore 
le  Desirous,  and  with  Sir  Dodinas  le  Savage.  And  these 


376 


Arthur 


two  knights  met  with  Sir  Tristram  and  questioned  with  him, 
and  asked  him  if  he  would  joust  with  them.     Fair  knights, 
said  Sir  Tristram,  with  a  good  will  I  would  joust  with  you, 
but  I  have  promised  at  a  day  set,  near  hand,  to  do  battle 
with  a  strong  knight  ;  and  therefore  I  am  loth  to  have  ado 
with  you,  for  an  it  misfortuned  me  here  to  be  hurt  I  should 
not  be  able  to  do  my  battle  which  I  promised.     As  for 
that,  said  Sagramore,  maugre  your  head,  ye  shall  joust  with 
us    or  ye  pass   from   us.     Well,   said   Sir   Tristram,  if  ye 
enforce  me  thereto  I  must  do  what  I  may.     And  then  they 
dressed  their  shields,  and  came  running  together  with  great 
ire.     But  through  Sir  Tristram's  great  force  he  struck  Sir 
Sagramore    from    his    horse.      Then   he   hurled    his    horse 
farther,  and  said  to  Sir  Dodinas  :  Knight,  make  thee  ready  ; 
and  so  through  fine  force  Sir  Tristram  struck  Dodinas  from 
his  horse.     And  when  he  saw  them  lie  on  the  earth  he  took 
his  bridle,  and  rode  forth  on  his  way,  and  his  man  Gouver- 
nail    with    him.      Anon   as    Sir   Tristram   was    passed,  Sir 
Sagramore  and    Sir    Dodinas  gat  again   their   horses,  and 
mounted  up  lightly  and  followed  after  Sir  Tristram.     And 
when   Sir  Tristram  saw  them  come  so  fast  after  him  he 
returned  with  his  horse  to  them,  and  asked  them  what  they 
would.     It  is  not  long  ago  sythen  I  smote  you  to  the  earth 
at  your  own  request  and  desire  :  I  would  have  ridden  by 
you,  but  ye  would  not  suffer  me,  and  now  meseemeth  ye 
would  do   more  battle  with  me.     That  is  truth,   said  Sir 
Sagramore  and  Sir  Dodinas,  for  we  will  be  revenged  of  the 
despite  ye  have  done  to  us.     Fair  knights,  said  Sir  Tristram, 
that  shall  little  need  you,  for  all  that  I  did  to  you  ye  caused 
it  ;  wherefore  I  require  you  of  your  knighthood  leave  me  as 
at  this  time,  for  I  am  sure  an  I  do  battle  with  you  I  shall 
not  escape  without  great  hurts,  and  as  I  suppose  ye  shall 
not  escape  all  lotless.     And  this  is  the  cause  why  I  am  so 
loth  to  have  ado  with  you;  for  I  must  fight  within  these 
three  days  with  a  good  knight,  and  as  valiant  as  any  is  now 
living,  and  if  I  be  hurt  I  shall  not  be  able  to  do  battle  with 
him.     What  knight  is  that,  said  Sir  Sagramore,  that  ye  shall 
fight  withal?     Sirs,  said  he,  it  is  a  good  knight  called  Sir 
Palomides.      By   my   head,    said    Sir    Sagramore   and   Sir 
Dodinas,  ye  have  cause  to  dread  him,  for  ye  shall  find  him 
a  passing  good  knight,  and  a  valiant.     And  by  cause  ye 
shall  have  ado  with  him  we  will  forbear  you  as  at  this  time, 
and  else  ye  should  not  escape  us  lightly.     But,  fair  knight, 


King   Arthur  377 

said  Sir  Sagramore,  tell  us  your  name.  Sir,  said  he,  my 
name  is  Sir  Tristram  de  Liones.  Ah,  said  Sagramore  and 
Sir  Dodinas,  well  be  ye  found,  for  much  worship  have  we 
heard  of  you.  And  then  either  took  leave  of  other,  and 
departed  on  their  way. 


CHAPTER   V 

HOW    SIR    TRISTRAM    MET     AT    THE    PKRON     WITH     SIR    LAUNCELOT, 
AND    HOW   THEY    FOUGHT   TOGETHER    UNKNOWN 

THEN  departed  Sir  Tristram  and  rode  straight  unto 
Camelot,  to  the  peron  that  Merlin  had  made  to  fore,  where 
Sir  Lanceor,  that  was  the  king's  son  of  Ireland,  was  slain  by 
the  hands  of  Balin.  And  in  that  same  place  was  the  fair 
lady  Colombe  slain,  that  was  love  unto  Sir  Lanceor;  for 
after  he  was  dead  she  took  his  sword  and  thrust  it  through 
her  body.  And  by  the  craft  of  Merlin  he  made  to  inter 
this  knight,  Lanceor,  and  his  lady,  Colombe,  under  one 
stone.  And  at  that  time  Merlin  prophesied  that  in  that 
same  place  should  fight  two  the  best  knights  that  ever  were 
in  Arthur's  days,  and  the  best  lovers.  So  when  Sir  Tristram 
came  to  the  tomb  where  Lanceor  and  his  lady  were  buried 
he  looked  about  him  after  Sir  Palomides.  Then  was  he 
ware  of  a  seemly  knight  carne  riding  against  him  all  in  white, 
with  a  covered  shield.  When  he  came  nigh  Sir  Tristram 
he  said  on  high  :  Ye  be  welcome,  sir  knight,  and  well  and 
truly  have  ye  holden  your  promise.  And  then  they  dressed 
their  shields  and  spears,  and  came  together  with  all  their 
might  of  their  horses ;  and  they  met  so  fiercely  that  both 
their  horses  and  knights  fell  to  the  earth,  and  as  fast  as  they 
might  avoided  their  horses,  and  put  their  shields  afore  them  ; 
and  they  struck  together  with  bright  swords,  as  men  that 
were  of  might,  and  either  wounded  other  wonderly  sore, 
that  the  blood  ran  out  upon  the  grass.  And  thus  they 
fought  the  space  of  four  hours,  that  never  one  would  speak 
to  other  one  word,  and  of  their  harness  they  had  hewn  off 
many  pieces.  O  Lord  Jesu,  said  Gouvernail,  I  marvel 
greatly  of  the  strokes  my  master  hath  given  to  your  master. 
By  my  head,  said  Sir  Launcelot's  servant,  your  master  hath 
not  given  so  many  but  your  master  has  received  as  many  or 
more.  O  Jesu,  said  Gouvernail,  it  is  too  much  for  Sir 


378  King   Arthur 

Palomides  to  suffer  or  Sir  Launcelot,  and  yet  pity  it  were 
that  either  of  these  good  knights  should  destroy  other's 
blood.  So  they  stood  and  wept  both,  and  made  great  dole 
when  they  saw  the  bright  swords  over-covered  with  blood  of 
their  bodies.  Then  at  the  last  spake  Sir  Launcelot  and 
said :  Knight,  thou  fightest  wonderly  well  as  ever  I  saw 
knight,  therefore,  an  it  please  you,  tell  me  your  name.  Sir, 
said  Sir  Tristram,  that  is  me  loth  to  tell  any  man  my  name. 
Truly,  said  Sir  Launcelot,  an  I  were  required  I  was  never 
loth  to  tell  my  name.  It  is  well  said,  said  Sir  Tristram, 
then  I  require  you  to  tell  me  your  name  ?  Fair  knight,  he 
said,  my  name  is  Sir  Launcelot  du  Lake.  Alas,  said  Sir 
Tristram,  what  have  I  done  !  for  ye  are  the  man  in  the  world 
that  I  love  best.  Fair  knight,  said  Sir  Launcelot,  tell  me 
your  name  ?  Truly,  said  he,  my  name  is  Sir  Tristram  de 
Liones.  .  O  Jesu,  said  Sir  Launcelot,  what  adventure  is 
befallen  me !  And  therewith  Sir  Launcelot  kneeled  down 
and  yielded  him  up  his  sword.  And  therewithal  Sir  Tristram 
kneeled  adown,  and  yielded  him  up  his  sword.  And  so  either 
gave  other  the  degree.  And  then  they  both  forthwithal  went 
to  the  stone,  and  set  them  down  upon  it,  and  took  off  their 
helms  to  cool  them,  and  either  kissed  other  an  hundred  times. 
And  then  anon  after  they  took  off  their  helms  and  rode  to 
Camelot.  And  there  they  met  with  Sir  Gawaine  and  with 
Sir  Gaheris  that  had  made  promise  to  Arthur  never  to  come 
again  to  the  court  till  they  had  brought  Sir  Tristram  with 
them. 


CHAPTER   VI 

HOW  SIR  LAUNCELOT  BROUGHT  SIR  TRISTRAM  TO  THE  COURT,  AND 
OF  THE  GREAT  JOY  THAT  THE  KING  AND  OTHER  MADE  FOR 
THE  COMING  OF  SIR  TRISTRAM 

RETURN  again,  said  Sir  Launcelot,  for  your  quest  is  done, 
for  I  have  met  with  Sir  Tristram  :  lo,  here  is  his  own  person  ! 
Then  was  Sir  Gawaine  glad,  and  said  to  Sir  Tristram :  Ye 
are  welcome,  for  now  have  ye  eased  me  greatly  of  my  labour. 
For  what  cause,  said  Sir  Gawaine,  came  ye  into  this  court  ? 
Fair  sir,  said  Sir  Tristram,  I  came  into  this  country  because 
of  Sir  Palomides ;  for  he  and  I  had  assigned  at  this  day  to 
have  done  battle  together  at  the  peron,  and  I  marvel  I 
hear  not  of  him.  And  thus  by  adventure  my  lord,  Sir 


King   Arthur  379 

Launcelot,  and  I  met  together.  With  this  came  King 
Arthur,  and  when  he  wist  that  mere  was  Sir  Tristram,  then 
he  ran  unto  him  and  took  him  by  the  hand  and  said  :  Sir 
Tristram,  ye  are  as  welcome  as  any  knight  that  ever  came 
to  this  court.  And  when  the  king  had  heard  how  Sir 
Launcelot  and  he  had  foughten,  and  either  had  wounded 
other  wonderly  sore,  then  the  king  made  great  dole.  Then 
Sir  Tristram  told  the  king  how  he  came  thither  for  to  have 
had  ado  with  Sir  Palomides.  And  then  he  told  the  king 
how  he  had  rescued  him  from  the  nine  knights  and  Breuse 
Saunce  Pite' ;  and  how  he  found  a  knight  lying  by  a  well, 
and  that  knight  smote  down  Sir  Palomides  and  me,  but  his 
shield  was  covered  with  a  cloth.  So  Sir  Palomides  left  me, 
and  1  followed  after  that  knight ;  and  in  many  places  I 
found  where  he  had  slain  knights,  and  forjousted  many. 
By  my  head,  said  Sir  Gawaine,  that  same  knight  smote  me 
down  and  Sir  Bleoberis,  and  hurt  us  sore  both,  he  with  the 
covered  shield.  Ah,  said  Sir  Kay,  that  knight  smote  me 
adown  and  hurt  me  passing  sore,  and  fain  would  I  have 
known  him,  but  I  might  not.  Jesu,  mercy,  said  Arthur, 
what  knight  was  that  with  the  covered  shield  ?  I  know  not, 
said  Sir  Tristram  ;  and  so  said  they  all.  Now,  said  King 
Arthur,  then  wot  I,  for  it  is  Sir  Launcelot.  Then  they  all 
looked  upon  Sir  Launcelot  and  said :  Ye  have  beguiled 
us  with  your  covered  shield.  It  is  not  the  first  time,  said 
Arthur,  he  hath  done  so.  My  lord,  said  Sir  Launcelot, 
truly  wit  ye  well  I  was  the  same  knight  that  bare  the  covered 
shield  ;  and  by  cause  I  would  not  be  known  that  I  was  of 
your  court  I  said  no  worship  of  your  house.  That  is  truth, 
said  Sir  Gawaine,  Sir  Kay,  and  Sir  Bleoberis.  Then  King 
Arthur  took  Sir  Tristram  by  the  hand  and  went  to  the  Table 
Round.  Then  came  Queen  Guenever  and  many  ladies 
with  her,  and  all  the  ladies  said  at  one  voice  :  Welcome, 
Sir  Tristram !  Welcome,  said  the  damosels.  Welcome, 
said  knights.  Welcome,  said  Arthur,  for  one  of  the  best 
knights,  and  the  gentlest  of  the  world,  and  the  man  of  most 
worship  ;  for  of  all  manner  of  hunting  thou  bearest  the  prize, 
and  of  all  measures  of  blowing  thou  art  the  beginning,  and 
of  all  the  terms  of  hunting  and  hawking  ye  are  the  beginner, 
of  all  instruments  of  music  ye  are  the  best ;  therefore,  gentle 
knight,  said  Arthur,  ye  are  welcome  to  this  court.  And 
also,  I  pray  you,  said  Arthur,  grant  me  a  boon.  It  shall 
be  at  your  commandment,  said  Tristram.  Well,  said  Arthur, 


380  King   Arthur 

I  will  desire  of  you  that  ye  will  abide  in  my  court.  Sir, 
said  Sir  Tristram,  thereto  is  me  loth,  for  I  have  ado  in  many 
countries.  Not  so,  said  Arthur,  ye  have  promised  it  me,  ye 
may  not  say  nay.  Sir.  said  Sir  Tristram,  I  will  as  ye  will. 
Then  went  Arthur  unto  the  sieges  about  the  Round  Table, 
and  looked  in  every  siege  the  which  were  void  that  lacked 
knights.  And  then  the  king  saw  in  the  siege  of  Marhaus 
letters  that  said :  This  is  the  siege  of  the  noble  knight,  Sir 
Tristram.  And  then  Arthur  made  Sir  Tristram  Knight  of 
the  Table  Round,  with  great  nobley  and  great  feast  as 
might  be  thought.  For  Sir  Marhaus  was  slain  afore  by  the 
hands  of  Sir  Tristram  in  an  island  ;  and  that  was  well  known 
at  that  time  in  the  court  of  Arthur,  for  this  Marhaus  was  a 
worthy  knight.  And  for  evil  deeds  that  he  did  unto  the 
country  of  Cornwall  Sir  Tristram  and  he  fought.  And  they 
fought  so  long,  tracing  and  traversing,  till  they  fell  bleeding 
to  the  earth ;  for  they  were  so  sore  wounded  that  they 
might  not  stand  for  bleeding.  And  Sir  Tristram  by  fortune 
recovered,  and  Sir  Marhaus  died  through  the  stroke  on  the 
head.  So  leave  we  of  Sir  Tristram  and  speak  we  of  King 
Mark. 


CHAPTER   VII 

HOW  FOR  THE  DESPITE  OF  SIR  TRISTRAM  KING  MARK  CAME  WITH 
TWO  KNIGHTS  INTO  ENGLAND,  AND  HOW  HE  SLEW  ONE  OF 
THE  KNIGHTS 

THEN  King  Mark  had  great  despite  of  the  renown  of  Sir 
Tristram,  and  then  he  chased  him  out  of  Cornwall :  yet  was 
he  nephew  unto  King  Mark,  but  he  had  great  suspicion  unto 
Sir  Tristram  by  cause  of  his  queen,  La  Beale  Isoud  ;  for  him 
seemed  that  there  was  too  much  love  between  them  both. 
So  when  Sir  Tristram  departed  out  of  Cornwall  into  England 
King  Mark  heard  of  the  great  prowess  that  Sir  Tristram  did 
there,  the  which  grieved  him  sore.  So  he  sent  on  his  part 
men  to  espy  what  deeds  he  did.  And  the  queen  sent  privily 
on  her  part  spies  to  know  what  deeds  he  had  done,  for 
great  love  was  between  them  twain.  So  when  the  mes- 
sengers were  come  home  they  told  the  truth  as  they  had 
heard,  that  he  passed  all  other  knights  but  if  it  were  Sir 
Launcelot.  Then  King  Mark  was  right  heavy  of  these 
tidings,  and  as  glad  was  La  Beale  Isoud.  Then  in  great 


King   Arthur  381 

despite  he  took  with  him  two  good  knights  and  two  squires, 
and  disguised  himself,  and  took  his  way  into  England,  to 
the  intent  for  to  slay  Sir  Tristram.  And  one  of  these  two 
knights  hight  Bersules,  and  the  other  knight  was  called 
Amant  So  as  they  rode  King  Mark  asked  a  knight  that 
he  met,  where  he  should  find  King  Arthur.  He  said  :  At 
Camelot.  Also  he  asked  that  knight  after  Sir  Tristram, 
whether  he  heard  of  him  in  the  court  of  King  Arthur.  Wit 
you  well,  said  that  knight,  ye  shall  find  Sir  Tristram  there 
for  a  man  of  as  great  worship  as  is  now  living ;  for  through 
his  prowess  he  won  the  tournament  of  the  Castle  of  Maidens 
that  standeth  by  the  Hard  Rock.  And  sithen  he  hath  won 
with  his  own  hands  thirty  knights  that  were  men  of  great 
honour.  And  the  last  battle  that  ever  he  did  he  fought 
with  Sir  Launcelot ;  and  that  was  a  marvellous  battle.  And 
not  by  force  Sir  Launcelot  brought  Sir  Tristram  to  the 
court,  and  of  him  King  Arthur  made  passing  great  joy,  and 
so  made  him  knight  of  the  Table  Round ;  and  his  seat  was 
where  the  good  knight's,  Sir  Marhaus,  seat  was.  Then  was 
King  Mark  passing  sorry  when  he  heard  of  the  honour  of 
Sir  Tristram  ;  and  so  they  departed.  Then  said  King  Mark 
unto  his  two  knights  :  Now  will  I  tell  you  my  counsel :  ye 
are  the  men  that  I  trust  most  to  on  live,  and  I  will  that  ye 
wit  my  coming  hither  is  to  this  intent,  for  to  destroy  Sir 
Tristram  by  wiles  or  by  treason ;  and  it  shall  be  hard  if  ever 
he  escape  our  hands.  Alas,  said  Sir  Bersules,  what  mean 
you  ?  for  ye  be  set  in  such  a  way  ye  are  disposed  shamefully ; 
for  Sir  Tristram  is  the  knight  of  most  worship  that  we  know 
living,  and  therefore  I  warn  you  plainly  I  will  never  con- 
sent to  do  him  to  the  death  ;  and  therefore  I  will  yield  my 
service,  and  forsake  you.  When  King  Mark  heard  him 
say  so,  suddenly  he  drew  his  sword  and  said  :  Ah,  traitor  • 
and  smote  Sir  Bersules  on  the  head,  that  the  sword  went  to 
his  teeth.  When  Amant,  the  knight,  saw  him  do  that 
villainous  deed,  and  his  squires,  they  said  it  was  foul  done, 
and  mischievously :  Wherefore  we  will  do  thee  no  more 
service,  and  wit  ye  well,  we  will  appeach  thee  of  treason 
afore  Arthur.  Then  was  King  Mark  wonderly  wroth  and 
would  have  slain  Amant ;  but  he  and  the  two  squires  held 
them  together,  and  set  nought  by  his  malice.  When 
King  Mark  saw  he  might  not  be  revenged  on  them,  he  said 
thus  unto  the  knight,  Amant :  Wit  thou  well,  an  thou 
appeach  me  of  treason  I  shall  thereof  defend  me  afore 


382  King   Arthur 

King  Arthur;  but  I  require  thee  that  thou  tell  not  my 
name,  that  I  am  King  Mark,  whatsomever  come  of  me. 
As  for  that,  said  Sir  Amant,  I  will  not  discover  your  name  ; 
and  so  they  departed,  and  Amant  and  his  fellows  took  the 
body  of  Bersules  and  buried  it. 


CHAPTER    VIII 

HOW   KING     MARK     CAME   TO     A     FOUNTAIN    WHERE     HE    FOUND   SIR 
LAMORAK    COMPLAINING   FOR   THE    LOVE   OF    KING    LOT'S    WIFE 

THEN  King  Mark  rode  till  he  came  to  a  fountain,  and 
there  he  rested  him,  and  stood  in  a  doubt  whether  he  would 
ride  to  Arthur's  court  or  none,  or  return  again  to  his  country. 
And  as  he  thus  rested  him  by  that  fountain  there  came  by 
him  a  knight  well  armed  on  horseback ;  and  he  alit,  and 
tied  his  horse  until  a  tree,  and  set  him  down  by  the  brink  of 
the  fountain ;  and  there  he  made  great  languor  and  dole, 
and  made  the  dolefullest  complaint  of  love  that  ever  man 
heard  ;  and  all  this  while  was  he  not  ware  of  King  Mark. 
And  this  was  a  great  part  of  his  complaint :  he  cried  and 
wept,  saying  :  O  fair  Queen  of  Orkney,  King  Lot's  wife, 
and  mother  of  Sir  Gawaine,  and  to  Sir  Gaheris,  and  mother 
to  many  other,  for  thy  love  I  am  in  great  pains.  Then  King 
Mark  arose  and  went  near  him  and  said :  Fair  knight,  ye 
have  made  a  piteous  complaint.  Truly,  said  the  knight,  it 
is  an  hundred  part  more  ruefuller  than  my  heart  can  utter. 
I  require  you,  said  King  Mark,  tell  me  your  name.  Sir, 
said  he,  as  for  my  name  I  will  not  hide  it  from  no  knight 
that  beareth  a  shield,  and  my  name  is  Sir  Lamorak  de  Galis. 
But  when  Sir  Lamorak  heard  King  Mark  speak,  then  wist 
he  well  by  his  speech  that  he  was  a  Cornish  knight.  Sir, 
said  Sir  Lamorak,  I  understand  by  your  tongue  ye  be 
of  Cornwall,  wherein  there  dwelleth  the  shamefullest  king 
that  is  now  living,  for  he  is  a  great  enemy  to  all  good 
knights  ;  and  that  proveth  well,  for  he  hath  chased  out  of 
that  country  Sir  Tristram,  that  is  the  worshipfullest  knight 
that  now  is  living,  and  all  knights  speak  of  him  worship ; 
and  for  jealousness  of  his  queen  he  hath  chased  him  out 
of  his  country.  It  is  pity,  said  Sir  Lamorak,  that  ever  any 
such  false  knightcoward  as  King  Mark  is,  should  be  matched 
with  such  a  fair  lady  and  good  as  La  Beale  Isoud  is,  for  all 


King   Arthur  383 

the  world  of  him  speaketh  shame,  and  of  her  worship  that 
any  queen  may  have.  I  have  not  ado  in  this  matter,  said 
King  Mark,  neither  nought  will  I  speak  thereof.  Well  said, 
said  Sir  Lamorak.  Sir,  can  ye  tell  me  any  tidings  ?  I  can 
tell  you,  said  Sir  Lamorak,  that  there  shall  be  a  great  tourna- 
ment in  haste  beside  Camelot,  at  the  Castle  of  Jagent ;  and 
the  King  with  the  hundred  knights  and  the  King  of  Ireland, 
as  I  suppose,  make  that  tournament.  Then  there  came  a 
knight  that  was  called  Sir  Dinadan,  and  saluted  them  both. 
And  when  he  wist  that  King  Mark  was  a  knight  of  Cornwall 
he  reproved  him  for  the  love  of  King  Mark  a  thousand  fold 
more  than  did  Sir  Lamorak.  Then  he  proffered  to  joust  with 
King  Mark.  And  he  was  full  loth  thereto,  but  Sir  Dinadan 
edged  him  so,  that  he  jousted  with  Sir  Lamorak.  And  Sir 
Lamorak  smote  King  Mark  so  sore  that  he  bare  him  on  his 
spear  end  over  his  horse's  tail.  And  then  King  Mark  arose 
again,  and  followed  after  Sir  Lamorak.  But  Sir  Dinadan 
would  not  joust  with  Sir  Lamorak,  but  he  told  King  Mark 
that  Sir  Lamorak  was  Sir  Kay,  the  Seneschal.  That  is  not 
so,  said  King  Mark,  for  he  is  much  bigger  than  Sir  Kay ; 
arid  so  he  followed  and  overtook  him,  and  bad  him  abide. 
What  will  you  do  ?  said  Sir  Lamorak.  Sir,  he  said,  I  will 
fight  with  a  sword,  for  ye  have  shamed  me  with  a  spear ; 
and  therewith  they  dashed  together  with  swords,  and  Sir 
Lamorak  suffered  him  and  forbare  him.  And  King  Mark 
was  passing  hasty,  and  smote  thick  strokes.  Sir  Lamorak 
saw  he  would  not  stint,  and  waxed  somewhat  wroth,  and 
doubled  his  strokes,  for  he  was  one  of  the  noblest  knights 
of  the  world  ;  and  he  beat  him  so  on  the  helm  that  his 
head  hung  nigh  on  the  saddle  bow.  When  Sir  Lamorak 
saw  him  fare  so,  he  said  :  Sir  knight,  what  cheer  ?  meseemeth 
you  have  nigh  your  fill  of  fighting,  it  were  pity  to  do  you 
any  more  harm,  for  ye  are  but  a  mean  knight,  therefore  I 
give  you  leave  to  go  where  ye  list.  Gramercy,  said  King 
Mark,  for  ye  and  I  be  not  matches.  Then  Sir  Dinadan 
mocked  King  Mark  and  said :  Ye  are  not  able  to  match  a 
good  knight.  As  for  that,  said  King  Mark,  at  the  first  time 
I  jousted  with  this  knight  ye  refused  him.  Think  ye  that  it 
is  a  shame  to  me  ?  said  Sir  Dinadan :  nay,  sir,  it  is  ever 
worship  to  a  knight  to  refuse  that  thing  that  he  may  not 
attain,  therefore  your  worship  had  been  much  more  to  have 
refused  him  as  I  did ;  for  I  warn  you  plainly  he  is  able  to 
beat  such  five  as  ye  and  I  be ;  for  ye  knights  of  Cornwall 


384 


Arthur 


are  no  men  of  worship  as  other  knights  are.  And  by  cause 
ye  are  no  men  of  worship  ye  hate  all  men  of  worship,  for 
never  was  bred  in  your  country  such  a  knight  as  is  Sir 
Tristram. 

CHAPTER   IX 

HOW   KING    MARK,    SIR     LAMORAK,    AND    SIR     DINADAN    CAME    TO    A 
CASTLE,    AND    HOW    KING    MARK   WAS    KNOWN    THERE 

THEN  they  rode  forth  all  together,  King  Mark,  Sir  Lamorak, 
and  Sir  Dinadan,  till  that  they  came  to  a  bridge,  and  at  the 
end  thereof  stood  a  fair  tower.  Then  saw  they  a  knight 
on  horseback  well  armed,  brandishing  a  spear,  crying  and 
proffering  himself  to  joust.  Now,  said  Sir  Dinadan  unto 
King  Mark,  yonder  are  two  brethren,  that  one  hight  Alein, 
and  the  other  hight  Trian,  that  will  joust  with  any  that 
passeth  this  passage.  Now  proffer  yourself,  said  Dinadan  to 
King  Mark,  for  ever  ye  be  laid  to  the  earth.  Then  King 
Mark  was  ashamed,  and  therewith  he  feutred  his  spear, 
and  hurtled  to  Sir  Trian,  and  either  brake  their  spears  all 
to  pieces,  and  passed  through  anon.  Then  Sir  Trian  sent 
King  Mark  another  spear  to  joust  more  ;  but  in  no  wise 
he  would  not  joust  no  more.  Then  they  came  to  the 
castle  all  three  knights,  and  prayed  the  lord  of  the  castle 
of  harbour.  Ye  are  right  welcome,  said  the  knights  of  the 
castle,  for  the  love  of  the  lord  of  this  castle,  the  which 
hight  Sir  Tor  le  Fise  Aries.  And  then  they  came  into  a 
fair  court  well  repaired,  and  they  had  passing  good  cheer, 
till  the  lieutenant  of  this  castle,  that  hight  Berluse,  espied 
King  Mark  of  Cornwall.  Then  said  Berluse  :  Sir  knight, 
I  know  you  better  than  you  ween,  for  ye  are  King  Mark 
that  slew  my  father  afore  mine  own  eyen ;  and  me  had  ye 
slain  had  I  not  escaped  into  a  wood ;  but  wit  ye  well,  for 
the  love  of  my  lord  of  this  castle  I  will  neither  hurt  you 
nor  harm  you,  nor  none  of  your  fellowship.  But  wit  ye 
well,  when  ye  are  past  this  lodging  I  shall  hurt  you  an  I 
may,  for  ye  slew  my  father  traitorly.  But  first  for  the  love 
of  my  lord,  Sir  Tor,  and  for  the  love  of  Sir  Lamorak,  the 
honourable  knight  that  here  is  lodged,  ye  shall  have  none  ill 
lodging  ;  for  it  is  pity  that  ever  ye  should  be  in  the  company 
of  good  knights  ;  for  ye  are  the  most  villainous  knight  or 
king  that  is  now  known  on  live,  for  ye  are  a  destroyer  of 
good  knights,  and  all  that  ye  do  is  but  treason. 


King   Arthur  385 


CHAPTER   X 

HOW   SIR   BERLUSE    MET   WITH    KING    MARK.  AND   HOW  SIR   DINADAN 

TOOK    HIS    PART 

THEN  was  King  Mark  sore  ashamed,  and  said  but  little 
again.  But  when  Sir  Lamorak  and  Sir  Dinadan  wist  that 
he  was  King  Mark  they  were  sorry  of  his  fellowship.  So 
after  supper  they  went  to  lodging.  So  on  the  morn  they 
arose  early,  and  King  Mark  and  Sir  Dinadan  rode  together ; 
and  three  mile  from  their  lodging  there  met  with  them 
three  knights,  and  Sir  Berluse  was  one,  and  that  other  his 
two  cousins.  Sir  Berluse  saw  King  Mark,  and  then  he 
cried  on  high  :  Traitor,  keep  thee  from  me,  for  wit  thou 
well  that  I  am  Berluse.  Sir  knight,  said  Sir  Dinadan,  I 
counsel  you  to  leave  off  at  this  time,  for  he  is  riding  to 
King  Arthur ;  and  by  cause  I  have  promised  to  conduct 
him  to  my  lord  King  Arthur  needs  must  I  take  a  part  with 
him ;  howbeit  I  love  not  his  condition,  and  fain  I  would  be 
from  him.  Well,  Dinadan,  said  Sir  Berluse,  me  repenteth 
that  ye  will  take  part  with  him,  but  now  do  your  best.  And 
then  he  hurtled  to  King  Mark,  and  smote  him  sore  upon 
the  shield,  that  he  bare  him  clean  out  of  his  saddle  to  the 
earth.  That  saw  Sir  Dinadan,  and  he  feutred  his  spear, 
and  ran  to  one  of  Berluse's  fellows,  and  smote  him  down 
off  his  saddle.  Then  Dinadan  turned  his  horse,  and  smote 
the  third  knight  in  the  same  wise  to  the  earth,  for  Sir 
Dinadan  was  a  good  knight  on  horseback ;  and  there  began 
a  great  battle,  for  Berluse  and  his  fellows  held  them  together 
strongly  on  foot.  And  so  through  the  great  force  of  Sir 
Dinadan  King  Mark  had  Berluse  to  the  earth,  and  his  two 
fellows  fled;  and  had  not  been  Sir  Dinadan  King  Mark 
would  have  slain  him.  And  so  Sir  Dinadan  rescued  him 
of  his  life,  for  King  Mark  was  but  a  murderer.  And  then 
they  took  their  horses  and  departed,  and  left  Sir  Berluse 
there  sore  wounded.  Then  King  Mark  and  Sir  Dinadan 
rode  forth  a  four  leagues  English,  till  that  they  came  to  a 
bridge  where  hoved  a  knight  on  horseback,  armed  and  ready 
to  joust.  Lo,  said  Sir  Dinadan  unto  King  Mark,  yonder 
hoveth  a  knight  that  will  joust,  for  there  shall  none  pass 
this  bridge  but  he  must  joust  with  that  knight.  It  is 
well,  said  King  Mark,  for  this  jousts  falleth  with  thee. 
Sir  Dinadan  knew  the  knight  well  that  he  was  a  noble 


386  King   Arthur 

knight,  and  fain  he  would  have  jousted,  but  he  had  had 
lever  King  Mark  had  jousted  with  him,  but  by  no  mean 
King  Mark  would  not  joust.  Then  Sir  Dinadan  might  not 
refuse  him  in  no  manner.  And  then  either  dressed  their 
spears  and  their  shields,  and  smote  together,  so  that  through 
fine  force  Sir  Dinadan  was  smitten  to  the  earth ;  and  lightly 
he  rose  up  and  gat  his  horse,  and  required  that  knight  to 
do  battle  with  swords.  And  he  answered  and  said :  Fair 
knight,  as  at  this  time  I  may  not  have  ado  with  you  no 
more,  for  the  custom  of  this  passage  is  such.  Then  was 
Sir  Dinadan  passing  wroth  that  he  might  not  be  revenged 
of  that  knight ;  and  so  he  departed,  and  in  no  wise  would 
that  knight  tell  his  name.  But  ever  Sir  Dinadan  thought  he 
should  know  him  by  his  shield  that  it  should  be  Sir  Tor. 


CHAPTER  XI 

HOW  KING  MARK   MOCKED  SIR  DINADAN,  AND  HOW  THEY  MET  WITH 
SIX   KNIGHTS   OF   THE    ROUND   TABLE 

So  as  they  rode  by  the  way  King  Mark  then  began  to 
mock  Sir  Dinadan,  and  said :  I  weened  you  knights  of  the 
Table  Round  might  not  in  no  wise  find  their  matches.  Ye 
say  well,  said  Sir  Dinadan ;  as  for  you,  on  my  life  I  call  you 
none  of  the  best  knights ;  but  sith  ye  have  such  a  despite 
at  me  I  require  you  to  joust  with  me  to  prove  my  strength. 
Not  so,  said  King  Mark,  for  I  will  not  have  ado  with  you  in 
no  manner ;  but  I  require  you  of  one  thing,  that  when  ye 
come  to  Arthur's  court  discover  not  my  name,  for  I  am 
there  so  hated.  It  is  shame  to  you,  said  Sir  Dinadan,  that 
ye  govern  you  so  shamefully ;  for  I  see  by  you  ye  are  full 
of  cowardice,  and  ye  are  a  murderer,  and  that  is  the  greatest 
shame  that  a  knight  may  have ;  for  never  a  knight  being 
a  murderer  hath  worship,  nor  never  shall  have;  for  I  saw 
but  late  through  my  force  ye  would  have  slain  Sir  Berluse, 
a  better  knight  than  ye,  or  ever  ye  shall  be,  and  more  of 
prowess.  Thus  they  rode  forth  talking  till  they  came  to 
a  fair  place,  where  stood  a  knight,  and  prayed  them  to 
take  their  lodging  with  him.  So  at  the  request  of  that 
knight  they  reposed  them  there,  and  made  them  well  at 
ease,  and  had  great  cheer.  For  all  errant-knights  were 
welcome  to  him,  and  specially  all  those  of  Arthur's  court. 


King   Arthur  387 

Then  Sir  Dinadan  demanded  his  host  what  was  the  knight's 
name  that  kept  the  bridge.  For  what  cause  ask  you  it? 
said  the  host.  For  it  is  not  long  ago,  said  Sir  Dinadan, 
sythen  he  gave  me  a  fall.  Ah,  fair  knight,  said  his  host, 
thereof  have  ye  no  marvel,  for  he  is  a  passing  good  knight, 
and  his  name  is  Sir  Tor,  the  son  of  Aries  le  Vaysher.  Ah, 
said  Sir  Dinadan,  was  that  Sir  Tor?  for  truly  so  ever  me 
thought.  Right  as  they  stood  thus  talking  together  they 
saw  come  riding  to  them  over  a  plain  six  knights  of  the 
court  of  King  Arthur,  well  armed  at  all  points.  And 
there  by  their  shields  Sir  Dinadan  knew  them  well.  The 
first  was  the  good  knight  Sir  Uwaine,  the  son  of  King 
Uriens,  the  second  was  the  noble  knight  Sir  Brandiles,  the 
third  was  Ozana  le  Cure  Hardy,  the  fourth  was  Uwaine  les 
Adventurous,  the  fifth  was  Sir  Agravaine,  the  sixth  Sir 
Mordred,  brother  to  Sir  Gawaine.  When  Sir  Dinadan 
had  seen  these  six  knights  he  thought  in  himself  he 
would  bring  King  Mark  by  some  wile  to  joust  with  one 
of  them.  And  anon  they  took  their  horses  and  ran  after 
these  knights  well  a  three  mile  English.  Then  was  King 
Mark  ware  where  they  sat  all  six  about  a  well,  and  ate 
and  drank  such  meats  as  they  had,  and  their  horses 
walking  and  some  tied,  and  their  shields  hung  in  divers 
places  about  them.  Lo,  said  Sir  Dinadan,  yonder  are 
knights  errant  that  will  joust  with  us.  God  forbid,  said 
King  Mark,  for  they  be  six  and  we  but  two.  As  for  that, 
said  Sir  Dinadan,  let  us  not  spare,  for  I  will  assay  the 
foremost ;  and  therewith  he  made  him  ready.  When  King 
Mark  saw  him  do  so,  as  fast  as  Sir  Dinadan  rode  toward 
them,  King  Mark  rode  froward  them  with  all  his  menial 
meyne.  So  when  Sir  Dinadan  saw  King  Mark  was  gone, 
he  set  the  spear  out  of  the  rest,  and  threw  his  shield  upon 
his  back,  and  came  riding  to  the  fellowship  of  the  Table 
Round.  And  anon  Sir  Uwaine  knew  Sir  Dinadan,  and 
welcomed  him,  and  so  did  all  his  fellowship. 


388  King   Arthur 


CHAPTER    XII 

HOW   THE    SIX    KNIGHTS    SENT    SIR    DAGONET    TO   JOUST   WITH     KING 
MARK,    AND    HOW    KING    MARK    REFUSED    HIM 

AND  then  they  asked  him  of  his  adventures,  and  whether 
he  had  seen  Sir  Tristram  or  Sir  Launcelot.  So  God  me 
help,  said  Sir  Dinadan,  I  saw  none  of  them  sythen  I 
departed  from  Camelot.  What  knight  is  that,  said  Sir 
Brandiles,  that  so  suddenly  departed  from  you,  and  rode 
over  yonder  field  ?  Sir,  said  he,  it  was  a  knight  of  Cornwall, 
and  the  most  horrible  coward  that  ever  bestrode  horse. 
What  is  his  name  ?  said  all  these  knights.  I  wot  not,  said 
5:r  Dinadan.  So  when  they  had  reposed  them,  and  spoken 
together,  they  took  their  horses  and  rode  to  a  castle  where 
dwelt  an  old  knight  that  made  all  knights  errant  good  cheer. 
Then  in  the  meanwhile  that  they  were  talking  came  into  the 
castle  Sir  Griflet  le  Fise  de  Dieu,  and  there  was  he  welcome  ; 
and  they  all  asked  him  whether  he  had  seen  Sir  Launcelot 
or  Sir  Tristram.  Sirs,  he  answered,  I  saw  him  not  sythen 
he  departed  from  Camelot.  So  as  Sir  Dinadan  walked  and 
beheld  the  castle,  thereby  in  a  chamber  he  espied  King 
Mark,  and  then  he  rebuked  him,  and  asked  him  why  he 
•departed  so.  Sir,  said  he,  for  I  durst  not  abide  by  cause 
they  were  so  many.  But  how  escaped  ye  ?  said  King  Mark. 
Sir,  said  Sir  Dinadan,  they  were  better  friends  than  I  weened 
they  had  been.  Who  is  captain  of  that  fellowship  ?  said 
the  king.  Then  for  to  fear  him  Sir  Dinadan  said  that  it  was 
Sir  Launcelot.  O  Jesu,  said  the  king,  might  I  know  Sir 
Launcelot  by  his  shield?  Yea,  said  Dinadan,  for  he  beareth 
a  shield  of  silver  and  black  bends.  All  this  he  said  to  fear 
the  king,  for  Sir  Launcelot  was  not  in  his  fellowship.  Now 
I  pray  you,  said  King  Mark,  that  ye  will  ride  in  my  fellow- 
ship. That  is  me  loth  to  do,  said  Sir  Dinadan,  by  cause 
ye  forsook  my  fellowship.  Right  so  Sir  Dinadan  went  from 
King  Mark,  and  went  to  his  own  fellowship  ;  and  so  they 
mounted  upon  their  horses,  and  rode  on  their  ways,  and 
talked  of  the  Cornish  knight,  for  Dinadan  told  them  that 
he  was  in  the  castle  where  they  were  lodged.  It  is  well 
said,  said  Sir  Griflet,  for  here  have  I  brought  Sir  Dagonet, 
King  Arthur's  fool,  that  is  the  best  fellow  and  the  merriest 
in  the  world.  Will  ye  do  well  ?  said  Sir  Dinadan :  I  have 
told  the  Cornish  knight  that  here  is  Sir  Launcelot,  and  the 


King   Arthur  389 

Cornish  knight  asked  me  what  shield  he  bare.  Truly,  I 
told  him  that  he  bare  the  same  shield  that  Sir  Mordred 
beareth.  Will  ye  do  well  ?  said  Sir  Mordred  ;  I  am  hurt 
and  may  not  well  bear  my  shield  nor  harness,  and  therefore 
put  my  shield  and  my  harness  upon  Sir  Dagonet,  and  let 
him  set  upon  the  Cornish  knight.  That  shall  be  done,  said 
Sir  Dagonet,  by  my  faith.  Then  anon  was  Dagonet  armed 
him  in  Mordred's  harness  and  his  shield,  and  he  was  set  on 
a  great  horse,  and  a  spear  in  his  hand.  Now,  said  Dagonet, 
shew  me  the  knight,  and  I  trow  I  shall  bear  him  down.  So 
all  these  knights  rode  to  a  woodside,  and  abode  till  King 
Mark  came  by  the  way.  Then  they  put  forth  Sir  Dagonet, 
and  he  came  on  all  the  while  his  horse  might  run,  straight 
upon  King  Mark.  And  when  he  came  nigh  King  Mark,  he 
cried  as  he  were  wood,  and  said  :  Keep  thee,  knight  of 
Cornwall,  for  I  will  slay  thee.  Anon,  as  King  Mark  beheld 
his  shield,  he  said  to  himself :  Yonder  is  Sir  Launcelot ; 
alas,  now  am  I  destroyed  ;  and  therewithal  he  made  his 
horse  to  run  as  fast  as  it  might  through  thick  and  thin. 
And  ever  Sir  Dagonet  followed  after  King  Mark,  crying  and 
rating  him  as  a  wood  man,  through  a  great  forest.  V.'hen 
Sir  Uwaine  and  Sir  Brandiles  saw  Dagonet  so  chase  King 
Mark,  they  laughed  all  as  they  were  wood.  And  then  they 
took  their  horses,  and  rode  after  to  see  how  Sir  Dagonet 
sped,  for  they  would  not  for  no  good  that  Sir  Dagonet  were 
shent,  for  King  Arthur  loved  him  passing  well,  and  made 
him  knight  with  his  own  hands.  And  at  every  tournament 
he  began  to  make  King  Arthur  to  laugh.  Then  the  knights 
rode  here  and  there,  crying  and  chasing  after  King  Mark, 
that  all  the  lores t  rang  of  the  noise. 


CHAPTER    XIII 

HOW     SIR     PALOMIDES     BY     ADVENTURE    MET     KING     MARK    FLYING, 
AND    HOW    HE    OVERTHREW    DAGONET    AND    OTHER    KNIGHTS 

So  King  Mark  rode  by  fortune  by  a  well,  in  the  way 
where  stood  a  knight  errant  on  horseback,  armed  at  all 
points,  with  a  great  spear  in  his  hand.  And  when  he  saw 
King  Mark  coming  flying  he  said  :  Knight,  return  again  for 
shame  and  stand  with  me,  and  I  shall  be  thy  warrant.  Ah, 
fair  knight,  said  King  Mark,  let  me  pass,  for  yonder  cometh 


390  King  Arthur 

after  me  the  best  knight  of  the  world,  with  the  black  bended 
shield.     Fie,  for  shame,  said  the  knight,  he  is  none  of  the 
worthy  knights,  and  if  he  were  Sir  Launcelot  or  Sir  Tristram 
I  should  not  doubt  to  meet  the  better  of  them  both.    When 
King  Mark  heard  him  say  that  word,  he  turned  his  horse 
and  abode  by  him.     And  then  that  strong  knight  bare  a 
spear  to  Dagonet,  and  smote  him  so  sore  that  he  bare  him 
over  his  horse's  tail,  and  nigh  he  had  broken  his  neck.    And 
anon  after   him    came   Sir    Brandiles,    and   when   he    saw 
Dagonet  have  that  fall  he  was  passing  wroth,  and  cried  : 
Keep  thee,   knight,  and  so  they  hurtled  together  wonder 
sore.     But   the  knight  smote  Sir  Brandiles  so  sore  that  he 
went  to  the  earth,  horse  and  man.     Sir  Uwaine  came  after 
and  saw  all  this.     Jesu,  said  he,  yonder  is  a  strong  knight. 
And  then  they  feutred  their  spears,  and  this  knight  came  so 
eagerly  that  he  smote  down  Sir  Uwaine.    Then  came  Ozana 
with  the  hardy  heart,  and  he  was  smitten  down.     Now,  said 
Sir  Griflet,  by  my  counsel  let  us    send    to   yonder   errant 
knight,  and  wit  whether  he  be  of  Arthur's  court,  for  as  I 
deem  it  is  Sir  Lamorak  de  Galis.     So  they  sent  unto  him, 
and  prayed  the  strange  knight  to  tell  his  name,  and  whether 
he  were  of  Arthur's  court  or  not.     As  for  my  name  they 
shall  not  wit,  but  tell  them  I  arn  a  knight  errant  as  they  are, 
and   let  them  wit  that   I  am  no  knight  of  King  Arthur's 
court ;  and  so  the  squire  rode  again  unto  them  and  told 
them  his  answer  of  him.     By  my  head,  said  Sir  Agravaine, 
he  is  one  of  the  strongest  knights  that  ever  I  saw,  for  he 
hath   overthrown  three  noble  knights,  and  needs  we  must 
encounter  with  him   for  shame.     So  Sir  Agravaine  feutred 
his  spear,  and  that  other  was  ready,  and  smote  him  down 
over  his  horse  to  the  earth.    And  in  the  same  wise  he  smote 
Sir   Uwaine  les  Avoutres  and  also   Sir  Griflet.     Then  had 
he   served  them  all  but  Sir  Dinadan,  for  he  was  behind, 
and    Sir    Mordred   was   unarmed,    and    Dagonet    had    his 
harness.     So  when  this  was  done,  this  strong  knight  rode 
on  his  way  a  soft   pace,  and  King  Mark  rode  after  him, 
praising  him  mickle  ;  but  he  would  answer  no  words,  but 
sighed  wonderly  sore,   hanging  down  his  head,   taking  no 
heed   to    his  words.     Thus  they  rode   well    a   three   mile 
English,  and  then  this  knight  called  to  him  a  varlet,  and 
bade  him  ride  until  yonder  fair  manor,  and  recommend  me 
to  the  lady  of  that  castle  and  place,  and  pray  her  to  send 
me  refreshing  of  good  meats  and  drinks.     And  if  she  ask 


King   Arthur  391 

thee  what  I  am,  tell  her  that  I  am  the  knight  that  followeth 
the  glatisant  beast :  that  is  in  English  to  say  the  questing 
beast ;  for  that  beast  wheresomever  he  yede  he  quested  in 
the  belly  with  such  a  noise  as  it  had  been  a  thirty  couple  of 
hounds.  Then  the  varlet  went  his  way  and  came  to  the 
manor,  and  saluted  the  lady,  and  told  her  from  whence  he 
came.  And  when  she  understood  that  he  came  from  the 
knight  that  followed  the  questing  beast :  O  sweet  Lord  Jesu, 
she  said,  when  shall  I  see  that  noble  knight,  my  dear  son 
Palomides  ?  Alas,  will  he  not  abide  with  me  ?  and  there- 
with she  swooned  and  wept,  and  made  passing  great  dole. 
And  then  also  soon  as  she  might  she  gave  the  varlet  all  that 
he  asked.  And  the  varlet  returned  unto  Sir  Palomides,  for 
he  was  a  varlet  of  King  Mark.  And  as  soon  as  he  came, 
he  told  the  knight's  name  was  Sir  Palomides.  I  am 
well  pleased,  said  King  Mark,  but  hold  thee  still  and  say 
nothing.  Then  they  alit  and  set  them  down  and  reposed 
them  a  while.  Anon  withal  King  Mark  fell  on  sleep. 
When  Sir  Palomides  saw  him  sound  asleep  he  took  his 
horse  and  rode  his  way,  and  said  to  them  :  I  will  not  be  in 
the  company  of  a  sleeping  knight.  And  so  he  rode  forth  a 
great  pace. 


CHAPTER   XIV 

HOW  KING    MARK   AND   SIR  DINADAN  HEARD  SIR  PALOMIDES  MAKING 
GREAT   SORROW   AND    MOURNING    FOR    LA    BEALE    ISOUD 

Now  turn  we  unto  Sir  Dinadan,  that  found  these  seven 
knights  passing  heavy.  And  when  he  wist  how  that  they 
sped,  as  heavy  was  he.  My  lord  Uwaine,  said  Dinadan,  I 
dare  lay  my  head  it  is  Sir  Lamorak  de  Galis.  I  promise  you 
all  I  shall  find  him  an  he  may  be  found  in  this  country. 
And  so  Sir  Dinadan  rode  after  this  knight ;  and  so  did  King 
Mark,  that  sought  him  through  the  forest.  So  as  King  Mark 
rode  after  Sir  Palomides  he  heard  the  noise  of  a  man  that 
made  great  dole.  Then  King  Mark  rode  as  nigh  that  noise 
as  he  micht  and  as  he  durst.  Then  was  he  ware  of  a  knight 

CT  O 

that  was  descended  off  his  horse,  and  had  put  off  his  helm, 
and  there  he  made  a  piteous  complaint  and  a  dolorous,  of 
love.  Now  leave  we  that,  and  talk  we  of  Sir  Dinadan,  that 
rode  to  seek  Sir  Palomides.  And  as  he  came  within  a  forest 
he  met  with  a  knight,  a  chaser  of  a  deer.  Sir,  said  Sir 


392  King   Arthur 

Dinadan,  met  ye  with  a  knight  with  a  shield  of  silver  and 
lions'  heads  ?  Yea,  fair  knight,  said  the  other,  with  such  a 
knight  met  I  with  but  a  while  agone,  and  straight  yonder 
way  he  yede.  Gramercy,  said  Sir  Dinadan,  for  might  I  find 
the  track  of  his  horse  I  should  not  fail  to  find  that  knight. 
Right  so  as  Sir  Dinadan  rode  in  the  even  late  he  heard  a 
doleful  noise  as  it  were  of  a  man.  Then  Sir  Dinadan  rode 
toward  that  noise ;  and  when  he  came  nigh  that  noise  he 
alit  off  his  horse,  and  went  near  him  on  foot.  Then  was  he 
ware  of  a  knight  that  stood  under  a  tree,  and  his  horse  tied 
by  him,  and  the  helm  off  his  head ;  and  ever  that  knight 
made  a  doleful  complaint  as  ever  made  knight.  And  always 
he  made  his  complaint  of  La  Beale  Isoud,  the  Queen  of 
Cornwall,  and  said  :  Ah,  fair  lady,  why  love  I  thee  !  for 
thou  art  fairest  of  all  other,  and  yet  showest  thou  never  love 
to  me,  nor  bounty.  Alas,  yet  must  1  love  thee.  And  I  may 
not  blame  thee,  fair  lady,  for  mine  eyen  be  cause  of  this 
sorrow.  And  yet  to  love  thee  I  am  but  a  fool,  for  the  best 
knight  of  the  world  loveth  thee,  and  ye  him  again,  that  is 
Sir  Tristram  de  Liones.  And  the  falsest  king  and  knight  is 
your  husband,  and  the  most  coward  and  full  of  treason,  is 
your  lord,  King  Mark.  Alas,  that  ever  so  fair  a  lady  and 
peerless  of  all  other  should  be  matched  with  the  most 
villainous  knight  of  the  world.  All  this  language  heard  King 
Mark,  what  Sir  Palomides  said  by  him ;  wherefore  he  was 
adread  when  he  saw  Sir  Dinadan,  lest  he  espied  him,  that  he 
would  tell  Sir  Palomides  that  he  was  King  Mark ;  and  there- 
fore he  withdrew  him,  and  took  his  horse  and  rode  to  his 
men,  where  he  commanded  them  to  abide.  And  so  he  rode 
as  fa.st  as  he  might  unto  Camelot ;  and  the  same  day  he 
found  there  Amant,  the  knight,  ready  that  afore  Arthur  had 
appelled  him  of  treason ;  and  so,  lightly  the  king  com- 
manded them  to  do  battle.  And  by  misadventure  King 
Mark  smote  Amant  through  the  body.  And  yet  was  Amant 
in  the  righteous  quarrel.  And  right  so  he  took  his  horse 
and  departed  from  the  court  for  dread  of  Sir  Dinadan,  that 
he  would  tell  Sir  Tristram  and  Sir  Palomides  what  he  was. 
Then  were  there  maidens  that  La  Beale  Isoud  had  sent  to 
Sir  Tristram,  that  knew  Sir  Amant  well. 


King  Arthur  393 


CHAPTER   XV 

HOW  KTNG  MARK  HAD  SLAIN  SIR  AMANT  WRONGFULLY  TOFORE 
KING  ARTHUR,  AND  SIR  LAUNCELOT  FETCHED  KING  MARK  TO 
KING  ARTHUR 

THEN  by  the  licence  of  King  Arthur  they  went  to  him 
and  spake  with  him  ;  for  while  the  truncheon  of  the  spear 
stuck  in  his  body  he  spake :  Ah,  fair  damosels,  said  Amant, 
recommend  me  unto  La  Beale  Isoud,  and  tell  her  that  I  am 
slain  for  the  love  of  her  and  of  Sir  Tristram.  And  there  he 
told  the  damosels  how  cowardly  King  Mark  had  slain  him, 
and  Sir  Bersules,  his  fellow.  And  for  that  deed  I  appelled 
him  of  treason,  and  here  am  I  slain  in  a  righteous  quarrel ; 
and  all  was  by  cause  Sir  Bersules  and  I  would  not  consent 
by  treason  to  slay  the  noble  knight,  Sir  Tristram.  Then  the 
two  maidens  cried  aloud  that  all  the  court  might  hear  it,  and 
said :  O  sweet  Lord  Jesu,  that  knowest  all  hid  things,  why 
sufferest  Thou  so  false  a  traitor  to  vanquish  and  slay  a  true 
knight  that  fought  in  a  righteous  quarrel  ?  Then  anon  it 
was  spronge  to  the  king,  and  the  queen,  and  to  all  the  lords, 
that  it  was  King  Mark  that  had  slain  Sir  Amant,  and  Sir 
Bersules  aforehand  ;  wherefore  they  did  their  battle.  Then 
was  King  Arthur  wroth  out  of  measure,  and  so  were  all  the 
other  knights.  But  when  Sir  Tristram  knew  all  the  matter 
he  made  great  dole  and  sorrow  out  of  measure,  and  wept  for 
sorrow  for  the  loss  of  the  noble  knights,  Sir  Bersules  and  of 
Sir  Amant.  When  Sir  Launcelot  espied  Sir  Tristram  weep 
he  went  hastily  to  King  Arthur,  and  said  :  Sir,  I  pray  you 
give  me  leave  to  return  again  to  yonder  false  king  and  knight. 
1  pray  you,  said  King  Arthur,  fetch  him  again,  but  I  would 
not  that  ye  slew  him,  for  my  worship.  Then  Sir  Launcelot 
armed  him  in  all  haste,  and  mounted  upon  a  great  horse,  and 
took  a  spear  in  his  hand  and  rode  after  King  Mark.  And 
from  thence  a  three  mile  English  Sir  Launcelot  overtook  him, 
and  bad  him  :  Turn  recreant  king  and  knight,  for  whether 
thou  wilt  or  not  thou  shalt  go  with  me  to  King  Arthur's  court. 
King  Mark  returned  and  looked  upon  Sir  Launcelot,  and 
said  :  Fair  sir,  what  is  your  name  ?  Wit  thou  well,  said  he, 
my  name  is  Sir  Launcelot,  and  therefore  defend  thee.  And 
when  King  Mark  wist  that  it  was  Sir  Launcelot,  and  came 
so  fast  upon  him  with  a  spear,  he  cried  then  on  loud  :  I  yield 
me  to  thee,  Sir  Launcelot,  honourable  knight.  But  Sir 


394  King   Arthur 

Launcelot  would  not  hear  him,  but  came  fast  upon  him. 
King  Mark  saw  that,  and  made  no  defence,  but  tumbled 
adown  out  of  his  saddle  to  the  earth  as  a  sack,  and  there 
he  lay  still,  and  cried  Sir  Launcelot  mercy.  Arise,  recreant 
knight  and  king.  I  will  not  fight,  said  King  Mark,  but 
whither  that  ye  will  I  will  go  with  you.  Alas,  alas,  said  Sir 
Launcelot,  that  I  may  not  give  thee  one  buffet  for  the  love  of 
Sir  Tristram  and  of  La  Beale  Isoud,  and  for  the  two  knights 
that  thou  hast  slain  traitorly.  And  so  he  mounted  upon  his 
horse  and  brought  him  to  King  Arthur ;  and  there  King 
Mark  alit  in  that  same  place,  and  threw  his  helm  from  him 
upon  the  earth,  and  his  sword,  and  fell  flat  to  the  earth  of 
King  Arthur's  feet,  and  put  him  in  his  grace  and  mercy.  So 
God  me  help,  said  Arthur,  ye  are  welcome  in  a  manner,  and 
in  a  manner  ye  are  not  welcome.  In  this  manner  ye  are 
welcome,  that  ye  come  hither  maugre  thy  head,  as  I  suppose. 
That  is  truth,  said  King  Mark,  and  else  I  had  not  been  here, 
for  my  lord,  Sir  Launcelot,  brought  me  hither  through  his 
fine  force,  and  to  him  am  I  yielden  to  as  recreant.  Well, 
said  Arthur,  >ye  understand  ye  ought  to  do  me  service, 
homage,  and  fealty.  And  never  would  ye  do  me  none,  but 
ever  ye  have  been  against  me,  and  a  destroyer  of  my  knights  ; 
now,  how  will  ye  acquit  you  ?  Sir,  said  King  Mark,  right  as 
your  lordship  will  require  me,  unto  my  power,  I  will  make  a 
large  amends.  For  he  was  a  fair  speaker,  and  false  there- 
under. Then  for  great  pleasure  of  Sir  Tristram,  to  make 
them  twain  accorded,  the  king  withheld  King  Mark  as  at 
that  time,  and  made  a  broken  love  day  between  them. 


'CHAPTER   XVI 

HOW   SIR   DINADAN   TOLD   SIR    PALOMIDES   OF   THE   BATTLE 
BETWEEN    SIR   LAUNCELOT  AND   SIR  TRISTRAM 

Now  turn  we  again  unto  Sir  Palomides,  how  Sir  Dinadan 
comforted  him  in  all  that  he  might,  from  his  great  sorrow. 
What  knight  are  ye  ?  said  Sir  Palomides.  Sir,  I  am  a  knight 
errant  as  ye  be,  that  hath  sought  you  long  by  your  shield. 
Here  is  my  shield,  said  Sir  Palomides,  wit  ye  well,  an  ye  will 
ought,  therewith  I  will  defend  it.  Nay,  said  Sir  Dinadan,  I 
will  not  have  ado  with  you  but  in  good  manner.  And  if  ye 
will,  ye  shall  find  me  soon  ready.  Sir,  said  Sir  Dinadan, 


King  Arthur  395 

whitherward  ride  you  this  way  ?  By  my  head,  said  Sir 
Palomides,  I  wot  not,  but  as  fortune  leadeth  me.  Heard  ye 
or  saw  ye  ought  of  Sir  Tristram  ?  So  God  me  help,  of  Sir 
Tristram  I  both  heard  and  saw,  and  not  for  then  we  loved 
not  inwardly  well  together,  yet  at  my  mischief  Sir  Tristram 
rescued  me  from  my  death ;  and  yet,  or  he  and  I  departed, 
by  both  our  assents  we  assigned  a  day  that  we  should  have 
met  at  the  stony  grave  that  Merlin  set  beside  Camelot,  and 
there  to  have  done  battle  together ;  howbeit  I  was  letted, 
said  Sir  Palomides,  that  I  might  not  hold  my  day,  the  which 
grieveth  me  sore ;  but  I  have  a  large  excuse.  For  I  was 
prisoner  with  a  lord,  and  many  other  more,  and  that  shall 
Sir  Tristram  right  well  understand,  that  I  brake  it  not  of  fear 
of  cowardice.  And  then  Sir  Palomides  told  Sir  Dinadan 
the  same  day  that  they  should  have  met.  So  God  me  help, 
said  Sir  Dinadan,  that  same  day  met  Sir  Launcelot  and  Sir 
Tristram  at  the  same  grave  of  stone.  And  there  was  the 
most  mightiest  battle  that  ever  was  seen  in  this  land  betwixt 
two  knights,  for  they  fought  more  than  two  hours.  And 
there  they  both  bled  so  much  blood  that  all  men  marvelled 
that  ever  they  might  endure  it.  And  so  at  the  last,  by  both 
their  assents,  they  were  made  friends  and  sworn  brethren  for 
ever,  and  no  man  can  judge  the  better  knight.  And  now  is 
Sir  Tristram  made  a  knight  of  the  Round  Table,  and  he 
sitteth  in  the  siege  of  the  noble  knight,  Sir  Marhaus.  By 
my  head,  said  Sir  Palomides,  Sir  Tristram  is  far  bigger  than 
Sir  Launcelot,  and  the  hardier  knight.  Have  ye  essayed 
them  both  ?  said  Sir  Dinadan.  I  have  seen  Sir  Tristram 
fight,  said  Sir  Palomides,  but  never  Sir  Launcelot  to  my 
witting.  But  at  the  fountain  where  Sir  Launcelot  lay  on 
sleep,  there  with  one  spear  he  smote  down  Sir  Tristram  and 
me,  said  Palomides,  but  at  that  time  they  knew  not  either 
other.  Fair  knight,  said  Sir  Dinadan,  as  for  Sir  Launcelot 
and  Sir  Tristram  let  them  be,  for  the  worst  of  them  will  not 
be  lightly  matched  of  no  knights  that  I  know  living.  No, 
said  Sir  Palomides,  God  defend,  but  an  I  had  a  quarrel  to 
the  better  of  them  both  I  would  with  as  good  a  will  fight  with 
him  as  with  you.  Sir,  I  require  you  tell  me  your  name,  and 
in  good  faith  I  shall  hold  you  company  till  that  we  come  to 
Camelot ;  and  there  shall  ye  have  great  worship  now  at  this 
great  tournament ;  for  there  shall  be  the  Queen  Guenever, 
and  La  Beale  Isoud  of  Cornwall.  Wit  you  well,  sir  knight, 
for  the  love  of  La  Beale  Isoud  I  will  be  there,  and  else  not, 


396  King  Arthur 

but  I  will  not  have  ado  in  King  Arthur's  court.  Sir,  said 
Dinadan,  I  shall  ride  with  you  and  do  you  service,  so  you 
will  tell  me  your  name.  Sir,  ye  shall  understand  my  name 
is  Sir  Palomides,  brother  to  Safere,  the  good  and  noble 
knight.  And  Sir  Segwarides  and  I,  we  be  Saracens  born,  of 
father  and  mother.  Sir,  said  Sir  Dinadan,  I  thank  you  much 
for  the  telling  of  your  name.  For  I  am  glad  of  that  I  know 
your  name,  and  I  promise  you  by  the  faith  of  my  body,  ye 
shall  not  be  hurt  by  me  by  my  will,  but  rather  be  advanced. 
And  thereto  will  I  help  you  with  all  my  power,  T.  promise 
you,  doubt  ye  not.  And  certainly  on  my  life  ye  shall  win 
great  worship  in  the  court  of  King  Arthur,  and  be  right 
welcome.  So  then  they  dressed  on  their  helms  and  put  on 
their  shields,  and  mounted  upon  their  horses,  and  took  the 
broad  way  towards  Camelot.  And  then  were  they  ware  of 
a  castle  that  was  fair  and  rich,  and  also  passing  strong  as  any 
was  within  this  realm. 


CHAPTER  XVII 

HOW   SIR   LAMOKAK  JOUSTED   WITH    DIVERS   KNIGHTS   OF   THE 
CASTLE   WHEREIN    WAS    MORGAN    LE    FAY 

SIR  PALOMIDES,  said  Dinadan,  here  is  a  castle  that  I 
know  well,  and  therein  dwelleth  Queen  Morgan  le  Fay, 
King  Arthur's  sister ;  and  King  Arthur  gave  her  this 
castle,  the  which  he  hath  repented  him  sythen  a  thousand 
times,  for  sythen  King  Arthur  and  she  have  been  at 
debate  and  strife ;  but  this  castle  could  he  never  get  nor 
win  of  her  by  no  manner  of  engine ;  and  ever  as  she 
might  she  made  war  on  King  Arthur.  And  all  dan- 
gerous knights  she  withholdeth  with  her,  for  to  destroy  all 
these  knights  that  King  Arthur  loveth.  And  there  shall 
no  knight  pass  this  way  but  he  must  joust  with  one  knight,  or 
with  two,  or  with  three.  And  if  it  hap  that  King  Arthur's 
knight  be  beaten,  he  shall  lose  his  horse  and  his  harness  and 
all  that  he  hath,  and  hard  if  that  he  escape,  but  that  he  shall 
be  prisoner.  So  God  me  help,  said  Palomides,  this  is  a  shame- 
ful custom,  and  a  villainous  usance  for  a  queen  to  use,  and 
namely  to  make  such  war  upon  her  own  lord,  that  is  called 
the  flower  of  chivalry  that  is  Christian  or  heathen ;  and  with 
all  my  heart  I  would  destroy  that  shameful  custom.  And  I 
will  that  all  the  world  wit  she  shall  have  no  service  of  me. 


King  Arthur  397 

And  if  she  send  out  any  knights,  as  I  suppose  she  will,  for 
to  joust,  they  shall  have  both  their  hands  full.  And  I  shall 
not  fail  you,  said  Sir  Dinadan,  unto  my  puissance,  upon  my 
life.  So  as  they  stood  on  horseback  afore  the  castle,  there 
came  a  knight  with  a  red  shield,  and  two  squires  after  him  ; 
and  he  came  straight  unto  Sir  Palomides,  the  good  knight, 
and  said  to  him  :  Fair  and  gentle  knight  errant,  I  require 
thee  for  the  love  thou  owest  unto  knighthood,  that  ye  will 
not  have  ado  here  with  these  men  of  this  castle  ;  for  this  was 
Sir  Lamorak  that  thus  said.  For  I  came  hither  to  seek  this 
deed,  and  it  is  my  request ;  and  therefore  I  beseech  you, 
knight,  let  me  deal,  and  if  I  be  beaten  revenge  me.  In  the 
name  of  God,  said  Palomides,  let  see  how  ye  will  speed,  and 
we  shall  behold  you.  Then  anon  came  forth  a  knight  of  the 
castle,  and  proffered  to  joust  with  the  knight  with  the  red 
shield.  Anon  they  encountered  together,  and  he  with  the 
red  shield  smote  him  so  hard  that  he  bare  him  over  to  the 
earth.  Therewith  anon  came  another  knight  of  the  castle, 
and  he  was  smitten  so  sore  that  he  avoided  his  saddle. 
And  forthwithal  came  the  third  knight,  and  the  knight  with 
the  red  shield  smote  him  to  the  earth.  Then  came  Sir 
Palomides,  and  besought  him  that  he  might  help  him  to 
joust.  Fair  knight,  said  he  unto  him,  suffer  me  as  at  this 
time  to  have  my  will,  for  an  they  were  twenty  knights  I  shall 
not  doubt  them.  And  ever  there  were  upon  the  walls  of  the 
castle  many  lords  and  ladies  that  cried  and  said  :  Well  have 
ye  jousted,  knight  with  the  red  shield.  But  as  soon  as  the 
knight  had  smitten  them  down,  his  squire  took  their  horses, 
and  avoided  their  saddles  and  bridles  of  the  horses,  and 
turned  them  into  the  forest,  and  made  the  knights  to  be  kept 
to  the  end  of  the  jousts.  Right  so  came  out  of  the  castle 
the  fourth  knight,  and  freshly  proffered  to  joust  with  the 
knight  with  the  red  shield :  and  he  was  ready,  and  he  smote 
him  so  hard  that  horse  and  man  fell  to  the  earth,  and  the 
knight's  back  brake  with  the  fall,  and  his  neck  also.  O  Jesu, 
said  Sir  Palomides,  that  yonder  is  a  passing  good  knight, 
and  the  best  jouster  that  ever  I  saw.  By  my  head,  said  Sir 
Dinadan,  he  is  as  good  as  ever  was  Sir  Launcelot  or  Sir 
Tristram,  what  knight  somever  he  be, 


393  King  Arthur 


CHAPTER    XVIII 

HCV/    ?-R     PALOMIDES     WO'JLD     HAVE    JOUSTED     FOR     SIK 
WITH    THE    KNIGHTS    OF   THE    CASTLE 

THEN  forthwithal  came  a  knight  out  of  the  castle,  with  a 
shield  bended  with  black  and  with  white.  And  anon  the 
knight  with  the  red  shield  and  he  encountered  so  hard  that 
he  smote  the  knight  of  the  castle  through  the  bended  shield 
and  through  the  body,  and  brake  the  horse's  back.  Fair 
knight,  said  Sir  Palomides,  ye  have  overmuch  on  hand, 
therefore  I  pray  you  let  me  joust,  for  ye  had  need  to  be 
:eposed.  Why  sir,  said  the  knight,  seem  ye  that  I  am 
weak  and  feeble?  and  sir,  methmketh  ye  proffer  me  wrong, 
and  to  me  shame,  when  1  do  well  enough.  I  tell  vou 

O  , 

now  as  I  told  you  erst ;  for  an  they  were  twenty  knights 
I  shall  beat  them,  and  if  I  be  beaten  or  slain  then  may  ye 
revenge  me.  And  if  ye  think  that  I  be  weary,  and  ye  have 
an  appetite  to  joust  with  me,  I  shall  find  you  jousting 
enough.  Sir,  said  Palomides,  I  said  it  not  because  1  would 
joust  with  you,  but  meseemeth  that  ye  have  overmuch  on 
hand.  And  therefore,  an  ye  were  gentle,  said  the  knight 
wi:h  the  red  shield,  ye  should  not  proffer  me  shame ;  there- 
fore I  require  you  to  joust  with  me,  and  ye  shall  find  that  I 
am  not  weary.  Sith  ye  require  me,  said  Sir  Palomides,  take 
keep  to  yourself.  Then  they  two  knights  came  together  as 
fast  as  their  horses  might  run,  and  the  knight  smote  Sir 
Palomides  so  sore  on  the  shield  that  the  spear  went  into  his 
side  a  great  wound,  and  a  perilous.  And  therewithal  Sir 
Palonvides  avoided  his  saddle.  And  that  knight  turned 
unto  Sir  Dinadan ;  and  when  he  saw  him  coming  he  cried 
aloud,  and  said :  Sir,  I  will  not  have  ado  with  you ;  but  for 
that  he  let  it  not,  but  came  straight  upon  him.  So  Sir 
Dinadan  for  shame  put  forth  his  spear  and  all  to  shivered 
it  upon  the  knight.  But  he  smote  Sir  Dinadan  again  so 
hare  that  he  smote  him  clean  from  his  saddle  ;  but  their 
horses  he  would  not  suffer  his  squires  to  meddle  with,  and 
by  cause  they  were  knights  errant.  Then  he  dressed  him 
again  to  the  castle,  and  jousted  with  seven  knights  more, 
and  there  was  none  of  them  might  withstand  him,  but 
he  bare  him  to  the  earth.  And  of  these  twelve  knights  he 
s  e^v  in  plain  jousts  four.  And  the  eight  knights  he  made 
to  swear  on  the  cross  of  a  sword  that  they  should 


King  Arthur  399 

never  use  the  evil  customs  of  the  castle.  And  when  he  h:-d 
made  them  to  swear  that  oath  he  let  them  pass.  And  ever 
stood  the  lords  and  the  ladies  on  the  castle  walls  crying 
and  saying  :  Knight  with  the  red  shield,  ye  have  marvel- 
lously well  done  as  ever  we  saw  knight  do.  And  therewith 
came  a  knight  out  of  the  castle  unarmed,  and  said  :  Knight 
with  the  red  shield,  overmuch  damage  hast  thou  done  to  us 
this  day,  therefore  return  whither  thou  wilt,  for  here  are  no 
more  will  have  ado  with  thee  ;  for  we  repent  sore  that  ever 
thou  earnest  here,  for  by  thee  is  fordone  the  old  custom  of 
this  castie.  And  with  that  word  he  turned  again  into  the 
castle,  and  shut  the  gates.  Then  the  knight  with  the  red 
shield  turned  and  called  his  squires,  and  so  passed  forth  on 
his  way,  and  rode  a  great  pace.  And  when  he  was  past 
Sir  Palomides  went  to  Sir  Dinadan,  and  said  :  I  had  never 
such  a  shame  of  one  knight  that  ever  I  met  ;  and  therefore 
I  cast  me  to  ride  after  him,  and  to  be  revenged  with  n.7 

CJ  * 

sword,  for  ahorseback  I  deem  I  shall  get  no  worship  of 
him.  Sir  Palomides,  said  Dinadan,  ye  shall  not  meddle 
with  him  by  my  counsel,  for  ye  shall  get  no  worship  of 
him  ;  and  for  this  cause,  ye  have  seen  him  this  day  have 
had  overmuch  to  done,  and  overmuch  travailed.  Bvalmi^r.tv 

*  ^  — -         *• 

Jesu,  said  Palcmides,  I  shall  never  be  at  ease  till  that  I  have 
had  ado  with  him.  Sir,  said  Dinadan,  I  shall  give  ycu  my 
beholding.  Well,  said  Palomides,  then  shall  ye  see  ho^v  we 
shall  redress  our  rrights.  So  they  took  their  horses  of  their 
varlets,  and  rode  alter  the  knight  with  the  red  shield  ;  and 
down  in  a  vallev  beside  a  fountain  thev  were  ware  where  he 

.>  * 

was  alit  to  repose  him,  and  had  dooe  off  his  helm  for  to 
drink  at  the  well 


CHAPTER    XIX 

HOW    SIR    LAMOF.AX  JOUSTED    WITH    ?IH    PALOMILES,    AND    HUKT 

HIM    GRIEVOUsLY 

THEN  Palomides  rode  fast  till  he  came  nigh  him.  Ar.-d 
then  he  said :  Knight,  remember  ye  of  the  shame  ye  did  to 
me  right  now  at  the  castle,  therefore  dress  thee,  for  I  will 
nave  a_lo  with  thee.  Fair  knight,  said  he  to  Palomides,  of 
me  ye  win  no  worship,  for  ye  have  seen  this  cay  :hat  I  have 
been  travailed  sore.  As  for  that,  said  iralomices,  I  will  not 


400  King  Arthur 

let,  for  wit  ye  well  I  will  be  revenged.  Well,  said  the  knight, 
I  may  happen  to  endure  you.  And  therewithal  he  mounted 
upon  his  horse,  and  took  a  great  spear  in  his  hand  ready  for 
to  joust.  Nay,  said  Palomides,  I  will  not  joust,  for  I  am  sure  at 
jousting  I  get  no  prize.  Fair  knight,  said  that  knight,  it  would 
beseem  a  knight  to  joust  and  to  fight  on  horseback.  Ye 
shall  see  what  I  will  do,  said  Palomides.  And  therewith  he 
alit  down  upon  foot,  and  dressed  his  shield  afore  him  and 
pulled  out  his  sword.  Then  the  knight  with  the  red  shield 
descended  down  from  his  horse,  and  dressed  his  shield 
afore  him,  and  so  he  drew  out  his  sword.  And  then  they 
came  together  a  soft  pace,  and  wonderly  they  lashed  together 
passing  thick  the  mounienance  of  an  hour  or  ever  they 
breathed.  Then  they  traced  and  traversed,  and  waxed 
wonderly  wroth,  and  either  behight  other  death ;  they 
hewed  so  fast  with  their  swords  that  they  cut  in  down 
half  their  swords  and  mails,  that  the  bare  flesh  in  some 
place  stood  above  their  harness.  And  when  Sir  Palomides 
beheld  his  fellow's  sword  overhylled  with  his  blood  it  grieved 
him  sore :  some  while  they  foined,  some  while  they  struck 
as  wild  men.  But  at  the  last  Sir  Pulomides  waxed  faint,  by 
cause  of  his  first  wound  that  he  had  at  the  castle  with  a 
spear,  for  that  wound  grieved  him  wonderly  sore.  Fair 
knight,  said  Palomides,  meseemeth  we  have  essayed  either 
other  passing  sore,  and  if  it  may  please  thee,  I  require  thee 
of  thy  knighthood  tell  me  thy  name.  Sir,  said  the  knight 
to  Palomides,  that  is  me  loth  to  do,  for  thou  hast  done 
rne  wrong  and  no  knighthood  to  proffer  me  battle,  consider- 
ing my  great  travail,  but  an  thou  wilt  tell  me  thy  name  I 
will  tell  thee  mine.  Sir,  said  he,  wit  thou  well  my  name  is 
Palomides.  Ah,  sir,  ye  shall  understand  my  name  is  Sir 
Lamorak  de  Galis,  son  and  heir  unto  the  good  knight  and 
king,  King  Pellinore,  arid  Sir  Tor,  the  good  knight,  is  my 
half  brother.  When  Sir  Palomides  heard  him  say  so  he 
kneeled  down  and  asked  mercy,  for  outrageously  have  I 
done  to  you  this  day;  considering  the  great  deeds  of  arms 
I  have  seen  you  do,  shamefully  and  unknightly  I  have 
required  you  to  do  battle.  Ah,  Sir  Palomides,  said  Sir 
Lamorak,  overmuch  have  ye  done  and  said  to  me.  And 
therewith  he  embraced  him  with  his  both  hands,  and  said, 
Palomides,  the  worthy  knight,  in  all  this  land  is  no  better 
than  ye,  nor  more  of  prowess,  and  me  repenteth  sore  that 
we  should  fight  together.  So  it  doth  not  me,  said  Sir 


King  Arthur  401 

Falomides,  and  yet  am  I  sorer  wounded  than  ye  be  ;  but  as 
for  that  1  shall  soon  thereof  be  whole.  But  certainly  I 
would  not  for  the  fairest  castle  in  this  land,  but  if  thou  and 
I  had  met,  for  I  shall  love  you  the  days  of  my  life  afore  all 
other  knights  except  my  brother,  Sir  Safere.  I  say  the  same, 
said  Sir  Larnorak,  except  my  brother,  Sir  Tor.  Then  carne 
Sir  Dinadan,  and  he  made  great  joy  of  Sir  Lamorak.  Then 
their  squires  dressed  both  their  shields  and  their  harness, 
and  stopped  their  wounds.  And  thereby  at  a  priory  they 
rested  them  all  night. 


END   OF    VOL.    K. 


MADC   AT  TH« 
TF.MPi_eJPRess 


CR6AT 


EVERYMAN'S  LIBRARY 

By    ERNEST    RHYS 

"A  good  book  is  the  precious  life-blood  of  a  master-spirit." 

MILTON 

ICTOR  HUGO  said  a  Library  was  "an  act  of  faith/' 
and  another  writer  spoke  of  one  so  beautiful,,  so  perfect, 
so  harmonious  in  all  its  parts,  that  he  who  made  it  was 
smitten  with  a  passion.  In  that  faith  Everyman's  Library  was 
planned  out  originally  on  a  large  scale;  and  the  idea  was  to  make 
it  conform  as  far  as  possible  to  a  perfect  scheme.  However, 
perfection  is  a  thing  to  be  aimed  at  and  not  to  be  achieved  in 
this  difficult  world ;  and  since  the  first  volumes  appeared  some 
years  ago,  there  have  been  many  interruptions,  chief  among 
them  the  Great  War  of  1914-18,  during  which  even  the  City 
of  Books  felt  a  world  commotion.  But  the  series  is  now  getting 
back  into  its  old  stride  and  looking  forward  to  complete  its 
scheme  of  a  Thousand  Volumes. 

One  of  the  practical  expedients  in  the  original  plan  was 
to  divide  the  volumes  into  separate  sections,  as  Biography, 
Fiction,  History,  Belles-lettres,  Poetry,  Philosophy,  Romance, 
and  so  forth;  with  a  shelf  for  Young  People.  Last,  and 
not  least,  there  was  one  of  Reference  Books,  in  which,  beside 
the  dictionaries  and  encyclopcedias  to  be  expected,  there 
was  a  special  set  of  literary  and  historical  atlases,  which  have 
been  revised  from  time  to  time,  so  as  to  chart  the  New  Europe 


and  the  New  World  at  large,  which  we  hope  will  preserve  Kant's 
" Perpetual  Peace"  under  the  auspices  of  the  League  of  Nations. 

That  is  only  one  small  item,  however,  in  a  library  list  which 
is  running  on  to  the  final  centuries  of  its  Thousand.  The  largest 
slice  of  this  huge  provision  is,  as  a  matter  of  course,  given  to  the 
tyrannous  demands  of  fiction.  But  in  carrying  out  the  scheme, 
publishers  and  editors  contrived  to  keep  in  mind  that  books, 
like  men  and  women,  have  their  elective  affinities.  The  present 
volume,  for  instance,  will  be  found  to  have  its  companion  books, 
both  in  the  same  section  and  just  as  significantly  in  other 
sections.  With  that  idea  too,  novels  like  Walter  Scott's  Ivanhoe 
and  Fortunes  of  Nigel,  Lytton's  Harold,  and  Dickens's  Tale  of 
Two  Cities,  have  been  used  as  pioneers  of  history  and  treated  as 
a  sort  of  holiday  history  books. 

The  poets  next,  and  we  may  turn  to  the  finest  critic  of 
Victorian  times,  Matthew  Arnold,  as  their  showman,  and  find 
in  his  essay  on  Maurice  de  Guerin  a  clue  to  the  "  magical  power 
of  poetry." 

William  Hazlitt's  "Table  Talk"  may  help  again  to  show  the 
relationship  of  one  author  to  another,  which  is  another  form 
of  the  Friendship  of  Books.  His  incomparable  essay,  "On 
Going  a  Journey,"  forms  a  capital  prelude  to  Coleridge's  "  Bio- 
graphia  Literaria";  and  so  throughout  the  long  labyrinth  of 
the  Library  shelves,  one  can  follow  the  magic  clue  in  prose  or 
verse  that  leads  to  the  hidden  treasury.  In  that  way  every 
reader  becomes  his  own  critic  and  Doctor  of  Letters. 


EVERYMAN'S 

LIBRARY 


EDITED    BY    ERNEST    RHYS 


A    CLASSIFIED    LIST 
OF    THE    FIRST   920   VOLUMES 


In  Cloth  Binding 

In  Special  Library  Binding 

Also  Selected  Volumes  in  Leather 


EVERYMAN'S   LIBRARY 

CLASSIFIED  LIST  of  920  VOLS.  in  13  SECTIONS 


In  each  section  of  this  list  the  volumes  are  arranged,  as 
a  general  rule,  alphabetically  under  the  authors'  names. 
Where  authors  appear  in  more  than  one  section,  a  reference 
is  given,  viz. :  (See  also  FICTION).  The  number  at  the  end 
of  each  item  is  the  number  of  the  volume  in  the  series. 

Volumes  temporarily  out  of  print  are  marked  J 
Volumes  obtainable  in  Leather  are  marked  L 


BIOGRAPHY 

Audubon  the  Naturalist,  Life  and  Adventures  of.   By  R.  Buchanan.   601 
Baxter   (Richard),   Autobiography  of.     Edited   by   Rev.   J.   M.   Lloyd 

Thomas,  868 

Beaconsfield  (Lord),  Life  of.     By  J.  A.  Froude.     666 
Berlioz  (Hector),  Life  of.     Translated  by  Katherine  F.  Boult.     602 
Blackwell  (Dr.  Elizabeth) :  Pioneer  Work  for  Women.    With  an  Introduc- 
tion by  Mrs.  Fawcett.     667 
L  BoswelTs  Life  of  Johnson.     2  vols.     1-2 

(See  aZso  TRAVEL) 
t>  Browning  (Robert),  Life  of.   By  E.  Dowden.    701 

Buxton  (Sir  Thomas  Fowell),  Memoirs  of.    Edited  by  Charles  Buxton. 

Introduction  by  Lord  Buxton.    773 

Carey  (William),  Life  of:  Shoemaker  and  Missionary.    395 
Carlyle's  Letters  and  Speeches  of  Cromwell.     3  vols.     266-8 
„          Reminiscences.     875 

(See  also  ESSAYS  and  HISTORY) 
L  Cellini's  (Benvenuto)  Autobiography.    51 
Cibber's  (Colley)  An  Apology  for  his  Life.    668 
Constable  (John),  Memoirs  of.    By  C.  R.  Leslie,  R.A.    563 
Cowper  (William),  Selected  Letters  of.   Intro,  by  W.  Hadley,  M.A.    774 

(See  also  POETRY  AND  DRAMA) 
De  Quincey's  Reminiscences  of  the  Lake  Poets.   Intro,  by  E.  Rhys.    163 

(See  also  ESSAYS) 

De  Retz  (Cardinal):  Memoirs.    By  Himself.    2  vols.    735-6 
Evelyn's  Diary.    2  vols.    Introduction  by  G.  W.  E.  Russell.    220-1 
Forster's  Life  of  Dickens.    Intro,  by  G.  K.  Chesterton.    2  vols.    781-2 

(See  also  FICTION) 
Fox  (George),   Journal  of.     Text  revised  by  Norman  Penney,   F.S.A. 

Introduction  by  Rufus  M.  Jones,  LL.D.    754 
Franklin's  (Benjamin)  Autobiography.    316 
Froude's  Life  of  Benjamin  Disraeli,  Earl  of  Beaconsfield.    666 
L  Gaskell's  (Mrs.)  Life  of  Charlotte  Bronte.   Intro,  by  May  Sinclair.    318 
Gibbon  (Edward),  Autobiography  of.   Intro,  by  Oliphant  Snieatoa.    511 

(See  also  HISTORY) 

Gladstone,  Life  of.    By  G.  W.  E.  Russell  ('Onlooker').   661 
Hastings  (Warren),  Life  of.    By  Capt.  L.  J.  Trotter.   452 
Helps'  (Sir  Arthur)  Life  of  Columbus.    332 
Hodson,  of  Hodson's  Horse.   By  Capt.  L.  J.  Trotter.   401 
Holmes'  Life  of  Mozart.    Introduction  by  Ernest  Newman.    564 
Houghton's  Life  and  Letters  of  Keats.  Introduction  by  Robert  Lynd.  801 
Hutchinson  (Col.),  Memoirs  of.  Intro.  Monograph  by  F.  P.  G.  Guizot.   317 
Irving's  Life  of  Mahomet.    Introduction  by  Professor  E.  V.  Arnold.    513 
Johnson's  Lives  of  the  Poets.    Intro,  by  Mrs.  Archer-Hind,  M.A.    770-1 
Lamb  (Charles),  Letters  of.    2  vols.    342-3 

(See  also  ESSAYS  and  FOR  YOUNG  PEOPLE) 
Lewes'  Life  of  Goethe.    Introduction  by  Havelock  Ellis.    239 
Lincoln  (Abraham),  Life  of.    By  Henry  Bryan  Binns.    783 

(See  also  ORATORY) 

Lcckhart's  Life  of  Robert  Burns.    Introduction  by  E.  Rhys.    153 
L  .-,  Life  of  Napoleon.   3 

„  Life  of  Sir  Walter  Scott  (abridged).    55 

Mazzini,  Life  of.   By  Bolton  King,  M.A.   562 

Newcastle  (First  Duke  of),  Life  of,  and  other  writings  by  the  Duchess  of 
Newcastle.    722 


BIOGRAPHY— continue  d 

Outram  (Sir  J.),  The  Bayard  of  India.   By  Capt.  L.  J.  Trotter.  396 

Pepys*  Diary.     Lord  Braybrooke's  1854  ed.    2  vols.    53-4 

Plutarch's  Lives  of  Noble  Greeks  and  Romans.     Dryden's  Translation. 
Revised,  with  Introduction,  by  Arthur  Hugh  Clough.   3  vols.   407-9 

Rousseau,  Confessions  of.    2  vols.   859-60 

Scott's  Lives  of  the  Novelists.    Introdxiction  by  George  Saintsbury.     331 
(See  also  FICTION  and  POETRY) 

Seebohm  (Frederic):  The  Oxford  Reformers.  With  a  Preface  by  Hugh 
E.  Seebohm.  665 

Smeaton's  A  Life  of  Shakespeare,  with  Criticisms  of  the  Plays.    514 

Southey's  Life  of  Nelson.    52 

Strickland's  Life  of  Queen  Elizabeth.   100 

Swift's  Journal  to  Stella.     Newly  deciphered  and  edited  by  J.  K.  Moor- 
head.    Introduction  by  Sir  Walter  Scott.    757 
(See  also  ESSAYS  and  FOB  YOUNG  PEOPLE) 

Vasari's  Lives  of  the  Painters.     Trans,  by  A.  B.  Hinds.   4  vols.    784-7 

Voltaire's  Life  of  Charles  XII.    Introduction  by  Rt.  Hon.  J.  Burns.    270 

Walpole  (Horace),  Selected  Letters  of.    Intro,  by  W.  Hadley,  M.A.    775 

Wellington,  Life  of.    By  G.  R.  Gleig.    341 

Wesley's  Journal.   4  vols.    Intro,  by  Rev.  F.  W.  Macdonald.    105-8 

Woolman's  (John)  Journal  and  Other  Papers.  Introduction  by  Vida  D. 
Scudder.  402 

CLASSICAL 

JEschylus'  Lyrical  Dramas.     Translated  by  Professor  J.  S.  Blackie.    62 
Aristophanes'  The  Frogs,  The  Clouds,  The  Thesmophorians.    516 

„  The  Acharnians,   The  Knights,  and  The  Birds.     Frere's 

Translation.   Introduction  by  John  P.  Maine.   344 
Aristotle's  Politics.    Introduction  by  A.  D.  Lindsay.    605 

,,          Poetics,    etc.,   and    Demetrius    on    Style,    etc.     Edited    by 

(See  also  PHILOSOPHY)  [Rev.  T.  A.  Moxon.     901 

Caesar's  The  Gallic  War  and  Other  Commentaries.    Translated  by  W.  A. 

McDevitte.    702 

Cicero's  Essays  and  Select  Letters.     Intro.  Npte  by  de  Quincy.     345 
L  Epictetus,  Moral  Discourses,  etc.   Elizabeth  Carter's  Translation.   Edited 

by  W.  H.  D.  Rouse,  M.A.  404 

Euripides'  Plays  in  2  vols.  Introduction  by  V.  R.  Reynolds.  Translated 
by  M.  Wodhull  and  R.  Potter,  with  Shelley's  'Cyclops'  and  Dean 
Milman's 'Bacchanals'.  63,271 

Herodotus.  Rawlinson's  Translation.  Edited,  with  Introduction,  by 
E.  H.  Blakeney,  M.A.,  omitting  Translator's  Original  Essays,  and 
Appendices.  2  vols.  405-6 

L  Homer's  Iliad.    Lord  Derby's  Translation.    453 
L  Odyssey.   William  Cowper's  Translation.   Introduction  by  Miss 

F.  M.  Stawell.    454 

Horace.    Complete  Poetical  Works.    515 
Hutchinson's  (W.  M.  L.)  The  Muses'  Pageant.     Vols.  I,  II,  and  III.   581, 

606  and  671 
Livy's  History  of  Rome.  Vols.  I- VI.  Translated  by  Rev.  Canon  Roberts. 

603,  669,  670,  749,  755,  and  756 

Lucretius:  On  the  Nature  of  Things.   Translated  by  W.  E.  Leonard.    750 
L  Marcus  Aurelius'  Meditations.   Introduction  by  W.  H.  D.  Rouse.   9 
L  Plato's  Dialogues.   2  vols.   Introduction  by  A.  D.  Lindsay.   456-7 
L       ,,       Republic.    Spens'    Translation.    Introduction  by  Dr.  Garnett.    64 
{  Plutarch's  Moralia.    20  Essays  translated  by  Philemon  Holland.    565 
Sophocles'  Dramas.    Translated  by  Sir  G.  Young,  Bart.    114 
Thucydides'  Peloponnesian  War.     Crawley's  Translation.    455 
L  Virgil's  ^Eneid.    Translated  by  E.  Fairfax-Taylor.    161 

„        Eclogues  and  Georgics.     Translated  by  T.  F.  Royds,  M.A.     222 
Xenophon's  Cyropeedia.     Translation  revised  by  Miss  F.  M.  Stawell.    67  2 

ESSAYS  AND  BELLES-LETTRES 

L  Anthology  of  Prose.    Compiled  and  Edited  by  Miss  S.  L.  Edwards.    675 
Arnold's  (Matthew)  Essays.     Introduction  by  G.  K.  Chesterton.        115 
„  „         Study  of  Celtic  Literature,  and  other  CriticalEssays, 

with  Supplement  by  Lord  Strangford,  etc.  458 
(See  also  POETRY) 
L  Bacon's  Essays.   Introduction  by  Oliphant  Smeaton.   10 

(See  also  PHILOSOPHY) 

Bagehot's  Literarj  Studies.    2  vol?.  Intro,  by  George  Sampson.     520-1 
Brooke's  (Stopford,M.A.)  Theology  in  the  English  Poets.    493 
L  Brown's  Rab  and  his  Friends,  etc.    116 


ESSAYS  AND  BELLES-LETTRES 

Burke's  Reflections  on  the  French  Revolution  and  contingent  Essays. 
Introduction  by  A.  J.  Grieve,  M.A.    460 

(See  also  ORATORY) 

Canton's  (William)  The  Invisible  Playmate,  W.  V.,  Her  Book,  and  In 
(See  also  FOR  YOUNG  PEOPLE)  [Memory  of  W.  V.    566 

Carlyle's  Essays.    2  vols.   With  Notes  by  J.  Russell  Lowell.    703-4 
„         Past'and  Present.   Introduction  by  R.  W.  Emerson.    60S 
L  Sartor  Resartus  and  Heroes  and  Hero  Worship.    278 

(See  also  BIOGRAPHY  and  HISTORY) 

Castiglione's  The  Courtier.     Translated  by  Sir  Thomas  Hoby.     Intro- 
duction by  W.  H.  D.  Rouse.    807 
L  Century  of  Essays.  A.   An  Anthology  of  English  Essayists.    653 

Chesterfield's  (Lord)  Letters  to  his  Son.    823 
L  Chesterton's  (G.  K.)  Stories,  Essays,  and  Poems.     913 

Coleridge's  Biographia  Literaria.    Introduction  by  Arthur  Symons.     11 
Essays  and  Lectures  on  Shakespeare,  etc.    162 
(See  'also  POETRY) 

Craik's  Manual  of  Enelish  Literature.    346 

t  Curtis's  Prue  and  I,  and  Lotus  Eating.  Introduction  by  H.  W.  Mabie.  418 
De  Quincey's  (Thomas)  Opium  Eater    Intro,  by  Sir  G.  Douglas.    223 

The   English  Mail  Coach  and  Other  Writings. 

Introduction  by  S.  Hill  Burton.    609 
(See  also  BIOGRAPHY) 

Dryden's  Dramatic  Essays.  With  an  Introduction  by  W.  H.  Hudson.  568 
Elyot's  Gouernour.    Intro,  and  Glossary  by  Prof.  Foster  Watson.     227 
L  Emerson's  Essays.    First  and  Second  Series.    12 
L  „         Nature,  Conduct  of  Life,  Essays  from  the  ' Dial'.   322 

L  „         Representative  Men.    Introduction  by  Ernest  Rhys.    279 

Society  and  Solitude  and  Other  Essays.    567 
(See  also  POETRY) 

Florio's  Montaigne.  Introduction  by  A.  R.  Waller,  M.A.  3  vols.  440-2 
Froude's  Short  Studies.  Vols.  I  and  II.  13,  705 

(See  also  HISTORY  and  BIOGRAPHY) 

Gilfillan's  Literary  Portraits.    Intro,  by  Sir  W.  Robertson  Nicoll.    348 
Goethe's   Conversations   with   Eckermann.      Intro,   by   Havelock   Ellis 

851.    (Sec  also  FICTION  and  POETRY) 
Goldsmith's  Citizen  of  the  World  and  The  Bee.   Intro,  by  R.  Church.  902 

(See  also  FICTION  and  POETRY) 
Hamilton's  The  Federalist.    519 

Hazlitt's  Lectures  on  the  English  Comic  Writers.    411 
L  „       Shakespeare's  Characters.    65 

Spirit  of  the  Age  and  Lectures  on  English  Poets.    459 
Table  Talk,    321 

Plain  Speaker.   Introduction  by  P.  P.  Howe.   814 
L  Holmes'  Autocrat  of  the  Breakfast  Table.    66 
Poet  at  the  Breakfast  Table.    68 
Professor  at  the  Breakfast  Table.    67 

Hunt's  (Leigh)  Selected  Essays.    Introduction  by  J.  B.  Priestly.    829 
L  Irving's  Sketch  Book  of  Geoffrey  Crayon.    117 

(See  also  BIOGRAPHY  and  HISTORY) 
Lander's  Imaginary  Conversations  and  Poems:  A  selection.      Edited 

with  Introduction  by  Havelock  Ellis.    890 
L  Lamb's  Essays  of  Elia.    Introduction  by  Augustine  Birrell.    14 

(See  also  BIOGRAPHY  and  FOR  YOUNG  PEOPLE) 
Lowell's  (James  Russell)  Among  My  Books.    607 

Macaulay's  Essays.    2  vols.    Introduction  by  A.  J.  Grieve,  M.A.    225-6 
L  Miscellaneous  Essays  and  The  Lays  of  Ancient  Rome.   439 

(See  also  HISTORY  and  ORATORY) 
Machiavelli's  Prince.    Special  Trans,  and  Intro,  by  W.  K.  Marriott.    280 

(See  also  HISTORY) 

Martinengo-Cesaresco  (Countess):  Essays  in  the  Study  of  Folk-Songs  673 
Mazzini's  Duties  of  Man,  etc.  Introduction  by  Thomas  Jones,  M.A.  224 
Milton's  Areopagitica,  etc.  Introduction  by  Professor  C.  E.  Vaughan.  795 

(See  also  POETRY) 

Montagu's  (Lady)  Letters.    Introduction  by  R.  Brimley  Johnson.    69 
Newman's  On  the  Scope  and  Nature  of  University  Education,  and  a 
paper  on  Christianity  and  Scientific  Investigation.   Introduction  by 
(See  also  PHILOSOPHY)  [Wilfred  Ward.   723 

Osborne's  (Dorothy)  Letters  to  Sir  William  Temple.     Edited  and  con- 
notated by  Judge  Parry.    674 

Penn's  The  Peace  of  Europe.   Some  Fruits  of  Solitude,  etc.   721 
Prelude  to  Poetry,  The.    Edited  by  Ernest  Rhys.    789 
Reynold's  Discourses.   Introduction  by  L.  March  Phiilipps.   118 


ESSAYS  AND  BELLES-LETTRES— continued 

L  Rhys'  New  Book  of  Sense  and  Nonsense.    813 

Rousseau's  Eniile.    Translated  by  Barbara  Foxley.    518 

(See  also  PHILOSOPHY  AND  THEOLOGY) 

L  Ruskin's  Crown  of  Wild  Olive  and  Cestus  of  Aglaia.   323 
„        Elements  of  Drawing  and  Perspective.    217 
„       Ethics  of  the  Dust.    Introduction  by  Grace  Rhys.    282 
„       Modern  Painters.   5  vols.   Introduction  by  Lionel  Gust.   208-12 
„       Pre-Raphaelitism.      Lectures   on   Architecture   and   Painting, 
Academy  Notes,  1855-9,  and  Notes  on  the  Turner  Gallery. 
Introduction  by  Laurence  Binyon.    218 
L  „        Sesame  and  Lilies,  The  Two  Paths,  and  The  King  of  the  Golden 

River.     Introduction  by  Sir  Oliver  Lodge.     219 
„       Seven  Lamps  of  Architecture.    Intro,  by  Selwyn  Image.    207 
„       Stones  of  Venice.   3  vols.   Intro,  by  L.  March  Phillipps.   213-15 
„        Time  and  Tide  with  other  Essays.   450 
„       Unto  This  Last,  The  Political  Economy  of  Art,    216 

(See  also  FOR  YOUNG  PEOPLE) 

Spectator,  The.   4  vols.   Introduction  by  G.  Gregory  Smith.   164-7 
Spencer's  (Herbert)  Essays  on  Education.    Intro,  by  C.  W.  Eliot.    504 
Sterne's  Sentimental  Journey  and  Journal  and  Letters  to  Eliza.    Intro. 
(See  also  FICTION)  [by  George  Saintsbury.    796 

L  Stevenson's  In  the  South  Seas  and  Island  Nights'  Entertainments.    769 
L  ,,  Virginibus   Puerisque   and   Familiar    Studies   of   Men   and 

(See  also  FICTION,  POETRY  and  TRAVEL)  [Books.    765 

Swift's  Tale  of  a  Tub,  The  Battle  of  the  Books,  etc.   347 

(See  also  BIOGRAPHY  and  FOR  YOUNG  PEOPLE) 
Table  Talk.     Edited  by  J.  C.  Thornton.     906 

Taylor's   (Isaac)   Words  and  Places,   or  Etymological  Illustrations  of 
History,  Ethnology,  and  Geography.  Intro,  by  Edward  Thomas.  517 
Thackeray's  (W.  M.)  The  English  Humourists  and  The  Four  Georges. 
Introduction  by  Walter  Jerrold.   610 

(See  also  FICTION) 
L  Thoreau's  Walden.    Introduction  by  Walter  Raymond.    281 

Trench's  On  the  Study  of  Words  and  English  Past  and  Present.    Intro- 
duction by  George  Sampson.    788 
Tytler's  Essay  on  the  Principles  of  Translation.    168 
Walton's  Compleat  Angler.    Introduction  by  Andrew  Lang.    70 

FICTION 

Aimard's  The  Indian  Scout.   428 
L  Ainsworth's  (Harrison)  Old  St.  Paul's.    Intro,  by  W.  E.  A.  Axon.   522 

„          The  Admirable  Crichton.   Intro,  by  E.  Rhys.  804 
L  The  Tower  of  London.    400 

L  „          Windsor  Castle.    709 

„          Rookwood.   Intro,  by  Frank  Swinnerton.   870 
American  Short  Stories  of  the  Nineteenth  Century.     Edited  by  John 

Cournos.    840 
L  Austen's  (Jane)  Emma.   Introduction  by  R.  B.  Johnson.   24 

„  „       Mansfield  Park.    Introduction  by  R.  B.  Johnson.    23 

L  Northanger  Abbey  and  Persuasion.     Introduction  by 

R.  B.  Johnson.    25 

L         „  „       Pride  and  Prejudice.  Introduction  by  R.  B.  Johnson.  22 

L  „       Sense  and  Sensibility.   Intro,  by  R.  B.  Johnson.    21 

Balzac's  (Honore  de)  Atheist's  Mass.  Preface  by  George  Samtsbury.  229 

Catherine    de    M6dici.     Introduction    by   George 

Saintsbury.    419 
Christ    in     Flanders.       Introduction    by    George 

Saintsbury.    284 
„  „         Cousin  Pons.   Intro,  by  George  Samtsbury.    463 

„         Eugenie  Grandet.  Intro,  by  George  Saintsbury.  169 
„         Lost  Illusions.    Intro,  by  George  Saintsbury.    656 
I,  „         Old  Goriot.  Introduction  by  George  Samtsbury.  170 

„         The  Cat  and  Racket,  and  Other  Stories.   349 
„         The  Chouans.   Intro,  by  George  Saintsbury.   285 

The  Country  Doctor.  Intro.  George  Saintsbury.  530 
„         The  Country  Parson.    686 

The  Quest  of  the  Absolute.  Introduction  by  George 

Saintsbury.    286 

„  „         The  Rise  and  Fall  of  C6sar  Birotteau.    596 

„  „         The  Wild  Ass's  Skin.  Intro,  by  George  Saintsbury.  26 

„          Ursule  Mirouet.   Intro,  by  George  Saintsbury.   733 
Barbusse's  Under  Fire.   Translated  by  Fitzwater  Wray.   798 


FICTION  —  continued 

J  Beaumont's  (Mary)  Joan  Seaton.    Intro,  by  R.  F.  Horton,  D.D.   597 
L  Bennett's  (Arnold)  The  Old  Wives'  Tale.    919 
L  Blackmore's  (R.  D.)  Lorna  Doone.    304 
„  ,,        Springhaven.     350 

L  Borrow's  Lavengro.   Introduction  by  Thomas  Seccombe.   119 
L         ,,          Romany  Rye.    120       (See  also  TRAVEL) 
L  Bronte's  (Anne)  The  Tenant  of  Wildfell  Hall  and  Agnes  Grey.   685 
(Charlotte)  Jane  Eyre.    Introduction  by  May  Sinclair.    287 
„  Shirley.    Introduction  by  May  Sinclair.    288 


The  Professor.    Introduction  by  May  Sinclair.    417 
Villette.    Introduction  by  May  Sinclair.    351 


(Emily)  Wuthering  Heights.    243 


I. 
L 
L 

L.  Burney's  (Fanny)  Evelina.   Introduction  by  R.  B.  Johnson.   352 

L  Butler's  (Samuel)  Erewhon  and  Erewhon  Revisited.     Introduction  by 

Desmond  MacCarthy.    881 

The  Way  of  All  Flesh,  introduction  by  A.  J.  Hoppe.  895 
L  Collins'  (Wilkie)  The  Woman  in  White.   464 
L  Converse's  (Florence)  Long  Will.    328 

Dana's  (Richard  H.)  Two  Years  before  the  Mast.   588 

Daudet's  Tartarin  of  Tarascon  and  Tartarin  on  the  Alps.   423 

Defoe's  Fortunes  and  Misfortunes  of  Moll  Flanders.     Introduction  by 

G.  A.  Aitken.   837 

„        Captain  Singleton.    Introduction  by  Edward  Garnett.    74 
„        Journal  of  the  Plague  Year.    Introduction  by  G.  A.  Aitken.    289 
„       Memoirs  of  a  Cavalier.   Introduction  by  G.  A.  Aitken.   283 

(  See  also  FOR  YOUNG  PEOPLE) 
CHARLES  DICKENS'  WORKS.    Each  volume  with  an  Introduction  by  G.  K. 

Chesterton. 

L  American  Notes.     290  L  Little  Dorrit.     293 

L  Barnaby  Rudge.     76  L  Martin  Chuzzlewit.     241 

L  Bleak  House.     236  L  Nicholas  Nickleby.     238 

L  Child's  History  of  England.      291    L  Old  Curiosity  Shop.     173 
L  Christmas  Books.     239  L  Oliver  Twist.     233 

L  Christmas  Stories.     414  L  Our  Mutual  Friend.     294 

L  David  Copperfield.     242  L  Pickwick  Papers.     235 

L  Dombey  and  Son.       240  L  Reprinted  Pieces.     744 

Edwin  Drood.     725  Sketches  by  Boz.     237 

L  Great  Expectations.     234  L  Tale  of  Two  Cities.     102 

Hard  Times.     292  L  Uncommercial  Traveller.     536 

Disraeli's  Coningsby.   Introduction  by  Langdon  Davles.    535 
Dostoevsky's    (Fyodor)    Crime     and     Punishment.     Introduction     by 

Laurence   Irving.    501 
„  ,,        Letters  from  the  Underworld  and  Other  Tales. 

Translated  by  C.  J.  Hogarth.    654 
„  „        Poor  Folk  and  The  Gambler.   Translated  by  C.  J. 

Hogarth.     711 

„  „        The  Possessed.      Introduction  by  J.   Middleton 

Murry.    2  vols.    861-2  [533 

„  „       Prison  Life  in  Siberia.  Intro,  by  Madame  Stepniak. 

„  ,,        The  Brothers  Karamazov.     Translated  by  Con- 

stance Garnett.    2  vols.    802-3 
The  Idiot.    682 
Du  Manner's  (George)  Trilby.    Introduction  by  Sir  Gerald  du  Maurier 

With  the  original  Illustrations.    863 

Dumas'  Black  Tulip.    Introduction  by  Ernest  Rhys.    174 
„          Chicot  the  Jester.   421 

Le  Chevalier  de  Maison  Rouge.    Intro,  by  Julius  Bramont.    614 
Marguerite  de  Valois  ('La  Reine  Margot').    326 
The  Count  of  Monte  Cristo.    2  vols.    393-4 
The  Forty-Five.   420 
The  Three  Musketeers.    81 
The  Vicomte  de  Bragelonne.    3  vols.  593-5 
Twenty  Years  After.    Introduction  by  Ernest  Rhys.    175 
Edgar's  Cressy  and  Poictiers.   Introduction  by  Ernest  Rhys.   17 
„          Runnymede  and  Lincoln  Fair.    Intro,  by  L.  K.  Hugb.es.    320 

(See  also  FOR  YOUNG  PEOPLE) 

Edgeworth's  Castle  Rackrent  and  The  Absentee.    410 
Eliot's  (George)  Adam  Bede.   27 
„        Felix  Holt.    353 

„  „       Middlemarch.    2  vols.    854-5 

„  „        Mill  on  the  Floss.    Intro.  Sir  W.  Robertson  Nicoll.    325 

„  „       Romola.    Introduction  by  Rudolf  Dircks.    231 

„  ,,        Scenes  of  Clerical  Life.    468 

6 


FICTION— continued 

L  Eliot's  (George)  Silas  Marner.    Introduction  by  Annie  Matheson.    121 
L  English  Short  Stories.    An  Anthology.    743 

Erckmann-Chatrian's  The  Conscript  and  Waterloo.    354 

»»  „  The  Story  of  a  Peasant.      Translated  by  C.  J. 

Hogarth.    2  vols.    706-7 
L  Fenimore  Cooper's  The  Deerslayer.    77 
L  „  „       The  Last  of  the  Mohicans.    79 

The  Pathfinder.    78 
„  „       The  Pioneers.    171 

The  Prairie.    172 

Ferrier's  (Susan)  Marriage.   Introduction  by  H.  L.  Morrow.    816 
Fielding's  Amelia.   Intro,  by  George  Saintsbury.    2  vols.    852-3 

„         Jonathan  Wild,  and  The  Journal  of  a  Voyage  to  Lisbon. 

Introduction  by  George  Saintsbury.    877 

„         Joseph  Andrews.    Introduction  by  George  Saintsbury.    467 
L  „         Tom  Jones.    Intro,  by  George  Saintsbury.    2  vols.    355-6 

Flaubert's  Madame    Bovary.      Translated   by    Eleanor   Marx-Aveling. 

Introduction  by  George  Saintsbury.    808 
„  Salammbo.    Translated  by  J.  S.  Chartres.    Introduction  by 

Professor  F.  C.  Green.    869 
French  Short  Stories  of  the  19th  and  20th  Centuries.      Selected,  with 

an  Introduction  by  Professor  F.  C.  Green.     896 
L  Galsworthy's  (John)  The  Country  House.    917 

Gait's  Annals  of  a  Parish.   Introduction  by  Baillie  Macdonald.    427 
Gaskell's  (Mrs.)  Cousin  Phillis,  etc.    Intro,  by  Thos.  Seccombe.    615 
L  „  Cranford.    83 

„  Mary  Barton.    Introduction  by  Thomas  Seccombe.    598 

North  and  South.    680 

„  Sylvia's  Lovers.    Intro,  by  Mrs.  Ellis  Chad  wick.    524 

Gleig's(G.  R.)  The  Subaltern.   708 
Goethe's  Wilhelm  Meister.   Carlyle's  Translation.    2  vols.    599-600 

(See  also  ESSAYS  and  POETRY) 
Gogol's  (Nicol)  Dead  Souls.   Translated  by  C.  J.  Hogarth.   726 

„         „        Taras  Bulba  and  Other  Tales.    740 
L  Goldsmith's  Vicar  of  Wakefield.   Introduction  by  J.  M.  D.    295 

(See  also  ESSAYS  and  POETRY) 

Goncharov's  Oblomov.    Translated  by  Natalie  Duddington.    878 
Gorki's  Through  Russia.   Translated  by  C.  J.  Hogarth.    741 
$  Gotthelf's  Ulric  the  Farm  Servant.  Ed.  with  Notes  by  John  Ruskin.      228 
Harte's  (Bret)  Luck  of  Roaring  Camp  and  other  Tales.   681 
Hawthorne's  The  Houseof  the  Seven  Gables.  Intro,  by  Ernest  Rhys.  176 
L  „  The  Scarlet  Letter.    122 

„  The  Blithedale  Romance.    592 

„          The  Marble  Faun.    Intro,  by  Sir  Leslie  Stephen.    424 

„  Twice  Told  Tales.    531 

(See  also  FOR  YOUNG  PEOPLE) 

L  Hugo's  (Victor)  Les  Miserables.   Intro,  by  S.  R.  John.   2  vols.   363-4 
L       „  „        Notre  Dame.    Introduction  by  A.  C.  Swinburne.    422 

L       „  „        Toilers  of  the  Sea.    Introduction  by  Ernest  Rhys.    509 

Italian  Short  Stories.    Edited  by  D.  PettoeUo.    876 
James's  (G.  P.  R.)  Richelieu.   Introduction  by  Rudolf  Dircks.   357 
L  James's  (Henry)  The  Turn  of  the  Screw  and  The  Aspern  Papers.    912 

Kingsley's  (Charles)  Alton  Locke.    462 

L  „  ,,       Hereward  the  Wake.    Intro,    by  Ernest  Rhys.    296 

L  „  „       Hypatia.    230 

L  Westward  Ho;   Introduction  by  A.  G.  Grieve.   20 

Yeast.    611 

(See  also  POETRY  &nd  FOR  YOUNG  PEOPLE) 
„  (Henry)  Geoffrey  Hamlyn.    416 

,,      Ravenshoe.    28 
L  Lawrence's  (D.  H.)  The  White  Peacock.    914 

Lever's  Harry  Lorrequer.   Introduction  by  Lewis  Melville.    177 
L  Loti's  (Pierre)  Iceland  Fisherman.    Translated  by  W.  P.  Baines.    920 
L  Lover's  Handy  Andy.   Introduction  by  Ernest  Rhys.    178 
L  Lytton's  Harold.   Introduction  by  Ernest  Rhys.   15 
L         „         Last  Days  of  Pompeii.   80 

Last  of  the  Barons.    Introduction  by  R.  G.  Watkin.    18 
Rienzi.    Introduction  by  E.  H.  Blakeney,  M.A.    532 
(See  also  TRAVEL) 
MacDonald's  (George)  Sir  Gibbie.    678 

(See  also  ROMANCE) 

Manning's  Mary  Powell  and  Deborah's  Diary.  Intro,  by  Katherine  Tynan 
(Mrs.  Hinkson).    324 


FICTION — continued 

Manning's  Sir  Thomas  More.    Introduction  by  Ernest  Rhys.    19 
Marryat's  Jacob  Faithful.    618 

L          „  Mr.  Midshipman  Easy.    Introduction  by  R.  B.  Johnson.    82 

„  Percival  Keene.   Introduction  by  R.  Brimley  Johnson.    358 

Peter  Simple.    Introduction  by  R.  Brimley  Johnson.    232 
The  King's  Own.    580 
(See  also  FOR  YOUNG  PEOPLE) 

Maupassant's  Short   Stories.     Translated  by  Marjorie  Laurie.     Intro- 
duction by  Gerald  Gould.     907 

Melville's  (Herman)  Moby  Dick.    Introduction  by  Ernest  Rhys.    179 
„  „  Omoo.    Introduction  by  Ernest  Rhys.    297 

,,  „  Typee.    Introduction  by  Ernest  Rhys.    180 

L  Meredith's  (George)  The  Ordeal  of  Richard  Feverel.    916 

Merimee's  Carmen,  with  Prevost's  Manon  Lescaut.     Introduction  by 

Philip  Henderson.    834 
Mickiewicz's  (Adam;  Pan  Tadeusz.    842 
Morier's  Hajji  Baba.    679 

Mulock's  John  Halifax,  Gentleman.   Introduction  by  J.  Shaylor.    123 
Neale's  (J.M.)  The  Fall  of  Constantinople.  655 

J  Oliphant's  (Mrs.)  Salem  Chapel.    Intro,  by  Sir  W  Robertson  Nicoll.    244 
Paltock's  (Robert)  Peter  Wilkins;  or,  The  Flying  Indians.    Introduction 

by  A.  H.  Bullen.    676 

Pater's  Marius  the  Epicurean.     Introduction  by  Osbert  Burdett.    903 
Peacock's  Headlong  Hall  and  Nightmare  Abbey.    327 
L  Poe's  Tales  of  Mystery  and  Imagination.   Intro,  by  Padraic  Colum.   338 

(See  also  POETRY) 
Prevost's  Manon  Lescaut,  with  Merim6e's  Carmen.     Introduction  by 

Philip  Henderson.    834 
Pushkin's  (Alexander)  The  Captain's  Daughter  and  Other  Tales.     Trans. 

by  Natalie  Duddington.     898 
Quiller-Couch's  (Sir  Arthur)  Hetty  Wesley.    864 
Radcliffe's   (Ann)  Mysteries  of  Udolpho.     Introduction  by  R.  Austin 

Freeman.   2  vols.   865-6 

L  Reade's  (C.)  The  Cloister  and  the  Hearth.   Intro,  by  A.  C.  Swinburne.   29 
Reade's  (C.)  Peg  Womngton  and  Christie  Johnstone.    299 
Richardson's  (Samuel)  Pamela.   Intro,  by  G.  Saintsbury.    2  vols.    683-4 
„       Clarissa  Harlowe.    Intro,  by  Prof.  W.  L.  Phelps. 

4  vols.   882-5 

Russian  Authors,  Short  Stories  from.    Trans,  by  R.  S.  Townsend.    758 
Sand's  (George)  The  Devil's  Pool  and  Francois  the  Waif.    534 
Scheffel's  Ekkehard:  a  Tale  of  the  Tenth  Century.    529 
Scott's  (Michael)  Tom  Cringle's  Log.    710 
SIR  WALTER  SCOTT'S  WORKS: 
L  Abbot,  The.     124  L  Ivanhoe.  Intro,  by  Ernest  Rhys.  16 

Anne  of  Geierstein.     125  L  Kenilworth.     135 

L  Antiquary.  The.  126  L  Monastery,  The.     136 

Black    Dwarf   and   Legend   of        L  Old  Mortality.     137 

Montrose.     128  Peveril  of  the  Peak.     138 

Bride  of  Lammermoor.     129  Pirate,  The.     139 

Castle  Dangerous  and  The  Sur-     L  Quentin  Durward.     140 

geon's  Daughter.     130  L  Redgauntlet.     141 

Count  Robert  of  Paris.     131  L  Rob  Roy.     142 

L  Fair  Maid  of  Perth.     132  St.  Ronan's  Well.     143 

Fortunes  of  Nigel.     71  L  Talisman,  The.     144 

L  Guy  Mannering.     133  L  Waverley.     75 

L  Heart  of  Midlothian,  The.     134       L  Woodstock.       Intro,    by    Edward 
Highland  Widow  and  Betrothed.  127  Garnett.     72 

(See  also  BIOGRAPHY  and  POETRY) 
Shehedrin's  The  Golovlyov  Family.     Translated  by  Natalie  Duddington. 

Introduction  by  Edward  Garnett.     908 
Shelley's  (Mary  Wollstonecraft)  Frankenstein.     616 
t  Sheppard's  Charles  Auchester.    Intro,  by  Jessie  M.  Middleton.    505 
Sienkiewicz  (Henryk).    Tales  from.    Edited  by  Monica  M.  Gardner.    871 
Shorter  Novels,  Vol.  I.     Elizabethan  and  Jacobean.     Edited  by  Philip 

Henderson.    824 
„  „        Vol.  II.    Jacobean  and  Restoration.    Edited  by  Philip 

Henderson.     841 

„  „        Vol.    Ill       Eighteenth    Century    (Beckford's    Vathek, 

Walpole's    Castle    of    Otranto,    and    Dr.    Johnson's 

Smollett's  Peregrine  Pickle.   2  vols.   838-9  [Rasselas).     856 

„  Roderick  Random.    Introduction  by  H.  W.  Hodges.   790 

L  Sterne's  Tristram  Shandy.  Introduction  by  George  Saintsbury.  617 
(See  also  ESSAYS) 

8 


FICTION— continued 

L  Stevenson's  Dr.  Jekyll  and  Mr.  Hyde,  The  Merry  Men,  and  Other  Tales. 

767 

L  „  The  Master  of  Ballantrae  and  The  Black  Arrow.    764 

L  „  Treasure  Island  and  Kidnapped.    763 

,,  St.  Ives.     Introduction  by  Ernest  Rhys.     904 

(See  also  ESSAYS,  POETRY,  and  TRAVEL,) 
Surtees'  Jorrocks'  Jaunts  and  Jollities.    817 

Thackeray's  Christmas  Books.    Introduction  by  Walter  Jerrold.    359 
L  „  Esmond.   Introduction  by  Walter  Jerrold.    73 

„  Newcomes.   Introduction  by  Walter  Jerrold.    2  vols.    465-6 

„  Pendennis.    Intro,  by  Walter  Jerrold.    2  vols.    425-6 

„  Roundabout  Papers.    687 

L  „  Vanity  Fair.    Introduction  by  Hon.  Whitelaw  Reid.    298 

„  Virginians.    Introduction  by  Walter  Jerrold.    2  vols.    507-8 

(See  also  ESSAYS) 

L  Tolstoi's  Anna  Karenina.  Trans,  by  RochelleS.  Townsend.  2  vols.  612-13 
„          Childhood,  Boyhood,  and  Youth.   Trans,  by  C.  J.  Hogarth.  591 
„          Master  and  Man,  and  other  Parables  and  Tales.    469 
„          War  and  Peace.    3  vols.   525-7 
Trollope's  (Anthony)  Barchester  Towers.    30 
„  „  Dr.  Thome.    360 

,„  „  Framley  Parsonage.    Intro,  by  Ernest  Rhys.    181 

„  „  The  Golden  Lion  of  Granpere.     Introduction  by 

Hugh  Walpole.    761 

„  „  The  Last  Chronicle  of  Barset.    2  vols.    391-2 

„  „  PhineasFinn.  Intro,  by  Hugh  Walpole.  2  vols.  832-3 

„  „  The  Small  House  at  AUington.    361 

,,  „  The  Warden.    Introduction  by  Ernest  Rhys.    182 

Turgenev's  Fathers  and  Sons.   Translated  by  C.  J.  Hogarth.   742 

Liza.    Translated  by  W.  R.  S.  Ralston.    677 
,,          Virgin  Soil.    Translated  by  Rochelle  S.  Townsend.    528 
L  Walpole's  (Hu.trh)  Mr.  Perrin  and  Mr.  Traill.    918 
L  Wells's  (H.  G.)  The  Time  Machine  and  The  Wheels  of  Chance.    915 
Whyte-Melville's  The  Gladiators.  Introduction  by  J.  Mavrogordato.   523 
Wood's  (Mrs.  Henry)  The  Channings.  84 
Yonge's  (Charlotte  M.)  The  Dove  in  the  Eagle's  Nest.   329 

„  The  Heir  of  Redclyffe.   Intro.  Mrs.  Meynell.    362 

(See  also  FOR  YOUNG  PEOPLE) 
Zola's  (Emile)  Germinal.     Translated  by  Havelock  Ellis.     897 

HISTORY 

Anglo-Saxon  Chronicle,  The.   Translated  by  James  Ingram.   624 
Bede's  Ecclesiastical  History,  etc.  Introduction  by  Vida  D.  Scudder.  479 
Burnet's  History  of  His  Own  Times.    85 
L  Carlyle's  French  Revolution.   Introduction  by  H.  Belloc.  2  vols.    31-2 

(See  also  BIOGRAPHY  and  ESSAYS) 

L  Creasy's  Decisive  Battles  of  the  World.    Introduction  by  E.  Rhys.    300 
De  Joinville  (See  Villehardouin) 

Duruy's  (Jean  Victor)  A  History  of  France.    2  vols.    737-8 
Finlay's  Byzantine  Empire.    33 

„  "      Greece  under  the  Romans.    185 

Froude's  Henry  VIII.  Intro,  by  Llewellyn  Williams,  M.P.   3  vols.   372-4 

Edward  VI.    Intro,  by  Llewellyn  Williams,  M.P.,  B.C.L.    375 

„       Mary  Tudor.    Intro,  by  Llewellyn  Williams,  M.P.,  B.C.L.     477 

„       History   of   Queen   Elizabeth's   Reign.      5   vols.      Completing 

Froude's  'History  of  England',  in  10  vols.    583-7 
(See  also  ESSAYS  and  BIOGRAPHY) 

L  Gibbon's  Decline  and  Fall  of  the  Roman  Empire.   Edited,  with  Introduc- 
tion and  Notes,  by  Oliphant  Smeaton,  M.A.    6  vols.    434-6,  474-6 

(See  also  BIOGRAPHY) 

Green's  Short  History  of  the  English  People.     Edited  and  Revised  by 
L.  Cecil  Jane,  with  an  Appendix  by  R.  P.  Farley,  B.A.  2  vols.  727-8 
Grote's  History  of  Greece.    Intro,  by  A.  D.  Lindsay.    12  vols.    186-97 
Hallam's  (Henry)  Constitutional  History  of  England.    3  vols.   621-3 
Holinshed's  Chronicle  as  used  in  Shakespeare's  Plays.    Introduction  by 

Professor  Allardyce  Nicoll.    800 
Irving's  (Washington)  Conquest  of  Granada.    478 

(Set  also  ESSAYS  and  BIOGRAPHY) 

Josephus'  Wars  of  the  Jews.   Introduction  by  Dr.  Jacob  Hart.   712 
Liitzow's  History  of  Boucmia.   432 
L  Macaulay's  History  of  England.    3  vols.    34-6 
(See  also  ESSAYS  and  ORATORY) 


HISTORY— continued 

Machia velli's  History  of  Florence.    376 

(See  also  ESSAYS) 

Maine's  (Sir  Henry)  Ancient  Law.    734 

Merivale's  History  of  Rome.    (An  Introductory  vol.  to  Gibbon.)   433 
Mignet's  (F.  A.  M.)  The  French  Revolution.    713 
Milman's  History  of  the  Jews.    2  vols.    377-8 
Mommsen's  History  of  Rome.     Translated  by  W.  P.   Dickson,  LL.D. 

With  a  review  of  the  work  by  E.  A.  Freeman.   4  vols.   542-5 
L  Motley's  Dutch  Republic.    3  vols.    86-8 

Parkman's  Conspiracy  of  Pontiac.    2  vols.   302-3 

Paston  Letters,  The.     Based  on  edition  of  Knight.     Introduction  by 

Mrs.  Archer-Hind,  M.A.  2  vols.  752-3 

Pilgrim  Fathers,  The.    Introduction  by  John  Masefield.    480 
Political  Liberty,  The  Growth  of.    A 'Source-Book  of  English  History. 

Arranged  by  Ernest  Rhys.    745 
Prescott's  Conquest  of  Mexico.  With  Introduction  by  Thomas  Seccombe, 

M.A.    2  vols.    397-8 

„        Conquest  of  Peru.    Intro,  by  Thomas  Seccombe,  M.A.    301 
Sismondi's  Italian  Republics.    250 
Stanley's  Lectures  on  the  Eastern  Church.    Intro,  by  A.  J.  Grieve.    251 

,,        Memorials  of  Canterbury.    89 
Tacitus.     Vol.  I  Annals.    Introduction  by  E.  H.  Blakeney.    273, 

„  Vol.  II.  Agricola  and  Germania.  Intro,  by  E.  H.  Blakeney.  274 
Thierry's  Norman  Conquest.  Intro,  by  J.  A.  Price,  B.A.  2  vols.  198-9 
Villehardouin  and  De  Joinville's  Chronicles  of  the  Crusades.  Translated. 

with  Introduction,  by  Sir  F.  Marzials,  C.B.    333 
Voltaire's  Age  of  Louis  XIV.   Translated  by  Martyn  P.  Pollack.   780 

ORATORY 

L  Anthology  of  British  Historical  Speeches  and  Orations.     Compiled  by 

Ernest  Rhys.    714 

Bright's  (John)  Speeches.   Selected  with  Intro,  by  Joseph  Sturge.    252 
Burke's  American  Speeches  and  Letters.    340 

(See  also  ESSAYS) 

Demosthenes:  Select  Orations.    546 
Fox   (Charles  James):   Speeches   (French   Revolutionary  War  Period). 

Edited  with  Introduction  by  Irene  Cooper  Willis,  M.A.    759 
Lincoln's  Speeches,  etc.   Intro,  by  the  Rt.  Hon.  James  Bryce.    206 

(See  also  BIOGRAPHY) 
Macaulay's  Speeches  on  Politics  and  Literature.   399 

(See  also  ESSAYS  and  HISTORY) 
Pitt's  Orations  on  the  War  with  France.  145 

PHILOSOPHY  AND  THEOLOGY 

L  A  Kemp  is'  Imitation  of  Christ.     484 

Ancient  Hebrew  Literature.     Being  the  Old  Testament  and  Apocrypha 

Arranged  by  the  Rev.  R.  B.  Taylor.     4  vols.     253-G 
Aristotle,   The  Nicomachean   Ethics  of.     Translated  by  D.   P.  Chase. 

Introduction  by  Professor  J.  A.  Smith.     547 

(See  also  CLASSICAL) 
Bacon's  The  Advancement  of  Learning.     719 

(See  also  ESSAYS) 
Berkeley's  (Bishop)  Principles  of  Human  Knowledge,  New  Theory  of 

Vision.     With  Introduction  by  A.  D.  Lindsay.     483 
Boehme's  (Jacob)  The  Signature  of  All  Things,  with  Other  Writings. 

Introduction  by  Clifford  Bax.     569 

Browne's  Religio  Medici,  etc.  Introduction  by  Professor  C.  H.  Herford.  92 
Bunyan's  Grace  Abounding  and  Mr.  Badman.  Introduction  by  G.  B. 

Harrison.     815 

(See  also  ROMANCE) 
Burton's  (Robert)  Anatomy  of  Melancholy.     Introduction  by  Holbrook 

Jackson.     3  vols.     886-8 

Butler's  Analogy  of  Religion.  Introduction  by  Rev.  Ronald  Bayne.  90 
Descartes'  (Rene)  A  Discourse  on  Method.  Translated  by  Professor  John 

Veitch.     Introduction  by  A.  D.  Lindsay.     570 

Hobbes'  Leviathan.  Edited,  with  Intro,  by  A.  D.  Lindsay,  M.A.  691 
Hooker's  Ecclesiastical  Polity.  Intro,  by  Rev.  H.  Bayne.  2  vols.  201-2 
Hume's  Treatise  of  Human  Nature,  and  other  Philosophical  Works. 

Introduction  by  A.  D.  Lindsay.     2  vols.     548-9 
James  (William):  Selected  Papers  on  Philosophy.     739 
Kant's  Critique  of  Pure  Reason.     Translated  by  J.  M.  D.  Meiklejohu. 

Introduction  by  Dr.  A.  D.  Lindsay.     909 

IO 


PHILOSOPHY  AND  THEOLOGY— continued 

Keble's  The  Christian  Year.     Introduction  by  J.  C.  Shairp.     690 
King  Edward  VI.  First  and  Second  Prayer  Books.    Introduction  by  the 

Right  Rev.  Bishop  of  Gloucester.     448 
L  Koran,  The.     Rodweil's  Translation.     380 

Latimer's  Sermons.     Introduction  by  Canon  Beeching.     40 

Law's  Serious  Call  to  a  Devout  and  Holy  Life.     91 

Leibniz's  Philosophical  Writings     Selected  and  trans,  by  Mary  Morris. 

Introduction  by  C.  R.  Morris,  M.A.     905 
Locke's  Two  Treatises  of  Civil  Government.     Introduction  by  Professor 

William  S.  Carpenter.     751 

Malthus  on  the  Principles  of  Population.     2  vols.     692-3 
Maurice's  Kingdom  of  Christ.     2  vols.     146-7      (Vol.  146J) 
Mill's  (John  Stuart)  Utilitarianism,  Liberty,  Representative  Government. 

With  Introduction  by  A.  D.  Lindsay.     482 

„     Subjection  of  Women.    (See  Wollstonecraft,  Mary,  under  SCIENCE.) 
More's  Utopia.     Introduction  by  Judge  O'Hagan.     461 
L  New  Testament.    Arranged  in  the  order  in  which  the  books  came  to  the 

Christians  of  the  First  Century.     93 
Newman's  Apologia  pro  Vita  Sua.     Intro,  by  Dr.  Charles  Sarolea.     636 

(See  also  ESSAYS) 
Nietzsche's   Thus    Spake    Zarathustra.     Translated    by   A.    Tille    and 

M.  M.  Bozman.     892 

Paine's  Rights  of  Man.     Introduction  by  G.  J.  Holyoake.     718 
Pascal's    Pensees.     Translated    by   W.    F.    Trotter.     Introduction    by 

T.  S.   Eliot.     874 
L  Ramayana  and  the  Mahabharata,  The.    Translated  by  Romesh  Dutt, 

C.I.E.     403 

Renan's  Life  of  Jesus.  Introduction  by  Right  Rev.  Chas.  Gore,  D.D.  805 

Robertson's  (F.  W.)  Sermons  on  Religion  and  Life,  Christian  Doctrine, 

and  Bible  Subjects.     Each  Volume  with  Introduction  by  Canon 

Burnett.     3  vols.     37-9 

Robinson's  (Wade)  The  Philosophy  of  Atonement  and  Other  Sermons. 

Introduction  by  Rev.  F.  B.  Meyer.     637 
Rousseau's  (J.  J.)  The  Social  Contract,  etc.    660 

(See  also  ESSAYS) 

L  St.  Augustine's  Confessions.     Dr.  Pusey's  Translation.     200 
L  St.  Francis:  The  Little  Flowers,  and  The  Life  of  St.  Francis.     485 
Seeley's  Ecce  Homo.     Introduction  by  Sir  Oliver  Lodge.     305 
Spinoza's  Ethics,  etc.     Translated  by  Andrew  J.  Boyle.     With  Intro- 
duction by  Professor  Santayana.     481 
Swedenborg's  (Emmanuel)  Heaven  and  Hell.     379 

„  „  The  Divine  Love  and  Wisdom.   635 

The  Divine  Providence.    658 
L  „  The  True  Christian  Religion.   893 

POETRY  AND  DRAMA 

Anglo-Saxon  Poetry.     Edited  by  Professor  R.  K.  Gordon.     794 
L  Arnold's  (Matthew)  Poems,  1840-66,  including  Thyrsis.     334 
L  Ballads,  A  Book  of  British.     Selected  by  R.  B.  Johnson.     572 

Beaumont  and  Fletcher,  The  Select  Plays  of.     Introduction  by  Professor 

Baker,  of  Harvard  University.     506 

Bjornson's  Plays.    Vol.    I.  The   Newly   Married   Couple,    Leonardo,    A 

Gauntlet.    Translated  by  R.  Farquharson  Sharp. 
625 
Vol.  II.  The  Editor,  The  Bankrupt,  and  The  King. 

Translated  by  R.  Farquharson  Sharp.     696 

Blake's  Poems  and  Prophecies.     Introduction  by  Max  Plowman.     792 
L  Browning's  Poems,  1833-44.     Introduction  by  Arthur  Waugh.     41 
L  Browning's  Poems,  1844-64.     42 

L  The  Ring  and  the  Book.    Intro,  by  Chas.  W.  Hodell.     502 

L  Burns'  Poems  and  Songs.     Introduction  by  J.  Douglas.     94 
Byron's  Poetical  and  Dramatic  Works.     3  vols.  486-8 
Calderon:  Six  Plays,  translated  by  Edward  Fitzgerald.     819 
L  Chaucer's  Canterbury  Tales.     Edited  by  Principal  Burrell,  M.A.     307 
Coleridge,  Golden  Book  of.     Edited  by  Stopford  A.  Brooke.     43 

(See  also  ESSAYS) 
Cowper  (William).     Poems  of.     Edited  by  H.   I'Anson  Fausset.     872 

(See  also  BIOGRAPHY) 
L  Dante's    Divine   Comedy    (Gary's    Translation).       Specially   edited    by 

Edmund  Gardner.     308 

Donne's  Poems.     Edited  by  H.  I'AnsoD  Fausset.     867 
Dry  den's  Poems.     Edited  by  Bonamy  Dobree.     910 
Eighteenth -Century  Plays.     Edited  by  John  Hampden.     818 

II 


POETRY  AND  DRAMA— continued 

Emerson's  Poems.  Introduction  by  Professor  Bake  well,  Yale,  U.S.A.  715 
Everyman  and  other  Interludes,  including  eight  Miracle  Plays.    Edited 

by  Ernest  Rhys.    381 

L  Fitzgerald's  (Edward)  Omar  Khayyam  and  Six  Plays  of  Calderon.     819 
L  Goethe's  Faust.  Parts  I  and  II.  Trans,  and  Intro,  by  A.  G.  Latham.   335 

(See  also  ESSAYS  and  FICTION) 

L  Golden  Treasury  of  Longer  Poems,  The.    Edited  by  Ernest  Rhys.     746 
L  Goldsmith's  Poems  and  Plays.     Introduction  by  Austin  Dobson.     415 

(See  also  ESSAYS  and  FICTION) 

Gray's  Poems  and  Letters.  Introduction  by  John  Drinkwater.    628 
Hebbel's  Plays.  Translated  with  an  Introduction  by  Dr.  C.  K.  Allen.  694 
Heine:  Prose  and  Poetry.     911 

Herbert's  Temple.    Introduction  by  Edward  Thomas.    309 
Heroic  Verse,  A  Volume  of.    Arranged  by  Arthur  Burrell,  M.A.     574 
Herrick's  Hesperides  and  Noble  Numbers.     Intro,  by  Ernest  Rhys.    310 
L  Ibsen's  Brand.     Translated  by  F.  E.  Garrett.     716 
L       „         Ghosts,  The  Warriors  at  Helgoland,  and  An  Enemy  of  the  People. 

Translated  by  R.  Farquharson  Sharp.     552 
L       „         Lady  Inger  of  Ostraat,   Love's  Comedy,   and  The  League   of 

Youth.     Translated  by  R.  Farquharson  Sharp.     729 
L       „         Peer  Gynt.     Translated  by  R.  Farquharson  Sharp.     747 
L       „         A  Doll's  House,  The  Wild  Duck,  and  The  Lady  from  the  Sea. 

Translated  by  R.  Farquharson  Sharp.     494 
L       „         The  Pretenders,  Pillars  of  Society,  and.  Rosmersholm.  Translated 

by  R.  Farquharson  Sharp.     659 

Jonson's  (Ben)  Plays.  Introduction  by  Professor  Schelling.  2  vols.  489-90 
Kalidasa:  Shakuntala.     Translated  by  Professor  A.  W.  Ryder.     629 
L  Keats'  Poems.     101 

Kingsley's  (Charles)  Poems.     Introduction  by  Ernest  Rhys.      793 

(See  also  FICTION  and  FOR  YOUNG  PEOPLE) 
L  Langland's  (William)  Piers  Plowman.     571 

Lessing's  Laocoon,  Minna  von  Barnhelm,  and  Nathan  the  Wise.     843 
L  Longfellow's  Poems.     Introduction  by  Katherine  Tynan.     382 
L  Marlowe's  Plays  and  Poems.     Introduction  by  Edward  Thomas.     383 
L  Milton's  Poems.      Introduction  by  W.  H.  D.  Rouse.     384 

(See  also  ESSAYS) 
Minor  Elizabethan  Drama.  Vol.  I.  Tragedy.  Selected,  with  Introduction. 

by  Professor  Thorndike.     Vol.  II.  Comedy.     491-2 

L  Minor  Poets  of  the  18th  Century.    Edited  by  H.  I'Anson  Fausset.    844 
Minor  Poets  of  the  17th  Century.     Edited  by  R.  G.  Howarth.     873 
Moliere's  Comedies.     Introduction  by  Prof.  F.  C.  Green.     2  vols.  830-1 
L  New  Golden  Treasury,  The.     An  Anthology  of  Songs  and  Lyrics.     695 

Old  Yellow  Book,  The.     Introduction  by  Charles  E.  Hodell.     503 
L  Omar  Khayyam  (The  Rubaiyat  of).  Trans,  by  Edward  Fitzgerald.     819 
L  Palgrave's  Golden  Treasury.     Introduction  by  Edward  Hutton.    96 
Percy's  Reliques  of  Ancient  English  Poetry.     2  vols.     148-9 
Poe's  (Edgar  Allan)  Poems  and  Essays.    Intro,  by  Andrew  Lang.    791 

(See  also  FICTION) 

Pope  (Alexander) :  Collected  Poems.     Introduction  by  Ernest  Rhys.   760 
Procter's  (Adelaide  A.)  Legends  and  Lyrics.     150 

Restoration  Plays,  A  Volume  of.     Introduction  by  Edmund  Gosse.    604 

L  Rossetti's  Poems  and  Translations.    Introduction  by  E.  G.  Gardner.   627 

Scott's  Poems  and  Plays.     Intro,  by  Andrew  Lang.     2   vols.     550-1 

(See  also  BIOGRAPHY  and  FICTION) 
L  Shakespeare's  Comedies.     153 

L  „  Historical  Plays,  Poems,  and  Sonnets.     154 

L  ,,  Tragedies.     155 

L,  Shelley's  Poetical  Works.   Introduction  by  A.  H.  Koszul.    2  vols.    257-8 
L  Sheridan's  Plays.     95 

Spenser's  Faerie  Queene.     Intro,  by  Prof.  J.  W.  Hales.     2  vols.     443-4 
„         Shepherd's  Calendar  and   Other  Poems.     Edited   by   Philip 

Henderson.     879 

Stevenson's  Poems — A  Child's  Garden  of  Verses,  Underwoods,  Songs  of 
Travel,  Ballads.     768 

(See  also  ESSAYS,  FICTION,  and  TRAVEL) 

L  Tennyson's  Poems.    Vol.  I,  1830-56.    Introduction  by  Ernest  Rhys.    44 
L  „  „          Vol.  II,  1857-70.      626 

Webster  and  Ford.    Plays.     Selected,  with  Introduction,  by  Dr.  G.  B. 

Harrison.  899 
L  Whitman's  (Walt)  Leaves  of  Grass  (I),  Democratic  Vistas,  etc.     573 

Wilde  (Oscar),  Plays,  Prose  Writings  and  Poems.  858 

L  Wordsworth's  Shorter  Poems.     Introduction  by  Ernest  Rhys.     203 
L  „  Longer  Poems.     Note  by  Editor.     311 

12 


REFERENCE 

Atlas  of  Ancient  and  Classical  Geography.     Many  coloured  and  line 
Maps;  Historical  Gazetteer,  Index,  etc.     451 

Biographical  Dictionary  of  English  Literature.     449 

Biographical  Dictionary  of  Foreign  Literature.     900 

Dates,  Dictionary  of.     554 

Dictionary  01  Quotations  and  Proverbs.    2  vols.    809-10. 

Everyman's  English  Dictionary.     776 

Literary  and  Historical  Atlas.     I.  Europe.  Many  coloured  and  line  Maps ; 

full  Index  and  Gazetteer.    496 

„  „  „  II.  America.  Do.  553 

„  „  „         III.  Asia.  Do.  633 

„  ,,  „          IV.  Africa  and  Australia.       Do.       662 

Non-Classical  Mythology,  Dictionary  of.     632 

Reader's  Guide  to  Everyman's  Library.     By  R.   Farquharson  Sharp. 
Introduction  by  Ernest  Rhys.     889 

Roget's  Thesaurus  of  English  Words  and  Phrases.    2  vols.    630-1. 

Smith's  Smaller  Classical  Dictionary.     Revised  and  Edited  by  E.  H. 
Blakeney.  M.A.     495 

Wright's  An  Encyclopaedia  of  Gardening.     555 

ROMANCE 

Aucassin  and  Nicolette,  with  other  Medieval  Romances.     497 
Boccaccio's   Decameron.      (Unabridged.)      Translated  by   J.   M.   Rigg. 

Introduction  by  Edward  Hutton.     2  vols.     845-6 
L  Bunyan's  Pilgrim's  Progress.    Introduction  by  Rev.  H.  E.  Lewis.    204 

Burnt  Njal,  The  Story  of.     Translated  by  Sir  George  Dasent.     558 
L  Cervantes'    Don    Quixote.     Motteux'    Translation.     Lockhart's    Intro- 
duction.    2  vols.     385-6 
Chretien  de  Troyes:  Eric  and  Enid.     Translated,  with  Introduction  and 

Notes,  by  William  Wistar  Comfort.     698 

French  Medieval  Romances.     Translated  by  Eugene  Mason.     557 
Geoffrey  of  Monmouth's  Histories  of  the  Kings  of  Britain.     577 
Grettir  Saga,  The.     Newly  Translated  by  G.  Ainslie  Hight.     699 
Gudrun.     Done  into  English  by  Margaret  Armour.     880 
Guest's  (Lady)  Mabinogion.     Introduction  by  Rev.  R.  Williams.     97 
Heimskringla:  The  Olaf  Sagas.     Translated  by  Samuel  Laing.     Intro- 
duction and  Notes  by  John  Beveridge.     717 
,,  Sagas  of  the  Norse  Kings.    Translated  by  Samuel  Laing. 

Introduction  and  Notes  by  John  Beveridge.     847 
Holy  Graal,  The  High  History  of  the.     445 

Kalevala.  Introduction  by  W.  F.  Kirby,  F.L.S.,  F.E.S.  2  vols.  259-60 
Le  Sage's  The  Adventures  of  Gil  Bias.  Introduction  by  Anatole  Le 

Bras.     2  vols.     437-8 
MacDonald's  (George)  Phantastes:  A  Faerie  Romance.     732 

(See  also  FICTION) 

L  Malory's  Le  Morte  d' Arthur.     Intro,  by  Professor  Rhys.     2  vols.  45-6 
L  Morris  (William):  Early  Romances.    Introduction  by  Alfred  Noyes.    261 

,,  ,,         The  Life  and  Death  of  Jason.     575 

Mprte  d' Arthur  Romances,  Two.    Introduction  by  Lucy  A.  Paton.    634 
Nibelungs,  The  Fall  of  the.     Translated  by  Margaret  Armour.     312 
Rabelais'  The  Heroid  Deeds  of  Gargantua  and  Pantagruel.   Introduction 

by  D.  B.  Wyndham  Lewis.     2  vols.     826-7 

Wace's  Arthurian   Romance.     Translated  by   Eugene   Mason.     Laya- 
mon's  Brut.     Introduction  by  Lucy  A.  Paton.     578 

SCIENCE 

Boyle's  The  Sceptical  Chymist.     559 

Darwin's  The  Origin  of  Species.    Introduction  by  Sir  Arthur  Keith.    811 

(See  also  TRAVEL) 
Euclid:  the  Elements  of.     Todhunter's  Edition.     Introduction  by  Sir 

Thomas  Heath,  K.C.B.     891 

Faraday's  (Michael)  Experimental  Researches  in  Electricity.     576 
Galton's  Inquiries  into  Human  Faculty.     Revised  by  Author.     263 
George's  (Henry)  Progress  and  Poverty.     560 
Hahnemann's  (Samuel)  The  Organon  of  the  Rational  Art  of  Healing. 

Introduction  by  C.  E.  Wheeler.     663 

Harvey's  Circulation  of  the  Blood.  Introduction  by  Ernest  Parkyn.  262 
Howard's  State  of  the  Prisons.  Introduction  by  Kenneth  Ruck.  835 
Huxley's  Essays.  Introduction  by  Sir  Oliver  Lodge.  47 

„  Select  Lectures  and  Lay  Sermons.    Intro.  Sir  Oliver  Lodge.    498 

Lyell's  Antiquity  of  Man.    With  an  Introduction  by  R.  H.  Rastall.    700 

13 


SCIENCE— continued 

Marx's  (Karl)  Capital.     Translated  by  Eden  and  Cedar  Paul.     Intro- 
duction by  G.  D.  H.  Cole.      2  vols.      848-9 
Miller's  Old  Red  Sandstone.     103 

Owen's  (Robert)  A  New  View  of  Society,  etc.  Intro,  by  G.  D.  H.  Cole.  799 
Ricardo's  Principles  of  Political  Economy  and  Taxation.    590 
Smith's  (Adam)  The  Wealth  of  Nations.     2  vols.     412-13 
Tyndall's  Glaciers  of  the  Alps  and  Mountaineering  in  1861.     98 
White's  Selborne.     Introduction  by  Principal  Windle.     48 
Wollstonecraft  (Mary),  The  Rights  of  Woman,  with  John  Stuart  Mill's 
The  Subjection  of  Women.     825 

TRAVEL  AND  TOPOGRAPHY 

Anson's  Voyages.     Introduction  by  John  Masefleld.     510 

Bates'  Naturalist  9n  the  Amazon.     With  Illustrations.     446 

Belt's  The  Naturalist  in  Nicaragua.   Intro,  by  Anthony  Belt,  F.L.S.   561 

Borrow's  (George)  The  Gypsies  in  Spain.  Intro,  by  Edward  Thomas.  6D7 

L  „  „       The  Bible  in  Spain.    Intro,  by  Edward  Thomas.    151 

Wild  Wales.    Intro,  by  Theodore  Watts-Duntoa.    49 
(See  also  FICTION) 
Boswell's  Tour  in  the  Hebrides  with  Dr.  Johnson.     387 

(See  also  BIOGRAPHY) 
Burton's  (Sir  Richard)  First  Footsteps  in  East  Africa.     500 

J  Calderon  de  la  Barca's  (Mme.)  Life  in  Mexico.     664 

Cobbett's  Rural  Rides.     Introduction  by  Edward  Thomas.  2  vols.  638-9 

L  Cook's  Voyages  of  Discovery.     99 

Crevecoeur's  (H.  St.  John)  Letters  from  an  American  Farmer.     640 
Darwin's  Voyage  of  the  Beagle.     104 

(See  also  SCIENCE) 

Defoe's  Tour  Through  England  and  Wales.     Introduction  by  G.  D.  H. 
(See  also  FICTION)  [Cole.     820-1 

Dennis'  Cities  and  Cemeteries  of  Etruria.     2  vols.     183-4 
Dufferin's  (Lord)  Letters  from  High  Latitudes.     499 
Ford's  Gatherings  from  Spain.     Introduction  by  Thomas  Okey.     152 
Franklin's  Journey  to  the  Polar  Sea.     Intro,  by  Capt.  R.  F.  Scott.    447 
Giraldus  Cambrensis:  Itinerary  and  Description  of  Wales.     272 
Hakluyt's  Voyages.     8  vols.      264,  265,  313,  314,  338,  339,  388,  389 

L  Kinglake's  Eothen.     Introduction  by  Harold  Spender,  M.A.     337 
Lane's  Modern  Egyptians.     With  many  Illustrations.     315 

%  Lytton's  Pilgrims  of  the  Rhine.     390 

(See  also  FICTION) 

Mandeville's  (Sir  John)  Travels.     Introduction  by  Jules  Bramont.     812 
Park  (Mungo):  Travels.     Introduction  by  Ernest  Rhys.     205 
Peaks,  Passes,  and  Glaciers.     Selected  by  E.  H.  Blakeney,  M.A.      778 

L  Polo's  (Marco)  Travels.     Introduction  by  John  Masefield.     306 

Roberts'  The  Western  Avernus.     Intro,  by  Cunninghame  Graham.   762 

L  Speke's  Discovery  of  the  Source  of  the  Nile.     50 

L  Stevenson's  An  Inland  Voyage,  Travels  with  a  Donkey,  and  Silverado 
Squatters.    766 

(See  also  ESSAYS,  FICTION,  and  POETRY) 

Stow's  Survey  of  London.     Introduction  by  H.  B.  Wheatley.    589 
Wakefield's  Letter  from  Sydney  and  Other  Writings  on  Colonization.  828 
Waterton's  Wanderings  in  South  America.    Intro,  by  E.  Selous.    772 
Young's  Travels  in  France  and  Italy.    Intro,  by  Thomas  Okey.     720 

FOR  YOUNG  PEOPLE 

J  Abbott's  Rollo  at  Work  and  Rollo  at  Play.    Intro,  by  Lucy  Crump.    275 
L  ^Esop's  and  Other  Fables:  An  Anthology  from  all  sources.     657 
L  Alcott's   Little  Men.     Introduction  by  Grace  Rhys.     512 
L  „       Little  Women  and  Good  Wives.     Intro,  by  Grace  Rhys.     248 

Andersen's  Fairy  Tales.    Illustrated  by  the  Brothers  Robinson.     4 

„  More  Fairy  Tales.     Illustrated  by  Mary  Shillabeer.     822 

Annals  of  Fairyland.  The  Reign  of  King  Oberon.     365 

The  Reign  of  King  Cole.     36_6 
.,  ,,         The  Reign  of  King  Herla.     541 

Asgard  and  the  Norse  Heroes.     Translated  by  Mrs.  Boult.     689 
Baker's  Cast  Up  by  the  Sea.     539 
L  Ballantyne's  Coral  Island.     245 

„  Martin  Rattler.     246 

„  Ungava.     Introduction  by  Ernest  Rhys.     276 

L  Browne's  (Frances)  Granny's  Wonderful  Chair.     Introduction  by  Dollie 
Radford.     112 

14 


FOR  YOUNG  PEOPLE— continued 

Bulfinch's  (Thomas)  The  Age  of  Fable.     472 

Legends  of  Charlemagne.  Intro,  by  Ernest  Rhys.  556 
L  Canton's  A  Child'  Book  of  Saints.     Illustrated  by  T.  H.  Robinson.     61 

(See  also  ESSAYS) 

L  Carroll's  Alice  in  Wonderland,  Through  the  Looking-Glass,  etc.     Illus- 
trated by  the  Author.     Introduction  by  Ernest  Rhys.     836 
Clarke's  Girlhood  of  Shakespeare's  Heroines.     3  vols.     109-11  (Vols.  II 

and  III  J) 

„         Tales  from  Chaucer.     537 

Collodi's  Pinocchio;  or,  The  Story  of  a  Puppet.     538 
Cox's  (Sir  G.  W.)  Tales  of  Ancient  Greece).     721 
L  Defoe's  Robinson  Crusoe.     Illustrated  by  J.  A.  Symington.     59 

(See  also  FICTION) 

Dodge's  (Mary  Mapes)  Hans  Brinker;  or,  The  Silver  Skates.     620 
Edgar's  Heroes  of  England.     471 

(See  also  FICTION) 
L  Ewing's  (Mrs.)  Jackanapes,    Daddy   Darwin's   Dovecot,   illustrated   by 

R.  Caldecott,  and  The  Story  of  a  Short  Life.     731 
Mrs.   Overtheway's   Remembrances.     730 
L  Fairy  Gold.     Illustrated  by  Herbert  Cole.     157 
L  Fairy  Tales  from  the  Arabian  Nights.     Illustrated.     249 

Freeman's  Old  English  History  for  Children.     540 
L  Froissart's  Chronicles.     57 

Gatty's  Parables  from  Nature.     Introduction  by  Grace  Rhys.     158 
Grimm's  Fairy  Tales.     Illustrated  by  R.  Anning  Bell.     56 
L  Hawthorne's  Wonder  Book  and  Tanglewood  Tales.     5 

(See  also  FICTION) 

Howard's  Rattlin  the  Reefer.     Introduction  by  Guy  Pocock.     857 
L  Hughes'  Tom  Brown's  School  Days.    Illustrated  by  T.  Robinson.    58 
Ingelqw's  (Jean)  Mopsa  the  Fairy.     Illustrated  by  Dora  Curtis.    619 
Jefferies's  (Richard)  Bevis,  the  Story  of  a  Boy.    Introduction  by  Guy 

Pocock.     850 
L  Kingsley's  Heroes.     Introduction  by  Grace  Rhys.     113 

„  Madam  How  and  Lady  Why.  Introduction  by  C.  I.  Gardiner, 

L  „  Water  Babies  and  Glaucus.     277  [M.A.     777 

(See  also  POETRY  and  FICTION) 
Kingston's  Peter  the  Whaler.     6 
„  Three  Midshipmen.     7 

L  Lamb's  Tales  from  Shakespeare.     Illustrated  by  A.  Rackham.     8 

(See  also  BIOGRAPHY  and  ESSAYS) 
L  Lear  (and  Others):  A  Book  of  Nonsense.     806 
L  Marryat's  Children  of  the  New  Forest.     247 

„         Little  Savage.    Introduction  by  R.  Brimley  Johnson.     159 
„         Masterman  Ready.   Introduction  by  R.  Brimley  Johnson.   160 
Settlers  in  Canada.  Introduction  by  R.  Brimley  Johnson.   370 

(Edited  by)     Rattlin  the  Reefer.     857 
(See  also  FICTION) 

Martineau's  Feats  on  the  Fjords,  etc.     Illustrated  by  A.  Rackham.     429 
Mother  Goose's  Nursery  Rhymes.     Illustrated.     473 
Poetry  Book  for  Boys  and  Girls.     Edited  by  Guy  Pocock.     894 
Reid's  (Mayne)  The  "Boy  Hunters  of  the  Mississippi.     582 

„  „         The  Boy  Slaves.     Introduction  by  Guy  Pocock.     797 

Ruskin's  The  Two  Boyhoods  and  Other  Passages.     688 

(See  also  ESSAYS) 

L  SewelTs  (Anna)  Black  Beauty.     Illustrated  by  Lucy  Kemp-Welch.    748 
L  Spyri's  (Johanna)  Heidi.     Illustrations  by  Lizzie  Lawson.     431 
L  Stowe's  Uncle  Tom's  Cabin.     371 
L  Swift's  Gulliver's  Travels.     Illustrated  by  A.  Rackham.     60 

(See  also  BIOGRAPHY  and  ESSAYS) 

L  Swiss  Family  Robinson.     Illustrations  by  Chas.  Folkard.     430 
Verne's  (Jules)  Abandoned.     50  Illustrations.     368 

„  ,,       Dropped  from  the  Clouds.     50  Illustrations.     367 

L       „  „       Five  Weeks  in  a  Balloon  and  Around  the  World  in  Eighty 

Days.  Translated  by  Arthur  Chambers  and  P.  Desages. 
L       „  „       Twenty  Thousand  Leagues  Under  the  Sea.    319          [779 

„  „       The  Secret  of  the  Island.     50  Illustrations.     369 

L  Yonge's  (Charlotte  M.)  The  Book  of  Golden  Deeds.     330 

,,  The  Lances  of  Lynwood.     Illustrated  by  Dora 

Curtis.      579 

L  >.  „         The  Little  Duke.   Illustrated  by  Dora  Curtis.  470 

(See  also  FICTION) 

15 


PUBLISHERS: 

J.  M.   DENT  &  SONS  LTD, 

ALDINE  HOUSE  -  BEDFORD  STREET 

LONDON  W.C.2 

E.   P.  DUTTON  &  COMPANY  INC. 

286-302  FOURTH  AVENUE 

NEW  YORK 


Made  in  Great  Britain  at  The  Temple  Press,  Letchworth,  Herts      (I  125) 


CoLibri 


COVER  BOOK  SYSTEM 


'•"ijJS,