?2. 
 
 n o- 
 
 CORNELL 
 
 UNIVERSITY 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
Date Due 
 
Cornell University 
 Library 
 
 The original of tliis bool< is in 
 tine Cornell University Library. 
 
 There are no known copyright restrictions in 
 the United States on the use of the text. 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924028086704 
 
KING ARTHUR -^ 
 
 AND HIS NOBLE KNIGHTS 
 
 t 
 
 STORIES PROM SIR THOMAS MALORY'S 
 MORTE D' ARTHUR 
 
 By MARY MACLEOD 
 
 WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY JOHN W. HALES 
 
 But now farewell. 1 am going a. long way 
 Witt these thou seest — if indeed I go 
 (For all my mind is clouded with a doubt) 
 To the island-valley of Avilion. 
 
 A. L. BURT COM?ANY, PUBLISHERS, 
 52-58 DUANE STREET, NEW YORK j» .?* 
 
33i/?r^ 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 There is no more delightful book of its Kind in the 
 English language than Malory's Morte Darthur, and 
 there are few that in certain periods at least have had 
 more numerous or more illustrious readers. It was 
 written at a time when our language was greatly un- 
 settled, and it undoubtedly exercised much influence 
 in settling it. It furnished an excellent specimen and 
 a conspicuous standard of English prose. At an epoch 
 when the age of chivalry was swiftly passing away, it 
 caught and preserved its fading colors. It reduced the 
 old cumbrous and endless Romances to convenient and 
 readable dimensions, and provided a charming sum- 
 mary of them both for its own age and all ages to 
 come. 
 
 With a volume of such importance in so many ways 
 it is well to begin an acquaintance as soon as may be. 
 And it is hoped that this selection and simplification 
 of Malory's stories may be of service in introducing 
 young students to one of the masterpieces of medieval 
 literature, and in exciting in them a desire to know it 
 fully and directly. Such a knowledge will prove both 
 a pleasure and a profit; and we feel sure they will be 
 
iv INTEODTJCTIOK 
 
 grateful for having been led towards it in their early 
 years, and having been betimes brought into the midst 
 of a society so famous as the Knights of the Round 
 Table, and so fascinatingly portrayed by one who knew 
 intimately both the older literature that described it 
 and the surviving custom that in a sense represented it. 
 
 We might dwell at length on any one of the points 
 of interest we have enumerated above; but we propose 
 to confine ourselves to a matter not there mentioned, 
 and about which till lately there has been very little 
 to be said, viz. the biography of the author of the 
 Morte Darthur. 
 
 This is a question to which it is impossible not to 
 feel attracted. When we read any work of power or 
 beauty, we always long to know who wrote it. We 
 are not content with the mere perusal of the written 
 words ; we like to picture to ourselves him who penned 
 them, his circumstances, his conduct and character, and 
 to feel assured that he writes with competence and as 
 one having authority. Moreover, some knowledge of 
 the life of an author explains and illustrates his work; 
 it gives us a clue to guide us through it; it makes 
 intelligible many things that would otherwise be dark 
 and obscure. Thus it is a real gain as well as a true 
 satisfaction that recent research has pretty certainly 
 identified the author of the great Arthurian abridg- 
 ment that is to this day the most popular production 
 of the close of the Middle Ages. 
 
INTEODtTCTlO^. V 
 
 The credit of this interesting discovery, both as to 
 priority and as to detail, belongs to Professor Kitt- 
 redge, of Harvard University, U. S. A. In the early 
 spring of the year 1894, he announced and shortly 
 afterwards published an article on it; and then in 
 1896 contributed a full statement of his case to the 
 volume issued by some distinguished pupils of Pro- 
 fessor Child's in affectionate memory of that eminent 
 scholar and most kindly and genial man. But often 
 it happens that a discovery seems "in the air" ; and in 
 that same year 1896, Mr. T. W. Williams, of Flax 
 Bourton, Somerset, noted the occurrence of the name 
 of Sir Thomas Malory in the Historical MSS. Com- 
 mission's Report on the MSS. preserved at Wells 
 Cathedral, and shrewdly, and there can be little doubt 
 accurately, suspected this might well be the famous 
 writer. Then Mr. A. T. Martin, of Clifton College, 
 Bristol, took up the investigation, and though at first 
 we think going off in a wrong direction and attaching 
 himself to a Thomas Malory who was not a knight, 
 he subsequently advanced an alternative candidate who 
 may with confidence be identified with the Sir Thomas 
 brought forward by Professor Kittredge and by Mr. 
 Williams, and in a paper read before the Society of 
 Antiquaries, and published in the 56th volume of 
 the Archcsologia (1898), gave the results of his very 
 valuable researches as to the history of the Malory 
 family. 
 
vi INTKODUCTION". 
 
 It perpetually happens that we go looking far away 
 in out-of-the-way places for what is close at hand. 
 We scrutinize the skiey tracts, says a Latin writer, 
 for what lies at our feet. And so it has been in the 
 present case. What the wide and indefatigable quest 
 of one of the best living researchers, Mr. Sidney Lee, 
 failed to find, lies ready to hand, as Professor Kitt- 
 redge pointed out, in such a well-known book as 
 Dugdale's Warwickshire. It is Dugdale who furnishes 
 the leading facts that concern us. 
 
 Dugdale tells us how one John Malory, of Win- 
 wick, in Northamptonshire, married Alice Revell, a 
 daughter of John Revell, of Newbold Revell, or Fenny 
 Newbold, in the parish of Monks Kirby, some four 
 or five miles North-by- West of Rugby in Warwick- 
 shire; and how, John Revell and his brothers dying 
 without heirs, and a partition of his estate being made, 
 the son of the said John Malory and Alice Revell had 
 assigned him the manor of Fenny Newbold, "with 
 certain lands in Esenhall, Stretton, and Strod Aston 
 and the capitall messuage or mannor house of Papling- 
 ton." This John was a man of some distinction in 
 his day, and held various important positions; but his 
 claim to our attention just now is that he was the 
 grandfather of the famous Sir Thomas Malory who 
 wrote the Morte Darthur. 
 
 We will quote Dugdale's words, and then add some 
 other facts about this literary benefactor who has so 
 
INTEODTJCTION". vii 
 
 long been looked for in vain, and is at last revealed 
 to us. 
 
 He, i. e. John, the son of the John Malory who 
 married Alice Revell, "left issue Thomas, who in King 
 Henry V.'s time was of the retinue to Ric. Beauchamp, 
 Earl of Warwick, at the siege of Calais, and served 
 there with one lance and two archers, receiving for 
 his lance and one archer xx libras per annum and their 
 diet, and for the other archer x marks and no diet. 
 This Thomas, being a knight, in the 23rd year of 
 Henry VI. [Sept. ist, 1444 — Aug. 31st, 1445] 
 served for this Shire in the Parliament then held at 
 Westminster, and dying March 14, in the loth year of 
 Edward IV. [i. e. 1470, but there seems an error here 
 — the year should be 1471, as we learn from two other 
 original sources] lieth buried under a marble in the 
 Chapel of St. Francis [Stow says the Chapel of the 
 Apostles, but he is almost certainly inaccurate as to 
 this matter] at the Grey Friars near Newgate in the 
 suburbs of London. To whom succeeded Nicholas 
 his grandchild, viz. the son of Robert, who died in his 
 father's lifetime. 
 
 As careful research has discovered amongst many 
 Malorys in several parts of the country — in Yorkshire, 
 in Leicestershire, in Northamptonshire, in Cambridge- 
 shire, in Kent — no other Sir Thomas, and as the author 
 of the Morte Darthur specially describes himself as 
 Thomas Malory, Knight, and states that he finished his 
 
viii USTTRODUCTION. 
 
 work in the ninth year of Edwai-d IV. (March 4, I469 
 — March 3, 1470), there can be very little question 
 that this Sir Thomas Malory of Newbold Revell, War- 
 wickshire, is he who till now has been to his countless 
 readers only a voice crying in the wilderness of the 
 fifteenth century. 
 
 This famous author then, whose work will probably 
 remain to the end of time the supreme embodiment 
 of Arthurian romance, belonged by birth to the Mid- 
 lands — belonged to the same county as Shakespeare 
 and "George Eliot," not to mention many lesser and 
 yet brilliant lights; and, if Dugdale's statement as to 
 his earliest military service is accurate — ^though what is 
 meant by the "siege of Calais" is obscure ("Calais" 
 is in all probability a slip for "Rouen," 1418, as Mr. 
 Gairdner kindly suggests to us) — ^he must have been 
 born not later than the close of the reign of King 
 Richard II. — i. e. than 1399, or just before the death 
 of Chaucer. His connection with Richard Beauchamp, 
 Earl of Warwick, brought him into close familiarity 
 with one who was the best living impersonation of 
 that chivalry of which he was to be the chief and en- 
 during celebrator. He studied from life knight-er- 
 ranty as it still survived. And one can scarcely doubt 
 that the image of the great captain of his youth often 
 gave reality to the pictures of Sir Lancelot and other 
 legendary heroes which he painted with such knowl- 
 edge and sympathy; for, to quote Prof. Kittredge, 
 
INTRODtJCTION". ix 
 
 "the history of Warwick's life, as set down by John 
 Rous, chantry priest and antiquary, and almost a con- 
 temporary of the great earl, reads like a roman d'aven- 
 ture." When the time came to write, Malory had no 
 need to "get up" his subject. He had spent all his 
 years from his very youth in studying it. 
 
 Beauchamp died in 1439; but probably Malory's 
 connection with his house was unbroken. The Earl 
 of Warwick -possessed large possessions and immense 
 influence all over the midland counties; and Henry, 
 the son of Richard, "a seemly lord of person," appeared 
 likely to occupy a scarcely less important position. 
 But at the age of twenty-two — 
 
 'Our flower was in flushing 
 
 When blighting was nearest" — 
 
 he diea; and then only Henry's daughter's life lay 
 between Richard Neville, the future "King-maker," 
 who had married Anne, a sister of Henry's, and the 
 Earldom of Warwick. That daughter survived her 
 father only three years; and in 1449 Richard Neville 
 became Earl of Warwick. 
 
 Meanwhile Sir John Malory has been succeeded by 
 his son Thomas, in 1433 or '4; and Sir Thomas has 
 been one of the representatives of his county in the 
 Parliament of 1444 and '5. 
 
X INTRODUCTION". 
 
 At present we know little of Sir Thomas' career 
 beyond the three facts already mentioned. As we have 
 said, it may be presumed that his attachment to the 
 family of Beauchamp, three times linked by marriage 
 with the family of Neville, continued firm and true, 
 when the title of Warwick was held no longer by a 
 Beauchamp but by a Neville. And at the beginning of 
 the Wars of the Roses we may believe with fair cer- 
 tainty that Sir Thomas Malory sided with the Earl 
 of Warwick, whose vigor and prowess were then win- 
 ning him the title of the King-maker; nor can his so 
 siding, if the circumstances of the kingdom and the 
 absolute incompetence of Henry VI. are considered, 
 excite any mistrust of his judgment or of his patriot- 
 ism. We find him marching under Edward IV. in 
 iz|.62 against the Lancastrian forces in the North. In 
 some "Brief Notes of occurrences under Henry VI. 
 and Edward IV.," published by the Camden Society 
 (1880) from a Lambeth Library MS., we have given 
 "the names of dukes, earls, barons, and knights being 
 with our sovereign lord King Edward in his journey 
 into Scotland at the feast of Saint Andrew in the 
 month of December anno domini MCCCCLXII.," 
 and amongst the "milites" or knights is mentioned 
 "Thomas Malory." 
 
 But in a year or two, as is well known, there began 
 to be strained relations between the Yorkist king and 
 the subject to whom he owed so much. Probably 
 
INTRODTJCTION". xi 
 
 enough the yoke of the Nevilles was felt to be intoler- 
 able, and a prince never notable for any habit of self- 
 restraint resolved to throw it off altogether. It would 
 seem that for some time Sir Thomas Malory adhered 
 to the King-maker ; for in the autumn of 1468 we find 
 him specially with several others excepted from the 
 King's pardon. For this discovery, as mentioned 
 above, we have to thank Mr. T. W. Williams. "Af- 
 ter a long list of subjects in general to which the par- 
 don extends" — we quote from the Historical MSS. 
 Commission's Report on the MSS. of Wells Cathe- 
 dral — "it is provided that it shall not extend to any 
 transgressions committed subsequent [sic] to March 
 4, anno regni 5° [i. e. March 4, 1465] ; nor to Hum- 
 phry Nevyll miles, Thomas Malorie miles; Robert 
 Marchall of Culveham in Oxford county, armiger; 
 nor to Hugh MuUe, late of London, gentilman; Ger- 
 vase Clyston [Clyfton?] late of London, miles; Wil- 
 liam Verdon, late of London, scryvener ; Peter House, 
 late of London, armiger," and five others, four of them 
 certainly Welshmen. 
 
 What immediately befell Sir Thomas in conse- 
 quence of this document we do not know. He may 
 have been taken prisoner, or he may have surrendered 
 himself. It is plausibly conjectured by Mr. A. W. 
 Pollard, in the "Bibliographical Note" prefixed to the 
 excellent edition of Le Morte Darthur prepared by 
 him for Messrs. Macmillan, that the author was for a 
 
xii INTRODUCTIOK. 
 
 time in prison, and that some part at least of his ad- 
 mirable version was executed while he was a prisoner, 
 presumably in the Tower, with the shadow of death 
 enveloping him. His study was a dungeon, as was 
 Raleigh's and Bunyan's. Mr. Pollard calls attention 
 to a passage in which a personal cry seems audible, 
 though he is speaking of the woe of another. "So 
 Sir Tristram," writes Malory, "endured there [in Sir 
 Darras' cell] great pain, for sickness had overtaken 
 him, and that is the greatest pain a prisoner may have. 
 For all the while a prisoner may have his health of 
 body he may endure under the mercy of God and in 
 hope of good deliverance ; but when sickness toucheth 
 a prisoner's body, then may a prisoner say all wealth 
 is him bereft, and then he hath cause to wail and to 
 weep. Right so did Sir Tristram when sickness had 
 undertaken him; for then he took such sorrow that 
 he had almost slain himself" (Book ix., chap. 37). 
 And the closing words of the last chapter of the last 
 Book, taken in connection with a phrase in the pas- 
 sage just quoted, seem to imply that he was still a 
 prisoner : "Pray for me," he says, "while I am on live 
 that God send me good deliverance, and when I am 
 dead, I pray you all pray for my soul." 
 
 These closing words were written in "the ninth 
 year of King Edward the Fourth," i. e. in the year be- 
 ginning on March 4, 1469, and ending on March 3, 
 1470. Very possibly Sir Thomas was pardoned and 
 
INTEODUCTION. xiii 
 
 set free in the autumn of 1469, when a general am- 
 nesty was proclaimed. The author of this historical 
 fragment printed by Hearne at the end of his edition 
 of Sprott's Chronicle tells us how certain rebels were 
 pardoned soon after All-Hallow-tide, 1469 ; and so the 
 author of the Chronicle of the Rebellion in Lincoln- 
 shire, 1470, published in the Camden Society Miscel- 
 lany, 1847, records how "our said sovereign lord [Ed- 
 ward IV.], as a prince inclined to show his mercy and 
 pity to his subjects rather than rigor and straitness of 
 his laws, pardoned of late to his said rebels all treasons 
 and felonies, trespasses and offences committed and 
 done by them against his Highness afore the feast of 
 Christenmas last past, trusting that thereby he should 
 have couraged, caused, and induced them from that 
 time forth to have been of good, kind, and loving de- 
 meanour against his Highness." And Fabian in his 
 London Chronicle states that "this year [1469], soon 
 after All-hallow-tide proclamations were made thor- 
 ough the city of London that the King had pardoned 
 the northern men of their riot, and as well for the 
 death of the Lord Rivers as all displeasures by them 
 before that time done." Those amnesties have a spe- 
 cial reference, no doubt; but they serve to indicate 
 what was a fact, that a hopeful, however vain, attempt 
 was made that autumn to bring about a better condi- 
 tion of things that might lead to a permanent peace; 
 and we may justifiably suppose it was then that Ma- 
 
xiv INTRODUCTION. 
 
 lory was released from his durance vile, which how- 
 ever he had turned to such excellent account. 
 
 It may further be supposed that by this time he 
 was fully aware of the disloyalty and treason of his 
 feudal lord, and that he now finally severed himself 
 from dubious intrigues which had long been approach- 
 ing and were now manifestly reaching rebellion. The 
 King-maker had become more and more self-seeking 
 in his aims and purposes; his personal wrongs — it 
 may be allowed the King he had made treated him 
 somewhat ungratefully — outweighed all patriotic con- 
 siderations; his country was once more to be ravaged 
 by civil war, and an alliance formed with the party 
 he had so long detested and crushed rather than the 
 house of Neville should suffer any slight or suppres- 
 sion. We venture to suggest that Malory's adherence 
 to this Earl of Warwick ended when the said Earl 
 turned traitor to all the principles that had determined 
 his career before the rise of the Woodvilles. We may 
 believe that Malory shared Warwick's dislike of that 
 sC suddenly and extravagantly promoted family, and 
 was 3ot unready to intrigue against it; but it seems 
 clear that he was not one of those who out of spite 
 against the Woodvilles or out of devotion to the 
 Nevilles withdrew their allegiance from the dynasty of 
 York. The passage at the close of his work, from 
 which we have already made a quotation, fully recog- 
 nizes the domination of Edward IV., and it was writ 
 
INTEODUCTION. xv 
 
 ten just when Warwick's plans for its overthrow- 
 plans of which Malory must have had knowledge — 
 were fully maturing, if not matured. In fact the 
 breach between the King and his "maker" was then 
 irreparable, however specious the faces they wore or 
 tried to wear. There can be little doubt, the date of 
 the writing considered, that in the beginning of his 
 last book Malory is in his own mind protesting against 
 renewed unsettlement and revolution. He has men- 
 tioned how the people had in large numbers deserted 
 King Arthur for the upstart Mordred, and apos- 
 trophizes all Englishmen to see "what a mischief here 
 was." "Now might not," he adds, "these Englishmen 
 hold us_[sic] content with him. Lo, thus was the old 
 custom and usage of this land. And also men say 
 that we of this land have not yet lost nor forgotten 
 that custom and usage. Alas, this is a great default 
 of all Englishmen, for there may no thing please us no 
 term." Surely this is a manifest remonstrance against 
 the re-opening of a war that had already cost England 
 so much blood, and been carried on with such brutal 
 fury. 
 
 And Malory was now an old man — for the Middle 
 Ages a very old man; he had lived his three score 
 years and ten; and they were not "by reason of 
 strength" to be four score years. 
 
 He died in the spring of 1471, on March 14th, 
 according to the inscription on his tomb as preserved 
 
xvi INTEODUCTION. 
 
 in the Grey Friars Register (see the 5th volume of 
 the Collectanea Topographica et Genealogica) , or on 
 the 1 2th, according to the Inquis. post mortem, as 
 noted by Mr. A. T. Martin. He was buried in one of 
 the chapels of one of the most glorious churches of 
 medieval London — the church of the Grey Friars, just 
 to the north of St. Paul's Cathedral. Queens, duch- 
 esses, countesses, earls, barons, "and some thirty-four 
 knights," "in all six hundred sixty and three persons 
 of quality," lay or were to lie there. Not far off was 
 the field where he had witnessed many such a chival- 
 rous encounter as he so fondly chronicles, or where 
 he had himself jousted : 
 
 Like that Arthur who with lance in rest. 
 From spur to plume a star of tournament. 
 Shot thro' the lists of Camelot, and charged 
 Before the eyes of ladies and of Kings. 
 
 JOHN W. HALES. 
 
" Herein may be seen noble chivalry, courtesy, humanity, 
 friendliness, hardiness, love, friendship, cowardice, murder, hate, 
 virtue, sin. Do after the good, and leave the evil, and it shall 
 bring you to good fame and renown. . . . 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." William Caxton. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 KING ARTHUR— 
 
 PAGB 
 
 The Marvel of the Sword I 
 
 How Arthur was Crowned King 5 
 
 The Siege of the Strong Tower 9 
 
 The Battle of the Kings 14 
 
 A Prophecy of Doom ■. . 17 
 
 The Knight of the Fountain 21 
 
 The Sword Excalibur 27 
 
 The Round Table 31 
 
 The Marvellous Adventure of the Magic Ship.. 35 
 
 The False Craft of Morgan le Fay 40 
 
 How King Arthur got his own Sword again . . 44 
 
 The Mantle of Precious Stones 50 
 
 The Dream of the Dragon and the Boar 55 
 
 SIR LANCELOT OF THE LAKE- 
 
 The Strong Knight of the Forest 63 
 
 The Four Queens 67 
 
 The Manor by the Ford 73 
 
 How Sir Lancelot slew two Giants 81 
 
 Chapel Perilous and the Wicked Sorceress. ... 89 
 
 The Deceit of the Falcon 96 
 
 THE BOY OF THE KITCHEN— 
 
 The Three Gifts lol 
 
 The Scornful Damsel 107 
 
XX CONTENTS. 
 
 ^ PAGE 
 
 The Black Knight of the Black Lawns 113 
 
 The Green Knight 118 
 
 The Scornful Damsel grows Kind 123 
 
 The Red Knight of the Red Lawns 132 
 
 The Lady of Castle Perilous 136 
 
 THE FOREST KNIGHT— 
 
 The Boyhood of Tristram 143 
 
 A Knight Royal 149 
 
 La Belle Iseult 157 
 
 The Broken Sword 163 
 
 How Sir Tristram came to Camelot 168 
 
 "Rather Death than Dishonor'' 173 
 
 The Magic Draught 178 
 
 The Drinking-Horn of Morgan le Fay 184 
 
 Iseult of Brittany 189 
 
 The Forest of Strange Adventures 194 
 
 The Wild Man of the Woods 201 
 
 "For Love of Sir Lancelot !" 207 
 
 The False Treason of Morgan le Fay 213 
 
 At the Castle of Maidens 219 
 
 The Third Day of f he Tournament 224 
 
 The Quest of the Ten Knights 228 
 
 The Strange Shield of Morgan le Fay 234 
 
 The Tombstone by the River of Camelot 242 
 
 KING fox- 
 Out of Cornwall into England 249 
 
 A False Knight-Coward , 255 
 
 Chased by the King's Fool 261 
 
 King Fox at Camelot 266 
 
 "Beware, I counsel thee, of treachery!" 271 
 
 The Siege of Tintagel Castle .■ 277 
 
 "False hast thou ever been ; so wilt thou end !".. 283 
 
CONTENTS. xxi 
 
 THE QUEST OF THE HOLY GRAIL^ 
 
 PAGE 
 
 The Siege Perilous 292 
 
 How Galahad was made Knight 297 
 
 Marvels, and Greater Marvels 302 
 
 The Last Tournament 308 
 
 Sir Galahad's White Shield 316 
 
 The Adventure of the Crown of Gold 321 
 
 The Castle of Maidens 326 
 
 The Vision at the Chapel in the Forest 331 
 
 The Repentance of Sir Lancelot 335 
 
 The Chamber with the Shut Door 340 
 
 How Sir Galahad saw the Holy Grail 347 
 
 THE DEATH OF ARTHUR— 
 
 The Departing of Sir Lancelot 354 
 
 The Vengeance of Sir Gawaine 362 
 
 The Battle in the West 368 
 
 "The Noblest Knight of the World" 375 
 
KING ARTHUR AND HIS 
 NOBLE KNIGHTS. 
 
 KING ARTHUR. 
 
 THE MARVEL OF THE SWORD. 
 
 When Uther Pendragon, King of England, died, 
 the country for a long while stood in great danger, 
 for every lord that was mighty gathered his forces, 
 and many wished to be King. For King Uther's 
 own son. Prince Arthur, who should have succeeded 
 him, was but a child, and Merlin, the mighty magician, 
 had hidden him away. 
 
 Now a strange thing had happened at Arthur's 
 birth, and this was how it was. 
 
 Some time before Merlin had done Uther a great 
 service, on condition that the King should grant him 
 whatever he wished for. This the King swore a 
 solemn oath to do. Then Merlin made him promise 
 that when his child was born it should be delivered to 
 Merlin to bring up as he chose, for this would be to 
 the child's own great advantage. The King had given 
 his promise so he was obliged to agree. Then Merlin 
 
2 KING ARTHUE AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 said he knew a very true and faithful man, one of 
 King Uther's lords, by name Sir Ector, who had 
 large possessions in many parts of England and Wales, 
 and that the child should be given to him to bring up. 
 
 On the night the baby was born, while it was still 
 unchristened, King Uther commanded two knights and 
 two ladies to take it, wrapped in a cloth of gold, and 
 deliver it to a poor man whom they would find waiting 
 at the postern gate of the Castle. This poor man was 
 Merlin in disguise, although they did not know it. 
 So the child was delivered unto Merlin and he carried 
 him to Sir Ector, and made a holy man christen him, 
 and named him Arthur ; and Sir Ector's wife cherished 
 him as her own child. 
 
 Within two years King Uther fell sick of a great 
 malady, and for three days and three nights he was 
 speechless. All the Barons were in much sorrow, and 
 asked Merlin what was best to be done. 
 
 "There is no remedy," said Merlin, "God will have 
 His Will. But look ye all, Barons, come before King 
 Uther to-morrow, and God will make him speak." .: 
 
 So the next day Merlin and all the Barons came 
 before the King, and Merlin said aloud to King Uther : 
 
 "Sir, after your days shall your son Arthur be 
 King of this realm and all that belongs to it ?" 
 
 Then Uther Pendragon turned him and said in 
 hearing of them all : 
 
 "I give my son Arthur God's blessing and mine, and 
 
THE MARVEL OF THE SWORD. 3 
 
 bid him pray for my soul, and righteously and honor- 
 ably claim the Crown, on forfeiture of my blessing." 
 
 And with that. King Uther died. 
 
 But Arthur was still only a baby, not two years 
 old, and Merlin knew it would be no use yet to pro- 
 claim him King. For there were many powerful 
 nobles in England in those days, who were all trying 
 to get the kingdom for themselves, and perhaps they 
 would kill the little Prince. So there was much strife 
 and debate in the land for a long time. 
 
 When several years had passed. Merlin went to the 
 Archbishop of Canterbury and counselled him to send 
 for all the lords of the realm, and all the gentlemen 
 of arms, that they should come to London at Christmas, 
 and for this cause — that a miracle would show who 
 should be rightly King of the realm. So all ,the lords 
 and gentlemen made themselves ready, and came to 
 London, and long before dawn on Christmas Day they 
 were all gathered in the great church of St. Paul's to 
 pray. 
 
 When the first service was over, there was seen in the 
 churchyard a large stone, four-square, like marble, and 
 in the midst of it was like an anvil of steel, a foot high. 
 In this was stuck by the point a beautiful sword, with 
 naked blade, and there were letters written in gold about 
 the sword, which said thus : 
 
 "Whoso pulleth this sword out of this stone and 
 anvil is rightly King of all England." 
 
4 KING AETHUE AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 Then the people marvelled, and told it to the Arch- 
 bishop. 
 
 "I command," said the Archbishop, "that you keep 
 within the church, and pray unto dod still; and that 
 no man touch the sword till the service is over." 
 
 So when the prayers in church were over, all the 
 lords went to behold the stone and the sword; and 
 when they read the writing some of them — such as 
 wished to be King — ^tried to pull the sword out of the 
 anvil. But not one could make it stir. 
 
 "The man is not here, that shall achieve the sword," 
 said the Archbishop, "but doubt not God will make 
 him known. But let us provide ten knights, men of 
 good fame, to keep guard over the sword." 
 
 So it was ordained, and proclamation was made that 
 every one who wished might try to win the sword. 
 And upon New Year's Day the Barons arranged to 
 have a great tournament, in which all knights who 
 would joust or tourney might take a part. This was 
 ordained to keep together the Lords and Commons, for 
 the Archbishop trusted that it would be made known 
 who should win the sword. 
 
 How Arthur was Crowned King. 
 
 On New Year's Day, after church, the Barons rode 
 to the field, some to joust, and some to tourney, and 
 so it happened that Sir Ector, who had large estates 
 
HOW ARTHUR WAS CROWNED KING. 5 
 
 near London, came also to the tournament; and with 
 him rode Sir Kay, his son, with young Arthur, his 
 foster brother. 
 
 As they rode. Sir Kay found he had lost his sword, 
 for he had left it at his father's lodging, so he begged 
 young Arthur to go and fetch it for him. 
 
 "That will I, gladly," said Arthur, and he rode 
 fast away. 
 
 But when he came to the house, he found no one 
 at home to give him the sword, for every one had gone 
 to see the jousting. Then Arthur was angry 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." 
 
 When he came to the churchyard he alighted, and 
 tied his horse to the stile, and went to the tent. But 
 he found there no knights, who should have been 
 guarding the sword, for they were all away at the 
 joust. Seizing the sword by the handle he lightly and 
 fiercely pulled it out of the stone, then took his horse 
 and rode his way, till he came to Sir Kay his brother, 
 to whom he delivered the sword. 
 
 As soon as Sir Kay saw it, he knew well it was the 
 sword of the Stone, 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." 
 
6 KING AETHUE AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 When Sir Ector saw the sword he turned back, and 
 came to the church, and there they all three alighted 
 and went into the church, and he made his son swear 
 truly how he got the sword. 
 
 "By my brother Arthur," said Sir Kay, "for he 
 brought it to me." 
 
 "How did you get this sword?" said Sir Ector to 
 Arthur. 
 
 And the boy told him. 
 
 "Now," said Sir Ector, "I understand you must be 
 King of this land." 
 
 "Wherefore I?" said Arthur; "and for what cause?" 
 
 "Sir," said Ector, "because God will have it so; for 
 never man could draw out this sword but he that shall 
 rightly be King. Now let me see whether you can 
 put the sword there as it was, and puirit out again." 
 
 "There is no difficulty," said Arthur, and he put it 
 back into the stone. 
 
 Then Sir Ector tried to pull out the sword, and 
 failed; and Sir Kay also pulled with all his might, but 
 it would not move. 
 
 "Now you shall try," said Sir Ector to Arthur. 
 
 "I will, well," said Arthur, and pulled the sword 
 out easily. 
 
 At this Sir Ector and Sir Kay knelt down on the 
 ground before him. 
 
 "Alas," said Arthur, "mine own dear father and 
 brother, why do you kneel to me ?" 
 
HOW AETHUK WAS CEOWNED KING. T 
 
 "Nay, nay, my lord Arthur, it is not so ; I was 
 never your father, nor of your blood ; but I know well 
 you are of higher blood than I thought you were." 
 
 Then Sir Ector told him all, how he had taken him 
 to bring up, and by whose command ; and how he had 
 received him from Merlin., And when he understood 
 that Ector was not his father, Arthur was deeply 
 grieved. 
 
 "Will you be my good, gracious lord, when you 
 are King?" asked the knight. 
 
 "If not, I should be to blame," said Arthur, "for 
 you are the man in the world to whom I am the 
 most beholden, and my good lady and mother your 
 wife, who has fostered and kept me as well as her 
 own children. And if ever it be God's will that I be 
 King, as you say, you shall desire of me what I 
 shall do, and I shall not fail you ; God forbid I should 
 fail you." 
 
 "Sir," said Sir Ector, "I will ask no more of you 
 but that you will make my son, your foster brother 
 Sir Kay, seneschal of all your lands." 
 
 "That shall be done," said Arthur, "and by my 
 faith, never man but he shall have that office while he 
 and I live." 
 
 Then they went to the Archbishop and told him 
 how the sword was achieved, and by whom. 
 
 On Twelfth Day all the Barons came to the Stone 
 in the churchyard, so that any who wished might try to 
 
8 KING AETHUE AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 • 
 
 win the sword. But not one of them all could take it 
 out, except Arthur. Many of them therefore were 
 very angry, and said it was a great shame to them 
 and to the country to be governed by a boy not of high 
 blood, for as yet none of them knew that he was the 
 son of King Uther Pendragon. So they agreed to 
 delay the decision till Candlemas, which is the second 
 day of February. 
 
 But when Candlemas came, and Arthur once more 
 was the only one who could pull out the sword, they 
 put it off till Easter; and when Easter came, and 
 Arthur again prevailed in presence of them all, they 
 put it off till the Feast of Pentecost. 
 
 Then by Merlin's advice the Archbishop summoned 
 some of the best knights that were to be got — such 
 knights as in his own day King Uther Pendragon had 
 best loved and trusted most — and these were appointed 
 to attend young Arthur, and never to leave him night 
 or day till the Feast of Pentecost. 
 
 When the great day came, all manner of men once 
 more made the attempt, and once more not one of them 
 all could prevail but Arthur. Before all the Lords and 
 Commons there assembled he pulled out the sword, 
 whereupon all the Commons cried out at once : 
 
 "We will have Arthur for our King! We will put 
 him no more in delay, for we all see that it is God's 
 will that he shall be our King, and he who holdeth 
 against it, we will slay him." 
 
SIEGE OF THE STRONG TOWER. 9 
 
 And therewith they knelt down all at once, both rich 
 and poor, and besought pardon of Arthur, because they 
 had delayed him so long. 
 
 And Arthur forgave them, and took the sword in 
 both his hands, and offered it on the altar where the 
 Archbishop was, and so he was made knight by the best 
 man there. 
 
 After that, he was crowned at once, and there he 
 swore to his Lords and Commons to be a true King, 
 and to govern with true justice from thenceforth all 
 the days of his life. 
 
 THE SIEGE OF THE STRONG TOWER. 
 
 After Arthur was crowned King many complaints 
 were made to him of great wrongs that had been done 
 since the death of King Uther; many Lords, Knights, 
 Ladies and Gentlemen having been deprived of their 
 lands. Thereupon King Arthur caused the lands to be 
 given again to them that owned them. When this was 
 done, and all the districts around London were settled, 
 he made Sir Kay Seneschal of England, Sir Baldwin 
 Constable ■■ of Britain, and Sir Ulfius, Chamberlain; 
 while Sir Brastias was appointed Warden of the 
 country north of the Trent. Most of this land was 
 then held by the King's enemies, but within a few years 
 Arthur had won all the north. 
 
10 KING AETHUE AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 Some parts of Wales still stood out against him, but 
 in due time he overcame them all, as he did the r^st, 
 by the noble prowess of himself, and the Knights of 
 the Round Table. 
 
 Then King Arthur went into Wales, and proclaimed 
 a great feast, to be held at Pentecost, after his crown- 
 ing in the city of Carieon. To this feast came many 
 rich and powerful Kings, with great retinues of 
 knights. Arthur was glad of their coming, for he 
 thought that the Kings and knights had come in love, 
 and to do him honor at his feast, wherefore he rejoiced 
 greatly, and sent them rich presents. 
 
 The Kings, however, would receive none of them, 
 but rebuked the messengers shamefully, saying it gave 
 them no pleasure to receive gifts from a beardless boy 
 of low blood. They sent him word that they would 
 have none of his gifts, but they would come and give 
 him gifts with hard swords betwixt the neck and the 
 shoulders. It was for that they came hither, so they 
 told the messengers plainly, for it was a great shame to 
 them all to see such a boy have the rule of so noble a 
 realm as this land. 
 
 When the messengers brought this answer to King 
 Arthur, by the advice of his Barons he betook himself 
 with five hundred good men to a strong tower. And 
 all the Kings laid siege to him, but King Arthur had 
 plenty of food. 
 
 Within fifteen days Merlin, the great magician, 
 
SIEGE OP THE STEONG TOWEE. 11 
 
 came into the city of Carleon. All the Kings were 
 very glad to see him, and asked hijn : 
 
 "For what cause is that boy Arthur made your 
 King?" 
 
 "Sirs," said Merlin, "I will tell you the cause, 
 because he is King Uther Pendragon's son. And who- 
 soever saith 'Nay,' Arthur shall be King, and overcome 
 all his enemies, and before he dies he shall long have 
 been King of ^11 England, and have under his sway 
 Wales, Ireland, and Scotland, and more realms than I 
 will now relate." 
 
 Some of the Kings marvelled at Merlin's words, 
 and deemed it well that it should be as he said; and 
 some of them, such as King Lot of Orkney, laughed at 
 him; and others called him a wizard. But they all 
 consented that King Arthur should come out and speak 
 with them, and gave their assurance that he should 
 come safely and should return safely. 
 
 So Merlin went to King Arthur, and told him what 
 he had done, and bade him fear not, but come out 
 boldly and speak with them. 
 
 "Spare them ndt," he said> "but answer them as 
 their King and Chieftain, for ye shall overcome them 
 all, whether they will or not." 
 
 Then King Arthur came out of his tower, having 
 under his gown a cuirass of double mail; and there 
 went with him the Archbishop of Canterbury, and Sir 
 Baldwin, Sir Kay, and Sir Brastias. When he met the 
 
12 KING AETHUE AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 Kings there was no meekness, but stout words on both 
 sides, King Arthur ready with an answer to all they 
 said, and declaring that if he lived he would make them 
 bow. They departed therefore in wrath, and King 
 Arthur returned to the tower and armed himself and 
 all his knights. 
 
 "What will you do?" said Merlin to the Kings; 
 "you had better refrain, for you will not prevail here, 
 were you ten times as many." 
 
 "Are we well advised to be afraid of a dream- 
 reader?" sneered King Lot. 
 
 With that. Merlin vanished away, and came to 
 King Arthur, and bade him spt on them fiercely. And 
 the magician counselled Arthur not to fight at first with 
 the sword he had got by a miracle ; but if he found him- 
 self getting the worst of the fight, then to draw it and 
 do his best. 
 
 Meanwhile, three hundred of the best men who 
 were with the Kings, went straight over to Arthur, and 
 this comforted him greatly. All his knights fought 
 gallantly, and the battle raged with fury. King Arthur 
 himself was ever in the foremost of the press, till his 
 horse was slain underneath him. And therewith King 
 Lot smote down King Arthur. 
 
 Four of his knights rescued him and set him on 
 horseback. Then he drew forth his sword, and it was 
 so bright in his enemies' eyes that it gave light like 
 thirty torches; and thus he drove back his foes and 
 slew many of them. 
 
SIEGE OF THE STKONG TOWER 
 
 13 
 
 Then the citizens of Carleon arose with clubs and 
 stones, and slew many knights. But all the Kings 
 
 banded together with their knights who were alive, and 
 so fled and departed. 
 
 And Merlin came to Arthur, and counselled him to 
 follow them no farther. 
 
U KING ARTHUE AFD HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 THE BATTLE OF THE KINGS. 
 
 After the feast and the tourney Arthur came to 
 London, and called all his Barons to a Council. For 
 Merlin had told him that the six Kings who had made 
 war upon him, and whom he had defeated, would hasten 
 to wreak their vengeance on him and his lands. The 
 Barons could give no counsel, but said they were big 
 enough to fight. 
 
 "You say well," said Arthur, "I thank you for 
 your good courage; but will all of you who love me 
 speak with Merlin? You know well that he has done 
 much for me, and knows many things, and when he is 
 with you I wish that you would beseech him to give 
 you his best advice." 
 
 All the Barons said they would gladly hear what 
 Merlin counselled, so the magician was sent for. 
 
 "I warn you well," said Merlin, "that your enemies 
 are passing strong for you, and they are as good men 
 of arms as any aliVe. By this time, too, they have got 
 to themselves four Kings more, and a mighty Duke, 
 and unless our King can get more horsemen with him 
 than are to be found within the bounds of his own 
 realm, if he fight with them in battle he shall be over- 
 come and slain." 
 
 "What is best to be done?" asked the Barons. 
 
 "1 will tell you my advice," said Merlin. "There 
 
THE BATTLE OF THE KINGS. 15 
 
 are two brethren beyond the sea, and they are both 
 Kings, and marvellously powerful men. One is called 
 King Ban, of Benwick, and the other King Bors, of 
 Gaul — that is, France. And against these two brothers 
 wars a mighty man, the King Claudas, and strives with 
 them for a castle ; and there is great war betwixt them. . 
 But because Claudas is very rich he gets many good 
 knights to fight for him, and for the most part puts 
 these two Kings to the worse. Now this is my counsel 
 — that our King and Sovereign Lord send to Kings 
 Ban and Bors two trusty knights, with letters stating 
 that if they will come and see Artlaur and his Court, 
 and help him in his wars, then he will swear to help 
 them in their wars against King Claudas. Now, what 
 do you say to this counsel?" 
 
 "This is well counselled!" said the King and the 
 Barons. 
 
 So in all haste it was settled. 
 
 Ulfius and Brastias were chosen as the messengers, 
 and they rode forth well-horsed and well-armed; and 
 so crossed the sea, and rode towards the city of Ben- 
 wick. Here in a narrow place they vi^ere attacked by 
 eight knights of King Claudas, who tried to kill them 
 or take them prisoners. But Ulfius and Brastias, 
 fighting with them two by two, in turn overcame them 
 all, and left them lying sorely hurt and bruised on the 
 field. 
 
 When they came to Benwick it fortunately happened 
 
16 KING AETHUE AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 that both the Kings, Ban and Bors, were there. As 
 soon as the Kings knew they were messengers of 
 Arthur's, they gave them the very heartiest greeting, 
 and when Ban and Bors read the letters, they were 
 made even more welcome than before. 
 
 So Ulfius and Brastias had good cheer, and rich 
 gifts, as many as they could carry away, and they took 
 back this answer with them — that the two Kings would 
 come to Arthur in all the haste they could. 
 
 King Arthur was very glad to get this message, 
 and, when the time came for the Kings to arrive, he 
 proclaimed a great feast and went ten miles out of 
 London to meet them. After the feast there was a 
 splendid tournament, in which seven hundred knights 
 took part. Arthur, Ban, and Bors, with the Arch- 
 bishop of Canterbury, and Sir Ector (Kay's father) 
 sat in a place covered with cloth of gold, like a hall, 
 with ladies and gentlewomen, to behold who did best, 
 and to give judgment thereon. The knights who won 
 the prizes were three of King Arthur's household. Sir 
 Kay, Sir Lucas, and Sir Griflet. 
 
 With the help of King Ban and King Bors Arthur 
 utterly defeated and put to rout the eleven Kings who 
 were warring against him. When his enemies were 
 scattered, King Ban and King Bors, laden with rich 
 gifts, returned to their own countries. And they 
 made a compact with Arthur that if they had need of 
 him to help them against King Claudas, they would 
 
A PROPHECY OF DOOM. 17 
 
 send to him for succor; and on the other hand, if 
 Arthur had need of them, he was to send, and they 
 would not tarry. 
 
 A PROPHECY OF DOOM. 
 
 After the departure of Ban and Bors King Arthur 
 rode to Carleon. Then there arrived the wife of King 
 Lot of Orkney, one of the Kings who had been 
 fighting against him. She came in great state, in the 
 manner of a messenger, but it was really to spy the 
 Court of King Arthur. With her were her four sons, 
 Gawaine, Gaheris, Agrlvaine, and Gareth, and many 
 other knights and ladies. Though very cunning and 
 deceitful she was a most beautiful woman, therefore 
 she quite won the heart of King Arthur. He did not 
 know that in reality she was his own half-sister, for 
 she was the daughter of his mother Igraine, who 
 before her marriage with Uther PendragcAi had been 
 the wife of a mighty Duke of Cornwall. Another 
 daughter was Morgan le Fay, who was also extremely 
 beautiful and treacherous, and well skilled in magic. 
 
 King Lot's wife stayed a month at Carleon, and 
 then went away, and after her departure King Arthur 
 dreamed a marvellous dream, which filled him with 
 great dread. He thought that there came into this 
 land griffins and serpents; and he thought that they 
 burnt and slew all the people in the land, and then he 
 thought he fought with them, and they did him passing 
 
18 KING ARTHTJE AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 great harm, and wounded him sorely, but at the last 
 he slew them. 
 
 When the King awoke he was very sorrowful 
 because of his dream, and so to put it out of his 
 thoughts he made ready with many knights to ride 
 hunting. As soon as he was in the forest the King 
 saw a great hart before him, and he rode after it so 
 fast that his poor horse fell exhausted. 
 
 While the King was sitting waiting for one of his 
 men to fetch him another horse, Merlin came by in 
 the likeness of a child of fourteen years, and saluting 
 the King, asked why he was so pensive. Arthur 
 replied that he had much to make him pensive, 
 whereupon Merlin made him very angry by saying he 
 knew all his thoughts, who he was, and all about him. 
 Then Merlin departed", and presently came again in 
 the likeness of an old man of four-score years of age, 
 and in this guise he again asked the King why he was 
 so sad. 
 
 "I may well be sad," said Arthur, "because of 
 many things." 
 
 And he told the old man about his dream, and also 
 about the strange child who had just been there, and 
 who had told him things he never knew before about 
 his own father and mother. Then Merlin told him 
 that everything the child said was quite true; and he 
 went on to say that in the years to come much evil 
 would fall upon the land, for King Lot's wife would 
 
A PROriTECY OF DOOM. 19 
 
 have a child who would destroy Arthur and all the 
 knights of his realm. 
 
 "What are you," said Arthur, "that tell me these 
 tidings?" 
 
 "I am Merlin," replied the magician, "and I was 
 he in the child's likeness." 
 
 "Ah," said King Arthur, "you are a marvellous 
 man; but I wonder much at your words that I must 
 die in battle." 
 
 "Wonder not," said Merlin, "for it is God's will 
 to punish your body for wrong deeds done on earth. 
 But / may well be sorry," added the old man, "for I 
 shall die a shameful death — to be put into the earth 
 alive; but you shall die an honorable death." 
 
 As they talked thus, there came one with the King's 
 hor^e, so Arthur mounted, and Merlin got on another 
 horse, and they rode to Carleon. 
 
 The prophecy that Merlin foretold of his own 
 death really came to pass. For some years later the 
 great magician fell in love with a damsel of the Court, 
 named Nimue, or as some call her "Vivien," who pre- 
 tended to like him in return till she had learned all 
 manner of things that she desired. He taught her all 
 kinds of magic and enchantments, so that she could 
 work spells herself. But Merlin got so foolish in his 
 affection that he would never let her out of his sight, 
 and the lady grew quite weary of his love, and longed 
 to be free. She was afraid of Merlin because he was a 
 
20 KING AETHUR AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 magician, and she could find no way to get rid of him. 
 
 At last it happened that once Merlin showed her a 
 ■ wonderful rock, in which was a great stone that worked 
 by enchantment. Then Nimue cunningly persuaded 
 Merlin to step into the rock to let her know of the 
 marvels there, but when he was once inside she replaced 
 the great stone by the spells he had taught her, so that 
 ir spite of all his crafts he could never again come out. 
 Then Nimue fled away and left Merlin in the rock. 
 
 Thus the prophecy relating to his own fate was ful- 
 filled, and later on what he had foretold with regard to 
 King Arthur also came to pass. For Merlin once said 
 that the person who should destroy Arthur should 
 be born on May-Day. So the King sent for all the 
 children who were born on the first of May ; there were 
 a great many sons of lords and ladies, and among the 
 rest was his nephew Mordred, the son of King Lot's 
 wife. All the children were put into a ship, and sent 
 away out of the country, and some were only four 
 weeks old. But the ship drove against a rock, and was 
 wrecked to pieces, and all the children perished, except- 
 ing one. Little Mordred was cast up by the sea, and 
 a good man found him, and took care of him till he 
 was fourteen years old, when he brought him to Court. 
 Mordred, like his mother, was very sly and treacherous, 
 and as will be seen later on he brought much misery 
 on the noble fellowship of the Knights of the Round 
 Table. 
 
k:night of the fountain*. n 
 
 Many of the lords and barons of the realm were 
 very angry because of this loss of their children; but 
 many put the blame more on Merlin than on Arthur; 
 so what for dread and for love they held their peace. 
 
 I 
 
 THE KNIGHT OF THE FOUNTAIN. 
 
 When King Arthur learned from Merlin that his 
 mother Igraine was still alive, he sent for her in all 
 haste; and the Queen came, and brought with her 
 Morgan le Fay, her daughter, who was as fair a lady as 
 any might be. Igraine had never known what became 
 of the little babe she entrusted to Merlin, for she had 
 never seen the child afterwards, and did not even know 
 what name was given to it. Then Merlin took the 
 King by the hand, saying, "This is your mother." 
 Therewith Arthur took his mother. Queen Igraine, into 
 his arms, and kissed her, and each wept over the other. 
 Then the King commanded a feast to be held that 
 lasted eight days. 
 
 One day there came to the Court a squire on horse- 
 back, leading a knight before him, wounded to death. 
 He told how there was a knight in the forest who had 
 reared a pavilion by a well, and how he had slain his 
 master, a good knight; and he besought that his 
 master might be buried, and some knight might revenge 
 his death. 
 
 There was much stir in the Court because of this 
 
22 KIXG ARTHUR AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 knight's death, every one giving his advice, and a young 
 squire called Griflet, who was about the same age as 
 Arthur, came to the King, and besought him to make 
 him a knight. 
 
 "Thou art full young and tender," said Arthur, 
 "to take so high an order on thee." 
 
 "Sir," said Griflet, "I beseech you make me knight." 
 
 "Sir, it were great pity to lose Griflet," said Merlin, 
 "for he will be a passing good man when he is of age, 
 abiding with you the term of his life." 
 
 So the King made him knight. 
 
 "Now," he said, "since I have made you knight, 
 you must give me a gift." 
 
 "What you will," said Griflet. 
 
 Then the King made him promise that when he 
 had fought with the knight at the fountain he would 
 return straight to the Court without further debate. 
 
 So Griflet took his horse in great haste, and got 
 ready his shield, and took a spear in his hand, and 
 rode at a gallop till he came to the fountain. There 
 ho saw a rich pavilion, and near by under a cloth stood 
 a fair horse, well saddled and bridled, and on a tree 
 a shield of many colors, and a great spear. Griflet 
 smote on the shield with the butt of his spear, so 
 that the shield fell to the ground. 
 
 With that the knight came out of the pavilion, 
 and said: "Fair knight, why smote you down my 
 shield?" 
 
KNIGHT OF THE FOUNTAIX. 23 
 
 "Because I would joust with you," said Griflet. 
 
 "It is better you do not," said the knight, "for 
 you are but young and lately made knight, and your 
 might is nothing to mine." 
 
 "As for that," said Griflet, "I zvill joust with you." 
 
 "I am loath to do it," said the knight, "but since 
 I needs must, I will make ready. Whence be ye?" 
 
 "Sir, I am of Arthur's Court." 
 
 The two knights ran together, so that Griflet's 
 spear was all shivered to pieces, and therewith the 
 other knight, whose name was Pellinore, smote Griflet 
 through the shield and left side, and broke his own 
 spear, while horse and knight fell down. 
 
 When Pellinore saw Griflet lie so on the ground 
 he alighted, and was very sad, for he thought he had 
 slain him. He unlaced his helm, and gave him air, 
 and set him again on his horse, saying he had a mighty 
 heart, and if he lived he would prove a passing good 
 knight. So Sir Griflet rode back to Court, where 
 great dole was made for him. But through good 
 doctors he was healed and saved. 
 
 King Arthur was very wrathful because of the 
 hurt to Sir Griflet, and he commanded one of his men 
 to have his horse and armor ready waiting for him 
 outside the city before daylight on the following 
 morning. On the morrow, before dawn, he mounted 
 and took spear and shield, telling the man to wait 
 there till he came again. 
 
U KING AETHUR AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 He rode softly till day, and then he was aware of 
 Merlin being chased by three churls, who would have 
 slain him. The King rode towards them, and bade 
 them "Flee, churls!" They were frightened when 
 they saw a knight, and fled. 
 
 "O, Merlin," said Arthur, "here hadst thou been 
 slain, for all thy crafts, had I not been here!" 
 
 "Nay, not so," said Merlin, "for I could save 
 myself if I would. And thou art nearer thy death 
 than I am, for thou art going towards thy death, if 
 God be not thy friend." 
 
 As they went thus talking they came to the fountain, 
 and the rich pavilion there beside it. Then King 
 Arthur was aware where sat a knight, armed, in a 
 chair. 
 
 "Sir Knight," said Arthur, "for what cause abidest 
 thou here, that no knight may ride this way unless he 
 joust with thee? I counsel thee to leave that custom." 
 
 "This custom," said Pellinore, "I have used, and 
 will use, despite who saith nay ; and whoever is grieved 
 with my custom, let him mend it who will." 
 
 "I will amend it," said Arthur. 
 
 "I shall prevent you," sjiid Pellinore. 
 
 He quickly mounted his horse, adjusted his shield, 
 and took his spear. They met so hard against each 
 other's shields that their spears shivered. Thereupon 
 Arthur at once pulled out his sword. 
 
 "Nay, not so," said the knight, "it is fairer that 
 
KNIGHT OF THE FOUNTAIN 25 
 
 we twain run once more together with sharp spears." 
 
 "I will readily," said Arthur, "if I had any more 
 spears." 
 
 "I have enough," said Pellinore. 
 
 A squire came and brought two good spears, and 
 again the knight and the King spurred together with 
 all their might, so that both the spears were broken 
 off short. Then Arthur set hand on his sword. 
 
 "Nay," said the knight, "ye shall do better. Ye 
 are a passing good j ouster as ever I met withal, and for 
 the love of the high order of knighthood let us joust 
 once again." 
 
 "I assent," said Arthur. 
 
 Then two more great spears were brought, and each 
 knight took one, and they ran together, so that Arthur's 
 spear was all shivered. But Pellinore hit him so hard 
 in the middle of the shield that horse and man fell to 
 the earth. Then Arthur eagerly pulled out his sword, 
 saying, "I will assay thee. Sir Knight, on foot, for I 
 have lost the honor on horseback," and he ran towards 
 him with his sword drawn. 
 
 Whes Pellinore saw that, he too alighted, for he 
 thought it no honor to have a knight at such dis- 
 advantage, for himself to be on horseback, and the 
 other on foot. Then began a strong battle with many 
 great strokes, both hacking and hewing, till the field 
 was wet with blood. They fought long, and rested, 
 and then went to battle again. At last they both smote 
 
26 KING AETHUE AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 together, so that their swords met evenly, but Pelli- 
 nore's sword smote Arthur's in two pieces, wherefore 
 the King was much grieved. 
 
 Then said the knight unto Arthur : 
 
 "Thou art in danger whether I choose to save thee 
 or to slay thee ; and unless 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 rather die than be so shamed." And with that 
 he leaped unto Pellinore, and threw him down, and tore 
 off his helm. 
 
 When the knight felt this he was sorely frightened, 
 though he was a very big and mighty man; but he 
 quickly got Arthur underneath, and raised off his helm, 
 and would have smitten off his head. 
 
 But up came Merlin, and said : 
 
 "Knight, hold thy hand, for if thou slay that knight 
 thou puttest this realm in the greatest damage that ever 
 ' realm was in. For this knight is a man of more honor 
 than thou art aware of." 
 
 "Why, who is he?" said Pellinore. 
 
 "It is King Arthur." 
 
 Then Pellinore would have slain himself, for dread 
 of his wrath, and lifted up his sword. But Merlin cast 
 an enchantment on the knight, so that he fell to the 
 earth in a great sleep. 
 
THE SWOED EXCALIBUE. 27 
 
 THE SWORD EXCALIBUR. 
 
 After throwing Pellinore into an enchanted sleep, 
 Merlin took up King Arthur, and rode forth on 
 Pellinore's horse. 
 
 "Alas !" said Arthur, "what hast thou done, Merlin ? 
 Hast thou slain this good knight by thy crafts ? There 
 lived not so worshipful a knight as he was; I would 
 rather than a year's income that he were alive." 
 
 "Do not be troubled," said Merlin, "for he is less 
 hurt than you. He is only asleep, and will awake 
 within three hours. There liveth not a greater 
 knight than he is, and he shall hereafter do you right 
 good service. His name is Pellinore, and he shall 
 have two sons, that shall be passing good men, — Per- 
 cival of Wales, and Lamarack of Wales." 
 t Leaving Sir Pellinore, King Arthur and Merlin went 
 to a hermit, who was a good man, and skilled in the art 
 of healing. He attended so carefully to the King's 
 wounds, that in three days they were quite well, and 
 Arthur was able to go on his way with Merlin. Then 
 as they rode, Arthur said, "I have no sword." 
 
 "No matter," said Merlin, "near by is a sword that 
 shall be yours if I can get it." 
 
 So they rode till they came to a lake, which was a 
 fair water and broad; and in the midst of the lake, 
 Arthur saw an arm, clothed in white samite, that held 
 in its hand a beautiful sword. 
 
28 KING ARTHTJE AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 "Lo," said Merlin, "yonder is the sword I spoke of." 
 With that they saw a damsel rowing across the lake. 
 "What damsel 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 adorned. This damsel will 
 
THE SWORD EXCALIBtJE. 29 
 
 soon come to you ; then speak you fair to her, so that 
 she will give you that sword." 
 
 Presently the damsel came to Arthur, and saluted 
 him, and he her again. 
 
 "Damsel," said Arthur, "what sword is that which 
 yonder the arm holdeth above the water? I would it 
 were mine, for I have no sword." 
 
 "Sir Arthur, King," said the damsel, "that sword 
 is mine; the name of it is Excalibur, that is as much 
 as to say Cut-Steel. If you will give me a gift when 
 I ask you, ye shall have it." 
 
 "By my faith," said Arthur, "I will give you what 
 gift ye shall ask." 
 
 "Well," said the damsel, "go you 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 King Arthur and Merlin alighted, and tied their 
 horses to two trees, and went into the barge, and when 
 they came to the sword that the hand held, Arthur lifted 
 it by the handle, and took it with him. And the arm 
 and hand went under the water ; and so they came to the 
 land, and rode away. 
 
 Then King Arthur looked on the sword, and liked 
 it passing well. 
 
 "Which like you the better, the sword or the scab- 
 bard?" asked Merlin. 
 
 "I like the sword better," replied Arthur. 
 
30 KING ARTHUE A]^D HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 "You are the more unwise," said Merlin, "for the 
 scabbard is worth ten of the sword. While you have 
 the scabbard upon you, ye shall never lose any blood, 
 be ye never so sorely wounded. Therefore keep well 
 the scabbard always with you." 
 
 So they returned to Carleon, where King Arthur's 
 knights were passing glad to see him. When they 
 heard of his adventures they marvelled that he would 
 so jeopardy himself alone. But all men of honor said 
 it was merry to be under such a chieftain who would 
 put his person in adventures as other poor knights did. 
 
 Some time after this. Merlin again warned King 
 Arthur to keep the scabbard of the sword Excalibur 
 very securely, for as long as he had it upon him he 
 would never lose any blood, however sorely he might 
 be wounded. For greater safety, Arthur entrusted the 
 sword and scabbard to his sister, Morgan le Fay. But 
 Morgan le Fay was a false and treacherous woman. 
 She loved another knight better than her husband King 
 tjriens, or her brother King Arthur, and she made up 
 a wicked plot, by which they would both be slain. 
 Then she meant to marry this other knight. Sir Ac- , 
 colon, and place him on King Arthur's throne, when 
 she herself would become Queen of the whole realm. 
 Therefore she made by enchantment another scabbard 
 exactly like Excalibur's, which she gave to Arthur 
 when he was going to fight ; but Ex:calibur and its scab- 
 bard she kept for Sir Accolon, 
 
THE EOTJND TABLE. 31 
 
 THE ROUND TABLE. 
 
 When Arthur had been King for some years, and 
 had fought and overcome many of his enemies, his 
 Barons were anxious that he should take a wife, so 
 according to his usual custom he went and consulted 
 Merlin. 
 
 "It is well," said Merlin, "for a man of your bounty 
 and nobleness should not be without a wife. Now is 
 there any that you love more than another?" 
 
 "Yes," said King Arthur, "I love Guinevere, the 
 daughter of King Leodegrance, of the land of Came- 
 liard. Leodegrance holdeth in his house the Table 
 Round, which he had of my father, Uther, and this 
 damsel is the most noble and beautiful that I know 
 living, or yet that ever I could find." 
 
 "Sir," said Merlin, "as to her beauty, she is one 
 of the fairest alive. But if you loved her not as well 
 as you do, I could find you a damsel of beauty and 
 goodness, that would like you and please you — if your 
 heart were not set. But where a man's heart is set, he 
 will be loath to go back." 
 
 "That is truth," said King Arthur. 
 
 Then Merlin warned the King that it would not be 
 wise for him to marry Guinevere; Merlin had the gift 
 of prophecy, and knew that if this marriage took place 
 much unhappiness would come of it. But nothing 
 
33 KING ARTHUE AND HIS KXIGHTS. 
 
 would persuade the King from his purpose. So Merlin 
 carried a message to Leodegrance, who rejoiced 
 greatly. 
 
 "Those are the best tidings I ever heard," he said, 
 "that a King of prowess and nobleness will wed my 
 daughter. And as for my lands I would give him 
 them if I thought it would please him, but he hath 
 lands enough, he needeth none, but I shall send him a 
 gift which shall please him mvich more. For I shall 
 give him the Round Table which Uther Pendragon 
 gave me, and when it is full complete there are a 
 hundred knights and fifty. As for a hundred good 
 knights, I have them myself, but I lack fifty, for so 
 many have been slain in my da.ys." 
 
 So King Leodegrance delivered his daughter to 
 Merlin, and the Round Table, with the hundred 
 knights; and they rode briskly, with great royalty, by 
 water and by land, till they came near to London. 
 
 When King Arthur heard of the coming of Guin- 
 evere, and the hundred knights with the Round Table, 
 he made great joy because of their coming, and that 
 rich present. 
 
 "This fair lady is passing welcome unto me," he 
 said, "for I have loved her long, and therefore there 
 is nothing so dear to me. And these knights with the 
 Round Table please me more than right great riches." 
 
 Then in all haste the King commanded preparations 
 for the marriage and coronation to be made in the 
 
THE ROUND TABLE. 33 
 
 most honorable way that could be devised; and he 
 bade Merlin go forth and seek fifty knights of the 
 greatest prowess and honor, and fill the vacant places 
 at the Round Table. 
 
 Within a short time Merlin had found such knights 
 as would fill twenty-eight places, but no more could he 
 find. 
 
 "• Then the Archbishop of Canterbury was fetched, 
 and he blessed the seats with great splendor and de- 
 votion, and there sat the eight-and-twenty knights in 
 their seats. 
 
 When this was done. Merlin said : 
 
 "Fair sirs, ye must all arise and come to King 
 Arthur to do him homage," so they arose and did their 
 homage. 
 
 And when they were gone Merlin found in every 
 seat letters of gold, that told the knights' names that 
 had sat there; but two places were empty. 
 
 Soon after this came young Gawaine, son of King 
 Lot of Orkney, and asked a gift of the King. 
 
 "Ask," said the Kirig, "and I shall grant it you." 
 
 "Sir, I ask that ye will make me knight that same 
 day ye shall wed Guinevere." 
 
 "I will do it with a good will," said King Arthur, 
 "and do unto you all the honor I can, because you 
 are my nephew, my sister's son." 
 
 So the King made Gawaine knight, and at the same 
 time, at the wedding feast, he also knighted a son of 
 
54 KING ARTHUR AFD HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 King Pellinore, a noble and gallant youth, whose name 
 was Tor. 
 
 Then King Arthur asked Merlin what was the cause 
 why there were two places empty among the seats at 
 the Round Table. 
 
 "Sir," said Merlin, "there shall no man sit in those 
 places, except they shall be of the greatest honor. 
 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 equal." 
 
 Therewith Merlin took Kmg Pellinore by the hand, 
 and leading him next the two seats and the Siege Peril- 
 ous, he said in open audience : 
 
 "This is your place, and best worthy ye are to sit 
 therein of any that is here." 
 
 At this Sir Gawaine sat in great envy, ^nd he said to 
 Gaheris, his brother : 
 
 "Yonder knight is put in great honor, which 
 grieveth me sorely, for he slew our father. King Lot; 
 therefore I will slay him with a sword that was sent i 
 me, which is passing trenchant." 
 
 "Ye shall not do so at this time," said Gaheris, "for 
 at present I am only a squire. When I am made knight 
 I will be avenged on him ; and therefore, brother, it is 
 best ye endure till another time, that we may have him 
 out of the Court; for if we killed him here we should 
 trouble this high feast." 
 
ADYENTUEE OP THE MAGIC SHIP 35 
 
 "I will do as you wish," said Gawaine. 
 
 Then was the high feast made ready, and the King 
 was wedded at Camelot to Dame Guinevere, in the 
 church of St. Stephen's, with great solemnity. 
 
 Then the King established all his knights, and to 
 those who were not rich he gave lands, and charged 
 them never to do outrage nor murders and always to 
 flee treason. Also by no means to be cruel, but to give 
 mercy to him that asked mercy, upon pain of forfeiture 
 of their honor and lordship of King Arthur for ever- 
 more; and always to do ladies, damsels, and gentle- 
 women succor, upon pain of death. Also that no 
 man should take battle in a wrongful quarrel for any 
 law, nor for world's goods. 
 
 Unto this were all the Knights of the Round Table 
 sworn, both old and young. And every year they 
 renewed their vows at the high Feast of Pentecost. 
 
 THE MARVELLOUS ADVENTURE OF THE 
 MAGIC SHIP. 
 
 It befell one day that Arthur and many of his 
 knights rode hunting into a great forest; the King 
 himself. Sir Accolon of Gaul, and King Uriens, hus- 
 band of Morgan le Fay, followed a fine hart, and their 
 horses were so swift that in a little while they were 
 ten miles ahead of their companions. Worn out with 
 the chase, at last their horses fell exhausted, but still 
 
36 KING ARTHITE ANT) HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 in front of them they saw the hart, passing weary. 
 
 "What shall we do ?" said King Arthur. "We are 
 hard bestead. 
 
 "Let us go on foot," said King Uriens, "till we 
 meet with some lodging." 
 
 Then they saw that the hart lay on the bank of a 
 large lake, and the dogs had got hold of him, so King 
 Arthur blew the "prise," which is the note blown by 
 the hunter on the death of the quarry. 
 
 After this he looked all around, and saw before him 
 on the lake a little ship, apparelled with silk, down to 
 the water; and the ship came right up to them and 
 grounded on the sands. King Arthur went to the bank 
 and looked in, and saw no earthly creature therein. 
 
 "Come," said the King, "let us see what is in the 
 ship." 
 
 So they all three went in, and found it richly 
 hung with cloth of silk. By then it was dark night, 
 and suddenly there were about them a hundred torches, 
 set upon all sides of the ship, which gave great 
 light. Therewith came out twelve fair damsels, who 
 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 courteously. 
 
 The damsels led the King and his two companions 
 into a beautiful chamber, where there was a table richly 
 spread with all manner of good things ; and here they 
 
ADVENTUEE OF THE MAGIC SHIP. 37 
 
 were served with all the wines and meats they could 
 think of, which made the King greatly marvel, for he 
 had never fared better in his life at any one supper. 
 
 When they had supped at their leisure King Arthur 
 was led into another chamber, more richly adorned than 
 he had ever seen ; and so also was King Uriens served ; 
 and Sir Accolon was led into a third chamber, passing 
 richly and well adorned; and so they went gladly to 
 bed, and fell asleep at once. 
 
 But on the morrow when he awoke. King Uriens 
 found himself in Camelot, with his wife, Morgan le 
 Fay, and this greatly astonished him, for on the evening 
 before, 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 
 woeful knights. 
 
 "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 years, and some 
 more and some less." 
 
 "For what cause?" said Arthur. 
 
 "We will tell you," said the knights. 
 • "The lord of this castle is named Sir Damas, and 
 he is the falsest knight alive, and full of treason, and 
 the veriest coward that ever lived. He has a younger 
 brother, a good knight of prowess, named Sir Ontzlake, 
 and this traitor, Damas, the elder brother, will give 
 him no part of his heritage, except what Sir Ontz- 
 
38' KIXG ARTHUE AND HIS KNIGHTS, 
 
 lake can keep through his own prowess. But the 
 younger brother holds a full fair manor and a rich, and 
 therein he dwells in honor, and is well beloved of all 
 people, while Sir Damas is equally ill beloved, for he is 
 without mercy, and a coward. Great war has been 
 betwixt them both, but Sir Ontzlake always gets the 
 better; and he keeps offering Damas to fight for the 
 heritage, man against man, and if he will not do it 
 himself, to find a knight to fight for him. 
 
 "Unto this Sir Damas agreed, but he is so hated 
 that there is never a knight will fight for him. Seeing 
 this, Damas hath daily lain in wait with many knights, 
 and taken all the other knights in this country separately 
 by force, as they rode on their adventures, and brought 
 them to his prison. And many good knights, to the 
 number of eighteen, have died in this prison from hun- 
 ger. If any of us that have been here would have 
 fought with his brother Ontzlake, he would have deliv- 
 ered us, but because this Damas is so false and so full 
 of treason we would never light for him. And we be 
 so lean with hunger we can hardly stand on our feet." 
 
 "God in His mercy deliver you," said Arthur. 
 
 Just then there came a damsel to Arthur, and asked* 
 him, "What cheer?" 
 
 "I cannot say," said he. 
 
 "Sir," said she, "if you -^ill fight for my lord you 
 shall be delivered out of prison, otherwise you will 
 never escape with life." 
 
ADVENTURE OF THE MAGIC SHIP. 39 
 
 "Now," said Arthur, "that is hard, but I would 
 rather fight with a knight than die in prison. On 
 condition that I may be deUvered, and all these pris- 
 oners, I will do the battle." 
 
 "Yes," said the damsel. 
 
 "I am ready," said Arthur, "if I had horse and 
 armor." 
 
 "Ye shall lack nothing," was the reply. 
 
 "It seems to me, damsel, that I have seen you in 
 the Court of Arthur ?" 
 
 "Nay," said the damsel, "I never went there, I 
 am- the daughter of the lord of this Castle." 
 
 Yet was she false, for she was one of the damsels 
 of Morgan le Fay. 
 
 Then she went quickly to Sir Damas, and told him 
 how Arthur would do battle for him, and so he sent 
 for Arthur. And when he came he was so handsome 
 and well-made that all the knights who saw him said 
 it was a pity that such a knight should die in prison. 
 
 Then Sir Damas and he agreed that he should fight 
 for him on this covenant — that all the other knights 
 should be delivered. Sir Damas swore to Arthur that 
 this should be done, and Arthur, in return, swore to do 
 battle to the uttermost. 
 
 And with that, all the twenty knights were brought 
 out of the dark prison into the hall, and set at liberty. 
 And so they all waited to see the battle. 
 
40 KING AKTHUE AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 THE FALSE CRAFT OF MORGAN LE FAY. 
 
 Now let us turn to Sir Accolon of Gaul, who was 
 with King Arthur and King Uriens when they went to 
 sleep on the magic ship. 
 
 When he awoke he found himself by the side of a 
 deep well, within half a foot of the edge, in great peril 
 of death. Out of the fountain came a pipe of silver, 
 and out of the pipe ran water all on high in a marble 
 basin. 
 
 When Sir Accolon saw this, he said : 
 
 "Heaven save my lord King Arthur and King 
 Uriens, for these damsels in the ship have betrayed us. 
 They were demons and no women, and if I escape this 
 misadventure, I shall destroy wherever I find them all 
 false damsels that use enchantments." 
 
 At that moment up came a dwarf with a great 
 mouth and a flat nose, who saluted Sir Accolon, and 
 said he had come from Queen Morgan le Fay. 
 
 "She greeteth you well, and biddeth you be of 
 strong heart, for ye shall fight to-morrow with a knight 
 at the hour of noon, and therefore she hath sent you 
 here Excalibur, Arthur's sword, and the scabbard. 
 She biddeth you, as ye love her, that ye do battle to the 
 uttermost, without any mercy, exactly as you promised 
 her when ye spake together in private. And the damsel 
 
FALSE CKAPT OF MOEGAN LE FAY. 41 
 
 who brings her the head of the knight with whom ye 
 shall fight, she will make her a queen." 
 
 "Now I understand you well," said Accolon. "I 
 shall keep my promise now that I have the sword. 
 Commend me unto my lady queen, and tell her all 
 shall be done that I promised her, or else I shall die for 
 it. Now I suppose," he added, "she has made all 
 these crafts and enchantments for this battle ?" 
 
 "Ye may well believe it," said the dwarf. 
 
 Then up came a knight with a lady and six squires, 
 who saluted Sir Accolon, and begged him to go and 
 rest himself at his manor. This knight was Sir Ontz- 
 lake, brother of Sir Damas, with whom King Arthur 
 had already promised Damas to, fight. So Accolon 
 mounted a spare horse, and went with the knight to a 
 fair manor by a priory, where he had passing good 
 cheer. 
 
 Sir Damas, meanwhile, had sent to his brother to 
 bid him make ready by the next day, at the hour of 
 noon, and to be in the field to fight with a good knight, 
 for he had found a good knight who was ready to do 
 battle at all points. When this word came to Sir 
 Ontzlake he was much disturbed, for he was already 
 wounded through both thighs with a spear, but hurt as 
 he was he would have taken the battle in hand. But 
 when Sir Accolon heard of the battle, and how Ontz- 
 lake was wounded, he said he would fight for him, 
 because Morgan le Fay had sent him Excalibur and the 
 
42 KING AETHUE AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 sheath, to fight with a knight on the morrow. Then 
 Sir Ontzlake was very glad, and thanked Sir Accolon 
 with all his heart that he would do so much for him. 
 
 The next morning when King Arthur was mounted 
 and ready to ride forth, there came a damsel from 
 Morgan le Fay, who brought to the King a sword like 
 Excalibur, and the scabbard, and said : 
 
 "Morgan le Fay sendeth you here your sword for 
 great love." 
 
 He thanked her, and thought it had been so, but 
 she was false, for the sword and the scabbard were 
 counterfeit, and brittle, and false. 
 
 Then King Arthur and Sir Accolon made ready, 
 and their horses rushed so swiftly together, that each 
 smote the other with their spear's head in the midst of 
 the shield, so that both horse and man were borne ta 
 the earth ; and then both knights started up and pulled 
 out their swords. The wicked Queen had cast a spell 
 over them, so that neither knew the other. But while 
 they were thus fighting, came the damsel of the lake, 
 who had put Merlin under the stone, and she came for 
 love of Arthur, for she knew how Morgan le Fay had 
 so ordained that Arthur should be slain that day: 
 therefore Nimue came to save his life. 
 
 Thus they went eagerly to the battle, and gave 
 many great strokes. But King Arthur's sword never 
 hit like Sir Accolon's sword; nearly every stroke that 
 Accolon. gave he sorely wounded Arthur, so that it was 
 
FALSE CRAFT OF MOEGAN LE FAY. 
 
 43 
 
 a marvel he stood, and always his blood fell from him 
 fast. When Arthur saw the ground all covered with 
 blood, he was dismayed, and guessed there was treason, 
 
 and that his sword had been changed. For his sword 
 bit not steel as it was wont to do, wherefore he feared 
 to be killed; it seemed to him that the sword in 
 
U KING ARTHUE AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 Accolori's hand was Excalibur, for at every stroke it 
 drew blood, but he was so full of knighthood that he 
 nobly endured the pain. And all the men that beheld 
 him said they never saw knight fight so well as Arthur 
 did, considering how sorely he was wounded. All 
 the people were sorry for him, but the two brothers 
 Sir Damas and Sir Ontzlake would not agree, so the 
 knights went on fighting fiercely. Then suddenly 
 King Arthur's sword broke at the hilt, and fell in the 
 grass, leaving the pommel and the handle in his hand. 
 When he saw that, he greatly feared he would be killed, 
 but always he held up his shield, and lost no ground, 
 and bated no cheer. 
 
 HOW KING ARTHUR GOT HIS OWN SWORD 
 AGAIN. 
 
 When Sir Accolon saw that King Arthur's sword 
 was broken he tried to tempt him to give in. 
 
 "Knight, thou art overcome and mayst not endure, 
 and also thou art weaponless, and thou hast lost much 
 blood; I am full loath to slay thee; therefore yield 
 thee to me as recreant." 
 
 "Nay," said Arthur, "I may not so, for I have 
 promised to do battle to the uttermost by the faith 
 of my body, while life lasteth; and therefore I had 
 rather die with honor than live with shame; and if it 
 were possible to die a hundred times, I would rather 
 
HOW AETHUE GOT HIS SAVOED AGAIN. 45 
 
 die so often than yield me to thee, for though I lack 
 weapon, I shall lack no honor, 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 he gave him such a stroke 
 that he fell nearly to the earth, and he hoped Arthur 
 would have cried him mercy. 
 
 But the King pressed forward to Accolon, and gave 
 him such a buffet with the pommel of the broken sword 
 that the knight went three strides back. 
 
 When the damsel of the lake beheld Arthur, and 
 how valorous he was, and the false treason that was 
 wrought to have him slain, she had great pity that so 
 good a knight and noble a man should be destroyed. 
 And by her enchantment, at the next stroke the sword 
 fell out of Accolon's hand to the earth. Then Arthur 
 leaped lightly to it, and got it in his hand, and im- 
 mediately he knew that it was his own sword Excalibur. 
 
 "Thou hast been from me all too long," he cried, 
 "and much damage hast thou done me." 
 
 Then he espied the scabbard hanging by Accolon's 
 side, and he suddenly started to him, and seized the 
 scabbard, and threw it from him as far as he could. 
 
 "O knight!" he said, "now are ye come unto 
 your death, for I warrant ye shall be as well rewarded 
 with this sword before ever we depart, as thou hast 
 rewarded me." Therewith he rushed on him with all 
 
46 KING AETHUR AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 his might, and pulled him to the ground, and dashed 
 ofif his helm, and gave him such a buffet on the head 
 that it nearly killed him. 
 
 "Now will I slay thee," said Arthur. 
 
 "Slay me ye well may, if it please you," said 
 Accolon, "for ye are the best knight that ever I found, 
 and I see well that God is with you. But because I 
 promised to do this battle to the uttermost, and never 
 to be recreant while I lived, therefore shall I never 
 yield me with my mouth, but God do with my body 
 what He will." 
 
 Then King Arthur remembered him, and thought 
 he must have seen this knight. 
 
 "Now tell me," he said, "or I will slay thee, of 
 what country art thou, and of what Court ?" 
 
 "Sir Knight," said Sir jjVccolon, "I am of the 
 Court of King Arthur, and my name is Accolon of 
 Gaul." 
 
 Then was Arthur more dismayed than before, for 
 he remembered his sister Morgan le Fay, and the 
 enchantment of the ship. 
 
 "O, Sir Knight," he said, "I pray you tell me who 
 gave you this sword ?" 
 
 Then Sir Accolon told him how Morgan le Fay 
 had sent it him to the intent that he might kill King 
 Arthur her brother. For King Arthur was the man in 
 tTie world whom she most hated, because of his valor 
 and renown. And if she should succeed in killing 
 
HOW ARTHUK GOT HIS SWORD AGAIIf. 4t 
 
 Arthur by her crafts, she would also lightly slay her 
 husband, and then she had devised that Accolon should 
 be king in the land, and she would be queen. 
 
 "But that is now done," said Accolon, "for I am 
 sure of my death. But now I have told you truth, I 
 pray you tell me whence ye are, and of what Court ?" 
 
 "O, Accolon," said Arthur, "now I let you know 
 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 
 you not !" 
 
 "Mercy thou shalt have. Sir Accolon," said Arthur, 
 "because I see that just now thou knewest not my per- 
 son. But I understand well by thy words that thou 
 hast agreed to my death, and therefore thou art a 
 traitor ; but I blame thee the less, for my sister Morgan 
 le Fay by her false crafts made thee agree and consent 
 to her wickedness." 
 
 Then King Arthur called the keepers of the field, 
 and told them what had happened. 
 
 "Had either of us known the other, here had been 
 no battle, nor stroke stricken," he said. 
 
 Then Sir Accolon cried aloud to all the knights 
 and men that were there gathered together, "O 
 lords, this noble knight that I have fought with, 
 for which I sorely repent, is the greatest man of 
 prowess, of manhood, and of worship in the worldj 
 
48 KING AETHUE AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 for it is King Arthur himself, the liege lord of us all !" 
 
 Then all the people fell down on their knees, and 
 cried mercy of King Arthur, which the King at once 
 granted. 
 
 Then he went on to deliver judgment between the 
 two brothers for whom he and Sir Accolon had fought. 
 As Sir Damas was a haughty knight, and full of 
 villainy, he commanded that he should give to his 
 younger brother the manor and all that belonged to it, 
 and that in return Sir Ontzlake should yearly give him 
 a palfrey to ride upon, for that would become him 
 better to ride on than a charger. And on pai;i of 
 death Sir Damas was evermore forbidden to distress 
 any knights-errant who rode on adventure. And to 
 those twenty knights whom he had so long kept pris- 
 oners he was to restore all their armor. 
 
 "And if any of them come to my Court and complain 
 of thee, by my head thou shalt die for it," said the King. 
 "And to you. Sir Ontzlake, 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 bid 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 
 truly thus, I will so prefer you by the grace of God, 
 that ye shall in a short time easily live in as much state 
 as Sir Damas." 
 
 Then King Arthur and Sir Accolon rode to a rich 
 abbey near at hand, to rest themselves and have their 
 
HOW AETHTJE GOT HIS SWOED AGAUST. 49 
 
 wounds attended to, and soon the King was well 
 recovered. But Sir Accolon died within four days, for 
 he was sorely hurt. 
 
 When Accolon was dead, the King had him sent on 
 
 on a horse-bier, with six knights to Camelot, and said : 
 "Bear him to my sister Morgan le Fay, and say 
 that I send him to her as a present ; and tell her that I 
 have my sword Excalibur and the scabbard." 
 
50 KING ARTHUR AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 THE MANTLE OF PRECIOUS STONES. 
 
 When tidings came to Morgan le Fay that Accolon 
 was dead, and that Arthur had his sword again, she 
 was so sorrowful that her heart was Hke to break. 
 But because she would not have it known, she out- 
 wardly kept her countenance and made no sign of 
 sorrow. But she knew well that if she abode' where 
 she was till her brother Arthur came, no gold would 
 save her life, for he had sworn to be avenged. 
 
 She went, therefore, to Queen Guinevere, and asked 
 her leave to ride into the country. 
 
 "You can wait," said Queen Guinevere, "till your 
 brother the King comes." 
 
 "I can not," said Morgan le Fay, "for I have such 
 hasty tidings that I may not tarry." 
 
 "Well," said Guinevere, "you may depart when 
 you will." 
 
 So early on the morrow, before it was day, she 
 took her horse, and rode all that day and most part 
 of the night, and on the morrow by noon she came to 
 the same abbey where King Arthur was. Knowing he 
 was there, she asked how he was, and they answered 
 that he was asleep in bed, for he had had but little rest 
 these three nights. 
 
 "Well," she said, "I charge you that none of you 
 awake him till I do." 
 
MANTLE OF'PEEOIOUS STONES. $1 
 
 Then she ahghted off her horse, and thought to 
 steal away Excahbur, his sword. So she went straight 
 to his chamber, and no man durst disobey her com- 
 mand, and there she found Arthur asleep on his bed, 
 and Excalibur in his right hand naked. When she saw 
 that, she was greatly vexed that she could not get the 
 sword unless she waked him, which she knew well 
 would be her death. So she took the scabbard, and 
 went her way on horseback. 
 
 When the King awoke and missed the scabbard 
 he was very angry, and he asked who had been there. 
 They told him it was his sister, Morgan le Fay, who 
 had put the scabbard under her mantle, and was gone. 
 
 "Alas !" said Arthur, "falsely have ye watched me !" 
 
 "Sir," said they all, "we durst not disobey your 
 sister's command." 
 
 "Fetch the best horse that can be found," said the 
 King, "and bid Sir Ontzlake arm in all haste, and take 
 another good horse and ride with me." 
 
 So the King and Ontzlake were quickly well armed, 
 and rode after Queen Morgan le Fay. Presently they 
 met a cowherd, whom they asked if any lady had 
 lately ridden that way. 
 
 "Sir," said the poor man, "just now came a lady 
 riding with forty horsemen, and she rode to yonder 
 forest." 
 
 Then they spurred their horses, and followed fast, 
 and within a little while Arthur had a sight of Morgan 
 
53 KIFG AETHUR AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 le Fay; then he chased as fast as he could. When 
 she espied him following her, she quickened her pace 
 through the forest till she came to a plain. And when 
 she saw she could not escape she rode to a lake thereby, 
 and said : "Whatsoever becometh of me, my brother 
 shall not have this scabbard," and she threw it into 
 the deepest of the water, so that it sank, for it was 
 heavy with gold and precious stones. 
 
 Then she rode into a valley, where many great 
 stones were, and seeing that she must be overtaken- she 
 shaped herself, by enchantment, into a great marble 
 stone. When the King came, with Ontzlake, he did 
 not know his sister and her men, nor one knight from 
 another. 
 
 "Ah," said the King, "here ye may see the venge- 
 ance of God, and now I am sorry that this misadventure 
 is befallen." 
 
 Then he looked for the scabbard, but it could not be 
 found. So he returned to the abbey where he came 
 from. 
 
 When Arthur had gone, Morgan le Fay turned 
 herself and all her knights back into the likeness that 
 they were before, and said: "Sirs, now we may go 
 where we will." 
 
 So they departed into the country of Gore, where 
 she was richly received ; and she made her castles' and 
 towns passing strong, for always she dreaded much 
 King Arthur. 
 
MANTLE OF PEECIOUS STONES. 53 
 
 After the King had well rested at the abbey, he rode 
 to Camelot, where he found his Queen and his Barons 
 right glad at his coming. When they heard of his 
 strange adventures they all marvelled at the falsehood 
 of Morgan le Fay ; and because of her wicked enchant- 
 ments many of the knights wished her burned. 
 
 The next day there came a damsel from Morgan 
 to King Arthur, 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 they could stand one by 
 another, and they were the richest stones that ever the 
 King saw. 
 
 "Your sister sendeth you this ,mantle," said the 
 damsel, "and desireth that you should take this gift of 
 her, and in what thing she hath offended you she will 
 mend it at your own pleasure." 
 
 When the King beheld the mantle it pleased him 
 much, but he said but little. 
 
 With that came the damsel of the lake to the King, 
 and said : "Sir, I must speak with you in private." 
 • "Say on," said the King, "what ye will." 
 
 "Sir," said the damsel, "do not put this mantle 
 on you till ye have seen more, and in no wise let it 
 come on you nor on any knight of yours till ye 
 command the bringer thereof tp put it on her." 
 
 "Well," said King Arthur, "it shall be done as 
 you counsel me." Then he said to the damsel who 
 came from his sister, "Damsel, this mantle that ye 
 have brought me I will see it upon you." 
 
54 KIFG AETHUE AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 "Sir," said she, "it will not beseem me to wear a 
 King's garment." 
 
 "By my head," said Arthur, "ye shall wear it before 
 it goes on my back, or any man's that is here." 
 
 So the mantle was put on her, and immediately she 
 fell dead, and never spoke a word after, for she was 
 burned to a cinder. 
 
 Then was Arthur terribly wroth, more than he was 
 beforehand, and he said to King Uriens : 
 
 "My sister, your wife, is always about to betray 
 me, and well I know that either you or my nephew, 
 your son, is in council with her to have me destroyed. 
 As for you, I do not much think you are in her 
 council, for Accolon confessed to me with his own 
 mouth that she would have destroyed you as well as 
 me, therefore I hold you excused. But as for your 
 son. Sir Uwaine, I hold him suspected, therefore I 
 charge you to put him out of my Court." 
 
 So Sir Uwaine was dismissed. 
 
 When Sir Gawaine, King Lot's son, knew this, he 
 made ready to go with him. 
 
 "Whoso banisheth my cousin shall banish me," he 
 said, so they two departed. 
 
 When Arthur was aware that Sir Gawaine had left 
 the Court, there was much sorrow among all the lords. 
 
 "Now," said Gaheris, Gawaine's brother, "we have 
 lost two good knights for the sake of one." 
 
DRAGON AND THE BOAE. 55 
 
 THE DREAM OF THE DRAGON AND THE 
 BOAR. 
 
 After long war King Arthur rested, and held a 
 royal feast with his allies of kings, princes, and noble 
 knights, all of the Round Table. And as he sat on 
 his royal throne, there came into the hall twelve 
 ancient men, bearing each of them a branch of olive, 
 in token that they came as ambassadors and messengers 
 from Lucius, Emperor of Rome. Having done their 
 obeisance to the King they delivered their greeting 
 from the Emperor Lucius, commanding Arthur to 
 acknowledge him as lord, and pay the tribute due from 
 England to Rome, as his father and predecessors had 
 done before. If he refused this demand, then strong 
 war would be made against him, his realms and his 
 subjects, so that it would be a perpetual example to all 
 kings and princes who dared to deny tribute to Rome, 
 sovereign of the whole world. 
 
 When they had delivered their message, the King 
 commanded them to withdraw, and called together all 
 his lords and knights of the Round Table, for counsel 
 on the matter, and to give their, advice. They all said 
 the demand for tribute was unjust, and every man 
 agreed to make war and to aid after his power; the 
 King of Scotland, the King of Little Britain, and the 
 lord of .West Wales, all promised men and money,; 
 
56 KING AETHUR AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 and Sir Lancelot and the other knights also prom- , 
 ised likewise. When King Arthur understood their 
 courage and goodwill he thanked them heartily. The 
 ambassadors, laden with presents, were sent back to 
 Rome with the answer that he owed no tribute to 
 earthly prince, Christian or heathen; he claimed 
 sovereignty of the realm of England by right of his 
 predecessors; and he was fully determined to go with 
 a strong and powerful army to Rome, by the Grace of 
 God to take possession of the empire, and to subdue 
 those that were rebellious. 
 
 When the ambassadors returned with this message 
 to Lucius, the Emperor sent over the whole world, to 
 all dominions that were subject to the Empire of Rome, 
 to summon warriors to fight against Arthur. So a 
 great multitude of kings and dukes and captains, and 
 thousands of people assembled round about Rome. 
 Also he had with him fifty giants, who were ordained ; 
 to guard his person, and to break the front of the 
 battle of King Arthur. 
 
 In the meanwhile King Arthur held a Parliament at 
 York, and appointed that, during his absence. Queen ^ 
 Guinevere and the realm should be in the governance \ 
 of Sir Baldwin of Britain and Sir Constantine, son of 
 Sir Cador of Cornwall, who after his death, became 
 king of the realm. Then King Arthur, with all his 
 army, departed, sailing from Sandwich, with a great 
 multitude of ships, galleys, boats, and men-of-war. 
 
DRAGON AND THE BOAR. 57 
 
 And as the King lay in his cabin in the ship he fell 
 asleep, and dreamed a marvellous dream. It seemed to 
 him that a dreadful dragon drowned much of his people, 
 and he came flying out of the west; his head was 
 enamelled with azure, and his shoulders shone as gold, 
 his body like mail of a marvellous hue, his tail full of 
 tatters, his feet covered with sable, and his claws like 
 fine gold ; a hideous flame of fire flew out of his mouth, 
 as if land and water all flamed fire. 
 
 After him there came out of the east a grimly boar, 
 all black, in a cloud ; his paws were as big as a post, he 
 was rough and rugged-looking — the vilest beast that 
 ever man saw; he roared and growled so hideously 
 that it was a marvel to hear. 
 
 Then the dreadful dragon advanced, and fought 
 with the boar, who gnashed at him with his tusks, so 
 that all the sea was red with blood; but at last the 
 dragon smote the boar to powder, both flesh and 
 bones, so that it was scattered in fragments all abroad 
 on the sea. 
 
 Therewith King Arthur awoke, and was sorely 
 abashed because of this dream, and he sent at once to a 
 wise philosopher, commanding him to tell the meaning 
 of it. 
 
 "Sir," said the philosopher, "the dragon that thou 
 dreamedst of betokeneth thine own person, and the 
 color of his wings be the realms that thou hast won ; 
 and his tail which is all tattered signifieth the noble 
 
58 KING AETHUE AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 Knights of the Round Table. And the boar which 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, whose peer ye never 
 yet saw. Wherefore of this dreadful dream doubt ye 
 nothing, but as a conqueror go forth thyself." 
 
 Soon after King Arthur's dream of the dragon and 
 the boar they arrived in France, and here a husbandman 
 came to Arthur and told him that for seven years a 
 fearful giant had been ravaging the land of Brittany, 
 and had slain, murdered, and devoured many people of 
 the country. Lately he had seized the Duchess of 
 Brittany as she rode with her train, and had carried her 
 to his dwelling, which was in a mountain, to keep to 
 her life's end. Many people followed her, more than 
 five hundred, but not all of them together could rescue 
 her. 
 
 "She was wife to thy cousin, Duke Howell, whom 
 we call full nigh of thy blood," ended the man ; "now, 
 as thou art a rightful King, have pity on this lady ; and, 
 as thou art a noble conqueror, revenge us all." 
 
 "Alas!" gaid King Arthur, "this is a great mischief! 
 I had rather than the best realm I have that I had been 
 a furlong before him, to have rescued that lady. Now, 
 fellow, canst thou bring me there where this giant 
 haunteth ?" 
 
 "Yea, sir," said the good man, "lo, yonder where 
 tboH seest those two great fires, there thou shalt find 
 
DEAGOF AND THE BOAK. 59 
 
 him, and more treasure than I suppose there is in all 
 France." 
 
 When the King understood this piteous case, he 
 returned into his tent. There he called to him Sir 
 Kay and Sir Bedivere, and commanded them secretly to 
 make ready horse and armor for himself and them 
 twain, for after evensong he would ride on pilgrimage 
 with those two only to St. Michael's Mount. So they 
 three departed, and rode forth as fast as ever they 
 could, till they came to the foot of the Mount. There 
 they alighted, and the King commanded them to tarry 
 there, for he would himself go up into the Mount. 
 
 He ascended the hill till he came to a great fire, 
 and there he found a widow wringing her hands, and 
 making great sorrow, sitting by a grave new-made. 
 King Arthur saluted her, and asked her why she made 
 such lamentation. 
 
 "Sir knight, speak soft," she answered, "for yonder 
 is a devil. If he hear thee speak he will come and 
 destroy thee. O unhappy man, what dost thou here 
 in this mountain? If ye were fifty such as ye be, ye 
 were not able to make resistance against this monster. 
 Here lieth a duchess dead, who was the fairest of all 
 the world, wife to Howell, Duke of Brittany — he hath 
 murdered her." 
 
 "Dame," said the King, "1 come from the noble 
 conqueror King Arthur, to treat with that tyrant for 
 his liege people." 
 
GO KING AETHUR AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 "Fie upon such treaties!" said the widow, "for he 
 setteth not by the King, nor by any man. Beware, 
 approach him not too near, for he hath vanquished 
 fifteen kings, and hath made him a coat full of precious 
 stones, embroidered with their beards, which they sent 
 him to save their people this last Christmas. And 
 if thou wilt, speak with him at yonder great fire, at 
 supper." 
 
 "Well," said Arthur, "for all your fearful words, I 
 will accomplish my message." 
 
 Then he went forth by the crest of the hill, and 
 saw the giant where he sat at supper, gnawing a huge 
 bone, and baking his broad limbs by the fire, while 
 three fair damsels turned three spits, whereon were 
 broached twelve young children, like young birds. 
 When King Arthur beheld this piteous sight, he had 
 greaf compassion for them, so that his heart bled for 
 sorrow, and he hailed the giant, saying : 
 
 "He that wieldeth all the world give thee short life 
 and shameful death! Why hast thou murdered these 
 young innocent children, and slain this duchess ? Arise 
 and make ready, thou glutton, for this day thou shalt 
 die at my hand." 
 
 Then the giant started up at once, and took a great 
 club in his hand, and smote at the King, so that his 
 helmet was crushed, and the King hit him again, and 
 wounded him sorely. Then the giant threw away his 
 club, and caught the King in his arms, so that he 
 
DEAGON AND THE BOAR. -61 
 
 crashed his ribs. Then the three maidens knelt down 
 and called to Christ for help and comfort to Arthur. 
 The King wrestled and strove, so that sometimes he 
 was under, and sometimes above, and thus wrestling 
 and striving, they rolled down the hill, till they came to 
 the sea-mark ; and ever as they wrestled, Arthur smote 
 the giant with his dagger; and thus it happened they 
 came to the place where the two knights were with 
 Arthur's horse. . 
 
 When they saw the King in the giant's arms they 
 came and set him free, and by that time the giant was 
 dead. King Arthur commanded them to smite off his 
 head, and to set it on a spear, and bear it to Duke 
 Howell, and tell him that his enemy was slain; and 
 afterwards to put the head on a tower that all people 
 might behold it. 
 
 "And go ye two up the mountain, and fetch me 
 my shield, my sword, and the club of iron," said King 
 Arthur. "And as for the treasure, take ye it, for ye 
 shall find there goods out of number. So that I have 
 the kirtle and the club, I desire no more." 
 
 Then the knights fetched the club and the kirtle, 
 and some of the treasure they took to themselves, and 
 returned again to the army. And this was immediately 
 known all through the country, wherefore the people 
 came and thanked the King. But he answered : 
 
 "Give the thanks to God, and part the goods among 
 you." 
 
62- KING AETHUR AXD HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 And after that, King Arthur commanded his cousin 
 Duke Howell that he should ordain a church to be 
 built on that same mountain, in honor of St. Michael. 
 
 The next day the King set out again on his expedi- 
 tion against the Emperor Lucius. After many fierce 
 battles he defeated the Romans, killed Lucius, and was 
 crowned Emperor of all the lands from Rome to 
 France. Then he returned home in triumph with all 
 his knights, crossing, the sea, and landing at Sandwich, 
 where Queen Guinevere, his wife, came to meet him. 
 All the people in every city and burgh received him 
 nobly, and great gifts were presented to welcome him 
 at his home-coming. 
 
KNIGHT OF THE FOREST. 
 
 63 
 
 Sir Lancelot of the Lake. 
 
 THE STRONG KNIGHT OF THE FOREST. 
 
 At the Court of King Arthur were many vaHant 
 knights, and some among them increased so in arms 
 and worship that they surpassed all their fellows in 
 prowess and noble deeds. But chief among them all 
 was Sir Lancelot of the Lake, for in all tournaments 
 and jousts and deeds of arms, both for life and death, 
 he excelled all other knights,' and never at any time 
 was he overcome, unless it were by treason or enchant- 
 ment. 
 
 Because of this Queen Guinevere held him in higher 
 favor than all other knights, and Sir Lancelot for his 
 
64 KINO AETHUR AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 part loved the Queen above all other ladies and damsels 
 all his life; and for her he did many deeds of arms, 
 and more than once saved her from death by his noble 
 chivalry. 
 
 When King Arthur returned to England from 
 Rome all the Knights of the Round Table resorted 
 to him, and many jousts and tournaments w^ere held. 
 Sir Lancelot rested himself for some time with sport 
 and play, but at last he longed again to make trial of 
 himself in strange adventures. Therefore, bidding his 
 nephew Sir Lionel make ready, they mounted their 
 horses, armed at all points, and rode into a deep forest, 
 and so on to a wide plain. 
 
 About noon the weather was very hot, and Sir 
 Lancelot felt sleepy. Then Sir Lionel espied a great 
 apple-tree that stood by a hedge, and he said : 
 
 "Brother, yonder is a fair shadow; there we may 
 rest ourselves and our horses." 
 
 "It is well said," answered Sir Lancelot; "for this 
 seven years I have not been so sleepy as I am now." 
 
 So they alighted there, and tied their horses to a 
 tree, and Lancelot lay down, and put his helm under 
 his head, and fell very fast asleep. But Lionel kept 
 awake. 
 
 In the meanwhile came three knights riding, fleeing 
 as fast as ever they could ride, and these three were 
 followed by one knight. When Sir Lionel saw him 
 he. thought he had never seen so great a knight, nor 
 
KlSriGHT OF THE FOEEST. 65 
 
 so well faring a man, nor one so well apparelled. In 
 a little while this strong knight overtook one of the 
 three, and smote him to the cold earth, so that he lay- 
 still. Then he rode to the second knight, and smote 
 him so that both man and horse fell down. Then 
 he rode straight at the third knight and smote him 
 a spear's length behind his horse's tail. Then he 
 alighted, and bound all the three knights fast with the 
 reins of their own bridles. 
 
 When Sir Lionel saw him do thus he thought he 
 would assay him, so making ready he took his horse 
 very quietly in order not to wake Sir Lancelot. H^ 
 soon overtook the strong knight, and bade him turn, 
 but the latter smote Sir Lionel so hard that he bore 
 horse and man to the earth. Then he alighted and 
 bound him fast, and threw him and the three other 
 knights each across his own horse, and rode with them 
 away to his Castle. When he got there he took away 
 their armor, and beat them with thorns, and put them 
 into a deep dungeon, where there were many more 
 knights who made much lamentation. 
 
 Sir Ector de Maris in the meanwhile, finding that 
 Sir Lancelot had left the Court to seek adventures, was 
 angry with himself, and made ready to go in search of 
 him. Riding through a great forest he met a man 
 who looked like a forester, and he asked this man if 
 he knew of any adventures near at hand. The forester 
 replied that within a mile was a strong manor, with 
 
66 KIKG ARTHUE AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 a moat all round it; and near the manor on the left 
 hand was a ford for horses to drink from. At the 
 ford grew a beautiful tree on which hung many fair 
 shields that had once belonged to gallant knights. On 
 the tree hung also a basin of brass and copper, and 
 the forester bade Sir Ector strike thrice on the basin 
 with the butt of his spear, and he would soon hear 
 new tidings, unless he had the greatest luck of any 
 knight who had passed through that forest for many 
 a year. 
 
 Thanking the man Sir Ector departed, and soon 
 came to the tree, where he found many fair shields; 
 among them he saw his brother's shield, Sir Lionel, and 
 many more that he knew were his fellows of the 
 Round Table, which grieved his heart, and he promised 
 to revenge his brother. 
 
 He beat at once on the basin, as if be were mad, 
 and then he gave his horse drink at the ford. There 
 came a knight behind him, and bade him come out 
 of the water and make him ready. Sir Ector turned 
 sharply, and cast his spear, and smote the other knight 
 a great bufifet, so that his horse reeled twice round. 
 
 "That was well done," said the strong knight, 
 "and knightly hast thou stricken me;" and therewith 
 he rushed his horse on Sir Ector, and catching him 
 under his right arm, he bore him clean out of the 
 saddle, and rode with him away into his own hall, 
 where he threw him down in the middle of the floor. 
 
THE FOUE QUEENS. 67 
 
 The name of this knight was Sir Turquine. 
 
 "Because thou hast done this day more unto me 
 than any knight did these twelve years," said he to 
 Sir Ector, "now will I grant thee thy life, if thou 
 wilt swear to be my prisoner all the days of thy life." 
 
 "Nay," said Sir Ector, "that I will never promise 
 thee." 
 
 "I am sorry for that," said Sir Turquine. 
 
 Then he took Sir Ector's armor away, and beat him 
 with thorns, and put him down in a deep dungeon, 
 where he found many companions whom he knew. 
 But when he saw Sir Lionel there he made great 
 sorrow. "Alas," he said, "where is my brother Sir 
 Lancelot?" 
 
 "I left him asleep under an apple-tree, when I went 
 from him," said Lionel, "and what is become of him I 
 cannot tell you." 
 
 "Alas," said the knights, "unless Sir Lancelot help 
 us we shall never be delivered, for we know now no 
 knight that is able to match our master Turquine." 
 
 THE FOUR QUEENS. 
 
 In the meanwhile Sir Lancelot of the Lake still lay 
 asleep under the apple-tree. Then about noon there 
 came by four Queens of great estate ; and in order that 
 the heat of the sun should not annoy them there rode 
 four knights beside them, bearing a cloth of green silk 
 
68 KING ARTHITR AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 on four spears betwixt them and the sun; and the 
 Queens rode on four white mules. 
 
 Thus as they rode they heard near them a great 
 horse grimly neigh, and. they were aware of a sleeping 
 knight that lay all armed under an apple-tree; atid 
 directly these Queens looked on his face they knew it 
 was Sir Lancelot. Then they began to quarrel as to 
 which should win his love, for each one of them said 
 he should be her champion knight. 
 
 "Do not let us quarrel," said Morgan le Fay, King 
 Arthur's sister, "I will put an enchantment on him 
 that he shall not wake in six hours, and I will carry 
 him away into my Castle. And when he is safely 
 within my hold, I will take the enchantment from him, 
 and then let him choose which of tis he shall have." 
 
 So they threw a spell over Sir Lancelot, and then 
 they laid him on his shield and bore him so on 
 horseback between two knights to the Castle Chariot. 
 There he was placed in a cold chamber, and at night 
 they sent to him a fair damsel with his supper. By 
 that time the enchantment was past, and when she 
 came she saluted him, and asked, "What cheer?" 
 
 "I cannot say, fair damsel" said Sir Lancelot, "for 
 I know not how I came into this Castle, unless it were 
 by enchantment." 
 
 "Sir," said she, "ye must make good cheer, and if 
 ye be such a knight as ye are said to be, I will tell you 
 more to-morrow at dawn of day." 
 
THE FOUR QUEENS. 69 
 
 So she departed, -and there Lancelot lay all night 
 without comfort of anybody. 
 
 On the morrow early came these four Queens, 
 richly bedecked, and they bade him good-morrow, and 
 he them again. Then they told him they knew well 
 who he was — Sir Lancelot of the Lake, King Ban's 
 son, the noblest knight alive. 
 
 "We know well that no lady has thy love, but one, 
 and that is Queen Guinevere; now thou shalt lose her 
 ior ever, and she thee, therefore thou must now choose 
 one of us four. I am the Queen Morgan le Fay, 
 Queen of the land of Gore; and here is the Queen of 
 North Wales; and the Queen of Eastland; and the 
 Queen of the Outer Isles. Now choose ye one of us 
 which thou wilt have, or else die in this prison." 
 
 "That is a hard case," said Sir Lancelot, "that either 
 I must die or choose one of you. Yet I would rather 
 die in this prison with honor than have one of you to 
 be my lady against my will. And therefore ye are 
 answered; I will have none of you, for ye are false 
 enchantresses." 
 
 "Well," said the Queens, "is this your answer, that 
 ye will refuse us ?" 
 
 "Yea, on my life," said Sir Lancelot, "ye are refused 
 • by me." 
 
 So they departed, and left him there alone in great 
 sorrow. 
 
 At noon came the damsel to him with his dinner, 
 and asked him "What cheer ?" 
 
70 KING ARTHUE AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 "Truly, fair damsel," said Lanclot, "in all the days 
 of my life never so ill." 
 
 "Sir," said she, "I am sorry for that, but if you will 
 be ruled by me I will help you out of this distress, and 
 ye shall have no shame or villainy, if you will make 
 me a promise." 
 
 "That I will grant you; and I am sore afraid of 
 these Queen sorceresses, for they have destroyed many 
 a good knight." 
 
 Then the damsel went on to say that on the next 
 Tuesday her father had made a tournament between 
 himself and the King of North Wales, and if Sir 
 Lancelot would be there to help her father she would 
 deliver him early the next morning. 
 
 "Fair maiden," said Lancelot, "tell me what is your 
 father's name, and then I will give you an answer." 
 
 "My father is King Bagdemagus, who was defeated 
 at the last tournament by three knights of King 
 Arthur's Court." 
 
 "I know your father well for a noble king, and a 
 good knight," said Lancelot, "and by my faith ye 
 shall have my body ready to do your father and you 
 service at that day." 
 
 So the maiden thanked him and bade him be ready 
 very early the next morning, and she would come and 
 deliver him. He was to take his armor, and his 
 horse, shield and spear, and to ride to an abbey of 
 white monks not ten miles away, where he was to stay, 
 and there she would bring her father to him. 
 
THE FOITE QUEENS. 71 
 
 "All this shall be done," said Sir Lancelot, "as I 
 am true knight." 
 
 The next morning the maiden came early, and found 
 him ready. Then she took him through twelve locked 
 doors, and brought him to his armor; and when he 
 was well armed she led him to his own horse, and 
 lightly he saddled him, and took a great spear in his 
 hand, and rode forth. 
 
 "Fair damsel," he said, "I shall not fail you, by the 
 grace of God." 
 
 So he rode into a great forest all that day, and 
 could never find any highway, and at last the night 
 fell on him. 
 
 The next day he came to the abbey, where the 
 daughter of King Bagdemagus was waiting to receive 
 him, and she gave him a glad welcome. In all haste 
 she sent for her father, who was within twelve miles 
 of the abbey, and before evening he arrived with a 
 gallant company of knights. Sir Lancelot told the 
 King how he had been betrayed, and how his nephew 
 Sir Lionel had departed from him he knew not where ; 
 and how the King's daughter had delivered him otit 
 of prison — "therefore while I live I shall do her 
 service, and all her kindred," he ended. 
 
 "Then am I sure of your help on this coming Tues- 
 day?" said the King. 
 
 "Yea, sir," said Lancelot, "I shall not fail you, for 
 so I have promised my lady, your daughter. But, 
 
n KIXG AETI-IUK AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 sir, what knights are they of my lord Arthur's that 
 were with the King of North Wales?" 
 
 The King replied that they were Sir Mador de la 
 Porte, and Sir Mordred, and Sir Gahalatine, and 
 against these three neither he nor his knights had any 
 strength. 
 
 "Sir," said Lancelot, "as I hear say that the tourna- 
 ment shall be within three miles of this abbey, ye 
 shall send unto me three knights of yours such as 
 you trust, and look that the three knights have all 
 white shields, and I also, and no painting on the 
 shields. We four will come out of a little wood in 
 the midst of both parties, and we will fall on the fore- 
 most of our enemies, and grieve them all we can ; and 
 thus it shall not be known what knight I am." 
 
 That night, which was the Sunday, they took their 
 rest, and the next day King Bagdemagus departed; 
 and he sent to Sir Lancelot the three knights with the 
 four white shields. 
 
 THE MANOR BY THE FORD. 
 
 On the Tuesday Sir Lancelot and the three knights 
 from King Bagdemagus, with the white shields, lodged 
 in a little leafy wood beside where the tournament 
 would be held. And there were stands erected, so 
 that lords and ladies could see, and give the prize. 
 
 Then came into the field the King of North Wales 
 
MANOE BY THE FOED. 73 
 
 with eight score of helms, and the three knights of 
 Arthur stood by themselves. 
 
 Then came into the field King Bagdemagus with 
 four score helms. They put their spears in rest, and 
 dashed at each other, and at the first encounter twelve 
 knights of King Bagdemagus were slain, and six of 
 the King of North Wales, and King Bagdemagus' 
 party was driven far back. 
 
 With that came Sir Lancelot of the Lake, and he 
 thrust with his spear in the thickest of the press, and 
 knight after knight went down before him, and among 
 the throng he smote down the King of North Wales. 
 King Arthur's three knights saw this deed of Lan-' 
 celot's, and each in turn attacked him, and each was 
 vanquished. 
 
 After this he fought with twenty-eight knights, and 
 overthrew every one of them, and then the knights of 
 the King of North Wales would joust no more, and 
 the prize was given to King Bagdemagus. 
 
 So each party departed to his own place, and Sir 
 Lancelot rode forth with King Bagdemagus to his 
 Castle, where he had passing good cheer both with 
 the King and his daughter, and they offered him great 
 gifts. 
 
 On the morrow he took his leave, and told King 
 Bagdemagus that he would go and seek his brother 
 Sir Lionel, who went from him when he was asleep. 
 So he took his horse, and commended them all to God. 
 And to the King's daughter he said: 
 
7-i KING AETHUE AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 "If ye have need any time of my service, I pray you 
 let me know, and I shall not fail you as I am true 
 knight." 
 
 So Sir Lancelot departed, and by chance he came 
 into the same forest where he was taken sleeping. 
 And in the midst of a highway he met a damsel riding 
 a white palfrey, and they each saluted the other. 
 
 "Fair damsel," said Sir Lancelot, "know ye in this 
 country any adventures?" 
 
 "Sir Knight," said the damsel, "here are adventures 
 near at hand, if thou darest prove them." 
 
 "Why should I not prove adventures?" said Sir 
 ' Lancelot, "for that cause came I into the country." 
 
 "Well," said she, "thou seemest indeed to be a good 
 knight, and if thou dare meet with a good knight I 
 will bring thee where is the best and the mightiest 
 that ever thou found, so thou wilt tell me what is thy 
 name, and what knight thou art." 
 
 "To tell thee my name I am quite ready, truly it is 
 Sir Lancelot of the Lake." 
 
 "Sir, thou art a well-seeming knight; here are 
 adventures to suit thee. For hereby dwelleth a knight 
 that will not be over-matched by any one I knows 
 unless ye over-match him; his name is Sir Turquine. 
 And, as I understand, he hath in his prison three score 
 and four good knights of Arthur's Court, whom he 
 hath won with his own hands. But when ye have 
 (lone this day's work ye shall promise me as ye are a 
 
MANOE BY THE FOED. 75 
 
 true knight to go with me and help me and other 
 damsels that are distressed daily with a false knight." 
 
 "I will fulfil all your desire, damsel, so that you 
 bring me to this knight." 
 
 So she brought him to the ford and to the tree where 
 hung the basin.. 
 
 Sir Lancelot let his horse drink, and then he beat 
 with all his might on the basin with the butt of his 
 spear, till at last the bottom fell out, but he saw 
 nothing. He rode up and down in front of the gates 
 of that manor for nearly half-an-hour ; then he was 
 aware of a great knight coming who drove a horse 
 before him, and across the horse lay an armed knight, 
 bound. As they came nearer and nearer Sir Lancelot 
 thought he should know him, and then he saw it was 
 Sir Gaheris, Gawaine's brother, a Knight of the 
 Round Table. 
 
 By that time Sir Turquine had seen Lancelot, and 
 they both gripped their spears. 
 
 "Now, fair knight," said Lancelot, "put that 
 wounded knight ofif the horse, and let him rest awhile, 
 and let us two prove our strength. For, as I am told, 
 thou dost, and hast done, great despite and shame unto 
 Knights of the Round Table; therefore, now defend 
 thee!" 
 
 "If thou be of the Round Table I defy thee and all 
 thy fellowship," said Sir Turquine. 
 
 "That is saying overmuch," said Sir Lancelot. 
 
76 KING AETHUE AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 Then they put their spears in rest, and came together 
 with their horses as fast as they could run, and each 
 smote the other in the midst of their shields, so that 
 
 the two horses' backs were broken. Both knights were 
 astonished, and as soon as they could get clear of the 
 horses they flung their shields in front of them, and 
 
MANOE BY THE FOliD. 77 
 
 drew their swords, and rushed together eagerly, so 
 that neither shields nor armor could withstand their 
 strokes. Within a little while they had both grim 
 wounds, and thus it fared for two hours or more. 
 Then at the last they were both oreathless, and stood 
 leaning on their swords. 
 
 "Now, fellow," said Sir Turquine, "hold thy hand 
 awhile, and tell me what I shall ask thee^' 
 
 "Say OH," said Lancelot. 
 
 "Thou art the biggest man that ever I met withal, 
 and the most skilled, and like one knight that I hate 
 above all other knights. If so be that thou art not he 
 then I will willingly agree with thee, and for thy love 
 I will deliver all the prisoners I have, who are three 
 score and four, so thou wilt tell me thy name. And 
 thou and I will be friends together and never fail, as 
 long as I live." 
 
 "Well said," answered Sir Lancelot, "but since I 
 may have thy friendship, what knight is he whom 
 thou so hatest above all others ?" 
 
 "Faithfully he is Sir Lancelot of the Lake, for he 
 slew my brother at the Dolorous Tower, who was 
 one of the best knights living. Therefore him I except, 
 for may I once meet with him, the one of us shall make 
 an fend of the other, I swear a vow. And for Sir 
 Lancelot's sake I have slain a hundred good knights, 
 and as many have I mairried, and many have died in 
 prison, and still I have three score and four. But all 
 
78 KING AETHUE AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 shall be delivered if thou wilt tell me thy name, so it 
 be that thou art not Sir Lancelot." 
 
 "Now see I well," said Sir Lancelot, "that I might 
 be such a man that I might have peace, and I might be 
 such a man that there should be deadly war betwixt 
 us. And now. Sir Knight, at thy request I desire that 
 thou learn and know that I am Lancelot of the Lake, 
 King Ban's son, of Benwick, and true Knight of the 
 Table Round. And now I defy thee, do thy best!" 
 
 "Ah, Lancelot," said Turquine, "thou art most 
 welcome to me that ever was knight, for we shall never 
 part till the one of us be dead." 
 
 Then they hustled together like two wild bulls, rash- 
 ing and lashing with their shields and swords. Thus 
 they fought still two hours and more, and never would 
 have rest. And Sir Turquine gave Sir Lancelot many 
 wounds, so that all the ground there where they fought 
 was bespeckled with blood. Then at the last Sir Tur- 
 quine waxed faint, and gave somewhat aback, and bore 
 his shield low for weariness. Sir Lancelot espied 
 this, and leaped upon him fiercely, and got him by the 
 beaver of his helmet and plucked him down on his 
 knees. Then he quickly raised off his helm and smote 
 his neck in sunder. 
 
 And when Sir Lancelot had done this, he went to 
 the damsel, arid said : 
 
 "Damsel, I am ready to go with you where you 
 \\'i\[ have me, but I have no horse." 
 
MAliTOE BY THE FORD. ':'9 
 
 "Fair sir," said she, "take this wounded knight's 
 horse, and send him to the Manor, and command him 
 to dehver all the prisoners." 
 
 So Lancelot went to Gaheris, and prayed him not to 
 be aggrieved at lending him his horse. 
 
 "Nay, fair lord," said Gaheris, "I will that ye take 
 my horse at your own commandment, for ye have 
 saved both me and my horse; and this day I say you 
 are the best knight in the world, for you have slain 
 here in my sight the mightiest man and the best 
 knight, except you, that ever I saw. I pray you, sir, 
 tell me your name." 
 
 "Sir, my name is Lancelot of the Lake, that ought 
 to help you of right for King Arthur's sake, and in 
 especial for my Lord Gawaine's sake, your own dear 
 brother. And when you come within yonder Manor, 
 I am sure you will find there many Knights of the 
 Round Table, for I have seen many of their shields 
 that I know on yonder tree. And among them are 
 my two kinsmen'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 treasure 
 as they find in the Manor, and that in any case let my 
 kinsmen go to the Court and wait till I come, for by 
 the Feast of Pentecost, I purpose to be there ; for at this 
 time I must ride with this damsel to keep my prom- 
 ise." 
 
 So Sir Lancelot departed, and Sir Gaheris went into 
 
80 KING ARTHUE AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 the Manor, and there he found a yeoman porter, keep- 
 ing many keys. Sir Gaheria quickly threw the porter 
 to the ground, and took the keys from him, and 
 hastily he opened the prison door, and let out all the 
 prisoners ; and every man loosed each other's bonds. 
 
 When they saw Gaheris they all thanked him, for 
 they saw he was wounded. 
 
 "Not so," said Gaheris, "it was Lancelot that slew 
 your captor, I saw it with my own eyes. And he 
 greeteth you all well, and prayeth you to hasten to 
 Court ; and as for Sir Lionel and Sir Ector de Maris, 
 he prayeth you to wait for him at Court." 
 
 "That shall we not do," said the brothers, "we will 
 find him, if we live." 
 
 "So shall. I find him before I go to Court, as I am 
 true knight," said Sir Kay. 
 
 Then all the knights sought the house where the 
 armor was, and armed themselves, and every knight 
 found his own horse, and all that belonged to him. 
 And when this was done there came a forester with 
 four horses laden with fat venison. 
 
 "Here is good meat for us for one meal/' said Sir 
 Kay, "for we have had no good repast for many a 
 day." 
 
 So the venison was roasted, baked, and boiled, and 
 after supper some of the knights abode there in the 
 Manor all that night, but Sir Lionel and Ector de 
 Maris and Sir Kay rode after Sir Lancelot to find him 
 
TWO GIANTS SLAIN. 81 
 
 HOW SIR LANCELOT SLEW TWO GIANTS. 
 
 Sir Lancelot rode away with the damsel, as he had 
 promised, to aid her against the wicked knight who 
 robbed and distressed all ladies and gentlewomen. 
 
 "He doth shame unto the order of knighthood and 
 contrary unto his oath," he said; "it is pity that he 
 liveth. But, fair damsel, you shall ride on in front, 
 and I will keep myself in covert, and if he trouble or 
 distress you, I will rescue you, and teach him to be 
 ruled as a knight." 
 
 So the maid rode gently along the highway. 
 
 Soon out of the wood came the wicked knight on 
 horseback, and his page with him, and he took the 
 damsel from her horse, and she cried out. 
 
 With that came Sir Lancelot as fast as he could. 
 
 "O thou false knight, and traitor unto knighthood !" 
 he said. "Who taught thee to distress ladies and gen- 
 tlewomen ?" 
 
 When the knight heard this rebuke he made no 
 answer, but drew his sword and rode at Sir Lancelot. 
 Then Lancelot threw his spear from him, and drew 
 out his sword, and struck him such a buffet on the hel- 
 met that he clave his head and neck to the throat. 
 
 "Now thou hast thy payment which thou hast long 
 deserved, and that is truth," said the damsel. "For 
 as Sir Turquine watched to destroy knights, so did this 
 
82 KING ARTHUE AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 knight wait to destroy and distress ladies, damsels, and 
 gentlewomen ; and his name was Sir Peris of' Forest 
 Savage." 
 
 "Now, damsel," said Sir Lancelot, "will ye .any 
 more service of me ?" 
 
 "Nay, sir, not. at this time," she said, "but Christ 
 preserve you wheresoever you ride or go! For the 
 courtliest knight thou art, and meekest unto all ladies 
 and gentlewomen that now liveth." 
 
 And so Sir Lancelot and she parted. 
 
 Then Sir Lancelot rode in a deep forest two dayS' 
 and more, and had hard lodging. On the third day 
 he rode over a long bridge, and there suddenly started 
 out on him a horrible churl, who smote his horse on 
 the nose so that it turned away, and asked him why 
 he rode over that bridge without his permission. 
 
 "Why should I not ride this way?" said Sir 
 Lancelot. 
 
 "Thou shalt not choose," said the churl, and lashed 
 at him with a great club shod with iron. 
 
 Then Sir Lancelot drew his sword and thrust the 
 stroke aside, and cleft the villain's head. 
 
 At the end of the bridge was a fair village, and all 
 the people, men and women, cried to Sir Lancelot : < 
 
 "A worse deed for thyself didst thou never, for 
 thou hast slain the chief porter of our Castle." 
 
 Sir Lancelot let them say what they would, and 
 went straight into the Castle ; and when he came there 
 
83 
 
 TWO GIANTS' SLAIi^. 
 
 he alighted, and tied his horse to a ring on the wall. 
 There he saw a fair green court, and to this he went, 
 for he thought it was a good place to fight in. And 
 
 looking about he saw many people at the doors and 
 windows, who said : 
 
 "Fair knight, thou art in evil luCk!" 
 
 Soon there came upon him two great giants, well 
 
84 KING AETHUE AND HIS KNIGHTS- 
 
 armed, all except the heads, and with two horrible 
 clubs in their hands. Flinging his shield before him. 
 Sir Lancelot turned away the stroke of the one giant, 
 and with his sword clave his head asunder. When 
 his companion saw that, he ran away as if he were 
 mad, for fear of the horrible strokes; but Lancelot 
 ran after him with all his might, and smote him on the 
 shoulder, and killed him. 
 
 Then Sir Lancelot went into the hall, and there 
 came sixty ladies and damsels, who all knelt to him 
 and thanked God and him for their deliverance. 
 
 "For, sir," said they, "most of us have been prison- 
 ers here seven years, and we have worked all manner 
 of silk works for our meat, and we are all high-born 
 gentlewomen. Blessed be the time, knight, that ever 
 thou wert born, for thou hast done the noblest deed 
 that ever knight did, and that we will bear record. 
 We all pray thee to tell us thy name, that we may tell 
 our friends who delivered us out of prison." 
 
 "Fair damsels," he said, "my name is Sir Lancelot 
 of the Lake." 
 
 "Ah, sir," said they, "well mayst thou be he, for 
 save thyself, as we deemed, there might never knight 
 have the better of these two giants. Many good 
 knights have assayed it, and here have ended, and 
 many times have we wished for thee, for these two 
 giants dreaded no knight but thee." 
 
 "Now you can say to your friends how and by 
 
'TWO GlANTS SLAIN". 8S 
 
 whom you have been dehvered," said Lancelot, "and 
 greet them all from me. What treasure there is in 
 this Castle I give it all to you, as a reward for your 
 grievance; and the lord that is owner of this Castle, 
 I would that he receive it, as is right." 
 
 "The name of this Castle is Tintagel," said the 
 ladies, "and for some time a duke had it, who was 
 wedded to the fair Igraine. And after his death she 
 married King Uther Pendragon, and Arthur was their 
 son." 
 
 "Well," said Sir Lancelot, "I understand now to 
 whom this Castle belongs." 
 
 And so he commended them to God, and departed. 
 
 Then he mounted his horse, and rode into many wild 
 and strange countries, and through many waters and 
 valleys, and evil was he lodged. At last one night he 
 happened by chance to come to a fair courtyard, and 
 there he found an old gentlewoman who lodged him 
 with a good will, and he had good cheer for himself 
 and his horse. And when it was time, his host took 
 ■ him to a fair room over the gate, to go to bed. There 
 Sir Lancelot unarmed him, and set his armor beside 
 him, and went to bed, and quickly fell asleep. 
 
 Soon after, came one on horseback, and knocked at 
 the gate in great haste. When Sir Lancelot heard 
 this he arose, and looking out at the window, he saw 
 by the moonlight three knights come riding after that 
 one knight, and all three lashed on him at once with 
 
80 KING AETHUE AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 swords, and that one knight turned on them valiantly 
 again, and defended himself. 
 
 "Truly," said Sir Lancelot, "yonder one knight 
 shall I help, for it were shame to me to see three 
 knights on one, and if he be slain, I am partner in his 
 death." 
 
 Therewith he took his aripor, and went out of the 
 window, letting himself down by a sheet, to the four 
 knights. 
 
 "Turn, you knights, unto me !" he cried aloud, "and 
 leave your fighting with that knight." 
 
 Then they all left the other, who was Sir Kay, and 
 turned to Sir Lancelot, and there began a great battle, 
 for they all three alighted, and struck great strokes at 
 Lancelot, and assailed him on every side. But when 
 Sir Kay would have gone to Lancelot's help, the latter 
 bade him let them fight him alone, so to please him. 
 Sir Kay stood aside. And quickly then, in six 
 strokes. Sir Lancelot had stricken them to the earth. 
 
 Then they all cried, "Sir Knight, we yield us unto 
 you as a man of matchless might." 
 
 "As to that," said Sir Lancelot, "I will not take 
 your yielding unto me, but if ye yield you unto Sir 
 Kay the Seneschal, on that covenant I will save your 
 lives, and not else." 
 
 "That were we loath to do, fair knight," they said, 
 "for as for Sir Kay we chased him hither, and had 
 overcome him, if you had not been here; therefore 
 there is no reason why we should yield to him." 
 
TWO GIANTS SLAIN. 8? 
 
 "A", to that be well advised," said Lancelot, "for 
 you can choose whether you shall die or live; but if 
 you yield, it shall be to Sir Kay." 
 
 "Well," they answered, "as you have saved our 
 lives, we will do as you command." 
 
 Then Lancelot bade them go to the Court of King 
 Arthur on the coming Whitsunday, and there yield 
 them to Queen Guinevere, and put themselves in her 
 grace and mercy, saying that Sir Kay had sent them 
 to be her prisoners. And every knight swore faith- 
 fully upon his sword that he would do this. So Sir 
 Lancelot suffered them to depart. 
 
 Then he knocked at the gate with the pommel of his 
 sword, and therewith came his host, and in they en- 
 tered. Sir Kay and he. 
 
 His host had heard nothing of the disturbance, and 
 was surprised to see them. "Sir," he said, "I thought 
 you were in your bed." 
 
 "So I was," said Sir Lancelot, "but I arose and 
 leaped out of my window to help an old comrade of 
 mine." 
 
 And so when they came near the light Sir Kay knew 
 well that it was Sir Lancelot, and he knelt down and 
 thanked him for all his kindness, because he had this 
 second time helped him from death. 
 
 "Sir," said Lancelot, "I have done nothing but 
 what I ought to do, so you are welcome; and here 
 shall you repose, and take your rest." 
 
88 KING AETHUE AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 When Sir Kay was unarmed he asked for some 
 food, which was brought him, and he ate hungrily. 
 After he had supped, he and Sir Lancelot went to their 
 beds, and lodged together in one room. 
 
 In the morning Sir Lancelot rose early, and left Sir 
 Kay sleeping; and Sir Lancelot took Sir Kay's armor 
 and his shield, and armed himself ; then he went to the 
 stable and fetched his horse, and took leave of his host, 
 and so he departed. 
 
 Then soon after Sir Kay arose and missed Sir 
 Lancelot; and then he espied that he had taken his 
 armor and his horse. 
 
 "Now by my faith I know well that he will grieve 
 some of the Court of King Arthur ; for knights will be 
 bold to him, believing him to be me, and thus they will 
 be deceived. And because of his armor and shield I 
 am sure I shall ride in peace." 
 
 Then Sir Kay thanked his host, and soon departed. 
 
 CHAPEL PERILOUS AND THE WICKED 
 SORCERESS. 
 
 Sir Lancelot, dressed in Sir Kay's armor, rode 
 long in a great forest, and at last he came to a flat 
 country, full of fair rivers and meadows. Before him 
 he saw a long bridge, and on it three pavilions of silk 
 and sandal of different colors. Outside the pavil- 
 ions hung three white shields on truncheons of spears, 
 
CHAPEL PEEILOtJS AND THE SOECEBESS. 89 
 
 and great long spears stood upright by the pavilions, 
 and at every pavihon door stood a squire. Sir Lan- 
 celot passed by these and spoke no word. 
 
 "There goes the proud Sir Kay," said the knights 
 to whom the pavilions belonged. "He thinks no 
 knight so good as himself, but the contrary has often 
 been pifoved." 
 
 "By my faith I will assay him, for all his pride," 
 said one of the knights, "and you shall see how I 
 speed." And arming himself he rode quickly after 
 Lancelot, and challenged him to fight. 
 
 But Sir Lancelot smote him down, horse and man, 
 and after that, when the other two knights came to 
 their brother's assistance, he overthrew them, too. One 
 of them started up with his head all bleeding and 
 came straight to Sir Lancelot, 
 
 "Now let be," said Lancelot, "I was not far from 
 thee when thou wert made knight, Sir Rajmold, and 
 also I know thou art a good knight, and loath I 
 should be to slay thee." 
 
 '"Gramercy, as for your goodness," said Sir 
 Raynold, "and I dare say as for me and my brethren 
 we will not be loath to yield to you, if we knew your 
 name; for well we know you are not Sir Kay." 
 
 "As for that, be it as it may," answered Lancelot, 
 "for ye shall yield you unto Queen Guinevere. Look 
 that ye be with her on Whitsunday, and yield you 
 unto her as prisoners, and say that Sir Kay sent you 
 Mnto her." 
 
90 KING AETHUE AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 Then they Swore it should be done, and Lancelot 
 went on his way. 
 
 Riding on through the deep forest he saw there in 
 a glade four knights standing under an oak. They 
 were all of King Arthur's Court, and Sir Lancelot 
 knew them well — they v/ere Sagramour le Desirous, 
 Sir Ector de Maris, Sir Gawaine, and Sir Uwaine. 
 When they saw Lancelot they thought by his armor 
 it was Sir Kay, so they agreed to fight him, to test his 
 power. But Sir Lancelot rode at them all in turn, and 
 overthrew them all, and went on his way smiling. 
 
 "What say ye of this deed," said Gawaine, "that 
 one spear hath felled us four?" 
 
 "We commend him to the devil," said they all, "for 
 he is a man of great might." 
 
 "Ye may well say that he is a man of might," said 
 Gawaine, "for I dare lay my head it is Sir Lancelot, 
 I know it by his riding. Let him go, for when we get 
 to the Court then we shall know." 
 
 Sir Lancelot rode on for a great while in the deep 
 . forest, and at last he saw a black dog seeking about as 
 if it were in the track of a hurt deer, and then he'saw 
 on the ground a trail of blood. So he rode after the 
 dog, which kept looking back at him. It went through 
 a great marsh, and Lancelot followed, and then he 
 saw an old manor, and thither the dog ran across a 
 bridge. Riding over the bridge, which was old and 
 feebJe, Sir Lancelot came presently to a great hall, 
 
CHAPEL PERILOUS AND THE SORCEEESS. 91 
 
 and in the midst he saw lying a dead knight, a noble- 
 looking man, and the dog licked his wounds. 
 
 Then there came out a lady weeping and wringing 
 her hands. 
 
 "Oh, knight!" she said, "too much sorrow hast 
 thou brought me!" 
 
 "Why say you so?" said Sir Lancelot. "I never 
 did this knight any harm, for hither by track of blood 
 
9a KING AETHUE AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 this dog brought me. Therefore, fair lady, be not 
 displeased with me, for I am full sorely grieved for 
 your grievance." 
 
 "Truly, sir," she said, "I know it is not you who 
 have slain my husband, for he who did the deed is 
 sorely wouiided, and never likely to recover — I shall 
 make sure of that." 
 
 "What was your husband's name?" asked Sif 
 Lancelot. 
 
 "Sir," said she, "his name was called Sir Gilbert, 
 one of the best knights of the world, and I know not 
 ~the name of him that hath slain him." 
 
 "Now God send you better comfort," said Sir 
 Lancelot, and so he departed. 
 
 Then he went again into the forest, and there he 
 met with a damsel who knew him well. 
 
 "Well found, my lord!" she said. "Now I require 
 thee on thy knighthood help my brother, who is sore 
 wounded. For this day he fought with Sir Gilbert, 
 and slew him in plain battle, and there my brother was 
 sorely wounded. And there is a lady, a sorceress, 
 who dwells in a castle close by, arid this day she told * 
 me my brother's wounds would never be whole till I 
 could find a knight who would go into the Chapel 
 Perilous, and there he would find a sword and a blood- 
 stained doth that Sir Gilbert was lapped in; and the 
 sword and a piece of that cloth should heal ray 
 brother's wounds." 
 
CHAPEL PEEILOUS AND THE SORCEEESS. 93 
 
 "This is a marvellous thing," said Lancelot, "but 
 what is your brother's name?" 
 
 "Sir," said she, "his name is Sir Meliot de Logres." 
 
 "I am sorry for that," said Lancelot, "for he is a 
 fellow of the Round Table, and to help him I will do 
 all in my power." 
 
 "Then, sir," said the damsel, "follow this highway, 
 and it will bring you to the Chapel Perilous. And here 
 I shall bide till God send you here again; and unless 
 you succeed I know no knight living who may achieve 
 that adventure." 
 
 So Sir Lancelot departed, and when he came to the 
 Chapel Perilous he alighted, and tied his horse to a 
 little gate. 
 
 As soon as he was within the churchyard he saw 
 many rich shields, turned upside down, and many of 
 the shields Sir Lancelot had seen knights bear for- 
 merly. 
 
 Then he saw standing there by him thirty great 
 knights, each taller by a yard than any he had ever 
 seen, and all these grinned and gnashed at Sir Lance- 
 lot. When he saw their countenance he was in sore 
 dread, so he put his shield before him, and took his 
 sword in his hand, ready for battle; and all the knights 
 were armed in black harness, ready with their shields 
 and their swords drawn. But when Sir Lancelot 
 would have passed through them, they scattered on 
 every side, and gave him way, whereupon he waxed 
 quite bold, and entered the chapel. 
 
94 KING AETHUE AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 There he saw no light but a dim lamp burning, and 
 then he was aware of a dead body covered with a cloth 
 of silk. 
 
 Sir Lancelot stooped down and cut away a piece of 
 the cloth, whereupon it seemed as if the earth quaked 
 a little, at which he feared. Then he saw a fair sword 
 lying by the dead knight, and he took the sword in 
 his hand and went out of the chapel. 
 
 As soon as ever he was in the chapel-yard all the 
 knights spoke to him with a grim voice. 
 
 "Knight, Sir Lancelot, lay that sword from thee, 
 or else thou shalt die." 
 
 "Whether I live or die," said Lancelot, "no big 
 words will get it again, therefore fight for it, if you 
 choose," and right so he passed through them. 
 
 Beyond the chapel-yard there met him a fair damsel, : 
 who said : 
 
 "Sir Lancelot, leave that sword behind thee, or 
 thou wilt die for it." 
 
 "I shall not leave it^ for any entreaties," said 
 Lancelot. 
 
 "No," said she, "if thou didst leave that sword, « 
 thou wouldst never again see Queen Guinevere." 
 
 "Then I were a fool if I left it," said Lancelot. 
 
 "Now, gentle knight," said the damsel, "I require 
 thee to kiss me but once." 
 
 "Nay," said Lancelot, "God forbid!" 
 
 "Well, sir," said she, "if thou hadst kissed me, all 
 
CHAPEL PERILOUS AND THE SOECEEESS. 9S 
 
 the days of thy life would have been done. But now, 
 alas!" she said, "I have lost all my labor, for I 
 ordained the chapel for thy sake. And now, Sir 
 Lancelot, I tell thee I have loyed thee these seven 
 years, but no woman may hav^ thy love but Queen 
 Guinevere; since I might not rejoice to have thee 
 alive, I had no greater joy in this world than to have 
 thy body dead. Then would I have had it embalmed, 
 and preserved, and so have kept it all the days of my 
 life, and daily I would have kissed thee, in spite of 
 Queen Guinevere." 
 
 _l!Ye-^ay well," said Sir Lancelot. "God preserve 
 me from thy subtle crafts!" 
 
 And therewith he took his horse, and departed from 
 her. 
 
 And when Sir !^ancelot departed she took such 
 sorrow that she died within a fortnight; and her 
 name was Hellawes, the sorceress, lady of the Castle 
 Nigramous, 
 
 Sir Lancelot soon met with the damsel. Sir Meliot's 
 sister, and when she saw him, she clapped her hands, 
 and wept for joy, and then they rode to a castle near 
 by where Sir Meliot lay. 
 
 Directly Sir Lancelot saw him he recognized him 
 as one of Arthur's knights, but Sir Meliot was as pale 
 as death from bleeding; then Lancelot sprang to him, 
 and touched his wounds with Sir Gilbert's sword, and 
 wiped them with a piece of the cloth in which Sir 
 
96 KING ARTHUE AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 Gilbert had been wrapped, and immediately Sir Meliot 
 was more well and strong than he had ever been in 
 his life. 
 
 Then there was great joy between them, and they 
 made Sir Lancelot all the cheer they could. When 
 Sir Lancelot took his leave in the morning, he bade 
 Sir Meliot hie to the Court of King Arthur, for it 
 drew nigh to the Feast of Pentecost, and there by the 
 grace of God he would find him. 
 
 THE DECEIT OF THE FALCON. 
 
 In this way Sir Lancelot 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 he thought he heard two bells ring. Then he 
 was aware of a falcon that came flying over his head 
 to a high elm; long lines were about her feet, and as 
 she flew into the elm to take her perch the lines caught 
 in a bough. When she would have taken her flight, 
 she hung by the legs fast, and Sir Lancelot saw how 
 she hung, and was sorry for the beautiful peregrine 
 falcon. 
 
 Meanwhile a lady came out of the castle, and cried : 
 
 "O, Lancelot, Lancelot, as thou art flower of all 
 
 knights, help me to get my hawk, for if my hawk be 
 
 lost, my lord will destroy me. For I kept the hawk. 
 
THE DECEIT OF THE FALCO"N". 97 
 
 and she slipped from me, and if my husband know it 
 he is so hasty he will slay me." 
 
 "What is your husband's name?" said Lancelot. 
 
 "Sir," she said, "his name is Sir Phelot, a knight 
 of the King of North Wales." 
 
 "Well, fair lady, since you know my name and re- 
 quire me of knighthood to help you, I will do what 
 I can to get your hawk; and yet truly I am an ill 
 climber, and the tree is passing high, and there are 
 few boughs to help me." 
 
 Therewith Sir Lancelot alighted, and tied his horse 
 to the same tree, and begged the lady to help him off 
 with his armor. And when he was unarmed he put 
 off all his clothes to his shirt and breeches, and with 
 might and skill he climbed up to the falcon, and tied 
 the lines to a great, rotten branch, and threw it and 
 the falcon down. 
 
 The lady~ at once took hold of the falcon. Then 
 suddenly out of the grove came Sir Phelot, her hus- 
 band, all armed, and with his naked sword in his 
 hand. 
 
 "O knight, Lancelot, now have I found thee as I 
 would," he said, and stood at the bole of the tree to 
 slay him. 
 
 "Ah, lady," said Sir Lancelot, "why have you be- 
 trayed me?" 
 
 "She has only done as I commanded her," said 
 Sir Phelot, "and therefore there is no help for it but 
 thine hour is come that thou must die." 
 
98 KING ARTHITE AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 "That were shame unto thee," said Sir Lancelot, 
 "thou an armed knight to slay an unarmed man by 
 treason." 
 
 "Thou gettest no other grace," said Sir Phelot, 
 "therefore help thyself if thou canst." 
 
 "Truly," said Lancelot, "that shall be thy shame; 
 but since thou wilt do no other, take my armor with 
 thee, and hang my sword upon a bough that I may 
 get it, and then do thy pest to slay me, if thou canst." 
 
 "Nay, nay," said Sir Phelot, "for I know thee better 
 than thou thinkest, therefore thou gettest no weapon, 
 if I can keep thee from it." 
 
 "Alas!" said Sir Lancelot, "that ever a knight 
 should die weaponless !" 
 
 Then he looked above him, and under him, and 
 over his head he saw a great branch, leafless, with 
 other branches growing out of it, and this he broke 
 off from the trunk. Then he came lower, and marked 
 how his own horse stood, and suddenly he leaped on 
 the farther side of the horse from the knight. Sir 
 
 Phelot lashed at him eagerly, thinking to have slain 
 
 i 
 him ; but Sir Lancelot thrust away the stroke with the 
 
 branch, and smote him on the side of the head, so that 
 
 he fell in a swoon to the ground. Then Lancelot 
 
 took Sir Phelot's sword out of his hand, and struck 
 
 off his head. 
 
 "Alas, why hast thou slain my husband?" cried the 
 
 lady. 
 
THE DECEIT OF THE FALCOX. flO 
 
 '1 am not to blame," said Sir Lancelot, "for with 
 falsehood ye would have slain me by treason, and 
 now it has fallen on you both." 
 
 Then the lady swooned as though she would die. 
 
 Sir Lancelot got all his armor as well as he could, 
 and put it on him, for he dreaded further attack, 
 because the knight's castle was so near. As quickly 
 as possible he took his horse and departed, thanking 
 God that he had escaped that adventure. 
 
 Two days before the Feast of Pentecost he went 
 home, and the King and all the Court rejoiced greatly 
 at his coming. When the four knights with whom 
 he had fought in the wood saw Sir Lancelot in Kay's 
 armor they knew well it was he who had smote them 
 all down with one spear, and there was much laughing 
 and smiling among them. And now all the knights 
 whom Sir Turquine had kept as prisoners came troop- 
 ing home, and they all honored and worshipped Sir 
 Lancelot. When Sir Gaheris heard them speak, he 
 said, "I saw all the battle, from the beginning to the 
 end," and there he told King Arthur how it was, and 
 how Sir Turquine was the strongest knight that ever 
 he saw, except Sir Lancelot; and there were nearly 
 three score knights who bore him record. 
 
 Then Sir Kay told the King how Sir Lancelot had 
 rescued him when he would have been slain in the 
 night, outside the manor where Lancelot was lodging; 
 
:100 KING AKTHUE AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 and how he made the knights yield to Sir Kay, and 
 not to himself. And there the knights were, all three, 
 and bare record. 
 
 "And by my faith," said Sir Kay, "because Sir 
 Lancelot took my harness and left me his, I rode in 
 good peace, and no man would touch me." 
 
 Then also came the three knights who fought with 
 Lancelot at the long bridge, and they would have 
 yielded them at the Court to Sir Kay; but Sir Kay 
 refused them, and said he never fought with them. 
 
 "But I will ease your hearts," he said; "yonder is 
 Sir Lancelot, who overcame you." 
 
 When they knew that, they were glad. 
 
 Then Sir Meliot de Logres came home, and told 
 King Arthur how Sir Lancelot had saved him from 
 death by facing the unknown dangers, and the evil 
 spells in the Chapel Perilous. 
 
 And all his deeds were known — how four Queens, 
 sorceresses, had him in prison, and how he was de- 
 livered by King Bagdemagus' dau^ter. Also there 
 were told all the great deeds of arms that Sir Lance- 
 lot did in the tournament betwixt the two kings, that 
 is to say, the King of North Wales and King Bag- 
 demagus. 
 
 So at that time Sir Lancelot had the greatest name 
 of any knight of the world, and he was the most 
 honored, both by high and low. 
 
THE THESE GIFTS. 
 
 191 
 
 The Boy of the Kitchen. 
 
 THE THREE GIFTS. 
 
 Once when King Arthur held his Round Table in 
 its full glory, it happened that he commanded that 
 the high Feast of Pentecost should be held at a 
 castle in a city which in those days was called Kink- 
 Kenadon, upon the sands that marched next Wales. 
 The King had always a special custom at the Feast of 
 Pentecost — namely, that he would not sit down to 
 meat until he had heard of, or seen, a great marvel. 
 And because of this custom all manner of strange 
 adventures came before Arthur at that feast more 
 than at any other festival in the year. 
 
 On this day of Pentecost, a little before noon. Sir 
 Gawaine espied from a window three men on horse- 
 
103 KIXG ARTHHE AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 back and a dwarf on foot. The three men aHghted, 
 and the dwarf kept their horses, and one of the three 
 men was taller than the other two by a foot and a 
 half. 
 
 Then Sir Gawaine went to the King, and said: 
 
 "Sir, go to your meat, for here at hand come strange 
 adventures." 
 
 So Arthur went to meat with many other Kings, 
 and all the Knights of the Round Table were there, 
 save those who were prisoners or who had been slain 
 in battle. For at the high feast the whole number of 
 one hundred and fifty should always be present, for 
 then was the Round Table fully complete. 
 
 Then came into the hall two men, richly clad, with 
 the goodliest young man and the fairest that they 
 had ever seen leaning on their shoulders, as if he could 
 not go by himself. He was large and tall, and broad 
 in the shoulders, handsome of face, and had the largest 
 and most beautiful hands that ever a man saw. 
 
 As soon as King Arthur saw him, place and room 
 were made, and the two strange men went with him 
 right up to the high dais without saying a word. 
 
 Then this great young man pulled himself back, and 
 easily stretched up straight, saying: 
 
 "King Arthur, God bless you and all your fair fel- 
 lowship, and in especial the fellowship of the Round 
 Table. And for this cause I am come hither, to pray 
 you and require you to give me three gifts, and they 
 
THE THREE GIFTS. 103 
 
 shall not be unreasonably asked, but such as ye may 
 worshipfully and honorably grant to me, at no great 
 hurt or loss. The first gift I will ask now, and the 
 other two gifts I will ask this day twelvemonth, 
 wheresoever you hold your high feast." 
 
 "Now ask," said Arthur, "and ye shall have your 
 asking." 
 
 "Sir, this is my position for this feast — that you 
 will give me meat and drink sufficient for this twelve- 
 month, and at that day I will ask my other two gifts." 
 
 "My fair son," said Arthur, "ask better, I counsel 
 thee, for this is but a simple asking; my heart assures 
 me greatly that thou art come of men of worship, and 
 much my judgment fails me unless thou prove a man 
 of right good worship." 
 
 "Sir," said the young man, "let that be as it may, 
 I have asked that which I will ask." 
 
 "Well," said the King, "you shall have meat and 
 drink enough, I never forbade that to any one, either 
 my friend or my foe. But what is your name?" 
 
 "I cannot tell you." 
 
 "That is a marvel, that thou knowest not thy name," 
 said the King. "Thou art the goodliest young man 
 that ever I saw." And he went to Sir Kay, the 
 steward, and charged him that he should give the 
 stranger lad all manner of meat and drinks of the 
 best, and that he should be provided for in every way 
 as if he were a lord's son. 
 
104 KING ARTHUE AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 "There is little need to spend so much on him," 
 said Sir Kay, "for I dare undertake he is of mean 
 birth, and will never make a man; if he had come of 
 gentle folk he would have asked of you horse and 
 armor, but he asks according to his own nature. And 
 since he hath no name I will give him one — Beaumains, 
 that is, 'Fair-hands' — and I will bring him into the 
 kitchen, and there he shall have rich broth every day, 
 so that by the twelve months' end he shall be as fat as 
 a pork hog." 
 
 So the two strange men departed, leaving the tall 
 lad to Sir Kay, who scorned and mocked him. 
 
 Sir Gawaine and Sir Lancelot were very angry at the 
 way in which Sir Kay treated the lad, but the steward 
 persisted he would never make a man of worship, be- 
 cause he only desired meat and drink. He bade him 
 get a place and sit down to meat, so Beaumains went 
 to the hall door, and sat down among the serving boys 
 and lads, and there he ate sadly. 
 
 After the meal Sir Lancelot bade him come to his 
 chamber, and there he should have meat and drink 
 enough, and Sir Gawaine offered the same. But he 
 refused them both. He would do nothing but what 
 .Sir Kay commanded him. 
 
 As for Sir Gawaine, it was natural he should offer 
 Beaumains lodging, with meat and drink, for the boy 
 was nearer kin to him than he guessed. But what Sir 
 Lancelot did was of his great gentleness and courtesy. 
 
THE THKEE GIFTS. 105 
 
 So Beaumains was put into the kitchen, and lay 
 nightly as the boys of the kitchen did. And he endured 
 it all a twelvemonth, and never displeased man or 
 child, but was always meek and mild. But if ever there 
 were any jousting of knights, he would see it, if he 
 could. Sir Lancelot and Sir Gawaine often gave him 
 gold to spend, and clothes. Wherever there were 
 any feats of skill and strength, there Beaumains would 
 be, and no one could cast bar or stone as he did, by 
 two yards. Then Sir Kay would say : 
 
 "How like you my boy of the kitchen?" 
 
 So time passed till the feast of Whitsuntide came 
 round again. And that year the King held it at 
 Carleon in most royal fashion. But on Whitsunday, 
 according to his custom, he would eat no meat until 
 he heard some adventure. Then there came a squire 
 to the King, and said, "Sir, you may go to meat, for 
 here cometh a damsel with some strange adventures," 
 whereupon the King was glad, and sat down. 
 
 At that moment a damsel came into the hall, and 
 saluted the King, and prayed succor of him. 
 
 "For whom?" said the King. "What is the adven- 
 ture?" 
 
 "Sir," said she, "I have a lady of great worship and 
 renown, and she is besieged by a tyrant, so that she 
 cannot get out of her castle. And because in this 
 your Court are the noblest knights of the world, I 
 come to pray succor of you." 
 
106 KING AETHUE AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 "What is your lady called, and where dwelleth she? 
 And who is he, and what is his name, who hath be- 
 sieged her?" 
 
 "Sir King," said the damsel, "as for my lady's 
 name, that ye shall not know from me at present, but 
 on my word she is a lady of great worship, and of 
 many lands. As for the tyrant who besieges her and 
 destroys her lands, he is called the Red Knight of the 
 Red Lawns." 
 
 "I know him not," said the King. 
 
 "Sir," said Gawaine, "I know him well, for he is 
 one of the niost dangerous knights in the world. Men 
 say that he hath seven men's strength, and from him 
 I escaped once full hardly with my life." 
 
 "Fair damsel," said the King, "there be knights 
 here who would do their utmost to rescue your lady, 
 but because you will not tell her name, nor where 
 she dwells, therefore by my will none of my knights 
 that are now here shall go with you." 
 
 "Then I must seek further," said the damsel. 
 
 As she said these words Beaumains came before 
 the King, and spoke. 
 
 "Sir King, God thank you, I have been these twelve 
 months in your kitchen, and have had my full sus- 
 tenance, and now I will ask my two gifts that are 
 left." 
 
 "Ask," said the King. 
 
 "Sir, these shall be my two gifts. First, that you 
 
THE SCOENFUL DAMSEL. 107 
 
 will grant me to have this adventure of the damsel, 
 for it belongs to me." 
 
 "Thou shalt have it," said the King, "I grant it 
 thee." 
 
 "Then, sir, this is the other gift, that thou shalt 
 bid Lancelot of. the Lake make me knight, for of him 
 I will be made knight, or else of none. Therefore when 
 I am gone 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 damsel. "Shall I have none 
 but one that is your kitchen page ?" 
 
 Then she took her horse, in great wrath, and de- 
 parted, 
 
 THE SCORNFUL DAMSEL. 
 
 Then came a messenger to Beaumains and told him 
 that his horse and armor had come, and that the dwarf 
 was there with everything he needed, in the richest 
 style. All the Court marvelled greatly where such 
 beautiful array came from. When he was armed there 
 were few indeed who looked so goodly as he. 
 
 Thus he came into the hall, and took his leave of 
 King Arthur, and Sir Gawaine, and Sir Lancelot; 
 and begging the latter to follow after him, he departed, 
 and rode' after the' damsel, 
 
 Many followed him to " behold how well he was 
 
108 KING AETHUE AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 horsed, and trapped in cloth of gold, but he had 
 neither shield nor spear. Then Sir Kay said all openly 
 in the hall : 
 
 "I will ride after my boy of the kitchen, to find 
 out whether he will know me for his better." 
 
 Sir Lancelot and Sir Gawaine said, "Ye had best 
 abide at home." But Sir Kay made ready and took 
 horse and spear, and rode after Beaumains. 
 
 Just as Beaumains overtook the damsel, up came 
 Sir Kay. 
 
 "Beaumains! What, sir, do you not know me?" 
 he cried. 
 
 Beaumains turned his horse, and knew it was Sir 
 Kay, who had always treated him with scorn. 
 
 "Yes," he said, "I know you for an ungentle knight 
 of the Court, and therefore, beware of me." 
 
 Therewith Sir Kay put spear in rest and ran straight 
 at him, and Beaumains, sword in hand, came equally 
 fast against Sir Kay. With his sword he dashed away 
 Sir Kay's spear, and thrust him in the side, so that he 
 fell down as if he had been dead. Then Beaumains 
 alighted and took Sir Kay's shield and spear, and 
 bidding his dwarf mount Sir Kay's horse, he sprang 
 upon his own horse and rode away. 
 
 Sir Lancelot saw all that had happened, and so did 
 the damsel, and Sir Lancelot having by this time come 
 up to them, Beaumains offered to joust with him. 
 
 They came together so fiercely that each bore down 
 
THE SCOENFUL DAMSEL. 109 
 
 the other to the earth, and sorely were they bruised. 
 Then Lancelot arose, and helped Beaumains to get 
 free from his horse. Throwing his shield from him, 
 Beaumains 'offered to fight with Sir Lancelot on foot. 
 They rushed together like boars, tracing, racing, and 
 foining, for the whole of an hour, and Sir Lancelot 
 marvelled at the strength of Beaumains, for he fought 
 more like a giant than a knight, and his fighting was 
 steady and very dangerous. 
 
 Sir Lancelot had such ado to hold his own that 
 he dreaded being disgraced. 
 
 "Beaumains," he said, "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 did 
 not show my utmost strength." 
 
 "Well," said Sir Lancelot, "I swear to you that I 
 had as much as I could do to save myself from you 
 unashamed, therefore have no doubt of any earthly 
 knight." 
 
 "Do you hope that I may ever at any time stand 
 a proved knight ?" said Beaumains. 
 
 "Yes," said Lancelot, "do as you have done, and 
 I will be your warrant." 
 
 "Then I pray you give me the order of knighthood." 
 
 "Well, you must tell me your name and of what 
 kin you are born." 
 
 "Sir, if you will not reveal it, I will." 
 
no KING ARTHUR AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 "Nay," said Sir Lancelot, "and that I promise you 
 by the faith of my body, until it be openly known." 
 
 "Then, sir, my name is Gareth," said Beaumains, 
 "and I am the brother of Sir Gawaine, by the same 
 father and mother." 
 
 "Now I am more than ever rejoiced," said Lancelot, 
 "for I always thought you must be of noble race, and 
 that you came not to the Court either for meat or 
 drink." 
 
 And then Sir Lancelot gave him the order of knight- 
 hood. 
 
 After this, Lancelot left Beaumams, and went to 
 Sir Kay, and had him carried home on his shield. 
 Sir Kay barely escaped with his life, and all men 
 scorned him, and in especial Sir Gawaine; and Sir 
 Lancelot said it was not his part to rebuke any young 
 man, when he knew little of what birth he came, and 
 for what cause he came to Court. 
 
 In the meanwhile Beaumains had overtaken the 
 damsel, but as soon as he came near she cried rudely : 
 
 "What are you doing here? You smell of the 
 kitchen! Your clothes reek of the grease and tallow 
 that you gained in King Arthur's kitchen. Do you 
 suppose I will accept you because of yonder knight you 
 killed? Nay, truly, for you slew him by ill chance, 
 and cowardly. Therefore turn back, vile kitchen 
 page! I know you well, for Sir Kay named you 
 Beaumains. What are you but a clumsy fellow, and 
 
THE SCOENPUL DAMSEL. Ill 
 
 "Damsel," replied Beaumains, "say to me what you 
 will; I will not go from you, whatsoever you say, for 
 I have undertaken to King Arthur to achieve your 
 adventure. I shall finish it to the end, or I shall die 
 for it." 
 
 "Fie on thee, kitchen knave! Will you finish my 
 adventure? You will meet one whom, for all the 
 broth that ever you supped, you would not once look 
 in the face." 
 
 "I'll try," said Beaumains. 
 
 As they rode thus in the forest there came a man 
 flying as fast as he could. 
 
 "O, lord," he said, "help me, for hard by in a glade 
 are six robbers who have taken my lord and bound 
 him; I am afraid lest they slay him." 
 
 "Take me there," said Beaumains. 
 
 So they went together till they came to, where the 
 knight was bound, and then Sir Beaumains rode at 
 the robbers, and struck one unto death, and then an- 
 other, and at the third stroke he slew the third robber ; 
 and then the other three fled. Beaumains rode after 
 them and overtook them, whereupon they all assailed 
 him hard, but at last he slew them, and returned and 
 unbound the knight. 
 
 The knight thanked him, and prayed him to ride 
 with him to his Castle a little way off, and he would 
 reward him honorably for his good deeds. 
 
 "Sir," said Beaumains, "I will have no reward. 
 
112 KING AETHTJE AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 This day I was made knight of noble Sir Lancelot, 
 and therefore I will have no reward, except God 
 reward me. And also I must follow this damsel." 
 
 But when he came near she bade him ride at a 
 distance. 
 
 "You smell of the kitchen!" she said scornfully. 
 "Do you think I am glad to have you ? For this deed 
 you have done is nothing but chance. You shall soon 
 see a sight that will make you turn again, and that 
 briskly!" 
 
 Then the same knight who had been rescued from 
 the robbers rode after the damsel, and begged her to 
 lodge with him that evening. And because it was near 
 night the damsel rode with him to his Castle, and there 
 they were made very welcome. 
 
 At supper the knight placed Beaumains above the 
 damsel. 
 
 "Fie, fie. Sir Knight !" she said. "You are uncour- 
 teous to set a kitchen page above me! He is better 
 fitting to kill a pig than to sit above a lady of high 
 parentage." 
 
 The knight was ashamed at her rude words, and 
 taking Beaumains he placed him at a side-table, and 
 sat down himself beside him. 
 
 They had good cheer, and rested well that night. 
 
BLACK KNJGHT OF THE BLACK LAWNS. 113 
 
 THE BLACK KNIGHT OF THE BLACK 
 LAWNS. 
 
 On the morrow the damsel and Beaumains, thank- 
 ing the knight, took their leave, and rode on their 
 way until they came to a great forest. Here there 
 was a great river, and but one passage, and two 
 knights were ready on the further side to stop their 
 crossing. 
 
 "What sayest thou ?" said the damsel. "Wilt thou 
 match yonder knights, or turn again?" 
 
 "Nay," said Sir Beaumains, "I will not turn again 
 if they were six more." 
 
 Thereupon he rushed into the water, and one of 
 the knights did the same. They fought in the midst 
 of the river, and Beaumains smote the knight on the 
 helm, so that he fell down into the water and was 
 drowned. Then Beaumains spurred his horse to the 
 further side of the river, where the other knight fell 
 upon him and brake his spear, and so they drew their 
 swords and fought long together. But at last Beau- 
 mains clave his head and his helm down to the 
 shoulders. 
 
 Then he went back to the damsel and bade her ride 
 forth on her way. 
 
 "Alas," she said, "that ever a kitchen page should 
 
114 KING ARTHTJE AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 have the fortune to destroy two such doughty knights ! 
 Thou imaginest thou hast done valiantly! That is 
 not so ; as for the first knight, his horse stumbled, and 
 there he was drowned in the water, — it was never by 
 thy strength nor thy might. And the last knight, by 
 mishap thou earnest behind him, and by evil luck thou 
 slewest him." 
 
 "Damsel," said Beaumains, "you may say what 
 you will, but with whomsoever I have to do I trust 
 to God to vanquish him before he departs, and 
 therefore I reck not what you say, if only I may 
 reach your lady." 
 
 "Fie, fie, kitchen knave! Thou shalt see knights 
 who shall abate thy boast !" 
 
 "Fair damsel, give me goodly language, and then 
 I mind nothing; for what knights soever they be I 
 care not, neither do I fear them." 
 
 "I say it for thine own sake," she said, "that thou 
 mayst yet turn back with triumph; for if thou follow 
 me thou art but slain, for I see that all thou ever dost is 
 but by misadventure, and not by prowess of thy hands." 
 
 "Well, damsel, you may say what you will, but 
 wheresoever you go, I will follow you." 
 
 So Beaumains rode with the lady until evensong 
 time, and ever she chid him and would not rest. Then 
 they came to a black lawn, where there was a black 
 hawthorn; thereon hung a black banner, and on the 
 other side hung a black shield ; by the tree stood a black 
 
BLACK KNIGHT OF THE BLAOK LAWXS. 115 
 
 spear, great and long, and a great black horse covered 
 with silk, and a black stone fast by. 
 
 There sat a knight all armed in black harness, and 
 his name was the Knight of the Black Lawn. 
 
 When the damsel saw the knight, she bade Beau- 
 mains flee down the valley, for the black horse was not 
 saddled. 
 
 "Thanks," said Beaumains, "for always ye would 
 have me a coward." 
 
 With that the Black Knight, when she came near 
 him, spoke and said : 
 
 "Damsel, have ye brought this knight of King 
 Arthur to be your champion ?" 
 
 "Nay, fair knight," said she, "this is -but a kitchen 
 knave who was fed in King Arthur's kitchen for alms." 
 
 "Why Cometh he in such array?" said the knight. 
 "It is a shame that he beareth you company." 
 
 "Sir, I cannot be delivered from him," she said, 
 "for with me he rideth, in spite of all I can do. 
 Would that you would put him from me, or else slay 
 him if you can, 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 ill-fortune." 
 
 "It astonishes me that any man who is of worship 
 will have to do with him," said the knight. 
 
 "They know him not," replied the damsel, "and 
 
116 KING "ARTHIJE AND SIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 because he rideth with me they think he is some man 
 of high birth." 
 
 "That may be," said the Black Knight. "Howbeit 
 as ye say he is no man of worship, he is a right goodly 
 person, and full like to be a strong man. But thus 
 much I will grant you," he continued; "I shall put 
 him down on foot, and his horse and his harness he 
 shall leave with me, for it were a shame to me to do him 
 any more harm." 
 
 When Sir Beaumains heard him say this, he said : 
 
 "Sir Knight, thou art full liberal of my horse and 
 my harness. I let thee know it cost thee nothing, and 
 whether it liketh thee or not, this lawn will I pass, in 
 spite of thee. And horse or harness gettest thou none 
 of me unless thou win them with thy hands ; and there- 
 fore let see what thou canst do !" 
 
 "Sayst thou that?" said the Black Knight. "Now 
 yield thy lady from thee, for it b^seemeth 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 I 
 will prove on thy body." 
 
 Then in great wrath they drew apart their horses, 
 and came together as if it had been thunder; and the 
 Black Knight's spear broke, and Beaumains thrust him 
 through both his sides, and therewith his spear broke, 
 and the truncheon was left still in his side. Neverthe- 
 less the Black Knight drew his sword, and smote many 
 
BLACK KNIGHT OF THE BLACK LAWNS. 117 
 
 eager strokes and of great might, and hurt Beaumains 
 full sore. But at the last, within an hour and a half, 
 the Black Knight fell down ofif his horse in a swoon, 
 and there he died. 
 
 Beaumains seeing him so well horsed and armed, 
 alighted, and armed himself in his armor, and taking 
 his horse he rode after the damsel. When she saw 
 him come near she cried : 
 
 "Away, kitchen knave, out of the wind, for the 
 smell of thy greasy clothes grieveth me! Alas," she 
 said, "that ever such a knave as thou art should by 
 mishap slay so good a knight as thou hast done, but all 
 this is thy evil luck ! But hereby is one who shall pay 
 thee all thy payment, and therefore still I counsel 
 the^-flee!" 
 
 "It may happen me to be beaten or slain," said 
 Beaumains, "but I warn you, fair damsel, I will not 
 flee away nor leave your company for all that ye can 
 say ; ye are for ever declaring they will kill me or beat 
 me, but howsoever it happeneth, I escape, and they lie 
 on the ground. And therefore it were good for you 
 to hold you still, thus all day rebuking me, for I will 
 not go away till I see the very end of this journey, 
 unless I am slain, or truly beaten. Therefore ride on 
 your way, for follow you I will, whatsoever happen." 
 
118 KING AETHUR AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 THE GREEN KNIGHT. 
 
 As Beaumains and the damsel rode together they 
 saw a knight come driving by them all in green, both 
 his horse and his harness ; and when he came near the 
 damsel he asked her, "Is that my brother the Black 
 Knight that ye have brought with you ?" 
 
 "Nay, nay," said she, "this unhappy kitchen knave 
 hath slain your brother through evil chance." 
 
 ''Alas," said the Green Knight, "it is great pity 
 that so noble a knight as he was should so unhappily 
 be slain, and above all by a knave's hand, as ye say he 
 is. Ah, traitor, ye shall die for slaying of my brother ; 
 he was a full noble knight, and his name was Sir 
 Pecard." 
 
 "I defy thee," said Beaumains, "for I let thee know 
 I slew him knightly, and not shamefully." 
 
 Therewith the Green Knight rode to a horn, which 
 was green, and which hung on a thorn tree; and he 
 blew three deadly notes, and there came two damsels, 
 who quickly armed him. Then he took a great horse, 
 and a green shield and a green spear. Beaumains 
 and the Green Knight charged with all their might, and 
 their spears broke up to their hands. Then they drew 
 their swords, and gave many sad strokes, and each of 
 them sorely wounded the other. And at the last 
 
THE GREEN KNIGHT. 119 
 
 Beaumains' horse struck the Green Knight's upon the 
 side and it fell to the earth. 
 
 The Green Knight lightly leaped clear of his horse, 
 and prepared to fight on foot, and Beaumains seeing 
 this, also alighted, and they rushed together like two 
 mighty champions, and long was the battle. Then 
 the scornful damsel came near and began to taunt the 
 Black Knight's brother. 
 
 "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 match such a knight, as if the weed overgrew 
 the corn." 
 
 At this the Green Knight was ashamed and there- 
 withal he gave a mighty stroke, and clave Beaumains' 
 shield through. When Beaumains saw his shield cloven 
 asunder he was vexed at that stroke, and at the damsel's 
 language, and he gave the Green Knight such a buffet 
 on the helm that he fell on his knees; and thus 
 suddenly Beaumains pulled him upon the ground 
 grovelling. 
 
 Then the Green Knight cried him mercy, and yielded 
 him to. Sir Beaumains, and prayed him to slay him not. 
 
 "All is in vain," said Beaumains, "for thou shalt 
 die, unless this damsel that came with me pray me to 
 save thy life." 
 
 Therewith he unlaced his helm as if he would slay 
 him. 
 
120 KING ARTHUR AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 "Fie upon thee, false kitchen page !" cried the damsel, 
 "I will never pray thee to save his life, for I never will 
 be so much in thy power." 
 
 "Then he shall die," said Beaumains. 
 
 "Thou wilt never be so bold as to kill him, thou 
 knave!" said the damsel. 
 
 "Alas," said the Green Knight, "suffer me not to die, 
 for a fair word may save me. Gentle knight, save my 
 life, and I will forgive thee the death of my brother, 
 and for ever become thy man ; and thirty knights that 
 follow me shall for ever do you service." 
 
 "Now in the fiend's name that such a low kitchen 
 knave should have thee and thirty knights' service!" 
 said the damsel. 
 
 "Sir Knight," said Beaumains, "all this availeth 
 thee not unless my damsel speak with me for thy life." 
 And therewithal he made a semblance of slaying him. 
 
 "Let be, thou knave," said the damsel, "slay him 
 not, for if thou do, thou shalt repent it." 
 
 "Damsel," said Beaumains, "your charge is to me a 
 pleasure, and at your commandment his life shall be 
 saved, and not else." Then he said, "Sir Knight 
 with the green arms, I release thee at this damsel's 
 request, for I will not make her wroth ; I will fulfil all 
 that she chargeth me." 
 
 Then the Green Knight knelt down and did him 
 homage with his sword. 
 
 Then said the danisel : 
 
THE GEEEN KNIGHT. in 
 
 "1 am sorry, Green Knight, for your damage, and 
 for your brother's death, the Black Knight, for of your 
 help I have great need, for I sorely dread to pass this 
 forest." 
 
 "Nay, dread not," said the Green Knight, "for ye 
 shall lodge with me this night, and to-morrow I will 
 help you through the forest." 
 
133 KING AETHUE AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 So they took their horses and rode to his Manor, 
 which was hard by. 
 
 The damsel never ceased from rebuking Beaumains, 
 and when they reached the Manor she would not suffer 
 him to sit at her table, so the Green Knight took him 
 and set him at a side-table. 
 
 "I marvel," he said to the damsel, "why ye rebuke 
 this noble knight as ye do, for I warn you, damsel, he 
 is a full noble knight, and I know no knight able to 
 match him; therefore ye do great wrong to rebuke 
 him, for he shall do yt)u right good service. What- 
 soever he maketh himself out, ye shall prove at the 
 end that he is come of noble blood, and of king's 
 lineage." 
 
 "Fie, fie," said the damsel, "it is shame of you to 
 say such honor of him." 
 
 "Truly," said the Green Knight, "it were shame of 
 me to say of him any dishonor, for he hath proved 
 himself a better knight than I am, yet have I met with 
 many knights in my day, and never before this time 
 have I found any knight his match." 
 
 So they went to rest, and all that night the Green 
 Knight commanded thirty knights privily to watch 
 Beaumains, to shield him from treason. 
 
 On the morrow they all arose, and having said their 
 prayers, and broken their fast, they took their horses 
 and rode on their way. The Green Knight conveyed 
 them through the forest, and there he said-: 
 
THE SCORNFUL DAMSEL GEOWS KIND. 123 
 
 "My lord Beaumains, I and these thirty knights 
 shall be alway at your summons, both early and late, at 
 your calling, and wherever ye send us." 
 
 "It is well said," answered Beaumains. "When I 
 call upon you, ye- must yield you unto King Arthur, 
 and all your knights." 
 
 "If ye so command us we shall be ready at all times," 
 said the Green Knight. 
 
 "Fie, fie upon thee," cried the. damsel, "that any 
 good knights should be obedient to a kitchen knave \" 
 
 So the Green Knight departed. 
 
 "Why followest thou me, thou kitchen boy?" said 
 the damsel rudely to Beaumains. "Cast away thy 
 shield and thy spear, and flee away, I still counsel thee 
 betimes, or thou shalt say right soon, 'Alas!' For wert 
 thou brave as ever was Wade, or Lancelot, Tristram, 
 or the good knight Sir Lamorak, thou shalt not cross a 
 pass here that is called the Pass Perilous." 
 
 "Damsel," said Beaumains, "he that is afeard, let 
 him flee, for it were shame to turn back since I have 
 ridden so long with you." 
 
 "Well," said the damsel, "you will soon, whether 
 you wish it or not." 
 
 THE SCORNFUL DAMSEL GROWS KIND. 
 
 Within a little while they saw a tower as white as 
 snow, having a double moat, and the parapets of the 
 walls well provided with holes for hurling stones or 
 
1-^4 KING AKTHUK AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 pouring molten lead on the heads of any foes who 
 might besiege it. Over the tower gate hung fifty 
 shields of divers colors, and under the tower was a 
 fair meadow. In the meadow were many knights and 
 squires looking after scaffolds and pavilions, for on the 
 morrow was to be a great tournament there. 
 
 The lord of the Castle was called the Red Knight, 
 and he was the brother of the Black Knight and the 
 Green Knight. 
 
 When he saw Beaumains, he came forth to fight with 
 him, but after a furious struggle Beaumains vanquished 
 him. He declared he would only spare his life at the 
 request of the scornful damsel, so unwillingly she had 
 to beg mercy for him. Then the Red Knight did 
 homage to Sir Beaumains, and offered him his fealty at 
 all times, he and his three score knights, to do him 
 service and bidding whensoever and wheresoever he 
 commanded. 
 
 That night Beaumains and the damsel lodged in 
 the Castle of the Red Knight, and the next morning 
 they went on their way. 
 
 But all this time the scornful damsel kept scolding 
 and rebuking Beaumains in the rudest manner. 
 
 "Damsel," said Beaumains, "you are uncourteous 
 to rebuke me as you do, for it seems to me I have done 
 you good service; you keep on threatening me I shall 
 be beaten by knights whom we meet, but ever, for all 
 your boast, they lie in the dust or in the mire; 
 
THE SCORNFUL DAMSEL GROWS KIND. 125 
 
 therefore, I pray you, rebuke me no more. When you 
 see me beaten or yielding as recreant, then you may bid 
 me go from you in disgrace; but first I let you know 
 I will not depart from you, for I were worse than fool 
 if I went when all the time I am winning honor." 
 
 "Well," said she, "right soon thou shalt meet a 
 knight who will pay thee all thy wages, for he is the 
 man of greatest renown in the world, except King 
 Arthur." 
 
 "I wish nothing better," said Beaumains. "The 
 tnore renowned he is, the more it shall be to my renown 
 to have to do with him." 
 
 Then they were soon aware of a rich and beautiful 
 city before them, and between them and the city for the 
 space of a mile and a half stretched a fair meadow, that 
 seemed newly mown, and therein were many pavilions, 
 splendid to see. 
 
 "Lo," said the damsel, "yonder is a lord who 
 owneth yonder city, and it is his custom when the 
 weather is fair to live in this meadow to joust and 
 tourney; and he has always about him five hundred 
 knights and gentlemen of arms, and there are all 
 manner of games that any gentleman can devise." 
 
 "I would fain see that goodly lord," said Beaumains. 
 
 "Thou shalt see him in time enough," said the 
 damsel ; and just then, as they rode near she espied the 
 pavilion where he was. "Lo," said she, "seest thou 
 yonder paVilion that is of the color of Inde — dark blue ? 
 
126 KING ARTHUR AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 And everything that is about, men and women, and 
 horses with trappings, shields and spears, all the color 
 of Inde? His name is Sir Persant of Inde, the lord- 
 liest knight that ever thoti lookedst on." 
 
 "It may well be," said Beaumains, "but be he never 
 so stout a knight, in this field I shall abide till I see him 
 under his shield." 
 
 "Ah, fool, thou hadst better flee betimes." 
 
 "Why?" said Beaumains. "If 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 if there 
 come no more but one at a time, I shall not fail him, 
 while my life lasteth." 
 
 "Fie, fie," said the damsel, "that ever a kitchen 
 knave should utter such a boast !" 
 
 "Damsel," he said, "ye are to blame thus to rebuke 
 me, for I would rather fight five battles than thus to be 
 rebuked. Let him come, and then let him do his 
 worst." 
 
 "Sir," she said, "I marvel of what kin thou art 
 come ; boldly thou speakest, and boldly hast thou done, 
 that have I seen. Therefore I pray thee save thyself if 
 thou canst, for thy horse and thou have had great 
 travail, and I dread we stay over long from the siege, 
 for it is but seven miles hence. And we are past all 
 perilous passages, save only this passage; and here I 
 sorely dread lest ye shall catch some hurt. Therefore I 
 would you were hence, that you may not be bruised by 
 
THE SCOENFUL DAMSEL GROWS KIND. 127 
 
 this strong knight. But I tell you, this Sir Persant of 
 Inde is nothing of might nor strength to the knight 
 who laid the siege against my lady," 
 
 "As for that/' said Beaumains, "be it as it may, 
 for since I have come so nigh this knight I will prove 
 his might before I depart from him, else I shall be 
 shamed if I now withdraw. Therefore, damsel, doubt 
 not that by the grace of God I shall so deal with this 
 knight that within two hours after noon I shall be free 
 from him, and then we shall come to the siege by 
 daylight." 
 
 "Oh, indeed I marvel what manner of man you be," 
 said the damsel, "for it cannot be otherwise than that 
 ye come of noble blood, for so rude and shamefully did 
 never woman rule a knight as I have done you, and 
 ever courteously ye have suffered me, and that never 
 came but of gentle blood." 
 
 "Damsel," said Beaumains, "a knight can do little 
 that cannot sufifer a woman. Whatsoever ye said to 
 me I took no heed to your words, for the more you 
 said, the more you angered me, and my wrath I 
 wreaked upon those with whom I had to do withal. 
 Therefore all the unseemly words you spoke furthered 
 . me in my battle, and caused me to resolve to show and 
 prove myself what in the end 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 
 this I did to prove and assay my friends, and that 
 
128 KING ARTHUR AND HIS KXIGHTS. 
 
 shall be known another day. Whether I be a gentle- 
 man born or none, fair damsel, I have done you gen- 
 tleman's service, and peradventure better service will 
 I yet do before I depart from you." 
 
 "Alas," she said, "fair Beaumains, forgive me all 
 I have missaid or done against thee." 
 
 "With all my heart I forgive it you," he said, "for 
 you did nothing but as you should do, for all your evil 
 words pleased me. And, damsel, since you speak thus 
 fairly to me, know well it gladdens my heart greatly, 
 and now it seems to me there is no knight living but 
 I am able enough for him." 
 
 By this time Sir Persant of Inde had espied them 
 as they hovered in the field, and knightly sent to ask 
 whether they came in war or peace. To this Beau- 
 mains replied that was exactly as Sir Persant pleased, 
 whereupon Sir Persant said he would fight with him 
 to the uttermost. So he armed himself and rode 
 against him. Long and fierce was the encounter, but 
 in the end Beaumains was the victor ; Sir Persant sur- 
 rendered and asked for mercy. The damsel, too, 
 came and prayed for his life, which Beaumains granted 
 right willingly, "For it were pity this noble knight 
 should die," he said. 
 
 Then Sir Persant knew it was Beaumains who slew 
 his brother the Black Knight, at the black thorn, and 
 who had also overcome his brother the Green Knight, 
 Sir Pertolepe; and his brother the Red Knight, Sir 
 
THE SCORNFUL DAMSEL GROWS KIND. 129 
 
 Perimones. And he said Beaumains should have 
 homage and fealty of him and a hundred knights, to 
 be always at his command, to go and ride wherever 
 he should command them. 
 
 So they went to Sir Persant's pavilion and drank 
 wine and ate spices. 
 
 The next morning when the damsel and Beaumains 
 were taking their leave Sir Persant asked whither they 
 were going. 
 
 "Sir," said the damsel, "this knight is going to the 
 siege that besiegeth my sister in the Castle Perilous." 
 
 "Ah, ah," said Persant, "that is the Knight of the 
 Red Lawns, who is the most dangerous knight that I 
 know now living, and a man that is without mercy; 
 and men say that he hath seven men's strength. God 
 save you from that knight," he said to Beaumains; 
 "for he doth great wrong to that lady; she is one of 
 the fairest ladies of the world, and your damsel, I 
 think, is her sister. Is not your name Linet?" 
 
 "Yes, sir, and my lady sister's name is Dame 
 Liones." 
 
 "Now I will tell you," said Sir Persant, "this Red 
 Knight of the Red Lawns hath lain well-nigh two 
 years at siege; and many times he might have cap- 
 tured the lady, but he prolonged the time, hoping to 
 have Sir Lancelot of the Lake to do battle with him, 
 or Sir Tristram, or Sir Lamorak of Wales, or Sir 
 Gawaine; and this is his reason for tarrying so long 
 at the siege." 
 
130 KING ARTHUR AND HIS KTSTIGHTS. 
 
 ■ "Now, my lord Sir Persant of Inde," said Linet, 
 "I require that you will make this gentleman knight 
 before ever he fight with the Red Knight." 
 
 "I will, with all my heart," said Sir Persant, "if it 
 please him to take the order of knighthood from 
 so simple a man as I am." 
 
THE SCORNFUL DAMSEL GROWS KLVD. 131 
 
 "Sir," said Beavimains, "I thank you for your good- 
 will. I am well sped, for truly the noble knight Sir 
 Lancelot made me knight." 
 
 "Ah," said Persant, "of a more renowned knight 
 might ye not be made knight. For of all knights he 
 may be called the chief of knighthood. All the world 
 saith that knighthood is evenly divided between three 
 knights — that is, Lancelot of the Lake, Sir Tristram 
 of Lyonesse, and Sir Lamorak of Wales. There are 
 many other noble knights, but there are none that 
 pass these three. Therefore, God speed you well, for 
 if yovi match the Red Knight, ye shall be called the 
 fourth knight of the world." 
 
 "Sir," said Beaumains, "I would fain be of good 
 fame and knighthood. I would have you know I 
 come of good men, for my father was a noble man. 
 And if you will keep it secret, and this damsel, I will 
 tell you of what kin I am." 
 
 Then they both promised faithfully not to reveal 
 who Beaumains was until he gave them leave. 
 
 "Truly, then," said he, "my name is Gareth of 
 Orkney, and King Lot was my father, and my mother 
 is King Arthur's sister ; and Sir Gawaine is my brother, 
 and Sir Agravaine, and Sir Gaheris, and I am the 
 youngest of them all. And neither King Arthur nor 
 Sir Gawaine know yet who I am." 
 
133 KING AETHUE AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 THE RED KNIGHT OF THE RED LAWNS. 
 
 Now the lady who was besieged in Castle Perilous 
 heard that her sister Linet was approaching with a 
 noble knight to rescue her. So she bade the dwarf 
 who brought the tidings go to a hermitage near, and 
 to take with him wine in two silver flagons, loaves of 
 bread, fat venison, and dainty fowls. 
 
 "And a cup of gold I deliver thee that is rich and 
 precious," she said; "and bear all this to my her- 
 mitage, and put it in the hermit's hands. Then go 
 to my sister and greet her well, and commend me 
 unto that gentle knight, arid pray him to eat and to 
 drink, and make him strong; and say to him I thank 
 him for his courtesy and goodness for taking on him' 
 such labor for me that never did him bounty or 
 courtesy. Also pray him that he be of good heart and 
 good courage, for he shall meet with a full noble 
 knight, but he has no bounty, courtesy, nor gentle- 
 ness, for he thinks of nothing but murder, and that is 
 the cause I cannot praise him nor love him." 
 
 So Beaumains and the damsel went to the hermit- 
 age, and there they drank the wine and ate the venison 
 and the baked fowls. And when they had made a 
 good repast the dwarf returned with his vessels to 
 Castle Perilous. On his way there he met the Red 
 Knight of the Red Lawns, who asked him whence he 
 
EED KNIGHT OF THE BED LAWNS, 133 
 
 came and where he had been been. Then the dwarf 
 told him his lady's sister had come, and that she had 
 brought with her a knight of King Arthur's Court. 
 
 "Then I account her trouble but lost," said the 
 Red Knight, "for if she had brought with her Sir 
 Lancelot, Sir Tristram, Sir Lamorak, or Sir Gawaine, 
 I should think myself good enough for them all." 
 
 "It may well be," said the dwarf, "but this knight 
 hath passed all the perilous passages, and hath slain 
 the Black Knight and two others, and vanquished 
 the Green Knight, and the Red Knight, and the Blue 
 Knight, Sir Persant of Inde." 
 
 "Then he is one of the four I have just said." 
 
 "He is none of those, but he is a King's son." 
 
 "What is his name?" said the Red Knight of the 
 Red Lawns. 
 
 "That I will not tell you, but Sir Kay out of scorn 
 called him 'Beaumains.' " 
 
 "I care not whatsoever knight he be, for I shall 
 soon be quit of him. And if ever I am a match for 
 him he shall have a shameful death, as many others 
 have had." 
 
 "That were pity," said the dwarf, "and it is marvel 
 that you should make such shameful war on noble 
 knights." 
 
 That night Beaumains and the damsel stayed in the 
 hermitage. On the morrow they took their horses 
 and rode through a fair forest till they came to a 
 
134 KING AETHUR AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 plain, where they saw many pavilions and tents, and 
 splendid Castle, and there was much smoke and great 
 noise. And when they came near the besiegers' camp, 
 Beaumains as he rode espied upon great trees how 
 there hung by the neck full goodly armed knights, 
 their shields with their swords tied round their necks, 
 and gilt spurs upon their heels; and thus hung there 
 shamefully nearly forty knights richly armed. 
 
 Then Sir Beaumains' face darkened, and he said : 
 
 "What meaneth this ?" 
 
 "Do not lose cheer because of this sight, fair sir," 
 said the damsel, "for you must encourage yourself, 
 or else you will be quite disgraced. For all these 
 knights came hither to this siege to rescue my sister. 
 Dame Liones; and when the Red Knight of the Red 
 Lawns had overcome them he put them to this shame- 
 ful death without mercy or pity. And in the same 
 way he will serve you unless you quit you better." 
 
 "Now Christ defend me from such a villainous 
 death and disgrace of arms," said Beaumains, "for 
 rather than fare thus I would be slain like a man in 
 plain battle." 
 
 "So it were beb:er for you," said Linet. "Trust 
 not there is any courtesy in the Red Knight; all his 
 foes go to death or shameful murder. And that is 
 pity, for he is a full likely man, well made of body, 
 and a lord of great lands and possessions." 
 
 "Truly he may well be a good knight," said Beau- 
 
RED KNIGHT OF THE RED LAAVXS. 135 
 
 mains, "but he useth shameful customs, and it is a 
 marvel he endureth so long, and that the noble knights 
 of my lord Arthur have not dealt with him." 
 
 Then they rode to the dikes, and saw they were 
 double-diked, with full warlike walls, and there were 
 lodged many great knights near the walls, and there 
 was a great noise of minstrelsy. And the sea beat 
 against one side of the walls, where there were many 
 ships, and the shouting of mariners, "Hale and how ! 
 Pull ho!" 
 
 Fast by was a sycamore tree, and there hung a horn, 
 the greatest that ever they had seen, made out of an 
 elephant's tusk. The Knight of the Red Lawns had 
 hung it there, so that if any errant knight came he must 
 blow that horn, and then the Red Knight would arm 
 himself and come to do battle. 
 
 "I pray you, sir, blow not the horn till it be high 
 noon," said the damsel Linet; "for now it is about 
 six o'clock, and at this time his might increases, so 
 that, as men say, he hath seven men's strength." 
 
 "Ah, fie for shame, fair damsel, never more speak 
 so to me," said Beaumains, "for if he were as good 
 a knight as ever was, I shall never fail him in his 
 greatest might, for either I will win honor honorably, 
 or die knightly in the field." 
 
 Therewith Beaumains spurred his horse straight to 
 the sycamore tree, and blew the horn so eagerly that 
 all the camp and the Castle rang with it. Then there 
 
136 KING AETHUE AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 leaped knights out of their tents and pavilions, and 
 those within the Castle looked over the walls, and out 
 of the windows. 
 
 Then the Red Knight of the Red Lawns armed 
 himself hastily, and two barons set his spurs upon his 
 heels, and all was blood red, his armor, 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 who were in the Castle and in the 
 besieging camp might behold the battle. 
 
 THE LADY OF THE CASTLE PERILOUS. 
 
 "Sir," said the damsel Linet to Sir Beaumains, 
 "look you, be glad and gay, for here is your deadly 
 enemy, and there at yonder window is my lady, my 
 sister, Dame Liones." 
 
 "Where ?" said Beaumains. 
 
 "Yonder," and the damsel pointed with her finger. 
 
 "She is the fairest lady that ever I looked on," 
 said Beaumains, "and I ask no better for which to do , 
 battle. Truly she shall be my lady, and for her will 
 I fight." 
 
 And he kept looking up to the window with a glad 
 countenance. 
 
 And the Lady Liones made a deep curtsey to him, 
 and they both waved their hands. 
 
THE LADY OF CASTLE PEKILOUS. 137 
 
 With that the Red Knight of the Red Lawns called 
 to Beaumains : 
 
 "Leave thy looking, Sir Knight, 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 hast so done," said Beaumains, "it seems 
 to me it was but waste labor, for if she loveth none 
 of thy fellowship, and thou to love one who loveth 
 not thee is great folly. For if I understood she was 
 not glad of my coming, I should think again before 
 I did battle for her. But I know by the besieging 
 of this Castle that she will have nothing to do with 
 thee. Therefore, know well, thou Red Knight of the 
 Red Lawns, I love her, and will rescue her, or else die." 
 
 "Sayest thou that?" said the Red Knight. "It 
 seems to me thou oughtest to beware, by reason of 
 yonder knights whom thou sawest hanging on those 
 trees." 
 
 "Fie for shame," said Beaumains, "that ever thou 
 shouldst do or say such evil, for in that thou shamest 
 thyself and knighthood, and thou mayst be sure that 
 no lady who knoweth thy wicked customs will love 
 thee. And now thou thinkest that the sight of those 
 hanged knights should frighten me? Nay, truly, not 
 jO. That shameful sight causes me to have courage 
 and boldness against thee more than I would have had 
 if thou wert a well-ruled knight." 
 
 "Make thee ready," said the Red Knight of the 
 Red Lawns, "and talk no longer with me." 
 
138 KING AETHUR AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 Then Beaumains bade Linet go to a safe distance, 
 and both knights put spears in i-est, and rushed to- 
 gether with all their might, so that they hurled each 
 other to the ground, where both lay for a while sorely 
 stunned. All those who were in the Castle and the 
 camp thought their necks must be broken, and many 
 said that the strange knight was a big man and a noble 
 j ouster, for before then they had never seen any war- 
 rior ever match the Red Knight of the Red I^awns ; — 
 and this they said both within the Castle and witliout. 
 
 Then Beaumains and the Red Knight left their 
 horses and put their shields before them, and ran 
 together like two fierce lions, and each gave the other 
 such buffets on the helms that they both reeled back 
 two strides, — then they recovered, and dealt such 
 strokes that they hewed great pieces out of their armor 
 and their shields. 
 
 Thus they fought till it was past noon, and after 
 resting awhile, the battle went on again till evening, 
 and none who beheld them could tell which was likely 
 to win. 
 
 The Red Knight was a wily warrior, and his crafty 
 fighting taught Beaumains to be wise, although he 
 bought his experience dearly. For the Red Knight 
 smote him on the hand, so that his sword fell out of 
 it; and then he gave him yet another bufifet on the 
 helm, so that Beaumains fell grovelling to the earth, 
 and the Red Knight fell over him, to hold him 
 down. 
 
IT^'E LADY OP CASTLE PEEILOUS. 139 
 
 Then cried the maiden Linet aloud : 
 
 "O, Sir Beaumains, where is thy courage? Alas, 
 my lady sister beholdeth thee, and she sobbeth and 
 weepeth, and maketh my heart heavy !" 
 
 When Sir Beaumains heard Linet speak thus, he 
 started up with great might, and leaped to his sword, 
 and gripping it in his hand, he rushed again on 
 the Red Knight, and they fought a new battle 
 together. 
 
 But Sir Beaumains doubled his strokes, and smiting 
 the knight's sword out of his hand, felled him to the 
 earth. And he unlaced his helm to slay him, but the 
 Red Knight cried aloud : 
 
 "O, noble knight, I yield me to thy mercy !" 
 
 But Beaumains bethought him of the knights whom 
 he had made to be hanged shamefully. 
 
 "I may not with honor save thy life," he said, 
 "because of the shameful deaths thou hast caused full 
 many good knights to die." 
 
 "Sir," said the Red Knight of the Red Lawns, 
 "hold your hand, and ye shall know the cause why 
 I put them to so shameful a death." 
 
 "Say on," said Beaumains. 
 
 "Sir, I once loved a lady, a fair damsel, and her 
 brother was slain, and she said it was Sir Lancelot of 
 the Lake, or else Sir Gawaine ; and she prayed me that 
 as I loved her heartily I would make her a promise 
 by the faith of my knighthood, to labor daily in 
 
140 KIlSfG AETHUB AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 arms until I met with one of them, and all whom I 
 overcame I should put to a villainous death. This 
 is the cause why I have put all these knights to death, 
 and thus ensured her vengeance against all King 
 Arthur's knights. And now I will tell thee that every 
 day my strength increaseth till noon, and all this time 
 I have seven men's strength." 
 
 Then came many earls and barons and noble knights, 
 beseeching Beaumains to save the Red Knight's life, 
 and to make him a prisoner; they all fell upon their 
 knees and prayed him to have mercy. 
 
 "Fair lords," said Beaumains, "be sure I am full 
 loath to slay this knight, nevertheless he hath done 
 passing ill and shamefully. But insomuch as all that 
 he did was at a lady's request, I blame him the less, v 
 and so for your sake I will release him. He shall have 
 his life upon this covenant — that he go within the 
 Castle Perilous, and yield him there to the Lady Liones, 
 and if she will forgive and acquit him, I will willingly, 
 provided that he make her amends for all the trespass 
 he hath done against her and her lands. Also," he 
 continued to the knight, "when that is done, that ye 
 go unto the Court of King Arthur, and there ask Sir 
 Lancelot mercy, and Sir Gawaine, for the evil intention 
 ye have had against them."" 
 
 "All this will I do as ye command," said the Red 
 Knight of the Red Lawns, "and certain assurance and 
 sureties ye shall have." 
 
THE LADY OF CASTLE PEEILOUS. Ill 
 
 So when the assurance was made, he paid his homage 
 and fealty, and all those earls and barons with him. 
 
 Then the damsel Linet dressed his wounds, and 
 those of Sir Beaumains. Ten days they sojourned in 
 their tents, and the Red Knight made his lords and 
 servants do all the pleasure they could to Sir Beau- 
 mains. And after praying pardon of the Lady Liones 
 for all the wrongs h6 had done her, the Red Knight 
 departed to the Court of King" Arthur, and there 
 openly put himself in the mercy of Sir Lancelot and 
 Sir Gawaine. 
 
 Then Beaumains told Linet he desired to see her 
 sister, his lady. 
 
 "I would fain ye saw her," she replied. 
 
 So Beaumains armed himself, and took his horse 
 and his spear, and rode straight to Castle Perilous. 
 
 When he came to the gate he found many men 
 armed, and the drawbridge pulled up, and the port 
 closed. He marvelled why they would not suffer him 
 to enter. Then he looked up to the window, and 
 there he saw the fair Liones. 
 
 "Go thy way, Sir Beaumains," she cried, "for as 
 yet thou shalt not have wholly my love, until the time 
 that thou art called one of the number of the worthy 
 knights. Therefore go labor honorably for twelve 
 mbnths, and then thou shalt hear new tidings." 
 
 "Alas, fair lady," said Beaumains, "I have not 
 deserved that thou shouldst show me this strangeness. 
 
142 KING AETHUE AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 I thought I should have had right good cheer with 
 you — I am well sure that I have bought your love with 
 part of the best blood within my body." 
 
 "Fair courteous knight, be not displeased nor over 
 hasty," said the Lady Liones. "Know well your great 
 travail and good love shall not be lost, for I consider 
 your great toil and labor, your bounty and your 
 goodness, as I ought to do. Therefore go on your 
 way, and look that you be of good comfort, for all 
 shall be for your glory and for the best. By my faith, a 
 twelvemonth will soon be done, and trust me, fair 
 knight, I shall be true to you, and never forsake you, 
 but to my death I shall love you, and none other." 
 
 Thus the noble knight. Sir Gareth, a King's son, 
 — whom Kay had mocked at as his "Boy of the 
 Kitchen," — won for himself deathless honor, and his 
 peerless bride. And he and Dame Liones, the Lady 
 of the Castle Perilous, plighted troth to love each 
 other and never to fail while their life lasted. 
 
THE BOYHOOD OF TRISTEAM. 143 
 
 The Forest Knight. 
 
 "Son," she said, "thy name shall he of sorrow; 
 
 Tristram art thou called for my death's sake." 
 So she said, and died in the drear forest. 
 
 Grief since then his home with me doth make. 
 
 THE BOYHOOD OF TRISTRAM. 
 
 There was once a King called Meliodas, and he was 
 lord of the country of Lyonesse, and this King Meli- 
 odas was as noble a knight as any living at that time. 
 His wife was sister of King Mark of Cornwall; she 
 was called Elizabeth, and she was both good and fair. 
 At that time King Arthur reigned, and he was King 
 
144 KIISTG AETHUE AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 over the whole of England, Wales, and Scotland, and 
 of many other realms; there were many princes of 
 different countries, but they all held their lands from 
 King Arthur. For in Wales were two Kings, and in 
 the north many Kings ; and in Cornwall and , in the 
 west were two Kings; also in Ireland were two or 
 three ; and all were under the obeisance of King Arthur. 
 
 The wife of King Meliodas was a gentle lady, and 
 well she loved her husband, and he her again, and they 
 were very happy together. But in that country lived 
 a lady who was very angry, because long ago she had 
 wanted to marry King Meliodas herself, although he 
 had never cared for her. One day when the King 
 rode out hunting, she made him by enchantment chase 
 a hart by himself, till he came to an old Castle, and 
 there he was at once taken prisoner by the wicked 
 lady. 
 
 When the Queen Elizabeth missed her husband, 
 she was nearly out of her mind with grief, and taking 
 a gentlewoman with her, she ran out into the forest to 
 seek the King. 
 
 And there in the midst of the cold and lonely forest, 
 a little son was born, but death came to the poor mother. 
 And when the Queen saw that there was no help but 
 that she must needs die and depart out of this world, 
 then she was very sad. 
 
 "When ye see my lord, King Meliodas, commend 
 me to him," she said to her gentlewoman, "and tell 
 
THE BOYHOOD OF TRISTKAM. 
 
 145 
 
 him what I have endured here for his love, and how I 
 must die here for his sake, with none to help me. 
 And let him know that I am full sorry to depart out 
 
 of this world from him, therefore pray him not to 
 forget me. Now let me see my little child, for whom 
 I have had all this sorrow." And when she saw him, 
 
146 KING ARTHUR AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 she said in tender jesting, "Ah, mj' little son, thou hast 
 killed 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." Then she charged the 
 gentlewoman that she should beseech King Meliodas 
 to call the child "Tristram," — that is as much as to 
 say, "born in sorrow." 
 
 And with that, this Queen died. 
 
 The gentlewoman laid her under the shadow of a 
 great tree, and wrapped the child as well as she could 
 against the cold. At that moment up came the Barons, 
 following after the Queen, and when they saw that she 
 was dead, and imagined that the King also was de- 
 stroyed, then certain of them would have slain the child, 
 so that they might be lords of the country of Lyonesse. 
 
 But through the fair words of the gentlewoman the 
 greater part of the Barons would not assent to it. 
 
 Then they carried the dead Queen home, and much 
 dole was made for her. 
 
 In the meanwhile. Merlin the magician delivered 
 King Meliodas out of prison on the morning after the 
 death of his Queen, and when the King came home, 
 most of the Barons were very joyful. But the sorrow 
 that the King made for his Queen no tongue could tell. 
 
 The King had her richly interred, and afterwards 
 had the child christened as his wife commanded before 
 her death; and he had him called "Tristram," — the 
 child born in sorrow. 
 
THE BOYHOOD OF TRISTRAM. 147 
 
 For seven years King Meliodas mourned for his 
 wife, and all this time the young Tristram was 
 nourished well. 
 
 But then it befell that King Meliodas wedded Duke 
 Howell's daughter, of Brittany. By and by the new 
 Queen had children of her own, and she grew jealous 
 and angry that her children should not enjoy the coun- 
 try of Lyonesse, and because of this she planned to kill 
 young Tristram. So she put some poison into a silver 
 cup, in the chamber where Tristram and her children 
 played together, intending that when Tristram was 
 thirsty he should drink it. But it happened that the 
 Queen's own little son as he was in the chamber espied 
 the cup with poison, and being thirsty, and thinking it 
 was good to drink, he swallowed it eagerly, and there- 
 upon suddenly died. 
 
 When the Queen knew of her son's death, you may 
 well imagine how grieved she was. But the King as 
 yet understood nothing of her treason. Notwithstand- 
 ing the death of her child, however, the Queen would 
 not give up her wicked intention, but again she got 
 some more poison and put it into a cup. 
 
 By chance King Meliodas found the wine in which 
 the poison was, arid being very thirsty, he took the 
 cup to drink of it. Just as he was going to drink 
 the Queen espied him, and running to him she pulled 
 the cup suddenly away. 
 
 The King marvelled why she did so, and remembered 
 
148 KING ARTHUR AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 how her son was suddenly slain with poison. 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 will slay thee." And there- 
 with he pulled out his sword. 
 
 "Ah, mercy, my lord," she cried, "and I will tell 
 you all." 
 
 Then she told him how she would have slain Tris- 
 tram, so that her own children should inherit the land. 
 
 "Well," said King Meliodas, "for this ye shall be 
 tried by law." 
 
 By assent of the Barons the wicked Queen was 
 condemned to be burned, and a great fire was made. 
 But just as she was at the fire to undergo her sentence, 
 young Tristram knelt before King Meliodas, and 
 besought him to grant him a boon. 
 
 "I will, gladly," said the King. 
 
 "Then," said young Tristram, "give me the life of 
 the Queen, my step-mother." 
 
 "That is not rightfully asked, for thou ought of 
 right to hate her, because she would have slain thee, if 
 she could have had her will ; and for thy sake there is 
 most reason 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, as I do! And 
 since it pleased your Highness to grant me my boon, 
 for God's love I require you to keep your promise." 
 
 „:a 
 
A KNIGHT ROYAL. 149 
 
 "Since that is so, I will let you have her life," said 
 the King. "I give her to you. Go ye to the fire, and 
 take her, and do with her what ye will." 
 
 So Tristram went to the fire, and by commandmenf 
 ' of the King delivered the Queen from death. 
 
 For a long time King Meliodas would have nothing 
 more to do with her, but at last by the good influence 
 of young Tristram he was reconciled to his wife. The 
 Queen never forgot how good Tristram had been to 
 her, and ever afterwards she loved him dearly. 
 
 A KNIGHT ROYAL. 
 
 When King Meliodas was reconciled with his 
 Queen he sought out a tutor who was wise and 
 learned, and under his care he sent young Tristram 
 into France, to learn the language and customs, and 
 deeds of arms. There with his tutor Gouvernail 
 Tristram stayed more than seven years. When he 
 could speak the language well, and had learned all he 
 could learn in that country, he came home again to 
 his father. King Meliodas. So Tristram learned to be 
 a harper, passing all others — there was not found his 
 equal in any country. Thus in his youth he applied 
 himself to learn harping, and all instruments of music ; 
 and afterwards, as he grew in might and strength, he 
 
150 HING ARTHUR AKD HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 labored ever in hunting and hawking, more than any 
 gentleman that was ever hea^rd of. He set in order 
 good measures concerning forest lore, and beasts of 
 chase, and all manner of vermin, with all the terms 
 used in hunting and hawking. Therefore the Book 
 of the Chase, of Hunting and Hawking, is called the 
 Book of Sir Tristram. Wherefore, all gentlemen that 
 bear arms ought of right to honor Sir Tristram, for 
 he taught such terms as gentlemen use to this day, so 
 that all men of worth can distinguish a gentleman from 
 a yeoman, and a yeoman from a peasant. For he that 
 is gentle will draw to him those of gentle nature to 
 follow the customs of noble men. 
 
 Tristram remained away till he was big and strong, 
 and nineteen • years old. When he returned home 
 King Meliodas had great joy in his son, and so had the 
 Queen his wife. For ever after in her life, because 
 Tristram had saved her from the fire, she always loved 
 him, and gave him many great gifts. And wherever 
 he went, every one loved him. 
 
 Soon after Tristram's return from France, it befell 
 that King Anguish of Ireland sent to King Mark of 
 Cornwall for his tribute, which Cornwall had paid 
 many winters. But for seven years King Mark had 
 not paid it, and now he and his Barons gave answer to 
 the messenger from Ireland that they would pay 
 nothing. 
 
 "Tell your lord," they said, "that if he wishes always 
 
A KNIGHT EOYAL. 151 
 
 to have tribute of Cornwall, let him send a trusty knight 
 who will fight for his right, and we shall find another 
 to defend our right." 
 
 With this answer the messenger departed back to 
 Ireland. 
 
 King Anguish was very wroth at this answer, and 
 he called to him Sir Marhaus, the good knight, who 
 was nobly proved, and of the Round Table, and brother 
 of the Queen of Ireland. 
 
 "Fair brother," he said, "I pray you go into Corn- 
 wall for my sake, and do battle for our tribute, which 
 by right we ought to have ; and whatsoever ye spend, ye 
 shall have more than sufficient for your need." 
 
 Sir Marhaus consented gladly, and making ready 
 in all haste, departed out of Ireland, and arrived in 
 Cornwall, near to the Castle of Tintagel. 
 
 King Mark was very sorry when he heard that 
 the good and noble knight Sir Marhaus had arrived 
 to fight for Ireland, for he knew no knight who dared 
 do battle with him, because at that time Sir Marhaus 
 was one of the most famous and renowned knights of 
 the world. 
 
 Thus Sir Marhaus abode in his ship off the coast, 
 and every day he sent to King Mark to pay the tribute 
 that was owing for seven years, or else to find a knight 
 to fight with him. And the people of Cornwall made 
 a proclamation in every place that whatever knight 
 would fight to save the tribute of Cornwall, he would 
 
15a KING AETHUE AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 be rewarded so that he would fare the better for the 
 rest of his life. 
 
 Some of the Barons x;ounselled King Mark to send 
 to the Court of King Arthur, to seek Sir Lancelot of 
 the Lake, who was called at that time the most mar- 
 vellous knight of all the world. But other barons coun- 
 selled the King not to agree to this, saying it would be 
 but labor in vain, because Sir Marhaus was a Knight of 
 the Round Table, therefore any of the other knights 
 would be loath to do battle with him, unless it were any 
 knight at his own request, who would fight disguised 
 and unknown. So the King and all his Barons agreed 
 it was no use to seek any Knight of the Round Table. 
 
 Meanwhile rumor reached King Meliodas, how that 
 Sir Marhaus abode fast by Tintagel, and how King 
 Mark could find no manner of knight to fight for him. 
 
 When young Tristram heard of this he was wroth 
 and sorely ashamed that no knight in Cornwall dared 
 do battle with Sir Marhaus of Ireland. He accordingly 
 went to his' father. King Meliodas, and asked him 
 counsel as to what King Mark was to do in order to 
 keep his tribute, for it seemed a shame that Sir Marhaus 
 should go away without any one doing battle with him. 
 
 "As for that," said Meliodas, "know well, my son 
 Tristram, that Sir Marhaus is called one of the best 
 knights of the world, and is a Knight of the Round 
 Table; I know no knight in this country who is able 
 to match him." 
 
A KNIGHT EOYAL. 153 
 
 Then Tristram lamented that he was not yet made 
 a knight, and he asked leave of his father to go to 
 King Mark and be made knight by him. King Melio- 
 das willingly agreed, so Tristram made ready, and rode 
 into Cornwall. And when he came there he heard say 
 no knight would fight with Sir Marhaus. Then he 
 went to King Mark and said : 
 
 "Sir, if you will give me the order of knighthood, 
 I will do battle with Sir Marhaus." 
 
 "What are ye?" said the King, "and whence are 
 you come?" 
 
 "Sir, I come from King Meliodas, who wedded your 
 sister; and that I am a gentleman you know well." 
 
 King Mark looked at Tristram and saw that he was 
 but a young man in age, but he was passingly- well- 
 made and big. 
 
 "Fair sir," said the King, "what is your name, and 
 where were you born?" 
 
 "Sir," he replied, "my name is Tristram, and in the 
 country of Lyonesse was I born." 
 
 "Ye say well," said the King, "and if you will do 
 this battle, I will make you knight." 
 
 "For that cause and no other I come to you," said 
 Tristram ; and then King Mark made him a knight. 
 
 Sir Marhaus heard that the King of Cornwall 
 had found a young knight ready to do battle to the 
 uttermost with him. "That is well," he said to the 
 messenger, "but tell King Mark I will fight with no 
 
154 KING AETHUK AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 knight unless he be of royal blood, that is to say, either 
 a king's son, or a queen's son, born of a prince or a 
 princess." 
 
 King Mark sent for Sir Tristram and told him of 
 Sir Marhaus's message. 
 
 "Let him know," said Tristram, "that I am come 
 on father's side and mother's side of blood as noble 
 as he is. For, sir, now ye shall know that I am King 
 Meliodas' son, born of your own sister. Lady Elizabeth, 
 who died in the forest at my birth." 
 
 "Yea!" cried King Mark. "Fair nephew, ye are 
 welcome to me." 
 
 Then in all haste King Mark ordered that Sir 
 Tristram should be horsed and armed in the best 
 manner that could be had for gold and silver, and he 
 sent word to Sir Marhaus that a better born man than 
 himself was ready to fight with him. 
 
 It was agreed that the battle should take place on 
 an island near which lay Sir Marhaus's ship at anchor. 
 So Sir Tristram was put into a vessel, both he and his 
 horse, with everything that was needful for both of 
 them; and when King Mark and his Barons saw how 
 the young Sir Tristram departed to fight for the right 
 of Cornwall, there was neither man nor woman of 
 worship but lamented to see so young a knight thus 
 jeopardy himself for their sake. 
 
 When Sir Tristram arrived on the island he looked 
 to thg further side, and there he saw six sliips lying at 
 
A KNIGHT EOYAL. 15* 
 
 anchor, and under the shadow of the ships on land 
 appeared the noble knight, Sir Marhaus of Ireland. 
 Then Sir Tristram bade his servant Gouvernail bring 
 his horse to land, and help him to arm, and when he 
 was in his saddle, well-apparelled, with his shield ready 
 on his shoulder, he bade Gouvernail go back again to 
 his vessel. 
 
 "Commend me to my uncle, King Mark," he said, 
 "and pray him if I be slain in the battle to bury my 
 body as seemeth best to him, and bid him know I will 
 never yield me for cowardice. If I am slain and flee 
 not, then have they lost no tribute for me; and if so 
 be that I flee or yield me as recreant, bid my uncle never 
 bury me in Christian burial. And upon thy life come 
 thou not nigh this island till thou see me overcome 
 or slain, or else that I vanquish yonder knight." 
 
 So each departed from the other, weeping sorely. 
 
 When Sir Marhaus saw Sir Tristram, and how 
 young he was, he was sorry for his daring, and he 
 counselled him to return to his vessel; for the best 
 knights in England and in the world had been matched 
 with Sir Marhaus, and he had overthrown them. 
 
 But Sir Tristram replied that he could not forsake 
 the quarrel, because for that he had been made knight. 
 He was a King's son, born of a Queen, and he had 
 promised his uncle. King Mark, to fight to the utter- 
 most, and deliver Cornwall from the old tribute. 
 
 "And also know well, Sir Marhaus, this is the 
 
156 KING AETHUK AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 greatest reason that encourages me to fight with you, 
 for thou art called one of the greatest knights in the 
 world, and because of the fame thou hast, thou givest 
 me courage to have ado with thee, for never yet was 
 I proved with good knight. And since I took the 
 order of knighthood to-day I am well pleased that I 
 may have ado with so good a knight as thou art. 
 And know. Sir Marhaus, that I seek to win worship 
 because of thee, and if I am not yet proved, I trust I 
 shall be honorably prbved upon thy body, and deliver 
 the country of Cornwall from all manner of tribute to 
 Ireland for ever." 
 
 Sir Marhaus, having heard Tristram say what he 
 would, spoke thus again : 
 
 "Fair knight, since it is the case that thou seekest 
 to win worship because of me, I let thee know that thou 
 wilt lose none, if thou canst stand me three strokes; 
 for because of my noble deeds, proved and seen, King 
 Arthur made me Knight of the Round Table." 
 
 Then they put their spears in rest and met so fiercely 
 together that they smote each other down, horse and 
 all. Sir Marhaus struck Tristram a great wound in 
 the side with his spear, and then leaping clear of 
 their horses, they pulled out their swords, and throw- 
 ing their shields before them, lashed together as men 
 that were wild and courageous. But when they had 
 fought for a long time, Sir Tristram was fresher and 
 stronger than Sir Marhaus, and with a mighty stroke he 
 
LA BELLE ISEULT. 157 
 
 smote Sir Marhaus on the head such a bufifet that it 
 went through his helm, arid through the coif of steel, 
 and through the brain-pan, and the sword stuck fast 
 in the helm, so that Sir Tristram had to pull thrice 
 at it before he could pull it out. And there Sir 
 Marhaus fell down on his knees, the edge of Tristram's 
 , sword left in his brain-pan. Then suddenly he stum- 
 bled to his feet, and throwing his sword and his shield 
 from him, he ran to his ships and fled his way ; and Sir 
 Tristram kept ever afterwards his shield and his sword. 
 
 So Sir Marhaus and his fellowship departed into 
 Ireland. And as soon as he came to King Anguish, 
 his brother-in-law, he had his wounds searched. And 
 there in his head was found a piece of Sir Tristram's 
 sword, and none of the surgeons were ever able to get 
 it out, so Sir Marhaus died. 
 
 But after he was dead the Queen of Ireland, his 
 sister, kept that piece of the sword always with her, 
 for she determined to be revenged if ever she could. 
 
 LA BELLE ISEULT. 
 
 Sir Tristram also had been sorely wounded, and 
 after the fight with Sir Marhaus he sank down on a 
 little hill, and could scarcely move. Then came 
 Gouvernail with his vessel, and King Mark and his 
 Barons came in procession, and when they got back to 
 Cornwall the King took Tristram in his arms, and he 
 
158 KING AETHUR AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 and Sir Dinas the Seneschal carried Sir Tristram into 
 the Castle of Tintagel. There he was tended in the 
 best manner and laid in bed. And when King Mark 
 saw his wounds he wept heartily, and so did all his 
 lords. 
 
 "God help me," said the King, "I would not for all 
 my lands that my nephew died." 
 
 So Sir Tristram lay there a month and more, and 
 ever he was likely to die of that stroke which Sir 
 Marhaus smote him first with the spear. For the head 
 of the spear was envenomed. 
 
 King Mark and all his Barons were passing heavy, 
 for they thought that Sir Tristram would not recover 
 of his Wound. The King caused all sorts of doctors 
 and surgeons to be sent for, both men and women, 
 and there was not one who would promise that Tris- 
 tram should live. 
 
 Then came a lady, who was a right wise lady, and 
 she said plainly to Mark and Sir Tristram, and to 
 all the Barons, that Tristram would never be whole 
 unless he went into the same country where the venom 
 came from, and in that country he would be helped, or 
 not at all. 
 
 When King Mark heard this he ordered a fair 
 vessel, well-provisioned, to be got ready for Sir Tris- 
 tram, and the sick knight was put therein, and Gouver- 
 nail with him, and Sir Tristram took his harp with 
 him. So they put out to sea, to sail to Ireland, and b^ 
 
LA BELLE ISEULT. 159 
 
 gfood fortune they arrived in Ireland fast by a Castle 
 where the King and Queen were; and on their arrival 
 Tristram sat and harped in his bed a merry lay, such a 
 one as they had never any of them heard in Ireland 
 before that time. 
 
 When the King and Queen were told of the knight 
 who was such a harper, the King immediately sent for 
 him and had his wounds attended to, and then he asked 
 him his name. 
 
 "I am of the country of Lyonesse, and my name 
 is Tramtrist, and I was wounded in battle, as I fought 
 for a lady's right," answered Tristram. 
 
 "Truly," said King Anguish, "ye shall have all the 
 help in this land that ye may have. But I let you know 
 that in Cornwall I had as great a loss as ever had a 
 King, for there I lost the best knight of the world, his 
 name was Marhaus, — a full noble knight, and a Knight 
 of the Round Table," and he told Tristram how Mar- 
 haus had been slain. 
 
 Sir Tristram made a semblance of being sorry, but 
 he knew better than the King how it was. He was 
 afraid to reveal his real name, so he still pretended it 
 was "Tramtrist." 
 
 King Anguish, as a great favor, made Tramtrist to 
 be put into his daughter's ward and keeping, because 
 she was a skilful surgeon. She discovered there was 
 poison in the wound, and in course of time she 
 healed him. Then Tristram learned to have a great 
 
160 KING AETHUE AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 love for the beautiful Princess Iseult, for she was at 
 that time the fairest maid and lady of the world. And 
 there he taught her to harp, and she began to have a 
 great fancy for him. 
 
 At that time there was a Saracen knight in the coun- 
 try who was much liked by the King and Queen. Sir 
 Palamides was greatly attracted to the beautiful Iseult, 
 and he offered her many gifts, for he loved her passing 
 well. All this Sir Tristram saw, and full well he knew 
 Sir Palamides for a noble knight and a mighty man. 
 And he had a great grudge against Palamides, for 
 Iseult told Tristram that the Saracen was willing to be 
 christened for her sake. Thus there was great envy 
 between Tristram and Sir Palamides. 
 
 Then it befell that King Anguish proclaimed a 
 splendid joust and tournament for a lady who was 
 called the "Lady of the Lawns," and she was a near 
 cousin of the King's. Whatever man won her, should 
 wed her after three days and have all her lands. This 
 proclamation was made in England, Wales, Scotland, 
 and also in France and in Brittany. 
 
 One day La Belle Iseult came to Sir Tristram, and 
 told him of this tournament. 
 
 "Fair lady," he replied, "I am but a feeble knight, 
 and lately I would have been dead, if it had not been 
 for your good ladyship. Now, what would you that 
 I should do in this matter? You know well that I 
 cannot joust." 
 
LA BELLE ISEULT. 101 
 
 "Ah, Tramtrist," said La Belle Iseultj "why will 
 you not take part in that tournament? I know 
 well Sir Palamides will be there, to do what he can, and 
 therefore, Tramtrist, I pray you be there also, or else 
 Sir Palamides is likely to win the prize." 
 
 "Madam," said Tristram, "as for that, it may be so, 
 for he is a proved knight, and I am but a young knight 
 and lately made, and the first battle that I did, it mis- 
 happed me to be sorely wounded as ye see. But if I 
 thought you would be my lady, I would go to that 
 tournament, provided that you will keep my counsel, 
 and let no creature know I shall joust, except yourself, 
 and such as you will to keep your counsel. My poor 
 person will I jeopard there for your sake, that perad- 
 venture Sir Palamides shall know when I come." 
 
 "Do your best/' said La Belle Iseult, "and I will 
 provide you with horse and armor." 
 
 "As you will, so be it," said Sir Tristram ; "I will be 
 at your command." 
 
 On the day of the jousts came Sir Palamides with 
 a black shield, and he overthrew many knights, so that 
 all the people marvelled at him. All manner of knights 
 dreaded Sir Palamides because of his prowess, and 
 many called him "The Knight with the Black Shield." 
 So that day Sir Palamides had great glory. 
 
 Then came King Anguish to Tristram, and asked 
 him why he would not joust. 
 
 "Sir," said he, "I was but lately hurt, and as yet I 
 
162 KING AETHUR AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 dare not venture me," for he did not want the King- 
 to know he was going to fight. 
 
 On the morrow Sir Palamides made him ready to 
 come into the field as he did the first day. And there 
 he smote down the "King with a hundred Knights," 
 and the King of Scotland. 
 
 La Belle Iseult had provided for Sir Tristram a 
 white horse and white armor, and when he was well 
 arrayed she let him out at a private postern, and so he 
 rode forth into the field, as it had been a bright angel. 
 
 Sir Palamides quickly espied him, and therewith he 
 feutered his spear at Tristram ; and Tristram again at 
 him; and there Sir Tristram smote down Palamides to 
 the earth. 
 
 Then there was great noise of people; some said 
 Sir Palamides had a fall ; some said the "Knight with 
 the Black Shield" had a fall. And you can well 
 imagine La Belle Iseult was passing glad. 
 
 After that, no one- would joust with Tristram, but 
 all who were there kept out of his way. 
 
 Sir Palamides was sorely ashamed at receiving a j 
 fall, and, as privately as he could, he withdrew him- "" 
 self out of the field. Sir Tristram espied all this, and 
 lightly he rode after Sir Palamides, and overtook him, 
 and bade him turn, for he would test him better ere ever 
 he departed. Then Palamides turned, and both lashed 
 at each other with their swords. But at the first stroke 
 Sir Tristram smote down Palamides, and gave him such 
 
THE BROKEN SWOED. 163 
 
 a stroke upon the head that he fell to the earth. Then 
 Tristram bade him yield him, and do his command, or 
 else he would slay him 
 
 When Sir Palamides saw his countenance he dreaded 
 his buffets so much that he granted everything he asked. 
 
 Tristram made him promise that he would forsake 
 following La Belle Iseult, and also for a twelvemonth 
 and a day that he should bear no arms nor trappings 
 of war. 
 
 "Promise me this, or here shalt thou die," said 
 Tristram. 
 
 "Alas," said Palamides, "I am shamed for ever!" 
 But he swore to do as Tristram had commanded, and 
 in his spite and anger, he cut off his armor and threw 
 it away. 
 
 Tristram then rode privily to the postern, which La 
 Belle Iseult kept for him, and there she made him good 
 cheer, and thanked God for his success. 
 
 The King and Queen soon discovered that it was 
 Tramtrist who smote down Palamides, and then he 
 was made much more of than before. 
 
 THE BROKEN SWORD. 
 
 Thus for a long time Sir Tristram stayed on in 
 Ireland, and he was well cherished by the King and 
 the Queen and La Belle Iseult. But one day it befell 
 when he was out that the Queen and Iseult went into 
 
164 KING AETHUK A^T) HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 his room, and there, as it lay on the bed, the Queen 
 beheld his sword. The Queen drew the sword from 
 the scabbard, and looked at it, and both she and La 
 Belle Iseult thought it a passing fair sword. But 
 within a foot and a half from the point there was a 
 great piece broken out of the edge. 
 
 When the Queen espied that gap in the sword, she 
 remembered th^ piece of a sword that had been found 
 m the brain-pan of Sir Marhaus, her brother. 
 
 "Alas !" she cried to her daughter, "this is the same 
 traitor knight who slew my brother, thy uncle." 
 
 Iseult was sorely abashed to hear her say this, for 
 she loved Sir Tristram passing well, and full well she 
 knew the cruelty of her mother, the Queen. 
 
 The Queen went at once to her own chamber, and 
 taking out from her coflfer the piece of sword that 
 had been found in Sir Marhaus's head, she ran with 
 the piece of iron to the sword that lay on the bed. 
 And when she put the missing piece against the blade, 
 it was just as it might be when it was new broken. 
 
 The Queen was so angry at this discovery that she 
 gripped the sword fiercely in her hand, and ran with all 
 her might against Tristram where he sat unarmed. 
 
 She would have thrust him through, then and there, 
 had not his squire, Sir Hebes, caught her in his arms, 
 and pulled the sword from her. When she was pre- 
 vented in her evil intention she ran to King Anguish, 
 her husband. 
 
THE BEOKEN SWOED. 
 
 165 
 
 "Oh, my lord," she cried, falHng on her knees 
 before him, "here have you in your house that traitor 
 knight who slew my brother and your servant, the 
 noble knight. Sir Marhaus." 
 
 "Who is that? And where is he?" said the King. 
 "Sir," she said, "it is Sir Tramtrist, the same knight 
 whom my daughter healed." 
 
166 KING AETHUR AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 "Alas," said the King, "I am much grieved for 
 that, for he is as full noble a knight as ever I saw in 
 field. But I charge you, have no more to do with him, 
 but let me deal with him." 
 
 Then the King went into the chamber to Sir Tram- 
 trist, where he found him all ready armed to mount 
 upon his horse. 
 
 "Nay, Tramtrist," said the King, "it will not avail 
 thee to defy me. But this much I will do for my 
 honor and thy love. Inasmuch as thou art within my 
 Court it were no honor for me to slay thee. There- 
 fore, I will give thee leave to depart from this Court in 
 safety, on condition that thou wilt tell me who was thy 
 father, and what is thy name, and if thou slew Sir 
 Marhaus, the Queen's brother." 
 
 Then Tristram told King Anguish the whole story, 
 and at the end the King said : 
 
 "Truly, I may not say but ye did as a knight should, 
 and it was your part to do your best for your quarrel, 
 and to increase your renown as a knight should. But 
 I cannot keep you in this country in accordance with 
 my honor, for I should displease my Barons, and my 
 wife and her kin." 
 
 "Sir," said Tristram, "I thank you for the great 
 kindness I have had here, and for the great goodness 
 my lady your daughter hath shown me. It may so 
 come to pass that you may win more by my life than 
 by my death, for in parts of England haply I may do 
 
THE BEOKEN SWOED. 167 
 
 you service at some season, so that you will be glad you 
 ever showed me honor. Moreover, I promise you, as 
 I am a 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 what a knight 
 can do. Also, I beseech your good grace that I may 
 take my leave of your daughter, and of all the barons 
 and knights." 
 
 "WilHngly," said King Anguish. 
 
 Then Sir Tristram went to La Belle Iseult, and 
 took his leave of her. 
 
 "Oh, gentle knight," said Iseult, "full woe am I 
 at thy departing, for I never saw man to whom I felt 
 such good will." And therewith she wept heartily. 
 
 "Madam," said Sir Tristram, "now ye shall know 
 that my name is Tristram of Lyonesse, son of King 
 Meliodas, and of his Queen. And I promise you faith- 
 fully that I will be your knight all the days of my life." 
 
 "Great thanks!" said La Belle Iseult. "And I 
 promise you that for the next seven years I will never 
 marry but with your assent; and whom ye will that I 
 shall marry, him will I have, if he will have me." 
 
 Then Sir Tristram gave her a ring, and she gave 
 him another, and so he departed from her, leaving her 
 in great sorrow. 
 
 Afterwards he went straight into the Court, among 
 all the Barons, and there he took his leave of them, 
 the greatest and the least, and spoke openly among 
 them all. 
 
168 KING ARTHIJE AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 "Fair lords, now thus it is, that I must depart. If 
 there be any man here whom I have offended, or any 
 man that is grieved with me, let him complain here 
 before me, ere I depart, and I will amend it, as far 
 as lies in my power. And if there be any who will 
 proffer me wrong, or say of me evil behind my back, 
 let him say it now or never, and here am I to make it 
 good, man against man." 
 
 And they all stood silent; there was not one of 
 them who would say a single word against him, though 
 some of the knights were of the Queen's blood, and kin 
 to Sir Marhaus. 
 
 HOW SIR TRISTRAM CAME TO CAMELOT. 
 
 Thus Sir Tristram departed from Ireland, and sailed 
 across the sea, and with a good wind he arrived at 
 Tintagel in Cornwall. Tidings came to King Mark 
 that Tristram had returned, and was healed of his 
 wounds, at which King Mark rejoiced greatly, and all 
 the Barons. Sir Tristram rode at once to his father. 
 King Meliodas, and the King and the Queen, his step- 
 mother, gave him the heartiest welcome, and bestowed 
 on him much of their lands and treasure. 
 
 After spending some time at home, Tristram, by 
 leave of his father, returned to the Court of King 
 Mark, of Cornwall, where he lived in great joy for a 
 
HOW TEISTEAM CAME TO CAMELOT. 169 
 
 long time, until at last there fell a great jealousy and 
 unkindness between King Mark and himself, for they 
 both loved the same lady. 
 
 One day when Tristram was on his way to visit her, 
 he was suddenly attacked by three knights, and 
 although he overcame them all and wounded them 
 sorely, yet he was badly hurt himself in the conflict. 
 
 King Mark was one of these assailants, but he would 
 not let it be known, and as for Sir Tristram he did not 
 know it was the King with whom he had been fighting. 
 The attendants of the King came to console Tristram as 
 he lay sick in bed, -for the crafty King pretended to be 
 sorry for his nephew; thus passed many days and 
 weeks, and apparently all was forgiven and forgotten. 
 
 But as long as King Mark lived he never afterwards 
 loved Sir Tristram. Though there was fair speech, 
 love there was none. The King cast always in his 
 heart how he might destroy his nephew. Then it 
 inwardly occurred to him to send Sir Tristram into 
 Ireland to fetch La Belle Iseult. For Sir Tristram 
 had so often praised her beauty and her goodness, that 
 King Mark said he would wed her, wherefore he 
 begged Sir Tristram to take his way into Ireland on an 
 embassy. And all this was done with the intention of 
 slaying Sir Tristram, for Mark knew of the enmity of 
 King Anguish. 
 
 Nevertheless, since it was his uncle's pleasure, Sir 
 Tristram would not refuse the errand because of any 
 
1?0 KING AETHUE AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 peril that might befall himself, but he made ready to 
 go in the goodliest fashion that could be devised. 
 
 He took with him the noblest knights he could find 
 at Court, and they were arrayed in the richest guise 
 that was then the custom. 
 
 So Sir Tristram departed, and put to sea, with all 
 his company. But as soon as they were out on the 
 broad sea, a tempest took them, and drove them back 
 to the coast of England, where they arrived fast by 
 Camelot ; and very glad they were to get safe to shore. 
 When they were landed. Sir Tristram set up his 
 pavilion on the lands of Camelot, and had his shield 
 hung on the pavilion. 
 
 Now just at that time two knights, who were 
 brothers, Sir Bleoberis and Sir Blamor de Ganis, 
 nephews of Sir Lancelot of the Lake, summoned King 
 Anguish of Ireland to come to Arthtir's Court, on 
 pain of forfeiture of King Arthur's good grace. And 
 if the King of Ireland came not at the day assigned and 
 set, he should lose his lands. 
 
 It happened that on the appointed day neither King 
 Arthur nor Sir Lancelot could be there to give the 
 judgment, for King Arthur was with Sir Lancelot at 
 his Castle of Joyous Gard. King Arthur, therefore, 
 assigned King Carados and the King of the Scots to be 
 at Camelot that day as judges, and while they were 
 there. King Anguish of Ireland came to know his 
 accusers. 
 
HOW TEISTRAM CAME TO CAMELOT. 171 
 
 Then Blamor de Ganis accused the King of Ireland 
 of treason, that he had slain a cousin of the English 
 knight's in his Court in Ireland, by treachery. 
 
 King Anguish was sorely abashed at this accusation. 
 He had come at the summons of King Arthur, and 
 before he reached Camelot he did not even know why 
 he had been sent for. When he heard what Sir Bla- 
 mor had to say, he understood full well there was no 
 other remedy but to answer him knightly. For in 
 those days it was the custom, if any man were accused 
 of treason and murder, that he should fight body for 
 body or else find another knight to fight for him. All 
 kinds of murder in those days were called "treason." 
 
 King Anguish was passing heavy when he under- 
 stood his accusation, for he knew that Sir Blamor de 
 Ganis was a noble knight, and came of noble knights. 
 The judges granted him a respite of three days to give 
 his answer. So King Anguish departed to his 
 lodging. 
 
 In the meantime, while Sir Tristram was in his 
 pavilion at Camelot, Gouvernail his man came and told 
 him how King Anguish of Ireland had come thither, 
 and how he was put in great distress, and how he had 
 been summoned and accused of murder. 
 
 "Truly," said Sir Tristram, "those are the best tid- 
 ings that have come to me these seven years, for now 
 shall the King of Ireland have need of my help, for I 
 dare say. there is no knight in this country, not of 
 
172 KING ARTHUE AND HIS KNIGHTS, 
 
 Arthur's Court, that dares to do battle with Sir Blamor 
 de Ganis. To win the love of the King of Ireland, I 
 will take the battle upon me, and therefore, Gouver- 
 nail, bring me, I charge thee, to the King." 
 
 Gouvernail accordingly went to King Anguish of 
 Ireland, and saluted him fair. The King welcomed 
 him, and asked him what he wished. 
 
 "Sir," said Gouvernail, "there is a knight near at 
 hand who desireth to speak with you ; he bade me say 
 he would do you service." 
 
 "What knight is he?" asked the King. 
 
 "Sir," he said, "it is Sir Tristram of Lyonesse, who, 
 for the good grace ye showed him in your lands, will 
 reward you in this country." 
 
 "Come on quickly with me, fellow," said the King, 
 "and lead me to Sir Tristram." 
 
 So King Anguish took a little riding horse, and only 
 a few attendants, and came to Sir Tristram's pavilion. 
 
 When Sir Tristram saw the King, he ran towards 
 him and would have held his stirrup. But the King 
 leaped from his horse lightly, and they both embraced 
 each other. 
 
 "My gracious lord," said Sir Tristram, "great 
 thanks for all your goodness shown to me in your 
 country. At that time I promised to do you service if 
 ever it lay in my power." 
 
 "Gentle Knight," said the King, "now have I 
 great need of you. Never had I so great need of any 
 
 IrnicrUi-'a ho^rt " 
 
"BATHER DEATH THAN DISHONOR." 173 
 
 "How so, my good lord ?" asked Sir Tristram. 
 
 "I will tell you," said the King. "I am summoned 
 from my country, and accused, because of the death of 
 a knight who was kin to the good knight Sir Lancelot, 
 wherefore Sir Blamor de Ganis, brother of Sir Bleo- 
 beris, hath challenged me to fight with him, or else to 
 find a knight in my stead. I know well that those who 
 come of King Ban's race, as Sir Lancelot and these 
 other's, are passing good knights, and as hard men to 
 conquer in battle as any that I know now living." 
 
 "Sir," said Sir Tristram, "because of the honor 
 you showed me in Ireland, and for my lady your 
 daughter's sake. La Belle Iseult, I will take the battle 
 for you on condition that ye shall grant me two things. 
 One is that ye shall swear to me that ye are in the 
 right, and that you never consented to the knight's 
 death. Afterwards, when I have done this battle, if 
 God give me grace that I succeed, ye shall give me a 
 reward, what thing reasonable that I will ask of you." 
 
 "Truly," said the King, "ye shall have whatsoever 
 ye shall ask." 
 
 "RATHER DEATH THAN DISHONOR." 
 
 "Now make your answer that your champion is 
 ready," said Sir Tristram to King Anguish, "for I 
 shall die in your quarrel rather than be recreant" 
 
174 KING AETHUR AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 "I have no doubt of you," said the King, "even 
 if you had to do battle with Sir Lancelot of the Lake." 
 
 "Sir," said Tristram, "as for Sir Lancelot, he is 
 called the noblest knight of the world, and know ye 
 well that the knights of his blood are noble men and 
 fear shame; as for Sir Bleoberis, brother to Sir Bla- 
 mor, I have done battle with him, therefore, on my 
 head, it is no shame to call him a good knight." 
 
 "It is reported," said King Anguish, "that Slir 
 Blamor is the hardier knight." 
 
 "Sir, as for that, let him be, he shall never be 
 refused, were he the best knight that now beareth 
 shield or spear." 
 
 King Anguish departed to King Carados and the 
 Kings who were at that time as judges, and told them 
 he had found his champion ready. Then, by command 
 of the Kings, Sir Tristram and Sir Blamor de Ganis 
 were sent for to hear the charge. 
 
 When they came before the judges, many Kings 
 and knights beheld Sir Tristram, and there was much 
 talking about him, because he had slain Sir Marhaus, 
 the good knight, and because he overthrew in jousting 
 the noble Saracen, Sir Palamides. 
 
 Having received their charge, the champions with- 
 drew to make them ready for battle. 
 
 Then said Sir Bleoberis to his brother. Sir Blamor : 
 
 "Dear brother, remember of what kin we are come, 
 
 and what a man is Sir Lancelot of the Lake, neither 
 
"HATHER DEATH THAN DISHONOR." IT'S 
 
 further nor nearer than brother's children; there was 
 never any of our kin that was shamed in battle — but 
 would rather suffer death, than to be shamed!" 
 
 "Brother," said Blamor, "have no doubt of me, 
 for I shall never shame any of my blood, howbeit 
 I am sure that yonder knight is called a passing good 
 knight, in his time one of the best in the world. Yet 
 shall I never yield me, nor say the hateful word sur- 
 render. He may well happen to smite me down with 
 his great might of chivalry, but he shall slay me rather 
 than I shall yield me as recreant." 
 
 "God speed you well," said Bleoberis, "for ye 
 shall find him the mightiest knight that ever ye had 
 to do withal; I know him, for I have had to do with 
 him." 
 
 "God speed me!" said Blamor de Ganis. 
 
 Therewith he took his horse at one end of the 
 lists, and Sir Tristram at the other end, and so they 
 levelled their spears and came together as though it 
 were thunder, and there Sir Tristram, through great 
 might, smote down Sir Blamor and his horse to the 
 earth. 
 
 Sir Blamor leaped quickly clear of his horse, and 
 pulling out his sword, threw his shield before him, 
 and bade Sir Tristram alight. 
 
 "For though a horse has failed me, I trust the earth 
 will not fail me," he cried. 
 
 Sir Tristram alighted, and there they lashed together 
 
176 KING ARTHUE AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 strongly, smiting many heavy strokes, so that the 
 Kings and knights marvelled greatly ; for they fought 
 as if they were mad, never knights were seen to fight 
 more fiercely than they did; Sir Blamor was so hasty 
 he would have no rest, and all men wondered that they 
 had breath to stand on their feet. At the last, Sir 
 Tristram smote Sir Blamor such a buffet upon the 
 helm, that he fell down on his side, and Sir Tristram 
 stood and looked at him. 
 
 When Sir Blamor could speak, he said thus : 
 
 "Sir Tristram of Lyonesse, I require thee as thou 
 art a noble knight, and the best ktlight that ever I 
 found, that thou wilt slay me outright, — I would not 
 live to be made lord of all the earth, for I would 
 rather die with honor than live with shame. Thou 
 must needs slay me. Sir Tristram, or else thou wilt 
 never win the field, for I will never say the hateful 
 word. Therefore, if thou dare slay me, slay me, I 
 require thee!" 
 
 When Sir Tristram heard him speak so knightly, 
 he knew not what to do with him ; he thought of both 
 sides, — of what blood Sir Blamor came, and how for 
 Sir Lancelot's sake he would be full loath to slay him ; 
 yet, on the other side, he could not choose but make 
 Sir Blamor own himself vanquished, or else slay him. 
 
 For this was the law of the tournament. 
 
 Going to the Kings who were judges, Tristram 
 knelt down before them, and besought them for their 
 
"EATHEE DEATH THAN DISHONOE." 177 
 
 honor, and for King Arthur's, and Sir Lancelot's sake, 
 that they would take this matter into their hands. 
 
 "For, my fair lords," said Sir Tristram, "it were 
 shame and pity that this noble knight who lieth yonder 
 should be slain, for ye hear well that shamed he will 
 not be, and I pray to God that he be not shamed nor 
 slain for me. And as for the King for whom I fight, 
 I shall require him, as I am his true champion and 
 true knight in this field, that he will have mercy on 
 this good knight." 
 
 "Truly," said King Anguish to Sir Tristram, "I 
 will for your sake be ruled as ye will have me; for 
 I know you for my true knight. And therefore I will 
 heartily pray the Kings who are here as judges to take 
 the matter into their hands." 
 
 Then the Kings 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 affirm that 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 let Sir Tristram slay 
 him outright." 
 
 "It shall not be so," said the Kings, "for the 
 adversary side, both the King of Ireland and his 
 champion, have pity of Sir Blamor's knighthood." 
 
 "My lords," said Bleoberis, "whatever ye will, I 
 agree to." 
 
178 KING- AETHUE AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 Then the Kings called the King of Ireland, and 
 found him good and tractable. By the advice of all 
 of them, Sir Tristram and Sir Bleoberis took up Sir 
 Blamor, and the two brethren were reconciled with 
 King Anguish, and kissed and made friends for ever. 
 
 Sir Blamor and Sir Tristram also kissed together, 
 and there they made their oaths that they would never, 
 either of the two brethren, fight with Sir Tristram, and 
 Sir Tristram swore a like oath that he would never 
 fight with them. 
 
 And because of that gentle battle all the kindred of 
 Sir Lancelot loved Sir Tristram for ever. 
 
 Then King Anguish and Sir Tristram took their 
 leave, and sailed into Ireland with great nobleness 
 and joy. When they reached Ireland the King caused 
 it to be known throughout all the land how and 
 in what manner Sir Tristram had done for him, and 
 the^-Queen and all who were there made the most of 
 him that they could. 
 
 But the joy that La Belle Iseult made of Sir 
 Tristram, no tongue could tell, for of all earthly men 
 she loved him most. 
 
 THE MAGIC DRAUGHT. 
 
 Then upon a day King Anguish asked Sir Tristram 
 why he did not ask his boon, for whatsoever he had 
 promised him, he should have it without fail. 
 
 "Sir," said Tristram, "now is it time, this is all 
 
THE MAGIC DEAUGHT. 179 
 
 that i desire, that ye will give me La Belle Iseult 
 your daughter, not for myself, but for mine Uncle 
 Mark that shall have her to wife, for so have I 
 promised him." 
 
 "Alas," said the King, "I had rather than all the 
 land I have, that ye would wed her yourself." 
 
 "Sir, if I did, then were I shamed for ever in this 
 world, and false of my promise. Therefore," said Sir 
 Tristram, "I pray you keep your promise that you 
 gave me. For this is my desire, — that ye will give 
 me La Belle Iseult to go with me into Cornwall, to 
 be wedded to King Mark, my uncle." 
 
 "As for that," said King Anguish, "you shall 
 have her with you to do what it please you, — that is 
 to say, if you like to wed her yourself that is what 
 would be dearest to me; and if you will give her to 
 King Mark your uncle, you can do so, if you choose." 
 
 So La Belle Iseult was made ready to go with 
 Sir Tristram, and Dame Bragwaine went with her for 
 her chief gentlewoman, with many other ladies. 
 
 Before they left, the Queen, Iseult' s mother, gave 
 to Dame Bragwaine and to Gouvernail, Sir Tristram's 
 attendant, a magic draught, and charged them that 
 whatever day King Mark should wed, on that same 
 day they should give him that draught, so that King 
 Mark should drink to La Belle Iseult. 
 
 "And then," said the Queen, "I undertake that 
 each shall love the other all the days of their life." 
 
180 KING AETHUE AFD HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 So the drink was given to Dame Bragwaine and 
 to Gouvernail, and directly afterwards Sir Tristram 
 put to sea with La Belle Iseult. 
 
 While they were in their cabin it so happened they 
 were thirsty, and they saw a little flask of gold stand 
 
TH:^ magic draught. 181 
 
 by them, and it seemed by the color and the taste that 
 it was noble wine. Sir Tristram took the flask in his 
 hand, saying : 
 
 "Madame Iseult, here is the best drink that ever 
 ye drank, which Dame Bragwaine, your maiden, and 
 Gouvernail, my servant, have kept for themselves." 
 
 Then they laughed and made good cheer, and each 
 drank to the other in innocent mirth ; and they thought 
 that never drink that ever they drank was so sweet 
 nor so good. 
 
 But after they had drunk that magic draught they 
 each loved the other so well that never henceforth their 
 love departed, either for weal or woe. 
 
 And this was how first happened the love between 
 Sir Tristram and La Belle Iseult, the which love never 
 departed all the days of their life. 
 
 So they sailed on, till by fortune they came near 
 a Castle, where they stayed to repose themselves, 
 thinking to have good harborage. But as soon as 
 they were within the Castle they were taken prisoners, 
 for the custom of the Castle was such, that whoever 
 rode by it, and brought any lady, he must needs fight 
 with the lord, whose name was Breunor. And if 
 Breunor won the field, then he put to death the knight 
 stranger and his lady, whoever they were. And if the 
 strange knight won the field, then Sir Breunor and 
 his lady should both die. 
 
 This had been the custom for many winters, and 
 
183 KING ARTHUR AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 the name of the Castle, therefore, was called "Weeping 
 Castle." 
 
 While Sir Tristram and Iseult were in prison, a 
 knight and a lady came in to cheer them. 
 
 "I marvel," said Tristram} "what is the cause the 
 lord of this Castle holdetli us in prison. It was never 
 the custom of any honorable place, wherever I have 
 been, that when a knight and a lady asked shelter, for 
 the master to receive them, and afterwards to destroy 
 those who were his guests." 
 
 The knight told Sir Tristram that it was an old 
 custom of the Castle that when a knight went there, 
 he must needs fight with the lord, and he who was the 
 weaker must lose his head. And when that was done, 
 if his lady that he brought with him was less beautiful 
 than the wife of the lord, then she must lose her head; 
 and if she were proved fairer than the lady, then the 
 lady of the Castle must lose her head. 
 
 "Now," said Tristram, "this is a foul and shame- 
 ful custom. But one advantage have I," he added. 
 "I have a lady who is fair enough, fairer saw I never in 
 all the days of my life, and I do not fear that for lack 
 of beauty she will 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, 
 with my lady, will be ready to-morrow for battle, if so 
 be I may have my horse and mine armor." 
 
 "Sir," said the knight, "I undertake that your 
 
THE MAGIC DEAUGHT. 183 
 
 desire shall be sped right well. Take your rest, and 
 look that ye be up betimes, for ye shall want nothing 
 that is needful." 
 
 Early on the morrow the same knight came to Sir 
 Tristram, and fetched him out of prison, with La Belle 
 Iseult, and brought him his own horse and armor, 
 and bade him make ready for the field, for all the 
 people of that lordship v/ere there ready to behold the 
 judgment and the battle. 
 
 Then came Sir Breunor, lord of Weeping Castle, 
 leading by the hand his lady, muffled, and he asked Sir 
 Tristram where his lady was. For the one who was 
 less fair must lose her head. 
 
 "Sir," said Tristram, "this is a foul and horrible 
 custom, and rather than my lady should lose her head, 
 I would more dearly lose my own.' 
 
 "Nay, nay," said Sir Breunor, "the ladies shall be 
 first shown together, and the one shall have her sen- 
 tence." 
 
 "Nay, I will not so," said Sir Tristram, "for here 
 is none who will give righteous judgment. But I 
 doubt not my lady is fairer than thine, and that will I 
 prove and make good with my hand. And whosoever 
 he be that will say the contrary, I will prove it on his 
 head." 
 
 And therewith Sir Tristram showed La Belle Iseult, 
 and turned her thrice about, holding his naked sword 
 in his hand. And Sir Breunor did the same with his 
 
184 KING AETHUR AND HIS kNIGHTS. 
 
 lady. But when Breunor saw La Belle Iseult he 
 thought he had never seen a lovelier lady. And all 
 the people who were there present gave judgment that 
 La Belle Iseult was the most beautiful. 
 
 "Truly," said Breunor, "thy lady is fairer than 
 mine, and for that I repent sorely. Now must my 
 lady be slain, and then I doubt not I shall slay thee, 
 and marry thy lady." 
 
 "Thou shalt win her as dear as ever knight won 
 lady," said Sir Tristram. 
 
 Then taking their horses, they rushed together like 
 thunder, and thus they fought furiously, hurling here 
 and there for nearly two hours, and both were sorely 
 wounded. But at last Sir Tristram thrust Sir Breunor 
 down grovelling, and killed him, and that was the end 
 of the cruel and mischievous knight. 
 
 All the people who belonged to the Castle there- 
 upon flocked to Tristram and did him homage and 
 fealty, praying him that he would abide there a while, 
 to do away with that evil custom. And to this Sir 
 Tristram granted assent. 
 
 THE DRINKING-HORN OF MORGAN LE FAY. 
 
 After they had set things right in Weeping Castle, 
 Sir Tristram and La Belle Iseult put to sea again, and 
 came to Cornwall, where all the Barons met them. 
 And King Mark and Iseult were richly wedded, with 
 great splendor. 
 
DEINKING-HORN OF MORGAN LE FAY. 185 
 
 But because of the magic draught which they had 
 drunk. Sir Tristram and La Belle Iseult ever loved each 
 other dearly, and all the days of his life Sir Tristram 
 was the true and faithful knight of Queen Iseult, and 
 ever ready to do her loyal service. 
 
 Once when she was carried away by his old enemy, 
 the Saracen knight, Palamides, and no one else at 
 Mark's Court was strong enough to rescue her, Sir 
 Tristram rode after them and set her free from the 
 tower where she was imprisoned, and would have 
 killed Sir Palamides if she had not begged him to 
 spare his life. For he had never been christened, and 
 she was loath that he should die a Saracen. For her 
 sake, Tristram gave up fighting, and instead of being- 
 killed, Sir Palamides was commanded to leave the 
 country, which he did, sorely against his will. 
 
 The pagan knight having departed in great heavi- 
 ness, Tristram took the Queen, and brought her again 
 to King Mark, and there was great joy at her home- 
 coming. Who was cherished but Sir Tristram ! 
 Thus for a long while all was joy and pleasure. 
 
 But at King Mark's Court was a near cousin of Sir 
 Tristram's, called Sir Andred, a spiteful and malicious 
 man. He envied and hated Sir Tristram, because the 
 latter was so gallant and noble a knight that every one 
 loved him. Sir Andred dared not quarrel with him 
 openly, but he lay always in watch to find him out in 
 some secret fault, so that he might slander him to his 
 
18G KING AETHUE AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 uncle. King Mark was only too eager to believe any 
 evil of Tristram, for he, too, was very jealous of his 
 nephew, and had never forgotten the old grudge he 
 bore him. 
 
 So it happened on a day Sir Tristram talked with 
 Queen Iseult, and Sir Andred espied them, and hoping 
 to make mischief, went and told the King. King Mark 
 came in a great rage, with his sword in his hand, and 
 called him "false traitor," and would have struck him. 
 But Tristram, being very near, ran under the sword, 
 and seized it from the King's hand. 
 
 "Where are my knights and my men?" cried the 
 King. "I charge you, slay this traitor !" 
 
 But not one of them would move. 
 
 Sir Tristram, seeing that not one would be against 
 him, made as though he would strike the King, where- 
 upon Mark fled. Then Tristram went his way, and 
 armed himself, and taking his horse and his man, rode 
 into the forest. 
 
 King Mark sent many knights after him, but Sir 
 Tristram killed two and wounded many more, and not 
 one of them could overcome him. Then King Mark 
 called his council, and asked advice of his Barons, what 
 it was best to do with Sir Tristram. 
 
 "Sir," said the Barons, and especially Sir Dinas, the 
 Seneschal, "we counsel you to send for Sir Tristram, 
 for we would have you know that many men will side 
 with Sir Tristram, if he is hard pressed. Ye sliall 
 
DEINKING-HOEN OF MOEQAN LE FAY. 187 
 
 understand, sir, that Tristram is called peerless and 
 matchless of any Christian knight, and of his might 
 and hardihood we know none so good a knight, unless 
 it be Sir Lancelot of the Lake. If he depart from your 
 Court, and go to King Arthur's Court, mark ye well, 
 he will find such friends there that he will care nothing 
 for your malice. Therefore, sir, we counsel you to 
 take him into your favor." 
 
 "I am willing that he be sent for, that we may be 
 friends," said the King. 
 
 Then the Barons sent for Sir Tristram, under a safe 
 conduct. When the knight came back to Court he 
 was made welcome; nothing was said about what had 
 happened, and there were sport and amusement; the 
 King and the Queen went out hunting, and Tristram 
 went with them. 
 
 About this time Morgan le Fay, the wicked sister 
 of King Arthur, sent a present to her brother. It was 
 a beautiful drinking-horn, mounted with gold, and it 
 was supposed to have some magic power, so that no 
 lady or gentlewoman could drink of it unless she truly 
 loved her husband; if she did not love him, then all 
 the liquid would be spilled. Because Morgan le Fay 
 hated Queen Guinevere, she had sent this horn to King 
 Arthur, hoping to work some mischief by her evil 
 spells. 
 
 The messenger who carried the horn happened to 
 meet a knight of King Mark's, called Sir Laraorak, 
 
188 KING AKTHUR AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 whom Sir Tristram had just defeated in some joust, 
 and who was longing to be revenged. Knowing King 
 Mark's hatred of Sir Tristram, and his jealousy be- 
 cause every one loved him, Sir Lamorak thought it 
 would be a good plan to seize the horn and send it to 
 King Mark, and make him try the trick on Queen 
 Iseult. He threatened to kill the messenger unless the 
 latter obeyed his command, and the enchanted horn 
 was therefore presented to King Mark. 
 
 The King made Queen Iseult drink out of it, and a 
 hundred, ladies of the Court, and only four among them 
 all could drink without spilling. Then in his rage the 
 cruel King swore an oath that Iseult and all the other 
 ladies should be burned to death. 
 
 But the Barons gathered themselves together and 
 said plainly they would not have those ladies burned 
 because of a horn made by sorcery, which came from 
 as wicked an enchantress as any then living. For that 
 horn never did any good, but always caused strife and 
 debate, and all her life Morgan le Fay had been an 
 enemy to all true and loving people. And many 
 knights declared that if ever they met with Morgan, 
 le Fay they would show her short courtesy. 
 
 Sir Tristram also was very angry that Sir Lamorak 
 had sent the horn to King Mark, for he knew well it 
 was meant to work him harm. 
 
ISBULT OF BRITTANY. 189 
 
 ISEULT OF BRITTANY. 
 
 Sir Andred, in the meanwhile, was always on the 
 watch to see how he cotild trap Sir Tristram, and at 
 last his opportunity came. One day, with twdve 
 knights, he fell on him secretly and suddenly, and 
 bound him hand and foot. Then by assent of King 
 Mark, Tristram was taken to a little chapel on the sea- 
 rocks, there to receive judgment, and he was led bound 
 between forty knights. 
 
 When he saw there was no escape, but that he must 
 needs die, then he said : 
 
 "Fair lords, remember what I have done for the 
 country of Cornwall, and what jeopardy I have been 
 in for the weal of you all. For at the time I fought 
 for the tribute of Cornwall against Sir Marhaus, when 
 ye all refused to take the battle, I was promised to be 
 better rewarded. Therefore as ye be good, gentle 
 knights, see me not thus shamefully die, for it is a 
 shame to all knighthood thus to treat me. For I dare 
 say that I never yet met with any knight, but I was 
 as good as he, or better." 
 
 "Fie upon thee," said Sir Andred, "false traitor 
 as thou art with thy vaunting ! For all thy boast thou 
 shalt die this day." * 
 
 "O Andred, Andred," said Sir Tristram, "thou 
 
100 KING AETHUE AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 shouldst be my kinsman, and now thou art to me full 
 unfriendly! But if 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 this threatening movement, 
 he looked at both his hands, which were fast bound to 
 two knights, and suddenly he pulled them to him, and 
 wrenched them free; then he leaped to his cousin 
 Andred, and wrested his sword out of his hand, and 
 smote him to the earth; and thus he fought tmtil he 
 had killed ten knights. Then he got inside the chapel, 
 and held it bravely. 
 
 But the outcry was great, and numbers of people — 
 more than a hundred — flocked quickly to Sir Andred. 
 When Sir Tristram saw the people draw near, he 
 remembered he was without armor, and making fast 
 the door of the chapel, he broke the bars of a window, 
 and so leaped otit, and fell upon the crags into the sea. 
 And at that time neither Sir Andred nor any of his 
 fellows could get at him. 
 
 In the meanwhile, Gouvernail and two of Sir 
 Tristram's men sought their master. When they 
 heard he had escaped, they were very glad, and on the 
 rocks they found him, and pulled him up. 
 
 Tristram asked where La Belle Iseult was, for he 
 thought Sir Andred's people had carried her away. 
 But Gouvernail replied that she had been shut up in 
 
ISEULT OF BRITTAHY. 191 
 
 a horrible little hut, kept apart for the use of sick 
 folk, ill of dangerous diseases. 
 
 "Alas!" said Sir Tristram, "this is a foul place 
 for such a fair lady, and if I may, she shall not be 
 long there," and so he went with his men, and fetched 
 away Queen Iseult, and brought her into a forest to 
 a fair Manor, where she abode, for she was afraid to 
 go back to her husband. King Mark. 
 
 One day Sir Tristram went into the forest for a 
 little sport, and it so happened that there he fell asleep. 
 And a certain man, whose brother Tristram had killed 
 some time before, came that way, and finding him 
 asleep, shot him through the shoulder with an arrow. 
 
 Meanwhile it had been told King Mark how Sir 
 Tristram had taken Queen Iseult out of the hut, and 
 placed her in the Manor, and as soon as the King 
 heeard of it, he came thither with many knights to slay 
 Sir Tristram. But he arrived when Tristram was ab- 
 sent in the forest, so he took La Belle Iseult home 
 with him, and afterwards kept her so closely shut up 
 that by no means in her power could she send word 
 to Tristram, nor he to her. 
 
 When Sir Tristram returned from the forest to the 
 old Manor he found the track of many horses, and 
 thereby he knew his lady was gone. Then he was 
 very sorrowful, and for a long time he endured great 
 pain, for the arrow with which he had been hurt was 
 envenomed. 
 
193 KING AETHUE AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 At last, through some lady who was a cousin to 
 Dame Bragwaine, Queen Iseult sent a message to Sir 
 Tristram. She told him he would by no means be 
 cured in Cornwall, for she was not able to help him. 
 Therefore she bade him haste into Brittany, to King 
 Howell, and there he would find the King's daughter, 
 Iseult of the White Hands, and she would help him. 
 
 So Sir Tristram and Gouvernail took ship, and 
 sailed to Brittany. King Howell was very glad when 
 he knew it was Sir Tristram of Lyonesse who had 
 come. Tristram said he had come to his country 
 to have help from his daughter, for it had been told 
 him that no one else could cure him. 
 
 And there, in a little while, Iseult of Brittany healed 
 Sir Tristram of his hurt. 
 
 Now it happened at that time in Brittany tiiere was 
 an earl called Grip, who made great war on King 
 Howell, and put him to the worse, and besieged him. 
 And once when Sir Kehydius, the King's son, issued 
 out, he was sorely wounded, nearly to death. 
 
 Gouvernail thereupon went to the King, and said : 
 
 "Sir, I counsel you to desire my lord, Sir Tristram, 
 to help you in your need." 
 
 "I will do as you counsel," said the King. So he 
 went to Sir Tristram, and prayed him to help him in 
 his wars, because his son Kehydius could not go into 
 the field. 
 
 "Sir," said Tristram, "I will go to the field, and 
 do what I can." 
 
ISEULT OF BEITTANY 193 
 
 He sallied forth from the town, with all the com- 
 pany he could collect, and did such deeds that all 
 Brittany spoke of him. And at the last, by great 
 force and might, he slew .with his own hands Earl 
 Grip, and riiany of his knights. 
 
 On his return to the town Sir Tristram was re- 
 ceived in high honor, with a procession. King 
 Howell embraced him, and said: 
 
 "Sir Tristram, all my kingdom I will resign to 
 thee." 
 
 "God forbid," said Sir Tristram, "for I am be- 
 holden to do what I can for you, for your daughter's 
 sake." 
 
 Then King Howell and his son Kehydius thought 
 how good it would be if Sir Tristram wedded Iseult 
 of the White Hands; a great liking grew up between 
 Tristram and Iseult, for that lady was both good and 
 fair, and a woman of noble blood and fame. And 
 because Sir Tristram had such cheer and riches, and 
 all other pleasantness, he almost for a time forgot La 
 Belle Iseult, who had loved him long ago. 
 
 So he agreed to wed Iseult of Brittany, and at last 
 they were wedded, and the marriage was held with 
 great solemnity and splendor. 
 
194 KING AETHUR AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 THE FOREST OF STRANGE ADVENTURES. 
 
 When Queen Iseult heard that Sir Tristram was 
 wedded to Iseult of Brittany, she sent him letters by 
 her maiden Bragwaine, saying that if it pleased Sir 
 Tristram to go to her Court and take with him Iseult 
 of the White Hands, they should be treated right well. 
 
 Sir Tristram did not think it well to take his wife 
 to Cornwall, for he knew not what might happen, 
 through the enmity of King Mark. But he called his 
 brother-in-law, Sir Kehydius, and asked him whether 
 he would go with him. He answered that he was 
 ready at all times. So a little vessel was quietly pre- 
 pared, and therein they went — Sir Tristram, 
 Kehydius, Dame Bragwaine and Gouvernail, Sir 
 Tristram's squire. 
 
 When they were at sea a contrary wind took them 
 on to the coast of North Wales, near the Castle Peril- 
 ous. Then Tristram said to Dame Bragwaine, "Wait 
 here for me ten days, and Gouvernail, my squire, shall 
 stay with you. And if so be I come not by the end 
 of that time, take the nearest way into Cornwall, 
 for in this forest are many strange adventures, I have 
 heard say, and some of them I intend to prove before 
 I depart. And when I can, I will hie after you." 
 
 Sir Tristram and Sir Kehydius took their horses, 
 
FOEEST OF STEANGE ADVENTUEES. 195 
 
 and left their companions, and rode through the forest 
 a mile and more. And there they came across a 
 knight-errant, with whom they jousted, but at the 
 first encounter Sir Kehydius got a fall, and was sorely 
 wounded. So Sir Tristram and the other knight, Sir 
 Lamorak of Wales, set him on a shield, and bore him 
 betwixt them to the lodge of a forester, to whom 
 they gave charge that Sir Kehydius was to be well 
 kept. After three days the other two knights took 
 their horses, and at the cross roads they parted. 
 
 As Sir Tristram rode on his way alone, he chanced 
 to meet Sir Kay, the Seneschal, that same knight who 
 had so spitefully treated Sir Gareth, son of King Lot 
 of Orkney, and nicknamed him "the Boy of the 
 Kitchen." Sir Kay asked Sir Tristram of what 
 country he was; the latter answered that he was of 
 the country of Cornwall. 
 
 "It may well be," said Sir Kay, sneeringly, "for 
 I never yet heard that ever good knight came out 
 of Cornwall." 
 
 "That is evil spoken," said Sir Tristram, "but I 
 require you to tell me your name." 
 
 "Sir, my name is Sir Kay, the Seneschal." 
 
 "Is that your name?" said Sir Tristram; "now wit 
 ye well that ye are called the shamefullest knight of 
 your tongue now living; howbeit, ye are called a 
 good knight, but unfortunate, and most spiteful with 
 your tongue." 
 
196 KING AETHUE AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 Thus they rode together till they came to a bridge, 
 and here stood a knight, who would not let them 
 pass till one of them jousted with him. So the knight 
 jousted with Sir Kay, and there he gave him a fall; 
 the knight's name was Sir Tor, half-brother to Sir 
 Lamorak, and they were the sons of Pellinore, with 
 whom King Arthur had once fought. 
 
 Then Sir Tristram and Sir Kay rode to their 
 lodging, where they, found another knight, named Sir 
 Brandiles, and Sir Tor came thither soon after. 
 
 As the four knights sat at supper three of them 
 spoke all shame of Cornish knights. Tristram heard 
 what they said, and he spoke but little, but he thought 
 the more, and he did not at that time reveal his 
 name. 
 
 On the morrow he took his horse, and went with 
 them. On the way Sir Brandiles proffered to joust 
 with him, and Sir Tristram smote him down, horse 
 and all, to the earth. Then Sir Tor encountered with 
 Sir Tristram, and Sir Tristram smote him, also, down. 
 Then he rode on alone; Sir Kay followed him, but 
 Tristram would not have his company. 
 
 "I would fain khow what is that knight's name," 
 said Sir Brandiles, coming up to Sir Kay. 
 
 "Come on with me," said Sir Kay, "and we will 
 pray him to tell us his name." 
 
 They rode together till they came near Tristram, 
 and saw where he sat by a well, and had put off his, 
 
FOREST OF STRANGE ADVENTURES. 197 
 
 Helm, to drink at the well. When he saw them come 
 he laced on his helm, and took his horse and prof- 
 fered them to joust. 
 
 "Nay," said Sir Brandiles, "we jousted late enough 
 with you, we come not with that intent. But we 
 come to require you of knighthood to tell us your 
 name." 
 
 "My fair knights, since that is your desire, and 
 to please you, ye shall know that my name is Tristram 
 of Lyonesse, nephew to King Mark of Cornwall." 
 
 "In good time, and ye are well found!" said Sir 
 Brandiles. "Wit ye well that we are right glad we 
 have found you, and we are of a fellowship that would 
 be right glad of your company. For ye are the knight 
 in the world whom the foUowship of the Round Table 
 most desireth." 
 
 "I thank them for their great goodness," said Sir 
 Tristram, "but as yet I feel I am unable to be of their 
 fellowship. For I was never of such deeds of worthi- 
 ness to be in the company of such a fellowship." 
 
 "Ah," said Sir Kay, "if ye be Sir Tristram of 
 Lyonesse, ye are the man now called most of prowess, 
 except Sir Lancelot of the Lake. For that man is 
 not alive, either Christian or heathen, who can find 
 such another knight, to speak of his prowess, and his 
 hands, and his truth withdal. For never yet could 
 any one say of him dishonor, and make it good." 
 
 Thus they talked a great while, and then they 
 
19S KING ARTHUE AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 departed one from another, such ways as seemed best 
 to them. 
 
 Now about this time a wicked enchantress called 
 the Lady Anna, by fair words and artful cunning 
 enticed King Arthur to ride with her into the Forest 
 Perilous; she was a great sorceress, and had loved 
 King Arthur many days, and therefore she came into 
 that country. When King Arthur had gone with 
 her, and his knights missed him, many of them fol- 
 lowed after him, such as Sir Lancelot, Brandiles and 
 others. 
 
 The sorceress took King Arthur to her tower, and 
 hoped to win his love, but the King remembered his 
 own lady, Queen Guinevere, and would not love the 
 enchantress for any craft she could do. Then every 
 day she made him ride into the forest with his own 
 knights, with the intent of having him slain. For 
 when this Lady Anna could not have her will she 
 labored by false means to have King Arthur destroyed 
 and slain. 
 
 But the Lady of the Lake, — whose name was 
 Nimue — who was always friendly to King Arthur, 
 discovered by her subtle craft that the King was in 
 great danger, and therefore she came into the Forest 
 Perilous, to seek after Sir Lancelot or Sir Tristram, to 
 help King Arthur. For on that same day the Lady J 
 of the Lake knew well King Arthur would be slain, 
 unless she had help of one of these two knights. 
 
FOEEST OF STRANGE ADVENTURES. 199 
 
 Thus she rode up and down until she met with Sir 
 Tristram, and as soon as she saw him, she knew him. 
 
 "Oh, my lord Sir Tristram," she said, "well are ye 
 met, and blessed be the time 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." 
 
 "Oh, fair damsel," said Sir Tristram, "may I 
 amend it?" 
 
 "Come on with me," she said, "and that with all 
 the haste ye may, for ye shall see the most worshipful 
 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 than the noble 
 King Arthur himself," said the Lady of the Lake. 
 
 "God forbid that ever he should be in such distress," 
 said Sir Tristram. 
 
 They rode together a great pace, until they came 
 to a little turret or castle, and underneath that castle 
 they saw a knight standing on foot, fighting with 
 two knights. Sir Tristram watched them, and at last 
 saw the two knights smite down the one knight, and 
 one of them unlace his helm to slay him. And the 
 Lady Anna got King Arthur's sword in her hand, to 
 strike off his head. 
 
 Therewith Sir Tristram rushed forward with all 
 his might, crying, "Traitress, traitress, leave that!" 
 and he quickly smote one knight after the other, so 
 that both fell dead. 
 
200 KllSra AETHUR AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 In the meanwhile the Lady of the Lake cried to 
 King Arthur, "Let not that false lady escape!" and 
 King Arthur overtook the wicked sorceress, and with 
 the same sword she held in her hand he smote off her 
 head. 
 
 Sir Tristram set King Arthur on horseback, and 
 rode forth with him, but he charged the Lady of the 
 Lake not to reveal his name at that time. When the 
 King was mounted he thanked Sir Tristram heartily, 
 and desired to know his name, but Tristram would not 
 tell him, except that he was a poor knight adventurous. 
 And so he bore the King company until he met with 
 some of his own knights. 
 
 Within a mile they met with Sir Ector de Maris, 
 who did not know either King Arthur or Sir Tristram, 
 and desired to joust with one of them. Sir Tristram 
 accepted his offer, and at once smote him from his 
 horse. Having done so, he came again to the King, 
 and said : 
 
 "My lord, yonder is one of your knights, he can 
 bear you fellowship; and another day, by that deed 
 which I have done for you, I trust ye will understand 
 that I would do you service." 
 
 "Alas," said King Arthur^ "let me know whom 
 you are." 
 
 "Not at this time," said Sir Tristram. 
 
 So he departed, and left King Arthur and Sir Ector 
 together. 
 
THE WILD MAN OF THE WOODS. 201 
 
 THE WILD MAN OF THE WOODS. 
 
 On a day appointed, Sir Tristram went back to the 
 for^st^r's lodge where Sir Kehydius had been left to 
 get well of his wounds, and they rode to the ship 
 where Dame Bragwaine.and Gouvernail were waiting 
 for them, and so they sailed all together to Cornwall. 
 
 Queen Iseult rejoiced more than tongue can tell to 
 see Sir Tristram again, but Tristram could not remain 
 in the Castle of Tintagel, for King Mark still hated 
 him, and would have slain him if he could. So taking 
 his horse and armor he rode away into the forest, 
 and there for many days he dwelt in loneliness and 
 bitter sorrow. No one knew what had become of 
 him. A damsel from the Court went out to seek him, 
 but nothing she could say or do would give him any 
 comfort, nor would he eat any meat or drink when she 
 brought it him. Then in his wanderings it happened 
 that he came near the same Castle where he and Sir 
 Palamides did battle when La Belle Iseult parted them. 
 And the damsel went to the Lady of the Castle, and 
 told her of the misadventure of Sir Tristram. 
 
 "Alas," said the lady, "where is my lord Sir 
 Tristram?" 
 
 "Right here by your Castle," said the damsel. 
 
 "In good time is he so nigh me," said the lady, 
 "he shall have meat and drink of the best, and a harp 
 
302 KIKG AETHUE AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 I have of his whereon he taught me, — for of goodly 
 harphig he beareth the prize in the world." 
 
 So this lady and the damsel brought Tristram meat 
 and drink, but he ate little thereof. He put his horse 
 from him, and unlaced his armor, and then he wan- 
 dered away into the wildest parts of the wood ; some- 
 times he burst down trees and boughs, and at other 
 times when he found the harp which the lady sent him, 
 then he would play thereon, and weep. And some- 
 times when Sir Tristram was in the wood, and the 
 lady of the Castle knew not where he was, she would 
 sit down and play upon the harp; then would Sir 
 Tristram come and hearken to it, and sometimes he 
 would harp himself. 
 
 Thus he endured for several months, but in the 
 end he ran away and she knew not what became of 
 him. 
 
 Now came a sad time for poor Sir Tristram. He 
 sorrowed so deeply and was so long in the lonely forest 
 that his mind quite went, and he lost all memory of 
 knightly things. His clothes fell off in tatters, and he 
 waxed lean and poor of flesh : and so he fell into the 
 company of herdsmen and shepherds, and daily they 
 would give him of their meat and drink, and they 
 clipped him with shears, and treated him like a fool. 
 
 But although he had lost his mind, he was still 
 brave in spirit, and strong in body. Once when his 
 friends, the herdsmen were threatened by Sir Dagonet, 
 
THE WILD MAN OF THE WOODS. 203 
 
 King Arthur's fool, and two squires, Sir Tristram ran 
 to their help, overthrew Dagonet, killed one of the 
 squires, and drove the other away. 
 
 In the meanwhile, his wicked cousin Sir Andred 
 caused it to be noised abroad that Sir Tristram was 
 dead. He got some lady to tell a false tale at King 
 Mark's Court, that she was with Sir Tristram when he 
 died, that she had buried him by a well, and that 
 before he died he besought King Mark to make his 
 cousin Sir Andred King of the country of Lyonesse, of 
 which Sir Tristram was lord. All this ^^Sir Andred 
 did because he wanted to have Sir Tristram's lands. 
 
 King Mark wept and pretended to make great 
 lamentation when he heard that Sir Tristram was 
 dead. But when these tidings reached Queen Iseult 
 she made such sorrow that she was almost out of her 
 mind; she fell ill of grief, and lay for a long time 
 sick nearly to the point of death. 
 
 Now in that country there was a giant called Tau- 
 leas. From fear of Tristram, for more than seven 
 years he never dared go much at large, but for the 
 most part kept in a strong Castle of his own. But 
 when Tauleas heard from the report at Mark's Court 
 that Tristram was dead, then he went out daily. So 
 it happened one morning he came across the herdsmen, 
 wandering and lingering round a well in the forest, 
 and sat himself down to rest among them. 
 
204 KING AKTHUE AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 While he was there, up came a knight of Cornwall, 
 called Sir Dinant, leading with him a lady. The giant 
 seeing him, went from the herdsmen, and hid himself 
 under a tree; and the knight came to the well, and 
 there he alighted to rest. 
 
 As soon as he was away from his horse, the giant 
 Tauleas came betwixt this knight and his horse, and 
 took the horse and leaped on it. Then he rode at Sir 
 Dinant, and seizing him by the collar, pulled him up 
 before him, and would have stricken off his head. 
 
 "Help yonder knight!" cried the herdsmen to Sir 
 Tristram. 
 
 "Help him yourselves!" said Tristram. 
 
 "We dare not," said the herdsmen. 
 
 Then Tristram saw the sword of the knight where 
 it lay on the ground, and he ran and took it up, and 
 struck off the head of the giant, and so went his way 
 back to the herdsmen again. 
 
 Sir Dinant on his return to Court told King Mark 
 of the adventure that had betided him in the forest, 
 and how a wild man had rescued him from the grim 
 giant Tauleas. 
 
 "Where had you this adventure?" asked King 
 Mark. 
 
 "At the fair fountain in your forest where many 
 adventurous knights meet," Said Sir Dinant, "and 
 there is the madman." 
 
 "Well," said King Mark, "I will see that wild man." 
 
THE WILD MAN OF THE WOODS. 205 
 
 So within a day or two King Mark commanded his 
 knights and his huntsmen that they should be ready the 
 next morning to hunt, and on the morrow he went into 
 the forest. And when he came to the well he found 
 there, lying asleep, a comely man, with a sword by him. 
 The King commanded his knights to take him up 
 gently, and bring him to the Castle of Tintagel, which 
 they did. And there they bathed him and washed 
 him, and gave him hot food, so that presently Sir 
 Tristram quite recovered his lost memory. 
 
 But all this while there was not a creature who 
 knew Sir Tristram, nor what man he was. 
 
 It fell on a day that the Queen, La Belle Iseult, 
 heard of the wild man of the forest, and how the King 
 had brought him home to the Court. Then Queen 
 Iseult called Dame Bragwaine to her, and said, "Come 
 with me, for I will go see this man whom my lord 
 brought from the forest." So they passed forth, and 
 asked where was the sick man. A squire told the 
 Queen that he was in the garden taking his rest, 
 reposing in the sun. 
 
 When the Queen looked at Sir Tristram, she did not 
 remember him, but still she kept saying to Bragwaine, 
 "It seems I must have seen him before now in many 
 places." 
 
 But as soon as Sir Tristram saw Iseult, he knew her 
 well enough, and he turned away his face and wept. 
 
 Now the Queen had always a little dog with her. 
 
20G KING ARTHUR AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 that Sir Tristram gave her the first time she ever came 
 into Cornwall, and never would the little dog leave her 
 unless Sir Tristram himself were also near. 
 
 As soon as this little dog came near Tristram, she 
 leaped upon him, and licked his cheeks and his ears, 
 and whined and jumped about all over him. 
 
 "Ah, my lady!" said Dame Bragwaine to La Belle 
 Iseult. 
 
 "Alas, alas!" cried the Queen, "I see it is mine own 
 lord Sir Tristram!" and thereupon she fell down 
 in a swoon, and lay senseless for a long time, for she 
 was startled to see Tristram alive, after so long believ- 
 ing him to be dead. By and by, when she could speak, 
 she said, "My lord Sir Tristram, blessed be God ye 
 have your life ! Now I am sure ye will be discovered 
 by means of this little dog, for she will never leave you ; 
 and also I am sure that as soon as my lord King Mark 
 knows you, he will banish you out of the country of 
 Cornwall, or else he will destroy you. Therefore 
 grant King Mark his will, and go you to the Court of 
 King Arthur, for there ye are beloved. And whenever 
 I can, I shall send unto you, and when you like, you 
 can come to see me, and at all times early and late I 
 will be at your command to live as poor a life as ever 
 did Queen or lady." 
 
 "Oh, madam," cried Sir Tristram, his heart torn 
 with grief and pity, "leave me, I pray, for much anger 
 and danger have I endured for your sake." 
 
"POE LOVE OF SIR LANCELOT!'' 30f 
 
 Then the Queen departed, but the httle dog would 
 not leave him. 
 
 "FOR LOVE OF SIR LANCELOT." 
 
 Soon after Queen Iseult had departed, came King 
 Mark, and the little dog set upon him, and bayed at 
 them all. "Sir, this is Sir Tristram, I see by the dog," 
 spoke Sir Andred. 
 
 "Nay," said the King, "I cannot suppose that," and 
 he asked Tristram to tell him faithfully who he was, 
 and what was his name. 
 
 "Truly," said the knight, "my name is Sir Tristram 
 of Lyonesse; now do to me what you please." 
 
 "Ah," said King Mark, "I am sorry for your recov- 
 ery." And he had his Barons summoned, to judge 
 him to death. 
 
 Many of the Barons would not consent to that, so 
 by the advice of them all. Sir Tristram was banished 
 out of the country for ten years. Thus he was made 
 to depart out of Cornwall, and many Barons went with 
 him to his ship, of whom some were his friends, and 
 some his foes. 
 
 In the meanwhile, arrived a knight of King 
 Arthur's, whose name was Dinadan, and his coming 
 was to seek after Sir Tristram. Then they showed 
 him where Tristram was armed at all points, ready to 
 start for the ship. 
 
208 KING ARTHUR AND HIS KNIGHTS, 
 
 "Now, fair knight," said Dinadan, "before you 
 pass from this Court, I challenge you to joust with 
 me." 
 
 "With a good will," said Tristram, "if these lords 
 will give me leave." 
 
 The Barons granted it, and so the knights charged 
 at each other, and there Sir Tristram gave Sir Dinadan 
 a fall. Then Dinadan begged leave to go with him. 
 
 "Ye shall be right welcome," said Sir Tristram. So 
 they took their horses, and rode to their ships together. 
 
 When Sir Tristram was on his ship, he turned and 
 spoke to the Barons who had gone with him. 
 
 "Greet well King Mark and all mine ertemies," he 
 said, "and tell them I will come again when I can. 
 And well am I rewarded for the fighting with Sir 
 Marhaus, and delivering all this country from serf- 
 dom; and well am I rewarded for the fetching of La 
 Belle Iseult out of Ireland, and the danger that I was 
 in, first and last, and on the way coming home, the 
 peril I had to save Queen Iseult from Weeping Castle ! 
 And well am I rewarded when I fought with Sir 
 Blamor de Ganis for King Anguish, father of La Belle 
 Iseult. And well am I rewarded when I smote down 
 the good knight Sir Lamorak of Wales at King Mark's 
 request ! And well am I rewarded when I fought with 
 the King of the Hundred Knights, and the King of 
 North Wales, both of whom would have put his land in 
 serfdom, and by me they were put to rebuke. And 
 
"FOE LOVE OF SIE LANCELOT!" 209 
 
 well am I rewarded for the slaying of Tauleas, the 
 mighty giant ! And many more deeds have I done for 
 him, and now have I my recompense! — Tell King 
 Mark that many noble knights of the Round Table 
 have spared the Barons of this country for my sake. 
 Also am I not well rewarded when I fought with the 
 good knight Sir Palamides, and rescued Queen Iseult 
 from him? And at that time King Mark said before 
 all his Barons I should have been better rewarded." 
 
 And forthwith Sir Tristram set out to sea. 
 
 At the next landing, near the sea, Sir Tristram and 
 Sir Dinadan met with two knights, Sir Ector de Maris 
 and Sir Bors de Ganis, who challenged them to a trial 
 of strength. Sir Ector jousted with Sir Dinadan and 
 smote him and his horse down, and Sir Tristram 
 would have jousted with Sir Bors, but Sir Bors said 
 he would joust with no Cornish knights, for they are 
 not called men of honor. 
 
 Just then up came two more knights, one of whom. 
 Sir Bleoberis, proffered to joust with Sir Tristram, 
 who immediately vanquished him with ease. 
 
 Then said Sir Bors de Ganis, "I never knew Cornish 
 knight of so great valor, nor so valiant, as that knight 
 who beareth the trappings embroidered with crowns." 
 
 After this. Sir Tristram and Sir Dinadan left them 
 and rode into a forest, and here a damsel met them, who 
 came for the love of Sir Lancelot to seek after some 
 noble knights of King" Arthur's Court, to rescue Sir 
 
310 KING AETHUR AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 Lancelot. For Queen Morgan le Fay, the wicked 
 sorceress, had resolved by treachery to slay Sir Lan- 
 celot, and for that cause she ordained thirty knights to 
 lie in wait for him. This damsel knew of the treach- 
 ery, and this was the reason she came to seek noble 
 knights to help Sir Lancelot. For that night, or 
 the day after, Sir Lancelot would come where those 
 thirty knights were. 
 
 The damsel met first Sir Bors, Sir Bleoberis, Sir 
 Ector, and Sir Driant, and she told them all four of 
 the treason of Morgan le Fay. They promised her 
 that they would be near where Sir Lancelot should 
 meet with the thirty knights, and if so be these set on 
 him, they would rescue him as well as they could. 
 After leaving the four knights the damsel by chance 
 met Sir Tristram and Sir Dinadan, and these also she 
 told of all the treachery that was ordained for Sir 
 Lancelot. 
 
 "Fair damsel," said Sir Tristram, "lead me to the 
 place where they expect to meet with Sir Lancelot." 
 
 "What will ye do?" said Sir Dinadan. "It is not 
 for us to fight with thirty knights, and wit ye well, I 
 will not do so. To match one knight, two or three are 
 enough, if they be men. But to match fifteen knights 
 that will I never undertake." 
 
 "Fie, for shame," said Sir Tristram, "do but your 
 part." 
 
 "Nay," said Dinadan, "I will not do so unless you 
 
TOE LOVE OF SIE LANCELOT!" 
 
 ail 
 
 will lend me your shield; for ye bear a shield of Corn- 
 wall, and because of the cowardice that is named to 
 the knights of Cornwall, by your shields ye are ever 
 avoided." 
 
 "Nay, I will not part from my shield, for her sake 
 who gave it me," said Tristram. "But one thing I 
 promise thee. Sir Dinadan, if thou abide not with me, 
 I shall slay thee here. For I desire no more of thee 
 
ai2 KING AETHTJE AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 but to answer one knight, and if thy heart will not 
 serve thee, stand by, and look upon me and them." 
 
 "Sir," said the cowardly Dinadan, "I promise you 
 to look on, and do what I can to save myself, but I 
 wish I had not met with you." 
 
 Soon after, the thirty knights drew near the four 
 knights, and they were all aware of each other. But 
 the thirty knights let the four knights pass, in case they 
 too, had been ordered to attack Sir Lancelot; and the 
 four knights let the thirty knights pass, with the inten- 
 tion of seeing what they would do with Sir Lancelot. 
 
 So the thirty knights passed on, and came up to Sir 
 Tristram and Sir Dinadan. And as they drew near 
 Sir Tristram cried aloud : 
 
 "Lo, here is a knight against you for the love of 
 Sir Lancelot 1" 
 
 And there he slew two with one spear, and ten with 
 his sword ; and then Sir Dinadan, plucking up courage, 
 rushed into the fray, and did passing well. 
 
 So of the thirty knights there went but ten away, 
 and these fled. 
 
 Sir Bors de Ganis and his three companions watched 
 this battle, and they saw well it was the same knight 
 who had jousted with them near the sea. Then they 
 took their horses, and rode to Sir Tristram, and 
 praised him, and thanked him for his good deeds ; and 
 they all wanted Sir Tristram to go with them to their 
 lodgings. 
 
FALSE TREASON OF MORGAN LE FAY. 213 
 
 But he said nay, he would go to no lodging. 
 
 Then all the four knights prayed him to tell them 
 his name. 
 
 "Fair lords," said Tristram, "I will not tell you my 
 name at present." 
 
 THE FALSE TREASON OF MORGAN LE FAY. 
 
 Sir Tristram and Sir Dinadan continued on their 
 way, and as they went they had many adventures. 
 But Sir Dinadan lamented all the while that ever he fell 
 into Sir Tristram's company. For every knight they 
 met wanted to joust with them, and Sir Dinadan liked 
 not so much fighting, and moreover he had many falls. 
 
 "Ye fare as a madman," he said to Sir Tristram, 
 "and as a man who is out of his mind, who would cast 
 himself away; I could curse the time that ever I saw 
 you. For in all the world there are not two knights 
 that are so mad as Sir Lancelot and you. For once I 
 fell into the fellowship of Sir Lancelot, as I have now 
 done with you, and he set me such a work that I kept 
 my bed a quarter of a year. Defend me from two such 
 knights, and especially from your companionship!" 
 
 They found lodging that night with a good man 
 in a priory, where they were well treated. On the 
 morrow Sir Tristram departed, leaving Sir Dinadan in 
 the prio-ry, for the latter was so weary and so sorely 
 
S14 KING ARTHUE AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 bruised that he could not ride. The next day Sir 
 Tristram met with messengers, and they told him there 
 was great proclamation made of a tournament between 
 King Carados of Scotland and the King of North 
 Wales, and that they were to joust against each other 
 at the Castle of Maidens. These messengers were 
 searching all the country after good knights, and in 
 especial King Carados was seeking for Sir Lancelot, 
 and the King of North Wales was seeking for Sir 
 Tristram of Lyonesse. 
 
 So Sir Tristram thought he would be at that 
 tournament. 
 
 The same day he met with a damsel, who told him 
 he should win great renown from a knight adventur- 
 ous, who did much harm in all that country. When 
 Sir Tristi-am heard her say so, he was glad to go with 
 her, to win honor. They had ridden about six miles 
 when Sir Gawaine met them. He knew the damsel 
 immediately, that she was one of the ladies of the 
 wicked Queen, Morgan le Fay. 
 
 "Fair knight," said Sir Gawaine, "whither ride 
 you now with that damsel?" 
 
 "Sir," said ^Tristram, "I know not whither I shall 
 ride, only as the damsel shall lead me." 
 
 "Sir," said Gawaine, "ye shall not ride wih her, 
 for she and her lady never did good, but ill." f Then 
 pulling out his sword, he said, "Damsel, unless thou 
 tell me quickly for what cause thou leadest thist knight 
 
FALSE TEEASOX OF MOEGAN LE FAY. 315 
 
 with you, thou shalt die for it at once. I know all 
 your lady's treason and yours." 
 
 "Mercy, Sir Gawaine!" she cried, "and if ye will 
 save my life, I will tell you." 
 
 "Say on, and thou shalt have thy life," said 
 Gawaine. 
 
 "Sir, Queen Morgan le Fay, my lady, hath ordained 
 thirty ladies to. seek and spy after Sir Lancelot or Sir 
 Tristram, and by a plot with these ladies, whoever first 
 meets with either of these two knights, they shall turn 
 them to Morgan le Fay's Castle, saying they shall do 
 deeds of worship. And if either of these two knights 
 comes there, there are thirty knights lying and watching 
 in a tower, to wait for Sir Lancelot or Sir Tristram." 
 
 "Fie for shame," said Sir Gawaine, "that ever such 
 false treason should be wrought or used by a Queen, — 
 a King's sister, and the daughter of a King and 
 Queen." 
 
 Then Sir Gawaine and Sir Tristram agreed to ride 
 to the Castle where Morgan le Fay was, and to defy 
 the malice of the thirty knights. And Sir Gawaine 
 kept on thinking that his companion must certainly be 
 Tristram of Lyonesse, for he had heard tell how two 
 knights had slain and beaten thirty knights. 
 
 When they came before the Castle Sir Gawaine cried 
 out in a high voice : 
 
 "Queen Morgan le Fay, send out your knights 
 Nwhom ye have laid to watch for Sir Lancelot and Sir 
 
216 KING AETHUE AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 Tristram! Now I know your false treason and 
 through all places where I ride men shall know of your 
 false treason. And now, ye thirty knights, let Sir 
 Gawaine see if ye dare come out of your Castle !" 
 
 Then the Queen and all the thirty knights spoke at 
 once, and said : 
 
 "Sir Gawaine, full well thou knowest what thou 
 dost, and sayest, for we know thee passing well. But 
 all that thou speakest and dost, thou sayest it from 
 pride of that good knight who is there with thee. For 
 there be some of us who know full well the hands of 
 that knight, and wit ye well. Sir Gawaine, it is more 
 for his sake than for thine that we will not come out of 
 this Castle. As for that knight who beareth the arms 
 of Cornwall, we know him and what he is." 
 
 Finding that Queen Morgan le Fay and her thirty 
 knights were too cowardly to face them openly. Sir 
 Gawaine and Sir Tristram departed from the Castle, 
 and rode on their travels a day or two together. 
 
 They had not gone far before they saw a cruel 
 knight chasing a lady to slay her, for he had already 
 slain her lover. His name was called "Sir Breuse 
 Without Pity." 
 
 "Hold still," said Sir Gawaine, "and do not show 
 forth, and ye shall see me reward yonder false knight. 
 For if he espy you, he is so well horsed that he will 
 escape away." 
 
 Then Sir Gawaine rode between Sir Breuse and the 
 
FALSE TEEASON OP MOEGAN LE FAY. 217 
 
 lady, calling out, "False knight, leave her, and deal 
 with me !" 
 
 Sir Breuse, seeing no one but Sir Gawaine, levelled 
 his spear, and Sir Gawaine did the same, and there Sir 
 Breuse overthrew Sir Gawaine; then as the knight lay- 
 on the ground he rode over and across him several 
 times, to destroy him. When Sir Tristram saw him 
 do so villainous a deed he hurled out against him. 
 
 As soon as Sir Breuse saw the shield of Cornwall, 
 he knew well it was Sir Tristram, and away he 
 fled, with Sir Tristram after him. Sir Breuse had so 
 good a horse that he got quite away, but Tristram fol- 
 lowed him for a long time, for he would fain have been 
 avenged on him. 
 
 After chasing him some way, he saw a fair well, and 
 thither he rode to rest. Alighting from his horse, he 
 tied him to a tree, and pulling off his helm, he washed 
 his face and hands, and presently he fell asleep. 
 
 In the meanwhile came a damsel who had sought 
 Sir Tristram many days a,nd many ways in that coun- 
 try. When she came to the well she looked at the 
 sleeping knight, but she would not have remembered 
 him for Sir Tristram, if it had not been for his horse, 
 "Passe-Brewel." By this she knew him; for when he 
 was mad in the forest, Sir Fergus, a knight of King 
 Mark's Court, took care of the horse, and there this 
 lady, who was no other than Dame Bragwaine, had 
 often seen him. 
 
218 KING AETHUE AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 Dame Bragwaine stayed still until Tristram awoke, 
 and then she saluted him, and he her again, for they 
 were of old acquaintance. She told him how she had 
 
 sought him far and wide, and how she had letters from 
 Queen Iseult of Cornwall. Tristram read them at 
 once, and very glad he was to have them. 
 
 "Lady Bragwaine," he said, "ye shall rjde with me 
 
AT THE CASTLE OF MAIDENS. 219 
 
 till that tournament at the Castle of Maidens is over; 
 and then ye shall bear letters and tidings back to 
 Queen Iseult." 
 
 AT THE CASTLE OF MAIDENS. 
 
 On the first day of the great tournament at the 
 Castle of Maidens Sir Tristram did so gallantly and 
 overthrew so many knights that King Arthur and all 
 the Kings and lords who were judges gave him the 
 prize, although they knew him not, but named him the 
 "Knight with the Black Shield." 
 
 On the morrow, Sir Palamides, who had been fight- 
 ing for the King of North Wales, left him, and rode to 
 King Arthur's side, where was King Carados, and the 
 King of Ireland, and Sir Lancelot's kin, and Sir 
 Gawaine's kin. And the better to disguise themselves, 
 Sir Lancelot and thirty-two knights of his blood had 
 assumed shields of Cornwall. Sir Palamides sent a 
 damsel as messenger to Sir Tristram to ask who he 
 was, and what was his name. 
 
 "As to that," said Sir Tristram, "tell Sir Palamides 
 he shall not know at this time, nor until I have broken 
 two spears on him. But tell him plainly that side on 
 which he is, I will be on the contrary side." 
 
 "Sir," said the damsel, "ye shall understand that 
 Sir Palamides will be on King Arthur's side, where the 
 inost noble kni^^hts of the world be," 
 
220 KING AETHUE AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 "Then," said Sir Tristram, "I will be with the King 
 of North Wales, because Sir Palamides in on King 
 Arthur's side, else I would not be so, except for his 
 sake." 
 
 When King Arthur came, the trumpets blew for the 
 field, and then began a great fight; King Carados 
 jousted with the King of North Wales, and there had 
 a fall, whereupon other knights of King Arthur's 
 
AT THE CASTLE OF MAIDENS. 231 
 
 immediately rushed in, and beat back the knights of 
 the King of North Wales. Then Sir Tristram rode 
 in, and began so roughly and so hugely that no one 
 could withstand him, and thus he kept on' for a long 
 time. But at the last Tristram fell among the com- 
 pany of King Ban, and was attacked by Sir Bors de 
 Ganis, Sir Ector de Maris, Sir Blamor de Ganis, and 
 many other knights. Sir Tristram smote on the right 
 hand, and on the left hand, so that all lords and ladies 
 spoke of his noble deeds. But in the end he would 
 have had the worse, had it not been for the King with 
 the Hundred Knights, who came with his followers, 
 and rescued Sir Tristram, and carried him away from 
 those knights who bore the shields of Cornwall. 
 
 After this. Sir Tristram saw another troop by them- 
 selves, about forty knights together, and Sir Kay, the 
 Seneschal, was their governor. Sir Tristram rode in 
 amongst them, and smote down Sir Kay from his 
 horse, and there he fared among those knights like a 
 greyhound among conies. 
 
 Sir Lancelot, meanwhile, found a knight who was 
 sorely wounded on the head; he asked him who had 
 done it. 
 
 "Sir," he said, "a knight who beareth a black shield. 
 I could curse the time that ever I met with him, for he 
 is a devil, and no man." 
 
 Sir Lancelot left him, and hoping to meet with Sir 
 Tristram, he rode seeking him, with his sword drawp 
 
322 KING AETHUE AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 in his hand; at last he espied him, how he hurled here 
 and there, and at every stroke Sir Tristram well-nigh 
 smote down a knight. 
 
 "Oh, mercy," said King Arthur, "since the time I 
 bore arms, I never saw knight do such marvellous 
 deeds of valor." 
 
 "And if I should assail this knight," said Sir 
 Lancelot to himself, "I should shame myself," and 
 therewith he put up his sword. 
 
 The King with a Hundred Knights, and a hundred 
 more men of North Wales, now set upon twenty of Sir 
 Lancelot's kin, and those twenty knights held ever 
 together, and none would fail the other. When Sir 
 Tristram saw the noblesse of these twenty knights he 
 marvelled at their good deeds, for he saw by their 
 bearing and conduct that they would rather die than 
 yield the field. 
 
 "Now," said Sir Tristram, "well may he be valiant 
 and full of prowess that hath such noble knights for 
 his kin, and full like is he to be a noble man who is 
 their leader and governor!" He meant by this, Sir 
 Lancelot of the Lake. 
 
 After Sir Tristram had watched them for a long 
 time, he thought it shame to see two hundred knights 
 battering upon twenty knights, so he rode to the King 
 of North Wales and said : 
 
 "Sir, leave your fighting with those twenty knights, 
 for ye win no renown from them, ye be' so many, and 
 
AT THE CASTLE OF MAIDENS. 223 
 
 they be so few ; and wit ye well they will not leave the 
 field, I see by their cheer and countenance ; and honor 
 ye get none, if ye slay them. Therefore leave your 
 fighting with them, for I, to increase my honor, will 
 ride to the twenty knights and help them with all my 
 might and power." 
 
 "Nay," said the King of North Wales, "ye shall 
 not do so. Now that I see your courage and courtesy, 
 to please you I will withdraw my knights, for ever- 
 more a good knight will favor another, and like will 
 draw to like." 
 
 Then the King of North Wales withdrew his 
 knights. 
 
 All this while and long before, Sir Lancelot had 
 watched Sir Tristram with the very purpose of having 
 fellowship with him. But suddenly Sir Tristram, Sir 
 Dinadan, and Gouvernail his man rode their way into 
 the forest, so that no man perceived where they went. 
 
 Then King Arthur blew for the fighting to cease, 
 and gave the King of North Wales the prize, because 
 Sir Tristram was on his side. Sir Lancelot rode here 
 and there like a raging lion, because he had lost Sir 
 Tristram, but he had to return without him to King 
 Arthur. Then in all the field there was a noise that 
 with the wind might have been heard two miles off, 
 how the lords and ladies cried : 
 
 "The Knight with the Black Shield has won the 
 field'" 
 
234 KING AETHUR AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 "Alas," said King Arthur, "what has become of 
 that knight ? 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." 
 
 Afterwards the noble King Arthur went to his 
 knights and comforted them in the best way he could 
 for having been defeated that day. Many we're hurt 
 and sore wounded, but many also were unhurt. 
 
 "My brave knights," he said, "be not dismayed, 
 even although ye have lost the field this day. Look 
 that ye be of good cheer, for to-morrow I will be in the 
 field with you, and revenge you of your enemies." 
 
 THE THIRD DAY OF THE TOURNAMENT. 
 
 Then on the morrow the trumpets blew to the 
 tournament for the third day. 
 
 The King of North Wales, and the King with the 
 Hundred Knights, 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 Wales smote down the King of 
 Ireland. Sir Palamides came at once to the help of 
 the fallen knights, and made great work, for by his 
 indented shield he was well known. Then King 
 Arthur joined him, and did great deeds of arms, and 
 put the King of North Wales and the King of the 
 
THIRt) DAY OF THE TOIJRXAMENT. 235 
 
 Hundred Knights to the worse. But Sir Tristram 
 with his black shield came to their help, and quickly he 
 jousted with Sir Palamides, and there by fine force he 
 smote Sir Palamides over his horse's croup. 
 
 Then cried King Arthur, "Knight with the Black 
 Shield, make thee ready to me !" and in the same wise 
 Sir Tristram smote King Arthur. 
 
 By force of Arthur's knights, the King and Sir 
 Palamides were horsed again, and the King with an 
 eager heart, seizing a spear, smote Sir Tristram from 
 one side over his horse. Hot-foot, from the other 
 side. Sir Palamides came upon Sir Tristram, as he was 
 on foot, meaning to over-ride him, but Sir Tristram 
 was aware of him, and stooped aside, and with great 
 ire he got him by the arm, and pulled him down from 
 his horse. 
 
 Sir Palamides arose lightly, and they dashed to- 
 gether mightily with their swords, and many Kings, 
 Queens, and lords stood and beheld them. At the 
 last. Sir Tristram smote Sir Palamides upon the helm 
 three mighty strokes, and at every stroke he gave him, 
 he cried, "Have this for Sir Tristram's sake!" With 
 that, Sir Palamides fell to the earth, grovelling. 
 
 Then came the King of the Hundred Knights, and 
 brought Sir Tristram a horse, and so he was mounted 
 again. Then he was aware of King Arthur with a 
 naked sword in his hand, and with his spear Sir Tris- 
 tram ran upon King Arthur; the King boldly 
 
226 KING AETHUE AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 awaited him, and with his sword he smote the spear 
 in two. At this Sir Tristram was so astonished that 
 King Arthur gave him three or four great strokes 
 before he could get out his sword, but at last Sir Tris- 
 tram drew his sword, and assailed the other, pressing 
 hard. 
 
 Now the great crowd parted them; then Sir Tris- 
 tram rode here and there, and fought with such fury 
 that eleven of the good knights of the blood of King 
 Ban, who were of Sir Lancelot's kin, were that day 
 smitten down by Sir Tristram. All people, of every 
 estate, marvelled at his great deeds, and all shouted for 
 "the Knight with the Black Shield !" 
 
 The uproar was so great that Sir Lancelot heard it, 
 and getting a great spear he came towards the shout- 
 ing. 
 
 "Knight of the Black Shield, make thee ready to 
 joust with me !" cried Sir Lancelot. 
 
 When Sir Tristram heard him say this, he took 
 spear in hand, and both lowered tjjeir heads, and came 
 together like thunder ; Sir Tristram's spear broke in 
 pieces, and Sir Lancelot by ill fortune struck Sir Tris- 
 tram on the side, a deep wound nigh to death. But 
 yet Sir Tristram left not his saddle, and so the spear 
 broke; though sorely wounded, Tristram got out his 
 sword and ruShed at Sir Lancelot and gave him three 
 great strokes on the helm, so that sparks flew out. 
 and Sir Lancelot lowered his head down to his saddle- 
 
THITID DAY OF THE TOIJENAMENT. 227 
 
 bow. And therewithal Sir Tristram departed from 
 the field, for he felt himself so wounded that he 
 thought he should have died. ,; 
 
 Sir Dinadan espied him go, and followed him into 
 
 the forest. After they had gone some way. Sir Tris- 
 tram alighted, and unlaced his harness, and dressed his 
 wound. Then Sir Dinadan feared that he would have 
 died. 
 
228 KIXG ARTHUR AND HIS KKIGHTg. 
 
 "Nay, nay, Dinadan, never dread thee," said Sir 
 Tristram, "for I am heart whole, and of this wound I 
 shall soon be healed, by the mercy of God." 
 
 When Sir Tristram departed into the forest, Sir 
 Lancelot held always the fight, like a man enraged, who 
 took no heed to himself, and wit ye well, there was 
 many a noble knight against him. King Arthur, see- 
 ing Sir Lancelot do such marvellous deeds of arms, 
 armed himself, and taking his horse and armor, rode 
 into the field, to help Sir Lancelot, and many other 
 knights came in with King Arthur. To make a short 
 tale, in conclusion, the King of North Wales and the 
 King of the Hundred Knights were put to the worse, 
 and because Sir Lancelot abode, and was the last in the 
 field, the prize was given him. 
 
 Sir Lancelpt, however, would not for King, Queen, 
 nor knight accept the prize; but wherever the cry was 
 cried through the field, "Sir Lancelot, Sir Lancelot 
 hath won the field this day !" Sir Lancelot had another 
 contrary cry made, — "Sir Tristram hath won the field! 
 For he began first, and last he hath endured ! And so 
 he hath done the first day, the second, and the third 
 day!" 
 
 THE QUEST OF THE TEN KNIGHTS. 
 
 Then every one, high and low, said great things of 
 Sir Lancelot for the honor he did Sir Tristram, and 
 because of that honor clone to Sir Tristram, he was at 
 
THE QUEST OF THE TEN KNIGHTS. 229 
 
 that time more praised and renowned than if he had 
 overthrown five hundred knights; and all the people, 
 solely because of this courtesy, first the nobles, great 
 and small, and afterwards all the common folk, cried at 
 once, "Sir Lancelot hath won the field, whosoever say 
 nay!" At this Lancelot was angry and ashamed, 
 and therewith he rode to King Arthur. 
 
 "Alas!" said the King, "we are all dismayed that 
 Sir Tristram is thus departed from us. Truly he is 
 one of the noblest knights that ever I saw hold spear 
 or sword in hand." 
 
 King Arthur and Sir Lancelot took their horses to 
 seek Sir Tristram, but when they came to the pavilion 
 where he had slept the night before the tournament, he 
 and Sir Dinadan were gone. They were very sorry at 
 not finding him, and returned to the Castle of Maidens, 
 making great dole for the hurt of Sir Tristram, and his 
 sudden departing. 
 
 "Truly," said King Arthur, "I am more grieved 
 that I cannot meet with him than for all the hurts that 
 all my knights have had at the tournament." 
 
 Right so came Sir Gaheris, and told King Arthur 
 that after Sir Tristram was wounded Sir Palamides 
 had gone after him into the forest, and challenged him 
 to joust, and that Sir Tristram had there smitten him 
 down. 
 
 "Alas," said King Arthur, "that was great dis- 
 honor to Sir Palamides, inasmuch as Sir Tristram was 
 
230 KING AETHtJE AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 sorely wounded, and now may we all, Kings, knights, 
 and men of worship, say that Sir Tristram may be 
 called a noble knight, and one of the best knights I 
 ever saw in the days of my life. For I will that ye all 
 know, that I never saw knight do so marvellously as 
 he hath done these three days; for he was the first 
 who began, and the longest who 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, it must needs be that one will have the 
 worst, as God may allow at the time." 
 
 "As for me," said Sir Lancelot, "for all the lands 
 that ever my father left me, I would not have hurt Sir 
 Tristram, if I had known him at that time. That I 
 hurt him was because I saw not his shield, for if I had 
 seen his black shield I would not have meddled with 
 him for many causes, for he did lately for me as much 
 as ever knight did; and it is well known that he had 
 ado with thirty knights, and no help save Sir Dinadan. 
 And one thing I shall promise, — Sir Palamides shall 
 repent it for his unkindly dealing in following that 
 noble knight, whom I by mishap hurt thus." So spoke 
 Sir Lancelot all the honor he could concerning Sir 
 Tristram. 
 
 Then King Arthur made a great feast to all that 
 would come, and at the feast he said to Sir Lancelot : 
 
 "Had it not been for you we had not lost Sir Tris- 
 tram, for he was here daily until the time ye met 
 
THE QUEST OF THE TEN KNIGHTS. 231 
 
 with him, and in an evil hour ye encountered with 
 him." 
 
 "My lord Arthur," said Lancelot, "you accuse me 
 that I am the cause of his departure: truly it was 
 against my will. But when men be hot in deeds of 
 arms, often they hurt their friends as well as their 
 foes; and, my lord, ye shall understand Sir Tristram is 
 a man I am loath to offend, for he has done for me 
 more than ever as yet I have done for him." 
 
 Then Sir Lancelot made them bring forth a book, 
 and he said : 
 
 "Here we are, ten knights, who will swear upon a 
 book never to rest one night where we rest another, this 
 twelve months, until we find Sir Tristram. And as 
 for me, I promise you upon this book that if I meet 
 with him, by fair means or foul, I shall bring him to 
 this Court, or else I shall die for it." 
 
 The_ names of the ten knights who undertook this 
 quest were these following: — First was Sir Lancelot; 
 then Sir Ector de Maris, Sir Bors de Ganis, Bleoberis, 
 and Sir Blamor de Ganis; Lucan, the butler: Sir 
 Uwaine, Sir Galihud, Sir Lionel, -and Galiodin. 
 
 These ten noble knights departed from the Court 
 of King Arthur, and thus they rode upon their quest 
 together, until they came to a cross, where parted four 
 highways ; and there the fellowship broke up into four 
 parties, to seek Sir Tristram. 
 
 Jn th^ meanwhile, Sir Tristram and Sir Dinadan 
 
232 KING AETHUR AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 were lodging in the Castle of an old knight called Sir 
 Darras. 
 
 Sir Palamides after his fall in the forest was nearly 
 out of his wits with rage against Sir Tristram, so he 
 resolved to follow him. Coming to a river, in his 
 madness he tried to make his horse leap over, but his 
 horse failed footing, and fell into the river, wherefore 
 Sir Palamides dreaded lest he should be drowned. 
 However, he got clear from his horse, and swam to 
 the land, but the horse went down into the water. 
 
 When Sir Palamides reached the land he took off 
 his armor, and sat roaring and crying like a man out 
 of his mind. Right so came a damsel past Sir Pala- 
 mides, and he and she had language together, which 
 pleased neither of them; so the damsel rode her way 
 till she came to the place where Tristram was lodging 
 with an old knight, and there she told him how by 
 chance she had met with the maddest l^night that ever 
 she met withal. 
 
 "What bare he in his shield?" said Sir Tristram. 
 
 "It was indented with white and black," said the 
 damsel. 
 
 "Ah," said Sir Tristram, "that is Sir Palamides, 
 the good knight, for well I know him for one of the 
 best knights living in this realm." 
 
 Then the old knight took a little hackney, and rode 
 for Sir Palamides, and brought him unto his own 
 Manor. 
 
THE QUEST OF THE TEK KNIGHTS. 233 
 
 Whenever Sir Palamides saw Sir Tristram, he 
 looked at him curiously, for although he did not 
 recognize him, it seemed to him he had seen him 
 before. Then he would say to Sir Dinadan, "If ever 
 I may meet with Sir Tristram, he shall not escape my 
 hands." 
 
 "I marvel," said Sir Dinadan, "that ye boast be- 
 hind Sir Tristram's back, for it is but lately he was 
 in your hands, and ye in his hands. Why would ye 
 not hold him when ye had him? For I myself saw 
 twice or thrice that ye got but little worship of Sir 
 Tristram." 
 
 Then was Sir Palamides ashamed. 
 
 Thus they stayed for awhile in the Castle with the 
 old Knight, Sir Darras. But one day there came a 
 damsel who told Sir Darras that three of his sons had 
 been slain at the tournament of the Castle of Maidens, 
 and two grievously wounded, so that they were never 
 likely to help themselves, and all this was done by a 
 noble knight who bare a black shield. Then some 
 oue else said that the same knight who bare the black 
 shield was now within that very Castle. Sir Darras 
 went to Tristram's chamber, and there he found his 
 shield, and showed it to the damsel. 
 
 "Ah, sir," said the damsel, "the same man who 
 bore that shield is he who slew your three sons." 
 
 Without any tarrying, Sir Darras at once threw Sir 
 Tristram, and Sir Palamides, and Sir Dinadan into 
 
234: KING ARTHUR AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 a strong prison, and there Sir Tristram fell so ill that 
 he nearly died. And every day Sir Palamides would 
 reproach Sir Tristram, because of the old hate betwixt 
 them, and always Sir Tristram spoke fair, and said 
 little. But when Palamides saw him fall sick, then he 
 was sorry for him, and comforted him in all the best 
 wise he could. 
 
 Then came forty knights to Sir Darras, who were 
 of his own kin, and they would have slain Sir Tristram 
 and his two companions; Sir Darras, however, would 
 not suffer that, although he kept them still in prison; 
 and they had sufficient meat and drink. 
 
 But Sir Tristram endured there great pain, for 
 sickness overtook him, and that is the greatest pain 
 a prisoner can have. For all the while a prisoner has 
 his health of body, he can endure, by the mercy of 
 God, and in hope of good deliverance; but when sick- 
 ness toucheth a prisoner's body, then may a prisoner 
 say all wealth is bereft him, and then he hath cause to 
 wail and to weep. And so did Sir Tristram, when 
 sickness overtook him, for then he had such sorrow 
 that he almost slew himself. , 
 
 THE STRANGE SHIELD OF MORGAN LE FAY. 
 
 When Sir Tristram fell so ill. Sir Dinadan and Sir 
 Palamides made great sorrow, and one day a damsel 
 came and found them mourning. So she went to Sir 
 
STEANGE SHIELD OP MORGAF LE FAY. 235 
 
 Darras, and told him how the mighty knight who bore 
 the black shield was likely to die. 
 
 "That shall not he," said Sir Darras, "for God 
 forbid that when any knights come to me for succor 
 I should suffer them to die within my prison. There- 
 fore, fetch that knight and his companions before me." 
 And when he saw Tristram he said, "Sir knight, I 
 repent me of thy sickness, for thou art called a full 
 noble knight, and so thou seemest. And wit ye well 
 it shall never be said that Sir Darras shall destroy such 
 a noble knight as thou art, in prison, howbeit thou 
 hast slain three of my sons, whereby I was greatly 
 aggrieved. But now thou shalt go, and thy compan- 
 ions; your armor and horses have been fair and clean 
 kept, and ye shall go where ye like — upon this cove- 
 nant, that thou, knight, will promise me to be good 
 friend to my two sons who are now alive, and also that 
 thou tell me thy name." 
 
 "Sir," said he, "as for me, my name is Sir Tristram 
 of Lyonesse, and in Cornwall was I born, and I am 
 nephew to King Mark. And as for the death of your 
 sons I could not help it, for if they had been the next 
 kin that I have, I could not have done otherwise. If 
 indeed I had slain them by treason or treachery, I 
 had been worthy to have died." 
 
 "All this I consider," said Sir Darras, "that all 
 ye did was by force of knighthood, and that was the 
 cause why I would not put you to death. But since 
 
336 KING AETHUE AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 ye be Sir Tristram, the noble knight, I pray you 
 heartily to be a good friend to me and to my sons." 
 
 "Sir," said Tristram, "I promise you by the faith of 
 my body I will do you service as long as I live, for 
 ye have done to us only as a knight would naturally do." 
 
 Sir Tristram rested in the Castle till his sickness 
 mended, and when he was well again and strong the 
 three companions made ready to leave; every knight 
 took his horse, and so they departed, riding together 
 till they came to a cross-way, where they each went 
 a different road. 
 
 It happened by chance that Sir Tristram came to 
 ask for lodging at a Castle where Morgan le Fay was, 
 and there that night he had good cheer. On the mor- 
 row when he would have departed the Queen said : 
 
 "Wit ye well, ye shall not depart lightly, for ye 
 are here as a prisoner." 
 
 "God forbid," said Sir Tristram, "for I was but 
 lately a prisoner." 
 
 "Fair knight," said the Queen, "ye shall abide with 
 me till I know what you are, and whence you come. 
 Tell me your name, and I will suffer you to depart 
 when you will." 
 
 "Upon that covenant I will tell you my name — it 
 is Sir Tristram of Lyonesse." 
 
 "Ah," said Morgan le Fay, "if I had known that, 
 ye should not have departed so soon, but since I have 
 made a promise I will keep it, on condition that you 
 
STEANGE SHIELD OF MOEGAN LE FAY. 237 
 
 will promise me to bear a shield that I shall deliver 
 you, unto the Castle of the Hard Rock, where King 
 Arthur hath proclaimed a great tournament; and I 
 pray you to go there, and do for me as much deeds 
 
 WT 
 
 of arms as ye can do. For at the Castle of Maidens, 
 Sir Tristram, ye did marvellous deeds of arms as ever 
 I heard of knight doine." 
 
r 
 
 238 KING ARTHUK AJSTD HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 "Madam," said Tristram, "let me see the shield 
 that I shall bear." 
 
 So the shield was brotight forth, and it was goldish, 
 with a King and Queen painted therein, and a knight 
 standing above them, with one foot on the King's 
 head, and the other upon the Queen's. 
 
 "Madam," said Tristram, "this is a fair shield and 
 a mighty ; but what signifieth this King and this Queen, 
 and that knight standing upon both their heads ?" 
 
 "I will tell you," said Morgan le Fay; "it signifieth 
 King Arthur and Queen Guinevere, and a knight that 
 holdeth them both in bondage." 
 
 "Who is that knight ?" asked Tristram. 
 
 "That ye shall not know just yet," said the Queen. 
 
 But it was a wicked device of Morgan le Fay to 
 bring trouble on Sir Lancelot, out of revenge, because 
 he would never love her, nor do anything at her re- 
 quest. She hoped King Arthur would see the shield, 
 and be angry with Sir Lancelot because of the picture 
 on it. 
 
 Sir Tristram took the shield, and promised Morgan 
 le Fay to bear it at the tournament at the Castle of 
 the Hard Rock. He knew not at that time that the 
 shield was ordained to work mischief against Sir 
 Lancelot, but afterwards he knew it. Taking leave of 
 the Queen, he rode to the Castle, where he saw five 
 hundred tents. The King of Scots and the King of 
 Ireland held against King Arthur's knights, and there 
 
STRANGE SHIELD OF MORGAN LE EAY. 23^ 
 
 began a great melee. Sir Tristram rushed into the 
 fray, and did marvellous deeds of arms, smiting down 
 many knights. And always in the front of the fight 
 shone that strange shield. 
 
 When the King saw it he marvelled greatly with 
 what intent it had been made, but Queen Guinevere 
 guessed what it was, wherefore she was heavy-hearted. 
 A damsel of Queen Morgan le Fay's happened to be 
 present in the chamber from which the King watched 
 the tournament, and when she heard him speak of 
 the shield, she said openly : 
 
 "Sir King, wit ye well that this shield was ordained 
 for you, to show you shame and dishonor," and then 
 she stole away secretly, so that no man knew what be- 
 came of her. 
 
 King Arthur was sad and wroth at her words, and 
 asked from whence came that damsel, but there was 
 no one who knew her, nor where she went. 
 
 All this while the King watched Sir Tristram, who 
 .did such marvellous deeds of arms, that he wondered 
 sorely what knight he could be, for he knew well it 
 was not Sir Lancelot. He was told that Sir Tristram 
 was in Brittany with his wife, Iseult of the White 
 Hands, for if he had been in England Arthur thought 
 Sir Lancelot or some of his companions who had 
 gone in quest of Sir Tristram would have found him 
 before now. So King Arthur marvelled what knight 
 this could be, and he kept always gazing at the shield. 
 
340 KING AETHUE AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 Then Sir Tristram smote down knights, wonderful 
 to behold, on the right hand, and on the left hand, 
 scarcely a knight could withstand him. But the King 
 of Scots and the King of Ireland began to withdraw 
 themselves. Arthur, seeing this, resolved that the 
 knight with the strange shield should not escape him. 
 Therefore he called Sir Uwaine, and bade him arm 
 him, and make him ready; and they quickly appeared 
 before Sir Tristram, and challenged him to tell them 
 where he had that shield. 
 
 "Sir," he said, "I had jt of Queen Morgan le Fay, 
 sister to King Arthur." 
 
 "If so be you <:an describe what you bear, you 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 cannot describe 
 these arms, for it is no point of my charge; and yet 
 I trust to bear them with honor." 
 
 "Truly," said King Arthur, "you ought to bear no 
 arms, unless you know what you bear. But I pray you 
 tell me your name." 
 
 "To what intent?" said Sir Tristram. 
 
 "Because I wish to know it," said King Arthur. 
 
 "Sir, ye shall not know it at this time." . 
 
 "Then shall you and I do battle together," said 
 King Arthur. 
 
 "Why will you do battle with me unless I tell you 
 
STRANGE SHIELD OF MORGAN LE FAY. '^41 
 
 my name?" said Tristram. "You need hardly do 
 that, if you were a man of honor, for you have seen 
 me this day have great travail; therefore you are an 
 unworthy knight to ask battle of me, considering my 
 great travail. However, I will not fail you, and do 
 not imagine that I fear you; though you think you 
 have me at a great advantage, yet I shall endure right 
 well." 
 
 Therewith King Arthur dressed his shield and his 
 spear, and Sir Tristram against him, and they came 
 so eagerly together that King Arthur broke his spear 
 to pieces upon Sir Tristram's shield. But Sir Tristram 
 hit King Arthur again, so that horse and man fell 
 to the earth; ind the King was wounded on the left 
 side, a great wound and a perilous. 
 
 When Sir Uwaine saw his lord Arthur lie on the 
 ground sore wounded, he was passing heavy. Then 
 he dressed his shield and spear, and cried aloud to Sir 
 Tristram, "Knight, defend thee !" They came together 
 like thunder, and Sir Uwaine broke his spear to pieces 
 on Tristram's shield. And Sir Tristram smote him 
 harder and sorer, with such might that he bore him 
 clean out of his saddle to the earth. 
 
 With that. Sir Tristram turned about, and said : 
 
 "Fair knights, I had no need to joust with you,^ for 
 I have had enough to do this day." 
 
 Then Arthur arose, and went to Sir Uwaine, and 
 said to Sir Tristram : 
 
243 KING AETHUR AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 "We have as we have deserved, for through our 
 pride we demanded battle of you, and yet we knew 
 not your name." 
 
 "Nevertheless," said Sir Uwaine, "by ray faith, he 
 is as strong a knight, in my opinion, as any now living." 
 
 THE TOMBSTONE BY THE RIVER OF 
 CAMELOT. 
 
 After overthrowing King Arthur and Sir Uwaine, 
 Sir Tristram departed from the Castle of the Hard 
 Rock; everywhere he went he asked after Sir Lancelot, 
 but in no place could he hear of him, whether he were 
 dead or alive, wherefore Sir Tristram made great dole 
 and sorrow. As he rode by a forest he was aware of a 
 fair tower with a marsh on the one side, and a green 
 meadow on the other, and there he saw ten knights 
 fighting together. As he came nearer, he saw how it 
 was but one knight, who did battle against nine knights, 
 and that one knight did so marvellously that Tristram 
 wondered greatly how one knight could do such deeds 
 of arras. He had great pity for him, and by his shield 
 he thought it must be Sir Palamides. 
 
 So he rode to the knights, and cried to them, and 
 bade them cease their battle, for they did themselves 
 great shame, so many knights to fight with one. It 
 was a pity, he said, that so good a knight should be 
 
THE TOMBSTONE BY THE EIVEB. 243 
 
 slain so cowardly, and therefore he warned them, he 
 would succor him with all his prowess. 
 
 The master of the party, who was called "Breuse 
 Without Pity," the most mischievous knight then 
 living, scornfully defied Sir Tristram, but when his 
 men felt Sir Tristram's strokes they all fled into the 
 tower, and though Tristram followed fast after, with 
 his sword in his hand, they escaped, and shut him 
 ouside the gate. 
 
 Sir Tristram returned to the knight he had rescued, 
 and found him sitting under a tree, sore wounded. 
 
 "Great thanks to you for your goodness," said 
 the knight, "for you have saved my life." 
 
 "What is your name?" said Tristram. 
 
 He answered that it was Palamides. 
 
 "Oh," said Sir Tristram, "thou hast had a fair 
 favor of me this day that I should rescue thee, and 
 thou art the man in the world whom I most hate! 
 But now make ready, for I will do battle with thee." 
 
 "What is your name?" said Palamides. 
 
 "My name is Sir Tristram, your mortal enemy." 
 
 "It may be so," said Sir Palamides, "but ye have 
 done overmuch for me this day that I should fight with 
 you; for inasmuch as ye have saved my life it will be 
 no honor for you to have ado with me, for ye are 
 fresh, and I am wounded sore. Therefore, if ye will 
 need have ado with me, assign me a day, and then 
 I shall meet you without fail." 
 
U4- KIISTG AETHUE AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 "Ye say well," said Sir Tristram. "Now I assign 
 you to meet me, to do battle with me, this day fort- 
 night, in the meadow by the river of Camelot, where 
 Merlin set the tombstone." 
 
 "I shall not fail you," said Sir Palamides. 
 
 Thus they were agreed, and so they departed, each 
 taking a dififerent way. 
 
 At the time appointed Sir Tristram rode straight 
 to Camelot, to the tomb which Merlin had made long 
 before on the spot where the brave knight Lanceor 
 and his fair lady Columbe were both buried under one 
 stone. And at that time Merlin prophesied that in 
 that same place should fight two of the best knights 
 that were ever in Arthur's days. 
 
 When Tristram came to the tomb where Lanceor 
 and his lady were buried he looked about him for Sir 
 Palamides. Then he was aware of a comely knight 
 who came riding against him, all in white, with a 
 r covered shield. When he came near, Sir Tristram 
 cried, "Ye be welcome. Sir Knight, and well and truly 
 have you kept your promise." 
 
 Then they dressed their shields and spears, and 
 came together with all the might of their horses. They 
 met so fiercely that both horses and knights fell to 
 the earth, but freeing themselves as swiftly as they 
 could, they struck together with bright swords, and 
 each wounded the other sorely. Thus they fought for 
 
THE TOMBSTONE BY THE EIVER. 245 
 
 a long while, and many great pieces were hewn out of 
 their armor, but never one word was uttered by either 
 of them. 
 
 At last the knight clad in white spoke, and said : 
 » "Knight, thou fightest wonderly well, as ever I saw 
 knight, therefore, if it please you, tell me your 
 name." 
 
 "Sir," said Tristram, "I am loath to tell any man 
 my name." 
 
 "Truly," said the stranger, "if ever I were required, 
 I was never loath to tell my name." 
 
 "It is well said," quoth Tristram; "then I require 
 you to tell me your name." 
 
 "Fair Knight," said he, "my name is Sir Lancelot 
 of the Lake." 
 
 "Alas," said Tristram, "what have I done? For 
 you are the man in the world I love the best." 
 
 "Fair knight," said Sir Lancelot, "tell me your 
 name." 
 
 "Truly, my name is Sir Tristram." 
 
 "Oh," said Sir Lancelot, "what adventure is befallen 
 me!" And therewith he knelt down and yielded up 
 his sword to Tristram. But Tristram, too, knelt down, 
 and yielded his sword to Lancelot, thus each gave the 
 other the honor. 
 
 Then forthwith they went to the tombstone, and 
 sat down on it, and took off their helms, and kissed 
 each other. And afterwards they rode to Camelot. 
 
246 KIIS'G AETHIJR AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 As they came near they met Sir Gawaine and Sir 
 Gaheris, who had promised King Arthur never to 
 
 come again to the Court till they brought Sir Tristram 
 with them. 
 "Return again," said Lancelot, "for your quest is 
 
THE TOMBSTONE BY THE EIVEE. 247 
 
 done, for I have met with Sir Tristram. Lo, here is 
 he in person !" 
 
 Then was Sir Gawaine glad. "Ye are welcome," 
 he said to Tristram, "for now have ye eased me greatly 
 of my labor. For what cause came ye to this Court?" 
 
 "Fair sir," said Tristram, "I came into this country 
 because of Sir Palamides, for he and I had assigned at 
 this day to have done battle together at the tombstone 
 in the meadow by the river of Camelot. And thus by 
 chance my lord Sir Lancelot and I met together." 
 
 At this moment came King Arthur, and when he 
 knew that Sir Tristram was there, he ran to him, and 
 taking him by the hand, said, "Sir Tristram, ye be as 
 welcome as any knight that ever came to this Court," 
 and so he led him to the Round Table. 
 
 Then came Queen Guinevere, and many ladies with 
 her, and all the ladies said with one voice, "Welcome, 
 Sir Tristram!" 
 
 "Welcome!" said the damsels; "Welcome!" said the 
 knights. 
 
 "Welcome," said Arthur, "for one of the best knights 
 and the gentlest of the world, and the man of most re- 
 nown ! For of all manner of hunting thou bearest the 
 prize; and of all the terms of hunting and hawking 
 thou art the beginner ; in all instruments of music thou 
 are the most skilled. Therefore, gentle knight," said 
 Arthur, "thou art welcome to this Court! Also, I 
 pray thee, grant me a boon." 
 
248 KING ARTHUK AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 "It shall be at your command," said Tristram. 
 
 "Well," said Arthur, "I desire of you that ye will 
 abide in my Court." ^ 
 
 "Sir," said Tristram, "I am loath to do that, for I 
 have ado in many countries." 
 
 "Not so," said Arthur; "ye have promised it me; 
 ye cannot say nay." 
 
 "Sir, I will do as ye will," said Tristram. 
 
 Arthur went to the seats about the Round Table, 
 and looked in all the seats where knights were lacking. 
 Then the King saw in the seat of Sir Marhaus letters 
 which said: 
 
 "This ts the seat of the noble knight. Sir Tristram." 
 
 So with great splendor and feasting, King Arthur 
 made Sir Tristram Knight of the Round Table. 
 
OUT OP COKNWALL INTO ENGLAND. 24S 
 
 King Fox. 
 
 OUT OF CORNWALL INTO ENGLAND. 
 
 "King Fox" was the name given by Sir Lancelot to 
 the sly and wicked King Mark of Cornwall, which was 
 as much as to say, "He fareth all by wiles and treach- 
 ery." Now we shall see how well-deserved was this 
 scornful nickname. 
 
 King Mark had great spite and envy because of the 
 renown of his nephew Sir Tristram, and therefore 
 chased him out of Cornwall; and in especial he was 
 jealous and suspicious because his wife, the beautiful 
 Queen Iseult, and Sir Tristram, who had been friends 
 long ago, always loved each other dearly. When 
 Tristram departed out of Cornwall into England, King 
 Mark heard of the prowess he did there, which grieved 
 
250 KING ARTHUR AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 him sorely. Both he and the Queen secretly sent sepa- 
 rate spies to the Court of King Arthur to find out 
 what deeds Tristram did. When the messengers came 
 home they told the truth as they had heard, that Tris- 
 tram surpassed all other knights, unless it were Sir 
 Lancelot. King Mark was right heavy at these tid- 
 ings, and La Belle Iseult, on the other hand, was just 
 as glad. 
 
 In great displeasure. King Mark took with him two 
 good knights and two squires, and went his way into 
 England, with the intent of slaying Sir Tristram. One 
 of these knights was named Sir Bersules, the other was 
 called Sir Amant. As they rode, King Mark asked 
 a knight whom he met where he should find King 
 Arthur. He said, at Camelot. Also he asked the 
 knight after Sir Tristram, whether he had heard of 
 him in the Court of King Arthur. 
 
 "Wit you well," said the knight, "ye shall find 
 Sir Tristram there for a man of as great worship as 
 any now alive, for through his prowess he won the 
 tournament of the Castle of Maidens that standeth by 
 the Hard Rock. And since then he hath vanquished 
 with his own hands thirty knights, men of great 
 honor. And the last battle that ever he did, was 
 fought with Sir Lancelot, and that was a marvellous 
 battle. And Sir Lancelot brought Sir Tristram, not 
 by force, to the Court, whereat King Arthur rejoiced 
 greatly, and so made him Knight of the Round Table, 
 
OUT OF COENWALL INTO ENGLAND. 251 
 
 and his seat is where the good knight, Sir Marhaus's, 
 seat was." 
 
 King Mark was much vexed when he heard of the 
 honor done to Sir Tristram, and the stranger having 
 departed, he said to his two knights : 
 
 "Now will I tell you my counsel, because ye are 
 the men whom I most trust to. I would have you 
 know that my coming hither is to this intent — to 
 destroy Sir Tristram by wiles or by treachery; and 
 it shall go hard if ever he escape our hands." 
 
 "Alas," said Sir Bersules, "what mean you? If you 
 are set on such a plan, you are shamefully disposed. 
 For Sir Tristram is the knight of most worship whom 
 we know living; I warn you plainly, I will never con- 
 sent to do him to death ; and therefore I will yield my 
 service and forsake you." 
 
 When King Mark heard him speak thus, suddenly 
 hfc drew his sword, and crying, "A traitor !" smote Sir 
 Bersules on the head, so that the sword went through 
 to his teeth. 
 
 Am ant the knight and Mark's squires, when they 
 saw him do that villainous deed, said, "It was foul done 
 and mischievously ; wherefore we will do thee no more 
 service, and wit thou well, we will appeach thee of 
 murder before King Arthur." 
 
 King Mark was wonderly wroth at these bold 
 words, and would have slain Amant also, but he and 
 the two squires held together, and set his malice at 
 
252 KING AKTHUE AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 nought. Seeing he could not be revenged on them, 
 King Mark.said to the knight Amant : 
 
 "Wit thou well, if thou accuse ilie of murder, I 
 shall defend myself thereof before King Arthur; but 
 
 I require thee that thou tell not my name, that I am 
 King Mark, whatsoever come of me." 
 
 "As for that," said Sir Amant, "I will not reveal 
 your name." 
 
OUT OF COENWALL INTO ENGLAND. 253 
 
 Thus they parted, and Amant and his companions 
 took the body of Bersules and buried it. 
 
 King Mark rode till he came to a fountain, and 
 there he rested himself, and stood in doubt whether 
 he would ride to Arthur's Court or not, or return 
 again to his own country. As he thus rested by the 
 fountain there came by him a knight well armed, on 
 horseback, and he alighted, and tying his horse to a 
 tree, he sat him down by the brink of the fountain, 
 and there made the dolefullest complaint of unhappy 
 love that ever man heard; and all this while he was 
 not aware of King Mark. 
 
 Then King Mark arose, and went near him, and said : 
 
 "Fair knight, ye have made a piteous complaint." 
 
 "Truly," said the knight, "it is a hundredfold more 
 rueful 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 any knight who beareth a shield; my name is 
 Sir Lamorak of Wales." 
 
 But when he heard King Mark speak, the stranger 
 knight knew well by his speech that he was from 
 Cornwall. 
 
 "Sir," said Sir Lamorak, "I understand by your 
 tongue ye be of Cornwall, wherein there dwelleth the 
 shamefullest king now living, for he is a great enemy 
 
254 KING AETHUE AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 of all good knights; and that is well proved, for he 
 hath chased out of that country Sir Tristram, who is 
 the most renowned knight now alive, and all knights 
 speak honor of him; and for jealousy King Mark 
 hath chased him out of his country. It is a pity," 
 added Sir Lamorak, "that such a false knight-coward 
 as King Mark should be matched with such a fair and 
 good lady as La Belle Iseult ; for all the world speaketh 
 shame of him^ and of her all the praise that any 
 Queen can have." 
 
 "I have nothing to do in the matter," said King 
 Mark ; "neither will I speak anything thereof." 
 
 "Well spoken," said Sir Lamorak. 
 
 "Sir, can ye tell me any tidings?" 
 
 "I can tell you," said Sir Lamorak, "that there 
 is speedily to be a great tournament beside Camelot, 
 at the Castle of Jagent. The King with the Hundred 
 Knights, and the King of Ireland, have, I believe, 
 appointed the tournament." 
 
 Just then up came a knight, who saluted them 
 both; this was Sir Dinadan, who had formerly jour- 
 neyed with Sir Tristram; when he found one of them 
 was a knight of Cornwall, he spoke worse things of 
 King Mark a thousandfold more than Sir Lamorak 
 had done. 
 
 Presently he offered to joust with King Mark, but 
 the King was full loath ; however, he urged him so that 
 at last the King jousted with Sir Latnorak, and the 
 
A FALSE KNIGHT-COWARD. 255 
 
 latter overthrew him twice. Sir Lamorak seeing how 
 he fared, said, "Sir Knight, what cheer? It seems to 
 me you have nearly had your fill of fighting. It were 
 pity to do you any more harm, for you are but a mean 
 knight, therefore I give you leave to go where you 
 list." 
 
 "Thanks," said King Mark, "for you and I are not 
 equally matched." 
 
 Then Sir Dinadan mocked King Mark, and said : 
 "You are not able to match a good knight." 
 "As for that," said King Mark, "the first time I 
 jousted with this knight, ye refused him." 
 
 "Think you it is a shame to me?" said Sir 
 Dinadan. "Nay, sir, it is ever honor to a knight to 
 refuse that thing which he cannot attain to. Therefore 
 it wotfld have been much more to your honor to have 
 refused him as I did. For I warn you plainly he is 
 able to beat five such as you and I, for ye knights of 
 Cornwall are no men of worship, as other knights are. 
 And because you are no men of worship, you hate all 
 men of worship; for never was bred in your country 
 such a knight as Sir Tristram." 
 
 A FALSE KNIGHT-COWARD. 
 
 After this they all rode forth together. King Mark, 
 Sir Lamorak, and Sir Dinadan, till they came to a 
 bridge, at the end of which stood a fair tower. When 
 they reached this they begged for a lodging. 
 
256 KING ARTHUR AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 "Ye are right welcome," said the knights of the 
 Castle, "for the sake of the lord of this Castle, who is 
 called Sir Tor." 
 
 They were led into a fair >court, well repaired, and 
 they had passing good cheer till the lieutenant of the 
 Castle, who was called Berluse, espied King Mark of 
 Cornwall. 
 
 Then said Berluse, "Sir Knight, I know you better 
 than you ween, for you are King Mark, who slew my 
 father before my own eyes, and me ye would have 
 slain, had I not escaped into a wood. Nevertheless, 
 for the love of the lord of this Castle, I will neither 
 hurt you nor harm you, nor any of your fellowship, as 
 long as you are here. But understand, when you are 
 past this lodging, I shall hurt you if I can, for you slew 
 my father treacherously. But first for the lov^ of my 
 lord. Sir Tor, and then for love of Sir Lamorak the 
 honorable knight who is here also, you shall have no 
 ill lodging. It is a pity you should ever be in the 
 company of good knights, for you are the most villain- 
 ous knight or King now known to be alive. For you 
 are a destroyer of good knights, and all that you do is 
 but treachery." 
 
 King Mark was sorely ashamed and said but little 
 in answer. But when Sir Lamorak and Sir Dinadan 
 knew he was King Mark they were sorry to have his 
 companionship. 
 
 On the morrow they arose early, and King Mark 
 
A MLSE KNIGHT-COWARD. 25'? 
 
 and Sir Dinadan rode together. Three miles from 
 their lodging three knights met them ; Sir Berluse was 
 one, and the others his two cousins. Sir Berluse saw 
 King Mark, and cried out loud : 
 
 "Traitor, keep thee from me, for wit thou well, I 
 am Berluse." 
 
 "Sir Knight," said Sir Dinadan, "I counsel you to 
 leave off at present, for he is riding to King Arthur; 
 and because I have promised to conduct, him to my 
 lord King Arthur, I must needs take part with him, 
 although I do not love his character, and fain would 
 be away from him." 
 
 "Well, Dinadan," said Sir Berluse, "I am sorry that 
 you will take part with him, but now do your best!" 
 Thereupon he hurtled to King Mark, and smote him 
 sore upon the shield, so that he bore him clean out of 
 his saddle to the earth. 
 
 Dinadan, seeing this, ran to help the King, and there 
 began a great battle, for Berluse and his companions 
 held together strongly. Through the great strength 
 of Sir Dinadan, King Mark threw Berluse to the 
 ground, and his two cousins fled; if it had not been 
 for Sir Dinadan, King Mark would have slain Sir 
 Berluse; Sir Dinadan rescued his life, for King Mark 
 was nothing but a murderer. 
 
 Then King Mark and Sir Dinadan took their horses 
 
 and departed, leaving Sir Berluse behind sore wounded. 
 
 About four leagues further on they came to a bridge, 
 
258 KING ARTHUR AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 where hovered a knight on horseback, armed and ready 
 to joust. N It was the custom that none should pass the 
 bridge unless he jousted with this knight. King Mark 
 
 would by no means joust, therefore Sir Dinadan could 
 in no manner refuse. He was smitten at once to the 
 earth, but when he challenged his adversary to continue 
 the battle on foot with swords, the stranger knight 
 
A FALSE KNIGHT-CO\YARD. 250 
 
 would not fight any more, saying it was not the custom 
 of the bridge. Sir Dinadan was passing wroth that he 
 could not be revenged on the knight, but there was no 
 help for it. 
 
 As they rode on their way King Mark began to 
 mock Sir Dinadan, saying : 
 
 "I thought you Knights of the Round Table could 
 in no wise find your match !" 
 
 "You say well," said Dinadan, "as for you Cornish 
 folk, on my life, I call you none of the best knights; 
 but since you have such scorn of me, I challenge you 
 to joust with me, to prove my strength." 
 
 "Not so," said King Mark, "for I will not fight 
 with you on any account. But I require of you one 
 thing, that when you come to Arthur's Court, do not 
 reveal my name, for I am so hated there." 
 
 "It is shame to you," said Sir Dinadan, "that you 
 govern yourself so disgracefully, for I see you are 
 full of cowardice, and you are a murderer, and that 
 is the greatest shame that a knight can have ; for never 
 a knight being a murderer can have honor, nor ever 
 shall have. For I saw lately that except for my help, 
 you would have slain Sir Berluse, a better knight than 
 you are, or ever will be, and one of more prowess." 
 
 As they thus talked, they saw riding towards them 
 over a plain, six knights of the Court of King Arthur, 
 well armed at all points. By their shields Sir Dinadan 
 knew them well. The first was the good knight Sir 
 
260 KING AETITTJB AXD HIS KN^IGHTS- 
 
 Uwaine, son of King Uriens ; the- second was the noble 
 knight Sir Brandiles; the third was Ozana, "Hardy- 
 Heart"; the fourth was Uwaine the Adventurous; 
 the fifth was Sir Agrivaine; the sixth Sir Mordred, 
 brother to Sir Gawaine, and son to King Lot's wife, of 
 Orkney. 
 
 When Sir Dinadan saw these six knights, he thought 
 to himself he would bring King Mark by some wile to 
 joust with one of them. They followed them three 
 good English miles, and then King Mark was aware 
 where they all six sat near a well, eating and drinking 
 such food as they had, their horses walking about, or 
 tied near, and their shields hung ; around in diverse 
 places. 
 
 "Lo," said Sir Dinadan, "yonder are knights-errant, 
 who will joust with us." 
 
 "Heaven forbid," said King Mark, "for they are 
 six, and we are but two." 
 
 "As for that," said Sir Dinadan, "let us not spare, 
 for I will assay the foremost." And therewith he 
 made him ready. 
 
 No sooner did King Mark see him do so, than as 
 fast as Sir Dinadan rode towards the knights, King 
 Mark rode away from them, with all his meniaj 
 company. 
 
 Directly Sir Dinadan saw King Mark was gone, 
 he set the spear out of the rest, and threw his shield 
 behind his back, and ^ame riding to the fellowship 
 
CHASED BY THE KING'S POOL. 261 
 
 of the Round Table. And Sir Uwaine at once knew 
 Sir Dinadan, and welcomed him, and so did all his 
 companions. 
 
 CHASED BY THE KING'S FOOL. 
 
 Then the six knights asked Sir Dinadan about his 
 adventures, and whether he had seen Sir Tristram or 
 Sir Lancelot. 
 
 "Truly," said Sir Dinadan, "I have seen nothing of 
 them since I left Camelot." 
 
 "What knight is that," said Sir Brandiles, "who 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." 
 
 Having rested themselves and spoken together, they 
 took their horses, and rode to a castle where dwelt an 
 old knight who received all knights-errant with hearty 
 good cheer. Here also arrived another knight. Sir 
 Griflet, who was made welcome. 
 
 As Sir Dinadan walked about and looked over the 
 castle he came across a chamber in which he espied 
 King Mark; then he rebuked him, and asked why he 
 had departed in that cowardly fashion. 
 
 "Because I durst not abide," he said, "for the 
 knights were so many. But how did you escape?" 
 
 "They were better friends than I thought they had 
 been," said Dinadan. 
 
302 RING ARTHUE AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 "Who is captain of that fellowship?" asked the 
 King. 
 
 To frighten him, Dinadan answered that it was Sir 
 Lancelot of the Lake. 
 
 "Oh," said the King, "can I know Sir Lancelot by 
 his shield?" 
 
 "Yes," answered Dinadan, "for he beareth a shield 
 of silver and black bars." All this he said to frighten 
 the King, for Sir Lancelot was not in that fellowship. 
 
 "Now I pray you," said King Mark, "that you will 
 ride in my company." 
 
 "I am not willing to do that," said Dinadan, "be- 
 cause you forsook my company," and he at once left 
 King Mark, and went to his own Companions. 
 
 Mounting their horses, they rode on their way, and 
 talked of the Cornish knight, for Dinadan told them he 
 was in the castle where they were lodged. 
 
 "Well said," spoke Sir Griflet, "for here I have 
 brought Sir Dagonet, King Arthur's fool, the best 
 fellow and the merriest in the world." 
 
 "Would you like a jest?" said Sir Dinadan. "I 
 told the Cornish knight that Sir Lancelot is here, and 
 he asked me what shield he bore. I answered that he 
 bore the same shield which Sir Mordred beareth." 
 
 "I am hurt, and cannot well bear my shield and 
 armor," said Sir Mordred, "therefore put them on 
 Sir Dagonet, and let him assail the Cornish knight." 
 
 "That shall be done, by my faith," said Sir Dagonet. 
 
CHASED BY THE KING'S FOOL. 263 
 
 Then Dagonet was quickly arrayed in Mordred's 
 armor, and he was set on 2 great horse, with a spear 
 in his hand. 
 
 "Now," said Dagonet, "show me the knight, and 
 I trow I shall bear him down." 
 
 So they all rode to the side of a wood, and waited 
 there till King Mark came by that way. Then they 
 put forth Sir Dagonet, and he went straight at King 
 Mark. When he came near he cried as if he were 
 mad: 
 
 "Keep thee, knight of Cornwall, for I will slay 
 thee!" 
 
 As soon as King Mark saw his shield he said to 
 himself, "Yonder is Sir Lancelot; alas, now am I 
 destroyed !" Therewith he made his horse gallop away 
 as fast as it could, through thick and thin, while Sir 
 Dagonet followed, calling out and rating him like a 
 madman through the great forest. 
 
 When all the other knights saw Sir Dagonet thus 
 chase King Mark they laughed as if they would never 
 stop, and taking their horses, they rode after to see how 
 Sir Dagonet sped, for they would not on any account 
 have the jester hurt; for King Arthur loved him pass- 
 ing well, and had made him knight with his own hands ; 
 and at every tournament Dagonet was present and made 
 Arthur laugh at his drollery. Thus the knights rode 
 here and there, chasing after King Mark, so that all the 
 forest rang with the noise. 
 
2G4 KING AETHUR AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 As King Mark fled, he came by chance near a, welii, 
 where stood a knight-errant on horseback, armed at 
 all points, with a great spear in his hand. When he 
 saw King Mark come 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 after me the best knight in the 
 world, with the black barred shield." 
 
 "Fie for shame," said the knight, "he is none of 
 the worthy knights. And if he were Sir Lancelot or 
 Sir Tristram, I should not fear to meet the better of 
 them both." 
 
 King Mark hearing him speak with such valor, 
 turned his horse, and waited beside him. 
 
 Then that strong knight levelled his spear against 
 Dagonet, and smote him so sore that he bore him 
 over his horse's tail, and nearly broke his neck. The 
 knights of King Arthur's Court were very angry when 
 they saw Dagonet have that fall, and each in turn 
 challenged the stranger knight, but one after another he 
 overthrew them all, except Sir Mordred, who was 
 unarmed, and Sir Dinadan, who was some way behind. 
 And this being done, the strong knight rode slowly 
 on his way, and King Mark rode after him, praising 
 him very much; but he would answer nothing, only 
 sighed wonderly sore, hanging down his head, and 
 taking no heed of his companion's words. 
 
CHASED BY THE KIFG'S FOOL. 265 
 
 After riding about three English miles, the stranger 
 knight called to him a varlet, one of King Mark's 
 servants, and bade him, — "Ride to yonder fair manor, 
 and commend me to the lady of the castle, and pray 
 her to send me refreshment of good meat and drink. 
 And if she ask thee what I am, tell her that I am the 
 knight that follows the Questing Beast." 
 
 The varlet went his way, and coming to the 
 manor, he saluted the lady, and told her from whence 
 he came. And when she understood he had been sent 
 by the knight that followed the Questing Beast,— 
 "Oh," she cried, "when shall I see that noble knight, 
 my dear son, Palamides ? Alas, will he not abide with 
 me?" And therewith she wept for sorrow, and gave 
 the varlet all that he asked as quickly as she could. 
 
 As soon as the varlet returned to King Mark and 
 the other knight, he told his master secretly that the 
 stranger's name was Sir Palamides. 
 
 "I am well pleased," said King Mark, "but hold 
 thee still, and say nothing." 
 
 Then they alighted, and sat down to rest awhile, and 
 very soon King Mark fell asleep. 
 
 When Sir Palamides found him sound asleep, he 
 took his horse and rode his way. "I will not be in the 
 company of a sleeping knight," he said, and he rode 
 off at a great pace. 
 
366 KING AETHUK AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 KING FOX AT CAMELOT. 
 
 By and by King Mark awoke, and finding Sir Pala- 
 mides gone, he rode after him, and sought him through 
 the forest. Sir Dinadan, who was much vexed at the 
 way the other knights of his party had sped, also rode in 
 search of him. Late in the evening he heard a doleful 
 noise, as of a man lamenting; when he came near, he 
 alighted, and went towards it on foot, and then he was 
 aware of a knight who stood under a tree, his horse 
 tied beside him, and the helm off his head. The knight 
 kept up always a doleful complaint, and it was about 
 La Belle Iseult, the Queen of Cornwall. 
 
 Long ago, before her marriage, when she was a 
 Princess in Ireland, the brave pagan knight Sir Pala- 
 mides had loved the beautiful Iseult. He had never 
 forgotten her, and still mourned bitterly because she 
 did not return his love. 
 
 "Ah, fair lady," he was saying now, "why do I love 
 thee? Thou art fairest of all others, yet never didst 
 thou show love to me, nor kindness. Alas, yet I cannot 
 help but love thee! And I may not blame thee, fair 
 lady, for mine eyes are the cause of this sorrow. The 
 falsest King and knight is your husband, and the most 
 coward and full of treachery is your lord. King Mark. 
 Alas, that ever so fair a lady, and peerless above all 
 
KING FOX AT CAMELOT. 267 
 
 others, should be matched with the most villainous 
 knight of the world !" 
 
 In the meanwhile King Mark also had drawn near, 
 and all this language that Sir Palamides said of him, he 
 heard. Therefore he was much frightened when he 
 saw Sir Dinadan, lest if he espied him, he would tell 
 Sir Palamides that he was King Mark. Accordingly 
 he withdrew, and went back to his servants where he 
 had told them to wait, and rode on as fast as he could 
 to Camelot. 
 
 There on the same day he found Sir Amant ready, 
 who had accused him before King Arthur of the murder 
 of his companion knight. Sir Bersules. As was the 
 custom of those times, the King commanded them to 
 do battle, and by misadventure King Mark smote 
 Amant through the body. And yet Amant's was the 
 righteous quarrel. 
 
 King Mark immediately took his horse, and left 
 the Court, dreading that Sir Dinadan would tell Sir 
 Tristram and Sir Palamides who he was. 
 
 There were some of Queen Iseult's maidens at 
 Camelot, who knew Sir Amant well, and by leave of 
 King Arthur they went and spoke to him while he lay 
 sore wounded. • 
 
 "Ah, fair damsels," he said, "commend me to La 
 Belle Iseult, and tell her that I am slain for the love 
 of her and Sir Tristram." And there he told the 
 damsels how in cowardly fashion King Mark had slain 
 
268 KING AETHUE AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 him and Sir Bersules, his companion. "For that deed 
 I appeached him of murder, and here I am slain in a 
 righteous quarrel ; and all this was because Sir Bersules 
 and I would not consent by treachery to slay the noble 
 knight Sir Tristram." 
 
 The news was quickly borne to the King and Queen, 
 and to all the lords and ladies, that it was King Mark 
 who had slain Sir Amant, and Sir Bersules before- 
 hand, which was the reason why Amant had fought 
 with him. King Arthur was wroth out of measure, 
 and so were all the other knights. 
 
 But when Sir Tristram knew all the matter, he 
 made great dole, and wept for sorrow for the loss of 
 the two noble knights Sir Bersules and Sir Amant. 
 
 Sir Lancelot seeing Sir Tristram weep went hastily 
 to King Arthur, and said, "Sir, I pray you, give me 
 leave to go after yonder false King and knight." 
 
 "I pray you, fetch him again," said King Arthur, 
 "but I would not that you slew him, for my honor." 
 
 Then Sir Lancelot armed in all haste, and mounted 
 upon a great horse, and taking a spear in his hand, 
 rode after King Mark. And within three English 
 miles Sir Lancelot overtook him. 
 
 "Turn, recreant King and knight!" he cried; "for 
 whether thou wilt, or not, thou shalt go with me to 
 King Arthur's Court." 
 
 King Mark turned back, and looked at Sir Lancelot. 
 "Fair Sir," he said, "what is your name?" 
 
KING FOX AT CAMELOT. 369 
 
 "Wit thou my name is Sir Lancelot, and therefore, 
 defend thee !" • 
 
 When King Mark knew that it was Sir Lancelot, 
 and that he was coming fast upon him with a spear, 
 he cried aloud, "I yield myself to thee, Sir Lancelot, 
 honorable knight !" 
 
 But Sir Lancelot would not hear him, but came fast 
 upon him. King Mark seeing this, made no defence, 
 but tumbled down out of the saddle to the earth like a 
 sack, and there he lay still, and cried mercy of Sir 
 Lancelot. 
 
 "Arise, recreant knight and King !" 
 
 "I will not fight," said King Mark, "but I will go 
 with you wherever you like." 
 
 "Alas, alas, that I may not give thee one buffet," 
 said Sir Lancelot, "for the love of Sir Tristram and La 
 Belle Iseult, and for the two knights whom thou hast 
 slain treacherously." But he would not disobey King 
 Arthur's command, so he brought the traitor back un- 
 hurt to Camelot. There King Mark alighted in great 
 haste, and threw his helm and his sword from him 
 on the earth, and falling flat on the ground at King 
 Arthur's feet, he put himself into his grace and 
 mercy. 
 
 "Truly," said King Arthur, "in a manner ye are 
 welcome, and in a manner ye are not welcome. In this 
 manner ye are welcome, that ye come hither in spite of 
 yourself, I suppose?" 
 
270 KING AETHUR AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 "That is truth," said King Mark, "or else I had 
 not been here: for my lord Sir Lancelot brought me 
 hither through his might, and to him I have yielded 
 myself as recreant." 
 
 "Well," said King Arthur, "ydu understand you 
 ought to do me service, homage, and fealty, and never 
 would you do me any, but always you have been 
 against me, and a destroyer of my knights. Now, 
 how will you acquit you ?" 
 
 "Sir," said King Mark, "exactly as your lordship 
 will require me, I will make large amends, to the ut- 
 most in my power." For he was always a fair 
 speaker, and false underneath. 
 
 Then because of his pleasure in Sir Tristram, and 
 in order to make the two reconciled, and to do a good 
 turn to Tristram, King. Arthur kept King Mark for 
 awhile at Camelot. And one day he said to him, "Sir, 
 I pray you to give me a gift that I shall ask you." 
 
 "Sir," said King Mark, "I will give you whatsoever 
 you desire, if it be in my power." 
 
 "Thanks," said King Arthur, "this I will ask you, 
 that you will be a good lord to Sir Tristram, for he is 
 a man of great honor; and that you will take him 
 with you into Cornwall, and let him see his friends, 
 and there cherish him for my salce." 
 
 "Sir," said King Mark, "I promise you by the faith 
 of my body, and by the faith I owe to God and to you, 
 I will honor him, for your sake, in all that I can or 
 
i i 
 
 "BEWARE OJ? ^rUlilACaERY!'' 2^ 
 
 "And I will forgive all the evil will that ever I 
 owed you," said King Arthur, "if so be you will swear 
 that on a book before me." 
 
 "Willingly," said King Mark. 
 
 So there he swore upon a book before King Arthur 
 and all his knights, and King Mark and Sir Tristram 
 took each other by the hands hard knit together in 
 token of friendship. 
 
 But for all that, King Mark was false in thought, as 
 it proved afterwards, for as soon as the chance came 
 he threw Sir Tristram into prison, and would cow- 
 ardly have slain him. 
 
 "BEWARE, I COUNSEL THEE, OF 
 TREACHERY!" 
 
 Soon after this. King Mark took his leave to go 
 back to Cornwall, and Sir Tristram made ready to 
 ride with him, wherefore most of the Knights of the 
 Round Table were sad and angry; and in especial Sir 
 Lancelot, Sir Lamorak, and Sir Dinadan were wroth 
 out of measure. For well they knew King Mark 
 would slay or destroy Sir Tristram. And Sir Tris- 
 tram himself was almost dazed with sorrow to leave 
 the noble fellowship of the Round Table. 
 
 "Alas," said Sir Lancelot to King Arthur, "what 
 have you done? for you will lose the man of most 
 worship that ever came into your Court." 
 
2ra KIJSTG AETHUK AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 "It was his owfi desire," said Arthur, "and there- 
 fore I could not help it. For I have done all that I 
 can, and made King Mark and Sir Tristram agreed." 
 
 "Agreed!" said Sir Lancelot. "Fie on that agree- 
 ment, for you shall hear that King Mark will slay 
 Sir Tristram, or put him in prison, for he is the 
 most coward and villainous King and knight now 
 living." 
 
 Sir Lancelot thereupon went to King Mark. 
 
 "Sir King," he said, "wit thou well, the good 
 knight Sir Tristram shall go with thee. But beware, 
 I counsel thee, of treachery; for if thou do mischief 
 to that knight, by any manner of falsehood or treason, 
 by the faith I owe to God, and to the order of knight- 
 hood, I shall slay thee with mine own hands." 
 
 "Sir Lancelot," said the King, "you say too much 
 to me; I have said and sworn amply before King 
 Arthur, in hearing of all his knights, that I shall not 
 slay nor betray Sir Tristram. It were overmuch shame 
 to me to break my promise." 
 
 "You say well," said Sir Lancelot, "but you are 
 called so false and full of treason that no man can be- 
 lieve you. Forsooth, it is well known wherefore you 
 came into this country — for none other cause than to 
 slay Sir Tristram." 
 
 So with great dole King Mark and Sir Tristram 
 rode away together. It was Sir Tristram's own will 
 and wish to go back to Cornwall, and all was for the 
 
"BEWAEE OP TEBACHERY!" 273 
 
 sake of seeing La Belle Iseult again ; for Sir Tristram 
 felt he could endure no longer without a sight of her. 
 
 By and by there came to Camelot a knight out of 
 Cornwall, Sir Fergus, a fellow of the Round Table, 
 and he told good tidings of Sir Tristram, and how he 
 had left him in the Castle of Tintagel. Afterwards 
 came a damsel, a maiden of Sir Tristram's, who 
 brought goodly letters to King Arthur and Sir Lance- 
 lot, and she was made very welcome by the King, and 
 the Queen Guinevere, and Sir Lancelot. And they 
 wrote goodly letters back again. But Sir Lancelot 
 ever bade Sir Tristram beware of King Mark, for he 
 always called him in his letters "King Fox," as one 
 who saith, "He fareth all with wiles and treason." 
 Sir Tristram was grateful to Lancelot in his heart for 
 this caution. 
 
 The damsel took King Arthur's and Sir Lancelot's 
 letters to La Belle Iseult, whereat she was in great 
 joy. 
 
 "Fair damsel," said La Belle Iseult, "how fareth 
 my lord Arthur, and the Queen Guinevere, and the 
 noble knight. Sir Lancelot of the Lake?" 
 
 She answered to make a short tale, "Much the 
 better because you and Sir Tristram are in joy." 
 
 "Truly," said La Belle Iseult, "Sir Tristram suf- 
 fereth great pain for me, and I for him." 
 
 The damsel had also brought back letters to King 
 
2U KING AETHUR AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 Mark from Camelot. When he had read and under- 
 stood them, he was wroth with Sir Tristram, for he 
 
 reflected that he had sent the damsel to King Arthur ; 
 because Arthur and Lancelot in a manner threatened 
 
"BEWARE OP TREACHEEY!" 375 
 
 King Mark in these letters. And as King Mark read 
 them, he plotted treachery to Sir Tristram. 
 
 "Damsel," said King Mark, "will you ride again, 
 and bear letters from me to King Arthur?" 
 
 "Sir," she said, "I will be at your command, to ride 
 when you will." 
 
 "Well spoken," said the King. "Come again to- 
 morrow, and fetch your letters." 
 
 But on the morrow when the damsel went to King 
 Mark, to fetch the letters, the King told her he did 
 not intend just then to send any. Privily, however, he 
 had letters written which he sent secretly to King 
 Arthur, and Queen Guinevere, and Sir Lancelot. 
 
 His varlet found the King and Queen in Wales, at 
 Carleon. He arrived while they were in church, and 
 when the service was over, and they were by them- 
 selves, they opened their letters. 
 
 The beginning of King Mark's letter spoke abruptly 
 to King Arthur, and bade him meddle with his own 
 affairs, and with his wife, and with his knights, for he 
 had enough to do to rule, and to look after his wife. 
 
 When King Arthur understood the letter he mused 
 of many things, and thought of his sister's words, 
 Queen Morgan le Fay, and how she had said wicked 
 things of Queen Guinevere, and of Sir Lancelot. And 
 over this thought he pondered a great while. Then 
 he bethought him again how his sister had always been 
 his enemy, and that she hated the Queen, and Sir 
 
■2l& KING- AETKUE AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 Lancelot, and so he put all that out of his mind. Then 
 King Arthur read the letter again, and the latter clause 
 said that King Mark took Sir Tristram for his mortal 
 enemy, whereby he put Arthur out of doubt that he 
 would be revenged on Sir Tristram. And at this 
 King Arthur was wroth with King Mark. 
 
 When Queen Guinevere read her letter and under- 
 stood it, she was angry beyond measure, for it spoke 
 shamefully of her, and of Sir Lancelot. She sent the 
 letter to Sir Lancelot, whom it also enraged. 
 
 "Sir," said Dinadan, "Wherefore are you angry? 
 Reveal your heart to me. For truly you know well I 
 owe you good-will, howbeit I am a poor knight, and a 
 servitor to you, and to all good knights. For though 
 I am not of worship myself, yet I love all those that 
 are of worship." 
 
 "It is true," said Sir Lancelot, "and because you 
 are a trusty knight, I will tell you what is the matter." 
 
 When Dinadan had read all the shameful letters, 
 he said, "This is my counsel ; set you nought by these 
 threats, for King Mark is so villainous, that no man 
 will ever get at him by fair speech. But you shall see 
 what I will do. I will make a song about him, and it 
 shall be known in all countries, and I shall send a 
 harper to sing it before King Mark himself." 
 
 So Sir Dinadan went at once and made a song, tell- 
 ing about King Mark, and all the false and cowardly 
 deeds that he was for ever doing. In this way he 
 
THE SIEGE OP TIXTAGEL CASTLE. '^17 
 
 hoped to bring the crafty King to shame and disgrace. 
 He taught the song to a harper called Eliot, who after- 
 wards taught it to many other harpers. By permission 
 of King Arthur and Sir Lancelot, these harpers went 
 straight into Wales, and into Cornwall, to sing this 
 lay which Sir Dinadan had made — which was the 
 worst lay that ever harper sang with harp, or with any 
 other instrument. 
 
 THE SIEGE OF TINTAGEL CASTLE. 
 
 While Sir Tristram was at King Mark's Court it 
 happened he got sorely hurt in a tournament, and to 
 rest himself he went to stay in a Castle with a good 
 knight. Sir Dinas, the Seneschal. Then from the 
 Saxon land came a great number of men at arms, witli 
 a hideous host, and they landed in Cornwall near the 
 Castle of Tintagel. Their captain's name was Elias, 
 a good man of arms. 
 
 When King Mark learned that his enemies were en- 
 tered into his land, he made great dole, for he by no 
 means wished to send for Sir Tristram, because of his 
 deadly hatred to him. But his council, foreseeing 
 the many perils from the strength of the enemy, de- 
 clared that King Mark must send for Sir Tristram, 
 or else the Saxons would never be overcome. 
 
 "Well," said King Mark, "I will act on your coun- 
 sel," but he was still very loath to do so. 
 
278 KI>TG ARTFUE AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 When Sir Tristram was come the King said thus : 
 "Fair nephew, Sir Tristram, this is all : here are come 
 our enemies of Saxony, who are now nigh at hand. 
 Without tarrying they must be met with at once, or 
 else they will destroy this land." 
 
 Tristram replied that he was at the King's .com- 
 mand, but that for eight days he could bear no arms, 
 for his wounds were not yet whole. The King told 
 him to go back and rest for eight days, and in the 
 meanwhile he would go and meet the Saxons with all 
 his power. 
 
 So King Mark collected a great army, and by advice 
 of his knights issued out of the Castle of Tintagel 
 against his enemies. Long endured the battle, and 
 many were slain, but at the last King Mark was forced 
 to withdraw to the Castle, with great slaughter of his 
 people. The Saxons followed on so fast that ten of 
 them got within the gates, and four were slain at the 
 fall of the portcullis. 
 
 Therewith came Elias, and bade King Mark yield 
 up the Castle, for he would not be able to hold it any 
 time. The King replied that he would yield up the 
 Castle if he were not soon rescued ; then he sent quickly 
 again to Sir Tristram. 
 
 By this time Tristram was well, and he had got 
 ten good knights of Arthur's, and with them he rode 
 to Tintagel. When he saw the great host of Saxons, 
 he marvelled greatly. He rode by the woods and the 
 
THE SIEGE OF TINTAGEL CASTLE. 279 
 
 ditches as secretly as he could till he came near the 
 gates, and then he and his knights fought their way- 
 through the Saxons who opposed them, and so they 
 entered into the Castle of Tintagel. 
 
 King Mark was rejoiced at his coming and so were 
 all his company. 
 
 On the morrow Elias the captain sent a message to 
 King Mark, bidding him come out and do battle. 
 
 "For now the good knight Sir Tristram has joined 
 thee," he said, "it will be shame to thee to keep within 
 thy walls." 
 
 King Mark was wroth at this, and spoke no word, 
 but went to Sir Tristram, and asked him his counsel. 
 Sir Tristram asked if he might send the answer to 
 Elias. Willingly, the King replied. So Sir Tristram 
 spoke thus to the messenger : 
 
 "Bear thy lord word from the King and me that 
 we will do battle with him to-morrow in the open 
 field." 
 
 "What is your name ?" said the messenger. 
 
 "Wit thou well, my name is Sir Tristram of 
 Lyonesse." 
 
 Therewith the messenger departed, and told his lord 
 Elias all that he had heard. 
 
 By consent of King Mafk, Sir Tristram took corfr 
 mand of the army, and that same night he burnt all 
 the Saxon ships to the water's edge. As soon as Elias 
 heard the news, he said : "That was of Sir Tristram's 
 
280 KING AETHTJE AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 doing, for he reckoneth that we shall never escape, any 
 mother's son of us ; therefore, fair fellows, fight freely 
 to-morrow, and discomfort yourselves nought for any 
 knight, though he be the best knight in the world; he 
 cannot fight against all of us at once." 
 
 So the leaders of the two armies arranged their 
 men, and those who were within the Castle of Tintagel 
 issued forth, and those that were outside set fiercely 
 upon them, and great deeds of valor were done on 
 either side. Thus they fought till it was night, when 
 because of the great slaughter, and of the wounded 
 people, both parties withdrew to their rest. 
 
 When King Mark returned within the Castle of 
 Tintagel he lacked of his knights a hundred; and the 
 Saxons outside lacked two hundred. Then councils 
 were held, and both parties were loath to fight again, 
 if they could escape with honor. 
 
 Elias the captain made great dole when he learned of 
 the death of his men, and he was wroth out of measure 
 when he found the others were unwilling to go to 
 battle again. He sent word to King Mark, asking 
 whether he would find a knight who would fight for 
 him, man against man ; and that if he could slay King 
 Mark's champion, he was to have tribute from Corn- 
 wall yearly; and if King Mark's knight slew the 
 Saxon champion, Elias was to release his claim for 
 ever. 
 
 On receipt of this message King Mark called all 
 
THE SIEGE OF TINTAGEL CASTLE. 381 
 
 his Barons together, to know what was best to be 
 done. They all said at once they had no desire to fight 
 any more in the field, for if it had not been for Sir 
 Tristram's prowess, they would most likely never have 
 escaped. Therefore they thought it would be well to 
 find a champion that would do battle with Elias, for it 
 was a knightly offer. 
 
 But when all this was said, they could find no knight 
 who would do battle. 
 
 "Alas," said King Mark, "then am I utterly shamed, 
 and utterly destroyed, unless my nephew Sir Tristram 
 will take the battle upon him." 
 
 "Wit you well," said they all, "he had yesterday 
 overmuch on hand, and he is weary for travail, and 
 sore wounded." 
 
 "Where is he?" said King Mark. 
 
 "Sir," said they, "he is in his bed, to repose him- 
 self." 
 
 "Alas," said King Mark, "unless I have the succor 
 of my nephew Sir Tristram I am utterly destroyed 
 for ever." 
 
 One of the Barons, accordingly, went to Sir Tris- 
 tram where he lay, and told him what King Mark had 
 said. Sir Tristram arose quickly, and, putting on a 
 long gown, came before the King and all the lords. 
 And when he saw them all so dismayed he asked the 
 King and the lords what tidings were with them. 
 
 "Never worse," said the King; and he told him the 
 message that Elias had sent. 
 
382 KING AETHUK AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 Then Tristram said that since King Mark needed 
 his succor he would do all that lay in his power, 
 ahhough he was sore bruised and hurt; therefore the 
 Saxon messenger should carry back word to Elias that 
 Sir Tristram, King Arthur's knight, and Knight of the 
 Round Table, would to-morrow meet with him on 
 horseback, to do battle as long as his horse could 
 endure, and after that to do battle on foot to the death. 
 
 Hostage was given on both sides, and it was made 
 as sure as it could be that whichever party had the 
 victory, so the matter was to end. Both hosts were 
 then assembled on the field outside the Castle of 
 Tintagel, and no one was armed but Sir Tristram and 
 Sir EHas. 
 
 For the space of nearly an hour they fought with 
 the uttermost fury, wounding each other sorely; by 
 that time Sir Tristram waxed very faint for want of 
 blood, and began to retreat. Sir Elias, seeing this, 
 followed fiercely on him, and wounded him in many 
 places. Sir Tristram wavered here and there, and 
 covered himself weakly with his shield, so that all men 
 said he was overcome, for Sir Elias had given him 
 twenty strokes against one. At this there was laugh- 
 ing of the Saxon party, and great grief on King 
 Mark's side. 
 
 "Alas!" said the King, "we are shamed and de- 
 stroyed for ever." 
 
 Thus, as they stood and beheld both parties, the one 
 
"FALSE HAST THOU EVBE BEEN." 283 
 
 laughing, and the other weeping, Sir Tristram remem- 
 bered him of his lady, La Belle Iseult, and how he 
 was likely never to come again into her presence. Then 
 he pulled up his shield, which had hung full low, and 
 attacked Elias with such fury that he completely shat- 
 tered his shield and hauberk. 
 
 Now it was King Mark who began to laugh, and all 
 the Cornish men, and the Saxons to weep. And Sir 
 Tristram kept saying to Elias, "Yield thee!" And 
 when he saw him so staggering on the ground, he said, 
 "Sir Elias, I am right sorry for thee, for thou art a 
 passing good knight, as ever I met withal, except Sir 
 Lancelot." 
 
 Therewith Sir Elias fell to the earth, and died. 
 
 "FALSE HAST THOU EVER BEEN; SO WILT 
 THOU END!" 
 
 King Mark made a great feast for joy because the 
 Saxons were driven out of his country, yet for all this 
 he would gladly have slain Sir Tristram. To the feast 
 came Eliot the harper, with the song Sir Dinadan had 
 made ; and because he was a cunning harper men heard 
 him sing that same song, which spoke most villainously 
 of King Mark's treachery, as ever man heard. 
 
 When the harper had sung his song to the end, 
 King Mark was wonderfully wroth. 
 
284 KIISTG ARTHUE AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 "Thou harper," he said, "how darest thou be so 
 bold as to sing this song before me?" 
 
 "Sir," said EHot, "wit you well, I am a minstrel, 
 and I must do as I am commanded by those lords 
 
 whose arms I bear. Sir Dinadan, a Knight of the 
 Round Table, made this song, and bade me sing it 
 before you." 
 
 "Thou sayest well," said King Mark, "and because 
 
"FALSE HAST THOU EVER BEEN." 285 
 
 thou art a minstrel, thou shalt go free, but I charge 
 the, hie thee fast ovit of my sight." 
 
 So the harper departed, and went to Sir Tristram, 
 and told him how he had sped. Then Tristram had 
 goodly letters written to Lancelot and Sir Dinadan, 
 and had the harper conducted safely out of the country. 
 
 But to say that King Mark was wonderfully wroth, 
 is only the truth, for he deemed that the lay which 
 was sung before him was made by Sir Tristram's 
 counsel; he therefore resolved to slay him and all 
 his well-wishers in that country, and immediately be- 
 gan to plot treachery against him. 
 
 A great tournament and jousts had been proclaimed 
 in the coasts of Cornwall; and this had been done by 
 Sir Galahalt, the high prince, and King Bagdemagus, 
 with the intent to slay Sir Lancelot, or else to shame 
 him utterly. For Sir Lancelot always won the high- 
 est prize, therefore this prince and this King made 
 these jousts against him, meaning both to set upon him 
 at once, with all their knights. 
 
 Their purpose was revealed to King Mark, at which 
 he was very glad. He determined that he would have 
 Sir Tristram at that tournament, disguised so that no 
 man should know him, intending that the high prince 
 should think he was Sir Lancelot. 
 
 Sir Tristram accordingly came to these jousts. Sir 
 Lancelot at that moment was not there, but when the 
 people saw a disguised knight do such deeds of arms. 
 
286 KING AETHUE AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 they thought it must be Sir Lancelot, and in especial, 
 King Mark said plainly it was Sir Lancelot. Then 
 they set upon him, both King Bagdemagus, and the 
 high prince, and their knights, so that it was a won- 
 der that ever Sir Tristram could withstand such an 
 attack. 
 
 But notwithstanding all he had to endure. Sir Tris- 
 tram won the prize at the tournament, and there he 
 hurt many knights, and bruised them, although they, 
 too, hurt and bruised him sorely. 
 
 When the jousts were all done the knights knew 
 well it was Tristram of Lyonesse. Those of King 
 Mark's party were glad that Sir Tristram was hurt; 
 but the other knights were sorry, for Sir Tristram was 
 not so hated from envy as was Sir Lancelot within the 
 realm of England. 
 
 Then came King Mark to Sir Tristram, and said : 
 
 "Fair nephew, I am sorry for your hurts." 
 
 "Thanks, my lord," said Sir Tristram. 
 
 King Mark made Sir Tristram to be put in a horse- 
 bier, in great sign of love, and he said: "Fair cousin, 
 I shall be your physician myself." 
 
 So he rode forth with Sir Tristram, and brought 
 him to a Castle, by daylight. There he made him eat, 
 and afterwards he gave him a drink, which as soon as 
 he had swallowed, made him fall asleep. 
 
 When it was night King Mark had him carried to 
 another Castle, and there he put him into a strong 
 
"FALSE HAST THOU EVEE BEEN." 287 
 
 prison, and appointed a man and a woman to give him 
 food and drink. 
 
 And there Sir Tristram remained a long while. 
 
 By and by Sir Tristram was missed, but no one 
 knew what had become of him. At last Queen Iseult 
 went quietly to a knight called Sir Sadok, and begged 
 him to seek out where he was. Finding that he had 
 been treacherously flung into prison, Sir Sadok went 
 to the good knight Sir Dinas, the Seneschal, and told 
 him of all King Mark's treason and felony. Then Sir 
 Dinas defied such a King, and said he would give up 
 his lands which he held of him, and all manner of 
 knights said the same thing. By the advice of Sir 
 Sadok and Sir Dinas they fortified all the towns and 
 castles within the country of Lyonesse, and assem- 
 bled all the people they could collect. 
 
 King Mark heard how Sir Sadok and Sir Dinas 
 were risen in the country of Lyonesse, and afraid lest 
 he should lose his kingdom, he at once began to 
 concoct fresh wiles and stratagems. This was what he 
 did. He caused counterfeit letters to be written from 
 the Pope, and made a strange clerk bear them to 
 himself; and these letters specified that King Mark 
 should make ready with his army to come to the Pope, 
 to help to go to Jerusalem, to make war upon the 
 Saracens. When the clerk arrived, King Mark sent 
 him with these letters to Sir Tristram, and bade, him 
 
288 KING AKTHUR AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 say thus : That if he would go to war against the 
 miscreants, he should be let out of prison, and restored 
 to all his power. For King Mark now wanted an 
 excuse to set Sir Tristram free. 
 
 When Sir Tristram understood this letter, he said 
 to the clerk: 
 
 "Ah, King Mark, ever hast thou been a traitor, 
 and ever wilt be! But, clerk, say thou thus unto 
 King Mark: Since the Pope hath sent for him, bid 
 him go thither himself, for tell him, traitor King as he 
 is, I will not go at his commaind, get I out of my prison 
 as I may. For I see I am well rewarded for my true 
 service!" 
 
 The clerk returned to King Mark, and told him of 
 Sir Tristram's answer. 
 
 "Well," said King Mark, "yet shall he be beguiled." 
 
 So he went into his chamber and counterfeited 
 other letters, and these specified that the Pope desired 
 Sir Tristram to come himself to make war upon the 
 miscreants. The clerk went again to Sir Tristram, 
 and took him these letters, but when he beheld them, 
 he quickly espied they were of King Mark's forging, 
 and was on his guard not to fall into any trap the 
 King might have set for him. 
 
 "Ah," said Sir Tristram, "false hast thou ever 
 been. King Mark, and so wilt thou end." 
 
 By that time four knights, who had been wounded 
 in a skirmish between King Mark's men and Sir 
 
"FALSE HAST THOU EVER BEEN." 389 
 
 Sadok's, reached the Castle of Tintagel. Directly they 
 saw King Mark they cried, "King, why dost thou not 
 flee, for all this country is clearly arisen against thee !" 
 which made the King very angry indeed. 
 
 In the meanwhile there came into the country Sir 
 Percival of Wales to seek Sir Tristram; and hearing 
 he was in prison, he speedily by his knightly power 
 delivered him. Then he rode straight to King Mark 
 and ^old him how he had rescued Sir Tristram. Also 
 he told the King he had done himself great shame by 
 putting Tristram into prison, for he was the knight of 
 most renown then living in all the world. 
 
 Sir Percival could not tarry in Cornwall, for he was 
 obliged to go into Wales. As soon as he had departed 
 King- Mark bethought himself of more treachery, 
 although he had promised Sir Percival never, by any 
 means to hurt Sir Tristram. He sent word at once to 
 Sir Dinas, to put down all the people he had raised, for 
 he said on oath that he was going himself to the Pope 
 of Rome, to do battle against the Saracens, — and that 
 was a fairer war than thus to raise the people against 
 their King. 
 
 Sir Dinas, believing what King Mark said, in all 
 haste dismissed the people, and every man departed to 
 his own home. This was just what King Mark had 
 hoped for. No sooner were they gone than, in spite 
 of his promise to Sir Percival, he had Tristram once 
 more seized by treachery. 
 
290 KING ARTHUR AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 When Queen Iseult knew that Sir Tristram was 
 again in prison she was as full of sorrow as any lady- 
 could be. But Sir Tristram managed to get a letter 
 sent to her, in which he said that if she would have a 
 vessel made ready, he would go with her to the realm 
 of England, where Arthur was King, and thus they 
 would escape the cruelty and treachery of King Mark. 
 He knew by this time that it was useless to trust any 
 longer to fair words or promises, and that the only 
 liope of safety for himself and Queen Iseult was to 
 leave Cornwall for ever. La Belle Iseult at once sent 
 back an answer> bidding Sir Tristram be of good 
 comfort, for she would have the vessel made ready, 
 and everything to carry out their purpose. 
 
 Then she sent to Sir Dinas, the Seneschal, arid to 
 Sir Sadok, praying them by any means to take King 
 Mark and keep him prisoner until the time when she 
 and Sir Tristram had departed to the realm of 
 England. Knowing King Mark's treachery. Sir Dinas 
 promised what the Queen asked, and as they devised it, 
 so it was done. Sir Tristram was delivered out of 
 prison, and immediately in all haste he and La Belle 
 Iseult took ship and went by water to England. 
 
 When Sir Lancelot knew of their coming he was 
 glad beyond measure, and he and Sir Tristram had 
 great joy of each other. He took Sir Tristram and La 
 Belle Iseult to Joyous Gard, his own castle, which he 
 had won with his own hands, and there he put them in 
 
"FALSE HAST THOU EVEE BEEN." 291 
 
 to possess it for their own. That castle was garnished 
 and furnished so that a royal King and Queen might 
 have sojourned there. And Sir Lancelot charged all 
 his people to honor them and love them, as he did 
 himself. 
 
 And there safe from the treacherous wiles of "King 
 Fox," after all their trials and dangers. Sir Tristram 
 and La Belle Iseult dwelt for many days in happiness 
 and peace. 
 
292 KING ARTHUE AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 The Quest of the Holy Grail. 
 
 THE SIEGE PERILOUS. 
 
 Now we will leave Sir Tristram of Lyonesse, and 
 speak of Sir Lancelot of the Lake, and Sir Galahad, 
 Sir Lancelot's son. 
 
 Before the time when Galahad was born there came 
 a hermit to King Arthur, on Whitsunday, as the 
 knights sat at the Round Table. Now there was one 
 seat at the Round Table which always stood empty, 
 and it was called "the Siege (or seat) Perilous." 
 When the hermit saw this seat he asked the King and 
 all the knights why it was empty. 
 
THE SIEGE PEEILOUS. 293 
 
 "There is never any one who shall sit in that seat 
 without being destroyed, except one person," was the 
 answer. 
 
 "Do you know who that is ?" asked the hermit. 
 
 "Nay," said Arthur, and all the knights, "we know 
 not who he is that shall sit therein." 
 
 "Then I know," said the hermit. "He that shall 
 sit there is not yet born; and this year, he that is to 
 sit there, in the Siege Perilous, shall be born. And he 
 shall win the Holy Grail." 
 
 When the hermit said this he departed from the 
 Court of King Arthur. 
 
 After this feast Sir Lancelot rode on his adventures, 
 till one day by chance he passed over the bridge of 
 Corbin, and there he saw the fairest tower he had ever 
 seen, and under it was a beautiful town full of people ; 
 and all the people, men and women, cried at once : 
 
 "Welcome, Sir Lancelot of the Lake, flower of all 
 knighthood, for by thee we shall be helped out of 
 danger." 
 
 Sir Lancelot asked why they thus called upon him, 
 whereupon the people replied that a fair lady was 
 cruelly shut up in a hot room in the tower, and no one 
 but himself could deliver her. Sir Lancelot, therefore, 
 went to the tower, and when he came to the chamber 
 where the lady was, the iron doors unlocked and 
 unbolted themselves. He went into the room, which 
 was as hot as any furnace, and there he found a beau- 
 
294 KING ARTHUR AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 tiful lady, and he took her by the hand., By enchant- 
 ment Queen Morgan le Fay and the Queen of North 
 Wales had put her into this hot room, because she was 
 called the fairest lady of that country. There she had 
 been five years, and never might be delivered out of her 
 pain until the time when the best knight of the world 
 had taken her by the hand. 
 
 When she found herself rescued from the widsed 
 spell, the lady asked Sir Lancelot to go with her into a 
 church, to give God thanks for her deliverance. This 
 having been done, and all the people, learned and un- 
 learned, having given thanks, they said to Lancelot, 
 "Sir Knight, since ye have delivered this lady, ye shall 
 deliver us from a serpent that is here in a tomb." 
 
 Sir Lancelot took his shield, and said, "Bring me 
 thither, and what I can do to please God and your- 
 selves, that will I do." 
 
 The people led him to the place, and there he saw 
 written on the tomb letters of gold, which said thus : 
 
 "Here shall come a leopard of King's blood, and he 
 shall slay this serpent, and this leopard shall have a son, 
 a lion, in this foreign country, the which lion shall pass 
 all other knights." 
 
 Sir Lancelot lifted up the tomb, and out sprang a 
 horrible and fiendish dragon, spitting fire from his 
 mouth. The dragon flew at Sir Lancelot, but the 
 knight fell upon him with his sword, and at last, after 
 a long fight, with great pain he slew him. 
 
THE SIEGE PEEILOUS. 
 
 295 
 
 Therewith came King Pelles, the good and noble 
 knight, and saluted Sir Lancelot, and he him again. 
 
 "Fair knight," said the King, "what is your 
 name?" 
 
 "Sir, wit you well, my name is Lancelot of the 
 Lake." 
 . "And my name," said the King, "is Pelles, King of 
 
306 KING ARTHUR AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 this country; and I am of the family of Joseph of 
 Arimathea." 
 
 Then each made much of the other, and so they 
 went into the Castle to take their repast. And straight- 
 way there came in a dove at a window, and in her 
 mouth there seemed a little censer of gold; imme- 
 diately there was such a savor as if all the spicery of 
 the world had been there, and forthwith on the table 
 were all manner of meats and drinks that they could 
 think of. 
 
 Then in came a damsel, passing young and fair, and 
 she bore a vessel of gold betwixt her hands. The 
 King knelt down devoutly and said his prayers, and 
 so did all who were there. 
 
 "What may this mean?" said Sir Lancelot. 
 
 "That is the most precious thing that ever living 
 man hath," said King Pelles. "And when the fame 
 of this thing goeth about, the Round Table shall be 
 broken. Wit thou well, this is the Holy Grail that ye 
 have seen." 
 
 Now King Pelles had a daughter, as fair a lady, and « 
 young, and as wise as any at that time living; her 
 name was Elaine. When Sir Lancelot slew the 
 dragon, King Pelles knew that the words written in 
 letters of gold on the tomb would come true. For 
 "the leopard of King's blood" who came into the for- 
 eign country meant Sir Lancelot himself; and "the 
 
HOW GALAHAD WAS MADE KNIGHT. 297 
 
 lion" who was to surpass all other knights was Sir 
 Galahad, who was no other than the son of Sir Lance- 
 lot of the Lake and the Lady Elaine, daughter of King 
 Pelles. 
 
 HOW GALAHAD WAS MADE KNIGHT. 
 
 Fifteen years had gone by since that Whitsunday 
 when King Arthur and his knights held festival at 
 Camelot, and the hermit had foretold who it was that 
 was to sit in the Siege Perilous. And for all those 
 years the Siege Perilous had still stood empty. 
 
 Once again it was the vigil of Pentecost, when all 
 the fellowship of the Round Table had come to Came- 
 lot to renew their vows and take part in the holy serv- 
 ice. The tables were set ready for the feast when 
 right into the hall entered a fair gentlewoman, who had 
 ridden full fast, for her horse was covered with sweat. 
 
 She alighted, and came before King Arthur, and 
 saluted him; and he said, "Damsel, God bless thee!" 
 
 "Sir," she said, "I pray you tell me where Sir 
 Lancelot is." 
 
 "Yonder you may see him," said the King. 
 
 Then she went to Lancelot, and said, "Sir Lancelot, 
 I salute you on King Pelles' behalf, and I require you 
 to come with me to a forest hereby." 
 
 Sir Lancelot asked her with whom she dwelt. 
 
 "I dwell with King Pelles," she answered. 
 
 "What will you with me?" asked Sir Lancelot. 
 
398 KING AETHUR AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 "You shall know when you come thither." 
 
 "Well," said he, "I will gladly go with you." 
 
 So Sir Lancelot bade his squire saddle his horse, and 
 bring his arms, and in all haste the man did his 
 command. 
 
 Then came Queen Guinevere to Lancelot, and said, 
 "Will yoti leave us at this high feast?" 
 
 "Madam," said the gentlewoman, "wit you well, 
 he shall be with you again to-morrow by dinner-time." 
 
 "If I knew he would not be with us here to-morrow," 
 said the Queen, "he should not go with you by my 
 good-will." 
 
 Right so departed Sir Lancelot with the gentle- 
 woman. They rode until they came to a forest, and 
 into a great valley, where they saw an abbey of nuns. 
 A squire was ready who opened the gates, so they 
 entered and descended off their horses, and a fair 
 company came about Sir Lancelot, and welcomed him, 
 and were passing glad of his coming. 
 
 They led him into the abbess's chamber, and un- 
 armed him, and there he found two of his cousins, Sir 
 Bors and Sir Lionel, who were greatly rejoiced and 
 astonished to see him. 
 
 "Sir," said Sir Bors, "what adventure hath brought 
 thee hither, for we thought to-morrow to have found 
 thee at Camelot ?" 
 
 "Truly," said Sir Lancelot, "a gentlewoman brought 
 me hither, but I know not the cause." 
 
HOW GALAHAD WAS MADE KNIGHT. 299 
 
 In the meanwhile, as they thus stood talking together, 
 there came twelve nuns, who brought with them a boy 
 of about fifteen years old, so beautiful and well made, 
 that scarcely in the world could man find his match. 
 And all those ladies were weeping. 
 
 "Sir," they said, "we bring you here this child, 
 Galahad, whom we have nourished, and we pray you to 
 make him a knight; for of no worthier man's hand 
 could he receive the order of knighthood." 
 
 Sir Lancelot beheld that young squire, and saw him 
 seemly and demure as a dove, with all manner of good 
 features, so that he thought he had never seen a man of 
 his age so fair of face and form. 
 
 Then said Sir Lancelot, "Cometh this desire of 
 himself?" 
 
 And the boy and all the nuns said "Yea!" 
 
 "Then shall he receive the high order of knighthood 
 to-morrow at the reverence of the high feast," said 
 Lancelot. 
 
 That night Sir Lancelot had passing good cheer, 
 and on the morrow, at the hour of dawn, at Galahad's 
 desire, he made him knight. 
 
 "God make you a good man," said Sir Lancelot, 
 "for beauty faileth you not, as any that liveth. Now, 
 fair sir, will you come with me to the Court of King 
 Arthur?" 
 
 "Nay," said the boy, "I will not go with you at this 
 time." 
 
300 KING AETHUE AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 So Sir Lancelot departed from the Abbey, and took 
 his two cousins with him, and they came to Camelot by 
 nine o'clock in the morning on Whitsunday. By that 
 time the King and the Queen had gone to the minster 
 to hear the service. When the King and all the 
 knights came back, the Barons saw that the seats of 
 the Round Table were all written about with gold 
 letters — -here one ought to sit, and here ought another 
 to sit. 
 
 Thus they went along until they came to the Siege 
 Perilous, where they found letters of gold, newly 
 ■vritten, which said : 
 
 "Four hundfed winters and -fifty-four after the 
 passion of our Lord Jesus Christ, ought this Siege 
 to he ailed." 
 
 Then they all said, "This is a marvellous thing,, 
 and an adventurous." 
 
 "By heaven it is," said Sir Lancelot; and then he 
 counted the period of the writing from the time of 
 our Lord to that day. "It seems to me," he said, "this 
 siege ought to be fiUed this same day, for this is the 
 Feast of Pentecost after the four hundredth and fifty- 
 fourth year. And if it would please all parties, I coun- 
 sel that none of these letters be seen this day, until he 
 Cometh who ought to achieve this adventure." 
 
 Then they ordered a cloth of silk to be brougfit tq 
 
HOW GALAHAD WAS MADE KNIGHT. 301 
 
 cover these letters in the Siege Perilous, after which 
 King Arthur bade them haste to dinner. 
 
 "Sir," said Sir Kay, the steward, "if you go now 
 to your meat, you will break the old custom of your 
 Court. For you are not used on this day to sit down 
 to table before you have seen some adventure." 
 
 "You speak truth," said the King, "but I had so 
 great joy of Sir Lancelot, and of his cousins, who are 
 come to the Court whole and sound, that I bethought 
 me not of my old custom." 
 
 As they stood speaking, in came a squire. 
 
 "Sir," said he to the King, "I bring to you marvel- 
 lous tidings." 
 
 "What are they?" said the King. 
 
 "Sir, there is here beneath, at the river, a great 
 stone, which I saw float above the water, and therein I 
 saw sticking a sword." 
 
 "I will see that marvel," said the King. 
 
 So all the knights went with him, and when they 
 came to the river, they found there a stone floating, as 
 it were of red marble, and therein stuck a fair and rich 
 sword, in the pommel of which were precious stones, 
 wrought with subtle letters of gold. 
 
 Then the Barons read the letters, which said in this 
 
 wise: 
 
 "Never shall man take me hence hut he by whose 
 side I ought to hang, and he shall be the best knight of 
 
30'^ KING AETHUE AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 When King Arthur saw these letters he said to 
 Sir Lancelot : 
 
 "Fair sir, this sword ought to be yours, for I am 
 sure you are the best knight in the world." 
 
 But Sir Lancelot answered full soberly : 
 
 "CejTtes, sir, it is not my sword; also, wit you 
 well, I have no hardihood to set my hand to it, for it 
 belongeth not to hang by my side. Also, whoever 
 assayetlj to take that sword, and faileth of it, he shall 
 receive from it a wound, of which long afterwards he 
 shall not be whole. And I will that ye take note that 
 this same day the adventure of the Holy Grail will 
 begin." 
 
 MARVELS, AND GREATER MARVELS. 
 
 Then King Arthur asked his nephew Sir Gawaine 
 to try to draw the sword from the stone in the river. 
 But Sir; Gawaine said he could not do it. Then the 
 King commanded him to make the attempt. 
 
 "Sir," said Gawaine, "since you command me I 
 will obey." Therewith he took the sword by the han- 
 dle, but he could not stir it. 
 
 "I thank you," said the King. 
 
 "My lord Sir Gawaine," said Sir Lancelot, "now 
 wit you well, this sword shall touch you so sore that 
 you shall wish you Had never set your Hand to it, for 
 the best castle of this realm." 
 
MARVELS, AliTD GREATER MARVELS. 303 
 
 "I could not withstay my uncle's will and com- 
 mand," said Gawaine. 
 
 King Arthur hearing this, repented greatly what he 
 had done, nevertheless he asked Sir Percival to assay 
 it, for his love. 
 
 "Gladly, to bear Sir Gawaine fellowship," replied Sir 
 Percival, and therewith he set his hand on the sword, 
 and drew it strongly, but he could not move it. Then 
 there were others who dared to be so bold as to set 
 their hands to it. 
 
 "Now you may go to your dinner," said Sir Kay 
 to the King, "for a marvellous adventure have you 
 seen." 
 
 So the King and all went back to the Palace, and 
 every knight knew his own place, and sat therein, and 
 young men who were knights served them. 
 
 When they were served, and the seats filled, save 
 only the Siege Perilous, there suddenly befell a mar- 
 vellous adventure — all the doors and windows shut 
 of themselves. Yet the hall was not greatly darkened 
 because of this, and they were one and all amazed. 
 
 King Arthur was the first to speak. 
 
 "Fair fellows and lords," he said, "we have seen 
 this day marvels, but before night I expect we shall see 
 greater marvels." 
 
 In the meanwhile came in a good old man, very 
 ancient, clothed all in white, and no knight knew from 
 whence he came. He brought with him a young 
 
304 KING ARTHUE AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 knight, also on foot, in red armor, without sword of 
 shield, but with only a scabbard hanging by his side. 
 
 "Peace be with you, lords!" said the old man. 
 Then, to Arthur, "Sir, I bring here a young knight, 
 who is of King's lineage, and of the kindred of Joseph 
 of Arimathea, whereby the marvels of this Court and 
 of strange realms, shall be fully accomplished." 
 
 The King was very pleased at his words, and said 
 to the old man, "Sir, you are right welcome, and the 
 young knight with you." 
 
 The old man made the young knight take off his 
 armor, and under it he was clad in a coat of red silk, 
 and the old man put on him a mantle furred with 
 ermine. Then saying to the young knight, "Sir, fol- 
 low me," he led him straight to the Siege Perilous, 
 beside which sat Sir Lancelot. The good man lifted 
 up the silken cloth, and underneath it hfe found letters 
 which said thus : 
 
 '/This is the seat of Galahad, the high prince." 
 
 "Sir, wit you well that place is yours," said the old 
 man, and he made him sit down surely in that seat. 
 
 Then the young knight said to the old man, "Sir, 
 you may now go your way, for you have done well 
 what you were commanded to do. And commend me 
 to my grandsire, King Pelles, and say to him on my 
 behalf that I will come and see him as soon as ever I 
 can." 
 
 So the good man departed, and there were waiting 
 
MARVELS, AND GREATER MARVELS. 305 
 
 for him twenty noble squires, and they took their 
 horses and went their way. 
 
 All the Knights of the Round Table marvelled 
 greatly at Galahad, because he had dared to sit there in 
 that Siege Perilous, and he was so tender of age. 
 They knew not from whence he came, but only that 
 God had sent him, and they said : 
 
 "This is he by whom the Holy Grail shall be 
 achieved, for never any one but he sat in that place 
 without mischief befalling him." 
 
 But Sir Lancelot beheld his son, and had great joy 
 of him. 
 
 "By my life, this young knight shall come to great 
 honor," said Sir Bors to his companions. 
 
 There was great excitement in all the Palace, so that 
 the news came to Queen Guinevere. She marvelled 
 what knight it could be who ventured to sit in the 
 Siege Perilous. Then many told her that he much 
 resembled Sir Lancelot. 
 
 "I can well' imagine,"' said the Queen, "that he is 
 son of Sir Lancelot and King Pelles' daughter, and his 
 name is Galahad. I would fain see him, for he must 
 needs be a noble man, for so is his father." 
 
 When the meal was over, so that King Arthur 
 and all were risen, the King went to the Siege Perilous, 
 and lifted up the cloth, and found there the name of 
 Galahad. He showed it to Sir Gawaine, saying: 
 
 "Fair nephew, now we have among us Sir Galahad, 
 
306 KING AETHUR AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 who shall bring honor to us all; and on pain of my 
 life he shall achieve the Holy Grail, right so as Sir 
 Lancelot hath given us to understand." 
 
 Then King Arthur went to Galahad, and said, "Sir, 
 you are welcome, for you shall move many good 
 knights to the Quest of the Holy GraiT, and you shall 
 achieve that which never knight could do." Then the 
 King took him by the hand, and went down from 
 the Palace to show Galahad the adventure of the stone 
 in the river. 
 
 Queen Guinevere, hearing this, came after with 
 many ladies, and showed them the stone where it 
 moved on the water. 
 
 "Here is as great a marvel as ever I saw," said 
 King Arthur to Galahad, "and right good knights have 
 assayed and failed." 
 
 "Sir, that is no marvel," said Galahad, "for this 
 adventure is not theirs, but mine, and with the certainty 
 of this sword, I brought none with me; for here by 
 my side hangeth the scabbard." He laid his hand on 
 the sword, and lightly drew it out of the stone, and 
 put it in the sheath. "Now it goeth better than it did 
 before." 
 
 "God will send you a shield," said the King. 
 
 "Now have I that sword which was sometime that 
 good knight's, Balin the Savage," said Galahad, "and 
 he was a passing good man of his hands. With this 
 sword he slew his unknown brother Balan, and that 
 
MARVELS, AND GEEATEE MAEVELS. 307 
 
 was a great pity, for he was a good knight ; and each 
 slew the other, not knowing they were brothers, be- 
 cause of a dolorous stroke that Balan gave my grand- 
 father, King Pelles, which is not yet whole, nor shall be 
 till I heal him." 
 
 At that moment the King and all espied a lady on a 
 white palfrey, who came riding down the river towards 
 them. She saluted the King and the Queen, and 
 asked if Sir Lancelot were there. He answered him- 
 self, "I am here, fair lady." 
 
 Then she said, all weeping: 
 
 "How your great doing is changed since this day 
 in the morning!" 
 
 "Damsel, why say you so?" said Lancelot. 
 
 "I say the truth," said the damsel, "for this morning 
 you were the best knight in the world ; but who should 
 say so now would be a liar, for now there is one better 
 than you. And this is well proved by the adventure of 
 the sword, whereto you dared not set your hand; and 
 hence comes the change and leaving of your name. 
 Wherefore I bid you remember that you shall not ween 
 from henceforth that you are the best knight of the 
 world." 
 
 "As touching that," said Sir Lancelot, "I know 
 well I was never the best." 
 
 "Yes," said the damsel; "that you were; and are 
 so yet, of any sinful man of the world. And, Sir 
 King, Nacien the hermit sendeth thee word that there 
 
308 KING AETHrR AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 shall befall thee the greatest honor that ever befell 
 King in Britain. And I will tell you wherefore. 
 This day the Holy Grail shall appear in thy house, and 
 feed thee, and all thy fellowship of the Round Table." 
 So the damsel departed and went back the same way 
 that she had come. 
 
 THE LAST TOURNAMENT. 
 
 "Now," said King Arthur, "I am sure that all ye 
 of the Round Table will depart on this quest of the 
 Holy Gratil, and never shall I see the whole of you 
 again all together. Therefore will I see you all 
 together in the meadow of Camelot, to joust and to 
 tourney, that after your death men may speak of it, 
 that such knights were wholly together on such a 
 day." 
 
 To that counsel and the King's request they all 
 agreed, and put on their armor that belonged to 
 jousting. But the King did this with the intent of 
 seeing Galahad proved, for the King deemed he would 
 not lightly come to the Court again after his departing. 
 
 So they all assembled in the meadow, and the 
 Queen was in a tower with all her Jadies to behold that 
 tournament. Then Galahad, at the King's efttreaty, 
 put on a noble cuirass, and also his helm, but shield 
 he would take none, not for any entreaty of the 
 King. 
 
THE LAST TOUENAMEifT. 309 
 
 Sir Gawaine and the other knights prayed him to 
 take a spear, and this he did. Then taking his place 
 in the midst of the meadow he began to break spears 
 marvellously, so that all men wondered at him. For 
 he there surpassed all other knights, and in a little 
 while had thrown down many good Knights of the 
 Round Table. But Sir Lancelot and Sir Percival he 
 did not overthrow. 
 
 King Arthur, at Queen Guinevere's request, made 
 him alight and unlace his helm, so that the Queen 
 might see his face. And when she beheld him she 
 said, "Truly I dare well say that Sir Lancelot is his 
 father, for never two men were more alike; therefore 
 it is no marvel if he be of great prowess." 
 
 A lady that stood by the Queen said : 
 
 "Madam, ought he of right to be so good a knight?" 
 
 "Yes, in truth," said the Queen, "for both from his 
 
 father's and his mother's side he is come of the best 
 
 knights of the world, and of the highest lineage. I 
 
 ' dare affirm that Sir Lancelot and Sir Galahad are the 
 
 greatest gentlemen of the world." 
 
 Then the King and all the nobles went home to 
 Camelot, and after they had been to evensong in the 
 great minster, they went to supper; and every knight 
 sat in his own place as they had done before. 
 
 Suddenly they heard cracking and rolling of thun- 
 der, as .if the place would have been riven. In the 
 midst of this blast entered a sunbeam, clearer by seven 
 
315 ivlXG ARTtttJit AND HIS KNIGHf S. 
 
 times than ever they saw by day, and all their faces 
 shone with a divine light. Then began every knight 
 to look at each other, and each seemed fairer than 
 any one, had seemed before. Not a knight could speak 
 a single word for a great while, so they looked every 
 man 5t each other, as if they had been dumb. 
 
 Then there entered into the hall the Holy Grail, 
 covered with white samite, but none could see it, nor 
 who bore it. And all the hall was filled with good 
 odors, and every knight had such meats and drinks 
 as he liked best; and when the Holy Grail had been 
 borne through the hall, then the holy vessel departed 
 suddenly, so that they knew not what became of it. 
 
 After it had gone they all had breath to speak, and 
 King Arthur gave thanks to God for the great favor 
 He had sent them. 
 
 "Now," said Sir Gawaine, "we have been served 
 this day with what meats and drinks we thought of, 
 but one thing hath failed us, — we could not see the 
 Holy Grail, it was covered with such care. Therefore 
 I will here make a vow, that to-morrow without longer 
 abiding I shall undertake the Quest of the Holy Grail. 
 I shall hold out a twelvemonth and a day, or more, if 
 need be, and never shall I return again to the Court 
 till I have seen it more openly than it hath been seen 
 here. And if I do not succeed, I shall return again as 
 one that cannot act against the will of heaven." 
 
 When the Knights of the Round Table heard what 
 
THE LAST TOUENAMBNT. 311 
 
 Sir Gawaine said, most of them rose up, and made 
 the same sort of vow as Sir Gawaine had made. 
 
 King Arthur was greatly displeased at this, for he 
 knew well they might not gainsay their vows. 
 
 "Alas," he said to Sir Gawaine, "you have almost 
 slain me with the vow and promise you have made. 
 For through you, ye have reft me of the fairest fel- 
 lowship, and the truest of knighthood that ever were 
 seen together in any realm of the world. For when 
 my knights depart hence I am sure that never more 
 will they all meet together in this world, for many 
 of them shall die in the Quest. And so I repent it, 
 for I have loved- them as well as my life, wherefore 
 it shall grieve me right sore, the breaking up of this 
 fellowship. For this is an old custom that I have had 
 kept." 
 
 And therewith his eyes filled with tears. 
 
 "Oh, Gawaine, Gawaine," he said, "you have set me 
 in great sorrow. For I doubt much that my true 
 fellowship shall ever more meet here again." 
 
 "Comfort yourself," said Lancelot, "for if we die 
 in the Quest it shall be to us as a great honor, and 
 much more than if we had died in any other place ; for, 
 early or late, of death we are sure." 
 
 "Ah, Lancelot," said the King, "the great love I 
 have had for you all the days of my life maketh me to 
 say such doleful words. For never Christian King 
 had so many worthy men at his table, as I have had 
 
313 KING AETHUE AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 this day at the Round Table, and that is my great 
 sorrow." 
 
 When the Queen, ladies, and gentlewomen knew 
 these tidings they had such sorrow and heaviness that 
 no tongue could tell it, for those knights had holden 
 them in honor and love. But among aU the other? 
 Queen Guinevere made most sorrow. 
 
 "I marvel," said she, "that my lord, the King, 
 would suffer them to depart from him." 
 
 Thus all the Court were troubled, because of the 
 departing of those knights. Some of the ladies who 
 loved knights, wanted to go vvith their husbands and 
 lovers, and would have done so, ,had not an aged 
 knight in religious clothing come among them. 
 
 "Fair lords, who have sworn to the Quest of the 
 Holy Grail," he said, "Nacien the hermit thus sendeth 
 you word, that none in this Quest lead lady or gen- 
 tlewoman, for it is a hard and high service. And, 
 moreover, I warn you plainly that he who is not clean 
 of his sins shall not see these mysteries." 
 
 After this, the Queen came to Galahad, and asked 
 him whence he was, and of what country. He told 
 her. 
 
 "And son unto Lancelot?" she asked; but to this 
 he said neither yea nor nay. 
 
 "Truly," said the Queen, "of your father you need 
 not be ashamed, for he is the goodliest knight, and 
 come of the best men of the .world, on both sides of 
 
THE LAST TOUENAMENT. 313 
 
 a race of Kings. Wherefore you ought of right to 
 
 be of your deeds a passing good man, — and certainly 
 
 you resemble him much." 
 
 Galahad was a little abashed at this, and said: 
 "Madam, since you know it for fcertain, why did you 
 
 ask me? For he that is my father shall be known 
 
 openly, and in good time." 
 
 Then they all went to rest. And in honor of 
 
 Galahad's greatness and high race he was led into King 
 
 Arthur's chamber, and rested on the King's own bed. 
 
 As soon as it was day the King arose, for he had 
 no rest all that night for sorrow. Then he went to 
 Gawaine and Sir Lancelot, who had arisen to go to 
 church. 
 
 "Ah, Gawaine, Gawaine," said the King, "you have 
 betrayed me. For never shall my Court be amended 
 by you; but you will never be as sorry for me as I 
 am for you." And therewith the tears began to run 
 down his face. "Ah, knight. Sir Lancelot," he said, 
 "I pray thee counsel me, for I would this Quest were 
 undone, if it could be." 
 
 "Sir," said Lancelot, "ye saw yesterday so many 
 worthy knights who were then sworn so that they 
 cannot leave it in any sort of way." 
 
 "That I know well," said the King. "But I grieve 
 so at their departing that I know well no manner of 
 joy shall ever cure me." 
 
314 KING AETHUE AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 Then the King and the Queen went to the minster. 
 
 Lancelot and Gawaine commanded their men to 
 bring their arms, and when they were all armed save 
 their shields and their helms they were ready in the 
 same wise to go to the minster to hear the service. 
 
 After the service the King wished to know how 
 many had undertaken the Quest of the Holy Grail ; 
 and they found by counting, it was a hundred and fifty, 
 and all were Knights of the Round Table. 
 
 Then they put on their helms ready to depart, and 
 commended them all wholly to the Queen, and there 
 was weeping and great sorrow. And Queen Guinevere 
 went into her chamber, so that no one should see her 
 great grief. 
 
 Sir Lancelot missing the Queen, went to look for 
 her, and when she saw him, she cried aloud : 
 
 "O, Sir Lancelot, you have forsaken us! You put 
 me to death thus to leave my lord !" 
 
 "Ah, madam," said Sir Lancelot, "I pray you hz 
 not displeased, for I shall come again as soon as I can 
 in accordance with my honor." ^ 
 
 "Alr.s," said she, "that ever I saw you! But He 
 that suffered death upon the Cross for all mankind be 
 your good conduct and safety, and that of all the 
 whole fellowship !" 
 
 Right so departed Sir Lancelot, and found his 
 companions who awaited his coming. They mounted 
 their Jiorses, and rode through the streets ef Camelot,, 
 
THE LAST TOUENAMENT. 
 
 315 
 
 and there was weeping of the rich and poor, and the 
 King turned away, and could not speak for weeping. 
 
 So the Knights of the Round Table rode forth on 
 the Quest of the Holy Grail. 
 
 That night they rested in a Castle called Vagon, 
 where the lord was a good old man, and made them 
 
 the best cheer he could. On the morrow they all 
 agreed they should each separate from the other. 
 So the next day, with weeping and mourning, they 
 departed, and every knight took the way that seemed 
 to him best. 
 
316 KING ARTHUE AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 SIR GALAHAD'S WHITE SHIELD, 
 
 Now Galahad was yet without a shield, and he rode 
 four days without adventure. 
 
 On the fourth day after evensong he came to an 
 abbey of white friars, and there he was received with 
 great reverence, and led to a chamber, and unarmed. 
 Then he was aware of two Knights of the Round 
 Table, one was King Bagdemagus, the other was Sir 
 Uwaine; and they were very pleased to see him. 
 
 "Sirs," said Galahad, "what adventures brought 
 you hither ?" 
 
 "It is told us," they replied, "that in this place is 
 a shield that no man may bear about his neck, without 
 being hurt or dead within three days, or else maimed 
 for ever." 
 
 "I shall bear it to-morrow to assay this strange 
 adventure," added King Bagdemagus to Galahad, 
 "and if I cannot achieve this adventure of the shield, 
 ye shall take it upon you, for I am sure you shall not 
 fail." 
 
 "I agree right well to that," said Galahad, "for I 
 have no shield." 
 
 On the morrow they arose, and after hearing 
 service, King Bagdemagus asked where the adventur- 
 ous shield was. A monk at once led him behind an 
 
SIK GALAHAD'S WHITE SHIELD. 317 
 
 altar, where the shield hung. It was white as any 
 snow, but in the midst was a red cross. 
 
 "Sir," said the monk, "this shield ought not to 
 hang round the neck of any knight, unless he be the 
 worthiest knight of the world ; therefore I counsel you 
 knights to be well advised." 
 
 "Well," said King Bagdemagus, "I know well I 
 am not the best knight of the world, but yet I shall 
 assay to bear it." 
 
 So he bore it out of the monastery, saying to 
 Galahad, "If it please you, I pray you abide here still, 
 till you know how I shall speed." 
 
 "I will await you here," said Galahad. 
 
 King Bagdemagus took with him a squire, to carry 
 back tidings to Galahad how he sped. When they 
 had ridden about two miles they came to a fair valley 
 before a hermitage, and there they saw coming from 
 that direction a goodly knight, in white armor, horse 
 and all. He came as fast as his horse could run, 
 with his spear in the rest, and King Bagdemagus 
 dressed his spear against him, and broke it upon the 
 white knight. But the other struck him so hard that 
 he shattered the mail, and thrust him through the right 
 shoulder, for just there the shield did not cover him, 
 and so he bore him from his horse. 
 
 Then the knight alighted, and took the white shield 
 from Bagdemagus, saying : 
 
 "Knigh t, thou hast done f-hvcplf 'V'-o at folly, for this 
 
318 KING AETHUE AND HIS KNIGHTS.' 
 
 shield ought not to be borne but by him that shall have 
 no peer that liveth." 
 
 Then he came to King Bagdemagus' squire and 
 said, "Bear this shield to the good knight Sir Galahad, 
 whom thou left in the abbey, and greet him well from 
 me. 
 
 "Sir," said the squire, "what is your name?" 
 
 "Take thou no heed of my name," said the knight, 
 "for it is not for thee to know, nor any earthly 
 man." 
 
 "Now, fair sir," said the squire, "for the love of 
 heaven, tell me for what cause this shield may not be 
 borne, without the bearer thereof coming to mischief." 
 
 "Since thou hast conjured me so," said the knight, 
 "this shield belongeth to no man but Galahad." 
 
 The squire went to King Bagdemagus and asked 
 if he were sore wounded or not. 
 
 "Yea, forsooth," he said, "I shall hardly escape 
 death." 
 
 The squire fetched his horse, and took him with 
 great pain to an abbey. There he was gently unarmed, 
 and laid in a bed, and his wounds were looked to. 
 And there he I^y a long while, and hardly escaped 
 with life. 
 
 The squire carried the shield to Galahad, with the 
 knight's message. 
 
 "Now blessed be God and fortune," said Galahad. 
 Then he asked for his armor, and mounted his horse. 
 
SIE GALAHAD'S WHITE SHIELD. 319 
 
 and hung the white shield about his neck, and bade 
 them good-bye. Sir Uwaine said he would bear him 
 fellowship if it pleased him, but Galahad replied that 
 he could not do so, for he must go alone except for 
 the squire that went with him. 
 
 Within a little while Sir Galahad came near the 
 hermitage, and there was the white knight awaiting 
 him. Each saluted the other courteously, and then the 
 strange knight told him the legend of the white shield. 
 
 It had been made over four hundred years ago by 
 Joseph of Arimathea for a King called Evelake, who 
 was at war with the Saracens. On the eve of a great 
 battle Joseph of Arimathea went to King Evelake, and 
 showed him the right belief of the Christian faith, to 
 which he agreed with all his heart. Then this shield 
 was made for King Evelake, and through it he got 
 the better of his enemies. For when he went into 
 battle there was a cloth placed over the shield, and when 
 he found himself in the greatest peril, he drew aside 
 the cloth, and then his enemies saw the cross, and were 
 all discomfited. 
 
 Afterwards befell a strange marvel, for the cross 
 on the shield vanished away, so that no man knew 
 what became of it. 
 
 At "the end of the war King Evelake was baptized, 
 and so were most of the people in his city. And when 
 Joseph of Arimathea departed. King Evelake insisted 
 on going with him, whether he would or not. So it 
 
330 KING AETHUE AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 chanced they came to this land, which at that time was 
 called Great Britain. 
 
 Not long after Joseph of Arimathea fell ill, and 
 was like to die. King Evelake was deeply grieved. 
 
 and prayed him to leave some tokenof remembrance. 
 "That will I do full gladly," said the holy man, and he 
 bade him. brit^ the shield, which was now quite white. 
 
ADVENTtTRE OP THE CROWN" OP GOLD. 321 
 
 Then with his own blood Joseph of Arimathea traced 
 on it a red cross. 
 
 "Now you may see a remembrance that I love you," 
 he said, "for you shall never see this shield but you shall 
 think of me. And it shall be always as fresh as it is 
 now. And never shall any man bear this shield round 
 his neck but he shall repent it, until the time that Gala- 
 had the good knight bear it, and the last of my lineage 
 shall have it about his neck, and shall do many marvel- 
 lous deeds." 
 
 "Now," said King Evelake, "where shall I put this 
 shield, that this worthy knight may have it ?" 
 
 "You shall leave it there where Nacien the hermit 
 shall be put after his death. For thither shall that 
 good knight come the fifth day after he receive the 
 order of knighthood." 
 
 "So that day which they appointed is this time 
 that you have received the shield," said the knight to 
 Galahad. "And in the same abbey lieth Nacien the 
 hermit. And you are a grandson of King Pelles, who 
 is of the race of Joseph of Arimathea." 
 
 And with that the White Knight vanished away. 
 
 THE ADVENTURE OF THE CROWN OF GOLD. 
 
 As soon as the squire heard what the White Knight 
 said to Sir Galahad he alighted off his hackney, and 
 kneeling down at Galahad's feet,^ prayed that he might 
 
323 KING ARTHUR A-ND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 go with him till he had made him knight. "And that 
 order, by the grace of God, shall be well held by me," 
 he added. So Sir Galahad granted his petition. Then 
 they returned to the abbey where they had come from, 
 and great joy was made of Sir Galahad, and there he 
 rested that night. 
 
 On the morrow he knighted the squire, and asked 
 him his name, and of what kindred he was come. 
 
 "Sir," said he, "men call me Melias of the Isle, and 
 I am a son of the King of Denmark." 
 
 "Now, fair sir," said Galahad, "since ye be come 
 of Kings and Queens, look you that knighthood be well 
 set in you, for you ought to be a mirror to all chivalry." 
 
 "Sir, you say truth," said Melias. "But since you 
 have made me a knight you must by rights grant me 
 my first desire, if it is reasonable." 
 
 "That is true," said Galahad. 
 
 "Then will you suffer me to ride with you in this 
 Quest of the Holy Grail?" asked Melias. 
 
 And Galahad granted it. 
 
 His armor, his spear, and his horse were then 
 brought to Sir Melias, but Sir Galahad and he rode 
 forth all that week before they found any adventure. 
 
 On a Monday, in the morning, after leaving an 
 abbey, they came to a cross which parted two ways, 
 and on that cross were letters written, which said thus : 
 
 "Now ye kinghts-errant, who go to seek knights 
 adventurous, see here two ways: one way it is for- 
 
ADVEFTUEE OP THE CEOWN OF GOLD. 32U 
 
 bidden thee to go, for none shall come out of that way 
 again, unless he be a good man and a worthy knight ; 
 if thou go this way on the left hand, thou shalt not 
 there lightly win prowess, for thou shalt in this way 
 be soon assayed." 
 
 "Sir," said Melias to Galahad, "if it please you to 
 suffer me to take this way on the left hand, tell me, 
 for there I shall well test my strength." 
 
 "It were better ye rode not that way," said 
 Galahad, "for I deem I should escape better in that 
 way than you." 
 
 "Nay, my lord, I pray you let me have that 
 adventure." 
 
 "Take it, in heaven's name," said Galahad. 
 
 Then Melias rode into an old forest, through which 
 he travelled two days and more, till he came to a green 
 meadow, where there was a fair lodge of boughs. 
 And he espied in the lodge a chair, wherein was a 
 crown of gold, subtly wrought. Also, there were 
 cloths spread upon the ground, on which were set many 
 delicious meats. 
 
 Sir Melias beheld this adventure, and thought it 
 marvellous. He had no hunger, but he had great 
 desire of the crown of gold, so he stooped down, took 
 it up, and rode his way with it. Soon he saw a knight 
 come riding after him, who said : 
 
 "Knight, set down that crown of gold, which is 
 not yours, and therefore defend yourself !" 
 
324 KINTi ARTHUR AFD HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 "Fair Lord of Heaven, help and save Thy new- 
 made knight !" prayed Sir Melias. 
 
 Then they urged on their horses as fast as they 
 coul^d, and the other knight smote Sir Mehas through 
 hauberk, and through the left side, so that he fell to 
 the earth nearly dead. The knight took the crown 
 of gold and went his way, and Sir Melias lay still and 
 had no power to stir. 
 
 In the meanwhile, by good fortune, came Sir 
 Galahad, and found him there in peril of death. 
 
 "Ah, Melias, who hath wounded you?" he said. 
 "It would have been better to have ridden the other 
 way." 
 
 "Sir, for God's love let me not die in this forest," 
 said Melias, "but bear me to the abbey here beside, 
 that I may be confessed and have heavenly comfort." 
 
 "It shall be done," said Galahad; "but where is he 
 that hath wounded you ?" 
 
 At that moment Sir Galahad heard through the trees 
 a loud cry — "Knight, keep thee from me !" 
 
 "Ah, sir, beware!" said Melias, "for that is he who 
 hath slain me." 
 
 "Sir Knight, come at your peril!" answered Sir 
 Galahad. 
 
 Then each turned towards the other, and they came 
 together as fast as their horses could run, and Galahad 
 smote the stranger so that his spear went through his 
 shoulder, and bore him, down off his horse, and in the 
 
ADVENTURE OF THE CEOWK OP GOLD. 325 
 
 falling Galahad's spear broke. With that, out came 
 another knight from among the trees, and broke a spear 
 upon Galahad, before ever he could turn. Then Gala- 
 had drew out his sword, and smote off his left arm, 
 whereupon the knight fled. 
 
 After chasing him for some distance Sir Galahad 
 returned to Melias, and placing him gently on his 
 horse, sprang up behind, and held him in his arms, and 
 so brought him to the abbey. There his wound was 
 carefully tended, and an old monk, who had once been 
 a knight, told Sir Galahad he hoped it would be healed 
 within about seven weeks. Sir Galahad was glad to 
 hear this, and said he would stay at the abbey for three 
 days. 
 
 At the end of that time he said, "Now I will depart, 
 for I have much on hand ; many good knights are full 
 busy about it, and this knight and I were in the same 
 Quest of the Holy Grail." 
 
 "For his sin was he thus wounded," said a good 
 man. "And I marvel," he added to Melias, "how you 
 dare take upon you so rich a thing as the high order of 
 knighthood without clean confession, and that was the 
 cause you were bitterly wounded. For the road on the 
 right hand betokeneth the highway of our Lord Jesus 
 Christ, and the way of a true, good liver. And the 
 other road betokeneth the way of sinners and mis- 
 believers. And when the devil saw your pride and 
 presumption tempt you into the Quest of the Holy 
 
3-26 KING AETHUE AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 Grail, that made you to be overthrown, for it may not 
 be achieved but by virtuous living. 
 
 "Also, the writing on the cross was a signification 
 of heavenly deeds, and of knightly deeds in God's 
 works, and no knightly deeds in worldly works; and 
 pride is head of all deadly sins, which caused thee, 
 ■ Melias, to depart ffom Sir Galahad. And when thou 
 tookest the crown of gold, thou sinnedst in covetous- 
 ness and theft. All these were no knightly deeds. 
 And this Galahad, the holy knight, who fought with 
 the two knights, — the two knights signify the two 
 deadly sins pride and covetousness, which were wholly 
 in Sir Melias, and they could not stand against Sir 
 Galahad, for he is without deadly sin." 
 
 Now departed Galahad from them, and bade them 
 all good-bye. 
 
 "My lord Galahad," said Melias, "as soon as I can 
 ride, I shall seek you." 
 
 "God send you health," said Galahad, and so took 
 his horse and departed. 
 
 THE CASTLE OF MAIDENS. 
 
 Sir Galahad rode many journeys, backward and 
 forward, as adventure led him, and at last one day he 
 came to a mountain, where he found an old chapel, and 
 nobody there, for all was desolate. Then he knelt 
 
THE CASTLE OF MAIDENS. 327 
 
 before the altar, and prayed for good counsel, and as he 
 prayed he heard a voice that said, "Go thou now, thou 
 adventurous knight, to the Castle of Maidens, and there 
 do away with the wicked customs." 
 
 When Sir Galahad heard this, he thanked God and 
 took his horse. He had ridden only half-a-mile when 
 he saw in a valley before him a strong Castle, with" 
 deep ditches; beside it ran a fair river, called the 
 Severn, and there he met with a very old man. Each 
 saluted the other, and Galahad asked him the Castle's 
 name. 
 
 "Fair sir," he said, "it is the Castle of Maidens." 
 
 "That is a cursed Castle," said Galahad, "and all 
 they who are connected with it, for all pity is outside 
 it, and all boldness and mischief are within." 
 
 "For that reason I counsel you, sir knight, to turn 
 again." 
 
 "Sir, wit you well I shall not turn again," said Sir 
 Galahad. 
 
 Then he looked to his arms that nothing failed him, 
 and put his shield before him, and at that moment there 
 met him seven fair maidens. 
 
 "Sir Knight," they said, "you ride here in great 
 folly, for you have the river to pass over." 
 
 "Why should I not pass the river?" said Galahad. 
 So he rode away from them. 
 
 Next there met him a squire, who said : 
 
 "Knight, those knights in the Castle defy you, 
 
338 IvIJSTG ARTHUE AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 and forbid you to go further till they know what you 
 want." 
 
 "Fair sir, I come to destroy the wicked custom of 
 this Castle." 
 
 "Sir, if you keep to that, you will have enough 
 to do." 
 
 "Go you now," said Galahad, "and hasten my 
 needs." 
 
 Then the squire entered into the Castle. And 
 immediately after, there came out of the Castle seven 
 knights, who were all brethren. When they saw 
 Galahad, they cried, "Knight, keep thee, for we assure 
 thee nothing but death \" 
 
 "Why, will you all fight with me at once?" said 
 Galahad. 
 
 "Yea," said they, "you may trust to that." 
 
 Galahad thrust forth his spear, and struck the fore- 
 most to the earth, so that he nearly broke his neck, 
 whereupon all the other brothers smote him on his 
 shield great strokes, so that their spears broke. Then 
 Galahad drew out his sword and set upon them so hard 
 that it was a marvel to see, and thus through great 
 might he made them forsake the field. As they fled, he 
 chased them till they entered into the Castle, and pass- 
 ing right through the Castle, escaped out at another 
 gate. 
 
 Now there met Sir Galahad an old man, clad in 
 religious clothing, who said, "Sir, have here the keys 
 
THE CASTLE OP MAIDENS. 329 
 
 of the Castle." Then Galahad opened the gates, and 
 so many people came thronging round him that he 
 could not number them. 
 
 "Sir," they all said, "you are welcome, for long 
 have we waited here our deliverance." 
 
 Then came to him a gentlewoman. "These knights 
 are fled," said she, "but they will come again this night, 
 and begin again their evil customs." , 
 
 "What will you that I shall do ?" asked Galahad. 
 
 "That you send after all the knights to come hither 
 who hold their lands of this Castle, and make them 
 swear to use the customs that were formerly used 
 here in the old times." 
 
 "I will gladly," said Galahad. 
 
 She brought him a horn of ivory, richly bound with 
 gold, and said, "Sir, blow this horn; it will be heard 
 two miles round the Castle." 
 
 When Galahad had blown the horn he went to rest, 
 and presently there came a priest, who told him the 
 story of the Castle. 
 
 "It is just seven years ago," he said, "that these 
 seven brethren came to this Castle, and lodged with the 
 lord of it, who was called the Duke Lianor, and who 
 was lord of all this country. When they espied the 
 duke's daughter, who was a very beautiful woman, they 
 began to weave false plots as to which should marry 
 her, till they took to quarrelling among themselves. 
 The duke in his gobdness would have parted them, but 
 
330 KING AETHUE AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 in their anger they slew him and his eldest son. Then 
 they seized the maiden, and the treasure of the Castle. 
 Afterwards, by great strength they held all the knights 
 of this Castle in great bondage and extortion, besides 
 robbing and plundering the poor country people of all 
 that they had. So it happened on a day the duke's 
 daughter said, 'You have done me great wrong, to slay 
 my own father and my brother, and thus to hold our 
 lands. But you shall not hold this Castle for many 
 years, for by one knight you shall be overcome.' Thus 
 she prophesied seven years agO; 'Well,' said the seven 
 knights, 'since you say so, never lady nor knight 
 shall pass this Castle, but they shall abide here, in 
 spite of their will, or die for it, until that knight come 
 by whom we shall lose this Castle.' Therefore it is 
 called the Castle of Maidens, for many fair ladies have 
 here been destroyed." 
 
 "Now," said Galahad, "is she here for whom this 
 Castle was lost ?" 
 
 "Nay," said the priest, "she was dead within three 
 nights after speaking the prophecy. And since then 
 they have kept prisoner her younger sister, who with 
 many other ladies endureth great pain and hardship." 
 
 By this time the knights of the country were come. 
 Then Galahad made them do homage and fealty to the 
 duke's younger daughter, who was still alive, and set 
 them in great ease of heart. And the next morning 
 a man brought tidings that Gawaine, Gareth, and 
 TTnwaine had slain the seven brethren. 
 
VISION AT THE CHAPEL. 331 
 
 "Well done!" said Galahad, and took his armor 
 and his horse, and bade good-bye to the Castle of 
 Maidens. 
 
 THE VISION AT THE CHAPEL IN THE 
 FOREST. 
 
 After leaving the Castle of Maidens, Sir Galahad 
 rode till he came to a waste forest, and there he met 
 with Sir Lancelot and Sir Percival, but they did not 
 know him, for he was newly disguised. Sir Lancelot 
 rode straight at him, and broke his spear on him, and 
 Sir Galahad smote him so again that he bore down 
 horse and man. Then he drew his sword, and turned 
 to Sir Percival, and smote him on the helm so that it 
 rove to the coif of steel ; if the sword had not swerved. 
 Sir Percival would have been slain; with the stroke 
 he fell out of the saddle. 
 
 This joust took place before a hermitage where 
 dwelt a recluse, who was really aunt to Sir Percival, 
 although he did not know it at that moment. When 
 she saw Sir Galahad she said, "God be with thee, best 
 knight of the world ! Ah, certes," she said quite loud, 
 so that Lancelot and Percival could hear it, "if yonder 
 two knights had known thee as well as I do, they 
 would not have encountered with thee." 
 
 Galahad, hearing her say this, was sorely afraid of 
 being known, and therefore rode swiftly away. Then 
 
333 KING AETHUR AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 both knights perceived he was Galahad, and up they 
 got on their horses, and rode fast after him, but he 
 was soon out of sight. So they returned with heavy 
 cheer. 
 
 "Let us ask some tidings of yonder recluse," said 
 Percival. 
 
 "Do so, if you please," said Lancelot, but when 
 Percival went to the hermitage he rode on alone. 
 This way and that he rode across a wild forest, and 
 held no path except as adventure led him. At last 
 he came to a strong cross, which pointed two ways in 
 waste land; by the cross was a stone that was of 
 marble, but it was so dark that Sir Lancelot could not 
 tell what it was. 
 
 Sir Lancelot looked about him, and near at hand he 
 saw an old chapel, where he expected to find people. 
 He tied his horse to a tree, and taking off his shield, 
 hung it upon a tree. Then he went to the chapel 
 door, but found it waste and broken. And looking 
 within, he saw a fair altar, full richly arrayed with 
 clotb of clean silk, where stood a shining candle- 
 stick, which bore six great candles, and the candle- 
 stick was of silver. 
 
 When Sir Lancelot saw this light He desired greatly 
 to enter into the chapel, but could find no place where 
 he could enter, which greatly grieved and perplexed 
 him. He returned to his horse and took off the 
 saddle and bridle, and let him pasture; and unlacing 
 
VISION AT THE CHAPEL. 
 
 333 
 
 his helm, and ungirdling his sword, he laid himself 
 down to sleep on his shield before the marble cross. 
 
 So he fell asleep, and half waking and half sleeping, 
 he saw a vision. 
 
 He saw come past him two palfreys all beautiful 
 and white, which bore a litter, and in the litter lay a 
 sick knight. When they were near the cross the litter 
 stood still, and Sir Lancelot heard the knight say : 
 
334 KING ARTHUR AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 "Oh, sweet Lord, when shall this sorrow leave me? 
 And when shall the holy vessel come by, through which 
 I shall be blessed? For I have endured thus long 
 through little trespass." 
 
 Thus for some time lamented the knight, and Sir 
 Lancelot heard him. 
 
 Then Sir Lancelot saw the candlestick with the six 
 tapers come before the marble cross, and he saw nobody 
 that brought it. Also there c^e a table of silver, and 
 the sacred vessel of the Holy Grail, which Sir Lancelot 
 had seen formerly in King Pelles' house. 
 
 Therewith the sick knight sat up, and held up both 
 
 his hands, and prayed to God, and kneeling down, he 
 
 kissed the holy vessel, and immediately he was whole. 
 
 , "Lord God, I thank thee, for I am healed of this 
 
 sickness," he said. 
 
 So when the Holy Grail had been there a long time, 
 it went into the chapel, with the candlestick and the 
 lights, so that Lancelot did not know what became of it. 
 For he was overmastered by a feeling of his own sinful- 
 ness, and had no power to rise to follow the holy vessel. 
 
 Then the sick knight rose, and kissed the cross, 
 and the squire at once brought him his armor, and 
 asked his lord how he did. 
 
 "Truly, I thank God, right well," he answered; 
 "through the holy vessel I am healed. But I greatly 
 marvel at this sleeping knight, who had no power to 
 awake when this holy vessel was brought hither." 
 
THE REPEXTANCE OF SlH LANCELOT. 335 
 
 "I dare right well say," said the squire, "that he 
 dwelleth in some deadly sin, whereof he has never 
 repented." 
 
 "By my faith," said the knight, "whatsoever he 
 be, he is unhappy, for, as I deem, he is of the fellowship 
 of the Round Table, which has entered into the Quest 
 of the Holy Grail." 
 
 "Sir," said the squire, "here hav6 I brought you 
 all your arms, save your helm and your sword, and 
 therefore, by my advice ye may now tajce this knight's 
 helm and his sword." 
 
 So the knight did this; and when he was fully 
 armed he took also Sir Lancelot's horse, for it was 
 better than his own. And so he and his attendants 
 departed from the cross. 
 
 THE REPENTANCE OF SIR LANCELOT. 
 
 Straightway Sir Lancelot awoke, and sat up, and 
 bethought him what he had seen there, and whether 
 it were a dream or not. Right so he heard a voice 
 that said : 
 
 "Sir Lancelot, more hard than is the stone, and 
 more bitter than is the wood, and more naked and 
 bare than is the leaf of the fig-tree! Therefore go 
 thou hence, and withdraw thee from this holy place." 
 
 When Sir Lancelot heard this, he was passing 
 heavy, and knew not what to do; so he rose, sore 
 
336 KIXG ARTHUE AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 weeping, and cursed the time that he was born, because 
 he thought he would never more have honor. For 
 those words went to his heart till he knew why he was 
 called so. 
 
 He went to fetch his helm, his sword, and his 
 horse, but found they had all been taken away. Then 
 he called himself a wretch, and most unhappy of all 
 knights. "My sin and my wickedness have brought 
 me to great dishonor," he said. "For when I sought 
 worldly adventures for worldly desires, I ever achieved 
 them, and had the better in every place, and never 
 was I discomforted in any quarrel, were it right or 
 wrong. And now I take upon me the adventures of 
 holy things, but I see and understand that my old 
 sin hindereth me, and shameth me, so that I had 
 no power to stir nor speak when the holy vessel 
 appeared before me." 
 
 Thus he sorrowed till it was day, and he heard the 
 little birds sing ; then he was somewhat comforted. 
 
 But when he missed his horse and his arms Sir 
 Lancelot knew well God was displeased with him. He 
 departed from the cross on foot into the forest, and < 
 by dawn came to a high hill, where a hermit dwelt, 
 whom lie found just about to begin his morning . 
 devotions. Then Lancelot knelt down, and cried to 
 the Lord for mercy for his wicked works. When 
 their prayers were over, Lancelot called to the hermit, 
 and begged him for charity to hear his life. 
 
THE EEPENTANCE OP SIE LANCELOT. 337 
 
 "Right willingly," said the good man. "Are you 
 not of King Arthur's Court, and of the fellowship of 
 the Round Table?" 
 
 "Yea, truly, and my name is Sir Lancelot of the 
 Lake, who hath been right well spoken of, and now my 
 good fortune is changed, for I am the most wretched 
 man in the world." 
 
 The hermit looked at him, and marvelled why he 
 was so abashed. 
 
 "Sir," said the hermit, "you ought to thank God 
 more than any knight living, for He hath caused you to 
 have more worldly worship than any knight that now 
 liveth. Because of your presumption to take upon 
 yourself, while you were still in deadly sin, to behold 
 His holy chalice, that was the cause you might not see 
 it with worldly eyes. For He will not appear where 
 such sinners be, except it be to their great hurt and 
 their great shame. And there is no knight living now 
 who ought to give God such thanks as you. For He 
 hath given you beauty, seemliness, and great strength, 
 above all other knights, and therefore you are the more 
 beholden unto God than any other man, to love Him 
 and dread Him; for your strength and manhood will 
 little avail you if God be against you." 
 
 Then Sir Lancelot wept for grief, and said: "Now 
 I know well you speak truth to me." 
 
 "Sir," said the good man, "hide from me no old 
 sm. 
 
338 KING AETHUR AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 "Truly, I am full loath to reveal it," said Sir Lance- 
 lot. "For these fourteen years I have never revealed 
 one thing, and for that I now blame my shame and 
 misadventure." 
 
 And then he told that good man all his life, and 
 how he loved a Queen beyond all measure, and had 
 done so longer than he could reckott. 
 
 "And all my great deeds of arms that I have done, 
 I did the most part for the Queen's sake, and for her 
 sake would I do battle, were it right or wrong; and 
 never did I battle only for God's sake, but to win 
 worship, and to cause me to be the better beloved; 
 and little or nought I thanked God for it." Then Sir 
 Lancelot said, "I pray you counsel me." 
 
 "I will counsel you," said the hermit, "if you will 
 assure me that you will never come into the presence of 
 that Queen, if you can help it." 
 
 Then Sir Lancelot promised him faithfully he would 
 not. 
 
 "Look that your heart and your mouth agree," said 
 the good man, "and I will ensure you that you shall 
 have more worship than ever you had." 
 
 "I marvel at the voice which said to me those 
 strange words I told you of," said Lancelot. 
 
 "Have no marvel," said the good man, "for it 
 seemeth well God loveth thee. Men can understand a 
 stone is hard by nature, and one kind harder than 
 another, — ^by which is meant thee, Sir Lancelot. For 
 
THE SEPENTANCE op SIK LAKCELOT. 339 
 
 thou wilt not leave thy sin, for any goodness that God 
 hath sent thee, therefore art thou harder than any 
 stone ; and thou wouldst never be made soft, neither by 
 water nor by fire, — and that is, the Holy Spirit could 
 not enter into thee. Now take heed ; in all the world 
 men shall not find one knight to whom our Lord hath 
 given so much of grace as He hath given thee. For 
 He hath given thee beauty, with seemliness; He hath 
 given thee wit, discretion to know good from evil; 
 He hath given thee prowess and hardihood; and hath 
 given thee to work so greatly that thou hast had at all 
 times the better wheresoever thou camest. And now 
 our Lord will suffer thee no longer, but that thou shalt 
 know Him, whether thou wilt or wilt not. 
 
 "And why that voice called thee bitterer than 
 wood; — where overmuch sin dwelleth, there can be 
 but little sweetness, wherefore thou art likened to 
 an old rotten tree. Now have I shown thee why 
 thou art harder than the stone, and bitterer than 
 wood. 
 
 "Now shall I show thee why thou art more naked 
 and barer than the fig-tree. It befell that our Lord on 
 Palm Sunday preached in Jerusalem, and there He 
 found in the people all hardness, and there He found 
 in all the town not one that would harbor Him. ' Then 
 He went outside the town, and found in the midst of 
 the way a fig-tree, which was right fair, and well- 
 garnished with leaves, but fruit had it none. Then 
 
340 KING ARTHUK AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 our Lord cursed the tree that bore no fruit, — and by the 
 fig-tree was betokened Jerusalem, which had leaves 
 and no fruit. So thou, Sir Lancelot, when the Holy 
 Grail was brought before thee. He found in thee no 
 fruit nor good thought, nor good will; but thou wert 
 stained with sin." 
 
 "Verily," said Sir Lancelot, "all that you have said 
 is true; and from henceforth I purpose by the grace 
 of God never to be so wicked as I have been, but to 
 follow knighthood, and do feats of arms." 
 
 Then the good man enjoined Sir Lancelot such 
 penance as he could do, and to follow knighthood; 
 and so he gave him his blessing, and prayed Sir Lance- 
 lot to abide with him all that day. 
 
 "I will gladly," said Sir Lancelot, "for I have 
 neither helm, nor horse, nor sword." 
 
 "As for that," said the good man, "I will help you 
 before to-morrow evening with a horse, and all that 
 belongs to you." 
 
 And so Sir Lancelot repented him greatly of all his 
 past misdoings. 
 
 THE CHAMBER WITH THE SHUT DOOR. 
 
 Among the Knights of the Round Table who started 
 on the Quest of the Holy Grail, besides Sir Galahad 
 and Sir Lancelot, the chief were these — the good Sir 
 Percival ; Sir Ector de Maris, brother of Sir Lancelot ; 
 Sir Bors de Ganis, and Sir Gawaine. Many and 
 
THE CHAMBEE WITH THE SHUT DOOR. 341 
 
 strange were the adventures that befell them, and mar- 
 vellous were the visions they saw, but at no time did 
 they come within sight of the Holy Grail. For except 
 Sir Galahad and Sir Percival, no knight was accounted 
 , worthy to behold that divine vision. 
 
 But after the penitence of Sir Lancelot, and many 
 long months of wandering, it at last happened to him 
 nearly to achieve the great Quest. For one night 
 being near the sea, a vision came to him in his sleep, 
 and bade him enter into the first ship he could find. 
 When he heard these words he started up, and saw a 
 great clearness all round him, so he took his armor and 
 made ready; and when he came to the shore he found 
 a ship without sail or oar. As soon as he. was within 
 the ship he felt the greatest sweetness that ever he felt, 
 and a joy that passed all earthly joy that he had ever 
 known. And on this ship he stayed a month or more, 
 sustained by the grace of heaven. 
 
 One day there came riding by a knight on horse- 
 back, who dismounted when he reached the ship. 
 Then Sir I,ancelot found it was his own son, Galahad, 
 and no tongue can tell the joy they made of each 
 other. 
 
 They told each other all the adventures and marvels 
 that had befallen them both in many journeys since 
 they departed from King Arthur's Court. 
 
 Lancelot and Galahad dwelt within that ship half 
 a year, and served God daily and nightly with all their 
 
342 KING ARTHUE AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 power. And often they arrived in islands far from 
 folk, where nothing but w'jd beasts were to be found, 
 and they achieved inany strange adventures and 
 perilous. 
 
 One day it befell that their ship arrived at the edge 
 of a forest, and there they saw a knight armed all in 
 white, richly horsed, and in his right hand he led a 
 white horse. He came to the ship and saluted the two 
 knights, and said : 
 
 "Galahad, sir, ye have been long enough with your 
 father ; come out of the ship, and start upon this horse, 
 and go where adventures shall lead thee in the Quest of 
 the Holy Grail." 
 
 Then Galahad Went to his father, and kissed him 
 tenderly, and said : 
 
 "Fair sweet father, I know not when I shall see 
 you more, until I have' seen the Holy Grail." 
 
 "I pray you," said Lancelot, "pray you to the high 
 Father that He hold me in His service." 
 
 So Galahad took his horse, and there they heard a 
 voice that said : 
 
 "Think to do Well, for the one shall never again see 
 the other till the dreadful day of doom." 
 
 "Now, son Galahad," said Lancelot, "since we shall 
 part, and never see each other more, I pray the high 
 Father to preserve both me and you." 
 
 "Sir," said Galahad, "no prayer prevaileth so much 
 as yours," and therewith he rode away into the forest. 
 
THE CHAMBER WITH THE SHUT DOOE. 343 
 
 Then the wind arose, and for more than a month 
 drove Lancelot through the sea, where he slept but 
 little, but prayed to God that he might see some tidings 
 of the Holy Grail. 
 
 It befell on a night, at midnight, that he arrived 
 before a Castle, which on the back side was rich and 
 fair. A postern opened towards the sea, and it was 
 open without any warders, save that two lions kept the 
 entry, and the moon shone clear. 
 
 Then Sir Lancelot heard a voice that said, "Lance- 
 lot, go out of this ship, and enter into this Castle, where 
 thou shalt see a great part of thy desire." 
 
 So he ran and armed himself, and came to the gate, 
 and saw the lions; and then he set hand to his 
 sword, and drew it. But there came a dwarf suddenly, 
 and smote him on the arm so sore that the sword fell 
 out of his hand. 
 
 "Oh, man of evil faith and poor belief!" he heard 
 a voice say, "wherefore dost thou trust more in thy 
 weapons than in thy Maker ? For He in whose service 
 thou art set, might more avail thee than thine armor." 
 
 Then said Lancelot, "I thank Thee, Lord Christ, 
 for Thy great mercy, that Thou reprovest me of my 
 misdeed. Now see I well that Thou boldest me for 
 Thy servant." 
 
 Then he took his sword again, and put it up in his 
 sheath, and signed his forehead with the cross, and 
 came to the lions, and they made semblance to do him 
 
344 KING AETHUE AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 harm. Nevertheless he passed by them without hurt, 
 and entered into the Castle to the chief fortress, where 
 all the inmates seemed at rest. Then Lancelot, armed 
 as he was, entered* in, for he found no gate nor door 
 but it was open. And at the last he found a chamber 
 the door of which was shut; he set his hand to it, to 
 open it, but he could not, although he put forth his 
 utmost force to undo the door. 
 
 Then he listened and heard a voice which sang so 
 sweetly that it seemed no earthly thing ; and he thought 
 the voice said, "Joy and honor be to the Father of 
 Heaven!" 
 
 Then Lancelot knelt down before the chamber aopr, 
 for he well knew that the Holy Grail was within that 
 chamber, and he prayed to God that if ever he had 
 done anything pleasing in His sight, that He would 
 have pity on him, and show him something of what he 
 sought. 
 
 With that, he saw the chamber door open, and 
 there came out a great clearness, so that the house was 
 as bright as if all the torches of the world had been 
 there. Lancelot went to the door and would have 
 entered, but immediately a voice said : 
 
 "Flee, Lancelot, and enter not, for thou oughtest 
 not to do so ; and if thou enter, thou shalt repent it." 
 
 So Lancelot withdrew himself back, right heavy. 
 
 Then he looked up into the midst of the chamber, 
 and he saw a table of silver, and the holy vessel covered 
 
THE CHAMBEE WITH THE SHUT DOOE. 345 
 
 with red samite, and many angels about it, one of whom 
 held a candle of wax burning. Before the holy vessel 
 he saw a good man clothed as a priest, and it was as if 
 a solemn service were being held. Three men stood 
 near, and it seemed to Lancelot that the priest lifted up 
 the youngest of them, as if to show him to the people. 
 Lancelot marvelled not a little, for he thought that the 
 priest was so burdened with the figure that he would 
 fall to the ground. When he saw no one near would 
 help the priest, Lancelot ran quickly to the door. 
 
 "Lord Christ," he said, "take it for no sin, though 
 I help the good man, for he hath great need of help." 
 
 Right so he entered into the chamber, and went 
 towards the table of silver ; and when he came nigh, he 
 felt a breath of air as if it were mixed with fire, and it 
 smote him so sore in the face that it seemed to burn 
 him, and therewith he fell to the earth, and had no 
 power to rise. Then he felt about him many hands, 
 which took him up, and bore him out of the chamber, 
 and left him seemingly dead. And on the morrow 
 he was found by the people of the Castle outside the 
 chamber door. 
 
 Four and twenty days Sir Lancelot lay as if dead, 
 but on the twenty-fifth day he opened his eyes. Then 
 they told him that the Castle belonged to King Pelles, 
 where long ago he had seen the vision of the Holy 
 Grail for the first time. All the people marvelled 
 when they found that this stranger was Lancelot, the 
 
346 KING ARTHUR AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 good knight, and they sent word to King Pelles, who 
 was right glad to hear the news, and went to see him, 
 and made great joy of him. And there the king told 
 Lancelot that his fair daughter Elaine, the mother of 
 Galahad, was dead; and Lancelot was passing grieved 
 to hear the tidings. 
 
 Four days Sir Lancelot stayed at the Castle, and 
 then he took leave of King Pelles. He knew now 
 that his Quest was ended, for that he would never see 
 more of the Holy Grail than he had seen. So he said 
 he would go back to the realm of Logris, which he had 
 not seen for over a twelvemonth. 
 
 When he came to Camelot he found that some of 
 the Knights of the Round Table had returned home, 
 but that many of them — more than half — had been 
 slain and destroyed. 
 
 King Arthur, Queen Guinevere, and all the Court, 
 were passing glad to see Sir Lancelot 'again, and the 
 King asked him many tidings of his son Galahad. 
 Lancelot told the King all the adventures that had 
 befallen him since he departed, and he also told him 
 whatever he knew of the adventures of Galahad, 
 Percival, and Bors. 
 
 "Now would to God," said the King, "that they 
 were all three here !" 
 
 "That shall never be," said Lancelot, "for two of 
 them shall ye never more see. But one of them shall 
 come again." 
 
HOW GALAHAD SAW THE HOLY GRAIL. 347 
 
 HOW SIR GALAHAD SAW THE HOLY GRAIU 
 
 After leaving Sir Lancelot, Galahad rode many 
 journeys in vain. Wherever he went, strange signs 
 and marvels followed, but not yet did he behold the 
 vision of the Holy Grail. 
 
 It befell on a day that as he rode out of a great 
 forest he was overtaken by Sir Percival, who had 
 followed him for five days, and just afterwards at a 
 cross-road they met Sir Bors. There is no need to 
 tell if they were glad. They told each other their 
 adventures, and all rode on together. 
 
 Thus they travelled a great while, till they came to 
 the same Castle of King Pelles where Sir Lancelot had 
 already been, and directly they entered within the Cas- 
 tle King Pelles knew them. Then there was great joy, 
 for all the people knew well by their coming that 
 they had fulfilled the Quest of the Holy Grail. 
 
 A little before evening when they were gathered in 
 the hall, a voice was heard among them, and it said, 
 "They that ought not to sit at the table of Jesus Christ 
 arise, for now shall true knights be fed." So every 
 one went away save King Pelles and Eliazar his son, 
 who were holy men, and a maid who was his niece; 
 these three and the three knights were left, no more. 
 
 Soon they saw nine knights, all armed, come in at the 
 hall door, and take off their helms and their armor. 
 
348 KING AETHUE AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 "Sir," they said to Galahad, "we have hied right 
 much to be with you at this table, where the holy meat 
 shall be parted." 
 
 Then said he, "Ye be welcome, but from whence 
 come ye ?" 
 
 Three of them said they were from Gaul, and 
 another three said they were from Ireland, and the 
 other three said they were from Denmark. 
 
 Then a voice said, "There are two among you who 
 are not in the Quest of the Holy Grail; therefore let 
 them depart." So King Pelles and his son departed. 
 
 The knights who remained now saw the table of 
 silver, whereon was the Holy Grail, and it seemed to 
 them that angels stood about it, and it seemed to 
 service was being held. They set themselves at the 
 table in great dread, and began to pray. Then came 
 One, as it seemed to them, in the likeness of the Lord 
 Christ, and He said : 
 
 "My knights, and my servants, and my true chil- 
 dren, which are come out of deadly life into spiritual 
 life, I will no longer hide Me from you, but ye shall 
 see now a part of My secrets, and My hid things ; now 
 hold and receive the high meat which ye have so much 
 desired." Then He Himself took the holy vessel, 
 and came to Galahad, who knelt down and received 
 the sacred food, and after him, in like manner, all his 
 companions received it; and they thought it so sweet 
 it was marvellous to tell. 
 
HOW GALAHAD SAW THE HOLY GRAIL. 34!) 
 
 Then said He to Galahad, "Son, knowest thou what 
 I hold between My hands?" 
 
 "Nay," said he, "unless Thou wilt tell me." 
 
 "This is," said He, "the holy dish wherein I ate 
 the lamb at the Last Supper. And now hast thou seen 
 that which thou most desired to see, but yet hast not 
 seen it sa openly as thou shalt see it in the city of 
 Sarras, in the spiritual place. Therefore thou must 
 go hence and bear with thee this holy vessel, for this 
 night it shall depart from the realm of Logris, and shall 
 never more be seen here. And wouldst thou know 
 wherefore? Because these of this land are turned to 
 evil living, therefore I shall disinherit them of the 
 honor which I have done them. Therefore, go ye 
 three to-morrow to the sea, where ye shall find your 
 ship ready, — ^you and Sir Percival, and Sir Bors, and 
 no more with you. And two of you shall die in My 
 service, but one of you shall go back again to Camelot, 
 and bear the tidings." 
 
 Then He blessed them and vanished from their 
 sight. 
 
 So Galahad, Percival, and Bors left the Castle of 
 King Pelles. After riding three days they came to the 
 sea-shore, where they found the same ship in which 
 Galahad had stayed with Lancelot; and when they 
 went on board they saw in the midst the table of 
 silver, and the H6ly Grail, which was covered with 
 
350 KING AETHUK AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 red samite. Then were they glad to have such things 
 in their fellowship. 
 
 So they sailed away, till they came to the city of 
 Sarras, where they landed, taking with them the table 
 of silver. As they went in at the gate of the city, they 
 saw sitting there a crooked old man, and Galahad called 
 to him and bade him help them carry the heavy table. 
 
 "Truly," said the old man, "for ten years I have 
 not walked, except with crutches." 
 
 "Never mind," said Galahad, "arise up, and show 
 thy good-will." 
 
 The old man tried to rise, and immediately found 
 himself as whole as ever he had been. Then he ran to 
 the table and took the side opposite Galahad. 
 
 The fame of this cure went through the city, and 
 when the King of the city saw the three knights, he 
 asked them whence they came, and what thing it was 
 they had brought upori the table of silver. They told 
 him the truth of the Holy Grail, and the power God 
 had placed in it to cure sick people. 
 
 The King, however, was a tyrant, and came of a 
 line of pagans, and he took the three knights, and put 
 them into prison, in a deep dungeon. But all the time 
 they were in prison they were supported by the holy 
 grace of heaven. 
 
 At a year's end it came to pass that the King lay 
 sick, and felt that he should die. Then he sent for 
 the three knights, and wh^n they came befor?,h}m 
 
now GALAHAD SAW THE HOLY GRAIL. 351 
 
 he begged mercy of them for all that he had done 
 to them, and they willingly forgave him, and so he 
 died. 
 
 When the King was dead all the city was dismayed, 
 and knew not who could be their King. Right so, as 
 they were in council came a voice among them, and 
 bade them choose the youngest knight of the three to 
 be their King. So they made Galahad King, with the 
 assent of the whole city. 
 
 When he had surveyed the country, Galahad caused 
 to be built round the table of silver a chest of gold 
 and of precious stones, which covered the holy vessel, 
 and every morning early the three knights would come 
 before it and say their prayers. 
 
 Now at the year's end, on the very day that Galahad 
 was given the crown of gold, he arose up early, 
 he and his companions, and came to the palace, to the 
 holy vessel. There they saw before them a man kneel- 
 ing, in the likeness of a bishop; and round about him 
 was a great fellowship of angels. 
 
 "Come forth, Galahad, servant of Jesus Christ," he 
 said, "and thou shalt see that which thou hast long 
 desired to see." 
 
 Then Galahad began to tremble, for a vision of 
 spiritual things rose before his earthly eyes ; and hold- 
 ing up his hands to heaven, he said : 
 
 "Lord, I thank Thee, for now I see that which 
 hath been my desire many, a day. Now, blessed Lord, 
 
353 KING ARTHUE AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 I would not longer live, if it might please Thee, Lord." 
 
 Then the good man took the holy food, and proffered 
 it to Galahad, and he received it right gladly and 
 meekly. 
 
 When this was done, Galahad went to Sir Percival 
 and Sir Bors, and kissed them, and commended them 
 to God. And to Sir Bors he said, "Fair lord, salute 
 me to my lord. Sir Lancelot, my father, and as soon 
 as ye see him, bid him be mindful of this unstable 
 world." 
 
 Afterwards he knelt down before the table, and 
 said his prayers, and suddenly his soul departed to 
 Jesus Christ. 
 
 Then it seemed to the two knights that there came 
 a hand from heaven, and bore away the holy vessel. 
 And since that time there was never any man so bold 
 as to say he had seen the Holy Grail. 
 
 When Percival and Bors saw Galahad dead they 
 made as much sorrow as ever did two men, and if they 
 had not been good men they might easily have fallen 
 into despair. And the people of the city and the 
 country were right heavy. As soon as Galahad was 
 buried Sir Percival retired to a hermitage, and here for 
 a year and two months he lived a full holy life, and 
 then he passed away. 
 
 Sir Bors stayed always with Sir Percival as long as 
 he lived, but when he was dead Sir Bors took ship and 
 went back to the realm of Logris, and so came to 
 
HOW GALAHAD SAW THE HOLY GRAIL. 353 
 
 Camelot, where King Arthur was. Great joy was 
 made of him in the Court, for they all thought he must 
 be dead, because he had been so long out of the country. 
 Sir Bors told them all the adventures of the Holy Grail, 
 and to Sir Lancelot he gave Galahad's message. 
 
 "Sir Lancelot," he said, "Galahad prayeth you to 
 be mindful of this uncertain world, as ye promised him 
 ■when ye were together more than half a year." 
 
 "That is true," said Lancelot. "Now I trust to 
 God his prayer shall ayail me." 
 
354 KING ARTHUR AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 The Death of Arthur. 
 
 THE DEPARTING OF SIR LANCELOT. 
 
 After the Quest of the Holy Grail had been fulfilled, 
 and all the knights that were left living were come 
 again to the Round Table, then there was great joy at 
 Court, and in especial King Arthur and Queen Guine- 
 vere rejoiced, and were passing glad because of Sir 
 Lancelot and Sir Bors. And for a time all went well, 
 and there was much feasting and gaiety. 
 
 But Sir Lancelot forgot his promise to the good 
 hermit to see as little as possible of Queen Guinevere, 
 and because he was held in such high favor by the 
 
THE DEPAETING OP SIR LANCELOT. 355 
 
 King and Queen and all the people, some of the other 
 knights were jealous of him, and tried to do him all the 
 mischief they could. 
 
 Among the knights at King Arthur's Court, the 
 most spiteful and malicious was Sir Mordred. He was 
 the youngest son of King Arthur's sister, the wife of 
 King Lot of Orkney, and it was to him that Merlin 
 referred when he prophesied that a child born on May 
 Day should bring destruction to King Arthur. He 
 was half-brother to the noble knights Gawaine, Ga- 
 heris, and Gareth, but nothing at all like them in dis- 
 position. The only brother who in the least resembled 
 him was Sir Agravaine, and it was owing to the evil- 
 speaking of these two malicious knights that the storm 
 of anger and misfortune arose, which never ceased till 
 the flower of chivalry of all the world was destroyed 
 and slain. 
 
 In the pleasant month of May, when every noble 
 heart glows with life, — when earth is looking her 
 sweetest and brightest, and all men and women rejoice 
 and are glad because summer is coming with freshest 
 flowers, — in the beautiful month of May, these two 
 knights, Agravaine and Mordred, set their mischief on 
 foot. In open assembly before many knights they told 
 slanderous tales of Sir Lancelot and Queen Guinevere, 
 and suggested that these should be repeated to the 
 King. Then spoke Sir Gawaine : 
 
 "Brother Sir Agravaine," he said, "I pray you and 
 
356 KING ARTHUR AXD PUS IvNIGHTS. 
 
 charge you, speak no more of such thhigs before me, 
 for wit ye well, I will not be of your counsel." 
 
 "Truly," said Sir Gaheris and Sir Gareth, "we will 
 have nothing to do with your deeds." 
 
 "Then I will," said Mordred. 
 
 "I well believe that," said Sir Gawaine, "for 
 always, if there is any mischief you will be sharer in it, 
 brother Sir Mordred: I wish you would leave this, 
 and not make yourself such a busy-body, for I know 
 what will come of it." 
 
 "Come of it what come may," said Sir Agravaine, 
 "I shall speak to the King." 
 
 "Not by my counsel," said Sir Gawaine, "for if 
 there arise war and wreck between Sir Lancelot and us, 
 wit you well, brother, many Kings and great lords will 
 hold with Sir Lancelot. As for my part I will never 
 be against Sir Lancelot, when he rescued me from 
 King Carados of the Dolorous Tower, and slew him, 
 and saved my life. Also, brother Agravaine and 
 Mordred, in like wise Sir Lancelot rescued you both, 
 and three score knights, from Sir Turquin. It seems 
 to me that such good deeds and kindness should be 
 remembered." 
 
 "Do as you like," said Sir Agravaine, "for I will 
 hide it no longer." 
 
 At that moment King Arthur came near. 
 
 "Now, brother, stay your noise," said Gawaine. 
 
 "We will not," said Agravaine and Mordred. 
 
THE DEPAETING OF SIE LANCELOT. 357 
 
 "Will you not?" said Gawaine; "then God speed 
 you, for I will not hear your tales, nor be of your 
 counsel." 
 
 "No more will I," said Sir Gareth and Sir Gaheris, 
 "for we will never speak evil of that man." 
 
 And accordingly these three knights left the 
 assembly. 
 
 "Alas," said Gawaine and Gareth, "now is this 
 realm wholly put in mischief, and the noble fellowship 
 of the Round Table is dispersed." 
 
 So, very sorrowfully, they went their way. 
 
 King Arthur coming up at that moment asked what 
 the noise was about, whereupon Agravaine and Mor- 
 dred were only too ready to repeat their spiteful slan- 
 der. As the King would scarcely believe what they 
 said, they laid a plot to entrap Sir Lancelot. In 
 escaping from this ambush. Sir Lancelot slew Sir 
 Agravaine and twelve of his companions. Sir Mor- 
 dred managed to escape, and riding all wounded and 
 bleeding to the King, told him his own version of the 
 story. 
 
 "Alas!" said King Arthur, "I sorely repent that 
 ever Sir Lancelot should be against me. Now I am 
 sure the noble fellowship of the Round Table is broken 
 for ever, for with him will hold many a noble knight." 
 
 It all fell out as the King and Sir Gawaine had 
 foreseen. From that day there was constant fighting 
 in England, some knights taking part with Sir Lancelot 
 
358 KING ARTHUR AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 and some with the King, and on both sides many 
 gallant lives were lost. Through sad mischance, the 
 noble knights Sir Gaheris and Sir Gareth, who were 
 unarmed at the time, were accidentally slain by Lance- 
 lot's party, after which Sir Gawaine, who had hitherto 
 refused to fight against him, became his most bitter 
 enemy. Many a time the King and Sir Lancelot would 
 have made peace, but it was always Sir Gawaine who 
 urged the King on to fresh fighting, and persuaded 
 him not to listen to any attempts at conciliation, 
 although Sir Lancelot made the most noble offers of 
 penitence, and expressed the deepest sorrow for the 
 unintentional slaying of Gaheris and Gareth. 
 
 At last the Pope sent a command that the fighting 
 should cease, and a stately meeting between the Kirtg 
 and Sir Lancelot took place at Carlisle. Here Sir 
 Lancelot spoke such noble words that all the knights 
 and ladies who were present wept to hear him, and the 
 tears fell down King Arthur's cheeks. But the King, 
 to gratify Gawaine's revenge for the loss of his 
 brothers, had already promised that Lancelot should be 
 banished, and now instead of accepting his offer of 
 penitence and good-will, he allowed Sir Gawaine to 
 declare to Sir Lancelot his doom of exile, and that he 
 was forbidden to abide in England more than fifteen 
 days. 
 
 Then Sir Lancelot sighed, and the tears fell down 
 his cheeks. 
 
THE DEPARTING OP SIE LANCELOT. 359 
 
 "Alas, most noble Christian realm," he said, "whom 
 I have loved above all other realms, in thee have I 
 gotten a great part of my honor, and now I shall de- 
 part in this wise ! Truly I repent that ever I came into 
 this realm, that am thus shamefully banished, unde- 
 served and without cause! But fortune is so variant, 
 and the wheel so movable, there is no constant abiding, 
 and that may be proved by many old chronicles, of 
 noble Hector, and Trolius, and Alexander the mighty 
 conqueror, and many others more. When they were 
 highest in their royalty they alighted lowest, and so it 
 fareth with me," said Sir Lancelot, "for in this realm 
 I had honor, and by me and the knights of my blood the 
 whole Round Table increased more in renown than by 
 any other." 
 
 Then Sir Lancelot bade good-bye to Queen Guine- 
 vere in hearing of the King and them all. 
 
 "Madam," he said, "now I must depart from you and 
 this noble fellowship for ever, and since it is so, I 
 beseech you to pray for me, and say me well. And 
 if you be hard bested by any false tongues, my lady, 
 have word sent to me, and if any knight's hands can 
 deliver you by battle, I shall deliver you." 
 
 And therewith Sir Lancelot kissed the Queen, and 
 then he said all openly : 
 
 "Now let us see any one in this place that dare 
 say the Queen is not true to my lord Arthur ! Let u§ 
 g^e who will speak, if he dare speak !" 
 
360 KmG ARTHUE AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 With that he brought the Queen to the King, and 
 then Sir Lancelot took his leave and departed. And 
 there was neither King, duke nor earl, baron or knight, 
 lady or gentlewoman, but all of them wept as people 
 out of their minds, except Sir Gawaine. And when 
 the noble Sir Lancelot took his horse to ride out of 
 Carlisle, there was sobbing and weeping for pure sor- 
 row at his departing. So he took his way to his Cas- 
 tle of Joyous Card, and ever after that he called it the 
 Dolorous Gard. 
 
 And thus departed Sir Lancelot from the Court 
 of King Arthur for ever. 
 
 When Sir Lancelot came to Joyous Gard he called 
 his company of knights together, and asked them what 
 they would do. They answered all together with one 
 voice that they would do as he did. 
 
 "My fair fellows," said Sir Lancelot, "I must depart 
 out of this most noble realm, and now I shall depart 
 it grieveth me sore, for I shall depart with no honor. 
 For a banished man never departed out of any realm 
 with any honor, and that is my cause of grief, for 
 ever I fear after many days they will chronicle of me 
 that I was banished out of this land." 
 
 Then spoke many noble knights, and said : 
 
 "Sir, if you are so disposed to abide in this country 
 we will never fail you, and if you do not choose to 
 abide in this land, not one of the good knights here 
 
THE DEPAETING OF SIE LANCELOT. 361 
 
 will fail you. Since it pleased us to take part with 
 your distress and heaviness in this realm, wit you well, 
 it shall equally please us to go into other countries with 
 you, and there to take such part as you do." 
 
 "My fair lords," said Lancelot, "I well understand 
 you, and as I can thank you. And you shall under- 
 stand that such livelihood as I am born to, I will give 
 up to you in this manner, — namely, I will share all 
 my livelihood and all my lands freely among you, and 
 I myself will have as little as any of you ; and I trust 
 to God to maintain you on my lands as well as ever 
 were maintained any knights." 
 
 Then spoke all the knights at once : 
 
 "Shame on him that will leave you! For we all 
 understand that in this realm will now be no quiet, but 
 always strife and debate, now the fellowship of the 
 Round Table is broken. For by the noble fellowship 
 of the Round Table was King Arthur upborne, and 
 by their nobleness the King and all his realm were in 
 quiet and in rest. And a great part, every one said, 
 was because of your nobleness." 
 
 "Truly," said Sir Lancelot, "I thank you all for 
 your good words, thougii I know well all the stability 
 of this realm was not due to me. But as far as I 
 could I did my duty, and some rebellions in my days 
 were appeased by me. And I trow we shall soon hear 
 of them again, and that is what grieves me sorely. 
 For ever I dread me that Sir Mordred will make 
 
362 KING AETHUE AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 trouble, for he is passing envious, and applies himself 
 to mischief." 
 
 So all the knights were agreed to go with Sir 
 Lancelot, and quite a hundred departed with him, and 
 made their avows they would never leave him, for weal 
 nor woe. 
 
 So they shipped at Cardiff, and sailed to Bayonne, 
 in France, where Sir Lancelot was lord of many lands. 
 
 THE VENGEANCE OF SIR GAWAINE. 
 
 Not content with having banished Sir Lancelot, 
 King Arthur and Sir Gawaine made a great host ready, 
 and prepared to follow him, taking ship at Cardiff. 
 During his absence King Arthur appointed his nephew 
 Sir Mordred to be chief ruler of all England, and put 
 Queen Guinevere under his charge. So he passed 
 over the sea and landed on Sir Lancelot's lands, and 
 there, through the vengeance of Sir Gawaine, he 
 burned and wasted all that they could over-run. 
 
 When word was brought to Sir Lancelot that King 
 Arthur and Sir Gawaine were landed and destroying 
 all his possessions, his knights urged him to go forth 
 to battle, but he replied that he was full loath to ride 
 out to shed Christian blood, so first he would send a 
 message to King Arthur, to see if a treaty could be 
 made, for peace was always better than war. So 
 Lancelot sent forth a damsel to King Arthur, demand- 
 ing that he should cease warring against his lands. 
 
THE VENGEAl^JCB OP SIE GAWAINE. 363 
 
 The damsel started on her palfrey, and when she 
 came to the pavilion of King Arthur she alighted ; and 
 there met her a gentle knight, Sir Lucan the butler. 
 
 "Fair damsel, do you come from Sir Lancelot of 
 the Lake?" 
 
 "Yea, sir," she said, "I come hither to speak with 
 my lord the King." 
 
 "Alas," said Sir Lucan, "my lord would love Lance- 
 lot, but Sir Gawairie will not let him." And then he 
 added, "I pray to God, damsel, ye may speed well, for 
 all we that are about the King would that Sir Lancelot 
 did best of any knight living." 
 
 With this Lucan led the damsel to King Arthur, 
 where he sat with Sir Gawaine, to hear what she would 
 say. When she had told her tale, tears filled the 
 King's eyes, and all the lords were full glad to advise 
 the King to be reconciled with Sir Lancelot, save only 
 Sir Gawaine. 
 
 "My lord, my uncle, what will you do?" he said. 
 "Will you turn back again, now that you have come 
 thus far on this journey? All the world will speak 
 scorn of you." 
 
 "Nay," said King Arthur, "you know well. Sir 
 Gawaine, I will do as you advise me; and yet it seems 
 to me it were not good to refuse his fair proffers. 
 But since I am come so far upon this journey, I will 
 that you give the damsel her answer, for I cannot 
 speak to her for pity, her proffers are so generous." 
 
364 KING AETHUE AND BIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 Then Sir Gawaine said to the damsel thus : 
 
 "Damsel, say you to Sir Lancelot, that it is waste 
 labor now to sue to my uncle. For tell him if he 
 would have made any attempt at peace, he should have 
 made it before this time, for tell him now it is too 
 late. And say that I, Sir Gawaine, so send him word 
 that I promise him by the faith I owe to God and to 
 knighthood, I shall never leave Sir Lancelot till he have 
 slain me, or I him." 
 
 So the damsel wept and departed, and there were 
 many weeping eyes. She came back to Sir Lancelot, 
 where he was among all his knights, and when Sir 
 Lancelot heard this answer, then the tears ran down 
 his cheeks. 
 
 Then his noble knights strode about him, and said, 
 "Sir Lancelot, wherefore n^ake you such cheer ? Think 
 what you are, and what men we are, and let us noble 
 men match them in midst of the field." 
 
 "That may easily be done," said Lancelot, "but I 
 was never so loath to do battle, for I will always avoid 
 that noble King who made me knight. When I can 
 keep quiet no longer. I milst needs defend myself, 
 and that will be more honor for me, and for us all, 
 than to strive with that noble King whom we have all 
 served." 
 
 Then they spoke no more, and as it was night, 
 went to rest. 
 
 On the morrow early, in the dawning of the day, 
 
THE VENGEANCE OF SIE GAWAINE. 365 
 
 as the knights looked out, they saw the city of Bayonne 
 besieged round about, and ladders were fast being set 
 up. Then from the town they defied King Arthur's 
 host and beat them from the walls mightily. So the 
 siege went on for six months, and there was much 
 slaughter of people on both sides. Then it befell on 
 a day that Sir Gawaine came before the gates, armed 
 at all points, on a noble horse, with a great spear in 
 his hand. 
 
 "Where art thou now, thou false traitor, Sir 
 Lancelot?" he cried with a loud voice. "Why hidest 
 thou thyself within holes and walls, like a coward? 
 Look out, now, thou false traitor knight, and here I 
 shall revenge upon thy body the death of my three 
 brethren." 
 
 Every word of this was heard by Sir Lancelot, and 
 all his knights; and now there was nothing to be done 
 but for Sir Lancelot to defend himself, or else to be 
 recreant for ever. Sir Lancelot bade saddle his 
 strongest horse, and fetch his arms, and bring them all 
 to the gate of the tower, and then he spoke aloud to 
 King Arthur : 
 
 "My lord Arthur, and noble King who made me 
 knight, wit you well I am right heavy for your sake 
 that you pursue me thus, and always I forbear you, 
 for if I had been revengeful, I might have met you in 
 open field, there to have made your boldest knights 
 full tame. Now I have forborne half a year, and 
 
366 KING AETHUE AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 suffered you and Sir Gawaine to do what you would 
 do, and now I can endure it no longer, — now I must 
 needs defend myself, inasmuch as Sir Gawaine hath 
 accused me of treason. It is greatly against my will 
 that ever I should fight against any of your blood. 
 But now I cannot resist it, I am driven to it, as a beast 
 to bay." 
 
 "Sir Lancelot," cried Gawaine, "if thou darest do 
 battle, leave thy babbling, and come away, and let us 
 ease our hearts." 
 
 King Arthur's host outside the city stood still, all 
 apart, and Lancelot's noble knights came out in a great 
 number, insomuch that when King Arthur saw the 
 multitude of men and knights he marvelled, and said 
 to himself : 
 
 "Alas, that ever Sir Lancelot was against me, for 
 now I see he hath .borne with me !" 
 
 So the covenant was made that no man should go 
 near Lancelot and Gawaine, or have anything to do 
 with them, till the one was dead or yielden. 
 
 Now, years ago, a holy man had given a strange 
 gift and favor to Sir Gawaine, which no one knew 
 of except King Arthur. Every day in the year, from 
 nine o'clod< in the morning till high noon, his might 
 increased three times its usual strength. The King 
 appointed most trials of arms to take place at this time 
 of day^ which caused Sir Gawaine to win great honor. 
 
THE VEICGEaN-CE OE SIR GAWAIl^E. 36t 
 
 Thus Sir Lancelot fought with Sir Gawaine, and 
 when he felt his strength evermore increase, Lancelot 
 wondered, and sorely dreaded to be shamed. But 
 when it was past noon Sir Gawaine had nothing but 
 his own strength to rely on, and then Lancelot felt him 
 grow weaker. Then he doubled his strokes, and gave 
 Sir Gawaine such a buffet on the helm that he fell down 
 on his side, and Lancelot withdrew himself from him. 
 
 "Why withdrawest thou?" said Sir Gawaine. 
 "Now turn again, false traitor knight, and slay me.~ 
 For if thou leave me thus, when I am whole I shall do 
 battle with thee again." 
 
 "I shall endure you, sir, by God's grace," replied 
 Sir Lancelot, "but wit you well, Sir Gawaine, I will 
 never smite a felled knight." 
 
 So Sir Lancelot went back into the city, and Sir 
 Gawaine was borne into one of King Arthur's pavil- 
 ions, where doctors came to him and dressed his 
 wounds. 
 
 Then King Arthur fell sick for sorrow because Sir 
 Gawaine was so sorely hurt, and because of the war 
 betwixt him and Sir Lancelot. Those of King Arthur's 
 party kept the siege with little fighting outside, and 
 those within guarded their walls and defended them 
 when need was. 
 
 Sir Gawaine lay sick in his tent for about three 
 weeks, and as soon as he could ride he once more 
 came before the chief gate of Bayonne, and challenged 
 
368 KING AETHUE AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 Lancelot to fight. And once more Lancelot wounded 
 him sorely and smote him down. 
 
 "Traitor knight," cried Sir Gawaine, "wit thou 
 well, I am not yet slain; come thou near me, and 
 perform this battle to the uttermost." 
 
 "I will do no more than I have done," said Sir 
 Lancelot; "for when I see you on foot, I will do 
 battle against you all the while I see you stand on your 
 feet; but to smite a wounded man that cannot stand, 
 God defend me from such shame!" And then he 
 turned, and went his way towards the city. 
 
 "Sir Lancelot, when I am whole, I shall do battle 
 with thee again," Sir Gawaine called out after him, 
 "for I shall never leave thee till one of us be slain." 
 
 So the siege went on, and Sir Gawaine lay sick 
 nearly a month. And when he was well recovered and 
 ready within three days to do battle again with Sir 
 Lancelot, tidings came to King Arthur from England, 
 which made the King and all his host remove. 
 
 THE BATTLE IN THE WEST. 
 
 While King Arthur was away in France, Mordred, 
 who had been appointed ruler of England, was busy 
 about his own wicked plots. He now forged letters, as 
 though they came from beyond the sea, and the letters 
 specified that King Arthur had been slain in battle 
 with Sir Lancelot. Mordred thereupon summoned a 
 
THE BATTLE IN THE WEST. 369 
 
 Parliament, and calling the lords together, he made 
 them choose him King; so he was crowned at Canter- 
 bury, and held a feast there fifteen days. Afterwards 
 he withdrew to Camelot, and sent for Queen Guinevere, 
 and told her plainly that he wished to marry her. 
 Everything was made ready for the feast, and the day 
 for the wedding was fixed. 
 
 Queen Guinevere was in great distress, but she 
 did not dare oppose Sir Mordred openly, and therefore 
 she pretended to agree. Then she asked leave to go 
 to London, to buy all manner of things necessary for 
 the wedding. Because of her fair words Sir Mordred 
 trusted her well enough and gave her leave to go. 
 
 Directly she reached London, Queen Guinevere at 
 once seized the Tower, and in all haste possible stuffed 
 it with all manner of victuals, and well garrisoned it 
 with men, and so kept it. 
 
 When Mordred found he had been out-witted he 
 was wroth beyond measure. He went and laid a 
 mighty siege to the Tower of London, and assaulted 
 it with great engines and guns, but he could not pre- 
 vail. He tried in all ways, by letters and messages, 
 to make Queen Guinevere come out of the Tower, 
 but it availed nothing; neither for fair words nor foul 
 would the Queen trust herself again in the traitor's 
 hands. She answered shortly that she would rather 
 slay herself than marry him. 
 
 Then word came to Mordred that King Arthur 
 
370 KING ARTHUE ANC HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 had raised the siege on Sir Lancelot; and was coming 
 homeward with a great host to be avenged on his 
 nephew. Mordred accordingly sent writs to all the 
 baronry of England, and numbers of people fjocked to 
 him. For it was a common report among them that 
 with Arthur was no other life but war and strife, and 
 with Mordred was great joy and bliss. Thus was 
 King, Arthur maligned, and evil spoken of. And 
 there were many whom King Arthur had raised up 
 from nothing, and given lands to, who could not now 
 say of him a good word. 
 
 So Sir Mordred marched with a large host to 
 Dover, and there came King Arthur with a great navy 
 of ships and galleys, while Mordred waited ready to 
 prevent his landing. Then there was launching of 
 big boats and small, full of noble bien of arms, and 
 there was much slaughter of gentle knights, and many 
 a bold baron on both sides was laid low. But King 
 Arthur was so courageous, no manner of men could 
 prevent his landing, and his knights fiercely followed 
 him. They drove Mordred back, and he fled, and all 
 his army. 
 
 After the battle was over. King Arthur buried his 
 people that were slain, and then the noble knight Sir 
 Gawaine was found in a boat, lying more than half 
 dead. He had been hurt again on the wound which 
 Sir Lancelot had given him at Bayonne, and now he 
 must die. 
 
THE BATTLE IN THE WEST. sn 
 
 "Alas, Sir Gawaine," said the King, "here now 
 thoit liest, the man in the world whom I loved the 
 most, and now is my joy gone! In Sir Lancelot and 
 thee I had most joy, and now have I lost you both." 
 
 "Mine uncle. King Arthur," said Gawaine, "wit 
 you well, my death day is come, and all is through 
 my own hastiness and wilfulness. Had Sir Lancelot 
 been with you as he used to be, this unhappy war had 
 never begun, and of all this am I the cause. For Sir 
 Lancelot and his kindred through their prowess held 
 all your enemies in subjection and danger, and now 
 ye shall miss Sir Lancelot. But alas, I would not 
 agree with him, and therefore I pray you let me have 
 paper, pen and ink, that I may write to Sir Lancelot 
 a letter with my own hand." 
 
 Then Sir Gawaine wrote a letter to Sir Lancelot, 
 "flower of all noble knights," telling him all that had 
 happened, and how he had brought his death on him- 
 self, because he was hurt on the same wound that 
 Lancelot had given him at Bayonne. 
 
 "Also, Sir Lancelot," he went on, "for all the 
 love that ever was betwixt us, make no tarrying, but 
 come over the sea in all haste, that thou mayst with 
 thy gallant knights rescue the noble King who made 
 thee knight, that is my lord Arthur, for he is full 
 straitly bested with a false traitor, my half-brother. 
 Sir Mordred." 
 ^ Then Sir Gawaine bade King Arthur send for 
 
Sn KING ARTHUR AND HIS KNIGHTS. . 
 
 Lancelot, and cherish him above all other knights ; 
 and so, at the hour of noon. Sir Gawaine yielded up 
 the spirit. 
 
 After this, King Arthur fought again with Sir 
 Mordred, and drove him westward across England, 
 towards Salisbury, where a day was appointed for the 
 King to meet Sir Mordred in battle on a down near 
 Salisbury, not far from the sea. 
 
 The night before the battle King Arthur dreamed 
 a wonderful dream. It seemed to him he sat on a 
 platform, in a chair, clad in the richest cloth of gold 
 that could be made ; and the chair was fast to a wheel. 
 And the King thought that under him, far from him, 
 was a hideous deep black water, and therein were all 
 manner of serpents and worms, and wild beasts, foul 
 and horrible. And suddenly, the King thought, the 
 wheel turned upside down, and he fell among the 
 serpents, and every beast seized him by a limb. 
 
 Then the King cried as he lay in his bed — "Help!" 
 And knights, squires, and yeomen ran to the King 
 and wakened him, and he was so amazed he did not 
 know where he was. 
 
 Then he fell slumbering again, not sleeping, nor 
 thoroughly wakening. And it seemed to him that 
 Sir Gawaine came to him, and warned him not to fight 
 with Sir Mordred on the morrow, for if he did so 
 he would certainly die. Sir Gawaine counselled him 
 to make a treaty for a month, for within that time 
 
THE BATTLE IN THE WEST. 375 
 
 Sir Lancelot would come, with all his noble knights, 
 and would rescue King Arthur, and slay Sir Mordred. 
 
 Then Sir Gawaine vanished. 
 
 Directly King Arthur awoke he sent for all his 
 wise lords and bishops, and told them his vision, and 
 of Sir Gawaine's warning. They went at once to 
 Sir Mordred, and made a treaty, promising him that 
 while King Arthur lived he should have Cornwall and 
 Kent, and after the King's death, the whole of 
 England. It was further agreed that a meeting be- 
 tween King Arthur and Mordred should take place 
 betwixt the two armies, and each of them should take 
 fourteen persons. 
 
 King Arthur, on starting for this meeting, warned 
 all his army that if they saw any sword drawn 
 they were to come on fiercely, and slay the traitor 
 Mordred, for he in no wise trusted him. And in like 
 manner Sir Mordred also warned his host. 
 
 So they met, as had been appointed, and they were 
 agreed and thoroughly in accordance. Wine was 
 fetched, and they drank. 
 
 Just at that moment came an adder out of a little 
 heath-bush, and it stung a knight on the foot. When 
 the knight felt himself stung, he looked down, and 
 saw the adder. Then he drew his sword to slay the 
 adder, and thought of no other harm. 
 
 But when the host on both sides saw that sword 
 drawn, then they blew bugles, and trumpets and horns, 
 
Sn KING ARTHUR AND HIS KNIGHTS, 
 
 and shouted grimly. So both the armies rushed to 
 arms, and never was seen a more doleful battle in any 
 Christian land. 
 
 All that day long they fought without ceasing, and 
 when night came, of all King Arthur's noble knights 
 there were none left alive but Sir Lucan the butler, 
 and his brother Sir Bedivere, and both were sorely 
 wounded. Then was King Arthur wroth out of 
 measure when he saw his people so slain from him. 
 
 "Alas, that ever I should see this doleful day! 
 For now I am come to my end," said Arthur. "But 
 would to God I knew where that traitor Sir Mordred 
 is, who hath caused all this mischief." 
 
 Then was King Arthur aware where Sir Mordred 
 leaned on his sword among a great heap of dead men. 
 Sir Lucan tried to persuade the King not to fight with 
 Mordred, reminding him of Sir Gawaine's warning. 
 
 "Blessed be God, ye have won the field," he said; 
 "for here we are three alive, and with Sir Mordred 
 there are none living. And if you leave off now, this 
 wicked day of destiny is past." 
 
 "Tide me death, betide me life," said the King, 
 "now I see him yonder alone, he shall never escape 
 my hands, for at a better advantage I shall never 
 have him." 
 
 "God speed you well !" said Sir Bedivere. 
 
 Then King Arthur took his spear in both hands, 
 and ran towards Mordred, crying : 
 
"NOBLEST KNIGHT OF THE WORLD." 375 
 
 "Traitor, now is thy death day come!" 
 When Sir Mordred heard King Arthur he ran at 
 him with his sword drawn. Then King Arthur thrust 
 Mordred through the body with his spear, so that 
 he fell dead; but Mordred 's sword pierced the helmet 
 and brain-pan of King Arthur, so that he fell in a 
 swoon to the earth. 
 
 "THE NOBLEST KNIGHT OF THE WORLD." 
 
 Sir Lucan and Sir Bedivere lifted up King Arthur 
 and carried him to a little chapel not far from the 
 seashore, but Sir Lucan was so grievously wounded 
 that he fell dead before they could go to a further 
 place of safety. Sir Bedivere wept for the death of 
 his brother, but the King bade him stay his mourning, 
 for his own life was hurrying fast away. 
 
 "Therefore," said Arthur, "take thou Excalibur, 
 my good sword, and go with it to yonder water-side; 
 and when thou gettest there I charge thee throw my 
 sword in that water, and come again, and tell me what 
 thou there seest." 
 
 "My lord," said Bedivere, "your commandment shall 
 be done, and I will quickly bring you word again." 
 
 So Bedivere departed, and by the way he beheld 
 that noble sword, how that the pommel and the hilt 
 were all of precious stones. Then he said to himself, 
 
376 KING ARTHUR AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 "If I throw this rich sword in the water, good will 
 never come of it, but harm and loss." 
 
 So Sir Bedivere hid Excalibur under a tree, and 
 went back to the King as quickly as he could, and 
 said he had been at the water, and thrown in the sword. 
 
 "What saw thou there ?" said the King. 
 
 "Sir," he said, "I saw nothing but waves and winds." 
 
 "That is untruly said," spoke the King. "There- 
 fore go thou quickly again, and do my command 
 as thou art lief and dear to me; spare not, but throw 
 it in." 
 
 Then Bedivere went back and took the sword in 
 his hand; and then it seemed a sin and shame to 
 throw away that noble sword; so again he hid the 
 sword, and returned to Arthur, and told him he had 
 done his command. 
 
 "What saw thou there?" said the King. 
 
 "Sir," he said, "I saw nothing but the ripple of 
 water, and the lapping of the waves." 
 
 "Ah, traitor, untrue!" cried King Arthur, "now 
 hast thou betrayed me twice. Who would have 
 thought that thou who hast been to me so lief and dear, 
 and thou wert named a noble knight, would betray 
 me for the riches of the sword! But now go again 
 quickly, for thy long tarrying putteth me in great 
 jeopardy of my life." 
 
 Then Sir Bedivere departed, and fetched the sword, 
 and taking it to the water-side, he bound the girdle 
 
"NOBLEST KNIGHT OF THE WOELD." 37? 
 
 about the hilt, and threw the sword as far into the 
 water as he could. There came an arm and a hand 
 above the water, and met it, and caught it, and so 
 shook it thrice and brandished it, and then the hand 
 with the sword vanished away in the water. So Sir 
 Bedivere came again to the King, and told him what 
 he had seen. 
 
 "Alas," said the King, "help me hence, for I dread 
 me I have tarried over long." 
 
 Then Sir Bedivere took the King upon his back, 
 and so carried him to the water-side. And when 
 they reached it, a barge drifted in quite close to the 
 bank, with many fair ladies in it; they had all black 
 hoods, and they wept and cried when they saw King 
 Arthur. 
 
 "Now put me into the barge," said the King, and 
 Sir Bedivere did so softly. 
 
 And there received him three Queens, with great 
 mourning, and so they set him down, and King 
 Arthur laid his head in the lap of one of the Queens. 
 
 "Ah, dear brother," she said, "why have ye tarried 
 so long from me?" 
 
 Thus, then, they rowed from the land, and Sir 
 Bedivere beheld them go from him. 
 
 "Ah, my lord Arthur," he cried, "what shall become 
 of me now ye go from me, and leave me here alone 
 among my enemies ?" 
 
 "Comfort thyself," said the King, "and do as well 
 
378 KING AETHUK AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 as thou canst, for in me is no trust to trust in. For 
 I go to the vale of Avilion, to heal me of my grievous 
 wound. And if thou hear never more of me, pray for 
 my soul." 
 
 Thus King Arthur was borne away in the barge 
 with the three Queens, — the one was King Arthur's 
 sister, Morgan le Fay, another was the Queen of North 
 Wales, the third was the Queen of the Waste Lands. 
 Also in the barge was Nimue, the chief Lady of the 
 Lake, and this lady had done mtich for King Arthur. 
 
 And some people say that King Arthur died, and 
 that the three Queens took his body to a little hermitage 
 near Glastonbury, where it was buried in a chapel. 
 But many men think that King Arthur never died 
 at all, but dwells now in some beautiful valley of rest, 
 and that one day he will come again to rule over 
 England. For on his tomb this verse is written : 
 
 "Here lies Arthur, King that was, and King that 
 shall be." 
 
 When news came to Queen Guinevere that King 
 Arthur was slain, and all the noble knights, and Sir 
 Mordred, she stole away with five ladies to Amesbury. 
 There she took refuge in a convent, and spent the 
 rest of her days in fasting, prayers, and alms-deeds. 
 
 In the meanwhile, Sir I^ancelot had received Sir 
 Ga^^•ai^e's letter, and with all the haste he could he 
 
"NOBLEST KNIGiET OF THE WOELD." 379 
 
 hurried back to England with his company of noble 
 knights. But when they arrived they found they were 
 too late. King Arthur ajid Sir Mordred were both 
 slain. Sir Lancelot thereupon rode in search of Queen 
 Guinevere, and at last he found her in the nunnery at 
 Amesbury. The Queen told him that she intended 
 never to come out again into the world, and when 
 Lancelot heard this, he determined also to retire to a 
 hermitage. 
 
 Taking his horse he rode away into a great forest, 
 and so it chanced he came to the little chapel near 
 Glastonbury, where the body of King Arthur had been 
 buried. Sir Bedivere was still there, and Sir Lancelot 
 asked the good bishop who was hermit, if he might 
 remain. Here Sir Bors followed him, and others of 
 his noble knights, who when they found Sir Lancelot 
 had betaken himself to such holiness, had no desire to 
 depart. Thus for six years they lived a life of penance, 
 paying no regard to worldly riches, and caring nothing 
 what pain they endured, when they saw the noblest 
 knight of the world suffer such hardship. 
 
 Sir Lancelot had lived in the hermitage about seven 
 years when one night a vision came to him, bidding 
 him hasten to Amesbury, for there he would find Queen 
 Guinevere dead. And Lancelot was told to take a 
 horse-bier, and go with his fellow knights to fetch the 
 body of Queen Guinevere, and bury her by her husband, 
 the noble King Arthur. 
 
380 KING AETHUK AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 So all was done as the vision commanded, and 
 Queen Guinevere was brought from Amesbury to 
 Glastonbury with much sorrow and splendor. A 
 hundred torches were kept burning round the bier, and 
 Lancelot and seven of his knights walked always round 
 it, singing, and saying holy prayers, and strewing 
 frankincense. Thus th^y came from Amesbury to 
 Glastonbury, and on the morrow Queen Guinevere was 
 buried in the little chapel, in the tomb of King Arthur. 
 
 When the coffin was put into the earth Sir Lancelot 
 swooned, and lay for a long time still, till the good 
 Bishop, who was hermit, came out and awaked him. 
 
 "Ye be to blame," he said, "for ye displease God 
 with such manner of sorrow making," 
 
 "Truly," said Sir Lancelot, "I trust I do not dis- 
 please God, for he knoweth my intent. My sorrow 
 was not, and is not, from any sinful cause, but my 
 sorrow can never have an end. For when I remember 
 the beauty of the Queen, and the nobleness that was 
 with her and the King, — and when I saw them thus lie 
 here together dead, — truly my heart would not serve 
 to sustain me. Also, when I remember me, how by my 
 fault, my arrogance, and my pride, they were both laid 
 full low, who were peerless of any Christian people, wit 
 you well," said Sir Lancelot, "this remembrance of 
 their kindness and my unkindness sank so to my heart, 
 that I could not sustain myself." 
 
 After this. Sir Lancelot fell ill, eating and drinking 
 
"NOBLEST KNIGHT OF THE WOELD." 381 
 
 little, and gradually pining away, for there was nothing 
 any one could do to comfort him. Evermore, day and 
 night he prayed, but sometimes he slumbered a broken 
 sleep, and often he was found lying on the tomb of 
 King Arthur and Queen Guinevere. At last he grew 
 so weak that he could no longer rise from bed, and 
 then he sent for the good Bishop and all his faithful 
 companions, and begged that he might receive the last 
 sacred rites of religion. When all had been done in 
 due order, he prayed the Bishop that when he was dead 
 his comrades might bear his body to his own Castle of 
 Joyous Gard, for there he had sworn a vow he would be 
 buried. 
 
 Then there was weeping and wringing of hands 
 among his fellow knights. 
 
 That night, while all lay asleep, the good Bishop 
 had a beautiful dream. He thought he saw Sir 
 Lancelot surrounded with a great throng of angels, 
 and they carried him up to heaven^ and the gates of 
 heaven were opened to him. 
 
 "It is but a dream," said Sir Bors. "I doubt not 
 nothing but good aileth Sir Lancelot." 
 
 "That may well be," said the Bishop. "But go 
 ye to his bed, and then we shall prove the truth." 
 
 When Sir Bors and the other knights came to Sir 
 Lancelot's bed, they found him stark dead, and he 
 lay as if he smiled, and all around him there was the 
 sweetest fragrance that ever they felt, 
 
383 KING AETHUE AND HIS KNIGHTS. 
 
 On the morrow, after chanting the Requiem Mass, 
 the Bishop and the knights put Sir Lancelot in the 
 same horse-bier in which Queen Guinevere had been 
 brought to Glastonbury, and took him to his own 
 Castle of Joyous Gard, and they had always a hundred 
 torches burning about him; and so within fifteen days 
 they came to Joyous Gard. There they laid him in 
 the body of the choir, and sang and read many prayers 
 and psalms over him ; and his face was left uncovered, 
 that all folk might see him, for such was the custom 
 in those days. 
 
 And right thus, as they were at their service, came 
 Sir Ector de Maris, who for seven years had sought 
 all England, Scotland, and Wales for his brother 
 Lancelot. When he heard the noise, and saw the 
 choir of Joyous Gard all lighted up, he dismounted 
 from his horse, and came into the choir, and there he 
 saw men singing and weeping. And they all knew 
 Sir Ector, but he did not know them. Then Sir 
 Bors went to Sir Ector, and told him how there lay 
 his brother. Sir Lancelot, dead. Sir Ector threw his 
 shield, sword, and helm from him, and when he beheld 
 Sir Lancelot's face, it were hard for any tongue to 
 tell the doleful complaints that he made for his brother. 
 
 "Ah, Lancelot," he said, "thou wert head of all 
 Christian knights. And now, I dare say," said Sir 
 Ector, "thou. Sir Lancelot, there thou liest, that thou 
 wert never matched of earthly knight's hand; and 
 
"NOBLEST KNIGHT OF THE WOKLD." 383 
 
 thou wert the courtHest knight that ever bare shield; 
 and thou wert the truest friend to thy lover that ever 
 bestrode horse; and thou wert the truest lover of any 
 sinful man that ever loved woman; and thou wert 
 the kindliest man that ever struck with sword; and 
 thou wert the goodliest person that ever came amonri 
 press of knights ; and thou wert the meekest man and 
 the gentlest that ever ate in hall among ladies; and 
 thou wert the sternest knight to thy mortal foe that 
 ever put spear in the rest." 
 
 Then there was weeping and grief out of measure. 
 
 THE END. 
 
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