Le Morte D’Arthur

King Arthur and best remote control boats for 7 year olds under 100 dollarsof his Noble Knights of the Round Table

by Thomas Malory

IN TWO VOLS.—VOL. I

Contents

BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

The Morte D’Arthur was finished, as the epilogue tells us, in the ninthyear of Edward IV., i.e. between March 4, 1469 and the same date in 1470. It isthus, fitly enough, the last important English book written before theintroduction of printing into this country, and since no manuscript of it hascome down to us it is also the first English classic for our knowledge of whichwe are entirely dependent on a printed text. Caxton’s story of how thebook was brought to him and he was induced to print it may be read farther onin his own preface. From this we learn also that he was not only the printer ofthe book, but to some extent its editor also, dividing Malory’s work intotwenty-one books, splitting up the books into chapters, by no means skilfully,and supplying the “Rubrish” or chapter-headings. It may be addedthat Caxton’s preface contains, moreover, a brief criticism which, on thepoints on which it touches, is still the soundest and most sympathetic that hasbeen written.

Caxton finished his edition the last day of July 1485, some fifteen or sixteenyears after Malory wrote his epilogue. It is clear that the author was thendead, or the printer would not have acted as a clumsy editor to the book, andrecent discoveries (if bibliography may, for the moment, enlarge its bounds tomention such matters) have revealed with tolerable certainty when Malory diedand who he was. In letters to The Athenaeum in July 1896 Mr. T. Williamspointed out that the name of a Sir Thomas Malorie occurred among those of anumber of other Lancastrians excluded from a general pardon granted by EdwardIV. in 1468, and that a William Mallerye was mentioned in the same year astaking part in a Lancastrian rising. In September 1897, again, in anotherletter to the same paper, Mr. A. T. Martin reported the finding of the will ofa Thomas Malory of Papworth, a hundred partly in Cambridgeshire, partly inHunts. This will was made on September 16, 1469, and as it was proved the 27thof the next month the testator must have been in immediate expectation ofdeath. It contains the most careful provision for the education and starting inlife of a family of three daughters and seven sons, of whom the youngest seemsto have been still an infant. We cannot say with certainty that this ThomasMalory, whose last thoughts were so busy for his children, was our author, orthat the Lancastrian knight discovered by Mr. Williams was identical witheither or both, but such evidence as the Morte D’Arthur offers favourssuch a belief. There is not only the epilogue with its petition, “prayfor me while I am alive that God send me good deliverance and when I am deadpray you all for my soul,” but this very request is foreshadowed at theend of chap. 37 of Book ix. in the touching passage, surely inspired bypersonal experience, as to the sickness “that is the greatest pain aprisoner may have”; and the reflections on English fickleness in thefirst chapter of Book xxi., though the Wars of the Roses might have inspiredthem in any one, come most naturally from an author who was a Lancastrianknight.

If the Morte D’Arthur was really written in prison and by a prisonerdistressed by ill-health as well as by lack of liberty, surely no task was everbetter devised to while away weary hours. Leaving abundant scope fororiginality in selection, modification, and arrangement, as a compilation andtranslation it had in it that mechanical element which adds the touch ofrestfulness to literary work. No original, it is said, has yet been found forBook vii., and it is possible that none will ever be forthcoming for chap. 20of Book xviii., which describes the arrival of the body of the Fair Maiden ofAstolat at Arthur’s court, or vii for chap. 25 of the same book, with itsdiscourse on true love; but the great bulk of the work has been traced chapterby chapter to the “Merlin” of Robert de Borron and his successors(Bks. i.-iv.), the English metrical romance La Morte Arthur of the Thorntonmanuscript (Bk. v.), the French romances of Tristan (Bks. viii.-x.) and ofLauncelot (Bks. vi., xi.-xix.), and lastly to the English prose Morte Arthur ofHarley MS. 2252 (Bks. xviii., xx., xxi.). As to Malory’s choice of hisauthorities critics have not failed to point out that now and again he gives aworse version where a better has come down to us, and if he had been able toorder a complete set of Arthurian manuscripts from his bookseller, no doubt hewould have done even better than he did! But of the skill, approaching tooriginal genius, with which he used the books from which he worked there islittle dispute.

Malory died leaving his work obviously unrevised, and in this condition it wasbrought to Caxton, who prepared it for the press with his usual enthusiasm inthe cause of good literature, and also, it must be added, with his usualcarelessness. New chapters are sometimes made to begin in the middle of asentence, and in addition to simple misprints there are numerous passages inwhich it is impossible to believe that we have the text as Malory intended itto stand. After Caxton’s edition Malory’s manuscript must havedisappeared, and subsequent editions are differentiated only by the degree ofcloseness with which they follow the first. Editions appeared printed by Wynkynde Worde in 1498 and 1529, by William Copland in 1559, by Thomas East about1585, and by Thomas Stansby in 1634, each printer apparently taking the text ofhis immediate predecessor and reproducing it with modifications.Stansby’s edition served for reprints in 1816 and 1856 (the latter editedby Thomas Wright); but in 1817 an edition supervised by Robert Southey wentback to Caxton’s text, though to a copy (only two are extant, and onlyone perfect!) in which eleven leaves were supplied from Wynkyn de Worde’sreprint. In 1868 Sir Edward Strachey produced for the present publishers areprint of Southey’s text in modern spelling, with the substitution ofcurrent words for those now obsolete, and the softening of a handful ofpassages likely, he thought, to prevent the book being placed in the hands ofboys. In 1889 a boon was conferred on scholars by the publication of Dr. H.Oskar Sommer’s page-for-page reprint of Caxton’s text, with anelaborate discussion of Malory’s sources. Dr. Sommer’s edition wasused by Sir E. Strachey to revise his Globe text, and in 1897 Mr. IsraelGollancz produced for the “Temple Classics” a very pretty editionin which Sir Edward Strachey’s principles of modernisation in spellingand punctuation were adopted, but with the restoration of obsolete words andomitted phrases. As to the present edition, Sir Edward Strachey altered with sosparing a hand that on many pages differences between his version and that hereprinted will be looked for in vain; but the most anxious care has been taken toproduce a text modernised as to its spelling, but in other respects in accurateaccordance with Caxton’s text, as represented by Dr Sommer’sreprint. Obvious misprints have been silently corrected, but in a few casesnotes show where emendations have been introduced from Wynkyn deWorde—not that Wynkyn had any more right to emend Caxton than we, butbecause even a printer’s conjecture gains a little sanctity after fourcenturies. The restoration of obsolete words has necessitated a much fullerglossary, and the index of names has therefore been separated from it andenlarged. In its present form the index is the work of Mr. Henry Littlehales.

A. W. POLLARD.

PREFACE OF WILLIAM CAXTON

After that I had accomplished and finished divers histories, as well ofcontemplation as of other historial and worldly acts of great conquerors andprinces, and also certain books of ensamples and doctrine, many noble anddivers gentlemen of this realm of England came and demanded me many and ofttimes, wherefore that I have not do made and imprint the noble history of theSaint Greal, and of the most renowned Christian king, first and chief of thethree best Christian, and worthy, King Arthur, which ought most to beremembered among us Englishmen to-fore all other Christian kings; for it isnotoyrly known through the universal world, that there be nine worthy and thebest that ever were, that is to wit, three Paynims, three Jews, and threeChristian men. As for the Paynims, they were to-fore the Incarnation of Christ,which were named, the first Hector of Troy, of whom the history is comen bothin ballad and in prose, the second Alexander the Great, and the third JuliusCaesar, Emperor of Rome, of whom the histories be well known and had. And asfor the three Jews, which also were to-fore the incarnation of our Lord, ofwhom the first was duke Joshua which brought the children of Israel into theland of behest, the second David king of Jerusalem, and the third JudasMachabeus, of these three the Bible rehearseth all their noble histories andacts. And since the said Incarnation have been three noble Christian men,stalled and admitted through the universal world into the number of the ninebest and worthy. Of whom was first the noble Arthur, whose noble acts I purposeto write in this present book here following. The second was Charlemain, orCharles the Great, of whom the history is had in many places, both in Frenchand in English. And the third and last was Godfrey of Boloine, of whose actsand life I made a book unto the excellent prince and king of noble memory, KingEdward the Fourth.

The said noble gentlemen instantly required me to imprint the history of thesaid noble king and conqueror King Arthur, and of his knights, with the historyof the Saint Greal, and of the death and ending of the said Arthur; affirmingthat I ought rather to imprint his acts and noble feats, than of Godfrey ofBoloine, or any of the other eight, considering that he was a man born withinthis realm, and king and emperor of the same: and that there be in Frenchdivers and many noble volumes of his acts, and also of his knights. To whom Ianswered that divers men hold opinion that there was no such Arthur, and thatall such books as been made of him be feigned and fables, because that somechronicles make of him no mention, nor remember him nothing, nor of hisknights. Whereto they answered, and one in special said, that in him thatshould say or think that there was never such a king called Arthur might wellbe aretted great folly and blindness. For he said that there were manyevidences of the contrary. First ye may see his sepulchre in the monastery ofGlastonbury. And also in Policronicon, in the fifth book the sixth chapter, andin the seventh book the twenty-third chapter, where his body was buried, andafter found, and translated into the said monastery. Ye shall see also in thehistory of Bochas, in his book De Casu Principum, part of his noble acts, andalso of his fall. Also Galfridus in his British book recounteth his life: andin divers places of England many remembrances be yet of him, and shall remainperpetually, and also of his knights. First in the abbey of Westminster, at St.Edward’s shrine, remaineth the print of his seal in red wax closed inberyl, in which is written, Patricius Arthurus Britannie, Gallie, Germanie,Dacie, Imperator. Item in the castle of Dover ye may see Gawaine’s skull,and Cradok’s mantle: at Winchester the Round Table: in other placesLauncelot’s sword and many other things. Then all these thingsconsidered, there can no man reasonably gainsay but there was a king of thisland named Arthur. For in all places, Christian and heathen, he is reputed andtaken for one of the nine worthy, and the first of the three Christian men. Andalso, he is more spoken of beyond the sea, more books made of his noble acts,than there be in England, as well in Dutch, Italian, Spanish, and Greekish, asin French. And yet of record remain in witness of him in Wales, in the town ofCamelot, the great stones and the marvellous works of iron lying under theground, and royal vaults, which divers now living have seen. Wherefore it is amarvel why he is no more renowned in his own country, save only it accordeth tothe Word of God, which saith that no man is accepted for a prophet in his owncountry.

Then all these things aforesaid alleged, I could not well deny but that therewas such a noble king named Arthur, and reputed one of the nine worthy, andfirst and chief of the Christian men. And many noble volumes be made of him andof his noble knights in French, which I have seen and read beyond the sea,which be not had in our maternal tongue. But in Welsh be many and also inFrench, and some in English but nowhere nigh all. Wherefore, such as have latebeen drawn out briefly into English I have after the simple conning that Godhath sent to me, under the favour and correction of all noble lords andgentlemen, enprised to imprint a book of the noble histories of the said KingArthur, and of certain of his knights, after a copy unto me delivered, whichcopy Sir Thomas Malorye did take out of certain books of French, and reduced itinto English. And I, according to my copy, have done set it in imprint, to theintent that noble men may see and learn the noble acts of chivalry, the gentleand virtuous deeds that some knights used in those days, by which they came tohonour, and how they that were vicious were punished and oft put to shame andrebuke; humbly beseeching all noble lords and ladies, with all other estates ofwhat estate or degree they been of, that shall see and read in this said bookand work, that they take the good and honest acts in their remembrance, and tofollow the same. Wherein they shall find many joyous and pleasant histories,and noble and renowned acts of humanity, gentleness, and chivalry. For hereinmay be seen noble chivalry, courtesy, humanity, friendliness, hardiness, love,friendship, cowardice, murder, hate, virtue, and sin. Do after the good andleave the evil, and it shall bring you to good fame and renown. And for to passthe time this book shall be pleasant to read in, but for to give faith andbelief that all is true that is contained herein, ye be at your liberty: butall is written for our doctrine, and for to beware that we fall not to vice norsin, but to exercise and follow virtue, by which we may come and attain to goodfame and renown in this life, and after this short and transitory life to comeunto everlasting bliss in heaven; the which He grant us that reigneth inheaven, the blessed Trinity. Amen.

Then to proceed forth in this said book, which I direct unto all noble princes,lords and ladies, gentlemen or gentlewomen, that desire to read or hear read ofthe noble and joyous history of the great conqueror and excellent king, KingArthur, sometime king of this noble realm, then called Britain; I, WilliamCaxton, simple person, present this book following, which I have enprised toimprint: and treateth of the noble acts, feats of arms of chivalry, prowess,hardiness, humanity, love, courtesy, and very gentleness, with many wonderfulhistories and adventures. And for to understand briefly the content of thisvolume, I have divided it into XXI Books, and every book chaptered, ashereafter shall by God’s grace follow. The First Book shall treat howUther Pendragon gat the noble conqueror King Arthur, and containeth xxviiichapters. The Second Book treateth of Balin the noble knight, and containethxix chapters. The Third Book treateth of the marriage of King Arthur to QueenGuenever, with other matters, and containeth xv chapters. The Fourth Book, howMerlin was assotted, and of war made to King Arthur, and containeth xxixchapters. The Fifth Book treateth of the conquest of Lucius the emperor, andcontaineth xii chapters. The Sixth Book treateth of Sir Launcelot and SirLionel, and marvellous adventures, and containeth xviii chapters. The SeventhBook treateth of a noble knight called Sir Gareth, and named by Sir KayBeaumains, and containeth xxxvi chapters. The Eighth Book treateth of the birthof Sir Tristram the noble knight, and of his acts, and containeth xli chapters.The Ninth Book treateth of a knight named by Sir Kay Le Cote Male Taille, andalso of Sir Tristram, and containeth xliv chapters. The Tenth Book treateth ofSir Tristram, and other marvellous adventures, and containeth lxxxviiichapters. The Eleventh Book treateth of Sir Launcelot and Sir Galahad, andcontaineth xiv chapters. The Twelfth Book treateth of Sir Launcelot and hismadness, and containeth xiv chapters. The Thirteenth Book treateth how Galahadcame first to king Arthur’s court, and the quest how the Sangreal wasbegun, and containeth xx chapters. The Fourteenth Book treateth of the quest ofthe Sangreal, and containeth x chapters. The Fifteenth Book treateth of SirLauncelot, and containeth vi chapters. The Sixteenth Book treateth of Sir Borsand Sir Lionel his brother, and containeth xvii chapters. The Seventeenth Booktreateth of the Sangreal, and containeth xxiii chapters. The Eighteenth Booktreateth of Sir Launcelot and the queen, and containeth xxv chapters. TheNineteenth Book treateth of Queen Guenever and Launcelot, and containeth xiiichapters. The Twentieth Book treateth of the piteous death of Arthur, andcontaineth xxii chapters. The Twenty-first Book treateth of his last departing,and how Sir Launcelot came to revenge his death, and containeth xiii chapters.The sum is twenty-one books, which contain the sum of five hundred and sevenchapters, as more plainly shall follow hereafter.

BOOK I.

CHAPTER I.
First, How Uther Pendragon sent for theduke of Cornwall and Igraine his wife, and of their departing suddenlyagain.

It befell in the days of Uther Pendragon, when he was king of all England, andso reigned, that there was a mighty duke in Cornwall that held war against himlong time. And the duke was called the Duke of Tintagil. And so by means KingUther sent for this duke, charging him to bring his wife with him, for she wascalled a fair lady, and a passing wise, and her name was called Igraine.

So when the duke and his wife were come unto the king, by the means of greatlords they were accorded both. The king liked and loved this lady well, and hemade them great cheer out of measure, and desired to have lain by her. But shewas a passing good woman, and would not assent unto the king. And then she toldthe duke her husband, and said, I suppose that we were sent for that I shouldbe dishonoured; wherefore, husband, I counsel you, that we depart from hencesuddenly, that we may ride all night unto our own castle. And in like wise asshe said so they departed, that neither the king nor none of his council wereware of their departing. All so soon as King Uther knew of their departing sosuddenly, he was wonderly wroth. Then he called to him his privy council, andtold them of the sudden departing of the duke and his wife.

Then they advised the king to send for the duke and his wife by a great charge;and if he will not come at your summons, then may ye do your best, then have yecause to make mighty war upon him. So that was done, and the messengers hadtheir answers; and that was this shortly, that neither he nor his wife wouldnot come at him.

Then was the king wonderly wroth. And then the king sent him plain word again,and bade him be ready and stuff him and garnish him, for within forty days hewould fetch him out of the biggest castle that he hath.

When the duke had this warning, anon he went and furnished and garnished twostrong castles of his, of the which the one hight Tintagil, and the othercastle hight Terrabil. So his wife Dame Igraine he put in the castle ofTintagil, and himself he put in the castle of Terrabil, the which had manyissues and posterns out. Then in all haste came Uther with a great host, andlaid a siege about the castle of Terrabil. And there he pight many pavilions,and there was great war made on both parties, and much people slain. Then forpure anger and for great love of fair Igraine the king Uther fell sick. So cameto the king Uther Sir Ulfius, a noble knight, and asked the king why he wassick. I shall tell thee, said the king, I am sick for anger and for love offair Igraine, that I may not be whole. Well, my lord, said Sir Ulfius, I shallseek Merlin, and he shall do you remedy, that your heart shall be pleased. SoUlfius departed, and by adventure he met Merlin in a beggar’s array, andthere Merlin asked Ulfius whom he sought. And he said he had little ado to tellhim. Well, said Merlin, I know whom thou seekest, for thou seekest Merlin;therefore seek no farther, for I am he; and if King Uther will well reward me,and be sworn unto me to fulfil my desire, that shall be his honour and profitmore than mine; for I shall cause him to have all his desire. All this will Iundertake, said Ulfius, that there shall be nothing reasonable but thou shalthave thy desire. Well, said Merlin, he shall have his intent and desire. Andtherefore, said Merlin, ride on your way, for I will not be long behind.

CHAPTER II.
How Uther Pendragon made war on theduke of Cornwall, and how by the mean of Merlin he lay by the duchess and gatArthur.

Then Ulfius was glad, and rode on more than a pace till that he came to KingUther Pendragon, and told him he had met with Merlin. Where is he? said theking. Sir, said Ulfius, he will not dwell long. Therewithal Ulfius was warewhere Merlin stood at the porch of the pavilion’s door. And then Merlinwas bound to come to the king. When King Uther saw him, he said he was welcome.Sir, said Merlin, I know all your heart every deal; so ye will be sworn unto meas ye be a true king anointed, to fulfil my desire, ye shall have your desire.Then the king was sworn upon the Four Evangelists. Sir, said Merlin, this is mydesire: the first night that ye shall lie by Igraine ye shall get a child onher, and when that is born, that it shall be delivered to me for to nourishthere as I will have it; for it shall be your worship, and the child’savail, as mickle as the child is worth. I will well, said the king, as thouwilt have it. Now make you ready, said Merlin, this night ye shall lie withIgraine in the castle of Tintagil; and ye shall be like the duke her husband,Ulfius shall be like Sir Brastias, a knight of the duke’s, and I will belike a knight that hight Sir Jordanus, a knight of the duke’s. But waitye make not many questions with her nor her men, but say ye are diseased, andso hie you to bed, and rise not on the morn till I come to you, for the castleof Tintagil is but ten miles hence; so this was done as they devised. But theduke of Tintagil espied how the king rode from the siege of Terrabil, andtherefore that night he issued out of the castle at a postern for to havedistressed the king’s host. And so, through his own issue, the dukehimself was slain or ever the king came at the castle of Tintagil.

So after the death of the duke, King Uther lay with Igraine more than threehours after his death, and begat on her that night Arthur, and on day cameMerlin to the king, and bade him make him ready, and so he kissed the ladyIgraine and departed in all haste. But when the lady heard tell of the duke herhusband, and by all record he was dead or ever King Uther came to her, then shemarvelled who that might be that lay with her in likeness of her lord; so shemourned privily and held her peace. Then all the barons by one assent prayedthe king of accord betwixt the lady Igraine and him; the king gave them leave,for fain would he have been accorded with her. So the king put all the trust inUlfius to entreat between them, so by the entreaty at the last the king and shemet together. Now will we do well, said Ulfius, our king is a lusty knight andwifeless, and my lady Igraine is a passing fair lady; it were great joy unto usall, an it might please the king to make her his queen. Unto that they all wellaccorded and moved it to the king. And anon, like a lusty knight, he assentedthereto with good will, and so in all haste they were married in a morning withgreat mirth and joy.

And King Lot of Lothian and of Orkney then wedded Margawse that wasGawaine’s mother, and King Nentres of the land of Garlot wedded Elaine.All this was done at the request of King Uther. And the third sister Morgan leFay was put to school in a nunnery, and there she learned so much that she wasa great clerk of necromancy. And after she was wedded to King Uriens of theland of Gore, that was Sir Ewain’s le Blanchemain’s father.

CHAPTER III.
Of the birth of King Arthur and ofhis nurture.

Then Queen Igraine waxed daily greater and greater, so it befell after withinhalf a year, as King Uther lay by his queen, he asked her, by the faith sheowed to him, whose was the body; then she sore abashed to give answer. Dismayyou not, said the king, but tell me the truth, and I shall love you the better,by the faith of my body. Sir, said she, I shall tell you the truth. The samenight that my lord was dead, the hour of his death, as his knights record,there came into my castle of Tintagil a man like my lord in speech and incountenance, and two knights with him in likeness of his two knights Brastiasand Jordanus, and so I went unto bed with him as I ought to do with my lord,and the same night, as I shall answer unto God, this child was begotten uponme. That is truth, said the king, as ye say; for it was I myself that came inthe likeness, and therefore dismay you not, for I am father of the child; andthere he told her all the cause, how it was by Merlin’s counsel. Then thequeen made great joy when she knew who was the father of her child.

Soon came Merlin unto the king, and said, Sir, ye must purvey you for thenourishing of your child. As thou wilt, said the king, be it. Well, saidMerlin, I know a lord of yours in this land, that is a passing true man and afaithful, and he shall have the nourishing of your child, and his name is SirEctor, and he is a lord of fair livelihood in many parts in England and Wales;and this lord, Sir Ector, let him be sent for, for to come and speak with you,and desire him yourself, as he loveth you, that he will put his own child tonourishing to another woman, and that his wife nourish yours. And when thechild is born let it be delivered to me at yonder privy postern unchristened.So like as Merlin devised it was done. And when Sir Ector was come he madefiaunce to the king for to nourish the child like as the king desired; andthere the king granted Sir Ector great rewards. Then when the lady wasdelivered, the king commanded two knights and two ladies to take the child,bound in a cloth of gold, and that ye deliver him to what poor man ye meet atthe postern gate of the castle. So the child was delivered unto Merlin, and sohe bare it forth unto Sir Ector, and made an holy man to christen him, andnamed him Arthur; and so Sir Ector’s wife nourished him with her own pap.

CHAPTER IV.
Of the death of King UtherPendragon.

Then within two years King Uther fell sick of a great malady. And in themeanwhile his enemies usurped upon him, and did a great battle upon his men,and slew many of his people. Sir, said Merlin, ye may not lie so as ye do, forye must to the field though ye ride on an horse-litter: for ye shall never havethe better of your enemies but if your person be there, and then shall ye havethe victory. So it was done as Merlin had devised, and they carried the kingforth in an horse-litter with a great host towards his enemies. And at St.Albans there met with the king a great host of the North. And that day SirUlfius and Sir Brastias did great deeds of arms, and King Uther’s menovercame the Northern battle and slew many people, and put the remnant toflight. And then the king returned unto London, and made great joy of hisvictory. And then he fell passing sore sick, so that three days and threenights he was speechless: wherefore all the barons made great sorrow, and askedMerlin what counsel were best. There is none other remedy, said Merlin, but Godwill have his will. But look ye all barons be before King Uther to-morn, andGod and I shall make him to speak. So on the morn all the barons with Merlincame to-fore the king; then Merlin said aloud unto King Uther, Sir, shall yourson Arthur be king after your days, of this realm with all the appurtenance?Then Uther Pendragon turned him, and said in hearing of them all, I give himGod’s blessing and mine, and bid him pray for my soul, and righteouslyand worshipfully that he claim the crown, upon forfeiture of my blessing; andtherewith he yielded up the ghost, and then was he interred as longed to aking. Wherefore the queen, fair Igraine, made great sorrow, and all the barons.

CHAPTER V.
How Arthur was chosen king, and ofwonders and marvels of a sword taken out of a stone by the said Arthur.

Then stood the realm in great jeopardy long while, for every lord that wasmighty of men made him strong, and many weened to have been king. Then Merlinwent to the Archbishop of Canterbury, and counselled him for to send for allthe lords of the realm, and all the gentlemen of arms, that they should toLondon come by Christmas, upon pain of cursing; and for this cause, that Jesus,that was born on that night, that he would of his great mercy show somemiracle, as he was come to be king of mankind, for to show some miracle whoshould be rightwise king of this realm. So the Archbishop, by the advice ofMerlin, sent for all the lords and gentlemen of arms that they should come byChristmas even unto London. And many of them made them clean of their life,that their prayer might be the more acceptable unto God. So in the greatestchurch of London, whether it were Paul’s or not the French book maketh nomention, all the estates were long or day in the church for to pray. And whenmatins and the first mass was done, there was seen in the churchyard, againstthe high altar, a great stone four square, like unto a marble stone; and inmidst thereof was like an anvil of steel a foot on high, and therein stuck afair sword naked by the point, and letters there were written in gold about thesword that said thus:—Whoso pulleth out this sword of this stone andanvil, is rightwise king born of all England. Then the people marvelled, andtold it to the Archbishop.

I command, said the Archbishop, that ye keep you within your church and prayunto God still, that no man touch the sword till the high mass be all done. Sowhen all masses were done all the lords went to behold the stone and the sword.And when they saw the scripture some assayed, such as would have been king. Butnone might stir the sword nor move it. He is not here, said the Archbishop,that shall achieve the sword, but doubt not God will make him known. But thisis my counsel, said the Archbishop, that we let purvey ten knights, men of goodfame, and they to keep this sword. So it was ordained, and then there was madea cry, that every man should assay that would, for to win the sword. And uponNew Year’s Day the barons let make a jousts and a tournament, that allknights that would joust or tourney there might play, and all this was ordainedfor to keep the lords together and the commons, for the Archbishop trusted thatGod would make him known that should win the sword.

So upon New Year’s Day, when the service was done, the barons rode untothe field, some to joust and some to tourney, and so it happened that SirEctor, that had great livelihood about London, rode unto the jousts, and withhim rode Sir Kay his son, and young Arthur that was his nourished brother; andSir Kay was made knight at All Hallowmass afore. So as they rode to thejousts-ward, Sir Kay lost his sword, for he had left it at his father’slodging, and so he prayed young Arthur for to ride for his sword. I will well,said Arthur, and rode fast after the sword, and when he came home, the lady andall were out to see the jousting. Then was Arthur wroth, and said to himself, Iwill ride to the churchyard, and take the sword with me that sticketh in thestone, for my brother Sir Kay shall not be without a sword this day. So when hecame to the churchyard, Sir Arthur alighted and tied his horse to the stile,and so he went to the tent, and found no knights there, for they were at thejousting. And so he handled the sword by the handles, and lightly and fiercelypulled it out of the stone, and took his horse and rode his way until he cameto his brother Sir Kay, and delivered him the sword. And as soon as Sir Kay sawthe sword, he wist well it was the sword of the stone, and so he rode to hisfather Sir Ector, and said: Sir, lo here is the sword of the stone, wherefore Imust be king of this land. When Sir Ector beheld the sword, he returned againand came to the church, and there they alighted all three, and went into thechurch. And anon he made Sir Kay swear upon a book how he came to that sword.Sir, said Sir Kay, by my brother Arthur, for he brought it to me. How gat yethis sword? said Sir Ector to Arthur. Sir, I will tell you. When I came homefor my brother’s sword, I found nobody at home to deliver me his sword;and so I thought my brother Sir Kay should not be swordless, and so I camehither eagerly and pulled it out of the stone without any pain. Found ye anyknights about this sword? said Sir Ector. Nay, said Arthur. Now, said Sir Ectorto Arthur, I understand ye must be king of this land. Wherefore I, said Arthur,and for what cause? Sir, said Ector, for God will have it so; for there shouldnever man have drawn out this sword, but he that shall be rightwise king ofthis land. Now let me see whether ye can put the sword there as it was, andpull it out again. That is no mastery, said Arthur, and so he put it in thestone; wherewithal Sir Ector assayed to pull out the sword and failed.

CHAPTER VI.
How King Arthur pulled out the sworddivers times.

Now assay, said Sir Ector unto Sir Kay. And anon he pulled at the sword withall his might; but it would not be. Now shall ye assay, said Sir Ector toArthur. I will well, said Arthur, and pulled it out easily. And therewithal SirEctor knelt down to the earth, and Sir Kay. Alas, said Arthur, my own dearfather and brother, why kneel ye to me? Nay, nay, my lord Arthur, it is not so;I was never your father nor of your blood, but I wot well ye are of an higherblood than I weened ye were. And then Sir Ector told him all, how he wasbetaken him for to nourish him, and by whose commandment, and by Merlin’sdeliverance.

Then Arthur made great dole when he understood that Sir Ector was not hisfather. Sir, said Ector unto Arthur, will ye be my good and gracious lord whenye are king? Else were I to blame, said Arthur, for ye are the man in the worldthat I am most beholden to, and my good lady and mother your wife, that as wellas her own hath fostered me and kept. And if ever it be God’s will that Ibe king as ye say, ye shall desire of me what I may do, and I shall not failyou; God forbid I should fail you Sir, said Sir Ector, I will ask no more ofyou, but that ye will make my son, your foster brother, Sir Kay, seneschal ofall your lands. That shall be done, said Arthur, and more, by the faith of mybody, that never man shall have that office but he, while he and I live.Therewithal they went unto the Archbishop, and told him how the sword wasachieved, and by whom; and on Twelfth-day all the barons came thither, and toassay to take the sword, who that would assay. But there afore them all, theremight none take it out but Arthur; wherefore there were many lords wroth, andsaid it was great shame unto them all and the realm, to be overgoverned with aboy of no high blood born. And so they fell out at that time that it was putoff till Candlemas and then all the barons should meet there again; but alwaysthe ten knights were ordained to watch the sword day and night, and so they seta pavilion over the stone and the sword, and five always watched. So atCandlemas many more great lords came thither for to have won the sword, butthere might none prevail. And right as Arthur did at Christmas, he did atCandlemas, and pulled out the sword easily, whereof the barons were soreaggrieved and put it off in delay till the high feast of Easter. And as Arthursped before, so did he at Easter; yet there were some of the great lords hadindignation that Arthur should be king, and put it off in a delay till thefeast of Pentecost.

Then the Archbishop of Canterbury by Merlin’s providence let purvey thenof the best knights that they might get, and such knights as Uther Pendragonloved best and most trusted in his days. And such knights were put about Arthuras Sir Baudwin of Britain, Sir Kay, Sir Ulfius, Sir Brastias. All these, withmany other, were always about Arthur, day and night, till the feast ofPentecost.

CHAPTER VII.
How King Arthur was crowned, and howhe made officers.

And at the feast of Pentecost all manner of men assayed to pull at the swordthat would assay; but none might prevail but Arthur, and pulled it out aforeall the lords and commons that were there, wherefore all the commons cried atonce, We will have Arthur unto our king, we will put him no more in delay, forwe all see that it is God’s will that he shall be our king, and who thatholdeth against it, we will slay him. And therewithal they kneeled at once,both rich and poor, and cried Arthur mercy because they had delayed him solong, and Arthur forgave them, and took the sword between both his hands, andoffered it upon the altar where the Archbishop was, and so was he made knightof the best man that was there. And so anon was the coronation made. And therewas he sworn unto his lords and the commons for to be a true king, to standwith true justice from thenceforth the days of this life. Also then he made alllords that held of the crown to come in, and to do service as they ought to do.And many complaints were made unto Sir Arthur of great wrongs that were donesince the death of King Uther, of many lands that were bereaved lords, knights,ladies, and gentlemen. Wherefore King Arthur made the lands to be given againunto them that owned them.

When this was done, that the king had stablished all the countries aboutLondon, then he let make Sir Kay seneschal of England; and Sir Baudwin ofBritain was made constable; and Sir Ulfius was made chamberlain; and SirBrastias was made warden to wait upon the north from Trent forwards, for it wasthat time the most party the king’s enemies. But within few years afterArthur won all the north, Scotland, and all that were under their obeissance.Also Wales, a part of it, held against Arthur, but he overcame them all, as hedid the remnant, through the noble prowess of himself and his knights of theRound Table.

CHAPTER VIII.
How King Arthur held in Wales, at aPentecost, a great feast, and what kings and lords came to his feast.

Then the king removed into Wales, and let cry a great feast that it should beholden at Pentecost after the incoronation of him at the city of Carlion. Untothe feast came King Lot of Lothian and of Orkney, with five hundred knightswith him. Also there came to the feast King Uriens of Gore with four hundredknights with him. Also there came to that feast King Nentres of Garlot, withseven hundred knights with him. Also there came to the feast the king ofScotland with six hundred knights with him, and he was but a young man. Alsothere came to the feast a king that was called the King with the HundredKnights, but he and his men were passing well beseen at all points. Also therecame the king of Carados with five hundred knights. And King Arthur was glad oftheir coming, for he weened that all the kings and knights had come for greatlove, and to have done him worship at his feast; wherefore the king made greatjoy, and sent the kings and knights great presents. But the kings would nonereceive, but rebuked the messengers shamefully, and said they had no joy toreceive no gifts of a beardless boy that was come of low blood, and sent himword they would none of his gifts, but that they were come to give him giftswith hard swords betwixt the neck and the shoulders: and therefore they camethither, so they told to the messengers plainly, for it was great shame to allthem to see such a boy to have a rule of so noble a realm as this land was.With this answer the messengers departed and told to King Arthur this answer.Wherefore, by the advice of his barons, he took him to a strong tower with fivehundred good men with him. And all the kings aforesaid in a manner laid a siegeto-fore him, but King Arthur was well victualed. And within fifteen days therecame Merlin among them into the city of Carlion. Then all the kings werepassing glad of Merlin, and asked him, For what cause is that boy Arthur madeyour king? Sirs, said Merlin, I shall tell you the cause, for he is King UtherPendragon’s son, born in wedlock, gotten on Igraine, the duke’swife of Tintagil. Then is he a bastard, they said all. Nay, said Merlin, afterthe death of the duke, more than three hours, was Arthur begotten, and thirteendays after King Uther wedded Igraine; and therefore I prove him he is nobastard. And who saith nay, he shall be king and overcome all his enemies; and,or he die, he shall be long king of all England, and have under his obeissanceWales, Ireland, and Scotland, and more realms than I will now rehearse. Some ofthe kings had marvel of Merlin’s words, and deemed well that it should beas he said; and some of them laughed him to scorn, as King Lot; and more othercalled him a witch. But then were they accorded with Merlin, that King Arthurshould come out and speak with the kings, and to come safe and to go safe, suchsurance there was made. So Merlin went unto King Arthur, and told him how hehad done, and bade him fear not, but come out boldly and speak with them, andspare them not, but answer them as their king and chieftain; for ye shallovercome them all, whether they will or nill.

CHAPTER IX.
Of the first war that King Arthur had,and how he won the field.

Then King Arthur came out of his tower, and had under his gown a jesseraunt ofdouble mail, and there went with him the Archbishop of Canterbury, and SirBaudwin of Britain, and Sir Kay, and Sir Brastias: these were the men of mostworship that were with him. And when they were met there was no meekness, butstout words on both sides; but always King Arthur answered them, and said hewould make them to bow an he lived. Wherefore they departed with wrath, andKing Arthur bade keep them well, and they bade the king keep him well. So theking returned him to the tower again and armed him and all his knights. Whatwill ye do? said Merlin to the kings; ye were better for to stint, for ye shallnot here prevail though ye were ten times so many. Be we well advised to beafeared of a dream-reader? said King Lot. With that Merlin vanished away, andcame to King Arthur, and bade him set on them fiercely; and in the meanwhilethere were three hundred good men, of the best that were with the kings, thatwent straight unto King Arthur, and that comforted him greatly. Sir, saidMerlin to Arthur, fight not with the sword that ye had by miracle, till that yesee ye go unto the worse, then draw it out and do your best. So forthwithalKing Arthur set upon them in their lodging. And Sir Baudwin, Sir Kay, and SirBrastias slew on the right hand and on the left hand that it was marvel; andalways King Arthur on horseback laid on with a sword, and did marvellous deedsof arms, that many of the kings had great joy of his deeds and hardiness.

Then King Lot brake out on the back side, and the King with the HundredKnights, and King Carados, and set on Arthur fiercely behind him. With that SirArthur turned with his knights, and smote behind and before, and ever SirArthur was in the foremost press till his horse was slain underneath him. Andtherewith King Lot smote down King Arthur. With that his four knights receivedhim and set him on horseback. Then he drew his sword Excalibur, but it was sobright in his enemies’ eyes, that it gave light like thirty torches. Andtherewith he put them a-back, and slew much people. And then the commons ofCarlion arose with clubs and staves and slew many knights; but all the kingsheld them together with their knights that were left alive, and so fled anddeparted. And Merlin came unto Arthur, and counselled him to follow them nofurther.

CHAPTER X.
How Merlin counselled King Arthur tosend for King Ban and King Bors, and of their counsel taken for the war.

So after the feast and journey, King Arthur drew him unto London, and so by thecounsel of Merlin, the king let call his barons to council, for Merlin had toldthe king that the six kings that made war upon him would in all haste be awrokeon him and on his lands. Wherefore the king asked counsel at them all. Theycould no counsel give, but said they were big enough. Ye say well, said Arthur;I thank you for your good courage, but will ye all that loveth me speak withMerlin? ye know well that he hath done much for me, and he knoweth many things,and when he is afore you, I would that ye prayed him heartily of his bestadvice. All the barons said they would pray him and desire him. So Merlin wassent for, and fair desired of all the barons to give them best counsel. I shallsay you, said Merlin, I warn you all, your enemies are passing strong for you,and they are good men of arms as be alive, and by this time they have gotten tothem four kings more, and a mighty duke; and unless that our king have morechivalry with him than he may make within the bounds of his own realm, an hefight with them in battle, he shall be overcome and slain. What were best to doin this cause? said all the barons. I shall tell you, said Merlin, mine advice;there are two brethren beyond the sea, and they be kings both, and marvellousgood men of their hands; and that one hight King Ban of Benwick, and that otherhight King Bors of Gaul, that is France. And on these two kings warreth amighty man of men, the King Claudas, and striveth with them for a castle, andgreat war is betwixt them. But this Claudas is so mighty of goods whereof hegetteth good knights, that he putteth these two kings most part to the worse;wherefore this is my counsel, that our king and sovereign lord send unto thekings Ban and Bors by two trusty knights with letters well devised, that anthey will come and see King Arthur and his court, and so help him in his wars,that he will be sworn unto them to help them in their wars against KingClaudas. Now, what say ye unto this counsel? said Merlin. This is wellcounselled, said the king and all the barons.

Right so in all haste there were ordained to go two knights on the message untothe two kings. So were there made letters in the pleasant wise according untoKing Arthur’s desire. Ulfius and Brastias were made the messengers, andso rode forth well horsed and well armed and as the guise was that time, and sopassed the sea and rode toward the city of Benwick. And there besides wereeight knights that espied them, and at a strait passage they met with Ulfiusand Brastias, and would have taken them prisoners; so they prayed them thatthey might pass, for they were messengers unto King Ban and Bors sent from KingArthur. Therefore, said the eight knights, ye shall die or be prisoners, for webe knights of King Claudas. And therewith two of them dressed their spears, andUlfius and Brastias dressed their spears, and ran together with great raundon.And Claudas’ knights brake their spears, and theirs to-held and bare thetwo knights out of their saddles to the earth, and so left them lying, and rodetheir ways. And the other six knights rode afore to a passage to meet with themagain, and so Ulfius and Brastias smote other two down, and so passed on theirways. And at the fourth passage there met two for two, and both were laid untothe earth; so there was none of the eight knights but he was sore hurt orbruised. And when they come to Benwick it fortuned there were both kings, Banand Bors.

And when it was told the kings that there were come messengers, there were sentunto them two knights of worship, the one hight Lionses, lord of the country ofPayarne, and Sir Phariance a worshipful knight. Anon they asked from whencethey came, and they said from King Arthur, king of England; so they took themin their arms and made great joy each of other. But anon, as the two kings wistthey were messengers of Arthur’s, there was made no tarrying, butforthwith they spake with the knights, and welcomed them in the faithfullestwise, and said they were most welcome unto them before all the kings living;and therewith they kissed the letters and delivered them. And when Ban and Borsunderstood the letters, then they were more welcome than they were before. Andafter the haste of the letters they gave them this answer, that they wouldfulfil the desire of King Arthur’s writing, and Ulfius and Brastias,tarry there as long as they would, they should have such cheer as might be madethem in those marches. Then Ulfius and Brastias told the kings of the adventureat their passages of the eight knights. Ha! ah! said Ban and Bors, they were mygood friends. I would I had wist of them; they should not have escaped so. SoUlfius and Brastias had good cheer and great gifts, as much as they might bearaway; and had their answer by mouth and by writing, that those two kings wouldcome unto Arthur in all the haste that they might. So the two knights rode onafore, and passed the sea, and came to their lord, and told him how they hadsped, whereof King Arthur was passing glad. At what time suppose ye the twokings will be here? Sir, said they, afore All Hallowmass. Then the king letpurvey for a great feast, and let cry a great jousts. And by All Hallowmass thetwo kings were come over the sea with three hundred knights well arrayed bothfor the peace and for the war. And King Arthur met with them ten mile out ofLondon, and there was great joy as could be thought or made. And on AllHallowmass at the great feast, sat in the hall the three kings, and Sir Kayseneschal served in the hall, and Sir Lucas the butler, that was DukeCorneus’ son, and Sir Griflet, that was the son of Cardol, these threeknights had the rule of all the service that served the kings. And anon, asthey had washen and risen, all knights that would joust made them ready; bythen they were ready on horseback there were seven hundred knights. And Arthur,Ban, and Bors, with the Archbishop of Canterbury, and Sir Ector, Kay’sfather, they were in a place covered with cloth of gold like an hall, withladies and gentlewomen, for to behold who did best, and thereon to givejudgment.

CHAPTER XI.
Of a great tourney made by King Arthurand the two kings Ban and Bors, and how they went over the sea.

And King Arthur and the two kings let depart the seven hundred knights in twoparties. And there were three hundred knights of the realm of Benwick and ofGaul turned on the other side. Then they dressed their shields, and began tocouch their spears many good knights. So Griflet was the first that met with aknight, one Ladinas, and they met so eagerly that all men had wonder; and theyso fought that their shields fell to pieces, and horse and man fell to theearth; and both the French knight and the English knight lay so long that allmen weened they had been dead. When Lucas the butler saw Griflet so lie, hehorsed him again anon, and they two did marvellous deeds of arms with manybachelors. Also Sir Kay came out of an ambushment with five knights with him,and they six smote other six down. But Sir Kay did that day marvellous deeds ofarms, that there was none did so well as he that day. Then there came Ladinasand Gracian, two knights of France, and did passing well, that all men praisedthem.

Then came there Sir Placidas, a good knight, and met with Sir Kay, and smotehim down horse and man, where fore Sir Griflet was wroth, and met with SirPlacidas so hard, that horse and man fell to the earth. But when the fiveknights wist that Sir Kay had a fall, they were wroth out of wit, and therewitheach of them five bare down a knight. When King Arthur and the two kings sawthem begin to wax wroth on both parties, they leapt on small hackneys, and letcry that all men should depart unto their lodging. And so they went home andunarmed them, and so to evensong and supper. And after, the three kings wentinto a garden, and gave the prize unto Sir Kay, and to Lucas the butler, andunto Sir Griflet. And then they went unto council, and with them Gwenbaus, thebrother unto Sir Ban and Bors, a wise clerk, and thither went Ulfius andBrastias, and Merlin. And after they had been in council, they went unto bed.And on the morn they heard mass, and to dinner, and so to their council, andmade many arguments what were best to do. At the last they were concluded, thatMerlin should go with a token of King Ban, and that was a ring, unto his menand King Bors’; and Gracian and Placidas should go again and keep theircastles and their countries, as for [dread of King Claudas] King Ban ofBenwick, and King Bors of Gaul had ordained them, and so passed the sea andcame to Benwick. And when the people saw King Ban’s ring, and Gracian andPlacidas, they were glad, and asked how the kings fared, and made great joy oftheir welfare and cording, and according unto the sovereign lords desire, themen of war made them ready in all haste possible, so that they were fifteenthousand on horse and foot, and they had great plenty of victual with them, byMerlin’s provision. But Gracian and Placidas were left to furnish andgarnish the castles, for dread of King Claudas. Right so Merlin passed the sea,well victualled both by water and by land. And when he came to the sea he senthome the footmen again, and took no more with him but ten thousand men onhorseback, the most part men of arms, and so shipped and passed the sea intoEngland, and landed at Dover; and through the wit of Merlin, he had the hostnorthward, the priviest way that could be thought, unto the forest ofBedegraine, and there in a valley he lodged them secretly.

Then rode Merlin unto Arthur and the two kings, and told them how he had sped;whereof they had great marvel, that man on earth might speed so soon, and goand come. So Merlin told them ten thousand were in the forest of Bedegraine,well armed at all points. Then was there no more to say, but to horseback wentall the host as Arthur had afore purveyed. So with twenty thousand he passed bynight and day, but there was made such an ordinance afore by Merlin, that thereshould no man of war ride nor go in no country on this side Trent water, but ifhe had a token from King Arthur, where through the king’s enemies durstnot ride as they did to-fore to espy.

CHAPTER XII.
How eleven kings gathered a greathost against King Arthur.

And so within a little space the three kings came unto the castle ofBedegraine, and found there a passing fair fellowship, and well beseen, whereofthey had great joy, and victual they wanted none. This was the cause of thenorthern host: that they were reared for the despite and rebuke the six kingshad at Carlion. And those six kings by their means, gat unto them five otherkings; and thus they began to gather their people.

And now they sware that for weal nor woe, they should not leave other, tillthey had destroyed Arthur. And then they made an oath. The first that began theoath was the Duke of Cambenet, that he would bring with him five thousand menof arms, the which were ready on horseback. Then sware King Brandegoris ofStranggore that he would bring five thousand men of arms on horseback. Thensware King Clariance of Northumberland he would bring three thousand men ofarms. Then sware the King of the Hundred Knights, that was a passing good manand a young, that he would bring four thousand men of arms on horseback. Thenthere swore King Lot, a passing good knight, and Sir Gawain’s father,that he would bring five thousand men of arms on horseback. Also there sworeKing Urience, that was Sir Uwain’s father, of the land of Gore, and hewould bring six thousand men of arms on horseback. Also there swore King Idresof Cornwall, that he would bring five thousand men of arms on horseback. Alsothere swore King Cradelmas to bring five thousand men on horseback. Also thereswore King Agwisance of Ireland to bring five thousand men of arms onhorseback. Also there swore King Nentres to bring five thousand men of arms onhorseback. Also there swore King Carados to bring five thousand men of arms onhorseback. So their whole host was of clean men of arms on horseback fiftythousand, and a-foot ten thousand of good men’s bodies. Then were theysoon ready, and mounted upon horse and sent forth their fore-riders, for theseeleven kings in their ways laid a siege unto the castle of Bedegraine; and sothey departed and drew toward Arthur, and left few to abide at the siege, forthe castle of Bedegraine was holden of King Arthur, and the men that weretherein were Arthur’s.

CHAPTER XIII.
Of a dream of the King with theHundred Knights.

So by Merlin’s advice there were sent fore-riders to skim the country,and they met with the fore-riders of the north, and made them to tell which waythe host came, and then they told it to Arthur, and by King Ban and Bors’council they let burn and destroy all the country afore them, there they shouldride.

The King with the Hundred Knights met a wonder dream two nights afore thebattle, that there blew a great wind, and blew down their castles and theirtowns, and after that came a water and bare it all away. All that heard of thesweven said it was a token of great battle. Then by counsel of Merlin, whenthey wist which way the eleven kings would ride and lodge that night, atmidnight they set upon them, as they were in their pavilions. But thescout-watch by their host cried, Lords! at arms! for here be your enemies atyour hand!

CHAPTER XIV.
How the eleven kings with their hostfought against Arthur and his host, and many great feats of the war.

Then King Arthur and King Ban and King Bors, with their good and trustyknights, set on them so fiercely that they made them overthrow their pavilionson their heads, but the eleven kings, by manly prowess of arms, took a fairchampaign, but there was slain that morrowtide ten thousand good men’sbodies. And so they had afore them a strong passage, yet were they fiftythousand of hardy men. Then it drew toward day. Now shall ye do by mine advice,said Merlin unto the three kings: I would that King Ban and King Bors, withtheir fellowship of ten thousand men, were put in a wood here beside, in anambushment, and keep them privy, and that they be laid or the light of the daycome, and that they stir not till ye and your knights have fought with themlong. And when it is daylight, dress your battle even afore them and thepassage, that they may see all your host, for then will they be the more hardy,when they see you but about twenty thousand men, and cause them to be thegladder to suffer you and your host to come over the passage. All the threekings and the whole barons said that Merlin said passingly well, and it wasdone anon as Merlin had devised. So on the morn, when either host saw other,the host of the north was well comforted. Then to Ulfius and Brastias weredelivered three thousand men of arms, and they set on them fiercely in thepassage, and slew on the right hand and on the left hand that it was wonder totell.

When that the eleven kings saw that there was so few a fellowship did suchdeeds of arms, they were ashamed and set on them again fiercely; and there wasSir Ulfius’s horse slain under him, but he did marvellously well on foot.But the Duke Eustace of Cambenet and King Clariance of Northumberland, werealway grievous on Ulfius. Then Brastias saw his fellow fared so withal he smotethe duke with a spear, that horse and man fell down. That saw King Clarianceand returned unto Brastias, and either smote other so that horse and man wentto the earth, and so they lay long astonied, and their horses’ kneesbrast to the hard bone. Then came Sir Kay the seneschal with six fellows withhim, and did passing well. With that came the eleven kings, and there wasGriflet put to the earth, horse and man, and Lucas the butler, horse and man,by King Brandegoris, and King Idres, and King Agwisance. Then waxed the medleypassing hard on both parties. When Sir Kay saw Griflet on foot, he rode on KingNentres and smote him down, and led his horse unto Sir Griflet, and horsed himagain. Also Sir Kay with the same spear smote down King Lot, and hurt himpassing sore. That saw the King with the Hundred Knights, and ran unto Sir Kayand smote him down, and took his horse, and gave him King Lot, whereof he saidgramercy. When Sir Griflet saw Sir Kay and Lucas the butler on foot, he took asharp spear, great and square, and rode to Pinel, a good man of arms, and smotehorse and man down, and then he took his horse, and gave him unto Sir Kay. ThenKing Lot saw King Nentres on foot, he ran unto Melot de la Roche, and smote himdown, horse and man, and gave King Nentres the horse, and horsed him again.Also the King of the Hundred Knights saw King Idres on foot; then he ran untoGwiniart de Bloi, and smote him down, horse and man, and gave King Idres thehorse, and horsed him again; and King Lot smote down Clariance de la ForestSavage, and gave the horse unto Duke Eustace. And so when they had horsed thekings again they drew them, all eleven kings, together, and said they would berevenged of the damage that they had taken that day. The meanwhile came in SirEctor with an eager countenance, and found Ulfius and Brastias on foot, ingreat peril of death, that were foul defoiled under horse-feet.

Then Arthur as a lion, ran unto King Cradelment of North Wales, and smote himthrough the left side, that the horse and the king fell down; and then he tookthe horse by the rein, and led him unto Ulfius, and said, Have this horse, mineold friend, for great need hast thou of horse. Gramercy, said Ulfius. Then SirArthur did so marvellously in arms, that all men had wonder. When the King withthe Hundred Knights saw King Cradelment on foot, he ran unto Sir Ector, thatwas well horsed, Sir Kay’s father, and smote horse and man down, and gavethe horse unto the king, and horsed him again. And when King Arthur saw theking ride on Sir Ector’s horse, he was wroth and with his sword he smotethe king on the helm, that a quarter of the helm and shield fell down, and sothe sword carved down unto the horse’s neck, and so the king and thehorse fell down to the ground. Then Sir Kay came unto Sir Morganore, seneschalwith the King of the Hundred Knights, and smote him down, horse and man, andled the horse unto his father, Sir Ector; then Sir Ector ran unto a knight,hight Lardans, and smote horse and man down, and led the horse unto SirBrastias, that great need had of an horse, and was greatly defoiled. WhenBrastias beheld Lucas the butler, that lay like a dead man under thehorses’ feet, and ever Sir Griflet did marvellously for to rescue him,and there were always fourteen knights on Sir Lucas; then Brastias smote one ofthem on the helm, that it went to the teeth, and he rode to another and smotehim, that the arm flew into the field. Then he went to the third and smote himon the shoulder, that shoulder and arm flew in the field. And when Griflet sawrescues, he smote a knight on the temples, that head and helm went to theearth, and Griflet took the horse of that knight, and led him unto Sir Lucas,and bade him mount upon the horse and revenge his hurts. For Brastias had slaina knight to-fore and horsed Griflet.

CHAPTER XV.
Yet of the same battle.

Then Lucas saw King Agwisance, that late had slain Moris de la Roche, and Lucasran to him with a short spear that was great, that he gave him such a fall,that the horse fell down to the earth. Also Lucas found there on foot, Bloiasde La Flandres, and Sir Gwinas, two hardy knights, and in that woodness thatLucas was in, he slew two bachelors and horsed them again. Then waxed thebattle passing hard on both parties, but Arthur was glad that his knights werehorsed again, and then they fought together, that the noise and sound rang bythe water and the wood. Wherefore King Ban and King Bors made them ready, anddressed their shields and harness, and they were so courageous that manyknights shook and bevered for eagerness. All this while Lucas, and Gwinas, andBriant, and Bellias of Flanders, held strong medley against six kings, that wasKing Lot, King Nentres, King Brandegoris, King Idres, King Uriens, and KingAgwisance. So with the help of Sir Kay and of Sir Griflet they held these sixkings hard, that unnethe they had any power to defend them. But when Sir Arthursaw the battle would not be ended by no manner, he fared wood as a lion, andsteered his horse here and there, on the right hand, and on the left hand, thathe stinted not till he had slain twenty knights. Also he wounded King Lot soreon the shoulder, and made him to leave that ground, for Sir Kay and Griflet didwith King Arthur there great deeds of arms. Then Ulfius, and Brastias, and SirEctor encountered against the Duke Eustace, and King Cradelment, and KingClariance of Northumberland, and King Carados, and against the King with theHundred Knights. So these knights encountered with these kings, that they madethem to avoid the ground. Then King Lot made great dole for his damages and hisfellows, and said unto the ten kings, But if ye will do as I devise we shall beslain and destroyed; let me have the King with the Hundred Knights, and KingAgwisance, and King Idres, and the Duke of Cambenet, and we five kings willhave fifteen thousand men of arms with us, and we will go apart while ye sixkings hold medley with twelve thousand; an we see that ye have foughten withthem long, then will we come on fiercely, and else shall we never match them,said King Lot, but by this mean. So they departed as they here devised, and sixkings made their party strong against Arthur, and made great war long.

In the meanwhile brake the ambushment of King Ban and King Bors, and Lionsesand Phariance had the vanguard, and they two knights met with King Idres andhis fellowship, and there began a great medley of breaking of spears, andsmiting of swords, with slaying of men and horses, and King Idres was near atdiscomforture.

That saw Agwisance the king, and put Lionses and Phariance in point of death;for the Duke of Cambenet came on withal with a great fellowship. So these twoknights were in great danger of their lives that they were fain to return, butalways they rescued themselves and their fellowship marvellously. When KingBors saw those knights put aback, it grieved him sore; then he came on so fastthat his fellowship seemed as black as Inde. When King Lot had espied KingBors, he knew him well, then he said, O Jesu, defend us from death and horriblemaims! for I see well we be in great peril of death; for I see yonder a king,one of the most worshipfullest men and one of the best knights of the world, isinclined unto his fellowship. What is he? said the King with the HundredKnights. It is, said King Lot, King Bors of Gaul; I marvel how they came intothis country without witting of us all. It was by Merlin’s advice, saidthe knight. As for him, said King Carados, I will encounter with King Bors, anye will rescue me when myster is. Go on, said they all, we will do all that wemay. Then King Carados and his host rode on a soft pace, till that they came asnigh King Bors as bow-draught; then either battle let their horse run as fastas they might. And Bleoberis, that was godson unto King Bors, he bare his chiefstandard, that was a passing good knight. Now shall we see, said King Bors, howthese northern Britons can bear the arms: and King Bors encountered with aknight, and smote him throughout with a spear that he fell dead unto the earth;and after drew his sword and did marvellous deeds of arms, that all parties hadgreat wonder thereof; and his knights failed not, but did their part, and KingCarados was smitten to the earth. With that came the King with the HundredKnights and rescued King Carados mightily by force of arms, for he was apassing good knight of a king, and but a young man.

CHAPTER XVI.
Yet more of the same battle.

By then came into the field King Ban as fierce as a lion, with bands of greenand thereupon gold. Ha! a! said King Lot, we must be discomfited, for yonder Isee the most valiant knight of the world, and the man of the most renown, forsuch two brethren as is King Ban and King Bors are not living, wherefore wemust needs void or die; and but if we avoid manly and wisely there is butdeath. When King Ban came into the battle, he came in so fiercely that thestrokes redounded again from the wood and the water; wherefore King Lot weptfor pity and dole that he saw so many good knights take their end. But throughthe great force of King Ban they made both the northern battles that weredeparted hurtled together for great dread; and the three kings and theirknights slew on ever, that it was pity on to behold that multitude of thepeople that fled. But King Lot, and King of the Hundred Knights, and KingMorganore gathered the people together passing knightly, and did great prowessof arms, and held the battle all that day, like hard.

When the King of the Hundred Knights beheld the great damage that King Ban did,he thrust unto him with his horse, and smote him on high upon the helm, a greatstroke, and astonied him sore. Then King Ban was wroth with him, and followedon him fiercely; the other saw that, and cast up his shield, and spurred hishorse forward, but the stroke of King Ban fell down and carved a cantel off theshield, and the sword slid down by the hauberk behind his back, and cut throughthe trapping of steel and the horse even in two pieces, that the sword felt theearth. Then the King of the Hundred Knights voided the horse lightly, and withhis sword he broached the horse of King Ban through and through. With that KingBan voided lightly from the dead horse, and then King Ban smote at the other soeagerly, and smote him on the helm that he fell to the earth. Also in that irehe felled King Morganore, and there was great slaughter of good knights andmuch people. By then came into the press King Arthur, and found King Banstanding among dead men and dead horses, fighting on foot as a wood lion, thatthere came none nigh him, as far as he might reach with his sword, but hecaught a grievous buffet; whereof King Arthur had great pity. And Arthur was sobloody, that by his shield there might no man know him, for all was blood andbrains on his sword. And as Arthur looked by him he saw a knight that waspassingly well horsed, and therewith Sir Arthur ran to him, and smote him onthe helm, that his sword went unto his teeth, and the knight sank down to theearth dead, and anon Arthur took the horse by the rein, and led him unto KingBan, and said, Fair brother, have this horse, for he have great myster thereof,and me repenteth sore of your great damage. It shall be soon revenged, saidKing Ban, for I trust in God mine ure is not such but some of them may sorerepent this. I will well, said Arthur, for I see your deeds full actual;nevertheless, I might not come at you at that time.

But when King Ban was mounted on horseback, then there began new battle, thewhich was sore and hard, and passing great slaughter. And so through greatforce King Arthur, King Ban, and King Bors made their knights a little towithdraw them. But alway the eleven kings with their chivalry never turnedback; and so withdrew them to a little wood, and so over a little river, andthere they rested them, for on the night they might have no rest on the field.And then the eleven kings and knights put them on a heap all together, as menadread and out of all comfort. But there was no man might pass them, they heldthem so hard together both behind and before, that King Arthur had marvel oftheir deeds of arms, and was passing wroth. Ah, Sir Arthur, said King Ban andKing Bors, blame them not, for they do as good men ought to do. For by myfaith, said King Ban, they are the best fighting men, and knights of mostprowess, that ever I saw or heard speak of, and those eleven kings are men ofgreat worship; and if they were longing unto you there were no king under theheaven had such eleven knights, and of such worship. I may not love them, saidArthur, they would destroy me. That wot we well, said King Ban and King Bors,for they are your mortal enemies, and that hath been proved aforehand; and thisday they have done their part, and that is great pity of their wilfulness.

Then all the eleven kings drew them together, and then said King Lot, Lords, yemust other ways than ye do, or else the great loss is behind; ye may see whatpeople we have lost, and what good men we lose, because we wait always on thesefoot-men, and ever in saving of one of the foot-men we lose ten horsemen forhim; therefore this is mine advice, let us put our foot-men from us, for it isnear night, for the noble Arthur will not tarry on the footmen, for they maysave themselves, the wood is near hand. And when we horsemen be together, lookevery each of you kings let make such ordinance that none break upon pain ofdeath. And who that seeth any man dress him to flee, lightly that he be slain,for it is better that we slay a coward, than through a coward all we to beslain. How say ye? said King Lot, answer me all ye kings. It is well said,quoth King Nentres; so said the King of the Hundred Knights; the same said theKing Carados, and King Uriens; so did King Idres and King Brandegoris; and sodid King Cradelment, and the Duke of Cambenet; the same said King Clariance andKing Agwisance, and sware they would never fail other, neither for life nor fordeath. And whoso that fled, but did as they did, should be slain. Then theyamended their harness, and righted their shields, and took new spears and setthem on their thighs, and stood still as it had been a plump of wood.

CHAPTER XVII.
Yet more of the same battle, and howit was ended by Merlin.

When Sir Arthur and King Ban and Bors beheld them and all their knights, theypraised them much for their noble cheer of chivalry, for the hardiest fightersthat ever they heard or saw. With that, there dressed them a forty nobleknights, and said unto the three kings, they would break their battle; thesewere their names: Lionses, Phariance, Ulfius, Brastias, Ector, Kay, Lucas thebutler, Griflet le Fise de Dieu, Mariet de la Roche, Guinas de Bloi, Briant dela Forest Savage, Bellaus, Morians of the Castle [of] Maidens, Flannedrius ofthe Castle of Ladies, Annecians that was King Bors’ godson, a nobleknight, Ladinas de la Rouse, Emerause, Caulas, Graciens le Castlein, one Bloisde la Case, and Sir Colgrevaunce de Gorre; all these knights rode on afore withspears on their thighs, and spurred their horses mightily as the horses mightrun. And the eleven kings with part of their knights rushed with their horsesas fast as they might with their spears, and there they did on both partiesmarvellous deeds of arms. So came into the thick of the press, Arthur, Ban, andBors, and slew down right on both hands, that their horses went in blood up tothe fetlocks. But ever the eleven kings and their host was ever in the visageof Arthur. Wherefore Ban and Bors had great marvel, considering the greatslaughter that there was, but at the last they were driven aback over a littleriver. With that came Merlin on a great black horse, and said unto Arthur, Thouhast never done! Hast thou not done enough? of three score thousand this dayhast thou left alive but fifteen thousand, and it is time to say Ho! For God iswroth with thee, that thou wilt never have done; for yonder eleven kings atthis time will not be overthrown, but an thou tarry on them any longer, thyfortune will turn and they shall increase. And therefore withdraw you unto yourlodging, and rest you as soon as ye may, and reward your good knights with goldand with silver, for they have well deserved it; there may no riches be toodear for them, for of so few men as ye have, there were never men did more ofprowess than they have done today, for ye have matched this day with the bestfighters of the world. That is truth, said King Ban and Bors. Also said Merlin,withdraw you where ye list, for this three year I dare undertake they shall notdere you; and by then ye shall hear new tidings. And then Merlin said untoArthur, These eleven kings have more on hand than they are ware of, for theSaracens are landed in their countries, more than forty thousand, that burn andslay, and have laid siege at the castle Wandesborow, and make greatdestruction; therefore dread you not this three year. Also, sir, all the goodsthat be gotten at this battle, let it be searched, and when ye have it in yourhands, let it be given freely unto these two kings, Ban and Bors, that they mayreward their knights withal; and that shall cause strangers to be of betterwill to do you service at need. Also you be able to reward your own knights ofyour own goods whensomever it liketh you. It is well said, quoth Arthur, and asthou hast devised, so shall it be done. When it was delivered to Ban and Bors,they gave the goods as freely to their knights as freely as it was given tothem. Then Merlin took his leave of Arthur and of the two kings, for to go andsee his master Bleise, that dwelt in Northumberland; and so he departed andcame to his master, that was passing glad of his coming; and there he told howArthur and the two kings had sped at the great battle, and how it was ended,and told the names of every king and knight of worship that was there. And soBleise wrote the battle word by word, as Merlin told him, how it began, and bywhom, and in likewise how it was ended, and who had the worse. All the battlesthat were done in Arthur’s days Merlin did his master Bleise do write;also he did do write all the battles that every worthy knight did ofArthur’s court.

After this Merlin departed from his master and came to King Arthur, that was inthe castle of Bedegraine, that was one of the castles that stand in the forestof Sherwood. And Merlin was so disguised that King Arthur knew him not, for hewas all befurred in black sheep-skins, and a great pair of boots, and a bow andarrows, in a russet gown, and brought wild geese in his hand, and it was on themorn after Candlemas day; but King Arthur knew him not. Sir, said Merlin untothe king, will ye give me a gift? Wherefore, said King Arthur, should I givethee a gift, churl? Sir, said Merlin, ye were better to give me a gift that isnot in your hand than to lose great riches, for here in the same place wherethe great battle was, is great treasure hid in the earth. Who told thee so,churl? said Arthur. Merlin told me so, said he. Then Ulfius and Brastias knewhim well enough, and smiled. Sir, said these two knights, it is Merlin that sospeaketh unto you. Then King Arthur was greatly abashed, and had marvel ofMerlin, and so had King Ban and King Bors, and so they had great disport athim. So in the meanwhile there came a damosel that was an earl’sdaughter: his name was Sanam, and her name was Lionors, a passing fair damosel;and so she came thither for to do homage, as other lords did after the greatbattle. And King Arthur set his love greatly upon her, and so did she upon him,and the king had ado with her, and gat on her a child: his name was Borre, thatwas after a good knight, and of the Table Round. Then there came word that theKing Rience of North Wales made great war on King Leodegrance of Cameliard, forthe which thing Arthur was wroth, for he loved him well, and hated King Rience,for he was alway against him. So by ordinance of the three kings that were senthome unto Benwick, all they would depart for dread of King Claudas; andPhariance, and Antemes, and Gratian, and Lionses [of] Payarne, with the leadersof those that should keep the kings’ lands.

CHAPTER XVIII.
How King Arthur, King Ban, and KingBors rescued King Leodegrance, and other incidents.

And then King Arthur, and King Ban, and King Bors departed with theirfellowship, a twenty thousand, and came within six days into the country ofCameliard, and there rescued King Leodegrance, and slew there much people ofKing Rience, unto the number of ten thousand men, and put him to flight. Andthen had these three kings great cheer of King Leodegrance, that thanked themof their great goodness, that they would revenge him of his enemies; and therehad Arthur the first sight of Guenever, the king’s daughter of Cameliard,and ever after he loved her. After they were wedded, as it telleth in the book.So, briefly to make an end, they took their leave to go into their owncountries, for King Claudas did great destruction on their lands. Then saidArthur, I will go with you. Nay, said the kings, ye shall not at this time, forye have much to do yet in these lands, therefore we will depart, and with thegreat goods that we have gotten in these lands by your gifts, we shall wagegood knights and withstand the King Claudas’ malice, for by the grace ofGod, an we have need we will send to you for your succour; and if ye have need,send for us, and we will not tarry, by the faith of our bodies. It shall not,said Merlin, need that these two kings come again in the way of war, but I knowwell King Arthur may not be long from you, for within a year or two ye shallhave great need, and then shall he revenge you on your enemies, as ye have doneon his. For these eleven kings shall die all in a day, by the great might andprowess of arms of two valiant knights (as it telleth after); their names beBalin le Savage, and Balan, his brother, that be marvellous good knights as beany living.

Now turn we to the eleven kings that returned unto a city that hight Sorhaute,the which city was within King Uriens’, and there they refreshed them aswell as they might, and made leeches search their wounds, and sorrowed greatlyfor the death of their people. With that there came a messenger and told howthere was come into their lands people that were lawless as well as Saracens, aforty thousand, and have burnt and slain all the people that they may come by,without mercy, and have laid siege on the castle of Wandesborow. Alas, said theeleven kings, here is sorrow upon sorrow, and if we had not warred againstArthur as we have done, he would soon revenge us. As for King Leodegrance, heloveth Arthur better than us, and as for King Rience, he hath enough to do withLeodegrance, for he hath laid siege unto him. So they consented together tokeep all the marches of Cornwall, of Wales, and of the North. So first, theyput King Idres in the City of Nauntes in Britain, with four thousand men ofarms, to watch both the water and the land. Also they put in the city ofWindesan, King Nentres of Garlot, with four thousand knights to watch both onwater and on land. Also they had of other men of war more than eight thousand,for to fortify all the fortresses in the marches of Cornwall. Also they putmore knights in all the marches of Wales and Scotland, with many good men ofarms, and so they kept them together the space of three year, and ever alliedthem with mighty kings and dukes and lords. And to them fell King Rience ofNorth Wales, the which and Nero that was a mighty man of men. And all thiswhile they furnished them and garnished them of good men of arms, and victual,and of all manner of habiliment that pretendeth to the war, to avenge them forthe battle of Bedegraine, as it telleth in the book of adventures following.

CHAPTER XIX.
How King Arthur rode to Carlion, andof his dream, and how he saw the questing beast.

Then after the departing of King Ban and of King Bors, King Arthur rode intoCarlion. And thither came to him, King Lot’s wife, of Orkney, in mannerof a message, but she was sent thither to espy the court of King Arthur; andshe came richly beseen, with her four sons, Gawaine, Gaheris, Agravine, andGareth, with many other knights and ladies. For she was a passing fair lady,therefore the king cast great love unto her, and desired to lie by her; so theywere agreed, and he begat upon her Mordred, and she was his sister, on hismother’s side, Igraine. So there she rested her a month, and at the lastdeparted. Then the king dreamed a marvellous dream whereof he was sore adread.But all this time King Arthur knew not that King Lot’s wife was hissister. Thus was the dream of Arthur: Him thought there was come into this landgriffins and serpents, and him thought they burnt and slew all the people inthe land, and then him thought he fought with them, and they did him passinggreat harm, and wounded him full sore, but at the last he slew them. When theking awaked, he was passing heavy of his dream, and so to put it out ofthoughts, he made him ready with many knights to ride a-hunting. As soon as hewas in the forest the king saw a great hart afore him. This hart will I chase,said King Arthur, and so he spurred the horse, and rode after long, and so byfine force oft he was like to have smitten the hart; whereas the king hadchased the hart so long, that his horse lost his breath, and fell down dead.Then a yeoman fetched the king another horse.

So the king saw the hart enbushed, and his horse dead, he set him down by afountain, and there he fell in great thoughts. And as he sat so, him thought heheard a noise of hounds, to the sum of thirty. And with that the king sawcoming toward him the strangest beast that ever he saw or heard of; so thebeast went to the well and drank, and the noise was in the beast’s bellylike unto the questing of thirty couple hounds; but all the while the beastdrank there was no noise in the beast’s belly: and there with the beastdeparted with a great noise, whereof the king had great marvel. And so he wasin a great thought, and therewith he fell asleep. Right so there came a knightafoot unto Arthur and said, Knight full of thought and sleepy, tell me if thousawest a strange beast pass this way. Such one saw I, said King Arthur, that ispast two mile; what would ye with the beast? said Arthur. Sir, I have followedthat beast long time, and killed mine horse, so would God I had another tofollow my quest. Right so came one with the king’s horse, and when theknight saw the horse, he prayed the king to give him the horse: for I havefollowed this quest this twelvemonth, and either I shall achieve him, or bleedof the best blood of my body. Pellinore, that time king, followed the QuestingBeast, and after his death Sir Palamides followed it.

CHAPTER XX.
How King Pellinore took Arthur’shorse and followed the Questing Beast, and how Merlin met with Arthur.

Sir knight, said the king, leave that quest, and suffer me to have it, and Iwill follow it another twelvemonth. Ah, fool, said the knight unto Arthur, itis in vain thy desire, for it shall never be achieved but by me, or my nextkin. Therewith he started unto the king’s horse and mounted into thesaddle, and said, Gramercy, this horse is my own. Well, said the king, thoumayst take my horse by force, but an I might prove thee whether thou werebetter on horseback or I.—Well, said the knight, seek me here when thouwilt, and here nigh this well thou shalt find me, and so passed on his way.Then the king sat in a study, and bade his men fetch his horse as fast as everthey might. Right so came by him Merlin like a child of fourteen year of age,and saluted the king, and asked him why he was so pensive. I may well bepensive, said the king, for I have seen the marvellest sight that ever I saw.That know I well, said Merlin, as well as thyself, and of all thy thoughts, butthou art but a fool to take thought, for it will not amend thee. Also I knowwhat thou art, and who was thy father, and of whom thou wert begotten; KingUther Pendragon was thy father, and begat thee on Igraine. That is false, saidKing Arthur, how shouldest thou know it, for thou art not so old of years toknow my father? Yes, said Merlin, I know it better than ye or any man living. Iwill not believe thee, said Arthur, and was wroth with the child. So departedMerlin, and came again in the likeness of an old man of fourscore year of age,whereof the king was right glad, for he seemed to be right wise.

Then said the old man, Why are ye so sad? I may well be heavy, said Arthur, formany things. Also here was a child, and told me many things that meseemeth heshould not know, for he was not of age to know my father. Yes, said the oldman, the child told you truth, and more would he have told you an ye would havesuffered him. But ye have done a thing late that God is displeased with you,for ye have lain by your sister, and on her ye have gotten a child that shalldestroy you and all the knights of your realm. What are ye, said Arthur, thattell me these tidings? I am Merlin, and I was he in the child’s likeness.Ah, said King Arthur, ye are a marvellous man, but I marvel much of thy wordsthat I must die in battle. Marvel not, said Merlin, for it is God’s willyour body to be punished for your foul deeds; but I may well be sorry, saidMerlin, for I shall die a shameful death, to be put in the earth quick, and yeshall die a worshipful death. And as they talked this, came one with theking’s horse, and so the king mounted on his horse, and Merlin onanother, and so rode unto Carlion. And anon the king asked Ector and Ulfius howhe was begotten, and they told him Uther Pendragon was his father and QueenIgraine his mother. Then he said to Merlin, I will that my mother be sent forthat I may speak with her; and if she say so herself then will I believe it. Inall haste, the queen was sent for, and she came and brought with her Morgan leFay, her daughter, that was as fair a lady as any might be, and the kingwelcomed Igraine in the best manner.

CHAPTER XXI.
How Ulfius impeached Queen Igraine,Arthur’s mother, of treason; and how a knight came and desired to havethe death of his master revenged.

Right so came Ulfius, and said openly, that the king and all might hear thatwere feasted that day, Ye are the falsest lady of the world, and the mosttraitress unto the king’s person. Beware, said Arthur, what thou sayest;thou speakest a great word. I am well ware, said Ulfius, what I speak, and hereis my glove to prove it upon any man that will say the contrary, that thisQueen Igraine is causer of your great damage, and of your great war. For, anshe would have uttered it in the life of King Uther Pendragon, of the birth ofyou, and how ye were begotten ye had never had the mortal wars that ye havehad; for the most part of your barons of your realm knew never whose son yewere, nor of whom ye were begotten; and she that bare you of her body shouldhave made it known openly in excusing of her worship and yours, and in likewise to all the realm, wherefore I prove her false to God and to you and to allyour realm, and who will say the contrary I will prove it on his body.

Then spake Igraine and said, I am a woman and I may not fight, but rather thanI should be dishonoured, there would some good man take my quarrel. More, shesaid, Merlin knoweth well, and ye Sir Ulfius, how King Uther came to me in theCastle of Tintagil in the likeness of my lord, that was dead three hoursto-fore, and thereby gat a child that night upon me. And after the thirteenthday King Uther wedded me, and by his commandment when the child was born it wasdelivered unto Merlin and nourished by him, and so I saw the child never after,nor wot not what is his name, for I knew him never yet. And there, Ulfius saidto the queen, Merlin is more to blame than ye. Well I wot, said the queen, Ibare a child by my lord King Uther, but I wot not where he is become. ThenMerlin took the king by the hand, saying, This is your mother. And therewithSir Ector bare witness how he nourished him by Uther’s commandment. Andtherewith King Arthur took his mother, Queen Igraine, in his arms and kissedher, and either wept upon other. And then the king let make a feast that lastedeight days.

Then on a day there came in the court a squire on horseback, leading a knightbefore him wounded to the death, and told him how there was a knight in theforest had reared up a pavilion by a well, and hath slain my master, a goodknight, his name was Miles; wherefore I beseech you that my master may beburied, and that some knight may revenge my master’s death. Then thenoise was great of that knight’s death in the court, and every man saidhis advice. Then came Griflet that was but a squire, and he was but young, ofthe age of the king Arthur, so he besought the king for all his service that hehad done him to give the order of knighthood.

CHAPTER XXII.
How Griflet was made knight, andjousted with a knight.

Thou art full young and tender of age, said Arthur, for to take so high anorder on thee. Sir, said Griflet, I beseech you make me knight. Sir, saidMerlin, it were great pity to lose Griflet, for he will be a passing good manwhen he is of age, abiding with you the term of his life. And if he adventurehis body with yonder knight at the fountain, it is in great peril if ever hecome again, for he is one of the best knights of the world, and the strongestman of arms. Well, said Arthur. So at the desire of Griflet the king made himknight. Now, said Arthur unto Sir Griflet, sith I have made you knight thoumust give me a gift. What ye will, said Griflet. Thou shalt promise me by thefaith of thy body, when thou hast jousted with the knight at the fountain,whether it fall ye be on foot or on horseback, that right so ye shall comeagain unto me without making any more debate. I will promise you, said Griflet,as you desire. Then took Griflet his horse in great haste, and dressed hisshield and took a spear in his hand, and so he rode a great wallop till he cameto the fountain, and thereby he saw a rich pavilion, and thereby under a clothstood a fair horse well saddled and bridled, and on a tree a shield of diverscolours and a great spear. Then Griflet smote on the shield with the butt ofhis spear, that the shield fell down to the ground. With that the knight cameout of the pavilion, and said, Fair knight, why smote ye down my shield? For Iwill joust with you, said Griflet. It is better ye do not, said the knight, forye are but young, and late made knight, and your might is nothing to mine. Asfor that, said Griflet, I will joust with you. That is me loath, said theknight, but sith I must needs, I will dress me thereto. Of whence be ye? saidthe knight. Sir, I am of Arthur’s court. So the two knights ran togetherthat Griflet’s spear all to-shivered; and there withal he smote Grifletthrough the shield and the left side, and brake the spear that the truncheonstuck in his body, that horse and knight fell down.

CHAPTER XXIII.
How twelve knights came from Romeand asked truage for this land of Arthur, and how Arthur fought with aknight.

When the knight saw him lie so on the ground, he alighted, and was passingheavy, for he weened he had slain him, and then he unlaced his helm and gat himwind, and so with the truncheon he set him on his horse, and so betook him toGod, and said he had a mighty heart, and if he might live he would prove apassing good knight. And so Sir Griflet rode to the court, where great dole wasmade for him. But through good leeches he was healed and saved. Right so cameinto the court twelve knights, and were aged men, and they came from theEmperor of Rome, and they asked of Arthur truage for this realm, other else theemperor would destroy him and his land. Well, said King Arthur, ye aremessengers, therefore ye may say what ye will, other else ye should dietherefore. But this is mine answer: I owe the emperor no truage, nor none willI hold him, but on a fair field I shall give him my truage that shall be with asharp spear, or else with a sharp sword, and that shall not be long, by myfather’s soul, Uther Pendragon. And therewith the messengers departedpassingly wroth, and King Arthur as wroth, for in evil time came they then; forthe king was passingly wroth for the hurt of Sir Griflet. And so he commanded aprivy man of his chamber that or it be day his best horse and armour, with allthat longeth unto his person, be without the city or to-morrow day. Right so orto-morrow day he met with his man and his horse, and so mounted up and dressedhis shield and took his spear, and bade his chamberlain tarry there till hecame again. And so Arthur rode a soft pace till it was day, and then was heware of three churls chasing Merlin, and would have slain him. Then the kingrode unto them, and bade them: Flee, churls! then were they afeard when theysaw a knight, and fled. O Merlin, said Arthur, here hadst thou been slain forall thy crafts had I not been. Nay, said Merlin, not so, for I could savemyself an I would; and thou art more near thy death than I am, for thou goestto the deathward, an God be not thy friend.

So as they went thus talking they came to the fountain, and the rich pavilionthere by it. Then King Arthur was ware where sat a knight armed in a chair. Sirknight, said Arthur, for what cause abidest thou here, that there may no knightride this way but if he joust with thee? said the king. I rede thee leave thatcustom, said Arthur. This custom, said the knight, have I used and will usemaugre who saith nay, and who is grieved with my custom let him amend it thatwill. I will amend it, said Arthur. I shall defend thee, said the knight. Anonhe took his horse and dressed his shield and took a spear, and they met so hardeither in other’s shields, that all to-shivered their spears. Therewithanon Arthur pulled out his sword. Nay, not so, said the knight; it is fairer,said the knight, that we twain run more together with sharp spears. I willwell, said Arthur, an I had any more spears. I have enow, said the knight; sothere came a squire and brought two good spears, and Arthur chose one and heanother; so they spurred their horses and came together with all their mights,that either brake their spears to their hands. Then Arthur set hand on hissword. Nay, said the knight, ye shall do better, ye are a passing good jousteras ever I met withal, and once for the love of the high order of knighthood letus joust once again. I assent me, said Arthur. Anon there were brought twogreat spears, and every knight gat a spear, and therewith they ran togetherthat Arthur’s spear all to-shivered. But the other knight hit him so hardin midst of the shield, that horse and man fell to the earth, and therewithArthur was eager, and pulled out his sword, and said, I will assay thee, sirknight, on foot, for I have lost the honour on horseback. I will be onhorseback, said the knight. Then was Arthur wroth, and dressed his shieldtoward him with his sword drawn. When the knight saw that, he alighted, for himthought no worship to have a knight at such avail, he to be on horseback and heon foot, and so he alighted and dressed his shield unto Arthur. And there begana strong battle with many great strokes, and so hewed with their swords thatthe cantels flew in the fields, and much blood they bled both, that all theplace there as they fought was overbled with blood, and thus they fought longand rested them, and then they went to the battle again, and so hurtledtogether like two rams that either fell to the earth. So at the last they smotetogether that both their swords met even together. But the sword of the knightsmote King Arthur’s sword in two pieces, wherefore he was heavy. Thensaid the knight unto Arthur, Thou art in my daunger whether me list to savethee or slay thee, and but thou yield thee as overcome and recreant, thou shaltdie. As for death, said King Arthur, welcome be it when it cometh, but to yieldme unto thee as recreant I had liefer die than to be so shamed. And therewithalthe king leapt unto Pellinore, and took him by the middle and threw him down,and raced off his helm. When the knight felt that he was adread, for he was apassing big man of might, and anon he brought Arthur under him, and raced offhis helm and would have smitten off his head.

CHAPTER XXIV.
How Merlin saved Arthur’slife, and threw an enchantment on King Pellinore and made him to sleep.

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

CHAPTER XXV.
How Arthur by the mean of Merlin gatExcalibur his sword of the Lady of the Lake.

Right so the king and he departed, and went unto an hermit that was a good manand a great leech. So the hermit searched all his wounds and gave him goodsalves; so the king was there three days, and then were his wounds well amendedthat he might ride and go, and so departed. And as they rode, Arthur said, Ihave no sword. No force, said Merlin, hereby is a sword that shall be yours, anI may. So they rode till they came to a lake, the which was a fair water andbroad, and in the midst of the lake Arthur was ware of an arm clothed in whitesamite, that held a fair sword in that hand. Lo! said Merlin, yonder is thatsword that I spake of. With that they saw a damosel going upon the lake. Whatdamosel is that? said Arthur. That is the Lady of the Lake, said Merlin; andwithin that lake is a rock, and therein is as fair a place as any on earth, andrichly beseen; and this damosel will come to you anon, and then speak ye fairto her that she will give you that sword. Anon withal came the damosel untoArthur, and saluted him, and he her again. Damosel, said Arthur, what sword isthat, that yonder the arm holdeth above the water? I would it were mine, for Ihave no sword. Sir Arthur, king, said the damosel, that sword is mine, and ifye will give me a gift when I ask it you, ye shall have it. By my faith, saidArthur, I will give you what gift ye will ask. Well! said the damosel, go yeinto yonder barge, and row yourself to the sword, and take it and the scabbardwith you, and I will ask my gift when I see my time. So Sir Arthur and Merlinalighted and tied their horses to two trees, and so they went into the ship,and when they came to the sword that the hand held, Sir Arthur took it up bythe handles, and took it with him, and the arm and the hand went under thewater. And so [they] came unto the land and rode forth, and then Sir Arthur sawa rich pavilion. What signifieth yonder pavilion? It is the knight’spavilion, said Merlin, that ye fought with last, Sir Pellinore; but he is out,he is not there. He hath ado with a knight of yours that hight Egglame, andthey have foughten together, but at the last Egglame fled, and else he had beendead, and he hath chased him even to Carlion, and we shall meet with him anonin the highway. That is well said, said Arthur, now have I a sword, now will Iwage battle with him, and be avenged on him. Sir, you shall not so, saidMerlin, for the knight is weary of fighting and chasing, so that ye shall haveno worship to have ado with him; also he will not be lightly matched of oneknight living, and therefore it is my counsel, let him pass, for he shall doyou good service in short time, and his sons after his days. Also ye shall seethat day in short space, you shall be right glad to give him your sister towed. When I see him, I will do as ye advise, said Arthur.

Then Sir Arthur looked on the sword, and liked it passing well. Whether likethyou better, said Merlin, the sword or the scabbard? Me liketh better the sword,said Arthur. Ye are more unwise, said Merlin, for the scabbard is worth ten ofthe swords, for whiles ye have the scabbard upon you, ye shall never lose noblood, be ye never so sore wounded; therefore keep well the scabbard alwayswith you. So they rode unto Carlion, and by the way they met with SirPellinore; but Merlin had done such a craft, that Pellinore saw not Arthur, andhe passed by without any words. I marvel, said Arthur, that the knight wouldnot speak. Sir, said Merlin, he saw you not, for an he had seen you, ye had notlightly departed. So they came unto Carlion, whereof his knights were passingglad. And when they heard of his adventures, they marvelled that he wouldjeopard his person so, alone. But all men of worship said it was merry to beunder such a chieftain, that would put his person in adventure as other poorknights did.

CHAPTER XXVI.
How tidings came to Arthur that KingRience had overcome eleven kings, and how he desired Arthur’s beard totrim his mantle.

This meanwhile came a messenger from King Rience of North Wales, and king hewas of all Ireland, and of many isles. And this was his message, greeting wellKing Arthur in this manner wise, saying that King Rience had discomfited andovercome eleven kings, and everych of them did him homage, and that was this,they gave him their beards clean flayed off, as much as there was; whereforethe messenger came for King Arthur’s beard. For King Rience had purfled amantle with kings’ beards, and there lacked one place of the mantle;wherefore he sent for his beard, or else he would enter into his lands, andburn and slay, and never leave till he have the head and the beard. Well, saidArthur, thou hast said thy message, the which is the most villainous andlewdest message that ever man heard sent unto a king; also thou mayest see mybeard is full young yet to make a purfle of it. But tell thou thy king this: Iowe him none homage, nor none of mine elders; but or it be long to, he shall dome homage on both his knees, or else he shall lose his head, by the faith of mybody, for this is the most shamefulest message that ever I heard speak of. Ihave espied thy king met never yet with worshipful man, but tell him, I willhave his head without he do me homage. Then the messenger departed.

Now is there any here, said Arthur, that knoweth King Rience? Then answered aknight that hight Naram, Sir, I know the king well; he is a passing good man ofhis body, as few be living, and a passing proud man, and Sir, doubt ye not hewill make war on you with a mighty puissance. Well, said Arthur, I shall ordainfor him in short time.

CHAPTER XXVII.
How all the children were sent forthat were born on May-day, and how Mordred was saved.

Then King Arthur let send for all the children born on May-day, begotten oflords and born of ladies; for Merlin told King Arthur that he that shoulddestroy him should be born on May-day, wherefore he sent for them all, uponpain of death; and so there were found many lords’ sons, and all weresent unto the king, and so was Mordred sent by King Lot’s wife, and allwere put in a ship to the sea, and some were four weeks old, and some less. Andso by fortune the ship drave unto a castle, and was all to-riven, and destroyedthe most part, save that Mordred was cast up, and a good man found him, andnourished him till he was fourteen year old, and then he brought him to thecourt, as it rehearseth afterward, toward the end of the Death of Arthur. Somany lords and barons of this realm were displeased, for their children were solost, and many put the wite on Merlin more than on Arthur; so what for dreadand for love, they held their peace. But when the messenger came to KingRience, then was he wood out of measure, and purveyed him for a great host, asit rehearseth after in the book of Balin le Savage, that followeth next after,how by adventure Balin gat the sword.

Explicit liber primus.

BOOK II.

CHAPTER I.
Of a damosel which came girt with asword for to find a man of such virtue to draw it out of the scabbard.

After the death of Uther Pendragon reigned Arthur his son, the which had greatwar in his days for to get all England into his hand. For there were many kingswithin the realm of England, and in Wales, Scotland, and Cornwall. So it befellon a time when King Arthur was at London, there came a knight and told the kingtidings how that the King Rience of North Wales had reared a great number ofpeople, and were entered into the land, and burnt and slew the king’strue liege people. If this be true, said Arthur, it were great shame unto mineestate but that he were mightily withstood. It is truth, said the knight, for Isaw the host myself. Well, said the king, let make a cry, that all the lords,knights, and gentlemen of arms, should draw unto a castle called Camelot inthose days, and there the king would let make a council-general and a greatjousts.

So when the king was come thither with all his baronage, and lodged as theyseemed best, there was come a damosel the which was sent on message from thegreat lady Lile of Avelion. And when she came before King Arthur, she told fromwhom she came, and how she was sent on message unto him for these causes. Thenshe let her mantle fall that was richly furred; and then was she girt with anoble sword whereof the king had marvel, and said, Damosel, for what cause areye girt with that sword? it beseemeth you not. Now shall I tell you, said thedamosel; this sword that I am girt withal doth me great sorrow and cumbrance,for I may not be delivered of this sword but by a knight, but he must be apassing good man of his hands and of his deeds, and without villainy ortreachery, and without treason. And if I may find such a knight that hath allthese virtues, he may draw out this sword out of the sheath, for I have been atKing Rience’s it was told me there were passing good knights, and he andall his knights have assayed it and none can speed. This is a great marvel,said Arthur, if this be sooth; I will myself assay to draw out the sword, notpresuming upon myself that I am the best knight, but that I will begin to drawat your sword in giving example to all the barons that they shall assay everychone after other when I have assayed it. Then Arthur took the sword by thesheath and by the girdle and pulled at it eagerly, but the sword would not out.

Sir, said the damosel, you need not to pull half so hard, for he that shallpull it out shall do it with little might. Ye say well, said Arthur; now assayye all my barons; but beware ye be not defiled with shame, treachery, norguile. Then it will not avail, said the damosel, for he must be a clean knightwithout villainy, and of a gentle strain of father side and mother side. Mostof all the barons of the Round Table that were there at that time assayed allby row, but there might none speed; wherefore the damosel made great sorrow outof measure, and said, Alas! I weened in this court had been the best knightswithout treachery or treason. By my faith, said Arthur, here are good knights,as I deem, as any be in the world, but their grace is not to help you,wherefore I am displeased.

CHAPTER II.
How Balin, arrayed like a poor knight,pulled out the sword, which afterward was the cause of his death.

Then fell it so that time there was a poor knight with King Arthur, that hadbeen prisoner with him half a year and more for slaying of a knight, the whichwas cousin unto King Arthur. The name of this knight was called Balin, and bygood means of the barons he was delivered out of prison, for he was a good mannamed of his body, and he was born in Northumberland. And so he went privilyinto the court, and saw this adventure, whereof it raised his heart, and hewould assay it as other knights did, but for he was poor and poorly arrayed heput him not far in press. But in his heart he was fully assured to do as well,if his grace happed him, as any knight that there was. And as the damosel tookher leave of Arthur and of all the barons, so departing, this knight Balincalled unto her, and said, Damosel, I pray you of your courtesy, suffer me aswell to assay as these lords; though that I be so poorly clothed, in my heartmeseemeth I am fully assured as some of these others, and meseemeth in my heartto speed right well. The damosel beheld the poor knight, and saw he was alikely man, but for his poor arrayment she thought he should be of no worshipwithout villainy or treachery. And then she said unto the knight, Sir, itneedeth not to put me to more pain or labour, for it seemeth not you to speedthere as other have failed. Ah! fair damosel, said Balin, worthiness, and goodtatches, and good deeds, are not only in arrayment, but manhood and worship ishid within man’s person, and many a worshipful knight is not known untoall people, and therefore worship and hardiness is not in arrayment. By God,said the damosel, ye say sooth; therefore ye shall assay to do what ye may.Then Balin took the sword by the girdle and sheath, and drew it out easily; andwhen he looked on the sword it pleased him much. Then had the king and all thebarons great marvel that Balin had done that adventure, and many knights hadgreat despite of Balin. Certes, said the damosel, this is a passing goodknight, and the best that ever I found, and most of worship without treason,treachery, or villainy, and many marvels shall he do. Now, gentle and courteousknight, give me the sword again. Nay, said Balin, for this sword will I keep,but it be taken from me with force. Well, said the damosel, ye are not wise tokeep the sword from me, for ye shall slay with the sword the best friend thatye have, and the man that ye most love in the world, and the sword shall beyour destruction. I shall take the adventure, said Balin, that God will ordainme, but the sword ye shall not have at this time, by the faith of my body. Yeshall repent it within short time, said the damosel, for I would have the swordmore for your avail than for mine, for I am passing heavy for your sake; for yewill not believe that sword shall be your destruction, and that is great pity.With that the damosel departed, making great sorrow.

Anon after, Balin sent for his horse and armour, and so would depart from thecourt, and took his leave of King Arthur. Nay, said the king, I suppose ye willnot depart so lightly from this fellowship, I suppose ye are displeased that Ihave shewed you unkindness; blame me the less, for I was misinformed againstyou, but I weened ye had not been such a knight as ye are, of worship andprowess, and if ye will abide in this court among my fellowship, I shall soadvance you as ye shall be pleased. God thank your highness, said Balin, yourbounty and highness may no man praise half to the value; but at this time Imust needs depart, beseeching you alway of your good grace. Truly, said theking, I am right wroth for your departing; I pray you, fair knight, that yetarry not long, and ye shall be right welcome to me, and to my barons, and Ishall amend all miss that I have done against you; God thank your greatlordship, said Balin, and therewith made him ready to depart. Then the mostpart of the knights of the Round Table said that Balin did not this adventureall only by might, but by witchcraft.

CHAPTER III.
How the Lady of the Lake demanded theknight’s head that had won the sword, or the maiden’s head.

The meanwhile, that this knight was making him ready to depart, there came intothe court a lady that hight the Lady of the Lake. And she came on horseback,richly beseen, and saluted King Arthur, and there asked him a gift that hepromised her when she gave him the sword. That is sooth, said Arthur, a gift Ipromised you, but I have forgotten the name of my sword that ye gave me. Thename of it, said the lady, is Excalibur, that is as much to say as Cut-steel.Ye say well, said the king; ask what ye will and ye shall have it, an it lie inmy power to give it. Well, said the lady, I ask the head of the knight thathath won the sword, or else the damosel’s head that brought it; I take noforce though I have both their heads, for he slew my brother, a good knight anda true, and that gentlewoman was causer of my father’s death. Truly, saidKing Arthur, I may not grant neither of their heads with my worship, thereforeask what ye will else, and I shall fulfil your desire. I will ask none otherthing, said the lady. When Balin was ready to depart, he saw the Lady of theLake, that by her means had slain Balin’s mother, and he had sought herthree years; and when it was told him that she asked his head of King Arthur,he went to her straight and said, Evil be you found; ye would have my head, andtherefore ye shall lose yours, and with his sword lightly he smote off her headbefore King Arthur. Alas, for shame! said Arthur, why have ye done so? ye haveshamed me and all my court, for this was a lady that I was beholden to, andhither she came under my safe-conduct; I shall never forgive you that trespass.Sir, said Balin, me forthinketh of your displeasure, for this same lady was theuntruest lady living, and by enchantment and sorcery she hath been thedestroyer of many good knights, and she was causer that my mother was burnt,through her falsehood and treachery. What cause soever ye had, said Arthur, yeshould have forborne her in my presence; therefore, think not the contrary, yeshall repent it, for such another despite had I never in my court; thereforewithdraw you out of my court in all haste ye may.

Then Balin took up the head of the lady, and bare it with him to his hostelry,and there he met with his squire, that was sorry he had displeased King Arthurand so they rode forth out of the town. Now, said Balin, we must depart, takethou this head and bear it to my friends, and tell them how I have sped, andtell my friends in Northumberland that my most foe is dead. Also tell them howI am out of prison, and what adventure befell me at the getting of this sword.Alas! said the squire, ye are greatly to blame for to displease King Arthur. Asfor that, said Balin, I will hie me, in all the haste that I may, to meet withKing Rience and destroy him, either else to die therefore; and if it may hap meto win him, then will King Arthur be my good and gracious lord. Where shall Imeet with you? said the squire. In King Arthur’s court, said Balin. Sohis squire and he departed at that time. Then King Arthur and all the courtmade great dole and had shame of the death of the Lady of the Lake. Then theking buried her richly.

CHAPTER IV.
How Merlin told the adventure of thisdamosel.

At that time there was a knight, the which was the king’s son of Ireland,and his name was Lanceor, the which was an orgulous knight, and counted himselfone of the best of the court; and he had great despite at Balin for theachieving of the sword, that any should be accounted more hardy, or more ofprowess; and he asked King Arthur if he would give him leave to ride afterBalin and to revenge the despite that he had done. Do your best, said Arthur, Iam right wroth with Balin; I would he were quit of the despite that he hathdone to me and to my court. Then this Lanceor went to his hostelry to make himready. In the meanwhile came Merlin unto the court of King Arthur, and therewas told him the adventure of the sword, and the death of the Lady of the Lake.Now shall I say you, said Merlin; this same damosel that here standeth, thatbrought the sword unto your court, I shall tell you the cause of her coming:she was the falsest damosel that liveth. Say not so, said they. She hath abrother, a passing good knight of prowess and a full true man; and this damoselloved another knight that held her to paramour, and this good knight herbrother met with the knight that held her to paramour, and slew him by force ofhis hands. When this false damosel understood this, she went to the Lady Lileof Avelion, and besought her of help, to be avenged on her own brother.

CHAPTER V.
How Balin was pursued by Sir Lanceor,knight of Ireland, and how he jousted and slew him.

And so this Lady Lile of Avelion took her this sword that she brought with her,and told there should no man pull it out of the sheath but if he be one of thebest knights of this realm, and he should be hard and full of prowess, and withthat sword he should slay her brother. This was the cause that the damosel cameinto this court. I know it as well as ye. Would God she had not come into thiscourt, but she came never in fellowship of worship to do good, but always greatharm; and that knight that hath achieved the sword shall be destroyed by thatsword, for the which will be great damage, for there liveth not a knight ofmore prowess than he is, and he shall do unto you, my Lord Arthur, great honourand kindness; and it is great pity he shall not endure but a while, for of hisstrength and hardiness I know not his match living.

So the knight of Ireland armed him at all points, and dressed his shield on hisshoulder, and mounted upon horseback, and took his spear in his hand, and rodeafter a great pace, as much as his horse might go; and within a little space ona mountain he had a sight of Balin, and with a loud voice he cried, Abide,knight, for ye shall abide whether ye will or nill, and the shield that isto-fore you shall not help. When Balin heard the noise, he turned his horsefiercely, and said, Fair knight, what will ye with me, will ye joust with me?Yea, said the Irish knight, therefore come I after you. Peradventure, saidBalin, it had been better to have holden you at home, for many a man weeneth toput his enemy to a rebuke, and oft it falleth to himself. Of what court be yesent from? said Balin. I am come from the court of King Arthur, said the knightof Ireland, that come hither for to revenge the despite ye did this day to KingArthur and to his court. Well, said Balin, I see well I must have ado with you,that me forthinketh for to grieve King Arthur, or any of his court; and yourquarrel is full simple, said Balin, unto me, for the lady that is dead, did megreat damage, and else would I have been loath as any knight that liveth for toslay a lady. Make you ready, said the knight Lanceor, and dress you unto me,for that one shall abide in the field. Then they took their spears, and cametogether as much as their horses might drive, and the Irish knight smote Balinon the shield, that all went shivers off his spear, and Balin hit him throughthe shield, and the hauberk perished, and so pierced through his body and thehorse’s croup, and anon turned his horse fiercely, and drew out hissword, and wist not that he had slain him; and then he saw him lie as a deadcorpse.

CHAPTER VI.
How a damosel, which was love toLanceor, slew herself for love, and how Balin met with his brother Balan.

Then he looked by him, and was ware of a damosel that came riding full fast asthe horse might ride, on a fair palfrey. And when she espied that Lanceor wasslain, she made sorrow out of measure, and said, O Balin, two bodies thou hastslain and one heart, and two hearts in one body, and two souls thou hast lost.And therewith she took the sword from her love that lay dead, and fell to theground in a swoon. And when she arose she made great dole out of measure, thewhich sorrow grieved Balin passingly sore, and he went unto her for to havetaken the sword out of her hand, but she held it so fast he might not take itout of her hand unless he should have hurt her, and suddenly she set the pommelto the ground, and rove herself through the body. When Balin espied her deeds,he was passing heavy in his heart, and ashamed that so fair a damosel haddestroyed herself for the love of his death. Alas, said Balin, me repentethsore the death of this knight, for the love of this damosel, for there was muchtrue love betwixt them both, and for sorrow might not longer behold him, butturned his horse and looked toward a great forest, and there he was ware, bythe arms, of his brother Balan. And when they were met they put off their helmsand kissed together, and wept for joy and pity. Then Balan said, I littleweened to have met with you at this sudden adventure; I am right glad of yourdeliverance out of your dolorous prisonment, for a man told me, in the castleof Four Stones, that ye were delivered, and that man had seen you in the courtof King Arthur, and therefore I came hither into this country, for here Isupposed to find you. Anon the knight Balin told his brother of his adventureof the sword, and of the death of the Lady of the Lake, and how King Arthur wasdispleased with him. Wherefore he sent this knight after me, that lieth heredead, and the death of this damosel grieveth me sore. So doth it me, saidBalan, but ye must take the adventure that God will ordain you. Truly, saidBalin, I am right heavy that my Lord Arthur is displeased with me, for he isthe most worshipful knight that reigneth now on earth, and his love will I getor else will I put my life in adventure. For the King Rience lieth at a siegeat the Castle Terrabil, and thither will we draw in all haste, to prove ourworship and prowess upon him. I will well, said Balan, that we do, and we willhelp each other as brethren ought to do.

CHAPTER VII.
How a dwarf reproved Balin for thedeath of Lanceor, and how King Mark of Cornwall found them, and made a tombover them.

Now go we hence, said Balin, and well be we met. The meanwhile as they talked,there came a dwarf from the city of Camelot on horseback, as much as he might;and found the dead bodies, wherefore he made great dole, and pulled out hishair for sorrow, and said, Which of you knights have done this deed? Wherebyaskest thou it? said Balan. For I would wit it, said the dwarf. It was I, saidBalin, that slew this knight in my defence, for hither he came to chase me, andeither I must slay him or he me; and this damosel slew herself for his love,which repenteth me, and for her sake I shall owe all women the better love.Alas, said the dwarf, thou hast done great damage unto thyself, for this knightthat is here dead was one of the most valiantest men that lived, and trustwell, Balin, the kin of this knight will chase you through the world till theyhave slain you. As for that, said Balin, I fear not greatly, but I am rightheavy that I have displeased my lord King Arthur, for the death of this knight.So as they talked together, there came a king of Cornwall riding, the whichhight King Mark. And when he saw these two bodies dead, and understood how theywere dead, by the two knights above said, then made the king great sorrow forthe true love that was betwixt them, and said, I will not depart till I have onthis earth made a tomb, and there he pight his pavilions and sought through allthe country to find a tomb, and in a church they found one was fair and rich,and then the king let put them both in the earth, and put the tomb upon them,and wrote the names of them both on the tomb. How here lieth Lanceor theking’s son of Ireland, that at his own request was slain by the hands ofBalin; and how his lady, Colombe, and paramour, slew herself with herlove’s sword for dole and sorrow.

CHAPTER VIII.
How Merlin prophesied that two thebest knights of the world should fight there, which were Sir Lancelot and SirTristram.

The meanwhile as this was a-doing, in came Merlin to King Mark, and seeing allhis doing, said, Here shall be in this same place the greatest battle betwixttwo knights that was or ever shall be, and the truest lovers, and yet none ofthem shall slay other. And there Merlin wrote their names upon the tomb withletters of gold that should fight in that place, whose names were Launcelot deLake, and Tristram. Thou art a marvellous man, said King Mark unto Merlin, thatspeakest of such marvels, thou art a boistous man and an unlikely to tell ofsuch deeds. What is thy name? said King Mark. At this time, said Merlin, I willnot tell, but at that time when Sir Tristram is taken with his sovereign lady,then ye shall hear and know my name, and at that time ye shall hear tidingsthat shall not please you. Then said Merlin to Balin, Thou hast done thyselfgreat hurt, because that thou savest not this lady that slew herself, thatmight have saved her an thou wouldest. By the faith of my body, said Balin, Imight not save her, for she slew herself suddenly. Me repenteth, said Merlin;because of the death of that lady thou shalt strike a stroke most dolorous thatever man struck, except the stroke of our Lord, for thou shalt hurt the truestknight and the man of most worship that now liveth, and through that strokethree kingdoms shall be in great poverty, misery and wretchedness twelve years,and the knight shall not be whole of that wound for many years. Then Merlintook his leave of Balin. And Balin said, If I wist it were sooth that ye say Ishould do such a perilous deed as that, I would slay myself to make thee aliar. Therewith Merlin vanished away suddenly. And then Balan and his brothertook their leave of King Mark. First, said the king, tell me your name. Sir,said Balan, ye may see he beareth two swords, thereby ye may call him theKnight with the Two Swords. And so departed King Mark unto Camelot to KingArthur, and Balin took the way toward King Rience; and as they rode togetherthey met with Merlin disguised, but they knew him not. Whither ride you? saidMerlin. We have little to do, said the two knights, to tell thee. But what isthy name? said Balin. At this time, said Merlin, I will not tell it thee. It isevil seen, said the knights, that thou art a true man that thou wilt not tellthy name. As for that, said Merlin, be it as it be may, I can tell youwherefore ye ride this way, for to meet King Rience; but it will not avail youwithout ye have my counsel. Ah! said Balin, ye are Merlin; we will be ruled byyour counsel. Come on, said Merlin, ye shall have great worship, and look thatye do knightly, for ye shall have great need. As for that, said Balin, dreadyou not, we will do what we may.

CHAPTER IX.
How Balin and his brother, by thecounsel of Merlin, took King Rience and brought him to King Arthur.

Then Merlin lodged them in a wood among leaves beside the highway, and took offthe bridles of their horses and put them to grass and laid them down to restthem till it was nigh midnight. Then Merlin bade them rise, and make themready, for the king was nigh them, that was stolen away from his host with athree score horses of his best knights, and twenty of them rode to-fore to warnthe Lady de Vance that the king was coming; for that night King Rience shouldhave lain with her. Which is the king? said Balin. Abide, said Merlin, here ina strait way ye shall meet with him; and therewith he showed Balin and hisbrother where he rode.

Anon Balin and his brother met with the king, and smote him down, and woundedhim fiercely, and laid him to the ground; and there they slew on the right handand the left hand, and slew more than forty of his men, and the remnant fled.Then went they again to King Rience and would have slain him had he not yieldedhim unto their grace. Then said he thus: Knights full of prowess, slay me not,for by my life ye may win, and by my death ye shall win nothing. Then saidthese two knights, Ye say sooth and truth, and so laid him on a horse-litter.With that Merlin was vanished, and came to King Arthur aforehand, and told himhow his most enemy was taken and discomfited. By whom? said King Arthur. By twoknights, said Merlin, that would please your lordship, and to-morrow ye shallknow what knights they are. Anon after came the Knight with the Two Swords andBalan his brother, and brought with them King Rience of North Wales, and theredelivered him to the porters, and charged them with him; and so they tworeturned again in the dawning of the day. King Arthur came then to King Rience,and said, Sir king, ye are welcome: by what adventure come ye hither? Sir, saidKing Rience, I came hither by an hard adventure. Who won you? said King Arthur.Sir, said the king, the Knight with the Two Swords and his brother, which aretwo marvellous knights of prowess. I know them not, said Arthur, but much I ambeholden to them. Ah, said Merlin, I shall tell you: it is Balin that achievedthe sword, and his brother Balan, a good knight, there liveth not a better ofprowess and of worthiness, and it shall be the greatest dole of him that ever Iknew of knight, for he shall not long endure. Alas, said King Arthur, that isgreat pity; for I am much beholden unto him, and I have ill deserved it untohim for his kindness. Nay, said Merlin, he shall do much more for you, and thatshall ye know in haste. But, sir, are ye purveyed, said Merlin, for to-morn thehost of Nero, King Rience’s brother, will set on you or noon with a greathost, and therefore make you ready, for I will depart from you.

CHAPTER X.
How King Arthur had a battle againstNero and King Lot of Orkney, and how King Lot was deceived by Merlin, and howtwelve kings were slain.

Then King Arthur made ready his host in ten battles and Nero was ready in thefield afore the Castle Terrabil with a great host, and he had ten battles, withmany more people than Arthur had. Then Nero had the vanguard with the most partof his people, and Merlin came to King Lot of the Isle of Orkney, and held himwith a tale of prophecy, till Nero and his people were destroyed. And there SirKay the seneschal did passingly well, that the days of his life the worshipwent never from him; and Sir Hervis de Revel did marvellous deeds with KingArthur, and King Arthur slew that day twenty knights and maimed forty. At thattime came in the Knight with the Two Swords and his brother Balan, but they twodid so marvellously that the king and all the knights marvelled of them, andall they that beheld them said they were sent from heaven as angels, or devilsfrom hell; and King Arthur said himself they were the best knights that ever hesaw, for they gave such strokes that all men had wonder of them.

In the meanwhile came one to King Lot, and told him while he tarried there Nerowas destroyed and slain with all his people. Alas, said King Lot, I am ashamed,for by my default there is many a worshipful man slain, for an we had beentogether there had been none host under the heaven that had been able for tohave matched with us; this faiter with his prophecy hath mocked me. All thatdid Merlin, for he knew well that an King Lot had been with his body there atthe first battle, King Arthur had been slain, and all his people destroyed; andwell Merlin knew that one of the kings should be dead that day, and loath wasMerlin that any of them both should be slain; but of the twain, he had lieferKing Lot had been slain than King Arthur. Now what is best to do? said King Lotof Orkney; whether is me better to treat with King Arthur or to fight, for thegreater part of our people are slain and destroyed? Sir, said a knight, set onArthur for they are weary and forfoughten and we be fresh. As for me, said KingLot, I would every knight would do his part as I would do mine. And then theyadvanced banners and smote together and all to-shivered their spears; andArthur’s knights, with the help of the Knight with the Two Swords and hisbrother Balan put King Lot and his host to the worse. But always King Lot heldhim in the foremost front, and did marvellous deeds of arms, for all his hostwas borne up by his hands, for he abode all knights. Alas he might not endure,the which was great pity, that so worthy a knight as he was one should beovermatched, that of late time afore had been a knight of King Arthur’s,and wedded the sister of King Arthur; and for King Arthur lay by KingLot’s wife, the which was Arthur’s sister, and gat on her Mordred,therefore King Lot held against Arthur. So there was a knight that was calledthe Knight with the Strange Beast, and at that time his right name was calledPellinore, the which was a good man of prowess, and he smote a mighty stroke atKing Lot as he fought with all his enemies, and he failed of his stroke, andsmote the horse’s neck, that he fell to the ground with King Lot. Andtherewith anon Pellinore smote him a great stroke through the helm and headunto the brows. And then all the host of Orkney fled for the death of King Lot,and there were slain many mothers’ sons. But King Pellinore bare the witeof the death of King Lot, wherefore Sir Gawaine revenged the death of hisfather the tenth year after he was made knight, and slew King Pellinore withhis own hands. Also there were slain at that battle twelve kings on the side ofKing Lot with Nero, and all were buried in the Church of Saint Stephen’sin Camelot, and the remnant of knights and of others were buried in a greatrock.

CHAPTER XI.
Of the interment of twelve kings, andof the prophecy of Merlin, and how Balin should give the dolorous stroke.

So at the interment came King Lot’s wife Margawse with her four sons,Gawaine, Agravaine, Gaheris, and Gareth. Also there came thither King Uriens,Sir Ewaine’s father, and Morgan le Fay his wife that was KingArthur’s sister. All these came to the interment. But of all these twelvekings King Arthur let make the tomb of King Lot passing richly, and made histomb by his own; and then Arthur let make twelve images of latten and copper,and over-gilt it with gold, in the sign of twelve kings, and each one of themheld a taper of wax that burnt day and night; and King Arthur was made in signof a figure standing above them with a sword drawn in his hand, and all thetwelve figures had countenance like unto men that were overcome. All this madeMerlin by his subtle craft, and there he told the king, When I am dead thesetapers shall burn no longer, and soon after the adventures of the Sangrealshall come among you and be achieved. Also he told Arthur how Balin theworshipful knight shall give the dolorous stroke, whereof shall fall greatvengeance. Oh, where is Balin and Balan and Pellinore? said King Arthur. As forPellinore, said Merlin, he will meet with you soon; and as for Balin he willnot be long from you; but the other brother will depart, ye shall see him nomore. By my faith, said Arthur, they are two marvellous knights, and namelyBalin passeth of prowess of any knight that ever I found, for much beholden amI unto him; would God he would abide with me. Sir, said Merlin, look ye keepwell the scabbard of Excalibur, for ye shall lose no blood while ye have thescabbard upon you, though ye have as many wounds upon you as ye may have. Soafter, for great trust, Arthur betook the scabbard to Morgan le Fay his sister,and she loved another knight better than her husband King Uriens or KingArthur, and she would have had Arthur her brother slain, and therefore she letmake another scabbard like it by enchantment, and gave the scabbard Excaliburto her love; and the knight’s name was called Accolon, that after hadnear slain King Arthur. After this Merlin told unto King Arthur of the prophecythat there should be a great battle beside Salisbury, and Mordred his own sonshould be against him. Also he told him that Bagdemegus was his cousin, andgermain unto King Uriens.

CHAPTER XII.
How a sorrowful knight came beforeArthur, and how Balin fetched him, and how that knight was slain by a knightinvisible.

Within a day or two King Arthur was somewhat sick, and he let pitch hispavilion in a meadow, and there he laid him down on a pallet to sleep, but hemight have no rest. Right so he heard a great noise of an horse, and therewiththe king looked out at the porch of the pavilion, and saw a knight coming evenby him, making great dole. Abide, fair sir, said Arthur, and tell me whereforethou makest this sorrow. Ye may little amend me, said the knight, and so passedforth to the castle of Meliot. Anon after there came Balin, and when he sawKing Arthur he alighted off his horse, and came to the King on foot, andsaluted him. By my head, said Arthur, ye be welcome. Sir, right now came ridingthis way a knight making great mourn, for what cause I cannot tell; wherefore Iwould desire of you of your courtesy and of your gentleness to fetch again thatknight either by force or else by his good will. I will do more for yourlordship than that, said Balin; and so he rode more than a pace, and found theknight with a damosel in a forest, and said, Sir knight, ye must come with meunto King Arthur, for to tell him of your sorrow. That will I not, said theknight, for it will scathe me greatly, and do you none avail. Sir, said Balin,I pray you make you ready, for ye must go with me, or else I must fight withyou and bring you by force, and that were me loath to do. Will ye be mywarrant, said the knight, an I go with you? Yea, said Balin, or else I will dietherefore. And so he made him ready to go with Balin, and left the damoselstill. And as they were even afore King Arthur’s pavilion, there came oneinvisible, and smote this knight that went with Balin throughout the body witha spear. Alas, said the knight, I am slain under your conduct with a knightcalled Garlon; therefore take my horse that is better than yours, and ride tothe damosel, and follow the quest that I was in as she will lead you, andrevenge my death when ye may. That shall I do, said Balin, and that I make vowunto knighthood; and so he departed from this knight with great sorrow. So KingArthur let bury this knight richly, and made a mention on his tomb, how therewas slain Herlews le Berbeus, and by whom the treachery was done, the knightGarlon. But ever the damosel bare the truncheon of the spear with her that SirHerlews was slain withal.

CHAPTER XIII.
How Balin and the damosel met with aknight which was in likewise slain, and how the damosel bled for the custom ofa castle.

So Balin and the damosel rode into a forest, and there met with a knight thathad been a-hunting, and that knight asked Balin for what cause he made so greatsorrow. Me list not to tell you, said Balin. Now, said the knight, an I werearmed as ye be I would fight with you. That should little need, said Balin, Iam not afeard to tell you, and told him all the cause how it was. Ah, said theknight, is this all? here I ensure you by the faith of my body never to departfrom you while my life lasteth. And so they went to the hostelry and armedthem, and so rode forth with Balin. And as they came by an hermitage even by achurchyard, there came the knight Garlon invisible, and smote this knight,Perin de Mountbeliard, through the body with a spear. Alas, said the knight, Iam slain by this traitor knight that rideth invisible. Alas, said Balin, it isnot the first despite he hath done me; and there the hermit and Balin buriedthe knight under a rich stone and a tomb royal. And on the morn they foundletters of gold written, how Sir Gawaine shall revenge his father’sdeath, King Lot, on the King Pellinore. Anon after this Balin and the damoselrode till they came to a castle, and there Balin alighted, and he and thedamosel went to go into the castle, and anon as Balin came within thecastle’s gate the portcullis fell down at his back, and there fell manymen about the damosel, and would have slain her. When Balin saw that, he wassore aggrieved, for he might not help the damosel. Then he went up into thetower, and leapt over walls into the ditch, and hurt him not; and anon hepulled out his sword and would have foughten with them. And they all said nay,they would not fight with him, for they did nothing but the old custom of thecastle; and told him how their lady was sick, and had lain many years, and shemight not be whole but if she had a dish of silver full of blood of a cleanmaid and a king’s daughter; and therefore the custom of this castle is,there shall no damosel pass this way but she shall bleed of her blood in asilver dish full. Well, said Balin, she shall bleed as much as she may bleed,but I will not lose the life of her whiles my life lasteth. And so Balin madeher to bleed by her good will, but her blood helped not the lady. And so he andshe rested there all night, and had there right good cheer, and on the mornthey passed on their ways. And as it telleth after in the Sangreal, that SirPercivale’s sister helped that lady with her blood, whereof she was dead.

CHAPTER XIV.
How Balin met with that knight namedGarlon at a feast, and there he slew him, to have his blood to heal therewiththe son of his host.

Then they rode three or four days and never met with adventure, and by hap theywere lodged with a gentle man that was a rich man and well at ease. And as theysat at their supper Balin overheard one complain grievously by him in a chair.What is this noise? said Balin. Forsooth, said his host, I will tell you. I wasbut late at a jousting, and there I jousted with a knight that is brother untoKing Pellam, and twice smote I him down, and then he promised to quit me on mybest friend; and so he wounded my son, that cannot be whole till I have of thatknight’s blood, and he rideth alway invisible; but I know not his name.Ah! said Balin, I know that knight, his name is Garlon, he hath slain twoknights of mine in the same manner, therefore I had liefer meet with thatknight than all the gold in this realm, for the despite he hath done me. Well,said his host, I shall tell you, King Pellam of Listeneise hath made do cry inall this country a great feast that shall be within these twenty days, and noknight may come there but if he bring his wife with him, or his paramour; andthat knight, your enemy and mine, ye shall see that day. Then I behote you,said Balin, part of his blood to heal your son withal. We will be forwardto-morn, said his host. So on the morn they rode all three toward Pellam, andthey had fifteen days’ journey or they came thither; and that same daybegan the great feast. And so they alighted and stabled their horses, and wentinto the castle; but Balin’s host might not be let in because he had nolady. Then Balin was well received and brought unto a chamber and unarmed him;and there were brought him robes to his pleasure, and would have had Balinleave his sword behind him. Nay, said Balin, that do I not, for it is thecustom of my country a knight always to keep his weapon with him, and thatcustom will I keep, or else I will depart as I came. Then they gave him leaveto wear his sword, and so he went unto the castle, and was set among knights ofworship, and his lady afore him.

Soon Balin asked a knight, Is there not a knight in this court whose name isGarlon? Yonder he goeth, said a knight, he with the black face; he is themarvellest knight that is now living, for he destroyeth many good knights, forhe goeth invisible. Ah well, said Balin, is that he? Then Balin advised himlong: If I slay him here I shall not escape, and if I leave him now,peradventure I shall never meet with him again at such a steven, and much harmhe will do an he live. Therewith this Garlon espied that this Balin beheld him,and then he came and smote Balin on the face with the back of his hand, andsaid, Knight, why beholdest me so? for shame therefore, eat thy meat and dothat thou came for. Thou sayest sooth, said Balin, this is not the firstdespite that thou hast done me, and therefore I will do what I came for, androse up fiercely and clave his head to the shoulders. Give me the truncheon,said Balin to his lady, wherewith he slew your knight. Anon she gave it him,for alway she bare the truncheon with her. And therewith Balin smote himthrough the body, and said openly, With that truncheon thou hast slain a goodknight, and now it sticketh in thy body. And then Balin called unto him hishost, saying, Now may ye fetch blood enough to heal your son withal.

CHAPTER XV.
How Balin fought with King Pellam, andhow his sword brake, and how he gat a spear wherewith he smote the dolorousstroke.

Anon all the knights arose from the table for to set on Balin, and King Pellamhimself arose up fiercely, and said, Knight, hast thou slain my brother? thoushalt die therefore or thou depart. Well, said Balin, do it yourself. Yes, saidKing Pellam, there shall no man have ado with thee but myself, for the love ofmy brother. Then King Pellam caught in his hand a grim weapon and smote eagerlyat Balin; but Balin put the sword betwixt his head and the stroke, andtherewith his sword burst in sunder. And when Balin was weaponless he ran intoa chamber for to seek some weapon, and so from chamber to chamber, and noweapon he could find, and always King Pellam after him. And at the last heentered into a chamber that was marvellously well dight and richly, and a bedarrayed with cloth of gold, the richest that might be thought, and one lyingtherein, and thereby stood a table of clean gold with four pillars of silverthat bare up the table, and upon the table stood a marvellous spear strangelywrought. And when Balin saw that spear, he gat it in his hand and turned him toKing Pellam, and smote him passingly sore with that spear, that King Pellamfell down in a swoon, and therewith the castle roof and walls brake and fell tothe earth, and Balin fell down so that he might not stir foot nor hand. And sothe most part of the castle, that was fallen down through that dolorous stroke,lay upon Pellam and Balin three days.

CHAPTER XVI.
How Balin was delivered by Merlin,and saved a knight that would have slain himself for love.

Then Merlin came thither and took up Balin, and gat him a good horse, for hiswas dead, and bade him ride out of that country. I would have my damosel, saidBalin. Lo, said Merlin, where she lieth dead. And King Pellam lay so, manyyears sore wounded, and might never be whole till Galahad the haut princehealed him in the quest of the Sangreal, for in that place was part of theblood of our Lord Jesus Christ, that Joseph of Arimathea brought into thisland, and there himself lay in that rich bed. And that was the same spear thatLongius smote our Lord to the heart; and King Pellam was nigh of Joseph’skin, and that was the most worshipful man that lived in those days, and greatpity it was of his hurt, for through that stroke, turned to great dole, trayand tene. Then departed Balin from Merlin, and said, In this world we meetnever no more. So he rode forth through the fair countries and cities, andfound the people dead, slain on every side. And all that were alive cried, OBalin, thou hast caused great damage in these countries; for the dolorousstroke thou gavest unto King Pellam three countries are destroyed, and doubtnot but the vengeance will fall on thee at the last. When Balin was past thosecountries he was passing fain.

So he rode eight days or he met with adventure. And at the last he came into afair forest in a valley, and was ware of a tower, and there beside he saw agreat horse of war, tied to a tree, and there beside sat a fair knight on theground and made great mourning, and he was a likely man, and a well made. Balinsaid, God save you, why be ye so heavy? tell me and I will amend it, an I may,to my power. Sir knight, said he again, thou dost me great grief, for I was inmerry thoughts, and now thou puttest me to more pain. Balin went a little fromhim, and looked on his horse; then heard Balin him say thus: Ah, fair lady, whyhave ye broken my promise, for thou promisest me to meet me here by noon, and Imay curse thee that ever ye gave me this sword, for with this sword I slaymyself, and pulled it out. And therewith Balin stert unto him and took him bythe hand. Let go my hand, said the knight, or else I shall slay thee. Thatshall not need, said Balin, for I shall promise you my help to get you yourlady, an ye will tell me where she is. What is your name? said the knight. Myname is Balin le Savage. Ah, sir, I know you well enough, ye are the Knightwith the Two Swords, and the man of most prowess of your hands living. What isyour name? said Balin. My name is Garnish of the Mount, a poor man’s son,but by my prowess and hardiness a duke hath made me knight, and gave me lands;his name is Duke Hermel, and his daughter is she that I love, and she me as Ideemed. How far is she hence? said Balin. But six mile, said the knight. Nowride we hence, said these two knights. So they rode more than a pace, till thatthey came to a fair castle well walled and ditched. I will into the castle,said Balin, and look if she be there. So he went in and searched from chamberto chamber, and found her bed, but she was not there. Then Balin looked into afair little garden, and under a laurel tree he saw her lie upon a quilt ofgreen samite and a knight in her arms, fast halsing either other, and undertheir heads grass and herbs. When Balin saw her lie so with the foulest knightthat ever he saw, and she a fair lady, then Balin went through all the chambersagain, and told the knight how he found her as she had slept fast, and sobrought him in the place there she lay fast sleeping.

CHAPTER XVII.
How that knight slew his love and aknight lying by her, and after, how he slew himself with his own sword, and howBalin rode toward a castle where he lost his life.

And when Garnish beheld her so lying, for pure sorrow his mouth and nose burstout a-bleeding, and with his sword he smote off both their heads, and then hemade sorrow out of measure, and said, O Balin, much sorrow hast thou broughtunto me, for hadst thou not shewed me that sight I should have passed mysorrow. Forsooth, said Balin, I did it to this intent that it should better thycourage, and that ye might see and know her falsehood, and to cause you toleave love of such a lady; God knoweth I did none other but as I would ye didto me. Alas, said Garnish, now is my sorrow double that I may not endure, nowhave I slain that I most loved in all my life; and therewith suddenly he rovehimself on his own sword unto the hilts. When Balin saw that, he dressed himthenceward, lest folk would say he had slain them; and so he rode forth, andwithin three days he came by a cross, and thereon were letters of gold written,that said, It is not for no knight alone to ride toward this castle. Then sawhe an old hoar gentleman coming toward him, that said, Balin le Savage, thoupassest thy bounds to come this way, therefore turn again and it will availthee. And he vanished away anon; and so he heard an horn blow as it had beenthe death of a beast. That blast, said Balin, is blown for me, for I am theprize and yet am I not dead. Anon withal he saw an hundred ladies and manyknights, that welcomed him with fair semblant, and made him passing good cheerunto his sight, and led him into the castle, and there was dancing andminstrelsy and all manner of joy. Then the chief lady of the castle said,Knight with the Two Swords, ye must have ado and joust with a knight herebythat keepeth an island, for there may no man pass this way but he must joust orhe pass. That is an unhappy custom, said Balin, that a knight may not pass thisway but if he joust. Ye shall not have ado but with one knight, said the lady.

Well, said Balin, since I shall thereto I am ready, but travelling men are oftweary and their horses too, but though my horse be weary my heart is not weary,I would be fain there my death should be. Sir, said a knight to Balin,methinketh your shield is not good, I will lend you a bigger. Thereof I prayyou. And so he took the shield that was unknown and left his own, and so rodeunto the island, and put him and his horse in a great boat; and when he came onthe other side he met with a damosel, and she said, O knight Balin, why have yeleft your own shield? alas ye have put yourself in great danger, for by yourshield ye should have been known; it is great pity of you as ever was ofknight, for of thy prowess and hardiness thou hast no fellow living. Merepenteth, said Balin, that ever I came within this country, but I may not turnnow again for shame, and what adventure shall fall to me, be it life or death,I will take the adventure that shall come to me. And then he looked on hisarmour, and understood he was well armed, and therewith blessed him and mountedupon his horse.

CHAPTER XVIII.
How Balin met with his brotherBalan, and how each of them slew other unknown, till they were wounded todeath.

Then afore him he saw come riding out of a castle a knight, and his horsetrapped all red, and himself in the same colour. When this knight in the redbeheld Balin, him thought it should be his brother Balin by cause of his twoswords, but by cause he knew not his shield he deemed it was not he. And sothey aventryd their spears and came marvellously fast together, and they smoteeach other in the shields, but their spears and their course were so big thatit bare down horse and man, that they lay both in a swoon. But Balin wasbruised sore with the fall of his horse, for he was weary of travel. And Balanwas the first that rose on foot and drew his sword, and went toward Balin, andhe arose and went against him; but Balan smote Balin first, and he put up hisshield and smote him through the shield and tamed his helm. Then Balin smotehim again with that unhappy sword, and well-nigh had felled his brother Balan,and so they fought there together till their breaths failed. Then Balin lookedup to the castle and saw the towers stand full of ladies. So they went untobattle again, and wounded everych other dolefully, and then they breathedofttimes, and so went unto battle that all the place there as they fought wasblood red. And at that time there was none of them both but they had eithersmitten other seven great wounds, so that the least of them might have been thedeath of the mightiest giant in this world.

Then they went to battle again so marvellously that doubt it was to hear ofthat battle for the great blood-shedding, and their hauberks unnailed thatnaked they were on every side. At last Balan the younger brother withdrew him alittle and laid him down. Then said Balin le Savage, What knight art thou? foror now I found never no knight that matched me. My name is, said he, Balan,brother unto the good knight, Balin. Alas, said Balin, that ever I should seethis day, and therewith he fell backward in a swoon. Then Balan yede on allfour feet and hands, and put off the helm off his brother, and might not knowhim by the visage it was so ful hewn and bled; but when he awoke he said, OBalan, my brother, thou hast slain me and I thee, wherefore all the wide worldshall speak of us both. Alas, said Balan, that ever I saw this day, thatthrough mishap I might not know you, for I espied well your two swords, but bycause ye had another shield I deemed ye had been another knight. Alas, saidBalin, all that made an unhappy knight in the castle, for he caused me to leavemy own shield to our both’s destruction, and if I might live I woulddestroy that castle for ill customs. That were well done, said Balan, for I hadnever grace to depart from them since that I came hither, for here it happed meto slay a knight that kept this island, and since might I never depart, and nomore should ye, brother, an ye might have slain me as ye have, and escapedyourself with the life.

Right so came the lady of the tower with four knights and six ladies and sixyeomen unto them, and there she heard how they made their moan either to other,and said, We came both out of one tomb, that is to say one mother’sbelly, and so shall we lie both in one pit. So Balan prayed the lady of hergentleness, for his true service, that she would bury them both in that sameplace there the battle was done. And she granted them, with weeping, it shouldbe done richly in the best manner. Now, will ye send for a priest, that we mayreceive our sacrament, and receive the blessed body of our Lord Jesus Christ?Yea, said the lady, it shall be done; and so she sent for a priest and gavethem their rights. Now, said Balin, when we are buried in one tomb, and themention made over us how two brethren slew each other, there will never goodknight, nor good man, see our tomb but they will pray for our souls. And so allthe ladies and gentlewomen wept for pity. Then anon Balan died, but Balin diednot till the midnight after, and so were they buried both, and the lady letmake a mention of Balan how he was there slain by his brother’s hands,but she knew not Balin’s name.

CHAPTER XIX.
How Merlin buried them both in onetomb, and of Balin’s sword.

In the morn came Merlin and let write Balin’s name on the tomb withletters of gold, that Here lieth Balin le Savage that was the Knight with theTwo Swords, and he that smote the Dolorous Stroke. Also Merlin let make there abed, that there should never man lie therein but he went out of his wit, yetLauncelot de Lake fordid that bed through his noblesse. And anon after Balinwas dead, Merlin took his sword, and took off the pommel and set on anotherpommel. So Merlin bade a knight that stood afore him handle that sword, and heassayed, and he might not handle it. Then Merlin laughed. Why laugh ye? saidthe knight. This is the cause, said Merlin: there shall never man handle thissword but the best knight of the world, and that shall be Sir Launcelot or elseGalahad his son, and Launcelot with this sword shall slay the man that in theworld he loved best, that shall be Sir Gawaine. All this he let write in thepommel of the sword. Then Merlin let make a bridge of iron and of steel intothat island, and it was but half a foot broad, and there shall never man passthat bridge, nor have hardiness to go over, but if he were a passing good manand a good knight without treachery or villainy. Also the scabbard ofBalin’s sword Merlin left it on this side the island, that Galahad shouldfind it. Also Merlin let make by his subtilty that Balin’s sword was putin a marble stone standing upright as great as a mill stone, and the stonehoved always above the water and did many years, and so by adventure it swamdown the stream to the City of Camelot, that is in English Winchester. And thatsame day Galahad the haut prince came with King Arthur, and so Galahad broughtwith him the scabbard and achieved the sword that was there in the marble stonehoving upon the water. And on Whitsunday he achieved the sword as it isrehearsed in the book of Sangreal.

Soon after this was done Merlin came to King Arthur and told him of thedolorous stroke that Balin gave to King Pellam, and how Balin and Balan foughttogether the marvellest battle that ever was heard of, and how they were buriedboth in one tomb. Alas, said King Arthur, this is the greatest pity that ever Iheard tell of two knights, for in the world I know not such two knights. Thusendeth the tale of Balin and of Balan, two brethren born in Northumberland,good knights.

Sequitur iii. liber.

BOOK III.

CHAPTER I.
How King Arthur took a wife, and weddedGuenever, daughter to Leodegrance, King of the Land of Cameliard, with whom hehad the Round Table.

In the beginning of Arthur, after he was chosen king by adventure and by grace;for the most part of the barons knew not that he was Uther Pendragon’sson, but as Merlin made it openly known. But yet many kings and lords heldgreat war against him for that cause, but well Arthur overcame them all, forthe most part the days of his life he was ruled much by the counsel of Merlin.So it fell on a time King Arthur said unto Merlin, My barons will let me haveno rest, but needs I must take a wife, and I will none take but by thy counseland by thine advice. It is well done, said Merlin, that ye take a wife, for aman of your bounty and noblesse should not be without a wife. Now is there anythat ye love more than another? Yea, said King Arthur, I love Guenever theking’s daughter, Leodegrance of the land of Cameliard, the which holdethin his house the Table Round that ye told he had of my father Uther. And thisdamosel is the most valiant and fairest lady that I know living, or yet thatever I could find. Sir, said Merlin, as of her beauty and fairness she is oneof the fairest alive, but, an ye loved her not so well as ye do, I should findyou a damosel of beauty and of goodness that should like you and please you, anyour heart were not set; but there as a man’s heart is set, he will beloath to return. That is truth, said King Arthur. But Merlin warned the kingcovertly that Guenever was not wholesome for him to take to wife, for he warnedhim that Launcelot should love her, and she him again; and so he turned histale to the adventures of Sangreal.

Then Merlin desired of the king for to have men with him that should enquire ofGuenever, and so the king granted him, and Merlin went forth unto KingLeodegrance of Cameliard, and told him of the desires of the king that he wouldhave unto his wife Guenever his daughter. That is to me, said King Leodegrance,the best tidings that ever I heard, that so worthy a king of prowess andnoblesse will wed my daughter. And as for my lands, I will give him, wist I itmight please him, but he hath lands enow, him needeth none; but I shall sendhim a gift shall please him much more, for I shall give him the Table Round,the which Uther Pendragon gave me, and when it is full complete, there is anhundred knights and fifty. And as for an hundred good knights I have myself,but I faute fifty, for so many have been slain in my days. And so Leodegrancedelivered his daughter Guenever unto Merlin, and the Table Round with thehundred knights, and so they rode freshly, with great royalty, what by waterand what by land, till that they came nigh unto London.

CHAPTER II.
How the Knights of the Round Tablewere ordained and their sieges blessed by the Bishop of Canterbury.

When King Arthur heard of the coming of Guenever and the hundred knights withthe Table Round, then King Arthur made great joy for her coming, and that richpresent, and said openly, This fair lady is passing welcome unto me, for I haveloved her long, and therefore there is nothing so lief to me. And these knightswith the Round Table please me more than right great riches. And in all hastethe king let ordain for the marriage and the coronation in the most honourablewise that could be devised. Now, Merlin, said King Arthur, go thou and espy mein all this land fifty knights which be of most prowess and worship. Withinshort time Merlin had found such knights that should fulfil twenty and eightknights, but no more he could find. Then the Bishop of Canterbury was fetched,and he blessed the sieges with great royalty and devotion, and there set theeight and twenty knights in their sieges. And when this was done Merlin said,Fair sirs, ye must all arise and come to King Arthur for to do him homage; hewill have the better will to maintain you. And so they arose and did theirhomage, and when they were gone Merlin found in every sieges letters of goldthat told the knights’ names that had sitten therein. But two sieges werevoid. And so anon came young Gawaine and asked the king a gift. Ask, said theking, and I shall grant it you. Sir, I ask that ye will make me knight thatsame day ye shall wed fair Guenever. I will do it with a good will, said KingArthur, and do unto you all the worship that I may, for I must by reason ye aremy nephew, my sister’s son.

CHAPTER III.
How a poor man riding upon a leanmare desired King Arthur to make his son knight.

Forthwithal there came a poor man into the court, and brought with him a fairyoung man of eighteen years of age riding upon a lean mare; and the poor manasked all men that he met, Where shall I find King Arthur? Yonder he is, saidthe knights, wilt thou anything with him? Yea, said the poor man, therefore Icame hither. Anon as he came before the king, he saluted him and said: O KingArthur, the flower of all knights and kings, I beseech Jesu save thee. Sir, itwas told me that at this time of your marriage ye would give any man the giftthat he would ask, out except that were unreasonable. That is truth, said theking, such cries I let make, and that will I hold, so it apair not my realm normine estate. Ye say well and graciously, said the poor man; Sir, I ask nothingelse but that ye will make my son here a knight. It is a great thing thouaskest of me, said the king. What is thy name? said the king to the poor man.Sir, my name is Aries the cowherd. Whether cometh this of thee or of thy son?said the king. Nay, sir, said Aries, this desire cometh of my son and not ofme, for I shall tell you I have thirteen sons, and all they will fall to whatlabour I put them, and will be right glad to do labour, but this child will notlabour for me, for anything that my wife or I may do, but always he will beshooting or casting darts, and glad for to see battles and to behold knights,and always day and night he desireth of me to be made a knight. What is thyname? said the king unto the young man. Sir, my name is Tor. The king beheldhim fast, and saw he was passingly well-visaged and passingly well made of hisyears. Well, said King Arthur unto Aries the cowherd, fetch all thy sons aforeme that I may see them. And so the poor man did, and all were shaped much likethe poor man. But Tor was not like none of them all in shape nor incountenance, for he was much more than any of them. Now, said King Arthur untothe cow herd, where is the sword he shall be made knight withal? It is here,said Tor. Take it out of the sheath, said the king, and require me to make youa knight.

Then Tor alighted off his mare and pulled out his sword, kneeling, andrequiring the king that he would make him knight, and that he might be a knightof the Table Round. As for a knight I will make you, and therewith smote him inthe neck with the sword, saying, Be ye a good knight, and so I pray to God soye may be, and if ye be of prowess and of worthiness ye shall be a knight ofthe Table Round. Now Merlin, said Arthur, say whether this Tor shall be a goodknight or no. Yea, sir, he ought to be a good knight, for he is come of as gooda man as any is alive, and of kings’ blood. How so, sir? said the king. Ishall tell you, said Merlin: This poor man, Aries the cowherd, is not hisfather; he is nothing sib to him, for King Pellinore is his father. I supposenay, said the cowherd. Fetch thy wife afore me, said Merlin, and she shall notsay nay. Anon the wife was fetched, which was a fair housewife, and there sheanswered Merlin full womanly, and there she told the king and Merlin that whenshe was a maid, and went to milk kine, there met with her a stern knight, andhalf by force he had my maidenhead, and at that time he begat my son Tor, andhe took away from me my greyhound that I had that time with me, and said thathe would keep the greyhound for my love. Ah, said the cowherd, I weened notthis, but I may believe it well, for he had never no tatches of me. Sir, saidTor unto Merlin, dishonour not my mother. Sir, said Merlin, it is more for yourworship than hurt, for your father is a good man and a king, and he may rightwell advance you and your mother, for ye were begotten or ever she was wedded.That is truth, said the wife. It is the less grief unto me, said the cowherd.

CHAPTER IV.
How Sir Tor was known for son of KingPellinore, and how Gawaine was made knight.

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

CHAPTER V.
How at feast of the wedding of KingArthur to Guenever, a white hart came into the hall, and thirty couple hounds,and how a brachet pinched the hart which was taken away.

Then was the high feast made ready, and the king was wedded at Camelot untoDame Guenever in the church of Saint Stephen’s, with great solemnity. Andas every man was set after his degree, Merlin went to all the knights of theRound Table, and bade them sit still, that none of them remove. For ye shallsee a strange and a marvellous adventure. Right so as they sat there camerunning in a white hart into the hall, and a white brachet next him, and thirtycouple of black running hounds came after with a great cry, and the hart wentabout the Table Round as he went by other boards. The white brachet bit him bythe buttock and pulled out a piece, wherethrough the hart leapt a great leapand overthrew a knight that sat at the board side; and therewith the knightarose and took up the brachet, and so went forth out of the hall, and took hishorse and rode his way with the brachet. Right so anon came in a lady on awhite palfrey, and cried aloud to King Arthur, Sir, suffer me not to have thisdespite, for the brachet was mine that the knight led away. I may not dotherewith, said the king.

With this there came a knight riding all armed on a great horse, and took thelady away with him with force, and ever she cried and made great dole. When shewas gone the king was glad, for she made such a noise. Nay, said Merlin, ye maynot leave these adventures so lightly; for these adventures must be broughtagain or else it would be disworship to you and to your feast. I will, said theking, that all be done by your advice. Then, said Merlin, let call Sir Gawaine,for he must bring again the white hart. Also, sir, ye must let call Sir Tor,for he must bring again the brachet and the knight, or else slay him. Also letcall King Pellinore, for he must bring again the lady and the knight, or elseslay him. And these three knights shall do marvellous adventures or they comeagain. Then were they called all three as it rehearseth afore, and each of themtook his charge, and armed them surely. But Sir Gawaine had the first request,and therefore we will begin at him.

CHAPTER VI.
How Sir Gawaine rode for to fetchagain the hart, and how two brethren fought each against other for thehart.

Sir Gawaine rode more than a pace, and Gaheris his brother that rode with himinstead of a squire to do him service. So as they rode they saw two knightsfight on horseback passing sore, so Sir Gawaine and his brother rode betwixtthem, and asked them for what cause they fought so. The one knight answered andsaid, We fight for a simple matter, for we two be two brethren born andbegotten of one man and of one woman. Alas, said Sir Gawaine, why do ye so?Sir, said the elder, there came a white hart this way this day, and many houndschased him, and a white brachet was alway next him, and we understood it wasadventure made for the high feast of King Arthur, and therefore I would havegone after to have won me worship; and here my younger brother said he would goafter the hart, for he was better knight than I: and for this cause we fell atdebate, and so we thought to prove which of us both was better knight. This isa simple cause, said Sir Gawaine; uncouth men ye should debate withal, and notbrother with brother; therefore but if you will do by my counsel I will haveado with you, that is ye shall yield you unto me, and that ye go unto KingArthur and yield you unto his grace. Sir knight, said the two brethren, we areforfoughten and much blood have we lost through our wilfulness, and thereforewe would be loath to have ado with you. Then do as I will have you, said SirGawaine. We will agree to fulfil your will; but by whom shall we say that we bethither sent? Ye may say, By the knight that followeth the quest of the hartthat was white. Now what is your name? said Gawaine. Sorlouse of the Forest,said the elder. And my name is, said the younger, Brian of the Forest. And sothey departed and went to the king’s court, and Sir Gawaine on his quest.

And as Gawaine followed the hart by the cry of the hounds, even afore him therewas a great river, and the hart swam over; and as Sir Gawaine would followafter, there stood a knight over the other side, and said, Sir knight, come notover after this hart but if thou wilt joust with me. I will not fail as forthat, said Sir Gawaine, to follow the quest that I am in, and so made his horseto swim over the water. And anon they gat their spears and ran together fullhard; but Sir Gawaine smote him off his horse, and then he turned his horse andbade him yield him. Nay, said the knight, not so, though thou have the betterof me on horseback. I pray thee, valiant knight, alight afoot, and match wetogether with swords. What is your name? said Sir Gawaine. Allardin of theIsles, said the other. Then either dressed their shields and smote together,but Sir Gawaine smote him so hard through the helm that it went to the brains,and the knight fell down dead. Ah! said Gaheris, that was a mighty stroke of ayoung knight.

CHAPTER VII
How the hart was chased into a castleand there slain, and how Sir Gawaine slew a lady.

Then Gawaine and Gaheris rode more than a pace after the white hart, and letslip at the hart three couple of greyhounds, and so they chased the hart into acastle, and in the chief place of the castle they slew the hart; Sir Gawaineand Gaheris followed after. Right so there came a knight out of a chamber witha sword drawn in his hand and slew two of the greyhounds, even in the sight ofSir Gawaine, and the remnant he chased them with his sword out of the castle.And when he came again, he said, O my white hart, me repenteth that thou artdead, for my sovereign lady gave thee to me, and evil have I kept thee, and thydeath shall be dear bought an I live. And anon he went into his chamber andarmed him, and came out fiercely, and there met he with Sir Gawaine. Why haveye slain my hounds? said Sir Gawaine, for they did but their kind, and liefer Ihad ye had wroken your anger upon me than upon a dumb beast. Thou sayest truth,said the knight, I have avenged me on thy hounds, and so I will on thee or thougo. Then Sir Gawaine alighted afoot and dressed his shield, and struck togethermightily, and clave their shields, and stoned their helms, and brake theirhauberks that the blood ran down to their feet.

At the last Sir Gawaine smote the knight so hard that he fell to the earth, andthen he cried mercy, and yielded him, and besought him as he was a knight andgentleman, to save his life. Thou shalt die, said Sir Gawaine, for slaying ofmy hounds. I will make amends, said the knight, unto my power. Sir Gawainewould no mercy have, but unlaced his helm to have stricken off his head. Rightso came his lady out of a chamber and fell over him, and so he smote off herhead by misadventure. Alas, said Gaheris, that is foully and shamefully done,that shame shall never from you; also ye should give mercy unto them that askmercy, for a knight without mercy is without worship. Sir Gawaine was sostonied of the death of this fair lady that he wist not what he did, and saidunto the knight, Arise, I will give thee mercy. Nay, nay, said the knight, Itake no force of mercy now, for thou hast slain my love and my lady that Iloved best of all earthly things. Me sore repenteth it, said Sir Gawaine, for Ithought to strike unto thee; but now thou shalt go unto King Arthur and tellhim of thine adventures, and how thou art overcome by the knight that went inthe quest of the white hart. I take no force, said the knight, whether I liveor I die; but so for dread of death he swore to go unto King Arthur, and hemade him to bear one greyhound before him on his horse, and another behind him.What is your name? said Sir Gawaine, or we depart. My name is, said the knight,Ablamar of the Marsh. So he departed toward Camelot.

CHAPTER VIII.
How four knights fought againstGawaine and Gaheris, and how they were overcome, and their lives saved atrequest of four ladies.

And Sir Gawaine went into the castle, and made him ready to lie there allnight, and would have unarmed him. What will ye do, said Gaheris, will ye unarmyou in this country? Ye may think ye have many enemies here. They had notsooner said that word but there came four knights well armed, and assailed SirGawaine hard, and said unto him, Thou new-made knight, thou hast shamed thyknighthood, for a knight without mercy is dishonoured. Also thou hast slain afair lady to thy great shame to the world’s end, and doubt thou not thoushalt have great need of mercy or thou depart from us. And therewith one ofthem smote Sir Gawaine a great stroke that nigh he fell to the earth, andGaheris smote him again sore, and so they were on the one side and on theother, that Sir Gawaine and Gaheris were in jeopardy of their lives; and onewith a bow, an archer, smote Sir Gawaine through the arm that it grieved himwonderly sore. And as they should have been slain, there came four fair ladies,and besought the knights of grace for Sir Gawaine; and goodly at request of theladies they gave Sir Gawaine and Gaheris their lives, and made them to yieldthem as prisoners. Then Gawaine and Gaheris made great dole. Alas! said SirGawaine, mine arm grieveth me sore, I am like to be maimed; and so made hiscomplaint piteously.

Early on the morrow there came to Sir Gawaine one of the four ladies that hadheard all his complaint, and said, Sir knight, what cheer? Not good, said he.It is your own default, said the lady, for ye have done a passing foul deed inthe slaying of the lady, the which will be great villainy unto you. But be yenot of King Arthur’s kin? said the lady. Yes truly, said Sir Gawaine.What is your name? said the lady, ye must tell it me or ye pass. My name isGawaine, the King Lot of Orkney’s son, and my mother is KingArthur’s sister. Ah! then are ye nephew unto King Arthur, said the lady,and I shall so speak for you that ye shall have conduct to go to King Arthurfor his love. And so she departed and told the four knights how their prisonerwas King Arthur’s nephew, and his name is Sir Gawaine, King Lot’sson of Orkney. And they gave him the hart’s head because it was in hisquest. Then anon they delivered Sir Gawaine under this promise, that he shouldbear the dead lady with him in this manner; the head of her was hanged abouthis neck, and the whole body of her lay before him on his horse’s mane.Right so rode he forth unto Camelot. And anon as he was come, Merlin desired ofKing Arthur that Sir Gawaine should be sworn to tell of all his adventures, andhow he slew the lady, and how he would give no mercy unto the knight,wherethrough the lady was slain. Then the king and the queen were greatlydispleased with Sir Gawaine for the slaying of the lady. And there by ordinanceof the queen there was set a quest of ladies on Sir Gawaine, and they judgedhim for ever while he lived to be with all ladies, and to fight for theirquarrels; and that ever he should be courteous, and never to refuse mercy tohim that asketh mercy. Thus was Gawaine sworn upon the Four Evangelists that heshould never be against lady nor gentlewoman, but if he fought for a lady andhis adversary fought for another. And thus endeth the adventure of Sir Gawainethat he did at the marriage of King Arthur. Amen.

CHAPTER IX.
How Sir Tor rode after the knight withthe brachet, and of his adventure by the way.

When Sir Tor was ready, he mounted upon his horseback, and rode after theknight with the brachet. So as he rode he met with a dwarf suddenly that smotehis horse on the head with a staff, that he went backward his spear length. Whydost thou so? said Sir Tor. For thou shalt not pass this way, but if thou joustwith yonder knights of the pavilions. Then was Tor ware where two pavilionswere, and great spears stood out, and two shields hung on trees by thepavilions. I may not tarry, said Sir Tor, for I am in a quest that I must needsfollow. Thou shalt not pass, said the dwarf, and therewithal he blew his horn.Then there came one armed on horseback, and dressed his shield, and came fasttoward Tor, and he dressed him against him, and so ran together that Tor barehim from his horse. And anon the knight yielded him to his mercy. But, sir, Ihave a fellow in yonder pavilion that will have ado with you anon. He shall bewelcome, said Sir Tor. Then was he ware of another knight coming with greatraundon, and each of them dressed to other, that marvel it was to see; but theknight smote Sir Tor a great stroke in midst of the shield that his spear allto-shivered. And Sir Tor smote him through the shield below of the shield thatit went through the cost of the knight, but the stroke slew him not. Andtherewith Sir Tor alighted and smote him on the helm a great stroke, andtherewith the knight yielded him and besought him of mercy. I will well, saidSir Tor, but thou and thy fellow must go unto King Arthur, and yield youprisoners unto him. By whom shall we say are we thither sent? Ye shall say bythe knight that went in the quest of the knight that went with the brachet.Now, what be your two names? said Sir Tor. My name is, said the one, Sir Felotof Langduk; and my name is, said the other, Sir Petipase of Winchelsea. Now goye forth, said Sir Tor, and God speed you and me. Then came the dwarf and saidunto Sir Tor, I pray you give me a gift. I will well, said Sir Tor, ask. I askno more, said the dwarf, but that ye will suffer me to do you service, for Iwill serve no more recreant knights. Take an horse, said Sir Tor, and ride onwith me. I wot ye ride after the knight with the white brachet, and I shallbring you where he is, said the dwarf. And so they rode throughout a forest,and at the last they were ware of two pavilions, even by a priory, with twoshields, and the one shield was enewed with white, and the other shield wasred.

CHAPTER X.
How Sir Tor found the brachet with alady, and how a knight assailed him for the said brachet.

Therewith Sir Tor alighted and took the dwarf his glaive, and so he came to thewhite pavilion, and saw three damosels lie in it, on one pallet, sleeping, andso he went to the other pavilion, and found a lady lying sleeping therein, butthere was the white brachet that bayed at her fast, and therewith the lady yedeout of the pavilion and all her damosels. But anon as Sir Tor espied the whitebrachet, he took her by force and took her to the dwarf. What, will ye so, saidthe lady, take my brachet from me? Yea, said Sir Tor, this brachet have Isought from King Arthur’s court hither. Well, said the lady, knight, yeshall not go far with her, but that ye shall be met and grieved. I shall abidewhat adventure that cometh by the grace of God, and so mounted upon his horse,and passed on his way toward Camelot; but it was so near night he might notpass but little further. Know ye any lodging? said Tor. I know none, said thedwarf, but here beside is an hermitage, and there ye must take lodging as yefind. And within a while they came to the hermitage and took lodging; and wasthere grass, oats and bread for their horses; soon it was sped, and full hardwas their supper; but there they rested them all night till on the morn, andheard a mass devoutly, and took their leave of the hermit, and Sir Tor prayedthe hermit to pray for him. He said he would, and betook him to God. And somounted upon horseback and rode towards Camelot a long while.

With that they heard a knight call loud that came after them, and he said,Knight, abide and yield my brachet that thou took from my lady. Sir Torreturned again, and beheld him how he was a seemly knight and well horsed, andwell armed at all points; then Sir Tor dressed his shield, and took his spearin his hands, and the other came fiercely upon him, and smote both horse andman to the earth. Anon they arose lightly and drew their swords as eagerly aslions, and put their shields afore them, and smote through the shields, thatthe cantels fell off both parties. Also they tamed their helms that the hotblood ran out, and the thick mails of their hauberks they carved and rove insunder that the hot blood ran to the earth, and both they had many wounds andwere passing weary. But Sir Tor espied that the other knight fainted, and thenhe sued fast upon him, and doubled his strokes, and gart him go to the earth onthe one side. Then Sir Tor bade him yield him. That will I not, said Abelleus,while my life lasteth and the soul is within my body, unless that thou wiltgive me the brachet. That will I not do, said Sir Tor, for it was my quest tobring again thy brachet, thee, or both.

CHAPTER XI.
How Sir Tor overcame the knight, andhow he lost his head at the request of a lady.

With that came a damosel riding on a palfrey as fast as she might drive, andcried with a loud voice unto Sir Tor. What will ye with me? said Sir Tor. Ibeseech thee, said the damosel, for King Arthur’s love, give me a gift; Irequire thee, gentle knight, as thou art a gentleman. Now, said Tor, ask a giftand I will give it you. Gramercy, said the damosel; now I ask the head of thefalse knight Abelleus, for he is the most outrageous knight that liveth, andthe greatest murderer. I am loath, said Sir Tor, of that gift I have given you;let him make amends in that he hath trespassed unto you. Now, said the damosel,he may not, for he slew mine own brother before mine own eyes, that was abetter knight than he, an he had had grace; and I kneeled half an hour aforehim in the mire for to save my brother’s life, that had done him nodamage, but fought with him by adventure of arms, and so for all that I coulddo he struck off his head; wherefore I require thee, as thou art a true knight,to give me my gift, or else I shall shame thee in all the court of King Arthur;for he is the falsest knight living, and a great destroyer of good knights.Then when Abelleus heard this, he was more afeard, and yielded him and askedmercy. I may not now, said Sir Tor, but if I should be found false of mypromise; for while I would have taken you to mercy ye would none ask, but if yehad the brachet again, that was my quest. And therewith he took off his helm,and he arose and fled, and Sir Tor after him, and smote off his head quite.

Now sir, said the damosel, it is near night; I pray you come and lodge with mehere at my place, it is here fast by. I will well, said Sir Tor, for his horseand he had fared evil since they departed from Camelot, and so he rode withher, and had passing good cheer with her; and she had a passing fair old knightto her husband that made him passing good cheer, and well eased both his horseand him. And on the morn he heard his mass, and brake his fast, and took hisleave of the knight and of the lady, that besought him to tell them his name.Truly, he said, my name is Sir Tor that was late made knight, and this was thefirst quest of arms that ever I did, to bring again that this knight Abelleustook away from King Arthur’s court. O fair knight, said the lady and herhusband, an ye come here in our marches, come and see our poor lodging, and itshall be always at your commandment. So Sir Tor departed and came to Camelot onthe third day by noon, and the king and the queen and all the court was passingfain of his coming, and made great joy that he was come again; for he went fromthe court with little succour, but as King Pellinore his father gave him an oldcourser, and King Arthur gave him armour and a sword, and else had he noneother succour, but rode so forth himself alone. And then the king and the queenby Merlin’s advice made him to swear to tell of his adventures, and so hetold and made proofs of his deeds as it is afore rehearsed, wherefore the kingand the queen made great joy. Nay, nay, said Merlin, these be but japes to thathe shall do; for he shall prove a noble knight of prowess, as good as any isliving, and gentle and courteous, and of good tatches, and passing true of hispromise, and never shall outrage. Wherethrough Merlin’s words King Arthurgave him an earldom of lands that fell unto him. And here endeth the quest ofSir Tor, King Pellinore’s son.

CHAPTER XII.
How King Pellinore rode after thelady and the knight that led her away, and how a lady desired help of him, andhow he fought with two knights for that lady, of whom he slew the one at thefirst stroke.

Then King Pellinore armed him and mounted upon his horse, and rode more than apace after the lady that the knight led away. And as he rode in a forest, hesaw in a valley a damosel sit by a well, and a wounded knight in her arms, andPellinore saluted her. And when she was ware of him, she cried overloud, Helpme, knight; for Christ’s sake, King Pellinore. And he would not tarry, hewas so eager in his quest, and ever she cried an hundred times after help. Whenshe saw he would not abide, she prayed unto God to send him as much need ofhelp as she had, and that he might feel it or he died. So, as the book telleth,the knight there died that there was wounded, wherefore the lady for puresorrow slew herself with his sword. As King Pellinore rode in that valley hemet with a poor man, a labourer. Sawest thou not, said Pellinore, a knightriding and leading away a lady? Yea, said the man, I saw that knight, and thelady that made great dole; and yonder beneath in a valley there shall ye seetwo pavilions, and one of the knights of the pavilions challenged that lady ofthat knight, and said she was his cousin near, wherefore he should lead her nofarther. And so they waged battle in that quarrel, the one said he would haveher by force, and the other said he would have the rule of her, by cause he washer kinsman, and would lead her to her kin. For this quarrel he left themfighting. And if ye will ride a pace ye shall find them fighting, and the ladywas beleft with the two squires in the pavilions. God thank thee, said KingPellinore.

Then he rode a wallop till he had a sight of the two pavilions, and the twoknights fighting. Anon he rode unto the pavilions, and saw the lady that washis quest, and said, Fair lady, ye must go with me unto the court of KingArthur. Sir knight, said the two squires that were with her, yonder are twoknights that fight for this lady, go thither and depart them, and be agreedwith them, and then may ye have her at your pleasure. Ye say well, said KingPellinore. And anon he rode betwixt them, and departed them, and asked them thecauses why that they fought? Sir knight, said the one, I shall tell you, thislady is my kinswoman nigh, mine aunt’s daughter, and when I heard hercomplain that she was with him maugre her head, I waged battle to fight withhim. Sir knight, said the other, whose name was Hontzlake of Wentland, and thislady I gat by my prowess of arms this day at Arthur’s court. That isuntruly said, said King Pellinore, for ye came in suddenly there as we were atthe high feast, and took away this lady or any man might make him ready; andtherefore it was my quest to bring her again and you both, or else the one ofus to abide in the field; therefore the lady shall go with me, or I will diefor it, for I have promised it King Arthur. And therefore fight ye no more, fornone of you shall have no part of her at this time; and if ye list to fight forher, fight with me, and I will defend her. Well, said the knights, make youready, and we shall assail you with all our power. And as King Pellinore wouldhave put his horse from them, Sir Hontzlake rove his horse through with asword, and said: Now art thou on foot as well as we are. When King Pellinoreespied that his horse was slain, lightly he leapt from his horse and pulled outhis sword, and put his shield afore him, and said, Knight, keep well thy head,for thou shalt have a buffet for the slaying of my horse. So King Pellinoregave him such a stroke upon the helm that he clave the head down to the chin,that he fell to the earth dead.

CHAPTER XIII.
How King Pellinore gat the lady andbrought her to Camelot to the court of King Arthur.

And then he turned him to the other knight, that was sore wounded. But when hesaw the other’s buffet, he would not fight, but kneeled down and said,Take my cousin the lady with you at your request, and I require you, as ye be atrue knight, put her to no shame nor villainy. What, said King Pellinore, willye not fight for her? No, sir, said the knight, I will not fight with such aknight of prowess as ye be. Well, said Pellinore, ye say well; I promise youshe shall have no villainy by me, as I am true knight; but now me lacketh anhorse, said Pellinore, but I will have Hontzlake’s horse. Ye shall notneed, said the knight, for I shall give you such an horse as shall please you,so that you will lodge with me, for it is near night. I will well, said KingPellinore, abide with you all night. And there he had with him right goodcheer, and fared of the best with passing good wine, and had merry rest thatnight. And on the morn he heard a mass and dined; and then was brought him afair bay courser, and King Pellinore’s saddle set upon him. Now, whatshall I call you? said the knight, inasmuch as ye have my cousin at your desireof your quest. Sir, I shall tell you, my name is King Pellinore of the Islesand knight of the Table Round. Now I am glad, said the knight, that such anoble man shall have the rule of my cousin. Now, what is your name? saidPellinore, I pray you tell me. Sir, my name is Sir Meliot of Logurs, and thislady my cousin hight Nimue, and the knight that was in the other pavilion is mysworn brother, a passing good knight, and his name is Brian of the Isles, andhe is full loath to do wrong, and full loath to fight with any man, but if hebe sore sought on, so that for shame he may not leave it. It is marvel, saidPellinore, that he will not have ado with me. Sir, he will not have ado with noman but if it be at his request. Bring him to the court, said Pellinore, one ofthese days. Sir, we will come together. And ye shall be welcome, saidPellinore, to the court of King Arthur, and greatly allowed for your coming.And so he departed with the lady, and brought her to Camelot.

So as they rode in a valley it was full of stones, and there the lady’shorse stumbled and threw her down, that her arm was sore bruised and near sheswooned for pain. Alas! sir, said the lady, mine arm is out of lithe,wherethrough I must needs rest me. Ye shall well, said King Pellinore. And sohe alighted under a fair tree where was fair grass, and he put his horsethereto, and so laid him under the tree and slept till it was nigh night. Andwhen he awoke he would have ridden. Sir, said the lady, it is so dark that yemay as well ride backward as forward. So they abode still and made there theirlodging. Then Sir Pellinore put off his armour; then a little afore midnightthey heard the trotting of an horse. Be ye still, said King Pellinore, for weshall hear of some adventure.

CHAPTER XIV.
How on the way he heard two knights,as he lay by night in a valley, and of their adventures.

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

CHAPTER XV.
How when he was come to Camelot he wassworn upon a book to tell the truth of his quest.

And therewith they departed, and came there as the head of the lady lay with afair yellow hair that grieved King Pellinore passingly sore when he looked onit, for much he cast his heart on the visage. And so by noon they came toCamelot; and the king and the queen were passing fain of his coming to thecourt. And there he was made to swear upon the Four Evangelists, to tell thetruth of his quest from the one to the other. Ah! Sir Pellinore, said QueenGuenever, ye were greatly to blame that ye saved not this lady’s life.Madam, said Pellinore, ye were greatly to blame an ye would not save your ownlife an ye might, but, save your pleasure, I was so furious in my quest that Iwould not abide, and that repenteth me, and shall the days of my life. Truly,said Merlin, ye ought sore to repent it, for that lady was your own daughterbegotten on the lady of the Rule, and that knight that was dead was her love,and should have wedded her, and he was a right good knight of a young man, andwould have proved a good man, and to this court was he coming, and his name wasSir Miles of the Launds, and a knight came behind him and slew him with aspear, and his name is Loraine le Savage, a false knight and a coward; and shefor great sorrow and dole slew herself with his sword, and her name was Eleine.And because ye would not abide and help her, ye shall see your best friend failyou when ye be in the greatest distress that ever ye were or shall be. And thatpenance God hath ordained you for that deed, that he that ye shall most trustto of any man alive, he shall leave you there ye shall be slain. Meforthinketh, said King Pellinore, that this shall me betide, but God may fordowell destiny.

Thus, when the quest was done of the white hart, the which followed SirGawaine; and the quest of the brachet, followed of Sir Tor, Pellinore’sson; and the quest of the lady that the knight took away, the which KingPellinore at that time followed; then the king stablished all his knights, andthem that were of lands not rich he gave them lands, and charged them never todo outrageousity nor murder, and always to flee treason; also, by no means tobe cruel, but to give mercy unto him that asketh mercy, upon pain of forfeitureof their worship and lordship of King Arthur for evermore; and always to doladies, damosels, and gentlewomen succour, upon pain of death. Also, that noman take no battles in a wrongful quarrel for no law, nor for no world’sgoods. Unto this were all the knights sworn of the Table Round, both old andyoung. And every year were they sworn at the high feast of Pentecost.

Explicit the Wedding of King Arthur.
Sequitur quartus liber.

BOOK IV.

CHAPTER I.
How Merlin was assotted and doted onone of the ladies of the lake, and how he was shut in a rock under a stone andthere died.

So after these quests of Sir Gawaine, Sir Tor, and King Pellinore, it fell sothat Merlin fell in a dotage on the damosel that King Pellinore brought tocourt, and she was one of the damosels of the lake, that hight Nimue. ButMerlin would let her have no rest, but always he would be with her. And evershe made Merlin good cheer till she had learned of him all manner thing thatshe desired; and he was assotted upon her, that he might not be from her. So ona time he told King Arthur that he should not dure long, but for all his craftshe should be put in the earth quick. And so he told the king many things thatshould befall, but always he warned the king to keep well his sword and thescabbard, for he told him how the sword and the scabbard should be stolen by awoman from him that he most trusted. Also he told King Arthur that he shouldmiss him,—Yet had ye liefer than all your lands to have me again. Ah,said the king, since ye know of your adventure, purvey for it, and put away byyour crafts that misadventure. Nay, said Merlin, it will not be; so he departedfrom the king. And within a while the Damosel of the Lake departed, and Merlinwent with her evermore wheresomever she went. And ofttimes Merlin would havehad her privily away by his subtle crafts; then she made him to swear that heshould never do none enchantment upon her if he would have his will. And so hesware; so she and Merlin went over the sea unto the land of Benwick, whereasKing Ban was king that had great war against King Claudas, and there Merlinspake with King Ban’s wife, a fair lady and a good, and her name wasElaine, and there he saw young Launcelot. There the queen made great sorrow forthe mortal war that King Claudas made on her lord and on her lands. Take noneheaviness, said Merlin, for this same child within this twenty year shallrevenge you on King Claudas, that all Christendom shall speak of it; and thissame child shall be the most man of worship of the world, and his first name isGalahad, that know I well, said Merlin, and since ye have confirmed himLauncelot. That is truth, said the queen, his first name was Galahad. O Merlin,said the queen, shall I live to see my son such a man of prowess? Yea, lady, onmy peril ye shall see it, and live many winters after.

And so, soon after, the lady and Merlin departed, and by the way Merlin showedher many wonders, and came into Cornwall. And always Merlin lay about the ladyto have her maidenhood, and she was ever passing weary of him, and fain wouldhave been delivered of him, for she was afeard of him because he was adevil’s son, and she could not beskift him by no mean. And so on a timeit happed that Merlin showed to her in a rock whereas was a great wonder, andwrought by enchantment, that went under a great stone. So by her subtle workingshe made Merlin to go under that stone to let her wit of the marvels there; butshe wrought so there for him that he came never out for all the craft he coulddo. And so she departed and left Merlin.

CHAPTER II.
How five kings came into this land towar against King Arthur, and what counsel Arthur had against them.

And as King Arthur rode to Camelot, and held there a great feast with mirth andjoy, so soon after he returned unto Cardoile, and there came unto Arthur newtidings that the king of Denmark, and the king of Ireland that was his brother,and the king of the Vale, and the king of Soleise, and the king of the Isle ofLongtains, all these five kings with a great host were entered into the land ofKing Arthur, and burnt and slew clean afore them, both cities and castles, thatit was pity to hear. Alas, said Arthur, yet had I never rest one month since Iwas crowned king of this land. Now shall I never rest till I meet with thosekings in a fair field, that I make mine avow; for my true liege people shallnot be destroyed in my default, go with me who will, and abide who that will.Then the king let write unto King Pellinore, and prayed him in all haste tomake him ready with such people as he might lightliest rear and hie him afterin all haste. All the barons were privily wroth that the king would depart sosuddenly; but the king by no mean would abide, but made writing unto them thatwere not there, and bade them hie after him, such as were not at that time inthe court. Then the king came to Queen Guenever, and said, Lady, make youready, for ye shall go with me, for I may not long miss you; ye shall cause meto be the more hardy, what adventure so befall me; I will not wit my lady to bein no jeopardy. Sir, said she, I am at your commandment, and shall be readywhat time so ye be ready. So on the morn the king and the queen departed withsuch fellowship as they had, and came into the north, into a forest besideHumber, and there lodged them. When the word and tiding came unto the fivekings above said, that Arthur was beside Humber in a forest, there was aknight, brother unto one of the five kings, that gave them this counsel: Yeknow well that Sir Arthur hath the flower of chivalry of the world with him, asit is proved by the great battle he did with the eleven kings; and thereforehie unto him night and day till that we be nigh him, for the longer he tarrieththe bigger he is, and we ever the weaker; and he is so courageous of himselfthat he is come to the field with little people, and therefore let us set uponhim or day and we shall slay down; of his knights there shall none escape.

CHAPTER III.
How King Arthur had ado with them andoverthrew them, and slew the five kings and made the remnant to flee.

Unto this counsel these five kings assented, and so they passed forth withtheir host through North Wales, and came upon Arthur by night, and set upon hishost as the king and his knights were in their pavilions. King Arthur wasunarmed, and had laid him to rest with his Queen Guenever. Sir, said Sir Kay,it is not good we be unarmed. We shall have no need, said Sir Gawaine and SirGriflet, that lay in a little pavilion by the king. With that they heard agreat noise, and many cried, Treason, treason! Alas, said King Arthur, we bebetrayed! Unto arms, fellows, then he cried. So they were armed anon at allpoints. Then came there a wounded knight unto the king, and said, Sir, saveyourself and my lady the queen, for our host is destroyed, and much people ofours slain. So anon the king and the queen and the three knights took theirhorses, and rode toward Humber to pass over it, and the water was so rough thatthey were afraid to pass over. Now may ye choose, said King Arthur, whether yewill abide and take the adventure on this side, for an ye be taken they willslay you. It were me liefer, said the queen, to die in the water than to fallin your enemies’ hands and there be slain.

And as they stood so talking, Sir Kay saw the five kings coming on horseback bythemselves alone, with their spears in their hands even toward them. Lo, saidSir Kay, yonder be the five kings; let us go to them and match them. That werefolly, said Sir Gawaine, for we are but three and they be five. That is truth,said Sir Griflet. No force, said Sir Kay, I will undertake for two of them, andthen may ye three undertake for the other three. And therewithal, Sir Kay lethis horse run as fast as he might, and struck one of them through the shieldand the body a fathom, that the king fell to the earth stark dead. That saw SirGawaine, and ran unto another king so hard that he smote him through the body.And therewithal King Arthur ran to another, and smote him through the body witha spear, that he fell to the earth dead. Then Sir Griflet ran unto the fourthking, and gave him such a fall that his neck brake. Anon Sir Kay ran unto thefifth king, and smote him so hard on the helm that the stroke clave the helmand the head to the earth. That was well stricken, said King Arthur, andworshipfully hast thou holden thy promise, therefore I shall honour thee whilethat I live. And therewithal they set the queen in a barge into Humber; butalways Queen Guenever praised Sir Kay for his deeds, and said, What lady thatye love, and she love you not again she were greatly to blame; and amongladies, said the queen, I shall bear your noble fame, for ye spake a greatword, and fulfilled it worshipfully. And therewith the queen departed.

Then the king and the three knights rode into the forest, for there theysupposed to hear of them that were escaped; and there he found the most part ofhis people, and told them all how the five kings were dead. And therefore letus hold us together till it be day, and when their host have espied that theirchieftains be slain, they will make such dole that they shall no more helpthemselves. And right so as the king said, so it was; for when they found thefive kings dead, they made such dole that they fell from their horses.Therewithal came King Arthur but with a few people, and slew on the left handand on the right hand, that well-nigh there escaped no man, but all were slainto the number thirty thousand. And when the battle was all ended, the kingkneeled down and thanked God meekly. And then he sent for the queen, and soonshe was come, and she made great joy of the overcoming of that battle.

CHAPTER IV.
How the battle was finished or hecame, and how King Arthur founded an abbey where the battle was.

Therewithal came one to King Arthur, and told him that King Pellinore waswithin three mile with a great host; and he said, Go unto him, and let himunderstand how we have sped. So within a while King Pellinore came with a greathost, and saluted the people and the king, and there was great joy made onevery side. Then the king let search how much people of his party there wasslain; and there were found but little past two hundred men slain and eightknights of the Table Round in their pavilions. Then the king let rear anddevise in the same place whereat the battle was done a fair abbey, and endowedit with great livelihood, and let it call the Abbey of La Beale Adventure. Butwhen some of them came into their countries, whereof the five kings were kings,and told them how they were slain, there was made great dole. And all KingArthur’s enemies, as the King of North Wales, and the kings of the North,[when they] wist of the battle, they were passing heavy. And so the kingreturned unto Camelot in haste.

And when he was come to Camelot he called King Pellinore unto him, and said, Yeunderstand well that we have lost eight knights of the best of the Table Round,and by your advice we will choose eight again of the best we may find in thiscourt. Sir, said Pellinore, I shall counsel you after my conceit the best:there are in your court full noble knights both of old and young; and thereforeby mine advice ye shall choose half of the old and half of the young. Which bethe old? said King Arthur. Sir, said King Pellinore, meseemeth that King Uriensthat hath wedded your sister Morgan le Fay, and the King of the Lake, and SirHervise de Revel, a noble knight, and Sir Galagars, the fourth. This is welldevised, said King Arthur, and right so shall it be. Now, which are the fouryoung knights? said Arthur. Sir, said Pellinore, the first is Sir Gawaine, yournephew, that is as good a knight of his time as any is in this land; and thesecond as meseemeth best is Sir Griflet le Fise de Dieu, that is a good knightand full desirous in arms, and who may see him live he shall prove a goodknight; and the third as meseemeth is well to be one of the knights of theRound Table, Sir Kay the Seneschal, for many times he hath done fullworshipfully, and now at your last battle he did full honourably for toundertake to slay two kings. By my head, said Arthur, he is best worth to be aknight of the Round Table of any that ye have rehearsed, an he had done no moreprowess in his life days.

CHAPTER V.
How Sir Tor was made knight of theRound Table, and how Bagdemagus was displeased.

Now, said King Pellinore, I shall put to you two knights, and ye shall choosewhich is most worthy, that is Sir Bagdemagus, and Sir Tor, my son. But becauseSir Tor is my son I may not praise him, but else, an he were not my son, Idurst say that of his age there is not in this land a better knight than he is,nor of better conditions and loath to do any wrong, and loath to take anywrong. By my head, said Arthur, he is a passing good knight as any ye spake ofthis day, that wot I well, said the king; for I have seen him proved, but hesaith little and he doth much more, for I know none in all this court an hewere as well born on his mother’s side as he is on your side, that islike him of prowess and of might: and therefore I will have him at this time,and leave Sir Bagdemagus till another time. So when they were so chosen by theassent of all the barons, so were there found in their sieges everyknights’ names that here are rehearsed, and so were they set in theirsieges; whereof Sir Bagdemagus was wonderly wroth, that Sir Tor was advancedafore him, and therefore suddenly he departed from the court, and took hissquire with him, and rode long in a forest till they came to a cross, and therealighted and said his prayers devoutly. The meanwhile his squire found writtenupon the cross, that Bagdemagus should never return unto the court again, tillhe had won a knight’s body of the Round Table, body for body. So, sir,said the squire, here I find writing of you, therefore I rede you return againto the court. That shall I never, said Bagdemagus, till men speak of me greatworship, and that I be worthy to be a knight of the Round Table. And so he rodeforth, and there by the way he found a branch of an holy herb that was the signof the Sangreal, and no knight found such tokens but he were a good liver.

So, as Sir Bagdemagus rode to see many adventures, it happed him to come to therock whereas the Lady of the Lake had put Merlin under the stone, and there heheard him make great dole; whereof Sir Bagdemagus would have holpen him, andwent unto the great stone, and it was so heavy that an hundred men might notlift it up. When Merlin wist he was there, he bade leave his labour, for allwas in vain, for he might never be holpen but by her that put him there. And soBagdemagus departed and did many adventures, and proved after a full goodknight, and came again to the court and was made knight of the Round Table. Soon the morn there fell new tidings and other adventures.

CHAPTER VI.
How King Arthur, King Uriens, and SirAccolon of Gaul, chased an hart, and of their marvellous adventures.

Then it befell that Arthur and many of his knights rode a-hunting into a greatforest, and it happed King Arthur, King Uriens, and Sir Accolon of Gaul,followed a great hart, for they three were well horsed, and so they chased sofast that within a while they three were then ten mile from their fellowship.And at the last they chased so sore that they slew their horses underneaththem. Then were they all three on foot, and ever they saw the hart afore thempassing weary and enbushed. What will we do? said King Arthur, we are hardbestead. Let us go on foot, said King Uriens, till we may meet with somelodging. Then were they ware of the hart that lay on a great water bank, and abrachet biting on his throat, and more other hounds came after. Then KingArthur blew the prise and dight the hart.

Then the king looked about the world, and saw afore him in a great water alittle ship, all apparelled with silk down to the water, and the ship cameright unto them and landed on the sands. Then Arthur went to the bank andlooked in, and saw none earthly creature therein. Sirs, said the king, comethence, and let us see what is in this ship. So they went in all three, andfound it richly behanged with cloth of silk. By then it was dark night, andthere suddenly were about them an hundred torches set upon all the sides of theship boards, and it gave great light; and therewithal there came out twelvefair damosels and saluted King Arthur on their knees, and called him by hisname, and said he was right welcome, and such cheer as they had he should haveof the best. The king thanked them fair. Therewithal they led the king and histwo fellows into a fair chamber, and there was a cloth laid, richly beseen ofall that longed unto a table, and there were they served of all wines and meatsthat they could think; of that the king had great marvel, for he fared neverbetter in his life as for one supper. And so when they had supped at theirleisure, King Arthur was led into a chamber, a richer beseen chamber saw henever none, and so was King Uriens served, and led into such another chamber,and Sir Accolon was led into the third chamber passing richly and well beseen;and so they were laid in their beds easily. And anon they fell asleep, andslept marvellously sore all the night. And on the morrow King Uriens was inCamelot abed in his wife’s arms, Morgan le Fay. And when he awoke he hadgreat marvel, how he came there, for on the even afore he was two days’journey from Camelot. And when King Arthur awoke he found himself in a darkprison, hearing about him many complaints of woful knights.

CHAPTER VII.
How Arthur took upon him to fight tobe delivered out of prison, and also for to deliver twenty knights that were inprison.

What are ye that so complain? said King Arthur. We be here twenty knights,prisoners, said they, and some of us have lain here seven year, and some moreand some less. For what cause? said Arthur. We shall tell you, said theknights; this lord of this castle, his name is Sir Damas, and he is the falsestknight that liveth, and full of treason, and a very coward as any liveth, andhe hath a younger brother, a good knight of prowess, his name is Sir Ontzlake;and this traitor Damas, the elder brother will give him no part of hislivelihood, but as Sir Ontzlake keepeth thorough prowess of his hands, and sohe keepeth from him a full fair manor and a rich, and therein Sir Ontzlakedwelleth worshipfully, and is well beloved of all people. And this Sir Damas,our master is as evil beloved, for he is without mercy, and he is a coward, andgreat war hath been betwixt them both, but Ontzlake hath ever the better, andever he proffereth Sir Damas to fight for the livelihood, body for body, but hewill not do; other-else to find a knight to fight for him. Unto that Sir Damashad granted to find a knight, but he is so evil beloved and hated, that thereis never a knight will fight for him. And when Damas saw this, that there wasnever a knight would fight for him, he hath daily lain await with many knightswith him, and taken all the knights in this country to see and espy theiradventures, he hath taken them by force and brought them to his prison. And sohe took us separately as we rode on our adventures, and many good knights havedied in this prison for hunger, to the number of eighteen knights; and if anyof us all that here is, or hath been, would have foughten with his brotherOntzlake, he would have delivered us, but for because this Damas is so falseand so full of treason we would never fight for him to die for it. And we be solean for hunger that unnethe we may stand on our feet. God deliver you, for hismercy, said Arthur.

Anon, therewithal there came a damosel unto Arthur, and asked him, What cheer?I cannot say, said he. Sir, said she, an ye will fight for my lord, ye shall bedelivered out of prison, and else ye escape never the life. Now, said Arthur,that is hard, yet had I liefer to fight with a knight than to die in prison;with this, said Arthur, I may be delivered and all these prisoners, I will dothe battle. Yes, said the damosel. I am ready, said Arthur, an I had horse andarmour. Ye shall lack none, said the damosel. Meseemeth, damosel, I should haveseen you in the court of Arthur. Nay said the damosel, I came never there, I amthe lord’s daughter of this castle. Yet was she false, for she was one ofthe damosels of Morgan le Fay.

Anon she went unto Sir Damas, and told him how he would do battle for him, andso he sent for Arthur. And when he came he was well coloured, and well made ofhis limbs, that all knights that saw him said it were pity that such a knightshould die in prison. So Sir Damas and he were agreed that he should fight forhim upon this covenant, that all other knights should be delivered; and untothat was Sir Damas sworn unto Arthur, and also to do the battle to theuttermost. And with that all the twenty knights were brought out of the darkprison into the hall, and delivered, and so they all abode to see the battle.

CHAPTER VIII.
How Accolon found himself by a well,and he took upon him to do battle against Arthur.

Now turn we unto Accolon of Gaul, that when he awoke he found himself by a deepwell-side, within half a foot, in great peril of death. And there came out ofthat fountain a pipe of silver, and out of that pipe ran water all on high in astone of marble. When Sir Accolon saw this, he blessed him and said, Jesus savemy lord King Arthur, and King Uriens, for these damosels in this ship havebetrayed us, they were devils and no women; and if I may escape thismisadventure, I shall destroy all where I may find these false damosels thatuse enchantments. Right with that there came a dwarf with a great mouth and aflat nose, and saluted Sir Accolon, and said how he came from Queen Morgan leFay, and she greeteth you well, and biddeth you be of strong heart, for yeshall fight to morrow with a knight at the hour of prime, and therefore shehath sent you here Excalibur, Arthur’s sword, and the scabbard, and shebiddeth you as ye love her, that ye do the battle to the uttermost, without anymercy, like as ye had promised her when ye spake together in privity; and whatdamosel that bringeth her the knight’s head, which ye shall fight withal,she will make her a queen. Now I understand you well, said Accolon, I shallhold that I have promised her now I have the sword: when saw ye my lady QueenMorgan le Fay? Right late, said the dwarf. Then Accolon took him in his armsand said, Recommend me unto my lady queen, and tell her all shall be done thatI have promised her, and else I will die for it. Now I suppose, said Accolon,she hath made all these crafts and enchantments for this battle. Ye may wellbelieve it, said the dwarf. Right so there came a knight and a lady with sixsquires, and saluted Accolon, and prayed him for to arise, and come and resthim at his manor. And so Accolon mounted upon a void horse, and went with theknight unto a fair manor by a priory, and there he had passing good cheer.

Then Sir Damas sent unto his brother Sir Ontzlake, and bade make him ready byto-morn at the hour of prime, and to be in the field to fight with a goodknight, for he had found a good knight that was ready to do battle at allpoints. When this word came unto Sir Ontzlake he was passing heavy, for he waswounded a little to-fore through both his thighs with a spear, and made greatdole; but as he was wounded, he would have taken the battle on hand. So ithapped at that time, by the means of Morgan le Fay, Accolon was with SirOntzlake lodged; and when he heard of that battle, and how Ontzlake waswounded, he said that he would fight for him. Because Morgan le Fay had senthim Excalibur and the sheath for to fight with the knight on the morn: this wasthe cause Sir Accolon took the battle on hand. Then Sir Ontzlake was passingglad, and thanked Sir Accolon with all his heart that he would do so much forhim. And therewithal Sir Ontzlake sent word unto his brother Sir Damas, that hehad a knight that for him should be ready in the field by the hour of prime.

So on the morn Sir Arthur was armed and well horsed, and asked Sir Damas, Whenshall we to the field? Sir, said Sir Damas, ye shall hear mass. And so Arthurheard a mass, and when mass was done there came a squire on a great horse, andasked Sir Damas if his knight were ready, for our knight is ready in the field.Then Sir Arthur mounted upon horseback, and there were all the knights andcommons of that country; and so by all advices there were chosen twelve goodmen of the country for to wait upon the two knights. And right as Arthur was onhorseback there came a damosel from Morgan le Fay, and brought unto Sir Arthura sword like unto Excalibur, and the scabbard, and said unto Arthur, Morgan leFay sendeth here your sword for great love. And he thanked her, and weened ithad been so, but she was false, for the sword and the scabbard was counterfeit,and brittle, and false.

CHAPTER IX.
Of the battle between King Arthur andAccolon.

And then they dressed them on both parties of the field, and let their horsesrun so fast that either smote other in the midst of the shield with theirspear-heads, that both horse and man went to the earth; and then they startedup both, and pulled out their swords. The meanwhile that they were thus at thebattle, came the Damosel of the Lake into the field, that put Merlin under thestone; and she came thither for love of King Arthur, for she knew how Morgan leFay had so ordained that King Arthur should have been slain that day, andtherefore she came to save his life. And so they went eagerly to the battle,and gave many great strokes, but always Arthur’s sword bit not likeAccolon’s sword; but for the most part, every stroke that Accolon gave hewounded sore Arthur, that it was marvel he stood, and always his blood fellfrom him fast.

When Arthur beheld the ground so sore be-bled he was dismayed, and then hedeemed treason that his sword was changed; for his sword bit not steel as itwas wont to do, therefore he dreaded him sore to be dead, for ever him seemedthat the sword in Accolon’s hand was Excalibur, for at every stroke thatAccolon struck he drew blood on Arthur. Now, knight, said Accolon unto Arthur,keep thee well from me; but Arthur answered not again, and gave him such abuffet on the helm that it made him to stoop, nigh falling down to the earth.Then Sir Accolon withdrew him a little, and came on with Excalibur on high, andsmote Sir Arthur such a buffet that he fell nigh to the earth. Then were theywroth both, and gave each other many sore strokes, but always Sir Arthur lostso much blood that it was marvel he stood on his feet, but he was so full ofknighthood that knightly he endured the pain. And Sir Accolon lost not a dealof blood, therefore he waxed passing light, and Sir Arthur was passing feeble,and weened verily to have died; but for all that he made countenance as thoughhe might endure, and held Accolon as short as he might. But Accolon was so boldbecause of Excalibur that he waxed passing hardy. But all men that beheld himsaid they saw never knight fight so well as Arthur did considering the bloodthat he bled. So was all the people sorry for him, but the two brethren wouldnot accord. Then always they fought together as fierce knights, and Sir Arthurwithdrew him a little for to rest him, and Sir Accolon called him to battle andsaid, It is no time for me to suffer thee to rest. And therewith he camefiercely upon Arthur, and Sir Arthur was wroth for the blood that he had lost,and smote Accolon on high upon the helm, so mightily, that he made him nigh tofall to the earth; and therewith Arthur’s sword brast at the cross, andfell in the grass among the blood, and the pommel and the sure handles he heldin his hands. When Sir Arthur saw that, he was in great fear to die, but alwayshe held up his shield and lost no ground, nor bated no cheer.

CHAPTER X.
How King Arthur’s sword that hefought with brake, and how he recovered of Accolon his own sword Excalibur, andovercame his enemy.

Then Sir Accolon began with words of treason, and said, Knight, thou artovercome, and mayst not endure, and also thou art weaponless, and thou hastlost much of thy blood, and I am full loath to slay thee, therefore yield theeto me as recreant. Nay, said Sir Arthur, I may not so, for I have promised todo the battle to the uttermost by the faith of my body, while me lasteth thelife, and therefore I had liefer to die with honour than to live with shame;and if it were possible for me to die an hundred times, I had liefer to die sooft than yield me to thee; for though I lack weapon, I shall lack no worship,and if thou slay me weaponless that shall be thy shame. Well, said Accolon, asfor the shame I will not spare, now keep thee from me, for thou art but a deadman. And therewith Accolon gave him such a stroke that he fell nigh to theearth, and would have had Arthur to have cried him mercy. But Sir Arthurpressed unto Accolon with his shield, and gave him with the pommel in his handsuch a buffet that he went three strides aback.

When the Damosel of the Lake beheld Arthur, how full of prowess his body was,and the false treason that was wrought for him to have had him slain, she hadgreat pity that so good a knight and such a man of worship should so bedestroyed. And at the next stroke Sir Accolon struck him such a stroke that bythe damosel’s enchantment the sword Excalibur fell out of Accolon’shand to the earth. And therewithal Sir Arthur lightly leapt to it, and gat itin his hand, and forthwithal he knew that it was his sword Excalibur, and said,Thou hast been from me all too long, and much damage hast thou done me; andtherewith he espied the scabbard hanging by his side, and suddenly he sterte tohim and pulled the scabbard from him, and threw it from him as far as he mightthrow it. O knight, said Arthur, this day hast thou done me great damage withthis sword; now are ye come unto your death, for I shall not warrant you but yeshall as well be rewarded with this sword, or ever we depart, as thou hastrewarded me; for much pain have ye made me to endure, and much blood have Ilost. And therewith Sir Arthur rushed on him with all his might and pulled himto the earth, and then rushed off his helm, and gave him such a buffet on thehead that the blood came out at his ears, his nose, and his mouth. Now will Islay thee, said Arthur. Slay me ye may well, said Accolon, an it please you,for ye are the best knight that ever I found, and I see well that God is withyou. But for I promised to do this battle, said Accolon, to the uttermost, andnever to be recreant while I lived, therefore shall I never yield me with mymouth, but God do with my body what he will. Then Sir Arthur remembered him,and thought he should have seen this knight. Now tell me, said Arthur, or Iwill slay thee, of what country art thou, and of what court? Sir Knight, saidSir Accolon, I am of the court of King Arthur, and my name is Accolon of Gaul.Then was Arthur more dismayed than he was beforehand; for then he rememberedhim of his sister Morgan le Fay, and of the enchantment of the ship. O sirknight, said he, I pray you tell me who gave you this sword, and by whom ye hadit.

CHAPTER XI.
How Accolon confessed the treason ofMorgan le Fay, King Arthur’s sister, and how she would have done slayhim.

Then Sir Accolon bethought him, and said, Woe worth this sword, for by it haveI got my death. It may well be, said the king. Now, sir, said Accolon, I willtell you; this sword hath been in my keeping the most part of this twelvemonth;and Morgan le Fay, King Uriens’ wife, sent it me yesterday by a dwarf, tothis intent, that I should slay King Arthur, her brother. For ye shallunderstand King Arthur is the man in the world that she most hateth, because heis most of worship and of prowess of any of her blood; also she loveth me outof measure as paramour, and I her again; and if she might bring about to slayArthur by her crafts, she would slay her husband King Uriens lightly, and thenhad she me devised to be king in this land, and so to reign, and she to be myqueen; but that is now done, said Accolon, for I am sure of my death. Well,said Sir Arthur, I feel by you ye would have been king in this land. It hadbeen great damage to have destroyed your lord, said Arthur. It is truth, saidAccolon, but now I have told you truth, wherefore I pray you tell me of whenceye are, and of what court? O Accolon, said King Arthur, now I let thee wit thatI am King Arthur, to whom thou hast done great damage. When Accolon heard thathe cried aloud, Fair, sweet lord, have mercy on me, for I knew not you. O SirAccolon, said King Arthur, mercy shalt thou have, because I feel by thy wordsat this time thou knewest not my person; but I understand well by thy wordsthat thou hast agreed to the death of my person, and therefore thou art atraitor; but I wite thee the less, for my sister Morgan le Fay by her falsecrafts made thee to agree and consent to her false lusts, but I shall be soreavenged upon her an I live, that all Christendom shall speak of it; God knowethI have honoured her and worshipped her more than all my kin, and more have Itrusted her than mine own wife and all my kin after.

Then Sir Arthur called the keepers of the field, and said, Sirs, come hither,for here are we two knights that have fought unto a great damage unto us both,and like each one of us to have slain other, if it had happed so; and had anyof us known other, here had been no battle, nor stroke stricken. Then all aloudcried Accolon unto all the knights and men that were then there gatheredtogether, and said to them in this manner, O lords, this noble knight that Ihave fought withal, the which me sore repenteth, is the most man of prowess, ofmanhood, and of worship in the world, for it is himself King Arthur, our altherliege lord, and with mishap and with misadventure have I done this battle withthe king and lord that I am holden withal.

CHAPTER XII.
How Arthur accorded the two brethren,and delivered the twenty knights, and how Sir Accolon died.

Then all the people fell down on their knees and cried King Arthur mercy. Mercyshall ye have, said Arthur: here may ye see what adventures befall ofttime oferrant knights, how that I have fought with a knight of mine own unto my greatdamage and his both. But, sirs, because I am sore hurt, and he both, and I hadgreat need of a little rest, ye shall understand the opinion betwixt you twobrethren: As to thee, Sir Damas, for whom I have been champion and won thefield of this knight, yet will I judge because ye, Sir Damas, are called anorgulous knight, and full of villainy, and not worth of prowess your deeds,therefore I will that ye give unto your brother all the whole manor with theappurtenance, under this form, that Sir Ontzlake hold the manor of you, andyearly to give you a palfrey to ride upon, for that will become you better toride on than upon a courser. Also I charge thee, Sir Damas, upon pain of death,that thou never distress no knights errant that ride on their adventure. Andalso that thou restore these twenty knights that thou hast long kept prisoners,of all their harness, that they be content for; and if any of them come to mycourt and complain of thee, by my head thou shalt die therefore. Also, SirOntzlake, as to you, because ye are named a good knight, and full of prowess,and true and gentle in all your deeds, this shall be your charge I will giveyou, that in all goodly haste ye come unto me and my court, and ye shall be aknight of mine, and if your deeds be thereafter I shall so prefer you, by thegrace of God, that ye shall in short time be in ease for to live asworshipfully as your brother Sir Damas. God thank your largeness of yourgoodness and of your bounty, I shall be from henceforward at all times at yourcommandment; for, sir, said Sir Ontzlake, as God would, as I was hurt but latewith an adventurous knight through both my thighs, that grieved me sore, andelse had I done this battle with you. God would, said Arthur, it had been so,for then had not I been hurt as I am. I shall tell you the cause why: for I hadnot been hurt as I am, had it not been mine own sword, that was stolen from meby treason; and this battle was ordained aforehand to have slain me, and so itwas brought to the purpose by false treason, and by false enchantment. Alas,said Sir Ontzlake, that is great pity that ever so noble a man as ye are ofyour deeds and prowess, that any man or woman might find in their hearts towork any treason against you. I shall reward them, said Arthur, in short time,by the grace of God. Now, tell me, said Arthur, how far am I from Camelot? Sir,ye are two days’ journey therefrom. I would fain be at some place ofworship, said Sir Arthur, that I might rest me. Sir, said Sir Ontzlake, herebyis a rich abbey of your elders’ foundation, of nuns, but three mileshence. So the king took his leave of all the people, and mounted uponhorseback, and Sir Accolon with him. And when they were come to the abbey, helet fetch leeches and search his wounds and Accolon’s both; but SirAccolon died within four days, for he had bled so much blood that he might notlive, but King Arthur was well recovered. So when Accolon was dead he let sendhim on an horse-bier with six knights unto Camelot, and said: Bear him to mysister Morgan le Fay, and say that I send her him to a present, and tell her Ihave my sword Excalibur and the scabbard; so they departed with the body.

CHAPTER XIII.
How Morgan would have slain SirUriens her husband, and how Sir Uwaine her son saved him.

The meanwhile Morgan le Fay had weened King Arthur had been dead. So on a dayshe espied King Uriens lay in his bed sleeping. Then she called unto her amaiden of her counsel, and said, Go fetch me my lord’s sword, for I sawnever better time to slay him than now. O madam, said the damosel, an ye slaymy lord ye can never escape. Care not you, said Morgan le Fay, for now I see mytime in the which it is best to do it, and therefore hie thee fast and fetch methe sword. Then the damosel departed, and found Sir Uwaine sleeping upon a bedin another chamber, so she went unto Sir Uwaine, and awaked him, and bade him,Arise, and wait on my lady your mother, for she will slay the king your fathersleeping in his bed, for I go to fetch his sword. Well, said Sir Uwaine, go onyour way, and let me deal. Anon the damosel brought Morgan the sword withquaking hands, and she lightly took the sword, and pulled it out, and wentboldly unto the bed’s side, and awaited how and where she might slay himbest. And as she lifted up the sword to smite, Sir Uwaine leapt unto hismother, and caught her by the hand, and said, Ah, fiend, what wilt thou do? Anthou wert not my mother, with this sword I should smite off thy head. Ah, saidSir Uwaine, men saith that Merlin was begotten of a devil, but I may say anearthly devil bare me. O fair son, Uwaine, have mercy upon me, I was temptedwith a devil, wherefore I cry thee mercy; I will never more do so; and save myworship and discover me not. On this covenant, said Sir Uwaine, I will forgiveit you, so ye will never be about to do such deeds. Nay, son, said she, andthat I make you assurance.

CHAPTER XIV.
How Queen Morgan le Fay made greatsorrow for the death of Accolon, and how she stole away the scabbard fromArthur.

Then came tidings unto Morgan le Fay that Accolon was dead, and his bodybrought unto the church, and how King Arthur had his sword again. But whenQueen Morgan wist that Accolon was dead, she was so sorrowful that near herheart to-brast. But because she would not it were known, outward she kept hercountenance, and made no semblant of sorrow. But well she wist an she abodetill her brother Arthur came thither, there should no gold go for her life.

Then she went unto Queen Guenever, and asked her leave to ride into thecountry. Ye may abide, said Queen Guenever, till your brother the king comehome. I may not, said Morgan le Fay, for I have such hasty tidings, that I maynot tarry. Well, said Guenever, ye may depart when ye will. So early on themorn, or it was day, she took her horse and rode all that day and most part ofthe night, and on the morn by noon she came to the same abbey of nuns whereaslay King Arthur; and she knowing he was there, she asked where he was. And theyanswered how he had laid him in his bed to sleep, for he had had but littlerest these three nights. Well, said she, I charge you that none of you awakehim till I do, and then she alighted off her horse, and thought for to stealaway Excalibur his sword, and so she went straight unto his chamber, and no mandurst disobey her commandment, and there she found Arthur asleep in his bed,and Excalibur in his right hand naked. When she saw that she was passing heavythat she might not come by the sword without she had awaked him, and then shewist well she had been dead. Then she took the scabbard and went her way onhorseback. When the king awoke and missed his scabbard, he was wroth, and heasked who had been there, and they said his sister, Queen Morgan had beenthere, and had put the scabbard under her mantle and was gone. Alas, saidArthur, falsely ye have watched me. Sir, said they all, we durst not disobeyyour sister’s commandment. Ah, said the king, let fetch the best horsemay be found, and bid Sir Ontzlake arm him in all haste, and take another goodhorse and ride with me. So anon the king and Ontzlake were well armed, and rodeafter this lady, and so they came by a cross and found a cowherd, and theyasked the poor man if there came any lady riding that way. Sir, said this poorman, right late came a lady riding with a forty horses, and to yonder forestshe rode. Then they spurred their horses, and followed fast, and within a whileArthur had a sight of Morgan le Fay; then he chased as fast as he might. Whenshe espied him following her, she rode a greater pace through the forest tillshe came to a plain, and when she saw she might not escape, she rode unto alake thereby, and said, Whatsoever come of me, my brother shall not have thisscabbard. And then she let throw the scabbard in the deepest of the water so itsank, for it was heavy of gold and precious stones.

Then she rode into a valley where many great stones were, and when she saw shemust be overtaken, she shaped herself, horse and man, by enchantment unto agreat marble stone. Anon withal came Sir Arthur and Sir Ontzlake whereas theking might know his sister and her men, and one knight from another. Ah, saidthe king, here may ye see the vengeance of God, and now am I sorry that thismisadventure is befallen. And then he looked for the scabbard, but it would notbe found, so he returned to the abbey where he came from. So when Arthur wasgone she turned all into the likeliness as she and they were before, and said,Sirs, now may we go where we will.

CHAPTER XV.
How Morgan le Fay saved a knight thatshould have been drowned, and how King Arthur returned home again.

Then said Morgan, Saw ye Arthur, my brother? Yea, said her knights, right well,and that ye should have found an we might have stirred from one stead, for byhis armyvestal countenance he would have caused us to have fled. I believe you,said Morgan. Anon after as she rode she met a knight leading another knight onhis horse before him, bound hand and foot, blindfold, to have drowned him in afountain. When she saw this knight so bound, she asked him, What will ye dowith that knight? Lady, said he, I will drown him. For what cause? she asked.For I found him with my wife, and she shall have the same death anon. That werepity, said Morgan le Fay. Now, what say ye, knight, is it truth that he saithof you? she said to the knight that should be drowned. Nay truly, madam, hesaith not right on me. Of whence be ye, said Morgan le Fay, and of whatcountry? I am of the court of King Arthur, and my name is Manassen, cousin untoAccolon of Gaul. Ye say well, said she, and for the love of him ye shall bedelivered, and ye shall have your adversary in the same case ye be in. SoManassen was loosed and the other knight bound. And anon Manassen unarmed him,and armed himself in his harness, and so mounted on horseback, and the knightafore him, and so threw him into the fountain and drowned him. And then he rodeunto Morgan again, and asked if she would anything unto King Arthur. Tell himthat I rescued thee, not for the love of him but for the love of Accolon, andtell him I fear him not while I can make me and them that be with me inlikeness of stones; and let him wit I can do much more when I see my time. Andso she departed into the country of Gore, and there was she richly received,and made her castles and towns passing strong, for always she dreaded much KingArthur.

When the king had well rested him at the abbey, he rode unto Camelot, and foundhis queen and his barons right glad of his coming. And when they heard of hisstrange adventures as is afore rehearsed, then all had marvel of the falsehoodof Morgan le Fay; many knights wished her burnt. Then came Manassen to courtand told the king of his adventure. Well, said the king, she is a kind sister;I shall so be avenged on her an I live, that all Christendom shall speak of it.So on the morn there came a damosel from Morgan to the king, and she broughtwith her the richest mantle that ever was seen in that court, for it was set asfull of precious stones as one might stand by another, and there were therichest stones that ever the king saw. And the damosel said, Your sistersendeth you this mantle, and desireth that ye should take this gift of her; andin what thing she hath offended you, she will amend it at your own pleasure.When the king beheld this mantle it pleased him much, but he said but little.

CHAPTER XVI.
How the Damosel of the Lake savedKing Arthur from mantle that should have burnt him.

With that came the Damosel of the Lake unto the king, and said, Sir, I mustspeak with you in privity. Say on, said the king, what ye will. Sir, said thedamosel, put not on you this mantle till ye have seen more, and in no wise letit not come on you, nor on no knight of yours, till ye command the bringerthereof to put it upon her. Well, said King Arthur, it shall be done as yecounsel me. And then he said unto the damosel that came from his sister,Damosel, this mantle that ye have brought me, I will see it upon you. Sir, shesaid, It will not beseem me to wear a king’s garment. By my head, saidArthur, ye shall wear it or it come on my back, or any man’s that hereis. And so the king made it to be put upon her, and forth withal she fell downdead, and never more spake word after and burnt to coals. Then was the kingwonderly wroth, more than he was to-forehand, and said unto King Uriens, Mysister, your wife, is alway about to betray me, and well I wot either ye, or mynephew, your son, is of counsel with her to have me destroyed; but as for you,said the king to King Uriens, I deem not greatly that ye be of her counsel, forAccolon confessed to me by his own mouth, that she would have destroyed you aswell as me, therefore I hold you excused; but as for your son, Sir Uwaine, Ihold him suspect, therefore I charge you put him out of my court. So Sir Uwainewas discharged. And when Sir Gawaine wist that, he made him ready to go withhim; and said, Whoso banisheth my cousin-germain shall banish me. So they twodeparted, and rode into a great forest, and so they came to an abbey of monks,and there were well lodged. But when the king wist that Sir Gawaine wasdeparted from the court, there was made great sorrow among all the estates.Now, said Gaheris, Gawaine’s brother, we have lost two good knights forthe love of one. So on the morn they heard their masses in the abbey, and sothey rode forth till that they came to a great forest. Then was Sir Gawaineware in a valley by a turret [of] twelve fair damosels, and two knights armedon great horses, and the damosels went to and fro by a tree. And then was SirGawaine ware how there hung a white shield on that tree, and ever as thedamosels came by it they spit upon it, and some threw mire upon the shield.

CHAPTER XVII.
How Sir Gawaine and Sir Uwaine metwith twelve fair damosels, and how they complained on Sir Marhaus.

Then Sir Gawaine and Sir Uwaine went and saluted them, and asked why they didthat despite to the shield. Sir, said the damosels, we shall tell you. There isa knight in this country that owneth this white shield, and he is a passinggood man of his hands, but he hateth all ladies and gentlewomen, and thereforewe do all this despite to the shield. I shall say you, said Sir Gawaine, itbeseemeth evil a good knight to despise all ladies and gentlewomen, andperadventure though he hate you he hath some certain cause, and peradventure heloveth in some other places ladies and gentlewomen, and to be loved again, anhe be such a man of prowess as ye speak of. Now, what is his name? Sir, saidthey, his name is Marhaus, the king’s son of Ireland. I know him well,said Sir Uwaine, he is a passing good knight as any is alive, for I saw himonce proved at a jousts where many knights were gathered, and that time theremight no man withstand him. Ah! said Sir Gawaine, damosels, methinketh ye areto blame, for it is to suppose, he that hung that shield there, he will not belong therefrom, and then may those knights match him on horseback, and that ismore your worship than thus; for I will abide no longer to see a knight’sshield dishonoured. And therewith Sir Uwaine and Gawaine departed a little fromthem, and then were they ware where Sir Marhaus came riding on a great horsestraight toward them. And when the twelve damosels saw Sir Marhaus they fledinto the turret as they were wild, so that some of them fell by the way. Thenthe one of the knights of the tower dressed his shield, and said on high, SirMarhaus, defend thee. And so they ran together that the knight brake his spearon Marhaus, and Marhaus smote him so hard that he brake his neck and thehorse’s back. That saw the other knight of the turret, and dressed himtoward Marhaus, and they met so eagerly together that the knight of the turretwas soon smitten down, horse and man, stark dead.

CHAPTER XVIII.
How Sir Marhaus jousted with SirGawaine and Sir Uwaine, and overthrew them both.

And then Sir Marhaus rode unto his shield, and saw how it was defouled, andsaid, Of this despite I am a part avenged, but for her love that gave me thiswhite shield I shall wear thee, and hang mine where thou wast; and so he hangedit about his neck. Then he rode straight unto Sir Gawaine and to Sir Uwaine,and asked them what they did there? They answered him that they came from KingArthur’s court to see adventures. Well, said Sir Marhaus, here am Iready, an adventurous knight that will fulfil any adventure that ye willdesire; and so departed from them, to fetch his range. Let him go, said SirUwaine unto Sir Gawaine, for he is a passing good knight as any is living; Iwould not by my will that any of us were matched with him. Nay, said SirGawaine, not so, it were shame to us were he not assayed, were he never so gooda knight. Well, said Sir Uwaine, I will assay him afore you, for I am moreweaker than ye, and if he smite me down then may ye revenge me. So these twoknights came together with great raundon, that Sir Uwaine smote Sir Marhausthat his spear brast in pieces on the shield, and Sir Marhaus smote him so sorethat horse and man he bare to the earth, and hurt Sir Uwaine on the left side.

Then Sir Marhaus turned his horse and rode toward Gawaine with his spear, andwhen Sir Gawaine saw that he dressed his shield, and they aventred theirspears, and they came together with all the might of their horses, that eitherknight smote other so hard in midst of their shields, but Sir Gawaine’sspear brake, but Sir Marhaus’ spear held; and therewith Sir Gawaine andhis horse rushed down to the earth. And lightly Sir Gawaine rose on his feet,and pulled out his sword, and dressed him toward Sir Marhaus on foot, and SirMarhaus saw that, and pulled out his sword and began to come to Sir Gawaine onhorseback. Sir knight, said Sir Gawaine, alight on foot, or else I will slaythy horse. Gramercy, said Sir Marhaus, of your gentleness ye teach me courtesy,for it is not for one knight to be on foot, and the other on horseback. Andtherewith Sir Marhaus set his spear against a tree and alighted and tied hishorse to a tree, and dressed his shield, and either came unto other eagerly,and smote together with their swords that their shields flew in cantels, andthey bruised their helms and their hauberks, and wounded either other. But SirGawaine from it passed nine of the clock waxed ever stronger and stronger, forthen it came to the hour of noon, and thrice his might was increased. All thisespied Sir Marhaus and had great wonder how his might increased, and so theywounded other passing sore. And then when it was past noon, and when it drewtoward evensong, Sir Gawaine’s strength feebled, and waxed passing faintthat unnethes he might dure any longer, and Sir Marhaus was then bigger andbigger. Sir knight, said Sir Marhaus, I have well felt that ye are a passinggood knight and a marvellous man of might as ever I felt any, while it lasteth,and our quarrels are not great, and therefore it were pity to do you hurt, forI feel ye are passing feeble. Ah, said Sir Gawaine, gentle knight, ye say theword that I should say. And therewith they took off their helms, and eitherkissed other, and there they swore together either to love other as brethren.And Sir Marhaus prayed Sir Gawaine to lodge with him that night. And so theytook their horses, and rode toward Sir Marhaus’ house. And as they rodeby the way, Sir knight, said Sir Gawaine, I have marvel that so valiant a manas ye be love no ladies nor damosels. Sir, said Sir Marhaus, they name mewrongfully those that give me that name, but well I wot it be the damosels ofthe turret that so name me, and other such as they be. Now shall I tell you forwhat cause I hate them: for they be sorceresses and enchanters many of them,and be a knight never so good of his body and full of prowess as man may be,they will make him a stark coward to have the better of him, and this is theprincipal cause that I hate them; and to all good ladies and gentlewomen I owemy service as a knight ought to do.

As the book rehearseth in French, there were many knights that overmatched SirGawaine, for all the thrice might that he had: Sir Launcelot de Lake, SirTristram, Sir Bors de Ganis, Sir Percivale, Sir Pelleas, and Sir Marhaus, thesesix knights had the better of Sir Gawaine. Then within a little while they cameto Sir Marhaus’ place, which was in a little priory, and there theyalighted, and ladies and damosels unarmed them, and hastily looked to theirhurts, for they were all three hurt. And so they had all three good lodgingwith Sir Marhaus, and good cheer; for when he wist that they were KingArthur’s sister’s sons he made them all the cheer that lay in hispower, and so they sojourned there a sennight, and were well eased of theirwounds, and at the last departed. Now, said Sir Marhaus, we will not depart solightly, for I will bring you through the forest; and rode day by day well aseven days or they found any adventure. At the last they came into a greatforest, that was named the country and forest of Arroy, and the country ofstrange adventures. In this country, said Sir Marhaus, came never knight sinceit was christened but he found strange adventures; and so they rode, and cameinto a deep valley full of stones, and thereby they saw a fair stream of water;above thereby was the head of the stream a fair fountain, and three damoselssitting thereby. And then they rode to them, and either saluted other, and theeldest had a garland of gold about her head, and she was three score winter ofage or more, and her hair was white under the garland. The second damosel wasof thirty winter of age, with a circlet of gold about her head. The thirddamosel was but fifteen year of age, and a garland of flowers about her head.When these knights had so beheld them, they asked them the cause why they satat that fountain? We be here, said the damosels, for this cause: if we may seeany errant knights, to teach them unto strange adventures; and ye be threeknights that seek adventures, and we be three damosels, and therefore each oneof you must choose one of us; and when ye have done so we will lead you untothree highways, and there each of you shall choose a way and his damosel withhim. And this day twelvemonth ye must meet here again, and God send you yourlives, and thereto ye must plight your troth. This is well said, said SirMarhaus.

CHAPTER XIX.
How Sir Marhaus, Sir Gawaine, and SirUwaine met three damosels, and each of them took one.

Now shall everych of us choose a damosel. I shall tell you, said Sir Uwaine, Iam the youngest and most weakest of you both, therefore I will have the eldestdamosel, for she hath seen much, and can best help me when I have need, for Ihave most need of help of you both. Now, said Sir Marhaus, I will have thedamosel of thirty winter age, for she falleth best to me. Well, said SirGawaine, I thank you, for ye have left me the youngest and the fairest, and sheis most liefest to me. Then every damosel took her knight by the reins of hisbridle, and brought him to the three ways, and there was their oath made tomeet at the fountain that day twelvemonth an they were living, and so theykissed and departed, and each knight set his lady behind him. And Sir Uwainetook the way that lay west, and Sir Marhaus took the way that lay south, andSir Gawaine took the way that lay north. Now will we begin at Sir Gawaine, thatheld that way till that he came unto a fair manor, where dwelled an old knightand a good householder, and there Sir Gawaine asked the knight if he knew anyadventures in that country. I shall show you some to-morn, said the old knight,and that marvellous. So, on the morn they rode into the forest of adventures toa laund, and thereby they found a cross, and as they stood and hoved there cameby them the fairest knight and the seemliest man that ever they saw, making thegreatest dole that ever man made. And then he was ware of Sir Gawaine, andsaluted him, and prayed God to send him much worship. As to that, said SirGawaine, gramercy; also I pray to God that he send you honour and worship. Ah,said the knight, I may lay that aside, for sorrow and shame cometh to me afterworship.

CHAPTER XX.
How a knight and a dwarf strove for alady.

And therewith he passed unto the one side of the laund; and on the other sidesaw Sir Gawaine ten knights that hoved still and made them ready with theirshields and spears against that one knight that came by Sir Gawaine.

Then this one knight aventred a great spear, and one of the ten knightsencountered with him, but this woful knight smote him so hard that he fell overhis horse’s tail. So this same dolorous knight served them all, that atthe leastway he smote down horse and man, and all he did with one spear; and sowhen they were all ten on foot, they went to that one knight, and he stoodstone still, and suffered them to pull him down off his horse, and bound himhand and foot, and tied him under the horse’s belly, and so led him withthem. O Jesu! said Sir Gawaine, this is a doleful sight, to see the yonderknight so to be entreated, and it seemeth by the knight that he suffereth themto bind him so, for he maketh no resistance. No, said his host, that is truth,for an he would they all were too weak so to do him. Sir, said the damosel untoSir Gawaine, meseemeth it were your worship to help that dolorous knight, formethinketh he is one of the best knights that ever I saw. I would do for him,said Sir Gawaine, but it seemeth he will have no help. Then, said the damosel,methinketh ye have no lust to help him.

Thus as they talked they saw a knight on the other side of the laund all armedsave the head. And on the other side there came a dwarf on horseback all armedsave the head, with a great mouth and a short nose; and when the dwarf camenigh he said, Where is the lady should meet us here? and therewithal she cameforth out of the wood. And then they began to strive for the lady; for theknight said he would have her, and the dwarf said he would have her. Will we dowell? said the dwarf; yonder is a knight at the cross, let us put it both uponhim, and as he deemeth so shall it be. I will well, said the knight, and sothey went all three unto Sir Gawaine and told him wherefore they strove. Well,sirs, said he, will ye put the matter in my hand? Yea, they said both. Nowdamosel, said Sir Gawaine, ye shall stand betwixt them both, and whether yelist better to go to, he shall have you. And when she was set between themboth, she left the knight and went to the dwarf, and the dwarf took her andwent his way singing, and the knight went his way with great mourning.

Then came there two knights all armed, and cried on high, Sir Gawaine! knightof King Arthur’s, make thee ready in all haste and joust with me. So theyran together, that either fell down, and then on foot they drew their swords,and did full actually. The meanwhile the other knight went to the damosel, andasked her why she abode with that knight, and if ye would abide with me, I willbe your faithful knight. And with you will I be, said the damosel, for with SirGawaine I may not find in mine heart to be with him; for now here was oneknight discomfited ten knights, and at the last he was cowardly led away; andtherefore let us two go whilst they fight. And Sir Gawaine fought with thatother knight long, but at the last they accorded both. And then the knightprayed Sir Gawaine to lodge with him that night. So as Sir Gawaine went withthis knight he asked him, What knight is he in this country that smote down theten knights? For when he had done so manfully he suffered them to bind him handand foot, and so led him away. Ah, said the knight, that is the best knight Itrow in the world, and the most man of prowess, and he hath been served so ashe was even more than ten times, and his name hight Sir Pelleas, and he lovetha great lady in this country and her name is Ettard. And so when he loved herthere was cried in this country a great jousts three days, and all the knightsof this country were there and gentlewomen, and who that proved him the bestknight should have a passing good sword and a circlet of gold, and the circletthe knight should give it to the fairest lady that was at the jousts. And thisknight Sir Pelleas was the best knight that was there, and there were fivehundred knights, but there was never man that ever Sir Pelleas met withal buthe struck him down, or else from his horse; and every day of three days hestruck down twenty knights, therefore they gave him the prize, and forthwithalhe went thereas the Lady Ettard was, and gave her the circlet, and said openlyshe was the fairest lady that there was, and that would he prove upon anyknight that would say nay.

CHAPTER XXI.
How King Pelleas suffered himself tobe taken prisoner because he would have a sight of his lady, and how SirGawaine promised him to get to him the love of his lady.

And so he chose her for his sovereign lady, and never to love other but her,but she was so proud that she had scorn of him, and said that she would neverlove him though he would die for her. Wherefore all ladies and gentlewomen hadscorn of her that she was so proud, for there were fairer than she, and therewas none that was there but an Sir Pelleas would have proffered them love, theywould have loved him for his noble prowess. And so this knight promised theLady Ettard to follow her into this country, and never to leave her till sheloved him. And thus he is here the most part nigh her, and lodged by a priory,and every week she sendeth knights to fight with him. And when he hath put themto the worse, then will he suffer them wilfully to take him prisoner, becausehe would have a sight of this lady. And always she doth him great despite, forsometime she maketh her knights to tie him to his horse’s tail, and someto bind him under the horse’s belly; thus in the most shamefullest waysthat she can think he is brought to her. And all she doth it for to cause himto leave this country, and to leave his loving; but all this cannot make him toleave, for an he would have fought on foot he might have had the better of theten knights as well on foot as on horseback. Alas, said Sir Gawaine, it isgreat pity of him; and after this night I will seek him to-morrow, in thisforest, to do him all the help I can. So on the morn Sir Gawaine took his leaveof his host Sir Carados, and rode into the forest; and at the last he met withSir Pelleas, making great moan out of measure, so each of them saluted other,and asked him why he made such sorrow. And as it is above rehearsed, SirPelleas told Sir Gawaine: But always I suffer her knights to fare so with me asye saw yesterday, in trust at the last to win her love, for she knoweth wellall her knights should not lightly win me, an me list to fight with them to theuttermost. Wherefore an I loved her not so sore, I had liefer die an hundredtimes, an I might die so oft, rather than I would suffer that despite; but Itrust she will have pity upon me at the last, for love causeth many a goodknight to suffer to have his entent, but alas I am unfortunate. And therewithhe made so great dole and sorrow that unnethe he might hold him on horseback.

Now, said Sir Gawaine, leave your mourning and I shall promise you by the faithof my body to do all that lieth in my power to get you the love of your lady,and thereto I will plight you my troth. Ah, said Sir Pelleas, of what court areye? tell me, I pray you, my good friend. And then Sir Gawaine said, I am of thecourt of King Arthur, and his sister’s son, and King Lot of Orkney was myfather, and my name is Sir Gawaine. And then he said, My name is Sir Pelleas,born in the Isles, and of many isles I am lord, and never have I loved lady nordamosel till now in an unhappy time; and, sir knight, since ye are so nighcousin unto King Arthur, and a king’s son, therefore betray me not buthelp me, for I may never come by her but by some good knight, for she is in astrong castle here, fast by within this four mile, and over all this countryshe is lady of. And so I may never come to her presence, but as I suffer herknights to take me, and but if I did so that I might have a sight of her, I hadbeen dead long or this time; and yet fair word had I never of her, but when Iam brought to-fore her she rebuketh me in the foulest manner. And then theytake my horse and harness and put me out of the gates, and she will not sufferme to eat nor drink; and always I offer me to be her prisoner, but that shewill not suffer me, for I would desire no more, what pains so ever I had, sothat I might have a sight of her daily. Well, said Sir Gawaine, all this shallI amend an ye will do as I shall devise: I will have your horse and yourarmour, and so will I ride unto her castle and tell her that I have slain you,and so shall I come within her to cause her to cherish me, and then shall I domy true part that ye shall not fail to have the love of her.

CHAPTER XXII.
How Sir Gawaine came to the LadyEttard, and how Sir Pelleas found them sleeping.

And therewith Sir Gawaine plight his troth unto Sir Pelleas to be true andfaithful unto him; so each one plight their troth to other, and so they changedhorses and harness, and Sir Gawaine departed, and came to the castle whereasstood the pavilions of this lady without the gate. And as soon as Ettard hadespied Sir Gawaine she fled in toward the castle. Sir Gawaine spake on high,and bade her abide, for he was not Sir Pelleas; I am another knight that haveslain Sir Pelleas. Do off your helm, said the Lady Ettard, that I may see yourvisage. And so when she saw that it was not Sir Pelleas, she bade him alightand led him unto her castle, and asked him faithfully whether he had slain SirPelleas. And he said her yea, and told her his name was Sir Gawaine of thecourt of King Arthur, and his sister’s son. Truly, said she, that isgreat pity, for he was a passing good knight of his body, but of all men aliveI hated him most, for I could never be quit of him; and for ye have slain him Ishall be your woman, and to do anything that might please you. So she made SirGawaine good cheer. Then Sir Gawaine said that he loved a lady and by no meansshe would love him. She is to blame, said Ettard, an she will not love you, forye that be so well born a man, and such a man of prowess, there is no lady inthe world too good for you. Will ye, said Sir Gawaine, promise me to do allthat ye may, by the faith of your body, to get me the love of my lady? Yea,sir, said she, and that I promise you by the faith of my body. Now, said SirGawaine, it is yourself that I love so well, therefore I pray you hold yourpromise. I may not choose, said the Lady Ettard, but if I should be forsworn;and so she granted him to fulfil all his desire.

So it was then in the month of May that she and Sir Gawaine went out of thecastle and supped in a pavilion, and there was made a bed, and there SirGawaine and the Lady Ettard went to bed together, and in another pavilion shelaid her damosels, and in the third pavilion she laid part of her knights, forthen she had no dread of Sir Pelleas. And there Sir Gawaine lay with her inthat pavilion two days and two nights. And on the third day, in the morningearly, Sir Pelleas armed him, for he had never slept since Sir Gawaine departedfrom him; for Sir Gawaine had promised him by the faith of his body, to come tohim unto his pavilion by that priory within the space of a day and a night.

Then Sir Pelleas mounted upon horseback, and came to the pavilions that stoodwithout the castle, and found in the first pavilion three knights in threebeds, and three squires lying at their feet. Then went he to the secondpavilion and found four gentlewomen lying in four beds. And then he yede to thethird pavilion and found Sir Gawaine lying in bed with his Lady Ettard, andeither clipping other in arms, and when he saw that his heart well-nigh brastfor sorrow, and said: Alas! that ever a knight should be found so false; andthen he took his horse and might not abide no longer for pure sorrow. And whenhe had ridden nigh half a mile he turned again and thought to slay them both;and when he saw them both so lie sleeping fast, unnethe he might hold him onhorseback for sorrow, and said thus to himself, Though this knight be never sofalse, I will never slay him sleeping, for I will never destroy the high orderof knighthood; and therewith he departed again. And or he had ridden half amile he returned again, and thought then to slay them both, making the greatestsorrow that ever man made. And when he came to the pavilions, he tied his horseunto a tree, and pulled out his sword naked in his hand, and went to themthereas they lay, and yet he thought it were shame to slay them sleeping, andlaid the naked sword overthwart both their throats, and so took his horse androde his way.

And when Sir Pelleas came to his pavilions he told his knights and his squireshow he had sped, and said thus to them, For your true and good service ye havedone me I shall give you all my goods, for I will go unto my bed and neverarise until I am dead. And when that I am dead I charge you that ye take theheart out of my body and bear it her betwixt two silver dishes, and tell herhow I saw her lie with the false knight Sir Gawaine. Right so Sir Pelleasunarmed himself, and went unto his bed making marvellous dole and sorrow.

When Sir Gawaine and Ettard awoke of their sleep, and found the naked swordoverthwart their throats, then she knew well it was Sir Pelleas’ sword.Alas! said she to Sir Gawaine, ye have betrayed me and Sir Pelleas both, for yetold me ye had slain him, and now I know well it is not so, he is alive. And ifSir Pelleas had been as uncourteous to you as ye have been to him ye had been adead knight; but ye have deceived me and betrayed me falsely, that all ladiesand damosels may beware by you and me. And therewith Sir Gawaine made himready, and went into the forest. So it happed then that the Damosel of theLake, Nimue, met with a knight of Sir Pelleas, that went on his foot in theforest making great dole, and she asked him the cause. And so the woful knighttold her how his master and lord was betrayed through a knight and lady, andhow he will never arise out of his bed till he be dead. Bring me to him, saidshe anon, and I will warrant his life he shall not die for love, and she thathath caused him so to love, she shall be in as evil plight as he is or it belong to, for it is no joy of such a proud lady that will have no mercy of sucha valiant knight. Anon that knight brought her unto him, and when she saw himlie in his bed, she thought she saw never so likely a knight; and therewith shethrew an enchantment upon him, and he fell asleep. And therewhile she rode untothe Lady Ettard, and charged no man to awake him till she came again. So withintwo hours she brought the Lady Ettard thither, and both ladies found himasleep: Lo, said the Damosel of the Lake, ye ought to be ashamed for to murdersuch a knight. And therewith she threw such an enchantment upon her that sheloved him sore, that well-nigh she was out of her mind. O Lord Jesu, said theLady Ettard, how is it befallen unto me that I love now him that I have mosthated of any man alive? That is the righteous judgment of God, said thedamosel. And then anon Sir Pelleas awaked and looked upon Ettard; and when hesaw her he knew her, and then he hated her more than any woman alive, and said:Away, traitress, come never in my sight. And when she heard him say so, shewept and made great sorrow out of measure.

CHAPTER XXIII.
How Sir Pelleas loved no moreEttard by means of the Damosel of the Lake, whom he loved ever after.

Sir knight Pelleas, said the Damosel of the Lake, take your horse and comeforth with me out of this country, and ye shall love a lady that shall loveyou. I will well, said Sir Pelleas, for this Lady Ettard hath done me greatdespite and shame, and there he told her the beginning and ending, and how hehad purposed never to have arisen till that he had been dead. And now suchgrace God hath sent me, that I hate her as much as ever I loved her, thanked beour Lord Jesus! Thank me, said the Damosel of the Lake. Anon Sir Pelleas armedhim, and took his horse, and commanded his men to bring after his pavilions andhis stuff where the Damosel of the Lake would assign. So the Lady Ettard diedfor sorrow, and the Damosel of the Lake rejoiced Sir Pelleas, and lovedtogether during their life days.

CHAPTER XXIV.
How Sir Marhaus rode with thedamosel, and how he came to the Duke of the South Marches.

Now turn we unto Sir Marhaus, that rode with the damosel of thirty winter ofage, southward. And so they came into a deep forest, and by fortune they werenighted, and rode long in a deep way, and at the last they came unto acourtelage, and there they asked harbour. But the man of the courtelage wouldnot lodge them for no treatise that they could treat, but thus much the goodman said, An ye will take the adventure of your lodging, I shall bring youwhere ye shall be lodged. What adventure is that that I shall have for mylodging? said Sir Marhaus. Ye shall wit when ye come there, said the good man.Sir, what adventure so it be, bring me thither I pray thee, said Sir Marhaus;for I am weary, my damosel, and my horse. So the good man went and opened thegate, and within an hour he brought him unto a fair castle, and then the poorman called the porter, and anon he was let into the castle, and so he told thelord how he brought him a knight errant and a damosel that would be lodged withhim. Let him in, said the lord, it may happen he shall repent that they tooktheir lodging here.

So Sir Marhaus was let in with torchlight, and there was a goodly sight ofyoung men that welcomed him. And then his horse was led into the stable, and heand the damosel were brought into the hall, and there stood a mighty duke andmany goodly men about him. Then this lord asked him what he hight, and fromwhence he came, and with whom he dwelt. Sir, he said, I am a knight of KingArthur’s and knight of the Table Round, and my name is Sir Marhaus, andborn I am in Ireland. And then said the duke to him, That me sore repenteth:the cause is this, for I love not thy lord nor none of thy fellows of the TableRound; and therefore ease thyself this night as well as thou mayest, for asto-morn I and my six sons shall match with you. Is there no remedy but that Imust have ado with you and your six sons at once? said Sir Marhaus. No, saidthe duke, for this cause I made mine avow, for Sir Gawaine slew my seven sonsin a recounter, therefore I made mine avow, there should never knight of KingArthur’s court lodge with me, or come thereas I might have ado with him,but that I would have a revenging of my sons’ death. What is your name?said Sir Marhaus; I require you tell me, an it please you. Wit thou well I amthe Duke of South Marches. Ah, said Sir Marhaus, I have heard say that ye havebeen long time a great foe unto my lord Arthur and to his knights. That shallye feel to-morn, said the duke. Shall I have ado with you? said Sir Marhaus.Yea, said the duke, thereof shalt thou not choose, and therefore take you toyour chamber, and ye shall have all that to you longeth. So Sir Marhausdeparted and was led to a chamber, and his damosel was led unto her chamber.And on the morn the duke sent unto Sir Marhaus and bade make him ready. And soSir Marhaus arose and armed him, and then there was a mass sung afore him, andbrake his fast, and so mounted on horseback in the court of the castle wherethey should do the battle. So there was the duke all ready on horseback, cleanarmed, and his six sons by him, and everych had a spear in his hand, and sothey encountered, whereas the duke and his two sons brake their spears uponhim, but Sir Marhaus held up his spear and touched none of them.

CHAPTER XXV.
How Sir Marhaus fought with the dukeand his four sons and made them to yield them.

Then came the four sons by couple, and two of them brake their spears, and sodid the other two. And all this while Sir Marhaus touched them not. Then SirMarhaus ran to the duke, and smote him with his spear that horse and man fellto the earth, and so he served his sons; and then Sir Marhaus alighted down andbade the duke yield him or else he would slay him. And then some of his sonsrecovered, and would have set upon Sir Marhaus; then Sir Marhaus said to theduke, Cease thy sons, or else I will do the uttermost to you all. Then the dukesaw he might not escape the death, he cried to his sons, and charged them toyield them to Sir Marhaus; and they kneeled all down and put the pommels oftheir swords to the knight, and so he received them. And then they helped uptheir father, and so by their cominal assent promised to Sir Marhaus never tobe foes unto King Arthur, and thereupon at Whitsuntide after to come, he andhis sons, and put them in the king’s grace.

Then Sir Marhaus departed, and within two days his damosel brought him whereaswas a great tournament that the Lady de Vawse had cried. And who that did bestshould have a rich circlet of gold worth a thousand besants. And there SirMarhaus did so nobly that he was renowned, and had sometime down forty knights,and so the circlet of gold was rewarded him. Then he departed from them withgreat worship; and so within seven nights his damosel brought him to anearl’s place, his name was the Earl Fergus, that after was SirTristram’s knight; and this earl was but a young man, and late come intohis lands, and there was a giant fast by him that hight Taulurd, and he hadanother brother in Cornwall that hight Taulas, that Sir Tristram slew when hewas out of his mind. So this earl made his complaint unto Sir Marhaus, thatthere was a giant by him that destroyed all his lands, and how he durst nowhereride nor go for him. Sir, said the knight, whether useth he to fight onhorseback or on foot? Nay, said the earl, there may no horse bear him. Well,said Sir Marhaus, then will I fight with him on foot; so on the morn SirMarhaus prayed the earl that one of his men might bring him whereas the giantwas; and so he was, for he saw him sit under a tree of holly, and many clubs ofiron and gisarms about him. So this knight dressed him to the giant, puttinghis shield afore him, and the giant took an iron club in his hand, and at thefirst stroke he clave Sir Marhaus’ shield in two pieces. And there he wasin great peril, for the giant was a wily fighter, but at last Sir Marhaus smoteoff his right arm above the elbow.

Then the giant fled and the knight after him, and so he drove him into a water,but the giant was so high that he might not wade after him. And then SirMarhaus made the Earl Fergus’ man to fetch him stones, and with thosestones the knight gave the giant many sore knocks, till at the last he made himfall down into the water, and so was he there dead. Then Sir Marhaus went untothe giant’s castle, and there he delivered twenty-four ladies and twelveknights out of the giant’s prison, and there he had great riches withoutnumber, so that the days of his life he was never poor man. Then he returned tothe Earl Fergus, the which thanked him greatly, and would have given him halfhis lands, but he would none take. So Sir Marhaus dwelled with the earl nighhalf a year, for he was sore bruised with the giant, and at the last he tookhis leave. And as he rode by the way, he met with Sir Gawaine and Sir Uwaine,and so by adventure he met with four knights of Arthur’s court, the firstwas Sir Sagramore le Desirous, Sir Osanna, Sir Dodinas le Savage, and Sir Felotof Listinoise; and there Sir Marhaus with one spear smote down these fourknights, and hurt them sore. So he departed to meet at his day aforeset.

CHAPTER XXVI.
How Sir Uwaine rode with the damoselof sixty year of age, and how he gat the prize at tourneying.

Now turn we unto Sir Uwaine, that rode westward with his damosel of three scorewinter of age, and she brought him thereas was a tournament nigh the march ofWales. And at that tournament Sir Uwaine smote down thirty knights, thereforewas given him the prize, and that was a gerfalcon, and a white steed trappedwith cloth of gold. So then Sir Uwaine did many strange adventures by the meansof the old damosel, and so she brought him to a lady that was called the Ladyof the Rock, the which was much courteous. So there were in the country twoknights that were brethren, and they were called two perilous knights, the oneknight hight Sir Edward of the Red Castle, and the other Sir Hue of the RedCastle; and these two brethren had disherited the Lady of the Rock of a baronyof lands by their extortion. And as this knight was lodged with this lady shemade her complaint to him of these two knights.

Madam, said Sir Uwaine, they are to blame, for they do against the high orderof knighthood, and the oath that they made; and if it like you I will speakwith them, because I am a knight of King Arthur’s, and I will entreatthem with fairness; and if they will not, I shall do battle with them, and inthe defence of your right. Gramercy said the lady, and thereas I may not acquityou, God shall. So on the morn the two knights were sent for, that they shouldcome thither to speak with the Lady of the Rock, and wit ye well they failednot, for they came with an hundred horse. But when this lady saw them in thismanner so big, she would not suffer Sir Uwaine to go out to them upon no suretynor for no fair language, but she made him speak with them over a tower, butfinally these two brethren would not be entreated, and answered that they wouldkeep that they had. Well, said Sir Uwaine, then will I fight with one of you,and prove that ye do this lady wrong. That will we not, said they, for an we dobattle, we two will fight with one knight at once, and therefore if ye willfight so, we will be ready at what hour ye will assign. And if ye win us inbattle the lady shall have her lands again. Ye say well, said Sir Uwaine,therefore make you ready so that ye be here to-morn in the defence of thelady’s right.

CHAPTER XXVII.
How Sir Uwaine fought with twoknights and overcame them.

So was there sikerness made on both parties that no treason should be wroughton neither party; so then the knights departed and made them ready, and thatnight Sir Uwaine had great cheer. And on the morn he arose early and heardmass, and brake his fast, and so he rode unto the plain without the gates,where hoved the two brethren abiding him. So they rode together passing sore,that Sir Edward and Sir Hue brake their spears upon Sir Uwaine. And Sir Uwainesmote Sir Edward that he fell over his horse and yet his spear brast not. Andthen he spurred his horse and came upon Sir Hue and overthrew him, but theysoon recovered and dressed their shields and drew their swords and bade SirUwaine alight and do his battle to the uttermost. Then Sir Uwaine devoided hishorse suddenly, and put his shield afore him and drew his sword, and so theydressed together, and either gave other such strokes, and there these twobrethren wounded Sir Uwaine passing grievously that the Lady of the Rock weenedhe should have died. And thus they fought together five hours as men raged outof reason. And at the last Sir Uwaine smote Sir Edward upon the helm such astroke that his sword carved unto his canel bone, and then Sir Hue abated hiscourage, but Sir Uwaine pressed fast to have slain him. That saw Sir Hue: hekneeled down and yielded him to Sir Uwaine. And he of his gentleness receivedhis sword, and took him by the hand, and went into the castle together. Thenthe Lady of the Rock was passing glad, and the other brother made great sorrowfor his brother’s death. Then the lady was restored of all her lands, andSir Hue was commanded to be at the court of King Arthur at the next feast ofPentecost. So Sir Uwaine dwelt with the lady nigh half a year, for it was longor he might be whole of his great hurts. And so when it drew nigh the term-daythat Sir Gawaine, Sir Marhaus, and Sir Uwaine should meet at the cross-way,then every knight drew him thither to hold his promise that they had made; andSir Marhaus and Sir Uwaine brought their damosels with them, but Sir Gawainehad lost his damosel, as it is afore rehearsed.

CHAPTER XXVIII.
How at the year’s end allthree knights with their three damosels met at the fountain.

Right so at the twelvemonths’ end they met all three knights at thefountain and their damosels, but the damosel that Sir Gawaine had could say butlittle worship of him so they departed from the damosels and rode through agreat forest, and there they met with a messenger that came from King Arthur,that had sought them well-nigh a twelvemonth throughout all England, Wales, andScotland, and charged if ever he might find Sir Gawaine and Sir Uwaine to bringthem to the court again. And then were they all glad, and so prayed they SirMarhaus to ride with them to the king’s court. And so within twelve daysthey came to Camelot, and the king was passing glad of their coming, and so wasall the court. Then the king made them to swear upon a book to tell him alltheir adventures that had befallen them that twelvemonth, and so they did. Andthere was Sir Marhaus well known, for there were knights that he had matchedaforetime, and he was named one of the best knights living.

Against the feast of Pentecost came the Damosel of the Lake and brought withher Sir Pelleas; and at that high feast there was great jousting of knights,and of all knights that were at that jousts, Sir Pelleas had the prize, and SirMarhaus was named the next; but Sir Pelleas was so strong there might but fewknights sit him a buffet with a spear. And at that next feast Sir Pelleas andSir Marhaus were made knights of the Table Round, for there were two siegesvoid, for two knights were slain that twelvemonth, and great joy had KingArthur of Sir Pelleas and of Sir Marhaus. But Pelleas loved never after SirGawaine, but as he spared him for the love of King Arthur; but ofttimes atjousts and tournaments Sir Pelleas quit Sir Gawaine, for so it rehearseth inthe book of French. So Sir Tristram many days after fought with Sir Marhaus inan island, and there they did a great battle, but at the last Sir Tristram slewhim, so Sir Tristram was wounded that unnethe he might recover, and lay at anunnery half a year. And Sir Pelleas was a worshipful knight, and was one ofthe four that achieved the Sangreal, and the Damosel of the Lake made by hermeans that never he had ado with Sir Launcelot de Lake, for where Sir Launcelotwas at any jousts or any tournament, she would not suffer him be there thatday, but if it were on the side of Sir Launcelot.

Explicit liber quartus.
Incipit liber quintus.

BOOK V.

CHAPTER I.
How twelve aged ambassadors of Romecame to King Arthur to demand truage for Britain.

When King Arthur had after long war rested, and held a royal feast and TableRound with his allies of kings, princes, and noble knights all of the RoundTable, there came into his hall, he sitting in his throne royal, twelve ancientmen, bearing each of them a branch of olive, in token that they came asambassadors and messengers from the Emperor Lucius, which was called at thattime, Dictator or Procuror of the Public Weal of Rome. Which said messengers,after their entering and coming into the presence of King Arthur, did to himtheir obeisance in making to him reverence, and said to him in this wise: Thehigh and mighty Emperor Lucius sendeth to the King of Britain greeting,commanding thee to acknowledge him for thy lord, and to send him the truage dueof this realm unto the Empire, which thy father and other to-fore thyprecessors have paid as is of record, and thou as rebel not knowing him as thysovereign, withholdest and retainest contrary to the statutes and decrees madeby the noble and worthy Julius Cesar, conqueror of this realm, and firstEmperor of Rome. And if thou refuse his demand and commandment know thou forcertain that he shall make strong war against thee, thy realms and lands, andshall chastise thee and thy subjects, that it shall be ensample perpetual untoall kings and princes, for to deny their truage unto that noble empire whichdomineth upon the universal world. Then when they had showed the effect oftheir message, the king commanded them to withdraw them, and said he shouldtake advice of council and give to them an answer. Then some of the youngknights, hearing this their message, would have run on them to have slain them,saying that it was a rebuke to all the knights there being present to sufferthem to say so to the king. And anon the king commanded that none of them, uponpain of death, to missay them nor do them any harm, and commanded a knight tobring them to their lodging, and see that they have all that is necessary andrequisite for them, with the best cheer, and that no dainty be spared, for theRomans be great lords, and though their message please me not nor my court, yetI must remember mine honour.

After this the king let call all his lords and knights of the Round Table tocounsel upon this matter, and desired them to say their advice. Then Sir Cadorof Cornwall spake first and said, Sir, this message liketh me well, for we havemany days rested us and have been idle, and now I hope ye shall make sharp waron the Romans, where I doubt not we shall get honour. I believe well, saidArthur, that this matter pleaseth thee well, but these answers may not beanswered, for the demand grieveth me sore, for truly I will never pay truage toRome, wherefore I pray you to counsel me. I have understood that Belinus andBrenius, kings of Britain, have had the empire in their hands many days, andalso Constantine the son of Heleine, which is an open evidence that we owe notribute to Rome but of right we that be descended of them have right to claimthe title of the empire.

CHAPTER II.
How the kings and lords promised toKing Arthur aid and help against the Romans.

Then answered King Anguish of Scotland, Sir, ye ought of right to be above allother kings, for unto you is none like nor pareil in Christendom, of knighthoodnor of dignity, and I counsel you never to obey the Romans, for when theyreigned on us they distressed our elders, and put this land to great extortionsand tallies, wherefore I make here mine avow to avenge me on them; and for tostrengthen your quarrel I shall furnish twenty thousand good men of war, andwage them on my costs, which shall await on you with myself when it shallplease you. And the king of Little Britain granted him to the same thirtythousand; wherefore King Arthur thanked them. And then every man agreed to makewar, and to aid after their power; that is to wit, the lord of West Walespromised to bring thirty thousand men, and Sir Uwaine, Sir Ider his son, withtheir cousins, promised to bring thirty thousand. Then Sir Launcelot with allother promised in likewise every man a great multitude.

And when King Arthur understood their courages and good wills he thanked themheartily, and after let call the ambassadors to hear their answer. And inpresence of all his lords and knights he said to them in this wise: I will thatye return unto your lord and Procuror of the Common Weal for the Romans, andsay ye to him, Of his demand and commandment I set nothing, and that I know ofno truage nor tribute that I owe to him, nor to none earthly prince, Christiannor heathen; but I pretend to have and occupy the sovereignty of the empire,wherein I am entitled by the right of my predecessors, sometime kings of thisland; and say to him that I am delibered and fully concluded, to go with minearmy with strength and power unto Rome, by the grace of God, to take possessionin the empire and subdue them that be rebel. Wherefore I command him and allthem of Rome, that incontinent they make to me their homage, and to acknowledgeme for their Emperor and Governor, upon pain that shall ensue. And then hecommanded his treasurer to give to them great and large gifts, and to pay alltheir dispenses, and assigned Sir Cador to convey them out of the land. And sothey took their leave and departed, and took their shipping at Sandwich, andpassed forth by Flanders, Almaine, the mountains, and all Italy, until theycame unto Lucius. And after the reverence made, they made relation of theiranswer, like as ye to-fore have heard.

When the Emperor Lucius had well understood their credence, he was sore movedas he had been all araged, and said, I had supposed that Arthur would haveobeyed to my commandment, and have served you himself, as him well beseemed orany other king to do. O Sir, said one of the senators, let be such vain words,for we let you wit that I and my fellows were full sore afeard to behold hiscountenance; I fear me ye have made a rod for yourself, for he intendeth to belord of this empire, which sore is to be doubted if he come, for he is allanother man than ye ween, and holdeth the most noble court of the world, allother kings nor princes may not compare unto his noble maintenance. On NewYear’s Day we saw him in his estate, which was the royalest that ever wesaw, for he was served at his table with nine kings, and the noblest fellowshipof other princes, lords, and knights that be in the world, and every knightapproved and like a lord, and holdeth Table Round: and in his person the mostmanly man that liveth, and is like to conquer all the world, for unto hiscourage it is too little: wherefore I advise you to keep well your marches andstraits in the mountains; for certainly he is a lord to be doubted. Well, saidLucius, before Easter I suppose to pass the mountains, and so forth intoFrance, and there bereave him his lands with Genoese and other mighty warriorsof Tuscany and Lombardy. And I shall send for them all that be subjects andallied to the empire of Rome to come to mine aid. And forthwith sent old wiseknights unto these countries following: first to Ambage and Arrage, toAlexandria, to India, to Armenia, whereas the river of Euphrates runneth intoAsia, to Africa, and Europe the Large, to Ertayne and Elamye, to Araby, Egypt,and to Damascus, to Damietta and Cayer, to Cappadocia, to Tarsus, Turkey,Pontus and Pamphylia, to Syria and Galatia. And all these were subject to Romeand many more, as Greece, Cyprus, Macedonia, Calabria, Cateland, Portugal, withmany thousands of Spaniards. Thus all these kings, dukes, and admirals,assembled about Rome, with sixteen kings at once, with great multitude ofpeople. When the emperor understood their coming he made ready his Romans andall the people between him and Flanders.

Also he had gotten with him fifty giants which had been engendered of fiends;and they were ordained to guard his person, and to break the front of thebattle of King Arthur. And thus departed from Rome, and came down the mountainsfor to destroy the lands that Arthur had conquered, and came unto Cologne, andbesieged a castle thereby, and won it soon, and stuffed it with two hundredSaracens or Infidels, and after destroyed many fair countries which Arthur hadwon of King Claudas. And thus Lucius came with all his host, which weredisperplyd sixty mile in breadth, and commanded them to meet with him inBurgoyne, for he purposed to destroy the realm of Little Britain.

CHAPTER III.
How King Arthur held a parliament atYork, and how he ordained the realm should be governed in his absence.

Now leave we of Lucius the Emperor and speak we of King Arthur, that commandedall them of his retinue to be ready at the utas of Hilary for to hold aparliament at York. And at that parliament was concluded to arrest all the navyof the land, and to be ready within fifteen days at Sandwich, and there heshowed to his army how he purposed to conquer the empire which he ought to haveof right. And there he ordained two governors of this realm, that is to say,Sir Baudwin of Britain, for to counsel to the best, and Sir Constantine, son toSir Cador of Cornwall, which after the death of Arthur was king of this realm.And in the presence of all his lords he resigned the rule of the realm andGuenever his queen to them, wherefore Sir Launcelot was wroth, for he left SirTristram with King Mark for the love of Beale Isould. Then the Queen Guenevermade great sorrow for the departing of her lord and other, and swooned in suchwise that the ladies bare her into her chamber. Thus the king with his greatarmy departed, leaving the queen and realm in the governance of Sir Baudwin andConstantine. And when he was on his horse he said with an high voice, If I diein this journey I will that Sir Constantine be mine heir and king crowned ofthis realm as next of my blood. And after departed and entered into the sea atSandwich with all his army, with a great multitude of ships, galleys, cogs, anddromounds, sailing on the sea.

CHAPTER IV.
How King Arthur being shipped andlying in his cabin had a marvellous dream and of the exposition thereof.

And as the king lay in his cabin in the ship, he fell in a slumbering anddreamed a marvellous dream: him seemed that a dreadful dragon did drown much ofhis people, and he came flying out of the west, and his head was enamelled withazure, and his shoulders shone as gold, his belly like mails of a marvelloushue, his tail full of tatters, his feet full of fine sable, and his claws likefine gold; and an hideous flame of fire flew out of his mouth, like as the landand water had flamed all of fire. After, him seemed there came out of theorient, a grimly boar all black in a cloud, and his paws as big as a post; hewas rugged looking roughly, he was the foulest beast that ever man saw, heroared and romed so hideously that it were marvel to hear. Then the dreadfuldragon advanced him and came in the wind like a falcon giving great strokes onthe boar, and the boar hit him again with his grizzly tusks that his breast wasall bloody, and that the hot blood made all the sea red of his blood. Then thedragon flew away all on an height, and came down with such a swough, and smotethe boar on the ridge, which was ten foot large from the head to the tail, andsmote the boar all to powder both flesh and bones, that it flittered all abroadon the sea.

And therewith the king awoke anon, and was sore abashed of this dream, and sentanon for a wise philosopher, commanding to tell him the signification of hisdream. Sir, said the philosopher, the dragon that thou dreamedst of betokeneththine own person that sailest here, and the colours of his wings be thy realmsthat thou hast won, and his tail which is all to-tattered signifieth the nobleknights of the Round Table; and the boar that the dragon slew coming from theclouds betokeneth some tyrant that tormenteth the people, or else thou art liketo fight with some giant thyself, being horrible and abominable, whose peer yesaw never in your days, wherefore of this dreadful dream doubt thee nothing,but as a conqueror come forth thyself.

Then after this soon they had sight of land, and sailed till they arrived atBarflete in Flanders, and when they were there he found many of his great lordsready, as they had been commanded to wait upon him.

CHAPTER V.
How a man of the country told to him ofa marvellous giant, and how he fought and conquered him.

Then came to him an husbandman of the country, and told him how there was inthe country of Constantine beside Brittany, a great giant which had slain,murdered and devoured much people of the country, and had been sustained sevenyear with the children of the commons of that land, insomuch that all thechildren be all slain and destroyed; and now late he hath taken the Duchess ofBrittany as she rode with her meiny, and hath led her to his lodging which isin a mountain, for to ravish and lie by her to her life’s end, and manypeople followed her, more than five hundred, but all they might not rescue her,but they left her shrieking and crying lamentably, wherefore I suppose that hehath slain her in fulfilling his foul lust of lechery. She was wife unto thycousin Sir Howell, whom we call full nigh of thy blood. Now, as thou art arightful king, have pity on this lady, and revenge us all as thou art a nobleconqueror. Alas, said King Arthur, this is a great mischief, I had liefer thanthe best realm that I have that I had been a furlong way to-fore him for tohave rescued that lady. Now, fellow, said King Arthur, canst thou bring methereas this giant haunteth? Yea, Sir, said the good man, look yonder whereasthou seest those two great fires, there shalt thou find him, and more treasurethan I suppose is in all France. When the king had understood this piteouscase, he returned into his tent.

Then he called to him Sir Kay and Sir Bedivere, and commanded them secretly tomake ready horse and harness for himself and them twain; for after evensong hewould ride on pilgrimage with them two only unto Saint Michael’s mount.And then anon he made him ready, and armed him at all points, and took hishorse and his shield. And so they three departed thence and rode forth as fastas ever they might till that they came to the foreland of that mount. And therethey alighted, and the king commanded them to tarry there, for he would himselfgo up into that mount. And so he ascended up into that hill till he came to agreat fire, and there he found a careful widow wringing her hands and makinggreat sorrow, sitting by a grave new made. And then King Arthur saluted her,and demanded of her wherefore she made such lamentation, to whom she answeredand said, Sir knight, speak soft, for yonder is a devil, if he hear thee speakhe will come and destroy thee; I hold thee unhappy; what dost thou here in thismountain? for if ye were such fifty as ye be, ye were not able to makeresistance against this devil: here lieth a duchess dead, the which was thefairest of all the world, wife to Sir Howell, Duke of Brittany, he hathmurdered her in forcing her, and hath slit her unto the navel.

Dame, said the king, I come from the noble conqueror King Arthur, for to treatwith that tyrant for his liege people. Fie on such treaties, said she, hesetteth not by the king nor by no man else; but an if thou have broughtArthur’s wife, dame Guenever, he shall be gladder than thou hadst givento him half France. Beware, approach him not too nigh, for he hath vanquishedfifteen kings, and hath made him a coat full of precious stones embroideredwith their beards, which they sent him to have his love for salvation of theirpeople at this last Christmas. And if thou wilt, speak with him at yonder greatfire at supper. Well, said Arthur, I will accomplish my message for all yourfearful words; and went forth by the crest of that hill, and saw where he satat supper gnawing on a limb of a man, baking his broad limbs by the fire, andbreechless, and three fair damosels turning three broaches whereon werebroached twelve young children late born, like young birds.

When King Arthur beheld that piteous sight he had great compassion on them, sothat his heart bled for sorrow, and hailed him, saying in this wise: He thatall the world wieldeth give thee short life and shameful death; and the devilhave thy soul; why hast thou murdered these young innocent children, andmurdered this duchess? Therefore, arise and dress thee, thou glutton, for thisday shalt thou die of my hand. Then the glutton anon started up, and took agreat club in his hand, and smote at the king that his coronal fell to theearth. And the king hit him again that he carved his belly and cut off hisgenitours, that his guts and his entrails fell down to the ground. Then thegiant threw away his club, and caught the king in his arms that he crushed hisribs. Then the three maidens kneeled down and called to Christ for help andcomfort of Arthur. And then Arthur weltered and wrung, that he was other whileunder and another time above. And so weltering and wallowing they rolled downthe hill till they came to the sea mark, and ever as they so weltered Arthursmote him with his dagger.

And it fortuned they came to the place whereas the two knights were and keptArthur’s horse; then when they saw the king fast in the giant’sarms they came and loosed him. And then the king commanded Sir Kay to smite offthe giant’s head, and to set it upon a truncheon of a spear, and bear itto Sir Howell, and tell him that his enemy was slain; and after let this headbe bound to a barbican that all the people may see and behold it; and go ye twoup to the mountain, and fetch me my shield, my sword, and the club of iron; andas for the treasure, take ye it, for ye shall find there goods out of number;so I have the kirtle and the club I desire no more. This was the fiercest giantthat ever I met with, save one in the mount of Araby, which I overcame, butthis was greater and fiercer. Then the knights fetched the club and the kirtle,and some of the treasure they took to themselves, and returned again to thehost. And anon this was known through all the country, wherefore the peoplecame and thanked the king. And he said again, Give the thanks to God, anddepart the goods among you.

And after that King Arthur said and commanded his cousin Howell, that he shouldordain for a church to be builded on the same hill in the worship of SaintMichael. And on the morn the king removed with his great battle, and came intoChampayne and in a valley, and there they pight their tents; and the king beingset at his dinner, there came in two messengers, of whom that one was Marshalof France, and said to the king that the emperor was entered into France, andhad destroyed a great part, and was in Burgoyne, and had destroyed and madegreat slaughter of people, and burnt towns and boroughs; wherefore, if thoucome not hastily, they must yield up their bodies and goods.

CHAPTER VI.
How King Arthur sent Sir Gawaine andother to Lucius, and how they were assailed and escaped with worship.

Then the king did do call Sir Gawaine, Sir Bors, Sir Lionel, and Sir Bedivere,and commanded them to go straight to Sir Lucius, and say ye to him that hastilyhe remove out of my land; and if he will not, bid him make him ready to battleand not distress the poor people. Then anon these noble knights dressed them tohorseback, and when they came to the green wood, they saw many pavilions set ina meadow, of silk of divers colours, beside a river, and the emperor’spavilion was in the middle with an eagle displayed above. To the which tent ourknights rode toward, and ordained Sir Gawaine and Sir Bors to do the message,and left in a bushment Sir Lionel and Sir Bedivere. And then Sir Gawaine andSir Bors did their message, and commanded Lucius, in Arthur’s name toavoid his land, or shortly to address him to battle. To whom Lucius answeredand said, Ye shall return to your lord, and say ye to him that I shall subduehim and all his lands. Then Sir Gawaine was wroth and said, I had liefer thanall France fight against thee; and so had I, said Sir Bors, liefer than allBrittany or Burgoyne.

Then a knight named Sir Gainus, nigh cousin to the emperor, said, Lo, how theseBritons be full of pride and boast, and they brag as though they bare up allthe world. Then Sir Gawaine was sore grieved with these words, and pulled outhis sword and smote off his head. And therewith turned their horses and rodeover waters and through woods till they came to their bushment, whereas SirLionel and Sir Bedivere were hoving. The Romans followed fast after, onhorseback and on foot, over a champaign unto a wood; then Sir Bors turned hishorse and saw a knight come fast on, whom he smote through the body with aspear that he fell dead down to the earth; then came Caliburn one of thestrongest of Pavie, and smote down many of Arthur’s knights. And when SirBors saw him do so much harm, he addressed toward him, and smote him throughthe breast, that he fell down dead to the earth. Then Sir Feldenak thought torevenge the death of Gainus upon Sir Gawaine, but Sir Gawaine was ware thereof,and smote him on the head, which stroke stinted not till it came to his breast.And then he returned and came to his fellows in the bushment. And there was arecounter, for the bushment brake on the Romans, and slew and hew down theRomans, and forced the Romans to flee and return, whom the noble knights chasedunto their tents.

Then the Romans gathered more people, and also footmen came on, and there was anew battle, and so much people that Sir Bors and Sir Berel were taken. But whenSir Gawaine saw that, he took with him Sir Idrus the good knight, and said hewould never see King Arthur but if he rescued them, and pulled out Galatine hisgood sword, and followed them that led those two knights away; and he smote himthat led Sir Bors, and took Sir Bors from him and delivered him to his fellows.And Sir Idrus in likewise rescued Sir Berel. Then began the battle to be great,that our knights were in great jeopardy, wherefore Sir Gawaine sent to KingArthur for succour, and that he hie him, for I am sore wounded, and that ourprisoners may pay goods out of number. And the messenger came to the king andtold him his message. And anon the king did do assemble his army, but anon, orhe departed the prisoners were come, and Sir Gawaine and his fellows gat thefield and put the Romans to flight, and after returned and came with theirfellowship in such wise that no man of worship was lost of them, save that SirGawaine was sore hurt. Then the king did do ransack his wounds and comfortedhim. And thus was the beginning of the first journey of the Britons and Romans,and there were slain of the Romans more than ten thousand, and great joy andmirth was made that night in the host of King Arthur. And on the morn he sentall the prisoners into Paris under the guard of Sir Launcelot, with manyknights, and of Sir Cador.

CHAPTER VII.
How Lucius sent certain spies in abushment for to have taken his knights being prisoners, and how they wereletted.

Now turn we to the Emperor of Rome, which espied that these prisoners should besent to Paris, and anon he sent to lie in a bushment certain knights andprinces with sixty thousand men, for to rescue his knights and lords that wereprisoners. And so on the morn as Launcelot and Sir Cador, chieftains andgovernors of all them that conveyed the prisoners, as they should pass througha wood, Sir Launcelot sent certain knights to espy if any were in the woods tolet them. And when the said knights came into the wood, anon they espied andsaw the great embushment, and returned and told Sir Launcelot that there lay inawait for them three score thousand Romans. And then Sir Launcelot with suchknights as he had, and men of war to the number of ten thousand, put them inarray, and met with them and fought with them manly, and slew and detrenchedmany of the Romans, and slew many knights and admirals of the party of theRomans and Saracens; there was slain the king of Lyly and three great lords,Aladuke, Herawd, and Heringdale. But Sir Launcelot fought so nobly that no manmight endure a stroke of his hand, but where he came he showed his prowess andmight, for he slew down right on every side; and the Romans and Saracens fledfrom him as the sheep from the wolf or from the lion, and put them, all thatabode alive, to flight.

And so long they fought that tidings came to King Arthur, and anon he graithedhim and came to the battle, and saw his knights how they had vanquished thebattle, he embraced them knight by knight in his arms, and said, Ye be worthyto wield all your honour and worship; there was never king save myself that hadso noble knights. Sir, said Cador, there was none of us failed other, but ofthe prowess and manhood of Sir Launcelot were more than wonder to tell, andalso of his cousins which did that day many noble feats of war. And also SirCador told who of his knights were slain, as Sir Berel, and other Sir Moris andSir Maurel, two good knights. Then the king wept, and dried his eyes with akerchief, and said, Your courage had near-hand destroyed you, for though ye hadreturned again, ye had lost no worship; for I call it folly, knights to abidewhen they be overmatched. Nay, said Launcelot and the other, for once shamedmay never be recovered.

CHAPTER VIII.
How a senator told to Lucius oftheir discomfiture, and also of the great battle between Arthur andLucius.

Now leave we King Arthur and his noble knights which had won the field, and hadbrought their prisoners to Paris, and speak we of a senator which escaped fromthe battle, and came to Lucius the emperor, and said to him, Sir emperor, Iadvise thee for to withdraw thee; what dost thou here? thou shalt win nothingin these marches but great strokes out of all measure, for this day one ofArthur’s knights was worth in the battle an hundred of ours. Fie on thee,said Lucius, thou speakest cowardly; for thy words grieve me more than all theloss that I had this day. And anon he sent forth a king, which hight SirLeomie, with a great army, and bade him hie him fast to-fore, and he wouldfollow hastily after. King Arthur was warned privily, and sent his people toSessoine, and took up the towns and castles from the Romans. Then the kingcommanded Sir Cador to take the rearward, and to take with him certain knightsof the Round Table, and Sir Launcelot, Sir Bors, Sir Kay, Sir Marrok, with SirMarhaus, shall await on our person. Thus the King Arthur disperpled his host indivers parties, to the end that his enemies should not escape.

When the emperor was entered into the vale of Sessoine, he might see where KingArthur was embattled and his banner displayed; and he was beset round aboutwith his enemies, that needs he must fight or yield him, for he might not flee,but said openly unto the Romans, Sirs, I admonish you that this day ye fightand acquit you as men, and remember how Rome domineth and is chief and headover all the earth and universal world, and suffer not these Britons this dayto abide against us; and therewith he did command his trumpets to blow thebloody sounds, in such wise that the ground trembled and dindled.

Then the battles approached and shoved and shouted on both sides, and greatstrokes were smitten on both sides, many men overthrown, hurt, and slain; andgreat valiances, prowesses and appertices of war were that day showed, whichwere over long to recount the noble feats of every man, for they should containan whole volume. But in especial, King Arthur rode in the battle exhorting hisknights to do well, and himself did as nobly with his hands as was possible aman to do; he drew out Excalibur his sword, and awaited ever whereas the Romanswere thickest and most grieved his people, and anon he addressed him on thatpart, and hew and slew down right, and rescued his people; and he slew a greatgiant named Galapas, which was a man of an huge quantity and height, he shortedhim and smote off both his legs by the knees, saying, Now art thou better of asize to deal with than thou were, and after smote off his head. There SirGawaine fought nobly and slew three admirals in that battle. And so did all theknights of the Round Table. Thus the battle between King Arthur and Lucius theEmperor endured long. Lucius had on his side many Saracens which were slain.And thus the battle was great, and oftsides that one party was at a fordeal andanon at an afterdeal, which endured so long till at the last King Arthur espiedwhere Lucius the Emperor fought, and did wonder with his own hands. And anon herode to him. And either smote other fiercely, and at last Lucius smote Arthurthwart the visage, and gave him a large wound. And when King Arthur felthimself hurt, anon he smote him again with Excalibur that it cleft his head,from the summit of his head, and stinted not till it came to his breast. Andthen the emperor fell down dead and there ended his life.

And when it was known that the emperor was slain, anon all the Romans with alltheir host put them to flight, and King Arthur with all his knights followedthe chase, and slew down right all them that they might attain. And thus wasthe victory given to King Arthur, and the triumph; and there were slain on thepart of Lucius more than an hundred thousand. And after King Arthur did doransack the dead bodies, and did do bury them that were slain of his retinue,every man according to the estate and degree that he was of. And them that werehurt he let the surgeons do search their hurts and wounds, and commanded tospare no salves nor medicines till they were whole.

Then the king rode straight to the place where the Emperor Lucius lay dead, andwith him he found slain the Soudan of Syria, the King of Egypt and of Ethiopia,which were two noble kings, with seventeen other kings of divers regions, andalso sixty senators of Rome, all noble men, whom the king did do balm and gumwith many good gums aromatic, and after did do cere them in sixty fold of ceredcloth of sendal, and laid them in chests of lead, because they should not chafenor savour, and upon all these bodies their shields with their arms and bannerswere set, to the end they should be known of what country they were. And afterhe found three senators which were alive, to whom he said, For to save yourlives I will that ye take these dead bodies, and carry them with you unto greatRome, and present them to the Potestate on my behalf, shewing him my letters,and tell them that I in my person shall hastily be at Rome. And I suppose theRomans shall beware how they shall demand any tribute of me. And I command youto say when ye shall come to Rome, to the Potestate and all the Council andSenate, that I send to them these dead bodies for the tribute that they havedemanded. And if they be not content with these, I shall pay more at my coming,for other tribute owe I none, nor none other will I pay. And methinketh thissufficeth for Britain, Ireland and all Almaine with Germany. And furthermore, Icharge you to say to them, that I command them upon pain of their heads neverto demand tribute nor tax of me nor of my lands. Then with this charge andcommandment, the three senators aforesaid departed with all the said deadbodies, laying the body of Lucius in a car covered with the arms of the Empireall alone; and after alway two bodies of kings in a chariot, and then thebodies of the senators after them, and so went toward Rome, and showed theirlegation and message to the Potestate and Senate, recounting the battle done inFrance, and how the field was lost and much people and innumerable slain.Wherefore they advised them in no wise to move no more war against that nobleconqueror Arthur, for his might and prowess is most to be doubted, seen thenoble kings and great multitude of knights of the Round Table, to whom noneearthly prince may compare.

CHAPTER IX.
How Arthur, after he had achieved thebattle against the Romans, entered into Almaine, and so into Italy.

Now turn we unto King Arthur and his noble knights, which, after the greatbattle achieved against the Romans, entered into Lorraine, Brabant andFlanders, and sithen returned into Haut Almaine, and so over the mountains intoLombardy, and after, into Tuscany wherein was a city which in no wise wouldyield themself nor obey, wherefore King Arthur besieged it, and lay long aboutit, and gave many assaults to the city; and they within defended themvaliantly. Then, on a time, the king called Sir Florence, a knight, and said tohim they lacked victual, And not far from hence be great forests and woods,wherein be many of mine enemies with much bestial: I will that thou make theeready and go thither in foraying, and take with thee Sir Gawaine my nephew, SirWisshard, Sir Clegis, Sir Cleremond, and the Captain of Cardiff with other, andbring with you all the beasts that ye there can get.

And anon these knights made them ready, and rode over holts and hills, throughforests and woods, till they came into a fair meadow full of fair flowers andgrass; and there they rested them and their horses all that night. And in thespringing of the day in the next morn, Sir Gawaine took his horse and stoleaway from his fellowship, to seek some adventures. And anon he was ware of aman armed, walking his horse easily by a wood’s side, and his shieldlaced to his shoulder, sitting on a strong courser, without any man saving apage bearing a mighty spear. The knight bare in his shield three griffins ofgold, in sable carbuncle, the chief of silver. When Sir Gawaine espied this gayknight, he feutred his spear, and rode straight to him, and demanded of himfrom whence that he was. That other answered and said he was of Tuscany, anddemanded of Sir Gawaine, What, profferest thou, proud knight, thee so boldly?here gettest thou no prey, thou mayest prove what thou wilt, for thou shalt bemy prisoner or thou depart. Then said Gawaine, thou avauntest thee greatly andspeakest proud words, I counsel thee for all thy boast that thou make theeready, and take thy gear to thee, to-fore greater grame fall to thee.

CHAPTER X.
Of a battle done by Sir Gawaine againsta Saracen, which after was yielden and became Christian.

Then they took their spears and ran each at other with all the might they had,and smote each other through their shields into their shoulders, wherefore anonthey pulled out their swords, and smote great strokes that the fire sprang outof their helms. Then Sir Gawaine was all abashed, and with Galatine his goodsword he smote through shield and thick hauberk made of thick mails, and allto-rushed and break the precious stones, and made him a large wound, that menmight see both liver and lung. Then groaned that knight, and addressed him toSir Gawaine, and with an awk stroke gave him a great wound and cut a vein,which grieved Gawaine sore, and he bled sore. Then the knight said to SirGawaine, bind thy wound or thy blee[ding] change, for thou be-bleedest all thyhorse and thy fair arms, for all the barbers of Brittany shall not con staunchthy blood, for whosomever is hurt with this blade he shall never be staunchedof bleeding. Then answered Gawaine, it grieveth me but little, thy great wordsshall not fear me nor lessen my courage, but thou shalt suffer teen and sorrowor we depart, but tell me in haste who may staunch my bleeding. That may I do,said the knight, if I will, and so will I if thou wilt succour and aid me, thatI may be christened and believe on God, and thereof I require thee of thymanhood, and it shall be great merit for thy soul. I grant, said Gawaine, soGod help me, to accomplish all thy desire, but first tell me what thousoughtest here thus alone, and of what land and liegiance thou art of. Sir, hesaid, my name is Priamus, and a great prince is my father, and he hath beenrebel unto Rome and overridden many of their lands. My father is lineallydescended of Alexander and of Hector by right line. And Duke Joshua andMaccabaeus were of our lineage. I am right inheritor of Alexandria and Africa,and all the out isles, yet will I believe on thy Lord that thou believest on;and for thy labour I shall give thee treasure enough. I was so elate andhauteyn in my heart that I thought no man my peer, nor to me semblable. I wassent into this war with seven score knights, and now I have encountered withthee, which hast given to me of fighting my fill, wherefore sir knight, I praythee to tell me what thou art. I am no knight, said Gawaine, I have beenbrought up in the guardrobe with the noble King Arthur many years, for to takeheed to his armour and his other array, and to point his paltocks that long tohimself. At Yule last he made me yeoman, and gave to me horse and harness, andan hundred pound in money; and if fortune be my friend, I doubt not but to bewell advanced and holpen by my liege lord. Ah, said Priamus, if his knaves beso keen and fierce, his knights be passing good: now for the King’s loveof Heaven, whether thou be a knave or a knight, tell thou me thy name. By God,said Sir Gawaine, now I will say thee sooth, my name is Sir Gawaine, and knownI am in his court and in his chamber, and one of the knights of the RoundTable, he dubbed me a duke with his own hand. Therefore grudge not if thisgrace is to me fortuned, it is the goodness of God that lent to me my strength.Now am I better pleased, said Priamus, than thou hadst given to me all theProvence and Paris the rich. I had liefer to have been torn with wild horses,than any varlet had won such loos, or any page or priker should have had prizeon me. But now sir knight I warn thee that hereby is a Duke of Lorraine withhis army, and the noblest men of Dolphiny, and lords of Lombardy, with thegarrison of Godard, and Saracens of Southland, y-numbered sixty thousand ofgood men of arms; wherefore but if we hie us hence, it will harm us both, forwe be sore hurt, never like to recover; but take heed to my page, that he nohorn blow, for if he do, there be hoving here fast by an hundred knightsawaiting on my person, and if they take thee, there shall no ransom of gold norsilver acquit thee.

Then Sir Gawaine rode over a water for to save him, and the knight followedhim, and so rode forth till they came to his fellows which were in the meadow,where they had been all the night. Anon as Sir Wisshard was ware of Sir Gawaineand saw that he was hurt, he ran to him sorrowfully weeping, and demanded ofhim who had so hurt him; and Gawaine told how he had foughten with that man,and each of them had hurt other, and how he had salves to heal them; but I cantell you other tidings, that soon we shall have ado with many enemies.

Then Sir Priamus and Sir Gawaine alighted, and let their horses graze in themeadow, and unarmed them, and then the blood ran freshly from their wounds. AndPriamus took from his page a vial full of the four waters that came out ofParadise, and with certain balm anointed their wounds, and washed them withthat water, and within an hour after they were both as whole as ever they were.And then with a trumpet were they all assembled to council, and there Priamustold unto them what lords and knights had sworn to rescue him, and that withoutfail they should be assailed with many thousands, wherefore he counselled themto withdraw them. Then Sir Gawaine said, it were great shame to them to avoidwithout any strokes; Wherefore I advise to take our arms and to make us readyto meet with these Saracens and misbelieving men, and with the help of God weshall overthrow them and have a fair day on them. And Sir Florence shall abidestill in this field to keep the stale as a noble knight, and we shall notforsake yonder fellows. Now, said Priamus, cease your words, for I warn you yeshall find in yonder woods many perilous knights; they will put forth beasts tocall you on, they be out of number, and ye are not past seven hundred, which beover few to fight with so many. Nevertheless, said Sir Gawaine, we shall onceencounter them, and see what they can do, and the best shall have the victory.

CHAPTER XI.
How the Saracens came out of a woodfor to rescue their beasts, and of a great battle.

Then Sir Florence called to him Sir Floridas, with an hundred knights, anddrove forth the herd of beasts. Then followed him seven hundred men of arms;and Sir Ferant of Spain on a fair steed came springing out of the woods, andcame to Sir Florence and asked him why he fled. Then Sir Florence took hisspear and rode against him, and smote him in the forehead and brake his neckbone. Then all the other were moved, and thought to avenge the death of SirFerant, and smote in among them, and there was great fight, and many slain andlaid down to ground, and Sir Florence with his hundred knights alway kept thestale, and fought manly.

Then when Priamus the good knight perceived the great fight, he went to SirGawaine, and bade him that he should go and succour his fellowship, which weresore bestead with their enemies. Sir, grieve you not, said Sir Gawaine, fortheir gree shall be theirs. I shall not once move my horse to them ward, but ifI see more than there be; for they be strong enough to match them.

And with that he saw an earl called Sir Ethelwold and the duke of Dutchmen,came leaping out of a wood with many thousands, and Priamus’ knights, andcame straight unto the battle. Then Sir Gawaine comforted his knights, and badethem not to be abashed, for all shall be ours. Then they began to wallop andmet with their enemies, there were men slain and overthrown on every side. Thenthrust in among them the knights of the Table Round, and smote down to theearth all them that withstood them, in so much that they made them to recoiland flee. By God, said Sir Gawaine, this gladdeth my heart, for now be theyless in number by twenty thousand. Then entered into the battle Jubance agiant, and fought and slew down right, and distressed many of our knights,among whom was slain Sir Gherard, a knight of Wales. Then our knights tookheart to them, and slew many Saracens. And then came in Sir Priamus with hispennon, and rode with the knights of the Round Table, and fought so manfullythat many of their enemies lost their lives. And there Sir Priamus slew theMarquis of Moises land, and Sir Gawaine with his fellows so quit them that theyhad the field, but in that stour was Sir Chestelaine, a child and ward of SirGawaine slain, wherefore was much sorrow made, and his death was soon avenged.Thus was the battle ended, and many lords of Lombardy and Saracens left dead inthe field.

Then Sir Florence and Sir Gawaine harboured surely their people, and took greatplenty of bestial, of gold and silver, and great treasure and riches, andreturned unto King Arthur, which lay still at the siege. And when they came tothe king they presented their prisoners and recounted their adventures, and howthey had vanquished their enemies.

CHAPTER XII.
How Sir Gawaine returned to KingArthur with his prisoners, and how the King won a city, and how he was crownedEmperor.

Now thanked be God, said the noble King Arthur. But what manner man is he thatstandeth by himself, him seemeth no prisoner. Sir, said Gawaine, this is a goodman of arms, he hath matched me, but he is yielden unto God, and to me, for tobecome Christian; had not he have been we should never have returned, whereforeI pray you that he may be baptised, for there liveth not a nobler man norbetter knight of his hands. Then the king let him anon be christened, and diddo call him his first name Priamus, and made him a duke and knight of the TableRound. And then anon the king let do cry assault to the city, and there wasrearing of ladders, breaking of walls, and the ditch filled, that men withlittle pain might enter into the city. Then came out a duchess, and Clarisinthe countess, with many ladies and damosels, and kneeling before King Arthur,required him for the love of God to receive the city, and not to take it byassault, for then should many guiltless be slain. Then the king avaled hisvisor with a meek and noble countenance, and said, Madam, there shall none ofmy subjects misdo you nor your maidens, nor to none that to you belong, but theduke shall abide my judgment. Then anon the king commanded to leave theassault, and anon the duke’s oldest son brought out the keys, andkneeling delivered them to the king, and besought him of grace; and the kingseized the town by assent of his lords, and took the duke and sent him toDover, there for to abide prisoner term of his life, and assigned certain rentsfor the dower of the duchess and for her children.

Then he made lords to rule those lands, and laws as a lord ought to do in hisown country; and after he took his journey toward Rome, and sent Sir Floris andSir Floridas to-fore, with five hundred men of arms, and they came to the cityof Urbino and laid there a bushment, thereas them seemed most best for them,and rode to-fore the town, where anon issued out much people and skirmishedwith the fore-riders. Then brake out the bushment and won the bridge, and afterthe town, and set upon the walls the king’s banner. Then came the kingupon an hill, and saw the city and his banner on the walls, by which he knewthat the city was won. And anon he sent and commanded that none of his liegemen should defoul nor lie by no lady, wife nor maid; and when he came into thecity, he passed to the castle, and comforted them that were in sorrow, andordained there a captain, a knight of his own country.

And when they of Milan heard that thilk city was won, they sent to King Arthurgreat sums of money, and besought him as their lord to have pity on them,promising to be his subjects for ever, and yield to him homage and fealty forthe lands of Pleasance and Pavia, Petersaint, and the Port of Tremble, and togive him yearly a million of gold all his lifetime. Then he rideth intoTuscany, and winneth towns and castles, and wasted all in his way that to himwill not obey, and so to Spolute and Viterbe, and from thence he rode into theVale of Vicecount among the vines. And from thence he sent to the senators, towit whether they would know him for their lord. But soon after on a Saturdaycame unto King Arthur all the senators that were left alive, and the noblestcardinals that then dwelt in Rome, and prayed him of peace, and proferred himfull large, and besought him as governor to give licence for six weeks for toassemble all the Romans, and then to crown him emperor with chrism as itbelongeth to so high estate. I assent, said the king, like as ye have devised,and at Christmas there to be crowned, and to hold my Round Table with myknights as me liketh. And then the senators made ready for his enthronization.And at the day appointed, as the romance telleth, he came into Rome, and wascrowned emperor by the pope’s hand, with all the royalty that could bemade, and sojourned there a time, and established all his lands from Rome intoFrance, and gave lands and realms unto his servants and knights, to everychafter his desert, in such wise that none complained, rich nor poor. And he gaveto Sir Priamus the duchy of Lorraine; and he thanked him, and said he wouldserve him the days of his life; and after made dukes and earls, and made everyman rich.

Then after this all his knights and lords assembled them afore him, and said:Blessed be God, your war is finished and your conquest achieved, in so muchthat we know none so great nor mighty that dare make war against you: whereforewe beseech you to return homeward, and give us licence to go home to our wives,from whom we have been long, and to rest us, for your journey is finished withhonour and worship. Then said the king, Ye say truth, and for to tempt God itis no wisdom, and therefore make you ready and return we into England. Thenthere was trussing of harness and baggage and great carriage. And after licencegiven, he returned and commanded that no man in pain of death should not robnor take victual, nor other thing by the way but that he should pay therefore.And thus he came over the sea and landed at Sandwich, against whom QueenGuenever his wife came and met him, and he was nobly received of all hiscommons in every city and burgh, and great gifts presented to him at hishome-coming to welcome him with.

Thus endeth the fifth book of the conquest that King Arthur had againstLucius the Emperor of Rome, and here followeth the sixth book, which is of SirLauncelot du Lake.

BOOK VI.

CHAPTER I.
How Sir Launcelot and Sir Lioneldeparted from the court, and how Sir Lionel left him sleeping and wastaken.

Soon after that King Arthur was come from Rome into England, then all theknights of the Table Round resorted unto the king, and made many jousts andtournaments, and some there were that were but knights, which increased so inarms and worship that they passed all their fellows in prowess and noble deeds,and that was well proved on many; but in especial it was proved on SirLauncelot du Lake, for in all tournaments and jousts and deeds of arms, bothfor life and death, he passed all other knights, and at no time he was neverovercome but if it were by treason or enchantment; so Sir Launcelot increasedso marvellously in worship, and in honour, therefore is he the first knightthat the French book maketh mention of after King Arthur came from Rome.Wherefore Queen Guenever had him in great favour above all other knights, andin certain he loved the queen again above all other ladies and damosels of hislife, and for her he did many deeds of arms, and saved her from the firethrough his noble chivalry.

Thus Sir Launcelot rested him long with play and game. And then he thoughthimself to prove himself in strange adventures, then he bade his nephew, SirLionel, for to make him ready; for we two will seek adventures. So they mountedon their horses, armed at all rights, and rode into a deep forest and so into adeep plain. And then the weather was hot about noon, and Sir Launcelot hadgreat lust to sleep. Then Sir Lionel espied a great apple-tree that stood by anhedge, and said, Brother, yonder is a fair shadow, there may we rest us [and]our horses. It is well said, fair brother, said Sir Launcelot, for this eightyear I was not so sleepy as I am now; and so they there alighted and tied theirhorses unto sundry trees, and so Sir Launcelot laid him down under anappletree, and his helm he laid under his head. And Sir Lionel waked while heslept. So Sir Launcelot was asleep passing fast.

And in the meanwhile there came three knights riding, as fast fleeing as everthey might ride. And there followed them three but one knight. And when SirLionel saw him, him thought he saw never so great a knight, nor so well faringa man, neither so well apparelled unto all rights. So within a while thisstrong knight had overtaken one of these knights, and there he smote him to thecold earth that he lay still. And then he rode unto the second knight, andsmote him so that man and horse fell down. And then straight to the thirdknight he rode, and smote him behind his horse’s arse a spear length. Andthen he alighted down and reined his horse on the bridle, and bound all thethree knights fast with the reins of their own bridles. When Sir Lionel saw himdo thus, he thought to assay him, and made him ready, and stilly and privily hetook his horse, and thought not for to awake Sir Launcelot. And when he wasmounted upon his horse, he overtook this strong knight, and bade him turn, andthe other smote Sir Lionel so hard that horse and man he bare to the earth, andso he alighted down and bound him fast, and threw him overthwart his own horse,and so he served them all four, and rode with them away to his own castle. Andwhen he came there he gart unarm them, and beat them with thorns all naked, andafter put them in a deep prison where were many more knights, that made greatdolour.

CHAPTER II.
How Sir Ector followed for to seekSir Launcelot, and how he was taken by Sir Turquine.

When Sir Ector de Maris wist that Sir Launcelot was passed out of the court toseek adventures, he was wroth with himself, and made him ready to seek SirLauncelot, and as he had ridden long in a great forest he met with a man waslike a forester. Fair fellow, said Sir Ector, knowest thou in this country anyadventures that be here nigh hand? Sir, said the forester, this country know Iwell, and hereby, within this mile, is a strong manor, and well dyked, and bythat manor, on the left hand, there is a fair ford for horses to drink of, andover that ford there groweth a fair tree, and thereon hang many fair shieldsthat wielded sometime good knights, and at the hole of the tree hangeth a basinof copper and latten, and strike upon that basin with the butt of thy spearthrice, and soon after thou shalt hear new tidings, and else hast thou thefairest grace that many a year had ever knight that passed through this forest.Gramercy, said Sir Ector, and departed and came to the tree, and saw many fairshields. And among them he saw his brother’s shield, Sir Lionel, and manymore that he knew that were his fellows of the Round Table, the which grievedhis heart, and promised to revenge his brother.

Then anon Sir Ector beat on the basin as he were wood, and then he gave hishorse drink at the ford, and there came a knight behind him and bade him comeout of the water and make him ready; and Sir Ector anon turned him shortly, andin feuter cast his spear, and smote the other knight a great buffet that hishorse turned twice about. This was well done, said the strong knight, andknightly thou hast stricken me; and therewith he rushed his horse on Sir Ector,and cleight him under his right arm, and bare him clean out of the saddle, androde with him away into his own hall, and threw him down in midst of the floor.The name of this knight was Sir Turquine. Then he said unto Sir Ector, For thouhast done this day more unto me than any knight did these twelve years, nowwill I grant thee thy life, so thou wilt be sworn to be my prisoner all thylife days. Nay, said Sir Ector, that will I never promise thee, but that I willdo mine advantage. That me repenteth, said Sir Turquine. And then he gart tounarm him, and beat him with thorns all naked, and sithen put him down in adeep dungeon, where he knew many of his fellows. But when Sir Ector saw SirLionel, then made he great sorrow. Alas, brother, said Sir Ector, where is mybrother Sir Launcelot? Fair brother, I left him asleep when that I from himyode, under an apple-tree, and what is become of him I cannot tell you. Alas,said the knights, but Sir Launcelot help us we may never be delivered, for weknow now no knight that is able to match our master Turquine.

CHAPTER III.
How four queens found Launcelotsleeping, and how by enchantment he was taken and led into a castle.

Now leave we these knights prisoners, and speak we of Sir Launcelot du Lakethat lieth under the apple-tree sleeping. Even about the noon there came by himfour queens of great estate; and, for the heat should not annoy them, thererode four knights about them, and bare a cloth of green silk on four spears,betwixt them and the sun, and the queens rode on four white mules. Thus as theyrode they heard by them a great horse grimly neigh, then were they ware of asleeping knight, that lay all armed under an apple-tree; anon as these queenslooked on his face, they knew it was Sir Launcelot. Then they began for tostrive for that knight, everych one said they would have him to her love. Weshall not strive, said Morgan le Fay, that was King Arthur’s sister, Ishall put an enchantment upon him that he shall not awake in six hours, andthen I will lead him away unto my castle, and when he is surely within my hold,I shall take the enchantment from him, and then let him choose which of us hewill have unto paramour.

So this enchantment was cast upon Sir Launcelot, and then they laid him uponhis shield, and bare him so on horseback betwixt two knights, and brought himunto the castle Chariot, and there they laid him in a chamber cold, and atnight they sent unto him a fair damosel with his supper ready dight. By thatthe enchantment was past, and when she came she saluted him, and asked him whatcheer. I cannot say, fair damosel, said Sir Launcelot, for I wot not how I cameinto this castle but it be by an enchantment. Sir, said she, ye must make goodcheer, and if ye be such a knight as it is said ye be, I shall tell you moreto-morn by prime of the day. Gramercy, fair damosel, said Sir Launcelot, ofyour good will I require you. And so she departed. And there he lay all thatnight without comfort of anybody. And on the morn early came these four queens,passingly well beseen, all they bidding him good morn, and he them again.

Sir knight, the four queens said, thou must understand thou art our prisoner,and we here know thee well that thou art Sir Launcelot du Lake, KingBan’s son, and because we understand your worthiness, that thou art thenoblest knight living, and as we know well there can no lady have thy love butone, and that is Queen Guenever, and now thou shalt lose her for ever, and shethee, and therefore thee behoveth now to choose one of us four. I am the QueenMorgan le Fay, queen of the land of Gore, and here is the queen of Northgalis,and the queen of Eastland, and the queen of the Out Isles; now choose one of uswhich thou wilt have to thy paramour, for thou mayest not choose or else inthis prison to die. This is an hard case, said Sir Launcelot, that either Imust die or else choose one of you, yet had I liefer to die in this prison withworship, than to have one of you to my paramour maugre my head. And thereforeye be answered, I will none of you, for ye be false enchantresses, and as formy lady, Dame Guenever, were I at my liberty as I was, I would prove it on youor on yours, that she is the truest lady unto her lord living. Well, said thequeens, is this your answer, that ye will refuse us. Yea, on my life, said SirLauncelot, refused ye be of me. So they departed and left him there alone thatmade great sorrow.

CHAPTER IV.
How Sir Launcelot was delivered bythe mean of a damosel.

Right so at the noon came the damosel unto him with his dinner, and asked himwhat cheer. Truly, fair damosel, said Sir Launcelot, in my life days never soill. Sir, she said, that me repenteth, but an ye will be ruled by me, I shallhelp you out of this distress, and ye shall have no shame nor villainy, so thatye hold me a promise. Fair damosel, I will grant you, and sore I am of thesequeen-sorceresses afeard, for they have destroyed many a good knight. Sir, saidshe, that is sooth, and for the renown and bounty that they hear of you theywould have your love, and Sir, they say, your name is Sir Launcelot du Lake,the flower of knights, and they be passing wroth with you that ye have refusedthem. But Sir, an ye would promise me to help my father on Tuesday next coming,that hath made a tournament betwixt him and the King of Northgalis—forthe last Tuesday past my father lost the field through three knights ofArthur’s court—an ye will be there on Tuesday next coming, and helpmy father, to-morn or prime, by the grace of God, I shall deliver you clean.Fair maiden, said Sir Launcelot, tell me what is your father’s name, andthen shall I give you an answer. Sir knight, she said, my father is KingBagdemagus, that was foul rebuked at the last tournament. I know your fatherwell, said Sir Launcelot, for a noble king and a good knight, and by the faithof my body, ye shall have my body ready to do your father and you service atthat day. Sir, she said, gramercy, and to-morn await ye be ready betimes and Ishall be she that shall deliver you and take you your armour and your horse,shield and spear, and hereby within this ten mile, is an abbey of white monks,there I pray you that ye me abide, and thither shall I bring my father untoyou. All this shall be done, said Sir Launcelot as I am true knight.

And so she departed, and came on the morn early, and found him ready; then shebrought him out of twelve locks, and brought him unto his armour, and when hewas clean armed, she brought him until his own horse, and lightly he saddledhim and took a great spear in his hand and so rode forth, and said, Fairdamosel, I shall not fail you, by the grace of God. And so he rode into a greatforest all that day, and never could find no highway and so the night fell onhim, and then was he ware in a slade, of a pavilion of red sendal. By my faith,said Sir Launcelot, in that pavilion will I lodge all this night, and so therehe alighted down, and tied his horse to the pavilion, and there he unarmed him,and there he found a bed, and laid him therein and fell asleep sadly.

CHAPTER V.
How a knight found Sir Launcelot lyingin his leman’s bed, and how Sir Launcelot fought with the knight.

Then within an hour there came the knight to whom the pavilion ought, and heweened that his leman had lain in that bed, and so he laid him down beside SirLauncelot, and took him in his arms and began to kiss him. And when SirLauncelot felt a rough beard kissing him, he started out of the bed lightly,and the other knight after him, and either of them gat their swords in theirhands, and out at the pavilion door went the knight of the pavilion, and SirLauncelot followed him, and there by a little slake Sir Launcelot wounded himsore, nigh unto the death. And then he yielded him unto Sir Launcelot, and sohe granted him, so that he would tell him why he came into the bed. Sir, saidthe knight, the pavilion is mine own, and there this night I had assigned mylady to have slept with me, and now I am likely to die of this wound. That merepenteth, said Launcelot, of your hurt, but I was adread of treason, for I waslate beguiled, and therefore come on your way into your pavilion and take yourrest, and as I suppose I shall staunch your blood. And so they went both intothe pavilion, and anon Sir Launcelot staunched his blood.

Therewithal came the knight’s lady, that was a passing fair lady, andwhen she espied that her lord Belleus was sore wounded, she cried out on SirLauncelot, and made great dole out of measure. Peace, my lady and my love, saidBelleus, for this knight is a good man, and a knight adventurous, and there hetold her all the cause how he was wounded; And when that I yielded me unto him,he left me goodly and hath staunched my blood. Sir, said the lady, I requirethee tell me what knight ye be, and what is your name? Fair lady, he said, myname is Sir Launcelot du Lake. So me thought ever by your speech, said thelady, for I have seen you oft or this, and I know you better than ye ween. Butnow an ye would promise me of your courtesy, for the harms that ye have done tome and my Lord Belleus, that when he cometh unto Arthur’s court for tocause him to be made knight of the Round Table, for he is a passing good man ofarms, and a mighty lord of lands of many out isles.

Fair lady, said Sir Launcelot, let him come unto the court the next high feast,and look that ye come with him, and I shall do my power, an ye prove youdoughty of your hands, that ye shall have your desire. So thus within a while,as they thus talked, the night passed, and the day shone, and then SirLauncelot armed him, and took his horse, and they taught him to the Abbey, andthither he rode within the space of two hours.

CHAPTER VI.
How Sir Launcelot was received ofKing Bagdemagus’ daughter, and how he made his complaint to herfather.

And soon as Sir Launcelot came within the abbey yard, the daughter of KingBagdemagus heard a great horse go on the pavement. And she then arose and yedeunto a window, and there she saw Sir Launcelot, and anon she made men fast totake his horse from him and let lead him into a stable, and himself was ledinto a fair chamber, and unarmed him, and the lady sent him a long gown, andanon she came herself. And then she made Launcelot passing good cheer, and shesaid he was the knight in the world was most welcome to her. Then in all hasteshe sent for her father Bagdemagus that was within twelve mile of that Abbey,and afore even he came, with a fair fellowship of knights with him. And whenthe king was alighted off his horse he yode straight unto Sir Launcelot’schamber and there he found his daughter, and then the king embraced SirLauncelot in his arms, and either made other good cheer.

Anon Sir Launcelot made his complaint unto the king how he was betrayed, andhow his brother Sir Lionel was departed from him he wist not where, and how hisdaughter had delivered him out of prison; Therefore while I live I shall do herservice and all her kindred. Then am I sure of your help, said the king, onTuesday next coming. Yea, sir, said Sir Launcelot, I shall not fail you, for soI have promised my lady your daughter. But, sir, what knights be they of mylord Arthur’s that were with the King of Northgalis? And the king said itwas Sir Mador de la Porte, and Sir Mordred and Sir Gahalantine that allfor-fared my knights, for against them three I nor my knights might bear nostrength. Sir, said Sir Launcelot, as I hear say that the tournament shall behere within this three mile of this abbey, ye shall send unto me three knightsof yours, such as ye trust, and look that the three knights have all whiteshields, and I also, and no painture on the shields, and we four will come outof a little wood in midst of both parties, and we shall fall in the front ofour enemies and grieve them that we may; and thus shall I not be known whatknight I am.

So they took their rest that night, and this was on the Sunday, and so the kingdeparted, and sent unto Sir Launcelot three knights with the four whiteshields. And on the Tuesday they lodged them in a little leaved wood besidethere the tournament should be. And there were scaffolds and holes that lordsand ladies might behold and to give the prize. Then came into the field theKing of Northgalis with eight score helms. And then the three knights ofArthur’s stood by themselves. Then came into the field King Bagdemaguswith four score of helms. And then they feutred their spears, and came togetherwith a great dash, and there were slain of knights at the first recountertwelve of King Bagdemagus’ party, and six of the King ofNorthgalis’ party, and King Bagdemagus’ party was far set aback.

CHAPTER VII.
How Sir Launcelot behaved him in atournament, and how he met with Sir Turquine leading Sir Gaheris.

With that came Sir Launcelot du Lake, and he thrust in with his spear in thethickest of the press, and there he smote down with one spear five knights, andof four of them he brake their backs. And in that throng he smote down the Kingof Northgalis, and brake his thigh in that fall. All this doing of SirLauncelot saw the three knights of Arthur’s. Yonder is a shrewd guest,said Sir Mador de la Porte, therefore have here once at him. So theyencountered, and Sir Launcelot bare him down horse and man, so that hisshoulder went out of lith. Now befalleth it to me to joust, said Mordred, forSir Mador hath a sore fall. Sir Launcelot was ware of him, and gat a greatspear in his hand, and met him, and Sir Mordred brake a spear upon him, and SirLauncelot gave him such a buffet that the arson of his saddle brake, and so heflew over his horse’s tail, that his helm butted into the earth a footand more, that nigh his neck was broken, and there he lay long in a swoon.

Then came in Sir Gahalantine with a great spear and Launcelot against him, withall their strength that they might drive, that both their spears to-brast evento their hands, and then they flang out with their swords and gave many a grimstroke. Then was Sir Launcelot wroth out of measure, and then he smote SirGahalantine on the helm that his nose brast out on blood, and ears and mouthboth, and therewith his head hung low. And therewith his horse ran away withhim, and he fell down to the earth. Anon therewithal Sir Launcelot gat a greatspear in his hand, and or ever that great spear brake, he bare down to theearth sixteen knights, some horse and man, and some the man and not the horse,and there was none but that he hit surely, he bare none arms that day. And thenhe gat another great spear, and smote down twelve knights, and the most part ofthem never throve after. And then the knights of the King of Northgalis wouldjoust no more. And there the gree was given to King Bagdemagus.

So either party departed unto his own place, and Sir Launcelot rode forth withKing Bagdemagus unto his castle, and there he had passing good cheer both withthe king and with his daughter, and they proffered him great gifts. And on themorn he took his leave, and told the king that he would go and seek his brotherSir Lionel, that went from him when that he slept, so he took his horse, andbetaught them all to God. And there he said unto the king’s daughter, Ifye have need any time of my service I pray you let me have knowledge, and Ishall not fail you as I am true knight. And so Sir Launcelot departed, and byadventure he came into the same forest there he was taken sleeping. And in themidst of a highway he met a damosel riding on a white palfrey, and there eithersaluted other. Fair damosel, said Sir Launcelot, know ye in this country anyadventures? Sir knight, said that damosel, here are adventures near hand, anthou durst prove them. Why should I not prove adventures? said Sir Launcelotfor that cause come I hither. Well, said she, thou seemest well to be a goodknight, and if thou dare meet with a good knight, I shall bring thee where isthe best knight, and the mightiest that ever thou found, so thou wilt tell mewhat is thy name, and what knight thou art. Damosel, as for to tell thee myname I take no great force; truly my name is Sir Launcelot du Lake. Sir, thoubeseemest well, here be adventures by that fall for thee, for hereby dwelleth aknight that will not be overmatched for no man I know but ye overmatch him, andhis name is Sir Turquine. And, as I understand, he hath in his prison, ofArthur’s court, good knights three score and four, that he hath won withhis own hands. But when ye have done that journey ye shall promise me as ye area true knight for to go with me, and to help me and other damosels that aredistressed daily with a false knight. All your intent, damosel, and desire Iwill fulfil, so ye will bring me unto this knight. Now, fair knight, come onyour way; and so she brought him unto the ford and the tree where hung thebasin.

So Sir Launcelot let his horse drink, and then he beat on the basin with thebutt of his spear so hard with all his might till the bottom fell out, and longhe did so, but he saw nothing. Then he rode endlong the gates of that manornigh half-an-hour. And then was he ware of a great knight that drove an horseafore him, and overthwart the horse there lay an armed knight bound. And everas they came near and near, Sir Launcelot thought he should know him. Then SirLauncelot was ware that it was Sir Gaheris, Gawaine’s brother, a knightof the Table Round. Now, fair damosel, said Sir Launcelot, I see yonder cometha knight fast bounden that is a fellow of mine, and brother he is unto SirGawaine. And at the first beginning I promise you, by the leave of God, torescue that knight; but if his master sit better in the saddle I shall deliverall the prisoners that he hath out of danger, for I am sure he hath twobrethren of mine prisoners with him. By that time that either had seen other,they gripped their spears unto them. Now, fair knight, said Sir Launcelot, putthat wounded knight off the horse, and let him rest awhile, and let us twoprove our strengths; for as it is informed me, thou doest and hast done greatdespite and shame unto knights of the Round Table, and therefore now defendthee. An thou be of the Table Round, said Turquine, I defy thee and all thyfellowship. That is overmuch said, said Sir Launcelot.

CHAPTER VIII.
How Sir Launcelot and Sir Turquinefought together.

And then they put their spears in the rests, and came together with theirhorses as fast as they might run, and either smote other in midst of theirshields, that both their horses’ backs brast under them, and the knightswere both stonied. And as soon as they might avoid their horses, they tooktheir shields afore them, and drew out their swords, and came together eagerly,and either gave other many strong strokes, for there might neither shields norharness hold their strokes. And so within a while they had both grimly wounds,and bled passing grievously. Thus they fared two hours or more trasing andrasing either other, where they might hit any bare place.

Then at the last they were breathless both, and stood leaning on their swords.Now fellow, said Sir Turquine, hold thy hand a while, and tell me what I shallask thee. Say on. Then Turquine said, Thou art the biggest man that ever I metwithal, and the best breathed, and like one knight that I hate above all otherknights; so be it that thou be not he I will lightly accord with thee, and forthy love I will deliver all the prisoners that I have, that is three score andfour, so thou wilt tell me thy name. And thou and I we will be fellowstogether, and never to fail thee while that I live. It is well said, said SirLauncelot, but sithen it is so that I may have thy friendship, what knight ishe that thou so hatest above all other? Faithfully, said Sir Turquine, his nameis Sir Launcelot du Lake, for he slew my brother, Sir Carados, at the doloroustower, that was one of the best knights alive; and therefore him I except ofall knights, for may I once meet with him, the one of us shall make an end ofother, I make mine avow. And for Sir Launcelot’s sake I have slain anhundred good knights, and as many I have maimed all utterly that they mightnever after help themselves, and many have died in prison, and yet have I threescore and four, and all shall be delivered so thou wilt tell me thy name, so beit that thou be not Sir Launcelot.

Now, see I well, said Sir Launcelot, that such a man I might be, I might havepeace, and such a man I might be, that there should be war mortal betwixt us.And now, sir knight, at thy request I will that thou wit and know that I amLauncelot du Lake, King Ban’s son of Benwick, and very knight of theTable Round. And now I defy thee, and do thy best. Ah, said Turquine,Launcelot, thou art unto me most welcome that ever was knight, for we shallnever depart till the one of us be dead. Then they hurtled together as two wildbulls rushing and lashing with their shields and swords, that sometime theyfell both over their noses. Thus they fought still two hours and more, andnever would have rest, and Sir Turquine gave Sir Launcelot many wounds that allthe ground thereas they fought was all bespeckled with blood.

CHAPTER IX.
How Sir Turquine was slain, and howSir Launcelot bade Sir Gaheris deliver all the prisoners.

Then at the last Sir Turquine waxed faint, and gave somewhat aback, and barehis shield low for weariness. That espied Sir Launcelot, and leapt upon himfiercely and gat him by the beaver of his helmet, and plucked him down on hisknees, and anon he raced off his helm, and smote his neck in sunder. And whenSir Launcelot had done this, he yode unto the damosel and said, Damosel, I amready to go with you where ye will have me, but I have no horse. Fair sir, saidshe, take this wounded knight’s horse and send him into this manor, andcommand him to deliver all the prisoners. So Sir Launcelot went unto Gaheris,and prayed him not to be aggrieved for to lend him his horse. Nay, fair lord,said Gaheris, I will that ye take my horse at your own commandment, for ye haveboth saved me and my horse, and this day I say ye are the best knight in theworld, for ye have slain this day in my sight the mightiest man and the bestknight except you that ever I saw, and, fair sir, said Gaheris, I pray you tellme your name. Sir, my name is Sir Launcelot du Lake, that ought to help you ofright for King Arthur’s sake, and in especial for my lord SirGawaine’s sake, your own dear brother; and when that ye come withinyonder manor, I am sure ye shall find there many knights of the Round Table,for I have seen many of their shields that I know on yonder tree. There isKay’s shield, and Sir Brandel’s shield, and Sir Marhaus’shield, and Sir Galind’s shield, and Sir Brian de Listnois’ shield,and Sir Aliduke’s shield, with many more that I am not now advised of,and also my two brethren’s shields, Sir Ector de Maris and Sir Lionel;wherefore I pray you greet them all from me, and say that I bid them take suchstuff there as they find, and that in any wise my brethren go unto the courtand abide me there till that I come, for by the feast of Pentecost I cast me tobe there, for as at this time I must ride with this damosel for to save mypromise.

And so he departed from Gaheris, and Gaheris yede in to the manor, and there hefound a yeoman porter keeping there many keys. Anon withal Sir Gaheris threwthe porter unto the ground and took the keys from him, and hastily he openedthe prison door, and there he let out all the prisoners, and every man loosedother of their bonds. And when they saw Sir Gaheris, all they thanked him, forthey weened that he was wounded. Not so, said Gaheris, it was Launcelot thatslew him worshipfully with his own hands. I saw it with mine own eyes. And hegreeteth you all well, and prayeth you to haste you to the court; and as untoSir Lionel and Ector de Maris he prayeth you to abide him at the court. Thatshall we not do, says his brethren, we will find him an we may live. So shallI, said Sir Kay, find him or I come at the court, as I am true knight.

Then all those knights sought the house thereas the armour was, and then theyarmed them, and every knight found his own horse, and all that ever longed untohim. And when this was done, there came a forester with four horses laden withfat venison. Anon, Sir Kay said, Here is good meat for us for one meal, for wehad not many a day no good repast. And so that venison was roasted, baken, andsodden, and so after supper some abode there all night, but Sir Lionel andEctor de Maris and Sir Kay rode after Sir Launcelot to find him if they might.

CHAPTER X.
How Sir Launcelot rode with a damoseland slew a knight that distressed all ladies and also a villain that kept abridge.

Now turn we unto Sir Launcelot, that rode with the damosel in a fair highway.Sir, said the damosel, here by this way haunteth a knight that distressed allladies and gentlewomen, and at the least he robbeth them or lieth by them.What, said Sir Launcelot, is he a thief and a knight and a ravisher of women?he doth shame unto the order of knighthood, and contrary unto his oath; it ispity that he liveth. But, fair damosel, ye shall ride on afore, yourself, and Iwill keep myself in covert, and if that he trouble you or distress you I shallbe your rescue and learn him to be ruled as a knight.

So the maid rode on by the way a soft ambling pace, and within a while came outthat knight on horseback out of the wood, and his page with him, and there heput the damosel from her horse, and then she cried. With that came Launcelot asfast as he might till he came to that knight, saying, O thou false knight andtraitor unto knighthood, who did learn thee to distress ladies and gentlewomen?When the knight saw Sir Launcelot thus rebuking him he answered not, but drewhis sword and rode unto Sir Launcelot, and Sir Launcelot threw his spear fromhim, and drew out his sword, and struck him such a buffet on the helmet that heclave his head and neck unto the throat. Now hast thou thy payment that longthou hast deserved! That is truth, said the damosel, for like as Sir Turquinewatched to destroy knights, so did this knight attend to destroy and distressladies, damosels, and gentlewomen, and his name was Sir Peris de Forest Savage.Now, damosel, said Sir Launcelot, will ye any more service of me? Nay, sir, shesaid, at this time, but almighty Jesu preserve you wheresomever ye ride or go,for the curteist knight thou art, and meekest unto all ladies and gentlewomen,that now liveth. But one thing, sir knight, methinketh ye lack, ye that are aknight wifeless, that he will not love some maiden or gentlewoman, for I couldnever hear say that ever ye loved any of no manner degree, and that is greatpity; but it is noised that ye love Queen Guenever, and that she hath ordainedby enchantment that ye shall never love none other but her, nor none otherdamosel nor lady shall rejoice you; wherefore many in this land, of high estateand low, make great sorrow.

Fair damosel, said Sir Launcelot, I may not warn people to speak of me what itpleaseth them; but for to be a wedded man, I think it not; for then I mustcouch with her, and leave arms and tournaments, battles, and adventures; and asfor to say for to take my pleasaunce with paramours, that will I refuse inprincipal for dread of God; for knights that be adventurous or lecherous shallnot be happy nor fortunate unto the wars, for other they shall be overcome witha simpler knight than they be themselves, other else they shall by unhap andtheir cursedness slay better men than they be themselves. And so who that usethparamours shall be unhappy, and all thing is unhappy that is about them.

And so Sir Launcelot and she departed. And then he rode in a deep forest twodays and more, and had strait lodging. So on the third day he rode over a longbridge, and there stert upon him suddenly a passing foul churl, and he smotehis horse on the nose that he turned about, and asked him why he rode over thatbridge without his licence. Why should I not ride this way? said Sir Launcelot,I may not ride beside. Thou shalt not choose, said the churl, and lashed at himwith a great club shod with iron. Then Sir Launcelot drew his sword and put thestroke aback, and clave his head unto the paps. At the end of the bridge was afair village, and all the people, men and women, cried on Sir Launcelot, andsaid, A worse deed didst thou never for thyself, for thou hast slain the chiefporter of our castle. Sir Launcelot let them say what they would, and straighthe went into the castle; and when he came into the castle he alighted, and tiedhis horse to a ring on the wall and there he saw a fair green court, andthither he dressed him, for there him thought was a fair place to fight in. Sohe looked about, and saw much people in doors and windows that said, Fairknight, thou art unhappy.

CHAPTER XI.
How Sir Launcelot slew two giants,and made a castle free.

Anon withal came there upon him two great giants, well armed all save theheads, with two horrible clubs in their hands. Sir Launcelot put his shieldafore him and put the stroke away of the one giant, and with his sword he clavehis head asunder. When his fellow saw that, he ran away as he were wood, forfear of the horrible strokes, and Launcelot after him with all his might, andsmote him on the shoulder, and clave him to the navel. Then Sir Launcelot wentinto the hall, and there came afore him three score ladies and damosels, andall kneeled unto him, and thanked God and him of their deliverance; For sir,said they, the most party of us have been here this seven year their prisoners,and we have worked all manner of silk works for our meat, and we are all greatgentlewomen born; and blessed be the time, knight, that ever thou be born, forthou hast done the most worship that ever did knight in this world, that willwe bear record, and we all pray you to tell us your name, that we may tell ourfriends who delivered us out of prison. Fair damosel, he said, my name is SirLauncelot du Lake. Ah, sir, said they all, well mayest thou be he, for elsesave yourself, as we deemed, there might never knight have the better of thesetwo giants; for many fair knights have assayed it, and here have ended, andmany times have we wished after you, and these two giants dread never knightbut you. Now may ye say, said Sir Launcelot, unto your friends how and who hathdelivered you, and greet them all from me, and if that I come in any of yourmarches, show me such cheer as ye have cause, and what treasure that there inthis castle is I give it you for a reward for your grievance, and the lord thatis owner of this castle I would he received it as is right. Fair sir, saidthey, the name of this castle is Tintagil, and a duke ought it sometime thathad wedded fair Igraine, and after wedded her Uther Pendragon, and gat on herArthur. Well, said Sir Launcelot, I understand to whom this castle longeth; andso he departed from them, and betaught them unto God.

And then he mounted upon his horse, and rode into many strange and wildcountries, and through many waters and valleys, and evil was he lodged. And atthe last by fortune him happened, against a night, to come to a faircourtelage, and therein he found an old gentlewoman that lodged him with goodwill, and there he had good cheer for him and his horse. And when time was, hishost brought him into a fair garret, over the gate, to his bed. There SirLauncelot unarmed him, and set his harness by him, and went to bed, and anon hefell asleep. So, soon after, there came one on horseback, and knocked at thegate in great haste, and when Sir Launcelot heard this, he arose up and lookedout at the window, and saw by the moonlight three knights came riding afterthat one man, and all three lashed on him at once with swords, and that oneknight turned on them knightly again, and defended him. Truly, said SirLauncelot, yonder one knight shall I help, for it were shame for me to seethree knights on one, and if he be slain I am partner of his death; andtherewith he took his harness, and went out at a window by a sheet down to thefour knights, and then Sir Launcelot said on high, Turn you knights unto me,and leave your fighting with that knight. And then they all three left Sir Kay,and turned unto Sir Launcelot, and there began great battle, for they alightedall three, and struck many great strokes at Sir Launcelot, and assailed him onevery side. Then Sir Kay dressed him for to have holpen Sir Launcelot. Nay,sir, said he, I will none of your help; therefore as ye will have my help, letme alone with them. Sir Kay, for the pleasure of the knight, suffered him forto do his will, and so stood aside. And then anon within six strokes, SirLauncelot had stricken them to the earth.

And then they all three cried: Sir knight, we yield us unto you as a man ofmight makeless. As to that, said Sir Launcelot, I will not take your yieldingunto me. But so that ye will yield you unto Sir Kay the Seneschal, on thatcovenant I will save your lives, and else not. Fair knight, said they, thatwere we loath to do; for as for Sir Kay, we chased him hither, and had overcomehim had not ye been, therefore to yield us unto him it were no reason. Well, asto that, said Launcelot, advise you well, for ye may choose whether ye will dieor live, for an ye be yolden it shall be unto Sir Kay. Fair knight, then theysaid, in saving of our lives we will do as thou commandest us. Then shall ye,said Sir Launcelot, on Whitsunday next coming, go unto the court of KingArthur, and there shall ye yield you unto Queen Guenever, and put you all threein her grace and mercy, and say that Sir Kay sent you thither to be herprisoners. Sir, they said, it shall be done by the faith of our bodies, an webe living, and there they swore every knight upon his sword. And so SirLauncelot suffered them so to depart. And then Sir Launcelot knocked at thegate with the pommel of his sword, and with that came his host, and in theyentered Sir Kay and he. Sir, said his host, I weened ye had been in your bed.So I was, said Sir Launcelot, but I rose and leapt out at my window for to helpan old fellow of mine. And so when they came nigh the light, Sir Kay knew wellthat it was Sir Launcelot, and therewith he kneeled down and thanked him of allhis kindness that he had holpen him twice from the death. Sir, he said, I havenothing done but that me ought for to do, and ye are welcome, and here shall yerepose you and take your rest.

So when Sir Kay was unarmed, he asked after meat; so there was meat fetchedhim, and he ate strongly. And when he had supped they went to their beds andwere lodged together in one bed. On the morn Sir Launcelot arose early, andleft Sir Kay sleeping, and Sir Launcelot took Sir Kay’s armour and hisshield, and armed him, and so he went to the stable, and took his horse, andtook his leave of his host, and so he departed. Then soon after arose Sir Kayand missed Sir Launcelot. And then he espied that he had his armour and hishorse. Now by my faith I know well that he will grieve some of the court ofKing Arthur; for on him knights will be bold, and deem that it is I, and thatwill beguile them. And because of his armour and shield I am sure I shall ridein peace. And then soon after departed Sir Kay and thanked his host.

CHAPTER XII.
How Sir Launcelot rode disguised inSir Kay’s harness, and how he smote down a knight.

Now turn we unto Sir Launcelot that had ridden long in a great forest, and atthe last he came into a low country, full of fair rivers and meadows. And aforehim he saw a long bridge, and three pavilions stood thereon, of silk and sendalof divers hue. And without the pavilions hung three white shields on truncheonsof spears, and great long spears stood upright by the pavilions, and at everypavilion’s door stood three fresh squires, and so Sir Launcelot passed bythem and spake no word. When he was passed the three knights said them that itwas the proud Kay; He weeneth no knight so good as he, and the contrary isofttime proved. By my faith, said one of the knights, his name was Sir Gaunter,I will ride after him and assay him for all his pride, and ye may behold howthat I speed. So this knight, Sir Gaunter, armed him, and hung his shield uponhis shoulder, and mounted upon a great horse, and gat his spear in his hand,and walloped after Sir Launcelot. And when he came nigh him, he cried, Abide,thou proud knight Sir Kay, for thou shalt not pass quit. So Sir Launcelotturned him, and either feutred their spears, and came together with all theirmights, and Sir Gaunter’s spear brake, but Sir Launcelot smote him downhorse and man. And when Sir Gaunter was at the earth his brethren said each oneto other, Yonder knight is not Sir Kay, for he is bigger than he. I dare lay myhead, said Sir Gilmere, yonder knight hath slain Sir Kay and hath taken hishorse and his harness. Whether it be so or no, said Sir Raynold, the thirdbrother, let us now go mount upon our horses and rescue our brother SirGaunter, upon pain of death. We all shall have work enough to match thatknight, for ever meseemeth by his person it is Sir Launcelot, or Sir Tristram,or Sir Pelleas, the good knight.

Then anon they took their horses and overtook Sir Launcelot, and Sir Gilmereput forth his spear, and ran to Sir Launcelot, and Sir Launcelot smote him downthat he lay in a swoon. Sir knight, said Sir Raynold, thou art a strong man,and as I suppose thou hast slain my two brethren, for the which raseth my heartsore against thee, and if I might with my worship I would not have ado withyou, but needs I must take part as they do, and therefore, knight, he said,keep thyself. And so they hurtled together with all their mights, and allto-shivered both their spears. And then they drew their swords and lashedtogether eagerly. Anon therewith arose Sir Gaunter, and came unto his brotherSir Gilmere, and bade him, Arise, and help we our brother Sir Raynold, thatyonder marvellously matched yonder good knight. Therewithal, they leapt ontheir horses and hurtled unto Sir Launcelot.

And when he saw them come he smote a sore stroke unto Sir Raynold, that he felloff his horse to the ground, and then he struck to the other two brethren, andat two strokes he struck them down to the earth. With that Sir Raynold began tostart up with his head all bloody, and came straight unto Sir Launcelot. Nowlet be, said Sir Launcelot, I was not far from thee when thou wert made knight,Sir Raynold, and also I know thou art a good knight, and loath I were to slaythee. Gramercy, said Sir Raynold, as for your goodness; and I dare say as forme and my brethren, we will not be loath to yield us unto you, with that weknew your name, for well we know ye are not Sir Kay. As for that be it as it bemay, for ye shall yield you unto dame Guenever, and look that ye be with her onWhitsunday, and yield you unto her as prisoners, and say that Sir Kay sent youunto her. Then they swore it should be done, and so passed forth Sir Launcelot,and each one of the brethren holp other as well as they might.

CHAPTER XIII.
How Sir Launcelot jousted againstfour knights of the Round Table and overthrew them.

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

By my faith, said Sir Uwaine, yonder is a strong knight, and I am sure he hathslain Sir Kay; and I see by his great strength it will be hard to match him.And therewithal, Sir Uwaine gat his spear in his hand and rode toward SirLauncelot, and Sir Launcelot knew him well, and so he met him on the plain, andgave him such a buffet that he was astonied, that long he wist not where hewas. Now see I well, said Sir Gawaine, I must encounter with that knight. Thenhe dressed his shield and gat a good spear in his hand, and Sir Launcelot knewhim well; and then they let run their horses with all their mights, and eitherknight smote other in midst of the shield. But Sir Gawaine’s spearto-brast, and Sir Launcelot charged so sore upon him that his horse reversedup-so-down. And much sorrow had Sir Gawaine to avoid his horse, and so SirLauncelot passed on a pace and smiled, and said, God give him joy that thisspear made, for there came never a better in my hand.

Then the four knights went each one to other and comforted each other. What sayye by this guest? said Sir Gawaine, that one spear hath felled us all four. Wecommend him unto the devil, they said all, for he is a man of great might. Yemay well say it, said Sir Gawaine, that he is a man of might, for I dare lay myhead it is Sir Launcelot, I know it by his riding. Let him go, said SirGawaine, for when we come to the court then shall we wit; and then had theymuch sorrow to get their horses again.

CHAPTER XIV.
How Sir Launcelot followed a brachetinto a castle, where he found a dead knight, and how he after was required of adamosel to heal her brother.

Now leave we there and speak of Sir Launcelot that rode a great while in a deepforest, where he saw a black brachet, seeking in manner as it had been in thefeute of an hurt d