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                   BOOKS WRITTEN AND ILLUSTRATED BY

                              HOWARD PYLE

                 PUBLISHED BY CHARLES SCRIBNER’S SONS


           THE STORY OF KING ARTHUR AND HIS KNIGHTS.

           THE STORY OF THE CHAMPIONS OF THE ROUND TABLE.

           THE STORY OF SIR LAUNCELOT AND HIS COMPANIONS.

           THE STORY OF THE GRAIL AND THE PASSING OF ARTHUR.


           THE MERRY ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD, OF GREAT RENOWN IN
           NOTTINGHAMSHIRE.

           THE GARDEN BEHIND THE MOON. A REAL STORY OF THE MOON ANGEL.

           OTTO OF THE SILVER HAND.

[Illustration: Sir Galahad of the Grail.]




[Illustration:              The Story _of_
                               the Grail
                               _and the
                              Passing of_
                                Arthur.

                                 _by_
                             HOWARD PYLE.

                               NEW YORK:
                       _CHARLES SCRIBNER’S SONS_
                                 1910]


                           _Copyright, 1910
                      By CHARLES SCRIBNER’S SONS_

                       Published September, 1910




[Illustration] Foreword.


_In this volume there follows the fourth and last series of those
histories relating to the life and to the kingship of Arthur, King of
England. In this it shall first be told how it befell with Sir Geraint;
then it shall be told how the Holy Grail was achieved by Sir Galahad,
the son of Sir Launcelot; and then it shall be told how King Arthur
passed from this life, and how, after doing battle right royally for his
crown and having overcome his enemies, he was slain by one of them whom
he had wounded to death.

Much in this is sad, but much is not sad; for all endings are sad, and
the passing of any hero is a sad thing to tell of; but the events and
the adventures and the achievements of such a man are not sad. Thus it
is here said that much of this is sad, but much is not sad.

Now I have for seven years been writing these four books, and in them I
have put the best that I have to say concerning such things. Wherefore I
now hope that you may like that which I have thus written, for if you do
not like it, then I have written in vain; but if you do like these
narratives, and the several various incidents in them recounted, then
you put the seal of your approval upon my work, and my reward is full._

_Know you that it is a very glorious thing for any man to achieve the
approval of others; for all men write for approval, and all would win
approval of their fellows if they were able to do so; wherefore, it is
my strong hope that you may set the seal of your approval upon these
books.

Be it said that some things in these histories are not recounted in
other histories of this momentous reign, but that most of the things
that I have written are recounted in such histories, and all those
things so recounted I have told to you as they have been aforetime
written by other men. In this I have shaped them and adapted them from
the ancient style in which they were first written so as to fit them to
the taste of those who read them to-day.

And I thank God that He has spared my life to finish this work, and also
I hope that He may spare me that life still further, to achieve other
works which I desire to undertake. But nevertheless it would have been a
great regret to me to leave these books unfinished. For I have made a
study of this history and have read much concerning it; wherefore, it
was my earnest wish to finish that which I had begun if God would spare
me my life to do so. This He has done.

So now I take leave of you upon the threshold of this book, and bid you
godspeed in reading it. And the first of these adventures that you shall
read shall be “The Story of Sir Geraint,” which was the first time
written in the ancient Welsh, but which is here re-written for your
delectation in the manner which I here set it forth._

[Illustration]




[Illustration: Contents]


PART I

THE STORY OF SIR GERAINT


Chapter First

_How Sir Geraint followed the knight and the lady to whom the dwarf
belongeth. How he lodged in a ruined castle, and how he found armor to
wear._                                                                _9_


Chapter Second

_How Sir Geraint fought with the knight of the Sparrow-Hawk; how he set
right the wrongs of the earldom and how he returned to the Court of the
King._                                                               _17_

Chapter Third

_How Sir Geraint lived with the Lady Enid at Camelot. How he suspected
her truth; how his suspicions were confirmed, and how he departed with
her in search of adventure. Also how they met with three unusual
adventures in the forest._                                           _27_


Chapter Fourth

_How Sir Geraint and Enid came forth out of the forest into the land of
an earl. How they abided at an inn, and of what befell them thereafter._
                                                                     _39_


Chapter Fifth

_Sir Geraint is wounded in his encounter with another knight. He is
discovered by the Court of King Arthur and is healed of his wounds._
                                                                     _49_


Chapter Sixth

_How Sir Geraint destroyed three giants of the highway. How he was hurt,
and how he and the Lady Enid were carried off by a knight of that
country. Also how Sir Geraint slew the knight._                      _59_


PART II

THE STORY OF SIR GALAHAD


Chapter First

_How Sir Galahad was made a knight; how he came to the Court of King
Arthur, and of the several miracles that happened at that time._     _67_


Chapter Second

_How Sir Galahad was led by a strange lady to a monastery of White
Friars. How he met there two other Knights of the Round Table. How King
Bagdemagus wore the shield, and how it was taken from him and given unto
Sir Galahad. Also the story of the shield._                          _79_


Chapter Third

_How Sir Galahad met with Sir Melyas. How Sir Melyas was overthrown, and
how Sir Galahad overthrew his enemies. Also how Sir Galahad did at the
Castle of Maidens._                                                  _91_


Chapter Fourth

_How Sir Launcelot and Sir Percival met Sir Galahad, and what befell
them. Also how Sir Launcelot beheld the Grail in a dream._          _101_


Chapter Fifth

_How Sir Percival findeth a horse that nearly bringeth him to
destruction. Also he meeteth a fair damsel and feasts with her. Finally
he enters a boat and there finds rest and comfort._                 _111_


Chapter Sixth

_How Sir Bors confessed himself to the Hermit of the Forest. How he
overthrew a knight, and how he came to the seashore and of what befell
him there._                                                         _119_


Chapter Seventh

_How Sir Galahad smote down Sir Gawaine, and how he accompanied a fair
lady to the seashore. And of what happened thereafter._             _133_


PART III

THE PASSING OF ARTHUR


Chapter First

_How Queen Guinevere visited Sir Launcelot in the forest; how Sir
Launcelot returned to Court as aforetime, and how he fled once more from
the Court._                                                         _147_


Chapter Second

_How Queen Guinevere held a feast, and how Sir Patrice of Ireland was
poisoned at that feast._                                            _155_


Chapter Third

_How Sir Bors was relieved of the defence of the Queen, and of how Sir
Mador de la Porte was overthrown._                                  _163_


Chapter Fourth

_How there came quarrels at the Court, and how Sir Launcelot of the
Lake was assaulted by the brothers of Sir Gawaine._                 _173_


Chapter Fifth

_How King Arthur attacked Sir Launcelot at Joyous Gard; how Sir Lionel
was slain and how Sir Bors was wounded._                            _185_


Chapter Sixth

_Sir Launcelot brings the Queen to King Arthur at Camelot. He quitteth
England, and King Arthur and Sir Gawaine pursue him._               _199_


Chapter Seventh

_Of the battle betwixt Sir Launcelot and Sir Gawaine. Also how King
Arthur returned to Little Britain._                                 _211_


Chapter Eighth

_How King Arthur returned to England. How he fought his last battle with
Sir Mordred._                                                       _223_


Chapter Ninth

_How King Arthur slew Sir Mordred, and how he himself was wounded so
that he was upon the edge of death. How his sword Excalibur was cast
away, and how three queens came from Avalon and took him away with
them._                                                              _237_


Chapter Tenth

_How Sir Launcelot came to Queen Guinevere, and how Queen Guinevere
remained a nun. How Sir Launcelot went into the forest and became a
hermit, and how seven of his fellows joined him there. Also of the death
of Sir Launcelot of the Lake._                                      _249_

[Illustration]




[Illustration] LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS


_Sir Galahad of the Grail_                                 _Frontispiece_

                                                                    PAGE

_Head Piece--Foreword_                                              _vii_

_Tail Piece--Foreword_                                             _viii_

_Head Piece--Table of Contents_                                      _ix_

_Tail Piece--Table of Contents_                                     _xiv_

_Head Piece--List of Illustrations_                                  _xv_

_Tail Piece--List of Illustrations_                               _xviii_

_Sir Geraint, Son of Erbin_                                           _2_

_Head Piece--Prologue_                                                _3_

_Tail Piece--Prologue_                                                _6_

_Enid and Geraint in the Garden_                                      _8_

_Head Piece--Part I_                                                  _9_

_Sir Geraint and the Knight of the Sparrow-Hawk_                     _16_

_Sir Geraint lies asleep_                                            _26_

_Enid talks with the Earl_                                           _38_

_Enid and Geraint ride past the Town bridge_                         _48_

_The King’s physicians attend Sir Geraint_                           _58_

_Tail Piece--Part I_                                                 _64_

_Sir Galahad cometh with the Hermit of the Forest_                   _66_

_Head Piece--Part II_                                                _67_

_The Lady of the Lake and Sir Galahad_                               _78_

_Sir Galahad meets Sir Melyas_                                       _90_

_The Grail is manifested, and Sir Launcelot Sleepeth_               _100_

_Sir Percival rideth the black horse_                               _110_

_Sir Bors rides with the white knight_                              _118_

_Sir Galahad rides with the Lady_                                   _132_

_Tail Piece--Part II_                                               _144_

_The Queen’s pages clothe Sir Launcelot_                            _146_

_Head Piece--Part III_                                              _147_

_Sir Mador de la Porte_                                             _154_

_Sir Mador begs for his Life_                                       _162_

_Sir Launcelot defends the door_                                    _172_

_The Bishop of Rochester and the King_                              _184_

_Sir Gawaine challenges Sir Launcelot_                              _198_

_The Passing of Sir Gawaine_                                        _210_

_Sir Mordred the traitor_                                           _222_

_The Passing of Arthur_                                             _236_

_The Passing of Guinevere_                                          _248_

_Tail Piece--Part III_                                              _258_

[Illustration]

[Illustration: Sir Geraint, Son of Erbin]




[Illustration] Prologue


[Sidenote: _King Arthur proclaims a hunting._]

Upon a certain time, at Michaelmas tide, King Arthur held a high hunting
near to his court at Carleon-upon-Usk. Upon the morning of the day
appointed for this hunting, all the attendants of the King were gathered
in the courtyard of the castle ready to depart. The King cast his eyes
about him, but he did not see the Queen near at hand. Quoth he, “Where
is the Queen this morning, that I do not see her here?” One replied to
him, “Lord, she is yet abed and asleep; shall we go wake her?” The King
said, “No, if she would rather sleep than hunt, let her lie abed.”

Then another said, “Lord, Sir Geraint is not here either. Shall we call
him?” King Arthur laughed. “Nay,” quoth he, “let him also lie abed if he
be drowsy.” Therewith they took horse and rode away into the dewy
sweetness of the early morning; the birds chaunting their roundelays and
the sun bathing the entire earth as in a great bath of golden radiance.

Anon and after they had thus all departed, Queen Guinevere bestirred
herself and awoke, and she said to her attendants, “Where is the King?”
They say to her, “Lady, he hath ridden into the forest with his court.”
At that the Queen was vexed, and she said, “Why was I not awakened?”
They say to her, “Lady, the King forbade that you should be disturbed.”
“Well,” said she, “let that be as it may, but I shall yet go to view the
hunting.” So she arose and clad herself in a robe of sea-green taffeta,
and she belted herself with a belt of gold, and she had her lady to
enmesh her hair in a net of gold. And after she had broken her fast,
she and her court took horse, and rode forth to the woodlands to find
the King and his court.

[Sidenote: _Queen Guinevere and her attendants ride into the forest._]

[Sidenote: They meet Sir Geraint.]

Now as the Queen and her ladies and their attendants wended onward in a
sedate and quiet fashion, they were presently aware of one who came
riding after them at a hand gallop. Then the Queen drew rein, and said
to her attendant ladies, “Who is yonder gentleman who follows us at a
hand gallop?” One of her attendants said, “Methinks, Lady, yonder is Sir
Geraint.” The Queen said, “Yea, it is indeed Sir Geraint,” so they all
drew rein and waited until Sir Geraint overtook them. Then the Queen
said to him, “Sir Geraint, I am glad that thou too art a sluggard, for
now, as a penance, we shall hold thee in attendance upon us.” “Lady,”
quoth Sir Geraint, “that is no penance but a pleasure, for what pleasure
could be greater than to wait upon you and your court upon so fair and
sweet a morning as this?”

“Sir,” said the Queen, “that is very well said. Now I bid you to ride
beside me, and so together we will seek the King.”

So Sir Geraint rode with the Lady Guinevere in that wise, and as they
rode they discoursed together concerning many things of interest.

Now as they ambled thus through the forest they presently perceived a
small company of riders who came the other way through the checkered
lights of the woodland.

The first of these riders was a very strong, powerful and lordly knight
in armor. Beside him rode a fair lady clad all in scarlet, and following
after these two there came a deformed and crooked dwarf clad in green.
And the dwarf sat perched upon a great tall horse like a toad upon a
mountain.

Then the Lady Guinevere said, “What company is yonder?” But no one could
answer her question. Then the Queen said to one of her damsels, “Go,
maiden, and ask the dwarf who is the knight whom he follows.”

[Sidenote: _The maiden bespeaks the dwarf._]

So the maiden to whom the Queen spake made forward to meet that party,
and she accosted the dwarf, saying, “Sirrah, I pray you tell me, who is
the lordly knight whom you follow?” The dwarf said, “I will not tell
you, for it is not needful that you should know.” The maiden said,
“Then, since you are so ungentle to me, I will e’en go and ask the
knight his own name. For I do not think he will be so discourteous as
not to tell me his name and his degree.” The dwarf said, “I forbid you
to do that, and I will not permit you to ride forward, for my lord is of
such quality that the likes of you are not fit to speak with him.” And
when he saw that the Queen’s maiden was of a mind to follow the knight,
he catched the horse by the bridle rein and forced it backward so that
the maiden was in danger of falling.

Then the maiden said, “Let go thy hold upon my horse!” and when the
dwarf had released her she drew rein and returned to the Queen
complaining of the discourtesy of the dwarf, and saying, “Lady, yonder
is a most rude and uncivil atomy, for he forbade me to speak to his
master, and when I would have done so in spite of him he catched my
horse by the bridle rein and forced him backward so that I well-nigh had
a fall.”

The Queen frowned and was very much displeased, and she said, “Sir
Geraint, go you and find for me who is yonder knight.” And Sir Geraint
said, “I will do so.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Geraint bespeaks the dwarf._]

So Sir Geraint rode down to where the others were, and he followed after
the three until he had overtaken them. Then he rode up to the dwarf and
he said, “Sirrah, tell me the name of yonder knight.” The dwarf said, “I
will not do so, for it is not befitting that I should speak his name to
you.”

Sir Geraint said, “Then I will ask for myself.” Therewith he set spurs
to his horse and drove forward toward the knight. But the dwarf, seeing
his intent, spurred his horse across the way, so that Sir Geraint could
not pass. And he cried out, “Sir Knight, forbear, for you know not what
you do.”

[Sidenote: _The dwarf strikes Sir Geraint._]

Sir Geraint said, “Sirrah, bear back!” and therewith would have
over-ridden the dwarf. Then the dwarf, in a rage, rose in his stirrups
and smote Sir Geraint in the face with a whip which he held in his hand.
And the whip struck Sir Geraint across the cheek and the eyelid, so that
a great red line immediately started out across his face.

Then when Sir Geraint felt the smart of that blow he was filled with
rage and he turned upon the dwarf, clapping hand upon his sword. But he
straightway withdrew his hand, saying, “Sirrah, this shall be a sad day
for your knight!” Therewith he turned his horse and rode back to where
Queen Guinevere was waiting for him. Then he said to her, “Lady, I could
not learn the knight his name, but if I have your leave I will follow
after him, and when I come to some inhabited place I will purvey me
armor, and then I will compel him to return to you and to tell you his
name, and to ask pardon for the insult which his dwarf offered your
maiden.”

Then the Lady Guinevere beheld Sir Geraint’s face, and the weal where
the dwarf had struck him, and she cried out, “Sir Geraint, what ails
your face?” Sir Geraint said, “The dwarf smote me with a whip.” The
Queen said, “What did you do to him for that blow?” Sir Geraint replied,
“I did nothing to him, for I will deal with the knight who is his
master, and not with him.” “Sir,” said the Lady Guinevere, “you did
right in that matter. So I pray you to follow after those people and to
do as you are able with the knight who is the master of the dwarf.”

Sir Geraint said very proudly, “I need no revenge for the blow of such a
mannikin, but I would fain compel this knight to come to you, to
disclose to you his name, and to ask pardon of this maiden for the
discourtesy of his attendant.” The Queen said, “Go; follow him.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Geraint departs after the knight._]

So Sir Geraint departed after the knight, and the lady, and the dwarf,
as the Queen bade him to do.

       *       *       *       *       *

So begins the Adventure of Sir Geraint, concerning which you will learn
much more if you will read this narrative to its conclusion.

[Illustration]




PART I

The Story of Sir Geraint


_Here beginneth the story of Sir Geraint, which same hath been noted in
many ancient histories of the reign of King Arthur, and which is here
inserted because it belongeth to the story of King Arthur at this place,
as follows:--_

[Illustration: Enid and Geraint in the garden:]




[Illustration] Chapter First

_How Sir Geraint followed the knight and the lady to whom the dwarf
belongeth. How he lodged in a ruined castle, and how he found armor to
wear._


So Sir Geraint followed after that knight and the lady and the dwarf,
and they led him at first toward Camelot. Then they turned aside and led
him in another direction. For, by and by, they came to a cross-road and
they turned into it, and later they came to a high ridge of land that
overlooked a valley. And the valley was spread out beneath them, meadow
and dale, woodland and fallow, as though it had been carved very
minutely in ivory or in some sort of wood, very hard and fine, and so
exquisitely and wonderfully modelled that it was as though a man might
have covered it with the palm of his hand.

Then, after awhile, they quitted this open ridge of land and entered a
woodland. Here they beheld no other thing than trees and green leaves,
for all else was shut from sight. And no other sound disturbed the ear
saving only the sweet song of the woodland birds, chaunting their pretty
roundelay. Anon they descended from these places, and so at last came to
a high-road that led beside a wide and brightly shining river, where
slow-moving barges and quick wherries drew silvery threads across the
smoothly mirroring surface.

Thus, by highland and lowland, by farm and woodland and waterway, the
knight, the lady and the dwarf travelled for all that day; and for all
that day Sir Geraint followed patiently after them.

So toward eventide they came to a town set on a hill. And overlooking
the town was a high grey castle, and there was a wall drawn all about
the castle and the town. And over against the town and the castle and
set up on a hill opposite to them was another castle, very ruinous and
neglected.

[Sidenote: _The knight enters the town._]

The knight, the lady, and the dwarf entered the town, and Sir Geraint
followed after them. And he followed them through the streets, and
everywhere he beheld great crowds of people, and his ears were confused
by the constant and continuous sound of laughing and chatting and
calling of voice to voice. For all these people cheered and applauded
the knight with his lady and the dwarf, when they entered the
town--crowding after them and about them, seeking to touch the knight or
his horse. And everywhere the lights of forge fires were burning, and
the bellows were blowing, and the anvils were ringing with the continual
beating of hammers upon armor. For all the town was in a bustle and
uproar, as though preparing an army for battle.

Meantime the knight, the lady and the dwarf made their way through the
throng and the turmoil, which every moment became greater and greater
about them. For the street was presently full of people, and other
people appeared at the windows and looked out and down upon them as they
went forward upon their way. And some waved scarves and others cheered,
and everywhere there was an uproar around about that place.

[Sidenote: _Sir Geraint inquires concerning the knight._]

Then Sir Geraint said to one who was near to him, “I prithee, friend,
what is all this bustle and noise and what does it all portend?” Quoth
he to whom Sir Geraint spoke, “The Sparrow-Hawk! The Sparrow-Hawk!” and
hurried away.

Then Sir Geraint queried of another, “What is all this to do?” Quoth he,
“The Sparrow-Hawk, good friend, the Sparrow-Hawk!” and he also hurried
away.

Then there came by a stout red-faced man, and of him Sir Geraint asked,
“What is all this noise and bustle? I prithee tell me.” Quoth the fat
man, “The Sparrow-Hawk, good sir, the Sparrow-Hawk.”

Then Sir Geraint was angry, and he reached down from his horse and
caught the fat man by his collar, and held him fast. And he said,
“Sirrah, I will not let you go until you tell me what is the meaning of
all this tumult. Who is yonder knight, and whither goeth he?”

“Hah! Sir! Do you not know?” said the fat man. “Yonder knight is the
Knight of the Sparrow-Hawk, and he goeth to the castle where he shall
lodge until the battle of to-morrow.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Geraint inquires concerning lodging._]

“Well,” said Sir Geraint, “that is something to know. Now I bid you tell
me where I may find lodgings in this town and where I may find arms
wherewith a knight may arm himself.”

Quoth the fat man, “There is no lodging to be had in this town at such a
time as this, nor are there any arms to be found at any place. But if,
fair sir, you will cross the valley, to yonder ruined castle, you will
doubtless find lodgings for the night, and maybe you may find arms, and
to-morrow you may behold the Knight of the Sparrow-Hawk overthrow in the
lists all who come against him.”

Then Sir Geraint, seeing that the three whom he followed were now at the
ending of their day’s journey, let go the man, who immediately ran away
into the crowd that still followed after the knight, the lady, and the
dwarf.

So Sir Geraint drew rein and he turned his horse and he quitted that
town and crossed over the valley to the ruined castle upon the other
side as he had been advised to do.

[Sidenote: _Sir Geraint approaches the ruined castle._]

[Sidenote: _He bespeaks the old man._]

As Sir Geraint drew near to the castle, he was aware of an old man who
walked along upon the parapet of the wall. When this old and reverend
man beheld Sir Geraint, that he approached, he descended from the wall
and he came down to the gate and there met Sir Geraint. And Sir Geraint
beheld that the old man was tall and lordly in his appearance and that
he had a noble and stately countenance. But Sir Geraint beheld that he
was clad in poor and simple garments, grey in color, and patched in
places, and worn and threadbare at the seams. Sir Geraint said to him,
“Sir, I pray you tell me--shall I find lodgings at this castle for
to-night? And I pray you also tell me if you know where I may procure a
suit of armor fit for me to wear?”

Quoth the old man, “Fair Sir Knight, it hath been long since any of your
quality hath been to this place. For this is a poor and ruined house of
a poor and ruined man. Ne’ertheless, such as it is, you are welcome
hither. I pray you come in. As for armor, I have every belief that I
shall be able to supply you with the same, provided you will accept that
which is old and out of date.”

Thus saying, the old man took the horse of Sir Geraint by the bridle
and he led it into the courtyard of the castle, and when he was come
there he set his fingers to his lips and whistled very loud and shrilly.
Anon a side door of the castle opened and there came forth a maiden both
young and graceful, very tall and slender. And she was clad in a plain
blue garment, straight and slim, and girdled with a girdle of blue
leather. Her hair was plaited and twisted, and was without any net or
ornament of any sort. But Sir Geraint looked at her very searchingly,
because it appeared to him that this was the most beautiful young maiden
whom he had ever beheld in all of the world.

When the maiden had come to them the old man bade her to take the horse
of Sir Geraint to the stable and to see that it was fittingly groomed
and cared for.

Then Sir Geraint would have protested at this service, but the old man
said, “Sir, I pray you to let be, for we have no servants in this house,
and we deem it a shame for a guest to do himself his own service.
Wherefore my daughter shall find it a pleasure for to serve our guest.”

[Sidenote: _The maiden stables the horse of Sir Geraint._]

So Sir Geraint dismounted from his horse and the maiden led it away to
the stable. Then the old lord took Sir Geraint into the castle and he
conducted him to an upper room wherein he was to lodge. And he prepared
a tepid bath for Sir Geraint, and he brought him a loose garment, faded
in color but trimmed with fur that had once been handsome and of rich
texture, and the garment was very soft and comfortable.

Then the old man called to his wife and he gave some money into her
hand, and he said to her, “Go down into the town and procure the best
that you are able with this money, for it hath been many days since we
have had a guest of so much worth and nobility as this gentleman appears
to possess.”

So the old gentlewoman went down into the town, and after a little she
returned again with a porter bearing a great hamper of food.

Meanwhile, whilst this food was preparing for supper, Sir Geraint and
the old lord of the castle walked in the garden talking together.

[Sidenote: _Sir Geraint inquires concerning the knight of the
Sparrow-Hawk._]

Quoth Sir Geraint, “Sir, I pray you tell me several matters. First, I
pray you tell me of this Sparrow-Hawk concerning whom yonder place
appears to have gone mad?”

“Messire,” said the old lord, “I will tell you. Some years ago I was the
earl and overlord of yonder town. But my younger brother undermined me
with the inhabitants, and lately he hath gathered all of my power into
his hands. Wherefore he is there, lodged in all splendor, and I am here,
as thou seest.

“Now you are to know that my brother hath a mind to assemble a court of
very worthy knights about him. Wherefore he hath had made a sparrow-hawk
of pure silver which same is mounted at the top of a silver staff. For
this sparrow-hawk many knights have come jousting; for what knight
soever gaineth it and keepeth it for three years in succession, that
knight shall be known as the Knight of the Sparrow-Hawk. Wherefore many
have contested for it.

“For two years now a knight, hight Sir Gaudeamus of the Moors, hath
overcome all who have come against him, and if he overcometh all the
knights contestant again for this year, he shall be acknowledged as the
true Knight of the Sparrow-Hawk.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Geraint asks for armor._]

Thus spake the old lord of the ruined castle, and when he had done Sir
Geraint said, “Sir, with that armor which you say you have, I think that
I myself will contend with that knight to-morrow day. So I pray you to
let that armor be sent to my room, where I may have it to hand when I
want it.”

Quoth the old lord, “Messire, I have, as I told you, such a suit of
armor, but it is of a sort that I know not whether you will wear it or
not, for it is old and beaten; but if so be you are not ashamed to wear
such ancient armor, I shall be glad to purvey it for you.”

“Sir,” said Sir Geraint, “I give you high thanks. And now come I to
another matter. A short while ago I saw a maiden whom I thought was the
most beautiful that ever mine eyes beheld. Now if that damsel hath no
knight to serve her, I pray you tell me if I may fight for her sake
to-morrow in the field of the Sparrow-Hawk?”

Said the old man, “Sir, that maiden is my daughter and my only child.
Her name is Enid. If so be she shall accept you for her knight, then
shall I be more than glad for her to do so. But I will send her to you,
and you may break that matter to her yourself.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Geraint bespeaks Enid the Fair._]

With this, the old lord took his departure; anon came Enid the Fair into
the garden where Sir Geraint awaited her, and when he beheld her coming,
his heart was very glad. So she came to him, and he took her very gently
by the hand, and he said to her, “Lady, here am I, a knight of King
Arthur’s Round Table and of his Court. I am of good repute and I believe
am not altogether unworthy of my belt and my spurs. You, I think, are
not more than twenty years of age, and I have nearly twice those years,
yet I find that I have great pleasure in gazing upon you. Now I pray
you, tell me if your heart may incline unto me sufficiently to suffer me
to be your knight in the tournament to-morrow day. For I purpose then to
endeavor for this Sparrow-Hawk, and I have no lady whom I might
consider as the lady of my heart upon such an occasion.”

At this address Enid was very much astonished and abashed. She uplifted
her eyes and looked at Sir Geraint very steadily for a little. And she
beheld that he was tall and powerful of frame and that he possessed a
strong and very noble face. Wherefore her heart went out to him and she
said, “Noble Lord, it will give me great pleasure to accept you for my
knight champion, if it so be that one of your high nobility and splendid
distinction shall regard my poor estate. For my father hath not money to
buy him clothes for us all, nor hath he any honor or estate saving only
this ruined castle wherein we dwell. Wherefore it is not meet for me to
lift mine eyes to one of your high estate and exalted quality.”

Then Sir Geraint regarded her very earnestly, and he found her to be
still more beautiful than he had at first thought her to be; and he
said, “Enid, it may be that thy present estate and quality is not very
great, yet thy face is more beautiful than that of any woman whom I ever
yet beheld, wherefore I would fain have thee to consign thyself for my
true and only lady. If thou wilt do this, it may be that I shall be able
to be of great help and assistance both to thee and to thy father.”

She said to him, “Lord, I will accept thee for my true and faithful
knight.”

[Sidenote: _Enid gives Sir Geraint her belt._]

Then Sir Geraint said, “Now I have no favor of thine to wear. I pray
thee give me that belt thou wearest about thy waist, for I myself will
wear it twisted about mine arm to-morrow.” So Enid gave him her belt of
leather and he buckled it about his arm.

Then he gave her his hand and she gave her hand to him. So, hand in
hand, they departed from that place and entered the castle.

[Illustration]

[Illustration: Sir Geraint and the Knight of the Sparrow-hawk]




[Illustration] Chapter Second

_How Sir Geraint fought with the Knight of the Sparrow-Hawk; how he set
right the wrongs of the earldom and how he returned to the Court of the
King._


Now tell we of that notable battle betwixt Sir Geraint and the Knight of
the Sparrow-Hawk.

[Sidenote: _Of the place of battle._]

In the level field below the town there was a fine field of green grass,
such as was well fitted for knights to tilt upon. Here there was a high
seat arranged for the earl of that town, and for his court, and that
seat was hung and draped with crimson cloth embroidered with silver
gryphons (which same was the emblazonment of the earl). Below the place
of tilting and hard by that place was the silver sparrow-hawk under
guard of six esquires clad all in crimson embroidered with silver
gryphons. The sparrow-hawk was of pure silver, shining very brightly in
the glorious sunlight. And it was set upon a cross-bar of pure silver,
and the cross-bar of silver was supported by a rod of silver thrust into
the earth.

Already the Knight of the Sparrow-Hawk had fought with several opponents
that morning and had overthrown them all, the one after the other. So
now, as none came against him, he waited in his pavilion till noon,
against which time the silver sparrow-hawk should be assigned to him;
and as to the people who were gathered to view the sport, they were
grown restless and moved about and conversed together, for it seemed to
them that no one would come to contest again with Sir Gaudeamus.

[Sidenote: _How Sir Geraint and his companions arrive at the place of
battle._]

But of a sudden, a little group of four figures suddenly appeared coming
across the meadowland beyond. The first of these was the old Earl of
that town. Beside him rode a knight, tall and strong of figure, and
behind these two came the lady of the Earl and his daughter. These
presented a very dull and motley appearance, for the Earl was clad in
frayed and weather-worn black, and Sir Geraint was clad in the ancient
and battered armor of the Earl that had been given to him. In this he
presented a very singular appearance, as though he had stepped from an
olden painting.

When those who were there perceived how poor and ancient was the armor
that Sir Geraint wore, there began a ripple of laughter that spread and
grew in magnitude until it was like a torrent of high sounding mirth.
But ever the Earl of the town did not join in this mirth, otherwise he
sat with great dignity in his seat, and neither laughed nor smiled,
although all of his court made great mirth and applauded at Sir Geraint
as though he were some jester clad in armor for their sport.

But Sir Geraint paid no heed to all this merriment; otherwise he rode
forward through the field. And after he had found place for the old Lord
who was with him, and for the lady of that Earl and for Enid, he rode up
to the high seat of the Earl and bespoke him thus:

“Lord, here stand I, a knight of the Court of King Arthur, and of his
Round Table, to do battle upon behalf of the Lady Enid of this place for
yonder silver sparrow-hawk. Now I pray thee tell me, have I thy
permission to engage in that battle?”

But now no longer was there any sound of laughter or of jeering from the
lords and the ladies of that court; otherwise, all stood up to look upon
him, although they could see naught of his face by reason that the visor
of his helmet was lowered.

“Sir Knight,” said the Earl, “this contest is open to all, wherefore it
is also free to thee.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Geraint challenges the Knight of the Sparrow-Hawk._]

Then Sir Geraint saluted the Earl and his court, and riding across the
meadow of battle to the pavilion of Gaudeamus, the Knight of the
Sparrow-Hawk, he smote with his spear upon the shield of that knight
with all his might and main so that it rang again like a bell. Then the
Knight of the Sparrow-Hawk appeared at the door of his pavilion, and he
said, “Who art thou in that ancient, outland armor who smites my shield
with thy lance? Art thou a jester? If so, I think thy jest will cost
thee very dear.”

Quoth Sir Geraint, “I am not a jester, but am one who hath come to do
battle with thee. Therefore, prepare thyself to meet me, for I have
great reason to be offended with thee. If fortune betide me, this day
shalt thou do penance to a great lady for thy dwarf and for his
discourtesy to her.”

“Hah!” quoth the Knight of the Sparrow-Hawk, “this is a very strange
thing, that thou shouldst have taken up such a quarrel as this against a
strange and misshapen dwarf. As for thy challenge, it shall be answered
immediately.” Therewith he of the Sparrow-Hawk went back into his
pavilion again to put on his helmet and to make him ready for combat.

Meantime Sir Geraint rode to his stand, which he assumed in due order,
preparing himself in all wise for this encounter that was about to
befall.

Anon came the Knight of the Sparrow-Hawk, armed cap-a-pie in shining and
very splendid armor. Upon his shield he had emblazoned a silver
sparrow-hawk, and the crest upon his helmet was also a silver
sparrow-hawk wreathed with a thin silver scarf. And all who beheld those
two figures could not but applaud the splendor of his appearance, as
they could not but laugh at the quaint appearance of Sir Geraint.

[Sidenote: _Sir Geraint engages the Knight of the Sparrow-Hawk._]

So when these two knights were in all wise ready, each in his place, the
trumpets of the marshals of the list sounded the assault, and they
rushed together like thunder and so that the earth trembled and shook
beneath the trampling of their horses’ hoofs.

So they crashed together in the midst of the course with a roar and a
crackle of splintered lance.

[Sidenote: _Sir Geraint overthrows the Knight of the Sparrow-Hawk._]

For in that assault the lance of the Knight of the Sparrow-Hawk was
broken into as many as twenty pieces, but the lance of Sir Geraint held,
so that it pierced through the shield of the other knight, lifting him
completely out of the saddle and casting him with great violence to the
earth so that he rolled three times over ere he ceased to fall.

But when the people of the town beheld their champion thus cast to the
earth by that strange knight in ancient armor they were very greatly
displeased and murmured together saying, the one to the other, “What
knight is this? Who is this clad in outland armor who overthroweth our
champion? Is he a hero? Is he Sir Launcelot of the Lake; or who is he?”

But even whilst they thus spoke the Knight of the Sparrow-Hawk recovered
from the terrible violence of his fall. His wits returned to him like a
flock of scattered birds, and with them a knowledge of the shame of his
overthrow. Then he leaped to his feet and drew his sword, crying out,
“Sir Knight! Come down and do me battle afoot! For though thou hast
overthrown me with thy lance, yet thou hast not yet conquered me.”

And with that, others of those who were there assembled began to cry
out, “Come down, Sir Knight! Come down, and fight him afoot!”

[Sidenote: _Sir Geraint does battle with the Knight of the
Sparrow-Hawk._]

So Sir Geraint leaped down from his horse and drew his sword. And he set
his shield before him and so approached his enemy, and meantime Sir
Gaudeamus had made ready for that assault. Then suddenly they sprang
together like two wild bulls in battle; lashing and lashing again and
again. The dust arose up around them and for a time no onlooker could
tell which had the better of that fight. But at last Sir Geraint waxed
very angry at being so withstood, wherefore he rained blow upon blow
like the continual crashing of thunder. Then the Knight of the
Sparrow-Hawk grew weak in his assault. He bore back and held his shield
full low. Upon that Sir Geraint uplifted his strength and smote his
enemy with so furious a might that Sir Gaudeamus let fall his shield
from his defence. Then again Sir Geraint smote him with all his might
upon the crown of his undefended helmet, so woful a blow that the blade
bit through the iron of the headpiece and deep into the bone of the
brain pan.

[Sidenote: _He overcomes that knight._]

With that blow the brains of the Knight of the Sparrow-Hawk swam like
water; the strength left his limbs; his thighs trembled and he fell down
upon his knees and sought to catch hold of the thighs of Sir Geraint.
But Sir Geraint avoided him, and reaching forward, he catched him by the
helmet and snatched it from off his head. Then he catched the Knight of
the Sparrow-Hawk by the hair of the head and he drew his neck forward as
though to smite off his head upon the ground. But the Knight of the
Sparrow-Hawk, beholding death hovering above him, cried out in a muffled
voice, “Spare me, Sir Knight, spare my life!”

Then Sir Geraint cried out, “I will not spare thy life, Sir Knight,
unless thou wilt thus, upon thy knees, tell me thy name.”

[Sidenote: _The knight proclaims his name._]

“My name,” said the Knight of the Sparrow-Hawk, “is Sir Gaudeamus of the
Moors.”

“Still will I not spare thee,” said Sir Geraint, “unless thou wilt bind
thyself with a pledge to go to the Court of King Arthur and there tell
to Queen Guinevere thy name and thy degree of arms.”

“All this,” said the other, “I promise in full.”

“Still I will not spare thee,” said Sir Geraint, “unless thou wilt
engage that thy dwarf shall go with thee to earn forgiveness for his
discourtesy to the damsel of the queen whom he hath offended.”

“This also,” said the knight, “I will engage for him to do.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Geraint spares the knight his life._]

Then Sir Geraint said, “Arise, Sir Gaudeamus, for I spare thee.” And
therewith Sir Gaudeamus arose and stood upon his feet, still trembling
with the weakness of his battle, and the blood running in torrents from
the great wound upon his head. Then came several esquires and Sir
Geraint said to them, “Take him away and look to his hurts,” and they
did so.

Now, after this, there came an herald upon the field of battle, and he
approached Sir Geraint and said to him, “Sir Knight, the earl of this
town hath sent me to beseech you to come to him.” Sir Geraint said,
“Take me to him.”

So the herald led the way and Sir Geraint followed after him until he
stood face to face with the Earl. The Earl said to him, “Sir Knight, I
make my vow thou art a strong and terrible knight. I pray thee, tell me
thy name that I may know to whom I am to give the prize of battle.”

“Sir,” said Sir Geraint, “I am called Geraint, and am the son of the
King of Erbin, and I am a Knight of King Arthur’s Court and of his Round
Table.” “Hah!” said the Earl, “then it is small wonder that thou didst
win thy battle so easily, for thy deeds are famous in all the courts of
chivalry. Now I pray thee, Sir, that thou wilt come to my castle and
will feast with me to-night, so that I may do honor to so famous a
knight, for all the world knoweth of thee and of thy deeds.”

Then Sir Geraint looked at him very sternly and he said, “Messire, I
will not sit down with thee at table unless I know by what right thou
assumest thy state as earl, and by what right thou hast dispossessed the
former earl of his state and his property.”

At this the Earl’s face fell, but he presently said, “Well, I will tell
all these and several other things to thee if thou wilt come with me to
my castle. And my brother the old Earl and his wife and his daughter
shall also come. And when we sit at feast, I will lay all things before
thee and thou shalt judge betwixt the old Earl and me, and I will abide
by what thou decidest as to the rights of this case.”

“Then,” said Sir Geraint, “we will come to thy castle with thee.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Geraint feasts with the young Earl._]

So that night there was a great feast prepared in honor of Sir Geraint,
and Sir Geraint and the old Earl and his countess and their daughter
Enid sat with the Earl and his court at the castle of the Earl. Sir
Geraint sat upon the right hand of the Earl, and upon his left hand sat
the old Earl.

So after they had eaten and whilst they sat with their wine before them,
quoth Sir Geraint, “I pray thee now, my Lord Earl, for to tell me what
thou promised to do; to wit, how it stands with thee and the old Earl of
this city.”

“Sir Knight,” said the young Earl, “I will do so. Thus it was: When our
father died he left this town to my brother, whilst to me he left that
ruined castle yonderway across the valley.

“Now my brother was a very passive man and would do little to benefit
this place either by regulating its laws or by punishing its criminals;
or by establishing in it a court of chivalry.

[Sidenote: _The young Earl tells his story._]

“All the affairs of state were left to my command, whilst my brother
contented himself with his domestic life and did very little to regulate
the affairs of the state. Hence it befell that the people of this town
looked to me to help them and to advise with them. Thus, at last, I
became the real ruler of all our affairs. This continued for several
years; then at last the people said, ‘Why should we support our Earl who
does nothing for us, whilst this lord whom we do not support giveth us
all that he hath in him to give?’ So the people arose one night, and
drove their earl and his wife and his daughter out of the castle and out
of the town, and since that time he hath been dwelling in that old
ruined castle that one time belonged to me, where thou didst find him;
and I have been dwelling here. This, Sir Geraint, is the true story of
our affairs.”

Then Sir Geraint turned to the old Earl and he said, “Sir, I pray you
tell me, is this true?” The old Earl said, “Methinks it is true.”
“Then,” said Sir Geraint, “this is the doom that I pronounce: That the
present Earl shall rule this town as he hath ruled it heretofore, but
that he shall give to the old Earl the one-half of all the money
receipts of the town, so that he may support the style of living
befitting his rank. And I furthermore ordain that this Earl who rules
this city shall transmit the rule thereof to whatsoever heirs or assigns
he may elect to succeed him.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Geraint proclaims the doom of the two Earls._]

So Sir Geraint decided his doom, and that which he said was satisfactory
to all. And he abided several days at that place, and during that time
he saw much of Enid and the more he saw of her the more he loved her.

So one day, they two walking in the garden of the old castle alone
together, he said to her, “Lady, I have seen many fair dames in my day,
but never did I behold one who was so dear to my heart as thou art. Now
I pray thee tell me, have I found favor in thy sight?” She said, “Yea,
Lord, thou hast found great favor.” Said Sir Geraint, “Have I found such
favor that thou wilt depart hence with me as my wife?” Enid said, “Lord,
if it is thy desire to have me do so I will gladly become thy wife, and
will depart with thee whithersoever thou dost command; for, in truth, I
have now no other thought in all the world but of thee.”

Then Sir Geraint kissed her and thus was their troth plighted.

[Sidenote: _Sir Geraint is betrothed to Enid._]

So they were wedded, and before they were wedded the young Earl said,
“Sir Geraint, suffer that I purvey thy lady with a robe of cloth of gold
meet for such an one to wear upon the occasion of her marriage.” But Sir
Geraint said to him, “Not so, Messire, for I won her whilst she was clad
in this robe of plain blue cloth. Thus will I take her to the Court of
King Arthur and thus will I present her to Queen Guinevere, and I will
have it that Queen Guinevere will provide her with fresh raiment meet
for her to wear.”

Then the young Earl bowed his head and said, “As thou sayst, so let it
be.”

Thus it befell that Sir Geraint was married, and the morning after his
marriage he and his lady departed from that town. And he seated his lady
before him upon the saddle and turned his horse’s head toward the Court
of King Arthur and so rode away.

       *       *       *       *       *

Now return we to Queen Guinevere and to the Court of the King.

[Sidenote: _Sir Gaudeamus arrives at the court of Queen Guinevere._]

Three days after the departure of Sir Geraint the Queen was riding
abroad, and several of her court attendants were with her, and amongst
them was the young damsel who had inquired of the dwarf concerning the
name of the knight whom he followed. As they rode talking and laughing
together--chattering in clear voices, like a bevy of bright and
gloriously tinted birds--they perceived coming toward them a procession.
First they beheld a litter borne by several bearers and on the litter
was a wounded knight. Behind the litter came the horse of the knight,
and the horse was laden with his bright and shining armor, and led by an
esquire. Behind the horse there came a fair young lady clad in scarlet
riding upon a white palfrey, and behind her a small misshapen dwarf.

Now when this party had come a little nigher, Queen Guinevere perceived
the face of the dwarf more clearly and she knew him for that dwarf who
had rebuffed her damsel as aforetold. And she said to that one of her
attendants who had aforetime met the dwarf, “Is not that the dwarf who
rebuffed thee a few days ago?” The damsel said, “Yea, Lady.” “Then,”
said the Queen, “meseems the knight his master hath met Sir Geraint and
hath suffered in his encounter and is coming here to bespeak me. Let us
go forward to meet them.”

So the Queen and her court hurried forward until they had come beside
the litter. Then the Queen said, “Sir Knight, I pray you tell me, what
is it that ails you?” “Lady,” said he, “I am a knight who hath suffered
in battle. Now I pray you tell me, where may I find Queen Guinevere?”

The Queen said, “Messire, I am she.” Quoth the knight, “Lady, is it
truth you are telling me or are you making sport of me?” The Queen said,
“Sir, it is the truth.”

Then Sir Gaudeamus raised himself upon his elbow in the litter, and he
said, “Lady, I come to thee upon command of Sir Geraint, who hath
overthrown me in battle; and upon his command I am to tell thee that my
name is Sir Gaudeamus of the Moors, and upon his command I am to seek
for the damsel to whom my dwarf was rude.”

Said Queen Guinevere, “This is she.”

Then Sir Gaudeamus said to the maiden, “Fair damsel, of thee I am to ask
pardon for the rudeness of my dwarf, and to crave of thee that thou from
thy grace and kindness wilt forgive his offence.”

Then the heart of Queen Guinevere was moved with pity for the knight,
and she said to him, “Messire Sir Gaudeamus of the Moors, thou and thy
dwarf are fully forgiven by her and by me. Now I pray you to come
straightway to the castle where your hurts may be examined and cured.”

So the Queen led the way to the castle of the King, and all they went
thitherward. And after they had come to the castle she had the wounded
knight laid upon a couch in a bright and cheerful room, and she had the
king’s physician to come and to look at his hurts and to dress them. And
so Sir Gaudeamus was made in all ways as comfortable as might be.

So passed three or four days.

[Sidenote: _Sir Geraint and Enid arrive at the castle of King Arthur._]

One morning the Queen looked out from her bower window and she beheld a
knight riding toward the castle. And there sat before him upon his
saddle a fair lady with golden hair, and the lady was clad in blue. The
Queen called to her bower women and said, “Who is that knight coming
yonder?” Said one of the women, “That, methinks, is Sir Geraint.” The
Queen said, “Yea, that is true. Methought it was he; let us hasten to
meet him.”

So she and her ladies made haste and they met Sir Geraint and Enid at
the gateway of the castle. The Queen said, “Sir Geraint, who is it that
thou hast with thee?” He said, “Lady, this is my wife, to whom I am but
newly married. I have brought her here clad in blue cloth as I first
beheld her. And I have hope that thou wilt clothe her as beseemeth her
estate as the daughter of an earl, the lady of a knight-royal, and as my
wife.”

Then the Queen said, “Welcome! welcome, Lady! I give thee welcome!” And
after that she assisted Enid to dismount from the horse. Thereafter she
took her to her bower, and there she clad her in the richest robes that
could be furnished for her. And the face of Enid shone from out of that
raiment of silver and gold as the face of the moon upon a summer night
shines from the thin and golden clouds that surround but do not obscure
it.

Thus was the Fair Enid brought to the Court of King Arthur.

[Illustration: Sir Geraint lies asleep]




[Illustration] Chapter Third

_How Sir Geraint lived with the Lady Enid at Camelot. How he suspected
her truth; how his suspicions were confirmed, and how he departed with
her in search of adventure. Also how they met with three unusual
adventures in the forest._


It is not always well for a man to be married to a woman of half his
age; for that which he thinks and loves she may neither think nor love,
and that which she thinks and loves, he maybe does not think and does
not love.

Now Sir Geraint was serious, as became his years, and Enid was gay and
debonaire as became her youth, so that there were many sports and
pastimes that she engaged in that he looked upon remotely and from afar,
and not always without displeasure.

Amongst the lords of the Court of King Arthur was a young knight and
lord, hight Sir Peregrans, who was son to King Ludd of Cornwall. This
noble young knight-royal was very full of joy and gladness. He was
ruddy-cheeked and gay, with broad black eyebrows and curly black hair,
and he was ever ready for any sport or pastime that fell his way.

It befell that he and Enid were much together in company and sports of
several kinds, and though Sir Geraint was too proud to appear to observe
this, yet he did observe it and was much affected by it. For he would
sometimes say to himself, “What pity it is that this dear lady of mine
should be bound to my age and sobriety instead of to one like this Sir
Peregrans who is in all ways suited to her!” Yet Sir Geraint would say
nothing to Enid concerning his thoughts, but only kept those thoughts
locked in his own heart, and so withdrew himself from her afar off.

This and several other things the Lady Enid observed, and it sometimes
seemed to her either that her lord was in trouble or that he was
offended, yet she wist not what offence she could have given to him in
any way. For it did not seem to her that it could be any offence for her
to play in the same sports with Sir Peregrans, but only that it was
natural and seemly upon her part to do so.

[Sidenote: _Sir Geraint sits in thought._]

Now one day Sir Geraint sat meditating concerning these things, and as
he sat he gazed out of the window at the King’s Castle. What time his
eyes beheld a wide and fruitful stretch of meadow-land and fields, of
glebe and of a river that wound through all this fair level fruitful
campagne like to a ribbon of pure and shining silver. The sun at that
hour shot his slanting rays across the earth, so that all this fair
prospect appeared, as it were, to be bathed in a pure golden brightness.
From the level stretch of horizon, great clouds climbed up into the blue
and radiant sky, peeping, as it were, over one another’s shoulders down
upon the peaceful earth.

All this the eyes of Sir Geraint beheld, yet he saw nothing of it. For
the sight of his soul was turned away from such things, and was directed
inward upon himself, and there he beheld naught but gloom and darkness.

To that place where he sat came the Lady Enid, and she beheld him where
he was, but he did not turn his eyes upon her, nor seem to know that she
was there.

[Sidenote: _Enid comes to Sir Geraint._]

Then she came to him and seated herself upon his knee. She put her thin
fair arms about his neck, and interwove her fingers into one another.
Then she said, “Dear my Lord, I pray thee tell me in what way I have
offended thee. Thou art no longer toward me as thou wert when first I
came hitherward to this court.”

He said to her, speaking very gently, “Enid, thou hast in no wise
offended me.”

Then she said, “What is it that troubles thee, my husband?”

He said, “I have no trouble.” Then, as in a second thought, he said,
“Enid, I will tell thee somewhat.” Therewith he unlocked her two hands
and sat, holding one of them in his. “Sometimes,” quoth he, “a man
loveth the home that is his very own. So love I the home of my childhood
and of my youth. There my father dwelleth in honor, and my mother also.
It hath been many years since I have seen it and I long to see it now.”

She said, “Dear Lord! Let us go thither.”

He said, “Wouldst thou like to go, Enid? Well, then, we shall do so, and
that as soon as my Lord the King shall grant us leave to depart.”

So that very day Sir Geraint asked leave of King Arthur to leave the
court for awhile, and King Arthur gave him permission to withdraw.

[Sidenote: _They two depart for the castle of Sir Geraint._]

So the day after that day Sir Geraint and Enid departed from the Court
of King Arthur, and travelling with a small party of noble attendants
betook their way to Amadora (which was the name of the castle of Sir
Geraint’s father), which place they reached within three days of easy
journeying.

There they abided for several months, in which time there was hunting
and hawking and jousting, so that the days were as full of joy and
pleasure as it was possible to be.

[Sidenote: _Sir Geraint takes sport at his castle._]

But in all that while Sir Geraint did nothing of knightly daring or
adventure, so that by and by the people of Amadora began to talk to one
another concerning the matter, saying, “How is this? Our Prince, the
Lord Geraint, is surely besotted concerning his wife, for he is with her
all the while. The time was when he took his joys, but when the time of
those joys was past then he performed many works of knightly daring, so
that all we of this place were very proud of him. When now doth he enter
into any such undertaking? Never. He is always the first in the chase or
with the hawk or in the joust, yet his youthful glory is now departed
from him, so that he lieth forever, as it were, with his head upon the
knees of his wife.”

Thus the people talked amongst themselves, and at last such words, or
words like these, came to the ears of the Lady Enid and troubled her
very sorely.

[Sidenote: _Enid regards Sir Geraint whilst he sleeps._]

One day in the summer weather she awoke very early in the morning and
the Lord Geraint lay upon his bed beside her. He had thrown aside the
coverlets and he now lay with his great breast and his arms and
shoulders bare to the softness of the air. These she beheld, how huge
and mighty they were and how comely in their strength and power. Then
she looked at her own arm, how slender and white it was, how lacking of
strength, how feeble and childish in its weakness, and she thought to
herself, “Is it then true what they say--that my white and tender limbs
may hold my husband away from those great adventures to which he
belongs? Is it then true that mine arms confine him in a little and
narrow circumference? Alas! Is it true that the love of a woman can sap
a man of all purpose and ambition in his life of activity? Nay; it is
not true, for many knights who are wedded to other ladies are still
noble knights in the field of adventure. Alas and alas! The weakness of
my lord must indeed reside in me.” Here she sighed very deeply and with
the deepness of that sigh Sir Geraint awoke from his slumbers and lay
with his eyes still closed. Then she said, whispering as though to
herself, “I am at fault and am no true, right wife for this noble hero.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Geraint hears her words._]

Now Sir Geraint, lying with his eyes closed, overheard these last words
that she thus whispered to herself. He heard her say that she was no
true, right wife to him, and it seemed to him that she thus confessed
that she was unfaithful to him. This thought was, as it were, a dagger
thrust into his life, sudden, shining and very deep. And though he still
lay with his eyes closed, he said to his heart, “Is she then false, and
was I too late in bringing her away from the Court of King Arthur? Woe
is me!”

Thereupon he opened his eyes, and looked her full in the face, and she,
seeing that he was awake, smiled into his eyes. But he did not smile
upon her in return, otherwise he said, “Lady, art thou there?” Then the
smile slowly faded from her eyes, for she saw that he was in an angry
mood. And so they regarded one another.

Then suddenly he arose and began dressing himself, and he said to her,
“Arise, Lady, and clothe yourself.” And she did as he commanded. He upon
his own part accoutred himself in his full armor, that hung erstwhile
shining against the stone wall of the room.

When they were thus apparelled he said to her, “Follow me.” She said,
“Whither, Lord?” but he made no reply to her. So they went forth
together out of that apartment. And she followed him down the stairway
to the courtyard, and she followed him from the courtyard to the stable,
and still in all that while he spoke no further word to her.

Now this time was still very early in the morning, for the sun had only
just arisen, round and red and full of the glory of daylight. The birds
were chaunting with might and main, but all of the castle folk were yet
asleep. All was cool and balmy and exceedingly pleasant, and the silence
of the early daytime was full of the remote sound of the river below the
castle, where it rushed down, roaring, through its deep and mossy gorges
of green and slimy rocks and stones.

Sir Geraint entered the stables and Enid awaited him what he would do;
and that while she stood not far off from the stable. After awhile he
came forth from the stable again and by one hand he led the horse of
Enid by the bridle, and by the other hand he led his own horse by the
bridle.

He said to Enid, “Mount thy horse, Lady,” and giving her his hand he
lifted her very lightly to her saddle. Then he in his turn mounted his
own horse.

[Sidenote: _They depart from the castle._]

Then when he was seated in his saddle, he said to the Lady Enid his
wife, “Lady, for this day and haply for several days I will endeavor to
prove to thee that strength and life have not yet left me, but that I am
still a strong and able knight and as well worth the love of any woman
as I was in the full heyday of my youth. Ride you forth and lead the
way, and I will follow after you. But make yourself well acquainted with
this: that under no circumstances are you to speak a word to me unless I
give you leave to speak to me. Only ride straight forward, anywhither
you may be inclined.”

She said to him, “Lord, I will fulfil your commands.”

So they rode away from the castle without any one knowing that they were
gone, for there stood no guard at the gateway at that hour and the
porter drowsed in his lodge.

       *       *       *       *       *

So, according to the command of Sir Geraint, the Lady Enid rode ahead of
him and he himself followed after her some considerable distance behind.

Thus they went forward for several leagues, and meantime the sun rose
very full and round and shone down hotly upon the earth. So by and by
they approached the purlieus of a thick dark forest, and as they drew
near to it the Lady Enid was aware of the sudden shining of armor
through the leaves, wherefore she wist that some threatening of danger
must lie before them. As they drew still nearer to that place, she
perceived that there were three armed men hidden in the thickets, and
anon she heard them speaking the one to the other. And she heard the
voice of him who was the chief of the three say to the other two,
“Hitherward cometh good fortune to us this morning. For here is one man,
well appointed in all ways, but sunk very deep in brooding thought, and
with him is a fair lady. Now if we engage him as three against one, it
is not likely that he can withstand our assault, and so he and his horse
and his armor and his lady shall be ours by right of battle.”

[Sidenote: _Enid overhears the words of the robber chief._]

These words, or words like these, the Lady Enid overheard the chief of
the robbers speak to the other two who were with him; and she said to
herself, “Here is great danger threatening my dear Lord. Well, if I warn
him he may be very angry with me and may even chastise me for disobeying
his command. But even if this is so, what will it matter?” So therewith
she turned her horse and rode back toward Sir Geraint.

[Sidenote: _She tells Sir Geraint of the ambush._]

He, when he beheld her coming, appeared to be very angry, and he said,
“Lady, what is it disturbs you?” She said, “Dear Lord, have I your
permission to speak?” Quoth he, “It seems that you have taken that
permission yourself. Well, say on.” She said, “Lord, at the edge of
yonder wood I perceived three men of ill intent hidden in the thicket. I
overheard them to say that they purposed presently to assail you.
Wherefore I deemed it expedient that I should warn you of their
presence.”

Then Sir Geraint frowned so that his eyes shone with a bright green
light. “Lady,” said he, “it may perhaps be that you would not be
displeased to see me fall before the attack of those three men.
Nevertheless, I have hopes that I shall not fail in this encounter.
Meantime, continue here and consider you of your disobedience in
breaking my command laid upon you not to speak to me without my
permission.” Having thus spoken Sir Geraint closed and latched the visor
of his helmet, and then with spear in hand he rode forward toward the
edge of the woods.

Now when Sir Geraint had come pretty close to the woodland, all three of
those armed men suddenly burst forth from their covert and bore down
upon him in full charge, whilst he, upon his part, drave spurs into his
war-horse and charged against them. So they met in the midst of the
course with such violence that a clap of thunder could not have been so
great. All three of their spears struck Sir Geraint upon the shield, but
he turned them so that all three were broken into a very great many
pieces. But the spear of Sir Geraint held against him toward whom it was
directed, so that it penetrated his shield and it penetrated his armor
and it penetrated his body, so that he was lifted out of his saddle and
cast dead the length of a spear and an arm’s length behind his horse.

[Sidenote: _Sir Geraint slays the robbers._]

Then Sir Geraint threw aside his spear and drew his bright shining
sword. And he whirled his horse and with his sword in hand he bare down
upon those other two villains. Then he arose in his saddle, crying out,
“Hah, villain!” and therewith he smote down one. Then whirling about, he
cried out again, “Hah, villain!” and so crying he smote down the other.
Each man fell with a single blow of his sword. Thus in a little space of
time, he slew all three of those villains who had for a long time
infested those parts.

When Sir Geraint had thus ended this work, he wiped his sword and
returned it to its scabbard. Then he removed the armor from each of the
fallen men, and he lashed the armor to the saddle-bow of the horse to
which it belonged. Then he tied all three bridle reins together and
returned to where Enid sat watching him with terror and admiration
commingled. And Sir Geraint said to her, “Lady, take thou the bridle
reins of these three horses. Then ride forward as before, and this time
bear well in mind that thou turn not to speak to me under any condition
whatsoever. Once I have forgiven thee; twice I may not do so.”

To this speech Enid made no reply, but taking the bridle reins of the
three horses into her fair white hand, she rode forward into the forest,
leading those three horses, Sir Geraint following after her as
aforetime.

Thus they proceeded onward for a very considerable length of time and
until high noontide, beholding nothing but the forest before them or
behind them or on either side of them.

[Sidenote: _Enid overhears the words of the four men._]

Thus they came almost to the centre of that wood where was a sudden turn
in the high-road, which here entered into a defile between two high and
very precipitous banks. At this place Enid perceived, not far away,
four armed and mounted men of a very evil appearance, and she overheard
these men talking among themselves. The one who was chief of them was
saying to his companions, “Look! yonder cometh a good prize for us to
take. For there is a very beautiful damsel and three sets of fine armor
and three horses. And all this is guarded only by one armed man. Let us
slay him and all these will be ours to do with as we choose.”

Then Enid said to herself, “Well, I can die but once, and even though my
lord shall slay me for breaking his command, yet it would be by his
beloved hands that I should die. So I will turn back and tell him of
this.”

Therewith she turned her horse about and rode backward to Sir Geraint,
and he, when he saw her coming, frowned very darkly. But she said,
speaking very steadily, “Lord, have I your leave to speak?”

He said with great bitterness, “Lady, it appears that it does not need
my leave for you to speak whensoever you choose to speak. Say on.”

[Sidenote: _She tells Sir Geraint._]

She said, “Lord, I have to tell you that there are four very powerful
and fully armed men yonder. And I overheard the chief of them to say to
his fellows that their intent is to slay you so that they may have your
horse and your armor and me and these three horses and this armor to
dispose of as they see fit.”

“Is that all,” quoth he, “that thou hast to tell me? It seems that thy
delight in talking is so great that thou canst not be checked. Bide thou
here and I will go forward and deal with these men, and so will clear
thy path for thee.”

Thereupon he closed the visor of his helmet and latched it. Then he set
spurs to his horse, and being thus in all ways prepared, he drave
forward to meet his enemies.

Suddenly they appeared bearing down upon him and riding two together
(because of the narrowness of the way that prevented them from riding
all four abreast).

Then Sir Geraint drave his war-horse to the charge and so they came
together with a great crash and uproar, their spears striking him in the
centre of the shield.

But in that encounter both their spears brake into several pieces, but
Sir Geraint’s spear did not break. Otherwise it held and burst through
the shield against which it was directed, and it burst through the armor
and pierced through the body of the man within the armor so that he was
cast dead upon the ground.

Then Sir Geraint threw aside his spear and drew his sword, and rising in
his stirrups he smote the other man so fierce and direful a blow that
he split asunder his shield and his helmet and pierced through the
brain-pan of the head and into the brains themselves, so that he who was
thus smitten cried out most dolorously, “I die! I die!” and thereupon
fell grovelling to the earth.

Then Sir Geraint whirled his horse and setting spurs to its flanks he
thundered down upon the other two, who sat beholding aghast how easily
and quickly he had overthrown their comrades. Nor hardly had they
recovered themselves than he was upon them, smiting to the right hand
and to the left. Then observing an opening in the defence of one of
them, he whirled upon him and smote with might and main, and the blade
of the sword clave that man through from the shoulder to the midriff.

[Sidenote: _Sir Geraint slays the four men._]

Then the fourth villain, seeing his companions fall thus terribly into
death, would have escaped away, but death was upon him. For he beheld
Sir Geraint rise in his stirrups with sword lifted. Then the sword
descended like a thunderbolt, and he too fell with his brain dissolving
into death.

Then Sir Geraint dismounted from his steed and wiped his terrible blade,
and thrust it back into its scabbard. And he stripped the armor off the
dead bodies, and tied each suit of armor upon the horse to whom it
appertained. After that he tied the reins of the four horses the one
with the other, and gave them all to Enid, and he said to her, “I call
upon thee to observe that I yet possess my knightly manhood, and that I
am not yet altogether devoid of strength and even of youth. Take thou
now these four horses together with the three horses which thou hast and
ride on before me as heretofore, leading all seven horses. And see to it
that this time thou dost not turn to me to say a word of any sort. For I
find that the anger of battle is upon me, and in my rage I may smite
thee with my sword in haste and ere I am able to control myself.”

She said, “Lord, I will do as thou dost command.”

So she rode on before Sir Geraint, and though she rode in silence yet
her heart sank within her, for she said to herself, “Did ever any lady
before me possess such a high-exalted and noble lord as this lord of
mine?”

[Sidenote: _Enid overhears the words of the five outlaws._]

Now as Enid rode forward thus exulting she heard of a sudden the sound
of voices talking together in the thickets near at hand. The one voice
said to the other voices, “Look! hither cometh a beautiful damsel,
leading seven good horses laden each with a noble suit of armor, and
here is only one man in guard of all this train. Let us five make here
an ambushment, and let us fall upon him from behind and from before. So
we shall easily overcome him and obtain all those things for
ourselves.”

Then Enid said to herself, “It may be that my lord will do as he said,
and will strike me with his sword in his haste if I disobey him for the
third time by speaking to him. But what matters that? Rather would I die
by his hands than suffer his anger without his love.”

So she turned her horse and rode back to him and when she had come to
him she said, “Lord, suffer me to speak to thee?”

He said, “Did I not tell thee to speak to me no more?”

She said, “Lord, this time I must speak to thee, for I cannot do
otherwise.”

He said, “So it appeareth. Well, then, say on!”

[Sidenote: _She tells Sir Geraint what they say._]

She said, “Lord, this is what I have to say, that ahead of thee are five
men lying in ambushment against thee with intent to destroy thee.”

Sir Geraint said, “Is this all that thou hast to say?” To which she
replied, “Yea, Lord.” He said, “Abide here with thy horses for a little
and suffer me to go forward alone, to clear thy path for thee.”

So Enid abided at that place, and Sir Geraint rode forward into the
ambushment that was prepared for him.

So he reached that ambushment, and of a sudden there leaped all those
five men out against him and about him.

Then there followed a great and bitter fight betwixt Sir Geraint and
those who thus assailed him. And sometimes he might be seen and at other
times he might not be seen for the press that gathered about him. His
sword flashed like lightning and at every blow he uttered a great and
terrible cry of war, for the fury of battle was now fully upon him. At
first there were five against him and then there were but four, then
three, then two and at last only one who cried out in terror, “Spare me,
Lord! For I yield myself to thee.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Geraint slays the five men._]

[Sidenote: _Enid leads the twelve horses._]

Sir Geraint said, “I will not spare thee,” and therewith he struck him
so dreadfully that he clave his head asunder and he fell down dead upon
the ground. After he had thus overthrown all five of his enemies, he
wiped his sword, panting, and put it away into its sheath. Then he
stripped the armor from off the dead bodies of the five, and bound a
suit of armor upon each horse. Then tying all five bridle reins
together, he attached them to the bridle reins of the other horses and
gave all twelve into Enid’s hands, saying to her, “Lead them forward and
speak to me no more, I charge thee.”

       *       *       *       *       *

So they travelled upon their way through the wood, and anon the day
began to draw to a close, and the grey of twilight to descend. And Enid
led the twelve horses with difficulty. This Sir Geraint observed, and
was sorry for her, but still they rode onward. Then the darkness fell
and the moon arose, very bright and clear and round, silvering the tops
of the trees and laying patches of silver upon the earth between the
shadows of the leaves.

Then Sir Geraint called to Enid and he said to her, “Lady, I do not
think we shall get out of this woods to-night. Let us rest here until
to-morrow.”

She said to him, “Lord, may I speak?” He said, “Say on.” She said, “What
will we do to eat?” Quoth he, “Lady, it oftentimes happens when a knight
travelleth errant, as I have travelled to-day, that he goeth without
food to eat for the entire day--and sometimes for even longer than that.
Let that suffice.”

Therewith she fell silent and sighed, for she was very hungry.

Meantime Sir Geraint gathered the leaves together into a sort of bed and
he spread a cloak upon them. Then seeing that Enid was very weary and in
pity of her weariness, he said, “Lie thou here, Lady, and I will keep
watch for the night.”

[Sidenote: _They abide that night in the forest._]

So Enid laid herself down upon the bed of leaves and she was very sick
for weariness. And for awhile she watched her lord, Sir Geraint, as he
stood a little distance away, and she beheld how the moonlight flashed
and sparkled upon his polished armor whensoever the soft night wind of
summer stirred the leaves; and she heard the rustling and the stamp of
the horses as they moved at their stations; and she heard a distant
nightingale, singing from afar, now and then heard in the darkness, and
the murmurous silence, and now and then silent again. Then all these
things blended together, the darkness disappeared and she slept.

       *       *       *       *       *

This was the first day of that journeying. Now if you would read of the
second day thereof, I pray you to peruse that which hereinafter
followeth, and which I have writ for your pleasure.

[Illustration: Enid talks with the Earl]




[Illustration] Chapter Fourth

_How Sir Geraint and Enid came forth out of the forest into the land of
an earl. How they abided at an inn, and of what befell them thereafter._


When the next morning had come Sir Geraint, very early, awoke Enid from
her slumbers. The pangs of hunger were great upon her but she made no
complaint thereof. Otherwise, she mounted her horse and took the reins
of the twelve horses into her hands and rode away, followed by Sir
Geraint as upon the former day.

[Sidenote: _Geraint and Enid come into the open country again._]

Anon and after awhile the trees of the woodland grew thinner and the
sunlight came more freely through their branches. Anon again and the
trees of the forest ceased altogether, and so Enid and Geraint came
forth out of the woodland and into the open plains once more.

Here were hedgerows upon either side of the way, and there were fields
and open country beyond the hedgerows; and there were meadow-lands, and
the mowers were mowing in the meadows.

[Sidenote: _They cross the river._]

Before them lay a river and toward that they took their way. And there
was a ford to the river and they entered the river, and all the horses
bowed their heads and drank of the water. Afterward they crossed the
ford and ascended a steep high bank upon the other side of the river.

At the top of this bank there stood a slender youth with yellow hair.
And the youth had a satchel of leather slung over his shoulder, and in
his hands he carried an earthenware crock of milk.

[Sidenote: _Sir Geraint bespeaks the youth._]

Sir Geraint spoke to the youth, saying to him, “Whence cometh thou, fair
youth?” Quoth the youth, “I come from the town which you cannot behold
from here, but which you may behold from the crest of yonder hill when
you have reached it. And now, Lord, if it be not too venturesome for me
to ask, I pray you to tell me whence you have come?”

Said Sir Geraint, “Fair youth, we came from the forest yonder. All day
yesterday we travelled through the forest and all night we slept there
beneath the trees.”

“Well,” said the youth, “I daresay you had but small entertainment at
that place, and I daresay also you are very hungry to-day.”

“I would,” said Sir Geraint, “find food for this lady if it be possible
to do so.” Said the youth, “we are then well met, for in this satchel I
have bread and cheese, which I am taking to the mowers for their
breakfast; and in this crock I have milk, which also I am taking to them
for their breakfast. If you will partake of these things, I will gladly
give you to eat and to drink.” “I give thee thanks, fair friend,” said
Sir Geraint, “and gladly will I accept the offer of thy hospitality.”

[Sidenote: _The youth gives them to eat._]

So the youth assisted the Lady Enid to dismount from her saddle, and she
and Sir Geraint took their station at the roadside beneath the shade of
a crab-apple tree. And the youth gave them to eat of the white bread and
cheese from his satchel and he gave them to drink of the milk from the
crock, and they were both greatly refreshed.

After the two had thus satisfied their hunger the youth said, “Now, Sir
Knight, by thy leave I will depart for more food for the mowers.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Geraint gives the youth a horse and the armor thereof._]

Sir Geraint said, “Fair youth, I pray you to return to the town whence
you came and to procure for us the best lodgings that are to be found at
that place. And I also pray you that you will, in return for these
courtesies of yours, choose whichsoever horse and suit of armor that
best pleases you out of all those that the lady is conducting, and I
pray you that you will keep that horse and armor for yourself.” “Lord,”
said the youth, “what have I done for such a great reward? That is too
much to accept for so small a service.” “Nevertheless,” said Sir
Geraint, “I pray you to do as I bid you.”

So the youth joyfully chose a horse and a suit of armor that pleased him
the best, and leading these he departed for the town to fulfil Sir
Geraint’s behest as to securing him lodgings.

Now as the youth entered the town a servant of the Earl of that town met
him and the servant of the Earl said to the youth, “Where got ye that
horse and that armor?” The youth said, “A noble and knightly lord, who
hath eleven other such horses and armor, gave this one to me.”

The servant said, “This is a strange saying. Come with me to the Earl
and tell him concerning these things.”

[Sidenote: _The youth tells the Earl of Sir Geraint._]

So the servant of the Earl took the youth to that lord, and the youth
told his story to the Earl of how he had met the lordly knight and the
lady, and of how the lady had led twelve horses loaded with armor, and
of how the lord had given him one of those horses and the suit of armor
that best pleased him. To all this the Earl hearkened, and then he said
to the youth, “Go you and fetch that lord hitherward, for I would fain
see him and his lady and entertain them at my castle. He shall lodge
here with me.”

So the youth hastened back to Sir Geraint where he sat with Enid resting
beneath the crab-apple tree, and he said to him, “Lord, the Earl of
yonder town hath sent me here to bid you come and lodge with him.”

Then Geraint was displeased and he said to the youth, “How is this? I
bade thee secure us lodgings, not with an earl but at some good inn. I
will not lodge with the Earl, but will go to such an inn.”

Then the youth was abashed, and he said, “I will take you to an inn.”

[Sidenote: _The youth conducts them to an inn._]

So the youth conducted Geraint and Enid into the town, and he conducted
him to the best inn in the town. Here the landlord came forth to meet
him and Geraint said, “Show us to the best room of this place,” and the
landlord did so. Geraint said to Enid, “Keep thou yonder to that side of
the chamber, and I will keep to this side, for I am weary and fain would
sleep.” And Enid said, “I will do so.” And Geraint said to the youth,
“When I awake, be thou here to serve me.”

The youth said, “I will be here; but meantime I would fain go and see
the Earl and tell him where you are lodged.” Sir Geraint said, “Go, but
return again.”

So whilst Sir Geraint slept, the youth hastened to the castle of the
Earl, and he said to the Earl, “Sir, certes this man is a prince or a
knight-royal, for he commandeth all things as he wills.” Then the Earl
said, “Where is he lodged?” And the youth told him, and the youth said,
“I go presently to serve him when he awakes, for now he sleepeth.”
“Commend me to him when he awakeneth,” said the Earl, and the youth
replied, “I will do so.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Geraint bids the landlord to summon his friends to a
feast._]

That afternoon when Geraint awoke, it was time for them to take their
food. So Sir Geraint summoned the landlord and bade him prepare him a
feast, and the landlord said he would do so. Then Sir Geraint inquired
of the landlord whether he had not some companions whom he would like to
entertain, and the landlord said, yea, that there were several. Upon
this Sir Geraint commanded the landlord to summon those companions and
to prepare for them the best that there was in the town both to eat and
to drink. “For,” quoth he, “though I be unhappy myself, yet do I love to
behold those about me as happy and as gay as may be.” So the landlord
went forth and bade many to come and feast with him, all these feasted
at Sir Geraint’s expense, so that the entire inn was full of light and
laughter and noise and merrymaking.

[Sidenote: _The Earl visits Sir Geraint._]

That evening the Earl came to visit Sir Geraint, and with him he brought
twelve of the worthiest knights of his court. Then Sir Geraint arose and
welcomed him, and the Earl greeted Sir Geraint and sat down and
conversed with him. And he asked Geraint the object of his journey, to
which Geraint replied, “I have no object, saving to seek adventure such
as may become the life of a knight-errant.”

Then the Earl cast his eyes upon Enid, and he looked at her very
steadily, and he thought that he had never beheld a lady so fair and so
beautiful as she. And as he gazed upon her his heart went out to her and
he found that he loved her very extremely. Then he said to Geraint,
“Have I thy permission to converse with yonder lady? For I see that she
is not with thee.” “Thou hast it gladly,” said Geraint.

[Sidenote: _The Earl bespeaks Enid the Fair._]

So the Earl went to where Enid sat, and he said to her, “Lady, thy hands
are soft and white and thy body is fragile and delicate; it cannot be
pleasant for thee to travel through the rough and cruel world with this
man.” She said, “It is not unpleasant for me to journey with him
whithersoever he goeth.”

The Earl said, “Lady, thou shouldst have youths and maidens to wait upon
thee and to attend thee and to serve thee.” She said, “It is pleasanter
to me to travel alone with yonder man than to live in state with youths
and maidens to wait upon me.”

“Listen,” said the Earl, “I will give thee good advice. Give up that man
and come with me. All my earldom will be at thy disposal if thou wilt do
so, and thou shalt be the mistress of it and of me and of my life.”

Then Enid was very angry, and she said, “Lord, I will not go with thee!
Know thou that yonder man is dearer to me than all the earth and its
kingdoms and principalities, its dukedoms and its earldoms. He was the
first man to whom I plighted my faith, and never hath it been withdrawn
from his keeping. Shall I then leave him now for the sake of this little
patch of ground, to live with thee in dishonor and suffer him to go
forth into the world alone?”

Then the Earl said, “Lady, thou art in the wrong in this, for if I slay
that man, then can I take thee by force. And if I take thee by force,
then, when I tire of thee, I shall cast thee off into the world. But if
thou comest to me willingly, then I will never cast thee off, but will
keep thee as my most precious treasure so long as I am permitted to
breathe the breath of life. Come thou with me, and yonder man may be
suffered to depart in peace, hale and strong in limb and body, but come
thou not with me and he shall die.”

Then Enid was greatly troubled at that which the Earl had said to her,
for she saw that he had the strength and the will and the power to do
with Sir Geraint whatsoever he chose. So at last she said to him,
“Listen, O great Lord and Earl. All this that I have said to thee I have
said for the sake of mine honor. But if thou art of the mind that thou
sayst, I would rather abide with thee. Come hither to-morrow morning
with twelve armed knights and bear me away as though by force. For thus
it shall appear that I have not yielded up to thee, except by force.” “I
will do so,” said the Earl. “This and all things shall be as thou
sayst.” After that, in a little while he arose and departed from that
place.

But of all that had passed Enid said nothing to Geraint, lest he should
be blinded by his rage against the Earl. Otherwise, she kept it secretly
in her heart for that time.

[Sidenote: _Enid prepares the armor of Sir Geraint._]

That night they both lay in the same chamber. In a little while Sir
Geraint fell asleep, but Enid did not sleep. When she heard his deep
breathing she arose very softly and she gathered his armor together
piece by piece. And she piled all the armor where he could easily lay
hand upon it. Then she lay down and slept.

[Sidenote: _Enid telleth Sir Geraint of the Earl._]

Before the day broke she arose and went softly to where Sir Geraint
slept, and touched her finger upon his breast and with that he awoke and
started up. “Lord,” said she, “knowest thou what the Earl of this town
said to me last night?” Geraint said, “Tell me.” So Enid told him all
that the Earl had proposed to her. Then Geraint was very angry, and he
said, “Thy beauty bringeth evil whithersoever thou bringest it. Now I
will slay this Earl ere I leave this place, for he hath proposed
dishonor to me.”

“Not so,” said Enid, “let be the Earl, for there are many scores against
thee, and thou art only one. Rather put thou on thy armor and let us go
hence with all the speed that we may, for there is yet time to escape,
and thus only may we escape in peace.”

Then Geraint perceived that what she said was very true, and that he was
at that place in a parlous state. So he arose and put on his armor and
he summoned the landlord and the landlord came to him.

[Sidenote: _Sir Geraint gives all the horses and all of the armor to the
landlord._]

Quoth Sir Geraint, “What do I owe thee, good fellow, for the
entertainment that I have had at this house?” Said the landlord, “Not a
great deal, Messire.” “Well,” said Sir Geraint, “take thou all those
eleven horses and the armor appertaining to them for thy reckoning. Will
that pay our score?” “Heaven bless thee, Messire,” cried the landlord,
“but that is far more than thou owest me; for thou hast not consumed in
this house the value of a single horse.” “Well,” said Sir Geraint, “in
that case thou wilt be all the richer. But put on thy cloak and thy hat
and conduct me out of this place by some way that is another way than
that by which we entered here, for I must hasten upon my quest.” Quoth
the landlord, “I will do so, Lord.”

With that he hurried away. Anon he returned again, clad as for a
journey. Then Sir Geraint mounted his horse and Enid mounted her horse,
and they departed from that place after the landlord.

[Sidenote: _The landlord leads them from the town._]

So the landlord led them by another highway from the town, and when the
sun arose Sir Geraint dismissed him from their service.

[Sidenote: _The Earl follows Sir Geraint and Enid the Fair._]

Now when the landlord returned to the inn he beheld that several men
surrounded that place. Those men were the Earl of that town, and the
twelve chief knights of his state, and all were clad in full armor. The
Earl was very wroth and when he beheld the landlord he cried out to him,
“Fellow, where is the knight and where is that lady who were with thee
last night?” “Lord,” quoth the landlord, “they have departed and by now
are many miles from this. For I myself conducted them far upon the way,
and am only now returned from guiding them.” Quoth the Earl, “What way
went they?” and the landlord told him. Then the Earl and his court of
knights departed thence. And they rode at a swift gallop upon the way
that the landlord directed them. Anon they beheld the marks of horses’
hoofs fresh upon the earth, wherefore they wist that they were upon the
right way.

       *       *       *       *       *

Now as Enid and Sir Geraint rode onward upon their course, Enid looked
behind her many times. At last she beheld a cloud of dust that came
rapidly nearer, and she was aware that in that cloud of dust were the
Earl and his court of knights. Then she cried out to Sir Geraint, “Sir
Knight, prepare for battle, for yonder come thine enemies.”

Then Sir Geraint, who had been sunk in thought, became aware of the
coming of those others. Thereupon he closed the visor of his helmet and
prepared himself in all ways for the encounter. Thereafter he turned his
horse in the middle of the highway and stood waiting for his enemies.

Anon they reached him and drew rein a little distance away. Then the
Earl came forward and spake to Sir Geraint, saying, “Sir Knight, we mean
no harm to thee, but only ask thee that thou wilt give up that lady whom
thou hast with thee. For thou holdest her against her desire; her only
desire being to go with us.”

Then Sir Geraint turned to Enid and said, “Lady, is this true? If thou
desirest to go with yonder Lord thou hast my leave to do so.” “Nay,”
said she, “I do not desire to go with him. Rather would I go with thee
to death than to go with him to joy.”

So Sir Geraint said to the Earl, “Messire, the lady says thou art
mistaken and she does not desire to go with thee.”

The Earl said to Enid, “Lady, what didst thou tell me yesterday?” And
Enid said, “Messire, I told thee many things to mislead thee, for the
occasion called upon me to do so.”

Then the Earl talked aside for a little while with his followers. Anon
he called to Sir Geraint, “Sir Knight, I will not let thee go until thou
hast tried a fall or two with these knights of mine for the sake of thy
lady, her bright eyes and her slender body.” “Well,” said Sir Geraint,
“I am willing to do battle with thy knights now or at any time.” “And
this shall be the result of this battle,” said the Earl. “If thou
winnest this battle, thou mayst go free, but if we win then thy lady
must return with us.” Quoth Sir Geraint, “That is certes a hard saying.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Geraint does battle with the followers of the Earl._]

So the strongest and most powerful of all those knights made him ready
for the assault, and when he was in all ways prepared, he and Geraint
made a violent charge, the one against the other. Three times they
charged and at the third assault Sir Geraint overthrew him so violently
that he lay like one dead in the middle of the high-road. Then one after
the other all the others of those twelve knights assaulted Sir Geraint,
and each in turn was overthrown very violently upon the earth.

Then the Earl said to Sir Geraint, “Sir Knight, thou hast fought well
and very valiantly for thy lady, and truly hast thou won her. Depart in
peace.” “Not so,” cried Sir Geraint in great passion, “for I have one
more to deal with, and that one is thou thyself. For I have yet to do
with thee ere I depart from this place.”

“Well,” said the Earl, “be it as thou sayst. For I will fight with thee
till either thee or I have overcome the other. And to that one who
overthroweth the other thy lady shalt belong.” “So be it,” said Sir
Geraint.

[Sidenote: _Sir Geraint overthrows the Earl._]

So each made him ready for the encounter, and when they were in all ways
prepared they set spur to flank and drave the one against the other with
such violence that they met with a crash as of thunder in the middle of
the course. In that encounter Sir Geraint was upborn by his passion so
that he smote true and fairly against his enemy’s shield. But the spear
of the Earl was shattered into a great many pieces. The spear of Sir
Geraint held, so that it pierced the shield of the Earl, and Sir Geraint
lifted the Earl out of his saddle and hurled him several ells behind
the crupper of his horse, where he lay like one dead upon the earth.

Then Sir Geraint ran to where the Earl was. And he rushed off his helmet
and he drew his sword and catching the Earl by the long hair of his head
he drew forward his neck so as to sever his head from his body.
Thereupon the Earl awoke from his swoon and perceiving that death loomed
very near to him, he clutched Sir Geraint about the thighs, clinging to
them and crying out, “Sir Knight, spare my life!” “Why should I spare
thee?” cried out Sir Geraint very violently. “Hast thou not attempted my
life and hast thou not attempted mine honor and the honor of my lady,
and were we not guests in thy town? I will not spare thy life!” And he
whirled his sword as though to strike.

[Sidenote: _Sir Geraint spares the life of the Earl._]

Then Enid came to where Sir Geraint was and clutched him by the arm and
she said, “Worthy knight, Sir Geraint! I pray thee spare this man his
life. For what canst thou gain by slaying him?” “Well,” said Sir
Geraint, “since this lady asks thy life at my hands I give it to her to
dispose of as she pleases.” Enid said, “I thank thee, Lord!” Then she
said to the Earl, “Arise, and go thou hence in peace!”

So after that Sir Geraint remounted his horse and he and Enid departed
from that place, riding as aforetime. That is, Enid rode a long distance
ahead and Geraint rode behind, following after her.

But of the knights whom he overthrew in that encounter it is to be
written that several were so sorely hurt that it was many weeks ere they
were sufficiently recovered to be abroad again.

       *       *       *       *       *

And now followeth the further adventures of Sir Geraint and of Enid at
this time; so I pray you to read that which hereinafter appeareth.

[Illustration]

[Illustration: Enid and Geraint ride past the Town bridge]




[Illustration] Chapter Fifth

_Sir Geraint is wounded in his encounter with another knight. He is
discovered by the Court of King Arthur and is healed of his wounds._


So Sir Geraint and Enid travelled in that wise until at last they came
through a thin, small woods and so out into another open place.

Here they beheld before them a valley of singular beauty, for through
the centre of the valley there ran a wide, smoothly flowing river, and
upon either side of the river there were meadow-lands and fields, and
not far away from where they were there was a town, very large and
considerable. All around the town was a wall of stone, very high and
strong. And about the town was a fortress castle, tall and forbidding,
that looked down upon the town and upon the high-road. The high-road
upon which they travelled crossed a bridge over the river, and so
entered the town, but ere it reached the bridge it branched and one
branch ran down along one side of the river upon which they were. Upon
either side of the bridge head were two tall towers that overlooked the
bridge and guarded it.

[Sidenote: _Sir Geraint questions the horseman concerning the town._]

So Sir Geraint and Enid sat for awhile looking down upon that fair
prospect, and the more they looked upon it the more they delighted in
it. As they so sat, anon they beheld a horseman come from the town and
cross the bridge, and when he had crossed the bridge he turned him in
their direction. By and by he had approached closely enough for Sir
Geraint to speak to him, and thereupon Sir Geraint rode forth and met
him and they two saluted one another. Then Sir Geraint said to him,
“Sir, I pray you tell me; what town is that yonder, and who is the lord
of this fair and beautiful valley and of yonder town?” “Messire,” said
the other, “I will gladly tell thee that and anything else that I am
able. The town itself is called the Town of Redlands. The lord of all
this country is a very brave, renowned and valiant Earl called the
Little King. He is so called because he rules this place away from all
other lords as though he were king of it in his own right.”

Sir Geraint said, “May I pass by yonder bridge head where are the two
towers without crossing over the bridge and into the town?” The other
replied, “Messire, I will tell thee truly. The Little King hath ordained
it that no one shall pass into his land without his permission,
wherefore he will not allow that any knight shall pass by yonder bridge
and into the lands beyond it.” “Nevertheless,” said Sir Geraint, “I am
of a mind to pass by that bridge and into the country beyond it maugre
his will that wise or otherwise.” “If thou dost do so,” said the other,
“thou wilt in all likelihood meet with shame and disgrace.” “No matter
for that,” said Sir Geraint, “I shall assume even such a risk as that.”
At that the other laughed, and so they saluted each one the other again
and then the knight departed upon his way.

[Sidenote: _Sir Geraint and Enid pass by the bridge head._]

So Sir Geraint followed the Lady Enid and she preceded and he followed
after her. Thus together they went down to the river. Coming there, he
bade her not to cross the bridge, so in obedience to that command they
went past the bridge and past the two towers at the bridge head, and so
rode along beside the river. Thus with Enid riding before him and he
riding behind her, he had gone a considerable distance when he became
suddenly aware that some one was galloping behind them. Then Sir Geraint
turned him about and beheld that an armed knight was following after
them at a swift gallop.

So Sir Geraint drew rein and waited for the other to come up with them,
and when the other knight had come pretty close to where he stood, he
also drew rein. The Strange Knight said, “Sir Knight, is it through
ignorance or through presumption that you travel thus without leave
through my dominions?” Him Sir Geraint answered very proudly, saying,
“Messire, how should I know that this road was forbid to those who would
pass to travel along it?”

“Nay,” said the other fiercely, “thou didst know that it is forbidden to
any one to pass into my land without my permission and so thou hast
infringed the rules of my earldom. Hence thou shalt come now with me to
my court and do me satisfaction.” “I will not come with thee to thy
castle,” said Sir Geraint, “and I will not do thee any satisfaction. For
this is an high-road and it is free for any one to travel upon it who
chooses to do so.” “Well,” said the other, “let that be as it may; but I
tell thee that thou shalt this day do satisfaction to me or else I will
suffer defeat at thy hands.” “That,” said Sir Geraint, “shall be as
Heaven shall foreordain.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Geraint does battle with the knight._]

So upon that each knight made him ready for the combat, and Enid stood
to one side to observe what happened. Anon they were in all ways
prepared, and each took post for a tilt. When all this was prepared,
each knight shouted to his horse, and each drave spurs into the flanks
of his steed and each launched the one against the other with wonderful
speed and vehemence. So they met in the midst of the course with a crash
like to thunder, and in that encounter the lance of each knight held so
that the horse of each sank back upon his haunches quivering from the
shock of that assault.

Then each knight threw aside his lance and sprang from his saddle, and
each drew his sword and each rushed the one against the other like two
fierce bulls raging for battle. Each lashed at the other many terrible
and severe strokes, and for a time neither had any advantage over the
other. Several times Geraint was wounded and several times more he
wounded his adversary. Thus they fought for a long while, and Geraint
suffered many wounds, until at last, because of the smart of those
wounds, his anger flamed up like fire and added strength to his
strength. Then he rained blows fast and furious upon his assailant,
striking him with terrible violence again and again and yet again, so
rapidly and so fiercely, violently and furiously that the Little King
bore back before him, holding his shield full low because of his
weariness and wounds. Then Geraint beheld the opening that the other
gave him, and with that he rushed in upon him, and he smote him with
might and main upon the crown of the helmet.

So terribly fierce was that blow that it split apart the helmet and the
iron cap beneath and cut deep into the bone beneath the cap.

[Sidenote: _Sir Geraint overthrows the knight._]

Then the wits of the Little King flew away from him like a flock of
flies, his strength deserted him, his thighs trembled and he sank down
upon his knees. Thereupon Geraint rushed upon him and plucked the helmet
off of his head. Then he catched him by the hair of the head and drew
his head forward, whirling his sword aloft as though to strike the head
off from the body.

At that the senses returned to the Little King, and he beheld that death
was very near to him. So he clutched Sir Geraint about the knees, and
cried out aloud, “Lord, spare me my life.” “I will spare thee,” said Sir
Geraint, “upon one condition, and that is that thou wilt swear to be
true fellow to me henceforth and shall be faithful to me as I shall be
to thee. For certes thou art the noblest, worthiest knight that ever I
have yet encountered.” Then the other arose from his knees. “Sir
Knight,” said he, “I know not who thou art.” “I am Sir Geraint,” said
Sir Geraint, “the son of King Erbin.”

“Well do I know of thee,” said the Little King. “Often have I heard of
thee, and had I known who thou wert, I would not have assaulted thee.”
Then the Little King said to Sir Geraint, “Sir Knight, Sir Geraint, I
perceive that thou art hurt in several places, and I am very sorry for
that. For lo, the leg-pieces of thine armor are all red with blood, and
blood is flowing from thy body armor from several wounds. Thou art not
fit to travel in the hot sun, so I pray thee that thou and thy lady will
return with me to my castle. There thou mayst refresh and recover
thyself from thy hurts, and rest and reinvigorate thyself for thy
continued journeyings.”

But Sir Geraint refused him. “Nay,” said he, “I will not go with thee to
thy castle, but instead of that I will go forward upon my way.”

Then the Little King looked at Enid, and when he beheld how fragile and
how beautiful she was, and when he beheld how grieved she was that
Geraint had suffered so many and such grievous wounds, he felt great
pity for her. “Messire,” he said to Sir Geraint, “thou dost wrong not to
rest thyself and have thy wounds looked to and dressed, for if thou
fallest in with another adventure such as this, it is not likely that
thou wilt be able to defend thyself from assault. Who then would have
care of thy lady if harm should befall thee?”

Then Sir Geraint cried out very fiercely, “Sir, already have I answered
thee that I will continue on my way, therefore do not try to dissuade me
any further, for both I and my lady are going forward upon our way!” So
saying he went to his horse and he mounted upon his saddle and he took
his spear in hand and rode away from that place, and he bade the Lady
Enid to ride on before him as aforetime she had ridden and so they
quitted that place.

[Sidenote: _Sir Geraint suffers because of his wounds._]

[Sidenote: _Sir Geraint stands beneath a tree._]

Now the day was very hot so that the blood within the armor of Sir
Geraint when he ceased to bleed, it dried upon him by reason of the heat
of the sun. Then the wounds that Sir Geraint had suffered were glued
with blood to the armor, so that he suffered three times more pain from
those wounds now than he suffered when he had received them. But of this
he said naught, only he rode along very grimly. But at last he could
endure his pain no more, wherefore he called upon the Lady Enid to halt
for a little while at a certain place where the oak trees of a woodland
came down to the road and shaded the high-road. Then the Lady Enid would
have helped him to dismount, but he would not suffer her to do so but
forbade her, saying to her, “Go and stand aside under yonder tree, for
my wounds ache me and I would be alone for a little while.” So Enid went
to the other tree and stood there weeping, and Sir Geraint dismounted
from his horse and stood under his tree, suffering very bitter pain from
his wounds.

As they thus stood, there came the sound of a sudden tumult of horses
and of voices, and the cause of that tumult was that King Arthur and
his court were come hunting into the neighboring woodland. So whilst Sir
Geraint was considering which way he should go to escape from them, he
was espied by a foot-page who was attendant upon Sir Kay the Seneschal.

This page went to Sir Kay, and he said to him, “Sir, yonder under that
tree is a man in broken and defaced armor who appeareth to be wounded.”
Sir Kay said, “Where is he?” and then he too beheld Sir Geraint.

[Sidenote: _Sir Kay bespeaks Sir Geraint._]

So Sir Kay came to where Sir Geraint was, and at his coming the Lady
Enid slipped behind her tree, for she was ashamed for Sir Kay to behold
her weeping in that place. So Sir Kay did not know Sir Geraint, but Sir
Geraint knew Sir Kay. Sir Kay said to Sir Geraint, “Sir, how is this? I
perceive you are wounded! What art thou doing here?” Sir Geraint
replied, “I am standing under the shade of this tree so as to avoid the
heat. For in the sun my armor clings to my wounds so that they ache me.”
Said Sir Kay, “Whither dost thou journey, and who art thou?” Quoth Sir
Geraint, “It matters not who I am. As for my journeying, wist thou that
I am in search of adventure.” Said Sir Kay, “I wit thou hast had
adventures enough for one day. Come with me and I will take thee to King
Arthur, who is near by.” “I will not go with thee,” said Sir Geraint,
“for I am not fit to stand before the King.” Said Sir Kay, “Thou must
needs come with me.” And so saying, he advanced and laid hold of the arm
of Sir Geraint.

[Sidenote: _Sir Geraint strikes Sir Kay._]

Now in all this time, as hath been said, Sir Geraint knew Sir Kay who he
was, but Sir Kay knew not Sir Geraint because his shield was so defaced
with battle and his armor so stained with blood. But when Sir Kay laid
hold of Sir Geraint, the anger broke hot within the wounded man,
wherefore he lifted his spear, and he smote Sir Kay upon the head with
the butt of the spear (for he scorned to strike him with the point
thereof), and with the force of that blow Sir Kay fell down upon the
ground, like an ox when the butcher smites it with a mallet.

After a little while Sir Kay stirred and then he sat up. Then he awoke
and arose and went away, leaving Sir Geraint standing where he was.

Now it happened that the pavilion of Sir Percival was not far away.
Thither went Sir Kay, and Sir Percival was in his pavilion. Sir Kay said
to Sir Percival, “My page tells me that over yonder under that tree
there stands a wounded man in armor. Hadst thou not better go and see
who it is and bring him to King Arthur?” Sir Percival said, “Where is
he?” Sir Kay said, “Over yonder. But beyond doubt he is hasty of temper,
so be wary of thy approach to him.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Percival bespeaks Sir Geraint._]

Then Sir Percival went thither to that tree and he beheld where Sir
Geraint was standing, and he knew him not because his armor was so
defaced and wounded and stained. But Sir Geraint knew Sir Percival who
he was. Sir Percival said to Sir Geraint, “Sir Knight, wilt thou not
come to the tent of King Arthur and have thy wounds searched and
dressed?” “No,” said Sir Geraint, “I will not do so.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Percival knoweth Enid the Fair._]

Now the Lady Enid heard the voice of Sir Percival and knew it, so she
appeared from behind the tree and her face was all wet with weeping. And
she cried out to Sir Percival, “Sir Percival, I beseech thee to compel
him to go to King Arthur.”

Then Sir Percival knew the Lady Enid and he wist that the wounded man
must be Sir Geraint. So he cried out, “Sir Geraint, is it thou?” Sir
Geraint said, “Nay, I am not Sir Geraint.”

But Sir Percival put these words aside and he said, “What condition is
this that thou and thy lady are in, and whither wouldst thou go? If thou
goest forward, thou wilt die, and if thou stayest here thou wilt die.”

Sir Geraint said, “I will go forward,” and at those words Enid fell to
weeping again.

Now there was a page standing a little aside and Sir Percival beckoned
to him and the page came to Sir Percival. Sir Percival whispered to the
page, saying, “Go, find King Arthur and tell him that Sir Geraint is
standing here wounded,” and the page made haste and ran away.

Then Sir Percival spoke aside to the Lady Enid and he said to her, “How
is it that thou and thy lord are in this outland place?” Enid replied,
“I know not how it is, but my lord commanded me to ride errant with him
and I have done so.” Sir Percival said, “Certes, I think he is mad.”

[Sidenote: _King Arthur comes to Sir Geraint and Enid the Fair._]

Anon King Arthur and several of his court and Queen Guinevere and
several of her court came to that place. Sir Percival said to King
Arthur, “Lord, this is Sir Geraint whom thou seest here in such a sad
melancholy condition.” And Geraint said nothing, only he groaned very
dolorously. King Arthur said to the Lady Enid, “Enid, how came ye to
this pass?” “Lord,” said Enid, “I know not how it is, only that
whithersoever my lord goeth, thither also I am bound to go.” Then King
Arthur said to Queen Guinevere, “Lady, I pray thee take the Lady Enid
and care for her. As for Sir Geraint, him shall I put beneath the care
of my physicians.”

“Lord,” cried out Sir Geraint, “I beseech thee to let me go upon my way
thither I was going.” “I will not do so,” said King Arthur. “Thou art
mad, for that would let thee go to thy death. Thou canst not live with
such wounds as those that cover thee, fresh and undressed as they are.”
Then Sir Geraint said, “They are not so bad,” but King Arthur would not
listen to this.

[Sidenote: _The physicians search the wounds of Sir Geraint._]

So King Arthur had a tent pitched at that place, and he had a soft couch
laid within the tent, and he had Sir Geraint laid upon the couch. And
the King had his own physicians come to search the wounds of Sir Geraint
and to anoint them and to bind them up, and so Sir Geraint was put in
great comfort from their attention.

Meanwhile the Queen brought the Lady Enid to her pavilion and she had
her change her riding robes for clothes of another sort. And she asked
Enid many things and Enid told her many things of her adventures, and
all marvelled at what the Lady Enid had to relate.

       *       *       *       *       *

So Geraint and Enid remained at that woodland court of King Arthur for
nearly a month, and Enid was very well entertained by the court of the
King. And whilst it was so that she was not permitted to see Sir Geraint
nor to speak to him, yet she heard very intimately from him from day to
day, and wist that ever he was becoming healed of his wounds. For, after
that month was passed, Sir Geraint’s wounds were knit together and were
scarred over with fair white flesh. And even at that time Sir Geraint
grew restless, for as he grew stronger of body he remembered more and
more strongly the words that he had overheard the Lady Enid speak that
morning when he awakened, and again he doubted her.

So one day he said to King Arthur, “Lord, I pray thee let me depart from
this place, for I must be upon my journeying again.” King Arthur said,
“Messire, whither wouldst thou go?” Geraint said, “I know not, saving
only that I would go errant in search of adventure.”

King Arthur said, “Then let thy Lady abide at this place.” Quoth Sir
Geraint, “She cannot abide here, but she must travel abroad with me.”
King Arthur said, “Sir, this is not folly but madness, for thy lady’s
body is too soft and delicate for her to endure such hardships as thou
wilt have to endure.” “No matter,” said Sir Geraint, “she must travel
with me whithersoever I go.”

Then King Arthur considered a little and after a little he said, “Sir, I
will not let you go until my physicians declare you to be healed.” Quoth
Sir Geraint, “Call the physicians.”

So King Arthur summoned the physicians and he asked them if Sir Geraint
was healed of his wounds and the physicians declared that he was
healed.

[Sidenote: _Sir Geraint and Enid depart from the Court of the King._]

So King Arthur gave leave to Sir Geraint to depart and that day Sir
Geraint took leave of King Arthur and his court and he and the Lady Enid
departed as aforetime. That is to say, the Lady Enid rode some distance
ahead of Sir Geraint, and Sir Geraint rode some distance behind the Lady
Enid as it was before.

       *       *       *       *       *

Here followeth the further adventures of these two which you may read if
you will peruse that which is herein written.

[Illustration]

[Illustration: The King’s physicians attend Sir Geraint.]




[Illustration] Chapter Sixth

_How Sir Geraint destroyed three giants of the highway. How he was hurt,
and how he and the Lady Enid were carried off by a knight of that
country. Also how Geraint slew the knight._


[Sidenote: _Sir Geraint finds a lady in grief._]

Now after they had travelled in that wise for some time they came to a
wood, and the wood was very thick and dark and dismal, and some way in
the wood they heard the sound of a voice lifted in lamentation.
Thitherward they directed their steps and anon they came to an open
glade of the forest. Here they beheld a lady and two horses and the
figure of a knight who lay dead, all covered with blood, upon the
ground. Sir Geraint said to that lady, “Lady what ails thee?” “Alas!”
she said, “I have journeyed thitherward, but three gigantic oafs broke
out of the woodland upon us. Him they slew as thou beholdest and so I
sit mourning for him here.”

“What way went these giants of whom thou speakest?” said Sir Geraint.
“They went yonder way by that path,” said she.

Geraint said to Enid, “Bide thou here for a little while with this lady,
and I will ride forward and punish those three giants.” Enid said,
“Lord, remember thou art only now fresh from thy bed of pain.”

But Sir Geraint paid no heed to what Enid said, otherwise he rode
forward upon the path that the lady had pointed out. After awhile he
beheld before him the three gigantic men, walking side by side along the
way.

Each wore about his body a huge body-piece of armor, and each carried
over his shoulder a huge club shod with iron.

[Sidenote: _The giant strikes Sir Geraint._]

Upon them Sir Geraint charged, and the first of the three he ran through
his body with the lance. Then he withdrew the lance very quickly, and
charged the second of the three, and him also he transfixed with his
spear. But ere he could withdraw his lance again the third of the three
smote him a terrible buffet with his club so that his shield was split
and his helmet was split and the armor was beaten off from his shoulder.
Under that blow Sir Geraint fell upon his knees, and all his wounds
burst out bleeding as though they were freshly given. But quickly he
recovered himself. He drew his sword, and rushing at the giant he smote
him with the sword so that his head and his neck and his shoulders were
split asunder even to the pap of the breast, and that giant also fell
dead to the ground.

[Sidenote: _Sir Geraint swoons a death-swoon._]

Then leaving those three where they lay, Geraint mounted his horse again
and returned to where he had left Enid and the widowed lady. And when he
came to her he tried to speak but he could not speak. He began by saying
“Lady--” but then he stopped, and swaying from side to side, he fell
lifeless from his horse to the ground.

Then Enid ran to him and lifted his head and laid it in her lap. And
Enid thought that he was dead, for his face was the color of wax for
whiteness. Then believing him to be dead she lifted up her voice and
wept very loud and shrill.

Now it chanced that an earl known as the Earl of Limours was in that
part of the forest, and several of his attendant knights were with him.
These heard the loud piercing sound of Enid’s grief, and the Earl of
Limours said, “Hark! What is that sound?” And one of his attendant
knights said, “It is the sound of somebody in grief.” Quoth the Earl,
“Let us go thitherward.”

[Sidenote: _The Earl of Limours comes to that place._]

So the Earl of Limours and his attendants galloped toward that place,
and anon they came out into the forest glade. There they beheld the four
horses, and the two ladies and the two knights.

The Earl of Limours said to Enid, “Lady, what is the cause of thy
grief?” “Alas, Sir,” she cried, “the only man that I ever loved or ever
shall love is slain.” Then the Earl of Limours said to the other lady,
“What is the cause of thy grief?” Quoth she, “They have slain my husband
also.” “Who was it slew them?” said the Earl of Limours. “My husband,”
said the Lady, “was slain by three giants. This other knight pursued the
three giants, and when he returned he was as thou seest.” “Whither went
those giants?” said the Earl. She replied, “They went yonder ways.” “I
will go and see what has befallen them,” said the Earl of Limours.

[Sidenote: _The Earl finds the dead outlaws._]

So that Earl took several of his knights and he went in that direction,
and in a little while he found all three giants lying dead upon the
ground. “Pardee,” quoth he, “yonder was a parlous strong knight to slay
all three of those giants.”

[Sidenote: _The Earl carries Sir Geraint to his castle._]

After that he returned to the forest glade and he made examination of
the knights that lay there. The one knight he found was dead, but it
did not seem to him that Sir Geraint was altogether dead. So the one
knight he buried, but Sir Geraint he laid in the hollow of a shield with
his sword behind him. And he laid him upon a bier and so he bore him
away toward his castle, the two ladies accompanying them.

By and by, after a very long journeying, they came to the castle of the
Earl of Limours. And the castle was very large and comely and strong.

The Earl and those who were with him entered the castle and he had the
shield with Sir Geraint stretched upon it borne into the hall of the
castle. And he had his physician to come and examine Geraint and the
leech came and made examination of him. Then after due examination the
leech said that he was not yet dead, but that he was exceedingly near to
death.

Then the Earl bade the two ladies to go and change their clothes and to
assume garments that were more fitting to grace that hall, and the other
lady went as he bade, but Enid would not go.

The Earl of Limours said to her, “Lady, thou art not wise in this, for I
mean well by thee. Thou pleasest me very greatly by thy appearance. When
thy lord is dead, then will I marry thee and will bestow upon thee
myself and this castle and all these lands through which we passed
to-day, and all other things thou shalt have that are mine.” But Enid
only wept, and she said, “Alas! I know not what to do, for I am very
lonely. If my lord dieth, nevermore shall I have any more joy or
happiness as long as I shall live.”

The Earl of Limours said, “Take heart, my pretty one.” But she said, “I
cannot take any heart.” Then the Earl gave orders that a feast should be
made ready, and it was done according to his command. And when that
feast was ready, he said to Enid, “Come and sit here beside me and eat.”
She said, “I will not eat and I will not sit at table unless my lord
sits here also.” Then the Earl laughed, and he said, “Lady, thou art
very foolish in this, for thy knight will never sit at table again, for
he is dead, or else he is dying.” Then Enid wept again, very bitterly.

[Sidenote: _The Earl of Limours strikes Enid the Fair._]

The Earl said, “Come sit beside me, and I will have thy knight at table
also.” So he had them bring the bier whereon Sir Geraint lay to the side
of the table. Then he took Enid by the hand and led her to the table and
compelled her to sit beside him. But still she would not eat. Then the
Earl offered her a goblet of wine and he said, “Drink this wine, for it
will help thee to forget thy sorrows.” “I will not drink,” she said,
“until my husband shall arise and drink with me.” Then the Earl of
Limours became angry. “A plague upon thee and thy knight!” he cried,
and so crying he lifted his hand and delivered to her a box upon the
ear.

Then Enid felt her loneliness as never before. For she knew that had
Geraint been with her the Earl of Limours would not have dared to serve
her thus. So when she felt that blow upon her face she lifted up her
voice and shrieked aloud.

Now Geraint had been recovering from his swoon, but still he lay with
his eyes closed listening to what was said and done about him. And he
heard Enid how that she refused to eat or to drink, and he heard the
blow that the Earl of that place delivered upon her face, and he heard
her shriek with the pain thereof. At that the eyes of his soul were
opened, and he beheld how mad and how blind he had been, and he knew how
faithful to him Enid had been, maugre any words she might have uttered.
Then rage and shame flamed up like fire within him, the last vapors of
his swoon passed away, and he felt within him the strength of ten.

[Sidenote: _Sir Geraint slays the Earl of Limours._]

Thereupon he grasped the sword that lay beside him in the hollow of the
shield and he arose from the shield all white and wan and smeared with
blood, and those who beheld him saw him arise as though from the dead.
Then they shrieked and screamed and fell aside before him. But Geraint
leaped from the hollow of the shield and he ran to where the Earl of
Limours sat, and crying out, “Wouldst thou dare to smite my wife?” he
smote him with all his might upon the head. So terrible was that blow
that it smote asunder the head and the neck and the breast of the Earl,
and was only stopped by the oaken board of the table against which the
sword blade smote in its descent.

Then all those who thus beheld the dead man arise from his death and
strike that blow, shrieked and roared aloud, and they fled away from
that place in terror and amazement, and no one was left but Geraint and
Enid, and the dead man sitting dreadfully in his seat.

Then Enid said, “O my lord! Art thou dead or art thou alive?” And
Geraint said, “Beloved, I am alive and well.” And Enid said, “I thank
God for that.” But Geraint said, “Let us hasten to escape from this
place whilst we may, for presently these people will return again.” And
he said to her, “Where are our horses?” She said, “I know not where is
my horse, but thy horse is in the house yonder, for I saw them put him
there.”

So Geraint and Enid went to the house that was near at hand and there
Geraint found his horse. And Geraint took his horse out of the stable
and he mounted upon his horse and he reached his hand to Enid and lifted
her up from the ground and placed her upon the horse behind him; and
she clasped her arms around his body and felt his body with her arms
with great joy and delight.

[Sidenote: _Sir Geraint and Enid depart from that place._]

So they rode away from that place and no one dared to stop them, for all
believed that it was the living riding with the dead.

Then, when they were come out into the sunlight again, Sir Geraint
turned his head and looked his lady, Enid, in the face, and he perceived
how she had lost her color and was grown thin and fragile because of the
hardships to which his anger and his injustice had subjected her. Then
he turned his own face away and bowed his head.

By and by he lifted his head and said to her, “Lady, canst thou forgive
me?” To that she smiled a little, but very faintly. “I do forgive thee,”
said she, “but never shall I forget.” Therewith the tears ran from her
eyes and fell like diamonds down her cheeks, and Sir Geraint turned away
his face again and again bowed down his head.

So they rode in silence, each occupied with his or her own thoughts,
until at last they came to a place where there were high hedges upon
either side of the way. At this place they heard the sound of many
horses coming toward them, and in a little while they perceived the
points of a number of spears between them and the sky over the top of
the hedge. So Geraint put Enid upon the other side of the hedge and made
him ready to face those who were coming.

[Sidenote: _The Little King finds Sir Geraint and Enid._]

Anon there came a small host of horsemen in armor into that road, and
the first of all those who came was the Little King. Then Geraint cried
out with joy, “Is that thou, the Little King?” And the other said, “Yea,
it is I, but who art thou?” For he did not know Sir Geraint because of
the blood that was upon him and because of his changed appearance. Then
Geraint said, “It is I, Geraint the son of Erbin.”

Then the Little King came forward, and embraced him. And Enid came forth
from her hiding, and the Little King paid his respects to her. Quoth the
Little King, “I was in search of thee, Sir Geraint, for I heard thou
wert in trouble. So I am here.” And Sir Geraint said, “That is according
to the conditions of our bond.”

So Sir Geraint and Enid and the Little King returned along the way
toward the castle of the Little King, and when they reached the castle
the wounds of Sir Geraint were searched and dressed and he was made in
all wise as comfortable as he could be.




[Illustration] Conclusion


Thus have I told you the story of Sir Geraint and of Lady Enid at this,
its fitting time.

[Sidenote: _Of the story, how it hath been sung of old._]

This story has been very often sung and told and so you have no doubt
heard of it or read it before this. For it hath been told by a great
poet, and it hath been told by the ancient bards of Wales, and both that
great poet and I have obtained it from those ancient chronicles of the
Welsh Mabinogi.

But as this story concerns the story of King Arthur and his court, so it
must be written when it cometh in its due place and so I have written
it.

So I pray you read it and consider it as a very famous story of one of
the chiefest knights of the Round Table of King Arthur.

And now I shall have to tell you of the coming of Sir Galahad and of the
Quest of the Grail by certain of the Knights of King Arthur and his
Round Table, and of how certain other knights failed in that quest. So
if you will read that which followeth you shall be informed of all those
very wonderful things which many people for many years believed to be
sooth and real.

[Illustration]




PART II

The Story of Sir Galahad

_Here beginneth the Story of Sir Galahad, which same includes the
history of the recovery of the Grail and its deposit in the Minster of
Sarras, also its exaltation into Paradise, as follows:--_

[Illustration: Sir Galahad cometh with the Hermit of the Forest]




[Illustration] Chapter First

_How Sir Galahad was made a knight; how he came to the Court of King
Arthur, and of the several miracles that happened at that time._


[Sidenote: _A damsel comes to the Court of the King._]

One day Sir Launcelot sat at court with many lords and ladies of high
degree who were gathered there at that time. Suddenly there entered that
place a maiden clad in a long, straight robe of white, girdled about the
middle of the body with a crimson girdle of leather. And the girdle was
embroidered with threads of gold. This maiden stood at the door of the
hall and called out in a high and very clear voice, “Sir Launcelot of
the Lake--which knight is he?”

To this Sir Launcelot made reply, “I am he; what seekest thou of me?”
The maiden said, “Sir Launcelot, I bid thee arise and follow me.” Quoth
he, “To what purpose?” She said, “Thou shalt see.”

So Sir Launcelot arose and, clad as he was and without armor of any
sort, he followed her.

[Sidenote: _Sir Launcelot rides with her._]

Outside of the hall were two horses standing; one of them was a white
palfrey, the other was a black stallion. Sir Launcelot assisted the
maiden to mount upon the white palfrey and he himself mounted upon the
black stallion, and so together they rode away from Camelot.

They travelled for some while until they came to the skirts of the
forest. Then they rode into the forest, and all day they traversed the
woodlands. Toward eventide of that same day they came to an open place
amidst the surrounding trees, where was a quiet and very fruitful
valley, stretched out wide to the length and breadth of a league. In
that valley Sir Launcelot beheld orchards and fields of wheat and
barley, and meadow-lands where cattle were browsing in numbers. For it
was a very beautiful and fertile spot.

In the midst of this valley there stood a nunnery, with white walls and
green trees all about it. Above the nunnery was the clear and radiant
sky, very blue and all full of floating clouds. A soft wind blew up the
length of the valley, and upon the breeze there came the remote sound of
a crowing cock and the voice of the ploughboy as he drave the plough
horses along the smoking, upturned furrows, the ploughman following
laboring behind them.

Quoth the maiden, “Thither is where I am taking thee.” Said Sir
Launcelot, “To what end?” “That thou shalt presently see,” said the
maiden.

[Sidenote: _They come to the nunnery._]

So the maiden rode down into the valley and Sir Launcelot rode after
her. Thus, anon, they came to that pleasant and secluded convent. Here
the gate was opened to them by a fair and youthful esquire, and they
entered the portals of the place. Then several came and assisted them to
dismount, and took the horses of Sir Launcelot and the maiden.

After that the maiden led Sir Launcelot across the quadrangle of the
convent and so to the chapel, and they entered the chapel. Here Sir
Launcelot beheld four ladies kneeling upon four cushions before the
altar; and he beheld that beside these ladies there were two knights
kneeling, each upon a cushion. Of the four ladies, one was the Lady
Abbess of that convent; and of the two knights, one was Sir Bors de
Ganis and the other was Sir Lionel.

[Sidenote: _Sir Launcelot finds two whom he knows._]

Anon they who kneeled there ceased their orisons and arose, and Sir
Launcelot beheld the faces of Sir Bors and Sir Lionel and knew them, and
they knew him. Then Sir Launcelot said to them, “Messires, what is it
brings you hitherward?” To this Sir Bors replied, “Sir, we were in
distant places and to each of us came a fair maiden who was the
messenger who brought each of us to this place. Since our coming we have
been waiting for thee, and now thou art here.” Sir Launcelot said, “For
what purpose have I been brought hither?” Sir Lionel said, “Thou shalt
see.” Then Sir Lionel said to the Abbess, “Bring him forth that Sir
Launcelot may behold him.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Launcelot finds his son._]

Upon this the Lady Abbess turned to one of the nuns who stood beside
her and she spake aside to her, and with that the nun left them and went
away. For a little while she was gone, and then in a little while she
returned, bringing with her a youth of eighteen years of age, very tall
and fair, and clad from top to toe in clothes of white silk. Said Sir
Launcelot to the Abbess, “Lady, what youth is this?” The Abbess replied
to him, “Sir, this is thine own son, hight Galahad, and his mother was
the Lady Elaine the Fair.”

Then Sir Launcelot cried out in a loud voice, “How is this? I knew not
that I had a son. I beheld the Lady Elaine the Fair upon a certain black
and terrible day, lying dead in a boat at Camelot, and I stood upon the
quay and the boat floated beneath my feet. All this I beheld, and never
shall I forget it; but I knew not that she left a son behind her.” Said
the Abbess, “Ne’ertheless she did so, and this is that son. Here hath he
lived with us since the time of his birth when Sir Bors fetched him
hither, and no one knew that he dwelt with us saving only Sir Bors de
Ganis. But now hath the time come that he must quit us, for the period
is imminent when the search for the Holy Grail shall be begun, and this
is he who shall achieve the Grail. He is now to be knighted, and for
that purpose thou hast been sent for that thou mightest make him a
knight. This is the reason for thy being brought hither.” Quoth Sir
Launcelot, “Let me then make him a knight. For I know of no joy that
would be greater than that, that I should make him a knight.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Launcelot makes Galahad a knight._]

So that night Galahad watched his armor in the chapel, and Sir Bors and
Sir Lionel sat near to him to support him in his watch. And when the
morning was come, they two took him thence and bathed him, and Sir Bors
marked the sign of the cross upon his right shoulder and Sir Lionel
marked the sign of the cross upon his left shoulder, each with the water
of the bath. Thereafter that, they clad him in a robe of white, pure and
spotless, and they brought him to where Sir Launcelot was, and Sir
Launcelot made a knight of him, according to the accepted custom.

So was Sir Galahad made a knight by the hand of his own father, Sir
Launcelot of the Lake.

[Sidenote: _Sir Launcelot returns to the court._]

Now, after this ceremony was completed, Sir Launcelot besought Sir
Galahad that he would accompany them to the Court of King Arthur, so
that the King might behold him (for Sir Launcelot desired that Sir
Galahad should be manifested to the entire world of chivalry). But to
this Sir Galahad replied, “Sir, I cannot yet go to the Court of the
King, for all is not yet accomplished to prepare me for that going.
Anon, however, I shall come thither; meantime, do thou wait for me at
King Arthur’s Court.” So, shortly after this, Sir Launcelot and Sir
Lionel and Sir Bors de Ganis departed from that convent, and that same
day they reached the Court of the King at Camelot.

But they said nothing to that court concerning the knighting of Galahad,
for at that present it was not to be made known to the world that there
was such an one as Galahad, and that he was Sir Launcelot’s son and a
knight of Sir Launcelot’s making.

       *       *       *       *       *

So it befell Pentecost Day, what time the Feast of the Round Table was
held. Upon this day those miracles happened that are here written of,
and that were afterward so much talked of and concerning which so much
was written.

[Sidenote: _Concerning the miracle of the sword._]

For it happened upon that day, early in the morning when the
water-carriers went down to the river to draw water, they there beheld
at that place a very strange, and wonderful sight. For beside the river
they beheld where there stood a great block of red marble--cubical in
shape, and polished until it was smooth as glass. And into that cube of
stone there was thrust a sword, half way down its blade into the marble.
And the hilt of the sword and the haft, thereof, was studded all over
with precious stones of divers sizes and colors, very rich and glorious
to behold. And the blade of that sword (so much thereof as could be
seen) shone like to lightning for brightness.

Then they who beheld the wonder that appeared before them made all haste
to the castle of the King, and straightway told the news of what they
had seen. Anon this reached the ears of the King and of several of those
lords who were in attendance upon him. Then the King spoke to those
lords, saying, “What is this I hear tell of? Let us straightway go and
see.”

[Sidenote: _The King and his lords view the sword._]

So the King, and those lords of the court who were in his company, went
down to the river to look upon that wonder, and amongst those lords were
Sir Launcelot of the Lake and Sir Percival of Gales and Sir Bors de
Ganis and Sir Lionel and Sir Ector and Sir Gawaine, and several other
high lords of chivalry.

When they had come to that place where the sword was they beheld that
there were words written around about the blade thereof. So King Arthur
commanded Sir Launcelot that he should read those words, and Sir
Launcelot read as follows:

     “=This sword is for the greatest knight in the world and for him who
     shall win the Holy Grail.=”

Then he read:

     “=Whoso draweth forth this sword from the stone, to him shall that
     sword belong; but upon him who shall endeavor to draw it forth and
     shall not be able to do so, shall fall a wound from the blade
     thereof.=”

Then King Arthur said to Sir Launcelot of the Lake, “Messire, thou art
the greatest knight in the world, and perhaps thou shalt win the Holy
Grail. Let me see thee draw forth that blade.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Launcelot will not attempt the sword._]

Quoth Sir Launcelot, “Lord, I know not that I am the greatest knight in
the world, and I fear me that I shall not be able to win the Grail, for
I am a sinful man. Look you; it saith here that he who shall endeavor to
draw it forth from the marble and shall fail to do so, he shall be
wounded by the blade thereof. So I would fain not endeavor to draw forth
this sword.”

Then King Arthur turned him to Sir Gawaine, and he said, “Sir, let me
see thee attempt that sword, for mayhap thou mayst be able to draw it
forth out of the marble.” Sir Gawaine said, “Lord, if Sir Launcelot dare
not attempt that sword, so, also, do I not dare to do so.” King Arthur
said to him, “Gawaine, I command thee upon thy fealty to attempt that
sword.” Quoth Sir Gawaine, “Dear my Lord, if thou dost command me upon
my fealty, then I must attempt to obey thy command.” King Arthur said,
“I do command thee thus.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Gawaine attempts the sword._]

So Sir Gawaine came forth and he laid hand to the hilt of the sword and
drew strongly upon it, but the sword did not move a hair’s breadth in
the marble stone in which it stood emplanted.

Then Sir Launcelot spoke and said, “Alas, Sir Gawaine, that thou
shouldst have made that attempt and failed therein. For if thou art
wounded by that bright-shining blade it may be of more injury to thee
than it would be if thou shouldst lose three several castles.” Quoth Sir
Gawaine, “That may well be, Sir Launcelot, but yet it was incumbent upon
me to do that which the King’s command called upon me to do.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Percival attempts the sword._]

Then up spake Sir Percival, “Lord,” said he, “let me also attempt that
sword, for if it should be turned against Sir Gawaine I would have it
that it should be turned equally against me. Else I would endeavor to
draw it forth from the stone for mine own.” The King said, “Try thou for
the sword.” So Sir Percival laid his hand to the sword and drew upon it
very strongly, but neither could he move it so much as the breadth of a
single hair.

After that no other lord of all those present chose to attempt the
sword, but all avoided it from a distance, no one coming nigh enough to
it to touch it.

So, thereafter, they all withdrew from that place and went away,
marvelling at the miracle. And all that day many came to where was that
sword and the block of marble, and these stood to look upon that sight
and to marvel at it.

Such is the story of the sword so far as this, and so have I told it to
you as I have read of it in an ancient book of olden days, wherein these
adventures and several other adventures are spoken of.

       *       *       *       *       *

Thus that day of marvels began, and by and by came the time of the Feast
of the Round Table.

[Sidenote: _Sir Galahad is brought to the Feast of the Round Table._]

Now all they of the Round Table were gathered about that board and every
man sat in his place, and behind every knight stood a young knight to
serve him with meat and drink. Thus, as they all sat there, there came,
of a sudden, a commotion at the doorway, and after that commotion there
appeared at the doorway an old man clad all in white. That old man was
the Hermit of the Forest, and with him he brought a tall, fair young
knight and that knight was Sir Galahad. At that time Sir Galahad was
clad in flame-colored armor from top to toe, but he bare no shield for
his defence upon his shoulder, nor was there any sword within the sheath
that hung empty and hollow at his side. From his shoulders there hung a
long mantle of flame-colored cloth, and the mantle was lined with sable
and trimmed and bordered with sable.

The old man lifted up his voice and spake aloud to all who were there,
saying, “Lords, here by the grace of God come I amongst you with him who
is to be the greatest knight that ever the world beheld. Also, he is to
be the one who shall achieve the Holy Grail. So I have brought him
hither to this place.”

Him answered King Arthur, saying, “Holy Sir, if thou sayest sooth, then
this is a very great and marvellous thing. But soon shall we put it to
the test; yonder is the Seat Perilous wherein no one hath dared to seat
himself for all this while of the Round Table. Let this youth take there
his seat, for that seat is for him who is without sin of the flesh--then
will we believe that which thou tellest us. Also, down beside the river
there is a strange and marvellous sword in a cube of marble. Let him
draw that sword and then shall we certes believe in him.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Galahad assumes the Seat Perilous._]

The old hermit said, “Sir King, it shall be done as thou desirest. Let
him take that seat.” So the old man took him by one hand and King Arthur
arose and took him by the other, and so together they led Sir Galahad to
the Seat Perilous. Here he took his seat, and lo! no harm of any sort
befell him. Then, anon, Sir Launcelot reached forward and drew aside the
silken coverlet that hung at the back of the seat upon which Sir Galahad
sat, and, behold! there was a word estamped upon the back of the seat in
letters of gold; and that word was:

     =SIR GALAHAD=

Then a great shout went up from all the Knights of the Round Table, for
thus was the Seat Perilous achieved, and so was the Round Table
completed.

Then King Arthur said, “Lo! this youth is he for whom we have been
waiting for all this time. For so the miracle of the Round Table is
fulfilled. Let us now take him to the sword thrust into the marble
stone, for certes he shall draw forth that sword, and it shall be his.
For, wit ye, that this is he who shall indeed achieve the Holy Grail.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Galahad draweth the sword._]

So all they arose from their seats and went forth, and they conducted
Sir Galahad down to the river. There he beheld the stone of marble and
the sword thrust into the stone, and he said to those who stood about
that place, “This sword is assuredly mine, for I have no sword, and for
that sword I have come hitherward.” So Sir Galahad went to where was the
sword and he set hand to the sword and drew it forth from the stone very
smoothly and easily, and where the sword came forth it left no mark upon
the stone, for, lo! it was solid and whole and without any blemish
whatsoever. Then Sir Galahad thrust the bright-shining blade into the
scabbard that hung beside him, and it fitted to the scabbard, and so he
was armed.

Thereafter King Arthur took him by the hand and kissed him upon either
cheek, and the King said, “Hail, Sir Galahad! All hail to thee! For thou
art to be the crowning glory of my entire reign. For many mysteries and
miracles have befallen in that reign, but thy coming is the greatest
miracle of all.” And he said, “Come, let us go up to the castle that I
may present thee to the Queen.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Galahad will not stay at Camelot._]

Then Sir Galahad said, “Not so, O Lord! I cannot go with thee now. For
one cometh and is nigh to here at this present, and with her I must go.
For I go first to seek for the shield of Balan, who slew his brother
Balin unwittingly at the time of Uther Pendragon. Through him the Holy
Grail was lost to the earth, so that I must recover first his shield and
then the Holy Grail. After I have thus armed me with that shield, then
must I go to search for the Holy Grail, for that same is my mission here
in life. Likewise I have this news to tell thee, that two of those
knights here present shall win the Grail along with me; but who those
two shall be, I may not relate to you at this time.”

[Sidenote: _A maiden cometh for Galahad._]

Thus said Sir Galahad, and even as he ceased speaking there appeared in
the distance a damsel clad all in white raiment, and the maiden came
thitherward, riding upon a white palfrey, and by her hand she led by its
bridle-rein a coal-black charger of great size and girth. So as she drew
near, Sir Galahad went forward to meet her, and to him the maiden said,
speaking very high and clear, “Art thou ready, Sir Galahad?” Whereunto
he said, “Yea, I am ready.” And she said, “Come!” So Sir Galahad mounted
upon the black charger, and he saluted King Arthur and he saluted Sir
Launcelot and he saluted Sir Bors and Sir Lionel, and after that he rode
away from that place, leaving them all in great wonder and amazement,
both at his coming and at his going, and at all that had befallen.

So, when he had gone, King Arthur turned to his court of lords, and he
said, “This is certes a very wonderful visitation, for this youth came
to us like an angel from heaven, and, like an angel, he hath gone. Let
us now go and hear the mass ere we return to the Hall of the Round
Table.”

So all they who were there went to the mass, and as they were going Sir
Gawaine said to Sir Launcelot, “Messire, this is a sad day for thee, for
now there is a greater knight than thou art in the world.” Him answered
Sir Launcelot, “Not so, Messire, there is no sadness in this for me,
for, wit you, that this is mine own and well-beloved son. Wherefore I,
being his father, may well surrender unto him that glory which I cannot
carry with me into paradise, but which I would not be willing to yield
to any other man.”

So said Sir Launcelot, and thus all the world became acquainted with
that fact that no one but Sir Bors and Sir Lionel knew until then; to
wit, that Sir Galahad was the true son of Sir Launcelot of the Lake.

[Sidenote: _The knights vow to attempt the Grail._]

Now, after the mass in the minster was over, all they of the Knights of
the Round Table retired to the Hall of the Round Table, and there they
took their seats in due order. Then, when all were seated, King Arthur
up and said, “Messires and Lords of the Round Table, all ye have heard
what Sir Galahad hath said but a little while since; to wit, that two of
you who are here should achieve the Grail with him. Now it doth seem to
me that several of you who are the chief of all the knights should go
forth in search of that Holy Chalice, so as to be able to join him. For,
by not going, those two may miss the chance of achieving that great
glory.”

So said King Arthur, and, in answer, all those who were there arose,
each man in his place. And each man drew his sword and each held up the
handle of his sword before his eyes as a crucifix. And each man swore
upon that crucifix that he would presently depart from the Court of the
King, and that he would search for the Holy Grail either until he
discovered it or until he should perish, or until the Grail should have
been achieved.

[Sidenote: _King Arthur takes sorrow._]

Then King Arthur was filled with sorrow, for he would not that all of
his knights should go in that wise, for many of them he would have kept
with him at his court. And most of all he was grieved that Sir Gawaine
should go, for he loved Sir Gawaine above all the knights of his court,
because Sir Gawaine was the son of the well-beloved sister of the King.
So he said to Sir Gawaine, “Alas, Gawaine, you have slain the joy of my
life! For with this oath that ye all have uttered there departeth from
this court all that was of joy therein. Until now there hath been great
joy and good content at this Court of Camelot, but now that joy hath
taken wing and hath flown away. For, though many of you shall return to
this place, yet I foresee that many shall die; and I foresee that from
this time there shall follow great bitterness and rancor, and anon that
death and devastation shall overtake us all. For this is the time
foretold by Merlin, of which ye all have heard tell. For, according to
that prophecy, this day the Round Table hath been filled to its
completion, so that hereafter it shall soon fall apart into warring and
contention until it be altogether destroyed.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Launcelot comforts King Arthur._]

Then Sir Launcelot said to the King, “Comfort you, my lord, for though
the Round Table may indeed perish thus, yet, ere it be dissolved, there
shall come great honor and a great glory unto you and unto us all. For
what greater glory can there be to you than that the knights of your
Round Table should achieve the Holy Grail? And what greater honor can
there be than that we should endanger our lives in that quest? For we
all seek death hither and thither, and if it so befall that death cometh
to us in this cause, how much better is it to die in that wise than to
have death come to us in some vain quarrel or adventure.”

Quoth King Arthur, “That which thou sayest, Launcelot, is very true, yet
do I greatly grieve for this happening. For though we may look forward
to a glorious sorrow, yet when that sorrow cometh to us it appeareth to
be so much greater than the glory that it hides that glory from our
eyes. So, Launcelot, is it with me; for though I may take glory that my
knights shall achieve the Holy Grail, yet is the sorrow very great to me
that this Round Table should be dissolved. Alas, and alas, that it
should be so!”

       *       *       *       *       *

Thus the Knights of the Round Table went forth in quest of the
Grail--fifty of them in all. All of those who thus went had adventures,
and many of them lost their lives and did never return again. But of
those of whom this history telleth there is only Sir Launcelot, Sir
Gawaine, Sir Percival, Sir Bors, and Sir Galahad, and one or two others.
Of them and of their adventures it remains now to be told; wherefore,
followeth the history of those things hereinafter written.

[Illustration]

[Illustration: The Lady of the Lake and Sir Galahad]




[Illustration] Chapter Second

_How Sir Galahad was led by a strange lady to a monastery of White
Friars. How he met there two other Knights of the Round Table. How King
Bagdemagus wore the shield, and how it was taken from him and given unto
Sir Galahad. Also the story of the shield._


Sir Galahad rode away from Camelot, where was the Court of King Arthur,
following after the maiden clad all in white. Thus they wended onward
until they reached the skirts of the forest. At this place the maiden
said, “Sir Galahad, I must here leave you. But go you farther upon
yonder path, and by and by you will be met and entertained.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Galahad comes to a strange country._]

So Sir Galahad rode forward upon that path as the maiden directed. And
he rode a great distance into the forest until at last he reached the
Forest of Arroy, otherwise called the Forest of Adventure. Here, after
he had ridden for a considerable time, he came at last to a very strange
place. For he found the trees grew thin and thinner about him. Then, at
last, the trees ceased around him, and he found himself upon the edge of
a wide and open plain. And he beheld that all about him in this plain
there were great quantities of lilies, and there were also daffodils,
and all those flowers moved this way and that, very slowly in the gentle
air, as though they saluted him in coming. And Sir Galahad beheld that
this was a very wonderful place indeed, for the light that illumined it
was not the light of the sun nor of the moon, but it was a radiant and
golden glory that was not due to the light of either of those
luminaries.

And in the midst of that flowery plain Sir Galahad beheld that there was
a wide and very placid lake that was in no wise troubled by the soft
breeze that blew across it, but that was otherwise like a smooth mirror
of clear water.

So as Sir Galahad beheld all these things and marvelled at them, he was
aware that this was not the land of common earth, but that it was fay.

Then anon he was aware that voices were calling aloud, saying, “Welcome,
welcome, Sir Galahad!” as it were with great rejoicing. So he looked,
and lo! he beheld to one side a fair and shining pavilion of green silk.
And there were many people gathered in the field near the pavilion, and
some of them were ladies and some were lords and others were pages, and
all were clad in very gay and rainbow colors, so that it appeared as
though it were a flock of gaudy birds of various plumage that was
gathered in that place.

So Sir Galahad turned him toward that gay and jocund company, and as he
drew near to them he beheld that they were weaving garlands and wreaths
of fair flowers.

(For these, you are to know, were the attendants of the Lady of the
Lake, and that was the lake in which was her habitation, and he had been
led to that place for a certain purpose that they and others might see
and know him.)

[Sidenote: _Sir Galahad abides there for four days._]

So this place pleased Sir Galahad very greatly, and he remained for
three days, taking great joy in that jocund company. For somewhiles they
feasted and somewhiles they sang; somewhiles they danced and somewhiles
they related pleasant tales and contes of several kinds. So it was that
these three days passed very pleasantly and very quickly with Sir
Galahad.

[Sidenote: _There cometh the Lady of the Lake._]

Then, upon the morning of the fourth day, there appeared a lady in their
midst to whom all who were there paid great deference and high respect;
and this lady was of a very wonderful appearance. For she was clad in
green samite from head to foot, and her hair was long and
extraordinarily black, and very soft and glossy. And her face was pale,
like to ivory, and her eyes were bright, like to jewels set in ivory.
And upon her neck and around her arms were chains and bracelets of gold
inset with emerald stones. Wherefore, from these things, and from the
appearance of all about him, Sir Galahad was aware that that lady was
not mortal, but that she was fay.

(For this was indeed the Lady of the Lake, although he knew it not then
nor afterward.)

So Sir Galahad kneeled in the grass before the lady and he set his palms
together. But she smiled upon him and she said to him, “Arise, Galahad,
and kneel not to me, who am not of the spirit, but of the earth.” And
she said to him, “Where is thy shield?” He said to her, “Lady, I have no
shield.” She said to him, “Let us go and find thee a shield.”

So straightway there came several attendants, and some of these brought
Sir Galahad his black charger, and others brought for the lady a
beautiful janet as white as milk. And upon the back of the janet was a
saddle of scarlet Spanish leather, embossed with gold and jewels, so
that it shone and glistered with great splendor.

Then Sir Galahad mounted his horse and the lady mounted herself upon the
janet, and so together they rode away from that place.

[Sidenote: _The Lady of the Lake leadeth Sir Galahad to a shield._]

Thus they rode for all that day, and against the sloping of the
afternoon they had come to the edge of the forest opposite to that part
of the forest where was the town of Camelot. At this place there was a
monastery of White Friars, and to this the lady pointed and said to Sir
Galahad, “Thither thou wilt find a shield.”

Then Sir Galahad would have thanked her for bringing him thither, but
lo! she was gone from his sight and he was alone. Then the monastery
bell began ringing, and Sir Galahad rode down to that holy house.

[Sidenote: _Sir Galahad enters the monastery._]

So he came to the monastery and smote with the butt of his lance upon
the gate. Then the porters came and opened the gate to him, and when
they beheld him they gave him welcome to that place. So he entered the
courtyard of the monastery, and several came and gathered about him.
Some of these took his horse and led it away to the stable; others
conducted him into the house and afterward brought him to the chamber
wherein he was to be lodged. Here they removed his armor and brought him
to a bath of tepid water. After that they clad him in raiment that was
soft and warm so that he had great ease and comfort.

[Sidenote: _Sir Galahad findeth Sir Bagdemagus and Sir Ewaine._]

Then, when he was thus clad, they conducted him to the hall of that
monastery, and there he beheld that there were two other knights then
present. The one of these was Sir Ewaine, and the other was Sir
Bagdemagus, erstwhile called King Bagdemagus. These were both Knights of
the Round Table, wherefore they greeted him and gave him great welcome.

Sir Ewaine said to him, “I pray you, sir, tell us how you came hither.”
Sir Galahad said, “I will tell you.” So he told them how he had abided
in the midst of the forest near to that magic lake for the space of
three days. And he told them how that lady, who was fay, had conducted
him to that place, and had told him that there was here a shield with
which he might provide himself. To all this Sir Ewaine and King
Bagdemagus listened, and then Sir Ewaine said to Sir Galahad, “Messire,
no doubt that lady who accompanied thee hitherward was the Lady of the
Lake, for so hath she appeared to several of King Arthur’s Court as she
hath appeared to thee.”

[Sidenote: _The Abbot tells of the shield._]

Just then came the Abbot of that place, and King Bagdemagus said to him,
“Sir, I pray you tell us, is there at this place a shield of such and
such a sort?” The Abbot replied to him, “Aye, sir, there is here a
strange and miraculous shield, and it hangeth behind the altar, and it
hath hung there for God knoweth how long.” King Bagdemagus said, “I
would fain see that shield.” The Abbot replied, “I will show it to you
to-morrow morning, but not to-night. For I am come to conduct you to
supper, and not to show you a shield.”

So, when they were seated at supper, Sir Galahad said to the two
knights, “I pray you tell me how you came hitherward to this place.”
“That I will do,” quoth Sir Ewaine. And he said, “Sir Bagdemagus and I
set forth from Camelot in search of the Grail. After we had journeyed
for a long distance, we came to that part of the forest that is called
the Forest of Arroy, or otherwise the Forest of Adventure. Here we
wandered for some while without being freed from it, for the Forest of
Adventure is not very difficult to find, but is often very difficult to
escape from. After a while, however, we found a way to escape from that
forest, and so came out upon the further side of it. There we beheld,
below us, this place and so we came to it. Such, sir, is the way in
which we came hither.”

Thus these three knights and the high officers of that monastery ate and
drank together, discoursing very pleasantly the while. And when they had
ceased eating and drinking and talking together, they were weary, and
each withdrew to his couch and to sleep.

[Sidenote: _The Abbot takes the three knights to the shield._]

Now, when the next morning had come and when they had broken their fast,
King Bagdemagus said to the Abbot, “I pray you now to show us that
shield concerning which we spoke last night.” The Abbot said, “I will do
so. Come with me.” So he led them to the chapel and he led them behind
the altar, and there they beheld the shield where it hung. And the
shield was exceedingly white and shining, as it were of brightly
polished silver. And upon the shield was marked a red cross, very strong
and bold in its marking.

[Sidenote: _King Bagdemagus covets the shield._]

But when King Bagdemagus beheld the shield, he coveted it exceedingly,
and he said, “That is a very beautiful shield. I pray you let me have
that shield for mine own, and I will give my shield to Sir Galahad.” To
him the Abbot replied, “Messire, I would gladly give you that shield,
but there is said of it that whoever taketh it except the one man for
whom it is destined, harm shall come to him, and great suffering.” King
Bagdemagus said, “That may be so, but, haply, I am he for whom it is
destined. At any rate, I am a tried and well-approved knight, wherefore
if I take it I will essay to keep it, as a knight of standing may hope
to keep his shield.” The Abbot said to him, “Then take it, sir, in God’s
name.”

So King Bagdemagus took the shield and hung it about his neck. And he
said to those other two knights, “Messires, I know not whether there is
any malaventure appertaining to this shield, but, at any rate, I shall
essay to keep and to hold it. Nevertheless, I pray you to await me here
for this day. And if anything happeneth to me, I will return and give
you report as to that happening.”

To this Sir Galahad and Sir Ewaine replied that they would remain at
that place until the following morning.

[Sidenote: _Sir Bagdemagus rides errant into the forest._]

After that Sir Bagdemagus mounted horse and rode away. And he directed
his horse into the forest, and rode there a considerable distance away
from the monastery. So, by and by, he came to a place where two highways
parted, and where there was a cross of stone, and at that place he
beheld a knight in white armor, seated upon a white horse. This White
Knight stood across the way upon which Sir Bagdemagus was travelling,
and he appeared to be very threatening and austere. So, when Sir
Bagdemagus came pretty close to that White Knight, the White Knight said
to him, “Messire, I prithee tell me, where got you that shield that I
behold hanging upon your neck?” Sir Bagdemagus said to him, “I got this
shield at a monastery of White Friars, at some distance from this.” The
White Knight said to him, “I bid you take back that shield, and return
it whence you got it, for it belongeth not to you.” Quoth Sir
Bagdemagus, “That will I not do until I am compelled. For now that I
have this shield I propose to keep it for mine own, unless it is taken
away from me in battle.” To this the White Knight replied, “Very well,
then, thou shalt do battle for it, and that anon. Now prepare thyself
straightway for battle with me.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Bagdemagus is overthrown by the White Knight._]

Upon this each knight made himself ready, and when they were in all ways
prepared, they dashed together with great violence. In that encounter
the spear of Sir Bagdemagus passed very smoothly from the shield of the
White Knight, but the spear of the White Knight pierced the shoulder of
Sir Bagdemagus, over above the shield which protected not that part of
his body. And the point of the spear of the White Knight passed through
the shoulder of Sir Bagdemagus, so that he was flung with great violence
to the earth.

Then anon the White Knight came to where Sir Bagdemagus lay, and he said
to him, “Sir, how fares it with you?” Quoth Sir Bagdemagus, “Alas,
Messire, I am very grievously hurt, for thou hast pierced through my
shoulder with thy lance, and I suffer very greatly.”

Therewith the White Knight dismounted from his horse and he lifted and
raised Sir Bagdemagus. And after that he had beheld the wound, he laid
Sir Bagdemagus upon his horse. Then he took the bridle-rein of Sir
Bagdemagus’ horse, and he led the horse and the wounded man back to the
monastery whence he had that morning come.

[Sidenote: _The White Knight bringeth Sir Bagdemagus to the monastery._]

So, by and by, they two arrived there, and several came and took the
horse of Sir Bagdemagus. And they lifted him from his horse and carried
him into the house, and laid him upon a bed, and searched his wound. But
when they came to look for the White Knight, he was gone, nor wist they
whither he went. And the wound of Sir Bagdemagus was very deep, so that
for a long while he hung, as it were, balanced betwixt life and death.

But Sir Bagdemagus did not die; otherwise, the next day, he summoned Sir
Galahad to him. And when Sir Galahad had come to him, Sir Bagdemagus
said to him, “Messire, I had no right to that shield and I suffered for
taking it. I believe that it belongeth, indeed, to you; wherefore I pray
you for to take it and to wear it, henceforth, for your own. But who
that White Knight was who met me, or whence he came, or how he knew that
I had that shield, I know not, nor perhaps ever shall know.”

To this Sir Galahad answered, “Sir, I will assume that shield and all
the dangers that appertain to it, trusting that it belongs to me, and
doing battle to retain it if need be.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Galahad takes the shield._]

So Sir Galahad took the shield and hung it about his neck. Then he
called for his horse, and mounting upon it he rode away from that place.

But King Bagdemagus lay there at the monastery for many days and for
several weeks ere he was fit to travel again.

After that Sir Galahad travelled for all that day, and anon, toward the
sloping of the afternoon, he was an hungered, and he wist not where he
should come at refreshment for to eat. At that time he passed through a
little woodland, and when he had traversed it he came out of it upon a
small, open place upon the other side of it, where there was a fair
meadow of short green grass.

Here he beheld a pavilion of particolored silks, and he beheld that
before the pavilion there stood a tall and noble-appearing knight, clad
in white armor. This knight, beholding Sir Galahad, said to him, “Sir,
whence come you?”

To this Sir Galahad made answer, “Sir, I came from a monastery over
yonderways, where I got me this shield.” Quoth the White Knight, “Art
thou Sir Galahad?” and Sir Galahad replied, “Yea, I am he.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Galahad meets the White Knight._]

Then the White Knight said to him, “I pray you, sir, to dismount from
your horse and to come in and refresh yourself, for I have been awaiting
you this long while.” And Sir Galahad replied, “Sir, I give you
grammercy for your kindness.”

So the White Knight assisted Sir Galahad to dismount from his horse. And
he brought him into the pavilion, and Sir Galahad beheld that there was
there set a feast spread ready for his coming. So they seated themselves
at table, and three esquires clad in green samite waited upon them, and
they both ate and drank of the food and drink that was set before them,
and which was very excellent.

Then the White Knight said, “Sir, to-morrow we shall ride together for a
little way, meanwhile let us rest here to-night.” And Sir Galahad said,
“So let it be.”

So, by and by, there came two other esquires who took Sir Galahad and
brought him to where was a soft and luxurious couch of down, and there
he rested and slept for the night.

And when the morrow had come, Sir Galahad arose and the White Knight
arose and the esquires came and armed them. Then they each mounted his
horse, and so they rode away together.

[Sidenote: _The White Knight tells Sir Galahad of the shield._]

Now when these two, to wit, Sir Galahad and the White Knight, were thus
upon their way, the White Knight said to Sir Galahad, “Sir, wit you what
is the story of the Grail, and what is the history of that shield that
you wear at your neck?” Sir Galahad said, “Nay, but I pray you to tell
me that story.” Quoth the White Knight, “I will do so. It is as follows:

“In the old days of Uther Pendragon there were two knights who were twin
brothers. One of these knights was hight Balan and the other was hight
Balin.

“Now at that time there was in the enchanted city of Sarras two very
great marvels; one of these was the spear with which the blessed side
was wounded at the time of the crucifixion, and the other was the
chalice into which the blood was drained from that deep and pitiful
wound. But how they came to the city of Sarras is too long a story to
tell.

[Sidenote: _How Sir Balan came to Sarras._]

“Now Sir Balan was in the city of Sarras, and he was entertained at the
castle of the king of that country, whose name was King Pischer. This
King was at enmity with Sir Balan, whom he very greatly hated. So that
night when Sir Balan lay upon his bed, King Pischer, at the head of
several men, attacked Sir Balan where he lay unarmed. He, starting up
from his sleep, beheld them coming, and so he fled away from those who
would assail him, and so he escaped into the chapel of the castle, where
those two holy relics--to wit, the spear and the chalice--were kept.
Hither his enemies followed him and would have slain him, even upon the
steps of the altar, only that, beholding the spear, Sir Balan seized
upon it and ran with it against them. In that assault he smote King
Pischer with the spear, a very great and bitter stroke. For the point of
the spear penetrated the corselet of King Pischer, and inflicted a deep
wound in the shoulder. And after that Sir Balan attacked the others who
were with King Pischer, and drave them all before him. So Sir Balan used
that holy spear for his own preservation.

“But as Sir Balan stood holding the spear and beholding his enemies
retreat from that place, there came to him a voice as from heaven,
saying to him, ‘Balan! Balan! what hast thou done?’

[Sidenote: _How there came an earthquake._]

“And as the voice ceased its words there came, as from beneath, a deep
and hollow rumbling. And the rumbling grew louder and louder, until it
became a great earthquake, so that the earth rocked beneath the feet.
Then the chapel and the castle and all that place reeled, and the castle
fell, one stone upon another, so that all who were within it were buried
beneath the ruins. At the same time the spear and the chalice
disappeared from that place, and neither have they ever been seen from
that time--saving only that in visions they have been seen. For Sir
Percival beheld both the spear and the chalice, and others have beheld
them from time to time.

[Sidenote: _How Sir Balan escapes._]

“Sir Balan was not killed by the fall of that castle, nor was King
Pischer killed, but all others in the castle perished in its fall. But
rather had King Pischer been killed, for that wound in his shoulder
remained unhealed, and King Pischer could not die for a long while,
though he suffered very greatly from that wound every day that he lived.
Such, O Galahad! is the story of the Grail.

“Now touching this shield; wit you it is the shield of Sir Balan, and
the way in which it came to the monastery of the White Friars is as
followeth:

[Sidenote: _How Sir Balan fought with the Knight of the Ford._]

“One day Sir Balan came to a certain part of the country where was a
monastery of White Friars, and where he had news of a knight who guarded
the ford of a river at that place. So Sir Balan went to that river and
he beheld there the knight guarding the ford. Then Sir Balan attempted
to pass the ford, but the knight would not allow him to do so, wherefore
they came to battle with one another. They fought for an entire morning,
and for longer than that, and each gave the other many grievous wounds,
and what with loss of blood and with continuous fighting they grew ever
weaker and weaker, so that neither of them could stand without great
ado. But at last Sir Balan gave to his enemy a deadly blow that brought
him to the earth. Then he rushed off his helmet to make an end of him,
but when the face beneath was free from its helmet he beheld it, and saw
that it was the face of his twin brother, Sir Balin, whom he was about
to slay.

“Then he cried out in horror, ‘Alas, and woe is me! Is it thou, Balin,
whom I am about to slay? Lo! I am thy brother Balan!’

[Sidenote: _How Sir Balan slew his brother Balin._]

“Then Balin, feeling that he was near to death, wept a great deal. And
he forgave his brother Balan, and he bade Balan, when he was dead, to
bury him at that place beneath a thorn tree that grew there and that was
covered all over with spikes, as it were a chevaux de frise. Then he
died, and Balan performed that task--to wit, to bury him there.

“Anon came several White Friars from a monastery that was near by, and
these took Balan to the monastery and there he died, for he was very
sorely wounded, and his heart was broken.

[Sidenote: _How Sir Balan marked the shield._]

“But ere he died he took his shield to him and he drew upon it a great
cross in his own blood. And he told the friars of that place to keep
that shield until he should come who was to achieve the Holy Grail and
to return it unto Sarras again. And Sir Balan predicted of that shield
that it should always remain bright as silver until that time, and that
the cross of blood should ever remain as red as it was that day; and he
predicted of it that no one should be able to wear that shield saving
only that one for whom it was intended; and he predicted of that shield
that it should never be pierced by the point of any weapon forged by the
hand of man. So it was and such is that shield which thou carriest, Sir
Galahad.”

All this Sir Galahad listened to and heard, and when the White Knight
had ended his words, he said, “Sir, I would that I knew who thou art. I
pray thee to tell me that.” But to this the White Knight only smiled and
made reply, “I may not tell thee who I am, only this I may say, that I
am he who hath had that shield under continual surveillance until now,
and now I find that it hath fallen into hands that are even better able
to care for it and to cherish it than were the hands of Sir Balan of
old.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Galahad parts from the White Knight._]

Thus these two knights travelled forward together until night to the
setting of the sun. Then at last they came to a place where the roadway
divided, and at that place the White Knight said to Sir Galahad,
“Messire, here I must leave thee. Continue upon that way and anon thou
wilt come to a chapel where thou mayst be refreshed, and where thou
mayst lodge for the night.” So saying, the White Knight saluted Sir
Galahad, and he saluted the White Knight again. Then the White Knight
rode down one path into the woods, and Sir Galahad entered upon the
other path as he had been directed to do. But Sir Galahad turned his
head to look after the White Knight ere he should reach the forest, but
lo! he was not there, nor was anything to be seen, saving only the trees
of the woodland and the red light of the sunset that lay upon the
ground, falling through the leaves of the trees like to liquid gold
spread there upon the earth in small, round, and brightly shining discs.

After that Sir Galahad continued upon his way until, anon, he heard the
ringing of a bell, and with that he wist where he was, and that he was
not far distant from the chapel of the Hermit of the Forest. So Sir
Galahad spurred forward and in a little while he beheld the chapel, and
he beheld the Hermit of the Forest, ringing the bell for vespers.

[Sidenote: _Sir Galahad lodges with the Hermit of the Forest._]

So he came to that place that was very quiet and innocent, for he beheld
that many birds sat perched upon the branches of the trees coadjacent to
that place, and that several of the wild creatures of the woods,
together with a wild doe and its fawn, were also there. For these things
loved the Hermit of the Forest, and followed him whithersoever he went
about that place.

Then the Hermit of the Forest beheld Sir Galahad and gave him welcome,
and he brought him to eat and drink and prepared a lodging for him for
the night.

       *       *       *       *       *

Thus, then, was Sir Galahad armed with his shield, and therewith was he
armed completely, for he needed no other thing to arm him for his
defence.

So I have told you the history of these doings that you might know of
them how they were. Now, having thus armed him entirely, so shall we
turn to the further history of the adventures relating to these things.

[Illustration]

[Illustration: Sir Galahad meets Sir Melyas]




[Illustration] Chapter Third

_How Sir Galahad met with Sir Melyas. How Sir Melyas was overthrown, and
how Sir Galahad overthrew his enemies. Also how Sir Galahad did at the
Castle of Maidens._


Now Sir Galahad departed next morning betimes, after he had broken his
fast. And he wended his way through the forest, he knew not whitherward.
After a considerable while he came to where two roads crossed one
another, and where there was a cross of stone. Here was a clear, limpid
fountain of cold water, and at the fountain Sir Galahad beheld that
there sat a young knight.

This young knight had been refreshing himself with draughts of the
water, and now sat with his helmet beside him, whilst the soft and
gentle wind blew upon his forehead and his hair.

[Sidenote: Sir _Galahad meets Sir Melyas._]

Anon, when Sir Galahad had come nigh to him he said to the youthful
knight, “Sir, I pray you tell me who you are.” “I will do so,” replied
the young knight. “But you must also tell me your name and degree.”
“That I will do,” said Sir Galahad. “Wit you that I am called Galahad,
and that I am lately made a knight of King Arthur’s Round Table.” “And
I,” said the other, “am hight Melyas, and I am the son of the King of
Denmark.” Quoth Sir Galahad, “I give you grammercy for your
information.” And he said, “I pray you tell me, what do you here in the
forest alone?”

“Last night,” said Sir Melyas, “I came hitherward, and since then I have
been travelling through the forest. I slept in the woodland then and I
have not broken my fast since the prime of yesterday.” “Hah!” said Sir
Galahad. “Now I will give you advice. Journey whence I came and by this
road, and you will, by and by, come to the chapel of the Hermit of the
Forest, which is not very far distant. He will give you to eat and to
drink.”

Quoth Sir Melyas, “I give you thanks, Messire.” Thereupon he arose, and
assuming his helmet he mounted his horse; and, having saluted Sir
Galahad and Sir Galahad having saluted him, they parted company, each
going upon his way.

[Sidenote: _Sir Melyas meets two strange knights._]

Now Sir Melyas had not gone half a mile from that place when he met two
knights, and as Sir Melyas approached them, one of the knights set his
horse athwart the way and he said, “Sir, I pray you tell me who you are
and whither you go.” Him answered Sir Melyas very mildly, “Messire, my
name is Melyas, and I travel toward the chapel of the Hermit of the
Forest.”

Quoth the knight, “Well, sir, since you come hitherward, I will have it
that you try a pass with me. So prepare yourself to encounter me
forthwith.”

Him answered Sir Melyas, “Messire, I have naught against you, but if it
is your will that I do battle with you, then I must do so.”

[Sidenote: _The strange knight overthrows Sir Melyas._]

So Sir Melyas prepared himself in all ways for that encounter, and the
other knight likewise prepared himself, and when both were in all ways
ready they launched themselves the one against the other with the utmost
violence. So they met in the midst of the course and the spear of Sir
Melyas was broken into a great many pieces in that encounter, but the
spear of the other knight held, so that it pierced through the shield of
Sir Melyas, wounding him in the side, and casting him with such violence
to the earth that he lay there without motion, like one who is dead.
Then the other knight leaped from his horse and he ran to Sir Melyas and
rushed the helmet from his head and he set his misericordia to his
throat, saying, “Yield thee, Sir Knight, or I shall presently slay
thee.” And Sir Melyas reviving from his swoon said, “Sir, slay me not,
for I am sorely hurt.”

Now turn we to Sir Galahad:

As he rode onward upon his way, a voice suddenly spoke within him, as it
were in his very ears. And the voice said, “Return, Sir Galahad, for Sir
Melyas is in peril of his life.” And again it said, “Return in haste,
for Sir Melyas is in peril of his life.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Galahad rides to rescue Sir Melyas._]

Thereupon Sir Galahad turned his horse about and set it to the gallop,
for he thought that were he mistaken in the voice, then was there no
great harm done in returning. So he rode back whence he had come. And
anon he reached that place where Sir Melyas had fallen, and he beheld
the knight kneeling upon Sir Melyas with the misericordia at his throat,
and he heard the words that the knight uttered and that Sir Melyas
uttered. Then Sir Galahad cried out in a loud voice, “Sir Knight,
withhold thy hand. Turn thou to me, for I am here to defend that
knight.”

Then the knight withheld his hand, and he cried out, “Who art thou, Sir
Knight, who cometh hither?” Sir Galahad replied, “It matters not who I
am, saving only that I am here to defend that fallen knight.” “Well,”
quoth the other, “let it be that way if such is your will. Make you
ready.” So the knight arose and ran to his horse and mounted thereon;
and he took his spear in hand, and when he was in all ways prepared,
each knight took stand for the assault.

[Sidenote: _Sir Galahad overthrows the strange knight._]

Then they rushed together like a thunderbolt and each knight smote the
other in the midst of the shield. But the spear of the knight could not
penetrate the shield of Sir Galahad; otherwise, it slid away from it as
though it had been made of adamant, and in sliding away the spear was
broken into several pieces. But the spear of Sir Galahad held, so that
with it he pierced through the shield of the other, and pierced through
his body until the spear’s point stood a hand’s breadth out behind his
back. With that the knight was flung to the earth with such violence
that his neck was broken and he lay dead.

When the other knight beheld him fall, he cried out, “Hah, Messire, what
have you done? You have slain my brother.” Therewith he drew his sword
and rushed at Sir Galahad, and Sir Galahad threw aside his spear and
drew his sword in defence. Then the knight launched a blow at Sir
Galahad, which he turned with his sword and his shield. Then rising in
his stirrups he launched a blow at the knight that was like a stroke of
lightning for speed and force.

[Sidenote: _Sir Galahad overcometh the other knight._]

The other knight tried to turn that blow, and he did turn it from his
head, but the blow fell upon his left shoulder with great and terrible
force, so that the edge of the sword cut through the epulier of the
shoulder and it cut through the flesh and the bone of the arm so that
the arm was severed from the trunk.

Then the knight emitted a great loud and bitter cry, and casting aside
his sword he set spurs to his horse and sped away through the forest,
crying aloud as he spurred, “Oh, God! Alas, and woe is me!”

[Sidenote: _Sir Galahad bringeth Sir Melyas to the Hermit of the
Forest._]

Then Sir Galahad wiped his sword and thrust it back into its scabbard.
And he turned to Sir Melyas, and he said, “Sir, how fares it with you?”
Quoth Sir Melyas, “Messire, I am sorely wounded, but you have saved me;
for never did I behold so fierce and terrible a blow as that which you
struck just now, nor did I think it possible that anyone could strike
with such dreadful force as that.” Quoth Sir Galahad, “Nor could I have
struck such a blow were it not that meseemed that those two knights
represented two great sins; the one of the sin of pride, the other the
sin of cruelty. So that thought gave me, as it were, the strength of
ten, wherefore when I struck I struck with the strength as of ten.”
After that he turned to the knight lying upon the ground and found him
dead. And he raised Sir Melyas and set him upon his horse. And he upheld
him in that wise and returned with him to the chapel of the Hermit of
the Forest. There the Hermit received Sir Melyas, and laid him upon a
couch. And he searched his wound and dressed it, and Sir Melyas was put
to all possible ease with him.

This was Sir Galahad’s first adventure, and so I have told it to you as
it happened, for so have I read it in the ancient history of these
things.

       *       *       *       *       *

[Sidenote: _Sir Galahad heareth of the Castle of the Maidens._]

Now, after Sir Galahad had quitted that forest he came out the next day
upon a fair and fertile plain. Anon he met an old man and a young lad.
These he saluted, and he said to the old man, “Reverend Sir, I pray you
tell me, is there any adventure hereabouts that a young knight such as I
am might undertake to his honor?” Quoth the old man, “Aye, I know of
such an adventure.” And he said, “Know you that there is not far from
this a castle called the Castle of Maidens. At that castle there are ten
knights dwelling, who exact tribute from every passer-by. Moreover,
these knights are very cruel and unruly, for they now govern all this
land as with a rod of iron, exacting taxes from the people thereof where
no taxes are due, so that all in this country groan beneath the burden
laid upon them. Pass you by that castle, fair sir, and you will have
adventure enough and to spare from those ten knights.”

Then Sir Galahad inquired, “Whither is that castle whereof thou
speakest?” And the old man pointed in a certain direction with his hand,
saying, “Yonderway you will find it.” So Sir Galahad gave the old man
grammercy for that which he had told him, and he rode away whitherward
the other pointed.

Anon he came to the crest of a high, steep hill of no very great extent,
and from that hilltop he beheld beneath him a large and noble castle.
And the castle had tall, red roofs of tile, and great quantities of
rooks and daws flew about those roofs like bees about a beehive. And a
river ran down past the castle and beyond it, and where it ran past the
castle the pollard willows were pressed close against the castle walls,
because of the narrowness of the space between the castle wall and the
waters of the river. Beside the walls of the castle there was a town,
and the town was very populous, for Sir Galahad, from the hilltop where
he sat, could behold many people coming and going along the stony
streets thereof. Then Sir Galahad surmised that this must be the Castle
of Maidens (though why it was so called he did not know then nor till
afterward).

[Sidenote: _Sir Galahad cometh to that castle._]

So Sir Galahad gathered up his reins and he rode down that hill and
toward the castle, and he was not aware that anyone knew of his coming.
But as he rode past the castle beneath the walls thereof, he was of a
sudden called to from above. And when he looked up he beheld there a
small turret, and he beheld that upon that turret there stood ten fair
maidens, and these were they who called to him. Beholding these ten fair
young ladies at that place, he bespoke them, saying, “Ladies, heaven
keep and defend you. Now, I pray you tell me, what is the name of this
castle, and what is it you do here?” They say to him, “Fair Sir, this
castle is called the Castle of Maidens. We are prisoners here, and are
kept in this duress by ten wicked and discourteous knights, from whom
heaven keep you. For if you travel on the road upon which you are
journeying, you will pass by the bridge-head of this castle, and they
will maybe come down to assail you.” To them Sir Galahad said, “Ladies,
I know not whether I could do battle with success as one against
ten--yet if I considered these knights as being the ten deadly sins,
methinks I would have strength given to me to do combat with them. Now I
pray you tell me, how may I assure myself to meet these knights?”

Quoth one of the ladies upon the turret, “Sir, assuredly thou hast a
great heart within thee. Now if thou wilt pursue the way thou art going,
thou wilt by and by come by the bridge-head. Thereby thou wilt find an
iron horn hanging from a stone pillar. If those knights do not appear,
set thou that horn to thy lips and blow upon it, and anon thou wilt
behold those ten warriors of whom we have been speaking.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Galahad bloweth the castle horn._]

So Sir Galahad saluted them and rode away, and anon he came to where the
bridge crossed the stream, and there he beheld the post of stone and
from it, hanging by a chain, he beheld the horn of iron. This horn he
set to his lips and blew very loud and shrilly upon it, so that the
walls of the castle echoed back the bleat of that horn.

Soon after that the gates of the castle were opened and the portcullis
let fall, and there came thundering forth from that place ten knights,
armed cap-a-pie in shining armor.

The foremost of those knights rode up to Sir Galahad and said to him,
“Sir, art thou shriven?” “Why ask you that?” said Sir Galahad.
“Because,” said that knight, “thou art presently to die, therefore thou
shouldst be shriven.” “So far as that is concerned,” said Sir Galahad,
“I am not unready to die.” “Then,” said the other, “thou shalt presently
awaken in paradise, since thou art ready for it.”

So each knight assumed such stand as appeared to him to be fitting, and
each set his spear in rest, and then each dashed at the other with might
and main. So they met in the middle of the course with such violence and
uproar as was wonderful to see and to hear.

[Sidenote: _Sir Galahad overcometh the first knight._]

In that encounter the spear of the knight of the castle slipped from the
shield of Sir Galahad, and was broken into many pieces, but the spear of
Sir Galahad held, wherefore he overthrew that knight with such terrible
violence that his neck was broken in his fall, and he lay dead upon the
earth.

[Sidenote: _Sir Galahad doeth battle with nine._]

Then when the other knights beheld the fall of that knight, they cried
out, “Hah! A rescue! a rescue!” Therewith they all nine made at Sir
Galahad to overwhelm him with numbers. All nine of them struck him upon
the shield at one time, but their spears glanced from the shield of Sir
Galahad and could not penetrate it, nor was he overthrown by their
assault, nor did he lose even a foot from his stirrup.

Then Sir Galahad cast aside his spear and drew his bright, shining
sword, and he rode at those nine knights and he rode in amongst them,
striking with his blade to the right hand and to the left. Nor could
their blows harm him, for in that short time he struck down to the
ground three of those knights, so that there were but six of them left.

[Sidenote: _Sir Galahad overcometh the knights._]

Then the hearts of those six knights began to fail them, and they bore
back across the bridge with intent to enter the castle once more. But
meantime the people of the castle, seeing how affairs went with them,
had raised the bridge and had closed the castle gates against them. Nor
would they lower the bridge nor open the gates again, wherefore those
knights wist not what to do in their hour of need. Then Sir Galahad was
upon them and smote down two more of them and with that the four who
were left fled with great speed and he pursued them back across the
bridge. And Sir Galahad still pursued them, and he struck once and
again, now to the right and now to the left, so that ere they could
escape from him and in those two blows Sir Galahad had struck down two
more of them. Then the two who were left made their escape and they fled
from that place with might and main. And Sir Galahad pursued them also
with might and main, but their horses were fresher than his, and so they
escaped away from him.

So Sir Galahad rode back again slowly to the castle, and at his coming
the gates were opened with great sound of rejoicing. For the streets
were full of people of all sorts and conditions, and these lifted up
their voices with loud and prolonged applause. And of those eight whom
he had overthrown, all of them were dead. For those who had not died by
their fall, the people had put to death upon their own account.

Then Sir Galahad said to the chief magistrate of that town, “Where are
those ten maidens who bespoke me ere I came to this place?” And the
chief magistrate answered him, “Sir, we will bring them to you.” So anon
came those ladies, and when they had come to Sir Galahad they kneeled
before him and kissed his hand and gave him great praise and loud
acclaim. Sir Galahad said to them, “Why do you kneel to me, and why do
you kiss my hand?” They say to him, “Because of your strength and your
prowess.” He said, “Nay, that strength and that prowess I gave not to
myself; therefore, if I have shown strength and prowess, give praise
therefor unto the God who gave them to me, and not to me who am their
continent.” And he said, “Where is the chief lord of this town?”

[Sidenote: _Sir Galahad liberates the captive lord._]

The ten maidens said, “Sir, he is our father, and he is a prisoner now
in the dungeon of this place. For those ten knights overthrew him and
made him prisoner, wherefore he now lieth in duress.” Sir Galahad said,
“Bring him forth that I may behold him.” So several ran to where he was,
and anon they returned with him, and the chains that bound him were
still upon his hands and feet. Sir Galahad said, “Let these chains be
removed.” And when they were taken off of that knight, he said to him,
“Take back that which is thine own and oppress not thy people. For so
have they been oppressed of late by their ten masters, who were the ten
knights whom I have overthrown. But now thine enemies are either slain
or put to flight, so that thou art free. Nor shall you ever be put to
such pain again.”

Then, again, was there great applause.

Then the eldest of those ten maidens said to him, “Sir, will you not
rest here awhile with us?” Sir Galahad said, “I may not rest with you,
for my time is short and there is much to do in that time; wherefore I
must be again upon my way.”

So he bade them farewell, and after that he departed from that place,
taking with him the thanks and the blessings of all the people dwelling
therein. Yet for many long years afterward, the memory of Sir Galahad
was held at that place, and parents told to their children, and those
children to their children for several generations, how that Sir Galahad
of the Grail had come thither and had done those great and redoubtable
actions at arms that are herein told of and recounted. For it was not
until afterward that he became known as the greatest knight that the
world had ever beheld until that time.

Such is the story of Sir Galahad and of the Castle of the Maidens; so
he, one knight, overcame the ten knights of that castle, and thus he
departed thereafter.

Now turn we from Sir Galahad and take we up the adventures of Sir
Launcelot at this time. Wherefore I pray you to read that which
followeth.

[Illustration]

[Illustration: The Grail is manifested, and Sir Launcelot sleepeth:]




[Illustration] Chapter Fourth

_How Sir Launcelot and Sir Percival met Sir Galahad, and what befell
them. Also how Sir Launcelot beheld the Grail in a dream._


After Sir Launcelot left the Court of the King of Camelot, he wended his
way from place to place, meeting no adventure anywhere. So, upon a
certain day, he came to a farmhouse, close to the borders of the forest,
and there sought shelter for the night.

She who met him was the farmer’s wife, and she was both brown and buxom.
Beside her stood two children, holding by the skirts of her garments.
She gave Sir Launcelot welcome, and said to him, “Here, to-day, hath
come another knight who hath sought shelter as you now beseech it.” Sir
Launcelot said, “Who is he?” She said, “I know not, only that he is
gentle and kind.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Launcelot meets Sir Percival at the farmhouse._]

So Sir Launcelot entered the house, and he whom he beheld there was Sir
Percival, and at that he was very glad. And Sir Percival was also very
glad to behold Sir Launcelot. So the next morning early, and after they
had broken their fast, they took horse and rode away very lovingly
together.

So they journeyed for the great part of that morning, and about high
noontide they had come to a very pleasant part of the country where were
hills covered with green fields rising up against the sky; where were
many pleasant streams and watercourses; and where were flocks and herds
browsing in the long, damp grass of the pasture lands.

Here in a dale where there was a small wooden bridge crossing a glassy
and smooth-flowing river, they beheld a knight coming from the other
direction, and Sir Launcelot and Sir Percival were upon one side of the
bridge, and that knight was upon the other side. And that other knight
was Sir Galahad, though neither of those two knew who he was.

Then Sir Launcelot held up his hand, and he cried out, “Messire, I pray
you for to wait until we have crossed the bridge, for three of us cannot
cross it at the same time.”

“Nay, sir,” quoth Sir Galahad, “my business does not allow me to wait,
so I pray you to let me pass.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Launcelot challenges Sir Galahad at the bridge._]

“Not so,” quoth Sir Launcelot, “I cannot let you pass until you have
proven your right to pass. You must run a tilt with me, and if I
overthrow you, then will you wait to let us pass; but if you overthrow
me, then will we wait to let you pass.” So said Sir Launcelot, for it
did not seem to him to be possible that the strange knight could
overthrow him.

[Sidenote: _Sir Launcelot is overthrown._]

So each knight set his spear in rest, and anon each charged with great
violence at each other. Thus they swept together like a hurricane, and
so met in the centre of the bridge. In that encounter the spear of Sir
Launcelot struck the shield of Sir Galahad, directly in the centre
thereof; but the blow that he gave glanced aside as if the shield had
been a polished mirror. But the spear of Sir Galahad struck Sir
Launcelot in the middle of the shield and it held, and so violent was
the blow of Sir Galahad that both Sir Launcelot and his steed were
overthrown upon the planking of the bridge.

[Sidenote: _Sir Percival is wounded._]

Sir Percival looked with great amazement at the overthrow of Sir
Launcelot. Then, crying out in a great voice, “Sir, what have you done?
Defend yourself from me!” he drew his sword and rushed forward upon the
bridge. And Sir Galahad, when he beheld Sir Percival approach in that
manner, cast aside his spear and drew his sword likewise. So, when they
met in the middle of the bridge, Sir Percival smote Sir Galahad a great
buffet with his sword, which stroke Sir Galahad turned with his shield.
Then Sir Galahad rose up in his stirrups and he launched a blow like a
thunderbolt against Sir Percival. Sir Percival endeavored to turn that
blow with his shield, but he could not turn it, for it smote through his
shield and it smote through his helmet and it smote through the iron cap
beneath the helmet, and, had the blade not turned in the hand of Sir
Galahad, it would have slain Sir Percival. As it was, Sir Percival’s
head swam beneath that blow and he swooned away, swaying from side to
side in his saddle until he fell from his saddle and lay upon the bridge
without life or motion, like one who was dead.

But Sir Galahad did not stop to inquire who were those two knights whom
he had overthrown, nor did he pause to inquire how badly he had hurt
them; but regaining his spear and setting spurs to his horse he rode
away from that place, leaving them lying upon the bridge.

Anon Sir Launcelot aroused himself, and he beheld Sir Percival where he
lay. Then Sir Launcelot arose and went to Sir Percival, and removed his
helmet. And he cast water into the face of Sir Percival so that, in a
little while, Sir Percival was aroused from his swoon. Then Sir
Launcelot said, “I would God I knew who that knight was, for never have
I felt such a blow as I just now received, nor have I ever been so
shamed as I was shamed this day.” Said Sir Percival, “Wit ye not who
that knight was?” and he said, “Meseems it was none other than your son,
Sir Galahad.” Quoth Sir Launcelot, “At that I would take comfort were he
my son, but not at anything else.”

Then each knight mounted his horse, and so together they presently rode
away from that place. But Sir Launcelot’s head hung down upon his
breast, for the memory of that blow which had overthrown him, and for
the shame thereof; for never had he been overthrown from his horse
before this day in all of his life. And, somewhiles, he thought that he
who had overthrown him was, maybe, Sir Galahad, and at that he took
comfort, because Sir Galahad was his son. But otherwhiles he thought
that it was not Sir Galahad, and then he was filled with shame because
of his overthrow.

[Sidenote: _Sir Launcelot and Sir Percival part company._]

So riding in that wise they, by and by, came to where the road divided
into two ways, and here Sir Launcelot said, “Sir, let us part company,
for you shall take one road and I will take the other.” Quoth Sir
Percival, “Are you then weary of riding with me?” “Nay,” said Sir
Launcelot, “but I have been overthrown and I am ashamed.” Said Sir
Percival, “What shame do you take in that, seeing it was your own son
that overthrew you?” But to this Sir Launcelot made no reply.

Then, seeing that Sir Launcelot was determined to quit him, Sir Percival
took the left-hand road, and Sir Launcelot took the right-hand road, and
so they parted.

Now follow we Sir Launcelot after they had thus separated.

[Sidenote: _Sir Launcelot findeth a deserted chapel._]

Sir Launcelot rode for the rest of that day without meeting further
adventure, until about evening time, when he came to a bare and naked
knoll covered with furze bushes. Here, in the midst of that wild, he
beheld an ancient ruined chapel, and he said to himself, “Here will I
rest me for the night.” So he rode around that chapel, seeking for the
door thereof, but he could find no door upon any side of the chapel, but
only windows, very high raised from the ground. And he could not enter
that chapel by any of its windows, because they were built in the wall
so far beyond his reach that he could not attain to them. Then Sir
Launcelot said, “This is a very strange chapel that it should have no
doors, but only windows so high that I cannot enter by them. Now I will
rest here and see what is the meaning of this place.”

So saying, he dismounted from his horse, and lay down beneath a
thornbush that was not far distant from the chapel.

Now, as Sir Launcelot lay there, a drowsiness began to descend upon him,
and though he could not sleep yet it was as though he did sleep, for he
could move nor hand nor foot. Yet was he conscious of all that passed
about him as though he had been wide awake. For he was conscious of the
dark and silent vaults of sky, sprinkled all over with an incredible
number of stars, and he was conscious of his horse cropping the herbage
beside him in the darkness, and he was conscious of the wind that blew
across his face, and that moved the corner of his cloak in the silence
of the night time. Of all these things was he conscious, and yet he
could not move of his own will so much as a single hair.

[Sidenote: _There cometh a wounded knight._]

Anon, whilst he lay in that wise he was presently aware that some people
were approaching the chapel in the darkness, for he heard the sound of
voices and of the feet of horses moving upon the road. So, in a little
while, there came to that place a knight and an esquire. And the knight
was very sorely wounded, for his armor was broken and shattered by
battle, and the esquire sustained him in the saddle so that, except for
the upholding of the esquire’s arm and hand, he would have fallen
prostrate down upon the ground.

Then Sir Launcelot, as he lay in that waking sleep, heard the knight say
to the esquire, “Floradaine, is the chapel near at hand, for mine eyes
are failing and I cannot see.” And the esquire wept and he said, “Yea,
Lord, it is here. Sustain yourself but for a little and you will be
there.”

To this the knight made answer, “Floradaine, I cannot sustain myself for
long.” And the esquire said, “It is here.” The knight said, “Give thanks
to God for that, for had it been a little farther I would have fallen
from my horse. Now, Floradaine, lift me to earth.”

Therewith the esquire drew rein and he dismounted from his horse and he
lifted the knight down from his charger, and the knight groaned very
dolorously as the esquire lifted him down. Then, breathing very heavily
and with great labor, the knight said, “Floradaine, is there a light?”
And the esquire said, “Not yet, Messire.” Again, after a little, the
knight said, “Is there yet a light?” And again the esquire answered,
“Not yet, Messire.” And again, after awhile, the knight said for the
third time, “Floradaine, is there yet a light?” And this time the knight
breathed the words as in a whisper of death. Then of a sudden the
esquire called out in a loud and joyful voice, “Yea, Lord, now I behold
a light!”

[Sidenote: _There cometh a light._]

All this Sir Launcelot beheld in that waking dream, and though it was in
the darkness of night, yet he beheld it very clearly, as though it were
by the sun of noonday. For he beheld the face of the knight that it was
white as of pure wax, and that the sweat of death stood in beads upon
his forehead. And he beheld that the esquire was young and fair, and
that he had long ringlets of yellow hair that curled down upon his
shoulder. Then when the esquire said that he beheld a light, Sir
Launcelot beheld the windows of the chapel that they were illuminated
from within with a pale blue lustre, as though the dawn were shining in
that chapel. And he heard the sound of chaunting voices, at first very
faint and far away, but anon ever growing stronger and stronger as the
light from the chapel grew stronger. And those voices chaunted a melody
that was so sweet and ravishing that it caused the heart to melt as with
an agony.

Then the walls of that chapel opened like a door and a light shone forth
with a remarkable lustre so that it illuminated the face of that dying
knight, and of the page who upheld him. And at the same time the song
burst forth in great volume, as it were a thunder of chaunting.

Then forthwith there came out of the chapel a bright shining spear, and
two fair hands held the spear by the butt, yet Sir Launcelot could not
behold the body to whom those two hands belonged. And after the spear
there came forth a chalice, and two fair, white hands held that chalice,
but neither could Sir Launcelot behold any body to which those hands
belonged. And the chalice seemed to send forth a light of such dazzling
radiance that it was as though one looked at the bright and shining sun
in his glory.

[Sidenote: _Sir Launcelot beholdeth the Grail in a dream._]

Then Sir Launcelot was aware that this was the Holy Grail of which he
was in search, and he strove with all his might to arouse himself, but
he could not do so. Then the tears burst out from his eyes and traced
down his cheeks in streams, but still he could not arouse himself, but
lay chained in that waking sleep.

So the chalice advanced toward that knight, but the knight had not
strength to reach forth and touch it. Then the esquire took the arm of
the knight and raised it, and he raised the hand of the knight so that
the hand touched the chalice.

[Sidenote: _The Grail healeth the wounded knight._]

Then it was as though Sir Launcelot beheld the virtue of the Grail go
forth from it, and that it passed through the hand of the wounded
knight, and that it passed through his arm and penetrated into his body.
For he beheld that the blood ceased to flow from that wounded knight,
and that the color flooded back into his cheeks and that the light came
back into his eyes and that the strength returned to his body.

Then the knight arose and he kneeled down before the Grail, and he set
his palms together and he prayed before the Grail.

Then, slowly, the light that had been so bright from the Grail began to
wane. First the spear disappeared, and then the hands that held it
disappeared. Then, for awhile, the Grail glowed with a faint, pallid
light, and then it, too, vanished, and all was dark as it had been
before.

So Sir Launcelot beheld the vision of the Grail, but as in the vision of
a dream as I have told it here to you. And still the tears rained from
his eyes, for he could not rouse himself to behold it with his waking
eyes.

After this the knight and the esquire approached to the place where Sir
Launcelot lay asleep, and the esquire said to the knight, “Messire, who
is this man, and why sleepeth he here whilst all these wonders pass him
by?” And the knight said, “This knight is a very sinful man, and his
name is Sir Launcelot of the Lake.” Quoth the esquire, “How hath he
sinned?” To which the knight replied, “He hath sinned in this way. He
had a beautiful and gentle lady, and he deserted that wife for the sake
of Queen Guinevere. So his lady went away and left him, and anon she
gave birth to Galahad, and in that birth she also gave her life. So Sir
Launcelot betrayed his wife, and because of that betrayal he now lieth
sleeping, and he cannot waken until after we are gone away from this
place.”

[Sidenote: _The knight taketh Sir Launcelot’s horse._]

Then the esquire said to the knight, “Messire, behold; here this knight
hath a good, strong horse. Take thou this horse and leave thine own in
its stead. For this horse is fresh and full of life, and thine is spent
and weary with battle.” And the knight said, “I will take that horse.”

So the knight took the horse of Sir Launcelot instead of his own. And he
left his own horse behind him. Then he mounted the horse of Sir
Launcelot and the esquire mounted his horse, and after that the knight
and the esquire rode away from that place.

Then, after they had gone, Sir Launcelot bestirred himself and awoke.
And he would have thought that all that he had beheld was a dream, but
he beheld the worn and weary horse of the knight was there, and that his
horse was gone. Then he cried aloud in great agony of soul, “Lord, my
sin hath found me out!” And therewith he rushed about like a madman,
seeking to find a way into that chapel, and finding no way.

[Sidenote: _Sir Launcelot is absolved by the Hermit of the Forest._]

So when the day broke he mounted the worn and weary horse that the
knight had left, and he rode away from that place and back into the
forest; and his head hung low upon his breast. When he had come into the
forest and to the cell of the hermit thereof, he laid aside his armor
and he kneeled down before the Hermit of the Forest, and confessed all
his sins to him. And the Hermit of the Forest gave him absolution for
these sins, and he said, “Take peace, my son. For although thou shalt
not behold the Grail in thy flesh, yet shall God forgive thee these sins
of thine that lie so heavily upon thy soul.”

Then Sir Launcelot arose chastened from his confession. And he left his
armor where it lay and assumed the garb of an anchorite. And he went
away from that place, into the remoter recesses of the forest. There he
dwelt in the caves and in the wilds, living upon berries and the fruits
of the forest. And he dwelt there a long time until he felt assured that
God had forgiven him. Then he returned to his kind again; but never
after that day was he seen to smile.

       *       *       *       *       *

So hath this been told to you that you may see how it is that the sins
that one hath committed follow one through one’s life and in the end
bring the soul such distress and failure as that which Sir Launcelot
here suffered and endured. For it hath already been told in another
volume than this book (which same is called “The Story of Sir Launcelot
and His Companions”) how that Sir Launcelot of the Lake remained at the
Court of King Arthur whilst his Lady, Elaine the Fair, quitted the
court, and how that he remained at that court, being held there by the
wiles and the charms of Queen Guinevere. Then it was told how that the
Lady Elaine died for loneliness and grief in giving birth to Galahad,
and it was told how that Sir Launcelot repented him for that death with
deep and bitter remorse.

So it was because of that sin that he was not now permitted to behold
the Grail with his waking eyes nor to touch it with his living hands.
For a sin doth not quit a man because he hath remorse for it nor is it
wiped from his soul because he repents him of it, but always it
remaineth by him and by and by the time cometh when he must pay to the
full the account of that sin which he hath one time committed.

       *       *       *       *       *

For so it is with all of those who commit a sin, be it great or be it
less. For they cannot correct that sin by remorse or by repentance, but
only by so living a life of righteousness that that sin shall be removed
away from them, so that it becometh as though it were not.

       *       *       *       *       *

So it was with Launcelot, for he was to pay in full for that sin which
he had committed. For never did he behold the Grail other than it was at
that time and never did he touch it with his hand; nay; never did he
touch it even with so much as a single finger; but otherwise he
remained as a recluse in a cell coadjacent to the cell of the Hermit of
the Forest, as aforesaid.

There leave we him to follow the other parts of this story, for here
followeth the story of Sir Percival, which you are now to read if you
would enter further into the history of these things herein told of.

[Illustration]

[Illustration: Sir Percival rideth the black horse]




[Illustration] Chapter Fifth

_Sir Percival findeth a horse that nearly bringeth him to destruction.
Also he meeteth a fair damsel and feasts with her. Finally he enters a
boat and there finds rest and comfort._


Now, after Sir Percival had left Sir Launcelot as aforetold of, he rode
upon his way alone. And his way led him, by and by, through a waste of
land where was nothing growing, but where there were great quantities of
stones scattered all over the earth. Here he rode for some time, looking
forward before him for something that grew.

[Sidenote: _Sir Percival’s horse falleth lame._]

So while the mind of Sir Percival was elsewhere, the horse which he rode
slipped his foot upon a round, loose stone, and the stone turned under
the horse’s foot so that it strained its shoulder. At first Sir Percival
knew naught of this mishap, but presently, anon, the horse began to limp
as it walked. And every minute the horse of Sir Percival limped worse
than it had limped the minute before. So Sir Percival wist not what to
do, for here was he with a horse that could not fare farther with him,
and there was no house within sight, and there was no person within
sight upon all that barren waste.

So Sir Percival dismounted from his horse, and he took the bridle of the
horse over his arm, and so he walked with the bridle over his arm and
the horse limped behind him.

Thus he travelled for a great way, and anon he left that stony waste
behind him, and came to a country where green things grew. And anon
after that he came to a place that was spread all over with fertile
fields of grass interspersed with plantations of trees, both oak trees
and elm trees.

[Sidenote: _Sir Percival meeteth a damsel in red._]

Here, passing by a small fountain of water, he beheld a fair damsel
sitting beside the margin of that fountain, and the damsel was clad all
in red, from top to toe. This damsel had with her a palfrey and a great
black horse beside that palfrey, and the black horse was very remarkable
for breadth and sinew, for his shoulders were deep and his legs were
corded with muscles, and his fetlocks were adorned with long and curling
hairs, and his eyes were very bright and shining as with fire beneath
them, and his ears were sharp and pointed, as though they had been cut
with a fine knife, and his mane and tail were thick and black, like the
clouds of night, and there was not a white hair upon him, from the tip
of his nose to the end of his tail.

[Sidenote: _The damsel giveth a horse to Sir Percival._]

Quoth Sir Percival, “Hah, maiden, that is a fine horse that thou hast
there.” Said she, “Yea, Messire; he is a very fine horse.” Said Sir
Percival, “I would that thou wouldst sell me that horse; for mine own,
as thou seest, is gone lame.” The maiden said, “Sir, are you not Sir
Percival of Gales?” Then Sir Percival was greatly astonished that the
damsel should know him, and he said, “Yea, damsel, that is my name.”
“Then,” quoth she, “I cannot accept money from you for this horse. But
if you will take him for your own, then you may have him. So leave you
your lame horse here, and take this horse instead of it. For wit you I
have been sent with this horse that you might have it to ride upon.”

Then was Sir Percival still more astonished at what the damsel said, and
he knew not what to think that the damsel should be there at that place
with a fresh, sound horse for his use when his own horse had fallen
lame. So he thanked the damsel in great measure, and he handed her the
reins of his horse, and took the reins of the black horse. Then he put
his foot in the stirrup and mounted the black horse at one leap.

[Sidenote: _The horse rideth away with Sir Percival._]

So the horse stood quite still until Sir Percival had his seat and his
feet in the stirrups. After that it bowed its head and took the bit in
its teeth. Then immediately it rushed away to the southward with great
speed like the wind, and its mane and tail stood out straight behind it
because of its speed. Nor could Sir Percival control or guide it, for
the horse held the bit between its teeth and it was as though blinded,
rushing forward like the wind. And ever it ran toward the southward,
without let or stay. And Sir Percival said to himself, “What sort of a
beast is this upon which I am sitting, is it a horse or is it a lion or
is it a dæmon?”

[Sidenote: _The horse bringeth him to the sea._]

So the horse rushing onward began, by and by, to draw nigh to the sea,
for now and then Sir Percival could catch glimpses of the sea across the
uplands like a thread of bright silver against the distant horizon; for
by this time night had fallen. And anon he could hear the roaring of the
sea beating upon a place where there were a great many rocks, and where
the water spouted and churned amongst the rocks as white as milk. Then,
reaching this spot, the horse stopped all of a sudden, panting and
trembling and all a lather with sweating foam.

Then Sir Percival dismounted from the horse, and as soon as his foot
touched the earth the black horse vanished and Sir Percival stood there
alone. And he wist not what to do, but stood there doubting and
wondering.

[Sidenote: _Sir Percival meeteth a beautiful lady._]

Anon as he so stood he beheld something coming a great way off, and ever
it came nearer and nearer, and by and by he perceived that it was a
boat, and that it was approaching very rapidly the place where he stood,
and that without either sails or oars to urge it upon its course. So Sir
Percival stood there and watched the boat as it drew rapidly nearer to
him, and by and by he perceived that there was someone in the boat, and
then he perceived that it was a beautiful lady, and that there were
seven beautiful damsels attendant upon her. And he beheld that this lady
was clad all in red, and that her hair was red, the color of gold, and
that it was emmeshed in a net of gold. And around her dress and her neck
he beheld that there were chains and ornaments of gold, so that the lady
sparkled and gleamed as though she had been an image of jewels and of
gold. And the attendants of the lady were also clad in red and also wore
ornaments of gold about their necks, wherefore the whole boat gleamed
and shone as with a shine of golden light.

Thus that boat came to the beach where Sir Percival stood, and the lady
stepped from the boat upon the sand, and Sir Percival came forward and
assisted her to disembark. And the lady said, “Hail, Sir Percival, and
give thee peace.” And all the attendants of that lady also said, “Give
thee peace.”

Quoth Sir Percival, “Who are ye who know me and I know not you?” To the
which the lady made reply, “We are fay and not of this earth, therefore
we know many things that you wit not of.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Percival sits at feast with the lady._]

Then that lady bade her attendants to set up a pavilion and they did so,
and the pavilion was of red samite, and above it was a great banner of
white samite embroidered with the figure of a leopard in threads of
gold. And in the pavilion they set a table of gold, and they covered the
table with a napkin of finest linen, and the lady of the boat took Sir
Percival by the hand and led him into the pavilion.

Then Sir Percival and the lady seated themselves at the table, and the
damsels attendant upon the lady served them with food. And certain of
these attendant maidens took harps into their hands, and they played
upon the harps, and sang in unison to those two, and so sweet was the
music they made that it melted the heart to listen to them.

And those who waited upon Sir Percival and the lady brought to them all
manner of dishes, dressed with spices and condiments of all sorts, and
Sir Percival and the damsel ate together. Then others brought wines of
all sorts, both white wines and red, and this wine was very powerful and
sweet, and Sir Percival and the lady drank together. And the wine flowed
very strongly through the veins of Sir Percival so that his head swam
with the strength of that wine and with the potency thereof.

Then, by and by, the lady grew very fond toward Sir Percival, and she
put her arms about his shoulders and held him very close to her. With
this the wine swam still more powerfully in Sir Percival’s head, and he
knew not very well what he said or did. And he said, “Lady, tell
me--what is this, and why am I here?” To this she answered, “Percival,
thou glorious knight! this is the pavilion of Love, and I am the spirit
of Venus who inhabits it. So yield thou to that spirit and take thou the
joy of thy life whiles thou mayst.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Percival kisses the lady._]

Therewith she reached her arms again to Sir Percival and he reached his
arms toward her and he took her into his arms. And Sir Percival kissed
her upon the lips and the fire from her lips passed into his heart and
set his soul aflame.

Then, in that moment, he knew not why, he suddenly bethought him of that
fair lady whom he had met in the tent when first he went forth as a
knight, clad in his armor of wicker-work. And he thought of how he had
kissed her that time; and he thought of how he had beheld her in that
cold and windy room of the castle, lying dead and white before him; and
he thought of how he had beheld the Spear and the Grail that time in the
castle. Then it was as though a wind of ice struck across the flame of
his passion, and he cried out thrice in a loud voice, “God! God! God!
What is this I would do, and why should I sin in this wise?” And
therewith he drew upon his forehead the sign of the cross.

[Sidenote: _The lady disappears._]

Then in an instant the lady who sat beside him shrieked very loud and
shrill, and all about him was confusion and turbulence. And Sir Percival
looked, and behold! it was not a strange and beautiful lady who sat
beside him like a wonderful goddess, but it was the Enchantress Vivien,
clad in red and bedecked with her jewels. For it was she who had thus
planned the undoing of Sir Percival by causing him to sin.

Then Sir Percival cried, “Hah! Is it thou who wouldst betray me?” And
therewith he reached for his sword which he had laid aside. Then, seeing
what he intended, the Enchantress Vivien shrieked again, and she smote
her hands together, and in that instant she disappeared, and all her
attendants disappeared, and the pavilion and the table and all of the
feast and wine disappeared, and the boat in which she had come
disappeared, and Sir Percival found himself sitting alone upon the
seaside.

Then Sir Percival kneeled down and he set his hands together and he
prayed. And he said, “O God! how hast thou saved thy servant by means of
a floating thought? For the thought of that which was sacred and holy
hath purged my sin that was very close to me.” And he said, “How shall I
thank thee for this; for lo! I trod upon a crust so thin that, had I
borne even a part of my weight upon it, I would have fallen through that
crust as into a lake of fire.”

So he prayed for a long time and by and by he was comforted. Then he
arose and stood up, and he girded his sword tight about him. And he cast
his eyes all around and he beheld that he was alone and in a very
desolate place. And, at that time, the full moon was shining very
brightly.

Anon he beheld in the gloom of the distance an object that approached
very rapidly. And this object also was a boat, but there was no one in
it.

And when the boat approached nigh enough he beheld that there was a
couch within it, and that the couch was covered with white linen. But no
other thing was in the boat but that.

Then Sir Percival said, “What is this? Is there a sin also in this, or
is it without sin?” And he said, “If this be sin, then let it declare
itself,” and therewith he marked the sign of the cross upon his
forehead.

But there followed not any malignant sign after that, but the boat
remained there where it was.

[Sidenote: _Sir Percival entereth a boat._]

Then Sir Percival perceived that it was intended for him to enter that
boat, and he did enter it. And at that time the moon had arisen very
full and round. And the moon shone down upon the earth with a wonderful
radiance. So that what with the light in the sky from the moonlight, it
was as though a strange and magical radiance embalmed the entire earth.

[Sidenote: _The boat sails away with him._]

Then the boat moved away from the shore very rapidly and smoothly. And
it ran past the sharp and treacherous rocks, and it went past all
obstructions and so out into the broad and heaving surface of the sea
beyond.

       *       *       *       *       *

Here all was stillness and peace, for all about was the hush and silence
of night time, and there was no sound whatsoever to mar that stillness,
but only the moon and the stars shining above in the sky.

So Sir Percival laid him down upon the couch and anon he slept a very
deep and dreamless sleep.

Now leave we Sir Percival lying in that boat, and turn we to the story
of Sir Bors de Ganis and how it befell with him at this time.

[Illustration]

[Illustration: Sir Bors rides with the white knight]




[Illustration] Chapter Sixth

     _How Sir Bors confessed himself to the Hermit of the Forest. How he
     overthrew a knight, and how he came to the seashore and of what
     befell him there._


[Sidenote: _Sir Bors confesses to the Hermit of the Forest._]

Upon a certain day Sir Bors rode into the forest, and by and by he came
to the chapel of the Hermit of the Forest. And the Hermit welcomed Sir
Bors, saying, “God save thee,” and Sir Bors greeted the Hermit, saying,
“God save thee and keep thee, Sir Hermit.” So Sir Bors abided that night
with the Hermit of the Forest, and when the next morning had come he
besought the Hermit to confess him. And the Hermit of the Forest shrived
Sir Bors, and he beheld that the soul of Sir Bors was very white and
clean and that he was extraordinarily free from sin. And the Hermit said
to him, “Sir, if valor and if purity of life may so recommend a man that
he may win the Grail, then will you certainly behold it with the eyes of
your body and touch it with the hand of your flesh. For you are both
very brave and very pure of life.”

To this Sir Bors said, “Sir, that which you tell me is exceedingly
comforting to me, for so would I rather achieve a sight of the Grail and
touch that sacred vessel than anything else in all the world. Now, I
pray you, tell me if there is anything else that I may do that may
better fit me to find that holy chalice.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Bors vows a fast._]

Quoth the Hermit, “There is but one thing, and that thing is that you
finally purify yourself by refraining from eating any manner of meat,
and that you fast upon bread and water until you have beheld and have
touched the Grail.” Said Sir Bors, “Holy Father, so will I fast from
meat and wine.” And the Hermit said, “And this also shall you do. You
shall lay aside your armor and shall ride forth in leathern doublet and
hose and shall wrap yourself in your red cloak against the inclemencies
of the weather.” Said Sir Bors, “That also will I do.”

So Sir Bors laid aside his armor of defence, and he wrapped himself in
his red cloak, and thus he rode forth into the world.

After that Sir Bors travelled for an entire day, and whensoever he came
to a roadside cross, he kneeled down before it and recited a prayer. So
against early eventide he came to a part of the country that was
altogether strange and new to him, for here were bogs and marshes, and
many pools and ponds of water where were heron and other water-fowl. So
Sir Bors wist not where he should lodge that night. But anon he beheld
in the distance before him a single tower standing upright upon that
flat expanse, and the tower was like a finger of stone pointing up into
the sky. So Sir Bors made his way toward the castle, and by and by he
came to where the castle was.

[Sidenote: _Sir Bors cometh to a castle_.]

Coming to that place Sir Bors smote upon the doorway of the castle, and
he smote again and again. By and by one came and opened the door, and
that one was a very aged porter clad all in buckram, and the buckram was
stained and blotched, as with the stain of many years.

The porter said to Sir Bors, “Sir, who are you, and whence come you?”
And to this Sir Bors made reply, “I am one seeking lodging and shelter
for the night.” The porter said, “Sir, I pray you enter, for you are
exceedingly welcome, and the lady of this castle, though just now in
very great sorrow, is about to sit at supper.”

So Sir Bors entered the courtyard, and he tied his horse to an iron ring
that was in the side wall of the castle in the courtyard. Then the aged
porter led Sir Bors to his room and there left him to wash and to
refresh himself, whilst he returned to the horse to put it into the
stable and to feed it.

After Sir Bors had washed and refreshed himself he descended from his
room again, and there he found the aged porter awaiting him. The porter
said, “Sir, come with me,” and Sir Bors followed him. And the porter led
the way from that place into a hall, where there was a table set out for
refreshment.

Here Sir Bors beheld a young and very beautiful lady, and she was the
chatelaine of the castle. The face of this lady was very white and
exceedingly sorrowful, and her eyelids were red as with continual
weeping. And she was clad in a long, straight black robe, without
ornament or adornment of any sort. She received Sir Bors with great
civility, albeit she did not smile at all; and anon they sat down at
table together.

[Sidenote: _Sir Bors sups with a beautiful lady._]

So the supper was brought in and set before them, and it was the old
porter who served them with their meal. But Sir Bors ate no meat,
neither did he drink any wine; otherwise, he ate of the bread and drank
of the water that was set before them. Anon the chatelaine of the castle
said to him, “Sir, you do not eat of the food of the castle that is set
before you. How doth that happen?” Quoth he, “Lady, I do not eat the
food because I have assumed a vow to eat no meat of any sort until I
have accomplished a certain purpose, and I drink the water because I
have made the same vow concerning wine.” And the lady said, “To what
purpose is that, Messire?” Quoth he, “I am in quest of the Grail, and to
that end I travel, fasting and mortifying myself.”

[Sidenote: _The lady tells her story._]

Then, after a little while, he said to her, “Lady, you are sad, will you
not tell me the cause of your sorrow?” To the which she said, “Sir, that
will I gladly do. It is thus: my father was the king of all this land as
far as you can see to the westward of this. For this castle standeth
upon the marches of my father’s country, and is very near to the lands
of another king who is neighbor to this place. My mother died, and my
father married another lady who was both wicked and cruel. So when my
father died this lady seized upon my inheritance, and cast me out into
the world upon mine own dependence. After that she drove me from castle
to castle until this is my last refuge and defence. For now I dwell
herein with only this ancient porter and his wife in attendance upon me.
Nor is she satisfied to leave even this poor house in my possession, for
to-morrow she cometh with several knights to drive me forth from this my
last refuge.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Bors offereth himself for her defence._]

So said the Lady Chatelaine of that place, and when she had ceased
speaking she wept with a passion of tears. Then the heart of Sir Bors
was greatly moved with sympathy, and he said to her, “Lady, I am greatly
grieved at thy sorrow and at its cause.” And he said, “What is thy
name?” She said, “It is Leisette.” Then said Sir Bors, “Lady Leisette,
let me tell thee that had I but a suit of armor to wear, I would stand
as thy defender upon this occasion, and that to-morrow I would stand
between thy father’s wife and thee, even though the knights that follow
her be several and I be but one.” “Sir,” said the lady, “It may hardly
be that one knight could withstand the assault of several; but I may
tell you that in this castle there is a suit of armor (though of a
bygone date), that might serve your purpose. But to what end would you
use it? For the knights attendant upon this lady are all well-tried
knights of battle, and you are maybe not accustomed to wearing armor,
seeing that you travel through the world without armor of any sort upon
your body.” Then Sir Bors smiled, and he said, “Let that be as it may;
nevertheless, I have worn armor more than once in my life; so I pray you
to send that suit of armor to my room to-night, that I may look at it,
and perhaps try it on.” And the lady said, “It shall be done as you
ask.”

So that night the old porter brought the armor to the room of Sir Bors,
and he assisted Sir Bors to clothe himself in the armor, and Sir Bors
found that the armor fitted him very exactly, and he was glad.

Now when the next day was come Sir Bors walked with the Lady Leisette in
the gardens of the castle. And Sir Bors beheld that she was exceedingly
beautiful and his heart went out to her, and he said to her, “Lady,
meseems your trouble lyeth in this, that you have no knight for your
husband who may defend your rights and claims. Were you wedded to such a
knight, then, you would not suffer these wrongs.” Quoth she, “What
knight would take me for his wife, who am a dowerless lady, with only
one castle left of all her inheritance?”

[Sidenote: _Sir Bors talketh at length with the lady._]

He said to her, “I say naught concerning myself and mine own strength
and valor. But this I will say, that if I have such fortune as may lead
me to overcome your enemies to-day, I would offer myself to you as your
husband.” She said, “Sir, thou doest me great courtesy. Were I owner of
those three considerable towns that were once my father’s then I would
take thee for my suitor. But as I am now the puppet of so sad a fate,
what shall I say to thee?” Quoth he, “Say aye.” And she said, “Who art
thou, sir?” Quoth he, “I am called Sir Bors de Ganis.” Then she said,
“Aye,” speaking with downcast eyes, and so low a voice that he could
hardly hear her. For the name of Sir Bors was very well known throughout
the entire world, both because of his strength and his valor. Wherefore
she was very much pleased to have him with her.

Just then there came to them the old porter of the castle and he said to
them, “Prepare yourselves, for hither cometh the Queen of this country,
together with a court of lords and ladies, and with several knights
champion for her escort.” Then Sir Bors said, “Now I will go and arm
myself for battle.” And she said, “Go!”

So Sir Bors withdrew to his room and the porter of the castle went with
him, and the porter put upon him the pieces of armor and buckled them
very tightly together so that they joined and fitted. And they buckled a
great sword upon one side of him and a misericordia upon the other. Then
when he was in all wise prepared, he took a mighty lance into his hand
and went down into the courtyard and mounted upon his horse. Then came
the Lady Leisette to him and saluted him and he said to her, “Give me, I
pray you, some favor for to wear.” And she said, “I will do so,” and
therewith gave him the scarf from about her throat. And she tied the
scarf about his arm. Then the porter of the castle opened the gate, and
Sir Bors rode forth from the castle and took his stand in the high-road
in front of the castle, and awaited the coming of those others who were
now drawing near to that place.

[Sidenote: _Sir Bors offereth himself as champion._]

Anon the Queen of that country perceived Sir Bors where he stood and she
cried out to him, “Sir, who are you who stand there, and why do you
confront us so?” To the which Sir Bors made reply, “Lady, I am the
champion of the lady of this castle, and as her knight I stand here to
await your coming.”

She said to him, “Know you to whom you speak?” and he said, “Yea, I know
very well; therefore I am here.”

Then the Queen was very angry, and she cried out to one of her knights,
of whom there were seven in all, “Remove this man from our path so that
we may enter the castle and turn out of it that lady who now holdest
it.”

Thereupon, with that saying, the knight to whom she spoke rode forth
from the others, and he said to Sir Bors, “Sir, will you do battle with
me?” Quoth Sir Bors, “Very gladly, and for that purpose am I here.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Bors overthroweth the knight._]

So each knight prepared himself in all wise for battle, and when each
had assumed his proper place, the word of command was given and they
rushed together, thundering and with great violence. So they met in the
midst of the course, and in that encounter the spear of the knight who
assaulted Sir Bors was broken into as many as twenty or thirty pieces,
but the spear of Sir Bors held, so that the knight was hurled out of his
saddle and down to the earth with such violence that his neck was
broken, and he died.

Then the Queen was astonished that her chiefest knight should be so
overthrown, and therewith she cried out to her other six knights, “Hey,
Messires! Assault him all at once so that he may be overthrown, and so
that we may enter this castle!” So, upon that word of command, all six
of those knights drew their swords and rushed upon Sir Bors. He,
beholding them coming thus, threw aside his spear and drew his brightly
shining sword, and so they all met together, Sir Bors in the midst of
them.

In that battle he well proved his right to be a knight of the Round
Table, for he wheeled his horse to this side and to that, and ever as he
wheeled it about he smote from right to left and from left to right. Two
knights fell before those strokes, and then another fell, so that there
were but three left standing against him.

These, seeing how he dealt with them, presently bore back before his
fierce assaults, and so he sat for awhile, panting for breath, and with
the crimson flowing from several wounds he had received.

Then the Queen chided the three knights, crying out upon them, “How now!
How now! Are you, three knights, afraid of that one knight who is
already wounded in several places? Go ye against him and overthrow him!”

But ere these three could bring themselves to assail him again, he, not
waiting for their assault, rushed upon them shouting and in that sudden
assault he smote down another of them with his sword. Then the two who
were left, beholding their comrade fall, were filled with terror and
dismay. Their hearts melted like wax within them, and they drew rein and
turned and immediately fled from that place.

[Sidenote: _Sir Bors chases the fleeing knights._]

So Sir Bors pursued them thence shouting, and the two fled straight
through the midst of the court of the Queen, and the court dissolved
away to right and left from before them, shrieking with terror. Just
beyond the purlieus of that court Sir Bors overtook the first of those
two who fled, and he smote him so that he fell like a sack from his
horse, and rolled over and over upon the ground. Then anon he reached
the last of those knights, and coming to him he rose up in his stirrups
and smote him with all his might and main. And the blade of that sword
shore through the helmet of that knight and it shore through the iron
cap beneath the helmet, and it shore through his skull to the throat.
Then that knight emitted a dreadful groan, and fell dead to the earth,
and his horse galloped on without him.

Then Sir Bors rode back again to that court, and he rode up to the Queen
with a threatening countenance, and at his coming she was struck as
white as an ash of wood. And Sir Bors said to her, “Lady, what do you
here at this place?” Then the Queen trembled before him, and anon she
said, “Sir, I come hither seeking my rights.” He said, “Those rights you
seek are not yours, they are another’s. Come with me.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Bors takes the Queen into the castle._]

So saying, he suddenly catched her horse by the bridle and drew her
thence, and no one of all that court dared to prevent him. And Sir Bors
led the horse of the Queen toward that solitary tower of stone, and when
he reached the gate he cried out aloud, “Open to me!” Then the porter of
that castle opened the gate thereof, and Sir Bors led the Queen into the
castle. Then the porter shut the gate of the castle again, and the Queen
was within the walls of the castle and her court of lords and ladies was
without the walls thereof.

All this the lady of the castle had beheld from the battlements, and
her heart was filled with joy and triumph thereat. So anon when Sir Bors
appeared upon the roof of the turret where she was, she ran to him and
catched him and embraced him with great passion, wounded as he was.

But Sir Bors put her aside, and he went to the edge of the wall, and he
spake to the court of the Queen, saying, “Why wait ye there? Your Queen
is here with us, and here she shall remain our prisoner until justice is
done to the lady of this castle. So return ye to your towns and tell
them this word of mine to you: that justice must be done to this lady,
or else she who called herself Queen cannot go free.”

After that he withdrew himself from their sight, and he went to his room
where he might bathe himself and dress his hurts. Meantime the court of
the Queen went away from that place, and they were left alone.

That same day in the afternoon there came three knights thitherward, and
with them came three esquires, and each esquire led a horse, and upon
each horse was a chest.

Of these three knights, one each was from one of the towns of that
kingdom.

[Sidenote: _Of the three knights of the towns, their mission._]

Then the knight from the chiefest of those three towns blew upon a
bugle-horn, and anon Sir Bors appeared upon the battlement of the tower
where there was a small turret. Then the knight from without greeted
him, saying, “Sir, hail to you. We three come hither to tell you that we
repent us that we have done wrong to the lady of this tower, wherefore
we will accept her for our queen. Only this: that she shall marry some
good, worthy knight such as yourself, and that he shall be our King as
she is our Queen. For that which we need at this place is not a woman to
rule us, but a man.”

Then Sir Bors laughed and he said, “Sir, I will take you at your word,
and in a little while this lady shall marry some gentleman who shall
rule over you.” For Sir Bors thought to himself, “Haply I shall be that
man.”

So the gates of that castle were opened, and the three knights entered
the courtyard thereof. Then they opened the three chests that their
esquires had brought into the castle courtyard, and in those chests were
all manner of raiment of silks and velvets, together with jewels, and
golden ornaments of divers sorts and designs such as were fit for a
queen to adorn herself withal.

These were conveyed to the rooms of the lady of the castle, and she
arrayed herself in them, and when she was thus arrayed she shone with a
wonderful beauty and splendor, even as the sun shines when the mists of
heaven dissolve before his face.

[Sidenote: _Sir Bors and the lady ride away from the castle._]

After that the lady of the castle and Sir Bors and the three knights and
their esquires all mounted upon their horses and rode away from that
castle, leaving behind them the lady who had been the Queen of that
land. For there she should abide for awhile under guard of the old
porter of that place.

So, at last, they reached the chief city of that kingdom where were
great concourses of people assembled to welcome them. These shouted
aloud with a tumult of applause as their new Queen rode up the stony
street amongst them. And everywhere were banners and streamers of many
colored silks, fluttering in the sunlight from the pinnacles of the
houses. So that all the sunlight was gay with radiant tints of red and
blue and yellow and green, and divers gaudy colors, and all the air was
merry with the shouting of multitudinous voices.

Thus they reached the castle, and so the rightful queen became queen
again.

       *       *       *       *       *

[Sidenote: _Sir Bors hath a dream._]

Now one night Sir Bors had a dream. He saw before him a tall and
splendid knight, clad all in pure and shining white, and the knight said
to him, “Sir Bors! Sir Bors! What is it you do?” And Sir Bors dreamed
that he said to him in reply, “I would abide here and rule this kingdom
justly.” The knight said, “Hast thou so soon forgot the quest of the
Grail that in such a short time thou shouldst think only of this and not
of that?”

Then it seemed to Sir Bors that he was stricken to the heart with
remorse and he cried out aloud, “I will not forget! I will not forget!”
And with that cry he awoke from his dream and found that it was a dream
and that he was trembling as with an ague.

And all that day the thought of the dream haunted him, so that in the
afternoon, whilst he and the Queen were walking in the garden of the
castle, he spoke to her of it. And after he had told her what he had
dreamed, he said to her, “Lady, ere I wed thee and settle in this place,
there is a duty I must yet perform. For wit you I am in quest of the
Grail and the Grail hath not yet been found. So bid me now to go forth
and to continue my search of it, and when I have found it, then I shall
return to thee and wed thee.” To this the Queen made reply, “Sir Bors,
you have only been with me now for four days, and your wooing is not yet
grown warm. Would you then leave me before that wooing groweth warm so
that it may cool the quicker?” Quoth Sir Bors, “My wooing shall not grow
cold, for I will hold it close to my heart in thy remembrance, and there
I will keep it warm, so that when I return again it will be sprung into
life.” The lady said, “Do not leave me, Sir Bors, for now that my rights
are won, thou must remain near to me to help me to protect those rights.
Else it may be that my enemies shall rise against me once more and
overthrow me. It is well for thee to search for the Grail, but what
peculiar virtue will there be in it, or in thee when thou hast found
it?”

Sir Bors said, “Lady, I do not think that thine enemies can arise
against thee. For thine enemy is thy father’s wife, and she is yet
confined in that solitary castle in which I found thee. But come what
may, I must now quit this place and go forth again upon my quest. For
when a knight hath vowed to undertake a certain thing, that thing he
must continue to pursue until he hath completed it--even though that
thing may appear to be small unto others. Yet the recovery of this Grail
is not a small thing; otherwise it is a very great and a very
considerable thing for any knight to undertake.”

Then the Queen of that town began weeping, and she said, “Sir Bors, if
thou quittest me now, I know that it must be that thou quittest me for
aye. For in the recovery of the Grail thou wilt forget me, and wilt
never again return to this place. What, then, shall I do without thee?”
Then Sir Bors bowed his face full low and he said, “Lady, that is a hard
saying that thou utterest. Yet even were it so, still should I be
compelled to search for the Grail. For that is the crowning work of the
Round Table, and if so be I shall be instrumental in its recovery, then
shall I, indeed, have done a great work in the world and shall not have
lived in it in vain.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Bors quitteth the lady._]

After that Sir Bors withdrew from that place. And he went to his rooms
and summoned three esquires. These assisted him to his armor, and when
he was armed he descended to the stables and there he gave orders that
his horse should be brought forth to him. And he mounted upon his horse,
and so he rode forth upon his way once more. And he did not again speak
to that Lady Queen; for he said to himself, “Of what avail can it be to
bid her adieu? It will but cause pain to her and pain to me. So I will
go without bidding her adieu.”

For thus it was whenever a knight of old made a vow, then that knight
set behind him all that was of pleasure or of profit, and drave straight
forward to fulfil that vow which he had made. Hence it was that those
great knights of King Arthur’s Round Table achieved all their vows that
it was possible for them to achieve. For thus is it better to do one’s
duty at all hazards and no matter what may befall one in the doing
thereof. For duty lyeth before all the pleasures and all the glories of
the world, wherefore he who doeth his duty under all circumstances, that
man cannot go astray in his performances.

So Sir Bors rode forward for all that day and for part of the next day,
and toward evening of the second day he found himself in a strange, wild
place. For he knew not where he was or what place it was to which he had
come. For there was a wide stretch of dark and dismal land upon all
sides of him. And very little grass grew upon that land, but many thorn
bushes, most of them without leaves or foliage of any kind. And anon a
carrion crow would spring from the earth and fly heavily away against
the grey and dismal sky, but beyond such things there was no eye of any
sort at that place, but only darkness without any soul alive within it.

[Sidenote: _Sir Bors meets a White Knight._]

Here he came to a cross-road and as he approached that cross-road he was
aware of a solitary knight who was there and waiting. And this knight
was clad all in white armor, and he sat upon a white horse, and he was
the knight whom Sir Bors had seen in his dream; and when Sir Bors drew
nigh he saluted him, saying, “Greeting, Sir Bors, whither goest thou?”

Then Sir Bors said, “Messire, who art thou who knowest me and I know not
thee? For I beheld thee last night, but in a dream.” The White Knight
said, “It matters not who I am, but wit you this, that I know you very
well, and I know that you seek the Holy Grail. Sir Galahad shall achieve
that Grail, and you and Sir Percival, who am the next purest knight to
him, shall find it with him. Here have I been waiting for you for some
while, and at last you have come. So come now with me.” And Sir Bors
said, “I will do so.”

So after that they two rode together side by side. And anon the sun sank
and the moon arose, very still and bright, and ever they two rode on in
that way side by side together.

And Sir Bors spoke no word to the White Knight and the White Knight
spoke no word to Sir Bors, but ever they rode in silence all bathed by
the white moonlight; their shadows, black and obscure, following them.

So at last they came to where there was a wide and stony waste without a
blade of grass or a tree growing upon it, but only a great stretch of
round hard stones of various sizes spread thick all over the earth
before them. Then the White Knight said to Sir Bors, “Yonder is our
road; let us go thither.”

So they two rode straight forward as that knight had directed they
should do, and all about them lay the white and silent moonlight, like
to a bath of pure and limpid silver. So anon and after a considerable
while Sir Bors heard a great roaring, though far away from where they
were. Then the White Knight drew rein and said, “Hearken, Sir Bors, hear
ye that sound, and wit ye what it is?” Sir Bors said, “What is that
sound?” The White Knight said, “That is the sea breaking upon the
beach. Thither it is we go.”

[Sidenote: _They come to the sea._]

So by and by they came to where there was a little cove of the sea, and
beyond the cove the great waves burst upon the beach. So the White
Knight rode down to the shores of that cove, and Sir Bors followed, and
at that place there was a hard and level beach of pure white sand, and
some rocks were beyond that sand.

Here Sir Bors beheld that there was a boat beside the rocks, and the
boat rested against the shore, and it was hung within with pure white
linen. And within the middle of the boat was a couch, and on the couch
there was a knight lying asleep. And Sir Bors perceived that that knight
was Sir Percival.

Then the White Knight said to Sir Bors, “Sir Bors, enter yonder boat,
for so only shalt thou find the Grail.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Bors enters the boat._]

So Sir Bors dismounted from his horse and he entered the boat, and with
that Sir Percival awoke and sat up. And when Sir Percival perceived Sir
Bors there in the boat he gave him greeting, and Sir Bors greeted Sir
Percival.

Then the White Knight gave the boat a thrust from the shore, and the
boat immediately sped away very swiftly into the night-time. And as Sir
Bors and Sir Percival gazed back behind them they could yet see the
figure of the White Knight seated upon his horse as still and motionless
as though he were carved in marble stone. And though neither of them
knew it, yet that knight was the spirit of Sir Balan who had returned to
lead those knights champion to find the Grail.

Then anon that white figure faded into the dimness of the moonlight and
was gone, and all about them lay the sea, very strange and mysterious
and yet full of motion. And the bright whiteness of the moonlight lay
moving upon the crests of the waves, and ever it wavered this way and
that as though it were liquid silver poured upon the waves.

       *       *       *       *       *

Such were the adventures of Sir Bors at this time.

Nor shall you think ill of him because he left that beautiful lady who
was his betrothed wife to seek the Grail. For wit you that the Grail was
thought by all the world to be the greatest and the most important thing
in that world; and its recovery was adjudged to be the most splendid and
the noblest deed that any knight could undertake. Wherefore it was that
Sir Bors would surrender all his hope of love and of riches and of
worldly honor to seek for that Grail.

This he did not for his own glory but for the glory of heaven, and not
for his own honor, but for the honor of Paradise, where that Grail
really belonged.

Wherefore he would turn aside from all that the world had to offer him
and would direct his face and all his endeavor to the recovery of that
sacred chalice, content, if he should recover it or aid in its recovery,
to sacrifice all the world for the sake of that recovery.

For be it said at this place that the Lady Leisette did not wait the
return of Sir Bors, but, finding him gone, she took for her husband a
certain noble knight of that kingdom, and he ruled that land in her
behalf with great benignity of judgment and with high honor of knightly
wisdom.

Now pass we from the story of Sir Bors and turn we to the further
adventures of Sir Galahad at that time, as followeth.

[Illustration]

[Illustration: Sir Galahad rides with the Lady]




[Illustration] Chapter Seventh

_How Sir Galahad smote down Sir Gawaine, and how he accompanied a Fair
Lady to the seashore. And of what happened thereafter._


Now, after Sir Galahad had smitten down Sir Launcelot, as aforetold of,
he rode for a long while in a wild forest and had many adventures of
divers sorts, of which no account hath been given, though mention is
made of them in the ancient histories of those things which I have read.
That while he dwelt in the forest and slept in the forest, and was fed,
when he was an hungered, by the people of the forest.

So it befell that one morning he rode out from the forest and found
himself in an open country that sloped down very deep to a valley, as
though it were a deep bowl of the earth.

[Sidenote: _Sir Galahad beholds several knights in the valley._]

And Sir Galahad sat upon his horse on the edge of that bowl and gazed
down into it. And he beheld a great way off a castle; and he beheld that
there was a concourse of many knights gathered about that castle. For
the early sunlight shone down upon the armor of those knights, so that
the armor caught the light and flung it back again as it were in
brilliant points of pure and blazing flame.

Then Sir Galahad said to himself, “What is that concourse of knights,
and why gather they around about that castle in such a wise?” And he
said to himself, “I will ride down thither into the valley, and will see
for myself what is the meaning of that assembly.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Galahad bespeaketh those knights._]

So therewith he drew rein and descended down into the valley as he
proposed to himself to do. And so he approached ever nearer to that
distant castle. So by and by he was near enough to them to bespeak them,
and when he had come still a little nearer he said to them, “Messires,
what is this that you do at this place?” They say to him, “Sir, at this
place there was not long since held a tournament of eight knights. In
that tournament a certain young knight was slain. We be his relatives
and his friends who have come hither to avenge him. So we wait here
outside the castle, and those seven knights hide them away from us
within the walls of the castle.”

“For shame!” said Sir Galahad. “For shame, that ye who are several
should thus besiege seven men who cannot stand against ye. Get you gone
and let them come forth.”

They say to him, “We will not get us gone from this place until we have
taken those seven men with us. Because it is for that purpose we have
come hither and for that purpose shall we stay until it be achieved.”

“Well, then,” said Sir Galahad, “I will assail ye upon this side, and
then they will come forth and assail ye upon the other side, and so will
we raise this siege.”

At this they all laughed, saying, “Is it possible that one knight can
lift the siege of so many against seven? Well, then, let us see if he
can do so.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Galahad doeth battle with those knights._]

So they began to prepare themselves for battle, and Sir Galahad began to
prepare himself also for battle. So, when he had cast aside his lance
and had drawn his sword he lifted up his shield on high, and, shouting,
he drave against them. And he drave into the midst of the press, lashing
upon this side and upon that. And so terrible were the strokes which he
gave that many fell down before them, and all bare away from him, so
that anon he had carved a small open space about him.

Now in that party who were thus besieging the castle were Sir Gawaine
and Sir Ewaine his cousin. But Sir Galahad knew not these two knights,
and they knew not him. For his armor was much defaced in battle and in
the adventures through which he had passed, and at that time he wore a
leather covering to his shield. So they knew him not.

So they stood about and looked upon Sir Galahad and he looked upon them,
and meantime the knights of the castle made them ready to come forth.

[Sidenote: _Sir Galahad overcometh Sir Gawaine._]

Then Sir Gawaine said, “For shame that we should thus be driven back by
one man! Now I will have to do with him myself.” So he came forward
against Sir Galahad, and Sir Galahad awaited him. Then when Sir Gawaine
had come close enough, Sir Galahad arose in his stirrups, and he
launched a blow at Sir Gawaine that nor leather nor iron could stay. For
that blow clove asunder the shield of Sir Gawaine, and it clove asunder
his helmet, and it clove asunder the iron coif beneath the helmet, and
it bit deep into the bone of the brain-pan itself.

Then the brains of Sir Gawaine swam like shallow water, and he reeled
this way and that in his saddle, and would have fallen had it not been
for Sir Ewaine, who catched him ere he fell beneath the feet of his
horse, and so held him up in the saddle.

Then Sir Gawaine said, “Ah, Ewaine! That was none other than Galahad who
smote me that blow. For none other than he could give such a stroke as
that. So have I suffered for attempting to draw forth that sword out of
the marble stone. Ah! woe is me.” So saying, his dissolving wits left
him, and he swooned away as though he were dying.

[Sidenote: _Sir Galahad bringeth Sir Gawaine into the castle._]

Meantime the knights within the castle had given command that the gates
should be opened. So they were flung open according to that command, and
the seven knights within the castle issued out to conduct the assault
from that side. But Sir Ewaine cried out, “Messires, give over, and we
will withdraw from this place. For here is most sorely wounded a very
excellent knight, who is the nephew of King Arthur.” “Alas!” cried Sir
Galahad. “Woe is me! For so have I carried out the provisions of that
prophecy relating to the sword. For it was predicted of this sword that
it should bite deep into the life of Sir Gawaine, and lo! it hath done
so.” And he said to Sir Ewaine, “Convey him into this castle, for here
shall his wound be searched, and he shall be cared for.” And he said to
those of the castle, “See to it that all care is given to this
gentleman.” And they say to him, “We will do so.”

So Sir Gawaine was conveyed within the castle, and was laid upon a
couch. And his wound was searched, and balm was laid upon it. Thus was
he put at ease at that place, and so was the prophecy concerning that
sword fulfilled.

Then they all beseeched Sir Galahad that he would stay at that castle
for a little while, but he would not stay at that place. Otherwise he
said, “I must go upon my way, I know not whither. For I have a mission
to fulfil, and in fulfilling it I know not whither I go.” So he drew
rein and rode away, leaving them behind him.

       *       *       *       *       *

Now wit ye how the knights of those days fared when they rode errant? I
will tell you.

About the middle of that day Sir Galahad came to the house of a farm
yeoman, and the wife of the yeoman and the daughter of the yeoman stood
in the doorway of the house. The woman who was the wife was large and
buxom, but the daughter was very slender and brown.

[Sidenote: _How Sir Galahad refreshes himself._]

Of these Sir Galahad besought food to eat, and they brought to him a
loaf of bread, a piece of cheese, and a crock of cider, and Sir Galahad
ate and drank, sitting under the shade of a wide-spreading tree.
Meanwhile, those people watched him from afar with great interest and
curiosity, for never had they beheld a knight so tall and so noble as
Sir Galahad.

Thus did these bright-armed knights who wandered errant through the
world in those days refresh themselves, and so were they received and
entertained by the people whom they met. Thus have I told you of that so
that you might know thereof.

That evening, after the sun had set, and the soft and starry night had
descended upon the earth like a sparkling coverlet of darkness, very
damp and warm, Sir Galahad found himself in a wide moorland, and he wist
not where he should sleep.

So at last the moon arose, shining very brightly and tranquilly, and by
the light thereof Sir Galahad perceived before him a small chapel. And
he said to himself, “Here will I lodge me for the night.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Galahad lodges at a chapel._]

So Sir Galahad rode up to the door of the chapel and he smote very
loudly upon the boards of the door with the handle of his misericordia.
Anon there came the recluse to whom that chapel belonged, and when he
beheld Sir Galahad standing there he bade him to enter. So Sir Galahad
entered the chapel, and after the recluse had put the horse of Sir
Galahad into the stable nigh to the chapel, he came to where the knight
was, and set before him some broth and some pulse, together with some
freshly gathered fruit, and Sir Galahad ate thereof with great
heartiness.

[Sidenote: _There cometh a lady to the chapel._]

Now, whilst Sir Galahad sat there eating, there came another knock upon
the door, and when the recluse went to open it, he beheld standing there
a very beautiful lady clad all in white, and with her dark hair bound
around with a ribbon of silver. And the lady was mounted upon a
cream-white jennet, and the saddle of the jennet was of crimson Spanish
leather, embossed and studded with plates and buttons of silver.

When the door was opened, the lady said to the recluse, “Sir, I pray you
tell me, is there here within a knight hight Galahad?”

This heard Sir Galahad, and hearing it he arose and came forward, and he
said, “Lady, I am Galahad. What would you have of me?”

She said, “Sir, I pray you to come and ride with me and I will lead you
to such an adventure as you have never had in all of your life before.”
Quoth he, “Where is that adventure?” She said to him, “It is not very
far distant from here. But I cannot tell you more than that.” Sir
Galahad said, “Whither would you lead me?” She said, “Come and I will
show you.”

So Sir Galahad went back into the chapel and armed himself, and the
recluse brought forth his horse out of the stable. And anon Sir Galahad,
being in all ways armed, came forth out of the hermitage and mounted his
horse.

Immediately he was mounted the lady drew rein and turned, and rode away
from that place, and Sir Galahad followed her.

[Sidenote: _The lady and Sir Galahad ride together._]

So they rode away across the moorland together. All around them was the
stillness of the night-time, and overhead and about them lay the silent
whiteness of the effulgent moon. And the shadows of each and the shadows
of the horse of each followed them across the moorland, very black and
mysterious.

So they travelled a considerable while in silence, for the lady did not
speak to Sir Galahad, nor did Sir Galahad speak to her. But each rode in
silence, and each was occupied with his or her own thoughts.

[Sidenote: _Sir Galahad beholds the sea._]

Thus, by and by, they reached a high part of the moorland, and of a
sudden Sir Galahad beheld the sea, over above the downs. And the moon
shone down upon the sea so that it looked like a shining stretch of pure
and radiant silver against the night sky that lay behind it. Then Sir
Galahad said, “Lady, yonder is the sea.” “Aye,” quoth the other, “and it
is thither that I am bringing thee.”

So after awhile they came to where the sea lay below them, and they
beheld the waves illuminated by the light of the moonshine lapping
against the shore. Then they rode down to the sea, and there was at that
place a rocky promontory that stretched out into the water. And they
rode across that promontory, and there Sir Galahad beheld a boat lying
in the moonlight moored, as it were, to the shore, although no rope
attached it to the shore. And as they two approached the boat, Sir
Galahad perceived that the boat was all draped and hanged with white
linen, and he perceived that there were two men within the boat.

[Sidenote: _He perceives Sir Percival and Sir Bors in a boat._]

The faces of these two were cut out very clear and sharp and white from
the darkness behind because of the moonlight that shone upon them, and
Sir Galahad perceived that the one of those faces was the face of Sir
Percival, and that the other face was the face of Sir Bors de Ganis.
These two, beholding Sir Galahad there upon the shore, gave him loud and
joyous greeting, crying out, “Greeting, Sir Galahad! And welcome to
thee!”

Then Sir Galahad sprang down from off his horse, and he ran down to the
shore, leaping from rock to rock. And he sprang into the boat and kissed
each of those two upon the cheek, and they kissed him upon the cheek in
return. And Sir Galahad said to them, “What do ye here?” To the which
they replied, “We wait for thee.” And they say, “What lady is that with
whom thou hast come hither?” He replied, “I know her not, but she hath
brought me to this place.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Percival beholdeth his sister._]

And then they beheld that the lady had also dismounted from her horse
and was approaching to them. And she came to them down the rocks and she
stood close to the boat, and when she did so Sir Percival saw her more
clearly and he knew her. Then he cried out, “I know thee! Thou art my
sister!” She said, “Yea, that is true.” He said to her, “Sister, what
doest thou here?” She replied, “I come to give you information, and it
is this: You shall sail away from this place, and by and by you shall
find another boat of a very magnificent sort. For that boat is the _Ship
of Solomon_, and it is waiting for you. In it you will find the Grail
established, and the ship itself will take you whither the Grail
belongeth. So enter the _Ship of Solomon_ freely, for no harm shall
befall you in it, and it shall convey you to the city of Sarras where
the Grail belongeth.” Then turned she to Sir Galahad, and she said, “And
to thee, Galahad, am I permitted to say this thing: That it is given to
thee that when thou willest thy soul shall depart from thy body. And it
shall leave thy body behind, and shall ascend with the glory of angels
into Paradise at thy command. All this I have to tell you, and now fare
you well.”

Thereafter the lady turned away from them and mounted her horse and rode
away. And as she departed she wept, for she was aware that she would
never behold Sir Percival again.

Then that boat in which they were moved away from the shore, and anon it
moved very swiftly. And it sailed past the headland and out into the
sea, and, in a little while, the land disappeared from sight, melting,
as it were, into the soft glory of the moonlight that illuminated all
the darkness of the earth. And so they sailed swiftly across the sea and
the great waves of the sea, and ever the moonlight lay all about them,
and they were cradled in the arms of the sea.

So they sailed for all that night, and anon the day dawned, and then
they perceived before them another and a larger ship than the boat in
which they sailed. And the boat in which they were moved very swiftly
toward the ship and at last came close beside it.

[Sidenote: _They come to the “Ship of Solomon.”_]

Then they beheld that that ship was of a very wonderful sort, for it was
built all of santal wood, and was tinted with vermilion and ultramarine,
and was glorified with gold. And the sails of that ship were of
variegated silk, very wonderful to behold. And the decks were spread
with rich carpets, and there was no human being of any sort to be
perceived about that ship.

Then Sir Percival said, “This wonderful ship must be the _Ship of
Solomon_, and into it we are destined to enter and to discover the
Grail. So let us enter it forthwith and without loss of time.”

So they departed from their own boat and entered the _Ship of Solomon_,
and as soon as they had done so the boat in which they had sailed
disappeared and was gone, and they saw it no more. And at that time they
were hushed as with a great awe.

[Sidenote: _They find the Grail._]

Then Sir Percival said, “Come, let us behold the Grail, which is here.”
So with that saying they all descended below the deck of that boat, and
coming there they beheld a table of carved silver, and against the table
there leaned the spear and upon the table was a purple velvet cloth,
spread over something that stood upon the table, and the cloth was
embroidered very richly with gold and ornamented with many precious
stones of divers colors. And from beneath it there shone a clear and
brilliant light, and that light was emitted by the Grail.

Sir Galahad went to the table and took the cloth by the corners and
lifted it up; and lo! beneath it was the Holy Chalice itself. And it
blazed with a light that was like that of the sun--very splendid and
effulgent--so that they could scarcely look upon the splendor thereof.

Then they all three kneeled down before the Grail, and set their palms
together, and gave all honor and glory to its splendors. And Sir
Percival said, “I have seen this before, but never so near at hand as
this.” And again they all gave praise to it.

So the _Ship of Solomon_ sailed very swiftly away with those three
knights in it, and it sailed for all that day, and near eventide it
approached a great city that stood upon a high and rocky hill.

[Sidenote: _They come to the city of Sarras._]

And that city was the city of Sarras, and it appeared to the eyes of the
three knights to be very great and beautiful. For they beheld that there
were very many high pinnacles and towers to that city, and they saw that
these were illuminated by the setting sun, so that they appeared as
though they were built of pure and shining gold.

So the boat in which they sat sailed very swiftly toward the city, and
anon it ceased its voyage beside a wharf that was there.

Then Sir Galahad said, “Let us convey this Holy Chalice to the minster,
for, certes, this is where it belongeth.” And Sir Bors and Sir Percival
said, “Let us do so.”

So they three took up the silver table by three of its corners, and they
bare it toward the gate of the town.

[Sidenote: _How the cripple was healed._]

Now the history of these things telleth that at the town gate there sat
a cripple begging, and the cripple had not walked for thirty years.
They say to him, “Come, help us bear the fourth corner of this table.”
He said, “How can I help bear the table? Lo, I have been a cripple for
thirty years, and in that time I have not walked a step without my
crutches.” Sir Galahad said, “Nevertheless, arise and come hither.” Then
the man arose, supported by his crutches, and they brought the table of
the Grail to him, and he laid hands upon the silver table.

Then, no sooner had he touched that table, than the strength flowed into
him; his joints became strongly knit and supple, and he was, as it were,
no longer a cripple. Then he cried out, “Lo! I am healed!” And with that
he skipped and leaped in his strength.

       *       *       *       *       *

So the Grail was achieved, and now followeth the account of how those
three worthy knights brought it in return to the city of Sarras where it
belonged, and of what befell them there; so I pray you to read the
conclusion of this passage hereinafter written.

[Illustration]




[Illustration] Conclusion


Now the news of the healing of this cripple became known; it went all
through the town, so that when they entered the town, great crowds
presently gathered and followed them, and the noise of the tumult of
that following was like to the noise of the roaring of many waters. For
ever the crowd gathered more and more to it, until all that part of the
town was filled full of a slow-moving concourse of people.

[Sidenote: _They bring the Grail to the minster._]

Thus they came to the minster, what time the Bishop of that minster was
there, and seeing them enter with the silver table he said, “What have
you there?” Sir Galahad replied, “Sir, this is the Holy Grail upon this
table, and we who have achieved the quest of it have brought it hither
where it belongeth.” The Bishop said, “Let me see that Grail.”

So Sir Galahad took the velvet covering of the Grail by the corners and
lifted it, and lo! the glory of the Grail blazed forth before the eyes
of all. And so great was that glory that it illuminated the entire
interior of the minster, so that it was like the illumination of
sunlight that was burst into that place. And all they who beheld the
Grail and that sudden illumination bowed down before it and uttered
their prayers of thanksgiving that it was returned to where it belonged.

So the Grail and the spear were placed before the high altar, and there
they remained unveiled; and the glory of them illuminated all the
coadjacent spaces with brightness.

So the Grail remained exposed in that city for three days, and at the
end of that time it was elevated from earth to heaven, as shall now be
told of.

The three knights were there in the great minster, kneeling and praying
before the high altar where stood the Grail, when of a sudden they heard
a voice from on high, saying, “Hail, ye heroes, and all praise to ye!
For ye have recovered that Grail which here and now is to be translated
from earth to heaven.”

[Sidenote: _How the Grail ascends to heaven._]

With that voice there came two hands, very white and shining, and they
took the Grail, and there was no body to be seen with those hands, but
only the hands themselves. And there came two other hands and took the
spear, and neither was there any body to those hands. So those four
hands lifted the Grail and they lifted the spear, and they bore those
two holy relics aloft and away from that place. And they ascended, as it
were, through the roof of the minster and were gone in a burst of glory
that lingered for some little while and then faded away into darkness.

So it happened with the Grail that it was elevated into heaven, and that
this was so was avouched for by many who were in the minster at that
time; and several of these beheld those four hands, and saw the Grail
elevated from earth to heaven. So this is to be believed in as here
narrated.

Then there sounded from on high to the ears that were unstopped to hear
that sound, a great anthem as of thanksgiving, as it were the tones of a
mighty organ, or as it were the tones of a wonderful and melodious
thunder, and they three heard that melody of music, but no other who was
there heard it. And they were aware that it was the rejoicing of heaven
over the return of those sacred relics to that place, wherefore they
were filled with an ecstasy that was not of this world, but of heaven,
and that was of great joy, yet was of awfulness and of a sort of terror.

Then was the spirit of Galahad exalted, and he lifted up his voice and
cried aloud, “There is nothing remaining for me to live for. So now let
me depart in peace.”

[Sidenote: _Of the passing of Galahad._]

Thereat with those words the soul was drawn out of his body and the eyes
of those two knights who kneeled beside him were opened and they beheld
his spirit ascend into glory, and they beheld that the illumination of
heaven shone round about it, and at the same time they heard, with a
louder and more momentous tone, the thunder peal of heavenly triumph as
the spirit of Galahad was received into its glory, together with the
Grail which he had achieved.

Then the brightness closed from their eyes and they beheld themselves to
be kneeling in the dark and empty minster. And they looked at the body
of Sir Galahad, and behold! it was dead.

So passed Sir Galahad, and at that time he was yet not twenty years of
age.

Sir Bors went to the Bishop of that minster, and he said to him, “Sir,
this man was altogether a good, virtuous, and perfect knight. It is our
desire that his dead body should lie here in this minster at that spot
whence the Grail ascended into heaven but now. Wherefore, we beseech
you to suffer it to lie at that place.” To these the Bishop said, “Let,
then, that be fulfilled as you ask. For I believe that that knight was
indeed a very good, excellent, holy man withal.”

So they buried the body of Sir Galahad there in the minster, beside the
spot whence the Holy Grail ascended into heaven, and there the tomb of
Sir Galahad remained to be seen for many years after his body was so
buried.

[Sidenote: _Sir Percival taketh holy orders._]

After this was over and done, it being then the fourth day after they
had come thither, Sir Bors said to Sir Percival, “Sir, whither now shall
we go?” And Sir Percival said to him, “I shall not go anywhere; for here
shall I remain, and here I shall take upon myself holy orders and shall
live and die as a monk in those orders. But return you, Sir Bors, to the
Court of King Arthur, and tell them of the court concerning all those
things that have befallen; to wit, tell them how the Grail was achieved
by us three, and how that it was taken up into heaven before our eyes,
and how we beheld it enter the gates of heaven. So go you to Camelot,
and tell them concerning all these things.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Bors returneth to the Court of the King._]

Thus said Sir Percival, and Sir Bors said, “I will do as you bid me.” So
the next day Sir Bors kissed Sir Percival upon the cheeks and either
wept salt tears over the other. Then they parted company and Sir
Percival remained at that place and became a monk, and Sir Bors departed
thence, returning back again to Camelot.

There he arrived at the ending of a year and a day, and all they who
were there made great joy over his return. For all those knights who had
gone forth in search of the Grail and had not died in that quest had now
returned, saving only Sir Launcelot of the Lake. For it had become known
throughout the world that the Grail had been found, and that it had been
elevated into heaven, so that all those who were seeking for it were
returned back home again.

Then Sir Bors told them all the circumstances of the finding of the
Grail, and how it had been elevated in the minster at Sarras, and of how
Sir Galahad had died, and of how he had beheld the soul of Sir Galahad
exalted to heaven.

And King Arthur had that history written down in three great books, and
one of those books was established at Salisbury, and another at Camelot
(which same is Winchester), and the third at Carleon upon the Usk; and
from these three volumes the story of the Grail has descended to us of
the present day, and so I have written a part of that for your
delectation.

It remaineth now only to be said that Sir Bors, after all these events,
returned to that lady whom he had quitted to search for the Grail. But
the happiness of earth was not to be his, for he found that she had
wearied of waiting for his return, and had married elsewhere. So Sir
Bors returned to Camelot, and there he abided until the time of that
quarrel that preceded the ending of the reign of King Arthur.

For wit ye that he who aims high will often miss the small joys of this
life, and so it was with Sir Bors de Ganis. For though he was one of
those who achieved the Grail, yet he missed the lesser joys of wedded
life, and of that kingdom which belonged to them.

       *       *       *       *       *

Thus hath been told to you the famous history of the recovery of the
Grail and of its translation into Paradise. And this was the crowning
glory of the reign of King Arthur. For after these circumstances had
happened, as herein told of, there came dissensions and battles amongst
those knights--knight against knight--until the famous Round Table of
King Arthur was severed and shattered, never to be reunited again.

But of that more anon, for it is hereinafter to be told of. So now I
pray you for to read that which followeth if you would learn the ending
of all these things.

[Illustration]




PART III

The Passing of Arthur


_Here beginneth the history of the passing of Arthur, of his Round
Table, and of many of the splendid and glorious knights thereof. With it
comes the conclusion of this history, for no more shall then remain to
be written thereof._

[Illustration: The Queen’s pages clothe Sir Launcelot]




[Illustration] Chapter First

_How Queen Guinevere visited Sir Launcelot in the forest; how Sir
Launcelot returned to Court as aforetime, and how he fled once more from
the Court._


Now it hath been told how that after the quest of the Grail all those
knights who had not died in that quest, or who were able to return did
return to the Court of King Arthur.

[Sidenote: _Sir Launcelot dwelleth in the forest._]

But Sir Launcelot of the Lake did not return with the other knights, for
he abided in the forest not very far distant from the habitation of the
Hermit of the Forest. There he lived a recluse in pious meditation,
considering of his sins and repenting of them.

Several knights had seen him at that place where he was dwelling and
they knew him, and they brought away from that place news of him and of
the life he led. That news became known at the Court of King Arthur, and
there was much talked of, and King Arthur said, “What a pity it is that
so great and so noble a knight as Sir Launcelot should thus deny himself
to the world. For in the world he is the greatest knight of the world,
but out of the world he is as any other man.”

[Sidenote: _Queen Guinevere sendeth for Sir Launcelot._]

All these things Queen Guinevere heard and she meditated upon them as
she sat thoughtfully in her bower. So one day she called to her a page,
and she said to him that he should ride to such and such a part of the
forest, and that there he would find Sir Launcelot. And the Queen said
to the page that he was then to tell Sir Launcelot to return to the
Court of the King. And she said to the page to tell Sir Launcelot that
all the court spake of him continually, and that all desired that he
should return to them.

So the page went to that part of the forest as the Queen had commanded,
and there he found Sir Launcelot in his cell; and the cheeks of Sir
Launcelot were hollow and his limbs and body were thin and shrunken from
continual fasting and meditation. Then the page kneeled down before him
and said, “Sir, the Queen bids you for to return to the Court of King
Arthur; for all the ladies and the lords of the court desire you to
return there and be the ornament of that court as you were aforetime.”

Sir Launcelot said to the page, “Return thou to the Queen and say to her
that I will not return back into the world as she desires me to do. For
here I dwell in peace and quietness and I repent me of all my manifold
sins as it becometh me to do. For those same sins have stood as a shadow
betwixt me and the Grail, so that when the Grail was present I slept,
and when it was gone I awoke and found that it was gone. Wherefore I
repent me of those sins. And so I will abide here and meditate upon them
for all the rest of my life.”

So the page returned to Queen Guinevere and delivered these words of Sir
Launcelot to her, and the Queen said, “How is this? He will not come?
Then will I go myself and bring him.”

[Sidenote: _Queen Guinevere goeth to Sir Launcelot._]

So she procured a great white horse, and she procured rich and gaudy
raiment, such as a knight at court might wear, and with these things and
with a court of knights and ladies and several pages she betook her way
into the forest.

Then all that part of the forest into which she penetrated became gay
and jocund with her coming. For it was as though the sunlight had
suddenly burst through the leaves of the forest. All the silent woodland
was made noisy with the clear sounds of talk and laughter, and of
musical and merry chattering.

So the Queen came to that part of the forest where Sir Launcelot was,
and Sir Launcelot came forth from his hut to meet her. And he stood afar
off from her and said, “Lady, what wouldst thou here?” She said,
“Launcelot, I come to thee to bring thee away from this lonely place,
for the Court of the king is the fittest place for thee to be in. For
thou art the greatest knight in Christendom, wherefore it ill becometh
thee to hide thyself away in this desolate place.”

Then Sir Launcelot lifted up his voice and cried aloud, “Get you gone,
Lady, and trouble me no more, for I know you not. Yet it was because of
you that I cast aside my wife so that she died because of my neglect.
Because of that sin and because of other sins that thou wottest of I
slept while the Grail passed before me, and could not awake until after
it was gone. So lie I here thinking of that and of other misfortunes
that have visited me because of my many sins. Thus it is that here in
the woodlands I endeavor to purify my soul of those sins.”

[Sidenote: _The Queen speaketh to Sir Launcelot._]

Then the Queen drew nearer to him and she said to him, “Launcelot,
thinkest thou that thus thy sins may be remitted unto thee? Wit thou
that thy sins are like an enemy, and that the only way in which thou
canst conquer those sins is to battle manfully with them and not to fly
from them. Arise! shake off this sluggishness and come forth into the
world again, for it awaits thee. There and there only may thy sins be
remitted unto thee.”

Then Sir Launcelot groaned and he hid his face in his arms and anon he
said, “Lady, tempt me not.” Then after another while he said, “I cannot
go with thee, for I have no horse to ride.”

Then Queen Guinevere smiled and she said, “Launcelot, I have purveyed
thee with a horse, and it is here.” Then Sir Launcelot cried out again
as in a sort of despair, “Still I cannot go with thee for I have no
clothes fit to wear at court.”

And again Queen Guinevere smiled and she said, “Also I have provided
thee with clothes; they, too, are here.” Then she commanded two of her
pages to convey the chest of clothes into Sir Launcelot’s cell and they
did so. Then they opened the chest and Sir Launcelot gazed into it, and
beheld all that noble apparel of silks and velvets, of gold and jewels,
of silver and of lace.

So Sir Launcelot suffered those two pages to clothe him in that raiment,
and presently he came forth from the cell, shining as with great glory.
And he mounted upon the great white horse which the Queen had brought
him, and so they rode away together from that place.

[Sidenote: _Sir Launcelot returneth to the court._]

Now there were at court several who were unfriends to Sir Launcelot;
some of these were unfriends because they were malicious, others because
they were jealous of his fame; others for this reason, and others for
that reason. Two of these were Sir Mordred and Sir Agravaine, who were
brothers to Sir Gawaine. Then there was Sir Kay the Seneschal and Sir
Florence and Sir Lovel, who were sons to Sir Gawaine, and who were
jealous of Sir Launcelot upon Sir Gawaine’s account.

These and several others were unfriends to Sir Launcelot, and they
talked much amongst themselves concerning the return of Sir Launcelot,
saying, “Lo! this knight hath come forth out of the forest and hath
assumed his knighthood again over us all, yet at first he would not
come, but when the Queen went thither then he beheld her and followed
her forth.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Launcelot heareth unfriendly talk._]

These words and words like them came to the ears of Sir Launcelot, and
because of them he withdrew himself from the presence of the Queen, and
consorted with other lords and ladies of the court. This the Queen
observed, and was grieved at it, for she wished for Sir Launcelot to be
with her, and she desired to have him near to her. So one day she sent
for Sir Launcelot to come to her and she gazed at him for some time
without speaking. Anon she said to him, “Launcelot, why dost thou keep
thyself afar off from me?” He replied, “Lady, I avoid thee for thine own
sake and not for my sake.” To the which she said, “How is that?”

He said, “I will tell thee. There is much talk about this court
concerning thee and concerning me, and that talk links our names
together. I fear not this talk upon mine own account. For it cannot hurt
me, but it may do great injury to thee; therefore do I hold myself away
from thee.”

Then Queen Guinevere began weeping, and she said, “Ah, Launcelot,
Launcelot! Thou art not to me as thou one time wert. For one time thou
wert ever ready to come to me, but now thou keepest thyself afar off
from me. That which thou sayst is thy excuse for not being with me, and
is not the cause of that absence.” Then she said of a sudden to him,
“Go! Get thee away from this court, for thou bringest nothing but
disturbance to my soul.”

Then Sir Launcelot said very bitterly, “Lady, it would have been well
for both of us if thou hadst permitted me to remain where I was in the
forest, and not have tempted me to quit my sanctuary.”

Then the Queen cried out upon him, “How now! What is this thou sayst? I
went to thee to save thee and not to tempt thee. If thou longest for thy
husks again, return to them. At any rate, get thee gone from me, and
never come near to me again. For thou bringest naught but sorrow and
great tribulation to me.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Launcelot departeth again from the court._]

So Sir Launcelot bowed and withdrew from where he was, and his heart was
filled with a great despair. So he came to where Sir Bors and Sir Lionel
were and he told them all that had passed. And he cried out to them,
“What now shall I do who have sacrificed my sanctuary and have got
naught by that sacrifice?”

Then quoth Sir Bors, “It would have been well for thee, if thou hadst
never quitted that safe sanctuary within the forest. But as thou now
hast quitted it, so mayst thou not return to it again. For so wouldst
thou strive to walk backward into that which hath passed. No man may do
that in the life which he leads.

“As for the anger of the Queen, soon will she forget that anger, and as
soon as she forgets it, then will she desire to see thee again. For so
hath she done several times before, and so will she do again.”

Said Sir Launcelot, “I will go to my castle of Joyous Gard and there
will I abide until her anger against me hath grown cold again.”

[Sidenote: _He departeth to the castle of Sir Brasius._]

“Not so,” said Sir Bors, “the Queen spake truly in this; that thy place
is in the field, and neither in the hermit’s cell, nor enclosed in the
walls of that castle. But get thee to the castle of Sir Brasius the Good
Knight, and there abide for a little while, seeking such adventures as
may be found around about. For when the Queen’s mind changes toward
thee, then wilt thou easily be found at that place, and either I or Sir
Ector will come to seek thee.”

“Thou sayst well,” said Sir Launcelot. “Thither will I go and there will
I stay until thou or Sir Lionel sendest for me.”

So Sir Launcelot took horse and rode away to the castle of Sir Brasius,
and there took up his inn.

But never, at any time, did anyone ever behold him to smile. For though
in the earlier days of his knighthood he had a happy and jocund spirit
and frequently smiled, yet now that happiness had departed from him and
he never smiled. For many sad things had happened to him in his life,
and those things had destroyed that happiness as a hailstorm destroys
those flowers that to-day are and to-morrow are not, but are withered
and dead like the grass in the fields.

Thus I have told you all those circumstances that led to Sir Launcelot’s
returning to Court, and as to his withdrawing himself thence again. For
so it is that though a man may think to return again into that life from
which he has passed, yet he cannot do so. For the life that is lived in
once and which hath been laid aside for another life, that first life is
dead and cannot be revivified again by the man’s entering into it again,
but remaineth dead for aye.

So it was with Sir Launcelot, for, when he had committed the sin of
leaving the Lady Elaine the Fair, he had committed it, and all that
befell him thereafter became colored by that evil happening. For,
because of that sin he failed to behold the Holy Grail with the eyes of
his body, and now, because of that sin, and of what was said concerning
him and his doings, he was compelled to exile himself again from that
court in which, by grace of his chivalry and force of arms, he truly
belonged.

So let us take warning by this example and let us not try to return to
the life which we may have left, but let us endeavor to live that other
life that now presents itself to us after such a happening, whether of
good or of evil.

       *       *       *       *       *

Now followeth that which treats of the poisoning of Sir Patrice of
Ireland at the feast given by Queen Guinevere; so if you would hear how
Sir Launcelot saved the life of the Queen at that time, I pray you to
read what followeth.

[Illustration]

[Illustration: Sir Mador de la Porte]




[Illustration] Chapter Second

_How Queen Guinevere held a feast, and how Sir Patrice of Ireland was
poisoned at that feast._


Now after Sir Launcelot had quitted the Court of King Arthur as
aforetold of, the Queen pretended to great joyousness of heart, although
there was no joyousness within her. “I was hasty,” she said to herself,
“and Sir Launcelot was hasty and hath left me again. But this was my
fault and I must show no repining, but must appear to be cheerful to
all. So I will give a feast, that my seeming joyousness may be made
manifest to the world, and no one shall have cause to say that I repine
at the loss of Sir Launcelot.” So said the Queen to herself upon that
occasion.

[Sidenote: _Queen Guinevere proclaimeth a feast._]

So she proclaimed a feast, and she had at that feast the following
knights of the Round Table: there were Sir Gawaine and his brothers, to
wit, Sir Agravaine, Sir Geharis, Sir Gareth, and Sir Mordred. Also there
were Sir Bors de Ganis, and Sir Bleoberis de Ganis, and Sir Blamor de
Ganis, and there were Sir Galahad and Sir Galyhadin and Sir Ector and
Sir Lionel and Sir Palamydes and Sir Safyr; and there were Sir Persavant
and Sir Ironside and Sir Brandiles; and there were Sir Kay the Seneschal
and Sir Mador de la Porte and Sir Patrice of Ireland, and Sir Alyduke
and Sir Artamore.

Now at that time Sir Lamorack of Gales had been slain, and report placed
his death at the hands of Sir Gawaine (although this report was not
true), and of two of Sir Gawaine’s brothers, to wit, Sir Agravaine and
Sir Geharis.

There was at the Court of King Arthur a certain knight hight Sir Pinal
the Savage, who was cousin to Sir Lamorack, and Sir Pinal was very
bitter against Sir Gawaine, and was anxious to be revenged upon him, yet
he wit not how to take that revenge.

[Sidenote: _Sir Pinal, surnamed the Savage, poisoneth an apple._]

Now Sir Gawaine had a custom of eating an apple immediately after he had
dined, and this Sir Pinal was aware of. So Sir Pinal took the fairest
apple he could find, and he introduced into it a very subtle and very
malignant poison, and this apple he placed in the centre of the table,
and in the midst of all the fruit. For he said to himself, “There will
Sir Gawaine find this apple, and he will take it and eat it and will
die.” And he said, “Queen Guinevere will be blamed for that death, for
all the world knoweth that she and Sir Gawaine are unfriends.” So said
Sir Pinal, for he thought thus to be revenged for the death of Sir
Lamorack upon Sir Gawaine, and he knew not how else to achieve that
vengeance. For next to Sir Launcelot, Sir Gawaine was the strongest
knight of the court, and he was besides nephew to King Arthur and of
great importance in the King’s household. Wherefore it was that Sir
Pinal sought to slay Sir Gawaine by that poisoned apple.

[Sidenote: _Sir Patrice of Ireland eateth the apple, and dieth._]

But at the end of that feast Sir Gawaine did not take the apple, but
instead of Sir Gawaine, Sir Patrice of Ireland took it. And Sir Patrice
bit a great bite into that apple, and he ate that piece. Then anon he
cried out in a very loud and piercing voice, “Hah! What is this that
ails me?” And then he cried out in a very terrible voice, “Alas! I am
poisoned and I die from eating this apple!” And he cried out again,
“Friends, see that my death is avenged!”

Therewith he fell down to the ground in great agony, lashing with his
hands and feet and frothing at the mouth, and so in a little while he
died.

Then Sir Gawaine rose up, and he turned his face toward the Queen, and
his face was very white, and he said, “Lady, how is this? This apple was
poisoned! For whom was it intended?”

[Sidenote: _Sir Gawaine accuseth the Queen._]

The Queen hid her face in her hands for horror of what she had beheld,
and she cried out in a very shrill voice, “I knew not that it was
poisoned, and I know not how it was poisoned!” Sir Gawaine said, “That
apple was poisoned, and thou knewest that it was poisoned. Methinks it
was intended for me. Thou hast always borne enmity toward me, wherefore
thou didst place that apple upon the table that I might eat of it. One
time thou wert innocent, but now thou art innocent no longer, but art
full of malice and guile, wherefore thou hadst the will to poison me.”

Then the Queen cried out with a great passion, saying, “Gawaine, thou
and I were never friends, but rather would I cut off my right hand than
to do so evil a thing as this, to seek to poison thee.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Mador de la Porte also accuseth the Queen._]

Then Sir Mador de la Porte stood up before them all, and he said, “Lady,
that which thou sayst may deceive some who are here, but it shall not
deceive me. For I know of thy comings and of thy goings, and I know how
thou didst of malice hold Sir Launcelot here at court when he would fain
have followed the Lady Elaine away from this place, and because that Sir
Launcelot remained here the Lady Elaine died. From this I know that thy
heart is full of guile and wickedness, wherefore it is but a step from
that sin to the sin of poisoning.”

[Sidenote: _The Queen weepeth._]

So saying, Sir Mador went out from that place, and all the other knights
followed after him; for Sir Mador was a king’s son, and of great
importance at the court. Then the Queen was left there alone, weeping
with great passion, for she wist not how that poison had been
administered to Sir Patrice. After that came several men who were in the
suite of Sir Mador, and they took up the body of Sir Patrice and they
bore it away from that room.

[Sidenote: _Sir Mador appeareth before the High Court of the King._]

As soon as might be, Sir Mador de la Porte appeared before the King as
he sat in council, and he appealed the Queen of treason in that she was
a murderess; and this he proclaimed before the King and all his council.

Then King Arthur turned very white and he bowed his head and anon he
said, “Sir Mador, what wouldst thou have me do in this case? For lo!
thou dost attaint the Queen of murder, and I do not believe it possible
that she could do so wicked and so evil a thing as this. Wherefore thou
must tell me what thou wouldst have me do in this instance.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Mador challengeth the Queen of treason._]

Quoth Sir Mador, “Lord, I do accuse her of having administered poison at
her feast, whereof my cousin Sir Patrice died. In that she certes hath
committed treason against thee and against us all, for this feast of
hers was held here, in this castle, and we were her guests. So accusing
her, I am ready to defend that accusation with my body.” So saying, he
flung his glove down upon the ground, and he cried out, “Here lieth my
glove in gage of battle, and I will defend my accusation with my own
person, my accusation being that the Queen is a murderess.” Quoth the
King, “Hast thou no pity and no mercy for this lady who is thy Queen?
Hast thou no honor and no regard for me, thy King?” And Sir Mador made
reply, “Not in this case! For in this case I have no regard for anything
but to punish the guilty.”

Then the King arose, and he said, “Send for the Queen to come hither, so
that she may face her accuser.”

[Sidenote: _The Queen appeareth at the High Court._]

So anon the Queen came, and two ladies supported her, one upon one side
and the other upon the other. And the Queen wore her veil over her face
for she had been weeping continually and with great passion ever since
the ending of that feast. Now there were many knights gathered there and
many lords and ladies of several sorts, and some of these were the
Queen’s friends and felt sorrow for her, but some of them felt
satisfaction that she was accused.

The King said, “Arise, Lady, and stand.” And thereupon the Queen stood
up before the King and Sir Mador de la Porte and the entire council.
Then the King said to her, “Lady, this knight, Sir Mador de la Porte,
accuses thee of having used poison at thy feast. What hast thou to say
to that?”

Then the Queen put back her veil and she had ceased to weep, and her
eyes were very hard and proud, albeit her face was extraordinarily
white. “Sir,” she said, “thou knowest me well--no one better--and thou
knowest that with all my shortcomings (and they be many), I could never
do such a thing as that, to poison an enemy at mine own table. For I
have many enemies at this court, and amongst them is thine own nephew,
Sir Gawaine; for he is my bitterest enemy, and hath always been so. It
was he who first accused me at that feast of having used poison, and
because he is thy nephew and because he is so powerful at court, there
be few knights here who will defend mine innocence against mine
accusers, when he stands at the head of those accusers, holding that I
attempted to poison him. Had I Sir Launcelot here at court, then would I
have had a good worthy defender of mine honor, but I have driven Sir
Launcelot away from me by my pride and anger, and he is not now here to
defend mine innocence. Yet I believe that someone will arise to defend
it, wherefore I will accept this knight’s gage of battle and will abide
by it, come life, come death.”

Then the King groaned, and he bowed his head, and at last he said, “Lady
and Queen; thou art the wife of my youth, and I would fain defend thee
myself. But this cannot be, for I am the King, and the head of all the
laws. Nevertheless, I believe that some champion will arise for thee;
for it is not possible that in this court there is no knight who will
arise to defend thine innocence. Wherefore, let it be as thou sayst.
Here shall the glove of Sir Mador de la Porte lie upon the ground, until
some defender arises to take it up, and if no other defender arises,
then will I take it up mine own self. Let us now depart.”

So with that they all arose and left that place, and left Sir Mador de
la Porte’s glove still lying upon the floor of the council chamber.

[Sidenote: _The Queen asketh Sir Bors to defend her._]

That night a messenger came to Sir Bors asking him to come to the Queen,
and Sir Bors went with the messenger, who took him to the bower of the
Queen where she was. When Sir Bors entered that place he found that the
King was with the Queen. Then the Queen arose and stood before him. And
she set her hands together, the palm of one against the palm of the
other, and she said, “Sir Bors, will you not serve as my champion in
this quarrel?”

Then Sir Bors bowed his head, and anon he said, “Lady, I would you had
asked someone else to act as your champion.”

The Queen looked at him very proudly, and she said, “Why do you say
that? Had I known that your feelings were such, then I would not have
troubled you by asking that service of you. But you are the nephew of
Sir Launcelot, and you are a good worthy knight and one of those three
who have achieved the Grail. Wherefore I ask you why you are not willing
to serve as my champion. Do you then also believe that I would poison a
guest at the feast which I prepared for the entertainment of such noble
and worthy champions?”

“Nay,” said Sir Bors, “I think no such thing as that of you, Lady. But
in this quarrel there be many upon either side who are my friends, and
if I fight upon one side then my friends upon the other side would fall
away from me because I did so.”

“Alas!” said the Queen. “The time was when I had many knights upon my
side. For did not Sir Pelles in the days of my youth take a foolish
quarrel upon him for my sake? And did not Sir Launcelot stand ever ready
to defend me? Oh, Launcelot, Launcelot! If thou wert but here to stand
my champion in this quarrel! But thou art not here, for I, in my haste,
have driven thee away from me, I know not whither.” So said Queen
Guinevere, and with that she began weeping as though her heart would
break.

[Sidenote: _Sir Bors will serve as the Queen’s champion._]

Then Sir Bors was very much moved and he said, “Weep not, Lady, for thou
hast yet no cause for weeping. Thou yet hast many good true knights who
would defend thee. Yea; I will serve as thy champion unless a better
champion arise to defend thee. So take thou heart of grace in this, that
thou art innocent of this crime; wherefore, may God defend the right.”

[Sidenote: _The Queen declareth her innocence._]

At this the Queen took comfort and wiped her eyes and smiled, and she
said, “Sir Bors, for thy satisfaction I hereby make thee my solemn vow
that I did not do this thing of which I am accused. And methinks I know
who it was who laid that poisoned apple upon the table, for there was an
attendant at that table who stood behind a screen, and this attendant
beheld a knight come into that room ere others came thither. But I
cannot accuse that knight now, for I myself am accused, wherefore if I
accuse him, all will say that it is to shelter myself that I make that
accusation.”

Sir Bors said, “Lady, if this be true, it shall be as you wish, and I
will certes do all that I am able to defend you.”

Then King Arthur spoke and said, “Sir Bors, there is not any knight in
all the court who is so well fitted to defend my Queen as thou. For as
thou art one of the most virtuous knights who ever lived, so will thy
virtue shine upon any undertaking to which thou settest thy hand. And
besides this high virtue of thine, there is no knight at this court,
unless it be Sir Gawaine, who is so strong and so excellent a knight as
thou.”

So spake they at that time, and after those speeches Sir Bors went to
the council chamber where lay the glove of Sir Mador de la Porte, and he
took up that glove and he thrust it into his belt. With that glove he
paraded the court, and many beheld the glove of Sir Mador in his belt.
Some came to him and proclaimed that they were secretly pleased that he
had assumed the championship of the Queen; but others came and were very
angry that he had assumed it.

[Sidenote: _Sir Gawaine is angry with Sir Bors._]

Amongst these last was Sir Gawaine who said to him, “Sir, what is this
you do? Are you not aware that the poison served to us at dinner was
meant by the Queen for me and not for Sir Patrice who was poisoned by
it?” To him replied Sir Bors, “Friend, in this you are mistook. For
though the poison might have been intended for you and not for Sir
Patrice, yet it was not the Queen who placed it there. For I think I
know who placed it there, and by and by it will be made manifest to all
after that the Queen is freed from this accusation under which she
lieth.”

Then Sir Gawaine smiled very bitterly and he said, “Thou art easily
satisfied, Sir.” “If I am,” said Sir Bors very calmly, “there is this
virtue in my belief; that I cannot believe that my Queen and the wife of
my King should do this thing. Nor do I envy those who so easily believe
evil of their Queen.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Bors rideth to Sir Launcelot._]

Now when the next day was come, Sir Bors took horse and rode to the
castle of Sir Blasius, which place he reached before the sun set. There
he found Sir Launcelot, and he told Sir Launcelot all that had befallen,
and when Sir Launcelot heard it he was very angry. “How is this?” he
cried. “Do they dare accuse the Queen of this offence? They do it
because they know I am absent and cannot defend her.” And Sir Bors said,
“Yet even so it is. For there is a large party at court that is willing
to ascribe that wickedness to her. And that party is headed by several
of those who are of most influence at court.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Launcelot and Sir Bors talk together._]

“Well,” said Sir Launcelot, “I ask not who they are who believe this
evil of her. But I will be there to defend the Queen when her trial
cometh. Meantime, do thou take her championship upon thee till I come;
for if it be necessary to prove the innocence of that noble lady, then
thou, who art one of the three knights of the Grail, can best sustain
it. Besides this, Sir Mador is a very hot and heady knight, wherefore,
if thou wilt keep up this quarrel against him till I come, he will be
the more ready to do battle according to his beliefs. And it is
necessary that the Queen should be defended by arms.”

Then Sir Bors told Sir Launcelot that it was the Queen’s belief that it
was Sir Pinal the Savage who had placed the poisoned apple upon the
table; and he also told how the Queen did not dare to bring this
accusation against Sir Pinal until she herself was cleared of that
accusation.

All this while Sir Launcelot sat frowning as he listened, but at the end
of Sir Bors’s speech he only said, “I will be there as the Queen’s
defender, but tell nobody that thou hast spoken to me.” And Sir Bors
said, “I will not tell of this.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Bors returneth to court._]

So Sir Bors bid adieu to Sir Launcelot, and Sir Launcelot bid adieu to
Sir Bors, and Sir Bors returned that night to Camelot again, reaching
his inn at that place before the dawn of the day.

[Illustration]

[Illustration: Sir Mador begs for his Life]




[Illustration] Chapter Third

_How Sir Bors was relieved of the defence of the Queen, and of how Sir
Mador de la Porte was overthrown._


So came the eve of the day of that conflict when the innocence of the
Queen was to be approved by conflict. That evening the Queen sent for
Sir Bors de Ganis, and she said to him, “Sir, what is your mind in this
battle which you are to fight to-morrow?” Quoth Sir Bors, “Lady, it is
even as it was aforetime. For ever I do believe in your innocence and
deem it be impossible that you could administer poison to one of your
guests. So I will do battle for you to the best of my ability as I
promised you I would do. But should another knight, better fitted by
skill at arms than I, appear to assume that honor, then would I
surrender the honor to that knight; yea, even at the last minute.”

[Sidenote: _The King praiseth Sir Bors._]

So after Sir Bors had departed from her, the Queen went to the King and
told him what Sir Bors had said to her. Quoth the King, “Lady, thou hast
one of the best champions that can be found in the entire world to
defend this case in thy behalf. For I know of no knight who could be
better chosen to defend thine honor than Sir Bors, unless it were his
kinsman, Sir Launcelot of the Lake. For even Sir Gawaine is not stronger
nor better, nor was Sir Percival stronger nor better than is Sir Bors de
Ganis.”

So said the King, and at his words the Queen took great comfort and
cheerfulness.

[Sidenote: _The Queen cometh with the King to the lists._]

So came the next day of trial. For at about the eleventh hour of the
morning there came to the open square within the walls of the town the
King and the Queen and the Court of the King. At that place the Lord
Constable was already come, and to one side was a great pile of dried
fagots laid cross wise, the one upon the other, and in the midst of that
pile of fagots was an iron stake with fetterlocks attached to it about
as high as one could reach, standing before that stake. Those high lords
and ladies who were there looked very closely at the Queen, and they
beheld that she smiled as she looked about her, but that her face was
white like to purified wax for whiteness. And the Queen was clad
entirely in white; for her robe was long and spotless of color, and she
wore a belt of white leather, studded with silver, bound about her
waist, and her hair hung down upon either side and was wound about with
ribbons of white and silver. And some of those who looked upon her were
grieved and sorrow-struck at her trouble, but others were pleased and
triumphant to see her thus brought low, even to the trial of her life
and her good fame.

Then King Arthur called the constable to him and he said to him, “Lord
Constable, here do I commit to thee the tender body of this my Queen,
who stands here wrongfully accused of the crime of murder. Take her; she
is thine until after this trial of battle.” So saying, the King took the
Queen by the right hand and led her to the constable, and he gave the
right hand of the Queen into the hand of the constable. And the
constable took the Queen by the hand, and he said, “Lord King; here take
I the body of this lady who is my Queen. But I take that body only to
return it unto thy ward; so hold thou this lady in thy keeping, and may
God keep ye both, amen.”

[Sidenote: _The King sitteth beside the Queen._]

Therewith the constable replaced the hand of the Queen into the hand of
the King, and thereupon withdrew to one side. Thereafter the King
conducted the Queen by the hand up the flight of steps to a high seat
that had been prepared for her beside his own seat. Then the King said,
“Let the accusers of this lady be summoned.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Mador de la Porte appeareth._]

Then came Sir Mador de la Porte, clad all in very brilliantly shining
armor, and riding a red-roan horse, whose coat glistened like red silk.
So he drew rein in front of the King’s pew in the list. And the King
looked at Sir Mador, frowning till his eyes disappeared beneath his
brows; yea, till the veins at his forehead became expanded and knotted,
and until his entire visage became empurpled with blood.

Anon he found his voice, and he said, “Sir, what brings you here? For
you claim to be a gentleman of my court and of my Round Table, and yet
you bring accusation against your Queen, and the lady of all others whom
you should be most called upon by honor to defend.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Mador challengeth the Queen._]

Then Sir Mador spoke up in a very bold voice, both high and loud.
“Sovereign and awful lord,” said he, “here stand I for justice and for
right; without awe and without fear of anyone or of anything. Wit ye
then, that some days ago I and several others sat at feast with the
Queen. What time my near kinsman, Sir Patrice of Ireland, ate an apple
at that feast, and the apple was poisoned and he died of eating thereof.
Now that was the Queen’s feast and we were the Queen’s guests; how,
then, was the poisoning done, saving by the Queen’s orders? So here
stand I now to accuse that Queen of the treason of poisoning; nor will I
rest satisfied from that accusation, saving only as someone shall
overthrow me in this, my coming battle.”

[Sidenote: _The King challengeth Sir Mador._]

Then spake the King, “Sir, did you make research concerning this
accusation, or did you question anyone concerning this affair? For
certes it is very criminal and very wicked to administer poison to
another; but it is none the less criminal and none the less wicked to
utter such treason as you do by accusing the Queen unjustly and without
cause. Wherefore, Sir, you should be very certain of your accusation.”

Quoth Sir Mador, “Sir, I believe the testimony of mine eyes; for they
beheld that which my lips have spoken, and so my hand shall uphold in
this, my just encounter against the Queen’s strong champion.”

Then the King spoke very haughtily. “Sir,” quoth he, “you have entrusted
the verity of your case to the testimony of your eyes, and that
testimony has deceived and misled you. Nevertheless, I shall not answer
you here, for anon you shall be answered to your pain.” Then the King
spake to an esquire who stood below in the tilt yard. “Hasten,” said he,
“and bid Sir Bors de Ganis to come hither.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Bors appeareth._]

So the esquire departed and anon he returned, leading the white horse of
Sir Bors by the bridle. And Sir Bors was clad all in armor of pure and
virgin white, and all his trappings and the trappings of his horse were
white, so that he shone glistening, like to a figure of pure silver.

[Sidenote: _Sir Bors appealeth for delay._]

“Sir,” said Sir Mador to Sir Bors, “Knowest thou why I am here, and upon
what accusation?” Sir Bors said, “Aye, I know it well.” Then said Sir
Mador, “Dost thou stand for the other side?” Sir Bors said, “Yea, I
stand heart and soul for the other side. But I will tell thee truly. I
said that I would undertake this quarrel upon the Queen’s behalf unless
some better knight than I should take that battle upon him. I know you,
Sir Mador, for a noble and valiant knight, and you know me for what you
have beheld of me, wherefore you know that I fear not to meet you or any
knight in all of the world, and that I would do battle with anyone with
all of my might in a lesser quarrel than this. Wherefore I ask you now
to postpone this battle until the hour of noon, for by that time there
may come more worthy than I to defend this honorable and much abused
lady.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Mador denieth him any delay._]

“Is that all you have to say?” said Sir Mador. “Well, then, Messire,
either come you to battle with me without loss of time, or else withdraw
you from the field for someone else to take your place.”

“Take your horse and your arms,” said Sir Bors, “and as I suppose you
will not tarry long, so also will I not tarry long, but will be with you
anon.” So each knight withdrew from the field, and each busied himself
in preparing for the conflict. In this Sir Mador was the quicker, and so
rode out of his pavilion and around the course, and whilst none
applauded him in that procession, yet there were some who frowned not
upon him.

[Sidenote: _A new champion appeareth upon the Queen’s behalf._]

So Sir Bors, when he was made ready, came forth from his pavilion, and
he cast his eyes toward the forest and immediately he was aware that a
knight was coming thence, riding easily yet swiftly. And this knight was
clad in strange armor, and he bore a shield without any escutcheon, nor
was there any emblazonment about him whatsoever to tell what knight he
was. But Sir Bors knew very well that that knight was none other than
Sir Launcelot of the Lake.

Anon this knight came quickly to where Sir Bors was, and he said to him,
“Messire, I give you grammercy for assuming this quarrel upon behalf of
the Queen. But now I come to assume that quarrel myself and so you are
freed from it.” Sir Bors said, “Come you to King Arthur.” And the knight
said, “Conduct me to him.”

[Sidenote: _The new knight appeareth before the King._]

So Sir Bors conducted the knight to where King Arthur sat, and when he
was come there King Arthur said to him, “Sir, what knight are you? For
that I should know ere I consent to establish you instead of Sir Bors in
this quarrel.” To which Sir Bors made reply, “Lord, I know this knight,
and I know that he is a better knight than I am, so I yield my rights in
this quarrel unto him.”

Then King Arthur said to Sir Mador de la Porte, “Sir, will you accept
this new knight in your quarrel?” To which Sir Mador replied, “Sir, I
will accept him or any.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Mador is overthrown._]

So each knight withdrew to his end of the lists and there they made
themselves ready. And when they were all prepared, then each launched
against the other with all the speed and vehemence that he possessed. So
they met in the midst of the course and in that encounter the spear of
Sir Mador was broken all to pieces, but the spear of the other knight
held so that Sir Mador and his horse were both overturned into the
dust.

But Sir Mador recovered from his fall very suddenly, and drawing his
sword and setting his shield in front of him he came forward to the
assault of his enemy as though this were the very beginning of the
battle. Upon this the other knight leaped very nimbly and quickly down
from his horse, and setting his shield before him, he drew his sword and
came forward as with great eagerness for battle.

[Sidenote: _Sir Mador is beaten in battle._]

Each struck at the other with great fierceness, for Sir Mador was a very
strong and powerful knight, and was further upheld by his indignation.
So they fought for above an hour, and in that time Sir Launcelot held
his strength, but the strength of Sir Mador began to wane so that he
could hardly sustain his arm. Then Sir Launcelot redoubled his strokes
until Sir Mador held his shield full low. At that Sir Launcelot lifted
up his sword and he smote Sir Mador so terribly upon the helm that he
fell grovelling to the earth. Then Sir Launcelot drew near to Sir Mador
to smite him again, but Sir Mador raised himself a little and lifting
his sword he smote Sir Launcelot through the thick of the thigh.

But when Sir Launcelot felt himself to be thus wounded and when he
beheld how that the blood flowed forth in a red stream from the wound in
his thigh, he drew away and waited for Sir Mador to rise again. And when
Sir Mador had arisen he rushed upon him and smote him again, so terrible
a blow that the blade bit through the iron helmet, and the leather coif
and into the bone beneath the coif.

[Sidenote: _Sir Launcelot spareth Sir Mador._]

Then Sir Mador fell down and lay upon the ground like one who was dead,
and Sir Launcelot ran in to where he lay and seizing the helmet that
covered the head, he cut the thongs with his misericordia and rushed it
off from his head. With that the light shone in upon the face of Sir
Mador and aroused him from his swoon; and beholding Sir Launcelot
standing terribly above him, he cried out, in a loud piercing voice,
“Spare me my life, Sir Knight! Spare me my life!” Quoth Sir Launcelot,
“I will not spare thee thy life, unless thou dost confess that thou wert
mistaken concerning the guilt of the Queen, and that she is innocent of
evil.” Said Sir Mador, “I do confess it.”

Then Sir Launcelot called the Lord Constable of the lists to him and he
said to Sir Mador, “Confess what thou hast confessed to me to this
gentleman.” And Sir Mador said, “Sir, to this constable I do confess and
acknowledge that I was mistook as to the guilt of the Queen, and that
she is indeed guiltless of that of which I have accused her, and of all
other crimes whatsoever.”

Then Sir Launcelot said, “Bear this knight hence away from this spot.”

Upon that there came several attendants to that place and they lifted
Sir Mador and carried him away from that place.

Then Sir Launcelot and the constable went from that place of conflict to
the presence of King Arthur, and the King and the Queen descended from
their high seats to welcome him. Quoth the King, “Sir, well have you
fought this day, and well may we guess who you are who have done this
battle. We do both give you thanks--I for that you have saved to me my
Queen; she that you have saved to her her life and her honor.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Mador confesseth a wrong accusation._]

“Lord,” said Sir Launcelot, “here have I brought with me this constable
to avouch for it that Sir Mador hath confessed that he hath wrongfully
accused the Queen of this crime, and that she is as guiltless of it as
she is of any other crime at this present.” And the constable said, “I
do avouch for the truth of that.” Then the King said to Sir Launcelot,
“Sir, I perceive that thou art wounded. Wilt thou not refresh thyself
with a glass of wine?” And Sir Launcelot said, “Yea, Lord, for wine
would be exceedingly grateful to me at this present.”

So a little page ran and presently returned, bringing a flagon of
sparkling yellow wine, and Sir Launcelot unlaced his helmet and removed
it from his head, so that all beheld his face and knew him for Sir
Launcelot.

[Sidenote: _Sir Launcelot pledgeth the Queen._]

And then King Arthur said, “Sir, methought that you were Sir Launcelot
of the Lake when I beheld how you did battle a little while ago.
Moreover, when Sir Bors spoke of a better knight than he rising for the
Queen’s defence, I wist he must mean you, for you are the only one who
is better than he. But now we have you, we will not let you go again.”
“Lord,” quoth Sir Launcelot, “I will not leave this court again unless I
am bidden to go. For here may I defend both your honor and the honor of
your Queen. For first of all do I owe my duty to you who made me a
knight; and then do I owe my duty to her who is my revered and honored
lady.” Then, taking the flagon of wine into his hands he turned him
about and lifting that flagon on high, he cried in a loud, clear voice
so that all might hear him, “Here do I drink this flagon of golden wine
to the truth and innocence of my Queen. Health to her friends, confusion
to her enemies, and may harm fall upon those who contemplate harm to
her!”

Then he put the brim of the flagon to his lips and drank off the entire
draught of wine ere he removed it again.

Then King Arthur said, “Let us go visit that wounded knight, for I have
something that I would say to him.” So Sir Launcelot and the constable
and King Arthur went across the meadow of battle to the pavilion of Sir
Mador. And they entered the pavilion and Sir Mador was lying upon a
couch and the surgeon was searching his wounds.

[Sidenote: _King Arthur dismisseth Sir Mador from the court._]

King Arthur said to him, “Sir, who besides yourself were the accusers of
the Queen?” Sir Mador said, “Lord, I was her only accuser.” The King
said, “Thou liest, for there was a conspiracy against her to undo her,
and thou wert but the instrument of that conspiracy. I will ask thee no
further to betray those who were with thee in this affair. Only I have
this to say to thee, that if by to-morrow morning thou art within the
purlieus of this court, or if at any future time thou comest into my
power again, or if ever I meet thee in battle or out of battle, that
time spells for thee thy death. Bear my words well in mind; for though I
spare thee this time upon behest of the Queen, yet will I not spare thee
again upon the beseeching of anyone in all of the world.”

Sir Mador said very bitterly to the King, “My Lord, thou speakest as a
sound man to one who is very grievously wounded and who may not defend
himself.” “Not so,” said the King very calmly, “I speak, first of all,
as a king to his knight, and next I speak as one knight to another
knight who hath wrought him a grievous injury. For thou canst not undo
what thou hast done; for thy quarrel hath sowed dissension and evil
thought among my entire court, so that I, who was one time loved by my
entire court, know not now who are my friends and who mine enemies.”
Then the King turned to the constable, and he said, “Lord Constable,
thou hearest what I have said. If this man is found hereabouts to-morrow
day, cast him immediately into prison and report the same to me. For if
after this day he falleth into my power, then he shall himself suffer
destruction by the flames, as he would have consigned his own Queen to
the flames.”

Thereupon the King turned upon his heel and left Sir Mador de la Porte
gnawing his finger nails.

[Sidenote: _The servant telleth how Sir Pinal placed the apple._]

That day the King held a council of his chief lords and subordinate
kings. And before this council came that servant who had hidden behind
the screen as aforetold of. And this servant told of how he had beheld
Sir Pinal place the apple upon the table whereon the feast was to be
held. This evidence they all heard and listened to, and when it was
ended the King said, “Send for this Sir Pinal and let us hear what he
hath to say to this.”

So they sent for Sir Pinal, but he was nowhere to be found, for the
Queen’s enemies had told him that that evidence was to be admitted and
he had fled away from the court into the wilderness, never to return
again.

[Sidenote: _Yet is the Queen accused by many._]

So was the innocence of the Queen proven. But still there were some who
disbelieved that evidence, for they said, “See ye not how it is? For
first they overthrow Sir Mador and then they drive him away from this
court. Then they bring in this evidence to clear the Queen from guilt
and they lay that guilt upon poor Sir Pinal, who is not of the Round
Table. Thus there is no one to contradict the evidence of this poor
knave, and so the Queen is to be cleared of the suspicion of guilt.”

So spake several, and the news of this was brought to the ears of Sir
Gawaine. But Sir Gawaine would say no word upon the matter, for whilst
he felt bitter enmity toward the Queen, and whilst he suspected the
worst things of her, yet he would not give voice to that which he
suspected. Neither would he give accusation against her, but went his
own way thinking his own thoughts and keeping those thoughts within his
own bosom.

       *       *       *       *       *

[Sidenote: _Of the dissensions at the court._]

Thus have I told you the history of these things as I myself have read
of them in the ancient books that treat of them. For this was the first
beginning of the end. For now that the Grail had been lifted from the
earth, there was naught to hold together the Court of King Arthur as it
had been held together before. But each knight began now to think of his
own glory and of himself, and not of the glory of the King and the Good
of the world.

So now begin we with the history of those dissensions that presently
broke forth in the Court of the King.

[Illustration]

[Illustration: Sir Launcelot defends the door]




[Illustration] Chapter Fourth

_How there came quarrels at the court, and how Sir Launcelot of the Lake
was assaulted by the brothers of Sir Gawaine._


Now there was at court at that time much dissension and many angry
recriminations back and forth between the one party and the other party.
For the one party maintained that the Queen had been ill-used and had
suffered much, and would have suffered death, saving only for the
defence of Sir Launcelot of the Lake; and the other party maintained
that the Queen possessed an evil soul, and that Sir Launcelot was her
dishonorable lover and that it was for this reason that he had fought
for her.

[Sidenote: _Sir Mordred and Sir Agravaine accuse Sir Launcelot of
treason._]

Of this latter party were some of the brothers of Sir Gawaine, who were
at the head of that party; to wit, there was Sir Mordred and Sir
Agravaine. These knights spoke very boldly and openly, saying that Sir
Launcelot practised treachery with the Queen against the King’s high
honor. Sir Agravaine said, “Well is it that Sir Launcelot is the
greatest knight now living on the earth (for this is true now that Sir
Galahad had departed in glory), yet it is not to be forgotten that he is
not greater in his strength than several knights who might come against
him at once. So when Sir Launcelot next visits the Queen, if a number of
us shall fall upon him, it can scarcely be but that those knights should
overcome him, and that so the King’s honor should be revenged.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Gawaine will not join with them._]

Whilst he so spoke, Sir Gawaine sat at one side gnawing his mustache.
Then he up and spake, saying, “What is this you would do? Would you
practise treachery against Sir Launcelot and against the Queen? God
knows I have no love for the Queen, and never have had love for her, but
neither would I practise treachery against her, but would assail her
openly and against the entire world. As for Sir Launcelot of the Lake;
long hath he been my dearest friend and companion at arms; am I then to
practise treason against him?” Then turning to Sir Geharis and Sir
Gareth, he said, “What say you, my brothers? Speak!” Then Sir Geharis
and Sir Gareth said, “What thou sayst, Gawaine, we also say.” And Sir
Gareth said upon his part, “I cannot now forget and I can never fail to
remember that it was Sir Launcelot of the Lake who made me a knight.
Shall I then sit in judgment upon my godfather in knighthood, and
undertake to practise evil against him?”

Quoth Sir Mordred, “I say with my brother Agravaine that the Queen is
altogether evil and that Sir Launcelot is her lover, and that saying I
am ready to maintain to the peril of my life.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Mordred declares that he will arrest Sir Launcelot._]

Said Sir Gawaine, “I pray you tell me; what is it you seek to do?” Him
answered Sir Mordred, “We seek to spy upon Sir Launcelot and, when next
he visits the Queen in her apartments, we would make assault upon him.
When we have thus espied upon him, then we and several others will fall
upon him and seize him and hale him before the King for trial.” Said Sir
Gawaine, “That is no such easy matter for to do. And when you have done
it, it will be but of little avail; for the King will not condemn Sir
Launcelot upon such uncertain accusation. For what accusation shall you
bring against Sir Launcelot and the Queen that you dare mention to the
King?”

Then Sir Mordred made no immediate answer, but when he was come to a
place apart from those three, he said to Sir Agravaine, “Sir Launcelot
is guilty of thou knowest what treason against the King. Now I told
Gawaine that we would arrest him and bring him to the King. What I
really purpose is this: that we assault Sir Launcelot in the Queen’s
apartments, and that we slay him. For once he is dead the King will
quickly forgive us and will believe the Queen to have been guilty, but
if Sir Launcelot is alive he will never forgive us. Hah, brother, a dead
lion is a less dangerous enemy to a man than a living fox. So it were
best that Sir Launcelot died.” In this Sir Agravaine agreed with him; so
after that they set watch upon Sir Launcelot to take him when next he
should visit the Queen. But Sir Launcelot was warned by one who
overheard them, and for that while he did not visit the Queen in her
apartments.

[Sidenote: _Sir Mordred betrayeth Sir Launcelot._]

So one night Sir Mordred called to him a page of the Queen’s court when
the page was passing, and he said to him, “Lanadel” (for such was the
page’s name)--“Lanadel, go you to Sir Launcelot of the Lake and tell him
that the Queen would fain speak with him in her bower.” Thereupon the
page, suspecting no evil, went to Sir Launcelot, and delivered that
message to him, and Sir Launcelot, suspecting no evil, fulfilled the
terms of that message, and went secretly thither to the Queen’s
apartments.

[Sidenote: _Sir Launcelot goeth to the Queen’s bower._]

Finding the Queen there, Sir Launcelot said to her, “Lady, what is it
thou wouldst say to me?” She looked upon him in astonishment and said,
“Sir, I did not send for you to say anything to you.” Sir Launcelot
said, “How is this? Your page, Lanadel, came to me and brought it to me
as a message that you would speak to me at this place.” She said,
“Launcelot, I sent no such message as that to thee. Yet, in very truth,
it hath been long since thou hast been hither to speak to me. Art thou
affronted with me, Launcelot?”

He said to her, “Lady, thou knowest that I am not affronted with thee.
But there is this: I must consider thine honor and reputation as I do
mine own. But, Lady, touching this message of late delivered to me, here
is treachery of some sort, for certes that message came to me as from
thee, wherefore I know that some treachery is brewing against us, though
I know not what that treachery is.”

Now turn we to those enemies of Sir Launcelot to see what they did upon
this occasion. For Sir Mordred watched at the entrance of the Queen’s
apartments until that he beheld Sir Launcelot enter them. Upon that he
ran to Sir Agravaine, and said to him, “Brother, wit ye that Sir
Launcelot is at this time in the Queen’s chamber. Let us now make haste
to take him.” So those two called about them certain knights who were at
enmity with Sir Launcelot, and they said to them, “Gentlemen, let us
hasten and take that traitor knight who is even now in the Queen’s
bower.”

Now those knights whom they called upon to accompany them were as
follows: There were Sir Colgrance and Sir Gingaline, and Sir Melyot of
Logris, and Sir Galleron of Galway; there were Sir Melion of the
Mountain, and Sir Petypas of Winchelsea; there were Sir Gromer Somerjour
and Sir Astamore, Sir Cuselaine, Sir Florence, and Sir Lovel. And these
last two were sons to Sir Gawaine.

[Sidenote: _The Queen is warned._]

These eleven knights, together with Sir Agravaine and Sir Mordred,
making thirteen in all, went together in a party to the apartments of
the Queen. And the ladies of the Queen beheld them coming, and wist that
they came for no good purpose. Wherefore these ladies ran screaming and
in haste and bolted and barred the door. Then they ran to the Queen’s
apartment and they found that Sir Launcelot was there and they cried
out, “Lady, arouse you, for your enemies are upon you!”

[Sidenote: _The thirteen knights challenge Sir Launcelot to appear._]

By this those knights were at the door, and Sir Agravaine knocked and
cried aloud in a very loud and thunderous voice, “Thou traitor knight!
What doest thou here? Why liest thou behind locked doors in the Queen’s
apartments? Come forth to us who are thy fellows of the court and of
the Round Table, and render an account to us. For we are here to receive
thine account!”

These words were uttered so loudly and so powerfully that they echoed
and re-echoed throughout that entire part of the castle, and when they
struck upon the Queen’s ears, she fell as white as an ash of wood and
sank back upon a couch, placing her hand above her heart.

Then Sir Launcelot stood up from where he sat and he cast his eyes
around him from side to side, but he could see no armor for defence, and
no way of escape. And ever those knights without smote upon the door,
and ever Sir Agravaine cried out, “Sir Launcelot of the Lake; what doest
thou there in the Queen’s chamber? Come forth and deliver thyself to
us.”

Then Sir Launcelot said, “Lady, I prithee tell me, is there ere a suit
of armor in this place as I could clothe myself withal?” She said, “Nay,
Launcelot, there is no armor in this room.” Then Sir Launcelot said to
her, “Then must I defend myself without armor; for I know that these
knights have no purpose for to take me prisoner to the King. Otherwise,
that which they purpose is to take my life.” Then the Queen sank down
terrified upon her knees before him, and said, “Launcelot, go not forth
to them, for assuredly they mean thy death.” He said to her, “Lady, I
must go; but this I beseech of thee, that thou wilt pray for me. And
this also I beseech of thee, that, should I fall in this encounter, thou
wilt go with my relatives, Sir Ector and Sir Bors and Sir Lionel and Sir
Ure, and bid them that they shall take thee to an asylum of refuge at my
castle of Joyous Gard. For there is now no safety for thee at this
place, and only great and continual dangers. For ever there is growing
at this court against thee a rooted jealousy of all that thou sayest or
doest, and if so be I lose my life, then these, mine enemies, will
overwhelm thee.” Then the Queen wept, and she cried out, “Launcelot!
Launcelot! Go not forth to them!”

[Sidenote: _The thirteen knights threaten to burst in the door._]

As thus they spake, those knights without continually beat upon the
door, crying ever in louder and more violent tones, “Traitor! Open to
us!” And the door was not opened, but remained closed. Then they cast
their eyes about and they beheld a great form that stood there in the
hall. And Sir Agravaine said to certain of the others, “Bring hither
yonder form, and let us beat down the door with it. For thus alone may
we hope to come at this traitor!” So they brought that form and they
beat with it upon the door, and the door cracked and bent beneath their
blows.

[Sidenote: _Sir Launcelot defendeth himself with a cloak._]

Then Sir Launcelot wrapped his cloak about his arm, and he took his
sword in his hand, and he said to those who were beating upon the door,
“Messire, cease your uproar and I will come forth to you.” Then he
turned the key in the lock of the door, and he opened the door a little,
but not very far, setting his foot against it lest they should burst it
open from without and so rush in, many at once, upon him.

But when the door was opened and they beheld Sir Launcelot standing
there without any armor of defence whatsoever saving only the cloak that
was wrapped about his arm, they took heart of grace that they should
easily overcome him. Then there came forward a tall and very powerful
knight, hight Sir Colgrance of Gore, and he struck a terrible strong and
powerful blow at Sir Launcelot with intent to hew him down. This blow
Sir Launcelot put aside with his sword and immediately delivered a blow
in return.

[Sidenote: _He slayeth Sir Colgrance._]

In that blow he smote Sir Colgrance upon the head, and the blow bit
through the bascinet upon his head and it smote deep into the bone of
the brain so that Sir Colgrance fell down grovelling to the earth, and
immediately he died.

Then Sir Launcelot seized Sir Colgrance’s body by the shoulders and
dragged it into the room ere the others had recovered, and immediately
he bolted and barred the door as it was before. And Sir Launcelot said
to the Queen, “Lady, here hath Providence delivered armor into my hands.
I prithee aid me to arm myself.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Launcelot armeth himself in Sir Colgrance’s armor._]

So the Queen and her affrighted ladies hastened to Sir Launcelot and
together they stripped the armor off the body of Sir Colgrance. And they
assisted Sir Launcelot to clothe himself very quickly and nimbly in that
armor. Then, having thus armed himself in the armor of Sir Colgrance,
Sir Launcelot came to the door of the room and he spoke to those
without, and he said to them, “Messires, what is it you would have with
me?” They say, “We would have you come forth and surrender yourself to
us so that we may take you to King Arthur.” Sir Launcelot said, “I
cannot surrender myself to you, but this I will promise to do: if you
will go hence and leave me in peace, I will surrender myself to King
Arthur to-morrow morning, and will then abide by his justice.” Sir
Agravaine said, “We will not do this. We will not trust thee. Deliver
thyself to us immediately, or we will slay thee.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Launcelot assaileth his enemies._]

Then Sir Launcelot said, “I come!” and therewith he flung wide open the
door. And Sir Launcelot strode out amongst them like to a lion into the
midst of a pack of dogs. And they beheld that Sir Launcelot was clad all
in the armor of Sir Colgrance. And Sir Launcelot fronted Sir Agravaine
and the eyes of Sir Launcelot flashed forth pure fire from under the
vizor of his bascinet. And Sir Launcelot strode to Sir Agravaine, crying
out, “Thou first!” And therewith he smote Sir Agravaine with might and
main.

Sir Agravaine warded the blow, but so wonderfully powerful was it that
it smote down that ward; and it smote Sir Agravaine upon the bascinet;
and it cut through the iron of the bascinet and through the bone of the
brain pan and into the brain itself.

[Sidenote: _He slayeth Sir Agravaine and several others._]

Then Sir Agravaine cried out very terribly and fell down dying to the
earth; and Sir Launcelot put his foot upon the neck of Sir Agravaine,
and wrenched forth the sword out of the cut that he had made. Then Sir
Launcelot smote to the right hand and to the left; and of those eleven
knights who were with Sir Agravaine and Sir Mordred he slew nine in that
little room. And he smote Sir Mordred upon the shoulder so that he
sheared the flesh of the arm, a great slice from the bone, and the other
two knights were more or less wounded, so that anon they fled in tumult
from that place.

And Sir Launcelot was also wounded in many places in that conflict, so
that he was, as it were, all bathed in crimson from head to foot. Then,
having put his enemies to flight, he turned him and re-entered the
Queen’s chamber.

[Sidenote: _Sir Launcelot is wounded._]

But when the Queen beheld him thus all bathed in red, she shrieked
aloud, for she thought him to be mortally wounded. But Sir Launcelot
said to her, “Fear not, Lady, thine enemies are put to flight and I am
not sorely hurt.” And he said to her, “Lady, my love for thee hath ever
been my curse, and now it hath brought us to this end. For in thy
defence and in my defence I have slain the nephew of the King and two of
the sons of Sir Gawaine. So now the King will be my foe, and so I must
quit this place for aye. But I cannot leave thee, Lady, for without me
thou wilt be defenceless. So I prithee prepare thyself for a journey. I
will go forth and gather about me a number of knights of mine own
kindred and friends, and we will take thee hence away from this place.
For to-morrow they will bring thee forth to trial, and when they bring
thee forth, then will we seize thee and carry thee away.”

Then the Queen fell to weeping very bitterly, and she said, “Ah,
Launcelot! Alas and alas! Is this then the end?” And he said, “Aye,
Lady.” Therewith he went forth from that place and left her.

[Sidenote: _Sir Launcelot adviseth with Sir Bors._]

So Sir Launcelot came to Sir Bors’s inn, and when Sir Bors beheld him,
all covered and ensanguined with blood, he cried out, “God save us!
What is this? What aileth thee?” Then Sir Launcelot told Sir Bors all
that had befallen, and when he had told it Sir Bors sent for Sir Ector
and for Sir Lionel and for Sir Ure, and fourteen other knights,
relatives and friends of Sir Launcelot, and Sir Launcelot told unto them
what he had told to Sir Bors.

Then Sir Bors said to those who were there gathered, “Messires his is a
very sad and bitter quarrel. For I do avouch that my relative, Sir
Launcelot, is in all ways perfectly innocent toward the Queen. For we
know that he was deceived into her presence by a false message delivered
unto him by someone who was an enemy to him and who meant to undo him.
So this lady hath also been misused in such a way that it is contrary to
his honor as a knight that we should suffer such harm to approach her.
Now it is my advice that we await to see what shall presently befall.
For if this quarrel is condoned by the King, then is all very well; but
if the King seek to punish Sir Launcelot by bringing the Queen to a
trial, then shall he save her from that trial and shall convey her away
to Joyous Gard where she may remain safe from harm.”

[Sidenote: _Other knights swear fealty to Sir Launcelot._]

Then all those other knights to whom Sir Bors spake held up their swords
with their handles before them, and they said, “Herewith and upon this
holy sign of the crucifix do we swear that we will ride with and aid Sir
Launcelot of the Lake in this undertaking. And, if it be demanded of us,
we will assist him to bring this lady to Joyous Gard, and we will there
aid and defend him and her with our bodies until the last extremity and
until death.”

       *       *       *       *       *

[Sidenote: _Sir Mordred accuseth Sir Launcelot to the King._]

Meantime, Sir Mordred had had his wound bound up and had taken horse and
had ridden to the inn of King Arthur, and he appeared before King Arthur
in the room when the King was then with several of his court. And when
the King beheld him thus wounded, he started up and cried out, “Hah, Sir
Mordred! What bringeth thee before me in this plight? Where gottest thou
that wound?” Then Sir Mordred kneeled down before the King, and he said,
“Sovereign Lord and Master, I got this wound in thy service. For Sir
Launcelot visited the Queen recently in her bower, and I and twelve
other knights sought to arrest him there and to bring him before thee.
But he resisted that arrest, and of the thirteen who assaulted him nine
are dead and one is like to die.”

Then the King drew his breath very hard between his teeth, at that news,
and anon he said, “Who are dead? Are they any of my friends?” Sir
Mordred said, “All are thy friends, and three are of thy kin.” Quoth
King Arthur, “Who are those of my kin?” And Sir Mordred said, “One of
them is Sir Agravaine, thy nephew, and the others are Sir Florence and
Sir Lovel, the young sons of Sir Gawaine.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Gawaine sorroweth._]

Then the King groaned and Sir Gawaine who was with him covered his head
and also groaned in sorrow. Quoth the King, “To-morrow day this shall be
inquired into, and the Queen shall be brought to trial for this
treason.” And with those words he arose and withdrew from that place,
accompanied only by Sir Gawaine, Sir Geharis and Sir Gareth and Sir
Mordred; and leaving the other knights who were attendant upon him sunk
in silence, not knowing which way to look or what to say.

So when the King was come to a private place, he seated himself and
buried his face in his hands. And he groaned aloud, and he said, “Alas
is me! This is certes the beginning of the end that was foretold by
Merlin!” And anon he said to Sir Gawaine, “To thee, Gawaine, will I
entrust the pushing of that inquiry which must follow. For thou and
Geharis and Gareth shall go with a company of an hundred knights, and ye
shall arrest the Queen, and shall bring her for trial for this offence.”

Then Sir Gawaine kneeled down before King Arthur, and he said,
“Sovereign and lawful Lord and Master, I pray you to spare me from
this.” King Arthur said, “Why should I spare thee?” Sir Gawaine said,
“For these two causes: firstly, I am sworn brother in arms to Sir
Launcelot; secondly, I am not friendly with my lady the Queen and so am
not fit to serve her as her escort.”

Then King Arthur said, “I do not understand your refusal, Messire. Was
not Sir Agravaine your brother? And was not he a strong and noble
knight? And were not Sir Florence and Sir Lovel your sons?”

“Yea, Lord,” said Sir Gawaine. “All this is true; but I suspected evil
in this affair, and I strongly advised them to refrain therefrom. This
they have refused to hearken to and so they have perished, armed and in
fair conflict with Sir Launcelot--he one against many.”

Then King Arthur’s face flushed very red with anger, and he turned to
Sir Geharis and Sir Gareth. “And you, Messires,” said he, “do you also
refuse me this duty?” “Sir,” said Sir Gareth, “if you bid us upon our
duty to undertake this commission, we will do so. Yet wit you that Sir
Launcelot was he who made me a knight; wherefore I will not go in arms
to escort the Queen. But if thou commandest me to go, then will I go
without armor or defence of any sort to protect me. For I will not stand
in arms before the avowed lady of him who made me a knight.”

King Arthur said, “I do command you both to go, so let there be an end
to this argument. But see to it that the Queen shall be brought to her
trial in a plain white robe without a girdle and that she come in her
bare feet like to any criminal. For I shall not believe her to be
innocent until she be proved so.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Gareth and Sir Geharis go unarmed to arrest Sir
Launcelot._]

Now when the next day was come, it being then about the tenth hour of
the morning, Sir Geharis and Sir Gareth took those five score knights
and they rode to the lodgings of the Queen. Meantime, word had been sent
to the Queen that she was to clothe her in such a guise as the King had
said; to wit, ungirdled and in white, and in her bare feet. And it was
said to her that she was to come to her trial like to a
criminal--barefoot in that wise, and without a girdle about her waist.

[Sidenote: _The Queen weepeth._]

Then the Queen wept very many bitter tears, and said, “Alas, my lord,
the King, hath already condemned me in his heart, so that my trial will
mean my death.” And the ladies of the Queen wept with her and they said,
“Lady, alas for thy happiness! For this is certes the end.” Then the
Queen dried her tears and she said to them, “Comfort ye! For I have done
many evil deeds in my life, but ye know that I am innocent of this
deed.” They say, “Yea, we know it and will avouch for it.”

Now word of all these things had also been brought to Sir Launcelot, and
when he heard of them he aroused himself and called his esquires about
him. Then he went forth in his full armor and he found Sir Bors and Sir
Lionel together. And Sir Launcelot said to them, “Messires, do you
remember that you and several others promised to aid me in the rescue of
the Queen? Well, then, the time is come, for she is about to be brought
forth to her trial, for they have sent for her. She shall not come to
the disgrace of trial, for I will bear her hence. Go you and summon all
those who will support me and bring them in haste to the Queen’s inn,
for I go there immediately.” Sir Bors said, “Go not thither from this
place until we summon aid.” Sir Launcelot said, “Then make haste.”

So Sir Bors and Sir Lionel hastened away from that place, leaving Sir
Launcelot walking in great strides up and down the length of the room.

Anon came one running to where Sir Launcelot was, and said to him, “Sir,
the Queen biddeth thee to come to her in haste, for they are taking her
barefoot to her trial.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Launcelot hasteneth to aid the Queen._]

Then Sir Launcelot waited for no further word, but hastened with all
speed to where the Queen was, and when he had come there he found many
of his knights already there, and several came immediately thereafter.
And as Sir Launcelot approached he beheld the Queen seated upon her
horse in her bare feet and surrounded by that armed escort which the
King had sent. Then the Queen beheld Sir Launcelot and she called to
him, saying, “Sir Launcelot, make haste!” And she reached out her arms
toward him.

[Sidenote: _Sir Launcelot slayeth Sir Gareth._]

Then Sir Launcelot emitted a great loud and bitter cry. And therewith he
drew his sword like lightning and his friends drew their swords and they
rushed into the throng smiting from right to left and from left to right
again. And those who were thus assaulted smote back again at those
knights and bore them hither and thither by weight of numbers because
they who fought for the Queen were so few. But the knights of Sir
Launcelot were prepared for this assault and the knights of King Arthur
were not prepared for it, wherefore those latter were quickly separated
and driven back. Now in the fury of that small battle Sir Gareth was
pushed near to Sir Launcelot and he was unarmed as hath been told of,
and Sir Launcelot saw him but knew him not. So Sir Launcelot smote Sir
Gareth upon the head with his sword and he clave asunder the head of Sir
Gareth to the throat and Sir Gareth fell dead beneath the horses’ feet.

And Sir Launcelot thought nothing of what he had done by that blow; for
in his fury and raging he beheld the Lady Queen Guinevere before him.
With that he spurred forward without looking down upon the earth to see
who it was whom he had smitten down, and he catched the Queen up from
her saddle and seated her on his saddle before him. Then he shouted,
“Let us away and escape while there is yet time!”

[Sidenote: _He slayeth Sir Geharis._]

So with that Sir Geharis put himself forward to stay Sir Launcelot, and
Sir Launcelot, beholding him there in the way and not witting who he
was, smote him also with his sword and slew him.

[Sidenote: _Sir Launcelot escapeth with the Queen._]

So with that they all ceased fighting and spurred away from that place,
cleaving their way before them and taking Queen Guinevere with them. And
they rode away from that place and from that city, and they ceased not
to ride until they had come to the confines of Joyous Gard, where there
was an asylum of peace and safety. And in that battle there were lost
twenty-seven knights of the King, and of these there were eleven knights
of the Round Table. And there were lost sixteen knights of Sir
Launcelot’s party and of them there were nine knights of the Round
Table. And in that battle Sir Kay the Seneschal and Sir Gareth and Sir
Geharis and Sir Griflet lost their lives.

[Illustration: The Bishop of Rochester and the King.]




[Illustration] Chapter Fifth

_How King Arthur attacked Sir Launcelot at Joyous Gard; how Sir Lionel
was slain and how Sir Bors was wounded._


Now come we to the beginning of the end of this great and glorious reign
of King Arthur of Britain. For so Sir Launcelot stepped between the
Queen and the law as hath afore been told of, and having done so there
was no recession for him from that act. For so was he bound to protect
the Queen and to cherish her if he could do so; and King Arthur was
bound to recover his Queen to bring her back to her duty again if he
could do so.

[Sidenote: _Concerning Queen Guinevere and Sir Launcelot._]

Yet in all this the Queen had not sinned against King Arthur, saving
only that she had escaped from her enemies and from justice at Camelot,
and also because King Arthur supposed that her affections had wandered
from him and toward Sir Launcelot. For in all other respects the Queen
was ever as honorable and as pure as she had been when first she came to
King Arthur that long while before at Camilard (which same hath been
told in full in the Book of King Arthur). Yet there was this, that the
coming of Sir Launcelot from the Lake and the greatness of Sir Launcelot
as a knight, and the beauty of the person of Sir Launcelot, so
fascinated her that she could not let him go his way without meddling
with his fortunes. Wherefore she demanded him for her knight, and she
was angry at any interference that prevented him from serving her as her
knight both singly and in all things.

But now had come to her the end of all this. For now was she escaped
from her lord the King, and from justice, and she was hiding under the
protection of Sir Launcelot of the Lake and of those knights of his
blood and kindred at Joyous Gard. So had the end come to her of all the
joy of her life, for King Arthur could now never condone or forgive her
offence.

[Sidenote: _King Arthur grieveth._]

For when the news of that battle came to the ears of King Arthur, he was
filled with anger and with grief. “Alas!” cried he, “that this quarrel
should have begun, for in it I behold the end of my reign. For already
the joy of the Round Table is past and gone, and never shall it return
again.”

For wit ye that that joy which is gone can never return, but only its
memory shall live in the heart to lend a dim and distant lustre upon the
sorrows of the present, and of that King Arthur was very well aware. So
also he knew that the glory of the Round Table had departed, and he knew
that ere the end of that Round Table should come many knights should die
in that quarrel that was now toward.

Then the King said, “Doth Sir Gawaine, the high prince, know that his
two brothers have been slain?” They say to him, “No, Lord.” (For they
did not then know that Sir Gawaine had already been informed thereof.)
The King said, “Then let him not be told of it, for if he is told of it
now he will, in his haste, vow vengeance against Sir Launcelot who was
his sworn comrade in arms and his very dear friend, and so there will be
added war to this war.” They say to the King, “He shall not be told, but
it shall be kept secret from him.”

[Sidenote: _The news cometh to Sir Gawaine._]

But meantime there had come a messenger hastening to Sir Gawaine, and
said to him, “Lord, the Queen hath escaped and is now upon her way to
Joyous Gard with Sir Launcelot of the Lake.”

At this Sir Gawaine gazed at the messenger and for a little while he
said nothing, though he thought many things. And the face of Sir Gawaine
grew white like to wax for whiteness, for he feared what further news
should come to him. Anon he said, “What news is this? Were not my
brethren set as a guard upon her? How then did they suffer her to escape
from them?”

The messenger said, “Sir, Sir Launcelot, and others of his blood,
assaulted that guard and they seized upon the Queen and took her away.
And in the mêlée at that time Sir Gareth was slain unwittingly. And then
Sir Geharis was also slain whilst attempting to stay Sir Launcelot.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Gawaine grieveth._]

Then Sir Gawaine covered his head with his cloak, and he sat there for a
long time with his head covered. And ever he wept beneath the cloak, but
his face was hidden, and no one could behold his tears. And anon he said
in a muffled voice, “Five of them are gone! Five of them are gone!”
meaning by that that his two sons and his three brothers had already
died in that war. And after a little while he said, “There was comfort
for me in that those three of them who died aforetime were armed for
battle. For so I advised them that they should not enter this dispute;
and yet they did enter it, and lost their lives therein. But these
latter two were naked and unarmed, and of one of them Sir Launcelot was
godfather when he was knighted. And he loved Sir Launcelot more than he
loved his own blood and his own brethren. Ah, Gareth! Gareth! All things
could I forgive in Sir Launcelot saving only thy death. For I loved Sir
Launcelot above all others in the world, and to him could much be
forgiven; but this I can never forgive. For those two were his friends
and not his enemies, and they meant him good and not harm; yet he slew
them, all naked and unarmed as they were.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Gawaine cometh to the King._]

And Sir Gawaine said, “Where is the King?” They say, “The King is at
such and such a place.” So by and by Sir Gawaine arose and went to where
King Arthur was. And Sir Gawaine said to King Arthur, “Lord, what now
will you do?” King Arthur said, “I know not what I shall do.” Sir
Gawaine said, “Sir, know you that my two brothers are slain?” And King
Arthur bowed his head and said, “Yea, I know it.” Sir Gawaine said, “I
will tell you what you shall do. You shall wage war to the extremity of
life against this false and traitorous knight, Sir Launcelot of the
Lake. What? Hath he not taken your Queen from you and carried her away
to his own castle? Hath he not slain your blood and kindred? Hath he not
bathed his hands in the blood of your knights of the Round Table? Hath
he not slain Sir Kay, your foster brother, in this last assault? Hath he
not slain Sir Griflet and my kinsman Sir Aglaval and my two sons and my
two other brethren who were all unarmed and defenceless against his
attack? Sir, arouse yourself. Call for your kings and princes, your
earls and barons and knights, and let us set forth as an army and
utterly destroy this nest of traitors and murderers. I myself will call
my dependants around me and will accompany you to that war, for now it
shall either be Sir Launcelot’s life or my life. For never will I
forgive him so long as I have breath in my body.”

[Sidenote: _The King offers forgiveness._]

Quoth the King, “Nephew, if these knights will return the Queen to me,
then I will forgive them, and if I forgive them cannot you also forgive?
For these are Knights of the Round Table, and I must not destroy the
Round Table so utterly as you advise me to do.”

Sir Gawaine said, “I cannot forgive Sir Launcelot, nor shall I ever
forgive the deaths of my innocent brothers. For they were naked and
unarmed, and they loved Sir Launcelot, and yet Sir Launcelot slew them.
Naught can wipe this from my memory saving only the blood of him who
slew those two gentlemen. Wherefore, prepare for war and I will join
you.”

[Sidenote: _The King summoneth his vassals._]

So King Arthur armed himself and he summoned those knights and princes,
earls and barons who were dependent upon him to his assistance. And he
summoned all of those knights who were still allied to him. All this he
did, but he did it very reluctantly, for he wished not to wage war with
Sir Launcelot and his knights.

And news of this call to arms that King Arthur had made came to Sir
Launcelot, and he upon his part gave call to all of those lords and
knights who were allied to him to come to him and to aid him to defend
Joyous Gard. And they or many of them went to him as he bade them.

[Sidenote: _How the King cometh to Joyous Gard._]

Then King Arthur led his army to Joyous Gard and it was so vast and
multitudinous that it covered all the hills and valleys as it advanced.
And red clouds of dust hung over it as it passed forward so that the
bright and tranquil light of the sun was obscured by those clouds. And
great flocks of carrion crows accompanied the army, for they smelt the
blood of many carcasses as from afar, wherefore they flew accompanying
that army. So this army came and settled down and about Joyous Gard, and
it was like an army of locusts that had settled at that place.

And Sir Launcelot and his brother Sir Ector stood upon the parapet of
the castle of Joyous Gard, and they looked out upon the hills and upon
the multitude of the hosts that were there foregathered and that
encompassed them. And when Sir Ector beheld the vast and limitless
extent of that army, his heart failed within him and he said to Sir
Launcelot, “Behold, oh brother! the vast and limitless host that
surrounds us. However shall we withstand such a host as that? Would it
not be better to compromise with the King and to surrender the Queen to
him?” Quoth Sir Launcelot, “How talk you of compromise, Messire, and how
talk you of surrendering the Queen? Wit you that to surrender the Queen
at this time would be to dishonor ourselves in surrendering her to
dishonor? For unless we fight for her, what terms can we now make that
would insure her safety? No, brother, let us abide their coming, and
defend ourselves with all our mights.”

[Sidenote: _The Queen adviseth Sir Launcelot._]

That night the Queen also spoke to Sir Launcelot, and she said,
“Launcelot, why do you suffer for me? Surrender me unto King Arthur and
with that this war will cease. Else will there many worthy knights
perish in this war. For there are a great many knights here foregathered
of the Round Table, and there be many other famous and worthy knights
and nobles and kings here foregathered. Is my one life then worth more
than all their lives?”

Then Sir Launcelot groaned, but he said, “Lady, I will not surrender
you until I am sure that your safety is insured. Let first the King
assure your safety and then we shall consider whether or not you shall
return to him.”

Then the Queen burst out weeping and she cried out, “Oh, woe is me that
I should have brought so much trouble and sorrow upon this world!”

       *       *       *       *       *

[Sidenote: _The King assaults Joyous Gard._]

Now the army of King Arthur made assault upon Joyous Gard and they made
assault upon assault. And somewhiles they made breaches in the walls;
but ever those breaches were rebuilded at night so that they could not
enter the castle. And the army of King Arthur lost many hundreds of men,
both of knights and yeomen; but the defence of the castle lost many
scores, and those scores were of greater loss to them than the hundreds
that King Arthur lost. For those hundreds could be replaced by other
hundreds, but the scores could not be replaced by other scores.

[Sidenote: _The friends of Sir Launcelot advise with him._]

So the knights who kept the castle held a council of defence, and there
were at that council Sir Bors and Sir Lionel and Sir Ector and Sir
Bleoberis and Sir Blamor de Ganis, and there were other knights and
worthies of the blood of Sir Launcelot. Sir Lionel said, “Why remain we
here within this castle? Ever we grow weaker and weaker, and by and by
our enemies will break within the castle and then we shall all be put to
the edge of the sword. Let us sally forth against those who thus
surround us, for so haply we may cut our way through them and thus
escape to the sea-shore and to France. There we shall be safe from those
who could work for us our undoing.” Sir Launcelot said, “Sir, even if we
could do this thing, what blood would be spilt in doing it, and what
friends would we slay in that attempt!” Quoth Sir Ector, “What matters
that? Are they not seeking our lives and our blood, and are we not
defending ourselves? These men are no longer our friends; they are our
enemies, and are seeking our lives. Let us then go forth and assail
them.” All this Queen Guinevere heard, and she wept many and very bitter
tears as she listened to that council. As for Sir Launcelot, he groaned
very deeply but anon he said, “Let it then be so as you say, only first
I must bespeak King Arthur.”

So that afternoon he appeared upon the battlements of the castle. And he
leaned out over the battlements and called out to those who were below,
saying to them, “Where is King Arthur? I would speak with him.”

Those who heard him ran to King Arthur, and they said to the King,
“Lord, Sir Launcelot asks to speak to thee. Haply he meaneth to
surrender to thee.”

[Sidenote: _The King speaketh to Sir Launcelot._]

So King Arthur hurried to that place where Sir Launcelot was: and Sir
Gawaine and the King of North Wales were with him. King Arthur said to
Sir Launcelot, “What wouldst thou have of me, Messires? Dost thou
surrender this castle?” “Not so,” quoth Sir Launcelot, “I do not
surrender it, but I would speak to you of other things.”

“Sir,” said King Arthur, “concerning what other things have you to speak
to me withal?”

“Lord,” said Sir Launcelot, “this is what I would say to you. What seek
you here in thus assaulting this castle? Here within are many lordly
knights and many knights of the Round Table who were a short time ago
your friends and dependants. Some of them you yourself made knights as
you made me a knight, and all of those would gladly surrender their
lives for your sake. What benefit or what honor can it then be to you to
slay them, who were your support and your defence, and who would be so
again if you would live in peace with them? Would it be to your honor
that you should slay these good, worthy honorable knights?”

“Sir,” said King Arthur, “you forget that you have seized upon my Queen
and that you hold her from me in this castle. First surrender to me my
Queen, and then I will consider all these things that you have to say
and will reply to them as I deem to be fitting.”

“Lord,” said Sir Launcelot, “thy Queen is held here in high and
honorable regard. With us she is safe from harm or injury of any sort.
Would she be thus free from danger of harm and dishonor if she were with
you? Pledge me first that you would do her no harm or injury, and then
it will beseem us as true and honorable knights to consider the
surrender of her to you.”

“Am I then,” said the King, “to make treaty with you for the return to
me of that wife with whom I have lived in amity for all these years?
Sir, you do not consider how unfit such a treaty would be upon my part.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Gawaine accuseth Sir Launcelot._]

Then up spake Sir Gawaine. “Also, Messire, you have forgot another
thing, and that is that you have slain my two young brothers who stood
before you defenceless and unarmed. I reckon naught of those whom you
slew, armed and in battle. For I loved you well and truly for many
years, and I advised them not to hazard battle with you; but they would
hazard battle and so they were slain by you. But of those two others,
they did not hazard battle; for they were unarmed and naked, and they
would have stood your friends; yet you slew them as though they had been
enemies. This I will never forgive you, but either you will answer for
it with your blood, or I will answer for it with mine.”

Then Sir Launcelot groaned, and he said, “God pity us all for our sins,
and God pity you, Sir Gawaine, for your unchristian hatred.” And with
that he turned away.

[Sidenote: _The defenders of the castle sally forth._]

So when the next day had come, they of the castle prepared themselves
for battle and for escape. They placed the Queen in their midst and they
surrounded her upon all sides. Then, of a sudden, all the gates upon one
side of the castle were flung wide open and they issued out in full
armor. And at that time the sun shone out very brightly, and it gleamed
and sparkled like flames of fire upon the brightly polished steel of
those knights. Then they, the defenders of the castle, shouted very
loud, and they charged against their enemies, bearing the Queen with
them in their midst.

And for awhile they carried all before them and no one could withstand
them; and so they might have escaped, had it not been that the Queen was
with them and retarded them in their charge and their advance. For, in a
little while, owing to that delay, those of King Arthur’s army armed
themselves, and in another little while the friends of Sir Launcelot
were almost entirely surrounded by that vast multitude.

Then Sir Launcelot beheld that in a short time they would be shut off
from return to the castle, but that as yet the way was still open to
them. Wherefore he lifted up his voice and shouted, “Retreat! Retreat!”

[Sidenote: _They of the castle retreat into it again._]

Then, through the roar and thunder of battle and of blows and of sword
blade upon steel armor, all those who were there heard these words,
“Retreat! Retreat!” And they beheld that that retreat was nearly cut
off, but not quite. So they turned their horses and made their way
slowly backward toward the castle again, with the Queen still in their
midst. Those before turned their horses toward the castle, and those
behind fought with their faces toward their foes. And many who assaulted
that band tried to come to the Queen, but none could do it because of
the close array of horsemen that surrounded her. Many lost their lives
in that attempt, for if they penetrated the first line of horsemen they
were slain by the second line of defence.

[Sidenote: _Sir Gawaine overthroweth Sir Lionel._]

In that mêlée Sir Gawaine sought ever to come at Sir Launcelot, but he
could not do so because that Sir Launcelot remained ever near to the
person of the Queen. But Sir Gawaine charged against Sir Bors and
pierced him with his lance through the shoulder; and then he charged
with great violence against Sir Lionel, and in that charge he pierced
through the body armor of Sir Lionel so that the point of the spear
stood a hand’s breadth out behind his back. Then Sir Lionel would have
fallen from his horse only that the press that surrounded him held him
up and kept him from falling. And with that blow against Sir Lionel, the
end of Sir Gawaine’s spear broke off, and it remained penetrated into
the body of Sir Lionel, a part of it showing in front and a part of it
showing behind.

Then Sir Lionel felt that he had received his death-wound, and he
groaned very dolorously. And Sir Gawaine heard him groan and perceived
how badly he was hurt. And he redoubled his attack, endeavoring to
obtain the body of Sir Lionel. But he could not obtain that body for it
was still held upright upon the horse, supported by several, and others
gathered about to defend it.

[Sidenote: _Sir Lionel dieth._]

Then Sir Gawaine was furious with rage and he fought as though he had
gone wode. For his sword flashed like flashes of lightning, and ever as
he struck he cried out in a loud and terrible voice, “That for Sir
Launcelot!” and “That for Sir Launcelot!” and ever again “That and that
for Sir Launcelot!” And so fierce and terrible were the blows that he
gave that many fell down before them and never moved again. But in spite
of his striving, they bore away Sir Lionel from his endeavor and so
brought him into the castle, where that night he died in a great agony
of thirst and of torment.

[Sidenote: _King Arthur is overthrown._]

In that battle, King Arthur and those who were with him made many
charges against the centre of Sir Launcelot’s array, and anon they had
come so close to where was the Queen that the King could almost have
touched her with his lance. So King Arthur came at last face to face
with Sir Launcelot, and Sir Ector was beside Sir Launcelot. And ever the
King strove to come at Sir Launcelot, but was unable to do so. For
somewhiles Sir Launcelot warded the blows from himself, and otherwhiles
those who were with him took those blows from him. Then Sir Ector
perceived how the King neglected his guard in assaulting Sir Launcelot,
and he arose in his stirrups and smote the King a terrible buffet upon
the helmet. At that blow the King’s brains swam, and he reeled and fell
off from his horse upon the earth. Then Sir Ector leaped from his horse
and he said, “Here will I put a stop to this war at its fountain-head.”
Whereupon he rushed off the King’s helmet and whirled his sword, and
prepared to smite the head off from the King.

[Sidenote: _They spare the King his life._]

But Queen Guinevere perceived the King’s danger and she shrieked out
very dolorously, “Spare the King his life, Sir Ector!” And Sir Launcelot
said to Sir Ector, “Sir, how is this? Would you slay your King? Remember
it was he who made you a knight and who made me a knight. Haply he may
forget that he made us knights, but let us not forget it.”

So with that Sir Ector put up his sword again, and he and Sir Launcelot
lifted the King and set him upon his horse once more. And the King wept
bitter tears to see how noble and knightly was Sir Launcelot, and he
said, “Ah, Launcelot, Launcelot, that this should be!”

So after that Sir Launcelot withdrew into the castle with the Queen and
the gates were closed behind him. But ever King Arthur sat still weeping
and saying, “Ah, Launcelot, Launcelot, that this should be!”

Then the friends of Sir Launcelot wist not what they should do in this
extremity, for there were they within the castle again, and could not
come out thence because of those who besieged them in that place. And
ever they were growing weaker with each assault, but the armies of King
Arthur were not growing weaker.

[Sidenote: _The Bishop of Rochester cometh to the King._]

At this extremity there came the Bishop of Rochester to the camp of King
Arthur, and the purpose of the Bishop was to make peace betwixt these
parties. So the Bishop came to where King Arthur was, and he found King
Arthur sunk in grief. For already three-and-twenty Knights of the Round
Table had lost their lives in these wars and contentions, and King
Arthur grieved for them very sorely. For there were no more knights like
those first knights foregathered about the Round Table, nor have there
ever been such knights as they were from that day to this.

Then the Bishop stood before the King, and the King looked at him
remotely as though he were a great distance away, for his eyes were
dimmed with weeping. And the Bishop said to the King, “Lord, let this
quarrel cease between you and Sir Launcelot, and let there be peace in
the land. For now is the entire land distracted with this quarrel. For
friend fighteth against friend, neighbor against neighbor;--yea, even
brother against brother. As for you, my lord, these knights are of your
Round Table and of your making; what pleasure or what honor then can it
be to you to destroy them?”

The King said to him, “Sir, this war was not of my forming or my
seeking, but of Sir Launcelot’s. For first Sir Launcelot resisted arrest
in a just cause, and then he resisted the arrest of the Queen. So he and
his fellows took the Queen away from me, and they have her in this
castle. Let them then deliver the Queen to me and there shall be peace
betwixt the friends of Sir Launcelot and my friends.”

[Sidenote: _The Bishop intercedes for the Queen._]

The Bishop said, “They will not deliver the Queen to thee, Lord,
excepting thou wilt declare upon thine honor that no harm shall befall
her. For it is said of all that the life of the Queen is in danger from
thee. Yet she is an honorable lady and as pure to thee as the day upon
which she came to thee. For she is free from sin or from guilt of any
sort. Wherefore, unless thou wilt declare that no harm shall befall the
life of the Queen and wilt declare that same in writing, she will not be
returned, but otherwise they will lay down their lives to guard her
safety.”

Then the King sat with his fist upon his forehead, and he considered for
a long time what the Bishop had said, and at last he said, as in a
smothered voice, “Well, then, let the Queen be delivered to me at
Camelot, and I upon my part shall promise that no harm shall be done to
her life, either to threaten it or to deprive her of it.” The Bishop
said, “Let me have that in writing.” And the King said, “I will do so.”

So the King called to him his scribe and he had him write those words;
to wit, that if the Queen would return to him, no harm should befall or
threaten her life in any way. And the King signed and sealed that
document and the Bishop took it with him and entered the Castle of
Joyous Gard.

[Sidenote: _The Bishop grieveth for the Queen._]

Thus the Bishop came before Sir Launcelot and his kindred, and Queen
Guinevere was with them at that time. And the Bishop looked at the face
of the Queen and he beheld that it was all white and wan with sorrow and
that her eyelids were red with continual weeping. And the Bishop was
very sorry for the Queen and for her sadness. So the Bishop came to her
and took her by the hand and he said to her, “Lady, stint thy sorrow,
for the time of sorrow is passed. For here am I with this document that
saith that no harm or injury of any kind shall be meditated against thy
life, but if thou wilt return to the King all shall be forgiven thee.
For wit you well that the King is determined that you shall return to
him, even if it cometh to the tearing down of this castle stone from
stone.”

Then the Queen took the document that the Bishop had and she read it
very carefully, and when she had ended she said, “Lord Bishop, how is
this? I see here that mine own safety is provided for, but that the
safety of no one else is mentioned. How of those good worthy knights and
gentlemen who have endangered their safety in my behalf; where is their
safety provided for in this parchment?”

Quoth the Bishop, “I will bespeak the King that point. Meantime, do you
remain here without endeavoring either to attack or to escape.”

She said, “I will remain here in peace until this time to-morrow.”

So the Bishop returned to the King and he brought that word to him;
that a pledge must also be given for the safety to the life of those
knights who thus guarded and sheltered the Queen. Then the King frowned,
and he said, “What other conditions will they impose upon me; why should
I give this pledge to those who have acted treasonably against me?”

[Sidenote: _The King promises to spare the knights of the castle._]

Then Sir Gawaine plucked the King by the sleeve and the King turned
aside with him. And Sir Gawaine whispered for awhile with the King and
by and by the King turned again to the Bishop and he said to the Bishop,
“Very well, then; take thou this my word to those knights that I will in
no wise do harm to them whilst they are within this Kingdom of Britain.
Take thou that word unto them.”

So the Bishop took that word to them within the castle and they were
very glad of it. And Sir Launcelot said to the Bishop, “Let the King
return to Camelot, and I will bring the Queen to him in three days’ time
surrounded by all the pomp and circumstance that appertain to her lordly
grace.”

So the King withdrew his army from that place and he returned to
Camelot. And Sir Launcelot made ready to bring the Queen to him at
Camelot.

       *       *       *       *       *

Thus came to an ending that sad and cruel war in the which many good
knights and warriors lost their lives and in which fourteen worthy
knights of the Round Table lost their lives.

For though all those knights were commanders of armies and of
battalions, yet death came to them as to other men of lesser note, so
that many of them, even to the highest, laid down their lives in this
dolorous war.

For so the hand of Fate lay heavy on that great and glorious company,
for though all grieved and made great sorrow over the war, and over
those who had died therein, and though comrade grieved over comrade who
died therein--even over those who were upon the other side and who were
enemies--yet the hand of Fate thrust them forward to do what they were
compelled to do, and to slay and to be slain in that sorrowful battle.

And so it was to the end, for ere that end was reached others who were
the foremost and the greatest of them all laid their bodies down to an
eternal sleep upon the bosom of that earth that gave them shape and
foothold. For yet were there other wars to come until all but a very
few of those who were left had given all that they had of the earth to
give in those wars.

But of this anon, for that which followeth has to treat of those things.

       *       *       *       *       *

So now followeth the history of those things that remain to be
hereinafter related in that which followeth, as shall now appear.

[Illustration]

[Illustration: Sir Gawaine challenges Sir Launcelot]




[Illustration] Chapter Sixth

_Sir Launcelot brings the Queen to King Arthur at Camelot. He quitteth
England, and King Arthur and Sir Gawaine pursue him._


So the King went to Camelot, and upon the third day the Queen was
brought to him at that place.

Thus saith the history of these things when the Queen was brought to the
Court of the King, to wit:

[Sidenote: _How Sir Launcelot brings the Queen to Camelot._]

First there came an hundred knights clad cap-a-pie all in armor and with
fittings and trimmings of green velvet. And these knights wore olive
wreaths upon their heads, indicative of peace. Followed these, four and
twenty esquires clad all in green velvet, and these were also crowned
with olive wreaths. After these came four and twenty ladies in waiting
upon the Queen, and these, like all the others, were clad in green
velvet and were embroidered with pearls and precious stones even to the
heels of their horses, and the bridles of their horses were bound with
wreaths of olive. Then came the Queen and Sir Launcelot clad all in
white samite, and the Queen carried an olive branch in her hand and Sir
Launcelot was crowned with an olive wreath. And the raiment of these two
was all aglitter with the jewels and pearls with which their clothes
were embroidered until they were stiff with that embroidery.

[Sidenote: _How the King sat at Camelot._]

At that time King Arthur received them seated upon his throne with great
dignity in the hall of the Castle at Camelot. And the throne upon which
he sat was of wrought gold and was cushioned and trimmed with crimson
velvet, embroidered in gold with the figures of leopards. And over above
the throne was a great canopy of crimson velvet ornamented with the
figures of leopards, embroidered with threads of gold. The King was
clothed all in white, and he wore a gold chain studded with jewels about
his neck and he wore his royal crown upon his head. Upon the left hand
of the King stood seven bishops in full canonical robes, and upon his
right hand was a throne like to his, and on that throne the Queen
should have been seated. But she was not seated there, for otherwise it
was empty.

Upon the left hand of the King, but upon the second step below the
throne, sat Sir Gawaine, the beloved nephew of the King. And all about
the hall were several hundred knights in full armor and armed cap-a-pie
with sword and lance, so that that hall glittered and gleamed with the
shine of that armor.

So King Arthur sat in state to receive the return of the Queen, and anon
she came to that place where the King awaited her. First came the
knights and esquires of Sir Launcelot, and these drew up in two parties
extending the length of the hall, leaving a line between them. Then came
Sir Launcelot and the Queen walking hand in hand up the length of that
lane, and the faces of Sir Launcelot and of that lady were both of them
exceedingly pale--hers with fear and his with fear for her. Behind these
two came the four and twenty ladies in waiting upon the Queen, and these
stopped in the midst of that lane and waited, whilst she and Sir
Launcelot approached King Arthur.

So Sir Launcelot and the Queen came to the foot of the throne where sat
the King, and when they had come to that spot Sir Launcelot kneeled and
the Queen stood before King Arthur.

[Sidenote: _Sir Launcelot speaketh._]

Quoth Sir Launcelot, “Dread Lord and King, here I bring to you your
Queen as I have promised to do, and if I took her away in sorrow and in
haste, then do I return her to you with ten thousand times the joy as
compared to what was that sorrow, and in ten thousand times the peace
and amity to what was that haste. Lord, for thirteen weeks has she dwelt
at Joyous Gard with all the state and circumstance due to her royalty,
and she cometh to you now as pure and as virginal as she came to you at
Camilard when first you loved her at that place and she loved you. Lord,
I pray you that you will take the Queen to your heart, and will cherish
her there as you one time cherished her, for, excepting that you pledged
me your word that no harm should befall her, she otherwise would not
have been thus brought to you as she is brought to-day.”

[Sidenote: _The King rebukes Sir Launcelot._]

Then King Arthur frowned until his eyes disappeared beneath his
eyebrows. For a little he answered nothing, then in a little he said,
“Messire, one time you were my friend and the best-beloved of all my
knights, but that time is past and gone, never to return again, for now
it is altogether otherwise with me and with you. Messire, I admire at
your coolness and phlegm. For you took my Queen away from me by force
and by force have you held her for all these several months. Many
knights have died by your hand and through your instrumentality, and
several of those knights were knights of my Round Table that one time
held you to it in bonds of love and amity. Yet now you stand before me
and recommend to me that I shall take back my Queen into my heart again.
Messire, wit you not that that which hath been done can never be undone,
but is and must remain altogether finished and completed? So it is with
this thing that you have done; for it also is and must remain altogether
finished and completed. Look you, Messire, here beside me is this
throne, which is empty. So it shall remain forever empty for me, for
never again shall Queen Guinevere or any other queen occupy it, for I
hereby and herewith renounce her utterly and entirely. She hath
withdrawn herself from my court and my bed and so she shall forever
remain withdrawn from them, for never again will I take her to my heart,
or place her in that estate which she once occupied.

[Sidenote: _The King sendeth the Queen to a convent._]

“I have pledged myself that no harm shall come to her through me; but
herewith I give her over to the Church. There she shall remain a recluse
until the day of her death.”

So said King Arthur, and at a motion of his hand the Lord Bishop of
Rochester came forth and took the Lady by the hand and led her away; and
as he led her away, she was weeping very bitterly.

So the Bishop of Rochester took the Queen to the Convent of Saint
Bridget at Rochester, and there she remained the lady abbess of that
convent even to the day of her death, as shall hereinafter be related.

Now all this while Sir Launcelot still kneeled before King Arthur, and
anon the King said to him again, “Messire, your own doom I will not
announce to you; but I will relegate the annunciation of that doom to
this lord, my well-beloved nephew, Sir Gawaine. For the injury which you
did to him is a thousand times greater than the injury which you did to
me. For though you took my Queen away from me, yet you did her no harm.
But with him, you slew five of his blood; to wit, three of his brethren
and two of his sons. And whilst three of them were in arms against you
so that you slew them wittingly and in self-defence, yet two of those
stood unarmed and naked before you, and those two loved you better than
anyone in all the world. One of those two your own hand made a knight
and the other was knit to you with many acts and deeds of friendship and
of love. Accordingly, I commit your doom to Sir Gawaine to announce to
you.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Gawaine pronounces the doom of banishment against Sir
Launcelot._]

Then Sir Gawaine smiled very bitterly upon Sir Launcelot, and he said,
“Messire, this is the doom that I pronounce. The King hath, in his great
clemency, promised you that no harm shall befall you in life or in limb.
So no harm shall come to you in that way if you are reasonable and obey
the commands of the King. This is his command--that in fifteen days from
this you must quit this kingdom, and that you shall never again return
to it whilst I live or while the King liveth.

[Sidenote: _And against his knights._]

“Also I pronounce the doom of banishment against those who have been
associated with you in these late affairs, to wit, against Sir Ector de
Maris, Sir Bors de Ganis and Sir Ure, and Sir Blamor and Sir Bleoberis
de Ganis, against Sir Galahautin, and Sir Galahud, and Sir Menaduke, and
Sir Galahadin, and Sir Hebes, and Sir Lavaine, and Sir Melias de Lisle,
and Sir Palamydes, and Sir Safyr, and Sir Clegis. Upon all of these I
pronounce the doom of banishment upon behalf of this King, and if any of
you be found within this isle of Britain fifteen days from now, you will
be arrested and hanged as traitors. Meantime all your castles, earldoms,
and baronies shall be forfeited to the King.”

Said Sir Launcelot, “Sir, that is a bitter sentence; for here in this
island have I lived all my life, and of it I love every stock and stone
that mine eyes behold. But if I be outlawed and cast forth from this
kingdom, then will I go to my Castle of Chillion in the land of France,
and there I believe I shall be right well welcome and protected. So
come, my lords, and let us be gone to that country whiles there yet
remains time for us to depart.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Launcelot and his knights withdraw._]

So Sir Launcelot and all those lords who were condemned with him
departed from the coast of England and entered into France, where they
took up their lodging with much sorrow and repining.

And King Arthur seized upon all their earldoms, baronies, and estates,
and some of these he bestowed elsewhere and some of them he held for the
crown.

       *       *       *       *       *

Now after those knights had departed for France, Sir Gawaine urged upon
King Arthur that he should follow them to that kingdom and attack them
there at the Castle of Chillion. King Arthur said, “Sir, why should I do
this thing? Did not Sir Launcelot bring back my Queen to me and did I
not forgive him for what he had done? Is he not now banished from the
land, and is he not then punished for all those things that he has done?
Let him now live and die in peace.”

But to this Sir Gawaine ever answered, “Sir, I cannot reconcile it to
myself thus to surrender my rights in this case. For Sir Launcelot slew
my brothers and my sons, and never will I forgive him for that offence.
Either his blood or my blood shall answer for this; wherefore, if thou
wilt not follow him to France, then I myself will go thither and will
seek him out and punish him. As for thee, thou mayst forgive him as a
man, but yet thou mayst not forgive him as a king. For as a king thou
art the head of the law, wherefore thou mayst not forgive one who hath
broken the law. So with Sir Launcelot of the Lake, for he broke the laws
and he brought these Knights of the Round Table against thee and to
follow him; wherefore it is thy duty under the law to assail him and to
punish him for his treason, and also to punish those who follow him
likewise for their treason.”

[Sidenote: _The King moveth against Sir Launcelot._]

Now by this time King Arthur was growing toward being an old man, and he
was much broken by sorrow and by cares, wherefore these words of Sir
Gawaine so moved him that at last he agreed to sail with an army into
France and to attack Sir Launcelot and his friends at Chillion. So King
Arthur entrusted the government of Britain to his nephew, Sir Mordred
(who was brother to Sir Gawaine), and he and Sir Gawaine departed with a
great army for France.

So this army appeared before the Castle of Chillion, and they shut Sir
Launcelot and his friends up within the castle and besieged them at that
place.

Then said Sir Launcelot, “How is this; hath not King Arthur any mercy
upon us, or doth he seek our lives and our blood? Well, if he seeks
those lives and that blood, then will there be many cruel and bitter
battles betwixt us, and many knights shall fall, and so will come the
entire end of the Round Table. Ah, well, if God willeth that it be so,
so it must be.”

[Sidenote: _Of the battles about Chillion._]

So there were many battles around about Chillion and many lost their
lives. And though the knights of King Arthur lost more lives than did
the knights of Sir Launcelot, yet they could better afford to lose those
lives because new knights were constantly coming from Britain to
replenish the army of King Arthur, but no new knights were coming to the
army of Sir Launcelot, wherefore his losses were not replenished to him.

       *       *       *       *       *

Now at that time there was a very wise and learned physician in the camp
of King Arthur, and one day Sir Gawaine sent for this learned man to
come to him. When that wise man stood before Sir Gawaine, Sir Gawaine
said to him this, “Sir, can you not produce for me a lotion that shall
render me free from all wounds of any sort?”

[Sidenote: _The wise man provides medicine for Sir Gawaine._]

Quoth the wise man, “Sir, this is impossible. But I can give to you a
medicine of this sort, that if you take it, you will, from the ninth
hour of morning until the prime of noon, have the strength in your limbs
and in your arms as of ten men.” Sir Gawaine laughed, and said, “Provide
me then with that medicine.”

So the wise man prepared that medicine and gave it to Sir Gawaine, and
so it was for him as that physician had promised. For from the ninth
hour of the morning until the prime of noon, Sir Gawaine was uplifted in
arm and body to the strength of ten men.

[Sidenote: _Sir Gawaine giveth challenge against Sir Launcelot._]

So the next day after this medicine had been delivered to him, Sir
Gawaine went to the walls of the castle and he paraded under the walls
of the castle, and he called out, “Sir Launcelot, come forth and do me
battle. For this satisfaction thou owest to me for slaying my kindred.”
But Sir Launcelot would not come forth to do him battle. For Sir
Launcelot still loved Sir Gawaine and he loved King Arthur; both for the
sake of those times that were past and gone, when they had joy and
pleasure together. So because that the one was Sir Gawaine and the other
was King Arthur, he would not come forth to do battle. Nay, because of
his love for those two, Sir Launcelot would not fight in that part of
the battle where Sir Gawaine or King Arthur was, but would do battle at
other parts.

But when the next day had come, Sir Gawaine came again and the strength
of ten men was in his arms and his body. And he paraded back and forth
under the walls of the castle, and ever as he paraded he cried out
aloud, “Sir Launcelot, thou caitiff knight! Come forth and do me battle!
For thy doom is upon thee, and thou shalt die in this war; wherefore,
come and do me battle, or else announce that thou art afraid of me.”

But still Sir Launcelot would not go forth against him, but he sat in
the castle and groaned for sorrow and bitterness of spirit. Then Sir
Ector came to Sir Launcelot, and he said, “Kinsman, suffer me that I go
forth and do battle in thy behalf; for this man sharneth us by this
challenge.”

Then Sir Launcelot wept, and he said, “Thou shalt not go, for wit you
that I loved this man better than mine own blood. And if he should be
slain, then will my heart be filled with grief such as can never vacate
it again. And if thou art killed, then will I be without my brother, and
must take it upon me to fight Sir Gawaine upon the behalf of thy death.
Wherefore, I pray thee go not forth to meet him.”

But ever Sir Ector besought Sir Launcelot saying, “Brother, suffer me to
go!” And at last Sir Launcelot said, “Well go, and may God be with
thee!”

So Sir Ector armed himself and departed out of the castle to meet Sir
Gawaine.

Then Sir Gawaine rode up to Sir Ector and he said to him, “Sir, what
knight are you?” Quoth Sir Ector, “I am Sir Ector de Maris, the brother
of Sir Launcelot of the Lake.” Said Sir Gawaine, “Why come you here?”
And Sir Ector replied, “I come to do battle with you upon my brother’s
behalf.” Then Sir Gawaine laughed and he said, “Sir, you are welcome.
Rather would I have it that you were Sir Launcelot, but failing him I
will accept you as his proxy. So make yourself ready to encounter me.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Gawaine overthroweth Sir Ector._]

So each of those two knights rode to a certain distance and prepared
himself for that encounter. And when they were in all ways prepared they
charged very furiously against one another. In that meeting the spear of
Sir Ector broke into many pieces, but the spear of Sir Gawaine held. And
because he had the strength of ten men behind his spear, it penetrated
the shield of Sir Ector and it penetrated his body, so that it stood a
haeadth out behind his back.

Then Sir Ector fell from his horse and, in passing, the spear of Sir
Gawaine was broken so that the baton of the spear of Sir Gawaine
remained sticking in the body of Sir Ector; a part of it sticking out
before, and a part of it sticking out behind.

Then Sir Gawaine rode back to where Sir Ector lay, and he said to him,
“Sir, how fares it with you?” Quoth Sir Ector, “Alas, Messire! I have
received my death-wound.” Then Sir Gawaine laughed very bitterly, and he
said, “So shall it always be with traitors, such as thou.”

Then with that Sir Gawaine turned his horse and rode away from that
place, leaving Sir Ector lying where he was.

Anon there came forth those from within the castle and they lifted up
Sir Ector where he lay. And they laid him in the hollow of the shield
and bare him into the castle. And all who saw Sir Ector in that
condition wept to behold him so.

So they bore him to a chamber and laid him upon a soft couch and Sir
Ector groaned very dolorously with the agony of his wound, and Sir
Launcelot and several others stood before him, and ever as Sir Launcelot
considered him, the tears welled out of his eyes and rolled like shining
jewels down his cheeks.

So about the eleventh hour of the night Sir Ector said to Sir Launcelot,
“Sir, this wound is my death-wound. I pray you to draw out the baton of
that spear and let me pass.” Sir Launcelot said, “I cannot draw it
forth.” Sir Ector said, “Is there no friend here who will draw forth
this baton, and suffer me to die?”

Then said Sir Bors, “I will draw it forth,” and with that he came to the
bedside of Sir Ector and he laid hold of the baton of the spear. And he
drew very strongly upon that baton and it came forth out of that wound
and with it came a great effusion of blood.

[Sidenote: _Sir Ector dieth._]

Then Sir Ector groaned very deeply and he said, “I pass,” and with that
he closed his eyes and in a little while he was dead. Then they who were
there wept a great passion of tears, for Sir Ector was well-beloved of
all of them.

Now when the next morning was come, Sir Gawaine came again before the
castle and rode there as aforetime. And ever as he rode he cried out,
“Sir Launcelot, thou craven knight, come forth and do me battle.” But
still Sir Launcelot would not come forth against him. Then Sir Bors de
Ganis came to Sir Launcelot and he said to him, “Sir, suffer me to go
forth against this knight, for he bringeth shame upon us all.”

Quoth Sir Launcelot, “I crave you not to go, Sir; for this knight, Sir
Gawaine, is a very strong and powerful knight. Already hath he slain Sir
Ector, and should you also lose your life, what great loss that would be
to us all.” “Nevertheless,” said Sir Bors, “I would fain go forth
against him. For God may give me the victory, in which it will be a
great benefit to us all in that he will no more come to trouble us.”

Then Sir Launcelot turned away his head, and anon he said, “Go, in God’s
name, and may good fortune attend you. As for me, I cannot go against
Sir Gawaine because of the love I held for him. For should he slay me,
that would be a great misfortune for us all, but should I slay him,
never would I cease to sorrow and to repine for his death. Wherefore, I
cannot now go against him, but you may go against him.”

So Sir Bors armed himself and went forth out of the castle, and when Sir
Gawaine beheld him coming he was rejoiced, for he thought that this was
Sir Launcelot.

So Sir Gawaine rode up to him as he approached, and he said to him,
“Messire, what knight are you?” Him Sir Bors made answer, “Sir I am Sir
Bors de Ganis, and I have come forth here against you upon behalf of Sir
Launcelot of the Lake.”

“Sir,” said Sir Gawaine, “you are very welcome; though rather would I
have to do with Sir Launcelot of the Lake than with any other man in
all of the world. For I have no quarrel against you, but against him I
have a quarrel.”

“Nevertheless,” said Sir Bors, “I stand here now upon his behalf to do
battle for him.”

Quoth Sir Gawaine, “Prepare yourself then for battle!” So Sir Bors took
his assigned place and when they were in all wise prepared they rushed
together with great violence and fury.

In that encounter the spear of each knight was broken into many pieces,
even to the very fist that held the spear, and the horse of each
recoiled so that it sunk back upon its haunches and would, perhaps, have
fallen, had not the address of the knight rider recovered it. Then each
knight cast aside the truncheon of his spear and voided his horse, and
each drew his sword with great readiness and rushed to the battle very
furiously, violently and impetuously. Each smote the other many sore
buffets and strokes so that each knight was wounded in several places.

But Sir Gawaine was possessed of the strength of ten, and Sir Bors was
possessed but of the strength of one, so that by and by Sir Bors was
obliged to hold his shield low because of weariness from the redoubled
fury of Sir Gawaine’s attack.

[Sidenote: _Sir Gawaine woundeth Sir Bors._]

So Sir Gawaine perceived that opening which he made in his defence, and,
grinding his teeth together, he whirled up his sword and smote Sir Bors
upon the shoulder of that arm that held his sword. So violent and savage
was the blow that it sheared through the iron of the epulier and it
sheared through the flesh and bone of the shoulder so that the arm of
Sir Bors fell and hung down from the shoulder and his hand dropped the
sword that he held.

[Sidenote: _Sir Bors asks his life._]

Then Sir Gawaine laughed and ran forward and he set his foot upon the
sword of Sir Bors. And Sir Bors sank down upon his knees and he said in
a weak and faltering voice, “Sir Gawaine, I am sorely wounded. If it
please thee to do so, I pray thee to spare my life.”

Quoth Sir Gawaine, “Why should I spare thee thy life? Thou art a traitor
knave, and it is not fit that I should spare thee, but rather I should
slay thee as thou kneelest before me. But I cannot forget our long and
many associations; and I cannot forget that thou wert one of those three
knights who achieved the Grail, and brought the Grail back again to
Sarras. So I will forgive thee, and will spare thee thy life, if so be
that God will also spare it.”

Then Sir Gawaine turned and sheathed his sword, and he mounted his horse
and rode away. And anon there came the friends of Sir Bors from the
Castle of Chillion, and they lifted him up and laid him upon a litter,
and so they bore him away into the castle.

And they took Sir Bors to a room of the castle and stripped off his
armor and beheld the wound that it was very ghastly and dismal. And so
much blood was emitted from that wound that Sir Bors fainted and for
awhile he hung hovering upon the edge of death.

[Sidenote: _Sir Bors doth not die._]

But he did not die then or afterward, but he revived and his wound was
healed so that he, by and by, became well and strong again.

Then Sir Launcelot came to where Sir Bors was, and he said to him, “Sir
Bors, how fared it with thee?” And Sir Bors said in a fainting voice,
“Sir, I know not how it was with Sir Gawaine. For I found him to be so
passing strong that never have I found a stronger. For he smote down my
defences and he smote me this blow that I have received, and from which
I shall maybe die. For mine arm is nearly severed from its shoulder, and
I wit not whether I shall ever be strong and hale again.”

Then Sir Launcelot wept and he said, “Alas, that this is so! For now I
cannot forego this battle with Sir Gawaine any longer. For yesterday he
slew my brother, Sir Ector, and to-day he hath nearly slain thee. So
to-morrow I shall have to have ado with him, or else, by and by, all
shall perish at this place.”

Then Sir Bors said, “Sir, beware of him, for he hath strength more than
human, wherefore I fear that he may prove to thee thy undoing.”

To that Sir Launcelot answereth, “I should be sorry to find it so. But
whether it is thus or not, still must I have ado with him upon the
chance that I may thus save the lives of others within this place.”

So it came that Sir Launcelot was prepared to do battle with Sir
Gawaine.

       *       *       *       *       *

Now if you would hear more of this famous fight betwixt Sir Launcelot
and Sir Gawaine, I pray you to read that which followeth. For there it
shall be fully and distinctly set forth as it hath been told of in
several ancient histories dealing with these things.

[Illustration: The Passing of Sir Gawaine:]




[Illustration] Chapter Seventh

_Of the battle betwixt Sir Launcelot and Sir Gawaine. Also how King
Arthur returned to Little Britain._


So came the next day and Sir Gawaine had his esquires to enclose his
body in full armor of proof, and he mounted his horse and took a good
stout lance of ashwood in his hand, and he set forth once more to seek
Sir Launcelot as aforetime he had done. So Sir Gawaine came beneath the
wall of the castle, and he paraded before the wall, and ever as he thus
paraded he cried aloud and on high, “Come forth, Sir Launcelot of the
Lake! Come forth, thou caitiff knight, and do me battle!”

Then Sir Launcelot wist that now the time was come for him to do that
battle.

[Sidenote: _Sir Launcelot goeth against Sir Gawaine._]

So Sir Launcelot mounted upon his horse and took into his hand a good
stout lance of ashwood for his defence, and thus armed he gave orders
and the portcullis of the castle was raised and the drawbridge was let
fall and Sir Launcelot rode forth all clad in that armor of proof to
meet Sir Gawaine.

Then Sir Gawaine rode up to Sir Launcelot and gave him greeting and he
said to Sir Launcelot of the Lake, “Sir, I pray you tell me, are you Sir
Launcelot of the Lake, or are you another knight than he? For by your
figure and by your conduct and by that device which is upon your shield,
I wit you to be Sir Launcelot, and yet I know not whether you are he or
not he. For this is the third time I have challenged, and heretofore he
would not come out against me.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Launcelot bespeaks Sir Gawaine._]

Quoth Sir Launcelot of the Lake, “Sir, I am Sir Launcelot indeed, and
wit you, Sir Gawaine, I have well tried to avoid this battle, for I fear
me in this battle or in some other battle of its kind, either you or I
shall be slain. And I would not slay you for the love that was of old
betwixt us; for still I remember me of that love, and I hold it very
dear to my heart. Wherefore I would not do battle with you if that
battle could be avoided.”

Quoth Sir Gawaine, “What prate you of love, Sir? This battle cannot be
avoided, for wit you that even if ever I loved you, yet all that love is
now passed away, or rather it is transformed into hate. For you have
wounded me so deeply in my heart that no man can wound me so deeply and
yet live while I live also upon the earth. Wherefore either you or I
shall die by the hand of the other, if not at this time, then at some
other time.”

Quoth Sir Launcelot, “How have I wounded thee, Gawaine, or in what way
have I done thee such hurt as this? Tell me that I may make that wrong
right again.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Gawaine accuses Sir Launcelot._]

Said Sir Gawaine, “Wit you not that I have often told you how that first
you slew two of my sons, and my brother, and how that afterward you slew
two more of my brothers? Is not that injury enough for any man to bear
within his heart and yet to live under that injury?”

Then Sir Launcelot sighed and he said, “Sir, wit you that those two sons
and that brother I slew in battle and they were armed, and assaulting
me, and I knew them not. As for those two of your brothers whom I
afterward slew, them I slew in the press and fury of fighting. For I saw
not their faces in that fury and knew them not. For if I had known them,
wit you that I would have held my hand and spared them? Sir, for that I
am grieved to the heart, for I loved them both very well; more
especially Sir Gareth whom I made a knight in the field.”

Then Sir Gawaine laughed very bitterly, and he said, “Sir, you make a
very good excuse, still you did that which you did, and having done it
you must pay for it. For so every man must pay for that which he hath
done; let it be good or let it be ill. Come, Sir, prepare yourself for
battle, for I am hungry to have battle with you.”

Then again Sir Launcelot sighed, this time so deeply that his heart had
been lifted from its strings within his bosom by that sigh. And with
that sigh he closed his helmet, and reined in his horse and withdrew to
that part of the field which was to be his assigned place of battle.

[Sidenote: _Many view the battle._]

Then many of the defenders of the castle came down to the walls of the
castle and stood there, and looked down from those walls upon the two
who stood so in array of battle. And King Arthur and many others came
from the camp of the besiegers, and also stood them afar off to behold
the battle, so that with those and with these who were there it was as
good an assembly as any knights could have chosen in which to do battle.

And the sun shone very clear and strong--yet not too strong. And the
breeze blew very freely so that all the poplar trees around about the
castle were turned white with its blowing, and the river that ran down
past the castle was dusked and rippled by that wind, and all the reeds
of the river bowed and dipped into the water thereof.

So those two knights prepared themselves for the assault, making their
armor in all ways tight and secure. Then when they were in all ways
ready, they shouted to their horses and so sprang to the charge,
galloping against one another with a noise like to the noise of thunder.

So they met in the midst of the course and smote one another, in the
centre of the other’s shield. And before that shock the spear of each
was split into a great many very small pieces, even to the hand that
held it. And each horse sank quivering back upon its haunches at the
recoil of that blow, and would have fallen, were it not that the
extraordinary address of the knight rider recovered his horse with spur
and rein and voice. Then each knight cast aside the truncheon of his
spear and drew his sword, and each rushed at the other very furiously
and valiantly. Then each smote the other with great power and strength.

[Sidenote: _Sir Launcelot faileth._]

But though Sir Launcelot smote with all of his strength, yet Sir Gawaine
smote with the strength of ten. So that Sir Launcelot was driven
backward, and around and around in small circles, and in that assault he
was altogether astonished at the fury and the strength of Sir Gawaine.
For he wist not that Sir Gawaine had that strength of ten men, and he
knew not that Sir Gawaine had taken that medicine to lend him that
strength.

And Sir Launcelot had much ado to defend himself so that he made no
attack, but only a defence with sword and shield against the attack of
Sir Gawaine. And Sir Launcelot thought that never in all of his life had
he fought with so strong and so powerful a knight as Sir Gawaine--nay,
not even when he fought with Sir Turquine that day at the ford before
the castle of Sir Turquine. For anon the blood began to flow forth from
him in spite of all his defence, so that in a little while the ground on
which he fought was all sprinkled red with that blood, and his armor was
all ensanguined with the crimson streams that bathed it. And in all that
while Sir Gawaine had hardly any wounds at all, but he fought with all
his strength and might, and with the purpose to beat down his assailant.

But though Sir Gawaine fought in that wise, yet, by and by, it reached
the prime of noon, and still he had not struck down Sir Launcelot. Then
that strength of ten that he had with the medicine that he had taken
began to fade and wane away as the flame of a candle flickers and wanes
away when the wax is consumed. So anon Sir Launcelot felt that the
attack of Sir Gawaine was no longer so furious and so violent as it had
been, but that it was weaker. Therewith he redoubled his own battle with
tenfold violence. And now he no longer made defence, but instead of
defence he made attack. And he drave Sir Gawaine backward before him,
for Sir Gawaine could not stand before the fierceness of that attack now
that his strength was waning.

[Sidenote: _Sir Gawaine faileth and is overthrown._]

So Sir Gawaine bore back from before those blows, and by and by he began
to hold his shield full low for weariness. Then Sir Launcelot perceived
his opening, so he rushed the attack with double fury, and anon he swung
his sword and smote Sir Gawaine with it full upon the head. And so
violent was that blow that it clave asunder the helmet and the coif, and
it wounded the head beneath the coif.

Then Sir Gawaine sank down upon his knees, his hand relaxed and the
sword that was in his hand fell out from it upon the ground. Then Sir
Launcelot ran to Sir Gawaine and he set his foot upon the sword and he
rushed off the helmet of Sir Gawaine and he cried out very fiercely,
“Sir, yield yourself to me or I will slay you!” But Sir Gawaine said, “I
will not yield me to thee, so thou mayst slay me at thy pleasure!” Then
Sir Launcelot gazed at Sir Gawaine, and as he gazed at him the fury of
battle passed away from his soul like a mist from before the face of the
sun; and Sir Launcelot felt such great love for Sir Gawaine and such
great pity for him that his eyes ran all with tears.

[Sidenote: _Sir Launcelot spareth him his life._]

Then Sir Launcelot said, “Sir Gawaine, even if you do not ask me for
your life, yet will I grant it to you. Arise and depart!” To this Sir
Gawaine said, “Messire, in this you are foolish. For if you do not slay
me now, then when I am well and healed again, I will come back against
you, and will assail you again as I have assailed you to-day. For wit
you that in this quarrel either you shall die or I shall die.”

Sir Launcelot said, “Sir, this matters not to me! I cannot slay you now
and I will not slay you.”

So Sir Launcelot turned away from that place. And he mounted his horse
and departed thence. And as he rode back to the castle Sir Launcelot
wept so that hardly could he see the way before him because of the tears
that rained down from his eyes.

Then came those from King Arthur’s side who had looked upon the battle,
and they raised Sir Gawaine up and led him away to his tent. And when he
had come to his couch they unarmed Sir Gawaine and searched his wounds
and found that they were very deep and sore. So they dressed the wounds
of Sir Gawaine and put salves and unguents upon them, and so he was made
in all ways as comfortable as could be.

And Sir Gawaine sent for that cunning and learned physician who had
given him the medicine of strength, and he said to him, “Cannot you give
me a stronger medicine than that, and one that will make in me the
strength of twenty?” The physician said, “Sir, I cannot do that, for I
have no such power.” Sir Gawaine said, “Then can you not give me a
medicine that will make me stronger for a longer time than till the
prime of noon?” But the physician said, “Sir, I cannot do that either.”
Then Sir Gawaine sighed and he said, “Woe is me! I fear me I shall never
be able to overcome Sir Launcelot.”

Meanwhile the wounds of Sir Launcelot were being searched at the castle
and also were found to be very sore and very deep. So it was several
weeks before Sir Gawaine or Sir Launcelot recovered from those wounds.
But after those several weeks were over, then each knight was as strong
and as hale as he had ever been.

[Sidenote: _Sir Gawaine is healed. He challengeth Sir Launcelot._]

So, after Sir Gawaine was in all ways healed again, he clad himself in
armor and took in his hand a very strong and powerful lance and mounted
upon his horse once more. And Sir Gawaine rode out to the castle and he
rode up and down before the walls of the castle, and ever as he rode he
called out on high, “Sir Launcelot, come forth, thou caitiff knight, and
do me battle!”

Then they who heard those words went to Sir Launcelot, and they said to
him, “Sir, here Sir Gawaine is riding beneath the walls of the castle,
and he uttereth his challenge against you.” Sir Launcelot sighed and
anon he said, “Send mine armor here to me”; and he said, “Send Galliard
hither” (Galliard being the name of the esquire of Sir Launcelot).

So the esquire came and he aided Sir Launcelot to put his armor upon his
body and his limbs, and so Sir Launcelot was in all wise armed cap-a-pie
in that armor. Then Sir Launcelot took a good stout strong spear in his
hand, and he mounted his horse. And the gates of the castle were opened
to him as they had been aforetime; and Sir Launcelot rode forth into the
sunlight to meet Sir Gawaine as he had aforetime done.

So Sir Launcelot rode up to where Sir Gawaine was and he said to Sir
Gawaine, “Sir, I am here to meet thee.” Sir Gawaine said, “I see that
thou art, and I give thee welcome.” Sir Launcelot said, “Sir, it is with
greater grief than ever that I come forth to meet you to-day. For this
is the fourth challenge that you have given to me, and I cannot receive
any more challenges from you. So it is this day either you or I shall
have to die. For I cannot suffer it that you shall come to me for day
after day as you do, to utter your challenge against me.” Said Sir
Gawaine, “Messire, it is to my mind also that either you or I lay down
our life to-day. If it be I who must die, then am I glad to lay down my
life for my sons and my brothers whom you have slain; if it be you who
are to die, then am I still more glad to sacrifice you to their spirits.
Yet as you slew them unarmed, so it will be a greater pleasure to me to
slay you for their sakes.”

Quoth Sir Launcelot, “Are you ready?” and Sir Gawaine said, “Yea, I am
in all wise ready.”

So once more as it was before so it was now, for many of those of the
castle came and stood upon the walls of the castle to behold that
battle; and also there came many from the camp of King Arthur, and these
stood upon the surrounding hills so that all those hills were covered
with a multitude of men watching that combat.

So each knight having assumed his place of battle, and each being in all
wise prepared, each set his spear in rest and each shouted to his horse
to advance. Then the one charged against the other with great speed and
violence, and so each met the other in the middle of the course with a
crash like to a clap of thunder.

[Sidenote: _They two do battle together._]

As it was before, so now each lance was shivered to splinters, even to
the very truncheon of the spear, and each horse reeled back from that
assault. Then again each knight recovered his horse with spur and voice
so that he did not fall in that recoil.

Then each knight cast aside the stump of his spear, and each leaped from
his horse, drawing his sword from its scabbard for the assault. So they
rushed together as aforetime, striking and lashing with might and main.

But again Sir Launcelot found Sir Gawaine possessed of such strength as
astonished him, for he felt that he was fighting with his own strength
against the strength of ten men.

In that battle he received many wounds that were worse than they had
been before; for this time Sir Gawaine fought with great desperation to
end that battle before high noontide. But ever Sir Launcelot made very
strong and powerful defence, striking but few blows of assault, but
putting himself ever in the posture of defence. Yet in spite of that
defence, both the armor upon his body and the earth upon which he stood
were all ensanguined with the blood that flowed from the many wounds
that he received in that battle.

But at last it came high noontide, and with the coming and passing of
noon the strength of Sir Gawaine reached its height and limit, and then
it began its decline. So Sir Launcelot felt the waning of Sir Gawaine’s
strength and therewith ceased from his defence and began to frame his
attack against the other. Then Sir Gawaine retreated backward, and he
assumed such defence as he was able. But Sir Launcelot rushed upon him
and beat him again and again and yet again with his sword. And Sir
Gawaine was wounded in many places, for the blood gushed in streams out
of many deep cuts through his armor plate.

[Sidenote: _Sir Launcelot wounds Sir Gawaine mortally._]

Then from weariness the shield of Sir Gawaine began to fall full low,
and Sir Launcelot perceived this and ran in upon him. And Sir Launcelot
whirled his sword and smote Sir Gawaine with all his might upon the neck
upon the left-hand side. And the blade of Sir Launcelot’s sword sheared
through the armor at that place, and it sheared through the neck and the
breast, and so deep was that wound that Sir Gawaine suffered from that
blow his death-wound.

Yet Sir Gawaine would have stood to fight if he could have done so; but
he could not stand. Otherwise, he sank slowly down upon his knees and
there rested, with his hand upon the earth. And the blood poured down
his arm and wet the earth beneath him.

Then Sir Launcelot ran in upon him and he rushed the helmet off Sir
Gawaine’s head, and he cried out, “Sir Gawaine, yield thee or I will
slay thee!”

Quoth Sir Gawaine, “Messire, already thou hast slain me. For this wound
which thou hast given to me is my death-wound. So I feel it to be, for
the life is already passing out of me through that wound.”

Then Sir Launcelot wept and he said, “Sir, say not so. Now I pray thee
that thou wilt forgive me for this wound and for all else that I have
done against thee!”

[Sidenote: _Sir Gawaine will not forgive Sir Launcelot._]

But Sir Gawaine looked at the blood that ran in streams down his arm,
and he said, “I will not forgive thee, Launcelot, for otherwise, I will
die in my hatred of thee. For thou hast slain me as thou hast slain my
brothers, and upon thee I voice my curse and their curse as well. For my
curse and their curse is this: that never after this day shalt thou
prosper in anything that thou shalt undertake. Never shalt thou join in
any battle from this time forth; and the dearest wish of thy heart shall
disappear from thy hands when thou closest them upon that wish. Thou
shalt live in sorrow and shall die shut away from all sounds and sights
of knightly battle. This is my curse and my sons’ curse and my brothers’
curse upon thee, so wit you that though I die yet you shall be in a
worse estate than I who am dead.”

Then Sir Launcelot knelt weeping before Sir Gawaine, and Sir Gawaine
said, “Get you hence, Sir knight, for my friends are coming.”

Then Sir Launcelot raised his head and looked and he beheld that the
Knights of King Arthur were coming in that direction. So he turned and
mounted his horse and rode away at a hard gallop toward the castle, and
he entered the castle and the gates thereof were closed behind him.

[Sidenote: _Sir Launcelot grieveth._]

Then many of those knights who were dearest to Sir Launcelot came about
him to give him praise for overthrowing Sir Gawaine. But Sir Launcelot
would not look at them. Otherwise, he turned away his head from them and
withdrew to his own inn. For wit you that Sir Launcelot loved Sir
Gawaine better than any man in all of the world; yea, better than his
own blood and kindred. And now he knew that he had slain that one whom
he loved the best of all; wherefore he lay with his face turned to the
wall and melancholy enclosed him all over, like to a cloak of black.

But meanwhile Sir Gawaine had swooned so that when those knights and
gentlemen, his friends, came to him, he lay on the ground like one who
was dead. Those gathered him up and laid him upon a litter, and they
bore him away in that litter to his tent. There they unlaced the armor
and removed it, and anon the chirurgeon came to him to search his
wounds. But when the chirurgeon beheld that great wound in his neck, he
wit that Sir Gawaine could not live. So the chirurgeon sent for King
Arthur to come hither, and he said to the King, “This man cannot live,
but must die.” King Arthur wept, and he said to the chirurgeon, “How
know ye that he must die?” To which the chirurgeon replied, “Lord, when
I looked in at that wound in the lower part of his neck, methought I
could see his heart beating beneath it. Wherefore, I know that if the
heart groweth cold through his wound, then he must die.”

Then King Arthur hid his face and for awhile he said nothing. Then he
went to the bedside of Sir Gawaine, and he said to him, “Messire, how is
it with you?”

[Sidenote: _Sir Gawaine advises the King._]

Sir Gawaine smiled at him and said to him, “Sir, wit you that I must die
of this hurt.” King Arthur said, “I trow not.” Sir Gawaine said, “In
that you are mistook, for here have I my death-wound, and in a little
while I must die.” King Arthur said, “Sir, keep up your heart.” To this
Sir Gawaine made answer, “My heart faileth not, but my life hangeth
fluttering upon my lips, and soon it must pass away from me.” And Sir
Gawaine said, “Sir, wit ye of this, your own case is as bad as mine.
Return you again to Britain as fast as you are able, for I trust not
more than need be to Sir Mordred’s truth, albeit he is my brother. For
he hath ever had a dark and gloomy spirit. And he hath ambition for the
throne, and now that he hath the power behind that ambition, and now
that you have lost so many good and worthy knights at this castle, he
will certes seize upon your throne unless you are by to wrest it out of
his hands. Wherefore I pray you to return to Britain as soon as may be.”

King Arthur said, “Sir, these are imaginings upon your part. For Sir
Mordred is a Knight of the Round Table, and is bound to me in fealty.
Why, therefore, think you he would be treacherous to me?”

Sir Gawaine said, “Lord, I lie now very close to the edge of death and
all things appear extraordinarily clear and distinct to mine eyes. Sir
Mordred hath no love for any soul save only for himself. Wherefore, I
fear me he will sacrifice you to his desires, and will seize upon your
throne. Lord, I shall not live until to-morrow morning, wherefore, I
charge you that when I am dead, you shall bury me here in haste, and
depart straightway for England, for I fear me for your kingdom in
Britain.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Gawaine dieth._]

So that night in the second hour after midnight, Sir Gawaine drew his
last breath and died. And King Arthur was there at that passing, and
several knights companions of the Round Table were there, so that Sir
Gawaine did not die in loneliness. And after he had passed, King Arthur
wept and he said as follows:

                       THE LAMENT OF KING ARTHUR

[Sidenote: _King Arthur’s lament._]

“So passeth this dear and faithful friend. There is not of all those who
are left anyone whom I love so well as I loved him. For though he was
passionate in his angers and his indignations, yet to me he was always
loving and full of dutifulness and kindliness. He was the right hand and
support of my throne and its chiefest prop in all of its weaknesses, and
I had hoped that he would have occupied that throne after I had departed
from this earth.

“But now this is past and gone and he is taken who was, next to Sir
Launcelot of the Lake, the brightest and most glorious figure of all my
Round Table.

“He was the companion of my youth. For when I had fought my battles and
come to my throne, he was among the first who came and laid his hands
between my palms. Also he was one of the first of all those
knights-elect of the Round Table to take his seat at that table.

“But now he is gone and I am left alone, like the tree in the forest
that hath been struck by lightning. Yea, like that tree my foliage is
withered and now I stand stark and bare against the sky. For my Queen,
who was the lover of my youth, is estranged from me, and I shall never
behold her more. My Round Table, that was otherwise the chiefest glory
of my reign, is broken and scattered and many of those who were one time
dearest to me in love are now my foes. Where are now the defenders of my
throne? They are gone; and that throne itself totters to its fall.

“All these are sad and woful happenings, but the saddest and most woful
of all is that this good worthy knight hath died. Would that I had died
in his stead and that he had not died, but that I had died for him. What
worse hath Fate in store for me than this that he is dead?”

So in words such as these or in words like to them, King Arthur mourned
for Sir Gawaine; for it seemed that no worse blow could befall him than
this; to wit, the death of Sir Gawaine.

       *       *       *       *       *

[Sidenote: _News cometh to the King of Sir Mordred._]

That morning King Arthur was aroused very early from his couch of grief
by a messenger that came to him with a message from Britain, and that
message was this: that Sir Mordred had seized upon the throne and the
crown of Britain, and was holding them for his own.

This message came from Sir Constantine of Cornwall, who was the cousin
of Sir Gawaine and who was yet living in England. And Sir Constantine
said, “Hasten! Hasten your return, O Lord King, and let nothing delay
that return!”

Then King Arthur gave command that the siege of Chillion should be
raised, and that after Sir Gawaine was buried they should all return
again to Britain.

[Sidenote: _Sir Gawaine is buried._]

So that day the funeral of Sir Gawaine was held with great pomp and
circumstance. Four bishops conducted the mass for the rest of his soul,
and the whole army knelt to pray for him. And those people within the
Castle of Chillion also kneeled upon the battlements of the castle wall
and prayed for the rest of his soul. For next to Sir Launcelot, he was
the greatest knight in the world.

So they laid him at rest at that place--a good worthy knight and one
well established in all courts of chivalry both then and thereafter. For
if he was violent of temper and if he sought revenge upon Sir Launcelot
for the death of his sons and his brethren, yet he gave his life for
that anger and that revenge, and that the manes of his kindred might be
satisfied.

       *       *       *       *       *

So endeth the history of Sir Gawaine.

[Illustration: Sir Mordred the traitor]




[Illustration] Chapter Eighth

_How King Arthur returned to England. How he fought his last battle with
Sir Mordred._


[Sidenote: _Sir Mordred despaireth._]

So the news came to Britain that King Arthur was returning to that
realm, and that news was conveyed to Sir Mordred where he was. And when
Sir Mordred heard thereof he sat sunk in melancholy, his head bowed upon
his breast, and his food and wine standing untasted beside him.

And several of the friends of Sir Mordred were with him at that time,
and with them was Sir Mador de la Porte, who had, since his battle with
Sir Launcelot, been an enemy to King Arthur. These say to Sir Mordred,
“Sir, why are you so cast down? Wit you that King Arthur is not yet
returned, and that when he doth return he must do battle with you to
regain his kingdom.”

Quoth Sir Mordred, “Yes, that is very true, but wit you that I have
given out word to the world that King Arthur was slain in battle before
the Castle of Chillion, and in that word lay my strength. Wherefore now,
when King Arthur returneth to Britain, and when the people find that he
is yet alive, they will turn to him and will cast me out.”

[Sidenote: _His friends advise him._]

Quoth Sir Mador de la Porte, “Then it behooves you, Sir, to make stir
and to proclaim to the people that with King Arthur there will be
continued wars, but that with you there will be peace and tranquillity.
For wit you that King Arthur for this year past hath been continually at
war against Sir Launcelot, and during that time you have not had one
single war in all of Britain. Wherefore, as people love peace, so they
will cling to you. Beside this, you should summon the Archbishop of
Canterbury to your presence and have him crown you as king. For if you
be a king in your own right, then will you have that much more strength
to do battle for your own rights. Now here at hand is the Archbishop of
Canterbury, and he shall be summoned and shall crown you at your
demand.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Mordred beseeches the Archbishop to crown him._]

So they sent for the Archbishop of Canterbury, and he came to where Sir
Mordred was. Sir Mordred said to him, “Sir, wit you why I have sent for
you? It is that you shall crown me King of Britain.”

[Sidenote: _The Archbishop refuses._]

Quoth the Archbishop, “I cannot do this thing that you ask of me, for
the news is that King Arthur is returning to Britain. How then can you
be crowned King of Britain when the rightful King of Britain is still
alive?”

To this Sir Mordred made reply, “I have not set for you to reason with
me, but to crown me as the King of this realm. For if you crown me, then
do I believe that I shall be well able to defend my crown and my
kingship, but if you do not crown me, then will I do battle with King
Arthur as a usurper to make myself a king instead of him.”

Then said the Archbishop, “Sir, you shall not do this thing. For I, as
the head of the Church in this realm, bid you to surrender your rights
and claims unto the just and lawful king who now returneth. For he
surrendered his kingship to you for a little while whilst he was away
from Britain, and not for a permanency. Yet you would make that
surrender permanent, for you would make yourself king instead of him.
Wherefore, if you do not surrender yourself to King Arthur’s mercy upon
the day of his landing, then will the Church curse you with bell, book
and candle as the usurper of those rights that belong to another.” Then
Sir Mordred was filled with rage against the Archbishop and he cried
out, “Sir, get you gone, or I shall forget myself and draw my sword and
slay you perhaps.”

[Sidenote: _The Archbishop withdraweth._]

So the Archbishop withdrew from the presence of Sir Mordred, and he
called his court about him, and he recounted to that court all that had
passed between him and Sir Mordred. And he said, “Let us fly from this
place. For we are in danger here.” So the Archbishop took him a strong
horse and he mounted upon it and his court also mounted upon horses, and
then he and his court rode with great haste away from that place and to
Dover, where King Arthur was expected to be about to land.

After the Archbishop had gone and when Sir Mordred found that he had
gone, Sir Mordred collected such of his army together as were there at
hand; and he also descended to Dover, taking that army with him; his
intent being to prevent the King from landing if he could do so.

So came King Arthur to Dover, and as one stood upon the cliffs one
beheld that his ships and galleys covered the entire sea as far as the
eye could behold. And as the King approached the shore, he beheld that
there was a considerable army drawn up in array upon the beach where he
was to land, and he knew not whether that array were to welcome him or
to do battle with him. But at length he perceived Sir Mordred in the
forefront of that array, and he wist that that army was there to do
battle with him. Then he groaned aloud and he said, “Is there yet more
blood to be shed? Well, then, it must be shed, for never will I give up
my throne unless I give it up with my life. For eight and twenty years
have I held that throne, and shall I now surrender it to this man, my
nephew Mordred? No; never!”

[Sidenote: _Of the battle of Dover._]

So as the boats drew near to the shore, those who were in them leaped
into the water and waded to the shore. And the army of Sir Mordred came
down to the water and did battle with those who sought to land. And so a
great battle was fought there at the edge of the water, so that the
water was all discolored red with the blood of those who were wounded or
slain and who fell into the flood. Wherefore it was that with each
recurring wave this red water ran upward upon the white sands, and then
receded, leaving the sands all stained red where it had flowed upon it.

But yet Sir Mordred did not prevent that army from landing, for ever
more knights and yeomen and still more leaped from the boats and into
that shallow water, and so at last the army of Sir Mordred was forced
back from the water and King Arthur’s army landed upon the shore.

Then Sir Mordred withdrew his army from that place and King Arthur took
possession of that part of Britain.

After that the Archbishop of Canterbury came to where King Arthur was,
and he gave him greeting, saying, “Greeting, King Arthur, and give thee
joy of landing upon this soil. For here am I who am the head of the
Church and I give thee welcome to thy realm. For wit you that Sir
Mordred would fain have had me crown him king, but I would not crown
him, having heard that thou wert still alive.”

Then King Arthur embraced the Bishop and kissed him upon either cheek,
and said to him, “Sir, I thank you for your welcome. And I thank you
that you have guarded and protected my rights.”

Now, after having been thus driven away from Dover, Sir Mordred withdrew
to Baremdown, and at that place he gathered about him all those of his
followers who had hitherto been tardy in coming to him. And he assembled
with him all those who had been friends to Sir Launcelot (for these were
now at enmity with King Arthur). So at that place Sir Mordred had a very
considerable army to confront King Arthur withal.

Then Sir Mordred stationed that army upon a rise of land where were
three steep hills. For so he could charge down those hills against his
enemies, whilst they must charge up those hills against him.

So came King Arthur, and when he perceived the dispersion of Sir
Mordred’s army, he also arranged his army into three divisions. The
centre division he took himself; the right division he entrusted to the
King of North Wales, and the left division he placed under the
leadership of Sir Ewaine, who had not quitted Britain for all this time.

[Sidenote: _Of the battle of Baremdown._]

Then King Arthur charged his army up those hills against his enemy, but
he could not climb those hills because of the steepness thereof, and
because of the defence of the enemy at the top of the steeps. And
afterward he charged again and again, but still he could not gain the
crest of those hills.

Then Sir Ewaine’s division overlapped the army of Sir Mordred, and he
charged up that hill both before and behind. And he doubled Sir
Mordred’s party up upon itself and threw it into great confusion.

But that wing of Sir Mordred’s army could not retreat to the rear by
reason that Sir Ewaine’s knights were there; wherefore, it fled back
upon the centre of the army and threw that centre also into confusion.
Then King Arthur charged for the fourth time, and this time he took the
centre hill of the three, and with that the army of Sir Mordred broke
and fled. And the army of Sir Mordred fled toward Salisbury, and a great
many knights were slain in that flight. And the army of Sir Mordred took
up its station not far from Salisbury, and not far distant from the sea.

So King Arthur won the battle of Baremdown, but with sad and bitter
loss. For many knights fell in that assault and amongst them was Sir
Ewaine, who was mortally hurt.

[Sidenote: _Sir Ewaine is wounded._]

Now when King Arthur heard that Sir Ewaine was hurt, he went to where
the wounded knight lay in his pavilion. And Sir Ewaine’s face was very
wan and hollow and pale, and the dew of death stood upon his forehead.
Then King Arthur went to the couch of Sir Ewaine and he kneeled beside
the couch and embraced Sir Ewaine about the body with his arms. And the
tears ran down King Arthur’s face and wet the face of Sir Ewaine that
was beneath him. And Sir Ewaine said, “Art thou there, my king? For I
cannot see thee, and yet meseems I feel thee weeping upon me.” And King
Arthur said, “Ewaine, it is I.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Ewaine biddeth King Arthur to send for Sir Launcelot._]

Then Sir Ewaine said, “Sir, send for Sir Launcelot to aid thee in this
war. For Sir Launcelot is the best of all thy knights and he has with
him several knights that are very good and strong. These will come to
thine aid if thou wilt ask it of them, and so thou wilt easily overthrow
Sir Mordred. For many of the knights also are friends with Sir Launcelot
who are now in the army of Sir Mordred, thinking that thou art at enmity
with Sir Launcelot. But if Sir Launcelot cometh to thee, then will
those knights quit Sir Mordred and will cleave to thee. But if thou dost
not send for Sir Launcelot then it may be that Sir Mordred will
overthrow thee. Wherefore I beseech thee to send for Sir Launcelot and
for his knights to aid thee.”

Quoth King Arthur, “How shall I send for him? And by what right shall I
ask him to come to mine aid? Sir Launcelot is my foe, for he took from
me my wife and held her from me for several months. And he hath slain my
nephews and he slew Sir Gawaine, who was my best beloved of all. How,
then, shall I now ask him to come to mine aid?”

[Sidenote: _Sir Ewaine writeth a letter to Sir Launcelot._]

Quoth Sir Ewaine, “Give me parchment and ink.” So they brought ink and
parchment to Sir Ewaine and they propped him up upon his bed. And with
that his wounds burst out bleeding afresh, so that he wist that he had
but a short time to live.

Then Sir Ewaine wrote to Sir Launcelot and he said to him, “Sir, this
day hath been fought a great battle upon Baremdown, and King Arthur,
mine uncle, won that battle. But many knights have died in that battle,
and I in it have received my death-wound. Sir, I pray you let all
bygones pass and be done betwixt you and King Arthur. And I pray you to
forget and forgive any injury you may have received or given; for in
this war King Arthur is put to such a pass that maybe he shall win and
maybe he shall not win; wherefore I pray you to come to him without any
delay, and so make his winning this war a certainty.

“Sir, I myself have been sorely wounded and am dying, and in an hour I
shall have passed and gone from this earth. So, with my dying strength I
write you to come to the aid of your king who made you a knight some
while ago.”

Such as this was Sir Ewaine’s letter, and after he had written it he
signed his name to it.

This letter King Arthur sent by a messenger to Sir Launcelot of the Lake
in France. There Sir Launcelot received it and paid heed to it. For he
summoned his knights about him and he read that letter to them, and he
said to them, “Messires, such as this is the need of King Arthur. Now
who will go with me to Britain and do battle in this for the King of
Britain?” And those knights said, “I will go!”--“And I!”--“And I!”--“And
I!”--until they all of them agreed to go to Britain and fight for King
Arthur.

[Sidenote: _Sir Ewaine dieth._]

Now return we to King Arthur again. For there was he left kneeling
beside the couch of Sir Ewaine. And so he continued to kneel and
presently Sir Ewaine said, “Good, my Lord, are you there?” For Sir
Ewaine’s eyes were now darkening in death and he could not see
anything. And King Arthur said, “Yea, I am here.” And he took Sir
Ewaine’s hand in his, and Sir Ewaine’s hand was cold and very heavy,
like to lead. And Sir Ewaine said, “Hold my hand and do not let it go.”
So King Arthur held the hand of Sir Ewaine. So Sir Ewaine lay for a
little while, breathing deep draughts of death; and by and by he sighed
very deeply and then he lay still; for his spirit had passed from him
with that deep sigh.

Then King Arthur arose and he said, “Alas, that this good worthy knight
is gone. For he was my nephew and he was very faithful to me.” And he
said, “To-day we will bury him, and to-morrow we shall follow Sir
Mordred, and either he shall die or I shall die. For so through him and
his deeds hath this kind and noble gentleman died; wherefore he must pay
the price of that death--he must slay me as well, or else I will slay
him.”

So King Arthur arose and went forth from that place. And when the day
was come, Sir Ewaine was buried at the minster at that place, and it was
said in the history of these things that his skull was to be seen there
even to the very day of the ancient writing of this history.

[Sidenote: _King Arthur advances against Sir Mordred._]

Then after all honors had been paid to the body of Sir Ewaine, King
Arthur gathered his army together and he arose and pursued Sir Mordred
in the direction of Salisbury. And the next day he came to that place
where Sir Mordred was, and there he halted his army.

That night King Arthur lay in his pavilion and he slept very deeply and
profoundly, as sleeps the man who is weary of toil and marching. And
anon while he slept he had a dream and the dream was this:

[Sidenote: _The King hath a dream._]

He dreamed that he sat upon his throne, and that his throne was
established upon a monstrous wheel. And the wheel rose high with him
sitting upon his throne. And anon the wheel rose above the rim of the
earth, and he beheld the sun shining in all his glory. And the sun
glittered upon him and he felt all the joy and all the delight of that
sunlight. And it seemed to King Arthur that he was a great while in that
sunlight, but he was not, for the wheel was turning very slowly with
him. So the wheel reached its highest apex, and then it began to
descend. And the wheel descended more and more swiftly, and anon it
descended below the rim of the world, and so the sunlight had left the
King. And the wheel descended more and more swiftly, so that King Arthur
began to fear he would be cast out of his throne by the turning of the
wheel. And King Arthur dreamed that he looked down beneath him, and he
beheld that the wheel was descending very rapidly to a great pool, as it
were a lake. And this pool was filled with blackness and with blood,
and behold there was no bottom to that pool. And by then the throne of
King Arthur was inclining very greatly toward that pool, and the King
felt that he was slipping from his throne, and at that his soul was
filled with terror. Then he tried to awaken, but he could not. So, in
his terror, he screamed very loudly and shrilly, “Save me! Save me, or I
fall!” And so shrill was his calling that several knights and attendants
ran into the pavilion where he was, and these beheld the King struggling
in his sleep. And they cried out, “Lord, Lord! What aileth thee?
Awaken!” And with that King Arthur awoke.

And King Arthur sat up upon his couch and gazed about him, as one sunk
in great amazement, and he said, “I slept and I dreamed a dream; and it
was a dreadful dream.” And he said to those in attendance upon him, “Do
not go from me yet, for that dream hath affrighted me.”

So they all sat near to him and by and by they beheld that he breathed
very deeply and softly, wherefore they wist that he slept again. Then
all they withdrew from the pavilion, saving only two of his attendants
who still sat beside him.

But King Arthur did not sleep, though it was a manner of sleep, for he
beheld all the things about him as though he were partly awake, yet he
could not move.

[Sidenote: _The King dreameth again._]

Then, while he was in this sleep, King Arthur beheld a vision. For he
saw the flap at the doorway of the pavilion that it moved, and anon it
was raised and Sir Gawaine entered the tent. And Sir Gawaine held the
flap of the doorway aside, and King Arthur beheld that fourteen ladies
entered the tent behind Sir Gawaine.

And when these ladies had all entered the tent, Sir Gawaine let fall the
flap of the doorway, and so he came forward to where King Arthur lay.
And the face of Sir Gawaine was very calm and smiling and cheerful, and
King Arthur felt great peace and happiness when he beheld him standing
there.

Then King Arthur dreamed that he spoke to Sir Gawaine, and he said,
“Sir, how is this? Methought that you were dead, and here I behold you
alive. Was it not then you whom we buried in France some while ago?”

Sir Gawaine said, “Nay, Lord, that was not I, that was but my shell--my
poor, crumbling, perishable carcass that you buried. This is I myself,
and I have come to you from Paradise.”

Quoth King Arthur, “Who are these ladies whom you have with you?” To
this Sir Gawaine made answer, “These are those ladies for whom I one
time did battle. For some of those ladies I saved from grief, some of
them from misfortune, some of them I saved from danger, and of some of
them I saved their lives. So they have accompanied me hither from
Paradise that I might speak to you.”

Said King Arthur, “Sir Gawaine, my nephew, what is it you would say to
me?” To the which Sir Gawaine made reply, “Sir, I come to you to charge
you that you shall not do battle to-morrow-day. For great danger lieth
before you, and if you do battle you will assuredly perish. Wherefore I
come to you to beseech you that you will not enter into war with your
enemies. Wit you that Sir Launcelot will in a little while come to your
assistance, for already the letter from Sir Ewaine hath well-nigh
reached him, and when it reacheth him then will he come to you with all
speed. Wherefore I pray you make such terms with Sir Mordred as you may,
but do not join battle with him.”

King Arthur said, “How shall I know that this that thou tellest me is a
vision of prophecy and not a dream? For if it is a dream, then perhaps
it is mistaken, as many dreams are mistaken; but if it be a vision of
prophecy, then I shall believe that it is sooth.”

“Sir,” said Sir Gawaine, “you may believe it from this sign that will
remain unto you. And from it you may know that what you now behold is
indeed a vision of prophecy, and not a dream.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Gawaine leaveth a sign._]

So with that Sir Gawaine reached forth his finger and touched with it
the back of King Arthur’s hand. And when the finger of Sir Gawaine
touched his hand, lo! upon the hand of King Arthur there was left a spot
as white as wax.

Then the figure of Sir Gawaine melted slowly from his sight, and the
figures of the ladies also melted away and King Arthur awoke from his
sleep. And King Arthur sat up upon his couch and he beheld that the
day-light was streaming into his pavilion, for the sun had already
arisen.

And King Arthur looked at the back of his hand, and he beheld that there
was the spot as white as wax where Sir Gawaine had touched him. Then
King Arthur was very much perturbed in spirit, for he wist that what he
had just beheld was no dream, but that it was a vision of prophecy.

[Sidenote: _The King advises with his counsellors._]

So King Arthur called at him his knights and gentlemen and yeomen, and
he told them to bring to him those bishops who were with him, and also
the wisest of his counsellors. When these were come he told to them the
vision of his sleep, and he showed them the white spot upon his hand,
where the finger of Sir Gawaine had touched him. And he said to those
counsellors, “Sirs, is it better to treat with these our enemies to-day
than to do battle with them? For if it be true that Sir Launcelot cometh
to us, then all those knights who for his sake are now in the army of
Sir Mordred, will leave that army and will join them with us for the
sake of Sir Launcelot. Thus will many lives be spared and much blood
remain unshed, for there will be no battle with Sir Mordred.”

Then all those counsellors agreed with him and they said, “That which
thou sayst is true. Do not fight with Sir Mordred to-day, but treat with
him. For thy dream and thy vision foretell thy death if thou fightest
with him.”

So King Arthur chose him two of those bishops, and he chose him Sir
Lucian the Bottelier and Sir Bedivere, his brother, from all the Knights
of the Round Table, and these two knights and those two worthies he sent
as his ambassadors to Sir Mordred. And he said to them, “Spare not your
promises of land and of estate, but make this treaty for a month and a
day; for by that time we will know how Sir Launcelot standeth toward
us.”

[Sidenote: _The envoys treat with Sir Mordred._]

So those two envoys went to Sir Mordred, and they entered into treaty
with him and his advisers. And they argued for all that day, and against
eventide they had not decided. So the next day they went to Sir Mordred,
and that day it was determined that Sir Mordred should hold Cornwall and
Kent for his own during the life of King Arthur, and that upon the death
of King Arthur all Britain should be his to rule as king.

This treaty they brought to King Arthur, and when he read it he frowned
until his eyes were hidden. “Well,” said he, “this traitor claimeth
much. Let him be thankful that instead of all this land he demandeth, he
hath given to him instead only six feet of earth in which to lie.”

So it was arranged that Sir Mordred and King Arthur should meet upon the
next day at high noontide, at a certain place betwixt the two armies.
And it was there arranged that each of them should sign this covenant,
and that there should then be peace in all the land.

And the place where this meeting was to be held was a certain smooth and
gentle valley, that sloped upward upon either hand. And upon one
extremity of the valley one could behold the distant ocean, and upon the
other side of the valley one could behold the plains of Salisbury. At
this place those two armies were gathered upon the hills looking down
upon the middle of that valley.

[Sidenote: _Of the meeting of King Arthur and Sir Mordred._]

And in the centre of that valley there was a great pavilion of
particolored silk erected for the accommodation of the King and of Sir
Mordred. And a great banner emblazoned with the arms of the King and
another emblazoned with the arms of Sir Mordred flew from the peak of
the pavilion. And King Arthur came with six knights, and Sir Mordred
came with six knights, and these twelve knights--six upon either
side--stood some short distance away separate from one another, and King
Arthur and Sir Mordred entered the pavilion.

There upon the table lay the treaty to be signed, and those two drew
near to the table to sign it.

Now it was understood that none of those twelve knights who had come
with King Arthur and Sir Mordred should draw a weapon of any sort, but
that all should remain with sword in scabbard. For King Arthur did not
trust Sir Mordred, and Sir Mordred did not trust King Arthur. For King
Arthur said, “This man is altogether unnatural. His soul is black and he
is full of treason and guile. Wherefore, if you see any of his knights
draw a sword, then do you draw your swords and fall upon them and upon
Sir Mordred.” And Sir Mordred said, “I trust not this King in any way.
For he giveth too readily of that which he cannot spare. Wherefore, be
you ready, and if you behold any of his six knights draw a sword, draw
your swords and fall on, and, if possible, see to it that you slay King
Arthur himself.”

[Sidenote: _A knight slayeth an adder._]

Now whilst those two parties of six knights each stood talking to one
another, it chanced that an adder that lay hidden in a furze bush came
forth from its hiding. And one of the knights of Sir Mordred’s party
stepped back from his place and trod upon the adder, and the adder stung
the knight in the heel. Then the knight looked down to see what it was
that stung him, and he beheld the adder beneath his heel. So without
thinking of those commands that had been laid upon him, he drew his
sword to slay that adder.

This the knights of King Arthur’s party beheld, and they beheld the
knight draw his sword, and they beheld the bright and trenchant blade
gleam in the sunlight as the knight swung his sword to slay the adder.

Then the knights of King Arthur’s party immediately drew their swords
and they shouted aloud, crying, “Treason! treason! A rescue! A rescue!”
And the knights of Sir Mordred’s party, upon their part also drew their
swords and ran so to the defence of Sir Mordred.

But King Arthur heard the outcry of those knights, and upon that outcry
he thought that Sir Mordred had betrayed him, wherefore he cried out in
a terrible voice, “Hah! Wouldst thou betray me?” And with that he
catched Sir Mordred by the throat and as he catched him thus he drew his
misericordia to slay him. But Sir Mordred tore himself loose from King
Arthur, and he rushed out from the tent, crying aloud, “I come! I come!”

[Sidenote: _The armies rush to battle._]

Then King Arthur also rushed out from the tent and he beheld his six
knights at battle with the six knights of Sir Mordred, and he beheld his
army and Sir Mordred’s army rushing toward them. And the beat of the
hoofs of those approaching armies was like to the sound of distant
thunder ever coming nearer and nearer and louder and louder. And the
cloud of dust behind those armies was like the smoke of a great
conflagration rising up into the sky. And in the midst of those clouds
he could see the flashing and blazing of polished armor catching the
sunlight and flinging it off again as those armies rode rapidly down the
slopes and toward them.

Thus those armies came together with great uproar and thunder and a
flashing like to flaming lightning in the midst of a storm. And King
Arthur ran to his horse and mounted nimbly thereon, and he spurred back
to meet his army, and an esquire who rode with that army gave to him a
good stout spear of ashwood.

So those two armies met with a shock that might have been heard a
league. In that shock of meeting one recoiled from the other by the
force of the assault it had itself delivered. And many knights fell in
that first assault, and most of those that fell died as they fell. For
the horses pressed upon them with their hoofs and many died beneath that
pressure. And after the horsemen came the yeomen afoot, and these ran
hither and thither and slew many who yet lived.

Then those knights who were still a-horseback cast aside their spears,
for they could not longer use their spears in that narrow pass,
wherefore they cast them away and drew their swords. And with their
swords they hewed about them from right to left, and from left to right.
And so, in a while, the ground was littered with cantles of armor and
with men lying dead or dying beneath the hoofs of the horses.

So that fierce battle began a little before the prick of noon, and it
continued for all that afternoon, and it continued through the twilight
of the evening and until the falling of the night.

[Sidenote: _Sir Mordred is defeated._]

For that was the last and the greatest battle that King Arthur ever
fought, and in it were slain twelve thousand knights and gentlemen and
yeomen. But as night descended the army of Sir Mordred broke and fled
from the field, and King Arthur was left the victor of that battle.

But when King Arthur sat his horse in the midst of the battle-field, he
wept so that the tears ran in streams down his face. Yea, he tasted
those tears in his mouth and they were salt to his taste.

For of all those knights who had once surrounded the Court of King
Arthur and had made it so glorious, there were hardly any left. And of
all those Knights of the Round Table who had once been his crowning
honor, there were not twelve who were yet alive. All others had
perished, and the ground was sown thick with them as the sea-shore is
sown thick with the cobbles that lie upon it.

Wherefore, when King Arthur beheld all this ruin of his life, and when
he heard the doleful groans of those who were wounded, and when he
beheld those who were dead lying still in death and gazing with
sightless eyes up into the sky, the tears ran from his eyes in great
streams and traced down his face and into his beard, so that he tasted
the salt of those tears.

For now indeed the glory of his reign was past, and nothing remained for
him but an empty kingdom devoid of all honor and all that was of worth.
“Alas, and woe is me!” cried he, “for my fate hath now overtaken me and
my day is done.”

[Illustration]

[Illustration: The Passing of Arthur]




[Illustration] Chapter Ninth

_How King Arthur slew Sir Mordred, and how he himself was wounded so
that he was upon the edge of death. How his sword Excalibur was cast
away, and how three queens came from Avalon and took him away with
them._


[Sidenote: _The King rideth upon the battle-field._]

So that night, after the battle afore told of, the moon arose very full
and round, and very clearly shining. What time King Arthur rode across
the field of battle, with intent to discover what friends and what foes
had been slain. And the King discovered many knights lying there who
were friends and many other knights who were foes.

For at that time the sky was without any cloud at all upon it; and the
light of the moon was as clear and bright as though it were daylight,
wherefore one could see all things upon the earth and to a great
distance away upon all sides of the earth.

And with King Arthur there rode Sir Bedivere and Sir Lucian the
Bottelier, who was brother to Sir Bedivere. And Sir Lucian was very sore
wounded, even to the death; but of this he made no mention nor any
complaint whatsoever, but ever he rode with King Arthur and his brother,
and neither of those two wist that he had any wound whatsoever.

[Sidenote: _He perceiveth Sir Mador de la Porte dead._]

And amongst many other knights that lay there dead upon the field of
battle, they discovered Sir Mador de la Porte lying dead. Then King
Arthur pointed his finger at the body of Sir Mador and he said, “See you
that man, Messires? That was once a good, strong and very valiant
knight. One time he was my friend, but then he accused the Queen of
treason, and so I exiled him from me and from my court. So he took arms
against me and now he lieth dead here as you perceive. Ah me! That he
should have brought that false accusation, for it was the beginning of
the end that hath been my undoing, and woe for him, for he was a good
strong knight, and a Knight of the Round Table. And one while he was
very dear to me.”

So said King Arthur and they listened to his words.

Now as they progressed still farther upon the field of battle, they
were, by and by, aware of a knight who stood alone beside a bramble
bush. And the knight stood very silent and still, like to a statue of
iron. And the light of the moon shone down upon him and glistened upon
his armor. And at certain places that armor was stained with red, for he
had been wounded in several places.

[Sidenote: _He findeth Sir Mordred standing alone._]

So they came nearer to that knight, and in a little while they knew him,
and they knew that it was Sir Mordred who stood there alone. And all
about Sir Mordred there lay several dead knights; for here Sir Mordred
had made his last stand with several of his knights. And these were of
the dead knights that lay around him, and others of those dead knights
were the knights of King Arthur.

But the horse of Sir Mordred had been slain and Sir Mordred himself had
been wounded in the thighs so that he could not escape with those of his
army who fled away from that field of battle.

Then King Arthur said to Sir Bedivere and Sir Lucian, “Look you! Yonder
is Mordred himself. He is the destroyer of all my court of knighthood
and of all my joy of life. For through him hath come all this later evil
upon me, wherefore he is meet for death at my hands.” And the King said
to Sir Bedivere, “Lend me thy spear and I will go and slay him.”

Quoth Sir Bedivere, “Let him be, Lord, for anon will come those who know
him and will slay him even here where he standeth.”

King Arthur said, “I will not entrust his death to any other hands but
mine own. For as he hath brought all this misfortune upon me, so will I
slay him with mine own hands. Wherefore, Sir, give me your sword that I
may slay him.”

Then Sir Bedivere said to the King, “Look you, Sir, how he stands
looking at us in the moonlight, like a wounded hawk looking upon those
who have wounded him. Beware, Sir, and remember the dream that you had
last night when Sir Gawaine appeared to you in that dream. So far have
you escaped all harm, but should you assail this desperate man, who
knoweth but that you may yet meet your death at this time and at his
hands?”

But King Arthur said, “What is my life to me now, and what have I to
lose in losing my life? Have I not lost my Queen, who was the lover of
my youth? Have I not lost all these knights, who were the chiefest glory
and pride of my reign? What, then, have I to live for, saving it be an
empty throne of royalty? Tide me life, tide me death, I will slay this
man, so give me your spear, Messire.”

Then Sir Bedivere gave his spear to King Arthur and King Arthur took it
into his hands. And he set that spear in rest against Sir Mordred.

Now all this Sir Mordred beheld, and he believed that the King was now
threatening his life. And he heard all that the King said to those
knights who were with him, and he wist that now his life was forfeit to
him.

[Sidenote: _King Arthur pierces Sir Mordred through with his spear._]

So Sir Mordred drew his sword and it flashed like white light in the
moonlight. And he came forward to meet King Arthur and his death, and as
he came he whirled his sword on high. And King Arthur drave his spurs
into his horse and charged against Sir Mordred. And King Arthur directed
the point of his spear against the body of Sir Mordred beneath where the
shield sheltered his bosom, and the point of the spear penetrated the
body of Sir Mordred and it pierced the body and stood an ell out behind
the back of Sir Mordred’s body.

[Sidenote: _Sir Mordred smiteth the King with his sword._]

Then Sir Mordred felt that he had received his wound of death, wherefore
he bethought him only of revenge against King Arthur. So he pressed up
against the spear with all of his might. And he thrust himself up the
length of the spear until he had reached the burr thereof. And when his
body was against the burr of the spear, he took his sword in both his
hands and he swung the sword above his head, and he smote King Arthur
with the edge of the sword upon the helmet.

In that blow was all the last desperation of Sir Mordred’s life, and so
strong was the blow that it sheared through the helmet of King Arthur,
and through the coif beneath the helmet, and it sheared through the
brain-pan of the King and deep into the brain itself.

Then King Arthur reeled upon his saddle and his body swayed this way and
that, and from side to side. And he would have fallen from his saddle
only that Sir Bedivere catched him and held him up upon his saddle.

And Sir Mordred wist that he had given King Arthur his death wound,
wherefore he fell down upon the ground and he laughed and he said, “So I
die, but ere I die I have finished my work, for the King also shall
die.” Therewith he breathed very deep, and it was his last breath, for
with it his spirit left his body.

Sir Bedivere said to King Arthur, “Lord, are you hurt?” And King Arthur,
breathing very heavily, said, “Sir, this wound is the wound of my death
as that knight declared. For the wound, I believe, hath pierced into my
brain and I cannot live. Messires, take me hence to a shelter.” And King
Arthur said, “What building is that yonder?”

Sir Bedivere said, “Lord, it is a chapel upon the field of battle.” King
Arthur said, “Take me thither and let me be at peace, for I cannot live
but a little while.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Bedivere and Sir Lucian bring the King, wounded, to the
chapel._]

So Sir Bedivere dismounted from his horse and he took the horse of King
Arthur by the bridle and he led the horse toward the chapel. And Sir
Lucian held King Arthur up upon the saddle, and King Arthur swayed from
this side to that side, and he would have fallen only that Sir Lucian
held him up in his place.

So they two brought King Arthur to the chapel in safety, and they bore
him into the chapel and laid him upon a bench that was there. And in
thus lifting King Arthur the wounds of Sir Lucian burst out bleeding
afresh. And with that Sir Lucian, after King Arthur had been laid upon
the bench, sank down upon the ground and lay there frothing at the
mouth, and the froth was red.

[Sidenote: _Sir Lucian dieth._]

Then Sir Bedivere cried out, “Ah, my brother! My brother! Art thou
hurt?” And King Arthur said, “Search him and see if he be wounded.” So
Sir Bedivere examined Sir Lucian and felt his face and his hands, and
anon he said, “Lord, my brother is indeed dead. And I knew not even that
he had been wounded; for all this while he hath borne his wounds in
patience, speaking no words of it, or making no complaint of it. Ah, my
brother! My brother! That thou shouldst be dead!”

Then King Arthur groaned very deeply, and he said, “Alas and alas! So
hath another of my noble Knights of the Round Table died and left me!”
And then he said, “So would I weep for him, but I cannot weep; for also
in a little while I shall be with him and with them who are gone.” And
he said to Sir Bedivere, “Remove my helmet, and search my hurt.” So Sir
Bedivere removed the helmet of King Arthur and he beheld the wound upon
his head that it was very deep and bitter, so that the brains of his
head were exposed in that wound. And Sir Bedivere wept when he beheld
that wound; for he wist that of it King Arthur must die.

But King Arthur said, “Weep not, Sir Bedivere, but do straightway as I
tell thee.” And he said, “Beholdest thou Excalibur strapped about my
loins?”

And Sir Bedivere said, “Yea, Lord,” and ever Sir Bedivere wept.

King Arthur said, “Take that sword and carry him to the water and cast
him into the water: then return thou hither and tell me what thou
seest.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Bedivere taketh Excalibur._]

Then Sir Bedivere unbuckled the strap from about the loins of King
Arthur, and he drew the strap from beneath him. Then he folded the
strap around the blade of Excalibur and he took the sword with him and
went away with it. But when Sir Bedivere had come out into the
moonlight, the moonlight shone very brightly down upon the hilt of
Excalibur, and Sir Bedivere beheld how that the hilt and the handle of
the sword were studded all over with jewels, and the gold into which
they were inset flamed and blazed in the moonlight as with a thousand
colors.

And Sir Bedivere said to himself, “Why should I cast this splendid sword
into the sea? Behold how richly it is studded with jewels so that it
flashes and flames with pure light. Certes, the King raves when he
telleth me to cast it into the sea! Rather will I keep this sword, to
show to those generations who are yet to come how great and how splendid
was the estate of King Arthur.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Bedivere doth not cast the sword away._]

So Sir Bedivere looked about him and he beheld a dead and riven tree
that stood there, all stark and leafless in the moonlight. So he took
the sword Excalibur and he hid it beneath the roots of that tree. Anon
he returned to King Arthur, and he said to the King, “Lord, your behest
is done and I have cast that sword into the sea.”

Quoth the King, “What sawest thou, Sir Bedivere?”

Quoth Sir Bedivere, “What should I have beheld, Lord? I beheld nothing
but the waves beating upon the shore. And the moon shone upon those
waves, as it were a path of living and of glittering silver.”

Then King Arthur said, “Ah, liar and caitiff knight! I am undone for
trusting to thee. For thou hast deceived me, who trusted in thee. For
thou hast coveted the jewels set upon the handle of the sword, and hast
refrained from casting it into the water of the sea.” Then Sir Bedivere
said, “Lord, I repent me of this.”

But King Arthur said, “Go now, and do what I bid thee do, and see to it
that this time thou failest not. For my time draweth near and I have now
but a little while to live.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Bedivere goeth forth again.

He doth not cast away the sword._]

So Sir Bedivere went forth again and he went to that place where he had
hidden the sword. And he took the sword from where it lay hidden and
lifted it in his hands. And when he again beheld the light of the moon
illuminating its handle of gold and flaming upon the jewels of the
handle, his heart and his purpose weakened within him, and he said to
himself, “Surely, it would be a sin to cast away this sword. For it is
the most beautiful and noblest sword in all of the world. Wherefore then
should I destroy this sword that belongeth not more to the King himself
than to the world in which he lives? Certes, the King raved in this,
wherefore for the sake of posterity and for the sake of those who are to
come after, I will not cast this sword into the sea.”

So Sir Bedivere returned to the King, and the King said to him, panting
as he spake, “Sir, have you performed that which I have commanded you to
undertake?”

And Sir Bedivere said, “Yea, Lord.”

Quoth the King, “What saw you in doing this thing?”

Said Sir Bedivere, “Lord, I beheld the moon shining on high, and I
beheld the waves of the sea breaking noisily up against the pebbles of
the beach; but naught else did I behold.”

Then the King was silent for a little while and then he cried out, “Oh,
woe is me! that all my authority hath departed from me with my strength!
For it was to be supposed that mine enemies would betray me but not that
my friends would betray me. But here lie I hovering upon the edge of
death, and now this knight who is my sworn knight and vassal will not do
that which I bid him to do because of the jewels that enrich the hilt of
that sword.”

Then Sir Bedivere wept and he said, “Lord, I will do that which thou
biddest me to do.” And King Arthur said, “Do it, and make haste.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Bedivere casteth away the sword._]

So Sir Bedivere ran forth from that chapel. And he ran to where the
sword was hidden and he took the sword and wrapped the belt of the sword
about it. And he ran down the rocks to the sea shore, and when he had
come there he whirled the sword several times about his head and cast it
far out over the water.

[Sidenote: _An arm catcheth the sword._]

And Sir Bedivere beheld the sword that it whirled, flashing in the
moonlight like to pure circles of light, whirling in the darkness. So
the sword described a circle above the water and it descended to the
water, and as the sword descended to the water there emerged from the
water an arm. And around the arm was a sleeve of white samite and about
the arm were many bracelets of gold inset with precious stones. And the
arm catched the sword by the haft and brandished it thrice, and then
drew it down beneath the water. And the water closed over it and the
sword and the arm were gone.

All this Sir Bedivere beheld, and when he had beheld it he returned,
musing, to where King Arthur lay in that small chapel above the cliffs.

And when he returned, King Arthur said to him, “Sir, did you do as I
commanded you to, and did you fling Excalibur into the water?” Sir
Bedivere said, “Lord, I did as you commanded me.”

Quoth King Arthur, “And what did you behold?”

Said Sir Bedivere, “When I thus threw that sword into the water of the
sea, an arm came out of that water. And the arm had to it a sleeve of
white samite and it was enclasped with many bracelets of gold, and the
bracelets were set with many precious stones of various sorts. And the
hand of the arm catched Excalibur by the hilt and it brandished him
three times in the air and then it drew him beneath the water. That is
what I saw.”

Said King Arthur, “Well hast thou served me in this! But the time
groweth short and mine end draweth near. Take me upon thy shoulders and
bear me to the sea shore at that place where thou didst cast Excalibur
into the sea. There thou wilt find a boat with several ladies in it.
That boat is intended for me, and now I know that boat will be there
waiting for me since that arm arose and the hand of the arm seized upon
Excalibur.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Bedivere beareth the King to the boat._]

So Sir Bedivere stooped his shoulders. And he drew the arms of King
Arthur upon either side of his neck, and the arms of the King were very
weak and limp like to those of a little child that is ill. And Sir
Bedivere raised himself and he lifted King Arthur from his couch, and
King Arthur groaned when Sir Bedivere lifted him. And Sir Bedivere bore
King Arthur out of that chapel and into the moonlight. And Sir Bedivere
bore King Arthur in that wise down to the cliffs of the sea. And by now
a chill was upon the night so that the panting breath of Sir Bedivere
came forth from his nostrils like to thin smoke. And ever the iron shoes
of Sir Bedivere smote upon the rocks as he walked, so that the rocks
rang beneath his tread.

So Sir Bedivere bore King Arthur down that cliff to where the sea
splashed and moaned upon the rocks of the sea, and the shadows of Sir
Bedivere and of the King were very black and shapeless upon those rocks,
and the shadows walked with them down to the sea.

So by and by Sir Bedivere perceived that they were coming close to that
place where he had cast the sword into the sea. And as he drew near he
perceived that there was there a boat drawn up to the shore at that spot
where he had stood to cast the sword into the water. And Sir Bedivere
saw that there were several people standing within the boat and that
these people were three queens and their attendants.

[Sidenote: _The three queens take the King into the boat._]

Two of those queens Sir Bedivere knew, for they were the one Queen
Morgana le Fay and the other the Queen of North Wales. But the third of
those queens he did not know. Yet he saw that she was very tall and
straight and that she was clad in garments of green, very thin and
glistering. And her hair was black and glossy, shining in the moonlight
like to fine and very glassy threads of silk. And her face was
exceedingly white, like to wax for whiteness, and her eyes were very
black and brilliant, like to brilliant jewels set into that ivory
whiteness. And around the neck of this lady were many necklaces of
jewels of gold inset with emerald stones, very bright and shining.

This lady stood at the tiller of that strange boat and she was the Lady
of the Lake, though Sir Bedivere wist not who she was. And she held the
tiller very steadily and so held the boat close to the shore.

And in that boat were several other ladies who stood there very silently
and looked ever toward the shore where was Sir Bedivere; but these were
the ladies attendant upon those queens.

Then when Sir Bedivere came thitherward carrying King Arthur upon his
shoulders, those ladies lifted up their voices in piercing lamentation
so that the heart of Sir Bedivere ached to hear that lament. And Queen
Morgana le Fay and the Queen of North Wales arose and reached their arms
for King Arthur; and Sir Bedivere gave King Arthur into their arms and
they two took him--Queen Morgana by the shoulders and the Queen of North
Wales by the knees--and they lifted him into the boat.

And they laid him upon a couch within the boat, and he lay with his head
pillowed upon the lap of Queen Morgana. And Sir Bedivere stood upon the
shore and looked upon the face of King Arthur as it lay within the lap
of Queen Morgana, and he beheld that the face of King Arthur was white
like to the ashes of wood, wherefore he wist that he was dead. And Sir
Bedivere cried out in a loud and wailing voice, saying, “My Lord and
King, wilt thou leave me? What then shall I do? For here am I alone in
the midst of mine enemies.”

[Sidenote: _The King speaketh to Sir Bedivere._]

Then King Arthur opened his eyes and he said, “Hah, Messire, thou hast
no enemies about thee, for thine enemies are put to flight, and in a
little while Sir Launcelot comes who will be thy friend. But go thou
back into the world and tell them all that thou hast beheld at this
place. For wit you that now I know that I shall not die at this place,
but that I shall go in this boat and with my sister, Queen Morgana, to
Avalon. There in the Vale of Avalon I shall live, and by and by and
after many years I shall again return to Britain and no man shall know
of my return. But with that return shall come peace and tranquillity.
And war shall be no more, but the arts of peace shall flourish. So take
that message back with thee into the world, for now I go to leave thee;
and so farewell.”

Then for the third time those ladies lifted up their voices and wailed
in lamentation, and with that lamentation the boat trembled and moved.
And it moved away from the shore; at first slowly, then more and more
swiftly until it disappeared in the moonlight of the night. And for
awhile Sir Bedivere saw it, and then he was not sure that he saw it, and
then it vanished away into the whiteness of the moonlight, and was gone
from his vision.

Then Sir Bedivere moved weeping away from that shore and he wept so that
hardly could he see what next step he took. And so Sir Bedivere came
away from that shore, and in his sorrow he wist not whither he went. But
ever he walked forward for all that night, and when the morning was come
he found himself to be near to a considerable city. So he went forward
to that city and he found that there was a great bustle and turmoil of
people coming and going.

[Sidenote: _Sir Bedivere cometh to the Archbishop._]

So Sir Bedivere entered the city and he said, “Who is here?” They say to
him, “It is the Archbishop of Canterbury who is here.” Sir Bedivere said
to them, “Take me to him.”

[Sidenote: _He telleth the Archbishop what hath befallen._]

So they took him to where the Archbishop was, and several other bishops
were with him. And when the Archbishop beheld Sir Bedivere he said,
“Sir, why are you so pale?” Then Sir Bedivere said, “Sir, I am pale
because of all that I have beheld.” Then Sir Bedivere told the
Archbishop and those who were with him of that great battle they had
fought the day before between Salisbury and the sea. And he told him of
all that had happened in that battle and of the knights who were slain
therein. And he told him how that Sir Mordred was slain and how King
Arthur had been wounded by Sir Mordred and had departed at night in that
boat as aforetold of.

To all this the Archbishop listened with great astonishment and he cried
out, “How is this, and what is this thou tellest me? Is King Arthur
gone, and has that good and wise King disappeared thus mysteriously from
amongst us?” And he said, “What next of kin doth the King leave behind
him?” Sir Bedivere said, “His nighest of kin is Sir Constantine of
Cornwall, who is cousin unto Sir Gawaine.”

The Archbishop said, “Him then shall we crown to be the next King of
Britain. For so will he succeed in rightful line from the strain of King
Uther Pendragon.”

And so it was done as the Archbishop said, for shortly after that Sir
Constantine of Cornwall was crowned King of Britain at Camelot--which
same, saith the history of these things, is Winchester of these present
days.

       *       *       *       *       *

So I have told you of the Passing of Arthur, which in all the other
histories of those things is told as I have told it. But of that which
happened thereafter there are many distinct and separate histories.

But that history which hath been accepted of old by the people of
England is this: That King Arthur did not die, but that he was taken by
Queen Morgana le Fay and by those two other queens to Avalon, and that
there he was salved so that he did not die. And that history saith that
he lives there yet, and that some day he shall come back to Britain as
he promised to do, and that when he thus shall come there, there shall
likewise come continual peace and plenty and joy and happiness as he
promised.

[Sidenote: _Concerning Avalon._]

And touching Avalon there is this to say--that it is the dwelling-place
of Queen Morgana le Fay, and that it is a strange and wonderful island
that floats forever upon the sea to the westward. And many people
declare that they have beheld that land, but always from a distance. For
sometimes they call it Fata Morgana, and sometimes they call it Avalon.
But always when they see it it is to behold high towers and glittering
pinnacles reaching into the sky; and it is to behold the embowerment of
trees, both of forest trees and of shade trees; and it is to behold hill
and vale of that mysterious country more beautiful than are the hills
and vales of the dark and gloomy earth. For Avalon is sometimes called
the Vale of Avalon and sometimes it is called Avalon the Beautiful.

There in that pleasant country is no snow and no ice; neither is there
the scorching heats and droughts of summer, but all forever and for aye
is the tepid warmth of vernal springtime.

And the people of Avalon are always happy, for never do they weep and
never do they bear enmity to one another, but all live in peace and
tranquillity watching their flocks, which are as white as snow, and
their herds, whose breath smelleth of wild thyme and parsley.

There, people believe, yet liveth King Arthur, and he is not dead nor is
he yet awake, but ever he lyeth sleeping as in peace.

But it is believed by many that the time shall come when he will awake
again. Then he will return once more to this earth, and all shall be
peace and concord amongst men.

And many believe that this time is now nigh at hand. For less and less
is there war within the world, and more and more is there peace and
concord and good will amongst men. Wherefore, let every man live at
peace with other men, and wish them well and do them well, and then will
King Arthur awake from his sleep. Then will his dreadful wound be healed
and then will he return unto his own again.

       *       *       *       *       *

Of such was the passing of Arthur.

[Illustration: The Passing of Guinevere]




[Illustration] Chapter Tenth

_How Sir Launcelot came to Queen Guinevere, and how Queen Guinevere
remained a nun. How Sir Launcelot went into the forest and became a
hermit, and how seven of his fellows joined him there. Also of the death
of Sir Launcelot of the Lake._


Now it hath already been told how that Sir Launcelot of the Lake
received the note of Sir Ewaine, and of how he and his knights decided
to come to the aid of King Arthur.

[Sidenote: _Sir Launcelot landeth at Dover._]

So Sir Launcelot and his knights to the number of two hundred and twelve
came to England in ships and galleys, and they landed at Dover as King
Arthur had done.

And when Sir Launcelot arrived at Dover there came to him a messenger
and told him of that battle that had been fought upon the plains not far
from Salisbury, and how that Sir Mordred had been slain and how that
King Arthur had died of his wound thereafter. And that messenger also
told him how that Sir Constantine of Cornwall had been crowned King of
Britain, in the room of King Arthur.

All this Sir Launcelot heard and also the knights who were with him. And
Sir Launcelot wept a very great deal and several of those knights who
were with him wept also. And Sir Launcelot cried out, “Ah, my dear noble
and gracious lord, King Arthur! Woe is me that in that first battle I
should have slain Sir Agravaine and not Sir Mordred! For it is now upon
me to believe that Sir Mordred was the instigator of all this mischief.
But now is King Arthur gone and all is turned to ruin and to loss about
us. For here be hardly any of the Knights of the Round Table yet living,
and many of those who were amongst the best and noblest of those knights
have been slain. To wit, Sir Gawaine hath been slain, and Sir Lionel and
Sir Ector have been slain, and Sir Ewaine hath been slain, and Sir
Gareth who was my dear and loving friend hath been slain, and Sir
Geharis hath been slain. All these have died and several others, and had
it not been for Sir Mordred and his treachery these would yet have been
alive. But all these have died because of the treachery of Sir Mordred.
Would that he had died in the beginning, for these would all then have
been saved!”

So Sir Launcelot made his lament, and in making it the tears flowed down
his face in streams. And Sir Launcelot said, “Who of us can now serve
under King Constantine as vassals?” They say to him, “none of us can so
serve him.” Said Sir Launcelot, “nor can I serve him.” Then he said,
“Where is now Queen Guinevere?” They say to him, “Sir, she is at this
present at the convent of Saint Bridget at Rochester and she is the
Abbess of that convent. For since King Arthur gave her to the church she
hath taken up the orders of the church and hath become a nun of black
and white.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Launcelot goeth to Rochester to seek the Queen._]

So that night Sir Launcelot took horse and he rode away alone, and he
rode to Rochester and to the convent of Saint Bridget. And Sir Launcelot
came into the room of that convent and he said to those who were there,
“Let me have speech with the Abbess of this place.”

Then anon came Queen Guinevere to where he was, and Sir Launcelot stood
in the middle of the room and looked toward her. And he beheld that her
face was grown very white and thin and that she was clad in robes of
black and white. And the Queen looked toward Sir Launcelot and she knew
him. And when she beheld him she cried out in a very loud and piercing
voice, “God save me! Is it thou?” And with that she felt around behind
her as though in a blindness. And she felt that there was a form behind
her and she sat down upon the form. And she swooned upon that form so
that her head fell backward across the back of the form. And Sir
Launcelot perceived that she had swooned.

Then Sir Launcelot called to the ladies of that convent in a very loud
voice, “Make haste! Make haste! For the Queen hath swooned!” So several
of those ladies came hastening and they loosened the robes of the Queen
at the throat and they chafed her hands and bathed her temples with
vinegar, and anon she awoke from her swoon and found Sir Launcelot
kneeling before her.

[Sidenote: _The Queen bespeaks Sir Launcelot._]

And the Queen reached out and touched Sir Launcelot and she said, “Art
thou real, or art thou a spirit?” And Sir Launcelot replied, “Lady, I am
flesh and blood as thou art.” Then the Queen said to him, “Sir, what
seek you here?” And Sir Launcelot replied, “I seek thee, Lady. For ever
thou art present with me by day and by night, and never art thou absent
from my thoughts.”

The Queen said, “Ah, Launcelot! It is vain for thee to seek me here, for
ever my heart is here in this place and here it will always remain. For
here have I bethought me of my life and of all the joys and pleasures of
my life, and of all the sinfulness and the evil that I have committed.
And I wit that my lord, King Arthur, is now ever first within my
thoughts and within my heart. For though I fled from King Arthur that
time and betook myself with thee to Joyous Gard, yet there at Joyous
Gard my heart turned ever to my lord and my King. For he was the lover
of my youth, and first and last my heart turned ever to him in all my
joys and in all my troubles. So now my King is passed, and my heart
cleaveth to him in Paradise, and there I will haply rejoin my King and
will dwell with him for aye. For there we shall be together in bliss and
naught that is of sorrow or uncertainty shall ever come betwixt us.”

Then Sir Launcelot cried out, “And I, Lady, is there naught in thy
thoughts for me?”

She said, “Yea, Launcelot, there is great friendship and love for thee,
but not that sort of love. So get thee back to Joyous Gard and there
take thee to wife some fair and gentle lady of that place. For so thou
mayst rear to thee children in the stead of that Sir Galahad who hath
departed from thee some while ago.”

Sir Launcelot said, “Lady, I can never wed any woman in this world but
thee.” And the Queen said, “Ah, Launcelot, that is a pity.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Launcelot departeth from the Queen._]

So that speech between those two came to an end, and Sir Launcelot rode
away from that place with his head bowed low upon his breast. And Sir
Launcelot rode ever toward the forest and anon he rode into the forest.
And when Sir Launcelot had come to that place he kneeled down before
that Hermit of the Forest and he said to him “Sir, I pray you to confess
me and assoil me. For here henceforth and to the end of my days will I
remain a hermit of the forest like as thou art. Several times have I
lived here as a recluse, yet have I ever returned by and by to the
world. But now will I never return to that world again; for all the
pleasure of that world was taken away from me and I am left barren of
hope and of joy.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Launcelot becometh a forest recluse._]

So Sir Launcelot withdrew to another part of the forest, and he took his
armor from off his body and hung his armor up upon the branches of a
tree that was near at hand. And he took the harness and trappings from
off his horse and he turned his horse loose to browse at will upon the
grass that grew there at that place. So Sir Launcelot became a recluse
of the forest with intent never more to be anything else than that
forest recluse.

       *       *       *       *       *

Now when those knights who were in attendance upon Sir Launcelot at
Dover discovered that he had gone from them, they wist not where he had
gone and they searched for him at all places, and yet they could not
find him. So most of those knights separated and divided, each knight
departing to his own home. But several of those who were kin to Sir
Launcelot joined them together to search for him. And these were the
knights that searched for Sir Launcelot: there were Sir Bors and Sir
Bleoberis and Sir Blamor de Ganis, and there was Sir Galahud and Sir
Galahadin, and there was Sir Villiars, and there was Sir Clarus. These
seven knights searched Britain from end to end and all athwart the land,
and ever they sought for Sir Launcelot. So, at last, they came to that
part of the forest where Sir Launcelot abided.

And those knights beheld a horse browsing in the open parts of the
forest, and Sir Bors said to the others, “Messires, yonder an I mistake
not is the horse of Sir Launcelot.” Then they went a little farther and
they beheld the armor of Sir Launcelot hanging upon the branches of the
tree. And Sir Bors examined that armor and he said, “This, certes, is
the armor of Sir Launcelot. Now he cannot be far distant from this
place.”

Anon they heard the knelling of a little vesper bell, and Sir Bors said,
“Yonder is the bell of the Hermit of the Forest. Let us go thitherward
and mayhap we may hear news of Sir Launcelot.” So they went in that
direction and by and by they came to the chapel of the Hermit of the
Forest. And they looked within the chapel door and they beheld the
Hermit and another anchorite kneeling in prayer. And there were little
birds within the chapel and they hopped about there upon the floor and
about those two kneeling figures and were not afraid of either of them.

[Sidenote: _The knights companion find Sir Launcelot._]

So, by and by, those two ended their prayers, and they arose. Then those
knights beheld the face of the anchorite and they saw that it was the
face of Sir Launcelot. For though the face of Sir Launcelot was covered
with a beard and though it was very thin and peaked from fasting, yet
they knew it for his face. For Sir Launcelot had eaten no meat and but
little food of any sort, but had deprived himself of food for the
betterment of his soul.

Then Sir Bors spake and he said, “Sir Launcelot, is it thou who art
here?” And Sir Launcelot said, “Aye, it is indeed I whom thou
beholdest.” Sir Bors said, “Sir, this life does not beseem thee to lead,
wherefore place upon thee thine armor and come forth with us into the
world again. For thy life is certes of value to that world.” “Nay,” said
Sir Launcelot, “I will not leave this place, for here I dwell in peace
and amity with the world. Why then should I again go forth into strife
as of old?” Quoth Sir Bors, “Sir, this life thou art leading is but the
neglect of duty, for the duty of every knight is to be within the world
and to do the work of the world, be that work to battle or to labor.
Why then shouldst thou rest here in this hermitage and without action of
any sort?”

“Messire,” said Sir Launcelot, “were there a call for me to go forth
into the world, then would I go. For my duty would then demand of me to
assume again the armor of my knighthood. But there is no such call, nor
am I any longer young, as one time I was. Wherefore, now hath come my
time for rest, and so I remain here in quiet within the woodlands.”

[Sidenote: _The knights companion become recluses._]

Sir Bors said, “Sir, we are your knights and your followers, wherefore
if you remain here within the forest, so also do we remain with you. For
your life shall be our life and your fare shall be our fare until the
end.” And Sir Launcelot said, “Let it be that way.”

So all those knights remained there within the forest and all of them
assumed the holy orders of hermits. Thus they remained there for three
years and in that time they dwelt in great peace and concord. And they
disturbed none of those things that were living within the forest, so
that the wild creatures of the forest presently grew tame to them. For
they could lay their hands upon the haunches of the wild doe of the
forest and it would not flee away from them, for the wild thing wist
that they meant it no harm.

Thus they lived there in solitude and they cultivated their plots of
pulse and barley, and the fame of their virtues and of their holiness
spread far and wide, so that many people came thither from the world for
the sake of their prayers and of their benediction.

Now one night as he slept Sir Launcelot had a dream, and the dream came
to him in the second watch of the night. And the dream of Sir Launcelot
was this:

[Sidenote: _Sir Launcelot dreameth._]

He dreamed that he beheld Queen Guinevere standing before him, and her
face smiled and was very radiant as though a bright light shone through
her face from behind. For her face was translated by that light so that
it was all of a glorious and rosy pink in its color. And the Queen was
clad all in a very straight robe of cloth of gold and that robe shone
with a very singular lustre. And around her neck and her arms were many
ornaments of gold and these also shone and glittered as she moved or
breathed. And this vision of Queen Guinevere said, “Rejoice, O Sir
Launcelot! For my troubles and cares are at an end. For now I am in
Paradise and my body sleepeth and is dead.”

Then Sir Launcelot awoke and he found that it was morning and that the
sun was shining.

And Sir Launcelot arose and went forth and he came to where the Hermit
was, and he told the Hermit of that dream. Then the Hermit said to him,
“Sir, meseems from this dream that the Queen is no more, but that she is
dead and that her soul hath been translated unto Paradise. Make haste
and go thither where she is and see if this be so.”

So Sir Launcelot mounted his horse and his seven companions mounted
their horses and together they rode unto Rochester. And Sir Launcelot
rode to the nunnery at that place and he said to them that came to him,
“Where is the Lady Abbess of this monastery?”

They say to him, “Sir, she died last night at the second watch of the
night.” Sir Launcelot said, “Bring me to her.”

[Sidenote: _He beholdeth the dead Queen._]

So they took Sir Launcelot to where lay the body of the Queen, and it
was in a large upper room and the windows were open and the breeze blew
cold through the room. And Sir Launcelot beheld the Queen that her body
lay upon a couch of white linen, and he perceived that the face of the
body was white like to wax. And he saw that the lips of the body smiled
as he had beheld the Queen to smile in the dream that he had had of her
the night before.

Then Sir Launcelot did not weep, only he stood with his hands clasped
very tightly together, and he reviewed in his mind all that had befallen
him and her. And he reviewed the first time that he had come to the
King’s Court at Camelot. And he reviewed how he had sacrificed the life
of his lady for the love of the Queen. And he reviewed how he had done
battle for the Queen, and how he had saved her life by that battle, and
he reviewed how he had fought and slain his friends that he might bring
her away from her trial to Joyous Gard. All those things he reviewed,
and some of those things were of peace to him and some of them were of
torment. Then he spake and he said, “Ah, Lady! Would that I were lying
as thou lyest. For then would I too be at peace, whiles now I am not at
peace.”

So died Queen Guinevere, and at that time she was in the forty-sixth
year of her age and was exceedingly beautiful.

So those eight knights remained there at the nunnery for two days, and
upon the third day the body of Queen Guinevere was interred before the
altar of the nunnery. And upon the stone that covered that body were
these words:

     Hir jaret Guinevera Regina Quondam Regina Brittaniæ erat.

And for many years that entablature was to be seen at Rochester,
wherefore it may be known that Queen Guinevere was indeed there buried.
For so saith the history of those things and so those things must be.

After all those things had passed, those knights again retired to the
forest and there they again took up their abode as of old. And so they
lived there for two or three years longer. Then they left that forest as
shall presently be told.

For now speak we of the Passing of Sir Launcelot, which was as follows:

[Sidenote: _Sir Launcelot cometh not to prayers._]

One morning all they who were there awoke very early and they went to
their matin prayers. That morning was in the May time, all the trees
were in leaf and the apple trees were in blossom. For whensoever the
soft warm wind blew through the trees, then did those blossoms shed
their fragrant pink snow until all the grass around about was spread
therewith. And the birds were singing in every bush and tree so that all
the air was full of their melodious and harmonious jubilation.

That time when they were assembled they looked around and beheld that
Sir Launcelot was not there and they said, “Where is Sir Launcelot, that
he cometh not to matin prayers?” So Sir Bors went to the cell of Sir
Launcelot and he beheld that Sir Launcelot was lying very peacefully
upon his couch. And Sir Bors went to Sir Launcelot to arouse him, and he
saw that Sir Launcelot was dead. And the hands of Sir Launcelot were
folded upon his breast, and there was a smile of great peace and good
content upon the lips of Sir Launcelot.

[Sidenote: _Sir Bors beholdeth him, dead._]

Then Sir Bors went to the door of the cell of Sir Launcelot and he
called those others to come thither and they did so. And Sir Bors said
to them, “Behold! Here lyeth that which was once Sir Launcelot, but
which is that knight no more. But God be praised that he died in such
peace and tranquillity as he hath done.”

And all they, as they gazed upon Sir Launcelot, beheld that it was so,
and that he had indeed died in great peace and tranquillity with his
God.

And Sir Bors said, “Let us take the body of this good knight and carry
it to Joyous Gard that it may be buried there. For so would he have it
that his body should be buried at Joyous Gard.”

So they brought them to that forest place a horse bier and they laid the
body of Sir Launcelot upon that horse bier, and they covered the body so
that no one might see it in passing. And they bore the body thence and
to Joyous Gard, and so, after many tribulations and many sufferings and
sorrows, the body of Sir Launcelot lay in peace and quietness at that
place.

[Sidenote: _He lyeth at Joyous Gard._]

And those knights who were with him did not return to the forest,
otherwise they continued at Joyous Gard. And one of those knights always
sat at vigil beside the tomb of Sir Launcelot and kept burning there
seven waxen tapers. And so the tomb was always illuminated with those
waxen tapers whiles those knights lived.

[Sidenote: _Of the death of Sir Bors._]

And the last of those knights to die was Sir Bors de Ganis, for Sir Bors
was over fourscore years of age when he died. For when the priest came
thither one morning, he found Sir Bors sitting beside the tomb of Sir
Launcelot, and Sir Bors had died at that time. And one of those seven
candles (which same was the candle of Sir Bors) was not lit but was
burned out. For so the life of Sir Bors had flickered out, even as the
light of that candle had departed.

       *       *       *       *       *

So with this endeth the history of the lives of those knights, and so I
have told it to you.

[Illustration]




[Illustration] Conclusion


Thus have I written the history of King Arthur and of sundry of those
knights that comprised his Round Table. For so may you see with what
patience, what labor and what self-devotion those knights served their
king, their Round Table and their fellows.

For those knights were very gallant gentlemen who thought but little of
care and trouble and who practised self-denial when that self-denial
could be of avail to help their friends or to benefit the world.

For ever they brought aid to those who were in trouble and comfort to
those who were afflicted ever they brought food to the hungry and drink
to the thirsty; and ever they destroyed giants and monsters and wicked
men, and so made the world a better and a comelier place in which to
dwell. And wit ye that no man can do better than that in this world: to
bring aid to the afflicted; food to the hungry, and a release from
trouble to those who are in anxiety.

Yea; for seven years have I been engaged in writing these books, which
contain the history of these things. Many other things have I done in
that time. For I have painted many pictures besides having written these
books and other works of a like sort. And these books are four in
number: first, there is the Book of King Arthur; then there is the Book
of the Champions of the Round Table; then there is the Book of Sir
Launcelot and his companions, and now there is this Book of the Grail
and the Passing of Arthur, and this book is the last. For those books
comprise a history of all this time; for though there be many things
left untold in them, yet those things are of small consequence. For all
that is of greater note hath been here told, and that in full.

And I thank God that he hath permitted me to finish this work, for wit
ye that when a man taketh seven years of his life to complete an
undertaking, he knoweth not whether he shall live to complete that
which he hath begun.

But so I have completed it, and for that I thank God who permitted me to
complete it. Amen.

                  _Finished at Wilmington, Delaware,
                        This 16th day of April
                         in the year of grace
                                MCMX._

[Illustration]