Project Gutenberg's Etext of Le Mort d'Arthur, by Thomas Malory

Le Morte Darthur

Sir Thomas Malory's Book of

King Arthur and of his Noble

Knights of the Round Table

IN TWO VOLS.--VOL. II

<oe The Table of Rubrysshe

of the

Content of Chapters.

here follow the Chapters of the Tenth Book.>

How Sir Tristram jousted, and smote down King Arthur, because he

told him not the cause why he bare that shield . Chap. i.

How Sir Tristram saved Sir Palomides' life, and how they promised

to fight together within a fortnight . . Chap. ii.

How Sir Tristram sought a strong knight that had smitten him down,

and many other knights of the Round Table . Chap. iii.

How Sir Tristram smote down Sir Sagramore le Desirous and Sir

Dodinas le Savage . . . . Chap. iv.

How Sir Tristram met at the peron with Sir Launcelot, and how they

fought together unknown . . . . Chap. v.

How Sir Launcelot brought Sir Tristram to the court, and of the

joy that the king and other made for the coming of Sir

Tristram . . . . . . Chap. vi.

How for the despite of Sir Tristram King Mark came with two

knights into England, and how he slew one of the knights

Chap. vii.

How the king came to a fountain where he found Sir Lamorak

complaining for the love of King Lot's wife . Chap. viii.

How King Mark, Sir Lamorak, and Sir Dinadan came to a castle, and

how King Mark was known there . . Chap. ix.

How Sir Berluse met with King Mark, and how Sir Dinadan took his

part . . . . . . Chap. x.

How King Mark mocked Sir Dinadan, and how they met with six

knights of the Round Table . . . Chap. xi.

How the six knights sent Sir Dagonet to joust with King Mark, and

how King Mark refused him . . . Chap. xii.

How Sir Palomides by adventure met King Mark flying, and how he

overthrew Dagonet and other knights . . Chap. xiii.

How King Mark and Sir Dinadan heard Sir Palomides making great

sorrow and mourning for La Beale Isoud . . Chap. xiv.

How the king had slain Amant wrongfully to-fore King Arthur, and

Sir Launcelot fetched King Mark to King Arthur . Chap. xv.

How Sir Dinadan told Sir Palomides of the battle between Sir

Launcelot and Sir Tristram . . . Chap. xvi.

How Sir Lamorak jousted with divers knights of the castle wherein

was Morgan le Fay . . . . Chap. xvii.

How Sir Palomides would have jousted for Sir Lamorak with the

knights of the castle . . . . Chap. xviii.

How Sir Lamorak jousted with Sir Palomides, and hurt him grievously

. . . . . . Chap xix.

How it was told Sir Launcelot that Dagonet chased King Mark, and

how a knight overthrew him and six knights . Chap. xx.

How King Arthur let do cry a jousts, and how Sir Lamorak came in,

and overthrew Sir Gawaine and many other . Chap. xxi.

How King Arthur made King Mark to be accorded with Sir Tristram,

and how they departed toward Cornwall . . Chap. xxii.

How Sir Percivale was made knight of King Arthur, and how a dumb

maid spake, and brought him to the Round Table Chap. xxiii.

How Sir Lamorak lay with King Lot's wife, and how Sir Gaheris slew

her which was his own mother . . . Chap. xxiv.

How Sir Agravaine and Sir Mordred met with a knight fleeing, and

how they both were overthrown, and of Sir Dinadan Chap. xxv.

How King Arthur, the Queen, and Launcelot received letters out of

Cornwall, and of the answer again . . Chap. xxvi.

How Sir Launcelot was wroth with the letter that he received from

King Mark, and of Dinadan which made a lay of King Mark Chap. xxvii.

How Sir Tristram was hurt, and of a war made to King Mark; and

of Sir Tristram how he promised to rescue him . Chap. xxviii.

How Sir Tristram overcame the battle, and how Elias desired a man

to fight body for body . . . . Chap. xxix.

How Sir Elias and Sir Tristram fought together for the truage, and

how Sir Tristram slew Elias in the field . . Chap. xxx.

How at a great feast that King Mark made an harper came and sang

the lay that Dinadan had made . . . Chap. xxxi.

How King Mark slew by treason his brother Boudwin, for good

service that he had done to him . . . Chap. xxxii.

How Anglides, Boudwin's wife, escaped with her young son, Alisander

le Orphelin, and came to the Castle of Arundel . Chap. xxxiii.

How Anglides gave the bloody doublet to Alisander, her son, the

same day that he was made knight, and the charge withal Chap. xxxiv.

How it was told to King Mark of Sir Alisander, and how he would

have slain Sir Sadok for saving of his life . . Chap. xxxv.

How Sir Alisander won the prize at a tournament, and of Morgan le

Fay: and how he fought with Sir Malgrin, and slew him Chap. xxxvi.

How Queen Morgan le Fay had Alisander in her castle, and how she

healed his wounds . . . . Chap xxxvii.

How Alisander was delivered from the queen Morgan le Fay by the

mean of a damosel . . . . Chap. xxxviii.

How Alisander met with Alice la Beale Pilgrim, and how he jousted

with two knights; and after of him and of Sir Mordred Chap. xxxix.

How Sir Galahalt did do cry a jousts in Surluse, and Queen Guenever's

knights should joust against all that would come . Chap. xl.

How Sir Launcelot fought in the tournament, and how Sir Palomides

did arms there for a damosel . . . Chap. xli.

How Sir Galahalt and Sir Palomides fought together, and of Sir

Dinadan and Sir Galahalt . . . Chap. xlii.

How Sir Archade appealed Sir Palomides of treason, and how Sir

Palomides slew him . . . . Chap. xliii.

Of the third day, and how Sir Palomides jousted with Sir Lamorak

and other things . . . . . Chap. xliv.

Of the fourth day, and of many great feats of arms . Chap. xlv.

Of the fifth day, and how Sir Lamorak behaved him . Chap. xlvi.

How Palomides fought with Corsabrin for a lady, and how Palomides

slew Corsabrin . . . . Chap. xlvii.

Of the sixth day, and what was then done . . Chap. xlviii.

Of the seventh battle, and how Sir Launcelot, being disguised like a

maid, smote down Sir Dinadan . . . Chap. xlix.

How by treason Sir Tristram was brought to a tournament for to have

been slain, and how he was put in prison . . Chap. l.

How King Mark let do counterfeit letters from the Pope, and how

Sir Percivale delivered Sir Tristram out of prison . Chap. li.

How Sir Tristram and La Beale Isoud came into England, and how

Sir Launcelot brought them to Joyous Gard . Chap. lii.

How by the counsel of Beale Isoud Tristram rode armed, and how

he met with Sir Palomides . . . Chap. liii.

Of Sir Palomides, and how he met with Sir Bleoberis and with Sir

Ector, and of Sir Percivale . . . Chap. liv.

How Sir Tristram met with Sir Dinadan, and of their devices, and

what he said to Sir Gawaine's brethren . . Chap. lv.

How Sir Tristram smote down Sir Agravaine and Sir Gaheris, and

how Sir Dinadan was sent for by La Beale Isoud . Chap. lvi.

How Sir Dinadan met with Sir Tristram, and with jousting with Sir

Palomides, Sir Dinadan knew him . . Chap. lvii.

How they approached the Castle Lonazep, and of other devices of the

death of Sir Lamorak . . . . Chap. lviii.

How they came to Humber bank, and how they found a ship there,

wherein lay the body of King Hermance . . Chap. lix.

How Sir Tristram with his fellowship came and were with an host

which after fought with Sir Tristram; and other matters Chap. lx.

How Palomides went for to fight with two brethren for the death of

King Hermance . . . . . Chap. lxi.

The copy of the letter written for to revenge the king's death, and

how Sir Palomides fought for to have the battle . Chap. lxii.

Of the preparation of Sir Palomides and the two brethren that should

fight with him . . . . . Chap. lxiii.

Of the battle between Sir Palomides and the two brethren, and how

the two brethren were slain . . . Chap. lxiv.

How Sir Tristram and Sir Palomides met Breuse Saunce Pit<e'>, and

how Sir Tristram and La Beale Isoud went unto Lonazep Chap. lxv.

How Sir Palomides jousted with Sir Galihodin, and after with Sir

Gawaine, and smote them down . . . Chap. lxvi.

How Sir Tristram and his fellowship came unto the tournament of

Lonazep; and of divers jousts and matters . Chap. lxvii.

How Sir Tristram and his fellowship jousted, and of the noble feats

that they did in that tourneying . . . Chap. lxviii.

How Sir Tristram was unhorsed and smitten down by Sir Launcelot,

and after that Sir Tristram smote down King Arthur Chap. lxix.

How Sir Tristram changed his harness and it was all red, and how he

demeaned him, and how Sir Palomides slew Launcelot's horse Chap. lxx.

How Sir Launcelot said to Sir Palomides, and how the prize of that

day was given to Sir Palomides . . . Chap. lxxi.

How Sir Dinadan provoked Sir Tristram to do well . Chap. lxxii

How King Arthur and Sir Launcelot came to see La Beale Isoud, and

how Palomides smote down King Arthur . . Chap. lxxiii.

How the second day Palomides forsook Sir Tristram, and went to the

contrary party against him . . . Chap. lxxiv.

How Sir Tristram departed out of the field, and awaked Sir Dinadan,

and changed his array into black . . . Chap. lxxv.

How Sir Palomides changed his shield and armour for to hurt Sir

Tristram, and how Sir Launcelot did to Sir Tristram Chap. lxxvi.

How Sir Tristram departed with La Beale Isoud, and how Palomides

followed and excused him . . . Chap. lxxvii

How King Arthur and Sir Launcelot came unto their pavilions as

they sat at supper, and of Palomides . . Chap. lxxviii.

How Sir Tristram and Sir Palomides did the next day, and how King

Arthur was unhorsed . . . . Chap. lxxix.

How Sir Tristram turned to King Arthur's side, and how Sir

Palomides would not . . . . Chap. lxxx.

How Sir Bleoberis and Sir Ector reported to Queen Guenever of the

beauty of La Beale Isoud . . . . Chap. lxxxi.

How Epinogris complained by a well, and how Sir Palomides came

and found him, and of their both sorrows . . Chap. lxxxii

How Sir Palomides brought to Sir Epinogris his lady; and how Sir

Palomides and Sir Safere were assailed . . Chap. lxxxiii.

[How Sir Palomides and Sir Safere conducted Sir Epinogris to his

castle, and of other adventures] . . . Chap. lxxxiv.

How Sir Tristram made him ready to rescue Sir Palomides, but Sir

Launcelot rescued him or he came . . Chap. lxxxv

How Sir Tristram and Sir Launcelot, with Palomides, came to Joyous

Gard; and of Palomides and Sir Tristram . Chap. lxxxvi.

How there was a day set between Sir Tristram and Sir Palomides for

to fight, and how Sir Tristram was hurt . . Chap. lxxxvii.

How Sir Palomides kept his day for to have foughten, but Sir Tristram

might not come; and other things . Chap. lxxxviii.

Here follow the Chapters of the Eleventh Book

How Sir Launcelot rode on his adventure, and how he holp a dolorous

lady from her pain, and how that he fought with a dragon Chap. i.

How Sir Launcelot came to Pelles, and of the Sangreal, and how he

begat Galahad on Elaine, King Pelles' daughter . Chap. ii.

How Sir Launcelot was displeased when he knew that he had lain by

Elaine, and how she was delivered of Galahad . Chap. iii.

How Sir Bors came to Dame Elaine and saw Galahad, and how he

was fed with the Sangreal . . . Chap. iv.

How Sir Bors made Sir Pedivere to yield him, and of marvellous

adventures that he had, and how he achieved them Chap. v.

How Sir Bors departed; and how Sir Launcelot was rebuked of Queen

Guenever, and of his excuse . . . Chap. vi.

How Dame Elaine, Galahad's mother, came in great estate unto

Camelot, and how Sir Launcelot behaved him there Chap. vii.

How Dame Brisen by enchantment brought Sir Launcelot to Dame

Elaine's bed, and how Queen Guenever rebuked him Chap. viii.

How Dame Elaine was commanded by Queen Guenever to void the

court, and how Sir Launcelot became mad . Chap. ix.

What sorrow Queen Guenever made for Sir Launcelot, and how he

was sought by knights of his kin . . . Chap. x.

How a servant of Sir Aglovale's was slain, and what vengeance Sir

Aglovale and Sir Percivale did therefore . . Chap. xi.

How Sir Percivale departed secretly from his brother, and how he

loosed a knight bound with a chain, and other doings Chap. xii.

How Sir Percivale met with Sir Ector, and how they fought long, and

each had almost slain other . . . Chap. xiii.

How by miracle they were both made whole by the coming of the

holy vessel of Sangreal . . . . Chap. xiv.

Here follow the Chapters of the Tenth Book

How Sir Launcelot in his madness took a sword and fought with a

knight, and after leapt into a bed . . . Chap. i.

How Sir Launcelot was carried in an horse litter, and how Sir

Launcelot rescued Sir Bliant, his host . . Chap. ii.

How Sir Launcelot fought against a boar and slew him, and how he

was hurt, and brought to an hermitage . . Chap. iii.

How Sir Launcelot was known by Dame Elaine, and was borne into a

chamber and after healed by the Sangreal . Chap. iv.

How Sir Launcelot, after that he was whole and had his mind, he

was ashamed, and how that Elaine desired a castle for him Chap. v.

How Sir Launcelot came into the Joyous Isle, and there he named

himself Le Chevaler Mal Fet . . . Chap. vi.

Of a great tourneying in the Joyous Isle, and how Sir Percivale and

Sir Ector came thither, and Sir Percivale fought with him Chap. vii.

How each of them knew other, and of their courtesy, and how his

brother Ector came to him, and of their joy . Chap. viii.

How Sir Bors and Sir Lionel came to King Brandegore, and how Sir

Bors took his son Helin le Blank, and of Sir Launcelot Chap. ix.

How Sir Launcelot with Sir Percivale and Sir Ector came to the

court, and of the great joy of him . . . Chap. x.

How La Beale Isoud counselled Sir Tristram to go unto the court, to

the great feast of Pentecost . . . Chap. xi.

How Sir Tristram departed unarmed and met with Sir Palomides, and

how they smote each other, and how Palomides forbare him Chap. xii.

How Sir Tristram gat him harness of a knight which was hurt, and

how he overthrew Sir Palomides . . . Chap. xiii.

How Sir Tristram and Sir Palomides fought long together, and after

accorded, and Sir Tristram made him to be christened Chap. xiv.

Here follow the Chapters of the Thirteenth Book

How at the vigil of the Feast of Pentecost entered into the hall before

King Arthur a damosel, and desired Sir Launcelot for to come

and dub a knight, and how he went with her . Chap. i.

How the letters were found written in the Siege Perilous, and of the

marvellous adventure of the sword in a stone . Chap. ii.

How Sir Gawaine assayed to draw out the sword, and how an old man

brought in Galahad . . . . Chap. iii.

How the old man brought Galahad to the Siege Perilous and set him

therein, and how all the knights marvelled . Chap. iv.

How King Arthur shewed the stone hoving on the water to Galahad,

and how he drew out the sword . . . Chap. v.

How King Arthur had all the knights together for to joust in the

meadow beside Camelot or they departed . . Chap. vi.

How the queen desired to see Galahad; and how after, all the knights

were replenished with the Holy Sangreal, and how they avowed

the enquest of the same  .    .    .    .    Chap. vii

How great sorrow was made of the king and the queen and ladies for

the departing of the knights, and how they departed Chap. viii.

How Galahad gat him a shield, and how they sped that presumed to

take down the said shield . . . Chap. ix.

How Galahad departed with the shield, and how King Evelake had

received the shield of Joseph of Aramathie . Chap. x.

How Joseph made a cross on the white shield with his blood, and how

Galahad was by a monk brought to a tomb . Chap. xi.

Of the marvel that Sir Galahad saw and heard in the tomb, and how

he made Melias knight . . . . Chap. xii.

Of the adventure that Melias had, and how Galahad revenged him,

and how Melias was carried into an abbey . Chap. xiii.

How Galahad departed, and how he was commanded to go to the

Castle of Maidens to destroy the wicked custom . Chap. xiv.

How Sir Galahad fought with the knights of the castle, and destroyed

the wicked custom . . . . Chap. xv.

How Sir Gawaine came to the abbey for to follow Galahad, and how

he was shriven to a hermit . . . Chap. xvi.

How Sir Galahad met with Sir Launcelot and Sir Percivale, and smote

them down, and departed from them . . Chap. xvii.

How Sir Launcelot, half sleeping and half waking, saw a sick man

borne in a litter, and how he was healed by the Sangreal Chap. xviii.

How a voice spake to Sir Launcelot, and how he found his horse and

his helm borne away, and after went afoot . Chap. xix.

How Sir Launcelot was shriven, and what sorrow he made, and of

good ensamples which were shewed him . . Chap. xx.

here follow the Chapters of the Fourteenth Book

How Sir Percivale came to a recluse and asked her counsel, and how

she told him that she was his aunt . . Chap. i.

How Merlin likened the Round Table to the world, and how the

knights that should achieve the Sangreal should be known Chap. ii.

How Sir Percivale came into a monastery, where he found King Evelake,

which was an old man . . . Chap. iii.

How Sir Percivale saw many men of arms bearing a dead knight, and

how he fought against them . . . Chap. iv.

How a yeoman desired him to get again an horse, and how Sir Percivale's

hackney was slain, and how he gat an horse. Chap. v.

Of the great danger that Sir Percivale was in by his horse, and how he

saw a serpent and a lion fight . . . Chap. vi.

Of the advision that Sir Percivale saw, and how his advision was

expounded, and of his lion . . . Chap. vii.

How Sir Percivale saw a ship coming to him-ward, and how the lady

of the ship told him of her disheritance . . Chap. viii.

How Sir Percivale promised her help, and how he required her of love,

and how he was saved from the fiend . . Chap. ix.

How Sir Percivale for penance rove himself through the thigh; and

how she was known for the devil . . . Chap. x.

here follow the Chapters of the Fifteenth Book which is of

Sir Launcelot.

How Sir Launcelot came into a chapel, where he found dead, in a white

shirt, a man of religion, of an hundred winter old . Chap i.

Of a dead man, how men would have hewn him, and it would not

be, and how Sir Launcelot took the hair of the dead man Chap. ii.

Of an advision that Sir Launcelot had, and how he told it to an hermit,

and desired counsel of him . . . Chap. iii.

How the hermit expounded to Sir Launcelot his advision, and told

him that Sir Galahad was his son. . . Chap. iv.

How Sir Launcelot jousted with many knights, and how he was taken Chap.

v.

How Sir Launcelot told his advision to a woman, and how she

expounded it to him . . . . Chap. vi.

here follow the Chapters of the Sixteenth Book

How Sir Gawaine was nigh weary of the quest of the Sangreal, and of

his marvellous dream . . . . Chap. i.

Of the advision of Sir Ector, and how he jousted with Sir Uwaine les

Avoutres, his sworn brother . . . Chap. ii.

How Sir Gawaine and Sir Ector came to an hermitage to be confessed,

and how they told to the hermit their advisions . Chap. iii.

How the hermit expounded their advision . . Chap. iv.

Of the good counsel that the hermit gave to them . Chap. v.

How Sir Bors met with an hermit, and how he was confessed to him,

and of his penance enjoined to him . . Chap. vi.

How Sir Bors was lodged with a lady, and how he took upon him for

to get against a champion for her land . . Chap. vii.

Of a vision which Sir Bors had that night, and how he fought and

overcame his adversary . . . . Chap. viii.

How the lady was restored to her lands by the battle of Sir Bors, and

of his departing, and how he met Sir Lionel taken and beaten

with thorns, and also of a maid which should have been devoured Chap.

ix.

How Sir Bors left to rescue his brother, and rescued the damosel and

how it was told him that Lionel was dead . Chap. x.

How Sir Bors told his dream to a priest, which he had dreamed, and

of the counsel that the priest gave to him . . Chap. xi.

How the devil in a woman's likeness would have had Sir Bors to have

lain by her, and how by God's grace he escaped . Chap. xii.

Of the holy communication of an abbot to Sir Bors, and how the

abbot counselled him . . . . Chap. xiii.

How Sir Bors met with his brother Sir Lionel, and how Sir Lionel

would have slain Sir Bors . . . . Chap. xiv.

How Sir Colgrevance fought against Sir Lionel for to save Sir Bors

and how the hermit was slain . . . Chap. xv.

How Sir Lionel slew Sir Colgrevance, and how after he would have

slain Sir Bors . . . . . Chap. xvi.

How there came a voice which charged Sir Bors to touch him not, and

a cloud that came between them . . Chap. xvii.

here follow the Chapters of the Seventeenth Book

How Sir Galahad fought at a tournament, and how he was known of Sir

Gawaine and of Sir Ector de Maris . . Chap. i.

How Sir Galahad rode with a damosel, and came to the ship whereas ir

Bors

and Sir Percivale were in . . Chap. ii.

How Sir Galahad entered into the ship, and of a fair bed therein, with

other

marvellous things, and of a sword . . Chap. iii.

Of the marvels of the sword and of the scabbard . Chap. iv.

How King Pelles was smitten through both thighs because he drew the

sword,

and other marvellous histories . . Chap. v.

How Solomon took David's sword by the counsel of his wife, and of other

matters marvellous . . . . Chap. vi.

A wonderful tale of King Solomon and his wife . Chap. vii.

How Galahad and his fellows came to a castle, and how they were fought

withal, and how they slew their adversaries, and other

matters . . . . . . Chap. viii.

How the three knights, with Percivale's sister, came

into the waste forest, and

of an hart and four lions, and other things Chap. ix.

How they were desired of a strange custom, the which they would not

obey;

wherefore they fought and slew many knights Chap. x.

How Sir Percivale's sister bled a dish full of blood for to heal a lady,

wherefore she died; and how that the body was put in a ship Chap. xi.

How Galahad and Percivale found in a castle many tombs of maidens that

had

bled to death . . . . Chap. xii.

How Sir Launcelot entered into the ship where Sir Percivale's sister

lay dead, and how he met with Sir Galahad, his son Chap. xiii.

How a knight brought to Sir Galahad an horse, and bade him come from his

father, Sir Launcelot . . . Chap. xiv.

How Sir Launcelot was to-fore the door of the chamber wherein the Holy

Sangreal was . . . . Chap. xv.

How Sir Launcelot had lain four-and-twenty days and as many nights as a

dead man, and other divers matters . . Chap. xvi.

How Sir Launcelot returned towards Logris, and of other adventures which

he

saw in the way . . . . Chap. xvii.

How Galahad came to King Mordrains, and of other matters and

adventures . . . . . Chap. xviii.

How Sir Percivale and Sir Bors met with Sir Galahad, and how they

came to the castle of Carbonek, and other matters . Chap. xix.

How Galahad and his fellows were fed of the Holy Sangreal, and how

Our Lord appeared to them, and other things . Chap. xx.

How Galahad anointed with the blood of the spear the Maimed King,

and of other adventures . . . Chap. xxi.

How they were fed with the Sangreal while they were in prison, and

how Galahad was made king . . . Chap xxii.

Of the sorrow that Percivale and Bors made when Galahad was dead:

and of Percivale how he died, and other matters . Chap. xxiii.

here follow the Chapters of the Eighteenth Book.

Of the joy King Arthur and the queen had of the achievement of the

Sangreal; and how Launcelot fell to his old love again Chap. i.

How the queen commanded Sir Launcelot to avoid the court, and of

the sorrow that Launcelot made . . . Chap. ii.

How at a dinner that the queen made there was a knight enpoisoned,

which Sir Mador laid on the queen . . Chap. iii.

How Sir Mador appeached the queen of treason, and there was no

knight would fight for her at the first time . Chap. iv.

How the queen required Sir Bors to fight for her, and how he granted

upon condition; and how he warned Sir Launcelot thereof Chap. v.

How at the day Sir Bors made him ready for to fight for the queen;

and when he would fight how another discharged him Chap. vi.

How Sir Launcelot fought against Sir Mador for the queen, and how

he overcame Sir Mador, and discharged the queen Chap. vii.

How the truth was known by the Maiden of the Lake, and of divers

other matters . . . . . Chap. viii.

How Sir Launcelot rode to Astolat, and received a sleeve to wear upon

his helm at the request of a maid . . . Chap. ix.

How the tourney began at Winchester, and what knights were at the

Jousts; and other things . . . . Chap. x.

How Sir Launcelot and Sir Lavaine entered in the field against them

of King Arthur's court, and how Launcelot was hurt Chap. xi.

How Sir Launcelot and Sir Lavaine departed out of the field, and in

what jeopardy Launcelot was . . . Chap. xii.

How Launcelot was brought to an hermit for to be healed of his

wound, and of other matters . . . Chap. xiii.

How Sir Gawaine was lodged with the lord of Astolat, and there had

knowledge that it was Sir Launcelot that bare the red sleeve

Of the sorrow that Sir Bors had for the hurt of Launcelot; and of the

anger that the queen had because Launcelot bare the sleeve Chap. xv.

How Sir Bors sought Launcelot and found him in the hermitage, and

of the lamentation between them . . . Chap. xvi.

How Sir Launcelot armed him to assay if he might bear arms, and how

his wounds brast out again . . . Chap. xvii.

How Sir Bors returned and told tidings of Sir Launcelot; and of the

tourney, and to whom the prize was given . Chap. xviii.

Of the great lamentation of the Fair Maid of Astolat when Launcelot

should depart, and how she died for his love . Chap. xix.

How the corpse of the Maid of Astolat arrived to-fore King Arthur,

and of the burying, and how Sir Launcelot offered the mass-penny

Chap. xx.

Of great jousts done all a Christmas, and of a great jousts and tourney

ordained by King Arthur, and of Sir Launcelot . Chap. xxi.

How Launcelot after that he was hurt of a gentlewoman came to an

hermit, and of other matters . . . Chap. xxii.

How Sir Launcelot behaved him at the jousts, and other men also

Chap. xxiii

How King Arthur marvelled much of the jousting in the field, and

how he rode and found Sir Launcelot . . Chap. xxiv.

How true love is likened to summer . . . Chap. xxv.

here follow the Chapters of the Nineteenth Book

How Queen Guenever rode a-Maying with certain knights of the

Round Table and clad all in green . . Chap. i.

How Sir Meliagrance took the queen and all her knights, which were

sore hurt in fighting . . . . Chap. ii.

How Sir Launcelot had word how the queen was taken, and how Sir

Meliagrance laid a bushment for Launcelot . Chap. iii.

How Sir Launcelot's horse was slain, and how Sir Launcelot rode in a

cart for to rescue the queen . . . Chap. iv.

How Sir Meliagrance required forgiveness of the queen, and how she

appeased Sir Launcelot; and other matters . Chap. v.

How Sir Launcelot came in the night to the queen and lay with her, and

how Sir Meliagrance appeached the queen of treason Chap. vi.

How Sir Launcelot answered for the queen, and waged battle against

Sir Meliagrance; and how Sir Launcelot was taken in a trap Chap. vii.

How Sir Launcelot was delivered out of prison by a lady, and took a

white courser and came for to keep his day . Chap. viii.

How Sir Launcelot came the same time that Sir Meliagrance abode

him in the field and dressed him to battle . Chap. ix.

How Sir Urre came into Arthur's court for to be healed of his wounds,

and how King Arthur would begin to handle him. Chap. x.

How King Arthur handled Sir Urre, and after him many other knights

of the Round Table . . . . Chap. xi.

How Sir Launcelot was commanded by Arthur to handle his wounds,

and anon he was all whole, and how they thanked God Chap. xii.

How there was a party made of an hundred knights against an hundred

knights, and of other matters . . . Chap. xiii.

here followeth the book of the Piteous History which

is of the Morte or Death of King Aurthur, and

the Chapters of the Twentieth Book.

How Sir Agravaine and Sir Mordred were busy upon Sir Gawaine for

to disclose the love between Sir Launcelot and Queen Guenever Chap. i.

How Sir Agravaine disclosed their love to King Arthur, and how King

Arthur gave them licence to take him . . Chap. ii.

How Sir Launcelot was espied in the queen's chamber, and how Sir

Agravaine and Sir Mordred came with twelve knights to slay him Chap.

iii.

How Sir Launcelot slew Sir Colgrevance, and armed him in his

harness, and after slew Sir Agravaine, and twelve of his fellows Chap.

iv.

How Sir Launcelot came to Sir Bors, and told him how he had sped,

and in what adventure he had been, and how he escaped Chap. v.

Of the counsel and advice that was taken by Sir Launcelot and his

friends for to save the queen . . . Chap. vi.

How Sir Mordred rode hastily to the king, to tell him of the affray

and death of Sir Agravaine and the other knights . Chap. vii.

How Sir Launcelot and his kinsmen rescued the queen from the fire,

and how he slew many knights . . . Chap. viii.

Of the sorrow and lamentation of King Arthur for the death of his

nephews and other good knights, and also for the queen, his wife Chap.

ix.

How King Arthur at the request of Sir Gawaine concluded to make

war against Sir Launcelot, and laid siege to his castle called

Joyous Gard . . . . . Chap. x.

Of the communication between King Arthur and Sir Launcelot, and

how King Arthur reproved him . . . Chap. xi.

How the cousins and kinsmen of Sir Launcelot excited him to go out

to battle, and how they made them ready . . Chap. xii.

How Sir Gawaine jousted and smote down Sir Lionel, and how Sir

Launcelot horsed King Arthur . . . Chap. liii.

How the Pope sent down his bulls to make peace, and how Sir

Launcelot brought the queen to King Arthur . Chap. xiv.

Of the deliverance of the queen to the king by Sir Launcelot, and

what language Sir Gawaine had to Sir Launcelot . Chap. xv.

Of the communication between Sir Gawaine and Sir Launcelot, with

much other language . . . . Chap. xvi.

How Sir Launcelot departed from the king and from Joyous Gard over

seaward, and what knights went with him . Chap. xvii.

How Sir Launcelot passed over the sea, and how he made great lords

of the knights that went with him . . Chap. xviii.

How King Arthur and Sir Gawaine made a great host ready to go over

sea to make war on Sir Launcelot . . Chap. xix.

What message Sir Gawaine sent to Sir Launcelot; and how King

Arthur laid siege to Benwick, and other matters . Chap. xx.

How Sir Launcelot and Sir Gawaine did battle together, and how Sir

Gawaine was overthrown and hurt . . Chap. xxi.

Of the sorrow that King Arthur made for the war, and of another

battle where also Sir Gawaine had the worse . Chap. xxii.

here follow the Chapters of the Twenty-first Book.

How Sir Mordred presumed and took on him to be King of England,

and would have married the queen, his father's wife Chap. i.

How after that King Arthur had tidings, he returned and came to

Dover, where Sir Mordred met him to let his landing; and of

the death of Sir Gawaine . . . . Chap. ii.

How after, Sir Gawaine's ghost appeared to King Arthur, and warned

him that he should not fight that day . . Chap. iii.

How by misadventure of an adder the battle began, where Mordred

was slain, and Arthur hurt to the death . . Chap. iv.

How King Arthur commanded to cast his sword Excalibur into the

water, and how he was delivered to ladies in a barge Chap. v.

How Sir Bedivere found him on the morn dead in an hermitage, and

how he abode there with the hermit . . Chap. vi.

Of the opinion of some men of the death of King Arthur; and how

Queen Guenever made her a nun in Almesbury . Chap. vii.

How when Sir Launcelot heard of the death of King Arthur, and of

Sir Gawaine, and other matters, he came into England Chap. viii.

How Sir Launcelot departed to seek the Queen Guenever, and how

he found her at Almesbury . . . Chap. ix.

How Sir Launcelot came to the hermitage where the Archbishop of

Canterbury was, and how he took the habit on him Chap. x.

How Sir Launcelot went with his seven fellows to Almesbury, and

found there Queen Guenever dead, whom they brought to

Glastonbury . . . . . Chap. xi.

How Sir Launcelot began to sicken, and after died, whose body was

borne to Joyous Gard for to be buried . . Chap. xii.

How Sir Ector found Sir Launcelot his brother dead, and how

Constantine reigned next after Arthur; and of the end of this

book . . . . . . Chap. xiii.

Explicit the Table.

BOOK X

CHAPTER I

How Sir Tristram jousted, and smote down King Arthur,

because he told him not the cause why he bare that shield.

AND if so be ye can descrive what ye bear, ye are worthy

to bear the arms.  As for that, said Sir Tristram, I will

answer you; this shield was given me, not desired, of

Queen Morgan le Fay; and as for me, I can not descrive

these arms, for it is no point of my charge, and yet I

trust to God to bear them with worship.  Truly, said

King Arthur, ye ought not to bear none arms but if ye

wist what ye bear: but I pray you tell me your name.

To what intent? said Sir Tristram.  For I would wit,

said Arthur.  Sir, ye shall not wit as at this time.  Then

shall ye and I do battle together, said King Arthur.

Why, said Sir Tristram, will ye do battle with me but if

I tell you my name? and that little needeth you an ye

were a man of worship, for ye have seen me this day

have had great travail, and therefore ye are a villainous

knight to ask battle of me, considering my great travail;

howbeit I will not fail you, and have ye no doubt that I

fear not you; though you think you have me at a great

advantage yet shall I right well endure you.  And there

withal King Arthur dressed his shield and his spear, and

Sir Tristram against him, and they came so eagerly

together.  And there King Arthur brake his spear all to

pieces upon Sir Tristram's shield.  But Sir Tristram hit

Arthur again, that horse and man fell to the earth.  And

there was King Arthur wounded on the left side, a great

wound and a perilous.

Then when Sir Uwaine saw his lord Arthur lie on the

ground sore wounded, he was passing heavy.  And then

he dressed his shield and his spear, and cried aloud unto

Sir Tristram and said:  Knight, defend thee.  So they

came together as thunder, and Sir Uwaine brised his spear

all to pieces upon Sir Tristram's shield, and Sir Tristram

smote him harder and sorer, with such a might that he

bare him clean out of his saddle to the earth.  With that

Sir Tristram turned about and said:  Fair knights, I had

no need to joust with you, for I have had enough to do

this day.  Then arose Arthur and went to Sir Uwaine,

and said to Sir Tristram:  We have as we have deserved,

for through our orgulyt<e'> we demanded battle of you,

and yet we knew not your name.  Nevertheless, by Saint

Cross, said Sir Uwaine, he is a strong knight at mine

advice as any is now living.

Then Sir Tristram departed, and in every place he

asked and demanded after Sir Launcelot, but in no place

he could not hear of him whether he were dead or alive;

wherefore Sir Tristram made great dole and sorrow.  So

Sir Tristram rode by a forest, and then was he ware of a

fair tower by a marsh on that one side, and on that other

side a fair meadow.  And there he saw ten knights

fighting together.  And ever the nearer he came he saw

how there was but one knight did battle against nine

knights, and that one did so marvellously that Sir

Tristram had great wonder that ever one knight might

do so great deeds of arms.  And then within a little

while he had slain half their horses and unhorsed them,

and their horses ran in the fields and forest.  Then Sir

Tristram had so great pity of that one knight that

endured so great pain, and ever he thought it should be

Sir Palomides, by his shield.  And so he rode unto the

knights and cried unto them, and bade them cease of

their battle, for they did themselves great shame so many

knights to fight with one.  Then answered the master of

those knights, his name was called Breuse Saunce Pit<e'>,

that was at that time the most mischievoust knight living,

and said thus:  Sir knight, what have ye ado with us to

meddle? and therefore, an ye be wise, depart on your

way as ye came, for this knight shall not escape us.

That were pity, said Sir Tristram, that so good a knight

as he is should be slain so cowardly; and therefore I

warn you I will succour him with all my puissance.

CHAPTER II

How Sir Tristram saved Sir Palomides' life, and how they

promised to fight together within a fortnight.

So Sir Tristram alighted off his horse because they were

on foot, that they should not slay his horse, and then

dressed his shield, with his sword in his hand, and he

smote on the right hand and on the left hand passing

sore, that well-nigh at every stroke he struck down a

knight.  And when they espied his strokes they fled all

with Breuse Saunce Pit<e'> unto the tower, and Sir Tristram

followed fast after with his sword in his hand, but they

escaped into the tower, and shut Sir Tristram without the

gate.  And when Sir Tristram saw this he returned aback

unto Sir Palomides, and found him sitting under a tree

sore wounded.  Ah, fair knight, said Sir Tristram, well

be ye found.  Gramercy, said Sir Palomides, of your great

goodness, for ye have rescued me of my life, and saved

me from my death.  What is your name? said Sir

Tristram.  He said:  My name is Sir Palomides.  O

Jesu, said Sir Tristram, thou hast a fair grace of me this

day that I should rescue thee, and thou art the man in

the world that I most hate; but now make thee ready,

for I will do battle with thee.  What is your name?

said Sir Palomides.  My name is Sir Tristram, your

mortal enemy.  It may be so, said Sir Palomides; but ye

have done over much for me this day that I should fight

with you; for inasmuch as ye have saved my life it will

be no worship for you to have ado with me, for ye are

fresh and I am wounded sore, and therefore, an ye will

needs have ado with me, assign me a day and then I

shall meet with you without fail.  Ye say well, said Sir

Tristram, now I assign you to meet me in the meadow

by the river of Camelot, where Merlin set the peron.

So they were agreed.

Then Sir Tristram asked Sir Palomides why the ten

knights did battle with him.  For this cause, said Sir

Palomides; as I rode upon mine adventures in a forest

here beside I espied where lay a dead knight, and a lady

weeping beside him.  And when I saw her making such

dole, I asked her who slew her lord.  Sir, she said, the

falsest knight of the world now living, and he is the most

villain that ever man heard speak of and his name is Sir

Breuse Saunce Pit<e'>.  Then for pity I made the damosel

to leap on her palfrey, and I promised her to be her

warrant, and to help her to inter her lord.  And so,

suddenly, as I came riding by this tower, there came out

Sir Breuse Saunce Pit<e'>, and suddenly he struck me from

my horse.  And then or I might recover my horse this

Sir Breuse slew the damosel.  And so I took my horse

again, and I was sore ashamed, and so began the medley

betwixt us: and this is the cause wherefore we did this

battle.  Well, said Sir Tristram, now I understand the

manner of your battle, but in any wise have remembrance

of your promise that ye have made with me to do battle

with me this day fortnight.  I shall not fail you, said Sir

Palomides.  Well, said Sir Tristram, as at this time I will

not fail you till that ye be out of the danger of your

enemies.

So they mounted upon their horses, and rode together

unto that forest, and there they found a fair well, with

clear water bubbling.  Fair sir, said Sir Tristram, to drink

of that water have I courage; and then they alighted off

their horses.  And then were they ware by them where

stood a great horse tied to a tree, and ever he neighed.

And then were they ware of a fair knight armed, under

a tree, lacking no piece of harness, save his helm lay

under his head.  By the good lord, said Sir Tristram,

yonder lieth a well-faring knight; what is best to do?

Awake him, said Sir Palomides.  So Sir Tristram awaked

him with the butt of his spear.  And so the knight rose

up hastily and put his helm upon his head, and gat a great

spear in his hand; and without any more words he hurled

unto Sir Tristram, and smote him clean from his saddle to

the earth, and hurt him on the left side, that Sir Tristram

lay in great peril.  Then he walloped farther, and fetched

his course, and came hurling upon Sir Palomides, and there

he struck him a part through the body, that he fell from

his horse to the earth.  And then this strange knight left

them there, and took his way through the forest.  With

this Sir Palomides and Sir Tristram were on foot, and gat

their horses again, and either asked counsel of other, what

was best to do.  By my head, said Sir Tristram, I will

follow this strong knight that thus hath shamed us.

Well, said Sir Palomides, and I will repose me hereby with

a friend of mine.  Beware, said Sir Tristram unto Palomides,

that ye fail not that day that ye have set with me

to do battle, for, as I deem, ye will not hold your day,

for I am much bigger than ye.  As for that, said Sir

Palomides, be it as it be may, for I fear you not, for an I

be not sick nor prisoner, I will not fail you; but I have

cause to have more doubt of you that ye will not meet

with me, for ye ride after yonder strong knight.  And if

ye meet with him it is an hard adventure an ever ye escape

his hands.  Right so Sir Tristram and Sir Palomides

departed, and either took their ways diverse.

CHAPTER III

How Sir Tristram sought a strong knight that had smitten

him down, and many other knights of the Round Table.

AND so Sir Tristram rode long after this strong knight.

And at the last he saw where lay a lady overthwart a dead

knight.  Fair lady, said Sir Tristram, who hath slain your

lord?  Sir, she said, here came a knight riding, as my lord

and I rested us here, and asked him of whence he was,

and my lord said of Arthur's court.  Therefore, said the

strong knight, I will joust with thee, for I hate all these

that be of Arthur's court.  And my lord that lieth here

dead amounted upon his horse, and the strong knight and

my lord encountered together, and there he smote my

lord throughout with his spear, and thus he hath brought

me in great woe and damage.  That me repenteth, said

Sir Tristram, of your great anger; an it please you tell

me your husband's name.  Sir, said she, his name was

Galardoun, that would have proved a good knight.  So

departed Sir Tristram from that dolorous lady, and had

much evil lodging.  Then on the third day Sir Tristram

met with Sir Gawaine and with Sir Bleoberis in a forest at

a lodge, and either were sore wounded.  Then Sir Tristram

asked Sir Gawaine and Sir Bleoberis if they met with such

a knight, with such a cognisance, with a covered shield.

Fair sir, said these knights, such a knight met with us to

our great damage.  And first he smote down my fellow,

Sir Bleoberis, and sore wounded him because he bade me

I should not have ado with him, for why he was overstrong

for me.  That strong knight took his words at

scorn, and said he said it for mockery.  And then they

rode together, and so he hurt my fellow.  And when he

had done so I might not for shame but I must joust with

him.  And at the first course he smote me down and my

horse to the earth.  And there he had almost slain me,

and from us he took his horse and departed, and in an

evil time we met with him.  Fair knights, said Sir

Tristram, so he met with me, and with another knight

that hight Palomides, and he smote us both down with

one spear, and hurt us right sore.  By my faith, said Sir

Gawaine, by my counsel ye shall let him pass and seek

him no further; for at the next feast of the Round Table,

upon pain of my head ye shall find him there.  By my

faith, said Sir Tristram, I shall never rest till that I find

him.  And then Sir Gawaine asked him his name.  Then

he said:  My name is Sir Tristram.  And so either told

other their names, and then departed Sir Tristram and

rode his way.

And by fortune in a meadow Sir Tristram met with Sir

Kay, the Seneschal, and Sir Dinadan.  What tidings with

you, said Sir Tristram, with you knights?  Not good,

said these knights.  Why so? said Sir Tristram; I pray

you tell me, for I ride to seek a knight.  What cognisance

beareth he? said Sir Kay.  He beareth, said Sir Tristram,

a covered shield close with cloth.  By my head, said Sir

Kay, that is the same knight that met with us, for this

night we were lodged within a widow's house, and there

was that knight lodged; and when he wist we were of

Arthur's court he spoke great villainy by the king, and

specially by the Queen Guenever, and then on the morn

was waged battle with him for that cause.  And at the

first recounter, said Sir Kay, he smote me down from my

horse and hurt me passing sore; and when my fellow, Sir

Dinadan, saw me smitten down and hurt he would not

revenge me, but fled from me; and thus he departed.

And then Sir Tristram asked them their names, and so

either told other their names.  And so Sir Tristram

departed from Sir Kay, and from Sir Dinadan, and so he

passed through a great forest into a plain, till he was ware

of a priory, and there he reposed him with a good man

six days.

CHAPTER IV

How Sir Tristram smote down Sir Sagramore le Desirous

and Sir Dodinas le Savage.

AND then he sent his man that hight Gouvernail, and commanded

him to go to a city thereby to fetch him new harness;

for it was long time afore that that Sir Tristram had been

refreshed, his harness was brised and broken.  And when

Gouvernail, his servant, was come with his apparel, he took

his leave at the widow, and mounted upon his horse, and

rode his way early on the morn.  And by sudden adventure

Sir Tristram met with Sir Sagramore le Desirous, and

with Sir Dodinas le Savage.  And these two knights met

with Sir Tristram and questioned with him, and asked

him if he would joust with them.  Fair knights, said Sir

Tristram, with a good will I would joust with you, but I

have promised at a day set, near hand, to do battle with a

strong knight; and therefore I am loath to have ado with

you, for an it misfortuned me here to be hurt I should

not be able to do my battle which I promised.  As for

that, said Sagramore, maugre your head, ye shall joust

with us or ye pass from us.  Well, said Sir Tristram, if

ye enforce me thereto I must do what I may.  And then

they dressed their shields, and came running together with

great ire.  But through Sir Tristram's great force he

struck Sir Sagramore from his horse.  Then he hurled his

horse farther, and said to Sir Dodinas:  Knight, make thee

ready; and so through fine force Sir Tristram struck

Dodinas from his horse.  And when he saw them lie on

the earth he took his bridle, and rode forth on his way,

and his man Gouvernail with him.

Anon as Sir Tristram was passed, Sir Sagramore and

Sir Dodinas gat again their horses, and mounted up lightly

and followed after Sir Tristram.  And when Sir Tristram

saw them come so fast after him he returned with his horse

to them, and asked them what they would.  It is not long

ago sithen I smote you to the earth at your own request

and desire:  I would have ridden by you, but ye would

not suffer me, and now meseemeth ye would do more

battle with me.  That is truth, said Sir Sagramore and Sir

Dodinas, for we will be revenged of the despite ye have

done to us.  Fair knights, said Sir Tristram, that shall

little need you, for all that I did to you ye caused it;

wherefore I require you of your knighthood leave me as

at this time, for I am sure an I do battle with you I shall

not escape without great hurts, and as I suppose ye shall

not escape all lotless.  And this is the cause why I am so

loath to have ado with you; for I must fight within these

three days with a good knight, and as valiant as any is

now living, and if I be hurt I shall not be able to do

battle with him.  What knight is that, said Sir Sagramore,

that ye shall fight withal?  Sirs, said he, it is a good

knight called Sir Palomides.  By my head, said Sir

Sagramore and Sir Dodinas, ye have cause to dread him,

for ye shall find him a passing good knight, and a valiant.

And because ye shall have ado with him we will forbear

you as at this time, and else ye should not escape us

lightly.  But, fair knight, said Sir Sagramore, tell us your

name.  Sir, said he, my name is Sir Tristram de Liones.

Ah, said Sagramore and Sir Dodinas, well be ye found,

for much worship have we heard of you.  And then either

took leave of other, and departed on their way.

CHAPTER V

How Sir Tristram met at the peron with Sir Launcelot,

and how they fought together unknown.

THEN departed Sir Tristram and rode straight unto

Camelot, to the peron that Merlin had made to-fore,

where Sir Lanceor, that was the king's son of Ireland, was

slain by the hands of Balin.  And in that same place was

the fair lady Colombe slain, that was love unto Sir

Lanceor; for after he was dead she took his sword and

thrust it through her body.  And by the craft of Merlin

he made to inter this knight, Lanceor, and his lady,

Colombe, under one stone.  And at that time Merlin

prophesied that in that same place should fight two the

best knights that ever were in Arthur's days, and the best

lovers.  So when Sir Tristram came to the tomb where

Lanceor and his lady were buried he looked about him

after Sir Palomides.  Then was he ware of a seemly knight

came riding against him all in white, with a covered

shield.  When he came nigh Sir Tristram he said on

high:  Ye be welcome, sir knight, and well and truly have

ye holden your promise.  And then they dressed their

shields and spears, and came together with all their might

of their horses; and they met so fiercely that both their

horses and knights fell to the earth, and as fast as they

might avoided their horses, and put their shields afore

them; and they struck together with bright swords, as

men that were of might, and either wounded other

wonderly sore, that the blood ran out upon the grass.

And thus they fought the space of four hours, that never

one would speak to other one word, and of their harness

they had hewn off many pieces.  O Lord Jesu, said

Gouvernail, I marvel greatly of the strokes my master

hath given to your master.  By my head, said Sir Launcelot's

servant, your master hath not given so many but

your master has received as many or more.  O Jesu, said

Gouvernail, it is too much for Sir Palomides to suffer or

Sir Launcelot, and yet pity it were that either of these

good knights should destroy other's blood.  So they stood

and wept both, and made great dole when they saw the

bright swords over-covered with blood of their bodies.

Then at the last spake Sir Launcelot and said:  Knight,

thou fightest wonderly well as ever I saw knight, therefore,

an it please you, tell me your name.  Sir, said Sir Tristram,

that is me loath to tell any man my name.  Truly,

said Sir Launcelot, an I were required I was never loath

to tell my name.  It is well said, said Sir Tristram, then I

require you to tell me your name?  Fair knight, he said,

my name is Sir Launcelot du Lake.  Alas, said Sir Tristram,

what have I done! for ye are the man in the world

that I love best.  Fair knight, said Sir Launcelot, tell me

your name?  Truly, said he, my name is Sir Tristram de

Liones.  O Jesu, said Sir Launcelot, what adventure is

befallen me!  And therewith Sir Launcelot kneeled down

and yielded him up his sword.  And therewith Sir Tristram

kneeled adown, and yielded him up his sword.  And

so either gave other the degree.  And then they both

forthwithal went to the stone, and set them down upon it,

and took off their helms to cool them, and either kissed

other an hundred times.  And then anon after they took

off their helms and rode to Camelot.  And there they met

with Sir Gawaine and with Sir Gaheris that had made

promise to Arthur never to come again to the court till

they had brought Sir Tristram with them.

CHAPTER VI

How Sir Launcelot brought Sir Tristram to the court, and

of the great joy that the king and other made for the

coming of Sir Tristram.

RETURN again, said Sir Launcelot, for your quest is done,

for I have met with Sir Tristram: lo, here is his own

person!  Then was Sir Gawaine glad, and said to Sir

Tristram:  Ye are welcome, for now have ye eased me

greatly of my labour.  For what cause, said Sir Gawaine,

came ye into this court?  Fair sir, said Sir Tristram, I

came into this country because of Sir Palomides; for he

and I had assigned at this day to have done battle together

at the peron, and I marvel I hear not of him.  And thus

by adventure my lord, Sir Launcelot, and I met together.

With this came King Arthur, and when he wist that there

was Sir Tristram, then he ran unto him and took him by

the hand and said:  Sir Tristram, ye are as welcome as any

knight that ever came to this court.  And when the king

had heard how Sir Launcelot and he had foughten, and

either had wounded other wonderly sore, then the king

made great dole.  Then Sir Tristram told the king how

he came thither for to have had ado with Sir Palomides.

And then he told the king how he had rescued him from

the nine knights and Breuse Saunce Pit<e'>; and how he

found a knight lying by a well, and that knight smote

down Sir Palomides and me, but his shield was covered

with a cloth.  So Sir Palomides left me, and I followed

after that knight; and in many places I found where he

had slain knights, and forjousted many.  By my head,

said Sir Gawaine, that same knight smote me down and

Sir Bleoberis, and hurt us sore both, he with the covered

shield.  Ah, said Sir Kay, that knight smote me adown

and hurt me passing sore, and fain would I have known

him, but I might not.  Jesu, mercy, said Arthur, what

knight was that with the covered shield?  I know not,

said Sir Tristram; and so said they all.  Now, said King

Arthur, then wot I, for it is Sir Launcelot.  Then they

all looked upon Sir Launcelot and said:  Ye have beguiled

us with your covered shield.  It is not the first time, said

Arthur, he hath done so.  My lord, said Sir Launcelot,

truly wit ye well I was the same knight that bare the

covered shield; and because I would not be known that I

was of your court I said no worship of your house.  That

is truth, said Sir Gawaine, Sir Kay, and Sir Bleoberis.

Then King Arthur took Sir Tristram by the hand and

went to the Table Round.  Then came Queen Guenever

and many ladies with her, and all the ladies said at one

voice:  Welcome, Sir Tristram!  Welcome, said the

damosels.  Welcome, said knights.  Welcome, said

Arthur, for one of the best knights, and the gentlest of

the world, and the man of most worship; for of all

manner of hunting thou bearest the prize, and of all

measures of blowing thou art the beginning, and of all the

terms of hunting and hawking ye are the beginner, of all

instruments of music ye are the best; therefore, gentle

knight, said Arthur, ye are welcome to this court.  And

also, I pray you, said Arthur, grant me a boon.  It shall

be at your commandment, said Tristram.  Well, said

Arthur, I will desire of you that ye will abide in my court.

Sir, said Sir Tristram, thereto is me loath, for I have ado

in many countries.  Not so, said Arthur, ye have promised

it me, ye may not say nay.  Sir, said Sir Tristram, I will

as ye will.  Then went Arthur unto the sieges about the

Round Table, and looked in every siege the which were

void that lacked knights.  And then the king saw in the

siege of Marhaus letters that said:  This is the siege of the

noble knight, Sir Tristram.  And then Arthur made Sir

Tristram Knight of the Table Round, with great nobley

and great feast as might be thought.  For Sir Marhaus

was slain afore by the hands of Sir Tristram in an island;

and that was well known at that time in the court of

Arthur, for this Marhaus was a worthy knight.  And for

evil deeds that he did unto the country of Cornwall Sir

Tristram and he fought.  And they fought so long,

tracing and traversing, till they fell bleeding to the earth;

for they were so sore wounded that they might not stand

for bleeding.  And Sir Tristram by fortune recovered, and

Sir Marhaus died through the stroke on the head.  So

leave we of Sir Tristram and speak we of King Mark.

CHAPTER VII

How for the despite of Sir Tristram King Mark came with

two knights into England, and how he slew one of the

knights.

THEN King Mark had great despite of the renown of Sir

Tristram, and then he chased him out of Cornwall: yet

was he nephew unto King Mark, but he had great suspicion

unto Sir Tristram because of his queen, La Beale Isoud;

for him seemed that there was too much love between

them both.  So when Sir Tristram departed out of Cornwall

into England King Mark heard of the great prowess that

Sir Tristram did there, the which grieved him sore.  So

he sent on his part men to espy what deeds he did.  And

the queen sent privily on her part spies to know what

deeds he had done, for great love was between them twain.

So when the messengers were come home they told the

truth as they had heard, that he passed all other knights

but if it were Sir Launcelot.  Then King Mark was right

heavy of these tidings, and as glad was La Beale Isoud.

Then in great despite he took with him two good knights

and two squires, and disguised himself, and took his way

into England, to the intent for to slay Sir Tristram.

And one of these two knights hight Bersules, and the

other knight was called Amant.  So as they rode King

Mark asked a knight that he met, where he should find

King Arthur.  He said:  At Camelot.  Also he asked that

knight after Sir Tristram, whether he heard of him in the

court of King Arthur.  Wit you well, said that knight,

ye shall find Sir Tristram there for a man of as great

worship as is now living; for through his prowess he won

the tournament of the Castle of Maidens that standeth by

the Hard Rock.  And sithen he hath won with his own

hands thirty knights that were men of great honour.

And the last battle that ever he did he fought with Sir

Launcelot; and that was a marvellous battle.  And not

by force Sir Launcelot brought Sir Tristram to the court,

and of him King Arthur made passing great joy, and so

made him Knight of the Table Round; and his seat was

where the good knight's, Sir Marhaus, seat was.  Then

was King Mark passing sorry when he heard of the honour

of Sir Tristram; and so they departed.

Then said King Mark unto his two knights:  Now

will I tell you my counsel: ye are the men that I trust

most to alive, and I will that ye wit my coming hither is

to this intent, for to destroy Sir Tristram by wiles or by

treason; and it shall be hard if ever he escape our hands.

Alas, said Sir Bersules, what mean you? for ye be set in

such a way ye are disposed shamefully; for Sir Tristram

is the knight of most worship that we know living, and

therefore I warn you plainly I will never consent to do

him to the death; and therefore I will yield my service,

and forsake you.  When King Mark heard him say so,

suddenly he drew his sword and said:  Ah, traitor; and

smote Sir Bersules on the head, that the sword went to

his teeth.  When Amant, the knight, saw him do that

villainous deed, and his squires, they said it was foul done,

and mischievously:  Wherefore we will do thee no more

service, and wit ye well, we will appeach thee of treason

afore Arthur.  Then was King Mark wonderly wroth

and would have slain Amant; but he and the two squires

held them together, and set nought by his malice.  When

King Mark saw he might not be revenged on them, he

said thus unto the knight, Amant:  Wit thou well, an

thou appeach me of treason I shall thereof defend me

afore King Arthur; but I require thee that thou tell not

my name, that I am King Mark, whatsomever come of

me.  As for that, said Sir Amant, I will not discover your

name; and so they departed, and Amant and his fellows

took the body of Bersules and buried it.

CHAPTER VIII

How King Mark came to a fountain where he found Sir

Lamorak complaining for the love of King Lot's wife.

THEN King Mark rode till he came to a fountain, and

there he rested him, and stood in a doubt whether he

would ride to Arthur's court or none, or return again to

his country.  And as he thus rested him by that fountain

there came by him a knight well armed on horseback;

and he alighted, and tied his horse until a tree, and set

him down by the brink of the fountain; and there he

made great languor and dole, and made the dolefullest

complaint of love that ever man heard; and all this while

was he not ware of King Mark.  And this was a great

part of his complaint: he cried and wept, saying:  O fair

Queen of Orkney, King Lot's wife, and mother of Sir

Gawaine, and to Sir Gaheris, and mother to many other,

for thy love I am in great pains.  Then King Mark arose

and went near him and said:  Fair knight, ye have made

a piteous complaint.  Truly, said the knight, it is an

hundred part more ruefuller than my heart can utter.  I

require you, said King Mark, tell me your name.  Sir,

said he, as for my name I will not hide it from no knight

that beareth a shield, and my name is Sir Lamorak de

Galis.  But when Sir Lamorak heard King Mark speak,

then wist he well by his speech that he was a Cornish

knight.  Sir, said Sir Lamorak, I understand by your

tongue ye be of Cornwall, wherein there dwelleth the

shamefullest king that is now living, for he is a great

enemy to all good knights; and that proveth well, for he

hath chased out of that country Sir Tristram, that is the

worshipfullest knight that now is living, and all knights

speak of him worship; and for jealousness of his queen

he hath chased him out of his country.  It is pity, said

Sir Lamorak, that ever any such false knight-coward as

King Mark is, should be matched with such a fair lady

and good as La Beale Isoud is, for all the world of him

speaketh shame, and of her worship that any queen may

have.  I have not ado in this matter, said King Mark,

neither nought will I speak thereof.  Well said, said Sir

Lamorak.  Sir, can ye tell me any tidings?  I can tell

you, said Sir Lamorak, that there shall be a great

tournament in haste beside Camelot, at the Castle of Jagent;

and the King with the Hundred Knights and the King of

Ireland, as I suppose, make that tournament.

Then there came a knight that was called Sir Dinadan,

and saluted them both.  And when he wist that King

Mark was a knight of Cornwall he reproved him for the

love of King Mark a thousand fold more than did Sir

Lamorak.  Then he proffered to joust with King Mark.

And he was full loath thereto, but Sir Dinadan edged him

so, that he jousted with Sir Lamorak.  And Sir Lamorak

smote King Mark so sore that he bare him on his spear

end over his horse's tail.  And then King Mark arose

again, and followed after Sir Lamorak.  But Sir Dinadan

would not joust with Sir Lamorak, but he told King Mark

that Sir Lamorak was Sir Kay, the Seneschal.  That is

not so, said King Mark, for he is much bigger than Sir

Kay; and so he followed and overtook him, and bade

him abide.  What will you do? said Sir Lamorak.  Sir,

he said, I will fight with a sword, for ye have shamed me

with a spear; and therewith they dashed together with

swords, and Sir Lamorak suffered him and forbare him.

And King Mark was passing hasty, and smote thick

strokes.  Sir Lamorak saw he would not stint, and waxed

somewhat wroth, and doubled his strokes, for he was one

of the noblest knights of the world; and he beat him so

on the helm that his head hung nigh on the saddle bow.

When Sir Lamorak saw him fare so, he said:  Sir knight,

what cheer? meseemeth you have nigh your fill of fighting,

it were pity to do you any more harm, for ye are but a

mean knight, therefore I give you leave to go where ye

list.  Gramercy, said King Mark, for ye and I be not

matches.

Then Sir Dinadan mocked King Mark and said:

Ye are not able to match a good knight.  As for that,

said King Mark, at the first time I jousted with this

knight ye refused him.  Think ye that it is a shame to

me? said Sir Dinadan: nay, sir, it is ever worship to a

knight to refuse that thing that he may not attain, there

fore your worship had been much more to have refused

him as I did; for I warn you plainly he is able to beat

such five as ye and I be; for ye knights of Cornwall are

no men of worship as other knights are.  And because ye

are no men of worship ye hate all men of worship, for

never was bred in your country such a knight as is Sir

Tristram.

CHAPTER IX

How King Mark, Sir Lamorak, and Sir Dinadan came to

a castle, and how King Mark was known there.

THEN they rode forth all together, King Mark, Sir

Lamorak, and Sir Dinadan, till that they came to a

bridge, and at the end thereof stood a fair tower.  Then

saw they a knight on horseback well armed, brandishing

a spear, crying and proffering himself to joust.  Now,

said Sir Dinadan unto King Mark, yonder are two

brethren, that one hight Alein, and the other hight

Trian, that will joust with any that passeth this passage.

Now proffer yourself, said Dinadan to King Mark, for

ever ye be laid to the earth.  Then King Mark was

ashamed, and therewith he feutred his spear, and hurtled

to Sir Trian, and either brake their spears all to pieces,

and passed through anon.  Then Sir Trian sent King

Mark another spear to joust more; but in no wise he

would not joust no more.  Then they came to the castle

all three knights, and prayed the lord of the castle of

harbour.  Ye are right welcome, said the knights of the

castle, for the love of the lord of this castle, the which

hight Sir Tor le Fise Aries.  And then they came into a

fair court well repaired, and they had passing good cheer,

till the lieutenant of this castle, that hight Berluse, espied

King Mark of Cornwall.  Then said Berluse:  Sir knight,

I know you better than you ween, for ye are King Mark

that slew my father afore mine own eyen; and me had

ye slain had I not escaped into a wood; but wit ye well,

for the love of my lord of this castle I will neither hurt

you nor harm you, nor none of your fellowship.  But

wit ye well, when ye are past this lodging I shall hurt

you an I may, for ye slew my father traitorly.  But first

for the love of my lord, Sir Tor, and for the love of Sir

Lamorak, the honourable knight that here is lodged, ye

shall have none ill lodging; for it is pity that ever ye

should be in the company of good knights; for ye are

the most villainous knight or king that is now known

alive, for ye are a destroyer of good knights, and all

that ye do is but treason.

CHAPTER X

How Sir Berluse met with King Mark, and how

Sir Dinadan took his part.

THEN was King Mark sore ashamed, and said but little

again.  But when Sir Lamorak and Sir Dinadan wist that

he was King Mark they were sorry of his fellowship.

So after supper they went to lodging.  So on the morn

they arose early, and King Mark and Sir Dinadan rode

together; and three mile from their lodging there met

with them three knights, and Sir Berluse was one, and

that other his two cousins.  Sir Berluse saw King Mark,

and then he cried on high:  Traitor, keep thee from me

for wit thou well that I am Berluse.  Sir knight, said Sir

Dinadan, I counsel you to leave off at this time, for he is

riding to King Arthur; and because I have promised to

conduct him to my lord King Arthur needs must I take

a part with him; howbeit I love not his condition, and

fain I would be from him.  Well, Dinadan, said Sir

Berluse, me repenteth that ye will take part with him,

but now do your best.  And then he hurtled to King

Mark, and smote him sore upon the shield, that he bare

him clean out of his saddle to the earth.  That saw Sir

Dinadan, and he feutred his spear, and ran to one of

Berluse's fellows, and smote him down off his saddle.

Then Dinadan turned his horse, and smote the third

knight in the same wise to the earth, for Sir Dinadan

was a good knight on horseback; and there began a great

battle, for Berluse and his fellows held them together

strongly on foot.  And so through the great force of Sir

Dinadan King Mark had Berluse to the earth, and his

two fellows fled; and had not been Sir Dinadan King

Mark would have slain him.  And so Sir Dinadan

rescued him of his life, for King Mark was but a

murderer.  And then they took their horses and departed

and left Sir Berluse there sore wounded.

Then King Mark and Sir Dinadan rode forth a four

leagues English, till that they came to a bridge where

hoved a knight on horseback, armed and ready to joust.

Lo, said Sir Dinadan unto King Mark, yonder hoveth a

knight that will joust, for there shall none pass this

bridge but he must joust with that knight.  It is well,

said King Mark, for this jousts falleth with thee.  Sir

Dinadan knew the knight well that he was a noble knight,

and fain he would have jousted, but he had had liefer

King Mark had jousted with him, but by no mean King

Mark would not joust.  Then Sir Dinadan might not

refuse him in no manner.  And then either dressed their

spears and their shields, and smote together, so that

through fine force Sir Dinadan was smitten to the earth;

and lightly he rose up and gat his horse, and required

that knight to do battle with swords.  And he answered

and said:  Fair knight, as at this time I may not have ado

with you no more, for the custom of this passage is such.

Then was Sir Dinadan passing wroth that he might not be

revenged of that knight; and so he departed, and in no

wise would that knight tell his name.  But ever Sir

Dinadan thought he should know him by his shield that

it should be Sir Tor.

CHAPTER XI

How King Mark mocked Sir Dinadan, and how they met

with six knights of the Round Table.

So as they rode by the way King Mark then began to

mock Sir Dinadan, and said:  I weened you knights of

the Table Round might not in no wise find their matches.

Ye say well, said Sir Dinadan; as for you, on my life I

call you none of the best knights; but sith ye have such

a despite at me I require you to joust with me to prove

my strength.  Not so, said King Mark, for I will not

have ado with you in no manner; but I require you of

one thing, that when ye come to Arthur's court discover

not my name, for I am there so hated.  It is shame to

you, said Sir Dinadan, that ye govern you so shamefully;

for I see by you ye are full of cowardice, and ye are a

murderer, and that is the greatest shame that a knight

may have; for never a knight being a murderer hath

worship, nor never shall have; for I saw but late through

my force ye would have slain Sir Berluse, a better knight

than ye, or ever ye shall be, and more of prowess.  Thus

they rode forth talking till they came to a fair place,

where stood a knight, and prayed them to take their

lodging with him.  So at the request of that knight they

reposed them there, and made them well at ease, and had

great cheer.  For all errant-knights were welcome to him,

and specially all those of Arthur's court.  Then Sir

Dinadan demanded his host what was the knight's name

that kept the bridge.  For what cause ask you it? said

the host.  For it is not long ago, said Sir Dinadan, sithen

he gave me a fall.  Ah, fair knight, said his host, thereof

have ye no marvel, for he is a passing good knight, and

his name is Sir Tor, the son of Aries le Vaysher.  Ah,

said Sir Dinadan, was that Sir Tor? for truly so ever me

thought.

Right as they stood thus talking together they saw

come riding to them over a plain six knights of the court

of King Arthur, well armed at all points.  And there by

their shields Sir Dinadan knew them well.  The first was

the good knight Sir Uwaine, the son of King Uriens, the

second was the noble knight Sir Brandiles, the third was

Ozana le Cure Hardy, the fourth was Uwaine les Aventurous,

the fifth was Sir Agravaine, the sixth Sir Mordred,

brother to Sir Gawaine.  When Sir Dinadan had seen

these six knights he thought in himself he would bring

King Mark by some wile to joust with one of them.  And

anon they took their horses and ran after these knights

well a three mile English.  Then was King Mark ware

where they sat all six about a well, and ate and drank such

meats as they had, and their horses walking and some tied,

and their shields hung in divers places about them.  Lo,

said Sir Dinadan, yonder are knights-errant that will joust

with us.  God forbid, said King Mark, for they be six

and we but two.  As for that, said Sir Dinadan, let us

not spare, for I will assay the foremost; and therewith he

made him ready.  When King Mark saw him do so, as

fast as Sir Dinadan rode toward them, King Mark rode

froward them with all his menial meiny.  So when Sir

Dinadan saw King Mark was gone, he set the spear out of

the rest, and threw his shield upon his back, and came,

riding to the fellowship of the Table Round.  And anon

Sir Uwaine knew Sir Dinadan, and welcomed him, and so

did all his fellowship.

CHAPTER XII

How the six knights sent Sir Dagonet to joust with King

Mark, and how King Mark refused him.

AND then they asked him of his adventures, and whether

he had seen Sir Tristram or Sir Launcelot.  So God me

help, said Sir Dinadan, I saw none of them sithen I

departed from Camelot.  What knight is that, said Sir

Brandiles, that so suddenly departed from you, and rode

over yonder field?  Sir, said he, it was a knight of

Cornwall, and the most horrible coward that ever bestrode

horse.  What is his name? said all these knights.  I wot

not, said Sir Dinadan.  So when they had reposed them,

and spoken together, they took their horses and rode to a

castle where dwelt an old knight that made all knights-errant

good cheer.  Then in the meanwhile that they were

talking came into the castle Sir Griflet le Fise de Dieu,

and there was he welcome; and they all asked him whether

he had seen Sir Launcelot or Sir Tristram.  Sirs, he

answered, I saw him not sithen he departed from Camelot.

So as Sir Dinadan walked and beheld the castle, thereby in

a chamber he espied King Mark, and then he rebuked

him, and asked him why he departed so.  Sir, said he, for

I durst not abide because they were so many.  But how

escaped ye? said King Mark.  Sir, said Sir Dinadan, they

were better friends than I weened they had been.  Who

is captain of that fellowship? said the king.  Then for to

fear him Sir Dinadan said that it was Sir Launcelot.  O

Jesu, said the king, might I know Sir Launcelot by his

shield? Yea, said Dinadan, for he beareth a shield of

silver and black bends.  All this he said to fear the king,

for Sir Launcelot was not in his fellowship.  Now I pray

you, said King Mark, that ye will ride in my fellowship.

That is me loath to do, said Sir Dinadan, because ye forsook

my fellowship.

Right so Sir Dinadan went from King Mark, and went

to his own fellowship; and so they mounted upon their

horses, and rode on their ways, and talked of the Cornish

knight, for Dinadan told them that he was in the castle

where they were lodged.  It is well said, said Sir Griflet,

for here have I brought Sir Dagonet, King Arthur's fool,

that is the best fellow and the merriest in the world.  Will

ye do well? said Sir Dinadan:  I have told the Cornish

knight that here is Sir Launcelot, and the Cornish knight

asked me what shield he bare.  Truly, I told him that he

bare the same shield that Sir Mordred beareth.  Will ye

do well? said Sir Mordred; I am hurt and may not well

bear my shield nor harness, and therefore put my shield

and my harness upon Sir Dagonet, and let him set upon

the Cornish knight.  That shall be done, said Sir Dagonet,

by my faith.  Then anon was Dagonet armed him in

Mordred's harness and his shield, and he was set on a

great horse, and a spear in his hand.  Now, said Dagonet,

shew me the knight, and I trow I shall bear him down.

So all these knights rode to a woodside, and abode till

King Mark came by the way.  Then they put forth Sir

Dagonet, and he came on all the while his horse might

run, straight upon King Mark.  And when he came nigh

King Mark, he cried as he were wood, and said:  Keep

thee, knight of Cornwall, for I will slay thee.  Anon, as

King Mark beheld his shield, he said to himself:  Yonder

is Sir Launcelot; alas, now am I destroyed; and therewithal

he made his horse to run as fast as it might through

thick and thin.  And ever Sir Dagonet followed after King

Mark, crying and rating him as a wood man, through a

great forest.  When Sir Uwaine and Sir Brandiles saw

Dagonet so chase King Mark, they laughed all as they

were wood.  And then they took their horses, and rode

after to see how Sir Dagonet sped, for they would not for

no good that Sir Dagonet were shent, for King Arthur

loved him passing well, and made him knight with his own

hands.  And at every tournament he began to make King

Arthur to laugh.  Then the knights rode here and there,

crying and chasing after King Mark, that all the forest

rang of the noise.

CHAPTER XIII

How Sir Palomides by adventure met King Mark flying,

and how he overthrew Dagonet and other knights.

SO King Mark rode by fortune by a well, in the way

where stood a knight-errant on horseback, armed at all

points, with a great spear in his hand.  And when he

saw King Mark coming flying he said:  Knight, return

again for shame and stand with me, and I shall be thy

warrant.  Ah, fair knight, said King Mark, let me pass,

for yonder cometh after me the best knight of the world,

with the black bended shield.  Fie, for shame, said the

knight, he is none of the worthy knights, and if he were

Sir Launcelot or Sir Tristram I should not doubt to

meet the better of them both.  When King Mark heard

him say that word, he turned his horse and abode by

him.  And then that strong knight bare a spear to

Dagonet, and smote him so sore that he bare him over

his horse's tail, and nigh he had broken his neck.  And

anon after him came Sir Brandiles, and when he saw

Dagonet have that fall he was passing wroth, and cried:

Keep thee, knight, and so they hurtled together wonder

sore.  But the knight smote Sir Brandiles so sore that

he went to the earth, horse and man.  Sir Uwaine came

after and saw all this.  Jesu, said he, yonder is a strong

knight.  And then they feutred their spears, and this

knight came so eagerly that he smote down Sir Uwaine.

Then came Ozana with the hardy heart, and he was

smitten down.  Now, said Sir Griflet, by my counsel let

us send to yonder errant-knight, and wit whether he be

of Arthur's court, for as I deem it is Sir Lamorak de

Galis.  So they sent unto him, and prayed the strange

knight to tell his name, and whether he were of Arthur's

court or not.  As for my name they shall not wit, but

tell them I am a knight-errant as they are, and let them

wit that I am no knight of King Arthur's court; and

so the squire rode again unto them and told them his

answer of him.  By my head, said Sir Agravaine, he is

one of the strongest knights that ever I saw, for he hath

overthrown three noble knights, and needs we must

encounter with him for shame.  So Sir Agravaine feutred

his spear, and that other was ready, and smote him down

over his horse to the earth.  And in the same wise he

smote Sir Uwaine les Avoutres and also Sir Griflet.

Then had he served them all but Sir Dinadan, for he

was behind, and Sir Mordred was unarmed, and Dagonet

had his harness.

So when this was done, this strong knight rode on

his way a soft pace, and King Mark rode after him,

praising him mickle; but he would answer no words,

but sighed wonderly sore, hanging down his head, taking

no heed to his words.  Thus they rode well a three mile

English, and then this knight called to him a varlet, and

bade him ride until yonder fair manor, and recommend

me to the lady of that castle and place, and pray her to

send me refreshing of good meats and drinks.  And if

she ask thee what I am, tell her that I am the knight

that followeth the glatisant beast: that is in English to

say the questing beast; for that beast wheresomever he

yede he quested in the belly with such a noise as it had

been a thirty couple of hounds.  Then the varlet went

his way and came to the manor, and saluted the lady, and

told her from whence he came.  And when she understood

that he came from the knight that followed the

questing beast:  O sweet Lord Jesu, she said, when shall

I see that noble knight, my dear son Palomides?  Alas,

will he not abide with me? and therewith she swooned

and wept, and made passing great dole.  And then also

soon as she might she gave the varlet all that he asked.

And the varlet returned unto Sir Palomides, for he was

a varlet of King Mark.  And as soon as he came, he

told the knight's name was Sir Palomides.  I am well

pleased, said King Mark, but hold thee still and say

nothing.  Then they alighted and set them down and

reposed them a while.  Anon withal King Mark fell

asleep.  When Sir Palomides saw him sound asleep he

took his horse and rode his way, and said to them:  I

will not be in the company of a sleeping knight.  And

so he rode forth a great pace.

CHAPTER XIV

How King Mark and Sir Dinadan heard Sir Palomides

making great sorrow and mourning for La Beale Isoud.

NOW turn we unto Sir Dinadan, that found these seven

knights passing heavy.  And when he wist how that they

sped, as heavy was he.  My lord Uwaine, said Dinadan, I

dare lay my head it is Sir Lamorak de Galis.  I promise

you all I shall find him an he may be found in this

country.  And so Sir Dinadan rode after this knight;

and so did King Mark, that sought him through the

forest.  So as King Mark rode after Sir Palomides he

heard the noise of a man that made great dole.  Then

King Mark rode as nigh that noise as he might and as he

durst.  Then was he ware of a knight that was descended

off his horse, and had put off his helm, and there he made

a piteous complaint and a dolorous, of love.

Now leave we that, and talk we of Sir Dinadan, that

rode to seek Sir Palomides.  And as he came within a

forest he met with a knight, a chaser of a deer.  Sir,

said Sir Dinadan, met ye with a knight with a shield

of silver and lions' heads?  Yea, fair knight, said the

other, with such a knight met I with but a while agone,

and straight yonder way he yede.  Gramercy, said Sir

Dinadan, for might I find the track of his horse I should

not fail to find that knight.  Right so as Sir Dinadan

rode in the even late he heard a doleful noise as it were

of a man.  Then Sir Dinadan rode toward that noise;

and when he came nigh that noise he alighted off his

horse, and went near him on foot.  Then was he ware of

a knight that stood under a tree, and his horse tied by

him, and the helm off his head; and ever that knight

made a doleful complaint as ever made knight.  And

always he made his complaint of La Beale Isoud, the

Queen of Cornwall, and said:  Ah, fair lady, why love I

thee! for thou art fairest of all other, and yet showest

thou never love to me, nor bounty.  Alas, yet must I

love thee.  And I may not blame thee, fair lady, for

mine eyes be cause of this sorrow.  And yet to love

thee I am but a fool, for the best knight of the world

loveth thee, and ye him again, that is Sir Tristram de

Liones.  And the falsest king and knight is your husband,

and the most coward and full of treason, is your lord,

King Mark.  Alas, that ever so fair a lady and peerless

of all other should be matched with the most villainous

knight of the world.  All this language heard King

Mark, what Sir Palomides said by him; wherefore he

was adread when he saw Sir Dinadan, lest he espied him,

that he would tell Sir Palomides that he was King Mark;

and therefore he withdrew him, and took his horse and

rode to his men, where he commanded them to abide.

And so he rode as fast as he might unto Camelot; and

the same day he found there Amant, the knight, ready

that afore Arthur had appealed him of treason; and so,

lightly the king commanded them to do battle.  And by

misadventure King Mark smote Amant through the body.

And yet was Amant in the righteous quarrel.  And right

so he took his horse and departed from the court for

dread of Sir Dinadan, that he would tell Sir Tristram and

Sir Palomides what he was.  Then were there maidens

that La Beale Isoud had sent to Sir Tristram, that knew

Sir Amant well.

CHAPTER XV

How King Mark had slain Sir Amant wrongfully to-fore

King Arthur, and Sir Launcelot fetched King Mark to

King Arthur.

THEN by the license of King Arthur they went to him

and spake with him; for while the truncheon of the spear

stuck in his body he spake:  Ah, fair damosels, said

Amant, recommend me unto La Beale Isoud, and tell her

that I am slain for the love of her and of Sir Tristram.

And there he told the damosels how cowardly King Mark

had slain him, and Sir Bersules, his fellow.  And for that

deed I appealed him of treason, and here am I slain in a

righteous quarrel; and all was because Sir Bersules and I

would not consent by treason to slay the noble knight, Sir

Tristram.  Then the two maidens cried aloud that all the

court might hear it, and said:  O sweet Lord Jesu, that

knowest all hid things, why sufferest Thou so false a

traitor to vanquish and slay a true knight that fought in

a righteous quarrel?  Then anon it was sprung to the

king, and the queen, and to all the lords, that it was King

Mark that had slain Sir Amant, and Sir Bersules afore

hand; wherefore they did their battle.  Then was King

Arthur wroth out of measure, and so were all the other

knights.  But when Sir Tristram knew all the matter he

made great dole and sorrow out of measure, and wept for

sorrow for the loss of the noble knights, Sir Bersules and

of Sir Amant.

When Sir Launcelot espied Sir Tristram weep he went

hastily to King Arthur, and said:  Sir, I pray you give me

leave to return again to yonder false king and knight.  I

pray you, said King Arthur, fetch him again, but I would

not that ye slew him, for my worship.  Then Sir Launcelot

armed him in all haste, and mounted upon a great horse,

and took a spear in his hand and rode after King Mark.

And from thence a three mile English Sir Launcelot over

took him, and bade him:  Turn recreant king and knight,

for whether thou wilt or not thou shalt go with me to

King Arthur's court.  King Mark returned and looked

upon Sir Launcelot, and said:  Fair sir, what is your name?

Wit thou well, said he, my name is Sir Launcelot, and

therefore defend thee.  And when King Mark wist that it

was Sir Launcelot, and came so fast upon him with a spear,

he cried then aloud:  I yield me to thee, Sir Launcelot,

honourable knight.  But Sir Launcelot would not hear

him, but came fast upon him.  King Mark saw that, and

made no defence, but tumbled adown out of his saddle

to the earth as a sack, and there he lay still, and cried Sir

Launcelot mercy.  Arise, recreant knight and king.  I

will not fight, said King Mark, but whither that ye will

I will go with you.  Alas, alas, said Sir Launcelot, that I

may not give thee one buffet for the love of Sir Tristram

and of La Beale Isoud, and for the two knights that thou

hast slain traitorly.  And so he mounted upon his horse

and brought him to King Arthur; and there King Mark

alighted in that same place, and threw his helm from him

upon the earth, and his sword, and fell flat to the earth of

King Arthur's feet, and put him in his grace and mercy.

So God me help, said Arthur, ye are welcome in a manner,

and in a manner ye are not welcome.  In this manner ye

are welcome, that ye come hither maugre thy head, as I

suppose.  That is truth, said King Mark, and else I had

not been here, for my lord, Sir Launcelot, brought me

hither through his fine force, and to him am I yolden to

as recreant.  Well, said Arthur, ye understand ye ought

to do me service, homage, and fealty.  And never would

ye do me none, but ever ye have been against me, and a

destroyer of my knights; now, how will ye acquit you?

Sir, said King Mark, right as your lordship will require

me, unto my power, I will make a large amends.  For he

was a fair speaker, and false thereunder.  Then for great

pleasure of Sir Tristram, to make them twain accorded,

the king withheld King Mark as at that time, and made a

broken love-day between them.

CHAPTER XVI

How Sir Dinadan told Sir Palomides of the battle between

Sir Launcelot and Sir Tristam.

NOW turn we again unto Sir Palomides, how Sir Dinadan

comforted him in all that he might, from his great sorrow.

What knight are ye? said Sir Palomides.  Sir, I am a

knight-errant as ye be, that hath sought you long by your

shield.  Here is my shield, said Sir Palomides, wit ye

well, an ye will ought, therewith I will defend it.  Nay,

said Sir Dinadan, I will not have ado with you but in good

manner.  And if ye will, ye shall find me soon ready.

Sir, said Sir Dinadan, whitherward ride you this way?  By

my head, said Sir Palomides, I wot not, but as fortune

leadeth me.  Heard ye or saw ye ought of Sir Tristram?

So God me help, of Sir Tristram I both heard and saw,

and not for then we loved not inwardly well together, yet

at my mischief Sir Tristram rescued me from my death;

and yet, or he and I departed, by both our assents we

assigned a day that we should have met at the stony grave

that Merlin set beside Camelot, and there to have done

battle together; howbeit I was letted, said Sir Palomides,

that I might not hold my day, the which grieveth me

sore; but I have a large excuse.  For I was prisoner with

a lord, and many other more, and that shall Sir Tristram

right well understand, that I brake it not of fear of

cowardice.  And then Sir Palomides told Sir Dinadan the

same day that they should have met.  So God me help,

said Sir Dinadan, that same day met Sir Launcelot and Sir

Tristram at the same grave of stone.  And there was the

most mightiest battle that ever was seen in this land

betwixt two knights, for they fought more than two

hours.  And there they both bled so much blood that all

men marvelled that ever they might endure it.  And so

at the last, by both their assents, they were made friends

and sworn-brethren for ever, and no man can judge the

better knight.  And now is Sir Tristram made a knight

of the Round Table, and he sitteth in the siege of the

noble knight, Sir Marhaus.  By my head, said Sir Palomides,

Sir Tristram is far bigger than Sir Launcelot, and

the hardier knight.  Have ye assayed them both? said

Sir Dinadan.  I have seen Sir Tristram fight, said Sir

Palomides, but never Sir Launcelot to my witting.  But

at the fountain where Sir Launcelot lay asleep, there with

one spear he smote down Sir Tristram and me, said

Palomides, but at that time they knew not either other.

Fair knight, said Sir Dinadan, as for Sir Launcelot and

Sir Tristram let them be, for the worst of them will not

be lightly matched of no knights that I know living.  No,

said Sir Palomides, God defend, but an I had a quarrel to

the better of them both I would with as good a will fight

with him as with you.  Sir, I require you tell me your

name, and in good faith I shall hold you company till that

we come to Camelot; and there shall ye have great worship

now at this great tournament; for there shall be the

Queen Guenever, and La Beale Isoud of Cornwall.  Wit

you well, sir knight, for the love of La Beale Isoud I will

be there, and else not, but I will not have ado in King

Arthur's court.  Sir, said Dinadan, I shall ride with you

and do you service, so you will tell me your name.  Sir,

ye shall understand my name is Sir Palomides, brother to

Safere, the good and noble knight.  And Sir Segwarides

and I, we be Saracens born, of father and mother.  Sir,

said Sir Dinadan, I thank you much for the telling of

your name.  For I am glad of that I know your name,

and I promise you by the faith of my body, ye shall not

be hurt by me by my will, but rather be advanced.  And

thereto will I help you with all my power, I promise you,

doubt ye not.  And certainly on my life ye shall win

great worship in the court of King Arthur, and be right

welcome.  So then they dressed on their helms and put on

their shields, and mounted upon their horses, and took

the broad way towards Camelot.  And then were they

ware of a castle that was fair and rich, and also passing

strong as any was within this realm.

CHAPTER XVII

How Sir Lamorak jousted with divers knights of the castle

wherein was Morgan le Fay.

SIR PALOMIDES, said Dinadan, here is a castle that I know

well, and therein dwelleth Queen Morgan le Fay, King

Arthur's sister; and King Arthur gave her this castle, the

which he hath repented him sithen a thousand times, for

sithen King Arthur and she have been at debate and

strife; but this castle could he never get nor win of her

by no manner of engine; and ever as she might she made

war on King Arthur.  And all dangerous knights she

withholdeth with her, for to destroy all these knights that

King Arthur loveth.  And there shall no knight pass this

way but he must joust with one knight, or with two, or

with three.  And if it hap that King Arthur's knight be

beaten, he shall lose his horse and his harness and all that

he hath, and hard, if that he escape, but that he shall be

prisoner.  So God me help, said Palomides, this is a

shameful custom, and a villainous usance for a queen to

use, and namely to make such war upon her own lord,

that is called the Flower of Chivalry that is christian or

heathen; and with all my heart I would destroy that

shameful custom.  And I will that all the world wit she

shall have no service of me.  And if she send out any

knights, as I suppose she will, for to joust, they shall have

both their hands full.  And I shall not fail you, said Sir

Dinadan, unto my puissance, upon my life.

So as they stood on horseback afore the castle, there

came a knight with a red shield, and two squires after

him; and he came straight unto Sir Palomides, the good

knight, and said to him:  Fair and gentle knight-errant,

I require thee for the love thou owest unto knighthood,

that ye will not have ado here with these men of this

castle; for this was Sir Lamorak that thus said.  For I

came hither to seek this deed, and it is my request; and

therefore I beseech you, knight, let me deal, and if I be

beaten revenge me.  In the name of God, said Palomides,

let see how ye will speed, and we shall behold you.  Then

anon came forth a knight of the castle, and proffered to

joust with the Knight with the Red Shield.  Anon they

encountered together, and he with the red shield smote

him so hard that he bare him over to the earth.  Therewith

anon came another knight of the castle, and he was

smitten so sore that he avoided his saddle.  And forthwithal

came the third knight, and the Knight with the Red

Shield smote him to the earth.  Then came Sir Palomides,

and besought him that he might help him to joust.  Fair

knight, said he unto him, suffer me as at this time to have

my will, for an they were twenty knights I shall not doubt

them.  And ever there were upon the walls of the castle

many lords and ladies that cried and said:  Well have ye

jousted, Knight with the Red Shield.  But as soon as

the knight had smitten them down, his squire took their

horses, and avoided their saddles and bridles of the horses,

and turned them into the forest, and made the knights to

be kept to the end of the jousts.  Right so came out of

the castle the fourth knight, and freshly proffered to joust

with the Knight with the Red Shield: and he was ready,

and he smote him so hard that horse and man fell to the

earth, and the knight's back brake with the fall, and his

neck also.  O Jesu, said Sir Palomides, that yonder is a

passing good knight, and the best jouster that ever I

saw.  By my head, said Sir Dinadan, he is as good as

ever was Sir Launcelot or Sir Tristram, what knight

somever he be.

CHAPTER XVIII

How Sir Palomides would have jousted for Sir Lamorak

with the knights of the castle.

THEN forthwithal came a knight out of the castle, with

a shield bended with black and with white.  And anon

the Knight with the Red Shield and he encountered so

hard that he smote the knight of the castle through the

bended shield and through the body, and brake the horse's

back.  Fair knight, said Sir Palomides, ye have overmuch

on hand, therefore I pray you let me joust, for ye had

need to be reposed.  Why sir, said the knight, seem ye

that I am weak and feeble? and sir, methinketh ye proffer

me wrong, and to me shame, when I do well enough.  I

tell you now as I told you erst; for an they were twenty

knights I shall beat them, and if I be beaten or slain then

may ye revenge me.  And if ye think that I be weary,

and ye have an appetite to joust with me, I shall find you

jousting enough.  Sir, said Palomides, I said it not

because I would joust with you, but meseemeth that ye have

overmuch on hand.  And therefore, an ye were gentle,

said the Knight with the Red Shield, ye should not proffer

me shame; therefore I require you to joust with me, and

ye shall find that I am not weary.  Sith ye require me,

said Sir Palomides, take keep to yourself.  Then they two

knights came together as fast as their horses might run,

and the knight smote Sir Palomides sore on the shield

that the spear went into his side a great wound, and

a perilous.  And therewithal Sir Palomides avoided his

saddle.  And that knight turned unto Sir Dinadan; and

when he saw him coming he cried aloud, and said:  Sir,

I will not have ado with you; but for that he let it not,

but came straight upon him.  So Sir Dinadan for shame

put forth his spear and all to-shivered it upon the knight.

But he smote Sir Dinadan again so hard that he smote

him clean from his saddle; but their horses he would not

suffer his squires to meddle with, and because they were

knights-errant.

Then he dressed him again to the castle, and jousted

with seven knights more, and there was none of them

might withstand him, but he bare him to the earth.  And

of these twelve knights he slew in plain jousts four.  And

the eight knights he made them to swear on the cross of

a sword that they should never use the evil customs of the

castle.  And when he had made them to swear that oath

he let them pass.  And ever stood the lords and the

ladies on the castle walls crying and saying:  Knight with

the Red Shield, ye have marvellously well done as ever

we saw knight do.  And therewith came a knight out of

the castle unarmed, and said:  Knight with the Red Shield,

overmuch damage hast thou done to us this day, therefore

return whither thou wilt, for here are no more will have

ado with thee; for we repent sore that ever thou camest

here, for by thee is fordone the old custom of this castle.

And with that word he turned again into the castle, and

shut the gates.  Then the Knight with the Red Shield

turned and called his squires, and so passed forth on his

way, and rode a great pace.

And when he was past Sir Palomides went to Sir

Dinadan, and said:  I had never such a shame of one

knight that ever I met; and therefore I cast me to

ride after him, and to be revenged with my sword, for

a-horseback I deem I shall get no worship of him.  Sir

Palomides, said Dinadan, ye shall not meddle with him

by my counsel, for ye shall get no worship of him; and

for this cause, ye have seen him this day have had

overmuch to do, and overmuch travailed.  By almighty

Jesu, said Palomides, I shall never be at ease till that I

have had ado with him.  Sir, said Dinadan, I shall give

you my beholding.  Well, said Palomides, then shall ye

see how we shall redress our mights.  So they took their

horses of their varlets, and rode after the Knight with the

Red Shield; and down in a valley beside a fountain they

were ware where he was alighted to repose him, and had

done off his helm for to drink at the well.

CHAPTER XIX

How Sir Lamorak jousted with Sir Palomides, and hurt

him grievously.

THEN Palomides rode fast till he came nigh him.  And

then he said:  Knight, remember ye of the shame ye

did to me right now at the castle, therefore dress thee,

for I will have ado with thee.  Fair knight, said he to

Palomides, of me ye win no worship, for ye have seen this

day that I have been travailed sore.  As for that, said

Palomides, I will not let, for wit ye well I will be revenged.

Well, said the knight, I may happen to endure you.  And

therewithal he mounted upon his horse, and took a great

spear in his hand ready for to joust.  Nay, said Palomides,

I will not joust, for I am sure at jousting I get no prize.

Fair knight, said that knight, it would beseem a knight to

joust and to fight on horseback.  Ye shall see what I will

do, said Palomides.  And therewith he alighted down

upon foot, and dressed his shield afore him and pulled

out his sword.  Then the Knight with the Red Shield

descended down from his horse, and dressed his shield

afore him, and so he drew out his sword.  And then they

came together a soft pace, and wonderly they lashed

together passing thick the mountenance of an hour or

ever they breathed.  Then they traced and traversed, and

waxed wonderly wroth, and either behight other death;

they hewed so fast with their swords that they cut in down

half their swords and mails, that the bare flesh in some

place stood above their harness.  And when Sir Palomides

beheld his fellow's sword over-hylled with his blood it

grieved him sore: some while they foined, some while

they struck as wild men.  But at the last Sir Palomides

waxed faint, because of his first wound that he had at the

castle with a spear, for that wound grieved him wonderly

sore.  Fair knight, said Palomides, meseemeth we have

assayed either other passing sore, and if it may please

thee, I require thee of thy knighthood tell me thy name.

Sir, said the knight to Palomides, that is me loath to do,

for thou hast done me wrong and no knighthood to proffer

me battle, considering my great travail, but an thou wilt

tell me thy name I will tell thee mine.  Sir, said he, wit

thou well my name is Palomides.  Ah, sir, ye shall understand

my name is Sir Lamorak de Galis, son and heir unto

the good knight and king, King Pellinore, and Sir Tor,

the good knight, is my half brother.  When Sir Palomides

heard him say so he kneeled down and asked mercy, For

outrageously have I done to you this day; considering

the great deeds of arms I have seen you do, shamefully

and unknightly I have required you to do battle.  Ah, Sir

Palomides, said Sir Lamorak, overmuch have ye done and

said to me.  And therewith he embraced him with his

both hands, and said:  Palomides, the worthy knight, in

all this land is no better than ye, nor more of prowess,

and me repenteth sore that we should fight together.  So

it doth not me, said Sir Palomides, and yet am I sorer

wounded than ye be; but as for that I shall soon thereof

be whole.  But certainly I would not for the fairest castle

in this land, but if thou and I had met, for I shall love

you the days of my life afore all other knights except my

brother, Sir Safere.  I say the same, said Sir Lamorak,

except my brother, Sir Tor.  Then came Sir Dinadan,

and he made great joy of Sir Lamorak.  Then their

squires dressed both their shields and their harness, and

stopped their wounds.  And thereby at a priory they

rested them all night.

CHAPTER XX

How it was told Sir Launcelot that Dagonet chased King

Mark, and how a knight overthrew him and six knights.

Now turn we again.  When Sir Ganis and Sir Brandiles

with his fellows came to the court of King Arthur they

told the king, Sir Launcelot, and Sir Tristram, how Sir

Dagonet, the fool, chased King Mark through the forest,

and how the strong knight smote them down all seven

with one spear.  There was great laughing and japing

at King Mark and at Sir Dagonet.  But all these knights

could not tell what knight it was that rescued King

Mark.  Then they asked King Mark if that he knew

him, and he answered and said:  He named himself the

Knight that followed the Questing Beast, and on that

name he sent one of my varlets to a place where was his

mother; and when she heard from whence he came she

made passing great dole, and discovered to my varlet

his name, and said:  Oh, my dear son, Sir Palomides,

why wilt thou not see me?  And therefore, sir, said King

Mark, it is to understand his name is Sir Palomides, a

noble knight.  Then were all these seven knights glad

that they knew his name.

Now turn we again, for on the morn they took their

horses, both Sir Lamorak, Palomides, and Dinadan, with

their squires and varlets, till they saw a fair castle that

stood on a mountain well closed, and thither they rode,

and there they found a knight that hight Galahalt, that

was lord of that castle, and there they had great cheer

and were well eased.  Sir Dinadan, said Sir Lamorak,

what will ye do?  Oh sir, said Dinadan, I will to-morrow

to the court of King Arthur.  By my head, said Sir

Palomides, I will not ride these three days, for I am sore

hurt, and much have I bled, and therefore I will repose

me here.  Truly, said Sir Lamorak, and I will abide here

with you; and when ye ride, then will I ride, unless that

ye tarry over long; then will I take my horse.  Therefore

I pray you, Sir Dinadan, abide and ride with us.  Faithfully,

said Dinadan, I will not abide, for I have such a

talent to see Sir Tristram that I may not abide long

from him.  Ah, Dinadan, said Sir Palomides, now do I

understand that ye love my mortal enemy, and therefore

how should I trust you.  Well, said Dinadan, I love my

lord Sir Tristram, above all other, and him will I serve

and do honour.  So shall I, said Sir Lamorak, in all that

may lie in my power.

So on the morn Sir Dinadan rode unto the court of

King Arthur; and by the way as he rode he saw where

stood an errant knight, and made him ready for to joust.

Not so, said Dinadan, for I have no will to joust.  With

me shall ye joust, said the knight, or that ye pass this

way.  Whether ask ye jousts, by love or by hate? The

knight answered: Wit ye well I ask it for love, and not

for hate.  It may well be so, said Sir Dinadan, but ye

proffer me hard love when ye will joust with me with a

sharp spear.  But, fair knight, said Sir Dinadan, sith ye

will joust with me, meet with me in the court of King

Arthur, and there shall I joust with you.  Well, said

the knight, sith ye will not joust with me, I pray you

tell me your name.  Sir knight, said he, my name is Sir

Dinadan.  Ah, said the knight, full well know I you

for a good knight and a gentle, and wit you well I love

you heartily.  Then shall there be no jousts, said

Dinadan, betwixt us.  So they departed.  And the same

day he came to Camelot, where lay King Arthur.  And

there he saluted the king and the queen, Sir Launcelot,

and Sir Tristram; and all the court was glad of Sir

Dinadan, for he was gentle, wise, and courteous, and a

good knight.  And in especial, the valiant knight Sir

Tristram loved Sir Dinadan passing well above all other

knights save Sir Launcelot.

Then the king asked Sir Dinadan what adventures

he had seen.  Sir, said Dinadan, I have seen many

adventures, and of some King Mark knoweth, but not

all.  Then the king hearkened Sir Dinadan, how he told

that Sir Palomides and he were afore the castle of

Morgan le Fay, and how Sir Lamorak took the jousts

afore them, and how he forjousted twelve knights, and

of them four he slew, and how after he smote down Sir

Palomides and me both.  t I may not believe that, said

the king, for Sir Palomides is a passing good knight.

That is very truth, said Sir Dinadan, but yet I saw him

better proved, hand for hand.  And then he told the

king all that battle, and how Sir Palomides was more

weaker, and more hurt, and more lost of his blood.  And

without doubt, said Sir Dinadan, had the battle longer

lasted, Palomides had been slain.  O Jesu, said King

Arthur, this is to me a great marvel.  Sir, said Tristram,

marvel ye nothing thereof, for at mine advice there is

not a valianter knight in the world living, for I know

his might.  And now I will say you, I was never so

weary of knight but if it were Sir Launcelot.  And

there is no knight in the world except Sir Launcelot that

did so well as Sir Lamorak.  So God me help, said the

king, I would that knight, Sir Lamorak, came to this

Court.  Sir, said Dinadan, he will be here in short space,

and Sir Palomides both, but I fear that Palomides may

not yet travel.

CHAPTER XXI

How King Arthur let do cry a jousts, and how Sir

Lamorak came in, and overthrew Sir Gawaine and

many other.

THEN within three days after the king let make a jousting

at a priory.  And there made them ready many knights

of the Round Table, for Sir Gawaine and his brethren

made them ready to joust; but Tristram, Launcelot,

nor Dinadan, would not joust, but suffered Sir Gawaine,

for the love of King Arthur, with his brethren, to win

the gree if they might.  Then on the morn they apparelled

them to joust, Sir Gawaine and his four brethren, and

did there great deeds of arms.  And Sir Ector de Maris

did marvellously well, but Sir Gawaine passed all that

fellowship; wherefore King Arthur and all the knights

gave Sir Gawaine the honour at the beginning.

Right so King Arthur was ware of a knight and two

squires, the which came out of a forest side, with a shield

covered with leather, and then he came slyly and hurtled

here and there, and anon with one spear he had smitten

down two knights of the Round Table.  Then with his

hurtling he lost the covering of his shield, then was the

king and all other ware that he bare a red shield.  O Jesu,

said King Arthur, see where rideth a stout knight, he

with the red shield.  And there was noise and crying

Beware the Knight with the Red Shield.  So within a little

while he had overthrown three brethren of Sir Gawaine's.

So God me help, said King Arthur, meseemeth yonder is

the best jouster that ever I saw.  With that he saw him

encounter with Sir Gawaine, and he smote him down with

so great force that he made his horse to avoid his

saddle.  How now, said the king, Sir Gawaine hath a

fall; well were me an I knew what knight he were with

the red shield.  I know him well, said Dinadan, but as

at this time ye shall not know his name.  By my head,

said Sir Tristram, he jousted better than Sir Palomides,

and if ye list to know his name, wit ye well his name is

Sir Lamorak de Galis.

As they stood thus talking, Sir Gawaine and he encountered

together again, and there he smote Sir Gawaine

from his horse, and bruised him sore.  And in the sight

of King Arthur he smote down twenty knights, beside Sir

Gawaine and his brethren.  And so clearly was the prize

given him as a knight peerless.  Then slyly and marvellously

Sir Lamorak withdrew him from all the fellowship

into the forest side.  All this espied King Arthur, for his

eye went never from him.  Then the king, Sir Launcelot,

Sir Tristram, and Sir Dinadan, took their hackneys, and

rode straight after the good knight, Sir Lamorak de Galis,

and there found him.  And thus said the king:  Ah, fair

knight, well be ye found.  When he saw the king he put

off his helm and saluted him, and when he saw Sir Tristram

he alighted down off his horse and ran to him to take him

by the thighs, but Sir Tristram would not suffer him, but

he alighted or that he came, and either took other in arms,

and made great joy of other.  The king was glad, and

also was all the fellowship of the Round Table, except Sir

Gawaine and his brethren.  And when they wist that he

was Sir Lamorak, they had great despite at him, and were

wonderly wroth with him that he had put him to dishonour that day.

Then Gawaine called privily in council all his brethren,

and to them said thus:  Fair brethren, here may ye see,

whom that we hate King Arthur loveth, and whom that

we love he hateth.  And wit ye well, my fair brethren,

that this Sir Lamorak will never love us, because we slew

his father, King Pellinore, for we deemed that he slew our

father, King of Orkney.  And for the despite of Pellinore,

Sir Lamorak did us a shame to our mother, therefore I will

be revenged.  Sir, said Sir Gawaine's brethren, let see how

ye will or may be revenged, and ye shall find us ready.

Well, said Gawaine, hold you still and we shall espy our

time.

CHAPTER XXII

How King Arthur made King Mark to be accorded with

Sir Tristram, and how they departed toward Cornwall.

NOW pass we our matter, and leave we Sir Gawaine, and

speak of King Arthur, that on a day said unto King Mark:

Sir, I pray you give me a gift that I shall ask you.  Sir, said

King Mark, I will give you whatsomever ye desire an it be

in my power.  Sir, gramercy, said Arthur.  This I will ask

you, that ye will be good lord unto Sir Tristram, for he is a

man of great honour; and that ye will take him with you

into Cornwall, and let him see his friends, and there cherish

him for my sake.  Sir, said King Mark, I promise you by

the faith of my body, and by the faith that I owe to God

and to you, I shall worship him for your sake in all that I

can or may.  Sir, said Arthur, and I will forgive you all

the evil will that ever I ought you, an so be that you swear

that upon a book before me.  With a good will, said King

Mark; and so he there sware upon a book afore him and

all his knights, and therewith King Mark and Sir Tristram

took either other by the hands hard knit together.  But

for all this King Mark thought falsely, as it proved after,

for he put Sir Tristram in prison, and cowardly would

have slain him.

Then soon after King Mark took his leave to ride into

Cornwall, and Sir Tristram made him ready to ride with

him, whereof the most part of the Round Table were

wroth and heavy, and in especial Sir Launcelot, and Sir

Lamorak, and Sir Dinadan, were wroth out of measure

For well they wist King Mark would slay or destroy Sir

Tristram.  Alas, said Dinadan, that my lord, Sir Tristram,

shall depart.  And Sir Tristram took such sorrow that he

was amazed like a fool.  Alas, said Sir Launcelot unto

King Arthur, what have ye done, for ye shall lose the most

man of worship that ever came into your court.  It was

his own desire, said Arthur, and therefore I might not do

withal, for I have done all that I can and made them at

accord.  Accord, said Sir Launcelot, fie upon that accord,

for ye shall hear that he shall slay Sir Tristram, or put him

in a prison, for he is the most coward and the villainest

king and knight that is now living.

And therewith Sir Launcelot departed, and came to

King Mark, and said to him thus:  Sir king, wit thou well

the good knight Sir Tristram shall go with thee.  Beware,

I rede thee, of treason, for an thou mischief that knight

by any manner of falsehood or treason, by the faith I owe

to God and to the order of knighthood, I shall slay thee

with mine own hands.  Sir Launcelot, said the king,

overmuch have ye said to me, and I have sworn and said over

largely afore King Arthur in hearing of all his knights,

that I shall not slay nor betray him.  It were to me

overmuch shame to break my promise.  Ye say well, said Sir

Launcelot, but ye are called so false and full of treason

that no man may believe you.  Forsooth it is known well

wherefore ye came into this country, and for none other

cause but for to slay Sir Tristram.  So with great dole

King Mark and Sir Tristram rode together, for it was by

Sir Tristram's will and his means to go with King Mark,

and all was for the intent to see La Beale Isoud, for

without the sight of her Sir Tristram might not endure.

CHAPTER XXIII

How Sir Percivale was made knight of King Arthur, and

how a dumb maid spake, and brought him to the

Round Table.

NOW turn we again unto Sir Lamorak, and speak we of

his brethren, Sir Tor, which was King Pellinore's first son

and begotten of Aryes, wife of the cowherd, for he was a

bastard; and Sir Aglovale was his first son begotten in

wedlock; Sir Lamorak, Dornar, Percivale, these were his

sons too in wedlock.  So when King Mark and Sir Tristram

were departed from the court there was made great

dole and sorrow for the departing of Sir Tristram.  Then

the king and his knights made no manner of joys eight days

after.  And at the eight days' end there came to the court

a knight with a young squire with him.  And when this

knight was unarmed, he went to the king and required him

to make the young squire a knight.  Of what lineage is he

come? said King Arthur.  Sir, said the knight, he is the

son of King Pellinore, that did you some time good service,

and he is a brother unto Sir Lamorak de Galis, the good

knight.  Well, said the king, for what cause desire ye that

of me that I should make him knight?  Wit you well, my

lord the king, that this young squire is brother to me as

well as to Sir Lamorak, and my name is Aglavale.  Sir

Aglavale, said Arthur, for the love of Sir Lamorak, and

for his father's love, he shall be made knight to-morrow.

Now tell me, said Arthur, what is his name?  Sir, said

the knight, his name is Percivale de Galis.  So on the

morn the king made him knight in Camelot.  But the

king and all the knights thought it would be long or that

he proved a good knight.

Then at the dinner, when the king was set at the table,

and every knight after he was of prowess, the king

commanded him to be set among mean knights; and so was

Sir Percivale set as the king commanded.  Then was

there a maiden in the queen's court that was come of high

blood, and she was dumb and never spake word.  Right

so she came straight into the hall, and went unto Sir

Percivale, and took him by the hand and said aloud, that

the king and all the knights might hear it:  Arise, Sir

Percivale, the noble knight and God's knight, and go with

me; and so he did.  And there she brought him to the

right side of the Siege Perilous, and said, Fair knight, take

here thy siege, for that siege appertaineth to thee and to

none other.  Right so she departed and asked a priest.

And as she was confessed and houselled then she died.

Then the king and all the court made great joy of Sir

Percivale.

CHAPTER XXIV

How Sir Lamorak visited King Lot's wife, and how Sir

Gaheris slew her which was his own mother.

NOW turn we unto Sir Lamorak, that much was there praised.

Then, by the mean of Sir Gawaine and his brethren, they

sent for their mother there besides, fast by a castle beside

Camelot; and all was to that intent to slay Sir Lamorak.

The Queen of Orkney was there but a while, but Sir

Lamorak wist of their being, and was full fain; and for to

make an end of this matter, he sent unto her, and there

betwixt them was a night assigned that Sir Lamorak should

come to her.  Thereof was ware Sir Gaheris, and there he

rode afore the same night, and waited upon Sir Lamorak,

and then he saw where he came all armed.  And where

Sir Lamorak alighted he tied his horse to a privy postern,

and so he went into a parlour and unarmed him; and

then he went unto the queen's bed, and she made of him

passing great joy, and he of her again, for either loved

other passing sore.  So when the knight, Sir Gaheris, saw

his time, he came to their bedside all armed, with his sword

naked, and suddenly gat his mother by the hair and struck

off her head.

When Sir Lamorak saw the blood dash upon him all

hot, the which he loved passing well, wit you well he was

sore abashed and dismayed of that dolorous knight.  And

therewithal, Sir Lamorak leapt out of the bed in his shirt

as a knight dismayed, saying thus:  Ah, Sir Gaheris, knight

of the Table Round, foul and evil have ye done, and to you

great shame.  Alas, why have ye slain your mother that

bare you? with more right ye should have slain me.  The

offence hast thou done, said Gaheris, notwithstanding a

man is born to offer his service; but yet shouldst thou

beware with whom thou meddlest, for thou hast put me

and my brethren to a shame, and thy father slew our

father; and thou to lie by our mother is too much shame

for us to suffer.  And as for thy father, King Pellinore

my brother Sir Gawaine and I slew him.  Ye did him

the more wrong, said Sir Lamorak, for my father slew

not your father, it was Balin le Savage: and as yet my

father's death is not revenged.  Leave those words, said Sir

Gaheris, for an thou speak feloniously I will slay thee.  But

because thou art naked I am ashamed to slay thee.  But

wit thou well, in what place I may get thee I shall slay

thee; and now my mother is quit of thee; and withdraw

thee and take thine armour, that thou were gone.  Sir

Lamorak saw there was none other bote, but fast armed

him, and took his horse and rode his way making great

sorrow.  But for the shame and dolour he would not ride

to King Arthur's court, but rode another way.

But when it was known that Gaheris had slain his

mother the king was passing wroth, and commanded him

to go out of his court.  Wit ye well Sir Gawaine was

wroth that Gaheris had slain his mother and let Sir Lamorak

escape.  And for this matter was the king passing wroth,

and so was Sir Launcelot, and many other knights.  Sir, said

Sir Launcelot, here is a great mischief befallen by felony,

and by forecast treason, that your sister is thus shamefully

slain.  And I dare say that it was wrought by treason,

and I dare say ye shall lose that good knight, Sir Lamorak

the which is great pity.  I wot well and am sure, an Sir

Tristram wist it, he would never more come within your

court, the which should grieve you much more and all your

knights.  God defend, said the noble King Arthur, that I

should lose Sir Lamorak or Sir Tristram, for then twain

of my chief knights of the Table Round were gone.  Sir,

said Sir Launcelot, I am sure ye shall lose Sir Lamorak, for

Sir Gawaine and his brethren will slay him by one mean or

other; for they among them have concluded and sworn to

slay him an ever they may see their time.  That shall I

let, said Arthur.

CHAPTER XXV

How Sir Agravaine and Sir Mordred met with a knight

fleeing, and how they both were overthrown, and of Sir

Dinadan.

NOW leave we of Sir Lamorak, and speak of Sir Gawaine's

brethren, and specially of Sir Agravaine and Sir Mordred.

As they rode on their adventures they met with a knight

fleeing, sore wounded; and they asked him what tidings.

Fair knights, said he, here cometh a knight after me that

will slay me.  With that came Sir Dinadan riding to them

by adventure, but he would promise them no help.  But

Sir Agravaine and Sir Mordred promised him to rescue

him.  Therewithal came that knight straight unto them,

and anon he proffered to joust.  That saw Sir Mordred

and rode to him, but he struck Mordred over his horse's

tail.  That saw Sir Agravaine, and straight he rode toward

that knight, and right so as he served Mordred so he

served Agravaine, and said to them:  Sirs, wit ye well both

that I am Breuse Saunce Pit<e'>, that hath done this to you.

And yet he rode over Agravaine five or six times.  When

Dinadan saw this, he must needs joust with him for shame.

And so Dinadan and he encountered together, that with

pure strength Sir Dinadan smote him over his horse's tail

Then he took his horse and fled, for he was on foot one

of the valiantest knights in Arthur's days, and a great

destroyer of all good knights.

Then rode Sir Dinadan unto Sir Mordred and unto Sir

Agravaine.  Sir knight, said they all, well have ye done,

and well have ye revenged us, wherefore we pray you tell

us your name.  Fair sirs, ye ought to know my name, the

which is called Sir Dinadan.  When they understood that it

was Dinadan they were more wroth than they were before,

for they hated him out of measure because of Sir Lamorak.

For Dinadan had such a custom that he loved all good

knights that were valiant, and he hated all those that were

destroyers of good knights.  And there were none that

hated Dinadan but those that ever were called murderers.

Then spake the hurt knight that Breuse Saunce Pit<e'> had

chased, his name was Dalan, and said:  If thou be Dinadan

thou slewest my father.  It may well be so, said Dinadan,

but then it was in my defence and at his request.  By my

head, said Dalan, thou shalt die therefore, and therewith

he dressed his spear and his shield.  And to make the

shorter tale, Sir Dinadan smote him down off his horse,

that his neck was nigh broken.  And in the same wise he

smote Sir Mordred and Sir Agravaine.  And after, in the

quest of the Sangreal, cowardly and feloniously they slew

Dinadan, the which was great damage, for he was a great

bourder and a passing good knight.

And so Sir Dinadan rode to a castle that hight Beale-

Valet.  And there he found Sir Palomides that was not

yet whole of the wound that Sir Lamorak gave him.  And

there Dinadan told Palomides all the tidings that he heard

and saw of Sir Tristram, and how he was gone with King

Mark, and with him he hath all his will and desire.

Therewith Sir Palomides waxed wroth, for he loved La

Beale Isoud.  And then he wist well that Sir Tristram

enjoyed her.

CHAPTER XXVI

How King Arthur, the Queen, and Launcelot received letters

out of Cornwall, and of the answer again.

NOW leave we Sir Palomides and Sir Dinadan in the Castle

of Beale-Valet, and turn we again unto King Arthur.

There came a knight out of Cornwall, his name was Fergus,

a fellow of the Round Table.  And there he told the king

and Sir Launcelot good tidings of Sir Tristram, and there

were brought goodly letters, and how he left him in the

castle of Tintagil.  Then came the damosel that brought

goodly letters unto King Arthur and unto Sir Launcelot,

and there she had passing good cheer of the king, and of

the Queen Guenever, and of Sir Launcelot.  Then they

wrote goodly letters again.  But Sir Launcelot bade ever

Sir Tristram beware of King Mark, for ever he called him

in his letters King Fox, as who saith, he fareth all with

wiles and treason.  Whereof Sir Tristram in his heart

thanked Sir Launcelot.  Then the damosel went unto La

Beale Isoud, and bare her letters from the king and from

Sir Launcelot, whereof she was in passing great joy.  Fair

damosel, said La Beale Isoud, how fareth my Lord Arthur,

and the Queen Guenever, and the noble knight, Sir

Launcelot?  She answered, and to make short tale:  Much

the better that ye and Sir Tristram be in joy.  God reward

them, said La Beale Isoud, for Sir Tristram suffereth great

pain for me, and I for him.

So the damosel departed, and brought letters to King

Mark.  And when he had read them, and understood

them, he was wroth with Sir Tristram, for he deemed that

he had sent the damosel unto King Arthur.  For Arthur

and Launcelot in a manner threated King Mark.  And

as King Mark read these letters he deemed treason by Sir

Tristram.  Damosel, said King Mark, will ye ride again

and bear letters from me unto King Arthur?  Sir, she

said, I will be at your commandment to ride when ye will.

Ye say well, said the king; come again, said the king,

to-morn, and fetch your letters.  Then she departed and told

them how she should ride again with letters unto Arthur.

Then we pray you, said La Beale Isoud and Sir Tristram,

that when ye have received your letters, that ye would

come by us that we may see the privity of your letters.

All that I may do, madam, ye wot well I must do for Sir

Tristram, for I have been long his own maiden.

So on the morn the damosel went to King Mark to

have had his letters and to depart.  I am not avised, said

King Mark, as at this time to send my letters.  Then

privily and secretly he sent letters unto King Arthur, and

unto Queen Guenever, and unto Sir Launcelot.  So the

varlet departed, and found the king and the queen in

Wales, at Carlion.  And as the king and the queen were

at mass the varlet came with the letters.  And when mass

was done the king and the queen opened the letters privily

by themself.  And the beginning of the king's letters

spake wonderly short unto King Arthur, and bade him

entermete with himself and with his wife, and of his

knights; for he was able enough to rule and keep his

wife.

CHAPTER XXVII

How Sir Launcelot was wroth with the letter that he received

from King Mark, and of Dinadan which made a lay

of King Mark.

WHEN King Arthur understood the letter, he mused of

many things, and thought on his sister's words, Queen

Morgan le Fay, that she had said betwixt Queen Guenever

and Sir Launcelot.  And in this thought he studied a

great while.  Then he bethought him again how his sister

was his own enemy, and that she hated the queen and Sir

Launcelot, and so he put all that out of his thought.

Then King Arthur read the letter again, and the latter

clause said that King Mark took Sir Tristram for his

mortal enemy; wherefore he put Arthur out of doubt he

would be revenged of Sir Tristram.  Then was King

Arthur wroth with King Mark.  And when Queen

Guenever read her letter and understood it, she was wroth

out of measure, for the letter spake shame by her and by

Sir Launcelot.  And so privily she sent the letter unto Sir

Launcelot.  And when he wist the intent of the letter he

was so wroth that he laid him down on his bed to sleep,

whereof Sir Dinadan was ware, for it was his manner to be

privy with all good knights.  And as Sir Launcelot slept he

stole the letter out of his hand, and read it word by word.

And then he made great sorrow for anger.  And so Sir

Launcelot awaked, and went to a window, and read the

letter again, the which made him angry.

Sir, said Dinadan, wherefore be ye angry? discover

your heart to me: forsooth ye wot well I owe you good

will, howbeit I am a poor knight and a servitor unto you

and to all good knights.  For though I be not of worship

myself I love all those that be of worship.  It is truth, said

Sir Launcelot, ye are a trusty knight, and for great trust I

will shew you my counsel.  And when Dinadan understood

all, he said:  This is my counsel: set you right nought by

these threats, for King Mark is so villainous, that by fair

speech shall never man get of him.  But ye shall see what

I shall do; I will make a lay for him, and when it is made

I shall make an harper to sing it afore him.  So anon he

went and made it, and taught it an harper that hight Eliot.

And when he could it, he taught it to many harpers.  And

so by the will of Sir Launcelot, and of Arthur, the harpers

went straight into Wales, and into Cornwall, to sing the

lay that Sir Dinadan made by King Mark, the which was

the worst lay that ever harper sang with harp or with any

other instruments.

CHAPTER XXVIII

How Sir Tristram was hurt, and of a war made to King

Mark; and of Sir Tristram how he promised to rescue

him.

NOW turn we again unto Sir Tristram and to King Mark.

As Sir Tristram was at jousts and at tournament it fortuned

he was sore hurt both with a spear and with a sword, but

yet he won always the degree.  And for to repose him he

went to a good knight that dwelled in Cornwall, in a castle,

whose name was Sir Dinas le Seneschal.  Then by misfortune

there came out of Sessoin a great number of men of

arms, and an hideous host, and they entered nigh the Castle

of Tintagil; and their captain's name was Elias, a good

man of arms.  When King Mark understood his enemies

were entered into his land he made great dole and sorrow,

for in no wise by his will King Mark would not send for

Sir Tristram, for he hated him deadly.

So when his council was come they devised and cast

many perils of the strength of their enemies.  And then they

concluded all at once, and said thus unto King Mark:  Sir,

wit ye well ye must send for Sir Tristram, the good knight,

or else they will never be overcome.  For by Sir Tristram

they must be foughten withal, or else we row against the

stream.  Well, said King Mark, I will do by your counsel;

but yet he was full loath thereto, but need constrained him

to send for him.  Then was he sent for in all haste that

might be, that he should come to King Mark.  And when

he understood that King Mark had sent for him, he

mounted upon a soft ambler and rode to King Mark.

And when he was come the king said thus:  Fair nephew

Sir Tristram, this is all.  Here be come our enemies of

Sessoin, that are here nigh hand, and without tarrying they

must be met with shortly, or else they will destroy this

country.  Sir, said Sir Tristram, wit ye well all my power

is at your commandment.  And wit ye well, sir, these

eight days I may bear none arms, for my wounds be not

yet whole.  And by that day I shall do what I may.  Ye

say well, said King Mark; then go ye again and repose

you and make you fresh, and I shall go and meet the

Sessoins with all my power.

So the king departed unto Tintagil, and Sir Tristram

went to repose him.  And the king made a great host

and departed them in three; the first part led Sir Dinas

the Seneschal, and Sir Andred led the second part, and Sir

Argius led the third part; and he was of the blood of

King Mark.  And the Sessoins had three great battles,

and many good men of arms.  And so King Mark by the

advice of his knights issued out of the Castle of Tintagil

upon his enemies.  And Dinas, the good knight, rode out

afore, and slew two knights with his own hands, and then

began the battles.  And there was marvellous breaking of

spears and smiting of swords, and slew down many good

knights.  And ever was Sir Dinas the Seneschal the best

of King Mark's party.  And thus the battle endured long

with great mortality.  But at the last King Mark and Sir

Dinas, were they never so loath, they withdrew them to

the Castle of Tintagil with great slaughter of people; and

the Sessoins followed on fast, that ten of them were put

within the gates and four slain with the portcullis.

Then King Mark sent for Sir Tristram by a varlet,

that told him all the mortality.  Then he sent the varlet

again, and bade him:  Tell King Mark that I will come as

soon as I am whole, for erst I may do him no good.  Then

King Mark had his answer.  Therewith came Elias and

bade the king yield up the castle:  For ye may not hold

it no while.  Sir Elias, said the king, so will I yield up the

castle if I be not soon rescued.  Anon King Mark sent

again for rescue to Sir Tristram.  By then Sir Tristram

was whole, and he had gotten him ten good knights of

Arthur's; and with them he rode unto Tintagil.  And

when he saw the great host of Sessoins he marvelled wonder

greatly.  And then Sir Tristram rode by the woods and

by the ditches as secretly as he might, till he came nigh

the gates.  And there dressed a knight to him when he

saw that Sir Tristram would enter; and Sir Tristram

smote him down dead, and so he served three more.  And

everych of these ten knights slew a man of arms.  So

Sir Tristram entered into the Castle of Tintagil.  And

when King Mark wist that Sir Tristram was come he was

glad of his coming, and so was all the fellowship, and of

him they made great joy.

CHAPTER XXIX

How Sir Tristram overcame the battle, and how Elias

desired a man to fight body for body.

SO on the morn Elias the captain came, and bade King

Mark:  Come out and do battle; for now the good knight

Sir Tristram is entered it will be shame to thee, said Elias,

for to keep thy walls.  When King Mark understood this

he was wroth and said no word, but went unto Sir Tristram

and asked him his counsel.  Sir, said Sir Tristram, will ye

that I give him his answer?  I will well, said King Mark.

Then Sir Tristram said thus to the messenger:  Bear thy

lord word from the king and me, that we will do battle with

him to-morn in the plain field.  What is your name? said

the messenger.  Wit thou well my name is Sir Tristram

de Liones.  Therewithal the messenger departed and told

his lord Elias all that he had heard.  Sir, said Sir Tristram

unto King Mark, I pray you give me leave to have the

rule of the battle.  I pray you take the rule, said King

Mark.  Then Sir Tristram let devise the battle in what

manner that it should be.  He let depart his host in six

parties, and ordained Sir Dinas the Seneschal to have the

foreward, and other knights to rule the remnant.  And

the same night Sir Tristram burnt all the Sessoins' ships

unto the cold water.  Anon, as Elias wist that, he said it

was of Sir Tristram's doing:  For he casteth that we shall

never escape, mother son of us.  Therefore, fair fellows,

fight freely to-morrow, and miscomfort you nought; for

any knight, though he be the best knight in the world, he

may not have ado with us all.

Then they ordained their battle in four parties,

wonderly well apparelled and garnished with men of arms.

Thus they within issued, and they without set freely upon

them; and there Sir Dinas did great deeds of arms.  Not

for then Sir Dinas and his fellowship were put to the worse.

With that came Sir Tristram and slew two knights with

one spear; then he slew on the right hand and on the left

hand, that men marvelled that ever he might do such

deeds of arms.  And then he might see sometime the

battle was driven a bow-draught from the castle, and

sometime it was at the gates of the castle.  Then came

Elias the captain rushing here and there, and hit King

Mark so sore upon the helm that he made him to avoid

the saddle.  And then Sir Dinas gat King Mark again to

horseback.  Therewithal came in Sir Tristram like a lion,

and there he met with Elias, and he smote him so sore

upon the helm that he avoided his saddle.  And thus they

fought till it was night, and for great slaughter and for

wounded people everych party drew to their rest.

And when King Mark was come within the Castle of

Tintagil he lacked of his knights an hundred, and they

without lacked two hundred; and they searched the

wounded men on both parties.  And then they went to

council; and wit you well either party were loath to fight

more, so that either might escape with their worship.

When Elias the captain understood the death of his men

he made great dole; and when he wist that they were

loath to go to battle again he was wroth out of measure.

Then Elias sent word unto King Mark, in great despite,

whether he would find a knight that would fight for him

body for body.  And if that he might slay King Mark's

knight, he to have the truage of Cornwall yearly.  And

if that his knight slay mine, I fully release my claim

forever.  Then the messenger departed unto King Mark,

and told him how that his lord Elias had sent him word

to find a knight to do battle with him body for body.

When King Mark understood the messenger, he bade him

abide and he should have his answer.  Then called he all

the baronage together to wit what was the best counsel.

They said all at once: To fight in a field we have no lust,

for had not been Sir Tristram's prowess it had been likely

that we never should have escaped; and therefore, sir, as

we deem, it were well done to find a knight that would do

battle with him, for he knightly proffereth.

CHAPTER XXI

How Sir Elias and Sir Tristram fought together for the

truage, and how Sir Tristram slew Elias in the field.

NOT for then when all this was said, they could find no

knight that would do battle with him.  Sir king, said they

all, here is no knight that dare fight with Elias.  Alas,

said King Mark, then am I utterly ashamed and utterly

destroyed, unless that my nephew Sir Tristram will take

the battle upon him.  Wit you well, they said all, he had

yesterday overmuch on hand, and he is weary for travail,

and sore wounded.  Where is he? said King Mark.  Sir,

said they, he is in his bed to repose him.  Alas, said King

Mark, but I have the succour of my nephew Sir Tristram,

I am utterly destroyed for ever.

Therewith one went to Sir Tristram where he lay, and

told him what King Mark had said.  And therewith Sir

Tristram arose lightly, and put on him a long gown, and

came afore the king and all the lords.  And when he saw

them all so dismayed he asked the king and the lords

what tidings were with them.  Never worse, said the

king.  And therewith he told him all, how he had word

of Elias to find a knight to fight for the truage of

Cornwall, and none can I find.  And as for you, said the king

and all the lords, we may ask no more of you for shame;

for through your hardiness yesterday ye saved all our lives.

Sir, said Sir Tristram, now I understand ye would have my

succour, reason would that I should do all that lieth in my

power to do, saving my worship and my life, howbeit I

am sore bruised and hurt.  And sithen Sir Elias proffereth

so largely, I shall fight with him, or else I will be slain in

the field, or else I will deliver Cornwall from the old

truage.  And therefore lightly call his messenger and he

shall be answered, for as yet my wounds be green, and

they will be sorer a seven night after than they be now;

and therefore he shall have his answer that I will do battle

to-morn with him.

Then was the messenger departed brought before King

Mark.  Hark, my fellow, said Sir Tristram, go fast unto

thy lord, and bid him make true assurance on his part for

the truage, as the king here shall make on his part; and

then tell thy lord, Sir Elias, that I, Sir Tristram, King

Arthur's knight, and knight of the Table Round, will as

to-morn meet with thy lord on horseback, to do battle as

long as my horse may endure, and after that to do battle

with him on foot to the utterance.  The messenger beheld

Sir Tristram from the top to the toe; and therewithal he

departed and came to his lord, and told him how he was

answered of Sir Tristram.  And therewithal was made

hostage on both parties, and made it as sure as it might

be, that whether party had the victory, so to end.  And

then were both hosts assembled on both parts of the field,

without the Castle of Tintagil, and there was none but Sir

Tristram and Sir Elias armed.

So when the appointment was made, they departed

in-sunder, and they came together with all the might that

their horses might run.  And either knight smote other

so hard that both horses and knights went to the earth.

Not for then they both lightly arose and dressed their

shields on their shoulders, with naked swords in their

hands, and they dashed together that it seemed a flaming

fire about them.  Thus they traced, and traversed, and

hewed on helms and hauberks, and cut away many cantels

of their shields, and either wounded other passing sore, so

that the hot blood fell freshly upon the earth.  And by

then they had foughten the mountenance of an hour Sir

Tristram waxed faint and for-bled, and gave sore aback.

That saw Sir Elias, and followed fiercely upon him, and

wounded him in many places.  And ever Sir Tristram

traced and traversed, and went froward him here and there,

and covered him with his shield as he might all weakly,

that all men said he was overcome; for Sir Elias had given

him twenty strokes against one.

Then was there laughing of the Sessoins' party, and

great dole on King Mark's party.  Alas, said the king,

we are ashamed and destroyed all for ever: for as the

book saith, Sir Tristram was never so matched, but if it

were Sir Launcelot.  Thus as they stood and beheld both

parties, that one party laughing and the other party

weeping, Sir Tristram remembered him of his lady, La

Beale Isoud, that looked upon him, and how he was likely

never to come in her presence.  Then he pulled up his

shield that erst hung full low.  And then he dressed up

his shield unto Elias, and gave him many sad strokes,

twenty against one, and all to-brake his shield and his

hauberk, that the hot blood ran down to the earth.  Then

began King Mark to laugh, and all Cornish men, and that

other party to weep.  And ever Sir Tristram said to Sir

Elias:  Yield thee.

Then when Sir Tristram saw him so staggering on the

ground, he said:  Sir Elias, I am right sorry for thee, for

thou art a passing good knight as ever I met withal, except

Sir Launcelot.  Therewithal Sir Elias fell to the earth, and

there died.  What shall I do, said Sir Tristram unto King

Mark, for this battle is at an end? Then they of Elias'

party departed, and King Mark took of them many

prisoners, to redress the harms and the scathes that he had

of them; and the remnant he sent into their country to

borrow out their fellows.  Then was Sir Tristram searched

and well healed.  Yet for all this King Mark would fain

have slain Sir Tristram.  But for all that ever Sir Tristram

saw or heard by King Mark, yet would he never beware

of his treason, but ever he would be thereas La Beale

Isoud was.

CHAPTER XXXI

How at a great feast that King Mark made an harper

came and sang the lay that Dinadan had made.

NOW will we pass of this matter, and speak we of the

harpers that Sir Launcelot and Sir Dinadan had sent into

Cornwall.  And at the great feast that King Mark made

for joy that the Sessoins were put out of his country, then

came Eliot the harper with the lay that Dinadan had made

and secretly brought it unto Sir Tristram, and told him

the lay that Dinadan had made by King Mark.  And

when Sir Tristram heard it, he said:  O Lord Jesu, that

Dinadan can make wonderly well and ill, thereas it shall

be.  Sir, said Eliot, dare I sing this song afore King Mark?

Yea, on my peril, said Sir Tristram, for I shall be thy

warrant.  Then at the meat came in Eliot the harper, and

because he was a curious harper men heard him sing the

same lay that Dinadan had made, the which spake the

most villainy by King Mark of his treason that ever man

heard.

When the harper had sung his song to the end King

Mark was wonderly wroth, and said:  Thou harper, how

durst thou be so bold on thy head to sing this song afore

me.  Sir, said Eliot, wit you well I am a minstrel, and I

must do as I am commanded of these lords that I bear the

arms of.  And sir, wit ye well that Sir Dinadan, a knight

of the Table Round, made this song, and made me to

sing it afore you.  Thou sayest well, said King Mark,

and because thou art a minstrel thou shalt go quit, but I

charge thee hie thee fast out of my sight.  So the harper

departed and went to Sir Tristram, and told him how he

had sped.  Then Sir Tristram let make letters as goodly

as he could to Launcelot and to Sir Dinadan.  And so he

let conduct the harper out of the country.  But to say

that King Mark was wonderly wroth, he was, for he

deemed that the lay that was sung afore him was made by

Sir Tristram's counsel, wherefore he thought to slay him

and all his well-willers in that country.

CHAPTER XXXII

How King Mark slew by treason his brother Boudwin, for

good service that he had done to him.

NOW turn we to another matter that fell between

King Mark and his brother, that was called the good

Prince Boudwin, that all the people of the country loved

passing well.  So it befell on a time that the miscreant

Saracens landed in the country of Cornwall soon after

these Sessoins were gone.  And then the good Prince

Boudwin, at the landing, he raised the country privily and

hastily.  And or it were day he let put wildfire in three

of his own ships, and suddenly he pulled up the sail, and

with the wind he made those ships to be driven among

the navy of the Saracens.  And to make short tale, those

three ships set on fire all the ships, that none were saved.

And at point of the day the good Prince Boudwin with

all his fellowship set on the miscreants with shouts and

cries, and slew to the number of forty thousand, and left

none alive.

When King Mark wist this he was wonderly wroth

that his brother should win such worship.  And because

this prince was better beloved than he in all that country,

and that also Boudwin loved well Sir Tristram, therefore

he thought to slay him.  And thus, hastily, as a man out

of his wit, he sent for Prince Boudwin and Anglides his

wife, and bade them bring their young son with them,

that he might see him.  All this he did to the intent to

slay the child as well as his father, for he was the falsest

traitor that ever was born.  Alas, for his goodness and

for his good deeds this gentle Prince Boudwin was slain.

So when he came with his wife Anglides, the king made

them fair semblant till they had dined.  And when they

had dined King Mark sent for his brother and said thus:

Brother, how sped you when the miscreants arrived by

you? meseemeth it had been your part to have sent me

word, that I might have been at that journey, for it had

been reason that I had had the honour and not you.

Sir, said the Prince Boudwin, it was so that an I had

tarried till that I had sent for you those miscreants had

destroyed my country.  Thou liest, false traitor, said

King Mark, for thou art ever about for to win worship

from me, and put me to dishonour, and thou cherishest

that I hate.  And therewith he struck him to the heart

with a dagger, that he never after spake word.  Then the

Lady Anglides made great dole, and swooned, for she saw

her lord slain afore her face.  Then was there no more to

do but Prince Boudwin was despoiled and brought to

burial.  But Anglides privily gat her husband's doublet

and his shirt, and that she kept secretly.

Then was there much sorrow and crying, and great

dole made Sir Tristram, Sir Dinas, Sir Fergus, and so did

all knights that were there; for that prince was passingly

well beloved.  So La Beale Isoud sent unto Anglides, the

Prince Boudwin's wife, and bade her avoid lightly or else

her young son, Alisander le Orphelin, should be slain

When she heard this, she took her horse and her child;

and rode with such poor men as durst ride with her.

CHAPTER XXXIII

How Anglides, Boudwin's wife, escaped with her young son,

Alisander le Orphelin, and came to the Castle of Arundel.

NOTWITHSTANDING, when King Mark had done this

deed, yet he thought to do more vengeance; and with his

sword in his hand, he sought from chamber to chamber,

to seek Anglides and her young son.  And when she was

missed he called a good knight that hight Sadok, and

charged him by pain of death to fetch Anglides again and

her young son.  So Sir Sadok departed and rode after

Anglides.  And within ten mile he overtook her, and

bade her turn again and ride with him to King Mark.

Alas, fair knight, she said, what shall ye win by my son's

death or by mine?  I have had overmuch harm and too

great a loss.  Madam, said Sadok, of your loss is dole

and pity; but madam, said Sadok, would ye depart out

of this country with your son, and keep him till he be of

age, that he may revenge his father's death, then would

I suffer you to depart from me, so you promise me

to revenge the death of Prince Boudwin.  Ah, gentle

knight, Jesu thank thee, and if ever my son, Alisander le

Orphelin, live to be a knight, he shall have his father's

doublet and his shirt with the bloody marks, and I shall

give him such a charge that he shall remember it while he

liveth.  And therewithal Sadok departed from her, and

either betook other to God.  And when Sadok came to

King Mark he told him faithfully that he had drowned

young Alisander her son; and thereof King Mark was

full glad.

Now turn we unto Anglides, that rode both night and

day by adventure out of Cornwall, and little and in few

places she rested; but ever she drew southward to the

seaside, till by fortune she came to a castle that is called

Magouns, and now it is called Arundel, in Sussex.  And

the Constable of the castle welcomed her, and said she

was welcome to her own castle; and there was Anglides 2t

worshipfully received, for the Constable's wife was nigh

her cousin, and the Constable's name was Bellangere; and

that same Constable told Anglides that the same castle

was hers by right inheritance.  Thus Anglides endured

years and winters, till Alisander was big and strong;

there was none so wight in all that country, neither there

was none that might do no manner of mastery afore him.

CHAPTER XXXIV

How Anglides gave the bloody doublet to Alisander, her son,

the same day that he was made knight, and the charge

withal.

THEN upon a day Bellangere the Constable came to

Anglides and said:  Madam, it were time my lord Alisander

were made knight, for he is a passing strong

young man.  Sir, said she, I would he were made knight;

but then must I give him the most charge that ever

sinful mother gave to her child.  Do as ye list, said

Bellangere, and I shall give him warning that he shall be

made knight.  Now it will be well done that he may be

made knight at our Lady Day in Lent.  Be it so, said

Anglides, and I pray you make ready therefore.  So came

the Constable to Alisander, and told him that he should

at our Lady Day in Lent be made knight.  I thank God,

said Alisander; these are the best tidings that ever came

to me.  Then the Constable ordained twenty of the

greatest gentlemen's sons, and the best born men of the

country, that should be made knights that same day that

Alisander was made knight.  So on the same day that

Alisander and his twenty fellows were made knights, at

the offering of the mass there came Anglides unto her

son and said thus:  O fair sweet son, I charge thee upon

my blessing, and of the high order of chivalry that thou

takest here this day, that thou understand what I shall

say and charge thee withal.  Therewithal she pulled out a

bloody doublet and a bloody shirt, that were be-bled with

old blood.  When Alisander saw this he stert aback and

waxed pale, and said:  Fair mother, what may this mean?

I shall tell thee, fair son: this was thine own father's

doublet and shirt, that he wore upon him that same day

that he was slain.  And there she told him why and

wherefore, and how for his goodness King Mark slew

him with his dagger afore mine own eyen.  And therefore

this shall be your charge that I shall give thee.

CHAPTER XXXV

How it was told to King Mark of Sir Alisander, and how

he would have slain Sir Sadok for saving his life.

NOW I require thee, and charge thee upon my blessing,

and upon the high order of knighthood, that thou be

revenged upon King Mark for the death of thy father.

And therewithal she swooned.  Then Alisander leapt to

his mother, and took her up in his arms, and said:  Fair

mother, ye have given me a great charge, and here I

promise you I shall be avenged upon King Mark when

that I may; and that I promise to God and to you.  So

this feast was ended, and the Constable, by the advice of

Anglides, let purvey that Alisander was well horsed and

harnessed.  Then he jousted with his twenty fellows that

were made knights with him, but for to make a short

tale, he overthrew all those twenty, that none might

withstand him a buffet.

Then one of those knights departed unto King Mark,

and told him all, how Alisander was made knight, and all

the charge that his mother gave him, as ye have heard

afore time.  Alas, false treason, said King Mark, I weened

that young traitor had been dead.  Alas, whom may I

trust?  And therewithal King Mark took a sword in his

hand; and sought Sir Sadok from chamber to chamber to

slay him.  When Sir Sadok saw King Mark come with

his sword in his hand he said thus:  Beware, King Mark,

and come not nigh me; for wit thou well that I saved

Alisander his life, of which I never repent me, for thou

falsely and cowardly slew his father Boudwin, traitorly for

his good deeds; wherefore I pray Almighty Jesu send

Alisander might and strength to be revenged upon thee.

And now beware King Mark of young Alisander, for he

is made a knight.  Alas, said King Mark, that ever I

should hear a traitor say so afore me.  And therewith

four knights of King Mark's drew their swords to slay Sir

Sadok, but anon Sir Sadok slew them all in King Mark's

presence.  And then Sir Sadok passed forth into his

chamber, and took his horse and his harness, and rode on

his way a good pace.  For there was neither Sir Tristram,

neither Sir Dinas, nor Sir Fergus, that would Sir Sadok

any evil will.  Then was King Mark wroth, and thought

to destroy Sir Alisander and Sir Sadok that had saved him;

for King Mark dreaded and hated Alisander most of any

man living.

When Sir Tristram understood that Alisander was

made knight, anon forthwithal he sent him a letter,

praying him and charging him that he would draw him to the

court of King Arthur, and that he put him in the rule and

in the hands of Sir Launcelot.  So this letter was sent to

Alisander from his cousin, Sir Tristram.  And at that time

he thought to do after his commandment.  Then King

Mark called a knight that brought him the tidings from

Alisander, and bade him abide still in that country.  Sir,

said that knight, so must I do, for in my own country I

dare not come.  No force, said King Mark, I shall give

thee here double as much lands as ever thou hadst of thine

own.  But within short space Sir Sadok met with that false

knight, and slew him.  Then was King Mark wood wroth

out of measure.  Then he sent unto Queen Morgan le

Fay, and to the Queen of North-galis, praying them in his

letters that they two sorceresses would set all the country

in fire with ladies that were enchantresses, and by such that

were dangerous knights, as Malgrin, Breuse Saunce Pit<e'>,

that by no mean Alisander le Orphelin should escape, but

either he should be taken or slain.  This ordinance made

King Mark for to destroy Alisander.

CHAPTER XXXVI

How Sir Alisander won the prize at a tournament, and of

Morgan le Fay: and how he fought with Sir Malgrin,

and slew him.

NOW turn we again unto Sir Alisander, that at his departing

his mother took with him his father's bloody shirt.

So that he bare with him always till his death day, in

tokening to think of his father's death.  So was Alisander

purposed to ride to London, by the counsel of Sir Tristram,

to Sir Launcelot.  And by fortune he went by the

seaside, and rode wrong.  And there he won at a tournament

the gree that King Carados made.  And there he

smote down King Carados and twenty of his knights, and

also Sir Safere, a good knight that was Sir Palomides'

brother, the good knight.  All this saw a damosel, and

saw the best knight joust that ever she saw.  And ever as

he smote down knights he made them to swear to wear

none harness in a twelvemonth and a day.  This is well

said, said Morgan le Fay, this is the knight that I would

fain see.  And so she took her palfrey, and rode a great

while, and then she rested her in her pavilion.  So there

came four knights, two were armed, and two were unarmed,

and they told Morgan le Fay their names: the first

was Elias de Gomeret, the second was Cari de Gomeret,

those were armed; that other twain were of Camiliard,

cousins unto Queen Guenever, and that one hight Guy,

and that other hight Garaunt, those were unarmed.  There

these four knights told Morgan le Fay how a young

knight had smitten them down before a castle For the

maiden of that castle said that he was but late made knight,

and young.  But as we suppose, but if it were Sir Tristram,

or Sir Launcelot, or Sir Lamorak, the good knight, there

is none that might sit him a buffet with a spear.  Well,

said Morgan le Fay, I shall meet that knight or it be long

time, an he dwell in that country.

So turn we to the damosel of the castle, that when

Alisander le Orphelin had forjousted the four knights,

she called him to her, and said thus:  Sir knight, wilt thou

for my sake joust and fight with a knight, for my sake,

of this country, that is and hath been long time an evil

neighbour to me?  His name is Malgrin, and he will not

suffer me to be married in no manner wise for all that I

can do, or any knight for my sake.  Damosel, said Alisander,

an he come whiles I am here I will fight with him,

and my poor body for your sake I will jeopard.  And

therewithal she sent for him, for he was at her commandment.

And when either had a sight of other, they made

them ready for to joust, and they came together eagerly,

and Malgrin brised his spear upon Alisander, and Alisander

smote him again so hard that he bare him quite from his

saddle to the earth.  But this Malgrin arose lightly, and

dressed his shield and drew his sword, and bade him alight,

saying:  Though thou have the better of me on horseback,

thou shalt find that I shall endure like a knight on foot.

It is well said, said Alisander; and so lightly he avoided

his horse and betook him to his varlet.  And then they

rushed together like two boars, and laid on their helms

and shields long time, by the space of three hours, that

never man could say which was the better knight.

And in the meanwhile came Morgan le Fay to the

damosel of the castle, and they beheld the battle.  But

this Malgrin was an old roted knight, and he was called

one of the dangerous knights of the world to do battle on

foot, but on horseback there were many better.  And ever

this Malgrin awaited to slay Alisander, and so wounded

him wonderly sore, that it was marvel that ever he might

stand, for he had bled so much blood; for Alisander

fought wildly, and not wittily.  And that other was a

felonious knight, and awaited him, and smote him sore.

And sometime they rushed together with their shields,

like two boars or rams, and fell grovelling both to the

earth.  Now knight, said Malgrin, hold thy hand a while,

and tell me what thou art.  I will not, said Alisander, but

if me list: but tell me thy name, and why thou keepest

this country, or else thou shalt die of my hands.  Wit

thou well, said Malgrin, that for this maiden's love, of this

castle, I have slain ten good knights by mishap; and by

outrage and orgulit<e'> of myself I have slain ten other

knights.  So God me help, said Alisander, this is the

foulest confession that ever I heard knight make, nor

never heard I speak of other men of such a shameful

confession; wherefore it were great pity and great shame

unto me that I should let thee live any longer; therefore

keep thee as well as ever thou mayest, for as I am true

knight, either thou shalt slay me or else I shall slay thee,

I promise thee faithfully.

Then they lashed together fiercely, and at the last

Alisander smote Malgrin to the earth.  And then he raced

off his helm, and smote off his head lightly.  And when

he had done and ended this battle, anon he called to him

his varlet, the which brought him his horse.  And then

he, weening to be strong enough, would have mounted.

And so she laid Sir Alisander in an horse litter, and led

him into the castle, for he had no foot nor might to stand

upon the earth; for he had sixteen great wounds, and in

especial one of them was like to be his death.

CHAPTER XXXVII

How Queen Morgan le Fay had Alisander in her castle, and

how she healed his wounds.

THEN Queen Morgan le Fay searched his wounds, and

gave such an ointment unto him that he should have died.

And on the morn when she came to him he complained

him sore; and then she put other ointments upon him,

and then he was out of his pain.  Then came the damosel

of the castle, and said unto Morgan le Fay:  I pray you

help me that this knight might wed me, for he hath won

me with his hands.  Ye shall see, said Morgan le Fay,

what I shall say.  Then Morgan le Fay went unto Alisander,

and bade in anywise that he should refuse this lady,

an she desire to wed you, for she is not for you.  So the

damosel came and desired of him marriage.  Damosel, said

Orphelin, I thank you, but as yet I cast me not to marry

in this country.  Sir, she said, sithen ye will not marry

me, I pray you insomuch as ye have won me, that ye will

give me to a knight of this country that hath been my

friend, and loved me many years.  With all my heart,

said Alisander, I will assent thereto.  Then was the knight

sent for, his name was Gerine le Grose.  And anon he

made them handfast, and wedded them.

Then came Queen Morgan le Fay to Alisander, and

bade him arise, and put him in an horse litter, and gave

him such a drink that in three days and three nights he

waked never, but slept; and so she brought him to her

own castle that at that time was called La Beale Regard.

Then Morgan le Fay came to Alisander, and asked him

if he would fain be whole.  Who would be sick, said

Alisander, an he might be whole?  Well, said Morgan le

Fay, then shall ye promise me by your knighthood that

this day twelvemonth and a day ye shall not pass the

compass of this castle, and without doubt ye shall lightly be

whole.  I assent, said Sir Alisander.  And there he made her

a promise: then was he soon whole.  And when Alisander

was whole, then he repented him of his oath, for he might

not be revenged upon King Mark.  Right so there came

a damosel that was cousin to the Earl of Pase, and she was

cousin to Morgan le Fay.  And by right that castle of La

Beale Regard should have been hers by true inheritance.

So this damosel entered into this castle where lay

Alisander, and there she found him upon his bed, passing

heavy and all sad.

CHAPTER XXXVIII

How Alisander was delivered from Queen Morgan le Fay

by the means of a damosel.

SIR knight, said the damosel, an ye would be merry

I could tell you good tidings.  Well were me, said

Alisander, an I might hear of good tidings, for now I

stand as a prisoner by my promise.  Sir, she said, wit you

well that ye be a prisoner, and worse than ye ween; for

my lady, my cousin Queen Morgan le Fay, keepeth you

here for none other intent but for to do her pleasure with

you when it liketh her.  O Jesu defend me, said Alisander,

from such pleasure; for I had liefer cut away my hangers

than I would do her such pleasure.  As Jesu help me, said

the damosel, an ye would love me and be ruled by me, I

shall make your deliverance with your worship.  Tell me,

said Alisander, by what means, and ye shall have my love.

Fair knight, said she, this castle of right ought to be

mine, and I have an uncle the which is a mighty earl, he is

Earl of Pase, and of all folks he hateth most Morgan le

Fay; and I shall send unto him and pray him for my sake

to destroy this castle for the evil customs that be used

therein; and then will he come and set wild-fire on every

part of the castle, and I shall get you out at a privy

postern, and there shall ye have your horse and your

harness.  Ye say well, damosel, said Alisander.  And then

she said:  Ye may keep the room of this castle this

twelvemonth and a day, then break ye not your oath.

Truly, fair damosel, said Alisander, ye say sooth.  And

then he kissed her, and did to her pleasaunce as it pleased

them both at times and leisures.

So anon she sent unto her uncle and bade him come

and destroy that castle, for as the book saith, he would

have destroyed that castle afore time had not that damosel

been.  When the earl understood her letters he sent her

word again that on such a day he would come and destroy

that castle.  So when that day came she showed Alisander

a postern wherethrough he should flee into a garden, and

there he should find his armour and his horse.  When the

day came that was set, thither came the Earl of Pase with

four hundred knights, and set on fire all the parts of the

castle, that or they ceased they left not a stone standing.

And all this while that the fire was in the castle he abode

in the garden.  And when the fire was done he let make

a cry that he would keep that piece of earth thereas the

castle of La Beale Regard was a twelvemonth and a day,

from all manner knights that would come

So it happed there was a duke that hight Ansirus, and

he was of the kin of Sir Launcelot.  And this knight

was a great pilgrim, for every third year he would be

at Jerusalem.  And because he used all his life to go in

pilgrimage men called him Duke Ansirus the Pilgrim.

And this duke had a daughter that hight Alice, that was

a passing fair woman, and because of her father she was

called Alice la Beale Pilgrim.  And anon as she heard of

this cry she went unto Arthur's court, and said openly in

hearing of many knights, that what knight may overcome

that knight that keepeth that piece of earth shall have me

and all my lands.

When the knights of the Round Table heard her say

thus many were glad, for she was passing fair and of great

rents.  Right so she let cry in castles and towns as fast on

her side as Alisander did on his side.  Then she dressed

her pavilion straight by the piece of the earth that

Alisander kept.  So she was not so soon there but there

came a knight of Arthur's court that hight Sagramore le

Desirous, and he proffered to joust with Alisander; and

they encountered, and Sagramore le Desirous brised his

spear upon Sir Alisander, but Sir Alisander smote him so

hard that he avoided his saddle.  And when La Beale

Alice saw him joust so well, she thought him a passing

goodly knight on horseback.  And then she leapt out of

her pavilion, and took Sir Alisander by the bridle, and

thus she said:  Fair knight, I require thee of thy knighthood

show me thy visage.  I dare well, said Alisander,

show my visage.  And then he put off his helm; and she

saw his visage, she said:  O sweet Jesu, thee I must love,

and never other.  Then show me your visage, said he.

CHAPTER XXXIX

How Alisander met with Alice la Beale Pilgrim, and how he

jousted with two knights; and after of him and of Sir

Mordred.

Then she unwimpled her visage.  And when he saw her

he said:  Here have I found my love and my lady.

Truly, fair lady, said he, I promise you to be your

knight, and none other that beareth the life.  Now, gentle

knight, said she, tell me your name.  My name is, said

he, Alisander le Orphelin.  Now, damosel, tell me your

name, said he.  My name is, said she, Alice la Beale

Pilgrim.  And when we be more at our heart's ease, both

ye and I shall tell other of what blood we be come.

So there was great love betwixt them.  And as they thus

talked there came a knight that hight Harsouse le Berbuse,

and asked part of Sir Alisander's spears.  Then Sir

Alisander encountered with him, and at the first Sir

Alisander smote him over his horse's croup.  And then

there came another knight that hight Sir Hewgon, and Sir

Alisander smote him down as he did that other.  Then

Sir Hewgon proffered to do battle on foot.  Sir Alisander

overcame him with three strokes, and there would have

slain him had he not yielded him.  So then Alisander

made both those knights to swear to wear none armour in

a twelvemonth and a day.

Then Sir Alisander alighted down, and went to rest

him and repose him.  Then the damosel that helped Sir

Alisander out of the castle, in her play told Alice all

together how he was prisoner in the castle of La Beale

Regard, and there she told her how she got him out of prison.

Sir, said Alice la Beale Pilgrim, meseemeth ye are much

beholding to this maiden.  That is truth, said Sir

Alisander.  And there Alice told him of what blood she

was come.  Sir, wit ye well, she said, that I am of the

blood of King Ban, that was father unto Sir Launcelot.

Y-wis, fair lady, said Alisander, my mother told me that

my father was brother unto a king, and I nigh cousin unto

Sir Tristram.

Then this while came there three knights, that one

hight Vains, and the other hight Harvis de les Marches,

and the third hight Perin de la Montaine.  And with one

spear Sir Alisander smote them down all three, and gave

them such falls that they had no list to fight upon foot.

So he made them to swear to wear none arms in a twelvemonth.

So when they were departed Sir Alisander

beheld his lady Alice on horseback as he stood in her

pavilion.  And then was he so enamoured upon her that

he wist not whether he were on horseback or on foot.

Right so came the false knight Sir Mordred, and saw

Sir Alisander was assotted upon his lady; and therewithal

he took his horse by the bridle, and led him here and

there, and had cast to have led him out of that place to

have shamed him.  When the damosel that helped him

out of that castle saw how shamefully he was led, anon

she let arm her, and set a shield upon her shoulder; and

therewith she mounted upon his horse, and gat a naked

sword in her hand, and she thrust unto Alisander with all

her might, and she gave him such a buffet that he thought

the fire flew out of his eyen.  And when Alisander felt

that stroke he looked about him, and drew his sword

And when she saw that, she fled, and so did Mordred

into the forest, and the damosel fled into the pavilion.

So when Alisander understood himself how the false

knight would have shamed him had not the damosel been

then was he wroth with himself that Sir Mordred was

so escaped his hands.  But then Sir Alisander and Alice

had good game at the damosel, how sadly she hit him

upon the helm.

Then Sir Alisander jousted thus day by day, and on

foot he did many battles with many knights of King

Arthur's court, and with many knights strangers.  Therefore

to tell all the battles that he did it were overmuch to

rehearse, for every day within that twelvemonth he had

ado with one knight or with other, and some day he had

ado with three or with four; and there was never knight

that put him to the worse.  And at the twelvemonth's

end he departed with his lady, Alice la Beale Pilgrim.

And the damosel would never go from him, and so they

went into their country of Benoye, and lived there in

great joy.

CHAPTER XL

How Sir Galahalt did do cry a jousts in Surluse, and Queen

Guenever's knights should joust against all that would

come.

BUT as the book saith, King Mark would never stint till

he had slain him by treason.  And by Alice he gat a child

that hight Bellengerus le Beuse.  And by good fortune he

came to the court of King Arthur, and proved a passing

good knight; and he revenged his father's death, for the

false King Mark slew both Sir Tristram and Alisander

falsely and feloniously.  And it happed so that Alisander

had never grace nor fortune to come to King Arthur's

court.  For an he had come to Sir Launcelot, all knights

said that knew him, he was one of the strongest knights

that was in Arthur's days, and great dole was made for

him.  So let we of him pass, and turn we to another tale.

So it befell that Sir Galahalt, the haut prince, was

lord of the country of Surluse, whereof came many good

knights.  And this noble prince was a passing good man

of arms, and ever he held a noble fellowship together.

And then he came to Arthur's court and told him his

intent, how this was his will, how he would let cry a

jousts in the country of Surluse, the which country was

within the lands of King Arthur, and there he asked leave

to let cry a jousts.  I will give you leave, said King Arthur;

but wit thou well, said King Arthur, I may not be there.

Sir, said Queen Guenever, please it you to give me leave

to be at that jousts.  With right good will, said Arthur;

for Sir Galahalt, the haut prince, shall have you in

governance.  Sir, said Galahalt, I will as ye will.  Sir,

then the queen, I will take with me [Sir Launcelot] and

such knights as please me best.  Do as ye list, said King

Arthur.  So anon she commanded Sir Launcelot to make

him ready with such knights as he thought best.

So in every good town and castle of this land was

made a cry, that in the country of Surluse Sir Galahalt

should make a joust that should last eight days, and how

the haut prince, with the help of Queen Guenever's

knights, should joust against all manner of men that

would come.  When this cry was known, kings and

princes, dukes and earls, barons and noble knights, made

them ready to be at that jousts.  And at the day of

jousting there came in Sir Dinadan disguised, and did

many great deeds of arms.

CHAPTER XLI

How Sir Launcelot fought in the tournament, and how Sir

Palomides did arms there for a damosel.

THEN at the request of Queen Guenever and of King

Bagdemagus Sir Launcelot came into the range, but he

was disguised, and that was the cause that few folk knew

him; and there met with him Sir Ector de Maris, his

own brother, and either brake their spears upon other to

their hands.  And then either gat another spear.  And

then Sir Launcelot smote down Sir Ector de Maris, his

own brother.  That saw Sir Bleoberis, and he smote Sir

Launcelot such a buffet upon the helm that he wist not

well where he was.  Then Sir Launcelot was wrothy and

smote Sir Bleoberis so sore upon the helm that his head

bowed down backward.  And he smote eft another buffet,

that he avoided his saddle; and so he rode by, and thrust

forth to the thickest.  When the King of Northgalis saw

Sir Ector and Bleoberis lie on the ground then was he

wroth, for they came on his party against them of Surluse.

So the King of Northgalis ran to Sir Launcelot, and brake

a spear upon him all to pieces.  Therewith Sir Launcelot

overtook the King of Northgalis, and smote him such a

buffet on the helm with his sword that he made him to

avoid his horse; and anon the king was horsed again.

So both the King Bagdemagus' and the King of North-galis'

party hurled to other; and then began a strong

medley, but they of Northgalis were far bigger.

When Sir Launcelot saw his party go to the worst he

thrang into the thickest press with a sword in his hand;

and there he smote down on the right hand and on the

left hand, and pulled down knights and raced off their

helms, that all men had wonder that ever one knight

might do such deeds of arms.  When Sir Meliagaunce,

that was son unto King Bagdemagus, saw how Sir

Launcelot fared he marvelled greatly.  And when he

understood that it was he, he wist well that he was

disguised for his sake.  Then Sir Meliagaunce prayed a

knight to slay Sir Launcelot's horse, either with sword or

with spear.  At that time King Bagdemagus met with a

knight that hight Sauseise, a good knight, to whom he said:

Now fair Sauseise, encounter with my son Meliagaunce

and give him large payment, for I would he were well

beaten of thy hands, that he might depart out of this field.

And then Sir Sauseise encountered with Sir Meliagaunce,

and either smote other down.  And then they fought on

foot, and there Sauseise had won Sir Meliagaunce, had

there not come rescues.  So then the haut prince blew to

lodging, and every knight unarmed him and went to the

great feast.

Then in the meanwhile there came a damosel to the

haut prince, and complained that there was a knight that

hight Goneries that withheld her all her lands.  Then the

knight was there present, and cast his glove to her or to

any that would fight in her name.  So the damosel took

up the glove all heavily for default of a champion.  Then

there came a varlet to her and said:  Damosel, will ye do

after me?  Full fain, said the damosel.  Then go you unto

such a knight that lieth here beside in an hermitage, and

that followeth the Questing Beast, and pray him to take

the battle upon him, and anon I wot well he will grant

you.

So anon she took her palfrey, and within a while she

found that knight, that was Sir Palomides.  And when

she required him he armed him and rode with her, and

made her to go to the haut prince, and to ask leave for

her knight to do battle.  I will well, said the haut prince.

Then the knights were ready in the field to joust on

horseback; and either gat a spear in their hands, and

met so fiercely together that their spears all to-shivered.

Then they flang out swords, and Sir Palomides smote Sir

Goneries down to the earth.  And then he raced off his

helm and smote off his head.  Then they went to supper,

and the damosel loved Palomides as paramour, but the

book saith she was of his kin.  So then Palomides disguised

himself in this manner, in his shield he bare the

Questing Beast, and in all his trappings.  And when he

was thus ready, he sent to the haut prince to give him

leave to joust with other knights, but he was adoubted of

Sir Launcelot.  The haut prince sent him word again that

he should be welcome, and that Sir Launcelot should not

joust with him.  Then Sir Galahalt, the haut prince, let

cry what knight somever he were that smote down Sir

Palomides should have his damosel to himself.

CHAPTER XLII

How Sir Galahalt and Palomides fought together, and of Sir

Dinadan and Sir Galahalt.

HERE beginneth the second day.  Anon as Sir Palomides

came into the field, Sir Galahalt, the haut prince, was at the

range end, and met with Sir Palomides, and he with him,

with great spears.  And then they came so hard together

that their spears all to-shivered, but Sir Galahalt smote

him so hard that he bare him backward over his horse,

but yet he lost not his stirrups.  Then they drew their

swords and lashed together many sad strokes, that many

worshipful knights left their business to behold them.

But at the last Sir Galahalt, the haut prince, smote a

stroke of might unto Palomides, sore upon the helm; but

the helm was so hard that the sword might not bite, but

slipped and smote off the head of the horse of Sir

Palomides.  When the haut prince wist and saw the good

knight fall unto the earth he was ashamed of that stroke.

And therewith he alighted down off his own horse, and

prayed the good knight, Palomides, to take that horse of

his gift, and to forgive him that deed.  Sir, said Palomides,

I thank you of your great goodness, for ever of a man of

worship a knight shall never have disworship; and so he

mounted upon that horse, and the haut prince had another

anon.  Now, said the haut prince, I release to you that

maiden, for ye have won her.  Ah, said Palomides, the

damosel and I be at your commandment.

So they departed, and Sir Galahalt did great deeds of

arms.  And right so came Dinadan and encountered with

Sir Galahalt, and either came to other so fast with their

spears that their spears brake to their hands.  But

Dinadan had weened the haut prince had been more weary

than he was.  And then he smote many sad strokes at the

haut prince; but when Dinadan saw he might not get

him to the earth he said:  My lord, I pray you leave me,

and take another.  The haut prince knew not Dinadan,

and left goodly for his fair words.  And so they departed;

but soon there came another and told the haut prince

that it was Dinadan.  Forsooth, said the prince, therefore

am I heavy that he is so escaped from me, for with his

mocks and japes now shall I never have done with him.

And then Galahalt rode fast after him, and bade him:

Abide, Dinadan, for King Arthur's sake.  Nay, said

Dinadan, so God me help, we meet no more together this

day.  Then in that wrath the haut prince met with Meliagaunce,

and he smote him in the throat that an he had

fallen his neck had broken; and with the same spear he

smote down another knight.  Then came in they of

Northgalis and many strangers, and were like to have put

them of Surluse to the worse, for Sir Galahalt, the haut

prince, had ever much in hand.  So there came the good

knight, Semound the Valiant, with forty knights, and he

beat them all aback.  Then the Queen Guenever and Sir

Launcelot let blow to lodging, and every knight unarmed

him, and dressed him to the feast.

CHAPTER XLIII

How Sir Archade appealed Sir Palomides of treason, and

how Sir Palomides slew him.

WHEN Palomides was unarmed he asked lodging for

himself and the damosel.  Anon the haut prince commanded

them to lodging.  And he was not so soon in his

lodging but there came a knight that hight Archade, he

was brother unto Goneries that Palomides slew afore in

the damosel's quarrel.  And this knight, Archade, called

Sir Palomides traitor, and appealed him for the death of

his brother.  By the leave of the haut prince, said Palomides,

I shall answer thee.  When Sir Galahalt understood

their quarrel he bade them go to dinner:  And as

soon as ye have dined look that either knight be ready in

the field.  So when they had dined they were armed both,

and took their horses, and the queen, and the prince, and

Sir Launcelot, were set to behold them; and so they let

run their horses, and there Sir Palomides bare Archade

on his spear over his horse's tail.  And then Palomides

alighted and drew his sword, but Sir Archade might not

arise; and there Sir Palomides raced off his helm, and

smote off his head.  Then the haut prince and Queen

Guenever went unto supper.  Then King Bagdemagus

sent away his son Meliagaunce because Sir Launcelot

should not meet with him, for he hated Sir Launcelot,

and that knew he not.

CHAPTER XLIV

Of the third day, and how Sir Palomides jousted with Sir

Lamorak, and other things.

NOW beginneth the third day of jousting; and at that

day King Bagdemagus made him ready; and there came

against him King Marsil, that had in gift an island of Sir

Galahalt the haut prince; and this island had the name

Pomitain.  Then it befell that King Bagdemagus and

King Marsil of Pomitain met together with spears, and

King Marsil had such a buffet that he fell over his horse's

croup.  Then came there in a knight of King Marsil to

revenge his lord, and King Bagdemagus smote him down,

horse and man, to the earth.  So there came an earl that

hight Arrouse, and Sir Breuse, and an hundred knights

with them of Pomitain, and the King of Northgalis was

with them; and all these were against them of Surluse.

And then there began great battle, and many knights

were cast under horses' feet.  And ever King Bagdemagus

did best, for he first began, and ever he held on.  Gaheris,

Gawaine's brother, smote ever at the face of King Bagdemagus;

and at the last King Bagdemagus hurtled down

Gaheris, horse and man.

Then by adventure Sir Palomides, the good knight,

met with Sir Blamore de Ganis, Sir Bleoberis' brother.

And either smote other with great spears, that both their

horses and knights fell to the earth.  But Sir Blamore

had such a fall that he had almost broken his neck, for

the blood brast out at nose, mouth, and his ears, but at

the last he recovered well by good surgeons.  Then there

came in the Duke Chaleins of Clarance; and in his

governance there came a knight that hight Elis la Noire;

and there encountered with him King Bagdemagus, and

he smote Elis that he made him to avoid his saddle.  So

the Duke Chaleins of Clarance did there great deeds of

arms, and of so late as he came in the third day there was

no man did so well except King Bagdemagus and Sir

Palomides, that the prize was given that day to King

Bagdemagus.  And then they blew unto lodging, and

unarmed them, and went to the feast.  Right so came

Dinadan, and mocked and japed with King Bagdemagus

that all knights laughed at him, for he was a fine japer,

and well loving all good knights.

So anon as they had dined there came a varlet bearing

four spears on his back; and he came to Palomides, and

said thus:  Here is a knight by hath sent you the choice

of four spears, and requireth you for your lady's sake to

take that one half of these spears, and joust with him in

the field.  Tell him, said Palomides, I will not fail him.

When Sir Galahalt wist of this, he bade Palomides make

him ready.  So the Queen Guenever, the haut prince, and

Sir Launcelot, they were set upon scaffolds to give the

judgment of these two knights.  Then Sir Palomides and

the strange knight ran so eagerly together that their

spears brake to their hands.  Anon withal either of

them took a great spear in his hand and all to-shivered

them in pieces.  And then either took a greater spear,

and then the knight smote down Sir Palomides, horse and

man, to the earth.  And as he would have passed over

him the strange knight's horse stumbled and fell down

upon Palomides.  Then they drew their swords and lashed

together wonderly sore a great while.

Then the haut prince and Sir Launcelot said they saw

never two knights fight better than they did; but ever

the strange knight doubled his strokes, and put Palomides

aback; therewithal the haut prince cried:  Ho: and then

they went to lodging.  And when they were unarmed

they knew it was the noble knight Sir Lamorak.  When

Sir Launcelot knew that it was Sir Lamorak he made

much of him, for above all earthly men he loved him best

except Sir Tristram.  Then Queen Guenever commended

him, and so did all other good knights make much of him,

except Sir Gawaine's brethren.  Then Queen Guenever

said unto Sir Launcelot:  Sir, I require you that an ye

joust any more, that ye joust with none of the blood

of my lord Arthur.  So he promised he would not as at

that time.

CHAPTER XLV

Of the fourth day, and of many great feats of arms.

HERE beginneth the fourth day.  Then came into the

field the King with the Hundred Knights, and all they of

Northgalis, and the Duke Chaleins of Clarance, and King

Marsil of Pomitain, and there came Safere, Palomides'

brother, and there he told him tidings of his mother.

And his name was called the Earl, and so he appealed

him afore King Arthur:  For he made war upon our

father and mother, and there I slew him in plain battle.

So they went into the field, and the damosel with them;

and there came to encounter again them Sir Bleoberis de

Ganis, and Sir Ector de Maris.  Sir Palomides encountered

with Sir Bleoberis, and either smote other down.  And in

the same wise did Sir Safere and Sir Ector, and the two

couples did battle on foot.  Then came in Sir Lamorak,

and he encountered with the King with the Hundred

Knights, and smote him quite over his horse's tail.  And

in the same wise he served the King of Northgalis, and

also he smote down King Marsil.  And so or ever he

stint he smote down with his spear and with his sword

thirty knights.  When Duke Chaleins saw Lamorak do

so great prowess he would not meddle with him for

shame; and then he charged all his knights in pain of

death that none of you touch him; for it were shame to

all good knights an that knight were shamed.

Then the two kings gathered them together, and all

they set upon Sir Lamorak; and he failed them not, but

rushed here and there, smiting on the right hand and on

the left, and raced off many helms, so that the haut

prince and Queen Guenever said they saw never knight

do such deeds of arms on horseback.  Alas, said Launcelot

to King Bagdemagus, I will arm me and help Sir

Lamorak.  And I will ride with you, said King Bagdemagus.

And when they two were horsed they came to

Sir Lamorak that stood among thirty knights; and well

was him that might reach him a buffet, and ever he smote

again mightily.  Then came there into the press Sir

Launcelot, and he threw down Sir Mador de la Porte.

And with the truncheon of that spear he threw down

many knights.  And King Bagdemagus smote on the left

hand and on the right hand marvellously well.  And then

the three kings fled aback.  Therewithal then Sir Galahalt

let blow to lodging, and all the heralds gave Sir Lamorak

the prize.  And all this while fought Palomides, Sir

Bleoberis, Sir Safere, Sir Ector on foot; never were there

four knights evener matched.  And then they were departed,

and had unto their lodging, and unarmed them,

and so they went to the great feast.

But when Sir Lamorak was come into the court Queen

Guenever took him in her arms and said:  Sir, well have

ye done this day.  Then came the haut prince, and he

made of him great joy, and so did Dinadan, for he wept

for joy; but the joy that Sir Launcelot made of Sir

Lamorak there might no man tell.  Then they went unto

rest, and on the morn the haut prince let blow unto the

field.

CHAPTER XLVI

Of the Fifth day, and how Sir Lamorak behaved him.

HERE beginneth the fifth day.  So it befell that Sir Palomides

came in the morntide, and proffered to joust thereas

King Arthur was in a castle there besides Surluse; and

there encountered with him a worshipful duke, and there

Sir Palomides smote him over his horse's croup.  And

this duke was uncle unto King Arthur.  Then Sir Elise's

son rode unto Palomides, and Palomides served Elise in

the same wise.  When Sir Uwaine saw this he was wroth.

Then he took his horse and encountered with Sir Palomides,

and Palomides smote him so hard that he went to

the earth, horse and man.  And for to make a short tale,

he smote down three brethren of Sir Gawaine, that is for

to say Mordred, Gaheris, and Agravaine.  O Jesu, said

Arthur, this is a great despite of a Saracen that he shall

smite down my blood.  And therewithal King Arthur

was wood wroth, and thought to have made him ready to

joust.

That espied Sir Lamorak, that Arthur and his blood

were discomfit; and anon he was ready, and asked Palomides

if he would any more joust.  Why should I not?

said Palomides.  Then they hurtled together, and brake

their spears, and all to-shivered them, that all the castle

rang of their dints.  Then either gat a greater spear in

his hand, and they came so fiercely together; but Sir

Palomides' spear all to-brast and Sir Lamorak's did hold.

Therewithal Sir Palomides lost his stirrups and lay

upright on his horse's back.  And then Sir Palomides

returned again and took his damosel, and Sir Safere returned

his way.

So, when he was departed, King Arthur came to Sir

Lamorak and thanked him of his goodness, and prayed

him to tell him his name.  Sir, said Lamorak, wit thou

well, I owe you my service, but as at this time I will not

abide here, for I see of mine enemies many about me.

Alas, said Arthur, now wot I well it is Sir Lamorak de

Galis.  O Lamorak, abide with me, and by my crown

I shall never fail thee: and not so hardy in Gawaine's

head, nor none of his brethren, to do thee any wrong.

Sir, said Sir Lamorak, wrong have they done me, and to

you both.  That is truth, said the king, for they slew

their own mother and my sister, the which me sore

grieveth: it had been much fairer and better that ye

had wedded her, for ye are a king's son as well as they.

O Jesu, said the noble knight Sir Lamorak unto Arthur,

her death shall I never forget.  I promise you, and make

mine avow unto God, I shall revenge her death as soon as

I see time convenable.  And if it were not at the reverence

of your highness I should now have been revenged

upon Sir Gawaine and his brethren.  Truly, said Arthur,

I will make you at accord.  Sir, said Lamorak, as at this

time I may not abide with you, for I must to the jousts,

where is Sir Launcelot, and the haut prince Sir Galahalt.

Then there was a damosel that was daughter to King

Bandes.  And there was a Saracen knight that hight

Corsabrin, and he loved the damosel, and in no wise he

would suffer her to be married; for ever this Corsabrin

noised her, and named her that she was out of her mind;

and thus he let her that she might not be married.

CHAPTER XLVII

How Sir Palomides fought with Corsabrin for a lady, and

how Palomides slew Corsabrin.

SO by fortune this damosel heard tell that Palomides did

much for damosels' sake; so she sent to him a pensel,

and prayed him to fight with Sir Corsabrin for her love,

and he should have her and her lands of her father's

that should fall to her.  Then the damosel sent unto

Corsabrin, and bade him go unto Sir Palomides that was

a paynim as well as he, and she gave him warning that

she had sent him her pensel, and if he might overcome

Palomides she would wed him.  When Corsabrin wist

of her deeds then was he wood wroth and angry, and

rode unto Surluse where the haut prince was, and there he

found Sir Palomides ready, the which had the pensel.

So there they waged battle either with other afore

Galahalt.  Well, said the haut prince, this day must

noble knights joust, and at-after dinner we shall see how

ye can speed.

Then they blew to jousts; and in came Dinadan,

and met with Sir Gerin, a good knight, and he threw

him down over his horse's croup; and Sir Dinadan overthrew

four knights more; and there he did great deeds

of arms, for he was a good knight, but he was a scoffer

and a japer, and the merriest knight among fellowship

that was that time living.  And he had such a custom

that he loved every good knight, and every good knight

loved him again.  So then when the haut prince saw

Dinadan do so well, he sent unto Sir Launcelot and bade

him strike down Sir Dinadan:  And when that ye have

done so bring him afore me and the noble Queen

Guenever.  Then Sir Launcelot did as he was required.

Then Sir Lamorak and he smote down many knights,

and raced off helms, and drove all the knights afore

them.  And so Sir Launcelot smote down Sir Dinadan,

and made his men to unarm him, and so brought him to

the queen and the haut prince, and they laughed at

Dinadan so sore that they might not stand.  Well, said

Sir Dinadan, yet have I no shame, for the old shrew, Sir

Launcelot, smote me down.  So they went to dinner, [and]

all the court had good sport at Dinadan.

Then when the dinner was done they blew to the

field to behold Sir Palomides and Corsabrin.  Sir Palomides

pight his pensel in midst of the field; and then they

hurtled together with their spears as it were thunder, and

either smote other to the earth.  And then they pulled

out their swords, and dressed their shields, and lashed

together mightily as mighty knights, that well-nigh there

was no piece of harness would hold them, for this Corsabrin

was a passing felonious knight.  Corsabrin, said

Palomides, wilt thou release me yonder damosel and the

pensel?  Then was Corsabrin wroth out of measure, and

gave Palomides such a buffet that he kneeled on his knee.

Then Palomides arose lightly, and smote him upon the

helm that he fell down right to the earth.  And therewith

he raced off his helm and said:  Corsabrin, yield thee

or else thou shalt die of my hands.  Fie on thee, said

Corsabrin, do thy worst.  Then he smote off his head.

And therewithal came a stink of his body when the soul

departed, that there might nobody abide the savour.  So

was the corpse had away and buried in a wood, because

he was a paynim.  Then they blew unto lodging, and

Palomides was unarmed.

Then he went unto Queen Guenever, to the haut

prince, and to Sir Launcelot.  Sir, said the haut prince,

here have ye seen this day a great miracle by Corsabrin,

what savour there was when the soul departed from the

body.  Therefore, sir, we will require you to take the

baptism upon you, and I promise you all knights will set

the more by you, and say more worship by you.  Sir,

said Palomides, I will that ye all know that into this land

I came to be christened, and in my heart I am christened

and christened will I be.  But I have made such an avow

that I may not be christened till I have done seven true

battles for Jesu's sake, and then will I be christened; and

I trust God will take mine intent, for I mean truly

Then Sir Palomides prayed Queen Guenever and the

haut prince to sup with him.  And so they did, both Sir

Launcelot and Sir Lamorak, and many other good knights.

So on the morn they heard their mass, and blew the field,

and then knights made them ready.

CHAPTER XLVIII

Of the sixth day, and what then was done.

HERE beginneth the sixth day.  Then came therein Sir

Gaheris, and there encountered with him Sir Ossaise of

Surluse, and Sir Gaheris smote him over his horse's croup.

And then either party encountered with other, and there

were many spears broken, and many knights cast under

feet.  So there came in Sir Dornard and Sir Aglovale,

that were brethren unto Sir Lamorak, and they met with

other two knights, and either smote other so hard that

all four knights and horses fell to the earth.  When Sir

Lamorak saw his two brethren down he was wroth out of

measure, and then he gat a great spear in his hand, and

therewithal he smote down four good knights, and then

his spear brake.  Then he pulled out his sword, and

smote about him on the right hand and on the left hand,

and raced off helms and pulled down knights, that all

men marvelled of such deeds of arms as he did, for he

fared so that many knights fled.  Then he horsed his

brethren again, and said:  Brethren, ye ought to be

ashamed to fall so off your horses! what is a knight

but when he is on horseback?  I set not by a knight

when he is on foot, for all battles on foot are but pillers'

battles.  For there should no knight fight on foot but

if it were for treason, or else he were driven thereto by

force; therefore, brethren, sit fast on your horses, or else

fight never more afore me.

With that came in the Duke Chaleins of Clarance,

and there encountered with him the Earl Ulbawes of

Surluse, and either of them smote other down.  Then

the knights of both parties horsed their lords again, for

Sir Ector and Bleoberis were on foot, waiting on the

Duke Chaleins.  And the King with the Hundred Knights

was with the Earl of Ulbawes.  With that came Gaheris

and lashed to the King with the Hundred Knights, and

he to him again.  Then came the Duke Chaleins and

departed them.

Then they blew to lodging, and the knights unarmed

them and drew them to their dinner; and at the midst

of their dinner in came Dinadan and began to rail.  Then

he beheld the haut prince, that seemed wroth with some

fault that he saw; for he had a custom he loved no fish,

and because he was served with fish, the which he hated,

therefore he was not merry.  When Sir Dinadan had

espied the haut prince, he espied where was a fish with a

great head, and that he gat betwixt two dishes, and

served the haut prince with that fish.  And then he said

thus:  Sir Galahalt, well may I liken you to a wolf, for

he will never eat fish, but flesh; then the haut prince

laughed at his words.  Well, well, said Dinadan to

Launcelot, what devil do ye in this country, for here may

no mean knights win no worship for thee.  Sir Dinadan,

said Launcelot, I ensure thee I shall no more meet with

thee nor with thy great spear, for I may not sit in my

saddle when that spear hitteth me.  And if I be happy I

shall beware of that boistous body that thou bearest.

Well, said Launcelot, make good watch ever:  God

forbid that ever we meet but if it be at a dish of meat.

Then laughed the queen and the haut prince, that they

might not sit at their table; thus they made great joy

till on the morn, and then they heard mass, and blew to

field.  And Queen Guenever and all the estates were set,

and judges armed clean with their shields to keep the

right.

CHAPTER XLIX

Of the seventh battle, and how Sir Launcelot, being disguised

like a maid, smote down Sir Dinadan.

NOW beginneth the seventh battle.  There came in the

Duke Cambines, and there encountered with him Sir

Aristance, that was counted a good knight, and they met

so hard that either bare other down, horse and man.  Then

came there the Earl of Lambaile and helped the duke again

to horse.  Then came there Sir Ossaise of Surluse, and he

smote the Earl Lambaile down from his horse.  Then

began they to do great deeds of arms, and many spears

were broken, and many knights were cast to the earth.

Then the King of Northgalis and the Earl Ulbawes

smote together that all the judges thought it was like

mortal death.  This meanwhile Queen Guenever, and the

haut prince, and Sir Launcelot, made there Sir Dinadan

make him ready to joust.  I would, said Dinadan, ride

into the field, but then one of you twain will meet with me.

Per dieu, said the haut prince, ye may see how we sit here

as judges with our shields, and always mayest thou behold

whether we sit here or not.

So Sir Dinadan departed and took his horse, and met

with many knights, and did passing well.  And as he was

departed, Sir Launcelot disguised himself, and put upon

his armour a maiden's garment freshly attired.  Then Sir

Launcelot made Sir Galihodin to lead him through the

range, and all men had wonder what damosel it was.  And

so as Sir Dinadan came into the range, Sir Launcelot, that

was in the damosel's array, gat Galihodin's spear, and ran

unto Sir Dinadan.  And always Sir Dinadan looked up

thereas Sir Launcelot was, and then he saw one sit in the

stead of Sir Launcelot, armed.  But when Dinadan saw a

manner of a damosel he dread perils that it was Sir Launcelot

disguised, but Sir Launcelot came on him so fast that

he smote him over his horse's croup; and then with great

scorns they gat Sir Dinadan into the forest there beside,

and there they dispoiled him unto his shirt, and put upon

him a woman's garment, and so brought him into the

field: and so they blew unto lodging.  And every knight

went and unarmed them.  Then was Sir Dinadan brought

in among them all.  And when Queen Guenever saw Sir

Dinadan brought so among them all, then she laughed

that she fell down, and so did all that there were.  Well,

said Dinadan to Launcelot, thou art so false that I can

never beware of thee.  Then by all the assent they gave

Sir Launcelot the prize, the next was Sir Lamorak de Galis,

the third was Sir Palomides, the fourth was King Bagdemagus;

so these four knights had the prize, and there was

great joy, and great nobley in all the court.

And on the morn Queen Guenever and Sir Launcelot

departed unto King Arthur, but in no wise Sir Lamorak

would not go with them.  I shall undertake, said Sir

Launcelot, that an ye will go with us King Arthur shall

charge Sir Gawaine and his brethren never to do you hurt.

As for that, said Sir Lamorak, I will not trust Sir Gawaine

nor none of his brethren; and wit ye well, Sir Launcelot,

an it were not for my lord King Arthur's sake, I should

match Sir Gawaine and his brethren well enough.  But to

say that I should trust them, that shall I never, and

therefore I pray you recommend me unto my lord Arthur, and

unto all my lords of the Round Table.  And in what place

that ever I come I shall do you service to my power: and

sir, it is but late that I revenged that, when my lord

Arthur's kin were put to the worse by Sir Palomides.

Then Sir Lamorak departed from Sir Launcelot, and either

wept at their departing.

CHAPTER L

How by treason Sir Tristram was brought to a tournament

for to have been slain, and how he was put in prison.

NOW turn we from this matter, and speak we of Sir Tristram,

of whom this book is principally of, and leave we

the king and the queen, Sir Launcelot, and Sir Lamorak, and

here beginneth the treason of King Mark, that he ordained

against Sir Tristram.  There was cried by the coasts of

Cornwall a great tournament and jousts, and all was done

by Sir Galahalt the haut prince and King Bagdemagus, to

the intent to slay Launcelot, or else utterly destroy him

and shame him, because Sir Launcelot had always the

higher degree, therefore this prince and this king made

this jousts against Sir Launcelot.  And thus their counsel

was discovered unto King Mark, whereof he was full

glad.

Then King Mark bethought him that he would have

Sir Tristram unto that tournament disguised that no man

should know him, to that intent that the haut prince

should ween that Sir Tristram were Sir Launcelot.  So

at these jousts came in Sir Tristram.  And at that time Sir

Launcelot was not there, but when they saw a knight

disguised do such deeds of arms, they weened it had been Sir

Launcelot.  And in especial King Mark said it was Sir

Launcelot plainly.  Then they set upon him, both King

Bagdemagus, and the haut prince, and their knights, that

it was wonder that ever Sir Tristram might endure that

pain.  Notwithstanding for all the pain that he had, Sir

Tristram won the degree at that tournament, and there

he hurt many knights and bruised them, and they hurt

him and bruised him wonderly sore.  So when the jousts

were all done they knew well that it was Sir Tristram de

Liones; and all that were on King Mark's party were glad

that Sir Tristram was hurt, and the remnant were sorry of

his hurt; for Sir Tristram was not so behated as was Sir

Launcelot within the realm of England.

Then came King Mark unto Sir Tristram and said:

Fair nephew, I am sorry of your hurts.  Gramercy my

lord, said Sir Tristram.  Then King Mark made Sir

Tristram to be put in an horse bier in great sign of love,

and said:  Fair cousin, I shall be your leech myself.  And

so he rode forth with Sir Tristram, and brought him to

a castle by daylight.  And then King Mark made Sir

Tristram to eat.  And then after he gave him a drink, the

which as soon as he had drunk he fell asleep.  And when

it was night he made him to be carried to another castle,

and there he put him in a strong prison, and there he

ordained a man and a woman to give him his meat and

drink.  So there he was a great while.

Then was Sir Tristram missed, and no creature wist

where he was become.  When La Beale Isoud heard how

he was missed, privily she went unto Sir Sadok, and prayed

him to espy where was Sir Tristram.  Then when Sadok

wist how Sir Tristram was missed, and anon espied that

he was put in prison by King Mark and the traitors of

Magouns, then Sadok and two of his cousins laid them in

an ambushment, fast by the Castle of Tintagil, in arms.

And as by fortune, there came riding King Mark and four

of his nephews, and a certain of the traitors of Magouns.

When Sir Sadok espied them he brake out of the bushment,

and set there upon them.  And when King Mark

espied Sir Sadok he fled as fast as he might, and there Sir

Sadok slew all the four nephews unto King Mark.  But

these traitors of Magouns slew one of Sadok's cousins with

a great wound in the neck, but Sadok smote the other to

the death.  Then Sir Sadok rode upon his way unto a

castle that was called Liones, and there he espied of the

treason and felony of King Mark.  So they of that castle

rode with Sir Sadok till that they came to a castle that

hight Arbray, and there in the town they found Sir Dinas

the Seneschal, that was a good knight.  But when Sir

Sadok had told Sir Dinas of all the treason of King Mark

he defied such a king, and said he would give up his lands

that he held of him.  And when he said these words all

manner knights said as Sir Dinas said.  Then by his advice

and of Sir Sadok's, he let stuff all the towns and castles

within the country of Liones, and assembled all the people

that they might make.

CHAPTER LI

How King Mark let do counterfeit letters from the Pope, and

how Sir Percivale delivered Sir Tristram out of prison.

NOW turn we unto King Mark, that when he was escaped

from Sir Sadok he rode unto the Castle of Tintagil, and

there he made great cry and noise, and cried unto harness

all that might bear arms.  Then they sought and found

where were dead four cousins of King Mark's, and the

traitor of Magouns.  Then the king let inter them in a

chapel.  Then the king let cry in all the country that held

of him, to go unto arms, for he understood to the war he

must needs.  When King Mark heard and understood

how Sir Sadok and Sir Dinas were arisen in the country of

Liones he remembered of wiles and treason.  Lo thus he

did: he let make and counterfeit letters from the Pope,

and did make a strange clerk to bear them unto King

Mark; the which letters specified that King Mark should

make him ready, upon pain of cursing, with his host to

come to the Pope, to help to go to Jerusalem, for to make

war upon the Saracens.

When this clerk was come by the mean of the king,

anon withal King Mark sent these letters unto Sir Tristram

and bade him say thus: that an he would go war upon

the miscreants, he should be had out of prison, and to

have all his power.  When Sir Tristram understood this

letter, then he said thus to the clerk:  Ah, King Mark,

ever hast thou been a traitor, and ever will be; but, Clerk,

said Sir Tristram, say thou thus unto King Mark:  Since

the Apostle Pope hath sent for him, bid him go thither

himself; for tell him, traitor king as he is, I will not go

at his commandment, get I out of prison as I may, for

I see I am well rewarded for my true service.  Then the

clerk returned unto King Mark, and told him of the

answer of Sir Tristram.  Well, said King Mark, yet shall

he be beguiled.  So he went into his chamber, and counterfeit

letters; and the letters specified that the Pope desired

Sir Tristram to come himself, to make war upon the

miscreants.  When the clerk was come again to Sir

Tristram and took him these letters, then Sir Tristram

beheld these letters, and anon espied they were of King

Mark's counterfeiting.  Ah, said Sir Tristram, false hast

thou been ever, King Mark, and so wilt thou end.  Then

the clerk departed from Sir Tristram and came to King

Mark again.

By then there were come four wounded knights within

the Castle of Tintagil, and one of them his neck was nigh

broken in twain.  Another had his arm stricken away, the

third was borne through with a spear, the fourth had his

teeth stricken in twain.  And when they came afore King

Mark they cried and said:  King, why fleest thou not, for

all this country is arisen clearly against thee? Then was

King Mark wroth out of measure.

And in the meanwhile there came into the country Sir

Percivale de Galis to seek Sir Tristram.  And when he

heard that Sir Tristram was in prison, Sir Percivale made

clearly the deliverance of Sir Tristram by his knightly

means.  And when he was so delivered he made great joy

of Sir Percivale, and so each one of other.  Sir Tristram

said unto Sir Percivale:  An ye will abide in these marches

I will ride with you.  Nay, said Percivale, in this country

I may not tarry, for I must needs into Wales.  So Sir

Percivale departed from Sir Tristram, and rode straight

unto King Mark, and told him how he had delivered Sir

Tristram; and also he told the king that he had done

himself great shame for to put Sir Tristram in prison, for

he is now the knight of most renown in this world living.

And wit thou well the noblest knights of the world love

Sir Tristram, and if he will make war upon you ye may

not abide it.  That is truth, said King Mark, but I may

not love Sir Tristram because he loveth my queen and my

wife, La Beale Isoud.  Ah, fie for shame, said Sir Percivale,

say ye never so more.  Are ye not uncle unto Sir

Tristram, and he your nephew?  Ye should never think

that so noble a knight as Sir Tristram is, that he would do

himself so great a villainy to hold his uncle's wife;

howbeit, said Sir Percivale, he may love your queen sinless,

because she is called one of the fairest ladies of the

world.

Then Sir Percivale departed from King Mark.  So

when he was departed King Mark bethought him of more

treason: notwithstanding King Mark granted Sir Percivale

never by no manner of means to hurt Sir Tristram.  So

anon King Mark sent unto Sir Dinas the Seneschal that he

should put down all the people that he had raised, for he

sent him an oath that he would go himself unto the Pope

of Rome to war upon the miscreants; and this is a fairer

war than thus to arise the people against your king.

When Sir Dinas understood that King Mark would go

upon the miscreants, then Sir Dinas in all the haste put

down all the people; and when the people were departed

every man to his home, then King Mark espied where

was Sir Tristram with La Beale Isoud; and there by

treason King Mark let take him and put him in prison,

contrary to his promise that he made unto Sir Percivale.

When Queen Isoud understood that Sir Tristram was

in prison she made as great sorrow as ever made lady or

gentlewoman.  Then Sir Tristram sent a letter unto La

Beale Isoud, and prayed her to be his good lady; and if it

pleased her to make a vessel ready for her and him, he

would go with her unto the realm of Logris, that is this

land.  When La Beale Isoud understood Sir Tristram's

letters and his intent, she sent him another, and bade him

be of good comfort, for she would do make the vessel

ready, and all thing to purpose.

Then La Beale Isoud sent unto Sir Dinas, and to

Sadok, and prayed them in anywise to take King Mark,

and put him in prison, unto the time that she and Sir

Tristram were departed unto the realm of Logris.  When

Sir Dinas the Seneschal understood the treason of King

Mark he promised her again, and sent her word that King

Mark should be put in prison.  And as they devised it so

it was done.  And then Sir Tristram was delivered out of

prison; and anon in all the haste Queen Isoud and Sir

Tristram went and took their counsel with that they would

have with them when they departed.

CHAPTER LII

How Sir Tristram and La Beale Isoud came unto England,

and how Sir Launcelot brought them to Joyous Gard.

THEN La Beale Isoud and Sir Tristram took their vessel,

and came by water into this land.  And so they were not

in this land four days but there came a cry of a jousts

and tournament that King Arthur let make.  When Sir

Tristram heard tell of that tournament he disguised himself,

and La Beale Isoud, and rode unto that tournament.

And when he came there he saw many knights joust and

tourney; and so Sir Tristram dressed him to the range,

and to make short conclusion, he overthrew fourteen

knights of the Round Table.  When Sir Launcelot saw

these knights thus overthrown, Sir Launcelot dressed him

to Sir Tristram.  That saw La Beale Isoud how Sir

Launcelot was come into the field.  Then La Beale Isoud

sent unto Sir Launcelot a ring, and bade him wit that it

was Sir Tristram de Liones.  When Sir Launcelot under

stood that there was Sir Tristram he was full glad, and

would not joust.  Then Sir Launcelot espied whither Sir

Tristram yede, and after him he rode; and then either

made of other great joy.  And so Sir Launcelot brought

Sir Tristram and La Beale Isoud unto Joyous Gard, that

was his own castle, that he had won with his own hands.

And there Sir Launcelot put them in to wield for their

own.  And wit ye well that castle was garnished and

furnished for a king and a queen royal there to have

sojourned.  And Sir Launcelot charged all his people to

honour them and love them as they would do himself.

So Sir Launcelot departed unto King Arthur; and

then he told Queen Guenever how he that jousted so well

at the last tournament was Sir Tristram.  And there he

told her how he had with him La Beale Isoud maugre

King Mark, and so Queen Guenever told all this unto

King Arthur.  When King Arthur wist that Sir Tristram

was escaped and come from King Mark, and had brought

La Beale Isoud with him, then was he passing glad.  So

because of Sir Tristram King Arthur let make a cry,

that on May Day should be a jousts before the castle of

Lonazep; and that castle was fast by Joyous Gard.  And

thus Arthur devised, that all the knights of this land, and

of Cornwall, and of North Wales, should joust against

all these countries, Ireland, Scotland, and the remnant

of Wales, and the country of Gore, and Surluse, and of

Listinoise, and they of Northumberland, and all they that

held lands of Arthur on this half the sea.  When this cry

was made many knights were glad and many were unglad.

Sir, said Launcelot unto Arthur, by this cry that ye have

made ye will put us that be about you in great jeopardy,

for there be many knights that have great envy to us;

therefore when we shall meet at the day of jousts there

will be hard shift among us.  As for that, said Arthur,

I care not; there shall we prove who shall be best of

his hands.  So when Sir Launcelot understood wherefore

King Arthur made this jousting, then he made such

purveyance that La Beale Isoud should behold the jousts

in a secret place that was honest for her estate.

Now turn we unto Sir Tristram and to La Beale Isoud,

how they made great joy daily together with all manner

of mirths that they could devise; and every day Sir

Tristram would go ride a-hunting, for Sir Tristram was

that time called the best chaser of the world, and the

noblest blower of an horn of all manner of measures; for

as books report, of Sir Tristram came all the good terms

of venery and hunting, and all the sizes and measures of

blowing of an horn; and of him we had first all the terms

of hawking, and which were beasts of chase and beasts of

venery, and which were vermins, and all the blasts that

long to all manner of games.  First to the uncoupling, to

the seeking, to the rechate, to the flight, to the death, and

to strake, and many other blasts and terms, that all manner

of gentlemen have cause to the world's end to praise Sir

Tristram, and to pray for his soul.

CHAPTER LIII

How by the counsel of La Beale Isoud Sir Tristram rode

armed, and how he met with Sir Palomides.

SO on a day La Beale Isoud said unto Sir Tristram:  I

marvel me much, said she, that ye remember not yourself,

how ye be here in a strange country, and here be many

perilous knights; and well ye wot that King Mark is full

of treason; and that ye will ride thus to chase and to hunt

unarmed ye might be destroyed.  My fair lady and my

love, I cry you mercy, I will no more do so.  So then Sir

Tristram rode daily a-hunting armed, and his men bearing

his shield and his spear.  So on a day a little afore the

month of May, Sir Tristram chased an hart passing

eagerly, and so the hart passed by a fair well.  And then

Sir Tristram alighted and put off his helm to drink of that

bubbly water.  Right so he heard and saw the Questing

Beast come to the well.  When Sir Tristram saw that

beast he put on his helm, for he deemed he should hear of

Sir Palomides, for that beast was his quest.  Right so Sir

Tristram saw where came a knight armed, upon a noble

courser, and he saluted him, and they spake of many

things; and this knight's name was Breuse Saunce Pit<e'>.

And right so withal there came unto them the noble

knight Sir Palomides, and either saluted other, and spake

fair to other.

Fair knights, said Sir Palomides, I can tell you tidings.

What is that? said those knights.  Sirs, wit ye well that

King Mark is put in prison by his own knights, and all

was for love of Sir Tristram; for King Mark had put Sir

Tristram twice in prison, and once Sir Percivale delivered

the noble knight Sir Tristram out of prison.  And at the

last time Queen La Beale Isoud delivered him, and went

clearly away with him into this realm; and all this while

King Mark, the false traitor, is in prison.  Is this truth?

said Palomides; then shall we hastily hear of Sir Tristram.

And as for to say that I love La Beale Isoud paramours,

I dare make good that I do, and that she hath my service

above all other ladies, and shall have the term of my life.

And right so as they stood talking they saw afore them

where came a knight all armed, on a great horse, and one

of his men bare his shield, and the other his spear.  And

anon as that knight espied them he gat his shield and his

spear and dressed him to joust.  Fair fellows, said Sir

Tristram, yonder is a knight will joust with us, let see

which of us shall encounter with him, for I see well he is

of the court of King Arthur.  It shall not be long or he

be met withal, said Sir Palomides, for I found never no

knight in my quest of this glasting beast, but an he would

joust I never refused him.  As well may I, said Breuse

Saunce Pit<e'>, follow that beast as ye.  Then shall ye do

battle with me, said Palomides.

So Sir Palomides dressed him unto that other knight,

Sir Bleoberis, that was a full noble knight, nigh kin unto

Sir Launcelot.  And so they met so hard that Sir Palomides

fell to the earth, horse and all.  Then Sir Bleoberis

cried aloud and said thus:  Make thee ready thou false

traitor knight, Breuse Saunce Pit<e'>, for wit thou certainly

I will have ado with thee to the utterance for the noble

knights and ladies that thou hast falsely betrayed.  When

this false knight and traitor, Breuse Saunce Pit<e'>, heard

him say so, he took his horse by the bridle and fled his

way as fast as ever his horse might run, for sore he was of

him afeard.  When Sir Bleoberis saw him flee he followed

fast after, through thick and through thin.  And by

fortune as Sir Breuse fled, he saw even afore him three

knights of the Table Round, of the which the one hight

Sir Ector de Maris, the other hight Sir Percivale de Galis,

the third hight Sir Harry le Fise Lake, a good knight and

an hardy.  And as for Sir Percivale, he was called that

time of his time one of the best knights of the world,

and the best assured.  When Breuse saw these knights he

rode straight unto them, and cried unto them and prayed

them of rescues.  What need have ye? said Sir Ector.

Ah, fair knights, said Sir Breuse, here followeth me the

most traitor knight, and most coward, and most of villainy;

his name is Breuse Saunce Pit<e'>, and if he may get me he

will slay me without mercy and pity.  Abide with us, said

Sir Percivale, and we shall warrant you.

Then were they ware of Sir Bleoberis that came riding

all that he might.  Then Sir Ector put himself forth to

joust afore them all.  When Sir Bleoberis saw that they

were four knights and he but himself, he stood in a doubt

whether he would turn or hold his way.  Then he said to

himself:  I am a knight of the Table Round, and rather

than I should shame mine oath and my blood I will hold

my way whatsoever fall thereof.  And then Sir Ector

dressed his spear, and smote either other passing sore, but

Sir Ector fell to the earth.  That saw Sir Percivale, and

he dressed his horse toward him all that he might drive,

but Sir Percivale had such a stroke that horse and man fell

to the earth.  When Sir Harry saw that they were both to

the earth then he said to himself:  Never was Breuse of

such prowess.  So Sir Harry dressed his horse, and they

met together so strongly that both the horses and knights

fell to the earth, but Sir Bleoberis' horse began to recover

again.  That saw Breuse and he came hurtling, and smote

him over and over, and would have slain him as he lay on

the ground.  Then Sir Harry le Fise Lake arose lightly,

and took the bridle of Sir Breuse's horse, and said:

Fie for shame! strike never a knight when he is at the

earth, for this knight may be called no shameful knight of

his deeds, for yet as men may see thereas he lieth on the

ground he hath done worshipfully, and put to the worse

passing good knights.  Therefore will I not let, said Sir

Breuse.  Thou shalt not choose, said Sir Harry, as at this

time.  Then when Sir Breuse saw that he might not choose

nor have his will he spake fair.  Then Sir Harry let him

go.  And then anon he made his horse to run over Sir

Bleoberis, and rashed him to the earth like if he would

have slain him.  When Sir Harry saw him do so villainously

he cried:  Traitor knight, leave off for shame.  And

as Sir Harry would have taken his horse to fight with Sir

Breuse, then Sir Breuse ran upon him as he was half upon

his horse, and smote him down, horse and man, to the

earth, and had near slain Sir Harry, the good knight.

That saw Sir Percivale, and then he cried:  Traitor knight

what dost thou?  And when Sir Percivale was upon his

horse Sir Breuse took his horse and fled all that ever he

might, and Sir Percivale and Sir Harry followed after him

fast, but ever the longer they chased the farther were they

behind.

Then they turned again and came to Sir Ector de Maris

and to Sir Bleoberis.  Ah, fair knights, said Bleoberis, why

have ye succoured that false knight and traitor?  Why

said Sir Harry, what knight is he? for well I wot it is a

false knight, said Sir Harry, and a coward and a felonious

knight.  Sir, said Bleoberis, he is the most coward knight,

and a devourer of ladies and a destroyer of good knights

and especially of Arthur's.  What is your name? said Sir

Ector.  My name is Sir Bleoberis de Ganis.  Alas, fair

cousin, said Ector, forgive it me, for I am Sir Ector de

Maris.  Then Sir Percivale and Sir Harry made great joy

that they met with Bleoberis, but all they were heavy that

Sir Breuse was escaped them, whereof they made great dole.

CHAPTER LIV

Of Sir Palomides, and how he met with Sir Bleoberis

and with Sir Ector, and of Sir Pervivale.

RIGHT so as they stood thus there came Sir Palomides, and

when he saw the shield of Bleoberis lie on the earth, then

said Palomides:  He that oweth that shield let him dress

him to me, for he smote me down here fast by at a fountain,

and therefore I will fight for him on foot.  I am ready,

said Bleoberis, here to answer thee, for wit thou well, sir

knight, it was I, and my name is Bleoberis de Ganis.

Well art thou met, said Palomides, and wit thou well my

name is Palomides the Saracen; and either of them hated

other to the death.  Sir Palomides, said Ector, wit thou

well there is neither thou nor none knight that beareth the

life that slayeth any of our blood but he shall die for it;

therefore an thou list to fight go seek Sir Launcelot or Sir

Tristram, and there shall ye find your match.  With them

have I met, said Palomides, but I had never no worship of

them.  Was there never no manner of knight, said Sir

Ector, but they that ever matched with you?  Yes, said

Palomides, there was the third, a good knight as any of

them, and of his age he was the best that ever I found;

for an he might have lived till he had been an hardier man

there liveth no knight now such, and his name was Sir

Lamorak de Galis.  And as he had jousted at a tournament

there he overthrew me and thirty knights more, and

there he won the degree.  And at his departing there met

him Sir Gawaine and his brethren, and with great pain they

slew him feloniously, unto all good knights' great damage.

Anon as Sir Percivale heard that his brother was dead, Sir

Lamorak, he fell over his horse's mane swooning, and there

he made the greatest dole that ever made knight.  And

when Sir Percivale arose he said:  Alas, my good and noble

brother Sir Lamorak, now shall we never meet, and I trow

in all the wide world a man may not find such a knight as

he was of his age; and it is too much to suffer the death

of our father King Pellinore, and now the death of our

good brother Sir Lamorak.

Then in the meanwhile there came a varlet from the

court of King Arthur, and told them of the great tournament

that should be at Lonazep, and how these lands,

Cornwall and Northgalis, should be against all them that

would come.

CHAPTER LV

How Sir Tristram met with Sir Dinadan, and of their

devices, and what he said to Sir Gawaine's brethren.

NOW turn we unto Sir Tristram, that as he rode a-hunting

he met with Sir Dinadan, that was come into that

country to seek Sir Tristram.  Then Sir Dinadan told Sir

Tristram his name, but Sir Tristram would not tell him

his name, wherefore Sir Dinadan was wroth.  For such a

foolish knight as ye are, said Sir Dinadan, I saw but late

this day lying by a well, and he fared as he slept; and

there he lay like a fool grinning, and would not speak,

and his shield lay by him, and his horse stood by him; and

well I wot he was a lover.  Ah, fair sir, said Sir Tristram

are ye not a lover?  Mary, fie on that craft! said Sir

Dinadan.  That is evil said, said Sir Tristram, for a knight

may never be of prowess but if he be a lover.  It is well

said, said Sir Dinadan; now tell me your name, sith ye be

a lover, or else I shall do battle with you.  As for that,

said Sir Tristram, it is no reason to fight with me but I

tell you my name; and as for that my name shall ye not

wit as at this time.  Fie for shame, said Dinadan, art thou

a knight and durst not tell thy name to me? therefore I

will fight with thee.  As for that, said Sir Tristram, I will

be advised, for I will not do battle but if me list.  And if

I do battle, said Sir Tristram, ye are not able to withstand

me.  Fie on thee, coward, said Sir Dinadan.

And thus as they hoved still, they saw a knight come

riding against them.  Lo, said Sir Tristram, see where

cometh a knight riding, will joust with you.  Anon, as

Sir Dinadan beheld him he said:  That is the same doted

knight that I saw lie by the well, neither sleeping nor

waking.  Well, said Sir Tristram, I know that knight well

with the covered shield of azure, he is the king's son

of Northumberland, his name is Epinegris; and he is as

great a lover as I know, and he loveth the king's daughter

of Wales, a full fair lady.  And now I suppose, said Sir

Tristram, an ye require him he will joust with you, and

then shall ye prove whether a lover be a better knight, or

ye that will not love no lady.  Well, said Dinadan, now

shalt thou see what I shall do.  Therewithal Sir Dinadan

spake on high and said:  Sir knight, make thee ready to

joust with me, for it is the custom of errant knights one

to joust with other.  Sir, said Epinegris, is that the rule of

you errant knights for to make a knight to joust, will he

or nill?  As for that, said Dinadan, make thee ready, for

here is for me.  And therewithal they spurred their horses

and met together so hard that Epinegris smote down Sir

Dinadan.  Then Sir Tristram rode to Sir Dinadan and

said:  How now, meseemeth the lover hath well sped.

Fie on thee, coward, said Sir Dinadan, and if thou be a

good knight revenge me.  Nay, said Sir Tristram, I will

not joust as at this time, but take your horse and let us

go hence.  God defend me, said Sir Dinadan, from thy

fellowship, for I never sped well since I met with thee:

and so they departed.  Well, said Sir Tristram, peradventure

I could tell you tidings of Sir Tristram.  God defend

me, said Dinadan, from thy fellowship, for Sir Tristram

were mickle the worse an he were in thy company; and

then they departed.  Sir, said Sir Tristram, yet it may

happen I shall meet with you in other places.

So rode Sir Tristram unto Joyous Gard, and there he

heard in that town great noise and cry.  What is this

noise? said Sir Tristram.  Sir, said they, here is a knight

of this castle that hath been long among us, and right now

he is slain with two knights, and for none other cause but

that our knight said that Sir Launcelot were a better

knight than Sir Gawaine.  That was a simple cause, said

Sir Tristram, for to slay a good knight for to say well

by his master.  That is little remedy to us, said the

men of the town.  For an Sir Launcelot had been here

soon we should have been revenged upon the false

knights.

When Sir Tristram heard them say so he sent for his

shield and for his spear, and lightly within a while he had

overtaken them, and bade them turn and amend that they

had misdone.  What amends wouldst thou have? said the

one knight.  And therewith they took their course, and

either met other so hard that Sir Tristram smote down

that knight over his horse's tail.  Then the other knight

dressed him to Sir Tristram, and in the same wise he

served the other knight.  And then they gat off their

horses as well as they might, and dressed their shields and

swords to do their battle to the utterance.  Knights, said

Sir Tristram, ye shall tell me of whence ye are, and what

be your names, for such men ye might be ye should hard

escape my hands; and ye might be such men of such a

country that for all your evil deeds ye should pass quit.

Wit thou well, sir knight, said they, we fear not to tell

thee our names, for my name is Sir Agravaine, and my

name is Gaheris, brethren unto the good knight Sir Gawaine,

and we be nephews unto King Arthur.  Well, said Sir

Tristram, for King Arthur's sake I shall let you pass as

at this time.  But it is shame, said Sir Tristram, that Sir

Gawaine and ye be come of so great a blood that ye four

brethren are so named as ye be, for ye be called the greatest

destroyers and murderers of good knights that be now in

this realm; for it is but as I heard say that Sir Gawaine

and ye slew among you a better knight than ever ye were,

that was the noble knight Sir Lamorak de Galis.  An it

had pleased God, said Sir Tristram, I would I had been by

Sir Lamorak at his death.  Then shouldst thou have gone

the same way, said Sir Gaheris.  Fair knight, said Sir

Tristram, there must have been many more knights than

ye are.  And therewithal Sir Tristram departed from them

toward Joyous Gard.  And when he was departed they

took their horses, and the one said to the other:  We will

overtake him and be revenged upon him in the despite

of Sir Lamorak.

CHAPTER LVI

How Sir Tristram smote down Sir Agravaine and Sir

Gaheris, and how Sir Dinadan was sent for by La Beale Isoud.

SO when they had overtaken Sir Tristram, Sir Agravaine

bade him:  Turn, traitor knight.  That is evil said, said

Sir Tristram; and therewith he pulled out his sword, and

smote Sir Agravaine such a buffet upon the helm that he

tumbled down off his horse in a swoon, and he had a

grievous wound.  And then he turned to Gaheris, and Sir

Tristram smote his sword and his helm together with such

a might that Gaheris fell out of his saddle: and so Sir

Tristram rode unto Joyous Gard, and there he alighted

and unarmed him.  So Sir Tristram told La Beale Isoud

of all his adventure, as ye have heard to-fore.  And when

she heard him tell of Sir Dinadan:  Sir, said she, is not that

he that made the song by King Mark?  That same is he,

said Sir Tristram, for he is the best bourder and japer, and

a noble knight of his hands, and the best fellow that I

know, and all good knights love his fellowship.  Alas, sir,

said she, why brought ye not him with you?  Have ye

no care, said Sir Tristram, for he rideth to seek me in this

country; and therefore he will not away till he have met

with me.  And there Sir Tristram told La Beale Isoud

how Sir Dinadan held against all lovers.  Right so there

came in a varlet and told Sir Tristram how there was come

an errant knight into the town, with such colours upon

his shield.  That is Sir Dinadan, said Sir Tristram; wit

ye what ye shall do, said Sir Tristram: send ye for him,

my Lady Isoud, and I will not be seen, and ye shall hear

the merriest knight that ever ye spake withal, and the

maddest talker; and I pray you heartily that ye make him

good cheer.

Then anon La Beale Isoud sent into the town, and

prayed Sir Dinadan that he would come into the castle and

repose him there with a lady.  With a good will, said Sir

Dinadan; and so he mounted upon his horse and rode

into the castle; and there he alighted, and was unarmed,

and brought into the castle.  Anon La Beale Isoud came

unto him, and either saluted other; then she asked him

of whence that he was.  Madam, said Dinadan, I am of

the court of King Arthur, and knight of the Table Round,

and my name is Sir Dinadan.  What do ye in this country?

said La Beale Isoud.  Madam, said he, I seek Sir Tristram

the good knight, for it was told me that he was in this

country.  It may well be, said La Beale Isoud, but I am

not ware of him.  Madam, said Dinadan, I marvel of

Sir Tristram and mo other lovers, what aileth them to

be so mad and so sotted upon women.  Why, said La

Beale Isoud, are ye a knight and be no lover? it is shame

to you: wherefore ye may not be called a good knight

[but] if ye make a quarrel for a lady.  God defend me, said

Dinadan, for the joy of love is too short, and the sorrow

thereof, and what cometh thereof, dureth over long.  Ah,

said La Beale Isoud, say ye not so, for here fast by was

the good knight Sir Bleoberis, that fought with three

knights at once for a damosel's sake, and he won her afore

the King of Northumberland.  It was so, said Sir Dinadan,

for I know him well for a good knight and a noble, and

come of noble blood; for all be noble knights of whom

he is come of, that is Sir Launcelot du Lake.

Now I pray you, said La Beale Isoud, tell me will you

fight for my love with three knights that do me great

wrong? and insomuch as ye be a knight of King Arthur's

I require you to do battle for me.  Then Sir Dinadan

said: I shall say you ye be as fair a lady as ever I saw

any, and much fairer than is my lady Queen Guenever,

but wit ye well at one word, I will not fight for you with

three knights, Jesu defend me.  Then Isoud laughed, and

had good game at him.  So he had all the cheer that she

might make him, and there he lay all that night.  And

on the morn early Sir Tristram armed him, and La Beale

Isoud gave him a good helm; and then he promised her

that he would meet with Sir Dinadan, and they two would

ride together into Lonazep, where the tournament should

be:  And there shall I make ready for you where ye shall

see the tournament.  Then departed Sir Tristram with

two squires that bare his shield and his spears that were

great and long.

CHAPTER LVII

How Sir Dinadan met with Sir Tristram, and with jousting

with Sir Palomides, Sir Dinadan knew him.

THEN after that Sir Dinadan departed, and rode his

way a great pace until he had overtaken Sir Tristram.

And when Sir Dinadan had overtaken him he knew him

anon, and he hated the fellowship of him above all other

knights.  Ah, said Sir Dinadan, art thou that coward

knight that I met with yesterday? keep thee, for thou

shalt joust with me maugre thy head.  Well, said Sir

Tristram, and I am loath to joust.  And so they let their

horses run, and Sir Tristram missed of him a-purpose,

and Sir Dinadan brake a spear upon Sir Tristram, and

therewith Sir Dinadan dressed him to draw out his sword.

Not so, said Sir Tristram, why are ye so wroth?  I will

not fight.  Fie on thee, coward, said Dinadan, thou

shamest all knights.  As for that, said Sir Tristram, I

care not, for I will wait upon you and be under your

protection; for because ye are so good a knight ye may

save me.  The devil deliver me of thee, said Sir Dinadan,

for thou art as goodly a man of arms and of thy person

as ever I saw, and the most coward that ever I saw.

What wilt thou do with those great spears that thou

carriest with thee?  I shall give them, said Sir Tristram,

to some good knight when I come to the tournament;

and if I see you do best, I shall give them to you.

So thus as they rode talking they saw where came an

errant knight afore them, that dressed him to joust.  Lo,

said Sir Tristram, yonder is one will joust; now dress

thee to him.  Ah, shame betide thee, said Sir Dinadan.

Nay, not so, said Tristram, for that knight beseemeth a

shrew.  Then shall I, said Sir Dinadan.  And so they

dressed their shields and their spears, and they met

together so hard that the other knight smote down Sir

Dinadan from his horse.  Lo, said Sir Tristram, it had

been better ye had left.  Fie on thee, coward, said Sir

Dinadan.  Then Sir Dinadan started up and gat his

sword in his hand, and proffered to do battle on foot.

Whether in love or in wrath? said the other knight.

Let us do battle in love, said Sir Dinadan.  What is your

name, said that knight, I pray you tell me.  Wit ye well

my name is Sir Dinadan.  Ah, Dinadan, said that knight,

and my name is Gareth, the youngest brother unto Sir

Gawaine.  Then either made of other great cheer, for

this Gareth was the best knight of all the brethren, and

he proved a good knight.  Then they took their horses,

and there they spake of Sir Tristram, how such a coward

he was; and every word Sir Tristram heard and laughed

them to scorn.

Then were they ware where came a knight afore them

well horsed and well armed, and he made him ready to

joust.  Fair knights, said Sir Tristram, look betwixt you

who shall joust with yonder knight, for I warn you I will

not have ado with him.  Then shall I, said Sir Gareth.

And so they encountered together, and there that knight

smote down Sir Gareth over his horse's croup.  How

now, said Sir Tristram unto Sir Dinadan, dress thee now

and revenge the good knight Gareth.  That shall I not,

said Sir Dinadan, for he hath stricken down a much

bigger knight than I am.  Ah, said Sir Tristram, now

Sir Dinadan, I see and feel well your heart faileth you,

therefore now shall ye see what I shall do.  And then Sir

Tristram hurtled unto that knight, and smote him quite

from his horse.  And when Sir Dinadan saw that, he

marvelled greatly; and then he deemed that it was Sir

Tristram.

Then this knight that was on foot pulled out his

sword to do battle.  What is your name? said Sir

Tristram.  Wit ye well, said that knight, my name is

Sir Palomides.  What knight hate ye most? said Sir

Tristram.  Sir knight, said he, I hate Sir Tristram to the

death, for an I may meet with him the one of us shall die.

Ye say well, said Sir Tristram, and wit ye well that I am

Sir Tristram de Liones, and now do your worst.  When

Sir Palomides heard him say so he was astonied.  And

then he said thus:  I pray you, Sir Tristram, forgive me

all mine evil will, and if I live I shall do you service

above all other knights that be living; and whereas I

have owed you evil will me sore repenteth.  I wot not

what aileth me, for meseemeth that ye are a good knight,

and none other knight that named himself a good knight

should not hate you; therefore I require you, Sir Tristram,

take no displeasure at mine unkind words.  Sir

Palomides, said Sir Tristram, ye say well, and well I wot

ye are a good knight, for I have seen ye proved; and

many great enterprises have ye taken upon you, and well

achieved them; therefore, said Sir Tristram, an ye have

any evil will to me, now may ye right it, for I am ready

at your hand.  Not so, my lord Sir Tristram, I will do

you knightly service in all thing as ye will command.

And right so I will take you, said Sir Tristram.  And so

they rode forth on their ways talking of many things.

O my lord Sir Tristram, said Dinadan, foul have ye

mocked me, for God knoweth I came into this country for

your sake, and by the advice of my lord Sir Launcelot;

and yet would not Sir Launcelot tell me the certainty

of you, where I should find you.  Truly, said Sir Tristram,

Sir Launcelot wist well where I was, for I abode within

his own castle.

CHAPTER LVIII

How they approached the Castle Lonazep, and of other

devices of the death of Sir Lamorak.

THUS they rode until they were ware of the Castle

Lonazep.  And then were they ware of four hundred

tents and pavilions, and marvellous great ordinance.  So

God me help, said Sir Tristram, yonder I see the greatest

ordinance that ever I saw.  Sir, said Palomides, meseemeth

that there was as great an ordinance at the Castle of

Maidens upon the rock, where ye won the prize, for I

saw myself where ye forjousted thirty knights.  Sir, said

Dinadan, and in Surluse, at that tournament that Galahalt

of the Long Isles made, the which there dured seven days,

was as great a gathering as is here, for there were many

nations.  Who was the best? said Sir Tristram.  Sir, it

was Sir Launcelot du Lake and the noble knight, Sir

Lamorak de Galis, and Sir Launcelot won the degree.  I

doubt not, said Sir Tristram, but he won the degree, so

he had not been overmatched with many knights; and of

the death of Sir Lamorak, said Sir Tristram, it was over

great pity, for I dare say he was the cleanest mighted man

and the best winded of his age that was alive; for I knew

him that he was the biggest knight that ever I met withal,

but if it were Sir Launcelot.  Alas, said Sir Tristram, full

woe is me for his death.  And if they were not the cousins

of my lord Arthur that slew him, they should die for it,

and all those that were consenting to his death.  And for

such things, said Sir Tristram, I fear to draw unto the

court of my lord Arthur; I will that ye wit it, said Sir

Tristram unto Gareth.

Sir, I blame you not, said Gareth, for well I understand

the vengeance of my brethren Sir Gawaine, Agravaine,

Gaheris, and Mordred.  But as for me, said Sir

Gareth, I meddle not of their matters, therefore there is

none of them that loveth me.  And for I understand they

be murderers of good knights I left their company; and

God would I had been by, said Gareth, when the noble

knight, Sir Lamorak, was slain.  Now as Jesu be my help,

said Sir Tristram, it is well said of you, for I had liefer

than all the gold betwixt this and Rome I had been there.

Y-wis,[1] said Palomides, and so would I had been there,

and yet had I never the degree at no jousts nor tournament

thereas he was, but he put me to the worse, or on

foot or on horseback; and that day that he was slain he

did the most deeds of arms that ever I saw knight do in

all my life days.  And when him was given the degree by

my lord Arthur, Sir Gawaine and his three brethren, Agravaine,

Gaheris, and Sir Mordred, set upon Sir Lamorak in

a privy place, and there they slew his horse.  And so they

fought with him on foot more than three hours, both

before him and behind him; and Sir Mordred gave him

his death wound behind him at his back, and all to-hew

him: for one of his squires told me that saw it.  Fie

upon treason, said Sir Tristram, for it killeth my heart to

hear this tale.  So it doth mine, said Gareth; brethren as

they be mine I shall never love them, nor draw in their

fellowship for that deed.

Now speak we of other deeds, said Palomides, and let

him be, for his life ye may not get again.  That is the

more pity, said Dinadan, for Sir Gawaine and his brethren,

except you Sir Gareth, hate all the good knights of the

Round Table for the most part; for well I wot an they

might privily, they hate my lord Sir Launcelot and all his

kin, and great privy despite they have at him; and that

is my lord Sir Launcelot well ware of, and that causeth

him to have the good knights of his kin about him.

[1] ``Y-wis'' (certainly); Caxton, ``ye wis''; W. de Worde, ``truly.''

CHAPTER LIX

How they came to Humber bank, and how they found a ship

there, wherein lay the body of King Hermance.

SIR, said Palomides, let us leave of this matter, and let us

see how we shall do at this tournament.  By mine advice,

said Palomides, let us four hold together against all that

will come.  Not by my counsel, said Sir Tristram, for I

see by their pavilions there will be four hundred knights,

and doubt ye not, said Sir Tristram, but there will be

many good knights; and be a man never so valiant nor

so big, yet he may be overmatched.  And so have I seen

knights done many times; and when they weened best to

have won worship they lost it, for manhood is not worth

but if it be medled with wisdom.  And as for me, said

Sir Tristram, it may happen I shall keep mine own head

as well as another.

So thus they rode until that they came to Humber

bank, where they heard a cry and a doleful noise.  Then

were they ware in the wind where came a rich vessel

hilled over with red silk, and the vessel landed fast by

them.  Therewith Sir Tristram alighted and his knights.

And so Sir Tristram went afore and entered into that

vessel.  And when he came within he saw a fair bed

richly covered, and thereupon lay a dead seemly knight,

all armed save the head, was all be-bled with deadly

wounds upon him, the which seemed to be a passing good

knight.  How may this be, said Sir Tristram, that this

knight is thus slain?  Then Sir Tristram was ware of a

letter in the dead knight's hand.  Master mariners, said

Sir Tristram, what meaneth that letter?  Sir, said they,

in that letter ye shall hear and know how he was slain,

and for what cause, and what was his name.  But sir,

said the mariners, wit ye well that no man shall take that

letter and read it but if he be a good knight, and that

he will faithfully promise to revenge his death, else shall

there be no knight see that letter open.  Wit ye well,

said Sir Tristram, that some of us may revenge his death

as well as other, and if it be so as ye mariners say his

death shall be revenged.  And therewith Sir Tristram

took the letter out of the knight's hand, and it said thus:

Hermance, king and lord of the Red City, I send unto

all knights errant, recommending unto you noble knights

of Arthur's court.  I beseech them all among them to

find one knight that will fight for my sake with two

brethren that I brought up of nought, and feloniously

and traitorly they have slain me; wherefore I beseech

one good knight to revenge my death.  And he that

revengeth my death I will that he have my Red City and

all my castles.

Sir, said the mariners, wit ye well this king and knight

that here lieth was a full worshipful man and of full

great prowess, and full well he loved all manner knights

errants.  So God me help, said Sir Tristram, here is a

piteous case, and full fain would I take this enterprise

upon me; but I have made such a promise that needs I

must be at this great tournament, or else I am shamed.

For well I wot for my sake in especial my lord Arthur let

make this jousts and tournament in this country; and

well I wot that many worshipful people will be there at

that tournament for to see me; therefore I fear me to

take this enterprise upon me that I shall not come again

by time to this jousts.  Sir, said Palomides, I pray you

give me this enterprise, and ye shall see me achieve it

worshipfully, other else I shall die in this quarrel.  Well,

said Sir Tristram, and this enterprise I give you, with

this, that ye be with me at this tournament that shall be

as this day seven night.  Sir, said Palomides, I promise

you that I shall be with you by that day if I be unslain

or unmaimed.

CHAPTER LX

How Sir Tristram with his fellowship came and were with

an host which after fought with Sir Tristram; and

other matters.

THEN departed Sir Tristram, Gareth, and Sir Dinadan,

and left Sir Palomides in the vessel; and so Sir Tristram

beheld the mariners how they sailed overlong Humber.

And when Sir Palomides was out of their sight they took

their horses and beheld about them.  And then were they

ware of a knight that came riding against them unarmed,

and nothing about him but a sword.  And when this

knight came nigh them he saluted them, and they him

again.  Fair knights, said that knight, I pray you insomuch

as ye be knights errant, that ye will come and see

my castle, and take such as ye find there; I pray you

heartily.  And so they rode with him until his castle, and

there they were brought into the hall, that was well

apparelled; and so they were there unarmed, and set at a

board; and when this knight saw Sir Tristram, anon he

knew him.  And then this knight waxed pale and wroth

at Sir Tristram.  When Sir Tristram saw his host make

such cheer he marvelled and said:  Sir, mine host, what

cheer make you?  Wit thou well, said he, I fare the

worse for thee, for I know thee, Sir Tristram de Liones,

thou slewest my brother; and therefore I give thee

summons I will slay thee an ever I may get thee at

large.  Sir knight, said Sir Tristram, I am never advised

that ever I slew any brother of yours; and if ye say that

I did I will make amends unto my power.  I will none

amends, said the knight, but keep thee from me.

So when he had dined Sir Tristram asked his arms,

and departed.  And so they rode on their ways, and

within a while Sir Dinadan saw where came a knight well

armed and well horsed, without shield.  Sir Tristram,

said Sir Dinadan, take keep to yourself, for I dare undertake

yonder cometh your host that will have ado with

you.  Let him come, said Sir Tristram, I shall abide

him as well as I may.  Anon the knight, when he came

nigh Sir Tristram, he cried and bade him abide and keep

him.  So they hurtled together, but Sir Tristram smote

the other knight so sore that he bare him over his horse's

croup.  That knight arose lightly and took his horse

again, and so rode fiercely to Sir Tristram, and smote him

twice hard upon the helm.  Sir knight, said Sir Tristram,

I pray you leave off and smite me no more, for I would

be loath to deal with you an I might choose, for I have

your meat and your drink within my body.  For all that

he would not leave; and then Sir Tristram gave him

such a buffet upon the helm that he fell up-so-down from

his horse, that the blood brast out at the ventails of his

helm, and so he lay still likely to be dead.  Then Sir

Tristram said:  Me repenteth of this buffet that I smote

so sore, for as I suppose he is dead.  And so they left

him and rode on their ways.

So they had not ridden but a while, but they saw

riding against them two full likely knights, well armed

and well horsed, and goodly servants about them.  The

one was Berrant le Apres, and he was called the King

with the Hundred Knights; and the other was Sir

Segwarides, which were renowned two noble knights.  So

as they came either by other the king looked upon Sir

Dinadan, that at that time he had Sir Tristram's helm

upon his shoulder, the which helm the king had seen

to-fore with the Queen of Northgalis, and that queen the

king loved as paramour; and that helm the Queen of

Northgalis had given to La Beale Isoud, and the queen

La Beale Isoud gave it to Sir Tristram.  Sir knight, said

Berrant, where had ye that helm?  What would ye? said

Sir Dinadan.  For I will have ado with thee, said the

king, for the love of her that owed that helm, and

therefore keep you.  So they departed and came together with

all their mights of their horses, and there the King with

the Hundred Knights smote Sir Dinadan, horse and all,

to the earth; and then he commanded his servant:  Go

and take thou his helm off, and keep it.  So the varlet

went to unbuckle his helm.  What helm, what wilt thou

do? said Sir Tristram, leave that helm.  To what intent,

said the king, will ye, sir knight, meddle with that helm?

Wit you well, said Sir Tristram, that helm shall not depart

from me or it be dearer bought.  Then make you ready,

said Sir Berrant unto Sir Tristram.  So they hurtled

together, and there Sir Tristram smote him down over his

horse's tail; and then the king arose lightly, and gat his

horse lightly again.  And then he struck fiercely at Sir

Tristram many great strokes.  And then Sir Tristram

gave Sir Berrant such a buffet upon the helm that he fell

down over his horse sore stonied.  Lo, said Dinadan, that

helm is unhappy to us twain, for I had a fall for it, and

now, sir king, have ye another fall.

Then Segwarides asked:  Who shall joust with me?

I pray thee, said Sir Gareth unto Dinadan, let me have

this jousts.  Sir, said Dinadan, I pray you take it as for me.

That is no reason, said Tristram, for this jousts should

be yours.  At a word, said Dinadan, I will not thereof.

Then Gareth dressed him to Sir Segwarides, and there Sir

Segwarides smote Gareth and his horse to the earth.

Now, said Sir Tristram to Dinadan, joust with yonder

knight.  I will not thereof, said Dinadan.  Then will I,

said Sir Tristram.  And then Sir Tristram ran to him,

and gave him a fall; and so they left them on foot, and

Sir Tristram rode unto Joyous Gard, and there Sir Gareth

would not of his courtesy have gone into this castle, but

Sir Tristram would not suffer him to depart.  And so

they alighted and unarmed them, and had great cheer.

But when Dinadan came afore La Beale Isoud he cursed

the time that ever he bare Sir Tristram's helm, and there

he told her how Sir Tristram had mocked him.  Then

was there laughing and japing at Sir Dinadan, that they

wist not what to do with him.

CHAPTER LXI

How Palomides went for to fight with two brethren for the

death of King Hermance.

NOW will we leave them merry within Joyous Gard, and

speak we of Sir Palomides.  Then Sir Palomides sailed

evenlong Humber to the coasts of the sea, where was a

fair castle.  And at that time it was early in the morning,

afore day.  Then the mariners went unto Sir Palomides

that slept fast.  Sir knight, said the mariners, ye must

arise, for here is a castle there ye must go into.  I assent

me, said Sir Palomides; and therewithal he arrived.  And

then he blew his horn that the mariners had given him.

And when they within the castle heard that horn they put

forth many knights; and there they stood upon the walls,

and said with one voice:  Welcome be ye to this castle.

And then it waxed clear day, and Sir Palomides entered

into the castle.  And within a while he was served with

many divers meats.  Then Sir Palomides heard about him

much weeping and great dole.  What may this mean?

said Sir Palomides; I love not to hear such a sorrow, and

fain I would know what it meaneth.  Then there came

afore him one whose name was Sir Ebel, that said thus:

Wit ye well, sir knight, this dole and sorrow is here made

every day, and for this cause: we had a king that hight

Hermance, and he was King of the Red City, and this

king that was lord was a noble knight, large and liberal of

his expense; and in the world he loved nothing so much

as he did errant knights of King Arthur's court, and all

jousting, hunting, and all manner of knightly games; for

so kind a king and knight had never the rule of poor

people as he was; and because of his goodness and gentle

ness we bemoan him, and ever shall.  And all kings and

estates may beware by our lord, for he was destroyed in

his own default; for had he cherished them of his blood

he had yet lived with great riches and rest: but all estates

may beware by our king.  But alas, said Ebel, that we

shall give all other warning by his death.

Tell me, said Palomides, and in what manner was

your lord slain, and by whom.  Sir, said Sir Ebel, our

king brought up of children two men that now are

perilous knights; and these two knights our king had so

in charity, that he loved no man nor trusted no man of

his blood, nor none other that was about him.  And by

these two knights our king was governed, and so they

ruled him peaceably and his lands, and never would they

suffer none of his blood to have no rule with our king.

And also he was so free and so gentle, and they so false

and deceivable, that they ruled him peaceably; and that

espied the lords of our king's blood, and departed from

him unto their own livelihood.  Then when these two

traitors understood that they had driven all the lords of

his blood from him, they were not pleased with that rule,

but then they thought to have more, as ever it is an old

saw:  Give a churl rule and thereby he will not be

sufficed; for whatsomever he be that is ruled by a villain

born, and the lord of the soil to be a gentleman born, the

same villain shall destroy all the gentlemen about him:

therefore all estates and lords, beware whom ye take about

you.  And if ye be a knight of King Arthur's court remember

this tale, for this is the end and conclusion.  My

lord and king rode unto the forest hereby by the advice

of these traitors, and there he chased at the red deer,

armed at all pieces full like a good knight; and so for

labour he waxed dry, and then he alighted, and drank at

a well.  And when he was alighted, by the assent of these

two traitors, that one that hight Helius he suddenly smote

our king through the body with a spear, and so they

left him there.  And when they were departed, then by

fortune I came to the well, and found my lord and king

wounded to the death.  And when I heard his complaint,

I let bring him to the water side, and in that same ship I

put him alive; and when my lord King Hermance was in

that vessel, he required me for the true faith I owed unto

him for to write a letter in this manner.

CHAPTER LXII

The copy of the letter written for to revenge the king's death,

and how Sir Palomides fought for to have the battle.

RECOMMENDING unto King Arthur and to all his knights

errant, beseeching them all that insomuch as I, King

Hermance, King of the Red City, thus am slain by felony

and treason, through two knights of mine own, and of

mine own bringing up and of mine own making, that

some worshipful knight will revenge my death, insomuch

I have been ever to my power well willing unto Arthur's

court.  And who that will adventure his life with these

two traitors for my sake in one battle, I, King Hermance,

King of the Red City, freely give him all my lands and

rents that ever I wielded in my life.  This letter, said

Ebel, I wrote by my lord's commandment, and then he

received his Creator; and when he was dead, he commanded

me or ever he were cold to put that letter fast

in his hand.  And then he commanded me to put forth

that same vessel down Humber, and I should give these

mariners in commandment never to stint until that they

came unto Logris, where all the noble knights shall

assemble at this time.  And there shall some good knight

have pity on me to revenge my death, for there was

never king nor lord falslier nor traitorlier slain than I

am here to my death.  Thus was the complaint of our

King Hermance.  Now, said Sir Ebel, ye know all how

our lord was betrayed, we require you for God's sake

have pity upon his death, and worshipfully revenge his

death, and then may ye wield all these lands.  For we all

wit well that an ye may slay these two traitors, the Red

City and all those that be therein will take you for their

lord.

Truly, said Sir Palomides, it grieveth my heart for to

hear you tell this doleful tale; and to say the truth I saw

the same letter that ye speak of, and one of the best

knights on the earth read that letter to me, and by his

commandment I came hither to revenge your king's death;

and therefore have done, and let me wit where I shall find

those traitors, for I shall never be at ease in my heart till

I be in hands with them.  Sir, said Sir Ebel, then take

your ship again, and that ship must bring you unto the

Delectable Isle, fast by the Red City, and we in this castle

shall pray for you, and abide your again-coming.  For

this same castle, an ye speed well, must needs be yours;

for our King Hermance let make this castle for the love

of the two traitors, and so we kept it with strong hand,

and therefore full sore are we threated.  Wot ye what ye

shall do, said Sir Palomides; whatsomever come of me,

look ye keep well this castle.  For an it misfortune me

so to be slain in this quest I am sure there will come one

of the best knights of the world for to revenge my death,

and that is Sir Tristram de Liones, or else Sir Launcelot

du Lake.

Then Sir Palomides departed from that castle.  And

as he came nigh the city, there came out of a ship a

goodly knight armed against him, with his shield on his

shoulder, and his hand upon his sword.  And anon as he

came nigh Sir Palomides he said:  Sir knight, what seek

ye here? leave this quest for it is mine, and mine it was

or ever it was yours, and therefore I will have it.  Sir

knight, said Palomides, it may well be that this quest was

yours or it was mine, but when the letter was taken out

of the dead king's hand, at that time by likelihood there

was no knight had undertaken to revenge the death of

the king.  And so at that time I promised to revenge his

death, and so I shall or else I am ashamed.  Ye say well,

said the knight, but wit ye well then will I fight with you,

and who be the better knight of us both, let him take the

battle upon hand.  I assent me, said Sir Palomides.  And

then they dressed their shields, and pulled out their

swords, and lashed together many sad strokes as men of

might; and this fighting was more than an hour, but at

the last Sir Palomides waxed big and better winded, so

that then he smote that knight such a stroke that he made

him to kneel upon his knees.  Then that knight spake on

high and said:  Gentle knight, hold thy hand.  Sir Palomides

was goodly and withdrew his hand.  Then this

knight said:  Wit ye well, knight, that thou art better

worthy to have this battle than I, and require thee of

knighthood tell me thy name.  Sir, my name is Palomides,

a knight of King Arthur's, and of the Table

Round, that hither I came to revenge the death of this

dead king.

CHAPTER LXIII

Of the preparation of Sir Palomides and the two brethren

that should fight with him.

WELL be ye found, said the knight to Palomides, for

of all knights that be alive, except three, I had liefest

have you.  The first is Sir Launcelot du Lake, and

Sir Tristram de Liones, the third is my nigh cousin,

Sir Lamorak de Galis.  And I am brother unto King

Hermance that is dead, and my name is Sir Hermind.

Ye say well, said Sir Palomides, and ye shall see how I

shall speed; and if I be there slain go ye to my lord Sir

Launcelot, or else to my lord Sir Tristram, and pray them

to revenge my death, for as for Sir Lamorak him shall ye

never see in this world.  Alas, said Sir Hermind, how

may that be?  He is slain, said Sir Palomides, by Sir

Gawaine and his brethren.  So God me help, said Hermind,

there was not one for one that slew him.  That is

truth, said Sir Palomides, for they were four dangerous

knights that slew him, as Sir Gawaine, Sir Agravaine, Sir

Gaheris, and Sir Mordred, but Sir Gareth, the fifth

brother was away, the best knight of them all.  And so

Sir Palomides told Hermind all the manner, and how they

slew Sir Lamorak all only by treason.

So Sir Palomides took his ship, and arrived up at the

Delectable Isle.  And in the meanwhile Sir Hermind that

was the king's brother, he arrived up at the Red City, and

there he told them how there was come a knight of King

Arthur's to avenge King Hermance's death:  And his

name is Sir Palomides, the good knight, that for the

most part he followeth the beast Glatisant.  Then all the

city made great joy, for mickle had they heard of Sir

Palomides, and of his noble prowess.  So let they ordain

a messenger, and sent unto the two brethren, and bade

them to make them ready, for there was a knight come

that would fight with them both.  So the messenger went

unto them where they were at a castle there beside; and

there he told them how there was a knight come of King

Arthur's court to fight with them both at once.  He is

welcome, said they; but tell us, we pray you, if it be Sir

Launcelot or any of his blood?  He is none of that blood,

said the messenger.  Then we care the less, said the two

brethren, for with none of the blood of Sir Launcelot we

keep not to have ado withal.  Wit ye well, said the

messenger, that his name is Sir Palomides, that yet is

unchristened, a noble knight.  Well, said they, an he be

now unchristened he shall never be christened.  So they

appointed to be at the city within two days.

And when Sir Palomides was come to the city they

made passing great joy of him, and then they beheld him,

and saw that he was well made, cleanly and bigly, and

unmaimed of his limbs, and neither too young nor too old.

And so all the people praised him; and though he was

not christened yet he believed in the best manner, and was

full faithful and true of his promise, and well conditioned;

and because he made his avow that he would never be

christened unto the time that he had achieved the beast

Glatisant, the which was a full wonderful beast, and a

great signification; for Merlin prophesied much of that

beast.  And also Sir Palomides avowed never to take full

christendom unto the time that he had done seven battles

within the lists.

So within the third day there came to the city these

two brethren, the one hight Helius, the other hight

Helake, the which were men of great prowess; howbeit

that they were false and full of treason, and but poor men

born, yet were they noble knights of their hands.  And

with them they brought forty knights, to that intent that

they should be big enough for the Red City.  Thus came

the two brethren with great bobaunce and pride, for they

had put the Red City in fear and damage.  Then they

were brought to the lists, and Sir Palomides came into the

place and said thus:  Be ye the two brethren, Helius and

Helake, that slew your king and lord, Sir Hermance, by

felony and treason, for whom that I am come hither to

revenge his death?  Wit thou well, said Sir Helius and

Sir Helake, that we are the same knights that slew King

Hermance; and wit thou well, Sir Palomides Saracen, that

we shall handle thee so or thou depart that thou shalt

wish that thou wert christened.  It may well be, said Sir

Palomides, for yet I would not die or I were christened;

and yet so am I not afeard of you both, but I trust to God

that I shall die a better christian man than any of you

both; and doubt ye not, said Sir Palomides, either ye or I

shall be left dead in this place.

CHAPTER LXIV

Of the battle between Sir Palomides and the two brethren,

and how the two brethren were slain.

THEN they departed, and the two brethren came against

Sir Palomides, and he against them, as fast as their horses

might run.  And by fortune Sir Palomides smote Helake

through his shield and through the breast more than a

fathom.  All this while Sir Helius held up his spear, and

for pride and orgulit<e'> he would not smite Sir Palomides

with his spear; but when he saw his brother lie on the

earth, and saw he might not help himself, then he said

unto Sir Palomides:  Help thyself.  And therewith he

came hurtling unto Sir Palomides with his spear, and

smote him quite from his saddle.  Then Sir Helius rode

over Sir Palomides twice or thrice.  And therewith Sir

Palomides was ashamed, and gat the horse of Sir Helius

by the bridle, and therewithal the horse areared, and Sir

Palomides halp after, and so they fell both to the earth;

but anon Sir Helius stert up lightly, and there he smote

Sir Palomides a great stroke upon the helm, that he

kneeled upon his own knee.  Then they lashed together

many sad strokes, and traced and traversed now backward,

now sideling, hurtling together like two boars, and that

same time they fell both grovelling to the earth.

Thus they fought still without any reposing two hours,

and never breathed; and then Sir Palomides waxed faint

and weary, and Sir Helius waxed passing strong, and

doubled his strokes, and drove Sir Palomides overthwart

and endlong all the field, that they of the city when they

saw Sir Palomides in this case they wept and cried, and

made great dole, and the other party made as great joy.

Alas, said the men of the city, that this noble knight

should thus be slain for our king's sake.  And as they

were thus weeping and crying, Sir Palomides that had

suffered an hundred strokes, that it was wonder that he

stood on his feet, at the last Sir Palomides beheld as he

might the common people, how they wept for him; and

then he said to himself:  Ah, fie for shame, Sir Palomides,

why hangest thou thy head so low; and therewith he bare

up his shield, and looked Sir Helius in the visage, and he

smote him a great stroke upon the helm, and after that

another and another.  And then he smote Sir Helius with

such a might that he fell to the earth grovelling; and

then he raced off his helm from his head, and there he

smote him such a buffet that he departed his head from

the body.  And then were the people of the city the

joyfullest people that might be.  So they brought him to

his lodging with great solemnity, and there all the people

became his men.  And then Sir Palomides prayed them

all to take keep unto all the lordship of King Hermance:

For, fair sirs, wit ye well I may not as at this time abide

with you, for I must in all haste be with my lord King

Arthur at the Castle of Lonazep, the which I have

promised.  Then was the people full heavy at his

departing, for all that city proffered Sir Palomides the

third part of their goods so that he would abide with

them; but in no wise as at that time he would not

abide.

And so Sir Palomides departed, and so he came unto

the castle thereas Sir Ebel was lieutenant.  And when they

in the castle wist how Sir Palomides had sped, there was a

joyful meiny; and so Sir Palomides departed, and came

to the castle of Lonazep.  And when he wist that Sir

Tristram was not there he took his way over Humber,

and came unto Joyous Gard, whereas Sir Tristram was

and La Beale Isoud.  Sir Tristram had commanded that

what knight errant came within the Joyous Gard, as in

the town, that they should warn Sir Tristram.  So there

came a man of the town, and told Sir Tristram how there

was a knight in the town, a passing goodly man.  What

manner of man is he, said Sir Tristram, and what sign

beareth he?  So the man told Sir Tristram all the tokens

of him.  That is Palomides, said Dinadan.  It may well

be, said Sir Tristram.  Go ye to him, said Sir Tristram

unto Dinadan.  So Dinadan went unto Sir Palomides,

and there either made other great joy, and so they lay

together that night.  And on the morn early came Sir

Tristram and Sir Gareth, and took them in their beds, and

so they arose and brake their fast.

CHAPTER LXV

How Sir Tristram and Sir Palomides met Breuse Saunce

Pit<e'>, and how Sir Tristram and La Beale Isoud went

unto Lonazep.

AND then Sir Tristram desired Sir Palomides to ride into

the fields and woods.  So they were accorded to repose

them in the forest.  And when they had played them a

great while they rode unto a fair well; and anon they

were ware of an armed knight that came riding against

them, and there either saluted other.  Then this armed

knight spake to Sir Tristram, and asked what were these

knights that were lodged in Joyous Gard.  I wot not

what they are, said Sir Tristram.  What knights be ye?

said that knight, for meseemeth ye be no knights errant,

because ye ride unarmed.  Whether we be knights or not

we list not to tell thee our name.  Wilt thou not tell me

thy name? said that knight; then keep thee, for thou

shalt die of my hands.  And therewith he got his spear

in his hands, and would have run Sir Tristram through.

That saw Sir Palomides, and smote his horse traverse in

midst of the side, that man and horse fell to the earth.

And therewith Sir Palomides alighted and pulled out his

sword to have slain him.  Let be, said Sir Tristram, slay

him not, the knight is but a fool, it were shame to slay

him.  But take away his spear, said Sir Tristram, and let

him take his horse and go where that he will.

So when this knight arose he groaned sore of the fall,

and so he took his horse, and when he was up he turned

then his horse, and required Sir Tristram and Sir Palomides

to tell him what knights they were.  Now wit ye well,

said Sir Tristram, that my name is Sir Tristram de Liones,

and this knight's name is Sir Palomides.  When he wist

what they were he took his horse with the spurs, because

they should not ask him his name, and so rode fast away

through thick and thin.  Then came there by them a

knight with a bended shield of azure, whose name was

Epinogris, and he came toward them a great wallop.

Whither are ye riding? said Sir Tristram.  My fair lords,

said Epinogris, I follow the falsest knight that beareth

the life; wherefore I require you tell me whether ye saw

him, for he beareth a shield with a case of red over it.  So

God me help, said Tristram, such a knight departed from

us not a quarter of an hour agone; we pray you tell us

his name.  Alas, said Epinogris, why let ye him escape

from you? and he is so great a foe unto all errant

knights: his name is Breuse Saunce Pit<e'>.  Ah, fie for

shame, said Sir Palomides, alas that ever he escaped mine

hands, for he is the man in the world that I hate most.

Then every knight made great sorrow to other; and so

Epinogris departed and followed the chase after him.

Then Sir Tristram and his three fellows rode unto

Joyous Gard; and there Sir Tristram talked unto Sir

Palomides of his battle, how he sped at the Red City, and

as ye have heard afore so was it ended.  Truly, said Sir

Tristram, I am glad ye have well sped, for ye have done

worshipfully.  Well, said Sir Tristram, we must forward

to-morn.  And then he devised how it should be; and

Sir Tristram devised to send his two pavilions to set

them fast by the well of Lonazep, and therein shall be

the queen La Beale Isoud.  It is well said, said Sir

Dinadan, but when Sir Palomides heard of that his heart

was ravished out of measure: notwithstanding he said

but little.  So when they came to Joyous Gard Sir

Palomides would not have gone into the castle, but as

Sir Tristram took him by the finger, and led him into

the castle.  And when Sir Palomides saw La Beale Isoud

he was ravished so that he might unnethe speak.  So they

went unto meat, but Palomides might not eat, and there

was all the cheer that might be had.  And on the morn

they were apparelled to ride toward Lonazep.

So Sir Tristram had three squires, and La Beale Isoud

had three gentlewomen, and both the queen and they

were richly apparelled; and other people had they none

with them, but varlets to bear their shields and their

spears.  And thus they rode forth.  So as they rode they

saw afore them a rout of knights; it was the knight

Galihodin with twenty knights with him.  Fair fellows,

said Galihodin, yonder come four knights, and a rich and

a well fair lady: I am in will to take that lady from

them.  That is not of the best counsel, said one of

Galihodin's men, but send ye to them and wit what they

will say; and so it was done.  There came a squire unto

Sir Tristram, and asked them whether they would joust

or else to lose their lady.  Not so, said Sir Tristram,

tell your lord I bid him come as many as we be, and

win her and take her.  Sir, said Palomides, an it please

you let me have this deed, and I shall undertake them

all four.  I will that ye have it, said Sir Tristram, at

your pleasure.  Now go and tell your lord Galihodin,

that this same knight will encounter with him and his

fellows.

CHAPTER LXVI

How Sir Palomides jousted with Sir Galihodin, and after

with Sir Gawaine, and smote them down.

THEN this squire departed and told Galihodin; and then

he dressed his shield, and put forth a spear, and Sir

Palomides another; and there Sir Palomides smote

Galihodin so hard that he smote both horse and man to

the earth.  And there he had an horrible fall.  And then

came there another knight, and in the same wise he

served him; and so he served the third and the fourth,

that he smote them over their horses' croups, and always

Sir Palomides' spear was whole.  Then came six knights

more of Galihodin's men, and would have been avenged

upon Sir Palomides.  Let be, said Sir Galihodin, not so

hardy, none of you all meddle with this knight, for he

is a man of great bount<e'> and honour, and if he would ye

were not able to meddle with him.  And right so they

held them still.  And ever Sir Palomides was ready to

joust; and when he saw they would no more he rode

unto Sir Tristram.  Right well have ye done, said Sir

Tristram, and worshipfully have ye done as a good

knight should.  This Galihodin was nigh cousin unto

Galahalt, the haut prince; and this Galihodin was a king

within the country of Surluse.

So as Sir Tristram, Sir Palomides, and La Beale Isoud

rode together they saw afore them four knights, and every

man had his spear in his hand: the first was Sir Gawaine,

the second Sir Uwaine, the third Sir Sagramore le Desirous,

and the fourth was Dodinas le Savage.  When Sir Palomides

beheld them, that the four knights were ready to

joust, he prayed Sir Tristram to give him leave to have

ado with them all so long as he might hold him on horseback.

And if that I be smitten down I pray you revenge

me.  Well, said Sir Tristram, I will as ye will, and ye are

not so fain to have worship but I would as fain increase

your worship.  And therewithal Sir Gawaine put forth

his spear, and Sir Palomides another; and so they came

so eagerly together that Sir Palomides smote Sir Gawaine

to the earth, horse and all; and in the same wise he served

Uwaine, Sir Dodinas, and Sagramore.  All these four

knights Sir Palomides smote down with divers spears

And then Sir Tristram departed toward Lonazep.

And when they were departed then came thither

Galihodin with his ten knights unto Sir Gawaine, and

there he told him all how he had sped.  I marvel, said

Sir Gawaine, what knights they be, that are so arrayed

in green.  And that knight upon the white horse smote

me down, said Galihodin, and my three fellows.  And so

he did to me, said Gawaine; and well I wot, said Sir

Gawaine, that either he upon the white horse is Sir Tristram

or else Sir Palomides, and that gay beseen lady is Queen

Isoud.  Thus they talked of one thing and of other.

And in the meanwhile Sir Tristram passed on till that

he came to the well where his two pavilions were set; and

there they alighted, and there they saw many pavilions

and great array.  Then Sir Tristram left there Sir Palomides

and Sir Gareth with La Beale Isoud, and Sir

Tristram and Sir Dinadan rode to Lonazep to hearken

tidings; and Sir Tristram rode upon Sir Palomides' white

horse.  And when he came into the castle Sir Dinadan

heard a great horn blow, and to the horn drew many

knights.  Then Sir Tristram asked a knight:  What

meaneth the blast of that horn?  Sir, said that knight,

it is all those that shall hold against King Arthur at this

tournament.  The first is the King of Ireland, and the

King of Surluse, the King of Listinoise, the King of

Northumberland, and the King of the best part of Wales,

with many other countries.  And these draw them to a

council, to understand what governance they shall be of;

but the King of Ireland, whose name was Marhalt, and

father to the good knight Sir Marhaus that Sir Tristram

slew, had all the speech that Sir Tristram might hear it.

He said:  Lords and fellows, let us look to ourself, for

wit ye well King Arthur is sure of many good knights,

or else he would not with so few knights have ado

with us; therefore by my counsel let every king have a

standard and a cognisance by himself, that every knight

draw to their natural lord, and then may every king and

captain help his knights if they have need.  When Sir

Tristram had heard all their counsel he rode unto King

Arthur for to hear of his counsel.

CHAPTER LXVII

How Sir Tristram and his fellowship came into the tournament

of Lonazep; and of divers jousts and matters.

BUT Sir Tristram was not so soon come into the place,

but Sir Gawaine and Sir Galihodin went to King Arthur,

and told him:  That same green knight in the green

harness with the white horse smote us two down, and six

of our fellows this same day.  Well, said Arthur.  And

then he called Sir Tristram and asked him what was his

name.  Sir, said Sir Tristram, ye shall hold me excused as

at this time, for ye shall not wit my name.  And there

Sir Tristram returned and rode his way.  I have marvel,

said Arthur, that yonder knight will not tell me his name,

but go thou, Griflet le Fise de Dieu, and pray him to

speak with me betwixt us.  Then Sir Griflet rode after

him and overtook him, and said him that King Arthur

prayed him for to speak with him secretly apart.  Upon

this covenant, said Sir Tristram, I will speak with him;

that I will turn again so that ye will ensure me not to

desire to hear my name.  I shall undertake, said Sir

Griflet, that he will not greatly desire it of you.  So they

rode together until they came to King Arthur.  Fair sir,

said King Arthur, what is the cause ye will not tell me

your name?  Sir, said Sir Tristram, without a cause I will

not hide my name.  Upon what party will ye hold? said

King Arthur.  Truly, my lord, said Sir Tristram, I wot

not yet on what party I will be on, until I come to the

field, and there as my heart giveth me, there will I hold;

but to-morrow ye shall see and prove on what party I

shall come.  And therewithal he returned and went to

his pavilions.

And upon the morn they armed them all in green, and

came into the field; and there young knights began to

joust, and did many worshipful deeds.  Then spake

Gareth unto Sir Tristram, and prayed him to give him

leave to break his spear, for him thought shame to bear

his spear whole again.  When Sir Tristram heard him say

so he laughed, and said:  I pray you do your best.  Then

Sir Gareth gat a spear and proffered to joust.  That saw

a knight that was nephew unto the King of the Hundred

Knights; his name was Selises, and a good man of arms.

So this knight Selises then dressed him unto Sir Gareth,

and they two met together so hard that either smote other

down, his horse and all, to the earth, so they were both

bruised and hurt; and there they lay till the King with the

Hundred Knights halp Selises up, and Sir Tristram and

Sir Palomides halp up Gareth again.  And so they rode

with Sir Gareth unto their pavilions, and then they pulled

off his helm.

And when La Beale Isoud saw Sir Gareth bruised in

the face she asked him what ailed him.  Madam, said Sir

Gareth, I had a great buffet, and as I suppose I gave

another, but none of my fellows, God thank them, would

not rescue me.  Forsooth, said Palomides, it longed not

to none of us as this day to joust, for there have not this

day jousted no proved knights, and needly ye would joust.

And when the other party saw ye proffered yourself to

joust they sent one to you, a passing good knight of his

age, for I know him well, his name is Selises; and

worshipfully ye met with him, and neither of you are

dishonoured, and therefore refresh yourself that ye may be

ready and whole to joust to-morrow.  As for that, said

Gareth, I shall not fail you an I may bestride mine horse.

CHAPTER LXVIII

How Sir Tristram and his fellowship jousted, and of the

noble feats that they did in that tourneying.

NOW upon what party, said Tristram, is it best we be

withal as to-morn?  Sir, said Palomides, ye shall have

mine advice to be against King Arthur as to-morn, for on

his party will be Sir Launcelot and many good knights of

his blood with him.  And the more men of worship that

they be, the more worship we shall win.  That is full

knightly spoken, said Sir Tristram; and right so as ye

counsel me, so will we do.  In the name of God, said they

all.  So that night they were lodged with the best.  And

on the morn when it was day they were arrayed all in

green trappings, shields and spears, and La Beale Isoud in

the same colour, and her three damosels.  And right so

these four knights came into the field endlong and through.

And so they led La Beale Isoud thither as she should stand

and behold all the jousts in a bay window; but always she

was wimpled that no man might see her visage.  And then

these three knights rode straight unto the party of the

King of Scots.

When King Arthur had seen them do all this he asked

Sir Launcelot what were these knights and that queen.

Sir, said Launcelot, I cannot say you in certain, but if Sir

Tristram be in this country, or Sir Palomides, wit ye well

it be they m certain, and La Beale Isoud.  Then Arthur

called to him Sir Kay and said:  Go lightly and wit how

many knights there be here lacking of the Table Round,

for by the sieges thou mayst know.  So went Sir Kay

and saw by the writings in the sieges that there lacked ten

knights.  And these be their names that be not here.  Sir

Tristram, Sir Palomides, Sir Percivale, Sir Gaheris, Sir

Epinogris, Sir Mordred, Sir Dinadan, Sir La Cote Male

Taile, and Sir Pelleas the noble knight.  Well, said Arthur,

some of these I dare undertake are here this day against us.

Then came therein two brethren, cousins unto Sir

Gawaine, the one hight Sir Edward, that other hight Sir

Sadok, the which were two good knights; and they asked

of King Arthur that they might have the first jousts, for

they were of Orkney.  I am pleased, said King Arthur.

Then Sir Edward encountered with the King of Scots, in

whose party was Sir Tristram and Sir Palomides; and Sir

Edward smote the King of Scots quite from his horse, and

Sir Sadok smote down the King of North Wales, and gave

him a wonder great fall, that there was a great cry on King

Arthur's party, and that made Sir Palomides passing wroth.

And so Sir Palomides dressed his shield and his spear, and

with all his might he met with Sir Edward of Orkney,

that he smote him so hard that his horse might not stand

on his feet, and so they hurtled to the earth; and then

with the same spear Sir Palomides smote down Sir Sadok

over his horse's croup.  O Jesu, said Arthur, what knight

is that arrayed all in green? he jousteth mightily.  Wit

you well, said Sir Gawaine, he is a good knight, and yet

shall ye see him joust better or he depart.  And yet shall

ye see, said Sir Gawaine, another bigger knight, in the

same colour, than he is; for that same knight, said Sir

Gawaine, that smote down right now my four cousins, he

smote me down within these two days, and seven fellows

more.

This meanwhile as they stood thus talking there came

into the place Sir Tristram upon a black horse, and or

ever he stint he smote down with one spear four good

knights of Orkney that were of the kin of Sir Gawaine;

and Sir Gareth and Sir Dinadan everych of them smote

down a good knight.  Jesu, said Arthur, yonder knight

upon the black horse doth mightily and marvellously well.

Abide you, said Sir Gawaine; that knight with the black

horse began not yet.  Then Sir Tristram made to horse

again the two kings that Edward and Sadok had unhorsed

at the beginning.  And then Sir Tristram drew his sword

and rode into the thickest of the press against them of

Orkney; and there he smote down knights, and rashed off

helms, and pulled away their shields, and hurtled down

many knights: he fared so that Sir Arthur and all knights

had great marvel when they saw one knight do so great

deeds of arms.  And Sir Palomides failed not upon the

other side, but did so marvellously well that all men had

wonder.  For there King Arthur likened Sir Tristram that

was on the black horse like to a wood lion, and likened

Sir Palomides upon the white horse unto a wood leopard,

and Sir Gareth and Sir Dinadan unto eager wolves.  But

the custom was such among them that none of the kings

would help other, but all the fellowship of every standard

to help other as they might; but ever Sir Tristram did so

much deeds of arms that they of Orkney waxed weary of

him, and so withdrew them unto Lonazep

CHAPTER LXIX

How Sir Tristram was unhorsed and smitten down by Sir

Launcelot, and after that Sir Tristram smote down

King Arthur.

THEN was the cry of heralds and all manner of common

people:  The Green Knight hath done marvellously, and

beaten all them of Orkney.  And there the heralds

numbered that Sir Tristram that sat upon the black horse

had smitten down with spears and swords thirty knights;

and Sir Palomides had smitten down twenty knights, and

the most part of these fifty knights were of the house of

King Arthur, and proved knights.  So God me help, said

Arthur unto Sir Launcelot, this is a great shame to us

to see four knights beat so many knights of mine; and

therefore make you ready, for we will have ado with them.

Sir, said Launcelot, wit ye well that there are two passing

good knights, and great worship were it not to us now to

have ado with them, for they have this day sore travailed.

As for that, said Arthur, I will be avenged; and therefore

take with you Sir Bleoberis and Sir Ector, and I will be

the fourth, said Arthur.  Sir, said Launcelot, ye shall find

me ready, and my brother Sir Ector, and my cousin Sir

Bleoberis.  And so when they were ready and on horseback:

Now choose, said Sir Arthur unto Sir Launcelot,

with whom that ye will encounter withal.  Sir, said

Launcelot, I will meet with the green knight upon the

black horse, that was Sir Tristram; and my cousin Sir

Bleoberis shall match the green knight upon the white

horse, that was Sir Palomides; and my brother Sir Ector

shall match with the green knight upon the white horse,

that was Sir Gareth.  Then must I, said Sir Arthur, have

ado with the green knight upon the grisled horse, and that

was Sir Dinadan.  Now every man take heed to his fellow,

said Sir Launcelot.  And so they trotted on together, and

there encountered Sir Launcelot against Sir Tristram.  So

Sir Launcelot smote Sir Tristram so sore upon the shield

that he bare horse and man to the earth; but Sir Launcelot

weened that it had been Sir Palomides, and so he passed

forth.  And then Sir Bleoberis encountered with Sir

Palomides, and he smote him so hard upon the shield that

Sir Palomides and his white horse rustled to the earth.

Then Sir Ector de Maris smote Sir Gareth so hard that

down he fell off his horse.  And the noble King Arthur

encountered with Sir Dinadan, and he smote him quite

from his saddle.  And then the noise turned awhile how

the green knights were slain down.

When the King of Northgalis saw that Sir Tristram

had a fall, then he remembered him how great deeds of

arms Sir Tristram had done.  Then he made ready many

knights, for the custom and cry was such, that what

knight were smitten down, and might not be horsed

again by his fellows, outher by his own strength, that as

that day he should be prisoner unto the party that had

smitten him down.  So came in the King of Northgalis,

and he rode straight unto Sir Tristram; and when he

came nigh him he alighted down suddenly and betook

Sir Tristram his horse, and said thus:  Noble knight, I

know thee not of what country that thou art, but for the

noble deeds that thou hast done this day take there my

horse, and let me do as well I may; for, as Jesu me

help, thou art better worthy to have mine horse than I

myself.  Gramercy, said Sir Tristram, and if I may I

shall quite you: look that ye go not far from us, and as

I suppose, I shall win you another horse.  And therewith

Sir Tristram mounted upon his horse, and there he met

with King Arthur, and he gave him such a buffet upon

the helm with his sword that King Arthur had no power

to keep his saddle.  And then Sir Tristram gave the

King of Northgalis King Arthur's horse: then was there

great press about King Arthur for to horse him again;

but Sir Palomides would not suffer King Arthur to be

horsed again, but ever Sir Palomides smote on the right

hand and on the left hand mightily as a noble knight.

And this meanwhile Sir Tristram rode through the

thickest of the press, and smote down knights on the

right hand and on the left hand, and raced off helms, and

so passed forth unto his pavilions, and left Sir Palomides

on foot; and Sir Tristram changed his horse and disguised

himself all in red, horse and harness.

CHAPTER LXX

How Sir Tristram changed his harness and it was all red,

and how he demeaned him, and how Sir Palomides

slew Launcelot's horse.

AND when the queen La Beale Isoud saw that Sir

Tristram was unhorsed, and she wist not where he was,

then she wept greatly.  But Sir Tristram, when he was

ready, came dashing lightly into the field, and then La

Beale Isoud espied him.  And so he did great deeds of

arms; with one spear, that was great, Sir Tristram smote

down five knights or ever he stint.  Then Sir Launcelot

espied him readily, that it was Sir Tristram, and then he

repented him that he had smitten him down; and so

Sir Launcelot went out of the press to repose him and

lightly he came again.  And now when Sir Tristram

came into the press, through his great force he put Sir

Palomides upon his horse, and Sir Gareth, and Sir

Dinadan, and then they began to do marvellously; but

Sir Palomides nor none of his two fellows knew not who

had holpen them on horseback again.  But ever Sir

Tristram was nigh them and succoured them, and they

[knew] not him, because he was changed into red armour:

and all this while Sir Launcelot was away.

So when La Beale Isoud knew Sir Tristram again

upon his horse-back she was passing glad, and then she

laughed and made good cheer.  And as it happened, Sir

Palomides looked up toward her where she lay in the

window, and he espied how she laughed; and therewith

he took such a rejoicing that he smote down, what with

his spear and with his sword, all that ever he met;

for through the sight of her he was so enamoured in

her love that he seemed at that time, that an both Sir

Tristram and Sir Launcelot had been both against him

they should have won no worship of him; and in his

heart, as the book saith, Sir Palomides wished that with

his worship he might have ado with Sir Tristram before

all men, because of La Beale Isoud.  Then Sir Palomides

began to double his strength, and he did so marvellously

that all men had wonder of him, and ever he cast up

his eye unto La Beale Isoud.  And when he saw her

make such cheer he fared like a lion, that there might

no man withstand him; and then Sir Tristram beheld

him, how that Sir Palomides bestirred him; and then he

said unto Sir Dinadan:  So God me help, Sir Palomides

is a passing good knight and a well enduring, but such

deeds saw I him never do, nor never heard I tell that

ever he did so much in one day.  It is his day, said

Dinadan; and he would say no more unto Sir Tristram;

but to himself he said:  An if ye knew for whose love

he doth all those deeds of arms, soon would Sir Tristram

abate his courage.  Alas, said Sir Tristram, that Sir

Palomides is not christened.  So said King Arthur, and

so said all those that beheld him.  Then all people gave

him the prize, as for the best knight that day, that he

passed Sir Launcelot outher Sir Tristram.  Well, said

Dinadan to himself, all this worship that Sir Palomides

hath here this day he may thank the Queen Isoud, for

had she been away this day Sir Palomides had not gotten

the prize this day.

Right so came into the field Sir Launcelot du Lake,

and saw and heard the noise and cry and the great

worship that Sir Palomides had.  He dressed him against

Sir Palomides, with a great mighty spear and a long, and

thought to smite him down.  And when Sir Palomides

saw Sir Launcelot come upon him so fast, he ran upon

Sir Launcelot as fast with his sword as he might; and

as Sir Launcelot should have stricken him he smote his

spear aside, and smote it a-two with his sword.  And

Sir Palomides rushed unto Sir Launcelot, and thought

to have put him to a shame; and with his sword he

smote his horse's neck that Sir Launcelot rode upon, and

then Sir Launcelot fell to the earth.  Then was the cry

huge and great:  See how Sir Palomides the Saracen hath

smitten down Sir Launcelot's horse.  Right then were

there many knights wroth with Sir Palomides because he

had done that deed; therefore many knights held there

against that it was unknightly done in a tournament to

kill an horse wilfully, but that it had been done in plain

battle, life for life.

CHAPTER LXXI

How Sir Launcelot said to Sir Palomides, and how the

prize of that day was given unto Sir Palomides.

WHEN Sir Ector de Maris saw Sir Launcelot his brother

have such a despite, and so set on foot, then he gat a

spear eagerly, and ran against Sir Palomides, and he smote

him so hard that he bare him quite from his horse.  That

saw Sir Tristram, that was in red harness, and he smote

down Sir Ector de Maris quite from his horse.  Then

Sir Launcelot dressed his shield upon his shoulder, and

with his sword naked in his hand, and so came straight

upon Sir Palomides fiercely and said:  Wit thou well

thou hast done me this day the greatest despite that ever

any worshipful knight did to me in tournament or in

jousts, and therefore I will be avenged upon thee, therefore

take keep to yourself.  Ah, mercy, noble knight,

said Palomides, and forgive me mine unkindly deeds,

for I have no power nor might to withstand you, and I

have done so much this day that well I wot I did never

so much, nor never shall in my life-days; and therefore,

most noble knight, I require thee spare me as at this

day, and I promise you I shall ever be your knight while

I live: an ye put me from my worship now, ye put me

from the greatest worship that ever I had or ever shall

have in my life-days.  Well, said Sir Launcelot, I see,

for to say thee sooth, ye have done marvellously well

this day; and I understand a part for whose love ye do

it, and well I wot that love is a great mistress.  And if

my lady were here as she nis not, wit you well, said Sir

Launcelot, ye should not bear away the worship.  But

beware your love be not discovered, for an Sir Tristram

may know it ye will repent it; and sithen my quarrel

is not here, ye shall have this day the worship as for me;

considering the great travail and pain that ye have had

this day, it were no worship for me to put you from it.

And therewithal Sir Launcelot suffered Sir Palomides to

depart.

Then Sir Launcelot by great force and might gat

his own horse maugre twenty knights.  So when Sir

Launcelot was horsed he did many marvels, and so did

Sir Tristram, and Sir Palomides in like wise.  Then Sir

Launcelot smote down with a spear Sir Dinadan, and the

King of Scotland, and the King of Wales, and the King

of Northumberland, and the King of Listinoise.  So then

Sir Launcelot and his fellows smote down well a forty

knights.  Then came the King of Ireland and the King

of the Straight Marches to rescue Sir Tristram and Sir

Palomides.  There began a great medley, and many

knights were smitten down on both parties; and always Sir

Launcelot spared Sir Tristram, and he spared him.  And

Sir Palomides would not meddle with Sir Launcelot, and

so there was hurtling here and there.  And then King

Arthur sent out many knights of the Table Round; and

Sir Palomides was ever in the foremost front, and Sir

Tristram did so strongly well that the king and all other

had marvel.  And then the king let blow to lodging;

and because Sir Palomides began first, and never he went

nor rode out of the field to repose, but ever he was

doing marvellously well either on foot or on horseback,

and longest during, King Arthur and all the kings gave

Sir Palomides the honour and the gree as for that day.

Then Sir Tristram commanded Sir Dinadan to fetch

the queen La Beale Isoud, and bring her to his two

pavilions that stood by the well.  And so Dinadan did as

he was commanded.  But when Sir Palomides understood

and wist that Sir Tristram was in the red armour, and on

a red horse, wit ye well that he was glad, and so was Sir

Gareth and Sir Dinadan, for they all weened that Sir

Tristram had been taken prisoner.  And then every

knight drew to his inn.  And then King Arthur and every

knight spake of those knights; but above all men they

gave Sir Palomides the prize, and all knights that knew

Sir Palomides had wonder of his deeds.  Sir, said Sir

Launcelot unto Arthur, as for Sir Palomides an he be the

green knight I dare say as for this day he is best worthy

to have the degree, for he reposed him never, nor never

changed his weeds, and he began first and longest held on.

And yet, well I wot, said Sir Launcelot, that there was a

better knight than he, and that shall be proved or we

depart, upon pain of my life.  Thus they talked on either

party; and so Sir Dinadan railed with Sir Tristram and

said:  What the devil is upon thee this day? for Sir

Palomides' strength feebled never this day, but ever he

doubled his strength.

CHAPTER LXXII

How Sir Dinadan provoked Sir Tristram to do well.

AND thou, Sir Tristram, farest all this day as though thou

hadst been asleep, and therefore I call thee coward.  Well,

Dinadan, said Sir Tristram, I was never called coward or

now of no earthly knight in my life; and wit thou well,

sir, I call myself never the more coward though Sir

Launcelot gave me a fall, for I outcept him of all knights.

And doubt ye not Sir Dinadan, an Sir Launcelot have a

quarrel good, he is too over good for any knight that now

is living; and yet of his sufferance, largess, bounty, and

courtesy, I call him knight peerless: and so Sir Tristram

was in manner wroth with Sir Dinadan.  But all this

language Sir Dinadan said because he would anger Sir

Tristram, for to cause him to awake his spirits and to be

wroth; for well knew Sir Dinadan that an Sir Tristram

were thoroughly wroth Sir Palomides should not get the

prize upon the morn.  And for this intent Sir Dinadan

said all this railing and language against Sir Tristram.

Truly, said Sir Palomides, as for Sir Launcelot, of his

noble knighthood, courtesy, and prowess, and gentleness,

I know not his peer; for this day, said Sir Palomides, I

did full uncourteously unto Sir Launcelot, and full unknightly,

and full knightly and courteously he did to me

again; for an he had been as ungentle to me as I was to

him, this day I had won no worship.  And therefore, said

Palomides, I shall be Sir Launcelot's knight while my life

lasteth.  This talking was in the houses of kings.  But all

kings, lords, and knights, said, of clear knighthood, and

of pure strength, of bounty, of courtesy, Sir Launcelot

and Sir Tristram bare the prize above all knights that ever

were in Arthur's days.  And there were never knights in

Arthur's days did half so many deeds as they did; as the

book saith, no ten knights did not half the deeds that they

did, and there was never knight in their days that required

Sir Launcelot or Sir Tristram of any quest, so it were not

to their shame, but they performed their desire.

CHAPTER LXXIII

How King Arthur and Sir Lancelot came to see La Beale

Isoud, and how Palomides smote down King Arthur.

SO on the morn Sir Launcelot departed, and Sir Tristram

was ready, and La Beale Isoud with Sir Palomides and Sir

Gareth.  And so they rode all in green full freshly beseen

unto the forest.  And Sir Tristram left Sir Dinadan

sleeping in his bed.  And so as they rode it happed the

king and Launcelot stood in a window, and saw Sir

Tristram ride and Isoud.  Sir, said Launcelot, yonder

rideth the fairest lady of the world except your queen,

Dame Guenever.  Who is that? said Sir Arthur.  Sir,

said he, it is Queen Isoud that, out-taken my lady your

queen, she is makeless.  Take your horse, said Arthur,

and array you at all rights as I will do, and I promise you,

said the king, I will see her.  Then anon they were armed

and horsed, and either took a spear and rode unto the

forest.  Sir, said Launcelot, it is not good that ye go too

nigh them, for wit ye well there are two as good knights

as now are living, and therefore, sir, I pray you be not

too hasty.  For peradventure there will be some knights

be displeased an we come suddenly upon them.  As for

that, said Arthur, I will see her, for I take no force whom

I grieve.  Sir, said Launcelot, ye put yourself in great

jeopardy.  As for that, said the king, we will take the

adventure.  Right so anon the king rode even to her,

and saluted her, and said: God you save.  Sir, said she,

ye are welcome.  Then the king beheld her, and liked her

wonderly well.

With that came Sir Palomides unto Arthur, and said:

Uncourteous knight, what seekest thou here? thou art

uncourteous to come upon a lady thus suddenly, therefore

withdraw thee.  Sir Arthur took none heed of Sir Palomides'

words, but ever he looked still upon Queen Isoud

Then was Sir Palomides wroth, and therewith he took a

spear, and came hurtling upon King Arthur, and smote

him down with a spear.  When Sir Launcelot saw that

despite of Sir Palomides, he said to himself:  I am loath

to have ado with yonder knight, and not for his own sake

but for Sir Tristram.  And one thing I am sure of, if I

smite down Sir Palomides I must have ado with Sir Tristram,

and that were overmuch for me to match them both,

for they are two noble knights; notwithstanding, whether

I live or I die, needs must I revenge my lord, and so will

I, whatsomever befall of me.  And therewith Sir Launcelot

cried to Sir Palomides:  Keep thee from me.  And then

Sir Launcelot and Sir Palomides rushed together with two

spears strongly, but Sir Launcelot smote Sir Palomides so

hard that he went quite out of his saddle, and had a great

fall.  When Sir Tristram saw Sir Palomides have that

fall, he said to Sir Launcelot:  Sir knight, keep thee, for

I must joust with thee.  As for to joust with me, said

Sir Launcelot, I will not fail you, for no dread I have of

you; but I am loath to have ado with you an I might

choose, for I will that ye wit that I must revenge my

special lord that was unhorsed unwarly and unknightly.

And therefore, though I revenged that fall, take ye no

displeasure therein, for he is to me such a friend that I

may not see him shamed.

Anon Sir Tristram understood by his person and by

his knightly words that it was Sir Launcelot du Lake, and

verily Sir Tristram deemed that it was King Arthur, he

that Sir Palomides had smitten down.  And then Sir

Tristram put his spear from him, and put Sir Palomides

again on horseback, and Sir Launcelot put King Arthur

on horseback and so departed.  So God me help, said Sir

Tristram unto Palomides, ye did not worshipfully when

ye smote down that knight so suddenly as ye did.  And

wit ye well ye did yourself great shame, for the knights

came hither of their gentleness to see a fair lady; and

that is every good knight's part, to behold a fair lady;

and ye had not ado to play such masteries afore my lady.

Wit thou well it will turn to anger, for he that ye smote

down was King Arthur, and that other was the good

knight Sir Launcelot.  But I shall not forget the words

of Sir Launcelot when that he called him a man of great

worship, thereby I wist that it was King Arthur.  And as

for Sir Launcelot, an there had been five hundred knights

in the meadow, he would not have refused them, and yet

he said he would refuse me.  By that again I wist that it

was Sir Launcelot, for ever he forbeareth me in every

place, and showeth me great kindness; and of all knights,

I out-take none, say what men will say, he beareth the

flower of all chivalry, say it him whosomever will.  An

he be well angered, and that him list to do his utterance

without any favour, I know him not alive but Sir

Launcelot is over hard for him, be it on horseback or on

foot.  I may never believe, said Palomides, that King

Arthur will ride so privily as a poor errant knight.  Ah,

said Sir Tristram, ye know not my lord Arthur, for all

knights may learn to be a knight of him.  And therefore

ye may be sorry, said Sir Tristram, of your unkindly

deeds to so noble a king.  And a thing that is done may

not be undone, said Palomides.  Then Sir Tristram sent

Queen Isoud unto her lodging in the priory, there to

behold all the tournament.

CHAPTER LXXIV

How the second day Palomides forsook Sir Tristram, and

went to the contrary part against him.

THEN there was a cry unto all knights, that when they

heard an horn blow they should make jousts as they did the

first day.  And like as the brethren Sir Edward and Sir

Sadok began the jousts the first day, Sir Uwaine the

king's son Urien and Sir Lucanere de Buttelere began

the jousts the second day.  And at the first encounter

Sir Uwaine smote down the King's son of Scots; and

Sir Lucanere ran against the King of Wales, and they

brake their spears all to pieces; and they were so fierce

both, that they hurtled together that both fell to the

earth.  Then they of Orkney horsed again Sir Lucanere.

And then came in Sir Tristram de Liones; and then

Sir Tristram smote down Sir Uwaine and Sir Lucanere;

and Sir Palomides smote down other two knights and

Sir Gareth smote down other two knights.  Then

said Sir Arthur unto Sir Launcelot:  See yonder three

knights do passingly well, and namely the first that

jousted.  Sir, said Launcelot, that knight began not yet

but ye shall see him this day do marvellously.  And then

came into the place the duke's son of Orkney, and then

they began to do many deeds of arms.

When Sir Tristram saw them so begin, he said to

Palomides:  How feel ye yourself? may ye do this day

as ye did yesterday?  Nay, said Palomides, I feel myself

so weary, and so sore bruised of the deeds of yesterday,

that I may not endure as I did yesterday.  That me

repenteth, said Sir Tristram, for I shall lack you this

day.  Sir Palomides said:  Trust not to me, for I may

not do as I did.  All these words said Palomides for to

beguile Sir Tristram.  Sir, said Sir Tristram unto Sir

Gareth, then must I trust upon you; wherefore I pray

you be not far from me to rescue me.  An need be,

said Sir Gareth, I shall not fail you in all that I may do.

Then Sir Palomides rode by himself; and then in despite

of Sir Tristram he put himself in the thickest press among

them of Orkney, and there he did so marvellously deeds

of arms that all men had wonder of him, for there might

none stand him a stroke.

When Sir Tristram saw Sir Palomides do such deeds,

he marvelled and said to himself:  He is weary of my

company.  So Sir Tristram beheld him a great while

and did but little else, for the noise and cry was so huge

and great that Sir Tristram marvelled from whence came

the strength that Sir Palomides had there in the field

Sir, said Sir Gareth unto Sir Tristram, remember ye not

of the words that Sir Dinadan said to you yesterday,

when he called you a coward; forsooth, sir, he said it

for none ill, for ye are the man in the world that he

most loveth, and all that he said was for your worship.

And therefore, said Sir Gareth to Sir Tristram, let me

know this day what ye be; and wonder ye not so upon

Sir Palomides, for he enforceth himself to win all the

worship and honour from you.  I may well believe it,

said Sir Tristram.  And sithen I understand his evil

will and his envy, ye shall see, if that I enforce myself,

that the noise shall be left that now is upon him.

Then Sir Tristram rode into the thickest of the

press, and then he did so marvellously well, and did so

great deeds of arms, that all men said that Sir Tristram

did double so much deeds of arms as Sir Palomides had

done aforehand.  And then the noise went plain from

Sir Palomides, and all the people cried upon Sir Tristram.

O Jesu, said the people, see how Sir Tristram smiteth

down with his spear so many knights.  And see, said

they all, how many knights he smiteth down with his

sword, and of how many knights he rashed off their

helms and their shields; and so he beat them all of

Orkney afore him.  How now, said Sir Launcelot unto

King Arthur, I told you that this day there would a

knight play his pageant.  Yonder rideth a knight ye

may see he doth knightly, for he hath strength and wind.

So God me help, said Arthur to Launcelot, ye say sooth,

for I saw never a better knight, for he passeth far Sir

Palomides.  Sir, wit ye well, said Launcelot, it must

be so of right, for it is himself, that noble knight Sir

Tristram.  I may right well believe it, said Arthur.

But when Sir Palomides heard the noise and the

cry was turned from him, he rode out on a part and

beheld Sir Tristram.  And when Sir Palomides saw Sir

Tristram do so marvellously well he wept passingly

sore for despite, for he wist well he should no worship

win that day; for well knew Sir Palomides, when Sir

Tristram would put forth his strength and his manhood,

be should get but little worship that day,

CHAPTER LXXV

How Sir Tristram departed of the field, and awaked Sir

Dinadan, and changed his array into black.

THEN came King Arthur, and the King of Northgalis,

and Sir Launcelot du Lake; and Sir Bleoberis, Sir Bors

de Ganis, Sir Ector de Maris, these three knights came

into the field with Sir Launcelot.  And then Sir

Launcelot with the three knights of his kin did so great

deeds of arms that all the noise began upon Sir Launcelot.

And so they beat the King of Wales and the King of

Scots far aback, and made them to avoid the field; but

Sir Tristram and Sir Gareth abode still in the field and

endured all that ever there came, that all men had wonder

that any knight might endure so many strokes.  But

ever Sir Launcelot, and his three kinsmen by the commandment

of Sir Launcelot, forbare Sir Tristram.  Then

said Sir Arthur:  Is that Sir Palomides that endureth

so well?  Nay, said Sir Launcelot, wit ye well it is

the good knight Sir Tristram, for yonder ye may see

Sir Palomides beholdeth and hoveth, and doth little

or nought.  And sir, ye shall understand that Sir

Tristram weeneth this day to beat us all out of the

field.  And as for me, said Sir Launcelot, I shall not

beat him, beat him whoso will.  Sir, said Launcelot

unto Arthur, ye may see how Sir Palomides hoveth

yonder, as though he were in a dream; wit ye well

he is full heavy that Tristram doth such deeds of arms

Then is he but a fool, said Arthur, for never was Sir

Palomides, nor never shall be, of such prowess as Sir

Tristram.  And if he have any envy at Sir Tristram,

and cometh in with him upon his side he is a false

knight.

As the king and Sir Launcelot thus spake, Sir

Tristram rode privily out of the press, that none espied

him but La Beale Isoud and Sir Palomides, for they two

would not let off their eyes upon Sir Tristram.  And

when Sir Tristram came to his pavilions he found Sir

Dinadan in his bed asleep.  Awake, said Tristram, ye

ought to be ashamed so to sleep when knights have

ado in the field.  Then Sir Dinadan arose lightly and

said:  What will ye that I shall do?  Make you

ready, said Sir Tristram, to ride with me into the field.

So when Sir Dinadan was armed he looked upon Sir

Tristram's helm and on his shield, and when he saw

so many strokes upon his helm and upon his shield he

said:  In good time was I thus asleep, for had I been

with you I must needs for shame there have followed

you; more for shame than any prowess that is in me;

that I see well now by those strokes that I should have

been truly beaten as I was yesterday.  Leave your japes,

said Sir Tristram, and come off, that [we] were in the

field again.  What, said Sir Dinadan, is your heart up?

yesterday ye fared as though ye had dreamed.  So then

Sir Tristram was arrayed in black harness.  O Jesu,

said Dinadan, what aileth you this day? meseemeth

ye be wilder than ye were yesterday.  Then smiled

Sir Tristram and said to Dinadan:  Await well upon

me; if ye see me overmatched look that ye be ever

behind me, and I shall make you ready way by God's

grace.  So Sir Tristram and Sir Dinadan took their

horses.  All this espied Sir Palomides, both their going

and their coming, and so did La Beale Isoud, for she

knew Sir Tristram above all other.

CHAPTER LXXVI

How Sir Palomides changed his shield and his armour for to

hurt Sir Tristram, and how Sir Launcelot did to Sir

Tristram.

THEN when Sir Palomides saw that Sir Tristram was

disguised, then he thought to do him a shame.  So Sir

Palomides rode to a knight that was sore wounded, that

sat under a fair well from the field.  Sir knight, said

Sir Palomides, I pray you to lend me your armour and

your shield, for mine is over-well known in this field,

and that hath done me great damage; and ye shall

have mine armour and my shield that is as sure as yours.

I will well, said the knight, that ye have mine armour

and my shield, if they may do you any avail.  So Sir

Palomides armed him hastily in that knight's armour

and his shield that shone as any crystal or silver, and

so he came riding into the field.  And then there was

neither Sir Tristram nor none of King Arthur's party

that knew Sir Palomides.  And right so as Sir Palomides

was come into the field Sir Tristram smote down three

knights, even in the sight of Sir Palomides.  And then

Sir Palomides rode against Sir Tristram, and either met

other with great spears, that they brast to their hands.

And then they dashed together with swords eagerly.

Then Sir Tristram had marvel what knight he was that

did battle so knightly with him.  Then was Sir Tristram

wroth, for he felt him passing strong, so that he deemed

he might not have ado with the remnant of the knights,

because of the strength of Sir Palomides.  So they lashed

together and gave many sad strokes together, and many

knights marvelled what knight he might be that so

encountered with the black knight, Sir Tristram.  Full

well knew La Beale Isoud that there was Sir Palomides

that fought with Sir Tristram, for she espied all in her

window where that she stood, as Sir Palomides changed

his harness with the wounded knight.  And then she

began to weep so heartily for the despite of Sir Palomides

that there she swooned.

Then came in Sir Launcelot with the knights of

Orkney.  And when the other party had espied Sir Launcelot,

they cried:  Return, return, here cometh Sir Launcelot

du Lake.  So there came knights and said:  Sir Launcelot, ye

must needs fight with yonder knight in the black harness,

that was Sir Tristram, for he hath almost overcome that

good knight that fighteth with him with the silver shield,

that was Sir Palomides.  Then Sir Launcelot rode betwixt

Sir Tristram and Sir Palomides, and Sir Launcelot said to

Palomides:  Sir knight, let me have the battle, for ye have

need to be reposed.  Sir Palomides knew Sir Launcelot

well, and so did Sir Tristram, but because Sir Launcelot

was far hardier knight than himself therefore he was glad,

and suffered Sir Launcelot to fight with Sir Tristram.

For well wist he that Sir Launcelot knew not Sir Tristram,

and there he hoped that Sir Launcelot should beat or shame

Sir Tristram, whereof Sir Palomides was full fain.  And

so Sir Launcelot gave Sir Tristram many sad strokes, but

Sir Launcelot knew not Sir Tristram, but Sir Tristram

knew well Sir Launcelot.  And thus they fought long

together, that La Beale Isoud was well-nigh out of her

mind for sorrow.

Then Sir Dinadan told Sir Gareth how that knight in

the black harness was Sir Tristram:  And this is Launcelot

that fighteth with him, that must needs have the better of

him, for Sir Tristram hath had too much travail this day.

Then let us smite him down, said Sir Gareth.  So it is

better that we do, said Sir Dinadan, than Sir Tristram be

shamed, for yonder hoveth the strong knight with the

silver shield to fall upon Sir Tristram if need be.  Then

forthwithal Gareth rushed upon Sir Launcelot, and gave

him a great stroke upon his helm so hard that he was

astonied.  And then came Sir Dinadan with a spear, and

he smote Sir Launcelot such a buffet that horse and all

fell to the earth.  O Jesu, said Sir Tristram to Sir Gareth

and Sir Dinadan, fie for shame, why did ye smite down so

good a knight as he is, and namely when I had ado with

him? now ye do yourself great shame, and him no disworship;

for I held him reasonable hot, though ye had not

holpen me.

Then came Sir Palomides that was disguised, and smote

down Sir Dinadan from his horse.  Then Sir Launcelot,

because Sir Dinadan had smitten him aforehand, then

Sir Launcelot assailed Sir Dinadan passing sore, and Sir

Dinadan defended him mightily.  But well understood Sir

Tristram that Sir Dinadan might not endure Sir Launcelot,

wherefore Sir Tristram was sorry.  Then came Sir Palomides

fresh upon Sir Tristram.  And when Sir Tristram

saw him come, he thought to deliver him at once, because

that he would help Sir Dinadan, because he stood in great

peril with Sir Launcelot.  Then Sir Tristram hurtled unto

Sir Palomides and gave him a great buffet, and then Sir

Tristram gat Sir Palomides and pulled him down underneath

him.  And so fell Sir Tristram with him; and Sir

Tristram leapt up lightly and left Sir Palomides, and went

betwixt Sir Launcelot and Dinadan, and then they began

to do battle together.

Right so Sir Dinadan gat Sir Tristram's horse, and

said on high that Sir Launcelot might hear it:  My lord

Sir Tristram, take your horse.  And when Sir Launcelot

heard him name Sir Tristram:  O Jesu, said Launcelot,

what have I done? I am dishonoured.  Ah, my lord Sir

Tristram, said Launcelot, why were ye disguised? ye have

put yourself in great peril this day; but I pray you noble

knight to pardon me, for an I had known you we had not

done this battle.  Sir, said Sir Tristram, this is not the

first kindness ye showed me.  So they were both horsed

again.

Then all the people on the one side gave Sir Launcelot

the honour and the degree, and on the other side all the

people gave to the noble knight Sir Tristram the honour

and the degree; but Launcelot said nay thereto:  For I am

not worthy to have this honour, for I will report me unto

all knights that Sir Tristram hath been longer in the field

than I, and he hath smitten down many more knights this

day than I have done.  And therefore I will give Sir

Tristram my voice and my name, and so I pray all my lords

and fellows so to do.  Then there was the whole voice

of dukes and earls, barons and knights, that Sir Tristram

this day is proved the best knight.

CHAPTER LXXVII

How Sir Tristram departed with La Beale Isoud, and how

Palomides followed and excused him.

THEN they blew unto lodging, and Queen Isoud was led

unto her pavilions.  But wit you well she was wroth out

of measure with Sir Palomides, for she saw all his treason

from the beginning to the ending.  And all this while

neither Sir Tristram, neither Sir Gareth nor Dinadan, knew

not of the treason of Sir Palomides; but afterward ye

shall hear that there befell the greatest debate betwixt Sir

Tristram and Sir Palomides that might be.

So when the tournament was done, Sir Tristram,

Gareth, and Dinadan, rode with La Beale Isoud to these

pavilions.  And ever Sir Palomides rode with them in

their company disguised as he was.  But when Sir Tristram

had espied him that he was the same knight with the

shield of silver that held him so hot that day:  Sir knight,

said Sir Tristram, wit ye well here is none that hath need

of your fellowship, and therefore I pray you depart from

us.  Sir Palomides answered again as though he had not

known Sir Tristram:  Wit you well, sir knight, from this

fellowship will I never depart, for one of the best knights

of the world commanded me to be in this company, and

till he discharge me of my service I will not be discharged.

By that Sir Tristram knew that it was Sir Palomides.  Ah,

Sir Palomides, said the noble knight Sir Tristram, are ye

such a knight? Ye have been named wrong, for ye have

long been called a gentle knight, and as this day ye have

showed me great ungentleness, for ye had almost brought

me unto my death.  But, as for you, I suppose I should

have done well enough, but Sir Launcelot with you was

overmuch; for I know no knight living but Sir Launcelot

is over good for him, an he will do his uttermost.  Alas,

said Sir Palomides, are ye my lord Sir Tristram? Yea,

sir, and that ye know well enough.  By my knighthood,

said Palomides, until now I knew you not; I weened that

ye had been the King of Ireland, for well I wot ye bare his

arms.  His arms I bare, said Sir Tristram, and that will I

stand by, for I won them once in a field of a full noble

knight, his name was Sir Marhaus; and with great pain

I won that knight, for there was none other recover, but

Sir Marhaus died through false leeches; and yet was he

never yolden to me.  Sir, said Palomides, I weened ye

had been turned upon Sir Launcelot's party, and that

caused me to turn.  Ye say well, said Sir Tristram, and

so I take you, and I forgive you.

So then they rode into their pavilions; and when they

were alighted they unarmed them and washed their faces

and hands, and so yode unto meat, and were set at their

table.  But when Isoud saw Sir Palomides she changed

then her colours, and for wrath she might not speak.

Anon Sir Tristram espied her countenance and said:

Madam, for what cause make ye us such cheer? we have

been sore travailed this day.  Mine own lord, said La

Beale Isoud, for God's sake be ye not displeased with me,

for I may none otherwise do; for I saw this day how ye

were betrayed and nigh brought to your death.  Truly,

sir, I saw every deal, how and in what wise, and therefore,

sir, how should I suffer in your presence such a felon and

traitor as Sir Palomides; for I saw him with mine eyes,

how he beheld you when ye went out of the field.  For

ever he hoved still upon his horse till he saw you come in

againward.  And then forthwithal I saw him ride to the

hurt knight, and changed harness with him, and then

straight I saw him how he rode into the field.  And anon

as he had found you he encountered with you, and thus

wilfully Sir Palomides did battle with you; and as for him,

sir, I was not greatly afraid, but I dread sore Launcelot,

that knew you not.  Madam, said Palomides, ye may say

whatso ye will, I may not contrary you, but by my knighthood

I knew not Sir Tristram.  Sir Palomides, said Sir

Tristram, I will take your excuse, but well I wot ye spared

me but little, but all is pardoned on my part.  Then La

Beale Isoud held down her head and said no more at that

time.

CHAPTER LXXVIII

How King Arthur and Sir Launcelot came unto their pavilions

as they sat at supper, and of Sir Palomides.

AND therewithal two knights armed came unto the pavilion,

and there they alighted both, and came in armed at all

pieces.  Fair knights, said Sir Tristram, ye are to blame to

come thus armed at all pieces upon me while we are at

our meat; if ye would anything when we were in the field

there might ye have eased your hearts.  Not so, said the

one of those knights, we come not for that intent, but wit

ye well Sir Tristram, we be come hither as your friends.

And I am come here, said the one, for to see you, and this

knight is come for to see La Beale Isoud.  Then said Sir

Tristram:  I require you do off your helms that I may see

you.  That will we do at your desire, said the knights.

And when their helms were off, Sir Tristram thought that

he should know them.

Then said Sir Dinadan privily unto Sir Tristram:  Sir,

that is Sir Launcelot du Lake that spake unto you first,

and the other is my lord King Arthur.  Then, said Sir

Tristram unto La Beale Isoud, Madam arise, for here is my

lord, King Arthur.  Then the king and the queen kissed,

and Sir Launcelot and Sir Tristram braced either other in

arms, and then there was joy without measure; and at the

request of La Beale Isoud, King Arthur and Launcelot

were unarmed, and then there was merry talking.  Madam,

said Sir Arthur, it is many a day sithen that I have desired

to see you, for ye have been praised so far; and now I dare

say ye are the fairest that ever I saw, and Sir Tristram is

as fair and as good a knight as any that I know; therefore

me beseemeth ye are well beset together.  Sir, God thank

you, said the noble knight, Sir Tristram, and Isoud; of

your great goodness and largess ye are peerless.  Thus

they talked of many things and of all the whole jousts.  But

for what cause, said King Arthur, were ye, Sir Tristram,

against us?  Ye are a knight of the Table Round; of right

ye should have been with us.  Sir, said Sir Tristram, here

is Dinadan, and Sir Gareth your own nephew, caused me to

be against you.  My lord Arthur, said Gareth, I may well

bear the blame, but it were Sir Tristram's own deeds.

That may I repent, said Dinadan, for this unhappy Sir

Tristram brought us to this tournament, and many great

buffets he caused us to have.  Then the king and Launcelot

laughed that they might not sit.

What knight was that, said Arthur, that held you so

short, this with the shield of silver?  Sir, said Sir

Tristram, here he sitteth at this board.  What, said Arthur,

was it Sir Palomides?  Wit ye well it was he, said La

Beale Isoud.  So God me help, said Arthur, that was

unknightly done of you of so good a knight, for I have

heard many people call you a courteous knight.  Sir, said

Palomides, I knew not Sir Tristram, for he was so disguised.

So God me help, said Launcelot, it may well be, for I knew

not Sir Tristram; but I marvel why ye turned on our

party.  That was done for the same cause, said Launcelot.

As for that, said Sir Tristram, I have pardoned him, and

I would be right loath to leave his fellowship, for I love

right well his company: so they left off and talked of

other things.

And in the evening King Arthur and Sir Launcelot

departed unto their lodging; but wit ye well Sir Palomides

had envy heartily, for all that night he had never rest in

his bed, but wailed and wept out of measure.  So on the

morn Sir Tristram, Gareth, and Dinadan arose early, and

then they went unto Sir Palomides' chamber, and there

they found him fast asleep, for he had all night watched,

and it was seen upon his cheeks that he had wept full sore.

Say nothing, said Sir Tristram, for I am sure he hath taken

anger and sorrow for the rebuke that I gave to him, and

La Beale Isoud.

CHAPTER LXXIX

How Sir Tristram and Sir Palomides did the next day, and

how King Arthur was unhorsed.

THEN Sir Tristram let call Sir Palomides, and bade him

make him ready, for it was time to go to the field.  When

they were ready they were armed, and clothed all in red,

both Isoud and all they; and so they led her passing

freshly through the field, into the priory where was her

lodging.  And then they heard three blasts blow, and every

king and knight dressed him unto the field.  And the first

that was ready to joust was Sir Palomides and Sir Kainus

le Strange, a knight of the Table Round.  And so they

two encountered together, but Sir Palomides smote Sir

Kainus so hard that he smote him quite over his horse's

croup.  And forthwithal Sir Palomides smote down another

knight, and brake then his spear, and pulled out his sword

and did wonderly well.  And then the noise began greatly

upon Sir Palomides.  Lo, said King Arthur, yonder

Palomides beginneth to play his pageant.  So God me

help, said Arthur, he is a passing good knight.  And

right as they stood talking thus, in came Sir Tristram as

thunder, and he encountered with Sir Kay the Seneschal,

and there he smote him down quite from his horse; and

with that same spear Sir Tristram smote down three knights

more, and then he pulled out his sword and did marvellously.

Then the noise and cry changed from Sir Palomides and

turned to Sir Tristram, and all the people cried:  O

Tristram, O Tristram.  And then was Sir Palomides clean

forgotten.

How now, said Launcelot unto Arthur, yonder rideth

a knight that playeth his pageants.  So God me help, said

Arthur to Launcelot, ye shall see this day that yonder two

knights shall here do this day wonders.  Sir, said Launcelot,

the one knight waiteth upon the other, and enforceth

himself through envy to pass the noble knight Sir Tristram,

and he knoweth not of the privy envy the which Sir

Palomides hath to him; for all that the noble Sir Tristram

doth is through clean knighthood.  And then Sir Gareth

and Dinadan did wonderly great deeds of arms, as two

noble knights, so that King Arthur spake of them great

honour and worship; and the kings and knights of Sir

Tristram's side did passingly well, and held them truly

together.  Then Sir Arthur and Sir Launcelot took their

horses and dressed them, and gat into the thickest of the

press.  And there Sir Tristram unknowing smote down

King Arthur, and then Sir Launcelot would have rescued

him, but there were so many upon Sir Launcelot that they

pulled him down from his horse.  And then the King of

Ireland and the King of Scots with their knights did their

pain to take King Arthur and Sir Launcelot prisoner.

When Sir Launcelot heard them say so, he fared as it had

been an hungry lion, for he fared so that no knight durst

nigh him.

Then came Sir Ector de Maris, and he bare a spear

against Sir Palomides, and brast it upon him all to shivers.

And then Sir Ector came again and gave Sir Palomides

such a dash with a sword that he stooped down upon his

saddle bow.  And forthwithal Sir Ector pulled down Sir

Palomides under his feet; and then Sir Ector de Maris

gat Sir Launcelot du Lake an horse, and brought it to him,

and bade him mount upon him; but Sir Palomides leapt

afore and gat the horse by the bridle, and leapt into the

saddle.  So God me help, said Launcelot, ye are better

worthy to have that horse than I.  Then Sir Ector brought

Sir Launcelot another horse.  Gramercy, said Launcelot

unto his brother.  And so when he was horsed again, with

one spear he smote down four knights.  And then Sir

Launcelot brought to King Arthur one of the best of the

four horses.  Then Sir Launcelot with King Arthur and

a few of his knights of Sir Launcelot's kin did marvellous

deeds; for that time, as the book recordeth, Sir Launcelot

smote down and pulled down thirty knights.  Notwithstanding

the other party held them so fast together that

King Arthur and his knights were overmatched.  And

when Sir Tristram saw that, what labour King Arthur

and his knights, and in especial the noble deeds that Sir

Launcelot did with his own hands, he marvelled greatly.

CHAPTER LXXX

How Sir Tristram turned to King Arthur's side, and how

Palomides would not.

THEN Sir Tristram called unto him Sir Palomides, Sir

Gareth, and Sir Dinadan, and said thus to them:  My fair

fellows, wit ye well that I will turn unto King Arthur's

party, for I saw never so few men do so well, and it will

be shame unto us knights that be of the Round Table

to see our lord King Arthur, and that noble knight Sir

Launcelot, to be dishonoured.  It will be well done, said

Sir Gareth and Sir Dinadan.  Do your best, said Palomides,

for I will not change my party that I came in withal.

That is for my sake, said Sir Tristram; God speed you in

your journey.  And so departed Sir Palomides from them.

Then Sir Tristram, Gareth, and Dinadan, turned with Sir

Launcelot.  And then Sir Launcelot smote down the King

of Ireland quite from his horse; and so Sir Launcelot

smote down the King of Scots, and the King of Wales;

and then Sir Arthur ran unto Sir Palomides and smote him

quite from his horse; and then Sir Tristram bare down

all that he met.  Sir Gareth and Sir Dinadan did there as

noble knights; then all the parties began to flee.  Alas, said

Palomides, that ever I should see this day, for now have

I lost all the worship that I won; and then Sir Palomides

went his way wailing, and so withdrew him till he came

to a well, and there he put his horse from him, and did off

his armour, and wailed and wept like as he had been a wood

man.  Then many knights gave the prize to Sir Tristram,

and there were many that gave the prize unto Sir Launcelot.

Fair lords, said Sir Tristram, I thank you of the

honour ye would give me, but I pray you heartily that ye

would give your voice to Sir Launcelot, for by my faith

said Sir Tristram, I will give Sir Launcelot my voice.  But

Sir Launcelot would not have it, and so the prize was

given betwixt them both.

Then every man rode to his lodging, and Sir Bleoberis

and Sir Ector rode with Sir Tristram and La Beale Isoud

unto their pavilions.  Then as Sir Palomides was at the

well wailing and weeping, there came by him flying the

kings of Wales and of Scotland, and they saw Sir Palomides

in that arage.  Alas, said they, that so noble a man as ye

be should be in this array.  And then those kings gat

Sir Palomides' horse again, and made him to arm him

and mount upon his horse, and so he rode with them,

making great dole.  So when Sir Palomides came nigh the

pavilions thereas Sir Tristram and La Beale Isoud was in,

then Sir Palomides prayed the two kings to abide him

there the while that he spake with Sir Tristram.  And

when he came to the port of the pavilions, Sir Palomides

said on high:  Where art thou, Sir Tristram de Liones?

Sir, said Dinadan, that is Palomides.  What, Sir Palomides,

will ye not come in here among us?  Fie on thee

traitor, said Palomides, for wit you well an it were

daylight as it is night I should slay thee, mine own hands.

And if ever I may get thee, said Palomides, thou shalt

die for this day's deed.  Sir Palomides, said Sir Tristram,

ye wite me with wrong, for had ye done as I did ye had

won worship.  But sithen ye give me so large warning

I shall be well ware of you.  Fie on thee, traitor, said

Palomides, and therewith departed.

Then on the morn Sir Tristram, Bleoberis, and Sir

Ector de Maris, Sir Gareth, Sir Dinadan, what by water

and what by land, they brought La Beale Isoud unto

Joyous Gard, and there reposed them a seven night, and

made all the mirths and disports that they could devise.

And King Arthur and his knights drew unto Camelot,

and Sir Palomides rode with the two kings; and ever

he made the greatest dole that any man could think, for

he was not all only so dolorous for the departing from La

Beale Isoud, but he was a part as sorrowful to depart

from the fellowship of Sir Tristram; for Sir Tristram was

so kind and so gentle that when Sir Palomides remembered

him thereof he might never be merry.

CHAPTER LXXXI

How Sir Bleoberis and Sir Ector reported to Queen Guenever

of the beauty of La Beale Isoud.

SO at the seven nights' end Sir Bleoberis and Sir Ector

departed from Sir Tristram and from the queen; and

these two good knights had great gifts; and Sir Gareth

and Sir Dinadan abode with Sir Tristram.  And when

Sir Bleoberis and Sir Ector were come there as the Queen

Guenever was lodged, in a castle by the seaside, and

through the grace of God the queen was recovered of

her malady, then she asked the two knights from whence

they came.  They said that they came from Sir Tristram

and from La Beale Isoud.  How doth Sir Tristram, said

the queen, and La Beale Isoud?  Truly, said those two

knights, he doth as a noble knight should do; and as

for the Queen Isoud, she is peerless of all ladies; for to

speak of her beauty, bount<e'>, and mirth, and of her

goodness, we saw never her match as far as we have ridden

and gone.  O mercy Jesu, said Queen Guenever, so

saith all the people that have seen her and spoken with

her.  God would that I had part of her conditions; and it

is misfortuned me of my sickness while that tournament

endured.  And as I suppose I shall never see in all my

life such an assembly of knights and ladies as ye have

done.

Then the knights told her how Palomides won the

degree at the first day with great noblesse; and the

second day Sir Tristram won the degree; and the third

day Sir Launcelot won the degree.  Well, said Queen

Guenever, who did best all these three days?  So God

me help, said these knights, Sir Launcelot and Sir Tristram

had least dishonour.  And wit ye well Sir Palomides

did passing well and mightily; but he turned against

the party that he came in withal, and that caused him to

lose a great part of his worship, for it seemed that Sir

Palomides is passing envious.  Then shall he never win

worship, said Queen Guenever, for an it happeth an

envious man once to win worship he shall be dishonoured

twice therefore; and for this cause all men of worship

hate an envious man, and will shew him no favour, and

he that is courteous, and kind, and gentle, hath favour

in every place.

CHAPTER LXXXII

How Epinogris complained by a well, and how Sir Palomides

came and found him, and of their both sorrowing.

NOW leave we of this matter and speak we of Sir

Palomides, that rode and lodged him with the two kings,

whereof the kings were heavy.  Then the King of Ireland

sent a man of his to Sir Palomides, and gave him a great

courser, and the King of Scotland gave him great gifts;

and fain they would have had Sir Palomides to have

abiden with them, but in no wise he would abide; and

so he departed, and rode as adventures would guide him,

till it was nigh noon.  And then in a forest by a well

Sir Palomides saw where lay a fair wounded knight and

his horse bounden by him; and that knight made the

greatest dole that ever he heard man make, for ever he

wept, and therewith he sighed as though he would die.

Then Sir Palomides rode near him and saluted him mildly

and said:  Fair knight, why wail ye so? let me lie down

and wail with you, for doubt not I am much more

heavier than ye are; for I dare say, said Palomides, that

my sorrow is an hundred fold more than yours is, and

therefore let us complain either to other.  First, said

the wounded knight, I require you tell me your name,

for an thou be none of the noble knights of the Round

Table thou shalt never know my name, whatsomever

come of me.  Fair knight, said Palomides, such as I am,

be it better or be it worse, wit thou well that my name is

Sir Palomides, son and heir unto King Astlabor, and Sir

Safere and Sir Segwarides are my two brethren; and wit

thou well as for myself I was never christened, but my

two brethren are truly christened.  O noble knight, said

that knight, well is me that I have met with you; and

wit ye well my name is Epinogris, the king's son of

Northumberland.  Now sit down, said Epinogris, and

let us either complain to other.

Then Sir Palomides began his complaint.  Now shall

I tell you, said Palomides, what woe I endure.  I love

the fairest queen and lady that ever bare life, and wit ye

well her name is La Beale Isoud, King Mark's wife of

Cornwall.  That is great folly, said Epinogris, for to

love Queen Isoud, for one of the best knights of the

world loveth her, that is Sir Tristram de Liones.  That

is truth, said Palomides, for no man knoweth that matter

better than I do, for I have been in Sir Tristram's

fellowship this month, and with La Beale Isoud together;

and alas, said Palomides, unhappy man that I am, now

have I lost the fellowship of Sir Tristram for ever, and

the love of La Beale Isoud for ever, and I am never like

to see her more, and Sir Tristram and I be either to

other mortal enemies.  Well, said Epinogris, sith that

ye loved La Beale Isoud, loved she you ever again by

anything that ye could think or wit, or else did ye rejoice

her ever in any pleasure?  Nay, by my knighthood, said

Palomides, I never espied that ever she loved me more

than all the world, nor never had I pleasure with her,

but the last day she gave me the greatest rebuke that

ever I had, the which shall never go from my heart.

And yet I well deserved that rebuke, for I did not

knightly, and therefore I have lost the love of her and

of Sir Tristram for ever; and I have many times enforced

myself to do many deeds for La Beale Isoud's sake, and

she was the causer of my worship-winning.  Alas, said

Sir Palomides, now have I lost all the worship that ever I

won, for never shall me befall such prowess as I had in

the fellowship of Sir Tristram.

CHAPTER LXXXIII

How Sir Palomides brought Sir Epinogris his lady; and

how Sir Palomides and Sir Safere were assailed.

NAY, nay, said Epinogris, your sorrow is but japes to my

sorrow; for I rejoiced my lady and won her with my

hands, and lost her again: alas that day! Thus first I

won her, said Epinogris; my lady was an earl's daughter,

and as the earl and two knights came from the tournament

of Lonazep, for her sake I set upon this earl and

on his two knights, my lady there being present; and so

by fortune there I slew the earl and one of the knights,

and the other knight fled, and so that night I had my

lady.  And on the morn as she and I reposed us at this

well-side there came there to me an errant knight, his name

was Sir Helior le Preuse, an hardy knight, and this Sir

Helior challenged me to fight for my lady.  And then

we went to battle first upon horse and after on foot, but

at the last Sir Helior wounded me so that he left me for

dead, and so he took my lady with him; and thus my

sorrow is more than yours, for I have rejoiced and ye

rejoiced never.  That is truth, said Palomides, but sith

I can never recover myself I shall promise you if I can

meet with Sir Helior I shall get you your lady again, or

else he shall beat me.

Then Sir Palomides made Sir Epinogris to take his

horse, and so they rode to an hermitage, and there Sir

Epinogris rested him.  And in the meanwhile Sir Palomides

walked privily out to rest him under the leaves, and

there beside he saw a knight come riding with a shield

that he had seen Sir Ector de Maris bear beforehand; and

there came after him a ten knights, and so these ten

knights hoved under the leaves for heat.  And anon after

there came a knight with a green shield and therein a

white lion, leading a lady upon a palfrey.  Then this

knight with the green shield that seemed to be master of

the ten knights, he rode fiercely after Sir Helior, for it was

he that hurt Sir Epinogris.  And when he came nigh Sir

Helior he bade him defend his lady.  I will defend her,

said Helior, unto my power.  And so they ran together

so mightily that either of these knights smote other down,

horse and all, to the earth; and then they won up lightly

and drew their swords and their shields, and lashed

together mightily more than an hour.  All this Sir Palomides

saw and beheld, but ever at the last the knight with

Sir Ector's shield was bigger, and at the last this knight

smote Sir Helior down, and then that knight unlaced his

helm to have stricken off his head.  And then he cried

mercy, and prayed him to save his life, and bade him take

his lady.  Then Sir Palomides dressed him up, because he

wist well that that same lady was Epinogris' lady, and he

promised him to help him.

Then Sir Palomides went straight to that lady, and

took her by the hand, and asked her whether she knew a

knight that hight Epinogris.  Alas, she said, that ever he

knew me or I him, for I have for his sake lost my

worship, and also his life grieveth me most of all.  Not

so, lady, said Palomides, come on with me, for here is

Epinogris in this hermitage.  Ah! well is me, said the

lady, an he be alive.  Whither wilt thou with that lady?

said the knight with Sir Ector's shield.  I will do with

her what me list, said Palomides.  Wit you well, said that

knight, thou speakest over large, though thou seemest me

to have at advantage, because thou sawest me do battle

but late.  Thou weenest, sir knight, to have that lady

away from me so lightly? nay, think it never not; an

thou were as good a knight as is Sir Launcelot, or as is

Sir Tristram, or Sir Palomides, but thou shalt win her

dearer than ever did I.  And so they went unto battle

upon foot, and there they gave many sad strokes, and

either wounded other passing sore, and thus they fought

still more than an hour.

Then Sir Palomides had marvel what knight he might

be that was so strong and so well breathed during, and

thus said Palomides:  Knight, I require thee tell me thy

name.  Wit thou well, said that knight, I dare tell thee

my name, so that thou wilt tell me thy name.  I will, said

Palomides.  Truly, said that knight, my name is Safere,

son of King Astlabor, and Sir Palomides and Sir Segwarides

are my brethren.  Now, and wit thou well, my name is

Sir Palomides.  Then Sir Safere kneeled down upon his

knees, and prayed him of mercy; and then they unlaced

their helms and either kissed other weeping.  And in the

meanwhile Sir Epinogris arose out of his bed, and heard

them by the strokes, and so he armed him to help Sir

Palomides if need were.

CHAPTER LXXXIV

How Sir Palomides and Sir Safere conducted Sir Epinogris

to his castle, and of other adventures.

THEN Sir Palomides took the lady by the hand and

brought her to Sir Epinogris, and there was great joy

betwixt them, for either swooned for joy.  When they

were met:  Fair knight and lady, said Sir Safere, it were

pity to depart you; Jesu send you joy either of other.

Gramercy, gentle knight, said Epinogris; and much more

thanks be to my lord Sir Palomides, that thus hath

through his prowess made me to get my lady.  Then Sir

Epinogris required Sir Palomides and Sir Safere, his

brother, to ride with them unto his castle, for the safeguard

of his person.  Sir, said Palomides, we will be ready to

conduct you because that ye are sore wounded; and so

was Epinogris and his lady horsed, and his lady behind

him upon a soft ambler.  And then they rode unto his

castle, where they had great cheer and joy, as great as ever

Sir Palomides and Sir Safere had in their life-days.

So on the morn Sir Safere and Sir Palomides departed,

day until after noon.  And at the last they heard a great

weeping and a great noise down in a manor.  Sir, said

then Sir Safere, let us wit what noise this is.  I will well,

said Sir Palomides.  And so they rode forth till that they

came to a fair gate of a manor, and there sat an old man

saying his prayers and beads.  Then Sir Palomides and

Sir Safere alighted and left their horses, and went within

the gates, and there they saw full many goodly men

weeping.  Fair sirs, said Palomides, wherefore weep ye and

make this sorrow?  Anon one of the knights of the castle

beheld Sir Palomides and knew him, and then went to his

fellows and said:  Fair fellows, wit ye well all, we have in

this castle the same knight that slew our lord at Lonazep,

for I know him well; it is Sir Palomides.  Then they

went unto harness, all that might bear harness, some on

horseback and some on foot, to the number of three score.

And when they were ready they came freshly upon Sir

Palomides and upon Sir Safere with a great noise, and said

thus:  Keep thee, Sir Palomides, for thou art known, and

by right thou must be dead, for thou hast slain our lord;

and therefore wit ye well we will slay thee, therefore

defend thee.

Then Sir Palomides and Sir Safere, the one set his back

to the other, and gave many great strokes, and took many

great strokes; and thus they fought with a twenty knights

and forty gentlemen and yeomen nigh two hours.  But

at the last though they were loath, Sir Palomides and Sir

Safere were taken and yolden, and put in a strong prison;

and within three days twelve knights passed upon them,

and they found Sir Palomides guilty, and Sir Safere not

guilty, of their lord's death.  And when Sir Safere should

be delivered there was great dole betwixt Sir Palomides

and him, and many piteous complaints that Sir Safere

made at his departing, there is no maker can rehearse the

tenth part.  Fair brother, said Palomides, let be thy dolour

and thy sorrow.  And if I be ordained to die a shameful

death, welcome be it; but an I had wist of this death that

I am deemed unto, I should never have been yolden.  So

Sir Safere departed from his brother with the greatest

dolour and sorrow that ever made knight.

And on the morn they of the castle ordained twelve

knights to ride with Sir Palomides unto the father of the

same knight that Sir Palomides slew; and so they bound

his legs under an old steed's belly.  And then they rode

with Sir Palomides unto a castle by the seaside, that hight

Pelownes, and there Sir Palomides should have justice.

Thus was their ordinance; and so they rode with Sir

Palomides fast by the castle of Joyous Gard.  And as

they passed by that castle there came riding out of that

castle by them one that knew Sir Palomides.  And when

that knight saw Sir Palomides bounden upon a crooked

courser, the knight asked Sir Palomides for what cause he

was led so.  Ah, my fair fellow and knight, said Palomides,

I ride toward my death for the slaying of a knight at a

tournament of Lonazep; and if I had not departed from

my lord Sir Tristram, as I ought not to have done, now

might I have been sure to have had my life saved; but I

pray you, sir knight, recommend me unto my lord, Sir

Tristram, and unto my lady, Queen Isoud, and say to

them if ever I trespassed to them I ask them forgiveness.

And also I beseech you recommend me unto my lord,

King Arthur, and to all the fellowship of the Round

Table, unto my power.  Then that knight wept for pity

of Sir Palomides; and therewithal he rode unto Joyous

Gard as fast as his horse might run, and lightly that

knight descended down off his horse and went unto Sir

Tristram, and there he told him all as ye have heard, and

ever the knight wept as he had been mad.

CHAPTER LXXXV

How Sir Tristram made him ready to rescue Sir Palomides,

but Sir Launcelot rescued him or he came.

WHEN Sir Tristram heard how Sir Palomides went to his

death, he was heavy to hear that, and said:  Howbeit that

I am wroth with Sir Palomides, yet will not I suffer him to

die so shameful a death, for he is a full noble knight.  And

then anon Sir Tristram was armed and took his horse and

two squires with him, and rode a great pace toward the

castle of Pelownes where Sir Palomides was judged to death.

And these twelve knights that led Sir Palomides passed by

a well whereas Sir Launcelot was, which was alighted there,

and had tied his horse to a tree, and taken off his helm

to drink of that well; and when he saw these knights, Sir

Launcelot put on his helm and suffered them to pass by

him.  And then was he ware of Sir Palomides bounden,

and led shamefully to his death.  O Jesu, said Launcelot,

what misadventure is befallen him that he is thus led

toward his death?  Forsooth, said Launcelot, it were shame

to me to suffer this noble knight so to die an I might help

him, therefore I will help him whatsomever come of it,

or else I shall die for Sir Palomides' sake.  And then Sir

Launcelot mounted upon his horse, and gat his spear in

his hand, and rode after the twelve knights that led Sir

Palomides.  Fair knights, said Sir Launcelot, whither lead

ye that knight? it beseemeth him full ill to ride bounden.

Then these twelve knights suddenly turned their horses

and said to Sir Launcelot:  Sir knight, we counsel thee not

to meddle with this knight, for he hath deserved death, and

unto death he is judged.  That me repenteth, said Launcelot,

that I may not borrow him with fairness, for he is over

good a knight to die such a shameful death.  And therefore,

fair knights, said Sir Launcelot, keep you as well as

ye can, for I will rescue that knight or die for it.

Then they began to dress their spears, and Sir Launcelot

smote the foremost down, horse and man, and so he served

three more with one spear; and then that spear brast, and

therewithal Sir Launcelot drew his sword, and then he

smote on the right hand and on the left hand.  Then

within a while he left none of those twelve knights, but he

had laid them to the earth, and the most part of them

were sore wounded.  And then Sir Launcelot took the

best horse that he found, and loosed Sir Palomides and set

him upon that horse; and so they returned again unto

Joyous Gard, and then was Sir Palomides ware of Sir

Tristram how he came riding.  And when Sir Launcelot

saw him he knew him well, but Sir Tristram knew him not

because Sir Launcelot had on his shoulder a golden shield.

So Sir Launcelot made him ready to joust with Sir Tristram,

that Sir Tristram should not ween that he were Sir

Launcelot.  Then Sir Palomides cried aloud to Sir Tristram:

O my lord, I require you joust not with this knight, for

this good knight hath saved me from my death.  When

Sir Tristram heard him say so he came a soft trotting pace

toward them.  And then Sir Palomides said:  My lord,

Sir Tristram, much am I beholding unto you of your great

goodness, that would proffer your noble body to rescue me

undeserved, for I have greatly offended you.  Notwithstanding,

said Sir Palomides, here met we with this noble

knight that worshipfully and manly rescued me from twelve

knights, and smote them down all and wounded them sore.

CHAPTER LXXXVI

How Sir Tristram and Launcelot, with Palomides, came to

joyous Gard; and of Palomides and Sir Tristram.

FAIR knight, said Sir Tristram unto Sir Launcelot, of

whence be ye?  I am a knight errant, said Sir Launcelot,

that rideth to seek many adventures.  What is your name?

said Sir Tristram.  Sir, at this time I will not tell you.

Then Sir Launcelot said unto Sir Tristram and to Palomides:

Now either of you are met together I will depart

from you.  Not so, said Sir Tristram; I pray you of

knighthood to ride with me unto my castle.  Wit you

well, said Sir Launcelot, I may not ride with you, for I

have many deeds to do in other places, that at this time

I may not abide with you.  Ah, mercy Jesu, said Sir

Tristram, I require you as ye be a true knight to the order

of knighthood, play you with me this night.  Then Sir

Tristram had a grant of Sir Launcelot: howbeit though

he had not desired him he would have ridden with them,

outher soon have come after them; for Sir Launcelot came

for none other cause into that country but for to see Sir

Tristram.  And when they were come within Joyous

Gard they alighted, and their horses were led into a stable;

and then they unarmed them.  And when Sir Launcelot

was unhelmed, Sir Tristram and Sir Palomides knew him.

Then Sir Tristram took Sir Launcelot in arms, and so did

La Beale Isoud; and Palomides kneeled down upon his

knees and thanked Sir Launcelot.  When Sir Launcelot

saw Sir Palomides kneel he lightly took him up and said

thus:  Wit thou well, Sir Palomides, I and any knight in

this land, of worship ought of very right succour and

rescue so noble a knight as ye are proved and renowned,

throughout all this realm endlong and overthwart.  And

then was there joy among them, and the oftener that

Sir Palomides saw La Beale Isoud the heavier he waxed

day by day.

Then Sir Launcelot within three or four days departed,

and with him rode Sir Ector de Maris; and Dinadan and

Sir Palomides were there left with Sir Tristram a two

months and more.  But ever Sir Palomides faded and

mourned, that all men had marvel wherefore he faded so

away.  So upon a day, in the dawning, Sir Palomides went

into the forest by himself alone; and there he found a

well, and then he looked into the well, and in the water he

saw his own visage, how he was disturbed and defaded,

nothing like that he was.  What may this mean? said Sir

Palomides, and thus he said to himself:  Ah, Palomides,

Palomides, why art thou defaded, thou that was wont to be

called one of the fairest knights of the world?  I will no

more lead this life, for I love that I may never get nor

recover.  And therewithal he laid him down by the well.

And then he began to make a rhyme of La Beale Isoud

and him.

And in the meanwhile Sir Tristram was that same day

ridden into the forest to chase the hart of greese; but Sir

Tristram would not ride a-hunting never more unarmed,

because of Sir Breuse Saunce Pit<e'>.  And so as Sir Tristram

rode into that forest up and down, he heard one sing

marvellously loud, and that was Sir Palomides that lay by

the well.  And then Sir Tristram rode softly thither, for

he deemed there was some knight errant that was at the

well.  And when Sir Tristram came nigh him he descended

down from his horse and tied his horse fast till a tree, and

then he came near him on foot; and anon he was ware

where lay Sir Palomides by the well and sang loud and

merrily; and ever the complaints were of that noble

queen, La Beale Isoud, the which was marvellously and

wonderfully well said, and full dolefully and piteously

made.  And all the whole song the noble knight, Sir

Tristram, heard from the beginning to the ending, the

which grieved and troubled him sore.

But then at the last, when Sir Tristram had heard all

Sir Palomides' complaints, he was wroth out of measure,

and thought for to slay him thereas he lay.  Then Sir

Tristram remembered himself that Sir Palomides was

unarmed, and of the noble name that Sir Palomides had,

and the noble name that himself had, and then he made a

restraint of his anger; and so he went unto Sir Palomides

a soft pace and said:  Sir Palomides, I have heard your

complaint, and of thy treason that thou hast owed me

so long, and wit thou well therefore thou shalt die; and

if it were not for shame of knighthood thou shouldest

not escape my hands, for now I know well thou hast

awaited me with treason.  Tell me, said Sir Tristram,

how thou wilt acquit thee?  Sir, said Palomides, thus I

will acquit me: as for Queen La Beale Isoud, ye shall wit

well that I love her above all other ladies in this world;

and well I wot it shall befall me as for her love as befell

to the noble knight Sir Kehydius, that died for the love

of La Beale Isoud.  And now, Sir Tristram, I will that

ye wit that I have loved La Beale Isoud many a day, and

she hath been the causer of my worship, and else I had

been the most simplest knight in the world.  For by her,

and because of her, I have won the worship that I have;

for when I remembered me of La Beale Isoud I won the

worship wheresomever I came for the most part; and yet

had I never reward nor bount<e'> of her the days of my life,

and yet have I been her knight guerdonless.  And therefore,

Sir Tristram, as for any death I dread not, for I had

as lief die as to live.  And if I were armed as thou art, I

should lightly do battle with thee.  Well have ye uttered

your treason, said Tristram.  I have done to you no

treason, said Palomides, for love is free for all men, and

though I have loved your lady, she is my lady as well as

yours; howbeit I have wrong if any wrong be, for ye

rejoice her, and have your desire of her, and so had I

never nor never am like to have, and yet shall I love her

to the uttermost days of my life as well as ye.

CHAPTER LXXXVII

How there was a day set between Sir Tristram and Sir

Palomides for to fight, and how Sir Tristram was hurt.

THEN said Sir Tristram:  I will fight with you to the

uttermost.  I grant, said Palomides, for in a better

quarrel keep I never to fight, for an I die of your hands,

of a better knight's hands may I not be slain.  And sithen

I understand that I shall never rejoice La Beale Isoud, I

have as good will to die as to live.  Then set ye a day,

said Sir Tristram, that we shall do battle.  This day

fifteen days, said Palomides, will I meet with you hereby,

in the meadow under Joyous Gard.  Fie for shame, said

Sir Tristram, will ye set so long day? let us fight

to-morn.  Not so, said Palomides, for I am meagre, and

have been long sick for the love of La Beale Isoud, and

therefore I will repose me till I have my strength again.

So then Sir Tristram and Sir Palomides promised faith

fully to meet at the well that day fifteen days.  I am

remembered, said Sir Tristram to Palomides, that ye

brake me once a promise when that I rescued you from

Breuse Saunce Pit<e'> and nine knights; and then ye

promised me to meet me at the peron and the grave

beside Camelot, whereas at that time ye failed of your

promise.  Wit you well, said Palomides unto Sir Tristram,

I was at that day in prison, so that I might not hold my

promise.  So God me help, said Sir Tristram, an ye

had holden your promise this work had not been here

now at this time.

Right so departed Sir Tristram and Sir Palomides.

And so Sir Palomides took his horse and his harness, and

he rode unto King Arthur's court; and there Sir Palomides

gat him four knights and four sergeants-of-arms,

and so he returned againward unto Joyous Gard.  And

in the meanwhile Sir Tristram chased and hunted at all

manner of venery; and about three days afore the battle

should be, as Sir Tristram chased an hart, there was an

archer shot at the hart, and by misfortune he smote Sir

Tristram in the thick of the thigh, and the arrow slew

Sir Tristram's horse and hurt him.  When Sir Tristram

was so hurt he was passing heavy, and wit ye well he bled

sore; and then he took another horse, and rode unto

Joyous Gard with great heaviness, more for the promise

that he had made with Sir Palomides, as to do battle with

him within three days after, than for any hurt of his thigh.

Wherefore there was neither man nor woman that could

cheer him with anything that they could make to him,

neither Queen La Beale Isoud; for ever he deemed that

Sir Palomides had smitten him so that he should not be

able to do battle with him at the day set.

CHAPTER LXXXVIII

How Sir Palomides kept his day to have foughten, but Sir

Tristram might not come; and other things.

BUT in no wise there was no knight about Sir Tristram

that would believe that ever Sir Palomides would hurt Sir

Tristram, neither by his own hands nor by none other

consenting.  Then when the fifteenth day was come, Sir

Palomides came to the well with four knights with him

of Arthur's court, and three sergeants-of-arms.  And for

this intent Sir Palomides brought the knights with him

and the sergeants-of-arms, for they should bear record of

the battle betwixt Sir Tristram and Sir Palomides.  And

the one sergeant brought in his helm, the other his spear,

the third his sword.  So thus Palomides came into the

field, and there he abode nigh two hours; and then he

sent a squire unto Sir Tristram, and desired him to come

into the field to hold his promise.

When the squire was come to Joyous Gard, anon as

Sir Tristram heard of his coming he let command that the

squire should come to his presence thereas he lay in his

bed.  My lord Sir Tristram, said Palomides' squire, wit

you well my lord, Palomides, abideth you in the field,

and he would wit whether ye would do battle or not.

Ah, my fair brother, said Sir Tristram, wit thou well that

I am right heavy for these tidings; therefore tell Sir

Palomides an I were well at ease I would not lie here, nor

he should have no need to send for me an I might either

ride or go; and for thou shalt say that I am no liar--Sir

Tristram showed him his thigh that the wound was six

inches deep.  And now thou hast seen my hurt, tell thy

lord that this is no feigned matter, and tell him that I had

liefer than all the gold of King Arthur that I were whole;

and tell Palomides as soon as I am whole I shall seek him

endlong and overthwart, and that I promise you as I am true

knight; and if ever I may meet with him, he shall have

battle of me his fill.  And with this the squire departed;

and when Palomides wist that Tristram was hurt he was

glad and said:  Now I am sure I shall have no shame, for

I wot well I should have had hard handling of him, and

by likely I must needs have had the worse, for he is the

hardest knight in battle that now is living except Sir

Launcelot.

And then departed Sir Palomides whereas fortune led

him, and within a month Sir Tristram was whole of his

hurt.  And then he took his horse, and rode from

country to country, and all strange adventures he achieved

wheresomever he rode; and always he enquired for Sir

Palomides, but of all that quarter of summer Sir Tristram

could never meet with Sir Palomides.  But thus as Sir

Tristram sought and enquired after Sir Palomides Sir

Tristram achieved many great battles, wherethrough all

the noise fell to Sir Tristram, and it ceased of Sir

Launcelot; and therefore Sir Launcelot's brethren and his

kinsmen would have slain Sir Tristram because of his

fame.  But when Sir Launcelot wist how his kinsmen

were set, he said to them openly:  Wit you well, that an

the envy of you all be so hardy to wait upon my lord, Sir

Tristram, with any hurt, shame, or villainy, as I am true

knight I shall slay the best of you with mine own hands

Alas, fie for shame, should ye for his noble deeds await

upon him to slay him.  Jesu defend, said Launcelot, that

ever any noble knight as Sir Tristram is should be

destroyed with treason.  Of this noise and fame sprang

into Cornwall, and among them of Liones, whereof they

were passing glad, and made great joy.  And then they

of Liones sent letters unto Sir Tristram of recommendation,

and many great gifts to maintain Sir Tristram's estate;

and ever, between, Sir Tristram resorted unto Joyous Gard

whereas La Beale Isoud was, that loved him as her life.

<oe Here endeth the tenth book which is of Sir Tristram.

And here followeth the eleventh book which is of

Sir Launcelot.>

BOOK XI

CHAPTER I

How Sir Launcelot rode on his adventure, and how he holp

a dolorous lady from her pain, and how that he fought

with a dragon.

NOW leave we Sir Tristram de Liones, and speak we of

Sir Launcelot du Lake, and of Sir Galahad, Sir Launcelot's

son, how he was gotten, and in what manner, as the book

of French rehearseth.  Afore the time that Sir Galahad

was gotten or born, there came in an hermit unto King

Arthur upon Whitsunday, as the knights sat at the Table

Round.  And when the hermit saw the Siege Perilous, he

asked the king and all the knights why that siege was

void.  Sir Arthur and all the knights answered:  There

shall never none sit in that siege but one, but if he be

destroyed.  Then said the hermit:  Wot ye what is he?

Nay, said Arthur and all the knights, we wot not who is

he that shall sit therein.  Then wot I, said the hermit,

for he that shall sit there is unborn and ungotten, and

this same year he shall be gotten that shall sit there in

that Siege Perilous, and he shall win the Sangreal.  When

this hermit had made this mention he departed from the

court of King Arthur.

And then after this feast Sir Launcelot rode on his

adventure, till on a time by adventure he passed over the

pont of Corbin; and there he saw the fairest tower that ever

he saw, and there-under was a fair town full of people; and

all the people, men and women, cried at once:  Welcome,

Sir Launcelot du Lake, the flower of all knighthood,

for by thee all we shall be holpen out of danger.  What

mean ye, said Sir Launcelot, that ye cry so upon me?

Ah, fair knight, said they all, here is within this tower a

dolorous lady that hath been there in pains many winters

and days, for ever she boileth in scalding water; and but

late, said all the people, Sir Gawaine was here and he

might not help her, and so he left her in pain.  So may

I, said Sir Launcelot, leave her in pain as well as Sir

Gawaine did.  Nay, said the people, we know well that

it is Sir Launcelot that shall deliver her.  Well, said

Launcelot, then shew me what I shall do.

Then they brought Sir Launcelot into the tower; and

when he came to the chamber thereas this lady was, the

doors of iron unlocked and unbolted.  And so Sir Launcelot

went into the chamber that was as hot as any stew.

And there Sir Launcelot took the fairest lady by the hand

that ever he saw, and she was naked as a needle; and by

enchantment Queen Morgan le Fay and the Queen of

Northgalis had put her there in that pains, because she

was called the fairest lady of that country; and there she

had been five years, and never might she be delivered out

of her great pains unto the time the best knight of the

world had taken her by the hand.  Then the people

brought her clothes.  And when she was arrayed, Sir

Launcelot thought she was the fairest lady of the world,

but if it were Queen Guenever.

Then this lady said to Sir Launcelot:  Sir, if it please

you will ye go with me hereby into a chapel that we may

give loving and thanking unto God?  Madam, said Sir

Launcelot, come on with me, I will go with you.  So

when they came there and gave thankings to God all the

people, both learned and lewd, gave thankings unto God

and him, and said:  Sir knight, since ye have delivered

this lady, ye shall deliver us from a serpent there is here

in a tomb.  Then Sir Launcelot took his shield and said:

Bring me thither, and what I may do unto the pleasure

of God and you I will do.  So when Sir Launcelot came

thither he saw written upon the tomb letters of gold that

said thus:  Here shall come a leopard of king's blood, and

he shall slay this serpent, and this leopard shall engender

a lion in this foreign country, the which lion shall pass all

other knights.  So then Sir Launcelot lift up the tomb,

and there came out an horrible and a fiendly dragon,

spitting fire out of his mouth.  Then Sir Launcelot drew

his sword and fought with the dragon long, and at the

last with great pain Sir Launcelot slew that dragon.

Therewithal came King Pelles, the good and noble knight,

and saluted Sir Launcelot, and he him again.  Fair knight,

said the king, what is your name?  I require you of your

knighthood tell me!

CHAPTER II

How Sir Launcelot came to Pelles, and of the Sangreal, and

of Elaine, King Pelles' daughter.

SIR, said Launcelot, wit you well my name is Sir Launcelot

du Lake.  And my name is, said the king, Pelles,

king of the foreign country, and cousin nigh unto Joseph

of Armathie.  And then either of them made much of

other, and so they went into the castle to take their

repast.  And anon there came in a dove at a window, and

in her mouth there seemed a little censer of gold.  And

herewithal there was such a savour as all the spicery of

the world had been there.  And forthwithal there was

upon the table all manner of meats and drinks that they

could think upon.  So came in a damosel passing fair and

young, and she bare a vessel of gold betwixt her hands;

and thereto the king kneeled devoutly, and said his

prayers, and so did all that were there.  O Jesu, said Sir

Launcelot, what may this mean?  This is, said the king,

the richest thing that any man hath living.  And when

this thing goeth about, the Round Table shall be broken;

and wit thou well, said the king, this is the holy Sangreal

that ye have here seen.  So the king and Sir Launcelot

led their life the most part of that day.  And fain would

King Pelles have found the mean to have had Sir Launcelot

to have lain by his daughter, fair Elaine.  And for

this intent: the king knew well that Sir Launcelot should

get a child upon his daughter, the which should be named

Sir Galahad the good knight, by whom all the foreign

country should be brought out of danger, and by him the

Holy Greal should be achieved.

Then came forth a lady that hight Dame Brisen, and

she said unto the king:  Sir, wit ye well Sir Launcelot

loveth no lady in the world but all only Queen Guenever;

and therefore work ye by counsel, and I shall make him

to lie with your daughter, and he shall not wit but that

he lieth with Queen Guenever.  O fair lady, Dame Brisen,

said the king, hope ye to bring this about?  Sir, said she,

upon pain of my life let me deal; for this Brisen was one

of the greatest enchantresses that was at that time in the

world living.  Then anon by Dame Brisen's wit she made

one to come to Sir Launcelot that he knew well.  And

this man brought him a ring from Queen Guenever like

as it had come from her, and such one as she was wont for

the most part to wear; and when Sir Launcelot saw that

token wit ye well he was never so fain.  Where is my

lady? said Sir Launcelot.  In the Castle of Case, said the

messenger, but five mile hence.  Then Sir Launcelot

thought to be there the same might.  And then this

Brisen by the commandment of King Pelles let send

Elaine to this castle with twenty-five knights unto the

Castle of Case.  Then Sir Launcelot against night rode

unto that castle, and there anon he was received worshipfully

with such people, to his seeming, as were about Queen

Guenever secret.

So when Sir Launcelot was alighted, he asked where

the queen was.  So Dame Brisen said she was in her bed;

and then the people were avoided, and Sir Launcelot was

led unto his chamber.  And then Dame Brisen brought Sir

Launcelot a cup full of wine; and anon as he had drunken

that wine he was so assotted and mad that he might make

no delay, but withouten any let he went to bed; and he

weened that maiden Elaine had been Queen Guenever.

Wit you well that Sir Launcelot was glad, and so was that

lady Elaine that she had gotten Sir Launcelot in her arms.

For well she knew that same night should be gotten upon

her Galahad that should prove the best knight of the

world; and so they lay together until underne of the'

morn; and all the windows and holes of that chamber

were stopped that no manner of day might be seen.  And

then Sir Launcelot remembered him, and he arose up and

went to the window.

CHAPTER III

How Sir Launcelot was displeased when he knew that he

had lain by Dame Elaine, and how she was delivered

of Galahad.

AND anon as he had unshut the window the enchantment

was gone; then he knew himself that he had done amiss.

Alas, he said, that I have lived so long; now I am

shamed.  So then he gat his sword in his hand and said:

Thou traitress, what art thou that I have lain by all this

night? thou shalt die right here of my hands.  Then this

fair lady Elaine skipped out of her bed all naked, and

kneeled down afore Sir Launcelot, and said:  Fair courteous

knight, come of king's blood, I require you have mercy

upon me, and as thou art renowned the most noble knight

of the world, slay me not, for I have in my womb him by

thee that shall be the most noblest knight of the world.

Ah, false traitress, said Sir Launcelot, why hast thou

betrayed me? anon tell me what thou art.  Sir, she said,

I am Elaine, the daughter of King Pelles.  Well, said Sir

Launcelot, I will forgive you this deed; and therewith he

took her up in his arms, and kissed her, for she was as fair

a lady, and thereto lusty and young, and as wise, as any

was that time living.  So God me help, said Sir Launcelot,

I may not wite this to you; but her that made this

enchantment upon me as between you and me, an I may

find her, that same Lady Brisen, she shall lose her head

for witchcrafts, for there was never knight deceived so as

I am this night.  And so Sir Launcelot arrayed him, and

armed him, and took his leave mildly at that lady young

Elaine, and so he departed.  Then she said:  My lord Sir

Launcelot, I beseech you see me as soon as ye may, for I

have obeyed me unto the prophecy that my father told

me.  And by his commandment to fulfil this prophecy I

have given the greatest riches and the fairest flower that

ever I had, and that is my maidenhood that I shall never

have again; and therefore, gentle knight, owe me your

good will.

And so Sir Launcelot arrayed him and was armed,

and took his leave mildly at that young lady Elaine; and

so he departed, and rode till he came to the Castle of

Corbin, where her father was.  And as fast as her time

came she was delivered of a fair child, and they christened

him Galahad; and wit ye well that child was well kept

and well nourished, and he was named Galahad because

Sir Launcelot was so named at the fountain stone; and

after that the Lady of the Lake confirmed him Sir Launcelot

du Lake.

Then after this lady was delivered and churched, there

came a knight unto her, his name was Sir Bromel la Pleche,

the which was a great lord; and he had loved that lady

long, and he evermore desired her to wed her; and so by

no mean she could put him off, till on a day she said to Sir

Bromel:  Wit thou well, sir knight, I will not love you,

for my love is set upon the best knight of the world.

Who is he? said Sir Bromel.  Sir, she said, it is Sir

Launcelot du Lake that I love and none other, and therefore

woo me no longer.  Ye say well, said Sir Bromel, and

sithen ye have told me so much, ye shall have but little joy

of Sir Launcelot, for I shall slay him wheresomever I meet

him.  Sir, said the Lady Elaine, do to him no treason.

Wit ye well, my lady, said Bromel, and I promise you

this twelvemonth I shall keep the pont of Corbin for Sir

Launcelot's sake, that he shall neither come nor go unto

you, but I shall meet with him.

CHAPTER IV

How Sir Bors came to Dame Elaine and saw Galahad,

and how he was fed with the Sangreal.

THEN as it fell by fortune and adventure, Sir Bors de

Ganis, that was nephew unto Sir Launcelot, came over that

bridge; and there Sir Bromel and Sir Bors jousted, and

Sir Bors smote Sir Bromel such a buffet that he bare him

over his horse's croup.  And then Sir Bromel, as an hardy

knight, pulled out his sword, and dressed his shield to do

battle with Sir Bors.  And then Sir Bors alighted and

avoided his horse, and there they dashed together many sad

strokes; and long thus they fought, till at the last Sir

Bromel was laid to the earth, and there Sir Bors began to

unlace his helm to slay him.  Then Sir Bromel cried Sir

Bors mercy, and yielded him.  Upon this covenant thou

shalt have thy life, said Sir Bors, so thou go unto Sir

Launcelot upon Whitsunday that next cometh, and yield

thee unto him as knight recreant.  I will do it, said Sir

Bromel, and that he sware upon the cross of the sword.

And so he let him depart, and Sir Bors rode unto King

Pelles, that was within Corbin.

And when the king and Elaine his daughter wist that

Sir Bors was nephew unto Sir Launcelot, they made him

great cheer.  Then said Dame Elaine:  We marvel where

Sir Launcelot is, for he came never here but once.  Marvel

not, said Sir Bors, for this half year he hath been in prison

with Queen Morgan le Fay, King Arthur's sister.  Alas,

said Dame Elaine, that me repenteth.  And ever Sir Bors

beheld that child in her arms, and ever him seemed it was

passing like Sir Launcelot.  Truly, said Elaine, wit ye well

this child he gat upon me.  Then Sir Bors wept for joy,

and he prayed to God it might prove as good a knight as

his father was.  And so came in a white dove, and she

bare a little censer of gold in her mouth, and there was all

manner of meats and drinks; and a maiden bare that

Sangreal, and she said openly:  Wit you well, Sir Bors,

that this child is Galahad, that shall sit in the Siege Perilous,

and achieve the Sangreal, and he shall be much better than

ever was Sir Launcelot du Lake, that is his own father.

And then they kneeled down and made their devotions,

and there was such a savour as all the spicery in the world

had been there.  And when the dove took her flight, the

maiden vanished with the Sangreal as she came.

Sir, said Sir Bors unto King Pelles, this castle may be

named the Castle Adventurous, for here be many strange

adventures.  That is sooth, said the king, for well may

this place be called the adventures place, for there come

but few knights here that go away with any worship; be

he never so strong, here he may be proved; and but late

Sir Gawaine, the good knight, gat but little worship here.

For I let you wit, said King Pelles, here shall no knight

win no worship but if he be of worship himself and of

good living, and that loveth God and dreadeth God, and

else he getteth no worship here, be he never so hardy.

That is wonderful thing, said Sir Bors.  What ye mean in

this country I wot not, for ye have many strange adventures,

and therefore I will lie in this castle this night.  Ye

shall not do so, said King Pelles, by my counsel, for it is

hard an ye escape without a shame.  I shall take the

adventure that will befall me, said Sir Bors.  Then I

counsel you, said the king, to be confessed clean.  As for

that, said Sir Bors, I will be shriven with a good will.  So

Sir Bors was confessed, and for all women Sir Bors was a

virgin, save for one, that was the daughter of King Brangoris,

and on her he gat a child that hight Elaine, and save

for her Sir Bors was a clean maiden.

And so Sir Bors was led unto bed in a fair large

chamber, and many doors were shut about the chamber.

When Sir Bors espied all those doors, he avoided all the

people, for he might have nobody with him; but in no

wise Sir Bors would unarm him, but so he laid him down

upon the bed.  And right so he saw come in a light, that

he might well see a spear great and long that came straight

upon him pointling, and to Sir Bors seemed that the head

of the spear brent like a taper.  And anon, or Sir Bors

wist, the spear head smote him into the shoulder an

hand-breadth in deepness, and that wound grieved Sir Bors passing

sore.  And then he laid him down again for pain; and

anon therewithal there came a knight armed with his shield

on his shoulder and his sword in his hand, and he bade Sir

Bors:  Arise, sir knight, and fight with me.  I am sore

hurt, he said, but yet I shall not fail thee.  And then Sir

Bors started up and dressed his shield; and then they

lashed together mightily a great while; and at the last Sir

Bors bare him backward until that he came unto a chamber

door, and there that knight yede into that chamber and

rested him a great while.  And when he had reposed him

he came out freshly again, and began new battle with Sir

Bors mightily and strongly.

CHAPTER V

How Sir Bors made Sir Pedivere to yield him, and of

marvellous adventures that he had, and how he achieved

them.

THEN Sir Bors thought he should no more go into that

chamber to rest him, and so Sir Bors dressed him betwixt

the knight and that chamber door, and there Sir Bors

smote him down, and then that knight yielded him

What is your name? said Sir Bors.  Sir, said he, my name

is Pedivere of the Straight Marches.  So Sir Bors made

him to swear at Whitsunday next coming to be at the

court of King Arthur, and yield him there as a prisoner

as an overcome knight by the hands of Sir Bors.  So thus

departed Sir Pedivere of the Straight Marches.  And then

Sir Bors laid him down to rest, and then he heard and felt

much noise in that chamber; and then Sir Bors espied

that there came in, he wist not whether at the doors nor

windows, shot of arrows and of quarrels so thick that he

marvelled, and many fell upon him and hurt him in the

bare places.

And then Sir Bors was ware where came in an hideous

lion; so Sir Bors dressed him unto the lion, and anon the

lion bereft him his shield, and with his sword Sir Bors

smote off the lion's head.  Right so Sir Bors forthwithal

saw a dragon in the court passing horrible, and there

seemed letters of gold written in his forehead; and Sir Bors

thought that the letters made a signification of King

Arthur.  Right so there came an horrible leopard and an

old, and there they fought long, and did great battle

together.  And at the last the dragon spit out of his

mouth as it had been an hundred dragons; and lightly all

the small dragons slew the old dragon and tare him all to

pieces.

Anon withal there came an old man into the hall, and

he sat him down in a fair chair, and there seemed to be

two adders about his neck; and then the old man had

an harp, and there he sang an old song how Joseph of

Armathie came into this land.  Then when he had sung, the

old man bade Sir Bors go from thence.  For here shall ye

have no more adventures; and full worshipfully have ye

done, and better shall ye do hereafter.  And then Sir Bors

seemed that there came the whitest dove with a little golden

censer in her mouth.  And anon therewithal the tempest

ceased and passed, that afore was marvellous to hear.  So

was all that court full of good savours.  Then Sir Bors saw

four children bearing four fair tapers, and an old man in

the midst of the children with a censer in his own hand,

and a spear in his other hand, and that spear was called the

Spear of Vengeance.

CHAPTER VI

How Sir Bors departed; and how Sir Launcelot was

rebuked of Queen Guenever, and of his excuse.

NOW, said that old man to Sir Bors, go ye to your cousin,

Sir Launcelot, and tell him of this adventure the which

had been most convenient for him of all earthly knights;

but sin is so foul in him he may not achieve such holy

deeds, for had not been his sin he had passed all the

knights that ever were in his days; and tell thou Sir

Launcelot, of all worldly adventures he passeth in manhood

and prowess all other, but in this spiritual matters he shall

have many his better.  And then Sir Bors saw four gentlewomen

come by him, purely beseen: and he saw where

that they entered into a chamber where was great light as

it were a summer light; and the women kneeled down

afore an altar of silver with four pillars, and as it had been

a bishop kneeled down afore that table of silver.  And as

Sir Bors looked over his head he saw a sword like silver,

naked, hoving over his head, and the clearness thereof

smote so in his eyes that as at that time Sir Bors was blind;

and there he heard a voice that said:  Go hence, thou Sir

Bors, for as yet thou art not worthy for to be in this place.

And then he yede backward to his bed till on the morn.

And on the morn King Pelles made great joy of Sir Bors;

and then he departed and rode to Camelot, and there he

found Sir Launcelot du Lake, and told him of the adventures

that he had seen with King Pelles at Corbin.

So the noise sprang in Arthur's court that Launcelot

had gotten a child upon Elaine, the daughter of King

Pelles, wherefore Queen Guenever was wroth, and gave

many rebukes to Sir Launcelot, and called him false knight.

And then Sir Launcelot told the queen all, and how he

was made to lie by her by enchantment in likeness of the

queen.  So the queen held Sir Launcelot excused.  And

as the book saith, King Arthur had been in France, and

had made war upon the mighty King Claudas, and had

won much of his lands.  And when the king was come

again he let cry a great feast, that all lords and ladies of

all England should be there, but if it were such as were

rebellious against him.

CHAPTER VII

How Dame Elaine, Galahad's mother, came in great estate

unto Camelot, and how Sir Launcelot behaved him

there.

AND when Dame Elaine, the daughter of King Pelles,

heard of this feast she went to her father and required

him that he would give her leave to ride to that feast.

The king answered:  I will well ye go thither, but in any

wise as ye love me and will have my blessing, that ye be

well beseen in the richest wise; and look that ye spare

not for no cost; ask and ye shall have all that you needeth.

Then by the advice of Dame Brisen, her maiden, all thing

was apparelled unto the purpose, that there was never

no lady more richlier beseen.  So she rode with twenty

knights, and ten ladies, and gentlewomen, to the number

of an hundred horses.  And when she came to Camelot,

King Arthur and Queen Guenever said, and all the

knights, that Dame Elaine was the fairest and the best

beseen lady that ever was seen in that court.  And anon

as King Arthur wist that she was come he met her and

saluted her, and so did the most part of all the knights of

the Round Table, both Sir Tristram, Sir Bleoberis, and

Sir Gawaine, and many more that I will not rehearse.

But when Sir Launcelot saw her he was so ashamed, and

that because he drew his sword on the morn when he had

lain by her, that he would not salute her nor speak to her;

and yet Sir Launcelot thought she was the fairest woman

that ever he saw in his life-days.

But when Dame Elaine saw Sir Launcelot that would

not speak unto her she was so heavy that she weened her

heart would have to-brast; for wit you well, out of measure

she loved him.  And then Elaine said unto her woman,

Dame Brisen: the unkindness of Sir Launcelot slayeth

me near.  Ah, peace, madam, said Dame Brisen, I will

undertake that this night he shall lie with you, an ye

would hold you still.  That were me liefer, said Dame

Elaine, than all the gold that is above the earth.  Let me

deal, said Dame Brisen.  So when Elaine was brought

unto Queen Guenever either made other good cheer by

countenance, but nothing with hearts.  But all men and

women spake of the beauty of Dame Elaine, and of her

great riches.

Then, at night, the queen commanded that Dame

Elaine should sleep in a chamber nigh her chamber, and

all under one roof; and so it was done as the queen

commanded.  Then the queen sent for Sir Launcelot and

bade him come to her chamber that night: Or else I am

sure, said the queen, that ye will go to your lady's bed,

Dame Elaine, by whom ye gat Galahad.  Ah, madam,

said Sir Launcelot, never say ye so, for that I did was

against my will.  Then, said the queen, look that ye

come to me when I send for you.  Madam, said Launcelot,

I shall not fail you, but I shall be ready at your

commandment.  This bargain was soon done and made

between them, but Dame Brisen knew it by her crafts,

and told it to her lady, Dame Elaine.  Alas, said she,

how shall I do?  Let me deal, said Dame Brisen, for I

shall bring him by the hand even to your bed, and he

shall ween that I am Queen Guenever's messenger.  Now

well is me, said Dame Elaine, for all the world I love not

so much as I do Sir Launcelot.

CHAPTER VIII

How Dame Brisen by enchantment brought Sir Launcelot to

Dame Elaine's bed, and how Queen Guenever rebuked

him.

SO when time came that all folks were abed, Dame

Brisen came to Sir Launcelot's bed's side and said:  Sir

Launcelot du Lake, sleep you?  My lady, Queen Guenever,

lieth and awaiteth upon you.  O my fair lady, said

Sir Launcelot, I am ready to go with you where ye will

have me.  So Sir Launcelot threw upon him a long gown,

and his sword in his hand; and then Dame Brisen took

him by the finger and led him to her lady's bed, Dame

Elaine; and then she departed and left them in bed

together.  Wit you well the lady was glad, and so was Sir

Launcelot, for he weened that he had had another in his

arms.

Now leave we them kissing and clipping, as was kindly

thing; and now speak we of Queen Guenever that sent

one of her women unto Sir Launcelot's bed; and when

she came there she found the bed cold, and he was away;

so she came to the queen and told her all.  Alas, said the

queen, where is that false knight become?  Then the

queen was nigh out of her wit, and then she writhed and

weltered as a mad woman, and might not sleep a four or

five hours.  Then Sir Launcelot had a condition that he

used of custom, he would clatter in his sleep, and speak

oft of his lady, Queen Guenever.  So as Sir Launcelot

had waked as long as it had pleased him, then by course

of kind he slept, and Dame Elaine both.  And in his sleep

he talked and clattered as a jay, of the love that had been

betwixt Queen Guenever and him.  And so as he talked

so loud the queen heard him thereas she lay in her

chamber; and when she heard him so clatter she was nigh

wood and out of her mind, and for anger and pain wist

not what to do.  And then she coughed so loud that Sir

Launcelot awaked, and he knew her hemming.  And then

he knew well that he lay not by the queen; and therewith

he leapt out of his bed as he had been a wood man, in his

shirt, and the queen met him in the floor; and thus she

said:  False traitor knight that thou art, look thou never

abide in my court, and avoid my chamber, and not so

hardy, thou false traitor knight that thou art, that ever

thou come in my sight.  Alas, said Sir Launcelot; and

therewith he took such an heartly sorrow at her words

that he fell down to the floor in a swoon.  And therewithal

Queen Guenever departed.  And when Sir Launcelot

awoke of his swoon, he leapt out at a bay window into a

garden, and there with thorns he was all to-scratched in

his visage and his body; and so he ran forth he wist not

whither, and was wild wood as ever was man; and so he

ran two year, and never man might have grace to know

him.

CHAPTER IX

How Dame Elaine was commanded by Queen Guenever to

avoid the court, and how Sir Launcelot became mad.

NOW turn we unto Queen Guenever and to the fair

Lady Elaine, that when Dame Elaine heard the queen so

to rebuke Sir Launcelot, and also she saw how he swooned,

and how he leaped out at a bay window, then she said unto

Queen Guenever:  Madam, ye are greatly to blame for Sir

Launcelot, for now have ye lost him, for I saw and heard

by his countenance that he is mad for ever.  Alas, madam,

ye do great sin, and to yourself great dishonour, for ye

have a lord of your own, and therefore it is your part to

love him; for there is no queen in this world hath such

another king as ye have.  And, if ye were not, I might

have the love of my lord Sir Launcelot; and cause I have

to love him for he had my maidenhood, and by him I have

borne a fair son, and his name is Galahad, and he shall be

in his time the best knight of the world.  Dame Elaine,

said the queen, when it is daylight I charge you and

command you to avoid my court; and for the love ye owe

unto Sir Launcelot discover not his counsel, for an ye do,

it will be his death.  As for that, said Dame Elaine, I dare

undertake he is marred for ever, and that have ye made;

for ye, nor I, are like to rejoice him; for he made the most

piteous groans when he leapt out at yonder bay window

that ever I heard man make.  Alas, said fair Elaine, and

alas, said the Queen Guenever, for now I wot well we

have lost him for ever.

So on the morn Dame Elaine took her leave to depart,

and she would no longer abide.  Then King Arthur

brought her on her way with mo than an hundred

knights through a forest.  And by the way she told Sir

Bors de Ganis all how it betid that same night, and how

Sir Launcelot leapt out at a window, araged out of his

wit.  Alas, said Sir Bors, where is my lord, Sir Launcelot,

become?  Sir, said Elaine, I wot ne'er.  Alas, said Sir Bors,

betwixt you both ye have destroyed that good knight.  As

for me, said Dame Elaine, I said never nor did never

thing that should in any wise displease him, but with

the rebuke that Queen Guenever gave him I saw him

swoon to the earth; and when he awoke he took his sword

in his hand, naked save his shirt, and leapt out at a window

with the grisliest groan that ever I heard man make.  Now

farewell, Dame Elaine, said Sir Bors, and hold my lord

Arthur with a tale as long as ye can, for I will turn again

to Queen Guenever and give her a hete; and I require

you, as ever ye will have my service, make good watch and

espy if ever ye may see my lord Sir Launcelot.  Truly,

said fair Elaine, I shall do all that I may do, for as fain

would I know and wit where he is become, as you, or any

of his kin, or Queen Guenever; and cause great enough

have I thereto as well as any other.  And wit ye well, said

fair Elaine to Sir Bors, I would lose my life for him rather

than he should be hurt; but alas, I cast me never for to

see him, and the chief causer of this is Dame Guenever.

Madam, said Dame Brisen, the which had made the

enchantment before betwixt Sir Launcelot and her, I pray

you heartily, let Sir Bors depart, and hie him with all his

might as fast as he may to seek Sir Launcelot, for I warn

you he is clean out of his mind; and yet he shall be well

holpen an but by miracle.

Then wept Dame Elaine, and so did Sir Bors de Ganis;

and so they departed, and Sir Bors rode straight unto

Queen Guenever.  And when she saw Sir Bors she wept

as she were wood.  Fie on your weeping, said Sir Bors de

Ganis, for ye weep never but when there is no bote.  Alas,

said Sir Bors, that ever Sir Launcelot's kin saw you, for

now have ye lost the best knight of our blood, and he

that was all our leader and our succour; and I dare say

and make it good that all kings, christian nor heathen, may

not find such a knight, for to speak of his nobleness and

courtesy, with his beauty and his gentleness.  Alas, said

Sir Bors, what shall we do that be of his blood?  Alas,

said Sir Ector de Maris.  Alas, said Lionel.

CHAPTER X

What sorrow Queen Guenever made for Sir Launcelot, and

how he was sought by knights of his kin.

AND when the queen heard them say so she fell to the

earth in a dead swoon.  And then Sir Bors took her up,

and dawed her; and when she was awaked she kneeled

afore the three knights, and held up both her hands, and

besought them to seek him.  And spare not for no goods

but that he be found, for I wot he is out of his mind.  And

Sir Bors, Sir Ector, and Sir Lionel departed from the

queen, for they might not abide no longer for sorrow.

And then the queen sent them treasure enough for their

expenses, and so they took their horses and their armour,

and departed.  And then they rode from country to

country, in forests, and in wilderness, and in wastes; and

ever they laid watch both at forests and at all manner of

men as they rode, to hearken and spere after him, as he

that was a naked man, in his shirt, with a sword in his

hand.  And thus they rode nigh a quarter of a year,

endlong and overthwart, in many places, forests and wilderness,

and oft-times were evil lodged for his sake; and yet for all

their labour and seeking could they never hear word of

him.  And wit you well these three knights were passing

sorry.

Then at the last Sir Bors and his fellows met with

a knight that hight Sir Melion de Tartare.  Now fair

knight, said Sir Bors, whither be ye away? for they knew

either other afore time.  Sir, said Melion, I am in the way

toward the court of King Arthur.  Then we pray you,

said Sir Bors, that ye will tell my lord Arthur, and my lady,

Queen Guenever, and all the fellowship of the Round

Table, that we cannot in no wise hear tell where Sir

Launcelot is become.  Then Sir Melion departed from them,

and said that he would tell the king, and the queen, and

all the fellowship-of the Round Table, as they had desired

him.  So when Sir Melion came to the court of King

Arthur he told the king, and the queen, and all the

fellowship of the Round Table, what Sir Bors had said of

Sir Launcelot.  Then Sir Gawaine, Sir Uwaine, Sir Sagramore

le Desirous, Sir Aglovale, and Sir Percivale de Galis

took upon them by the great desire of King Arthur, and

in especial by the queen, to seek throughout all England,

Wales, and Scotland, to find Sir Launcelot, and with them

rode eighteen knights mo to bear them fellowship; and

wit ye well, they lacked no manner of spending; and so

were they three and twenty knights.

Now turn we to Sir Launcelot, and speak we of his

care and woe, and what pain he there endured; for cold,

hunger, and thirst, he had plenty.  And thus as these

noble knights rode together, they by one assent departed,

and then they rode by two, by three, and by four, and by

five, and ever they assigned where they should meet.  And so

Sir Aglovale and Sir Percivale rode together unto their

mother that was a queen in those days.  And when she

saw her two sons, for joy she wept tenderly.  And then

she said:  Ah, my dear sons, when your father was slain

he left me four sons, of the which now be twain slain.

And for the death of my noble son, Sir Lamorak, shall my

heart never be glad.  And then she kneeled down upon

her knees to-fore Aglovale and Sir Percivale, and besought

them to abide at home with her.  Ah, sweet mother, said

Sir Percivale, we may not, for we be come of king's blood

of both parties, and therefore, mother, it is our kind to

haunt arms and noble deeds.  Alas, my sweet sons, then

she said, for your sakes I shall lose my liking and lust, and

then wind and weather I may not endure, what for the

death of your father, King Pellinore, that was shamefully

slain by the hands of Sir Gawaine, and his brother, Sir

Gaheris: and they slew him not manly but by treason.

Ah, my dear sons, this is a piteous complaint for me of

your father's death, considering also the death of Sir

Lamorak, that of knighthood had but few fellows.  Now,

my dear sons, have this in your mind.  Then there was but

weeping and sobbing in the court when they should depart,

and she fell a-swooning in midst of the court.

CHAPTER XI

How a servant of Sir Aglovale's was slain, and what vengeance

Sir Aglovale and Sir Percivale did therefore.

AND when she was awaked she sent a squire after them

with spending enough.  And so when the squire had overtaken

them, they would not suffer him to ride with them,

but sent him home again to comfort their mother, praying

her meekly of her blessing.  And so this squire was

benighted, and by misfortune he happened to come to a

castle where dwelled a baron.  And so when the squire

was come into the castle, the lord asked him from whence

he came, and whom he served.  My lord, said the squire,

I serve a good knight that is called Sir Aglovale: the

squire said it to good intent, weening unto him to have

been more forborne for Sir Aglovale's sake, than he had

said he had served the queen, Aglovale's mother.  Well,

my fellow, said the lord of that castle, for Sir Aglovale's

sake thou shalt have evil lodging, for Sir Aglovale slew my

brother, and therefore thou shalt die on part of payment.

And then that lord commanded his men to have him away

and slay him; and so they did, and so pulled him out of

the castle, and there they slew him without mercy.

Right so on the morn came Sir Aglovale and Sir Percivale

riding by a churchyard, where men and women were

busy, and beheld the dead squire, and they thought to bury

him.  What is there, said Sir Aglovale, that ye behold so

fast?  A good man stert forth and said:  Fair knight, here

lieth a squire slain shamefully this night.  How was he

slain, fair fellow? said Sir Aglovale.  My fair sir, said the

man, the lord of this castle lodged this squire this night;

and because he said he was servant unto a good knight

that is with King Arthur, his name is Sir Aglovale,

therefore the lord commanded to slay him, and for this cause is

he slain.  Gramercy, said Sir Aglovale, and ye shall see

his death revenged lightly; for I am that same knight for

whom this squire was slain.

Then Sir Aglovale called unto him Sir Percivale, and

bade him alight lightly; and so they alighted both, and

betook their horses to their men, and so they yede on foot

into the castle.  And all so soon as they were within the

castle gate Sir Aglovale bade the porter:  Go thou unto thy

lord and tell him that I am Sir Aglovale for whom this

squire was slain this night.  Anon the porter told this to

his lord, whose name was Goodewin.  Anon he armed him,

and then he came into the court and said:  Which of you

is Sir Aglovale?  Here I am, said Aglovale: for what

cause slewest thou this night my mother's squire?  I slew

him, said Sir Goodewin, because of thee, for thou slewest

my brother, Sir Gawdelin.  As for thy brother, said Sir

Aglovale, I avow it I slew him, for he was a false knight

and a betrayer of ladies and of good knights; and for the

death of my squire thou shalt die.  I defy thee, said Sir

Goodewin.  Then they lashed together as eagerly as it

had been two lions, and Sir Percivale he fought with all the

remnant that would fight.  And within a while Sir Percivale

had slain all that would withstand him; for Sir Percivale

dealt so his strokes that were so rude that there durst

no man abide him.  And within a while Sir Aglovale had

Sir Goodewin at the earth, and there he unlaced his helm,

and struck off his head.  And then they departed and took

their horses; and then they let carry the dead squire unto

a priory, and there they interred him.

CHAPTER XII

How Sir Pervivale departed secretly from his brother, and

how he loosed a knight bound with a chain, and of

other doings.

AND when this was done they rode into many countries,

ever inquiring after Sir Launcelot, but never they could

hear of him; and at the last they came to a castle that

hight Cardican, and there Sir Percivale and Sir Aglovale

were lodged together.  And privily about midnight Sir

Percivale came to Aglovale's squire and said:  Arise and

make thee ready, for ye and I will ride away secretly.

Sir, said the squire, I would full fain ride with you where

ye would have me, but an my lord, your brother, take me

he will slay me.  As for that care thou not, for I shall be

thy warrant.

And so Sir Percivale rode till it was after noon, and then

he came upon a bridge of stone, and there he found a

knight that was bound with a chain fast about the waist

unto a pillar of stone.  O fair knight, said that bound

knight, I require thee loose me of my bonds.  What

knight are ye, said Sir Percivale, and for what cause are

ye so bound?  Sir, I shall tell you, said that knight:

I am a knight of the Table Round, and my name is Sir

Persides; and thus by adventure I came this way, and

here I lodged in this castle at the bridge foot, and therein

dwelleth an uncourteous lady; and because she proffered

me to be her paramour, and I refused her, she set her men

upon me suddenly or ever I might come to my weapon;

and thus they bound me, and here I wot well I shall die but

if some man of worship break my bands.  Be ye of good

cheer, said Sir Percivale, and because ye are a knight of the

Round Table as well as I, I trust to God to break your

bands.  And therewith Sir Percivale pulled out his sword

and struck at the chain with such a might that he cut

a-two the chain, and through Sir Persides' hauberk and hurt

him a little.  O Jesu, said Sir Persides, that was a mighty

stroke as ever I felt one, for had not the chain been ye

had slain me.

And therewithal Sir Persides saw a knight coming out

of a castle all that ever he might fling.  Beware, sir, said

Sir Persides, yonder cometh a man that will have ado with

you.  Let him come, said Sir Percivale.  And so he met

with that knight in midst of the bridge; and Sir Percivale

gave him such a buffet that he smote him quite from his

horse and over a part of the bridge, that, had not been

a little vessel under the bridge, that knight had been

drowned.  And then Sir Percivale took the knight's horse

and made Sir Persides to mount up him; and so they rode

unto the castle, and bade the lady deliver Sir Persides'

servants, or else he would slay all that ever he found;

and so for fear she delivered them all.  Then was Sir

Percivale ware of a lady that stood in that tower.  Ah,

madam, said Sir Percivale, what use and custom is that in

a lady to destroy good knights but if they will be your

paramour?  Forsooth this is a shameful custom of a lady,

and if I had not a great matter in my hand I should fordo

your evil customs.

And so Sir Persides brought Sir Percivale unto his own

castle, and there he made him great cheer all that night.

And on the morn, when Sir Percivale had heard mass and

broken his fast, he bade Sir Persides ride unto King

Arthur:  And tell the king how that ye met with me; and

tell my brother, Sir Aglovale, how I rescued you; and

bid him seek not after me, for I am in the quest to seek

Sir Launcelot du Lake, and though he seek me he shall

not find me; and tell him I will never see him, nor the

court, till I have found Sir Launcelot.  Also tell Sir Kay

the Seneschal, and to Sir Mordred, that I trust to Jesu to

be of as great worthiness as either of them, for tell them

I shall never forget their mocks and scorns that they did

to me that day that I was made knight; and tell them I

will never see that court till men speak more worship of

me than ever men did of any of them both.  And so Sir

Persides departed from Sir Percivale, and then he rode

unto King Arthur, and told there of Sir Percivale.  And

when Sir Aglovale heard him speak of his brother Sir

Percivale, he said:  He departed from me unkindly.

CHAPTER XIII

How Sir Percivale met with Sir Ector, and how they fought

long, and each had almost slain other.

SIR, said Sir Persides, on my life he shall prove a noble

knight as any now is living.  And when he saw Sir Kay

and Sir Mordred, Sir Persides said thus:  My fair lords

both, Sir Percivale greeteth you well both, and he sent you

word by me that he trusteth to God or ever he come to

the court again to be of as great noblesse as ever were ye

both, and mo men to speak of his noblesse than ever

they did of you.  It may well be, said Sir Kay and Sir

Mordred, but at that time when he was made knight he

was full unlike to prove a good knight.  As for that, said

King Arthur, he must needs prove a good knight, for his

father and his brethren were noble knights

And now will we turn unto Sir Percivale that rode

long; and in a forest he met a knight with a broken

shield and a broken helm; and as soon as either saw other

readily they made them ready to joust, and so hurtled

together with all the might of their horses, and met together

so hard, that Sir Percivale was smitten to the earth.  And

then Sir Percivale arose lightly, and cast his shield on his

shoulder and drew his sword, and bade the other knight

Alight, and do we battle unto the uttermost.  Will ye

more? said that knight.  And therewith he alighted, and

put his horse from him; and then they came together an

easy pace, and there they lashed together with noble

swords, and sometime they struck and sometime they

foined, and either gave other many great wounds.  Thus

they fought near half a day, and never rested but right

little, and there was none of them both that had less wounds

than fifteen, and they bled so much that it was marvel

they stood on their feet.  But this knight that fought

with Sir Percivale was a proved knight and a wise-fighting

knight, and Sir Percivale was young and strong, not

knowing in fighting as the other was.

Then Sir Percivale spoke first, and said:  Sir knight,

hold thy hand a while still, for we have fought for a

simple matter and quarrel overlong, and therefore I require

thee tell me thy name, for I was never or this time matched.

So God me help, said that knight, and never or this time

was there never knight that wounded me so sore as thou

hast done, and yet have I fought in many battles; and now

shalt thou wit that I am a knight of the Table Round, and

my name is Sir Ector de Maris, brother unto the good

knight, Sir Launcelot du Lake.  Alas, said Sir Percivale,

and my name is Sir Percivale de Galis that hath made

my quest to seek Sir Launcelot, and now I am siker

that I shall never finish my quest, for ye have slain me

with your hands.  It is not so, said Sir Ector, for I am

slain by your hands, and may not live.  Therefore I

require you, said Sir Ector unto Sir Percivale, ride ye hereby

to a priory, and bring me a priest that I may receive my

Saviour, for I may not live.  And when ye come to the

court of King Arthur tell not my brother, Sir Launcelot,

how that ye slew me, for then he would be your mortal

enemy, but ye may say that I was slain in my quest as I

sought him.  Alas, said Sir Percivale, ye say that never

will be, for I am so faint for bleeding that I may unnethe

stand, how should I then take my horse?

CHAPTER XIV

How by miracle they were both made whole by the coming

of the holy vessel of Sangreal.

THEN they made both great dole out of measure.  This

will not avail, said Sir Percivale.  And then he kneeled

down and made his prayer devoutly unto Almighty Jesu,

for he was one of the best knights of the world that at

that time was, in whom the very faith stood most in.

Right so there came by the holy vessel of the Sangreal

with all manner of sweetness and savour; but they could

not readily see who that bare that vessel, but Sir Percivale

had a glimmering of the vessel and of the maiden that

bare it, for he was a perfect clean maiden; and forthwithal

they both were as whole of hide and limb as ever they

were in their life-days: then they gave thankings to God

with great mildness.  O Jesu, said Sir Percivale, what

may this mean, that we be thus healed, and right now we

were at the point of dying?  I wot full well, said Sir Ector,

what it is; it is an holy vessel that is borne by a maiden,

and therein is part of the holy blood of our Lord Jesu

Christ, blessed mote he be.  But it may not be seen, said

Sir Ector, but if it be by a perfect man.  So God me

help, said Sir Percivale, I saw a damosel, as me thought,

all in white, with a vessel in both her hands, and forthwithal

I was whole.

So then they took their horses and their harness, and

amended their harness as well as they might that was

broken; and so they mounted upon their horses, and rode

talking together.  And there Sir Ector de Maris told Sir

Percivale how he had sought his brother, Sir Launcelot,

long, and never could hear witting of him: In many

strange adventures have I been in this quest.  And so

either told other of their adventures.

<oe Here endeth the eleventh book.  And here followeth

the twelfth book.>

BOOK XII

CHAPTER I

How Sir Launcelot in his madness took a sword and fought

with a knight, and leapt in a bed.

AND now leave we of a while of Sir Ector and of Sir

Percivale, and speak we of Sir Launcelot that suffered and

endured many sharp showers, that ever ran wild wood

from place to place, and lived by fruit and such as he

might get, and drank water two year; and other clothing

had he but little but his shirt and his breech.  Thus as

Sir Launcelot wandered here and there he came in a fair

meadow where he found a pavilion; and there by, upon

a tree, there hung a white shield, and two swords hung

thereby, and two spears leaned there by a tree.  And

when Sir Launcelot saw the swords, anon he leapt to the

one sword, and took it in his hand, and drew it out.  And

then he lashed at the shield, that all the meadow rang of

the dints, that he gave such a noise as ten knights had

foughten together.

Then came forth a dwarf, and leapt unto Sir Launcelot,

and would have had the sword out of his hand.  And

then Sir Launcelot took him by the both shoulders and

threw him to the ground upon his neck, that he had

almost broken his neck; and therewithal the dwarf cried

help.  Then came forth a likely knight, and well

apparelled in scarlet furred with minever.  And anon as

he saw Sir Launcelot he deemed that he should be out of

his wit.  And then he said with fair speech:  Good man,

lay down that sword, for as meseemeth thou hadst more

need of sleep and of warm clothes than to wield that

sword.  As for that, said Sir Launcelot, come not too

nigh, for an thou do, wit thou well I will slay thee.

And when the knight of the pavilion saw that, he

stert backward within the pavilion.  And then the dwarf

armed him lightly; and so the knight thought by force

and might to take the sword from Sir Launcelot, and so

he came stepping out; and when Sir Launcelot saw him

come so all armed with his sword in his hand, then Sir

Launcelot flew to him with such a might, and hit him

upon the helm such a buffet, that the stroke troubled his

brains, and therewith the sword brake in three.  And the

knight fell to the earth as he had been dead, the blood

brasting out of his mouth, the nose, and the ears.  And

then Sir Launcelot ran into the pavilion, and rushed even

into the warm bed; and there was a lady in that bed, and

she gat her smock, and ran out of the pavilion.  And when

she saw her lord lie at the ground like to be dead, then

she cried and wept as she had been mad.  Then with her

noise the knight awaked out of his swoon, and looked up

weakly with his eyes; and then he asked her, where was

that mad man that had given him such a buffet:  For

such a buffet had I never of man's hand.  Sir, said the

dwarf, it is not worship to hurt him, for he is a man out

of his wit; and doubt ye not he hath been a man of great

worship, and for some heartly sorrow that he hath taken,

he is fallen mad; and me beseemeth, said the dwarf, he

resembleth much unto Sir Launcelot, for him I saw at the

great tournament beside Lonazep.  Jesu defend, said

that knight, that ever that noble knight, Sir Launcelot,

should be in such a plight; but whatsomever he be, said

that knight, harm will I none do him: and this knight's

name was Bliant.  Then he said unto the dwarf:  Go

thou fast on horseback, unto my brother Sir Selivant, that

is at the Castle Blank, and tell him of mine adventure,

and bid him bring with him an horse litter, and then will

we bear this knight unto my castle.

CHAPTER II

How Sir Lancelot was carried in an horse litter, and how

Sir Launcelot rescued Sir Bliant, his host.

SO the dwarf rode fast, and he came again and brought

Sir Selivant with him, and six men with an horse litter;

and so they took up the feather bed with Sir Launcelot,

and so carried all away with them unto the Castle Blank,

and he never awaked till he was within the castle.  And

then they bound his hands and his feet, and gave him

good meats and good drinks, and brought him again to

his strength and his fairness; but in his wit they could

not bring him again, nor to know himself.  Thus was Sir

Launcelot there more than a year and a half, honestly

arrayed and fair faren withal.

Then upon a day this lord of that castle, Sir Bliant,

took his arms, on horseback, with a spear, to seek

adventures.  And as he rode in a forest there met with

him two knights adventurous, the one was Breuse Saunce

Pit<e'>, and his brother, Sir Bertelot; and these two ran

both at once upon Sir Bliant, and brake their spears upon

his body.  And then they drew out swords and made

great battle, and fought long together.  But at the last

Sir Bliant was sore wounded, and felt himself faint; and

then he fled on horseback toward his castle.  And as they

came hurling under the castle whereas Sir Launcelot lay in

a window, [he] saw how two knights laid upon Sir Bliant

with their swords.  And when Sir Launcelot saw that,

yet as wood as he was he was sorry for his lord, Sir Bliant.

And then Sir Launcelot brake the chains from his legs

and off his arms, and in the breaking he hurt his hands

sore; and so Sir Launcelot ran out at a postern, and

there he met with the two knights that chased Sir Bliant;

and there he pulled down Sir Bertelot with his bare hands

from his horse, and therewithal he wrothe his sword out

of his hand; and so he leapt unto Sir Breuse, and gave

him such a buffet upon the head that he tumbled backward

over his horse's croup.  And when Sir Bertelot saw

there his brother have such a fall, he gat a spear in his

hand, and would have run Sir Launcelot through: that

saw Sir Bliant, and struck off the hand of Sir Bertelot.

And then Sir Breuse and Sir Bertelot gat their horses and

fled away.

When Sir Selivant came and saw what Sir Launcelot

had done for his brother, then he thanked God, and so

did his brother, that ever they did him any good.  But

when Sir Bliant saw that Sir Launcelot was hurt with the

breaking of his irons, then was he heavy that ever he

bound him.  Bind him no more, said Sir Selivant, for he

is happy and gracious.  Then they made great joy of Sir

Launcelot, and they bound him no more; and so he

abode there an half year and more.  And on the morn

early Sir Launcelot was ware where came a great boar

with many hounds nigh him.  But the boar was so big

there might no hounds tear him; and the hunters came

after, blowing their horns, both upon horseback and some

upon foot; and then Sir Launcelot was ware where one

alighted and tied his horse to a tree, and leaned his spear

against the tree.

CHAPTER III

How Sir Launcelot fought against a boar and slew him, and

how he was hurt, and brought unto an hermitage.

SO came Sir Launcelot and found the horse bounden till a

tree, and a spear leaning against a tree, and a sword tied

to the saddle bow; and then Sir Launcelot leapt into the

saddle and gat that spear in his hand, and then he rode

after the boar; and then Sir Launcelot was ware where

the boar set his arse to a tree fast by an hermitage.

Then Sir Launcelot ran at the boar with his spear, and

therewith the boar turned him nimbly, and rove out the

lungs and the heart of the horse, so that Launcelot fell to

the earth; and, or ever Sir Launcelot might get from the

horse, the boar rove him on the brawn of the thigh up to

the hough bone.  And then Sir Launcelot was wroth, and

up he gat upon his feet, and drew his sword, and he smote

off the boar's head at one stroke.  And therewithal came

out the hermit, and saw him have such a wound.  Then

the hermit came to Sir Launcelot and bemoaned him, and

would have had him home unto his hermitage; but when

Sir Launcelot heard him speak, he was so wroth with his

wound that he ran upon the hermit to have slain him,

and the hermit ran away.  And when Sir Launcelot might

not overget him, he threw his sword after him, for Sir

Launcelot might go no further for bleeding; then the

hermit turned again, and asked Sir Launcelot how he was

hurt.  Fellow, said Sir Launcelot, this boar hath bitten

me sore.  Then come with me, said the hermit, and I

shall heal you.  Go thy way, said Sir Launcelot, and deal

not with me.

Then the hermit ran his way, and there he met with a

good knight with many men.  Sir, said the hermit, here

is fast by my place the goodliest man that ever I saw, and

he is sore wounded with a boar, and yet he hath slain the

boar.  But well I wot, said the hermit, and he be not

holpen, that goodly man shall die of that wound, and that

were great pity.  Then that knight at the desire of the

hermit gat a cart, and in that cart that knight put the boar

and Sir Launcelot, for Sir Launcelot was so feeble that

they might right easily deal with him; and so Sir Launcelot

was brought unto the hermitage, and there the hermit

healed him of his wound.  But the hermit might not find

Sir Launcelot's sustenance, and so he impaired and waxed

feeble, both of his body and of his wit: for the default of

his sustenance he waxed more wooder than he was aforehand.

And then upon a day Sir Launcelot ran his way into

the forest; and by adventure he came to the city of

Corbin, where Dame Elaine was, that bare Galahad, Sir

Launcelot's son.  And so when he was entered into the

town he ran through the town to the castle; and then all

the young men of that city ran after Sir Launcelot, and

there they threw turves at him, and gave him many sad

strokes.  And ever as Sir Launcelot might overreach any

of them, he threw them so that they would never come in

his hands no more; for of some he brake the legs and

the arms, and so fled into the castle; and then came out

knights and squires and rescued Sir Launcelot.  And

when they beheld him and looked upon his person, they

thought they saw never so goodly a man.  And when

they saw so many wounds upon him, all they deemed that

he had been a man of worship.  And then they ordained

him clothes to his body, and straw underneath him, and a

little house.  And then every day they would throw him

meat, and set him drink, but there was but few would

bring him meat to his hands.

CHAPTER IV

How Sir Launcelot was known by Dame Elaine, and was

borne into a chamber and after healed by the Sangreal.

SO it befell that King Pelles had a nephew, his name was

Castor; and so he desired of the king to be made knight,

and so at the request of this Castor the king made him

knight at the feast of Candlemas.  And when Sir Castor

was made knight, that same day he gave many gowns.

And then Sir Castor sent for the fool--that was Sir

Launcelot.  And when he was come afore Sir Castor, he

gave Sir Launcelot a robe of scarlet and all that longed

unto him.  And when Sir Launcelot was so arrayed like

a knight, he was the seemliest man in all the court, and

none so well made.  So when he saw his time he went

into the garden, and there Sir Launcelot laid him down

by a well and slept.  And so at-after noon Dame Elaine

and her maidens came into the garden to play them;

and as they roamed up and down one of Dame Elaine's

maidens espied where lay a goodly man by the well

sleeping, and anon showed him to Dame Elaine.  Peace,

said Dame Elaine, and say no word: and then she brought

Dame Elaine where he lay.  And when that she beheld

him, anon she fell in remembrance of him, and knew him

verily for Sir Launcelot; and therewithal she fell

a-weeping so heartily that she sank even to the earth; and when

she had thus wept a great while, then she arose and called

her maidens and said she was sick.

And so she yede out of the garden, and she went

straight to her father, and there she took him apart by

herself; and then she said:  O father, now have I need of

your help, and but if that ye help me farewell my good

days for ever.  What is that, daughter? said King Pelles.

Sir, she said, thus is it: in your garden I went for to

sport, and there, by the well, I found Sir Launcelot du

Lake sleeping.  I may not believe that, said King Pelles.

Sir, she said, truly he is there, and meseemeth he should

be distract out of his wit.  Then hold you still, said the

king, and let me deal.  Then the king called to him such

as he most trusted, a four persons, and Dame Elaine, his

daughter.  And when they came to the well and beheld

Sir Launcelot, anon Dame Brisen knew him.  Sir, said

Dame Brisen, we must be wise how we deal with him, for

this knight is out of his mind, and if we awake him rudely

what he will do we all know not; but ye shall abide, and

I shall throw such an enchantment upon him that he shall

not awake within the space of an hour; and so she did.

Then within a little while after, the king commanded

that all people should avoid, that none should be in that

way thereas the king would come.  And so when this was

done, these four men and these ladies laid hand on Sir

Launcelot, and so they bare him into a tower, and so into

a chamber where was the holy vessel of the Sangreal, and

by force Sir Launcelot was laid by that holy vessel; and

there came an holy man and unhilled that vessel, and so

by miracle and by virtue of that holy vessel Sir Launcelot

was healed and recovered.  And when that he was awaked

he groaned and sighed, and complained greatly that he

was passing sore.

CHAPTER V

How Sir Launcelot, after that he was whole and had his

mind, he was ashamed, and how that Elaine desired a

castle for him.

AND when Sir Launcelot saw King Pelles and Elaine, he

waxed ashamed and said thus:  O Lord Jesu, how came I

here? for God's sake, my lord, let me wit how I came

here.  Sir, said Dame Elaine, into this country ye came

like a madman, clean out of your wit, and here have ye

been kept as a fool; and no creature here knew what ye

were, until by fortune a maiden of mine brought me unto

you whereas ye lay sleeping by a well, and anon as I

verily beheld you I knew you.  And then I told my

father, and so were ye brought afore this holy vessel, and

by the virtue of it thus were ye healed.  O Jesu, mercy,

said Sir Launcelot; if this be sooth, how many there be

that know of my woodness!  So God me help, said

Elaine, no more but my father, and I, and Dame Brisen.

Now for Christ's love, said Sir Launcelot, keep it in

counsel, and let no man know it in the world, for I am

sore ashamed that I have been thus miscarried; for I am

banished out of the country of Logris for ever, that is for

to say the country of England.

And so Sir Launcelot lay more than a fortnight or

ever that he might stir for soreness.  And then upon a

day he said unto Dame Elaine these words:  Lady Elaine,

for your sake I have had much travail, care, and anguish,

it needeth not to rehearse it, ye know how.  Notwithstanding

I know well I have done foul to you when that

I drew my sword to you, to have slain you, upon the

morn when I had lain with you.  And all was the cause,

that ye and Dame Brisen made me for to lie by you

maugre mine head; and as ye say, that night Galahad

your son was begotten.  That is truth, said Dame Elaine.

Now will ye for my love, said Sir Launcelot, go unto

your father and get me a place of him wherein I may

dwell? for in the court of King Arthur may I never

come.  Sir, said Dame Elaine, I will live and die with

you, and only for your sake; and if my life might not

avail you and my death might avail you, wit you well I

would die for your sake.  And I will go to my father

and I am sure there is nothing that I can desire of him

but I shall have it.  And where ye be, my lord Sir

Launcelot, doubt ye not but I will be with you with all

the service that I may do.  So forthwithal she went to

her father and said, Sir, my lord, Sir Launcelot, desireth

to be here by you in some castle of yours.  Well daughter,

said the king, sith it is his desire to abide in these marches

he shall be in the Castle of Bliant, and there shall ye be

with him, and twenty of the fairest ladies that be in the

country, and they shall all be of the great blood, and ye

shall have ten knights with you; for, daughter, I will that

ye wit we all be honoured by the blood of Sir Launcelot.

CHAPTER VI

How Sir Launcelot came into the joyous Isle, and there he

named himself Le Chevaler Mal Fet.

THEN went Dame Elaine unto Sir Launcelot, and told

him all how her father had devised for him and her.

Then came the knight Sir Castor, that was nephew unto

Kong Pelles, unto Sir Launcelot, and asked him what was

his name.  Sir, said Sir Launcelot, my name is Le Chevaler

Mal Fet, that is to say the knight that hath trespassed.

Sir, said Sir Castor, it may well be so, but ever meseemeth

your name should be Sir Launcelot du Lake, for or now

I have seen you.  Sir, said Launcelot, ye are not as a

gentle knight:  I put case my name were Sir Launcelot,

and that it list me not to discover my name, what should

it grieve you here to keep my counsel, and ye be not hurt

thereby? but wit thou well an ever it lie in my power I

shall grieve you, and that I promise you truly.  Then Sir

Castor kneeled down and besought Sir Launcelot of

mercy:  For I shall never utter what ye be, while that ye

be in these parts.  Then Sir Launcelot pardoned him.

And then, after this, King Pelles with ten knights, and

Dame Elaine, and twenty ladies, rode unto the Castle of

Bliant that stood in an island beclosed in iron, with a fair

water deep and large.  And when they were there Sir

Launcelot let call it the Joyous Isle; and there was he

called none otherwise but Le Chevaler Mal Fet, the

knight that hath trespassed.  Then Sir Launcelot let

make him a shield all of sable, and a queen crowned in

the midst, all of silver, and a knight clean armed kneeling

afore her.  And every day once, for any mirths that all

the ladies might make him, he would once every day

look toward the realm of Logris, where King Arthur and

Queen Guenever was.  And then would he fall upon a

weeping as his heart should to-brast.

So it fell that time Sir Launcelot heard of a jousting

fast by his castle, within three leagues.  Then he called

unto him a dwarf, and he bade him go unto that jousting .

And or ever the knights depart, look thou make there a

cry, in hearing of all the knights, that there is one knight

in the Joyous Isle, that is the Castle of Bliant, and say

his name is Le Chevaler Mal Fet, that will joust against

knights that will come.  And who that putteth that knight

to the worse shall have a fair maid and a gerfalcon.

CHAPTER VII

Of a great tourneying in the Joyous Isle, and how Sir

Pervivale and Sir Ector came thither, and Sir Percivale

fought with him.

SO when this cry was made, unto Joyous Isle drew

knights to the number of five hundred; and wit ye

well there was never seen in Arthur's days one knight

that did so much deeds of arms as Sir Launcelot did

three days together; for as the book maketh truly

mention, he had the better of all the five hundred

knights, and there was not one slain of them.  And

after that Sir Launcelot made them all a great feast.

And in the meanwhile came Sir Percivale de Galis

and Sir Ector de Maris under that castle that was

called the Joyous Isle.  And as they beheld that gay

castle they would have gone to that castle, but they

might not for the broad water, and bridge could they

find none.  Then they saw on the other side a lady

with a sperhawk on her hand, and Sir Percivale called

unto her, and asked that lady who was in that castle.

Fair knights, she said, here within this castle is the

fairest lady in this land, and her name is Elaine.  Also

we have in this castle the fairest knight and the mightiest

man that is I dare say living, and he called himself Le

Chevaler Mal Fet.  How came he into these marches?

said Sir Percivale.  Truly, said the damosel, he came

into this country like a mad man, with dogs and boys

chasing him through the city of Corbin, and by the

holy vessel of the Sangreal he was brought into his

wit again; but he will not do battle with no knight,

but by underne or by noon.  And if ye list to come

into the castle, said the lady, ye must ride unto the

further side of the castle and there shall ye find a vessel

that will bear you and your horse.  Then they departed,

and came unto the vessel.  And then Sir Percivale

alighted, and said to Sir Ector de Maris:  Ye shall

abide me here until that I wit what manner a knight

he is; for it were shame unto us, inasmuch as he is

but one knight, an we should both do battle with

him.  Do ye as ye list, said Sir Ector, and here I

shall abide you until that I hear of you

Then passed Sir Percivale the water, and when he

came to the castle gate he bade the porter:  Go thou

to the good knight within the castle, and tell him here

is come an errant knight to joust with him.  Sir, said

the porter, ride ye within the castle, and there is a

common place for jousting, that lords and ladies may

behold you.  So anon as Sir Launcelot had warning he

was soon ready; and there Sir Percivale and Sir

Launcelot encountered with such a might, and their

spears were so rude, that both the horses and the knights

fell to the earth.  Then they avoided their horses,

and flang out noble swords, and hewed away cantels

of their shields, and hurtled together with their shields

like two boars, and either wounded other passing sore.

At the last Sir Percivale spake first when they had

foughten there more than two hours.  Fair knight, said

Sir Percivale, I require thee tell me thy name, for I

met never with such a knight.  Sir, said Sir Launcelot,

my name is Le Chevaler Mal Fet.  Now tell me your

name, said Sir Launcelot, I require you, gentle knight.

Truly, said Sir Percivale, my name is Sir Percivale de Galis,

that was brother unto the good knight, Sir Lamorak

de Galis, and King Pellinore was our father, and Sir

Aglovale is my brother.  Alas, said Sir Launcelot,

what have I done to fight with you that art a knight

of the Round Table, that sometime was your fellow?

CHAPTER VIlI

How each of them knew other, and of their great courtesy,

and how his brother Sir Ector came unto him, and of

their joy.

AND therewithal Sir Launcelot kneeled down upon his

knees, and threw away his shield and his sword from

him.  When Sir Percivale saw him do so he marvelled

what he meant.  And then thus he said:  Sir knight,

whatsomever thou be, I require thee upon the high

order of knighthood, tell me thy true name.  Then he

said:  So God me help, my name is Sir Launcelot du

Lake, King Ban's son of Benoy.  Alas, said Sir Percivale,

what have I done?  I was sent by the queen for to

seek you, and so I have sought you nigh this two

year, and yonder is Sir Ector de Maris, your brother

abideth me on the other side of the yonder water.  Now

for God's sake, said Sir Percivale, forgive me mine offences

that I have here done.  It is soon forgiven, said Sir

Launcelot.

Then Sir Percivale sent for Sir Ector de Maris,

and when Sir Launcelot had a sight of him, he ran

unto him and took him in his arms; and then Sir

Ector kneeled down, and either wept upon other, that

all had pity to behold them.  Then came Dame Elaine

and she there made them great cheer as might lie in

her power; and there she told Sir Ector and Sir

Percivale how and in what manner Sir Launcelot came

into that country, and how he was healed; and there

it was known how long Sir Launcelot was with Sir

Bliant and with Sir Selivant, and how he first met with

them, and how he departed from them because of a

boar; and how the hermit healed Sir Launcelot of his

great wound, and how that he came to Corbin.

CHAPTER IX

How Sir Bors and Sir Lionel came to King Brandegore,

and how Sir Bors took his son Helin le Blank, and of

Sir Launcelot.

NOW leave we Sir Launcelot in the Joyous Isle with

the Lady Dame Elaine, and Sir Percivale and Sir Ector

playing with them, and turn we to Sir Bors de Ganis

and Sir Lionel, that had sought Sir Launcelot nigh

by the space of two year, and never could they hear

of him.  And as they thus rode, by adventure they

came to the house of Brandegore, and there Sir Bors

was well known, for he had gotten a child upon the

king's daughter fifteen year to-fore, and his name was

Helin le Blank.  And when Sir Bors saw that child it

liked him passing well.  And so those knights had

good cheer of the King Brandegore.  And on the

morn Sir Bors came afore King Brandegore and said:

Here is my son Helin le Blank, that as it is said he

is my son; and sith it is so, I will that ye wit that I

will have him with me unto the court of King Arthur.

Sir, said the king, ye may well take him with you,

but he is over tender of age.  As for that, said Sir

Bors, I will have him with me, and bring him to the

house of most worship of the world.  So when Sir

Bors should depart there was made great sorrow for

the departing of Helin le Blank, and great weeping was

there made.  But Sir Bors and Sir Lionel departed,

and within a while they came to Camelot, where was

King Arthur.  And when King Arthur understood

that Helin le Blank was Sir Bors' son, and nephew

unto King Brandegore, then King Arthur let him make

knight of the Round Table; and so he proved a good

knight and an adventurous.

Now will we turn to our matter of Sir Launcelot.

It befell upon a day Sir Ector and Sir Percivale came

to Sir Launcelot and asked him what he would do,

and whether he would go with them unto King Arthur

or not.  Nay, said Sir Launcelot, that may not be by no

mean, for I was so entreated at the court that I cast

me never to come there more.  Sir, said Sir Ector,

I am your brother, and ye are the man in the world

that I love most; and if I understood that it were

your disworship, ye may understand I would never

counsel you thereto; but King Arthur and all his

knights, and in especial Queen Guenever, made such

dole and sorrow that it was marvel to hear and see.

And ye must remember the great worship and renown

that ye be of, how that ye have been more spoken of

than any other knight that is now living; for there is

none that beareth the name now but ye and Sir Tristram.

Therefore brother, said Sir Ector, make you ready to

ride to the court with us, and I dare say there was never

knight better welcome to the court than ye; and I wot

well and can make it good, said Sir Ector, it hath cost

my lady, the queen, twenty thousand pound the seeking

of you.  Well brother, said Sir Launcelot, I will do

after your counsel, and ride with you.

So then they took their horses and made them

ready, and took their leave at King Pelles and at Dame

Elaine.  And when Sir Launcelot should depart Dame

Elaine made great sorrow.  My lord, Sir Launcelot,

said Dame Elaine, at this same feast of Pentecost shall

your son and mine, Galahad, be made knight, for he is

fully now fifteen winter old.  Do as ye list, said Sir

Launcelot; God give him grace to prove a good knight.

As for that, said Dame Elaine, I doubt not he shall

prove the best man of his kin except one.  Then shall he

be a man good enough, said Sir Launcelot.

CHAPTER X

How Sir Launcelot with Sir Percivale and Sir Ector came

to the court, and of the great joy of him.

THEN they departed, and within five days' journey they

came to Camelot, that is called in English, Winchester.

And when Sir Launcelot was come among them, the king

and all the knights made great joy of him.  And there

Sir Percivale de Galis and Sir Ector de Maris began and

told the whole adventures: that Sir Launcelot had been

out of his mind the time of his absence, and how he called

himself Le Chevaler Mal Fet, the knight that had trespassed;

and in three days Sir Launcelot smote down five

hundred knights.  And ever as Sir Ector and Sir Percivale

told these tales of Sir Launcelot, Queen Guenever wept as

she should have died.  Then the queen made great cheer.

O Jesu, said King Arthur, I marvel for what cause ye, Sir

Launcelot, went out of your mind.  I and many others

deem it was for the love of fair Elaine, the daughter of

King Pelles, by whom ye are noised that ye have gotten a

child, and his name is Galahad, and men say he shall do

marvels.  My lord, said Sir Launcelot, if I did any folly

I have that I sought.  And therewithal the king spake no

more.  But all Sir Launcelot's kin knew for whom he

went out of his mind.  And then there were great feasts

made and great joy; and many great lords and ladies,

when they heard that Sir Launcelot was come to the court

again, they made great joy.

CHAPTER XI

How La Beale Isoud counselled Sir Tristram to go unto the

court, to the great feast of Pentecost.

NOW will we leave off this matter, and speak we of Sir

Tristram, and of Sir Palomides that was the Saracen

unchristened.  When Sir Tristram was come home unto

Joyous Gard from his adventures, all this while that Sir

Launcelot was thus missed, two year and more, Sir

Tristram bare the renown through all the realm of Logris,

and many strange adventures befell him, and full well and

manly and worshipfully he brought them to an end.  So

when he was come home La Beale Isoud told him of the

great feast that should be at Pentecost next following, and

there she told him how Sir Launcelot had been missed two

year, and all that while he had been out of his mind, and

how he was holpen by the holy vessel, the Sangreal.  Alas,

said Sir Tristram, that caused some debate betwixt him

and Queen Guenever.  Sir, said Dame Isoud, I know it

all, for Queen Guenever sent me a letter in the which she

wrote me all how it was, for to require you to seek him.

And now, blessed be God, said La Beale Isoud, he is whole

and sound and come again to the court.

Thereof am I glad, said Sir Tristram, and now shall

ye and I make us ready, for both ye and I will be at the

feast.  Sir, said Isoud, an it please you I will not be there,

for through me ye be marked of many good knights, and

that caused you to have much more labour for my sake

than needeth you.  Then will I not be there, said Sir

Tristram, but if ye be there.  God defend, said La Beale

Isoud, for then shall I be spoken of shame among all

queens and ladies of estate; for ye that are called one of

the noblest knights of the world, and ye a knight of the

Round Table, how may ye be missed at that feast?  What

shall be said among all knights?  See how Sir Tristram

hunteth, and hawketh, and cowereth within a castle with

his lady, and forsaketh your worship.  Alas, shall some

say, it is pity that ever he was made knight, or that ever

he should have the love of a lady.  Also what shall queens

and ladies say of me?  It is pity that I have my life, that

I will hold so noble a knight as ye are from his worship.

So God me help, said Sir Tristram unto La Beale Isoud,

it is passing well said of you and nobly counselled; and

now I well understand that ye love me; and like as ye

have counselled me I will do a part thereafter.  But there

shall no man nor child ride with me, but myself.  And so

will I ride on Tuesday next coming, and no more harness

of war but my spear and my sword.

CHAPTER XII

How Sir Tristram departed unarmed and met with Sir

Palomides, and how they smote each other, and how Sir

Palomides forbare him.

AND so when the day came Sir Tristram took his leave at

La Beale Isoud, and she sent with him four knights, and

within half a mile he sent them again: and within a mile

after Sir Tristram saw afore him where Sir Palomides had

stricken down a knight, and almost wounded him to the

death.  Then Sir Tristram repented him that he was not

armed, and then he hoved still.  With that Sir Palomides

knew Sir Tristram, and cried on high:  Sir Tristram, now

be we met, for or we depart we will redress our old sores.

As for that, said Sir Tristram, there was yet never

Christian man might make his boast that ever I fled from

him; and wit ye well, Sir Palomides, thou that art a

Saracen shall never make thy boast that Sir Tristram de

Liones shall flee from thee.  And therewith Sir Tristram

made his horse to run, and with all his might he came

straight upon Sir Palomides, and brast his spear upon him

an hundred pieces.  And forthwithal Sir Tristram drew

his sword.  And then he turned his horse and struck at

Palomides six great strokes upon his helm; and then

Sir Palomides stood still, and beheld Sir Tristram, and

marvelled of his woodness, and of his folly.  And then

Sir Palomides said to himself:  An Sir Tristram were

armed, it were hard to cease him of this battle, and if I

turn again and slay him I am ashamed wheresomever that

I go.

Then Sir Tristram spake and said:  Thou coward

knight, what castest thou to do; why wilt thou not do

battle with me? for have thou no doubt I shall endure all

thy malice.  Ah, Sir Tristram, said Palomides, full well

thou wottest I may not fight with thee for shame, for thou

art here naked and I am armed, and if I slay thee,

dishonour shall be mine.  And well thou wottest, said Sir

Palomides to Sir Tristram, I know thy strength and thy

hardiness to endure against a good knight.  That is truth,

said Sir Tristram, I understand thy valiantness well.  Ye

say well, said Sir Palomides; now, I require you, tell me

a question that I shall say to you.  Tell me what it is, said

Sir Tristram, and I shall answer you the truth, as God me

help.  I put case, said Sir Palomides, that ye were armed

at all rights as well as I am, and I naked as ye be, what

would you do to me now, by your true knighthood?

Ah, said Sir Tristram, now I understand thee well, Sir

Palomides, for now must I say mine own judgment, and

as God me bless, that I shall say shall not be said for no

fear that I have of thee.  But this is all: wit Sir

Palomides, as at this time thou shouldest depart from me, for

I would not have ado with thee.  No more will I, said

Palomides, and therefore ride forth on thy way.  As for

that I may choose, said Sir Tristram, either to ride or to

abide.  But Sir Palomides, said Sir Tristram, I marvel of

one thing, that thou that art so good a knight, that thou

wilt not be christened, and thy brother, Sir Safere, hath

been christened many a day.

CHAPTER XIII

How that Sir Tristram gat him harness of a knight which

was hurt, and how he overthrew Sir Palomides.

AS for that, said Sir Palomides, I may not yet be christened

for one avow that I have made many years agone; howbeit

in my heart I believe in Jesu Christ and his mild

mother Mary; but I have but one battle to do, and when

that is done I will be baptised with a good will.  By my

head, said Tristram, as for one battle thou shalt not seek

it no longer.  For God defend, said Sir Tristram, that

through my default thou shouldst longer live thus a

Saracen, for yonder is a knight that ye, Sir Palomides,

have hurt and smitten down.  Now help me that I were

armed in his armour, and I shall soon fulfil thine avows.

As ye will, said Palomides, so it shall be.

So they rode both unto that knight that sat upon a

bank, and then Sir Tristram saluted him, and he weakly

saluted him again.  Sir knight, said Sir Tristram, I require

you tell me your right name.  Sir, he said, my name is

Sir Galleron of Galway, and knight of the Table Round.

So God me help, said Sir Tristram, I am right heavy of

your hurts; but this is all, I must pray you to lend me

all your whole armour, for ye see I am unarmed, and I

must do battle with this knight.  Sir, said the hurt knight,

ye shall have it with a good will; but ye must beware,

for I warn you that knight is wight.  Sir, said Galleron,

I pray you tell me your name, and what is that knight's

name that hath beaten me.  Sir, as for my name it is Sir

Tristram de Liones, and as for the knight's name that

hath hurt you is Sir Palomides, brother to the good knight

Sir Safere, and yet is Sir Palomides unchristened.  Alas,

said Sir Galleron, that is pity that so good a knight and

so noble a man of arms should be unchristened.  So God

me help, said Sir Tristram, either he shall slay me or I

him but that he shall be christened or ever we depart in-

sunder.  My lord Sir Tristram, said Sir Galleron, your

renown and worship is well known through many realms,

and God save you this day from shenship and shame.

Then Sir Tristram unarmed Galleron, the which was

a noble knight, and had done many deeds of arms, and he

was a large knight of flesh and bone.  And when he was

unarmed he stood upon his feet, for he was bruised in the

back with a spear; yet so as Sir Galleron might, he armed

Sir Tristram.  And then Sir Tristram mounted upon his

own horse, and in his hand he gat Sir Galleron's spear;

and therewithal Sir Palomides was ready.  And so they

came hurtling together, and either smote other in midst

of their shields; and therewithal Sir Palomides' spear

brake, and Sir Tristram smote down the horse; and Sir

Palomides, as soon as he might, avoided his horse, and

dressed his shield, and pulled out his sword.  That saw

Sir Tristram, and therewithal he alighted and tied his

horse till a tree.

CHAPTER XIV

How Sir Tristram and Sir Palomides fought long together,

and after accorded, and how Sir Tristram made him to

be christened.

AND then they came together as two wild boars, lashing

together, tracing and traversing as noble men that oft had

been well proved in battle; but ever Sir Palomides dread

the might of Sir Tristram, and therefore he suffered him

to breathe him.  Thus they fought more than two hours,

but often Sir Tristram smote such strokes at Sir Palomides

that he made him to kneel; and Sir Palomides brake and

cut away many pieces of Sir Tristram's shield; and then

Sir Palomides wounded Sir Tristram, for he was a well

fighting man.  Then Sir Tristram was wood wroth out of

measure, and rushed upon Sir Palomides with such a might

that Sir Palomides fell grovelling to the earth; and

therewithal he leapt up lightly upon his feet, and then Sir

Tristram wounded Palomides sore through the shoulder.

And ever Sir Tristram fought still in like hard, and Sir

Palomides failed not, but gave him many sad strokes.

And at the last Sir Tristram doubled his strokes, and by

fortune Sir Tristram smote Sir Palomides sword out of

his hand, and if Sir Palomides had stooped for his sword

he had been slain.

Then Palomides stood still and beheld his sword with

a sorrowful heart.  How now, said Sir Tristram unto

Palomides, now have I thee at advantage as thou haddest

me this day; but it shall never be said in no court, nor

among good knights, that Sir Tristram shall slay any

knight that is weaponless; and therefore take thou thy

sword, and let us make an end of this battle.  As for to

do this battle, said Palomides, I dare right well end it,

but I have no great lust to fight no more.  And for this

cause, said Palomides: mine offence to you is not so great

but that we may be friends.  All that I have offended is

and was for the love of La Beale Isoud.  And as for her,

I dare say she is peerless above all other ladies, and also

I proffered her never no dishonour; and by her I have

gotten the most part of my worship.  And sithen I offended

never as to her own person, and as for the offence that

I have done, it was against your own person, and for that

offence ye have given me this day many sad strokes, and

some I have given you again; and now I dare say I felt

never man of your might, nor so well breathed, but if it

were Sir Launcelot du Lake; wherefore I require you,

my lord, forgive me all that I have offended unto you;

and this same day have me to the next church, and first

let me be clean confessed, and after see you now that I be

truly baptised.  And then will we all ride together unto

the court of Arthur, that we be there at the high feast.

Now take your horse, said Sir Tristram, and as ye say so

it shall be, and all thine evil will God forgive it you, and

I do.  And here within this mile is the Suffragan of

Carlisle that shall give you the sacrament of baptism.

Then they took their horses and Sir Galleron rode

with them.  And when they came to the Suffragan Sir

Tristram told him their desire.  Then the Suffragan let

fill a great vessel with water, and when he had hallowed it

he then confessed clean Sir Palomides, and Sir Tristram

and Sir Galleron were his godfathers.  And then soon

after they departed, riding toward Camelot, where King

Arthur and Queen Guenever was, and for the most part

all the knights of the Round Table.  And so the king

and all the court were glad that Sir Palomides was

christened.  And at the same feast in came Galahad and

sat in the Siege Perilous.  And so therewithal departed

and dissevered all the knights of the Round Table.  And

Sir Tristram returned again unto Joyous Gard, and Sir

Palomides followed the Questing Beast.

<oe Here endeth the second book of Sir Tristram that was

drawn out of French into English.  But here is no

rehersal of the third book.  And here followeth the

noble tale of the Sangreal, that called is the Holy

Vessel; and the signification of the blessed blood of

our Lord Jesus Christ, blessed mote it be, the which

was brought into this land by Joseph Aramathie.

Therefore on all sinful souls blessed Lord have thou

mercy.

Explicit liber xii.  Et incipit Decimustercius.>

BOOK XIII

CHAPTER I

How at the vigil of the Feast of Pentecost entered into the

hall before King Arthur a damosel, and desired Sir

Launcelot for to come and dub a knight, and how he

went with her.

AT the vigil of Pentecost, when all the fellowship of the

Round Table were come unto Camelot and there heard

their service, and the tables were set ready to the meat,

right so entered into the hall a full fair gentlewoman on

horseback, that had ridden full fast, for her horse was all

besweated.  Then she there alighted, and came before the

king and saluted him; and he said:  Damosel, God thee

bless.  Sir, said she, for God's sake say me where Sir

Launcelot is.  Yonder ye may see him, said the king.

Then she went unto Launcelot and said:  Sir Launcelot, I

salute you on King Pelles' behalf, and I require you come

on with me hereby into a forest.  Then Sir Launcelot

asked her with whom she dwelled.  I dwell, said she,

with King Pelles.  What will ye with me? said Launcelot.

Ye shall know, said she, when ye come thither.  Well,

said he, I will gladly go with you.  So Sir Launcelot bade

his squire saddle his horse and bring his arms; and in all

haste he did his commandment.

Then came the queen unto Launcelot, and said:

Will ye leave us at this high feast?  Madam, said the

gentlewoman, wit ye well he shall be with you to-morn by

dinner time.  If I wist, said the queen, that he should

not be with us here to-morn he should not go with you

by my good will.  Right so departed Sir Launcelot with

the gentlewoman, and rode until that he came into a forest

and into a great valley, where they saw an abbey of nuns;

and there was a squire ready and opened the gates, and so

they entered and descended off their horses; and there

came a fair fellowship about Sir Launcelot, and welcomed

him, and were passing glad of his coming.  And then

they led him unto the Abbess's chamber and unarmed him;

and right so he was ware upon a bed lying two of his

cousins, Sir Bors and Sir Lionel, and then he waked them;

and when they saw him they made great joy.  Sir, said

Sir Bors unto Sir Launcelot, what adventure hath brought

you hither, for we weened to-morn to have found you at

Camelot?  As God me help, said Sir Launcelot, a gentlewoman

brought me hither, but I know not the cause.

In the meanwhile that they thus stood talking together,

therein came twelve nuns that brought with them Galahad,

the which was passing fair and well made, that unnethe in

the world men might not find his match: and all those

ladies wept.  Sir, said they all, we bring you here this

child the which we have nourished, and we pray you to

make him a knight, for of a more worthier man's hand

may he not receive the order of knighthood.  Sir Launcelot

beheld the young squire and saw him seemly and

demure as a dove, with all manner of good features, that

he weened of his age never to have seen so fair a man of

form.  Then said Sir Launcelot:  Cometh this desire of

himself?  He and all they said yea.  Then shall he, said

Sir Launcelot, receive the high order of knighthood as

to-morn at the reverence of the high feast.  That night

Sir Launcelot had passing good cheer; and on the morn

at the hour of prime, at Galahad's desire, he made him

knight and said:  God make him a good man, for of

beauty faileth you not as any that liveth.

CHAPTER II

How the letters were found written in the Siege Perilous

and of the marvellous adventure of the sword in a stone.

NOW fair sir, said Sir Launcelot, will ye come with me

unto the court of King Arthur?  Nay, said he, I will not

go with you as at this time.  Then he departed from them

and took his two cousins with him, and so they came unto

Camelot by the hour of underne on Whitsunday.  By that

time the king and the queen were gone to the minster to

hear their service.  Then the king and the queen were

passing glad of Sir Bors and Sir Lionel, and so was all the

fellowship.  So when the king and all the knights were

come from service, the barons espied in the sieges of the

Round Table all about, written with golden letters:  Here

ought to sit he, and he ought to sit here.  And thus they

went so long till that they came to the Siege Perilous,

where they found letters newly written of gold which said:

Four hundred winters and four and fifty accomplished

after the passion of our Lord Jesu Christ ought this siege

to be fulfilled.  Then all they said:  This is a marvellous

thing and an adventurous.  In the name of God, said Sir

Launcelot; and then accompted the term of the writing

from the birth of our Lord unto that day.  It seemeth me

said Sir Launcelot, this siege ought to be fulfilled this same

day, for this is the feast of Pentecost after the four hundred

and four and fifty year; and if it would please all parties,

I would none of these letters were seen this day, till he be

come that ought to enchieve this adventure.  Then made

they to ordain a cloth of silk, for to cover these letters in

the Siege Perilous.

Then the king bade haste unto dinner.  Sir, said Sir

Kay the Steward, if ye go now unto your meat ye shall

break your old custom of your court, for ye have not used

on this day to sit at your meat or that ye have seen some

adventure.  Ye say sooth, said the king, but I had so

great joy of Sir Launcelot and of his cousins, which be

come to the court whole and sound, so that I bethought

me not of mine old custom.  So, as they stood speaking,

in came a squire and said unto the king:  Sir, I bring unto

you marvellous tidings.  What be they? said the king.

Sir, there is here beneath at the river a great stone which

I saw fleet above the water, and therein I saw sticking a

sword.  The king said:  I will see that marvel.  So all

the knights went with him, and when they came to the

river they found there a stone fleeting, as it were of red

marble, and therein stuck a fair rich sword, and in the

pommel thereof were precious stones wrought with subtle

letters of gold.  Then the barons read the letters which

said in this wise:  Never shall man take me hence, but

only he by whose side I ought to hang, and he shall be the

best knight of the world.

When the king had seen the letters, he said unto Sir

Launcelot:  Fair Sir, this sword ought to be yours, for I

am sure ye be the best knight of the world.  Then Sir

Launcelot answered full soberly:  Certes, sir, it is not my

sword; also, Sir, wit ye well I have no hardiness to set

my hand to it, for it longed not to hang by my side.

Also, who that assayeth to take the sword and faileth of

it, he shall receive a wound by that sword that he shall not

be whole long after.  And I will that ye wit that this same

day shall the adventures of the Sangreal, that is called the

Holy Vessel, begin

CHAPTER III

How Sir Gawaine assayed to draw out the sword, and how

an old man brought in Galahad.

NOW, fair nephew, said the king unto Sir Gawaine, assay

ye, for my love.  Sir, he said, save your good grace I

shall not do that.  Sir, said the king, assay to take the

sword and at my commandment.  Sir, said Gawaine, your

commandment I will obey.  And therewith he took up

the sword by the handles, but he might not stir it.  I

thank you, said the king to Sir Gawaine.  My lord Sir

Gawaine, said Sir Launcelot, now wit ye well this sword

shall touch you so sore that ye shall will ye had never set

your hand thereto for the best castle of this realm.  Sir, he

said, I might not withsay mine uncle's will and commandment.

But when the king heard this he repented it much,

and said unto Sir Percivale that he should assay, for his

love.  And he said:  Gladly, for to bear Sir Gawaine

fellowship.  And therewith he set his hand on the sword

and drew it strongly, but he might not move it.  Then

were there no[1] mo that durst be so hardy to set their hands

thereto.  Now may ye go to your dinner, said Sir Kay

unto the king, for a marvellous adventure have ye seen.

So the king and all went unto the court, and every knight

knew his own place, and set him therein, and young men

that were knights served them.

So when they were served, and all sieges fulfilled save

only the Siege Perilous, anon there befell a marvellous

adventure, that all the doors and windows of the palace

shut by themself.  Not for then the hall was not greatly

darked; and therewith they were[1] all[1] abashed both one and

other.  Then King Arthur spake first and said:  By God,

fair fellows and lords, we have seen this day marvels, but

or night I suppose we shall see greater marvels.

In the meanwhile came in a good old man, and an

ancient, clothed all in white, and there was no knight knew

from whence he came.  And with him he brought a young

knight, both on foot, in red arms, without sword or shield,

save a scabbard hanging by his side.  And these words he

said:  Peace be with you, fair lords.  Then the old man

said unto Arthur:  Sir, I bring here a young knight, the

which is of king's lineage, and of the kindred of Joseph of

Aramathie, whereby the marvels of this court, and of

strange realms, shall be fully accomplished.

[1] Omitted by Caxton, supplied from W. de Worde.

CHAPTER IV

How the old man brought Galahad to the Siege Perilous

and set him therein, and how all the knights marvelled.

THE king was right glad of his words, and said unto the

good man:  Sir, ye be right welcome, and the young

knight with you.  Then the old man made the young

man to unarm him, and he was in a coat of red sendal,

and bare a mantle upon his shoulder that was furred with

ermine, and put that upon him.  And the old knight said

unto the young knight:  Sir, follow me.  And anon he

led him unto the Siege Perilous, where beside sat Sir

Launcelot; and the good man lift up the cloth, and found

there letters that said thus:  This is the siege of Galahad,

the haut prince.  Sir, said the old knight, wit ye well

that place is yours.  And then he set him down surely in

that siege.  And then he said to the old man:  Sir, ye

may now go your way, for well have ye done that ye were

commanded to do; and recommend me unto my grandsire,

King Pelles, and unto my lord Petchere, and say

them on my behalf, I shall come and see them as soon as

ever I may.  So the good man departed; and there met

him twenty noble squires, and so took their horses and

went their way.

Then all the knights of the Table Round marvelled

greatly of Sir Galahad, that he durst sit there in that Siege

Perilous, and was so tender of age; and wist not from

whence he came but all only by God; and said:  This is

he by whom the Sangreal shall be enchieved, for there sat

never none but he, but he were mischieved.  Then Sir

Launcelot beheld his son and had great joy of him.  Then

Bors told his fellows:  Upon pain of my life this young

knight shall come unto great worship.  This noise was

great in all the court, so that it came to the queen.  Then

she had marvel what knight it might be that durst adventure

him to sit in the Siege Perilous.  Many said unto the

queen he resembled much unto Sir Launcelot.  I may

well suppose, said the queen, that Sir Launcelot begat him

on King Pelles' daughter, by the which he was made to lie

by, by enchantment, and his name is Galahad.  I would

fain see him, said the queen, for he must needs be a noble

man, for so is his father that him begat, I report me unto

all the Table Round.

So when the meat was done that the king and all were

risen, the king yede unto the Siege Perilous and lift up

the cloth, and found there the name of Galahad; and then

he shewed it unto Sir Gawaine, and said:  Fair nephew,

now have we among us Sir Galahad, the good knight that

shall worship us all; and upon pain of my life he shall

enchieve the Sangreal, right as Sir Launcelot had done us to

understand.  Then came King Arthur unto Galahad and

said:  Sir, ye be welcome, for ye shall move many good

knights to the quest of the Sangreal, and ye shall enchieve

that never knights might bring to an end.  Then the

king took him by the hand, and went down from the

palace to shew Galahad the adventures of the stone.

CHAPTER V

How King Arthur shewed the stone hoving on the water to

Galahad, and how he drew out the sword.

THE queen heard thereof, and came after with many

ladies, and shewed them the stone where it hoved on the

water.  Sir, said the king unto Sir Galahad, here is a great

marvel as ever I saw, and right good knights have assayed

and failed.  Sir, said Galahad, that is no marvel, for this

adventure is not theirs but mine; and for the surety of

this sword I brought none with me, for here by my side

hangeth the scabbard.  And anon he laid his hand on the

sword, and lightly drew it out of the stone, and put it in

the sheath, and said unto the king:  Now it goeth better

than it did aforehand.  Sir, said the king, a shield God

shall send you.  Now have I that sword that sometime

was the good knight's, Balin le Savage, and he was a

passing good man of his hands; and with this sword he

slew his brother Balan, and that was great pity, for he was

a good knight, and either slew other through a dolorous

stroke that Balin gave unto my grandfather King Pelles,

the which is not yet whole, nor not shall be till I heal

him.

Therewith the king and all espied where came riding

down the river a lady on a white palfrey toward them.

Then she saluted the king and the queen, and asked if

that Sir Launcelot was there.  And then he answered

himself:  I am here, fair lady.  Then she said all with

weeping:  How your great doing is changed sith this day

in the morn.  Damosel, why say you so? said Launcelot.

I say you sooth, said the damosel, for ye were this day the

best knight of the world, but who should say so now, he

should be a liar, for there is now one better than ye, and

well it is proved by the adventures of the sword whereto

ye durst not set to your hand; and that is the change

and leaving of your name.  Wherefore I make unto you

a remembrance, that ye shall not ween from henceforth

that ye be the best knight of the world.  As touching

unto that, said Launcelot, I know well I was never the

best.  Yes, said the damosel, that were ye, and are yet, of

any sinful man of the world.  And, Sir king, Nacien, the

hermit, sendeth thee word, that thee shall befall the

greatest worship that ever befell king in Britain; and I

say you wherefore, for this day the Sangreal appeared in

thy house and fed thee and all thy fellowship of the

Round Table.  So she departed and went that same way

that she came.

CHAPTER VI

How King Arthur had all the knights together for to joust

in the meadow beside Camelot or they departed.

Now, said the king, I am sure at this quest of the

Sangreal shall all ye of the Table Round depart, and never

shall I see you again whole together; therefore I will see

you all whole together in the meadow of Camelot to joust

and to tourney, that after your death men may speak of

it that such good knights were wholly together such a

day.  As unto that counsel and at the king's request

they accorded all, and took on their harness that longed

unto jousting.  But all this moving of the king was for

this intent, for to see Galahad proved; for the king

deemed he should not lightly come again unto the court

after his departing.  So were they assembled in the

meadow, both more and less.  Then Sir Galahad, by the

prayer of the king and the queen, did upon him a noble

jesseraunce, and also he did on his helm, but shield would

he take none for no prayer of the king.  And then Sir

Gawaine and other knights prayed him to take a spear.

Right so he did; and the queen was in a tower with all

her ladies, for to behold that tournament.  Then Sir

Galahad dressed him in midst of the meadow, and began

to break spears marvellously, that all men had wonder of

him; for he there surmounted all other knights, for

within a while he had defouled many good knights of the

Table Round save twain, that was Sir Launcelot and Sir

Percivale.

CHAPTER VII

How the queen desired to see Galahad; and how after, all

the knights were replenished with the Holy Sangreal,

and how they avowed the enquest of the same.

THEN the king, at the queen's request, made him to

alight and to unlace his helm, that the queen might see

him in the visage.  When she beheld him she said:

Soothly I dare well say that Sir Launcelot begat him, for

never two men resembled more in likeness, therefore it nis

no marvel though he be of great prowess.  So a lady that

stood by the queen said:  Madam, for God's sake ought

he of right to be so good a knight?  Yea, forsooth, said

the queen, for he is of all parties come of the best knights

of the world and of the highest lineage; for Sir Launcelot

is come but of the eighth degree from our Lord Jesu

Christ, and Sir Galahad is of the ninth degree from our

Lord Jesu Christ, therefore I dare say they be the greatest

gentlemen of the world.

And then the king and all estates went home unto

Camelot, and so went to evensong to the great minster,

and so after upon that to supper, and every knight sat in

his own place as they were toforehand.  Then anon they

heard cracking and crying of thunder, that them thought

the place should all to-drive.  In the midst of this blast

entered a sunbeam more clearer by seven times than ever

they saw day, and all they were alighted of the grace of

the Holy Ghost.  Then began every knight to behold

other, and either saw other, by their seeming, fairer than

ever they saw afore.  Not for then there was no knight

might speak one word a great while, and so they looked

every man on other as they had been dumb.  Then there

entered into the hall the Holy Grail covered with white

samite, but there was none might see it, nor who bare it.

And there was all the hall fulfilled with good odours, and

every knight had such meats and drinks as he best loved

in this world.  And when the Holy Grail had been borne

through the hall, then the holy vessel departed suddenly,

that they wist not where it became: then had they all

breath to speak.  And then the king yielded thankings

to God, of His good grace that he had sent them.  Certes,

said the king, we ought to thank our Lord Jesu greatly

for that he hath shewed us this day, at the reverence of this

high feast of Pentecost.

Now, said Sir Gawaine, we have been served this day

of what meats and drinks we thought on; but one thing

beguiled us, we might not see the Holy Grail, it was so

preciously covered.  Wherefore I will make here avow,

that to-morn, without longer abiding, I shall labour in the

quest of the Sangreal, that I shall hold me out a twelvemonth

and a day, or more if need be, and never shall I

return again unto the court till I have seen it more openly

than it hath been seen here; and if I may not speed I

shall return again as he that may not be against the will of

our Lord Jesu Christ.

When they of the Table Round heard Sir Gawaine say

so, they arose up the most part and made such avows as

Sir Gawaine had made.  Anon as King Arthur heard this

he was greatly displeased, for he wist well they might not

again-say their avows.  Alas, said King Arthur unto

Sir Gawaine, ye have nigh slain me with the avow and

promise that ye have made; for through you ye have

bereft me the fairest fellowship and the truest of

knighthood that ever were seen together in any realm of the

world; for when they depart from hence I am sure they

all shall never meet more in this world, for they shall die

many in the quest.  And so it forthinketh me a little, for

I have loved them as well as my life, wherefore it shall

grieve me right sore, the departition of this fellowship:

for I have had an old custom to have them in my fellowship.

CHAPTER VIII

How great sorrow was made of the king and the queen and

ladies for the departing of the knights, and how they

departed.

AND therewith the tears fell in his eyes.  And then he

said:  Gawaine, Gawaine, ye have set me in great sorrow,

for I have great doubt that my true fellowship shall never

meet here more again.  Ah, said Sir Launcelot, comfort

yourself; for it shall be unto us a great honour and much

more than if we died in any other places, for of death we

be siker.  Ah, Launcelot, said the king, the great love

that I have had unto you all the days of my life maketh

me to say such doleful words; for never Christian king

had never so many worthy men at his table as I have had

this day at the Round Table, and that is my great sorrow.

When the queen, ladies, and gentlewomen, wist these

tidings, they had such sorrow and heaviness that there

might no tongue tell it, for those knights had held them

in honour and chiert<e'>.  But among all other Queen

Guenever made great sorrow.  I marvel, said she, my

lord would suffer them to depart from him.  Thus was

all the court troubled for the love of the departition of

those knights.  And many of those ladies that loved

knights would have gone with their lovers; and so had

they done, had not an old knight come among them in

religious clothing; and then he spake all on high and

said:  Fair lords, which have sworn in the quest of the

Sangreal, thus sendeth you Nacien, the hermit, word, that

none in this quest lead lady nor gentlewoman with him,

for it is not to do in so high a service as they labour in;

for I warn you plain, he that is not clean of his sins he

shall not see the mysteries of our Lord Jesu Christ.  And

for this cause they left these ladies and gentlewomen.

After this the queen came unto Galahad and asked

him of whence he was, and of what country.  He told

her of whence he was.  And son unto Launcelot, she said

he was.  As to that, he said neither yea nor nay.  So God

me help, said the queen, of your father ye need not to

shame you, for he is the goodliest knight, and of the best

men of the world come, and of the strain, of all parties,

of kings.  Wherefore ye ought of right to be, of your

deeds, a passing good man; and certainly, she said, ye

resemble him much.  Then Sir Galahad was a little

ashamed and said:  Madam, sith ye know in certain,

wherefore do ye ask it me? for he that is my father shall

be known openly and all betimes.  And then they went

to rest them.  And in the honour of the highness of

Galahad he was led into King Arthur's chamber, and

there rested in his own bed.

And as soon as it was day the king arose, for he had

no rest of all that night for sorrow.  Then he went unto

Gawaine and to Sir Launcelot that were arisen for to hear

mass.  And then the king again said:  Ah Gawaine,

Gawaine, ye have betrayed me; for never shall my court

be amended by you, but ye will never be sorry for me as

I am for you.  And therewith the tears began to run down

by his visage.  And therewith the king said:  Ah, knight

Sir Launcelot, I require thee thou counsel me, for I would

that this quest were undone, an it might be Sir, said Sir

Launcelot, ye saw yesterday so many worthy knights that

then were sworn that they may not leave it in no manner

of wise.  That wot I well, said the king, but it shall so

heavy me at their departing that I wot well there shall no

manner of joy remedy me.  And then the king and the

queen went unto the minster.  So anon Launcelot and

Gawaine commanded their men to bring their arms.  And

when they all were armed save their shields and their

helms, then they came to their fellowship, which were all

ready in the same wise, for to go to the minster to hear

their service.

Then after the service was done the king would wit

how many had undertaken the quest of the Holy Grail;

and to accompt them he prayed them all.  Then found

they by the tale an hundred and fifty, and all were knights

of the Round Table.  And then they put on their helms

and departed, and recommended them all wholly unto the

queen; and there was weeping and great sorrow.  Then

the queen departed into her chamber and held her, so that

no man should perceive her great sorrows.  When Sir

Launcelot missed the queen he went till her chamber, and

when she saw him she cried aloud:  O Launcelot, Launcelot,

ye have betrayed me and put me to the death, for to

leave thus my lord.  Ah, madam, I pray you be not

displeased, for I shall come again as soon as I may with

my worship.  Alas, said she, that ever I saw you; but he

that suffered upon the cross for all mankind, he be unto

you good conduct and safety, and all the whole fellowship.

Right so departed Sir Launcelot, and found his fellowship

that abode his coming.  And so they mounted upon

their horses and rode through the streets of Camelot; and

there was weeping of rich and poor, and the king turned

away and might not speak for weeping.  So within a

while they came to a city, and a castle that hight Vagon.

There they entered into the castle, and the lord of that

castle was an old man that hight Vagon, and he was a

good man of his living, and set open the gates, and made

them all the cheer that he might.  And so on the morn

they were all accorded that they should depart everych

from other; and on the morn they departed with weeping

cheer, and every knight took the way that him liked best.

CHAPTER IX

How Galahad gat him a shield, and how they sped that

presumed to take down the said shield.

NOW rideth Sir Galahad yet without shield, and so he

rode four days without any adventure.  And at the

fourth day after evensong he came to a White Abbey, and

there he was received with great reverence, and led unto

a chamber, and there was he unarmed; and then was he

ware of two[1] knights of the Table Round, one was Sir

Bagdemagus, and[1] that[1] other[1] was Sir Uwaine.  And when

they saw him they went unto Galahad and made of him

great solace, and so they went unto supper.  Sirs, said Sir

Galahad, what adventure brought you hither?  Sir, said

they, it is told us that within this place is a shield that

no man may bear about his neck but he be mischieved

outher dead within three days, or maimed for ever.  Ah

sir, said King Bagdemagus, I shall it bear to-morrow for

to assay this adventure.  In the name of God, said Sir

Galahad.  Sir, said Bagdemagus, an I may not enchieve

the adventure of this shield ye shall take it upon you,

for I am sure ye shall not fail.  Sir, said Galahad, I right

well agree me thereto, for I have no shield.  So on the

morn they arose and heard mass.  Then Bagdemagus

asked where the adventurous shield was.  Anon a monk

led him behind an altar where the shield hung as white as

any snow, but in the midst was a red cross.  Sir, said the

monk, this shield ought not to be hanged about no

knight's neck but he be the worthiest knight of the world;

[1] Omitted by Caxton, supplied from W. de Worde.

therefore I counsel you knights to be well advised.  Well,

said Bagdemagus, I wot well that I am not the best knight

of the world, but yet I shall assay to bear it, and so bare

it out of the minster.  And then he said unto Galahad:

An it please you abide here still, till ye wit how that I

speed.  I shall abide you, said Galahad.  Then King

Bagdemagus took with him a good squire, to bring tidings

unto Sir Galahad how he sped.

Then when they had ridden a two mile and came

to a fair valley afore an hermitage, then they saw a

knight come from that part in white armour, horse and

all; and he came as fast as his horse might run, and his

spear in his rest, and Bagdemagus dressed his spear

against him and brake it upon the white knight.  But the

other struck him so hard that he brast the mails, and

sheef him through the right shoulder, for the shield

covered him not as at that time; and so he bare him from

his horse.  And therewith he alighted and took the white

shield from him, saying:  Knight, thou hast done thyself

great folly, for this shield ought not to be borne but by

him that shall have no peer that liveth.  And then he

came to Bagdemagus' squire and said:  Bear this shield

unto the good knight Sir Galahad, that thou left in the

abbey, and greet him well by me.  Sir, said the squire,

what is your name?  Take thou no heed of my name,

said the knight, for it is not for thee to know nor

for none earthly man.  Now, fair sir, said the squire, at

the reverence of Jesu Christ, tell me for what cause this

shield may not be borne but if the bearer thereof be

mischieved.  Now sith thou hast conjured me so, said the

knight, this shield behoveth unto no man but unto Galahad.

And the squire went unto Bagdemagus and asked whether

he were sore wounded or not.  Yea forsooth, said he, I

shall escape hard from the death.  Then he fetched his

horse, and brought him with great pain unto an abbey.

Then was he taken down softly and unarmed, and laid in a

bed, and there was looked to his wounds.  And as the book

telleth, he lay there long, and escaped hard with the life.

CHAPTER X

How Galahad departed with the shield, and how King

Evelake had received the shield of Joseph of Aramathie.

SIR GALAHAD, said the squire, that knight that wounded

Bagdemagus sendeth you greeting, and bade that ye should

bear this shield, wherethrough great adventures should

befall.  Now blessed be God and fortune, said Galahad.

And then he asked his arms, and mounted upon his horse,

and hung the white shield about his neck, and commended

them unto God.  And Sir Uwaine said he would bear

him fellowship if it pleased him.  Sir, said Galahad, that

may ye not, for I must go alone, save this squire shall

bear me fellowship: and so departed Uwaine.

Then within a while came Galahad thereas the White

Knight abode him by the hermitage, and everych saluted

other courteously.  Sir, said Galahad, by this shield be

many marvels fallen.  Sir, said the knight, it befell after

the passion of our Lord Jesu Christ thirty-two year, that

Joseph of Aramathie, the gentle knight, the which took

down our Lord off the holy Cross, at that time he

departed from Jerusalem with a great party of his kindred

with him.  And so he laboured till that they came to a

city that hight Sarras.  And at that same hour that Joseph

came to Sarras there was a king that hight Evelake, that

had great war against the Saracens, and in especial against

one Saracen, the which was King Evelake's cousin, a rich

king and a mighty, which marched nigh this land, and his

name was called Tolleme la Feintes.  So on a day these

two met to do battle.  Then Joseph, the son of Joseph of

Aramathie, went to King Evelake and told him he should

be discomfit and slain, but if he left his belief of the old

law and believed upon the new law.  And then there he

shewed him the right belief of the Holy Trinity, to the

which he agreed unto with all his heart; and there this

shield was made for King Evelake, in the name of Him

that died upon the Cross.  And then through his good

belief he had the better of King Tolleme.  For when

Evelake was in the battle there was a cloth set afore the

shield, and when he was in the greatest peril he let put

away the cloth, and then his enemies saw a figure of a

man on the Cross, wherethrough they all were discomfit.

And so it befell that a man of King Evelake's was smitten

his hand off, and bare that hand in his other hand; and

Joseph called that man unto him and bade him go with

good devotion touch the Cross.  And as soon as that man

had touched the Cross with his hand it was as whole as

ever it was to-fore.  Then soon after there fell a great

marvel, that the cross of the shield at one time vanished

away that no man wist where it became.  And then King

Evelake was baptised, and for the most part all the people

of that city.  So, soon after Joseph would depart, and

King Evelake would go with him, whether he wold or

nold.  And so by fortune they came into this land, that

at that time was called Great Britain; and there they

found a great felon paynim, that put Joseph into prison.

And so by fortune tidings came unto a worthy man that

hight Mondrames, and he assembled all his people for the

great renown he had heard of Joseph; and so he came

into the land of Great Britain and disherited this felon

paynim and consumed him, and therewith delivered Joseph

out of prison.  And after that all the people were turned

to the Christian faith.

CHAPTER XI

How Joseph made a cross on the white shield with his

blood, and how Galahad was by a monk brought to

a tomb.

NOT long after that Joseph was laid in his deadly bed.

And when King Evelake saw that he made much sorrow,

and said:  For thy love I have left my country, and sith

ye shall depart out of this world, leave me some token of

yours that I may think on you.  Joseph said:  That will

I do full gladly; now bring me your shield that I took

you when ye went into battle against King Tolleme.

Then Joseph bled sore at the nose, so that he might not

by no mean be staunched.  And there upon that shield

he made a cross of his own blood.  Now may ye see a

remembrance that I love you, for ye shall never see this

shield but ye shall think on me, and it shall be always as

fresh as it is now.  And never shall man bear this shield

about his neck but he shall repent it, unto the time that

Galahad, the good knight, bear it; and the last of my

lineage shall have it about his neck, that shall do many

marvellous deeds.  Now, said King Evelake, where shall

I put this shield, that this worthy knight may have it?

Ye shall leave it thereas Nacien, the hermit, shall be put

after his death; for thither shall that good knight come

the fifteenth day after that he shall receive the order of

knighthood: and so that day that they set is this time

that he have his shield, and in the same abbey lieth

Nacien, the hermit.  And then the White Knight

vanished away.

Anon as the squire had heard these words, he alighted

off his hackney and kneeled down at Galahad's feet, and

prayed him that he might go with him till he had made him

knight.  Yea,[1] I would not refuse you.  Then will ye

make me a knight? said the squire, and that order, by the

grace of God, shall be well set in me.  So Sir Galahad

granted him, and turned again unto the abbey where they

came from; and there men made great joy of Sir Galahad.

And anon as he was alighted there was a monk brought

him unto a tomb in a churchyard, where there was such a

noise that who that heard it should verily nigh be mad or

lose his strength: and sir, they said, we deem it is a fiend.

[1] Caxton ``Yf,'' for which ``Ye'' seems the easiest emendation that

will save the sense.

CHAPTER XII

Of the marvel that Sir Galahad saw and heard in the

tomb, and how he made Melias knight.

NOW lead me thither, said Galahad.  And so they did, all

armed save his helm.  Now, said the good man, go to

the tomb and lift it up.  So he did, and heard a great

noise; and piteously he said, that all men might hear it:

Sir Galahad, the servant of Jesu Christ, come thou not

nigh me, for thou shalt make me go again there where I

have been so long.  But Galahad was nothing afraid, but

lifted up the stone; and there came out so foul a smoke,

and after he saw the foulest figure leap thereout that ever

he saw in the likeness of a man; and then he blessed him

and wist well it was a fiend.  Then heard he a voice say

Galahad, I see there environ about thee so many angels

that my power may not dere thee{sic}  Right so Sir Galahad

saw a body all armed lie in that tomb, and beside him a

sword.  Now, fair brother, said Galahad, let us remove

this body, for it is not worthy to lie in this churchyard,

for he was a false Christian man.  And therewith they all

departed and went to the abbey.  And anon as he was

unarmed a good man came and set him down by him and

said:  Sir, I shall tell you what betokeneth all that ye saw

in the tomb; for that covered body betokeneth the

duresse of the world, and the great sin that Our Lord

found in the world.  For there was such wretchedness

that the father loved not the son, nor the son loved not

the father; and that was one of the causes that Our Lord

took flesh and blood of a clean maiden, for our sins were

so great at that time that well-nigh all was wickedness.

Truly, said Galahad, I believe you right well.

So Sir Galahad rested him there that night; and upon

the morn he made the squire knight, and asked him his

name, and of what kindred he was come.  Sir, said he,

men calleth me Melias de Lile, and I am the son of the

King of Denmark.  Now, fair sir, said Galahad, sith

that ye be come of kings and queens, now look that

knighthood be well set in you, for ye ought to be a mirror

unto all chivalry.  Sir, said Sir Melias, ye say sooth.  But,

sir, sithen ye have made me a knight ye must of right

grant me my first desire that is reasonable.  Ye say sooth,

said Galahad.  Melias said:  Then that ye will suffer me

to ride with you in this quest of the Sangreal, till that some

adventure depart us.  I grant you, sir.

Then men brought Sir Melias his armour and his spear

and his horse, and so Sir Galahad and he rode forth all

that week or they found any adventure.  And then upon a

Monday in the morning, as they were departed from an

abbey, they came to a cross which departed two ways, and

in that cross were letters written that said thus:  Now, ye

knights errant, the which goeth to seek knights adventurous,

see here two ways; that one way defendeth thee that

thou ne go that way, for he shall not go out of the way

again but if he be a good man and a worthy knight; and

if thou go on the left hand, thou shalt not lightly there

win prowess, for thou shalt in this way be soon assayed.

Sir, said Melias to Galahad, if it like you to suffer me to

take the way on the left hand, tell me, for there I shall well

prove my strength.  It were better, said Galahad, ye rode

not that way, for I deem I should better escape in that way

than ye.  Nay, my lord, I pray you let me have that

adventure.  Take it in God's name, said Galahad.

CHAPTER XIII

Of the adventure that Melias had, and how Galahad revenged

him, and how Melias was carried into an abbey.

AND then rode Melias into an old forest, and therein he

rode two days and more.  And then he came into a fair

meadow, and there was a fair lodge of boughs.  And then

he espied in that lodge a chair, wherein was a crown of gold,

subtly wrought.  Also there were cloths covered upon the

earth, and many delicious meats set thereon.  Sir Melias

beheld this adventure, and thought it marvellous, but he

had no hunger, but of the crown of gold he took much

keep; and therewith he stooped down and took it up, and

rode his way with it.  And anon he saw a knight came

riding after him that said:  Knight, set down that crown

which is not yours, and therefore defend you.  Then Sir

Melias blessed him and said:  Fair lord of heaven, help and

save thy new-made knight.  And then they let their horses

run as fast as they might, so that the other knight smote

Sir Melias through hauberk and through the left side, that

he fell to the earth nigh dead.  And then he took the

crown and went his way; and Sir Melias lay still and had

no power to stir.

In the meanwhile by fortune there came Sir Galahad

and found him there in peril of death.  And then he said:

Ah Melias, who hath wounded you? therefore it had been

better to have ridden the other way.  And when Sir

Melias heard him speak:  Sir, he said, for God's love let

me not die in this forest, but bear me unto the abbey here

beside, that I may be confessed and have my rights.  It

shall be done, said Galahad, but where is he that hath

wounded you?  With that Sir Galahad heard in the leaves

cry on high:  Knight, keep thee from me.  Ah sir, said

Melias, beware, for that is he that hath slain me.  Sir

Galahad answered:  Sir knight, come on your peril.  Then

either dressed to other, and came together as fast as their

horses might run, and Galahad smote him so that his spear

went through his shoulder, and smote him down off his

horse, and in the falling Galahad's spear brake.

With that came out another knight out of the leaves,

and brake a spear upon Galahad or ever he might turn

him.  Then Galahad drew out his sword and smote off

the left arm of him, so that it fell to the earth.  And then

he fled, and Sir Galahad pursued fast after him.  And then

he turned again unto Sir Melias, and there he alighted and

dressed him softly on his horse to-fore him, for the truncheon

of his spear was in his body; and Sir Galahad stert up

behind him, and held him in his arms, and so brought him

to the abbey, and there unarmed him and brought him

to his chamber.  And then he asked his Saviour.  And

when he had received Him he said unto Sir Galahad:  Sir,

let death come when it pleaseth him.  And therewith he

drew out the truncheon of the spear out of his body: and

then he swooned.

Then came there an old monk which sometime had

been a knight, and beheld Sir Melias.  And anon he ransacked

him; and then he said unto Sir Galahad:  I shall

heal him of his wound, by the grace of God, within the

term of seven weeks.  Then was Sir Galahad glad, and

unarmed him, and said he would abide there three days.

And then he asked Sir Melias how it stood with him.

Then he said he was turned unto helping, God be

thanked.

CHAPTER XIV

How Sir Galahad departed, and how he was commanded

to go to the Castle of Maidens to destroy the wicked

custom.

NOW will I depart, said Galahad, for I have much on hand,

for many good knights be full busy about it, and this

knight and I were in the same quest of the Sangreal.  Sir,

said a good man, for his sin he was thus wounded; and

I marvel, said the good man, how ye durst take upon you

so rich a thing as the high order of knighthood without

clean confession, and that was the cause ye were bitterly

wounded.  For the way on the right hand betokeneth the

highway of our Lord Jesu Christ, and the way of a good

true good liver.  And the other way betokeneth the way

of sinners and of misbelievers.  And when the devil saw

your pride and presumption, for to take you in the quest

of the Sangreal, that made you to be overthrown, for it

may not be enchieved but by virtuous living.  Also, the

writing on the cross was a signification of heavenly deeds,

and of knightly deeds in God's works, and no knightly

deeds in worldly works.  And pride is head of all deadly

sins, that caused this knight to depart from Galahad.  And

where thou tookest the crown of gold thou sinnest in

covetise and in theft: all this were no knightly deeds.

And this Galahad, the holy knight, the which fought with

the two knights, the two knights signify the two deadly

sins which were wholly in this knight Melias; and they

might not withstand you, for ye are without deadly sin.

Now departed Galahad from thence, and betaught them

all unto God.  Sir Melias said:  My lord Galahad, as soon

as I may ride I shall seek you.  God send you health, said

Galahad, and so took his horse and departed, and rode

many journeys forward and backward, as adventure would

lead him.  And at the last it happened him to depart from

a place or a castle the which was named Abblasoure; and

he had heard no mass, the which he was wont ever to hear

or ever he departed out of any castle or place, and kept

that for a custom.  Then Sir Galahad came unto a mountain

where he found an old chapel, and found there

nobody, for all, all was desolate; and there he kneeled

to-fore the altar, and besought God of wholesome counsel.

So as he prayed he heard a voice that said:  Go thou now,

thou adventurous knight, to the Castle of Maidens, and

there do thou away the wicked customs.

CHAPTER XV

How Sir Galahad fought with the knights of the castle, and

destroyed the wicked custom.

WHEN Sir Galahad heard this he thanked God, and took

his horse; and he had not ridden but half a mile, he saw

in the valley afore him a strong castle with deep ditches,

and there ran beside it a fair river that hight Severn; and

there he met with a man of great age, and either saluted

other, and Galahad asked him the castle's name.  Fair sir,

said he, it is the Castle of Maidens.  That is a cursed

castle, said Galahad, and all they that be conversant therein,

for all pity is out thereof, and all hardiness and mischief

is therein.  Therefore, I counsel you, sir knight, to turn

again.  Sir, said Galahad, wit you well I shall not turn

again.  Then looked Sir Galahad on his arms that nothing

failed him, and then he put his shield afore him; and anon

there met him seven fair maidens, the which said unto

him:  Sir knight, ye ride here in a great folly, for ye have

the water to pass over.  Why should I not pass the water?

said Galahad.  So rode he away from them and met with

a squire that said:  Knight, those knights in the castle

defy you, and defenden you ye go no further till that they

wit what ye would.  Fair sir, said Galahad, I come for to

destroy the wicked custom of this castle.  Sir, an ye will

abide by that ye shall have enough to do.  Go you now,

said Galahad, and haste my needs.

Then the squire entered into the castle.  And anon

after there came out of the castle seven knights, and all

were brethren.  And when they saw Galahad they cried:

Knight, keep thee, for we assure thee nothing but death.

Why, said Galahad, will ye all have ado with me at once?

Yea, said they, thereto mayst thou trust.  Then Galahad

put forth his spear and smote the foremost to the earth,

that near he brake his neck.  And therewithal the other

smote him on his shield great strokes, so that their spears

brake.  Then Sir Galahad drew out his sword, and set

upon them so hard that it was marvel to see it, and so

through great force he made them to forsake the field;

and Galahad chased them till they entered into the castle,

and so passed through the castle at another gate.

And there met Sir Galahad an old man clothed in

religious clothing, and said:  Sir, have here the keys of

this castle.  Then Sir Galahad opened the gates, and saw

so much people in the streets that he might not number

them, and all said:  Sir, ye be welcome, for long have we

abiden here our deliverance.  Then came to him a gentlewoman

and said:  These knights be fled, but they will

come again this night, and here to begin again their evil

custom.  What will ye that I shall do? said Galahad.

Sir, said the gentlewoman, that ye send after all the

knights hither that hold their lands of this castle, and

make them to swear for to use the customs that were used

heretofore of old time.  I will well, said Galahad.  And

there she brought him an horn of ivory, bounden with

gold richly, and said:  Sir, blow this horn which will be

heard two mile about this castle.  When Sir Galahad had

blown the horn he set him down upon a bed.

Then came a priest to Galahad, and said:  Sir, it is

past a seven year agone that these seven brethren came

into this castle, and harboured with the lord of this castle

that hight the Duke Lianour, and he was lord of all this

country.  And when they espied the duke's daughter,

that was a full fair woman, then by their false covin they

made debate betwixt themself, and the duke of his goodness

would have departed them, and there they slew him

and his eldest son.  And then they took the maiden and

the treasure of the castle.  And then by great force they

held all the knights of this castle against their will under

their obeissance, and in great service and truage, robbing

and pilling the poor common people of all that they

had.  So it happened on a day the duke's daughter said:

Ye have done unto me great wrong to slay mine own

father, and my brother, and thus to hold our lands: not

for then, she said, ye shall not hold this castle for many

years, for by one knight ye shall be overcome.  Thus she

prophesied seven years agone.  Well, said the seven

knights, sithen ye say so, there shall never lady nor knight

pass this castle but they shall abide maugre their heads, or

die therefore, till that knight be come by whom we shall

lose this castle.  And therefore is it called the Maidens'

Castle, for they have devoured many maidens.  Now, said

Galahad, is she here for whom this castle was lost?  Nay

sir, said the priest, she was dead within these three nights

after that she was thus enforced; and sithen have they

kept her younger sister, which endureth great pains with

mo other ladies.

By this were the knights of the country come, and

then he made them do homage and fealty to the king's

daughter, and set them in great ease of heart.  And in

the morn there came one to Galahad and told him how

that Gawaine, Gareth, and Uwaine, had slain the seven

brethren.  I suppose well, said Sir Galahad, and took his

armour and his horse, and commended them unto God.

CHAPTER XVI

How Sir Gawaine came to the abbey for to follow Galahad,

and how he was shriven to a hermit.

NOW, saith the tale, after Sir Gawaine departed, he rode

many journeys, both toward and froward.  And at the

last he came to the abbey where Sir Galahad had the white

shield, and there Sir Gawaine learned the way to sewe after

Sir Galahad; and so he rode to the abbey where Melias

lay sick, and there Sir Melias told Sir Gawaine of the

marvellous adventures that Sir Galahad did.  Certes, said

Sir Gawaine, I am not happy that I took not the way that

he went, for an I may meet with him I will not depart

from him lightly, for all marvellous adventures Sir

Galahad enchieveth.  Sir, said one of the monks, he will

not of your fellowship.  Why? said Sir Gawaine.  Sir,

said he, for ye be wicked and sinful, and he is full blessed.

Right as they thus stood talking there came in riding Sir

Gareth.  And then they made joy either of other.  And

on the morn they heard mass, and so departed.  And by

the way they met with Sir Uwaine les Avoutres, and

there Sir Uwaine told Sir Gawaine how he had met with

none adventure sith he departed from the court.  Nor

we, said Sir Gawaine.  And either promised other of the

three knights not to depart while they were in that quest,

but if fortune caused it.

So they departed and rode by fortune till that they

came by the Castle of Maidens; and there the seven

brethren espied the three knights, and said:  Sithen, we

be flemed by one knight from this castle, we shall destroy

all the knights of King Arthur's that we may overcome,

for the love of Sir Galahad.  And therewith the seven

knights set upon the three knights, and by fortune Sir

Gawaine slew one ot the brethren, and each one of his

fellows slew another, and so slew the remnant.  And then

they took the way under the castle, and there they lost

the way that Sir Galahad rode, and there everych of

them departed from other; and Sir Gawaine rode till he

came to an hermitage, and there he found the good man

saying his evensong of Our Lady; and there Sir Gawaine

asked harbour for charity, and the good man granted it

him gladly.

Then the good man asked him what he was.  Sir,

he said, I am a knight of King Arthur's that am in the

quest of the Sangreal, and my name is Sir Gawaine.

Sir, said the good man, I would wit how it standeth

betwixt God and you.  Sir, said Sir Gawaine, I will

with a good will shew you my life if it please you;

and there he told the hermit how a monk of an abbey

called me wicked knight.  He might well say it, said

the hermit, for when ye were first made knight ye

should have taken you to knightly deeds and virtuous

living, and ye have done the contrary, for ye have

lived mischievously many winters; and Sir Galahad is

a maid and sinned never, and that is the cause he shall

enchieve where he goeth that ye nor none such shall

not attain, nor none in your fellowship, for ye have

used the most untruest life that ever I heard knight

live.  For certes had ye not been so wicked as ye are,

never had the seven brethren been slain by you and

your two fellows.  For Sir Galahad himself alone beat

them all seven the day to-fore, but his living is such

he shall slay no man lightly.  Also I may say you the

Castle of Maidens betokeneth the good souls that were

in prison afore the Incarnation of Jesu Christ.  And the

seven knights betoken the seven deadly sins that reigned

that time in the world; and I may liken the good

Galahad unto the son of the High Father, that lighted

within a maid, and bought all the souls out of thrall,

so did Sir Galahad deliver all the maidens out of the

woful castle.

Now, Sir Gawaine, said the good man, thou must

do penance for thy sin.  Sir, what penance shall I do?

Such as I will give, said the good man.  Nay, said

Sir Gawaine, I may do no penance; for we knights

adventurous oft suffer great woe and pain.  Well, said

the good man, and then he held his peace.  And on the

morn Sir Gawaine departed from the hermit, and betaught

him unto God.  And by adventure he met with Sir

Aglovale and Sir Griflet, two knights of the Table

Round.  And they two rode four days without finding

of any adventure, and at the fifth day they departed.

And everych held as fell them by adventure.  Here

leaveth the tale of Sir Gawaine and his fellows, and speak

we of Sir Galahad.

CHAPTER XVII

How Sir Galahad met with Sir Launcelot and Sir Percivale,

and smote them down, and departed from them.

So when Sir Galahad was departed from the Castle of

Maidens he rode till he came to a waste forest, and

there he met with Sir Launcelot and Sir Percivale, but

they knew him not, for he was new disguised.  Right so

Sir Launcelot, his father, dressed his spear and brake it

upon Sir Galahad, and Galahad smote him so again

that he smote down horse and man.  And then he

drew his sword, and dressed him unto Sir Percivale, and

smote him so on the helm, that it rove to the coif of

steel; and had not the sword swerved Sir Percivale had

been slain, and with the stroke he fell out of his saddle.

This jousts was done to-fore the hermitage where a

recluse dwelled.  And when she saw Sir Galahad ride,

she said:  God be with thee, best knight of the world.

Ah certes, said she, all aloud that Launcelot and Percivale

might hear it:  An yonder two knights had known thee

as well as I do they would not have encountered with

thee.  Then Sir Galahad heard her say so he was adread

to be known: therewith he smote his horse with his

spurs and rode a great pace froward them.  Then

perceived they both that he was Galahad; and up they

gat on their horses, and rode fast after him, but in a

while he was out of their sight.  And then they turned

again with heavy cheer.  Let us spere some tidings,

said Percivale, at yonder recluse.  Do as ye list, said Sir

Launcelot.

When Sir Percivale came to the recluse she knew him

well enough, and Sir Launcelot both.  But Sir Launcelot

rode overthwart and endlong in a wild forest, and held

no path but as wild adventure led him.  And at the last

he came to a stony cross which departed two ways in

waste land; and by the cross was a stone that was of

marble, but it was so dark that Sir Launcelot might

not wit what it was.  Then Sir Launcelot looked by

him, and saw an old chapel, and there he weened to

have found people; and Sir Launcelot tied his horse till

a tree, and there he did off his shield and hung it upon

a tree, and then went to the chapel door, and found

it waste and broken.  And within he found a fair altar,

full richly arrayed with cloth of clean silk, and there

stood a fair clean candlestick, which bare six great

candles, and the candlestick was of silver.  And when

Sir Launcelot saw this light he had great will for to enter

into the chapel, but he could find no place where he

might enter; then was he passing heavy and dismayed.

Then he returned and came to his horse and did off his

saddle and bridle, and let him pasture, and unlaced his

helm, and ungirt his sword, and laid him down to sleep

upon his shield to-fore the cross.

CHAPTER XVIII

How Sir Launcelot, half sleeping and half waking, saw a

sick man borne in a litter, and how he was healed with

the Sangreal.

AND so he fell asleep; and half waking and sleeping he

saw come by him two palfreys all fair and white, the

which bare a litter, therein lying a sick knight.  And

when he was nigh the cross he there abode still.  All this

Sir Launcelot saw and beheld, for he slept not verily;

and he heard him say:  O sweet Lord, when shall this

sorrow leave me? and when shall the holy vessel come by

me, wherethrough I shall be blessed?  For I have endured

thus long, for little trespass.  A full great while

complained the knight thus, and always Sir Launcelot heard

it.  With that Sir Launcelot saw the candlestick with

the six tapers come before the cross, and he saw nobody

that brought it.  Also there came a table of silver, and

the holy vessel of the Sangreal, which Launcelot had

seen aforetime in King Pescheour's house.  And therewith

the sick knight set him up, and held up both his

hands, and said:  Fair sweet Lord, which is here within

this holy vessel; take heed unto me that I may be whole

of this malady.  And therewith on his hands and on

his knees he went so nigh that he touched the holy

vessel and kissed it, and anon he was whole; and then he

said:  Lord God, I thank thee, for I am healed of this

sickness.

So when the holy vessel had been there a great

while it went unto the chapel with the chandelier and

the light, so that Launcelot wist not where it was

become; for he was overtaken with sin that he had

no power to rise again the holy vessel; wherefore after

that many men said of him shame, but he took repentance

after that.  Then the sick knight dressed him up

and kissed the cross; anon his squire brought him his

arms, and asked his lord how he did.  Certes, said he,

I thank God right well, through the holy vessel I am

healed.  But I have marvel of this sleeping knight that

had no power to awake when this holy vessel was

brought hither.  I dare right well say, said the squire,

that he dwelleth in some deadly sin whereof he was

never confessed.  By my faith, said the knight, whatsomever

he be he is unhappy, for as I deem he is of the

fellowship of the Round Table, the which is entered

into the quest of the Sangreal.  Sir, said the squire,

here I have brought you all your arms save your helm

and your sword, and therefore by mine assent now may

ye take this knight's helm and his sword: and so he

did.  And when he was clean armed he took Sir

Launcelot's horse, for he was better than his; and so

departed they from the cross.

CHAPTER XIX

How a voice spake to Sir Launcelot, and how he found his

horse and his helm borne away, and after went afoot.

THEN anon Sir Launcelot waked, and set him up, and

bethought him what he had seen there, and whether it

were dreams or not.  Right so heard he a voice that

said:  Sir Launcelot, more harder than is the stone,

and more bitter than is the wood, and more naked

and barer than is the leaf of the fig tree; therefore go

thou from hence, and withdraw thee from this holy

place.  And when Sir Launcelot heard this he was

passing heavy and wist not what to do, and so departed

sore weeping, and cursed the time that he was born.

For then he deemed never to have had worship more.

For those words went to his heart, till that he knew

wherefore he was called so.  Then Sir Launcelot went

to the cross and found his helm, his sword, and his

horse taken away.  And then he called himself a very

wretch, and most unhappy of all knights; and there he

said:  My sin and my wickedness have brought me unto

great dishonour.  For when I sought worldly adventures

for worldly desires, I ever enchieved them and had the

better in every place, and never was I discomfit in no

quarrel, were it right or wrong.  And now I take upon

me the adventures of holy things, and now I see and

understand that mine old sin hindereth me and shameth

me, so that I had no power to stir nor speak when the

holy blood appeared afore me.  So thus he sorrowed till

it was day, and heard the fowls sing: then somewhat he

was comforted.  But when Sir Launcelot missed his horse

and his harness then he wist well God was displeased

with him.

Then he departed from the cross on foot into a forest;

and so by prime he came to an high hill, and found an

hermitage and a hermit therein which was going unto

mass.  And then Launcelot kneeled down and cried on

Our Lord mercy for his wicked works.  So when mass

was done Launcelot called him, and prayed him for

charity for to hear his life.  With a good will, said the

good man.  Sir, said he, be ye of King Arthur's court

and of the fellowship of the Round Table? Yea forsooth,

and my name is Sir Launcelot du Lake that hath been

right well said of, and now my good fortune is changed,

for I am the most wretch of the world.  The hermit

beheld him and had marvel how he was so abashed.  Sir,

said the hermit, ye ought to thank God more than any

knight living, for He hath caused you to have more

worldly worship than any knight that now liveth.  And

for your presumption to take upon you in deadly sin for

to be in His presence, where His flesh and His blood was,

that caused you ye might not see it with worldly eyes;

for He will not appear where such sinners be, but if it be

unto their great hurt and unto their great shame; and

there is no knight living now that ought to give God so

great thank as ye, for He hath given you beauty,

seemliness, and great strength above all other knights; and

therefore ye are the more beholding unto God than any

other man, to love Him and dread Him, for your

strength and manhood will little avail you an God be

against you.

CHAPTER XX

How Sir Launcelot was shriven, and what sorrow he made

and of the good ensamples which were shewed him.

THEN Sir Launcelot wept with heavy cheer, and said:

Now I know well ye say me sooth.  Sir, said the good

man, hide none old sin from me.  Truly, said Sir Launcelot,

that were me full loath to discover.  For this fourteen

year I never discovered one thing that I have used, and

that may I now wite my shame and my disadventure.

And then he told there that good man all his life.  And

how he had loved a queen unmeasurably and out of

measure long.  And all my great deeds of arms that I

have done, I did for the most part for the queen's sake,

and for her sake would I do battle were it right or wrong,

and never did I battle all only for God's sake, but for to

win worship and to cause me to be the better beloved

and little or nought I thanked God of it.  Then Sir

Launcelot said: I pray you counsel me.  I will counsel

you, said the hermit, if ye will ensure me that ye will

never come in that queen's fellowship as much as ye may

forbear.  And then Sir Launcelot promised him he nold,

by the faith of his body.  Look that your heart and your

mouth accord, said the good man, and I shall ensure you

ye shall have more worship than ever ye had.

Holy father, said Sir Launcelot, I marvel of the voice

that said to me marvellous words, as ye have heard to-

forehand.  Have ye no marvel, said the good man

thereof, for it seemeth well God loveth you; for men

may understand a stone is hard of kind, and namely one

more than another; and that is to understand by thee, Sir

Launcelot, for thou wilt not leave thy sin for no goodness

that God hath sent thee; therefore thou art more than

any stone, and never wouldst thou be made nesh nor by

water nor by fire, and that is the heat of the Holy Ghost

may not enter in thee.  Now take heed, in all the world

men shall not find one knight to whom Our Lord hath

given so much of grace as He hath given you, for He

hath given you fairness with seemliness, He hath given

thee wit, discretion to know good from evil, He hath

given thee prowess and hardiness, and given thee to work

so largely that thou hast had at all days the better

wheresomever thou came; and now Our Lord will suffer thee

no longer, but that thou shalt know Him whether thou

wilt or nylt.  And why the voice called thee bitterer than

wood, for where overmuch sin dwelleth, there may be but

little sweetness, wherefore thou art likened to an old

rotten tree.

Now have I shewed thee why thou art harder than the

stone and bitterer than the tree.  Now shall I shew thee

why thou art more naked and barer than the fig tree.

It befell that Our Lord on Palm Sunday preached in

Jerusalem, and there He found in the people that all

hardness was harboured in them, and there He found in

all the town not one that would harbour him.  And then

He went without the town, and found in midst of the

way a fig tree, the which was right fair and well garnished

of leaves, but fruit had it none.  Then Our Lord cursed

the tree that bare no fruit; that betokeneth the fig tree

unto Jerusalem, that had leaves and no fruit.  So thou,

Sir Launcelot, when the Holy Grail was brought afore

thee, He found in thee no fruit, nor good thought nor

good will, and defouled with lechery.  Certes, said Sir

Launcelot, all that you have said is true, and from

henceforward I cast me, by the grace of God, never to be so

wicked as I have been, but as to follow knighthood and

to do feats of arms.

Then the good man enjoined Sir Launcelot such

penance as he might do and to sewe knighthood, and so

assoiled him, and prayed Sir Launcelot to abide with him

all that day.  I will well, said Sir Launcelot, for I have

neither helm, nor horse, nor sword.  As for that, said the

good man, I shall help you or to-morn at even of an horse,

and all that longed unto you.  And then Sir Launcelot

repented him greatly.

<oe Here endeth off the history of Sir Launcelot.  And here

followeth of Sir Percivale de Galis, which is the

fourteenth book.>

BOOK XIV

CHAPTER I

How Sir Percivale came to a recluse and asked counsel, and

how she told him that she was his aunt.

NOW saith the tale, that when Sir Launcelot was ridden

after Sir Galahad, the which had all these adventures

above said, Sir Percivale turned again unto the recluse,

where he deemed to have tidings of that knight that

Launcelot followed.  And so he kneeled at her window,

and the recluse opened it and asked Sir Percivale what he

would.  Madam, he said, I am a knight of King Arthur's

court, and my name is Sir Percivale de Galis.  When the

recluse heard his name she had great joy of him, for

mickle she had loved him to-fore any other knight, for she

ought to do so, for she was his aunt.  And then she

commanded the gates to be opened, and there he had all

the cheer that she might make him, and all that was in

her power was at his commandment.

So on the morn Sir Percivale went to the recluse and

asked her if she knew that knight with the white shield.

Sir, said she, why would ye wit?  Truly, madam, said Sir

Percivale, I shall never be well at ease till that I know of

that knight's fellowship, and that I may fight with him,

for I may not leave him so lightly, for I have the shame

yet.  Ah, Percivale, said she, would ye fight with him?

I see well ye have great will to be slain as your father

was, through outrageousness.  Madam, said Sir Percivale,

it seemeth by your words that ye know me.  Yea, said

she, I well ought to know you, for I am your aunt,

although I be in a priory place.  For some called me

sometime the Queen of the Waste Lands, and I was called

the queen of most riches in the world; and it pleased

me never my riches so much as doth my poverty.  Then

Sir Percivale wept for very pity when that he knew it

was his aunt.  Ah, fair nephew, said she, when heard ye

tidings of your mother?  Truly, said he, I heard none of

her, but I dream of her much in my sleep; and therefore

I wot not whether she be dead or alive.  Certes, fair

nephew, said she, your mother is dead, for after your

departing from her she took such a sorrow that anon,

after she was confessed, she died.  Now, God have mercy

on her soul, said Sir Percivale, it sore forthinketh me;

but all we must change the life.  Now, fair aunt, tell me

what is the knight?  I deem it be he that bare the red

arms on Whitsunday.  Wit you well, said she, that this

is he, for otherwise ought he not to do, but to go in red

arms; and that same knight hath no peer, for he worketh

all by miracle, and he shall never be overcome of none

earthly man's hand.

CHAPTER II

How Merlin likened the Round Table to the world, and how

the knights that should achieve the Sangreal should be

known.

ALSO Merlin made the Round Table in tokening of roundness

of the world, for by the Round Table is the world

signified by right, for all the world, Christian and heathen,

repair unto the Round Table; and when they are chosen

to be of the fellowship of the Round Table they think them

more blessed and more in worship than if they had gotten

half the world; and ye have seen that they have lost their

fathers and their mothers, and all their kin, and their wives

and their children, for to be of your fellowship.  It is well

seen by you; for since ye have departed from your mother

ye would never see her, ye found such fellowship at the

Round Table.  When Merlin had ordained the Round

Table he said, by them which should be fellows of the

Round Table the truth of the Sangreal should be well

known.  And men asked him how men might know them

that should best do and to enchieve the Sangreal?  Then

he said there should be three white bulls that should enchieve

it, and the two should be maidens, and the third should be

chaste.  And that one of the three should pass his father

as much as the lion passeth the leopard, both of strength

and hardiness.

They that heard Merlin say so said thus unto Merlin:

Sithen there shall be such a knight, thou shouldest ordain

by thy crafts a siege, that no man should sit in it but he

all only that shall pass all other knights.  Then Merlin

answered that he would do so.  And then he made the

Siege Perilous, in the which Galahad sat in at his meat on

Whitsunday last past.  Now, madam, said Sir Percivale,

so much have I heard of you that by my good will I will

never have ado with Sir Galahad but by way of kindness;

and for God's love, fair aunt, can ye teach me some way

where I may find him? for much would I love the fellowship

of him.  Fair nephew, said she, ye must ride unto a

castle the which is called Goothe, where he hath a cousin-

germain, and there may ye be lodged this night.  And as

he teacheth you, seweth after as fast as ye can; and if he

can tell you no tidings of him, ride straight unto the Castle

of Carbonek, where the maimed king is there lying, for

there shall ye hear true tidings of him.

CHAPTER III

How Sir Percivale came into a monastery, where he found

King Evelake, which was an old man.

THEN departed Sir Percivale from his aunt, either making

great sorrow.  And so he rode till evensong time.  And

then he heard a clock smite; and then he was ware of an

house closed well with walls and deep ditches, and there he

knocked at the gate and was let in, and he alighted and

was led unto a chamber, and soon he was unarmed.  And

there he had right good cheer all that night; and on the

morn he heard his mass, and in the monastery he found a

priest ready at the altar.  And on the right side he saw a

pew closed with iron, and behind the altar he saw a rich

bed and a fair, as of cloth of silk and gold.

Then Sir Percivale espied that therein was a man or a

woman, for the visage was covered; then he left off his

looking and heard his service.  And when it came to the

sacring, he that lay within that parclos dressed him up, and

uncovered his head; and then him beseemed a passing old

man, and he had a crown of gold upon his head, and his

shoulders were naked and unhilled unto his navel.  And

then Sir Percivale espied his body was full of great wounds,

both on the shoulders, arms, and visage.  And ever he held

up his hands against Our Lord's body, and cried:  Fair,

sweet Father, Jesu Christ, forget not me.  And so he lay

down, but always he was in his prayers and orisons; and

him seemed to be of the age of three hundred winter.  And

when the mass was done the priest took Our Lord's body

and bare it to the sick king.  And when he had used it he

did off his crown, and commanded the crown to be set on

the altar.

Then Sir Percivale asked one of the brethren what he

was.  Sir, said the good man, ye have heard much of

Joseph of Aramathie, how he was sent by Jesu Christ into

this land for to teach and preach the holy Christian faith;

and therefore he suffered many persecutions the which the

enemies of Christ did unto him, and in the city of Sarras

he converted a king whose name was Evelake.  And so

this king came with Joseph into this land, and ever he was

busy to be thereas the Sangreal was; and on a time he

nighed it so nigh that Our Lord was displeased with him,

but ever he followed it more and more, till God struck

him almost blind.  Then this king cried mercy, and

said:  Fair Lord, let me never die till the good knight

of my blood of the ninth degree be come, that I may

see him openly that he shall enchieve the Sangreal, that

I may kiss him.

CHAPTER IV

How Sir Percivale saw many men of arms bearing a dead

knight, and how he fought against them.

WHEN the king thus had made his prayers he heard a voice

that said:  Heard be thy prayers, for thou shalt not die till

he have kissed thee.  And when that knight shall come

the clearness of your eyes shall come again, and thou shalt

see openly, and thy wounds shall be healed, and erst shall

they never close.  And this befell of King Evelake, and

this same king hath lived this three hundred winters this

holy life, and men say the knight is in the court that shall

heal him.  Sir, said the good man, I pray you tell me what

knight that ye be, and if ye be of King Arthur's court and

of the Table Round.  Yea forsooth, said he, and my name

is Sir Percivale de Galis.  And when the good man understood

his name he made great joy of him.

And then Sir Percivale departed and rode till the hour

of noon.  And he met in a valley about a twenty men of

arms, which bare in a bier a knight deadly slain.  And

when they saw Sir Percivale they asked him of whence he

was.  And he answered:  Of the court of King Arthur.

Then they cried all at once:  Slay him.  Then Sir Percivale

smote the first to the earth and his horse upon him.  And

then seven of the knights smote upon his shield all at once,

and the remnant slew his horse so that he fell to the earth.

So had they slain him or taken him had not the good knight,

Sir Galahad, with the red arms come there by adventure

into those parts.  And when he saw all those knights upon

one knight he cried:  Save me that knight's life.  And then

he dressed him toward the twenty men of arms as fast as

his horse might drive, with his spear in the rest, and smote

the foremost horse and man to the earth.  And when his

spear was broken he set his hand to his sword, and smote

on the right hand and on the left hand that it was marvel

to see, and at every stroke he smote one down or put him

to a rebuke, so that they would fight no more but fled to

a thick forest, and Sir Galahad followed them.

And when Sir Percivale saw him chase them so, he

made great sorrow that his horse was away.  And then

he wist well it was Sir Galahad.  And then he cried aloud:

Ah fair knight, abide and suffer me to do thankings unto

thee, for much have ye done for me.  But ever Sir Galahad

rode so fast that at the last he passed out of his sight.  And

as fast as Sir Percivale might he went after him on foot,

crying.  And then he met with a yeoman riding upon an

hackney, the which led in his hand a great steed blacker

than any bear.  Ah, fair friend, said Sir Percivale, as ever

I may do for you, and to be your true knight in the first

place ye will require me, that ye will lend me that black

steed, that I might overtake a knight the which rideth

afore me.  Sir knight, said the yeoman, I pray you hold

me excused of that, for that I may not do.  For wit ye

well, the horse is such a man's horse, that an I lent it you

or any man, that he would slay me.  Alas, said Sir Percivale,

I had never so great sorrow as I have had for losing of

yonder knight.  Sir, said the yeoman, I am right heavy

for you, for a good horse would beseem you well; but I

dare not deliver you this horse but if ye would take him

from me.  That will I not do, said Sir Percivale.  And so

they departed; and Sir Percivale set him down under a tree,

and made sorrow out of measure.  And as he was there,

there came a knight riding on the horse that the yeoman

led, and he was clean armed.

CHAPTER V

How a yeoman desired him to get again an horse, and how

Sir Percivale's hackney was slain, and how he gat an

horse.

AND anon the yeoman came pricking after as fast as ever

he might, and asked Sir Percivale if he saw any knight

riding on his black steed.  Yea, sir, forsooth, said he;

why, sir, ask ye me that?  Ah, sir, that steed he hath

benome me with strength; wherefore my lord will slay

me in what place he findeth me.  Well, said Sir Percivale,

what wouldst thou that I did?  Thou seest well that I am

on foot, but an I had a good horse I should bring him

soon again.  Sir, said the yeoman, take mine hackney and

do the best ye can, and I shall sewe you on foot to wit

how that ye shall speed.  Then Sir Percivale alighted

upon that hackney, and rode as fast as he might, and at

the last he saw that knight.  And then he cried:  Knight,

turn again; and he turned and set his spear against Sir

Percivale, and he smote the hackney in the midst of the

breast that he fell down dead to the earth, and there he

had a great fall, and the other rode his way.  And then

Sir Percivale was wood wroth, and cried:  Abide, wicked

knight; coward and false-hearted knight, turn again and

fight with me on foot.  But he answered not, but passed

on his way.

When Sir Percivale saw he would not turn he cast

away his helm and sword, and said:  Now am I a very

wretch, cursed and most unhappy above all other knights.

So in this sorrow he abode all that day till it was night;

and then he was faint, and laid him down and slept till it

was midnight; and then he awaked and saw afore him a

woman which said unto him right fiercely:  Sir Percivale,

what dost thou here?  He answered, I do neither good

nor great ill.  If thou wilt ensure me, said she, that thou

wilt fulfil my will when I summon thee, I shall lend thee

mine own horse which shall bear thee whither thou wilt.

Sir Percivale was glad of her proffer, and ensured her to

fulfil all her desire.  Then abide me here, and I shall go

and fetch you an horse.  And so she came soon again

and brought an horse with her that was inly black.  When

Percivale beheld that horse he marvelled that it was so

great and so well apparelled; and not for then he was so

hardy, and he leapt upon him, and took none heed of

himself.  And so anon as he was upon him he thrust to

him with his spurs, and so he rode by a forest, and the

moon shone clear.  And within an hour and less he bare

him four days' journey thence, until he came to a rough

water the which roared, and his horse would have borne

him into it.

CHAPTER VI

Of the great danger that Sir Percivale was in by his horse,

and how he saw a serpent and a lion fight.

AND when Sir Percivale came nigh the brim, and saw the

water so boistous, he doubted to overpass it.  And then

he made a sign of the cross in his forehead.  When the

fiend felt him so charged he shook off Sir Percivale, and

he went into the water crying and roaring, making great

sorrow, and it seemed unto him that the water brent.

Then Sir Percivale perceived it was a fiend, the which

would have brought him unto his perdition.  Then he

commended himself unto God, and prayed Our Lord to keep

him from all such temptations; and so he prayed all that

night till on the morn that it was day; then he saw that

he was in a wild mountain the which was closed with the

sea nigh all about, that he might see no land about him

which might relieve him, but wild beasts.

And then he went into a valley, and there he saw a

young serpent bring a young lion by the neck, and so he

came by Sir Percivale.  With that came a great lion

crying and roaring after the serpent.  And as fast as Sir

Percivale saw this he marvelled, and hied him thither, but

anon the lion had overtaken the serpent and began battle

with him.  And then Sir Percivale thought to help the

lion, for he was the more natural beast of the two; and

therewith he drew his sword, and set his shield afore him,

and there he gave the serpent such a buffet that he had

a deadly wound.  When the lion saw that, he made no

resemblaunt to fight with him, but made him all the

cheer that a beast might make a man.  Then Percivale

perceived that, and cast down his shield which was broken;

and then he did off his helm for to gather wind, for he

was greatly enchafed with the serpent: and the lion went

alway about him fawning as a spaniel.  And then he

stroked him on the neck and on the shoulders.  And then

he thanked God of the fellowship of that beast.  And

about noon the lion took his little whelp and trussed him

and bare him there he came from.

Then was Sir Percivale alone.  And as the tale telleth,

he was one of the men of the world at that time which

most believed in Our Lord Jesu Christ, for in those days

there were but few folks that believed in God perfectly.

For in those days the son spared not the father no more

than a stranger.  And so Sir Percivale comforted himself

in our Lord Jesu, and besought God no temptation should

bring him out of God's service, but to endure as his true

champion.  Thus when Sir Percivale had prayed he saw

the lion come toward him, and then he couched down at

his feet.  And so all that night the lion and he slept

together; and when Sir Percivale slept he dreamed a

marvellous dream, that there two ladies met with him,

and that one sat upon a lion, and that other sat upon a

serpent, and that one of them was young, and the other

was old; and the youngest him thought said:  Sir Percivale,

my lord saluteth thee, and sendeth thee word that

thou array thee and make thee ready, for to-morn thou

must fight with the strongest champion of the world.

And if thou be overcome thou shall not be quit for losing

of any of thy members, but thou shalt be shamed for ever

to the world's end.  And then he asked her what was her

lord.  And she said the greatest lord of all the world:

and so she departed suddenly that he wist not where.

CHAPTER VII

Of the vision that Sir Percivale saw, and how his vision

was expounded, and of his lion.

THEN came forth the other lady that rode upon the

serpent, and she said:  Sir Percivale, I complain me of

you that ye have done unto me, and have not offended

unto you.  Certes, madam, he said, unto you nor no lady

I never offended.  Yes, said she, I shall tell you why.  I

have nourished in this place a great while a serpent, which

served me a great while, and yesterday ye slew him as he

gat his prey.  Say me for what cause ye slew him, for the

lion was not yours.  Madam, said Sir Percivale, I know

well the lion was not mine, but I did it for the lion is of

more gentler nature than the serpent, and therefore I slew

him; meseemeth I did not amiss against you.  Madam,

said he, what would ye that I did?  I would, said she,

for the amends of my beast that ye become my man.

And then he answered:  That will I not grant you.  No,

said she, truly ye were never but my servant sin ye

received the homage of Our Lord Jesu Christ.  Therefore,

I ensure you in what place I may find you without keeping

I shall take you, as he that sometime was my man.  And

so she departed from Sir Percivale and left him sleeping,

the which was sore travailed of his advision.  And on

the morn he arose and blessed him, and he was passing

feeble.

Then was Sir Percivale ware in the sea, and saw a

ship come sailing toward him; and Sir Percivale went

unto the ship and found it covered within and without

with white samite.  And at the board stood an old man

clothed in a surplice, in likeness of a priest.  Sir, said Sir

Percivale, ye be welcome.  God keep you, said the good

man.  Sir, said the old man, of whence be ye?  Sir, said

Sir Percivale, I am of King Arthur's court, and a knight

of the Table Round, the which am in the quest of the

Sangreal; and here am I in great duresse, and never like

to escape out of this wilderness.  Doubt not, said the

good man, an ye be so true a knight as the order of

chivalry requireth, and of heart as ye ought to be, ye

should not doubt that none enemy should slay you.

What are ye? said Sir Percivale.  Sir, said the old man,

I am of a strange country, and hither I come to comfort

you.

Sir, said Sir Percivale, what signifieth my dream that

I dreamed this night?  And there he told him altogether:

She which rode upon the lion betokeneth the new law of

holy church, that is to understand, faith, good hope, belief,

and baptism.  For she seemed younger than the other it

is great reason, for she was born in the resurrection and

the passion of Our Lord Jesu Christ.  And for great love

she came to thee to warn thee of thy great battle that shall

befall thee.  With whom, said Sir Percivale, shall I fight?

With the most champion of the world, said the old man;

for as the lady said, but if thou quit thee well thou shalt

not be quit by losing of one member, but thou shalt be

shamed to the world's end.  And she that rode on the

serpent signifieth the old law, and that serpent betokeneth

a fiend.  And why she blamed thee that thou slewest her

servant, it betokeneth nothing; the serpent that thou

slewest betokeneth the devil that thou rodest upon to the

rock.  And when thou madest a sign of the cross, there

thou slewest him, and put away his power.  And when

she asked thee amends and to become her man, and thou

saidst thou wouldst not, that was to make thee to believe

on her and leave thy baptism.  So he commanded Sir

Percivale to depart, and so he leapt over the board and

the ship, and all went away he wist not whither.  Then

he went up unto the rock and found the lion which always

kept him fellowship, and he stroked him upon the back

and had great joy of him.

CHAPTER VIII

How Sir Percivale saw a ship coming to him-ward,

and how the lady of the ship told him of her disheritance.

BY that Sir Percivale had abiden there till mid-day he saw

a ship came rowing in the sea, as all the wind of the world

had driven it.  And so it drove under that rock.  And

when Sir Percivale saw this he hied him thither, and found

the ship covered with silk more blacker than any bear,

and therein was a gentlewoman of great beauty, and she

was clothed richly that none might be better.  And when

she saw Sir Percivale she said:  Who brought you in this

wilderness where ye be never like to pass hence, for ye

shall die here for hunger and mischief?  Damosel, said

Sir Percivale, I serve the best man of the world, and in

his service he will not suffer me to die, for who that

knocketh shall enter, and who that asketh shall have, and

who that seeketh him he hideth him not.  But then she

said:  Sir Percivale, wot ye what I am?  Yea, said he.

Now who taught you my name? said she.  Now, said

Sir Percivale, I know you better than ye ween.  And

I came out of the waste forest where I found the Red

Knight with the white shield, said the damosel.  Ah,

damosel, said he, with that knight would I meet passing

fain.  Sir knight, said she, an ye will ensure me by the

faith that ye owe unto knighthood that ye shall do my

will what time I summon you, and I shall bring you unto

that knight.  Yea, said he, I shall promise you to fulfil

your desire.  Well, said she, now shall I tell you.  I saw

him in the forest chasing two knights unto a water, the

which is called Mortaise; and they drove him into the

water for dread of death, and the two knights passed over,

and the Red Knight passed after, and there his horse was

drenched, and he, through great strength, escaped unto

the land: thus she told him, and Sir Percivale was passing

glad thereof.

Then she asked him if he had ate any meat late.

Nay, madam, truly I ate no meat nigh this three days,

but late here I spake with a good man that fed me with

his good words and holy, and refreshed me greatly.  Ah,

sir knight, said she, that same man is an enchanter and

a multiplier of words.  For an ye believe him ye shall

plainly be shamed, and die in this rock for pure hunger,

and be eaten with wild beasts; and ye be a young man

and a goodly knight, and I shall help you an ye will.

What are ye, said Sir Percivale, that proffered me thus

great kindness?  I am, said she, a gentlewoman that am

disherited, which was sometime the richest woman of the

world.  Damosel, said Sir Percivale, who hath disherited

you? for I have great pity of you.  Sir, said she, I

dwelled with the greatest man of the world, and he made

me so fair and clear that there was none like me; and of

that great beauty I had a little pride more than I ought

to have had.  Also I said a word that pleased him not.

And then he would not suffer me to be any longer in his

company, and so drove me from mine heritage, and so

disherited me, and he had never pity of me nor of none of

my council, nor of my court.  And sithen, sir knight, it

hath befallen me so, and through me and mine I have

benome him many of his men, and made them to become

my men.  For they ask never nothing of me but I give

it them, that and much more.  Thus I and all my servants

were against him night and day.  Therefore I know now

no good knight, nor no good man, but I get them on my

side an I may.  And for that I know that thou art a good

knight, I beseech you to help me; and for ye be a fellow

of the Round Table, wherefore ye ought not to fail no

gentlewoman which is disherited, an she besought you of

help.

CHAPTER IX

How Sir Percivale promised her help, and how he required

her of love, and how he was saved from the fiend.

THEN Sir Percivale promised her all the help that he

might; and then she thanked him.  And at that time the

weather was hot.  Then she called unto her a gentlewoman

and bade her bring forth a pavilion; and so she

did, and pight it upon the gravel.  Sir, said she, now may

ye rest you in this heat of the day.  Then he thanked

her, and she put off his helm and his shield, and there he

slept a great while.  And then he awoke and asked her if

she had any meat, and she said:  Yea, also ye shall have

enough.  And so there was set enough upon the table,

and thereon so much that he had marvel, for there was all

manner of meats that he could think on.  Also he drank

there the strongest wine that ever he drank, him thought,

and therewith he was a little chafed more than he ought

to be; with that he beheld the gentlewoman, and him

thought she was the fairest creature that ever he saw.

And then Sir Percivale proffered her love, and prayed her

that she would be his.  Then she refused him, in a

manner, when he required her, for the cause he should be

the more ardent on her, and ever he ceased not to pray

her of love.  And when she saw him well enchafed, then

she said:  Sir Percivale, wit you well I shall not fulfil your

will but if ye swear from henceforth ye shall be my true

servant, and to do nothing but that I shall command you.

Will ye ensure me this as ye be a true knight?  Yea, said

he, fair lady, by the faith of my body.  Well, said she,

now shall ye do with me whatso it please you; and now

wit ye well ye are the knight in the world that I have

most desire to.

And then two squires were commanded to make a bed

in midst of the pavilion.  And anon she was unclothed

and laid therein.  And then Sir Percivale laid him down

by her naked; and by adventure and grace he saw his

sword lie on the ground naked, in whose pommel was a

red cross and the sign of the crucifix therein, and bethought

him on his knighthood and his promise made to-forehand

unto the good man; then he made a sign of the cross in

his forehead, and therewith the pavilion turned up-so-

down, and then it changed unto a smoke, and a black

cloud, and then he was adread and cried aloud:

CHAPTER X

How Sir Percivale for penance rove himself through the

thigh; and how she was known for the devil.

FAIR sweet Father, Jesu Christ, ne let me not be shamed,

the which was nigh lost had not thy good grace been.

And then he looked into a ship, and saw her enter therein,

which said:  Sir Percivale, ye have betrayed me.  And so

she went with the wind roaring and yelling, that it seemed

all the water brent after her.  Then Sir Percivale made

great sorrow, and drew his sword unto him, saying:

Sithen my flesh will be my master I shall punish it; and

therewith he rove himself through the thigh that the blood

stert about him, and said:  O good Lord, take this in

recompensation of that I have done against thee, my Lord.

So then he clothed him and armed him, and called himself

a wretch, saying:  How nigh was I lost, and to have lost

that I should never have gotten again, that was my

virginity, for that may never be recovered after it is once

lost.  And then he stopped his bleeding wound with a

piece of his shirt.

Thus as he made his moan he saw the same ship come

from Orient that the good man was in the day afore, and

the noble knight was ashamed with himself, and therewith

he fell in a swoon.  And when he awoke he went unto

him weakly, and there he saluted this good man.  And

then he asked Sir Percivale:  How hast thou done sith

I departed?  Sir, said he, here was a gentlewoman and

led me into deadly sin.  And there he told him altogether.

Knew ye not the maid? said the good man.  Sir, said he,

nay, but well I wot the fiend sent her hither to shame me.

O good knight, said he, thou art a fool, for that gentlewoman

was the master fiend of hell, the which hath power

above all devils, and that was the old lady that thou sawest

in thine advision riding on the serpent.  Then he told

Sir Percivale how our Lord Jesu Christ beat him out of

heaven for his sin, the which was the most brightest angel

of heaven, and therefore he lost his heritage.  And that

was the champion that thou foughtest withal, the which

had overcome thee had not the grace of God been.  Now

beware Sir Percivale, and take this for an ensample.  And

then the good man vanished away.  Then Sir Percivale

took his arms, and entered into the ship, and so departed

from thence.

<oe Here endeth the fourteenth book, which is of Sir Percivale.

And here followeth of Sir Launcelot, which is the

fifteenth book.>

BOOK XV

CHAPTER I

How Sir Launcelot came to a chapel, where he found dead,

in a white shirt, a man of religion, of an hundred

winter old.

WHEN the hermit had kept Sir Launcelot three days, the

hermit gat him an horse, an helm, and a sword.  And then

he departed about the hour of noon.  And then he saw a

little house.  And when he came near he saw a chapel, and

there beside he saw an old man that was clothed all in

white full richly; and then Sir Launcelot said:  God save

you.  God keep you, said the good man, and make you a

good knight.  Then Sir Launcelot alighted and entered

into the chapel, and there he saw an old man dead, in a

white shirt of passing fine cloth.

Sir, said the good man, this man that is dead ought not

to be in such clothing as ye see him in, for in that he

brake the oath of his order, for he hath been more than an

hundred winter a man of a religion.  And then the good

man and Sir Launcelot went into the chapel; and the

good man took a stole about his neck, and a book, and

then he conjured on that book; and with that they saw in

an hideous figure and horrible, that there was no man so

hard-hearted nor so hard but he should have been afeard.

Then said the fiend:  Thou hast travailed me greatly;

now tell me what thou wilt with me.  I will, said the good

man, that thou tell me how my fellow became dead, and

whether he be saved or damned.  Then he said with an

horrible voice:  He is not lost but saved.  How may that

be? said the good man; it seemed to me that he lived

not well, for he brake his order for to wear a shirt where

he ought to wear none, and who that trespasseth against

our order doth not well.  Not so, said the fiend, this man

that lieth here dead was come of a great lineage.  And

there was a lord that hight the Earl de Vale, that held

great war against this man's nephew, the which hight

Aguarus.  And so this Aguarus saw the earl was bigger

than he.  Then he went for to take counsel of his uncle,

the which lieth here dead as ye may see.  And then he

asked leave, and went out of his hermitage for to maintain

his nephew against the mighty earl; and so it happed

that this man that lieth here dead did so much by his

wisdom and hardiness that the earl was taken, and three of

his lords, by force of this dead man.

CHAPTER II

Of a dead man, how men would have hewn him, and it would

not be, and how Sir Launcelot took the hair of the dead

man.

THEN was there peace betwixt the earl and this Aguarus,

and great surety that the earl should never war against

him.  Then this dead man that here lieth came to this

hermitage again; and then the earl made two of his

nephews for to be avenged upon this man.  So they came

on a day, and found this dead man at the sacring

of his mass, and they abode him till he had said mass.

And then they set upon him and drew out swords to

have slain him; but there would no sword bite on him

more than upon a gad of steel, for the high Lord which he

served He him preserved.  Then made they a great fire,

and did off all his clothes, and the hair off his back.  And

then this dead man hermit said unto them:  Ween you to

burn me?  It shall not lie in your power nor to perish me

as much as a thread, an there were any on my body.  No?

said one of them, it shall be assayed.  And then they

despoiled him, and put upon him this shirt, and cast him in a

fire, and there he lay all that night till it was day in that

fire, and was not dead, and so in the morn I came and

found him dead; but I found neither thread nor skin

tamed, and so took him out of the fire with great fear, and

laid him here as ye may see.  And now may ye suffer me

to go my way, for I have said you the sooth.  And then

he departed with a great tempest.

Then was the good man and Sir Launcelot more

gladder than they were to-fore.  And then Sir Launcelot

dwelled with that good man that night.  Sir, said the good

man, be ye not Sir Launcelot du Lake?  Yea, sir, said he.

What seek ye in this country?  Sir, said Sir Launcelot, I

go to seek the adventures of the Sangreal.  Well, said he,

seek it ye may well, but though it were here ye shall have

no power to see it no more than a blind man should see a

bright sword, and that is long on your sin, and else ye were

more abler than any man living.  And then Sir Launcelot

began to weep.  Then said the good man:  Were ye confessed

sith ye entered into the quest of the Sangreal?  Yea,

sir, said Sir Launcelot.  Then upon the morn when the

good man had sung his mass, then they buried the dead

man.  Then Sir Launcelot said:  Father, what shall I do?

Now, said the good man, I require you take this hair that

was this holy man's and put it next thy skin, and it shall

prevail thee greatly.  Sir, and I will do it, said Sir

Launcelot.  Also I charge you that ye eat no flesh as long as ye

be in the quest of the Sangreal, nor ye shall drink no

wine, and that ye hear mass daily an ye may do it.  So he

took the hair and put it upon him, and so departed at

evensong-time.

And so rode he into a forest, and there he met with a

gentlewoman riding upon a white palfrey, and then she

asked him:  Sir knight, whither ride ye?  Certes, damosel,

said Launcelot, I wot not whither I ride but as fortune

leadeth me.  Ah, Sir Launcelot, said she, I wot what

adventure ye seek, for ye were afore time nearer than ye

be now, and yet shall ye see it more openly than ever ye

did, and that shall ye understand in short time.  Then Sir

Launcelot asked her where he might be harboured that

night.  Ye shall not find this day nor night, but to-morn ye

shall find harbour good, and ease of that ye be in doubt of

And then he commended her unto God.  Then he rode

till that he came to a Cross, and took that for his host as

for that night.

CHAPTER III

Of an advision that Sir Launcelot had, and how he told it

to an hermit, and desired counsel of him.

AND so he put his horse to pasture, and did off his helm

and his shield, and made his prayers unto the Cross that he

never fall in deadly sin again.  And so he laid him down

to sleep.  And anon as he was asleep it befell him there an

advision, that there came a man afore him all by compass

of stars, and that man had a crown of gold on his head

and that man led in his fellowship seven kings and two

knights.  And all these worshipped the Cross, kneeling

upon their knees, holding up their hands toward the

heaven.  And all they said:  Fair sweet Father of heaven

come and visit us, and yield unto us everych as we have

deserved.

Then looked Launcelot up to the heaven, and him

seemed the clouds did open, and an old man came down,

with a company of angels, and alighted among them, and

gave unto everych his blessing, and called them his

servants, and good and true knights.  And when this old

man had said thus he came to one of those knights, and

said:  I have lost all that I have set in thee, for thou hast

ruled thee against me as a warrior, and used wrong wars

with vain-glory, more for the pleasure of the world than to

please me, therefore thou shalt be confounded without thou

yield me my treasure.  All this advision saw Sir Launcelot

at the Cross.

And on the morn he took his horse and rode till mid-

day; and there by adventure he met with the same knight

that took his horse, helm, and his sword, when he slept

when the Sangreal appeared afore the Cross.  When Sir

Launcelot saw him he saluted hin not fair, but cried

on high:  Knight, keep thee, for thou hast done to me

great unkindness.  And then they put afore them their

spears, and Sir Launcelot came so fiercely upon him that

he smote him and his horse down to the earth, that he had

nigh broken his neck.  Then Sir Launcelot took the

knight's horse that was his own aforehand, and descended

from the horse he sat upon, and mounted upon his own

horse, and tied the knight's own horse to a tree, that he

might find that horse when that he was arisen.  Then Sir

Launcelot rode till night, and by adventure he met an

hermit, and each of them saluted other; and there he

rested with that good man all night, and gave his horse

such as he might get.  Then said the good man unto

Launcelot:  Of whence be ye?  Sir, said he, I am of

Arthur's court, and my name is Sir Launcelot du Lake

that am in the quest of the Sangreal, and therefore I pray

you to counsel me of a vision the which I had at the Cross.

And so he told him all.

CHAPTER IV

How the hermit expounded to Sir Launcelot his advision, and

told him that Sir Galahad was his son.

LO, Sir Launcelot, said the good man, there thou mightest

understand the high lineage that thou art come of, and

thine advision betokeneth.  After the passion of Jesu

Christ forty year, Joseph of Aramathie preached the victory

of King Evelake, that he had in the battles the better of

his enemies.  And of the seven kings and the two knights:

the first of them is called Nappus, an holy man; and the

second hight Nacien, in remembrance of his grandsire, and

in him dwelled our Lord Jesu Christ; and the third was

called Helias le Grose; and the fourth hight Lisais; and

the fifth hight Jonas, he departed out of his country and

went into Wales, and took there the daughter of Manuel,

whereby he had the land of Gaul, and he came to dwell in

this country.  And of him came King Launcelot thy

grandsire, the which there wedded the king's daughter of

Ireland, and he was as worthy a man as thou art, and of

him came King Ban, thy father, the which was the last of

the seven kings.  And by thee, Sir Launcelot, it signifieth

that the angels said thou were none of the seven fellowships.

And the last was the ninth knight, he was signified

to a lion, for he should pass all manner of earthly knights,

that is Sir Galahad, the which thou gat on King Pelles'

daughter; and thou ought to thank God more than any

other man living, for of a sinner earthly thou hast no peer

as in knighthood, nor never shall be.  But little thank hast

thou given to God for all the great virtues that God hath

lent thee.  Sir, said Launcelot, ye say that that good

knight is my son.  That oughtest thou to know and no

man better, said the good man, for thou knewest the

daughter of King Pelles fleshly, and on her thou begattest

Galahad, and that was he that at the feast of Pentecost sat

in the Siege Perilous; and therefore make thou it known

openly that he is one of thy begetting on King Pelles'

daughter, for that will be your worship and honour, and to

all thy kindred.  And I counsel you in no place press not

upon him to have ado with him.  Well, said Launcelot,

meseemeth that good knight should pray for me unto the

High Father, that I fall not to sin again.  Trust thou

well, said the good man, thou farest mickle the better for

his prayer; but the son shall not bear the wickedness of

the father, nor the father shall not bear the wickedness of

the son, but everych shall bear his own burden.  And

therefore beseek thou only God, and He will help thee in

all thy needs.  And then Sir Launcelot and he went to

supper, and so laid him to rest, and the hair pricked so Sir

Launcelot's skin which grieved him full sore, but he took

it meekly, and suffered the pain.  And so on the morn

he heard his mass and took his arms, and so took his

leave.

CHAPTER V

How Sir Launcelot jousted with many knights, and

how he was taken.

AND then mounted upon his horse, and rode into a forest,

and held no highway.  And as he looked afore him he

saw a fair plain, and beside that a fair castle, and afore the

castle were many pavilions of silk and of diverse hue.

And him seemed that he saw there five hundred knights

riding on horseback; and there were two parties: they

that were of the castle were all on black horses and their

trappings black, and they that were without were all on

white horses and trappings, and everych hurtled to other

that it marvelled Sir Launcelot.  And at the last him

thought they of the castle were put to the worse.

Then thought Sir Launcelot for to help there the

weaker party in increasing of his chivalry.  And so Sir

Launcelot thrust in among the party of the castle, and

smote down a knight, horse and man, to the earth.  And

then he rashed here and there, and did marvellous deeds

of arms.  And then he drew out his sword, and struck

many knights to the earth, so that all those that saw him

marvelled that ever one knight might do so great deeds

of arms.  But always the white knights held them nigh

about Sir Launcelot, for to tire him and wind him.  But

at the last, as a man may not ever endure, Sir Launcelot

waxed so faint of fighting and travailing, and was so weary

of his great deeds, that[1] he might not lift up his arms for

to give one stroke, so that he weened never to have borne

arms; and then they all took and led him away into a

forest, and there made him to alight and to rest him.

And then all the fellowship of the castle were overcome

for the default of him.  Then they said all unto Sir

Launcelot:  Blessed be God that ye be now of our fellowship,

for we shall hold you in our prison; and so they left

[1] So W. de Worde; Caxton ``but.''

him with few words.  And then Sir Launcelot made great

sorrow, For never or now was I never at tournament nor

jousts but I had the best, and now I am shamed; and

then he said:  Now I am sure that I am more sinfuller

than ever I was.

Thus he rode sorrowing, and half a day he was out of

despair, till that he came into a deep valley.  And when

Sir Launcelot saw he might not ride up into the mountain,

he there alighted under an apple tree, and there he left

his helm and his shield, and put his horse unto pasture.

And then he laid him down to sleep.  And then him

thought there came an old man afore him, the which said:

Ah, Launcelot of evil faith and poor belief, wherefore is

thy will turned so lightly toward thy deadly sin?  And

when he had said thus he vanished away, and Launcelot

wist not where he was become.  Then he took his horse,

and armed him; and as he rode by the way he saw a

chapel where was a recluse, which had a window that she

might see up to the altar.  And all aloud she called

Launcelot, for that he seemed a knight errant.  And then

he came, and she asked him what he was, and of what

place, and where about he went to seek.

CHAPTER VI

How Sir Launcelot told his advision to a woman, and

how she expounded it to him.

AND then he told her altogether word by word, and the

truth how it befell him at the tournament.  And after

told her his advision that he had had that night in his

sleep, and prayed her to tell him what it might mean, for

he was not well content with it.  Ah, Launcelot, said she,

as long as ye were knight of earthly knighthood ye were

the most marvellous man of the world, and most adventurous.

Now, said the lady, sithen ye be set among the

knights of heavenly adventures, if adventure fell thee

contrary at that tournament have thou no marvel, for that

tournament yesterday was but a tokening of Our Lord.

And not for then there was none enchantment, for they

at the tournament were earthly knights.  The tournament

was a token to see who should have most knights, either

Eliazar, the son of King Pelles, or Argustus, the son of

King Harlon.  But Eliazar was all clothed in white, and

Argustus was covered in black, the which were [over]come.

All what this betokeneth I shall tell you.  The day of

Pentecost, when King Arthur held his court, it befell that

earthly kings and knights took a tournament together,

that is to say the quest of the Sangreal.  The earthly

knights were they the which were clothed all in black,

and the covering betokeneth the sins whereof they be not

confessed.  And they with the covering of white betokeneth

virginity, and they that chose chastity.  And

thus was the quest begun in them.  Then thou beheld

the sinners and the good men, and when thou sawest the

sinners overcome, thou inclinest to that party for bobaunce

and pride of the world, and all that must be left in that

quest, for in this quest thou shalt have many fellows and

thy betters.  For thou art so feeble of evil trust and good

belief, this made it when thou were there where they took

thee and led thee into the forest.  And anon there appeared

the Sangreal unto the white knights, but thou was so feeble

of good belief and faith that thou mightest not abide it for

all the teaching of the good man, but anon thou turnest

to the sinners, and that caused thy misadventure that thou

should'st know good from evil and vain glory of the

world, the which is not worth a pear.  And for great

pride thou madest great sorrow that thou hadst not

overcome all the white knights with the covering of white, by

whom was betokened virginity and chastity; and therefore

God was wroth with you, for God loveth no such deeds

in this quest.  And this advision signifieth that thou were

of evil faith and of poor belief, the which will make thee

to fall into the deep pit of hell if thou keep thee not.

Now have I warned thee of thy vain glory and of thy

pride, that thou hast many times erred against thy Maker.

Beware of everlasting pain, for of all earthly knights I

have most pity of thee, for I know well thou hast not thy

peer of any earthly sinful man.

And so she commended Sir Launcelot to dinner.  And

after dinner he took his horse and commended her to God,

and so rode into a deep valley, and there he saw a river

and an high mountain.  And through the water he must

needs pass, the which was hideous; and then in the name

of God he took it with good heart.  And when he came

over he saw an armed knight, horse and man black as any

bear; without any word he smote Sir Launcelot's horse to

the earth; and so he passed on, he wist not where he was

become.  And then he took his helm and his shield, and

thanked God of his adventure.

<oe Here leadeth off the story of Sir Launcelot, and speak we

of Sir Gawaine, the which is the sixteenth book.>

BOOK XVI

CHAPTER I

How Sir Gawaine was nigh weary of the quest of the

Sangreal, and of his marvellous dream.

WHEN Sir Gawaine was departed from his fellowship he

rode long without any adventure.  For he found not the

tenth part of adventure as he was wont to do.  For Sir

Gawaine rode from Whitsuntide until Michaelmas and

found none adventure that pleased him.  So on a day it

befell Gawaine met with Sir Ector de Maris, and either

made great joy of other that it were marvel to tell.  And

so they told everych other, and complained them greatly

that they could find none adventure.  Truly, said Sir

Gawaine unto Sir Ector, I am nigh weary of this quest,

and loath I am to follow further in strange countries.

One thing marvelled me, said Sir Ector, I have met with

twenty knights, fellows of mine, and all they complain as

I do.  I have marvel, said Sir Gawaine, where that Sir

Launcelot, your brother, is.  Truly, said Sir Ector, I

cannot hear of him, nor of Sir Galahad, Percivale, nor

Sir Bors.  Let them be, said Sir Gawaine, for they four

have no peers.  And if one thing were not in Sir Launcelot

he had no fellow of none earthly man; but he is as we be,

but if he took more pain upon him.  But an these four

be met together they will be loath that any man meet with

them; for an they fail of the Sangreal it is in waste of all

the remnant to recover it.

Thus Ector and Gawaine rode more than eight days,

and on a Saturday they found an old chapel, the which

was wasted that there seemed no man thither repaired;

and there they alighted, and set their spears at the door,

and in they entered into the chapel, and there made their

orisons a great while, and set them down in the sieges of

the chapel.  And as they spake of one thing and other,

for heaviness they fell asleep, and there befell them both

marvellous adventures.  Sir Gawaine him seemed he

came into a meadow full of herbs and flowers, and there

he saw a rack of bulls, an hundred and fifty, that were

proud and black, save three of them were all white, and

one had a black spot, and the other two were so fair and

so white that they might be no whiter.  And these three

bulls which were so fair were tied with two strong cords.

And the remnant of the bulls said among them:  Go we

hence to seek better pasture.  And so some went, and

some came again, but they were so lean that they might

not stand upright; and of the bulls that were so white,

that one came again and no mo.  But when this white bull

was come again among these other there rose up a great

cry for lack of wind that failed them; and so they

departed one here and another there: this advision befell

Gawaine that night.

CHAPTER II

Of the advision of Sir Ector, and how he jousted with Sir

Uwaine les Avoutres, his sworn brother.

BUT to Ector de Maris befell another vision the contrary.

For it seemed him that his brother, Sir Launcelot, and

he alighted out of a chair and leapt upon two horses,

and the one said to the other:  Go we seek that we shall

not find.  And him thought that a man beat Sir Launcelot,

and despoiled him, and clothed him in another array,

the which was all full of knots, and set him upon an ass,

and so he rode till he came to the fairest well that ever he

saw; and Sir Launcelot alighted and would have drunk

of that well.  And when he stooped to drink of the water

the water sank from him.  And when Sir Launcelot saw

that, he turned and went thither as the head came from.

And in the meanwhile he trowed that himself and Sir

Ector rode till that they came to a rich man's house

where there was a wedding.  And there he saw a king the

which said:  Sir knight, here is no place for you.  And

then he turned again unto the chair that he came from.

Thus within a while both Gawaine and Ector awaked,

and either told other of their advision, the which marvelled

them greatly.  Truly, said Ector, I shall never be merry

till I hear tidings of my brother Launcelot.  Now as they

sat thus talking they saw an hand showing unto the elbow,

and was covered with red samite, and upon that hung a

bridle not right rich, and held within the fist a great

candle which burned right clear, and so passed afore them,

and entered into the chapel, and then vanished away and

they wist not where.  And anon came down a voice which

said:  Knights of full evil faith and of poor belief, these

two things have failed you, and therefore ye may not come

to the adventures of the Sangreal.

Then first spake Gawaine and said:  Ector, have ye

heard these words?  Yea truly, said Sir Ector, I heard

all.  Now go we, said Sir Ector, unto some hermit that

will tell us of our advision, for it seemeth me we labour

all in vain.  And so they departed and rode into a valley,

and there met with a squire which rode on an hackney,

and they saluted him fair.  Sir, said Gawaine, can thou

teach us to any hermit?  Here is one in a little mountain,

but it is so rough there may no horse go thither, and

therefore ye must go upon foot; there shall ye find a poor

house, and there is Nacien the hermit, which is the holiest

man in this country.  And so they departed either from

other.

And then in a valley they met with a knight all armed,

which proffered them to joust as far as he saw them.  In

the name of God, said Sir Gawaine, sith I departed from

Camelot there was none proffered me to joust but once.

And now, sir, said Ector, let me joust with him.  Nay,

said Gawaine, ye shall not but if I be beat; it shall not

for-think me then if ye go after me.  And then either

embraced other to joust and came together as fast as their

horses might run, and brast their shields and the mails,

and the one more than the other; and Gawaine was

wounded in the left side, but the other knight was smitten

through the breast, and the spear came out on the other

side, and so they fell both out of their saddles, and in the

falling they brake both their spears.

Anon Gawaine arose and set his hand to his sword,

and cast his shield afore him.  But all for naught was it,

for the knight had no power to arise against him.  Then

said Gawaine: Ye must yield you as an overcome man, or

else I may slay you.  Ah, sir knight, said he, I am but

dead, for God's sake and of your gentleness lead me here

unto an abbey that I may receive my Creator.  Sir, said

Gawaine, I know no house of religion hereby.  Sir, said

the knight, set me on an horse to-fore you, and I shall

teach you.  Gawaine set him up in the saddle, and he

leapt up behind him for to sustain him, and so came to

an abbey where they were well received; and anon he

was unarmed, and received his Creator.  Then he prayed

Gawaine to draw out the truncheon of the spear out of his

body.  Then Gawaine asked him what he was, that knew

him not.  I am, said he, of King Arthur's court, and was

a fellow of the Round Table, and we were brethren sworn

together; and now Sir Gawaine, thou hast slain me, and

my name is Uwaine les Avoutres, that sometime was son

unto King Uriens, and was in the quest of the Sangreal;

and now forgive it thee God, for it shall ever be said that

the one sworn brother hath slain the other.

CHAPTER III

How Sir Gawaine and Sir Ector came to an hermitage to be

confessed, and how they told to the hermit their advisions.

ALAS, said Gawaine, that ever this misadventure is befallen

me.  No force, said Uwaine, sith I shall die this death, of

a much more worshipfuller man's hand might I not die;

but when ye come to the court recommend me unto my

lord, King Arthur, and all those that be left alive, and for

old brotherhood think on me.  Then began Gawaine to

weep, and Ector also.  And then Uwaine himself and Sir

Gawaine drew out the truncheon of the spear, and anon

departed the soul from the body.  Then Sir Gawaine and

Sir Ector buried him as men ought to bury a king's son,

and made write upon his name, and by whom he was

slain.

Then departed Gawaine and Ector, as heavy as they

might for their misadventure, and so rode till that they

came to the rough mountain, and there they tied their

horses and went on foot to the hermitage.  And when

they were come up they saw a poor house, and beside

the chapel a little courtelage, where Nacien the hermit

gathered worts, as he which had tasted none other meat

of a great while.  And when he saw the errant knights he

came toward them and saluted them, and they him again.

Fair lords, said he, what adventure brought you hither?

Sir, said Gawaine, to speak with you for to be confessed.

Sir, said the hermit, I am ready.  Then they told him so

much that he wist well what they were.  And then he

thought to counsel them if he might.

Then began Gawaine first and told him of his advision

that he had had in the chapel, and Ector told him all as it is

afore rehearsed.  Sir, said the hermit unto Sir Gawaine, the

fair meadow and the rack therein ought to be understood the

Round Table, and by the meadow ought to be understood

humility and patience, those be the things which be always

green and quick; for men may no time overcome humility

and patience, therefore was the Round Table founded,

and the chivalry hath been at all times so by the fraternity

which was there that she might not be overcome; for men

said she was founded in patience and in humility.  At the

rack ate an hundred and fifty bulls; but they ate not in

the meadow, for their hearts should be set in humility and

patience, and the bulls were proud and black save only

three.  By the bulls is to understand the fellowship of

the Round Table, which for their sin and their wickedness

be black.  Blackness is to say without good or virtuous

works.  And the three bulls which were white save only

one that was spotted: the two white betoken Sir Galahad

and Sir Percivale, for they be maidens clean and without

spot; and the third that had a spot signifieth Sir Bors de

Ganis, which trespassed but once in his virginity, but

sithen he kept himself so well in chastity that all is forgiven

him and his misdeeds.  And why those three were

tied by the necks, they be three knights in virginity and

chastity, and there is no pride smitten in them.  And the

black bulls which said:  Go we hence, they were those

which at Pentecost at the high feast took upon them to go

in the quest of the Sangreal without confession: they

might not enter in the meadow of humility and patience.

And therefore they returned into waste countries, that

signifieth death, for there shall die many of them: everych

of them shall slay other for sin, and they that shall

escape shall be so lean that it shall be marvel to see them.

And of the three bulls without spot, the one shall come

again, and the other two never.

CHAPTER IV

How the hermit expounded their advision.

THEN spake Nacien unto Ector:  Sooth it is that Launcelot

and ye came down off one chair: the chair betokeneth

mastership and lordship which ye came down from.  But

ye two knights, said the hermit, ye go to seek that ye shall

never find, that is the Sangreal; for it is the secret thing of

our Lord Jesu Christ.  What is to mean that Sir Launcelot

fell down off his horse: he hath left pride and taken him

to humility, for he hath cried mercy loud for his sin, and

sore repented him, and our Lord hath clothed him in his

clothing which is full of knots, that is the hair that he

weareth daily.  And the ass that he rode upon is a beast

of humility, for God would not ride upon no steed, nor

upon no palfrey; so in ensample that an ass betokeneth

meekness, that thou sawest Sir Launcelot ride on in thy

sleep.  And the well whereas the water sank from him

when he should have taken thereof, and when he saw he

might not have it, he returned thither from whence he

came, for the well betokeneth the high grace of God, the

more men desire it to take it, the more shall be their

desire.  So when he came nigh the Sangreal, he meeked

him that he held him not a man worthy to be so nigh the

Holy Vessel, for he had been so defouled in deadly sin by

the space of many years; yet when he kneeled to drink of

the well, there he saw great providence of the Sangreal.

And for he had served so long the devil, he shall have

vengeance four-and-twenty days long, for that he hath

been the devil's servant four-and-twenty years.  And

then soon after he shall return unto Camelot out of this

country, and he shall say a part of such things as he hath

found.

Now will I tell you what betokeneth the hand with the

candle and the bridle: that is to understand the Holy

Ghost where charity is ever, and the bridle signifieth

abstinence.  For when she is bridled in Christian man's

heart she holdeth him so short that he falleth not in deadly

sin.  And the candle which sheweth clearness and sight

signifieth the right way of Jesu Christ.  And when he

went and said: Knights of poor faith and of wicked

belief, these three things failed, charity, abstinence, and

truth; therefore ye may not attain that high adventure of

the Sangreal.

CHAPTER V

Of the good counsel that the hermit gave to them.

CERTES, said Gawaine, soothly have ye said, that I see it

openly.  Now, I pray you, good man and holy father, tell

me why we met not with so many adventures as we were

wont to do, and commonly have the better.  I shall tell

you gladly, said the good man; the adventure of the

Sangreal which ye and many other have undertaken the

quest of it and find it not, the cause is for it appeareth

not to sinners.  Wherefore marvel not though ye fail

thereof, and many other.  For ye be an untrue knight

and a great murderer, and to good men signifieth other

things than murder.  For I dare say, as sinful as Sir

Launcelot hath been, sith that he went into the quest of

the Sangreal he slew never man, nor nought shall, till that

he come unto Camelot again, for he hath taken upon him

for to forsake sin.  And nere that he nis not stable, but

by his thought he is likely to turn again, he should be next

to enchieve it save Galahad, his son.  But God knoweth his

thought and his unstableness, and yet shall he die right an

holy man, and no doubt he hath no fellow of no earthly

sinful man.  Sir, said Gawaine, it seemeth me by your words

that for our sins it will not avail us to travel in this quest

Truly, said the good man, there be an hundred such as ye

be that never shall prevail, but to have shame.  And when

they had heard these voices they commended him unto

God.

Then the good man called Gawaine, and said:  It is

long time passed sith that ye were made knight, and never

sithen thou servedst thy Maker, and now thou art so old

a tree that in thee is neither life nor fruit; wherefore bethink

thee that thou yield to Our Lord the bare rind, sith

the fiend hath the leaves and the fruit.  Sir, said Gawaine

an I had leisure I would speak with you, but my fellow

here, Sir Ector, is gone, and abideth me yonder beneath

the hill.  Well, said the good man, thou were better to be

counselled.  Then departed Gawaine and came to Ector,

and so took their horses and rode till they came to a

forester's house, which harboured them right well.  And

on the morn they departed from their host, and rode long

or they could find any adventure.

CHAPTER VI

How Sir Bors met with an hermit, and how he was confessed

to him, and of his penance enjoined to him.

WHEN Bors was departed from Camelot he met with a

religious man riding on an ass, and Sir Bors saluted him.

Anon the good man knew him that he was one of the

knights-errant that was in the quest of the Sangreal.

What are ye? said the good man.  Sir, said he, I am

a knight that fain would be counselled in the quest of the

Sangreal, for he shall have much earthly worship that may

bring it to an end.  Certes, said the good man, that is sooth,

for he shall be the best knight of the world, and the fairest

of all the fellowship.  But wit you well there shall none

attain it but by cleanness, that is pure confession.

So rode they together till that they came to an hermitage.

And there he prayed Bors to dwell all that night

with him.  And so he alighted and put away his armour,

and prayed him that he might be confessed; and so they

went into the chapel, and there he was clean confessed, and

they ate bread and drank water together.  Now, said the

good man, I pray thee that thou eat none other till that

thou sit at the table where the Sangreal shall be.  Sir, said

he, I agree me thereto, but how wit ye that I shall sit

there.  Yes, said the good man, that know I, but there

shall be but few of your fellows with you.  All is welcome,

said Sir Bors, that God sendeth me.  Also, said the good

man, instead of a shirt, and in sign of chastisement, ye

shall wear a garment; therefore I pray you do off all your

clothes and your shirt: and so he did.  And then he took

him a scarlet coat, so that should be instead of his shirt till

he had fulfilled the quest of the Sangreal; and the good

man found in him so marvellous a life and so stable, that

he marvelled and felt that he was never corrupt in fleshly

lusts, but in one time that he begat Elian le Blank.

Then he armed him, and took his leave, and so

departed.  And so a little from thence he looked up into

a tree, and there he saw a passing great bird upon an old

tree, and it was passing dry, without leaves; and the bird

sat above, and had birds, the which were dead for hunger.

So smote he himself with his beak, the which was great

and sharp.  And so the great bird bled till that he died

among his birds.  And the young birds took the life by

the blood of the great bird.  When Bors saw this he wist

well it was a great tokening; for when he saw the great

bird arose not, then he took his horse and yede his way.

So by evensong, by adventure he came to a strong tower

and an high, and there was he lodged gladly.

CHAPTER VII

How Sir Bors was lodged with a lady, and how he took upon

him for to fight against a champion for her land.

AND when he was unarmed they led him into an high

tower where was a lady, young, lusty, and fair.  And she

received him with great joy, and made him to sit down by

her, and so was he set to sup with flesh and many dainties.

And when Sir Bors saw that, he bethought him on his

penance, and bade a squire to bring him water.  And so

he brought him, and he made sops therein and ate them.

Ah, said the lady, I trow ye like not my meat.  Yes,

truly, said Sir Bors, God thank you, madam, but I may

eat none other meat this day.  Then she spake no more

as at that time, for she was loath to displease him.  Then

after supper they spake of one thing and other.

With that came a squire and said: Madam, ye must

purvey you to-morn for a champion, for else your sister

will have this castle and also your lands, except ye can

find a knight that will fight to-morn in your quarrel

against Pridam le Noire.  Then she made sorrow and

said:  Ah, Lord God, wherefore granted ye to hold my

land, whereof I should now be disherited without reason

and right?  And when Sir Bors had heard her say thus,

he said:  I shall comfort you.  Sir, said she, I shall tell

you there was here a king that hight Aniause, which held

all this land in his keeping.  So it mishapped he loved a

gentlewoman a great deal elder than I.  So took he her

all this land to her keeping, and all his men to govern;

and she brought up many evil customs whereby she put to

death a great part of his kinsmen.  And when he saw that,

he let chase her out of this land, and betook it me, and all

this land in my demesnes.  But anon as that worthy king

was dead, this other lady began to war upon me, and hath

destroyed many of my men, and turned them against me,

that I have well-nigh no man left me; and I have nought

else but this high tower that she left me.  And yet she

hath promised me to have this tower, without I can find a

knight to fight with her champion.

Now tell me, said Sir Bors, what is that Pridam le

Noire?  Sir, said she, he is the most doubted man of this

land.  Now may ye send her word that ye have found a

knight that shall fight with that Pridam le Noire in God's

quarrel and yours.  Then that lady was not a little glad,

and sent word that she was purveyed, and that night Bors

had good cheer; but in no bed he would come, but laid

him on the floor, nor never would do otherwise till that

he had met with the quest of the Sangreal.

CHAPTER VIII

Of an advision which Sir Bors had that night, and how he

fought and overcame his adversary.

AND anon as he was asleep him befell a vision, that there

came to him two birds, the one as white as a swan, and

the other was marvellous black; but it was not so great

as the other, but in the likeness of a Raven.  Then the

white bird came to him, and said:  An thou wouldst give

me meat and serve me I should give thee all the riches of

the world, and I shall make thee as fair and as white as I

am.  So the white bird departed, and there came the black

bird to him, and said:  An thou wolt, serve me to-morrow

and have me in no despite though I be black, for wit thou

well that more availeth my blackness than the other's

whiteness.  And then he departed.

And he had another vision: him thought that he

came to a great place which seemed a chapel, and there he

found a chair set on the left side, which was worm-eaten

and feeble.  And on the right hand were two flowers like

a lily, and the one would have benome the other's whiteness,

but a good man departed them that the one touched

not the other; and then out of every flower came out

many flowers, and fruit great plenty.  Then him thought

the good man said:  Should not he do great folly that

would let these two flowers perish for to succour the

rotten tree, that it fell not to the earth? Sir, said he, it

seemeth me that this wood might not avail.  Now keep

thee, said the good man, that thou never see such adventure

befall thee.

Then he awaked and made a sign of the cross in midst

of the forehead, and so rose and clothed him.  And there

came the lady of the place, and she saluted him, and he

her again, and so went to a chapel and heard their service.

And there came a company of knights, that the lady had

sent for, to lead Sir Bors unto battle.  Then asked he his

arms.  And when he was armed she prayed him to take a

little morsel to dine.  Nay, madam, said he, that shall I

not do till I have done my battle, by the grace of God.

And so he leapt upon his horse, and departed, all the

knights and men with him.  And as soon as these two

ladies met together, she which Bors should fight for

complained her, and said:  Madam, ye have done me wrong

to bereave me of my lands that King Aniause gave me,

and full loath I am there should be any battle.  Ye shall

not choose, said the other lady, or else your knight withdraw

him.

Then there was the cry made, which party had the

better of the two knights, that his lady should rejoice all

the land.  Now departed the one knight here, and the

other there.  Then they came together with such a

raundon that they pierced their shields and their hauberks,

and the spears flew in pieces, and they wounded either

other sore.  Then hurtled they together, so that they fell

both to the earth, and their horses betwixt their legs; and

anon they arose, and set hands to their swords, and smote

each one other upon the heads, that they made great

wounds and deep, that the blood went out of their bodies.

For there found Sir Bors greater defence in that knight

more than he weened.  For that Pridam was a passing

good knight, and he wounded Sir Bors full evil, and he

him again; but ever this Pridam held the stour in like

hard.  That perceived Sir Bors, and suffered him till he

was nigh attaint.  And then he ran upon him more and

more, and the other went back for dread of death.  So in

his withdrawing he fell upright, and Sir Bors drew his

helm so strongly that he rent it from his head, and gave

him great strokes with the flat of his sword upon the

visage, and bade him yield him or he should slay him.

Then he cried him mercy and said:  Fair knight, for God's

love slay me not, and I shall ensure thee never to war

against thy lady, but be alway toward her.  Then Bors

let him be; then the old lady fled with all her knights.

CHAPTER IX

How the lady was returned to her lands by the battle of Sir

Bors, and of his departing, and how he met Sir Lionel

taken and beaten with thorns, and also of a maid which

should have been devoured.

SO then came Bors to all those that held lands of his lady,

and said he should destroy them but if they did such

service unto her as longed to their lands.  So they did

their homage, and they that would not were chased out of

their lands.  Then befell that young lady to come to her

estate again, by the mighty prowess of Sir Bors de Ganis.

So when all the country was well set in peace, then Sir

Bors took his leave and departed; and she thanked him

greatly, and would have given him great riches, but he

refused it.

Then he rode all that day till night, and came to an

harbour to a lady which knew him well enough, and made

of him great Joy.  Upon the morn, as soon as the day

appeared, Bors departed from thence, and so rode into a

forest unto the hour of midday, and there befell him a

marvellous adventure.  So he met at the departing of the

two ways two knights that led Lionel, his brother, all

naked, bounden upon a strong hackney, and his hands

bounden to-fore his breast.  And everych of them held

in his hands thorns wherewith they went beating him so

sore that the blood trailed down more than in an hundred

places of his body, so that he was all blood to-fore and

behind, but he said never a word; as he which was great

of heart he suffered all that ever they did to him, as

though he had felt none anguish.

Anon Sir Bors dressed him to rescue him that was his

brother; and so he looked upon the other side of him,

and saw a knight which brought a fair gentlewoman, and

would have set her in the thickest place of the forest for

to have been the more surer out of the way from them

that sought him.  And she which was nothing assured

cried with an high voice:  Saint Mary succour your maid.

And anon she espied where Sir Bors came riding.  And

when she came nigh him she deemed him a knight of the

Round Table, whereof she hoped to have some comfort;

and then she conjured him:  By the faith that he ought

unto Him in whose service thou art entered in, and for

the faith ye owe unto the high order of knighthood, and

for the noble King Arthur's sake, that I suppose made

thee knight, that thou help me, and suffer me not to be

shamed of this knight.  When Bors heard her say thus he

had so much sorrow there he nist not what to do.  For if

I let my brother be in adventure he must be slain, and

that would I not for all the earth.  And if I help not the

maid she is shamed for ever, and also she shall lose her

virginity the which she shall never get again.  Then lift

he up his eyes and said weeping:  Fair sweet Lord Jesu

Christ, whose liege man I am, keep Lionel, my brother,

that these knights slay him not, and for pity of you, and

for Mary's sake, I shall succour this maid.

CHAPTER X

How Sir Bors left to rescue his brother, and rescued the

damosel; and how it was told him that Lionel was dead.

THEN dressed he him unto the knight the which had the

gentlewoman, and then he cried:  Sir knight, let your

hand off that maiden, or ye be but dead.  And then he

set down the maiden, and was armed at all pieces save he

lacked his spear.  Then he dressed his shield, and drew

out his sword, and Bors smote him so hard that it went

through his shield and habergeon on the left shoulder.

And through great strength he beat him down to the

earth, and at the pulling out of Bors' spear there he

swooned.  Then came Bors to the maid and said:  How

seemeth it you? of this knight ye be delivered at this

time.  Now sir, said she, I pray you lead me thereas this

knight had me.  So shall I do gladly: and took the horse

of the wounded knight, and set the gentlewoman upon

him, and so brought her as she desired.  Sir knight, said

she, ye have better sped than ye weened, for an I had lost

my maidenhead, five hundred men should have died for it.

What knight was he that had you in the forest?  By my

faith, said she, he is my cousin.  So wot I never with what

engine the fiend enchafed him, for yesterday he took me

from my father privily; for I, nor none of my father's

men, mistrusted him not, and if he had had my maidenhead

he should have died for the sin, and his body shamed and

dishonoured for ever.  Thus as she stood talking with

him there came twelve knights seeking after her, and anon

she told them all how Bors had delivered her; then they

made great joy, and besought him to come to her father,

a great lord, and he should be right welcome.  Truly, said

Bors, that may not be at this time, for I have a great

adventure to do in this country.  So he commended them

unto God and departed.

Then Sir Bors rode after Lionel, his brother, by the

trace of their horses, thus he rode seeking a great while.

Then he overtook a man clothed in a religious clothing;

and rode on a strong black horse blacker than a berry, and

said:  Sir knight, what seek you?  Sir, said he, I seek my

brother that I saw within a while beaten with two knights.

Ah, Bors, discomfort you not, nor fall into no wanhope;

for I shall tell you tidings such as they be, for truly he is

dead.  Then showed he him a new slain body lying in a

bush, and it seemed him well that it was the body of Lionel,

and then he made such a sorrow that he fell to the earth

all in a swoon, and lay a great while there.  And when he

came to himself he said:  Fair brother, sith the company

of you and me is departed shall I never have joy in my

heart, and now He which I have taken unto my master,

He be my help.  And when he had said thus he took his

body lightly in his arms, and put it upon the arson of his

saddle.  And then he said to the man:  Canst thou tell me

unto some chapel where that I may bury this body? Come

on, said he, here is one fast by; and so long they rode

till they saw a fair tower, and afore it there seemed an old

feeble chapel.  And then they alighted both, and put him

into a tomb of marble.

CHAPTER XI

How Sir Bors told his dream to a priest, which he had

dreamed, and of the counsel that the priest gave to him.

NOW leave we him here, said the good man, and go we

to our harbour till to-morrow; we will come here again

to do him service.  Sir, said Bors, be ye a priest?  Yea

forsooth, said he.  Then I pray you tell me a dream that

befell to me the last night.  Say on, said he.  Then he

began so much to tell him of the great bird in the forest,

and after told him of his birds, one white, another black,

and of the rotten tree, and of the white flowers.  Sir, I

shall tell you a part now, and the other deal to-morrow.

The white fowl betokeneth a gentlewoman, fair and rich,

which loved thee paramours, and hath loved thee long;

and if thou warn her love she shall go die anon, if thou

have no pity on her.  That signifieth the great bird, the

which shall make thee to warn her.  Now for no fear that

thou hast, ne for no dread that thou hast of God, thou

shalt not warn her, but thou wouldst not do it for to be

holden chaste, for to conquer the loos of the vain glory of

the world; for that shall befall thee now an thou warn

her, that Launcelot, the good knight, thy cousin, shall die.

And therefore men shall now say that thou art a manslayer,

both of thy brother, Sir Lionel, and of thy cousin, Sir

Launcelot du Lake, the which thou mightest have saved and

rescued easily, but thou weenedst to rescue a maid which

pertaineth nothing to thee.  Now look thou whether it

had been greater harm of thy brother's death, or else to

have suffered her to have lost her maidenhood.  Then

asked he him:  Hast thou heard the tokens of thy dream

the which I have told to you?  Yea forsooth, said Sir Bors,

all your exposition and declaring of my dream I have well

understood and heard.  Then said the man in this black

clothing: Then is it in thy default if Sir Launcelot, thy

cousin, die.  Sir, said Bors, that were me loath, for wit ye

well there is nothing in the world but I had liefer do it

than to see my lord, Sir Launcelot du Lake, to die in my

default.  Choose ye now the one or the other, said the

good man.

And then he led Sir Bors into an high tower, and there

he found knights and ladies: those ladies said he was

welcome, and so they unarmed him.  And when he was

in his doublet men brought him a mantle furred with

ermine, and put it about him; and then they made him

such cheer that he had forgotten all his sorrow and anguish,

and only set his heart in these delights and dainties, and

took no thought more for his brother, Sir Lionel, neither

of Sir Launcelot du Lake, his cousin.  And anon came

out of a chamber to him the fairest lady than ever he saw,

and more richer beseen than ever he saw Queen Guenever

or any other estate.  Lo, said they, Sir Bors, here is the

lady unto whom we owe all our service, and I trow she be

the richest lady and the fairest of all the world, and the

which loveth you best above all other knights, for she will

have no knight but you.  And when he understood that

language he was abashed.  Not for then she saluted him,

and he her; and then they sat down together and spake

of many things, in so much that she besought him to be

her love, for she had loved him above all earthly men, and

she should make him richer than ever was man of his age.

When Bors understood her words he was right evil at ease,

which in no manner would not break chastity, so wist not

he how to answer her.

CHAPTER XII

How the devil in a woman's likeness would have had Sir

Bors to have lain by her, and how by God's grace he

escaped.

ALAS, said she, Bors, shall ye not do my will?  Madam,

said Bors, there is no lady in the world whose will I will

fulfil as of this thing, for my brother lieth dead which was

slain right late.  Ah Bors, said she, I have loved you long

for the great beauty I have seen in you, and the great

hardiness that I have heard of you, that needs ye must lie

by me this night, and therefore I pray you grant it me.

Truly, said he, I shall not do it in no manner wise.  Then

she made him such sorrow as though she would have died.

Well Bors, said she, unto this have ye brought me, nigh

to mine end.  And therewith she took him by the hand,

and bade him behold her.  And ye shall see how I shall

die for your love.  Ah, said then he, that shall I never see.

Then she departed and went up into an high battlement,

and led with her twelve gentlewomen; and when

they were above, one of the gentlewomen cried, and said:

Ah, Sir Bors, gentle knight have mercy on us all, and

suffer my lady to have her will, and if ye do not we must

suffer death with our lady, for to fall down off this high

tower, and if ye suffer us thus to die for so little a thing

all ladies and gentlewomen will say or you dishonour.

Then looked he upward, they seemed all ladies of great

estate, and richly and well beseen.  Then had he of them

great pity; not for that he was uncounselled in himself

that liefer he had they all had lost their souls than he his,

and with that they fell adown all at once unto the earth.

And when he saw that, he was all abashed, and had thereof

great marvel.  With that he blessed his body and his

visage.  And anon he heard a great noise and a great cry,

as though all the fiends of hell had been about him; and

therewith he saw neither tower, nor lady, nor gentlewoman,

nor no chapel where he brought his brother to.  Then

held he up both his hands to the heaven, and said:  Fair

Father God, I am grievously escaped; and then he took

his arms and his horse and rode on his way.

Then he heard a clock smite on his right hand; and

thither he came to an abbey on his right hand, closed

with high walls, and there was let in.  Then they supposed

that he was one of the quest of the Sangreal, so they led

him into a chamber and unarmed him.  Sirs, said Sir

Bors, if there be any holy man in this house I pray you

let me speak with him.  Then one of them led him unto

the Abbot, which was in a chapel.  And then Sir Bors

saluted him, and he him again.  Sir, said Bors, I am a

knight-errant; and told him all the adventure which he

had seen.  Sir Knight, said the Abbot, I wot not what ye

be, for I weened never that a knight of your age might

have been so strong in the grace of our Lord Jesu Christ.

Not for then ye shall go unto your rest, for I will not

counsel you this day, it is too late, and to-morrow I shall

counsel you as I can.

CHAPTER XIII

Of the holy communication of an Abbot to Sir Bors, and how

the Abbot counselled him.

AND that night was Sir Bors served richly; and on the

morn early he heard mass, and the Abbot came to him,

and bade him good morrow, and Bors to him again.  And

then he told him he was a fellow of the quest of the Sangreal,

and how he had charge of the holy man to eat bread

and water.  Then [said the Abbot]:  Our Lord Jesu Christ

showed him unto you in the likeness of a soul that suffered

great anguish for us, since He was put upon the cross, and

bled His heart-blood for mankind: there was the token

and the likeness of the Sangreal that appeared afore you,

for the blood that the great fowl bled revived the chickens

from death to life.  And by the bare tree is betokened

the world which is naked and without fruit but if it come

of Our Lord.  Also the lady for whom ye fought for, and

King Aniause which was lord there-to-fore, betokeneth

Jesu Christ which is the King of the world.  And that ye

fought with the champion for the lady, this it betokeneth:

for when ye took the battle for the lady, by her shall ye

understand the new law of Jesu Christ and Holy Church;

and by the other lady ye shall understand the old law and

the fiend, which all day warreth against Holy Church,

therefore ye did your battle with right.  For ye be Jesu

Christ's knights, therefore ye ought to be defenders of

Holy Church.  And by the black bird might ye understand

Holy Church, which sayeth I am black, but he is

fair.  And by the white bird might men understand the

fiend, and I shall tell you how the swan is white without-

forth, and black within: it is hypocrisy which is without

yellow or pale, and seemeth without-forth the servants of

Jesu Christ, but they be within so horrible of filth and

sin, and beguile the world evil.  Also when the fiend

appeared to thee in likeness of a man of religion, and

blamed thee that thou left thy brother for a lady, so led

thee where thou seemed thy brother was slain, but he is

yet alive; and all was for to put thee in error, and bring

thee unto wanhope and lechery, for he knew thou were

tender hearted, and all was for thou shouldst not find the

blessed adventure of the Sangreal.  And the third fowl

betokeneth the strong battle against the fair ladies which

were all devils.  Also the dry tree and the white lily: the

dry tree betokeneth thy brother Lionel, which is dry

without virtue, and therefore many men ought to call him the

rotten tree, and the worm-eaten tree, for he is a murderer

and doth contrary to the order of knighthood.  And the

two white flowers signify two maidens, the one is a knight

which was wounded the other day, and the other is the

gentlewoman which ye rescued; and why the other flower

drew nigh the other, that was the knight which would

have defouled her and himself both.  And Sir Bors, ye

had been a great fool and in great peril for to have seen

those two flowers perish for to succour the rotten tree, for

an they had sinned together they had been damned; and

for that ye rescued them both, men might call you a very

knight and servant of Jesu Christ.

CHAPTER XIV

How Sir Bors met with his brother Sir Lionel, and how

Sir Lionel would have slain Sir Bors.

THEN went Sir Bors from thence and commended the

Abbot unto God.  And then he rode all that day, and

harboured with an old lady.  And on the morn he rode

to a castle in a valley, and there he met with a yeoman

going a great pace toward a forest.  Say me, said Sir Bors,

canst thou tell me of any adventure?  Sir, said he, here

shall be under this castle a great and a marvellous

tournament.  Of what folks shall it be? said Sir Bors.  The

Earl of Plains shall be in the one party, and the lady's

nephew of Hervin on the other party.  Then Bors

thought to be there if he might meet with his brother

Sir Lionel, or any other of his fellowship, which were in

the quest of the Sangreal.  And then he turned to an

hermitage that was in the entry of the forest.

And when he was come thither he found there Sir

Lionel, his brother, which sat all armed at the entry of

the chapel door for to abide there harbour till on the

morn that the tournament shall be.  And when Sir Bors

saw him he had great joy of him, that it were marvel to

tell of his joy.  And then he alighted off his horse, and

said:  Fair sweet brother, when came ye hither?  Anon

as Lionel saw him he said:  Ah Bors, ye may not make

none avaunt, but as for you I might have been slain;

when ye saw two knights leading me away beating me,

ye left me for to succour a gentlewoman, and suffered me

in peril of death; for never erst ne did no brother to

another so great an untruth.  And for that misdeed now

I ensure you but death, for well have ye deserved it;

therefore keep thee from henceforward, and that shall ye

find as soon as I am armed.  When Sir Bors understood

his brother's wrath he kneeled down to the earth and cried

him mercy, holding up both his hands, and prayed him to

forgive him his evil will.  Nay, said Lionel, that shall

never be an I may have the higher hand, that I make

mine avow to God, thou shalt have death for it, for it

were pity ye lived any longer.

Right so he went in and took his harness, and mounted

upon his horse, and came to-fore him and said:  Bors,

keep thee from me, for I shall do to thee as I would to a

felon or a traitor, for ye be the untruest knight that ever

came out of so worthy an house as was King Bors de

Ganis which was our father, therefore start upon thy

horse, and so shall ye be most at your advantage.  And

but if ye will I will run upon you thereas ye stand upon

foot, and so the shame shall be mine and the harm yours,

but of that shame ne reck I nought.

When Sir Bors saw that he must fight with his brother

or else to die, he nist what to do; then his heart counselled

him not thereto, inasmuch as Lionel was born or he,

wherefore he ought to bear him reverence; yet kneeled

he down afore Lionel's horse's feet, and said: Fair sweet

brother, have mercy upon me and slay me not, and have

in remembrance the great love which ought to be between

us twain.  What Sir Bors said to Lionel he rought not,

for the fiend had brought him in such a will that he should

slay him.  Then when Lionel saw he would none other,

and that he would not have risen to give him battle, he

rashed over him so that he smote Bors with his horse,

feet upward, to the earth, and hurt him so sore that he

swooned of distress, the which he felt in himself to have

died without confession.  So when Lionel saw this, he

alighted off his horse to have smitten off his head.  And

so he took him by the helm, and would have rent it from

his head.  Then came the hermit running unto him,

which was a good man and of great age, and well had

heard all the words that were between them, and so fell

down upon Sir Bors.

CHAPTER XV

How Sir Colgrevance fought against Sir Lionel for to save

Sir Bors, and how the hermit was slain.

THEN he said to Lionel:  Ah gentle knight, have mercy

upon me and on thy brother, for if thou slay him thou

shalt be dead of sin, and that were sorrowful, for he is

one of the worthiest knights of the world, and of the best

conditions.  So God help me, said Lionel, sir priest, but

if ye flee from him I shall slay you, and he shall never the

sooner be quit.  Certes, said the good man, I have liefer

ye slay me than him, for my death shall not be great

harm, not half so much as of his.  Well, said Lionel, I

am greed; and set his hand to his sword and smote him

so hard that his head yede backward.  Not for that he

restrained him of his evil will, but took his brother by the

helm, and unlaced it to have stricken off his head, and

had slain him without fail.  But so it happed, Colgrevance

a fellow of the Round Table, came at that time thither as

Our Lord's will was.  And when he saw the good man

slain he marvelled much what it might be.  And then he

beheld Lionel would have slain his brother, and knew Sir

Bors which he loved right well.  Then stert he down and

took Lionel by the shoulders, and drew him strongly

aback from Bors, and said:  Lionel, will ye slay your

brother, the worthiest knight of the world one? and that

should no good man suffer.  Why, said Lionel, will ye

let me? therefore if ye entermete you in this I shall slay

you, and him after.  Why, said Colgrevance, is this

sooth that ye will slay him?  Slay him will I, said

he, whoso say the contrary, for he hath done so much

against me that he hath well deserved it.  And so ran

upon him, and would have smitten him through the

head, and Sir Colgrevance ran betwixt them, and said:

An ye be so hardy to do so more, we two shall meddle

together.

When Lionel understood his words he took his shield

afore him, and asked him what that he was.  And he told

him, Colgrevance, one of his fellows.  Then Lionel defied

him, and gave him a great stroke through the helm.

Then he drew his sword, for he was a passing good

knight, and defended him right manfully.  So long dured

the battle that Bors rose up all anguishly, and beheld [how]

Colgrevance, the good knight, fought with his brother

for his quarrel; then was he full sorry and heavy, and

thought if Colgrevance slew him that was his brother he

should never have joy; and if his brother slew Colgrevance

the shame should ever be mine.  Then would he

have risen to have departed them, but he had not so

much might to stand on foot; so he abode him so long

till Colgrevance had the worse, for Lionel was of great

chivalry and right hardy, for he had pierced the hauberk

and the helm, that he abode but death, for he had lost

much of his blood that it was marvel that he might stand

upright.  Then beheld he Sir Bors which sat dressing him

upward and said:  Ah, Bors, why come ye not to cast me

out of peril of death, wherein I have put me to succour

you which were right now nigh the death?  Certes, said

Lionel, that shall not avail you, for none of you shall bear

others warrant, but that ye shall die both of my hand.

When Bors heard that, he did so much, he rose and put

on his helm.  Then perceived he first the hermit-priest

which was slain, then made he a marvellous sorrow upon

him.

CHAPTER XVI

How Sir Lionel slew Sir Colgrevance, and how after he

would have slain Sir Bors.

THEN oft Colgrevance cried upon Sir Bors:  Why will

ye let me die here for your sake? if it please you that I

die for you the death, it will please me the better for to

save a worthy man.  With that word Sir Lionel smote off

the helm from his head.  Then Colgrevance saw that he

might not escape; then he said:  Fair sweet Jesu, that I

have misdone have mercy upon my soul, for such sorrow

that my heart suffereth for goodness, and for alms deed

that I would have done here, be to me aligement of

penance unto my soul's health.  At these words Lionel

smote him so sore that he bare him to the earth.  So he

had slain Colgrevance he ran upon his brother as a fiendly

man, and gave him such a stroke that he made him stoop.

And he that was full of humility prayed him for God's

love to leave this battle:  For an it befell, fair brother,

that I slew you or ye me, we should be dead of that sin.

Never God me help but if I have on you mercy, an I may

have the better hand.  Then drew Bors his sword, all

weeping, and said:  Fair brother, God knoweth mine

intent.  Ah, fair brother, ye have done full evil this day

to slay such an holy priest the which never trespassed.

Also ye have slain a gentle knight, and one of our fellows.

And well wot ye that I am not afeard of you greatly, but

I dread the wrath of God, and this is an unkindly war,

therefore God show miracle upon us both.  Now God

have mercy upon me though I defend my life against my

brother: with that Bors lift up his hand and would have

smitten his brother.

CHAPTER XVII

How there came a voice which charged Sir Bors to touch

him not, and of a cloud that came between them.

AND then he heard a voice that said:  Flee Bors, and

touch him not, or else thou shalt slay him.  Right so

alighted a cloud betwixt them in likeness of a fire and

a marvellous flame, that both their two shields brent.

Then were they sore afraid, that they fell both to the

earth, and lay there a great while in a swoon.  And when

they came to themself, Bors saw that his brother had no

harm; then he held up both his hands, for he dread God

had taken vengeance upon him.  With that he heard a

voice say:  Bors, go hence, and bear thy brother no longer

fellowship, but take thy way anon right to the sea, for Sir

Percivale abideth thee there.  Then he said to his brother:

Fair sweet brother, forgive me for God's love all that I

have trespassed unto you.  Then he answered:  God forgive

it thee and I do gladly.

So Sir Bors departed from him and rode the next way

to the sea.  And at the last by fortune he came to an

abbey which was nigh the sea.  That night Bors rested

him there; and in his sleep there came a voice to him

and bade him go to the sea.  Then he stert up and made

a sign of the cross in the midst of his forehead, and

took his harness, and made ready his horse, and mounted

upon him; and at a broken wall he rode out, and rode so

long till that he came to the sea.  And on the strand he

found a ship covered all with white samite, and he alighted,

and betook him to Jesu Christ.  And as soon as he entered

into the ship, the ship departed into the sea, and went so

fast that him seemed the ship went flying, but it was soon

dark so that he might know no man, and so he slept till

it was day.  Then he awaked, and saw in midst of the

ship a knight lie all armed save his helm.  Then knew he

that it was Sir Percivale of Wales, and then he made of

him right great joy; but Sir Percivale was abashed of him,

and he asked him what he was.  Ah, fair sir, said Bors,

know ye me not?  Certes, said he, I marvel how ye came

hither, but if Our Lord brought ye hither Himself.  Then

Sir Bors smiled and did off his helm.  Then Percivale

knew him, and either made great joy of other, that it was

marvel to hear.  Then Bors told him how he came into

the ship, and by whose admonishment; and either told

other of their temptations, as ye have heard to-forehand.

So went they downward in the sea, one while backward,

another while forward, and everych comforted other, and

oft were in their prayers.  Then said Sir Percivale: We

lack nothing but Galahad, the good knight.

<oe And thus endeth the sixteenth book, which is of Sir

Gawaine, Ector de Maris, and Sir Bors de Ganis,

and Sir Percivale.  And here followeth the seven-

teenth book, which is of the noble knight Sir

Galahad.>

BOOK XVII

CHAPTER I

How Sir Galahad fought at a tournament, and how he was

known of Sir Gawaine and Sir Ector de Maris.

NOW saith this story, when Galahad had rescued Percivale

from the twenty knights, he yede tho into a waste forest

wherein he rode many journeys; and he found many

adventures the which he brought to an end, whereof the

story maketh here no mention.  Then he took his way

to the sea on a day, and it befell as he passed by a castle

where was a wonder tournament, but they without had

done so much that they within were put to the worse, yet

were they within good knights enough.  When Galahad

saw that those within were at so great a mischief that men

slew them at the entry of the castle, then he thought to

help them, and put a spear forth and smote the first that

he fell to the earth, and the spear brake to pieces.  Then

he drew his sword and smote thereas they were thickest,

and so he did wonderful deeds of arms that all they

marvelled.  Then it happed that Gawaine and Sir Ector

de Maris were with the knights without.  But when they

espied the white shield with the red cross the one said to

the other:  Yonder is the good knight, Sir Galahad, the

haut prince: now he should be a great fool which should

meet with him to fight.  So by adventure he came by Sir

Gawaine, and he smote him so hard that he clave his helm

and the coif of iron unto his head, so that Gawaine fell

to the earth; but the stroke was so great that it slanted

down to the earth and carved the horse's shoulder in two.

When Ector saw Gawaine down he drew him aside,

and thought it no wisdom for to abide him, and also for

natural love, that he was his uncle.  Thus through his

great hardiness he beat aback all the knights without.

And then they within came out and chased them all

about.  But when Galahad saw there would none turn

again he stole away privily, so that none wist where he was

become.  Now by my head, said Gawaine to Ector, now

are the wonders true that were said of Launcelot du Lake,

that the sword which stuck in the stone should give me

such a buffet that I would not have it for the best castle

in this world; and soothly now it is proved true, for

never ere had I such a stroke of man's hand.  Sir, said

Ector, meseemeth your quest is done.  And yours is not

done, said Gawaine, but mine is done, I shall seek no

further.  Then Gawaine was borne into a castle and unarmed

him, and laid him in a rich bed, and a leech found

that he might live, and to be whole within a month.

Thus Gawaine and Ector abode together, for Sir Ector

would not away till Gawaine were whole.

And the good knight, Galahad, rode so long till he

came that night to the Castle of Carboneck; and it befell

him thus that he was benighted in an hermitage.  So the

good man was fain when he saw he was a knight-errant.

Tho when they were at rest there came a gentlewoman

knocking at the door, and called Galahad, and so the good

man came to the door to wit what she would.  Then she

called the hermit:  Sir Ulfin, I am a gentlewoman that

would speak with the knight which is with you.  Then

the good man awaked Galahad, and bade him:  Arise, and

speak with a gentlewoman that seemeth hath great need

of you.  Then Galahad went to her and asked her what

she would.  Galahad, said she, I will that ye arm you,

and mount upon your horse and follow me, for I shall

show you within these three days the highest adventure

that ever any knight saw.  Anon Galahad armed him, and

took his horse, and commended him to God, and bade the

gentlewoman go, and he would follow thereas she liked.

CHAPTER II

How Sir Galahad rode with a damosel, and came to the ship

whereas Sir Bors and Sir Percivale were in.

SO she rode as fast as her palfrey might bear her, till that

she came to the sea, the which was called Collibe.  And

at the night they came unto a castle in a valley, closed

with a running water, and with strong walls and high;

and so she entered into the castle with Galahad, and there

had he great cheer, for the lady of that castle was the

damosel's lady.  So when he was unarmed, then said the

damosel:  Madam, shall we abide here all this day?  Nay,

said she, but till he hath dined and till he hath slept a

little.  So he ate and slept a while till that the maid called

him, and armed him by torchlight.  And when the maid

was horsed and he both, the lady took Galahad a fair child

and rich; and so they departed from the castle till they

came to the seaside; and there they found the ship where

Bors and Percivale were in, the which cried on the ship's

board:  Sir Galahad, ye be welcome, we have abiden you

long.  And when he heard them he asked them what they

were.  Sir, said she, leave your horse here, and I shall

leave mine; and took their saddles and their bridles with

them, and made a cross on them, and so entered into the

ship.  And the two knights received them both with great

joy, and everych knew other; and so the wind arose, and

drove them through the sea in a marvellous pace.  And

within a while it dawned.

Then did Galahad off his helm and his sword, and

asked of his fellows from whence came that fair ship.

Truly, said they, ye wot as well as we, but of God's grace;

and then they told everych to other of all their hard

adventures, and of their great temptations.  Truly, said

Galahad, ye are much bounden to God, for ye have escaped

great adventures; and had not the gentlewoman been I

had not come here, for as for you I weened never to have

found you in these strange countries.  Ah Galahad, said

Bors, if Launcelot, your father, were here then were we

well at ease, for then meseemed we failed nothing.  That

may not be, said Galahad, but if it pleased Our Lord.

By then the ship went from the land of Logris, and

by adventure it arrived up betwixt two rocks passing great

and marvellous; but there they might not land, for there

was a swallow of the sea, save there was another ship, and

upon it they might go without danger.  Go we thither,

said the gentlewoman, and there shall we see adventures,

for so is Our Lord's will.  And when they came thither

they found the ship rich enough, but they found neither

man nor woman therein.  But they found in the end of

the ship two fair letters written, which said a dreadful

word and a marvellous:  Thou man, which shall enter

into this ship, beware thou be in steadfast belief, for I am

Faith, and therefore beware how thou enterest, for an

thou fail I shall not help thee.  Then said the gentlewoman:

Percivale, wot ye what I am?  Certes, said he,

nay, to my witting.  Wit ye well, said she, that I am thy

sister, which am daughter of King Pellinore, and therefore

wit ye well ye are the man in the world that I most love;

and if ye be not in perfect belief of Jesu Christ enter not

in no manner of wise, for then should ye perish the ship,

for he is so perfect he will suffer no sinner in him.  When

Percivale understood that she was his very sister he was

inwardly glad, and said:  Fair sister, I shall enter therein,

for if I be a miscreature or an untrue knight there shall I

perish.

CHAPTER III

How Sir Galahad entered into the ship, and of a fair bed

therein, with other marvellous things, and of a sword.

IN the meanwhile Galahad blessed him, and entered therein;

and then next the gentlewoman, and then Sir Bors and Sir

Percivale.  And when they were in, it was so marvellous

fair and rich that they marvelled; and in midst of the

ship was a fair bed, and Galahad went thereto, and found

there a crown of silk.  And at the feet was a sword, rich

and fair, and it was drawn out of the sheath half a foot

and more; and the sword was of divers fashions, and the

pommel was of stone, and there was in him all manner of

colours that any man might find, and everych of the

colours had divers virtues; and the scales of the haft

were of two ribs of divers beasts, the one beast was a

serpent which was conversant in Calidone, and is called

the Serpent of the fiend; and the bone of him is of such

a virtue that there is no hand that handleth him shall

never be weary nor hurt.  And the other beast is a

fish which is not right great, and haunteth the flood of

Euphrates; and that fish is called Ertanax, and his bones

be of such a manner of kind that who that handleth them

shall have so much will that he shall never be weary, and

he shall not think on joy nor sorrow that he hath had

but only that thing that he beholdeth before him.  And

as for this sword there shall never man begrip him at the

handles but one; but he shall pass all other.  In the name

of God, said Percivale, I shall assay to handle it.  So he

set his hand to the sword, but he might not begrip it.

By my faith, said he, now have I failed.  Bors set his

hand thereto and failed.

Then Galahad beheld the sword and saw letters like

blood that said:  Let see who shall assay to draw me out

of my sheath, but if he be more hardier than any other;

and who that draweth me, wit ye well that he shall never

fail of shame of his body, or to be wounded to the death.

By my faith, said Galahad, I would draw this sword out

of the sheath, but the offending is so great that I shall not

set my hand thereto.  Now sirs, said the gentlewoman,

wit ye well that the drawing of this sword is warned to

all men save all only to you.  Also this ship arrived in

the realm of Logris; and that time was deadly war between

King Labor, which was father unto the maimed king, and

King Hurlame, which was a Saracen.  But then was he

newly christened, so that men held him afterward one of

the wittiest men of the world.  And so upon a day it

befell that King Labor and King Hurlame had assembled

their folk upon the sea where this ship was arrived; and

there King Hurlame was discomfit, and his men slain;

and he was afeard to be dead, and fled to his ship, and

there found this sword and drew it, and came out and

found King Labor, the man in the world of all Christendom

in whom was then the greatest faith.  And when

King Hurlame saw King Labor he dressed this sword,

and smote him upon the helm so hard that he clave him

and his horse to the earth with the first stroke of his

sword.  And it was in the realm of Logris; and so befell

great pestilence and great harm to both realms.  For

sithen increased neither corn, nor grass, nor well-nigh no

fruit, nor in the water was no fish; wherefore men call

it the lands of the two marches, the waste land, for that

dolorous stroke.  And when King Hurlame saw this

sword so carving, he turned again to fetch the scabbard,

and so came into this ship and entered, and put up the

sword in the sheath.  And as soon as he had done it

he fell down dead afore the bed.  Thus was the sword

proved, that none ne drew it but he were dead or maimed.

So lay he there till a maiden came into the ship and cast

him out, for there was no man so hardy of the world to

enter into that ship for the defence.

CHAPTER IV

Of the marvels of the sword and of the scabbard.

AND then beheld they the scabbard, it seemed to be of a

serpent's skin, and thereon were letters of gold and silver.

And the girdle was but poorly to come to, and not able

to sustain such a rich sword.  And the letters said:  He

which shall wield me sought to be more harder than any

other, if he bear me as truly as me ought to be borne.

For the body of him which I ought to hang by, he shall

not be shamed in no place while he is girt with this girdle,

nor never none be so hardy to do away this girdle; for

it ought not be done away but by the hands of a maid,

and that she be a king's daughter and queen's, and she

must be a maid all the days of her life, both in will and in

deed.  And if she break her virginity she shall die the

most villainous death that ever died any woman.  Sir, said

Percivale, turn this sword that we may see what is on the

other side.  And it was red as blood, with black letters as

any coal, which said:  He that shall praise me most, most

shall he find me to blame at a great need; and to whom I

should be most debonair shall I be most felon, and that

shall be at one time.

Fair brother, said she to Percivale, it befell after a

forty year after the passion of Jesu Christ that Nacien, the

brother-in-law of King Mordrains, was borne into a town

more than fourteen days' journey from his country, by the

commandment of Our Lord, into an isle, into the parts of

the West, that men cleped the Isle of Turnance.  So befell

it that he found this ship at the entry of a rock, and he

found the bed and this sword as we have heard now.  Not

for then he had not so much hardiness to draw it; and

there he dwelled an eight days, and at the ninth day there

fell a great wind which departed him out of the isle, and

brought him to another isle by a rock, and there he found

the greatest giant that ever man might see.  Therewith

came that horrible giant to slay him; and then he looked

about him and might not flee, and he had nothing to

defend him with.  So he ran to his sword, and when he

saw it naked he praised it much, and then he shook it,

and therewith he brake it in the midst.  Ah, said Nacien,

the thing that I most praised ought I now most to blame,

and therewith he threw the pieces of his sword over his

bed.  And after he leapt over the board to fight with the

giant, and slew him.

And anon he entered into the ship again, and the wind

arose, and drove him through the sea, that by adventure

he came to another ship where King Mordrains was, which

had been tempted full evil with a fiend in the Port of

Perilous Rock.  And when that one saw the other they

made great joy of other, and either told other of their

adventure, and how the sword failed him at his most need

When Mordrains saw the sword he praised it much:  But

the breaking was not to do but by wickedness of thy

selfward, for thou art in some sin.  And there he took the

sword, and set the pieces together, and they soldered as

fair as ever they were to-fore; and there put he the sword

in the sheath, and laid it down on the bed.  Then heard

they a voice that said:  Go out of this ship a little while,

and enter into the other, for dread ye fall in deadly sin,

for and ye be found in deadly sin ye may not escape but

perish: and so they went into the other ship.  And as

Nacien went over the board he was smitten with a sword

on the right foot, that he fell down noseling to the ship's

board; and therewith he said:  O God, how am I hurt.

And then there came a voice and said:  Take thou that

for thy forfeit that thou didst in drawing of this sword,

therefore thou receivest a wound, for thou were never

worthy to handle it, as the writing maketh mention.  In

the name of God, said Galahad, ye are right wise of these

works.

CHAPTER V

How King Pelles was smitten through both thighs because he

drew the sword, and other marvellous histories.

SIR, said she, there was a king that hight Pelles, the

maimed king.  And while he might ride he supported

much Christendom and Holy Church.  So upon a day he

hunted in a wood of his which lasted unto the sea; and at

the last he lost his hounds and his knights save only one:

and there he and his knight went till that they came toward

Ireland, and there he found the ship.  And when he saw

the letters and understood them, yet he entered, for he

was right perfect of his life, but his knight had none

hardiness to enter; and there found he this sword, and

drew it out as much as ye may see.  So therewith entered

a spear wherewith he was smitten him through both the

thighs, and never sith might he be healed, nor nought

shall to-fore we come to him.  Thus, said she, was not

King Pelles, your grandsire, maimed for his hardiness?

In the name of God, damosel, said Galahad.

So they went toward the bed to behold all about it, and

above the head there hung two swords.  Also there were

two spindles which were as white as any snow, and other

that were as red as blood, and other above green as any

emerald: of these three colours were the spindles, and of

natural colour within, and without any painting.  These

spindles, said the damosel, were when sinful Eve came to

gather fruit, for which Adam and she were put out of

paradise, she took with her the bough on which the apple

hung on.  Then perceived she that the branch was fair

and green, and she remembered her the loss which came

from the tree.  Then she thought to keep the branch as

long as she might.  And for she had no coffer to keep it

in, she put it in the earth.  So by the will of Our Lord

the branch grew to a great tree within a little while, and

was as white as any snow, branches, boughs, and leaves:

that was a token a maiden planted it.  But after God

came to Adam, and bade him know his wife fleshly as

nature required.  So lay Adam with his wife under the

same tree; and anon the tree which was white was full

green as any grass, and all that came out of it; and in

the same time that they medled together there was Abel

begotten: thus was the tree long of green colour.  And

so it befell many days after, under the same tree Caym

slew Abel, whereof befell great marvel.  For anon as

Abel had received the death under the green tree, it lost

the green colour and became red; and that was in tokening

of the blood.  And anon all the plants died thereof,

but the tree grew and waxed marvellously fair, and it was

the fairest tree and the most delectable that any man might

behold and see; and so died the plants that grew out of

it to-fore that Abel was slain under it.  So long dured

the tree till that Solomon, King David's son, reigned, and

held the land after his father.  This Solomon was wise

and knew all the virtues of stones and trees, and so he

knew the course of the stars, and many other divers things.

This Solomon had an evil wife, wherethrough he weened

that there had been no good woman, and so he despised

them in his books.  So answered a voice him once:

Solomon, if heaviness come to a man by a woman, ne

reck thou never; for yet shall there come a woman

whereof there shall come greater joy to man an hundred

times more than this heaviness giveth sorrow; and that

woman shall be born of thy lineage.  Tho when Solomon

heard these words he held himself but a fool, and the

truth he perceived by old books.  Also the Holy Ghost

showed him the coming of the glorious Virgin Mary.

Then asked he of the voice, if it should be in the yerde

of his lineage.  Nay, said the voice, but there shall come

a man which shall be a maid, and the last of your blood,

and he shall be as good a knight as Duke Josua, thy

brother-in-law.

CHAPTER VI

How Solomon took David's sword by the counsel of his

wife, and of other matters marvellous.

NOW have I certified thee of that thou stoodest in doubt.

Then was Solomon glad that there should come any such

of his lineage; but ever he marvelled and studied who

that should be, and what his name might be.  His wife

perceived that he studied, and thought she would know it

at some season; and so she waited her time, and asked of

him the cause of his studying, and there he told her altogether

how the voice told him.  Well, said she, I shall let

make a ship of the best wood and most durable that men

may find.  So Solomon sent for all the carpenters of the

land, and the best.  And when they had made the ship

the lady said to Solomon:  Sir, said she, since it is so that

this knight ought to pass all knights of chivalry which

have been to-fore him and shall come after him, moreover

I shall tell you, said she, ye shall go into Our Lord's

temple, where is King David's sword, your father, the

which is the marvelloust and the sharpest that ever was

taken in any knight's hand.  Therefore take that, and

take off the pommel, and thereto make ye a pommel of

precious stones, that it be so subtly made that no man

perceive it but that they be all one; and after make there

an hilt so marvellously and wonderly that no man may

know it; and after make a marvellous sheath.  And when

ye have made all this I shall let make a girdle thereto, such

as shall please me.

All this King Solomon did let make as she devised,

both the ship and all the remnant.  And when the ship

was ready in the sea to sail, the lady let make a great bed

and marvellous rich, and set her upon the bed's head,

covered with silk, and laid the sword at the feet, and the

girdles were of hemp, and therewith the king was angry.

Sir, wit ye well, said she, that I have none so high a thing

which were worthy to sustain so high a sword, and a maid

shall bring other knights thereto, but I wot not when it

shall be, nor what time.  And there she let make a covering

to the ship, of cloth of silk that should never rot for

no manner of weather.  Yet went that lady and made a

carpenter to come to the tree which Abel was slain under.

Now, said she, carve me out of this tree as much wood as

will make me a spindle.  Ah madam, said he, this is the

tree the which our first mother planted.  Do it, said she,

or else I shall destroy thee.  Anon as he began to work

there came out drops of blood; and then would he have

left, but she would not suffer him, and so he took away

as much wood as might make a spindle: and so she made

him to take as much of the green tree and of the white

tree.  And when these three spindles were shapen she made

them to be fastened upon the selar of the bed.  When

Solomon saw this, he said to his wife:  Ye have done

marvellously, for though all the world were here right

now, he could not devise wherefore all this was made, but

Our Lord Himself; and thou that hast done it wottest

not what it shall betoken.  Now let it be, said she, for ye

shall hear tidings sooner than ye ween.  Now shall ye hear

a wonderful tale of King Solomon and his wife.

CHAPTER VII

A wonderful tale of King Solomon and his wife.

THAT night lay Solomon before the ship with little

fellowship.  And when he was asleep him thought there came

from heaven a great company of angels, and alighted into

the ship, and took water which was brought by an angel,

in a vessel of silver, and sprent all the ship.  And after

he came to the sword, and drew letters on the hilt.  And

after went to the ship's board, and wrote there other letters

which said:  Thou man that wilt enter within me, beware

that thou be full within the faith, for I ne am but Faith

and Belief.  When Solomon espied these letters he was

abashed, so that he durst not enter, and so drew him

aback; and the ship was anon shoven in the sea, and he

went so fast that he lost sight of him within a little while.

And then a little voice said:  Solomon, the last knight of

thy lineage shall rest in this bed.  Then went Solomon

and awaked his wife, and told her of the adventures of

the ship.

Now saith the history that a great while the three

fellows beheld the bed and the three spindles.  Then they

were at certain that they were of natural colours without

painting.  Then they lift up a cloth which was above the

ground, and there found a rich purse by seeming.  And

Percivale took it, and found therein a writ and so he read

it, and devised the manner of the spindles and of the ship,

whence it came, and by whom it was made.  Now, said

Galahad, where shall we find the gentlewoman that shall

make new girdles to the sword?  Fair sir, said Percivale's

sister, dismay you not, for by the leave of God I shall let

make a girdle to the sword, such one as shall long thereto.

And then she opened a box, and took out girdles which

were seemly wrought with golden threads, and upon that

were set full precious stones, and a rich buckle of gold.

Lo, lords, said she, here is a girdle that ought to be set

about the sword.  And wit ye well the greatest part of

this girdle was made of my hair, which I loved well while

that I was a woman of the world.  But as soon as I wist

that this adventure was ordained me I clipped off my hair,

and made this girdle in the name of God.  Ye be well

found, said Sir Bors, for certes ye have put us out of great

pain, wherein we should have entered ne had your tidings

been.

Then went the gentlewoman and set it on the girdle of

the sword.  Now, said the fellowship, what is the name of

the sword, and what shall we call it?  Truly, said she, the

name of the sword is the Sword with the Strange Girdles;

and the sheath, Mover of Blood; for no man that hath

blood in him ne shall never see the one part of the sheath

which was made of the Tree of Life.  Then they said to

Galahad:  In the name of Jesu Christ, and pray you that

ye gird you with this sword which hath been desired so

much in the realm of Logris.  Now let me begin, said

Galahad, to grip this sword for to give you courage; but

wit ye well it longeth no more to me than it doth to you.

And then he gripped about it with his fingers a great deal;

and then she girt him about the middle with the sword.

Now reck I not though I die, for now I hold me one of the

blessed maidens of the world, which hath made the worthiest

knight of the world.  Damosel, said Galahad, ye have done

so much that I shall be your knight all the days of my life.

Then they went from that ship, and went to the other.

And anon the wind drove them into the sea a great pace,

but they had no victuals: but it befell that they came on

the morn to a castle that men call Carteloise, that was in

the marches of Scotland.  And when they had passed the

port, the gentlewoman said:  Lords, here be men arriven

that, an they wist that ye were of King Arthur's court, ye

should be assailed anon.  Damosel, said Galahad, He that

cast us out of the rock shall deliver us from them.

CHAPTER VIII

How Galahad and his fellows came to a castle, and how they

were fought withal, and how they slew their adversaries,

and other matters.

SO it befell as they spoke thus there came a squire by them,

and asked what they were; and they said they were of

King Arthur's house.  Is that sooth? said he.  Now by

my head, said he, ye be ill arrayed; and then turned he

again unto the cliff fortress.  And within a while they

heard an horn blow.  Then a gentlewoman came to them,

and asked them of whence they were; and they told her.

Fair lords, said she, for God's love turn again if ye may,

for ye be come unto your death.  Nay, they said, we will

not turn again, for He shall help us in whose service we be

entered in.  Then as they stood talking there came knights

well armed, and bade them yield them or else to die.  That

yielding, said they, shall be noyous to you.  And therewith

they let their horses run, and Sir Percivale smote the

foremost to the earth, and took his horse, and mounted

thereupon, and the same did Galahad.  Also Bors served

another so, for they had no horses in that country, for they

left their horses when they took their ship in other countries.

And so when they were horsed then began they to

set upon them; and they of the castle fled into the strong

fortress, and the three knights after them into the castle,

and so alighted on foot, and with their swords slew them

down, and gat into the hall.

Then when they beheld the great multitude of people

that they had slain, they held themself great sinners.

Certes, said Bors, I ween an God had loved them that we

should not have had power to have slain them thus.  But

they have done so much against Our Lord that He would

not suffer them to reign no longer.  Say ye not so, said

Galahad, for if they misdid against God, the vengeance is

not ours, but to Him which hath power thereof.

So came there out of a chamber a good man which was

a priest, and bare God's body in a cup.  And when he saw

them which lay dead in the hall he was all abashed; and

Galahad did off his helm and kneeled down, and so did his

two fellows.  Sir, said they, have ye no dread of us, for

we be of King Arthur's court.  Then asked the good man

how they were slain so suddenly, and they told it him.

Truly, said the good man, an ye might live as long as the

world might endure, ne might ye have done so great an

alms-deed as this.  Sir, said Galahad, I repent me much,

inasmuch as they were christened.  Nay, repent you not,

said he, for they were not christened, and I shall tell you

how that I wot of this castle.  Here was Lord Earl Hernox

not but one year, and he had three sons, good knights of

arms, and a daughter, the fairest gentlewoman that men

knew.  So those three knights loved their sister so sore

that they brent in love, and so they lay by her, maugre her

head.  And for she cried to her father they slew her, and

took their father and put him in prison, and wounded him

nigh to the death, but a cousin of hers rescued him.  And

then did they great untruth: they slew clerks and priests,

and made beat down chapels, that Our Lord's service might

not be served nor said.  And this same day her father sent

to me for to be confessed and houseled; but such shame

had never man as I had this day with the three brethren,

but the earl bade me suffer, for he said they should not

long endure, for three servants of Our Lord should destroy

them, and now it is brought to an end.  And by this may

ye wit that Our Lord is not displeased with your deeds.

Certes, said Galahad, an it had not pleased Our Lord, never

should we have slain so many men in so little a while.

And then they brought the Earl Hernox out of prison

into the midst of the hall, that knew Galahad anon, and yet

he saw him never afore but by revelation of Our Lord.

CHAPTER IX

How the three knights, with Percivale's sister, came unto

the same forest, and of an hart and four lions, and

other things.

THEN began he to weep right tenderly, and said:  Long

have I abiden your coming, but for God's love hold me in

your arms, that my soul may depart out of my body in so

good a man's arms as ye be.  Gladly, said Galahad.  And

then one said on high, that all heard:  Galahad, well hast

thou avenged me on God's enemies.  Now behoveth thee

to go to the Maimed King as soon as thou mayest, for he

shall receive by thee health which he hath abiden so long.

And therewith the soul departed from the body, and

Galahad made him to be buried as him ought to be.

Right so departed the three knights, and Percivale's

sister with them.  And so they came into a waste forest,

and there they saw afore them a white hart which four

lions led.  Then they took them to assent for to follow

after for to know whither they repaired; and so they rode

after a great pace till that they came to a valley, and thereby

was an hermitage where a good man dwelled, and the hart

and the lions entered also.  So when they saw all this they

turned to the chapel, and saw the good man in a religious

weed and in the armour of Our Lord, for he would sing

mass of the Holy Ghost; and so they entered in and heard

mass.  And at the secrets of the mass they three saw the

hart become a man, the which marvelled them, and set him

upon the altar in a rich siege; and saw the four lions were

changed, the one to the form of a man, the other to the

form of a lion, and the third to an eagle, and the fourth

was changed unto an ox.  Then took they their siege

where the hart sat, and went out through a glass window,

and there was nothing perished nor broken; and they heard

a voice say:  In such a manner entered the Son of God in

the womb of a maid Mary, whose virginity ne was perished

ne hurt.  And when they heard these words they fell down

to the earth and were astonied; and therewith was a great

clearness.

And when they were come to theirself again they went

to the good man and prayed him that he would say them

truth.  What thing have ye seen? said he.  And they told

him all that they had seen.  Ah lords, said he, ye be welcome;

now wot I well ye be the good knights the which

shall bring the Sangreal to an end; for ye be they unto

whom Our Lord shall shew great secrets.  And well ought

Our Lord be signified to an hart, for the hart when he is

old he waxeth young again in his white skin.  Right so

cometh again Our Lord from death to life, for He lost

earthly flesh that was the deadly flesh, which He had taken

in the womb of the blessed Virgin Mary; and for that cause

appeared Our Lord as a white hart without spot.  And

the four that were with Him is to understand the four

evangelists which set in writing a part of Jesu Christ's

deeds that He did sometime when He was among you an

earthly man; for wit ye well never erst ne might no knight

know the truth, for ofttimes or this Our Lord showed Him

unto good men and unto good knights, in likeness of an

hart, but I suppose from henceforth ye shall see no more.

And then they joyed much, and dwelled there all that day.

And upon the morrow when they had heard mass they

departed and commended the good man to God: and so

they came to a castle and passed by.  So there came a

knight armed after them and said:  Lords, hark what I shall

say to you.

CHAPTER X

How they were desired of a strange custom, the which they

would not obey; wherefore they fought and slew many

knights.

THIS gentlewoman that ye lead with you is a maid?

Sir, said she, a maid I am.  Then he took her by the

bridle and said:  By the Holy Cross, ye shall not escape

me to-fore ye have yolden the custom of this castle.  Let

her go, said Percivale, ye be not wise, for a maid in what

place she cometh is free.  So in the meanwhile there came

out a ten or twelve knights armed, out of the castle, and

with them came gentlewomen which held a dish of silver.

And then they said:  This gentlewoman must yield us

the custom of this castle.  Sir, said a knight, what maid

passeth hereby shall give this dish full of blood of her

right arm.  Blame have ye, said Galahad, that brought

up such customs, and so God me save, I ensure you of

this gentlewoman ye shall fail while that I live.  So God

me help, said Percivale, I had liefer be slain.  And I also,

said Sir Bors.  By my troth, said the knight, then shall

ye die, for ye may not endure against us though ye were

the best knights of the world.

Then let they run each to other, and the three fellows

beat the ten knights, and then set their hands to their

swords and beat them down and slew them.  Then there

came out of the castle a three score knights armed.  Fair

lords, said the three fellows, have mercy on yourself and

have not ado with us.  Nay, fair lords, said the knights

of the castle, we counsel you to withdraw you, for ye be

the best knights of the world, and therefore do no more,

for ye have done enough.  We will let you go with this

harm, but we must needs have the custom.  Certes, said

Galahad, for nought speak ye.  Well, said they, will ye die?

We be not yet come thereto, said Galahad.  Then began

they to meddle together, and Galahad, with the strange

girdles, drew his sword, and smote on the right hand and

on the left hand, and slew what that ever abode him, and

did such marvels that there was none that saw him but

weened he had been none earthly man, but a monster.

And his two fellows halp him passing well, and so they

held the journey everych in like hard till it was night:

then must they needs depart.

So came in a good knight, and said to the three

fellows:  If ye will come in to-night and take such harbour

as here is ye shall be right welcome, and we shall ensure

you by the faith of our bodies, and as we be true knights,

to leave you in such estate to-morrow as we find you,

without any falsehood.  And as soon as ye know of the

custom we dare say ye will accord therefore.  For God's

love, said the gentlewoman, go thither and spare not for

me.  Go we, said Galahad; and so they entered into the

chapel.  And when they were alighted they made great

joy of them.  So within a while the three knights asked

the custom of the castle and wherefore it was.  What it

is, said they, we will say you sooth.

CHAPTER XI

How Sir Percivale's sister bled a dish full of blood for to

heal a lady, wherefore she died; and how that the

body was put in a ship.

THERE is in this castle a gentlewoman which we and this

castle is hers, and many other.  So it befell many years

agone there fell upon her a malady; and when she had

lain a great while she fell unto a measle, and of no leech

she could have no remedy.  But at the last an old man

said an she might have a dish full of blood of a maid and

a clean virgin in will and in work, and a king's daughter,

that blood should be her health, and for to anoint her

withal; and for this thing was this custom made.  Now,

said Percivale's sister, fair knights, I see well that this

gentlewoman is but dead.  Certes, said Galahad, an ye

bleed so much ye may die.  Truly, said she, an I die for

to heal her I shall get me great worship and soul's health,

and worship to my lineage, and better is one harm than

twain.  And therefore there shall be no more battle, but

to-morn I shall yield you your custom of this castle.  And

then there was great joy more than there was to-fore, for

else had there been mortal war upon the morn; notwithstanding

she would none other, whether they wold or nold.

That night were the three fellows eased with the best;

and on the morn they heard mass, and Sir Percivale's

sister bade bring forth the sick lady.  So she was, the

which was evil at ease.  Then said she:  Who shall let

me blood?  So one came forth and let her blood, and she

bled so much that the dish was full.  Then she lift up

her hand and blessed her; and then she said to the lady:

Madam, I am come to the death for to make you whole,

for God's love pray for me.  With that she fell in a

swoon.  Then Galahad and his two fellows start up to

her, and lift her up and staunched her, but she had bled

so much that she might not live.  Then she said when

she was awaked:  Fair brother Percivale, I die for the

healing of this lady, so I require you that ye bury me

not in this country, but as soon as I am dead put me in

a boat at the next haven, and let me go as adventure will

lead me; and as soon as ye three come to the City of

Sarras, there to enchieve the Holy Grail, ye shall find me

under a tower arrived, and there bury me in the spiritual

place; for I say you so much, there Galahad shall be

buried, and ye also, in the same place.

Then Percivale understood these words, and granted

it her, weeping.  And then said a voice:  Lords and

fellows, to-morrow at the hour of prime ye three shall

depart everych from other, till the adventure bring you

to the Maimed King.  Then asked she her Saviour; and

as soon as she had received it the soul departed from the

body.  So the same day was the lady healed, when she

was anointed withal.  Then Sir Percivale made a letter of

all that she had holpen them as in strange adventures, and

put it in her right hand, and so laid her in a barge, and

covered it with black silk; and so the wind arose, and

drove the barge from the land, and all knights beheld it

till it was out of their sight.  Then they drew all to the

castle, and so forthwith there fell a sudden tempest and a

thunder, lightning, and rain, as all the earth would have

broken.  So half the castle turned up-so-down.  So it

passed evensong or the tempest was ceased.

Then they saw afore them a knight armed and

wounded hard in the body and in the head, that said:  O

God, succour me for now it is need.  After this knight

came another knight and a dwarf, which cried to them

afar:  Stand, ye may not escape.  Then the wounded knight

held up his hands to God that he should not die in such

tribulation.  Truly, said Galahad, I shall succour him for

His sake that he calleth upon.  Sir, said Bors, I shall do

it, for it is not for you, for he is but one knight.  Sir, said

he, I grant.  So Sir Bors took his horse, and commended

him to God, and rode after, to rescue the wounded knight.

Now turn we to the two fellows.

CHAPTER XII

How Galahad and Percivale found in a castle many tombs

of maidens that had bled to death.

NOW saith the story that all night Galahad and Percivale

were in a chapel in their prayers, for to save Sir Bors.  So

on the morrow they dressed them in their harness toward

the castle, to wit what was fallen of them therein.  And

when they came there they found neither man nor woman

that he ne was dead by the vengeance of Our Lord.

With that they heard a voice that said:  This vengeance

is for blood-shedding of maidens.  Also they found at the

end of the chapel a churchyard, and therein might they

see a three score fair tombs, and that place was so fair and

so delectable that it seemed them there had been none

tempest, for there lay the bodies of all the good maidens

which were martyred for the sick lady's sake.  Also they

found the names of everych, and of what blood they were

come, and all were of kings' blood, and twelve of them

were kings' daughters.  Then they departed and went

into a forest.  Now, said Percivale unto Galahad, we

must depart, so pray we Our Lord that we may meet

together in short time: then they did off their helms and

kissed together, and wept at their departing.

CHAPTER XIII

How Sir Launcelot entered into the ship where Sir Percivale's

sister lay dead, and how he met with Sir Galahad,

his son.

NOW saith the history, that when Launcelot was come to

the water of Mortoise, as it is rehearsed before, he was in

great peril, and so he laid him down and slept, and took

the adventure that God would send him.  So when he was

asleep there came a vision unto him and said:  Launcelot,

arise up and take thine armour, and enter into the first

ship that thou shalt find.  And when he heard these words

he start up and saw great clearness about him.  And then

he lift up his hand and blessed him, and so took his arms

and made him ready; and so by adventure he came by a

strand, and found a ship the which was without sail or oar.

And as soon as he was within the ship there he felt the

most sweetness that ever he felt, and he was fulfilled with

all thing that he thought on or desired.  Then he said:

Fair sweet Father, Jesu Christ, I wot not in what joy

I am, for this joy passeth all earthly joys that ever I was

in.  And so in this joy he laid him down to the ship's

board, and slept till day.  And when he awoke he found

there a fair bed, and therein lying a gentlewoman dead,

the which was Sir Percivale's sister.  And as Launcelot

devised her, he espied in her right hand a writ, the which

he read, the which told him all the adventures that ye

have heard to-fore, and of what lineage she was come.  So

with this gentlewoman Sir Launcelot was a month and

more.  If ye would ask how he lived, He that fed the

people of Israel with manna in the desert, so was he fed;

for every day when he had said his prayers he was sustained

with the grace of the Holy Ghost.

So on a night he went to play him by the water side,

for he was somewhat weary of the ship.  And then he

listened and heard an horse come, and one riding upon

him.  And when he came nigh he seemed a knight.  And

so he let him pass, and went thereas the ship was; and

there he alighted, and took the saddle and the bridle and

put the horse from him, and went into the ship.  And then

Launcelot dressed unto him, and said:  Ye be welcome.

And he answered and saluted him again, and asked him:

What is your name? for much my heart giveth unto you.

Truly, said he, my name is Launcelot du Lake.  Sir, said

he, then be ye welcome, for ye were the beginner of me in

this world.  Ah, said he, are ye Galahad?  Yea, forsooth,

said he; and so he kneeled down and asked him his

blessing, and after took off his helm and kissed him.

And there was great joy between them, for there is no

tongue can tell the joy that they made either of other,

and many a friendly word spoken between, as kin

would, the which is no need here to be rehearsed.  And

there everych told other of their adventures and marvels

that were befallen to them in many journeys sith that they

departed from the court.

Anon, as Galahad saw the gentlewoman dead in the

bed, he knew her well enough, and told great worship of

her, that she was the best maid living, and it was great

pity of her death.  But when Launcelot heard how the

marvellous sword was gotten, and who made it, and all

the marvels rehearsed afore, then he prayed Galahad, his

son, that he would show him the sword, and so he did;

and anon he kissed the pommel, and the hilt, and the

scabbard.  Truly, said Launcelot, never erst knew I of so

high adventures done, and so marvellous and strange.

So dwelt Launcelot and Galahad within that ship half a

year, and served God daily and nightly with all their

power; and often they arrived in isles far from folk,

where there repaired none but wild beasts, and there they

found many strange adventures and perilous, which they

brought to an end; but for those adventures were with

wild beasts, and not in the quest of the Sangreal, therefore

the tale maketh here no mention thereof, for it would be

too long to tell of all those adventures that befell them.

CHAPTER XIV

How a knight brought unto Sir Galahad a horse, and bade

him come from his father, Sir Launcelot.

SO after, on a Monday, it befell that they arrived in the

edge of a forest to-fore a cross; and then saw they a

knight armed all in white, and was richly horsed, and led

in his right hand a white horse; and so he came to the

ship, and saluted the two knights on the High Lord's

behalf, and said:  Galahad, sir, ye have been long enough

with your father, come out of the ship, and start upon

this horse, and go where the adventures shall lead thee in

the quest of the Sangreal.  Then he went to his father

and kissed him sweetly, and said:  Fair sweet father, I wot

not when I shall see you more till I see the body of Jesu

Christ.  I pray you, said Launcelot, pray ye to the High

Father that He hold me in His service.  And so he took

his horse, and there they heard a voice that said:  Think

for to do well, for the one shall never see the other before

the dreadful day of doom.  Now, son Galahad, said

Launcelot, since we shall depart, and never see other, I

pray to the High Father to conserve me and you both.

Sir, said Galahad, no prayer availeth so much as yours

And therewith Galahad entered into the forest.

And the wind arose, and drove Launcelot more than a

month throughout the sea, where he slept but little, but

prayed to God that he might see some tidings of the

Sangreal.  So it befell on a night, at midnight, he arrived

afore a castle, on the back side, which was rich and fair,

and there was a postern opened toward the sea, and was

open without any keeping, save two lions kept the entry;

and the moon shone clear.  Anon Sir Launcelot heard a

voice that said:  Launcelot, go out of this ship and enter

into the castle, where thou shalt see a great part of thy

desire.  Then he ran to his arms, and so armed him, and

so went to the gate and saw the lions.  Then set he hand

to his sword and drew it.  Then there came a dwarf

suddenly, and smote him on the arm so sore that the

sword fell out of his hand.  Then heard he a voice say:

O man of evil faith and poor belief, wherefore trowest

thou more on thy harness than in thy Maker, for He

might more avail thee than thine armour, in whose

service that thou art set.  Then said Launcelot:  Fair

Father Jesu Christ, I thank thee of Thy great mercy that

Thou reprovest me of my misdeed; now see I well that

ye hold me for your servant.  Then took he again his

sword and put it up in his sheath, and made a cross in his

forehead, and came to the lions, and they made semblaunt

to do him harm.  Notwithstanding he passed by them

without hurt, and entered into the castle to the chief

fortress, and there were they all at rest.  Then Launcelot

entered in so armed, for he found no gate nor door but it

was open.  And at the last he found a chamber whereof

the door was shut, and he set his hand thereto to have

opened it, but he might not.

CHAPTER XV

How Sir Launcelot was to-fore the door of the chamber

wherein the Holy Sangreal was.

THEN he enforced him mickle to undo the door.  Then

he listened and heard a voice which sang so sweetly that

it seemed none earthly thing; and him thought the voice

said:  Joy and honour be to the Father of Heaven.  Then

Launcelot kneeled down to-fore the chamber, for well

wist he that there was the Sangreal within that chamber.

Then said he:  Fair sweet Father, Jesu Christ, if ever I

did thing that pleased Thee, Lord for Thy pity never

have me not in despite for my sins done aforetime, and

that Thou show me something of that I seek.  And with

that he saw the chamber door open, and there came out a

great clearness, that the house was as bright as all the

torches of the world had been there.

So came he to the chamber door, and would have

entered.  And anon a voice said to him:  Flee, Launcelot,

and enter not, for thou oughtest not to do it; and if

thou enter thou shalt for-think it.  Then he withdrew

him aback right heavy.  Then looked he up in the midst

of the chamber, and saw a table of silver, and the Holy

Vessel, covered with red samite, and many angels about it,

whereof one held a candle of wax burning, and the other

held a cross, and the ornaments of an altar.  And before

the Holy Vessel he saw a good man clothed as a priest.

And it seemed that he was at the sacring of the mass.  And

it seemed to Launcelot that above the priest's hands were

three men, whereof the two put the youngest by likeness

between the priest's hands; and so he lift it up right high,

and it seemed to show so to the people.  And then

Launcelot marvelled not a little, for him thought the

priest was so greatly charged of the figure that him

seemed that he should fall to the earth.  And when he

saw none about him that would help him, then came he to

the door a great pace, and said: Fair Father Jesu Christ,

ne take it for no sin though I help the good man which

hath great need of help.

Right so entered he into the chamber, and came

toward the table of silver; and when he came nigh he felt

a breath, that him thought it was intermeddled with fire,

which smote him so sore in the visage that him thought it

brent his visage; and therewith he fell to the earth, and

had no power to arise, as he that was so araged, that had

lost the power of his body, and his hearing, and his seeing.

Then felt he many hands about him, which took him up

and bare him out of the chamber door, without any

amending of his swoon, and left him there, seeming dead

to all people.

So upon the morrow when it was fair day they within

were arisen, and found Launcelot lying afore the chamber

door.  All they marvelled how that he came in, and so

they looked upon him, and felt his pulse to wit whether

there were any life in him; and so they found life in him,

but he might not stand nor stir no member that he had.

And so they took him by every part of the body, and

bare him into a chamber, and laid him in a rich bed, far

from all folk; and so he lay four days.  Then the one

said he was alive, and the other said, Nay.  In the name

of God, said an old man, for I do you verily to wit he is

not dead, but he is so full of life as the mightiest of you

all; and therefore I counsel you that he be well kept till

God send him life again.

CHAPTER XVI

How Sir launcelot had lain four-and-twenty days and as

many nights as a dead man, and other divers matters.

IN such manner they kept Launcelot four-and-twenty

days and all so many nights, that ever he lay still as a

dead man; and at the twenty-fifth day befell him after

midday that he opened his eyes.  And when he saw folk

he made great sorrow, and said:  Why have ye awaked

me, for I was more at ease than I am now.  O Jesu

Christ, who might be so blessed that might see openly

thy great marvels of secretness there where no sinner may

be!  What have ye seen? said they about him.  I

have seen, said he, so great marvels that no tongue may

tell, and more than any heart can think, and had not my

son been here afore me I had seen much more.

Then they told him how he had lain there four-and-twenty

days and nights.  Then him thought it was

punishment for the four-and-twenty years that he had

been a sinner, wherefore Our Lord put him in penance

four-and-twenty days and nights.  Then looked Sir

Launcelot afore him, and saw the hair which he had

borne nigh a year, for that he for-thought him right

much that he had broken his promise unto the hermit,

which he had avowed to do.  Then they asked how it

stood with him.  Forsooth, said he, I am whole of body,

thanked be Our Lord; therefore, sirs, for God's love tell

me where I am.  Then said they all that he was in the

castle of Carbonek.

Therewith came a gentlewoman and brought him

a shirt of small linen cloth, but he changed not there,

but took the hair to him again.  Sir, said they, the

quest of the Sangreal is achieved now right in you, that

never shall ye see of the Sangreal no more than ye have

seen.  Now I thank God, said Launcelot, of His great

mercy of that I have seen, for it sufficeth me; for as I

suppose no man in this world hath lived better than I

have done to enchieve that I have done.  And therewith

he took the hair and clothed him in it, and above that he

put a linen shirt, and after a robe of scarlet, fresh and

new.  And when he was so arrayed they marvelled all,

for they knew him that he was Launcelot, the good

knight.  And then they said all:  O my lord Sir Launcelot,

be that ye?  And he said:  Truly I am he.

Then came word to King Pelles that the knight that

had lain so long dead was Sir Launcelot.  Then was the

king right glad, and went to see him.  And when Launcelot

saw him come he dressed him against him, and there

made the king great joy of him.  And there the king

told him tidings that his fair daughter was dead.  Then

Launcelot was right heavy of it, and said:  Sir, me

forthinketh the death of your daughter, for she was a full

fair lady, fresh and young.  And well I wot she bare the

best knight that is now on the earth, or that ever was sith

God was born.  So the king held him there four days,

and on the morrow he took his leave at King Pelles

and at all the fellowship, and thanked them of their great

labour.

Right so as they sat at their dinner in the chief salle,

then was so befallen that the Sangreal had fulfilled the table

with all manner of meats that any heart might think.  So

as they sat they saw all the doors and the windows of the

place were shut without man's hand, whereof they were

all abashed, and none wist what to do.

And then it happed suddenly a knight came to the

chief door and knocked, and cried:  Undo the door.  But

they would not.  And ever he cried:  Undo; but they

would not.  And at last it noyed them so much that

the king himself arose and came to a window there where

the knight called.  Then he said:  Sir knight, ye shall

not enter at this time while the Sangreal is here, and

therefore go into another; for certes ye be none of the

knights of the quest, but one of them which hath served

the fiend, and hast left the service of Our Lord: and he

was passing wroth at the king's words.  Sir knight, said

the king, sith ye would so fain enter, say me of what

country ye be.  Sir, said he, I am of the realm of Logris,

and my name is Ector de Maris, and brother unto my

lord, Sir Launcelot.  In the name of God, said the king,

me for-thinketh of what I have said, for your brother is

here within.  And when Ector de Maris understood that

his brother was there, for he was the man in the world

that he most dread and loved, and then he said:  Ah God,

now doubleth my sorrow and shame.  Full truly said the

good man of the hill unto Gawaine and to me of our

dreams.  Then went he out of the court as fast as his

horse might, and so throughout the castle.

CHAPTER XVII

How Sir Launcelot returned towards Logris, and of other

adventures which he saw in the way.

THEN King Pelles came to Sir Launcelot and told him

tidings of his brother, whereof he was sorry, that he wist

not what to do.  So Sir Launcelot departed, and took his

arms, and said he would go see the realm of Logris,

which I have not seen in twelve months.  And there

with he commended the king to God, and so rode through

many realms.  And at the last he came to a white abbey,

and there they made him that night great cheer; and on

the morn he rose and heard mass.  And afore an altar

he found a rich tomb, which was newly made; and then

he took heed, and saw the sides written with gold which

said:  Here lieth King Bagdemagus of Gore, which King

Arthur's nephew slew; and named him, Sir Gawaine.

Then was not he a little sorry, for Launcelot loved him

much more than any other, and had it been any other

than Gawaine he should not have escaped from death to

life; and said to himself:  Ah Lord God, this is a great

hurt unto King Arthur's court, the loss of such a man.

And then he departed and came to the abbey where

Galahad did the adventure of the tombs, and won the

white shield with the red cross; and there had he great

cheer all that night.

And on the morn he turned unto Camelot, where he

found King Arthur and the queen.  But many of the

knights of the Round Table were slain and destroyed,

more than half.  And so three were come home, Ector,

Gawaine, and Lionel, and many other that need not to

be rehearsed.  And all the court was passing glad of Sir

Launcelot, and the king asked him many tidings of his

son Galahad.  And there Launcelot told the king of his

adventures that had befallen him since he departed.  And

also he told him of the adventures of Galahad, Percivale,

and Bors, which that he knew by the letter of the dead

damosel, and as Galahad had told him.  Now God would,

said the king, that they were all three here.  That shall

never be, said Launcelot, for two of them shall ye never

see, but one of them shall come again.

Now leave we this story and speak of Galahad.

CHAPTER XVIII

How Galahad came to King Mordrains, and of other matters

and adventures.

NOW, saith the story, Galahad rode many journeys in

vain.  And at the last he came to the abbey where King

Mordrains was, and when he heard that, he thought he

would abide to see him.  And upon the morn, when he

had heard mass, Galahad came unto King Mordrains, and

anon the king saw him, which had lain blind of long time.

And then he dressed him against him, and said:  Galahad,

the servant of Jesu Christ, whose coming I have abiden

so long, now embrace me and let me rest on thy breast,

so that I may rest between thine arms, for thou art a

clean virgin above all knights, as the flower of the lily in

whom virginity is signified, and thou art the rose the

which is the flower of all good virtues, and in colour of

fire.  For the fire of the Holy Ghost is taken so in thee

that my flesh which was all dead of oldness is become young

again.  Then Galahad heard his words, then he embraced

him and all his body.  Then said he:  Fair Lord Jesu

Christ, now I have my will.  Now I require thee, in this

point that I am in, thou come and visit me.  And anon

Our Lord heard his prayer: therewith the soul departed

from the body.

And then Galahad put him in the earth as a king

ought to be, and so departed and so came into a perilous

forest where he found the well the which boileth with

great waves, as the tale telleth to-fore.  And as soon as

Galahad set his hand thereto it ceased, so that it brent no

more, and the heat departed.  For that it brent it was a

sign of lechery, the which was that time much used.  But

that heat might not abide his pure virginity.  And this

was taken in the country for a miracle.  And so ever

after was it called Galahad's well.

Then by adventure he came into the country of Gore,

and into the abbey where Launcelot had been to-forehand,

and found the tomb of King Bagdemagus, but he was

founder thereof, Joseph of Aramathie's son; and the tomb

of Simeon where Launcelot had failed.  Then he looked into

a croft under the minster, and there he saw a tomb which

brent full marvellously.  Then asked he the brethren what

it was.  Sir, said they, a marvellous adventure that may

not be brought unto none end but by him that passeth

of bounty and of knighthood all them of the Round

Table.  I would, said Galahad, that ye would lead me

thereto.  Gladly, said they, and so led him till a cave.

And he went down upon greses, and came nigh the

tomb.  And then the flaming failed, and the fire staunched,

the which many a day had been great.  Then came there

a voice that said:  Much are ye beholden to thank Our

Lord, the which hath given you a good hour, that ye may

draw out the souls of earthly pain, and to put them into

the joys of paradise.  I am of your kindred, the which hath

dwelled in this heat this three hundred winter and

four-and-fifty to be purged of the sin that I did against Joseph of

Aramathie.  Then Galahad took the body in his arms and

bare it into the minster.  And that night lay Galahad in

the abbey; and on the morn he gave him service, and put

him in the earth afore the high altar.

CHAPTER XIX

How Sir Percivale and Sir Bors met with Sir Galahad,

and how they came to the castle of Carbonek, and other

matters.

SO departed he from thence, and commended the brethren

to God; and so he rode five days till that he came to the

Maimed King.  And ever followed Percivale the five days,

asking where he had been; and so one told him how the

adventures of Logris were enchieved.  So on a day it befell

that they came out of a great forest, and there they met at

traverse with Sir Bors, the which rode alone.  It is none

need to tell if they were glad; and them he saluted, and

they yielded him honour and good adventure, and everych

told other.  Then said Bors:  It is mo than a year and

an half that I ne lay ten times where men dwelled, but in

wild forests and in mountains, but God was ever my

comfort.

Then rode they a great while till that they came to the

castle of Carbonek.  And when they were entered within

the castle King Pelles knew them; then there was great

joy, for they wist well by their coming that they had

fulfilled the quest of the Sangreal.  Then Eliazar, King

Pelles' son, brought to-fore them the broken sword

wherewith Joseph was stricken through the thigh.  Then

Bors set his hand thereto, if that he might have soldered

it again; but it would not be.  Then he took it to Percivale,

but he had no more power thereto than he.  Now

have ye it again, said Percivale to Galahad, for an it be ever

enchieved by any bodily man ye must do it.  And then he

took the pieces and set them together, and they seemed

that they had never been broken, and as well as it had

been first forged.  And when they within espied that the

adventure of the sword was enchieved, then they gave the

sword to Bors, for it might not be better set; for he was

a good knight and a worthy man.

And a little afore even the sword arose great and

marvellous, and was full of great heat that many men fell

for dread.  And anon alighted a voice among them, and

said:  They that ought not to sit at the table of Jesu

Christ arise, for now shall very knights be fed.  So they

went thence, all save King Pelles and Eliazar, his son, the

which were holy men, and a maid which was his niece;

and so these three fellows and they three were there, no

mo.  Anon they saw knights all armed came in at the

hall door, and did off their helms and their arms, and said

unto Galahad:  Sir, we have hied right much for to be

with you at this table where the holy meat shall be

departed.  Then said he:  Ye be welcome, but of whence

be ye?  So three of them said they were of Gaul, and

other three said they were of Ireland, and the other three

said they were of Denmark.  So as they sat thus there

came out a bed of tree, of a chamber, the which four

gentlewomen brought; and in the bed lay a good man

sick, and a crown of gold upon his head; and there in the

midst of the place they set him down, and went again

their way.  Then he lift up his head, and said:  Galahad,

Knight, ye be welcome, for much have I desired your

coming, for in such pain and in such anguish I have been

long.  But now I trust to God the term is come that my

pain shall be allayed, that I shall pass out of this world so

as it was promised me long ago.  Therewith a voice said:

There be two among you that be not in the quest of the

Sangreal, and therefore depart ye.

CHAPTER XX

How Galahad and his fellows were fed of the Holy Sangreal,

and how Our Lord appeared to them, and other things.

THEN King Pelles and his son departed.  And therewithal

beseemed them that there came a man, and four angels

from heaven, clothed in likeness of a bishop, and had a

cross in his hand; and these four angels bare him up in a

chair, and set him down before the table of silver where

upon the Sangreal was; and it seemed that he had in

midst of his forehead letters the which said:  See ye here

Joseph, the first bishop of Christendom, the same which Our

Lord succoured in the city of Sarras in the spiritual place.

Then the knights marvelled, for that bishop was dead

more than three hundred year to-fore.  O knights, said

he, marvel not, for I was sometime an earthly man.

With that they heard the chamber door open, and there

they saw angels; and two bare candles of wax, and the

third a towel, and the fourth a spear which bled marvellously,

that three drops fell within a box which he held

with his other hand.  And they set the candles upon the

table, and the third the towel upon the vessel, and the

fourth the holy spear even upright upon the vessel.  And

then the bishop made semblaunt as though he would have

gone to the sacring of the mass.  And then he took an

ubblie which was made in likeness of bread.  And at the

lifting up there came a figure in likeness of a child, and

the visage was as red and as bright as any fire, and smote

himself into the bread, so that they all saw it that the

bread was formed of a fleshly man; and then he put it

into the Holy Vessel again, and then he did that longed

to a priest to do to a mass.  And then he went to Galahad

and kissed him, and bade him go and kiss his fellows: and

so he did anon.  Now, said he, servants of Jesu Christ,

ye shall be fed afore this table with sweet meats that never

knights tasted.  And when he had said, he vanished away.

And they set them at the table in great dread, and made

their prayers.

Then looked they and saw a man come out of the

Holy Vessel, that had all the signs of the passion of Jesu

Christ, bleeding all openly, and said:  My knights, and

my servants, and my true children, which be come out of

deadly life into spiritual life, I will now no longer hide me

from you, but ye shall see now a part of my secrets and of

my hidden things: now hold and receive the high meat which

ye have so much desired.  Then took he himself the Holy

Vessel and came to Galahad; and he kneeled down, and

there he received his Saviour, and after him so received all

his fellows; and they thought it so sweet that it was

marvellous to tell.  Then said he to Galahad: Son,

wottest thou what I hold betwixt my hands? Nay, said

he, but if ye will tell me.  This is, said he, the holy dish

wherein I ate the lamb on Sheer-Thursday.  And now hast

thou seen that thou most desired to see, but yet hast thou

not seen it so openly as thou shalt see it in the city of

Sarras in the spiritual place.  Therefore thou must go

hence and bear with thee this Holy Vessel; for this night

it shall depart from the realm of Logris, that it shall never

be seen more here.  And wottest thou wherefore? For

he is not served nor worshipped to his right by them of

this land, for they be turned to evil living; therefore I

shall disherit them of the honour which I have done them.

And therefore go ye three to-morrow unto the sea, where

ye shall find your ship ready, and with you take the sword

with the strange girdles, and no more with you but Sir

Percivale and Sir Bors.  Also I will that ye take with you

of the blood of this spear for to anoint the Maimed King,

both his legs and all his body, and he shall have his health.

Sir, said Galahad, why shall not these other fellows go with

us?  For this cause: for right as I departed my apostles

one here and another there, so I will that ye depart; and

two of you shall die in my service, but one of you shall

come again and tell tidings.  Then gave he them his

blessing and vanished away.

CHAPTER XXI

How Galahad anointed with the blood of the spear the

Maimed King, and of other adventures.

AND Galahad went anon to the spear which lay upon the

table, and touched the blood with his fingers, and came

after to the Maimed King and anointed his legs.  And

therewith he clothed him anon, and start upon his feet out

of his bed as an whole man, and thanked Our Lord that

He had healed him.  And that was not to the worldward,

for anon he yielded him to a place of religion of

white monks, and was a full holy man.  That same night

about midnight came a voice among them which said:

My sons and not my chief sons, my friends and not my

warriors, go ye hence where ye hope best to do and as I

bade you.  Ah, thanked' be Thou, Lord, that Thou wilt

vouchsafe to call us, Thy sinners.  Now may we well

prove that we have not lost our pains.  And anon in

all haste they took their harness and departed.  But the

three knights of Gaul, one of them hight Claudine, King

Claudas' son, and the other two were great gentlemen.

Then prayed Galahad to everych of them, that if they

come to King Arthur's court that they should salute my

lord, Sir Launcelot, my father, and all the fellowship[1] of

the Round Table; and prayed them if that they came on

that part that they should not forget it.

Right so departed Galahad, Percivale and Bors with

him; and so they rode three days, and then they came to

a rivage, and found the ship whereof the tale speaketh of

[1] So W. de Worde; Caxton ``of them.''

to-fore.  And when they came to the board they found in

the midst the table of silver which they had left with the

Maimed King, and the Sangreal which was covered with

red samite.  Then were they glad to have such things in

their fellowship; and so they entered and made great

reverence thereto; and Galahad fell in his prayer long time

to Our Lord, that at what time he asked, that he should

pass out of this world.  So much he prayed till a voice

said to him:  Galahad, thou shalt have thy request; and

when thou askest the death of thy body thou shalt have it,

and then shalt thou find the life of the soul.  Percivale

heard this, and prayed him, of fellowship that was between

them, to tell him wherefore he asked such things.  That

shall I tell you, said Galahad; the other day when we saw

a part of the adventures of the Sangreal I was in such a joy

of heart, that I trow never man was that was earthly.  And

therefore I wot well, when my body is dead my soul shall

be in great joy to see the blessed Trinity every day, and

the majesty of Our Lord, Jesu Christ.

So long were they in the ship that they said to Galahad:

Sir, in this bed ought ye to lie, for so saith the scripture.

And so he laid him down and slept a great while; and

when he awaked he looked afore him and saw the city of

Sarras.  And as they would have landed they saw the ship

wherein Percivale had put his sister in.  Truly, said

Percivale, in the name of God, well hath my sister holden us

covenant.  Then took they out of the ship the table of

silver, and he took it to Percivale and to Bors, to go to-fore,

and Galahad came behind.  And right so they went to the

city, and at the gate of the city they saw an old man

crooked.  Then Galahad called him and bade him help to

bear this heavy thing.  Truly, said the old man, it is ten

year ago that I might not go but with crutches.  Care thou

not, said Galahad, and arise up and shew thy good will.

And so he assayed, and found himself as whole as ever he

was.  Than ran he to the table, and took one part against

Galahad.  And anon arose there great noise in the city,

that a cripple was made whole by knights marvellous that

entered into the city.

Then anon after, the three knights went to the water,

and brought up into the palace Percivale's sister, and buried

her as richly as a king's daughter ought to be.  And when

the king of the city, which was cleped Estorause, saw the

fellowship, he asked them of whence they were, and what

thing it was that they had brought upon the table of silver.

And they told him the truth of the Sangreal, and the power

which that God had sent there.  Then the king was a

tyrant, and was come of the line of paynims, and took them

and put them in prison in a deep hole.

CHAPTER XXII

How they were fed with the Sangreal while they were in

prison, and how Galahad was made king.

BUT as soon as they were there Our Lord sent them the

Sangreal, through whose grace they were always fulfilled

while that they were in prison.  So at the year's end it

befell that this King Estorause lay sick, and felt that he

should die.  Then he sent for the three knights, and they

came afore him; and he cried them mercy of that he had

done to them, and they forgave it him goodly; and he died

anon.  When the king was dead all the city was dismayed,

and wist not who might be their king.  Right so as they

were in counsel there came a voice among them, and bade

them choose the youngest knight of them three to be their

king:  For he shall well maintain you and all yours.  So

they made Galahad king by all the assent of the holy city,

and else they would have slain him.  And when he was

come to behold the land, he let make above the table of

silver a chest of gold and of precious stones, that hilled the

Holy Vessel.  And every day early the three fellows

would come afore it, and make their prayers.

Now at the year's end, and the self day after Galahad

had borne the crown of gold, he arose up early and his

fellows, and came to the palace, and saw to-fore them the

Holy Vessel, and a man kneeling on his knees in likeness

of a bishop, that had about him a great fellowship of angels,

as it had been Jesu Christ himself; and then he arose and

began a mass of Our Lady.  And when he came to the

sacrament of the mass, and had done, anon he called

Galahad, and said to him:  Come forth the servant of Jesu

Christ, and thou shalt see that thou hast much desired to

see.  And then he began to tremble right hard when the

deadly flesh began to behold the spiritual things.  Then he

held up his hands toward heaven and said:  Lord, I thank

thee, for now I see that that hath been my desire many a

day.  Now, blessed Lord, would I not longer live, if it

might please thee, Lord.  And therewith the good man

took Our Lord's body betwixt his hands, and proffered it

to Galahad, and he received it right gladly and meekly.

Now wottest thou what I am? said the good man.  Nay,

said Galahad.  I am Joseph of Aramathie, the which Our

Lord hath sent here to thee to bear thee fellowship; and

wottest thou wherefore that he hath sent me more than any

other?  For thou hast resembled me in two things; in

that thou hast seen the marvels of the Sangreal, in that

thou hast been a clean maiden, as I have been and am.

And when he had said these words Galahad went

to Percivale and kissed him, and commended him

to God; and so he went to Sir Bors and kissed him,

and commended him to God, and said:  Fair lord,

salute me to my lord, Sir Launcelot, my father, and

as soon as ye see him, bid him remember of this

unstable world.  And therewith he kneeled down to-fore

the table and made his prayers, and then suddenly his

soul departed to Jesu Christ, and a great multitude of

angels bare his soul up to heaven, that the two fellows

might well behold it.  Also the two fellows saw come from

heaven an hand, but they saw not the body.  And then it

came right to the Vessel, and took it and the spear, and so

bare it up to heaven.  Sithen was there never man so hardy

to say that he had seen the Sangreal.

CHAPTER XXIII

Of the sorrow that Percivale and Bors made when Galahad

was dead: and of Percivale how he died, and other

matters.

WHEN Percivale and Bors saw Galahad dead they made

as much sorrow as ever did two men.  And if they had

not been good men they might lightly have fallen in

despair.  And the people of the country and of the city

were right heavy.  And then he was buried; and as soon

as he was buried Sir Percivale yielded him to an hermitage

out of the city, and took a religious clothing.  And Bors

was alway with him, but never changed he his secular

clothing, for that he purposed him to go again into the

realm of Logris.  Thus a year and two months lived Sir

Percivale in the hermitage a full holy life, and then passed

out of this world; and Bors let bury him by his sister and

by Galahad in the spiritualities.

When Bors saw that he was in so far countries as in the

parts of Babylon he departed from Sarras, and armed him

and came to the sea, and entered into a ship; and so it

befell him in good adventure he came into the realm of

Logris; and he rode so fast till he came to Camelot where

the king was.  And then was there great joy made of him

in the court, for they weened all he had been dead,

forasmuch as he had been so long out of the country.  And

when they had eaten, the king made great clerks to come

afore him, that they should chronicle of the high adventures

of the good knights.  When Bors had told him of

the adventures of the Sangreal, such as had befallen him

and his three fellows, that was Launcelot, Percivale,

Galahad, and himself, there Launcelot told the adventures of

the Sangreal that he had seen.  All this was made in great

books, and put up in almeries at Salisbury.  And anon Sir

Bors said to Sir Launcelot: Galahad, your own son,

saluted you by me, and after you King Arthur and all the

court, and so did Sir Percivale, for I buried them with

mine own hands in the city of Sarras.  Also, Sir Launcelot,

Galahad prayed you to remember of this unsiker world as

ye behight him when ye were together more than half a

year.  This is true, said Launcelot; now I trust to God

his prayer shall avail me.

Then Launcelot took Sir Bors in his arms, and said:

Gentle cousin, ye are right welcome to me, and all that

ever I may do for you and for yours ye shall find my poor

body ready at all times, while the spirit is in it, and that I

promise you faithfully, and never to fail.  And wit ye well,

gentle cousin, Sir Bors, that ye and I will never depart

asunder whilst our lives may last.  Sir, said he, I will as

ye will.

<oe Thus endeth the history of the Sangreal, that was briefly

drawn out of French into English, the which is a

story chronicled for one of the truest and the holiest

that is in this world, the which is the xvii book.

And here followeth the eighteenth book.>

BOOK XVIII

CHAPTER I

Of the joy King Arthur and the queen had of the achievement

of the Sangreal; and how Launcelot fell to his old

love again.

SO after the quest of the Sangreal was fulfilled, and all

knights that were left alive were come again unto the

Table Round, as the book of the Sangreal maketh

mention, then was there great joy in the court; and in

especial King Arthur and Queen Guenever made great

joy of the remnant that were come home, and passing

glad was the king and the queen of Sir Launcelot and of

Sir Bors, for they had been passing long away in the

quest of the Sangreal.

Then, as the book saith, Sir Launcelot began to resort

unto Queen Guenever again, and forgat the promise and

the perfection that he made in the quest.  For, as the

book saith, had not Sir Launcelot been in his privy

thoughts and in his mind so set inwardly to the queen

as he was in seeming outward to God, there had no

knight passed him in the quest of the Sangreal; but

ever his thoughts were privily on the queen, and so

they loved together more hotter than they did to-forehand,

and had such privy draughts together, that many in the

court spake of it, and in especial Sir Agravaine, Sir

Gawaine's brother, for he was ever open-mouthed.

So befell that Sir Launcelot had many resorts of ladies

and damosels that daily resorted unto him, that besought

him to be their champion, and in all such matters of right

Sir Launcelot applied him daily to do for the pleasure of

Our Lord, Jesu Christ.  And ever as much as he might

he withdrew him from the company and fellowship of

Queen Guenever, for to eschew the slander and noise;

wherefore the queen waxed wroth with Sir Launcelot.

And upon a day she called Sir Launcelot unto her chamber,

and said thus:  Sir Launcelot, I see and feel daily that thy

love beginneth to slake, for thou hast no joy to be in my

presence, but ever thou art out of this court, and quarrels

and matters thou hast nowadays for ladies and gentlewomen

more than ever thou wert wont to have aforehand.

Ah madam, said Launcelot, in this ye must hold me

excused for divers causes; one is, I was but late in the

quest of the Sangreal; and I thank God of his great

mercy, and never of my desert, that I saw in that my

quest as much as ever saw any sinful man, and so was it

told me.  And if I had not had my privy thoughts to

return to your love again as I do, I had seen as great

mysteries as ever saw my son Galahad, outher Percivale,

or Sir Bors; and therefore, madam, I was but late in that

quest.  Wit ye well, madam, it may not be yet lightly

forgotten the high service in whom I did my diligent

labour.  Also, madam, wit ye well that there be many

men speak of our love in this court, and have you and me

greatly in await, as Sir Agravaine and Sir Mordred; and

madam, wit ye well I dread them more for your sake than

for any fear I have of them myself, for I may happen to

escape and rid myself in a great need, where ye must

abide all that will be said unto you.  And then if that ye

fall in any distress through wilful folly, then is there none

other remedy or help but by me and my blood.  And wit

ye well, madam, the boldness of you and me will bring us

to great shame and slander; and that were me loath to see

you dishonoured.  And that is the cause I take upon me

more for to do for damosels and maidens than ever I did

to-fore, that men should understand my joy and my delight

is my pleasure to have ado for damosels and maidens.

CHAPTER II

How the queen commanded Sir Launcelot to avoid the court,

and of the sorrow that Launcelot made.

ALL this while the queen stood still and let Sir Launcelot

say what he would.  And when he had all said she brast

out a-weeping, and so she sobbed and wept a great while.

And when she might speak she said:  Launcelot, now I

well understand that thou art a false recreant knight and

a common lecher, and lovest and holdest other ladies, and

by me thou hast disdain and scorn.  For wit thou well,

she said, now I understand thy falsehood, and therefore

shall I never love thee no more.  And never be thou so

hardy to come in my sight; and right here I discharge

thee this court, that thou never come within it; and I

forfend thee my fellowship, and upon pain of thy head

that thou see me no more.  Right so Sir Launcelot departed

with great heaviness, that unnethe he might sustain

himself for great dole-making.

Then he called Sir Bors, Sir Ector de Maris, and Sir

Lionel, and told them how the queen had forfended him

the court, and so he was in will to depart into his own

country.  Fair sir, said Sir Bors de Ganis, ye shall not

depart out of this land by mine advice.  Ye must remember

in what honour ye are renowned, and called the

noblest knight of the world; and many great matters ye

have in hand.  And women in their hastiness will do

ofttimes that sore repenteth them; and therefore by mine

advice ye shall take your horse, and ride to the good

hermitage here beside Windsor, that sometime was a good

knight, his name is Sir Brasias, and there shall ye abide

till I send you word of better tidings.  Brother, said Sir

Launcelot, wit ye well I am full loath to depart out of

this realm, but the queen hath defended me so highly,

that meseemeth she will never be my good lady as she

hath been.  Say ye never so, said Sir Bors, for many

times or this time she hath been wroth with you, and

after it she was the first that repented it.  Ye say well,

said Launcelot, for now will I do by your counsel, and

take mine horse and my harness, and ride to the hermit

Sir Brasias, and there will I repose me until I hear some

manner of tidings from you; but, fair brother, I pray

you get me the love of my lady, Queen Guenever, an ye

may Sir, said Sir Bors, ye need not to move me of such

matters, for well ye wot I will do what I may to please

you.

And then the noble knight, Sir Launcelot, departed

with right heavy cheer suddenly, that none earthly creature

wist of him, nor where he was become, but Sir Bors.  So

when Sir Launcelot was departed, the queen outward

made no manner of sorrow in showing to none of his

blood nor to none other.  But wit ye well, inwardly, as

the book saith, she took great thought, but she bare it

out with a proud countenance as though she felt nothing

nor danger.

CHAPTER III

How at a dinner that the queen made there was a knight

enpoisoned, which Sir Mador laid on the queen.

AND then the queen let make a privy dinner in London

unto the knights of the Round Table.  And all was for

to show outward that she had as great joy in all other

knights of the Table Round as she had in Sir Launcelot.

All only at that dinner she had Sir Gawaine and his

brethren, that is for to say Sir Agravaine, Sir Gaheris, Sir

Gareth, and Sir Mordred.  Also there was Sir Bors de

Ganis, Sir Blamore de Ganis, Sir Bleoberis de Ganis, Sir

Galihud, Sir Galihodin, Sir Ector de Maris, Sir Lionel,

Sir Palomides, Safere his brother, Sir La Cote Male Taile,

Sir Persant, Sir Ironside, Sir Brandiles, Sir Kay le Seneschal,

Sir Mador de la Porte, Sir Patrise, a knight of Ireland,

Aliduk, Sir Astamore, and Sir Pinel le Savage, the which

was cousin to Sir Lamorak de Galis, the good knight that

Sir Gawaine and his brethren slew by treason.  And so

these four-and-twenty knights should dine with the queen

in a privy place by themself, and there was made a great

feast of all manner of dainties.

But Sir Gawaine had a custom that he used daily at

dinner and at supper, that he loved well all manner of

fruit, and in especial apples and pears.  And therefore

whosomever dined or feasted Sir Gawaine would commonly

purvey for good fruit for him, and so did the queen for

to please Sir Gawaine; she let purvey for him all manner

of fruit, for Sir Gawaine was a passing hot knight of

nature.  And this Pinel hated Sir Gawaine because of his

kinsman Sir Lamorak de Galis; and therefore for pure

envy and hate Sir Pinel enpoisoned certain apples for to

enpoison Sir Gawaine.  And so this was well unto the

end of the meat; and so it befell by misfortune a good

knight named Patrise, cousin unto Sir Mador de la Porte,

to take a poisoned apple.  And when he had eaten it he

swelled so till he brast, and there Sir Patrise fell down

suddenly dead among them.

Then every knight leapt from the board ashamed, and

araged for wrath, nigh out of their wits.  For they wist

not what to say; considering Queen Guenever made the

feast and dinner, they all had suspicion unto her.  My

lady, the queen, said Gawaine, wit ye well, madam, that

this dinner was made for me, for all folks that know my

condition understand that I love well fruit, and now I see

well I had near been slain; therefore, madam, I dread me

lest ye will be shamed.  Then the queen stood still and was

sore abashed, that she nist not what to say.  This shall

not so be ended, said Sir Mador de la Porte, for here

have I lost a full noble knight of my blood; and therefore

upon this shame and despite I will be revenged to the

utterance.  And there openly Sir Mador appealed the

queen of the death of his cousin, Sir Patrise.  Then stood

they all still, that none would speak a word against him,

for they all had great suspicion unto the queen because

she let make that dinner.  And the queen was so abashed

that she could none other ways do, but wept so heartily

that she fell in a swoon.  With this noise and cry came

to them King Arthur, and when he wist of that trouble he

was a passing heavy man.

CHAPTER IV

How Sir Mador appeached the queen of treason, and there

was no knight would fight for her at the first time.

AND ever Sir Mador stood still afore the king, and ever

he appealed the queen of treason; for the custom was

such that time that all manner of shameful death was

called treason.  Fair lords, said King Arthur, me repenteth

of this trouble, but the case is so I may not have

ado in this matter, for I must be a rightful judge; and

that repenteth me that I may not do battle for my wife,

for as I deem this deed came never by her.  And therefore

I suppose she shall not be all distained, but that some

good knight shall put his body in jeopardy for my queen

rather than she shall be brent in a wrong quarrel.  And

therefore, Sir Mador, be not so hasty, for it may happen

she shall not be all friendless; and therefore desire

thou thy day of battle, and she shall purvey her of some

good knight that shall answer you, or else it were to me

great shame, and to all my court.

My gracious lord, said Sir Mador, ye must hold me

excused, for though ye be our king in that degree, ye are

but a knight as we are, and ye are sworn unto knighthood

as well as we; and therefore I beseech you that ye be not

displeased, for there is none of the four-and-twenty knights

that were bidden to this dinner but all they have great

suspicion unto the queen.  What say ye all, my lords?

said Sir Mador.  Then they answered by and by that they

could not excuse the queen; for why she made the dinner,

and either it must come by her or by her servants.  Alas,

said the queen, I made this dinner for a good intent, and

never for none evil, so Almighty God me help in my

right, as I was never purposed to do such evil deeds, and

that I report me unto God.

My lord, the king, said Sir Mador, I require you as

ye be a righteous king give me a day that I may have

justice.  Well, said the king, I give the day this day

fifteen days that thou be ready armed on horseback in the

meadow beside Westminster.  And if it so fall that there

be any knight to encounter with you, there mayst thou

do the best, and God speed the right.  And if it so fall

that there be no knight at that day, then must my queen

be burnt, and there she shall be ready to have her judgment.

I am answered, said Sir Mador.  And every

knight went where it liked them.

So when the king and the queen were together the

king asked the queen how this case befell.  The queen

answered:  So God me help, I wot not how or in what

manner.  Where is Sir Launcelot? said King Arthur; an

he were here he would not grudge to do battle for you.

Sir, said the queen, I wot not where he is, but his brother

and his kinsmen deem that he be not within this realm.

That me repenteth, said King Arthur, for an he were here

he would soon stint this strife.  Then I will counsel you,

said the king, and unto Sir Bors:  That ye will do battle

for her for Sir Launcelot's sake, and upon my life he will

not refuse you.  For well I see, said the king, that none

of these four-and-twenty knights that were with you at

your dinner where Sir Patrise was slain, that will do battle

for you, nor none of them will say well of you, and that

shall be a great slander for you in this court.  Alas, said

the queen, and I may not do withal, but now I miss Sir

Launcelot, for an he were here he would put me soon

to my heart's ease.  What aileth you, said the king, ye

cannot keep Sir Launcelot upon your side? For wit ye

well, said the king, who that hath Sir Launcelot upon his

part hath the most man of worship in the world upon his

side.  Now go your way, said the king unto the queen,

and require Sir Bors to do battle for you for Sir Launcelot's

sake.

CHAPTER V

How the queen required Sir Bors to fight for her, and how

he granted upon condition; and how he warned Sir

Launcelot thereof.

SO the queen departed from the king, and sent for Sir

Bors into her chamber.  And when he was come she

besought him of succour.  Madam, said he, what would

ye that I did? for I may not with my worship have ado

in this matter, because I was at the same dinner, for dread

that any of those knights would have me in suspicion.

Also, madam, said Sir Bors, now miss ye Sir Launcelot,

for he would not have failed you neither in right nor in

wrong, as ye have well proved when ye have been in

danger; and now ye have driven him out of this country,

by whom ye and all we were daily worshipped by; therefore,

madam, I marvel how ye dare for shame require

me to do any thing for you, in so much ye have chased

him out of your country by whom we were borne up and

honoured.  Alas, fair knight, said the queen, I put me

wholly in your grace, and all that is done amiss I will

amend as ye will counsel me.  And therewith she kneeled

down upon both her knees, and besought Sir Bors to have

mercy upon her:  Outher I shall have a shameful death,

and thereto I never offended.

Right so came King Arthur, and found the queen

kneeling afore Sir Bors; then Sir Bors pulled her up, and

said:  Madam, ye do me great dishonour.  Ah, gentle

knight, said the king, have mercy upon my queen, courteous

knight, for I am now in certain she is untruly

defamed.  And therefore, courteous knight, said the king,

promise her to do battle for her, I require you for the

love of Sir Launcelot.  My lord, said Sir Bors, ye require

me the greatest thing that any man may require me; and

wit ye well if I grant to do battle for the queen I shall

wrath many of my fellowship of the Table Round.  But

as for that, said Bors, I will grant my lord that for my

lord Sir Launcelot's sake, and for your sake I will at that

day be the queen's champion unless that there come by

adventure a better knight than I am to do battle for her.

Will ye promise me this, said the king, by your faith?

Yea sir, said Sir Bors, of that I will not fail you, nor her

both, but if there come a better knight than I am, and

then shall he have the battle.  Then was the king and the

queen passing glad, and so departed, and thanked him

heartily.

So then Sir Bors departed secretly upon a day, and

rode unto Sir Launcelot thereas he was with the hermit,

Sir Brasias, and told him of all their adventure.  Ah Jesu,

said Sir Launcelot, this is come happily as I would have

it, and therefore I pray you make you ready to do battle,

but look that ye tarry till ye see me come, as long as ye

may.  For I am sure Mador is an hot knight when he is

enchafed, for the more ye suffer him the hastier will he

be to battle.  Sir, said Bors, let me deal with him, doubt

ye not ye shall have all your will.  Then departed Sir

Bors from him and came to the court again.  Then was

it noised in all the court that Sir Bors should do battle

for the queen; wherefore many knights were displeased

with him, that he would take upon him to do battle in

the queen's quarrel; for there were but few knights in

all the court but they deemed the queen was in the

wrong, and that she had done that treason.

So Sir Bors answered thus to his fellows of the Table

Round:  Wit ye well, my fair lords, it were shame to us

all an we suffered to see the most noble queen of the

world to be shamed openly, considering her lord and our

lord is the man of most worship in the world, and most

christened, and he hath ever worshipped us all in all

places.  Many answered him again:  As for our most

noble King Arthur, we love him and honour him as well

as ye do, but as for Queen Guenever we love her not,

because she is a destroyer of good knights.  Fair lords,

said Sir Bors, meseemeth ye say not as ye should say, for

never yet in my days knew I never nor heard say that

ever she was a destroyer of any good knight.  But at all

times as far as ever I could know she was a maintainer of

good knights; and ever she hath been large and free of

her goods to all good knights, and the most bounteous

lady of her gifts and her good grace, that ever I saw or

heard speak of.  And therefore it were shame, said Sir

Bors, to us all to our most noble king's wife, an we

suffered her to be shamefully slain.  And wit ye well,

said Sir Bors, I will not suffer it, for I dare say so much,

the queen is not guilty of Sir Patrise's death, for she owed

him never none ill will, nor none of the four-and-twenty

knights that were at that dinner; for I dare say for good

love she bade us to dinner, and not for no mal engine,

and that I doubt not shall be proved hereafter, for

howsomever the game goeth, there was treason among us.

Then some said to Sir Bors:  We may well believe your

words.  And so some of them were well pleased, and

some were not so.

CHAPTER VI

How at the day Sir Bors made him ready for to fight for the

queen; and when he would fight how another discharged

him.

THE day came on fast until the even that the battle

should be.  Then the queen sent for Sir Bors and asked

him how he was disposed.  Truly madam, said he, I am

disposed in likewise as I promised you, that is for to say

I shall not fail you, unless by adventure there come a

better knight than I am to do battle for you, then,

madam, am I discharged of my promise.  Will ye, said

the queen, that I tell my lord Arthur thus?  Do as

it shall please you, madam.  Then the queen went unto

the king and told him the answer of Sir Bors.  Have ye

no doubt, said the king, of Sir Bors, for I call him now

one of the best knights of the world, and the most

profitablest man.  And thus it passed on until the morn, and

the king and the queen and all manner of knights that

were there at that time drew them unto the meadow

beside Westminster where the battle should be.  And

so when the king was come with the queen and many

knights of the Round Table, then the queen was put

there in the Constable's ward, and a great fire made about

an iron stake, that an Sir Mador de la Porte had the

better, she should be burnt: such custom was used in

those days, that neither for favour, neither for love nor

affinity, there should be none other but righteous

judgment, as well upon a king as upon a knight, and as well

upon a queen as upon another poor lady.

So in this meanwhile came in Sir Mador de la Porte,

and took his oath afore the king, that the queen did this

treason until his cousin Sir Patrise, and unto his oath he

would prove it with his body, hand for hand, who that

would say the contrary.  Right so came in Sir Bors de

Ganis, and said:  That as for Queen Guenever she is in

the right, and that will I make good with my hands that

she is not culpable of this treason that is put upon her.

Then make thee ready, said Sir Mador, and we shall prove

whether thou be in the right or I.  Sir Mador, said Sir

Bors, wit thou well I know you for a good knight.  Not

for then I shall not fear you so greatly, but I trust to God

I shall be able to withstand your malice.  But this much

have I promised my lord Arthur and my lady the queen,

that I shall do battle for her in this case to the uttermost,

unless that there come a better knight than I am and

discharge me.  Is that all? said Sir Mador, either come thou

off and do battle with me, or else say nay.  Take your

horse, said Sir Bors, and as I suppose, ye shall not tarry

long but ye shall be answered.

Then either departed to their tents and made them

ready to horseback as they thought best.  And anon Sir

Mador came into the field with his shield on his shoulder

and his spear in his hand; and so rode about the place

crying unto Arthur:  Bid your champion come forth an

he dare.  Then was Sir Bors ashamed and took his horse

and came to the lists' end.  And then was he ware where

came from a wood there fast by a knight all armed, upon

a white horse, with a strange shield of strange arms; and

he came riding all that he might run, and so he came to

Sir Bors, and said thus:  Fair knight, I pray you be not

displeased, for here must a better knight than ye are have

this battle, therefore I pray you withdraw you.  For wit

ye well I have had this day a right great journey, and this

battle ought to be mine, and so I promised you when I

spake with you last, and with all my heart I thank you

of your good will.  Then Sir Bors rode unto King Arthur

and told him how there was a knight come that would

have the battle for to fight for the queen.  What knight

is he? said the king.  I wot not, said Sir Bors, but such

covenant he made with me to be here this day.  Now my

lord, said Sir Bors, here am I discharged.

CHAPTER VII

How Sir Launcelot fought against Sir Mador for the queen,

and how he overcame Sir Mador, and discharged the

queen.

THEN the king called to that knight, and asked him if

he would fight for the queen.  Then he answered to the

king:  Therefore came I hither, and therefore, sir king, he

said, tarry me no longer, for I may not tarry.  For anon

as I have finished this battle I must depart hence, for I

have ado many matters elsewhere.  For wit you well, said

that knight, this is dishonour to you all knights of the

Round Table, to see and know so noble a lady and so

courteous a queen as Queen Guenever is, thus to be

rebuked and shamed amongst you.  Then they all marvelled

what knight that might be that so took the battle upon

him.  For there was not one that knew him, but if it were

Sir Bors.

Then said Sir Mador de la Porte unto the king:  Now

let me wit with whom I shall have ado withal.  And then

they rode to the lists' end, and there they couched their

spears, and ran together with all their might, and Sir

Mador's spear brake all to pieces, but the other's spear

held, and bare Sir Mador's horse and all backward to the

earth a great fall.  But mightily and suddenly he avoided

his horse and put his shield afore him, and then drew his

sword, and bade the other knight alight and do battle

with him on foot.  Then that knight descended from his

horse lightly like a valiant man, and put his shield afore

him and drew his sword; and so they came eagerly unto

battle, and either gave other many great strokes, tracing

and traversing, racing and foining, and hurtling together

with their swords as it were wild boars.  Thus were they

fighting nigh an hour, for this Sir Mador was a strong

knight, and mightily proved in many strong battles.  But

at the last this knight smote Sir Mador grovelling upon

the earth, and the knight stepped near him to have pulled

Sir Mador flatling upon the ground; and therewith

suddenly Sir Mador arose, and in his rising he smote that

knight through the thick of the thighs that the blood ran

out fiercely.  And when he felt himself so wounded, and

saw his blood, he let him arise upon his feet.  And then

he gave him such a buffet upon the helm that he fell to

the earth flatling, and therewith he strode to him to have

pulled off his helm off his head.  And then Sir Mador

prayed that knight to save his life, and so he yielded him

as overcome, and released the queen of his quarrel.  I will

not grant thee thy life, said that knight, only that thou

freely release the queen for ever, and that no mention be

made upon Sir Patrise's tomb that ever Queen Guenever

consented to that treason.  All this shall be done, said Sir

Mador, I clearly discharge my quarrel for ever.

Then the knights parters of the lists took up Sir

Mador, and led him to his tent, and the other knight

went straight to the stair-foot where sat King Arthur;

and by that time was the queen come to the king, and

either kissed other heartily.  And when the king saw that

knight, he stooped down to him, and thanked him, and

in likewise did the queen; and the king prayed him to

put off his helmet, and to repose him, and to take a sop

of wine.  And then he put off his helm to drink, and then

every knight knew him that it was Sir Launcelot du Lake.

Anon as the king wist that, he took the queen in his hand,

and yode unto Sir Launcelot, and said:  Sir, grant mercy

of your great travail that ye have had this day for me and

for my queen.  My lord, said Sir Launcelot, wit ye well I

ought of right ever to be in your quarrel, and in my lady

the queen's quarrel, to do battle; for ye are the man that

gave me the high order of knighthood, and that day my

lady, your queen, did me great worship, and else I had

been shamed; for that same day ye made me knight,

through my hastiness I lost my sword, and my lady, your

queen, found it, and lapped it in her train, and gave me

my sword when I had need thereto, and else had I been

shamed among all knights; and therefore, my lord Arthur, I

promised her at that day ever to be her knight in right outher

in wrong.  Grant mercy, said the king, for this journey;

and wit ye well, said the king, I shall acquit your goodness.

And ever the queen beheld Sir Launcelot, and wept so

tenderly that she sank almost to the ground for sorrow

that he had done to her so great goodness where she

shewed him great unkindness.  Then the knights of his

blood drew unto him, and there either of them made great

joy of other.  And so came all the knights of the Table

Round that were there at that time, and welcomed him.

And then Sir Mador was had to leech-craft, and Sir

Launcelot was healed of his wound.  And then there was

made great joy and mirths in that court.

CHAPTER VIII

How the truth was known by the Maiden of the Lake,

and of divers other matters.

AND so it befell that the damosel of the lake, her name

was Nimue, the which wedded the good knight Sir Pelleas,

and so she came to the court; for ever she did great

goodness unto King Arthur and to all his knights through her

sorcery and enchantments.  And so when she heard how

the queen was an-angered for the death of Sir Patrise,

then she told it openly that she was never guilty; and

there she disclosed by whom it was done, and named him,

Sir Pinel; and for what cause he did it, there it was openly

disclosed; and so the queen was excused, and the knight

Pinel fled into his country.  Then was it openly known

that Sir Pinel enpoisoned the apples at the feast to that

intent to have destroyed Sir Gawaine, because Sir Gawaine

and his brethren destroyed Sir Lamorak de Galis, to the

which Sir Pinel was cousin unto.  Then was Sir Patrise

buried in the church of Westminster in a tomb, and

thereupon was written:  Here lieth Sir Patrise of Ireland,

slain by Sir Pinel le Savage, that enpoisoned apples to

have slain Sir Gawaine, and by misfortune Sir Patrise ate

one of those apples, and then suddenly he brast.  Also

there was written upon the tomb that Queen Guenever

was appealed of treason of the death of Sir Patrise, by Sir

Mador de la Porte; and there was made mention how

Sir Launcelot fought with him for Queen Guenever, and

overcame him in plain battle.  All this was written upon

the tomb of Sir Patrise in excusing of the queen.  And

then Sir Mador sued daily and long, to have the queen's

good grace; and so by the means of Sir Launcelot he

caused him to stand in the queen's good grace, and all

was forgiven

Thus it passed on till our Lady Day, Assumption.

Within a fifteen days of that feast the king let cry a great

jousts and a tournament that should be at that day at

Camelot, that is Winchester; and the king let cry that he

and the King of Scots would joust against all that would

come against them.  And when this cry was made, thither

came many knights.  So there came thither the King of

Northgalis, and King Anguish of Ireland, and the King

with the Hundred Knights, and Galahad, the haut prince,

and the King of Northumberland, and many other noble

dukes and earls of divers countries.  So King Arthur

made him ready to depart to these jousts, and would have

had the queen with him, but at that time she would not,

she said, for she was sick and might not ride at that time.

That me repenteth, said the king, for this seven year ye

saw not such a noble fellowship together except at

Whitsuntide when Galahad departed from the court.  Truly,

said the queen to the king, ye must hold me excused, I

may not be there, and that me repenteth.  And many

deemed the queen would not be there because of Sir

Launcelot du Lake, for Sir Launcelot would not ride with

the king, for he said that he was not whole of the wound

the which Sir Mador had given him; wherefore the king

was heavy and passing wroth.  And so he departed

toward Winchester with his fellowship; and so by the

way the king lodged in a town called Astolat, that is now

in English called Guildford, and there the king lay in the

castle.

So when the king was departed the queen called Sir

Launcelot to her, and said thus: Sir Launcelot, ye are

greatly to blame thus to hold you behind my lord; what,

trow ye, what will your enemies and mine say and deem?

nought else but, See how Sir Launcelot holdeth him ever

behind the king, and so doth the queen, for that they

would have their pleasure together.  And thus will they

say, said the queen to Sir Launcelot, have ye no doubt

thereof.

CHAPTER IX

How Sir Launcelot rode to Astolat, and received a sleeve to

wear upon his helm at the request of a maid.

MADAM, said Sir Launcelot, I allow your wit, it is of late

come since ye were wise.  And therefore, madam, at this

time I will be ruled by your counsel, and this night I will

take my rest, and to-morrow by time I will take my way

toward Winchester.  But wit you well, said Sir Launcelot

to the queen, that at that jousts I will be against the king,

and against all his fellowship.  Ye may there do as ye

list, said the queen, but by my counsel ye shall not be

against your king and your fellowship.  For therein

be full many hard knights of your blood, as ye wot well

enough, it needeth not to rehearse them.  Madam, said

Sir Launcelot, I pray you that ye be not displeased with

me, for I will take the adventure that God will send me.

And so upon the morn early Sir Launcelot heard mass

and brake his fast, and so took his leave of the queen and

departed.  And then he rode so much until he came to

Astolat, that is Guildford; and there it happed him in the

eventide he came to an old baron's place that hight Sir

Bernard of Astolat.  And as Sir Launcelot entered into

his lodging, King Arthur espied him as he did walk in a

garden beside the castle, how he took his lodging, and

knew him full well.  It is well, said King Arthur unto the

knights that were with him in that garden beside the

castle, I have now espied one knight that will play his play

at the jousts to the which we be gone toward; I undertake

he will do marvels.  Who is that, we pray you tell

us? said many knights that were there at that time.  Ye

shall not wit for me, said the king, as at this time.  And

so the king smiled, and went to his lodging.

So when Sir Launcelot was in his lodging, and unarmed

him in his chamber, the old baron and hermit came

to him making his reverence, and welcomed him in the

best manner; but the old knight knew not Sir Launcelot.

Fair sir, said Sir Launcelot to his host, I would pray you

to lend me a shield that were not openly known, for mine

is well known.  Sir, said his host, ye shall have your

desire, for meseemeth ye be one of the likeliest knights of

the world, and therefore I shall shew you friendship.  Sir,

wit you well I have two sons that were but late made

knights, and the eldest hight Sir Tirre, and he was hurt

that same day he was made knight, that he may not ride,

and his shield ye shall have; for that is not known I dare

say but here, and in no place else.  And my youngest son

hight Lavaine, and if it please you, he shall ride with you

unto that jousts; and he is of his age strong and wight,

for much my heart giveth unto you that ye should be a

noble knight, therefore I pray you, tell me your name,

said Sir Bernard.  As for that, said Sir Launcelot, ye

must hold me excused as at this time, and if God give me

grace to speed well at the jousts I shall come again and

tell you.  But I pray you, said Sir Launcelot, in any wise

let me have your son, Sir Lavaine, with me, and that I

may have his brother's shield.  All this shall be done,

said Sir Bernard.

This old baron had a daughter that was called that

time the Fair Maiden of Astolat.  And ever she beheld

Sir Launcelot wonderfully; and as the book saith, she

cast such a love unto Sir Launcelot that she could never

withdraw her love, wherefore she died, and her name was

Elaine le Blank.  So thus as she came to and fro she was

so hot in her love that she besought Sir Launcelot to wear

upon him at the jousts a token of hers.  Fair damosel,

said Sir Launcelot, an if I grant you that, ye may say I

do more for your love than ever I did for lady or damosel.

Then he remembered him he would go to the jousts

disguised.  And because he had never fore that time

borne no manner of token of no damosel, then he bethought

him that he would bear one of her, that none of

his blood thereby might know him, and then he said:

Fair maiden, I will grant you to wear a token of yours

upon mine helmet, and therefore what it is, shew it me.

Sir, she said, it is a red sleeve of mine, of scarlet, well

embroidered with great pearls: and so she brought it

him.  So Sir Launcelot received it, and said:  Never did

I erst so much for no damosel.  And then Sir Launcelot

betook the fair maiden his shield in keeping, and prayed

her to keep that until that he came again; and so that night

he had merry rest and great cheer, for ever the damosel

Elaine was about Sir Launcelot all the while she might be

suffered.

CHAPTER X

How the tourney began at Winchester, and what knights

were at the jousts; and other things.

SO upon a day, on the morn, King Arthur and all his

knights departed, for their king had tarried three days to

abide his noble knights.  And so when the king was

ridden, Sir Launcelot and Sir Lavaine made them ready to

ride, and either of them had white shields, and the red

sleeve Sir Launcelot let carry with him.  And so they

took their leave at Sir Bernard, the old baron, and at his

daughter, the Fair Maiden of Astolat.  And then they rode

so long till that they came to Camelot, that time called

Winchester; and there was great press of kings, dukes

earls, and barons, and many noble knights.  But there Sir

Launcelot was lodged privily by the means of Sir Lavaine

with a rich burgess, that no man in that town was ware

what they were.  And so they reposed them there till our

Lady Day, Assumption, as the great feast should be.  So

then trumpets blew unto the field, and King Arthur was

set on high upon a scaffold to behold who did best.  But

as the French book saith, the king would not suffer Sir

Gawaine to go from him, for never had Sir Gawaine the

better an Sir Launcelot were in the field; and many times

was Sir Gawaine rebuked when Launcelot came into any

jousts disguised.

Then some of the kings, as King Anguish of Ireland

and the King of Scots, were that time turned upon the

side of King Arthur.  And then on the other party was

the King of Northgalis, and the King with the Hundred

Knights, and the King of Northumberland, and Sir

Galahad, the haut prince.  But these three kings and this

duke were passing weak to hold against King Arthur's

party, for with him were the noblest knights of the world.

So then they withdrew them either party from other, and

every man made him ready in his best manner to do what

he might.

Then Sir Launcelot made him ready, and put the red

sleeve upon his head, and fastened it fast; and so Sir

Launcelot and Sir Lavaine departed out of Winchester

privily, and rode until a little leaved wood behind the

party that held against King Arthur's party, and there

they held them still till the parties smote together.  And

then came in the King of Scots and the King of Ireland

on Arthur's party, and against them came the King of

Northumberland, and the King with the Hundred Knights

smote down the King of Northumberland, and the King

with the Hundred Knights smote down King Anguish of

Ireland.  Then Sir Palomides that was on Arthur's party

encountered with Sir Galahad, and either of them smote

down other, and either party halp their lords on horseback

again.  So there began a strong assail upon both parties.

And then came in Sir Brandiles, Sir Sagramore le Desirous,

Sir Dodinas le Savage, Sir Kay le Seneschal, Sir Griflet le

Fise de Dieu, Sir Mordred, Sir Meliot de Logris, Sir

Ozanna le Cure Hardy, Sir Safere, Sir Epinogris, Sir

Galleron of Galway.  All these fifteen knights were

knights of the Table Round.  So these with more other

came in together, and beat aback the King of Northumberland

and the King of Northgalis.  When Sir Launcelot

saw this, as he hoved in a little leaved wood, then he said

unto Sir Lavaine:  See yonder is a company of good

knights, and they hold them together as boars that were

chafed with dogs.  That is truth, said Sir Lavaine.

CHAPTER XI

How Sir Launcelot and Sir Lavaine entered in the field

against them of King Arthur's court, and how Launcelot

was hurt.

NOW, said Sir Launcelot, an ye will help me a little, ye

shall see yonder fellowship that chaseth now these men in

our side, that they shall go as fast backward as they went

forward.  Sir, spare not, said Sir Lavaine, for I shall do

what I may.  Then Sir Launcelot and Sir Lavaine came

in at the thickest of the press, and there Sir Launcelot

smote down Sir Brandiles, Sir Sagramore, Sir Dodinas, Sir

Kay, Sir Griflet, and all this he did with one spear; and

Sir Lavaine smote down Sir Lucan le Butler and Sir

Bedevere.  And then Sir Launcelot gat another spear,

and there he smote down Sir Agravaine, Sir Gaheris, and

Sir Mordred, and Sir Meliot de Logris; and Sir Lavaine

smote Ozanna le Cure Hardy.  And then Sir Launcelot

drew his sword, and there he smote on the right hand and

on the left hand, and by great force he unhorsed Sir

Safere, Sir Epinogris, and Sir Galleron; and then the

knights of the Table Round withdrew them aback, after

they had gotten their horses as well as they might.  O

mercy Jesu, said Sir Gawaine, what knight is yonder that

doth so marvellous deeds of arms in that field?  I wot

well what he is, said King Arthur, but as at this time I

will not name him.  Sir, said Sir Gawaine, I would say it

were Sir Launcelot by his riding and his buffets that I see

him deal, but ever meseemeth it should not be he, for that

he beareth the red sleeve upon his head; for I wist him

never bear token at no jousts, of lady nor gentlewoman.

Let him be, said King Arthur, he will be better known,

and do more, or ever he depart.

Then the party that was against King Arthur were

well comforted, and then they held them together that

beforehand were sore rebuked.  Then Sir Bors, Sir Ector

de Maris, and Sir Lionel called unto them the knights of

their blood, as Sir Blamore de Ganis, Sir Bleoberis, Sir

Aliduke, Sir Galihud, Sir Galihodin, Sir Bellangere le

Beuse.  So these nine knights of Sir Launcelot's kin

thrust in mightily, for they were all noble knights; and

they, of great hate and despite that they had unto him,

thought to rebuke that noble knight Sir Launcelot, and

Sir Lavaine, for they knew them not; and so they came

hurling together, and smote down many knights of Northgalis

and of Northumberland.  And when Sir Launcelot

saw them fare so, he gat a spear in his hand; and there

encountered with him all at once Sir Bors, Sir Ector, and

Sir Lionel, and all they three smote him at once with

their spears.  And with force of themself they smote Sir

Launcelot's horse to the earth; and by misfortune Sir

Bors smote Sir Launcelot through the shield into the side,

and the spear brake, and the head left still in his side.

When Sir Lavaine saw his master lie on the ground,

he ran to the King of Scots and smote him to the earth;

and by great force he took his horse, and brought him to

Sir Launcelot, and maugre of them all he made him to

mount upon that horse.  And then Launcelot gat a spear

in his hand, and there he smote Sir Bors, horse and man,

to the earth.  In the same wise he served Sir Ector and

Sir Lionel; and Sir Lavaine smote down Sir Blamore de

Ganis.  And then Sir Launcelot drew his sword, for he

felt himself so sore y-hurt that he weened there to have

had his death.  And then he smote Sir Bleoberis such a

buffet on the helm that he fell down to the earth in a

swoon.  And in the same wise he served Sir Aliduke and

Sir Galihud.  And Sir Lavaine smote down Sir Bellangere,

that was the son of Alisander le Orphelin.

And by this was Sir Bors horsed, and then he came

with Sir Ector and Sir Lionel, and all they three smote

with swords upon Sir Launcelot's helmet.  And when he

felt their buffets and his wound, the which was so grievous,

then he thought to do what he might while he might

endure.  And then he gave Sir Bors such a buffet that he

made him bow his head passing low; and therewithal he

raced off his helm, and might have slain him; and so

pulled him down, and in the same wise he served Sir

Ector and Sir Lionel.  For as the book saith he might

have slain them, but when he saw their visages his heart

might not serve him thereto, but left them there.  And

then afterward he hurled into the thickest press of them

all, and did there the marvelloust deeds of arms that ever

man saw or heard speak of, and ever Sir Lavaine, the

good knight, with him.  And there Sir Launcelot with

his sword smote down and pulled down, as the French

book maketh mention, mo than thirty knights, and the

most part were of the Table Round; and Sir Lavaine did

full well that day, for he smote down ten knights of the

Table Round.

CHAPTER XII

How Sir Launcelot and Sir Lavaine departed out of the

field, and in what jeopardy Launcelot was.

MERCY Jesu, said Sir Gawaine to Arthur, I marvel what

knight that he is with the red sleeve.  Sir, said King

Arthur, he will be known or he depart.  And then the

king blew unto lodging, and the prize was given by

heralds unto the knight with the white shield that bare

the red sleeve.  Then came the King with the Hundred

Knights, the King of Northgalis, and the King of Northumberland,

and Sir Galahad, the haut prince, and said

unto Sir Launcelot:  Fair knight, God thee bless, for

much have ye done this day for us, therefore we pray you

that ye will come with us that ye may receive the honour

and the prize as ye have worshipfully deserved it.  My

fair lords, said Sir Launcelot, wit you well if I have deserved

thanks I have sore bought it, and that me repenteth, for

I am like never to escape with my life; therefore, fair

lords, I pray you that ye will suffer me to depart where

me liketh, for I am sore hurt.  I take none force of none

honour, for I had liefer to repose me than to be lord of

all the world.  And therewithal he groaned piteously, and

rode a great wallop away-ward from them until he came

under a wood's side.

And when he saw that he was from the field nigh a

mile, that he was sure he might not be seen, then he said

with an high voice:  O gentle knight, Sir Lavaine, help me

that this truncheon were out of my side, for it sticketh so

sore that it nigh slayeth me.  O mine own lord, said Sir

Lavaine, I would fain do that might please you, but I

dread me sore an I pull out the truncheon that ye shall be

in peril of death.  I charge you, said Sir Launcelot, as ye

love me, draw it out.  And therewithal he descended from

his horse, and right so did Sir Lavaine; and forthwithal

Sir Lavaine drew the truncheon out of his side, and he

gave a great shriek and a marvellous grisly groan, and the

blood brast out nigh a pint at once, that at the last he

sank down upon his buttocks, and so swooned pale and

deadly.  Alas, said Sir Lavaine, what shall I do?  And

then he turned Sir Launcelot into the wind, but so he lay

there nigh half an hour as he had been dead.

And so at the last Sir Launcelot cast up his eyes, and

said:  O Lavaine, help me that I were on my horse, for

here is fast by within this two mile a gentle hermit that

sometime was a full noble knight and a great lord of

possessions.  And for great goodness he hath taken him

to wilful poverty, and forsaken many lands, and his name

is Sir Baudwin of Brittany, and he is a full noble surgeon

and a good leech.  Now let see, help me up that I were

there, for ever my heart giveth me that I shall never die

of my cousin-germain's hands.  And then with great pain

Sir Lavaine halp him upon his horse.  And then they

rode a great wallop together, and ever Sir Launcelot bled

that it ran down to the earth; and so by fortune they

came to that hermitage the which was under a wood, and

a great cliff on the other side, and a fair water running

under it.  And then Sir Lavaine beat on the gate with

the butt of his spear, and cried fast:  Let in for Jesu's

sake.

And there came a fair child to them, and asked them

what they would.  Fair son, said Sir Lavaine, go and pray

thy lord, the hermit, for God's sake to let in here a knight

that is full sore wounded; and this day tell thy lord I saw

him do more deeds of arms than ever I heard say that any

man did.  So the child went in lightly, and then he brought

the hermit, the which was a passing good man.  When Sir

Lavaine saw him he prayed him for God's sake of succour.

What knight is he? said the hermit.  Is he of the house

of King Arthur, or not? I wot not, said Sir Lavaine,

what is he, nor what is his name, but well I wot I saw him

do marvellously this day as of deeds of arms.  On whose

party was he? said the hermit.  Sir, said Sir Lavaine, he

was this day against King Arthur, and there he won the

prize of all the knights of the Round Table.  I have seen

the day, said the hermit, I would have loved him the

worse because he was against my lord, King Arthur, for

sometime I was one of the fellowship of the Round Table,

but I thank God now I am otherwise disposed.  But

where is he? let me see him.  Then Sir Lavaine brought

the hermit to him.

CHAPTER XIII

How Launcelot was brought to an hermit for to be healed

of his wound, and of other matters.

AND when the hermit beheld him, as he sat leaning upon

his saddle-bow ever bleeding piteously, and ever the

knight-hermit thought that he should know him, but

he could not bring him to knowledge because he was

so pale for bleeding.  What knight are ye, said the

hermit, and where were ye born?  My fair lord, said Sir

Launcelot, I am a stranger and a knight adventurous,

that laboureth throughout many realms for to win worship.

Then the hermit advised him better, and saw by a wound

on his cheek that he was Sir Launcelot.  Alas, said the

hermit, mine own lord why lain you your name from

me?  Forsooth I ought to know you of right, for ye

are the most noblest knight of the world, for well I know

you for Sir Launcelot.  Sir, said he, sith ye know me, help

me an ye may, for God's sake, for I would be out of this

pain at once, either to death or to life.  Have ye no

doubt, said the hermit, ye shall live and fare right well.

And so the hermit called to him two of his servants, and

so he and his servants bare him into the hermitage, and

lightly unarmed him, and laid him in his bed.  And then

anon the hermit staunched his blood, and made him to

drink good wine, so that Sir Launcelot was well refreshed

and knew himself; for in those days it was not the guise

of hermits as is nowadays, for there were none hermits in

those days but that they had been men of worship and of

prowess; and those hermits held great household, and

refreshed people that were in distress.

Now turn we unto King Arthur, and leave we Sir

Launcelot in the hermitage.  So when the kings were

come together on both parties, and the great feast should

be holden, King Arthur asked the King of Northgalis and

their fellowship, where was that knight that bare the red

sleeve:  Bring him afore me that he may have his laud,

and honour, and the prize, as it is right.  Then spake

Sir Galahad, the haut prince, and the King with the

Hundred Knights:  We suppose that knight is mischieved,

and that he is never like to see you nor none

of us all, and that is the greatest pity that ever we wist

of any knight.  Alas, said Arthur, how may this be, is he

so hurt?  What is his name? said King Arthur.  Truly,

said they all, we know not his name, nor from whence he

came, nor whither he would.  Alas, said the king, this be

to me the worst tidings that came to me this seven year,

for I would not for all the lands I wield to know and wit

it were so that that noble knight were slain.  Know ye

him? said they all.  As for that, said Arthur, whether

I know him or know him not, ye shall not know for me

what man he is, but Almighty Jesu send me good tidings

of him.  And so said they all.  By my head, said Sir

Gawaine, if it so be that the good knight be so sore hurt,

it is great damage and pity to all this land, for he is one

of the noblest knights that ever I saw in a field handle a

spear or a sword; and if he may be found I shall find

him, for I am sure he nis not far from this town.  Bear

you well, said King Arthur, an ye may find him, unless

that he be in such a plight that he may not wield himself.

Jesu defend, said Sir Gawaine, but wit I shall what he is,

an I may find him.

Right so Sir Gawaine took a squire with him upon

hackneys, and rode all about Camelot within six or seven

mile, but so he came again and could hear no word of

him.  Then within two days King Arthur and all the

fellowship returned unto London again.  And so as they

rode by the way it happed Sir Gawaine at Astolat to

lodge with Sir Bernard thereas was Sir Launcelot lodged.

And so as Sir Gawaine was in his chamber to repose him

Sir Bernard, the old baron, came unto him, and his

daughter Elaine, to cheer him and to ask him what

tidings, and who did best at that tournament of Winchester.

So God me help, said Sir Gawaine, there were

two knights that bare two white shields, but the one of

them bare a red sleeve upon his head, and certainly he

was one of the best knights that ever I saw joust in field.

For I dare say, said Sir Gawaine, that one knight with the

red sleeve smote down forty knights of the Table Round,

and his fellow did right well and worshipfully.  Now

blessed be God, said the Fair Maiden of Astolat, that that

knight sped so well, for he is the man in the world that

I first loved, and truly he shall be last that ever I shall

love.  Now, fair maid, said Sir Gawaine, is that good

knight your love?  Certainly sir, said she, wit ye well he

is my love.  Then know ye his name? said Sir Gawaine.

Nay truly, said the damosel, I know not his name nor

from whence he cometh, but to say that I love him, I

promise you and God that I love him.  How had ye

knowledge of him first? said Sir Gawaine.

CHAPTER XIV

How Sir Gawaine was lodged with the lord of Astolat, and

there had knowledge that it was Sir Launcelot that bare

the red sleeve.

THEN she told him as ye have heard to-fore, and how her

father betook him her brother to do him service, and how

her father lent him her brother's, Sir Tirre's, shield:  And

here with me he left his own shield.  For what cause did

he so? said Sir Gawaine.  For this cause, said the damosel,

for his shield was too well known among many noble

knights.  Ah fair damosel, said Sir Gawaine, please it you

let me have a sight of that shield.  Sir, said she, it is

in my chamber, covered with a case, and if ye will come

with me ye shall see it.  Not so, said Sir Bernard till his

daughter, let send for it.

So when the shield was come, Sir Gawaine took off the

case, and when he beheld that shield he knew anon that it

was Sir Launcelot's shield, and his own arms.  Ah Jesu

mercy, said Sir Gawaine, now is my heart more heavier

than ever it was to-fore.  Why? said Elaine.  For I have

great cause, said Sir Gawaine.  Is that knight that oweth

this shield your love?  Yea truly, said she, my love he is,

God would I were his love.  So God me speed, said Sir

Gawaine, fair damosel ye have right, for an he be your

love ye love the most honourable knight of the world, and

the man of most worship.  So me thought ever, said the

damosel, for never or that time, for no knight that ever

I saw, loved I never none erst.  God grant, said Sir

Gawaine, that either of you may rejoice other, but that

is in a great adventure.  But truly, said Sir Gawaine unto

the damosel, ye may say ye have a fair grace, for why

I have known that noble knight this four-and-twenty year,

and never or that day, I nor none other knight, I dare

make good, saw nor heard say that ever he bare token or

sign of no lady, gentlewoman, ne maiden, at no jousts nor

tournament.  And therefore fair maiden, said Sir Gawaine,

ye are much beholden to him to give him thanks.  But

I dread me, said Sir Gawaine, that ye shall never see him

in this world, and that is great pity that ever was of

earthly knight.  Alas, said she, how may this be, is he

slain?  I say not so, said Sir Gawaine, but wit ye well

he is grievously wounded, by all manner of signs, and by

men's sight more likelier to be dead than to be alive;

and wit ye well he is the noble knight, Sir Launcelot, for

by this shield I know him.  Alas, said the Fair Maiden

of Astolat, how may this be, and what was his hurt?

Truly, said Sir Gawaine, the man in the world that loved

him best hurt him so; and I dare say, said Sir Gawaine,

an that knight that hurt him knew the very certainty that

he had hurt Sir Launcelot, it would be the most sorrow

that ever came to his heart.

Now fair father, said then Elaine, I require you

give me leave to ride and to seek him, or else I wot well

I shall go out of my mind, for I shall never stint till that

I find him and my brother, Sir Lavaine.  Do as it liketh

you, said her father, for me sore repenteth of the hurt of

that noble knight.  Right so the maid made her ready,

and before Sir Gawaine, making great dole.

Then on the morn Sir Gawaine came to King Arthur,

and told him how he had found Sir Launcelot's shield in

the keeping of the Fair Maiden of Astolat.  All that

knew I aforehand, said King Arthur, and that caused me

I would not suffer you to have ado at the great jousts,

for I espied, said King Arthur, when he came in till his

lodging full late in the evening in Astolat.  But marvel

have I, said Arthur, that ever he would bear any sign of

any damosel, for or now I never heard say nor knew that

ever he bare any token of none earthly woman.  By my

head, said Sir Gawaine, the Fair Maiden of Astolat loveth

him marvellously well; what it meaneth I cannot say, and

she is ridden after to seek him.  So the king and all came

to London, and there Sir Gawaine openly disclosed to all

the court that it was Sir Launcelot that jousted best.

CHAPTER XV

Of the sorrow that Sir Bors had for the hurt of Launcelot;

and of the anger that the queen had because Launcelot

bare the sleeve.

AND when Sir Bors heard that, wit ye well he was an

heavy man, and so were all his kinsmen.  But when

Queen Guenever wist that Sir Launcelot bare the red

sleeve of the Fair Maiden of Astolat she was nigh out of

her mind for wrath.  And then she sent for Sir Bors de

Ganis in all the haste that might be.  So when Sir Bors

was come to-fore the queen, then she said:  Ah Sir Bors,

have ye heard say how falsely Sir Launcelot hath betrayed

me?  Alas madam, said Sir Bors, I am afeard he hath

betrayed himself and us all.  No force, said the queen,

though he be destroyed, for he is a false traitor-knight.

Madam, said Sir Bors, I pray you say ye not so, for wit

you well I may not hear such language of him.  Why Sir

Bors, said she, should I not call him traitor when he bare

the red sleeve upon his head at Winchester, at the great

jousts?  Madam, said Sir Bors, that sleeve-bearing

repenteth me sore, but I dare say he did it to none evil

intent, but for this cause he bare the red sleeve that none

of his blood should know him.  For or then we, nor none of

us all, never knew that ever he bare token or sign of maid,

lady, ne gentlewoman.  Fie on him, said the queen, yet

for all his pride and bobaunce there ye proved yourself his

better.  Nay madam, say ye never more so, for he beat

me and my fellows, and might have slain us an he had

would.  Fie on him, said the queen, for I heard Sir

Gawaine say before my lord Arthur that it were marvel to

tell the great love that is between the Fair Maiden of

Astolat and him.  Madam, said Sir Bors, I may not warn

Sir Gawaine to say what it pleased him; but I dare say,

as for my lord, Sir Launcelot, that he loveth no lady,

gentlewoman, nor maid, but all he loveth in like much.

And therefore madam, said Sir Bors, ye may say what

ye will, but wit ye well I will haste me to seek him, and

find him wheresomever he be, and God send me good

tidings of him.  And so leave we them there, and speak

we of Sir Launcelot that lay in great peril.

So as fair Elaine came to Winchester she sought there

all about, and by fortune Sir Lavaine was ridden to play

him, to enchafe his horse.  And anon as Elaine saw him

she knew him, and then she cried aloud until him.  And

when he heard her anon he came to her, and then she asked

her brother how did my lord, Sir Launcelot.  Who told

you, sister, that my lord's name was Sir Launcelot?  Then

she told him how Sir Gawaine by his shield knew him.

So they rode together till that they came to the hermitage,

and anon she alighted.

So Sir Lavaine brought her in to Sir Launcelot; and

when she saw him lie so sick and pale in his bed she might

not speak, but suddenly she fell to the earth down suddenly

in a swoon, and there she lay a great while.  And when

she was relieved, she shrieked and said:  My lord, Sir

Launcelot, alas why be ye in this plight? and then she

swooned again.  And then Sir Launcelot prayed Sir

Lavaine to take her up:  And bring her to me.  And

when she came to herself Sir Launcelot kissed her, and

said:  Fair maiden, why fare ye thus? ye put me to pain;

wherefore make ye no more such cheer, for an ye be come

to comfort me ye be right welcome; and of this little hurt

that I have I shall be right hastily whole by the grace of

God.  But I marvel, said Sir Launcelot, who told you my

name?  Then the fair maiden told him all how Sir

Gawaine was lodged with her father:  And there by your

shield he discovered your name.  Alas, said Sir Launcelot,

that me repenteth that my name is known, for I am sure

it will turn unto anger.  And then Sir Launcelot compassed

in his mind that Sir Gawaine would tell Queen

Guenever how he bare the red sleeve, and for whom; that

he wist well would turn into great anger.

So this maiden Elaine never went from Sir Launcelot,

but watched him day and night, and did such attendance

to him, that the French book saith there was never woman

did more kindlier for man than she.  Then Sir Launcelot

prayed Sir Lavaine to make aspies in Winchester for Sir

Bors if he came there, and told him by what tokens he

should know him, by a wound in his forehead.  For well

I am sure, said Sir Launcelot, that Sir Bors will seek me,

for he is the same good knight that hurt me.

CHAPTER XVI

How Sir Bors sought Launcelot and found him in the

hermitage, and of the lamentation between them.

NOW turn we unto Sir Bors de Ganis that came unto

Winchester to seek after his cousin Sir Launcelot.  And

so when he came to Winchester, anon there were men

that Sir Lavaine had made to lie in a watch for such a

man, and anon Sir Lavaine had warning; and then Sir

Lavaine came to Winchester and found Sir Bors, and

there he told him what he was, and with whom he was,

and what was his name.  Now fair knight, said Sir Bors,

I require you that ye will bring me to my lord, Sir

Launcelot.  Sir, said Sir Lavaine, take your horse, and

within this hour ye shall see him.  And so they departed,

and came to the hermitage.

And when Sir Bors saw Sir Launcelot lie in his bed

pale and discoloured, anon Sir Bors lost his countenance,

and for kindness and pity he might not speak, but wept

tenderly a great while.  And then when he might speak

he said thus:  O my lord, Sir Launcelot, God you bless,

and send you hasty recover; and full heavy am I of my

misfortune and of mine unhappiness, for now I may call

myself unhappy.  And I dread me that God is greatly

displeased with me, that he would suffer me to have such

a shame for to hurt you that are all our leader, and all our

worship; and therefore I call myself unhappy.  Alas that

ever such a caitiff-knight as I am should have power by

unhappiness to hurt the most noblest knight of the world.

Where I so shamefully set upon you and overcharged you,

and where ye might have slain me, ye saved me; and so

did not I, for I and your blood did to you our utterance.

I marvel, said Sir Bors, that my heart or my blood would

serve me, wherefore my lord, Sir Launcelot, I ask your

mercy.  Fair cousin, said Sir Launcelot, ye be right

welcome; and wit ye well, overmuch ye say for to please

me, the which pleaseth me not, for why I have the same I

sought; for I would with pride have overcome you all,

and there in my pride I was near slain, and that was in

mine own default, for I might have given you warning of

my being there.  And then had I had no hurt, for it is an

old said saw, there is hard battle thereas kin and friends

do battle either against other, there may be no mercy but

mortal war.  Therefore, fair cousin, said Sir Launcelot,

let this speech overpass, and all shall be welcome that God

sendeth; and let us leave off this matter and let us speak

of some rejoicing, for this that is done may not be

undone; and let us find a remedy how soon that I may

be whole.

Then Sir Bors leaned upon his bedside, and told Sir

Launcelot how the queen was passing wroth with him,

because he wore the red sleeve at the great jousts; and

there Sir Bors told him all how Sir Gawaine discovered it:

By your shield that ye left with the Fair Maiden of

Astolat.  Then is the queen wroth, said Sir Launcelot

and therefore am I right heavy, for I deserved no wrath,

for all that I did was because I would not be known.

Right so excused I you, said Sir Bors, but all was in vain,

for she said more largelier to me than I to you now.  But

is this she, said Sir Bors, that is so busy about you, that

men call the Fair Maiden of Astolat?  She it is, said Sir

Launcelot, that by no means I cannot put her from me.

Why should ye put her from you? said Sir Bors, she is a

passing fair damosel, and a well beseen, and well taught;

and God would, fair cousin, said Sir Bors, that ye could

love her, but as to that I may not, nor I dare not, counsel

you.  But I see well, said Sir Bors, by her diligence about

you that she loveth you entirely.  That me repenteth,

said Sir Launcelot.  Sir, said Sir Bors, she is not the first

that hath lost her pain upon you, and that is the more

pity: and so they talked of many more things.  And so

within three days or four Sir Launcelot was big and strong

again.

CHAPTER XVII

How Sir Launcelot armed him to assay if he might bear

arms, and how his wounds brast out again.

THEN Sir Bors told Sir Launcelot how there was sworn a

great tournament and jousts betwixt King Arthur and the

King of Northgalis, that should be upon All Hallowmass

Day, beside Winchester.  Is that truth? said Sir Launcelot;

then shall ye abide with me still a little while until that I

be whole, for I feel myself right big and strong.  Blessed

be God, said Sir Bors.  Then were they there nigh a month

together, and ever this maiden Elaine did ever her diligent

labour night and day unto Sir Launcelot, that there was

never child nor wife more meeker to her father and husband

than was that Fair Maiden of Astolat; wherefore Sir Bors

was greatly pleased with her.

So upon a day, by the assent of Sir Launcelot, Sir Bors,

and Sir Lavaine, they made the hermit to seek in woods

for divers herbs, and so Sir Launcelot made fair Elaine to

gather herbs for him to make him a bain.  In the meanwhile

Sir Launcelot made him to arm him at all pieces;

and there he thought to assay his armour and his spear, for

his hurt or not.  And so when he was upon his horse he

stirred him fiercely, and the horse was passing lusty and

fresh because he was not laboured a month afore.  And

then Sir Launcelot couched that spear in the rest.  That

courser leapt mightily when he felt the spurs; and he that

was upon him, the which was the noblest horse of the world,

strained him mightily and stably, and kept still the spear

in the rest; and therewith Sir Launcelot strained himself

so straitly, with so great force, to get the horse forward,

that the button of his wound brast both within and

without; and therewithal the blood came out so fiercely that

he felt himself so feeble that he might not sit upon his

horse.  And then Sir Launcelot cried unto Sir Bors:  Ah,

Sir Bors and Sir Lavaine, help, for I am come to mine end.

And therewith he fell down on the one side to the earth

like a dead corpse.  And then Sir Bors and Sir Lavaine

came to him with sorrow-making out of measure.  And

so by fortune the maiden Elaine heard their mourning, and

then she came thither; and when she found Sir Launcelot

there armed in that place she cried and wept as she had

been wood; and then she kissed him, and did what she

might to awake him.  And then she rebuked her brother

and Sir Bors, and called them false traitors, why they would

take him out of his bed; there she cried, and said she would

appeal them of his death.

With this came the holy hermit, Sir Baudwin of Brittany,

and when he found Sir Launcelot in that plight he

said but little, but wit ye well he was wroth; and then he

bade them:  Let us have him in.  And so they all bare him

unto the hermitage, and unarmed him, and laid him in his

bed; and evermore his wound bled piteously, but he stirred

no limb of him.  Then the knight-hermit put a thing in

his nose and a little deal of water in his mouth.  And then

Sir Launcelot waked of his swoon, and then the hermit

staunched his bleeding.  And when he might speak he

asked Sir Launcelot why he put his life in jeopardy.  Sir,

said Sir Launcelot, because I weened I had been strong, and

also Sir Bors told me that there should be at All Hallowmass

a great jousts betwixt King Arthur and the King of

Northgalis, and therefore I thought to assay it myself

whether I might be there or not.  Ah, Sir Launcelot, said

the hermit, your heart and your courage will never be done

until your last day, but ye shall do now by my counsel

Let Sir Bors depart from you, and let him do at that

tournament what he may:  And by the grace of God, said

the knight-hermit, by that the tournament be done and ye

come hither again, Sir Launcelot shall be as whole as ye, so

that he will be governed by me.

CHAPTER XVIII

How Sir Bors returned and told tidings of Sir Launcelot;

and of the tourney, and to whom the prize was given.

THEN Sir Bors made him ready to depart from Sir Launcelot;

and then Sir Launcelot said:  Fair cousin, Sir Bors,

recommend me unto all them unto whom me ought to

recommend me unto.  And I pray you, enforce yourself

at that jousts that ye may be best, for my love; and here

shall I abide you at the mercy of God till ye come again.

And so Sir Bors departed and came to the court of King

Arthur, and told them in what place he had left Sir

Launcelot.  That me repenteth, said the king, but since he shall

have his life we all may thank God.  And there Sir Bors

told the queen in what jeopardy Sir Launcelot was when

he would assay his horse.  And all that he did, madam,

was for the love of you, because he would have been at this

tournament.  Fie on him, recreant knight, said the queen,

for wit ye well I am right sorry an he shall have his life.

His life shall he have, said Sir Bors, and who that would

otherwise, except you, madam, we that be of his blood

should help to short their lives.  But madam, said Sir Bors,

ye have been oft-times displeased with my lord, Sir

Launcelot, but at all times at the end ye find him a true knight:

and so he departed.

And then every knight of the Round Table that were

there at that time present made them ready to be at that

jousts at All Hallowmass, and thither drew many knights

of divers countries.  And as All Hallowmass drew near,

thither came the King of Northgalis, and the King with

the Hundred Knights, and Sir Galahad, the haut prince, of

Surluse, and thither came King Anguish of Ireland, and the

King of Scots.  So these three kings came on King Arthur's

party.  And so that day Sir Gawaine did great deeds of

arms, and began first.  And the heralds numbered that Sir

Gawaine smote down twenty knights.  Then Sir Bors de

Ganis came in the same time, and he was numbered that

he smote down twenty knights; and therefore the prize

was given betwixt them both, for they began first and

longest endured.  Also Sir Gareth, as the book saith, did

that day great deeds of arms, for he smote down and pulled

down thirty knights.  But when he had done these deeds

he tarried not but so departed, and therefore he lost his

prize.  And Sir Palomides did great deeds of arms that

day, for he smote down twenty knights, but he departed

suddenly, and men deemed Sir Gareth and he rode together

to some manner adventures.

So when this tournament was done Sir Bors departed

and rode till he came to Sir Launcelot, his cousin; and

then he found him walking on his feet, and there either

made great joy of other; and so Sir Bors told Sir Launcelot

of all the Jousts like as ye have heard.  I marvel, said Sir

Launcelot, that Sir Gareth, when he had done such deeds

of arms, that he would not tarry.  Thereof we marvelled

all, said Sir Bors, for but if it were you, or Sir Tristram, or

Sir Lamorak de Galis, I saw never knight bear down so

many in so little a while as did Sir Gareth: and anon he

was gone we wist not where.  By my head, said Sir Launcelot,

he is a noble knight, and a mighty man and well

breathed; and if he were well assayed, said Sir Launcelot

I would deem he were good enough for any knight that

beareth the life; and he is a gentle knight, courteous, true,

and bounteous, meek, and mild, and in him is no manner

of mal engin, but plain, faithful, and true.

So then they made them ready to depart from the

hermit.  And so upon a morn they took their horses and

Elaine le Blank with them; and when they came to Astolat

there were they well lodged, and had great cheer of Sir

Bernard, the old baron, and of Sir Tirre, his son.  And so

upon the morn when Sir Launcelot should depart, fair

Elaine brought her father with her, and Sir Lavaine, and

Sir Tirre, and thus she said:

CHAPTER XIX

Of the great lamentation of the Fair Maid of Astolat when

Launcelot should depart, and how she died for his love.

MY lord, Sir Launcelot, now I see ye will depart; now fair

knight and courteous knight, have mercy upon me, and

suffer me not to die for thy love.  What would ye that I

did? said Sir Launcelot.  I would have you to my husband,

said Elaine.  Fair damosel, I thank you, said Sir Launcelot,

but truly, said he, I cast me never to be wedded man.

Then, fair knight, said she, will ye be my paramour?  Jesu

defend me, said Sir Launcelot, for then I rewarded your

father and your brother full evil for their great goodness.

Alas, said she, then must I die for your love.  Ye shall not

so, said Sir Launcelot, for wit ye well, fair maiden, I might

have been married an I had would, but I never applied me

to be married yet; but because, fair damosel, that ye love

me as ye say ye do, I will for your good will and kindness

show you some goodness, and that is this, that wheresomever

ye will beset your heart upon some good knight that

will wed you, I shall give you together a thousand pound

yearly to you and to your heirs; thus much will I give you,

fair madam, for your kindness, and always while I live to

be your own knight.  Of all this, said the maiden, I will

none, for but if ye will wed me, or else be my paramour at

the least, wit you well, Sir Launcelot, my good days are

done.  Fair damosel, said Sir Launcelot, of these two things

ye must pardon me.

Then she shrieked shrilly, and fell down in a swoon;

and then women bare her into her chamber, and there she

made over much sorrow; and then Sir Launcelot would

depart, and there he asked Sir Lavaine what he would do.

What should I do, said Sir Lavaine, but follow you, but

if ye drive me from you, or command me to go from you.

Then came Sir Bernard to Sir Launcelot and said to him:

I cannot see but that my daughter Elaine will die for your

sake.  I may not do withal, said Sir Launcelot, for that

me sore repenteth, for I report me to yourself, that my

proffer is fair; and me repenteth, said Sir Launcelot, that

she loveth me as she doth; I was never the causer of it,

for I report me to your son I early ne late proffered her

bount<e'> nor fair behests; and as for me, said Sir Launcelot,

I dare do all that a knight should do that she is a clean

maiden for me, both for deed and for will.  And I am

right heavy of her distress, for she is a full fair maiden,

good and gentle, and well taught.  Father, said Sir

Lavaine, I dare make good she is a clean maiden as for my

lord Sir Launcelot; but she doth as I do, for sithen I first

saw my lord Sir Launcelot, I could never depart from him,

nor nought I will an I may follow him.

Then Sir Launcelot took his leave, and so they departed,

and came unto Winchester.  And when Arthur

wist that Sir Launcelot was come whole and sound the

king made great joy of him, and so did Sir Gawaine and

all the knights of the Round Table except Sir Agravaine

and Sir Mordred.  Also Queen Guenever was wood wroth

with Sir Launcelot, and would by no means speak with

him, but estranged herself from him; and Sir Launcelot

made all the means that he might for to speak with the

queen, but it would not be.

Now speak we of the Fair Maiden of Astolat that

made such sorrow day and night that she never slept, ate,

nor drank, and ever she made her complaint unto Sir

Launcelot.  So when she had thus endured a ten days, that

she feebled so that she must needs pass out of this world,

then she shrived her clean, and received her Creator.  And

ever she complained still upon Sir Launcelot.  Then her

ghostly father bade her leave such thoughts.  Then she

said, why should I leave such thoughts?  Am I not an

earthly woman?  And all the while the breath is in my

body I may complain me, for my belief is I do none offence

though I love an earthly man; and I take God to my

record I loved never none but Sir Launcelot du Lake, nor

never shall, and a clean maiden I am for him and for all

other; and sithen it is the sufferance of God that I shall

die for the love of so noble a knight, I beseech the High

Father of Heaven to have mercy upon my soul, and upon

mine innumerable pains that I suffered may be allegeance

of part of my sins.  For sweet Lord Jesu, said the fair

maiden, I take Thee to record, on Thee I was never great

offencer against thy laws; but that I loved this noble

knight, Sir Launcelot, out of measure, and of myself, good

Lord, I might not withstand the fervent love wherefore I

have my death.

And then she called her father, Sir Bernard, and her

brother, Sir Tirre, and heartily she prayed her father that

her brother might write a letter like as she did indite it:

and so her father granted her.  And when the letter was

written word by word like as she devised, then she prayed

her father that she might be watched until she were dead.

And while my body is hot let this letter be put in my right

hand, and my hand bound fast with the letter until that I

be cold; and let me be put in a fair bed with all the richest

clothes that I have about me, and so let my bed and all

my richest clothes be laid with me in a chariot unto the

next place where Thames is; and there let me be put

within a barget, and but one man with me, such as ye trust

to steer me thither, and that my barget be covered with

black samite over and over: thus father I beseech you let

it be done.  So her father granted it her faithfully, all

things should be done like as she had devised.  Then her

father and her brother made great dole, for when this was

done anon she died.  And so when she was dead the corpse

and the bed all was led the next way unto Thames, and

there a man, and the corpse, and all, were put into Thames;

and so the man steered the barget unto Westminster, and

there he rowed a great while to and fro or any espied it.

CHAPTER XX

How the corpse of the Maid of Astolat arrived to-fore King

Arthur, and of the burying, and how Sir Launcelot

offered the mass-penny.

SO by fortune King Arthur and the Queen Guenever were

speaking together at a window, and so as they looked into

Thames they espied this black barget, and had marvel

what it meant.  Then the king called Sir Kay, and showed

it him.  Sir, said Sir Kay, wit you well there is some new

tidings.  Go thither, said the king to Sir Kay, and take

with you Sir Brandiles and Agravaine, and bring me ready

word what is there.  Then these four knights departed

and came to the barget and went in; and there they found

the fairest corpse lying in a rich bed, and a poor man

sitting in the barget's end, and no word would he speak.

So these four knights returned unto the king again, and

told him what they found.  That fair corpse will I see,

said the king.  And so then the king took the queen by

the hand, and went thither.

Then the king made the barget to be holden fast,

and then the king and the queen entered with certain

knights with them; and there he saw the fairest woman

lie in a rich bed, covered unto her middle with many

rich clothes, and all was of cloth of gold, and she lay as

though she had smiled.  Then the queen espied a letter

in her right hand, and told it to the king.  Then the king

took it and said:  Now am I sure this letter will tell what

she was, and why she is come hither.  So then the king

and the queen went out of the barget, and so commanded

a certain man to wait upon the barget.

And so when the king was come within his chamber,

he called many knights about him, and said that he would

wit openly what was written within that letter.  Then the

king brake it, and made a clerk to read it, and this was

the intent of the letter.  Most noble knight, Sir Launcelot,

now hath death made us two at debate for your love.  I

was your lover, that men called the Fair Maiden of

Astolat; therefore unto all ladies I make my moan, yet

pray for my soul and bury me at least, and offer ye my

mass-penny: this is my last request.  And a clean maiden

I died, I take God to witness: pray for my soul, Sir

Launcelot, as thou art peerless.  This was all the substance

in the letter.  And when it was read, the king, the queen,

and all the knights wept for pity of the doleful complaints.

Then was Sir Launcelot sent for; and when he was come

King Arthur made the letter to be read to him.

And when Sir Launcelot heard it word by word, he

said:  My lord Arthur, wit ye well I am right heavy of

the death of this fair damosel:  God knoweth I was never

causer of her death by my willing, and that will I report

me to her own brother: here he is, Sir Lavaine.  I will

not say nay, said Sir Launcelot, but that she was both fair

and good, and much I was beholden unto her, but she

loved me out of measure.  Ye might have shewed her, said

the queen, some bounty and gentleness that might have

preserved her life.  Madam, said Sir Launcelot, she would

none other ways be answered but that she would be my

wife, outher else my paramour; and of these two I would

not grant her, but I proffered her, for her good love that

she shewed me, a thousand pound yearly to her, and to her

heirs, and to wed any manner knight that she could find

best to love in her heart.  For madam, said Sir Launcelot,

I love not to be constrained to love; for love must arise

of the heart, and not by no constraint.  That is truth,

said the king, and many knight's love is free in himself,

and never will be bounden, for where he is bounden

he looseth himself.

Then said the king unto Sir Launcelot:  It will be

your worship that ye oversee that she be interred worshipfully.

Sir, said Sir Launcelot, that shall be done as I can

best devise.  And so many knights yede thither to behold

that fair maiden.  And so upon the morn she was interred

richly, and Sir Launcelot offered her mass-penny; and all

the knights of the Table Round that were there at that

time offered with Sir Launcelot.  And then the poor man

went again with the barget.  Then the queen sent for Sir

Launcelot, and prayed him of mercy, for why that she had

been wroth with him causeless.  This is not the first time,

said Sir Launcelot, that ye had been displeased with me

causeless, but, madam, ever I must suffer you, but what

sorrow I endure I take no force.  So this passed on all

that winter, with all manner of hunting and hawking, and

jousts and tourneys were many betwixt many great lords,

and ever in all places Sir Lavaine gat great worship, so

that he was nobly renowned among many knights of the

Table Round.

CHAPTER XXI

Of great jousts done all a Christmas, and of a great jousts and

tourney ordained by King Arthur, and of Sir Launcelot.

THUS it passed on till Christmas, and then every day

there was jousts made for a diamond, who that jousted

best should have a diamond.  But Sir Launcelot would

not joust but if it were at a great jousts cried.  But Sir

Lavaine jousted there all that Christmas passingly well,

and best was praised, for there were but few that did so

well.  Wherefore all manner of knights deemed that Sir

Lavaine should be made knight of the Table Round at

the next feast of Pentecost.  So at-after Christmas King

Arthur let call unto him many knights, and there they

advised together to make a party and a great tournament

and jousts.  And the King of Northgalis said to Arthur,

he would have on his party King Anguish of Ireland, and

the King with the Hundred Knights, and the King of

Northumberland, and Sir Galahad, the haut prince.  And

so these four kings and this mighty duke took part against

King Arthur and the knights of the Table Round.  And

the cry was made that the day of the jousts should be

beside Westminster upon Candlemas Day, whereof many

knights were glad, and made them ready to be at that

jousts in the freshest manner.

Then Queen Guenever sent for Sir Launcelot, and said

thus:  I warn you that ye ride no more in no jousts nor

tournaments but that your kinsmen may know you.  And

at these jousts that shall be ye shall have of me a sleeve of

gold; and I pray you for my sake enforce yourself there,

that men may speak of you worship; but I charge you as

ye will have my love, that ye warn your kinsmen that ye

will bear that day the sleeve of gold upon your helmet.

Madam, said Sir Launcelot, it shall be done.  And so

either made great joy of other.  And when Sir Launcelot

saw his time he told Sir Bors that he would depart, and

have no more with him but Sir Lavaine, unto the good

hermit that dwelt in that forest of Windsor; his name

was Sir Brasias; and there he thought to repose him, and

take all the rest that he might, because he would be fresh

at that day of jousts.

So Sir Launcelot and Sir Lavaine departed, that no

creature wist where he was become, but the noble men of

his blood.  And when he was come to the hermitage, wit

ye well he had good cheer.  And so daily Sir Launcelot

would go to a well fast by the hermitage, and there he

would lie down, and see the well spring and burble, and

sometime he slept there.  So at that time there was a lady

dwelt in that forest, and she was a great huntress, and

daily she used to hunt, and ever she bare her bow with

her; and no men went never with her, but always women,

and they were shooters, and could well kill a deer, both at

the stalk and at the trest; and they daily bare bows and

arrows, horns and wood-knives, and many good dogs they

had, both for the string and for a bait.  So it happed this

lady the huntress had abated her dog for the bow at a

barren hind, and so this barren hind took the flight over

hedges and woods.  And ever this lady and part of her

women costed the hind, and checked it by the noise of

the hounds, to have met with the hind at some water;

and so it happed, the hind came to the well whereas Sir

Launcelot was sleeping and slumbering.  And so when

the hind came to the well, for heat she went to soil, and

there she lay a great while; and the dog came after, and

umbecast about, for she had lost the very perfect feute of

the hind.  Right so came that lady the huntress, that

knew by the dog that she had, that the hind was at the

soil in that well; and there she came stiffly and found the

hind, and she put a broad arrow in her bow, and shot at

the hind, and over-shot the hind; and so by misfortune

the arrow smote Sir Launcelot in the thick of the buttock,

over the barbs.  When Sir Launcelot felt himself so hurt,

he hurled up woodly, and saw the lady that had smitten

him.  And when he saw she was a woman, he said thus:

Lady or damosel, what that thou be, in an evil time bear

ye a bow; the devil made you a shooter.

CHAPTER XXII

How Launcelot after that he was hurt of a gentlewoman

came to an hermit, and of other matters.

NOW mercy, fair sir, said the lady, I am a gentlewoman

that useth here in this forest hunting, and God knoweth I

saw ye not; but as here was a barren hind at the soil in

this well, and I weened to have done well, but my hand

swerved.  Alas, said Sir Launcelot, ye have mischieved

me.  And so the lady departed, and Sir Launcelot as he

might pulled out the arrow, and left that head still in his

buttock, and so he went weakly to the hermitage ever

more bleeding as he went.  And when Sir Lavaine and

the hermit espied that Sir Launcelot was hurt, wit you

well they were passing heavy, but Sir Lavaine wist not

how that he was hurt nor by whom.  And then were they

wroth out of measure.

Then with great pain the hermit gat out the arrow's

head out of Sir Launcelot's buttock, and much of his blood

he shed, and the wound was passing sore, and unhappily

smitten, for it was in such a place that he might not sit in

no saddle.  Have mercy, Jesu, said Sir Launcelot, I may

call myself the most unhappiest man that liveth, for ever

when I would fainest have worship there befalleth me

ever some unhappy thing.  Now so Jesu me help, said Sir

Launcelot, and if no man would but God, I shall be in the

field upon Candlemas Day at the jousts, whatsomever fall

of it: so all that might be gotten to heal Sir Launcelot

was had.

So when the day was come Sir Launcelot let devise

that he was arrayed, and Sir Lavaine, and their horses, as

though they had been Saracens; and so they departed and

came nigh to the field.  The King of Northgalis with an

hundred knights with him, and the King of Northumberland

brought with him an hundred good knights, and

King Anguish of Ireland brought with him an hundred

good knights ready to joust, and Sir Galahad, the haut

prince, brought with him an hundred good knights, and

the King with the Hundred Knights brought with him

as many, and all these were proved good knights.  Then

came in King Arthur's party; and there came in the

King of Scots with an hundred knights, and King Uriens

of Gore brought with him an hundred knights, and King

Howel of Brittany brought with him an hundred knights,

and Chaleins of Clarance brought with him an hundred

knights, and King Arthur himself came into the field

with two hundred knights, and the most part were

knights of the Table Round, that were proved noble

knights; and there were old knights set in scaffolds for

to judge, with the queen, who did best.

CHAPTER XXIII

How Sir Launcelot behaved him at the jousts, and

other men also.

THEN they blew to the field; and there the King of

Northgalis encountered with the King of Scots, and there

the King of Scots had a fall; and the King of Ireland

smote down King Uriens; and the King of Northumberland

smote down King Howel of Brittany; and Sir Galahad,

the haut prince, smote down Chaleins of Clarance.

And then King Arthur was wood wroth, and ran to the

King with the Hundred Knights, and there King Arthur

smote him down; and after with that same spear King

Arthur smote down three other knights.  And then when

his spear was broken King Arthur did passingly well; and

so therewithal came in Sir Gawaine and Sir Gaheris, Sir

Agravaine and Sir Mordred, and there everych of them

smote down a knight, and Sir Gawaine smote down four

knights; and then there began a strong medley, for then

there came in the knights of Launcelot's blood, and Sir

Gareth and Sir Palomides with them, and many knights

of the Table Round, and they began to hold the four

kings and the mighty duke so hard that they were discomfit;

but this Duke Galahad, the haut prince, was a

noble knight, and by his mighty prowess of arms he held

the knights of the Table Round strait enough.

All this doing saw Sir Launcelot, and then he came

into the field with Sir Lavaine as it had been thunder.

And then anon Sir Bors and the knights of his blood

espied Sir Launcelot, and said to them all:  I warn you

beware of him with the sleeve of gold upon his head, for

he is himself Sir Launcelot du Lake; and for great

goodness Sir Bors warned Sir Gareth.  I am well apaid, said

Sir Gareth, that I may know him.  But who is he, said

they all, that rideth with him in the same array?  That is

the good and gentle knight Sir Lavaine, said Sir Bors.  So

Sir Launcelot encountered with Sir Gawaine, and there by

force Sir Launcelot smote down Sir Gawaine and his horse

to the earth, and so he smote down Sir Agravaine and Sir

Gaheris, and also he smote down Sir Mordred, and all this

was with one spear.  Then Sir Lavaine met with Sir

Palomides, and either met other so hard and so fiercely

that both their horses fell to the earth.  And then were

they horsed again, and then met Sir Launcelot with Sir

Palomides, and there Sir Palomides had a fall; and so Sir

Launcelot or ever he stint, as fast as he might get spears,

he smote down thirty knights, and the most part of them

were knights of the Table Round; and ever the knights

of his blood withdrew them, and made them ado in other

places where Sir Launcelot came not.

And then King Arthur was wroth when he saw Sir

Launcelot do such deeds; and then the king called unto

him Sir Gawaine, Sir Mordred, Sir Kay, Sir Griflet, Sir

Lucan the Butler, Sir Bedivere, Sir Palomides, Sir Safere,

his brother; and so the king with these nine knights

made them ready to set upon Sir Launcelot, and upon Sir

Lavaine.  All this espied Sir Bors and Sir Gareth.  Now

I dread me sore, said Sir Bors, that my lord, Sir Launcelot,

will be hard matched.  By my head, said Sir Gareth,

I will ride unto my lord Sir Launcelot, for to help him,

fall of him what fall may, for he is the same man that

made me knight.  Ye shall not so, said Sir Bors, by my

counsel, unless that ye were disguised.  Ye shall see me

disguised, said Sir Gareth; and therewithal he espied a

Welsh knight where he was to repose him, and he was

sore hurt afore by Sir Gawaine, and to him Sir Gareth

rode, and prayed him of his knighthood to lend him his

shield for his.  I will well, said the Welsh knight.  And

when Sir Gareth had his shield, the book saith it was

green, with a maiden that seemed in it.

Then Sir Gareth came driving to Sir Launcelot all

that he might and said:  Knight, keep thyself, for yonder

cometh King Arthur with nine noble knights with him

to put you to a rebuke, and so I am come to bear you

fellowship for old love ye have shewed me.  Gramercy,

said Sir Launcelot.  Sir, said Sir Gareth, encounter ye

with Sir Gawaine, and I shall encounter with Sir Palomides;

and let Sir Lavaine match with the noble King

Arthur.  And when we have delivered them, let us three

hold us sadly together.  Then came King Arthur with

his nine knights with him, and Sir Launcelot encountered

with Sir Gawaine, and gave him such a buffet that the

arson of his saddle brast, and Sir Gawaine fell to the

earth.  Then Sir Gareth encountered with the good

knight Sir Palomides, and he gave him such a buffet that

both his horse and he dashed to the earth.  Then encountered

King Arthur with Sir Lavaine, and there either of

them smote other to the earth, horse and all, that they

lay a great while.  Then Sir Launcelot smote down Sir

Agravaine, and Sir Gaheris, and Sir Mordred; and Sir

Gareth smote down Sir Kay, and Sir Safere, and Sir

Griflet.  And then Sir Lavaine was horsed again, and he

smote down Sir Lucan the Butler and Sir Bedevere and

then there began great throng of good knights.

Then Sir Launcelot hurtled here and there, and raced

and pulled off helms, so that at that time there might

none sit him a buffet with spear nor with sword; and Sir

Gareth did such deeds of arms that all men marvelled

what knight he was with the green shield, for he smote

down that day and pulled down mo than thirty knights

And, as the French book saith, Sir Launcelot marvelled;

when he beheld Sir Gareth do such deeds, what knight he

might be; and Sir Lavaine pulled down and smote down

twenty knights.  Also Sir Launcelot knew not Sir Gareth

for an Sir Tristram de Liones, outher Sir Lamorak de

Galis had been alive, Sir Launcelot would have deemed he

had been one of them twain.  So ever as Sir Launcelot

Sir Gareth, Sir Lavaine fought, and on the one side Sir

Bors, Sir Ector de Maris, Sir Lionel, Sir Lamorak de

Galis, Sir Bleoberis, Sir Galihud, Sir Galihodin, Sir Pelleas,

and with mo other of King Ban's blood fought upon

another party, and held the King with the Hundred

Knights and the King of Northumberland right strait.

CHAPTER XXIV

How King Arthur marvelled much of the jousting in the field,

and how he rode and found Sir Launcelot.

SO this tournament and this jousts dured long, till it was

near night, for the knights of the Round Table relieved

ever unto King Arthur; for the king was wroth out of

measure that he and his knights might not prevail that

day.  Then Sir Gawaine said to the king:  I marvel where

all this day [be] Sir Bors de Ganis and his fellowship of Sir

Launcelot's blood, I marvel all this day they be not about

you: it is for some cause said Sir Gawaine.  By my head,

said Sir Kay, Sir Bors is yonder all this day upon the right

hand of this field, and there he and his blood do more

worshipfully than we do.  It may well be, said Sir Gawaine,

but I dread me ever of guile; for on pain of my life, said

Sir Gawaine, this knight with the red sleeve of gold is

himself Sir Launcelot, I see well by his riding and by his

great strokes; and the other knight in the same colours

is the good young knight, Sir Lavaine.  Also that knight

with the green shield is my brother, Sir Gareth, and yet

he hath disguised himself, for no man shall never make

him be against Sir Launcelot, because he made him

knight.  By my head, said Arthur, nephew, I believe

you; therefore tell me now what is your best counsel.

Sir, said Sir Gawaine, ye shall have my counsel: let blow

unto lodging, for an he be Sir Launcelot du Lake, and

my brother, Sir Gareth, with him, with the help of that

good young knight, Sir Lavaine, trust me truly it will be

no boot to strive with them but if we should fall ten or

twelve upon one knight, and that were no worship, but

shame.  Ye say truth, said the king; and for to say

sooth, said the king, it were shame to us so many as we

be to set upon them any more; for wit ye well, said King

Arthur, they be three good knights, and namely that

knight with the sleeve of gold.

So then they blew unto lodging; but forthwithal King

Arthur let send unto the four kings, and to the mighty

duke, and prayed them that the knight with the sleeve of

gold depart not from them, but that the king may speak

with him.  Then forthwithal King Arthur alighted and

unarmed him, and took a little hackney and rode after

Sir Launcelot, for ever he had a spy upon him.  And so

he found him among the four kings and the duke; and

there the king prayed them all unto supper, and they

said they would with good will.  And when they were

unarmed then King Arthur knew Sir Launcelot, Sir

Lavaine, and Sir Gareth.  Ah, Sir Launcelot, said King

Arthur, this day ye have heated me and my knights.

So they yede unto Arthur's lodging all together, and

there was a great feast and great revel, and the prize was

given unto Sir Launcelot; and by heralds they named

him that he had smitten down fifty knights, and Sir

Gareth five-and-thirty, and Sir Lavaine four-and-twenty

knights.  Then Sir Launcelot told the king and the

queen how the lady huntress shot him in the forest of

Windsor, in the buttock, with an broad arrow, and how

the wound thereof was that time six inches deep, and in

like long.  Also Arthur blamed Sir Gareth because he

left his fellowship and held with Sir Launcelot.  My lord,

said Sir Gareth, he made me a knight, and when I saw

him so hard bestead, methought it was my worship to

help him, for I saw him do so much, and so many noble

knights against him; and when I understood that he was

Sir Launcelot du Lake, I shamed to see so many knights

against him alone.  Truly, said King Arthur unto Sir

Gareth, ye say well, and worshipfully have ye done and

to yourself great worship; and all the days of my life,

said King Arthur unto Sir Gareth, wit you well I shall

love you, and trust you the more better.  For ever, said

Arthur, it is a worshipful knight's deed to help another

worshipful knight when he seeth him in a great danger;

for ever a worshipful man will be loath to see a worshipful

man shamed; and he that is of no worship, and fareth

with cowardice, never shall he show gentleness, nor no

manner of goodness where he seeth a man in any danger,

for then ever will a coward show no mercy; and always a

good man will do ever to another man as he would be

done to himself.  So then there were great feasts unto

kings and dukes, and revel, game, and play, and all

manner of noblesse was used; and he that was courteous,

true, and faithful, to his friend was that time cherished.

CHAPTER XXV

How true love is likened to summer.

AND thus it passed on from Candlemass until after Easter,

that the month of May was come, when every lusty heart

beginneth to blossom, and to bring forth fruit; for like

as herbs and trees bring forth fruit and flourish in May,

in like wise every lusty heart that is in any manner a lover,

springeth and flourisheth in lusty deeds.  For it giveth

unto all lovers courage, that lusty month of May, in

something to constrain him to some manner of thing

more in that month than in any other month, for divers

causes.  For then all herbs and trees renew a man and

woman, and likewise lovers call again to their mind old

gentleness and old service, and many kind deeds that

were forgotten by negligence.  For like as winter rasure

doth alway arase and deface green summer, so fareth it

by unstable love in man and woman.  For in many persons

there is no stability; for we may see all day, for a little

blast of winter's rasure, anon we shall deface and lay apart

true love for little or nought, that cost much thing; this

is no wisdom nor stability, but it is feebleness of nature

and great disworship, whosomever useth this.  Therefore,

like as May month flowereth and flourisheth in many

gardens, so in like wise let every man of worship flourish

his heart in this world, first unto God, and next unto the

joy of them that he promised his faith unto; for there

was never worshipful man or worshipful woman, but

they loved one better than another; and worship in arms

may never be foiled, but first reserve the honour to God,

and secondly the quarrel must come of thy lady: and

such love I call virtuous love.

But nowadays men can not love seven night but they

must have all their desires: that love may not endure by

reason; for where they be soon accorded and hasty heat,

soon it cooleth.  Right so fareth love nowadays, soon hot

soon cold: this is no stability.  But the old love was not

so; men and women could love together seven years, and

no licours lusts were between them, and then was love,

truth, and faithfulness: and lo, in like wise was used love

in King Arthur's days.  Wherefore I liken love nowadays

unto summer and winter; for like as the one is hot and the

other cold, so fareth love nowadays; therefore all ye that

be lovers call unto your remembrance the month of May,

like as did Queen Guenever, for whom I make here a little

mention, that while she lived she was a true lover, and

therefore she had a good end.

<oe Explicit liber Octodecimus.

And here followeth liber xix.>

BOOK XIX

CHAPTER I

How Queen Guenever rode a-Maying with certain knights of

the Round Table and clad all in green.

SO it befell in the month of May, Queen Guenever called

unto her knights of the Table Round; and she gave them

warning that early upon the morrow she would ride a-Maying

into woods and fields beside Westminster.  And I

warn you that there be none of you but that he be well

horsed, and that ye all be clothed in green, outher in silk

outher in cloth; and I shall bring with me ten ladies, and

every knight shall have a lady behind him, and every

knight shall have a squire and two yeomen; and I will

that ye all be well horsed.  So they made them ready in

the freshest manner.  And these were the names of the

knights: Sir Kay le Seneschal, Sir Agravaine, Sir Brandiles,

Sir Sagramore le Desirous, Sir Dodinas le Savage, Sir

Ozanna le Cure Hardy, Sir Ladinas of the Forest Savage,

Sir Persant of Inde, Sir Ironside, that was called the Knight

of the Red Launds, and Sir Pelleas, the lover; and these

ten knights made them ready in the freshest manner to ride

with the queen.  And so upon the morn they took their

horses with the queen, and rode a-Maying in woods and

meadows as it pleased them, in great joy and delights; for

the queen had cast to have been again with King Arthur

at the furthest by ten of the clock, and so was that time

her purpose.

Then there was a knight that hight Meliagrance, and

he was son unto King Bagdemagus, and this knight had at

that time a castle of the gift of King Arthur within seven

mile of Westminster.  And this knight, Sir Meliagrance,

loved passing well Queen Guenever, and so had he done

long and many years.  And the book saith he had lain in

await for to steal away the queen, but evermore he forbare

for because of Sir Launcelot; for in no wise he would

meddle with the queen an Sir Launcelot were in her company,

outher else an he were near-hand her.  And that

time was such a custom, the queen rode never without a

great fellowship of men of arms about her, and they were

many good knights, and the most part were young men

that would have worship; and they were called the Queen's

Knights, and never in no battle, tournament, nor jousts,

they bare none of them no manner of knowledging of their

own arms, but plain white shields, and thereby they were

called the Queen's Knights.  And then when it happed

any of them to be of great worship by his noble deeds,

then at the next Feast of Pentecost, if there were any slain

or dead, as there was none year that there failed but some

were dead, then was there chosen in his stead that was

dead the most men of worship, that were called the Queen's

Knights.  And thus they came up all first, or they were

renowned men of worship, both Sir Launcelot and all the

remnant of them.

But this knight, Sir Meliagrance, had espied the queen

well and her purpose, and how Sir Launcelot was not with

her, and how she had no men of arms with her but the ten

noble knights all arrayed in green for Maying.  Then he

purveyed him a twenty men of arms and an hundred

archers for to destroy the queen and her knights, for he

thought that time was best season to take the queen.

CHAPTER II

How Sir Meliagrance took the queen and her knights, which

were sore hurt in fighting

SO as the queen had Mayed and all her knights, all were

bedashed with herbs, mosses and flowers, in the best

manner and freshest.  Right so came out of a wood Sir

Meliagrance with an eight score men well harnessed, as

they should fight in a battle of arrest, and bade the queen

and her knights abide, for maugre their heads they should

abide.  Traitor knight, said Queen Guenever, what cast

thou for to do?  Wilt thou shame thyself?  Bethink thee

how thou art a king's son, and knight of the Table Round,

and thou to be about to dishonour the noble king that

made thee knight; thou shamest all knighthood and thyself,

and me, I let thee wit, shalt thou never shame, for I had

liefer cut mine own throat in twain rather than thou

shouldest dishonour me.  As for all this language, said Sir

Meliagrance, be it as it be may, for wit you well, madam,

I have loved you many a year, and never or now could I

get you at such an advantage as I do now, and therefore I

will take you as I find you.

Then spake all the ten noble knights at once and said:

Sir Meliagrance, wit thou well ye are about to jeopard your

worship to dishonour, and also ye cast to jeopard our

persons howbeit we be unarmed.  Ye have us at a great

avail, for it seemeth by you that ye have laid watch upon

us; but rather than ye should put the queen to a shame

and us all, we had as lief to depart from our lives, for an if

we other ways did, we were shamed for ever.  Then said

Sir Meliagrance:  Dress you as well ye can, and keep the

queen.  Then the ten knights of the Table Round drew

their swords, and the other let run at them with their

spears, and the ten knights manly abode them, and smote

away their spears that no spear did them none harm.  Then

they lashed together with swords, and anon Sir Kay, Sir

Sagramore, Sir Agravaine, Sir Dodinas, Sir Ladinas, and

Sir Ozanna were smitten to the earth with grimly wounds.

Then Sir Brandiles, and Sir Persant, Sir Ironside, Sir

Pelleas fought long, and they were sore wounded, for

these ten knights, or ever they were laid to the ground,

slew forty men of the boldest and the best of them.

So when the queen saw her knights thus dolefully

wounded, and needs must be slain at the last, then for pity

and sorrow she cried Sir Meliagrance:  Slay not my noble

knights, and I will go with thee upon this covenant, that

thou save them, and suffer them not to be no more hurt,

with this, that they be led with me wheresomever thou

leadest me, for I will rather slay myself than I will go

with thee, unless that these my noble knights may be in my

presence.  Madam, said Meliagrance, for your sake they

shall be led with you into mine own castle, with that ye will

be ruled, and ride with me.  Then the queen prayed the

four knights to leave their fighting, and she and they

would not depart.  Madam, said Sir Pelleas, we will do as

ye do, for as for me I take no force of my life nor death.

For as the French book saith, Sir Pelleas gave such buffets

there that none armour might hold him.

CHAPTER III

How Sir Launcelot had word how the queen was taken, and

how Sir Meliagrance laid a bushment for Launcelot

THEN by the queen's commandment they left battle, and

dressed the wounded knights on horseback, some sitting,

some overthwart their horses, that it was pity to behold

them.  And then Sir Meliagrance charged the queen and

all her knights that none of all her fellowship should

depart from her; for full sore he dread Sir Launcelot du

Lake, lest he should have any knowledging.  All this

espied the queen, and privily she called unto her a child of

her chamber that was swiftly horsed, to whom she said:

Go thou, when thou seest thy time, and bear this ring unto

Sir Launcelot du Lake, and pray him as he loveth me that

he will see me and rescue me, if ever he will have joy of

me; and spare not thy horse, said the queen, neither for

water, neither for land.  So the child espied his time, and

lightly he took his horse with the spurs, and departed as

fast as he might.  And when Sir Meliagrance saw him so

flee, he understood that it was by the queen's commandment

for to warn Sir Launcelot.  Then they that were

best horsed chased him and shot at him, but from them all

the child went suddenly.  And then Sir Meliagrance said

to the queen:  Madam, ye are about to betray me, but I

shall ordain for Sir Launcelot that he shall not come lightly

at you.  And then he rode with her, and they all, to his

castle, in all the haste that they might.  And by the way

Sir Meliagrance laid in an embushment the best archers

that he might get in his country, to the number of thirty,

to await upon Sir Launcelot, charging them that if they

saw such a manner of knight come by the way upon a

white horse, that in any wise they slay his horse, but in no

manner of wise have not ado with him bodily, for he is

over-hardy to be overcome.

So this was done, and they were come to his castle, but

in no wise the queen would never let none of the ten

knights and her ladies out of her sight, but always they

were in her presence; for the book saith, Sir Meliagrance

durst make no masteries, for dread of Sir Launcelot, insomuch

he deemed that he had warning.  So when the child

was departed from the fellowship of Sir Meliagrance,

within a while he came to Westminster, and anon he found

Sir Launcelot.  And when he had told his message, and

delivered him the queen's ring:  Alas, said Sir Launcelot,

now I am shamed for ever, unless that I may rescue that

noble lady from dishonour.  Then eagerly he asked his

armour; and ever the child told Sir Launcelot how the

ten knights fought marvellously, and how Sir Pelleas, and

Sir Ironside, and Sir Brandiles, and Sir Persant of Inde,

fought strongly, but namely Sir Pelleas, there might none

withstand him; and how they all fought till at the last they

were laid to the earth; and then the queen made appointment

for to save their lives, and go with Sir Meliagrance.

Alas, said Sir Launcelot, that most noble lady, that she

should be so destroyed; I had liefer, said Sir Launcelot,

than all France, that I had been there well armed.  So

when Sir Launcelot was armed and upon his horse, he

prayed the child of the queen's chamber to warn Sir

Lavaine how suddenly he was departed, and for what cause.

And pray him as he loveth me, that he will hie him after

me, and that he stint not until he come to the castle where

Sir Meliagrance abideth, or dwelleth; for there, said Sir

Launcelot, he shall hear of me an I am a man living, and

rescue the queen and the ten knights the which he traitorously

hath taken, and that shall I prove upon his head, and

all them that hold with him.

CHAPTER IV

How Sir Launcelot's horse was slain, and how Sir Launcelot

rode in a cart for to rescue the queen

THEN Sir Launcelot rode as fast as he might, and the

book saith he took the water at Westminster Bridge, and

made his horse to swim over Thames unto Lambeth.

And then within a while he came to the same place thereas

the ten noble knights fought with Sir Meliagrance.  And

then Sir Launcelot followed the track until that he came

to a wood, and there was a straight way, and there the

thirty archers bade Sir Launcelot turn again, and follow

no longer that track.  What commandment have ye

thereto, said Sir Launcelot, to cause me that am a knight

of the Round Table to leave my right way?  This way

shalt thou leave, other-else thou shalt go it on thy foot,

for wit thou well thy horse shall be slain.  That is little

mastery, said Sir Launcelot, to slay mine horse; but as

for myself, when my horse is slain, I give right nought

for you, not an ye were five hundred more.  So then they

shot Sir Launcelot's horse, and smote him with many

arrows; and then Sir Launcelot avoided his horse, and

went on foot; but there were so many ditches and hedges

betwixt them and him that he might not meddle with

none of them.  Alas for shame, said Launcelot, that ever

one knight should betray another knight; but it is an old

saw, A good man is never in danger but when he is in the

danger of a coward.  Then Sir Launcelot went a while,

and then he was foul cumbered of his armour, his shield,

and his spear, and all that longed unto him.  Wit ye well

he was full sore annoyed, and full loath he was for to leave

anything that longed unto him, for he dread sore the

treason of Sir Meliagrance.

Then by fortune there came by him a chariot that

came thither for to fetch wood.  Say me, carter, said Sir

Launcelot, what shall I give thee to suffer me to leap

into thy chariot, and that thou bring me unto a castle

within this two mile? Thou shalt not come within my

chariot, said the carter, for I am sent for to fetch wood

for my lord, Sir Meliagrance.  With him would I speak.

Thou shalt not go with me, said the carter.  Then Sir

Launcelot leapt to him, and gave him such a buffet that

he fell to the earth stark dead.  Then the other carter,

his fellow, was afeard, and weened to have gone the same

way; and then he cried:  Fair lord, save my life, and I

shall bring you where ye will.  Then I charge thee, said

Sir Launcelot, that thou drive me and this chariot even

unto Sir Meliagrance's gate.  Leap up into the chariot, said

the carter, and ye shall be there anon.  So the carter drove on

a great wallop, and Sir Launcelot's horse followed the chariot,

with more than a forty arrows broad and rough in him.

And more than an hour and an half Dame Guenever

was awaiting in a bay window with her ladies, and espied

an armed knight standing in a chariot.  See, madam, said

a lady, where rideth in a chariot a goodly armed knight;

I suppose he rideth unto hanging.  Where? said the

queen.  Then she espied by his shield that he was there

himself, Sir Launcelot du Lake.  And then she was ware

where came his horse ever after that chariot, and ever he

trod his guts and his paunch under his feet.  Alas, said

the queen, now I see well and prove, that well is him that

hath a trusty friend.  Ha, ha, most noble knight, said

Queen Guenever, I see well thou art hard bestead when thou

ridest in a chariot.  Then she rebuked that lady that likened

Sir Launcelot to ride in a chariot to hanging.  It was foul

mouthed, said the queen, and evil likened, so for to liken the

most noble knight of the world unto such a shameful death.

O Jesu defend him and keep him, said the queen, from

all mischievous end.  By this was Sir Launcelot come to

the gates of that castle, and there he descended down, and

cried, that all the castle rang of it:  Where art thou, false

traitor, Sir Meliagrance, and knight of the Table Round?

now come forth here, thou traitor knight, thou and thy

fellowship with thee; for here I am, Sir Launcelot du

Lake, that shall fight with you.  And therewithal he bare

the gate wide open upon the porter, and smote him under

his ear with his gauntlet, that his neck brast a-sunder.

CHAPTER V

How Sir Meliagrance required forgiveness of the queen, and

how she appeased Sir Launcelot; and other matters

WHEN Sir Meliagrance heard that Sir Launcelot was there

he ran unto Queen Guenever, and fell upon his knee, and

said:  Mercy, madam, now I put me wholly into your

grace.  What aileth you now? said Queen Guenever;

forsooth I might well wit some good knight would revenge

me, though my lord Arthur wist not of this your work.

Madam, said Sir Meliagrance, all this that is amiss on my

part shall be amended right as yourself will devise, and

wholly I put me in your grace.  What would ye that I

did? said the queen.  I would no more, said Meliagrance,

but that ye would take all in your own hands, and that ye

will rule my lord Sir Launcelot; and such cheer as may

be made him in this poor castle ye and he shall have until

to-morn, and then may ye and all they return unto Westminster;

and my body and all that I have I shall put in your

rule.  Ye say well, said the queen, and better is peace than

ever war, and the less noise the more is my worship.

Then the queen and her ladies went down unto the

knight, Sir Launcelot, that stood wroth out of measure in

the inner court, to abide battle; and ever he bade:  Thou

traitor knight come forth.  Then the queen came to him

and said:  Sir Launcelot, why be ye so moved? Ha,

madam, said Sir Launcelot, why ask ye me that question?

Meseemeth, said Sir Launcelot, ye ought to be more wroth

than I am, for ye have the hurt and the dishonour, for wit

ye well, madam, my hurt is but little for the killing of a

mare's son, but the despite grieveth me much more than

all my hurt.  Truly, said the queen, ye say truth; but

heartily I thank you, said the queen, but ye must come in

with me peaceably, for all thing is put in my hand, and all

that is evil shall be for the best, for the knight full sore

repenteth him of the misadventure that is befallen him.

Madam, said Sir Launcelot, sith it is so that ye been

accorded with him, as for me I may not be again it,

howbeit Sir Meliagrance hath done full shamefully to me,

and cowardly.  Ah madam, said Sir Launcelot, an I had

wist ye would have been so soon accorded with him I

would not have made such haste unto you.  Why say ye

so, said the queen, do ye forthink yourself of your good

deeds?  Wit you well, said the queen, I accorded never

unto him for favour nor love that I had unto him, but

for to lay down every shameful noise.  Madam, said Sir

Launcelot, ye understand full well I was never willing nor

glad of shameful slander nor noise; and there is neither

king, queen, nor knight, that beareth the life, except my

lord King Arthur, and you, madam, should let me, but I

should make Sir Meliagrance's heart full cold or ever I

departed from hence.  That wot I well, said the queen,

but what will ye more? Ye shall have all thing ruled as

ye list to have it.  Madam, said Sir Launcelot, so ye be

pleased I care not, as for my part ye shall soon please.

Right so the queen took Sir Launcelot by the bare

hand, for he had put off his gauntlet, and so she went

with him till her chamber; and then she commanded him

to be unarmed.  And then Sir Launcelot asked where

were the ten knights that were wounded sore; so she

showed them unto Sir Launcelot, and there they made

great joy of the coming of him, and Sir Launcelot made

great dole of their hurts, and bewailed them greatly.  And

there Sir Launcelot told them how cowardly and traitorly

Meliagrance set archers to slay his horse, and how he was

fain to put himself in a chariot.  Thus they complained

everych to other; and full fain they would have been

revenged, but they peaced themselves because of the queen.

Then, as the French book saith, Sir Launcelot was called

many a day after le Chevaler du Chariot, and did many

deeds, and great adventures he had.  And so leave we of

this tale le Chevaler du Chariot, and turn we to this tale.

So Sir Launcelot had great cheer with the queen, and

then Sir Launcelot made a promise with the queen that the

same night Sir Launcelot should come to a window outward

toward a garden; and that window was y-barred with

iron, and there Sir Launcelot promised to meet her when

all folks were asleep.  So then came Sir Lavaine driving

to the gates, crying:  Where is my lord, Sir Launcelot du

Lake?  Then was he sent for, and when Sir Lavaine saw

Sir Launcelot, he said:  My lord, I found well how ye

were hard bestead, for I have found your horse that was

slain with arrows.  As for that, said Sir Launcelot, I pray

you, Sir Lavaine, speak ye of other matters, and let ye

this pass, and we shall right it another time when we

best may.

CHAPTER VI

How Sir Launcelot came in the night to the queen and lay

with her, and how Sir Meliagrance appeached the

queen of treason

THEN the knights that were hurt were searched, and soft

salves were laid to their wounds; and so it passed on till

supper time, and all the cheer that might be made them

there was done unto the queen and all her knights.  Then

when season was, they went unto their chambers, but in

no wise the queen would not suffer the wounded knights

to be from her, but that they were laid within draughts by

her chamber, upon beds and pillows, that she herself might

see to them, that they wanted nothing.

So when Sir Launcelot was in his chamber that was

assigned unto him, he called unto him Sir Lavaine, and

told him that night he must go speak with his lady, Dame

Guenever.  Sir, said Sir Lavaine, let me go with you an

it please you, for I dread me sore of the treason of Sir

Meliagrance.  Nay, said Sir Launcelot, I thank you, but

I will have nobody with me.  Then Sir Launcelot took

his sword in his hand, and privily went to a place where

he had espied a ladder to-forehand, and that he took under

his arm, and bare it through the garden, and set it up to

the window, and there anon the queen was ready to meet

him.  And then they made either to other their complaints

of many divers things, and then Sir Launcelot

wished that he might have come into her.  Wit ye well,

said the queen, I would as fain as ye, that ye might come

in to me.  Would ye, madam, said Sir Launcelot, with

your heart that I were with you?  Yea, truly, said the

queen.  Now shall I prove my might, said Sir Launcelot,

for your love; and then he set his hands upon the bars

of iron, and he pulled at them with such a might that he

brast them clean out of the stone walls, and therewithal

one of the bars of iron cut the brawn of his hands

throughout to the bone; and then he leapt into the chamber

to the queen.  Make ye no noise, said the queen, for my

wounded knights lie here fast by me.  So, to pass upon

this tale, Sir Launcelot went unto bed with the queen, and

he took no force of his hurt hand, but took his pleasaunce

and his liking until it was in the dawning of the day; and

wit ye well he slept not but watched, and when he saw his

time that he might tarry no longer he took his leave and

departed at the window, and put it together as well as he

might again, and so departed unto his own chamber; and

there he told Sir Lavaine how he was hurt.  Then Sir

Lavaine dressed his hand and staunched it, and put upon

it a glove, that it should not be espied; and so the queen

lay long in her bed until it was nine of the clock.

Then Sir Meliagrance went to the queen's chamber,

and found her ladies there ready clothed.  Jesu mercy,

said Sir Meliagrance, what aileth you, madam, that ye

sleep thus long?  And right therewithal he opened the

curtain for to behold her; and then was he ware where

she lay, and all the sheet and pillow was bebled with the

blood of Sir Launcelot and of his hurt hand.  When Sir

Meliagrance espied that blood, then he deemed in her

that she was false to the king, and that some of the

wounded knights had lain by her all that night.  Ah,

madam, said Sir Meliagrance, now I have found you a

false traitress unto my lord Arthur; for now I prove well

it was not for nought that ye laid these wounded knights

within the bounds of your chamber; therefore I will

call you of treason before my lord, King Arthur.  And

now I have proved you, madam, with a shameful deed;

and that they be all false, or some of them, I will make

good, for a wounded knight this night hath lain by you.

That is false, said the queen, and that I will report me

unto them all.  Then when the ten knights heard Sir

Meliagrance's words, they spake all in one voice and said

to Sir Meliagrance: Thou sayest falsely, and wrongfully

puttest upon us such a deed, and that we will make good

any of us; choose which thou list of us when we are whole

of our wounds.  Ye shall not, said Sir Meliagrance, away

with your proud language, for here ye may all see, said

Sir Meliagrance, that by the queen this night a wounded

knight hath lain.  Then were they all ashamed when they

saw that blood; and wit you well Sir Meliagrance was

passing glad that he had the queen at such an advantage,

for he deemed by that to hide his treason.  So with this

rumour came in Sir Launcelot, and found them all at a

great array.

CHAPTER VII

How Sir Launcelot answered for the queen, and waged battle

against Sir Meliagrance; and how Sir Launcelot was

taken in a trap

WHAT array is this? said Sir Launcelot.  Then Sir Meliagrance

told them what he had found, and showed them

the queen's bed.  Truly, said Sir Launcelot, ye did not

your part nor knightly, to touch a queen's bed while it

was drawn, and she lying therein; for I dare say my lord

Arthur himself would not have displayed her curtains, she

being within her bed, unless that it had pleased him to

have lain down by her; and therefore ye have done

unworshipfully and shamefully to yourself.  I wot not

what ye mean, said Sir Meliagrance, but well I am sure

there hath one of her wounded knights lain by her this

night, and therefore I will prove with my hands that she

is a traitress unto my lord Arthur.  Beware what ye do,

said Launcelot, for an ye say so, an ye will prove it, it

will be taken at your hands.

My lord, Sir Launcelot, said Sir Meliagrance, I rede

you beware what ye do; for though ye are never so good

a knight, as ye wot well ye are renowned the best knight

of the world, yet should ye be advised to do battle in a

wrong quarrel, for God will have a stroke in every battle.

As for that, said Sir Launcelot, God is to be dread; but

as to that I say nay plainly, that this night there lay none

of these ten wounded knights with my lady Queen

Guenever, and that will I prove with my hands, that ye

say untruly in that now.  Hold, said Sir Meliagrance,

here is my glove that she is traitress unto my lord,

King Arthur, and that this night one of the wounded

knights lay with her.  And I receive your glove, said Sir

Launcelot.  And so they were sealed with their signets,

and delivered unto the ten knights.  At what day shall

we do battle together? said Sir Launcelot.  This day

ight days, said Sir Meliagrance, in the field beside

Westminster.  I am agreed, said Sir Launcelot.  But now, said

Sir Meliagrance, sithen it is so that we must fight together,

I pray you, as ye be a noble knight, await me with no

treason, nor none villainy the meanwhile, nor none for

you.  So God me help, said Sir Launcelot, ye shall right

well wit I was never of no such conditions, for I report

me to all knights that ever have known me, I fared never

with no treason, nor I loved never the fellowship of no

man that fared with treason.  Then let us go to dinner,

said Meliagrance, and after dinner ye and the queen and

ye may ride all to Westminster.  I will well, said Sir

Launcelot.

Then Sir Meliagrance said to Sir Launcelot:  Pleaseth

it you to see the estures of this castle?  With a good

will, said Sir Launcelot.  And then they went together

from chamber to chamber, for Sir Launcelot dread no

perils; for ever a man of worship and of prowess dreadeth

least always perils, for they ween every man be as they

be; but ever he that fareth with treason putteth oft a man

in great danger.  So it befell upon Sir Launcelot that no

peril dread, as he went with Sir Meliagrance he trod on

a trap and the board rolled, and there Sir Launcelot fell

down more than ten fathom into a cave full of straw;

and then Sir Meliagrance departed and made no fare as

that he nist where he was.

And when Sir Launcelot was thus missed they marvelled

where he was become; and then the queen and many of

them deemed that he was departed as he was wont to do

suddenly.  For Sir Meliagrance made suddenly to put

away aside Sir Lavaine's horse, that they might all

understand that Sir Launcelot was departed suddenly.  So it

passed on till after dinner; and then Sir Lavaine would

not stint until that he ordained litters for the wounded

knights, that they might be laid in them; and so with the

queen and them all, both ladies and gentlewomen and other,

went unto Westminster; and there the knights told King

Arthur how Meliagrance had appealed the queen of high

treason, and how Sir Launcelot had received the glove of

him:  And this day eight days they shall do battle afore

you.  By my head, said King Arthur, I am afeard Sir

Meliagrance hath taken upon him a great charge; but

where is Sir Launcelot? said the king.  Sir, said they all,

we wot not where he is, but we deem he is ridden to some

adventures, as he is ofttimes wont to do, for he hath Sir

Lavaine's horse.  Let him be, said the king, he will be

founden, but if he be trapped with some treason.

CHAPTER VIII

How Sir Launcelot was delivered out of prison by a lady,

and took a white courser and came for to keep his day

SO leave we Sir Launcelot lying within that cave in great

pain; and every day there came a lady and brought him

his meat and his drink, and wooed him, to have lain by

him; and ever the noble knight, Sir Launcelot, said her

nay.  Sir Launcelot, said she, ye are not wise, for ye may

never out of this prison, but if ye have my help; and

also your lady, Queen Guenever, shall be brent in your

default, unless that ye be there at the day of battle.  God

defend, said Sir Launcelot, that she should be brent in my

default; and if it be so, said Sir Launcelot, that I may not

be there, it shall be well understanded, both at the king and

at the queen, and with all men of worship, that I am dead,

sick, outher in prison.  For all men that know me will

say for me that I am in some evil case an I be not there

that day; and well I wot there is some good knight either

of my blood, or some other that loveth me, that will take

my quarrel in hand; and therefore, said Sir Launcelot, wit

ye well ye shall not fear me; and if there were no more

women in all this land but ye, I will not have ado with

you.  Then art thou shamed, said the lady, and destroyed

for ever.  As for world's shame, Jesu defend me, and as

for my distress, it is welcome whatsoever it be that God

sendeth me.

So she came to him the same day that the battle should

be, and said:  Sir Launcelot, methinketh ye are too

hard-hearted, but wouldest thou but kiss me once I should

deliver thee, and thine armour, and the best horse that is

within Sir Meliagrance's stable.  As for to kiss you, said

Sir Launcelot, I may do that and lose no worship; and

wit ye well an I understood there were any disworship

for to kiss you I would not do it.  Then he kissed her,

and then she gat him, and brought him to his armour.

And when he was armed, she brought him to a stable,

where stood twelve good coursers, and bade him choose

the best.  Then Sir Launcelot looked upon a white

courser the which liked him best; and anon he commanded

the keepers fast to saddle him with the best saddle

of war that there was; and so it was done as he bade.

Then gat he his spear in his hand, and his sword by his

side, and commended the lady unto God, and said: Lady,

for this good deed I shall do you service if ever it be in

my power.

CHAPTER IX

How Sir Launcelot came the same time that Sir Meliagrance

abode him in the field and dressed him to battle

NOW leave we Sir Launcelot wallop all that he might, and

speak we of Queen Guenever that was brought to a fire to

be brent; for Sir Meliagrance was sure, him thought, that

Sir Launcelot should not be at that battle; therefore he

ever cried upon King Arthur to do him justice, other-else

bring forth Sir Launcelot du Lake.  Then was the king

and all the court full sore abashed and shamed that the

queen should be brent in the default of Sir Launcelot.

My lord Arthur, said Sir Lavaine, ye may understand that

it is not well with my lord Sir Launcelot, for an he were

alive, so he be not sick outher in prison, wit ye well he

would be here; for never heard ye that ever he failed his

part for whom he should do battle for.  And therefore,

said Sir Lavaine, my lord, King Arthur, I beseech you

give me license to do battle here this day for my lord and

master, and for to save my lady, the queen.  Gramercy

gentle Sir Lavaine, said King Arthur, for I dare say all

that Sir Meliagrance putteth upon my lady the queen is

wrong, for I have spoken with all the ten wounded

knights, and there is not one of them, an he were whole

and able to do battle, but he would prove upon Sir

Meliagrance's body that it is false that he putteth upon

my queen.  So shall I, said Sir Lavaine, in the defence of

my lord, Sir Launcelot, an ye will give me leave.  Now

I give you leave, said King Arthur, and do your best,

for I dare well say there is some treason done to Sir

Launcelot

Then was Sir Lavaine armed and horsed, and suddenly

at the lists' end he rode to perform this battle; and right

as the heralds should cry: Lesses les aler, right so came in

Sir Launcelot driving with all the force of his horse.  And

then Arthur cried:  Ho! and Abide!  Then was Sir

Launcelot called on horseback to-fore King Arthur, and

there he told openly to-fore the king and all, how Sir

Meliagrance had served him first to last.  And when the

king, and the queen, and all the lords, knew of the

treason of Sir Meliagrance they were all ashamed on his

behalf.  Then was Queen Guenever sent for, and set by the

king in great trust of her champion.  And then there was

no more else to say, but Sir Launcelot and Sir Meliagrance

dressed them unto battle, and took their spears; and so

they came together as thunder, and there Sir Launcelot

bare him down quite over his horse's croup.  And then

Sir Launcelot alighted and dressed his shield on his

shoulder, with his sword in his hand, and Sir Meliagrance

in the same wise dressed him unto him, and there they

smote many great strokes together; and at the last Sir

Launcelot smote him such a buffet upon the helmet that

he fell on the one side to the earth.  And then he cried

upon him aloud:  Most noble knight, Sir Launcelot du

Lake, save my life, for I yield me unto you, and I require

you, as ye be a knight and fellow of the Table Round,

slay me not, for I yield me as overcome; and whether I

shall live or die I put me in the king's hands and yours.

Then Sir Launcelot wist not what to do, for he had had

liefer than all the good of the world he might have been

revenged upon Sir Meliagrance; and Sir Launcelot looked

up to the Queen Guenever, if he might espy by any sign

or countenance what she would have done.  And then the

queen wagged her head upon Sir Launcelot, as though she

would say:  Slay him.  Full well knew Sir Launcelot by

the wagging of her head that she would have him dead;

then Sir Launcelot bade him rise for shame and perform

that battle to the utterance.  Nay, said Sir Meliagrance, I

will never arise until ye take me as yolden and recreant.

I shall proffer you large proffers, said Sir Launcelot, that

is for to say, I shall unarm my head and my left quarter

of my body, all that may be unarmed, and let bind my

left hand behind me, so that it shall not help me, and

right so I shall do battle with you.  Then Sir Meliagrance

started up upon his legs, and said on high:  My lord

Arthur, take heed to this proffer, for I will take it, and

let him be disarmed and bounden according to his proffer.

What say ye, said King Arthur unto Sir Launcelot, will ye

abide by your proffer?  Yea, my lord, said Sir Launcelot,

I will never go from that I have once said.

Then the knights parters of the field disarmed Sir

Launcelot, first his head, and sithen his left arm, and his

left side, and they bound his left arm behind his back,

without shield or anything, and then they were put

together.  Wit you well there was many a lady and

knight marvelled that Sir Launcelot would jeopardy

himself in such wise.  Then Sir Meliagrance came with his

sword all on high, and Sir Launcelot showed him openly

his bare head and the bare left side; and when he weened

to have smitten him upon the bare head, then lightly he

avoided the left leg and the left side, and put his right

hand and his sword to that stroke, and so put it on side

with great sleight; and then with great force Sir Launcelot

smote him on the helmet such a buffet that the stroke

carved the head in two parts.  Then there was no more

to do, but he was drawn out of the field.  And at the

great instance of the knights of the Table Round, the

king suffered him to be interred, and the mention made

upon him, who slew him, and for what cause he was slain;

and then the king and the queen made more of Sir

Launcelot du Lake, and more he was cherished, than ever

he was aforehand.

CHAPTER X

How Sir Urre came into Arthur's court for to be healed of

his wounds, and how King Arthur would begin to handle

him

THEN as the French book maketh mention, there was a

good knight in the land of Hungary, his name was Sir

Urre, and he was an adventurous knight, and in all places

where he might hear of any deeds of worship there would

he be.  So it happened in Spain there was an earl's son,

his name was Alphegus, and at a great tournament in

Spain this Sir Urre, knight of Hungary, and Sir Alphegus

of Spain encountered together for very envy; and so

either undertook other to the utterance.  And by fortune

Sir Urre slew Sir Alphegus, the earl's son of Spain, but

this knight that was slain had given Sir Urre, or ever he

was slain, seven great wounds, three on the head, and four

on his body and upon his left hand.  And this Sir

Alphegus had a mother, the which was a great sorceress;

and she, for the despite of her son's death, wrought by her

subtle crafts that Sir Urre should never be whole, but ever

his wounds should one time fester and another time bleed,

so that he should never be whole until the best knight of

the world had searched his wounds; and thus she made

her avaunt, wherethrough it was known that Sir Urre

should never be whole.

Then his mother let make an horse litter, and put him

therein under two palfreys; and then she took Sir Urre's

sister with him, a full fair damosel, whose name was

Felelolie; and then she took a page with him to keep

their horses, and so they led Sir Urre through many

countries.  For as the French book saith, she led him so

seven year through all lands christened, and never she

could find no knight that might ease her son.  So she

came into Scotland and into the lands of England, and by

fortune she came nigh the feast of Pentecost until King

Arthur's court, that at that time was holden at Carlisle.

And when she came there, then she made it openly to be

known how that she was come into that land for to heal

her son.

Then King Arthur let call that lady, and asked her

the cause why she brought that hurt knight into that

land.  My most noble king, said that lady, wit you well

I brought him hither for to be healed of his wounds, that

of all this seven year he might not be whole.  And then

she told the king where he was wounded, and of whom;

and how his mother had discovered in her pride how she

had wrought that by enchantment, so that he should never

be whole until the best knight of the world had searched

his wounds.  And so I have passed through all the lands

christened to have him healed, except this land.  And if I

fail to heal him here in this land, I will never take more

pain upon me, and that is pity, for he was a good knight,

and of great nobleness.  What is his name? said Arthur

My good and gracious lord, she said, his name is Sir Urre

of the Mount.  In good time, said the king, and sith ye

are come into this land, ye are right welcome; and wit

you well here shall your son be healed, an ever any

Christian man may heal him.  And for to give all other

men of worship courage, I myself will assay to handle

your son, and so shall all the kings, dukes, and earls that

be here present with me at this time; thereto will

I command them, and well I wot they shall obey and do after

my commandment.  And wit you well, said King Arthur

unto Urre's sister, I shall begin to handle him, and search

unto my power, not presuming upon me that I am so

worthy to heal your son by my deeds, but I will courage

other men of worship to do as I will do.  And then the

king commanded all the kings, dukes, and earls, and all

noble knights of the Round Table that were there that

time present, to come into the meadow of Carlisle.  And

so at that time there were but an hundred and ten of the

Round Table, for forty knights were that time away;

and so here we must begin at King Arthur, as is kindly to

begin at him that was the most man of worship that was

christened at that time.

CHAPTER XI

How King Arthur handled Sir Urre, and after him many

other knights of the Round Table

THEN King Arthur looked upon Sir Urre, and the king

thought he was a full likely man when he was whole;

and then King Arthur made him to be taken down off

the litter and laid him upon the earth, and there was laid

a cushion of gold that he should kneel upon.  And then

noble Arthur said:  Fair knight, me repenteth of thy hurt,

and for to courage all other noble knights I will pray thee

softly to suffer me to handle your wounds.  Most noble

christened king, said Urre, do as ye list, for I am at the

mercy of God, and at your commandment.  So then

Arthur softly handled him, and then some of his wounds

renewed upon bleeding.  Then the King Clarence of

Northumberland searched, and it would not be.  And

then Sir Barant le Apres that was called the King with

the Hundred Knights, he assayed and failed; and so did

King Uriens of the land of Gore; so did King Anguish

of Ireland; so did King Nentres of Garloth; so did King

Carados of Scotland; so did the Duke Galahad, the haut

prince; so did Constantine, that was Sir Carados' son of

Cornwall; so did Duke Chaleins of Clarance; so did the

Earl Ulbause; so did the Earl Lambaile; so did the Earl

Aristause.

Then came in Sir Gawaine with his three sons, Sir

Gingalin, Sir Florence, and Sir Lovel, these two were

begotten upon Sir Brandiles' sister; and all they failed.

Then came in Sir Agravaine, Sir Gaheris, Sir Mordred,

and the good knight, Sir Gareth, that was of very knighthood

worth all the brethren.  So came knights of Launcelot's

kin, but Sir Launcelot was not that time in the court,

for he was that time upon his adventures.  Then Sir

Lionel, Sir Ector de Maris, Sir Bors de Ganis, Sir Blamore

de Ganis, Sir Bleoberis de Ganis, Sir Gahalantine, Sir Galihodin,

Sir Menaduke, Sir Villiars the Valiant, Sir Hebes le

Renoumes.  All these were of Sir Launcelot's kin, and all

they failed.  Then came in Sir Sagramore le Desirous, Sir

Dodinas le Savage, Sir Dinadan, Sir Bruin le Noire, that

Sir Kay named La Cote Male Taile, and Sir Kay le

Seneschal, Sir Kay de Stranges, Sir Meliot de Logris, Sir

Petipase of Winchelsea, Sir Galleron of Galway, Sir Melion

of the Mountain, Sir Cardok, Sir Uwaine les Avoutres,

and Sir Ozanna le Cure Hardy.

Then came in Sir Astamor, and Sir Gromere, Grummor's son,

Sir Crosselm, Sir Servause le Breuse, that was

called a passing strong knight, for as the book saith, the

chief Lady of the Lake feasted Sir Launcelot and Servause

le Breuse, and when she had feasted them both at sundry

times she prayed them to give her a boon.  And they

granted it her.  And then she prayed Sir Servause that he

would promise her never to do battle against Sir Launcelot

du Lake, and in the same wise she prayed Sir Launcelot

never to do battle against Sir Servause, and so either

promised her.  For the French book saith, that Sir

Servause had never courage nor lust to do battle against

no man, but if it were against giants, and against dragons,

and wild beasts.  So we pass unto them that at the king's

request made them all that were there at that high feast,

as of the knights of the Table Round, for to search Sir

Urre: to that intent the king did it, to wit which was

the noblest knight among them.

Then came Sir Aglovale, Sir Durnore, Sir Tor, that

was begotten upon Aries, the cowherd's wife, but he was

begotten afore Aries wedded her, and King Pellinore begat

them all, first Sir Tor, Sir Aglovale, Sir Durnore, Sir

Lamorak, the most noblest knight one that ever was in

Arthur's days as for a worldly knight, and Sir Percivale

that was peerless except Sir Galahad in holy deeds, but

they died in the quest of the Sangreal.  Then came Sir

Griflet le Fise de Dieu, Sir Lucan the Butler, Sir Bedevere

his brother, Sir Brandiles, Sir Constantine, Sir Cador's son

of Cornwall, that was king after Arthur's days, and Sir

Clegis, Sir Sadok, Sir Dinas le Seneschal of Cornwall, Sir

Fergus, Sir Driant, Sir Lambegus, Sir Clarrus of Cleremont,

Sir Cloddrus, Sir Hectimere, Sir Edward of Carnarvon,

Sir Dinas, Sir Priamus, that was christened by Sir

Tristram the noble knight, and these three were brethren;

Sir Hellaine le Blank that was son to Sir Bors, he begat

him upon King Brandegoris' daughter, and Sir Brian de

Listinoise; Sir Gautere, Sir Reynold, Sir Gillemere, were

three brethren that Sir Launcelot won upon a bridge in

Sir Kay's arms.  Sir Guyart le Petite, Sir Bellangere le

Beuse, that was son to the good knight, Sir Alisander le

Orphelin, that was slain by the treason of King Mark.

Also that traitor king slew the noble knight Sir Tristram,

as he sat harping afore his lady La Beale Isoud, with a

trenchant glaive, for whose death was much bewailing of

every knight that ever were in Arthur's days; there was

never none so bewailed as was Sir Tristram and Sir

Lamorak, for they were traitorously slain, Sir Tristram

by King Mark, and Sir Lamorak by Sir Gawaine and his

brethren.  And this Sir Bellangere revenged the death of

his father Alisander, and Sir Tristram slew King Mark,

and La Beale Isoud died swooning upon the corse of Sir

Tristram, whereof was great pity.  And all that were

with King Mark that were consenting to the death of Sir

Tristram were slain, as Sir Andred and many other.

Then came Sir Hebes, Sir Morganore, Sir Sentraile,

Sir Suppinabilis, Sir Bellangere le Orgulous, that the good

knight Sir Lamorak won in plain battle; Sir Neroveus

and Sir Plenorius, two good knights that Sir Launcelot

won; Sir Darras, Sir Harry le Fise Lake, Sir Erminide,

brother to King Hermaunce, for whom Sir Palomides

fought at the Red City with two brethren; and Sir Selises

of the Dolorous Tower, Sir Edward of Orkney, Sir Ironside,

that was called the noble Knight of the Red Launds

that Sir Gareth won for the love of Dame Liones, Sir

Arrok de Grevaunt, Sir Degrane Saunce Velany that

fought with the giant of the black lowe, Sir Epinogris,

that was the king's son of Northumberland.  Sir Pelleas

that loved the lady Ettard, and he had died for her love

had not been one of the ladies of the lake, her name was

Dame Nimue, and she wedded Sir Pelleas, and she saved

him that he was never slain, and he was a full noble

knight; and Sir Lamiel of Cardiff that was a great lover.

Sir Plaine de Fors, Sir Melleaus de Lile, Sir Bohart le

Cure Hardy that was King Arthur's son, Sir Mador de la

Porte, Sir Colgrevance, Sir Hervise de la Forest Savage,

Sir Marrok, the good knight that was betrayed with his

wife, for she made him seven year a wer-wolf, Sir Persaunt,

Sir Pertilope, his brother, that was called the Green

Knight, and Sir Perimones, brother to them both, that

was called the Red Knight, that Sir Gareth won when he

was called Beaumains.  All these hundred knights and

ten searched Sir Urre's wounds by the commandment of

King Arthur.

CHAPTER XII

How Sir Launcelot was commanded by Arthur to handle his

wounds, and anon he was all whole, and how they

thanked God

MERCY Jesu, said King Arthur, where is Sir Launcelot du

Lake that he is not here at this time?  Thus, as they

stood and spake of many things, there was espied Sir

Launcelot that came riding toward them, and told the

king.  Peace, said the king, let no manner thing be said

until he be come to us.  So when Sir Launcelot espied

King Arthur, he descended from his horse and came to

the king, and saluted him and them all.  Anon as the

maid, Sir Urre's sister, saw Sir Launcelot, she ran to her

brother thereas he lay in his litter, and said:  Brother,

here is come a knight that my heart giveth greatly unto.

Fair sister, said Sir Urre, so doth my heart light against

him, and certainly I hope now to be healed, for my

heart giveth unto him more than to all these that have

searched me.

Then said Arthur unto Sir Launcelot:  Ye must do as

we have done; and told Sir Launcelot what they had

done, and showed him them all, that had searched him.

Jesu defend me, said Sir Launcelot, when so many kings

and knights have assayed and failed, that I should presume

upon me to enchieve that all ye, my lords, might not

enchieve.  Ye shall not choose, said King Arthur, for I

will command you for to do as we all have done.  My

most renowned lord, said Sir Launcelot, ye know well

I dare not nor may not disobey your commandment, but

an I might or durst, wit you well I would not take upon

me to touch that wounded knight in that intent that I

should pass all other knights; Jesu defend me from that

shame.  Ye take it wrong, said King Arthur, ye shall not

do it for no presumption, but for to bear us fellowship,

insomuch ye be a fellow of the Table Round; and wit you

well, said King Arthur, an ye prevail not and heal him,

I dare say there is no knight in this land may heal him,

and therefore I pray you, do as we have done.

And then all the kings and knights for the most part

prayed Sir Launcelot to search him; and then the

wounded knight, Sir Urre, set him up weakly, and prayed

Sir Launcelot heartily, saying:  Courteous knight, I

require thee for God's sake heal my wounds, for methinketh

ever sithen ye came here my wounds grieve me

not.  Ah, my fair lord, said Sir Launcelot, Jesu would

that I might help you; I shame me sore that I should be

thus rebuked, for never was I able in worthiness to do so

high a thing.  Then Sir Launcelot kneeled down by the

wounded knight saying:  My lord Arthur, I must do

your commandment, the which is sore against my heart.

And then he held up his hands, and looked into the east,

saying secretly unto himself:  Thou blessed Father, Son,

and Holy Ghost, I beseech thee of thy mercy, that my

simple worship and honesty be saved, and thou blessed

Trinity, thou mayst give power to heal this sick knight

by thy great virtue and grace of thee, but, Good Lord,

never of myself.  And then Sir Launcelot prayed Sir

Urre to let him see his head; and then devoutly kneeling

he ransacked the three wounds, that they bled a little, and

forthwith all the wounds fair healed, and seemed as they

had been whole a seven year.  And in likewise he searched

his body of other three wounds, and they healed in

likewise; and then the last of all he searched the which was

in his hand, and anon it healed fair.

Then King Arthur and all the kings and knights

kneeled down and gave thankings and lovings unto God

and to His Blessed Mother.  And ever Sir Launcelot

wept as he had been a child that had been beaten.  Then

King Arthur let array priests and clerks in the most

devoutest manner, to bring in Sir Urre within Carlisle,

with singing and loving to God.  And when this was

done, the king let clothe him in the richest manner that

could be thought; and then were there but few better

made knights in all the court, for he was passingly well

made and bigly; and Arthur asked Sir Urre how he felt

himself.  My good lord, he said, I felt myself never so

lusty.  Will ye joust and do deeds of arms? said King

Arthur.  Sir, said Urre, an I had all that longed unto

jousts I would be soon ready.

CHAPTER XIII

How there was a party made of an hundred knights against

an hundred knights, and of other matters

THEN Arthur made a party of hundred knights to be

against an hundred knights.  And so upon the morn they

jousted for a diamond, but there jousted none of the

dangerous knights; and so for to shorten this tale, Sir

Urre and Sir Lavaine jousted best that day, for there was

none of them but he overthrew and pulled down thirty

knights; and then by the assent of all the kings and

lords, Sir Urre and Sir Lavaine were made knights of the

Table Round.  And Sir Lavaine cast his love unto Dame

Felelolie, Sir Urre's sister, and then they were wedded

together with great joy, and King Arthur gave to everych

of them a barony of lands.  And this Sir Urre would

never go from Sir Launcelot, but he and Sir Lavaine

awaited evermore upon him; and they were in all the

court accounted for good knights, and full desirous in

arms; and many noble deeds they did, for they would

have no rest, but ever sought adventures.

Thus they lived in all that court with great noblesse

and joy long time.  But every night and day Sir Agravaine,

Sir Gawaine's brother, awaited Queen Guenever and Sir

Launcelot du Lake to put them to a rebuke and shame.

And so I leave here of this tale, and overskip great books

of Sir Launcelot du Lake, what great adventures he did

when he was called Le Chevaler du Chariot.  For as the

French book saith, because of despite that knights and

ladies called him the knight that rode in the chariot like

as he were judged to the gallows, therefore in despite of

all them that named him so, he was carried in a chariot a

twelvemonth, for, but little after that he had slain Sir

Meliagrance in the queen's quarrel, he never in a twelvemonth

came on horseback.  And as the French book

saith, he did that twelvemonth more than forty battles.

And because I have lost the very matter of Le Chevaier

du Chariot, I depart from the tale of Sir Launcelot, and

here I go unto the morte of King Arthur; and that

caused Sir Agravaine.

<oe Explicit liber xix.

And hereafter followeth the most piteous history of the

morte of King Arthur, the which is the twentieth book.>

BOOK XX

CHAPTER I

How Sir Agravaine and Sir Mordred were busy upon Sir

Gawaine for to disclose the love between Sir Launcelot

and Queen Guenever

IN May when every lusty heart flourisheth and bourgeoneth,

for as the season is lusty to behold and comfortable,

so man and woman rejoice and gladden of summer

coming with his fresh flowers: for winter with his rough

winds and blasts causeth a lusty man and woman to cower

and sit fast by the fire.  So in this season, as in the month

of May, it befell a great anger and unhap that stinted not

till the flower of chivalry of all the world was destroyed

and slain; and all was long upon two unhappy knights

the which were named Agravaine and Sir Mordred, that

were brethren unto Sir Gawaine.  For this Sir Agravaine

and Sir Mordred had ever a privy hate unto the queen

Dame Guenever and to Sir Launcelot, and daily and

nightly they ever watched upon Sir Launcelot.

So it mishapped, Sir Gawaine and all his brethren were in

King Arthur's chamber; and then Sir Agravaine said thus

openly, and not in no counsel, that many knights might

hear it:  I marvel that we all be not ashamed both to see

and to know how Sir Launcelot lieth daily and nightly by

the queen, and all we know it so; and it is shamefully

suffered of us all, that we all should suffer so noble a king

as King Arthur is so to be shamed.

Then spake Sir Gawaine, and said:  Brother Sir Agravaine,

I pray you and charge you move no such matters

no more afore me, for wit you well, said Sir Gawaine, I

will not be of your counsel.  So God me help, said Sir

Gaheris and Sir Gareth, we will not be knowing, brother

Agravaine, of your deeds.  Then will I, said Sir Mordred.

I lieve well that, said Sir Gawaine, for ever unto

all unhappiness, brother Sir Mordred, thereto will ye grant;

and I would that ye left all this, and made you not so

busy, for I know, said Sir Gawaine, what will fall of it.

Fall of it what fall may, said Sir Agravaine, I will disclose

it to the king.  Not by my counsel, said Sir Gawaine, for

an there rise war and wrack betwixt Sir Launcelot and us,

wit you well brother, there will many kings and great

lords hold with Sir Launcelot.  Also, brother Sir Agravaine,

said Sir Gawaine, ye must remember how ofttimes

Sir Launcelot hath rescued the king and the queen; and

the best of us all had been full cold at the heart-root had not

Sir Launcelot been better than we, and that hath he proved

himself full oft.  And as for my part, said Sir Gawaine, I

will never be against Sir Launcelot for one day's deed,

when he rescued me from King Carados of the Dolorous

Tower, and slew him, and saved my life.  Also, brother

Sir Agravaine and Sir Mordred, in like wise Sir Launcelot

rescued you both, and threescore and two, from Sir

Turquin.  Methinketh brother, such kind deeds and kindness

should be remembered.  Do as ye list, said Sir Agravaine,

for I will lain it no longer.  With these words came to

them King Arthur.  Now brother, stint your noise, said

Sir Gawaine.  We will not, said Sir Agravaine and Sir

Mordred.  Will ye so? said Sir Gawaine; then God

speed you, for I will not hear your tales ne be of your

counsel.  No more will I, said Sir Gareth and Sir Gaheris,

for we will never say evil by that man; for because, said

Sir Gareth, Sir Launcelot made me knight, by no manner

owe I to say ill of him: and therewithal they three

departed, making great dole.  Alas, said Sir Gawaine and

Sir Gareth, now is this realm wholly mischieved, and the

noble fellowship of the Round Table shall be disparpled:

so they departed.

CHAPTER II

How Sir Agravaine disclosed their love to King Arthur,

and how King Arthur gave them licence to take him

AND then Sir Arthur asked them what noise they made.

My lord, said Agravaine, I shall tell you that I may keep

no longer.  Here is I, and my brother Sir Mordred,

brake unto my brothers Sir Gawaine, Sir Gaheris, and to

Sir Gareth, how this we know all, that Sir Launcelot

holdeth your queen, and hath done long; and we be your

sister's sons, and we may suffer it no longer, and all we

wot that ye should be above Sir Launcelot; and ye are

the king that made him knight, and therefore we will

prove it, that he is a traitor to your person.

If it be so, said Sir Arthur, wit you well he is none

other, but I would be loath to begin such a thing but I

might have proofs upon it; for Sir Launcelot is an hardy

knight, and all ye know he is the best knight among us

all; and but if he be taken with the deed, he will fight

with him that bringeth up the noise, and I know no

knight that is able to match him.  Therefore an it be

sooth as ye say, I would he were taken with the deed.

For as the French book saith, the king was full loath

thereto, that any noise should be upon Sir Launcelot and

his queen; for the king had a deeming, but he would not

hear of it, for Sir Launcelot had done so much for him

and the queen so many times, that wit ye well the king

loved him passingly well.  My lord, said Sir Agravaine,

ye shall ride to-morn a-hunting, and doubt ye not Sir

Launcelot will not go with you.  Then when it draweth

toward night, ye may send the queen word that ye will lie

out all that night, and so may ye send for your cooks,

and then upon pain of death we shall take him that night

with the queen, and outher we shall bring him to you

dead or quick.  I will well, said the king; then I counsel

you, said the king, take with you sure fellowship.  Sir,

said Agravaine, my brother, Sir Mordred, and I, will take

with us twelve knights of the Round Table.  Beware,

said King Arthur, for I warn you ye shall find him wight.

Let us deal, said Sir Agravaine and Sir Mordred.

So on the morn King Arthur rode a-hunting, and sent

word to the queen that he would be out all that night.

Then Sir Agravaine and Sir Mordred gat to them twelve

knights, and hid themself in a chamber in the Castle of

Carlisle, and these were their names: Sir Colgrevance, Sir

Mador de la Porte, Sir Gingaline, Sir Meliot de Logris,

Sir Petipase of Winchelsea, Sir Galleron of Galway, Sir

Melion of the Mountain, Sir Astamore, Sir Gromore

Somir Joure, Sir Curselaine, Sir Florence, Sir Lovel.  So

these twelve knights were with Sir Mordred and Sir

Agravaine, and all they were of Scotland, outher of Sir

Gawaine's kin, either well-willers to his brethren.

So when the night came, Sir Launcelot told Sir Bors

how he would go that night and speak with the queen.

Sir, said Sir Bors, ye shall not go this night by my counsel.

Why? said Sir Launcelot.  Sir, said Sir Bors, I dread me

ever of Sir Agravaine, that waiteth you daily to do you

shame and us all; and never gave my heart against no

going, that ever ye went to the queen, so much as now;

for I mistrust that the king is out this night from the

queen because peradventure he hath lain some watch for

you and the queen, and therefore I dread me sore of

treason.  Have ye no dread, said Sir Launcelot, for I

shall go and come again, and make no tarrying.  Sir, said

Sir Bors, that me repenteth, for I dread me sore that your

going out this night shall wrath us all.  Fair nephew,

said Sir Launcelot, I marvel much why ye say thus, sithen

the queen hath sent for me; and wit ye well I will not be

so much a coward, but she shall understand I will see her

good grace.  God speed you well, said Sir Bors, and send

you sound and safe again.

CHAPTER Ill

How Sir Launcelot was espied in the queen's chamber, and

how Sir Agravaine and Sir Mordred came with twelve

knights to slay him

SO Sir Launcelot departed, and took his sword under his arm,

and so in his mantle that noble knight put himself in great

Jeopardy; and so he passed till he came to the queen's

chamber, and then Sir Launcelot was lightly put into the

chamber.  And then, as the French book saith, the queen

and Launcelot were together.  And whether they were

abed or at other manner of disports, me list not hereof

make no mention, for love that time was not as is now-a-days.

But thus as they were together, there came Sir

Agravaine and Sir Mordred, with twelve knights with

them of the Round Table, and they said with crying

voice:  Traitor-knight, Sir Launcelot du Lake, now art

thou taken.  And thus they cried with a loud voice, that

all the court might hear it; and they all fourteen were

armed at all points as they should fight in a battle.  Alas

said Queen Guenever, now are we mischieved both

Madam, said Sir Launcelot, is there here any armour

within your chamber, that I might cover my poor body

withal?  An if there be any give it me, and I shall soon

stint their malice, by the grace of God.  Truly, said the

queen, I have none armour, shield, sword, nor spear;

wherefore I dread me sore our long love is come to a

mischievous end, for I hear by their noise there be many

noble knights, and well I wot they be surely armed, and

against them ye may make no resistance.  Wherefore ye

are likely to be slain, and then shall I be brent.  For an

ye might escape them, said the queen, I would not doubt

but that ye would rescue me in what danger that ever I

stood in.  Alas, said Sir Launcelot, in all my life thus

was I never bestead, that I should be thus shamefully

slain for lack of mine armour.

But ever in one Sir Agravaine and Sir Mordred cried:

Traitor-knight, come out of the queen's chamber, for wit

thou well thou art so beset that thou shalt not escape.

O Jesu mercy, said Sir Launcelot, this shameful cry and

noise I may not suffer, for better were death at once than

thus to endure this pain.  Then he took the queen in his

arms, and kissed her, and said:  Most noble Christian

queen, I beseech you as ye have been ever my special good

lady, and I at all times your true poor knight unto my

power, and as I never failed you in right nor in wrong

sithen the first day King Arthur made me knight, that ye

will pray for my soul if that I here be slain; for well I

am assured that Sir Bors, my nephew, and all the remnant

of my kin, with Sir Lavaine and Sir Urre, that they will

not fail you to rescue you from the fire; and therefore, mine

own lady, recomfort yourself, whatsomever come of me,

that ye go with Sir Bors, my nephew, and Sir Urre, and

they all will do you all the pleasure that they can or may,

that ye shall live like a queen upon my lands.  Nay,

Launcelot, said the queen, wit thou well I will never live

after thy days, but an thou be slain I will take my death

as meekly for Jesu Christ's sake as ever did any Christian

queen.  Well, madam, said I-auncelot, sith it is so that

the day is come that our love must depart, wit you well I

shall sell my life as dear as I may; and a thousandfold,

said Sir Launcelot, I am more heavier for you than for

myself.  And now I had liefer than to be lord of all

Christendom, that I had sure armour upon me, that men

might speak of my deeds or ever I were slain.  Truly,

said the queen, I would an it might please God that they

would take me and slay me, and suffer you to escape.

That shall never be, said Sir Launcelot, God defend me

from such a shame, but Jesu be Thou my shield and mine

armour!

CHAPTER IV

How Sir Launcelot slew Sir Colgrevance, and armed him in

his harness, and after slew Sir Agravaine, and twelve

of his fellows

AND therewith Sir Launcelot wrapped his mantle about

his arm well and surely; and by then they had gotten a

great form out of the hall, and therewithal they rashed

at the door.  Fair lords, said Sir Launcelot, leave your

noise and your rashing, and I shall set open this door, and

then may ye do with me what it liketh you.  Come off

then, said they all, and do it, for it availeth thee not to

strive against us all; and therefore let us into this

chamber, and we shall save thy life until thou come to

King Arthur.  Then Launcelot unbarred the door, and

with his left hand he held it open a little, so that but one

man might come in at once; and so there came striding a

good knight, a much man and large, and his name was

Colgrevance of Gore, and he with a sword struck at Sir

Launcelot mightily; and he put aside the stroke, and

gave him such a buffet upon the helmet, that he fell

grovelling dead within the chamber door.  And then Sir

Launcelot with great might drew that dead knight within

the chamber door; and Sir Launcelot with help of the

queen and her ladies was lightly armed in Sir Colgrevance's

armour.

And ever stood Sir Agravaine and Sir Mordred

crying:  Traitor-knight, come out of the queen's chamber.

Leave your noise, said Sir Launcelot unto Sir Agravaine,

for wit you well, Sir Agravaine, ye shall not prison me

this night; and therefore an ye do by my counsel, go ye

all from this chamber door, and make not such crying and

such manner of slander as ye do; for I promise you by

my knighthood, an ye will depart and make no more

noise, I shall as to-morn appear afore you all before the

king, and then let it be seen which of you all, outher else

ye all, that will accuse me of treason; and there I shall

answer you as a knight should, that hither I came to the

queen for no manner of mal engin, and that will I prove

and make it good upon you with my hands.  Fie on thee,

traitor, said Sir Agravaine and Sir Mordred, we will have

thee maugre thy head, and slay thee if we list; for we let

thee wit we have the choice of King Arthur to save thee

or to slay thee.  Ah sirs, said Sir Launcelot, is there none

other grace with you? then keep yourself.

So then Sir Launcelot set all open the chamber door,

and mightily and knightly he strode in amongst them;

and anon at the first buffet he slew Sir Agravaine.  And

twelve of his fellows after, within a little while after, he

laid them cold to the earth, for there was none of the

twelve that might stand Sir Launcelot one buffet.  Also

Sir Launcelot wounded Sir Mordred, and he fled with all

his might.  And then Sir Launcelot returned again unto

the queen, and said:  Madam, now wit you well all our

true love is brought to an end, for now will King Arthur

ever be my foe; and therefore, madam, an it like you

that I may have you with me, I shall save you from all

manner adventures dangerous.  That is not best, said the

queen; meseemeth now ye have done so much harm, it

will be best ye hold you still with this.  And if ye see

that as to-morn they will put me unto the death, then

may ye rescue me as ye think best.  I will well, said Sir

Launcelot, for have ye no doubt, while I am living I shall

rescue you.  And then he kissed her, and either gave

other a ring; and so there he left the queen, and went

until his lodging.

CHAPTER V

How Sir Launcelot came to Sir Bors, and told him how he

had sped, and in what adventure he had been, and how

he had escaped

WHEN Sir Bors saw Sir Launcelot he was never so glad of

his home-coming as he was then.  Jesu mercy, said Sir

Launcelot, why be ye all armed: what meaneth this?

Sir, said Sir Bors, after ye were departed from us, we all

that be of your blood and your well-willers were so

dretched that some of us leapt out of our beds naked,

and some in their dreams caught naked swords in their

hands; therefore, said Sir Bors, we deem there is some

great strife at hand; and then we all deemed that ye were

betrapped with some treason, and therefore we made us

thus ready, what need that ever ye were in.

My fair nephew, said Sir Launcelot unto Sir Bors,

now shall ye wit all, that this night I was more harder

bestead than ever I was in my life, and yet I escaped.

And so he told them all how and in what manner, as ye

have heard to-fore.  And therefore, my fellows, said Sir

Launcelot, I pray you all that ye will be of good heart in

what need somever I stand, for now is war come to us all.

Sir, said Bors, all is welcome that God sendeth us, and we

have had much weal with you and much worship, and

therefore we will take the woe with you as we have taken

the weal.  And therefore, they said all (there were many

good knights), look ye take no discomfort, for there nis

no bands of knights under heaven but we shall be able to

grieve them as much as they may us.  And therefore discomfort

not yourself by no manner, and we shall gather

together that we love, and that loveth us, and what that

ye will have done shall be done.  And therefore, Sir

Launcelot, said they, we will take the woe with the weal.

Grant mercy, said Sir Launcelot, of your good comfort,

for in my great distress, my fair nephew, ye comfort me

greatly, and much I am beholding unto you.  But this,

my fair nephew, I would that ye did in all haste that ye

may, or it be forth days, that ye will look in their lodging

that be lodged here nigh about the king, which will hold

with me, and which will not, for now I would know which

were my friends from my foes.  Sir, said Sir Bors, I shall

do my pain, and or it be seven of the clock I shall wit of

such as ye have said before, who will hold with you.

Then Sir Bors called unto him Sir Lionel, Sir Ector de

Maris, Sir Blamore de Ganis, Sir Bleoberis de Ganis, Sir

Gahalantine, Sir Galihodin, Sir Galihud, Sir Menadeuke

Sir Villiers the Valiant, Sir Hebes le Renoumes, Sir Lavaine

Sir Urre of Hungary, Sir Nerounes, Sir Plenorius.  These

two knights Sir Launcelot made, and the one he won upon

a bridge, and therefore they would never be against him.

And Harry le Fise du Lake, and Sir Selises of the Dolorous Tower,

and Sir Melias de Lile, and Sir Bellangere le

Beuse, that was Sir Alisander's son Le Orphelin, because

his mother Alice le Beale Pellerin and she was kin unto

Sir Launcelot, and he held with him.  So there came Sir

Palomides and Sir Safere, his brother, to hold with Sir

Launcelot, and Sir Clegis of Sadok, and Sir Dinas,

Sir Clarius of Cleremont.  So these two-and-twenty

knights drew them together, and by then they were

armed on horseback, and promised Sir Launcelot to do

what he would.  Then there fell to them, what of North

Wales and of Cornwall, for Sir Lamorak's sake and

for Sir Tristram's sake, to the number of a fourscore

knights.

My lords, said Sir Launcelot, wit you well, I have been

ever since I came into this country well willed unto my

lord, King Arthur, and unto my lady, Queen Guenever,

unto my power; and this night because my lady the queen

sent for me to speak with her, I suppose it was made by

treason, howbeit I dare largely excuse her person,

notwithstanding I was there by a forecast near slain, but as Jesu

provided me I escaped all their malice and treason.  And

then that noble knight Sir Launcelot told them all how he

was hard bestead in the queen's chamber, and how and in

what manner he escaped from them.  And therefore, said

Sir Launcelot, wit you well, my fair lords, I am sure there

nis but war unto me and mine.  And for because I have

slain this night these knights, I wot well, as is Sir Agravaine

Sir Gawaine's brother, and at the least twelve of his fellows,

for this cause now I am sure of mortal war, for these

knights were sent and ordained by King Arthur to betray

me.  And therefore the king will in his heat and malice

judge the queen to the fire, and that may I not suffer, that

she should be brent for my sake; for an I may be heard

and suffered and so taken, I will fight for the queen, that

she is a true lady unto her lord; but the king in his heat

I dread me will not take me as I ought to be taken.

CHAPTER VI

Of the counsel and advice that was taken by Sir Launcelot

and his friends for to save the queen

MY lord, Sir Launcelot, said Sir Bors, by mine advice ye

shall take the woe with the weal, and take it in patience,

and thank God of it.  And sithen it is fallen as it is, I

counsel you keep yourself, for an ye will yourself, there

is no fellowship of knights christened that shall do you

wrong.  Also I will counsel you my lord, Sir Launcelot,

than an my lady, Queen Guenever, be in distress, insomuch

as she is in pain for your sake, that ye knightly

rescue her; an ye did otherwise, all the world will speak

of you shame to the world's end.  Insomuch as ye were

taken with her, whether ye did right or wrong, it is now

your part to hold with the queen, that she be not slain

and put to a mischievous death, for an she so die the

shame shall be yours.  Jesu defend me from shame, said

Sir Launcelot, and keep and save my lady the queen from

villainy and shameful death, and that she never be

destroyed in my default; wherefore my fair lords, my kin,

and my friends, said Sir Launcelot, what will ye do?

Then they said all:  We will do as ye will do.  I put

this to you, said Sir Launcelot, that if my lord Arthur by

evil counsel will to-morn in his heat put my lady the

queen to the fire there to be brent, now I pray you counsel

me what is best to do.  Then they said all at once with

one voice:  Sir, us thinketh best that ye knightly rescue

the queen, insomuch as she shall be brent it is for your

sake; and it is to suppose, an ye might be handled, ye

should have the same death, or a more shamefuler death.

And sir, we say all, that ye have many times rescued her

from death for other men's quarrels, us seemeth it is more

your worship that ye rescue the queen from this peril,

insomuch she hath it for your sake.

Then Sir Launcelot stood still, and said:  My fair

lords, wit you well I would be loath to do that thing that

should dishonour you or my blood, and wit you well I

would be loath that my lady, the queen, should die a

shameful death; but an it be so that ye will counsel me

to rescue her, I must do much harm or I rescue her; and

peradventure I shall there destroy some of my best friends,

that should much repent me; and peradventure there be

some, an they could well bring it about, or disobey my

lord King Arthur, they would soon come to me, the

which I were loath to hurt.  And if so be that I rescue

her, where shall I keep her?  That shall be the least care

of us all, said Sir Bors.  How did the noble knight Sir

Tristram, by your good will? kept not he with him La

Beale Isoud near three year in Joyous Gard? the which

was done by your alther device, and that same place is

your own; and in likewise may ye do an ye list, and take

the queen lightly away, if it so be the king will judge her

to be brent; and in Joyous Gard ye may keep her long

enough until the heat of the king be past.  And then

shall ye bring again the queen to the king with great

worship; and then peradventure ye shall have thank for

her bringing home, and love and thank where other shall

have maugre.

That is hard to do, said Sir Launcelot, for by Sir

Tristram I may have a warning, for when by means of

treaties, Sir Tristram brought again La Beale Isoud unto

King Mark from Joyous Gard, look what befell on the

end, how shamefully that false traitor King Mark slew

him as he sat harping afore his lady La Beale Isoud, with

a grounden glaive he thrust him in behind to the heart.

It grieveth me, said Sir Launcelot, to speak of his death,

for all the world may not find such a knight.  All this is

truth, said Sir Bors, but there is one thing shall courage

you and us all, ye know well King Arthur and King Mark

were never like of conditions, for there was never yet man

could prove King Arthur untrue of his promise.

So to make short tale, they were all consented that

for better outher for worse, if so were that the queen were

on that morn brought to the fire, shortly they all would

rescue her.  And so by the advice of Sir Launcelot, they

put them all in an embushment in a wood, as nigh Carlisle

as they might, and there they abode still, to wit what the

king would do.

CHAPTER VII

How Sir Mordred rode hastily to the king, to tell him of

the affray and death of Sir Agravaine and the other

knights

NOW turn we again unto Sir Mordred, that when he was

escaped from the noble knight, Sir Launcelot, he anon gat

his horse and mounted upon him, and rode unto King

Arthur, sore wounded and smitten, and all forbled; and

there he told the king all how it was, and how they were

all slain save himself all only.  Jesu mercy, how may this

be? said the king; took ye him in the queen's chamber?

Yea, so God me help, said Sir Mordred, there we found

him unarmed, and there he slew Colgrevance, and armed

him in his armour; and all this he told the king from

the beginning to the ending.  Jesu mercy, said the king,

he is a marvellous knight of prowess.  Alas, me sore

repenteth, said the king, that ever Sir Launcelot should

be against me.  Now I am sure the noble fellowship of

the Round Table is broken for ever, for with him will

many a noble knight hold; and now it is fallen so, said

the king, that I may not with my worship, but the queen

must suffer the death.  So then there was made great

ordinance in this heat, that the queen must be judged to

the death.  And the law was such in those days that

whatsomever they were, of what estate or degree, if they

were found guilty of treason, there should be none other

remedy but death; and outher the men or the taking with

the deed should be causer of their hasty judgment.  And

right so was it ordained for Queen Guenever, because

Sir Mordred was escaped sore wounded, and the death of

thirteen knights of the Round Table.  These proofs and

experiences caused King Arthur to command the queen to

the fire there to be brent.

Then spake Sir Gawaine, and said:  My lord Arthur,

I would counsel you not to be over-hasty, but that ye

would put it in respite, this judgment of my lady the

queen, for many causes.  One it is, though it were so

that Sir Launcelot were found in the queen's chamber, yet

it might be so that he came thither for none evil; for ye

know my lord, said Sir Gawaine, that the queen is much

beholden unto Sir Launcelot, more than unto any other

knight, for ofttimes he hath saved her life, and done battle

for her when all the court refused the queen; and

peradventure she sent for him for goodness and for none

evil, to reward him for his good deeds that he had done

to her in times past.  And peradventure my lady, the

queen, sent for him to that intent that Sir Launcelot

should come to her good grace privily and secretly,

weening to her that it was best so to do, in eschewing

and dreading of slander; for ofttimes we do many things

that we ween it be for the best, and yet peradventure it

turneth to the worst.  For I dare say, said Sir Gawaine,

my lady, your queen, is to you both good and true; and

as for Sir Launcelot, said Sir Gawaine, I dare say he will

make it good upon any knight living that will put upon

himself villainy or shame, and in like wise he will make

good for my lady, Dame Guenever.

That I believe well, said King Arthur, but I will not

that way with Sir Launcelot, for he trusteth so much upon

his hands and his might that he doubteth no man; and

therefore for my queen he shall never fight more, for she

shall have the law.  And if I may get Sir Launcelot, wit

you well he shall have a shameful death.  Jesu defend,

said Sir Gawaine, that I may never see it.  Why say ye

so? said King Arthur; forsooth ye have no cause to love

Sir Launcelot, for this night last past he slew your brother,

Sir Agravaine, a full good knight, and almost he had slain

your other brother, Sir Mordred, and also there he slew

thirteen noble knights; and also, Sir Gawaine, remember

you he slew two sons of yours, Sir Florence and Sir Lovel.

My lord, said Sir Gawaine, of all this I have knowledge,

of whose deaths I repent me sore; but insomuch I gave

them warning, and told my brethren and my sons aforehand

what would fall in the end, insomuch they would

not do by my counsel, I will not meddle me thereof, nor

revenge me nothing of their deaths; for I told them it

was no boot to strive with Sir Launcelot.  Howbeit I am

sorry of the death of my brethren and of my sons, for

they are the causers of their own death; for ofttimes I

warned my brother Sir Agravaine, and I told him the

perils the which be now fallen.

CHAPTER VIII

How Sir Launcelot and his kinsmen rescued the queen from

the fire, and how he slew many knights

THEN said the noble King Arthur to Sir Gawaine:  Dear

nephew, I pray you make you ready in your best armour,

with your brethren, Sir Gaheris and Sir Gareth, to bring

my queen to the fire, there to have her judgment and

receive the death.  Nay, my most noble lord, said Sir

Gawaine, that will I never do; for wit you well I will

never be in that place where so noble a queen as is my

lady, Dame Guenever, shall take a shameful end.  For

wit you well, said Sir Gawaine, my heart will never serve

me to see her die; and it shall never be said that ever

I was of your counsel of her death.

Then said the king to Sir Gawaine:  Suffer your

brothers Sir Gaheris and Sir Gareth to be there.  My

lord, said Sir Gawaine, wit you well they will be loath

to be there present, because of many adventures the which

be like there to fall, but they are young and full unable

to say you nay.  Then spake Sir Gaheris, and the good

knight Sir Gareth, unto Sir Arthur: Sir, ye may well

command us to be there, but wit you well it shall be sore

against our will; but an we be there by your strait

commandment ye shall plainly hold us there excused: we

will be there in peaceable wise, and bear none harness of

war upon us.  In the name of God, said the king, then

make you ready, for she shall soon have her judgment

anon.  Alas, said Sir Gawaine, that ever I should endure

to see this woful day.  So Sir Gawaine turned him and

wept heartily, and so he went into his chamber; and then

the queen was led forth without Carlisle, and there she

was despoiled into her smock.  And so then her ghostly

father was brought to her, to be shriven of her misdeeds.

Then was there weeping, and wailing, and wringing of

hands, of many lords and ladies, but there were but few

in comparison that would bear any armour for to strength

the death of the queen.

Then was there one that Sir Launcelot had sent unto

that place for to espy what time the queen should go unto

her death; and anon as he saw the queen despoiled into

her smock, and so shriven, then he gave Sir Launcelot

warning.  Then was there but spurring and plucking up

of horses, and right so they came to the fire.  And who

that stood against them, there were they slain; there might

none withstand Sir Launcelot, so all that bare arms and

withstood them, there were they slain, full many a noble

knight.  For there was slain Sir Belliance le Orgulous,

Sir Segwarides, Sir Griflet, Sir Brandiles, Sir Aglovale,

Sir Tor; Sir Gauter, Sir Gillimer, Sir Reynolds' three

brethren; Sir Damas, Sir Priamus, Sir Kay the Stranger,

Sir Driant, Sir Lambegus, Sir Herminde; Sir Pertilope,

Sir Perimones, two brethren that were called the Green

Knight and the Red Knight.  And so in this rushing and

hurling, as Sir Launcelot thrang here and there, it

mishapped him to slay Gaheris and Sir Gareth, the noble

knight, for they were unarmed and unware.  For as the

French book saith, Sir Launcelot smote Sir Gareth and

Sir Gaheris upon the brain-pans, wherethrough they were

slain in the field; howbeit in very truth Sir Launcelot

saw them not, and so were they found dead among the

thickest of the press.

Then when Sir Launcelot had thus done, and slain and

put to flight all that would withstand him, then he rode

straight unto Dame Guenever, and made a kirtle and a

gown to be cast upon her; and then he made her to be

set behind him, and prayed her to be of good cheer.  Wit

you well the queen was glad that she was escaped from

the death.  And then she thanked God and Sir Launcelot;

and so he rode his way with the queen, as the French book

saith, unto Joyous Gard, and there he kept her as a noble

knight should do; and many great lords and some kings

sent Sir Launcelot many good knights, and many noble

knights drew unto Sir Launcelot.  When this was known

openly, that King Arthur and Sir Launcelot were at

debate, many knights were glad of their debate, and many

were full heavy of their debate.

CHAPTER IX

Of the sorrow and lamentation of King Arthur for the

death of his nephews and other good knights, and also

for the queen, his wife

SO turn we again unto King Arthur, that when it was told

him how and in what manner of wise the queen was taken

away from the fire, and when he heard of the death of

his noble knights, and in especial of Sir Gaheris and Sir

Gareth's death, then the king swooned for pure sorrow.

And when he awoke of his swoon, then he said:  Alas,

that ever I bare crown upon my head! for now have

I lost the fairest fellowship of noble knights that ever

held Christian king together.  Alas, my good knights be

slain away from me: now within these two days I have

lost forty knights, and also the noble fellowship of Sir

Launcelot and his blood, for now I may never hold

them together no more with my worship.  Alas that

ever this war began.  Now fair fellows, said the king,

I charge you that no man tell Sir Gawaine of the death

of his two brethren; for I am sure, said the king, when

Sir Gawaine heareth tell that Sir Gareth is dead he will go

nigh out of his mind.  Mercy Jesu, said the king, why

slew he Sir Gareth and Sir Gaheris, for I dare say as for

Sir Gareth he loved Sir Launcelot above all men earthly.

That is truth, said some knights, but they were slain in

the hurtling as Sir Launcelot thrang in the thick of the

press; and as they were unarmed he smote them and wist

not whom that he smote, and so unhappily they were

slain.  The death of them, said Arthur, will cause the

greatest mortal war that ever was; I am sure, wist Sir

Gawaine that Sir Gareth were slain, I should never have

rest of him till I had destroyed Sir Launcelot's kin and

himself both, outher else he to destroy me.  And therefore,

said the king, wit you well my heart was never so

heavy as it is now, and much more I am sorrier for my

good knights' loss than for the loss of my fair queen;

for queens I might have enow, but such a fellowship of

good knights shall never be together in no company.

And now I dare say, said King Arthur, there was never

Christian king held such a fellowship together; and alas

that ever Sir Launcelot and I should be at debate.  Ah

Agravaine, Agravaine, said the king, Jesu forgive it thy soul,

for thine evil will, that thou and thy brother Sir Mordred

hadst unto Sir Launcelot, hath caused all this sorrow: and

ever among these complaints the king wept and swooned.

Then there came one unto Sir Gawaine, and told him

how the queen was led away with Sir Launcelot, and nigh

a twenty-four knights slain.  O Jesu defend my brethren,

said Sir Gawaine, for full well wist I that Sir Launcelot

would rescue her, outher else he would die in that field;

and to say the truth he had not been a man of worship had

he not rescued the queen that day, insomuch she should

have been brent for his sake.  And as in that, said Sir

Gawaine, he hath done but knightly, and as I would have

done myself an I had stood in like case.  But where are

my brethren? said Sir Gawaine, I marvel I hear not of

them.  Truly, said that man, Sir Gareth and Sir Gaheris

be slain.  Jesu defend, said Sir Gawaine, for all the world

I would not that they were slain, and in especial my good

brother, Sir Gareth.  Sir, said the man, he is slain, and

that is great pity.  Who slew him? said Sir Gawaine.

Sir, said the man, Launcelot slew them both.  That may I

not believe, said Sir Gawaine, that ever he slew my brother,

Sir Gareth; for I dare say my brother Gareth loved him

better than me, and all his brethren, and the king both.

Also I dare say, an Sir Launcelot had desired my brother

Sir Gareth, with him he would have been with him against

the king and us all, and therefore I may never believe that

Sir Launcelot slew my brother.  Sir, said this man, it is

noised that he slew him.

CHAPTER X

How King Arthur at the request of Sir Gawaine concluded

to make war against Sir Launcelot, and laid siege to

his castle called Joyous Gard

ALAS, said Sir Gawaine, now is my joy gone.  And then

he fell down and swooned, and long he lay there as he had

been dead.  And then, when he arose of his swoon, he

cried out sorrowfully, and said:  Alas!  And right so Sir

Gawaine ran to the king, crying and weeping:  O King

Arthur, mine uncle, my good brother Sir Gareth is slain,

and so is my brother Sir Gaheris, the which were two

noble knights.  Then the king wept, and he both; and so

they fell a-swooning.  And when they were revived then

spake Sir Gawaine:  Sir, I will go see my brother, Sir

Gareth.  Ye may not see him, said the king, for I caused

him to be interred, and Sir Gaheris both; for I well

understood that ye would make over-much sorrow, and the sight

of Sir Gareth should have caused your double sorrow.

Alas, my lord, said Sir Gawaine, how slew he my brother,

Sir Gareth?  Mine own good lord I pray you tell me.

Truly, said the king, I shall tell you how it is told me, Sir

Launcelot slew him and Sir Gaheris both.  Alas, said Sir

Gawaine, they bare none arms against him, neither of them

both.  I wot not how it was, said the king, but as it is

said, Sir Launcelot slew them both in the thickest of the

press and knew them not; and therefore let us shape a

remedy for to revenge their deaths.

My king, my lord, and mine uncle, said Sir Gawaine,

wit you well now I shall make you a promise that I shall

hold by my knighthood, that from this day I shall never

fail Sir Launcelot until the one of us have slain the other.

And therefore I require you, my lord and king, dress you

to the war, for wit you well I will be revenged upon Sir

Launcelot; and therefore, as ye will have my service and

my love, now haste you thereto, and assay your friends.

For I promise unto God, said Sir Gawaine, for the death

of my brother, Sir Gareth, I shall seek Sir Launcelot

throughout seven kings' realms, but I shall slay him or else

he shall slay me.  Ye shall not need to seek him so far,

said the king, for as I hear say, Sir Launcelot will abide

me and you in the Joyous Gard; and much people draweth

unto him, as I hear say.  That may I believe, said Sir

Gawaine; but my lord, he said, assay your friends, and I

will assay mine.  It shall be done, said the king, and as I

suppose I shall be big enough to draw him out of the

biggest tower of his castle.

So then the king sent letters and writs throughout all

England, both in the length and the breadth, for to assummon

all his knights.  And so unto Arthur drew many knights,

dukes, and earls, so that he had a great host.  And when

they were assembled, the king informed them how Sir

Launcelot had bereft him his queen.  Then the king and all

his host made them ready to lay siege about Sir Launcelot,

where he lay within Joyous Gard.  Thereof heard Sir

Launcelot, and purveyed him of many good knights, for

with him held many knights; and some for his own sake,

and some for the queen's sake.  Thus they were on both

parties well furnished and garnished of all manner of thing

that longed to the war.  But King Arthur's host was so

big that Sir Launcelot would not abide him in the field,

for he was full loath to do battle against the king; but Sir

Launcelot drew him to his strong castle with all manner of

victual, and as many noble men as he might suffice within

the town and the castle.  Then came King Arthur with

Sir Gawaine with an huge host, and laid a siege all about

Joyous Gard, both at the town and at the castle, and there

they made strong war on both parties.  But in no wise Sir

Launcelot would ride out, nor go out of his castle, of long

time; neither he would none of his good knights to issue

out, neither none of the town nor of the castle, until fifteen

weeks were past.

CHAPTER XI

Of the communication between King Arthur and Sir Launcelot,

and how King Arthur reproved him.

THEN it befell upon a day in harvest time, Sir Launcelot

looked over the walls, and spake on high unto King Arthur

and Sir Gawaine: My lords both, wit ye well all is in vain

that ye make at this siege, for here win ye no worship but

maugre and dishonour; for an it list me to come myself

out and my good knights, I should full soon make an end

of this war.  Come forth, said Arthur unto Launcelot, an

thou durst, and I promise thee I shall meet thee in midst

of the field.  God defend me, said Sir Launcelot, that ever

I should encounter with the most noble king that made me

knight.  Fie upon thy fair language, said the king, for wit

you well and trust it, I am thy mortal foe, and ever will

to my death day; for thou hast slain my good knights,

and full noble men of my blood, that I shall never recover

again.  Also thou hast lain by my queen, and holden her

many winters, and sithen like a traitor taken her from me

by force.

My most noble lord and king, said Sir Launcelot, ye

may say what ye will, for ye wot well with yourself will I

not strive; but thereas ye say I have slain your good

knights, I wot well that I have done so, and that me sore

repenteth; but I was enforced to do battle with them in

saving of my life, or else I must have suffered them to

have slain me.  And as for my lady, Queen Guenever,

except your person of your highness, and my lord Sir

Gawaine, there is no knight under heaven that dare make

it good upon me, that ever I was a traitor unto your person.

And where it please you to say that I have holden my lady

your queen years and winters, unto that I shall ever make

a large answer, and prove it upon any knight that beareth

the life, except your person and Sir Gawaine, that my lady,

Queen Guenever, is a true lady unto your person as any is

living unto her lord, and that will I make good with my

hands.  Howbeit it hath liked her good grace to have me

in chierte, and to cherish me more than any other knight;

and unto my power I again have deserved her love, for

ofttimes, my lord, ye have consented that she should be

brent and destroyed, in your heat, and then it fortuned me

to do battle for her, and or I departed from her adversary

they confessed their untruth, and she full worshipfully excused.

And at such times, my lord Arthur, said Sir Launcelot,

ye loved me, and thanked me when I saved your queen

from the fire; and then ye promised me for ever to be my

good lord; and now methinketh ye reward me full ill for

my good service.  And my good lord, meseemeth I had

lost a great part of my worship in my knighthood an I had

suffered my lady, your queen, to have been brent, and

insomuch she should have been brent for my sake.  For

sithen I have done battles for your queen in other quarrels

than in mine own, meseemeth now I had more right to do

battle for her in right quarrel.  And therefore my good

and gracious lord, said Sir Launcelot, take your queen unto

your good grace, for she is both fair, true, and good.

Fie on thee, false recreant knight, said Sir Gawaine;

I let thee wit my lord, mine uncle, King Arthur, shall

have his queen and thee, maugre thy visage, and slay you

both whether it please him.  It may well be, said Sir

Launcelot, but wit you well, my lord Sir Gawaine, an me

list to come out of this castle ye should win me and the

queen more harder than ever ye won a strong battle.  Fie

on thy proud words, said Sir Gawaine; as for my lady, the

queen, I will never say of her shame.  But thou, false and

recreant knight, said Sir Gawaine, what cause hadst thou

to slay my good brother Sir Gareth, that loved thee more

than all my kin? Alas thou madest him knight thine

own hands; why slew thou him that loved thee so well?

For to excuse me, said Sir Launcelot, it helpeth me not,

but by Jesu, and by the faith that I owe to the high order

of knighthood, I should with as good will have slain my

nephew, Sir Bors de Ganis, at that time.  But alas that

ever I was so unhappy, said Launcelot, that I had not seen

Sir Gareth and Sir Gaheris.

Thou liest, recreant knight, said Sir Gawaine, thou

slewest him in despite of me; and therefore, wit thou well

I shall make war to thee, and all the while that I may live.

That me repenteth, said Sir Launcelot; for well I understand

it helpeth not to seek none accordment while ye, Sir

Gawaine, are so mischievously set.  And if ye were not,

I would not doubt to have the good grace of my lord

Arthur.  I believe it well, false recreant knight, said Sir

Gawaine; for thou hast many long days overled me and

us all, and destroyed many of our good knights.  Ye say

as it pleaseth you, said Sir Launcelot; and yet may it never

be said on me, and openly proved, that ever I by forecast

of treason slew no good knight, as my lord, Sir Gawaine,

ye have done; and so did I never, but in my defence that

I was driven thereto, in saving of my life.  Ah, false knight,

said Sir Gawaine, that thou meanest by Sir Lamorak: wit

thou well I slew him.  Ye slew him not yourself, said Sir

Launcelot; it had been overmuch on hand for you to have

slain him, for he was one of the best knights christened of

his age, and it was great pity of his death.

CHAPTER XII

How the cousins and kinsmen of Sir Launcelot excited him

to go out to battle, and how they made them ready

WELL, well, said Sir Gawaine to Launcelot, sithen thou

enbraidest me of Sir Lamorak, wit thou well I shall never

leave thee till I have thee at such avail that thou shalt not

escape my hands.  I trust you well enough, said Sir

Launcelot, an ye may get me I get but little mercy.  But

as the French book saith, the noble King Arthur would

have taken his queen again, and have been accorded with

Sir Launcelot, but Sir Gawaine would not suffer him by no

manner of mean.  And then Sir Gawaine made many men

to blow upon Sir Launcelot; and all at once they called

him false recreant knight.

Then when Sir Bors de Ganis, Sir Ector de Maris, and

Sir Lionel, heard this outcry, they called to them Sir

Palomides, Sir Safere's brother, and Sir Lavaine, with many

more of their blood, and all they went unto Sir Launcelot,

and said thus:  My lord Sir Launcelot, wit ye well we have

great scorn of the great rebukes that we heard Gawaine

say to you; wherefore we pray you, and charge you as ye

will have our service, keep us no longer within these walls;

for wit you well plainly, we will ride into the field and do

battle with them; for ye fare as a man that were afeard,

and for all your fair speech it will not avail you.  For wit

you well Sir Gawaine will not suffer you to be accorded

with King Arthur, and therefore fight for your life and

your right, an ye dare.  Alas, said Sir Launcelot, for to

ride out of this castle, and to do battle, I am full loath.

Then Sir Launcelot spake on high unto Sir Arthur and

Sir Gawaine:  My lords, I require you and beseech you,

sithen that I am thus required and conjured to ride into

the field, that neither you, my lord King Arthur, nor you

Sir Gawaine, come not into the field.  What shall we do

then? said Sir Gawaine, [N]is this the king's quarrel with

thee to fight? and it is my quarrel to fight with thee, Sir

Launcelot, because of the death of my brother Sir Gareth.

Then must I needs unto battle, said Sir Launcelot.  Now

wit you well, my lord Arthur and Sir Gawaine, ye will

repent it whensomever I do battle with you.

And so then they departed either from other; and then

either party made them ready on the morn for to do battle,

and great purveyance was made on both sides; and Sir

Gawaine let purvey many knights for to wait upon Sir

Launcelot, for to overset him and to slay him.  And on

the morn at underne Sir Arthur was ready in the field with

three great hosts.  And then Sir Launcelot's fellowship

came out at three gates, in a full good array; and Sir Lionel

came in the foremost battle, and Sir Launcelot came in the

middle, and Sir Bors came out at the third gate.  Thus

they came in order and rule, as full noble knights; and

always Sir Launcelot charged all his knights in any wise to

save King Arthur and Sir Gawaine.

CHAPTER XIII

How Sir Gawaine jousted and smote down Sir Lionel, and

how Sir Launcelot horsed King Arthur

THEN came forth Sir Gawaine from the king's host, and

he came before and proffered to joust.  And Sir Lionel

was a fierce knight, and lightly he encountered with Sir

Gawaine; and there Sir Gawaine smote Sir Lionel through

out the body, that he dashed to the earth like as he had

been dead; and then Sir Ector de Maris and other more

bare him into the castle.  Then there began a great stour,

and much people was slain; and ever Sir Launcelot did

what he might to save the people on King Arthur's party,

for Sir Palomides, and Sir Bors, and Sir Safere, overthrew

many knights, for they were deadly knights.  And Sir

Blamore de Ganis, and Sir Bleoberis de Ganis, with Sir

Bellangere le Beuse, these six knights did much harm; and

ever King Arthur was nigh about Sir Launcelot to have

slain him, and Sir Launcelot suffered him, and would not

strike again.  So Sir Bors encountered with King Arthur,

and there with a spear Sir Bors smote him down; and so

he alighted and drew his sword, and said to Sir Launcelot:

Shall I make an end of this war? and that he meant to have

slain King Arthur.  Not so hardy, said Sir Launcelot,

upon pain of thy head, that thou touch him no more, for

I will never see that most noble king that made me knight

neither slain ne shamed.  And therewithal Sir Launcelot

alighted off his horse and took up the king and horsed him

again, and said thus:  My lord Arthur, for God's love stint

this strife, for ye get here no worship, and I would do mine

utterance, but always I forbear you, and ye nor none of

yours forbeareth me; my lord, remember what I have done

in many places, and now I am evil rewarded.

Then when King Arthur was on horseback, he looked

upon Sir Launcelot, and then the tears brast out of his

eyen, thinking on the great courtesy that was in Sir

Launcelot more than in any other man; and therewith the

king rode his way, and might no longer behold him, and

said:  Alas, that ever this war began.  And then either

parties of the battles withdrew them to repose them, and

buried the dead, and to the wounded men they laid soft

salves; and thus they endured that night till on the morn.

And on the morn by underne they made them ready to do

battle.  And then Sir Bors led the forward.

So upon the morn there came Sir Gawaine as brim as

any boar, with a great spear in his hand.  And when Sir

Bors saw him he thought to revenge his brother Sir Lionel

of the despite that Sir Gawaine did him the other day.

And so they that knew either other feutred their spears,

and with all their mights of their horses and themselves,

they met together so felonously that either bare other

through, and so they fell both to the earth; and then the

battles joined, and there was much slaughter on both parties.

Then Sir Launcelot rescued Sir Bors, and sent him into

the castle; but neither Sir Gawaine nor Sir Bors died not

of their wounds, for they were all holpen.  Then Sir

Lavaine and Sir Urre prayed Sir Launcelot to do his pain,

and fight as they had done; For we see ye forbear and

spare, and that doth much harm; therefore we pray you

spare not your enemies no more than they do you.  Alas,

said Sir Launcelot, I have no heart to fight against my lord

Arthur, for ever meseemeth I do not as I ought to do.

My lord, said Sir Palomides, though ye spare them all this

day they will never con you thank; and if they may get

you at avail ye are but dead.  So then Sir Launcelot

understood that they said him truth; and then he strained

himself more than he did aforehand, and because his nephew

Sir Bors was sore wounded.  And then within a little while,

by evensong time, Sir Launcelot and his party better stood,

for their horses went in blood past the fetlocks, there was

so much people slain.  And then for pity Sir Launcelot

withheld his knights, and suffered King Arthur's party for

to withdraw them aside.  And then Sir Launcelot's party

withdrew them into his castle, and either parties buried the

dead, and put salve unto the wounded men.

So when Sir Gawaine was hurt, they on King Arthur's

party were not so orgulous as they were toforehand to do

battle.  Of this war was noised through all Christendom,

and at the last it was noised afore the Pope; and he

considering the great goodness of King Arthur, and of Sir

Launcelot, that was called the most noblest knights of the

world, wherefore the Pope called unto him a noble clerk

that at that time was there present; the French book saith,

it was the Bishop of Rochester; and the Pope gave him

bulls under lead unto King Arthur of England, charging

him upon pain of interdicting of all England, that he take

his queen Dame Guenever unto him again, and accord with

Sir Launcelot.

CHAPTER XIV

How the Pope sent down his bulls to make peace, and how

Sir Launcelot brought the queen to King Arthur

SO when this Bishop was come to Carlisle he shewed the

king these bulls.  And when the king understood these

bulls he nist what to do: full fain he would have been

accorded with Sir Launcelot, but Sir Gawaine would not

suffer him; but as for to have the queen, thereto he agreed.

But in nowise Sir Gawaine would not suffer the king to

accord with Sir Launcelot; but as for the queen he

consented.  And then the Bishop had of the king his great

seal, and his assurance as he was a true anointed king that

Sir Launcelot should come safe, and go safe, and that the

queen should not be spoken unto of the king, nor of none

other, for no thing done afore time past; and of all these

appointments the Bishop brought with him sure assurance

and writing, to shew Sir Launcelot.

So when the Bishop was come to Joyous Gard, there

he shewed Sir Launcelot how the Pope had written to

Arthur and unto him, and there he told him the perils

if he withheld the queen from the king.  It was never in

my thought, said Launcelot, to withhold the queen from

my lord Arthur; but, insomuch she should have been

dead for my sake, meseemeth it was my part to save her

life, and put her from that danger, till better recover

might come.  And now I thank God, said Sir Launcelot,

that the Pope hath made her peace; for God knoweth,

said Sir Launcelot, I will be a thousandfold more gladder

to bring her again, than ever I was of her taking away;

with this, I may be sure to come safe and go safe, and

that the queen shall have her liberty as she had before;

and never for no thing that hath been surmised afore this

time, she never from this day stand in no peril.  For

else, said Sir Launcelot, I dare adventure me to keep her

from an harder shour than ever I kept her.  It shall not

need you, said the Bishop, to dread so much; for wit you

well, the Pope must be obeyed, and it were not the Pope's

worship nor my poor honesty to wit you distressed,

neither the queen, neither in peril, nor shamed.  And

then he shewed Sir Launcelot all his writing, both from

the Pope and from King Arthur.  This is sure enough,

said Sir Launcelot, for full well I dare trust my lord's

own writing and his seal, for he was never shamed of his

promise.  Therefore, said Sir Launcelot unto the Bishop,

ye shall ride unto the king afore, and recommend me

unto his good grace, and let him have knowledging that

this same day eight days, by the grace of God, I myself

shall bring my lady, Queen Guenever, unto him.  And

then say ye unto my most redoubted king, that I will say

largely for the queen, that I shall none except for dread

nor fear, but the king himself, and my lord Sir Gawaine;

and that is more for the king's love than for himself.

So the Bishop departed and came to the king at

Carlisle, and told him all how Sir Launcelot answered

him; and then the tears brast out of the king's eyen.

Then Sir Launcelot purveyed him an hundred knights,

and all were clothed in green velvet, and their horses

trapped to their heels; and every knight held a branch of

olive in his hand, in tokening of peace.  And the queen

had four-and-twenty gentlewomen following her in the

same wise; and Sir Launcelot had twelve coursers

following him, and on every courser sat a young gentleman,

and all they were arrayed in green velvet, with sarps

of gold about their quarters, and the horse trapped in the

same wise down to the heels, with many ouches, y-set with

stones and pearls in gold, to the number of a thousand.

And she and Sir Launcelot were clothed in white cloth of

gold tissue; and right so as ye have heard, as the French

book maketh mention, he rode with the queen from

Joyous Gard to Carlisle.  And so Sir Launcelot rode

throughout Carlisle, and so in the castle, that all men

might behold; and wit you well there was many a

weeping eye.  And then Sir Launcelot himself alighted

and avoided his horse, and took the queen, and so led her

where King Arthur was in his seat: and Sir Gawaine sat

afore him, and many other great lords.  So when Sir

Launcelot saw the king and Sir Gawaine, then he led the

queen by the arm, and then he kneeled down, and the

queen both.  Wit you well then was there many bold

knight there with King Arthur that wept as tenderly as

though they had seen all their kin afore them.  So the

king sat still, and said no word.  And when Sir Launcelot

saw his countenance, he arose and pulled up the queen

with him, and thus he spake full knightly.

CHAPTER XV

Of the deliverance of the queen to the king by Sir Launcelot,

and what language Sir Gawaine had to Sir Launcelot

MY most redoubted king, ye shall understand, by the

Pope's commandment and yours, I have brought to you

my lady the queen, as right requireth; and if there be

any knight, of whatsomever degree that he be, except

your person, that will say or dare say but that she is true

and clean to you, I here myself, Sir Launcelot du Lake,

will make it good upon his body, that she is a true lady

unto you; but liars ye have listened, and that hath

caused debate betwixt you and me.  For time hath been,

my lord Arthur, that ye have been greatly pleased with

me when I did battle for my lady, your queen; and full

well ye know, my most noble king, that she hath been

put to great wrong or this time; and sithen it pleased you

at many times that I should fight for her, meseemeth, my

good lord, I had more cause to rescue her from the fire,

insomuch she should have been brent for my sake.  For

they that told you those tales were liars, and so it fell

upon them; for by likelihood had not the might of God

been with me, I might never have endured fourteen

knights, and they armed and afore purposed, and I

unarmed and not purposed.  For I was sent for unto my

lady your queen, I wot not for what cause; but I was not

so soon within the chamber door, but anon Sir Agravaine

and Sir Mordred called me traitor and recreant knight.

They called thee right, said Sir Gawaine.  My lord Sir

Gawaine, said Sir Launcelot, in their quarrel they proved

themselves not in the right.  Well well, Sir Launcelot,

said the king, I have given thee no cause to do to me as

thou hast done, for I have worshipped thee and thine more

than any of all my knights.

My good lord, said Sir Launcelot, so ye be not

displeased, ye shall understand I and mine have done you

oft better service than any other knights have done, in

many divers places; and where ye have been full hard

bestead divers times, I have myself rescued you from

many dangers; and ever unto my power I was glad to

please you, and my lord Sir Gawaine; both in jousts, and

tournaments, and in battles set, both on horseback and on

foot, I have often rescued you, and my lord Sir Gawaine,

and many mo of your knights in many divers places.

For now I will make avaunt, said Sir Launcelot, I will

that ye all wit that yet I found never no manner of

knight but that I was overhard for him, an I had done

my utterance, thanked be God; howbeit I have been

matched with good knights, as Sir Tristram and Sir

Lamorak, but ever I had a favour unto them and a

deeming what they were.  And I take God to record,

said Sir Launcelot, I never was wroth nor greatly heavy

with no good knight an I saw him busy about to win

worship; and glad I was ever when I found any knight

that might endure me on horseback and on foot: howbeit

Sir Carados of the Dolorous Tower was a full noble

knight and a passing strong man, and that wot ye, my

lord Sir Gawaine; for he might well be called a noble

knight when he by fine force pulled you out of your

saddle, and bound you overthwart afore him to his saddle

bow; and there, my lord Sir Gawaine, I rescued you, and

slew him afore your sight.  Also I found his brother,

Sir Turquin, in likewise leading Sir Gaheris, your brother,

bounden afore him; and there I rescued your brother

and slew that Turquin, and delivered three-score-and-four

of my lord Arthur's knights out of his prison.  And now

I dare say, said Sir Launcelot, I met never with so strong

knights, nor so well fighting, as was Sir Carados and Sir

Turquin, for I fought with them to the uttermost.  And

therefore, said Sir Launcelot unto Sir Gawaine, meseemeth

ye ought of right to remember this; for, an I might

have your good will, I would trust to God to have my

lord Arthur's good grace.

CHAPTER XVI

Of the communication between Sir Gawaine and Sir Launcelot,

with much other language

THE king may do as he will, said Sir Gawaine, but wit

thou well, Sir Launcelot, thou and I shall never be

accorded while we live, for thou hast slain three of my

brethren; and two of them ye slew traitorly and piteously,

for they bare none harness against thee, nor none would

bear.  God would they had been armed, said Sir Launcelot,

for then had they been alive.  And wit ye well Sir

Gawaine, as for Sir Gareth, I love none of my kinsmen so

much as I did him; and ever while I live, said Sir

Launcelot, I will bewail Sir Gareth's death, not all only

for the great fear I have of you, but many causes cause

me to be sorrowful.  One is, for I made him knight;

another is, I wot well he loved me above all other knights;

and the third is, he was passing noble, true, courteous,

and gentle, and well conditioned; the fourth is, I wist

well, anon as I heard that Sir Gareth was dead, I should

never after have your love, but everlasting war betwixt

us; and also I wist well that ye would cause my noble

lord Arthur for ever to be my mortal foe.  And as Jesu

be my help, said Sir Launcelot, I slew never Sir Gareth

nor Sir Gaheris by my will; but alas that ever they were

unarmed that unhappy day.  But thus much I shall offer

me, said Sir Launcelot, if it may please the king's good

grace, and you, my lord Sir Gawaine, I shall first begin at

Sandwich, and there I shall go in my shirt, barefoot; and

at every ten miles' end I will found and gar make an

house of religion, of what order that ye will assign me,

with an whole convent, to sing and read, day and night,

in especial for Sir Gareth's sake and Sir Gaheris.  And

this shall I perform from Sandwich unto Carlisle; and

every house shall have sufficient livelihood.  And this

shall I perform while I have any livelihood in Christendom;

and there nis none of all these religious places, but

they shall be performed, furnished and garnished in all

things as an holy place ought to be, I promise you faithfully.

And this, Sir Gawaine, methinketh were more

fairer, holier, and more better to their souls, than ye, my

most noble king, and you, Sir Gawaine, to war upon me,

for thereby shall ye get none avail.

Then all knights and ladies that were there wept as

they were mad, and the tears fell on King Arthur's cheeks.

Sir Launcelot, said Sir Gawaine, I have right well heard

thy speech, and thy great proffers, but wit thou well, let

the king do as it pleased him, I will never forgive my

brothers' death, and in especial the death of my brother,

Sir Gareth.  And if mine uncle, King Arthur, will accord

with thee, he shall lose my service, for wit thou well thou

art both false to the king and to me.  Sir, said Launcelot

he beareth not the life that may make that good and if

ye, Sir Gawaine, will charge me with so high a thing, ye

must pardon me, for then needs must I answer you.

Nay, said Sir Gawaine, we are past that at this time, and

that caused the Pope, for he hath charged mine uncle, the

king, that he shall take his queen again, and to accord

with thee, Sir Launcelot, as for this season, and therefore

thou shalt go safe as thou camest.  But in this land thou

shalt not abide past fifteen days, such summons I give

thee: so the king and we were consented and accorded or

thou camest.  And else, said Sir Gawaine, wit thou well

thou shouldst not have come here, but if it were maugre

thy head.  And if it were not for the Pope's commandment,

said Sir Gawaine, I should do battle with mine own

body against thy body, and prove it upon thee, that thou

hast been both false unto mine uncle King Arthur, and to

me both; and that shall I prove upon thy body, when

thou art departed from hence, wheresomever I find thee.

CHAPTER XVII

How Sir Launcelot departed from the king and from Joyous

Gard over seaward, and what knights went with him

THEN Sir Launcelot sighed, and therewith the tears fell

on his cheeks, and then he said thus:  Alas, most noble

Christian realm, whom I have loved above all other realms,

and in thee I have gotten a great part of my worship, and

now I shall depart in this wise.  Truly me repenteth that

ever I came in this realm, that should be thus shamefully

banished, undeserved and causeless; but fortune is so

variant, and the wheel so moveable, there nis none

constant abiding, and that may be proved by many old

chronicles, of noble Ector, and Troilus, and Alisander,

the mighty conqueror, and many mo other; when

they were most in their royalty, they alighted lowest.

And so fareth it by me, said Sir Launcelot, for in this

realm I had worship, and by me and mine all the whole

Round Table hath been increased more in worship, by me

and mine blood, than by any other.  And therefore wit

thou well, Sir Gawaine, I may live upon my lands as well

as any knight that here is.  And if ye, most redoubted

king, will come upon my lands with Sir Gawaine to war

upon me, I must endure you as well as I may.  But as

to you, Sir Gawaine, if that ye come there, I pray you

charge me not with treason nor felony, for an ye do, I

must answer you.  Do thou thy best, said Sir Gawaine;

therefore hie thee fast that thou were gone, and wit thou

well we shall soon come after, and break the strongest

castle that thou hast, upon thy head.  That shall not

need, said Sir Launcelot, for an I were as orgulous set as

ye are, wit you well I should meet you in midst of the

field.  Make thou no more language, said Sir Gawaine,

but deliver the queen from thee, and pike thee lightly out

of this court.  Well, said Sir Launcelot, an I had wist of

this short coming, I would have advised me twice or that

I had come hither; for an the queen had been so dear to

me as ye noise her, I durst have kept her from the fellowship

of the best knights under heaven.

And then Sir Launcelot said unto Guenever, in hearing

of the king and them all:  Madam, now I must

depart from you and this noble fellowship for ever; and

sithen it is so, I beseech you to pray for me, and say me

well; and if ye be hard bestead by any false tongues,

lightly my lady send me word, and if any knight's hands

may deliver you by battle, I shall deliver you.  And

therewithal Sir Launcelot kissed the queen; and then he

said all openly .  Now let see what he be in this place that

dare say the queen is not true unto my lord Arthur, let

see who will speak an he dare speak.  And therewith he

brought the queen to the king, and then Sir Launcelot

took his leave and departed; and there was neither king,

duke, nor earl, baron nor knight, lady nor gentlewoman,

but all they wept as people out of their mind, except Sir

Gawaine.  And when the noble Sir Launcelot took his

horse to ride out of Carlisle, there was sobbing and weeping

for pure dole of his departing; and so he took his

way unto Joyous Gard.  And then ever after he called it

the Dolorous Gard.  And thus departed Sir Launcelot

from the court for ever.

And so when he came to Joyous Gard he called his

fellowship unto him, and asked them what they would do

Then they answered all wholly together with one voice

they would as he would do.  My fair fellows, said Sir

Launcelot, I must depart out of this most noble realm,

and now I shall depart it grieveth me sore, for I shall

depart with no worship, for a flemed man departed never

out of a realm with no worship; and that is my heaviness,

for ever I fear after my days that men shall chronicle upon

me that I was flemed out of this land; and else, my fair

lords, be ye sure, an I had not dread shame, my lady,

Queen Guenever, and I should never have departed.

Then spake many noble knights, as Sir Palomides, Sir

Safere his brother, and Sir Bellingere le Beuse, and Sir

Urre, with Sir Lavaine, with many others:  Sir, an ye be

so disposed to abide in this land we will never fail you;

and if ye list not to abide in this land there nis none of

the good knights that here be will fail you, for many

causes.  One is, all we that be not of your blood shall

never be welcome to the court.  And sithen it liked us to

take a part with you in your distress and heaviness in this

realm, wit you well it shall like us as well to go in other

countries with you, and there to take such part as ye do.

My fair lords, said Sir Launcelot, I well understand you,

and as I can, thank you: and ye shall understand, such

livelihood as I am born unto I shall depart with you in

this manner of wise; that is for to say, I shall depart all

my livelihood and all my lands freely among you, and I

myself will have as little as any of you, for have I

sufficient that may long to my person, I will ask none other

rich array; and I trust to God to maintain you on my

lands as well as ever were maintained any knights.  Then

spake all the knights at once:  He have shame that will

leave you; for we all understand in this realm will be now

no quiet, but ever strife and debate, now the fellowship of

the Round Table is broken; for by the noble fellowship

of the Round Table was King Arthur upborne, and by

their noblesse the king and all his realm was in quiet and

rest, and a great part they said all was because of your

noblesse.

CHAPTER XVIII

How Sir Launcelot passed over the sea, and how he made

great lords of the knights that went with him

TRULY, said Sir Launcelot, I thank you all of your good

saying, howbeit, I wot well, in me was not all the stability

of this realm, but in that I might I did my devoir; and

well I am sure I knew many rebellions in my days that by

me were peaced, and I trow we all shall hear of them in

short space, and that me sore repenteth.  For ever I dread

me, said Sir Launcelot, that Sir Mordred will make trouble,

for he is passing envious and applieth him to trouble.  So

they were accorded to go with Sir Launcelot to his lands;

and to make short tale, they trussed, and paid all that

would ask them; and wholly an hundred knights departed

with Sir Launcelot at once, and made their avows they

would never leave him for weal nor for woe.

And so they shipped at Cardiff, and sailed unto Benwick:

some men call it Bayonne, and some men call it

Beaune, where the wine of Beaune is.  But to say the

sooth, Sir Launcelot and his nephews were lords of all

France, and of all the lands that longed unto France; he

and his kindred rejoiced it all through Sir Launcelot's

noble prowess.  And then Sir Launcelot stuffed and

furnished and garnished all his noble towns and castles.

Then all the people of those lands came to Sir Launcelot

on foot and hands.  And so when he had stablished all

these countries, he shortly called a parliament; and there

he crowned Sir Lionel, King of France; and Sir Bors [he]

crowned him king of all King Claudas' lands; and Sir

Ector de Maris, that was Sir Launcelot's youngest brother,

he crowned him King of Benwick, and king of all Guienne,

that was Sir Launcelot's own land.  And he made Sir Ector

prince of them all, and thus he departed.

Then Sir Launcelot advanced all his noble knights,

and first he advanced them of his blood; that was Sir

Blamore, he made him Duke of Limosin in Guienne

and Sir Bleoberis he made him Duke of Poictiers, and

Sir Gahalantine he made him Duke of Querne, and

Sir Galihodin he made him Duke of Sentonge, and Sir

Galihud he made him Earl of Perigot, and Sir Menadeuke

he made him Earl of Roerge, and Sir Villiars the

Valiant he made him Earl of Bearn, and Sir Hebes le

Renoumes he made him Earl of Comange, and Sir

Lavaine he made him Earl of Arminak, and Sir Urre

he made him Earl of Estrake, and Sir Neroneus he made him

Earl of Pardiak, and Sir Plenorius he made Earl of Foise,

and Sir Selises of the Dolorous Tower he made him Earl

of Masauke, and Sir Melias de Lile he made him Earl of

Tursauk, and Sir Bellangere le Beuse he made Earl of the

Launds, and Sir Palomides he made him Duke of the

Provence, and Sir Safere he made him Duke of Landok, and

Sir Clegis he gave him the Earldom of Agente, and Sir

Sadok he gave the Earldom of Surlat, and Sir Dinas le

Seneschal he made him Duke of Anjou, and Sir Clarrus

he made him Duke of Normandy.  Thus Sir Launcelot

rewarded his noble knights and many more, that meseemeth

it were too long to rehearse

CHAPTER XIX

How King Arthur and Sir Gawaine made a great host ready

to go over sea to make war on Sir Launcelot

SO leave we Sir Launcelot in his lands, and his noble

knights with him, and return we again unto King Arthur

and to Sir Gawaine, that made a great host ready, to the

number of threescore thousand; and all thing was made

ready for their shipping to pass over the sea, and so they

shipped at Cardiff.  And there King Arthur made Sir

Mordred chief ruler of all England, and also he put

Queen Guenever under his governance; because Sir

Mordred was King Arthur's son, he gave him the rule

of his land and of his wife; and so the king passed the

sea and landed upon Sir Launcelot's lands, and there he

brent and wasted, through the vengeance of Sir Gawaine,

all that they might overrun.

When this word came to Sir Launcelot, that King

Arthur and Sir Gawaine were landed upon his lands, and

made a full great destruction and waste, then spake Sir

Bors, and said:  My lord Sir Launcelot, it is shame that

we suffer them thus to ride over our lands, for wit you

well, suffer ye them as long as ye will, they will do you

no favour an they may handle you.  Then said Sir Lionel

that was wary and wise:  My lord Sir Launcelot, I will

give this counsel, let us keep our strong walled towns

until they have hunger and cold, and blow on their nails;

and then let us freshly set upon them, and shred them

down as sheep in a field, that aliens may take example for

ever how they land upon our lands.

Then spake King Bagdemagus to Sir Launcelot:  Sir,

your courtesy will shende us all, and thy courtesy hath

waked all this sorrow; for an they thus over our lands

ride, they shall by process bring us all to nought whilst

we thus in holes us hide.  Then said Sir Galihud unto Sir

Launcelot:  Sir, here be knights come of kings' blood,

that will not long droop, and they are within these walls;

therefore give us leave, like as we be knights, to meet

them in the field, and we shall slay them, that they shall

curse the time that ever they came into this country.

Then spake seven brethren of North Wales, and they

were seven noble knights; a man might seek in seven

kings' lands or he might find such seven knights.  Then

they all said at once:  Sir Launcelot, for Christ's sake let

us out ride with Sir Galihud, for we be never wont to

cower in castles nor in noble towns.

Then spake Sir Launcelot, that was master and

governor of them all:  My fair lords, wit you well I

am full loath to ride out with my knights for shedding

of Christian blood; and yet my lands I understand be full

bare for to sustain any host awhile, for the mighty wars

that whilom made King Claudas upon this country, upon

my father King Ban, and on mine uncle King Bors; howbeit

we will as at this time keep our strong walls, and

I shall send a messenger unto my lord Arthur, a treaty

for to take; for better is peace than always war.

So Sir Launcelot sent forth a damosel and a dwarf

with her, requiring King Arthur to leave his warring

upon his lands; and so she start upon a palfrey, and the

dwarf ran by her side.  And when she came to the

pavilion of King Arthur, there she alighted; and there

met her a gentle knight, Sir Lucan the Butler, and said:

Fair damosel, come ye from Sir Launcelot du Lake?

Yea sir, she said, therefore I come hither to speak with

my lord the king.  Alas, said Sir Lucan, my lord Arthur

would love Launcelot, but Sir Gawaine will not suffer

him.  And then he said:  I pray to God, damosel, ye may

speed well, for all we that be about the king would Sir

Launcelot did best of any knight living.  And so with

this Lucan led the damosel unto the king where he sat

with Sir Gawaine, for to hear what she would say.  So

when she had told her tale, the water ran out of the king's

eyen, and all the lords were full glad for to advise the

king as to be accorded with Sir Launcelot, save all only

Sir Gawaine, and he said:  My lord mine uncle, what will

ye do?  Will ye now turn again, now ye are passed thus

far upon this journey? all the world will speak of your

villainy.  Nay, said Arthur, wit thou well, Sir Gawaine,

I will do as ye will advise me; and yet meseemeth, said

Arthur, his fair proffers were not good to be refused; but

sithen I am come so far upon this journey, I will that ye

give the damosel her answer, for I may not speak to her

for pity, for her proffers be so large.

CHAPTER XX

What message Sir Gawaine sent to Sir Launcelot; and how

King Arthur laid siege to Benwick, and other matters

THEN Sir Gawaine said to the damosel thus:  Damosel,

say ye to Sir Launcelot that it is waste labour now to sue

to mine uncle; for tell him, an he would have made any

labour for peace, he should have made it or this time, for

tell him now it is too late; and say that I, Sir Gawaine,

so send him word, that I promise him by the faith I owe

unto God and to knighthood, I shall never leave him till

he have slain me or I him.  So the damosel wept and

departed, and there were many weeping eyen; and so Sir

Lucan brought the damosel to her palfrey, and so she

came to Sir Launcelot where he was among all his knights.

And when Sir Launcelot had heard this answer, then

the tears ran down by his cheeks.  And then his noble

knights strode about him, and said:  Sir Launcelot,

wherefore make ye such cheer, think what ye are, and what

men we are, and let us noble knights match them in

midst of the field.  That may be lightly done, said Sir

Launcelot, but I was never so loath to do battle, and

therefore I pray you, fair sirs, as ye love me, be ruled as

I will have you, for I will always flee that noble king that

made me knight.  And when I may no further, I must

needs defend me, and that will be more worship for me

and us all than to compare with that noble king whom we

have all served.  Then they held their language, and as

that night they took their rest.

And upon the morn early, in the dawning of the day,

as knights looked out, they saw the city of Benwick

besieged round about; and fast they began to set up

ladders, and then they defied them out of the town, and

beat them from the walls wightly.  Then came forth Sir

Gawaine well armed upon a stiff steed, and he came before

the chief gate, with his spear in his hand, crying:  Sir

Launcelot, where art thou? is there none of you proud

knights dare break a spear with me?  Then Sir Bors

made him ready, and came forth out of the town, and

there Sir Gawaine encountered with Sir Bors.  And at

that time he smote Sir Bors down from his horse, and

almost he had slain him; and so Sir Bors was rescued and

borne into the town.  Then came forth Sir Lionel, brother

to Sir Bors, and thought to revenge him; and either

feutred their spears, and ran together; and there they

met spitefully, but Sir Gawaine had such grace that he

smote Sir Lionel down, and wounded him there passing

sore; and then Sir Lionel was rescued and borne into the

town.  And this Sir Gawaine came every day, and he

failed not but that he smote down one knight or other.

So thus they endured half a year, and much slaughter

was of people on both parties.  Then it befell upon a day,

Sir Gawaine came afore the gates armed at all pieces on a

noble horse, with a great spear in his hand; and then he

cried with a loud voice:  Where art thou now, thou false

traitor, Sir Launcelot?  Why hidest thou thyself within

holes and walls like a coward?  Look out now, thou

false traitor knight, and here I shall revenge upon thy

body the death of my three brethren.  All this language

heard Sir Launcelot every deal; and his kin and his

knights drew about him, and all they said at once to Sir

Launcelot:  Sir Launcelot, now must ye defend you like a

knight, or else ye be shamed for ever; for, now ye be

called upon treason, it is time for you to stir, for ye have

slept over-long and suffered over-much.  So God me

help, said Sir Launcelot, I am right heavy of Sir Gawaine's

words, for now he charged me with a great charge; and

therefore I wot it as well as ye, that I must defend me, or

else to be recreant.

Then Sir Launcelot bade saddle his strongest horse,

and bade let fetch his arms, and bring all unto the gate

of the tower; and then Sir Launcelot spake on high unto

King Arthur, and said:  My lord Arthur, and noble king

that made me knight, wit you well I am right heavy for

your sake, that ye thus sue upon me; and always I forbare

you, for an I would have been vengeable, I might

have met you in midst of the field, and there to have

made your boldest knights full tame.  And now I have

forborne half a year, and suffered you and Sir Gawaine

to do what ye would do; and now may I endure it no

longer, for now must I needs defend myself, insomuch

Sir Gawaine hath appealed me of treason; the which is

greatly against my will that ever I should fight against

any of your blood, but now I may not forsake it, I am

driven thereto as a beast till a bay.

Then Sir Gawaine said:  Sir Launcelot, an thou durst

do battle, leave thy babbling and come off, and let us ease

our hearts.  Then Sir Launcelot armed him lightly, and

mounted upon his horse, and either of the knights gat

great spears in their hands, and the host without stood

still all apart, and the noble knights came out of the city

by a great number, insomuch that when Arthur saw the

number of men and knights, he marvelled, and said to

himself:  Alas, that ever Sir Launcelot was against me, for

now I see he hath forborne me.  And so the covenant

was made, there should no man nigh them, nor deal with

them, till the one were dead or yelden.

CHAPTER XXI

How Sir Launcelot and Sir Gawaine did battle together,

and how Sir Gawaine was overthrown and hurt

THEN Sir Gawaine and Sir Launcelot departed a great

way asunder, and then they came together with all their

horses' might as they might run, and either smote other

in midst of their shields; but the knights were so strong,

and their spears so big, that their horses might not endure

their buffets, and so their horses fell to the earth; and

then they avoided their horses, and dressed their shields

afore them.  Then they stood together and gave many sad

strokes on divers places of their bodies, that the blood

brast out on many sides and places.  Then had Sir

Gawaine such a grace and gift that an holy man had

given to him, that every day in the year, from underne

till high noon, his might increased those three hours as

much as thrice his strength, and that caused Sir Gawaine

to win great honour.  And for his sake King Arthur

made an ordinance, that all manner of battles for any

quarrels that should be done afore King Arthur should

begin at underne; and all was done for Sir Gawaine's love,

that by likelihood, if Sir Gawaine were on the one part,

he should have the better in battle while his strength

endureth three hours; but there were but few knights

that time living that knew this advantage that Sir Gawaine

had, but King Arthur all only.

Thus Sir Launcelot fought with Sir Gawaine, and

when Sir Launcelot felt his might evermore increase, Sir

Launcelot wondered and dread him sore to be shamed.

For as the French book saith, Sir Launcelot weened, when

he felt Sir Gawaine double his strength, that he had been

a fiend and none earthly man; wherefore Sir Launcelot

traced and traversed, and covered himself with his shield,

and kept his might and his braide during three hours;

and that while Sir Gawaine gave him many sad brunts,

and many sad strokes, that all the knights that beheld

Sir Launcelot marvelled how that he might endure him;

but full little understood they that travail that Sir

Launcelot had for to endure him.  And then when it was

past noon Sir Gawaine had no more but his own might.

When Sir Launcelot felt him so come down, then he

stretched him up and stood near Sir Gawaine, and said

thus:  My lord Sir Gawaine, now I feel ye have done;

now my lord Sir Gawaine, I must do my part, for many

great and grievous strokes I have endured you this day

with great pain.

Then Sir Launcelot doubled his strokes and gave Sir

Gawaine such a buffet on the helmet that he fell down

on his side, and Sir Launcelot withdrew him from him.

Why withdrawest thou thee? said Sir Gawaine; now turn

again, false traitor knight, and slay me, for an thou leave

me thus, when I am whole I shall do battle with thee

again.  I shall endure you, Sir, by God's grace, but wit

thou well, Sir Gawaine, I will never smite a felled knight.

And so Sir Launcelot went into the city; and Sir Gawaine

was borne into King Arthur's pavilion, and leeches were

brought to him, and searched and salved with soft ointments.

And then Sir Launcelot said: Now have good

day, my lord the king, for wit you well ye win no worship

at these walls; and if I would my knights outbring, there

should many a man die.  Therefore, my lord Arthur,

remember you of old kindness; and however I fare, Jesu

be your guide in all places.

CHAPTER XXII

Of the sorrow that King Arthur made for the war, and of

another battle where also Sir Gawaine had the worse

ALAS, said the king, that ever this unhappy war was

begun; for ever Sir Launcelot forbeareth me in all places,

and in likewise my kin, and that is seen well this day by

my nephew Sir Gawaine.  Then King Arthur fell sick for

sorrow of Sir Gawaine, that he was so sore hurt, and

because of the war betwixt him and Sir Launcelot.  So

then they on King Arthur's part kept the siege with little

war withoutforth; and they withinforth kept their walls,

and defended them when need was.  Thus Sir Gawaine

lay sick three weeks in his tents, with all manner

of leech-craft that might be had.  And as soon as Sir Gawaine

might go and ride, he armed him at all points, and start

upon a courser, and gat a spear in his hand, and so he came

riding afore the chief gate of Benwick; and there he cried

on height:  Where art thou, Sir Launcelot?  Come forth,

thou false traitor knight and recreant, for I am here, Sir

Gawaine, will prove this that I say on thee.

All this language Sir Launcelot heard, and then he

said thus:  Sir Gawaine, me repents of your foul saying,

that ye will not cease of your language; for you wot well,

Sir Gawaine, I know your might and all that ye may do;

and well ye wot, Sir Gawaine, ye may not greatly hurt

me.  Come down, traitor knight, said he, and make it

good the contrary with thy hands, for it mishapped me

the last battle to be hurt of thy hands; therefore wit thou

well I am come this day to make amends, for I ween this

day to lay thee as low as thou laidest me.  Jesu defend

me, said Sir Launcelot, that ever I be so far in your

danger as ye have been in mine, for then my days were

done.  But Sir Gawaine, said Sir Launcelot, ye shall not

think that I tarry long, but sithen that ye so unknightly

call me of treason, ye shall have both your hands full of

me.  And then Sir Launcelot armed him at all points,

and mounted upon his horse, and gat a great spear in his

hand, and rode out at the gate.  And both the hosts were

assembled, of them without and of them within, and stood

in array full manly.  And both parties were charged to

hold them still, to see and behold the battle of these two

noble knights.  And then they laid their spears in their

rests, and they came together as thunder, and Sir Gawaine

brake his spear upon Sir Launcelot in a hundred pieces

unto his hand; and Sir Launcelot smote him with a greater

might, that Sir Gawaine's horse's feet raised, and so the

horse and he fell to the earth.  Then Sir Gawaine deliverly

avoided his horse, and put his shield afore him, and eagerly

drew his sword, and bade Sir Launcelot:  Alight, traitor

knight, for if this mare's son hath failed me, wit thou well

a king's son and a queen's son shall not fail thee.

Then Sir Launcelot avoided his horse, and dressed his

shield afore him, and drew his sword; and so stood they

together and gave many sad strokes, that all men on both

parties had thereof passing great wonder.  But when Sir

Launcelot felt Sir Gawaine's might so marvellously

increase, he then withheld his courage and his wind, and

kept himself wonder covert of his might; and under his

shield he traced and traversed here and there, to break

Sir Gawaine's strokes and his courage; and Sir Gawaine

enforced himself with all his might and power to destroy

Sir Launcelot; for as the French book saith, ever as Sir

Gawaine's might increased, right so increased his wind

and his evil will.  Thus Sir Gawaine did great pain unto

Sir Launcelot three hours, that he had right great pain for

to defend him.

And when the three hours were passed, that Sir

Launcelot felt that Sir Gawaine was come to his own

proper strength, then Sir Launcelot said unto Sir Gawaine:

Now have I proved you twice, that ye are a full dangerous

knight, and a wonderful man of your might; and many

wonderful deeds have ye done in your days, for by your

might increasing you have deceived many a full noble and

valiant knight; and, now I feel that ye have done your

mighty deeds, now wit you well I must do my deeds.

And then Sir Launcelot stood near Sir Gawaine, and then

Sir Launcelot doubled his strokes; and Sir Gawaine

defended him mightily, but nevertheless Sir Launcelot smote

such a stroke upon Sir Gawaine's helm, and upon the old

wound, that Sir Gawaine sinked down upon his one side

in a swoon.  And anon as he did awake he waved and

foined at Sir Launcelot as he lay, and said:  Traitor

knight, wit thou well I am not yet slain, come thou near

me and perform this battle unto the uttermost.  I will no

more do than I have done, said Sir Launcelot, for when I

see you on foot I will do battle upon you all the while I

see you stand on your feet; but for to smite a wounded

man that may not stand, God defend me from such a

shame.  And then he turned him and went his way

toward the city.  And Sir Gawaine evermore calling him

traitor knight, and said:  Wit thou well Sir Launcelot,

when I am whole I shall do battle with thee again, for I

shall never leave thee till that one of us be slain.  Thus

as this siege endured, and as Sir Gawaine lay sick near a

month; and when he was well recovered and ready within

three days to do battle again with Sir Launcelot, right so

came tidings unto Arthur from England that made King

Arthur and all his host to remove.

<oe Here followeth the xxi.  book.>

BOOK XXI

CHAPTER I

How Sir Mordred presumed and took on him to be King of

England, and would have married the queen, his father's

wife

AS Sir Mordred was ruler of all England, he did do make

letters as though that they came from beyond the sea, and

the letters specified that King Arthur was slain in battle

with Sir Launcelot.  Wherefore Sir Mordred made a

parliament, and called the lords together, and there he

made them to choose him king; and so was he crowned

at Canterbury, and held a feast there fifteen days; and

afterward he drew him unto Winchester, and there he

took the Queen Guenever, and said plainly that he would

wed her which was his uncle's wife and his father's wife.

And so he made ready for the feast, and a day prefixed

that they should be wedded; wherefore Queen Guenever

was passing heavy.  But she durst not discover her heart,

but spake fair, and agreed to Sir Mordred's will.  Then

she desired of Sir Mordred for to go to London, to buy

all manner of things that longed unto the wedding.  And

because of her fair speech Sir Mordred trusted her well

enough, and gave her leave to go.  And so when she

came to London she took the Tower of London, and

suddenly in all haste possible she stuffed it with all

manner of victual, and well garnished it with men, and so

kept it.

Then when Sir Mordred wist and understood how he

was beguiled, he was passing wroth out of measure.  And

a short tale for to make, he went and laid a mighty siege

about the Tower of London, and made many great

assaults thereat, and threw many great engines unto them,

and shot great guns.  But all might not prevail Sir

Mordred, for Queen Guenever would never for fair speech nor

for foul, would never trust to come in his hands again.

Then came the Bishop of Canterbury, the which was

a noble clerk and an holy man, and thus he said to Sir

Mordred:  Sir, what will ye do? will ye first displease

God and sithen shame yourself, and all knighthood?  Is

not King Arthur your uncle, no farther but your mother's

brother, and on her himself King Arthur begat you upon his

own sister, therefore how may you wed your father's wife?

Sir, said the noble clerk, leave this opinion or I shall curse

you with book and bell and candle.  Do thou thy worst,

said Sir Mordred, wit thou well I shall defy thee.  Sir,

said the Bishop, and wit you well I shall not fear me to

do that me ought to do.  Also where ye noise where my

lord Arthur is slain, and that is not so, and therefore ye

will make a foul work in this land.  Peace, thou false

priest, said Sir Mordred, for an thou chafe me any more

I shall make strike off thy head.  So the Bishop departed

and did the cursing in the most orgulist wise that might

be done.  And then Sir Mordred sought the Bishop of

Canterbury, for to have slain him.  Then the Bishop fled,

and took part of his goods with him, and went nigh unto

Glastonbury; and there he was as priest hermit in a

chapel, and lived in poverty and in holy prayers, for well

he understood that mischievous war was at hand.

Then Sir Mordred sought on Queen Guenever by

letters and sonds, and by fair means and foul means, for

to have her to come out of the Tower of London; but

all this availed not, for she answered him shortly, openly

and privily, that she had liefer slay herself than to be

married with him.  Then came word to Sir Mordred that

King Arthur had araised the siege for Sir Launcelot, and

he was coming homeward with a great host, to be avenged

upon Sir Mordred; wherefore Sir Mordred made write

writs to all the barony of this land, and much people

drew to him.  For then was the common voice among

them that with Arthur was none other life but war and

strife, and with Sir Mordred was great joy and bliss.

Thus was Sir Arthur depraved, and evil said of.  And

many there were that King Arthur had made up of

nought, and given them lands, might not then say him a

good word.  Lo ye all Englishmen, see ye not what a

mischief here was! for he that was the most king and

knight of the world, and most loved the fellowship of

noble knights, and by him they were all upholden, now

might not these Englishmen hold them content with him.

Lo thus was the old custom and usage of this land; and

also men say that we of this land have not yet lost nor

forgotten that custom and usage.  Alas, this is a great

default of us Englishmen, for there may no thing please

us no term.  And so fared the people at that time, they

were better pleased with Sir Mordred than they were with

King Arthur; and much people drew unto Sir Mordred,

and said they would abide with him for better and for

worse.  And so Sir Mordred drew with a great host to

Dover, for there he heard say that Sir Arthur would

arrive, and so he thought to beat his own father from his

lands; and the most part of all England held with Sir

Mordred, the people were so new-fangle.

CHAPTER II

How after that King Arthur had tidings, he returned and

came to Dover, where Sir Mordred met him to let his

landing; and of the death of Sir Gawaine

AND so as Sir Mordred was at Dover with his host, there

came King Arthur with a great navy of ships, and galleys,

and carracks.  And there was Sir Mordred ready awaiting

upon his landing, to let his own father to land upon the

land that he was king over.  Then there was launching

of great boats and small, and full of noble men of arms;

and there was much slaughter of gentle knights, and

many a full bold baron was laid full low, on both parties.

But King Arthur was so courageous that there might no

manner of knights let him to land, and his knights fiercely

followed him; and so they landed maugre Sir Mordred

and all his power, and put Sir Mordred aback, that he

fled and all his people.

So when this battle was done, King Arthur let bury

his people that were dead.  And then was noble Sir

Gawaine found in a great boat, lying more than half dead

When Sir Arthur wist that Sir Gawaine was laid so low;

he went unto him; and there the king made sorrow out

of measure, and took Sir Gawaine in his arms, and thrice

he there swooned.  And then when he awaked, he said:

Alas, Sir Gawaine, my sister's son, here now thou liest;

the man in the world that I loved most; and now is my

joy gone, for now, my nephew Sir Gawaine, I will discover

me unto your person: in Sir Launcelot and you I most

had my joy, and mine affiance, and now have I lost my

joy of you both; wherefore all mine earthly joy is gone

from me.  Mine uncle King Arthur, said Sir Gawaine,

wit you well my death-day is come, and all is through

mine own hastiness and wilfulness; for I am smitten upon

the old wound the which Sir Launcelot gave me, on the

which I feel well I must die; and had Sir Launcelot been

with you as he was, this unhappy war had never begun;

and of all this am I causer, for Sir Launcelot and his

blood, through their prowess, held all your cankered

enemies in subjection and daunger.  And now, said Sir

Gawaine, ye shall miss Sir Launcelot.  But alas, I would

not accord with him, and therefore, said Sir Gawaine, I

pray you, fair uncle, that I may have paper, pen, and ink,

that I may write to Sir Launcelot a cedle with mine own

hands.

And then when paper and ink was brought, then

Gawaine was set up weakly by King Arthur, for he was

shriven a little to-fore; and then he wrote thus, as the

French book maketh mention:  Unto Sir Launcelot, flower

of all noble knights that ever I heard of or saw by my

days, I, Sir Gawaine, King Lot's son of Orkney, sister's

son unto the noble King Arthur, send thee greeting, and

let thee have knowledge that the tenth day of May I was

smitten upon the old wound that thou gavest me afore the

city of Benwick, and through the same wound that thou

gavest me I am come to my death-day.  And I will that

all the world wit, that I, Sir Gawaine, knight of the Table

Round, sought my death, and not through thy deserving,

but it was mine own seeking; wherefore I beseech thee,

Sir Launcelot, to return again unto this realm, and see

my tomb, and pray some prayer more or less for my soul.

And this same day that I wrote this cedle, I was hurt to

the death in the same wound, the which I had of thy

hand, Sir Launcelot; for of a more nobler man might

I not be slain.  Also Sir Launcelot, for all the love

that ever was betwixt us, make no tarrying, but come

over the sea in all haste, that thou mayst with thy noble

knights rescue that noble king that made thee knight, that

is my lord Arthur; for he is full straitly bestead with a

false traitor, that is my half-brother, Sir Mordred; and he

hath let crown him king, and would have wedded my lady

Queen Guenever, and so had he done had she not put

herself in the Tower of London.  And so the tenth day

of May last past, my lord Arthur and we all landed upon

them at Dover; and there we put that false traitor, Sir

Mordred, to flight, and there it misfortuned me to be

stricken upon thy stroke.  And at the date of this letter

was written, but two hours and a half afore my death,

written with mine own hand, and so subscribed with part

of my heart's blood.  And I require thee, most famous

knight of the world, that thou wilt see my tomb.  And

then Sir Gawaine wept, and King Arthur wept; and then

they swooned both.  And when they awaked both, the

king made Sir Gawaine to receive his Saviour.  And then

Sir Gawaine prayed the king for to send for Sir Launcelot,

and to cherish him above all other knights.

And so at the hour of noon Sir Gawaine yielded up

the spirit; and then the king let inter him in a chapel

within Dover Castle; and there yet all men may see the

skull of him, and the same wound is seen that Sir Launcelot

gave him in battle.  Then was it told the king that

Sir Mordred had pight a new field upon Barham Down.

And upon the morn the king rode thither to him, and

there was a great battle betwixt them, and much people

was slain on both parties; but at the last Sir Arthur's

party stood best, and Sir Mordred and his party fled unto

Canterbury.

CHAPTER III

How after, Sir Gawaine's ghost appeared to King Arthur,

and warned him that he should not fight that day

AND then the king let search all the towns for his knights

that were slain, and interred them; and salved them with

soft salves that so sore were wounded.  Then much people

drew unto King Arthur.  And then they said that Sir

Mordred warred upon King Arthur with wrong.  And

then King Arthur drew him with his host down by the

seaside, westward toward Salisbury; and there was a day

assigned betwixt King Arthur and Sir Mordred, that they

should meet upon a down beside Salisbury, and not far

from the seaside; and this day was assigned on a Monday

after Trinity Sunday, whereof King Arthur was passing

glad, that he might be avenged upon Sir Mordred.  Then

Sir Mordred araised much people about London, for they

of Kent, Southsex, and Surrey, Estsex, and of Southfolk,

and of Northfolk, held the most part with Sir Mordred;

and many a full noble knight drew unto Sir Mordred and

to the king: but they that loved Sir Launcelot drew unto

Sir Mordred.

So upon Trinity Sunday at night, King Arthur dreamed

a wonderful dream, and that was this: that him seemed

he sat upon a chaflet in a chair, and the chair was fast to

a wheel, and thereupon sat King Arthur in the richest

cloth of gold that might be made; and the king thought

there was under him, far from him, an hideous deep black

water, and therein were all manner of serpents, and worms,

and wild beasts, foul and horrible; and suddenly the king

thought the wheel turned up-so-down, and he fell among

the serpents, and every beast took him by a limb; and

then the king cried as he lay in his bed and slept:  Help.

And then knights, squires, and yeomen, awaked the king;

and then he was so amazed that he wist not where he was;

and then he fell a-slumbering again, not sleeping nor

thoroughly waking.  So the king seemed verily that there

came Sir Gawaine unto him with a number of fair ladies

with him.  And when King Arthur saw him, then he

said:  Welcome, my sister's son; I weened thou hadst

been dead, and now I see thee alive, much am I beholding

unto Almighty Jesu.  O fair nephew and my sister's son,

what be these ladies that hither be come with you?  Sir,

said Sir Gawaine, all these be ladies for whom I have

foughten when I was man living, and all these are those

that I did battle for in righteous quarrel; and God hath

given them that grace at their great prayer, because I did

battle for them, that they should bring me hither unto

you: thus much hath God given me leave, for to warn

you of your death; for an ye fight as to-morn with Sir

Mordred, as ye both have assigned, doubt ye not ye must

be slain, and the most part of your people on both parties.

And for the great grace and goodness that almighty Jesu

hath unto you, and for pity of you, and many more other

good men there shall be slain, God hath sent me to you of

his special grace, to give you warning that in no wise ye

do battle as to-morn, but that ye take a treaty for a month

day; and proffer you largely, so as to-morn to be put in

a delay.  For within a month shall come Sir Launcelot

with all his noble knights, and rescue you worshipfully,

and slay Sir Mordred, and all that ever will hold with

him.  Then Sir Gawaine and all the ladies vanished.

And anon the king called upon his knights, squires,

and yeomen, and charged them wightly to fetch his noble

lords and wise bishops unto him.  And when they were

come, the king told them his avision, what Sir Gawaine had

told him, and warned him that if he fought on the morn

he should be slain.  Then the king commanded Sir Lucan

the Butler, and his brother Sir Bedivere, with two bishops

with them, and charged them in any wise, an they might,

Take a treaty for a month day with Sir Mordred, and spare

not, proffer him lands and goods as much as ye think

best.  So then they departed, and came to Sir Mordred,

where he had a grim host of an hundred thousand men.

And there they entreated Sir Mordred long time; and at

the last Sir Mordred was agreed for to have Cornwall and

Kent, by Arthur's days: after, all England, after the days

of King Arthur.

CHAPTER IV

How by misadventure of an adder the battle began, where

Mordred was slain, and Arthur hurt to the death

THEN were they condescended that King Arthur and

Sir Mordred should meet betwixt both their hosts, and

everych of them should bring fourteen persons; and they

came with this word unto Arthur.  Then said he:  I am

glad that this is done: and so he went into the field.  And

when Arthur should depart, he warned all his host that an

they see any sword drawn:  Look ye come on fiercely, and

slay that traitor, Sir Mordred, for I in no wise trust him.

In like wise Sir Mordred warned his host that:  An ye see

any sword drawn, look that ye come on fiercely, and so

slay all that ever before you standeth; for in no wise I

will not trust for this treaty, for I know well my father

will be avenged on me.  And so they met as their appointment

was, and so they were agreed and accorded thoroughly;

and wine was fetched, and they drank.  Right

soon came an adder out of a little heath bush, and it stung

a knight on the foot.  And when the knight felt him

stung, he looked down and saw the adder, and then he

drew his sword to slay the adder, and thought of none

other harm.  And when the host on both parties saw that

sword drawn, then they blew beams, trumpets, and horns,

and shouted grimly.  And so both hosts dressed them

together.  And King Arthur took his horse, and said:

Alas this unhappy day! and so rode to his party.  And

Sir Mordred in like wise.  And never was there seen a

more dolefuller battle in no Christian land; for there was

but rushing and riding, foining and striking, and many a

grim word was there spoken either to other, and many a

deadly stroke.  But ever King Arthur rode throughout

the battle of Sir Mordred many times, and did full nobly

as a noble king should, and at all times he fainted never;

and Sir Mordred that day put him in devoir, and in great

peril.  And thus they fought all the long day, and never

stinted till the noble knights were laid to the cold earth;

and ever they fought still till it was near night, and by

that time was there an hundred thousand laid dead upon

the down.  Then was Arthur wood wroth out of measure,

when he saw his people so slain from him.

Then the king looked about him, and then was he

ware, of all his host and of all his good knights, were left

no more alive but two knights; that one was Sir Lucan

the Butler, and his brother Sir Bedivere, and they were

full sore wounded.  Jesu mercy, said the king, where are

all my noble knights become?  Alas that ever I should

see this doleful day, for now, said Arthur, I am come to

mine end.  But would to God that I wist where were that

traitor Sir Mordred, that hath caused all this mischief.

Then was King Arthur ware where Sir Mordred leaned

upon his sword among a great heap of dead men.  Now

give me my spear, said Arthur unto Sir Lucan, for yonder

I have espied the traitor that all this woe hath wrought.

Sir, let him be, said Sir Lucan, for he is unhappy; and if

ye pass this unhappy day ye shall be right well revenged

upon him.  Good lord, remember ye of your night's

dream, and what the spirit of Sir Gawaine told you this

night, yet God of his great goodness hath preserved you

hitherto.  Therefore, for God's sake, my lord, leave off

by this, for blessed be God ye have won the field, for here

we be three alive, and with Sir Mordred is none alive;

and if ye leave off now this wicked day of destiny is past.

Tide me death, betide me life, saith the king, now I see

him yonder alone he shall never escape mine hands, for at

a better avail shall I never have him.  God speed you

well, said Sir Bedivere.

Then the king gat his spear in both his hands, and ran

toward Sir Mordred, crying:  Traitor, now is thy death-day

come.  And when Sir Mordred heard Sir Arthur, he

ran until him with his sword drawn in his hand.  And

there King Arthur smote Sir Mordred under the shield,

with a foin of his spear, throughout the body, more than

a fathom.  And when Sir Mordred felt that he had his

death wound he thrust himself with the might that he

had up to the bur of King Arthur's spear.  And right

so he smote his father Arthur, with his sword holden in

both his hands, on the side of the head, that the sword

pierced the helmet and the brain-pan, and therewithal Sir

Mordred fell stark dead to the earth; and the noble

Arthur fell in a swoon to the earth, and there he swooned

ofttimes.  And Sir Lucan the Butler and Sir Bedivere

ofttimes heaved him up.  And so weakly they led him

betwixt them both, to a little chapel not far from

the seaside.  And when the king was there he thought him well

eased.

Then heard they people cry in the field.  Now go

thou, Sir Lucan, said the king, and do me to wit what

betokens that noise in the field.  So Sir Lucan departed,

for he was grievously wounded in many places.  And so

as he yede, he saw and hearkened by the moonlight, how

that pillers and robbers were come into the field, to pill

and to rob many a full noble knight of brooches, and

beads, of many a good ring, and of many a rich jewel;

and who that were not dead all out, there they slew them

for their harness and their riches.  When Sir Lucan

understood this work, he came to the king as soon as he might,

and told him all what he had heard and seen.  Therefore

by my rede, said Sir Lucan, it is best that we bring you

to some town.  I would it were so, said the king.

CHAPTER V

How King Arthur commanded to cast his sword Excalibur

into the water, and how he was delivered to ladies in

a barge

BUT I may not stand, mine head works so.  Ah Sir

Launcelot, said King Arthur, this day have I sore missed

thee: alas, that ever I was against thee, for now have I

my death, whereof Sir Gawaine me warned in my dream.

Then Sir Lucan took up the king the one part, and Sir

Bedivere the other part, and in the lifting the king

swooned; and Sir Lucan fell in a swoon with the lift,

that the part of his guts fell out of his body, and

therewith the noble knight's heart brast.  And when the king

awoke, he beheld Sir Lucan, how he lay foaming at the

mouth, and part of his guts lay at his feet.  Alas, said

the king, this is to me a full heavy sight, to see this noble

duke so die for my sake, for he would have holpen me,

that had more need of help than I.  Alas, he would not

complain him, his heart was so set to help me: now Jesu

have mercy upon his soul!  Then Sir Bedivere wept for

the death of his brother.  Leave this mourning and weeping,

said the king, for all this will not avail me, for wit

thou well an I might live myself, the death of Sir Lucan

would grieve me evermore; but my time hieth fast, said

the king.  Therefore, said Arthur unto Sir Bedivere, take

thou Excalibur, my good sword, and go with it to yonder

water side, and when thou comest there I charge thee

throw my sword in that water, and come again and tell

me what thou there seest.  My lord, said Bedivere, your

commandment shall be done, and lightly bring you word

again.

So Sir Bedivere departed, and by the way he beheld

that noble sword, that the pommel and the haft was all of

precious stones; and then he said to himself:  If I throw

this rich sword in the water, thereof shall never come

good, but harm and loss.  And then Sir Bedivere hid

Excalibur under a tree.  And so, as soon as he might, he

came again unto the king, and said he had been at the

water, and had thrown the sword in the water.  What

saw thou there? said the king.  Sir, he said, I saw nothing

but waves and winds.  That is untruly said of thee, said

the king, therefore go thou lightly again, and do my

commandment; as thou art to me lief and dear, spare not,

but throw it in.  Then Sir Bedivere returned again, and

took the sword in his hand; and then him thought sin

and shame to throw away that noble sword, and so eft he

hid the sword, and returned again, and told to the king

that he had been at the water, and done his commandment.

What saw thou there? said the king.  Sir, he said, I saw

nothing but the waters wap and waves wan.  Ah, traitor

untrue, said King Arthur, now hast thou betrayed me

twice.  Who would have weened that, thou that hast been

to me so lief and dear? and thou art named a noble

knight, and would betray me for the richness of the sword.

But now go again lightly, for thy long tarrying putteth

me in great jeopardy of my life, for I have taken cold.

And but if thou do now as I bid thee, if ever I may see

thee, I shall slay thee with mine own hands; for thou

wouldst for my rich sword see me dead.

Then Sir Bedivere departed, and went to the sword,

and lightly took it up, and went to the water side; and

there he bound the girdle about the hilts, and then he

threw the sword as far into the water as he might; and

there came an arm and an hand above the water and met

it, and caught it, and so shook it thrice and brandished,

and then vanished away the hand with the sword in the

water.  So Sir Bedivere came again to the king, and told

him what he saw.  Alas, said the king, help me hence, for

I dread me I have tarried over long.  Then Sir Bedivere

took the king upon his back, and so went with him to

that water side.  And when they were at the water side,

even fast by the bank hoved a little barge with many fair

ladies in it, and among them all was a queen, and all they

had black hoods, and all they wept and shrieked when

they saw King Arthur.  Now put me into the barge, said

the king.  And so he did softly; and there received him

three queens with great mourning; and so they set them

down, and in one of their laps King Arthur laid his head.

And then that queen said:  Ah, dear brother, why have

ye tarried so long from me? alas, this wound on your head

hath caught over-much cold.  And so then they rowed

from the land, and Sir Bedivere beheld all those ladies go

from him.  Then Sir Bedivere cried:  Ah my lord Arthur,

what shall become of me, now ye go from me and leave

me here alone among mine enemies?  Comfort thyself,

said the king, and do as well as thou mayst, for in me is

no trust for to trust in; for I will into the vale of Avilion

to heal me of my grievous wound: and if thou hear never

more of me, pray for my soul.  But ever the queens and

ladies wept and shrieked, that it was pity to hear.  And

as soon as Sir Bedivere had lost the sight of the barge, he

wept and wailed, and so took the forest; and so he went

all that night, and in the morning he was ware betwixt two

holts hoar, of a chapel and an hermitage.

CHAPTER VI

How Sir Bedivere found him on the morrow dead in an

hermitage, and how he abode there with the hermit

THEN was Sir Bedivere glad, and thither he went; and

when he came into the chapel, he saw where lay an hermit

grovelling on all four, there fast by a tomb was new graven.

When the hermit saw Sir Bedivere he knew him well, for

he was but little to-fore Bishop of Canterbury, that Sir

Mordred flemed.  Sir, said Bedivere, what man is there

interred that ye pray so fast for?  Fair son, said the

hermit, I wot not verily, but by deeming.  But this night,

at midnight, here came a number of ladies, and brought

hither a dead corpse, and prayed me to bury him; and

here they offered an hundred tapers, and they gave me an

hundred besants.  Alas, said Sir Bedivere, that was my

lord King Arthur, that here lieth buried in this chapel.

Then Sir Bedivere swooned; and when he awoke he

prayed the hermit he might abide with him still there, to

live with fasting and prayers.  For from hence will I

never go, said Sir Bedivere, by my will, but all the days

of my life here to pray for my lord Arthur.  Ye are

welcome to me, said the hermit, for I know ye better

than ye ween that I do.  Ye are the bold Bedivere, and

the full noble duke, Sir Lucan the Butler, was your

brother.  Then Sir Bedivere told the hermit all as ye

have heard to-fore.  So there bode Sir Bedivere with the

hermit that was to-fore Bishop of Canterbury, and there

Sir Bedivere put upon him poor clothes, and served the

hermit full lowly in fasting and in prayers.

Thus of Arthur I find never more written in books

that be authorised, nor more of the very certainty of his

death heard I never read, but thus was he led away in a

ship wherein were three queens; that one was King

Arthur's sister, Queen Morgan le Fay; the other was the

Queen of Northgalis; the third was the Queen of the

Waste Lands.  Also there was Nimue, the chief lady of

the lake, that had wedded Pelleas the good knight; and

this lady had done much for King Arthur, for she would

never suffer Sir Pelleas to be in no place where he should

be in danger of his life; and so he lived to the uttermost

of his days with her in great rest.  More of the death of

King Arthur could I never find, but that ladies brought

him to his burials; and such one was buried there, that

the hermit bare witness that sometime was Bishop of

Canterbury, but yet the hermit knew not in certain that

he was verily the body of King Arthur: for this tale Sir

Bedivere, knight of the Table Round, made it to be

written.

CHAPTER VII

Of the opinion of some men of the death of King Arthur;

and how Queen Guenever made her a nun in Almesbury

YET some men say in many parts of England that King

Arthur is not dead, but had by the will of our Lord Jesu

into another place; and men say that he shall come again,

and he shall win the holy cross.  I will not say it shall be

so, but rather I will say: here in this world he changed

his life.  But many men say that there is written upon his

tomb this verse:  <oe Hic jacet Arthurus, Rex quondam,

Rexque futurus.> Thus leave I here Sir Bedivere with the

hermit, that dwelled that time in a chapel beside Glastonbury,

and there was his hermitage.  And so they lived in

their prayers, and fastings, and great abstinence.  And

when Queen Guenever understood that King Arthur was

slain, and all the noble knights, Sir Mordred and all the

remnant, then the queen stole away, and five ladies with

her, and so she went to Almesbury; and there she let

make herself a nun, and ware white clothes and black,

and great penance she took, as ever did sinful lady in this

land, and never creature could make her merry; but lived

in fasting, prayers, and alms-deeds, that all manner of

people marvelled how virtuously she was changed.  Now

leave we Queen Guenever in Almesbury, a nun in white

clothes and black, and there she was Abbess and ruler

as reason would; and turn we from her, and speak we of

Sir Launcelot du Lake.

CHAPTER VIII

How when Sir Lancelot heard of the death of King

Arthur, and of Sir Gawaine, and other matters, he

came into England

AND when he heard in his country that Sir Mordred was

crowned king in England, and made war against King

Arthur, his own father, and would let him to land in his

own land; also it was told Sir Launcelot how that Sir Mordred

had laid siege about the Tower of London, because the

queen would not wed him; then was Sir Launcelot wroth

out of measure, and said to his kinsmen:  Alas, that

double traitor Sir Mordred, now me repenteth that ever he

escaped my hands, for much shame hath he done unto my

lord Arthur; for all I feel by the doleful letter that my

lord Sir Gawaine sent me, on whose soul Jesu have mercy

that my lord Arthur is full hard bestead.  Alas, said Sir

Launcelot, that ever I should live to hear that most noble

king that made me knight thus to be overset with his subject

in his own realm.  And this doleful letter that my

lord, Sir Gawaine, hath sent me afore his death, praying

me to see his tomb, wit you well his doleful words shall

never go from mine heart, for he was a full noble knight

as ever was born; and in an unhappy hour was I born

that ever I should have that unhap to slay first Sir

Gawaine, Sir Gaheris the good knight, and mine own

friend Sir Gareth, that full noble knight.  Alas, I may

say I am unhappy, said Sir Launcelot, that ever I should

do thus unhappily, and, alas, yet might I never have hap

to slay that traitor, Sir Mordred.

Leave your complaints, said Sir Bors, and first revenge

you of the death of Sir Gawaine; and it will be well done

that ye see Sir Gawaine's tomb, and secondly that ye

revenge my lord Arthur, and my lady, Queen Guenever

I thank you, said Sir Launcelot, for ever ye will my

worship.

Then they made them ready in all the haste that

might be, with ships and galleys, with Sir Launcelot and

his host to pass into England.  And so he passed over

the sea till he came to Dover, and there he landed with

seven kings, and the number was hideous to behold.

Then Sir Launcelot spered of men of Dover where was

King Arthur become.  Then the people told him how

that he was slain, and Sir Mordred and an hundred thousand

died on a day; and how Sir Mordred gave King

Arthur there the first battle at his landing, and there was

good Sir Gawaine slain; and on the morn Sir Mordred

fought with the king upon Barham Down, and there the

king put Sir Mordred to the worse.  Alas, said Sir

Launcelot, this is the heaviest tidings that ever came to

me.  Now, fair sirs, said Sir Launcelot, shew me the

tomb of Sir Gawaine.  And then certain people of the

town brought him into the castle of Dover, and shewed

him the tomb.  Then Sir Launcelot kneeled down and

wept, and prayed heartily for his soul.  And that night he

made a dole, and all they that would come had as much

flesh, fish, wine and ale, and every man and woman had

twelve pence, come who would.  Thus with his own hand

dealt he this money, in a mourning gown; and ever he

wept, and prayed them to pray for the soul of Sir

Gawaine.  And on the morn all the priests and clerks that

might be gotten in the country were there, and sang mass

of Requiem; and there offered first Sir Launcelot, and he

offered an hundred pound; and then the seven kings

offered forty pound apiece; and also there was a thousand

knights, and each of them offered a pound; and the

offering dured from morn till night, and Sir Launcelot lay

two nights on his tomb in prayers and weeping.

Then on the third day Sir Launcelot called the kings,

dukes, earls, barons, and knights, and said thus:  My fair

lords, I thank you all of your coming into this country

with me, but we came too late, and that shall repent me

while I live, but against death may no man rebel.  But

sithen it is so, said Sir Launcelot, I will myself ride and

seek my lady, Queen Guenever, for as I hear say she hath

had great pain and much disease; and I heard say that

she is fled into the west.  Therefore ye all shall abide me

here, and but if I come again within fifteen days, then

take your ships and your fellowship, and depart into your

country, for I will do as I say to you.

CHAPTER IX

How Sir Launcelot departed to seek the Queen Guenever, and

how he found her at Almesbury

THEN came Sir Bors de Ganis, and said:  My lord Sir

Launcelot, what think ye for to do, now to ride in this

realm? wit ye well ye shall find few friends.  Be as be

may, said Sir Launcelot, keep you still here, for I will

forth on my journey, and no man nor child shall go with

me.  So it was no boot to strive, but he departed and

rode westerly, and there he sought a seven or eight days;

and at the last he came to a nunnery, and then was Queen

Guenever ware of Sir Launcelot as he walked in the

cloister.  And when she saw him there she swooned

thrice, that all the ladies and gentlewomen had work

enough to hold the queen up.  So when she might speak,

she called ladies and gentlewomen to her, and said:  Ye

marvel, fair ladies, why I make this fare.  Truly, she

said, it is for the sight of yonder knight that yonder

standeth; wherefore I pray you all call him to me.

When Sir Launcelot was brought to her, then she said

to all the ladies:  Through this man and me hath all this

war been wrought, and the death of the most noblest

knights of the world; for through our love that we have

loved together is my most noble lord slain.  Therefore,

Sir Launcelot, wit thou well I am set in such a plight to

get my soul-heal; and yet I trust through God's grace

that after my death to have a sight of the blessed face of

Christ, and at domesday to sit on his right side, for as

sinful as ever I was are saints in heaven.  Therefore, Sir

Launcelot, I require thee and beseech thee heartily, for all

the love that ever was betwixt us, that thou never see me

more in the visage; and I command thee, on God's

behalf, that thou forsake my company, and to thy kingdom

thou turn again, and keep well thy realm from war and

wrack; for as well as I have loved thee, mine heart will

not serve me to see thee, for through thee and me is

the flower of kings and knights destroyed; therefore, Sir

Launcelot, go to thy realm, and there take thee a wife,

and live with her with joy and bliss; and I pray thee

heartily, pray for me to our Lord that I may amend

my misliving.  Now, sweet madam, said Sir Launcelot,

would ye that I should now return again unto my country,

and there to wed a lady?  Nay, madam, wit you well that

shall I never do, for I shall never be so false to you of

that I have promised; but the same destiny that ye have

taken you to, I will take me unto, for to please Jesu, and

ever for you I cast me specially to pray.  If thou wilt do

so, said the queen, hold thy promise, but I may never

believe but that thou wilt turn to the world again.  Well,

madam, said he, ye say as pleaseth you, yet wist you me

never false of my promise, and God defend but I should

forsake the world as ye have done.  For in the quest of

the Sangreal I had forsaken the vanities of the world had

not your lord been.  And if I had done so at that time,

with my heart, will, and thought, I had passed all the

knights that were in the Sangreal except Sir Galahad, my

son.  And therefore, lady, sithen ye have taken you to

perfection, I must needs take me to perfection, of right.

For I take record of God, in you I have had mine earthly

joy; and if I had found you now so disposed, I had cast

me to have had you into mine own realm.

CHAPTER X

How Sir Launcelot came to the hermitage where the Archbishop

of Canterbury was, and how he took the habit on

him

BUT sithen I find you thus disposed, I ensure you faithfully,

I will ever take me to penance, and pray while my life

lasteth, if I may find any hermit, either gray or white, that

will receive me.  Wherefore, madam, I pray you kiss me

and never no more.  Nay, said the queen, that shall I

never do, but abstain you from such works: and they

departed.  But there was never so hard an hearted man

but he would have wept to see the dolour that they made;

for there was lamentation as they had been stung with

spears; and many times they swooned, and the ladies bare

the queen to her chamber.

And Sir Launcelot awoke, and went and took his horse,

and rode all that day and all night in a forest, weeping.

And at the last he was ware of an hermitage and a chapel

stood betwixt two cliffs; and then he heard a little bell

ring to mass, and thither he rode and alighted, and tied his

horse to the gate, and heard mass.  And he that sang

mass was the Bishop of Canterbury.  Both the Bishop and

Sir Bedivere knew Sir Launcelot, and they spake together

after mass.  But when Sir Bedivere had told his tale all

whole, Sir Launcelot's heart almost brast for sorrow, and

Sir Launcelot threw his arms abroad, and said:  Alas, who

may trust this world.  And then he kneeled down on his

knee, and prayed the Bishop to shrive him and assoil him.

And then he besought the Bishop that he might be his

brother.  Then the Bishop said:  I will gladly; and there

he put an habit upon Sir Launcelot, and there he served God

day and night with prayers and fastings.

Thus the great host abode at Dover.  And then Sir

Lionel took fifteen lords with him, and rode to London to

seek Sir Launcelot; and there Sir Lionel was slain and

many of his lords.  Then Sir Bors de Ganis made the

great host for to go home again; and Sir Bors, Sir Ector

de Maris, Sir Blamore, Sir Bleoberis, with more other of

Sir Launcelot's kin, took on them to ride all England

overthwart and endlong, to seek Sir Launcelot.  So Sir

Bors by fortune rode so long till he came to the same

chapel where Sir Launcelot was; and so Sir Bors heard a

little bell knell, that rang to mass; and there he alighted

and heard mass.  And when mass was done, the Bishop

Sir Launcelot, and Sir Bedivere, came to Sir Bors.  And

when Sir Bors saw Sir Launcelot in that manner clothing,

then he prayed the Bishop that he might be in the same

suit.  And so there was an habit put upon him, and there

he lived in prayers and fasting.  And within half a year,

there was come Sir Galihud, Sir Galihodin, Sir Blamore, Sir

Bleoberis, Sir Villiars, Sir Clarras, and Sir Gahalantine.  So

all these seven noble knights there abode still.  And when

they saw Sir Launcelot had taken him to such perfection,

they had no lust to depart, but took such an habit as he

had.

Thus they endured in great penance six year; and then

Sir Launcelot took the habit of priesthood of the Bishop,

and a twelvemonth he sang mass.  And there was none

of these other knights but they read in books, and holp

for to sing mass, and rang bells, and did bodily all manner

of service.  And so their horses went where they would,

for they took no regard of no worldly riches.  For when

they saw Sir Launcelot endure such penance, in prayers, and

fastings, they took no force what pain they endured, for to

see the noblest knight of the world take such abstinence

that he waxed full lean.  And thus upon a night, there

came a vision to Sir Launcelot, and charged him, in remission

of his sins, to haste him unto Almesbury:  And by

then thou come there, thou shalt find Queen Guenever

dead.  And therefore take thy fellows with thee, and

purvey them of an horse bier, and fetch thou the corpse of

her, and bury her by her husband, the noble King Arthur.

So this avision came to Sir Launcelot thrice in one

night.

CHAPTER XI

How Sir Launcelot went with his seven fellows to Almesbury,

and found there Queen Guenever dead, whom they

brought to Glastonbury

THEN Sir Launcelot rose up or day, and told the

hermit.  It were well done, said the hermit, that ye made

you ready, and that you disobey not the avision.  Then

Sir Launcelot took his eight fellows with him, and on foot

they yede from Glastonbury to Almesbury, the which is

little more than thirty mile.  And thither they came

within two days, for they were weak and feeble to go.

And when Sir Launcelot was come to Almesbury within

the nunnery, Queen Guenever died but half an hour afore.

And the ladies told Sir Launcelot that Queen Guenever

told them all or she passed, that Sir Launcelot had been

priest near a twelvemonth, And hither he cometh as fast

as he may to fetch my corpse; and beside my lord, King

Arthur, he shall bury me.  Wherefore the queen said in

hearing of them all:  I beseech Almighty God that I may

never have power to see Sir Launcelot with my worldly

eyen; and thus, said all the ladies, was ever her prayer

these two days, till she was dead.  Then Sir Launcelot

saw her visage, but he wept not greatly, but sighed.  And

so he did all the observance of the service himself, both

the dirige, and on the morn he sang mass.  And there

was ordained an horse bier; and so with an hundred

torches ever brenning about the corpse of the queen, and

ever Sir Launcelot with his eight fellows went about the

horse bier, singing and reading many an holy orison, and

frankincense upon the corpse incensed.  Thus Sir Launcelot

and his eight fellows went on foot from Almesbury

unto Glastonbury.

And when they were come to the chapel and the

hermitage, there she had a dirige, with great devotion.

And on the morn the hermit that sometime was Bishop of

Canterbury sang the mass of Requiem with great devotion.

And Sir Launcelot was the first that offered, and then also

his eight fellows.  And then she was wrapped in cered

cloth of Raines, from the top to the toe, in thirtyfold,

and after she was put in a web of lead, and then in a coffin

of marble.  And when she was put in the earth Sir Launcelot

swooned, and lay long still, while the hermit came

and awaked him, and said:  Ye be to blame, for ye

displease God with such manner of sorrow-making.  Truly,

said Sir Launcelot, I trust I do not displease God, for He

knoweth mine intent.  For my sorrow was not, nor is not

for any rejoicing of sin, but my sorrow may never have

end.  For when I remember of her beauty, and of her

noblesse, that was both with her king and with her, so

when I saw his corpse and her corpse so lie together, truly

mine heart would not serve to sustain my careful body.

Also when I remember me how by my default, mine orgule

and my pride, that they were both laid full low, that were

peerless that ever was living of Christian people, wit you

well, said Sir Launcelot, this remembered, of their kindness

and mine unkindness, sank so to mine heart, that I

might not sustain myself.  So the French book maketh

mention.

CHAPTER XII

How Sir Launcelot began to sicken, and after died, whose

body was borne to Joyous Gard for to be buried

THEN Sir Launcelot never after ate but little meat, ne

drank, till he was dead.  For then he sickened more and

more, and dried, and dwined away.  For the Bishop nor

none of his fellows might not make him to eat, and little

he drank, that he was waxen by a cubit shorter than he

was, that the people could not know him.  For evermore,

day and night, he prayed, but sometime he slumbered a

broken sleep; ever he was lying grovelling on the tomb

of King Arthur and Queen Guenever.  And there was no

comfort that the Bishop, nor Sir Bors, nor none of his

fellows, could make him, it availed not.  So within six

weeks after, Sir Launcelot fell sick, and lay in his bed; and

then he sent for the Bishop that there was hermit, and all

his true fellows.  Then Sir Launcelot said with dreary

steven:  Sir Bishop, I pray you give to me all my rites that

longeth to a Christian man.  It shall not need you, said

the hermit and all his fellows, it is but heaviness of your

blood, ye shall be well mended by the grace of God

to-morn.  My fair lords, said Sir Launcelot, wit you well

my careful body will into the earth, I have warning more

than now I will say; therefore give me my rites.  So

when he was houseled and anealed, and had all that a

Christian man ought to have, he prayed the Bishop that his

fellows might bear his body to Joyous Gard.  Some men

say it was Alnwick, and some men say it was Bamborough.

Howbeit, said Sir Launcelot, me repenteth sore, but I made

mine avow sometime, that in Joyous Gard I would be

buried.  And because of breaking of mine avow, I pray

you all, lead me thither.  Then there was weeping and

wringing of hands among his fellows.

So at a season of the night they all went to their beds,

for they all lay in one chamber.  And so after midnight,

against day, the Bishop [that] then was hermit, as he lay in

his bed asleep, he fell upon a great laughter.  And

therewith all the fellowship awoke, and came to the Bishop, and

asked him what he ailed.  Ah Jesu mercy, said the Bishop,

why did ye awake me?  I was never in all my life so merry

and so well at ease.  Wherefore? said Sir Bors.  Truly

said the Bishop, here was Sir Launcelot with me with mo

angels than ever I saw men in one day.  And I saw the

angels heave up Sir Launcelot unto heaven, and the gates

of heaven opened against him.  It is but dretching of

swevens, said Sir Bors, for I doubt not Sir Launcelot aileth

nothing but good.  It may well be, said the Bishop; go

ye to his bed, and then shall ye prove the sooth.  So when

Sir Bors and his fellows came to his bed they found him

stark dead, and he lay as he had smiled, and the sweetest

savour about him that ever they felt.

Then was there weeping and wringing of hands, and

the greatest dole they made that ever made men.  And

on the morn the Bishop did his mass of Requiem,

and after, the Bishop and all the nine knights put Sir

Launcelot in the same horse bier that Queen Guenever

was laid in to-fore that she was buried.  And so the Bishop

and they all together went with the body of Sir Launcelot

daily, till they came to Joyous Gard; and ever they had

an hundred torches brenning about him.  And so within

fifteen days they came to Joyous Gard.  And there they

laid his corpse in the body of the quire, and sang and

read many psalters and prayers over him and about him.

And ever his visage was laid open and naked, that all

folks might behold him.  For such was the custom in

those days, that all men of worship should so lie with

open visage till that they were buried.  And right thus

as they were at their service, there came Sir Ector de

Maris, that had seven years sought all England, Scotland,

and Wales, seeking his brother, Sir Launcelot.

CHAPTER XIII

How Sir Ector found Sir Launcelot his brother dead, and

how Constantine reigned next after Arthur; and of the

end of this book

AND when Sir Ector heard such noise and light in the

quire of Joyous Gard, he alighted and put his horse from

him, and came into the quire, and there he saw men sing

and weep.  And all they knew Sir Ector, but he knew

not them.  Then went Sir Bors unto Sir Ector, and told

him how there lay his brother, Sir Launcelot, dead; and

then Sir Ector threw his shield, sword, and helm from

him.  And when he beheld Sir Launcelot's visage, he fell

down in a swoon.  And when he waked it were hard any

tongue to tell the doleful complaints that he made for his

brother.  Ah Launcelot, he said, thou were head of all

Christian knights, and now I dare say, said Sir Ector,

thou Sir Launcelot, there thou liest, that thou were never

matched of earthly knight's hand.  And thou were the

courteoust knight that ever bare shield.  And thou were

the truest friend to thy lover that ever bestrad horse.

And thou were the truest lover of a sinful man that ever

loved woman.  And thou were the kindest man that ever

struck with sword.  And thou were the goodliest person

that ever came among press of knights.  And thou was

the meekest man and the gentlest that ever ate in hall

among ladies.  And thou were the sternest knight to thy

mortal foe that ever put spear in the rest.  Then there

was weeping and dolour out of measure.

Thus they kept Sir Launcelot's corpse aloft fifteen

days, and then they buried it with great devotion.  And

then at leisure they went all with the Bishop of Canterbury

to his hermitage, and there they were together more than

a month.  Then Sir Constantine, that was Sir Cador's

son of Cornwall, was chosen king of England.  And he

was a full noble knight, and worshipfully he ruled this

realm.  And then this King Constantine sent for the

Bishop of Canterbury, for he heard say where he was.

And so he was restored unto his Bishopric, and left that

hermitage.  And Sir Bedivere was there ever still hermit

to his life's end.  Then Sir Bors de Ganis, Sir Ector de

Maris, Sir Gahalantine, Sir Galihud, Sir Galihodin, Sir

Blamore, Sir Bleoberis, Sir Villiars le Valiant, Sir Clarrus

of Clermont, all these knights drew them to their

countries.  Howbeit King Constantine would have had

them with him, but they would not abide in this realm.

And there they all lived in their countries as holy men.

And some English books make mention that they went

never out of England after the death of Sir Launcelot,

but that was but favour of makers.  For the French book

maketh mention, and is authorised, that Sir Bors, Sir

Ector, Sir Blamore, and Sir Bleoberis, went into the Holy

Land thereas Jesu Christ was quick and dead, and anon as

they had stablished their lands.  For the book saith, so

Sir Launcelot commanded them for to do, or ever he passed

out of this world.  And these four knights did many

battles upon the miscreants or Turks.  And there they

died upon a Good Friday for God's sake.

<oe Here is the end of the book of King Arthur, and of his

noble knights of the Round Table, that when they

were whole together there was ever an hundred and

forty.  And here is the end of the death of Arthur.

I pray you all, gentlemen and gentlewomen that>

<oe readeth this book of Arthur and his knights, from

the beginning to the ending, pray for me while I

am alive, that God send me good deliverance, and

when I am dead, I pray you all pray for my soul.

For this book was ended the ninth year of the

reign of King Edward the Fourth, by Sir Thomas

Maleore, knight, as Jesu help him for his great

might, as he is the servant of Jesu both day and

night.>

<oe Thus endeth this noble and joyous book entitled Le Morte

Darthur.  Notwithstanding it treateth of the birth,

life, and acts of the said King Arthur, of his noble

knights of the Round Table, their marvellous enquests

and adventures, the achieving of the Sangreal,

and in the end the dolorous death and departing out

of this world of them all.  Which book was reduced

into English by Sir Thomas Malory, knight, as

afore is said, and by me divided into twenty-one

books, chaptered and emprinted, and finished in the

abbey, Westminster, the last day of July the year of

our Lord MCCCCLXXX{?}.>

<oe Caxton me fieri fecit.>

GLOSSARY

Abashed, abased, lowered, 9 34

Abate, depress, calm, 7 IS, 18 I9

Abought, paid for, 7 }7

Abraid, started, 9 32

Accompted, counted, 13 2

Accorded, agreed, 1 z

Accordment, agreement, 20 Ir

Acquit, repay, 4 26

Actually, actively, 4 20

Adoubted, afraid, 10 4

Advision, vision, 14 7

Afeard, afraid, 1 z3

Afterdeal, disadvantage, 5 8

Againsay, retract, 13 7

Aknown, known, 8 I4

Aligement, alleviation, 16 1 6

Allegeance, alleviation, 18 I9

Allow, approve, 7 5

Almeries, chests, 17 23

Alther, gen.  pl., of all, 4 I I, 20 6

Amounted, mounted, 10 3

Anealed, anointed, 21 IZ

Anguishly, in pain, ]6 IS

Anon, at once, 5 g

Apair, weaken, 3 3

Apparelled, fitted up, 4 6

Appeach, impeach, 10 7

Appealed, challenged, accused, 18 4

Appertices, displays, 5 8

Araged, enraged, 5 2, 9 34; confused, 18 3

Araised, raised, 21 I

Arase, obliterate, 18 25

Areared, reared, 10 64

Armyvestal, martial, 4 I S

Array, plight, state of affairs, 19 7

Arrayed, situated, 17 3

Arson, saddle-bow, 6 7, 18 23

Askance, casually, 8 I4

Assoiled, absolved, 13 20

Assotted, infatuated, 4 I

Assummon, summon, 7 26

Astonied, amazed, stunned, 10 57

At, of, by, 7 3I, 19 8

At-after, after, 7 iI, 12 4

Attainta overcome, 16 8

Aumbries, chests, 17 23

Avail (at), at an advantage, 20 r3

Avaled, lowered, 5 I2

Avaunt, boast, 5 g

Aventred, couched, 2 I8, 4 A

Avised, be advised, take thought, 9 IO

Avision, vision, 21 II

Avoid, quit, 9 3I

Avoided, got clear off, 7 I7

Avow, vow, 10 63

Await of (in), in watch for, 9 A

Awayward, away, 7 I9

Awke, sideways, 5 IO

Bachelors, probationers for knighthood 1 IS

Bain, bath, 18 II, I7

Barbican, gate-tower, 5 5, 7 3t

Barget, little ship, 8 38

Battle, division of an army, 1 IS

Bawdy, dirty, 7 5

Beams, trumpets, 214

Be-closed, enclosed, 12 6

Become, pp., befallen, gone to, 13 I8

Bedashed, splashed, 19 2

Behests, promises, 916

Behight, promised, 17 23

Beholden (beholding) to, obliged to, 7 2I, 13 I9

Behote, promised, 8 8

Benome, deprived, taken away, 14 8, 16 8

Besants, gold coins, 4 25

Beseek, beseech, 15 4

Beseen, appointed, arrayed, 1 18, 116

Beskift, shove off, 4

Bested, beset, 21 2

Betaken, entrusted, 16

Betaught, entrusted, recommended, 6 7

Betid, happened, 7 I S

Betook, committed, entrusted, 123,1069

Bevered, quivered, 1 IS

Board, sb., deck, 14 7

Bobaunce, boasting, pride, 10 63, 15 6, 18 IS

Boishe, bush, branch of a tree, 6 I6

Boistous, rough, 2 8, 14 6

Bole, trunk of a tree, 6 I6

Boot, remedy, 9 I7

Borrow out, redeem, 10 30

Borrows, pledges, 7 I8

Bote, remedy, 8 I, 6

Bound, ready, 1 2

Bourded, jested, 9 43

Bourder, jester, 10 z5

Braced, embraced, 10 78

Brachet, little hound, 3 6

Braide, quick movement, 20 2I

Brast, burst, break, 1 I4, 18 z

Breaths, breathing holes, 8 7

Brief, shorten, 9 I2

Brim, fierce, furious, 20 13

Brised, broke, 9 +, 10 I

Broached, pierced, 1 I6

Broaches, spits, 6 5

Bur, hand-guard of a spear, 214

Burble, bubble, 18 22

Burbling, bubbling, 10 2

Burgenetts, buds, blossoms, 20 I

Bushrnent, ambush, 5 5

By and by, immediately, 18 4

Bywaryed, expended, bestowed, 7 2I

Canel bone, collar bone, 4 27

Cankered, inveterate, 212

Cantel, slice, strip, 1 I6

Careful, sorrowful, full of troubles, 5 5, 21 II

Cast (of bread), loaves baked at the same time, 7 I 4

Cast, rei propose, 13 20

Cedle, schedule, note, 212

Cere, wax over, embalm, 5 8; cered, 21 1 I

Certes, certainly, 14 7

Chafe, heat, decompose, 4 8; chafed, heated, 149

Chaflet, platform, scaffold, 213

Champaign, open country, 1 I4

Chariot (Fr c/iarette), cart, 19 4

Cheer, countenance, 7 IS, 13 20; entertainment, 3 8

Chierte, dearness, 13 8

Chrism, anointing oil, 9 39

Clatter, talk confusedly, 118

Cleight, clutched, 6 2

Cleped, called, 9 6

Clipping, embracing, 4 22, 8 36

Cog, small boat, 5 3

Cognisance, badge, mark of distinction, 11 3

Coif, head-piece, 8 7

Comfort, strengtten, help, 16 7

Cominal, common, 4 25

Complished, complete, 7 I

Con, know, be able, 5 I6 j con thank, be

grateful, 20 I 3

Conserve, preserve, 17 I4

Conversant, abiding in, 17 3

Cording, agreement, 1 II

Coronal, circlet, 5 S

Cost, side, 7 I2

Costed, kept up with, 18 2x

Couched, lay, 14 6

Courage, encourage, 19 I0

Courtelage, courtyard, 4 24

Covert, sheltered, 20 22

Covetise, covetousness, 13

Covin, deceit, 13 15

Cream, oil, 9 39

Credence, faith, 5 z

Croup, crupper, 8 I6

Curteist, most courteous, 6 IC

Daffish, foolish, 9 42

Danger (in), under obligation to, in the power of, 7 8, 19 4

Dawed, v tr,, revived, 11 lo; lttr,9 dawned, 17 2

Deadly, mortal, human, 17, 9, 20

Deal, part, portion, 16 I I

Debate, quarrel, strife, 3 6

Debonair, courteous, 17 4

Deceivable, deceitful, 10 6 I

Defaded, faded, 10 86

Default, fault, 3 8

Defend, forbid, 1 23; deferded, forbade, 7 I; forbidden, 18 2

Defoiled, trodden down, fouled, deflowered, 1 I4, 7 I2, 9 32

Degree (win the), rank, superiority, 8 9

Delibered, determined, 5 2

Deliverly, adroitly, 20 22

Departed, divided, 9 7

Departition, departure, 9 36

Dere, harm, 1 17, 13 IZ

Descrive, describe, 10 I

Despoiled, stripped, 15 2

Detrenched, cut to pieces, 5 7

Devised, looked carefully at, 17 13

Devoir, duty, service, 7 23, 20 18

Did off, doffed, 13 B

Dight, prepared, 4 6

Dindled, trembled, 5 8

Disadventure, misfortune, 13 20

Discover, reveal, 13 20

Disherited, disinherited, 13 IO, 14 8

Disparpled, scattered, 20 I

Dispenses, expenses, 5 2

Disperplyd, scattered, 5 2, 8

Dispoiled, stripped, 7 2

Distained, sullied, dishonoured, 184

Disworship, shame, 9 3

Dole, gift of alms, 21 3

Dole, sorrow, 1 IS, 11 B

Domineth, dominatesj rules, 5 I

Don, gift, 7 2

Doted, foolish, 10 55

Doubted, redoubtable, 167

Draughts, privities, secret interviews, recesses, 18 IX 19 6

Drenched, drowned, 14 8

Dress, make ready, 1 I6

Dressed up, raised, 13 I8

Dretched, troubled in sleep, 20 5

Dretching, being troubled in sleep, 21 I

Dromounds, war vessels, 5 3

Dure, endure, last, 4 I; dared, 8 29;

during, 10 7 I

Duresse, bondage, hardship, 13 I2X 14 7

Dwined, dwindled, 21 IZ

Eased, entertained, 17 I x

Eft, after, again, 8 13

Eftures, passages, 19 7

Embattled, ranged for battle, 5 8

Embushed, concealed in the woods, 1 I9, 46

Eme, uncle, 8 S

Empoison, poison, 18 3

Emprised, undertook, 9 2

Enbraid, 20 I2

Enchafe, heat, 18 IS; enchafed, heated, 149, 185

Enchieve, achieve, 9 2X 13 2

Endlong, alongside of, ff 7

Enewed, painted, 3 9

Enforce, constrain, 10 74, 18 18

Engine, device, 10 I7

Enow, enough, 1 23

Enquest, enterprise, 9 2

Ensured, assured, 7 I7

Entermete, intermeddle, 10 26

Errant, wandering, 4 I2

Estates, ranks, 10 6I

Even hand, at an equality, 92

Evenlong, along, 10 6 I

Everych, each, every one, 16 3

Faiter, vagabond, 2 IO

Fare, sb., ado, commotion, 219

Faren, pp., treated, 7 x 5

FautS v., lack, 3 I; fagted, lacked, 9 32

Fealty, oath of fidelity, 7 I7

Fear, frighten, 7 I6

Feute, trace, track, 6 I4, 18 2I

Feuter, set in rest, couch, ff 2

Feutred, set in socket, 20 I3

Fiaunce, affiance, promise, 1 3

Flang, flung, 6 7, 10 41; rushed, 9 6

Flatling, prostrate, 18 7

Fleet, float, 13 2

Flemed, put to flight, 20 D

Flittered, fluttered, 5 4

Foiled, defeated, shamed, 18 25

Foined, thrust, 20 22

Foining, thrusting, 7 4

Foins, thrusts, 9 8

Foot-hot, hastily, 5> 28, 33

For-bled, spent with bleeding, 9 8, 20 7

Force (no), no concern, 3 7, 21 IO

Fordeal, advantage, 5 8

Fordo, destroy, 8 26; ferdid, 2 I9

Forecast, preconcerted plot, 20 5

For-fared, worsted, 6 6

Forfend, forbid, 18 2

Forfoughten, weary with fighting, 2 IO

Forhewn, hewn to pieces, 7 I2, I7

Forjousted, tired with jousting, 8 39, 10 58

Forthinketh, repents, 2 3

Fortuned, happened, 7 x

Forward, vanguard, 20 I3

Forwounded, sorely wounded, 9 8

Free, noble, 10 6 I

Fr shed,

Froward, away from, 3 x4, 104

Gad, wedge or spike of iron, 15 2

Gainest, readiest, 7 20

Gar, cause, 20 I6

Gart, compelled, 3 IO, 8 I S

Gentily, like a gentleman, 9 5

Gerfalcon, a fine hawk, 4 26

Germane, closely allied, 2 I I, 14 2

Gest, deed, story, 6 I3

Gisarm, halberd, battle-axe, 4 25X 7 22

Glaive, sword, 20 6

Glastings barking, 10 53

Glatisant, barking, yelping, 10 13

Gobbets, lumps, 7 23

Graithed, made ready, 5 7

Gree, degree, superiority, 5 IO, 6 7

Greed, pp., pleased, content, 16 IS

Greses, steps, 17 I8

Grimly, ugly, 6 8, 19 2

Grovelling, on his face, 8 26

Guerdonless, without reward, 10 86

Guise, fashion,

Habergeon, hauberk with leggings attached, 16 IO

Hair, a hair-shirt, 152

Hale and how, a sailor's cry, 7 IS

Halp, helped, 10 64

Halsed, embraced, 8 I4

Halsing, embracing, 2 I6

Handfast, betrothed, 10 37

Handsel, earnest-money, 8 I6

Hangers, testicles, 10 38

Harbingers, messengers sent to prepare

lodgings, 7 27

Harness, armour, 9 I I

Hart of greese, fat deer, 10 86

Hauberk, coat of mail, 1 I6

Haut, high, noble, 2 I9, 8 27

Hauteyn, haughty, 4 IO

Heavy, sad, 14 4, 6

Hete, command, 1] 9

Hide, skin, 11 I4

Hied, hurried, 17 19

High (on), aloud, 6 II

Higher hand, the uppermost, 16 I4

Hight, called, 1 I8

Hilled, covered, concealed, 10 59, 17 22

Holden, held, 18

Holp, helped, B 12

Holts, woods, 6 9

Hough-bone, back part of knee-joillt, 12 3

Houselled, to be given the Eucharist, 21 12

Hoved, hovered, waited about, 2 I9, 4 20 18 Io

Hurled, dashed, staggered, 8 26, 9 4X 6, 104I; hvrSig, 7 H

Hurtle, dash, 7 H

Incontinent, forthwith, 5 z

Ind, dark blue, 1 IS

Infellowship, join in fellowship, 8 27

In like, alike, 1214

Intermit, interpose, 16 15

Japer, jester, 10 44

Japes, jests, 3 II

Jesseraunt, a short cuirass, 19

Keep, sb., care, 7 20

Keep, v., care reck, 9 I4

Kemps, champions, 7 8

Kind, nature, 118

Kindly, natural, 118

Knights partcrs, marshals.  199

Know, acknowledge, 5 I2

Knowledging, acknowledgment, confession, 19 I

Lain, conceal, 20 I

Langering, sauntering, 9 20

Lapped, took in her lap, 8 r

Large, generous, 1061

Largeness, liberality, 4 H

Laton, latten, brass, 2 II

Laund, waste plain, 4

Layne, conceal, 18 }3

Lazar-cot, leper-house, 8 35

Learn, teach, 6 IO

Lears, cheeks, 9 20

Leaved, leafy, 18 IO

Lecher, fornicator, 18 2

Leech, physician, 125

Lesnan, lover, 6 5

Let, caused to, 10 6 I

Let, hinder, 5 7

Lewdest, most ignorant, 126

Licours, lecherous, 18 25

Lief, dear, 215

Liefer, more gladly, 9 4

Lieve, believe, 20 I

Limb-meal, limb from limb, 8 37

List, desire, pleasure, 9 2421039

Lithe, joint, 3 H

Longing unto, belonging to, 1 H

Long on (upon), because of, 15 2X20 r

Loos, praise, 5 lo, 16 I I

Lotless, without a share, 10 4

Loveday, day for settling disputes, 10 I5

Loving, praising, 11 I, 19

Lunes, leashes, strings, 6 16

Lusk, lubber, 7 5

Lusts, inclinations, 8 36

Maims, wounds, 1 IS

Makeless, matchless, 6 II, 1O 73

Makers, authors, poets, 21 H

Mal-ease, discomfort, 8 4I

Mal engine, evil design, 18 5, I8, 204

Mal-fortune, ill-luck, mishap, 912

Marches, berders, 1 H8, 9

Mass-penay, offering at mass for the dead, 18 20

Matchecold, machicolated, with holes for defence, 7 lo

Maugre, Jb, despite, 1 2 3, 20 6X I1

Measle, disease, 17 I I

Medled, mingled, 10 59

Medley, melee, general encounter, 1 IS

Meiny, retinue, 5 5

Mickle, much, 10 63

Minever, ermine, 12 I ,.

Mischieved, hurt, 9 I I

Mischievous, painful, 20 6

Miscomfort, discomfort, 10 29

Miscreature, unbeliever, 17 2

Missay, revile, 9 3; missaid, 9 2

Mo, more, 8 34,10 58

More and less, rich and poor, 7 27

Motes, notes on a horn, 7 8

Mountenance, amount of, extent, 7 4

Much, great, 20 4

Naked, unarmed, 12 I2

Namely, especially, 13 20

Ne, nor, 5 8

Near-hand, nearly, 5 7, 8 I4; near, 19 I

Needly, needs, on your own compulsion, 10 67

Nesh, soft, tender, 13 20

Nigh-hand, nearly, 9 35

Nill, will not, 10 55

Nilt, will not, 13 20

Nis, ne is, is not, 6 I6

Nist, ne wist, knew not, 1614

Nolulesse, nobleness, 119

Nobley, nobility, splendour, 10 6

Noised; reported, 10 46

Nold, would not, 13 IO

Noseling, on his nose, 17 4

Not for then, nevertheless, 10 30,

Notoyrly, notoriously, Pre95

Noyous, hurtful, 17 8

Obeissance, obedience, 18

Or, before, 9 N

Orgule, haughtiness, 21 I I

Orgulist, haughtiest, 21 I

Orgulite, pride, arrogance, 10 I

Orgulous, proud, 2 4

Other, or, 1 23

Ouches, jewels, 20 I4

Ought, owned, 6 5, 9 2

Outcept, except, 10 72

Outher, or, 9 N7, 10

Out-taken, except, 10 7 3

Over-evening, last night, 9

Overget, overtake, 12 3

Overhylled, covered, 10 9

Over-led, domineered over, 20 I I

Overlong, the length of, 10 60

Overslip, s., pass, 8 I4

Overthwart, alj., cross, 9 IS

Overthwart, sb., mischance, 7 17

Overthwart and endlong, by the breadth and length, 13 N

Painture, painting, 6 6

Paitrelles, breastplate of a horse, 7 16

Paltocks, short coats, 5

Parage, descent, 7 S

Pareil, like, 6 2

Passing, surpassingly, 18 t

Paynim, pagan, 9 38

Pensel, pennon, 10 47

Perclos, partition, 14 3

Perdy, par Dieu, 7 }9

Perigot, falcon, 6 16

Perish, destroy, 17 2

Peron, tombstone, 10 2

Pight, pitched, 1 I, 5 5, 9 20

Pike, steal away, 20 I7

Piked, stole, 9 44

Pillers, plunderers, 214

Pilling, plundering, 13 15

Pleasaunce, pleasure, 8 36

Plenour, complete, 7 1

Plump, b., cluster, 1 16

Pointling, aiming, 114

Pont, bridge, 11 I

Port, gate, 7 No

Posseded, possessed, 8 12

Potestate, governor, 5 8

Precessours, predecessors, 51

Press, throng, 1 N

Pretendeth, belongs to, 1 N

Pricker, hard rider, 5 IO

Pricking, spurring, 14 5

Prime, 6.o A.M., 6 49 1319

Prise, capture, 4 6

Puissance, power, 126

Purfle, trimming, 1 26

Purfled, embroidered, 1 26

Purvey, provide, 4 l, 18 3

Quarrels, arrowheads, 115

Questing, barking, 1 N

Quick, alive, N 1

Quit, repaid, 4 28; acquitted, behaved, 5 11

Raced (rased), tore, 1 23, 10 41 18 23

Rack (of bulls), herd, 16 I, 3

Raines, a town in Brittany famous for its cloth, 21

Ramping, raging, 9

Range, rank, station, 10

Ransacked, searched, 13 N

Rashed, fell headlong, 9 6

Rashing, rushing, 6 8

Rasing, rushing, 6 8, 7 4

Rasure, 18 25

Raundon, impetuosity, l lo, 39

Rear, raise, 4 2

Rechate, note of recall, 10 52

Recomforted, comforted, cheered, 733

Recounter, rencontre, encounter, 4 24X 10 3

Recover, rescue, 20 N

Rede, advise, 1 23; sb, counsel, 214

Redounded, glanced back, 1 N

Religion, religious order, 15

Reneye, deny, 8 37

Report, refer, 18 4

Resemblaunt, semblance, 14 6

Retrayed, drew back, 7 12

Rightwise, rightly, 15

Rivage, shore, 7 2I

Romed, roared, 5 4

Roted, practised, 10 36

Rove, cleft, 217

Rownsepyk, a branch, 6 I6

Sacring, consecrating, 14 3

Sad, serious, 9 7

Sadly, heartily, earnestly, 7 2

Salle, room, 17 16

SamitS N silk stuff with gold or

threads, 1 25

Sangreal, Holy Grail, 12 4

Sarps, girdles, 20 14

Saw, proverb, 10 61

Scathes, harms, hurts, 10 30

Scripture, writing, 17 2 1

Search, probe wounds, 8 8

Selar, canopy, I7 6

Semblabk, like, 6 IO

Semblant, semblance, 8 8

Sendal, fine cloth, 5 8

Sennight, week, 418

Servage, slavery, 13 15

Sewer, officer who set on dishes and tasted them, 7 36

Shaft-mon, hand breadth, 7 22

Shaw, thicket, .9 39

Sheef, thrust, 13 9

Sheer-Thursday, Thursday in Holy Week, 1720

Shend, harm, 20 I9

Shenship, disgrace, 7 IS

Shent, undone, blamed, 7 15

Shour, attack, 20 I4

Shrew, rascal, 10 47

Shrewd, knavish, 9 I8, 24

Sib, akin to, 3 3

Sideling, sideways, 1064

Siege, seat, 13 4

Signified, likened, 17 9

Siker, sure, 7 I 8, 11 I3

Sikerness, assurance, 4 27

Sith, since, 1 Se

Sithen, afterwards, since, 5 9

Skift, changed, 9 40

Slade, valley, 6 5, # 7

Slake, glen, 6 5

Soil (to go to), hunting term for taking the water, 18 2I

Sonds, messages, 21 I

Sort, company, 9 J I

Sperd, bolted, 8 34

Spere, ask, inquire, 13 17

Spered, asked, 7 30, 218

Sperhawk, sparrothawk, 12 7

Sprent, sprinkled, 17 7

Stale, station, 5 IO

Stark, thoroughly, 4 I7

Stead, place, 4 I4

Stert, started, rose quickly, 2 I6, 14 IO

Steven, appointment, 2 14; stefven setf appointment made, 8 I3

Steven, voice, 21 I2

Stigh, path, 7 3 I

Stilly, silently, 7 I9

Stint, fixed revenue, 1 24

Stonied, astonished, 6 8; became confused, 934

Stour, battle, 9 34, 16 8

Strain, race, descent, 13 8

Strait, narrow, 1 IO

Straked, blew a horn, 9 2I, 10 52

Sue, pursue, 16 20

Sued, pursued, 3 IO

Surcingles, saddle girths, 7 I6

Swang, swung, 8 14

Sweven, dream, 1 I3; PlS 21 I2

Swough, sound of wind, 5 4

Talent, desire, 10 20

Tallages, taxes, 5 2

Tallies, taxes, 5 2

Tamed, crusheda 2 I8, 3 lo, 15 2

Tatches, qualities, 2 2, 8 3

Tene, sorrow, 2 I6

Term, period of time, 21 I

Thilk, that same, 5 S

Tho, then, 17 I

Thrang, pushed, 7 30X 20 8

Thrulled, pushed, 9 4

Till, to, 9 26

To-brast, burst, 6 I3

Ta-fore, before, 1 4, 16 I4

To-morn, to-morrow, 4 24

Took, gave, 7 30, 16 6

To-rove, broke up, 8 38

To-shivered, broken to pieces, 1 22

Traced, advanced and retreated, 20 2r

Trains, devices, wiles, 9 25

Trating, pressing forward, 6 8 7 4

Travers (met at), came across, 17 I9

Traverse, slantwise, 10 65, 17 I9

Traversed, moved sideways, 20 21

Tray, grief, 2 I6

Treatise, treaty, 4 24

Tree, timber, 17 19

Trenchant, cutting, sharp, 19 I r

Trest, hunting term, 18 2 I

Truage, tribute, 1 23X 5 I

Trussed, packed, 20 I 8

Ubblie, wafer, Host, 17 20

Umbecast, cast about, 18 21

Umberere, the part of the hel et which shaded the eyes, 8 4I

Umbre, shade, 8 I

Unavised, thoughtlessly, 9 I7

Uncouth, strange, 3 6

Underne, 9-I2 A.M., 7

Ungoodly, rudely, 7 3I

Unhappy, unlucky, 20 I I

Unhilled, uncovered, 12 4

Unnethe, scarcely, 1 IS, 182

Unsicker, unstable, 17 23

Unwimpled, uncovered, 10 39

Unwrast, untwisted, unbound, 8 34

Upright, flat on the back, 16 8

Up-so-down, upside down, 10 60, 14 9} 213

Ure, usage, 1 I6

Utas, octave of a festival, 5 3

Utterance, uttermost, 9 3

Varlet, servant, 10 60

Venery, hunting, 8 3

Ventails, breathing holes, 10 60

Villain, man of low birth, 10 6

Visors, the perforated parts of helmets, 8 7

Voided, slipped away from, 1 I6

Wagging, shaking, 19 9

Waited, watched, 6 S

Waits, watches, 7 30

Wallop, gallop, 1 22

Wanhope, despair, 16 to, 13

Wap, ripple, 215

Ware, aware, 14 7

Warison, reward, 9 IZ

Warn, forbid, refuse, 610, 16 I1

Weeds, garments, 10 7 I

Weltered, rolled about, 5 5, 118

Wend, thought, 4 27

Wer-wolf, a man turned into a wolf by magic, 19 II

Where, whereas, 9 7

Wide-where, over wide space, 9 z

Wield, possess, have power over, 7 26

Wield himself, come to himself, 8 I3

Wight.  brave, strong, 7 9, 9 4, 20 z

Wightly, swiftly, 213

Wildsome, desolate, 7 22

Wimpled, with the head covered, 10 68

Win, make way, 9 4

Wite, v., blame, 126, 4 I I

Within-forth, on the inside, 16 I 3, 20 22

Without-forth, on the outside, 16 I3, 2022

Wittiest, cleverest, 17 3

Wittily, cleverly, 10 36

Witting, knowledge, 11 I4

Wold or nold, would or would not, 13 IO

Wonder, adj., wondrous, 17 I

Wonder, alv., wondrously, 10 68, 20 22

Wonderly, wonderfully, 9 4

Wood, mad, 1 IS, 9 3

Woodness, madness, 1 IS

Wood shaw, thicket of the wood, 9 12

Worship, honour, 7 z 3

Worshipped, cause to be honoured, 18 5

Worts, roots, 16 3

Wot, know, 116

Wrack, destruction, 20 I

Wroken, wreaked, 3 7

Wrothe, twisted, 12 z

Yede, ran, 2 I8

Yelden, yielded, 20 20

Yerde, stick, stem, 17 5

Yode, went, 6 z

Yolden, yielded, 5 IZ

Y-wis, certainly7 10 58

END OF VOL.  II

of Project Gutenberg's Etext of Le Mort d'Arthur, by Thomas Malory