THE FIGHT FOR THE QUEEN

So the quest of the Holy Graal had been fulfilled, and the few Knights

that had been left alive returned to the Round Table, and there was

great joy in the Court. To do them honour the Queen made them a

dinner; and there were four and twenty Knights present, and among them

Sir Patrise of Ireland, and Sir Gawaine and his brethren, the King's

nephews, which were Sir Agrawaine, Sir Gaheris, Sir Gareth, and Sir

Mordred. Now it was the custom of Sir Gawaine daily at dinner and

supper to eat all manner of fruit, and especially pears and apples,

and this the Queen knew, and set fruit of all sorts before him. And

there was present at the dinner one Sir Pinel le Savage, who hated Sir

Gawaine because he and his brethren had slain Sir Lamorak du Galis,

cousin to Sir Pinel; so he put poison into some of the apples, hoping

that Sir Gawaine would eat one and die. But by ill fortune it befell

that the good Knight Sir Patrise took a poisoned apple, and in a few

moments he lay dead and stark in his seat. At this sight all the

Knights leapt to their feet, but said nothing, for they bethought them

that Queen Guenevere had made them the dinner, and feared that she had

poisoned the fruit.

'My lady, the Queen,' said Sir Gawaine, who was the first to speak,

'this fruit was brought for me, for all know how well I love it;

therefore, Madam, the shame of this ill deed is yours.' The Queen

stood still, pale and trembling, but kept silence, and next spoke Sir

Mador de la Porte.

'This shall not be ended so,' said he, 'for I have lost a noble Knight

of my blood, and I will be avenged of the person who has wrought this

evil.' And he turned to the Queen and said 'Madam, it is you who have

brought about the death of my cousin Sir Patrise!' The Knights round

listened in silence, for they too thought Sir Mador spake truth. And

the Queen still said nothing, but fell to weeping bitterly, till King

Arthur heard and came to look into the matter. And when they told him

of their trouble his heart was heavy within him.

'Fair lords,' said the King at last, 'I grieve for this ill deed; but

I cannot meddle therein, or do battle for my wife, for I have to judge

justly. Sure I am that this deed is none of hers, therefore many a

good Knight will stand her champion that she be not burned to death in

a wrong quarrel. And, Sir Mador, hold not your head so high, but fix

the day of battle, when you shall find a Knight to answer you, or else

it were great shame to all my Court.'

'My gracious lord,' said Sir Mador, 'you must hold me excused. But

though you are a King you are also a Knight, and must obey the laws of

Knighthood. Therefore I beseech your forgiveness if I declare that

none of the four and twenty Knights here present will fight that

battle. What say you, my lords?' Then the Knights answered that they

could not hold the Queen guiltless, for as the dinner was made by her

either she or her servants must have done this thing.

'Alas!' said the Queen, 'no evil was in my heart when I prepared this

feast, for never have I done such foul deeds.'

'My lord the King,' cried Sir Mador, 'I require of you, as you are a

just King, to fix a day that I may get ready for the fight!'

'Well,' answered the King, 'on the fifteenth day from this come on

horseback to the meadow that is by Westminster. And if it happens that

there be a Knight to fight with you, strike as hard as you will, God

will speed the right. But if no Knight is there, then must my Queen be

burned, and a fire shall be made in the meadow.'

[Illustration: SIR MADOR ACCUSES GUENEVERE]

'I am answered,' said Sir Mador, and he and the rest of the Knights

departed.

When the King and Queen were left alone he asked her what had brought

all this about. 'God help me, that I know not,' said the Queen, 'nor

how it was done.'

'Where is Sir Lancelot?' said King Arthur, looking round. 'If he were

here he would not grudge to do battle for you.'

'Sir,' replied the Queen, 'I know not where he is, but his brother and

his kinsmen think he is not in this realm.'

'I grieve for that,' said the King, 'for he would soon stop this

strife. But I counsel you, ask Sir Bors, and he will not refuse you.

For well I see that none of the four and twenty Knights who were with

you at dinner will be your champion, and none will say well of you,

but men will speak evil of you at the Court.'

'Alas!' sighed the Queen, 'I do indeed miss Sir Lancelot, for he would

soon ease my heart.'

'What ails you?' asked the King, 'that you cannot keep Sir Lancelot at

your side, for well you know that he who Sir Lancelot fights for has

the best Knight in the world for his champion. Now go your way, and

command Sir Bors to do battle with you for Sir Lancelot's sake.' So

the Queen departed from the King, and sent for Sir Bors into her

chamber, and when he came she besought his help.

'Madam,' said he, 'what can I do? for I may not meddle in this matter

lest the Knights who were at the dinner have me in suspicion, for I

was there also. It is now, Madam, that you miss Sir Lancelot, whom you

have driven away, as he would have done battle for you were you right

or wrong, and I wonder how for shame's sake you can ask me, knowing

how I love and honour him.'

'Alas,' said the Queen, 'I throw myself on your grace,' and she went

down on her knees and besought Sir Bors to have mercy on her, 'else I

shall have a shameful death, and one I have never deserved.' At that

King Arthur came in, and found her kneeling before Sir Bors. 'Madam!

you do me great dishonour,' said Sir Bors, raising her up.

'Ah, gentle Knight,' cried the King, 'have mercy on my Queen, for I am

sure that they speak falsely. And I require by the love of Sir

Lancelot that you do battle for her instead of him.'

'My lord,' answered Sir Bors, 'you require of me the hardest thing

that ever anyone asked of me, for well you know that if I fight for

the Queen I shall anger all my companions of the Round Table; but I

will not say nay, my lord, for Sir Lancelot's sake and for your sake!

On that day I will be the Queen's champion, unless a better Knight is

found to do battle for her.'

'Will you promise me this?' asked the King.

'Yes,' answered Sir Bors, 'I will not fail you nor her, unless there

should come a better Knight than I, then he shall have the battle.'

Then the King and Queen rejoiced greatly, and thanked Sir Bors with

all their hearts.

So Sir Bors departed and rode unto Sir Lancelot, who was with the

hermit Sir Brasias, and told him of this adventure. 'Ah,' said Sir

Lancelot, 'this has befallen as I would have it, and therefore I pray

you make ready to do battle, but delay the fight as long as you can

that I may appear. For I am sure that Sir Mador is a hot Knight, and

the longer he waits the more impatient he will be for the combat.'

'Sir,' answered Sir Bors, 'let me deal with him. Doubt not you shall

have all your will.' And he rode away, and came again to the Court.

It was soon noised about that Sir Bors would be the Queen's champion,

and many Knights were displeased with him; but there were a few who

held the Queen to be innocent. Sir Bors spoke unto them all and said,

'It were shameful, my fair lords, if we suffered the most noble Queen

in the world to be disgraced openly, not only for her sake, but for

the King's.' But they answered him: 'As for our lord King Arthur, we

love him and honour him as much as you; but as for Queen Guenevere,

we love her not, for she is the destroyer of good Knights.'

[Illustration: GUENEVERE & SIR BORS]

'Fair lords,' said Sir Bors, 'you shall not speak such words, for

never yet have I heard that she was the destroyer of good Knights. But

at all times, as far as I ever knew, she maintained them and gave them

many gifts. And therefore it were a shame to us all if we suffered our

noble King's wife to be put to death, and I will not suffer it. So

much I will say, that the Queen is not guilty of Sir Patrise's death;

for she owed him no ill will, and bade him and us to the dinner for no

evil purpose, which will be proved hereafter. And in any case there

was foul dealing among us.'

'We may believe your words,' said some of the Knights, but others held

that he spoke falsely.

The days passed quickly by until the evening before the battle, when

the Queen sent for Sir Bors and asked him if he was ready to keep his

promise.

'Truly, Madam,' answered he, 'I shall not fail you, unless a better

Knight than I am come to do battle for you. Then, Madam, I am

discharged of my promise.'

'Shall I tell this to my lord Arthur?' said the Queen.

'If it pleases you, Madam,' answered Sir Bors. So the Queen went to

the King, and told him what Sir Bors had said, and the King bade her

to be comforted, as Sir Bors was one of the best Knights of the Round

Table.

The next morning the King and Queen, and all manner of Knights, rode

into the meadow of Westminster, where the battle was to be; and the

Queen was put into the Guard of the High Constable, and a stout iron

stake was planted, and a great fire made about it, at which the Queen

should be burned if Sir Mador de la Porte won the fight. For it was

the custom in those days that neither fear nor favour, love nor

kinship, should hinder right judgment. Then came Sir Mador de la

Porte, and made oath before the King that the Queen had done to death

his cousin Sir Patrise, and he would prove it on her Knight's body,

let who would say the contrary. Sir Bors likewise made answer that

Queen Guenevere had done no wrong, and that he would make good with

his two hands. 'Then get you ready,' said Sir Mador. 'Sir Mador,'

answered Sir Bors, 'I know you for a good Knight, but I trust to be

able to withstand your malice; and I have promised King Arthur and my

Lady the Queen that I will do battle for her to the uttermost, unless

there come forth a better Knight than I am.'

'Is that all?' asked Sir Mador; 'but you must either fight now or own

that you are beaten.'

'Take your horse,' said Sir Bors, 'for I shall not tarry long,' and

Sir Mador forthwith rode into the field with his shield on his

shoulder, and his spear in his hand, and he went up and down crying

unto King Arthur, 'Bid your champion come forth if he dare.' At that

Sir Bors was ashamed, and took his horse, and rode to the end of the

lists. But from a wood hard by appeared a Knight riding fast on a

white horse, bearing a shield full of strange devices. When he reached

Sir Bors he drew rein and said, 'Fair Knight, be not displeased, but

this battle must be to a better Knight than you. For I have come a

great journey to fight this fight, as I promised when I spoke with you

last, and I thank you heartily for your goodwill.' So Sir Bors went to

King Arthur and told him that a Knight had come who wished to do

battle for the Queen. 'What Knight is he?' asked the King.

'That I know not,' said Sir Bors; 'but he made a covenant with me to

be here this day, and now I am discharged,' said Sir Bors.

Then the King called to that Knight and asked him if he would fight

for the Queen. 'For that purpose I came hither,' replied he, 'and

therefore, Sir King, delay me no longer, for as soon as I have ended

this battle I must go hence, as I have many matters elsewhere. And

I would have you know that it is a dishonour to all the Knights of the

Round Table to let so noble a lady and so courteous a Queen as Queen

Guenevere be shamed amongst you.'

[Illustration: ARTHUR AND GUENEVERE KISS BEFORE ALL THE PEOPLE]

The Knights who were standing round looked at each other at these

words, and wondered much what man this was who took the battle upon

him, for none knew him save Sir Bors.

'Sir,' said Sir Mador de la Porte unto the King, 'let me know the name

of him with whom I have to do.' But the King answered nothing, and

made a sign for the fight to begin. They rode to the end of the lists,

and couched their spears and rushed together with all their force, and

Sir Mador's spear broke in pieces. But the other Knight's spear held

firm, and he pressed on Sir Mador's horse till it fell backward with a

great fall. Sir Mador sprang from his horse, and, placing his shield

before him, drew his sword, and bade his foe dismount from his horse

also, and do battle with him on foot, which the unknown Knight did.

For an hour they fought thus, as Sir Mador was a strong man, and had

proved himself the victor in many combats. At last the Knight smote

Sir Mador grovelling to his knees, and the Knight stepped forward to

have struck him flat upon the ground. Therewith Sir Mador suddenly

rose, and smote the Knight upon the thigh, so that the blood ran out

fiercely. But when the Knight felt himself wounded, and saw his blood,

he let Sir Mador rise to his feet, and then he gave him such a buffet

on the helm that this time Sir Mador fell his length on the earth, and

the Knight sprang to him, to unloose his helm. At this Sir Mador

prayed for his life, acknowledging that he was overcome, and confessed

that the Queen's innocence had been proved. 'I will only grant you

your life,' said the Knight, 'if you will proclaim publicly that you

have foully slandered the Queen, and that you make no mention, on the

tomb of Sir Patrise, that ever Queen Guenevere consented to his

murder.' 'All that will I do,' said Sir Mador, and some Knights took

him up, and carried him away to heal his wounds. And the other Knight

went straight to the foot of the steps where sat King Arthur, and

there the Queen had just come, and the King and the Queen kissed each

other before all the people. When King Arthur saw the Knight standing

there he stooped down to him and thanked him, and so likewise did the

Queen; and they prayed him to put off his helmet, and commanded wine

to be brought, and when he unlaced his helmet to drink they knew him

to be Sir Lancelot du Lake. Then Arthur took the Queen's hand and led

her to Sir Lancelot and said, 'Sir, I give you the most heartfelt

thanks of the great deed you have done this day for me and my Queen.'

'My lord,' answered Sir Lancelot, 'you know well that I ought of right

ever to fight your battles, and those of my lady the Queen. For it was

you who gave me the high honour of Knighthood, and that same day my

lady the Queen did me a great service, else I should have been put to

shame before all men. Because in my hastiness I lost my sword, and my

lady the Queen found it and gave it to me when I had sore need of it.

And therefore, my lord Arthur, I promised her that day that I would be

her Knight in right or in wrong.'

'I owe you great thanks,' said the King, 'and some time I hope to

repay you.' The Queen, beholding Sir Lancelot, wept tears of joy for

her deliverance, and felt bowed to the ground with sorrow at the

thought of what he had done for her, when she had sent him away with

unkind words. Then all the Knights of the Round Table and his kinsmen

drew near to him and welcomed him, and there was great mirth in the

Court.

_THE FAIR MAID OF ASTOLAT_

Soon after this it befell that the damsel of the lake, called by some

Nimue and by others Vivien, wedded Sir Pelleas, and came to the Court

of King Arthur. And when she heard the talk of the death of Sir

Patrise and how the Queen had been accused of it, she found out by

means of her magic that the tale was false, and told it openly that

the Queen was innocent and that it was Sir Pinel who had poisoned the

apple. Then he fled into his own country, where none might lay hands

on him. So Sir Patrise was buried in the Church of Westminster, and on

his tomb was written, 'Here lieth Sir Patrise of Ireland, slain by Sir

Pinel le Savage, that empoisoned apples to have slain Sir Gawaine, and

by misfortune Sir Patrise ate one of those apples and then suddenly he

burst.' Also there was put upon the tomb that Queen Guenevere was

accused of the death of Sir Patrise by Sir Mador de la Porte, and how

Sir Lancelot fought with him and overcame him in battle. All this was

written on the tomb.

And daily Sir Mador prayed to have the Queen's grace once more, and by

means of Sir Lancelot he was forgiven. It was now the middle of the

summer, and King Arthur proclaimed that in fifteen days a great

tourney should be held at Camelot, which is now called Winchester, and

many Knights and Kings made ready to do themselves honour. But the

Queen said she would stay behind, for she was sick, and did not care

for the noise and bustle of a tourney. 'It grieves me you should say

that,' said the King, for you will not have seen so noble a company

gathered together this seven years past, save at the Whitsuntide when

Galahad departed from the Court.'

'Truly,' answered the Queen, 'the sight will be grand. Nevertheless

you must hold me excused, for I cannot be there.'

Sir Lancelot likewise declared that his wounds were not healed and

that he could not bear himself in a tourney as he was wont to do. At

this the King was wroth, that he might not have either his Queen or

his best Knight with him, and he departed towards Winchester and by

the way lodged in a town now called Guildford, but then Astolat. And

when the King had set forth, the Queen sent for Sir Lancelot, and told

him he was to blame for having excused himself from going with the

King, who set such store by his company; and Sir Lancelot said he

would be ruled by her, and would ride forth next morning on his way to

Winchester; 'but I should have you know,' said he, 'that at the

tourney I shall be against the King and his Knights.'

'You must do as you please,' replied the Queen, 'but if you will be

ruled by my counsel, you will fight on his side.'

'Madam,' said Sir Lancelot, 'I pray you not to be displeased with me.

I will take the adventure as it comes,' and early next morning he rode

away till at eventide he reached Astolat. He went through the town

till he stopped before the house of an old Baron, Sir Bernard of

Astolat, and as he dismounted from his horse, the King spied him from

the gardens of the castle. 'It is well,' he said smiling to the

Knights that were beside him, 'I see one man who will play his part in

the jousts, and I will undertake that he will do marvels.'

'Who is that?' asked they all. 'You must wait to know that,' replied

the King, and went into the castle. Meantime Sir Lancelot had entered

his lodging, and the old Baron bade him welcome, but he knew not it

was Sir Lancelot. 'Fair Sir,' said Sir Lancelot, 'I pray you lend me,

if you can, a shield with a device which no man knows, for mine they

know well.'

'Sir,' answered Sir Bernard, 'you shall have your wish, for you seem

one of the goodliest Knights in the world. And, Sir, I have two sons,

both but lately knighted, Sir Tirre who was wounded on the day of his

Knighthood, and his shield you shall have. My youngest son, Sir

Lavaine, shall ride with you, if you will have his company, to the

jousts. For my heart is much drawn to you, and tell me, I beseech you,

what name I shall call you by.'

'You must hold me excused as to that, just now,' said Sir Lancelot,

'but if I speedwell at the jousts, I will come again and tell you. But

let me have Sir Lavaine with me, and lend me, as you have offered, his

brother's shield.' 'This shall be done,' replied Sir Bernard.

Besides these two sons, Sir Bernard had a daughter whom everyone

called The Fair Maid of Astolat, though her real name was Elaine le

Blanc. And when she looked on Sir Lancelot, her love went forth to him

and she could never take it back, and in the end it killed her. As

soon as her father told her that Sir Lancelot was going to the tourney

she besought him to wear her token in the jousts, but he was not

willing. 'Fair damsel,' he said, 'if I did that, I should have done

more for your love than ever I did for lady or damsel.' But then he

remembered that he was to go disguised to the tourney, and because he

had before never worn any manner of token of any damsel, he bethought

him that, if he should take one of hers, none would know him. So he

said to her, 'Fair damsel, I will wear your token on my helmet, if you

will show me what it is.'

'Sir,' she answered, 'it is a red sleeve, embroidered in great

pearls,' and she brought it to him. 'Never have I done so much for any

damsel,' said he, and gave his own shield into her keeping, till he

came again. Sir Arthur had waited three days in Astolat for some

Knights who were long on the road, and when they had arrived they all

set forth, and were followed by Sir Lancelot and Sir Lavaine, both

with white shields, and Sir Lancelot bore besides the red sleeve that

was a token. Now Camelot was filled with a great number of Kings and

Lords and Knights, but Sir Lavaine found means to lodge both himself

and Sir Lancelot secretly with a rich burgess, and no man knew who

they were or whence they came. And there they stayed till the day of

the tourney. At earliest dawn the trumpets blew, and King Arthur took

his seat upon a high scaffold, so that he might see who had done best;

but he would not suffer Sir Gawaine to go from his side, for Sir

Gawaine never won the prize when Sir Lancelot was in the field, and as

King Arthur knew, Sir Lancelot oftentimes disguised himself.

Then the Knights formed into two parties and Sir Lancelot made him

ready, and fastened the red sleeve upon his helmet, and he and Sir

Lavaine rode into a little wood that lay behind the Knights who should

fight against those of the Round Table. 'Sir,' said Sir Lancelot,

'yonder is a company of good Knights and they hold together as boars

that are vexed with dogs.'

'That is truth,' said Sir Lavaine.

'Now,' said Sir Lancelot, 'if you will help me a little, you shall see

King Arthur's side, which is winning, driven back as fast as they

came.'

'Spare not, Sir,' answered Sir Lavaine, 'for I shall do what I may.'

So they rode into the thickest of the press, and smote so hard both

with spear and sword that the Knights of the Round Table fell back. 'O

mercy!' cried Sir Gawaine, 'what Knight is that yonder who does such

marvellous deeds?'

'I know well who it is,' said King Arthur, 'but I will not tell you

yet.'

'Sir,' answered Sir Gawaine, 'I should say it was Sir Lancelot by the

blows he deals and the manner that he rides, but it cannot be he, for

this man has a red sleeve upon his helmet, and Sir Lancelot has

never borne the token of any lady.'

[Illustration: ELAINE TIES HER SLEEVE ROUND SIR LANCELOT'S HELMET]

'Let him be,' said Sir Arthur, 'you will find out his name, and see

him do greater deeds yet, before he departs.' And the Knights that

were fighting against the King's party took heart again, for before

they feared they would be beaten. But when Sir Bors saw this, he

called unto him the Knights that were of kin to Sir Lancelot, and they

banded together to make a great charge, and threw Sir Lancelot's horse

to the ground, and by misfortune the spear of Sir Bors broke, and its

head was left in Sir Lancelot's side. When Sir Lavaine saw that, he

unhorsed the King of Scots, and brought his horse to Sir Lancelot, and

helped him mount thereon and gave him a spear, with which Sir Lancelot

smote Sir Bors to the earth and Sir Ector de Maris, the foster-father

of King Arthur, and buffeted sorely the Knights that were with them.

Afterward he hurled himself into the thick _melee_ of them all, and

did the most wonderful deeds that ever were heard of. And Sir Lavaine

likewise did well that day, for he smote down full two Knights of the

Round Table. 'Mercy,' again cried Sir Gawaine to Arthur, 'I marvel

what Knight that is with the red sleeve.'

'That you shall know soon,' said King Arthur, and commanded that the

trumpets should be blown, and declared that the prize belonged to the

Knight with the white shield, who bare the red sleeve, for he had

unhorsed more than thirty Knights. And the Kings and Lords who were of

his party came round him and thanked him for the help he had given

them, by which means the honours of the day had been theirs.

'Fair Lords,' said Sir Lancelot, 'if I have deserved thanks, I have

paid for them sorely, for I shall hardly escape with my life,

therefore I pray you let me depart, for my hurt is grievous.' Then he

groaned piteously, and galloped from them to a wood's side, followed

by Sir Lavaine. 'Oh help me, Sir Lavaine,' said he, 'to get this

spear's head out of my side, for it is killing me.' But Sir Lavaine

feared to touch it, lest Sir Lancelot should bleed to death. 'I charge

you,' said Sir Lancelot, 'if you love me draw out the head,' so Sir

Lavaine drew it out. And Sir Lancelot gave a great shriek, and a

marvellous grisly groan, and his blood flowed out so fast, that he

fell into a swoon. 'Oh what shall I do?' cried Sir Lavaine, and he

loosed Sir Lancelot's helm and coat of mail, and turned him so that

the wind might blow on him, but for full half an hour he lay as if he

had been dead. And at last Sir Lancelot opened his eyes, and said, 'O

Lavaine, help me on my horse, for two miles from this place there

lives a hermit who once was a Knight of the Round Table, and he can

heal my wounds.' Then Sir Lavaine, with much ado, helped him on his

horse, and brought him bleeding to the hermit. The hermit looked at

him as he rode up, leaning piteously on his saddle-bow, and he thought

that he should know him, but could not tell who he was for the

paleness of his face, till he saw by a wound on his cheek that it was

Sir Lancelot.

'You cannot hide your name from me,' said the hermit, 'for you are the

noblest Knight in the world, and well I know you to be Sir Lancelot.'

'Since you know me, Sir,' said he, 'help me for God's sake, and for

death or life put me out of this pain.'

'Fear nothing,' answered the hermit, 'your pain will soon be gone,'

and he called his servants to take the armour off the Knight, and laid

him in bed. After that he dressed the wound, and gave him good wine to

drink, and Sir Lancelot slept and awoke free of his pain. So we will

leave him to be healed of his wound, under the care of the hermit, and

go back to King Arthur.

Now it was the custom in those days that after a tourney was finished,

a great feast should be held at which both parties were assembled, so

King Arthur sent to ask the King of Northgalis, where was the Knight

with the red sleeve, who had fought on his side. 'Bring him before

me,' he said, 'that he may have the prize he has won, which is his

right.' Then answered the King with the hundred Knights, 'we fear the

Knight must have been sore hurt, and that neither you nor we are ever

like to see him again, which is grievous to think of.'

'Alas!' said King Arthur, 'is he then so badly wounded? What is his

name?'

'Truly,' said they all, 'we know not his name, nor whence he came, nor

whither he went.'

'As for me,' answered King Arthur, 'these tidings are the worst that I

have heard these seven years, for I would give all the lands I hold

that no harm had befallen this Knight.'

'Do you know him?' asked they all.

'Whether I know him or not,' said King Arthur, 'I shall not tell you,

but may Heaven send me good news of him.' 'Amen,' answered they.

'By my head,' said Sir Gawaine, 'if this good Knight is really wounded

unto death, it is a great evil for all this land, for he is one of the

noblest that ever I saw for handling a sword or spear. And if he may

be found, I shall find him, for I am sure he is not far from this

town,' so he took his Squire with him, and they rode all round

Camelot, six or seven miles on every side, but nothing could they hear

of him. And he returned heavily to the Court of King Arthur.

Two days after the King and all his company set out for London, and by

the way, it happened to Sir Gawaine to lodge with Sir Bernard at

Astolat. And when he was in his chamber, Sir Bernard and his daughter

Elaine came unto Sir Gawaine, to ask him tidings of the Court, and who

did best in the tourney at Winchester.

'Truly,' said Sir Gawaine, 'there were two Knights that bare white

shields, but one of them had a red sleeve upon his helm, and he was

one of the best Knights that ever I saw joust in the field, for I dare

say he smote down forty Knights of the Table Round.'

'Now blessed be God,' said the Maid of Astolat, 'that that Knight sped

so well, for he is the man in the world that I loved first, and he

will also be the last that ever I shall love.'

'Fair Maid,' asked Sir Gawaine, 'is that Knight your love?'

'Certainly he is my love,' said she.

'Then you know his name?' asked Sir Gawaine.

'Nay, truly,' answered the damsel, 'I know neither his name, nor

whence he cometh, but I love him for all that.'

'How did you meet him first?' asked Sir Gawaine. At that she told him

the whole story, and how her brother went with Sir Lancelot to do him

service, and lent him the white shield of her brother Sir Tirre and

left his own shield with her. 'Why did he do that?' asked Sir Gawaine.

'For this cause,' said the damsel, 'his shield was too well known

among many noble Knights.'

'Ah, fair damsel,' said Sir Gawaine, 'I beg of you to let me have a

sight of that shield.'

'Sir,' answered she, 'it is in my chamber covered with a case, and if

you will come with me, you shall see it.'

'Not so,' said Sir Bernard, and sent his Squire for it. And when Sir

Gawaine took off the case and beheld the shield, and saw the arms, he

knew it to be Sir Lancelot's. 'Ah mercy,' cried he, 'my heart is

heavier than ever it was before!'

'Why?' asked Elaine.

'I have great cause,' answered Sir Gawaine. 'Is that Knight who owns

this shield your love?'

'Yes, truly,' said she; 'I would I were his love.'

'You are right, fair damsel,' replied Gawaine, 'for if you love him,

you love the most honourable Knight in the world. I have known him for

four-and-twenty years, and never did I or any other Knight see him

wear a token of either lady or damsel at a tournament. Therefore,

damsel, he has paid you great honour. But I fear that I may never

behold him again upon earth, and that is grievous to think of.'

'Alas!' she said, 'how may this be? Is he slain?'

'I did not say that,' replied Sir Gawaine, 'but he is sorely wounded,

and is more likely to be dead than alive. And, maiden, by this shield

I know that he is Sir Lancelot.'

'How can this be?' said the Maid of Astolat, 'and what was his hurt?'

'Truly,' answered Sir Gawaine, 'it was the man that loved him best who

hurt him so, and I am sure that if that man knew that it was Sir

Lancelot whom he had wounded, he would think it was the darkest deed

that ever he did.'

'Now, dear father,' said Elaine, 'give me leave to ride and to seek

him, for I shall go out of my mind unless I find him and my brother.'

'Do as you will,' answered her father, 'for I am grieved to hear of

the hurt of that noble Knight.' So the damsel made ready.

On the morn Sir Gawaine came to King Arthur and told him how he had

found the shield in the keeping of the Maid of Astolat. 'All that I

knew beforehand,' said the King, 'and that was why I would not suffer

you to fight at the tourney, for I had espied him when he entered his

lodging the night before. But this is the first time that ever I heard

of his bearing the token of some lady, and much I marvel at it.'

'By my head,' answered Sir Gawaine, 'the Fair Maiden of Astolat loves

him wondrous well. What it all means, or what will be the end, I

cannot say, but she has ridden after him to seek him.' So the King and

his company came to London, and everyone in the Court knew that it was

Sir Lancelot who had jousted the best.

And when the tidings came to Sir Bors, his heart grew heavy, and also

the hearts of his kinsmen. But when the Queen heard that Sir Lancelot

bore the red sleeve of the Fair Maid of Astolat, she was nearly mad

with wrath and summoned Sir Bors before her in haste.

'Ah, Sir Bors,' she cried when he was come, 'have the tidings reached

you that Sir Lancelot has been a false Knight to me?'

'Madam,' answered Sir Bors, 'I pray you say not so, for I cannot hear

such language of him.'

'Why, is he not false and a traitor when, after swearing that for

right or wrong he would be my Knight and mine only, he bore the red

sleeve upon his helm at the great jousts at Camelot?'

'Madam,' said Sir Bors, 'I grieve bitterly as to that sleeve-bearing,

but I think he did it that none of his kin should know him. For no man

before that had seen him bear the token of any lady, be she what she

may.'

'Fie on him!' said the Queen, 'I myself heard Sir Gawaine tell my lord

Arthur of the great love that is between the Fair Maiden of Astolat

and him.'

'Madam,' answered Sir Bors, 'I cannot hinder Sir Gawaine from saying

what he pleases, but as for Sir Lancelot, I am sure that he loves no

one lady or maiden better than another. And therefore I will hasten to

seek him wherever he be.'

Meanwhile fair Elaine came to Winchester to find Sir Lancelot, who lay

in peril of his life in the hermit's dwelling. And when she was riding

hither and thither, not knowing where she should turn, she fell on her

brother Sir Lavaine, who was exercising his horse. 'How doth my lord

Sir Lancelot?' asked she.

'Who told you, sister, that my lord's name was Sir Lancelot?' answered

Sir Lavaine.

'Sir Gawaine, who came to my father's house to rest after the tourney,

knew him by his shield,' said she, and they rode on till they reached

the hermitage, and Sir Lavaine brought her to Sir Lancelot. And when

she saw him so pale, and in such a plight, she fell to the earth in a

swoon, but by-and-bye she opened her eyes and said, 'My lord Sir

Lancelot, what has brought you to this?' and swooned again. When she

came to herself and stood up, Sir Lancelot prayed her to be of good

cheer, for if she had come to comfort him she was right welcome, and

that his wound would soon heal. 'But I marvel,' said he, 'how you know

my name.' Then the maiden told him how Sir Gawaine had been at Astolat

and had seen his shield.

'Alas!' sighed Sir Lancelot, 'it grieves me that my name is known, for

trouble will come of it.' For he knew full well that Sir Gawaine would

tell Queen Guenevere, and that she would be wroth. And Elaine stayed

and tended him, and Sir Lancelot begged Sir Lavaine to ride to

Winchester and ask if Sir Bors was there, and said that he should know

him by token of a wound which Sir Bors had on his forehead. 'For well

I am sure,' said Sir Lancelot, 'that Sir Bors will seek me, as he is

the same good Knight that hurt me.'

Therefore as Sir Lancelot commanded, Sir Lavaine rode to Winchester

and inquired if Sir Bors had been seen there, so that when he entered

the town Sir Lavaine readily found him. Sir Bors was overjoyed to hear

good tidings of Sir Lancelot, and they rode back together to the

hermitage. At the sight of Sir Lancelot lying in his bed, pale and

thin, Sir Bors' heart gave way, and he wept long without speaking.

'Oh, my lord Sir Lancelot,' he said at last, 'God send you hasty

recovery; great is my shame for having wounded you thus, you who are

the noblest Knight in the world. I wonder that my arm would lift

itself against you, and I ask your mercy.'

'Fair cousin,' answered Sir Lancelot, 'such words please me not at

all, for it is the fault of my pride which would overcome you all,

that I lie here to-day. We will not speak of it any more, for what is

done cannot be undone, but let us find a cure so that I may soon be

whole.' Then Sir Bors leaned upon his bed, and told him how the Queen

was filled with anger against him, because he wore the red sleeve at

the jousts.

'I am sorrowful at what you tell me,' replied Sir Lancelot, 'for all I

did was to hinder my being known.'

'That I said to excuse you,' answered Sir Bors, 'though it was all in

vain. But is this damsel that is so busy about you the Fair Maid of

Astolat?'

'She it is, and she will not go from me!'

'Why should she go from you?' asked Sir Bors. 'She is a passing fair

damsel, and of gentle breeding, and I would that you could love her,

for it is easy to see by her bearing that she loves you entirely.'

'It grieves me to hear that,' said Sir Lancelot.

After this they talked of other things, till in a few days Sir

Lancelot's wounds were whole again. When Sir Lancelot felt his

strength return, Sir Bors made him ready, and departed for the Court

of King Arthur, and told them how he had left Sir Lancelot. And there

was on All Hallows a great tournament, and Sir Bors won the prize for

the unhorsing of twenty Knights, and Sir Gareth did great deeds also,

but vanished suddenly from the field, and no man knew where he had

gone. After the tourney was over, Sir Bors rode to the hermitage to

see Sir Lancelot, whom he found walking on his feet, and on the next

morning they bade farewell to the hermit, taking with them Elaine le

Blanc. They went first to Astolat, where they were well lodged in the

house of Sir Bernard, but when the morrow came, and Sir Lancelot would

have departed from them, Elaine called to her father and to her

brothers Sir Tirre and Sir Lavaine, and thus she said:

'My lord Sir Lancelot, fair Knight, leave me not, I pray you, but have

mercy upon me, and suffer me not to die of love of thee.'

'What do you wish me to do?' asked Sir Lancelot.

'I would have you for my husband,' answered she.

'Fair damsel, I thank you,' said Sir Lancelot, 'but truly I shall

never have a wife. But in token and thanks of all your good will

towards me, gladly will I give a thousand pounds yearly when you set

your heart upon some other Knight.'

'Of such gifts I will have none,' answered Elaine, 'and I would have

you know, Sir Lancelot, that if you refuse to wed me, my good days are

done.'

'Fair damsel,' said Sir Lancelot, 'I cannot do the thing that you

ask.'

At these words she fell down in a swoon, and her maids bore her to her

chamber, where she made bitter sorrow. Sir Lancelot thought it would

be well for him to depart before she came to her senses again, and he

asked Sir Lavaine what he would do.

'What should I do?' asked Sir Lavaine, 'but follow you if you will

have me.' Then Sir Bernard came and said to Sir Lancelot, 'I see well

that my daughter Elaine will die for your sake.'

'I cannot marry her,' answered Sir Lancelot, 'and it grieves me

sorely, for she is a good maiden, fair and gentle.'

'Father,' said Sir Lavaine, 'she is as pure and good as Sir Lancelot

has said, and she is like me, for since first I saw him I can never

leave him.' And after that they bade the old man farewell and came

unto Winchester, where the King and all the Knights of the Round Table

made great joy of him, save only Sir Agrawaine and Sir Mordred. But

the Queen was angry and would not speak to him, though he tried by all

means to make her. Now when the Fair Maid of Astolat knew he was gone,

she would neither eat nor sleep, but cried after Sir Lancelot all the

day long. And when she had spent ten days in this manner, she grew so

weak that they thought her soul must quit this world, and the priest

came to her, and bade her dwell no more on earthly things. She would

not listen to him, but cried ever after Sir Lancelot, and how she had

loved none other, no, nor ever would, and that her love would be her

death. Then she called her father Sir Bernard, and her brother Sir

Tirre, and begged her brother to write her a letter as she should tell

him, and her father that he would have her watched till she was dead.

'And while my body is warm,' said she, 'let this letter be put in my

right hand, and my hand bound fast with the letter until I be cold,

and let me be dressed in my richest clothes and be lain on a fair bed,

and driven in a chariot to the Thames. There let me be put on a barge,

and a dumb man with me, to steer the barge, which shall be covered

over with black samite. Thus, father, I beseech you, let it be done.'

And her father promised her faithfully that so it should be done to

her when she was dead. Next day she died, and her body was lain on the

bed, and placed in a chariot, and driven to the Thames, where the man

awaited her with the barge. When she was put on board, he steered the

barge to Westminster and rowed a great while to and fro, before any

espied it. At last King Arthur and Queen Guenevere withdrew into a

window to speak together, and espied the black barge and wondered

greatly what it meant. The King summoned Sir Kay, and bade him take

Sir Brandiles and Sir Agrawaine, and find out who was lying there, and

they ran down to the river side, and came and told the King. 'That

fair corpse will I see,' returned the King, and he took the Queen's

hand and led her thither. Then he ordered the barge to be made fast,

and he entered it, and the Queen likewise, and certain Knights with

them. And there he saw a fair woman on a rich bed, and her clothing

was of cloth of gold, and she lay smiling. While they looked, all

being silent, the Queen spied a letter in her right hand, and pointed

it out to the King, who took it saying, 'Now I am sure this letter

will tell us what she was, and why she came hither.' So leaving the

barge in charge of a trusty man, they went into the King's chamber,

followed by many Knights, for the King would have the letter read

openly. He then broke the seal himself, and bade a clerk read it, and

this was what it said:

'Most noble Knight Sir Lancelot, I was your lover, whom men called the

Fair Maid of Astolat: therefore unto all ladies I make my moan; yet

pray for my soul, and bury me. This is my last request. Pray for my

soul, Sir Lancelot, as thou art peerless.'

[Illustration: THE BLACK BARGET]

This was all the letter, and the King and Queen and all the Knights

wept when they heard it.

'Let Sir Lancelot be sent for,' presently said the King, and when Sir

Lancelot came the letter was read to him also.

'My lord Arthur,' said he, after he had heard it all, 'I am right

grieved at the death of this damsel. God knows I was not, of my own

will, guilty of her death, and that I will call on her brother, Sir

Lavaine, to witness. She was both fair and good, and much was I

beholden to her, but she loved me out of measure.'

'You might have been a little gentle with her,' answered the Queen,

'and have found some way to save her life.'

'Madam,' said Sir Lancelot, 'she would have nothing but my love, and

that I could not give her, though I offered her a thousand pounds

yearly if she should set her heart on any other Knight. For, Madam, I

love not to be forced to love; love must arise of itself, and not by

command.'

'That is truth,' replied the King, 'love is free in himself, and never

will be bounden; for where he is bounden he looseth himself. But, Sir

Lancelot, be it your care to see that the damsel is buried as is

fitting.'

_LANCELOT AND GUENEVERE_

Now we come to the sorrowful tale of Lancelot and Guenevere, and of

the death of King Arthur. Already it has been told that King Arthur

had wedded Guenevere, the daughter of Leodegrance, King of Cornwall, a

damsel who seemed made of all the flowers, so fair was she, and

slender, and brilliant to look upon. And the Knights in her father's

Court bowed down before her, and smote their hardest in the jousts

where Guenevere was present, but none dared ask her in marriage till

Arthur came. Like the rest he saw and loved her, but, unlike them, he

was a King, and might lift his eyes even unto Guenevere. The maiden

herself scarcely saw or spoke to him, but did her father's bidding in

all things, and when he desired her to make everything ready to go

clothed as beseemed a Princess to King Arthur's Court, her heart beat

with joy at the sight of rich stuffs and shining jewels. Then one day

there rode up to the Castle a band of horsemen sent by the King to

bring her to his Court, and at the head of them Sir Lancelot du Lake,

friend of King Arthur, and winner of all the jousts and tournaments

where Knights meet to gain honour. Day by day they rode together apart

and he told her tales of gallant deeds done for love of beautiful

ladies, and they passed under trees gay with the first green of

spring, and over hyacinths covering the earth with sheets of blue,

till at sunset they drew rein before the silken pavilion, with the

banner of Uther Pendragon floating on the top. And Guenevere's heart

went out to Lancelot before she knew. One evening she noted, far

across the plain, towers and buildings shining in the sun, and an

array of horsemen ride forth to meet her. One stopped before her

dazzled eyes, and leaping from his horse bowed low. Arthur had come to

welcome her, and do her honour, and to lead her home. But looking up

at him, she thought him cold, and, timid and alone, her thoughts

turned again to Lancelot. After that the days and years slipped by,

and these two were ever nearest the King, and in every time of danger

the King cried for Lancelot, and trusted his honour and the Queen's to

him. Sir Lancelot spoke truly when he told Elaine that he had never

worn the badge of lady or maiden, but for all that every one looked on

Sir Lancelot as the Queen's Knight, who could do no worship to any

other woman. The King likewise held Sir Lancelot bound to fight the

Queen's battles, and if he was absent on adventures of his own,

messengers hastened to bring him back, as in the fight with Sir Mador.

So things went on for many years, and the King never guessed that the

Queen loved Lancelot best.

[Illustration: LANCELOT BRINGS GUENEVERE TO ARTHUR]

It befell one spring, in the month of May, that Queen Guenevere

bethought herself that she would like to go a-maying in the woods and

fields that lay round the City of Westminster on both sides of the

river. To this intent she called her own especial Knights, and bade

them be ready the next morning clothed all in green, whether of silk

or cloth, 'and,' said she, 'I shall bring with me ten ladies, and

every Knight shall have a lady behind him, and be followed by a Squire

and two yeomen, and I will that you shall all be well horsed.' Thus it

was done, and the ten Knights, arrayed in fresh green, the emblem of

the spring, rode with the Queen and her ladies in the early dawn, and

smelt the sweet of the year, and gathered flowers which they stuck in

their girdles and doublets. The Queen was as happy and light of heart

as the youngest maiden, but she had promised to be with the King at

the hour of ten, and gave the signal for departure unwillingly. The

Knights were mounting their horses, when suddenly out of a wood on the

other side rode Sir Meliagraunce, who for many years had loved the

Queen, and had sought an occasion to carry her off, but found none so

fair as this. Out of the forest he rode, with two score men in armour,

and a hundred archers behind him, and bade the Queen and her followers

stay where they were, or they would fare badly. 'Traitor,' cried the

Queen, 'what evil deed would you do? You are a King's son and a Knight

of the Round Table, yet you seek to shame the man who gave you

knighthood. But I tell you that you may bring dishonour on yourself,

but you will bring none on me, for rather would I cut my throat in

twain.'

'As for your threats, Madam, I pay them no heed,' returned Sir

Meliagraunce; 'I have loved you many a year, and never could I get you

at such an advantage as I do now, and therefore I will take you as I

find you.' Then all the Knights spoke together saying, 'Sir

Meliagraunce, bethink yourself that in attacking men who are unarmed

you put not only our lives in peril but your own honour. Rather than

allow the Queen to be shamed we will each one fight to the death, and

if we did aught else we should dishonour our knighthood for ever.'

'Fight as well as you can,' answered Sir Meliagraunce, 'and keep the

Queen if you may.' So the Knights of the Round Table drew their

swords, and the men of Sir Meliagraunce ran at them with spears; but

the Knights stood fast, and clove the spears in two before they

touched them. Then both sides fought with swords, and Sir Kay and five

other Knights were felled to the ground with wounds all over their

bodies. The other four fought long, and slew forty of the men and

archers of Sir Meliagraunce; but in the end they too were overcome.

When the Queen saw that she cried out for pity and sorrow, 'Sir

Meliagraunce, spare my noble Knights and I will go with you quietly

on this condition, that their lives be saved, and that wherever you

may carry me they shall follow. For I give you warning that I would

rather slay myself than go with you without my Knights, whose duty it

is to guard me.'

'Madam,' replied Sir Meliagraunce, 'for your sake they shall be led

with you into my own castle, if you will consent to ride with me.' So

the Queen prayed the four Knights to fight no more, and she and they

would not part, and to this, though their hearts were heavy, they

agreed.

The fight being ended the wounded Knights were placed on horseback,

some sitting, some lying across the saddle, according as they were

hurt, and Sir Meliagraunce forbade anyone to leave the castle (which

had been a gift to him from King Arthur), for sore he dreaded the

vengeance of Sir Lancelot if this thing should reach his ears. But the

Queen knew well what was passing in his mind, and she called a little

page who served her in her chamber and desired him to take her ring

and hasten with all speed to Sir Lancelot, 'and pray him, if he loves

me, to rescue me. Spare not your horse, neither for water nor for

land.' And the boy bided his time, then mounted his horse, and rode

away as fast as he might. Sir Meliagraunce spied him as he flew, and

knew whither he went, and who had sent him; and he commanded his best

archers to ride after him and shoot him ere he reached Sir Lancelot.

But the boy escaped their arrows, and vanished from their sight. Then

Sir Meliagraunce said to the Queen, 'You seek to betray me, Madam; but

Sir Lancelot shall not so lightly come at you.' And he bade his men

follow him to the castle in haste, and left an ambush of thirty

archers in the road, charging them that if a Knight mounted on a white

horse came along that way they were to slay the horse but to leave the

man alone, as he was hard to overcome. After Sir Meliagraunce had

given these orders his company galloped fast to the castle; but the

Queen would listen to nothing that he said, demanding always that her

Knights and ladies should be lodged with her, and Sir Meliagraunce was

forced to let her have her will.

[Illustration: GUENEVERE SENDS HER PAGE TO LANCELOT FOR HELP]

The castle of Sir Meliagraunce was distant seven miles from

Westminster, so it did not take long for the boy to find Sir Lancelot,

and to give him the Queen's ring and her message. 'I am shamed for

ever,' said Sir Lancelot, 'unless I can rescue that noble lady,' and

while he put on his armour, he called to the boy to tell him the whole

adventure. When he was armed and mounted, he begged the page to warn

Sir Lavaine where he had gone, and for what cause. 'And pray him, as

he loves me, that he follow me to the castle of Sir Meliagraunce, for

if I am a living man, he will find me there.'

Sir Lancelot put his horse into the water at Westminster, and he swam

straight over to Lambeth, and soon after he landed he found traces of

the fight. He rode along the track till he came to the wood, where the

archers were lying waiting for him, and when they saw him, they bade

him on peril of his life to go no further along that path.

'Why should I, who am a Knight of the Round Table, turn out of any

path that pleases me?' asked Sir Lancelot.

'Either you will leave this path or your horse will be slain,'

answered the archers.

'You may slay my horse if you will,' said Sir Lancelot, 'but when my

horse is slain I shall fight you on foot, and so would I do, if there

were five hundred more of you.' With that they smote the horse with

their arrows, but Sir Lancelot jumped off, and ran into the wood, and

they could not catch him. He went on some way, but the ground was

rough, and his armour was heavy, and sore he dreaded the treason of

Sir Meliagraunce. His heart was near to fail him, when there passed by

a cart with two carters that came to fetch wood. 'Tell me, carter,'

asked Sir Lancelot, 'what will you take to suffer me to go in your

cart till we are within two miles of the castle of Sir Meliagraunce?'

'I cannot take you at all,' answered the carter, 'for I am come to

fetch wood for my lord Sir Meliagraunce.'

'It is with him that I would speak.'

'You shall not go with me,' said the carter, but hardly had he uttered

the words when Sir Lancelot leapt up into the cart, and gave him such

a buffet that he fell dead on the ground. At this sight the other

carter cried that he would take the Knight where he would if he would

only spare his life. 'Then I charge you,' said Sir Lancelot, 'that you

bring me to the castle gate.' So the carter drove at a great gallop,

and Sir Lancelot's horse, who had espied his master, followed the

cart, though more than fifty arrows were standing in his body. In an

hour and a half they reached the castle gate, and were seen of

Guenevere and her ladies, who were standing in a window. 'Look,

Madam,' cried one of her ladies, 'in that cart yonder is a goodly

armed Knight. I suppose he is going to his hanging.'

'Where?' asked the Queen, and as she spoke she espied that it was Sir

Lancelot, and that his horse was following riderless. 'Well is he that

has a trusty friend,' said she, 'for a noble Knight is hard pressed

when he rides in a cart,' and she rebuked the lady who had declared he

was going to his hanging. 'It was foul talking, to liken the noblest

Knight in the world to one going to a shameful death.' By this Sir

Lancelot had come to the gate of the castle, and he got down and

called till the castle rang with his voice. 'Where is that false

traitor Sir Meliagraunce, Knight of the Round Table? Come forth, you

and your company, for I, Sir Lancelot du Lake, am here to do battle

with you.' Then he burst the gate open wide, and smote the porter who

tried to hold it against him. When Sir Meliagraunce heard Sir

Lancelot's voice, he ran into Queen Guenevere's chamber, and fell on

his knees before her: 'Mercy, Madam, mercy! I throw myself upon your

grace.'

'What ails you now?' said she; 'of a truth I might well expect some

good Knight to avenge me, though my lord Arthur knew not of your

work.'

[Illustration: THE ARCHERS THREATEN LANCELOT]

'Madam, I will make such amends as you yourself may desire,' pleaded

Sir Meliagraunce, 'and I trust wholly to your grace.'

'What would you have me do?' asked the Queen.

'Rule in this castle as if it were your own, and give Sir Lancelot

cheer till to-morrow, and then you shall all return to Westminster.'

'You say well,' answered the Queen. 'Peace is ever better than war,

and I take no pleasure in fighting.' So she went down with her ladies

to Sir Lancelot, who still stood full of rage in the inner court,

calling as before, 'Traitor Knight, come forth!'

'Sir Lancelot,' asked the Queen, 'what is the cause of all this

wrath?'

'Madam,' replied Sir Lancelot, 'does such a question come from you?

Methinks your wrath should be greater than mine, for all the hurt and

the dishonour have fallen upon you. My own hurt is but little, but the

shame is worse than any hurt.'

'You say truly,' replied the Queen, 'but you must come in with me

peaceably, as all is put into my hand, and the Knight repents bitterly

of his adventure.'

'Madam,' said Sir Lancelot, 'since you have made agreement with him,

it is not my part to say nay, although Sir Meliagraunce has borne

himself both shamefully and cowardly towards me. But had I known you

would have pardoned him so soon, I should not have made such haste to

come to you.'

'Why do you say that?' asked the Queen; 'do you repent yourself of

your good deeds? I only made peace with him to have done with all this

noise of slanderous talk, and for the sake of my Knights.'

'Madam,' answered Sir Lancelot, 'you understand full well that I was

never glad of slander nor noise, but there is neither King, Queen nor

Knight alive, save yourself, Madam, and my lord Arthur, that should

hinder me from giving Sir Meliagraunce a cold heart before I departed

hence.'

'That I know well,' said the Queen, 'but what would you have more?

Everything shall be ordered as you will.'

'Madam,' replied Sir Lancelot, 'as long as you are pleased, that is

all I care for,' so the Queen led Sir Lancelot into her chamber, and

commanded him to take off his armour, and then took him to where her

ten Knights were lying sore wounded. And their souls leapt with joy

when they saw him, and he told them how falsely Sir Meliagraunce had

dealt with him, and had set archers to slay his horse, so that he was

fain to place himself in a cart. Thus they complained each to the

other, and would have avenged themselves on Sir Meliagraunce but for

the peace made by the Queen. And in the evening came Sir Lavaine,

riding in great haste, and Sir Lancelot was glad that he was come.

Now Sir Lancelot was right when he feared to trust Sir Meliagraunce,

for that Knight only sought to work ill both to him and to the Queen,

for all his fair words. And first he began to speak evil of the Queen

to Sir Lancelot, who dared him to prove his foul words, and it was

settled between them that a combat should take place in eight days in

the field, near Westminster. 'And now,' said Sir Meliagraunce, 'since

it is decided that we must fight together, I beseech you, as you are a

noble Knight, do me no treason nor villainy in the meantime.'

'Any Knight will bear me witness,' answered Sir Lancelot, 'that never

have I broken faith with any man, nor borne fellowship with those that

have done so.' 'Then let us go to dinner,' said Sir Meliagraunce, 'and

afterwards you may all ride to Westminster. Meanwhile would it please

you to see the inside of this castle?' 'That I will gladly,' said Sir

Lancelot, and they went from chamber to chamber, till they reached the

floor of the castle, and as he went Sir Lancelot trod on a trap, and

the board rolled, and he fell down in a cave which was filled with

straw, and Sir Meliagraunce departed and no man knew where Sir

Lancelot might be. The Queen bethought herself that he was wont to

disappear suddenly, and as Sir Meliagraunce had first removed Sir

Lavaine's horse from the place where it had been tethered, the Knights

agreed with her. So time passed till dinner had been eaten, and then

Sir Lavaine demanded litters for the wounded Knights, that they might

be carried to Westminster with as little hurt as might be. And the

Queen and her ladies followed. When they arrived, the Knights told of

their adventure, and how Sir Meliagraunce had accused the Queen of

treason, and how he and Sir Lancelot were to fight for her good name

in eight days.

'Sir Meliagraunce has taken a great deal upon him,' said the King,

'but where is Sir Lancelot?'

'Sir,' answered they all, 'we know not, but we think he has ridden to

some adventure.' 'Well, leave him alone,' said the King. 'He will be

here when the day comes, unless some treason has befallen him.'

All this while Sir Lancelot was lying in great pain within the cave,

and he would have died for lack of food had not one of the ladies in

the castle found out the place where he was held captive, and brought

him meat and drink, and hoped that he might be brought to love her.

But he would not. 'Sir Lancelot,' said she, 'you are not wise, for

without my help you will never get out of this prison, and if you do

not appear on the day of battle, your lady, Queen Guenevere, will be

burnt in default.' 'If I am not there,' replied Sir Lancelot, 'the

King and the Queen and all men of worship will know that I am either

dead or in prison. And sure I am that there is some good Knight who

loves me or is of my kin, that will take my quarrel in hand, therefore

you cannot frighten me by such words as these. If there was not

another woman in the world, I could give you no different answer.'

'Then you will be shamed openly,' replied the lady, and left the

dungeon. But on the day that the battle was to be fought she came

again, and said, 'Sir Lancelot, if you will only kiss me once, I will

deliver you, and give you the best horse in Sir Meliagraunce's

stable.' 'Yes, I will kiss you,' answered Sir Lancelot, 'since I may

do that honourably; but if I thought it were any shame to kiss you, I

would not do it, whatever the cost.' So he kissed her, and she brought

him his armour, and led him to a stable where twelve noble horses

stood, and bade him choose the best. He chose a white courser, and

bade the keepers put on the best saddle they had, and with his spear

in his hand and his sword by his side, he rode away, thanking the lady

for all she had done for him, which some day he would try to repay.

As the hours passed on and Sir Lancelot did not come, Sir Meliagraunce

called ever on King Arthur to burn the Queen, or else bring forth Sir

Lancelot, for he deemed full well that he had Sir Lancelot safe in his

dungeon. The King and Queen were sore distressed that Sir Lancelot was

missing, and knew not where to look for him, and what to do. Then

stepped forth Sir Lavaine and said, 'My lord Arthur, you know well

that some ill-fortune has happened to Sir Lancelot, and if he is not

dead, he is either sick or in prison. Therefore I beseech you, let me

do battle instead of my lord and master for my lady the Queen.'

'I thank you heartily, gentle Knight,' answered Arthur, 'for I am sure

that Sir Meliagraunce accuses the Queen falsely, and there is not one

of the ten Knights who would not fight for her were it not for his

wounds. So do your best, for it is plain that some evil has been

wrought on Sir Lancelot.' Sir Lavaine was filled with joy when the

King gave him leave to do battle with Sir Meliagraunce, and rode

swiftly to his place at the end of the lists. And just as the heralds

were about to cry 'Lesses les aler!' Sir Lancelot dashed into the

middle on his white horse. 'Hold and abide!' commanded the King, and

Sir Lancelot rode up before him, and told before them all how Sir

Meliagraunce had treated him. When the King and Queen and all the

Lords heard Sir Lancelot's tale, their hearts stirred within them with

anger, and the Queen took her seat by the King, in great trust of her

champion. Sir Lancelot and Sir Meliagraunce prepared themselves for

battle, and took their spears, and came together as thunder, and Sir

Lancelot bore Sir Meliagraunce right over his horse. Then Sir Lancelot

jumped down, and they fought on foot, till in the end Sir Meliagraunce

was smitten to the ground by a blow on his head from his enemy. 'Most

noble Knight, save my life,' cried he, 'for I yield myself unto you,

and put myself into the King's hands and yours.' Sir Lancelot did not

know what to answer, for he longed above anything in the world to have

revenge upon him; so he looked at the Queen to see whether she would

give him any sign of what she would have done. The Queen wagged her

head in answer, and Sir Lancelot knew by that token that she would

have him dead, and he understood, and bade Sir Meliagraunce get up,

and continue the fight. 'Nay,' said Sir Meliagraunce, 'I will never

rise till you accept my surrender.' 'Listen,' answered Sir Lancelot.

'I will leave my head and left side bare, and my left arm shall be

bound behind me, and in this guise I will fight with you.' At this Sir

Meliagraunce started to his feet, and cried, 'My lord Arthur, take

heed to this offer, for I will take it, therefore let him be bound and

unarmed as he has said.' So the Knights disarmed Sir Lancelot, first

his head and then his side, and his left hand was bound behind his

back, in such a manner that he could not use his shield, and full many

a Knight and lady marvelled that Sir Lancelot would risk himself so.

And Sir Meliagraunce lifted his sword on high and would have smitten

Sir Lancelot on his bare head, had he not leapt lightly to one side,

and, before Sir Meliagraunce could right himself, Sir Lancelot had

struck him so hard upon his helmet that his skull split in two, and

there was nothing left to do but to carry his dead body from the

field. And because the Knights of the Round Table begged to have him

honourably buried, the King agreed thereto, and on his tomb mention

was made of how he came by his death, and who slew him. After this Sir

Lancelot was more cherished by the King and Queen than ever he was

before.

Among the many Knights at Arthur's Court who owned kings for their

fathers were Sir Mordred and Sir Agrawaine, who had for brothers, Sir

Gawaine, Sir Gaheris and Sir Gareth. And their mother was Queen of

Orkney, sister to King Arthur. Now Sir Agrawaine and Sir Mordred had

evil natures, and loved both to invent slanders and to repeat them.

And at this time they were full of envy of the noble deeds Sir

Lancelot had done, and how men called him the bravest Knight of the

Table Round, and said that he was the friend of the King, and the

sworn defender of the Queen. So they cast about how they might ruin

him, and found the way by putting jealous thoughts into the mind of

Arthur.

As was told in the tale of the marriage of Arthur, Queen Guenevere's

heart had gone out to Lancelot, on the journey to the Court, and ever

she loved to have him with her. This was known well to Sir Mordred,

who watched eagerly for a chance to work her ill.

It came one day when Arthur proclaimed a hunt, and Sir Mordred guessed

that Sir Lancelot, who did not love hunting, would stay behind, and

would spend the time holding talk with the Queen. Therefore he went to

the King and began to speak evil of the Queen and Sir Lancelot. At

first King Arthur would listen to nothing, but slowly his jealousy

burned within him, and he let the ill words that accused the Queen of

loving Sir Lancelot the best, sink into his mind, and told Sir Mordred

and Sir Agrawaine that they might do their worst, and he would not

meddle with them. But they let so many of their fellowship into the

secret of their foul plot, that at last it came to the ears of Sir

Bors, who begged Sir Lancelot not to go near the Queen that day, or

harm would come of it. But Sir Lancelot answered that the Queen had

sent for him, and that she was his liege lady, and never would he hold

back when she summoned him to her presence. Therefore Sir Bors went

heavily away. By ill fortune, Sir Lancelot only wore his sword under

his great mantle, and scarcely had he passed inside the door when Sir

Agrawaine and Sir Mordred, and twelve other Knights of the Table

Round, all armed and ready for battle, cried loudly upon Sir Lancelot,

that all the Court might hear.

'Madam,' said Sir Lancelot, 'is there any armour within your chamber

that I might cover my body withal, for if I was armed as they are I

would soon crush them?'

'Alas!' replied the Queen, 'I have neither sword nor spear nor armour,

and how can you resist them? You will be slain and I shall be burnt.

If you could only escape their hands, I know you would deliver me from

danger.'

'It is grievous,' said Sir Lancelot, 'that I who was never conquered

in all my life should be slain for lack of armour.'

'Traitor Knight,' cried Sir Mordred again, 'come out and fight us, for

you are so sore beset that you cannot escape us.'

'Oh, mercy,' cried Sir Lancelot, 'I may not suffer longer this shame

and noise! For better were death at once than 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 you have ever been my special

good lady, and I at all times your true poor Knight, and as I never

failed you in right or in wrong, since the first day that King Arthur

made me Knight, that you will pray for my soul, if I be here slain.

For I am well assured that Sir Bors, my nephew, and Sir Lavaine and

many more, will rescue you from the fire, and therefore, mine own

lady, comfort yourself whatever happens to me, and go with Sir Bors,

my nephew, and you shall live like a Queen on my lands.'

[Illustration: LANCELOT COMES OUT OF GUENEVERE'S ROOM]

'Nay, Lancelot,' said the Queen, 'I will never live after your days,

but if you are slain I will take my death as meekly as ever did any

Christian Queen.'

'Well, Madam,' answered Lancelot, 'since it is so I shall sell my life

as dear as I may, and a thousandfold I am more heavy for you than for

myself.'

Therewith Sir Lancelot wrapped his mantle thickly round his arm, and

stood beside the door, which the Knights without were trying to break

in by aid of a stout wooden form.

'Fair Lords,' said Sir Lancelot, 'leave this noise, and I will open

the door, and you may do with me what you will.'

'Open it then,' answered they, 'for well you know you cannot escape

us, and we will save your life and bring you before King Arthur.' So

Sir Lancelot opened the door and held it with his left hand, so that

but one man could come in at once. Then came forward a strong Knight,

Sir Colgrevance of Gore, who struck fiercely at Lancelot with his

sword. But Sir Lancelot stepped on one side, that the blow fell

harmless, and with his arm he gave Sir Colgrevance a buffet on the

head so that he fell dead. And Sir Lancelot drew him into the chamber,

and barred the door.

Hastily he unbuckled the dead Knight's armour, and the Queen and her

ladies put it on him, Sir Agrawaine and Sir Mordred ever calling to

him the while, 'Traitor Knight, come out of that chamber!' But Sir

Lancelot cried to them all to go away and he would appear next morning

before the King, and they should accuse him of what they would, and he

would answer them, and prove his words in battle. 'Fie on you,

traitor,' said Sir Agrawaine, 'we have you in our power, to save or to

slay, for King Arthur will listen to our words, and will believe what

we tell him.'

'As you like,' answered Sir Lancelot, 'look to yourself,' and he flung

open the chamber door, and strode in amongst them and killed Sir

Agrawaine with his first blow, and in a few minutes the bodies of the

other twelve Knights lay on the ground beside his, for no man ever

withstood that buffet of Sir Lancelot's. He wounded Sir Mordred also,

so that he fled away with all his might. When the clamour of the

battle was still, Sir Lancelot turned back to the Queen and said,

'Alas, Madam, they will make King Arthur my foe, and yours also, but

if you will come with me to my castle, I will save you from all

dangers.'

'I will not go with you now,' answered the Queen, 'but if you see

to-morrow that they will burn me to death, then you may deliver me as

you shall think best.'

'While I live I will deliver you,' said Sir Lancelot, and he left her

and went back to his lodging. When Sir Bors, who was awaiting him, saw

Sir Lancelot, he was gladder than he ever had been in his whole life

before. 'Mercy!' cried Sir Lancelot, 'why you are all armed!'

'Sir,' answered Sir Bors, 'after you had left us I and your friends

and your kinsmen were so troubled that we felt some great strife was

at hand, and that perchance some trap had been laid for you. So we put

on armour that we might help you whatever need you were in.' 'Fair

nephew,' said Lancelot, 'but now I have been more hardly beset than

ever I was in my life, and yet I escaped,' and he told them all that

had happened. 'I pray you, my fellows, that you will be of good

courage and stand by me in my need, for war is come to us all.'

'Sir,' answered Sir Bors, 'all is welcome that God sends us, and we

have had much good with you and much fame, so now we will take the bad

as we have taken the good.' And so said they all.

'I thank you for your comfort in my great distress,' replied Sir

Lancelot, 'and you, fair nephew, haste to the Knights which be in this

place, and find who is with me and who is against me, for I would know

my friends from my foes.'

'Sir,' said Sir Bors, 'before seven of the clock in the morning you

shall know.'

By seven o'clock, as Sir Bors had promised, many noble Knights stood

before Sir Lancelot, and were sworn to his cause. 'My lords,' said he,

'you know well that since I came into this country I have given

faithful service unto my lord King Arthur and unto my lady Queen

Guenevere. Last evening my lady, the Queen, sent for me to speak to

her, and certain Knights that were lying in wait for me cried

"Treason," and much ado I had to escape their blows. But I slew twelve

of them, and Sir Agrawaine, who is Sir Gawaine's brother; and for this

cause I am sure of mortal war, as these Knights were ordered by King

Arthur to betray me, and therefore the Queen will be judged to the

fire, and I may not suffer that she should be burnt for my sake.'

And Sir Bors answered Sir Lancelot that it was truly his part to

rescue the Queen, as he had done so often before, and that if she was

burned the shame would be his. Then they all took counsel together how

the thing might best be done, and Sir Bors deemed it wise to carry her

off to the Castle of Joyous Gard, and counselled that she should be

kept there, a prisoner, till the King's anger was past and he would be

willing to welcome her back again. To this the other Knights agreed,

and by the advice of Sir Lancelot they hid themselves in a wood close

by the town till they saw what King Arthur would do. Meanwhile Sir

Mordred, who had managed to escape the sword of Sir Lancelot, rode,

wounded and bleeding, unto King Arthur, and told the King all that had

passed, and how, of the fourteen Knights, he only was left alive. The

King grieved sore at his tale, which Sir Mordred had made to sound as

ill as was possible; for, in spite of all, Arthur loved Sir Lancelot.

'It is a bitter blow,' he said, 'that Sir Lancelot must be against me,

and the fellowship of the Table Round is broken for ever, as many a

noble Knight will go with him. And as I am the judge, the Queen will

have to die, as she is the cause of the death of these thirteen

Knights.'

'My lord Arthur,' said Sir Gawaine, 'be not over-hasty; listen not to

the foul tongue of Sir Mordred, who laid this trap for Sir Lancelot,

that we all know to be the Queen's own Knight, who has done battle for

her when none else would. As for Sir Lancelot, he will prove the right

on the body of any Knight living that shall accuse him of

wrong--either him, or my lady Guenevere.'

'That I believe well,' said King Arthur, 'for he trusts so much in his

own might that he fears no man; and never more shall he fight for the

Queen, for she must suffer death by the law. Put on, therefore, your

best armour, and go with your brothers, Sir Gaheris and Sir Gareth,

and bring the Queen to the fire, there to have her judgment and suffer

her death.'

'Nay, my lord, that I will never do,' cried Sir Gawaine; 'my heart

will never serve me to see her die, and I will never stand by and see

so noble a lady brought to a shameful end.'

'Then,' said the King, 'let your brothers Sir Gaheris and Sir Gareth

be there.'

'My lord,' replied Sir Gawaine, 'I know well how loth they will be,

but they are young and unable to say you nay.'

At this Sir Gaheris and Sir Gareth spoke to King Arthur: 'Sir, if you

command us we will obey, but it will be sore against our will. And if

we go we shall be dressed as men of peace, and wear no armour.'

'Make yourselves ready, then,' answered the King, 'for I would delay

no longer in giving judgment.'

'Alas!' cried Sir Gawaine, 'that I should have lived to see this day';

and he turned and wept bitterly, and went into his chamber.

So the Queen was led outside the gates, and her rich dress was taken

off, while her lords and ladies wrung their hands in grief, and few

men wore armour, for in that day it was held that the presence of

mail-clad Knights made death more shameful. Now among those present

was one sent by Sir Lancelot, and when he saw the Queen's dress

unclasped, and the priest step forth to listen to her confession, he

rode to warn Sir Lancelot that the hour had come. And suddenly there

was heard a sound as of rushing horses, and Sir Lancelot dashed up to

the fire, and all the Knights that stood around were slain, for few

men wore armour. Sir Lancelot looked not where he struck, and Sir

Gaheris and Sir Gareth were found in the thickest of the throng. At

last he reached the Queen, and, throwing a mantle over her, he caught

her on to his saddle and rode away with her. Right thankful was the

Queen at being snatched from the fire, and her heart was grateful to

Sir Lancelot, who took her to his Castle of Joyous Gard, and many

noble Knights and Kings had fellowship with them.

After King Arthur had given judgment for the Queen to die he went back

into his Palace of Westminster, where men came and told him how Sir

Lancelot had delivered her, and of the death of his Knights, and in

especial of Sir Gaheris and Sir Gareth, and he swooned away from

sorrow. 'Alas!' he cried, when he recovered from his swoon, 'alas!

that a crown was ever on my head, for in these two days I have lost

forty Knights and the fellowship of Sir Lancelot and his kinsmen, and

never more will they be of my company. But I charge you that none tell

Sir Gawaine of the death of his brothers, for I am sure that when he

hears of Sir Gareth he will go out of his mind. Oh, why did Sir

Lancelot slay them? for Sir Gareth loved Sir Lancelot more than any

other man.'

'That is true,' answered some of the Knights, 'but Sir Lancelot saw

not whom he smote, and therefore were they slain.'

'The death of those two,' said Arthur, 'will cause the greatest mortal

war that ever was. I am sure that when Sir Gawaine knows Sir Gareth is

slain he will never suffer me to rest till I have destroyed Sir

Lancelot and all his kin, or till they have destroyed me. My heart

was never so heavy as it is now, and far more grievous to me is the

loss of my good Knights than of my Queen; for Queens I might have in

plenty, but no man had ever such a company of Knights, and it hurts me

sore that Sir Lancelot and I should be at war. It is the ill will

borne by Sir Agrawaine and Sir Mordred to Sir Lancelot that has caused

all this sorrow.' Then one came to Sir Gawaine and told him that Sir

Lancelot had borne off the Queen, and that twenty-four Knights had

been slain in the combat. 'I knew well he would deliver her,' said Sir

Gawaine, 'and in that, he has but acted as a Knight should and as I

would have done myself. But where are my brethren? I marvel they have

not been to seek me.'

'Truly,' said the man, 'Sir Gaheris and Sir Gareth are slain.'

'Heaven forbid any such thing,' returned Sir Gawaine. 'I would not for

all the world that that had happened, especially to my brother Sir

Gareth.'

'He is slain,' said the man, 'and it is grievous news.'

'Who slew him?' asked Sir Gawaine.

'Sir Lancelot slew them both,' answered the man.

'He cannot have slain Sir Gareth,' replied Sir Gawaine, 'for my

brother Gareth loved him better than me and all his brethren, and King

Arthur too. And had Sir Lancelot desired my brother to go with him, he

would have turned his back on us all. Therefore I can never believe

that Sir Lancelot slew my brother.'

'Sir, it is in everyone's mouth,' said the man. At this Sir Gawaine

fell back in a swoon and lay long as if he were dead. Then he ran to

the King, crying, 'O King Arthur, mine uncle, my good brother Sir

Gareth is slain, and Sir Gaheris also,' and the King wept with him. At

length Sir Gawaine said, 'Sir, I will go and see my brother Sir

Gareth.'

'You cannot do that,' returned the King, 'for I have caused him to be

buried with Sir Gaheris, as I knew well that the sight would cause you

overmuch sorrow.'

'How came he, Sir Lancelot, to slay Sir Gareth?' asked Sir Gawaine;

'mine own good lord, I pray you tell me, for neither Sir Gareth nor

Sir Gaheris bore arms against him.'

'It is said,' answered the King, 'that Sir Lancelot slew them in the

thickest of the press and knew them not. Therefore let us think upon a

plan to avenge their deaths.'

'My King, my lord and mine uncle,' said Sir Gawaine, 'I swear to you

by my knighthood that from this day I will never rest until Sir

Lancelot or I be slain. And I will go to the world's end till I find

him.'

'You need not seek him so far,' answered the King, 'for I am told that

Sir Lancelot will await me and you in the Castle of Joyous Gard, and

many people are flocking to him. But call your friends together, and I

will call mine,' and the King ordered letters to be sent throughout

all England summoning his Knights and vassals to the siege of Joyous

Gard. The Castle of Joyous Gard was strong, and after fifteen weeks

had passed no breach had been made in its walls. And one day, at the

time of harvest, Sir Lancelot came forth on a truce, and the King and

Sir Gawaine challenged him to do battle.

'Nay,' answered Sir Lancelot, 'with yourself I will never strive, and

I grieve sorely that I have slain your Knights. But I was forced to

it, for the saving of my life and that of my lady the Queen. And

except yourself, my lord, and Sir Gawaine, there is no man that shall

call me traitor but he shall pay for it with his body. As to Queen

Guenevere, oft times, my lord, you have consented in the heat of your

passion that she should be burnt and destroyed, and it fell to me to

do battle for her, and her enemies confessed their untruth, and

acknowledged her innocent. And at such times, my lord Arthur, you

loved me and thanked me when I saved your Queen from the fire, and

promised ever to be my good lord, for I have fought for her many times

in other quarrels than my own. Therefore, my gracious lord, take your

Queen back into your grace again.'

To these words of Sir Lancelot's, King Arthur answered nothing, but in

his heart he would fain have made peace with Sir Lancelot, but Sir

Gawaine would not let him. He reproached Sir Lancelot bitterly for the

deaths of his brothers and kinsmen, and called Sir Lancelot a craven

and other ill names that he would not fight with King Arthur. So at

the last Sir Lancelot's patience and courtesy failed him, and he told

them that the next morning he would give them battle.

The heart of Sir Gawaine leaped with joy when he heard these words of

Sir Lancelot, and he summoned all his friends and his kinsfolk, and

bade them watch well Sir Lancelot, and to slay him if a chance

offered. But he knew not that Sir Lancelot had bidden the Knights of

his following in no wise to touch King Arthur or Sir Gawaine. And when

the dawn broke a great host marched out of the Castle of Joyous Gard,

with Sir Lancelot at the head, and Sir Bors and Sir Lionel commanding

on either side. All that day they fought, and sometimes one army

seemed to be gaining, and sometimes the other. Many times King Arthur

drew near Sir Lancelot, and would have slain him, and Sir Lancelot

suffered him, and would not strike again. But the King was unhorsed by

Sir Bors, and would have been slain but for Sir Lancelot, who stayed

his hand. 'My lord Arthur,' he said, 'for God's love stop this strife.

I cannot strike you, so you will gain no fame by it, though your

friends never cease from trying to slay me. My lord, remember what I

have done in many places and how evil is now my reward.' Then when

King Arthur was on his horse again he looked on Sir Lancelot, and

tears burst from his eyes, thinking of the great courtesy that was in

Sir Lancelot more than in any other man. He sighed to himself, saying

softly, 'Alas! that ever this war began,' and rode away, while the

battle ended for that time and the dead were buried.

But Sir Gawaine would not suffer the King to make peace, and they

fought on, now in one place, and now in another, till the Pope heard

of the strife and sent a noble clerk, the Bishop of Rochester, to

charge the King to make peace with Sir Lancelot, and to take back unto

him his Queen, the Lady Guenevere. Now the King, as has been said,

would fain have followed the Pope's counsel and have accorded with Sir

Lancelot, but Sir Gawaine would not suffer him. However, as to the

Queen Sir Gawaine said nothing; and King Arthur gave audience to the

Bishop, and swore on his great seal that he would take back the Queen

as the Pope desired, and that if Sir Lancelot brought her he should

come safe and go safe. So the Bishop rode to Joyous Gard and showed

Sir Lancelot what the Pope had written and King Arthur had answered,

and told him of the perils which would befall him if he withheld the

Queen. 'It was never in my thought,' answered Sir Lancelot, 'to

withhold the Queen from King Arthur, but as she would have been dead

for my sake it was my part to save her life, and to keep her from

danger till better times came. And I thank God that the Pope has made

peace, and I shall be a thousand times gladder to bring her back than

I was to take her away. Therefore ride to the King, and say that in

eight days I myself will bring the Lady Guenevere unto him.' So the

Bishop departed, and came to the King at Carlisle, and told him what

Sir Lancelot had answered, and tears burst from the King's eyes once

more.

A goodly host of a hundred Knights rode eight days later from the

Castle of Joyous Gard; every Knight was clothed in green velvet, and

held in his hand a branch of olive, and bestrode a horse with

trappings down to his heels. And behind the Queen were four and twenty

gentlewomen clad in green likewise, while twelve esquires attended on

Sir Lancelot. He and the Queen wore dresses of white and gold tissue,

and their horses were clothed in housings of the same, set with

precious stones and pearls; and no man had ever gazed on such a noble

pair, as they rode from Joyous Gard to Carlisle. When they reached the

castle, Sir Lancelot sprang from his horse and helped the Queen from

hers, and led her to where King Arthur sat, with Sir Gawaine and many

lords around him. He kneeled down, and the Queen kneeled with him, and

many Knights wept as though it had been their own kin. But Arthur sat

still and said nothing. At that Sir Lancelot rose, and the Queen

likewise, and, looking straight at the King, he spoke:

'Most noble King, I have brought to you my lady the Queen, as right

requires; and time hath been, my lord Arthur, that you have been

greatly pleased with me when I did battle for my lady your Queen. And

full well you know that she has been put to great wrong ere this, and

it seems to me I had more cause to deliver her from this fire, seeing

she would have been burnt for my sake.'

'Well, well, Sir Lancelot,' said the King, 'I have given you no cause

to do to me as you have done, for I have held you dearer than any of

my Knights.' But Sir Gawaine would not suffer the King to listen to

anything Sir Lancelot said, and told him roughly that while one of

them lived peace could never be made, and desired on behalf of the

King that in fifteen days he should be gone out of the country. And

still King Arthur said nothing, but suffered Sir Gawaine to talk as he

would; and Sir Lancelot took farewell of him and of the Queen, and

rode, grieving sorely, out of the Court, and sailed to his lands

beyond the sea.

Though the Queen was returned again, and Sir Lancelot was beyond the

sea, the hate of Sir Gawaine towards him was in no way set at rest,

but he raised a great host and persuaded the King to follow him. And

after many sieges and long fighting Sir Gawaine did battle with Sir

Lancelot once more, and was worsted, and Sir Lancelot might have slain

him, but would not. While he lay wounded tidings came to King Arthur

from England that caused the King to give up his war with Sir Lancelot

and return in all haste to his own country.

_THE END OF IT ALL_

Now when King Arthur left England to fight with Sir Lancelot he

ordered his nephew Sir Mordred to govern the land, which that false

Knight did gladly. And as soon as he thought he might safely do so he

caused some letters to be written saying that King Arthur had been

slain in battle, and he had himself crowned King at Canterbury, where

he made a great feast which lasted fifteen days. After it was over, he

went to Winchester and summoned Queen Guenevere, and told her that on

a certain day he would wed her and that she should make herself ready.

Queen Guenevere's soul grew cold and heavy as she heard these words of

Sir Mordred's, for she hated him with all her might, as he hated her;

but she dared show nothing, and answered softly that she would do his

bidding, only she desired that first she might go to London to buy all

manner of things for her wedding. Sir Mordred trusted her because of

her fair speech, and let her go. Then the Queen rode to London with

all speed, and went straight to the Tower, which she filled in haste

with food, and called her men-at-arms round her. When Sir Mordred knew

how she had beguiled him he was wroth out of measure, and besieged the

Tower, and assaulted it many times with battering rams and great

engines, but could prevail nothing, for the Queen would never, for

fair speech nor for foul, give herself into his hands again.

The Bishop of Canterbury hastened unto Sir Mordred, and rebuked him

for wishing to marry his uncle's wife. 'Leave such desires,' said the

Bishop, 'or else I shall curse you with bell, book, and candle. Also,

you noise abroad that my lord Arthur is slain, and that is not so, and

therefore you will make ill work in the land.' At this Sir Mordred

waxed very wroth, and would have killed the Bishop had he not fled to

Glastonbury, where he became a hermit, and lived in poverty and prayed

all day long for the realm, for he knew that a fierce war was at hand.

Soon word came to Sir Mordred that King Arthur was hurrying home

across the seas, to be avenged on his nephew, who had proved traitor.

Wherefore Sir Mordred sent letters to all the people throughout the

kingdom, and many followed after him, for he had cunningly sown among

them that with him was great joy and softness of life, while King

Arthur would bring war and strife with him. So Sir Mordred drew with a

great host to Dover, and waited for the King. Before King Arthur and

his men could land from the boats and ships that had brought them over

the sea Sir Mordred set upon them, and there was heavy slaughter. But

in the end he and his men were driven back, and he fled, and his

people with him. After the fight was over the King ordered the dead to

be buried; and there came a man and told him that he had found Sir

Gawaine lying in a boat, and that he was sore wounded. And the King

went to him and made moan over him: 'You were ever the man in the

world that I loved most,' said he, 'you and Sir Lancelot.' 'Mine uncle

King Arthur,' answered Sir Gawaine, 'my death day has come, and all

through my own fault. Had Sir Lancelot been with you as he used to be

this unhappy war had never begun, and of that I am the cause, for I

would not accord with him. And therefore, I pray you, give me paper,

pen, and ink that I may write to him.' So paper and ink were brought,

and Sir Gawaine was held up by King Arthur, and a letter was writ

wherein Sir Gawaine confessed that he was dying of an old wound given

him by Sir Lancelot in the siege of one of the cities across the sea,

and thus was fulfilled the prophecy of Merlin. 'Of a more noble man

might I not be slain,' said he. 'Also, Sir Lancelot, make no tarrying,

but come in haste to King Arthur, for sore bested is he with my

brother Sir Mordred, who has taken the crown, and would have wedded my

lady Queen Guenevere had she not sought safety in the Tower of London.

Pray for my soul, I beseech you, and visit my tomb.' And after writing

this letter, at the hour of noon, Sir Gawaine gave up his spirit, and

was buried by the King in the chapel within Dover Castle. Then was it

told King Arthur that Sir Mordred had pitched a new field upon Barham

Down, and the next morning the King rode hither to him, and there was

a fierce battle between them, and many on both sides were slain. But

at the last King Arthur's party stood best, and Sir Mordred and his

men fled to Canterbury.

After the Knights which were dead had been buried, and those that were

wounded tended with healing salves, King Arthur drew westwards towards

Salisbury, and many of Sir Mordred's men followed after him, but they

that loved Sir Lancelot went unto Sir Mordred. And a day was fixed

between the King and Sir Mordred that they should meet upon a down

near Salisbury, and give battle once more. But the night before the

battle Sir Gawaine appeared unto the King in a vision, and warned him

not to fight next day, which was Trinity Sunday, as he would be slain

and many of his Knights also; but to make a truce for a month, and at

the end of that time Sir Lancelot would arrive, and would slay Sir

Mordred, and all his Knights with him. As soon as he awoke the King

called the Bishops and the wisest men of his army, and told them of

his vision, and took counsel what should be done. And it was agreed

that the King should send an embassage of two Knights and two Bishops

unto Sir Mordred, and offer him as much goods and lands as they

thought best if he would engage to make a treaty for a month with King

Arthur.

So they departed, and came to Sir Mordred, where he had a grim host of

an hundred thousand men. For a long time he would not suffer himself

to be entreated, but at the last he agreed to have Cornwall and Kent

in King Arthur's days, and after all England. Furthermore, it was

decided that King Arthur and Sir Mordred should meet in the plain

between their hosts, each with fourteen persons. 'I am glad of this,'

said King Arthur, when he heard what had been done; but he warned his

men that if they were to see a sword drawn they were to come-on

swiftly and slay that traitor, Sir Mordred, 'for I in no wise trust

him.' And in like wise spake Sir Mordred unto his host. Then they two

met, and agreed on the truce, and wine was fetched and they drank, and

all was well. But while they were drinking an adder crept out of a

bush, and stung one of the fourteen Knights on his foot, and he drew

his sword to slay the adder, not thinking of anything but his pain.

And when the men of both armies beheld that drawn sword, they blew

trumpets and horns and shouted grimly, and made them ready for battle.

So King Arthur leaped on his horse, and Sir Mordred on his, and they

went back to their own armies, and thus began the fight, and never was

there seen one more doleful in any Christian land. For all day long

there was rushing and riding, spearing and striking, and many a grim

word was there spoken, and many a deadly stroke given. And at the end

full an hundred thousand dead men lay upon the down, and King Arthur

had but two Knights left living, Sir Lucan and his brother Sir

Bedivere. 'Alas! that I should have lived to see this day,' cried the

King, 'for now I am come to mine end; but would to God that I knew

where were that traitor Sir Mordred that hath caused all this

mischief.' Then suddenly he saw Sir Mordred leaning on his sword among

a great heap of dead men.

'Give me my spear,' said King Arthur unto Sir Lucan.

'Sir, let him be,' answered Sir Lucan. 'Remember your dream, and leave

off by this. For, blessed be God, you have won the field, and we three

be alive, and of the others none is alive save Sir Mordred himself. If

you leave off now, the day of destiny is past.'

'Tide me death, tide me life,' said the King, 'he shall not escape my

hands, for a better chance I shall never have,' and he took his spear

in both hands and ran towards Sir Mordred, crying 'Traitor! now is

your death day come,' and smote him under the shield, so that the

spear went through his body. And when Sir Mordred felt he had his

death wound, he raised himself up and struck King Arthur such a blow

that the sword clave his helmet, and then fell stark dead on the earth

again. When Sir Lucan and Sir Bedivere saw that sight they carried the

King to a little chapel, but they hoped not to leave him there long,

for Sir Lucan had noted that many people were stealing out to rob the

slain of the ornaments on their armour. And those that were not dead

already they slew.

'Would that I could quit this place to go to some large town,' said

the King, when he had heard this, 'but I cannot stand, my head works

so. Ah, Lancelot, sorely have I missed thee.' At that Sir Lucan and

Sir Bedivere tried to lift him, but Sir Lucan had been grievously

wounded in the fight, and the blood burst forth again as he lifted

Arthur, and he died and fell at the feet of the King.

'Alas!' said the King, 'he has died for my sake, and he had more need

of help than I. But he would not complain, his heart was so set to

help me. And I should sorrow yet more if I were still to live long,

but my time flieth fast. Therefore, Sir Bedivere, cease moaning and

weeping, and take 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 hast seen.'

[Illustration: THE LAST BATTLE