one. When she had seen them all she came back to Sir Brune and
said:
"Young Knight with the Ugly Coat, will you take this shield?"
"Gladly, if my king allows," said the knight.
Then Arthur gave his permission, and Sir Brune followed the
damsel out of the hall. Her horse was black, and wore white
trappings. Sir Brune's horse was as brown as an autumn leaf. The
two mounted and rode away. Sir Brune began to talk to the damsel,
whose name was Elinor. At first she was agreeable, but after they
had ridden many miles she became scornful, and told him she was
sorry she had chosen him.
Sir Brune felt sad, because he had begun to love the damsel. He
was afraid she did not like him because his coat was poor. He did
not speak to her any more, but rode on sorrowfully beside her.
After a long time they came to a castle enclosed by high walls.
The gate stood open, and the damsel Elinor pointed to it and
said, sighing:
"Since you have not left me as I hoped you would, go in there.
You will find your first adventure. I may not tell you what it
is."
Sir Brune galloped inside the gate. There he saw a hundred
knights on horseback, armed and waiting for him. He had to think
and act quickly. So he decided to rush in between the knights and
put his back against the castle wall. Then he could fight with
his back protected. He did this, though not without receiving
some spear-wounds. Then he began to fight.
The lady of the castle, whom the knights were keeping prisoner,
watched the fight out of the window, and grieved for the brave
young man who had so many against him. She began to speak to him
in a low voice:
"Young knight, if you can only get to the left side of the castle
wall, there is a secret door through which you can escape. If you
look, you will see that one portion of the wall is made of black
stones. Strike the stones with the hilt of your sword, and a door
will open through which you can ride out."
The other knights did not hear what the lady said, for they were
farther away from her than Sir Brune was. Even he could hardly
catch her words. He took a quick glance to the left and saw that
there was indeed a portion of the wall marked with black stones.
Then he began to work his way carefully towards the secret gate.
He was obliged to move slowly for fear the knights would guess
what he was doing. Moreover, it was becoming very hard to fight,
because of his many wounds. However, he at last came near the
door; then he backed his brown horse up against it, struck the
black stones with the handle of his sword, and the door opened.
The knights shouted with rage, but they were unable to reach him
in time. Sir Brune escaped, leaving behind him twelve men dead.
He was very weak, and he made his way painfully to the side of
the wall where the maiden Elinor waited for him. She ran to meet
him, and led him gently to a brook in a forest near by. There she
took off his armor and bathed his wounds, anointing them with a
precious salve she carried.
Sir Brune thought that she was sorry because she had been
scornful of him, and he began to talk to her. But she said:
"Do not talk to me. If you want to please me, go back to Arthur's
Court."
Sir Brune did not know why she spoke so, but he was too tired to
think. So he lay down on the grass by the brook and went to
sleep.
Meantime, at Arthur's Court Sir Lancelot had returned from his
hunting expedition, and was told how Sir Brune had gone out with
a damsel on the adventure of the shield.
"Oh!" cried Sir Lancelot, "what have you done! He will surely be
killed. Merlin has told me what this adventure of the shield is.
Many and many a knight has taken it up and each has been killed.
A knight who vows to follow this adventure has to meet dangers of
all sorts. This young untried Sir Brune will certainly be
killed."
He called for his horse and arms, and said to the king:
"My lord, I will ride after this poor young man and give him what
help I can. Perhaps I shall be too late; but if not, I shall ask
him to give me this adventure of the shield."
Then Sir Lancelot mounted his horse and rode after Sir Brune.
When he came near the brook where Sir Brune and the damsel had
rested, he heard the sound of a great combat. Spurring forward he
saw Sir Brune, fighting single-handed against six knights. Sir
Lancelot rushed to the rescue and quickly overthrew the enemy. He
found that they belonged to the company of the hundred knights
whom Sir Brune had attacked. He ordered them, first of all, to
free the lady of the castle, and then to go to Arthur's Court and
surrender themselves to the mercy of the king.
Poor Sir Brune was almost dead, but Sir Lancelot revived him, and
in a feeble voice he thanked Sir Lancelot for his help. But the
damsel begged:
"Take him back to the Court of your king. I do not want him to
follow this quest any longer."
"This is surely ungrateful of you," said Sir Lancelot. "He has
fought bravely and well."
"The maiden scorns me, though I love her," bitterly said Sir
Brune.
Then the damsel Elinor cried out:
"I will tell the truth. I love you and I am afraid you will be
killed. Therefore, I wish you to return to Camelot."
Sir Brune was very glad, and he said:
"I have pledged my word and must follow this quest. When I have
succeeded we shall go together back to Arthur's Court."
"Give this adventure to me," said Sir Lancelot, "and go back now
with the damsel."
But Sir Brune refused. Then Sir Lancelot said that they must
undertake the adventure together, and Sir Brune consenting, they
rode slowly forward. Soon they came to an abbey, where they
rested for some days until Sir Brune was well.
Then they traveled as the damsel gave directions. She always knew
what they had to do. At times they passed through woods full of
wild beasts, some of which attacked them. Again they passed over
enchanted meadows where wicked magicians tried to cast spells
over them. They also fought with many knights. However, they
escaped all dangers, although it is certain that Sir Brune would
never have succeeded without the help of Sir Lancelot.
At length the damsel Elinor told them that they were nearing the
last adventure. She pointed to a castle on a hill; a square
structure built of black stones, with a turret on top. The damsel
told them that at the gate of the castle were two huge dragons.
These they must slay.
"Whose is the castle?" asked Sir Brune.
"It belongs now to the wicked Lord Brian of the Isles," answered
the damsel.
At this Sir Brune gave such a loud shout that the dragons on top
of the hill heard him and roared in reply.
"Ah!" cried he, "that is the name of my enemy, who killed my dear
father. At last I shall slay him."
He rode off so quickly that Sir Lancelot had much trouble to keep
up with him. It seemed scarcely five minutes before they came to
the dragons; terrible creatures, all of green, with eyes and
tongues of flame. And their wings were as large as the sails of a
ship.
Sir Brune had never before seen a dragon, but he was not afraid.
He fought very bravely, and even when the teeth of the dragons
crunched on his helmet, he did not lose courage. After a fierce
fight of half an hour, the two knights had killed the dragons.
They hoped to rest, but at that moment the castle gate opened
and a porter appeared.
"Enter and fight," he said.
Both spurred forward, but the porter said:
"One only may enter."
"Let me go," said Sir Brune to Sir Lancelot. "Remember I am to
avenge my father's death. It may be that Lord Brian of the Isles
is waiting just inside the gate."
Sir Lancelot consented, and the porter led in Sir Brune and
locked the gate. Inside were two great knights, the brothers of
Lord Brian of the Isles. They were almost as large as Sir Brune.
Together they set upon him. He was already tired from his fight
with the dragons, but his desire to avenge his father strengthened
his arm. One brother was soon overthrown. When the other saw
that, he yielded. Then Sir Brune sent them both to Sir Lancelot
outside the gate.
While Sir Brune was looking about him, a third knight appeared at
the end of the courtyard. He was quite as large as Sir Brune, and
as he came spurring up, the noise of his horse's hoofs was
deafening. Sir Brune recognized him as Sir Plenorius, the cousin
of Lord Brian.
"Ah!" cried he, "where is that wretch, Lord Brian? Am I to fight
with all his family before I meet with him?"
Sir Plenorius wasted no words. He rushed upon Sir Brune and
struck him with his long spear. The blow broke Sir Brune's
helmet, and he had much trouble to guard his head with his
shield. He fought courageously, but he became weaker and weaker.
Then Sir Plenorius stopped fighting.
"I know you will never yield," he said. "You are the bravest
knight I have yet seen. In truth, I loved your good father, and
grieved because my cousin slew him. I have no love for my cousin,
Lord Brian of the Isles, but I am vowed to fight for him as long
as he lives, or until I am overcome."
Sir Brune was about to answer, but he fell back in a swoon. Sir
Plenorius lifted him gently in his arms and bore him into the
castle. He carried him up the winding stairs to the turret room,
and gently laid him on a bed. Then he went back to the courtyard.
Meantime, Sir Lancelot, hearing the porter shout that Sir Brune
was killed, beat on the gate, but nobody would let him in. Then
with great difficulty he climbed the castle wall and leaped down.
Sir Plenorius was just about to care for the horse of Sir Brune.
"Give me back my friend!" cried Sir Lancelot, fiercely. "Where is
my friend?"
Then he began to fight with Sir Plenorius. Sir Plenorius was so
much larger than Sir Lancelot that he thought he could easily
overcome him. As the fight went on, however, he found himself all
but defeated.
"Yield now to me," said Sir Lancelot. "I am Sir Lancelot of the
Lake."
Then Sir Plenorius said:
"Ah, my good lord, I know of your fame. If we go on fighting, you
will certainly kill me. Yet I do not want to yield, so I ask you
to treat me as I have treated Sir Brune."
When Sir Lancelot heard how Sir Plenorius had spared Sir Brune,
he said:
"You are a gentle knight. I am sorry you are vowed to the service
of Lord Brian of the Isles. He shall surely die."
Sir Plenorius answered:
"When he is dead, I will come to Arthur's Court as one of his
followers."
All this time Sir Brune was lying in a swoon on the bed in the
turret room. But at last he came to himself and looked about him.
He saw near him his sword and shield; so he lifted them up beside
him. As he lay still, trying to recover his strength, he heard
stealthy footsteps coming up the turret stairs. They came nearer
and nearer. Suddenly, in rushed Lord Brian of the Isles. He knew
that Sir Brune was there, alone and wounded, and he intended to
kill him as he lay defenseless. Sir Brune understood this and he
cried:
"Ah, wretch, you were ever a coward. You come to kill me as I lie
wounded here, just as you killed my poor father while he slept.
But the sight of you makes me forget my wounds."
At these words, and at the fierce rage which shone in Sir
Brune's eyes, Lord Brian, who was indeed a coward, tried to
retreat. But Sir Brune sprang to the doorway.
"You shall never go down by these stairs, villain," he said, "for
I will kill you!"
Lord Brian rushed to the window and sprang out upon the
battlements. Sir Brune followed him, though with difficulty. The
two began to fight, and Sir Brune soon saw that his enemy was
trying to push him close to the edge of the battlements, that he
might fall down into the courtyard below.
Sir Brune, at this, put himself behind Lord Brian, determined to
cast him off instead. Slowly he pushed him, until Lord Brian was
but a step from the edge. Then Sir Brune lifted his shield and
struck his enemy with it. The wicked lord lost his footing, and
was dashed to pieces at the feet of Sir Lancelot and Sir
Plenorius in the courtyard below.
They ordered his soldiers to bury him, and while Sir Lancelot
went to care for Sir Brune, Sir Plenorius went down the hill to
find the damsel Elinor. She came back with tears of joy to Sir
Brune.
[Illustration: _"He pushed him until he was but a step from the
edge"_]
When Sir Brune was well enough to travel, he visited all the
castles of Lord Brian, in search of his lost mother. He was very
much afraid that she was dead, but at last he found her alive, in
the very castle which had belonged to his father. There was great
joy at their meeting. He took her to Arthur's Court, whither Sir
Lancelot had already conducted the damsel Elinor. A few days
afterward Sir Brune and the damsel were married amid great
festivities.
[Illustration: The Shield and the Sword]
[Illustration] THE ADVENTURE OF KING PELLENORE
In Arthur's Court, every knight or lady who was found unworthy
was banished; yet it often took some time to discover one's real
character.
One of the ladies of Arthur's Court was named Vivien. She was
very pretty, and as graceful as a willow wand, and so bright and
attractive in her ways that no one suspected her of being very
wicked.
Among Arthur's bravest warriors was King Pellenore. He had once
had a great fight with Arthur, but after that they had become
friends, and King Pellenore had been made a Knight of the Round
Table. He was not often at court, for he spent much of his time
seeking for adventures. Now and then he would return and put
away his armor. Then he rode with the ladies or talked to the
other knights.
The lady Vivien admired King Pellenore for his valor and his
mighty deeds, and whenever she could she talked with him about
his adventures. One afternoon she begged him to go for a long
ride with her through the forest. So their horses were brought
and they set forth. Just as they were passing a thick part of the
wood, a beautiful golden-haired lady stepped out.
"Good sir knight," she cried to King Pellenore, "I ask your help.
I am here in the wood with the dear lord who is to be my husband.
He is sore wounded, for an enemy crept up behind him as we were
riding to Arthur's Court, and thrust a sword in his back."
Then King Pellenore turned his horse's head toward the maiden.
"Gladly will I help," he said; "lead me, maiden."
But Vivien called him back.
"Do not go with her," she said. "She may be a witch. Ride on with
me."
"She is no witch, but a good maiden," said King Pellenore.
Then the golden-haired lady spoke again. "Oh, sir knight, help
me! I must go to Arthur's Court to see my father. My dear lover
is going to ask permission to marry me. Help us or he will die."
"Assuredly I will help you, damsel," said King Pellenore.
Vivien held his arm, but he put her gently aside. When the wicked
woman saw that he was going to leave her, she made her horse
plunge and throw her to the ground. There she lay as if in a
faint.
King Pellenore did not know what to do. He felt as if he must
help the beautiful lady, and yet he could not leave Vivien. So he
said:
"Fair damsel, you shall have my help. I have never wanted to aid
anyone so much as I do you. I must save your lover and bring you
both to Arthur's Court. But let me first ride back with this lady
who has swooned. Then I will return here to you."
"Alas, alas, I fear it will be too late," cried the damsel,
turning back into the forest.
Then King Pellenore lifted Vivien on her horse, and tied her to
its back by her long green scarf. At this she opened her eyes and
groaned, and said that she was very sick. She made him ride very
slowly to the court.
King Pellenore did not talk to her. He was thinking all the time
of the golden-haired maiden. As soon as he reached the city gate
he gave Vivien over into the care of a knight who was passing,
and galloped back to the woods.
When he reached the spot where the beautiful damsel had spoken to
him, he turned into the thick part of the wood and followed a
narrow path. It was so narrow that the branches of the trees on
both sides struck his shoulders, but still he hurried on. The
path ended in a glade, and there he saw the lady and her lover
lying on the grass.
"Alas, alas!" the lady said, "my dear lord is dead and I am
dying."
Then King Pellenore saw that the fair young knight who lay on the
ground was very pale and quiet, and that all the grass about was
blood-stained.
"Ah, good knight," said the lady, "after you left me, a lion ran
out of the wood and slew my lover with one stroke of his paw. He
has wounded me so sorely that I too shall die."
Then King Pellenore wept.
"I wish that I had made Vivien wait here," he said, "and had
helped you. I fear I have done wrong."
He sat down and took her golden head on his knee, and spoke to
her gently till she died. Then he put her body and her lover's
body on his horse, and walked beside them sorrowfully until he
reached Arthur's Court.
Near the great hall he met Arthur and Merlin and several knights.
"I am a miserable man," he said.
Then the wise Merlin said: "You are more miserable than you know.
This beautiful lady was your own daughter who was stolen from you
as a child. Only lately she learned who her father was. She was
coming here to seek you."
Then King Pellenore wept loudly.
"This is my punishment," he cried, "for not aiding the maiden.
The one who needs help most should be given it first, and she
needed it more than Vivien. I am indeed punished."
"And you shall be punished yet more," said Merlin; "and in good
time, Vivien also for the part she took. Some day the friend whom
you most trust shall deceive you, and you shall be betrayed to
death."
King Pellenore bowed his head meekly.
"I have deserved it," he said. "And now I must bury my dear child
and her lover."
The beautiful golden-haired lady and her lover were buried with
great mourning, and it was many a day before King Pellenore cared
to seek for adventures.
[Illustration: The Shield]
[Illustration] SIR LANCELOT & HIS FRIENDS
Sir Lancelot was acknowledged by all the knights of the Round
Table to be the bravest of their number, and the one whom the
king loved most. He was not often at court, because he was nearly
always engaged in adventures which took him away from the town of
Camelot. The knights were always sorry when he went away, yet
they were sure he would return safely and with much to tell them.
One day Sir Lancelot called his nephew Sir Lionel, and told him
to mount his horse, for they must go to seek adventures. Sir
Lionel was very glad, for it was a great honor to be chosen as a
companion by Sir Lancelot. They rode off through a deep forest,
and then across a wide, treeless plain. The sun was shining hot
and bright, and when they reached a clump of trees, Sir Lancelot
bade Sir Lionel dismount. Then the two sat in the shade to rest.
It was not long before Sir Lancelot fell asleep. While Sir Lionel
kept guard, he saw three knights furiously pursued by another
knight, who was very large. This knight overtook the three
knights, one after another, and overthrew them, and bound them by
the reins of their bridles. Sir Lionel, who was young and
self-confident, thought that he would like to fight with this
knight. So he mounted his horse very quietly without waking his
uncle, and rode into the plain.
When the big knight saw him coming, he laughed and rode up
quickly. At the very first stroke, young Sir Lionel fell to the
earth. The strong knight bound him fast to the other three
knights and drove them all to his castle. There he took off their
armor and clothes, and beat them with thorny sticks. After that
he threw them into a deep dungeon where there were many other
knights.
Meanwhile Sir Hector, the foster father of King Arthur, hearing
that Sir Lancelot and Sir Lionel had gone in search of adventures,
determined to join them; so he rode hastily in pursuit. When he
had gone some distance through the forest, he met a wood-cutter,
and asked him if he had seen Sir Lancelot and Sir Lionel. The man
replied that he had not.
"Then do you know of any adventure which I can seek?" asked Sir
Hector.
The man answered:
"Sir, a mile from here is a strong castle. On one side of it is a
large stream, and by that stream a large tree. At the foot of the
tree is a basin of copper. Go and strike on that three times with
your spear and you will meet with an adventure."
"Thank you heartily," said Sir Hector.
He rode on and soon came to the tree. Hanging on it were a great
many shields, and among them Sir Lionel's. There were also
shields which belonged to other knights of the Round Table. Sir
Hector knew that the knights must be prisoners, and he grew very
angry.
He struck sharply on the copper basin, and at once a huge knight
appeared.
"Come forward and fight!" cried the knight.
"That I will," said Sir Hector.
"But I shall win," said the knight, "for I am the great Sir
Turquaine."
Sir Hector had heard of this powerful knight whom so many of
Arthur's lords had tried in vain to overthrow. But he was a brave
old man, and so he began to fight fearlessly. He wounded the big
knight once, but the knight wounded him many times, and at last
overcame him. He picked Sir Hector up and carried him under his
right arm into the castle.
"You are very brave," he said, when they had reached the great
hall. "You are the first knight who has wounded me these twelve
years. Now I shall give you your freedom if you will swear to be
a follower of mine."
"I shall never swear that," said Sir Hector; "I am a follower of
King Arthur."
"I am sorry for that," said Sir Turquaine, "for now I must treat
you as I do all my other prisoners."
Then he took off Sir Hector's armor and clothes, and beat him
with the thorny stick, and threw him into the dungeon. There the
old man found Sir Lionel and many other knights.
"Is Sir Lancelot here?" asked Sir Hector, feebly.
"No," said Sir Lionel, and told how he had left Sir Lancelot
sleeping.
Then Sir Hector became cheerful.
"Sir Lancelot will surely find us," he said, "and give us our
freedom."
But Sir Lancelot still slept on under the tree. Soon four
beautiful ladies rode by, and, seeing a sleeping knight,
dismounted to look at him. They at once recognized him as Sir
Lancelot, the bravest knight in the land. One of these ladies was
Morgan le Fay, whom Arthur had forgiven for her treachery to him.
She said to her companions:
"I will cast a spell over him, and we will carry him to my
castle. Then, when he wakes, we will make him choose one of us as
his wife."
The other three agreed, and Morgan le Fay cast her spell. Then
the four women lifted the knight upon his horse and went with him
to the castle of Morgan le Fay. They put the knight in a richly
decorated chamber and left him.
In the morning he awoke and wondered where he was. Soon a fair
damsel entered with food, and he asked her to explain how he came
to be in that place.
"Sir, I cannot," she said. "But I can tell you this much: you are
under a spell. In twelve hours the spell will break, and perhaps
I can help you then."
After the damsel had gone out, the four ladies entered. They were
clad in most beautiful robes. One had on silk that looked like
the foam of the sea. Another had on velvet that seemed like moss
from the forest. The third wore satin that was the color of maple
leaves in autumn. Morgan le Fay wore a robe that looked like a
storm-cloud, and her diamonds were like stars.
"Choose one of us for your wife," she said, "and you shall be
very happy."
But Sir Lancelot said:
"Fair ladies, I have no wish to marry. I would rather fight for
my good King Arthur who needs me."
At this the ladies were angry.
"You shall stay here till you choose," they said. "And if you
will not choose, then you shall die in prison."
They went out, and Sir Lancelot remained alone all day. At dusk
the fair damsel came to him.
"My lord," she said, "the spell is broken now, and I can help
you. These ladies are not kind to me, and I am going to run away.
I will take you with me on one condition."
"Name it, damsel," he said.
"I am a king's daughter," she said. "My father is King
Bagdemagus."
"He is a good man," Sir Lancelot said. "I know him well."
"My father has been fighting in a tournament," said the maiden,
"and has been overcome, with all his knights. He feels very sad.
Now, in two days there will be another tournament at which he
must fight. If you help him, he will surely win and be happy
again."
"I will gladly help him," said Sir Lancelot.
Then the damsel bade him walk softly with her. She opened twelve
great doors one after another. Each had a lock with a key so
heavy that the maiden had to use both hands to turn it. At last
they reached the courtyard, and there she gave Sir Lancelot his
horse and armor. She also mounted a horse, and the two rode away.