_How king Arthur commanded to cast his sword Excalibur into the water,
and how he was delivered to ladies in a barge._
But I may not stand, my head works so. Ah, Sir Launcelot, said king
Arthur, this day have I sore missed thee. Alas, that ever I was against
thee, for now have I my death, whereof Sir Gawaine me warned in my
dream. Then Sir Lucan took up the king the one part, and Sir Bedivere
the other part, and in the lifting, the king swooned, and Sir Lucan
fell in a swoon with the lift, that the part of his bowels fell out of
his body, and therewith the noble knight’s heart brast. And when king
Arthur came to himself again, he beheld Sir Lucan how he lay foaming at
the mouth, and part of his bowels lay at his feet. Alas, said the king,
this is unto me a full heavy sight to see this noble duke so die for my
sake, for he would have holpen me that had more need of help than I.
Alas, he would not complain him, his heart was so set to help me. Now
Jesu have mercy upon his soul. Then Sir Bedivere wept for the death of
his brother. Leave this mourning and weeping, said the king, for all
this will not avail me: for, wit thou well, and I might live myself the
death of Sir Lucan would grieve me evermore; but my time hieth fast,
said the king. Therefore, said Arthur, take thou Excalibur, my good
sword, and go with it to yonder water side, and when thou comest there,
I charge thee throw my sword in that water, and come again, and tell me
what thou there seest. My lord, said Bedivere, your commandment shall
be done, and lightly bring you word again. So Sir Bedivere departed,
and by the way he beheld that noble sword, that the pommel and haft
were all of precious stones, and then he said to himself, If I throw
this rich sword in the water, thereof shall never come good, but harm
and loss. And then Sir Bedivere hid Excalibur under a tree. And as soon
as he might he came again unto the king, and said he had been at the
water, and had thrown the sword into the water. What sawest thou there?
said the king. Sir, he said, I saw nothing but waves and winds. That is
untruly said of thee, said the king; therefore go thou lightly again,
and do my command as thou art to me lief and dear, spare not, but throw
it in. Then Sir Bedivere returned again, and took the sword in his
hand; and then him thought sin and shame to throw away that noble
sword; and so eft he hid the sword, and returned again, and told to the
king that he had been at the water, and done his commandment. What saw
thou there? said the king. Sir, he said, I saw nothing but the waters
wap and the waves wan. Ah traitor, untrue, said king Arthur, now hast
thou betrayed me twice. Who would have wend that thou that hast been to
me so lief and dear, and thou art named a noble knight, and would
betray me for the riches of the sword. But now go again lightly, for
thy long tarrying putteth me in great jeopardy of my life, for I have
taken cold. And but if thou do now as I bid thee, if ever I may see
thee, I shall slay thee with mine own hands, for thou wouldest for my
rich sword see me dead. Then Sir Bedivere departed, and went to the
sword, and lightly took it up, and went to the water side, and there he
bound the girdle about the hilts, and then he threw the sword as far
into the water as he might, and there came an arm and an hand above the
water, and met it, and caught it, and so shook it thrice and
brandished, and then vanished away the hand with the sword in the
water. So Sir Bedivere came again to the king, and told him what he
saw. Alas, said the king, help me hence, for I dread me I have tarried
over long. Then Sir Bedivere took the king upon his back, and so went
with him to that water side. And when they were at the water side, even
fast by the bank hoved a little barge, with many fair ladies in it, and
among them all was a queen, and all they had black hoods, and all they
wept and shrieked when they saw king Arthur. Now put me into the barge,
said the king: and so he did softly. And there received him three
queens with great mourning, and so they set him down, and in one of
their laps king Arthur laid his head, and then that queen said, Ah,
dear brother, why have ye tarried so long from me? Alas, this wound on
your head hath caught over much cold. And so then they rowed from the
land; and Sir Bedivere beheld all those ladies go from him. Then Sir
Bedivere cried, Ah, my lord Arthur, what shall become of me now ye go
from me, and leave me here alone among mine enemies. Comfort thyself,
said the king, and do as well as thou mayest, for in me is no trust for
to trust in. For I will into the vale of Avilion, to heal me of my
grievous wound. And if thou hear never more of me, pray for my soul.
But ever the queens and the ladies wept and shrieked, that it was pity
to hear. And as soon as Sir Bedivere had lost the sight of the barge,
he wept and wailed, and so took the forest, and so he went all that
night, and in the morning he was ware betwixt two holts hoar of a
chapel and an hermitage.