_How Sir Ector found Sir Launcelot his brother dead. And how
Constantine reigned next after Arthur, and of the end of this book._
And when Sir Ector heard such noise and light in the quire of Joyous
Gard, he alight and put his horse from him, and came into the quire,
and there he saw men sing and weep. And all they knew Sir Ector, but he
knew not them. Then went Sir Bors unto Sir Ector, and told him how
there lay his brother Sir Launcelot dead. And then Sir Ector threw his
shield, sword, and helm from him; and when he beheld Sir Launcelot’s
visage he fell down in a swoon. And when he awaked it were hard any
tongue to tell the doleful complaints that he made for his brother. Ah,
Launcelot, he said, thou were head of all Christian knights; and now I
dare say, said Sir Ector, thou Sir Launcelot, there thou liest, that
thou were never matched of earthly knight’s hand; and thou were the
courtiest knight that ever bare shield; and thou were the truest friend
to thy lover that ever bestrode horse; and thou were the truest lover
of a sinful man that ever loved woman; and thou were the kindest man
that ever strake with sword; and thou were the goodliest person ever
came among press of knights; and thou was the meekest man and the
gentlest that ever ate in hall among ladies; and thou were the sternest
knight to thy mortal foe that ever put spear in the rest.
Then there was weeping and dolour out of measure. Thus they kept Sir
Launcelot’s corpse on loft fifteen days, and then they buried it with
great devotion. And then at leisure they went all with the bishop of
Canterbury to his hermitage, and there they were together more than a
month. Then Sir Constantine, that was Sir Cador’s son, of Cornwall, was
chosen king of England; and he was a full noble knight, and
worshipfully he ruled this realm. And then this king Constantine sent
for the bishop of Canterbury, for he heard say where he was; and so he
was restored unto his bishopric, and left that hermitage; and Sir
Bedivere was there ever still hermit to his life’s end. Then Sir Bors
de Ganis, Sir Ector de Maris, Sir Gahalantine, Sir Galihud, Sir
Galihodin, Sir Blamor, Sir Bleoberis, Sir Williars le Valiant, Sir
Clarrus of Cleremont; all these knights drew them to their countries.
Howbeit king Constantine would have had them with him, but they would
not abide in this realm; and there they lived in their countries as
holy men. And some English books make mention that they went never out
of England after the death of Sir Launcelot, but that was but favour of
makers. For the French book maketh mention, and is authorised, that Sir
Bors, Sir Ector, Sir Blamor, and Sir Bleoberis, went into the holy
land, there as Jesu Christ was quick and dead, and anon as they had
stablished their lands; for the book saith so Sir Launcelot commanded
them for to do, or ever he passed out of this world. And these four
knights did many battles upon the miscreants or Turks. And there they
died upon a Good Friday, for God’s sake.
Here is the end of the whole book of king Arthur, and of his noble
knights of the Round Table, that when they were whole together there
was ever an hundred and forty. And here is the end of the Death of
Arthur. I pray you all gentlemen and gentlewomen that read this book of
Arthur and his knights from the beginning to the ending, pray for me
while I am on live that God send me good deliverance, and when I am
dead, I pray you all pray for my soul; for this book was ended the
ninth year of the reign of king Edward the Fourth by Sir Thomas
Maleore, knight, as Jesu help him for his great might, as he is the
servant of Jesu both day and night.
¶ Thus endeth thys noble and Ioyous book entytled le morte Darthur /
Notwithstondyng it treateth of the byrth / lyf / and actes of the sayd
kynge Arthur / of his noble knyghtes of the rounde table / theyr
meruayllous enquestes and aduentures / thachyeuyng of the sangreal / &
in thende the dolourous deth & departyng out of thys world of them al /
Whiche book was reduced in to englysshe by syr Thomas Malory knyght as
afore is sayd / and by me deuyded in to xxi bookes chapytred and
enprynted / and fynysshed in thabbey westmestre the last day of Iuyl
the yere of our lord M/CCCC/lxxx/V/
¶ Caxton me fieri fecit.
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