The Passing of Arthur
_Here beginneth the history of the passing of Arthur, of his Round
Table, and of many of the splendid and glorious knights thereof. With it
comes the conclusion of this history, for no more shall then remain to
be written thereof._
[Illustration: The Queen’s pages clothe Sir Launcelot]
[Illustration] Chapter First
_How Queen Guinevere visited Sir Launcelot in the forest; how Sir
Launcelot returned to Court as aforetime, and how he fled once more from
the Court._
Now it hath been told how that after the quest of the Grail all those
knights who had not died in that quest, or who were able to return did
return to the Court of King Arthur.
[Sidenote: _Sir Launcelot dwelleth in the forest._]
But Sir Launcelot of the Lake did not return with the other knights, for
he abided in the forest not very far distant from the habitation of the
Hermit of the Forest. There he lived a recluse in pious meditation,
considering of his sins and repenting of them.
Several knights had seen him at that place where he was dwelling and
they knew him, and they brought away from that place news of him and of
the life he led. That news became known at the Court of King Arthur, and
there was much talked of, and King Arthur said, “What a pity it is that
so great and so noble a knight as Sir Launcelot should thus deny himself
to the world. For in the world he is the greatest knight of the world,
but out of the world he is as any other man.”
[Sidenote: _Queen Guinevere sendeth for Sir Launcelot._]
All these things Queen Guinevere heard and she meditated upon them as
she sat thoughtfully in her bower. So one day she called to her a page,
and she said to him that he should ride to such and such a part of the
forest, and that there he would find Sir Launcelot. And the Queen said
to the page that he was then to tell Sir Launcelot to return to the
Court of the King. And she said to the page to tell Sir Launcelot that
all the court spake of him continually, and that all desired that he
should return to them.
So the page went to that part of the forest as the Queen had commanded,
and there he found Sir Launcelot in his cell; and the cheeks of Sir
Launcelot were hollow and his limbs and body were thin and shrunken from
continual fasting and meditation. Then the page kneeled down before him
and said, “Sir, the Queen bids you for to return to the Court of King
Arthur; for all the ladies and the lords of the court desire you to
return there and be the ornament of that court as you were aforetime.”
Sir Launcelot said to the page, “Return thou to the Queen and say to her
that I will not return back into the world as she desires me to do. For
here I dwell in peace and quietness and I repent me of all my manifold
sins as it becometh me to do. For those same sins have stood as a shadow
betwixt me and the Grail, so that when the Grail was present I slept,
and when it was gone I awoke and found that it was gone. Wherefore I
repent me of those sins. And so I will abide here and meditate upon them
for all the rest of my life.”
So the page returned to Queen Guinevere and delivered these words of Sir
Launcelot to her, and the Queen said, “How is this? He will not come?
Then will I go myself and bring him.”
[Sidenote: _Queen Guinevere goeth to Sir Launcelot._]
So she procured a great white horse, and she procured rich and gaudy
raiment, such as a knight at court might wear, and with these things and
with a court of knights and ladies and several pages she betook her way
into the forest.
Then all that part of the forest into which she penetrated became gay
and jocund with her coming. For it was as though the sunlight had
suddenly burst through the leaves of the forest. All the silent woodland
was made noisy with the clear sounds of talk and laughter, and of
musical and merry chattering.
So the Queen came to that part of the forest where Sir Launcelot was,
and Sir Launcelot came forth from his hut to meet her. And he stood afar
off from her and said, “Lady, what wouldst thou here?” She said,
“Launcelot, I come to thee to bring thee away from this lonely place,
for the Court of the king is the fittest place for thee to be in. For
thou art the greatest knight in Christendom, wherefore it ill becometh
thee to hide thyself away in this desolate place.”
Then Sir Launcelot lifted up his voice and cried aloud, “Get you gone,
Lady, and trouble me no more, for I know you not. Yet it was because of
you that I cast aside my wife so that she died because of my neglect.
Because of that sin and because of other sins that thou wottest of I
slept while the Grail passed before me, and could not awake until after
it was gone. So lie I here thinking of that and of other misfortunes
that have visited me because of my many sins. Thus it is that here in
the woodlands I endeavor to purify my soul of those sins.”
[Sidenote: _The Queen speaketh to Sir Launcelot._]
Then the Queen drew nearer to him and she said to him, “Launcelot,
thinkest thou that thus thy sins may be remitted unto thee? Wit thou
that thy sins are like an enemy, and that the only way in which thou
canst conquer those sins is to battle manfully with them and not to fly
from them. Arise! shake off this sluggishness and come forth into the
world again, for it awaits thee. There and there only may thy sins be
remitted unto thee.”
Then Sir Launcelot groaned and he hid his face in his arms and anon he
said, “Lady, tempt me not.” Then after another while he said, “I cannot
go with thee, for I have no horse to ride.”
Then Queen Guinevere smiled and she said, “Launcelot, I have purveyed
thee with a horse, and it is here.” Then Sir Launcelot cried out again
as in a sort of despair, “Still I cannot go with thee for I have no
clothes fit to wear at court.”
And again Queen Guinevere smiled and she said, “Also I have provided
thee with clothes; they, too, are here.” Then she commanded two of her
pages to convey the chest of clothes into Sir Launcelot’s cell and they
did so. Then they opened the chest and Sir Launcelot gazed into it, and
beheld all that noble apparel of silks and velvets, of gold and jewels,
of silver and of lace.
So Sir Launcelot suffered those two pages to clothe him in that raiment,
and presently he came forth from the cell, shining as with great glory.
And he mounted upon the great white horse which the Queen had brought
him, and so they rode away together from that place.
[Sidenote: _Sir Launcelot returneth to the court._]
Now there were at court several who were unfriends to Sir Launcelot;
some of these were unfriends because they were malicious, others because
they were jealous of his fame; others for this reason, and others for
that reason. Two of these were Sir Mordred and Sir Agravaine, who were
brothers to Sir Gawaine. Then there was Sir Kay the Seneschal and Sir
Florence and Sir Lovel, who were sons to Sir Gawaine, and who were
jealous of Sir Launcelot upon Sir Gawaine’s account.
These and several others were unfriends to Sir Launcelot, and they
talked much amongst themselves concerning the return of Sir Launcelot,
saying, “Lo! this knight hath come forth out of the forest and hath
assumed his knighthood again over us all, yet at first he would not
come, but when the Queen went thither then he beheld her and followed
her forth.”
[Sidenote: _Sir Launcelot heareth unfriendly talk._]
These words and words like them came to the ears of Sir Launcelot, and
because of them he withdrew himself from the presence of the Queen, and
consorted with other lords and ladies of the court. This the Queen
observed, and was grieved at it, for she wished for Sir Launcelot to be
with her, and she desired to have him near to her. So one day she sent
for Sir Launcelot to come to her and she gazed at him for some time
without speaking. Anon she said to him, “Launcelot, why dost thou keep
thyself afar off from me?” He replied, “Lady, I avoid thee for thine own
sake and not for my sake.” To the which she said, “How is that?”
He said, “I will tell thee. There is much talk about this court
concerning thee and concerning me, and that talk links our names
together. I fear not this talk upon mine own account. For it cannot hurt
me, but it may do great injury to thee; therefore do I hold myself away
from thee.”
Then Queen Guinevere began weeping, and she said, “Ah, Launcelot,
Launcelot! Thou art not to me as thou one time wert. For one time thou
wert ever ready to come to me, but now thou keepest thyself afar off
from me. That which thou sayst is thy excuse for not being with me, and
is not the cause of that absence.” Then she said of a sudden to him,
“Go! Get thee away from this court, for thou bringest nothing but
disturbance to my soul.”
Then Sir Launcelot said very bitterly, “Lady, it would have been well
for both of us if thou hadst permitted me to remain where I was in the
forest, and not have tempted me to quit my sanctuary.”
Then the Queen cried out upon him, “How now! What is this thou sayst? I
went to thee to save thee and not to tempt thee. If thou longest for thy
husks again, return to them. At any rate, get thee gone from me, and
never come near to me again. For thou bringest naught but sorrow and
great tribulation to me.”
[Sidenote: _Sir Launcelot departeth again from the court._]
So Sir Launcelot bowed and withdrew from where he was, and his heart was
filled with a great despair. So he came to where Sir Bors and Sir Lionel
were and he told them all that had passed. And he cried out to them,
“What now shall I do who have sacrificed my sanctuary and have got
naught by that sacrifice?”
Then quoth Sir Bors, “It would have been well for thee, if thou hadst
never quitted that safe sanctuary within the forest. But as thou now
hast quitted it, so mayst thou not return to it again. For so wouldst
thou strive to walk backward into that which hath passed. No man may do
that in the life which he leads.
“As for the anger of the Queen, soon will she forget that anger, and as
soon as she forgets it, then will she desire to see thee again. For so
hath she done several times before, and so will she do again.”
Said Sir Launcelot, “I will go to my castle of Joyous Gard and there
will I abide until her anger against me hath grown cold again.”
[Sidenote: _He departeth to the castle of Sir Brasius._]
“Not so,” said Sir Bors, “the Queen spake truly in this; that thy place
is in the field, and neither in the hermit’s cell, nor enclosed in the
walls of that castle. But get thee to the castle of Sir Brasius the Good
Knight, and there abide for a little while, seeking such adventures as
may be found around about. For when the Queen’s mind changes toward
thee, then wilt thou easily be found at that place, and either I or Sir
Ector will come to seek thee.”
“Thou sayst well,” said Sir Launcelot. “Thither will I go and there will
I stay until thou or Sir Lionel sendest for me.”
So Sir Launcelot took horse and rode away to the castle of Sir Brasius,
and there took up his inn.
But never, at any time, did anyone ever behold him to smile. For though
in the earlier days of his knighthood he had a happy and jocund spirit
and frequently smiled, yet now that happiness had departed from him and
he never smiled. For many sad things had happened to him in his life,
and those things had destroyed that happiness as a hailstorm destroys
those flowers that to-day are and to-morrow are not, but are withered
and dead like the grass in the fields.
Thus I have told you all those circumstances that led to Sir Launcelot’s
returning to Court, and as to his withdrawing himself thence again. For
so it is that though a man may think to return again into that life from
which he has passed, yet he cannot do so. For the life that is lived in
once and which hath been laid aside for another life, that first life is
dead and cannot be revivified again by the man’s entering into it again,
but remaineth dead for aye.
So it was with Sir Launcelot, for, when he had committed the sin of
leaving the Lady Elaine the Fair, he had committed it, and all that
befell him thereafter became colored by that evil happening. For,
because of that sin he failed to behold the Holy Grail with the eyes of
his body, and now, because of that sin, and of what was said concerning
him and his doings, he was compelled to exile himself again from that
court in which, by grace of his chivalry and force of arms, he truly
belonged.
So let us take warning by this example and let us not try to return to
the life which we may have left, but let us endeavor to live that other
life that now presents itself to us after such a happening, whether of
good or of evil.
* * * * *
Now followeth that which treats of the poisoning of Sir Patrice of
Ireland at the feast given by Queen Guinevere; so if you would hear how
Sir Launcelot saved the life of the Queen at that time, I pray you to
read what followeth.
[Illustration]
[Illustration: Sir Mador de la Porte]
[Illustration] Chapter Second
_How Queen Guinevere held a feast, and how Sir Patrice of Ireland was
poisoned at that feast._
Now after Sir Launcelot had quitted the Court of King Arthur as
aforetold of, the Queen pretended to great joyousness of heart, although
there was no joyousness within her. “I was hasty,” she said to herself,
“and Sir Launcelot was hasty and hath left me again. But this was my
fault and I must show no repining, but must appear to be cheerful to
all. So I will give a feast, that my seeming joyousness may be made
manifest to the world, and no one shall have cause to say that I repine
at the loss of Sir Launcelot.” So said the Queen to herself upon that
occasion.
[Sidenote: _Queen Guinevere proclaimeth a feast._]
So she proclaimed a feast, and she had at that feast the following
knights of the Round Table: there were Sir Gawaine and his brothers, to
wit, Sir Agravaine, Sir Geharis, Sir Gareth, and Sir Mordred. Also there
were Sir Bors de Ganis, and Sir Bleoberis de Ganis, and Sir Blamor de
Ganis, and there were Sir Galahad and Sir Galyhadin and Sir Ector and
Sir Lionel and Sir Palamydes and Sir Safyr; and there were Sir Persavant
and Sir Ironside and Sir Brandiles; and there were Sir Kay the Seneschal
and Sir Mador de la Porte and Sir Patrice of Ireland, and Sir Alyduke
and Sir Artamore.
Now at that time Sir Lamorack of Gales had been slain, and report placed
his death at the hands of Sir Gawaine (although this report was not
true), and of two of Sir Gawaine’s brothers, to wit, Sir Agravaine and
Sir Geharis.
There was at the Court of King Arthur a certain knight hight Sir Pinal
the Savage, who was cousin to Sir Lamorack, and Sir Pinal was very
bitter against Sir Gawaine, and was anxious to be revenged upon him, yet
he wit not how to take that revenge.
[Sidenote: _Sir Pinal, surnamed the Savage, poisoneth an apple._]
Now Sir Gawaine had a custom of eating an apple immediately after he had
dined, and this Sir Pinal was aware of. So Sir Pinal took the fairest
apple he could find, and he introduced into it a very subtle and very
malignant poison, and this apple he placed in the centre of the table,
and in the midst of all the fruit. For he said to himself, “There will
Sir Gawaine find this apple, and he will take it and eat it and will
die.” And he said, “Queen Guinevere will be blamed for that death, for
all the world knoweth that she and Sir Gawaine are unfriends.” So said
Sir Pinal, for he thought thus to be revenged for the death of Sir
Lamorack upon Sir Gawaine, and he knew not how else to achieve that
vengeance. For next to Sir Launcelot, Sir Gawaine was the strongest
knight of the court, and he was besides nephew to King Arthur and of
great importance in the King’s household. Wherefore it was that Sir
Pinal sought to slay Sir Gawaine by that poisoned apple.
[Sidenote: _Sir Patrice of Ireland eateth the apple, and dieth._]
But at the end of that feast Sir Gawaine did not take the apple, but
instead of Sir Gawaine, Sir Patrice of Ireland took it. And Sir Patrice
bit a great bite into that apple, and he ate that piece. Then anon he
cried out in a very loud and piercing voice, “Hah! What is this that
ails me?” And then he cried out in a very terrible voice, “Alas! I am
poisoned and I die from eating this apple!” And he cried out again,
“Friends, see that my death is avenged!”
Therewith he fell down to the ground in great agony, lashing with his
hands and feet and frothing at the mouth, and so in a little while he
died.
Then Sir Gawaine rose up, and he turned his face toward the Queen, and
his face was very white, and he said, “Lady, how is this? This apple was
poisoned! For whom was it intended?”
[Sidenote: _Sir Gawaine accuseth the Queen._]
The Queen hid her face in her hands for horror of what she had beheld,
and she cried out in a very shrill voice, “I knew not that it was
poisoned, and I know not how it was poisoned!” Sir Gawaine said, “That
apple was poisoned, and thou knewest that it was poisoned. Methinks it
was intended for me. Thou hast always borne enmity toward me, wherefore
thou didst place that apple upon the table that I might eat of it. One
time thou wert innocent, but now thou art innocent no longer, but art
full of malice and guile, wherefore thou hadst the will to poison me.”
Then the Queen cried out with a great passion, saying, “Gawaine, thou
and I were never friends, but rather would I cut off my right hand than
to do so evil a thing as this, to seek to poison thee.”
[Sidenote: _Sir Mador de la Porte also accuseth the Queen._]
Then Sir Mador de la Porte stood up before them all, and he said, “Lady,
that which thou sayst may deceive some who are here, but it shall not
deceive me. For I know of thy comings and of thy goings, and I know how
thou didst of malice hold Sir Launcelot here at court when he would fain
have followed the Lady Elaine away from this place, and because that Sir
Launcelot remained here the Lady Elaine died. From this I know that thy
heart is full of guile and wickedness, wherefore it is but a step from
that sin to the sin of poisoning.”
[Sidenote: _The Queen weepeth._]
So saying, Sir Mador went out from that place, and all the other knights
followed after him; for Sir Mador was a king’s son, and of great
importance at the court. Then the Queen was left there alone, weeping
with great passion, for she wist not how that poison had been
administered to Sir Patrice. After that came several men who were in the
suite of Sir Mador, and they took up the body of Sir Patrice and they
bore it away from that room.
[Sidenote: _Sir Mador appeareth before the High Court of the King._]
As soon as might be, Sir Mador de la Porte appeared before the King as
he sat in council, and he appealed the Queen of treason in that she was
a murderess; and this he proclaimed before the King and all his council.
Then King Arthur turned very white and he bowed his head and anon he
said, “Sir Mador, what wouldst thou have me do in this case? For lo!
thou dost attaint the Queen of murder, and I do not believe it possible
that she could do so wicked and so evil a thing as this. Wherefore thou
must tell me what thou wouldst have me do in this instance.”
[Sidenote: _Sir Mador challengeth the Queen of treason._]
Quoth Sir Mador, “Lord, I do accuse her of having administered poison at
her feast, whereof my cousin Sir Patrice died. In that she certes hath
committed treason against thee and against us all, for this feast of
hers was held here, in this castle, and we were her guests. So accusing
her, I am ready to defend that accusation with my body.” So saying, he
flung his glove down upon the ground, and he cried out, “Here lieth my
glove in gage of battle, and I will defend my accusation with my own
person, my accusation being that the Queen is a murderess.” Quoth the
King, “Hast thou no pity and no mercy for this lady who is thy Queen?
Hast thou no honor and no regard for me, thy King?” And Sir Mador made
reply, “Not in this case! For in this case I have no regard for anything
but to punish the guilty.”
Then the King arose, and he said, “Send for the Queen to come hither, so
that she may face her accuser.”
[Sidenote: _The Queen appeareth at the High Court._]
So anon the Queen came, and two ladies supported her, one upon one side
and the other upon the other. And the Queen wore her veil over her face
for she had been weeping continually and with great passion ever since
the ending of that feast. Now there were many knights gathered there and
many lords and ladies of several sorts, and some of these were the
Queen’s friends and felt sorrow for her, but some of them felt
satisfaction that she was accused.
The King said, “Arise, Lady, and stand.” And thereupon the Queen stood
up before the King and Sir Mador de la Porte and the entire council.
Then the King said to her, “Lady, this knight, Sir Mador de la Porte,
accuses thee of having used poison at thy feast. What hast thou to say
to that?”
Then the Queen put back her veil and she had ceased to weep, and her
eyes were very hard and proud, albeit her face was extraordinarily
white. “Sir,” she said, “thou knowest me well--no one better--and thou
knowest that with all my shortcomings (and they be many), I could never
do such a thing as that, to poison an enemy at mine own table. For I
have many enemies at this court, and amongst them is thine own nephew,
Sir Gawaine; for he is my bitterest enemy, and hath always been so. It
was he who first accused me at that feast of having used poison, and
because he is thy nephew and because he is so powerful at court, there
be few knights here who will defend mine innocence against mine
accusers, when he stands at the head of those accusers, holding that I
attempted to poison him. Had I Sir Launcelot here at court, then would I
have had a good worthy defender of mine honor, but I have driven Sir
Launcelot away from me by my pride and anger, and he is not now here to
defend mine innocence. Yet I believe that someone will arise to defend
it, wherefore I will accept this knight’s gage of battle and will abide
by it, come life, come death.”
Then the King groaned, and he bowed his head, and at last he said, “Lady
and Queen; thou art the wife of my youth, and I would fain defend thee
myself. But this cannot be, for I am the King, and the head of all the
laws. Nevertheless, I believe that some champion will arise for thee;
for it is not possible that in this court there is no knight who will
arise to defend thine innocence. Wherefore, let it be as thou sayst.
Here shall the glove of Sir Mador de la Porte lie upon the ground, until
some defender arises to take it up, and if no other defender arises,
then will I take it up mine own self. Let us now depart.”
So with that they all arose and left that place, and left Sir Mador de
la Porte’s glove still lying upon the floor of the council chamber.
[Sidenote: _The Queen asketh Sir Bors to defend her._]
That night a messenger came to Sir Bors asking him to come to the Queen,
and Sir Bors went with the messenger, who took him to the bower of the
Queen where she was. When Sir Bors entered that place he found that the
King was with the Queen. Then the Queen arose and stood before him. And
she set her hands together, the palm of one against the palm of the
other, and she said, “Sir Bors, will you not serve as my champion in
this quarrel?”
Then Sir Bors bowed his head, and anon he said, “Lady, I would you had
asked someone else to act as your champion.”
The Queen looked at him very proudly, and she said, “Why do you say
that? Had I known that your feelings were such, then I would not have
troubled you by asking that service of you. But you are the nephew of
Sir Launcelot, and you are a good worthy knight and one of those three
who have achieved the Grail. Wherefore I ask you why you are not willing
to serve as my champion. Do you then also believe that I would poison a
guest at the feast which I prepared for the entertainment of such noble
and worthy champions?”
“Nay,” said Sir Bors, “I think no such thing as that of you, Lady. But
in this quarrel there be many upon either side who are my friends, and
if I fight upon one side then my friends upon the other side would fall
away from me because I did so.”
“Alas!” said the Queen. “The time was when I had many knights upon my
side. For did not Sir Pelles in the days of my youth take a foolish
quarrel upon him for my sake? And did not Sir Launcelot stand ever ready
to defend me? Oh, Launcelot, Launcelot! If thou wert but here to stand
my champion in this quarrel! But thou art not here, for I, in my haste,
have driven thee away from me, I know not whither.” So said Queen
Guinevere, and with that she began weeping as though her heart would
break.
[Sidenote: _Sir Bors will serve as the Queen’s champion._]
Then Sir Bors was very much moved and he said, “Weep not, Lady, for thou
hast yet no cause for weeping. Thou yet hast many good true knights who
would defend thee. Yea; I will serve as thy champion unless a better
champion arise to defend thee. So take thou heart of grace in this, that
thou art innocent of this crime; wherefore, may God defend the right.”
[Sidenote: _The Queen declareth her innocence._]
At this the Queen took comfort and wiped her eyes and smiled, and she
said, “Sir Bors, for thy satisfaction I hereby make thee my solemn vow
that I did not do this thing of which I am accused. And methinks I know
who it was who laid that poisoned apple upon the table, for there was an
attendant at that table who stood behind a screen, and this attendant
beheld a knight come into that room ere others came thither. But I
cannot accuse that knight now, for I myself am accused, wherefore if I
accuse him, all will say that it is to shelter myself that I make that
accusation.”
Sir Bors said, “Lady, if this be true, it shall be as you wish, and I
will certes do all that I am able to defend you.”
Then King Arthur spoke and said, “Sir Bors, there is not any knight in
all the court who is so well fitted to defend my Queen as thou. For as
thou art one of the most virtuous knights who ever lived, so will thy
virtue shine upon any undertaking to which thou settest thy hand. And
besides this high virtue of thine, there is no knight at this court,
unless it be Sir Gawaine, who is so strong and so excellent a knight as
thou.”
So spake they at that time, and after those speeches Sir Bors went to
the council chamber where lay the glove of Sir Mador de la Porte, and he
took up that glove and he thrust it into his belt. With that glove he
paraded the court, and many beheld the glove of Sir Mador in his belt.
Some came to him and proclaimed that they were secretly pleased that he
had assumed the championship of the Queen; but others came and were very
angry that he had assumed it.
[Sidenote: _Sir Gawaine is angry with Sir Bors._]
Amongst these last was Sir Gawaine who said to him, “Sir, what is this
you do? Are you not aware that the poison served to us at dinner was
meant by the Queen for me and not for Sir Patrice who was poisoned by
it?” To him replied Sir Bors, “Friend, in this you are mistook. For
though the poison might have been intended for you and not for Sir
Patrice, yet it was not the Queen who placed it there. For I think I
know who placed it there, and by and by it will be made manifest to all
after that the Queen is freed from this accusation under which she
lieth.”
Then Sir Gawaine smiled very bitterly and he said, “Thou art easily
satisfied, Sir.” “If I am,” said Sir Bors very calmly, “there is this
virtue in my belief; that I cannot believe that my Queen and the wife of
my King should do this thing. Nor do I envy those who so easily believe
evil of their Queen.”
[Sidenote: _Sir Bors rideth to Sir Launcelot._]
Now when the next day was come, Sir Bors took horse and rode to the
castle of Sir Blasius, which place he reached before the sun set. There
he found Sir Launcelot, and he told Sir Launcelot all that had befallen,
and when Sir Launcelot heard it he was very angry. “How is this?” he
cried. “Do they dare accuse the Queen of this offence? They do it
because they know I am absent and cannot defend her.” And Sir Bors said,
“Yet even so it is. For there is a large party at court that is willing
to ascribe that wickedness to her. And that party is headed by several
of those who are of most influence at court.”
[Sidenote: _Sir Launcelot and Sir Bors talk together._]
“Well,” said Sir Launcelot, “I ask not who they are who believe this
evil of her. But I will be there to defend the Queen when her trial
cometh. Meantime, do thou take her championship upon thee till I come;
for if it be necessary to prove the innocence of that noble lady, then
thou, who art one of the three knights of the Grail, can best sustain
it. Besides this, Sir Mador is a very hot and heady knight, wherefore,
if thou wilt keep up this quarrel against him till I come, he will be
the more ready to do battle according to his beliefs. And it is
necessary that the Queen should be defended by arms.”
Then Sir Bors told Sir Launcelot that it was the Queen’s belief that it
was Sir Pinal the Savage who had placed the poisoned apple upon the
table; and he also told how the Queen did not dare to bring this
accusation against Sir Pinal until she herself was cleared of that
accusation.
All this while Sir Launcelot sat frowning as he listened, but at the end
of Sir Bors’s speech he only said, “I will be there as the Queen’s
defender, but tell nobody that thou hast spoken to me.” And Sir Bors
said, “I will not tell of this.”
[Sidenote: _Sir Bors returneth to court._]
So Sir Bors bid adieu to Sir Launcelot, and Sir Launcelot bid adieu to
Sir Bors, and Sir Bors returned that night to Camelot again, reaching
his inn at that place before the dawn of the day.
[Illustration]
[Illustration: Sir Mador begs for his Life]
[Illustration] Chapter Third
_How Sir Bors was relieved of the defence of the Queen, and of how Sir
Mador de la Porte was overthrown._
So came the eve of the day of that conflict when the innocence of the
Queen was to be approved by conflict. That evening the Queen sent for
Sir Bors de Ganis, and she said to him, “Sir, what is your mind in this
battle which you are to fight to-morrow?” Quoth Sir Bors, “Lady, it is
even as it was aforetime. For ever I do believe in your innocence and
deem it be impossible that you could administer poison to one of your
guests. So I will do battle for you to the best of my ability as I
promised you I would do. But should another knight, better fitted by
skill at arms than I, appear to assume that honor, then would I
surrender the honor to that knight; yea, even at the last minute.”
[Sidenote: _The King praiseth Sir Bors._]
So after Sir Bors had departed from her, the Queen went to the King and
told him what Sir Bors had said to her. Quoth the King, “Lady, thou hast
one of the best champions that can be found in the entire world to
defend this case in thy behalf. For I know of no knight who could be
better chosen to defend thine honor than Sir Bors, unless it were his
kinsman, Sir Launcelot of the Lake. For even Sir Gawaine is not stronger
nor better, nor was Sir Percival stronger nor better than is Sir Bors de
Ganis.”
So said the King, and at his words the Queen took great comfort and
cheerfulness.
[Sidenote: _The Queen cometh with the King to the lists._]
So came the next day of trial. For at about the eleventh hour of the
morning there came to the open square within the walls of the town the
King and the Queen and the Court of the King. At that place the Lord
Constable was already come, and to one side was a great pile of dried
fagots laid cross wise, the one upon the other, and in the midst of that
pile of fagots was an iron stake with fetterlocks attached to it about
as high as one could reach, standing before that stake. Those high lords
and ladies who were there looked very closely at the Queen, and they
beheld that she smiled as she looked about her, but that her face was
white like to purified wax for whiteness. And the Queen was clad
entirely in white; for her robe was long and spotless of color, and she
wore a belt of white leather, studded with silver, bound about her
waist, and her hair hung down upon either side and was wound about with
ribbons of white and silver. And some of those who looked upon her were
grieved and sorrow-struck at her trouble, but others were pleased and
triumphant to see her thus brought low, even to the trial of her life
and her good fame.
Then King Arthur called the constable to him and he said to him, “Lord
Constable, here do I commit to thee the tender body of this my Queen,
who stands here wrongfully accused of the crime of murder. Take her; she
is thine until after this trial of battle.” So saying, the King took the
Queen by the right hand and led her to the constable, and he gave the
right hand of the Queen into the hand of the constable. And the
constable took the Queen by the hand, and he said, “Lord King; here take
I the body of this lady who is my Queen. But I take that body only to
return it unto thy ward; so hold thou this lady in thy keeping, and may
God keep ye both, amen.”
[Sidenote: _The King sitteth beside the Queen._]
Therewith the constable replaced the hand of the Queen into the hand of
the King, and thereupon withdrew to one side. Thereafter the King
conducted the Queen by the hand up the flight of steps to a high seat
that had been prepared for her beside his own seat. Then the King said,
“Let the accusers of this lady be summoned.”
[Sidenote: _Sir Mador de la Porte appeareth._]
Then came Sir Mador de la Porte, clad all in very brilliantly shining
armor, and riding a red-roan horse, whose coat glistened like red silk.
So he drew rein in front of the King’s pew in the list. And the King
looked at Sir Mador, frowning till his eyes disappeared beneath his
brows; yea, till the veins at his forehead became expanded and knotted,
and until his entire visage became empurpled with blood.
Anon he found his voice, and he said, “Sir, what brings you here? For
you claim to be a gentleman of my court and of my Round Table, and yet
you bring accusation against your Queen, and the lady of all others whom
you should be most called upon by honor to defend.”
[Sidenote: _Sir Mador challengeth the Queen._]
Then Sir Mador spoke up in a very bold voice, both high and loud.
“Sovereign and awful lord,” said he, “here stand I for justice and for
right; without awe and without fear of anyone or of anything. Wit ye
then, that some days ago I and several others sat at feast with the
Queen. What time my near kinsman, Sir Patrice of Ireland, ate an apple
at that feast, and the apple was poisoned and he died of eating thereof.
Now that was the Queen’s feast and we were the Queen’s guests; how,
then, was the poisoning done, saving by the Queen’s orders? So here
stand I now to accuse that Queen of the treason of poisoning; nor will I
rest satisfied from that accusation, saving only as someone shall
overthrow me in this, my coming battle.”
[Sidenote: _The King challengeth Sir Mador._]
Then spake the King, “Sir, did you make research concerning this
accusation, or did you question anyone concerning this affair? For
certes it is very criminal and very wicked to administer poison to
another; but it is none the less criminal and none the less wicked to
utter such treason as you do by accusing the Queen unjustly and without
cause. Wherefore, Sir, you should be very certain of your accusation.”
Quoth Sir Mador, “Sir, I believe the testimony of mine eyes; for they
beheld that which my lips have spoken, and so my hand shall uphold in
this, my just encounter against the Queen’s strong champion.”
Then the King spoke very haughtily. “Sir,” quoth he, “you have entrusted
the verity of your case to the testimony of your eyes, and that
testimony has deceived and misled you. Nevertheless, I shall not answer
you here, for anon you shall be answered to your pain.” Then the King
spake to an esquire who stood below in the tilt yard. “Hasten,” said he,
“and bid Sir Bors de Ganis to come hither.”
[Sidenote: _Sir Bors appeareth._]
So the esquire departed and anon he returned, leading the white horse of
Sir Bors by the bridle. And Sir Bors was clad all in armor of pure and
virgin white, and all his trappings and the trappings of his horse were
white, so that he shone glistening, like to a figure of pure silver.
[Sidenote: _Sir Bors appealeth for delay._]
“Sir,” said Sir Mador to Sir Bors, “Knowest thou why I am here, and upon
what accusation?” Sir Bors said, “Aye, I know it well.” Then said Sir
Mador, “Dost thou stand for the other side?” Sir Bors said, “Yea, I
stand heart and soul for the other side. But I will tell thee truly. I
said that I would undertake this quarrel upon the Queen’s behalf unless
some better knight than I should take that battle upon him. I know you,
Sir Mador, for a noble and valiant knight, and you know me for what you
have beheld of me, wherefore you know that I fear not to meet you or any
knight in all of the world, and that I would do battle with anyone with
all of my might in a lesser quarrel than this. Wherefore I ask you now
to postpone this battle until the hour of noon, for by that time there
may come more worthy than I to defend this honorable and much abused
lady.”
[Sidenote: _Sir Mador denieth him any delay._]
“Is that all you have to say?” said Sir Mador. “Well, then, Messire,
either come you to battle with me without loss of time, or else withdraw
you from the field for someone else to take your place.”
“Take your horse and your arms,” said Sir Bors, “and as I suppose you
will not tarry long, so also will I not tarry long, but will be with you
anon.” So each knight withdrew from the field, and each busied himself
in preparing for the conflict. In this Sir Mador was the quicker, and so
rode out of his pavilion and around the course, and whilst none
applauded him in that procession, yet there were some who frowned not
upon him.
[Sidenote: _A new champion appeareth upon the Queen’s behalf._]
So Sir Bors, when he was made ready, came forth from his pavilion, and
he cast his eyes toward the forest and immediately he was aware that a
knight was coming thence, riding easily yet swiftly. And this knight was
clad in strange armor, and he bore a shield without any escutcheon, nor
was there any emblazonment about him whatsoever to tell what knight he
was. But Sir Bors knew very well that that knight was none other than
Sir Launcelot of the Lake.
Anon this knight came quickly to where Sir Bors was, and he said to him,
“Messire, I give you grammercy for assuming this quarrel upon behalf of
the Queen. But now I come to assume that quarrel myself and so you are
freed from it.” Sir Bors said, “Come you to King Arthur.” And the knight
said, “Conduct me to him.”
[Sidenote: _The new knight appeareth before the King._]
So Sir Bors conducted the knight to where King Arthur sat, and when he
was come there King Arthur said to him, “Sir, what knight are you? For
that I should know ere I consent to establish you instead of Sir Bors in
this quarrel.” To which Sir Bors made reply, “Lord, I know this knight,
and I know that he is a better knight than I am, so I yield my rights in
this quarrel unto him.”
Then King Arthur said to Sir Mador de la Porte, “Sir, will you accept
this new knight in your quarrel?” To which Sir Mador replied, “Sir, I
will accept him or any.”
[Sidenote: _Sir Mador is overthrown._]
So each knight withdrew to his end of the lists and there they made
themselves ready. And when they were all prepared, then each launched
against the other with all the speed and vehemence that he possessed. So
they met in the midst of the course and in that encounter the spear of
Sir Mador was broken all to pieces, but the spear of the other knight
held so that Sir Mador and his horse were both overturned into the
dust.
But Sir Mador recovered from his fall very suddenly, and drawing his
sword and setting his shield in front of him he came forward to the
assault of his enemy as though this were the very beginning of the
battle. Upon this the other knight leaped very nimbly and quickly down
from his horse, and setting his shield before him, he drew his sword and
came forward as with great eagerness for battle.
[Sidenote: _Sir Mador is beaten in battle._]
Each struck at the other with great fierceness, for Sir Mador was a very
strong and powerful knight, and was further upheld by his indignation.
So they fought for above an hour, and in that time Sir Launcelot held
his strength, but the strength of Sir Mador began to wane so that he
could hardly sustain his arm. Then Sir Launcelot redoubled his strokes
until Sir Mador held his shield full low. At that Sir Launcelot lifted
up his sword and he smote Sir Mador so terribly upon the helm that he
fell grovelling to the earth. Then Sir Launcelot drew near to Sir Mador
to smite him again, but Sir Mador raised himself a little and lifting
his sword he smote Sir Launcelot through the thick of the thigh.
But when Sir Launcelot felt himself to be thus wounded and when he
beheld how that the blood flowed forth in a red stream from the wound in
his thigh, he drew away and waited for Sir Mador to rise again. And when
Sir Mador had arisen he rushed upon him and smote him again, so terrible
a blow that the blade bit through the iron helmet, and the leather coif
and into the bone beneath the coif.
[Sidenote: _Sir Launcelot spareth Sir Mador._]
Then Sir Mador fell down and lay upon the ground like one who was dead,
and Sir Launcelot ran in to where he lay and seizing the helmet that
covered the head, he cut the thongs with his misericordia and rushed it
off from his head. With that the light shone in upon the face of Sir
Mador and aroused him from his swoon; and beholding Sir Launcelot
standing terribly above him, he cried out, in a loud piercing voice,
“Spare me my life, Sir Knight! Spare me my life!” Quoth Sir Launcelot,
“I will not spare thee thy life, unless thou dost confess that thou wert
mistaken concerning the guilt of the Queen, and that she is innocent of
evil.” Said Sir Mador, “I do confess it.”
Then Sir Launcelot called the Lord Constable of the lists to him and he
said to Sir Mador, “Confess what thou hast confessed to me to this
gentleman.” And Sir Mador said, “Sir, to this constable I do confess and
acknowledge that I was mistook as to the guilt of the Queen, and that
she is indeed guiltless of that of which I have accused her, and of all
other crimes whatsoever.”
Then Sir Launcelot said, “Bear this knight hence away from this spot.”
Upon that there came several attendants to that place and they lifted
Sir Mador and carried him away from that place.
Then Sir Launcelot and the constable went from that place of conflict to
the presence of King Arthur, and the King and the Queen descended from
their high seats to welcome him. Quoth the King, “Sir, well have you
fought this day, and well may we guess who you are who have done this
battle. We do both give you thanks--I for that you have saved to me my
Queen; she that you have saved to her her life and her honor.”
[Sidenote: _Sir Mador confesseth a wrong accusation._]
“Lord,” said Sir Launcelot, “here have I brought with me this constable
to avouch for it that Sir Mador hath confessed that he hath wrongfully
accused the Queen of this crime, and that she is as guiltless of it as
she is of any other crime at this present.” And the constable said, “I
do avouch for the truth of that.” Then the King said to Sir Launcelot,
“Sir, I perceive that thou art wounded. Wilt thou not refresh thyself
with a glass of wine?” And Sir Launcelot said, “Yea, Lord, for wine
would be exceedingly grateful to me at this present.”
So a little page ran and presently returned, bringing a flagon of
sparkling yellow wine, and Sir Launcelot unlaced his helmet and removed
it from his head, so that all beheld his face and knew him for Sir
Launcelot.
[Sidenote: _Sir Launcelot pledgeth the Queen._]
And then King Arthur said, “Sir, methought that you were Sir Launcelot
of the Lake when I beheld how you did battle a little while ago.
Moreover, when Sir Bors spoke of a better knight than he rising for the
Queen’s defence, I wist he must mean you, for you are the only one who
is better than he. But now we have you, we will not let you go again.”
“Lord,” quoth Sir Launcelot, “I will not leave this court again unless I
am bidden to go. For here may I defend both your honor and the honor of
your Queen. For first of all do I owe my duty to you who made me a
knight; and then do I owe my duty to her who is my revered and honored
lady.” Then, taking the flagon of wine into his hands he turned him
about and lifting that flagon on high, he cried in a loud, clear voice
so that all might hear him, “Here do I drink this flagon of golden wine
to the truth and innocence of my Queen. Health to her friends, confusion
to her enemies, and may harm fall upon those who contemplate harm to
her!”
Then he put the brim of the flagon to his lips and drank off the entire
draught of wine ere he removed it again.
Then King Arthur said, “Let us go visit that wounded knight, for I have
something that I would say to him.” So Sir Launcelot and the constable
and King Arthur went across the meadow of battle to the pavilion of Sir
Mador. And they entered the pavilion and Sir Mador was lying upon a
couch and the surgeon was searching his wounds.
[Sidenote: _King Arthur dismisseth Sir Mador from the court._]
King Arthur said to him, “Sir, who besides yourself were the accusers of
the Queen?” Sir Mador said, “Lord, I was her only accuser.” The King
said, “Thou liest, for there was a conspiracy against her to undo her,
and thou wert but the instrument of that conspiracy. I will ask thee no
further to betray those who were with thee in this affair. Only I have
this to say to thee, that if by to-morrow morning thou art within the
purlieus of this court, or if at any future time thou comest into my
power again, or if ever I meet thee in battle or out of battle, that
time spells for thee thy death. Bear my words well in mind; for though I
spare thee this time upon behest of the Queen, yet will I not spare thee
again upon the beseeching of anyone in all of the world.”
Sir Mador said very bitterly to the King, “My Lord, thou speakest as a
sound man to one who is very grievously wounded and who may not defend
himself.” “Not so,” said the King very calmly, “I speak, first of all,
as a king to his knight, and next I speak as one knight to another
knight who hath wrought him a grievous injury. For thou canst not undo
what thou hast done; for thy quarrel hath sowed dissension and evil
thought among my entire court, so that I, who was one time loved by my
entire court, know not now who are my friends and who mine enemies.”
Then the King turned to the constable, and he said, “Lord Constable,
thou hearest what I have said. If this man is found hereabouts to-morrow
day, cast him immediately into prison and report the same to me. For if
after this day he falleth into my power, then he shall himself suffer
destruction by the flames, as he would have consigned his own Queen to
the flames.”
Thereupon the King turned upon his heel and left Sir Mador de la Porte
gnawing his finger nails.
[Sidenote: _The servant telleth how Sir Pinal placed the apple._]
That day the King held a council of his chief lords and subordinate
kings. And before this council came that servant who had hidden behind
the screen as aforetold of. And this servant told of how he had beheld
Sir Pinal place the apple upon the table whereon the feast was to be
held. This evidence they all heard and listened to, and when it was
ended the King said, “Send for this Sir Pinal and let us hear what he
hath to say to this.”
So they sent for Sir Pinal, but he was nowhere to be found, for the
Queen’s enemies had told him that that evidence was to be admitted and
he had fled away from the court into the wilderness, never to return
again.
[Sidenote: _Yet is the Queen accused by many._]
So was the innocence of the Queen proven. But still there were some who
disbelieved that evidence, for they said, “See ye not how it is? For
first they overthrow Sir Mador and then they drive him away from this
court. Then they bring in this evidence to clear the Queen from guilt
and they lay that guilt upon poor Sir Pinal, who is not of the Round
Table. Thus there is no one to contradict the evidence of this poor
knave, and so the Queen is to be cleared of the suspicion of guilt.”
So spake several, and the news of this was brought to the ears of Sir
Gawaine. But Sir Gawaine would say no word upon the matter, for whilst
he felt bitter enmity toward the Queen, and whilst he suspected the
worst things of her, yet he would not give voice to that which he
suspected. Neither would he give accusation against her, but went his
own way thinking his own thoughts and keeping those thoughts within his
own bosom.
* * * * *
[Sidenote: _Of the dissensions at the court._]
Thus have I told you the history of these things as I myself have read
of them in the ancient books that treat of them. For this was the first
beginning of the end. For now that the Grail had been lifted from the
earth, there was naught to hold together the Court of King Arthur as it
had been held together before. But each knight began now to think of his
own glory and of himself, and not of the glory of the King and the Good
of the world.
So now begin we with the history of those dissensions that presently
broke forth in the Court of the King.
[Illustration]
[Illustration: Sir Launcelot defends the door]
[Illustration] Chapter Fourth
_How there came quarrels at the court, and how Sir Launcelot of the Lake
was assaulted by the brothers of Sir Gawaine._
Now there was at court at that time much dissension and many angry
recriminations back and forth between the one party and the other party.
For the one party maintained that the Queen had been ill-used and had
suffered much, and would have suffered death, saving only for the
defence of Sir Launcelot of the Lake; and the other party maintained
that the Queen possessed an evil soul, and that Sir Launcelot was her
dishonorable lover and that it was for this reason that he had fought
for her.
[Sidenote: _Sir Mordred and Sir Agravaine accuse Sir Launcelot of
treason._]
Of this latter party were some of the brothers of Sir Gawaine, who were
at the head of that party; to wit, there was Sir Mordred and Sir
Agravaine. These knights spoke very boldly and openly, saying that Sir
Launcelot practised treachery with the Queen against the King’s high
honor. Sir Agravaine said, “Well is it that Sir Launcelot is the
greatest knight now living on the earth (for this is true now that Sir
Galahad had departed in glory), yet it is not to be forgotten that he is
not greater in his strength than several knights who might come against
him at once. So when Sir Launcelot next visits the Queen, if a number of
us shall fall upon him, it can scarcely be but that those knights should
overcome him, and that so the King’s honor should be revenged.”
[Sidenote: _Sir Gawaine will not join with them._]
Whilst he so spoke, Sir Gawaine sat at one side gnawing his mustache.
Then he up and spake, saying, “What is this you would do? Would you
practise treachery against Sir Launcelot and against the Queen? God
knows I have no love for the Queen, and never have had love for her, but
neither would I practise treachery against her, but would assail her
openly and against the entire world. As for Sir Launcelot of the Lake;
long hath he been my dearest friend and companion at arms; am I then to
practise treason against him?” Then turning to Sir Geharis and Sir
Gareth, he said, “What say you, my brothers? Speak!” Then Sir Geharis
and Sir Gareth said, “What thou sayst, Gawaine, we also say.” And Sir
Gareth said upon his part, “I cannot now forget and I can never fail to
remember that it was Sir Launcelot of the Lake who made me a knight.
Shall I then sit in judgment upon my godfather in knighthood, and
undertake to practise evil against him?”
Quoth Sir Mordred, “I say with my brother Agravaine that the Queen is
altogether evil and that Sir Launcelot is her lover, and that saying I
am ready to maintain to the peril of my life.”
[Sidenote: _Sir Mordred declares that he will arrest Sir Launcelot._]
Said Sir Gawaine, “I pray you tell me; what is it you seek to do?” Him
answered Sir Mordred, “We seek to spy upon Sir Launcelot and, when next
he visits the Queen in her apartments, we would make assault upon him.
When we have thus espied upon him, then we and several others will fall
upon him and seize him and hale him before the King for trial.” Said Sir
Gawaine, “That is no such easy matter for to do. And when you have done
it, it will be but of little avail; for the King will not condemn Sir
Launcelot upon such uncertain accusation. For what accusation shall you
bring against Sir Launcelot and the Queen that you dare mention to the
King?”
Then Sir Mordred made no immediate answer, but when he was come to a
place apart from those three, he said to Sir Agravaine, “Sir Launcelot
is guilty of thou knowest what treason against the King. Now I told
Gawaine that we would arrest him and bring him to the King. What I
really purpose is this: that we assault Sir Launcelot in the Queen’s
apartments, and that we slay him. For once he is dead the King will
quickly forgive us and will believe the Queen to have been guilty, but
if Sir Launcelot is alive he will never forgive us. Hah, brother, a dead
lion is a less dangerous enemy to a man than a living fox. So it were
best that Sir Launcelot died.” In this Sir Agravaine agreed with him; so
after that they set watch upon Sir Launcelot to take him when next he
should visit the Queen. But Sir Launcelot was warned by one who
overheard them, and for that while he did not visit the Queen in her
apartments.
[Sidenote: _Sir Mordred betrayeth Sir Launcelot._]
So one night Sir Mordred called to him a page of the Queen’s court when
the page was passing, and he said to him, “Lanadel” (for such was the
page’s name)--“Lanadel, go you to Sir Launcelot of the Lake and tell him
that the Queen would fain speak with him in her bower.” Thereupon the
page, suspecting no evil, went to Sir Launcelot, and delivered that
message to him, and Sir Launcelot, suspecting no evil, fulfilled the
terms of that message, and went secretly thither to the Queen’s
apartments.
[Sidenote: _Sir Launcelot goeth to the Queen’s bower._]
Finding the Queen there, Sir Launcelot said to her, “Lady, what is it
thou wouldst say to me?” She looked upon him in astonishment and said,
“Sir, I did not send for you to say anything to you.” Sir Launcelot
said, “How is this? Your page, Lanadel, came to me and brought it to me
as a message that you would speak to me at this place.” She said,
“Launcelot, I sent no such message as that to thee. Yet, in very truth,
it hath been long since thou hast been hither to speak to me. Art thou
affronted with me, Launcelot?”
He said to her, “Lady, thou knowest that I am not affronted with thee.
But there is this: I must consider thine honor and reputation as I do
mine own. But, Lady, touching this message of late delivered to me, here
is treachery of some sort, for certes that message came to me as from
thee, wherefore I know that some treachery is brewing against us, though
I know not what that treachery is.”
Now turn we to those enemies of Sir Launcelot to see what they did upon
this occasion. For Sir Mordred watched at the entrance of the Queen’s
apartments until that he beheld Sir Launcelot enter them. Upon that he
ran to Sir Agravaine, and said to him, “Brother, wit ye that Sir
Launcelot is at this time in the Queen’s chamber. Let us now make haste
to take him.” So those two called about them certain knights who were at
enmity with Sir Launcelot, and they said to them, “Gentlemen, let us
hasten and take that traitor knight who is even now in the Queen’s
bower.”
Now those knights whom they called upon to accompany them were as
follows: There were Sir Colgrance and Sir Gingaline, and Sir Melyot of
Logris, and Sir Galleron of Galway; there were Sir Melion of the
Mountain, and Sir Petypas of Winchelsea; there were Sir Gromer Somerjour
and Sir Astamore, Sir Cuselaine, Sir Florence, and Sir Lovel. And these
last two were sons to Sir Gawaine.
[Sidenote: _The Queen is warned._]
These eleven knights, together with Sir Agravaine and Sir Mordred,
making thirteen in all, went together in a party to the apartments of
the Queen. And the ladies of the Queen beheld them coming, and wist that
they came for no good purpose. Wherefore these ladies ran screaming and
in haste and bolted and barred the door. Then they ran to the Queen’s
apartment and they found that Sir Launcelot was there and they cried
out, “Lady, arouse you, for your enemies are upon you!”
[Sidenote: _The thirteen knights challenge Sir Launcelot to appear._]
By this those knights were at the door, and Sir Agravaine knocked and
cried aloud in a very loud and thunderous voice, “Thou traitor knight!
What doest thou here? Why liest thou behind locked doors in the Queen’s
apartments? Come forth to us who are thy fellows of the court and of
the Round Table, and render an account to us. For we are here to receive
thine account!”
These words were uttered so loudly and so powerfully that they echoed
and re-echoed throughout that entire part of the castle, and when they
struck upon the Queen’s ears, she fell as white as an ash of wood and
sank back upon a couch, placing her hand above her heart.
Then Sir Launcelot stood up from where he sat and he cast his eyes
around him from side to side, but he could see no armor for defence, and
no way of escape. And ever those knights without smote upon the door,
and ever Sir Agravaine cried out, “Sir Launcelot of the Lake; what doest
thou there in the Queen’s chamber? Come forth and deliver thyself to
us.”
Then Sir Launcelot said, “Lady, I prithee tell me, is there ere a suit
of armor in this place as I could clothe myself withal?” She said, “Nay,
Launcelot, there is no armor in this room.” Then Sir Launcelot said to
her, “Then must I defend myself without armor; for I know that these
knights have no purpose for to take me prisoner to the King. Otherwise,
that which they purpose is to take my life.” Then the Queen sank down
terrified upon her knees before him, and said, “Launcelot, go not forth
to them, for assuredly they mean thy death.” He said to her, “Lady, I
must go; but this I beseech of thee, that thou wilt pray for me. And
this also I beseech of thee, that, should I fall in this encounter, thou
wilt go with my relatives, Sir Ector and Sir Bors and Sir Lionel and Sir
Ure, and bid them that they shall take thee to an asylum of refuge at my
castle of Joyous Gard. For there is now no safety for thee at this
place, and only great and continual dangers. For ever there is growing
at this court against thee a rooted jealousy of all that thou sayest or
doest, and if so be I lose my life, then these, mine enemies, will
overwhelm thee.” Then the Queen wept, and she cried out, “Launcelot!
Launcelot! Go not forth to them!”
[Sidenote: _The thirteen knights threaten to burst in the door._]
As thus they spake, those knights without continually beat upon the
door, crying ever in louder and more violent tones, “Traitor! Open to
us!” And the door was not opened, but remained closed. Then they cast
their eyes about and they beheld a great form that stood there in the
hall. And Sir Agravaine said to certain of the others, “Bring hither
yonder form, and let us beat down the door with it. For thus alone may
we hope to come at this traitor!” So they brought that form and they
beat with it upon the door, and the door cracked and bent beneath their
blows.
[Sidenote: _Sir Launcelot defendeth himself with a cloak._]
Then Sir Launcelot wrapped his cloak about his arm, and he took his
sword in his hand, and he said to those who were beating upon the door,
“Messire, cease your uproar and I will come forth to you.” Then he
turned the key in the lock of the door, and he opened the door a little,
but not very far, setting his foot against it lest they should burst it
open from without and so rush in, many at once, upon him.
But when the door was opened and they beheld Sir Launcelot standing
there without any armor of defence whatsoever saving only the cloak that
was wrapped about his arm, they took heart of grace that they should
easily overcome him. Then there came forward a tall and very powerful
knight, hight Sir Colgrance of Gore, and he struck a terrible strong and
powerful blow at Sir Launcelot with intent to hew him down. This blow
Sir Launcelot put aside with his sword and immediately delivered a blow
in return.
[Sidenote: _He slayeth Sir Colgrance._]
In that blow he smote Sir Colgrance upon the head, and the blow bit
through the bascinet upon his head and it smote deep into the bone of
the brain so that Sir Colgrance fell down grovelling to the earth, and
immediately he died.
Then Sir Launcelot seized Sir Colgrance’s body by the shoulders and
dragged it into the room ere the others had recovered, and immediately
he bolted and barred the door as it was before. And Sir Launcelot said
to the Queen, “Lady, here hath Providence delivered armor into my hands.
I prithee aid me to arm myself.”
[Sidenote: _Sir Launcelot armeth himself in Sir Colgrance’s armor._]
So the Queen and her affrighted ladies hastened to Sir Launcelot and
together they stripped the armor off the body of Sir Colgrance. And they
assisted Sir Launcelot to clothe himself very quickly and nimbly in that
armor. Then, having thus armed himself in the armor of Sir Colgrance,
Sir Launcelot came to the door of the room and he spoke to those
without, and he said to them, “Messires, what is it you would have with
me?” They say, “We would have you come forth and surrender yourself to
us so that we may take you to King Arthur.” Sir Launcelot said, “I
cannot surrender myself to you, but this I will promise to do: if you
will go hence and leave me in peace, I will surrender myself to King
Arthur to-morrow morning, and will then abide by his justice.” Sir
Agravaine said, “We will not do this. We will not trust thee. Deliver
thyself to us immediately, or we will slay thee.”
[Sidenote: _Sir Launcelot assaileth his enemies._]
Then Sir Launcelot said, “I come!” and therewith he flung wide open the
door. And Sir Launcelot strode out amongst them like to a lion into the
midst of a pack of dogs. And they beheld that Sir Launcelot was clad all
in the armor of Sir Colgrance. And Sir Launcelot fronted Sir Agravaine
and the eyes of Sir Launcelot flashed forth pure fire from under the
vizor of his bascinet. And Sir Launcelot strode to Sir Agravaine, crying
out, “Thou first!” And therewith he smote Sir Agravaine with might and
main.
Sir Agravaine warded the blow, but so wonderfully powerful was it that
it smote down that ward; and it smote Sir Agravaine upon the bascinet;
and it cut through the iron of the bascinet and through the bone of the
brain pan and into the brain itself.
[Sidenote: _He slayeth Sir Agravaine and several others._]
Then Sir Agravaine cried out very terribly and fell down dying to the
earth; and Sir Launcelot put his foot upon the neck of Sir Agravaine,
and wrenched forth the sword out of the cut that he had made. Then Sir
Launcelot smote to the right hand and to the left; and of those eleven
knights who were with Sir Agravaine and Sir Mordred he slew nine in that
little room. And he smote Sir Mordred upon the shoulder so that he
sheared the flesh of the arm, a great slice from the bone, and the other
two knights were more or less wounded, so that anon they fled in tumult
from that place.
And Sir Launcelot was also wounded in many places in that conflict, so
that he was, as it were, all bathed in crimson from head to foot. Then,
having put his enemies to flight, he turned him and re-entered the
Queen’s chamber.
[Sidenote: _Sir Launcelot is wounded._]
But when the Queen beheld him thus all bathed in red, she shrieked
aloud, for she thought him to be mortally wounded. But Sir Launcelot
said to her, “Fear not, Lady, thine enemies are put to flight and I am
not sorely hurt.” And he said to her, “Lady, my love for thee hath ever
been my curse, and now it hath brought us to this end. For in thy
defence and in my defence I have slain the nephew of the King and two of
the sons of Sir Gawaine. So now the King will be my foe, and so I must
quit this place for aye. But I cannot leave thee, Lady, for without me
thou wilt be defenceless. So I prithee prepare thyself for a journey. I
will go forth and gather about me a number of knights of mine own
kindred and friends, and we will take thee hence away from this place.
For to-morrow they will bring thee forth to trial, and when they bring
thee forth, then will we seize thee and carry thee away.”
Then the Queen fell to weeping very bitterly, and she said, “Ah,
Launcelot! Alas and alas! Is this then the end?” And he said, “Aye,
Lady.” Therewith he went forth from that place and left her.
[Sidenote: _Sir Launcelot adviseth with Sir Bors._]
So Sir Launcelot came to Sir Bors’s inn, and when Sir Bors beheld him,
all covered and ensanguined with blood, he cried out, “God save us!
What is this? What aileth thee?” Then Sir Launcelot told Sir Bors all
that had befallen, and when he had told it Sir Bors sent for Sir Ector
and for Sir Lionel and for Sir Ure, and fourteen other knights,
relatives and friends of Sir Launcelot, and Sir Launcelot told unto them
what he had told to Sir Bors.
Then Sir Bors said to those who were there gathered, “Messires his is a
very sad and bitter quarrel. For I do avouch that my relative, Sir
Launcelot, is in all ways perfectly innocent toward the Queen. For we
know that he was deceived into her presence by a false message delivered
unto him by someone who was an enemy to him and who meant to undo him.
So this lady hath also been misused in such a way that it is contrary to
his honor as a knight that we should suffer such harm to approach her.
Now it is my advice that we await to see what shall presently befall.
For if this quarrel is condoned by the King, then is all very well; but
if the King seek to punish Sir Launcelot by bringing the Queen to a
trial, then shall he save her from that trial and shall convey her away
to Joyous Gard where she may remain safe from harm.”
[Sidenote: _Other knights swear fealty to Sir Launcelot._]
Then all those other knights to whom Sir Bors spake held up their swords
with their handles before them, and they said, “Herewith and upon this
holy sign of the crucifix do we swear that we will ride with and aid Sir
Launcelot of the Lake in this undertaking. And, if it be demanded of us,
we will assist him to bring this lady to Joyous Gard, and we will there
aid and defend him and her with our bodies until the last extremity and
until death.”
* * * * *
[Sidenote: _Sir Mordred accuseth Sir Launcelot to the King._]
Meantime, Sir Mordred had had his wound bound up and had taken horse and
had ridden to the inn of King Arthur, and he appeared before King Arthur
in the room when the King was then with several of his court. And when
the King beheld him thus wounded, he started up and cried out, “Hah, Sir
Mordred! What bringeth thee before me in this plight? Where gottest thou
that wound?” Then Sir Mordred kneeled down before the King, and he said,
“Sovereign Lord and Master, I got this wound in thy service. For Sir
Launcelot visited the Queen recently in her bower, and I and twelve
other knights sought to arrest him there and to bring him before thee.
But he resisted that arrest, and of the thirteen who assaulted him nine
are dead and one is like to die.”
Then the King drew his breath very hard between his teeth, at that news,
and anon he said, “Who are dead? Are they any of my friends?” Sir
Mordred said, “All are thy friends, and three are of thy kin.” Quoth
King Arthur, “Who are those of my kin?” And Sir Mordred said, “One of
them is Sir Agravaine, thy nephew, and the others are Sir Florence and
Sir Lovel, the young sons of Sir Gawaine.”
[Sidenote: _Sir Gawaine sorroweth._]
Then the King groaned and Sir Gawaine who was with him covered his head
and also groaned in sorrow. Quoth the King, “To-morrow day this shall be
inquired into, and the Queen shall be brought to trial for this
treason.” And with those words he arose and withdrew from that place,
accompanied only by Sir Gawaine, Sir Geharis and Sir Gareth and Sir
Mordred; and leaving the other knights who were attendant upon him sunk
in silence, not knowing which way to look or what to say.
So when the King was come to a private place, he seated himself and
buried his face in his hands. And he groaned aloud, and he said, “Alas
is me! This is certes the beginning of the end that was foretold by
Merlin!” And anon he said to Sir Gawaine, “To thee, Gawaine, will I
entrust the pushing of that inquiry which must follow. For thou and
Geharis and Gareth shall go with a company of an hundred knights, and ye
shall arrest the Queen, and shall bring her for trial for this offence.”
Then Sir Gawaine kneeled down before King Arthur, and he said,
“Sovereign and lawful Lord and Master, I pray you to spare me from
this.” King Arthur said, “Why should I spare thee?” Sir Gawaine said,
“For these two causes: firstly, I am sworn brother in arms to Sir
Launcelot; secondly, I am not friendly with my lady the Queen and so am
not fit to serve her as her escort.”
Then King Arthur said, “I do not understand your refusal, Messire. Was
not Sir Agravaine your brother? And was not he a strong and noble
knight? And were not Sir Florence and Sir Lovel your sons?”
“Yea, Lord,” said Sir Gawaine. “All this is true; but I suspected evil
in this affair, and I strongly advised them to refrain therefrom. This
they have refused to hearken to and so they have perished, armed and in
fair conflict with Sir Launcelot--he one against many.”
Then King Arthur’s face flushed very red with anger, and he turned to
Sir Geharis and Sir Gareth. “And you, Messires,” said he, “do you also
refuse me this duty?” “Sir,” said Sir Gareth, “if you bid us upon our
duty to undertake this commission, we will do so. Yet wit you that Sir
Launcelot was he who made me a knight; wherefore I will not go in arms
to escort the Queen. But if thou commandest me to go, then will I go
without armor or defence of any sort to protect me. For I will not stand
in arms before the avowed lady of him who made me a knight.”
King Arthur said, “I do command you both to go, so let there be an end
to this argument. But see to it that the Queen shall be brought to her
trial in a plain white robe without a girdle and that she come in her
bare feet like to any criminal. For I shall not believe her to be
innocent until she be proved so.”
[Sidenote: _Sir Gareth and Sir Geharis go unarmed to arrest Sir
Launcelot._]
Now when the next day was come, it being then about the tenth hour of
the morning, Sir Geharis and Sir Gareth took those five score knights
and they rode to the lodgings of the Queen. Meantime, word had been sent
to the Queen that she was to clothe her in such a guise as the King had
said; to wit, ungirdled and in white, and in her bare feet. And it was
said to her that she was to come to her trial like to a
criminal--barefoot in that wise, and without a girdle about her waist.
[Sidenote: _The Queen weepeth._]
Then the Queen wept very many bitter tears, and said, “Alas, my lord,
the King, hath already condemned me in his heart, so that my trial will
mean my death.” And the ladies of the Queen wept with her and they said,
“Lady, alas for thy happiness! For this is certes the end.” Then the
Queen dried her tears and she said to them, “Comfort ye! For I have done
many evil deeds in my life, but ye know that I am innocent of this
deed.” They say, “Yea, we know it and will avouch for it.”
Now word of all these things had also been brought to Sir Launcelot, and
when he heard of them he aroused himself and called his esquires about
him. Then he went forth in his full armor and he found Sir Bors and Sir
Lionel together. And Sir Launcelot said to them, “Messires, do you
remember that you and several others promised to aid me in the rescue of
the Queen? Well, then, the time is come, for she is about to be brought
forth to her trial, for they have sent for her. She shall not come to
the disgrace of trial, for I will bear her hence. Go you and summon all
those who will support me and bring them in haste to the Queen’s inn,
for I go there immediately.” Sir Bors said, “Go not thither from this
place until we summon aid.” Sir Launcelot said, “Then make haste.”
So Sir Bors and Sir Lionel hastened away from that place, leaving Sir
Launcelot walking in great strides up and down the length of the room.
Anon came one running to where Sir Launcelot was, and said to him, “Sir,
the Queen biddeth thee to come to her in haste, for they are taking her
barefoot to her trial.”
[Sidenote: _Sir Launcelot hasteneth to aid the Queen._]
Then Sir Launcelot waited for no further word, but hastened with all
speed to where the Queen was, and when he had come there he found many
of his knights already there, and several came immediately thereafter.
And as Sir Launcelot approached he beheld the Queen seated upon her
horse in her bare feet and surrounded by that armed escort which the
King had sent. Then the Queen beheld Sir Launcelot and she called to
him, saying, “Sir Launcelot, make haste!” And she reached out her arms
toward him.
[Sidenote: _Sir Launcelot slayeth Sir Gareth._]
Then Sir Launcelot emitted a great loud and bitter cry. And therewith he
drew his sword like lightning and his friends drew their swords and they
rushed into the throng smiting from right to left and from left to right
again. And those who were thus assaulted smote back again at those
knights and bore them hither and thither by weight of numbers because
they who fought for the Queen were so few. But the knights of Sir
Launcelot were prepared for this assault and the knights of King Arthur
were not prepared for it, wherefore those latter were quickly separated
and driven back. Now in the fury of that small battle Sir Gareth was
pushed near to Sir Launcelot and he was unarmed as hath been told of,
and Sir Launcelot saw him but knew him not. So Sir Launcelot smote Sir
Gareth upon the head with his sword and he clave asunder the head of Sir
Gareth to the throat and Sir Gareth fell dead beneath the horses’ feet.
And Sir Launcelot thought nothing of what he had done by that blow; for
in his fury and raging he beheld the Lady Queen Guinevere before him.
With that he spurred forward without looking down upon the earth to see
who it was whom he had smitten down, and he catched the Queen up from
her saddle and seated her on his saddle before him. Then he shouted,
“Let us away and escape while there is yet time!”
[Sidenote: _He slayeth Sir Geharis._]
So with that Sir Geharis put himself forward to stay Sir Launcelot, and
Sir Launcelot, beholding him there in the way and not witting who he
was, smote him also with his sword and slew him.
[Sidenote: _Sir Launcelot escapeth with the Queen._]
So with that they all ceased fighting and spurred away from that place,
cleaving their way before them and taking Queen Guinevere with them. And
they rode away from that place and from that city, and they ceased not
to ride until they had come to the confines of Joyous Gard, where there
was an asylum of peace and safety. And in that battle there were lost
twenty-seven knights of the King, and of these there were eleven knights
of the Round Table. And there were lost sixteen knights of Sir
Launcelot’s party and of them there were nine knights of the Round
Table. And in that battle Sir Kay the Seneschal and Sir Gareth and Sir
Geharis and Sir Griflet lost their lives.
[Illustration: The Bishop of Rochester and the King.]
[Illustration] Chapter Fifth
_How King Arthur attacked Sir Launcelot at Joyous Gard; how Sir Lionel
was slain and how Sir Bors was wounded._
Now come we to the beginning of the end of this great and glorious reign
of King Arthur of Britain. For so Sir Launcelot stepped between the
Queen and the law as hath afore been told of, and having done so there
was no recession for him from that act. For so was he bound to protect
the Queen and to cherish her if he could do so; and King Arthur was
bound to recover his Queen to bring her back to her duty again if he
could do so.
[Sidenote: _Concerning Queen Guinevere and Sir Launcelot._]
Yet in all this the Queen had not sinned against King Arthur, saving
only that she had escaped from her enemies and from justice at Camelot,
and also because King Arthur supposed that her affections had wandered
from him and toward Sir Launcelot. For in all other respects the Queen
was ever as honorable and as pure as she had been when first she came to
King Arthur that long while before at Camilard (which same hath been
told in full in the Book of King Arthur). Yet there was this, that the
coming of Sir Launcelot from the Lake and the greatness of Sir Launcelot
as a knight, and the beauty of the person of Sir Launcelot, so
fascinated her that she could not let him go his way without meddling
with his fortunes. Wherefore she demanded him for her knight, and she
was angry at any interference that prevented him from serving her as her
knight both singly and in all things.
But now had come to her the end of all this. For now was she escaped
from her lord the King, and from justice, and she was hiding under the
protection of Sir Launcelot of the Lake and of those knights of his
blood and kindred at Joyous Gard. So had the end come to her of all the
joy of her life, for King Arthur could now never condone or forgive her
offence.
[Sidenote: _King Arthur grieveth._]
For when the news of that battle came to the ears of King Arthur, he was
filled with anger and with grief. “Alas!” cried he, “that this quarrel
should have begun, for in it I behold the end of my reign. For already
the joy of the Round Table is past and gone, and never shall it return
again.”
For wit ye that that joy which is gone can never return, but only its
memory shall live in the heart to lend a dim and distant lustre upon the
sorrows of the present, and of that King Arthur was very well aware. So
also he knew that the glory of the Round Table had departed, and he knew
that ere the end of that Round Table should come many knights should die
in that quarrel that was now toward.
Then the King said, “Doth Sir Gawaine, the high prince, know that his
two brothers have been slain?” They say to him, “No, Lord.” (For they
did not then know that Sir Gawaine had already been informed thereof.)
The King said, “Then let him not be told of it, for if he is told of it
now he will, in his haste, vow vengeance against Sir Launcelot who was
his sworn comrade in arms and his very dear friend, and so there will be
added war to this war.” They say to the King, “He shall not be told, but
it shall be kept secret from him.”
[Sidenote: _The news cometh to Sir Gawaine._]
But meantime there had come a messenger hastening to Sir Gawaine, and
said to him, “Lord, the Queen hath escaped and is now upon her way to
Joyous Gard with Sir Launcelot of the Lake.”
At this Sir Gawaine gazed at the messenger and for a little while he
said nothing, though he thought many things. And the face of Sir Gawaine
grew white like to wax for whiteness, for he feared what further news
should come to him. Anon he said, “What news is this? Were not my
brethren set as a guard upon her? How then did they suffer her to escape
from them?”
The messenger said, “Sir, Sir Launcelot, and others of his blood,
assaulted that guard and they seized upon the Queen and took her away.
And in the mêlée at that time Sir Gareth was slain unwittingly. And then
Sir Geharis was also slain whilst attempting to stay Sir Launcelot.”
[Sidenote: _Sir Gawaine grieveth._]
Then Sir Gawaine covered his head with his cloak, and he sat there for a
long time with his head covered. And ever he wept beneath the cloak, but
his face was hidden, and no one could behold his tears. And anon he said
in a muffled voice, “Five of them are gone! Five of them are gone!”
meaning by that that his two sons and his three brothers had already
died in that war. And after a little while he said, “There was comfort
for me in that those three of them who died aforetime were armed for
battle. For so I advised them that they should not enter this dispute;
and yet they did enter it, and lost their lives therein. But these
latter two were naked and unarmed, and of one of them Sir Launcelot was
godfather when he was knighted. And he loved Sir Launcelot more than he
loved his own blood and his own brethren. Ah, Gareth! Gareth! All things
could I forgive in Sir Launcelot saving only thy death. For I loved Sir
Launcelot above all others in the world, and to him could much be
forgiven; but this I can never forgive. For those two were his friends
and not his enemies, and they meant him good and not harm; yet he slew
them, all naked and unarmed as they were.”
[Sidenote: _Sir Gawaine cometh to the King._]
And Sir Gawaine said, “Where is the King?” They say, “The King is at
such and such a place.” So by and by Sir Gawaine arose and went to where
King Arthur was. And Sir Gawaine said to King Arthur, “Lord, what now
will you do?” King Arthur said, “I know not what I shall do.” Sir
Gawaine said, “Sir, know you that my two brothers are slain?” And King
Arthur bowed his head and said, “Yea, I know it.” Sir Gawaine said, “I
will tell you what you shall do. You shall wage war to the extremity of
life against this false and traitorous knight, Sir Launcelot of the
Lake. What? Hath he not taken your Queen from you and carried her away
to his own castle? Hath he not slain your blood and kindred? Hath he not
bathed his hands in the blood of your knights of the Round Table? Hath
he not slain Sir Kay, your foster brother, in this last assault? Hath he
not slain Sir Griflet and my kinsman Sir Aglaval and my two sons and my
two other brethren who were all unarmed and defenceless against his
attack? Sir, arouse yourself. Call for your kings and princes, your
earls and barons and knights, and let us set forth as an army and
utterly destroy this nest of traitors and murderers. I myself will call
my dependants around me and will accompany you to that war, for now it
shall either be Sir Launcelot’s life or my life. For never will I
forgive him so long as I have breath in my body.”
[Sidenote: _The King offers forgiveness._]
Quoth the King, “Nephew, if these knights will return the Queen to me,
then I will forgive them, and if I forgive them cannot you also forgive?
For these are Knights of the Round Table, and I must not destroy the
Round Table so utterly as you advise me to do.”
Sir Gawaine said, “I cannot forgive Sir Launcelot, nor shall I ever
forgive the deaths of my innocent brothers. For they were naked and
unarmed, and they loved Sir Launcelot, and yet Sir Launcelot slew them.
Naught can wipe this from my memory saving only the blood of him who
slew those two gentlemen. Wherefore, prepare for war and I will join
you.”
[Sidenote: _The King summoneth his vassals._]
So King Arthur armed himself and he summoned those knights and princes,
earls and barons who were dependent upon him to his assistance. And he
summoned all of those knights who were still allied to him. All this he
did, but he did it very reluctantly, for he wished not to wage war with
Sir Launcelot and his knights.
And news of this call to arms that King Arthur had made came to Sir
Launcelot, and he upon his part gave call to all of those lords and
knights who were allied to him to come to him and to aid him to defend
Joyous Gard. And they or many of them went to him as he bade them.
[Sidenote: _How the King cometh to Joyous Gard._]
Then King Arthur led his army to Joyous Gard and it was so vast and
multitudinous that it covered all the hills and valleys as it advanced.
And red clouds of dust hung over it as it passed forward so that the
bright and tranquil light of the sun was obscured by those clouds. And
great flocks of carrion crows accompanied the army, for they smelt the
blood of many carcasses as from afar, wherefore they flew accompanying
that army. So this army came and settled down and about Joyous Gard, and
it was like an army of locusts that had settled at that place.
And Sir Launcelot and his brother Sir Ector stood upon the parapet of
the castle of Joyous Gard, and they looked out upon the hills and upon
the multitude of the hosts that were there foregathered and that
encompassed them. And when Sir Ector beheld the vast and limitless
extent of that army, his heart failed within him and he said to Sir
Launcelot, “Behold, oh brother! the vast and limitless host that
surrounds us. However shall we withstand such a host as that? Would it
not be better to compromise with the King and to surrender the Queen to
him?” Quoth Sir Launcelot, “How talk you of compromise, Messire, and how
talk you of surrendering the Queen? Wit you that to surrender the Queen
at this time would be to dishonor ourselves in surrendering her to
dishonor? For unless we fight for her, what terms can we now make that
would insure her safety? No, brother, let us abide their coming, and
defend ourselves with all our mights.”
[Sidenote: _The Queen adviseth Sir Launcelot._]
That night the Queen also spoke to Sir Launcelot, and she said,
“Launcelot, why do you suffer for me? Surrender me unto King Arthur and
with that this war will cease. Else will there many worthy knights
perish in this war. For there are a great many knights here foregathered
of the Round Table, and there be many other famous and worthy knights
and nobles and kings here foregathered. Is my one life then worth more
than all their lives?”
Then Sir Launcelot groaned, but he said, “Lady, I will not surrender
you until I am sure that your safety is insured. Let first the King
assure your safety and then we shall consider whether or not you shall
return to him.”
Then the Queen burst out weeping and she cried out, “Oh, woe is me that
I should have brought so much trouble and sorrow upon this world!”
* * * * *
[Sidenote: _The King assaults Joyous Gard._]
Now the army of King Arthur made assault upon Joyous Gard and they made
assault upon assault. And somewhiles they made breaches in the walls;
but ever those breaches were rebuilded at night so that they could not
enter the castle. And the army of King Arthur lost many hundreds of men,
both of knights and yeomen; but the defence of the castle lost many
scores, and those scores were of greater loss to them than the hundreds
that King Arthur lost. For those hundreds could be replaced by other
hundreds, but the scores could not be replaced by other scores.
[Sidenote: _The friends of Sir Launcelot advise with him._]
So the knights who kept the castle held a council of defence, and there
were at that council Sir Bors and Sir Lionel and Sir Ector and Sir
Bleoberis and Sir Blamor de Ganis, and there were other knights and
worthies of the blood of Sir Launcelot. Sir Lionel said, “Why remain we
here within this castle? Ever we grow weaker and weaker, and by and by
our enemies will break within the castle and then we shall all be put to
the edge of the sword. Let us sally forth against those who thus
surround us, for so haply we may cut our way through them and thus
escape to the sea-shore and to France. There we shall be safe from those
who could work for us our undoing.” Sir Launcelot said, “Sir, even if we
could do this thing, what blood would be spilt in doing it, and what
friends would we slay in that attempt!” Quoth Sir Ector, “What matters
that? Are they not seeking our lives and our blood, and are we not
defending ourselves? These men are no longer our friends; they are our
enemies, and are seeking our lives. Let us then go forth and assail
them.” All this Queen Guinevere heard, and she wept many and very bitter
tears as she listened to that council. As for Sir Launcelot, he groaned
very deeply but anon he said, “Let it then be so as you say, only first
I must bespeak King Arthur.”
So that afternoon he appeared upon the battlements of the castle. And he
leaned out over the battlements and called out to those who were below,
saying to them, “Where is King Arthur? I would speak with him.”
Those who heard him ran to King Arthur, and they said to the King,
“Lord, Sir Launcelot asks to speak to thee. Haply he meaneth to
surrender to thee.”
[Sidenote: _The King speaketh to Sir Launcelot._]
So King Arthur hurried to that place where Sir Launcelot was: and Sir
Gawaine and the King of North Wales were with him. King Arthur said to
Sir Launcelot, “What wouldst thou have of me, Messires? Dost thou
surrender this castle?” “Not so,” quoth Sir Launcelot, “I do not
surrender it, but I would speak to you of other things.”
“Sir,” said King Arthur, “concerning what other things have you to speak
to me withal?”
“Lord,” said Sir Launcelot, “this is what I would say to you. What seek
you here in thus assaulting this castle? Here within are many lordly
knights and many knights of the Round Table who were a short time ago
your friends and dependants. Some of them you yourself made knights as
you made me a knight, and all of those would gladly surrender their
lives for your sake. What benefit or what honor can it then be to you to
slay them, who were your support and your defence, and who would be so
again if you would live in peace with them? Would it be to your honor
that you should slay these good, worthy honorable knights?”
“Sir,” said King Arthur, “you forget that you have seized upon my Queen
and that you hold her from me in this castle. First surrender to me my
Queen, and then I will consider all these things that you have to say
and will reply to them as I deem to be fitting.”
“Lord,” said Sir Launcelot, “thy Queen is held here in high and
honorable regard. With us she is safe from harm or injury of any sort.
Would she be thus free from danger of harm and dishonor if she were with
you? Pledge me first that you would do her no harm or injury, and then
it will beseem us as true and honorable knights to consider the
surrender of her to you.”
“Am I then,” said the King, “to make treaty with you for the return to
me of that wife with whom I have lived in amity for all these years?
Sir, you do not consider how unfit such a treaty would be upon my part.”
[Sidenote: _Sir Gawaine accuseth Sir Launcelot._]
Then up spake Sir Gawaine. “Also, Messire, you have forgot another
thing, and that is that you have slain my two young brothers who stood
before you defenceless and unarmed. I reckon naught of those whom you
slew, armed and in battle. For I loved you well and truly for many
years, and I advised them not to hazard battle with you; but they would
hazard battle and so they were slain by you. But of those two others,
they did not hazard battle; for they were unarmed and naked, and they
would have stood your friends; yet you slew them as though they had been
enemies. This I will never forgive you, but either you will answer for
it with your blood, or I will answer for it with mine.”
Then Sir Launcelot groaned, and he said, “God pity us all for our sins,
and God pity you, Sir Gawaine, for your unchristian hatred.” And with
that he turned away.
[Sidenote: _The defenders of the castle sally forth._]
So when the next day had come, they of the castle prepared themselves
for battle and for escape. They placed the Queen in their midst and they
surrounded her upon all sides. Then, of a sudden, all the gates upon one
side of the castle were flung wide open and they issued out in full
armor. And at that time the sun shone out very brightly, and it gleamed
and sparkled like flames of fire upon the brightly polished steel of
those knights. Then they, the defenders of the castle, shouted very
loud, and they charged against their enemies, bearing the Queen with
them in their midst.
And for awhile they carried all before them and no one could withstand
them; and so they might have escaped, had it not been that the Queen was
with them and retarded them in their charge and their advance. For, in a
little while, owing to that delay, those of King Arthur’s army armed
themselves, and in another little while the friends of Sir Launcelot
were almost entirely surrounded by that vast multitude.
Then Sir Launcelot beheld that in a short time they would be shut off
from return to the castle, but that as yet the way was still open to
them. Wherefore he lifted up his voice and shouted, “Retreat! Retreat!”
[Sidenote: _They of the castle retreat into it again._]
Then, through the roar and thunder of battle and of blows and of sword
blade upon steel armor, all those who were there heard these words,
“Retreat! Retreat!” And they beheld that that retreat was nearly cut
off, but not quite. So they turned their horses and made their way
slowly backward toward the castle again, with the Queen still in their
midst. Those before turned their horses toward the castle, and those
behind fought with their faces toward their foes. And many who assaulted
that band tried to come to the Queen, but none could do it because of
the close array of horsemen that surrounded her. Many lost their lives
in that attempt, for if they penetrated the first line of horsemen they
were slain by the second line of defence.
[Sidenote: _Sir Gawaine overthroweth Sir Lionel._]
In that mêlée Sir Gawaine sought ever to come at Sir Launcelot, but he
could not do so because that Sir Launcelot remained ever near to the
person of the Queen. But Sir Gawaine charged against Sir Bors and
pierced him with his lance through the shoulder; and then he charged
with great violence against Sir Lionel, and in that charge he pierced
through the body armor of Sir Lionel so that the point of the spear
stood a hand’s breadth out behind his back. Then Sir Lionel would have
fallen from his horse only that the press that surrounded him held him
up and kept him from falling. And with that blow against Sir Lionel, the
end of Sir Gawaine’s spear broke off, and it remained penetrated into
the body of Sir Lionel, a part of it showing in front and a part of it
showing behind.
Then Sir Lionel felt that he had received his death-wound, and he
groaned very dolorously. And Sir Gawaine heard him groan and perceived
how badly he was hurt. And he redoubled his attack, endeavoring to
obtain the body of Sir Lionel. But he could not obtain that body for it
was still held upright upon the horse, supported by several, and others
gathered about to defend it.
[Sidenote: _Sir Lionel dieth._]
Then Sir Gawaine was furious with rage and he fought as though he had
gone wode. For his sword flashed like flashes of lightning, and ever as
he struck he cried out in a loud and terrible voice, “That for Sir
Launcelot!” and “That for Sir Launcelot!” and ever again “That and that
for Sir Launcelot!” And so fierce and terrible were the blows that he
gave that many fell down before them and never moved again. But in spite
of his striving, they bore away Sir Lionel from his endeavor and so
brought him into the castle, where that night he died in a great agony
of thirst and of torment.
[Sidenote: _King Arthur is overthrown._]
In that battle, King Arthur and those who were with him made many
charges against the centre of Sir Launcelot’s array, and anon they had
come so close to where was the Queen that the King could almost have
touched her with his lance. So King Arthur came at last face to face
with Sir Launcelot, and Sir Ector was beside Sir Launcelot. And ever the
King strove to come at Sir Launcelot, but was unable to do so. For
somewhiles Sir Launcelot warded the blows from himself, and otherwhiles
those who were with him took those blows from him. Then Sir Ector
perceived how the King neglected his guard in assaulting Sir Launcelot,
and he arose in his stirrups and smote the King a terrible buffet upon
the helmet. At that blow the King’s brains swam, and he reeled and fell
off from his horse upon the earth. Then Sir Ector leaped from his horse
and he said, “Here will I put a stop to this war at its fountain-head.”
Whereupon he rushed off the King’s helmet and whirled his sword, and
prepared to smite the head off from the King.
[Sidenote: _They spare the King his life._]
But Queen Guinevere perceived the King’s danger and she shrieked out
very dolorously, “Spare the King his life, Sir Ector!” And Sir Launcelot
said to Sir Ector, “Sir, how is this? Would you slay your King? Remember
it was he who made you a knight and who made me a knight. Haply he may
forget that he made us knights, but let us not forget it.”
So with that Sir Ector put up his sword again, and he and Sir Launcelot
lifted the King and set him upon his horse once more. And the King wept
bitter tears to see how noble and knightly was Sir Launcelot, and he
said, “Ah, Launcelot, Launcelot, that this should be!”
So after that Sir Launcelot withdrew into the castle with the Queen and
the gates were closed behind him. But ever King Arthur sat still weeping
and saying, “Ah, Launcelot, Launcelot, that this should be!”
Then the friends of Sir Launcelot wist not what they should do in this
extremity, for there were they within the castle again, and could not
come out thence because of those who besieged them in that place. And
ever they were growing weaker with each assault, but the armies of King
Arthur were not growing weaker.
[Sidenote: _The Bishop of Rochester cometh to the King._]
At this extremity there came the Bishop of Rochester to the camp of King
Arthur, and the purpose of the Bishop was to make peace betwixt these
parties. So the Bishop came to where King Arthur was, and he found King
Arthur sunk in grief. For already three-and-twenty Knights of the Round
Table had lost their lives in these wars and contentions, and King
Arthur grieved for them very sorely. For there were no more knights like
those first knights foregathered about the Round Table, nor have there
ever been such knights as they were from that day to this.
Then the Bishop stood before the King, and the King looked at him
remotely as though he were a great distance away, for his eyes were
dimmed with weeping. And the Bishop said to the King, “Lord, let this
quarrel cease between you and Sir Launcelot, and let there be peace in
the land. For now is the entire land distracted with this quarrel. For
friend fighteth against friend, neighbor against neighbor;--yea, even
brother against brother. As for you, my lord, these knights are of your
Round Table and of your making; what pleasure or what honor then can it
be to you to destroy them?”
The King said to him, “Sir, this war was not of my forming or my
seeking, but of Sir Launcelot’s. For first Sir Launcelot resisted arrest
in a just cause, and then he resisted the arrest of the Queen. So he and
his fellows took the Queen away from me, and they have her in this
castle. Let them then deliver the Queen to me and there shall be peace
betwixt the friends of Sir Launcelot and my friends.”
[Sidenote: _The Bishop intercedes for the Queen._]
The Bishop said, “They will not deliver the Queen to thee, Lord,
excepting thou wilt declare upon thine honor that no harm shall befall
her. For it is said of all that the life of the Queen is in danger from
thee. Yet she is an honorable lady and as pure to thee as the day upon
which she came to thee. For she is free from sin or from guilt of any
sort. Wherefore, unless thou wilt declare that no harm shall befall the
life of the Queen and wilt declare that same in writing, she will not be
returned, but otherwise they will lay down their lives to guard her
safety.”
Then the King sat with his fist upon his forehead, and he considered for
a long time what the Bishop had said, and at last he said, as in a
smothered voice, “Well, then, let the Queen be delivered to me at
Camelot, and I upon my part shall promise that no harm shall be done to
her life, either to threaten it or to deprive her of it.” The Bishop
said, “Let me have that in writing.” And the King said, “I will do so.”
So the King called to him his scribe and he had him write those words;
to wit, that if the Queen would return to him, no harm should befall or
threaten her life in any way. And the King signed and sealed that
document and the Bishop took it with him and entered the Castle of
Joyous Gard.
[Sidenote: _The Bishop grieveth for the Queen._]
Thus the Bishop came before Sir Launcelot and his kindred, and Queen
Guinevere was with them at that time. And the Bishop looked at the face
of the Queen and he beheld that it was all white and wan with sorrow and
that her eyelids were red with continual weeping. And the Bishop was
very sorry for the Queen and for her sadness. So the Bishop came to her
and took her by the hand and he said to her, “Lady, stint thy sorrow,
for the time of sorrow is passed. For here am I with this document that
saith that no harm or injury of any kind shall be meditated against thy
life, but if thou wilt return to the King all shall be forgiven thee.
For wit you well that the King is determined that you shall return to
him, even if it cometh to the tearing down of this castle stone from
stone.”
Then the Queen took the document that the Bishop had and she read it
very carefully, and when she had ended she said, “Lord Bishop, how is
this? I see here that mine own safety is provided for, but that the
safety of no one else is mentioned. How of those good worthy knights and
gentlemen who have endangered their safety in my behalf; where is their
safety provided for in this parchment?”
Quoth the Bishop, “I will bespeak the King that point. Meantime, do you
remain here without endeavoring either to attack or to escape.”
She said, “I will remain here in peace until this time to-morrow.”
So the Bishop returned to the King and he brought that word to him;
that a pledge must also be given for the safety to the life of those
knights who thus guarded and sheltered the Queen. Then the King frowned,
and he said, “What other conditions will they impose upon me; why should
I give this pledge to those who have acted treasonably against me?”
[Sidenote: _The King promises to spare the knights of the castle._]
Then Sir Gawaine plucked the King by the sleeve and the King turned
aside with him. And Sir Gawaine whispered for awhile with the King and
by and by the King turned again to the Bishop and he said to the Bishop,
“Very well, then; take thou this my word to those knights that I will in
no wise do harm to them whilst they are within this Kingdom of Britain.
Take thou that word unto them.”
So the Bishop took that word to them within the castle and they were
very glad of it. And Sir Launcelot said to the Bishop, “Let the King
return to Camelot, and I will bring the Queen to him in three days’ time
surrounded by all the pomp and circumstance that appertain to her lordly
grace.”
So the King withdrew his army from that place and he returned to
Camelot. And Sir Launcelot made ready to bring the Queen to him at
Camelot.
* * * * *
Thus came to an ending that sad and cruel war in the which many good
knights and warriors lost their lives and in which fourteen worthy
knights of the Round Table lost their lives.
For though all those knights were commanders of armies and of
battalions, yet death came to them as to other men of lesser note, so
that many of them, even to the highest, laid down their lives in this
dolorous war.
For so the hand of Fate lay heavy on that great and glorious company,
for though all grieved and made great sorrow over the war, and over
those who had died therein, and though comrade grieved over comrade who
died therein--even over those who were upon the other side and who were
enemies--yet the hand of Fate thrust them forward to do what they were
compelled to do, and to slay and to be slain in that sorrowful battle.
And so it was to the end, for ere that end was reached others who were
the foremost and the greatest of them all laid their bodies down to an
eternal sleep upon the bosom of that earth that gave them shape and
foothold. For yet were there other wars to come until all but a very
few of those who were left had given all that they had of the earth to
give in those wars.
But of this anon, for that which followeth has to treat of those things.
* * * * *
So now followeth the history of those things that remain to be
hereinafter related in that which followeth, as shall now appear.
[Illustration]
[Illustration: Sir Gawaine challenges Sir Launcelot]
[Illustration] Chapter Sixth
_Sir Launcelot brings the Queen to King Arthur at Camelot. He quitteth
England, and King Arthur and Sir Gawaine pursue him._
So the King went to Camelot, and upon the third day the Queen was
brought to him at that place.
Thus saith the history of these things when the Queen was brought to the
Court of the King, to wit:
[Sidenote: _How Sir Launcelot brings the Queen to Camelot._]
First there came an hundred knights clad cap-a-pie all in armor and with
fittings and trimmings of green velvet. And these knights wore olive
wreaths upon their heads, indicative of peace. Followed these, four and
twenty esquires clad all in green velvet, and these were also crowned
with olive wreaths. After these came four and twenty ladies in waiting
upon the Queen, and these, like all the others, were clad in green
velvet and were embroidered with pearls and precious stones even to the
heels of their horses, and the bridles of their horses were bound with
wreaths of olive. Then came the Queen and Sir Launcelot clad all in
white samite, and the Queen carried an olive branch in her hand and Sir
Launcelot was crowned with an olive wreath. And the raiment of these two
was all aglitter with the jewels and pearls with which their clothes
were embroidered until they were stiff with that embroidery.
[Sidenote: _How the King sat at Camelot._]
At that time King Arthur received them seated upon his throne with great
dignity in the hall of the Castle at Camelot. And the throne upon which
he sat was of wrought gold and was cushioned and trimmed with crimson
velvet, embroidered in gold with the figures of leopards. And over above
the throne was a great canopy of crimson velvet ornamented with the
figures of leopards, embroidered with threads of gold. The King was
clothed all in white, and he wore a gold chain studded with jewels about
his neck and he wore his royal crown upon his head. Upon the left hand
of the King stood seven bishops in full canonical robes, and upon his
right hand was a throne like to his, and on that throne the Queen
should have been seated. But she was not seated there, for otherwise it
was empty.
Upon the left hand of the King, but upon the second step below the
throne, sat Sir Gawaine, the beloved nephew of the King. And all about
the hall were several hundred knights in full armor and armed cap-a-pie
with sword and lance, so that that hall glittered and gleamed with the
shine of that armor.
So King Arthur sat in state to receive the return of the Queen, and anon
she came to that place where the King awaited her. First came the
knights and esquires of Sir Launcelot, and these drew up in two parties
extending the length of the hall, leaving a line between them. Then came
Sir Launcelot and the Queen walking hand in hand up the length of that
lane, and the faces of Sir Launcelot and of that lady were both of them
exceedingly pale--hers with fear and his with fear for her. Behind these
two came the four and twenty ladies in waiting upon the Queen, and these
stopped in the midst of that lane and waited, whilst she and Sir
Launcelot approached King Arthur.
So Sir Launcelot and the Queen came to the foot of the throne where sat
the King, and when they had come to that spot Sir Launcelot kneeled and
the Queen stood before King Arthur.
[Sidenote: _Sir Launcelot speaketh._]
Quoth Sir Launcelot, “Dread Lord and King, here I bring to you your
Queen as I have promised to do, and if I took her away in sorrow and in
haste, then do I return her to you with ten thousand times the joy as
compared to what was that sorrow, and in ten thousand times the peace
and amity to what was that haste. Lord, for thirteen weeks has she dwelt
at Joyous Gard with all the state and circumstance due to her royalty,
and she cometh to you now as pure and as virginal as she came to you at
Camilard when first you loved her at that place and she loved you. Lord,
I pray you that you will take the Queen to your heart, and will cherish
her there as you one time cherished her, for, excepting that you pledged
me your word that no harm should befall her, she otherwise would not
have been thus brought to you as she is brought to-day.”
[Sidenote: _The King rebukes Sir Launcelot._]
Then King Arthur frowned until his eyes disappeared beneath his
eyebrows. For a little he answered nothing, then in a little he said,
“Messire, one time you were my friend and the best-beloved of all my
knights, but that time is past and gone, never to return again, for now
it is altogether otherwise with me and with you. Messire, I admire at
your coolness and phlegm. For you took my Queen away from me by force
and by force have you held her for all these several months. Many
knights have died by your hand and through your instrumentality, and
several of those knights were knights of my Round Table that one time
held you to it in bonds of love and amity. Yet now you stand before me
and recommend to me that I shall take back my Queen into my heart again.
Messire, wit you not that that which hath been done can never be undone,
but is and must remain altogether finished and completed? So it is with
this thing that you have done; for it also is and must remain altogether
finished and completed. Look you, Messire, here beside me is this
throne, which is empty. So it shall remain forever empty for me, for
never again shall Queen Guinevere or any other queen occupy it, for I
hereby and herewith renounce her utterly and entirely. She hath
withdrawn herself from my court and my bed and so she shall forever
remain withdrawn from them, for never again will I take her to my heart,
or place her in that estate which she once occupied.
[Sidenote: _The King sendeth the Queen to a convent._]
“I have pledged myself that no harm shall come to her through me; but
herewith I give her over to the Church. There she shall remain a recluse
until the day of her death.”
So said King Arthur, and at a motion of his hand the Lord Bishop of
Rochester came forth and took the Lady by the hand and led her away; and
as he led her away, she was weeping very bitterly.
So the Bishop of Rochester took the Queen to the Convent of Saint
Bridget at Rochester, and there she remained the lady abbess of that
convent even to the day of her death, as shall hereinafter be related.
Now all this while Sir Launcelot still kneeled before King Arthur, and
anon the King said to him again, “Messire, your own doom I will not
announce to you; but I will relegate the annunciation of that doom to
this lord, my well-beloved nephew, Sir Gawaine. For the injury which you
did to him is a thousand times greater than the injury which you did to
me. For though you took my Queen away from me, yet you did her no harm.
But with him, you slew five of his blood; to wit, three of his brethren
and two of his sons. And whilst three of them were in arms against you
so that you slew them wittingly and in self-defence, yet two of those
stood unarmed and naked before you, and those two loved you better than
anyone in all the world. One of those two your own hand made a knight
and the other was knit to you with many acts and deeds of friendship and
of love. Accordingly, I commit your doom to Sir Gawaine to announce to
you.”
[Sidenote: _Sir Gawaine pronounces the doom of banishment against Sir
Launcelot._]
Then Sir Gawaine smiled very bitterly upon Sir Launcelot, and he said,
“Messire, this is the doom that I pronounce. The King hath, in his great
clemency, promised you that no harm shall befall you in life or in limb.
So no harm shall come to you in that way if you are reasonable and obey
the commands of the King. This is his command--that in fifteen days from
this you must quit this kingdom, and that you shall never again return
to it whilst I live or while the King liveth.
[Sidenote: _And against his knights._]
“Also I pronounce the doom of banishment against those who have been
associated with you in these late affairs, to wit, against Sir Ector de
Maris, Sir Bors de Ganis and Sir Ure, and Sir Blamor and Sir Bleoberis
de Ganis, against Sir Galahautin, and Sir Galahud, and Sir Menaduke, and
Sir Galahadin, and Sir Hebes, and Sir Lavaine, and Sir Melias de Lisle,
and Sir Palamydes, and Sir Safyr, and Sir Clegis. Upon all of these I
pronounce the doom of banishment upon behalf of this King, and if any of
you be found within this isle of Britain fifteen days from now, you will
be arrested and hanged as traitors. Meantime all your castles, earldoms,
and baronies shall be forfeited to the King.”
Said Sir Launcelot, “Sir, that is a bitter sentence; for here in this
island have I lived all my life, and of it I love every stock and stone
that mine eyes behold. But if I be outlawed and cast forth from this
kingdom, then will I go to my Castle of Chillion in the land of France,
and there I believe I shall be right well welcome and protected. So
come, my lords, and let us be gone to that country whiles there yet
remains time for us to depart.”
[Sidenote: _Sir Launcelot and his knights withdraw._]
So Sir Launcelot and all those lords who were condemned with him
departed from the coast of England and entered into France, where they
took up their lodging with much sorrow and repining.
And King Arthur seized upon all their earldoms, baronies, and estates,
and some of these he bestowed elsewhere and some of them he held for the
crown.
* * * * *
Now after those knights had departed for France, Sir Gawaine urged upon
King Arthur that he should follow them to that kingdom and attack them
there at the Castle of Chillion. King Arthur said, “Sir, why should I do
this thing? Did not Sir Launcelot bring back my Queen to me and did I
not forgive him for what he had done? Is he not now banished from the
land, and is he not then punished for all those things that he has done?
Let him now live and die in peace.”
But to this Sir Gawaine ever answered, “Sir, I cannot reconcile it to
myself thus to surrender my rights in this case. For Sir Launcelot slew
my brothers and my sons, and never will I forgive him for that offence.
Either his blood or my blood shall answer for this; wherefore, if thou
wilt not follow him to France, then I myself will go thither and will
seek him out and punish him. As for thee, thou mayst forgive him as a
man, but yet thou mayst not forgive him as a king. For as a king thou
art the head of the law, wherefore thou mayst not forgive one who hath
broken the law. So with Sir Launcelot of the Lake, for he broke the laws
and he brought these Knights of the Round Table against thee and to
follow him; wherefore it is thy duty under the law to assail him and to
punish him for his treason, and also to punish those who follow him
likewise for their treason.”
[Sidenote: _The King moveth against Sir Launcelot._]
Now by this time King Arthur was growing toward being an old man, and he
was much broken by sorrow and by cares, wherefore these words of Sir
Gawaine so moved him that at last he agreed to sail with an army into
France and to attack Sir Launcelot and his friends at Chillion. So King
Arthur entrusted the government of Britain to his nephew, Sir Mordred
(who was brother to Sir Gawaine), and he and Sir Gawaine departed with a
great army for France.
So this army appeared before the Castle of Chillion, and they shut Sir
Launcelot and his friends up within the castle and besieged them at that
place.
Then said Sir Launcelot, “How is this; hath not King Arthur any mercy
upon us, or doth he seek our lives and our blood? Well, if he seeks
those lives and that blood, then will there be many cruel and bitter
battles betwixt us, and many knights shall fall, and so will come the
entire end of the Round Table. Ah, well, if God willeth that it be so,
so it must be.”
[Sidenote: _Of the battles about Chillion._]
So there were many battles around about Chillion and many lost their
lives. And though the knights of King Arthur lost more lives than did
the knights of Sir Launcelot, yet they could better afford to lose those
lives because new knights were constantly coming from Britain to
replenish the army of King Arthur, but no new knights were coming to the
army of Sir Launcelot, wherefore his losses were not replenished to him.
* * * * *