Now at that time there was a very wise and learned physician in the camp

of King Arthur, and one day Sir Gawaine sent for this learned man to

come to him. When that wise man stood before Sir Gawaine, Sir Gawaine

said to him this, “Sir, can you not produce for me a lotion that shall

render me free from all wounds of any sort?”

[Sidenote: _The wise man provides medicine for Sir Gawaine._]

Quoth the wise man, “Sir, this is impossible. But I can give to you a

medicine of this sort, that if you take it, you will, from the ninth

hour of morning until the prime of noon, have the strength in your limbs

and in your arms as of ten men.” Sir Gawaine laughed, and said, “Provide

me then with that medicine.”

So the wise man prepared that medicine and gave it to Sir Gawaine, and

so it was for him as that physician had promised. For from the ninth

hour of the morning until the prime of noon, Sir Gawaine was uplifted in

arm and body to the strength of ten men.

[Sidenote: _Sir Gawaine giveth challenge against Sir Launcelot._]

So the next day after this medicine had been delivered to him, Sir

Gawaine went to the walls of the castle and he paraded under the walls

of the castle, and he called out, “Sir Launcelot, come forth and do me

battle. For this satisfaction thou owest to me for slaying my kindred.”

But Sir Launcelot would not come forth to do him battle. For Sir

Launcelot still loved Sir Gawaine and he loved King Arthur; both for the

sake of those times that were past and gone, when they had joy and

pleasure together. So because that the one was Sir Gawaine and the other

was King Arthur, he would not come forth to do battle. Nay, because of

his love for those two, Sir Launcelot would not fight in that part of

the battle where Sir Gawaine or King Arthur was, but would do battle at

other parts.

But when the next day had come, Sir Gawaine came again and the strength

of ten men was in his arms and his body. And he paraded back and forth

under the walls of the castle, and ever as he paraded he cried out

aloud, “Sir Launcelot, thou caitiff knight! Come forth and do me battle!

For thy doom is upon thee, and thou shalt die in this war; wherefore,

come and do me battle, or else announce that thou art afraid of me.”

But still Sir Launcelot would not go forth against him, but he sat in

the castle and groaned for sorrow and bitterness of spirit. Then Sir

Ector came to Sir Launcelot, and he said, “Kinsman, suffer me that I go

forth and do battle in thy behalf; for this man sharneth us by this

challenge.”

Then Sir Launcelot wept, and he said, “Thou shalt not go, for wit you

that I loved this man better than mine own blood. And if he should be

slain, then will my heart be filled with grief such as can never vacate

it again. And if thou art killed, then will I be without my brother, and

must take it upon me to fight Sir Gawaine upon the behalf of thy death.

Wherefore, I pray thee go not forth to meet him.”

But ever Sir Ector besought Sir Launcelot saying, “Brother, suffer me to

go!” And at last Sir Launcelot said, “Well go, and may God be with

thee!”

So Sir Ector armed himself and departed out of the castle to meet Sir

Gawaine.

Then Sir Gawaine rode up to Sir Ector and he said to him, “Sir, what

knight are you?” Quoth Sir Ector, “I am Sir Ector de Maris, the brother

of Sir Launcelot of the Lake.” Said Sir Gawaine, “Why come you here?”

And Sir Ector replied, “I come to do battle with you upon my brother’s

behalf.” Then Sir Gawaine laughed and he said, “Sir, you are welcome.

Rather would I have it that you were Sir Launcelot, but failing him I

will accept you as his proxy. So make yourself ready to encounter me.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Gawaine overthroweth Sir Ector._]

So each of those two knights rode to a certain distance and prepared

himself for that encounter. And when they were in all ways prepared they

charged very furiously against one another. In that meeting the spear of

Sir Ector broke into many pieces, but the spear of Sir Gawaine held. And

because he had the strength of ten men behind his spear, it penetrated

the shield of Sir Ector and it penetrated his body, so that it stood a

haeadth out behind his back.

Then Sir Ector fell from his horse and, in passing, the spear of Sir

Gawaine was broken so that the baton of the spear of Sir Gawaine

remained sticking in the body of Sir Ector; a part of it sticking out

before, and a part of it sticking out behind.

Then Sir Gawaine rode back to where Sir Ector lay, and he said to him,

“Sir, how fares it with you?” Quoth Sir Ector, “Alas, Messire! I have

received my death-wound.” Then Sir Gawaine laughed very bitterly, and he

said, “So shall it always be with traitors, such as thou.”

Then with that Sir Gawaine turned his horse and rode away from that

place, leaving Sir Ector lying where he was.

Anon there came forth those from within the castle and they lifted up

Sir Ector where he lay. And they laid him in the hollow of the shield

and bare him into the castle. And all who saw Sir Ector in that

condition wept to behold him so.

So they bore him to a chamber and laid him upon a soft couch and Sir

Ector groaned very dolorously with the agony of his wound, and Sir

Launcelot and several others stood before him, and ever as Sir Launcelot

considered him, the tears welled out of his eyes and rolled like shining

jewels down his cheeks.

So about the eleventh hour of the night Sir Ector said to Sir Launcelot,

“Sir, this wound is my death-wound. I pray you to draw out the baton of

that spear and let me pass.” Sir Launcelot said, “I cannot draw it

forth.” Sir Ector said, “Is there no friend here who will draw forth

this baton, and suffer me to die?”

Then said Sir Bors, “I will draw it forth,” and with that he came to the

bedside of Sir Ector and he laid hold of the baton of the spear. And he

drew very strongly upon that baton and it came forth out of that wound

and with it came a great effusion of blood.

[Sidenote: _Sir Ector dieth._]

Then Sir Ector groaned very deeply and he said, “I pass,” and with that

he closed his eyes and in a little while he was dead. Then they who were

there wept a great passion of tears, for Sir Ector was well-beloved of

all of them.

Now when the next morning was come, Sir Gawaine came again before the

castle and rode there as aforetime. And ever as he rode he cried out,

“Sir Launcelot, thou craven knight, come forth and do me battle.” But

still Sir Launcelot would not come forth against him. Then Sir Bors de

Ganis came to Sir Launcelot and he said to him, “Sir, suffer me to go

forth against this knight, for he bringeth shame upon us all.”

Quoth Sir Launcelot, “I crave you not to go, Sir; for this knight, Sir

Gawaine, is a very strong and powerful knight. Already hath he slain Sir

Ector, and should you also lose your life, what great loss that would be

to us all.” “Nevertheless,” said Sir Bors, “I would fain go forth

against him. For God may give me the victory, in which it will be a

great benefit to us all in that he will no more come to trouble us.”

Then Sir Launcelot turned away his head, and anon he said, “Go, in God’s

name, and may good fortune attend you. As for me, I cannot go against

Sir Gawaine because of the love I held for him. For should he slay me,

that would be a great misfortune for us all, but should I slay him,

never would I cease to sorrow and to repine for his death. Wherefore, I

cannot now go against him, but you may go against him.”

So Sir Bors armed himself and went forth out of the castle, and when Sir

Gawaine beheld him coming he was rejoiced, for he thought that this was

Sir Launcelot.

So Sir Gawaine rode up to him as he approached, and he said to him,

“Messire, what knight are you?” Him Sir Bors made answer, “Sir I am Sir

Bors de Ganis, and I have come forth here against you upon behalf of Sir

Launcelot of the Lake.”

“Sir,” said Sir Gawaine, “you are very welcome; though rather would I

have to do with Sir Launcelot of the Lake than with any other man in

all of the world. For I have no quarrel against you, but against him I

have a quarrel.”

“Nevertheless,” said Sir Bors, “I stand here now upon his behalf to do

battle for him.”

Quoth Sir Gawaine, “Prepare yourself then for battle!” So Sir Bors took

his assigned place and when they were in all wise prepared they rushed

together with great violence and fury.

In that encounter the spear of each knight was broken into many pieces,

even to the very fist that held the spear, and the horse of each

recoiled so that it sunk back upon its haunches and would, perhaps, have

fallen, had not the address of the knight rider recovered it. Then each

knight cast aside the truncheon of his spear and voided his horse, and

each drew his sword with great readiness and rushed to the battle very

furiously, violently and impetuously. Each smote the other many sore

buffets and strokes so that each knight was wounded in several places.

But Sir Gawaine was possessed of the strength of ten, and Sir Bors was

possessed but of the strength of one, so that by and by Sir Bors was

obliged to hold his shield low because of weariness from the redoubled

fury of Sir Gawaine’s attack.

[Sidenote: _Sir Gawaine woundeth Sir Bors._]

So Sir Gawaine perceived that opening which he made in his defence, and,

grinding his teeth together, he whirled up his sword and smote Sir Bors

upon the shoulder of that arm that held his sword. So violent and savage

was the blow that it sheared through the iron of the epulier and it

sheared through the flesh and bone of the shoulder so that the arm of

Sir Bors fell and hung down from the shoulder and his hand dropped the

sword that he held.

[Sidenote: _Sir Bors asks his life._]

Then Sir Gawaine laughed and ran forward and he set his foot upon the

sword of Sir Bors. And Sir Bors sank down upon his knees and he said in

a weak and faltering voice, “Sir Gawaine, I am sorely wounded. If it

please thee to do so, I pray thee to spare my life.”

Quoth Sir Gawaine, “Why should I spare thee thy life? Thou art a traitor

knave, and it is not fit that I should spare thee, but rather I should

slay thee as thou kneelest before me. But I cannot forget our long and

many associations; and I cannot forget that thou wert one of those three

knights who achieved the Grail, and brought the Grail back again to

Sarras. So I will forgive thee, and will spare thee thy life, if so be

that God will also spare it.”

Then Sir Gawaine turned and sheathed his sword, and he mounted his horse

and rode away. And anon there came the friends of Sir Bors from the

Castle of Chillion, and they lifted him up and laid him upon a litter,

and so they bore him away into the castle.

And they took Sir Bors to a room of the castle and stripped off his

armor and beheld the wound that it was very ghastly and dismal. And so

much blood was emitted from that wound that Sir Bors fainted and for

awhile he hung hovering upon the edge of death.

[Sidenote: _Sir Bors doth not die._]

But he did not die then or afterward, but he revived and his wound was

healed so that he, by and by, became well and strong again.

Then Sir Launcelot came to where Sir Bors was, and he said to him, “Sir

Bors, how fared it with thee?” And Sir Bors said in a fainting voice,

“Sir, I know not how it was with Sir Gawaine. For I found him to be so

passing strong that never have I found a stronger. For he smote down my

defences and he smote me this blow that I have received, and from which

I shall maybe die. For mine arm is nearly severed from its shoulder, and

I wit not whether I shall ever be strong and hale again.”

Then Sir Launcelot wept and he said, “Alas, that this is so! For now I

cannot forego this battle with Sir Gawaine any longer. For yesterday he

slew my brother, Sir Ector, and to-day he hath nearly slain thee. So

to-morrow I shall have to have ado with him, or else, by and by, all

shall perish at this place.”

Then Sir Bors said, “Sir, beware of him, for he hath strength more than

human, wherefore I fear that he may prove to thee thy undoing.”

To that Sir Launcelot answereth, “I should be sorry to find it so. But

whether it is thus or not, still must I have ado with him upon the

chance that I may thus save the lives of others within this place.”

So it came that Sir Launcelot was prepared to do battle with Sir

Gawaine.

* * * * *

Now if you would hear more of this famous fight betwixt Sir Launcelot

and Sir Gawaine, I pray you to read that which followeth. For there it

shall be fully and distinctly set forth as it hath been told of in

several ancient histories dealing with these things.

[Illustration: The Passing of Sir Gawaine:]

[Illustration] Chapter Seventh

_Of the battle betwixt Sir Launcelot and Sir Gawaine. Also how King

Arthur returned to Little Britain._

So came the next day and Sir Gawaine had his esquires to enclose his

body in full armor of proof, and he mounted his horse and took a good

stout lance of ashwood in his hand, and he set forth once more to seek

Sir Launcelot as aforetime he had done. So Sir Gawaine came beneath the

wall of the castle, and he paraded before the wall, and ever as he thus

paraded he cried aloud and on high, “Come forth, Sir Launcelot of the

Lake! Come forth, thou caitiff knight, and do me battle!”

Then Sir Launcelot wist that now the time was come for him to do that

battle.

[Sidenote: _Sir Launcelot goeth against Sir Gawaine._]

So Sir Launcelot mounted upon his horse and took into his hand a good

stout lance of ashwood for his defence, and thus armed he gave orders

and the portcullis of the castle was raised and the drawbridge was let

fall and Sir Launcelot rode forth all clad in that armor of proof to

meet Sir Gawaine.

Then Sir Gawaine rode up to Sir Launcelot and gave him greeting and he

said to Sir Launcelot of the Lake, “Sir, I pray you tell me, are you Sir

Launcelot of the Lake, or are you another knight than he? For by your

figure and by your conduct and by that device which is upon your shield,

I wit you to be Sir Launcelot, and yet I know not whether you are he or

not he. For this is the third time I have challenged, and heretofore he

would not come out against me.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Launcelot bespeaks Sir Gawaine._]

Quoth Sir Launcelot of the Lake, “Sir, I am Sir Launcelot indeed, and

wit you, Sir Gawaine, I have well tried to avoid this battle, for I fear

me in this battle or in some other battle of its kind, either you or I

shall be slain. And I would not slay you for the love that was of old

betwixt us; for still I remember me of that love, and I hold it very

dear to my heart. Wherefore I would not do battle with you if that

battle could be avoided.”

Quoth Sir Gawaine, “What prate you of love, Sir? This battle cannot be

avoided, for wit you that even if ever I loved you, yet all that love is

now passed away, or rather it is transformed into hate. For you have

wounded me so deeply in my heart that no man can wound me so deeply and

yet live while I live also upon the earth. Wherefore either you or I

shall die by the hand of the other, if not at this time, then at some

other time.”

Quoth Sir Launcelot, “How have I wounded thee, Gawaine, or in what way

have I done thee such hurt as this? Tell me that I may make that wrong

right again.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Gawaine accuses Sir Launcelot._]

Said Sir Gawaine, “Wit you not that I have often told you how that first

you slew two of my sons, and my brother, and how that afterward you slew

two more of my brothers? Is not that injury enough for any man to bear

within his heart and yet to live under that injury?”

Then Sir Launcelot sighed and he said, “Sir, wit you that those two sons

and that brother I slew in battle and they were armed, and assaulting

me, and I knew them not. As for those two of your brothers whom I

afterward slew, them I slew in the press and fury of fighting. For I saw

not their faces in that fury and knew them not. For if I had known them,

wit you that I would have held my hand and spared them? Sir, for that I

am grieved to the heart, for I loved them both very well; more

especially Sir Gareth whom I made a knight in the field.”

Then Sir Gawaine laughed very bitterly, and he said, “Sir, you make a

very good excuse, still you did that which you did, and having done it

you must pay for it. For so every man must pay for that which he hath

done; let it be good or let it be ill. Come, Sir, prepare yourself for

battle, for I am hungry to have battle with you.”

Then again Sir Launcelot sighed, this time so deeply that his heart had

been lifted from its strings within his bosom by that sigh. And with

that sigh he closed his helmet, and reined in his horse and withdrew to

that part of the field which was to be his assigned place of battle.

[Sidenote: _Many view the battle._]

Then many of the defenders of the castle came down to the walls of the

castle and stood there, and looked down from those walls upon the two

who stood so in array of battle. And King Arthur and many others came

from the camp of the besiegers, and also stood them afar off to behold

the battle, so that with those and with these who were there it was as

good an assembly as any knights could have chosen in which to do battle.

And the sun shone very clear and strong--yet not too strong. And the

breeze blew very freely so that all the poplar trees around about the

castle were turned white with its blowing, and the river that ran down

past the castle was dusked and rippled by that wind, and all the reeds

of the river bowed and dipped into the water thereof.

So those two knights prepared themselves for the assault, making their

armor in all ways tight and secure. Then when they were in all ways

ready, they shouted to their horses and so sprang to the charge,

galloping against one another with a noise like to the noise of thunder.

So they met in the midst of the course and smote one another, in the

centre of the other’s shield. And before that shock the spear of each

was split into a great many very small pieces, even to the hand that

held it. And each horse sank quivering back upon its haunches at the

recoil of that blow, and would have fallen, were it not that the

extraordinary address of the knight rider recovered his horse with spur

and rein and voice. Then each knight cast aside the truncheon of his

spear and drew his sword, and each rushed at the other very furiously

and valiantly. Then each smote the other with great power and strength.

[Sidenote: _Sir Launcelot faileth._]

But though Sir Launcelot smote with all of his strength, yet Sir Gawaine

smote with the strength of ten. So that Sir Launcelot was driven

backward, and around and around in small circles, and in that assault he

was altogether astonished at the fury and the strength of Sir Gawaine.

For he wist not that Sir Gawaine had that strength of ten men, and he

knew not that Sir Gawaine had taken that medicine to lend him that

strength.

And Sir Launcelot had much ado to defend himself so that he made no

attack, but only a defence with sword and shield against the attack of

Sir Gawaine. And Sir Launcelot thought that never in all of his life had

he fought with so strong and so powerful a knight as Sir Gawaine--nay,

not even when he fought with Sir Turquine that day at the ford before

the castle of Sir Turquine. For anon the blood began to flow forth from

him in spite of all his defence, so that in a little while the ground on

which he fought was all sprinkled red with that blood, and his armor was

all ensanguined with the crimson streams that bathed it. And in all that

while Sir Gawaine had hardly any wounds at all, but he fought with all

his strength and might, and with the purpose to beat down his assailant.

But though Sir Gawaine fought in that wise, yet, by and by, it reached

the prime of noon, and still he had not struck down Sir Launcelot. Then

that strength of ten that he had with the medicine that he had taken

began to fade and wane away as the flame of a candle flickers and wanes

away when the wax is consumed. So anon Sir Launcelot felt that the

attack of Sir Gawaine was no longer so furious and so violent as it had

been, but that it was weaker. Therewith he redoubled his own battle with

tenfold violence. And now he no longer made defence, but instead of

defence he made attack. And he drave Sir Gawaine backward before him,

for Sir Gawaine could not stand before the fierceness of that attack now

that his strength was waning.

[Sidenote: _Sir Gawaine faileth and is overthrown._]

So Sir Gawaine bore back from before those blows, and by and by he began

to hold his shield full low for weariness. Then Sir Launcelot perceived

his opening, so he rushed the attack with double fury, and anon he swung

his sword and smote Sir Gawaine with it full upon the head. And so

violent was that blow that it clave asunder the helmet and the coif, and

it wounded the head beneath the coif.

Then Sir Gawaine sank down upon his knees, his hand relaxed and the

sword that was in his hand fell out from it upon the ground. Then Sir

Launcelot ran to Sir Gawaine and he set his foot upon the sword and he

rushed off the helmet of Sir Gawaine and he cried out very fiercely,

“Sir, yield yourself to me or I will slay you!” But Sir Gawaine said, “I

will not yield me to thee, so thou mayst slay me at thy pleasure!” Then

Sir Launcelot gazed at Sir Gawaine, and as he gazed at him the fury of

battle passed away from his soul like a mist from before the face of the

sun; and Sir Launcelot felt such great love for Sir Gawaine and such

great pity for him that his eyes ran all with tears.

[Sidenote: _Sir Launcelot spareth him his life._]

Then Sir Launcelot said, “Sir Gawaine, even if you do not ask me for

your life, yet will I grant it to you. Arise and depart!” To this Sir

Gawaine said, “Messire, in this you are foolish. For if you do not slay

me now, then when I am well and healed again, I will come back against

you, and will assail you again as I have assailed you to-day. For wit

you that in this quarrel either you shall die or I shall die.”

Sir Launcelot said, “Sir, this matters not to me! I cannot slay you now

and I will not slay you.”

So Sir Launcelot turned away from that place. And he mounted his horse

and departed thence. And as he rode back to the castle Sir Launcelot

wept so that hardly could he see the way before him because of the tears

that rained down from his eyes.

Then came those from King Arthur’s side who had looked upon the battle,

and they raised Sir Gawaine up and led him away to his tent. And when he

had come to his couch they unarmed Sir Gawaine and searched his wounds

and found that they were very deep and sore. So they dressed the wounds

of Sir Gawaine and put salves and unguents upon them, and so he was made

in all ways as comfortable as could be.

And Sir Gawaine sent for that cunning and learned physician who had

given him the medicine of strength, and he said to him, “Cannot you give

me a stronger medicine than that, and one that will make in me the

strength of twenty?” The physician said, “Sir, I cannot do that, for I

have no such power.” Sir Gawaine said, “Then can you not give me a

medicine that will make me stronger for a longer time than till the

prime of noon?” But the physician said, “Sir, I cannot do that either.”

Then Sir Gawaine sighed and he said, “Woe is me! I fear me I shall never

be able to overcome Sir Launcelot.”

Meanwhile the wounds of Sir Launcelot were being searched at the castle

and also were found to be very sore and very deep. So it was several

weeks before Sir Gawaine or Sir Launcelot recovered from those wounds.

But after those several weeks were over, then each knight was as strong

and as hale as he had ever been.

[Sidenote: _Sir Gawaine is healed. He challengeth Sir Launcelot._]

So, after Sir Gawaine was in all ways healed again, he clad himself in

armor and took in his hand a very strong and powerful lance and mounted

upon his horse once more. And Sir Gawaine rode out to the castle and he

rode up and down before the walls of the castle, and ever as he rode he

called out on high, “Sir Launcelot, come forth, thou caitiff knight, and

do me battle!”

Then they who heard those words went to Sir Launcelot, and they said to

him, “Sir, here Sir Gawaine is riding beneath the walls of the castle,

and he uttereth his challenge against you.” Sir Launcelot sighed and

anon he said, “Send mine armor here to me”; and he said, “Send Galliard

hither” (Galliard being the name of the esquire of Sir Launcelot).

So the esquire came and he aided Sir Launcelot to put his armor upon his

body and his limbs, and so Sir Launcelot was in all wise armed cap-a-pie

in that armor. Then Sir Launcelot took a good stout strong spear in his

hand, and he mounted his horse. And the gates of the castle were opened

to him as they had been aforetime; and Sir Launcelot rode forth into the

sunlight to meet Sir Gawaine as he had aforetime done.

So Sir Launcelot rode up to where Sir Gawaine was and he said to Sir

Gawaine, “Sir, I am here to meet thee.” Sir Gawaine said, “I see that

thou art, and I give thee welcome.” Sir Launcelot said, “Sir, it is with

greater grief than ever that I come forth to meet you to-day. For this

is the fourth challenge that you have given to me, and I cannot receive

any more challenges from you. So it is this day either you or I shall

have to die. For I cannot suffer it that you shall come to me for day

after day as you do, to utter your challenge against me.” Said Sir

Gawaine, “Messire, it is to my mind also that either you or I lay down

our life to-day. If it be I who must die, then am I glad to lay down my

life for my sons and my brothers whom you have slain; if it be you who

are to die, then am I still more glad to sacrifice you to their spirits.

Yet as you slew them unarmed, so it will be a greater pleasure to me to

slay you for their sakes.”

Quoth Sir Launcelot, “Are you ready?” and Sir Gawaine said, “Yea, I am

in all wise ready.”

So once more as it was before so it was now, for many of those of the

castle came and stood upon the walls of the castle to behold that

battle; and also there came many from the camp of King Arthur, and these

stood upon the surrounding hills so that all those hills were covered

with a multitude of men watching that combat.

So each knight having assumed his place of battle, and each being in all

wise prepared, each set his spear in rest and each shouted to his horse

to advance. Then the one charged against the other with great speed and

violence, and so each met the other in the middle of the course with a

crash like to a clap of thunder.

[Sidenote: _They two do battle together._]

As it was before, so now each lance was shivered to splinters, even to

the very truncheon of the spear, and each horse reeled back from that

assault. Then again each knight recovered his horse with spur and voice

so that he did not fall in that recoil.

Then each knight cast aside the stump of his spear, and each leaped from

his horse, drawing his sword from its scabbard for the assault. So they

rushed together as aforetime, striking and lashing with might and main.

But again Sir Launcelot found Sir Gawaine possessed of such strength as

astonished him, for he felt that he was fighting with his own strength

against the strength of ten men.

In that battle he received many wounds that were worse than they had

been before; for this time Sir Gawaine fought with great desperation to

end that battle before high noontide. But ever Sir Launcelot made very

strong and powerful defence, striking but few blows of assault, but

putting himself ever in the posture of defence. Yet in spite of that

defence, both the armor upon his body and the earth upon which he stood

were all ensanguined with the blood that flowed from the many wounds

that he received in that battle.

But at last it came high noontide, and with the coming and passing of

noon the strength of Sir Gawaine reached its height and limit, and then

it began its decline. So Sir Launcelot felt the waning of Sir Gawaine’s

strength and therewith ceased from his defence and began to frame his

attack against the other. Then Sir Gawaine retreated backward, and he

assumed such defence as he was able. But Sir Launcelot rushed upon him

and beat him again and again and yet again with his sword. And Sir

Gawaine was wounded in many places, for the blood gushed in streams out

of many deep cuts through his armor plate.

[Sidenote: _Sir Launcelot wounds Sir Gawaine mortally._]

Then from weariness the shield of Sir Gawaine began to fall full low,

and Sir Launcelot perceived this and ran in upon him. And Sir Launcelot

whirled his sword and smote Sir Gawaine with all his might upon the neck

upon the left-hand side. And the blade of Sir Launcelot’s sword sheared

through the armor at that place, and it sheared through the neck and the

breast, and so deep was that wound that Sir Gawaine suffered from that

blow his death-wound.

Yet Sir Gawaine would have stood to fight if he could have done so; but

he could not stand. Otherwise, he sank slowly down upon his knees and

there rested, with his hand upon the earth. And the blood poured down

his arm and wet the earth beneath him.

Then Sir Launcelot ran in upon him and he rushed the helmet off Sir

Gawaine’s head, and he cried out, “Sir Gawaine, yield thee or I will

slay thee!”

Quoth Sir Gawaine, “Messire, already thou hast slain me. For this wound

which thou hast given to me is my death-wound. So I feel it to be, for

the life is already passing out of me through that wound.”

Then Sir Launcelot wept and he said, “Sir, say not so. Now I pray thee

that thou wilt forgive me for this wound and for all else that I have

done against thee!”

[Sidenote: _Sir Gawaine will not forgive Sir Launcelot._]

But Sir Gawaine looked at the blood that ran in streams down his arm,

and he said, “I will not forgive thee, Launcelot, for otherwise, I will

die in my hatred of thee. For thou hast slain me as thou hast slain my

brothers, and upon thee I voice my curse and their curse as well. For my

curse and their curse is this: that never after this day shalt thou

prosper in anything that thou shalt undertake. Never shalt thou join in

any battle from this time forth; and the dearest wish of thy heart shall

disappear from thy hands when thou closest them upon that wish. Thou

shalt live in sorrow and shall die shut away from all sounds and sights

of knightly battle. This is my curse and my sons’ curse and my brothers’

curse upon thee, so wit you that though I die yet you shall be in a

worse estate than I who am dead.”

Then Sir Launcelot knelt weeping before Sir Gawaine, and Sir Gawaine

said, “Get you hence, Sir knight, for my friends are coming.”

Then Sir Launcelot raised his head and looked and he beheld that the

Knights of King Arthur were coming in that direction. So he turned and

mounted his horse and rode away at a hard gallop toward the castle, and

he entered the castle and the gates thereof were closed behind him.

[Sidenote: _Sir Launcelot grieveth._]

Then many of those knights who were dearest to Sir Launcelot came about

him to give him praise for overthrowing Sir Gawaine. But Sir Launcelot

would not look at them. Otherwise, he turned away his head from them and

withdrew to his own inn. For wit you that Sir Launcelot loved Sir

Gawaine better than any man in all of the world; yea, better than his

own blood and kindred. And now he knew that he had slain that one whom

he loved the best of all; wherefore he lay with his face turned to the

wall and melancholy enclosed him all over, like to a cloak of black.

But meanwhile Sir Gawaine had swooned so that when those knights and

gentlemen, his friends, came to him, he lay on the ground like one who

was dead. Those gathered him up and laid him upon a litter, and they

bore him away in that litter to his tent. There they unlaced the armor

and removed it, and anon the chirurgeon came to him to search his

wounds. But when the chirurgeon beheld that great wound in his neck, he

wit that Sir Gawaine could not live. So the chirurgeon sent for King

Arthur to come hither, and he said to the King, “This man cannot live,

but must die.” King Arthur wept, and he said to the chirurgeon, “How

know ye that he must die?” To which the chirurgeon replied, “Lord, when

I looked in at that wound in the lower part of his neck, methought I

could see his heart beating beneath it. Wherefore, I know that if the

heart groweth cold through his wound, then he must die.”

Then King Arthur hid his face and for awhile he said nothing. Then he

went to the bedside of Sir Gawaine, and he said to him, “Messire, how is

it with you?”

[Sidenote: _Sir Gawaine advises the King._]

Sir Gawaine smiled at him and said to him, “Sir, wit you that I must die

of this hurt.” King Arthur said, “I trow not.” Sir Gawaine said, “In

that you are mistook, for here have I my death-wound, and in a little

while I must die.” King Arthur said, “Sir, keep up your heart.” To this

Sir Gawaine made answer, “My heart faileth not, but my life hangeth

fluttering upon my lips, and soon it must pass away from me.” And Sir

Gawaine said, “Sir, wit ye of this, your own case is as bad as mine.

Return you again to Britain as fast as you are able, for I trust not

more than need be to Sir Mordred’s truth, albeit he is my brother. For

he hath ever had a dark and gloomy spirit. And he hath ambition for the

throne, and now that he hath the power behind that ambition, and now

that you have lost so many good and worthy knights at this castle, he

will certes seize upon your throne unless you are by to wrest it out of

his hands. Wherefore I pray you to return to Britain as soon as may be.”

King Arthur said, “Sir, these are imaginings upon your part. For Sir

Mordred is a Knight of the Round Table, and is bound to me in fealty.

Why, therefore, think you he would be treacherous to me?”

Sir Gawaine said, “Lord, I lie now very close to the edge of death and

all things appear extraordinarily clear and distinct to mine eyes. Sir

Mordred hath no love for any soul save only for himself. Wherefore, I

fear me he will sacrifice you to his desires, and will seize upon your

throne. Lord, I shall not live until to-morrow morning, wherefore, I

charge you that when I am dead, you shall bury me here in haste, and

depart straightway for England, for I fear me for your kingdom in

Britain.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Gawaine dieth._]

So that night in the second hour after midnight, Sir Gawaine drew his

last breath and died. And King Arthur was there at that passing, and

several knights companions of the Round Table were there, so that Sir

Gawaine did not die in loneliness. And after he had passed, King Arthur

wept and he said as follows:

THE LAMENT OF KING ARTHUR

[Sidenote: _King Arthur’s lament._]

“So passeth this dear and faithful friend. There is not of all those who

are left anyone whom I love so well as I loved him. For though he was

passionate in his angers and his indignations, yet to me he was always

loving and full of dutifulness and kindliness. He was the right hand and

support of my throne and its chiefest prop in all of its weaknesses, and

I had hoped that he would have occupied that throne after I had departed

from this earth.

“But now this is past and gone and he is taken who was, next to Sir

Launcelot of the Lake, the brightest and most glorious figure of all my

Round Table.

“He was the companion of my youth. For when I had fought my battles and

come to my throne, he was among the first who came and laid his hands

between my palms. Also he was one of the first of all those

knights-elect of the Round Table to take his seat at that table.

“But now he is gone and I am left alone, like the tree in the forest

that hath been struck by lightning. Yea, like that tree my foliage is

withered and now I stand stark and bare against the sky. For my Queen,

who was the lover of my youth, is estranged from me, and I shall never

behold her more. My Round Table, that was otherwise the chiefest glory

of my reign, is broken and scattered and many of those who were one time

dearest to me in love are now my foes. Where are now the defenders of my

throne? They are gone; and that throne itself totters to its fall.

“All these are sad and woful happenings, but the saddest and most woful

of all is that this good worthy knight hath died. Would that I had died

in his stead and that he had not died, but that I had died for him. What

worse hath Fate in store for me than this that he is dead?”

So in words such as these or in words like to them, King Arthur mourned

for Sir Gawaine; for it seemed that no worse blow could befall him than

this; to wit, the death of Sir Gawaine.

* * * * *

[Sidenote: _News cometh to the King of Sir Mordred._]

That morning King Arthur was aroused very early from his couch of grief

by a messenger that came to him with a message from Britain, and that

message was this: that Sir Mordred had seized upon the throne and the

crown of Britain, and was holding them for his own.

This message came from Sir Constantine of Cornwall, who was the cousin

of Sir Gawaine and who was yet living in England. And Sir Constantine

said, “Hasten! Hasten your return, O Lord King, and let nothing delay

that return!”

Then King Arthur gave command that the siege of Chillion should be

raised, and that after Sir Gawaine was buried they should all return

again to Britain.

[Sidenote: _Sir Gawaine is buried._]

So that day the funeral of Sir Gawaine was held with great pomp and

circumstance. Four bishops conducted the mass for the rest of his soul,

and the whole army knelt to pray for him. And those people within the

Castle of Chillion also kneeled upon the battlements of the castle wall

and prayed for the rest of his soul. For next to Sir Launcelot, he was

the greatest knight in the world.

So they laid him at rest at that place--a good worthy knight and one

well established in all courts of chivalry both then and thereafter. For

if he was violent of temper and if he sought revenge upon Sir Launcelot

for the death of his sons and his brethren, yet he gave his life for

that anger and that revenge, and that the manes of his kindred might be

satisfied.

* * * * *

So endeth the history of Sir Gawaine.

[Illustration: Sir Mordred the traitor]

[Illustration] Chapter Eighth

_How King Arthur returned to England. How he fought his last battle with

Sir Mordred._

[Sidenote: _Sir Mordred despaireth._]

So the news came to Britain that King Arthur was returning to that

realm, and that news was conveyed to Sir Mordred where he was. And when

Sir Mordred heard thereof he sat sunk in melancholy, his head bowed upon

his breast, and his food and wine standing untasted beside him.

And several of the friends of Sir Mordred were with him at that time,

and with them was Sir Mador de la Porte, who had, since his battle with

Sir Launcelot, been an enemy to King Arthur. These say to Sir Mordred,

“Sir, why are you so cast down? Wit you that King Arthur is not yet

returned, and that when he doth return he must do battle with you to

regain his kingdom.”

Quoth Sir Mordred, “Yes, that is very true, but wit you that I have

given out word to the world that King Arthur was slain in battle before

the Castle of Chillion, and in that word lay my strength. Wherefore now,

when King Arthur returneth to Britain, and when the people find that he

is yet alive, they will turn to him and will cast me out.”

[Sidenote: _His friends advise him._]

Quoth Sir Mador de la Porte, “Then it behooves you, Sir, to make stir

and to proclaim to the people that with King Arthur there will be

continued wars, but that with you there will be peace and tranquillity.

For wit you that King Arthur for this year past hath been continually at

war against Sir Launcelot, and during that time you have not had one

single war in all of Britain. Wherefore, as people love peace, so they

will cling to you. Beside this, you should summon the Archbishop of

Canterbury to your presence and have him crown you as king. For if you

be a king in your own right, then will you have that much more strength

to do battle for your own rights. Now here at hand is the Archbishop of

Canterbury, and he shall be summoned and shall crown you at your

demand.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Mordred beseeches the Archbishop to crown him._]

So they sent for the Archbishop of Canterbury, and he came to where Sir

Mordred was. Sir Mordred said to him, “Sir, wit you why I have sent for

you? It is that you shall crown me King of Britain.”

[Sidenote: _The Archbishop refuses._]

Quoth the Archbishop, “I cannot do this thing that you ask of me, for

the news is that King Arthur is returning to Britain. How then can you

be crowned King of Britain when the rightful King of Britain is still

alive?”

To this Sir Mordred made reply, “I have not set for you to reason with

me, but to crown me as the King of this realm. For if you crown me, then

do I believe that I shall be well able to defend my crown and my

kingship, but if you do not crown me, then will I do battle with King

Arthur as a usurper to make myself a king instead of him.”

Then said the Archbishop, “Sir, you shall not do this thing. For I, as

the head of the Church in this realm, bid you to surrender your rights

and claims unto the just and lawful king who now returneth. For he

surrendered his kingship to you for a little while whilst he was away

from Britain, and not for a permanency. Yet you would make that

surrender permanent, for you would make yourself king instead of him.

Wherefore, if you do not surrender yourself to King Arthur’s mercy upon

the day of his landing, then will the Church curse you with bell, book

and candle as the usurper of those rights that belong to another.” Then

Sir Mordred was filled with rage against the Archbishop and he cried

out, “Sir, get you gone, or I shall forget myself and draw my sword and

slay you perhaps.”

[Sidenote: _The Archbishop withdraweth._]

So the Archbishop withdrew from the presence of Sir Mordred, and he

called his court about him, and he recounted to that court all that had

passed between him and Sir Mordred. And he said, “Let us fly from this

place. For we are in danger here.” So the Archbishop took him a strong

horse and he mounted upon it and his court also mounted upon horses, and

then he and his court rode with great haste away from that place and to

Dover, where King Arthur was expected to be about to land.

After the Archbishop had gone and when Sir Mordred found that he had

gone, Sir Mordred collected such of his army together as were there at

hand; and he also descended to Dover, taking that army with him; his

intent being to prevent the King from landing if he could do so.

So came King Arthur to Dover, and as one stood upon the cliffs one

beheld that his ships and galleys covered the entire sea as far as the

eye could behold. And as the King approached the shore, he beheld that

there was a considerable army drawn up in array upon the beach where he

was to land, and he knew not whether that array were to welcome him or

to do battle with him. But at length he perceived Sir Mordred in the

forefront of that array, and he wist that that army was there to do

battle with him. Then he groaned aloud and he said, “Is there yet more

blood to be shed? Well, then, it must be shed, for never will I give up

my throne unless I give it up with my life. For eight and twenty years

have I held that throne, and shall I now surrender it to this man, my

nephew Mordred? No; never!”

[Sidenote: _Of the battle of Dover._]

So as the boats drew near to the shore, those who were in them leaped

into the water and waded to the shore. And the army of Sir Mordred came

down to the water and did battle with those who sought to land. And so a

great battle was fought there at the edge of the water, so that the

water was all discolored red with the blood of those who were wounded or

slain and who fell into the flood. Wherefore it was that with each

recurring wave this red water ran upward upon the white sands, and then

receded, leaving the sands all stained red where it had flowed upon it.

But yet Sir Mordred did not prevent that army from landing, for ever

more knights and yeomen and still more leaped from the boats and into

that shallow water, and so at last the army of Sir Mordred was forced

back from the water and King Arthur’s army landed upon the shore.

Then Sir Mordred withdrew his army from that place and King Arthur took

possession of that part of Britain.

After that the Archbishop of Canterbury came to where King Arthur was,

and he gave him greeting, saying, “Greeting, King Arthur, and give thee

joy of landing upon this soil. For here am I who am the head of the

Church and I give thee welcome to thy realm. For wit you that Sir

Mordred would fain have had me crown him king, but I would not crown

him, having heard that thou wert still alive.”

Then King Arthur embraced the Bishop and kissed him upon either cheek,

and said to him, “Sir, I thank you for your welcome. And I thank you

that you have guarded and protected my rights.”

Now, after having been thus driven away from Dover, Sir Mordred withdrew

to Baremdown, and at that place he gathered about him all those of his

followers who had hitherto been tardy in coming to him. And he assembled

with him all those who had been friends to Sir Launcelot (for these were

now at enmity with King Arthur). So at that place Sir Mordred had a very

considerable army to confront King Arthur withal.

Then Sir Mordred stationed that army upon a rise of land where were

three steep hills. For so he could charge down those hills against his

enemies, whilst they must charge up those hills against him.

So came King Arthur, and when he perceived the dispersion of Sir

Mordred’s army, he also arranged his army into three divisions. The

centre division he took himself; the right division he entrusted to the

King of North Wales, and the left division he placed under the

leadership of Sir Ewaine, who had not quitted Britain for all this time.

[Sidenote: _Of the battle of Baremdown._]

Then King Arthur charged his army up those hills against his enemy, but

he could not climb those hills because of the steepness thereof, and

because of the defence of the enemy at the top of the steeps. And

afterward he charged again and again, but still he could not gain the

crest of those hills.

Then Sir Ewaine’s division overlapped the army of Sir Mordred, and he

charged up that hill both before and behind. And he doubled Sir

Mordred’s party up upon itself and threw it into great confusion.

But that wing of Sir Mordred’s army could not retreat to the rear by

reason that Sir Ewaine’s knights were there; wherefore, it fled back

upon the centre of the army and threw that centre also into confusion.

Then King Arthur charged for the fourth time, and this time he took the

centre hill of the three, and with that the army of Sir Mordred broke

and fled. And the army of Sir Mordred fled toward Salisbury, and a great

many knights were slain in that flight. And the army of Sir Mordred took

up its station not far from Salisbury, and not far distant from the sea.

So King Arthur won the battle of Baremdown, but with sad and bitter

loss. For many knights fell in that assault and amongst them was Sir

Ewaine, who was mortally hurt.

[Sidenote: _Sir Ewaine is wounded._]

Now when King Arthur heard that Sir Ewaine was hurt, he went to where

the wounded knight lay in his pavilion. And Sir Ewaine’s face was very

wan and hollow and pale, and the dew of death stood upon his forehead.

Then King Arthur went to the couch of Sir Ewaine and he kneeled beside

the couch and embraced Sir Ewaine about the body with his arms. And the

tears ran down King Arthur’s face and wet the face of Sir Ewaine that

was beneath him. And Sir Ewaine said, “Art thou there, my king? For I

cannot see thee, and yet meseems I feel thee weeping upon me.” And King

Arthur said, “Ewaine, it is I.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Ewaine biddeth King Arthur to send for Sir Launcelot._]

Then Sir Ewaine said, “Sir, send for Sir Launcelot to aid thee in this

war. For Sir Launcelot is the best of all thy knights and he has with

him several knights that are very good and strong. These will come to

thine aid if thou wilt ask it of them, and so thou wilt easily overthrow

Sir Mordred. For many of the knights also are friends with Sir Launcelot

who are now in the army of Sir Mordred, thinking that thou art at enmity

with Sir Launcelot. But if Sir Launcelot cometh to thee, then will

those knights quit Sir Mordred and will cleave to thee. But if thou dost

not send for Sir Launcelot then it may be that Sir Mordred will

overthrow thee. Wherefore I beseech thee to send for Sir Launcelot and

for his knights to aid thee.”

Quoth King Arthur, “How shall I send for him? And by what right shall I

ask him to come to mine aid? Sir Launcelot is my foe, for he took from

me my wife and held her from me for several months. And he hath slain my

nephews and he slew Sir Gawaine, who was my best beloved of all. How,

then, shall I now ask him to come to mine aid?”

[Sidenote: _Sir Ewaine writeth a letter to Sir Launcelot._]

Quoth Sir Ewaine, “Give me parchment and ink.” So they brought ink and

parchment to Sir Ewaine and they propped him up upon his bed. And with

that his wounds burst out bleeding afresh, so that he wist that he had

but a short time to live.

Then Sir Ewaine wrote to Sir Launcelot and he said to him, “Sir, this

day hath been fought a great battle upon Baremdown, and King Arthur,

mine uncle, won that battle. But many knights have died in that battle,

and I in it have received my death-wound. Sir, I pray you let all

bygones pass and be done betwixt you and King Arthur. And I pray you to

forget and forgive any injury you may have received or given; for in

this war King Arthur is put to such a pass that maybe he shall win and

maybe he shall not win; wherefore I pray you to come to him without any

delay, and so make his winning this war a certainty.

“Sir, I myself have been sorely wounded and am dying, and in an hour I

shall have passed and gone from this earth. So, with my dying strength I

write you to come to the aid of your king who made you a knight some

while ago.”

Such as this was Sir Ewaine’s letter, and after he had written it he

signed his name to it.

This letter King Arthur sent by a messenger to Sir Launcelot of the Lake

in France. There Sir Launcelot received it and paid heed to it. For he

summoned his knights about him and he read that letter to them, and he

said to them, “Messires, such as this is the need of King Arthur. Now

who will go with me to Britain and do battle in this for the King of

Britain?” And those knights said, “I will go!”--“And I!”--“And I!”--“And

I!”--until they all of them agreed to go to Britain and fight for King

Arthur.

[Sidenote: _Sir Ewaine dieth._]

Now return we to King Arthur again. For there was he left kneeling

beside the couch of Sir Ewaine. And so he continued to kneel and

presently Sir Ewaine said, “Good, my Lord, are you there?” For Sir

Ewaine’s eyes were now darkening in death and he could not see

anything. And King Arthur said, “Yea, I am here.” And he took Sir

Ewaine’s hand in his, and Sir Ewaine’s hand was cold and very heavy,

like to lead. And Sir Ewaine said, “Hold my hand and do not let it go.”

So King Arthur held the hand of Sir Ewaine. So Sir Ewaine lay for a

little while, breathing deep draughts of death; and by and by he sighed

very deeply and then he lay still; for his spirit had passed from him

with that deep sigh.

Then King Arthur arose and he said, “Alas, that this good worthy knight

is gone. For he was my nephew and he was very faithful to me.” And he

said, “To-day we will bury him, and to-morrow we shall follow Sir

Mordred, and either he shall die or I shall die. For so through him and

his deeds hath this kind and noble gentleman died; wherefore he must pay

the price of that death--he must slay me as well, or else I will slay

him.”

So King Arthur arose and went forth from that place. And when the day

was come, Sir Ewaine was buried at the minster at that place, and it was

said in the history of these things that his skull was to be seen there

even to the very day of the ancient writing of this history.

[Sidenote: _King Arthur advances against Sir Mordred._]

Then after all honors had been paid to the body of Sir Ewaine, King

Arthur gathered his army together and he arose and pursued Sir Mordred

in the direction of Salisbury. And the next day he came to that place

where Sir Mordred was, and there he halted his army.

That night King Arthur lay in his pavilion and he slept very deeply and

profoundly, as sleeps the man who is weary of toil and marching. And

anon while he slept he had a dream and the dream was this:

[Sidenote: _The King hath a dream._]

He dreamed that he sat upon his throne, and that his throne was

established upon a monstrous wheel. And the wheel rose high with him

sitting upon his throne. And anon the wheel rose above the rim of the

earth, and he beheld the sun shining in all his glory. And the sun

glittered upon him and he felt all the joy and all the delight of that

sunlight. And it seemed to King Arthur that he was a great while in that

sunlight, but he was not, for the wheel was turning very slowly with

him. So the wheel reached its highest apex, and then it began to

descend. And the wheel descended more and more swiftly, and anon it

descended below the rim of the world, and so the sunlight had left the

King. And the wheel descended more and more swiftly, so that King Arthur

began to fear he would be cast out of his throne by the turning of the

wheel. And King Arthur dreamed that he looked down beneath him, and he

beheld that the wheel was descending very rapidly to a great pool, as it

were a lake. And this pool was filled with blackness and with blood,

and behold there was no bottom to that pool. And by then the throne of

King Arthur was inclining very greatly toward that pool, and the King

felt that he was slipping from his throne, and at that his soul was

filled with terror. Then he tried to awaken, but he could not. So, in

his terror, he screamed very loudly and shrilly, “Save me! Save me, or I

fall!” And so shrill was his calling that several knights and attendants

ran into the pavilion where he was, and these beheld the King struggling

in his sleep. And they cried out, “Lord, Lord! What aileth thee?

Awaken!” And with that King Arthur awoke.

And King Arthur sat up upon his couch and gazed about him, as one sunk

in great amazement, and he said, “I slept and I dreamed a dream; and it

was a dreadful dream.” And he said to those in attendance upon him, “Do

not go from me yet, for that dream hath affrighted me.”

So they all sat near to him and by and by they beheld that he breathed

very deeply and softly, wherefore they wist that he slept again. Then

all they withdrew from the pavilion, saving only two of his attendants

who still sat beside him.

But King Arthur did not sleep, though it was a manner of sleep, for he

beheld all the things about him as though he were partly awake, yet he

could not move.

[Sidenote: _The King dreameth again._]

Then, while he was in this sleep, King Arthur beheld a vision. For he

saw the flap at the doorway of the pavilion that it moved, and anon it

was raised and Sir Gawaine entered the tent. And Sir Gawaine held the

flap of the doorway aside, and King Arthur beheld that fourteen ladies

entered the tent behind Sir Gawaine.

And when these ladies had all entered the tent, Sir Gawaine let fall the

flap of the doorway, and so he came forward to where King Arthur lay.

And the face of Sir Gawaine was very calm and smiling and cheerful, and

King Arthur felt great peace and happiness when he beheld him standing

there.

Then King Arthur dreamed that he spoke to Sir Gawaine, and he said,

“Sir, how is this? Methought that you were dead, and here I behold you

alive. Was it not then you whom we buried in France some while ago?”

Sir Gawaine said, “Nay, Lord, that was not I, that was but my shell--my

poor, crumbling, perishable carcass that you buried. This is I myself,

and I have come to you from Paradise.”

Quoth King Arthur, “Who are these ladies whom you have with you?” To

this Sir Gawaine made answer, “These are those ladies for whom I one

time did battle. For some of those ladies I saved from grief, some of

them from misfortune, some of them I saved from danger, and of some of

them I saved their lives. So they have accompanied me hither from

Paradise that I might speak to you.”

Said King Arthur, “Sir Gawaine, my nephew, what is it you would say to

me?” To the which Sir Gawaine made reply, “Sir, I come to you to charge

you that you shall not do battle to-morrow-day. For great danger lieth

before you, and if you do battle you will assuredly perish. Wherefore I

come to you to beseech you that you will not enter into war with your

enemies. Wit you that Sir Launcelot will in a little while come to your

assistance, for already the letter from Sir Ewaine hath well-nigh

reached him, and when it reacheth him then will he come to you with all

speed. Wherefore I pray you make such terms with Sir Mordred as you may,

but do not join battle with him.”

King Arthur said, “How shall I know that this that thou tellest me is a

vision of prophecy and not a dream? For if it is a dream, then perhaps

it is mistaken, as many dreams are mistaken; but if it be a vision of

prophecy, then I shall believe that it is sooth.”

“Sir,” said Sir Gawaine, “you may believe it from this sign that will

remain unto you. And from it you may know that what you now behold is

indeed a vision of prophecy, and not a dream.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Gawaine leaveth a sign._]

So with that Sir Gawaine reached forth his finger and touched with it

the back of King Arthur’s hand. And when the finger of Sir Gawaine

touched his hand, lo! upon the hand of King Arthur there was left a spot

as white as wax.

Then the figure of Sir Gawaine melted slowly from his sight, and the

figures of the ladies also melted away and King Arthur awoke from his

sleep. And King Arthur sat up upon his couch and he beheld that the

day-light was streaming into his pavilion, for the sun had already

arisen.

And King Arthur looked at the back of his hand, and he beheld that there

was the spot as white as wax where Sir Gawaine had touched him. Then

King Arthur was very much perturbed in spirit, for he wist that what he

had just beheld was no dream, but that it was a vision of prophecy.

[Sidenote: _The King advises with his counsellors._]

So King Arthur called at him his knights and gentlemen and yeomen, and

he told them to bring to him those bishops who were with him, and also

the wisest of his counsellors. When these were come he told to them the

vision of his sleep, and he showed them the white spot upon his hand,

where the finger of Sir Gawaine had touched him. And he said to those

counsellors, “Sirs, is it better to treat with these our enemies to-day

than to do battle with them? For if it be true that Sir Launcelot cometh

to us, then all those knights who for his sake are now in the army of

Sir Mordred, will leave that army and will join them with us for the

sake of Sir Launcelot. Thus will many lives be spared and much blood

remain unshed, for there will be no battle with Sir Mordred.”

Then all those counsellors agreed with him and they said, “That which

thou sayst is true. Do not fight with Sir Mordred to-day, but treat with

him. For thy dream and thy vision foretell thy death if thou fightest

with him.”

So King Arthur chose him two of those bishops, and he chose him Sir

Lucian the Bottelier and Sir Bedivere, his brother, from all the Knights

of the Round Table, and these two knights and those two worthies he sent

as his ambassadors to Sir Mordred. And he said to them, “Spare not your

promises of land and of estate, but make this treaty for a month and a

day; for by that time we will know how Sir Launcelot standeth toward

us.”

[Sidenote: _The envoys treat with Sir Mordred._]

So those two envoys went to Sir Mordred, and they entered into treaty

with him and his advisers. And they argued for all that day, and against

eventide they had not decided. So the next day they went to Sir Mordred,

and that day it was determined that Sir Mordred should hold Cornwall and

Kent for his own during the life of King Arthur, and that upon the death

of King Arthur all Britain should be his to rule as king.

This treaty they brought to King Arthur, and when he read it he frowned

until his eyes were hidden. “Well,” said he, “this traitor claimeth

much. Let him be thankful that instead of all this land he demandeth, he

hath given to him instead only six feet of earth in which to lie.”

So it was arranged that Sir Mordred and King Arthur should meet upon the

next day at high noontide, at a certain place betwixt the two armies.

And it was there arranged that each of them should sign this covenant,

and that there should then be peace in all the land.

And the place where this meeting was to be held was a certain smooth and

gentle valley, that sloped upward upon either hand. And upon one

extremity of the valley one could behold the distant ocean, and upon the

other side of the valley one could behold the plains of Salisbury. At

this place those two armies were gathered upon the hills looking down

upon the middle of that valley.

[Sidenote: _Of the meeting of King Arthur and Sir Mordred._]

And in the centre of that valley there was a great pavilion of

particolored silk erected for the accommodation of the King and of Sir

Mordred. And a great banner emblazoned with the arms of the King and

another emblazoned with the arms of Sir Mordred flew from the peak of

the pavilion. And King Arthur came with six knights, and Sir Mordred

came with six knights, and these twelve knights--six upon either

side--stood some short distance away separate from one another, and King

Arthur and Sir Mordred entered the pavilion.

There upon the table lay the treaty to be signed, and those two drew

near to the table to sign it.

Now it was understood that none of those twelve knights who had come

with King Arthur and Sir Mordred should draw a weapon of any sort, but

that all should remain with sword in scabbard. For King Arthur did not

trust Sir Mordred, and Sir Mordred did not trust King Arthur. For King

Arthur said, “This man is altogether unnatural. His soul is black and he

is full of treason and guile. Wherefore, if you see any of his knights

draw a sword, then do you draw your swords and fall upon them and upon

Sir Mordred.” And Sir Mordred said, “I trust not this King in any way.

For he giveth too readily of that which he cannot spare. Wherefore, be

you ready, and if you behold any of his six knights draw a sword, draw

your swords and fall on, and, if possible, see to it that you slay King

Arthur himself.”

[Sidenote: _A knight slayeth an adder._]

Now whilst those two parties of six knights each stood talking to one

another, it chanced that an adder that lay hidden in a furze bush came

forth from its hiding. And one of the knights of Sir Mordred’s party

stepped back from his place and trod upon the adder, and the adder stung

the knight in the heel. Then the knight looked down to see what it was

that stung him, and he beheld the adder beneath his heel. So without

thinking of those commands that had been laid upon him, he drew his

sword to slay that adder.

This the knights of King Arthur’s party beheld, and they beheld the

knight draw his sword, and they beheld the bright and trenchant blade

gleam in the sunlight as the knight swung his sword to slay the adder.

Then the knights of King Arthur’s party immediately drew their swords

and they shouted aloud, crying, “Treason! treason! A rescue! A rescue!”

And the knights of Sir Mordred’s party, upon their part also drew their

swords and ran so to the defence of Sir Mordred.

But King Arthur heard the outcry of those knights, and upon that outcry

he thought that Sir Mordred had betrayed him, wherefore he cried out in

a terrible voice, “Hah! Wouldst thou betray me?” And with that he

catched Sir Mordred by the throat and as he catched him thus he drew his

misericordia to slay him. But Sir Mordred tore himself loose from King

Arthur, and he rushed out from the tent, crying aloud, “I come! I come!”

[Sidenote: _The armies rush to battle._]

Then King Arthur also rushed out from the tent and he beheld his six

knights at battle with the six knights of Sir Mordred, and he beheld his

army and Sir Mordred’s army rushing toward them. And the beat of the

hoofs of those approaching armies was like to the sound of distant

thunder ever coming nearer and nearer and louder and louder. And the

cloud of dust behind those armies was like the smoke of a great

conflagration rising up into the sky. And in the midst of those clouds

he could see the flashing and blazing of polished armor catching the

sunlight and flinging it off again as those armies rode rapidly down the

slopes and toward them.

Thus those armies came together with great uproar and thunder and a

flashing like to flaming lightning in the midst of a storm. And King

Arthur ran to his horse and mounted nimbly thereon, and he spurred back

to meet his army, and an esquire who rode with that army gave to him a

good stout spear of ashwood.

So those two armies met with a shock that might have been heard a

league. In that shock of meeting one recoiled from the other by the

force of the assault it had itself delivered. And many knights fell in

that first assault, and most of those that fell died as they fell. For

the horses pressed upon them with their hoofs and many died beneath that

pressure. And after the horsemen came the yeomen afoot, and these ran

hither and thither and slew many who yet lived.

Then those knights who were still a-horseback cast aside their spears,

for they could not longer use their spears in that narrow pass,

wherefore they cast them away and drew their swords. And with their

swords they hewed about them from right to left, and from left to right.

And so, in a while, the ground was littered with cantles of armor and

with men lying dead or dying beneath the hoofs of the horses.

So that fierce battle began a little before the prick of noon, and it

continued for all that afternoon, and it continued through the twilight

of the evening and until the falling of the night.

[Sidenote: _Sir Mordred is defeated._]

For that was the last and the greatest battle that King Arthur ever

fought, and in it were slain twelve thousand knights and gentlemen and

yeomen. But as night descended the army of Sir Mordred broke and fled

from the field, and King Arthur was left the victor of that battle.

But when King Arthur sat his horse in the midst of the battle-field, he

wept so that the tears ran in streams down his face. Yea, he tasted

those tears in his mouth and they were salt to his taste.

For of all those knights who had once surrounded the Court of King

Arthur and had made it so glorious, there were hardly any left. And of

all those Knights of the Round Table who had once been his crowning

honor, there were not twelve who were yet alive. All others had

perished, and the ground was sown thick with them as the sea-shore is

sown thick with the cobbles that lie upon it.

Wherefore, when King Arthur beheld all this ruin of his life, and when

he heard the doleful groans of those who were wounded, and when he

beheld those who were dead lying still in death and gazing with

sightless eyes up into the sky, the tears ran from his eyes in great

streams and traced down his face and into his beard, so that he tasted

the salt of those tears.

For now indeed the glory of his reign was past, and nothing remained for

him but an empty kingdom devoid of all honor and all that was of worth.

“Alas, and woe is me!” cried he, “for my fate hath now overtaken me and

my day is done.”

[Illustration]

[Illustration: The Passing of Arthur]

[Illustration] Chapter Ninth

_How King Arthur slew Sir Mordred, and how he himself was wounded so

that he was upon the edge of death. How his sword Excalibur was cast

away, and how three queens came from Avalon and took him away with

them._

[Sidenote: _The King rideth upon the battle-field._]

So that night, after the battle afore told of, the moon arose very full

and round, and very clearly shining. What time King Arthur rode across

the field of battle, with intent to discover what friends and what foes

had been slain. And the King discovered many knights lying there who

were friends and many other knights who were foes.

For at that time the sky was without any cloud at all upon it; and the

light of the moon was as clear and bright as though it were daylight,

wherefore one could see all things upon the earth and to a great

distance away upon all sides of the earth.

And with King Arthur there rode Sir Bedivere and Sir Lucian the

Bottelier, who was brother to Sir Bedivere. And Sir Lucian was very sore

wounded, even to the death; but of this he made no mention nor any

complaint whatsoever, but ever he rode with King Arthur and his brother,

and neither of those two wist that he had any wound whatsoever.

[Sidenote: _He perceiveth Sir Mador de la Porte dead._]

And amongst many other knights that lay there dead upon the field of

battle, they discovered Sir Mador de la Porte lying dead. Then King

Arthur pointed his finger at the body of Sir Mador and he said, “See you

that man, Messires? That was once a good, strong and very valiant

knight. One time he was my friend, but then he accused the Queen of

treason, and so I exiled him from me and from my court. So he took arms

against me and now he lieth dead here as you perceive. Ah me! That he

should have brought that false accusation, for it was the beginning of

the end that hath been my undoing, and woe for him, for he was a good

strong knight, and a Knight of the Round Table. And one while he was

very dear to me.”

So said King Arthur and they listened to his words.

Now as they progressed still farther upon the field of battle, they

were, by and by, aware of a knight who stood alone beside a bramble

bush. And the knight stood very silent and still, like to a statue of

iron. And the light of the moon shone down upon him and glistened upon

his armor. And at certain places that armor was stained with red, for he

had been wounded in several places.

[Sidenote: _He findeth Sir Mordred standing alone._]

So they came nearer to that knight, and in a little while they knew him,

and they knew that it was Sir Mordred who stood there alone. And all

about Sir Mordred there lay several dead knights; for here Sir Mordred

had made his last stand with several of his knights. And these were of

the dead knights that lay around him, and others of those dead knights

were the knights of King Arthur.

But the horse of Sir Mordred had been slain and Sir Mordred himself had

been wounded in the thighs so that he could not escape with those of his

army who fled away from that field of battle.

Then King Arthur said to Sir Bedivere and Sir Lucian, “Look you! Yonder

is Mordred himself. He is the destroyer of all my court of knighthood

and of all my joy of life. For through him hath come all this later evil

upon me, wherefore he is meet for death at my hands.” And the King said

to Sir Bedivere, “Lend me thy spear and I will go and slay him.”

Quoth Sir Bedivere, “Let him be, Lord, for anon will come those who know

him and will slay him even here where he standeth.”

King Arthur said, “I will not entrust his death to any other hands but

mine own. For as he hath brought all this misfortune upon me, so will I

slay him with mine own hands. Wherefore, Sir, give me your sword that I

may slay him.”

Then Sir Bedivere said to the King, “Look you, Sir, how he stands

looking at us in the moonlight, like a wounded hawk looking upon those

who have wounded him. Beware, Sir, and remember the dream that you had

last night when Sir Gawaine appeared to you in that dream. So far have

you escaped all harm, but should you assail this desperate man, who

knoweth but that you may yet meet your death at this time and at his

hands?”

But King Arthur said, “What is my life to me now, and what have I to

lose in losing my life? Have I not lost my Queen, who was the lover of

my youth? Have I not lost all these knights, who were the chiefest glory

and pride of my reign? What, then, have I to live for, saving it be an

empty throne of royalty? Tide me life, tide me death, I will slay this

man, so give me your spear, Messire.”

Then Sir Bedivere gave his spear to King Arthur and King Arthur took it

into his hands. And he set that spear in rest against Sir Mordred.

Now all this Sir Mordred beheld, and he believed that the King was now

threatening his life. And he heard all that the King said to those

knights who were with him, and he wist that now his life was forfeit to

him.

[Sidenote: _King Arthur pierces Sir Mordred through with his spear._]

So Sir Mordred drew his sword and it flashed like white light in the

moonlight. And he came forward to meet King Arthur and his death, and as

he came he whirled his sword on high. And King Arthur drave his spurs

into his horse and charged against Sir Mordred. And King Arthur directed

the point of his spear against the body of Sir Mordred beneath where the

shield sheltered his bosom, and the point of the spear penetrated the

body of Sir Mordred and it pierced the body and stood an ell out behind

the back of Sir Mordred’s body.

[Sidenote: _Sir Mordred smiteth the King with his sword._]

Then Sir Mordred felt that he had received his wound of death, wherefore

he bethought him only of revenge against King Arthur. So he pressed up

against the spear with all of his might. And he thrust himself up the

length of the spear until he had reached the burr thereof. And when his

body was against the burr of the spear, he took his sword in both his

hands and he swung the sword above his head, and he smote King Arthur

with the edge of the sword upon the helmet.

In that blow was all the last desperation of Sir Mordred’s life, and so

strong was the blow that it sheared through the helmet of King Arthur,

and through the coif beneath the helmet, and it sheared through the

brain-pan of the King and deep into the brain itself.

Then King Arthur reeled upon his saddle and his body swayed this way and

that, and from side to side. And he would have fallen from his saddle

only that Sir Bedivere catched him and held him up upon his saddle.

And Sir Mordred wist that he had given King Arthur his death wound,

wherefore he fell down upon the ground and he laughed and he said, “So I

die, but ere I die I have finished my work, for the King also shall

die.” Therewith he breathed very deep, and it was his last breath, for

with it his spirit left his body.

Sir Bedivere said to King Arthur, “Lord, are you hurt?” And King Arthur,

breathing very heavily, said, “Sir, this wound is the wound of my death

as that knight declared. For the wound, I believe, hath pierced into my

brain and I cannot live. Messires, take me hence to a shelter.” And King

Arthur said, “What building is that yonder?”

Sir Bedivere said, “Lord, it is a chapel upon the field of battle.” King

Arthur said, “Take me thither and let me be at peace, for I cannot live

but a little while.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Bedivere and Sir Lucian bring the King, wounded, to the

chapel._]

So Sir Bedivere dismounted from his horse and he took the horse of King

Arthur by the bridle and he led the horse toward the chapel. And Sir

Lucian held King Arthur up upon the saddle, and King Arthur swayed from

this side to that side, and he would have fallen only that Sir Lucian

held him up in his place.

So they two brought King Arthur to the chapel in safety, and they bore

him into the chapel and laid him upon a bench that was there. And in

thus lifting King Arthur the wounds of Sir Lucian burst out bleeding

afresh. And with that Sir Lucian, after King Arthur had been laid upon

the bench, sank down upon the ground and lay there frothing at the

mouth, and the froth was red.

[Sidenote: _Sir Lucian dieth._]

Then Sir Bedivere cried out, “Ah, my brother! My brother! Art thou

hurt?” And King Arthur said, “Search him and see if he be wounded.” So

Sir Bedivere examined Sir Lucian and felt his face and his hands, and

anon he said, “Lord, my brother is indeed dead. And I knew not even that

he had been wounded; for all this while he hath borne his wounds in

patience, speaking no words of it, or making no complaint of it. Ah, my

brother! My brother! That thou shouldst be dead!”

Then King Arthur groaned very deeply, and he said, “Alas and alas! So

hath another of my noble Knights of the Round Table died and left me!”

And then he said, “So would I weep for him, but I cannot weep; for also

in a little while I shall be with him and with them who are gone.” And

he said to Sir Bedivere, “Remove my helmet, and search my hurt.” So Sir

Bedivere removed the helmet of King Arthur and he beheld the wound upon

his head that it was very deep and bitter, so that the brains of his

head were exposed in that wound. And Sir Bedivere wept when he beheld

that wound; for he wist that of it King Arthur must die.

But King Arthur said, “Weep not, Sir Bedivere, but do straightway as I

tell thee.” And he said, “Beholdest thou Excalibur strapped about my

loins?”

And Sir Bedivere said, “Yea, Lord,” and ever Sir Bedivere wept.

King Arthur said, “Take that sword and carry him to the water and cast

him into the water: then return thou hither and tell me what thou

seest.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Bedivere taketh Excalibur._]

Then Sir Bedivere unbuckled the strap from about the loins of King

Arthur, and he drew the strap from beneath him. Then he folded the

strap around the blade of Excalibur and he took the sword with him and

went away with it. But when Sir Bedivere had come out into the

moonlight, the moonlight shone very brightly down upon the hilt of

Excalibur, and Sir Bedivere beheld how that the hilt and the handle of

the sword were studded all over with jewels, and the gold into which

they were inset flamed and blazed in the moonlight as with a thousand

colors.

And Sir Bedivere said to himself, “Why should I cast this splendid sword

into the sea? Behold how richly it is studded with jewels so that it

flashes and flames with pure light. Certes, the King raves when he

telleth me to cast it into the sea! Rather will I keep this sword, to

show to those generations who are yet to come how great and how splendid

was the estate of King Arthur.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Bedivere doth not cast the sword away._]

So Sir Bedivere looked about him and he beheld a dead and riven tree

that stood there, all stark and leafless in the moonlight. So he took

the sword Excalibur and he hid it beneath the roots of that tree. Anon

he returned to King Arthur, and he said to the King, “Lord, your behest

is done and I have cast that sword into the sea.”

Quoth the King, “What sawest thou, Sir Bedivere?”

Quoth Sir Bedivere, “What should I have beheld, Lord? I beheld nothing

but the waves beating upon the shore. And the moon shone upon those

waves, as it were a path of living and of glittering silver.”

Then King Arthur said, “Ah, liar and caitiff knight! I am undone for

trusting to thee. For thou hast deceived me, who trusted in thee. For

thou hast coveted the jewels set upon the handle of the sword, and hast

refrained from casting it into the water of the sea.” Then Sir Bedivere

said, “Lord, I repent me of this.”

But King Arthur said, “Go now, and do what I bid thee do, and see to it

that this time thou failest not. For my time draweth near and I have now

but a little while to live.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Bedivere goeth forth again.

He doth not cast away the sword._]

So Sir Bedivere went forth again and he went to that place where he had

hidden the sword. And he took the sword from where it lay hidden and

lifted it in his hands. And when he again beheld the light of the moon

illuminating its handle of gold and flaming upon the jewels of the

handle, his heart and his purpose weakened within him, and he said to

himself, “Surely, it would be a sin to cast away this sword. For it is

the most beautiful and noblest sword in all of the world. Wherefore then

should I destroy this sword that belongeth not more to the King himself

than to the world in which he lives? Certes, the King raved in this,

wherefore for the sake of posterity and for the sake of those who are to

come after, I will not cast this sword into the sea.”

So Sir Bedivere returned to the King, and the King said to him, panting

as he spake, “Sir, have you performed that which I have commanded you to

undertake?”

And Sir Bedivere said, “Yea, Lord.”

Quoth the King, “What saw you in doing this thing?”

Said Sir Bedivere, “Lord, I beheld the moon shining on high, and I

beheld the waves of the sea breaking noisily up against the pebbles of

the beach; but naught else did I behold.”

Then the King was silent for a little while and then he cried out, “Oh,

woe is me! that all my authority hath departed from me with my strength!

For it was to be supposed that mine enemies would betray me but not that

my friends would betray me. But here lie I hovering upon the edge of

death, and now this knight who is my sworn knight and vassal will not do

that which I bid him to do because of the jewels that enrich the hilt of

that sword.”

Then Sir Bedivere wept and he said, “Lord, I will do that which thou

biddest me to do.” And King Arthur said, “Do it, and make haste.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Bedivere casteth away the sword._]

So Sir Bedivere ran forth from that chapel. And he ran to where the

sword was hidden and he took the sword and wrapped the belt of the sword

about it. And he ran down the rocks to the sea shore, and when he had

come there he whirled the sword several times about his head and cast it

far out over the water.

[Sidenote: _An arm catcheth the sword._]

And Sir Bedivere beheld the sword that it whirled, flashing in the

moonlight like to pure circles of light, whirling in the darkness. So

the sword described a circle above the water and it descended to the

water, and as the sword descended to the water there emerged from the

water an arm. And around the arm was a sleeve of white samite and about

the arm were many bracelets of gold inset with precious stones. And the

arm catched the sword by the haft and brandished it thrice, and then

drew it down beneath the water. And the water closed over it and the

sword and the arm were gone.

All this Sir Bedivere beheld, and when he had beheld it he returned,

musing, to where King Arthur lay in that small chapel above the cliffs.

And when he returned, King Arthur said to him, “Sir, did you do as I

commanded you to, and did you fling Excalibur into the water?” Sir

Bedivere said, “Lord, I did as you commanded me.”

Quoth King Arthur, “And what did you behold?”

Said Sir Bedivere, “When I thus threw that sword into the water of the

sea, an arm came out of that water. And the arm had to it a sleeve of

white samite and it was enclasped with many bracelets of gold, and the

bracelets were set with many precious stones of various sorts. And the

hand of the arm catched Excalibur by the hilt and it brandished him

three times in the air and then it drew him beneath the water. That is

what I saw.”

Said King Arthur, “Well hast thou served me in this! But the time

groweth short and mine end draweth near. Take me upon thy shoulders and

bear me to the sea shore at that place where thou didst cast Excalibur

into the sea. There thou wilt find a boat with several ladies in it.

That boat is intended for me, and now I know that boat will be there

waiting for me since that arm arose and the hand of the arm seized upon

Excalibur.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Bedivere beareth the King to the boat._]

So Sir Bedivere stooped his shoulders. And he drew the arms of King

Arthur upon either side of his neck, and the arms of the King were very

weak and limp like to those of a little child that is ill. And Sir

Bedivere raised himself and he lifted King Arthur from his couch, and

King Arthur groaned when Sir Bedivere lifted him. And Sir Bedivere bore

King Arthur out of that chapel and into the moonlight. And Sir Bedivere

bore King Arthur in that wise down to the cliffs of the sea. And by now

a chill was upon the night so that the panting breath of Sir Bedivere

came forth from his nostrils like to thin smoke. And ever the iron shoes

of Sir Bedivere smote upon the rocks as he walked, so that the rocks

rang beneath his tread.

So Sir Bedivere bore King Arthur down that cliff to where the sea

splashed and moaned upon the rocks of the sea, and the shadows of Sir

Bedivere and of the King were very black and shapeless upon those rocks,

and the shadows walked with them down to the sea.

So by and by Sir Bedivere perceived that they were coming close to that

place where he had cast the sword into the sea. And as he drew near he

perceived that there was there a boat drawn up to the shore at that spot

where he had stood to cast the sword into the water. And Sir Bedivere

saw that there were several people standing within the boat and that

these people were three queens and their attendants.

[Sidenote: _The three queens take the King into the boat._]

Two of those queens Sir Bedivere knew, for they were the one Queen

Morgana le Fay and the other the Queen of North Wales. But the third of

those queens he did not know. Yet he saw that she was very tall and

straight and that she was clad in garments of green, very thin and

glistering. And her hair was black and glossy, shining in the moonlight

like to fine and very glassy threads of silk. And her face was

exceedingly white, like to wax for whiteness, and her eyes were very

black and brilliant, like to brilliant jewels set into that ivory

whiteness. And around the neck of this lady were many necklaces of

jewels of gold inset with emerald stones, very bright and shining.

This lady stood at the tiller of that strange boat and she was the Lady

of the Lake, though Sir Bedivere wist not who she was. And she held the

tiller very steadily and so held the boat close to the shore.

And in that boat were several other ladies who stood there very silently

and looked ever toward the shore where was Sir Bedivere; but these were

the ladies attendant upon those queens.

Then when Sir Bedivere came thitherward carrying King Arthur upon his

shoulders, those ladies lifted up their voices in piercing lamentation

so that the heart of Sir Bedivere ached to hear that lament. And Queen

Morgana le Fay and the Queen of North Wales arose and reached their arms

for King Arthur; and Sir Bedivere gave King Arthur into their arms and

they two took him--Queen Morgana by the shoulders and the Queen of North

Wales by the knees--and they lifted him into the boat.

And they laid him upon a couch within the boat, and he lay with his head

pillowed upon the lap of Queen Morgana. And Sir Bedivere stood upon the

shore and looked upon the face of King Arthur as it lay within the lap

of Queen Morgana, and he beheld that the face of King Arthur was white

like to the ashes of wood, wherefore he wist that he was dead. And Sir

Bedivere cried out in a loud and wailing voice, saying, “My Lord and

King, wilt thou leave me? What then shall I do? For here am I alone in

the midst of mine enemies.”

[Sidenote: _The King speaketh to Sir Bedivere._]

Then King Arthur opened his eyes and he said, “Hah, Messire, thou hast

no enemies about thee, for thine enemies are put to flight, and in a

little while Sir Launcelot comes who will be thy friend. But go thou

back into the world and tell them all that thou hast beheld at this

place. For wit you that now I know that I shall not die at this place,

but that I shall go in this boat and with my sister, Queen Morgana, to

Avalon. There in the Vale of Avalon I shall live, and by and by and

after many years I shall again return to Britain and no man shall know

of my return. But with that return shall come peace and tranquillity.

And war shall be no more, but the arts of peace shall flourish. So take

that message back with thee into the world, for now I go to leave thee;

and so farewell.”

Then for the third time those ladies lifted up their voices and wailed

in lamentation, and with that lamentation the boat trembled and moved.

And it moved away from the shore; at first slowly, then more and more

swiftly until it disappeared in the moonlight of the night. And for

awhile Sir Bedivere saw it, and then he was not sure that he saw it, and

then it vanished away into the whiteness of the moonlight, and was gone

from his vision.

Then Sir Bedivere moved weeping away from that shore and he wept so that

hardly could he see what next step he took. And so Sir Bedivere came

away from that shore, and in his sorrow he wist not whither he went. But

ever he walked forward for all that night, and when the morning was come

he found himself to be near to a considerable city. So he went forward

to that city and he found that there was a great bustle and turmoil of

people coming and going.

[Sidenote: _Sir Bedivere cometh to the Archbishop._]

So Sir Bedivere entered the city and he said, “Who is here?” They say to

him, “It is the Archbishop of Canterbury who is here.” Sir Bedivere said

to them, “Take me to him.”

[Sidenote: _He telleth the Archbishop what hath befallen._]

So they took him to where the Archbishop was, and several other bishops

were with him. And when the Archbishop beheld Sir Bedivere he said,

“Sir, why are you so pale?” Then Sir Bedivere said, “Sir, I am pale

because of all that I have beheld.” Then Sir Bedivere told the

Archbishop and those who were with him of that great battle they had

fought the day before between Salisbury and the sea. And he told him of

all that had happened in that battle and of the knights who were slain

therein. And he told him how that Sir Mordred was slain and how King

Arthur had been wounded by Sir Mordred and had departed at night in that

boat as aforetold of.

To all this the Archbishop listened with great astonishment and he cried

out, “How is this, and what is this thou tellest me? Is King Arthur

gone, and has that good and wise King disappeared thus mysteriously from

amongst us?” And he said, “What next of kin doth the King leave behind

him?” Sir Bedivere said, “His nighest of kin is Sir Constantine of

Cornwall, who is cousin unto Sir Gawaine.”

The Archbishop said, “Him then shall we crown to be the next King of

Britain. For so will he succeed in rightful line from the strain of King

Uther Pendragon.”

And so it was done as the Archbishop said, for shortly after that Sir

Constantine of Cornwall was crowned King of Britain at Camelot--which

same, saith the history of these things, is Winchester of these present

days.

* * * * *

So I have told you of the Passing of Arthur, which in all the other

histories of those things is told as I have told it. But of that which

happened thereafter there are many distinct and separate histories.

But that history which hath been accepted of old by the people of

England is this: That King Arthur did not die, but that he was taken by

Queen Morgana le Fay and by those two other queens to Avalon, and that

there he was salved so that he did not die. And that history saith that

he lives there yet, and that some day he shall come back to Britain as

he promised to do, and that when he thus shall come there, there shall

likewise come continual peace and plenty and joy and happiness as he

promised.

[Sidenote: _Concerning Avalon._]

And touching Avalon there is this to say--that it is the dwelling-place

of Queen Morgana le Fay, and that it is a strange and wonderful island

that floats forever upon the sea to the westward. And many people

declare that they have beheld that land, but always from a distance. For

sometimes they call it Fata Morgana, and sometimes they call it Avalon.

But always when they see it it is to behold high towers and glittering

pinnacles reaching into the sky; and it is to behold the embowerment of

trees, both of forest trees and of shade trees; and it is to behold hill

and vale of that mysterious country more beautiful than are the hills

and vales of the dark and gloomy earth. For Avalon is sometimes called

the Vale of Avalon and sometimes it is called Avalon the Beautiful.

There in that pleasant country is no snow and no ice; neither is there

the scorching heats and droughts of summer, but all forever and for aye

is the tepid warmth of vernal springtime.

And the people of Avalon are always happy, for never do they weep and

never do they bear enmity to one another, but all live in peace and

tranquillity watching their flocks, which are as white as snow, and

their herds, whose breath smelleth of wild thyme and parsley.

There, people believe, yet liveth King Arthur, and he is not dead nor is

he yet awake, but ever he lyeth sleeping as in peace.

But it is believed by many that the time shall come when he will awake

again. Then he will return once more to this earth, and all shall be

peace and concord amongst men.

And many believe that this time is now nigh at hand. For less and less

is there war within the world, and more and more is there peace and

concord and good will amongst men. Wherefore, let every man live at

peace with other men, and wish them well and do them well, and then will

King Arthur awake from his sleep. Then will his dreadful wound be healed

and then will he return unto his own again.

* * * * *

Of such was the passing of Arthur.

[Illustration: The Passing of Guinevere]

[Illustration] Chapter Tenth

_How Sir Launcelot came to Queen Guinevere, and how Queen Guinevere

remained a nun. How Sir Launcelot went into the forest and became a

hermit, and how seven of his fellows joined him there. Also of the death

of Sir Launcelot of the Lake._

Now it hath already been told how that Sir Launcelot of the Lake

received the note of Sir Ewaine, and of how he and his knights decided

to come to the aid of King Arthur.

[Sidenote: _Sir Launcelot landeth at Dover._]

So Sir Launcelot and his knights to the number of two hundred and twelve

came to England in ships and galleys, and they landed at Dover as King

Arthur had done.

And when Sir Launcelot arrived at Dover there came to him a messenger

and told him of that battle that had been fought upon the plains not far

from Salisbury, and how that Sir Mordred had been slain and how that

King Arthur had died of his wound thereafter. And that messenger also

told him how that Sir Constantine of Cornwall had been crowned King of

Britain, in the room of King Arthur.

All this Sir Launcelot heard and also the knights who were with him. And

Sir Launcelot wept a very great deal and several of those knights who

were with him wept also. And Sir Launcelot cried out, “Ah, my dear noble

and gracious lord, King Arthur! Woe is me that in that first battle I

should have slain Sir Agravaine and not Sir Mordred! For it is now upon

me to believe that Sir Mordred was the instigator of all this mischief.

But now is King Arthur gone and all is turned to ruin and to loss about

us. For here be hardly any of the Knights of the Round Table yet living,

and many of those who were amongst the best and noblest of those knights

have been slain. To wit, Sir Gawaine hath been slain, and Sir Lionel and

Sir Ector have been slain, and Sir Ewaine hath been slain, and Sir

Gareth who was my dear and loving friend hath been slain, and Sir

Geharis hath been slain. All these have died and several others, and had

it not been for Sir Mordred and his treachery these would yet have been

alive. But all these have died because of the treachery of Sir Mordred.

Would that he had died in the beginning, for these would all then have

been saved!”

So Sir Launcelot made his lament, and in making it the tears flowed down

his face in streams. And Sir Launcelot said, “Who of us can now serve

under King Constantine as vassals?” They say to him, “none of us can so

serve him.” Said Sir Launcelot, “nor can I serve him.” Then he said,

“Where is now Queen Guinevere?” They say to him, “Sir, she is at this

present at the convent of Saint Bridget at Rochester and she is the

Abbess of that convent. For since King Arthur gave her to the church she

hath taken up the orders of the church and hath become a nun of black

and white.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Launcelot goeth to Rochester to seek the Queen._]

So that night Sir Launcelot took horse and he rode away alone, and he

rode to Rochester and to the convent of Saint Bridget. And Sir Launcelot

came into the room of that convent and he said to those who were there,

“Let me have speech with the Abbess of this place.”

Then anon came Queen Guinevere to where he was, and Sir Launcelot stood

in the middle of the room and looked toward her. And he beheld that her

face was grown very white and thin and that she was clad in robes of

black and white. And the Queen looked toward Sir Launcelot and she knew

him. And when she beheld him she cried out in a very loud and piercing

voice, “God save me! Is it thou?” And with that she felt around behind

her as though in a blindness. And she felt that there was a form behind

her and she sat down upon the form. And she swooned upon that form so

that her head fell backward across the back of the form. And Sir

Launcelot perceived that she had swooned.

Then Sir Launcelot called to the ladies of that convent in a very loud

voice, “Make haste! Make haste! For the Queen hath swooned!” So several

of those ladies came hastening and they loosened the robes of the Queen

at the throat and they chafed her hands and bathed her temples with

vinegar, and anon she awoke from her swoon and found Sir Launcelot

kneeling before her.

[Sidenote: _The Queen bespeaks Sir Launcelot._]

And the Queen reached out and touched Sir Launcelot and she said, “Art

thou real, or art thou a spirit?” And Sir Launcelot replied, “Lady, I am

flesh and blood as thou art.” Then the Queen said to him, “Sir, what

seek you here?” And Sir Launcelot replied, “I seek thee, Lady. For ever

thou art present with me by day and by night, and never art thou absent

from my thoughts.”

The Queen said, “Ah, Launcelot! It is vain for thee to seek me here, for

ever my heart is here in this place and here it will always remain. For

here have I bethought me of my life and of all the joys and pleasures of

my life, and of all the sinfulness and the evil that I have committed.

And I wit that my lord, King Arthur, is now ever first within my

thoughts and within my heart. For though I fled from King Arthur that

time and betook myself with thee to Joyous Gard, yet there at Joyous

Gard my heart turned ever to my lord and my King. For he was the lover

of my youth, and first and last my heart turned ever to him in all my

joys and in all my troubles. So now my King is passed, and my heart

cleaveth to him in Paradise, and there I will haply rejoin my King and

will dwell with him for aye. For there we shall be together in bliss and

naught that is of sorrow or uncertainty shall ever come betwixt us.”

Then Sir Launcelot cried out, “And I, Lady, is there naught in thy

thoughts for me?”

She said, “Yea, Launcelot, there is great friendship and love for thee,

but not that sort of love. So get thee back to Joyous Gard and there

take thee to wife some fair and gentle lady of that place. For so thou

mayst rear to thee children in the stead of that Sir Galahad who hath

departed from thee some while ago.”

Sir Launcelot said, “Lady, I can never wed any woman in this world but

thee.” And the Queen said, “Ah, Launcelot, that is a pity.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Launcelot departeth from the Queen._]

So that speech between those two came to an end, and Sir Launcelot rode

away from that place with his head bowed low upon his breast. And Sir

Launcelot rode ever toward the forest and anon he rode into the forest.

And when Sir Launcelot had come to that place he kneeled down before

that Hermit of the Forest and he said to him “Sir, I pray you to confess

me and assoil me. For here henceforth and to the end of my days will I

remain a hermit of the forest like as thou art. Several times have I

lived here as a recluse, yet have I ever returned by and by to the

world. But now will I never return to that world again; for all the

pleasure of that world was taken away from me and I am left barren of

hope and of joy.”

[Sidenote: _Sir Launcelot becometh a forest recluse._]

So Sir Launcelot withdrew to another part of the forest, and he took his

armor from off his body and hung his armor up upon the branches of a

tree that was near at hand. And he took the harness and trappings from

off his horse and he turned his horse loose to browse at will upon the

grass that grew there at that place. So Sir Launcelot became a recluse

of the forest with intent never more to be anything else than that

forest recluse.

* * * * *

Now when those knights who were in attendance upon Sir Launcelot at

Dover discovered that he had gone from them, they wist not where he had

gone and they searched for him at all places, and yet they could not

find him. So most of those knights separated and divided, each knight

departing to his own home. But several of those who were kin to Sir

Launcelot joined them together to search for him. And these were the

knights that searched for Sir Launcelot: there were Sir Bors and Sir

Bleoberis and Sir Blamor de Ganis, and there was Sir Galahud and Sir

Galahadin, and there was Sir Villiars, and there was Sir Clarus. These

seven knights searched Britain from end to end and all athwart the land,

and ever they sought for Sir Launcelot. So, at last, they came to that

part of the forest where Sir Launcelot abided.

And those knights beheld a horse browsing in the open parts of the

forest, and Sir Bors said to the others, “Messires, yonder an I mistake

not is the horse of Sir Launcelot.” Then they went a little farther and

they beheld the armor of Sir Launcelot hanging upon the branches of the

tree. And Sir Bors examined that armor and he said, “This, certes, is

the armor of Sir Launcelot. Now he cannot be far distant from this

place.”

Anon they heard the knelling of a little vesper bell, and Sir Bors said,

“Yonder is the bell of the Hermit of the Forest. Let us go thitherward

and mayhap we may hear news of Sir Launcelot.” So they went in that

direction and by and by they came to the chapel of the Hermit of the

Forest. And they looked within the chapel door and they beheld the

Hermit and another anchorite kneeling in prayer. And there were little

birds within the chapel and they hopped about there upon the floor and

about those two kneeling figures and were not afraid of either of them.

[Sidenote: _The knights companion find Sir Launcelot._]

So, by and by, those two ended their prayers, and they arose. Then those

knights beheld the face of the anchorite and they saw that it was the

face of Sir Launcelot. For though the face of Sir Launcelot was covered

with a beard and though it was very thin and peaked from fasting, yet

they knew it for his face. For Sir Launcelot had eaten no meat and but

little food of any sort, but had deprived himself of food for the

betterment of his soul.

Then Sir Bors spake and he said, “Sir Launcelot, is it thou who art

here?” And Sir Launcelot said, “Aye, it is indeed I whom thou

beholdest.” Sir Bors said, “Sir, this life does not beseem thee to lead,

wherefore place upon thee thine armor and come forth with us into the

world again. For thy life is certes of value to that world.” “Nay,” said

Sir Launcelot, “I will not leave this place, for here I dwell in peace

and amity with the world. Why then should I again go forth into strife

as of old?” Quoth Sir Bors, “Sir, this life thou art leading is but the

neglect of duty, for the duty of every knight is to be within the world

and to do the work of the world, be that work to battle or to labor.

Why then shouldst thou rest here in this hermitage and without action of

any sort?”

“Messire,” said Sir Launcelot, “were there a call for me to go forth

into the world, then would I go. For my duty would then demand of me to

assume again the armor of my knighthood. But there is no such call, nor

am I any longer young, as one time I was. Wherefore, now hath come my

time for rest, and so I remain here in quiet within the woodlands.”

[Sidenote: _The knights companion become recluses._]

Sir Bors said, “Sir, we are your knights and your followers, wherefore

if you remain here within the forest, so also do we remain with you. For

your life shall be our life and your fare shall be our fare until the

end.” And Sir Launcelot said, “Let it be that way.”

So all those knights remained there within the forest and all of them

assumed the holy orders of hermits. Thus they remained there for three

years and in that time they dwelt in great peace and concord. And they

disturbed none of those things that were living within the forest, so

that the wild creatures of the forest presently grew tame to them. For

they could lay their hands upon the haunches of the wild doe of the

forest and it would not flee away from them, for the wild thing wist

that they meant it no harm.

Thus they lived there in solitude and they cultivated their plots of

pulse and barley, and the fame of their virtues and of their holiness

spread far and wide, so that many people came thither from the world for

the sake of their prayers and of their benediction.

Now one night as he slept Sir Launcelot had a dream, and the dream came

to him in the second watch of the night. And the dream of Sir Launcelot

was this:

[Sidenote: _Sir Launcelot dreameth._]

He dreamed that he beheld Queen Guinevere standing before him, and her

face smiled and was very radiant as though a bright light shone through

her face from behind. For her face was translated by that light so that

it was all of a glorious and rosy pink in its color. And the Queen was

clad all in a very straight robe of cloth of gold and that robe shone

with a very singular lustre. And around her neck and her arms were many

ornaments of gold and these also shone and glittered as she moved or

breathed. And this vision of Queen Guinevere said, “Rejoice, O Sir

Launcelot! For my troubles and cares are at an end. For now I am in

Paradise and my body sleepeth and is dead.”

Then Sir Launcelot awoke and he found that it was morning and that the

sun was shining.

And Sir Launcelot arose and went forth and he came to where the Hermit

was, and he told the Hermit of that dream. Then the Hermit said to him,

“Sir, meseems from this dream that the Queen is no more, but that she is

dead and that her soul hath been translated unto Paradise. Make haste

and go thither where she is and see if this be so.”

So Sir Launcelot mounted his horse and his seven companions mounted

their horses and together they rode unto Rochester. And Sir Launcelot

rode to the nunnery at that place and he said to them that came to him,

“Where is the Lady Abbess of this monastery?”

They say to him, “Sir, she died last night at the second watch of the

night.” Sir Launcelot said, “Bring me to her.”

[Sidenote: _He beholdeth the dead Queen._]

So they took Sir Launcelot to where lay the body of the Queen, and it

was in a large upper room and the windows were open and the breeze blew

cold through the room. And Sir Launcelot beheld the Queen that her body

lay upon a couch of white linen, and he perceived that the face of the

body was white like to wax. And he saw that the lips of the body smiled

as he had beheld the Queen to smile in the dream that he had had of her

the night before.

Then Sir Launcelot did not weep, only he stood with his hands clasped

very tightly together, and he reviewed in his mind all that had befallen

him and her. And he reviewed the first time that he had come to the

King’s Court at Camelot. And he reviewed how he had sacrificed the life

of his lady for the love of the Queen. And he reviewed how he had done

battle for the Queen, and how he had saved her life by that battle, and

he reviewed how he had fought and slain his friends that he might bring

her away from her trial to Joyous Gard. All those things he reviewed,

and some of those things were of peace to him and some of them were of

torment. Then he spake and he said, “Ah, Lady! Would that I were lying

as thou lyest. For then would I too be at peace, whiles now I am not at

peace.”

So died Queen Guinevere, and at that time she was in the forty-sixth

year of her age and was exceedingly beautiful.

So those eight knights remained there at the nunnery for two days, and

upon the third day the body of Queen Guinevere was interred before the

altar of the nunnery. And upon the stone that covered that body were

these words:

Hir jaret Guinevera Regina Quondam Regina Brittaniæ erat.

And for many years that entablature was to be seen at Rochester,

wherefore it may be known that Queen Guinevere was indeed there buried.

For so saith the history of those things and so those things must be.

After all those things had passed, those knights again retired to the

forest and there they again took up their abode as of old. And so they

lived there for two or three years longer. Then they left that forest as

shall presently be told.

For now speak we of the Passing of Sir Launcelot, which was as follows:

[Sidenote: _Sir Launcelot cometh not to prayers._]

One morning all they who were there awoke very early and they went to

their matin prayers. That morning was in the May time, all the trees

were in leaf and the apple trees were in blossom. For whensoever the

soft warm wind blew through the trees, then did those blossoms shed

their fragrant pink snow until all the grass around about was spread

therewith. And the birds were singing in every bush and tree so that all

the air was full of their melodious and harmonious jubilation.

That time when they were assembled they looked around and beheld that

Sir Launcelot was not there and they said, “Where is Sir Launcelot, that

he cometh not to matin prayers?” So Sir Bors went to the cell of Sir

Launcelot and he beheld that Sir Launcelot was lying very peacefully

upon his couch. And Sir Bors went to Sir Launcelot to arouse him, and he

saw that Sir Launcelot was dead. And the hands of Sir Launcelot were

folded upon his breast, and there was a smile of great peace and good

content upon the lips of Sir Launcelot.

[Sidenote: _Sir Bors beholdeth him, dead._]

Then Sir Bors went to the door of the cell of Sir Launcelot and he

called those others to come thither and they did so. And Sir Bors said

to them, “Behold! Here lyeth that which was once Sir Launcelot, but

which is that knight no more. But God be praised that he died in such

peace and tranquillity as he hath done.”

And all they, as they gazed upon Sir Launcelot, beheld that it was so,

and that he had indeed died in great peace and tranquillity with his

God.

And Sir Bors said, “Let us take the body of this good knight and carry

it to Joyous Gard that it may be buried there. For so would he have it

that his body should be buried at Joyous Gard.”

So they brought them to that forest place a horse bier and they laid the

body of Sir Launcelot upon that horse bier, and they covered the body so

that no one might see it in passing. And they bore the body thence and

to Joyous Gard, and so, after many tribulations and many sufferings and

sorrows, the body of Sir Launcelot lay in peace and quietness at that

place.

[Sidenote: _He lyeth at Joyous Gard._]

And those knights who were with him did not return to the forest,

otherwise they continued at Joyous Gard. And one of those knights always

sat at vigil beside the tomb of Sir Launcelot and kept burning there

seven waxen tapers. And so the tomb was always illuminated with those

waxen tapers whiles those knights lived.

[Sidenote: _Of the death of Sir Bors._]

And the last of those knights to die was Sir Bors de Ganis, for Sir Bors

was over fourscore years of age when he died. For when the priest came

thither one morning, he found Sir Bors sitting beside the tomb of Sir

Launcelot, and Sir Bors had died at that time. And one of those seven

candles (which same was the candle of Sir Bors) was not lit but was

burned out. For so the life of Sir Bors had flickered out, even as the

light of that candle had departed.

* * * * *

So with this endeth the history of the lives of those knights, and so I

have told it to you.

[Illustration]

[Illustration] Conclusion

Thus have I written the history of King Arthur and of sundry of those

knights that comprised his Round Table. For so may you see with what

patience, what labor and what self-devotion those knights served their

king, their Round Table and their fellows.

For those knights were very gallant gentlemen who thought but little of

care and trouble and who practised self-denial when that self-denial

could be of avail to help their friends or to benefit the world.

For ever they brought aid to those who were in trouble and comfort to

those who were afflicted ever they brought food to the hungry and drink

to the thirsty; and ever they destroyed giants and monsters and wicked

men, and so made the world a better and a comelier place in which to

dwell. And wit ye that no man can do better than that in this world: to

bring aid to the afflicted; food to the hungry, and a release from

trouble to those who are in anxiety.

Yea; for seven years have I been engaged in writing these books, which

contain the history of these things. Many other things have I done in

that time. For I have painted many pictures besides having written these

books and other works of a like sort. And these books are four in

number: first, there is the Book of King Arthur; then there is the Book

of the Champions of the Round Table; then there is the Book of Sir

Launcelot and his companions, and now there is this Book of the Grail

and the Passing of Arthur, and this book is the last. For those books

comprise a history of all this time; for though there be many things

left untold in them, yet those things are of small consequence. For all

that is of greater note hath been here told, and that in full.

And I thank God that he hath permitted me to finish this work, for wit

ye that when a man taketh seven years of his life to complete an

undertaking, he knoweth not whether he shall live to complete that

which he hath begun.

But so I have completed it, and for that I thank God who permitted me to

complete it. Amen.

_Finished at Wilmington, Delaware,

This 16th day of April

in the year of grace

MCMX._

[Illustration]