vehemently at the gate below, which when Sir Lancelot heard, he rose
and looked out of the window, and, by the moonlight, saw three knights
come riding fiercely after one man, and lashing on him all at once with
their swords, while the one knight nobly fought them all.
Then Sir Lancelot quickly armed himself, and getting through the window,
let himself down by a sheet into the midst of them, crying out, "Turn ye
on me, ye cowards, and leave fighting with that knight!" Then they all
left Sir Key, for the first knight was he, and began to fall upon Sir
Lancelot furiously. And when Sir Key would have come forward to assist
him, Sir Lancelot refused, and cried, "Leave me alone to deal with
them." And presently, with six great strokes, he felled them all.
Then they cried out, "Sir knight, we yield us unto thee, as to a man of
might!"
"I will not take your yielding!" said he; "yield ye to Sir Key, the
seneschal, or I will have your lives."
"Fair knight," said they, "excuse us in that thing, for we have chased
Sir Key thus far, and should have overcome him but for thee."
"Well," said Sir Lancelot, "do as ye will, for ye may live or die; but,
if ye live, ye shall be holden to Sir Key."
Then they yielded to him; and Sir Lancelot commanded them to go unto
King Arthur's court at the next Pentecost, and say, Sir Key had sent
them prisoners to Queen Guinevere. And this they sware to do upon their
swords.
Then Sir Lancelot knocked at the gate with his sword-hilt till his
hostess came and let him in again, and Sir Key also. And when the light
came, Sir Key knew Sir Lancelot, and knelt and thanked him for his
courtesy, and gentleness, and kindness. "Sir," said he, "I have done no
more than what I ought to do, and ye are welcome; therefore let us now
take rest."
So when Sir Key had supped, they went to sleep, and Sir Lancelot and he
slept in the same bed. On the morrow, Sir Lancelot rose early, and took
Sir Key's shield and armor and set forth. When Sir Key arose, he found
Sir Lancelot's armor by his bedside, and his own arms gone. "Now, by my
faith," thought he, "I know that he will grieve some knights of our
king's court; for those who meet him will be bold to joust with him,
mistaking him for me, while I, dressed in his shield and armor, shall
surely ride in peace."
Then Sir Lancelot, dressed in Sir Key's apparel, rode long in a great
forest, and came at last to a low country, full of rivers and fair
meadows, and saw a bridge before him, whereon were three silk tents of
divers colors, and to each tent was hung a white shield, and by each
shield stood a knight. So Sir Lancelot went by without speaking a word.
And when he had passed, the three knights said it was the proud Sir Key,
"who thinketh no knight equal to himself, although the contrary is full
often proved upon him."
"By my faith!" said one of them, named Gaunter, "I will ride after and
attack him for all his pride, and ye shall watch my speed."
Then, taking shield and spear, he mounted and rode after Sir Lancelot,
and cried, "Abide, proud knight, and turn, for thou shalt not pass
free!"
So Sir Lancelot turned, and each one put his spear in rest and came with
all his might against the other. And Sir Gaunter's spear brake short,
but Sir Lancelot smote him down, both horse and man.
When the other knights saw this, they said, "Yonder is not Sir Key, but
a bigger man."
"I dare wager my head," said Sir Gilmere, "yonder knight hath slain Sir
Key, and taken his horse and harness."
"Be it so, or not," said Sir Reynold, the third brother; "let us now go
to our brother Gaunter's rescue; we shall have enough to do to match
that knight, for, by his stature, I believe it is Sir Lancelot or Sir
Tristram."
Anon, they took their horses and galloped after Sir Lancelot; and Sir
Gilmere first assailed him, but was smitten down forthwith, and lay
stunned on the earth. Then said Sir Reynold, "Sir knight, thou art a
strong man, and, I believe, hast slain my two brothers, wherefore my
heart is sore against thee; yet, if I might with honor, I would avoid
thee. Nevertheless, that cannot be, so keep thyself." And so they
hurtled together with all their might, and each man shivered his spear
to pieces; and then they drew their swords and lashed out eagerly.
And as they fought, Sir Gaunter and Sir Gilmere presently arose and
mounted once again, and came down at full tilt upon Sir Lancelot. But,
when he saw them coming, he put forth all his strength, and struck Sir
Reynold off his horse. Then, with two other strokes, he served the
others likewise.
Anon, Sir Reynold crept along the ground, with his head all bloody, and
came towards Sir Lancelot. "It is enough," said Lancelot, "I was not far
from thee when thou wast made a knight, Sir Reynold, and know thee for a
good and valiant man, and was full loth to slay thee."
"Gramercy for thy gentleness!" said Sir Reynold. "I and my brethren will
straightway yield to thee when we know thy name, for well we know that
thou art not Sir Key."
"As for that," said Sir Lancelot, "be it as it may, but ye shall yield
to Queen Guinevere at the next Feast of Pentecost as prisoners, and say
that Sir Key sent ye."
Then they swore to him it should be done as he commanded. And so Sir
Lancelot passed on, and the three brethren helped each other's wounds as
best they might.
Then rode Sir Lancelot forward into a deep forest, and came upon four
knights of King Arthur's court, under an oak tree--Sir Sagramour, Sir
Ector, Sir Gawain, and Sir Ewaine. And when they spied him, they thought
he was Sir Key. "Now by my faith," said Sir Sagramour, "I will prove Sir
Key's might!" and taking his spear he rode towards Sir Lancelot.
But Sir Lancelot was aware of him, and, setting his spear in rest,
smote him so sorely, that horse and man fell to the earth.
"Lo!" cried Sir Ector, "I see by the buffet that knight hath given our
fellow he is stronger than Sir Key. Now will I try what I can do against
him!" So Sir Ector took his spear, and galloped at Sir Lancelot; and Sir
Lancelot met him as he came, and smote him through shield and shoulder,
so that he fell, but his own spear was not broken.
"By my faith," cried Sir Ewaine, "yonder is a strong knight, and must
have slain Sir Key, and taken his armor! By his strength, I see it will
be hard to match him." So saying he rode towards Sir Lancelot, who met
him halfway and struck him so fiercely, that at one blow he overthrew
him also.
"Now," said Sir Gawain, "will I encounter him." So he took a good spear
in his hand, and guarded himself with his shield. And he and Sir
Lancelot rode against each other, with their horses at full speed, and
furiously smote each other on the middle of their shields; but Sir
Gawain's spear broke short asunder, and Sir Lancelot charged so mightily
upon him, that his horse and he both fell, and rolled upon the ground.
"Ah," said Sir Lancelot, smiling, as he rode away from the four knights,
"heaven give joy to him who made this spear, for never held I better in
my hand."
But the four knights said to each other, "Truly one spear hath felled us
all."
"I dare lay my life," said Sir Gawain, "it is Sir Lancelot. I know him
by his riding."
So they all departed for the court.
And as Sir Lancelot rode still in the forest, he saw a black bloodhound,
running with its head towards the ground, as if it tracked a deer. And
following after it, he came to a great pool of blood. But the hound,
ever and anon looking behind, ran through a great marsh, and over a
bridge, towards an old manor house. So Sir Lancelot followed, and went
into the hall, and saw a dead knight lying there, whose wounds the hound
licked. And a lady stood behind him, weeping and wringing her hands, who
cried, "O knight! too great is the sorrow which thou hast brought me!"
"Why say ye so?" replied Sir Lancelot; "for I never harmed this knight,
and am full sorely grieved to see thy sorrow."
"Nay, sir," said the lady, "I see it is not thou hast slain my husband,
for he that truly did that deed is deeply wounded, and shall never more
recover."
"What is thy husband's name?" said Sir Lancelot.
"His name," she answered, "was Sir Gilbert--one of the best knights in
all the world; but I know not his name who hath slain him."
"God send thee comfort," said Sir Lancelot, and departed again into the
forest.
And as he rode, he met with a damsel who knew him, who cried out, "Well
found, my lord! I pray ye of your knighthood help my brother, who is
sore wounded and ceases not to bleed, for he fought this day with Sir
Gilbert, and slew him, but was himself well nigh slain. And there is a
sorceress, who dwelleth in a castle hard by, and she this day hath told
me that my brother's wound shall never be made whole until I find a
knight to go into the Chapel Perilous, and bring from thence a sword and
the bloody cloth in which the wounded knight was wrapped."
"This is a marvelous thing!" said Sir Lancelot; "but what is your
brother's name?"
"His name, sir," she replied, "is Sir Meliot de Logres."
"He is a Fellow of the Round Table," said Sir Lancelot, "and truly will
I do my best to help him."
"Then, sir," said she, "follow this way, and it will bring ye to the
Chapel Perilous. I will abide here till God send ye hither again; for if
ye speed not, there is no living knight who may achieve that adventure."
So Sir Lancelot departed, and when he came to the Chapel Perilous he
alighted, and tied his horse to the gate. And as soon as he was within
the churchyard, he saw on the front of the chapel many shields of
knights whom he had known, turned upside down. Then saw he in the
pathway thirty mighty knights, taller than any men whom he had ever
seen, all armed in black armor, with their swords drawn; and they
gnashed their teeth upon him as he came. But he put his shield before
him, and took his sword in hand, ready to do battle with them. And when
he would have cut his way through them, they scattered on every side and
let him pass. Then he went into the chapel, and saw therein no light but
of a dim lamp burning. Then he was aware of a corpse in the midst of the
chapel, covered with a silken cloth, and so stooped down and cut off a
piece of the cloth, whereat the earth beneath him trembled. Then saw he
a sword lying by the dead knight, and taking it in his hand, he hied him
from the chapel. As soon as he was in the churchyard again, all the
thirty knights cried out to him with fierce voices, "Sir Lancelot! lay
that sword from thee, or thou diest!"
"Whether I live or die," said he, "ye shall fight for it ere ye take it
from me."
With that they let him pass.
And further on, beyond the chapel, he met a fair damsel, who said, "Sir
Lancelot, leave that sword behind thee, or thou diest."
"I will not leave it," said Sir Lancelot, "for any asking."
"Then, gentle knight," said the damsel, "I pray thee kiss me once."
"Nay," said Sir Lancelot, "that God forbid!"
"Alas!" cried she, "I have lost all my labor! but hadst thou kissed me,
thy life's days had been all done!"
"Heaven save me from thy subtle crafts!" said Sir Lancelot; and
therewith took his horse and galloped forth.
And when he was departed, the damsel sorrowed greatly, and died in
fifteen days. Her name was Ellawes, the sorceress.
Then came Sir Lancelot to Sir Meliot's sister, who, when she saw him,
clapped her hands and wept for joy, and took him to the castle hard by,
where Sir Meliot was. And when Sir Lancelot saw Sir Meliot, he knew him,
though he was pale as ashes for loss of blood. And Sir Meliot, when he
saw Sir Lancelot, kneeled to him and cried aloud, "O lord, Sir Lancelot!
help me!"
And thereupon, Sir Lancelot went to him and touched his wounds with the
sword, and wiped them with the piece of bloody cloth. And immediately he
was as whole as though he had been never wounded. Then was there great
joy between him and Sir Meliot; and his sister made Sir Lancelot good
cheer. So on the morrow, he took his leave, that he might go to King
Arthur's court, "for," said he, "it draweth nigh the Feast of Pentecost,
and there, by God's grace, shall ye then find me."
And riding through many strange countries, over marshes and valleys, he
came at length before a castle. As he passed by he heard two little
bells ringing, and looking up, he saw a falcon flying overhead, with
bells tied to her feet, and long strings dangling from them. And as the
falcon flew past an elm-tree, the strings caught in the boughs, so that
she could fly no further.
In the meanwhile, came a lady from the castle, and cried, "Oh, Sir
Lancelot! as thou art the flower of all knights in the world, help me to
get my hawk, for she hath slipped away from me, and if she be lost, my
lord my husband is so hasty, he will surely slay me!"
"What is thy lord's name?" said Sir Lancelot.
"His name," said she, "is Sir Phelot, a knight of the King of
Northgales."
"Fair lady," said Sir Lancelot, "since you know my name, and require me,
on my knighthood, to help you, I will do what I can to get your hawk."
And thereupon alighting, he tied his horse to the same tree, and prayed
the lady to unarm him. So when he was unarmed, he climbed up and reached
the falcon, and threw it to the lady.
Then suddenly came down, out of the wood, her husband, Sir Phelot, all
armed, with a drawn sword in his hand, and said, "Oh, Sir Lancelot! now
have I found thee as I would have thee!" and stood at the trunk of the
tree to slay him.
"Ah, lady!" cried Sir Lancelot, "why have ye betrayed me?"
"She hath done as I commanded her," said Sir Phelot, "and thine hour is
come that thou must die."
"It were shame," said Lancelot, "for an armed to slay an unarmed man."
"Thou hast no other favor from me," said Sir Phelot.
"Alas!" cried Sir Lancelot, "that ever any knight should die
weaponless!" And looking overhead, he saw a great bough without leaves,
and wrenched it off the tree, and suddenly leaped down. Then Sir Phelot
struck at him eagerly, thinking to have slain him, but Sir Lancelot put
aside the stroke with the bough, and therewith smote him on the side of
the head, till he fell swooning to the ground. And tearing his sword
from out his hands, he shore his neck through from the body. Then did
the lady shriek dismally, and swooned as though she would die. But Sir
Lancelot put on his armor, and with haste took his horse and departed
thence, thanking God he had escaped that peril.
And as he rode through a valley, among many wild ways, he saw a knight,
with a drawn sword, chasing a lady to slay her. And seeing Sir Lancelot,
she cried and prayed to him to come and rescue her.
At that he went up, saying, "Fie on thee, knight! why wilt thou slay
this lady? Thou doest shame to thyself and all knights."
"What hast thou to do between me and my wife?" replied the knight. "I
will slay her in spite of thee."
"Thou shalt not harm her," said Lancelot, "till we have first fought
together."
"Sir," answered the knight, "thou doest ill, for this lady hath betrayed
me."
"He speaketh falsely," said the lady, "for he is jealous of me without
cause, as I shall answer before Heaven; but as thou art named the most
worshipful knight in the world, I pray thee of thy true knighthood to
save me, for he is without mercy."
"Be of good cheer," said Sir Lancelot; "it shall not lie within his
power to harm thee."
"Sir," said the knight, "I will be ruled as ye will have me."
So Sir Lancelot rode between the knight and the lady. And when they had
ridden awhile, the knight cried out suddenly to Sir Lancelot to turn and
see what men they were who came riding after them; and while Sir
Lancelot, thinking not of treason, turned to look, the knight, with one
great stroke, smote off the lady's head.
Then was Sir Lancelot passing wroth, and cried, "Thou traitor! Thou hast
shamed me forever!" and, alighting from his horse, he drew his sword to
have slain him instantly; but the knight fell on the ground and clasped
Sir Lancelot's knees, and cried out for mercy. "Thou shameful knight,"
answered Lancelot, "thou mayest have no mercy, for thou showedst none,
therefore arise and fight with me."
"Nay," said the knight, "I will not rise till thou dost grant me mercy."
"Now will I deal fairly by thee," said Sir Lancelot; "I will unarm me to
my shirt, and have my sword only in my hand, and if thou canst slay me
thou shalt be quit forever."
"That will I never do," said the knight.
"Then," answered Sir Lancelot, "take this lady and the head, and bear it
with thee, and swear to me upon thy sword never to rest until thou
comest to Queen Guinevere."
"That will I do," said he.
"Now," said Sir Lancelot, "tell me thy name."
"It is Pedivere," answered the knight.
"In a shameful hour wert thou born," said Sir Lancelot.
So Sir Pedivere departed, bearing with him the dead lady and her head.
And when he came to Winchester, where the Queen was with King Arthur, he
told them all the truth; and afterwards did great and heavy penance
many years, and became an holy hermit.
So, two days before the Feast of Pentecost, Sir Lancelot returned to the
court, and King Arthur was full glad of his coming. And when Sir Gawain,
Sir Ewaine, Sir Sagramour, and Sir Ector, saw him in Sir Key's armor,
they knew well it was he who had smitten them all down with one spear.
Anon, came all the knights Sir Turquine had taken prisoners, and gave
worship and honor to Sir Lancelot. Then Sir Key told the King how Sir
Lancelot had rescued him when he was in near danger of his death; "and,"
said Sir Key, "he made the knights yield, not to himself, but me. And by
Heaven! because Sir Lancelot took my armor and left me his, I rode in
peace, and no man would have aught to do with me." Then came the knights
who fought with Sir Lancelot at the long bridge and yielded themselves
also to Sir Key, but he said nay, he had not fought with them. "It is
Sir Lancelot," said he, "that overcame ye." Next came Sir Meliot de
Logres, and told King Arthur how Sir Lancelot had saved him from death.
And so all Sir Lancelot's deeds and great adventures were made known;
how the four sorceress-queens had him in prison; how he was delivered by
the daughter of King Bagdemagus, and what deeds of arms he did at the
tournament between the King of North Wales and King Bagdemagus. And so,
at that festival, Sir Lancelot had the greatest name of any knight in
all the world, and by high and low was he the most honored of all men.
XI
THE ADVENTURES OF SIR BEAUMAINS OR SIR GARETH
Again King Arthur held the Feast of Pentecost, with all the Table Round,
and after his custom sat in the banquet hall, before beginning meat,
waiting for some adventure. Then came there to the king a squire and
said, "Lord, now may ye go to meat, for here a damsel cometh with some
strange adventure." So the king was glad, and sat down to meat.
Anon the damsel came in and saluted him, praying him for succor. "What
wilt thou?" said the king. "Lord," answered she, "my mistress is a lady
of great renown, but is at this time besieged by a tyrant, who will not
suffer her to go out of her castle; and because here in thy court the
knights are called the noblest in the world, I come to pray thee for thy
succor." "Where dwelleth your lady?" answered the king. "What is her
name, and who is he that hath besieged her?" "For her name," replied the
damsel, "as yet I may not tell it; but she is a lady of worship and
great lands. The tyrant that besiegeth her and wasteth her lands is
called the Red Knight of the Redlands." "I know him not," said Arthur.
"But I know him, lord," said Sir Gawain, "and he is one of the most
perilous knights in all the world. Men say he hath the strength of
seven; and from him I myself once hardly escaped with life." "Fair
damsel," said the king, "there be here many knights that would gladly do
their uttermost to rescue your lady, but unless ye tell me her name, and
where she dwelleth, none of my knights shall go with you by my leave."
Now, there was a stripling at the court called Beaumains, who served in
the king's kitchen, a fair youth and of great stature. Twelve months
before this time he had come to the king as he sat at meat, at
Whitsuntide, and prayed three gifts of him. And being asked what gifts,
he answered, "As for the first gift I will ask it now, but the other two
gifts I will ask on this day twelve months, wheresoever ye hold your
high feast." Then said King Arthur, "What is thy first request?" "This,
lord," said he, "that thou wilt give me meat and drink enough for twelve
months from this time, and then will I ask my other two gifts." And the
king seeing that he was a goodly youth, and deeming that he was come of
honorable blood, had granted his desire, and given him into the charge
of Sir Key, the steward. But Sir Key scorned and mocked the youth,
calling Beaumains, because his hands were large and fair, and putting
him into the kitchen, where he had served for twelve months as a
scullion, and, in spite of all his churlish treatment, had faithfully
obeyed Sir Key. But Sir Lancelot and Sir Gawain were angered when they
saw Sir Key so churlish to a youth that had so worshipful a bearing,
and ofttimes had they given him gold and clothing.
And now at this time came young Beaumains to the king, while the damsel
was there, and said, "Lord, now I thank thee well and heartily that I
have been twelve months kept in thy kitchen, and have had full
sustenance. Now will I ask my two remaining gifts." "Ask," said King
Arthur, "on my good faith." "These, lord," said he, "shall be my two
gifts--the one, that thou wilt grant me this adventure of the damsel,
for to me of right it belongeth; and the other, that thou wilt bid Sir
Lancelot make me a knight, for of him only will I have that honor; and I
pray that he may ride after me and make me a knight when I require him."
"Be it as thou wilt," replied the king. But thereupon the damsel was
full wroth, and said, "Shall I have a kitchen page for this adventure?"
and so she took horse and departed.
Then came one to Beaumains, and told him that a dwarf with a horse and
armor were waiting for him. And all men marveled whence these things
came. But when he was on horseback and armed, scarce any one at the
court was a goodlier man than he. And coming into the hall, he took his
leave of the king and Sir Gawain, and prayed Sir Lancelot to follow him.
So he rode after the damsel, and many of the court went out to see him,
so richly arrayed and horsed; yet he had neither shield nor spear. Then
Sir Key cried, "I also will ride after the kitchen boy, and see whether
he will obey me now." And taking his horse, he rode after him, and
said, "Know ye not me, Beaumains?" "Yea," said he, "I know thee for an
ungentle knight, therefore beware of me." Then Sir Key put his spear in
rest and ran at him, but Beaumains rushed upon him with his sword in his
hand, and therewith, putting aside the spear, struck Sir Key so sorely
in the side, that he fell down, as if dead. Then he alighted, and took
his shield and spear, and bade his dwarf ride upon Sir Key's horse.
By this time, Sir Lancelot had come up, and Beaumains offering to tilt
with him, they both made ready. And their horses came together so
fiercely that both fell to the earth, full sorely bruised. Then they
arose, and Beaumains, putting up his shield before him, offered to fight
Sir Lancelot, on foot. So they rushed upon each other, striking, and
thrusting, and parrying, for the space of an hour. And Lancelot marveled
at the strength of Beaumains, for he fought more like a giant than a
man, and his fighting was passing fierce and terrible. So, at the last,
he said, "Fight not so sorely, Beaumains; our quarrel is not such that
we may not now cease." "True," answered Beaumains; "yet it doth me good
to feel thy might, though I have not yet proved my uttermost." "By my
faith," said Lancelot, "I had as much as I could do to save myself from
you unshamed, therefore be in no doubt of any earthly knight." "May I,
then, stand as a proved knight?" said Beaumains. "For that will I be thy
warrant," answered Lancelot. "Then, I pray thee," said he, "give me the
order of knighthood." "First, then, must thou tell me of thy name and
kindred," said Sir Lancelot. "If thou wilt tell them to no other, I will
tell thee," answered he. "My name is Gareth of Orkney, and I am own
brother to Sir Gawain." "Ah!" said Sir Lancelot, "at that am I full
glad; for, truly, I deemed thee to be of gentle blood." So then he
knighted Beaumains, and, after that, they parted company, and Sir
Lancelot, returning to the court, took up Sir Key on his shield. And
hardly did Sir Key escape with his life, from the wound Beaumains had
given him; but all men blamed him for his ungentle treatment of so brave
a knight.