UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA 
 AT LOS ANGELES

 
 THE 
 
 BOY'S KING ARTHUR 
 
 SIR THOMAS MALORY'S HISTORY 
 
 King Arthur and his Knights of tht 
 Round Table 
 
 EDITED FOR BOYS WITH AN INTRODUCTION 
 
 SIDNEY LAMER 
 
 lUustraUd by Alfred Ka&*t 
 
 10451 
 
 NEW YORK 
 
 CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS 
 1900 
 
 FEB 12 1901
 
 COPYRIGHT, 1880, 
 BY CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS.
 
 [300 
 o^o.^ 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 WILL the time come when Hamlet will be a boy's tale ? 
 
 Since the young readers of King Arthur and theii 
 young readers after them are of all persons in the world 
 the very oracles who must one day answer this question ; 
 and since its curious face will be thrusting itself upon us 
 from all manner of odd corners as we now go on to trace 
 the rise and spread of the stories which Sir Thomas 
 Malory used in making this beautiful old book : I wished 
 to state it at the beginning, so that it might at once widen S 
 and intensify our thoughts as we look upon those changes * 
 in language, in life, in the general stature of man's sp 
 whereby the great cycle of Arthurian romances which en- 
 chanted the grown men of all Europe during the middle 
 ages finds itself arrived, in the nineteenth century, at the 
 form of this present 2^'j King ArtJtur. 
 
 About the time when Englishmen first began to hear 
 the name " Plantagenet," from the planta genista or wild 
 broom of Anjou which Henry IL's father liked to wear by 
 way of a plume ; when Thomas a Becket was beginning 
 that bright friendship with this same King Henry IL 
 which presently darkened into their desperate struggle; 
 when a stranger was allowed to stop over in an English 
 borough but one night unless he could fetch good and 
 sufficient security against bad behavior; when, although a
 
 iv Introduction. 
 
 criminal could clear himself of his accusation by holding 
 hot iron in his hand or by sinking when cast into water, 
 nevertheless those bodies of men which have since become 
 what we call the "jury" the most admirable provision 
 ever made by our race for perfect reason and pure justice 
 between man and man were taking form : in such a time, 
 which we may roughly centre at the middle of the twelfth 
 century, the name of King Arthur first appeared in Eng- 
 lish literature. For it was then that a certain Geoffrey 
 of Monmouth put forth his Latin Historia Britonum, 
 "History of the Britons," in which for the first time 
 the story of Arthur as an ancient British king was fairly 
 set before the world. 
 
 Geoffrey told it for true, not as a mere fiction. Here 
 is his account of the way he happened to know it, and of 
 his reason for publishing it as matter belonging to the real 
 history of the Britons. This is a translation of part of 
 his first chapter. 
 
 " Whilst occupied on many and various studies, I hap- 
 pened to light upon the History of the Kings of Britain, 
 and wondered that in the account which Gildas and Bede, 
 in their elegant treatises, had given of them, I found 
 nothing said of those kings who lived here before Christ, 
 nor of Arthur, and many others who succeeded after 
 Christ; though their actions both deserved immortal 
 fame, and were also celebrated by many people in a pleas- 
 ant manner, and by heart, as if they had been written. 
 Whilst I was intent upon these and such like thoughts, 
 Walter, Archdeacon of Oxford" whom we suppose to 
 be the Walter Map presently figuring in this account 
 " a man of great eloquence, and learned in foreign histo- 
 ries, offered me a very ancient book in the British tongue " 
 Geoffrey's "British" here means ou- Welsh "which,
 
 Introduction. 
 
 in a continued regular story and elegant style, related ihe 
 actions of them all, from Brutus the first king of the 
 Britons down to Cadwallader the son of Cadwallo. At 
 his request, therefore, though I had not made fine lan- 
 guage my study, by collecting florid expressions from 
 other authors, yet contented with my own homely style 
 I undertook the translation of that book into Latin." > 
 
 It must be confessed that our historian's ideas of proba-iX*^ 
 bility seem very unsatisfactory to the modern view of 
 historic dignity. Perhaps no more striking proof could 
 be given of the enormous growth in men's conscience and 
 reasonableness since that time than by the following 
 couple of stories which I have taken out of Geoffrey's 
 " History," the one purporting to be a true account of 
 the way in which the island of Britain was first peopled 
 and named, the other setting forth the strange advent 
 of Merlin as prophet and counsellor to the British kings. 
 
 After relating how ^Eneas settled in Italy at the close 
 of the Trojan war, Geoffrey treats of his descendants 
 there, and presently comes to one Brutus, the great-grand- 
 son of /Eneas, who is afterwards the founder of the British 
 race. This Brutus, having by accident slain his own 
 father with an arrow while hunting, is banished by his 
 kinsmen for the dreadful deed He wanders forth over 
 the earth, falls into wondrous adventures, fights battles, 
 and does noble deeds, until he is finally told by the god- 
 dess Diana that there is an island in the Western Sea 
 upon which he is to found a great empire. 
 
 He goes in search, and, after other tremendous wart 
 and victories in which he amasses great spoils, he and his 
 mighty lieutenant Corineus, with a company which he has 
 gathered in his wanderings, arrive on the coast of Eng- 
 land. The details of these matters occupy fourteen
 
 vi Introduction. 
 
 chapters after chapter first, already quoted : and here, in 
 chapter sixteen, we have the terrible fight of Corineus 
 with the aboriginal giant, and the founding of Britain. 
 
 " The island was then called Albion, and was inhabited 
 by none but a few giants." Fixing their habitation, they 
 begin to till the ground ; and " Brutus called the island 
 after his name Britain, 1 and his companions Britons." 
 But Corineus begins to languish for some fun : " For it 
 was a diversion to him to encounter the said giants, which 
 were in greater numbers " in his province " than in all the 
 other provinces that fell to the share of his companions. 
 Among the rest was one detestable monster named Goe- 
 magot, in stature twelve cubits, and of such prodigious 
 strength that at one shake he pulled up an oak as if it had 
 been a hazel wand. On a certain day, when Brutus was 
 holding a solemn festival to the gods . . . this giant with 
 twenty more of his companions came in upon the Britons, 
 among whom he made a dreadful slaughter. But the 
 Britons, at last assembling together in a body, put them 
 to the rout, and killed them every one but Goemagot. 
 Brutus had given orders to have him preserved alive, out 
 of a desire to see a combat between him and Corineus. . . . 
 Corineus, overjoyed at this, prepared himself, and, throw- 
 ing aside his arms, challenged him to wrestle with him. 
 At the beginning of the encounter, Corineus and the giant, 
 standing front to front, held each other strongly in their 
 arms, and panted aloud for breath ; but Goemagot pres- 
 ently, grasping Corineus with all his might, broke three of 
 his ribs. ... At which Corineus, highly enraged, roused up 
 
 1 The first u in " Brutus " sounded like the modern French u in Geoffrey's 
 time. This in rapid conversation is not widely different from the short * of 
 Brz't-ain. The derivation was therefore at any rate not an improbable one, in 
 point of sound, to Geoffrey's readers.
 
 Introduction. vii 
 
 his whole strength, and, snatching him upon his shoulders, 
 ran with him as fast as the weight would allow him to the 
 nearest part of the sea-shore, and there, getting upon the 
 top of a high rock, hurled down the savage monster into 
 the sea; where, falling upon the sides of craggy rocks, 
 he was torn to pieces, and colored the waves with his 
 blood The place where he fell ... is called lam Goe 
 magot, that is Goemagot's Leap, to this day." 
 
 And here, in the last chapters of Geoffrey's sixth book, 
 we have the mystic appearance of Merlin. Vortigern, 
 king of Britain, after the slaughter of his whole princely 
 following through the treachery of Hengist and the wast- 
 ing of his countries by that warrior, retires desolate into 
 Cambria, the modern "Wales," and for some time 
 is at a loss how to act 
 
 " At last he had recourse to magicians, and commanded 
 them to tell him what course to take. They advised him 
 to build a very strong tower for his own safety, since he 
 had lost all his other fortified places. Accordingly he 
 . . . assembled workmen from several countries, and 
 ordered them to build the tower. The builders therefore 
 began to lay the foundation ; but whatever they did one 
 day, the earth swallowed up the next, so as to leave no 
 appearance of their work. Vortigern, being informed of 
 this, again consulted with his magicians concerning the 
 cause of it, who told him that he must find out a youth 
 that never had a father, and kill him, and then sprinkle 
 the stone and cement with his blood ; for by those means. 
 they said, he would have a firm foundation. Hereupon 
 messengers were despatched over all the provinces to in- 
 quire out such a man. In their travels they came to a 
 city . . . where they saw some young men playing before 
 the gate, and went up to them; but, being weary with
 
 viii Introduction. 
 
 their journey, they sat down. . . . Towards evening there 
 happened on a sudden a quarrel between two of the young 
 men, whose names were Merlin and Dabutius. In the 
 dispute Dabutius said to Merlin : ' You fool, do you pre- 
 sume to quarrel with me ? . . . I am descended of royal 
 race both by my father's and mother's side. As for you, 
 nobody knows what you are, for you never had a father.' 
 At that word the messengers looked earnestly upon Mer- 
 lin, and asked the by-standers who he was. They told 
 them it was not known who was his father ; but that his 
 mother was daughter to the king of Dimetia, and that she 
 lived in St. Peter's Church among the nuns of that city. 
 Upon this the messengers hastened to the governor of the 
 city, and ordered him in the king's name to send Merlin 
 and his mother to the king." 
 
 The king having received them, and having made nu- 
 merous inquiries which were satisfactorily answered, 
 
 " Merlin then approached the king and said to him, ' For 
 what reason am I and my mother introduced into your 
 presence?' ' My magicians,' answered Vortigern, 'advised 
 me to seek out a man who had no father, with whose blood 
 my building is to be sprinkled in order to make it stand.' 
 ' Order your magicians,' said Merlin, ' to come before me, 
 and I will convict them of a lie.' The king was surprised 
 at his words, and presently ordered the magicians to come 
 and sit down before Merlin, who spoke to them after this 
 manner : 
 
 " ' Because you are ignorant what it is that hinders 
 the foundation of the tower, you have recommended the 
 shedding of my blood for cement to it, as if that would 
 presently make it stand. But tell me now what is there 
 under the foundation ? For something there is that will 
 not suffer it to stand.'
 
 Introduction. ix 
 
 "The magicians at this began to be afraid and made 
 him no answer. Then said Merlin, who is also called 
 Ambrose, ' I entreat your majesty would command your 
 workmen to dig into the ground, and you will find a 
 pond which causes the foundation to sink.' 
 
 " This accordingly was done, and then presently they 
 found a pond deep under ground which had made it give 
 way. Merlin after this went again to the magicians and 
 said, ' Tell me, ye false sycophants, what is there under the 
 pond.' But they were silent Then said he again to the 
 king, ' Command the pond to be drained, and at the bottom 
 you will see two hollow stones, and hi them two dragons 
 asleep.' The king made no scruple of believing him, since 
 he had found true what he had said of the pond, and there- 
 fore ordered it to be drained; which done, he found as 
 Merlin had said ; and now was possessed of the greatest 
 admiration of him. Nor were the rest that were present 
 less amazed at his wisdom, thinking it to be no less than 
 divine inspiration." 
 
 If all Geoffrey's history were of this cast, and that of 
 the famous Prophecy of Merlin which follows the extract 
 just given, one could find great comfort in a phrase of the 
 angry Hotspur in Shakspere's King Henry IV., who, when 
 reproached by Mortimer for his endless crossing and taunt* 
 ing of the Welshman Glendower, cries, 
 
 I cannot choose : sometime be angers me 
 With telling me ... 
 
 Of the dreamer Merlin and his prophecies, 
 And of a dragon and a finless fish, 
 ... A couching lion, and a ramping cat, 
 And such a deal of skimble-skamble stuff 
 As pots me from my faith.
 
 Introduction. 
 
 But there are many soberer maters, lying nearer within 
 historic possibility, in Geoffrey's bii k ; and its rich stores 
 have often furnished groundwork for later English think- 
 ers, as, for instance, its account of Leir, an early king of 
 England, which has been transformed into Shakspere's 
 terrible play of King Lear. 
 
 Before leaving Geoffrey it is worth while mentioning, as 
 explanatory of several English names which occur in the 
 following work, that according to him Brutus had three 
 sons, who upon their father's death divided the kingdom 
 between them : these were, Locrin, who took the middle 
 part of the island, and thus gave it a name often used in 
 this book, " Loegria," or sometimes " Logris ; " Albanact, 
 who took the northern part, and thus gave name to the 
 country of Albania, or Albany, now known as Scotland ; 
 and Kamber, who took the part beyond the Severn, and 
 thus gave it the name of Kambria, or Cambria, now 
 known as "Wales," though still often referred to under 
 the other title. 
 
 Advancing, now, to Walter Map (whose name is also 
 spelled " Mapes ") : he seems not to have been content 
 that these matters should remain in Geoffrey's Latin, for 
 we find three long Arthurian romances in French which 
 are attributed to him. One of these is called La Queste 
 del Saint Graal, 1 and is in a far nobler vein of story than 
 Geoffrey's. I have thought that many young readers 
 would be glad to see some of the French of Maistres 
 Gautiers Map, and for this purpose I have selected part of 
 
 1 The "Saint Graal," or Saint Grail, or Sane Greal, or Sangreal as it 
 has been variously spelled at different times means the holy (sanct-us, saint) 
 Grail, or Cup, which was fabled to have received some of the blood of Jesus 
 Christ, and to have been brought away, endowed with miraculous powers, by 
 Joseph of Arimathea, finally lodging in England.
 
 Introduction. 
 
 that most exquisite story which is also finely told in the 
 present book of the meeting of Sir Percival and the 
 lion, and of their friendship. My extract begins as Sir 
 Percival has slain the serpent. " Quant li lyons se voit 
 delivres del serpent par 1'aide del chivaler, il ne fait pas 
 samblant qu'il vit volentee de combatre a percheval" 
 [Percival} "ains vient devant lui, et boisse sa teste. et 
 lui fait grant ioie. si que perchevaus {Percival} voit bien 
 qu'il n'a talent de lui mal faire, il remet s'espee el fuerre, 
 et iete ius son escu, et son hiaume de sa teste por le vent 
 requellir. Car assis 1'ot escaufe li serpens, et li lyons aloit 
 tous jours apres lui, covetant et faisant grant ioie. Et 
 quant il voit che, si le commence a aplanier col et teste, 
 et dist que notres sires lui a envoie celle beste pour lui 
 faire compaignie." 
 
 But perhaps it will be still more interesting to see ex- yf 
 actly what sort of English was spoken in this time : and, 
 for the purpose of showing, I wish to bring forward \s 
 short passage from an old English poet who seems to me*^ 
 the most delightful boy-that-never-grows-old in the world, 
 and whom perhaps one loves a little more, because his 
 countrymen have as yet loved him a great deal less, 
 than he deserves. His name is Layamon ; and he not 
 only began one of the most remarkable revolutions in 
 the whole history of language, but he was writing at one 
 of the most glorious moments in the history of England. 
 If I mention the year 1215, every boy's mind will im 
 diately fly to that famous day at Runnymede when the 
 barons forced the Great Charter from King John. While 
 this Charter, with its deep declarations which seem to 
 have rendered English liberty indestructible such as, 
 "To no man will we sell, or deny, or delay, right or jus- 
 tice," and "We will not go against any man nor send
 
 xii Introduction. 
 
 against him, save by legal judgment of his peers or by 
 the law of the land" was overthrowing political tyran- 
 ny, Layamon, in a spirit not unlike, was overthrowing 
 a literary tyranny. For a hundred and fifty years 
 since William the Norman came over in 1066 and im- 
 posed his tongue upon England French had been the 
 official language of the country : if you had a communi- 
 cation for royalty it must be in French, if you had a case 
 in court the pleadings must be in French, and we have 
 just seen how Walter Map writes his story in French 
 while Geoffrey writes his in Latin. No one writes books 
 in English. At length, however, comes Layamon, a 
 priest living at Earnley, on the Severn ; with infinite 
 labor he toils about different parts of England to find 
 three books, one by Baecla (" the Venerable Bede "), one 
 by Wace, and one by Sts. Albin and Austin. At last 
 he gets them ; and what a fine figure he puts before us, 
 through these six and . naif centuries, when we find him 
 saying of himself, " Layamon laid down these books, and 
 turned the leaves ; he gazed on them lovingly ; may the 
 Lord be merciful to him ! " Then he plied his pen, and 
 presently he had made a poem called "The Brut" (pro- 
 nounced Brute, and being so called as a history of Eng- 
 land from the time of Geoffrey's Brutus, father of the 
 Britons), which was so thoroughly English that in its 
 more than thirty thousand lines not fifty French words 
 can be found. 
 
 But Layamon was far from confining himself to his three 
 books. His imagination went far outside of their record ; 
 and it is just possible that he had heard some of those 
 popular legends about Arthur which appear to have been 
 handed down from father to son, and to which Geoffrey 
 must refer in the extract first given from him, where he
 
 Introduction. xiii 
 
 says that the deeds of the old kings " were also celebrated 
 by many people . . . by heart, as if tJiey had been writ- 
 ten" 
 
 Here, then, is the English of Layamon, which, though 
 fifty years later than Geoffrey, is substantially the same as 
 was spoken by the latter. ^ 
 
 The passage gives us a picture of King Arthur in one \s .. 
 of his series of battles with Colgrim, leader of the Saxons.^^^ 
 At first Arthur's forces are overpowered, and, with that 
 cool judgment of the brave man which you will find 
 always held up in the present book as a far higher test 
 and ideal of manfulness than mere hot fighting and dash, 
 Arthur does not hesitate to take advantage of a stream, - 
 and retreat. But in retreating he keeps his wits about 
 him, and ever looks out for a chance to strike, never 
 dreaming of surrender. And so, presently, says Laya- 
 
 Tho Arthur that i-seh, that Coxgrim him was so neh, 
 
 1 Then Arthur that saw, that Coigrim him was so nigh, 
 
 That hii * weren beyne in on half than watere,' 
 
 That they were bath on one half (of) the water, 
 Tho saide Arthur . . . , 
 
 Then said Arthur . . . , 
 
 here we have a brief soul-stirring speech from the king, 
 calling upon his men for valor, and crying out that the 
 
 1 I give the modern form of each old word immediately under it, in the 
 italicized line, thus showing the changes since Layamon. The meaning can 
 be made out from the literal translation in italics : it must be remembered 
 that the order of words in a sentence was different then from now. Signs oi 
 this will be seen along through Malory's book, though so much later. 
 
 " Hii " is pronounced as if written hee. 
 
 1 " Watere " in three syllables, mat-tr-th : every final e makes a syllable.
 
 xiv Introduction. 
 
 day of God is come for the Saxons to perish : and, with 
 the last word, 
 
 Up brayd 1 Arthur his seald forn to his breaste, 
 
 Up stretched Arthur his shield before his breast, 
 
 And he gan to rese, so the wode * wolf 
 
 And he 'gan to rush, as the furious wolf 
 
 Wane he cometh of holte, bi-hong mid snowe, 
 When he cometh (ouf) of (the) forest, behung with snow, 
 
 And thencheth to bite woch seap that him liketh. 
 And thinketh to bite what sheep that him liketh. 
 
 Swa the haeye wude 
 
 As the high voted 
 
 Thene wind wode weieth hine mid maeine, 
 
 When (the) wind furious bendeth it with main,* 
 
 Flogen over the feldes thritti 4 thusend sceldes, 
 
 Flew over the fields thirty thousand shields, 
 
 & smiten a Colgrimes cnihtes that tha eorthe agaen quehte. 
 And smote Colgrim's knights (so) that the earth again shook. 
 
 Breken braden speren, brustleden sceldes, 
 
 Broke broad spears, shivered shields, 
 
 Feollen Saexisce men folden to grunden. 
 Fell Saxon men to ground. 
 
 1 " Brayd " is an old form of modern broad: Arthur up-broadens hi 
 hield, that is, extends it upward. The Scotch, who preserve many Anglo 
 Saxon forms, still say " braid " for broad. 
 
 * " Wode " is a word which will be often found in the book you are about 
 to read, spelled " wood," and meaning mad, " insane ; " as, " like a wood (mad) 
 lion." It is used by Shakspere in A Midsummer Nighfs Dream, where 
 Demetrius punningly says, " And here am I, and wood within this wood, " 
 that is, mad within this wood, " Because I cannot meet my Helena." 
 
 * That is, with power : we still say, " with might and main." 
 
 * The last i in " thritti " short : as if thritty.
 
 Introduction. xw 
 
 That i-sah Colgrim, ther vore wa wes him. 
 
 That saw Colgrim, therefore vet was Aim. 
 
 Colgrim gon to flaenne, feondliche swithe, 
 Colgrim 'fan to fee, fendJike fa* 
 
 SL his hors hine bar mid haeghere strengthe 
 
 And his horse him lore with higher strength 
 
 Over that water deape and scelde him with daethe. 
 Over that water deep and shielded him against death. 
 
 Saxes gunnen sinken : sorge hem wes givede. 
 Saxons begun (to) sink: sorrow (to) them was given. 
 
 Arthur wende his speres ord and forstod heo them vord. 
 Arthur turned kis spear* s point and forstood them the ford. 
 
 Ther a-druncke Sexes fulle seove thusend. 
 There drowned Saxons full seven thousand. 
 
 Swa doth the w:Me crane 
 So doth the wud crane 
 
 Wane his fliht is a-wemmid and him holdeth after havekes swifte, 
 
 When his flight it a-hindered and him holdeth after Lacks swift, 
 
 Houndes in than reode mid routhe him i-meteth : 
 
 Hounds in the reeds with sorrow him meet: 
 
 Thanne is him nother god no that lond nother flod, 
 Then is (to) kirn neither good the land nor the Jteod, 
 
 Havekes him smiteth, houndes him biteth, 
 
 Than his the kineworthe fogel adrad in eche side. 
 
 Then is the royal bird a-dread on each suit. 
 
 Layamon, you observe, writes sometimes in rhyme,
 
 xvi Introduction. 
 
 Havekes him smiteth, 
 
 Houndes him biteth^ 
 or, 
 
 Flogen over \htfeldes 
 Thritti thusend sceldes, 
 
 the rhyme being between words at the middle and end 
 of the verse, as here printed ; and sometimes in what is 
 called the Anglo-Saxon alliterative metre, as, for instance, 
 where the three first main syllables of the line begin with 
 the same letter, s, in 
 
 Saxes gunnen jinken : Jorge hem wes givede. 
 
 When one is so familiar with the sounds and spirit of 
 Layamon's speech as to recite his poetry in something 
 of his own manner, the music of it is far less rugged than 
 seems at first sight possible. 
 
 If we now leave out of sight the numerous writers, 
 besides Wace and Layamon and Map, who sent forth all 
 manner of romances in prose and verse growing out of 
 Geoffrey's original stock ; and, passing at one step along 
 nearly three hundred years, if we come to an English 
 author who is still re-telling the Arthurian stories, and 
 find an English audience still desiring to hear them re- 
 told : we cannot fail to be struck with the hold which 
 ' Geoffrey's tales had taken upon men's minds. 
 
 This author is our own simple, valorous, wise, tender 
 Sir Thomas Malory, who wrote the History of King 
 Arthur and his knights of the Round Table found in the 
 following pages. I regret that I can give no personal 
 account of one who must have been an interesting man : 
 so far as I can discover, we know absolutely nothing of 
 him save what is contained in the following words, which
 
 Introduction. xvH 
 
 form the last clause of the last sentence of his work : . . . 
 " for this book was ended the ninth year of the reign of 
 King Edward the Fourth, by Sir Thomas Maleore, knight, 
 as Jesu help him for His great might, as he is the servant 
 of Jesu both day and night" The ninth year of the reign 
 of Edward IV. would be somewhere in 1469 or 1470: 
 thus, while the Wars of the Roses were thundering about 
 England, while Edward and Warwick the king-maker 
 were apparently shaking the world with their desperate 
 struggle, our Sir Thomas Maleore, knight, was sitting 
 down quietly day by day, and poring over the five great 
 French romances the Merlin, the Tristram, the Launce- 
 lot, the Quest of tte Saint Grail, and the Death of Arthur 
 which appear to have furnished the main materials of 
 his book. 
 
 And our long account now doses, in bringing Malory 
 into contact with another one of the most interesting 
 Englishmen who ever lived. This is William Caxton, the 
 first English printer. How much on the surface were 
 these noisy Wars of the Roses, after all ! must we reflect, 
 when we remember that just about the time of the hide- 
 ous battle of Barnet, in which Edward IV. finally defeated 
 the king-maker Warwick, Caxton was bringing over the 
 first printing-press to England, and beginning to publish 
 poetry, chronicles, and philosophy. It was after he had 
 been at work for some time that he was asked why he had 
 not printed the history of King Arthur. His own account 
 of the matter is not only interesting in itself, but will fur- 
 nish a fit close to the specimens of older language 1 have 
 been giving. It would seem that after this request he 
 began to look about for some suitable manuscript on the 
 subject, and so came in what way is wholly unknown 
 to the knowledge of Malory's book. Here is the opening
 
 xviii Introduction. 
 
 of Caxton's own prologue, or preface, to his edition of Sir 
 Thomas's work. 1 
 
 " After that I had accomplysshed and fynysshed dyvers 
 hystoryes, as well of contemplacyon as of other hystoryal 
 and worldly actes of grete conquerours and prynces, and 
 also certeyn bookes of ensaumples and doctryne, many 
 noble and dyvers gentylmen of thys royame of Englond 
 camen and demaunded me many and oftymes wherfore 
 that I have not do make and enprynte the noble hystorye 
 of the saynt greal, and of the moost renomed crysten 
 kyng, fyrst and chyef of the thre best crysten and worthy, 
 kyng Arthur, whyche ought moost to be remembred 
 emonge us Englysshe men tofore al other crysten kynges." 
 
 It appears that Caxton was an unbeliever, as to King 
 Arthur ; for to the persons so inquiring he at first " an- 
 swered that dyvers men holde oppynyon that there was no 
 suche Arthur," and the like ; and it is worth while to note 
 the silliness of the arguments which satisfied the simple 
 old soul, as contrasted with the severity of historic con- 
 science since physical science has taught us to scorn the 
 comfort of vagueness in all matters where it is possible 
 to know the exact truth. To these doubts of Caxton's, 
 his friends "answerd, and one in specyal sayd, that 
 in hym that shold say or thynke that there was never 
 suche a kyng callyd Arthur, myght wel be aretted [sup- 
 posed] grete folye and blyndenesse ; for he sayd that there 
 were many evydences of the contrarye. Fyrst ye may 
 see his sepulture in the monasterye of Glastyngburye, and 
 also in Polycronycon, in the v book the syxte chappytre, 
 and in the seventh book the xxiii chappytre, where his 
 body was buryed and after founden and translated into the 
 
 1 Only two copies of this edition now remain, one of which is incomplete 
 The complete copy is now in the library of the Earl of Jersey.
 
 Introduction. 
 
 sayd monasterye. Ye shal se also in thystorye of Bochas 
 [Boccaccw] in his book cU easu principum, parte of his 
 noble actes and also of his falle. Also Galfrydus [Geof- 
 frey, latinized], in his Brutysshe book, recounteth his lyf. 
 And in divers places of Englond many remembraunces 
 ben yet of hym and shall remayne perpetuelly, and also of 
 his knyghtes. Fyrst, in the abbay of Westmestre at saynt 
 Edwardes shryne remayneth the prynte of his seal in reed 
 [red] waxe closed in beryll, in whych is wryton Patricius 
 Arthurus, Britannie, Gallie, Germanie, Dacie, imperator* 
 Item [also], in the castel of Dover ye may see Gauwayns 
 skulle, and Cradoks mantel ; at Wynchester, the rounde 
 table ; in other places, Launcelottes swerde [sword], and 
 many other thynges. Thenne al these thynges con- 
 sydered, there can no man reasonably gaynsaye but there 
 was a kyng of thys lande named Arthur. . . . And also 
 he is more spoken of beyonde the see, moe bookes made 
 of his noble actes, than there be in Englond, as wel in 
 Duche, Ytalyen, Spanysshe, and Grekysshe, as in Frensshe. 
 And yet of record remayne in wytnesse of hym in Wales, 
 in the toune of Camelot, the grete stones and mervayllous 
 werkys of yron lyeing under the grounde, and ryal [royal] 
 vautes [vaults], which dyvers now lyvyng hath seen. . . . 
 Thenne al these thynges forsayd aledged, I coude not wel 
 denye but tfiat ttiere was suche a noble kyng named Arthur" 
 and so finally he proceeds to "enprynte a book of the 
 noble hystoryes of the sayd kynge Arthur, and of certeyn 
 of his knyghtes, after a copye unto me delyvered, whychc 
 copye syr Thomas Malorye dyd take oute of certeyn 
 bookes of Frensshe and reduced it into Englysshe." 
 
 And so, after running over England and France, in the 
 twelfth century like a Scott's-novel in the nineteenth ; 
 after growing, branching into new tales, absorbing ne^
 
 xx Introduction. 
 
 heroes, embodying new ideas, employing new writers, and 
 delighting whole countries, through Wace, Map, Layamon, 
 f Gaimar, de Borron, and many other authors, until the 
 / latter part of the fifteenth century : all the separate sto- 
 l ries originating in Geoffrey's history are brought together 
 \ and moulded into one work, with a sort of beginning, a 
 >plot, and a crisis, by Sir Thomas Malory, who may thus, 
 5 with but little strain, be said to have written the first 
 1 English novel. And his modifications and general treat- 
 1 ment of his material of which no details can be given 
 V here suffice, I think, to give him a claim to this book, 
 iiot as a mere compilation, but as a work in which so 
 much of himself is mingled that it is largely, and in some 
 of its best features, his own. This is indeed almost a 
 peculiar circumstance characterizing the successive im- 
 provements of the Arthurian story as it comes on down 
 the ages. We might fairly trace the growth of English 
 civilization by comparing with the earliest conceptions of 
 yKing Arthur the latest ideal of him in our literature given 
 is by our own great master Tennyson. It is interesting to 
 recall here that Milton at first chose the Arthurian story 
 make a great poem of, and dearly cherished the idea ; 
 >ut the troublous times long prevented any great work, 
 knd he finally found the larger theme of Paradise Lost. 
 
 now, when four hundred years after Caxton 
 printed this book for " many noble and divers gentlemen of 
 this realm of England," you find a later editor re-arranging 
 the old grown-people's story for many noble and divers 
 boys both of England and America, perhaps the fore- 
 gping account may justify you in a certain sense of proud 
 responsibility as you recall the question with which I 
 began this long inquiry.
 
 Introduction. xxi 
 
 No book ever needed less pointing-out of its 
 faults and beauties than this frank work of a soul so trans- 
 parent that one is made to think of the Wakulla Spring in 
 Florida where one can see a penny on the bottom at a 
 hundred feet depth. I will but ask you to observe spe- 
 cially the majestic "lanb ^ ^ <;i ' r T flMnrplot ^nrinpr thos^ 
 dolorous last days when King Arthur, under the frenzied 
 advice of Sir Gawaine, bringslwo_grjf 
 
 sioji_ta_besiege Joyous Card. Day after day Gawaine, 
 and sometimes Arthur, call out the vilest taunts and dares 
 and accusations over the walls ; but ever Sir Launcelot, 
 though urged even by his own indignant followers within, 
 replies with a grave and lordly reasonableness which 
 shames his enemies beyond measure : twice he fights a 
 great single-handed battle with Sir Gawaine, and, although 
 Gawaine is miraculously helped, wounds him sorely, yet 
 spares his life ; he charges his knights to be still loyal to 
 King Arthur, and to do the king no hurt, upon pain of 
 death ; and one day in a general engagement when King 
 Arthur is unhorsed Sir Launcelot himself flies to the 
 rescue, places the king on horseback again, and sees him 
 safe, with perfect tenderness and loyalty. Larger j>e- 
 
 literature. 
 
 is not shown us anywhere in English literature. 
 And from this point on, the pictures of the passing of 
 Arthur, of Launcelot grovelling; on the tnmh of the king, 
 of Launcelot's own strange departure, and of SirEctor 
 lamentingSir LaunceloTand describing that great loiight 
 
 - arA nfmiigftf wfrh R cimplo art 
 
 is^ as perfect as artlessness. In the Introduction to The 
 Boy s Froissart to which this is intended as a companion- 
 book I have pointed out the proper relation of this work 
 as a picture of times and manners, and have discussed 
 old and the modern knight. I will therefore a3d but a brief
 
 xxii Introduction. 
 
 explanation of the manner in which I have brought for- 
 ward the old text. 
 
 ^ Every word in the book, except those which occur in 
 ''^brackets, is Malory's, unchanged except that the spelling 
 ^ is modernized. Of the bracketed words, there are two 
 sorts, fulfilling different functions : those in italics are 
 always in explanation of the word or phrase immediately 
 before ; while those not italicised are the editor's, being 
 connective clauses in which I have a few times found it 
 convenient to preserve the thread of a story which could 
 not be given entire. I have also changed the division 
 into books, from Caxton's wholly unreasonable arrange- 
 ment of twenty-one, to six, each mainly occupied with 
 adventures turning upon the hero or event which names 
 it. 
 
 Into the fine fellowship, then, of lordly Sir Launcelot, 
 of generous Sir Tristram, of stainless Sir Galahad, of 
 gentle Sir Percival, of meqk Sir Gareth ot Orkney r of 
 brilliant Sir Palamides the Saracen, of dolorous Sir 
 Balin and Sir Balan, of persevering Sir la Cote Mai 
 Taile, of hilarious Sir Dinadan, and of a hundred more, 
 as well, alas ! as into the ungentle company of cowardly 
 King Mark, of traitorous Sir Mordred, and of wicked 
 Morgan le Fay, I commit you, with feelings so like 
 those with which Caxton closes his prologue that I can- 
 not help applying to the young readers of this work his 
 farewell words to his maturer audience. "And for to 
 passe the tyme, this book shal be plesaunte to rede in, 
 but for to gyve fayth and byleve that al is trewe that is 
 contained herin, ye be at your lyberte ; but al is wryton 
 for our doctryne," and this book is therefore sent forth 
 "to the entente that noblemen may see and lerne the 
 ible actes of chyvalrye, the jentyl and vertuous dedea
 
 Introduction. xxiii 
 
 that somme knyghtes used in tho days, by whyche they 
 came to honour, and how they *hat were vyrious were 
 punysshed, and often put to shame and rebuke, humbly 
 bysechying al noble lordes and ladyes, wyth al other es- 
 tates, of what estate or degree they been of, that shal see 
 and rede in this sayd book *jid werke, that they take the 
 good and honest actes .* their remembraunce, and to 
 folowe the same." 
 
 SIDNEY LAMES. 
 
 Mm OctoW
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 BOOK I. 
 
 OF KING ARTHUR. 
 
 CHAPTER I. ^ 
 
 Or THE BIRTH OF KING ARTHUR, AND OF HIS NOURISHING, AND 
 OF THE DEATH OF KING UTHKRPENDRAGON, AND HOW ARTHUR 
 WAS CHOSEN KING, AND OF WONDERS AND MARVELS OF A 
 SWORD THAT WAS TAKEN OUT OF STONE BY THK SAID ARTHUR, I 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 How KING ARTHUR PULLED our THK SWORD DIVERS TIMES. . 4 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 How ARTHUR WAS CROWNED KING, AND HOW HE MADE OFFICERS, 6 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 How GRIFLET WAS MADE KNIGHT, AND HOW HE JOUSTED WITH A 
 KNIGHT .7 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 How MERLIN SAVED KING ARTHUR'S LIFE, AND THREW AN EN- 
 CHANTMENT UPON KING PELLINORE, AND MADE HIM TO FALL 
 ON SLEEP 9 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 How ARTHUR BY THE MEAN OF MERLIN GAT EXCALIBUR HIS 
 SWORD OF THE LADY OF THE LAKE .... 13
 
 xxvi Contents. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. PAGKt 
 
 How TIDINGS CAME TO KING ARTHUR THAT KING RYENCE HAD 
 OVERCOME ELEVEN KINGS, AND HOW HE DESIRED KING ARTHUR'S 
 BEARD TO PURFLE [border} HIS MANTLE . . . 16 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 OF A DAMSEL WHICH CAME GIRT WITH A SWORD, FOR TO FIND A 
 MAN OF SUCH VIRTUE TO DRAW IT OUT OF THE SCABBARD . ij 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 How BALIN, ARRAYED LIKE A POOR KNIGHT, PULLED OUT THE 
 SWORD, WHICH AFTERWARD WAS CAUSE OF HIS DEATH . . 19 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 How THE LADY cv THE LAKE DEMANDED THE KNIGHT'S HEAD 
 
 THAT HAD WON THE SWORD, OR THE MAIDEN'S HEAD . . 23 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 How MERLIN TOLD THE ADVENTURE OF THE DAMSEL ... 24 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 How BALIN WAS PURSUED BY SIR LANCEOR, A KNIGHT OF IRE- 
 LAND, AND HOW BALIN SLEW HIM 25 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 How A DAMSEL WHICH WAS IN LOVE WITH LANCEOR, SLEW HER- 
 SELF FOR HIS LOVE, AND HOW BALIN MET WITH HIS BROTHER 
 
 BALAN 27 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 How A DWARF REPROVED BALIN FOR THE DEATH OF LANCEOR, 
 AND HOW KING MARK OF CORNWALL FOUND THEM, AND MADE 
 
 A TOMB OVER THEM 28 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 How MERLIN PROPHESIED THAT BALIN SHOULD STRIKE THE DO- 
 LOROUS STROKE 30 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 How BALIN AND HIS BROTHER BY THE COUNSEL OF MERLIN TOOK 
 KING RYENCE, AND BROUGHT HIM TO KING ARTHUR ... 31
 
 Contents. xxvii 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. pAa 
 
 How KING ARTHUR HAD A BATTLE AGAINST NERO AND KING 
 LOT, AND HOW TWELVE KINGS WERE SLAIN 33 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 OF THE INTERMENT or TWELVE KINGS, AND OF THE PROPHECY 
 OF MERLIN, AND HOW BALIN SHOULD GIVE THE DOLOROUS 
 STROKE 35 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 How A SORROWFUL KNIGHT CAME BEFORE KING ARTHUR, AND 
 HOW BALIN FETCHED HIM, AND HOW THAT KNIGHT WAS SLAIN 
 BY A KNIGHT INVISIBLE ......... y 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 How THE DAMSEL BLED FOR THE CUSTOM OF A CASTLS. . . 39 
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 How BALIN MET WITH THE KNIGHT NAMED GARLON AT A FEAST, 
 
 AND THERE HE SLEW HIM TO HAVE HIS BLOOD TO HEAL THERE- 
 WITH THE SON OF HIS HOST 40 
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 How BALIN FOUGHT WITH KING PF.LI.AM, AND HOW HIS SWORD 
 BRAKE, AND HOW HE GAT A SPEAR WHEREWITH HE SMOTE THE 
 DOLOROUS STROKE 42 
 
 CHAPTER XXIII. 
 
 How BALIN MET WITH HIS BROTHER BALAN, AND HOW EACH OF 
 THEM SLEW OTHER UNKNOWN, TILL THEY WERE WOUNDED TO 
 DEATH 43 
 
 CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 How KING ARTHUR TOOK AND WEDDED GUENEVER UNTO HIS 
 WIFE 46 
 
 CHAPTER XXV. 
 
 How THE KNIGHTS OF THE ROUND TABLE WERE ORDAINED, AND 
 HOW THEIR SIEGES [seats} WERE BLESSED BY THE ARCHBISHOP 
 OF CANTERBURY V
 
 xxviii Contents. 
 
 BOOK II. 
 OF SIR LAUNCELOT DU LAKE. 
 
 CHAPTER I. fAQfc 
 
 How SIR LAUNCELOT AND SIR LIONEL DEPARTED FROM THE COURT 
 FOR TO SEEK ADVENTURES, AND HOW SIR LIONEL LEFT SlR 
 LAUNCELOT SLEEPING, AND WAS TAKEN 50 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 HOW SIR ECTOR FOLLOWED FOR TO SEEK SlR LAUNCELOT, AND 
 
 HOW HE WAS TAKEN BY SlR TURQUINE 53 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 How FOUR QUEENS FOUND SIR LAUNCELOT SLEEPING, AND HOW 
 BY ENCHANTMENT HE WAS TAKEN AND LED INTO A CASTLE . 54 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 How SIR LAUNCELOT WAS DELIVERED BY THE MEANS OF A DAM- 
 SEL 56 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 How SIR LAUNCELOT WAS RECEIVED OF KING BAGDEMAGUS* 
 DAUGHTER, AND HOW HE MADE HIS COMPLAINT UNTO HER 
 FATHER 58 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 How SIR LAUNCELOT BEHAVED HIM IN A TOURNAMENT, AND HOW 
 
 HE MET WITH SlR TURQUINE LEADING AWAY SlR GAHERIS 60 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 How SIR LAUNCELOT AND SIR TURQUINE FOUGHT TOGETHER . 63 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 How SIR LAUNCELOT SLEW Two GIANTS, AND MADE A CASTLE 
 FREE 66
 
 Contents. xxix 
 
 CHAPTER IX. ttcm 
 
 How SIR LAUNCRLOT FOLLOWED A BRACKET INTO A CASTLE, 
 WHERE AS HE FOUND A DEAD KNIGHT, AND HOW AFTER- 
 WARD HE WAS REQUIRED OF A DAMSEL FOR TO HEAL HER 
 BROTHER . . .70 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 How SIR LAUNCELOT CAME INTO THE CHAPEL PERILOUS, AND 
 GAT THERE OF A DEAD CORPSE A PIECE OF THE CLOTH AND A 
 SWORD 71 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 How SIR LAUNCELOT AT THE REQUEST OF A LADY RECOVERED A 
 FALCON, BY WHICH HE WAS DECEIVED 75 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 How SIR LAUNCELOT CAME UNTO KING ARTHUR'S COURT, AND 
 
 HOW THERE WERE RECOUNTED OF HIS NOBLE FEATS AND ACTS, fj 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 How SIR LAUNCELOT BECAME MAD, AND LEAPED FROM A WIN- 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 'NS'HAT SORROW QUEEN GUENEVER MADE FOR SIR LAUNCKLOT, AND 
 HOW HE WAS SOUGHT BY KNIGHTS OF HIS KlN . 80 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 How SIR LAUNCELOT IN ras MADNESS TOOK A SWORD, AND FOUGHT 
 WITH A KNIGHT, AND AFTER LEAPED IN A BED . 8a 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 H sw SIR LAUNCELOT WAS CARRIED IN A HORSE-LITTER, AND HOW 
 SIR LAUNCELOT RESCUED SIR BLIANT HIS HOST .... 84 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 How SIR LAUNCELOT WAS KNOWN BY DAME ELAINE, AND HOW 
 HE WAS BORNE INTO A CHAMBER, AND AFTER HEALED BY THE 
 HOLY GRAIL 88
 
 xxx Contents. 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. pAiii 
 
 OF A GREAT TOURNAMENT IN THE JOYOUS ISLE, AND HOW SIR 
 PERCIVAL FOUGHT WITH HIM ; HOW EACH OF THEM KNEW OTHER, 
 
 AND OF THEIR GREAT COURTESY, AND HOW HIS BROTHER SlR 
 ECTOR CAME UNTO HIM, AND OF THEIR JOY . ... 90 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 How SIR LAUNCELOT WITH SIR PERCIVAL AND SIR ECTOR CAME 
 
 TO THK COURT, AND OF THEIR GREAT JOY OF HIM ... 94 
 
 BOOK III. 
 
 OF SIR GARETH OF ORKNEY. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 How BEAUMAINS CAME TO KING ARTHUR'S COURT, AND DEMANDED 
 THREE PETITIONS OF KING ARTHUR . .... 96 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 How SIR LAUNCELOT AND SIR GAWAINE WERE WROTH BECAUSE 
 SIR KAY MOCKED BEAUMAINS, AND OF A DAMSEL WHICH 
 DESIRED A KNIGHT FOR TO FIGHT FOR A LADY .... 99 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 How BEAUMAINS DEMKED THE BATTLE, AND HOW IT WAS GRANTED 
 
 HIM, AND HOW HE DESIRED TO BE MADE KNIGHT OF SlR LAUN- 
 CELOT .... . IOJ 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 How BEAUMAINS DEPARTED, AND HOW HE GOT OF SIR KAY A SPEAR 
 AND A SHIELD, AND HOW HE JOUSTED AND FOUGHT WITH SIR 
 LAUNCELOT *oa 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 How BEAUMAINS TOLD TO SIR LAUNCELOT HIS NAME, AND HOW 
 
 HE WAS DUBBED KNIGHT OF SlR LAUNCELOT, AND AFTER OVER- 
 TOOK THE DAMSEL 104
 
 Contents. jood 
 
 CHAPTER VI. pAQfc 
 
 HOW SrR BEAUMAINS FOUGHT WITH THE KNIGHT OP THE BLACK 
 
 LAWNS, AND HE FOUGHT SO LONG WITH HIM THAT THE BLACK 
 KNIGHT FILL DOWN AND DIED 106 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 How THE BROTHER OF THE KNIGHT THAT WAS SLAIN MET WITH 
 Sni BEAUMAINS, AND FOUGHT WITH S BEAUMAINS, WHICH 
 
 YIELDED HIM AT THE LAST ... .... 109 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 How THE DAMSEL ALWAYS REBUKED SIR BEAUMAINS, AND WOULD 
 
 NOT SUFFER HIM TO SIT AT HER TABLE, BUT CALLED HIM 
 
 KITCHEN PAGE .... in 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 How SIR BEAUMAINS SUFFERED GREAT REBUKES OF THE DAMSEL, 
 
 AND HE SUFFERED IT PATIENTLY . .... 112 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 How Six BEAUMAINS FOUGHT WITH SIR PERSANT OF I.VDE, AND 
 
 MADE HIM TO BE YIELDEN IIj 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 How THE DAMSEL AND BEAUMAINS CAME TO THE SIEGE, AND CAME 
 TO A SYCAMORE TREE, AND THERE BEAUMAINS BLEW A HORN, 
 AND THEN THE KNIGHT OF THE RED LAWNS CAME TO FIGHT 
 
 WITH HIM . 117 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 How THE Two KNIGHTS MET TOGETHER, AND OF THEIR TALKING, 
 
 AND HOW THEY BEGAN THEIR BATTLE Iig 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 How AJTER LONG FIGHTING BEAUMAINS OVERCAME THE KNIGHT, 
 AND WOULD HAVE SLAIN HIM, BUT AT THE REQUEST OF THE 
 LORDS HE SAVED HIS LIFE, AND MADE HIM TO YIELD HIM TO 
 THE LADY ... 121 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 How THE KNIGHT YIELDED HIM, AND HOW BEAUMAINS MADE HIM 
 TO GO UNTO KING ARTHUR'S COURT, AND TO CRY SIR LAUNCELOT 
 MERCY 124
 
 xxxii Contents. 
 
 CHAPTER XV. rAGEi 
 
 How SIR GARKTH, OTHERWISE CALLED BEAUMAINS, CAME TO THK 
 PRESENCE OF HIS LADY, AND HOW THEY TOOK ACQUAINTANCE, 
 
 AND 07 THEIR LOVE Ill 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 How AT THE FEAST OF PENTECOST ALL THE KNIGHTS THAT SIR 
 GARETH HAD OVERCOME CAME AND YIELDED THEM UNTO KING 
 ARTHUR 133 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 How THE QUEEN OF ORKNEY CAME TO THIS FEAST OF PENTECOST, 
 
 AND INQUIRED OF HER SON SlR GARETH IJ5 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 How KING ARTHUR SENT FOR THE LADY LYONESS, AND HOW SIR 
 GARETH ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THEY LOVED EACH OTHER TO 
 KING ARTHUR, AND OF THE DAY OF THEIR WEDDING . . 137 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 OF THE GREAT ROYALTY AND WHAT OFFICERS WERE MADE AT THR 
 FEAST OF SIR GARETH AND DAME LYONESS' WEDDING, AND OF 
 THE GREAT JOUSTING AT THE SAME FEAST AND WEDDING . 140 
 
 BOOK IV. 
 
 OF SIR TRISTRAM. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 How SIR TRISTRAM DE LYONESSE WAS BORN, AND HOW HIS 
 MOTHER DESIRED THAT HIS NAME SHOULD BE TRISTRAM . . 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 [How THE STEPMOTHER OF YOUNG TRISTRAM WOULD HAVE POI- 
 SONED HIM, AND HOW HE DELIVERED HER FROM THE FlRE, OF 
 
 HIS GREAT FORGIVENESS].
 
 Contents. xxxiii 
 
 CHAPTER IIL nrm 
 
 How Snt TMSTKAM WAS SECT rarro FKAJTCK, AHD HAD on ID 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 OV COKVWAU, AHD BOW BK WAS MAM KxiGHT . . 159 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 BATTLX WITH Snt MAKHAOS ..153 
 
 CHAPTER VIL 
 
 How Snt T 
 
 HIS BATTUE, AMD BOW Snt KABBAH* FIXD TO BIS SHHS . . 154 
 
 CHAPTER VIH. 
 Row Snt MAKBAOS, Arm HK WAS AXXITXD m TMTAWI^ raxo or 
 
 CHAPTER DL 
 How Snt TUSTKAM WAS nrr TO THK K 
 
 CHAPTER X, 
 How Snt TUSTKAX wow THK DKGKKK AT A TOUKXAXKVT nr IKB- 
 
 YKAK 
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 How THK QDKKV KSHKD THAT Snt TKISTKAIC HAD
 
 xxxiv Contents. 
 
 CHAPTER XII. PAGK> 
 
 How SIR TRISTRAM DEPARTED FROM KING ANGUISH AND LA 
 BELLE ISOLDE OUT OF IRELAND FOR TO COME INTO CORNWALL. 164 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 How KING MARK SENT SIR TRISTRAM FOR LA BELLE ISOLDE 
 TOWARD IRELAND, AND HOW BY FORTUNE HE ARRIVED INTO 
 ENGLAND ... 167 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 How KING ANGUISH OF IRELAND WAS SUMMONED TO COMB UNTO 
 KING ARTHUR'S COURT FOR TREASON 168 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 How SIR TRISTRAM FOUGHT FOR SIR ANGUISH, AND OVERCAME 
 HIS ADVERSARY, AND HOW HIS ADVERSARY WOULD NEVER YIELD 
 
 HIM 170 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 How SIR TRISTRAM DEMANDED LA BELLE ISOLDE FOR KING MARK, 
 
 AND OF THE WEDDING OF KlNG MARK TO LA BELLE ISOLDE . 173 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 How SIR TRISTRAM DEPARTED FROM TINTAGIL, AND HOW HE SOR- 
 ROWED, AND WAS SO LONG IN A FOREST TILL HE WAS OUT OF 
 
 HIS MIND 174 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 How SIR TRISTRAM SOUSED DAGONET IN A WELL, AND HOW HE 
 SLEW A GIANT 175 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 How KING MARK FOUND SIR TRISTRAM NAKED, AND MADE HIM TO 
 BE BORNE HOME TO TlNTAGIL, AND HOW HE WAS THERE KNOWN 
 BY A BRACKET 177 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 How SIR TRISTRAM CAME INTO ENGLAND, AND JOUSTED WITH 
 KING ARTHUR AND SIR LAUNCELOT so WORTHILY THAT THE 
 PRIZE WAS GIVEN TO HIM; AND HOW KlNG ARTHUR MADE HIM 
 KNIGHT OF THE ROUND TABLE 180
 
 Contents. xxxv 
 
 CHAPTER XXI. PACB> 
 
 How A YOUNG MAN CAME INTO THE COURT OF KING ARTHUR, 
 AND HOW Sim KAY CALLED HIM IN SCORN, LA COTE MAL 
 TAIL* " . . . . . .183 
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 How A DAMSEL CAME UNTO THE COURT AND DESIRED A KNIGHT 
 
 TO TAKE ON HIM AN INQUEST, WHICH LA COTE MAL TAILS KM- 
 PEISED. . ... 185 
 
 CHAPTER XXIII. 
 
 How SIR LA COTE MAL TAILE OVERTHREW SIR DAGONET, KING 
 ARTHUR'S FOOL, AND OF THE REBUKE THAT HE HAD OF THE 
 DAMSEL 187 
 
 CHAPTER XXIV. 
 How LA COTE MAL TAILE FOUGHT AGAINST AN HUNDRED KNIGHTS, 
 
 AND HOW HE ESCAPED BY THE MEAN OF A LADY ... 189 
 
 CHAPTER XXV. 
 
 How SIR LAUNCELOT CAME TO THE COURT AND HEARD OF SIR LA 
 COTE MAL TAILE, ANB HOW HE FOLLOWED AFTER HIM, AND 
 HOW SIR LA COTE MAL TAILE WAS PRISONER . . . 192 
 
 CHAPTER XXVI. 
 How SIR LAUNCELOT FOUGHT WITH six KNIGHTS, AND AFTER 
 
 THAT HE FOUGHT WITH SlR BRIAN, AND HOW HE DELIVERED 
 ALL THE PRISONERS 194 
 
 CHAPTER XXVII. 
 How Snt LAUNCELOT MET WITH THE DAMSEL NAMED MALEDISANT, 
 
 AND HOW HE NAMED HER THE DAMSEL BlENPENSANT . . 196 
 
 CHAPTER XXVIII. 
 How LA COTE MAL TAILE WAS TAKEN PRISONER, AND AFTER 
 
 RESCUED BY SlR LAUNCELOT, AND HOW SlR LAUNCELOT OVER- 
 CAME FOUR BRETHREN 199
 
 xxxvi Contents. 
 
 CHAPTER XXIX. PAGB> 
 
 How SIR LAUNCELOT MADE LA COTE MAL TAILE LORD OF THE 
 CASTLE OF PENDRAGON, AND AFTER HE WAS MADE KNIGHT OF 
 THE ROUND TABLE . 202 
 
 CHAPTER XXX. 
 
 How, FOR THE DESPITE OF SIR TRISTRAM, KING MARK CAME 
 VITH Two KNIGHTS INTO ENGLAND, AND HOW DAGONET, KING 
 ARTHUR'S FOOL, PUT HIM TO FLIGHT 203 
 
 CHAPTER XXXI. 
 
 How KING ARTHUR MADE KING MARK TO BE ACCORDED WITH SIR 
 TRISTRAM, AND HOW THEY DEPARTED TOWARD CORNWALL. . 205 
 
 CHAPTER XXXII. 
 How AT A GREAT FEAST THAT KING MARK MADE, AN HARPER 
 
 CAME AND SANG THE LAY THAT DlNADAN HAD MADE. . . 207 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIII. 
 
 How KING MARK SLEW BY TREASON HIS BROTHER BOUDWINE FOR 
 GOOD SERVICE THAT HE HAD DONE TO HIM 208 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIV. 
 
 How ANGLIDES, BOUDWINE'S WIFE, ESCAPED WITH HER YOUNG 
 SON ALISANDER LORFELIN, AND CAME TO THE CASTLE OF ARUN- 
 
 DEL .... 210 
 
 CHAPTER XXXV. 
 How ANGLIDES GAVE THE BLOODY DOUBLET UNTO ALISANDEB HER 
 
 SON THE SAME DAY THAT HE WAS MADE KNIGHT, AND THE 
 
 CHARGE WITHAL aia 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVI. 
 
 How SIR ALISANDER WON THE PRIZE AT A TOURNAMENT, AND OF 
 MORGAN LE FAY. AND HOW HE FOUGHT WITH SIR MALGRIN 
 AND SLEW HIM 2IJ 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVII. 
 How QUEEN MORGAN LE FAY HAD SIR ALISANDER IN HER CASTLE. 
 
 AND HOW SHE HEALED HIS WOUNDS ...... 2l8
 
 Contents. xxxvii 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVIII. PACB 
 
 How SIR ALISANDER WAS DELIVERED FROM QUEEN MORGAN LE 
 FAY BY THE MEANS OF A DAMSEL. . . . . 720 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIX. 
 How ALISANDER MET WITH ALICE LA BELLE PILGRIM, AND ROW 
 
 HE JOUSTED WITH TWO KNIGHTS; AND AFTER OF HIM AND OF 
 
 SIR MORDRED 229 
 
 CHAPTER XL. 
 How SIR TRISTRAM MET WITH SIR DINADAN, AND OF THEIR DB- 
 
 VICKS, AND WHAT HE SAID UNTO SIR GAWAINE'S BRETHREN . 22$ 
 
 CHAPTER XLI. 
 
 How SIR TRISTRAM SMOTE DOWN SIR AGRAVAINE AND SIR GAHE- 
 RIS, AND HOW SIR DINADAN WAS SENT FOR BY LA BELLI 
 ISOLDE 229 
 
 CHAPTER XLII. 
 
 How SIR DINADAN MET WITH SIR TRISTRAM, AND WITH JOUSTING 
 WITH SIR PALAMIDES SIR DINADAN KNEW HIM . . . . 132 
 
 CHAPTER XLIII. 
 
 HOW THEY APPROACHED THE CASTLE OF LONAZEP, AND OF OTHER 
 DEVICES OF THE DEATH OF SIR LAMORAK 255 
 
 CHAPTER XLIV. 
 
 HOW THEY CAME TO HUMBER BANK, AND HOW THEY FOUND A 
 
 SHIP THERE, WHEREIN LAY THE BODY OF KlNG HERMANCK . 238 
 
 CHAPTER XLV. 
 
 How SIR TRISTRAM WITH HIS FELLOWSHIP CAME AND WERE WITH 
 AN HOST WHICH AFTER FOUGHT WITH SIR TRISTRAM; AND 
 OTHER MATTERS 240 
 
 CHAPTER XLVI. 
 
 How SIR PALAMIDES WENT FOR TO FIGHT WITH Two BRETHREN 
 FOR THE DEATH OF KING HERMANCE 244
 
 xxxviii Contents. 
 
 CHAPTER XLVII. , AGfc 
 
 THE COPY OF THE LETTER WRITTEN FOR TO REVENGE THE KING'S 
 DEATH, AND HOW SIR PALAMIDES FOUGHT FOR TO HAVE THE 
 BATTLE 246 
 
 CHAPTER XLVII I. 
 OF THE PREPARATION OF SIR PALAMIDES AND THE Two BRETHREN 
 
 THAT SHOULD FIGHT WITH HIM 249 
 
 CHAPTER XLIX. 
 OF THE BATTLE BETWEEN SIR PALAMIDES AND THE Two BRETHREN, 
 
 AND HOW THE TWO BRETHREN WERE SLAIN .... 2$* 
 
 CHAPTER L. 
 
 How SIR TRISTRAM AND SIR LAUNCELOT, WITH SIR PALAMIDES, 
 CAME TO JOYOUS CARD, AND OF SlR PALAMIDES AND OF SlR 
 TRISTRAM 255 
 
 CHAPTER LI. 
 
 HOW THERE WAS A DAY SET BETWEEN SlR TRISTRAM AND SlR 
 PALAMIDES FOR TO FIGHT, AND HOW SIR TRISTRAM WAS HURT, 257 
 
 CHAPTER LII. 
 
 How THAT SIR PALAMIDES KEPT HIS DAY FOR TO HAVE FOUGHTEN, 
 BUT SIR TRISTRAM MIGHT NOT COME 259 
 
 CHAPTER LIII. 
 
 How SIR TRISTRAM DEPARTED UNARMED, AND MET WITH Snt 
 PALAMIDES, AND HOW SIR PALAMIDES FORBORE HIM ... 260 
 
 CHAPTER LIV. 
 How THAT SIR TRISTRAM GAT HIM HARNESS OF A KNIGHT WHICH 
 
 WAS HURT, AND HOW HE OVERTHREW SlR PALAMIDES . . 262 
 
 CHAPTER LV. 
 How SIR TRISTRAM AND SIR PALAMIDES FOUGHT LONG TOGETHER, 
 
 AND AFTER ACCORDED; AND HOW SlR TRISTRAM MADE HIM TO 
 
 BE CHRISTENED 264 
 
 CHAPTER LVI. 
 
 How KING MARK SLEW SIR TRISTRAM BY TREACHERY, AND LA 
 I!;:LLE ISOLDE DIED OF GRIEF 266
 
 Contents. xxxb 
 
 BOOK V. 
 OF SIR GALAHAD AND SIR PERCIVAL. 
 
 CHAPTER L ^ 
 
 Bow THE LETTTXS WERE FOUND WRII-IEN m THZ SIEGE PERIL- 
 OUS, AND or THE MARVELLOUS ADVENTURE OP THK SWORD IN A 
 STONE 267 
 
 CHAPTER IL 
 
 [How AN OLD MAX] BROUGHT SIR GALAHAD umo THE SIEGE 
 PERILOUS, AND SET HIM THEREIN; AND HOW KING ARTHUR 
 SHOWED THE STONE, HOTING ON THE WATER, TO GALAHAD, AND 
 HOW HE DREW OUT THE SWORD 270 
 
 CHAPTER IIL 
 
 How THE QUEEN DESIRED TO SEE SIR fiATj^Aii, AND HOW, AFTER, 
 ALL THE KNIGHTS WERE REPLENISHED WITH THE HOLY GRAIL, 
 AND HOW THEY AVOWED THE INQUEST OP THE SAKE ... 273 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 How GREAT SORROW WAS MADE OP THE KING AND THE QUEEN 
 AND LADIES FOR THE DEPARTING OF THE KNIGHTS, AND HOW 
 
 THEY DEPARTED ........... 175 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 How SIR GALAHAD GAT HIM A SHIELD, AND HOW THEY SPED THAT 
 
 PRESUMED TO TAEE DOWN THAT SHIELD 2f7 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 How GALAHAD DEPARTED WITH THE SHIELD, AND HOW KING 
 
 EVELAKE HAD RECEIVED THE SHIELD OF JOSEPH OP ARJMA- 
 THEA 275 
 
 CHAPTER VIL 
 How SIR GALAHAD FOJGHT WITH THE KNIGHTS OF THE CASTLE, 
 
 AND DESTROYED THE WICKED CUSTOM . . . &\
 
 Contents. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. ^ 
 
 How SIR GALAHAD MET WITH SIR LAUNCELOT AND WITH SIR 
 PERCIVAL, AND SMOTE THEM DOWN, AND DEPARTED FROM THEM, 285 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 How SIR PERCIVAL RODE A FIEND IN THE SHAPE OF A HORSE, 
 
 AND HOW HE SAW A SERPENT AND A LlON FIGHT . . . 286 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 OF WONDERS AND MARVELS OF A SHIP, AND OF A SWORD 
 SIR GALAHAD FOUND THEREIN 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 How KING PKLLXS WAS SMITTEN THROUGH BOTH THIGHS BECAUSE 
 
 HE DREW THE SWORD, AND OTHER MARVELLOUS HISTORIES . 29! 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 How SOLOMON TOOK DAVID'S SWORD BY THE COUNSEL OF HIS 
 
 WIFE, AND OF OTHER MATTERS MARVELLOUS ' . . . . 293 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 OF THE WONDERFUL TALK OF KING SOLOMON AND HIS WIFE . 295 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 How SIR LAUNCELOT ENTERED INTO THE SHIP WHERE SIR PER- 
 CIVAL'S SISTER LAY DEAD, AND HOW HE MET WITH SIR GALA- 
 HAD HIS SON 298 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 How SIR LAUNCELOT WAS NIGH THE SANCGREAL, BUT WAS DRIVEN 
 
 FORTH FROM IT, WITH TERRORS AND WONDERS .... JOO 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 How SIR GALAHAD ACHIEVED THE SANCGREAL, AND WAS TAKEN 
 UP INTO HEAVEN 303 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 How SIR PERCIVAL DIED, AND SIR BORS RETURNED TO CAMELOT. 304
 
 Contents. xli 
 
 BOOK VI. 
 OF THE DEATH OF ARTHUR. 
 
 CHAPTER I. FACE ^ 
 
 How QUEEN GUENEVER WAS APPEALED OF MURDERING A KNIGHT, 305 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 How SIR MADOR IMPEACHED THE QUEEN OF TREASON, AND THERE 
 WAS NO KNIGHT WHO WOULD FIGHT FOR HER AT THE FIRST 
 
 TIME 307 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 How THE QUEEN REQUIRED SIR BORS TO FIGHT FOR HER, AND 
 HOW HE GRANTED HER UPON A CONDITION, AND HOW HB 
 WARNED SIR LAUNCELOT THEREOF. ...... 310 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 How AT THE DAY SIR BORS MADE HIM READY FOR TO FIGHT FOR 
 QUEEN GUENEVER, AND HOW ANOTHER DISCHARGED HIM WHEN 
 
 HE SHOULD FIGHT 313 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 How SIR LAUNCELOT FOUGHT AGAINST SIR MADOR FOR THE 
 QUEEN, AND HOW HE OVERCAME SIR MADOR AND DISCHARGED 
 THE QUEEN 315 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 How THE TRUTH WAS KNOWN BY THE DAMSEI OF THE LAKE, AND 
 
 OF DIVERS OTHER MATTERS 318 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 How SIR LAUNCELOT RODE TO ASTOLAT, AND RECEIVED A SLEEVE 
 
 TO BEAR UPON HIS HELM AT THE REQUEST OF A MAID . . y& 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 How THE TOURNAMENT BEGAN AT WINCHESTER, AND WHAT 
 KNIGHTS WERE AT THE JOUSTS, AND OF OTHER MATTERS . . 323
 
 xlii Contents. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. PACE< 
 
 How SIR LAUNCELOT AND SIR LAVAINE ENTERED IN THE FIELD 
 
 AGAINST THEM OF KlNG ARTHUR'S COURT, AND HOW LAUNCH- 
 LOT WAS HURT 324 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 How SIR LAUNCELOT AND SIR LAVAINE DEPARTED our OF THE 
 FIELD, AND IN WHAT JEOPARDY SIR LAUNCELOT WAS . . 327 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 How SIR LAUNCELOT WAS BROUGHT UNTO AN HERMIT FOR TO BK 
 
 HEALED OF HIS WOUND, AND OF OTHER MATTERS . 330 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 How SIR GAWAINE HAD KNOWLEDGE THAT IT WAS SIR LAUNCE- 
 
 LOT THAT BARE THE RED SLEEVE 333 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 How FAIR ELAINE AND SIR BORS FOUND SIR LAUNCELOT . . 335 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 OF THE GREAT LAMENTATION THAT THE FAIR MAID OF ASTOLAT 
 
 MADE WHEN SlR LAUNCELOT SHOULD DEPART, AND HOW SHE 
 DIED FOR HIS LOVE 338 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 How THE CORPSE OF THE FAIR MAID OF ASTOLAT ARRIVED 
 BEFORE KING ARTHUR, AND OF THE BURYING, AND HOW SIR 
 LAUNCELOT OFFERED THE MASS-PENNY 341 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 How QUEEN GUENEVER RODE ON MAYING WITH CERTAIN KNIGHTS 
 OF THE ROUND TABLE CLOTHED ALL IN GREEN .... 343 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 How SIR MELIAGRANCE TOOK THE QUEEN AND ALL HER KNIGHTS, 
 
 WHICH WERE SORE HURT IN FIGHTING 345 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 How SIR LAUNCELOT RODE IN A CART AND RESCUED THE QUEEN, 347
 
 Contents. xliii 
 
 CHAPTER XDL 
 
 5:z LA 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 How Sn IjunKXLOT VOCGKT Sn MXLIJUGXAMX 
 
 CHAPTER XXL 
 How Sa UKXB CAMK mno Krac AnHinA COOBT ram. TO IB 
 
 T^fg JtatBjj JNHD ***P w'fc SOL AWAY 9 ^**^* OP TMJK ^MTAKS 
 TWIXT HDf AXD KCCG AXtHmt] 
 
 CHAPTER XXIIL 
 Or THK CojanmcAnoer BKrwxm Krac AKiH 
 
 CHAPTER XXIV. 
 How Knc AiTHtnt AJTO Snt GAWAEXK MADB A GKKAT Hacr 
 
 KXADT TO 60 OVBK SKA TO MAKE WAK OBI Stt LATVCKLOT . ffij 
 
 CHAPTER XXV. 
 
 How Snt GAWAOK AMD Snt LAzntczuoT ua> BATTU -m^ii 
 AMD MOW Snt GAWADOK WAS OVKXTHBOWK AMD HVKT . . jg 
 
 CHAPTER XXVL 
 
 Or THX SOUtOW THAT KlMG AjCTHTi U.VTE ?:Z TH2 W.OL AXC 
 
 matx AUSO Sat GAWAITC HAD THE 
 .......... 374 
 
 CHAPTER XXVIL
 
 xliv Contents. 
 
 CHAPTER XXVIII. FAOm> 
 
 HOW AFTER THAT KlNG ARTHUR HAD TIDINGS, HE RETURNED AND 
 CAME TO DOVER, WHERE SlR MORDRED MET HIM TO LET HIS 
 LANDING, AND OF THE DEATH OF SIR GAWAINK .... 380 
 
 CHAPTER XXIX. 
 How AFTER SIR GAWAINE'S GHOST APPEARED TO KING ARTHUR, 
 
 AND WARNED HIM THAT HE SHOULD NOT FIGHT THAT DAY . 383 
 
 CHAPTER XXX. 
 
 How BY MISADVENTURE OF AN ADDER THE BATTLE BEGAN, WHERE 
 SIR MORDRED WAS SLAIN AND KING ARTHUR WOUNDED TO 
 DEATH 385 
 
 CHAPTER XXXI. 
 
 How KING ARTHUR COMMANDED TO CAST HIS SWORD EXCALIBU* 
 INTO THE WATER, AND HOW HE WAS DELIVERED TO LADIES IN 
 A BARGE 388 
 
 CHAPTER XXXII. 
 
 How SIR BEDIVERE FOUND KING ARTHUR DEAD ON THE MORROW 
 IN AN HERMITAGE, AND HOW HE ABODE THERE WITH THE HER- 
 MIT 391 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIII. 
 
 How WHEN SIR LAUNCELOT HEARD OF THE DEATH OF KINO 
 ARTHUR AND OF SIR GAWAINE, HE CAME INTO ENGLAND . . 393 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIV. 
 How SIR LAUNCELOT DEPARTED TO SEEK THE QUEEN GUENXVEK, 
 
 AND HOW HE FOUND HER AT ALMESBURY 394 
 
 CHAPTER XXXV. 
 
 How SIR LAUNCELOT WENT WITH HIS SEVEN FELLOWS TO ALMES- 
 BURY, AND FOUND THERE QUEEN GUENEVER DEAD, WHOM THEY 
 BROUGHT TO GLASTONBURY . 397
 
 Contents. xlv 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVI. 
 
 How Snt LAUKCELOT BEGAN TO SICKEN, AXD AJTO 
 BODY WAS BOKNK TO JOYOUS GAJLD POK TO SB 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVII. 
 How SIR ECTOK FOTCTD Six LA.UXCELOT ms BROTHXK DEAD, AMD 
 
 HOW COXSTA>TTNK E-EIGKID MIXT ATTZK KlMG AXTHUX. AKD O 
 
 7HX END or THIS BOOK
 
 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 
 
 How Sot TURQUDXE BARE Sot ECTOR CLEAN oar OP HIS 
 
 SADDLE Fnmtitfitct. 
 
 How ARTHUR GAT HIS SWORD EXCALIBUK .... 14 
 
 How BALXX SHOTS THE DOLOROUS STROKE .... 42 
 
 THE KNIGHT or THE BLACK LAWNS lot 
 
 How Sat TRISTRAM SOUSED SIR DAGOXET nt THE WELL. . 175 
 How ELIOT THE HARPER SAKG THE LAY THAT DDCADAM 
 
 HAD HADE ZC7 
 
 S G*t-AitATi BROUGHT TO THE SlEGE PERILOUS. . . 271 
 
 Sat LAUNCELOT AT THE CASTLE OF THE HOLT GRAIL . 300 
 
 THE TOURNAMENT AT CAMELOT ...... 323 
 
 QUEKSI GUEKEVER'S PERU. 360 
 
 THE COMBAT or MORDRED AMD KDTG ARTHUR ... 387 
 
 How BEDITERE BARE ARTHUR TO THE WATERSIDE . . 390
 
 BOOK I. 
 OF KING ARTHUR. 
 
 CHAPTER L 
 
 UF THE BOTH OF KCfG AKTHUK, AHD OF H 
 
 THE DEATH or Knc UiHtmrntntjuxi*, AXD BOW Axnont WAS 
 CBOSEX KEIG, An> or WOKDBBS AW> MAKYKLS OF A SWOKD THAT 
 
 WAS TAKES OUT OF STORE BY THE SAID ASTHDK. 
 
 I 
 
 T befell in the days of the noble Utherpendragon, 
 when he was king of England, [that there was born 
 to him a son who in after time was King Arthur. How- 
 beit the boy knew not he was the king's son. For when 
 he was but a babe] the king commanded two knights and 
 two ladies to take the child bound in rich doth of gold, 
 "and deliver him to what poor man you meet at the 
 postern gate of the castle." So the child was delivered 
 unto Merlin, and so he bare it forth unto Sir Ector, and 
 maH^ aw holy tnan to christeo Viirn, and named him 
 Arthur; and so Sir Ector's wife nourished him. Then 
 within two years King Uther fell sick of a great malady; 
 [and thereof he died]. Then stood the realm in great 
 [danger] a long while, for every lord made him strong, 
 -r.d many weened \tkougkt\ to have been king. [And 
 so, by Merlin's counsel, all the lords of F.nglanH came
 
 The Boy's King Arthur. 
 
 together in the greatest church of London on Christmas 
 morn before it was day, to see if God would not show 
 by some miracle who should be king.] And when the 
 first mass was done there was seen in the church-yard, 
 against the high altar, a great stone four-square, like to 
 a marble stone, and in the midst thereof was an anvil of 
 steel, a foot of height, and therein stuck a fair sword 
 naked by the point, and letters of gold were written 
 about the sword that said thus : WHO so PULLETH OUT 
 
 THIS SWORD OF THIS STONE AND ANVIL, IS RIGHTWISE 
 KING BORN OF ENGLAND. 
 
 So when all the masses were done, all the [lords] went 
 for to behold the stone and the sword. And when they 
 saw the scripture, some assayed \tried\ such as would 
 have been king. But none might stir the sword nor 
 move it. 
 
 " He is not yet here," said the archbishop, " that shal 1 
 achieve the sword, but doubt not God will make him to 
 be known. But this is my counsel," said the archbishop, 
 " that we let purvey [provide] ten knights, men of good 
 fame, and they to keep this sword." 
 
 And upon New Year's day the barons let make a tour- 
 nament for to keep the lords together, for the archbishop 
 trusted that God would make him known that should win 
 the sword. So upon New Year's day when the service 
 was done the barons rode to the field. 
 
 And so it happened that Sir Ector rode to the jousts, 
 and with him rode Sir Kay, his son, and young Arthur 
 that was his nourished brother. [But Sir] Kay had lost 
 his sword, for he had left it at his father's Lodging, and 
 so he prayed young Arthur to ride for his sword. " I 
 will with a good will," said Arthur, and rode fast aftu 
 the sword ; and when he came home, the lady and all
 
 Of King Arthur. 
 
 were gone out to see the jousting. Then was Arthui 
 wroth, and said to himself, " I will ride to the church-yard 
 and take the sword with me that sticketh in the stone, 
 for my brother Sir Kay shall not be without a sword this 
 day." And so when he came to the church-yard Arthur 
 alighted, and tied his horse to the stile, and so went to 
 the tent, and found no knights there, for they were all 
 at the jousting; and so he handled the sword by the 
 handles, and lightly and fiercely he pulled it out of the 
 stone, and took his horse and rode his way till he came 
 to his brother Sir Kay, and delivered him the sword. 
 And as soon as Sir Kay saw the sword, he wist [knew] 
 well that it was the sword of the stone, and so he rode 
 to his father, Sir Ector, and said : " Sir, lo here is the 
 sword of the stone ; wherefore I must be king of this 
 land." When Sir Ector beheld the sword, he returned 
 again and came to the church, and there they alighted, 
 all three, and went into the church, and anon he made 
 Sir Kay to swear upon a book how he came to that sword. 
 
 "Sir," said Sir Kay, "by my brother Arthur, for he 
 brought it to me." 
 
 " How gate [got] you this sword ? " said Sir Ector to 
 Arthur. 
 
 " Sir, I will tell you. When I came home for my broth- 
 er's sword, I found nobody at home for to deliver me his 
 sword, and so I thought iriy brother Sir Kay should not 
 be swordless,%nd so I came thither eagerly and pulled 
 it cut of. the stone without any pain." 
 
 " Found ye any knights about this sword ? " said Sir 
 Ector. 
 
 " Nay," said Arthur. 
 
 " Now," said Sir Ector to Ajffifflf*^ 1 1 understand that 
 you must be king of this land.'
 
 The Boy's King Arthur. 
 
 41 Wherefore I ? " said Arthur. 
 
 "Sir," said Ector, "for there should never man have 
 drawn out this sword but he that shall be rightwise king 
 of this land. Now let me see whether ye can put the 
 sword there as it was and pull it out again." 
 
 " That is no mastery," said Arthur ; and so he put it in 
 the stone. Therewith Sir Ector assayed to pull out the 
 sword, and failed. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 How KING ARTHUR PULLED OUT THE SWORD DIVERS TIMES. 
 
 NOW assay," said Sir Ector to Sir Kay. And anon 
 he pulled at the sword with all his might but it 
 would not be. "Now shall ye assay," said Sir Ector 
 to Arthur. 
 
 "I will well," said Arthur, and pulled it out easily. 
 And therewithal Sir Ector kneeled down to the earth, and 
 Sir Kay. 
 
 " Alas," said Arthur, " mine own dear father and brother, 
 why kneel ye to me ? " 
 
 " Nay, nay, my lord Arthur, it is not so : I was never 
 your father nor of your blood, but I wote [know] well ye 
 are of an higher blood than I weened \thought\ ye were." 
 And then Sir Ector told him all. Then Arthur made 
 great moan when he understood that Sir Ector was not 
 his father. 
 
 "Sir," said Ector unto Arthur, "will ye be my good 
 and gracious lord when ye are king ? " 
 
 "Else were I to blame," said Arthur, "for ye are the 
 man in the world that I am most beholding [obliged] to,
 
 Of King Artk*r. 
 
 and my good lady and mother your wife, that as well ax 
 her own hath fostered and kept me. And if ever it be 
 God's will that I be long, as ye say, ye shall desire of me 
 what I may do, and I shall not fail yon." 
 
 "Sir," said Sir Ector, "I wffl ask no more of yon bv 
 that yon wffl make my son, yonr fostered brother Sir Ka> 
 seneschal of all yonr lands." 
 
 "That shall be done, sir," said Arthur, "and more b> 
 the faith of my body; and never man shall have thaV 
 office but he while that he and I live." 
 
 Therewithal they went onto the archbishop, and told 
 him how the sword was achieved, and by whom. And 
 upon the twelfth day all the barons came thither for to 
 assay to take the sword. But there afore them all, there 
 might none take it out but only Arthur ; wherefore there 
 were many great lords wroth, and said, "It was great 
 shame unto them all and the realm to be governed with a 
 boy of no high blood born." And so they fell out at that 
 time, that it was put off till Candlemas, and then all the 
 barons should meet there again. But always the ten 
 knights were ordained for to watch the sword both day 
 and night ; and so they set a pavilion over the stone and 
 the sword, and five always watched. And at Candlemas 
 many mere great lords came thither for to have won the 
 sword, but none of them might prevail And right as 
 Arthur did at Christmas he did at Candlemas, and pulled 
 out the sword easily, whereof the barons were sore ag- 
 grieved, and put it in delay tin the high feast of Easter. 
 And as Arthur sped afore, so did he at Easter ; and yet 
 there were some of the great lords had indignation that 
 Arthur should be their long, and pot it off in delay tut 
 the feast of Pentecost.
 
 The Boy's King Arthur. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 How ARTHUR WAS CROWNED KING, AND HOW HE MADE OFFICERS. 
 
 AND at the feast of Pentecost all manner of men 
 assayed to pull at the sword that would assay, and 
 none might prevail ; but Arthur pulled it out afore all 
 the lords and commons that were there, wherefore all the 
 commons cried at once : " We will have Arthur unto our 
 king ; we will put him no more in delay ; for we all see 
 that it is God's will that he shall be our king, and who 
 that holdeth against it we will slay him." And there- 
 withal they kneeled down all at once, both rich and poor, 
 and cried Arthur mercy, because they had delayed him so 
 long. And Arthur forgave it them, and took the sword 
 between both his hands, and offered it upon the altar 
 where the archbishop was, and so was he made knight of J 
 the best man that was there. And so anon was the coro- 
 nation made, and there was he sworn to the lords and 
 commons for to be a true king, to stand with true justice 
 from thenceforth all the days of this life. Also then he 
 made all lords that held of the crown to come in, and to 
 do service as they ought to do. And many complaints 
 were made unto King Arthur of great wrongs that were 
 done since the death of King Uther, of many lands that 
 were bereaved of lords, knights, ladies and gentlemen. 
 Wherefore King Arthur made the lands to be given again 
 unto them that owned] them. When this was done that 
 the king had stablished all the countries about London, 
 
 1 " Of " was often used for the modern by in Sir Thomas Malory's time, 
 and is still so used upon occasion. " Made knight of the best man " thus 
 means made knight by the best mart.
 
 Of King Artkxr. 
 
 then he let make Sir Kay seneschal of England ; and Sir 
 Bandwin of Britain was made constable ; and Sir Ulfius 
 was made chamberlain ; and Sir Brastias was made war- 
 den to wait upon the north from Trent forwards, for it 
 was that time for the most part enemy to the king. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 How GKIFUT WAS MADE KXICHT, ASID BOW HK JUC&IKU WITH A 
 KXIGHT. 
 
 THEN on a day there came into the court a squire on 
 horseback, leading a knight before him wounded to 
 the death, and told him there was a knight in the forest 
 that had reared up a pavilion by a well \spri*g\ side, "and 
 hath slain my master, a good knight, and his name was 
 Miles ; wherefore I beseech you that my master may 
 buried, and that some good knight may revenge my mas- 
 ter's death." Then was in the court great noise of the 
 knight's death, and every man said his advice. Then 
 came Griflet, that was but a squire, and he was but young, 
 of the age of King Arthur, so he besought the king, for 
 all his service that he had done, to give him the order of 
 knighthood. 
 
 "Thou art full young and tender of age," said King 
 Arthur, "for to take so high an order upon thee." 
 
 "Sir," said Griflet, "I beseech yon to make me a 
 knight," 
 
 "Sir," said Merlin, "it were pity to leese \hse\ Griflet, 
 for he win be a passing good man when he cometh to 
 age, abiding with you the term of his life; and if he
 
 8 The Boy's King Arthur. 
 
 adventure his body with yonder knight at the fountain, 
 he shall be in great peril if l ever he come again, for he is 
 one of the best knights of the world, and the strongest 
 man of arms." 
 
 " Well," said King Arthur. So, at the desirej>f .Qriflfit, 
 the king made him knight. **^ 
 
 "Now," said King Arthur to Sir Griflet, "sithen [since] 
 that I have made thee knight, thou must grant me a gift." 
 
 " What ye will, my lord," said Sir Griflet. 
 
 " Thou shalt promise me, by the faith of thy body, that 
 when thou hast jousted with the knight at the fountain, 
 whether it fall [happen] that ye be on foot or on horse- 
 back, that in the same manner ye shall come again unto 
 me without any question or making any more debate." 
 
 " I will promise you," said Griflet, " as ye desire." 
 Then Sir Griflet took his horse in great haste, and dressed 
 his shield, and took a great spear in his hand, and so he 
 rode a great gallop till he came to the fountain, and 
 thereby he saw a rich pavilion, and thereby under a cloth 
 stood a fair horse well saddled and bridled, and on a 
 tree a shield of divers colors, and a great spear. Then 
 Sir Griflet smote upon the shield with the end of his 
 spear, that the shield fell down to the ground. 
 
 With that came the knight out of the pavilion, and 
 said, " Fair knight, why smote ye down my shield ? " 
 
 " For I will joust with you," said Sir Griflet. 
 
 " It were better ye did not," said the knight, " for ye 
 are but young and late made knight, and your might is 
 nothing to mine." 
 
 "As for that," said Sir Griflet, "I will joust with you," 
 
 "That is me loth," said the knight, "but sith [since] I 
 
 1 " If " here means whether. " In great peril if ever he come again " in 
 great danger of nrver getting back.
 
 Of King Arthur. 
 
 must needs, I will dress me thereto; but of whence be 
 ye?" said the knight. 
 
 "Sir, I am of King Arthur's court" So they ran 
 together that Sir Griflet's spear all to-shivered [shivered 
 all to pieces], and therewithal he smote Sir Griflet through 
 the shield and the left side, and brake the spear, that the 
 truncheon stuck in his body, that horse and knight fell 
 down. 
 
 When the knight saw him lie so on the ground he 
 alighted, and was passing heavy, for he wend [weened] he 
 had slain him, and then he unlaced his helm and got him , 
 wind, and so with the truncheon he set him on his horse, ^^ 
 and betook him to God, and said he had a mighty heart, 
 and if he might live he would prove a passing good 
 knight. And so Sir Griflet rode to the court, whereas 
 great moan was made for him. But through good leeches 
 [surgeons] he was healed and his life saved. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 How MERLIN SAVED KING ARTHUR'S LIFE, AND THREW AN ENCHANT- 
 MENT UPON KING PELLINORE, AND MADE HIM TO FALL ON SLEEP. 
 
 \ND King Arthur was passing wroth for the hurt of 
 Sir Griflet. And by and by he commanded a man 
 of his chamber that his best horse and armor " be without 
 the city or [before] to-morrow day." Right so in the morn- 
 ing he met with his man and his horse, and so mounted 
 up and dressed his shield, and took his spear, and bade 
 his chamberlain tarry there till he came again. And so 
 King Arthur rode but a soft pace till it was day, and then 
 was he ware of three churls which chased Merlin, and
 
 lO The Boy's King Arthur. 
 
 would have slain him. Then King Arthur rode unto 
 them a good pace, and cried to them: "Flee, churls." 
 Then were they afraid when they saw a knight, and fled 
 away. " O Merlin," said King Arthur, " here hadst thou 
 been slain for 1 all thy craft, had I not been." 
 
 " Nay," said Merlin, " not so, for I could save myself if 
 1 would, and thou art more near thy death than I am, for 
 thou goest toward thy death, and 2 God be not thy friend." 
 
 So, as they went thus talking, they came to the foun- 
 tain, and the rich pavilion by it. Then King Arthur 
 was ware where a knight sat all armed in a chair. " Sir 
 knight," said King Arthur, "for what cause abidest thou 
 here ? That there may no knight ride this way but if he 
 do joust with thee?" said the king. "I rede [advise] 
 thee leave that custom," said King Arthur. 
 
 " This custom," said the knight, " have I used and will 
 use, maugre [in spite of] who saith nay ; and who is 
 grieved with my custom, let him amend it that will." 
 
 " I will amend it," said King Arthur. 
 
 "And I shall defend it," said the knight. Anon he 
 took his horse, and dressed his shield, and took a spear, 
 and they met so hard either on other's shield, that they 
 all to-shivered [shivered all to pieces] their spears. There- 
 with King Arthur drew his sword. "Nay, not so," said 
 the knight, "it is fairer that we twain run more together 
 with sharp spears." 
 
 "I will well," said King Arthur, "and [if] I had any 
 mo [more] spears." 
 
 "I have spears enough," said the knight. So there 
 came a squire, and brought two good spears, and King 
 
 ' " For" here means in spite of; as still used, in certain phrases. 
 1 " And " means if, here. In later times it becomes contracted into M an," 
 when used in this sense.
 
 Of King Arthur. 1 1 
 
 Arthur took one and he another. So they sporreH their 
 horses, and came together with all their mights, that either 
 brake their spears to their hands. Then Arthur set hand 
 on his sword. "Nay," said the knight, "ye shall do 
 better ; ye are a passing good jouster as ever I met withal, 
 and for the love of the high order of knighthood let us 
 joust once again." 
 
 "I assent me," said King Arthur. Anon there were 
 brought two great spears, and every knight gat a spear, 
 and therewith they ran together that Arthur's spear all 
 to-shivered. But the other knight hit him so hard in 
 midst of the shield that horse and man fell to the earth, 
 and therewith Arthur was eager, and pulled out his sword, 
 * and said, "I will assay thee, Sir knight, on foot, for I 
 have lost the honor on horseback." 
 
 "I will be on horseback," said the knight. Then was 
 Arthur wroth, and dressed his shield towards Him with 
 his sword drawn. When the knight saw that, he alight, 
 for him thought no worship to have a knight at such avail, 
 he to be on horseback, and he on foot, and so he alight 
 and dressed his shield unto Arthur. And there began a 
 strong battle with many great strokes, and so hewed with 
 their swords that the cantels [pieces, of armor or of JUsK\~ 
 flew in the fields, and much blood they bled both, that al 
 the place there as they fought was over-bled with blood 
 and thus they fought long, and rested them, and then 
 they went to the battle again, and so hurtled together 
 like two rams that either fell to the earth. So at the last 
 they smote together, that both their swords met even 
 together. But the sword of the knight smote King 
 Arthur's sword in two pieces, wherefore he was heavy. 
 Then said the knight unto Arthur, "Thou art in my 
 danger whether me list to save thee or slay thee, and bat
 
 12 The Boy's King Arthur. 
 
 thou yield thee as overcome and recreant thou shalt 
 die." 
 
 "As for death," said King Arthur, "welcome be it 
 when it cometh, but as to yield me to thee as recreant, I 
 had liever die than to be so shamed." And therewithal 
 the king leapt unto Pellinore, and took him by the middle, 
 and threw him down, and raced 1 off his helm. When 
 the knight felt that, he was adread, for he was a passing 
 big man of might, and anon he brought King Arthur 
 under him, and raced off his helm, and would have smitten 
 off his head. 
 
 Therewithal came Merlin, and said : " Knight, hold thy 
 hand, for and [if] thou slay that knight, thou puttest this 
 realm in the greatest damage that ever realm was in, for 
 this knight is a man of more worship than thou wottest 
 of." 
 
 " Why, who is he ? " said the knight. 
 
 " It is King Arthur." 
 
 Then would he have slain him for dread of his wrath, 
 and heaved up his sword, and therewith Merlin ca,st^an 
 pnrhantp"t "" the knight, that he fell to the earth in a 
 great sleep. Then Merlin took up King Arthur, and 
 rode forth upon the knight's horse. " Alas," said King 
 Arthur, " what hast thou done, Merlin ? hast thou slain 
 this good knight by thy crafts ? There lived not so wor- 
 shipful a knight as he was ; I had liever than the stint 
 [loss] of my land a year, that he were on 2 live." 
 
 " Care ye not," said Merlin, " for he is wholer than ye, 
 
 , for he is but on 3 sleep, and will awake within three hours. 
 
 I told you," said Merlin, " what a knight he was ; here 
 
 had ye been slain hid I not been. Also, there liveth not 
 
 1 " Raced " off : violently tore off. * " On live : " old form of alivt- 
 
 M On sleep," asleep : as just above " on live." alive.
 
 Of King Arthur. 13 
 
 a better knight then he is, and he shall do you hereafter 
 right good service, and his name is Pellinore, and he shaU 
 have two sons, that shall be passing good men." 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 HOW ARTHUR BY THE MZAX OF Mz&LTN GAT EXCAUBU* HIS SWORD 
 
 OF THE LADY OF nut LAKE. 
 
 RIGHT so the king and he departed, and went unto 
 an hermit that was a good man and a great leech. 
 So the hermit searched all his wounds and gave him good 
 salves ; and the king was there three days, and then were 
 his wounds well amended that he might ride and go. 
 So Merlin and he departed, and as they rode, Arthur said, 
 " I have no sword." 
 
 "No force," * said Merlin, "hereby is a sword that shall 
 be yours, and [if] I may." So they rode till they came 
 to a lake, which was a fair water and a broad, and in the 
 middest of the lake King Arthur was ware of an arm 
 clothed in white samite, that held a fair sword in the 
 hand. " Lo," said Merlin, " yonder is that sword that I 
 spake of." With that they saw a damsel going upon the 
 lake. 
 
 " What damsel is that ? " said Arthur. 
 
 "That is the Lady of the Lake," said Merlin; "and 
 this damseljrill come to you anon, and then speak ye fair 
 to her that she will give you that sword." Anon withal 
 came the damsel unto Arthur and saluted him, and he 
 her again. 
 
 "Damsel," said Arthur, "what sword is tlat, that 
 
 1 " No force," no matttr.
 
 14 The Boy's King Arthur. 
 
 yonder the arm holdeth above the water? I would it 
 were mine, for I have no sword." 
 
 " Sir king," said the damsel, " that sword is mine, ind 
 if ye will give me a gift when I ask it you, ye shall have 
 it." 
 
 " By my faith," said Arthur, " I will give you what gift 
 ye will ask." 
 
 " Well," said the damsel, " go ye into yonder barge and 
 row yourself to the sword, and take it and the scabbard 
 with you, and I will ask my gift when I see my time." 
 
 So King Arthur and Merlin alighted and tied their 
 horses to two trees, and so they went into the ship, and 
 when they came to the sword that the hand held, King 
 Arthur took it up by the handles, and took it with him. 
 And the arm and the hand went under the water ; and 
 so they came unto the land and rode forth. And then 
 King Arthur saw a rich pavilion : " What signifieth 
 yonder pavilion ? " 
 
 "It is the knight's pavilion," said Merlin, "that ye 
 fought with last, Sir Pellinore, but he is out, he is not 
 there ; he hath ado with a knight of yours, that hight 
 [was named] Egglame, and they have fought together, but 
 it the last Egglame fled, and else he had been dead, and 
 he hath chased him to Caerleon, and we shall anon meet 
 with him in the high way." 
 
 "It is well said," quoth King Arthur, "now have I a 
 sword, and now will I wage battle with him and be 
 avenged on him." 
 
 "Sir, ye shall not do so," said Merlin, "for the knight 
 is weary of fighting and chasing, so that ye shall have no 
 worship to have ado with him ; also he will not lightly be 
 matched of one knight living ; and therefore my counsel 
 is that ye let him pass, for he shall do you good service
 
 Of King Arthur. 15 
 
 in short time, and his sons after his days. Also ye shall 
 see that day in short space, that ye shall be right glad to 
 give him your sister to wife." 
 
 "When I see him," said King Arthur, "I wffl do as ye 
 advise me." 
 
 Then King Arthur looked upon the sword and liked H 
 passing well 
 
 "Whether Kketh you better," said Merlin, "the sword 
 or the scabbard ? " 
 
 " Me liketfa better the sword," said King Arthur. 
 
 "Ye are more unwise," said Merlin, "for the scabbard 
 is worth ten of the sword, for while ye have the scabbard 
 upon you ye shall leese [lose] no blood be ye never so sore 
 wounded, therefore keep well the scabbard alway with 
 you." 
 
 So they rode on to Caerleon, and by the way they met 
 with Sir Pellinore. But Merlin had done such a craft that 
 Pellinore saw not Arthur, and so he passed by without 
 any words. 
 
 "I marvel," said the king, "that the knight would not 
 sreik." 
 
 " Sir," said Merlin, "he saw you not, for and [*/] he had 
 seen you he had not lightly departed." 
 
 So they came unto Caerleon, whereof the knights were 
 passing glad ; and when they heard of his adventures, they 
 marvelled that he would jeopard his person so alone. But 
 all men of worship said it was merry to be under such a 
 chieftain that would put his person in adventure as other 
 poor knights did.
 
 J 6 The Boy's King Arthur. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 How TIDINGS CAME TO KING ARTHUR THAT KING RYENCE HAD OVER- 
 COME ELEVEN KINGS, AND HOW HE DESIRED KING ARTHUR'S BEARD 
 TO PURFLE \border\ HIS MANTLE. 
 
 E mean while came a messenger hastily from jCinff 
 Rvence of North Wales, and he was king of all Ire- 
 land, and of many isles ; and this was his message, greet- 
 ing well King Arthur in this manner wise, saying, that 
 King Ryence had discomfited and overcome eleven kings, 
 and every of them did him homage, and that was this, 
 they gave him their beards clean flayn of [stripped ojf\ as 
 much as there was ; wherefore the messenger came for 
 King Arthur's beard, for King Ryence had purfled [bor- 
 dered] a mantle with kings' beards, and there lacked for 
 one place of the mantle, wherefore he sent for his beard, 
 or else he would enter into his lands " and burn and slay, 
 and never leave till he have thy head and thy beard." 
 
 "Well," said King Arthur, "thou hast said thy mes- 
 sage, which is the most villanous and lewdest message 
 that ever man heard sent to a king. Also thou mayest 
 see my beard full young yet for to make a purfle of. But 
 tell thou the king this : I owe him none homage, ne [nor] 
 none of mine elders, but or [ere, before] it be long he shall 
 do to me homage on both his knees, or else he shall leese 
 [lose] his head, by the faith of my body, for this is the 
 most shamefullest message that ever I heard speak of; 
 I see well the king met never yet with a worshipful man, 
 but tell him I will have his head without [unless] he do 
 homage unto me." 
 
 Then the messenger departed.
 
 Of King Arthur. 17 
 
 -Now is there any here," said King Arthur, -that 
 ^_ knoweth King Ryence?" 
 
 Then answered a knight that hight [was named} Naram : 
 "Sir, I know him weD, he is a passing good man of his 
 body as few been living, and a passing proud man, and, 
 sir, doubt ye not he wfll make war on you with a mighty 
 
 "Wdl," said King Arthur to the knight, "I shall ordain 
 for him, and that shall he find." 
 
 CHAPTER VUL 
 Or A DAMSEL WHKH cm can WITH A SVOKD, rot 
 
 Of SECH VHTCE TO DBAW IT OUT Of T> 
 
 OO it befell upon a time when King Arthur was at LOB- 
 O don, there came a knight that brought the king 
 tidings how that King Ryence of North Wales had reared 
 a great number of people, and were entered into the land, 
 and burnt and slew the king's true liege people. 
 
 "If that be true," said King Arthur, "it were great 
 shame unto mine estate but that he were mightily with- 
 standen." 
 
 "It is troth," said the knight, "for I saw the host my- 
 self." 
 
 Then Fang Arthur let make a cry, that all the lords, 
 
 that was called in those days Camdot. and there the king 
 would let make a counsel general, and a great joust, So 
 when the king was come thither with afl his
 
 1 8 The Boy's King Arthur. 
 
 which was sent on message from the great lady Lyle of 
 Avalon. And when she came before King Arthur, she 
 told him from whom she came, and how she was sent on 
 message unto him for these causes, and she let her mantle 
 fall that was richly furred, and then was she girded with a 
 noble sword, whereof the king had great marvel and sakl : 
 " Damsel, for what cause are ye gird with that sword ? 
 it beseemeth you not." 
 
 " Now shall I tell you," said the damsel ; " this sword 
 that I am gird withal doth me great sorrow and encum- 
 brance, for I may not be delivered of this sword but by a 
 good knight, and he must be a passing good man of his 
 hands and of his deeds, and without villany or treachery ; 
 if I may find such a knight that hath all these virtues, 
 he may draw out this sword of the scabbard. For I have 
 been at King Ryence's for it was told me there were 
 passing good knights, and he and all his knights have 
 assayed it, and none can speed." 
 
 " This is a great marvel," said Arthur ; " if this be 
 sooth \true\ I will myself assay to draw out the sword, 
 not presuming upon myself that I am the best knight, but 
 that I will begin to draw at your sword in giving example 
 to all the barons, that they shall assay every one after 
 other when I have assayed it." 
 
 Then Arthur took the sword by the sheath and by the 
 girdle, and pulled at it eagerly, but the sword would not 
 out. 
 
 "Sir," said the damsel, "ye need not to pull half so 
 hard, for he that shall pull it out, shall do it with little 
 might." 
 
 "Ye say well," said Arthur: "now assay ye, all my 
 barons, but beware ye be not denied with shame, treachery, 
 nor guile."
 
 Of King Arthur. 19 
 
 "Then it will not avail," said the damsel, "for he must 
 be a clean knight without villany, and of a gentle stream 
 of father's side and mother's side." 
 
 [And many] barons of the Round Table that were there 
 at that time assayed all by row, but there might none 
 speed; wherefore the damsel made great sorrow out of 
 measure, and said, "Alas! I wend [weened, thought] in 
 this court had been the best knights, without treachery or 
 treason." 
 
 "By my faith," saith Arthur, "here are good knights 
 as I deem any been in the world, but their grace is not to 
 help you, wherefore I am displeased." 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 How BALET, AKKAYKD LIKX A Poo* KNIGHT, PULLED our THE SWOKD, 
 
 WHICH ATTEfcWABD WAS CAUSE OF HIS DEATH. 
 
 THEN fell it so that time there was a poor knight 
 with King Arthur, that had been prisoner with him 
 half a year and more, for slaying of a knight the which 
 was cousin unto King Arthur. The name of this knight 
 was called Balin, and by good means of the barons he was 
 delivered out of prison, for he was a good man named 
 of his body, and he was born in Northumberland. And 
 so he went privily into the court, and saw this adventure, 
 whereof his heart raised, and would assay it as other 
 knights did, but, for because he was poor and poorly 
 arrayed, he put him not far in press [the crowd]. But 
 in his heart he was fully assured to do as well (if his 
 grace happened him) as any knight that was there. And 
 as that damsel took her leave of King Arthur and all
 
 20 The Boy's King Arthur. 
 
 the barons, this knight Balin called unto her and said, 
 " Damsel, I pray you of your courtesy to suffer me as well 
 to assay as these lords ; though I be poorly clothed, in 
 mine heart me seemeth I am fully assured as some of 
 these other lords, and me seemeth in my heart to speed 
 right well." 
 
 The damsel beheld the poor knight, and saw he was 
 
 a likely man ; but because of his poor array she thought 
 
 he should be of no worship without villany or treachery. 
 
 And then she said to the knight Balin, " Sir, it is no need 
 
 to put me to any more pain or labor, for it beseemeth 
 
 not you to speed there as other have failed." 
 
 , ? " Ah, fair damsel," said Balin, " worthiness and good 
 
 ( taches [qualities], and good deeds, are not all only in 
 
 \ raiment, but manhood and worship is hid within man's 
 
 4. person, and many a worshipful knight is not known unto 
 
 I all people, and therefore worship and hardiness is not in 
 
 Yraiment and clothing." 
 
 V Said the damsel, " Ye say troth, therefore ye shall assay 
 to do what ye may." 
 
 Then Balin took the sword by the girdle and scabbard, 
 and drew it out easily, and when he looked upon the 
 sword it pleased him much. Then had the king and all 
 the barons great marvel that Balin had done that ad- 
 venture, and many knights had great spite at Balin. 
 
 "Truly," said the damsel, "this is a passing good 
 knight, and the best man that ever I found, and most of 
 worship without treason, treachery, or villany, and many 
 marvels shall he do. Now, gentle and courteous knight, 
 give me the sword again." 
 
 "Nay," said Balin, "for this sword will I keep, but it 
 be taken from me by force." 
 
 "Well," said the damsel, "ye are not wise to keep the
 
 Of King Arthur. 21 
 
 sword from me, for ye shall slay with the sword the best 
 friend that ye have, and the man that ye most love in the 
 world, and the sword shall be your destruction." 
 
 " I shall take the adventure," said Balin, " that God wiD 
 ordain me, but the sword ye shall not have at this time, 
 by the faith of my body." 
 
 " Ye shall repent it within short time,*' said the damsel, 
 "for I would have the sword more for your avail than for 
 mine, for I am passing heavy for your sake ; for ye will 
 not believe that sword shall be your destruction, and that 
 is great pity." With that the damsel departed, making 
 great sorrow. 
 
 Anon after Balin sent for his horse and his armor, and 
 so would depart from the court, and took his leave of 
 King Arthur. " Nay," said the king, " I suppose ye will 
 not depart so lightly from this fellowship. I suppose that 
 ye are displeased that I have showed you unkindness ; 
 blame me the less, for I was misinformed against you, but 
 I wend \tJuntght\ you had not been such a knight as ye 
 are of worship and prowess, and if ye will abide in this 
 court among my fellowship, I shall so advance you as ye 
 shall be pleased." 
 
 " God thank your highness," said Balin, " for your 
 bounty and highness may no man praise half to the 
 value ; but at this time I must needs depart, beseeching 
 you alway of your good grace." 
 
 "Truly," said the king, "I am right wroth for your 
 departing : I pray you, fair knight, that ye tarry not long, 
 and ye shall be right welcome to me and to my barons, 
 and I shall amend all amiss that I have done against 
 you." 
 
 " God thank your lordship," said Balin, and therewith 
 made him ready to depart. Then the most part of the
 
 22 The Bo'fs King Arthur. 
 
 knights. of the Round Table said that Balm did not this 
 adventure all only by might, but by witchcraft. 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 How THE LADY OF THE LAKE DEMANDED THE KNIGHT'S HKAD THAT 
 
 HAD WON THE SWORD, OR THE MAIDEN'S HEAD. 
 
 THE mean while that this knight was making him 
 ready to depart, there came into the court a lady, 
 which hight [was named} the Lady of the Lake, and 
 she came on horseback richly beseen, and saluted King 
 Arthur, and there she asked him a gift that he had prom- 
 ised her when she gave him the sword. 
 
 "That is sooth" [true], said King Arthur, "a gift I 
 promised you; but I have forgotten the name of the 
 sword which ye gave me." 
 
 " The name of it," said the lady, " is Excalibur, that is 
 as much to say as cut-steel." 
 
 " Ye say well," said King Arthur, " ask what ye will, 
 and ye shall have it, if it lie in my power to give it." 
 
 " Well," said the Lady of the Lake, " I ask the head cf 
 the knight that hath won the sword, or else the damsel's 
 head that brought it ; and though I have both their 
 heads I force [care] not, for he slew my brother, a full 
 good knight and a true, and that gentlewoman was causer 
 of my father's death." 
 
 " Truly," said King Arthur, " I may not grant you 
 neither of their heads with my worship, therefore ask 
 what ye will else and I shall fulfil your desire." 
 
 " I will ask none other thing of you," said the lady
 
 Of Kt*g Artkur. 23 
 
 When Balm was ready to depart he saw the Lady of the 
 Lake there, by whose means was slain his own mother, 
 and he had sought her three years. And when it was 
 told him that she demanded his head of THng Arthur, he 
 went straight to her and said, "Evfl be ye found, ye would 
 have my head, and therefore ye shall lose yours." And 
 with his sword lightly he smote off her head before King 
 Arthur. 
 
 "Alas! for shame," said Arthur, "why have you done 
 so ? ye have shamed me and all my court, for this was a 
 lady that I was beholden to, and hither she came under 
 my safe conduct; I shall never forgive you that tres- 
 
 "Sir," said Balin, "me forthinketh [gritvftA] of your 
 displeasure, for this same lady was the untroest lady liv- 
 ing, and by enchantment and sorcery she hath been th* 
 destroyer of many good knights, and she was causer 
 that- my mother was burnt through her falsehood anfl 
 treachery." 
 
 "What cause so ever ye had," said Arthur, "ye should 
 have forborne her in my presence; therefore, think not 
 the contrary, ye shall repent it, for such another despite 
 had I never in my court : therefore withdraw you out of 
 my court in all haste that ye may." / 
 
 Then Balin took up the head of the lady, and bare V/ 
 with him to his hostry \hosttlrj, ], and there he met * 
 with his squire, that was sorry he had displeased King 
 Arthur, and so they rode forth out of the town. 
 
 "Now," said Bain, "we must part ; take thou this head 
 and bear it to my friends, and tell them how I have sped, 
 and tell my friends in Northumberland that my most foe 
 is dead. Also tell them how I am out of prison, and also 
 wbat adventure befell rae at the getting of this sword."
 
 24 The Boy's King Arthur. 
 
 "Alas," said the squire, "ye are greatly to blame for to 
 displease King Arthur." 
 
 "As for that," said Balin, "I will hie me in all the haste 
 that I may, to meet with King Ryence and destroy him, 
 or else to die therefore ; and if it may hap me to win him, 
 then will King Arthur be my good and gracious lord." 
 
 "Where shall I meet with you?" said the squire. 
 
 "In King Arthur's court," said Balin. 
 
 So his squire and he departed at that time. Then 
 King Arthur and all the court made great dole, and had 
 shame of the death of the Lady of the Lake. Then the 
 king buried her richly. 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 How MERLIN TOLD THE ADVENTURE OF THE DAMSEL. 
 
 AT that time there was in King Arthur's court a 
 knight that was the king's son of Ireland, 1 and his 
 name was Lanceor, and he was a proud knight, and he 
 counted himself one of the best knights of the court, 
 and he had great spite at Balin for the achieving of the 
 sword, that any should be accounted of more prowess 
 than he was ; and he asked King Arthur if he would give 
 him leave to ride after Balin and to revenge the despite 
 that he hath done. " Do your best," said King Arthur, 
 " for I am right wroth with Balin ; I would he were quite 
 [quit, acquitted] of the despite that he hath done to me 
 and to my court." 
 
 Then this Lanceor went to his hostrie to make him 
 ready. In the mean while came Merlin to King Arthur's 
 
 1 " The king's son of Ireland," the king of Ireland's son.
 
 Of King Arthur. 25 
 
 court, and there it was told him of the adventure of 
 the sword, and of the Lady of the Lake. 
 
 "Now shall I say to you," said Merlin, "this damsel 
 that here standeth, that brought the sword unto your 
 court, I shall tell you the cause of her coming, she is the 
 falsest damsel that liveth." 
 
 " Say not so," said they, "she hath a brother a passing 
 good knight of prowess and a full true man, aid this 
 damsel loved another, and this good knight her brother 
 met with the knight, and slew him by force of his hands." 
 
 When this damsel understood this, she went to the lady 
 Lyle of Avalon, and besought her of help to be avenged 
 on her brother. 
 
 CHAPTER XIL 
 
 How BAIXV WAS PURSUED BY Snt LANCEOK, A KNIGHT OP Iizuuro, 
 AND HOW BALIN SLEW HIM. 
 
 SO the knight of Ireland armed him at all points, and 
 dressed his shield on his shoulder and mounted upon 
 horseback, and took his spear in his hand, and rode after 
 as fast as his horse could run, and within a little space on 
 a mountain he had a sight of Balin, and with a loud voice 
 he cried to him and said : " Abide, knight, for ye shall 
 abide whether ye will or will not, and the shield that is 
 tofore you shall not help you." 
 
 When Balin heard that noise, he turned his horse 
 fiercely, and said, " Fair knight, what will you with me, 
 will ye joust with me ? " 
 
 " Yea," said the Irish knight, " therefore am I come 
 after you."
 
 26 The Boy's King Arthur. 
 
 " Perad venture," said Balin, " it had been better to have 
 holden you at home, for many a man weeneth \thinketh\ 
 to put his enemy to a rebuke, and often it falleth to him- 
 self. Of what court be ye sent fro [from] ? " 
 
 " I am come fro the court of King Arthur," said the 
 knight of Ireland, " that come hither for to revenge the 
 despite ye did this day to King Arthur and to his court." 
 
 " Well," said Balin, " I see well I must have ado with 
 you, that me forthinketh [grieveth] for to grieve King 
 Arthur, or any of his court ; and your quarrel is full 
 simple," said Balin, " for the lady that is dead did great 
 damage, and else I would have been as loth as any knight 
 that liveth for to slay a lady." 
 
 " Make you ready," said the knight Lanceor, " and 
 dress you to me, for one of us shall abide in the field." 
 
 Then they took their spears in atl the haste they might, 
 and came together as fast as their horses might drive, and 
 the king's son of Ireland smote Balin upon his shield, 
 that his spear went all to shivers. And Balin smote him 
 with such a might that it went through his shield, and 
 perished \_pierced\ the hauberk, and so pierced through 
 his body and the horse's croupe \crupper\, and Balin anon 
 turned his horse fiercely, and drew out his sword, and 
 wist not that he had slain him, and then he saw him lie 
 as a dead corpse.
 
 Of ISng Arthur. 27 
 
 IT: 
 
 THEN be looked by him and was ware of a 
 that came riding as fast as her hone aught gallop, 
 upon a fair palfrey ; and when fc*>ffqFf?P tfcat- jjjf T-nf*r 
 
 -O BaBn, two bodks bast thoa slain, and one heart, and 
 two hearts in one body, and two soak than hast lost" 
 
 And therewith she took the sword from her love that lay 
 dead, and as she took it she fefl to the groond in a swoon, 
 
 and hen she *^ she Bade ^IBIJ dole out of measure, 
 which sorrow grieved BaEn passing sore, and went to her 
 for to haw taken the sword out of her hands, but she 
 heSd it so fast, tint in no wise he might take the srod 
 oat of her hands, bat if he should have hurt her ; and sod- 
 "***My she set the pommel of the awuu to Cue groond and 
 ran herself through the Iwwly. And when iMlin saw her 
 
 so air a ihmsri had dv&tiuyul IK* mill tor die love, of him. 
 
 a AV -* 1 H^K .. -TI, - _ l^_ J ^tt. jj 
 
 Aias, saaa tann, me lepemeui sore me orarn oc 
 tins knight for the love of this damsel, for there 
 traelorcbetwn 
 
 And for sonow he msgnt no *** > ff Mr ' *M i out tnmcd 
 his hoisc and looted towaius a gi^^L forest, and there he 
 was wiie, by the -j* 11 "**^ of his brother * a "i >i And when 
 they woe met they put off then* helms and teased to- 
 gether, and wept for joy and pity. Then Balan said, "I 
 little wend to have met with jou at this sodden ad- 
 
 . _" .1.1 _j,la_l 
 
 ii^u> ^n os
 
 28 The <ty's King Arthur. 
 
 dolorous prisonment, for a man told me in the Castle of 
 Four Stones that ye were delivered, and that man had 
 seen you in the court of King Arthur, and therefore I 
 came hither into this country, for here I supposed to find 
 you." 
 
 Anon the knight Balin told his brother of his adventure 
 of the sword, and of the death of the Lady of the Lake, 
 and how King Arthur was displeased with him : " Where- 
 fore he sent this knight after me that lieth here dead; 
 and the death of this damsel grieveth me sore." 
 
 "So doth it me," said Balan, "but ye must take the 
 adventure that God will ordain you." 
 
 "Truly," said Balin, "I am right heavy that my lord 
 Arthur is displeased with me, for he is the most worship- 
 ful knight that reigneth now on earth, and his love I will 
 get or else I will put my life in adventure ; for the King 
 Ryence lieth at a siege at the castle Terrabil, and thither 
 will we draw in all haste, to prove our worship and prowess 
 upon him." 
 
 "I will well," said Balan, "that we do, and we will help 
 each other as brethren ought to do." 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 How A DWARF REPROVED BALIN FOR THE DEATH OF LANCEOR, AND 
 HOW KING MARK OF CORNWALL FOUND THEM, AND MADE A TOMB 
 OVER THEM. 
 
 T)ROTHER," said Balin, "let us go hence, and well be 
 JD we met." 
 
 The mean while as they talked, there came x dwarf 
 from the :ity of Camelot on horseback as fast as
 
 Of King Arthur. 29 
 
 and found the dead bodies, wherefore he made great dole, 
 and drew his hair for sorrow, and said, "Which of you 
 knights hath done this deed ? " 
 
 " \Yhereby askest thou it ? " said Balin. 
 
 " For I would wit " \knovj\, said the dwarf. 
 
 " It was I," said Balin, " that slew this knight in my 
 defence, for hither came he to chase me, and either I 
 must slay him or he me, and this damsel slew herself for 
 his love, which me sore repenteth, and for her sake I 
 shall owe all women the better love and favor." 
 
 "Alas," said the dwarf, "thou hast done great dam^g^ 
 unto thyself for this knight that is here dead was one of 
 the most valiantest men that lived, and trust thou well, 
 Balin, that the kin of this knight will chase thee through 
 the world till they have slain thee." 
 
 " As for that," said Balin, " I fear it not greatly ; but I 
 am right heavy because I have displeased my sovereign 
 lord King Arthur, for the death of this knight." 
 
 So, as they talked together, there came a king of Corn 
 wall riding by them, which was named King Mark, and 
 when he saw these two bodies dead and understood how 
 they were dead by one of the two knights above said, 
 ihen made King Mark great sorrow for the true love that 
 was between them, and said: "I will not depart from 
 hence till I have on this earth made a tomb." 
 
 And there he pight \JntcJud] his pavilions, and sought 
 through all the country to find a tomb, and in a church 
 they found one [that] was fair and rich, and there the 
 king let put them both in the earth, and put the tomb 
 upon them, and wrote the names of them both on the 
 tomb : how here lieth Lanceor the king's son of Ireland 
 that at his own request was slain by the hands of Balin, 
 and how his lady Colombe slew herself with her love's 
 sword for dole and sorrow.
 
 30 The Boy's King Arthur. 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 How MERLIN PROPHESIED THAT BALIN SHOULD STRIKE THE DOLOROUS 
 STROKE. 
 
 said Merlin [to Balm] "because of the death 
 
 -L of that lady, thou shalt strike a stroke the most 
 dolorous that ever man stroke, except the stroke of our 
 Lord ; for thou shalt hurt the truest knight and the man 
 of the most worship that now liveth, and through that 
 stroke three kingdoms shall be in great poverty, misery, 
 and wretchedness twelve years, and the knight shall not 
 be whole of that wound in many years." And then 
 Merlin took his leave of Balin. 
 
 Then said Balin, " If I wist [knew] that it were sooth 
 \true\ that ye say, I should do such a perilous deed as 
 that I would slay myself to make thee a liar." 
 
 And therewith anon Merlin suddenly vanished away. 
 Then Balin and his brother took their leave of King 
 Mark. 
 
 "First," said the king, "tell me your name." 
 
 " Sir," said Balan, " ye may see he beareth two swords, 
 thereby ye may call him the knight with the two swords." 
 
 And so departed King Mark, and rode to Camelot to 
 King Arthur, and Balin and his brother took the way to 
 King Ryence, and as they rode together they met with 
 Merlin disguised, but they knew him not. 
 
 " Whither ride ye ? " said Merlin. 
 
 "We have little to do," said the two knights, "for to 
 tell thee ; but what is thy name ? " said Balin. 
 
 "As at this time," said Merlin, "I wi'l not tell thee." 
 
 " It is full evil seen," said the two knights, " that thou 
 art a true man, when thou wilt not tell thy name."
 
 Of King Arthur. 31 
 
 "As for that," said Merlin, "be it as it may, but I can 
 tell you wherefore ye ride this way, for to meet King 
 Ryence, but it will not avail you without you have my 
 counseL" 
 
 "Ah!" said Balin, "ye are Merlin. We will be ruled 
 by your counseL" 
 
 "Come on," said Merlin, "ye shall have great worship, 
 and look that ye do knightly, for ye shall have great 
 neel" 
 
 "As for that," said Balin, "dread ye not, we will do 
 what we may." 
 
 CHAPTER XVL 
 
 How BALIN AND HIS BIOTHXK BY THE COUNSEL OF MEKJLD* TOOK 
 KING RTZXCZ, AND BROUGHT mx TO KING AKTHOTL 
 
 THEN Merlin lodged them in a wood among leaves 
 beside the highway, and took off the bridles of their 
 horses and put them to grass, and laid them down to rest 
 them till it was nigh midnight. Then Merlin bade them 
 rise and make them ready, for the king was nigh them, 
 that was stolen away from his host with a threescore horses 
 of his best knights, and twenty of them rode tofore, to 
 warn the lady that the king was coming. 
 
 " Which is the king ? " said Balin. 
 
 " Abide," said Merlin, " here in a straight way ye shall 
 meet with him ; " and therewith he showed Balin and his 
 brother where he rode. Anon Balin and his brother met 
 *rth the king, and smote him down, and wounded him 
 fiercely, and laid him to the ground, and there they slew 
 on the right hand and the left hand, and slew more than 
 forty of his men ; and the remnant fled. Then went they
 
 32 The Boy's King Arthur. 
 
 again to King Ryence, and would have slain him had he 
 not yielded him unto their grace. 
 
 Then said he thus : " Knights full of prowess, slay me 
 not, for by my life ye may win, and by my death ye shall 
 win nothing." 
 
 Then said these two knights, "Ye say sooth and truth ; " 
 and so laid him on an horse-litter. With that Merlin was 
 vanished, and came to King Arthur aforehand, and told 
 him how his most enemy was taken and discomfited. 
 
 " By whom ? " said King Arthur. 
 
 "By two knights," said Merlin, "that would please 
 your lordship, and to-morrow ye shall know what knights 
 they are." 
 
 Anon after came the knight with the two swords, and 
 Balan his brother, and brought with them King Ryence 
 of North Wales, and there delivered him to the porters, 
 and charged them with him ; and so they two returned 
 again in the springing of the day. 
 
 King Arthur came then to King Ryence and said, 
 " Sir king, ye are welcome : by what adventure come ye 
 hither?" 
 
 " Sir," said King Ryence, " I came hither by an hard 
 adventure." 
 
 " Who won you ? " said King Arthur. 
 
 "Sir," said the king, "the knight with the two swords 
 and his brother, which are two marvellous knights of 
 prowess. 
 
 " I know them not," said Arthur, " but much I am be- 
 holden to them." 
 
 "Ah," said Merlin, "I shall tell you, it is Balin that 
 achieved the sword, and his brother Balan, a good knight, 
 there liveth not a better of prowess and of worthiness; 
 and it shall be the greatest dole of him that ever I knew 
 of knight, for he shall not long endure."
 
 Of King Arthur. 33 
 
 "Alas," said King Arthur, "that is great pity, for I am 
 much beholden unto him, and I have 31 deserved it unto 
 him for his kindness." 
 
 "Nay," said Merlin, "he shall do much more for you, 
 and that shall ye know in haste. But, Sir, are ye pur- 
 veyed?" said Merlin; "for to-morn the host of Nero, 
 King Ryence's brother, will set on you or [ere, before} 
 noon with a great host, and therefore make you ready, for 
 I will depart from you." 
 
 CHAPTER XVTL 
 
 HOW KciG ABIHIIK WAT> A BATTLE AGAEC5T NEEO AXD ILCCG LOT. 
 
 AJO> BOW TWKLTK KJBGS wxu suux. 
 
 THEN came Nero to Castle Terrabfl with a mighty 
 host, for he had ten battles, [battalions, or divisions} 
 with much more people than King Arthur had. So Nero 
 himself had the vaward \va-wardj van-guard} with the 
 most part of his people ; and Merlin came to King Lot, 
 of the Isle of the Orkney, and held him with a tale 
 of prophecy tfll Nero and his people were destroyed. 
 And there Sir Kay the seneschal did passing weH, thai 
 all the days of his life he had thereof worship. And Sii 
 Hervis de Revel did marvellous deeds with King Arthur. 
 And King Arthur slew that day twenty knights, and 
 maimed forty. At that time came in the knight with the 
 two swords, and his brother Balan ; but they two did so 
 marvellously that the king and all the knights had great 
 marvel thereof, and all that beheld them said that they 
 were sent from heaven as angels, or as devils from hell ; 
 and King Arthur said himself that they were the best
 
 34 The Boy's King Arthur. 
 
 knights that ever he saw, for they gave such strokes that 
 all men had wonder of them. In the mean while came 
 one to King Lot, and told him that while he tarried there 
 Nero was destroyed and slain with all his people. 
 
 "Alas! I am shamed," said King Lot, "for through my 
 default is slain many a worshipful man ; for if we had 
 been together there had been no host under heaven that 
 had been able to match us. This [deceiver] with his 
 prophecy hath mocked me." 
 
 All that did Merlin, for he knew well that if King Lot 
 had been there with his body at the first battle, King 
 Arthur and all his people should have been destroyed 
 and slain. And Merlin knew well that one of the kings 
 should be dead that day, and loth was Merlin that any of 
 them both should be slain ; but of the twain he had liever 
 King Lot had been slain than King Arthur. 
 
 " Now, what is best to do," said King Lot, " whether is 
 it better for to treat with King Arthur, or to fight, for 
 the most part of our people are slain and destroyed ? " 
 
 " Sir," said a knight, " set upon King Arthur, for he 
 and his men are weary of fighting, and we be fresh." 
 
 "As for me," said King Lot, "I would that every 
 knight would do his part as I will do mine." 
 
 And then they advanced their banners and smote to- 
 gether, and all to-shivered [shivered all to pieces] their 
 spears ; and King Arthur's knights, with the help of the 
 knight with the two swords and his brother Balan, put 
 King Lot and his host to the worst ; but alway King 
 Lot held him in the foremost, and did great deeds of arms, 
 for all his host was borne up by his hands, for he abode 
 and withstood all knights. Alas ! he might not ever 
 endure, the which was great pity that so worthy a knight 
 as he was should be over-matched, and that of late time
 
 Of King Arthur. 35 
 
 afore had been a knight of King Arthur's, and had 
 wedded King Arthur's sister. So there was a knight 
 that was called the knight with the strange beast, and at 
 that time his right name was Pellinore, which was a good 
 man of prowess, and he smote a mighty stroke at King 
 Lot as he fought with his enemies, and he failed of his 
 stroke, and smote the horse's neck that he fell to the 
 ground with King Lot, and therewith anon Sir Pellinore 
 smote him a great stroke through the helm, and hewed 
 him to the brows. And then all the host of Orkney fled 
 for the death of King Lot, and there was slain many a 
 mother's son. But King Pellinore bare the wit \blame\ 
 of the death of King Lot; wherefore Sir Gawaine re- 
 venged the death of his father the tenth year after he was 
 made knight, and slew King Pellinore with his own hands. 
 Also there was slain at the battle twelve kings on King 
 Lot's side with Nero, and all were buried in the church 
 of Saint Stevens, in Camelot ; and the remnant of knights 
 and of other were buried in a great rock. 
 
 CHAPTER XVIIL 
 
 OF THE fclTERMEST OF TWELVE KlUGS, AND OF THE PROPHECY O 
 
 MERLIN, AND HOW BALDT SHOULD GIVE THE DOLOROUS STROKE. 
 
 SO at the entertainment [interment, that is, burial} 
 came King Lot's wife Morgause, with her four sons 
 Gawaine, Agravaine, Gaheris, and Gareth. Also there 
 came thither King Urience, Sir Ewaine's father, and 
 Morgan le Fay his wife, that was King Arthur's sister. 
 All these came to the interment But of all these 
 twelve kings King Arthur let make the tomb of King
 
 36 The Boy's King Arthur 
 
 Lot passing richly, and made his tomb by his own ; and 
 then King Arthur let make twelve images of laton [brass] 
 and copper, and over-gilt it with gold, in the sign of 
 twelve kings, and each one of them held a taper of wax 
 that burnt day and night : and King Arthur was made in 
 sign of a figure standing above them with a sword drawn 
 in his hand : and all the twelve figures had countenance 
 like unto men that were overcome. All this made Merlin 
 by his subtle craft ; and there he told the king, "When I 
 am dead these tapers shall burn no longer ; and soon 
 after the adventures of the Sangreal I shall come among 
 you and be achieved." 
 
 Also he told Arthur how Balin the worshipful knight 
 shall give the Dolorous Stroke, whereof shall fall great 
 vengeance. 
 
 "O where is Balin, and Balan, and Pellinore?" said 
 King Arthur. 
 
 " As for Pellinore," said Merlin, " he will meet with you 
 soon : and as for Balin, he will not be long from you : but 
 the other brother will depart ; ye shall see him no more." 
 
 " By my faith," said Arthur, " they are two marvellous 
 knights, -and namely Balin passeth of prowess of any 
 knight that ever I found, for much beholden am I unto 
 him ; would that he would abide with me." 
 
 "Sir," said Merlin, "look ye keep well the scabbard of 
 Excalibur, for ye shall lose no blood while ye have the 
 scabbard upon you, though ye have as many wounds upon 
 you as ye may have." 
 
 So after, for great trust Arthur betook the scabbard to 
 Morgan le Fay his sister, and she loved another knight 
 
 1 " Sangreal," the Saint Grail, or Holy Cup, said to have held the blood 
 of Jesus and to have been brought away from the Cross by Joseph of 
 Arimathea,
 
 Of King Arthur. 37 
 
 better than her husband King Urierce or King Arthur, 
 and she would have had Arthur her brother slain, and 
 therefore she let make another scabbard like it by en- 
 chantment, and gave the scabbard of Excalibur to her 
 love. And the knight's name was called Accolon, that 
 after had near slain King Arthur. After this Merlin told 
 unto King Arthur of the prophecy that there should be a 
 great battle beside Salisbury, and that Mordred his sister's 
 son should be against him. 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 How A SOUOWFUL RTTGHT CAMS BEFORE KING AXTHTTK, AJCD HOW 
 BALCV f.mm> nut, AND HOW THAT KXIGHT WAS SLAIN XT A 
 KncHT IHVJSULX. 
 
 [THIN a day or two King Arthur was somewhat 
 sick, and he let pitch his pavilion in a meadow, 
 and there he laid him down on a pallet to sleep, but he 
 might have no rest. Right so he heard a great noise of 
 an horse, and therewith the king looked out at *he porch 
 of the pavilion, and saw a knight coming even by him 
 making great dole. 
 
 "Abide, fair sir," said Arthur, "and tell me wherefore 
 thou makest this sorrow ? " 
 
 "Ye may little amend me," said the knight, and so 
 passed forth to the castle of Meliot. 
 
 Anon after there came Balin, and when he saw King 
 Arthur he alight off his horse, and came to the king on 
 foot, and saluted him. 
 
 "By my head," said Arthur, "ye be welcome. S. 
 right now came riding this way a knight making great
 
 38 The Boy's King Arthur. 
 
 moan, for what cause I cannot tell, wherefore I would 
 desire of you of your courtesy and of your gentleness to 
 fetch again that knight either by force or else by his 
 good-will." 
 
 " I will do more for your lordship than that," said Balin : 
 and so he rode more than a pace, and found the knight 
 with a damsel in a forest, and said, " Sir knight, ye must 
 come with me unto King Arthur, for to tell him of your 
 sorrow." 
 
 "That will I not," said the knight, "for it will scathe 
 me greatly, and do you none avail." 
 
 "Sir," said Balin, "I pray you make you ready, for ye 
 must go with me, or else I must fight with you and bring 
 you by force, and that were me loth to do." 
 
 "Will ye be my warrant," said the knight, "and I go 
 with you ? " 
 
 "Yea," said Balin, "or else I will die therefore." 
 
 And so he made him ready to go with Balin, and left 
 the damsel still. And as they were afore King Arthur's 
 pavilion there came one invisible, and smote this knight 
 that went with Balin throughout the body with a spear. 
 
 " Alas ! " said the knight, " I am slain under your con- 
 duct and guard with a traitorous knight called Garlon; 
 therefore take my horse the which is better than yours, 
 and ride to the damsel, and follow the quest that I was in 
 where as she will lead you, and revenge my death when 
 ye may best." 
 
 "That shall I do," said Balin, "and thereof I make a 
 vow to you, by my knighthood." 
 
 And so he departed from this knight, making great 
 sorrow. So King Arthur let bury this knight richly, and 
 made a .nention upon the tomb, how there was slain Her- 
 leus le Berbeus, and also how the treachery was done by
 
 Of King Arthur. 39 
 
 the knight Carton. But ever the damsel bare the trun- 
 cheon of the spear with her, that Sir Heriens was slam 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 AND anon after this, Balin and the damsel rode tin 
 they came to a castle, and there Balin alighted, and 
 he and the damsel wend to have gone into the castle. 
 And anon as Balin came within the castJe gate, the port- 
 coins fell down at his back, and there came many men 
 about the damsel, and woold hare slain her. Andwhen 
 Balin saw that, he was sore grieved, became he might not 
 hcrp the fam*iH, And then he went nn tin* alfa aiWi 
 leapt over into the ditch and hurt him not, and anon he 
 pulled out his sword and would hare i onghten with them. 
 And then all said they would not fight with him, for they 
 did nothing hot the old custom of the castle, and told him 
 how their lady was skk, and had lain many years, and 
 she might not be whole but if she had a silver dish foU 
 of blood of a maid and a king's daughter; and therefore 
 the custom of this castle is tfrat there J**TI none pas* 
 this way bat that she shall bleed of her Wood a silver 
 
 J- 1 f.n 
 
 msn run. 
 
 "Well,- said Balm, "she shall bleed as much as she 
 may bleed, but I wffl not that she leese {lose] her fife 
 while my fife lasteth." 
 
 And so Balin made her to bleed by her good wflL But 
 her blood helped not the lady.
 
 40 The Boy's King Arthur. 
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 How BALIN MET WITH THE KNIGHT NAMED GARLON AT A FEAST, AND 
 THERE HE SLEW HIM TO HAVE HIS BLOOD TO HEAL THEREWITH THK 
 SON OF HIS HOST. 
 
 THEN they rode three or four days, and never met 
 with adventure ; and by hap they were lodged with 
 a gentleman that was a rich man and well at ease. And 
 as they sat at their supper, Balin heard one complain 
 grievously by him in a chair. 
 
 "What is this noise ?" said Balin. 
 
 "Forsooth," said his host, "I will tell you. I was but 
 late at a jousting, and there I jousted with a knight that 
 is brother unto King Pellam, and twice smote I him down ; 
 and then he promised to quit \_pay\ me on my best friend, 
 and so he wounded my son, that cannot be whole till I 
 have of that knight's blood, a^d he rideth alway invisible, 
 but I know not his name." 
 
 "Ah," said Balin, "I know that knight, his name is 
 Garlon, he hath slain two knights of mine in the same 
 manner, therefore I had rather meet with that knight 
 than all the gold in this realm, for the despite he hath 
 done me." 
 
 " Well," said his host, " I shall tell you, King Pellam of 
 Listeneise hath made cry in all this country a great feast 
 that shall be within these twenty days, and no knight may 
 come there but if he bring his wife with him, or his love ; 
 and that knight, your enemy and mine, ye shall see that 
 day." 
 
 "Then I promise you," said Balin, "part of his blood 
 to heal your son withal."
 
 Of King ArOm. 41 
 
 "We will be forward to-morrow," said his host. 
 
 So on the morn they rode all three toward Pellam, and 
 they had fifteen days' journey or \ere\ they came thither ; 
 and that same day began the great feast. And so they 
 alight and stabled their horses, and went into the castle ; 
 but Balin's host might not be let in because he had no 
 lady. Then Balin was well received, and brought unto a 
 chamber and unarmed him, and they brought him robes 
 to his pleasure, and would have had Balin leave his sword 
 behind him- 
 
 "Nay," said Balin, "that do I not, for it is the custom 
 of my country a knight alway to keep his weapon with 
 him, and that custom will I keep, or else I will depart as 
 I came." 
 
 Then they gave him leave to wear his sword, and so 
 he went unto the castle, and was set among knights of 
 worship, and his lady afore him. Soon Balin asked a 
 knight, " Is there not a knight in this court whose name 
 isGarion?" 
 
 "Yonder he goeth," said a knight, "he with the black 
 face ; he is the marvellest knight that is now living, for 
 he destroyeth many good knights, for he goeth invisible." 
 
 "Ah. well," said Balm, "is that he?" 
 
 Then Balm advised him long: "If I slay him here 
 I shall not escape, and if I leave him now peradventure I 
 shall never meet with him again at such a good [time], 
 and much harm he win do and [*/] he live." 
 
 Therewith this Garlon espied that this Balin beheld 
 him, and then he came and smote Balin on the face with 
 the back of his hand, and said, Knight, why beholdest 
 thou me so? for shame, therefore, eat thy meat, and do 
 that thou came for." 
 
 "Thou sayest sooth," said Balin, "this is not the first
 
 42 The Boy's King Arthur. 
 
 "despite that thou hast done me, and therefore I will do 
 that I came for ; " and rose up fiercely, and clave his head 
 to the shoulders. 
 
 " Give me the truncheon," said Balin to his lady, 
 "wherewith he slew your knight." 
 
 Anon she gave it him, for alvvay she bare the truncheon 
 with her; and therewith Balin smote him through the 
 body, and said openly, " With that truncheon thou hast 
 slain a good knight, and now it sticketh in thy body." 
 
 And then Balin called to him his host, saying, "Now 
 may ye fetch blood enough to heal your son withal." 
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 How BALIN FOUGHT WITH KING PELLAM, AND HOW HIS SWORD BRAKE, 
 AND HOW HE GAT A SPEAR WHEREWITH HE SMOTE THE DOLOROUS 
 STROKE. 
 
 ANON all the knights arose from the table for to 
 set on Balin. And King Pellam himself arose up 
 fiercely, and said, " Knight, hast thou slain my brother ? 
 thou shalt die therefore or thou depart." 
 'Well," said Balin, "do it yourself." 
 'Yes," said King Pellam, "there shall no man have 
 ado with thee but myself, for the love of my brother." 
 Then King Pellam caught in his hand a grim weapon 
 and smote eagerly at Balin, but Balin put the sword 
 betwixt his head and the stroke, and therewith his sword 
 burst in sunder. And when Balin was weaponless he ran 
 into a chamber for to seek some weapon, and so from 
 chamber to chamber, and no weapon could he find, and 
 alway King Pellam followed him ; and at the last he
 
 Of King Arthur. 43 
 
 entered into a chamber that was marvellously well dight 
 \Jurnishf d\ and richly, and a bed arrayed with cloth of 
 gold, the richest that might be thought, and one lying 
 therein; and thereby stood a table of clean gold, with 
 four pillars of silver that bare up the table, and upon the 
 table stood a marvellous spear strangely wrought. And 
 when Balin saw the spear, he gat it in his hand, and 
 turned him to King Pellam, and smote him passingly sore 
 with that spear, that King Pellam fell down in a swoon, 
 and therewith the castle rove \voas riven], and walls brake 
 and fell to the earth, and Balin fell down so that he might 
 not stir hand nor foot And so the most part of the castle 
 that was fallen down through that Dolorous Stroke lay 
 upon King Pellam and Balin three days. 
 
 Then Merlin came thither, and took up Balin, and gat 
 him a good horse, for his horse was dead, and bade him 
 ride out of that country. 
 
 CHAPTER XXIIL 
 How BALI* MET WITH HIS BROTHER BALAN, AND HOW EACH OF THEM 
 
 SLEW OTHER UNKNOWN, TILL THEY WERE WOUNDED TO DEATH. 
 
 THEN afore him he saw come riding out of a castle a 
 knight, and his horse trapped all red, and himself in 
 the same color. When this knight in the red beheld 
 Balin, him thought it should be his brother Balin because 
 of his two swords, but because he knew not his shield, he 
 deemed it was not he. And so they aventred \adventured\ 
 their spears, and came marvellously fast together, and they 
 smote each other in the shields, but their spears and their 
 course was so big that it bare down horse and man, that
 
 44 The Boy's King Arthur. 
 
 they lay both in a swoon. But Balm was bruised sore 
 with the fall of his horse, for he was weary of travel. 
 And Balan was the first that rose on foot and drew his 
 sword, and went toward Balm, and he arose and went 
 against him, but Balan smote Balin first, and he put up 
 his shield, and smote him through the shield and cleft his 
 helm. Then Balin smote him again with that unhappy 
 sword, and well nigh had felled his brother Balan, and so 
 they fought there together till their breaths failed. Then 
 Balin looked up to the castle, and saw the towers stand 
 full of ladies. So they went to battle again, and wounded 
 each other dolefully, and then they breathed oft-times, and 
 so went unto battle, that all the place there as they fought 
 was blood red. And at that time there was none of them 
 both but they had either smitten other seven great wounds, 
 so that the least of them might have been the death of the 
 mightiest giant in this world. Then they went to battle 
 again so marvellously that doubt it was to hear of that 
 battle for the great bloodshedding, and their hauberks 
 unnailed, that naked they were on every side. At the last 
 Balan, the younger brother, withdrew him a little and laid 
 him down. Then said Balin le Savage, "What knight 
 art thou ? for or [ere] now I found never no knight that 
 matched me." 
 
 "My name is," said he, "Balan, brother to the good 
 knight Balin." 
 
 "Alas ! " said Balin, "that ever I should see this day." 
 And therewith he fell backward in a swoon. Then 
 Balan went on all four feet and hands, and put off the 
 helm of his brother, and might not know him by the vis- 
 age it was so full hewn and bled ; but when he awoke he 
 said, "O Balan, my brother, thou hast slain me and I 
 thee, wherefore all the wide world shall speak of us both."
 
 Of King Arthur. 45 
 
 "Alas!" said Balan, "that ever I saw this day, that 
 through mishap I might not know you, for I espied well 
 your two swords, but because ye had another shield I 
 deemed you had been another knight." 
 
 " Alas ! " said Balin, "all that made an unhappy knight 
 in the castle, for he caused me to leave mine own shield 
 to our both's destruction, and if I might live I would 
 destroy that castle for ill customs." 
 
 " That were well done," said Balan, " for I had never 
 grace to depart from them since that I came hither, for 
 here it happed me to slay a knight that kept this island, 
 and since might I never depart, and no more should ye 
 brother, and ye might have slain me as ye have, and 
 escaped yourself with the life." 
 
 Right so came the lady of the tower with four knights 
 and six ladies and six yeomen unto them, and there she 
 heard how they made their moan either to other, and 
 said, "We came both of one [mother], and so shall we 
 lie both in one pit." 
 
 So Balan prayed the lady of her gentleness, for his true 
 sen*ice that she would bury them both in that same place 
 there the battle was done. And she granted them with 
 weeping it should be done richly in the best manner. 
 
 " Now will ye send for a priest, that we may receive our 
 sacrament and receive the blessed body of our Lord Jesus 
 Christ" 
 
 "Yea," said the lady, "it shall be done." 
 
 And so she sent for a priest and gave them then* rites. 
 
 " Now," said Balin, " when we are buried in one tomb, 
 and the mention made over us how two brethren slew 
 each other, there will never good knight nor good man sec 
 our tomb but they will pray for our souls." 
 
 And so all the ladies and gentlewomen wept for pity.
 
 46 The Boy's King Atihur. 
 
 Then, anon Balan died, but Balin died not till the mid- 
 night after, and so were they buried both, and the lady let 
 make a mention of Balan how he was there slain by his 
 brother's hands, but she knew not Balin's name. 
 
 In the morn came Merlin and let write Balin's name 
 upon the tomb, with letters of gold, That here lieth Balin 
 le Savage, that was the knight with the two swords, and 
 he that smote the Dolorous Stroke. 
 
 Soon after this was done Merlin came to King Arthur 
 and told him of the Dolorous Stroke that Balin gave to 
 King Pellam, and how Balin and Balan fought together 
 the most marvellous battle that ever was heard of, and 
 how they were buried both in one tomb. 
 
 "Alas!" said King Arthur, "this is the greatest pity 
 that ever I heard tell of two knights, for in the world I 
 know not such two knights." 
 
 Thus endeth the tale of Balin and Balan, two brethren 
 born in Northumberland, good knights. 
 
 CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 How KING ARTHUR TOOK AND WEDDED GUENEVER UNTO HIS WIFE. 
 
 IT befell on a time that King Arthur said to Merlin : 
 " My barons will let me have no rest, but needs they 
 will have that I take a wife, and I will none take but by 
 thy counsel and by thine advice." 
 
 "It is well done," said Merlin, "that ye take a wife, 
 for a man of your bounty and nobleness should not be 
 without a wife. Now is there any fair lady that ye love 
 better than another ? " 
 
 " Yea," said King Arthur, " I love Guenever, the king's
 
 Of King Arthur. 47 
 
 daughter Leodegrance * of the land of Cameliard, which 
 Leodegrance holdeth in his house the Table Round that 
 ye told he had of my father Uther. And this damsel is 
 the most gentlest and fairest lady that I know living, or 
 yet that ever I could find" 
 
 And Merlin went forth to King Leodegrance of Camel- 
 iard, and told him of the desire of the king, that he would 
 have to his wife Guenever his daughter. 
 
 "That is to me," said King Leodegrance, "the best 
 tidings that ever I heard, that so worthy a king of prowess 
 and of nobleness will wed my daughter. And as for my 
 lands I will give him, wished I that it might please him, 
 but he hath lands enough, he needeth none ; but I shall 
 send him a gift that shall please him much more, for 1 
 shall give him the Table Round, the which Utherpen- 
 dragon gave me ; and when it is full complete, there is 
 an hundred knights and fifty, and as for an hundred good 
 knights I have myself, but I lack fifty, for so many have 
 been slain in my days." 
 
 And so King Leodegrance delivered his daughter 
 Guenever unto Merlin, and the Table Round with the 
 hundred knights ; and so they rode freshly with great 
 ro}-alty, what by water and what by land, till they came 
 that night unto London. 
 
 1 " The king's daughter Leodegrance," King Leodcgranct*
 
 48 The Boy's King Arthur. 
 
 CHAPTER XXV. 
 
 How THE KNIGHTS OF THE ROUND TABLE WERE ORDAINED, AND HOW 
 THEIR SIEGES [seats] WERE BLESSED BY THE ARCHBISHOP OF CANTER- 
 BURY. 
 
 WHEN King Arthur heard of the coming of Guenever 
 and the hundred knights with the Table Round, 
 he made great joy for their coming, and said openly, 
 " This fair lady is passing welcome to me, for I loved her 
 long, and therefore there is nothing so pleasing to me. 
 And these knights with the Round Table please me more 
 than right great riches." 
 
 Then in all haste the king did ordain for the marriage 
 and the coronation in the most honorablest wise that 
 could be devised. 
 
 "Now Merlin," said King Arthur, "go thou and espy 
 me in all this land fifty knights which be of most prowess 
 and worship." 
 
 Within short time Merlin had found such knights that 
 should fulfil twenty and eight knights, but no more he 
 could find. Then the bishop of Canterbury was fetched, 
 and he blessed the sieges \seats~\ with great royalty and 
 devotion, and there set the eight and twenty knights in 
 their sieges. 
 
 And when this was done Merlin said, " Fair sirs, ye 
 must all arise and come to King Arthur for to do him 
 homage ; he will have the better will to maintain you." 
 
 And so they arose and did their homage. And when 
 they were gone Merlin found in every siege letters of 
 gold that told the knights' names that had sitten therein. 
 But two sieges were void.
 
 Of King Arthur. 49 
 
 "What is the cause," said King Arthur, "that there be 
 two places void in the sieges ? " 
 
 "Sir," said Merlin, "there shall no man sit in those 
 places but they that shall be of most worship. But in the 
 Siege Perilous there shall no man sit therein but one, and 
 if there be any so hardy to do it he shall be destroyed, 
 and he that shall sit there shall have no fellow." 
 
 And therewith Merlin took King Pellinore by the hand, 
 and, in the one hand next the two sieges and the Siege 
 Perilous, he said in open audience, "This is your place, 
 and best ye be worthy to sit therein of any that is here." 

 
 BOOK II. 
 OF SIR LAUNCELOT DU LAKE. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 How SIR LAUNCELOT AND SIR LIONEL DEPARTED FROM THE COURT 
 
 FOR TO SEEK ADVENTURES, AND HOW SIR LIONEL LEFT SlR LAUNCE- 
 LOT SLEEPING, AND WAS TAKEN. 
 
 ANON after that the noble and worthy King Arthur 
 was come from Rome into England, all the knights 
 of the Round Table resorted unto the king, and made 
 many jousts and tournaments, and some there were that 
 were good knights, which increased so in arms and wor- 
 ship that they passed all their fellows in prowess and 
 noble deeds, and that was well proved on many, but 
 especially it was proved on Sir Launcelot du Lake. For 
 in all tournaments and jousts and deeds of arms, both for 
 life and death, he passed all knights, and at no time he 
 was never overcome, but it were by treason or enchant- 
 ment. Wherefore Queen Guenever had him in great 
 favor above all other knights, and certainly he loved the 
 queen again above all other ladies and damsels all the 
 days of his life, and for her he did many great deeds of 
 arms, and saved her from the fire through his noble 
 chivalry. Thus Sir Launcelot rested him a long while
 
 Of Sir Launcelot du Lake. 
 
 wriih play and game ; and then he thought to prove him- 
 self in strange adventures. Then he bade his brother Sir 
 Lionel to make Him ready, " for we two will seek adven- 
 tures," 
 
 So they mounted upon their horses armed at all points, 
 and rode into a deep forest ; and after they came into a 
 great plain, and then the weather was hot about noon, 
 and Sir Launcelot had great list \desire\ to sleep, 
 
 Then Sir Lionel espied a great apple tree that stood by 
 an hedge, and said : " Brother, yonder is a fair shadow, 
 there may we rest us and our horses." 
 
 " It is well said, fair brother," said Sir Launcelot ; "for 
 of all this seven year I was not so sleepy as I am now." 
 
 And so they there alighted and tied their horses under 
 sundry trees, and so Sir Launcelot laid him down under 
 an apple tree, and his helm he laid under his head And 
 Sir Lionel waked while he slept So Sir Launcelot was 
 asleep passing fast And in the mean while there came 
 three knights riding, as fast fleeing as ever they might 
 ride. And there followed them three but one knight 
 And when Sir Lionel saw him, him thought he saw never 
 so great a knight nor so well faring a man, neither so 
 well apparelled unto all rights. So within a while this 
 strong knight had overtaken one of these knights, and 
 there he smote him to the cold earth that he lay still. 
 And then he rode unto the second knight, and smote him 
 so that man and horse fell down. And then straight to 
 the third knight he rode, and he smote him behind his 
 horse's tail a spear's length. And then he alighted down, 
 and reined his horse on the bridle, and bound all the 
 three knights fast with the reins of their own bridles. 
 When Sir Lionel saw him do thus, he thought to assay 
 him, and made him ready, and stilly and privily he took his
 
 52 The Boy's King Arthur. 
 
 horse, and thought not for to awake Sir Launcelot. And 
 when he was mounted upon his horse he overtook this 
 strong knight and bade him turn: and the other smote 
 Sir Lionel so hard that horse and man he bare to the 
 earth, and so he alighted down and bound him fast, and 
 threw him overthwart his own horse, and so he served 
 them all four, and rode with them away to his own castle. 
 And when he came there, he made unarm them, and beat 
 them with thorns all naked, and after put them in a deep 
 prison where there were many more knights that made 
 great dolor. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 HOW SIR ECTOR FOLLOWED FOR TO SEEK SlR LAUNCELOT, AND HOW HI 
 WAS TAKEN BY SlR TURQUINE. 
 
 WHEN Sir Ector de Maris wist that Sir Launcelot 
 was past out of the court to seek adventures he 
 was wroth with himself, and made him ready to seek Sir 
 Launcelot, and as he had ridden long in a great forest, he 
 met with a man that was like a forester. " Fair fellow," 
 said Sir Ector, "knowest thou in this country any ad- 
 ventures that be here nigh hand ? " 
 
 " Sir," said the forester, " this country know I well, and 
 hereby within this mile is a strong manor, and well diked, 
 and by that manor, on the left hand, there is a fair ford for 
 horses to drink of, and over that ford there groweth a fair 
 tree, and thereon hangeth many fair shields that wielded 
 sometime good knights: and at the hole of the tree 
 hangeth a basin of copper and laton [brass], and strike 
 upon that basin with the butt of thy spear thrice, and 
 soon after thou shalt hear new tidings, and else hast thou
 
 Of Sir Launcelot du Late. 53 
 
 Ihe fairest grace that many a year had ever knight that 
 passed through this forest." 
 
 " Gramercy " [thanks], said Sir Ector, and departed and 
 came to the tree, and saw many fair shields, and among 
 them he saw his brother's shield, Sir Lionel, and many 
 more that he knew that were his fellows of the Round 
 Table, the which grieved his heart, and he promised to 
 revenge his brother. Then anon Sir Ector beat on the 
 basin as he were wood \crazy\, and then he gave his horse 
 drink at the ford : and there came a knight behind him 
 and bade him come out of the water and make him ready ; 
 and Sir Ector anon turned him shortly, and in f ewter cast " 
 his spear, and smote the other knight a great buffet that 
 his horse turned twice about 
 
 "This was well done," said the strong knight, "and 
 knightly thou hast stricken me : " and therewith he 
 rushed his horse on Sir Ector and caught him under 
 his right arm, and bare him clean out of the saddle, and 
 rode with him away into his own hall, and threw him down 
 in the midst of the floor. The name of this knight was 
 Sir Turqume. Then he said unto Sir Ector, " For thou 
 hast done this day more unto me than any knight did 
 these twelve years, now will I grant thee thy life, so thou 
 wilt be sworn to be my prisoner all thy life days." 
 
 " Nay," said Sir Ector, "that will I never promise thee, 
 but that I wifl do mine advantage." 
 
 "That me repenteth," said Sir Turquine. 
 
 And then he made to unarm him, and beat him with 
 thorns all naked, and after put him down in a deep dun- 
 geon, where he knew many of his fellows. But when Sit 
 Ector saw Sir Lionel, then made he great sorrow. 
 
 " In fewter oat Ins spear," im rat fUeed tu tftmr.
 
 54 The Boy's King Arthur. 
 
 11 Alas, brother," said Sir Ector, " where is my brother 
 Sir Launcelot ? " 
 
 " Fair brother, I left him on sleep when that I from hin, 
 went, under an apple tree, and what is become of him 1 
 cannot tell you." 
 
 "Alas," said the knights, "but Sir Launcelot help us 
 we may never be delivered, for we know now no knight 
 that is able to match our master Turquine." 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 How FOUR QUEENS FOUND SIR LAUNCELOT SLEEPING, AND HOW BY 
 ENCHANTMENT HE WAS TAKEN AND LED INTO A CASTLE. 
 
 NOW leave we these knights prisoners, and speak we 
 of Sir Launcelot du Lake that lieth under the apple 
 tree sleeping. Even about the noon there came by him 
 four queens of great estate ; and, for the heat of the sun 
 should not annoy them, there rode four knights about 
 them and bare a cloth of green silk on four spears, be- 
 twixt them and the sun, and the queens rode on four 
 white mules. 
 
 Thus as they rode they heard by them a great horse 
 grimly neigh, and then were they ware of a sleeping 
 knight that lay all armed under an apple tree ; anon as 
 these queens looked on his face they knew that it was 
 Sir Launcelot. Then they began for to strive for that 
 knight ; every one said she would have him to her love. 
 
 "We shall not strive," said Morgan le Fay that was 
 King Arthur's sister ; " I shall put an enchantment upon 
 him that he shall not awake in six hours, and then I will 
 lead him away unto my castle, and when he is surely within
 
 Of Sir Launcelot du Lake. 55 
 
 my hold I shall take the enchantment from him, and then 
 let him choose which of us he will have for his love." 
 
 So this enchantment was cast upon Sir Launcelot, and 
 then they laid him upon his shield, and bare him so on 
 horseback betwixt two knights, and brought him unto the 
 castle Chariot, and there they laid aim in a chamber cold, 
 and at night they sent unto him a fair damsel with his 
 supper ready djght By that the enchantment was past, 
 and when she came she saluted him, and asked him what 
 cheer? 
 
 "I cannot say, fair damsel," said Sir Launcelot, "for 
 I wot not how I came into this castle but it be by an 
 enchantment." 
 
 "Sir," said she, "ye must make good cheer, and if ye 
 be such a knight as is said ye be, I shall tell you more 
 tomorn \to*norrow\ by prime \the first hour\ of the day." 
 
 " Gramercy, fair damsel," said Sir Launcelot, " of your 
 good will I require you." 
 
 And so she departed. And there he lay all that night 
 without comfort of anybody. 
 
 And on the morn early came these four queens, passingly 
 well beseen, all they bidding him good morn, and he them 
 qgun. 
 
 "Sir knight," the four queens said, "thou must under- 
 stand thou art our prisoner, and we here know thee well, 
 that thou art Sir Launcelot du Lake, King Ban's son. 
 And truly we understand your worthiness that thou art 
 the noblest knight living; and therefore thee behoveth 
 now to choose one of us four. I am the queen Morgan 
 le Fay, queen of the land of Gore, and here is the queen 
 of Northgalis, and the queen of Eastland, and the queen 
 of the Out Isles ; now choose ye one of us which thou 
 wilt have to thy love, for thou mayst not choose or else in 
 this prison to die."
 
 56 The Boy's King Arthur. 
 
 " This is an hard case," said Sir Launcelot, " that either 
 I must die or else choose one of you, yet had I liever to 
 die in this prison with worship, than to have one of you 
 to my love maugre my head. And therefore ye be an- 
 swered, for I will have none of you, for ye be false 
 enchantresses." 
 
 " Well," said the queens, " is this your answer, that you 
 will refuse us ? " 
 
 " Yea, upon my life," said Sir Launcelot, " refused ye 
 be of me." 
 
 So they departed, and left him there alone that made 
 great sorrow. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 How SIK. LAUNCELOT WAS DELIVERED BY THE MEANS OF A DAMSEL. 
 
 T3 IGHT so at noon came the damsel to him, and brought 
 JLv him his dinner, and asked him what cheer. 
 
 " Truly, fair damsel," said Sir Launcelot, " in all my life- 
 days never so ill." 
 
 " Sir," said she, " that me repenteth ; but and ye will 
 be ruled by me, I shall help you out of this distress, and 
 ye shall have no shame nor villany, so that ye hold me a 
 promise." 
 
 "Fair damsel, that I will grant you, and sore I am 
 afeared of these queen's witches, for they have destroyed 
 many a good knight." 
 
 " Sir," said she, " that is sooth, and for the renown and 
 bounty they hear of you, hey would have your love, and, 
 sir, they say that your name is Sir Launcelot du Lake, 
 the flower of all the knights that been living, and they
 
 Of Sir LoMMcelot d* Lake. 57 
 
 been passing wroth with yon that ye have refused them ; 
 hot, sir, and ye would promise me for to help my father 
 on Tuesday next coming, that hath made a tournament 
 between him and the king of Northgalis ; for the Tuesday 
 last past my father lost the field through three knights of 
 King Arthur's court, and if ye wiH be there upon Tuesday 
 next coming and help my father, to-morrow or [rrr] prime* 
 by the grace of God, I shall deliver you dean." 
 
 "Fair maiden," said Sir Launcelot, "tell me what is 
 your father's name, and then shall I give yon an answer." 
 
 "Sir knight," said the damsel, "my father is King 
 "RagrifmapriKj that was fnnlly rebuked at the last tourna 
 menL" 
 
 "I know your father well," said Sir Launcelot, "for a 
 noble king and a good knight, and by the faith of my 
 body, ye shall have my body ready to do your father and 
 you service at that day." 
 
 "Sir," said the Hams^l, " gramercy, and to-morrow await 
 that ye be ready betimes, and I shall deliver you ; and 
 take you your armor and your horse, shield, and spear; 
 and hereby within these ten miles is an abbey of white 
 monks, and there I pray yon to abide, and thither shall I 
 bring my father unto you." 
 
 "All this shall be done," said Sir Launcelot, "as I am a 
 true knight," 
 
 And so she departed, and came on the morrow early 
 and found him ready. Then she brought him out ot 
 twelve locks, and brought him unto his armor. And 
 when he was all armed and arrayed, she brought him 
 unto his own horse, and lightly he saddled him, and 
 took a great spear in his hand, and so rode forth, and 
 said, "Fair damsel, I shall not fail you, by the grace of 
 God."
 
 58 The Boy's King Arthur. 
 
 And so he rode into a great forest all that day, and in 
 no wise could he find any highway, and so the night fell 
 on him, and then was he ware in a slade [glade] of a 
 pavilion of red sendall. 1 "By my faith," said Sir Launce- 
 lot, "in that pavilion will I lodge all this night." And 
 so there he alighted down, and tied his horse to the 
 pavilion, and there he unarmed him, and found there a 
 rich bed and laid him therein, and anon he fell on sleep. 
 
 So thus within a while the night passed and the day 
 appeared, and then Sir Launcelot armed him and mounted 
 upon his horse, and took his leave, and they showed him 
 the way towards the abbey, and thither they rode within 
 the space of two hours. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 How SIR LAUNCELOT WAS RECEIVED OF KING BAGDEMAGUS' DAUGHTER, 
 
 AND HOW HE MADE HIS COMPLAINT UNTO HER FATHER. 
 
 A S soon as Sir Launcelot came within the abbey yard, 
 L King Bagdemagus' daughter heard a great horse go 
 on the pavement. And then she arose and went unto a 
 window, and there she saw that it was Sir Launcelot, and 
 anon she made men hastily to go to him, which took his 
 horse and led him into a stable, and himself was led into 
 a fair chamber, and there he unarmed him, and the lady 
 sent to him a long gown, and anon she came herself. 
 And then she made Sir Launcelot passing good cheer, 
 and she said he was the knight in the world that was most 
 welcome to her. Then she in all the haste sent for her 
 father King Bagdemagus, that was within twelve miles of 
 
 1 " Sendall," a kind of silk.
 
 Of Sir Launcelot du Lake. 59 
 
 that abbey, and before even he came with a fair fellowship 
 of knights with him. And when the king was alighted 
 from his horse, he went straight unto Sir Launcelot's 
 chamber, and there found his daughter, and then the 
 king embraced Sir Launcelot in his arms, and either 
 made other good cheer. Anon Sir Launcelot made his 
 complaint unto the king how he was betrayed, and how 
 his brother Sir Lionel was departed from him he wist not 
 whither, and how his daughter had delivered him out of 
 prison, " wherefore I shall while I live do her service and 
 all her friends and kindred." 
 
 " Then am I sure of your help," said the king, " now on 
 Tuesday next coming ? " 
 
 " Ye, sir," said Sir Launcelot, " I shall not fail you, for 
 so have I promised unto my lady, your daughter. As I 
 hear say that the tournament shall be within this three 
 mile of this abbey, ye shall send unto me three knights of 
 yours such as ye trust, and look that the three knights 
 have all white shields, and I also, and no painture on the 
 shields, and we four will come out of a little wood in the 
 midst of both parties, and we shall fall in the front of our 
 enemies and grieve them that we may ; and thus shall I 
 not be known what knight I am." So they took their 
 rest that night, and this was on the Sunday. And so 
 the king departed, and sent unto Sir Launcelot three 
 knights, with the four white shields. 
 
 And on the Tuesday they lodged them in a little leaved 
 wood beside there the tournament should be. And there 
 were scaffolds that lords and ladies might behold, and to 
 give the prize. Then came into the field the king of 
 Northgalis with eightscore helms. And then the three 
 knights of Arthur stood by themselves. Then came into 
 the field King Bagdamagus with fourscore of helms. And
 
 60 The Boy's King Arthur. 
 
 then they fewtred {placed in rest] their spears, and came 
 together with a great dash, and there were slain of knights, 
 at the first encounter, twelve of King Bagdemagus' party, 
 and six of the king of Northgalis' party, and King Bagde- 
 magus' party was far set aback. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 How SIR LAUNCELOT BEHAVED HIM IN A TOURNAMENT, AND HOW H 
 
 MET WITH SIR TURQUINE LEADING AWAY SlR GAHERIS. 
 
 WITH that came Sir Launcelot du Lake, and he 
 thrust in with his spear in the thickest of the 
 press, and there he smote down with one spear five 
 knights, and of four of them he brake their backs. And 
 in that throng he smote down the king of Northgalis, and 
 brake his thigh in that fall. All this doing of Sir Launce- 
 lot saw the three knights of Arthur. 
 
 "Yonder is a shrewd guest," said Sir Mador de la 
 Porte, "therefore have here once at him." 
 
 So they encountered, and Sir Launcelot bare him down 
 horse and man, so that his shoulder went out of joint. 
 
 " Now befalleth it to me to joust," said Mordred, " for 
 Sir Mador hath a sore fall." 
 
 Sir Launcelot was ware of him, and gat a great spear in 
 his hand, and met him, and Sir Mordred brake a spear 
 upon him, and Sir Launcelot gave him such a buffet that 
 the bow of his saddle brake, and so he flew over his horse's 
 tail, that his helm went into the earth a foot and more, 
 that nigh his neck was broken, and there he lay long in a 
 swoon. Then came in Sir Gahalatine with a spear, and 
 Launcelot against him, with all their strength that the>
 
 Of Sir Launcelot du Lake. 61 
 
 might drive, that both their spears to-brast \burst to pieces] 
 even to their hands, and then they flung out with their 
 swords, and gave many a grim stroke. Then was Sir 
 Launcelot wroth out of measure, and then he smote Sir 
 Gahalatine on the helm, thai his nose burst out on blood, 
 and ears and mouth both, and therewith his head hung 
 low. And therewith his horse ran away with him, and he 
 fell down to the earth. 
 
 Anon therewithal Sir Launcelot gat a great spear in his 
 hand, and, or \ere\ ever that great spear brake, he bare 
 down to the earth sixteen knights, some horse and man, 
 and some the man and not the horse, and there was none 
 but that he hit surely. He bare none arms \no device to 
 be known by\ that day. And then he gat another great 
 spear, and smote down twelve knights, and the most part 
 of them never throve after. And then the knights of the 
 king of Northgalis would joust no more, and there the 
 prize was given unto King Bagdemagus. So either party 
 departed unto his own place, and Sir Launcelot rode forth 
 with King Bagdemagus unto his castle, and there he had 
 passing good cheer both with the king and with his 
 daughter, and they proffered him great gifts. And on 
 the morn he took his leave, and told King Bagdemagus 
 that he would go and seek his brother Sir Lionel, that 
 went from him when that he slept So he took his horse, 
 'and betaught \commendea\ them all to God. And there 
 he said unto the king's daughter, " If ye have need any 
 time of my service, I pray you let me have knowledge, 
 and I shall not fail you, as I am a true knight." 
 
 And so Sir Launcelot departed, and by adventure he 
 came into the same forest where he was taken sleeping. 
 And in the midst of an highway he met a damsel riding 
 on a white palfrey, and there either saluted other.
 
 62 The Boy's King Arthur. 
 
 "Fair damsel," said Sir Launcelot, "know ye in this 
 country any adventures ? " 
 
 " Sir knight," said that damsel, " here are adventures 
 near hand, and \if~\ thou durst prove them." 
 
 " Why should I not prove adventures ? " said Sir Launce- 
 lot ; "for that cause came I hither." 
 
 "Well," said she, "thou seemest well to be a good 
 knight, and if thou dare meet with a good knight, I shall 
 bring thee where is the best knight and the mightiest 
 that ever thou foundest, so thou wilt tell me what is thy 
 name, and what knight thou art." 
 
 " Damsel, as for to tell thee my name, I take no great 
 force : truly, my name is Sir Launcelot du Lake." 
 
 " Sir, thou beseemest well, here be adventures by that 
 fall for thee, for hereby dwelleth a knight that will not be 
 overmatched for no man that I know, unless ye overmatch 
 him, and his name is Sir Turquine. And, as I understand, 
 he hath in his prison of Arthur's court good knights three- 
 score and four that he hath won with his own hands. But 
 when ye have done that day's work ye shall promise me 
 as ye are a true knight for to go with me, and to help me 
 and other damsels that are distressed daily with a false 
 knight." 
 
 " All your intent, damsel, and desire I will fulfil, so ye 
 will bring me unto this knight." 
 
 " Now, rair knight, come on your way." 
 
 And so she brought him unto the ford, and unto the 
 tree where hung the basin. So Sir Launcelot let his 
 horse drink, and then he beat on the basin with the butt 
 of his spear so hard with all his might till the bottom fell 
 out, and long he did so, but he saw nothing. Then he 
 rode along the gates of that manor nigh half an hour. 
 And then was he ware of a great knight that drove ar
 
 Of Sir Launcelot du Lake* 63 
 
 horse afore him, and overthwart the horse there lay an 
 armed knight bound. And ever as they came near and 
 near, Sir Launcelot thought he should know him ; then 
 Sir Launcelot was ware that it was Sir Gaheris, Gawaine's 
 brother, a knight of the Table Round. 
 
 "Now, fair damsel," said Sir Launcelot, "I see yondet 
 cometh a knight fast bound that is a fellow of mine, and 
 brot-er he is unto Sir Gawaine. And at the first begin- 
 ning; I promise you, by the leave of God, to rescue that 
 knight ; and unless his master sit better in the saddle I 
 shall deliver all the prisoners that he hath out of danger, 
 for I am sure that he hath two brethren of mine prisoners 
 with him." 
 
 By that time that either had seen other they gripped 
 their spears unto them. 
 
 "Now fair knight," said Sir Launcelot, "put that 
 wounded knight off the horse, and let him rest awhile, 
 and let us two prove our strengths. For as it is informed 
 me, thou doest and hast done great despite and shame 
 onto knights of the Round Table, and therefore now 
 defend thee." 
 
 "And [if] thou be of the Table Round," said Turquinc, 
 - 1 defy thee and all thy fellowship." 
 
 "That is overmuch said," said Sir Launcelot. 
 
 CHAPTER VH 
 How Snt LjunrcttOT jam Sa Tu*Qcnfm 
 
 AND then they put their spears in the rests, and came 
 together with their horses as fast as they might run, 
 and either smote other in the midst of their shields, that
 
 64 The Boy's King Arthur. 
 
 both their horses' backs brast under them, and the knights 
 were both astonied, and as soon as they might avoid their 
 horses they took their shields afore them, and drew out 
 their swords, and came together eagerly, and either gave 
 other many strong strokes, for there might neither shields 
 nor harness hold their strokes. And so within a while 
 they had both grimly wounds, and bled passing grievously. 
 Thus they fared two hours or more, trasing and rasing 
 {feinting and thrusting} either other where they might hit 
 any bare place. Then at the last they were breathless 
 both, and stood leaning on their swords. 
 
 "Now, fellow," said Sir Turquine, "hold thy hand 
 awhile, and tell me what I shall ask thee." 
 
 "Say on." 
 
 Then Turquine said, "Thou art the biggest man that 
 ever I met withal, and the best breathed, and like one 
 knight that I hate above all other knights ; so be it that 
 thou be not he I will lightly accord with thee, and for thy 
 love I will deliver all the prisoners that I have, that is 
 threescore and four, so thou wilt tell me thy name. And 
 thou and I will be fellows together, and never to fail the 
 while that I live." 
 
 "It is well said," said Sir Launcelot, "but since it is 
 so that I may have thy friendship, what knight is he that 
 thou so hatest above all other ? " 
 
 "Truly," said Sir Turquine, "his name is Launcelot 
 du Lake, for he slew my brother Sir Carados at the 
 Dolorous Tower, which was one of the best knights then 
 living, and therefore him I except of all knights, for and 
 [if] I may once meet with him, that one of us shall make 
 an end of another, and do that I make a vow. And for 
 Sir Launcelot's sake I have slain an hundred good knights, 
 and as many I have utterly maimed, that never after they
 
 Of Sir Launcelot du Lake. 65 
 
 might help themselves, and many have died in my prison, 
 and yet I have threescore and four, and all shall be 
 delivered, so that thou wilt tell me thy name, and so it 
 be that thou be not Sir Launcelot." 
 
 " Now see I well," said Sir Launcelot, " that such a man 
 I might be I might have peace, and such a man I might 
 be there should be between us two mortal war ; and now, 
 sir knight, at thy request, I will that thou wit and know 
 that I am Sir Launcelot du Lake, King Ban's son of Ben- 
 wick, and knight of the Round Table. And now I defy 
 thee do thy best." 
 
 " Ah ! " said Sir Turquine, " Launcelot, thou art unto 
 me most welcome, as ever was any knight, for we shall 
 never depart till the one of us be dead." 
 
 And then hurtled they together as two wild bulls, 
 rashing and lashing with their shields and swords, that 
 sometime they fell both on their noses. Thus they 
 fought still two hours and more, and never would rest, 
 and Sir Turquine gave Sir Launcelot many wounds that 
 all the ground there as they fought was all besprinkled 
 with blood 
 
 Then at last Sir Turquine waxed very faint, and gave 
 somewhat back, and bare his shield full low for weariness. 
 That soon espied Sir Launcelot, and then leaped upon 
 him fiercely as a lion, and got him by the banner of his 
 helmet, and so he plucked him down on his knees, and 
 anon he rased [tore off] his helm, and then he smote his 
 neck asunder.
 
 66 The Boy's King Arthur. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 How SIR LAUNCKLOT SLEW Two GIANTS, AND MADE A CASTLE FREE. 
 
 SO on the third day he rode over a long bridge, and 
 there started upon him suddenly a passing foul churl, 
 and he smote his horse on the nose that he turned about, 
 and asked him why he rode over that bridge without his 
 license. 
 
 " Why should I not ride this way ? " said Sir Launcelot. 
 " I may not ride beside." 
 
 "Thou shalt not choose," said the churl, and lashed at 
 him with a great club shod with iron. Then Sir Launce- 
 lot drew a sword, and put the stroke aback, and clave his 
 head unto the breast. At the end of the bridge was a fair 
 village, and all the people men and women cried on Sir 
 Launcelot, and said, " A worse deed didst thou never for 
 thyself, for thou hast slain the chief porter of our castle." 
 
 Sir Launcelot let them say what they would, and straight 
 he went into the castle ; and when he came into the castle 
 he alighted, and tied his horse to a ring on the wall ; and 
 there he saw a fair green court, and thither he dressed 
 himself, for there him thought was a fair place to fight in. 
 So he looked about, and saw much people in doors and 
 windows, that said, " Fair knight, thou art unhappy." 
 
 Anon withal came there upon him two great giants, 
 well armed all save the heads, with two horrible clubs in 
 their hands. Sir Launcelot put his shield afore him, and 
 put the stroke away of the one giant, and with his sword 
 he clave his head asunder. When his fellow saw that, he 
 ran away as he were wood [crazy], for fear of the horrible 
 strokes, and Sir Launcelot after him with all his might,
 
 Of .Sir Lnuuelat d* Lake. 67 
 
 and smote him on the shoulder, and dare him to the mid- 
 dle. Then Sir Launcek* went into the hall, and there 
 came afore him threescore ladies and damsels, and all 
 kneeled onto him, and thanked God and him of their 
 
 "For, sir," said they, "the most part of us have been 
 here this seven year their prisoners, and we have worked 
 all manner of sflk works for oar meat, and we are all 
 great gentlewomen born, and blessed be the time, knight, 
 that ever thon wert born; for thou hast done the most 
 worship that ever did knight in the world, that win we 
 bear record, and we aU pray yon to ten us your name, 
 that we may tefl oar friends who delivered us oat of 
 i ni ~ n. 
 
 "Fair damsels," he said, "my name is Sir Launcek* da 
 Lake." 
 
 "Ah, sir," said they aU, "wett mayest thou be he, for 
 else save yourself, as we deemed, there might never knight 
 have the better of these two giants, for many fair iij^y 
 have assayed it, and here have ended, and many times have 
 we wished after you, and these two giants dread never 
 knight but you," 
 
 "Now may ye say," said Sir Launcek*, "unto your 
 friends, how and who hath delivered you, and greet them 
 all from me, and if that I come in any of your marches 
 [bo**darus\ show me such cheer as ye have cause ; and 
 what treasure that there is in this castle I give it you for 
 a reward tor your grievance: and the lord that is the 
 owner of this castle I would that he received it as is right." 
 
 "Fair sir," said they, "the name of this castle is Tinta- 
 gfl, and a duke owned it some time that had wedded fair 
 Igraine, and after wedded her Uther Pendragon." 
 
 "Wen," said Sir Laancdot, "I understand to whom 
 this castle belongeth."
 
 68 The Boy's King Arthur. 
 
 And so he departed from them and betaught [com- 
 mended} them unto God. And then he mounted upon his 
 horse, and rode into many strange and wild countries and 
 through many waters and valleys, and evil was he lodged. 
 And at the last by fortune him happened against a night 
 to come to a fair curtilage [enclosure], and therein he found 
 an old gentlewoman that lodged him with a good will, and 
 there he had good cheer for him and his horse. And when 
 time was, his host brought him into a fair garret over the 
 gate to his bed. There Sir Launcelot unarmed him, and 
 set his harness by him, and went to bed, and anon he fell 
 on sleep. So soon after there came one on horseback, and 
 knocked at the gate in great haste. And when Sir Launce- 
 lot heard this he arose up, and looked out at the window, 
 and saw by the moonlight three knights came riding after 
 one man, and all three lashed on him at once with swords, 
 and that one knight turned on them knightly again and 
 defended him. 
 
 "Truly," said Sir Launcelot, "yonder one knight shall 
 I help, for it were shame for me to see three knights on 
 one, and i he be slain I am partner of his death." 
 
 And therewith he took his harness and went out at a 
 window by a sheet down to the four knights, and then Sir 
 Launcelot said on high [in a loud voice], "Turn you 
 knights unto me, and leave your fighting with that 
 knight." 
 
 And then they all three left Sir Kay, and turned unto 
 Sir Launcelot, and there began great battle, for they 
 alighted all three, and struck many great strokes at Sir 
 Launcelot, and assailed him on every side. Then Sir Kay 
 dressed him for to have holpen Sir Launcelot. 
 
 " Nay, sir," said he, " I will none of your help, therefore 
 as ye will have my help let me alone with them."
 
 Of Sir Launcelot du Lake. 69 
 
 Sir Kay for the pleasure of the knight suffered him to 
 lo his will, and so stood aside. And then anon within six 
 strokes Sir Launcelot had stricken them to the earth. 
 
 And then they all three cried, " Sir knight, we yield 
 as unto you as man of might matchless." 
 
 " As to that," said Sir Launcelot, " I will not take your 
 yielding unto me, but so that ye yield you unto Sir Kay 
 the seneschal ; on that covenant I will save your lives and 
 else not" 
 
 "Fair knight," said they, "that were we loath to do ; for 
 as for Sir Kay we chased him hither, and had overcome 
 him had not ye been ; therefore to yield us unto him it were 
 no reason." 
 
 " Well, as to that," said Sir Launcelot, " advise you well, 
 for ye may choose whether ye will die or live, for and [if] 
 ye be yielden it shall be unto Sir Kay." 
 
 " Fair knight," then they said, " in saving our lives we 
 will do as thou commandest us." 
 
 " Then shall ye," said Sir Launcelot, " on Whitsunday 
 next coming go unto the court of King Arthur, and there 
 shall ye yield you unto Queen Guenever, and ptft you all 
 three in her grace and mercy, and say that Sir Kay sent 
 you thither to be her prisoners." 
 
 " Sir," they said, " it shall be done by the faith of our 
 bodies, and we be living." 
 
 And there they swore, every knight upon his sword. 
 And so Sir Launceiot suffered them so to depart. And 
 then Sir Launcelot knocked at the gate with the pommel 
 of his sword, and with that came his host, and in they 
 entered, Sir Kay and he. 
 
 "Sir," said his host, "I wend ye had been in your bed."" 
 
 " So I was," said Sir Launcelot, " but I arose and leaped 
 out at my window for to help an old fellow of mine,"
 
 70 The Boy's King Arthur. 
 
 And so when they came nigh the light Sir Kay knew 
 well that it was Sir Launcelot, and therewith he kneeled 
 down and thanked him of all his kindness that he hath 
 holpen him twice from the death. 
 
 " Sir," he said, " I have done nothing but that I ought 
 to do, and ye are welcome, and here shall ye repose you 
 and take your rest." 
 
 So when Sir Kay was unarmed he asked after meat, so 
 there was meat fetched him, and he ate strongly. And 
 when he had supped they went to their beds, and were 
 lodged together in one bed. On the morn Sir Launcelot 
 arose early, and left Sir Kay sleeping : and Sir Launcelot 
 took Sir Kay's armor and his shield and armed him : and 
 so he went to the stable and took his horse, and took his 
 leave of his host, and so he departed. Then soon after 
 arose Sir Kay and missed Sir Launcelot: and then he 
 espied that he had his armor and his horse. 
 
 " Now, by my faith, I know well that he will grieve some 
 of King Arthur's court : for on him knights will be bold, 
 and deem that it is I, and that will beguile them ; and 
 because of his armor and shield, I am sure that I shall 
 ride in peace." And then soon after departed Sir Kay, 
 and thanked his host. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 How SIR LAUNCELOT FOLLOWED A BRACKET INTO A CASTLE, WHERI 
 
 AS HE FOUND A DEAD K.NIGHT, AND HOW AFTERWARD HE WAS 
 REQUIRED OF A DAMSEL FOR TO HEAL HER BROTHER. 
 
 NOW let us speak of Sir Launcelot, that rode a great 
 while in a deep forest, where he saw a black brachet 
 [small hound], seeking in manner as it had been in the
 
 Of Sir Launcelot du Lake. 71 
 
 fealty [track] of an hurt deer, and therewith he rode after 
 the brachet ; and he saw lie on the ground a large fealty 
 of blood, and then Sir Launcelot rode after, and ever the 
 brachet looked behind her. And so she went through a 
 great marish \mars/i\, and ever Sir Launcelot followed ; 
 and then was he ware of an old manor, and thither ran 
 the brachet, and so over the bridge. So Sir Launcelot 
 rode over the bridge, that was old and feeble. And when 
 he came into the midst of a great hall, there saw he lie 
 a dead knight, that was a seemly man, and that brachet 
 licked his wounds. And therewith came out a lady weep- 
 ing and wringing her hands, and she said, " O knight, too 
 much sorrow hast thou brought me." 
 
 " Why say ye so ? " said Sir Launcelot, " I did never this 
 knight no harm, for hither by track of blood this brachet 
 brought me ; and therefore, fair lady, be not displeased 
 with me, for I am full sore aggrieved of your grievance." 
 
 " Truly, sir," she said, " I trow it be not ye that have 
 slain my husband, for he that did that deed is sore 
 wounded, and he is never likely to recover, that shall I 
 ensure him." 
 
 " What was your husband's name ? " said Sir Launcelot. 
 
 "Sir," said she, "his name was called Sir Gilbert, one 
 of the best knights of the world, and he that hath slain 
 him I know not his name." 
 
 " Now God send you better comfort," said Sir Launce- 
 lot 
 
 And so he departed and went into the forest again, and 
 there he met with a damsel, the which knew him well, and 
 she said aloud, "Well be ye found, my lord; and now I 
 require thee on thy knighthood help my brother that is 
 sore wounded, and never stinteth bleeding, for this day 
 fought he with Sir Gilbert and slew him in plain battle.
 
 72 The Boy's King Arthur. 
 
 and there was my brother sore wounded, and there is a 
 lady a sorceress that dwelleth in a castle here beside, and 
 this day she told me my brother's wounds should never 
 be whole till I could find a knight that would go into the 
 Chapel Perilous, and there he should find a sword and a 
 bloody cloth that the wounded knight was lapped in, and 
 a piece of that cloth and sword should heal my brother's 
 wounds, so that his wounds were searched [touched] with 
 the sword and the cloth." 
 
 " This is a marvellous thing," said Sir Launcelot, " but 
 what is your brother's name ? " 
 
 "Sir," said she, "his name is Sir Meliot de Logres." 
 
 " That me repenteth," said Sir Launcelot, " for he is a 
 fellow of the Table Round, and to his help I will do my 
 power." 
 
 " Then, sir," said she, " follow even this high way, and 
 it will bring you unto the Chapel Perilous, and here I 
 shall abide till God send you here again, and but you 
 speed I know no knight living that may achieve that 
 adventure." 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 How SIR LAUNCELOT CAME INTO THE CHAPEL PERILOUS, AND GAT 
 
 THERE OF A DEAD CORPSE A PIECE OF THE CLOTH AND A SWORD. 
 
 RIGHT so Sir Launcelot departed, and when he came 
 unto the Chapel Perilous he alighted down, and tied 
 his horse to a little gate. And as soon as he was within 
 the churchyard he saw on the front of the chapel many 
 fair rich shields turned up so down [upside down}, and 
 many of the shields Sir Launcelot had seen knights bear 
 beforehand. With that he saw by him stand there thirty
 
 Of Sir Launcelot du Lake. 73 
 
 great knights, more by a yard than any man that ever 
 he had seen, and all those grinned and gnashed at Sir 
 Launcelot. And when he saw their countenance he 
 dread him sore, and so put his shield afore him, and 
 took his sword in his hand ready unto battle ; and they 
 were all armed in black harness, ready with their shields 
 and their swords drawn. And when Sir Launcelot would 
 have gone throughout them, they scattered on every side 
 of him, and gave him the way, and therewith he waxed all 
 bold and entered into the chapel, and then he saw no 
 light but a dim lamp burning, and then was he ware of 
 a corpse covered with a cloth of silk. Then Sir Launce- 
 lot stooped down and cut a piece away of that cloth, and 
 then it fared under him as the earth had quaked a little ; 
 therewithal he feared. And then he saw a fair sword lie 
 by the dead knight, and that he gat in his hand and hied 
 him out of the chapeL Anon as ever he was in the 
 chapel-yard all the knights spake to him with a grimly 
 voice, and said, " Knight, Sir Launcelot, lay that sword 
 from thee, or else thou shalt die." 
 
 " Whether I live or die," said Sir Launcelot, " will no 
 great word get it again, therefore fight for it and ye list" 
 
 Then right so he passed throughout them, and beyond 
 the chapel-yard there met him a fair damsel, and said, 
 " Sir Launcelot, leave that sword behind thee, or thou wilt 
 die for it." 
 
 " I leave it not," said Sir Launcelot, " for no entreaties." 
 
 " No," said she, " and thou didst leave that sword, Queen 
 Guenever should ye never see." 
 
 " Then were I a fool and I would leave this sword/' said 
 Launcelot. 
 
 " Now gentle knight," said the damsel, " I require thee 
 to kiss me but once."
 
 74 The Boy's King Arthur. 
 
 "Nay," said Sir Launcelot, "that God me forbid." 
 
 " Well, sir," said she, " and thou hadst kissed me thy 
 life days had been done, but now alas," she said, " I have 
 lost all my labor, for I ordained this chapel for thy sake. 
 And, Sir Launcelot, now I tell thee, I have loved thee 
 this seven year. But since I may not have [thee] alive, 
 I had kept no more joy in this world but to have [thee] 
 dead. Then would I have balmed [thee] and preserved 
 [thee], and so have kept [thee] my life days, and daily I 
 should have kissed thee." 
 
 " Ye say well," said Sir Launcelot, " God preserve me 
 from your subtle crafts." 
 
 And therewithal he took his horse and so departed 
 from her. And when Sir Launcelot was departed she 
 took such sorrow that she died within a fourteen night 
 [fortnighf\, and her name was Hellawes the sorceress, lady 
 of the castle Nigramous. Anon Sir Launcelot met with 
 the damsel, Sir Meliot's sister. And when she saw him 
 she clapped her hands and wept for joy, and then they 
 rode unto a castle thereby, where Sir Meliot lay. And 
 anon as Sir Launcelot saw him he knew him, but he was 
 pale as the earth for bleeding. When Sir Meliot saw Sir 
 Launcelot, he kneeled upon his knees and cried on high : 
 " O lord Sir Launcelot help me ! " Anon Sir Launcelot 
 leaped unto him, and touched his wounds with Sir Gilbert's 
 sword, and then he wiped his wounds with a part of the 
 bloody cloth that Sir Gilbert was wrapped in, and ancn a 
 wholer man in his life was he never. And then there was 
 great joy between them, and they made Sir Launcelot all 
 the cheer that they might, and so on the morn Sir Launce- 
 lot took his leave, and bade Sir Meliot hie him to the court 
 of my lord Arthur, " for it draweth nigh to the feast of 
 Pentecost, and there, by the grace of God, ye shall find 
 me." And therewith they departed.
 
 Of Sir Laxncelot du Lake. 75 
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 low SIR LATCTCXLOT AT THE RCQCZST or A LADY uanran> A FALCOX, 
 
 AND so Sir Lanncelot rode through many strange 
 countries, over marshes and valleys, till by fortune 
 he came to a fair castle, and as he passed beyond the 
 castle him thought he heard two bells ring. And then 
 was he ware of a falcon came flying over his head toward 
 an high elm, and long lines about her feet, and as she flew 
 unto the elm to take her perch, the lines overcast about a 
 bough. And when she would have taken her flight she 
 hung by the legs fast, and Sir Lanncelot saw how she hung, 
 and beheld the fair falcon, and he was sorry for her. The 
 meanwhile came a lady out of the castle, and cried on high, 
 " O Lanncelot, Lanncelot, as thou art flower of all knights 
 help me to get my hawk, for and my hawk be lost my lord 
 will destroy me; for I kept the hawk and she slipped from 
 me, and if my lord my husband wit [trurw] it, he is so hasty 
 that he will slay me." 
 
 " What is your lord's name ? " said Sir LaunceloL 
 
 M Sir," she said, " his name is Sir Fhelot, a knight thai 
 longeth unto \belomgeth *nto\ the king of Northgalis." 
 
 "Well, fair lady, since that ye know my name, and 
 require me of knighthood to help you, I will do what I 
 may to get your hawk, and yet truly I am an ill climber, 
 and the tree is passing high, and few boughs to help me 
 withal" 
 
 And therewith Sir Launcelot alighted, and tied his horse 
 to the same tree, and prayed the lady to unarm him. And 
 
 > - Him thoogbJ." compare ^b^U.
 
 76 The Boy's King Arthur. 
 
 so when he was unarmed, he put off all his clothes unto 
 his shirt and breeches, and with might and force climbed 
 up to the falcon and tied the lines to a great rotten branch 
 and threw the hawk down with the branch. Anon the 
 lady gat the hawk with her hand. And therewithal came 
 Sir Phelot out of the groves suddenly, that was her hus- 
 band, all armed with his naked sword in his hand, and 
 said : " O knight Sir Launcelot, now have I found thee as 
 I would have thee," and stood at the bole \trunk\ of the 
 tree to slay him. 
 
 " Ah, lady ! " said Sir Launcelot, " why have ye betrayed 
 me ? " 
 
 " She hath done as I commanded her," said Sir Phelot ; 
 " and therefore there is none other way but thine hour is 
 come that thou must die." 
 
 "That were shame," said Sir Launcelot, "that an armed 
 knight should slay a naked man by treason." 
 
 "Thou gettest none other grace," said Sir Phelot. 
 
 "Truly," said Sir Launcelot, "that shall be thy shame; 
 but sith [since] thou wilt do none otherwise, take mine 
 harness with thee, and hang my sword upon a bough that 
 I may get it, and then do thy best to slay me and thou 
 canst." 
 
 " Nay, nay," said Sir Phelot, " for I know thee better 
 than thou weenest, therefore thou gettest no weapon and 
 I may keep thee therefrom." 
 
 " Alas," said Sir Launcelot, "that ever any knight should 
 die weaponless." 
 
 And therewithal he looked above and under him, and 
 over his head he saw a roundspike on a big bough leafbss, 
 and brake it off by the body of the tree, and then he came 
 lower, and awaited how his own horse stood, and suddenly 
 he leaped on the farther side of the horse from the knight
 
 Of Sir Launcelot du Lake. 77 
 
 And then Sir Phelot lashed at him eagerly, weening to 
 have slain him, but Sir Launcelot put away the stroke with 
 the roundspike, and therewith he smote him on the side 
 of the head that he fell in a swound \swoon\ to the ground. 
 Then Sir Launcelot took his sword out of his hand, and 
 struck his neck from the body. Then cried the lady, 
 " Alas, why hast thou slain my husband ? " 
 
 " I am not causer," said Sir Launcelot, " for with false- 
 hood ye would have slain me with treason, and now it is 
 fallen on you both." 
 
 And then she swounded [swooned] as though she would 
 die. And therewithal Sir Launcelot got all his armor as 
 well as he could, and put it on him for dread of more 
 resort, for he dread that the knight's castle was nigh. 
 And as soon as he might, he took his horse and departed 
 thence, and thanked our Lord God that he had escaped 
 that adventure. 
 
 CHAPTER XIL 
 
 How SIR LATTNCELOT CAME UNTO KING ARTHUR'S Courr, AND HOW 
 
 THERE WERE RECOUNTED OF HIS NOBLE FEATS AND ACTS. 
 
 SIR LAUNCELOT came home two days afore the 
 feast of Pentecost And King Arthur and all the 
 court were full glad of his coming. And when Sir Gawaine, 
 Sir Ewaine, Sir Sagramour, and Sir Ector de Maris saw 
 Sir Launcelot in Sir Kay's armor, then they wist well 
 it was he that smote them down all with one spear. Then 
 there was laughing and smiling among them. And ever 
 now and then came all the knights home that Sir Turquine 
 had taken prisoners, and they all honored and worshipped 
 Sir Launcelot. When Sir Gaheiis heard them speak, he
 
 78 The Boy's King Arthur. 
 
 said: "I saw all the battle, from the beginning to the 
 ending." 
 
 And there he told King Arthur all how it was, and how 
 Sir Turquine was the strongest knight that ever he saw 
 except Sir Launcelot ; there were many knights bare him 
 record, nigh threescore. Then Sir Kay told the king how 
 Sir Launcelot had rescued him when he was in danger to 
 have been slain, and how " he made the knights to yield 
 them to me, and not to him." And there they were, all 
 three, and bare record. "And," said Sir Kay, "because 
 Sir Launcelot took my harness, and left me his, I rode in 
 good peace, and no man would have to do with me." Then 
 anon therewithal came the three knights that fought with 
 Sir Launcelot at the long bridge, and there they yielded 
 them unto Sir Kay, and Sir Kay forsook them, and said 
 he fought never with them ; " but I shall ease your hearts," 
 said Sir Kay, "yonder is Sir Launcelot that overcame you." 
 When they understood that, they were glad. And then 
 Sir Meliot de Logres came home, and told King Arthur 
 how Sir Launcelot had saved him from the death. And 
 all his deeds were known, how four queens, sorceresses, 
 had him in prison, and how he was delivered by King 
 Bagdemagus' daughter. Also there were told all the great 
 deeds of arms that Sir Launcelot did betwixt the. two 
 kin^s, that is to say, the king of Northgalis and King 
 Bagdemagus. All the truth Sir Gahalantine did tell, and 
 Sir Mador de la Porte, and Sir Mordred, for they were at 
 that same tournament. Then came in the lady that knew 
 Sir Launcelot when that he wounded Sir Belleus at the 
 pavilion. And there at the request of Sir Launcelot, Sir 
 Belleus was made knight of the Round Table. 
 
 And so at that time Sir Launcelot had the greatest 
 name of any knight of the world, and most he was hon 
 ored of high and low.
 
 Of Sir Launcelot du Lake. 79 
 
 CHAPTER XIIL 
 
 How Snt LAUNCELOT BECAME MAD, AND LEAPED FROM A Wnroow. 
 
 F /^\N a day, that might be a matter of two years before 
 L v^ that feast of Pentecost whereof it will be told in the 
 Book of Sir Tristram, it happened that Queen Guenever 
 was angered with Sir Launcelot, yet truly for no fault of 
 his, but only because a certain enchantress had wrought 
 that Sir Launcelot seemed to have shamed his knight- 
 hood 
 
 Then the queen was nigh out of her wit, and then she 
 writhed and weltered as a mad woman ; and at the last 
 the queen met with Sir Launcelot, and thus she said,] 
 " False traitor knight that thou art, look thou never abide 
 in my court, and not so hardy, thou false traitor knight 
 that thou art, that ever thou come in my sight." 
 
 "Alas!""said^Sir Launcelot: and therewith he took 
 such an heartly sorrow at her words that he fell down to 
 the floor in a swoon. And therewithal Queen Guenever 
 departed And when Sir Launcelot awoke of his swoon 
 he leaped out at a bay window into a garden, and there 
 with thorns he was all to-scratched in his visage and his 
 body, and so he ran forth he wist not whither, and was 
 wild wood \insane\ as ever was man. 
 
 "Wit ye well," said dame Elaine to Sir Bors, "I would 
 lose my life for him rather than he should be hurt ; but 
 alas, I cast me never for to see him ; and the chief causer 
 of this is dame Guenever." 
 
 " Madam," said dame Brisen, the which had made the 
 
 1 This is not Elaine, the maid of Astolat, whom w shall meet hereafter 
 
 but anotbet Elaine.
 
 8o The Boy's King Arthur. 
 
 enchantment before betwixt Sir Launcelot and her, "I 
 pray you heartily let Sir Bors depart and hie him with all 
 his might, as fast as he may, to seek Sir Launcelot. Foi 
 T warn you he is clean out of his mind, and yet he shall 
 be well holpen, and but by miracle." 
 
 Then wept dame Elaine, and so did Sir Bors de Ganis, 
 and so they departed ; and Sir Bors rode straight unto 
 Queen Guenever, and when she saw Sir Bors she wept as 
 she were wood. 
 
 " Fie on your weeping," said Sir Bors, " for ye weep 
 never but when there is no boot. Alas ! " said Sir Bors, 
 "that ever Sir Launcelot's kin saw you. For now have 
 ye lost the best knight of our blood, and he that was 
 all our leader and our succor. And I dare say and make 
 it good, that all kings, Christian nor heathen, may not 
 find such a knight, for to speak of his nobleness and 
 courtesy with his beauty and his gentleness. Alas," said 
 Sir Bors, " what shall we do that be of his blood ? " 
 
 "Alas ! " said Sir Ector de Maris. 
 
 "Alas!" said Sir Lionel. 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 WHAT SORROW QUEEN GUENEVER MADE FOR SIR LAUNCELOT, AND HOW 
 HE WAS SOUGHT BY KNIGHTS OF HIS KlN. 
 
 AND when the queen heard them say so, she fell to 
 the ground in a deadly sound [swoon} ; and then Sir 
 Bors took her, and [roused] her, and when she was come 
 to herself again she kneeled afore the three knights, and 
 held up both her hands, and besought them to seek him, 
 and not to spare for no goods but that he be found, " for. I
 
 Of Sir Launcelot du Lake. 81 
 
 wot well he is out of his mind" And Sir Bors, Sir Ector, 
 Sir Lionel, departed from the queen, for they might not 
 abide no longer for sorrow: and then the queen sent 
 them treasure enough for their expenses, and so they 
 took their horses and their armor, and departed. And 
 then they rode from country to country, in forests and 
 in wildernesses and in wastes, and ever they laid watch as 
 well both at forests and at all manner of men as they 
 rode, to hearken and to inquire after him, as he that was 
 a naked man in his shirt, with a sword in his hand. And 
 thus they rode well nigh a quarter of a year, endlong and 
 overthwart, 1 in many places, forests and wildernesses, and 
 oftentimes were evil lodged for his sake, and yet for all 
 their labor and seeking could they never hear word of 
 him. And wit ye well these three knights were passing 
 sorry. 
 
 Then Sir Gawaine, Sir Uwaine, Sir Sagramor le Desir- 
 ous, Sir Agloval, and Sir Percival de Galis, took upon 
 them by the great desire of King Arthur, and in especial 
 by the queen, to seek throughout all England, Wales, and 
 Scotland, to find Sir LaunceloL And with them rode 
 eighteen knights more to bear them fellowship. And wit 
 ye well they lacked no manner of spending : and so were 
 they three and twenty knights. 
 
 And thus as these noble knights rode together, they 
 by one assent departed, and then they rode by two, by 
 three, and by four, and by five ; and ever they assigned 
 where they should meet 
 
 o* the had.
 
 82 The Boy's King Arthur. 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 H<w Sra LAUNCRLOT IN HIS MADNESS TOOK A SWORD, AND FOUOITI 
 A KNIGHT, AND AFTER LEAPED IN A BED. 
 
 AND now leave we a little of Sir Ector and Sir Perci- 
 val, and speak we of Sir Launcelot, that suffered 
 and endured many sharp showers, which ever ran wild 
 wood, from place to place, and lived by fruit and such as 
 he might get, and drank water, two years; and other 
 clothing had he but little, save his shirt and his breeches. 
 And thus, as Sir Launcelot wandered here and there, he 
 came into a fair meadow where he found a pavilion, and 
 there upon a tree hung a white shield, and two swords 
 hung thereby, and two spears there leaned against a tree ; 
 and when Sir Launcelot saw the swords, anon he leaped 
 to the one sword, and took it in his hand, and drew it out, 
 and then he lashed at the shield that all the meadow rang 
 of the dints that he gave with such a noise as ten knights 
 had fought together. Then there came forth a dwarf, and 
 leaped unto Sir Launcelot, and would have had the sword 
 out of his hand ; and then Sir Launcelot took him by both 
 the shoulders and threw him to the ground upon his neck, 
 that he had almost broken his neck ; and therewithal the 
 dwarf cried for help. Then came forth a likely knight, 
 and well apparelled in scarlet, furred with miniver. And 
 anon as he saw Sir Launcelot, he deemed that he should 
 be out of his wit : and then he said with fair speech, 
 " Good man, lay down that sword, for, as me seemeth, 
 thou hast more need of sleep, and of warm clothes, than 
 to wield that sword." 
 
 "As for that," said Sir Launcelot, "come not too nigh ; 
 for, and thou do, wit thou well I will slay thee."
 
 Of Sir Launcelot du Lake 83 
 
 And when the knight of the pavilion saw that, he started 
 backward within the pavilion. And then the dwarf armed 
 him lightly, and so the knight thought by force and might 
 to take the sword from Sir Launcelot, and so he came 
 stepping out, and when Sir Launcelot saw Him come so all 
 armed with his sword in his hand, then Sir Launcelot flew 
 to him with such a might and hit him upon the helm such 
 a buffet that the stroke troubled his brains, and therewith 
 the sword brake in three. And the knight fell to the 
 earth as he had been dead, the blood bursting out of his 
 mouth, nose, and ears. And then Sir Launcelot ran into 
 the pavilion, and rushed even into the warm bed. 
 
 Then the knight awaked out of his swoon, and looked 
 up weakly with his eyes, and then he asked where was 
 that mad man that had given him such a buffet? "for 
 such a buffet had I never of man's hand." 
 
 " Sir," said the dwarf, " it is not worship to hurt him, 
 for he is a man out of his wit, and doubt ye not he hath 
 been a man of great worship, and for some heartly sorrow 
 that he hath taken he is fallen mad ; and me seemeth he 
 resembleth much unto Sir Launcelot ; for him I saw at 
 the great tournament beside Lonazep." 
 
 " Jesu defend," said that knight, "that ever that noble 
 knight Sir Launcelot should be in such a plight But 
 whatsoever he be, harm will I none do him." 
 
 And this knight's name was Sir Bliant. Then he said 
 unto the dwarf, " Go thou in all haste on horseback unto 
 my brother Sir Seliaunt, that is at the Castle Blanche, 
 and tell him of mine adventure, and bid him bring with 
 him an horse-litter and then will we bear this knigHt unto 
 my castle.
 
 84 The Boy's King Arthur. 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 How SIR LAUNCELOT WAS CARRIED IN A HORSE-LITTER, AND HOW Sn 
 LAUNCELOT RESCUED SIR BLIANT HIS HOST. 
 
 SO the dwarf rode fast, and came again, and brought 
 Sir Seliaunt with him, and six men with an horse- 
 litter ; and so they took up the feather-bed with Sir 
 Launcelot, and so carried all with them to the Castle 
 Blanche, and he never wakened until he was within the 
 castle ; and then they bound his hands and his feet, and 
 gave him good meats and good drinks, and brought him 
 again to his strength and his fairness ; but in his wit they 
 could not bring him again, nor to know himself. Thus 
 Sir Launcelot was there more than a year and a half. 
 
 Then upon a day this lord of that castle, Sir Bliant, 
 took his arms on horseback with a spear to seek ad- 
 ventures, and as he rode in a forest there met him two 
 knights adventurous ; the one was Sir Breuse sans Pitie, 
 and his brother Sir Bertlot. And these two ran both 
 at once upon Sir Bliant, and brake both their spears 
 upon his body, and then they drew out their swords and 
 made a great battle and fought long together ; but at the 
 last Sir Bliant was sore wounded, and felt himself faint, 
 and then he fled on horseback toward his castle. And 
 as they came hurling under the castle, where Sir Lance- 
 lot lay in a window and saw two knights laid upon Sir 
 Bliant with their swords, and when Sir Launcelot saw 
 that, yet as wood [crazy] as he was, he was sorry for his 
 lord Sir Bliant ; and then Sir Launcelot brake his chains 
 from his legs. 
 
 And so Sir Launcelot ran out at a postern, and there
 
 Of Sir Liuuuelot du Lake. 85 
 
 he met with the two knights that chased Sir Bliant, and 
 there he pulled down Bertlot with his bare hands from his 
 horse, and therewithal he writhed his sword out of his 
 hands, and so he leaped onto Sir Breuse, and gave him 
 such a buffet upon the head that he tumbled backward 
 over his horse's crupper. And when Sir Bertlot saw his 
 brother have such a fall, he gat a spear in his hand, and 
 would have ran Sir Lanncelot through. That saw Sir 
 Bliant, and struck off the hand of Sir Bertlot; and then 
 Sir Breuse and Sir Bertlot gat their horses and fled away. 
 When Sir Seliaunt came, and saw what Sir Launcelot had 
 done for his brother, then he thanked God, and so did his 
 brother, that ever they did him any good. But when Sir 
 Bliant saw that Sir Lanncelot was hurt with the break- 
 ing of his chains, then he was sorry that he had bound 
 him. "Bind him no more," said Sir Seliaunt, "for he is 
 happy and gracious." Then they made great joy of Sir 
 Launcelot, and they bound him no more ; and so he abode 
 there half a year and more. And in a morning early Sir 
 Lanncelot was ware where came a great boar, with many 
 hounds nigh him; but the boar was so big that there 
 might no hounds tear him, and the hunters came after 
 blowing their horns both on horseback and on foot ; and 
 at the last Sir Lanncelot was ware where one of them 
 alighted and tied his horse to a tree, and leaned his spear 
 against the tree. 
 
 So came Sir Lanncelot and found the horse bound to a 
 tree, and a spear leaning against a tree, and a sword tied 
 unto the saddle bow. And then Sir Lanncelot leaped in- 
 to the saddle, and gat that spear in his hand, and then he 
 nxle after the boar; and then Sir Lanncelot was ware where 
 the boar set his back to a tree, fast by an hermitage. 
 Then Sir Lanncelot ran at the boar with his spear. And
 
 86 The Boy's King Arthur 
 
 therewith the boar turned him nimbly, and rove [gashed] 
 out the lungs and the heart of the horse, so that Sii 
 Launcelot fell to the earth, and or ever Sir Launcelot 
 might get from the horse, the boar rove him on the brawn 
 of the thigh, up to the hough bone. And then Sir 
 Launcelot was wroth, and up he gat upon his feet, and 
 drew his sword, and he smote off the boar's head at 
 one stroke. And therewithal came out the hermit, and 
 saw him have such a wound; then the hermit came to 
 Sir Launcelot and bemoaned him, and would have had 
 him home unto his hermitage. But when Sir Launcelot 
 heard him speak, he was so wroth with his wound that he 
 ran upon the hermit to have slain him, and the hermit 
 ran away, and when Sir Launcelot might not overget him 
 he threw his sword after him, for Sir Launcelot might go 
 no farther for bleeding. Then the hermit turned again, 
 and asked Sir Launcelot how he was hurt. 
 
 "Fellow," said Sir Launcelot, "this boar hath bitten 
 me sore." 
 
 " Then come with me," said the hermit, " and I shall 
 heal you." 
 
 " Go thy way," said Sir Launcelot, " and deal not with 
 me." 
 
 Then the hermit ran his way, and there he met with a 
 good knight with many men. 
 
 " Sir," said the hermit, " here is fast by my place the 
 goodliest man that ever I saw, and he is sore wounded with 
 a boar, and yet he hath slain the boar. But well I wot 
 and he be not holpen, that goodly man shall die of that 
 wound, and that were great pity." 
 
 Then that knight, at the desire of the hermit, gat a 
 cart, and in that cart that knight put the boar and Sir 
 Launcelot, for Sir Launcelot was so feeble that they
 
 Of Sir Launcelot du Lake. 87 
 
 might right easily deal with him. And so Sir Launcelot 
 was brought unto the hermitage, and there the hermit 
 healed him of his wound. But the hermit might not find 
 Sir Launcelot's sustenance, and so he impaired and waxed 
 feeble, both of his body and of his wit, for the default ot 
 his sustenance, and waxed more wood than he was afore- 
 hand And then, upon a day, Sir Launcelot ran his way 
 into the forest ; and by adventure came into the city of 
 Corbin, where dame Elaine was. 
 
 And so when he was entered into the town, he ran 
 through the town to the castle ; and then all the young 
 men of the city ran after Sir Launcelot, and there they 
 threw turfs at him, and gave him many sad strokes ; and 
 as Sir Launcelot might reach any of them, he threw them 
 so that they would never more come in his hands, for of 
 some he brake their legs, and some their arms, and so 
 fled into the castle. And then came out knights and 
 squires for to rescue Sir Launcelot, and when they beheld 
 him and looked upon his person, they thought they saw 
 never so goodly a man ; and when they saw so many 
 wounds upon him, they all deemed that he had been a 
 man of worship. And then they ordained clothes unto 
 his body, and straw underneath him, and a little house, 
 and then every day they would throw him meat, and set 
 him drink, but there were few or none that would bring 
 meat to his hands.
 
 88 The Boy's King Arthur. 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 How SIR LAUNCELOT WAS KNOWN BY DAME ELAINE, AND HOW HH 
 WAS BORNE INTO A CHAMBER, AND AFTER HEALED BY THE HOLY 
 GRAIL. 
 
 SO it befell that King Pelles had a nephew whose name 
 was Castor, and he desired of the king his uncle for 
 to be made knight ; and so at the request of this Castor, 
 the king made him knight at the feast of Candlemas. 
 And when Castor was made knight, that same day he 
 gave many gowns ; and so Sir Castor sent for the fool, 
 that was Sir Launcelot, and when [Sir Launcelot] saw his 
 time, he went into the garden and there laid him down by 
 a well and slept. And in the afternoon dame Elaine and 
 her maidens went into the garden for to play them ; and 
 as they roamed up and down, one of dame Elaine's maid- 
 ens espied where lay a goodly man by the well sleeping, 
 and anon showed him to dame Elaine. 
 
 "Peace," said dame Elaine, "and say no word." 
 And then she brought dame Elaine where he lay. And 
 when that she beheld him, anon she fell in remembrance 
 of him, and knew him verily for Sir Launcelot, and there- 
 withal she fell on weeping so heartily that she sank even 
 to the earth. And when she had thus wept a great while, 
 then she arose and called her maidens, and said she was 
 sick. And so she went out of the garden, and she went 
 straight to her father, and there she took him apart by 
 himself, and then she said, " O father, now have I need 
 of your help, and but if that ye help me, farewell my 
 good days for ever." 
 
 "What is that, daughter?" said King Pelles.
 
 Of Sir Launcelot du Lake. 89 
 
 " Sir," she said, " thus is it : in your garden I went for 
 to sport, and there by the well I found Sir Launcelot du 
 Lake sleeping." 
 
 " I may not believe that," said King Pelles, 
 
 "Sir," she said, "truly he is there, and me seemeth 
 he should be distract out of his wit" 
 
 "Then hold you still," said the king, "and let me deal." 
 
 Then the king called to him such as he most trusted, 
 four persons, and dame Elaine his daughter. And when 
 they came to the well and beheld Sir Launcelot, anon 
 dame Brisen knew him. 
 
 "Sir," said dame Brisen, "we must be wise how we 
 deal with him, for this knight is out of his mind, and if 
 we awake him rudely, what he wil\ do we all know not. 
 But ye shall abide, and I shall throw such an enchantment 
 upon him that he shall not awake within the space of an 
 hour." 
 
 And so she did. Then within a little while after King 
 Pelles commanded that all people should avoid [leave], 
 that none should be in that way there as the king would 
 come. And so when this was done, these four men and 
 these ladies laid hand on Sir Launcelot. And so they 
 bare him into a tower, and so into the chamber where 
 as was the [Holy Grail], and by force Sir Launcelot was 
 laid by that holy vessel ; and then there came an holy 
 man ana uncovered the vessel, and so by miracle, and by 
 virtue of that holy vessel, Sir Launcelot was all healed 
 and recovered. And when he was awaked, he groaned, 
 and sighed sore, and complained greatly that he was 
 passing sore. 
 
 And when Sir Launcelot saw King Pelles and dame 
 Elaine, he waxed ashamed, and thus he said, /" O good 
 Lord Jesu, how came I here ? for God's sake, my lord, let 
 me wit how I came here." )
 
 90 The Boy's King Arthur 
 
 " Sir," said dame Elaine, " into this country ye came 
 like a mad man all out of your wit, and here ye have been 
 kept as a fool, and no creature here knew what ye were 
 till that by fortune a maid of mine brought me unto you 
 where as ye lay sleeping by a well side, and anon as I 
 verily beheld you I knew you ; and then I told my father, 
 and so ye were brought before this holy vessel, and by the 
 virtue of it thus were ye healed." 
 
 " O Jesu, mercy ! " said Sir Launcelot, " if this be sooth, 
 how many be there that know of my woodness ? " 
 
 " So God me help," said dame Elaine, " no moe \more\ 
 but my father and I and dame Brisen." 
 
 " Now for Christ's love," said Sir Launcelot, " keep it 
 secret, and let no man know it in the world, for I am 
 sore ashamed that I have been thus miscarried, for I 
 am banished out of the country of Logris for ever, that is 
 for to say the country of England." 
 
 And so Sir Launcelot lay more than a fortnight, or ever 
 that he might stir for soreness. 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 OF A GREAT TOURNAMENT IN THE JOYOUS ISLE, AND HOW SIR PERCIVAI 
 FOUGHT WITH HIM ; HOW EACH OF THEM KNEW OTHER, AND OF THEIR 
 GREAT COURTESY, AND HOW HIS BROTHER SIR ECTOR CAME UNTO HIM, 
 AND OF THEIR JOY. 
 
 AND then after this King Pelles with ten knights, and 
 dame Elaine and twenty ladies, rode unto the castle 
 of Bliant, that stood in an island enclosed in iron, with a 
 fair water, deep and large. And when they were there 
 Sir Launcelot let call it the Joyous Isle, and there was
 
 Of Sir Lancelot dm, Late, 91 
 
 | he called none otherwise but Le Chevalier Mai Fait, fife 
 buffkt that hath trespassed. Then Sir Launcelot let make 
 him a shield aH of sable, and a queen crowned in the 
 midst all of silver, and a knight, dean armed, kneeling 
 before her ; and every day once, for any mirths that all 
 the ladies might make him, he would once every day look 
 
 i towards the realm of Logris where Kmg Arthur and 
 Qoeen Guenever were, and then would he fall upcn 
 weeping as though his heart should to-brast \bmrst to 
 pieces\ So it fell that time that Sir Launcelot heard 
 
 F of a jousting fast by his castle, within three leagues. 
 
 t Then he called unto him a dwarf, and he bade him go 
 unto that jousting, "and, or ever the knights depart, look 
 thou make there a cry in the hearing of all the knights, 
 that there is one knight in the Joyous Isle, that is the 
 castle BBant, and say that his name is Le Chevalier Mai 
 Fait, that wfll joust against knights that wfll come ; and 
 who that putteth that knight to the worst shall have a 
 fair maid and a gerfalcon," 
 
 So when this cry was made, unto Joyous Isle drew 
 knights to the number of five hundred. And wit ye 
 well there was never seen in Arthur's days one knight 
 that did so much deeds of arms as Sir Lanncelot did three 
 days together. For he had the better of all the five hun- 
 dred knights, and there was not one slam of them. And 
 after that Sir Launcelot made them all a great feast. 
 And in the meanwhile came Sir Perrival de Galis and 
 Sir Ector de Maris under rtafr casde tfmt was r*Rfd the 
 Joyous Isle. And as they beheld that gay castle they 
 would have gone to that castle, but they might not for 
 the broad water, and bridge could they find none. Then 
 they saw on the other side a lady with a sperhawk in her 
 hand, and Sir Perctval called unto her, and asked that lady 
 who was in that castle.
 
 92 The Boy's King Arthur. 
 
 " Fair knight," she said, " here within this castle is the 
 fairest lady in this land, and her name is Elaine. Also 
 we have in this castle the fairest knight and the mightiest 
 man that is, I dare say, living, and he calleth himself Le 
 Chevalier Mai Fait." 
 
 " How came he into these marches ? " said Sir Percival. 
 
 " Truly," said the damsel, " he came into this country 
 like a mad man, with dogs and boys chasing him through 
 the city of Corbin ; and by the Holy Grail he was brought 
 into his wit again, but he will not do battle with no knight 
 but by underne [nine in the morning} or by noon. And if 
 ye list to come into the castle, ye must ride unto the 
 further side of the castle, and there shall ye find a vessel 
 that will bear you and your horse." 
 
 Then they departed and came unto the vessel. And 
 then Sir Percival alighted and said unto Sir Ector de 
 Maris, " Ye shall abide <ne here, until I know what manner 
 of knight he is, for it were a great shame unto us, inas- 
 much as he is but one knight, and we should both do 
 battle with him." 
 
 "Do as ye list," said Sir Ector de Maris, "here shall 
 I abide you until that I hear of you again." 
 
 Then Sir Percival passed the water ; and when he came 
 unto the castle gate, he said to the porter, " Go thou unto 
 the good knight within the castle, and tell him that here 
 is come an errant knight to joust with him." 
 
 " Sir," said the porter, " ride ye within the castle, and 
 there shall ye find a common place for jousting, that lords 
 and ladies may behold you." 
 
 So anon as Sir Launcelot had warning, he was soon 
 ready. And there Sir Percival and Sir Launcelot en- 
 countered with such a might, and their spears weie so 
 rude, that both the horses and the knights fell to the
 
 Of Sir Launcelot du Lake. 93 
 
 ground. And then they avoided their horses, and drew 
 out their swords, and hewed away cantels [pieces] of their 
 shields, and hurled together with their shields like two 
 wild boars, and either wounded other passing sore. And 
 at the last Sir Percival spake first, when they had fought 
 more than two hours. 
 
 "Fair knight," said Sir Percival, "I require thee tell 
 me thy name, for I met never with such a knight as ye 
 are." 
 
 "Sir," said Sir Launcelot, "my name is Le Chevaliei 
 Mai Fait Now tell me your name," said Sir Launcelot, 
 "I require you, as ye are a gentle knight." 
 
 " Truly," said Sir Percival, " my name is Sir Percival de 
 Galis, which is brother unto the good knight Sir Lamorack 
 de Galis, and King Pellinore was our father, and Sir Agla- 
 val is my brother." 
 
 " Alas ! " said Sir Launcelot, "what have I done, to fight 
 
 :h you that are a knight of the Round Table, that some 
 "time was your fellow hi King Arthur's court ?J} 
 
 And therewithal Sir Launcelot kneeled down upon his 
 knees, and threw away his shield and his sword from him. 
 When Sir Percival saw him do so, he marvelled what he 
 meant And then thus he said, " Sir knight, whatsoever 
 them be, I require thee upon the high order of knight- 
 hood, tell me thy true name." 
 
 Then he said, "Truly my name is Sir Launcelot du 
 Lake, King Ban's son of Benoy." 
 
 " Alas ! " said Sir Percival, "what have I done ! I was 
 sent by the queen for to seek you, and so I have sought 
 you nigh this two year ; and yonder is Sir Ector de Maris 
 your brother abideth me on the other side of the yonder 
 water. Now I pray you f rgive me mine offence that I 
 have here done."
 
 94 The Boy's King Arthur. 
 
 " It is soon forgiven," said Sir Launcelot. 
 
 Then Sir Percival sent for Sir Ector de Maris. And 
 when Sir Launcelot had a sight of him, he ran untc him 
 and took him in his arms, and then Sir Ector kneeled 
 down and either wept upon other, that all had pity to 
 behold them. Then came dame Elaine, and she there 
 made them great cheer as might lie in her power ; and 
 there she told Sir Ector and Sir Percival how and in what 
 manner Sir Launcelot came into that country, and how 
 he was healed. And there it was known how long Sir 
 Launcelot was with Sir Bliant and with Sir Seliuant, and 
 how he first met with them, and how he departed from 
 them because of a boar ; and how the hermit healed Sir 
 Launcelot of his great wound, and how that he came to 
 Corbin. 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 How SIR LAUNCELOT WITH SIR PERCIVAL AND SIR ECTOR CAME TO 
 
 THE COURT, AND OF THEIR GREAT JOY OF HlM. 
 
 SIR," said Sir Ector, " I am your own brother, and ye 
 are the man in the world that I love most, and, if I 
 understood that it were your disworship, ye may right well 
 understand that I would never counsel you thereto ; but 
 King Arthur and all his knights, and in especial Queen 
 Guenever, made such dole and sorrow that it was marvel 
 to hear and see. And ye must remember the great 
 worship and renown that ye be of, how that ye have 
 been more spoken of than any other knight that is now 
 living, for there is none that beareth the name now but 
 ye and Sir Tristram. Therefore, brother," said Sir Ector, 
 "make you ready to ride unto the court with us, and I
 
 Of Sir Launcelot du Lake. 95 
 
 dare well say there was never knight better welcome unto 
 the court than ye. And I wot well and can make it 
 good," said Sir Ector, "it hath cost my lady the queen 
 twenty thousand pound the seeking of you." 
 
 "Well, brother," said Sir Launcelot, "I will do after 
 your counsel and ride with you." 
 
 So then they took their horses, and made them ready, 
 and took their leave of King Pelles and of dame Elaine ; 
 and when Sir Launcelot should depart, dame Elaine made 
 great sorrow. 
 
 Then they departed, and within five days' journey they 
 came to Camelot, which is called, hi English, Winchester. 
 And when Sir Launcelot was come among them, the king 
 and all the knights made great joy of him ; and there Sii 
 Percival de Galis and Sir Ector de Maris began to tell of 
 all the adventures, how Sir Launcelot had been out of his 
 mind all the time of his absence, how he called himself 
 Le Chevalier Mai Fait, as much to say the kn?ght that had 
 trespassed, and in three days Sir Launcelot smote down 
 five hundred knights. And ever as Sir Ector and Sir 
 Percival told these tales of Sir Launcelot, Queen Guenever 
 wept as she would have died ; then afterward the queen 
 made great joy. 
 
 " O Jesu ! " said King Arthur, " I marvel for what cause 
 ye, Sir Launcelot, went out of your mind ? " 
 
 "My lord," said Sir Launcelot, "if I did any folly, I 
 have found that I sought." 
 
 And so the king held him still, and spake no more ; but 
 all Sir Launcelot's kin knew for whom he went out of his 
 mind. And then there were great feasts made and great 
 joy, and many great lords and ladies, when they heard that 
 Sir Launcelot was come to the court again, made great 
 joy.
 
 BOOK III. 
 OF SIR GARETH OF ORKNEY, 
 
 WHO WAS CALLED BEAUMAINS. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 How BEAUMAINS CAME TO KING ARTHUR'S COURT, AND DEMANDBB 
 THREE PETITIONS OF KING ARTHUR. 
 
 WHEN Arthur held his Round Table most fully, it 
 fortuned that he commanded that the high feast of 
 Pentecost should be holden at a city and a castle, the 
 which in those days was called King-Kenadon, upon the 
 sands that marched [bordered] nigh Wales. So ever the 
 king had a custom that at the feast of Pentecost, in espe- 
 cial afore other feasts in the year, he would not go that 
 day to meat until he had heard or seen of a great marvel. 
 And for that custom all manner of strange adventures 
 came before Arthur as at that feast before all other feasts. 
 And so Sir Gawaine, a little tofore noon of the day of 
 Pentecost, espied at a window three men upon horseback 
 and a dwarf on foot. And so the three men alighted, and 
 the dwarf kept their horses, and one of the three men was 
 higher than the other twain by a foot and a half. Then 
 96
 
 Of Sir Gareth of Orkney. 97 
 
 Sir Gawaine went unto the king and said, "Sir, go to your 
 meat, for here at hand come strange adventures." 
 
 So Arthur went unto his meat with many other kings. 
 And there were all the knights of the Round Table, save 
 these that were prisoners or slain at a recounter. Then 
 at the high feast evermore they should be fulfilled the 
 whole number of an hundred and fifty, for then was the 
 Round Table fully accomplished. Right so came into 
 the hall two men well beseen and richly, and upon their 
 shoulders there leaned the goodliest young man and the 
 fairest that ever they all saw, and he was large and long, 
 and broad in the shoulders, and well visaged, and the fair- 
 est and the largest handed that ever man saw, but he fared 
 as though he might not go nor bear himself but if he 
 leaned upon their shoulders. Anon as Arthur saw him, 
 there was made peace \silence\ and room, and right so they 
 went with him unto the high dais, without saying of any 
 words. Then this big young man pulled him aback, and 
 easily stretched up straight, saying, " King Arthur, God 
 you bless, and all your fair fellowship, and in especial the 
 fellowship of the Table Round. And for this cause I am 
 come hither, to pray you and require you to give me three 
 gifts, and they shall not be unreasonably asked, but that 
 ye may worshipfully and honorably grant them me, and to 
 you no great hurt nor loss. And as for the first gift I will 
 ask now, and the other two gifts I will ask this day twehe- 
 month wheresoever ye hold your high feast" 
 
 " Now ask," said Arthur, " and ye shall have your ask- 
 ing." 
 
 " Now, sir, this is my petition for this feast, that ye will 
 give me meat and drink sufficiently for this twelvemonth, 
 and at that day I will ask mine other two gifts." 
 
 " My fair son," said Arthur, "ask beft" r I counsel thee,
 
 The Boy's King Arthur. 
 
 for this is but a simple asking, for my heart giveth me to 
 thee greatly that thou art come of men of worship, and 
 greatly my conceit faileth me but thou shalt prove a man 
 of right great worship." 
 
 " Sir," said he, " thereof be as it may, I have asked that 
 I will ask." 
 
 " Well," said the king, " ye shall have meat and drink 
 enough, I never defended that none, neither my friend nor 
 my foe. But what is thy name I would wit ? " 
 
 " I cannot tell you," said he. 
 
 "That is marvel," said the king, "that thou knowest 
 not thy name, and thou art the goodliest young man that 
 ever I saw." 
 
 Then the king betook him to Sir Kay, the steward, 
 and charged him that he should give him of all manner 
 of meats and drinks of the best, and also that he had all 
 manner of finding as though he were a lord's son. 
 
 "That shall little need," said Sir Kay, "to do such cost 
 upon him ; for I dare undertake he is a villain born, and 
 never will make man, for and he had come of gentlemen 
 he would have asked of you horse and armor, but such as 
 he is, so he asketh. And since he hath no name, I shall 
 give him a name : that shall be Beaumains, that is Fair- 
 hands, and into the kitchen I shall bring him, and there 
 he shall have fat browis \brotK\ every day, that he shall be 
 as fat by the twelvemonth's end as a pork hog." 
 
 Right so the two men departed, and left him to Sir Kay, 
 that scorned him and mocked him.
 
 Of Sir Gareth of Orkney. 99 
 
 CHAPTER IL 
 
 How SIR LACNCELOT AXD SIR GAWAIN WERK WROTH BECAUSE Sn 
 KAY MOCKED BEAUMAINS, AND OF A DAMSEL WHICH DESIRED A 
 KNIGHT FOR TO FIGHT FOR A LADY. 
 
 npHEREAT was Sir Gawaine wroth, and in especial 
 JL Sir Launcelot bade Sir Kay leave his mocking, "for 
 I dare lay my head he shall prove a man of great wor- 
 ship." 
 
 " Let be," said Sir Kay, " it may not be, by no reason, 
 for as he is, so hath he asked" 
 
 " Beware," said Sir Launcelot ; " so ye gave the good 
 knight Brewnor, Sir Dinadan's brother, a name, and ye 
 called him La Cote Mai Taile, and that turned you to 
 anger afterward." 
 
 " As for that," said Sir Kay, " this shall never prove 
 none such ; for Sir Brewnor desired ever worship, and this 
 desireth bread and drink, and broth ; upon pain of my life 
 he was fostered up in some abbey, and, howsoever it was, 
 they failed meat and drink, and so hither he is come for 
 his sustenance." 
 
 And so Sir Kay bade get him a place and sit down to 
 meat, so Beaumains went to the hall door, and set him 
 down among boys and lads, and there he eat sadly. And 
 then Sir Launcelot after meat bade him come to his 
 chamber, and there he should have meat and drink 
 enough. And so did Sir Gawaine, but he refused 
 them all ; he would do none other but as Sir Kay com- 
 manded him, for no proffer. But as touching Sir Gawaine, 
 he had reason to proffer him lodging, meat, and drink, for 
 that prcffer came of his blood, for he was nearer kin to
 
 too The Boy's King Arthur. 
 
 him than he wist. But that Sir Launcelot did was of his 
 great gentleness and courtesy. So thus he was put into 
 the kitchen, and lay nightly as the boys of the kitchen 
 did. And so he endured all that twelvemonth, and never 
 displeased man nor child, but always he was meek and 
 mild. But ever when he saw any jousting of knights, 
 that would he see and he might. And ever Sir Launce- 
 lot would give him gold to spend, and clothes, and so did 
 Sir Gawaine. And where were any masteries done 
 thereat would he be, and there might none cast the bar 
 or stone to him by two yards. Then would Sir Kay say, 
 " How like you my boy of the kitchen ? " So it passed 
 on till the feast of Pentecost, and at that time the king 
 held it at Carleon, in the most royallest wise that might be, 
 like as yearly he did. But the king would eat no meat 
 on the Whitsunday till he had heard of some adventure. 
 And then came there a squire to the king, and said, " Sir, 
 ye may go to your meat, for here cometh a damsel with 
 some strange adventure." Then was the king glad, and 
 set him down. Right so there came in a damsel, and 
 saluted the king, and prayed him for succor. 
 
 " For whom ? " said the king : " what is the adventure ? " 
 
 " Sir," said she, " I have a lady of great worship and 
 renown, and she is besieged with a tyrant, so that she 
 may not go out of her castle, and because that here in 
 your court are called the noblest knights of the world, I 
 come unto you and pray you for succor." 
 
 " What call ye your lady, and where dwelleth she, and 
 who is he and what is his name that hath besieged her ? " 
 
 "Sir king," said she, "as for my lady's name, that shall 
 not be known for me as at this time ; but I let you wit she 
 is a lady of great worship, and of great lands. And as 
 for the tyrant that besiegeth her and destroyeth her land, 
 he is called the Red Knight of the Red Lawns."
 
 Of Sir Gareth of Orkney. 101 
 
 M I know him not," said the king. 
 
 "Sir," said Sir Gawaine,"! know him wcfl, for he is 
 one of the perilous knights of the world ; men say that he 
 hath seven men's strength, and from him I escaped once 
 fan hard with my life." 
 
 "Fair damsel,'* said the king, "there be knights here 
 that would do their power to rescue your lady, hut * M "" M fT 
 ye win not tell her name nor where she dwelleth, therefore 
 none of my knights that he here now shall go with you 
 by my wfll." 
 
 -Them mm* I apok tetter," said the damsel 
 
 CHAPTER m. 
 
 HOW BuOnUUBS f""" THK RATTLE. AXD HOW IT WAS 
 
 THEN with these words came before the king Bean- 
 mains, whfle the damsel was there; and thus he 
 said: "Sir king, God thank you, I have been this twelve 
 months in your kitchen, and have had my full sustenance, 
 and now I wfll ask my two gifts that be behind." 
 
 -Ask upon my peril," said the king. 
 
 "Sir, these shaU be my two gifts: first, that ye wfll 
 grant me to have this adventure of the damsel, for it 
 bdongeth to me," 
 
 "Thou shah have it," said the king; I grant it thee," 
 
 "Then, sir, this is now the other gift : that ye shall bid 
 Sir Launcelot dn Lake to make me a knight, for of him I 
 wfll be made knight, and else of none ; and when I am 
 passed, I pray you let him ride after me, and make me 
 knight wnen I require hinL
 
 iO2 The Boy's King Arthur. 
 
 " All this shall be done," said the king. 
 
 " Fie on thee," said the damsel ; " shall I have none 
 but one that is your kitchen page?" 
 
 Then was she wroth, and took her horse and departed. 
 And with that there came one to Beaumains, and told him 
 that his horse and armor was come for him, and there was 
 a dwarf come with all things that him needed in the 
 richest manner. Thereat all the court had much marvel 
 from whence came all that gear. So when he was armed, 
 there was none but few so goodly a man as he was. And 
 right so he came into the hall, and took his leave of King 
 Arthur and of Sir Gawaine, and of Sir Launcelot, and 
 prayed him that he would hie after him ; and so departed 
 and rode after the damsel. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 How BEAUMAINS DEPARTED, AND HOW HE GOT OF SIR KAY A SPEAR 
 AND A SHIELD, AND HOW HE JOUSTED AND FOUGHT WITH SIR 
 LAUNCELOT. 
 
 BUT there went many after to behold how well he 
 was horsed and trapped in cloth of gold, but he had 
 . .either shield nor spear. Then Sir Kay said openly in 
 the hall : " I will ride after my boy of the kitchen, for to 
 wit [know] whether he will know me for his better." 
 
 Sir Launcelot and Sir Gawaine said, "Yet abide at 
 home." 
 
 So Sir Kay made him ready, and took his horse and his 
 spear, and rode after him. And right as Beaumains over- 
 took the damsel, right so came Sir Kay, and said, "Beau- 
 mains, what sir, know ye not me ? "
 
 Of Sir Gareth of Orkney. 103 
 
 Then he turned his horse, and knew it was Sir Kay, 
 that had done him all the despite as ye have heard afore. 
 
 "Yea," said Beaumains, "I know yon for an ungentle 
 knight of the court, and therefore beware of me." 
 
 Therewith Sir Kay put his spear in the rest and ran 
 straight upon him, and Beanmains came as fast upon him 
 with his sword in his hand ; and so he put away his spear 
 with his sword, and with a f oin [feixt\ thrust him through 
 the side, that Sir Kay fell down as he had been dead, and 
 he alighted down and took Sir Kay's shield and his spear, 
 and started upon his own horse, and rode his way. All that 
 saw Sir Lanncelot, and so did the damsel And then he 
 bade his dwarf start upon Sir Kay's horse, and so he did. 
 By that Sir Lanncelot was come. Then he proffered Sir 
 Lanncelot to joust, and either made them ready, and came 
 together so fiercely that either bare down other to the 
 earth, and sore were they bruised. Then Sir Lanncelot 
 arose and helped him from his horse. And then Bean- 
 mains threw his shield from him, and proffered to fight 
 with Sir Lanncelot on foot, and so they rushed together 
 like boars, tracing, racing, and foining, to the mounte- 
 nance \amtm*f\ of an hour, and Sir Lanncelot felt him so 
 big that he marvelled of his strength, for he fought more 
 like a giant than a knight, and that his fighting was dura- 
 ble and passing perilous. For Sir Lanncelot had so much 
 ado with him that he dreaded himself to be shamed, and 
 said, M Beanmains, fight not so sore, your quarrel and mine 
 is not so great but we may leave ofL" 
 
 "Truly, that is truth," said Beanmains, "but it doth me 
 good to feel your might, and yet, my lord, I showed not 
 tae uttermost.''
 
 IO4 The Boy's King Arthur. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 How BEAUMAINS TOLD TO SIR LAUNCELOT HIS NAME, AND HOW HI 
 WAS DUBBED KNIGHT OF SlR LAUNCELOT, AND AFTER OVERTOOK THB 
 DAMSEL. 
 
 WELL," said Sir Launcelot, "for I promise you by 
 the faith of my body I had as much to do as I 
 might to save myself from you unshamed, and therefore 
 have ye no doubt of none earthly knight." 
 
 "Hope ye so that I may any while stand a proved 
 knight ? " said Beaumains. 
 
 " Yea," said Launcelot, " do ye as ye have done. <tnd I 
 shall be your warrant." 
 
 "Then, I pray you," said Beaumains, "give me the 
 order of knighthood." 
 
 "Then must ye tell me your name," said Launcelot, 
 " and of what kin ye be born." 
 
 " Sir, so that ye will not discover me I shall," said Beau- 
 mains. 
 
 "Nay," said Sir Launcelot, "and that I promise you 
 by the faith of my body, until it be openly known." 
 
 " Then, Sir," he said, " my name is Gareth, and brother 
 unto Sir Gawaine, of father and mother." 
 
 "Ah! Sir," said Launcelot, "I am more gladder of you 
 than I was, for ever me thought ye should be of great 
 blood, and that ye came not to the court neither for meat 
 nor for drink." 
 
 And then Sir Launcelot gave him the order of knight- 
 hood. And then Sir Gareth prayed him for to depart, 
 and let him go. So Sir Launcelot departed from him and 
 came to Sir Kay, and made him to be borne home upon
 
 Of Sir Gareth of Orkney. 105 
 
 his shield, and so he was healed hard with the life, and all 
 men scorned Sir Kay, and in especial Sir Gawaine and 
 Sir Launcelot said it was not his part to rebuke [any] 
 young man, for full little knew he of what birth he is 
 come, and for what cause he came to this court And so 
 we leave off Sir Kay and turn we unto Beaumains. When 
 he had overtaken the damsel anon she said, " What dost 
 thou here ? thou stinkest all of the kitchen, thy clothes 
 be foul of the grease and tallow that thou gainedst in 
 King Arthur's kitchen ; weenest thou," said she, " that I 
 allow thee for yonder knight that thou killedst ? Nay truly, 
 for thou slewest him unhappily and cowardly, therefore 
 return again, kitchen page, I know thee well, for Sir Kay 
 named thee Beaumains. What art thou but a turner of 
 broaches and a washer of dishes ! " 
 
 "Damsel," said Sir Beaumains, "say to me what ye 
 list, I will not go from you whatsoever ye say, for I have 
 undertaken of King Arthur for to achieve your adventure, 
 and I shall finish it to the end, or I shall die therefore." 
 
 "Fie on thee, kitchen knave. Wflt thou finish mine 
 adventure ? thou shalt anon be met withal, that thou 
 wouldest not, for all the broth that ever thou suppest, once 
 look him in the face." 
 
 " I shall assay," said Beaumains. So as they thus rode 
 In the wood, there came a man flying all that he might. 
 
 " Whither wilt thou ? said Beaumains. 
 
 "O lord," said he, "help me, for hereby in a slade 
 are six thieves which have taken my lord and bound 
 him, and I am afraid lest they will slay him." 
 
 "Bring me thither," said Sir Beaumains. 
 
 And so they rode together till they came there as the 
 knight was bound ; and then he rode unto the thieves, and 
 struck one at the first stroke to death, and then another,
 
 ro6 The Boy's King Arthur. 
 
 and at the third stroke he slew the third thief ; and ther 
 the other three fled, and he rode after and overtook them, 
 and then those three thieves turned again and hard as- 
 sailed Sir Beaumains ; but at the last he slew them ; and 
 then returned and unbound the knight. And the knight 
 thanked him, and prayed him to ride with him to his castle 
 there a little beside, and he should worshipfully reward 
 him for his good deeds. 
 
 " Sir," said Sir Beaumains, " I will no reward have ; I 
 was this day made knight of the noble Sir Launcelot, and 
 therefore I will have no reward, but God reward me. And 
 also I must follow this damsel." 
 
 And when he came nigh her, she bade him ride from 
 her, " for thou smellest all of the kitchen. Weenest thou 
 that I have joy of thee ? for all this deed that thou hast 
 done is but mishappened thee. But thou shalt see a sight 
 that shall make thee to turn again, and that lightly." 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 How SIR BEAUMAINS FOUGHT WITH THE KNIGHT OF THE BLACK LAWNS, 
 
 AND HE FOUGHT SO LONG WITH HIM THAT THE BLACK KNIGHT FELL 
 DOWN AND DIED. 
 
 f'T^HEN all the next day] this Beaumains rode with that 
 L i- lady till even-song time, and ever she chid him and 
 would not rest. And then they came to a black lawn, and 
 there was a black hawthorn, and thereon hung a black 
 banner, and on the other side there hung a black shield, 
 and by it stood a black spear and a long, and a great black 
 horse covered with silk, and a black stone fast by it. 
 There sat a knight all armed in black harness, and his
 
 Of Sir Gareth of Orkney. 107 
 
 name was the Knight of the Black Lawns. When the 
 damsel saw the black knight, she bade Sir Beaumains flee 
 down the valley, for his horse was not saddled. 
 
 " I thank you," said Sir Beaumains, "for always ye will 
 have me a coward." 
 
 With that the black knight came to the damsel, and 
 said, " Fair damsel, have ye brought this knight from King 
 Arthur's court to be your champion ? " 
 
 " Nay, fair knight," said she, " this is but a kitchen knave, 
 that hath been fed in King Arthur's kitchen for alms." 
 
 "Wherefore cometh he in such array ? " said the knight : 
 "it is great shame that he beareth you company." 
 
 " Sir, I cannot be delivered of him," said the damsel, 
 " for with me he rideth maugre \in spite of] mine head ; 
 would to God ye would put him from me, or else to slay 
 him if ye may, for he is an unhappy knave, and unhappy 
 hath he done to-day through misadventure ; for I saw him 
 slay two knights at the passage of the water, and other 
 deeds he did before right marvellous, and all through un- 
 happiness." 
 
 "That marvelleth me," said the black knight, "that any 
 man the which is of worship will have to do with him." 
 
 " Sir, they know him not," said the damsel, " and because 
 he rideth with me they think he is some man of worship 
 born." 
 
 "That may be," said the black knight, "howbeit, as ye 
 say that he be no man of worship, he is a full likely person, 
 and full like to be a strong man ; but thus much shall I 
 grant you," said the black knight, "I shall put him down 
 upon his feet, and his horse and his harness he shall 
 leave with me, for it were shame to me to do him any 
 more harm." 
 
 When Sir Beaumains heard him say thus, he said, " Sir
 
 io8 The Boy's King Arthur. 
 
 knight, thou art full liberal of my horse and my harness 
 I let thee wit it cost thee nought, and whether it liketh 
 thee or not this lawn will I pass, maugre thine head, and 
 horse nor harness gettest thou none of me, but if thou 
 win them with thy hands ; and therefore let see what thou 
 canst do." 
 
 " Sayst thou that ? " said the black knight, " now yield 
 thy lady from thee, for it beseemeth never a kitchen page 
 to ride with such a lady." 
 
 " Thou liest," said Beaumains, " I am a gentleman born, 
 and of more high lineage than thou, and that will I prove 
 on thy body." 
 
 Then in great wrath they departed with their horses, and 
 came together as it had been the thunder ; and the black 
 knight's spear brake, and Beaumains thrust him through 
 both his sides, and therewith his spear brake, and the 
 truncheon left still in his side. But nevertheless the 
 black knight drew his sword, and smote many eager 
 strokes and of great might, and hurt Beaumains full sore. 
 But at the last the black knight within an hour and a half 
 he fell down off his horse in a swoon, and there he died. 
 And then Beaumains saw him so well horsed and armed, 
 then he alighted down, and armed him in his armor, and 
 so took his horse, and rode after the damsel. When she 
 saw him come nigh, she said, "Away, kitchen knave, oul 
 of the wind, for the smell of thy foul clothes grieveth me. 
 Alas," she said, " that ever such a knave as thou art should 
 by mishap slay so good a knight as thou hast done, but all 
 this is thine unhappiness. But hereby is one shall pay 
 thee all thy payment, and therefore yet I counsel thee, 
 flee." 
 
 "It may happen me," said Beaumains, "to be beaten or 
 slain, but I warn you, fair damsel, I will not flee away for
 
 Of Sir Gareth of Orkney. 109 
 
 him, nor leave your company for all that ye can say ; fot 
 ever ye say that they slay me or beat me, but how soever 
 it happeneth I escape, and they lie on the ground, and 
 therefore it were as good for you to hold you still, than 
 thus to rebuke me all day, for away will I not till I feel 
 *:he uttermost of this journey, or else I will be slain or 
 truly beaten ; therefore ride on your way, for follow you 
 I will, whatsoever happen." 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 How THE BROTHER OP THE KNIGHT THAT WAS SLAIN MET WITH Snt 
 BEAtntAiNs, AND FOUGHT WITH Snt BEAVMAINS, WHICH YIELDED HIM 
 
 AT THE LAST. 
 
 THUS as they rode together they saw a knight come 
 driving by them all in green, both his horse and his 
 harness, and when he came nigh the damsel he asked 
 of her, " Is that my brother, the black knight, that ye have 
 brought with you ? " 
 
 "Nay, nay," said she, "this unhappy kitchen knave hath 
 slain your brother through unhappiness." 
 
 " Alas ! " said the green knight, " that is great pity that 
 so noble a knight as he was should so unhappily be slain, 
 and namely of a knave's hand, as ye say he is. Ah, 
 traitor ! " said the green knight, " thou shalt die for slay- 
 irg of my brother; he was a full noble knight, and his 
 nime was Sir Periard." 
 
 "I defy thee," said Sir Beaumains, "for I let thee to 
 wit I slew him knightly, and not shamefully." 
 
 Therewithal the green knight rode unto an horn that 
 was gre*n, and it hung upon a thorn, and there he blew
 
 no The Boy's King Arthur. 
 
 three deadly notes, and there came three damsels that 
 lightly armed him. And then took he a great horse, and 
 a green shield and a green spear. And then they ran 
 together with all their mights, and brake their spears unto 
 their hands. And then they drew their swords, and gave 
 many sad strokes, and either of them wounded other full 
 ill. And at the last at an overthwart Beaumains' horse 
 struck the green knight's horse upon the side [that] he fell 
 to the earth. And then the green knight avoided his horse 
 lightly, and dressed him upon foot. That saw Btaumains, 
 and therewithal he alighted, and they rushed together like 
 two mighty champions a long while, and sore they bUd 
 both. With that came the damsel and said, " My lord ti ie 
 green knight, why for shame stand ye so long fighth: * 
 with the kitchen knave ? Alas, it is shame that ever \ 
 were made knight, to see such a lad match such a knighl 
 as the weed overgrew the corn." 
 
 Therewith the green knight was ashamed, and there 
 withal he gave a great stroke of might, and clave hi* 
 shield through. When Beaumains saw his shield cloven 
 asunder he was a little ashamed of that stroke, and of hei 
 language ; and then he gave him such a buffet upon the 
 helm that he fell on his knees ; and so suddenly Beau- 
 mains pulled him upon the ground grovelling. And then 
 the green knight cried him mercy, and yielded him unto 
 Sir Beaumains, and prayed him to slay him not. 
 
 " All is in vain," said Beaumains, " for thou shalt die, 
 but if this damsel that came with me pray me to save thy 
 life." 
 
 And therewithal he unlaced his helm, like as he would 
 slay him. 
 
 " Fie upon thee, false kitchen page, I will never pray 
 thee to save his life, for I never will be so much in thy 
 danger."
 
 Of Sir Gareth of Orkney. in 
 
 " Then shall he die," said Beaumains. 
 
 "Not so hardy, thou foul knave," said the damsel, "that 
 thou slay him." 
 
 " Alas," said the green knight, " suffer me not to die, 
 for a fair word may save my life, O fair knight," said the 
 green knight, " save my life, and I will forgive the death 
 of my brother, and forever to become thy man, and thirty 
 knights that hold of me forever shall do you service." 
 
 Said the damsel, "That such a kitchen knave should 
 have thee and thirty knights' service ! " 
 
 " Sir knight," said Sir Beaumains, " all this availeth not, 
 but if my damsel speak with me for thy life," 
 
 And therewithal he made resemblance to slay him. 
 
 " Let be," said the damsel, " thou knave, slay him not, 
 for if thou do, thou shalt repent it." 
 
 "Damsel," said Sir Beaumains, "your charge is to me 
 a pleasure, and at your commandment his life shall be 
 saved, and else not" 
 
 Then he said, " Sir knight with the green arms, I release 
 thee quit [acquitted} at this damsel's request, for I will not 
 make her wroth, I will fulfil all that she chargeth me." 
 
 And then the green knight kneeled down and did him 
 homage with his sword. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 How THE DAMSEL ALWAYS REBUKED SIR BEAUMAINS, AND WOULD NOT 
 
 SUFFER HIM TO SIT AT HER TABLE, BUT CALLED HIM KjTCHEN PACK. 
 
 AND always the damsel rebuked Sir Beaumains. And 
 so that night they went unto rest, and all that night 
 v be green knight commanded thirty knights privily to
 
 ii2 The, Boy's King Arthur. 
 
 watch Beaumains, for to keep him from all treason. And 
 so on the morn they all arose, and heard their mass and 
 brake their fast, and then they took their horses and 
 rode on their way, and the green knight conveyed them 
 through the forest, and there the green knight said, "My 
 lord Beaumains, I and these thirty knights shall be alway 
 at your summons, both early and late, at your calling, and 
 where that ever ye will send us." 
 
 "It is well said," said Beaumains; "when that I call 
 upon you ye must yield you unto King Arthur and all 
 your knights." 
 
 " If that ye so command us, we shall be ready at all 
 times," said the green knight. 
 
 " Fie, fie upon thee," said the damsel, " that any good 
 knights should be obedient unto a kitchen knave." 
 
 So then departed the green knight and the damsel. 
 And then she said unto Beaumains, " Why followest thou 
 me, thou kitchen boy, cast away thy shield and thy spear 
 and flee away, yet I counsel thee betimes, or thou shalt 
 say right soon, Alas ! " 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 HOW SIR BEAUMAINg SUFFERED GREAT REBUKES OF THE DAMSEL, AND 
 HE SUFFERED IT PATIENTLY. 
 
 DAMSEL," said Sir Beaumains, " ye are uncourteous 
 so to rebuke me as ye do, for meseemeth I have 
 done you great service, and ever ye threaten me for I 
 shall be beaten with knights that we meet, but ever for all 
 your boast they lie in the dust or in the mire, and there- 
 fore I pray you rebuke me no more ; and when ye see me
 
 Of Sir Gareth of Orkney. 113 
 
 beaten or yielden as recreant, then may ye bid me go from 
 you shamefully, but first I let you wit I will not depart 
 from you, for I were worse than a fool and I would depart 
 from you all the while that I win worship." 
 
 "Well," said she, "right soon there shall meet a knight 
 shall pay thee all thy wages, for he is the most man ol 
 worship of the world, except King Arthur." 
 
 "I will well," said Beaumains ; "the more he is of wor- 
 ship the more shall be my worship to have ado with him." 
 
 Then anon they were ware where was before them a 
 city rich and fair. And betwixt them and the city a mile 
 and a half there was a fair meadow that seemed new 
 mown, and therein were many pavilions fair to behold. 
 
 " Lo," said the damsel, "yonder is a lord that owneth 
 yonder city, and his custom is when the weather is fair to 
 lie in this meadow to joust and tourney ; and ever there 
 be about him five hundred knights and gentlemen of arms, 
 and there be all manner of games that any gentleman can 
 devise." 
 
 "That goodly lord," said Beaumains, "would I fain see." 
 
 "Thou shalt see him time enough," said the damseL 
 
 And so as she rode near she espied the pavilion where 
 he was. 
 
 *Lo," said she, "seest thou yonder pavilion, that is all 
 of the colorjjfjnde, and all manner of thing that there is 
 about, men and women, and horses trapped, shields and 
 spears, all of the color of Inde, and his name is Sir Per- 
 sant of Inde, the most lordliest knight that ever thou 
 lookedest on." 
 
 " It may well be," said Beaumains, "but be he never so 
 stout a knight, in this field I shall abide till that I see him 
 under his shield." 
 
 "Ah, fool," said she, "thou were better flee betimes."
 
 U4 The Boy's King Arthur. 
 
 " Why," said Beaumains, " and he be such a knight as 
 ye make him, he will not set upon me with all his men, or 
 with his five hundred knights. For and there come no 
 more but one at once, I shall him not fail whilst my life 
 lasteth. ' 
 
 "Fie, fie," said the damsel, "that ever such a dirty 
 knave should blow such a boast." 
 
 "Damsel," he said, "ye are to blame so to rebuke me, 
 for I had liever do five battles than so to be rebuked ; let 
 him come, and then let him do his worst." 
 
 " Sir," she said, " I marvel what thou art, and of what 
 kin thou art come : boldly thou speakest, and boldly thou 
 has done, that have I seen : therefore I pray thee save 
 thyself and thou mayest, for thy horse and thou have had 
 great travail, and I dread we dwell over long from the 
 siege, for it is but hence seven mile, and all perilous pass- 
 ages we are past, save all only this passage, and here I 
 dread me sore lest ye shall catch some hurt, therefore 
 I would ye were hence, that ye were not bruised nor hurt 
 with this strong knight. But I let you wit this Sir Per- 
 sant of Inde is nothing of might nor strength unto the 
 knight that laid the siege about my lady." 
 
 " As for that," said Sir Beaumains, " be it as it may ; 
 for since I am come so nigh this knight I will prove his 
 might or [ere] I depart from him, and else I shall be 
 shamed and [if] I now withdraw me from him. And 
 therefore, damsel, have ye no doubt by the grace of God I 
 shall so deal with this knight, that within two hours after 
 noon I shall deliver him, and then shall we come to the 
 siege by daylight." 
 
 "Oh, mercy, marvel have I," said the damsel, "what 
 manner a man ye be, for it may never be otherwise but that 
 ye be come of a noble blood, for so foul and shamefully did
 
 Of Sir Garetk of Orkney. 115 
 
 never woman rule a knight as I have done yon, and ever 
 courteously ye have suffered me, and that came never hut 
 of a gentle blood." 
 
 "Damsel,*' said Beaumains, "a knight may little do that 
 may not suffer a damsel ; for whatsoever ye said unto me 
 I took none heed to your words, for the more ye said the 
 more ye angered me, and my wrath I wreaked upon them 
 that I had ado withaL And therefore all the missaying 
 that ye missayed me furthered me in my battle, and caused 
 me to think to show and prove myself at the end what I 
 w as ; for peradventure though I had meat in King Arthur's 
 kitchen, yet I might have had meat enough in other 
 places ; but all that I did for to prove my friends ; and 
 whether I be a gentleman born or no, fair damsel, I have 
 done you gentleman's service, and peradventure better 
 sen-ice yet will I do you or \before\ I depart from you," 
 
 "Alas," said she, "fair Beaumains, forgive me all that I 
 have missaid and misdone against you," 
 
 "With all my heart," said Sir Beaumains, "I forgive it 
 you, for ye did nothing but as ye ought to do, for all your 
 evfl words pleased me ; and, damsel," said Sir Beaumains, 
 "sith \sixce\ it liketh you to speak thus fair to me, wit ye 
 well it gladdeth greatly mine heart ; and now meseemeth 
 there is no knight living but I am able enough for him." 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 How Six BxATOfAncs VOOGKT WITH Snt PnsAirr or IXDB, AMD MABB 
 
 TT7ITH this Sir Persant of Inde had espied them, as 
 
 V V they hoved \kovercd\ in the field, and knightly he 
 
 sent to them to know whether he came in war or in peace,
 
 ii6 The Boy's King Arthur. 
 
 " Say unto thy lord," said Sir Beaumains, " I take no 
 force, 1 but whether as him list 2 himself." 
 
 So the messenger went again unto Sir Persant, and 
 told him all his answer. 
 
 "Well," said he, "then will I have ado with him to the 
 uttermost;" and so he purveyed him [prepared himself ], 
 and rode against him. And when Sir Beaumains saw him, 
 he made him ready, and there they met with all the might 
 that their horses might run, and brake their spears either 
 in three pieces, and their horses rashed so together that 
 both their horses fell dead to the earth ; and lightly they 
 avoided their horses, and put their shields before them, 
 and drew their swords, and gave each other many great 
 strokes, that sometime they so hurled together that they 
 fell both grovelling on the ground. Thus they fought two 
 hours and more, that their shields and their hauberks 
 were all forhewen [hewn to pieces] and in many places they 
 were sore wounded. So at the last Sir Beaumains smote 
 him through the cost [rib part] of the body, and then he 
 retrayed him [drew back] here and there, and knightly 
 maintained his battle long time. And at the last Sir 
 Beaumains smote Sir Persant on the helm that he fell 
 grovelling to the earth, and then he leaped overthwart 
 [across] upon him, and unlaced his helm for to have slain 
 him. Then Sir Persant yielded him, and asked him 
 mercy. With that came the damsel and prayed him to 
 save his life. 
 
 "I will well," said Sir Beaumains, "for it were pity that 
 this noble knight should die." 
 
 "Gramercy," said Sir Persant, "gentle knight and 
 damsel, for certainly now I know well it was you that slew 
 the black knight my brother at the blackthorn ; he was a 
 
 1 " I take no force," I care not. " Him list," he wishes, he please,.
 
 Of Sir Gareth of Orkney. 117 
 
 full noble knight, his name was Sir Periard. Also I am 
 sure that ye are he that won mine other brother the green 
 knight: his name was Sir Pertolope, Also ye won the 
 red knight, my brother, Sir Perimones. And now, sit, 
 sith ye have won these knights, this shall I do for to please 
 you : ye shall have homage and fealty of me, and an hun- 
 dred knights to be always at your command, to go ani 
 ride where ye will command us." 
 
 And so they went unto Sir Persant's pavilion, and there 
 he drank wine and eat spices. And aftenvard Sir Per- 
 sant made him to rest upon a bed till it was supper time, 
 and after supper to bed again. And so we leave him there 
 till On the morrow. 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 How THE DAMSEL AND BEAUMAINS CAMS TO THE SIEGE, AND CAME TO 
 A SYCAMORE TREE, AND THERE BEAUMAINS BLEW A HORN, AND THEN 
 THE KNIGHT OF THE RED LAWNS CAME TO FIGHT WITH HIM. 
 
 NOW leave we the knight and the dwarf, and speak we 
 of Beaumains, that all night lay in the hermitage, 
 and upon the morn he and the damsel Linet heard their 
 uiss, and brake their fast. And then they took their 
 horses and rode throughout a fair forest, and then they 
 came to a plain, and saw where were many pavilions and 
 tents, and a fair castle, and there was much smoke and 
 great noise. And when they came near the siege Sir 
 Beaumains espied upon great trees, as he rode, how there 
 hung full goodly armed knights by the neck, and their 
 shields about their necks with their swords, and gilt spurs 
 upon their heels, and so there hung shamefully nigh forty
 
 u8 The Boy's King Arthur. 
 
 knights with rich arms. Then Sir Beaumains abated his 
 countenance, and said, " What thing meaneth this ? " 
 
 "Fair sir," saith the damsel, "abate not your cheer for 
 all this sight, for ye must encourage yourself, or dse ye 
 be all shent [ruined], for all these knights came hithei 
 unto this siege to rescue my sister dame Lyoness, and 
 when the red knight of the red lawns had overcome them, 
 he put them to this shameful death, without mercy and 
 pity, and in the same wise he will serve you, but if ye quit 
 [acquit] you the better." 
 
 " Now Jesu defend me," said Sir Beaumains, " from such 
 a villanous death and shenship [disgrace] of arms ! for 
 rather than thus I should fare withal, I would rather be 
 slain manfully in plain battle." 
 
 "So were ye better," said the damsel, "trust not in 
 him, for in him is no courtesy, but all goeth to the death 
 or shameful murder, and that is great pity, for he is a full 
 likely man and well made of body, and a full noble knight 
 of prowess, and a lord of great lands and possessions." 
 
 " Truly," said Sir Beaumains, " he may well be a good 
 knight, but he useth shameful customs, and it is great 
 marvel that he endureth so long, that none of the noble 
 knights of my lord King Arthur's court have not dealt 
 with him." 
 
 And then they rode unto the ditches, and saw them 
 double ditched with full strong walls, and there were 
 lodged many great estates and lords nigh the walls, and 
 there was great noise of minstrels, and the sea beat upon 
 the one side of the walls, where as were many ships and 
 manners' noise with hale and how. 1 And also there was 
 fast by a sycamore tree, and thereon hung an horn, the 
 greatest that ever they saw, of an elephant's bone. 
 
 1 "Hale and how," haul and ho: the sailors' cries in hoisting away, &&
 
 Of Sir Gareth of Orkney. 119 
 
 "And this knight of the red lawns hath hanged it up 
 there, that if there come any errant knight, he must blew 
 that horn, and then will he make him ready, and come to 
 him to do battle. But sir, I pray you," said the damsel 
 Linet, " blow ye not the horn till it be high noon, for now 
 it is about prime, and now increaseth his might, that, as 
 men say, he hath seven men's strength." 
 
 " Ah, fie for shame, fair damsel, say ye never so more 
 to me, for, and he were as good a knight as ever was, I 
 shall never fail him in his most might, for either I will 
 win worship worshipfully, or die knightly in the field." 
 
 And therewith he spurred his horse straight to the 
 sycamore tree and blew the horn so eagerly that all the 
 siege and the castle rang thereof. And then there leaped 
 out knights out of their tents and pavilions, and they 
 within the castle looked over the walls and out at win- 
 dows. Then the red knight of the red lawns armed him 
 hastily, and two barons set on his spurs upon his heels, 
 and all was blood-red, his armor, spear, and shield. And 
 an earl buckled his helm upon his head, and then they 
 brought him a red spear and a red steed, and so he rode 
 into a little vale under the castle, that all that were in the 
 castle and at the siege might behold the battle. 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 How THE Two KNIGHTS MET TOGETHER, AND OF THEIR TALKING, AHB 
 
 HOW THEY BEGAN THEIR BATTLE. 
 
 SIR," said the damsel Linet unto Sir Beaumains, "look 
 ye be glad and light, for yonder is your deadly enemy, 
 and at yonder window is my lady my sister, dame Lyoness."
 
 I2O TJie Boy's King Arthur. 
 
 " Where ? " said Beaumains. 
 
 "Yonder," said the damsel, and pointed with her finger 
 
 " That is truth," said Beaumains. " She secmeth afar 
 the fairest lady that ever I looked upon, and truly," he 
 said, " I ask no better quarrel than now for to do battle, 
 for truly she shall be my lady, and for her I will fight." 
 
 And ever he looked up to the window with glad coun- 
 tenance. And the lady Lyoness made courtesy to him 
 down to the earth, with holding up both her hands. 
 With that the red knight of the red lawns called to 
 Sir Beaumains, "Leave, sir knight, thy looking, and 
 behold me, I counsel thee, for I warn thee well she is 
 my lady, and for her I have done many strong battles." 
 
 " If thou have so done," said Beaumains, " meseemeth 
 it was but waste labor, for she loveth none of thy fellow- 
 ship, and thou to love that loveth not thee, is a great folly. 
 For if I understood that she were not glad of my coming, 
 I would be advised or I did battle for her, but I understand 
 by the besieging of this castle she may forbear thy com- 
 pany. And therefore wit thou well, thou red knight of 
 the red lawns, I love her and will rescue her, or else die 
 in the quarrel." 
 
 "Sayst thou that ?" said the red knight ; "me seemeth 
 thou ought of reason to beware by yonder knights that 
 thou sawest hang upon yonder great elms." 
 
 " Fie, fie, for shame," said Sir Beaumains, " that ever 
 thou shouldest say or do so evil and such shamefulness, 
 for in that thou shamest thyself and the order of knight- 
 hood, and thou mayst be sure there will no lady love thee 
 that knoweth thy detestable customs. And now thou 
 weenest \thinkesi\ that the sight of these hanged knights 
 should fear \scare\ me and make me aghast, nay truly not 
 so, that shameful sight causeth me to have courage and
 
 Of Sir Gareth of Orkney. 121 
 
 hardiness against thee, more than I would have had against 
 thee and if thou be a well ruled knight" 
 
 "Make thee ready," said the red knight of the red 
 lawns, "and talk no longer with me." 
 
 Then Sir Beauraains bade the damsel go from him, and 
 then they put their spears in their rests, and came together 
 with all the might they had, and either smote other in 
 the midst of their shields, that the paytrels [breastplates], 
 surcingles, and cruppers burst, and fell both to the ground 
 with the reins of their bridles in their hands, and so they 
 lay a great while sore astonied, and all they that were in the 
 castle and at the siege wend \tJioughi\ their necks had been 
 broken, and then many a stranger and other said that the 
 strange knight was a big man and a noble j ouster, "for 
 or [ere] now we saw never no knight match the red knight 
 of the red lawns ; " thus they said both within the castle 
 and without. Then they lightly avoided their horses and 
 put their shields afore them, and drew their swords and 
 ran together like two fierce lions, and either gave other 
 such buffets upon their helms that they reeled both back- 
 ward two strides ; and then they recovered both, and 
 hewed great pieces from their harness and their shields 
 that a great part fell in the fields. 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 How AFTE* Lose FIGHTING BEAUMAINS OVERCAME THX KNIGHT, AND 
 
 WOULD HAVE SLAIN HIM, EOT AT THE REQUEST OF THE LORDS HI 
 SAVED HIS LIFE, AND MADE HIM TO YIELD HIM TO THE LADY. 
 
 AND then thus they fought till it was past noon and 
 never would stint till at last they lacked wind both, 
 and then they stood wagging and scattering, panting,
 
 122 The Boy' s King Artnur. 
 
 blowing and bleeding, that all that beheld them for the 
 most part wept for pity. So when they had rested them 
 a while they went to battle again, tracing, racing, foining 
 [feinting], as two boars. And at some time they took 
 their run as it had been two rams, and hurtled together 
 that sometimes they fell grovelling to the earth ; and at 
 sometime they were so amazed that either took other's 
 sword instead of his own. 
 
 Thus they endured till even-song time [vespers], that 
 there was none that beheld them might know whether was 
 like to win the battle ; and their armor was so far hewn 
 that men might see their naked sides, and in other places 
 they were naked, but ever the naked places they did de- 
 fend. And the red knight was a wily knight of war, an$ 
 his wily fighting taught Sir Beaumains to be wise ; but 
 he abought [paid for] it full sore ere he did espy his fight 
 ing. And thus by assent of them both, they grantet 
 either other to rest ; and so they set them down upon twc 
 mole-hills there beside the fighting place, and either ol 
 them unlaced his helm, and took the cold wind, for either 
 of their pages was fast by them, to come when they called 
 to unlace their harness and to set it on again at their 
 command. And then when Sir Beaumains' helm was off, 
 he looked up unto the window, and there he saw the fair 
 lady dame Lyoness. And she made to him such count e 
 nance that his heart was light and joyful. And therewith 
 he started up suddenly, and bade the red knight make 
 hirr. ready to do the battle to the uttermost. 
 
 " I will well," said the red knight. 
 
 And then they laced up their helms, and their pages 
 avoided [got out of the way], and they stepped together 
 and fought freshly. But the red knight of the red lawns 
 awaited him, and at an overthwart [crosswise] smote him
 
 Of Sir Garcth of Orkney. 123 
 
 within the hand, that his sword fell out ot his hand; 
 and yet he gave him another buffet on the helm that he 
 fell grovelling to the earth, and the red knight fell over 
 him for to hold him down. 
 
 Then cried the maiden Linet on high, "O Sir Bean- 
 mains, where is thy courage become ! Alas, my lady my 
 sister beholdeth thee, and she sobbeth and weepeth, that 
 maketh mine heart heavy." 
 
 When Sir Beaumains heard her say so, he started up 
 with a great might and gat him upon his feet, and lightly 
 he leaped to his sword and griped it in his hand, and 
 doubled his pace unto the red knight, and there they 
 fought a new battle together. But Sir Beaumains then 
 doubled his strokes, and smote so thick that he smote 
 the sword out of his hand, and then he smote him upon 
 the helm that he fell to the earth, and Sir Beaumains fell 
 upon him, and unlaced his helm to have slain him ; and 
 then he yielded him and asked mercy, and said with a 
 loud voice, " O noble knight, I yield me to thy mercy." 
 
 Then Sir Beaumains bethought him upon the knights 
 that he had made to be hanged shamefully, and then he 
 said, " I may not with my worship save thy life, for the 
 shameful deaths thou hast caused many full good i^gfct 
 to die." 
 
 " Sir," said the red knight of the red lawns, "hold your 
 hand, and ye shall know the causes why I put them to so 
 shameful a death." 
 
 " Say on," said Sir Beaumains. 
 
 "Sir, I loved once a lady, a fair damsel, and she had 
 her brother slain, and she said it was Sir Launcelot du 
 Lake, or else Sir Gawaine, and she prayed me as that I 
 loved her heartily that I would make her a promise by 
 the faith of my knighthood for to labor daily in arms
 
 124 Th e Boy's King Arthur. 
 
 until I met with one of them, and all that I might over- 
 come I should put them unto a villanous death ; and this 
 is the cause that I have put all these knights to death, 
 and so I ensured her to do all the villany unto King 
 Arthur's knights, and that I should take vengeance upon 
 all these knights. And, sir, now I will thee tell that 
 every day my strength increaseth till noon, and all this 
 time have I seven men's strength." 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 How THE KNIGHT YIELDED HIM, AND HOW BEAUMATNS MADE HIM TO 
 GO UNTO KING ARTHUR'S COURT, AND TO CRY SIR LAUNCELOT MERCY. 
 
 THEN came there many earls, and barons, and noble 
 knights, and prayed that knight to save his life, and 
 take him to your prisoner: and all they fell upon their 
 knees and prayed him of mercy, and that he would save 
 his life, and, " Sir," they all said, " it were fairer of him to 
 take homage and fealty, and let him hold his lands of you, 
 than for to slay him : by his death ye shall have none 
 advantage, and his misdeeds that be done may not be 
 undone ; and therefore he shall make amends to all 
 parties, and we all will become your men, and do you 
 homage and fealty." 
 
 " Fair lords," said Beaumains, " wit you well I am full 
 loth to slay this knight, nevertheless he hath done passing 
 ill and shamefully. But insomuch all that he did was at a 
 lady's request, I blame him the less, and so for your sake 
 I will release him, that he shall have his life upon this 
 covenant, that he go within the castle and yield him 
 there to the lady, and if she will forgive and quit \acqui f\
 
 Of Sir Gareth of Orkney. 125 
 
 him, I will well; with this that be make her amends of 
 all the trespass he hath done against her and her lands. 
 And also, when that is done, that ye go unto the court of 
 King Arthur, and there that ye ask Sir Launcelot mercy, 
 and Sir Gawaine, for the evil will ye have had against 
 them." 
 
 "Sir," said the red knight of the red lawns, "all this 
 will I do as ye command, and certain assurance and 
 sureties ye shall hare." 
 
 And so then when the assurance was made, he made 
 his homage and fealty, and all those earls and barons with 
 him. And then the maiden Linet came to Sir Beaumains 
 and unarmed him, and searched his wounds, and stinted 
 his blood, and in likewise she did to the red knight of 
 the red lawns. And so they sojourned ten days in their 
 tents. And the red knight made his lords and servants 
 to do all the pleasure that they might unto Sir Beaumains. 
 
 And within a while after, the red knight of the red 
 lawns went unto the castle and put him in the lady 
 Lyoness* grace, and so she received him upon sufficient 
 sureties, and all her hurts were well restored of all that 
 she could complain. And then he departed and went 
 unto the court of King Arthur, and there openly the red 
 knight of the red lawns put him in the mercy of Sir 
 Launcelot and Sir Gawaine, and there he told openly 
 how he was overcome, and by whom, and also he told of 
 all the battles, from the beginning to the ending. 
 
 "Jesus, mercy," said King Arthur and Sir Gawaine, 
 * we marvel much of what blood he is come, for he is a 
 full noble knight." 
 
 "Have ye no marvel," said Sir Launcelot, -for ye shall 
 right well wit that he is come of a full noble blood, and, 
 as for his might and hardiness, there be but few now living 
 that is so mighty as he is and so noble of prowess."
 
 126 The Boy's King Arthur. 
 
 "It seemeth by you," said King Arthur, "that ye kno\v 
 his name, and from whence he is come, and of what blood 
 he is." 
 
 " I suppose I do so," said Sir Launceiot, " or else I 
 would not have given him the order of knighthood ; but 
 he gave me at that time such charge that I should never 
 discover him until he required me, or else it be known 
 openly by some other." 
 
 Now return we unto Sir Beaumains, which desired of 
 the damsel Linet that he might see her sister his lady. 
 
 " Sir," said she, " I would fain ye saw her." 
 
 Then Sir Beaumains armed him at all points, and tock 
 his horse and his spear, and rode straight to the castle. 
 And when he came to the gate, he found there many 
 men. armed, that pulled up the drawbridge and drew the 
 port close. Then marvelled he why they would not suffer 
 him to enter in. And then he looked up to the window, 
 and there he saw the fair lady dame Lyoness, that said 
 on high : " Go thy way, Sir Beaumains, for as yet thou 
 shalt not wholly have my love, until the time thou be 
 called one of the number of the worthy knights ; and 
 therefore go and labor in arms worshipfully these twelve 
 months, and then ye shall hear new tidings ; and perd 
 [per dieti, truly] a twelvemonth will be soon gone, and 
 trust you me, fair knight, I shall be true unto you, and 
 shall never betray you, but unto my death I shall love 
 you and none other." 
 
 And therewithal she turned her from the window. And 
 Sir Beaumains rode away from the castle in making great 
 moan and sorrow ; and so he rode here and there, and 
 wist not whither he rode, till it was dark night ; and then 
 it happened him to come to a poor man's house, and there 
 he was harbored all that night. But Sir Beaumains could
 
 Of Sir Garetk of Orkney. 127 
 
 have no rest, but wallowed and writhed for the love of the 
 lady of the castle. And so on the morrow he took his 
 horse and his armor, and rode till it was noon ; and then 
 he came unto a broad water, and thereby was a great lodge, 
 and there he alighted to sleep, and laid his head upon his 
 shield, and betook his horse to the dwarf, and commanded 
 him to watch all night. 
 
 Now turn we to the lady of the castle, that thought 
 much upon Sir Beaumains ; and then she called unto her 
 Sir Gringamor her brother, and prayed him in all manner, 
 as he loved her heartily, that he would ride after Sir Beau- 
 mains, "and ever have him in a wait [look after kim\ till 
 that ye may find him sleeping, for I am sure in his heavi- 
 ness he will alight down in some place and lie down to 
 sleep, and therefore have your watch upon him, and, in 
 the priviest wise {softest war} that ye can, take his dwarf 
 from him, and go your way with him as fast as ever ye 
 may or Sir Beaumains awake; for my sister Linet hath 
 showed me that the dwarf can tell of what kindred he is 
 come, and what his right name is ; and in the meanwhile 
 I and my sister will ride to your castle to await when ye 
 shall bring with you this dwarf, and then when ye have 
 brought him to your rastte, I will have him in examination 
 myself ; unto the time I know what his right name is, and 
 of what kindred he is come, shall I never be merry at my 
 
 "Sister," said Sir Gringamor, "all this shall be done 
 after your intent." And so he rode all the other day and 
 the night tin that he found Sir Beaumains lying by a 
 water, and his head upon his shield, for to sleep. And 
 then when he saw Sir Beaumains fast on sleep, he came 
 stilly stalking behind the dwarf, and plucked him fast 
 jnder his arm, and so he rode away with him as fast as
 
 128 The Boys King Arthur. 
 
 ever he might unto his own castle. But ever as he rode 
 with the dwarf toward his castle, he cried unto his lord 
 and prayed him of help. And therewith awoke Sir Beau- 
 mains, and up he leaped lightly, and saw where Sir Grin- 
 gamor rode his way with the dwarf, and so Sir Gringamor 
 rode out of his sight. 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 How SIR GARETH, OTHERWISE CALLED BEAUMAINS, CAME TO THE PRKS- 
 ENCE OF HIS LADY, AND HOW THEY TOOK ACQUAINTANCE, AND OP 
 THEIR LOVE. 
 
 THEN Sir Beaumains put on his helm anon, and 
 buckled his shield, and took his horse and rode after 
 him all that ever he might ride, through marshes and fields 
 and great dales, that many times his horse and he plunged 
 over the head in deep mires, for he knew not the way, but 
 he took the next [nearest] way in that woodness [madness} 
 that many times he was like to perish. [And so he came 
 following his dwarf to Sir Gringamor's castle. But afore- 
 time the lady Lyoness had come and had the dwarf in 
 examination ; and the dwarf had told the lady how that 
 Sir Beaumains was the son of a king, and how his mother 
 was sister to ' King Arthur, and how his right name was 
 Sir Gareth of Orkney.] 
 
 And as they sat thus talking, there came Sir Beaumains 
 at the gate with an angry countenance, and his sword 
 drawn in his hand, and cried aloud that all the castle 
 might hear it, saying, "Thou traitor, Sir Gringamor, 
 deliver me my dwarf again, or by the faith that I owe to 
 the order of knighthood, I shall do thee all the harm that 
 I can."
 
 Of Sir Gareth of Orkney. 129 
 
 Then Sir Gringamor looked out at a window, and said, 
 " Sir Gareth of Orkney, leave thy boasting words, for 
 thou gettest not thy dwarf again." 
 
 "Thou coward knight," said Sir Gareth, "bring him 
 with thee, and come and do battle with me, and win him, 
 and take him." 
 
 "So will I do," said Sir Gringamor, "and me list [if it 
 please me\ but for all thy great words thou gettest him 
 not." 
 
 "Ah, fair brother," said dame Lyoness, "I would he 
 had his dwarf again, for I would not he were wroth, for 
 now he hath told me all my desire I will no longer keep 
 the dwarf. And also, brother, he hath done much for me, 
 and delivered me from the red knight of the red lawns, 
 and therefore, brother, I owe him my service afore all 
 knights living ; and wit ye well I love him above all other 
 knights, and full fain would I speak with him, but in no 
 wise I would he wist what I were, but that I were another 
 strange lady." 
 
 "Well," said Sir Gringamor, "sith [since] that I know 
 your will, I will now obey unto him." 
 
 And therewithal he went down unto Sir Gareth, and 
 said, " Sir, I cry you mercy, and all that I have misdone 
 against your person I will amend it at your own will, and 
 therefore I pray you that you will alight, and take such 
 cheer as I can make you here in this castle." 
 
 " Shall I then have my dwarf again ? " said Sir Gareth. 
 
 " Yea, sir, and all the pleasure that I can make you, for 
 as soon as your dwarf told me what ye were and of what 
 blood that ye are come, and what noble deeds ye have 
 done in these marches [borders], then I repent me of 
 my deeds." 
 
 And then Sir Gareth alighted down from his horse, 
 and therewith came his dwart and took his horse.
 
 130 The Boy's King Arthur. 
 
 " O my fellow," said Sir Gareth, " IJiave had many evil 
 adventures for thy sake." 
 
 And so Sir Gringamor took him by the hand, and led 
 him into the hall, and there was Sir Gringamor's wife. 
 
 And then there came forth into the hall dame Lyoness 
 arrayed like a princess, and there she made him passing 
 good cheer, and he her again. And they had goodly 
 language and lovely countenance together. And Sir 
 Gareth many times thought in himself, "Would to God 
 that the lady of the Castle Perilous were so fair as she 
 is ! " There were all manner of games and plays, both of 
 dancing and leaping ; and ever the more Sir Gareth beheld 
 the lady, the more he loved her, and so he burned in love 
 that he was past himself in his understanding. And forth 
 toward night they went to supper, and Sir Gareth might 
 not eat, for his love was so hot that he wist not where he 
 was. All these looks Sir Gringamor espied, and after 
 supper he called his sister dame Lyoness unto a chamber, 
 and said : " Fair sister, I have well espied your countenance 
 between you and this knight, and I will, sister, that ye wit 
 that he is a full noble knight, and if ye can make him to 
 abide here, I will do to him all the pleasure that I can, for 
 and ye were better than ye be, ye were well bestowed upon 
 him." 
 
 " Fair brother," said dame Lyoness, " I understand well 
 that the knight is good, and come he is of a noble house ; 
 notwithstanding I will assay him better, for he hath had 
 great labor for my love, and hath passed many a dangerous 
 passage." 
 
 Right so Sir Gringamor went unto Sir Gareth, and 
 said : " Sir, make ye good cheer ; for wist [know] ye well 
 that she loveth you as well as ye do her, and better if 
 better may be."
 
 Of Sir Gareth of Orkney. 131 
 
 " And I wist thal^aid Sir Gareth, " there lived not a 
 gladder man than I would be," 
 
 " Upon my worship," said Sir Gringamor, " trust unto 
 my promise ; and as long as it liketh you ye shall sojourn 
 with me, and this lady shall be with us daily and nightly 
 to make you all the cheer that she can." 
 
 " I will well," said Sir Gareth, " for I have promised to 
 be nigh this country this twelvemonth. And well I am 
 sure King Arthur and other noble knights will find me 
 where that I am within this twelvemonth. For I shall be 
 sought and found, if that I be on live." 
 
 And then the noble knight Sir Gareth went unto the 
 dame Lyoness, which he then much loved, and kissed her 
 many times, and either made great joy of other. And 
 there she promised him her love, certainly to love him 
 and none other the days of her life. Then this lady, dame 
 Lyoness, by the assent of her brother, told Sir Gareth all 
 the truth what she was, and how she was the same lady 
 that he did battle for, and how she was lady of the Castle 
 Perilous. And there she told him how she caused her 
 brother to take away his dwarf, " For this cause, to know 
 the certainty what was your name, and of what kin ye 
 were come." 
 
 And then she let fetch before him Linet the damsel, 
 which had ridden with him many dreary ways. Then was 
 Sir Gareth more gladder than he was tofore. And then 
 they troth plight f each other to love, and never to fail 
 while their life lasted. 
 
 Troth," frw**, and" plight," W*K: " troth plight," vwtforfrwfii <***/
 
 132 The Boy's King Arthur. 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 How AT THE FEAST OF PENTECOST ALL THE KNIGHTS THAT SIR GARETH 
 
 HAD OVERCOME CAME AND YIELDED THEM UNTO KlNG ARTHUR. 
 
 NOW leave we off Sir Gareth there with Sir Gringamor 
 and his sisters, and return we unto King Arthur, that 
 at the next feast of Pentecost held his feast, and there 
 came the green knight with fifty knights, and they all 
 yielded them unto King Arthur. And after there came 
 the red knight his brother, and yielded him to King 
 Arthur, and threescore knights with him. Also there 
 came the blue knight, that was brother unto the other 
 two, with an hundred knights, and they all yielded them 
 unto King Arthur. The green knight's name was Sir 
 Pertolope, and the red knight's name was Sir Perimones, 
 and the blue knight's name was Sir Persant of Inde. 
 These three brethren told King Arthur how they were 
 overcome by a knight that a damsel had with her, and 
 called him Sir Beaumains. Said the king, " I marvel what 
 knight he is, and of what lineage he is come ; he was with 
 me a twelvemonth, and poorly ' and shamefully he was 
 fostered, and Sir Kay in scorn named him Beaumains." 
 
 Right as King Arthur stood so talking with these three 
 brethren, there came Sir Launcelot du Lake, and told the 
 king that there was come a goodly lord with five hundred 
 knights. Then the king went out of Carleon, for there 
 was the feast, and there came to him this lord, which 
 saluted the king in a good manner. 
 
 " What is your will ? " said King Arthur, " arid what is 
 your errand ? " 
 
 " Sir," said he, " I am called the red knight of the red
 
 Of Sir Gareth of Orkney. 133 
 
 lawns, but my name is Sir Ironside ; and, sir, ye shall wit 
 that here I am sent to you of a knight which is called Sir 
 Beaumains, for he won me in plain battle, hand for hand, 
 and so did never no knight but he this thirty winters, and 
 he charged and commanded me to yield me unto your 
 grace and wilL" 
 
 "Ye are welcome," said the king, "for ye have been 
 long a great foe to me and to my court, and now I trust 
 to God I shall so entreat you that ye shall be my friend." 
 
 " Sir, both I and these five hundred knights shall alway 
 be at your command, to do you service as much as lieth in 
 our power." 
 
 " Mercy ! " said King Arthur, " I am much beholding 
 [obliged] unto that knight, that hath so put his body in 
 devoir to worship * me and my court. Ironside, that art 
 called the red knight of the red lawns, thou art called a 
 precious knight ; if thou wilt hold of me I shall worship * 
 thee and make thee knight of the Round Table, but then 
 thou must be no more a murderer." 
 
 " Sir, as to that I have promised unto Sir Beaumains 
 never more to use such customs, for all the shameful 
 customs that I used I did at the request of a lady that I 
 loved ; and therefore I must go unto Sir Launcelot, and 
 unto Sir Gawaine, and ask them forgiveness of the evil 
 will I had unto them, for all that I put to death was all 
 only for the love of Sir Launcelot and Sir Gawaine." 
 
 "They be here now," said the king, "afore thee, now 
 may ye say to them what ye wflL" 
 
 And then he kneeled down unto Sir Launcelot and 
 to Sir Gawaine, and prayed them of forgiveness of his 
 enmity that ever he had against them. 
 
 1 Worship" is a contraction of wcrtk-sJuf. meaning worthiness, "To 
 worship me and my court," in King Arthurs pnrase, means to mate me 9*4 
 my court of more vo*f*-tki*, er txerm, among men.
 
 134 The Boy's King Arthur. 
 
 Then goodly they said all at once, " God forgive you, 
 and we do, and pray you that ye will tell us where we may 
 find Sir Beaumains." 
 
 " Fair lords," said Sir Ironside, " I cannot tell you, for it 
 is full hard to find him, for all such young knights as he is 
 one, when they be in their adventures be never abiding in 
 one place." But to say the worship that the red knight 
 of the red lawns and Sir Persant and his brothers said of 
 Beaumains it was marvel to hear. 
 
 "Well, my fair lords," said King Arthur, "wit you well 
 I shall do you honor for the love of Sir Beaumains, and as 
 soon as ever I meet with him I shall make you all upon 
 one day knights of the Table Round. And as to thee, Sir 
 Persant of Inde, thou hast ever been called a full noble 
 knight, and so have ever been thy three brethren called. 
 But I marvel," said the king, "that I hear not of the 
 black knight your brother, he was a full noble knight." 
 
 " Sir," said Pertolope the green knight, " Sir Beaumains 
 slew him in a rencounter with his spear, his name was Sir 
 Pereard." 
 
 "That was great pity," said the king, and so said many 
 knights moe [more]. For these four brethren were full 
 well known in the court of King Arthur for noble knights, 
 for long time they had holden war against the knights of 
 the Table Round. Then said Pertolope the green knight 
 unto the king: "At a passage of the water of Mortaise 
 there encountered Sir Beaumains with two brethren that 
 ever for the most part kept that passage, and they were 
 two deadly knights, and there he slew the eldest brother in 
 the water, and smote him upon the head such a buffet that 
 he fell down in the water and there he was drowned, and 
 his name was Gherard le Breusse : and after he slew the 
 other brother upon the land, and his name was Sir Arnold 
 le Breusse."
 
 Of Sir Gareth of Orkney. 135 
 
 CHAPTER XVIL 
 
 HOW THE QtTKEH OF OZKXEY CAME TO THIS FEAST OF PEXTKCOST, AXE 
 BQDIEED OF HEX SOX SlK GAEETH. 
 
 SO then the king and they went to meat, and were 
 served in the best manner. And as they sat at the 
 meat, there came in the Queen of Orkney, with a great 
 number of ladies and knights. And then Sir Gawaine 
 and Sir Agravaine and Sir Gaheris arose and went to her, 
 and saluted her upon then* knees, and asked her blessing, 
 for in the space of fifteen years they had not seen her. 
 Then she spake on high to her brother King Arthur, 
 ^"Where have ye done my young son Sir Gareth? He 
 was here among you a twelvemonth, and ye made a kitchen 
 knave of him, which is a great shame to you all Alas ! 
 where have ye done my dear son which was my joy and 
 bliss?" 
 
 "Oh, dear mother," said Sir Gawaine, "I knew him 
 not." 
 
 "Nor V said the king, "which me now sore repenteth, 
 out God be thanked he is proved a worshipful knight 
 as any is now living of his years, and I shall never be 
 glad till I may find him." 
 
 "Ah, brother," said the Queen of Orkney to King 
 Arthur, and to Sir Gawaine, and to her other two sons, 
 "ye did yourself a great shame when ye among you kept 
 my son Gareth in the kitchen and fed him like a poor 
 hog." 
 
 "Fan- sister," said King Arthur, "ye shall right well 
 wit that I knew him not, no more did Sir Gawaine nor his 
 brethren. But sith [since] it is so," said the king, "that
 
 136 The Boy's King Arthur. 
 
 he is thus gone from us all, we must seek a remedy to find 
 him. Also, sister, me seemeth ye might have done me to 
 wit r of his coming, and then if I had not done well to him, 
 ye might have blamed me. For when he came to this 
 court, he came leaning upon two men's shoulders, as 
 though he might not have gone ; and then he asked me 
 three gifts, and one he asked that same day, that was, 
 that I would give him meat enough for twelve months. 
 And the other two gifts he asked that same day twelve 
 months after, and that was that he might have the adven- 
 ture of the damsel Linet ; and the third was, that Sir 
 Launcelot should make him knight when he desired him ; 
 and so I granted him all his desire. And many in this 
 court marvelled that he desired his sustenance for twelve 
 months, and therefore we deemed many of us that he was 
 not come of a noble house." 
 
 " Sir," said the Queen of Orkney to her brother King 
 Arthur, " wit you well that I sent him unto you right well 
 armed and horsed, and worshipfully beseen of his body, 
 and gold and silver plenty to spend." 
 
 "It may be," said the king, "but thereof saw we none, 
 save that same day as he departed from us, knights told 
 me that there came a dwarf hither suddenly, and brought 
 him armor and a good horse, full well and richly beseen, 
 and thereat we had all marvel from whence that riches 
 came, that we deemed all that he was come of men of 
 worship." 
 
 "Brother," said the queen, "all that ye say I believe, 
 for ever since he was grown he was marvellously witted : 
 and ever he was faithful and true of his promise. But I 
 marvel," said she, "that Sir Kay did mock him and scorn 
 him, and gave him that name Beaumains ; yet Sir Kay 
 
 1 " Done me to wit." let me know.
 
 Of Sir Gareth of Orkney. 137 
 
 him more righteously than he wend; for I dare 
 say, and he be on live, he is as fair an handed man and 
 well disposed as any is living." 
 
 "Sister," said King Arthur, "let this language be still, 
 and by the grace of God he shall be found and he be within 
 these seven realms ; and let all this pass, and be merry, 
 for he is proved to be a man of worship, and that is to me 
 great joy." 
 
 CHAPTER XVIIL 
 
 How KING ARTHUR SECT FOR THK LADY LYOMESS, AND HOW Snt 
 GARETH ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THEY LOVED EACH OTHER TO KING 
 ARTHUR, AMD or THE DAY or THEIR WEDDING. 
 
 " I "HEN said Sir Gawaine and his brethren unto King 
 -*- Arthur : " Sir, and ye will give us leave, we will go 
 seek our brother." 
 
 "Nay," said Sir Launcelot, "that shall not need," and 
 so said Sir Bawdewine of Britain, " for as by our advice 
 the king shall send unto dame Lyoness a messenger, and 
 pray her that she will come to the king's court in all 
 the haste that she may, and I doubt not but that she will 
 come, and then she may give you the best counsel where 
 as ye shall find him." 
 
 "This is well said of you," quoth King Arthur. 
 
 So then goodly letters were made, and in all haste a 
 messenger was sent forth, that rode both night and day 
 till he came to the Castle Perilous. And then the lady 
 dame Lyoness was sent for there as she was with Sir 
 Gringamor her brother and Sir Gareth. And when she 
 understood this message, she bade the messenger to ride 
 on his way unto King Arthur, and she would come after
 
 138 The Boy's King Arthur. 
 
 in all the haste possible. Then when she came to Sir 
 Gringamor and Sir Gareth, she told them all how King 
 Arthur had sent for her. 
 
 [And then was let cry a tournament at the Castle 
 Perilous at the feast of Assumption Day next coming. 
 And on that day came knights from England, Wales and 
 Scotland, Ireland and Cornwall, and from the out isles, 
 and from Britain and many other countries, and tourneyed 
 with great honor and pleasure. And when they were all 
 healed of their wounds, and King Arthur was returned to 
 his court, then dame Lyoness made herself ready as lightly 
 as she might, and] came on the morrow with her brother 
 Sir Gringamor, and with her forty knights. And when 
 she was come, she had all the cheer that might be done, 
 both of King Arthur and of many other kings and 
 queens. 
 
 Among all these ladies was she named the fairest and 
 peerless. Then when Sir Gareth saw her, there were 
 many goodly looks and goodly words, that all men of 
 worship had joy to behold them. Then came King 
 Arthur and many other kings, and Queen Guenever and 
 the Queen of Orkney; and there the king asked his 
 nephew Sir Gareth whether he would have the lady to 
 his wife. 
 
 " My lord, wit you well that I love her above all ladies 
 living." 
 
 "Now, fair lady," said King Arthur unto her, "what 
 say ye?" 
 
 "Most noble king," said dame Lyoness, "wit you well 
 that my lord Sir Gareth is to me more liever [comparative 
 of lief} to have and weld [possess] as my husband, than 
 any king or prince christened, and if I may not have him, 
 I promise you I will never have none. For, my lord King
 
 Of Sir Gareth of Orkney. 139 
 
 Arthur," said dame Lyoness, "wit ye well he is my first 
 love, and he shall be the last, and if ye will suffer him to 
 have his will and free choice, I dare say he will have me." 
 
 "That is truth," said Sir Gareth, "and I have not you 
 and weld you as my wife, there shall never lady nor gentle- 
 woman rejoice me." 
 
 "What, nephew," said the king, "is the wind in that 
 door ? for wit ye well I would not for the stint [loss] of 
 my crown to be causer to withdraw your hearts, and I wit 
 ye well ye cannot love so well but I shall rather increase 
 it than distress. Also ye shall have my love and my 
 lordship in the uttermost wise that may lie in my power." 
 
 And the same wise said Sir Gareth's mother. Then 
 was there made a provision for the day of marriage, and 
 by the king's advice it was provided that it should be at 
 Michaelmas following, at King-Kenadon by the seaside, for 
 there is a plentiful country. And so it was cried in all 
 the places through the realm. And then Sir Gareth sent 
 nis summons unto all these knights and ladies that he 
 nad won in battle afore, that they should be at his day of 
 marriage at King-Kenadon by the sands. And then dame 
 Lyoness and the damsel Linet, with Sir Gringamor, rode 
 to their castle, and a goodly and a rich ring she gave to 
 Sir Gareth, and he gave her another. And King Arthur 
 gave her a rich [bracelet] of gold, and so she departed. 
 And King Arthur and his fellowship rode toward King- 
 Kenadon, and Sir Gareth brought his lady on the way, and 
 so came to the king again and rode with him. Oh, the 
 great cheer that Sir Launcelot made of Sir Gareth and he 
 of him ; for there was never no knight that Sir Gareth loved 
 so well as he did Sir Launcelot, and ever for the most 
 part he would be in Sir Launcelot's company ; for after 
 Sir Gareth had espied Sir Gawaine's conditions, he with-
 
 140 The Boy's King Arthur. 
 
 drew himself from his brother Sir Gawaine's fellowship, 
 for he was vengeable and unmerciful, and whereas [wher- 
 ever] he hated he would be avenged with murder and 
 treason, and that hated Sir Gareth. 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 OF THE GREAT ROYALTY AND WHAT OFFICERS WERE MADE AT THB 
 FEAST OF SIR GARETH AND DAME LYONESS' WEDDING, AND OF THK 
 GREAT JOUSTING AT THE SAME FEAST AND WEDDING. 
 
 SO it drew fast to Michaelmas, and thither came aame 
 Lyoness and her sister dame Linet, with Sir Gringa- 
 mor their brother with them, for he had the guiding of 
 those ladies. And there they were lodged at the devise 
 of King Arthur. And on Michaelmas Day the archbishop 
 of Canterbury made the wedding between Sir Gareth and 
 the lady Lyoness with great solemnity. And King 
 Arthur made Sir Gaheris to wed the damsel savage that 
 was dame Linet. And King Arthur made Sir Agravaine 
 to wed dame Lyoness' niece, a fair lady, her name was 
 dame Laurel. And so when this solemnization was done, 
 then there came in the green knight that hight [was 
 named} Sir Pertolope, with thirty knights, and there he 
 did homage and fealty unto Sir Gareth, and these knights 
 to hold of him for evermore. Also Sir Pertolope said, " 1 
 pray you that at this feast I may be your chamberlain." 
 
 " With a good will," said Sir Gareth, " sith it liketh you 
 to take so simple an office." 
 
 Then came in the red knight, with threescore knights 
 with him, and did to Sir Gareth homage and fealty, and 
 all those knights to hold of him for evermore, and then
 
 O/ Sir Gareth of Orkney. 141 
 
 Sir Perimones prayed Sir Gareth to grant him for to be 
 his chief butler at that high feast. 
 
 " I will well," said Sir Gareth, "that ye have this office, 
 and it were better." 
 
 Then came in Sir Persant of Inde, with an hundred 
 knights with him, and there he did homage and fealty 
 unto Sir Gareth, and all his knights should do him service 
 and hold their lands of him for evermore, and then he 
 prayed Sir Gareth to make him the chief sewer at the 
 feast. 
 
 "I will well," said Sir Gareth, "that ye have it, and it 
 were better." 
 
 Then came in the Duke de la Rowse with an hundred 
 knights with him, and there he did homage and fealty 
 unto Sir Gareth, and so to hold their lands of him for- 
 ever ; and he required Sir Gareth that he might serve him 
 of the wine that day at the feast. 
 
 "I will well," said Sir Gareth, "and it were better." 
 
 Then came in the red knight of the red lawns, that 
 was Sir Ironside, and he brought with him three hundred 
 knights, and there he did homage and fealty, and all these 
 knights to hold their lands of him forever, and then he 
 asked Sir Gareth to be his carver. 
 
 "I will well," said Sir Gareth, "and it please you." 
 
 Then came into the court thirty ladies, and all they 
 seemed widows, and those thirty ladies brought with them 
 many fair gentlewomen ; and all they kneeled down at 
 once unto King Arthur and to Sir Gareth, and there all 
 those ladies told the king how Sir Gareth had delivered 
 them from the Dolorous Tower, and slew the brown knight 
 without pity ; " and therefore we and our heirs for ever- 
 more will do homage unto Sir Gareth of Orkney." 
 
 1 " Sewer:" the sewer saw the dishes set on the table, and tasted them, 
 against harm to the master.
 
 142 The Boy's King Arthur. 
 
 So then the kings and queens, princes, earls and barons, 
 and many bold knights, went unto meat, and well may ye 
 wit that there was all manner of meat plenteously, all man- 
 ner revels and games, with all manner of minstrelsy that 
 was used in those days. Also there was great jousts three 
 days. But the king would not suffer Sir Gareth to joust 
 because of his new bride; for the French book saith 
 that dame Lyoness desired the king that none that were 
 wedded should joust at that feast. So the first day there 
 jousted Sir Lamorak de Galis, for he overthrew thirty 
 knights, and did passing marvellous deeds of arms. And 
 then King Arthur made Sir Persant of Inde and his two 
 brethren knights of the Round Table to their lives' end, 
 and gave them great lands. Also the second day there 
 jousted Tristram best, and he overthrew forty knights, 
 and did there marvellous deeds of arms. 
 
 And there King Arthur made Sir Ironside, that was the 
 red knight of the red lawns, a knight of the Round Table 
 unto his life's end, and gave him great lands. The third 
 day there jousted Sir Launcelot du Lake, and he over- 
 threw fifty knights, and did many marvellous deeds of 
 arms, that all men had great wonder of his noble deeds. 
 And there King Arthur made the Duke de la Rowse a 
 knight of the Round Table to his life's end, and gave him 
 great lands to spend. But when these jousts were done, 
 Sir Lamorak and Sir Tristram departed suddenly, and 
 would not be known, for the which King Arthur and ull 
 his court were sore displeased. And so they held the 
 feast forty days with great solemnity. And this Sir 
 Gareth was a full noble knight, and a well ruled, and 
 fair languaged. 
 
 Thus endeth the history of Sir Gareth of Orkney, that 
 wedded dame Lyoness of the Castle Perilous. And also
 
 Of Sir Garetk of Orkney. 143 
 
 Sir Gaheris wedded her sister dame T r mf > that was called 
 the damsel savage. And Sir Agravaine wedded dame 
 Laurel, a fair lady. And great and mighty lands with 
 great riches gave with them the noble King Arthur, that 
 royally they might five onto their fives' end.
 
 BOOK IV. 
 OF SIR TRISTRAM. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 How SIR TRISTRAM DE LYONESSE WAS BORN, AND HOW HIS MOTHM 
 
 DESIRED THAT HlS NAME SHOULD BE TRISTRAM. 1 
 
 THERE was a knight that hight Meliodas, and he 
 was lord and king of the country of Lyonesse, and 
 this King Meliodas was as likely a man as any was at that 
 time living. And by fortune he wedded King Mark's 
 sister of Cornwall, whose name was Elizabeth, and she 
 was a right fair lady and a good. 
 
 [And it befell on a day that a certain enchantress 
 wrought as he rode on hunting, for he was a great hunter, 
 and made him chase an hart by himself till that he came 
 to an old castle, and there she took him prisoner. Now 
 when Queen Elizabeth missed her husband King Meliodas, 
 she was nigh out of her wit ; and she took a gentlewoman 
 with her and ran far into the forest and took such cold 
 that she might not recover. And when she saw] that the 
 deep draughts of death took her, that needs she must die 
 and depart out of this world [and] there was none other 
 
 1 " Tristram," iroi& the Fre- ch tritte, meaning raj.
 
 Of Sir Tristram. 145 
 
 boot [aid, or kapf\, she made great moan and sorrow, and 
 said unto her gentlewoman : "When ye see my lord King 
 IfrfMMJas, recommend me onto him, and tell him what 
 pairs I endure for his love, and how I most die here for 
 hi* sake, and for default of good help, and let him wit 
 that I am foil sorry to depart out of this world from him, 
 therefore pray him to be good friend unto my souL And 
 I charge thee, gentlewoman, that thon beseech my lord 
 King Meliodas, that when my son shall be christened 
 let htm be nam^j Tristram, that is as much to say as 
 ouuwfol birth." 
 
 And therewithal this Queen Elizabeth gave np her 
 ghost, and died in the same place. Then the gentle- 
 woman laid her under the shadow of a great tree. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 ND it so happened that after seven years King 
 Meliodas took him a second wife, and wedded 
 King HowelTs daughter of Brittany. And the new 
 queen was jealous of young Tristram in the behalf of 
 her own children, and put poison for Tristram to drink. 
 But by strange hap her own son drank the poison and 
 died. Then again she put poison in some drink for 
 Tristram ; and] by fortune the King Meliodas her hus- 
 band found the piece \c*f>\ with the wine whereas the 
 poison was in, and he, that was most thirsty, took the 
 piece for to drink thereof, ard as he would have drunken
 
 146 The Boy's King Arthur. 
 
 thereof the queen espied him, and then she ran unto him 
 and pulled the piece from him suddenly. The king mar- 
 velled why she did so, and remembered him how her son 
 was suddenly slain with poison. And then he took her 
 by the hand, and thus said to her : " Thou false traitress, 
 thou shalt tell me what manner of drink this is, or else I 
 shall slay thee." And therewith he pulled out his sword, 
 and swore a great oath that he would slay her but if she 
 told him truth. 
 
 " Ah ! mercy, my lord," said she, " and I shall tell you 
 all." 
 
 And then she told him why that she would have slain 
 Tristram, because her children should rejoice the land. 
 
 "Well," said King Meliodas, "therefore shall ye have 
 the law." 
 
 And so she was damned \condemned~\ by the assent of 
 the barons to be burnt ; and then there was made a great 
 fire, and right as she was at the fire for to take her execu- 
 tion, young Tristram kneeled down before King Meliodas, 
 his father, and besought him to give him a boon. 
 
 " I will well," said the king. 
 
 Then said young Tristram, " Give me the life of your 
 queen, my stepmother." 
 
 "That is unrightfully asked," said his father, King 
 Meliodas, " for she would have slain thee with that poison 
 and she might have had her will, and for thy sake most is 
 my cause that she should die." 
 
 " Sir," said Tristram, " as for that I beseech you of your 
 mercy that ye will forgive it her, and as for my part, God 
 forgive it her, and I do, and so much it liketh your high- 
 ness to grant me my boon, for God's love I pray you hold 
 your promise," 
 
 "Sith it is so," said the king, "I will that ye have her
 
 Of Sir Tristram. 147 
 
 life and give her to you, and go ye to the fire and take 
 her, and do with her what ye wffl." 
 
 So young Tristram went to the fire, and, by the command 
 of the king, delivered her from the death. 
 
 And by the good means of young Tristram he made the 
 king and her accord. 
 
 CHAPTER IIL 
 
 How Sa TUSTKAJC WAS snrr nrro FKAMCZ, AMD HAD o.vx TO GOVUX 
 HIM HAMKD Gomnonuo, A*D HOW HK IXAKKKD TO HAKP, HAWK. 
 AXD HOT. 
 
 A ND then [King Meliodas] let ordain a gentleman that 
 XJL was well learned and taught ; his name was Gouver- 
 nail; and he sent young Tristram with Gouvemail into 
 France, to learn the language, and nurture, and deeds of 
 arms. And there was Tristram more than seven years. 
 And then when he well could speak the language, and had 
 learned all that he might learn in that country, then he 
 came home to his father King Meliodas again. And so 
 Tristram learned to be an harper passing all other, that 
 there was none such called in no country, and so in harp- 
 ing and on instruments of music he applied him in his 
 youth for to learn. And after as he grew in might and 
 strength he laboured ever in hunting and in hawking, so 
 that never gentleman more, that ever we heard tell of.
 
 148 The Boy's King Arthur. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 How SIR MARHAUS CAME our OF IRELAND FOR TO ASK TRUAGK' or 
 CORNWALL, OR ELSE HE WOULD FIGHT THEREFORE. 
 
 THEN it befell that King Anguish of Ireland sent to 
 King Mark of Cornwall for his truage, which Corn- 
 wall had paid many winters afore time, and all that time 
 King Mark was behind of the truage for seven years. 
 And King Mark and his barons gave unto the messenger 
 of Ireland this answer, and said that they would none pay, 
 and bade the messenger go unto his King Anguish, and 
 tell him " that we will pay him no truage ; but tell your 
 lord, and he will always have truage of us of Cornwall, 
 bid him send a trusty knight of his land that will fight for 
 his right, and we shall find another to defend our right." 
 With this answer the messenger departed into Ireland. 
 And when King Anguish understood the answer of the 
 messenger, he was wondrous wroth ; and then he called 
 unto him Sir Marhaus the good knight that was nobly 
 proved, and a knight of the Round Table. And this Sir 
 Marhaus was brother unto the queen of Ireland.. Then 
 the king [prayed Sir Marhaus that he would go and fight 
 for his truage of Cornwall]. 
 
 " Sir," said Sir Marhaus, " wit \know\ ye well that I 
 shall not be loth to do battle in the right of you and your 
 land with the best knight of the Round Table, for I know 
 what their deeds be, and for to increase my worship 
 \worth-ship\ I will right gladly go to this journey for our 
 right." 
 
 So in all haste there was made purveyance for Sir Mar- 
 
 1 " Truage," tribute.
 
 Of Sir Tristram. 149 
 
 haus, and so he departed out of Ireland, and arrived up in 
 Cornwall, even fast by the castle of TintagiL And when 
 King Mark understood that he was there arrived to fight 
 for Ireland, then made King Mark great sorrow. For 
 they knew no knight that durst have ado with him. For at 
 that time Sir Marhaus was called one of the famousest 
 and renowned knights of the world. 
 
 And thus Sir Marhaus abode in the sea, and every day 
 he sent unto King Mark for to pay the tniage that was 
 behind of seven year, or else to find a knight to fight with 
 him for the truage. Then they of Cornwall let make 
 cries in every place, that what knight would fight for to 
 save the truage of Cornwall he should be rewarded so that 
 he should fare the better the term of his life. Then some 
 of the barons said to King Mark, and counselled him tc 
 send to the court of King Arthur for to seek Sir Launce- 
 lot du Lake. Then there were some other barons that 
 counselled the king not to do so, and said that it was 
 labour in vain, because Sir Marhaus was a knight of the 
 Round Table, therefore any of them will be loth to have 
 ado with other. So the king and all his barons assented 
 that it was no boot [help} to seek any knight of the 
 Round Table. When young Tristram heard of this he 
 was wroth and sore ashamed that there durst no knight in 
 Cornwall have ado with Sir Marhaus of Ireland.
 
 150 The Boy's King Arthur. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 How SIR TRISTRAM ENTERPRISED THE BATTLE TO FIGHT FOR THE 
 TRUAGE OF CORNWALL, AND HOW HE WAS MADE KNIGHT. 
 
 'THEREWITHAL Sir Tristram went unto his father 
 
 JL King Meliodas, and asked him counsel what was best 
 to do for to recover the country of Cornwall for truage. 
 " For as me seemeth," said Sir Tristram, " it were shame 
 that Sir Marhaus, the queen's brother of Ireland, should 
 go away, unless that he were not fought withal." 
 
 "As for that," said King Meliodas, "wit ye well, my 
 son Tristram, that Sir Marhaus is called one of the best 
 knights of the world, and knight of the Round Table, and 
 therefore I know no knight in this country that is able to 
 match with him." 
 
 " Alas ! " said Sir Tristram, " that I am not made knight, 
 and if Sir Marhaus should thus depart into Ireland, God 
 let me never have worship; and I were made knight I 
 shi uld match him ; and sir," said Sir Tristram, " I pray 
 you to give me leave to ride unto mine uncle King Mark, 
 and so ye be not displeased, of King Mark will I be made 
 knight" 
 
 " I will well," said King Meliodas, "that ye be ruled as 
 your courage will rule you." 
 
 And then Sir Tristram thanked his father much, and so 
 made him ready to ride into Cornwall. And in the mean 
 while there came a messenger with letters of love from 
 the daughter of King Faramon of France, unto Sir Tris- 
 tram, that were full piteous letters, and in them were 
 written many complaints of love. But Sir Tristram had 
 no joy of her letters, nor regard unto her. Also she sent
 
 Of Sir Tristram. 151 
 
 him a little brachet {hunting hound} that was passing 
 fair. But when the king's daughter understood that 
 Tristram would not love her, she died for sorrow. So 
 this young Sir Tristram rode unto his uncle King Mark 
 of Cornwall. And when he came there he heard say that 
 there would no knight fight with Sir Marhaus, Then 
 went Sir Tristram unto his uncle and said, 
 
 " Sir, if ye will give me the order of knighthood I will 
 do battle with Sir Marhaus." 
 
 "What are ye?" said the king, "and from whence be 
 ye come ? " 
 
 "Sir," said Tristram, "I come from King Meliodas 
 that wedded your sister, and a gentleman wit ye well I 
 am." 
 
 King Mark beheld Sir Tristram, and saw that he was 
 but a young man of age, but he was passingly well made 
 and big. 
 
 "Fair sir," said the king, "what is your name, and 
 where were ye born ? " 
 
 " Sir," said he again, " my name is Tristram, and in the 
 country of Lyonesse was I born." 
 
 "Ye say well," said the king, "and if ye will do this 
 battle I shall make you knight." 
 
 "Therefore I come to you," said Sir Tristram, "and 
 for none other cause." 
 
 But then King Mark made him knight. And there- 
 withal anon as he had made him knight, he sent a mes- 
 senger unto Sir Marhaus with letters that said that he 
 had found a young knight ready for to take the battle to 
 the uttermost. 
 
 "It may well be," said Sir Marhaus; "but tell unto 
 King Mark that I will not fight with no knight but if he 
 be of blood royal, that is to say either king's son or 
 queen's son, bom of a prince or princess."
 
 152 The Boy's King Arthur. 
 
 When King Mark understood that, he sent for Sir 
 Tristram de Lyonesse, and told him what was the answer 
 of Sir Marhaus. Then said Sir Tristram, 
 
 "Since he sayeth so, let him wit that I am come of 
 father's side and mother's side of as noble blood as he is. 
 For, sir, now shall ye know that I am King Meliodas' 
 son, born of your own sister dame Elizabeth, that died in 
 the forest in the birth of me." 
 
 "Yea! " said King Mark, "ye are welcome fair nephew 
 to me." 
 
 Then in all the haste the king let horse Sir Tristram 
 and arm him in the best manner that might be had or 
 gotten for gold or silver. And then King Mark sent unto 
 Sir Marhaus, and did him to wit [let him know] that a 
 better born man than he was himself should fight with him, 
 and his name is Sir Tristram de Lyonesse, [son of] King 
 Meliodas, and born of King Mark's sister. Then was Sir 
 Marhaus glad and blithe that he should fight with such a 
 gentleman. And so by the assent of King Mark and 
 Sir Marhaus they let ordain that they should fight within 
 an island nigh Sir Marhaus' ships ; and so was young Sir 
 Tristram put into a little vessel, both his horse and he, 
 and all that to him belonged both for his body and for 
 his horse, so that Sir Tristram lacked no manner thing. 
 And when King Mark and his barons of Cornwall beheld 
 how young Sir Tristram departed with such a carriage 
 {that is, carrying himself so bravely} to fight for the right 
 of Cornwall, wit ye well there was neither man nor woman 
 of worship but they wept for to see so young a knight 
 jeopard himself for their right.
 
 Of Sir Tristram. 153 
 
 CHAPTER VL 
 
 How Six TEISTKAJI AEEIYED raro THE ISLAND torn. TO rvuasu. THB 
 BATTLE WTTH Six MAKHAUS. 
 
 to make short this tale, that when Sir Tristram 
 was arrived within the island, then he looked to the 
 farther side, and there he saw at an anchor six ships nigh 
 to the land, and under the shadow of the ships, upon the 
 land, there hoved \hovcred*\ the noble knight Sir Marhaus 
 of Ireland. And then Sir Tristram commanded his ser- 
 vant Gouvernafl for to bring his horse to the land, and 
 dress his harness at all manner of rights. And when 
 he had so done, he mounted upon his horse. And when he 
 was in his saddle well apparelled, and his shield dressed 
 upon his shoulder, Sir Tristram asked Gouvernail, " Where 
 is this knight that I shall have to do withal ? " 
 
 "Sir," said his servant Gouvernail, "see ye him not? 
 I wend ye had seen him, yonder he hoveth under the 
 shadow of his ships upon horseback, and his spear in his 
 hand, and his shield upon his shoulder." 
 
 "It is truth," said Sir Tristram, "now I see him well 
 enough." 
 
 And then he commanded his servant Gouvernail to go 
 again unto his vessel, and commend him "unto mine 
 uncle King Mark, and pray him that if I be slain in this 
 battle, for to bury my body as him seemeth best, and, as 
 for me, let him wit that I will never yield me for no cow- 
 ardice, and if I be slain and flee not, then have they lost 
 no truage for me. And if so be that I flee or yield me as 
 recreant, bid mine uncle never bury me in Christian 
 burials. And upon my life," said Sir Tristram to Gouver-
 
 The Boy's King Arthur. 
 
 nail, "come thou not nigh this island till thou see me 
 overcome or slain, or else that I win yonder knight" 
 And so either departed from other weeping. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 flow SIR TRISTRAM FOUGHT AGAINST SIR MARHAUS AND FINISHED HII 
 BATTLE, AND HOW SIR MARHAUS FLED TO HIS SHIPS. 
 
 AND then Sir Marhaus perceived Sir Tristram, and 
 thus said unto him : "Young knight Sir Tristram, 
 what doest thou here ? Me sore repenteth of thy courage, 
 for wit thou well I have matched with the best knights of 
 the world, and therefore by my counsel return again to thy 
 ship." 
 
 " Fair knight and well proved knight," said Sir Tristram, 
 "thou shalt well wit that I may not forsake thee in this 
 quarrel, for I am for thy sake made knight, and thou shalt 
 well wit that I am a king's son born, and such promise 
 have I made at mine uncle's request and mine own seek- 
 ing, that I shall fight with thee unto the uttermost, to 
 deliver Cornwall from the old truage. Also wit ye well, 
 Sir Marhaus, that for ye are called one of the best re- 
 nowned knights of the world, and because of that noise 
 and fame that ye have, it will do me good to have to do 
 with you, for never yet sith [since] that I was born of my 
 mother was I proved with a good knight, and also sith I 
 have taken the high order of knighthood this day, I am 
 right well pleased that I may have to do with so good a 
 knight as ye are. And now wit ye well, Sir Marhaus cf 
 Ireland, that I cast me to win worship on thy body, I 
 trust to God I shall be worshipfully proved upon thy body
 
 Of Sir Tristram. 155 
 
 and for to deliver the country of Cornwall foiever from 
 all manner of truage from Ireland." 
 
 And when the good knight Sir Marhaus had heard him 
 say what him list, then said he thus again : " Fair knight, 
 sith it is so that thou castest thee to win worship on me, 
 I let thee wit that no worship maist thou leese [lose] by 
 me, if thou mayst stand me three strokes, for I let you 
 wit that for my noble deeds, proved and seen, King Ar- 
 thur made me knight of the Table Round." Then they 
 began to feuter {place in rest] their spears, and they met 
 so fiercely together that they smote either other down 
 both horse and all. But Sir Marhaus smote Sir Tristram 
 a great wound in the side with his spear, and then they 
 avoided their horses, and pulled out their swords, and 
 threw their shields afore them, and then they lashed to- 
 gether as men than were wild and courageous. And when 
 they had stricken so together long, then they left their 
 strokes, and foined {thrust, in feinting] ; and when they 
 saw that that might not prevail them, then they hurtled 
 together like rams to bear either other down. Thus they 
 fought still more than half a day, and either were wounded 
 passing sore, that the blood ran down freshly from them 
 upon the ground. By then Sir Tristram waxed more 
 fresher than Sir Marhaus, and better winded and bigger, 
 and with a mighty stroke he smote Sir Marhaus upon the 
 helm such a buffet, that it went through his helm, and 
 through the coif of steel, and through the brain-pan, and 
 the sword stuck so fast in the helm and in his brain-pan 
 that Sir Tristram pulled thrice at his sword or ever he 
 might pull it out from his head, and there Marhaus fell 
 down on his knees, [and a piece of] the edge of Tristram's 
 sword [was] left in his brain-pan. And suddenly Sir Mar- 
 haus rose grovelling, and threw his sword and his shield
 
 156 The Boy's King Arthur. 
 
 from him, and so ran to his ships and fled his way, and 
 Sir Tristram had ever his shield and his sword. And 
 when Sir Tristram saw Sir Marhaus withdraw him, he 
 said, " Ah, sir knight of the Round Table, why withdraw 
 est thou thee ; thou doest thyself and thy kin great shame, 
 for I am but a young knight, or now I was never proved, 
 and rather than I should withdraw me from thee, I had 
 rather be hewn in an hundred pieces." Sir Marhaus an- 
 swered no word, but went his way sore groaning. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 How SIR MARHAUS, AFTER HE WAS ARRIVED IN IRELAND, DIED OF THE 
 
 STROKE THAT TRISTRAM HAD GIVEN HIM, AND HOW TRISTRAM WAS 
 HURT. 
 
 ANON Sir Marhaus and his fellowship departed into 
 Ireland. And as soon as he came to the king his 
 brother he let search his wounds. And when his head 
 was searched, a piece of Sir Tristram's sword was found 
 therein, and might never be had out of his head for no 
 surgeons, and so he died of Sir Tristram's sword, and that 
 piece of the sword the queen his sister kept it for ever 
 with her, for she thought to be revenged and she might. 
 
 Now turn we again unto Sir Tristram, that was sore 
 wounded, and full sore bled, that he might not within a 
 little while when he had taken cold scarcely stir him of 
 his limbs. And then he set him down softly upon a little 
 hill, and bled fast. Then anon came Gouvernail his man 
 with his vessel, and the king and his barons came with 
 procession, and when he was come to the land, King Mark 
 took him in both his arms, and the king and Sir Dinas
 
 Of Sir Tristram. 157 
 
 the seneschal led Sir Tristram into the castle of Tintagil, 
 and then were his wounds searched in the best manner, 
 and laid in bed. And when King Mark saw all his 
 wounds, he wept right heartily, and so did all his lords. 
 
 "So God me help," said King Mark, "I would not for 
 all my lands that my nephew died." 
 
 So Sir Tristram lay there a month and more, and was 
 like to have died of the stroke that Sir Marhaus had given 
 him first with his spear. For, as the French book saith, 
 that spear's head was envenomed, that Sir Tristram might 
 not be whole thereof. Then was King Mark and all his 
 barons passing heavy, for they deemed none other but 
 that Sir Tristram should not recover. So the king let 
 send after all manner of leeches and surgeons, both men 
 and women, and there was none that would warrant him 
 his life. Then came there a lady, which was a full wise 
 lady, and she said plainly unto King Mark and unto Sir 
 Tristram and unto all the barons, that he should never 
 be whole, but if Sir Tristram went into the same country 
 that the venom came from, and in that country should he 
 be holpen or else never. When King Mark had well heard 
 what the lady said, forthwith he let purvey for Sir Tris- 
 tram a fair vessel, and well victualled it, and therein was 
 put Sir Tristram and Gouvernail with him, and Sir Tris- 
 tram took his harp with him, and so he was put to sea, for 
 to sail into Ireland, and so by good fortune he arrived up 
 into Ireland even fast by a castle where the king and the 
 queen were, and at his arriving he sat and harped in his 
 bed a merry lay, such one had they never heard in Ireland 
 afore that time. And when it was told the king and the 
 queen of such a knight that was such a harper, anon the 
 king sent for him, and let search his wound, and then he 
 asked him what was his name. He answered and said,