B ^ DflE S7M 
 
 , i^ 
 
LIBRARY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 University of California. 
 
 Class 
 
*^^« AJ^ 
 
 OF 
 
 THE 
 
 OF 
 
 (TV 
 
 NJ 
 
(See p. 745. > 
 
 LANCELOT BEARS OFF GUENEVERE 
 
TALES OF 
 THE ROUND TABLE 
 
 BASED ON THE TALES IN THE 
 BOOK OF EOMANCE EDITED BY 
 
 ANDREW ^^ANQ 
 
 WITH 4 COLOURED PLATES AND 21 OTHER ILLUSTRATIONS 
 
 By H. J. FORD 
 
 ^^ OF THF 
 
 OF 
 
 ifEW IMPRESSION 
 
 LONGMANS, GEEEN, AND CO. 
 
 39 PATERNOSTER ROW, LONDON 
 
 NEW YORK, BOMBAY, AND CALCUTTA 
 
 1908 
 

 CONTENTS. 
 
 (^ 
 
 PAGE 
 
 The Drawing of the Sword . . . • . 
 
 • % 1 
 
 The Story of Sir Balin . . . . » i 
 
 » . * 8 
 
 The Questing Beast 
 
 . . 17 
 
 How Morgan le Fay Tried to Kill King Arthur , 
 
 . . 26 
 
 How the Round Table Began . . . . 
 
 . 33 
 
 The Death of Merlin 
 
 . . 37 
 
 What Beaumains Asked of the King . . « 
 
 . . , 38 
 
 The Quest of the Holy Graal . . . . 
 
 . 69 
 
 The Fight for the Queen .... 
 
 . 101 
 
 The Fair Maid of Astolat 
 
 , . . 109 
 
 Lancelot and Guenevere . , - • 
 
 . 129 
 
 The End of It All , 
 
 . . . 151 
 
 co,A9S2 
 
ILLUSTEATIONS. 
 
 COLOUEED PLATES. 
 
 Lancelot Bears off Guenevere (p. 145) . 
 
 Lancelot at the Chapel 
 
 Guenevere and Sir Bors .... 
 Lancelot Brings Guenevere to Arthur 
 
 Frontispiece 
 Face vaoe IQ 
 
 112 
 
 ILLUSTEATIONS IN THE TEXT 
 
 How Arthur Drew the Sword ..... 
 
 The Damsel Warns Sir Balin 
 
 The Death of Balin and Balan ..... 
 
 Arthur and the Questing Beast 
 
 Morgan le Fay Casts away the Scabbard . 
 
 Merlin and Vivien 
 
 Gareth and Linet—" Faugh, Sir! You Smell of the 
 
 Kitchen" 
 
 Linet and the Black Knight 
 
 The Lady of Lyonesse Sees Sir Gareth 
 
 Sir Galahad Opens the Tomb 
 
 Sir Percivale Slays the Serpent 
 
 How Sir Bors was Saved from Killing his Brother . 
 
 Sir Mador Accuses Guenevere 
 
 Arthur and Guenevere Kiss before all the People 
 Elaine Ties her Sleeve round Sir Lancelot's Helmet 
 
 The Blflck Barget 
 
 Guenevere Sends her Page to Lancelot for Help 
 
 The Archers Threaten Lancelot 
 
 Lancelot Comes out of Guenevere's Koom . 
 
 Sir Mordred — The Last Battle 
 
 Excalibur Returns to the Mere ,..*-. 
 
 Page 
 
 5 
 
 13 
 15 
 21 
 29 
 39 
 
 48 
 
 62 
 
 61 
 
 79 
 
 87 
 
 91 
 
 103 
 
 108 
 
 114 
 
 127 
 
 132 
 
 134 
 
 141 
 
 156 
 
 169 
 
^.c^^^ 
 
 THE DRAWING OF THE SWOED 
 
 Part I 
 
 Long, long ago, after Uther Pendragon died, 
 there was no King in Britain, and every Knight 
 hoped to seize the crown for himself. The 
 country was likely to fare ill when laws were 
 broken on every side, when the corn which was 
 to give the poor bread was trodden underfoot, 
 and there was no one to bring the evildoer to 
 justice. 
 
 When things were at their worst forth came 
 Merlin the magician, and fast rode he to the 
 place where the Archbishop of Canterbury 
 dwelt. They took counsel together, and agreed 
 that all the lords and gentlemen of Britain should 
 ride to London on Christmas Day, and meet in 
 the Great Church. So this was done. 
 
 On Christmas morning, as they left the 
 church, they saw in the churchyard a large stone, 
 and on it a bar of steel, and in the steel a naked 
 
2 THE DBAWING OF THE SWOBD, 
 
 sword, and about it was written in letters of 
 gold, '' Whoso pulleth out this sword is by right 
 of birth King of England ". 
 
 They marvelled at these words, and called for 
 the Archbishop, and brought him to the place 
 where the stone stood. Then those Knights who 
 fain would be King tugged at the sword with 
 all their might ; but it did not stir. 
 
 The Archbishop watched them in silence, and 
 when they were faint from pulling he said : '^ The 
 man who shall lift out that sword is not here, 
 nor do I know where to find him. This is my 
 counsel, therefore, that two Knights be chosen, 
 good and true men, to keep guard over the sword,' 
 until some one comes who can draw it forth." 
 
 This was done. But the lords and gentlemen- 
 at-arms cried out that every man had a right to 
 try to win the sword, and they decided that on 
 New Year's Day a tournament should be held, 
 and that any Knight who wished might enter 
 the lists. 
 
 So on New Year's Day the Knights, accord- 
 ing to custom, went to hear service in the Great 
 Church, and when this was over they met in the 
 field to make ready for the tourney. Among 
 them was a brave Knight called Sir Ector, who 
 
THE DB AWING OF THE SWOBD. 3 
 
 brought with him Sir Kay, his son, and Arthur, 
 Kay's foster-brother. 
 
 Now Kay had unbuckled his sword the 
 evening before, and in his haste to be at the 
 tourney had forgotten to put it on again, and he 
 begged Arthur to ride back and fetch it for him. 
 So Arthur set out, and when he reached the 
 house, found that the door was locked, for the 
 women had gone out to see the tourney, and 
 though he tried his best to get in he could not. 
 
 He rode away greatly vexed, and said to 
 himself, " Kay shall not be without a sword this 
 day, I will take that sword in the churchyard, 
 and give it to him". He galloped fast till he 
 reached the gate of the churchyard. Here he 
 jumped down, tied his horse to a tree, and run- 
 ning up to the stone, seized the handle of the 
 sword, and drew it out; he then mounted his 
 horse again, and delivered the sword to Sir 
 Kay. 
 
 The moment Sir Kay saw the sword he knew 
 it was not his own, but the sword of the stone, 
 and he sought out his father. Sir Ector, and said 
 to him, ^' Sir, this is the sword of the stone, there- 
 fore I am the rightful King ". Sir Ector made 
 no answer, but signed to Kay and Arthur to 
 
4 THE DB AWING OF THE SWOBD. 
 
 follow him, and they all three went back to the 
 church. 
 
 THE DEAWING OF THE SWOED 
 
 Part II 
 
 Leaving their horses outside, the two Knights 
 and Arthur entered the church, and walked 
 into the choir. There, upon a holy book. Sir 
 Ector bade Sir Kay swear how he came by the 
 sword. 
 
 " My brother Arthur gave it to me," said Sir 
 Kay. 
 
 " How did you come by it ? " asked Sir Ector, 
 turning to Arthur. 
 
 Arthur described the manner in which he 
 had drawn it from the stone. 
 
 "Were any Knights present when you did 
 this?" asked Sir Ector. 
 
 " None," replied Arthur. 
 
 " By drawing that sword," said Sir Kay, '' you 
 have proved yourself to be the rightful King 
 of this land, for, the sword being enchanted, 
 no other man could have drawn it. Put the 
 sword back again into the stone, and we will 
 see you draw it forth." 
 
6 TEE DB AWING OF THE 8W0BD. 
 
 Arthur pulled it out as, easily as if it had 
 been in its sheath. 
 
 ''Arthur/' said Sir Ector, "you are not my 
 son, although I have brought you up as if you 
 were. You were brought to me when a baby 
 by Merlin himself, who promised that when the 
 time came I should know from whom you sprang. 
 You must be the son of Uther Pendragon, for 
 no one else could have drawn the sword." 
 
 Arthur was grieved to hear that Sir Ector 
 was not his father. ''If I am King," he said, 
 "ask what you will and it shall be given you. 
 I owe more to you and my lady than to any one 
 in the world, for you have loved me and treated 
 me as a son." 
 
 "Sir," replied Sir Ector, "I ask only that 
 you should make your foster-brother. Sir Kay, 
 Seneschal of all your lands." 
 
 "That I will do," answered Arthur, "and 
 while he and I live, no other shall fill that office." 
 
 Sir Ector then bade them come with him 
 and seek the Archbishop to tell him what had 
 happened. 
 
 Arthur had left the sword standing in the 
 stone, and on Twelfth-day it was arranged that 
 the Knights and Barons should again try to draw 
 
THE DBAWING OF THE SWOBD. 7 
 
 the sword. None could draw it, and when 
 the Barons saw Arthur do what no one else 
 could do, they vowed that they would never 
 allow him to be King, a boy whose blood was 
 no better than their own. 
 
 It was agreed to repeat the test at Candle- 
 mas, when more Knights would be present, and 
 meanwhile the sword was to be carefully 
 guarded. 
 
 At Candlemas the same thing happened, and 
 at Easter also. When Pentecost came, the 
 common people were present, and saw Arthur 
 draw the sword. They cried with one voice 
 that he should be their King, and no other 
 Knight having been able to pass the test, they 
 all had to acknowledge Arthur as their King. 
 
 Rich and poor fell upon their knees before 
 him, and Arthur took the sword, and before the 
 Archbishop, offered it upon the altar, and the 
 best man there knighted him. The crown was 
 then placed upon his head, and he swore to be 
 a true King, and to do justice all the days of 
 his life. 
 
8 THE STOEY OF SIB BALIN, 
 
 THE STOEY OF SIE BALIN ^" 
 
 Part I 
 
 In those days many Kings reigned in England, 
 and they were constantly waging war upon one 
 another. Arthur, hearing that his country was 
 being ravaged by Eyons, King of North Wales, 
 called all his Knights and gentlemen-at-arms to 
 Camelot, there to hold a council. 
 
 When they had assembled, and the town was 
 filled with armed men and horses, a damsel rode 
 into Camelot with a message from the Lady Lile 
 of Avelion. 
 
 She asked to be led before King Arthur, and 
 when in his presence, she allowed her fur cloak 
 to slip from her shoulders, thus displaying a 
 richly wrought sword buckled at her side. 
 
 "Why do you wear this sword, damsel?" 
 asked King Arthur, "it is not an ornament for 
 a woman." 
 
 " I would that I could find a Knight to rid 
 me of the burden," she replied, " for its weight is 
 intolerable to me. The man who can deliver me 
 from it must be mighty of deeds and pure of 
 heart, for no other can draw the sword from its 
 
THE STOBY OF SIB BALIN, 9 
 
 sheath. The Knights of King Eyons' Court have 
 each tried and failed." 
 
 **Let me try," said Arthur, "not that I 
 pretend to be the best Knight, but it is meet 
 that I should try first." The King took the 
 sword by the hilt and pulled with all his 
 strength, but the sword held fast. 
 
 " Sir," said the damsel, " there is no need to 
 pull so hard to draw the sword, which, if it is 
 to be drawn at all, will come with little trouble." 
 
 "I cannot draw it," said Arthur, "and now 
 it is for my Knights to try." 
 
 "Alas! alas!" cried the damsel, when each 
 Knight had tried without success, " if there are 
 no Knights in this Court both true of heart and 
 blameless, then I know not where to go." 
 
 Now at this time there chanced to be at 
 Arthur's Court a poor Knight, who had been 
 kept a prisoner for a year and a half because 
 he had slain the King's cousin. 
 
 He was of high birth, and his name was Sir 
 Balin. Having but recently been set free, Balin 
 stood apart and watched the others try to draw 
 the maiden's sword. His heart beat fast when 
 his turn came to try, and he shrank from per- 
 forming the duty because he was meanly dressed. 
 
10 THE STOBY OF SIR BALIN. 
 
 The damsel had bidden the King and his Court 
 farewell, and was setting out on her homeward 
 journey, when Balin called to her, and begged 
 that in spite of the meanness of his dress she 
 would allow him the privilege of trying to draw 
 the sword. 
 
 "Sir," replied the damsel, ''fine clothes do 
 not make fine deeds, therefore try I pray you." 
 The Knights, who had walked up while Balin 
 had been speaking to the damsel, then saw the 
 sword glide from its sheath by the damsel's side 
 and held in Balin' s hand. 
 
 " In truth," said the damsel, '' this is the best 
 Knight that I have ever found ; but, Sir, I pray 
 you, give me the sword." 
 
 " No," said Balin, " I pray you let me keep 
 it." 
 
 " It is for your own sake that I ask for it," 
 replied the damsel, " for if you keep that sword 
 you will with it kill the man you love best, and 
 it will bring about your own ruin." 
 
 "I will take what befalls me," said Balin, 
 '' but I pray you let me keep the sword." 
 
 The damsel left in great sorrow, and the next 
 day Sir Balin armed with his new sword rode 
 away in search of adventures. 
 
TEE STOBY OF SIB BALIN. 11 
 
 He was the victor of every fight he entered 
 in, and won such renown that he became known 
 as Sir Balin le Savage, the Knight of the two 
 swords. 
 
 THE STOEY OF SIR BALIN 
 
 Part II 
 
 One day he was riding forth when at the turn- 
 ing of a road he saw a cross, upon which was 
 written in letters of gold, " Let no Knight ride 
 towards this castle ". 
 
 Sir Balin was still reading the writing when 
 there came towards him an old man with white 
 hair, who said, " Sir Balin le Savage, this is not 
 the way for you, so turn again and choose some 
 other path ". The old man vanished, and a horn 
 blew loudly, as a horn is blown at the death of 
 a beast. ^^That blast," said Balin, "is for me, 
 but I am still alive," and he rode to the castle, 
 and was met and welcomed by a number of 
 Knights and ladies. 
 
 "When they had feasted, the lady of the 
 castle said to him, ''Knight with the two 
 swords, it is our wish that you fight the Knight 
 who guards yonder island. According to our 
 
12 THE STOBY OF SIB BALIN. 
 
 law, we can permit no man to leave this castle 
 until he has fought before us." 
 
 " That is a bad custom," replied Balin, " and 
 my horse is weary, still I should be unwilling 
 to depart without gratifying your wish." 
 
 "Sir," said a Knight to him, "your shield 
 does not look strong ; I will lend you another." 
 
 Sir Balin took the proffered shield, and led 
 his horse to the shore, whence they were ferried 
 across to the island. 
 
 The boat had no sooner grounded upon the 
 farther shore, than a maiden came running 
 towards him and cried, "O Knight Balin, why 
 have you left your own shield behind? How 
 can you be known if you carry another's shield ? " 
 
 "I truly regret having left my own shield 
 behind," said Balin, " and I regret having come 
 to this country at all, but for very shame I must 
 go on." 
 
 He then examined his shield and armour, 
 and mounted his horse. 
 
 After riding a short distance towards a 
 castle that stood upon the island, he perceived 
 a Knight, clothed in red, and riding a horse 
 with red trappings, coming towards him. 
 
 The Red Knight looked at Balin, and noticed 
 
U THE STOBY OF SIB BALIN. 
 
 that lie carried two swords. " There is only one 
 Knight that carries two swords," thought he, 
 "yet it cannot be Balin for that is not his 
 shield." 
 
 They rode at each other with their spears 
 in rest, and were so evenly matched that they 
 bore one another to the ground, where they lay 
 unconscious for some minutes. As soon as they 
 had recovered their senses, each Knight rose, 
 and such a fight began that all beholders were 
 filled with dread lest either of the gallant 
 Knights should be killed, so valiantly did they 
 fight. 
 
 At last the place was red with their blood, 
 seven great rents in the armour of each dis- 
 playing the wounds beneath. 
 
 " What Knight are you ? " asked Sir Balin 
 le Savage, leaning upon his sword. 
 
 "My name," said the other, "is Balan, and 
 I am a brother of the good Knight Balin." 
 
 '* O unhappy day ! " cried Balin, and he fell 
 fainting to the ground. Balan pulled off his 
 brother's helmet so that the fresh air might 
 revive him. 
 
 " Woe is me ! " said Balin, opening his eyes. 
 " All this has been wrought by the Knight who 
 
I tLtie latattt op TS^ttti ana la^l^i^ 
 
16 THE STOBY OF SIB BALIN. 
 
 gave me his shield in exchange for my own. 
 If I could live I would destroy that unhappy 
 castle, and the Knight whose treachery has 
 brought me to this." 
 
 "Alas! brother," said Balan, "had you 
 killed me it would only have been to make 
 yourself a captive, for I have been forced to 
 guard this castle ever since I slew the Knight 
 who kept it before me." 
 
 The lady of the castle and her companions 
 then came forward and made great moan over 
 the dying Knights. Balan begged her to bury 
 them side by side where they lay, and this she 
 promised to do, weeping with her ladies as she 
 gave the promise. 
 
 The Knights died, and the lady placed a 
 tomb over their grave, and upon it she wrote 
 Balan's name only, for she did not know the 
 name of the other Knight. 
 
 But Merlin knew, and the next morning he 
 wrote Balin's name upon the tomb also. Then 
 he imscrewed the pommel of Balin's sword, and 
 screwing another pommel on it, bade the Knight 
 who was with him handle it. The Knight could 
 not, and Merlin said, " No man but the best man 
 in the world shall handle that sword, and he will 
 
LANCQ-OT AT THE CHAPEL ^ 
 
 IV. 
 
 [See p. 83.) 
 
OF THE 
 
 UfSHVERSITY 
 
 r.F 
 
TEE QUESTING BEAST. 17 
 
 be either Sir Lancelot or his son Sir Galahad. 
 With that sword also Sir Lancelot will slay 
 the man he loves best, and his name is Sir 
 Gawaine." 
 
 He wrote these words on the pommel of 
 the sword. 
 
 He then made a bridge of steel to the island, 
 six inches in breadth, over which no man who 
 was guilty of any evil deed could pass. 
 
 The scabbard of the sword he left on that 
 side of the island, so that Sir Galahad should 
 find it. The sword itself he put in a magic 
 stone which floated down the stream to Camelot. 
 And the same day Galahad found the scabbard, 
 and riding to Camelot he spied the stone and 
 drew the sword from it. 
 
 THE QUESTING BEAST 
 
 Part I 
 
 King Arthur fought and won many a battle 
 
 before he was acknowledged by the other Kings 
 
 of the country to be lord of them all. 
 
 Many times the course he pursued was that 
 
 directed by Merlin the magician, without whose 
 IV. 2 
 
18 THE QUESTING BEAST, 
 
 advice King Arthur would not have succeeded 
 in his object. By means of his svs^ord Excalibur 
 he won a fame for invincibility, although, in 
 obedience to Merlin's orders, he never drew it 
 until things were going ill with him. 
 
 It was this sword Excalibur which had been 
 given to him by the Lady of the Lake. Eiding 
 with Merlin one night, Arthur came to a lake, 
 and from the middle he beheld an arm upraised, 
 holding aloft a sword. 
 
 " Look ! " said Merlin, " that is the sword of 
 which I told you." 
 
 The King looked again ; across the surface of 
 the water he saw a maiden moving towards him. 
 " Maiden," said he, " I pray you tell me whose 
 sword that is out in the lake yonder." 
 
 '' That sword is mine," the maiden answered, 
 ^'and I will give it to you if in return you will 
 make me a gift when I ask it of you." 
 
 " By my faith," said the King, " I will give 
 you whatever you ask." 
 
 King Arthur and Merlin rowed to the sword 
 in a barge that floated by the shore, and when it 
 was taken by the handle the arm disappeared, 
 and they rowed back to the land bearing the 
 sword and the scabbard that belonged to it. 
 
THE QUESTING BEAST. 19 
 
 The virtue of this sword lay in its brightness. 
 When wielded in combat it dazzled the eyes of 
 the foe, and the scabbard, when buckled about 
 the King, rendered him unassailable, for its magic 
 power prevented him from losing blood however 
 sorely he might be wounded. 
 
 Attracted by the successes that attended him 
 in whatsoever he attempted, many Knights flocked 
 to King Arthur's standard. Among them was 
 Sir Ban, King of Gaul, who remained ever his 
 steadfast friend. 
 
 It was in one of the wars in which at that 
 time King Arthur was continually engaged, in 
 company with King Ban and Sir Bors, that he 
 met Guenevere, the daughter of the King of 
 Cameliard, the lady whom he afterwards 
 married. 
 
 Having parted with King Ban and Sir 
 Bors, who departed for a while to their own 
 countries, the King went to Carlion, a town 
 on the river Usk, where he dreamed a strange 
 dream. 
 
 Throughout the night he wandered over his 
 country, which was overrun with gryphons and 
 serpents slaying and eating his people. He 
 attacked the monsters, and, after many fearful 
 
20 TEB QUESTING BEAST. 
 
 contests, killed the last, although sorely wounded 
 himself. 
 
 He woke from his dream with the memory 
 of the ugly creatures in his mind, and to shake 
 it off he summoned his Knights to hunt with 
 him, and they rode fast for the forest. The 
 King spied a hart crossing his path, and giving 
 chase, he soon lost his companions. The chase 
 was a long one ; the hart still went as fast as 
 ever, and at last the King's horse fell dead 
 beneath him. 
 
 He sat under a tree and rested, and presently 
 he heard the baying of hounds sounding in the 
 woods. The noise was so great that he fancied 
 it must be a full pack, though what pack 
 hunted that neighbourhood he did not know. 
 He raised his head to look for the leading 
 hound, and crawling towards him he saw- a 
 strange beast, making by itself the noise of a 
 pack of hounds. 
 
/f KT>tVX-/W D 'TTOl'QVESTING-BE.K^f' 
 
 • ■ .-....■ - . - ^ . ^ , - ■■ 
 
 j>' 
 
22 THE QUESTING BEAST, 
 
 THE QUESTING BEAST 
 
 Part II 
 
 The beast crawled to the edge of the well close 
 to the King's side, and having drunk its fill it 
 went on its way. 
 
 While the King was conjecturing as to the 
 manner of creature it could be, a Knight rode up, 
 and seeing the King beneath the tree, addressed 
 him as follows : *' Knight of meditations, I pray 
 you rouse from your sleepiness to tell me if in 
 your wakeful moments, you have seen a strange 
 beast pass this way ". 
 
 " Yes, indeed," answered Arthur, " and by 
 now it must be two miles distant. What do you 
 want with it ? " 
 
 "Sir, I have followed the beast from afar," 
 replied he, " and have ridden my horse to death. 
 If I could find another I would pursue the 
 creature and overtake it, for I have never been 
 so near to it before, during the twelve months 
 of my search." 
 
 At this moment the King's Squire led a fresh 
 horse up for his master, and the strange Knight 
 begged the King to let him have it. 
 
or 
 'HE QUESTING BEAST. 23 
 
 '' Sir Knight," said the King, " let me follow 
 the quest for you ; the adventure pleases me." 
 
 *' Ah fool 1 " replied the Knight, whose name 
 was Sir Pellinore, " it would be in vain, for none 
 can slay the beast except me or my next of kin;" 
 and without more words he sprang into the 
 saddle and rode a little way off. "You may 
 take my horse by trickery ; " cried the King, 
 " but I should like to prove to you that I am the 
 better Knight." 
 
 " When you want me," answered the Knight, 
 " come to this spring ; here you will always find 
 me," and spurring his horse he galloped away. 
 The King watched him out of sight, and then 
 bade his Squire bring him another horse as 
 quickly as he could. 
 
 The Squire would have some way to go, and 
 the King sat himself down again beneath the 
 tree to await his return. The silence of the 
 woods around, and the babbling of a brook that 
 made its way down the hillside near by, soothed 
 the King into his former drowsiness, and from 
 meditation he fell into sleep. From the shadows 
 of the woods a boy stole out, walked to the 
 sleeping King, and having carefully taken stock 
 of him, returned to the woods. 
 
24 TEE QUESTING BEAST. 
 
 Presently he walked to the King again, and 
 the King woke from his sleep. 
 
 "You have been very thoughtful," said the 
 boy, ^^and for some reason. It was truly a 
 wonderful beast that passed you a few hours 
 ago. It was unfortunate, too, that Sir Pellinore 
 should have taken your horse by trickery, for he 
 would not have won it in fair fight. It is folly, 
 however, to let the mind dwell on matters of 
 small moment, however irritating they may 
 be." 
 
 The King was amazed at the temerity dis- 
 played by the youth in addressing him in tliis 
 way, and at the knowledge of his own thoughts 
 and actions possessed by him. 
 
 '*I know all your thoughts," continued the 
 boy, '^and that Uther Pendragon was your 
 father, and your mother was the Lady Igraine." 
 
 " How can you have this knowledge, boy ? " 
 said Arthur angrily, but the boy answered, "I 
 know your history better than any man living, 
 and I know how you will die, and can detail 
 the manner of death that awaits you." The boy 
 at this point walked away again. 
 
 Presently an old man came to the well and 
 sat down to rest. 
 
THE QUESTING BEAST, 25 
 
 " What makes you so sad ? " said he to the 
 King. 
 
 '' I may well be sad," replied Arthur, " there 
 is plenty to make me so. The responsibilities 
 of a crown are heavier than many imagine. A 
 boy just now told me things which he had no 
 business to know, the names of my father and 
 mother being one of them." 
 
 " He told you the truth," said the old man, 
 " and he could have told you many things more 
 had he been minded to do so. He could have 
 told you that your sister would have a child, 
 Mordred by name, who would some day destroy 
 you and all your Knights." 
 
 " Who are you ? " asked Arthur, in a wonder- 
 ing voice. 
 
 " I am Merlin, and it was I who came to you 
 in the likeness of a boy. I know all things ; 
 how you will die a noble death, receiving your 
 death wound surrounded by your fallen Knights. 
 My end, on the other hand, will be shameful, 
 for I shall be buried alive." 
 
 There was no time then to say more, for the 
 Squire returned leading a horse, and the King 
 mounted and rode fast to Carlion. 
 
26 HOW LE FAY TRIED TO KILL KING ABTHUB, 
 
 HOW MOEGAN LE FAY TEIED TO 
 KILL KING AETHUR 
 
 Part I 
 
 King Arthur's sister, Morgan le Fay, was skilled 
 in magic of all kinds. She bore her brother a 
 grudge because he had slain in battle the Knight 
 she loved, and she determined to have revenge 
 as soon as an opportunity occurred. In order 
 that suspicion should not be aroused, she always 
 kept a smiling face, and no one guessed the deep 
 passion within her heart. 
 
 One day Morgan le Fay asked Queen 
 Guenevere for leave to go into the country. 
 The Queen wished her to wait until King 
 Arthur returned to the Court, but Morgan le 
 Fay represented that the news she had received 
 was so bad she could not wait, and the Queen 
 allowed her to depart without delay. 
 
 Early next morning she mounted her horse, 
 and rode all day and night without drawing 
 rein. 
 
 At noon of the following day she reached 
 the Abbey in which King Arthur was resting. 
 He had fought a hard battle, and having had 
 
HOW LE FAY TRIED TO KILL KING ABTHUB, 27 
 
 little rest for three nights he was sleeping 
 soundly. 
 
 "Do not wake him," said Morgan le Fay, 
 who by her magic knew that she would find him 
 at this Abbey tired out. " I will rouse him my- 
 self when I think he has slept long enough, 
 meanwhile I will sit by his bedside." 
 
 The nuns dared not refuse her, so Morgan le 
 Fay went straight to the room in which King 
 Arthur lay, grasping in his hand the sword 
 Excalibur. 
 
 Now Morgan le Fay had determined to steal 
 the sword. She was much dismayed to find 
 that she could not do this without waking the 
 King, and she knew that if he woke and 
 found her with the sword she was a dead 
 woman. She therefore had to content her- 
 self with the scabbard, and hiding it under 
 her cloak she mounted her horse and rode 
 away. 
 
 As soon as the King awoke, he noticed that 
 the scabbard was not in its place, and he asked 
 the nuns angrily where it had gone. 
 
 The nuns replied that his sister Morgan le 
 Fay must have taken it with her under her 
 mantle. 
 
28 HOW LE FAY TBIED TO KILL KING ABTHUB.' 
 
 " Alas ! " said King Arthur, " you have indeed 
 watched me badly." 
 
 " Sir," they replied, " we dared not disobey 
 your sister when she wished to enter your room." 
 
 "Saddle the best horse that can be found," 
 said the King, '^and bid Sir Ontzlake find 
 another and make ready to ride with me. " 
 
 Together the two rode away from the Abbey, 
 and stopped only to ask a cowherd if he had 
 seen a lady pass that way. 
 
 " Yes," said the cowherd, " a lady passed by 
 here, with forty horse behind her, and they rode 
 into the forest yonder." 
 
 They rode on until at last King Arthur saw 
 Morgan le Fay and her company riding ahead 
 through the forest. She looked back, and when 
 she saw that she was being overtaken, she rode 
 into. a lake that lay in the plain at the edge of 
 the forest. Into the lake she threw the scab- 
 bard, crying, "Whatever betides, my brother shall 
 not have this," and being heavy with gold and 
 jewels it sank to the bottom. 
 
 Then she fled into a valley in which great 
 stones were strewn about, and there she turned 
 herself and her men and horses into blocks of 
 marble. 
 
30 HOW LE FAY TBIED TO KILL KING ABTHUB. 
 
 The King had almost overtaken her, and 
 when he rode up and found that she and her 
 company had disappeared, he thought that some 
 evil had befallen her on account of her misdeeds, 
 and set about searching for the scabbard. 
 
 High and low he sought for it, but being 
 unable to find it, he returned to the Abbey. 
 
 As soon as the King had gone, Morgan le 
 Fay turned herself, her men, and her horses into 
 their proper shapes again, and with them she 
 rode to the country of Gore, the towns and 
 castles of which she strengthened, for she greatly 
 feared King Arthur. 
 
 HOW MOKGAN LE FAY TRIED TO 
 KILL KING ARTHUR 
 
 Part II 
 
 While Morgan le Fay was strengthening her 
 castles, and making all preparations to repel the 
 invasion she expected King Arthur would make 
 of her territory, he had rested at the Abbey and 
 had then returned to the Court at Camelot. He 
 told the Queen of the adventures he had met 
 with, how Morgan le Fay had stolen his scabbard, 
 
HOW LE FA Y TBIED TO KILL KING ABTHUB. 31 
 
 and she rejoiced to have him safely back again. 
 The Court declared that Morgan le Fay deserved 
 to be burnt for her treason, their opinion being 
 that she had intended to kill the King. It 
 happened that one morning a damsel arrived at 
 the Court of King Arthur, and she brought a 
 message from Morgan le Fay, praying him to 
 accept a mantle covered with precious stones as 
 a gift, and begging him to forgive her in what- 
 ever she might have offended him. 
 
 The Knights of the Court were all present, 
 and the mantle being a magnificent one, they 
 were inclined to believe in the genuineness of 
 Morgan le Fay's message of peace. The King 
 was thoughtful, evidently turning the matter 
 over in his mind, and seeking for some motive 
 in this sudden repentance of his sister. The 
 mantle pleased him, however; he could see no 
 reason for suspecting treachery, and he was 
 about to throw it over his shoulders when the 
 Lady of the Lake stepped forward and begged 
 a word with him in private. 
 
 "What do you wish to say?" asked the 
 King, "speak here and fear nothing." 
 
 "It is merely advice I have to offer," said 
 the lady. " Do not put this mantle on, Sir, or 
 
32 EOW LE FAY TBIED TO KILL KING ABTHUB. 
 
 allow your Knights to put it on, until the 
 messenger has worn it in your presence." 
 
 "Your words are wise," answered the King. 
 " I will act on the suggestion ! " Turning to the 
 maid who had brought the present, he said, 
 " Damsel, I desire you to put on the mantle you 
 have brought me so that I may see it, and catch 
 fully the effect of the wonderful jewels that 
 adorn it". 
 
 " Sir," she replied, " it does not become me, a 
 poor maid, to wear a garment designed for a 
 King." 
 
 **By my head," cried King Arthur, "you 
 shall wear it before I put it on my back, or on 
 the back of any of my Knights." 
 
 Then the maiden wept, and fell on her knees 
 before the King, entreating him not to force her 
 to put it on her shoulders. 
 
 The King refused to listen to her. 
 
 She threw herself upon the ground in an 
 agony of fear and implored the King to have 
 mercy upon her. He was inexorable. " You 
 would have had me put it on," he said, ''and if 
 it has harmful properties which you know of, 
 then you deserve to suffer from them." He 
 signed to the Knights standing near her to put 
 
HOW THE BOUND TABLE BEGAN. 33 
 
 the mantle upon her, and no sooner had it 
 touched her than she was burnt into ashes, 
 which lay in a heap upon the floor. 
 
 The King was filled with anger at the un- 
 natural act of his sister, and regretted that she 
 herself had not suffered the penalty of her 
 treachery. 
 
 HOW THE EOUND TABLE BEGAN ^ 
 
 When King Arthur had fought and conquered 
 many of his enemies, he asked Merlin one day 
 if he would advise him to take a wife. 
 
 "Is there any woman you love better than 
 another?" asked Merlin. 
 
 " Yes," replied King Arthur, " the fairest 
 and best woman in the world I believe to be 
 Guenevere, the daughter of Leodegrance, King 
 of Cameliard. In her father's house stands 
 the Eound Table which my father gave to 
 him." 
 
 "Then, Sir," said Merlin, "your mind being 
 already made up, I know my advice will be use- 
 less, otherwise I should say that I could find 
 
 you a better and as fair a wife as she." Merlin, 
 IV. 3 
 
34 HOW TEE BOUND TABLE BEGAN, 
 
 however, suggested that he should take a good 
 company of Knights, and ride to the Court 
 of King Leodegrance to tell him that King 
 Arthur desired to wed his daughter. To this 
 Arthur gladly assented, and Merlin rode for 
 Cameliard. 
 
 Leodegrance was overjoyed at the honour 
 paid to him. ''As for lands to endow my 
 daughter with," he said, "I would give what- 
 ever King Arthur chooses ; but he has lands 
 enough, so I will give him instead the Round 
 Table, which was the gift of Uther Pendragon, 
 his father. 
 
 " It will seat one hundred and fifty Knights, 
 and of that number I lack fifty, what with wars 
 and sickness, so may-be King Arthur will accept 
 that with my daughter." 
 
 When King Arthur heard the message con- 
 veyed by Merlin, he was filled with joy, and said 
 to those around him, ''The news is very wel- 
 come, for I have long loved this fair lady, 
 and the Round Table is dearer to me than great 
 riches ". 
 
 He then ordered Sir Lancelot to ride and 
 fetch Guenevere, and preparations were made 
 for the marriage. 
 
HOW TEE BOUND TABLE BEGAN. 35 
 
 Invitations were sent round the land, for 
 King Arthur was anxious that all his Knights 
 should be present at his wedding. 
 
 When the day arrived, however, no more 
 than twenty-eight Knights were there. With 
 these Arthur was obliged to be content, and he 
 bade the Bishop of Canterbury bless the chairs 
 placed by the Round Table, and the Knights 
 took their seats in them. 
 
 **Fair Sirs," said Merlin, when the Bishop 
 had finished his blessing, " rise and pay homage 
 to your King." 
 
 The Knights rose, and in every seat, written in 
 letters of gold, appeared the name of the Knight 
 who had occupied it. Young Gawaine, the King's 
 nephew, then prayed King Arthur to knight him 
 on the day of the wedding, and the King had just 
 promised to do this when a poor man entered the 
 courtyard, bringing with him a youth mounted 
 upon a mare. The man drew near, and bowed 
 low before the King. " I have heard it said, my 
 lord," said he, '^ that at the time of your marriage 
 you would grant any man the boon he craved." 
 
 "That is true," replied the King, ''provided 
 the boon will injure neither my subjects nor my 
 Kingdom." 
 
36 HOW THE BOUND TABLE BEGAN: 
 
 " I thank you for your gracious words," said 
 the man ; " the boon I crave is that you will 
 make a Knight of my son, who desires it above 
 all things. Each day he beseeches me to bring 
 him to you, and while his thirteen brothers are 
 tending the cattle, he employs his time in watch- 
 ing tourneys and casting darts." 
 
 " What is your name ? " said the King to the 
 young man. 
 
 **Sir, my name is Tor." 
 
 " Where is your sword ? " 
 
 " It is here, my lord." 
 
 Tor fell on his knees, and, holding out his 
 sword to the King, prayed that he might be 
 made a Knight of the Round Table. 
 
 " A Knight I make you," said King Arthur, 
 touching him upon the neck with the sword, 
 '^ and if you prove yourself worthy, you shall be 
 a Knight of the Round Table." 
 
 The next day King Arthur also knighted 
 Gawaine as he had promised. 
 
THE DEATH OF MEBLIN, 37 
 
 THE DEATH OF MEELHST 
 
 Sir Tor before long proved by his gallant 
 deeds that he was worthy of a seat at the Round 
 Table. He and many other Knights went out to 
 seek adventures, and one of them, Sir Pellinore, 
 brought back a damsel to King Arthur's Court. 
 
 Merlin saw her, and fell so deeply in love 
 with her that when out of her company he grew 
 morose and dissatisfied with everything about 
 him. 
 
 The damsel, who out of respect for his grey 
 hairs should have desisted, led Merlin on, laugh- 
 ing at him in secret. The Wizard, though aware 
 of his folly, was powerless to check it, and feel- 
 ing that before long some evil would befall him, 
 warned King Arthur above all things to guard 
 his sword Excalibur, foretelling that this sword 
 and its scabbard would some day be stolen by 
 a woman he trusted. 
 
 " You will sorely miss my counsel when I am 
 dead," added Merlin. 
 
 '^ Since you know what will happen to you," 
 said the King, '^ why do you not guard against it?" 
 But Merlin persisted in following the maiden, 
 whose name was Vivien, and she gradually drew 
 
38 WHAT BEAUMAim ASKED OF TIXE KING. 
 
 from him many of the secrets and much know- 
 ledge of the magic for which he was famous. 
 
 At last she grew tired of him, and while in 
 Cornwall, Merlin showed her one day a rock 
 under which great marvels were hidden. 
 
 Vivien begged the old man to show her these 
 marvels, and Merlin, in spite of his wisdom, 
 consented to crawl beneath the rock to reveal 
 them to her. 
 
 No sooner was he under it than Vivien, by 
 means of the magic he had taught her, caused 
 the rock to roll over and bury him alive. This 
 was the fate that Merlin had told King Arthur 
 awaited him ; and the damsel departed, armed 
 with his magic, and pleased to be rid of the old 
 m^n. In this way the wisdom of man proved 
 useless against a woman's guile. 
 
 WHAT BEAUMAINS ASKED OF THE 
 
 KING 
 
 Part I 
 
 When Pentecost drew near, King Arthur com- 
 manded the Knights of the Round Table to 
 keep the feast in the great castle of the city of 
 Kin-Kenadon. 
 
O^ERLIN AmVWlZa®^^ 
 
40 WHAT BEAUMAINS ASKED OF THE KING. 
 
 It was the King^s custom to partake of no 
 food on the day of Pentecost until he had seen 
 some marvellous deed performed, or had heard 
 of its accomplishment. On that morning Sir 
 Gawaine, while looking from a window of the 
 castle, espied three men on horseback, followed 
 by a dwarf, coming towards the castle gate. 
 
 He saw them alight from their horses and 
 hand the reins to the dwarf 
 
 Sir Gawaine made his way to the King, and 
 said, "Sir, go to your food, for strange adven- 
 tures are at hand ". 
 
 King Arthur called the hundred and fifty 
 Knights of the Eound Table together, and they 
 sat down to dine. They were scarcely seated 
 than two young men entered the hall, supporting 
 upon their shoulders another handsome young 
 man, taller by a cubit than either of them. He 
 was wide in the chest and large handed, but 
 he leant upon the others as though he were 
 ashamed. 
 
 King Arthur beckoned them to the dais 
 upon which he sat. As the young man ap- 
 proached, he drew himself up to his full height. 
 
 "King Arthur," said he, ''may God bless 
 you and the fellowship of the Round Table. I 
 
WHAT BEAUMAINS ASKED OF THE KING. 41 
 
 have come hither to pray you to make me three 
 gifts." 
 
 "Ask," said King Arthur, "and you shall 
 have them." 
 
 " Sir, this is my petition for this feast ; the 
 other two I will lay before you on some future 
 occasion. Give me meat and drink, I pray you, 
 for one twelvemonth." 
 
 " Meat and drink I give to every man," said 
 the King, **so that is but a small favour. But 
 tell me your name ! " 
 
 This the young man explained he could not 
 do, and Arthur, after speaking kindly to him, 
 charged Sir Kay, the Steward, to see that the 
 young man ate and drank of the best. 
 
 " As he has no name," said Sir Kay, " I will 
 give him one, and will call him Beaumains, and 
 he shall sit in the kitchen and grow fat upon 
 broth." 
 
 Sir Kay continued to mock at the young 
 man in spite of the protests of Sir Lancelot and 
 Sir Gawaine, who believing that in the youth 
 there existed a spirit for great deeds, en- 
 deavoured to dissuade Sir Kay from his ex- 
 pressed intention of putting him in the kitchen. 
 It was of no avail, however, for Sir Kay persisted 
 
 * OF THE 
 
 UNIVERSITY 
 
 OF 
 
 J 
 
42 WHAT BEAUMAINS ASKED OF THE KING. 
 
 that he was to take his food among the kitchen 
 boys, and that among them he was to sleep. 
 
 Beaumains bore this ill treatment with mild- 
 ness, but when a tourney took place, he would 
 steal out to watch the Knights, and his eyes 
 would flash when a good blow was struck. In 
 the games that were held from time to time, he 
 could cast a bar or throw a stone a good two 
 yards further than any of his fellows. The year 
 passed by, and Whitsuntide came again, this 
 time to be celebrated at Carlion. 
 
 WHAT BEAUMAINS ASKED OF THE 
 
 KING 
 
 Part II 
 
 King Arthur would again eat no meat until an 
 adventure of some kind had befallen him. 
 
 *'Sir," cried a squire, "you may go to your 
 meat, for here is a damsel with some strange 
 tales." 
 
 At this King Arthur was very glad, for he 
 had waited long before he was able to break his 
 fast. 
 
 The damsel was led into the hall and bowed 
 low before the King, and begged for his help. 
 
WHAT BEAUMAINS ASKED OF THE KING, 43 
 
 " Sir," said she, " my sister is a noble lady who 
 is besieged by a tyrant, and cannot escape from 
 her castle. Knowing that your Knights are the 
 noblest in the world, I come to you for aid." 
 
 "And can you tell us the name of your 
 sister?" said King Arthur. 
 
 "That I may not divulge. Sir King," she 
 answered, " but the Knight who lays siege to her 
 castle is the Knight of the Eed Lawn." 
 
 " I know him," said Sir Gawaine ; " it is said 
 that he has the strength of seven, and once when 
 I crossed swords with him, I barely escaped 
 with my life." 
 
 "Fair damsel," said the King, "I cannot 
 give leave to any of my Knights to rescue your 
 lady, unless you will tell us her name." 
 
 " Then I must go further," said the damsel. 
 
 "Sir King," cried Beaumains before the 
 damsel could continue, "I thank you for my 
 meat and drink this past year, and the shelter of 
 your kitchen, and now I will ask of you the 
 two other gifts you have already promised to 
 give me. The first is the adventure of this 
 damsel." 
 
 " You shall have it," said the King. 
 
 "Then, Sir, you shall bid Sir Lancelot du 
 
a WHAT BEAUMAINS ASKED OF THE KING. 
 
 Lake make me Knight, for after his kindness 
 to me I will receive Knighthood at the hands 
 of no other." 
 
 ''You hear what he says?" said the King 
 to Sir Lancelot, smiling. 
 
 " Fie on you ! " cried the damsel, '* will you 
 send a kitchen boy to rescue my lady ? " and she 
 walked out, mounted her horse, and rode away. 
 
 No sooner had she left the hall, than a page 
 came to Beaumains to tell him that a horse and 
 armour in the charge of a dwarf awaited him 
 outside. When, in his armour, he entered to bid 
 the King farewell, men marvelled at the splen- 
 dour of his bearing. He bade Sir Lancelot and 
 Sir Gawaine farewell also, and begged the former 
 to follow him upon his quest. 
 
 Many watched him depart, and envied him 
 his horse and its golden trappings, but they 
 noticed that he bore neither shield nor spear. 
 
 ''I will ride after him," laughed Sir Kay, 
 *'and watch over my kitchen boy." 
 
 "Leave him and stay at home," said Sir 
 Lancelot and Sir Gawaine, but Sir Kay sprang 
 upon his horse and rode away. 
 
 He came up with Beaumains just as the 
 latter had overtaken the damsel. 
 
WHAT BEAUMAINS ASKED OF THE KING. 45 
 
 '* Beaumains," he cried, ''do you not know 
 me?" 
 
 Beaumains turned to look at him, and replied, 
 "Yes, I know you for an ill-mannered Knight, 
 and I warn you to beware of me ". 
 
 On hearing this from his former kitchen boy 
 Sir Kay put his spear in rest and charged. 
 Beaumains, drawing his sword, dashed the spear 
 aside, and before Sir Kay could recover he had 
 thrust him through the thigh. Beaumains then 
 took Sir Kay's spear and shield, and bidding the 
 dwarf follow upon the horse that Sir Kay had 
 ridden, hastened after the damsel. 
 
 Sir Lancelot, who had followed Sir Kay, and 
 had been a spectator of the combat, now rode 
 after Beaumains. 
 
 The latter, on seeing him, asked if he wished 
 to tilt. The shock of their meeting was so great 
 that both horses rolled over upon the ground, 
 and the riders rose sorely bruised. Without a 
 moment's hesitation, however, they drew their 
 swords, and thrust and parried until Sir Lance- 
 lot marvelled at the young man's strength. 
 
 ''We have no cause for quarrel," at last said 
 he, and Beaumains lowered his arms. 
 
 " You have proved yourself a worthy gentle- 
 
46 WHAT BEAUMAINS ASKED OF THE KING, 
 
 man," continued Sir Lancelot, ** and if you fight 
 as you have fought to-day, I would be your 
 warrant against any one, for I have had much 
 ado to defend myself against your onslaughts." 
 
 '^Then I pray you give me the order of 
 Knighthood," cried Beaumains. 
 
 " First you must tell me your name, and the 
 names of your kindred," said Lancelot. 
 
 '^ I know that you will not betray me," said 
 Beaumains, "and I will tell you. My name, 
 Sir, is Gareth, and Sir Gawaine is my brother." 
 
 " Ah," cried Lancelot, " I knew that you 
 came of good blood, and that you did not seek 
 King Arthur's Court for meat and drink only. 
 Kneel then, Sir," and Sir Lancelot gave the 
 youth the order of Knighthood. 
 
 WHAT BEAUMAINS ASKED OF THE 
 
 KING 
 
 Part III 
 
 Sir Gareth again rode after the damsel, and Sir 
 Lancelot returned to arrange for Sir Kay to be 
 carried back to Court, there to have his wounds 
 tended. 
 
 The damsel stopped when she saw Beau- 
 
WHAT BEAUMAINS ASKED OF THE KING. 47 
 
 mains approach. '* What are you doing here ? " 
 said she. ** Your clothes smell of kitchen 
 grease ! Do you expect me to change my feel- 
 ings towards you because you overcame yonder 
 Knight ? No, I know who you are, poor turner 
 of spits I " 
 
 "Madam," replied Beaumains, "in spite of 
 your words, I do not choose to quit your side 
 until I have released the lady of the castle in 
 accordance with my vow." 
 
 "Fie on you, Scullion," answered she. 
 "You will meet with a welcome you little ex- 
 pect." 
 
 "I shall do my best," said Beaumains, and 
 he refused to continue a controversy distasteful 
 to him. 
 
 A short time after this they reached a wood. 
 They had scarcely penetrated its outer edge, 
 before a man came galloping towards them. 
 
 " Help ! help ! " he cried. " My master lies 
 bound in yonder thicket, and I fear that the 
 thieves who attacked him will slay him." Beau- 
 mains rode with the man to the thicket, and 
 there the Knight lay bound and surrounded by 
 six thieves. 
 
 Beaumains rode at them, and having killed 
 
WHAT BEAUMAINS ASKED OF THE KING. 49 
 
 three would have turned his attention to the 
 others if they had not fled. 
 
 Having unbound the Knight, however, he 
 pursued them, and though when brought to bay 
 they fought for their lives, he slew them all be- 
 fore returning to the Knight. 
 
 The latter thanked him heartily, and Beau- 
 mains then rode back to the damsel's side. 
 
 *' Do you think I set store by what you have 
 done ! " she said. " I pray that you will not come 
 too close to me. Faugh, Sir ! you smell of the 
 kitchen." 
 
 The rescued Knight now rode up, and 
 begged Beaumains and the damsel to accept 
 his hospitality for the night. This they were 
 glad to do, and followed the strange Knight to 
 his castle. 
 
 Early the next morning Beaumains and the 
 damsel bade the Knight farewell, and started 
 upon their journey through the forest. In the 
 course of the day they arrived at the edge of a 
 river, on the farther side of which two Knights 
 stood ready to guard the passage. 
 
 "Well," said the damsel, "are you going to 
 
 turn back, Scullion ? " 
 
 Beaumains took no notice of her question, 
 IV. 4 
 
50 WHAT BEAUMAINS ASKED OF THE KING. 
 
 but spurred his horse into the water. One of 
 the opposing Knights did the same, and with 
 their spears in rest they met in the middle of the 
 river. 
 
 Both spears broke, and swords were drawn. 
 At length Beaumains struck the other Knight 
 from his horse, and he was drowned in the 
 river. 
 
 The second Knight awaited him on the bank, 
 but he did not wait long, for Beaumains urged 
 his horse till it leaped over rather than waded 
 through the stream, and he struck the second 
 Knight a blow that clave his helmet in two. 
 
 " Alas 1 " said the damsel, '' that two brave 
 Knights should be overcome by a kitchen boy ; 
 and such a kitchen boy ! " 
 
 They rode together till eventide, and the 
 damsel chid him all the way, but Beaumains 
 discreetly kept silence, only stating his determin- 
 ation to free the lady according to the vow he 
 had made. 
 
WHAT BEAUMAim ASKED OF THE KING. 51 
 
 WHAT BEAUMAINS ASKED OF THE 
 
 KING 
 
 Part IV 
 
 Beaumains and the damsel at length reached a 
 stretch of turf upon which a black hawthorn tree 
 was growing. On one side of the tree a black 
 banner hung, and upon the other a black shield 
 and spear. Close to the tree stood a black horse 
 covered with silk, and tethered to a black stone. 
 A Knight, clad in black armour, came forward 
 to meet the damsel and said, '' Is this the Knight, 
 damsel, that you have brought from King 
 Arthur's Court to be your champion?" 
 
 "He has come with me," answered the 
 damsel, " and I cannot be rid of him. I pray that 
 you will slay him or frighten him away, for he is 
 but a base kitchen knave." 
 
 " I will be gentle with him," said the Knight, 
 " for though he appears to be strong he is but 
 a young man. I will content myself with throw- 
 ing him to the ground, and taking his horse and 
 armour." 
 
 When the Knight had finished speaking, 
 Beaumains looked up and said, " Sir Knight, 
 
m^ 
 
 LINET AND THE BLACK KNIGHT 
 
 mnn 
 
WHAT BEAUMAINS ASKED OF THE KING. 53 
 
 although you dispose so lightly of my horse and 
 armour, they are at present my property, and 
 they will be yours only if won in fair fight. As 
 for my birth, I am of noble birth, as I will prove 
 upon your body." 
 
 They drew back some distance and charged 
 one another hotly, the fight continuing for an 
 hour and a half. In the end, however, a blow 
 of Beaumains' beat the Knight from his horse, 
 and he swooned and died. 
 
 Beaumains dismounted, and took the Knight's 
 armour, as it was better than his own, before 
 riding after the damsel. 
 
 They were riding together, he being chidden 
 by the damsel as usual, when they saw a Knight 
 dressed in green riding towards them. 
 
 " Is that my brother the Black Knight who 
 rides with you ? " he asked of the damsel. 
 
 " Alas, no ! " she replied, " this is a kitchen 
 knave who has slain your brother." 
 
 "You shall die for this," said the Green 
 Knight to Beaumains, and as he said it he 
 looked the noble Knight he was, being the re- 
 nowned Sir Percard. 
 
 The Green Knight then seized a horn that 
 hung from a tree, and no sooner had he blown 
 
54 WHAT BEAUMAim ASKED OF THE KING. 
 
 upon it than two maidens oame and armed him, 
 and gave him a green shield and spear. 
 
 Then the fight began, and it raged on until 
 both Knights were fighting on foot and sorely 
 wounded. 
 
 The damsel at length drew near and cried, 
 *' For shame ! my lord the Green Knight, to 
 allow a kitchen knave to stay your hand ". 
 
 These words stung the Green Knight to fury, 
 and with a mighty stroke he cleft Beau mains' 
 shield asunder. Before he could withdraw his 
 sword, Beaumains had struck him a blow that 
 felled him to his knees, and leaping upon him, 
 he dragged the Green Knight to the ground. 
 
 The Green Knight cried for mercy, but 
 Beaumains unlaced his helm as if he were 
 going to kill him, saying : '* Your words are in 
 vain unless the damsel begs me for your life ". 
 
 '^ Fie upon you, false Kitchen Knave I " cried 
 the damsel. '' I will not pray for his life when it 
 is in no danger." 
 
 " Suffer me not to die," entreated the Knight, 
 " when a word from your lips will save me ! " 
 
 "Fair Knight," he continued, ''spare me my 
 life and it will be for ever devoted to your 
 service, and the lives of thirty Knights besides." 
 
WHAT BEA CHAINS ASKED OF THE KING. 65 
 
 "Sir Knight," said Beaumains, "your life 
 rests upon the word of this lady," and he lifted 
 his sword to slay him. 
 
 "Let be, foul Knave," cried the damsel, 
 " do not slay him. If you do, you shall be made 
 to repent it." 
 
 "Damsel," said Beaumains, "as it is your 
 wish, I give this Knight his life." 
 
 The Green Knight kneeled and did homage 
 with his sword to the victor, and then he led 
 them to his castle where they stayed the night. 
 
 The damsel still reviled Beaumains to such 
 an extent, that the Green Knight felt called upon 
 to rebuke her. He told her that Beaumains 
 was the bravest Knight that ever held a spear, 
 and he summoned the thirty Knights who 
 served him, and bade them henceforth guard 
 him from treachery with their lives. 
 
 In the morning Beaumains and the damsel 
 bade the Green Knight farewell, and rode forth 
 upon their journey. 
 
 They met on the way Sir Persant of Inde, 
 whom Beaumains overcame, and the sixty good 
 Knights who served him were told to serve 
 Beaumains until his quest should be accom- 
 plished. 
 
66 WHAT BEAUMAINS ASKED OF THE KING, 
 
 WHAT BEAUMAINS ASKED OF THE 
 
 KING 
 
 Part V 
 
 When Beaumains had overcome Sir Persant, 
 the damsel begged him to go no further in her 
 adventure. His generous conduct and bold 
 bearing had won her favour, and she now told 
 him that although they were within seven 
 miles of the besieged castle, the most danger- 
 ous part of the adventure was still to come. 
 
 The Knight who laid siege to her lady was 
 far mightier than Sir Persant, and the latter 
 Beaumains had found to be redoubtable enough. 
 Beaumains however insisted upon pursuing the 
 adventure to the end. 
 
 "What sort of man can you be?" said the 
 damsel. ^*No woman could have treated you 
 so shamefully as I have, yet you have been 
 ever courteous and gentle to me. I beg that 
 you will forgive me for my behaviour in the 
 past." 
 
 "With all my heart," answered Beaumains. 
 "Under your displeasure my service has been 
 at least useful ; in the future and in the light 
 
WHAT BEAUMAINS ASKED OF THE KING. 57 
 
 of your favour I feel that my arm will be strong 
 enough for any deed." 
 
 "Heaven defend you," cried Sir Persant, 
 when he was told of the adventure upon which 
 Beaumains was bent, '^ the Knight you seek is 
 the most doughty living, having the strength of 
 seven men. 
 
 "He has done great wrong to the lady of 
 the castle, who is the fairest in the world, and 
 indeed I believe that this damsel must be her 
 sister. Is not her name Linet?" 
 
 "Yes, Sir," answered the damsel, "and my- 
 lady my sister is named the dame Lyonesse." 
 
 "The Red Knight has drawn out the siege 
 for two years," said Sir Persant, "in order to 
 give Sir Lancelot or Sir Tristram or Sir Gawaine 
 time to hear of the Lady LyoU'Csse's predicament, 
 and to ride to her rescue." 
 
 "I bid you knight this gentleman before he 
 meets the Eed Knight," said the damsel to Sir 
 Persant. 
 
 "That I will gladly," he replied, "if it 
 please him to take the order of Knighthood 
 from so simple a man." 
 
 "Sir," said Beaumains, "I thank you for 
 your good will, but at the beginning of this 
 
58 WHAT BEAUMAINS ASKED OF THE KING, 
 
 quest I was knighted by Sir Lancelot. My 
 name is Sir Gareth of Orkney, and Sir Gawaine, 
 whom you mentioned just now, is my brother. 
 
 "Neither he nor King Arthur, whose sister 
 my mother is, knows of my whereabouts, and I 
 beg you to keep my name a secret." 
 
 Now word was brought to the besieged 
 lady by a dwarf, that her sister was coming to 
 her with a Knight from King Arthur's Court, 
 and she bade her dwarf take baked venison, 
 capons, and wine, and put them in the hands of 
 a hermit, in whose cell the Knight and her sister 
 could partake of them. The dwarf did as he 
 was bidden, and led them to the cell, where 
 they refreshed themselves with the good things 
 before meeting the Red Knight. 
 
 When they drew near the castle, they found 
 full forty Knights hanging from the trees that 
 grew on the lawn before the castle gates. They 
 were the bodies of Knights who had already 
 essayed the rescue, and the damsel viewed with 
 dismay the fate she expected would overtake 
 Beaumains. 
 
 '' Truly," said he, " it is a marvel that one of 
 King Arthur's Knights has not before now dealt 
 with this Knight of the Red Lawn." 
 
WHAT BEAUMAINS ASKED OF THE KING. 59 
 
 They rode up to a sycamore tree from which 
 a horn was hanging, and Beaumains seized it 
 in order to blow a blast. 
 
 *^ Sir, I pray you," said Linet, " blow it not 
 till noontide, for until that hour of the day this 
 Red Knight has the strength of seven men." 
 
 " For shame ! damsel," said Beaumains, '^ I 
 will fight him how or when he likes," and he 
 blew a blast that rang through the castle. 
 
 WHAT BEAUMAINS ASKED OF THE 
 
 KING 
 
 Part VI 
 
 The Eed Knight buckled on his armour, mounted 
 his great charger, and rode out to meet the strange 
 Knight. The fight began hotly, and grew so fierce 
 that Beaumains had much ado to guard himself 
 till noon from the attacks of the Eed Knight. 
 When noon arrived, however, the Red Knight's 
 strength began to wane, and Beaumains eventu- 
 ally discovered that he held the mastery. 
 
 The lords and Knights in the castle begged 
 him to spare the Red Knight's life. This Beau- 
 mains did, and the Knights all entered themselves 
 into his service. 
 
60 WHAT BEAUMAINS ASKED OF THE KING. 
 
 Before the figlit, Beaumains had looked up 
 to a window in Castle Perilous, and there he had 
 seen a face that he thought the fairest in the 
 world. When he had overcome the Red Knight, 
 he went into the castle, and he found that the 
 face he had seen was that of the Lady Lyonesse, 
 who welcomed him and thanked him for her 
 deliverance. And Beaumains and the Lady 
 Lyonesse loved one another from that day. 
 
 Soon after this, letters came from King 
 Arthur bidding her come to his Court, but by 
 Sir Gareth's counsel (we will henceforth call him 
 by his proper name) she prayed the King to 
 let her call a tournament, the best Knight in 
 which should take her and all her lands. She 
 had such faith in Sir Gareth, that she believed 
 he would prove himself the best Knight in any 
 tournament. She had it proclaimed, however, 
 that if the best Knight were already married, he 
 should be given a white falcon for himself, and 
 for his wife a crown of gold set with precious 
 stones. 
 
 The Lady Lyonesse prepared Castle Perilous 
 for the distinguished visitors she expected, who 
 were coming from the most distant parts — from 
 Scotland, Wales, and Cornwall — and to lodge 
 
62 WHAT BEAUMAINS ASKED OF THE KING. 
 
 fitly the Kings, Dukes, and Earls who would 
 come with King Arthur. 
 
 Queen Guenevere and the Queen of Orkney 
 were among those who were coming, and Sir 
 Gareth begged all at Castle Perilous not to let 
 his name be known. 
 
 " Sir Gareth," said Dame Lyonesse, " I will 
 lend you a ring, and I beg by the love you bear 
 me that you will return it to me after the 
 tournament, for without it I have little beauty. 
 This ring will turn its wearer green red, or 
 blue white, and it is like no other ring, for 
 who wears it can lose no blood, however sorely 
 wounded he may be." 
 
 " Truly, my own lady," answered Sir Gareth, 
 *^ this ring will serve me well, and with its help 
 no one will need to undo my helm to tend me, 
 and thus recognise me." 
 
 Sir Gringamore, brother of the Lady Lyon- 
 esse, gave him a bay horse and strong armour, 
 and on the fifteenth of August, when the Feast 
 of the Assumption was kept, King Arthur com- 
 manded his heralds to blow the trumpets sum- 
 moning all good Knights to the lists. 
 
 All marvelled at the Knight with the armour 
 of changing hues, but this quality of his armour 
 
WHAT BEAUMAINS ASKED OF THE KING, 63 
 
 helped Sir Gareth to conceal his identity, which 
 in fact no one guessed. 
 
 " Of a truth," cried King Arthur, " that is a 
 good Knight," and he bade Sir Lancelot challenge 
 him. 
 
 But Sir Lancelot said that the Knight's limbs 
 must by now be weary, for he had fought as 
 though he were under the eyes of his lady, " and 
 for this day," said Sir Lancelot, " he deserves the 
 honour. Though it lay in my power to wrest it 
 from him, I would not." The strange Knight's 
 deeds were such that Sir Lancelot secretly 
 guessed he was no other than Sir Gareth. 
 
 WHAT BEAUMAINS ASKED OF THE 
 
 KING 
 
 Part VII 
 
 Sir Gareth rode hither and thither in the tourna- 
 ment, smiting whom he could, but it happened 
 that he received a fierce blow which damaged 
 his helm, and he rode off the field to mend it. 
 
 He took off the damaged helmet, and was 
 going to a stream to drink, when his dwarf, who 
 had been watching him eagerly, suggested that 
 the ring had better be left with him for the 
 
64- WHAT BEAUMAim ASKED OF TEE KING. 
 
 moment, for fear Sir Gareth should lose it. He 
 handed it to the dwarf, drank, mended his helm, 
 and returned to the field, forgetting the ring 
 which remained in the hands of the dwarf. Sir 
 Gareth joined again in the fray, and King Arthur 
 from his seat saw that this strange Knight's 
 armour was now of a golden colour. ^^Go," 
 said he to his heralds, " ride near him, and see 
 what manner of Knight he is." 
 
 One of the heralds returned to the King with 
 the information that on his helm were written in 
 golden letters the words : " This helm belongs to 
 Sir Gareth of Orkney". Sir Gareth, still un- 
 aware that he had left the ring with the dwarf, 
 and therefore the charm that had preserved his 
 identity from all beholders, struck on boldly in 
 the tournament, and was amazed to hear the 
 heralds now proclaim his name. So angry was 
 he at the discovery, that he struck down, one 
 after another, two Knights who chanced to be 
 near him, these two Knights proving to be Sir 
 Sagramore, and Sir Gawaine his own brother. 
 He then rode out of the press and met the dwarf. 
 " Boy ! " he cried, '' you have played me false and 
 kept my ring. Give it to me at once that I may 
 hide myself," and he rode swiftly into the forest. 
 
WHAT BEAUMAINS ASKED OF THE KING, 65 
 
 When he had ridden with the dwarf far from 
 Castle Perilous, he turned to his follower and 
 asked him what he would propose doing next. 
 
 "Sir," answered the dwarf, "I would send 
 the Lady Lyonesse her ring." 
 
 *'I will do so," said Sir Gareth, ''do you 
 return with it and pray her to be as faithful to 
 her true Knight as he will ever be to her." 
 
 After many fights and adventures, he was 
 standing one day in the forest, which he had not 
 left since the tournament, when an armed Knight 
 came riding towards them. 
 
 He sprang upon his horse, couched his spear, 
 and charged the strange Knight. The two 
 crashed together like thunder, and strove until 
 they were both sorely wounded. At this point 
 the damsel Linet rode up, and as soon as she 
 saw what was taking place she exclaimed, " Sir 
 Gawaine, I pray you cease fighting with Sir 
 Gareth your brother". 
 
 Sir Gawaine instantly threw down his shield 
 
 and sword, and ran to Sir Gareth, who, surprised 
 
 to see a gallant opponent yielding so easily, and 
 
 having neither seen nor heard the damsel's 
 
 words, contented himself with dropping his 
 
 sword point. 
 
 IV. 5 
 
66 WHAT BEAUMAINS ASKED OF THE KING, 
 
 " Do you not know me, my brother ? " cried 
 Sir Gawaine, unlacing his helm, and then Sir 
 Gareth perceived that the Knight was indeed 
 his brother, and they embraced, and gave thanks 
 that they had done one another no further harm. 
 
 The Lady Linet then came up to them, and 
 placed herbs upon their wounds. ''What will 
 you do now?" she said, "it is time that King 
 Arthur had news of you both." 
 
 " Ride, I pray you," said Sir Gawaine, '* to 
 my uncle, who is but two miles away, and tell 
 him that I have met my brother." 
 
 The Lady Linet mounted her mule, and rode 
 to King Arthur with her news. He immediately 
 ordered a palfrey to be saddled, and rode with 
 the Knights and ladies of his Court to meet the 
 brothers. 
 
 He found them seated on a hillside, and the 
 King dismounted and ran to meet them, and to 
 lead them to their mother, who was nearly 
 swooning with the joy of beholding her sons 
 again. 
 
WHAT BEAUMAINS ASKED OF THE KING, 67 
 
 WHAT BEAUMAINS ASKED OF THE 
 
 KING 
 
 Part VIII 
 
 The two Knights stayed in King Arthur's Court 
 for eight days. Then the King said to Linet, 
 *' I wonder that your sister, the dame Lyonesse, 
 does not come to visit us, or rather our nephew Sir 
 Gareth, who has worked so hard to win her love ". 
 
 "My lord," answered Linet, ''you must, by 
 your grace, hold my lady excused, for she does 
 not know that Sir Gareth is here." 
 
 "I pray you bring her here as soon as may 
 be," said Arthur. 
 
 " That I will quickly do," replied Linet, and 
 by the next morning, her sister dame Lyonesse, 
 with her brother Sir Gringamore, and forty 
 Knights, had come to the Court. 
 
 Of all the ladies there she was the fairest, 
 save Queen Guenevere. King Arthur, having 
 welcomed them, turned to his nephew Sir Gareth, 
 and asked him whether it was true that he wished 
 to take the Lady Lyonesse to wife. 
 
 "My lord," replied Sir Gareth, ''I love her 
 
 above all ladies in the world." 
 
 5* 
 
68 WHAT BEAUMAINS ASKED OF THE KING. 
 
 " And what say you, fair lady ? " asked the 
 King. 
 
 " Most noble King," answered the Lady 
 Lyonesse, '^I would rather Sir Gareth were 
 my husband than any King or Prince that may 
 be christened. If I may not have him, I promise 
 you I will have none. He is my first love, and 
 shall be my last. If you suffer him to make his 
 choice, I dare to say that he will not refuse to 
 take me." 
 
 ^^I will not indeed refuse," said Sir Gareth, 
 feeling much pleased at the smile the Lady Lyon- 
 esse had bestowed upon him while she spoke. 
 
 It was arranged that the marriage should 
 take place at Michaelmas, at Kin-Kenadon by 
 the sea-shore, and this was proclaimed in all 
 parts of the realm. 
 
 Sir Gareth presented dame Lyonesse with a 
 beautiful ring, and she gave one to him also. 
 
 King Arthur, before she departed, presented 
 her with a golden bee as a token of his friend- 
 ship, and Sir Gareth escorted her back to Castle 
 Perilous. 
 
 When he returned, he spent his few remaining 
 bachelor days in the company of Sir Lancelot, 
 whom he loved as he loved no other Knight. 
 
THE QUEST OF THE HOLY GBAAL. 69 
 
 The days passed quickly, and on Michaelmas 
 Day the Bishop of Canterbury married Sir Gareth 
 to the Lady Lyonesse with much ceremony, and 
 on the same day Sir Gawaine was married to 
 the damsel Linet, and Sir Agrawaine to Laurel, 
 the niece of dame Lyonesse. 
 
 The Knights, whom Sir Gareth had van- 
 quished, came with their foUowings to wish him 
 joy, and the Green Knight asked that he might 
 be the Chamberlain of the feast, and the Eed 
 Knight that he might be the Steward. 
 
 When the feast was ended, minstrelsy and 
 all manner of games were participated in. Then 
 there was a great tournament that lasted for 
 three days, but at the prayer of dame Lyonesse 
 it was ordained that no Knight who was wedded 
 could fight in the tournament. 
 
 Thus Beaumains' quest became the cause of 
 his great happiness. 
 
 THE QUEST OF THE HOLY GEAAL^- 
 
 This is a mysterious part of the adventures of 
 King Arthur's Knights, and if while reading they 
 appear to us to be vague, we must remember that 
 the stories are very old. Some of them were 
 
70 THE QUEST OF THE HOLY OBAAL. 
 
 invented by the heathen Welsh, or the ancient 
 Britons, from whom the Welsh were descended ; 
 others by the pagan Irish, who spoke Gaelic, 
 a language not unlike Welsh. 
 
 From those tongues the stories were translated 
 into French, and Christian beliefs and chivalrous 
 customs introduced into them. Finally, about 
 the time of Edward IV., the French was trans- 
 lated into English by Sir Thomas Malory, whose 
 translation was not a strictly literal one. 
 
 In the old Irish stories, the Holy Graal was 
 a mysterious vessel filled with miraculous food. 
 It has also been thought to be the holy vessel 
 used by our Lord, and brought to Britain from 
 the Holy Land. It is probable that these two 
 vessels were confused in the French translations. 
 
 On account of the sins of men the relic was 
 made invisible, appearing at intervals only, borne 
 by angels, or floating in a light that seemed to 
 radiate from itself. 
 
 The Knights, against King Arthur's wish, 
 made a vow to give up their custom of redress- 
 ing wrongs, and to set out in pursuit of this 
 vision. ' 
 
 As King Arthur foresaw, the breaking up 
 of the fellowship in order to pursue something 
 
THE QUEST OF THE HOLY GBAAL. 71 
 
 unreal, probably not to be gained by mortal men, 
 tended to weaken the kingdom. The tales of 
 these Knights' adventures are so confused, that 
 they read more like mere recollections of dreams 
 than accounts of actual deeds. 
 
 Part I 
 
 HOW THE KING DETEEMINED TO GO ON A 
 PILGEIMAGE, AND HIS SQUIEE WAS SLAIN 
 IN A DEEAM 
 
 The King was minded to go on a pilgrimage, 
 and having expressed his wish to the Queen, he 
 determined to set forth in search of the holy 
 chapel of St. Augustine. This chapel is 
 situated in the White Forest, and may only be 
 found by adventure. 
 
 He wished to undertake the quest alone, but 
 the Queen would not hear of it, and to allay any 
 fears she might entertain for his safety, he con- 
 sented to take with him a youth named Chaus, 
 who was tall and strong of limb. 
 
 The King instructed the lad to have the 
 horses saddled at break of day. As night 
 advanced the Knights retired, leaving Chaus 
 alone in the hall, waiting for the night to pass, 
 
72 THE QUEST OF TEE HOLY GBAAL. 
 
 and unwilling to sleep for fear he should not 
 have the horses ready at the appointed hour. 
 He sat himself down by the great fire, and in 
 spite of his desire to keep awake, drowsiness 
 overcame him, and sleeping heavily he dreamed 
 a strange dream. 
 
 He dreamt that the King had ridden away 
 upon his quest, leaving the Squire behind. In 
 his dream he saddled his horse, and galloping 
 out of the castle after his master, he at last 
 entered a forest and followed the traces of the 
 King's horse. 
 
 The marks suddenly ceased, and the youth 
 alighted on some open ground, upon which stood 
 a chapel surrounded by a graveyard. 
 
 He entered the chapel, expecting to find the 
 King there before him, but he could see no one 
 except a Knight who lay dead upon a bier. The 
 body was covered with a pall of silk, and four 
 tapers in gold candlesticks were burning round 
 it. 
 
 He displaced one of the tapers, and hid the 
 candlestick under his cloak until he should find 
 the King. 
 
 Riding back through the forest he met an 
 ill-favoured man dressed in black, who accosted 
 
THE QUEST OF THE HOLY GBAAL, 73 
 
 him, and threatened hhn with a heavy knife he 
 held in his hand. 
 
 '' Ho ! you who stand there," cried the youth, 
 '^have you seen King Arthur pass this way?" 
 
 *' No," the man replied, '' but I have met you, 
 and if you do not give up to me the gold candle- 
 stick now beneath your cloak, placed in yonder 
 chapel in honour of the dead Knight who lies 
 there, I will take it from you." 
 
 "By my faith," cried the Squire, "I have 
 taken that for my lord, King Arthur, and I shall 
 not yield it to you." He spurred his horse in 
 order to dash by the man, but the latter drove 
 the knife deep into his body. '' Help ! help ! " 
 cried the Squire, in his dream, and the King and 
 Queen woke from their sleep. 
 
 "Sir," said the Chamberlain, "you must be 
 moving, for it is dawn ; " and the King rose and 
 dressed himself. 
 
 He had put on his shoes, when the cry rang 
 out again, " Fetch me a priest, for I die I " and the 
 King ran into the hall, followed by the Queen 
 and the Chamberlain bearing torches. 
 
 "What ails you?" asked the King of his 
 Squire, and the Squire told him of his dream. 
 
 When he had finished, he held up his arm and 
 
7i THE QUEST OF THE HOLY GBAAL, 
 
 said, " Alas ! my lord, though but a dream I 
 feel the knife in my body," and the King saw 
 the haft standing out from the lad's side, and 
 the candlestick in the folds of his cloak. A 
 priest was sent for, and when the Squire had 
 confessed his sins, the King drew the knife out, 
 and the lad expired. 
 
 The King caused the candlestick to be sent 
 to the Church of Saint Paul in London, in 
 memory of the Squire who had lost his life in 
 this strange fashion. 
 
 King Arthur, after this, would allow no one 
 to accompany him upon his quest, and having 
 met with many adventures he at last reached 
 the chapel of St. Augustine. 
 
 There he alighted, but an unseen power pre- 
 vented him from crossing the threshold, and 
 he returned to Court after having heard from 
 without such wonderful singing, and having seen 
 so beautiful a vision, that he was strengthened 
 in his determination to bring peace and order 
 to his kingdom. 
 
THE QUEST OF THE HOLY GBAAL. 75 
 
 Part II 
 THE COMING OF THE HOLY GRAAL'^ 
 
 It was on the eve of Pentecost that the Knights 
 of the Round Table met together at Camelot. 
 
 A great feast had been prepared, and they 
 were seated at supper, when a noise burst upon 
 their ears like a thunder clap. 
 
 From the centre of the heavy clouds that 
 hung above, a sunbeam shot forth into the room, 
 and illumined it with a vivid light. 
 
 Each man looked at his neighbour, and every 
 countenance there shone fair and calm. 
 
 While they sat dumb, the Holy Graal floated 
 into the hall, its lustre subdued by a veil of white 
 samite. Sweet odours filled the place, and each 
 Knight had the dish he most desired placed 
 before him. The silence continued in the room, 
 till the Holy Vessel vanished as mysteriously as 
 it had come, and men's tongues were loosened. 
 The King then gave thanks for the wonder they 
 had been permitted to see, and when he had 
 finished Sir Gawaine stood up, and vowed to 
 set out the next morning in search of the Holy 
 Graal. Many of the other Knights present made 
 a similar vow. 
 
76 THE QUEST OF THE HOLY GBAAL, 
 
 The King was much vexed when he heard 
 Gawaine's vow, anticipating that the Round 
 Table fellowship would in this way be dissolved 
 for ever. 
 
 "Comfort yourself," said Lancelot, **for die 
 we must, and it is surely best to die in a holy 
 cause in which we shall gain great honour." 
 
 The next day the King and Queen went to 
 the Minster, followed by the Knights armed 
 except for their shields and helmets. When 
 the service was over. King Arthur counted the 
 Knights who had undertaken the quest, and 
 they numbered one hundred and fifty. They 
 bade farewell to the King and Queen, and 
 mounting their horses, rode through the streets 
 of Camelot as the sun was rising. 
 
 Part III 
 THE ADVENTURE OF SIR GALAHAD 
 
 When the Knights had ridden out of the town, 
 they dispersed and were soon out of touch with 
 one another. 
 
 Among those who had taken the vow was 
 Sir Galahad, the son of Sir Lancelot, and he 
 rode for four days without an adventure. On 
 
TEE QUEST OF THE HOLY GBAAL. 77 
 
 the fifth day he reached a White Abbey, where 
 he dismounted and asked to be allowed to stay 
 the night. The brethren received him with 
 reverence, and led him to a chamber. He took 
 off his armour and found that he was in the 
 presence of two other Knights. 
 
 " Sirs," said he, " what adventure has brought 
 you hither ? " 
 
 ''Sir," they replied, ''we heard that in this 
 Abbey there is a shield that no man may hang 
 round his neck, without being dead within three 
 days, and if we fail in the adventure, we shall be 
 happy for you to undertake it." 
 
 " I will willingly undertake it," said Galahad, 
 " for as yet I have no shield." 
 
 After Mass the next morning, the monk led 
 them behind an altar where a shield hung, and 
 it was as white as snow, with a red cross in the 
 middle. 
 
 "This shield," said the monk, "can only be 
 hung round the neck of the worthiest Knight in 
 the world." 
 
 " Well," said one of the Knights, whose name 
 was King Bagdemagus, " I know I am not the 
 best Knight in the world, yet I shall try to bear 
 it," and he rode away with it, followed by his 
 
78 THE QUEST OF THE HOLY GBAAL. 
 
 Squire. He had only ridden two miles, when in 
 a fair valley he encountered a Knight in white 
 armour, mounted upon a white horse. They met 
 with their spears, and King Bagdemagus was 
 borne to the ground, for the shield he bore was 
 no protection to him. 
 
 The strange Knight dismounted, and taking 
 the white shield, he handed it to the Squire, 
 saying, ^'Bear this with my greetings to the 
 good Knight Sir Galahad, whom you have left 
 in the Abbey. I cannot give him my name." 
 
 The Squire then helped Sir Bagdemagus, who 
 was sorely wounded, to mount his horse. Then 
 he led him to a monastery that lay in the valley, 
 where after many weeks he recovered from his 
 wounds. 
 
 Having done this, the Squire rode to the 
 Abbey, and alighting before Sir Galahad, he 
 said, " Sir, the Knight who wounded Sir Bagde- 
 magus sends his greeting, and bids you bear this 
 shield, which will bring you many adventures ". 
 
 ^'This is indeed a day of fortune," said Sir 
 Galahad, and he hung the shield round his neck, 
 mounted his horse, and rode off followed by the 
 Squire. 
 
 They rode straight to the hermitage, where 
 
80 THE QUEST OF THE HOLY GBAAL, 
 
 they met the White Knight, and having saluted 
 the Knight and heard the story of the shield 
 from his lips, Sir Galahad and his Squire returned 
 to the Abbey. 
 
 THE ADVENTUEE OF SIR GALAHAD— (co?j^mwe^). 
 
 The monks joyfully greeted Sir Galahad on 
 his return, for they had not expected to see him 
 again, and when he had alighted from his horse, 
 they led him to a tomb in the churchyard. 
 
 Day and night a deafening noise rumbled in 
 this tomb, and the monks said that they thought 
 it was caused by a fiend that dwelt within. 
 
 Sir Galahad, completely armed except for 
 his helmet, lifted the stone, and a voice cried, 
 " Come not nigh me. Sir Galahad ; make me not 
 return whence I have come ". 
 
 Galahad raised the stone still higher, and, 
 from the middle of a column of black smoke 
 that issued from the tomb, leaped a foul figure 
 in the shape of a man. 
 
 Galahad stooped, and looking into the tomb, 
 saw a body, armed cap-a-pie, lying there. 
 
 "Fair brother," said Galahad to the monk, 
 "let us remove this body, for it must be the 
 
THE QUEST OF THE HOLY GBAAL, 81 
 
 body of a false Christian, and therefore unworthy 
 of burial in this churchyard." 
 
 The body was removed, and they returned to 
 the Abbey, where Sir Galahad knighted Melias 
 his Squire, and the next morning the two Knights 
 departed, taking different ways, in search of the 
 Holy Graal. 
 
 Sir Galahad rode until he came to the Castle 
 of Maidens, into which no man stained by sin 
 could enter. He chased away the Knights who 
 had beleaguered it for seven years, and restored 
 it to the Duke's daughter to whom it rightly 
 belonged. He then called together the Knights 
 who had held lands under the Duke, and bade 
 them pay homage to his daughter. 
 
 In the morning, the news was brought to 
 him that Sir Gawaine, Sir Gareth, and Sir 
 Lewaine had met the Knights whom he had 
 driven from the castle, and had slain seven of 
 them. 
 
 Sir Galahad rode away, and the same day 
 
 met Sir Lancelot and Sir Percivale. These 
 
 Knights being disguised, and Galahad bearing 
 
 a white shield, they failed to recognise one 
 
 another and gave battle. 
 
 Sir Galahad threw the two Knights to the 
 IV. 6 
 
82 THE QUEST OF THE HOLY QBAAL, 
 
 ground. " God be with thee, Sir Galahad, thou 
 best Knight in the world," cried a nun who was 
 passing by, and she spoke so loudly that the 
 two Knights heard, and mounting their horses, 
 they rode after Sir Galahad. He had, however, 
 ridden deep into the wood, and being unable to 
 trace him. Sir Percivale returned to seek the 
 advice of the nun, while Sir Lancelot pressed 
 forward, 
 
 Pakt IV 
 HOW SIR LANCELOT SAW A VISION 
 
 Sm Lancelot halted when he reached a stone 
 cross, which lay by the side of his path, and 
 close to a block of marble. A chapel stood a 
 few paces away, and Sir Lancelot, tethering his 
 horse, and hanging his shield on a branch, 
 walked to the porch and looked inside. 
 
 In the chapel he saw an altar covered with 
 a silken cloth, and a candlestick stood near it, 
 with six branches of shining silver from which 
 a bright light illumined every corner. 
 
 Sir Lancelot would fain have entered, but 
 some unseen force prevented him, and he turned 
 back and disarmed himself before lying down to 
 sleep on his shield at the foot of the cross. 
 
THE QUEST OF THE HOLY GBAAL. 83 
 
 While he lay there but half asleep, he saw 
 two white palfreys pass by, drawing a litter in 
 which a sick Knight reclined. 
 
 They paused when they reached the cross, 
 and Sir Lancelot heard the Knight say, '^O 
 sweet Lord, when shall my sorrow cease in the 
 discovery of the Holy Vessel. Long have I 
 endured misery though few were my ill deeds." 
 
 He had scarcely finished speaking than the 
 great candlestick appeared before the cross. 
 A silver table stood by its side, and upon this 
 Sir Lancelot saw the Holy Vessel of the Graal. 
 
 The Knight rose from his litter, and pain- 
 fully approaching the table, prayed to be cured 
 of his sickness. When he rose to return to his 
 litter, he found that his prayer had been 
 answered, and he gave thanks for his recovery. 
 
 The Graal then vanished into the chapel, 
 and with it the table and the candlestick. Sir 
 Lancelot would fain have risen and followed it, 
 but his sins clogged him, and he could not 
 move. 
 
 The Knight saw Sir Lancelot lying on his 
 shield, and rode away, marvelling that any 
 man's sins could be so great as to cause him to 
 remain asleep in the presence of the Holy Graal. 
 
84 TEE QUEST OF THE HOLY GBAAL. 
 
 The Knight took Sir Lancelot's sword and 
 helm with him, also his horse. When Lancelot 
 awoke, he heard a voice say, "Sir Lancelot, 
 harder than the stone, and more barren than 
 the leaf of the fig tree, withdraw thee from this 
 holy place," and he cursed the day that he was 
 born. His horse and arms were gone ; he smote 
 himself and cried, " My sin and wickedness are 
 the cause of my dishonour, my worldly desires 
 I have obtained, and in worldly quarrels, whether 
 right or wrong, I have always prevailed, but 
 in a holy quest I am discomfited". 
 
 He sorrowed until daybreak woke the birds, 
 and their singing comforted him. His horse 
 being gone, he then departed through the wood 
 on foot. 
 
 Part V 
 THE ADVENTUEE OF SIR PERCIVALE 
 
 Sm Percivale, after parting with Sir Lancelot, 
 had pursued adventures of his own, and being 
 attacked and almost overcome by the numbers 
 of his opponents, he was grateful to a Knight 
 bearing a red shield for riding to his rescue. 
 This Knight was no other than Sir Galahad, who 
 had changed his shield, and as he rode quickly 
 
THE QUEST OF TEE HOLY GBAAL. 85 
 
 away Sir Percivale recognised him. Unfortun- 
 ately, his horse had been killed, and he could 
 not follow. 
 
 A Knight on a black horse rode by while Sir 
 Percivale was sitting beneath the tree, near 
 which the fight had taken place. A yeoman 
 soon after galloped up, and asked Sir Percivale 
 if he had seen a Knight on a black horse pass by. 
 The horse he said was his property. 
 
 "If I had a horse of my own," said Sir 
 Percivale, "I would soon overtake him." 
 
 '* Ride this hackney ! " said the yeoman, 
 " and I will follow on foot to see how you fare." 
 
 Sir Percivale mounted the yeoman's horse, 
 and soon overtook the strange Knight. 
 
 The Knight turned, and rode at Sir Percivale. 
 His spear struck the hackney in the breast, and 
 the animal fell dead, carrying Sir Percivale with 
 him in his fall. 
 
 Sir Percivale cried to the Knight to stop 
 and fight him on foot, but the latter rode away 
 without turning his head, and Sir Percivale was 
 left with nothing upon which to vent his rage. 
 Being faint and weary, he lay down to sleep, but 
 at midnight he woke and saw before him a 
 woman, who said fiercely, '^Sir Percivale, wan- 
 
86 THE QUEST OF TEE HOLY QBAAL. 
 
 ton Knight, why do you linger here ? If you 
 will promise to do me a service, I will lend you 
 my own horse, which will bear you wherever 
 you want to go." 
 
 Sir Percivale promised to do her bidding, 
 and she returned with a large black horse, 
 splendidly appointed. 
 
 He mounted the horse, and driving in the 
 spurs, within an hour he had ridden a four days' 
 journey. He pulled up on the banks of a roar- 
 ing torrent to choose the easiest crossing. Select- 
 ing a smoothly running portion of the stream, he 
 made the sign of the cross upon his forehead, 
 and spurred his horse. At that the fiend, which 
 had taken the shape of a horse, shook Sir 
 Percivale from his back and rushed into the 
 foaming torrent. 
 
 Sir Percivale gave thanks that he had been 
 saved from perdition on the back of the fiend, 
 and spent the remainder of the night in prayer. 
 
 In the morning he looked round him, and 
 perceived that he was in a wild country, teeming 
 with beasts of all kinds. He wandered down a 
 valley, and there witnessed a lion fiercely at- 
 tacking a serpent which had stolen its cub. 
 
 The lion being the more natural beast of the 
 
31K PLI^CIVALE SLAYS THL SERPENT 
 
88 TEE QUEST OF THE HOLY GBAAL, 
 
 two, Sir Percivale determined to help it, and 
 drawing his sword he slew the serpent. The 
 lion then leaped round him, and fawned upon 
 him like a spaniel. About noon it carried off its 
 whelp, but returned at eventide, and couched at 
 his feet, and that night he and the lion slept 
 side by side. 
 
 Part VI 
 THE ADVENTUEE OF SIR LANCELOT 
 
 Sir Lancelot went his way through the forest, 
 and met and vanquished the Knight who had 
 taken his arms. Feeling subdued in spirit 
 through his experience at the stone cross, he 
 sought out a hermit, and abode with him for a 
 time, wearing next his skin a hair shirt, which 
 pricked and irritated him ; but he bore this 
 meekly until he bade the hermit farewell, and 
 rode further upon the quest. That day he came 
 to a wide plain upon which a castle stood, sur- 
 rounded with tents of many colours. 
 
 Fully five hundred Knights were riding on 
 the plain, and they appeared to be divided into 
 two parties, those near the castle being mounted 
 on black horses, and the others on white horses. 
 
 Sir Lancelot looked on, while the two parties 
 
TEE QUEST OF THE HOLY GBAAL. 89 
 
 fought together. The Black Knights seemed to 
 him to be losing the day, so he rode to their 
 help, and wrought marvellous deeds of arms. 
 The White Knights surrounded him, hoping to 
 tire him out, and at last he grew so exhausted 
 that his arms refused to perform their duty. He 
 was taken prisoner, and led into the forest to 
 rest himself. There he had the mortification of 
 seeing the Black Knights, deprived of his help, 
 resign the battle, thus allowing the White 
 Knights to win the day. 
 
 *^ Never before have I been overcome in a 
 joust," said Sir Lancelot, when the Knights had 
 left him, " I must be more sinful than ever to be 
 shamed in this way." 
 
 He rode on until he passed a chapel, and he 
 told the nun, who stood there, of the quest upon 
 which he was bent, and of what had befallen 
 him at the tournament. 
 
 "Ah, Lancelot," said she, "it was no wonder 
 you were worsted at the tournament, if you 
 joined the ranks of the Black Knights. The 
 tournament was a sign, the Black Knights being 
 those who were not yet purged of earthly sin, 
 the White Knights being those who were pure 
 in spirit. Be not vainglorious, but endeavour to 
 
90 THE QUEST OF THE HOLT OEAAL. 
 
 lead a pure and simple existence in this world, 
 and thus gain everlasting life. I am truly sorry 
 for you, peerless as you are among earthly 
 Knights." 
 
 Part VII 
 
 THE ADVENTUEE OF SIE BOES 
 
 When Sir Bors left Camelot, he met a holy man 
 riding upon an ass, and the holy man knew him 
 to be one of the Knights in quest of the Holy 
 Graal. 
 
 " Can you give me any help in my quest ? " 
 asked Sir Bors. " I am full of hope that I shall 
 fulfil it, and so win the honour that will be my 
 due." 
 
 '^The Knight who finds the Holy Graal," 
 said the good man, " will be he who pursues the 
 quest in a spirit of humility, and in the hope of 
 no earthly reward for the service he is rendering 
 his fellow-men." 
 
 He led Sir Bors to his chapel, and the Knight 
 confessed his sins, and they ate bread and drank 
 water together. 
 
 "Xow," said the hermit, "I pray you to 
 eat no more holy bread till you sit at the table 
 of the Holy Graal, for I know you will succeed 
 
THE QUEST OF THE HOLY GBAAL. 91 
 
 SO far, and that few others will be there with 
 
 you." 
 
 Sir Bors promised to obey the hermit's injunc- 
 
 tion. '*Also/' said the holy man, "you shall 
 wear this garment instead of your shirt until 
 you are successful in the quest," and he handed 
 Sir Bors a scarlet coat. 
 
92 THE QUEST OF THE HOLY GBAAL, 
 
 The good man then questioned him, and 
 marvelled to find him so pure in life. 
 
 Sir Bors rode through many lands, and met with 
 many adventures. Once by mischance he almost 
 slew his brother, but a voice cried, "Flee, Bors, and 
 stay your hand," and he hearkened to the voice. 
 A fiery cloud fell between them, which burned up 
 their shields, and they fell swooning to the earth. 
 
 When they recovered consciousness, they 
 found that they had fortunately not hurt one 
 another, and Bors obeyed the voice that again 
 spoke and bade him part from his brother. 
 
 He made his way to the sea-shore, always 
 cheered by the words of the holy man who had 
 met him early in his quest, and there stepped on 
 board a vessel covered with white samite. The 
 vessel sailed quickly over the waters, and Bors 
 slept upon its deck. 
 
 When he awoke, he found a Knight lying in 
 the waist of the ship, completely armed except 
 for his helm, and this Knight proved to be no 
 other than Sir Percivale. They gladly welcomed 
 one another, and told the tale of their temptations 
 and adventures. " We only lack one thing," said 
 Sir Percivale, " the presence of the good Knight, 
 Sir Galahad." 
 
THE QUEST OF THE HOLY GBAAL, 93 
 
 Part VIII 
 
 THE ADVENTUEE OF SIB GALAHAD 
 
 Sm Galahad was sleeping one night at a hermit- 
 age, when a gentlewoman asked to be allowed 
 to speak to him. The hermit woke Sir Galahad, 
 and he rose and offered the lady his services. 
 
 ^^ Sir Galahad," she said, " mount your horse, 
 and follow me to as high an adventure as any 
 Knight could meet with." 
 
 They journeyed together until they reached 
 the ship in which Sir Bors and Sir Percivale had 
 embarked, and there they left their horses on 
 the shore, and took the saddles and bridles with 
 them on the vessel. 
 
 The two Knights received them with great 
 joy, the sails were spread to the breeze, and the 
 vessel flew before it to the land of Logris. The 
 entrance to the chief harbour of this land consists 
 of a channel between two rocks, and a whirlpool 
 seethes in its middle. Their own ship could not 
 pass safely through, so they transferred them- 
 selves to another ship that rode at anchor there. 
 Upon this ship the following words were written, 
 "Thou who wouldst enter this ship must be of 
 steadfast belief ". 
 
94 THE QUEST OF THE HOLY GEAAL, 
 
 The gentlewoman turned to Sir Percivale, and 
 asked him if he knew who she was. 
 
 " No," said he, '' I do not." 
 
 " I am your sister," she replied, " and I warn 
 you not to enter the ship, if you have been 
 guilty of any hidden sin." 
 
 In the ship there was a fair bed, and Sir 
 Galahad saw that a crown of silk lay upon it, and 
 a sword, drawn from its sheath half a foot or more. 
 The pommel of the sword was of coloured stone, 
 and the handle was made of the ribs of two beasts. 
 By virtue of this sword, the arm of the Knight 
 who wielded it could not grow weary, neither 
 could the Knight allow his thoughts to dwell 
 upon past happiness, always feeling instead ex- 
 hilaration in the prospect of joys to come. 
 
 Sir Percivale first attempted to draw the 
 sword, but he could not grasp the handle. Sir 
 Bors tried, but failed also. Sir Galahad, when 
 he beheld the sword, saw written upon it in 
 words of blood, that he who failed to draw it 
 should never have cause to be ashamed of his 
 prowess, or be wounded to the death. 
 
 He gripped the sword, and drew it from its 
 sheath, and the gentlewoman girt it about his 
 waist. 
 
TEE QUEST OF THE HOLY GBAAL. 96 
 
 They then went into yet another ship, which 
 carried them safely to the land. 
 
 There the ELnights wrought many brave deeds, 
 before taking different ways. They heard while 
 on these adventures of the death of Sir Perci- 
 vale's sister. She had allowed herself to bleed 
 to death in order to save another lady, and she 
 sent a prayer to them to lay her in a boat, 
 which should be allowed to go whither the wind 
 and waves decreed. Sir Percivale wrote a letter, 
 and placed it in her hand, and they put her 
 into a barge covered with silk, and the wind 
 rose and drove it from their sight. 
 
 Part IX 
 
 SIE LANCELOT MEETS SIB GALAHAD AND THEY 
 PART FOR EVER 
 
 We will now return to Sir Lancelot. After his 
 fight in the ranks of the Black Knights, and his 
 encounter with the nun who explained to him 
 that the Black Knights represented worldliness, 
 he rode until he reached a lake named Mortoise. 
 There he fell asleep, and dreamed that he 
 was bidden to take his armour, and enter the 
 first ship he should see. 
 
96 THE QUEST OF THE HOLY GBAAL. 
 
 He woke up, and walked to the strand upon 
 which a ship was lying without sail or oar. 
 He stepped on the vessel, and went below. 
 
 He was no sooner in the ship, than he felt a 
 content, overpowering in its sweetness, that 
 caused him to fall asleep. 
 
 He awoke from this sleep to find himself 
 near a fair bed. A dead lady lay upon it, and 
 he knew her to be Sir Percivale's sister. A 
 letter was in her hand, telling the tale of her 
 adventures, which Sir Lancelot read. 
 
 For a month he drifted, the corpse his sole 
 companion ; and on the twenty-ninth day, when 
 the ship was near the shore, he heard the sound 
 of horse's hoofs, and a Knight rode up. 
 
 " You are welcome," said Sir Lancelot to the 
 Knight, who stepped up the ship's side carrying 
 his saddle and bridle in his hand. 
 
 "Sir," said the new Knight, "my name is 
 Galahad ; may I ask yours 1 " 
 
 "I am your father, Sir Lancelot," said that 
 Knight, and Galahad kneeled and asked his 
 blessing. 
 
 After they had related their adventures^ 
 Sir Galahad saw the dead lady upon the bed, 
 and he told Sir Lancelot how good a maid she 
 
IV. 
 
 GVENEVERE &/51KB0RS 
 
 (See p. 105.) 
 
THE QUEST OF THE HOLY GBAAL, 97 
 
 had been, and described the manner of her 
 death. 
 
 They stayed on the ship for half a year, and 
 at the end of that time they chanced to drift 
 near the edge of a forest, and there they saw a 
 Knight sitting astride of one horse, and holding 
 another by the bridle. 
 
 He rode to the ship, and saluting the two 
 Knights, he said, '' Galahad, you have been long 
 enough with your father, so ride upon this 
 horse in pursuit of the Holy Graal ". 
 
 Galahad bade his father farewell, and kissed 
 him, saying, ''Father, I fear I shall not see you 
 again until I have found the Holy Graal ". Then 
 they heard a voice arise from around them, and 
 it said, ''Thou wilt not meet again until the 
 day of doom". 
 
 Then Galahad left his father, and rode upon 
 the quest, and the next day Sir Lancelot rode 
 to Camelot. There he found King Arthur and 
 Queen Guenevere; but only half the Knights 
 were there, many having been slain in the quest 
 of the Holy Graal. 
 
 All the Court welcomed Sir Lancelot, and 
 many and anxious were the inquiries after his 
 
 son, Sir Galahad. _ 
 
 IV. 7 
 
98 TEE QUEST OF TEE EOLY GBAAL. 
 
 Part X 
 now SIB GALAHAD FOUND THE GRAAL 
 
 Sir Galahad went on until he met Sir Percivale 
 and Sir Bors, with whom he rode to the castle 
 of Carbonek. After being welcomed there by 
 King Pelles they continued the quest, accom- 
 panied by three Knights of Gaul. Before 
 leaving the castle, Galahad anointed the King, 
 who was maimed, with the blood in the Holy 
 Sword, and cured him of his trouble. 
 
 Galahad also prayed the other Knights, if 
 they returned to King Arthur's Court, to carry 
 his greetings to Sir Lancelot, and to the Knights 
 of the Eound Table. 
 
 The Knights then rode away, and after several 
 days the Knights of Gaul took a different road, 
 leaving Sir Galahad, Sir Percivale, and Sir Bors 
 to ride to the shore where the ship awaited them. 
 
 The table of silver stood in the ship, and 
 upon it they found the Holy Graal covered with 
 red samite. Their hearts were filled with delight 
 and reverence at once more beholding the object 
 of their quest. Galahad kneeled and prayed 
 long to be allowed to depart from the world 
 when he should desire to do so, and he heard a 
 
THE QUEST OF THE HOLY GBAAL. 99 
 
 voice reply, " Galahad, thou shalt have thy 
 desire, and having asked for the death of the 
 body, thou shalt find the life of the soul". 
 
 Sir Percivale heard the voice also, and mar- 
 velled to hear so wonderful a prayer promised 
 fulfilment. The three Knights remained in the 
 ship until they reached the city of Serras. There 
 they disembarked, carrying the silver table with 
 them to the gates of the city. 
 
 Outside the city gates they met an old cripple, 
 whom Galahad healed. The news of this miracle 
 was carried to the ears of the King, and he sent 
 for the three Knights and questioned them. 
 
 They told him the truth, and of the Holy 
 Graal, but the King was sceptical, and believing 
 their powers to be supernatural, he ordered them 
 to be put in a hole. 
 
 There they remained for a year, sustained by 
 a vision of the Graal, until the King fell sick. 
 Believing that his death was near, he called the 
 three Knights, and asked their forgiveness, which 
 was readily given to him. 
 
 The King died, and the people knew not 
 what to do, till at last a voice bade them make 
 the youngest of the three Knights their King. 
 
 They obeyed the voice, and proclaimed 
 
100 TEE QUEST OF THE HOLY GBAAL. 
 
 Galahad King, and he thereupon had a coffer of 
 gold made and set with precious stones, and in 
 this he placed the silver table. Each day the 
 three Knights met and prayed before it. 
 
 At the end of a year, and upon the same day 
 that the people had proclaimed Galahad their 
 King, he walked with the two Knights to the 
 palace. There they beheld a human form clad 
 in the vestments of a Bishop, and surrounded by 
 Angels, kneeling before the Holy Vessel. 
 
 Sir Galahad trembled violently at the appari- 
 tion, and raising his hands to Heaven, he cried, 
 " Dear Lord, now I would no longer live, if it may 
 please Thee to release me ". He then kissed Sir 
 Percivale and Sir Bors, and commended them 
 to God, and begging them to bid Sir Lancelot 
 his father to beware the snares of an unstable 
 world, he knelt, and his soul was borne by Angels 
 into Heaven. 
 
 From Heaven they saw a hand stretch forth, 
 which took also the Sword and the Vessel. 
 
 Sir Percivale and Sir Bors were overcome 
 with grief The people of the country sorrowed 
 also, and buried Sir Galahad with the honours 
 befitting a King. Sir Percivale sought a hermit- 
 age, and spent the remainder of his life there in 
 
THE FIGHT FOE THE QUEEN. 101 
 
 sackcloth. Sir Bors stayed some time with him, 
 still wearing the scarlet coat given him by the 
 good man, but when Sir Percivale died a year 
 and two months afterwards, Sir Bors returned to 
 Camelot, after burying him by the side of Sir 
 Galahad. 
 
 Few Knights had returned from the quest, 
 and much joy was felt by the Knights when 
 Sir Bors was received among them. The King 
 ordered clerks to attend him, and in this way 
 the story of the finding of the Holy Graal came 
 to be written. 
 
 Sir Lancelots adventures were also written 
 at this time, and the records deposited in the 
 town of Salisbury. 
 
 THE FIGHT FOE THE QUEEN 
 
 Part I 
 
 When the quest of the Holy Graal had been 
 fulfilled, Queen Guenevere gave a dinner to those 
 Knights who had returned, and among the four 
 and twenty Knights present were Sir Patrise of 
 Ireland and Sir Gawaine. 
 
 It was Sir Gawaine's custom to eat at dinner 
 the fruit that might be in season, and Queen 
 
102 TEE FIGHT FOE THE QUEEN. 
 
 Guenevere, knowing this, had placed before him 
 a dish of pears and apples. Among the company- 
 was Sir Pinel le Savage, who bore Sir Gawaine 
 a grudge, and into the apples upon the dish he put 
 some poison. 
 
 Now it chanced that the good Knight Sir 
 Patrise took from the dish a poisoned apple 
 intended for Sir Gawaine, and in a few minutes 
 he fell back dead. 
 
 All the Knights leapt to their feet. 
 
 ^' My lady, the Queen," said Sir Gawaine, 
 " this fruit was placed upon the table for me to 
 partake of, and the shame of this ill deed is 
 yours." 
 
 The Queen stood still, pale and abashed, for 
 all the Knights thought that it was she who 
 had poisoned the fruit, and seeing how strong 
 the evidence was in favour of such a supposi- 
 tion, she was obliged to keep silence. 
 
 It was Sir Mador de la Porte who next 
 spoke. 
 
 '' This shall not be ended so," said he, ''for I 
 will be avenged on the person who has wrought 
 this evil." 
 
 The Knights remained silent, and the Queen 
 fell to weeping bitterly. Presently the King 
 
THE FIGHT FOB THE QUEEN, 
 
 103 
 
 came to the Queen's side, and asked the cause 
 of her distress. 
 
 "Fair lords," he said, when it had been told 
 him, '*I grieve for this ill deed, but I cannot 
 meddle in the matter, or do battle for the Queen, 
 
104 THE FIGHT FOR THE QUEEN. 
 
 for it is my duty to do justice. Sure I am that 
 this is not her deed, and that many a good 
 Knight will stand her champion, and save her 
 from being unjustly burnt to death." 
 
 " My gracious lord," said Sir Mador, '' I beg 
 your forgiveness if I say that no Knight present 
 will fight that battle. What say you, my lords ? " 
 
 Then the Knights replied that they could not 
 hold the Queen guiltless. 
 
 " Alas ! " said the Queen, " no evil was in 
 my mind when I prepared the feast, and I ask 
 you to believe that I could not be guilty of such 
 wickedness." 
 
 ''My lord the King,'* cried Sir Mador, "I 
 require of you, as you are a just King, to fix a 
 day for the fight." 
 
 '*Let it be on the fifteenth day from this," 
 said King Arthur, '4n the meadow by West- 
 minster. If there should be a Knight there to 
 fight with you, strike, and God will speed the 
 right. If there be no Knight there, my Queen 
 must be burned." 
 
 Then Sir Mador and the other Knights de- 
 parted from the feast. 
 
THE FIGHT FOB THE QUEEN. 105 
 
 THE FIGHT FOE THE QUEEN 
 
 Part II 
 
 "What ails you," asked the King of Queen 
 Guenevere, '^ that you cannot keep Sir Lancelot 
 by your side, for if he were here he would not 
 hesitate to do battle for you ? Go to Sir Bors, 
 and command him to dq battle for you for Sir 
 Lancelot's sake." 
 
 ** Madam," said Sir Bors to the Queen, " if I 
 fight for you I shall be held in suspicion by the 
 other Knights, for I was with them at the feast. 
 You have driven Sir Lancelot away, and now ask 
 me, his friend, to do battle for you. I wonder 
 that you can do this knowing how I love and 
 honour him. He would have fought for you, 
 right or wrong." 
 
 The Queen threw herself before Sir Bors, but 
 he raised her saying, '* Madam ! you do me great 
 dishonour ". 
 
 ''Ah, gentle Knight,'* cried the Queen, " have 
 mercy upon me, for I am innocent of the deed 
 they charge me with." 
 
 Then Sir Bors promised that he would fight 
 if no better Knight came to take his place. 
 
106 THE FIGHT FOB THE QUEEN, 
 
 The days passed quickly by, and the evening 
 before the appointed day, the Queen called Sir 
 Bors to her and asked him if he were ready to 
 keep his promise. 
 
 ''Truly, Madam," he said, "I am ready to 
 fight and prove your innocence, unless a better 
 Knight than I should come to do battle for you." 
 
 The next day Sir Bors and Sir Mador faced 
 one another, and Sir Bors tarried as long as he 
 could in order to give the Knight he expected 
 time to arrive. 
 
 ''Bid your champion come forth if he dare," 
 cried Sir Mador boastfully to the King, and Sir 
 Bors, feeling ashamed, was about to couch his 
 lance when a Knight came galloping out of the 
 wood. 
 
 So Sir Bors told King Arthur that a Knight 
 had come, who wished to do battle for the Queen. 
 "And he is a better Knight than I," said Sir 
 Bors, "therefore if he fights, my promise is 
 discharged." 
 
 And the strange Knight said to the Knights 
 around the King, " I would have you know that 
 it is a dishonour to all the Knights of the Eound 
 Table, that they should allow so noble a lady and 
 courteous a Queen to be shamed amongst them ". 
 
THE FIGHT FOB THE QUEEN. 107 
 
 The Knights looked at one another, and 
 wondered who this strange Knight could be, 
 for none knew save Sir Bors. 
 
 The two Knights took their places at the end 
 of the lists, and at the word they couched their 
 lances, and darted towards one another. Sir 
 Mador's lance was broken in pieces with the 
 force of their impact, but the strange Knight's 
 spear held firm, and Sir Mador was thrown from 
 his horse. 
 
 The strange Knight leapt to the ground, and 
 a fight with swords began. 
 
 At last the strange Knight struck Sir Mador 
 to his knees ; but in a moment Sir Mador rose 
 on his hand and smote the Knight upon the 
 thigh. 
 
 At the sight of this blood, the Knight allowed 
 Sir Mador to rise to his feet, and then he dealt 
 him a buffet that stretched him upon the earth. 
 
 "I will only grant you your life," said the 
 Knight, ''if you will proclaim publicly that you 
 have foully slandered the Queen." 
 
 This Sir Mador promised to do, and the 
 Knight went to the steps beneath King Arthur's 
 seat, and the King and Queen kissed one another 
 before all the people. The King and Queen then 
 
THE FAIB MAID OF ASTOLAT. 109 
 
 thanked the strange Knight for the service he 
 had so gallantly rendered them, and no sooner 
 had he taken off his helmet than they knew him 
 to be Sir Lancelot. 
 
 The Queen wept tears of joy on beholding 
 him, and bowed with sorrow at the thought of 
 the unkind words with which she had driven 
 him away. And in this way the Queen's Knight 
 came back to court. 
 
 THE FAIR MAID OF ASTOLAT 
 
 Part I 
 
 It happened soon after the fight for the Queen 
 had taken place, that the damsel of the lake, 
 sometimes called Nimue, and sometimes Vivien, 
 was married to Sir Pelleas, and she came to 
 the Court of King Arthur. 
 
 She heard there of the death of Sir Patrise, 
 and by means of her magic she discovered and 
 proclaimed that Sir Pinel had poisoned the 
 apple, and that the Queen was innocent. 
 
 Sir Pinel thereupon fled to his country for 
 safety, and this action confirmed his guilt in the 
 minds of the people. 
 
 Sir Mador prayed for the Queen's favour 
 
110 , THE FAIB MAID OF ASTOLAT. 
 
 once more, and by Sir Lancelot's request he 
 was forgiven. 
 
 The summer had now half gone, and King 
 Arthur announced that another tournament 
 would take place fifteen days hence at Camelot 
 (Winchester), and many Kings and Knights 
 prepared to go there. 
 
 The Queen said that she would stay behind, 
 feeling too unwell to meet the noise and bustle 
 of a tourney. Sir Lancelot also declared that 
 his wounds would not allow of his attendance, 
 and as a consequence the King departed in high 
 dudgeon towards Astolat (Guildford), where he 
 proposed to break the journey to Camelot. 
 
 When the King had set out, the Queen sent 
 for Sir Lancelot and reproached him for staying 
 behind when the King set such store upon his 
 company. 
 
 Sir Lancelot, feeling piqued at her words, 
 declared that the Queen's wishes were his law, 
 that he would follow the King, and would fight 
 in the tournament, but that he would enter the 
 lists in opposition to the King's Knights. 
 
 "You must do as you please," said the 
 Queen, *' but if you will be ruled by my counsel, 
 you will not oppose the King." 
 
THE FAIB MAID OF ASTOLAT, 111 
 
 '' Madam, answered Sir Lancelot, " I will 
 take the adventure as it comes," and early the 
 next morning he set out for Camelot. 
 
 He reached Astolat the same evening, and 
 rode through the town to the house of an aged 
 Baron, Sir Bernard of Astolat, and there he dis- 
 mounted. 
 
 The King, from the gardens of the castle, 
 saw him dismount, and "turning to the Knights 
 attending him, he said, " I see one man at least 
 who will do marvels in these jousts ". 
 
 Sir Lancelot, meanwhile, had entered the 
 Baron's house, and Sir Bernard made him wel- 
 come, although he did not know that his guest 
 was famous over the whole country. 
 
 ^Tair Sir," said Sir Lancelot, "I pray you 
 lend me, if you can, a shield bearing a device 
 which nobody knows." 
 
 ''Sir," answered Sir Bernard, "you shall 
 have the shield of my son, Sir Tirre, who was 
 wounded on the day of his Knighthood, and my 
 other son, Sir Lavaine, with your consent, will 
 accompany you to the jousts. Both my sons 
 have been but recently Knighted." 
 
 Sir Bernard, besides his two sons, liad a 
 daughter who was known as the Fair Maid of 
 
112 THE FAIR MAID OF ASTOLAT. 
 
 Astolat, her real name being Elaine le Blanc. 
 This maiden, when she saw Sir Lancelot, fell 
 deeply in love with him, and this love was 
 eventually the cause of the maiden's death. 
 
 When she heard that Sir Lancelot was 
 bound for the tourney, she begged him to wear 
 her token on the day. 
 
 Sir Lancelot, partly to please the maiden, 
 and partly to assist his disguise, consented to 
 wear the token, although he had never worn 
 the token of any damsel before. 
 
 " And what may your token be, fair damsel ? " 
 he asked. 
 
 "Sir," she said, '* it is a red sleeve, em- 
 broidered with pearls," and she brought it and 
 placed it upon his helmet. Sir Lancelot then 
 took her brother's shield, and handed his own 
 into her keeping. 
 
 THE FAIR MAID OF ASTOLAT 
 
 Part II 
 
 King Arthur had awaited some Knights in 
 Astolat, and when they had arrived he set out 
 for Camelot, followed by Sir Lancelot and Sir 
 Lavaine bearing white shields, and the former 
 
THE FAIB MAID OF ASTOLAT. 113 
 
 bearing also the fair Elaine's token upon his 
 helmet. 
 
 They found Camelot filled with Kings and 
 Knights, but Sir Lavaine discovered lodgings 
 for Sir Lancelot and himself in the house of a 
 rich burgess, who would keep their names a 
 secret. 
 
 The trumpets blew at dawn of the next day, 
 and King Arthur took his seat upon a high 
 platform, keeping Sir Gawaine by his side. 
 
 The Knights formed themselves into two 
 parties. Sir Lancelot and Sir Lavaine rode to 
 a small wood that lay behind the Knights who 
 would oppose those of the Round Table. 
 
 The fight began, and after some time had 
 elapsed, King Arthur's Knights began to drive 
 the others back. 
 
 *'Now," said Sir Lancelot to Sir Lavaine, 
 ^' if you will help me you will see King Arthur's 
 side, which is winning, driven back to the other 
 end of the lists." 
 
 ** Spare not, Sir," replied Sir Lavaine, " for I 
 
 will do all I can to help you." 
 
 They rode into the thickest of the press, and 
 
 with spear and sword they smote so hard that 
 
 the Knio;hts of the Rouijid Table fell back. 
 IV. 8 
 
ElAINE TIES JiEK SLEEVE RCJW) 
 3IKLAMCELar'S HELMET^ 
 
THE FAIB MAID OF ASTOLAT. 115 
 
 "Mercy," cried Sir Gawaine, "what Knight 
 is that yonder who does these marvellous deeds." 
 
 " I well know who it is," replied King Arthur. 
 
 " I should say it was Sir Lancelot," said Sir 
 Gawaine, " but this Knight carries a red sleeve 
 upon his helm, and Sir Lancelot has never 
 borne a lady's token." 
 
 The Knights who were opposed to the King's 
 party took heart at Sir Lancelot's brave deeds, 
 but Sir Bors was equal to the occasion, and rally- 
 ing the Knights of the Round Table, they made 
 a great charge. 
 
 Sir Lancelot's horse was thrown to the ground, 
 and by misfortune the head of Sir Bors' spear 
 broke short off and was left in Sir Lancelot's 
 side. Seeing this. Sir Lavaine dashed up, un- 
 horsed the King of Scots, helped Sir Lancelot 
 to mount upon his horse, which had not been 
 injured in the fray, and gave him a spear in place 
 of the one he had lost. 
 
 Sir Lancelot then smote Sir Bors and Sir 
 Ector de Maris, the foster father of King Arthur, 
 to the earth, and dealt heavy blows upon the 
 Knights who thronged around them. He hurled 
 himself into the thickest m^l^es, and performed 
 deeds of incredible valour. "Mercy," said Sir 
 
116 THE FAIR MAID OF ASTOLAT, 
 
 Gawaine again, "I marvel at the deeds of the 
 Knight with the red sleeve. Who can he be ? " 
 
 '^ That you shall know presently," said King 
 Arthur ; and he commanded that the trumpets 
 should be blown, and declared the Knight with 
 the red sleeve to be the winner of the prize, that 
 Knight having unhorsed more than thirty 
 Knights. 
 
 The Kings and Knights of the party that had 
 received Sir Lancelot's and Sir Lavaine's assist- 
 ance, gathered round and thanked them ; for 
 Sir Lavaine had done well also, having unhorsed 
 two Knights of the Eound Table, and helped Sir 
 Lancelot at a critical juncture in the tournament. 
 ''Fair lords," said Sir Lancelot, "if I have 
 deserved your thanks, I have also paid for them, 
 for my hurt is grievous. I pray you let me 
 depart." He groaned even as he spoke, and 
 galloped into the wood, followed by Sir Lavaine. 
 
 When they were in the wood. Sir Lancelot 
 told Sir Lavaine to draw the spear head from his 
 side. Sir Lavaine drew it out, and with a 
 shriek and a groan, Sir Lancelot swooned with 
 the pain. 
 
 It was half an hour before he recovered, and 
 then Sir Lavaine helped him upon his horse, and 
 
TEE FAIB MAID OF ASTOLAT, 117 
 
 led him to a hermit who lived some two miles 
 away. The hermit saw him coming, leaning over 
 his saddle bow, and because of the paleness of 
 his face he did not recognise him, until he was 
 so near that he could see the scar upon his face. 
 He then called to his servants, who took 
 off Sir Lancelot's armour, and laid him in bed. 
 He dressed his wound, and gave him wine to 
 drink, and Sir Lancelot fell asleep. "You are 
 known to me," said the hermit to the wounded 
 Knight when he awoke, '^as the knight who 
 bears the noblest name in the world." 
 
 THE FAIE MAID OF ASTOLAT 
 
 Part III 
 
 It was the custom of those days to hold a feast 
 on the evening of the tournament, at which both 
 parties should be present. The Knight of the 
 Red Sleeve not being there, the King made in- 
 quiries after him, and received the intelligence 
 that the Knight had left the town sorely 
 wounded. 
 
 The King, knowing that the Knight was Sir 
 Lancelot, was much perturbed at this news and 
 exclaimed, '' These tidings are the worst I have 
 
118 THE FAIB MAID OF ASTOLAT. 
 
 had for many a year ; I would give all my lands 
 to know of this Knight's recovery " 
 
 " Do you know him ? " asked the other 
 Knights. 
 
 '^ May Heaven send good news of him," said 
 the King. 
 
 ''Amen," answered they. 
 
 The prize was kept until the Knight of the 
 Red Sleeve should return for it, and Sir Gawaine 
 and many other Knights scoured the country 
 round in search of him, but no success attending 
 them, they returned without news of the wounded 
 Knight. 
 
 Two days after, the King and all his company 
 set out for London, and staying a night at 
 Astolat, Sir Gawaine happened to be lodged at 
 the house of Sir Bernard. 
 
 Sir Bernard, and Elaine his daughter, after 
 having given him refreshments, asked him for 
 tidings of the tourney. Sir Gawaine described 
 the deeds of the Knight with the Red Sleeve, 
 and of his companion, and old Sir Bernard's eyes 
 lit up with pleasure to hear his son commended. 
 
 " Blessed be God," said the Maid of Astolat, 
 "that my Knight has sped so well, for I love 
 him with all my heart." 
 
THE FAIB MAID OF ASTOLAT. 119 
 
 "And that Knight is your love then," said 
 Sir Gawaine. " May I ask his name ? " 
 
 The maiden replied by telling Sir Gawame 
 the whole story, and ended by saying that the 
 Knight's own shield was still in her chamber. 
 
 " Fair damsel/' said Sir Gawaine, " I beg you 
 to show me the shield." 
 
 Sir Bernard sent his Squire for the shield, 
 and when Sir Gawaine beheld it, he knew it to 
 be Sir Lancelot's. " And the Knight to whom 
 this shield belongs is your love ? " asked Sir 
 Gawaine. 
 
 " He is indeed," the damsel answered, " I 
 would that I were his." 
 
 " You would be thrice happy to be loved by 
 such a man," said Sir Gawaine, " for your Knight 
 is the most honourable in the world. During 
 the four and twenty years that I have known 
 him, he has never worn a lady's token, and from 
 this you may know, damsel, the honour he has 
 paid you. I grieve to tell you that your Knight 
 is sorely wounded." 
 
 "Alas! alas!" cried the damsel. "Where 
 is he, and what is the nature of his hurt ? " 
 
 " He was wounded by the man who loved him 
 best," said Sir Gawaine, " and if that man knew 
 
120 TEE FAIR MAID OF ASTOLAT. ' 
 
 it was Sir Lancelot he had wounded, his grief 
 would be as great as yours and mine." 
 
 " Dear father," said Elaine, *^ I pray you give 
 me leave to search for Sir Lancelot, for I cannot 
 stay here at my ease while my Knight lies 
 wounded and perhaps unattended." 
 
 In the morning Sir Gawaine told the King 
 that he had found Sir Lancelot's shield in the 
 keeping of the Maid of Astolat, and that the maid 
 loved him so well that she had ridden to seek him. 
 
 The King and his Court came to London, 
 and all knew that it was Sir Lancelot who had 
 jousted the best, and that he had worn the token 
 of the Maid of Astolat. When Sir Bors heard 
 that it was Sir Lancelot whom he had wounded, 
 he grew very sad ; and the Queen, when she was 
 told that Sir Lancelot had borne the Maid of 
 Astolat's token, became nearly mad with wrath. 
 
 She summoned Sir Bors to her, and ex- 
 claimed, "Tell me, has not Sir Lancelot been 
 false, when, after swearing that for right or 
 wrong he would be my Knight only, he wears 
 the token of another lady ? Fie on him ! " she 
 cried, " I myself heard Sir Gawaine tell my lord 
 Arthur of the great love existing between Sir 
 Lancelot and the maid." 
 
THE FAIB MAID OF ASTOLAT, 121 
 
 "Madam," said Sir Bors, ''the love, I fear, 
 is all on one side, for Sir Lancelot loves no lady 
 better than his Queen. I am now going to set 
 out in search of him." 
 
 THE FAIR MAID OF ASTOLAT 
 
 Part IV 
 
 Meanwhile the fair Elaine had ridden to Came- 
 lot to find her Knight, and while she was riding 
 hither and thither in the hope of gaining tidings 
 of him, she chanced to meet her brother Sir 
 Lavaine, exercising his horse. 
 
 "Lead me to Sir Lancelot," she said, after 
 greeting her brother. 
 
 He was surprised to hear that the strange 
 Knight was Sir Lancelot, although he knew that 
 a Knight who could perform such deeds must 
 bear an illustrious name. He led his sister to 
 the hermit's dwelling in which Sir Lancelot lay 
 in peril of his life. 
 
 When the maid, worn out with fatigue, and 
 with feelings wrought with anxiety, perceived 
 Sir Lancelot lying upon his couch, pale and 
 motionless, she fell in a swoon upon the floor. 
 
 The good hermit attended her, and when she 
 
122 THE FAIR MAID OF ASTOLAZ 
 
 had recovered, Sir Lancelot begged her to be of 
 good cheer, and told her that if she had come 
 to comfort him, she by her presence had already 
 done him good. 
 
 The maiden told him that Sir Gawaine had 
 seen his shield in her keeping, and Sir Lancelot 
 could scarcely conceal his vexation, for he knew 
 that the Queen would hear of it, and that there 
 would be trouble in consequence. 
 
 Elaine stayed by his side and tended him, and 
 Lancelot asked Sir Lavaine to ride to Camelot 
 and meet Sir Bors there, for he knew that good 
 Sir Bors would seek him when he learnt that it 
 was his lance that had done the mischief. 
 
 Sir Lavaine met Sir Bors in the town, and 
 brought him to the hermitage. He was over- 
 come with grief to find Sir Lancelot in so bad 
 a plight, and standing by the bedside he wept 
 and said, " Oh, my lord, God send you a speedy 
 recovery. Great is my shame at having wounded 
 you thus, and I have come to ask your forgive- 
 ness." 
 
 "Fair cousin," said Sir Lancelot, "I, in my 
 pride, would have overcome you all, and have 
 received but my deserts. I pray you forget that 
 you had aught to do with my ill fortune. Let 
 
THE FAIR MAID OF ASTOLAT. 123 
 
 us rather look forward to the time when I shall 
 be recovered." 
 
 Sir Bors then told Sir Lancelot that the 
 Queen was filled with wrath, when she heard 
 that he had worn the token of another lady. 
 
 "I am dismayed to hear that," said Sir 
 Lancelot, '* but I wore the token partly at this 
 young lady's request, and partly that my disguise 
 might be more complete." 
 
 "And is this damsel the Fair Maid of Astolat ? " 
 asked Sir Bors. 
 
 "She it is," replied Sir Lancelot, "and she 
 has searched for me to tend my wounds, and 
 will not return to her home." 
 
 " And can you not care for her ? " asked Sir 
 Bors. " She is gentle and fair, and she loves you 
 truly, I can plainly see." 
 
 "Your words grieve me," said Sir Lancelot, 
 " and I would that I were able to love the maid 
 as she deserves." 
 
 Sir Lancelot's strength gradually returned to 
 him, and when he was able to walk. Sir Bors 
 left him with the Fair Maid of Astolat, and 
 rode to the Court of King Arthur, carrying with 
 him the news of the wounded Knight. There, 
 at the All Hallows tournament, he won a prize 
 
124 THE FAIB MAID OF ASTOLAT. 
 
 for unhorsing twenty Knights. Sir Gareth also 
 performed great deeds, but to the surprise of 
 the Court, he vanished suddenly from the field, 
 and no one could discover the direction he had 
 taken. 
 
 When the tourney was over, Sir Bors returned 
 to Sir Lancelot, and the next morning they bade 
 the hermit farewell, and rode with the maid to 
 Astolat. 
 
 In the morning, when Sir Lancelot and Sir 
 Bors were about to depart from Sir Bernard's 
 house, Elaine called her father, and her two 
 brothers. Sir Tirre and Sir Lavaine, together, 
 and before them all she entreated Sir Lancelot 
 to stay and be her husband. 
 
 '*My lord. Sir Lancelot, fair Knight," she 
 cried, "leave me not to die of love for you. 
 I pray you, do not break the heart of a maiden 
 whose greatest virtue in her eyes is the love she 
 bears for you." 
 
 "Damsel," said Sir Lancelot, "believe me 
 when I tell you truly that I can never have a 
 wife. In virtue of the goodwill you bear me, 
 I will do all in my power to help your happiness 
 if you can set your heart upon another Knight, 
 but I cannot do what you ask." 
 
THE FAIB MAID OF ASTOLAT. 126 
 
 At these words the damsel swooned, and her 
 maids bore her to her chamber. 
 
 Sir Lancelot thought that it would be kinder 
 to depart before the maiden recovered her senses. 
 
 ''My daughter will die, I fear," said Sir 
 Bernard, "if you cannot make her your wife." 
 
 " Her sorrow nearly breaks my heart," said 
 Sir Lancelot, '' so pure and gentle a maid is she, 
 but, Sir, I cannot do what she asks of me." 
 
 " Father," said Sir Lavaine, " she is indeed 
 as pure and good as Sir Lancelot has said, and 
 in one respect I resemble her, for leave Sir 
 Lancelot I cannot." So when Sir Lancelot and 
 Sir Bors bade the old man farewell and de- 
 parted, they were accompanied by Sir Lavaine. 
 
 When they reached Camelot, the King and 
 the Knights of the Round Table, save only 
 Sir Agrawaine and Sir Mordred, expressed their 
 delight at Sir Lancelot's safe return, but the 
 Queen was still so angry that she would not 
 see him. 
 
126 THE FAIB MAID OF ASTOLAT. 
 
 THE FAIR MAID OF ASTOLAT 
 
 Part V 
 
 When the damsel came to her senses and found 
 that Sir Lancelot had riddeii away, she refused 
 to eat or sleep, and gave way all day to vain 
 lamentations. 
 
 In ten days she had become so weak, that 
 the priest came to her, and exhorted her to keep 
 her mind from earthly things. She would not 
 listen, but cried after Sir Lancelot continually, 
 and called her father and her brother Sir Tirre 
 to her bedside. There she begged her brother 
 to write a letter, which she dictated to him. 
 
 "When I am dead," she said, "and before 
 my body is cold, let this letter be put in my 
 right hand, and let me be dressed in my richest 
 clothes, laid upon a fair bed, and driven in a 
 chariot to the Thames. There place me upon a 
 barge covered with black samite, and let a dumb 
 boatman steer me. Let all this be done, father, 
 I beseech you." 
 
 The maiden died the next day, and her wishes 
 were carried out, the dumb boatman steering the 
 boat down the stream towards London. 
 
128 THE FATE MAID OF ASTOLAT. 
 
 When it had arrived opposite "Westminster, 
 King Arthur and Queen Guenevere, who had 
 withdrawn into a window, spied it floating down 
 the river. The King summoned Sir Kay, and 
 bade him bring the black barge to the shore, 
 and he led the Queen to the riverside. 
 
 They saw in the barge a fair woman lying 
 on a rich bed, her clothing of cloth of gold, and 
 they took from her hand the letter that lay there. 
 
 Leaving a trusty man in charge of the boat 
 with its pitiful burden, they went to the King's 
 chamber, followed by the Knights who had 
 accompanied them to the shore, for the King 
 wished the letter to be read openly. 
 
 He then broke the seal, and bade a clerk 
 read it. 
 
 "ISToble Knight, Sir Lancelot," it ran, "I 
 whom men called the Fair Maid of Astolat, loved 
 thee beyond recall : therefore unto all ladies I 
 make moan ; pray for my soul, and bury me. Pray 
 for my soul. Sir Lancelot, as thou art peerless.'' 
 
 Here the letter ended, and the King and 
 Queen, and all the Knights there wept when 
 they heard it. 
 
 '* Let Sir Lancelot be sent for," said the 
 King presently. 
 
LANCELOT AND GUENEVEBE, 129 
 
 "My lord Arthur," said Sir Lancelot, 
 when the letter was read to him, '*I grieve 
 for this poor child, for she loved me beyond 
 all measure, and tended me through my sick- 
 ness. I deemed it kinder to leave her, hoping 
 that she would forget me, for if I married her 
 and loved her not, I knew how great her un- 
 happiness would be." 
 
 " You might have been a little gentle with 
 her," said the Queen, " and have found some way 
 of saving her life." 
 
 " Madam," Sir Lancelot answered, " she 
 would have nothing but my love, and that I 
 could not give her." 
 
 And thus perished this poor maid, whose 
 love, so great as to be beyond her control, and 
 worthy of a great reward, was the means of 
 piteously ending her life. 
 
 LANCELOT AND GUENEVERE 
 
 Part I 
 
 GuENEVERE was the daughter of Leodegrance, 
 
 King of Cornwall, a fair and slender damsel, 
 
 for whom all the Knights smote their hardest 
 
 in the jousts. ^ 
 
 IV. ' ^ 
 
130 LANCELOT AND GUENEVEBE, 
 
 King Arthur saw her, and loved her, but 
 unlike the other Knights, who had to be content 
 with worshipping from afar, he, being a King, 
 was able to raise his eyes even to Guenevere. 
 She, obeying her father in all things, submitted 
 to his judgment in the matter of her marriage. 
 When he desired her to clothe herself as be- 
 seemed a Princess, in order to go to King 
 Arthur's Court, her heart beat with joy at the 
 sight of the rich stuffs and jewels, and she made 
 all ready for her wedding. 
 
 One day, a band of horsemen rode up to 
 King Leodegrance's castle, and at the head of 
 them was Sir Lancelot du Lake, King Arthur's 
 friend, who had been sent to escort her to King 
 Arthur's Court. 
 
 They rode together day after day, and Sir 
 Lancelot told Guenevere stories of gallant deeds 
 and of love. They passed beneath trees green 
 with the spring, and over blue hyacinths, until 
 they drew rein at sunset before the silken 
 pavilion of Uther Pendragon. One evening, far 
 across a plain, they saw the towers of a city shin- 
 ing in the sun. 
 
 A band of horsemen rode to meet them, 
 and among them was Arthur, who leaped from 
 
LANCELOT AND GUENEVEBE. 131 
 
 liis horse to welcome Guenevere and lead her 
 home. Coming straight from her own home, 
 and having been constantly in Sir Lancelot's 
 company while on the journey, Arthur was to 
 her in her loneliness a stranger, and while by 
 his side her thoughts turned to Sir Lancelot. 
 
 From these early days the friendship between 
 Sir Lancelot and the Queen grew stronger, until 
 Guenevere was fain at last to admit to herself 
 that it was Sir Lancelot she loved, although she 
 honoured and loved King Arthur also. 
 
 It befell one spring, that Queen Guenevere 
 thought she would go a-maying in the woods 
 that lay around the city of Westminster. She 
 bade her Knights be ready the next morning 
 dressed in green, and she would bring a lady 
 for each Knight, and each should be attended by 
 a Squire and Yeomen. 
 
 The next morning, they rode in the early 
 
 dawn, and plucked flowers which they stuck in 
 
 their girdles and doublets. The Queen was as 
 
 happy as the youngest maiden, but having 
 
 promised the King to return at the hour of ten, 
 
 she gave the signal when that hour arrived for 
 
 the homeward journey. 
 
 The Knights were mounting their horses, 
 
 9* 
 
6UENEVERB BENDS HER PAGE TO LANCELOT FOR HELP. 
 
LANCELOT AND GUENEVEBE. 133 
 
 when out of the forest rode Sir Meliagraunce, 
 who for many years had loved the Queen, 
 and sought an opportunity to carry her off. 
 With him rode two score Knights, and a 
 hundred archers marched behind. He sur- 
 rounded the Queen, and, overpowering her 
 Knights, all of whom were unarmed, he bore 
 her off to his castle. 
 
 Now when Queen Guenevere found that she 
 could not escape, she sent a page with a ring to 
 Sir Lancelot asking for his help. 
 
 And presently Sir Lancelot came riding to 
 the rescue through the wood that lay close to 
 Lambeth. In this wood some archers from Sir 
 Meliagraunce's castle were hiding, and jumping 
 from their ambush they bade him go no farther 
 along the path on peril of his life. 
 
 Sir Lancelot did not stop, and the archers 
 shot his horse with many arrows, but he jumped 
 from its back and ran past them deeper into 
 the wood. 
 
 Sir Lancelot after many adventures rescued 
 Queen Guenevere, and it was arranged in con- 
 sequence of this affair, that he should fight the 
 Knight Sir Meliagraunce in the field near West- 
 minster. It chanced, however, that Sir Lancelot 
 
LANCELOT AND GUENEVEBE, 135 
 
 fell into a trap that Sir Meliagraunce had laid 
 for him on the day fixed for the combat, and if a 
 lady who loved him well had not chanced to 
 hear him, and freed him from his imprisonment, 
 he would not have been on the field to meet his 
 foe. 
 
 Just in time Sir Lancelot dashed up, mounted 
 upon his white horse, and explained to the King 
 the trick by which Sir Meliagraunce had hoped 
 to make his appearance in the lists impossible. 
 
 LANCELOT AND GUENEVEEE 
 
 Part II 
 
 When the King and Queen and all the lords 
 heard Sir Lancelot's tale, their hearts stirred 
 within them with anger, and the Queen took her 
 seat by the King's side to watch the combat. 
 
 The two Knights then prepared themselves 
 for battle, and putting their spears in rest, came 
 together with a noise like thunder, and Sir 
 Lancelot bore Sir Meliagraunce right over his 
 horse. Then Sir Lancelot jumped down, and 
 they fought on foot, till in the end Sir Melia- 
 graunce was smitten to the ground by a blow 
 on the head from his enemy. 
 
136 LANCELOT AND OUENEVEBE. 
 
 " Most noble Knight, give me my life," cried 
 he,*^ "for I yield to you, and put myself into the 
 King's hands and yours." 
 
 Sir Lancelot did not know what to answer, 
 for he longed above anything in the world to 
 deal out justice to the rascal; so he looked at 
 the Queen to see whether she would give him 
 any sign of what she would have done. The 
 Queen shook her head in answer, and Sir Lance- 
 lot knew by that token that she considered he 
 deserved death, and he bade Sir Meliagraunce 
 get up, and continue the fight. 
 
 ** Nay," said Sir Meliagraunce, " I will never 
 rise till you accept my surrender." 
 
 "Listen," answered Sir Lancelot. "I will 
 leave my head and left side bare, and my left 
 arm shall be bound behind me, and in this guise 
 I will fight with you." 
 
 At this Sir Meliagraunce started to his feet, 
 and cried, "My lord Arthur, take heed to this 
 offer, for I will accept it, therefore let him be 
 bound and unarmed as he has said". 
 
 The Knights disarmed Sir Lancelot, first his 
 head and then his side, his left hand being bound 
 behind his back in such a manner that he could 
 not use his shield, and many a Knight and lady 
 
LANCELOT AND GUENEVEBE, 137 
 
 marvelled that Sir Lancelot would risk himself 
 so. When the fight was renewed, Sir Melia- 
 graunce lifted his sword and would have struck 
 Sir Lancelot on his bare head, had he not leapt 
 lightly to one side. Before Sir Meliagraunce 
 could recover himself. Sir Lancelot struck him 
 heavily on the helm and split his skull in two. 
 
 After this further proof of loyalty, Sir 
 Lancelot was more honoured by the King and 
 Queen than he had ever been before. 
 
 Among the Knights at Arthur's Court at 
 that time were Sir Mordred and Sir Agrawaine, 
 brothers of Sir Gawaine, Sir Gaheris, and Sir 
 Gareth. Now Sir Agrawaine and Sir Mordred 
 had evil natures, and at this time they were full 
 of envy of the noble deeds performed by Sir 
 Lancelot, so they cast about to discover how 
 they might ruin him. They resolved to ac- 
 complish this by rousing jealous thoughts in 
 the mind of the King. 
 
 It has been told in the tale of the marriage 
 of Arthur, that Queen Guenevere's heart had 
 been given to Lancelot on the journey to the 
 Court, and she loved to have him with her. 
 This was known well to Sir Mordred, who 
 watched eagerly for a chance to work her ill. 
 
138 . LANCELOT AND GUENEVEBE. 
 
 It came one day when Arthur proclaimed a 
 hunt, and Sir Mordred guessed that Sir Lancelot, 
 who did not care for hunting, would stay behind 
 and spend the time in attendance on the Queen. 
 So Sir Mordred went to the King and began to 
 speak evil of the Queen and Sir Lancelot. At 
 first King Arthur would not listen to it, but 
 slowly his jealousy was aroused, and he allowed 
 the ill words to dwell in his mind until he began 
 to think that the Queen did indeed love Sir 
 Lancelot. He told Sir Mordred and Sir Agra- 
 waine that they might do what they liked in the 
 matter, and he would not meddle with them. 
 But they let so many into the secret of their 
 plot, that it at last came to the ears of Sir Bors. 
 
 He warned Sir Lancelot not to go near 
 the Queen that day, or harm would come of it ; 
 but Sir Lancelot persisted in obeying the 
 summons of his liege lady. 
 
 By ill fortune, he carried with him that day 
 no arms except his sword, which was hidden 
 beneath his mantle. He had no sooner entered 
 the Queen's reception-room than Sir Agrawaine, 
 Sir Mordred, and twelve other Knights of the 
 Round Table, hammered at the door and cried 
 loudly for him. 
 
LANCELOT AND GUENEVEBE. 139 
 
 '^ Madam," said Sir Lancelot, ''if you have 
 any armour with which to arm me I would soon 
 drive these people away." 
 
 ''Alas!" said the Queen, "I have neither 
 spear nor armour, so that you cannot resist them, 
 and you will be slain and I shall be burnt." 
 
 "Traitor Knight," cried Sir Mordred, "come 
 out and fight, for escape you cannot." 
 
 " I will indeed," said Sir Lancelot, and taking 
 the Queen in his arms he kissed her. "Most 
 noble Queen," he said, " if I die I pray you seek 
 Sir Bors, my nephew, who will protect you and 
 take you to my lands, where you can live in 
 safety." 
 
 "Nay, Lancelot," answered the Queen, "if 
 you die, I will gladly die also." 
 
 LANCELOT AND GUENEVEBE 
 
 Part III 
 
 Sir Lancelot wrapped his cloak about his arm, 
 and stood beside the door which the Knights 
 were trying to break open. With his left hand 
 he opened the door far enough to allow of one 
 man passing through at a time. 
 
 Sir Colgrevance of Gore, a strong Knight, 
 
140 LANCELOT AND GUENEVEBE. 
 
 came forward, and with his sword struck a heavy 
 blow at Sir Lancelot. Sir Lancelot quickly- 
 stepped aside, causing the blow to fall harmlessly, 
 and with his arm he gave Sir Colgrevance such 
 a buffet that he fell dead. He then hastily with- 
 drew into the chamber and barred the door. 
 
 He quickly divested the dead Knight of his 
 armour, and the Queen and her ladies helped 
 him to buckle it on himself, the Knights without 
 still calling, '^ Traitor Knight, come out ! ' 
 
 As soon as he was armed, Sir Lancelot flung 
 open the chamber door and strode out brandish- 
 ing his sword. He killed Sir Agrawaine with 
 his first blow, and in a few minutes twelve dead 
 bodies lay around him. He wounded Sir 
 Mordred, who ran away before he could come 
 to further harm. When all his assailants had 
 fled Sir Lancelot returned to the Queen and said, 
 "Alas, dear Madam, the Knights who have 
 escaped will make King Arthur my foe, and 
 your foe also, but if you will^ come with me to 
 my castle, I will there defend you against the 
 world". 
 
 " I will not go with you now," said the Queen, 
 " but if as a punishment they decide to burn me, 
 you may deliver me as you think best." 
 
LANCELOT AND GUENEVEBE, 141 
 
 "While I live I will deliver you," said Sir 
 
 LANCLLOT COhES OVT Of GVEMEIVERE'S ROOK 
 
 Lancelot, and he left the Queen to return to his 
 own lodgings. 
 
142 LANCELOT AND GUENEVEBE. 
 
 He met on the way Sir Bors and many of his 
 friends fully armed and on their way to his 
 assistance. So he told them what had happened, 
 and exhorted them to be of good courage and in 
 readiness, for the need of their services would 
 arise before many hours were past. 
 
 And they all answered that they had hitherto 
 won nothing but fame with him, and they were 
 now ready to stand by him in ill fortune, if ill 
 fortune there should be. 
 
 Sir Lancelot thanked them for their encourage- 
 ment, and bade Sir Bors discover who were 
 friends and who were foes. 
 
 By seven o*clock many noble Knights had 
 gathered round Sir Lancelot, and were sworn 
 into his cause. 
 
 ''My lords," said he, ''while I was waiting 
 yesterday on our lady, the Queen, certain Knights 
 collected round the door and cried ' Treason/ 
 and much ado I had to escape with my life. 
 
 " In consequence of the tales these Knights 
 will carry to King Arthur, I am sure of mortal 
 war, and the Queen will be sentenced to death 
 at the stake. It is for this reason that I have 
 asked you to meet together." 
 
 Sir Bors said that it was truly Sir Lancelot's 
 
LANCELOT AND GUENEVEBE. 143 
 
 part to rescue the Queen, and they all took 
 counsel as to the best way in which this could 
 be effected. 
 
 Sir Bors considered that the wisest course 
 would be to carry the Queen to the Castle of 
 Joyous Guard, there to be kept until the King's 
 anger had in some part subsided. To this the 
 other Knights agreed, and they concealed them- 
 selves in a wood by the town, waiting to hear 
 what Arthur would do. 
 
 LANCELOT AND GUENEVERE 
 
 Part IV 
 
 Sir Mordred, meanwhile, had ridden to King 
 Arthur, and had told a tale implicating Sir 
 Lancelot and the Queen. 
 
 The King was much grieved at the tale, for 
 he loved Sir Lancelot. " It is a bitter blow," he 
 said, " and this will shatter the fellowship of the 
 Round Table. As I am judge, the Queen must 
 die, for she is the cause of the death of these 
 Knights." 
 
 " My lord," said Gawaine, " do not be hasty 
 in your judgment. This Sir Mordred, with his 
 foul tongue, is venting his spite upon Sir Lance- 
 
144 LANCELOT AND GUENEVEBB. 
 
 lot, whom we all know to be the Queen's especial 
 Knight, ready to do battle for her, and to truly 
 serve the King. Sir Lancelot will prove who is 
 right on the body of any Knight living, whether 
 for himself or the Lady Guenevere." 
 
 "That I can well believe," replied King 
 Arthur, " for he trusts in his own strength and 
 fears no man. Never again shall he fight the 
 Queen's battles, for she must die by the law. 
 Put on, therefore, your armour, and go with 
 your brothers. Sir Gaheris and Sir Gareth, to 
 bring the Queen to the fire, there to have judg- 
 ment delivered upon her and to suffer the 
 penalty of her crime." 
 
 "No, my lord, that I will never do," cried 
 Sir Gawaine ; " I will not stand by and see so 
 noble a lady suffer so shameful a death." 
 
 " Then let your brothers obey my commands," 
 said the King. 
 
 " Sir," said those two Knights, " if you com- 
 mand, we obey, though sorely against our will. 
 And if we go, it will be dressed as men of peace, 
 and not in armour." 
 
 So the Queen was led outside the gates, and 
 her rich dress was taken off. Her ladies wrung 
 their hands in grief, and few men wore armour, 
 
LANCELOT AND GUENEYEBE, 145 
 
 for in those days the presence of mail-clad 
 Knights made such a death more shameful. 
 
 Among those present was one of Sir Lance- 
 lot's Knights, and when he saw the Queen's 
 dress unclasped, and the priest step forward to 
 hear her confession, he rode to warn Sir Lancelot 
 that the hour had come. 
 
 They were leading the Queen to the stake, 
 when suddenly the thunder of horses' hoofs was 
 heard, and Sir Lancelot dashed up to the fire, 
 slaying the Knights who stood around without 
 armour to protect them. He did not look 
 before he struck, and afterwards the bodies of 
 Sir Gaheris and Sir Gareth were found among 
 the slain. 
 
 He reached the Queen, and throwing a 
 mantle over her, he lifted her on his saddle, and 
 rode away to the Castle of Joyous Guard, fol- 
 lowed by many noble Knights. 
 
 The news was brought to King Arthur 
 of the rescue of the Queen by Sir Lancelot, 
 and of the death of the two brothers of Sir 
 Gawaine. 
 
 **I charge you," he cried to his Knights, 
 
 " not to divulge to Sir Gawaine that his brother 
 
 Gareth has been slain by Sir Lancelot, whom 
 IV. 10 
 
146 LANCELOT AND GUENEVERE, 
 
 he loved above all other men. I fear it would 
 drive Sir Gavraine out of his mind." 
 
 " It is true," answered some of the Knights, 
 "yet Sir Lancelot does not know even now 
 whom he has slain." 
 
 ''Nevertheless," replied King Arthur, "I 
 believe that this affair will be the cause of a 
 feud to the death between Sir Gawaine and 
 Sir Lancelot, and I fear it will break up the 
 fellowship of the Round Table. My heart is 
 heavy at the loss of my Knights. Queens I 
 might have in plenty, and the loss of one does 
 but grieve me deeply. Knights such as those 
 who have followed Sir Lancelot I can never re- 
 place, and war with him will end my happiness 
 for ever." 
 
 Some one told Sir Gawaine that Sir Lance- 
 lot had rescued the Queen. "I well knew he 
 would rescue her," said he, "and he has acted 
 as a noble Knight should, but where, I pray 
 you, are my brethren ? " 
 
 " Sir Gaheris and Sir Gareth," said the man, 
 "I grieve to say are slain." 
 
 "And by whom?" 
 
 " Sir Lancelot slew them," said the man. 
 
 "He cannot have slain Sir Gareth," replied 
 
LANCELOT AND GUENEVEBE. 147 
 
 Sir Gawaine, ** for my brother loved him more 
 than he loved Gaheris or myself. I cannot believe 
 that Lancelot slew my brother." 
 
 Sir Gawaine then ran to King Arthur, and 
 learned that his brothers had been slain in the 
 press unknown to Sir Lancelot, and that they 
 had been buried at once in order that the sight 
 of their bodies should not aggravate his sorrow. 
 
 *' I swear to you, my lord," cried Sir Gawaine, 
 *' that from this day I will never rest until Sir 
 Lancelot or I be slain. And I will journey to 
 the world's end, if need be, to find him." 
 
 LANCELOT AND GUENEVEEE 
 Part V 
 
 " I AM told," said the King to Sir Gawaine, " that 
 
 Sir Lancelot awaits us in the Castle of Joyous 
 
 Guard, and that many people are flocking to 
 
 him there. Call your friends together, and I 
 
 will summon my Knights and vassals, to the 
 
 siege of Joyous Guard." 
 
 The King, with a great host, laid siege to 
 
 the castle, and at the end of fifteen weeks, no 
 
 breach had been made in the walls. It was then 
 
 harvest time, and Sir Lancelot called a truce, 
 
 10^ 
 
148 LANCELOT AND OUENEVEBB. 
 
 and the King, urged by Sir Gawaine, took this 
 opportunity to challenge him to battle. 
 
 " No," answered Sir Lancelot, '' with yourself 
 and Sir Gawaine I will never fight. I am deeply 
 grieved to have caused the death of your Knights, 
 and I slew them, my lord, to save Queen Guene- 
 vere, whom you sentenced to death in the heat 
 of your passion. Many times, my lord, you have 
 thanked me when I have saved your Queen 
 from the fire. I pray you do the like again, and 
 take back your Queen into your grace." 
 
 On hearing these brave words. King Arthur 
 would fain have made peace with Sir Lancelot, 
 but Sir Gawaine would not hear of it. He 
 bitterly reproached Sir Lancelot with causing 
 his brothers' deaths, and called him craven for 
 refusing to fight King Arthur. 
 
 At last Sir Lancelot's patience and courtesy 
 failed him, and he answered that next morning 
 he would give them battle. 
 
 Sir Gawaine's heart leaped with joy when he 
 heard this, and he privately instructed his Knights 
 to watch Sir Lancelot and to slay him if the 
 chance offered itself. Sir Lancelot, on the other 
 hand, bade his Knights on no account to hurt 
 King Arthur or Sir Gawaine. 
 
LANCELOT AND GUENEVEBE. 149 
 
 At dawn of day, a great host marched forth 
 from the gates of the Castle of Joyous Guard. 
 Sir Lancelot rode at the head, and on either 
 side rode Sir Bors and Sir Lionel. All day long 
 the battle waged, sometimes one side gaining the 
 advantage, and sometimes the other. Many were 
 the times that King Arthur strove to draw near 
 enough to slay Sir Lancelot, each time to be 
 deftly avoided. At last the King was unhorsed 
 by Sir Bors, who would have slain him had not 
 Sir Lancelot held his hand. " My lord Arthur," 
 he said, "I pray you for the love of God to 
 stay this strife. Remember my services in many 
 places. I cannot strike you, and no fame can be 
 yours if the fight continues on those conditions." 
 
 When King Arthur had mounted his horse 
 again, he looked at Sir Lancelot, and tears were 
 in his eyes as he thought of that Knight's great 
 courtesy. 
 
 '^ Alas ! that this strife should ever have 
 begun," he sighed, and rode away to a different 
 part of the field, and there the battle ended for 
 that day, and the dead were buried. 
 
 Sir Gawaine, however, would not allow the 
 King to make peace. A message from the Pope 
 was received, asking the King to end the strife 
 
150 LANCELOT AND GUENEVEBE. 
 
 and take back Queen Guenevere, but Sir Gawaine 
 urged him not to be persuaded, and the King 
 followed Sir Gawaine's advice, although in his 
 heart he wished for peace. 
 
 As to the Queen Sir Gawaine said nothing; 
 and King Arthur promised that he would take 
 back the Queen as the Pope desired, and that 
 if Sir Lancelot brought her, he should come and 
 go safely. 
 
 Sir Lancelot sent a messenger to the King 
 to say that it was never his intention to keep 
 the Queen, unless she was in such danger as to 
 warrant his doing so. He therefore would him- 
 self bring Queen Guenevere to the King in eight 
 days. 
 
 Eight days later a company of Knights, one 
 hundred strong, rode from the Castle of Joyous 
 Guard. Each was clothed in green velvet, and 
 bestrode a horse with trappings reaching to the 
 ground, and each held in his hand an olive 
 branch. 
 
 Behind the Queen rode four and twenty 
 gentlewomen, also clothed in green, and twelve 
 Esquires attended upon Sir Lancelot. He and 
 the Queen wore dresses of white and gold tissue, 
 while their horses' housings were set with precious 
 
THE END OF IT ALL. 151 
 
 stones. No man had ever gazed upon so noble 
 a pair as they who rode from Joyous Guard 
 to Carlisle, attended by their escort clothed in 
 green. 
 
 Sir Lancelot sprang from his horse when they 
 reached Carlisle, and helping the Queen from 
 hers, led her to King Arthur, who sat surrounded 
 by his Knights and with Sir Gawaine at his side. 
 
 He kneeled down, and the Queen kneeled 
 also, but the King remained silent. 
 
 Sir Gawaine would not let King Arthur listen 
 to anything that Sir Lancelot said, but told him 
 roughly that while one of them lived peace could 
 not be made, and on behalf of the King bade 
 him leave the country in fifteen days. 
 
 Sir Lancelot sadly took farewell of the Queen, 
 and rode from the Court to sail to his lands 
 across the sea. 
 
 THE END OF IT ALL 
 
 Part I 
 
 The Queen having returned to King Arthur, he 
 was willing that peace should be permanent, to 
 enable the country to recover its prosperity ; but 
 Sir Gawaine would give him no rest until he had 
 
152 TEE END OF IT ALL. 
 
 consented to raise a host and make war upon 
 Sir Lancelot. 
 
 Before he marched away he ordered his 
 nephew Sir Mordred to govern the kingdom in 
 his absence. 
 
 No sooner was his uncle at a safe distance, 
 than Sir Mordred gave it out that King Arthur 
 had been slain in battle, and he caused himself 
 to be crowned King at Canterbury. 
 
 Then he summoned Queen Guenevere, and 
 ordered her to be ready to marry him on a 
 certain day. The Queen hurried at once to 
 London, and rode to the Tower, in which she 
 stored food, and with her men-at-arms around 
 her, she determined to defend it against Sir 
 Mordred until King Arthur should return. 
 
 Sir Mordred laid close siege to the Tower for 
 many months, until at last word was brought 
 to him that King Arthur was hurrying home 
 across the seas to punish the nephew who had 
 betrayed him. Sir Mordred then retired with a 
 great host to Dover, there to await the King's 
 arrival. 
 
 King Arthur and his men landed on the sea- 
 shore, and though Sir Mordred's host fell upon 
 them while they were in the surf, they won their 
 
TEE END OF IT ALL. 153 
 
 way through, and Sir MordrecFs men flew into 
 the country. 
 
 When the fight was over, a man came to the 
 King with the news that he had found Sir Ga- 
 waine lying sorely wounded in a boat. The King 
 ordered the man to lead him there, and he found 
 that Sir Gawaine's chance of recovery was very 
 small, for an old wound had broken out afresh, 
 and was bleeding profusely. 
 
 " King Arthur, my uncle," said Sir Gawaine, 
 " my death day has come, and through my own 
 fault ; for had Sir Lancelot been here this un- 
 happy war would not have been begun, and it 
 is I who am the cause of his absence." 
 
 Then Sir Gawaine asked for paper, pen and 
 ink. Resting in King Arthur's arms he wrote to 
 Sir Lancelot, saying that he was dying of an old 
 wound given to him by Sir Lancelot in the siege 
 of a city across the sea, and thus showing that 
 Merlin's prophecy was fulfilled. 
 
 Sir Gawaine in his letter also begged Sir 
 Lancelot to come to the help of King Arthur, who 
 was sore bested with Sir Mordred. ''Pray for 
 my soul, I beseech you," he wrote, ''and visit my 
 tomb." Then Sir Gawaine died, and was buried 
 by King Arthur in the chapel of Dover Castle. 
 
154 THE END OF IT ALL. 
 
 The next day, news was brought to King 
 Arthur that Sir Mordred had pitched his camp 
 on Barham Down, and the King rode thither 
 with his host, and a great battle ensued, many 
 on both sides being slain. 
 
 In the end Sir Mordred again withdrew, and 
 King Arthur moved westwards towards Salis- 
 bury. 
 
 In order to end the war, the King ofifered to 
 give him Cornwall and Kent, with the under- 
 standing that he should become King of all 
 England on King Arthur's death. 
 
 This Sir Mordred agreed to, if King Arthur 
 and fourteen Knights would meet him, similarly 
 attended, between the two armies. 
 
 King Arthur, suspecting treachery, warned 
 his army to rush forward if they saw a sword 
 drawn, and with his fourteen Knights rode out 
 to meet Sir Mordred. The meeting took place, 
 and they agreed on the truce, but while they 
 were drinking wine together an adder stung one 
 of the Knights, and he drew his sword to kill it. 
 
 The men of both armies saw the sword 
 drawn, and they closed upon one another, to 
 begin the fiercest fight that up to that time had 
 ever taken place in a Christian land. 
 
TEE END OF IT ALL. 155 
 
 All day long they rode and speared, until in 
 the evening a hundred thousand men lay dead 
 upon the down. Only two of King Arthur's 
 Knights were still alive, Sir Lucan and his 
 brother, Sir Bedivere. 
 
 " Alas, that I should see this day," cried the 
 King aloud ; and looking round he saw Sir 
 Mordred leaning on his sword, and a heap of 
 dead men lay around him. 
 
 THE END OF IT ALL 
 
 Part II 
 
 " Give me my spear," cried King Arthur to Sir 
 Lucan. 
 
 "Sir, let him be," answered Sir Lucan. 
 "Blessed be God, you have won the field, for 
 we three remain alive, while of the others none 
 are alive except Sir Mordred." 
 
 "Tide me life or tide me death," said the 
 King, "he shall not escape me now, for so fair 
 an opportunity may not occur again." He lifted 
 his spear with both hands, and ran towards 
 Sir Mordred, crying, " Traitor ! your death 
 day has come," and struck him under the shield 
 
TEE END OF IT ALL. 157 
 
 SO fiercely that the spear ran right through his 
 body. 
 
 Sir Mordred knew that he had received his 
 death wound. Eaising himself from the ground 
 he struck the King a blow that cut his helmet 
 in two, and then fell back dead. 
 
 Sir Lucan and Sir Bedivere carried the King 
 to a little chapel that happened to be standing 
 close by. 
 
 The walls of the chapel were green with 
 moss. " Would that I could leave this place," 
 said King Arthur, and the two Knights tried to 
 lift him outside again ; but Sir Lucan had been 
 wounded in the fight, and the wound breaking 
 out afresh with the strain, he fell and died at 
 King Arthur's feet. 
 
 "Alas !" said the King, ''he has died for my 
 sake, and he had more need of help than I. The 
 time is flying fast, and therefore. Sir Bedivere, 
 cease your moaning and weeping. Take my 
 sword Excalibur to yonder water side. When 
 you reach the water's edge, throw my sword into 
 the water, and come and tell me what you see." 
 
 "My lord," answered Sir Bedivere, "your 
 command shall be obeyed," and he departed for 
 the water, bearing the sword in his hand. 
 
158 THE END OF IT ALL. 
 
 When he examined that noble sword, and 
 saw the jewels in the pommel and hilt, he said 
 to himself, "If I throw this sword into the 
 water, no good can come of it," so he hid 
 Excalibur under a tree, and returned to the 
 King. 
 
 ''What have you seen?" asked the King. 
 
 ^' Sir," answered Sir Bedivere, " I saw nothing 
 but the waves upon the water." 
 
 "You are not dealing truthfully with me," 
 said the King. " Go back and do my command. 
 Throw the sword, and spare not." 
 
 But again Sir Bedivere could not bring him- 
 self to throw the sword away. Instead, he again 
 hid the sword, and returned to the King to tell 
 him he had seen nothing but the waves and the 
 gloom. 
 
 " Traitor ! " cried the King, " twice you have 
 deceived me. If you do not my bidding this 
 time, I will slay you, wounded as I am." 
 
 Then Sir Bedivere was ashamed, and taking 
 the sword, he swung it back and fore, and, with 
 the impulse thus gathered, it cut its way through 
 the gloom to the middle of the water. 
 
 As it flew through the air, a hand and arm 
 rose from the waves, and caught it by the hilt. 
 
EXCAUBVR RtTV/RNS TO THE MERE 
 
160 THE END OF IT ALL, 
 
 The sword was then brandished thrice before 
 disappearing for ever beneath the surface. 
 
 Then Sir Bedivere returned to the King, and 
 told him of what he had seen. 
 
 " Help me hence," said the King, " for I have 
 already tarried over long," and Sir Bedivere bore 
 him upon his back to the water side. And when 
 they stood upon the bank, a little barge drew 
 near, containing a Queen and many fair ladies, 
 all in black hoods. When they beheld King 
 Arthur, they shrieked and wept. 
 
 '^ Now place me in the barge," said King 
 Arthur, and Sir Bedivere put him softly down, 
 and the ladies moaned and wept round him, 
 while the barge moved slowly away from the 
 shore. 
 
 THE END OF IT ALL 
 
 Part III 
 
 When Queen Guenevere heard of the battle, 
 and of the death of King Arthur, she stole away 
 with five of her ladies to Almesbury, and became 
 a nun. 
 
 Meanwhile Sir Lancelot, who had received 
 Sir Gawaine's letter, and heard that Sir Mordred 
 
TEE END OF IT ALL, 161 
 
 had taken the crown, rose in wrath, and calling 
 Sir Bors, they together collected a host and 
 sailed for Dover to avenge themselves on that 
 false Knight. 
 
 When they arrived, they were told that the 
 King was slain, and that Sir Gawaine had been 
 buried by the King in the chapel at Dover Castle. 
 And there Sir Lancelot wept and prayed for two 
 days. 
 
 Then Sir Lancelot set out to find the lady 
 Guenevere, and at last he came to a nunnery, 
 where Queen Guenevere was looking out of her 
 lattice. She was aware of his presence as soon 
 as he v/alked in the cloister, and when she saw 
 him she swooned away. 
 
 When she had recovered she said to those 
 around her, *' You will marvel, fair ladies, to see 
 me swoon. Yonder Knight is the cause, and I 
 pray you to bring him to me." 
 
 When Sir Lancelot had been led to her, she 
 
 said to her ladies, " Through me and this Knight 
 
 has this dreadful war been wrought, and night 
 
 and day I do penance for it. Sir Lancelot, I 
 
 pray you to steel your heart against me, and 
 
 to make up your mind never to see my face 
 
 again. Go back to your own land, I pray 
 IV. 11 
 
162 THE END OF IT ALL, 
 
 you, to govern and protect it. Take to yourself 
 a wife, love wisely, and pray for the soul of 
 Guenevere." 
 
 " No, Madam," said Lancelot, " that I shall 
 never do. Instead, I shall enter upon a life 
 similar to the one that you have chosen." 
 
 " I can never believe," said the Queen, " that 
 you will forsake the vanities of the world alto- 
 gether." 
 
 " Madam," answered he, ^^ you speak as your 
 heart prompts you, yet you have never known 
 me to break my word. If in the quest of the 
 Holy Graal I had forsaken the vanities of the 
 world with all my heart, with the exception of 
 Galahad, my son, I should have passed all other 
 Knights. And, lady, since you have chosen a 
 spiritual life, I will choose as you have done, 
 and will seek a hermit with whom I will spend 
 my days in penance and prayer. Madam, I 
 beseech you to kiss me once again." 
 
 " No," said the Queen, " I may not do that," 
 and Sir Lancelot mounted his horse, and de- 
 parted in great sorrow* 
 
THE END OF IT ALL. 163 
 
 THE END OF IT ALL 
 
 Part IV 
 
 Sir Lancelot rode through the forest for two 
 days, and then he came upon a hermitage and 
 a chapel between two high cliffs, and he heard a 
 little bell ring for Mass. 
 
 He entered, and found the Bishop of Canter- 
 bury within, and with him Sir Bedivere. After 
 Mass, Sir Bedivere told Sir Lancelot of the 
 throwing of the sword into the lake, and of the 
 passing of Arthur in the barge to the valley of 
 Avilion, and Sir Lancelot's grief at the tidings 
 of the King's death was very great. He kneeled 
 down and besought the Bishop to take him into 
 the Church, and the Bishop put a robe upon him. 
 
 When fifteen days had passed, and Lancelot 
 had not returned. Sir Bors sent the great host 
 back, and set out with some faithful friends to 
 search over England after him. 
 
 They rode different ways, and by chance it 
 was Sir Bors who came to the chapel in which 
 Sir Lancelot was staying. 
 
 He prayed Sir Bors to stay also, and become 
 
 one of their fellowship, and in six months six 
 
 11* 
 
164 TEE END OF IT ALL. 
 
 other Knights joined them, spending their days 
 in fasting and prayer, and keeping no riches for 
 themselves. 
 
 Six years had passed in this way, when Sir 
 Lancelot one night had a vision, causing him to 
 hasten to Almesbury. He learned from the 
 vision that he should find Queen Guenevere 
 dead, and that he was to take her body and 
 bury it by the side of King Arthur. 
 
 Sir Lancelot, therefore, set out on foot with 
 seven other Knights from Glastonbury to Almes- 
 bury, and being weak with fasting, they took 
 some days to cover the distance. When they 
 reached the nunnery, they found that Queen 
 Guenevere had been dead but half an hour, 
 and that before she had died she had told her 
 ladies that Sir Lancelot was on his way to her, 
 and that he was going to bury her body beside 
 that of her dead lord. King Arthur. 
 
 Sir Lancelot looked upon her face, but wept 
 little. The Queen was laid upon a bier which 
 was drawn by horses to Glastonbury, surrounded 
 by a hundred torches. Sir Lancelot and his 
 fellows walked behind. 
 
 At Glastonbury, the Bishop of Canterbury 
 sang a Requiem Mass over the Queen, and she 
 
THE END OF IT ALL, 165 
 
 was placed in a marble coffin, and buried by the 
 side of the King. As the body was lowered 
 into the grave, Sir Lancelot fell in a swoon. 
 
 From that day Sir Lancelot ate little food, 
 and for the most part was found kneeling by the 
 grave of King Arthur and Queen Guenevere. 
 None could comfort him, and in six weeks he 
 was too weak to rise from his bed. He sent 
 for the hermit and his fellows, and asked them 
 to administer to him the last rites of the Church ; 
 and he begged that his body might be taken to 
 Joyous Guard. 
 
 That night the hermit had a vision. He saw 
 Sir Lancelot being carried up to Heaven by 
 Angels, and he waked Sir Bors and bade him 
 go and see if anything ailed him. So Sir Bors 
 went to Sir Lancelot, and found him dead, a 
 smile lingering upon his face. 
 
 Then there was much weeping and wringing 
 of hands, and he was placed on the bier that 
 had carried Queen Guenevere, and taken to 
 Joyous Guard. There he was laid in the choir, 
 and while prayers were being said over him, 
 Sir Ector de Maris, who had sought Sir Lance- 
 lot through the land for seven long years, came 
 in and stood beside his body. 
 
166 THE END OF IT ALL. 
 
 *'Ah, Lancelot," he said, "thou wert the 
 best of Christian Knights, the courtliest gentle- 
 man that ever drew sword, the most faithful 
 friend that ever breathed. Thou wert the good- 
 liest Knight and the truest man that ever loved 
 a woman." 
 
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U.C.BERKELEY LIBRARIES 
 
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