The Boys King Arthur

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’ Boy s KING ART HUR

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NEWYORK CHAR LE S S C R I B NE R ’ S SONS

1 900

FEB 1 2 1901 ' Cowm c n r , 1 880,

’ BY CHARLES SCRIB NER S SONS. NTR DU CT ION I O .

' WILL tim Ham ldl the e come when wi l be a boys tale ? Since the youn g readers of King Ar thur — and their young readers after them — are of all persons in the world the very oracles who must one day answer this ques tion ; and since its curi ous face will be thrusting its elf upon us from all manner of odd corn ers as we n ow go on to tra ce the ris e and spread of the stories whi ch Sir Thomas Malory us ed in making this beautiful old book : I wished in i n t n i to state it at the beg n g, so hat it might at o ce w den and intensify our thoughts as we look upon t hose changes ’ in in t he r at u in language, life, gene al st re of man s spirit, whereby the great cycle of Ar thurian romances which en. chanted the grown men of all Europe durin g the mi ddle s arr ni n e n t n u ages finds it elf ived, in the et e h ce t ry, at the ’ i n B s i n A r t/t a r form of th s prese t oy K g . A bo ut the ti me when Engli shmen first began to hear “ ” n lan ta m is ta il the name Plantage et, from the p g or w d ’ II s i broom of A njou which Henry . father l ked to wear by way of a plume ; when Thomas a Becket was begi nni ng i ri n i K n that br ght f e dship w th this same ing He ry II. which presen tly darkened into their desperate struggle ; when a st ranger was allowed to st0p over in an English bo rough but one night un less he could fetch good and ffi a bad al u su cient security ag inst behavior ; when, tho gh a ll o uc ion iv I n tr d t .

crimin al could clear himself of his accusation by holdin g n in n n n n hot iro his hand or by si ki g whe cast i to water, n evertheless those bodies of men which have sin ce become “ ” what we call the jury —the most admirable provision n du u ever made by our race for perfect reason a p re j stice n m an m an r n in u betwee and we e taki g form s ch a time, which we may roughly cen tre at the middle of the twelfth n u n K n A r u ce t ry, the ame of i g th r first appeared in Eng u n i n f lish literat re . For it was the that a certa Geo frey

’ ' n u ut r L Hzstor za B ri tonum of Mo mo th p fo th his atin , ” n — in History of the Brito s, which for the first time the story of A rthur as an an cien t British king was fairly set before the world. — n Geoffrey told it for true, not as a mere fictio . Here un n n is his acco t of the way he happe ed to k ow it, and of his reason for publishin g it as matter belon gi n g to the real n T n history of the Brito s . his is a translatio of part of his first chapter. “ u u Whilst occ pied on many and various st dies, I hap n u n K n pe ed to light po the History of the i gs of Britain, n in un and wo dered that the acco t which Gildas and Bede, in v I un their elegant treatises , had gi en of them , fo d n n C nothi g said of those ki gs who lived here before hrist , n or A r u an d n of th r, ma y others who s ucceeded after Christ ; though their action s both deserved immortal fame, and were also celebrated by man y people in a ant n n ma er, and by heart , as if they had been wri tten: I n n n u u Whilst was i te t upo these and s ch like tho ghts , A n — Walter, rchdeaco of Oxford whom we suppose to be the Walter Map presen tly figurin g in this account “ u n an dn ~ a man of great eloq e ce, lear ed in foreign histo t ies f , o fered me a very an cien t book in the British to n gue ’ — r “ n ou Geoffrey s British here mea s Welsh which , n n t he in a co tinued regular story and elega t style, related n r u i n actio s of them all , f om Brut s the first k g of the n adw so C all A Briton s down to Cadwallader the of o. t u I n ot his request, therefore, tho gh had made fine lan

u g u n fl r x n g a e my st dy, by collecti g o id e pressio s from u n n own other a thors , yet co te ted with my homely style ”

n t I un der took the translatio of that book into Latin. a ’ It must be con fessed that our historian s ideas of proba~V bility seem very un satisfactory to the m odern view of r n o u historic dignity . Pe haps more striking proof co ld ’ be given of the en orm ous growth in men s con scien ce and reason ablen ess sin ce that time than by the followin g ’ co uple of stories which I have taken out of Geoffrey s “ on e n un History , the purporti g to be a true acco t of the way in which the island of Britain was first peopled n n n and amed, the other setti g forth the strange adve t n u n of Merli as prophet and co nsellor to the British ki gs . A ft er relati n g how !E n eas settled in Italy at the close T Geofire of the rojan war, y treats of his descendants

n on e u - there, and prese tly comes to Br tus , the great grand son oi E n r un eas , who is afte wards the fo der of the British e T u u i n own rac his Br t s , hav ng by accide t slain his wi un father th an arrow while h ting, is banished by his v kinsmen for the dreadful deed. He wanders forth o er n n u v n u the earth , falls i to wo dro s ad e t res, fights battles . n l n l and does noble deeds , u ti he is fi a ly told by the god dess Dian a that there is an islan d in the Western Sea u n un po which he is to fo d a great empire. e in t n : He go s search , and, af er other treme dous war and in o victories which he amasses great sp ils, he and his i n n C n u i mighty l eute a t ori e s , with a company wh ch he has a v on g thered in his wanderings , arri e the coast of Eng Th e of e n land. details these matters occupy fourte 0 du i n r o c on vi I t t .

r : i n chapters after chapter fi st , already quoted and here, x n C n u chapter si tee , we have the terrible fight of ori e s n d un n r n r n a . with the abo igi al giant , the fo di g of B itai “ The n A n n island was the called lbio , and was i habited ” h n n ut n . x n n t e by o e b a few gia ts Fi i g their habitatio , y “ n du u n begin to till the groun d ; a Br t s called the isla d I B rit ai n an d n n n . n after his ame , his compa io s Brito s “ B ut Corin eus begin s to lan guish for some fun : For it

n n un n was a diversio to him to e co ter the said gia ts , which were in greater n umbers in his provi n ce than in all the n other provin ces that fell to the share of his companio s . A mon g the rest was on e detestable mon ster n amed Goe v u an d r in u magot , stat re twel e c bits , of such p odigious stren gth that at on e shake he pulled up an oak as ifit had n z n On n n bee a ha el wa d . a certai day, whe Brutus was holdin g a solem n festival to the gods this gian t with n c n n in u n n twe ty more of his ompa io s came po the Brito s, n u u amo g whom he made a dreadf l sla ghter. But the n n in ut Brito s, at last assembli g together a body, p them u an d n u o e b t e . to the ro t , killed them every Go magot ru u v n v r out B t s had gi e orders to ha e him p eserved alive, of n an dC n a desire to see a combat betwee him ori eus . r n u n d C a o i e s , overjoyed at this , prepared himself, , throw in l n g aside his arms, cha le ged him to wrestle with him . A t n n n n un C n u an d n the begi i g of the e co ter, ori e s the gia t ,

n n n r n n in sta di g fro t to f o t , held each other stro gly their

n u but e arms, and pa ted alo d for breath ; Go magot pres n n C n u e tly, graspi g ori e s with all his might , broke three of

. A t C n n u his ribs which ori eus , highly e raged, ro sed up

’ The first u in Brutus sounded like t he m odern French u in Ge offrey s

tim e . Th s in ra donv i pi c ersation is not widely difierent from t he short i of ‘ - B rzt ain . Th e derivation was t h r e e ore at an rate not an im robab e one in f y p l , ’ und oint of so t o e o re s readers. p , G ff y I n tr oduction . vii

n di hi s t an , whole stre g h. snatch ng him upon his shoulders, ran wi th him as fast as the weight would allow him to the

ar sea- u nearest p t of the shorde, and there, getting pon the c r e top of a high ro k, hu l d own the savage monster into see i u the ; where, fall ng pon the sides of craggy rocks, d v he was torn to pieces , and colore the wa es with his The l all Goe blood. place where he fe l is c ed Lam ’ ”

e . magot, that is Go magot s Leap, to this day ’ A n d as c a s Geofire x here, in the l t h pters of y si th book, n V e n . we have the mystic app ara ce of Merli ortigern, n i u i l ki g of Br tain , after the sla ghter of his whole pr nce y following through the tr eachery of Hen gi st and the wast hi s t i i s i o ing of coun ries by that warr or, ret res de olate nt “ ” C i — o n s — o i ambr a, the m der Wale , and for s me t me is at a loss how to act. “ A t u last he had reco rse to magicians , and commanded l u T i them to tel him what co rse to take. hey adv sed him u n c to b ild a very stro g tower for his own safety, sin e he A i had lost all his other forti fied places . ccord ngly he s v al un ri s a sembled workmen from se er co t e , and il Th e u o ordered them to bu d the tower. b ilders theref re la u d un b t di began to y the fo dation ; whatever they one n x as v day, the earth swallowed up the e t, so to lea e no V n appearance of their work. ortigern, bei g informed of i ai n l n i th s , ag n co su ted with his magicians co cern ng the hi m fin dut u m o use of it, who told that he must a yo th n i him n that ever had a father, and k ll , and the sprinkle t h e n sto e and cement with his blood for by those means. th e u un u y said, he wo ld have a firm fo dation. Here pon mes sengers wer e despatched over all the provinces to in i out i v qu re such a man. In the r tra els they came to a cit y where they saw some youn g m en playin g before but r i the gate, and went up to them ; , being wea y w th O 0. uc i Vlll I n tr od t on .

n . T n their jour ey, they sat down owards eveni g there happen ed on a sudden a quarrel between two of the youn g

n n an dDabut ius. In m e , whose names were Merli the Dabut ius : ‘ You dispute said to Merlin fool, do you pre sume to quarrel with me ? I am descen ded of royal ’ ’

c an d . A s ou ra e both by my father s mother s side for y , ’ n n ou . obody k ows what y are, for you never had a father At that word the messen gers looked earn estly upon Mer lin an d - n T b . , asked the ysta ders who he was hey told them it was n ot kn own who was his father ; but that his m n i t i an d u D m e a other was da ghter to the ki g of , that she ’

in u n un . lived St . Peter s Ch rch amo g the n s of that city Upon this the messen gers hasten ed to the governor of the ’ an dr in n n city, o dered him the ki g s name to se d Merlin ” n and his mother to the ki g. The n n v an dn ki g havi g recei ed them , havi g made nu o n n u r n m ro s i q iries which were satisfacto ily a swered, n n an d Merli then approached the ki g said to him, For n n d n u n u what reaso am I a my mother i trod ced i to yo r ’ ‘ ’ ‘ n ? n n V n v prese ce My magicia s , a swered ortiger , ad ised out m an me to seek a who had no father, with whose blood ’ u n n in r n my b ildi g is to be spri kled orde to make it sta d . ‘ ’ ‘ O u n n r rder yo r magicia s, said Merli , to come befo e me , ’ n d n a The n u r I will co vict them of a lie . ki g was s rp ised n r n at his words, and prese tly o dered the magicia s to come and sit down before Merlin, who spoke to them after this m anner Because you are ign orant what it is that hinders un n the fo dation of the tower, you have recomme ded the n n u sheddi g of my blood for ceme t to it , as if that wo ld r n n B ut n ow p ese tly make it sta d . tell me what is there un der the foun dation ? For somethin g there is that will ’ uf not s fer it to stand. n r o I t oducti n . ix

“ The magicians at this began to be afrai d and made T n ai i him no answer. he s d Merl n, who is also called A r s ‘ n u u mb o e, I e treat yo r majesty would command yo r n th e un ou l workmen to dig i to gro d, and y wil find a ’ n s n po d which cau es the foundatio to sink. “ T i n n s n his accord ngly was do e, and the pre e tly they foun d a po n d deep under ground which had made it give r i n n c an way. Me l n after this we t agai to the magi ians d T l an un said, ell me, ye fa se sycoph ts , what is there der the ’ n B ut n T n a n po d. they were sile t. he s id he agai to the n C n n ra ki g, omma d the po d to be d ined, and at the bottom ll n you wi see two hollow sto es , and in them two dragons ’ The i n o i hi m asleep . k ng made scruple of bel eving , since n d u r u an e he had fo nd t e what he had said of the po d, ther be i n un fore ordered it to drained ; wh ch do e, he fo d as Merlin had said ; and n ow was possessed of the greatest r n Nor n admi atio of him. were the rest that were prese t z i i n o s less ama ed at his wisdom, th nk ng it to be le s than n divi e inspiration. ’ Geofir e s i If all y h story were of this cast, and that of the famous Prophecy of Merlin whi ch follows the extract on l fin d e just given, cou d great comfort in a phrase of the ’ Hen r I n r u in r K i n V. a g y Hotsp r Shakspe e s g y , who, when reproached by Morti mer for hi s en dles s crossing and taunt. in hm n ri g of the Wels an Gle dower, c es,

I ca nnot ch oose : som etim e be an gers m e ' Wi th t elling m e Of the ream er Mer n an dhi s heci d li pm p ee, f a n anda finl dra o Ando es s fish g , A eou i on anda ram ch n in cat g li , p g ,

As puts m e from m yfait h. uc i x I n tr od t on .

n t e n n But there are ma y soberer mat rs, lyi g earer within ’ o k an d in f bo historic possibility, Geo frey s its rich stores have often furn ished groundwork for later En glish thin k n n un n ers, as , for i sta ce, its acco t of Leir, an early ki g of ’ n n n E gla d, which has been tra sformed into Shakspere s

K i n L ar terrible play of g e . v n f t n n n as Before lea i g Geo frey it is wor h while me tio i g , explan atory of several En glish n ames which occur in the w n n u e follo i g work, that accordi g to him Brut s had thre ’ n u n v n so s, who po their father s death di ided the ki gdom n : Locrin betwee them these were, , who took the middle n n du n u a part of the isla d, th s gave it a ame often sed in ” “ i L Alban act this book, Loegr a, or sometimes ogris , n n n who took the orther part , and thus gave ame to the n A n A n n cou try of lba ia, or lba y, now know as Scotland ; an dK n n an d amber, who took the part beyo d the Sever , v n K am bria C n ow thus ga e it the ame of , or ambria, “ ” n n n know as Wales, though still ofte referred to u der

the other title. A n n n ow dva ci g, , to Walter Map (whose name is also spelled he seems n ot to have been con ten t ’ u n in f n that these matters sho ld remai Geo frey s Lati , for find we three lon g A rthurian roman ces in Fren ch whi ch

u n e al Lo ues t e are attrib ted to him . O of these is c led Q dcl S ai ll n t Grczczl in n n n , and is a far obler vei of story tha ’ G f n r eo frey s . I have thought that many you g reade s would be glad to see some of the Fren ch of Maistres u and u Ga tiers Map, for this p rpose I have selected part of

” The aint raa or a nt ra or anc G real or an r ea — as it S G l , S i G il , S , S g l ' has been var ous s e edat difi r im — m ea the ho J anet -w sa t e ent t es ns n i ly p ll ly ( , i ) ra or Cu h ch was ab edt have r vedsom e of the b oo of es us G il , p, w i f l o ecei l d J hrist andt o have been br u o ht a a en o e th m i racu ous o ers b C , g w y, d w d wi l p w , y ose h of r m at hea fina odin i n an E . J p A i , lly l g g n gl d o uc ion I n tr d t . xi that most exquisite story — which is als o fin ely told in the pres en t book — oi the meet ing of Sir Percival and the n x i lio , and of their friendship . My e tract beg ns as Sir ai n n Percival has sl the serpe t. Quant li lyons se voit ’ vr dhival r il n dli n el c e e e es del serpe t par l aide , fait pas ’ ” sam blan t qu il vit volen t ee de com batre a per cheval “ Perci val an et sa s . et [ ] ains vient dev t lui , boisse te te lui ai ioi erchevaus Perci val f t grant e. si que p [ ] voit bien ’ ’ ’ n a al n lui ai il s es ee el fu erre qu il t e t de mal f re, remet p , ct iet e son et hiaum e sa le n ius escu, son de teste por ve t ’ re uellir . C s s es caufe li et q ar a si l ot serpens, li lyons aloit

f lui covet ant et ioie. Et tous ours apres , faisant grant il le n a lani er et quant voit che, si comme ce a p col teste, et dist que n otres sires lui a envoie celle beste pour lui ” m ai n i faire co p g e. But per haps it will be still more interesting to see ex~ / act l o S i : ywhat s rt of English was poken in th s time and, u n n for the p rpose of showi g, I wish to bri g forward a/ short passage from an old En glis h poet who seems to m ea/

t u - - n - r - t h e the mos delightf l boy that ever g ows old in . world, d n u hi s an o e whom perhaps loves a little more, beca se c un r m a as al o t y en h ve yet loved him a great de less , e n n ot than he d serves. His name is Layamo ; and he only began one of the most remarkable revolution s in t he i l u but i on e whole h story of ang age, he was writ ng at t h e u in of most glorio s moments the history of England. ’ If n a 1 2 1 i I mentio the ye r 5 , every boy s m nd will imme diat l fl am Ru n t h e y y to that f ous day at nnymede whe e ar Ki n b ons forced the Great Charter from ng Joh . While t i C art e n h s h er, with its d ep declaratio s which seem to av r i — h e endered Engl sh liberty indestructible such as , “ To n o ill n man w we sell , or de y, or delay, right or j ” “ t ce i i s se i , and We w ll not go aga n t any man nor nd uc xii I n tr od tion .

u n against him , save by legal j dgme t of his peers or by ” the law of the land — was overthrowin g political tyran n L n n y, ayamo , in a spirit not u like, was overthrowing n n d n a a literary tyra ny. For a hu dred fifty years sin ce William the Norman came over in 1 066 and im posed his ton gu e upon En gland — French had been t he official lan guage of the country : if you had a commun i n u in n e catio for royalty it m st be Fre ch, if you had a cas i r n u in n n d n a e cou t the pleadi gs m st be Fre ch, we hav j ust seen how Walter Map writes his story in Fren ch in L n No on e s while Geoffrey writes his ati . writes book in n A t L n E glish . length, however, comes ayamo , a r n v n n n p iest livi g at Earnley, on the Se er ; with i fi ite labor he toils about differen t parts of En gland to find “ on d n e a V three books , by B e a ( the e erable Bede one an d A n A A t by Wace, one by Sts. lbi and ustin . last fin e u u us he gets them ; and what a fig re he p ts before , u ix n n f u n fin d s a da al thro gh these cent ries, whe we him “ n L n n sayi g of himself, ayamo laid dow these books, and turned the leaves ; he gaz ed on them lovingly ; may the ” u ! T Lord be mercif l to him hen he plied his pen, and “ ” presently he had made a poem called The Brut (pro noun dB t andn ce ru e , bei g so called as a history of Eng ’ n f la d from the time of Geo frey s Brutus, father of the n in Brito s), which was so thoroughly English that its more than thirty thousan d lin es not fifty French words can un be fo d . B ut Layamon was far from confinin g himself to his three n books . His imagi ation went far outside of their record ; and it is j ust possible that he had heard some of those popular legends about A rthur which appear to have been w an d f handed do n from father to son, to which Geo frey u x him h m st refer in the e tract first given from , where e says that the deeds of the old kings were also celebrated

art a: i t Izade ~ n b Izo i t t b en wr i t by ma y people y , f y ” t en .

n n u Here, then, is the E glish of Layamo , which , tho gh a f fifty ye rs later than Geo frey, is substantially the same as n was spoke by the latter. The pas sage gives us a picture of K in g A rthur in on e / his i Col rim x n . of series of battles w th g , leader of the Sa o s ’ A t A r u rc first th r s fo es are overpowered , and, with that cool j udgmen t of the brave man whi ch you wi ll fin d always held up in the presen t book as a far higher test n u n n and ideal of ma f l ess than mere hot fighti g and dash, A u n ot ak rth r does hesitate to t e advantage of a stream , B ut in i n and retreat . retreat g he keeps his wits about d ut n k n an o him , ever looks for a cha ce to stri e, ever n e A n d dreaming of surre d r. so, presently, says Laya m on ,

Tho rt ur t at i- seh t at Ca rim him was so neh A h h , h g , ‘ ‘ flé u r tfiat m that oi r in kbn m n m fi fi m A , C g g ,

’ T at h n eren e n e in on a t an at er e h w b y h lf h w , l t ater m but}: on m ha f(of) tbc ,

u n m idrtéw T A

r ri u - c he e we have a b ef so l stirring spee h from the king, al u al i t h c ling pon his men for v or, and cry ng out that e

ve the m o ern orm of each oldor m m e iat e un er it in t he I gi d f w d i d ly d , i cwedlin e t hus showi n t he ha in h it al c n es s ce a am on. T e m eani n ca n , g g L y g be m ade out from the lit eral trans lation in italics : it m us t be rem em bered ’ that t he rder o of or s in a sentence was difierent th rom Si n w d en f now. g s of ’ th s ll be seen a on throu h a or s book thou h so m uch ater. i wi l g g M l y , g l “ ” Hii is ronounwdas ifwritten na . p “ V ” I atcre in three s l ab es wate r -cl v r fina ( m akes a s la le. yl l , e e y l yl b xiv I ntr oduction .

x : w day of God is come for the Sa ons to perish and, ith the last word,

‘ ra drt ur his sca orn to his reaste U b p y A h ld f b , st retchedrt/cur his sniddbe re Iris bread Up A fo ,

’ Andhe an to rese so the o e o g , w d w lf nd’ an to rus u rious wol h A he g , a: tire f f

ane h om et of te bi- on m idsno W e c o e h h l , h g w , he roman ut o bel mn witfi snow M on (o ) f g ,

Andthencheth to t e oc sea t at him ke bi w h p h li th .

Swa the haeye wude A : the hi b wood g

T ene w n o e weieth n m idm a n e c e h i d w d hi i , /w wi n ds ” uriou bcn dctlz will: m ai n on it M a ) f ,

F o en over the e es thritti 4 thus n s lde e dce s l g f ld , Flew over d: thirt oura fi flu el t/z n dr icldc fi y ,

m iten a Col rim es iht es t at a rth n s g cn h th eo e agae quehte. nd ’ A m ote Colgr im : b rig/i t s (so) t/zat the our“ again t h at .

B reken ra n s r n rustleden l e e e b sce des b d p , , B roke broads r h er ed ea s s iv rbieldr p , ,

Feollen Saexis m n n ce e folden to grunde . Fell S axon m en to r und g o .

” B ra dis an l - o dorm br oad r y f of m odern : Arthur up b oaden s hil sh e that xten d: is e it u ar The cot ch who reserve m an n o i ld, , pw d. S , p y A gl

axon orm s sti sa brai for br oad. S f , ll y d odi a e s ordh W w w ich will be often found in the book you are about ” “ rea s doo a to e e ndm ea m a n n m adinsane ke a oo d as d, p ll w d, i g , , li w d ( ) ” ’ on. It is use b haks ere in A drum m cr i bt : D r eam here Ali N li d y S p g , w em etri us unn n sa s A n e an woodth n th s h r d de am oo D p i gly y , I, wi i i w d, ” that m adth n t h s m is oo ecause cannot m eet e ena. , wi i i w d, B I yH l ” That is th o er : we st sa th m ht andm ai n. , wi p w ill y, wi ig I “ ” The last in thritti short : as if thritty.

o uc ion xvi I n tr d t .

h Havekes him sm it et , Houndes him bitctlz ,

F o n v r the ldes l ge o e fe T rit i t husendsceldcs h t ,

n d the rhyme being between words at the middle and e n an d in i s of the verse, as here pri ted ; sometimes what

A n - x n n called the glo Sa o alliterative metre, as , for i stance, where the three first mai n syllables of the lin e begin with s the same letter, , in

S axes unnen r nken : sor hem wes iv de. g i ge g e

When on e is so familiar with the so un ds and Spirit of ’ Layam on s speech as to recite his poetry in something own n n u u n of his ma er, the m sic of it is far less r gged tha seems at first sight possible . n ow out u u If we leave of sight the n mero s writers , d n a dL n n d n a besi es Wace ayamo Map, who se t forth all man n er of roman ces in prose an dverse growin g out of ’ G n n dn n n a o e eoffrey s origi al stock ; , passi g at step alo g n r un e an n ea ly three h dred years , if w come to E glish

u re- A u n a thor who is still telling the rth ria stories, and fin d an English audience still desirin g to hear them t e told : we cannot fail to be struck with the hold which ’ ’ f n n n Geo frey s tales had take upo men s mi ds . T our own u his author is simple, valoro s, wise, tender T K Sir homas Malory, who wrote the History of ing A rthur and his knights of the Roun d Table foun d in the n an n followi g pages . I regret that I c give no perso al accoun t of on e who must have been an in terestin g m an v n u n n so far as I can disco er, we k ow absol tely othi g of n n in n him save what is co tai ed the followi g words , which i I n tr oduction . xvi

form the last clause of th e las t sen tence of hi s work “ for thi s book was ended the ni nth year of the rei gn of Ki ar ur Sir T Maleore ni ng Edw d the Fo th, by homas , k ght, u him a th e as Jes help for His gre t might, as he is servant ” of The n n e Jesu both day and night. i th y ar of the reign IV u 1 6 1 of Edward . wo ld be somewhere in 49 or 470 u i R s un n u th s, wh le the Wars of the o es were th deri g abo t

n i n - E gland, while Edward and Warwick the k g maker were apparent ly shaking the world with their desperate T s Maleore i was struggle, our Sir homa , kn ght , sitting u in v five down q ietly day by day, and por g o er the great n a c i T t he e Fre ch rom n es the Merl n, the ristram, Launc e the ai a D e A lot, the Qu st of S nt Gr il , and the ath of rthur — which appear to have fur ni shed the mai n materials of

A n d un i o i our long acco t now cl ses , in br ng ng Malory in to con tact with another one of the most in terestin g m i v T i C x n e . English en who ever l d h s is William a to , the r i u u fi st Engl sh printer. How m ch on the s rface were n R s fl t these oisy Wars of the o es, after all must we re ec , when we remember that j ust about the time of the hi de V i I . ous battle of Barnet, in wh ch Edward finally defeated

in - c C x n i in the k g maker Warwi k, a to was br ng g over the

i i - e n i in first pr nt ng pr ss to Engla d, and beg nn g to publish i had e . poetry, chronicl s, and ph losophy It was after he been at work for some time that he was asked why he had u not printed the history of K ing A rthur. His own acco nt of n ot n i n in f but il fur the matter is only i terest g itsel , w l nish a fit clos e to the specimen s of older lan guage 1 have n w ul s u be en givi g. It o d eem that after this req est he bega n to look about for so me suitable manuscript on the u m i — in n s bject, and so ne what way is wholly unknow ’ to th O i n e knowl edge of Malory s book. Here is the pen g xviii I n tr oducti on .

’ Caxt on s his ir of own prologue, or preface, to edition of S ’ 1 Thomas s work. “ A accom l sshedf n s sh d e dv rs fter that I had p y and y y y e h st or es con t em lac on h st or al y y , as well of p y as of other y y an d on u r u c e o rs r n ces worldly actes of grete q and p y , and rt n e n saum les an d e dt r ce e oc n e also y bo kes of p y , many an ddv rs en t lm en t ro am e e En lon d noble y g y of hys y of g n an dm aun dd n n f d t rn e e a do w came me ma y y es herfore n an dn n t that I have ot do make e pry e the noble hyst orye sa n t real an d r n om e edc st n r e of the y g , of the moost y n i cr st en ky g, fyrst and chye of the thre best y and worthy, A u wh che u rem em bred kyng rth r, y o ght moost to be ” em on e us En l sshe m en al cr st en k n es g g y tofore other y y g . C x an n K It appears that a ton was u believer, as to ing “ A rthur ; for to the persons so in quirin g he at first an w r dder m n n s e e that yv s e holde oppynyo that there was n o ” A n d a n suche rthur, and the like ; it is worth while to ote the sillin ess of the argumen ts which satisfied the simple n old soul, as co trasted with the severity of historic con scien ce sin ce physical scien ce has taught us to scorn the comfort of vaguen ess in all matters where it is possible ’ n x To u t Caxt on s to k ow the e act truth . these do b s of , n an sw rd on in s e e ec al his frie ds , and p y sayd, that in h m hold n k y that s say or t hy e that there was never u n all dA m h s c t u s che a ky g y rthur, yg wel be aretted [ p osed fol e an dl b n dn esse t p ] grete y y e for he sayd that here n v dn e e ces on t r were ma y y of the c arye. Fyrst ye may

hi s u u in m on ast Glast n bur e a nd er e see sep lt re the y of y g y , in Pol cron con in s xt e cha t re also y y , the v book the y ppy , n din a n xx cha t re r the seve th book the iii ppy , whe e his bur edan df un n n o dn a d body was y after e translated i to the

On t wo co es of th s e t on now re m ain one of h ch is ncom ete ly pi i di i , w i i pl T m t e co is now in the i r he r e he co ple py l b ary of t Ea l of J rsey. In tr oduction . xix

m onas t er Ye t h st or e sayd ye. shal se also in y y of Bochas B occaca b in dc car u r nc rn ar his i i u hi [ ] book p p , p te of s hi A d Galfr us eo noble actes and also of s falle. lso y [G f r lat i n i z edhis B rut she recoun t et h hi s l e s f f j, ] , in y book, y . A n d En lond rem m braun es in divers places of g many e c b an dr m a ell al m e n e er et u ben yet of y shall y p p y, and so of kn h Wt m sa n hi s t es es estr e t yg . Fyrst, in the abbay of at y Edwardes shr yn e rem ayn et h the pryn t e of his se al in reed redwaxe in ] wh h w on P t rici a: c r t a [ ] closed beryl , in y is y

m also as D Gauwa n s Ite [ ], in the c tel of over ye may see y skull Cradoks Wchest er un e n , and mantel ; at y , the ro de Laun elott sw e swor dan d c ee erd table ; in other places , [ ] ,

h n T nn al e t h n es con ~ many other t y ges. he e th se y g s de d n n sa e but re can o e s a y , there man r a onably g y y there A u A n d n was a ky g of thys lande named rth r. also n n d bookes S be o e he is more poke of y the see, moe made in n lon d in E as of his noble actes , than there be g , wel Y n an ssh an drek ss h Fren ss h Du tal e S e G e e. che, y , p y , y , as in d n in w n h in An rem a e t ess e m yet of record y y of y Wales, t on n e C n m erva llous in the of amelot , the grete sto es and y r r un d al r werk s l ein un o e o al y of yron y g de the g , and ry [ y ]

s vaults dvers n ow l v n a . vaute [ ], which y y y g h th seen ddI t al t h es forsa aledcondo no we! T s n e henne the e y g y g , ” n e but t/za t t/zere was r ac/ze a no ble k n na m edA rtlcu r de j y g , “ d l en r n t e an so fina ly he proceeds to p y a book of the h t or es k n A rt u an d s e cert e n noble y y of the sayd y g h r, of y hi s kn ht es co e un del v wh r d e e che of yg , after a py to me y , y Malo e dd copye syr Thomas ry y take oute of cert eyn ” oe Frensshe u n l ssh b kes of and red ced it into E g y e. An d n v n so , after runni g o er E gland and France, in the ’ twelfth century like a Scott s- novel in the nineteenth ; aft r n n n ew er g owi g, branching i to new tales , absorbing i I n tr oduct on .

o heroes, emb dying new ideas , employing new writers, and u whole countries, thro gh Wace, Map, Layamon, aim ar un i t he G , de Borron, and many other authors, t l latter part of the fifteen th century : all the separate sto ’ ries originatin g in Geoffrey s history are brought together n n and moulded into one work, with a sort of begin i g, a T and a crisis , by Sir homas Malory, who may thus , n with but little strai , be said to have written the first A nd n an dal English novel. his modificatio s gener treat ment of his material — of which n o details can be given — suffice n here , I thi k, to give him a claim to this book, but in a mere compilation, as a work which so a din of himself is mingled that it is largely, n some own T n of its best features, his . his is i deed almost a peculiar circumstan ce characteriz in g the successive im provem en t s of the A rthurian story as it comes on down We might fairly trace the growth of En glish ation by comparin g with the earliest con ceptions of A rthur the latest ideal of him in our literature given T n n n our own great master e yson . It is i terestin g to here that Milton at first chose the A rthurian story an d c a great poem of, learly cherished the idea ; u n n the troublo s times lo g preve ted any great work, a he fin lly found the larger theme of Paradise Lost .

nd— o u n now, when fo r hu dred years after Caxt n this book for many noble and divers gen tlemen of ” n n ou fin d e n this realm of E gla d, y a later editor r arra gin g ’ n - n n an d the old grow people s story for ma y oble divers ot n an dA — boys b h of E gland merica, perhaps the fore going accoun t may justify you in a certain sen se of proud respon sibility as you recall the question with which I b egan this long inquiry . No book ever needed les s pointing-out of its intrinsic1/ faults and beauties than thi s frank work of a soul so trans parent that on e is made to think of the Wakulla Sprin g in Flori da where one can see a penny on the bottom at a un h dred feet depth. I will but ask you to observe spe

Gawain e after day , i A h u l out i u and somet mes rt r, ca l the v lest ta nts and dares u but and acc sations over the walls ; ever Sir Launcelot , though urged even by his own indignant followers within, replies with a grave and lordly reasonableness whi ch shames his en emies beyon d measure : twi ce he fights a

- Gawain e great single handed battle with Sir , and, although Gawain e u is miraculo sly helped , wounds him sorely, yet spares his life ; he charges his kn ights to be still loyal to K A u n n o u n ing rth r, and to do the ki g hurt , po pain of death ; and on e day in a general engagement when Kin g A rthur is un horsed Sir Laun celot himself flies to the e n rescue, places the king on hors back agai , and sees him

n . be safe, with perfect tender ess and loyalty Larger En us h re in lish literature. A n d from this point on , the pictures of the passing of A h a rthur, of w king. ’ of Launcelot s own stran e de and of Sir Ector lam enting Sir IZun celot and describingthat gzeat knight

is a u TIce as perfect as rt lessness . In the Introd ction to ’ : ' B oy 3 froisrart — to which thi s IS inten ded as a companion book I have pointed out the proper relation of this work u t h as a pict re of times and manners , and have discussed old add l/ and the modern knight. I will therefore but a brief 0 . uc io 1 x11 I n tr od t n .

explanation of the man n er in which I have brought for x ward the old te t . x Every word in the book, e cept those which occur in ’ V bracket s un x n , is Malory s, changed e cept that the spelli g

is n z . Of u moder i ed the bracketed words , there are two u n if n un n : in sorts, f lfilli g d fere t f ctio s those italics are always in explanation of the wor d or phrase immediately ’ n ot n before ; while those italicised are the editor s , bei g con n ective clauses inwhich I have a few times foun d it con ven ien t to preserve the thread of a story which could n n not be given e tire . I have also cha ged the division ’ n Caxt on s un n n i to books , from wholly reaso able arra ge

n n - on e six n u me t of twe ty , to , each mai ly occ pied with adventures turn in g upon the hero or even t which names

it . fin e n u Into the fellowship, the , of Sir La ncelot , t ram of gw sfi L I fiS , of stai of v n , m e j ge tle Sir Perci al of ek m y, of n Palam id n u es brillia t Sir the Sarace , of doloro s Sir al and n n C B in Sir Bala , of perseveri g Sir la ote Mal in dn T D a a an dun aile, of hilarious Sir , of a h dred more, a ! n u a as well , las as i to the ngentle comp ny of cowardly K n u i g Mark, of traitoro s Sir Mordred , and of wicked le — I n Morgan Fay, commit you, with feeli gs so like those with which Caxton closes his prologue that I can not help applyi n g to the youn g readers of this work his “ u A n farewell words to his maturer a dience . dfor to t m e lesaun t e in passe the y , this book shal be p to rede , ut an dl v al t rewe b for to gyve fayth by e e that is that is l bert e but al wr t on contained herin, ye be at your y ; is y ” dct r n e n o for our y , and this book is therefore se t forth n n n n dn to the ente te that obleme may see a ler e the no ch valr e n t l d n ble actes of y y . the je y a vertuous dedes.

CONTENTS .

BOOK 1.

OF KING ARTHUR.

CHAPTER I . M EG Or T or T H R or Hrs NO BIR H KING AR U , AND URISHING, AND or THE T or I UTHERPENDRAGON How T DEA H K NG , AND AR HUR or u m s or WAS CHOSEN KING, AND WONDERS AND M A T T T OUT or T TH] : S I T R SWORD HA WAS AKEN S ONE BY A D AR HU ,

CHAPTER I I .

How Km G O THI: ARTHUR PULLHD UT SWORD D um as Tri m s .

CHAPTER III . How A nrHox wAs AND How H1 HAD: Om en s 6 CROWNED KING, ,

CHAPTER IV.

How am a-r T How Hz OUSTHD ITH G WAS MADE KNIGH , AND J W A KNIGHT

CHAPT ER V.

’ B om IN SAvxD KI NG ARTHUR S Ln AND THRBWAN EN CHANTHIINT U I FELLINORE HAD: H m To FALL PON K NG , AND ON SLm

CHAPTER VI . How A m ok BY m MEAN or Mm GAT !2c m Hrs SWORD OF THE LADY OF TRR LAKB xxv1 Con ten ts.

I I CHAPT ER V .

How TIDINGS CAME T o T T AT RYENCE ‘ KING AR HUR H KING HAD ’ T OVERCOME ELEVEN KINGS, AND HOW HE DESIRED KING AR HUR S bor der HIs T BEARD To PURFLE [ ] MAN LE

CHAPT ER VIII . Or T T To A DAMSEL WHICH CAME GIR WI H A SWORD, FOR FIND A MAN OF SUCH VIRTUE To DRAW IT OUT OF THE SCAEB ARD

CHAPT ER IX. How HT U OUT THE BALIN, ARRAYED LIKE A POOR KNIG , P LLED A I ' TERWARD T SWORD, WHICH WAS CAUSE OF HIS DEA H

T CHAP ER X.

’ How THE LADY c v T HE LAKE DEMANDED THE KNIGHT S HEAD T T THE THE ’ HA HAD WON SWORD, OR MAIDEN S HEAD

CHAPT ER XI . How MERLIN TOLD THE ADVENTURE or THE DAMSEL

T CHAP ER XII . H W O P LA NCEOR N T or IRE BALIN WAS URSUED BY SIR , A K IGH SLEw LAND, AND HOW BALIN HIM

CHAPTER XIII .

How T LANCEOR A DAMSEL WHICH WAS IN LOVE WI H , SLEW HER How MET T T SELF FOR HIS LOVE, AND BALIN WI H HIS BRO HER

o 0 o O o o O O 0 o 0 BALAN o 0

CHAPTER XIV.

How THE T LANCEOR A DWARF REPROVED BALIN FOR DEA H OF , How or T AND KING MARK CORNWALL FOUND HEM, AND MADE

A TOMB OVER THEM .

CHAPTER XV. How MERLIN PROPHESIED THAT BALIN SHOULD ST RIKE THE DO LoROU s STROK E

CHAPTER XVI . HOWBALIN AND HIS BROTHER BY THE COUNSEL OF MERLIN Toox RYENCE G T To T KING , AND BROU H HIM KING AR HUR on en s C t t . xxvu

T CHAP ER XVI I . HOWKI NG ART HUR HAD A BAT TLE AGAI N ST NERO AND KI NG

WWVE K INGS WERE SLAIN . Im , AND HO T EL

CHAP TER XVIII .

O THE INTERHENT or T AND 01" THE F WELVE KINGS, PROPHECY OE I THE MERLIN , AND HOW BAL N SHOULD GIVE DOLOROUS

CHAPT ER XIX.

HOW T I T A SORROWFUL KNIGH CAME BEFORE K NG AR HUR, AND How A EETCHE D Hm How T T T WAS A B LIN , AND HA KNIGH SL IN

T CHAP ER XX.

How DAHSEL THE CU srox or ST E THE BLED FOR A CA L .

CHAPT ER XXI .

HOW HET T THE N T H GARLON AT F T BALIN WI H K IGH NA ED A EAS , AND THE RE HE SLEWHI M TO HA VE HI S B LOOD TO HEAL THERE

W'ITH THI SON OF HIS IIOST .

T CHAP ER XXII .

HOW T TH M How BALIN FOUGH WI KING PELLA , AND HIS SWORD GAT EA I T HE H T THE BRAKE, AND HOW HE A SP R WHEREW H S O E

CHAPTER XXIII .

WBALIN HET WITH HIS T A r HO BRO HER B LAN. AND HOW EACH o WERE W W UNENOWN TILL THEV OUNDED THEH SI E OTHER , TO

T CHAP ER XXIV. How KING ARTHUR TOOK AND WEDDED G UENEVER UNTO HIS Wm .

T CHAP ER XXV.

How THE T OE THE R T D KNIGH S OUND ABLE WERE ORDAINE , AND HOW THEI R SIEGES [m a] WERE BLESSED BY THE ARCHBISHOP xxvm Con tents .

BOOK 11.

OF SIR LAUNCELOT DU LAKE.

T CHAP ER I . 3A“ . How SIR LAUNCELOT AND SIR LIONEL DEPARTED FROM THE COURT To R T How FT FOR SEE ADVEN URES, AND SIR LIONEL LE SIR T T LAUNCELO SLEEPING, AND WAS AKEN

CHAPTER II . HOW T TOR To R T SIR EC OR FOLLOWED SEE SIR LAUNCELO , AND HOWHE WAS TAKEN BY SIR TURQUINR .

CHAPTER I II .

How F T OUR QUEENS FOUND SIR LAUNCELO SLEEPING, AND HOW BY ENCHANTMENT HE WAS TAKEN AND LED INTO A CAS TLE

CHAPTER IV. How SIR LAUNCELOT WAS DELIVERED BY THE MEANS or A DAM . m 0 O O 0 0 0 0 O O O O O 0

T CHAP ER V.

’ HOWSIR LAUNCELOT WAS RECEIVED OE KING BAGDEMAGUS T How D A T T DAUGH ER, AND HE MA E HIS COMPL IN UN O HER

T CHAP ER VI .

How T T T How SIR LAUNCELO BEHAVED HIM IN A OURNAMEN , AND HE MET WITH SIR TURQUINE LEADING AWAY SIR GAHERIS

CHAPT ER VI I . How SIR LAUNCELOT AND SIR TURQUINE FOUGHT TOGETHER

CHAPTER VIII . How T WTwo T T E SIR LAUNCELO SLE GIAN S, AND MADE A CAS L FREE ' Con ten ts . xm x

T Ix. CHAP ER " G,

How ELOT POLLOWED T T T SIR LAUNC A BRACHE IN O A CAS LE, WHERE AS HE A D EAD KNI GHT AND HOWAPTER POUND , WARD HE WAS REQUm RD OP A DAn sn TOR TO HEAL Hn BROTHER

T CHAP ER X. How SIR LAUNCELOT CAHE INTO THE CHAPEL PERHOUR AND GAT THE RE OP A DEAD CORPSE A PIECE OT THE CLOTH AND A

T CHAP ER XI . HOWSIR LAUNCELOT AT THE REQUES T OT A LADY RECOVERm A F C AL ON, BY WHICH HE WAS DECEIVED

T CHAP ER XII .

’ HOWSIR T CAME T IN T T LAUNCELO UN O K G AR HUR S COUR , AND

CHAP TER XII I .

How T R NE HAD AND P T N SIR LAUNCELO ECA , LEA ED RO A WIN

CHAPTER XIV.

T O U EIm G UENEVER MAD E POE T WHA S RROW Q SIR LAUNCELO , AND HOW HE WAS SOUGHT BY KNIGHTS or HI S KI N

CHAP TER XV.

HOWSIR OT HI S T D B HT LAUNCEL IN MADNESS OOK A SWOR , AND OUG

T CHAP ER XVI .

' HWSIR LAUNCELOT WAS CA RRIED IN A HORSE-Im m m

S IR IA UNCEI OT RESCUED S IR BLIANT HIS HOST .

CHAPT ER XVI I .

How SIR N T DAME HOW LAU CELO WAS KNOWN BY ELAINE, AND xxx Con ten ts .

CHAPT ER XVI I I .

THE How OP A GREAT TOURNAMENT IN JOYOUS ISLE, AND SIR How T T PERCIVAL FOUGHT WIT H HIM ; EACH OF HEM KNEW O HER, T T T T H AND OF HEIR GREA COUR ESY, AND HOW HIS BRO ER SIR C T T OP T E OR CAME UN O HIM, AND HEIR JOY

XIX CHAPT ER . IIOWSIR LAUNCELOT WIT H SIR PERCIVAL AND SIR ECTOR CAME To THE T OP T T OE COUR , AND HEIR GREA JOY HIM

B OOK III.

OF SIR GARETH OF ORKNEY.

T CHAP ER I . ’ HOWB EAUMA INS To T T CAME KING AR HUR S COUR , AND DEMANDED THREE PET IT IONS OP KING ARTHUR

CHAPTER II . How SIR LAUNCELOT AND SIR GAWAINE WERE WROTH BECAUSE B EAU MA INS OP SIR KAY MOCKED , AND A DAMSEL WHICH DESIRED A KNIGHT POR TO FIGHT FOR A LADY

CHAPTER I II .

How B EAU MA INS S R E THE TT How IT T DE I D BA LE, AND WAS GRAN ED To D T HIM, AND HOW HE DESIRED BE MA E KNIGH OF SIR LAUN CELOT

CHAPTER IV. 7 How B EAUMA INS T How GOT P DEPAR ED, AND HE OF SIR KAY A S EAR How T T T AND A SHIELD, AND HE JOUS ED AND FOUGH WI H SIR LAUNCELOT .

CHAPTER V.

HOWB EAUMAINS T To T N How OLD SIR LAUNCELO HIS AME, AND T T T HE WAS DUBBED KNIGH OF SIR LAUNCELO , AND AF ER OVER xxxii Contents.

CHAPTER XV. HOW T T B EAUMAINS TO THE SIR GARE H, O HERWISE CALLED , CAME HIs Y T Y T K T PRESENCE OF LAD , AND HOW HE OO ACQUAIN ANCE,

AND OF THEIR LOVE . I s!

CHAPTER XVI . How AT THE FEAST OF PENTECOST ALL THE KNIGHTS THAT SIR GARETH HAD OVERcou E CAME AND YIELDED THEM UNTO KING 13:

T CHAP ER XVII . W UEEN OY ORE NEY OAHE TO THIS ST E HO THE Q FEA O PENTEOOST, AND INQUIRED OE HER SON SIR GARETH B S

T CHAP ER XVIII .

How T T THE ADY LYONEss SIE KING AR HUR SEN FOR L , AND HOW

T THE or T I N ‘ KING AR HUR, AND OF DAY HE R WEDDI G 37

CHAPTER XIX. Or THE GREAT ROYALTY AND WHAT OFFICERS WERE MADE AT THE ST or T Y ' FEA SIR GARE H AND DAHE L ONEss WEDDING, AND or THE GREAT IOUS’I‘I NG AT THE SA ME FEAST AND WEDDING

B OOK IV.

OF SIR TRIST RAM.

CHAPTER I .

HOWSIR TRISTRAH DE LYONESSE WAs N BOR , AND HOW MOTHER DESIRED THAT HIs NAME SHOULD BE TRI STRA II “4

CHAPTER I I . [HOWTHE STEPHOTHER OF YOUNG TRI S’I’RAM WOULD HAVE POI K Hm THE or SO ED , AND HOW HE DELIVERED HER FROM FIRE, HI s E T F GR A ORGWENESS] . u s CHA PT ER II I.

CHAPTER IV.

1 ?

I 9

( B APTER VI I.

M R VII I.

CHAPT ER X.

Hoa h m m m m Dm n u A Tom m -T m m u m m m RE m DE Pm m m m E m HA Rm m A YEAR EGO

CHAPTER XL

“ WAS xxxiv Cm ien “.

T . CHAP ER XII PAC! How SIR TRISTRAM DEPARTED FROM KING ANGUISH AND LA BELLE ISOLDE OUT OF IRELAND FOR TO COME INTO CORNWALL . 1 64

CHAPT ER XI II . IIOWKING MARK SENT SIR TRISTRAM FOR LA BELLE ISOLDE T F T T OWARD IRELAND, AND HOW BY OR UNE HE ARRIVED IN O ENGLAND

CHAPTER XIV. How KING ANGUISH OF IRELAND WAS SUMMONED To COME UNTO ’ KING ARTHUR S COURT FOR TREASON

CHAPT ER XV.

W RIS’I‘RAM FOUGH’I‘ HO SIR T FOR SIR ANGUISH, AND OVERCAME

HIS ADVERSARY, AND HOW HIS ADVERSARY WOULD NEVER YIELD

0 0 0 G 0 O l 0 O 0 O 0 HIM Q

CHAP TER XVI .

DEMANDB D E How SIR TRISTRA M LA BELLE ISOLDE FOR KING MAR , AND OF THE WEDDING OF KING MARK TO LA BELLE ISOLDE

CHAPT ER XVI I .

W T T DEBARTED T I NTAGIL HO SIR RIS RAM FROM , AND HOW HE SOR so F T T OUT ROWED, AND WAS LONG IN A ORES ILL HE WAS OF

HIs MIND .

CHAPTER XVII I .

DAGONET IIOWSIR TRIST RAM SOUSED IN A WELL, AND HOW HE

SLEWA G IANT .

CHAPTER XIX. I W T T To I O KING MARK FOUND SIR RIS RAM NAKED, AND MADE HIM TO TINTAGIL T R ENOWN BE BORNE HOME , AND HOW HE WAS HE E

B Y A B RA CHET . 1 77

CHAPTER XX.

WSIR T T T T T HO RIS RAM CAME IN O ENGLAND, AND JOUS ED WI H KING ARTHUR AND SIR LAUNCELOT so WORTHILY THAT THE PRIZE WAS GIVEN TO HIM ; AND HOW KING ARTHUR MADE HIM KNIGHT OF THE ROUND TABLE on en s C t t .

T . CHAP ER XXI Pm How Y NT THE T T R A OUNG MAN CAME I O COUR OF KING AR HU , WSIR KAY CALLED HI H IN SCORN LA COTR MA L AND HO ,

CHAPTER XXI I . IIOWA DAHSEL CAR E UNTO THE COURT AND DESIRED A KNIGHT N HIM A N IN WHI CH LA COTE MAL T RM~ I O TAEE O QUEST, AILE

CHAPTER XXI II .

HOW T T T DAGONET I SIR LA CO E MAL AILE OVER HREW SIR , K NG ’ ART HU R s THE K E T T THE FOOL, AND OF EBU R HA HE HAD OF

T CHAP ER XXIV.

H W COTE MAL TAILE T A T U HT O LA FOUGH GAINS AN H NDRED KNIG S, AND HOWHE ESCAFED BY THE MEAN OF A LADY

T CHAP ER XXV. HOWSIR LAUNCELOT CALIE To THE COURT AND HEARD OF SIR LA T TAILE A NB FT Hm AND CO E MAL , HOW HE FOLLOWED A ER , HOW SIR LA COT E MAL TAILE WAs PRI SONER

CHAP TER XXVI .

HOWSIR T T T SIX T FT R LAUNCELO FOUGH WI H KNIGH S, AND A E T T T T HA HE FOUGH WI H SIR BRIAN , AND HOW HE DELIVERED

ALL m PRISONERS o o o o o C o 0 0

CHAPTER XXVI I .

How T HET IT THE MA LEDISANT SIR LAUNCELO W H DAMSEL NAMED , AND HOWHE NAMED HER THE DAMSEL B IENPENSANT

T CHAP ER XXVII I . HOWLA COTE MAL TAILE WA S TAR EN PRISONEE AND AFTER S T T RE CUED BY SIR LAUNCELO , AND HOW SIR LAUNCELO OVER CHAPTER XXIX. How SIR LAUNCELOT MADE LA COTE MAL TAILE LORD OF THE S T T D T CA LE OF PENDRAGON, AND AF ER HE WAS MA E KNIGH OF ' ‘ THE ROUND I AB LE .

CHAPT ER XXX . HOWFOR THE T T T MARE , DESPI E OF SIR RIS RAM, KING CAME WT TWO HT T DAGONET I H KNIG S IN O ENGLAND, AND HOW , KING ’ T F PUT To F T AR HUR S OOL, HIM LIGH

CHAPTER XXXI . HOWKI NG ARTHUR MADE KING MA RE TO BE ACCORDED WITH SIR

T T T T T . RIS RAM, AND HOW HEY DEPAR ED OWARD CORNWALL

CHAPTER XXXI I . HOWAT T T T T E A GREA FEAS HA KING MAR MADE, AN HARPER HE T DINADAN D CAME AND SANG T LAY HAT HAD MA E .

CHAPTER XXXII I . HOWKING MARE SLEW BY TREASON HIS BROT HER BOUDWINE FOR GOOD SERVI CE THAT HE HAD DONE TO HIM

T CHAP ER XXXIV.

’ How ANGLIDES B OUDWINE S ESCAFED T , WIFE, WI H HER YOUNG N LORFELI N To THE T SON ALISA DER , AND CAME CAS LE OF ARUN D“ O 0 0 O 0 O 0 0 O 0 O 0 2 10

CHAPTER XXXV. HOWANGLIDES GAVE THE BLOODY DOUBLET UNTO ALISANDER HER THE T T HT THE SON SAME DAY HA HE WAS MADE KNIG , AND

CHAPTER XXXVI .

II OW S THE Z AT T T or SIR ALI ANDER WON PRI E A OURNAMEN , AND MORGAN LE FAY. AND HOW HE FOUGHT WITH SIR MALGRIN AND SLEW HIM

CHAPTER XXXVI I .

How I A HER QUEEN MORGAN LE FAY HAD SIR AL S NDER IN CASTLE. AND HOW SHE HEALED HIS WOUNDS z I8 v Con ten ts . xxx u

T H ER . C AP XXXVII I DAG! HOWSIR ALISANDER WAS DELIVERED FROM QUEEN MORGAN LE

FAY EY THE MEANS OE A DAHSEL . 1 2°

T CHAP ER XXXIX. IIOWALISANDER MET WITH A LI CE LA BELLE PILGRIIL AND HOW - HE IOUSTED m TH Two KNIGHTS ; AND AI TER OE HIH AND OE

T CHAP ER XL. HOW TRIS TRAH MET T SIR DINADAN OR T DE SIR WI H , AND HEIR ’ YIUES T T SIR GAWAINE S T , AND WHA HE SAID UN O BRE HREN

T XLI CHAP ER . How SIR TRISTRAM SMOTE DOWN SIR AGRA YAINE AND SIR GAHE RIs DINADAN T EOR EY , AND HOW SIR WAS SEN LA BELLE

CHAPTER XLII . OWSIR DINADAN MET T SIR T T T STI H WI H RIS RAM, AND WI H JOU NG WITH SIR PALAHIDES SIR DINADAN E NEWHIM 333

CHAPT ER XLIII . OWT THE S T OE LONAZKP OE TH H HEY APPROACHED CA LE , AND O ER DEVICES OE THE DEATH OF SIR LAMORAE . 255

CHAP TER XLIV. HOWTH Y CA ME TO NE TH Y F D E HUMBER BA , AND HOW E OUN A T THE I SHIP HERE, WHEREIN LAY BODY OF K NG HERMANCE

CHAPTER XLV. HOWSIR TRISTRAM WITH HI S FELLOWSHI P CAME AND WERE WITH AN HOST WHICH AS TER FOUGHT WI TH SIR TRISTRAM ; AND

CHAPT ER XLVI . HOWSIR PALAMIDES WENT EOR TO TI GHT WITH Two BRETHREN

TOR I HE DEATH OE K ING HERMA NCE . XXXVI“

T . CHAP ER XLVI I PAC ! ’ THE COPY OF THE LET TER WRI TTEN EOR TO REVENGE THE KING S T How PA LAMIDES T To THE DEA H, AND SIR FOUGH FOR HAVE BATTLE

CHAPT ER XLVI II . Or THE PREPARATION OE SIR PA LA MIDES AND THE TWO BRET HREN THAT SHOULD EIGHT WITH HIM

CHAPTER XLIX.

OR THE TT T SI R PA LAMIDES THE TWO T BA LE BE WEEN AND BRE HREN, AND How THE TWO BRET HREN WERE SLAIN 25:

CHAPT ER L. HOW T ST T T PALAM IDES SIR RI RAM AND SIR LAUNCELO , WI H SIR , To PALAMIDES CAME JOYOUS GARD, AND OF SIR AND OF SIR 35 5

LI CHAPT ER . HOWTHERE WAS A DAY SET BETWEE N SIR TRISTRAM AND SIR PALAMIDES FOR TO T How T T T 3 FIGH , AND SIR RIS RAM WAS HUR , 57

II CHAPTER L . HOWT T PA LAM IDES PT To B T HA SIR KE HIS DAY FOR HAVE OUGH EN, B UT SIR TRIST RAM MIGHT NOT COME 359

T CHAP ER LII I .

HOW T T P T MET T SIR RIS RAM DE AR ED UNARMED, AND WI H SIR PALAMIDES PALAMIDES , AND HOW SIR FORBORE HIM 260

LI CHAPTER V. How THAT SIR TRISTRAM GAT HIM HARNESS OF A KNIGHT WHICH T T PALAM IDES WAS HUR , AND HOW HE OVER HREW SIR

T CHAP ER LV.

How T T PALAMIDES T T T SIR RIS RAM AND SIR FOUGH LONG OGE HER, AND AFT ER ACCORDED ; AND HOW SIR TRISTRAM MADE HIM To B E CHRI STENED . 264

CHAPTER LVI.

HOW E T ST A T KING MAR SLEW SIR RI R M BY REACHERY, AND LA B EL LE ISOLDE DIED OF GRIEF . 366 x1 Con ten ts.

CHAPTER VIII . HOWSIR GALAHAD MET WITH SIR LAUNCELOT AND WITH SIR A SMOTB T T T PERCIV L, AND HEM DOWN , AND DEPAR ED FROM HEM,

CHAPTER IX. HOW F THE or R SIR PERCIVAL RODE A IEND IN SHAPE A HO SE, AND HOW HE SAW A SERPENT AND A LION EIGHT

CHAPT ER X. OE OR I H WONDERS AND MARVELS OF A SHIP, AND A SWORD WH C SI R GALAHAD EOUND THEREIN

CHAPTER XI . HOWKING PELLES WAS SMIT TEN THROUGH BOTH THI GHS BECAUSE THE T ST S HE DREW SWORD, AND O HER MARVELLOUS HI ORIE

CHAPTER XII .

’ HOWSOLOMON Toox DAVID S SWORD BY THE COUNSEL or HIS OE T T T WIFE, AND O HER MA ERS MARVELLOUS

CHAPT ER XIII . 01" THE WONDEREUL TALE OF KING SOLOMON AND HIS Wm

T CHAP ER XIV. HOWSIR LAUNCELOT ENTERED INTO THE SHIP WHERE SIR PER CIVAL’S TE MET T SIS R LAY DEAD, AND HOW HE WI H SIR GALA

CHAPT ER XV.

How T THE SANCG REAL B UT WAS IV SIR LAUNCELO WAS NIGH , DR EN F T P IT T T S OR H ROM , WI H ERROR AND WONDERS

CHAPT ER XVI .

Mow THE SANCG REAL AND WAS TAEEN SIR GALAHAD ACHIEVED , 303

CHAPT ER XVI I .

How SIR T To T . 0 SIR PERCIVAL DIED, AND BORS RE URNED CAMELO 3 4 w cb mu .

B OOK VL

OF THE DEATH OF ARTHUR.

T CHAP ER I . PAS S . HOW U GUENEVER OE I T 0 Q EEN WAS APPEALED MURDER NG A KNIGH , 3 5

CHAPTER I I .

IIOWSIR IM THE OE T T MADOR PEACHED QUEEN REASON, AND HERE WAS No KNIGHT WHO WOULD RIGHT FOR HER AT THE FIR ST 307

T CHAP ER I I I .

HOWTHE UEEN I SIR To E T Q REQU RED BORS IGH FOR HER, AND T T HOW HE GRAN ED HER UPON A CONDI ION, AND HOW HE WARNED SIR LAUNCELOT THEREOE .

T CHAP ER IV. HOWAT THE DAY SIR BORS MADE HIM READY EOE To FIGHT EOR QUEEN GUENEVEL AND HOWANOTHER DLSCHARGED HIM WHI N HE SHOULD EI GHT . 313

T CHAP ER V. HOWSIR LAUNCELOT FOUGHT AGAIN S T SIR MAD OR FOR THE um HE SIR Q , AND HOW OVERCAME MADOR AND DISCHARGED

T CHAP ER VI . HOWTHE TRUT H WAS ENOWN BY THE DAMEET OE THE LAEE AND

CHAPT ER VI I . HOW T To T T RECI IVED SIR LAUNCELO RODE AS OLA , AND A SLEEVE TD B EAR UPON HIS HELM AT THE REQUEST OE A MAID

T CHAP ER VWI II . HOWTHE T T E AT T T OURNAMEN B GAN INCHES ER, AND WHA T AT THE ST OE OT M KNIGH S WERE JOU S, AND HER ATT ERS 333 xlii Con ten ls .

T . CHAP ER IX PAGE. How SIR LAUNCELOT AND SIR LAVA INE ENTERED IN THE FIELD ’ T T T T E AGAINS HEM OF KING AR HUR S COUR , AND HOW LAUNC LOT WAS HURT

CHAPT ER X. [ Iow SIR LAUNCELOT AND SIR LAVAINE DEPARTED OUT or THE F T P S I R T 2 IELD, AND IN WHA JEO ARDY LAUNCELO WAS 3 7

T CHAP ER XI . Ilow SIR LAUNCELOT WAS BROUGHT UNT O AN B ERHIT EOE To BE T TT 0 HEALED OF HIS WOUND, AND OF O HER MA ERS 33

CHAPTER XII . HOWSIR GAWAI NE HAD KNOWLEDGE THAT IT WAS SIR LAUNCE LOT THAT BARE THE RED SLEEVE

T CHAP ER XII I . HOWFAIR ELAINE AND SIR BORS FOUND SIR LAUNCELOT

T CHAP ER XIV. OR THE GREAT LAM ENTATION THAT THE FAIR MAID OE ASTOLAT T P RT MADE WHEN SIR LAUNCELO SHOULD DE A , AND HOW SHE DIED EOR HIS LOVE . . 338

T CHAP ER XV. HOWTHE CORPSE OF THE FAIR MAID OF AST OLAT ARRIVED T THE BEFORE KING AR HUR, AND OF BURYING, AND HOW SIR LAUNCELOT OFFERED THE MASS-PENNY 34I

T CHAP ER XVI . HOWQUEEN GUENEVER RODE ON MAYING WITH CERTAIN KNIGHTS OF THE ROUND TABLE CLOTHED ALL IN GREEN

T CHAP ER XVI I .

How MELIAGRANCE T THE T SIR OOK QUEEN AND ALL HER KNIGH S, WHICH WERE SORE HURT IN FIGHTING 345

CHAPTER XVI I I .

How T O T THE SIR LAUNCELO R DE IN A CAR AND RESCUED QUEEN, 347

‘ xliv Con tem s .

T . CHAP ER XXVII I Pm

HOWFT T AT T T T A ER H KING AR HUR HAD IDINGS, HE RE URNED AND T E SIR HET H m To LET m s CAME O DOV R, WHERE MORDRED or THE T GAWAINE 3° LANDING, AND DEA H OF SIR 3

CHAPTER XXIX.

’ HOWI T GAWAINE S T To TH A ER SIR GHOS APPEARED KING AR UR, AND WARNED Hm THAT HE SHOULD NOT EIGHT THAT DAY

CHAPTER XXX.

HOW T or THE T T H BY MISADVEN URE AN ADDER BA LE BEGAN, W ERE SIR MORDRED WAS SLAIN AND KING ARTHUR WOUNDED To

CHAPTER XXXI . HOWKING ARTHUR COMMANDED To CAST HIS SWORD EECALIB UR INTO THE WATER AND HOWHE WAS DELIVERED TO LADIES IN

CHAPTER XXXI I . HOWSIR BEDIVERE FOUND KING ARTHUR DEAD ON THE MORROW HERHITAGE How O T wrrH THE HER IN AN , AND HE AB DE HERE “IT 0 0 0 0 O O O O O O 0 O 0 39:

CHAPT ER XXXIII . HOWWHEN SIR LAUNCELOT HEARD or THE DEATH or KING T OR S IR GAWAINE CARE T E AR HUR AND , HE IN O NGLAND 393

CHAPTER XXXIV.

ow SIR T T TO R THE GUENEVER H LAUNCELO DEPAR ED SEE QUEEN , AND HOW HE FOUND HER AT ALMESBURY 394

CHAPTER XXXV. HOWSIR LAUNCELOT WENT WITH HIS SEVEN FELLOWS TO ALHES RO T GUENEVER A WHOH THEE BURY, AND UND HERE QUEEN DE D, BROUGHT To GLASTONBURY 397 CHAPTE R XXXVI.

CHAPTER XXXVI I. B oa Ec m E m UND Sm u UNm m m BRU rm m AND

B OOK I.

N THU OF KI G A R R. H a i l

WAS EAEEE OUT OE SI D NE BT THE SAID A RTHUE.

w Kin A rt hEr HOW t o him a son ho in aft er ti m e was g . ’ h w e e t e bo not as g son. For b it . y knew he the kin s wh n

un d of t wo ladi t o t ake il bo C o s a the ch d in rich loth g ld, “ and deliver him to What poor m an you meet at the ” i was li v postern gate of th e ca s tle. So the ch ld de ered ar ct or unto Merlin, and so he b e it forth unto Sir E , and him d made an holy man to Chris ten . an named him ’ Arthur ; and so Sir Ect or g Wife nouri s hed him . Then within two years King U th er fel] Sick of a grm t malady; W d a il m a him s n [danger] long h e, for every lor de tro g,

’ so c all t he of an m m o _ , by Merlin s ounsel, lords Engl d ’ a 2 Tfie Boy s King A r t/t r . together in the greatest Church of London on Christmas t o n ot morn before it was day, see if God would show by some miracle who should be king. ] And when the

r - first mass was done the e was seen in the church yard ,

- against the high altar, a great stone four square, like to of a marble stone, and in the midst thereof was an anvil of steel, a foot height, and therein stuck a fair sword of naked by the point , and letters gold were written about the sword that said thus : WHO so PULLETH OUT THIS SWORD OF THI S ST ONE AND NVIL Is R IGHTWISE A , IN B F NGLA ND K G ORN O E . all So when the masses were done, all the [lords] went f or to behold the stone and the sword. And when they w t ri ed sa the scripture, some assayed [ ] such as would have been king. But none might stir the sword nor move it . “ “ I shal. He is not yet here, said the archbishop, that achieve the sword, but doubt not God will make him to s m be known . But thi is y counsel , said the archbishop, rovide of that we let purvey [p ] ten knights, men good ” r fame, and they to keep this swo d . And upon New Year’s day the barons let make a tour n am en t r r for to keep the lords togethe , for the a chbishop trusted that God would m ake him known that should win ’ the sword . So upon New Year s day when the service was done the barons rode to the field .

r ougt s And so it happened that Sir Ector ode to the j , r son and with him ode Sir Kay, his , and young Arthur that was his nourished brother. [But Sir] Kay had lost ’ o his sword, for he had left it at his father s l dging, and “ so he prayed young Arthur to ride for his sword. I ” aftt . will with a good will , said Arthur, and rode fast w a nd the s ord ; and when he came home, the lady all ' ' Of K z ng A r tbur . 3

was were gone out to see the j ousting . Then Arthur w t i - ro h, and said to h mself, I will ride to the church yard and take the sword with me that sticketh in the stone, for my brother Sir Kay shall not be Without a sword this ” so - r day. And when he came to the church yard A thur i hi s alighted, and t ed horse to the stile, and so went to for r the tent, and found no knights there, they we e all at the j ousting and so be handled the sword by the out of handles, and lightly and fiercely he pulled it the r hi s ll am stone, and took his horse and ode way ti he c e his r r to b other Sir Kay, and delive ed him the sword .

as as Sir w s kn ew And soon Kay saw the sword, he i t [ ] well that it was the swor d of the e rode r r an dai t h e to his fathe , Sir Ecto , s d is swor d of the stone ; wherefor e I of this

\ Sir or h r t r land. Vhen Ect be eld t e u ned l d again and came to the a ighte . all h m t ree, and went into the church , and anon he ade

” “ ur for Sir, said Sir Kay, by my brother Arth , he ” brought it to me. “ " How gate [got] you this sword ? said Sir Ect or to

l W’ m eti. m r Sir, I wi l tell y hen I came ho e for y b oth ’ hi s er s sword, I found nobodyat home for to deliver me so m sword, and I thought y brother Sir Kay should not wo n d m be s rdles s fi so a d , I ca e thither e gerly and pulle ” it c ut of the stone without any pai Ii. Found ye any knights about this sword ? said Sir

Nay, said Arthur.

“ ‘ Now said Sir Ector to I understand that you must be king of this ’ a 4 T[t o Boy s King A r t/t r .

h ? W erefore I said Arthur. ” “ Sir, said Ector, for there should never man have drawn out this sword but he that shall be right wise king N w see can of this land. o let me whether ye put the ” u a sword there as it was and pull it o t ag in . “ ” so That is no mastery, said Arthur ; and he put it in Sir t o out t he the stone. Therewith Ector assayed pull s l . word, and fai ed

A C H PTER II.

HOWKING ARTHUR PU LLED OUT THE SWORD DIVERS TIMES. W O assay, said Sir Ector to Sir Kay. And anon he pulled at the sword with all his might but it “ Now h would not be . s all ye assay, said Sir Ector to Arthur. “ w out I ill well , said Arthur, and pulled it easily.

And therewithal Sir Ector kneeled down to the earth , and

Sir Kay . own Alas , said Arthur, mine dear father and brother, why kneel ye to me “ n ot : Nay, nay, my lord Arthur, it is so I was never of know your father nor your blood, but I wote [ ] well ye " of a are an higher blood th n I weened ye were .

And then Sir Ector told him all . Then Arthur made great moan when he understood that Sir Ector was n ot i h s father. “ " “ i e Sir, said Ector unto Arthur, w ll y be my good andgracious lord when ye are king ? ” “ m for Else were I to bla e , said Arthur, ye are the obl edt o i man in the world that I am most beholding [ g ] , n Of Ki g M ar . 5 and da an dm ot her our wif t hat as w m oo l d y g y y e ell as ' w f andk A n dir v her o n hat h ost ered t m e. it ep e er be ’ Gods will t hat l be kin as e sn e shall desir e of m e g, y y, y ” l m a d not fail what an dl shall ou. y q y “ ” “ I will ask dn ' o bn Sir, said Sir Ector, no more y that on wiflm ake m so our fost eredbrot h er Sir Ka y y m y } ” sen l ofall onr lan ds s cha y “ ” “ al an d S o S That h l be d ne, ir, said Arthur, more b) th fait h o m an dn ev f bod e y y; er m an shall have t hat w ” oe but hil t hat h e an dI live. ofi he e

n t welft h da all t h baro a t np o the y e ns c me t hit h er for o

a . B ut assay to t ke the sword there afore them all, there might none take it out but only Arthur ; where fore there “ w m an lords w an dsai I w r a t r t roth dt ere m as e y g , , g shame unto them all and the realm to be governed with a ” hi hl A n d f out t n o h oodborn . so th ell t boy o g ey at hat im t hat it was off till an dl m a an d t e put C e E then all the e i B ut w the barons should m et there aga n. al ays ten da kni ghts were ordained for to watch the swor d both y and nig t ; and so they set a pavilion over th e stone and w t h e five d. sword, and al ays watche And at Candlemas many more great lords came thither for to have won the

of v . as sword, but none them might pre ail And right ur di dat A rth tm as di d Chris he an as ll at C dlem , and pu ed r e s i e f w re s a out the swo d a ly, wher o the barons e ore g i r d ut l til] feast g ieve , and p it in de ay the h gh of Easter. A rth ur f so didat s eda or And as p e he Eas ter ; and yet

- t their kin an d on dla ut t i Ar hur should be g, p it in e y li h of t e fa st Pentecos t. ’ a 6 l o Boy s King A f in r .

C HA PTER III.

W T WAS HA Om en s. HO AR HUR CROWNED KING, AND HOW HE DE

ND at the feast of Pentecost all manner of men

assayed to pull at the sword that would assay, and none might prevail ; but Arthur pulled it out afore all the lords and commons that were there, wherefore all the “ commons cried at once : We will have Arthur unto our king ; we will put him no more in delay ; for we all see ' our that it is God s will that he shall be king, and who that holdeth against it we will slay him . And there o withal they kneeled down all at once , b th rich and poor,

r h r and c ied Art u mercy , because they had delayed him so m long. And Arthur forgave it the , and took the sword f u between both his hands , and o fered it pon the altar was l where the archbishop was , and so he made knight of

was r so ~ the best man that the e . And anon was the coro

r r r nation made, and the e was he swo n to the lo ds and t o r s commons for be a true king, to stand with t ue j u tice of from thenceforth all the days this life . Also then he heldof r made all lords that the c own to come in , and to h m do service as they oug t to do . And many co plaints were made unto King Arthur of great wrongs that were S of U r of m done ince the death King the , any lands that

of s n m . were bereaved lords , knight , ladies and ge tle en Wherefore King Arthur made the lands to be given again W h s was n a unto them that owned] them . hen t i do e th t o the king had stablished all the countries ab ut London ,

“ ” ’ Of was often use f t b in Sir hom as a or s tim e d or he m odern y T M l y , ndis sti so use u n i k i ht Of t he best m an t h us a o occas on. Made n ll d p g

m ade b u /It b file out an eans m g y m .

’ n 8 Tno Boy s King A r i/i f .

adventure his body with yonder knight at the fountain, is he shall be in great peril if ever he come again , for he of s on e of the best knights the world, and the stronge t ” rm man of a s . ” “ ifle t Well , said King Arthur. So, at the fQ r , the king m ade him knight . ” “ Griflet s ince Now, said King Arthur to Sir , sithen [ ] ” that I have made thee knight, thou must grant me a gift .

Grifiet . What ye will, my lord, said Sir of Thou shalt promise me, by the faith thy body, that h when t ou hast jousted with the knight at the fountain , whether it fall [Izapp en ] that ye be on foot or on horse in al e back, that the same manner ye sh l com again unto ” or me without any question making any more debate. ” ” r a Griflet re. I will p omise you, s id , as ye desi Griflet Then Sir took his horse in great haste , and dressed so his shield, and took a great spear in his hand , and he al f rode a great g lop till he came to the ountain , and c h thereby he saw a ri h pavilion , and thereby under a clot on stood a fair horse well saddled and bridled , and a of tree a shield divers colors, and a great spear. Then Sir Griflet smote upon the shield with the end of his t he spear, that shield fell down to the ground . out of With that came the knight the pavilion, and

said, Fair knight, why smote ye down my shield “ ” ou Griflt For I will joust with y , said Sir e . ” “ for It were better ye did not, said the knight, ye are but young and late made knight, and your might is ” no thing to mine. ” Griflet As for that , said Sir , I will joust with you , ” “ si n That is me loth, said the knight , but sith [ ce] I

If here m eans whet/ref ” . In great peril if ever he com e again a i n ' da r eat n er never g g q/ gem ng back. ll must needs , I wi dress me thereto ; but of whence be ? i ye said the kn ght. “ ’ of u Co . So Sir, I am King Arth r s urt they

’ ' rifiet s s r all - shi vered together that Sir G pea to shivered [ all to i eces Grifiet p ] , and therewithal he smote Sir through the shield and the left side, and brake the spear, that the r n his t u cheon stuck in body, that horse and knight fell down. When the kni ght saw him lie so on the ground he

was wee ned alighted, and passing heavy, for he wend [ ] he l i him l hi s hi m had s a n , and then he un aced helm and got i so r him w nd, and with the t uncheon he set on his horse, ai had and betook him to God, and s d he a mighty heart , and if he m ight live he would prove a passing good so Sir Griflet u knight . And rode to the co rt, whereas a w great mo n as made for hi m . But through good leeches s ur eons [ g ] he was healed and his life saved.

C HA PTER V.

’ ' HOW T LIVE T NT. MERLIN SAVED KING AR HUR S , AND HREW AN ENCHA

H T PELLINORE Hm To . EN UPON KING , AND HADE FALL ON SLEEP

ND King Arthur was passing wroth for t he hurt of L rifi Sir G et . And by and by he commanded a man “ ofhis chamber that his best horse and armor be without

or be or e - ( so m om the city [ f ] to morrow lay . Right in the in so g hedmet with his man and his horse, and mounted an hi s up dressed shield, and took his spear, and bade hi s C b r ham erlain tarry the e till he came again. And so o i King Arthur r de but a soft pace t ll it was day, and then of r was he ware th ee churls which chased Merlin, and ’ e 10 Tli e Boy s King Ar t/h r .

r would have slain him . Then King Arthu rode unto “ ” r m : r . them a good pace, and c ied to the Flee, chu ls saw h Then were they afraid when they a knig t , and fled “ " “ a 0 r h r way . Merlin, said King A t ur, he e hadst thou ” I I . been slain for all thy craft , had not been ” “ s r n ot so I i f Nay, aid Me lin , , for could save myself I I would, and thou art more near thy death than am, for ” r 2 be thou goest towa d thy death , and God not thy friend.

h foun u So, as they went t us talking, they came to the tain, and the rich pavilion by it . Then King Arthur was r r sat rm r wa e whe e a knight all a ed in a chai . Sir “ h r h r for abide st knig t, said King A t u , what cause thou here ? That there may no knight l ide this way but if he ” “ o s h h ? t h e k ade i do j u t wit t ee said ing . I rede [ v s ] h s om t ee leave that cu t , said King Arthur. “ ” “ s s m I Thi cu to , said the knight , have used and will

r i n s i t e o who use, maug e [ p f] saith nay ; and who is ” m om m h grieved with y cust , let him a end it t at will . “ ” r I will amend it , said King A thur. I ” And shall defend it, said the knight . Anon he took his horse, and dressed his shield, and took a spear, ’ m et so r on r and they ha d either othe s shield, that they

r s/z z reredl a l t o i eces r all to shive ed [ p ] their spea s . There ’ r ’ with King A thur drew his sword . Nay, not so, said “ the knight , it is fairer that we twain run more together ” with sharp spears . ” “ “ , r an I will well said King Arthu , and [if] I had y ” m ore mo [ ] spears . “ I have spears enough , said the knight . So there

r , came a squi e and brought two good spears , and King

” For here m eans i n s ite o as still use In cert i p f, d, a n phras es . A ndm “ eans i f here. In ater tim es it becom es cont ra l ct ed int o an, when use In t his s d ense. d n So rr i Arthur took o e and he another. they spu e the r

“ on his d. t h e i do swor Nay, said kn ght, ye shall b t s i oust er as e ver I e ter ; ye are a pa s ng good j met withal, and for the love of t he high order of knight hood let us i j oust once aga n. “ a i r r I assent me, s id K ng A thur. Anon there we e e e r a brought two gr at sp ars, and eve y knight gat a spe r, ' and ther ewith they ran toget her that Arthur s spe ar all

- i t i so t o sh vered. But the o her kn ght hit him hard in hors e l t h e e t midst of the shield that and man fel to ar h , l wi t t was l his and there h Ar hur eager, and pu ed out sword. “ ll and said, I wi assay thee, Sir knight, on foot, for I ” have lost the honor on horseback. “ ” il on s i was I w l be hor eback, said the kn ght. Then

“T w l a n . sa i his sword dr w hen the knight that, he a ght, for t i i l him hought no worsh p to have a kn ght at such avai , on l he to be on horseback, and he foot, and so he a ight l his t an and dres sed shie d unto Arthur . And here beg a t l e so strong ba t e with many gr at strokes, and hewed with t m t els ee-s o arm or or o esfi heir swords that the W, f ffl ] in t h flew the fields, and much blood t h e place there as t hey fought was and thus they fought long, and rested them , and then b a so e o they went to the attle gain, and hurtl d t g ether iike two ram s t hat eit h er fell t o t h e art So at t h e t e h. las at t they smote together, th both heir swords met even

. of ni tog ether But the sword the k ght smote King ’

t in t wo e e was . Ar hur s sword piec s, wher fore he heavy fli ht t “ Then said the g unto Ar hur, Thou art in my t o or l but danger whether me list save thee s ay thee, and thou yield thee as overcome and recreant thou shalt ” die. “ “ for As death, said King Arthur, welcome be it when it cometh, but as to yield me to thee as recreant, I ” l had liever die than to be so shamed . And therewitha Pellin ore the king leapt unto , and took him by the middle, l off . and threw him down , and raced his helm When the knight felt that, he was adread, for he was a passing of r big man might, and anon he brought King Arthu off under him , and raced his helm , and would have smitten offhis head. “ : Therewithal came Merlin , and said Knight, hold thy

a i h nd, for and [f] thou slay that knight, thou puttest this al realm in the greatest damage that ever re m was in, for this knight is a man of more worship than thou wottest ” of. ? Why, who is he said the knight.

It is King Arthur. for of Then would he have slain him dread his wrath, M and heaved up his sword, and therewith aw n i n e ehgntmexmnm t he g ight, that he fell to the earth a great sleep . Then Merlin took up King Arthur, and ’ “ rode forth upon the knight s horse . Alas, said King “ ? Arthur, what hast thou done, Merlin hast thou slain this good knight by thy crafts There lived n ot so wor shipful a knight as he was ; I had liever than the stint ” 2 loss of . [ ] my land a year, that he were on live “ ” “ ai for wholer Care ye not , s d Merlin , he is than ye, on 3 for he is but sleep, and will awake within three hours. ” “ r I told you, said Me lin, what a knight he was ; here hadn n ot ot . been slain I been Also, there liveth

On i e ldform of alive l v o ” ” On s ee aslee : as ust abo e on i e alive. l p, p j v l v . n A r tfiur Of Ki g . 1 3 a t ni af bet er k ght then he is, and he shall do you here ter i i his am is Pellin ore al r gh t good serv ce, and n e , and he sh l ”

a o h m en . h ve two s ns, that s all be passing good

CHAPTER VI.

IGHT so n t n the ki g and he depar ed, and we t unto an rm he it that was a good man and a great leech. So the hermi t searched all his wounds and gave hi m good al i was s ves ; and the k ng there three days, and then were hi s wounds well amended that he might ride and go . So rt as rt Merlin and he depa ed, and they rode, A hur said, “ I have no sword. ” “ ai n is No force , s d Merli , hereby a sword that shall ” i So l be yours, and [f] I may. they rode til they came w wat r an d hi ch was fai r e n th e to a lake, a a broad, and i middest of the lake King Arthur was ware of an arm in th e clothed white samite, that held a fair sword in “ ” “ Lo i is w hand. , said Merl n, yonder that s ord that I ” i saw th spake of. W th that they a damsel going upon e

e. “ ” What dam sel is that ? said Art hur . “ " of th e r That is the Lady Lake, said Me lin ; and ll ai this M i come to you anon, and then speak ye f r ” u t o her that she wi ll give yo that sword. Anon withal eam e al hi m the damsel unto Arthur and s uted , and he

“ ” “ Da e i t o is that ms l, sa d Ar hur, what sw rd , that ’ o n A r t/ea 1 4 The B y s Ki g r . yonder the arm holdeth above the water ? I would it ”

m for . were ine, I have no sword “ ” “ r m an d Sir king, said the damsel, that swo d is ine, 1it ask ou if ye will give me a g when I it y , ye shall have It

ou t By my faith, said Arthur, I will give y what gif ” as ye will k. ” W r ell, said the damsel, go ye into yonde barge and

' w r an dit an d ro yourself to the swo d, take the scabbard . m with you, and I will ask my gift when I see y time . So King Arthur and Merlin alighted and tied their horses to two trees , and so they went into the ship, and r when they came to the swo d that the hand held, King

he . Arthur took it up by t handles, and took it with him rm d t h And the a an the hand went under e water ; and

m . a r so they ca e unto the l nd and rode fo th . And then King Arthur saw a rich pavilion What signifiet h yonder pavilion “ ’ r It is the knight s pavilion , said Me lin, that ye Pellin ore fought with last, Sir , but he is out, he is not there ; he hath ado with a knight of yours, that hight

was n am edE lam e [ ] gg , and they have fought together, but at E lam e the last gg fled, and else he had been dead, and h he hath c ased him to Caerleon, and we shall anon meet ” with him in the high way. “ “ It is well said, quoth King Arthur, now have I a n ow sword, and will I wage battle with him and be ” v on a enged him . “ “ so ai r Sir, ye shall not do , s d Me lin , for the knight of so is weary fighting and chasing, that ye shall have no worship to have ado with him also he will not lightly be

‘ matched of on e knight living ; and therefore m y counsel ou is that ye let him pass, for he shall do y good service

Ifin A r llzur Of g . 1 5

dsons aft er his da A t ti m e an his s. lso s in shor , y ye hall se e short s ac t hat e shall be ri ht lad that day in p e y g g t o i " gi ve him your sister to w fe. “ ” “ When I him Kin A rt htn I will do see as , said g , ye

advise m e.

“ “ t li ou e t l Whe her keth y b t er, said Mer in , the sword or the scabbard “ i t e t h e i r u Me l ke h b tter sword, said K ng A th r. “ wi “ Ye are more un se, said Merlin, for the scabbard is of th e seabbard worth ten the sword, for while ye have up on you ye shall lee se [los e] no blood be ye never so sore u t f wo nded, here ore keep well the scabbard alway with ” you. So on they rode to Caerleon, and by the way they met P o r a t with Sir ellin re. But Me lin had done such a cr ft hat Pellin ore saw so as not Arthur , and he p sed by without

“ l ” i “ i l I marve , said the k ng, that the kn ght wou d not ” speak “ ” “ saw ou Sir, said Merlin , he y not, for and [if] he had i l ” seen you he had not l ght y departed. So r o they came unto Cae leon , where f the knights were i t e ofhis t t pass ng glad ; and when hey h ard adven ures, hey his so mar velled that he would j eopard person alone. But all men of worshi p said it was merry to be under such a Chi eft ain t hat would put his per son in advent ure as ot her ’ 1 6 T/ze Boy s King A r t/i nn

CHAPTER VII .

How TIDINGs CAME TO KING ARTHUR THAT KING RYENCE HAD ove n cox n ELEVEN A ' KINGS, AND HOW HE DESIRED KING RTHUR S BEARD r o oor der M PURFLE [ ] HIS ANTLE.

HE mean while came a messenger hastily from Egg R en ce of y of North Wales , and he was king all Ire

of ~ land, and many isles ; and this was his message, greet ing well King Arthur in this manner wise, saying, that R en ce discom fit d e King y had and overcome eleven kings, of and every them did him homage , and that was this, fla n of s t ri edo they gave him their beards clean y [ pp f ] as much as there was ; wherefore the messenger came for ’ R n urfld e ce e bor King Arthur s beard, for King y had p [ ’ red de ] a mantle with kings beards, and there lacked for on e place of the mantle, wherefore he sent for his beard, “ or else he would enter into his lands and burn and slay, ” and never leave till he have thy head and thy beard . ” “ Well , said King Arthur, thou hast said thy mes sage, which is the most villanous and lewdest message that ever man heard sent to a king. Also thou mayest urfle see my beard full young yet for to make a p of. But owe n e nor tell thou the king this I him none homage, [ ] of ere b ore none mine elders , but or [ , ef ] it be long he shall h or do to me omage on both his knees, else he shall leese lose of [ ] his head , by the faith my body, for this is the most sham efullest message that ever I heard Speak of;

I see well the king met never yet with a worshipful man, un less do but tell him I will have his head without [ ] he ” homage unto me .

Then the messenger departed. I 7

“ ” ' “ Now is t sm di Art h e t at here any h re K ng ur, h

G A DAm wm u n c m m A Sw m m m m n m

” stan den. ” “ ' “ saidt h i l It is t m th e fm m th e ost m , kn ght, h y

l won m ake a oounsel e ra an da n e r at let g h g e j oust . So t he kin was eem e t hi t h er with all his baron a e when g g , ’ o s n A r nnr 1 8 Tlze B y Ki g t . which was sent on message from the great lady Lyle of she Avalon . And when she came before King Arthur, she she on told him from whom came, and how was sent u for message nto him these causes, and she let her mantle fall that was richly furred, and then was she girded with a : noble sword, whereof the king had great marvel and said “ ? Damsel, for what cause are ye gird with that sword ” m h it besee et you not . “ “ Now ou shall I tell y , said the damsel ; this sword that I am gird withal doth me great sorrow and encum of brance, for I may not be delivered this sword but by a of good knight, and he must be a passing good man his of e or hands and his de ds, and without villany treachery ; V if I may find such a knight that hath all these irtues, ut o For he may draw o this sword f the scabbard . I have ’ been at King Ryen ce s for it was told me there were a passing good knights , and he and all his knights h ve ” can assayed it, and none speed. “ ” “ This is a great marvel, said Arthur ; if this be t rue t o out sooth [ ] , I will myself assay draw the sword , not presuming upon myself that I am the best knight , but that I will begin to draw at your sword in giving example on e to all the barons, that they shall assay every after ” other when I have assayed it . Then Arthur took the sword by the sheath and by the girdle, and pulled at it eagerly, but the sword would not

out . “ “ s n ot Sir, aid the damsel , ye need to pull half so for out hard, he that shall pull it , shall do it with little ” might . “ “ sa all Ye y well, said Arthur now assay ye, my no dfiled a t e barons , but beware ye be with shame, tre chery, " n or guile. ' K in A r t/fur Of g . I 9

“ “ n ot il Then it will ava , said the damsel , for he must i t l of r be a clean kn ght withou vi lany, and a gentle st eam ’ ’ ” offather s side and mother s side. [And many] barons ofthe Round Table t hat were there i e at that t me assayed all by row, but th re might none speed ; wherefore th e damsel made great sorrow out of “ , , ! weenedtfiou lt t measure and said Alas I wend [ g ] in t s i e r or his court had been the be t kn ghts, without tr ache y ” treason. “ “ ai t ni s By my f th, sai h Arthur, here are good k ght as e in is I deem any b en the world, but their grace not to ” is help you, wherefore I am d pleased.

CHAPTER IX.

' How A I m a n Poor. E oo r m Swor B L N, m A KNIGHT, PULL D n

wm cn m n wann was Cans: or m s Dan a.

HEN fell it so that time there was a poor knight i o t hi m with K ng Arthur, that had been pris ner wi h for i of i half a year and more, slay ng a kn ght the which was of ni cousin unto King Arthur. The name this k ght was i of called Bal n, and by good means the barons he was out of was delivered prison, for he a good man named

of hi s was er . body, and he born in Northumb land And i an dw so sa he went privily nto the court , this adventure, his ai as whereof heart r sed, and would assay it other i did w o as kn ghts , but, for because he po r and poorly

him the crowd. arrayed, he put not far in press [ ] But in his heart he was fully assur ed to do as well (if hi s hi m as n was grace happened ) any k ight that there. And as that damsel took her leave of King Arthur and all ’ o s n r hu The B y Ki g A t r .

the barons, this knight Balin called unto her and said, a of suffer D msel, I pray you your courtesyto me as well to assay as these lords ; though I be poorly clothed, in mine heart me seemeth I am fully assured as some of these other lords, and me seemeth in my heart to speed " right well . was The damsel beheld the poor knight, and saw he a likely man ; but because of his poor array she thought he of or should be no worship without villany treacheryd. And then she said to the knight Balin, Sir, it is no nee or for bese m et h to put me to any more pain labor, it e ” t o not you speed there as other have failed. “ ” “ d Ah, fair damsel, said Balin , worthiness and goo uali t i es taches [q ] , and good deeds , are not all only in ’ s raiment, but manhood and worship is hid within man e not p rson, and many a worshipful knight is known unto is not all people, and therefore worship and hardiness in ” m rai ent and clothing . “ ai s a S d the damsel, Ye y troth, therefore ye shall assay o t do what ye may.

Then Balin took the sword by the girdle and scabbard,

nd~ dr w out a e it easily, and when he looked upon the sword it pleased him much. Then had the king and all ad the barons great marvel that Balin had done that venture, and many knights had great spite at Balin . “ ” “ Truly, said the damsel, this is a passing good of knight, and the best man that ever I found, and most or worship without treason, treachery, villany, and many marvels shall he do. Now, gentle and courteous knight, ” give me the sword again . “ ” “ Nay, said Balin, for this sword will I keep, but it be taken from me by force . ” “ Well , said the damsel, ye are not wise to keep the

‘ n r thur 2 2 The Boy s Ki g A . knights of the Round Table said that Balin did not this

b . adventure all only by might, but ywitchcraft

CHAPTER X.

’ How THE LADY or THE LAK E DEMANDED m e K NIGIrr s HEAD THAT ’ M . HAD WON THE SWORD, OR THE AIDEN S HEAD

HE mean while that this knight was making him

ready to depart , there came into the court a lady, was nam ed f o which hight [ ] the Lady the Lake, and S on he came horseback richly beseen, and saluted King she Arthur, and there asked him a gift that he had prom ised her when she gave him the sword. “ “ t r ue That is sooth [ ] , said King Arthur, a gift I promised you ; but I have forgotten the name of the ” sword which ye gave me . “ ” “ of The name it , said the lady, is Excalibur, that is

sa - as much to y as cut steel . ” “ sa ask l Ye y well , said King Arthur, what ye wil , ” he and ye shall have it , if it in my power to give it . ” of of Well, said the Lady the Lake, I ask the head ’ or the knight that hath won the sword, else the damsel s head that brought it ; and though I have both their care heads I force [ ] not, for he slew my brother, a full was good knight and a true, and that gentlewoman causer ’ ” of my father s death . “ ” “ Truly, said King Arthur, I may not grant you of r neither their heads with my wo ship, therefore ask ” what ye will else and I shall fulfil your desire . ” ou I will ask none other thing of y , said the lady 2 3

d w Whm Balin was a t o sa th r de art e he e Ia d y p y cft he

' an dhe hadse ht her u th ree m r A ndwh en u g y s. m

“ ” “ a !for i t av ou on Al s shame, sa d Ar hur, why h e y d e

s hostelr i nn an d m w his t a ith him to ho ry [ y, ] , there he ’ 2 e o n r hur 4 Th B y s Ki g A t .

“ Alas, said the squire, ye are greatly to blame for to ” displease King Arthur. “ ” al As for that, said B in , I will hie me in all the haste R en ce s r that I may, to meet with King y and de t oy him , or r r e him else to die the efo e and if it may hap m to win , then will King Arthur be my good and gracious lord. “ r h e ? Whe e s all I m et with you said the squire. “ ’ In King Arthur s court , said Balin . So his squire and he departed at that time . Then all had King Arthur and the court made great dole, and of of t h shame the death Of the Lady the Lake . Then e king buried her richly.

E CHAPT R XI .

NE How MERLIN TOLD T ADVENTURE OF THE B A u suI.

’ T that time there was in King Arthur s court a ’ Irelan dI knight that was the king s son Of , and his Lan ceor name was , and he was a proud knight, and he c on e r ounted himself Of the best knights of the cou t, and he had great spite at Balin for the achieving of the of sword, that any should be accounted more prowess than he was and he asked King Arthur if he would give him leave to ride after Balin and to r evenge the despite ” “ DO that he hath done . your best, said King Arthur, “ for I am right wroth with Balin I would he were quite ui ac ui tted t o [q t q ] of the despite that he hath done me ” and to my court . Then this Lan ceor went to his host rie to make him ’ r s ready. In the mean while came Me lin to King Arthur

’ ” ’ i s r he hi n o I relan ds n The k n s on of I elan t so . g d, g f Of Ki ng Ar t/ai r . 2 5

was him of of court, and there it told the adventure t he of ak . sword, and of the Lady the L e “ ” “ sa Now shall I y to you, said Merlin, this damsel t u hat here standeth, that brought the sword unto yo r u l ca of i sh e is co rt, I shall te l you the use her com ng, the falsest damsel that liveth. ” “ so sh e Say not , said they, hath a brother a passing an di good knight of prowess and a full true man, th s i damsel loved another, and th s good knight her brother ”

wi n slew him of his . met th the k ight, and by force hands ad e t When this dams l understood his, she went to the l y of al an d of t o n d Lyle Av on, besought her help be ave ge

CHAPTER XII.

m n ow Ba u x m w m x

of l hi m all O the knight Ire and armed at points, and dres sed his shi eld on his shoulder and mounted upon his S horseback, and took pear in his hand, and rode after as c fast as his horse ould run, and within a little space on i l i a mountain he had a s ght of Ba in, and w th a loud voice “ him : n l he cried to and said Abide, k ight, for ye sha l or ill abide whether ye will w not, and the shield that is ” tofore you shall not help you. i e his When Bal n h ard that noise, he turned horse “ n i ou t fiercely, and said, Fair k ght, what will y wi h me, will ye j ous t with me ? “ ” “ Yea ai r i , s d the I ish kn ght, therefore am I come r ou afte y . ’ 2 u 6 Tbc Boy s K ing A r t/i r .

“ e Peradventure, said Balin, it had been better to hav ou ween et h thinker/z holden y at home, for many a man [ ]

~ to put his enemy to a rebuke, and often it falleth to him fro rom self. Of what court be ye sent [f ] of I am come fro the court King Arthur, said the “ of m knight Ireland, that co e hither for to revenge the ” despite ye did this day to King Arthur and to his court . “ ” W al see ell , said B in, I well I must have ado with fort hin ket h ri evetlz you, that me [g ] for to grieve King or of r e Arthur, any his court ; and your qua r l is full ” “ simple, said Balin, for the lady that is dead did great as as damage, and else I would have been loth any knight ” t o that liveth for slay a lady. ” “ ou Lan ceor Make y ready, said the knight , and on e of dress you to me, for us shall abide in the field. all Then they took their spears in the haste they might , and came together as fast as their horses might drive, and ’ of al the king s son Ireland smote B in upon his shield, al that his spear went all to shivers . And B in smote him with such a might that it went through his shield, and i erced so perished [p ] the hauberk, and pierced through ’ r cra er his body and the ho se s croupe [ pp ], and Balin anon out turned his horse fiercely, and drew his sword, and saw i wist not that he had slain him, and then he him l e as a dead corpse . 0] fl ag M a r . 2 7

m m da dam sel

h ' or t n b r e takm t e s wm 'dm cf hea h z n dh sh f s e

’ b ont ofh m ifh e s nnldhar e hm h er andsz d ham lg bz t ;

h fiir a dm sdhz d h ez s elf fnr t e l mf d hi m m m m m . “ " “ las aidE213 m e e at efii s ur t he ea t r e of A , s 2 , p e d h

‘ li s t en s an dlm xnfl t nn m fls a reat for andt h g efi m he

‘ h thc m e m et h t cfi t é r h elm s an d t kiss edt o y q ’ r mr 2 8 Tbe J oy s Ki n: A t/ .

for of dolorous prisonment, a man told me in the Castle

Four Stones that ye were delivered, and that man had of seen you in the court King Arthur, and therefore I i d came hither into this country, for here I supposed to f n ” you. Anon the knight Balin told his brother ofhis adventure of of of of the sword, and the death the Lady the Lake, and how King Arthur was displeased with him “ Where fore he sent this knight after me that lieth here dead ; of and the death this damsel grieveth me sore . ” SO “ t h doth it me, said Balan , but ye must take e adventure that God will ordain you. “ “ r Truly, said Balin, I am ight heavy that my lord

Arthur is displeased with me, for he is the most worship ful knight that reigneth now on earth, and his love I will get or else I will put my life in adventure ; for the King R en ce Terrabil y lieth at a siege at the castle , and thither t o our will we draw in all haste, prove worship and prowess ” upon him . “ “ do I will well, said Balan, that we , and we will help ” t o each other as brethren ought do .

CHAPTER XIV.

How L EOR r m : LANCEOR A DWARF REPROVED BA IN DEATH OF , AND M or C L D Tom HOW KING ARK ORNWAL FOUND THEM, AND MA E A OVER THEM.

“ ROTHER said Balin , let us go hence, and well be

we met.

The mean while as they talked, there came from the zityofCamelot on horseback as fast as

’ li e s n A r t/cur 30 T Boy Ki g .

CHAPTER XV.

How MERLIN PROPHESIED THAT BALIN SHOULD STRIKE THE DoLORous STROKE.

“ HEN] said Merlin [to Balin] because of the death of that lady, thou shalt strike a stroke the most of our dolorous that ever man stroke, except the stroke Lord ; for thou shalt hurt the truest knight and the man of the most worship that now liveth , and through that s troke three kingdoms shall be in great poverty, misery, n ot and wretchedness twelve years, and the knight shall ” be whole of that wound in many years . And then of Merlin took his leave Balin . “ kn ew Then said Balin, If I wist [ ] that it were sooth t rue as [ ] that ye say, I should do such a perilous deed ” that I would slay myself to make thee a liar.

And therewith anon Merlin suddenly vanished away . Then Balin and his brother took their leave of King

Mark .

First, said the king, tell me your name . ” “ ai t wo Sir, s d Balan , ye may see he beareth swords, ” thereby ye may call him the knight with the two swords .

And so departed King Mark, and rode to Camelot to t o King Arthur, and Balin and his brother took the way R en ce King y , and as they rode together they met with

Merlin disguised, but they knew him not. “ Whither ride ye said Merlin . “ t wo for t o We have little to do, said the knights, t ell thee ; but what is thy name said Balin . ” wi' As at this time, said Merlin, I l not tell thee . “ ” “ t wo It is full evil seen , said the knights, that thou ” art w . a true man , hen thou wilt not tell thy name r u Of Ki ng A th r . 31

“ “ As for t hat rl as , said Me in, be it it may, but I can ou f for i tell y where ore ye ride this way, to meet K ng R en ce not l ou t y , but it will avai y wi hout you have my ” counsel. “ “ d n il ! sai B ali n Ah , ye are Merli We w l be ruled ” by your counsel. ” “ on l i Come , said Merlin, ye sha l have great worsh p, l ni for l and ook that ye do k ghtly, ye shal have great ” need. “ “ A s for t ha sai dB alin n ot l t e do , , dr ad ye , we wi l

CHAPTER XVI.

B ow B Am m arm nv OU Nm or M m m m

HEN Merlin lodged them in a wood among leaves e t h e i off t b side h ghway, and took the bridles of heir ai horses and put them to grass, and l d them down to rest w i ni i them till it as n gh mid ght. Then Merl n bade them a e i was i rise and m ke them r ady, for the k ng n gh them , that was stolen away from his host with a t hreescore horse s of his kn of best ights, and twenty them rode tofore, to was i warn the lady that the king com ng. “ ?” i Which is the king said Bal n . “ i r ai Abide, said Merl n, he e in a str ght way ye shall meet wi t h him and therewith he showed Bali n and his r a n b other where he rode. Anon B li and his brot her met w th e ith king, and smote him down, and wounded him

ai t h e r fiercely, and l d him to ground, and the e they slew on i th e the r ght hand and left hand, and slew more than fort of t h e m y his men ; and re nant fled. Then went they 2 lze n r u 3 T Ki g A tfi r .

R en ce ha d again to King y , and would have slain him he not yielded him unto their grace. “ : of Then said he thus Knights full prowess, slay me n ot shall , for by my life ye may win, and by my death ye win nothing .

Then said these two knights , Ye say sooth and truth

him - was and so laid on an horse litter. With that Merlin m vanished , and ca e to King Arthur aforehand, and told him his m discom fit ed how most ene y was taken and .

By whom said King Arthur. “ By two knights , said Merlin , that would please

- your lordship, and to morrow ye shall know what knights ” they are . af Anon ter came the knight with the two swords, and r r R en ce Balan his b other, and b ought with them King y W r of t o North ales, and there delive ed him the porters, and charged them with him ; and so they two returned of again in the springing the day. R en ce King Arthur came then to King y and said, Sir : r king, ye are welcome by what adventu e come ye hither ?” “ R en ce b Sir, said King y , I came hither y an hard ” adventure . Wh ? o won you said King Arthur. ” “ t wo Sir, said the king, the knight with the swords of and his brother, which are two marvellous knights prowess . “ “ be I know them not , said Arthur, but much I am ” holden to them . “ ” “ a Ah , said Merlin, I shall tell you, it is B lin that o achieved the sword, and his brother Balan , a go d knight, there liveth not a better of prowess and of worthiness ; and it shall be the greatest dole of him that ever I knew ” of . knight, for he shall not long endure ' K n A ' Of i g r tlim . 33

“ ” “ ' Alas sai dKi n A rt hm ' t hat is rsa t n jor l , g , g p y am him ill e er t much beholden unto , and I have d s ved it un o

an dt hat shall e know in hast ir r u e. S a e e r y But, , y p ?” “ ve ed - s i of y sa d M erlin ; for to morn the ho t Nero ,

” I will de ar p t from you.

HA PTER VII C X .

eam e Nero to Cas tle Terrabil —with a mi ghty

t i t bad. So o wi h much more pe ople than K ng Ar hur Ner

l an di n en t o m ost art of his eo e K in Lot p p p ; Merl me g , r h dwit h an del him a dt he l O kn e Is e of the y, a t le l N his e s of prophecy til ero and p ople were de troyed.

his life h e hadt h er eof An di all the days of worship. S r l H v l a s t i t u er is de Reve did m rve lou deeds wi h K ng Ar h r.

w m airned. A t t hat t im e cam e in t h e kn i ht it h th forty g e w rd th Balan but th w t wo an dhis br o er t o did s o s ; ey so an dt h m ar vellously t hat th e ki ng all e knights had great all t hat beh eldt h t h r em saidt hat e marvel the eof, and y were sent from e as an els or as i ro l h aven g , dev ls f m hel ; ’ o s izn 34 Tli e B y King A r t r .

knights that ever he saw, for they gave such strokes that f all men had wonder o them . In the mean while came on e Lot to King , and told him that while he tarried there

Nero was destroyed and slain with all his people . “ ! ” “ Alas I am shamed, said King Lot, for through my default is slain many a worshipful man ; for if we had be en together there had been no host under heaven that had been able to match us . This [deceiver] with his ” prophecy hath mocked me .

All that did Merlin, for he knew well that if King Lot had been there with his body at the first battle, King Arthur and all his people should have been destroyed l on of and slain . And Merlin knew wel that e the kings was of should be dead that day, and loth Merlin that any them both should be slain ; but of the twain he had liever Lot King had been slain than King Arthur. ” “ n Lot Now, what is best to do, said Ki g , whether is for or it better to treat with King Arthur, to fight, for the most part ofour people are slain and destroyed “ ” “ i set for Sir, sa d a knight, upon King Arthur, he

d ~ an fi ht in an d of . his men are weary g g, we be fresh ” “ for r As me, said King Lot, I would that eve y ” knight would do his part as I will do mine . And then they advanced their banners and smote t o ’ - s e ea all t o eces r gether, and all to shivered [ lz i v r pi ] thei ’ of spears ; and King Arthur s knights, with the help the l knight with the two swords and his brother Ba an , put King Lot and his host to the worst ; but alway King Lot of held him in the foremost, and did great deeds arms, for all his host was borne up by his hands, for he abode ! n ot and withstood all knights . Alas he might ever so endure, the which was great pity that worthy a knight as was - d of he should be over matche , and that late time n A r tfiur Of Ki g . 35

’ af of i ore had been a knight K ng Arthur s, and had ’ w t wedded Kin g Art hur s sister. So there as a knigh t was al s hat c led the knight with the strange bea t, and at was Pellin ore was that time his right name , which a good of i man prowess , and he smote a mighty stroke at K ng Lot as his of his he fought with enemies, and he failed ’ s t o troke, and smote the horse s neck that he fell the Lot Pellin ore ground with King , and therewith anon Sir hi m smote a great stroke through the helm , and hewed of him to the brows . And then all the host Orkney fled of i Lot was ai for the death K ng , and there sl n many a ’ i Pellin ore b mother s son. But K ng bare the wit [ lam e] of the death of King Lot ; wherefore Sir Gawain e re venged the death of hi s father the tenth year after he was i Pellin ore hi s own made knight , and slew K ng with hands. Also there was slain at the battle twelve kin gs on Kin g ’ all r Lot s side with Nero, and were buried in the chu ch of t of i s Saint Stevens, in Camelot ; and the remnan kn ght f i and o other were bur ed in a great rock.

CHAPTER XVIII.

Or m lnm m r oa vm cs AND or m PRorm m

Maxi m AND How I U c m r m : Dow Rous E . , BAL N SHO LD STROK

i n term en t Mat is burial the entertainment [ , , ] ’ Mor ause t King Lot s wife g , wi h her four sons

'

Gawain A ravam e Gah eris . l e, g , , and Gareth A so there ’ ri en ce Ewai n e s came thither King U , Sir father, and ’ hi s was . Morgan le Fay wife, that King Arthur s sister

All n . of e these came to the interme t _ But all thes t welve kings Ki ng Arthur let make the tomb of King ’ ’ 36 Tlte Boy s k ing A r tnur

Lot own passing richly, and made his tomb by his ; and then King Arthur let make twelve images of laton [brass]

- of and copper, and over gilt it with gold, in the sign on e of of twelve kings , and each them held a taper wax that burnt day and night : and King Arthur was made in sign of a figure standing above them with a sword drawn in his hand : and all the twelve figures had countenance like unto men that were overcome . All this made Merlin “ by his subtle craft ; and there he told the king, When I am dead these tapers shall burn no longer ; and soon after the adventures of the San gr eal x shall come among " you and be achieved . Also he told Arthur how Balin the worshipful knight al D l t r a sh l give the o orous S oke, whereof sh ll fall great vengeance . “ 0 Pellin ore ? where is Balin, and Balan, and said

King Arthur. “ “ Pellinore ou As for , said Merlin , he will meet with y : n ot ou : soon and as for Balin , he will be long from y but ” the other brother will depart ; ye shall see him no more . “ ” “ By my faith , said Arthur, they are two marvellous ni ht s u an d of of k an g , namely Balin passeth prowess y knight that ever I found, for much beholden am I unto ” him ; would that he would abide with me . ” “ of Sir, said Merlin , look ye keep well the scabbard al Exc ibur, for ye shall lose no blood while ye have the scabbard upon you, though ye have as many wounds upon ou y as ye may have. af So ter, for great trust Arthur betook the scabbard to le Morgan Fay his sister, and she loved another knight

” an rea t he Sai nt Gr ail or o Cu sai t o ha e he the b oo S g l, , H ly p, d v ld l d esus andt o have r m the ross ose h of of J been b ought away fro C by J p

Arim at hea.

’ 8 fie o s /cur 3 T B y King A r t .

moan, for what cause I cannot tell , wherefore I would desire of you of your courtesy and of your gentleness t o fetch again that knight either by force or else by his ” - good will .

I will do more for your lordship than that, said Balin so and he rode more than a pace, and found the knight t with a damsel in a forest , and said, Sir knight , ye mus of come with me unto King Arthur, for to tell him your ” sorrow. “ “ That will I not , said the knight, for it will scathe ” me greatly, and do you none avail . “ ” “ ou e Sir, said Balin, I pray you make y ready, for y or must go with me, else I must fight with you and bring ”

ou . y by force , and that were me loth to do “ ” “ o Will ye be my warrant, said the knight, and I g with you ? “ ” “ or . Yea, said Balin, else I will die therefore so And he made him ready to go with Balin , and left ’ the damsel still . And as they were afore King Arthur s on e pavilion there came invisible, and smote this knight that went with Balin throughout the body with a spear. “ Alas said the knight, I am slain under your con duct and guard with a traitorous knight called Garlon ; r the efore take my horse the which is better than yours, and ride to the damsel , and follow the quest that I was in she n where as will lead you, and revenge my death whe ” ye may best . “ “ a That shall I do, said Balin, and thereof I make ” vow to you, by my knighthood.

And so he departed from this knight, making great

. an d sorrow So King Arthur let bury this knight richly, m how made a ention upon the tomb, there was slain Her lcus 1c B erbeus b , and also how the treachery was done y n Of Ki g M . 39

t h ey cam e t o a

w bat th at eedcf er hlm d thi s ay sh e shall fl h a silw

“ ” “ l e ll B m she hall ee as m uch as she , said al . s b d ’ u 40 The Boy s King Ar th r .

CHAPTER XXI .

How WH M C F BALIN MET IT THE KNIGHT NA ED ARLON AT A EAST, AND THERE HE SLEW HIM To HAVE HIS BLOOD To HEAL THEREWITH THE SON on Hi s HOST.

or HEN they rode three four days, and never met with adventure ; and by hap they were lodged with a gentleman that was a rich man and well at ease . And sat one as they at their supper, Balin heard complain i grievously by him in a cha r. “ What is this noise said Balin . “ r ou Fo sooth , said his host, I will tell y . I was but late at a jousting, and there I jousted with a knight that is brother unto King Pellam, and twice smote I him down ; t o a on and then he promised quit [p y] me my best friend, so and he wounded my son , that cannot be whole till I ’ of an d have that knight s blood, he rideth alway invisible; ” but I know not his name. ” “ is Ah, said Balin , I know that knight, his name Garlon t wo of , he hath slain knights mine in the same

manner, therefore I had rather meet with that knight i than all the gold in th s realm , for the despite he hath

done me . “ “ ou of Well, said his host, I shall tell y , King Pellam List en eise hath made cry in all this country a great feast that shall be within these twenty days, and no knight may o or c mde there but if he bring his wife with him, his love ; an see that knight, your enemy and mine, ye shall that da . y “ ou rt of d Then I promise y , said Balin, pa his bloo " son to heal your withal . Ki n r thur Of g A . 41

“ - l r t o ro his s . We wi l be fo ward mor w, said ho t t h m rod t P orn war d e t h e e t hree o ellam and So on y all , ’ they had fifteen days journey or [er e] they eam e t hi ther ; dt hat da an e so an same y beg the gr eat f ast. And they

’ but Balin s host mi ght not be let in beeause he had no i ll . was lady Then Bal n we received, and brought unto a him robes chamber and unarmed , and they brought him

“ “ a li a for it is the cust om Nay, s id Ba n, th t do I not,

an d om will k or l I will d him that cust ee e se e art as , I p, p ”

I eam e.

e e his so Then they gave him l ave to w ar sword, and t h e eastle was set i he went unto , and among kn ghts of

w an dhis l afo him . Balin asked hi ad ors re Soon a p , y

is Garlon “ ” i “ Yonder he goeth , said a kn ght, he with the black is m arvellest i is l i face ; he the kn ght that now iv ng, for ” t o i i i he destroye h many go d kn ghts, for he goeth nv sible. “ ” “ ?” i , is Ah , well, said Bal n that he B alin advi sedhim lon z If I sla hi m h Then g y ere dif I l v him n ow v not esea an ea e eraden t ur [ shall pe p e I a l m eet wit h hi m i sh l never adgain at such a good [t me], and much harm he will do an [if] he live. rlon iedt hat t hi B alin re Ga es s beheld The with this p him eam e on th e wi , and then he and smote Balin face th “ of his i e the back hand, and said, Kn ght, why behold st so ? eat e and do thou me for shame, therefore, thy m at, " that thou came for. “ ” “ u a s al i is t he firs Tho s yest ooth, said B in, th s not t ’ 2 o s n thur 4 The B y Ki g Ar .

' h r o l d o despite that thou hast done me, and t e ef re I wi l

‘ andlav c e that I came for ; and rose up fiercely, his head to the shoulders .

' t o Give me the truncheon , said Balin his lady, “ " wherewith he slew your knight. she o Anon she gave it him , for alway bare the trunche n with her ; and t herewith B alin ' sm ot e him through the “ r n c a body, and said openly, With that t u heon thou h st ” now o slain a good knight , and it sticketh in thy b dy. “ Now And then Balin called to him his host, saying, s may ye fetch blood enough to heal your on withal .

CHAPTER XXII .

How P How Hrs S O B K BALIN FOUGHT WITH KING ELLAM, AND W RD RA E, AND How HE GAT A SPEAR WHEREWITH HE SMOTE THE DoLORous STROKE.

NON all the knights arose from the table for t o set U on Balin . And King Pellam himself arose p fi “ ? ercely, and said, Knight, hast thou slain my brother ” r thou shalt die therefore o thou depart . ” ‘ “ l Well, said Balin, do it yourse f. ‘ ” “ al h Yes, said King Pellam , there sh l no man ave ” of . ado with thee but myself, for the love my brother Then King Pellam caught in his hand a grim weapon and smote eagerly at Balin, but Balin put the sword betwixt his head and the stroke , and therewith his sword

burst in sunder. And when Balin was weaponless he ran

into a chamber for to seek some weapon, and so from

chamber to chamber, and no weapon could he find , and alway King Pellam followed him ; and at the last he

’ hu 44 The Boy s King Ar t r . t was hey lay both in a swoon . But Balin bruised sore

of was of . with the fall his horse, for he weary travel And Balan was the first that rose on foot and drew his sword, and went toward Balin , and he arose and went la against him, but Ba n smote Balin first , and he put up his his shield, and smote him through the shield and cleft helm . Then Balin smote him again with that unhappy r so swo d , and well nigh had felled his brother Balan , and they fought there together till their breaths failed . Then

Balin looked up to the castle, and saw the towers stand of full ladies . So they went to battle again , and wounded

a oft - each other dolefully, and then they bre thed times , and so all r went unto battle, that the place the e as they fought was of was blood red. And at that time there none them s both but they had either mitten other seven great wounds, so that the least ofthem m ight have been the death ofthe mightiest giant in this world . Then they went to battle again so marvellously that doubt it was to hear of that battle for the great bloodshedding, and their hauberks

on . unnailed, that naked they were every side At the last

Balan , the younger brother, withdrew him a little and laid “ h im . le down Then said Balin Savage, What knight art thou ?for or [ere] n ow I found never n o knight that ” matched me. “ “ m n My na e is, said he, Bala , brother to the good ” knight Balin . “ “ Alas said Balin, that ever I should see this day.

And therewith he fell backward in a swoon . Then n all Balan went o four feet and hands, and put off the r him Vi s helm of his b other, and might not know by the age it was so full hewn and bled ; but when he awoke he “ said, O Balan , my brother, thou hast slain me and I

h r t h e o h . t ee , whe efore all wide world shall speak of us b t Of King Ar thur . 45

“ ” “ ! an t saw i Alas said Bal , hat ever I th s day, that ou through mishap I might not know y , for I espied well r your two swo ds , but because ye had another shield I ” ni deem ed you had been another k ght. “ ” “ ! li all Alas said Ba n , that made an unhappy knight t o i in the castle, for he caused me leave mine own sh eld ’ t o our o l b th s destruction, and if I might live I wou d ill ” destroy that castle for customs. “ ” l “ That were well done, said Ba an , for I had never r g ace to depart from them since that I came hither, for i here it happed me to slay a knight that kept th s island, l and since might I never depart , and no more shou d ye m i as brother, and ye ight have sla n me ye have, and ” th escaped yourself with e life. Ri ght so came the lady of the tower with four knights six six o sh e and ladies and ye men unto them , and there heard how they made their moan either to other, and “ of on e so l said, We came both [mother], and shal we ” n lie both in o e pit. So his Balan prayed the lady of her gentleness, for true service that sh e would bury them both in that same place was A n dh s e there the battle done. granted them with weeping it should be done richly in the best manner. i for ur Now w ll ye send a priest , that we may receive o sacrament and r eceive the blessed body of our Lord Jesus ” Christ. “ “ l Yea, said the lady, it shal be done. so sh e And sent for a priest and gave them their rites. “ ” “ ai u on e Now, s d Balin , when we are b ried in tomb, and the mention made over us how two brethren slew each other, there will never good knight nor good man see ” our l our o tomb but they wil pray for s uls.

so for And all the ladies and gentlewomen wep t pity. ’ 6 The Bo s n u 4 y Ki g Ar th r .

Then , anon Balan died, but Balin died not till the mid f r night a ter, and so we e they buried both , and the lady let make a mention of Balan how he was there slain by his ’ ’ brother s hands, but she knew not Balin s name . ’ In the m om came Merlin and let wr ite Balin s name of al upon the tomb, with letters gold, That here lieth B in le Savage, that was the knight with the two swords, and m o r he that s ote the D lorous St oke . Soon after this was done Merlin came to King Arthur and told him of the Dolorous Stroke that Balin gave to m King Pella , and how Balin and Balan fought together m was of the ost marvellous battle that ever heard , and r on how they we e buried both in e tomb . “ !” “ Alas said King Arthur, this is the greatest pity r that ever I hea d tell of two knights , for in the world I ” know not such two knights . of Thus endeth the tale Balin and Balan , two brethren born in Northumberland, good knights .

CHAPTER XXIV.

How I A U G UENEVER T HIs K NG RTH R TOOK AND WEDDED UN O WIFE.

T befell on a time that King Arthur said to Merlin

My barons will let me have no rest, but needs they will have that I take a wife, and I will none take but by thy counsel and by thine advice . “ It is well done, said Merlin, that ye take a wife, for of u W a man your bounty and nobleness sho ld not be ithout a wife. Now is there any fair lady that ye love better than another ? “ ” ’ Guen ever Yea, said King Arthur, I love , the king s

’ o u 48 The B y s King Ar th r .

CHAPTER XXV.

How or R TAB LE How THE KNIGHTS THE OUND WERE ORDAINED, AND THEIR SIEGEs [seats] WERE BLESSED BY THE ARCHBISHOP or CANTER BURY.

HEN King Arthur heard ofthe coming ofGuen ever

and the hundred knights with the Table Round, r for he made g eat joy their coming, and said openly, t o This fair lady is passing welcome me, for I loved her so long, and therefore there is nothing pleasing to me . And these knights with the Round Table please me more than right great riches . Then in all haste the king did ordain for the marriage and the coronation in the most honorablest wise that could be devised . “ “ r Now Me lin, said King Arthur, go t hou and espy me in all this land fifty knights which be of most prowess d " an worship. Within short time Merlin had found such knights that s m should fulfil twenty and eight knight , but no ore he of was could find . Then the bishop Canterbury fetched, and he blessed the sieges [seats] with great royalty and devotion , and there set the eight and twenty knights in their sieges . “ And when this was done Merlin said , Fair sirs , ye must all arise and come to King Arthur for to do him homage he will have the better will to maintain you . r s And so they a o e and did their homage . And when they were gone Merlin found in every siege letters of ’ gold that told the knights names that had sitten therein, B u t two sieges were void. Of King Ar thur . 49

“ “ din A rt hur What is t h u sai K that t h e ea se ere , g , be two places void in the sieges ?” ” “ ai l sit in h s Sir, s d Mer in, there shall no man t o e al of o r places but they that sh l be m st wo ship. But in the a n o sit on an d e Siege Perilous there sh ll man therein but , if an so hardt o e there be y y do it he shall be d stroyed , ” d l sit hal an he that shal there s l have no fellow. wi i Pelli nore And there th Merlin took K ng by the hand, t h e on e e e and, in hand next the two si g s and the Siege “ r l in n i is Pe i ous, he said Ope audien ce, Th s your place, ” and be wor th t o sit therein of an t hat best ye y y is here. B OOK II.

F I L NCEL D O S R A U OT U LA KE.

H C APTER I .

How Sm h um m e r AND Sm Lrom nam nrxn n ow m Cour t you su m A nvaN'ruxns Sm LIONEL Lm Sm L TO , AND HOW AUNCE

Lor sw arm s was . , AND TAKEN

NON after that the noble and worthy King Arthur was come from Rome into England, all the knights of the Round Table resorted unto the king, and made many jousts and tournaments , and some there were that so wor were good knights, which increased in arms and ship that they passed all their fellows in prowess and was on noble deeds, and that well proved many, but was on du especially it proved Sir Launcelot Lake. For n o in all tourname ts and jousts and deeds of arms, b th for l and l al ife death , he passed knights, and at no time he was or never overcome, but it were by treason enchant n ver him ment . Wherefore Queen Gue de had in great an favor above all other knights, certainly he loved the queen again above all other ladies and damsels all the of his days life , and for her he did many great deeds of arms, and saved her from the fire through his noble s e chivalry . Thus Sir Launcelot re ted him a long whil so

’ A r t/ mm 5 5 n a Boy s King

. horse, and thought not for to awake Sir Launcelot And is when he was mounted upon his horse he overtook th strong knight and bade him turn : and the other smote d t o Sir Lionel so hard that horse an man he bare the

, earth, and so he alighted down and bound him fast and wn so threw him overthwart his o horse, and he served

own . them all four, and rode with them away to his castle an d And when he came there, he made unarm them, beat in them with thorns all naked , and after put them a deep prison where there were many more kn ights that made great dolor.

CHAPTER II .

LL FOR sss x Sm EL n ow an How Sm Ec non FO OWED TO LAUNC OT, AND

NE. WAS TAKEN BY Sm. TU RQU I

HEN Sir Ector de Maris wi st that Sir Launcelot was past out of the court to seek adventures he was t o Sir wroth with himself, and made him ready seek had as Launcelot, and he ridden long in a great forest, he i ” met with a man that was l ke a forester. Fair fellow, “ an ad said Sir Ector, knowest thou in this country y ventures that be here nigh hand “ ” “ I Sir, said the forester, this country know well, and a hedreby within this mile is a strong m nor, and well diked, an on for by that manor, the left hand, there is a fair ford h of orses to drink , and over that ford there groweth a fair t ree , and thereon hangeth many fair shields that wielded sometime good knights : and at the hole of the tree of brass hangeth a basin copper and laton [ ] , and strike of upon that basin with the butt thy spear thrice, and a u soon after thou shalt he r new tidings, and else hast tho Sir Launcelot i n La e Of k . 5 3 the fai rest grace that many a year had ever lm ight that ” passed through this forest. “ tha nks ar Gramercy [ ], said Sir Ector, and dep ted and

to the tree, and saw many fair shields, and among ' his r l them he saw brothe s shield, Sir Lione , and many more that he knew that were hi s fellows of the Roun d his e s Table, the which grieved h art, and he promi ed to on revenge his brother. Then anon Sir Ector beat the

as cra z a basin he were wood [ y], and then he g ve his horse drin k at the ford : and there eam e a knight behind him and bade hi m come out of the water and make him rea dy hi m and Sir Ector anon turned shortly, and in fewte r cast his i e f spear, and smote the other kn ght a gr at buf et that his hors e turned twice about. “ ” “ i was t ni Th s well done, said the s rong k ght, and kni ghtly thou hast stri cken me an d therewith he rushed hi s hors e on Sir Ector and eaught hi m under his i hi m e of a r ght arm, and bare cl an out the s ddle, and wi him his own a t hr ew him rode th away into h ll , and down i was in the midst of the floor. The name of th s knight “ ir Tur ui n e. Sir S q Then he said unto Ector, For thou i di d hast done t hi s day more unto me than any kn ght s a i l I i the e twelve ye rs, now w l grant thee thy l fe, so thou f ” t o ri o all wi lt be sworn be my p s ner thy li e days. ” “ c i t Nay, said Sir E tor, that w ll I never promise hee. i ” but that I wiil do m ne advantage. “ ” Tur uin e. That me repenteth, said Sir q n a hi m And then he made to u arm him, and be t with hi m dun thorns all naked, and after put down in a deep f his ix o . S geon, where he knew many fellows But when

sa w be e o . Ector Sir Lionel , then made gr at s rrow ’ 2W 5 4 Tli e Boy s King A r t/5 .

“ o Alas, brother, said Sir Ector, where is my br ther Sir Launcelot ot h r I on I h im. Fair br e , left him sleep when that from of him I went , under an apple tree, and what is become ” cannot tell you. ” “ h “ us Alas , said the knig ts , but Sir Launcelot help n ow we may never be delivered, for we know no knight ” m Tur uin that is able to match our aster q e.

CHAPTER III .

For m FOUND Sm AND R OW3? How QUEENS LAUNCELOT SLEEPING, m ENCHANTMENT HE WAS TAKEN AND LED m A CASTLE.

ak OW leave we these knights prisoners, and spe we du of Sir Launcelot Lake that lieth under the apple tree sleeping. Even about the noon there came by him of r of four queens g eat estate ; and, for the heat the sun m should not annoy the , there rode four knights about of r on r be them and bare a cloth g een silk four spea s, sun on twixt them and the , and the queens rode four white mules . Thus as they rode they heard by them a great horse m n ‘ of gri ly fifila and then were they ware a sleeping knight that lay all armed under an apple tree ; anon as these queens looked on his face they knew that it was

Sir Launcelot . Then they began for t o strive for that on e knight ; every said she would have him to her love. “ le We shall not strive, said Morgan Fay that was ’ “ King Arthur s si ster ; I shall put an enchantment upon him six that he shall not awake in hours, and then I will is lead him away unto my castle , and when he surely within

’ 2 5 6 Tli e Boy s Ki ng A r t/5 ” .

“ This is an hard case, said Sir Launcelot , that either on e of I must die or else choose you, yet had I liever to of ou die in this prison with worship, than to have one y an to my love mi ti gre my head. And therefore ye be s w r d of e e , for I will have none you, for ye be false ” enchantresses . ” “ Well , said the queens, is this your answer, that you will refuse us “ e Yea, upon my life, said Sir Launcelot, refused y ” f in be o e. h m a e So they departed, and left him there alone t at d great sorrow.

CHAPTER IV.

How Sm LAUNCELOT WAS DELIVERED BY THE MEANS or A DAMSEL.

C so I HT at noon came the damsel to him , and brought

him his dinner, and asked him what cheer. ” “ Truly, fair damsel, said Sir Launcelot , in all my life ” days never so ill . ” “ Sir, said she, that me repenteth ; but and ye will out r be ruled by me , I shall help you of this dist ess , and

. so ye shall have no shame nor villany, that ye hold me a i prom se. am Fair damsel , that I will grant you, and sore I ’ a of feared these queen s witches, for they have destroyed ” many a good knight .

Sir, said she, that is sooth , and for the renown and of bounty they hear you , would have your love , and, sir du , they say that your is Sir Launcelot Lake, l i kn i ht s t hat the flower of all the g been living, and the) du Sia m adot Lake. Of 5 7 been passing wr ot h wi th you that ye have refus ed th e m ;

“ ” “ a i o W n ai L an l ell m e is Fair m de , s d Sir ce t, t

“ Sir King

” “ w l m id “ r el Im eelot I know your fathe , Sir , for a ni ht andt aim of oo k noble king and a g d g , hy he f my o al o m dt o do ar an o fat her d b dy, ye sh l have my b dy y y

t bet im an dh l li u an read es o d hat ye be y , I s a l de ver y ; and hereby wi thin th es e ten miles is an abbey of whi te

“ ” “ all sai Sir Laan celot as All this sh be done, d , I am a

h so s e art eam e t h e m arrow And dep ed, and on e arly

wh was all rr sh e bros ht him en he armed and a ayed, g i “ an dl his a e im and s h to own hor e, l ght y he s ddl d , ’ n 5 8 Tile B oy s King A r t/i n.

And so he rode into a great forest all that day, and in no wise could he find any highway, and so the night fell lade of n was S o him , and then he ware in a lade [g ] a ” x “ f sen dall. pavilion o red By my faith , said Sir Launce “ lot, in that pavilion will I lodge all this night . And al t o so there he ighted down , and tied his horse the a pavilion , and there he unarmed him, and found there

d e on . rich be and laid him th rein, and anon he fell sleep da So thus within a while the night passed and the y e appeared, and then Sir Launcelot armed him and mount d upon his horse, and took his leave, and they showed him e in the way towards the abbey, and thither th yrode with f w the Space o t o hours.

CHAPTER V.

How rK ' S LAUNCELOT WAS RECEIVED or Xc B AGDEMAcus DAUGHTER. now HE M m s C HER F T AND ADE OMPLAINT UNTO A EEE.

S soon as Sir Launcelot came within the abbey yard , A B dm ’ King ag e agus daughter heard a great horse go on sh the pavement . And then e arose and went unto a she saw was window, and there that it Sir Launcelot , and anon she made men hastily to go to him, which took his horse and led him into a stable, and himself was led into a fair chamber, and there he unarmed him , and the lady h sent to him a long gown , and anon s e came herself. she And then made Sir Launcelot passing good cheer, and she sai d he was the knight in the world that was most welcome to her. Then she in all the haste sent for her

“ B a d em a us father King g g , that was within twelve miles of ” Sendall a ki nda n. , of

’ 60 Tile Boy s King A r tnnr .

l di n rest i f wt redace then they e [p ] the r spears, and came S of together with a great dash, and there were lain knights, ’ B a dm a s of e u a at the first encounter, twelve King g g p rty, ’ i B a de h al s and six of the king of Nort g party, and King g ’ m agus partywas far set aback.

CHAPTER VI .

H w SI E B m u m now Kl o R LAUNC LOT EHAVED A TOURNAMENT, AND MET wrr n Sm TURQUINE LEADrNo AWAY Sm GAHEErs.

du ITH that came Sir Launcelot Lake, and he thrust in with his spear in the thickest of the on e press , and there he smote down with spear five of of knights, and four them he brake their backs . And of North alis in that throng he smote down the king g , and ’ fan of brake his thigh in that . All this doing Sir Launce lot saw of the three knights Arthur. ” M la Yonder is a shrewd guest, said Sir ador de “ ” Porte, therefore have here once at him . n So they encountered, and Sir Launcelot bare him dow so out of horse and man , that his shoulder went j oint . ” “ l t o for Now befa leth it to me joust , said Mordred, " Sir Mador hath a sore fall . of in Sir Launcelot was ware him, and gat a great spear r his hand, and met him , and Sir Mordred brake a spea upon him , and Sir Launcelot gave him such a bufiet that ’ of so s the bow his saddle brake, and he flew over his horse tail , that his helm went into the earth a foot and more, that nigh his neck was broken, and there he lay long in a

. Gahal t in swoon Then came in Sir a e with a spear, and all Launcelot against him , with their strength that they '

u lo da a . Of Sir La nce t L ke 6 1

ri - bu rs t to i eces might d ve, that both their spears to brast [ p ] u out i even to their hands, and then they fl ng with the r was swords, and gave many a grim stroke. Then Sir n out of u Lau celot wroth meas re, and then he smote Sir his out on d Gahalat in e on l the he m , that nose burst bloo , hi s and ears and mouth both , and therewith head hung r his low. And the ewith horse ran away with him , and he fell down to th e eart h. Anon therewithal Sir Launcelot gat a great spe ar in hi s or er e e S ar hand, and, [ ] ever that gr at pear brake, he b e ar an d down to the e th sixteen knights , some horse man, o not was and s me the man and the horse, and there none

'

hi t . no dem ce to but that he surely He bare none arms [ b be known y] that day. And then he gat another gr eat t spear, and smote down twelve knights, and the most par of of them never throve after. And then the knights the i of Nort h ali s k ng g would j oust no more, and there the Ba dm a us z was e pri e given unto King g g . So either party hi s own n departed unto place, and Sir Lau celot rode forth g d B a em a us hi s r with King g unto castle, and the e he had passing good cheer both with the king and with his i him . on daughter, and they proffered great g fts And n B ag dm e a u the morn he took his leave, and told Ki g g s h l o s his Sir t at he wou d g and eek brother Lionel , that So o hi s went from him when that he slept. he to k horse, ’ dbet au ht com m enaea an God. g [ ] them all to And there ' ai a an he s d unto the king s daughter, If ye h ve need y i n t me of my service, I pray you let me have k owledge, ” S n ot as i t and I hall fail you , I am a true kn gh .

ot nd so a And Sir Launcel departed , by adventure he i was camde nto the same forest where he taken sleeping. An in the mids t of an highwayhe met a damsel ridin g on r r a white palf ey, and there either saluted othe . ’ /znr 6 2 Tbe Boy s King A r t .

“ s Fair damsel , said Sir Launcelot , know ye in thi country any adventures ” “ “ are s Sir knight , said that damsel , here adventure ” near hand, and [if] thou durst prove them . Why should I not prove adventures ? said Sir Launce “ ” lot ; for that cause came I hither. “ “ seem est d Well , said she, thou well to be a goo k night, and if thou dare meet with a good knight, I shall bring thee Where is the best knight and the mightiest t h that ever thou foundest , so thou wilt tell me what is y ” n . ame, and what knight thou art “ for m Damsel , as to tell thee yname, I take no great d ” : u . force truly, my name is Sir Launcelot Lake beseem est Sir, thou well , here be adventures by that be fall for thee, for hereby dwelleth a knight that will not h overmatched for no man that I know, unless ye overmatc

Tur uine. as him , and his name is Sir q And, I understand, ’ he hath in his prison ofArthur s court good knights three score and four that he hath won with his own hands . But when ye have done that day ’s work ye shall promise me as ye are a true knight for to go with me , and to help me and other damsels that are distressed daily with a false " knight . so e All your intent, damsel , and desire I will fulfil , y ” will bring me unto this knight . Now r on , air knight , come your way. she And so brought him unto the ford, and unto the t hi ree where hung the basin . So Sir Launcelot let s horse drink . and then he beat on the basin with the butt of his spear so hard with all his might till the bottom fell out so , and long he did , but he saw nothing. Then he of rode along the gates that manor nigh half an hour. And then was he ware of a great knight that drove ar'

’ n A r t/i i” 64 Tba Boy s Ki g .

’ r both their horses backs b ast under them , and the knight were both astonied , and as soon as they might avoid their horses they took their shields afore them , and drew out r s their swo d , and came together eagerly, and either gave

r s other many st ong strokes , for there might neither shield n or r A n d harness hold their st okes . so within a while l s they had both grim y wounds, and bled pa sing grievously. r or m t rasin Thus they fared two hou s ore, g and rasing ain t i n a n ds [f g tfim ti ng] either other where th eymight hit any bare place . Then at the last they were breathless both, and stood leaning on their swords . “ “ Tur uin e Now, fellow, said Sir q , hold thy hand awhile, and tell me what I shall ask thee. on Say . “ Tur uin e Then q said, Thou art the biggest man that ever I met withal , and the best breathed, and like one knight that I hate above all other knights ; so be it that thou be not he I will lightly accord with thee, and for thy love I will deliver all the prisoners that I have , that is o so threescore and f ur, thou wilt tell me thy name . And thou and I will be fellows together, and never to fail the ” while that I live . “ ai c It is well said , s d Sir Laun elot, but since it is r so that I may have thy f iendship, what knight is he that thou so hatest above all other ? ” “ “ ai Tur uin e Truly, s d Sir q , his name is Launcelot du fo , r Carad Lake he slew my brother Sir os at the

Dolorous Tower, which was on e of the best knights then

, of living and therefore him I except all knights, for and [if ] I may once meet with him , that on e of us shall make Sir Launcelot (121 La e Of k . 63 m ight help themselves , and many have died in my prison , r r all and yet I have th eesco e and four, and shall be so h delivered, t at thou wilt tell me thy name, and so it ” be that thou be not Sir Launcelot . ” Sir “ m Now see I well , said Launcelot, that such a an

I might be I might have peace, and such a man I m ight al an d be there should be between us two mort war ; now, sir Wit knight, at thy request , I will that thou and know ’ du son f that I am Sir Launcelot Lake, King Ban s o Ben of th e wick, and knight Round Table. And now I defy thee do thy best . “ “ ! Tur uin e Ah said Sir q , Launcelot, thou art unto as was me most welcome, ever any knight, for we shall ” l on never depart til the e of us be dead. e ll And then hurtl d they together as two wild bu s , s hi i ra ng and lash ng with their shields and swords, that on sometime they fell both their noses . Thus they l an d u fought stil two hours more, and never wo ld rest, and Sir Turqui n e gave Sir Launcelot many wounds that all the ground there as they fought was all besprinkled with blood. Tur uin e Then at last Sir q waxed very faint, and gave an d shi d s hi s el omewhat back, bare full low for weariness. Sir That soon espied Launcelot, and then leaped upon as an dt o him fiercely a lion, g him by the banner of his l so hi m hi s he met, and he plucked down on knees , and tore o hi s l anon he rased [ f ] he m , and then he smot e his und neck as er. ’ u 66 Tfie Boy s King Ar th r .

CHAPTER VIII.

- Two G um rs m s Cm Fu r. How Sm LAUNCELOT sww , AND A

an d O on the third day he rode over a long bridge, S u there started upon him suddenly a passing foul ch rl, at and he smote his horse on the nose th he turned about, and asked him why he rode over that bridge without his license . “ Why should I not ride this way said Sir Launcelot . ” I may n ot ride beside. “ Thou shalt not choose , said the churl, and lashed at him with a great club shod with iron. Then Sir Launce l t a o drew sword, and put the stroke aback, and clave his of was ai head unto the breast . At the end the bridge a f r v on illage, and all the people men and women cried Sir “ ai Launcelot, and s d, A worse deed didst thou never for ”

for of our . thyself, thou hast slain the chief porter castle

Sir Launcelot let them say what they would, and straight he went into the castle ; and when he came into the castle on he alighted, and tied his horse to a ring the wall ; and

there he saw a fair green court , and thither he dressed

for w ai t o in. himself, there him thought as a f r place fight saw 0 1 So he looked about, and much pe p e in doors and ” windows, that said, Fair knight, thou art unhappy.

' Anon withal came there upon him two great giants,

well armed all save the heads, with two horrible clubs in a their h nds . Sir Launcelot put his shield afore him , and of on put the stroke away the e giant, and with his sword

he clave his head asunder. When his fellow saw that , he

craz of ran away as he were wood [ y] , for fear the horrible

strokes, and Sir Launcelot after him with all his might ,

’ n 68 Tli e Boy s King A r t/i r .

And so he departed from them and bet aught [com od be ended G . m ] them unto And then mounted upon his r ho se, and rode into many strange and wild countries and through many waters and valleys , and evil was he lodged . And at the last by fortune him happened against a night

enclosure u n to come to a fair curtilage [ ] , and therein he fo d an old gentlewoman that lodged him with a good will , and there he had good cheer for him and his horse. And when was t time , his host brough him into a fair garret over the gate to his bed. There Sir Launcelot unarmed him, and set hi m his harness by , and went to bed, and anon he fell on e on on sleep . So soon after there came horseback, and knocked at the gate in great haste. And when Sir Launce out lot heard this he arose up, and looked at the window, and saw by the moonlight three knights came riding after on e on w man, and all three lashed him at once ith swords , and that on e knight turned on them knightly again and defended him . “ ” “ l on e Truly, said Sir Launce ot, yonder knight shall for s on I help, it were shame for me to ee three knights ” one be of , and if he slain I am partner his death . And therewith he took his harness and went out at a window by a sheet down to the four knights, and then Sir “ on i n a loudoi e ou v c Launcelot said high [ ], Turn y knights unto me, and leave your fighting with that ” knight .

And then they all three left Sir Kay, and turned unto Sir Launcelot, and there began great battle, for they l a ighted all three , and struck many great strokes at Sir on Launcelot, and assailed him every side. Then Sir Kay dressed him for to have holpen Sir Launcelot . sir f Nay, , said he , I will none o your help, therefore ” as ye will have my help let me alone with them . ' L uncelot an L e Of Sir a ak . 69

Sir Kay for th e pleasure of the knight suffered him t o o d lo hi s s . i six will , and stoo aside And then anon with n t t rokes Sir Launcelot had stricken them to the ear th. “ r i And then they all th ee cried, Sir kn ght, we yield of as unto you as man might matchless . ” ai l n ot As to that , s d Sir Launcelot , I wi l take your so yielding unto me, but that ye yield you unto Sir Kay the senesc hal ; on that covenant I will save your lives and ” el se not. F “ air knight , said they, that were we loath to do ; for as for Ka hi m m Sir y we chased hither, and had overco e him had n ot ye been therefore to yield us unto him it were ” no reas on. “ “ as Well , to that , said Sir Launcelot, advise you well, for i for ye may choose whether ye will die or live, and [f] ye be yielden it shall be unto Sir Kay . ” “ i in our we Fa r knight , then they said, saving lives will do as thou commandest us . ” “ all Sir hi Then sh ye, said Launcelot , on W tsunday o i of next c m ng go unto the court King Arthur, and there Guen ever ut all shall ye yield you unto Queen , and p you sa n three in her grace and mercy , and y that Sir Kay se t ” you thi ther to be her prisoners . “ ai of our Sir, they s d , it shall be done by the faith ” bodies , and we be living. i hi s And there they swore, every kn ght upon sword. so L f And Sir auncelot su fered them so to depart. And then Sir Launcelot knocked at the gate with the pommel ! of hi s in sword, and with that came his host , and they entered Sir Kay and he. his Sir, said host , I wend ye had been in your bed. ” So was Sir d I , said Launcelot , but I arose and leape ” out for oldl f at my window to help an fel ow o mine. ’ /cur 70 Tli e Boy s King A r t .

And so when they came nigh the light Sir Kay knew well that it was Sir Launcelot , and therewith he kneeled down and thanked him of all his kindness that he hath holpen him twice from the death . “ “ Sir, he said, I have done nothing but that I ought t o do, and ye are welcome, and here shall ye repose you " and take your rest . a So when Sir Kay was unarmed he asked fter meat, so there was meat fetched him , and he ate strongly. And when he had supped they went to their beds , and were on e m om lodged together in bed . On the Sir Launcelot : arose early, and left Sir Kay sleeping and Sir Launcelot ’ took Sir Kay s armor and his shield and armed him : an d so he went to the stable and took his horse, and took his of so leave his host, and he departed . Then soon after arose Sir Kay and missed Sir Launcelot : and then he espied that he had his armor and his horse.

Now, by my faith , I know well that he will grieve some ’ of : on King Arthur s court for him knights will be bold, and deem that it is I , and that will beguile them ; and because of his armor and shield, I am sure that I shall " ' . Ka ride in peace And then soon after departed Sir y, and thanked his host .

CHAPTER IX.

How SrR O B RACKET C wrrm LAUNCEL T FOLLOWED A INTO A ASTLE, As FOUND D G n ow T HE A EAD KNI HT, AND AF ERWARD HE WAS or D REQUIRED A AMSEL FOR To HEAL HER BROTHER.

OW let us speak of Sir Launcelot, that rode a great

while in a deep forest, where he saw a black brachet [sm all seeking in manner as it had been in the

’ t ur 72 The Boy s King A r h .

and there was my brother sore wounded, and there is a r lady a so ceress that dwelleth in a castle here beside, and ’ this day she told me my brother s wounds should never be whole till I could find a knight that would go into the

Chapel Perilous, and there he should find a sword and a bloody cloth that the wounded knight was lapped in, and a piece Of that cloth and sword should heal my brother’ s touched wounds, so that his wounds were searched [ ] with ” the sword and the cloth . “ but This is a marvellous thing, said Sir Launcelot, what is your brother’s name ?” “ Meliot Sir, said she, his name is Sir de Logres . ” “ That me repenteth, said Sir Launcelot , for he is a of d o fellow the Table Round, and to his help I will my ” power. “ “ sir she Then, , said , follow even this high way, and ou it will bring y unto the Chapel Perilous, and here I al God ou ai ou sh l abide till send y here ag n, and but y speed I know no knight living that may achieve that ” adventure .

CHAPTER X .

How Si n L rNTO C PERrLous AND AT AUNCELOT CAME THE HAPEL , C D C S P C THERE OF A EAD ORP E A IECE OF THE LOTH AND A SWORD.

RIGHT so Sir Launcelot departed, and when he came unto the Chapel Perilous he alighted down , and tied his horse to a little gate . And as soon as he was within the churchyard he saw on the front of the chapel many

u side down fair rich shields turned up so down [ p ] , and many of the shields Sir Launcelot had seen knights bear e b forehand . With that he saw by him stand there thirty u da a e . Of Sir La ncelot L k 73

a great knights , more by a yard th n any man that ever all n s he had seen , and those gri ned and gna hed at Sir n Lau celot . And when he saw their countenance he so hi s i e hi m dread him sore, and put sh ld afore , and took hi s sword in his hand ready unto battle ; and they were all armed in black harness , ready with their shields r and their swo ds drawn. And when Sir Launcelot would have h on gone t roughout them, they scattered every side hi m him e of , and gave the way, and therewith he wax d all b e saw old and enter d into the chapel , and then he no dim w f u as o light but a lamp b rning, and then he ware a corpse covered with a cloth of silk. Then Sir Laun ce lot stooped down and cut a piece away of that cloth, and then it fared under hi m as the earth had quaked a little ; therewithal he feared. And then he saw a fair sword lie at by the dead knight, and that he g in his hand and hied him out of h as w the c apel. Anon ever he as in the Chapel - yard all the knights spake to him with a grimly “ d la voice, and sai , Knight , Sir Launcelot, y that sword ” or al from thee , else thou sh t die. “ ” or u ll Whether I live die, said Sir La ncelot, wi no ”

r . great word get it again , the efore fight for it and ye list so Then right he passed throughout them] and beyond C - him the hapel yard there met a fair damsel , and said, i e Sir Launcelot , leave that sword beh nd th e, or thou wilt ” f r die o it. “ i Sir I leave it not, sa d Launcelot, for no entreaties . " sh e No, said , and thou didst leave that sword, Queen ” Gu v r en e e should ye never see. “ ” a. l s Then were I fool and I wou d leave this sword, aid

Launcelot. “ “ r Now gentle knight, said the damsel, I equire thee t o kiss me but once. ’ t hur 74 The Boy s King A r .

“ Nay, said Sir Launcelot, that God me forbid. ” “ sh e a th Well , sir, said , and thou h dst kissed me y ” “ life days had been done, but now alas , she said, I have lost all my labor, for I ordained this chapel for thy sake.

And, Sir Launcelot, now I tell thee , I have loved thee this seven year. But since I may not have [thee] alive , I had kept no more joy in this world but to have [thee] dead . Then would I have balmed [thee] and preserved

[thee] , and so have kept [thee] my life days, and daily I should have kissed thee . “ Ye say well , said Sir Launcelot, God preserve me from your subtle crafts . And therewithal he took his horse and so departed m fro her. And when Sir Launcelot was departed she took such sorrow that she died within a fourteen night ort n i ht Hellawes [f g ] , and her name was the sorceress, lady Ni ram ous of the castle g . Anon Sir Launcelot met with ’ m Meliot s she the da sel, Sir sister. And when saw him she d o clappe her hands and wept for jy, and then they Meliot rode unto a castle thereby, where Sir lay. And as saw was anon Sir Launcelot him he knew him, but he al M liot p e as the earth for bleeding. When Sir e saw Sir on Launcelot , he kneeled upon his knees and cried high ” 0 lord Sir Launcelot help me ! Anon Sir Launcelot i ’ leaped unto him , and touched his wounds with Sir G lbert s sword , and then he wiped his wounds with a part of the an on a bloody cloth that Sir Gilbert was wrapped in, and wholer was man in his life was he never. And then there great joy between them , and they made Sir Launcelot all m om the cheer that they might, and so on the Sir Launce lot took his leave, and bade Sir Meliot hie him to the court of “ f my lord Arthur, for it draweth nigh to the feast o God Pentecost , and there, by the grace of , ye shall find

. A n dh r me t e ewith they departed .

’ thur 76 The Boy s King Ar .

Off so when he was unarmed, he put all his clothes unto his shirt and breeches, and with might and force climbed up to the falcon and tied the lines t o a great rotten branch and threw the hawk down with the branch . Anon the al lady gat the hawk with her hand. And therewith came Phelot out of Sir the groves suddenly, that was her hus band, all armed with his naked sword in his hand, and ai : O s d knight Sir Launcelot, now have I found thee as ” t runk of I would have thee, and stood at the bole [ ] the tree to slay him. d” “ ! Ah , la y said Sir Launcelot, why have ye betrayed me as Phelot She hath done I commanded her, said Sir ; and therefore there is none other way but thine hour is ” come that thou must die . “ ” “ h That were shame, said Sir Launcelot, t at an armed knight should slay a naked man by treason . “ et t est Ph lot Thou g none other grace, said Sir e . “ Truly, said Sir Launcelot, that shall be thy shame ; since t i but sith [ ] hou wilt do none otherwise, take m ne harness with thee, and hang my sword upon a bough that do I may get it, and then thy best t o slay me and thou ” canst . “ “ Phelot for Nay, nay, said Sir , I know thee better ween est than thou , therefore thou get t est no weapon and ” I may keep thee therefrom . ” Alas, said Sir Launcelot, that ever any knight should die weaponless .

And therewithal he looked above and under him, and rounds ike n over his head he saw a p o a big bough leafl ess, OE and brake it by the body Of the tree, and then he came

, own lower and awaited how his horse stood, and suddenly on he leaped the farther side ofthe horse from the knight. ' S ir La uncelot au Lahe Of . 77

An dSir Phelot hi m i then lashed at eagerly, ween ng to ai hi m r have sl n , but Sir Launcelot put away the st oke with un ds ik ro an d him on th e e the p , therewith he smote side of s woon the head that he fell in a swound [ ] to the ground. o his out of a an d Then Sir Launcelot to k sword his h nd,

s hi s . truck neck from the body Then cried the lady, ” s ai ? Ala , why hast thou sl n my husband “ ” “ Sir I am not causer, said Launcelot, for with false r a o is hood ye would have slain me with t e s n , and now it ” fallen on you both. she e swoonedas sh e And then swound d [ ] though would n ot die. And therewithal Sir Lau celot g all his armor as as l on well he cou d, and put it him for dread Of more ’ h i l was resort, for he dread t at the kn ght s cast e nigh. as as m hi s s And soon he ight, he took hor e and departed our s thence, and thanked Lord God that he had e caped

that adven ture.

CHAPTER XII.

’ How Si x cm KrNc Axr m s C 8 01! LAUNCELOT UNTO OURT, AND WERE EEOOUNTED or m s N FEATs A THEEE OB LE AND c rs. IR LAU NCELOT came home two days afore the f i feast o Pentecost. And K ng Arthur and all the

hi s i . Sir Gaw e court were full glad of com ng And when ain ,

Sir 13 - 11 6 S a ram our 5 1 31 , Sir g , and Sir Ector de Maris saw ’ in Sir Launcelot Sir Kay s armor, then they wist well all on e it was he that smote them down with spear. Then i there was laughing and sm ling among them. And ever d T r ui n now an then came all the knights home that Sir u q e ak all had t en prisoners , and they honored and worshipped Gah eris Sir Launcelot. When Sir heard them speak, he ’ 78 The Boy s King Ar thur .

“ said : I saw all the battle, from the beginning to the ending .

And there he told King Arthur all how it was , and how Sir Turquin e was the strongest knight that ever he saw except Sir Launcelot ; there were many knights bare him record, nigh threescore. Then Sir Kay told the king how Sir Launcelot had rescued him when he was in dang e r to “ ai have been sl n , and how he made the knights to yield " them to me, and not to him . And there they were, all “ ” “ three, and bare record . And, said Sir Kay, because o Sir Launcelot to k my harness , and left me his , I rode in ll ” a a . good peace, and no man w have to do with me Then anon therewithal came the three knights that fought with

Sir Launcelot at the long bridge, and there they yielded them unto Sir Kay, and Sir Kay forsook them , and said but l he fought never with them I sha l ease your hearts , “ said Sir Kay, yonder is Sir Launcelot that overcame you .

When they understood that , they were glad. And then Meliot Sir de Logres came home, and told King Arthur how Sir Launcelot had saved him from the death . And r r all his deeds were known , how four queens , so ce esses , was r n had him in prison , and how he delive ed by Ki g ’ B a dem a u s g g daughter. Also there were told all the great deeds of arms that Sir Launcelot did betwixt t he t wo of Nort h alis kings , that is to say, the king g and King B a dm a u e s. Gahalan t in e g g All the truth Sir did tell, and for Sir Mador de la Porte, and Sir Mordred, they were at that same tournament . Then came in the lady that knew Sir Launcelot when that he wounded Sir B elleus at the

. of pavilion And there at the request Sir Launcelot, Sir B elleus of was made knight the Round Table. And so at that time Sir Launcelot had the greatest of hon name any knight of the world, and most he was o of red high and low.

’ thur 80 The Boy s King Ar .

“ her enchantment before betwixt Sir Launcelot and , I pray you heart ily let Sir Bors depart and hie him with all For his might , as fast as he may, to seek Sir Launcelot .

I warn you he is clean out Of his mind , and yet he shall ” be well holpen , and but by miracle . s Then wept dame Elaine, and so did Sir Bors de Gani , and so they departed ; and Sir Bors rode straight unto Guen ever Queen , and when she saw Sir Bors she wept as she were wood . “ “ on for Fie your weeping, said Sir Bors , ye weep !” never but when there is no boot . Alas said Sir Bors , “ ’ For that ever Sir Launcelot s kin saw you. now have of ye lost the best knight our blood, and he that was all our leader and our succor. And I dare say and make n o it good, that all kings , Christian nor heathen, may t of and find such a knight , for to speak his nobleness ”

n d . courtesy with his beauty a his gentleness Alas , said “ s l o Sir Bors, what ha l we do that be Of his bl od “ ! r Alas said Sir Ecto de Maris . ! Alas said Sir Lionel .

CHAPTER XIV. W GUENEVER EOE SrR L n ow HAT SORROW QUEEN MADE AUNCELOT, AND WA s G HE SOU HT av KNIGHTS or 11 13 K rN.

ND sa so she A when the queen heard them y , fell to the ground in a deadly sound [s woon] and then Sir

r - Bors took her, and [ oused] her, and when she was come f to herself again she kneeled a ore the three knights , and held up both her hands, and besought them to seek him , “ an d f or l not to spare no goods but that he be found , for Launcelot cla k Of Si r La e. 8 1

wot l is out hi s i . we l he Of m nd And Sir Bors , Sir Ector, Sir Lionel, departed from the queen, for they might not abide no longer for so rrow : and then the queen sent e so them treas ure enough for their expens s , and they an d t i . took heir horses and the r armor, departed And r e then they rode from country to count y, in for sts and in s as wildern es es and in wastes, and ever they laid watch well both at forests and at all manner Of men as they t o him as was rode, to hearken and inquire after , he that m an in wit h a swordin his a naked his i . sh rt, hand And Of e thus they rode well nigh a quarter a y ar, endlong and overt hwart l a st il , in many pl ces, fore s and w dernesses, and i for his sa all oftentimes were ev l lodged ke, and yet for hear wordf their labor and seeking could they never o l e e i s him . And wit ye we l th s three kn ghts were pa sing sorry. Gawain Uwain e Sa ram or le De Then Sir e, Sir , Sir g sir ous A loval al G l s , Sir g , and Sir Perciv de a i , took upon r ea t ir r al them by the g des e Of King A thur, and in especi th l and e n e es by quee , to s ek throughout all England, Wa , r Scotland, to find Sir Launcelot. And with them ode i e eighteen kn ghts more to b ar them fellowship. And wit ye well they lacked no manner of spending : and so were w i they three and t enty kn ghts. as s r And thus these noble knight ode together, they s r b two by one a sent depa ted, and then they rode y , by b five ss ed three, and by four, and y ; and ever they a ign t where they should mee .

“ ' B m m m w w w dthe u ’ ur 8 2 The Boy s King Ar th .

CHAPTER XV.

L L 1113 MADNEss TOOE W m oon How Sm AUNCE OT TN A S ORD, AND

I KNrGHT LEA EED . W TH A , AND AFTER IN A BED

ND now leave we a little Of Sir Ector and Sir Perci S of f r val, and peak we Sir Launcelot, that su fe ed nd a endured many sharp showers, which ever ran wild wood, from place to place, and lived by fruit and such as he might get, and drank water, two years ; and other clothing had he but little, save his shirt and his breeches . as r And thus, Sir Launcelot wandered here and the e, he came into a fair meadow where he found a pavilion , and there upon a tree hung a white shield, and two swords ai hung thereby, and two spears there leaned ag nst a tree ; saw and when Sir Launcelot the swords, anon he leaped on e to the sword, and took it in his hand, and drew it out, and then he lashed at the shield that all the meadow rang Of the dints that he gave with such a noise as ten knights had fought together. Then there came forth a dwarf, and leaped unto Sir Launcelot, and would have had the sword out ofhis hand ; and then Sir Launcelot took hi m by both hi s k the shoulders and threw him to the ground upon nec , that he had almost broken his neck ; and therewithal the for dwarf cried help . Then came forth a likely knight,

and well apparelled in scarlet , furred with miniver. And

anon as he saw Sir Launcelot, he deemed that he should out of : be his wit and then he said with fair speech, “ for as Good man, lay down that sword, , me seemeth , Of thou hast more need Of sleep, and warm clothes, than ” to wield that sword . “ ” “ n ot As for that , said Sir Launcelot, come too nigh " for , and thou do, wit thou well I will slay thee .

’ thur 84 The Boy s King Ar .

CHAPTER XVI.

L WAs E-LITT E How SI! How Sn AUNCELOT CARRIED IN A HORS R, AND LAUNCELOT RESCUED SrE B LrA NT Hrs How .

t 0 the dwarf rode fast, and came again, and brough li un t six Sir Se a with him, and men with an horse litter ; and so they took up the feather- bed with Sir

Launcelot, and so carried all with them to the Castle

Blanche, and he never wakened until he was within the castle ; and then they bound his hands and his feet, and gave him good meats and good drinks, and brought him again t o his strength and his fairness ; but in his wit they

t o . could not bring him again, nor know himself Thus

Sir Launcelot was there more than a year and a half. i u Then upon a day this lord Of that castle, Sir Bl a t, took his arms on horseback with a spear to seek ad as ventures, and he rode in a forest there met him two on e was B reuse knights adventurous the Sir sans Pitie, B rt lo and his brother Sir e t . And these two ran both B liant at once upon Sir , and brake both their spears out upon his body, and then they drew their swords and made a great battle and fought long together ; but at the u last Sir Blia t was sore wounded, and felt himself faint, on and then he fled horseback toward his castle. And

a ~ as they came hurling under the castle, where Sir L unce lot lay in a window and saw two knights laid upon Sir

Bliaut with their swords, and when Sir Launcelot saw craz as was for that , yet as wood [ y] he , he was sorry his lord Sir Bliaut ; and then Sir Launcelot brake his chains from his legs . so out e And Sir Launcelot ran at a postern, and ther au n e o dz ée L Of Si r c l t La . 8 5

m Sir B lian an d he et wi t h th e t wo kni ghts that chased h i hands fm m th ere he ulleddown Bertlot wi t h his bare h s p w swordout of his hor an dth h rit hedhis se erewithal e

so B re use a him hands, and he leaped unto Sir , and g ve suc h a bufiet upo n the he ad t hat he t umbled backward ’ his Si r B ert lot sa w his over horse s crupper. And when in and a d t such a fall he at a s e r his han bro her have , g p , saw would have run Sir Launcelot t hrough. That Sir au t Of B ert lot Bli t, and s ruck off the hand Sir ; and then SiWr B re use and Sir Bertlot gat thei r horses and fled away. “ Seliaunt saw hen Sir came, and what Sir Launcelot had od di dhis his t G so done for brother, hen he thanked , and

hi m eod. brother, that ever they did any g But when Sir

B lian t saw that Sir Launce lot was hurt with the brea k. of his ai t h he was so rr t hat h e hadbo un d in g ch n s en y

”

andr . happy g acious Then they made gre at joy of Sir him so Launcelot, and they bound no more ; and he abode e in e ir there half a y ar and more. And a morning arly S re oa Laun celot was ware where came a g at b r, with many hounds nigh hi m ; but t h e boar was so big t hat th ere i a rs m ght no hounds te r him, and the hunte came after at the last Sir Launcelot was ware where one of them l i hi s e e a ghted and tied horse to a tree, and l aned his sp ar

SO ca me Sir Launcelot and found the horse bound t o a d l t r e an a s ear ean in a ain s t a t r an dsword e ee a , p g g , tied w A n d t unto the saddle bo . hen Sir Laun celot l eape d in t o t he saddl an dthat s r t h at ea in his han an den e g p i he rode aft er an d ir w th e boar ; then S In un eelet was ware he rr the boar set his back t o a t re fast i e by an herm tage. ’ 86 The Boy s King Ar thur

’ as hea therewith the boar turned him nimbly, and rove [g ] of so Sir out the lungs and the heart the horse, that

Launcelot fell to the earth , and or ever Sir Launcelot m a on might get fro the horse, the bo r rove him the brawn

Of . Sir the thigh , up to the hough bone And then

Launcelot was wroth, and up he gat upon his feet , and ’ r drew his swo d, and he smote Off the boar s head at on e out stroke. And therewithal came the hermit, and saw him have such a wound ; then the hermit came t o

Sir Launcelot and bemoaned him, and would have had Laun gelot him home unto his hermitage . But when Sir him was r heard speak, he so w oth with his wound that he t o ran upon the hermit have slain him , and the hermit ran away, and when Sir Launcelot might not overget him r him he threw his swo d after , for Sir Launcelot might go h no farther for bleeding . T en the hermit turned again, and asked Sir Launcelot how he was hurt . ” “ Fellow a , said Sir Launcelot, this bo r hath bitten ” me sore . “ “ Then come with me, said the hermit, and I shall heal you . “ “ not GO thy way, said Sir Launcelot, and deal with me .

Then the hermit ran his way, and there he met with a good knight with many men . “ ” “ Sir, said the hermit , here is fast by my place the r goodliest man that ever I saw, and he is so e wounded with w a boar, and yet he hath slain the boar. But well I ot and he be not holpen , that goodly man shall die Of that wound, and that were great pity.

Then that knight, at the desire Of the hermit, gat a cart , and in that cart that knight put the boar and Sir

Launcelot , for Sir Launcelot was so feeble that they

’ r 8 8 The Boy s King Ar thu .

CHAPTER XVII .

WA s s r E HOWHI How SrE LAUNCELOT KNOWN DAME LAINE, AND WAs EOENE INTO A Cn m m AND AFTER HEALED B Y THE HOLY

l had 0 it befell that King Pel es a nephew whose name of was Castor, and he desired the king his uncle for to be made knight ; and so at the request Of this Castor, Of the king made him knight at the feast Candlemas . was And when Castor made knight, that same day he for gave many gowns ; and so Sir Castor sent the fool, that was Sir Launcelot, and when [Sir Launcelot] saw his r time, he went into the ga den and there laid him down by a well and slept . And in the afternoon dame Elaine and her maidens went into the garden for to play them ; and ’ as m on e of they roa ed up and down , dame Elaine s maid en s espied where lay a goodly man by the well sleeping, him and anon showed to dame Elaine . ” “ Peace , said dame Elaine, and say no word.

And then she brought dame Elaine where he lay. And when that she beheld him, anon she fell in remembrance of him , and knew him verily for Sir Launcelot, and there withal sh e fell on weeping so heartily that she sank even to the earth . And when she had thus wept a great while, she r was then a ose and called her maidens, and said she k sic And so she went out Of the garden, and she went straight to her father, and there she took him apart by “ himself, and then she said, O father, now have I need l m Of your help, and but if that ye help me, farewe l y good days for ever.

is that, daughter ? said King Pelles. ' Sir La uncelot o u Lake Of . 8 9

“ “ she ai : Sir, s d, thus is it in your garden I went for t o t he we u du sport , and there by ll I found Sir La ncelot ” Lake sleeping.

h s e s. I may not believe t at, aid King P lle ” “ she s be Sir, aid, truly is there, and me seem eth " out his he should be distract Of wit. ” “ i al. Then hold you still , said the k ng, and let me de i him as Then the k ng called to such he most trusted, ai four persons, and dame El ne his daughter. And when au they came to the well and beheld Sir L ncelot, anon dame Brisen knew him . “ ” n u Sir, said dame Brise , we m st be wise how we is out of his deal with him , for this knight mind, and if

all n ot . we awake him rudely, what he will do we know l an d But ye sha l abide, I shall throw such an enchantment upon him that he shall not awake within the space Of an hour. s h l And o s e did. Then within a little whi e after King

m leave Pelles co manded that all people should avoid [ ], that none should be in that way there as the king would was come . And so when this done, these four men and so these ladies lai d hand on Sir Launcelot . And they bare him into a tower, and so into the chamber where as was was the [Holy Grail] , and by force Sir Launcelot laid by that holy vessel ; and then there came an holy an d man uncovered the vessel , and so by miracle, and by r Sir was le vi tue of that holy vessel , Launcelot all hea d was k and recovered. And when he awa ed, he groaned , d ai was an sighed sore, and compl ned greatly that he i pass ng sore. And when Sir Launcelot saw King Pelles and dame l E aine, he waxed ashamed, and thus he said, good ’ r ? s m Lo d Jesu , how came I here for God s ake, ylord, let ” me wit how I came here. ’ 90 The Boy s King A r thur

“ Sir, said dame Elaine, into this country ye came out like a mad m an all Of your wit , and here ye have been e kept as a fool, and no creature here knew what y were till that by fortune a maid of mine brought me unto you l where as ye lay sleeping by a well side, and anon as

r u ou ve ily beheld yo I knew y ; and then I told my father, b and so ye were brought before this holy vessel , and y the " al virtue Of it thus were ye he ed. O ! “ if Jesu, mercy said Sir Launcelot , this be sooth, how many be there that know Of my woodness “ “ SO m oe m or e God me help, said dame Elaine, no [ ] ” but my father and I and dame Brisen . ’ ” NOW “ for Christ s love, said Sir Launcelot, keep it w secret, and let no man kno it in the world, for I am sore ashamed that I have been thus miscarried, for I out for is am banished Of the country Of Logris ever, that f " for to say the country o England . r And so Sir Launcelot lay more than a fortnight, o ever h for that e might stir soreness .

CHAPTER XVIII .

Or M oyous I SIR P A GREAT TOURNA ENT IN THE J SLE, AND HOW ERCIVAL How FOUGHT WITH HIM ; EACH OF THEM KNEW OTHER, AND OF THEIR COU RTESY Hrs E S IR Ec t oR Hm GREAT , AND HOW BROTH R CAME UNTO , OE AND THEIR JOY.

f an d ND then a ter this King Pelles with ten knights,

dame Elaine and twenty ladies , rode unto the castle of B lian t , that stood in an island enclosed in iron , with a fair water, deep and large . And when theywere there was Sir Launcelot let call it the Joyous Isle , and there

’ r thur 9 2 The Boy s King A .

she ai Fair knight , s d, here within this castle is the fairest lady in this land, and her name is Elaine . Also we have in this castle the fairest knight and the mightiest sa i man that is, I dare y, liv ng, and he calleth himself Le ” Chevalier Mal Fait .

HOWcame he into these marches ? said Sir Percival . ” “ Truly, said the damsel , he came into this country like a mad man , with dogs and boys chasing him through the city Of Corbin and by the Holy Grail he was brought into his wit again , but he will not do battle with no knight

un dern e ni n e i n the m o i n or . but by [ rn g] by noon And if t he ye list to come into the cadstle, ye must ride unto an further side Of the castle, there shall ye find a vessel ” that will bear you and your horse .

Then they departed and came unto the vessel . And then Sir Percival alighted and said unto Sir Ector de m e Maris , Ye shall abide here, until I know what manner

Of knight he is, for it were a great shame unto us, inas as on e s do much he is but knight, and we hould both battle with him . “ DO al as ye list, said Sir Ector de Maris, here sh l ou I abide you until that I hear Of y again . Then Sir Percival passed the water ; and when he came GO unto the castle gate, he said to the porter, thou unto the good knight within the castle, and tell him that here is come an errant knight to j oust with him . ” “ d Sir, said the porter, ride ye within the castle, an s there shall ye find a common place for jousting, that lord ” and ladies may behold you. SO was s on anon as Sir Launcelot had warning, he o ready . And there Sir Percival and Sir Launcelot en r so countered with such a might , and their spears we e h rude , t at both the horses and the knights fell t o the ' ir L uncelot a u L hz Of S a o . 93

u An d s gro nd. then they avoided their horse , and drew out i s cant els i eces the r sword , and hewed away [p ] of their i r e wi i sh elds, and hu l d together th their sh elds like two t as wild boars , and either wounded o her p sing sore. And a al S ak at the l st Sir Perciv p e first, when they had fought more than two hours. “ ” “ ai u F r knight, said Sir Percival, I req ire thee tell t h a i as me y n me, for I met never with such a kn ght ye

“ Sir is r Sir, said Launcelot, my name Le Chevalie " Mal Sir Fait. Now tell me your name, said Launcelot, “ ” i . I requ re you, as ye are a gentle knight “ " “ i al is Truly, sa d Sir Perciv , my name Sir Percival de Gal is t Lam orack is, which bro her unto the good knight Sir li an di Pellin ore was our de Ga s , K ng father, and Sir Agla val is my brother. l “ A as . said Sir Launcelot, what have I done, to fight are of o with ) ou that a knight the Round Table, that s me ’ fl“ ti me was your fellow i n King Art hur s court . And therewithal Sir Launcelot kneeled down upon hi s an d his r i h m knees , threw away his shield and swo d from . ir hi m dso l S o When Percival saw , he marve led what he “ . o er meant And then thus he said, Sir knight , whats ev

' I re uir e i of i h thou be, q thee upon the h gh order kn g t

l . hood, te l me thy true name “ ai is Sir n d a Then he s d, Truly my name Lau celot ’ ”

i son of e . Lake, K ng Ban s B noy “ ” “ ! ai al ! was Alas s d Sir Perciv , what have I done I s t o so ent by the queen for seek you, and I have sought you n igh thi s two year ; and yonder is Sir Ector de Maris your brother abideth me on the other side of the yonder Now ou f r ive i ofien ce water. I prayy g me m ne that I ” have here done. ’ ' ' u 94 The Boy s K z ng Ar th r .

It is soon forgiven, said Sir Launcelot .

Then Sir Percival sent for Sir Ector de Maris . And of un t c when Sir Launcelot had a sight him, he ran him nd a dtook him in his arms, and then Sir Ector kneeled own and either wept upon other, that all had pity to m behold them . Then ca e dame Elaine , and she there made them great cheer as might lie in her power ; and there she told Sir Ector and Sir Percival how and in what manner Sir Launcelot came into that country, and how r was he was healed . And the e it known how long Sir S eliuan t Launcelot was with Sir Bliaut and with Sir , and how he first met with them , and how he departed from them because of a boar ; and how the hermit healed Sir of t o Launcelot his great wound, and how that he came

Corbin .

CHAPTER XIX.

How Sm x ' r a Lau m or wrrn S a Pa crvu . AND Sm Ecron CAM: r o

' m s Couar or 1 1m m ov or Hm . , AND GREAT J

“ IR, said Sir Ector, I am your own brother, and ye

are the man in the world that I love most, and, if I r r r unde stood that it we e your disworship, ye may ight well understand that I would never counsel you thereto ; but

King Arthur and all his knights, and in especial Queen

Guen ever rr , made such dole and so ow that it was marvel t o se hear and e. And ye must remember the great of worship and renown that ye be , how that ye have been more spoken of than any other knight that is n ow living, for there is none that beareth the name now but ” . t ye and Sir Tristram Therefore, brother, said Sir Ec or, “ ou make y ready to ride unto the court with us , and I

B OOK III .

OF S IR GA RET H OF ORKNEY,

B E A WHO WAS CALLED AU M INS.

CHAPTER I.

’ w un s To A H CO nn uum n How B u u CAME KING RT UR S URT, AND THREE PETITIONS or KING ARTHUR.

HEN Arthur held his Round Table most fully, it fortuned that he commanded that the high feast of “b Pentecost should e holden at a city and a castle, the

in - K en adon which those days was called King , upon the

a bordered al . 8 0 sands th t marched [ ] nigh W es ever the of king had a custom that at the feast Pentecost, in espe cial afore other feasts in the year, he would not go that r day to meat until he had heard or seen of a g eat marvel . And for that custom all manner of strange adventures came before Arthur as at that feast before all other feasts . Gawaine of of And so Sir , a little tofore noon the day

Pentecost, espied at a window three men upon horseback on and a dwarf foot . And so the three men alighted , and on e of the dwarf kept their horses, and the three men was

higher than the other twain by a foot anda half . Then 96 i ar eth o r ne Of S r G f O k y. 97

Gawain e n o r Sir went unto the ki g and said, Sir, g to you ”

e e . m at, for here at hand come strange adventur s So his Arthur went unto meat with many other kings. A n dt i here were all the kn ghts of the Round Table, save n these that were pris oners or slain at a recou ter. Then at t he hi gh feast evermore they should be fulfilled the of was whole number an hundred and fifty, for then the i d eam Round Table fully accompl she Right so e into t h e l i ha l two men well beseen and richly, and upon the r shoulders ther e leaned the goodliest young man and t he ai all was f rest that ever they saw, and he large and long, l an d i and broad in the shoulders , and we l visaged, the fa r est th e r and largest handed that ever man saw, but he fa ed as though he might not go nor bear hi mself but if he

e . as t him l aned upon their shoulders Anon Ar hur saw , ad si len ce an d th ere was so m e peace [ ] room, and right they hi m i s of went with unto the h gh dai , without saying any m an hi m words . Then this big young pull ed aback, and “ il God e as y stretched up straight, saying, King Arthur, ou all i al y bless , and your fair fellowsh p, and in especi the f An d fellowship o the Table Round for this cause I am i t o ou hr e come h ther, pray y and require you to give me t e al n ot e o a gifts, and they sh l be unr as n bly asked, but that m a an an dt o ye y worshipfully and honorably gr t them me, r a n or as for th e first f l you no g e t hurt loss. And gi t I wil k now i ill ask i da tw x as el e , and the other two g fts I w th s y ” m i onth wheresoever ye hold your h gh feast. “ " “ as k ask Now , said Arthur, and ye shall have your

“ Now sir hi is for i eas a i , , t s my petition th s f t, th t ye w ll e sufii ci en tl for t w give me me t and drink y this elvemonth, ” at t hat da l will as k m i n e ot her w and if t c t s y g . “ son as k t t e r n t My fair , said Arthur, be I cou sel hee, ’ thur 98 The Boy s King Ar .

t o for this is but a simple asking, for my heart giveth me of of an d thee greatly that thou art come men worship, greatly my conceit faileth me but thou shalt prove a m an ” of right great worship. as ed i Sir, sa d he, thereof be it may, I have ask that ” I will ask. “ ” “ Well, said the king, ye shall have meat and drink nor enough, I never defended that none, neither my friend u my foe . But what is thy name I wo ld wit

ou . I cannot tell y , said he ” “ t That is marvel , said the king, that thou knowes m an not thy name, and thou art the goodliest young that ” saw ever I .

Then the king betook him to Sir Kay, the steward, and charged him that he should give him of all mann er of of al meats and drinks the best , and so that he had all ’ of manner finding as though he were a lord s son . “ ” “ t o That shall little need, said Sir Kay, do such cost for upon him ; I dare undertake he is a villain born , and for of never will make man, and he had come gentlemen of as he would have asked you horse and armor, but such l he is , so he asketh . And since he hath no name, I sha l : B eaum ain s give him a name that shall be , that is Fair n ha ds , and into the kitchen I shall bring him, and there broth s he shall have fat browis [ ] every day, that he hall be ’ as fat by the twelvemonth s end as a pork hog. so d t o K an a Right the two men departed, left him Sir y, n that scor ed him and mocked him .

’ t ur I oo The Boy s King Ar h .

of his him than he wist . But that Sir Launcelot did was So great gentleness and courtesy. thus he was put into of the kitchen , and lay nightly as the boys the kitchen did . And so he endured all that twelvemonth, and never was displeased man nor child, but always he meek and saw of mild . But ever when he any j ousting knights, that would he see and he might . And ever Sir Launce so lot would give him gold to spend, and clothes, and did don e Sir Gawaine. And where were any masteries thereat would he be, and there might none cast the bar or stone to him by two yards . Then would Sir Kay say, “ ” How like you my boy of the kitchen ? So it passed on of till the feast Pentecost , and at that time the king Carleon held it at , in the most royallest wise that might be, n o like as yearly he did. But the king would eat meat n of r o the Whitsunday till he had heard some adventu e .

And then came there a squire to the king, and said, Sir, ye may go to your meat , for here cometh a damsel with ” some strange adventure . Then was the king glad, and set him down . Right so there came in a damsel, and saluted the king, and prayed him for succor. “ For whom said the king : what is the adventure ” of Sir, said she , I have a lady great worship and she so she renown , and is besieged with a tyrant , that n ot out of may go her castle , and because that here in of your court are called the noblest knights the world, I ” come unto you and pray you for succor. “ What call ye your lady, and where dwelleth she, and who is he and what is his name that hath besieged her ? “ ’ she Sir king, said , as for my lady s name, that shall not be known for me as at this time ; but I let you wit she r r is a lady of g eat wo ship , and of great lands . And as for besie t h the tyrant that ge her and destroyeth her land, t he he is called Red Knight of the Red Lawns . r ar eth o - Of Si G f or b q . xo x

t he r il ht s of t he world sa m e de ou s kni m en t hat p g ; y he ’ v m t h ando him I se en en s st ren esca d hat h g , fr m pe wi ” har dt h m life. full y

that woulddo t heir w t o res cu on r l o er e adbut b an p y y, ec se e will not t ell her nam e n or wh ere sh e ll t t e re y dwe e h, her fo non e ot m y kn ight s t hat be h ere n ow shall go wit h yon ” br m r wfll

CHA PTER III.

Nwit h t h words a e HE ese c me b fore the king B eu s while t h dam se l was r an dt h m ains e the e ; us h e “ ir kin Go dt hank u I have i s i : S o a d g, y , been th s twelve in kit have hadm full u m on ths our chen s t a y , and y s en n ce, ”

w l wi ll as k m two ift t hat be behin d. an dno s y g “ ” u n dt h e kin A sk o m eril m i . p y p , g “ Sir t heec shall be m t wo ift s : firs t hat will , y g h ye hav adven t u oef h dam a m e t o e this re t e sel for it gr nt , ” belonget h t o me. “ ” I an t gr it th ee. that ye shall bid Ia un celot du Ia ke m m ake m e a kni h for oi him I Si r g n dl of n on an dw win be m ade kn i h an e se e hen l am g g ; n let him i aft er m andm ak I r r de e e asseda o p , p yy , me ” wh l uir knight en req e him . ’ thur I D: The Boy s King Ar .

All this shall be done, said the king. “ n e Fie o thee, said the damsel ; shall I have non ” but one that is your kitchen page ?

h her r . Then was s e wroth , and took horse and depa ted

r m on e B eaum ain s And with that the e ca e to , and told him that his horse and armor was come for him , and there was a dwarf com e with all things that him needed in the richest manner. Thereat all the court had much marvel all 5 0 from whence came that gear. when he was armed, was as there none but few so goodly a man he was . And so of right he came into the hall , and took his leave King of Gawain e of Arthur and Sir , and Sir Launcelot, and prayed him that he would hie after him and so departed and rode after the damsel .

CHAPTER IV.

How B EA UMAINS IIE or SIR SPEAE DEPARTED, AND HOW GOT KAY A n ow In: I AND A SHIELD, AND JOUSTED AND FOUGHT WITH S R LAUNCELOT. BUT there went many after to behold how well he was of horsed and trapped in cloth gold, but he had e n or a ither shield spear. Then Sir K y said Openly in “ t he : of hall I will ride after my boy the kitchen , for to ” know wit [ ] whether he will know me for his better. “ Gawain e Sir Launcelot and Sir said, Yet abide at home . hi So Sir Kay made him ready, and took his horse and s spear, and rode after him. And right as B eaum ain s over “ Ka a . took the damsel , right so came Sir y, and said, Be u mains , what sir, know ye not me

’ o s n r thu 1 04 The B y Ki g A r .

CHAPTER V.

How B EAUMAINS To SIR m s N HOWm TOLD LAUNCELOT AME, AND WA s BB or S IR OvERToox Ta n DU ED KNIGHT LAUNCELOT, AND AFTER DAMSEL.

“ ai for ou ELL, s d Sir Launcelot, I promise y by the faith of my body I had as much t o do as I ou might to save myself from y unshamed, and therefore ” of have ye no doubt none earthly knight . “ Hope ye so that I may any while stand a proved B aum ai n knight said e s. “ “ do as . and Yea, said Launcelot, ye ye have done I ” shall be your warrant . “ “ ou B eaum ain s Then, I pray y , said , give me the ” of order knighthood. “ Then must ye tell me your name, said Launcelot, “ ” of and what kin ye be born . n ot l Sir, so that ye will discover me I sha l , said Beau mains . “ “ u Nay, said Sir Launcelot, and that I promise yo ” of by the faith my body, until it be openly known . ” “ Then , Sir, he said, my name is Gareth , and brother ” Gawain e unto Sir , of father and mother. “ ” “ ! of o Ah Sir, said Launcelot, I am more gladder y u for than I was, ever me thought ye should be of great blood, and that ye came n ot to the court neither for meat ” nor for drink. And then Sir Launcelot gave him the order of knight

. hood And then Sir Gareth prayed him for to depart, o and let him g . So Sir Launcelot departed from him and c t o ame Sir Kay, and made him t o be borne home upon r o ne Of Sir Ga eth f Or k y. I O5 his i so al l all sh eld, and he was he ed hard with the ife, and o al Gawain e men sc rned Sir Kay, and in especi Sir and Sir Launcelot sai d it was n ot his par t to rebuke [any] for of young man , full little knew he what birth he is

eause i . s o come, and for what he came to th s court And 03 r Beaum ain s we leave Sir Kay and tu n we unto . When “ th e am she at he had overtaken d sel anon said, Wh dost ? sti nkest all of thou here thou the kitchen , thy clothes of r all i eds be foul the g eas e and t ow that thou ga n t in ’ ” “ c ween est u she King Arthur s kit hen ; tho , said , that I for i ? allow thee yonder kn ght that thou killedst Nay truly, u r for thou slewest him nhappily and cowa dly, therefore r n retu n again, kitche page. I know th ee well, for Sir Kay e Beaum ai Wh of nam d thee ns . at art thou but a turner ” broaches and a washer of dis hes ! “ ” “ s ai B eaum ain s sa a Dam el , s d Sir , y to me wh t ye l for ist, I will not go from you whatsoever ye say, I have of i rt v t undertaken K ng A hur for to achie e your adven ure, ”

a h or . and I sh ll finis it to the end, I shall die therefore F on i ie thee, kitchen knave. Wilt thou fin sh mine ? al t adventure thou sh t anon be met withal, that hou l su est wou dest not, for all the broth that ever thou pp , once ” hi m look in the face. ”

l s B eaum ains. as u I shal a say, said So they th s rode in all . the wood, there came a man flying that he might “ ? um ain s Whi ther wilt thou said B ea . “ " “ for e 0 lord, said he, help me, her by in a slade are six thieves whi ch have taken my lord and bound ” him an dam e ill , I afraid l st they w slay him. “ ” ri Beaum ai n s. B ng me thither, said Sir And so they rode toget her till they came there as the [ was t night bound ; and then he rode unto the hieves, and st one at t he fi t o ruck rst stroke death, and then another, ’ u 1 06 The Boy s King Ar th r . and at the third stroke he slew the third t hief and t hen f the other three fled, and he rode a ter and overtook them,

‘ a ai n an d and then those three thieves turned g hard a s sai led Sir B eaum ain s ; but at the last he slew them ; and fA n d then returned and unbound the knight . the knight t o thanked him , and prayed him ride with him to his castle u r there a little beside, and , he sho ld worshipfully eward him for his good deeds .

“ “ ‘ B eaum ain s Sir, said Sir , I will no reward have ; I t of was this day made knigh the noble Sir Launcelot, and

‘ n r w rd ‘ o e a God m A n e. d therefore I will have , but reward ” also I must follow this damsel . she And when he came nigh her, bade him ride from “ sm ellest all of Wn ee est her, for thou the kitchen . thou that I have joy of thee ?for all this deed that thou hast done is but mishappened thee. But thou shalt see a sight ” that shall make thee to turn again, and that lightly.

CHAPTER VI .

How SI R B EAUMAINS or W FOUGHT WITH THE KNIGHT THE BLACK LA NS, ANWD HE FOUGHT so LONG WITH Hm THAT THE BLACK KNIGHT FELL DO N AND DIED.

HEN all the next day] this B eaum ain s rode with that

- she lady till even song time, and ever chid him and would not rest. And then they came to a black lawn , and

a ' there was a black hawthorn , and thereon hung black on banner, and the other side there hung a black shield, and by it stood a black spear and a long, and a great black w horse covered ith silk, and a black stone fast by it . his There sat a knight all armed in black harness, and

Sir ar eth o hne Of G f Or y. 1 07 n was of ame the Knight the Black Lawns . When the s aw n she Beaum ain fl damsel the black k ight, bade Sir s ee hi s was n ot down the valley, for horse saddled. “ “ ou B eaum ain s al a i I thank y , said Sir , for w ys ye w ll have me a coward” a t o With that the black knight c me the damsel, and m i said, Fair da sel, have ye brought this kn ght from King Arthur ’ s court to be your champion ? ” ai Nay, f r knight , said she, this is but a kitchen knave, ’ ” that hath been fed in King Arthur s kitchen for alms . Wherefore cometh he in such array ? said the knight “ ” ou it is great shame that he beareth y company. ” l of him e Sir, I cannot be de ivered , said the dams l , “ for with me he rideth maugre [i n spi t e of] mine head ; r or t o would to God ye would put him f om me, else slay for h him if ye may, he is an un appy knave, and unhappy —da saw hath he done to y through misadventure ; for I him two of slay knights at the passage the water, and other r un deeds he did before right ma vellous, and all through happiness . “ “ m arvellet h a an That me, said the bl ck knight, that y ” is of r i l t o man the which wo sh p wi l have do with him. ” n ot Sir, they know him , said the damsel , and because he rideth wi th me they think he is some man of worship ” born . “ “ as That may be , said the black knight , howbeit , ye sa of e n ythat he be no man worship, he is a full likely p rso , and full like to be a strong man ; but thus much shall I ” “ ou n grant y , said the black knight, I shall put him dow his upon his feet, and horse and his harness he shall for an leave with me, it were shame to me to do him y ” more harm. B eaum ain s sa Sir When Sir heard him y thus , he said, ’ thur 108 The Boy s King Ar .

of knight, thou art full liberal my horse and my harness " thee I let thee wit it cost nought , and whether it liketh thee or n ot this lawn will I pass , maugre thine head, and of if horse nor harness get t est thou none me, but thou win them with thy hands ; and therefore let see what thou ” canst do. ” “ “ ? n Sayst thou that said the black k ight, now yield t h beseem eth e y lady from thee, for it never a kitchen pag to ride with such a lady. “ " B eaum ain s Thou liest, said , I am a gentleman born , of d e an and more high lingag than thou, that will I prove on thy body.

Then in great wrath they departed with their horses, and came together as it had been the thunder and the black ’ B eaum ain s knight s spear brake, and thrust him through both his sides, and therewith his spear brake, and the truncheon left still in his side . But nevertheless the black knight drew his sword, and smote many eager B eaum ain s strokes and of great might, and hurt full sore. But at the last the black knight within an hour and a half off he fell down his horse in a swoon , and there he died . B eaum ain s rm And then saw him so well horsed and a ed, r then he alighted down, and armed him in his armo , and so af took his horse, and rode ter the damsel . When she “ i out saw him come nigh, she said, Away, k tchen knave, of of r the wind, for the smell thy foul clothes g ieveth me . ” Alas , she said, that ever such a knave as thou art should m so by ishap slay good a knight as thou hast done, but all this is thine unhappiness . But hereby is one shall pay thee all thy payment, and therefore yet I counsel thee, ” flee . “ “ n B eaum ain s or It may happe me, said , to be beaten n ot slain , but I warn you , fair damsel , I will flee away for

’ r thur 1 1 0 The Boy s King A .

t three deadly notes, and there came three damsels tha lightly armed him . And then took he a great horse , and a green shield and a green spear. And then they ran p r together with all their mights , and brake their s ea s unto their hands . And then they drew their swords , and gave ad of s many strokes, and either them wounded other full ’ B eaum ain s ill. And at the last at an overthwart horse ’ struck the green knight s horse upon t h e side [that] he fell to the earth . And then the green knight avoided his horse B eaum ai ns lightly, and dressed him upon foot . That saw , and therewithal he alighted, and they rushed together like l:d b two mighty champions a long while, and sore they W th both . ith that came the damsel and said, My lord e fi htit green knight , why for shame stand ye so long g g ? v 3 with the kitchen knave Alas , it is shame that e er t were made knight , to see such a lad match such a knigh ” as the weed overgrew the corn . m Therewith the green knight was ashamed, and the

his withal he gave a great stroke of might , and clave B eaum ain s saw clov s shield through . When his shield e of h e asunder he was a little ashamed that stroke, and of language ; and then he gave him such a buffet upon t he helm that he fell on his knees ; and so suddenly Beau n mains pulled him upon the ground grovelling. And the o the green knight cried him mercy, and yielded him unt Sir B eaum ai n s , and prayed him to slay him not . “ ‘ B eaum ai n s f All is in vain, said , for thou shalt die, but if this damsel that came with me pray me to save t hy l ” ife.

And therewithal he unlaced his helm , like as he would slay him . “ Fie upon thee , false kitchen page , I will never pray thee to save his life, for I never will be so much in thy ” dn a gen ir ar eth o r ne Of S G f O k y. I I I

“ Th en B eaum ai n s . shall he die, said ” “ so a Not h rdy, thou foul knave, said the damsel , that ” thou slay him . “ “ Alas , said the green knight, suffer me not to die ,

r l . 0 i for a fair wo d may save my ife fa r knight, said the “ i green knight, save my life, and I w ll forgive the death of i my brother, and forever to become thy man , and th rty ” i of l kn ghts that hold me forever sha l do you service. “ l Said the damsel, That such a kitchen knave shou d have thee and thi rty kni ghts ’ service ” “ a B eaum ai n s all l Sir knight , s id S ir , this avai eth not, i if ” but if my damsel speak w th me for thy l e. al And therewith he made resemblance to slay him . “ ” “ him not Let be, said the damsel , thou knave, slay , ” for if thou do, thou shalt repent it . “ ” “ ai B eaum ain s is Damsel , s d Sir , your charge to me r a m his l a pleasu e , and at your comm nd ent life shal be ” e sav d , and else not. Sir as Then he said, knight with the green arms, I rele e ’ ac ui tt ed l n i ot thee quit [ q ] at th s damsel s request, for I wi l ”

sh e char et h . make her wroth , I will fulfil all that g me And then the gr een kni ght kneeled down and did hi m homage with hi s sword

CHAPTER VIII .

B eaum ain s ND always the damsel rebuked Sir . And so that night they went unto rest , and all that night

‘ he green kni ght com manded thirty knights privily t o ’ thur . l 1 2 The Boy s King Ar

m in s . watch B eau a , for to keep him from all treason And so on the morn they all arose, and heard their mass and o brake their fast , and then they took their h rses and rode on their way, and the green knight conveyed them “ t hrough the forest, and there the green knight said, My

m in s lord B eau a , I and these thirty knights shall be alway an d h at your summons, bot early and late, at your calling, where that ever ye will send us . ” “ “ B eaum ai n s l It is well said, said ; when that I ca l upon you ye must yield you unto King Arthur and all ” your knights . “ so If that ye command us, we shall be ready at all times, said the green knight . “ ” “ d Fie, fie upon thee, said the damsel , that any goo ” knights should be obedient unto a kitchen knave .

So then departed the green knight and the damsel. “ B eaum ain s followest And then she said unto , Why thou r me, thou kitchen boy, cast away thy shield and thy spea or and flee away, yet I counsel thee betimes, thou shalt ” sa y right soon, Alas l

CHAPTER IX .

How SIR B EAUMAI NB REEU EEs THE D SUFFERED GREAT OF AMSEL, AND HE SUFFERED IT PATIENTLY.

“ B eaum ain s AMSEL, said Sir , ye are uncourteous m so to rebuke me as ye do, for mesee eth I have r m done you g eat service, and ever ye threaten e for I l shall be beaten with knights that we meet, but ever for a l or your boast they lie in the dust in the mire, and there fore I pray you rebuke me no more ; and when ye see me

’ hur . 1 1 4 The Boy s King Ar t

“ Wh B eaum ain s y, said , and he be such a knight as or ye make him, he will not set upon me with all his men, with his five hundred knights . For and there come no n ot i more but on e at once, I shall him fail whilst my l fe

last et h . “ “ s Fie, fie, said the damsel, that ever uch a dirty knave should blow such a boast . “ m “ Da sel , he said, ye are to blame so to rebuke me, for I had liever do five battles than so to be rebuked ; let

m h is . him co e, and then let him do worst ” “ “ of Sir, she said, I marvel what thou art, and what kin thou art come boldly thou speakest, and boldly thou : has done, that have I seen therefore I pray thee save thyself and thou mayest, for thy horse and thou have had great travail, and I dread we dwell over long from the siege, for it is but hence seven mile, and all perilous pass ages we are past , save all only this passage , and here I r r d ead me sore lest ye shall catch some hurt , the efore r I would ye we e hence , that ye were not bruised nor hurt n with this stro g knight . But I let you wit this Sir Per sant of Inde is nothing of m ight nor strength unto the ” knight that laid the siege about my lady . “ “ B eaum ain s As for that , said Sir , be it as it may ; for since I am come so nigh this knight I will prove his or ere al might [ ] I depart from him , and else I sh l be i n ow shamed and [f] I withdraw me from him . And of therefore, damsel , have ye no doubt by the grace God I l so l sha l dea with this knight , that within two hours after n t o oon I shall deliver him , and then shall we come the " siege by daylight . “ r Oh , mercy, ma vel have I , said the damsel , what manner a man ye be , for it may never be otherwise but that id o d ye be come of a noble blo d , for so foul and shamefully ir ar eth o hn Of S G f Or q . I I 5

as never woman rule a knight I have done you, and ever at ca courteously ye have suffered me, and th me never but d" of a gentle bloo “ ” “ se Beaum ains l l Dam l, said , a knight may itt e do that may not sufler a dams el ; for whatsoever ye said unto m e s a I took none heed to your word , for the more ye s id the r ea t m more ye angered me, and my w ath I wr ked upon he that I had ado wi thal And therefore all the missaying m issa ed t that ye y me furthered me in my ba tle, and caused me to think to show and prove myself at t h e end what I ’ was ; for pera dvent ure though I had m eat in Ki ng Arth ur s m e at o kitchen, yet I might have had en ugh in other place s ; but all that I did for to prove my friends ; and a n o ai whether I be a gentlem n born or , f r damsel, I have ' a a re done you gentlem n s service, and per dventu better " v l or be or e ser ice yet wil I do you [ f ] I depart from you. “ ” “ sh e a B eaum ains i t Alas, said , f ir , forg ve me all hat I i ” have mi ssaid and m sdone against you. “ ” “ \Vi B eaum ain s i th all my heart, said Sir , I forg ve it but as for all you, for ye did nothing ye ought to do, your ” i e e a s s B eaum ai n s ev l words pl as d me ; and, d m el, aid Sir , “ si nce l a i m e sith [ ] it iketh you to spe k thus fa r to , wit ye ladt l de h wel it g greatly mine h eart ; and now meseemet h

CHAPTER X.

s of ehad e t as this Sir Per ant Ind spied hem, sent to them t o know whet h er h e came in war or in peace ’ u 1 1 6 Tire Boy s King A r t/c r .

“ B eaum ain s no Say unto thy lord, said Sir , I take ” 1 2 r . fo ce, but whether as him list himself

So the messenger went again unto Sir Persant, and told him all his answer. W” “ ell, said he, then will I have ado with him to the ' r e ar edim se uttermost and so he purveyed him [p p k gf B eaum ain s and rode against him . And when Sir saw him , all he made him ready, and there they met with the might m that their horses ight run , and brake their spears either in three pieces, and their horses rashed so together that both their horses fell dead to the earth and lightly they avoided their horses, and put their shields before them, r and drew their swords , and gave each other many g eat r o strokes, that sometime they so hu led t gether that they r t wo fell both g ovelling on the ground . Thus they fought

r r hours and more, that thei shields and their haube ks were all forhewen [lzewn topi eces] and in many places they r we e sore wounded. So at the last Sir B eaum ain s smote

' r z b art of him through the cost [ p ] the body, and then he ret ra ed dr ew back y him [ ] here and there, and knightly maintained his battle long time . And at the last Sir B eaum ain s sm ote Sir Per sant on the helm that he fell r grovelling to the ea th, and then he leaped overthwart across [ ] upon him, and unlaced his helm for to have slain

. r him ThWen Sir Pe sant yielded him , and asked him mercy. ith that came the damsel and prayed him t o s ave his life . “ “ B eaum ain s I will well, said Sir , for it were pity that ” this noble knight should die . r “ Grame cy, said Sir Persant, gentle knight and damsel, for certainly now I know well it was you that slew h the black knig t my brother at the blackthorn he was a

I t ake no force I car e n o ” , t . Him ist I n mi s/Les fic lcdses l . , , p

’ n r tfiar 1 1 8 l e Boy s K i g A .

B eaum ain s knights with rich arms . Then Sir abated his “ n W countena ce, and said, hat thing meaneth this ” “ sir Fair , saith the damsel, abate not your cheer for s h for e m n or e all this ig t , y ust e courage yourself, lse ye s r a i n edfor n h i t h x be all hent [ ] , all these k ights came e s m s L on ess unto thi siege to rescue y si ter dame y , and r dn e red r h when the k ight of the lawns had ove come t em ,

t o m m r he put them this sha eful death , without e cy and an d ou pity, in the same wise he will serve y , but if ye quit ” ac uit [ q ] you the better. “ B eaum ain s Now Jesu defend me, said Sir , from such

Vi llaHOUS shen shi ds a death and p [ i gr ace] of arms !for r r r athe than thus I should fa e withal , I would rather be ” slain manfully in plain battle . “ " s “ So were ye better, aid the damsel , trust n ot in him for r , in him is no cou tesy, but all goeth to the death or h m r r h r s a eful mu de , and t at is g eat pity, for he is a full likely man and well made of body, and a full noble knight of r s an d ” , r r s p owe s a lo d of g eat land and possessions . “ ” r “ , Sir B eaum ain s T uly said , he may well be a good

, knight but he useth shameful customs, and it is great r r ma vel that he endu eth so long, that none of the noble knights of my l ord King Arthur’s court have not dealt

h And t en they rode unto the ditches, and saw them r double ditched with full st ong walls, and there were

lodged many great estates and lords nigh the wall s, and r was s m the e great noi e of instrels , and the sea beat upon the one side of the walls , where as were many ship s an d ’ r r s 1 ma ine s noi e with hale and how . And also there was r r , r fast by a sycamo e t ee and the eon hung an horn , the r g r h o ’ eatest that eve t ey saw, f an elephant s bone .

Hale and ’ how [ mal a nd , 1 m t h e sailors cri es in hoistin awa g y, &G Sir ar d O G /z o r ne f f O k y. 1 1 9

“ And this knight of the red lawns hath hanged it up there, that if there come any errant knight , he must blow hi m that horn, and then will he make ready, and come to ” him to do battle . But sir, I pray you, said the damsel r l be Linet, blow ye not the ho n til it high noon , for now

b i as as it is a out pr me , and now incre eth his might, that , ’ ” men say, he hath seven men s strength. “ sa so r Ah , fie for shame, fair damsel, y ye never mo e m e r as as was to , for, and he we e good a knight ever , I shall never fail him in his most might, for either I will ”

r or d. win worship wo shipfully, die knightly in the fiel And therewith he spurred his horse straight to the sycamore tree and blew the horn so eagerly that all the

r siege and the castle rang the eof. And then there leaped out knights out of their tents and pavilions , and they within the castle looked over the walls and out at win r d of e dows . Then the red knight the lawns armed him d hi s an hastily, two barons set on spurs upon his heels,

- d was hi s and all blood red, armor, spear, and shiel And an earl buckled his helm udpon his head, and then they brought him a red spear an a red steed , and so he rode into a little vale under the castle, that all that were in the castle and at the siege might behold t he battle.

CHAPTER XII .

E or m m LKI , u m How m Two K m orrrs m gr TOGETH R, AND TA NG - n ow m y BEGAN r m B ar rm .

“ Sir B eaum ai n s, IR, said the damsel Linet unto look

i s l , ye be glad and light , for yonder your dead y enemy "

L on ess . an dat yonder window 15 my lady my sister, dame y ’ o s K i n r iazcr 1 20 Tli e B y g A .

” ? B eaum ai n s Where said .

Yonder, said the damsel , and pointed with her finger “ B eaum ain s m r That is truth, said . She see eth afa ” t he ul be fairest lady that ever I looked upon , and tr y, “ r uai r el said, I ask no bette q than now for to do battle, " al for truly she sh l be my lady, and for her I will fight . And ever he looked up to the window with glad coun t en an ce L on ess . And the lady y made courtesy to him down to the earth, with holding up both her hands. With that the red knight of the red lawns called to “ B eaum ain s sir Sir , Leave, knight, thy looking, and behold me, I counsel thee , for I warn thee well she is ” my lady, and for her I have done many strong battles . " “ B eaum ain s If thou have so done, said , meseemeth was of th it but waste labor, for she loveth none y fellow ship, and thou to love that loveth not thee, is a great folly. For of if I understood that she were not glad my coming, or r I would be advised I did battle for her, but I unde stand by the besieging of this castle she m ay forbear thy com r d e pany. And therefore wit thou well , thou knight of

r d r h r s ( e e or the lawns , I love her and will escue , el e lie " r in the qua rel . Sayst thou that said the red knight “ me seemeth thou ought of reason to beware by yonder knights that t ” thou sawest hang upon yonder grea elms . “ “ for sh m B eaum ain s Fie, fie, a e , said Sir , that ever sa or m n thou shouldest y do so evil and such sha eful ess , for in that thou sham est thyself and the order of knight

r hood , and thou mayst be sure the e will no lady love thee s m that knoweth thy dete table custo s . And now thou ween est [fai n t es t ] that the sight of these hanged knights scare m e k m e should fear [ ] and ma e aghast , nay truly not so t , that shameful sight cause h me to have courage and

’ 1 2 2 li e o s n a T B y Ki g A r t/c r .

blowing and bleeding, that all that beheld them for the most part wept for pity . So when they had rested them a while they went to battle again, tracing, racing, foining

ei n ti n . [f g] , as two boars And at some time they took r their run as it had been two ams , and hurtled together that som etimes they fell gr ovelling to the earth and at ' sometim e they were so amaz ed that either to ok other s of sword instead his own .

- ves ers Thus they endured till even song time [ p ] , that there was none that beheld them might know whether was like to win the battle ; and their armor was so far hewn that men might see their naked sides, and in other places they were naked, but ever the naked places they did de

. of an d fend And the red knight was a wily knight war, his wily fighting taught Sir B eaum ain s to be wise ; but

aidor he abought p f ] it full sore ere he did espy his fight

. of ran t et ing And thus by assent them both, they g either other to rest and so they set them down upon t wc

- n 01 mole hills there beside the fighti g place, and either m them unlaced his hel , and took the cold wind, for either of d their pages was fast by them, to come when they calle to unlace their harness and to set it on again at their ’ o B eaum ain s off c mmand. And then when Sir helm was , saw he looked up unto the window, and there he the fair L on ess t o coun t e lady dame y . And she made him such r h r nance that his hea t was light and j oyful . And t e ewith m he started up suddenly, and bade the red knight ake

rr . r hi eady to do the battle to the uttermost . “ ” t he . I will well , said red knight

And then they laced up their helms, and their pages ot out Ike wa avoided [g of y], and they stepped together

. r d of and fought freshly But the e knight the red lawns a him r crosswis e m waited , and at an overthwa t [ ] s ote him Si r d 0 Gar /i ne / qf Or k y. wit hin t he han t hat his swordf i d ell out ot h s hand ; and yet he gave him another buffet on the helm that he e l in t h e e rt red f l grovell g to a h, and the knight fell over him w for to hold him do n. “ ai t on i 0 e a Then cried the m den Line h gh, Sir B u

” maketh mine heart he avy . W’ Beaum ai ns e sa so he hen S ir h ard her y , started up i with a i ht an d n reat m at him u o h s i g g g p feet, and l ghtly l t w an d d ri he ea o his s ord it in his han an d e ed d p g p his ni doubled pace unto the red k ght, and there they Be aum ains fought a new battle together. But Sir then his s so doubled stroke , and smote thick that he smote t he out his him sword of hand, and then he smote upon l e a B e aum ains the helm that he fell to the rth, and Sir fe l u n an d his o him n p , u laced helm to have slain him ; and him m r s then he yielded and asked e cy, and aid with a

O i h i m erc . loud voice, noble kn g t, I y eld me to thy y Then Sir Beaum ain s bethought him upon th e knights a th at he had made to be hanged sh mefully, and then he n ot save i t h e said, I may with my worsdhip thy l fe, for shameful dea t hs thou hast eause many full good knights ” to die. ” “ Sir, said the red knight of the red lawns, hold your

an de shall kn ow th e eauses wh l ut them t o so hand, y y p ” shameful a death. ” Beaum ains. Say on, said Sir “ had andshe dam s lada a e L Sir, I loved once a y, f ir da d was an her brother slain , she said it Sir Launcelot an d as In ke or else Sir Gawai ne she prayed me that I loved her heart ily that I would make her a promise by i in s the fai th of m y kni ghthood for to labor da ly arm ’ n ar 1 2 4 T/ze Boy s Ki g A r t/t .

on e of over until I met with them , and all that I might come I should put them unto a villanous death ; and this t o is the cause that I have put all these knights death , and so I ensured her to do all the villany unto King ’ Arthur s knights, and that I should take vengeance upon t all these knights . And, sir, now I will thee tell tha all every day my strength increaseth till noon, and this ’ time have I seven men s strength .

CHAPTER XIV.

ow m s c rrr vrs LDr D 11 m B EA UM AINS no H , AND HOW MADE HIM ’ s o K ING A ar rw a s C cav S m M . UNTO OURT, AND TO LAUNCELOT ERCY

m H EN ca e there many earls, and barons , and noble

knights , and prayed that knight to save his life, and take him to your prisoner : and all they fell upon their n r of k ees and p ayed him mercy, and that he would save “ his life, and, Sir, they all said, it were fairer of him to al of take homage and fe ty, and let him hold his lands you, than for to slay him : by his death ye shall have none advantage, and his misdeeds that be done may not be undone ; and therefore he shall make amends to all parties, and we all will become your men, and do you al homage and fe ty . “ ” “ B eaum ain s Fair lords, said , wit you well I am full o l th to slay this knight, nevertheless he hath done passing s ill and hamefully. But insomuch all that he did was at a ’ r so lady s equest, I blame him the less , and for your sake

I will release him , that he shall have his life upon this covenant, that he go within the castle and yield him ac ui t there to the lady, and if she will forgive and quit [ q ]

’ u 1 2 6 Tlze Boy s King A r tk r .

“ It seemeth by you, said King Arthur, that ye know m of his na e, and from whence he is come, and what blood ” he is . “ “ I so or I suppose do , said Sir Launcelot, else I would not have given him the order of knighthood ; but he gave me at that time such charge that I should never be discover him until required me, or else it be known ” Openly by some other. B eaum ain s of Now return we unto Sir , which desired the damsel Linet that he might see her sister his lady. ” “ ” Sir, said she , I would fain ye saw her. B eaum ain s t ook Then Sir armed him at all points, and his horse and his spear, and rode straight to the castle.

And when he came to the gate, he found there many m n arm ed r e _ , that pulled up the drawb idge and drew the

r f po t close. Then marvelled he why they would not su fer

him r . to ente in And then he looked up to the window, r m L on ess and there he saw the fai lady da e y , that said “ on : B eaum ain s high Go thy way, Sir , for as yet thou shalt not wholly have my love, until the time thou be called on e of the number of the worthy knights ; and therefore go and labor in arms wor shipfully these twelve r e months , and then ye shall hear new tidings ; and pe d ’ ’ er a zey t rul [p , y] a twelvemonth will be soon gone, and fai r I trust you me, knight , shall be true unto you , and I shall never betray you , but unto my death shall love you and none other.

r And therewithal she turned her f om the window. And Sir B eaum ain s rode away from the castle in making great so r moan and sorrow ; and he rode here and the e, and was wist not whither he rode, till it dark night and then ’ t o it happened him to come a poor man s house, and there r B e um n d a ai s he was ha bored all that night . But Sir coul dli o - Of Si r Gar f On tm y. 1 2 7

A n dso on t h m orrow ladof t he e he y m stle. t ooh his an dhis arm or il it was horse , and rode t l noon ; and then dth w b ca m un t o a broadwat er an ere b as a r a l e t od e e e , y g g , l an dd an dt h t edt o lai his head ere he aligh s eeg upon his l e o his t o r shie d, and b to k horse the dwa f, and commanded him ni h t o wat ch all g t . Now t urn we t o t he ladof t h that t h ou ht y e castle g m uch u on Sir Beaum ains andt h en she ca l p ; led unto her Gri n am or him i ll Sir g her brother, and prayed in manner, as lovedher hearfil t hat h e wouldi aft er $ir B he r de eau y, “ s ever have him Ioob a rer ki m main , and in a wait [ f ] till fin dhhn slee in for in his h ea vi that ye may p g, I am sure ness he will aligh t down in some place and lie down to

may or Sir Bea um ains awake ; for my sista ' Linet hath of fin dred showedm e t hat th e dwarfcan tell what he is his ri is i n m m while come, and what ght name ; and the I and my sister will ride to your ta st e to await when ye b u w an dt hav ri n wit h dar shall g yo this fi hen when ye e bm u g ht him t o your m s tle l will have him in exam inat ion f un t o t t im l kn ow what his i ht nam an d mysel ; he e r g e ia of what kin dredh is shall l n ever be m at m e wm e erry y ” hea rt. “ ” “ Grin am or all s l Sister, said Sir g , thi shal be done ” so all t aft er your intent. And he rode the o her day and t t f d t he n igh t ill hat h e oun Sir B eanm ai n s lying by a a his e his i w ter, and h ad upon sh eld, for to sleep. And t hen when he saw Sir B eaum ains on slee h e a fast p, c me s i i wa him as t lly stalking beh nd the d rf, and plucked f t ’ ‘ 1 2 8 Tk n u e Boys Ki g A n n r .

wn ever he might unto his o castle . But ever as he rode r with the dwa f toward his castle, he cried unto his lord r and p ayed him of help . And therewith awoke Sir Beau l a saw mains , and up he e ped lightly, and where Sir Grin

ir G ri gamor rode his way with the dwarf, and so S ngam or r out of ode his sight.

HA PTER C XV.

How Sm T B EA UMA INS m : Pu s GARETH, O HERWISE CALLED , CAME TO or m s n ow T VEY r oox A or ENCE LADY, AND CQUAINTANCE, AND THEIR Love.

B eaum ain s on HEN Sir put his helm anon, and

buckled his shield, and took his horse and rode after him r r all that ever he might ride , th ough ma shes and fields and great dales, that many times his horse and he plunged for over the head in deep mires , he knew not the way, but he took the next [n earest] way in that woodness [m adn ess] m that any times he was like to perish . [And so he came ’ his rin am r following dwarf to Sir G g o s castle . But afore time the lady Lyon ess had come and had the dwarf in examination ; and the dwarf had told the lady how that B eaum ain s of Sir was the son a king, and how his mother

' r t o K in how was was siste g Arthur, and his right name of Sir Gareth Orkney. ] as sat B eaum ain s And they thus talking, there came Sir at the gate with an angry countenance, and his sword n r draw in his hand , and c ied aloud that all the castle Gri n am or might hear it , saying, Thou traitor, Sir g , or I owe t o deliver me my dwarf again, by the faith that of I the order knighthood, shall do thee all the harm that ” I can .

’ n 1 30 Tlze Boy s King A r t/i n.

ave i O my fellow, said Sir Gareth, Lh had many ev l ” adventures for thy sake .

And so Sir -Grin gam or took him by the hand, and led ’

Grin am or s . him into the hall , and there was Sir g wife And then there cam e forth into the hall dame Lyon ess arrayed like a princess, and there she made him passing good cheer, and he her again . And they had goodly language and lovely countenance together. And Sir m “ d Go Gareth many times thought in hi self, Would to that the lady of the Castle Perilous were so fair as she of of is There were all manner games and plays, both dancing and leaping ; and ever the more Sir Gareth beheld the lady, the more he loved her, and so he burned in love that he was past himself in his understanding. And forth toward night they went to supper, and Sir Gareth might not eat , for his love was so hot that he wist not where he was Grin am or . All these looks Sir g espied, and after L on ess m supper he called his sister dame y unto a cha ber, I and said Fair sister, have well espied your countenance ou I between y and this knight , and will , sister, that ye wit if that he is a full noble knight , and ye can make him to I him can abide here, will do to all the pleasure that I , for and ye were better than ye be , ye were well bestowed upon

him .

L on ess Fair brother, said dame y , I understand well that the knight is good, and come he is of a noble house ; notwithstanding I will assay him better, for he hath had great labor for my love, and hath passed many a dangerous ” passage . so Grin am or Right Sir g went unto Sir Gareth, and said : Sir, make ye good cheer ; for wist [know] ye well as that she loveth you as well ye do her, and better if better may be . Of Sir Garr et/z of 1

“ i t lda l n I ha sa ot And w st Sir G reth , there ived a fi ” gladder man than I would be.

“ “ “ U Grin am or pon my worship, said Sir g , trust unto my promi se ; and as long as it li keth you ye shall sojourn i al us l w th me, and this lady sh l be with dai y and nightly ” all she to make you the cheer that can. “ ” “ I t o I will well , said Sir Gareth, for have promised i i I be n gh th s country this twelvemonth. And well am ur an d l m s e King Arthur other noble knights wil find e r I i For I l whe e that am with n this twelvemonth . sha l be ”

I . sought and found, if that be on live And then the noble knight Sir Ga reth went unto th e L on es s i e dame y , which he then much loved, and k ss d her i of many t mes , and either made great j oy other. And she t o him there promised him her love, certainly love t i and none o her the days of her l fe. Then this lady, dame L on ess of Sir ar y , by the assent her brother, told G eth all she was she was the truth what , and how the same lady t t sh e was of hat he did bat le for, and how lady the Castle she she Perilous . And there told him how caused her r his For i n brothe to take away dwarf, th s cause, to k ow was an dof the certainty what your name, what kin ye ” were come. she him i And then let fetch before L net the damsel, w which had ridden with him many dreary ways. Then as was Sir Garet h more gladder than he tofore. And then x t o a they troth plight each other to love, and never f il i f wh le their li e lasted. ’ /t ar I 32 TIn Boy s King A r t .

CHAPTER XVI .

How AT THE FuAST or PENTECOST ALL THE KNIGHTS THAT SIR GARETH HAD OVERCOME CAME AND YI ELDED THEM UNTO KING ARTHUR.

OW leave we off Sir Gareth there with Sir Gringam or i and his sisters , and return we unto K ng Arthur, that of at the next feast Pentecost held his feast , and there came the green knight with fifty knights , and they all yielded them unto King Arthur. And after there came and the red knight his brother, yielded him to King

Arthur, and threescore knights with him . Also there came the blue knight, that was brother unto the other two, with an hundred knights, and they all yielded them ’ was unto King Arthur. The green knight s name Sir ’ Pert olo e Perim on es p , and the red knight s name was Sir , ’ f and the blue knight s name was Sir Persant o Inde . These three brethren told King Arthur how they were overcome by a knight that a damsel had with her, and

B eaum ain s. I called him Sir Said the king, marvel what of was knight he is, and what lineage he is come he with oorl ' an d me a twelvemonth , and p y shamefully he was ”

r B eaum ain s . fostered, and Sir Kay in sco n named him Right as King Arthur stood so talking with these three du brethren , there came Sir Launcelot Lake, and told the king that there was come a goodly lord with five hundred

. of Carleon knights Then the king went out , for there was the feast , and there came to him this lord, which saluted the king in a good manner. P “ What is your will said King Arthur, and what is your errand ?" ” “ Sir, said he, I am called the red knight of the red

’ a I 34 Tire Boy s King A r t/t r .

“ i Then goodly they said all at once, God forg ve you, r m a and we do, and pray you that ye will tell us whe e we y ” in s find Sir B eaum a . " I Fair lords, said Sir Ironside , cannot tell you , for it is is full hard to find him , for all such young knights as he on e in , when they be in their adventures be never abiding on e place . But to say the worship that the red knight of the red lawns and Sir Persant and his brothers said of i B eaum a n s it was marvel to hear. “ ” “ r Well, my fair lo ds, said King Arthur, wit you well I of B eaum ain s as shall do you honor for the love Sir , and soon as ever I meet with him I shall make you all upon

on e of . day knights the Table Round And as to thee, Sir

Persant of Inde , thou hast ever been called a full noble knight , and so have ever been thy three brethren called. I I n ot of But marvel , said the king, that hear the ” black knight your brother, he was a full noble knight . ” Pert 010 e B eaum ains Sir, said p the green knight , Sir was slew him in a rencounter with his spear, his name Sir ” P r rd e ea .

“ was That great pity, said the king, and so said many s r r knight moe [m o e] . For these four b ethren were full of well known in the court King Arthur for noble knights, for long time they had holden war against the knights of P rt olo e the Table Round . Then said e p the green knight “ unto the king : At a passage of the water of Mortaise there encountered Sir B eaum ain s with t wo brethren that ever for the most part kept that passage , and they were two deadly knights , and there he slew the eldest brother in ff the water, and smote him upon the head such a bu et that was he fell down in the water and there he drowned, and was Ghe rardl his name e B reusse : and after he slew the other brother upon the land, and his name was Sir Arnold ” le B reusse. Si f ar d/z o 7 63 . Of G f 03 4 I 35

CHAPTER XVII.

m om or m Son S n Gu m

t h i e 0 then e k ng and they went to m at, and were vedin t h as t he sat ser e best manner. And y at the ca of rk meat, there me in the Queen O ney, with a great

A ravain e Gah eris and Sir g and Sir arose and went to her, h s and saluted her upon t eir kn ees, and asked her ble sing, th had w s e for in the space of fifteen y y not seen her. sh e a i t o i Then sp ke on h gh her brother K ng Arthur, “ Wher e have ye done my young son Sir Garet h ? He was ou here among y a twelvemonth, and ye made a kitchen w v of him hi ch is all. las ! kna e , a great shame to you A where have ye done my dear son whi ch was my joy and blis s ? “ “ e Sir Gawain e hi m Oh, d ar mother, said , I knew

” “ Nor s i I, aid the king, wh ch me now sore repenteth,

an is n w dI n v as y fivi ng of his yeam an shaH e er be ” iadil I g t l may find him . “ ” of n i Ah, brother, said the Queen Ork ey to K ng t r Gawai n e Ar hu , and to Sir , and to her other two sons, “ did ye yourself a great shame when ye among you kept m y son Garet h in t he kitchen and fed him like a poor ” hog.

wit t hat I him n o m o did w knew t re Sir ain e n or his , no Ga ” “ r . t si nce is so s i breth en But si h [ ] it , a d the king, that ’ n A r i/12W r36 Tbe Boy s Ki g .

he is thus gone from us all, we must seek a remedy to find t o him . Also, sister, me seemeth ye might have done me of m I wit his co ing, and then if had not done well to him, ye might have blamed me . For when he came to this ’ m court , he came leaning upon two en s shoulders, as though he might n ot have gone ; and then he asked me e on e was thr e gifts , and he asked that same day, that , I that would give him meat enough for twelve months . And the other two gifts he asked that same day twelve adven months after, and that was that he might have the of r was ture the damsel Linet ; and the thi d , that Sir Launcelot should make him knight when he desired him so I all r and granted him his desi e . And many in this court marvelled that he desired his sustenance for twelve of months , and therefore we deemed many us that he was ” ot n come of a noble house . “ ” of Sir, said the Queen Orkney to her brother King “ I ou Arthur, wit you well that sent him unto y right well of armed and horsed, and worshipfully beseen his body, and gold and silver plenty to spend. ” “ It may be, said the king, but thereof saw we none, save that same day as he departed from us, knights told me that there came a dwarf hither suddenly, and brought r him a mor and a good horse, full well and richly beseen , and thereat we had all marvel from whence that riches of came, that we deemed all that he was come men of ” worship . “ “ sa I Brother, said the queen , all that ye y believe, for ever since he was grown he was marvellously witted I and ever he was faithful and true of his promise . But ” ‘ “ she marvel, said , that Sir Kay did mock him and scorn a B um ain him, and g ve him that name ea s ; yet Sir Kay ” o D ne m e t o wit. let m e know.

’ m “ 1 38 Tli e Boy s King Ar t/a .

she Sir in all the haste possible . Then when came to in am how Gr g or and Sir Gareth, she told them all King

Arthur had sent for her. [And then was let cry a tournament at the Castle f Perilous at the feast o Assumption Day next coming. on And that day came knights from England, Wales and out Scotland, Ireland and Cornwall , and from the isles, and from Britain and many other countries, and tourneyed

n t with great honor and pleasure . And whe hey were all of was t o healed their wounds , and King Arthur returned r L on ess his cou t , then dame y made herself ready as lightly as she might , and] came on the morrow with her brother Grin am or Sir g , and with her forty knights . And when sh e was come , she had all the cheer that might be done, both of King Arthur and of many other kings and queens . Among all these ladies was she named the fairest and w . sa peerless Then when Sir Gareth her, there were r of many goodly looks and goodly wo ds , that all men o worship had jy to behold them . Then came King Guen ever Arthur and many other kings, and Queen and the Queen of Orkney ; and there the king asked his nephew Sir Gareth whether he would have the lady to his wife.

My lord, wit you well that I love her above all ladies living . “ ai “ Now, f r lady, said King Arthur unto her, what sayye “ L on ess ou Most noble king, said dame y , wit y well that my lord Sir Gareth is t o me more liever [comparat i ve li e ossess as of f] to have and weld [p ] my husband, than or not any king prince christened, and if I may have him, I ou For promise y I will never have none . , my lord King ir ar d/z o 0r h u . Of S G f y 1 39

“ ai L on ess rs Arthur, s d dame y , wit ye well he is my fi t v l f hi m lo e, and he shall be the last, and if ye wil su fer to ”

a his ar sa l . h ve will and free choice, I d e y he wi l have me “ ” “ is t I That truth, said Sir Gare h, and have not you an d wi l as r weld you my fe, there shal neve lady nor gentle woman rej oice me. “ “ i is i in What, nephew, said the k ng, the w nd that door ?for wi t ye well I would not for t h e sti nt [loss] of ro eauser wi e I my c wn to be to thdraw your h arts , and wit ye well ye eann ot love so well but I shall rather increas e it than distress Also ye shall have my love and my lordshi p in the uttermost wise t hat may lie in my power. ’ And the same wise said Sir Gar eth s mother. Then was i r there made a prov sion for the day of ma riage, and ’ by the ki ng s advi ce it was provided that it should be at

a n - K n adon i e M chaelm s following, at Ki g by the seaside, for i so was ri all t here is a plent ful country . And it c ed in l r the places through the rea m . And then Sir Ga eth sent nis summons unto all these knights and ladi es that he din l his of na won battle afore, that they shou d be at day

- a marriage at King Kanadou by the sands. And then d me L on ess Sir Grin am or y and the damsel Linet , with g , rode do l t o t o an their castle, a go d y and a rich ring she gave

Sir Gareth, and he gave her another. And King Arthur

of so sh e e . gave her a rich [bracelet] gold, and depart d An dKing Art hur and his fellowship rode toward King n hi s Kena ou, and Sir Gareth brought lady on the way, and

so eam e k him . to the ing again and rode with Oh, the great cheer t hat Sir Launcelot made of Sir Gar eth and he of t was i o d him ; for here never no kn ght that Sir Gareth l ve so l as wel he did Sir Launcelot , and ever for the most ’ part he would be in Sir Launcelot s company ; for after ’ ar Gawain e s i sai h Sir G eth had espied Sir cond tions, he t ’ A r tnnr 1 40 The Boy s King .

’ Gawain e s drew himself from his brother Sir fellowship, i wizar for he was vengeable and unmerc ful, and whereas [

r and eve ] he hated he would be avenged with murder a treason, and that hated Sir G reth.

CHAPTER XIX.

Orr TH ! GREAT ROYALTY AND WHAT Om cnas wm uADa AT m ’ Lvorvs ss W FeAsr or Sm or Tm : GARETH AND DAME EDDING, AND sr rNG A S F WD T GREAT Jou THE AME EAST AND E DING.

nam 0 it drew fast to Michaelmas, and thither came e L on ess y and her sister dame Linet, with Sir Gringa of mor their brother with them, for he had the guiding those ladies . And there they were lodged at the devise of on King Arthur. And Michaelmas Day the archbishop f r d o Cante bury made the wed ing between Sir Gareth and L on ess r the lady y with g eat solemnity. And King Arthur made Sir Gaheris to wed the damsel savage that A ravain e was dame Linet . And King Arthur made Sir g ’ t o L on ess wed dame y niece, a fair lady, her name was z dame Laurel . And so when this solemni ation was done, then there came in the green knight that hight [was n am ed Pert 010 e ] Sir p , with thirty knights , and there he did t homage and fealty unto Sir Gareth , and these knigh s “ Pert olo e to hold of him for evermore . Also Sir p said, I ” p ra I r C y you that at this feast may be you hamberlain . “ ” Sir ou With a good will, said Gareth, sith it liketh y fi ” to take so simple an of ce.

Then came in the red knight, with threescore knights with him, and did to Sir Gareth homage and fealty, and all t o for m those knights hold of him ever ore , and then

’ t/i nf 1 42 Tim Boy s King A r .

i So then the kings and queens, pr nces, earls and barons , and many bold knights, went unto meat, and well may ye wit that there was all manner of meat plenteously, all man ner revels and games , with all manner of minstrelsy that r was used in those days . Also there was great jousts th ee days . But the king would not suffer Sir Gareth to joust because of his new bride ; for the French book saith that dam e Lyon ess desired the king that none that were r wedded should j oust at that feast . So the fi st day there Lam orak jousted Sir de Galis, for he overthrew thirty of knights, and did passing marvellous deeds arms . And then King Arthur made Sir Persant of Inde and his two ’ of brethren knights the Round Table to their lives end, and gave them great lands . Also the second day there jousted Tristram best , and he overthrew forty knights, of m and did there marvellous deeds ar s . r And the e King Arthur made Sir Ironside, that was the of red knight the red lawns, a knight of the Round Table ’ unto his life s end, and gave him great lands . The third du r day there j ousted Sir Launcelot Lake, and he ove of threw fifty knights, and did many marvellous deeds m of ar s . that all men had great wonder his noble deeds . And ther e King Arthur made the Duke de la Rowse a ’ of knight the Round Table to his life s end, and gave him

S . great lands to pend But when these j ousts were done, Lam orak Sir and Sir Tristram departed suddenly, and w all ould not be known , for the which King Arthur and so his court were sore displeased . And they held the feast forty days with great solemnity. And this Sir

Gareth was a full noble knight , and a well ruled, and i fa r languaged. of of Thus endeth the history Sir Gareth Orkney, that L oness of al wedded dame y the Castle Perilous . And so ir A r avain d S e da g we ed d me

u r . la rel, a fai lady gre at riches gave wit h them t he noble B OOK IV.

OF S IR T RISTRA M.

CHAPTER I .

How Sm M DB Lvorvs sss WAs B n ow m s Mor an TRISTRA ORN, AND ‘ DESIRED THAT Hrs NAME SHOULD B E Tru sr nAu .

w M li d as e o as HERE a knight that hight , and he was lord and king of the country of and li dw as this King Me o as as as likely a man any was at that ’ time living. And by fortune he wedded King Mark s s z she sister of Cornwall , who e name was Eli abeth , and was a right fair lady and a good. [And it befell on a day that a certain enchantress on wrought as he rode hunting, for he was a great hunter, and made him chase an hart by himself till that he came o ld r t o an castle, and there she took him prisone . Now ‘ i Meliodas E z ab t h when Queen e missed her husband King , s he was nigh out of her wit ; and she took a gentlewoman with her and ran far into the forest and took such cold t she saw hat might not recover. And when she ] that the deep draughts of death took her, that needs she must die and depart out of this world [and] there was none other

ristr am from th tr ifle n sad. e F ch m eani T , TP , g

' A r tnnr 1 46 Tli e Boy s King .

thereof the queen espied him, and then she ran unto him and pulled the piece from him suddenly. The king mar ll do v she di s e ed why , and remembered him how her son was suddenly slai n with poison . And then he took her “ : by the hand, and thus said to her Thou false traitress , of or I thou shalt tell me what manner drink this is, else " out r shall slay thee. And therewith he pulled his swo d, and swore a great oath that he would slay her but if she told him truth . “ m she s al ou Ah l mercy, ylord , said , and I h l tell y all . And then she told him why that she would have slain

Tristram , because her children should rej oice the land. “ " “ liod i Me as Well , sa d King , therefore shall ye have ” the law. so sh was a condem ned of And e d mned [ ] by the assent the barons to be burnt ; and then there was made a great was execu fire, and right as she at the fire for to take her

’ Meliod as tion, young Tristram kneeled down before King ,

t o . his father, and besought him give him a boon ” I will well , said the king. “ i of r Then said young Tristram, Give me the l fe you " queen , my stepmother.

That is unrightfully asked , said his father, King “ Meliodas sh e d, for would have slain thee with that poison an she e for t h s is might hav had her will , and y ake most ” u my cause that she sho ld die . ” “ I of Sir, said Tristram , as for that beseech you your m d as Go mercy that ye will forgive it her, and for ypart , I so o forgive it her, and do, and much it liketh y ur high ' t o for ou ness grant me my boon , God s love I pray y hold ” your promise . “ “ i her Sith it is so , said the k ng, I will that ye have r i str Of Sir T am . 1 47

an d an i her to ou d take life and g ve y , go ye to the fire

an ddo wi w will. th h er hat e her, y t o So young Tristram went the fire, and, by the command of i e . the king, del vered her from the d ath And by the good m eans ofyoung Tristra m he made t h e

II CHAPTER I .

t Meliodas ND hen [King ] let ordain a gentleman that was an d w v well learned taught ; his name as Gou er nail ; and he sent youn g Tri st ram with Gouvernail into a n t France, to le rn the la guage, and nur ure, and deeds of was t r arms. And there Tris am more than seven years. t l ak t h e an And hen when he well cou d spe l guage, and had e all i ea a r l arned that he m ght l rn in th t count y, then he e to his fat h er in Meli odas a cam home K g ag in. And so i t r a e t o as s in all oth er t hat Tr s am le rn d be an harper p g , t was ealled here none such in no country, and so in harp in g and on instruments of music he applied him in his h t as r w in yout for t o learn. And af er he g e mi ght and su en th i g he laboured ever in hunt ng and in hawking, so ’ n 1 48 TIn Boy s King A r t/i n.

CHAPTER IV.

' How Srn MARHAUS CA ME OUT OF IRELAND FOR TO ASK TRUAGt or

C WL 113 HE E . ORN A L, OR WOULD FIGHT T R FORE

HEN it befell that King Anguish of Ireland sent t o of l t rua e King Mark Cornwa l for his g , which Corn wall had paid many winters afore time, and all that time h t rua e a King Mark was be ind Of the g for seven ye rs . And King Mark and his barons gave unto the messenger of Ireland this answer, and said that they would none pay, and bade the messenger go unto his King Anguish, and “ tell him that we will pay him no t ruage ; but tell your t rua e of of lord, and he will always have g us Cornwall , bid him send a trusty knight of his land that will fight for " our his right , and we shall find another to defend right .

With this answer the messenger departed into Ireland. And when King Anguish understood the answer of the messenger, he was wondrous wroth ; and then he called unto him Sir Marhaus the good knight that was nobly of ll‘ proved, and a knight the Round Table . And this S Marhaus of d was brother unto the queen Irelan . Then the king [prayed Sir Marhaus that he would go and fight t rua of for his ge Cornwall] . “ ” “ Marhaus Wit know a Sir, said Sir , [ ] ye well th t I shadll not be loth to do battle in the right of you and your of for I lan with the best knight the Round Table, know for what their deeds be, and to increase my worship [wort/z -s/zzjo] I will right gladly go to this journey for our right . So in all haste there was made purveyance for Sir Mar

“ ” T a e i ru g , t r bute.

’ A r tlznr 1 5 0 Tbe Boy s King .

CHAPTER V.

How Sm TRISTRAM ENTERPRISED THE B AT a To m om FOR THE

AG E or C A n ow uADa . TRU ORNW LL, AND HE WAS KNIGHT HEREWITHAL Sir Tristram went unto his father M liodas e King , and asked him counsel what was best of t rua e to do for to recover the country Cornwall for g . “ “ For as me seemeth , said Sir Tristram , it were shame ’ Marhaus of that Sir , the queen s brother Ireland, should ” go away, unless that he were not fought withal . “ ” “ Meliodas As for that, said King , wit ye well , my Marhaus on e of son Tristram , that Sir is called the best of o of knights the w rld, and knight the Round Table, and therefore I know n o knight in this country that is able t o ” match with him . I Alas said Sir Tristram, that am not made knight , Marhaus God and if Sir should thus depart into Ireland, let me never have wor ship ; and I were made knight I ” “ ou sh ld match him ; and sir, said Sir Tristram , I pray ou y to give me leave to ride unto mine uncle King Mark, n ot of and so ye be displeased, King Mark will I be made knight . “ Meliodas I will well , said King , that ye be ruled as u your courage will rule yo . r And then Sir T istram thanked his father much , and so t h e made him ready to ride into Cornwall . And in mean while there came a messenger with letters of love from of Faram on of the daughter King France, unto Sir Tris tram , that were full piteous letters , and in them were of written many complaints love . But Sir Tristram had n o o of r jy her letters, nor rega d unto her. Also she sent i a Of S r Tr i str m . 1 5 1

li m [rou nd hi m a little brachet [ i ti ng ] that was passing ’ e o fair. But when the king s daught r underst od that

l n ot sh e i . So Tristram wou d love her, d ed for sorrow this young Sir Tristram rode unto his un cle King Mark of sa a Cornwall. And when he came there he heard y th t wi Mar ha there would no knight fight th Sir us. Then his ai went Sir Tristram unto uncle and s d, l of i l Sir, if ye wi l give me the order knighthood I w l do Mar battle with Sir haus. “ ?” “ What are ye said the king, and from whence be ye come ? “ “ ai Meliodas Sir, s d Tristram , I come from King t I hat wedded your sister, and a gentleman wit ye well m , ’

n Sir saw was Ki g Mark beheld Tristram , and that he n of was s but a you g man age, but he pas ingly well made and big . sir ai n a is an d Fair , s d the ki g, wh t your name, where were ye born ? ” ai is Sir, said he ag n, my name Tristram, and in the ” o of L on e was I o c untry y ess b rn. “ ” “ ai in i Ye say well , s d the k g, and if ye will do th s " I al i battle sh l make you kn ght. “ ” “ r r I m ou ai ra an d The efo e co e to y , s d Sir Trist m , ” r fo none other cause. i m him n i But then K ng Mark ade k ght. And there

al as hi m i m es~ with anon he had made kn ght, he sent a senger unto Sir Marhaus with letters that said that he had found a young kni ght ready for to take the batt le t o th e uttermost. “ “ Marhaus It may well be, said Sir ; but tell unto King Mark that I will not fight wit h no knight but if he ’ l t o son or be of blood roya , that is say either king s ' ” son r or r queen s , bo n Of a prince p incess. ’ 2 s n r t/fur 1 5 Tli e Boy Ki g A .

for When King Mark understood that , he sent Sir L on esse was r Tristram de y , and told him what the answe of Marhaus Sir . Then said Sir Tristram , “ sa et h of Since he y so , let him wit that I am come ’ ’ of father s side and mother s side as noble blood as he is . ’ n M liod For I e as , sir, now shall ye k ow that am King son of own e z , born your sister dam Eli abeth , that died in of the forest in the birth me . “ Yea l said King Mark, ye are welcome fair nephew ” to me . Then in all the haste the king let horse Sir Tristram and arm him in the best manner that might be had or r gotten for gold o silver. And then King Mark sent unto Marhaus let Min know Sir , and did him to wit [ ] that a

r r bette bo n man than he was himself should fight with him, m L on esse son of and his na e is Sir Tristram de y , [ ] King ’

M li das . was ir e o , and born of King Mark s sister Then S Marhaus glad and blithe that he should fight with such a m so Of r gentle an . And by the assent King Ma k and Sir Marhaus they let ordain that they should fight within ’ an island nigh Sir Marhau s ships ; and so was young Sir

Tristram put into a little vessel , both his horse and he, and all that to him belonged both for his body and for so his horse, that Sir Tristram lacked no manner thing. And when King Mark and his barons of Cornwall beheld how young Sir Tristram departed with such a carriage

' t/zat is car i n kim s e so brave for ri [ , ry g lf ly] to fight the ght of was n or Cornwall , wit ye well there neither man woman of worship but they wept for t o see so young a knight o a for le p rd himself their right.

’ 1 5 4 TIn Boy s King Ar t/i an

“ see m e nail , come thou not nigh this island till thou ” or i or I . overcome sla n, else that win yonder knight

And so either departed from other weeping.

CHAPTER VII.

How SIR TRI STRAM FOUG HT AGAINST SIR MA RHA us AND r rNrsm ID an

TT SI R MA RuA us To m s a ws. BA LE, AND HOW FLED S

Marhaus ND then Sir perceived Sir Tristram , and “ : thus said unto him Young knight Sir Tristram , w ? of hat doest thou here Me sore repenteth thy courage, for wit thou well I have matched with the best knights of ai the world, and therefore by my counsel return ag n to thy ” ship . i Fa r knight and well proved knight, said Sir Tristram , . thou shalt well wit that I may n ot for sake thee in this quarrel, for I am for thy sake made knight , and thou shalt ’ son well wit that I am a king s born , and such promise ’ have I made at mine uncle s request and mine own seek

rm s ing, that I shall fight with thee unto the utte o t , to oldt rua e deliver Cornwall from the g . Also wit ye well , Marhaus on e of r Sir , that for ye are called the best e n own ed of of s knights the world, and because that noi e t o and fame that ye have, it will do me good have to do si n ce was of with you, for never yet sith [ ] that I born my r was r al mothe I p oved with a good knight, and so sith I of am have taken the high order knighthood this day, I right well pleased that I may have t o do with so good a

. Marhaus of knight as ye are And now wit ye well , Sir r Ireland, that I cast me to win wo ship on thy body, I trust to God I shall be worshipfully proved upon thy body ir r is tr am Of S T . 1 5 5 an dt o l of foxev for de iver the country Cornwall er from n t rua e all man er of g from Ireland. And when the good kni ght Sir Marhaus had heard him sa l ai : F i y what him ist, then said he thus ag n a r knight, is so on sith it that thou castest thee to win worship me, I let thee wit that no worshi p mai st thou leese [lose] by for me, if thou mayst stand me three strokes, I let you wit that for my noble deeds, proved and seen , King Ar ” thur made me knight of the Table Round. Then they

a lace i n r es t beg n to feuter [p ] their spears, and they met so fiercely together that they. smote either other down Marhaus both horse and all. But Sir smote Sir Tristram t he his a great wound in side with spear, and then they i out avoided the r horses , and pulled their swords , and i an d l threw the r shields afore them , then they ashed to as r gether men than were wild and cou ageous. And when so they had stricken together long, then they left their t tnrus i n ei nti n s rokes, and foined [ a f g] ; and when they saw t rt hat that might not prevail them , then they hu led m u together like ra s to bear either other down. Th s they l t fought still more than ha f a day, and ei her were wounded passing sore, that the blood ran down freshly from them upon the ground. By then Sir Tri stra m waxed more Marhaus wi fresher than Sir , and better nded and bigger, d Marhaus an with a mighty stroke he smote Sir upon the ff his l helm such a bu et, that it went through he m , and t i of a n - hrough the co f steel , and through the br i pan , and th e sword stuck so fast in the helm and in his brain - pan t hat Sir Tristr am pulled thrice at hi s sword or ever he u out his Marhaus l might p ll it from head, and there fe l ’ on hi s of of down knees , [and a piece ] the edge Tristram s

f - sword [was] le t in his brain pan. And suddenly Sir Mar s l i his haus ro e grove l ng, and threw his sword and shield ’ t/tar 1 5 6 TIn Boy s King A r . d an from him , and so ran to his ships and fled his way,

Sir Tristram had ever his shield and his sword . And aw Marhaus r when Sir Tristram s Sir withd aw him , he “ of Wh said, Ah , sir knight the Round Table , ywithdraw est thou thee ; thou doest thyself and thy kin great shame , for or n ow I am but a young knight , I was never proved , and rather than I should withdraw me from thee, I had ” rather be hewn in an hundred pieces . Sir Marhaus an sweredno n n word, but went his way sore groa i g.

CHAPTER VIII .

How SIR MARIIAus Arr ER I or II , HE WAS ARRIVED IN RELAND, DIED T E TIIAT I 11 m HOW M WAs STROKE TRISTRAM HAD G VEN , AND TRISTRA

NON Sir Marhaus and his fellowship departed into

Ireland . And as soon as he came t o the king his brother he let search his wounds . And when his head ’ of was searched, a piece Sir Tristram s sword was found out of f therein , and might never be had his head or no ’ so of w surgeons , and he died Sir Tristram s s ord, and that piece of the sword the queen his sister kept it for ever she t o with her, for thought be revenged and she might .

Now turn we again unto Sir Tristram , that was sore not wounded, and full sore bled, that he might within a little while when he had taken cold scarcely stir him of his limbs . And then he set him down softly upon a little m hill , and bled fast . Then anon came Gouvernail his an with his vessel, and the king and his barons came with procession , and when he was come to the land , King Mark an d s took him in both his arms, and the king Sir Dina