King Arthur's Favorite Knigfi~, Sir Launcelot, Eias
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KING ARTHUR’S FAVORITE KNIGFI~, SIR LAUNCELOT, EIAS FALLEN IN LOVE WITH THE KING’S WIFE, GWYNEVERE. "~HE SECRET LOVE AFFAIR IS EXPOSED BY SIR MODRED. ARTHUR’S SON BY ANOTHER WOMAN, AND GWYNEVERE IS SENTENCED TO BURN AT THE STAKE. WHILE RESCUING THE IMPRISONED GWYN EVERE, LAUNCELOT SLAYS TWO KNIGHTS WHO, UNKNOWN TO HIM AT THE TIME, ARE THE BROTHERS OF SIR GAWAIN, A FAVORITE NEPHEW OF ARTHUR’S. AFTER A RECONCILIA- TION, LAUNCELOT RETURNS ¯ GWYNEVERE TO ARTHUR TO BE REINSTATED AS QUEEN. AT THE URGING OF SIR GAWAIN, WHO STILL WANTS REVENGE ON IAUNCELO12 THE KING BANISHES LAUNCELOT TO FRANCE, WHERE THE FOLLOWING EXCERPT BEGINS. Detail of Arthur from the Nine Heroes Tapestries (about 1385), probably Nicolas Bataille. The MetrOpo/iI3 Museum of Art, New York, The Cloisters Collection, Munsey Fund, 1932 (32.!30.3a). SIR THOMAS MALORY MORTE D ART HUR When Sir Launcelot had established will this courtesy end? If you remain within the dominion over France, he garrisoned city, soon everything will be destroyed." the towns and settled with his army Then Sir Galyhud: "Sir, you command knights in the fortified city of Benwick, of royal blood; you cannot expect them to where his father Fdng Ban had held court. remain meekly within the city walls. I pray you, King Arthur, after appointing Sir Modred let us encounter the enemy on the open field, and ruler in his absence, and instructing Queen they will soon repent of their expedition." (iwynevere to obey him, sailed to France with an And to this the seven knights of West Britain army of sixty thousand men, and, on the advice ofall muttered their assent. Then Sir Launcdot spoke: 5h Gawain, started laying wasteI all before him. "My lords, I am reluctant to shed Christian News of the invasion reached Sir Launcelot, and blood in a war against my own liege;a and yet I his COunselors advised him. Sir Bors spoke first: do know that these lands have already suffered "My lord Sir Launcelot, is it wise to allow Kingdepredation in the wars between King Claudas ,\~thur to lay your lands waste when sooner or and my father and uncle, King Ban and King lat{.i he will oblige you to offer him battle?" Bors. Therefore I will next send a messenger to Sit" Lyonel spoke next: "My lord, I would King Arthur and sue4 for peace, for peace is ’~cnmmend that we remain within the walls of always preferable to war." ~}~, city until the invaders are weakened by cold md hunger, and then let us sally forth2 and dest~ oy them." 1. laying waste: destroying. Next, King Bagdemagus: "Sir Launcelot, I 2. sally forth: rush out suddenly in an attack. tmderStand that it is out of courtesy that you 3. liege (lej) : a lord or ruler to whom one owes loyalty and service. Permit the king to ravage_ your lands, but where 4. sue: appeal; beg. WORDS .... ravaI]e {rgy’Y]} g to cause qreat damacle to; devastate Accordingly a young noblewoman accompanied before the city walls and shouted a challengei by a dwarf was sent to King Arthur. They were "My lord Sir Launcelot: have you no knight received by the gentle knight Sir Lucas the Butler. who will dare to ride forth and break spears "My lady, you bring a message from Sir with me? It is I, Sir Gawain." Launcelot?" he asked. Sir Bors accepted the challenge. He rode out "My lord, I do. It is for the king." of the castle gate, they encountered, and he Was "Alas! King Artlmr would readily be reconciled wouuded and flung from his horse. His comrades to Sir Launcelot, but Sir Gawain forbids it; and helped him back to the castle, and then Sir it is a shame, because Sir Launcelot is certainly Lyonel offered to joust. He too was. overthrown the greatest knight living." and helped back to the castle. The young noblewoman was brought before Thereafter, every day for six months Sir the king, and when he had heard Sir Launcelot’s Gawain rode before the city and overthrew entreaties for peace he wept, and would readily whoever accepted his challenge. Meanwhile, as a have accepted them had not Sir Gawain spoken up: result of skirmishes, numbers on both sides were "My liege, if we retreat now we will become a beginning to dvdndle. Then one day ,Sir Gawain laughingstock, in this land and in our own. challenged Sir Launcelot: Surely our honor demands that we pursue this "My lord Sir Launcelot: traitor ~0 the king war to its proper conclusion." and to me, come forth if you dare and meet your "Sir Gawain, I will do as you advise, akhough mortal foe, instead of lurking like a coward in reluctantly, for Sir Launcelot’s terms are your castle!" generous and he is still dear to me. I beg you Sir Launcelot heard the challenge, and one of make a reply to him on my behalf." his kinsmen spoke to him: Sir Gawain addressed the young noblewoman: "My lord, you must accept the challenge, or "Tell Sir Launcelot that we will not bandy be shamed forever." words with him, and it is too late now to sue for "Alas, that I should have to fight Sir Gawain!" peace. Further that I, Sir Gawain, shall not cease said Sir Launcelot. "But now I am obliged to." to strive against him until one of us is killed." Sir Launcelot gave orders for his most power- The young noblewoman was escorted back to ful coursers to be harnessed, and when he had Sir Launcelot, and when she had delivered Sir armed, rode to the’ tower and addressed ICing Gawain’s message they both wept. Then Sir Bors Arthur: ’ , spoke: "My lord King Arthur, it is with a heaw heart "My lord, we beseech you, do not look so that I set forth to do battle with one of your own dismayed! You have many truswvorthy knights blood; but now it is incumbent upon my honor behind you;lead us onto the field and we will to do so. For six months I have suffered your put an end to this quarrel." majesW to lay my lands waste and to besiege me "My lords, I do not doubt you, but I pray in my own city. My courtesy is repaid with you, be ruled by me: I will not lead you against insults, so deadly and shameful that now I must our liege until we ourselves are endangered; only by force of arms seek redress." then can we honorably sally forth and defeat him." "Have done, Sir Launcelot, and let us to Sir Launcelot’s nobles submitted; but the next battle!" shouted Sir Gawain. day it was seen that King Arthur had laid siege to the city of Benwick. Then Sir Gawain rode 5. courser: a horse trained for battle. plea become Steadily less required as a duty or obligation 228 g or injury i Sir LaDncelot rode from the "Sir Gawain, I have endured iky at the head of his entire many hard blows from you ~rmy. King Arthur was A TERRIBLE thdse last three hours, but now hst0nished at his strength and beware, for I see that you have !ealized that Sir Launcelot had weakened, and it is I who am ~ot been boasting when he SWORD FIGHT the stronger." Vlaimed to have acted with Thereupon Sir Launcelot f0cbearance.._ "Alas, that I COMMENCED, redoubled his blows, and with Isllotl d ever have come to war one, catching Sir Gawain side- iwith him!" he said to himself. long on the helmet, sent him It was agreed that the two AN D EAC H reeling to the ground. Then he c.mbatailts should fight to the courteously stood back. id,atb, with interference from "Sir Launcelot, I still deft! ,{me. Sir Launcdot and Sir FELT THE you!" said Sir Gawain from (;:twain then drew apart’and the ground. "Why do you not gal!ope’d furiously together, MIGHT OF kill me now? for I warn you and so great was their strength that if ever I recover I shall chat their horses crashed to the challenge you again." groul~d and both riders were THE OTHEP "Sir Gawain, by the grace of /~ver thrown. God I shall endure you again," A terrible sword fight com- Sir Launcelot replied, and then ~enced, and each felt the turned to the king: ~night of the other as fresh "My liege, your expedition Wounds were inflicted with every blow. For threecan find no honorable conclusion at these walls, ho~rs they fought with scarcely a pause, and the so I pray you withdraw and spare your noble Blood seeped out from their armor and trickled toknights. Remember me with kindness and be the ground, Sir Launcelot found to his dismay guided, as ever, by the love of God." &t Sir Gawain, instead of weakening, seemed to "AlasP’ said the king, "Sir Launcelot scruples9 i~crease in strength as they proceeded, and he to fight against me or those of my blood, and began to fear that he was battling not with a 6 once more I am beholden to hhn." knight but with a fiend incarnate. He decided toSir Lauficelot withdrew to the city and Sir fight defensively and to conserve his strength. Gawain was taken to his pavilion, where his it was a secret known only to King Arthur wounds were dressed. King Arthur was doubly and to Sir Gawain himself that his strength grieved, by his quarrel with Sir Launcelot and by i~Creased for three hours in the morning, reach-the seriousness of Sir Gawain’s wounds.