King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table
Her sister would have struck her, had she been able, but the ladies
around would not allow it.
With that came the squire, who held the rein in his right hand. He saw
the girl sitting at the window and presented the steed. She thanked him
a hundred times, and bade the steed be taken in charge. The squire
returned to tell his master, who seemed the lord of the tournament, for
there was no knight so gallant that he did not cast from the saddle, if
he reached him with the lance. On that day he captured four steeds. The
first he sent to the little girl, the second to the wife of the nobleman
who had been so kind, and the third and fourth to his own daughters.
The tourney was over and the knights entered the city. On both sides the
honor belonged to Sir Gawain. It was not yet noon when he returned from
the encounter; the city was full of knights, who ran after him, asking
who he was and of what land. At the gate of his hostel he was met by the
damsel, who did naught but grasp his stirrup, salute him, and cry, "A
thousand mercies, fair sweet sir!" He answered frankly, "Friend, before
I am recreant to your service, may I be aged and bald! I shall never be
so remote, but a message will bring me. If I know your need, I shall
come at the first summons, whatever business be mine!"
While they talked her father came and wished Sir Gawain to stay with him
for that night; but first he begged, that if his guest pleased, he would
tell his name. Sir Gawain answered, "Sir, I am called Gawain. My name
was never concealed, nor have I ever told it before it hath been asked."
When Thiébault knew that the knight was Sir Gawain his heart was full of
joy, and he exclaimed, "Sir, be pleased to lodge with me, and accept my
service. Hitherto I have done you little worship, and never did I set
eyes on a knight whom so much I longed to honor."
In spite of urging, Sir Gawain refused to stay. The little girl, who was
good and clever, clasped his foot and kissed it, commending him to God.
Sir Gawain asked why she had done that, and the girl replied that she
had kissed his foot in order that he should remember her wherever he
went. He answered, "Doubt it not, fair sweet friend! I shall never
forget you, after I have parted hence."
With that Sir Gawain took leave of his host and the others, who one and
all commended him to God. That night he slept in an abbey, and had all
that was necessary.
THE CHAMPIONS OF THE ROUND TABLE
X
THE ADVENTURES OF SIR LANCELOT
Then, at the following Pentecost, was held a feast of the Round Table at
Caerleon, with high splendor; and all the knights thereof resorted to
the court, and held many games and jousts. And therein Sir Lancelot
increased in fame and worship above all men, for he overthrew all
comers, and never was unhorsed or worsted, save by treason and
enchantment.
When Queen Guinevere had seen his wondrous feats, she held him in great
favor, and smiled more on him than on any other knight. And ever since
he first had gone to bring her to King Arthur, had Lancelot thought on
her as fairest of all ladies, and done his best to win her grace. So the
queen often sent for him, and bade him tell of his birth and strange
adventures: how he was only son of great King Ban of Brittany, and how,
one night, his father, with his mother Helen and himself, fled from his
burning castle; how his father, groaning deeply, fell to the ground and
died of grief and wounds, and how his mother, running to her husband,
left himself alone; how, as he thus lay wailing, came the lady of the
lake, and took him in her arms and went with him into the midst of the
waters, where, with his cousins Lionel and Bors, he had been cherished
all his childhood until he came to King Arthur's court; and how this
was the reason why men called him Lancelot du Lake.
Anon it was ordained by King Arthur, that in every year at Pentecost
there should be held a festival of all the knights of the Round Table at
Caerleon, or such other place as he should choose. And at those
festivals should be told publicly the most famous adventures of any
knight during the past year.
So, when Sir Lancelot saw Queen Guinevere rejoiced to hear his
wanderings and adventures, he resolved to set forth yet again, and win
more worship still, that he might more increase her favor. Then he bade
his cousin Sir Lionel make ready, "for," said he, "we two will seek
adventure." So they mounted their horses--armed at all points--and rode
into a vast forest; and when they had passed through it, they came to a
great plain, and the weather being very hot about noontide, Sir Lancelot
greatly longed to sleep. Then Sir Lionel espied a great apple-tree
standing by a hedge, and said, "Brother, yonder is a fair shadow where
we may rest ourselves and horses."
"I am full glad of it," said Sir Lancelot, "for all these seven years I
have not been so sleepy."
So they alighted there, and tied their horses up to sundry trees; and
Sir Lionel waked and watched while Sir Lancelot fell asleep, and slept
passing fast.
In the meanwhile came three knights, riding as fast flying as ever they
could ride, and after them followed a single knight; but when Sir Lionel
looked at him, he thought he had never seen so great and strong a man,
or so well furnished and appareled. Anon he saw him overtake the last of
those who fled, and smite him to the ground; then came he to the second,
and smote him such a stroke that horse and man went to the earth; then
rode he to the third, likewise, and struck him off his horse more than a
spear's length. With that he lighted from his horse, and bound all three
knights fast with the reins of their own bridles.
When Sir Lionel saw this he thought the time was come to prove himself
against him, so quietly and cautiously, lest he should wake Sir
Lancelot, he took his horse and mounted and rode after him. Presently
overtaking him, he cried aloud to him to turn, which instantly he did,
and smote Sir Lionel so hard that horse and man went down forthwith.
Then took he up Sir Lionel, and threw him bound over his own horse's
back; and so he served the three other knights, and rode them away to
his own castle. There they were disarmed, stripped naked, and beaten
with thorns, and afterwards thrust into a deep prison, where many more
knights, also, made great moans and lamentations, saying, "Alas, alas!
there is no man can help us but Sir Lancelot, for no other knight can
match this tyrant Turquine, our conqueror."
But all this while, Sir Lancelot lay sleeping soundly under the
apple-tree. And, as it chanced, there passed that way four queens, of
high estate, riding upon four white mules, under four canopies of green
silk borne on spears, to keep them from the sun. As they rode thus,
they heard a great horse grimly neigh, and, turning them about, soon saw
a sleeping knight that lay all armed under an apple-tree; and when they
saw his face, they knew it was Sir Lancelot of the Lake.
Then they began to strive which of them should have the care of him. But
Queen Morgan le Fay, King Arthur's half sister, the great sorceress, was
one of them, and said, "We need not strive for him, I have enchanted
him, so that for six hours more he shall not wake. Let us take him to my
castle, and, when he wakes, himself shall choose which one of us he
would rather serve." So Sir Lancelot was laid upon his shield and borne
on horseback between two knights, to the castle, and there laid in a
cold chamber, till the spell should pass.
Anon, they sent him a fair damsel, bearing his supper, who asked him,
"What cheer?"
"I cannot tell, fair damsel," said he, "for I know not how I came into
this castle, if it were not by enchantment."
"Sir," said she, "be of good heart, and to-morrow at dawn of day, ye
shall know more."
And so she left him alone, and there he lay all night. In the morning
early came the four queens to him, passing richly dressed; and said,
"Sir knight, thou must understand that thou art our prisoner, and that
we know thee well for King Ban's son, Sir Lancelot du Lake. And though
we know full well there is one lady only in this world may have thy
love, and she Queen Guinevere--King Arthur's wife--yet now are we
resolved to have thee to serve one of us; choose, therefore, of us four
which thou wilt serve. I am Queen Morgan le Fay, Queen of the land of
Gore, and here also is the Queen of Northgales, and the Queen of
Eastland, and the Queen of the Out Isles. Choose, then, at once, for
else shalt thou abide here, in this prison, till thy death."
"It is a hard case," said Sir Lancelot, "that either I must die, or
choose one of you for my mistress! Yet had I rather die in this prison
than serve any living creature against my will. So take this for my
answer. I will serve none of ye, for ye be false enchantresses. And as
for my lady, Queen Guinevere, whom lightly ye have spoken of, were I at
liberty I would prove it upon you or upon yours she is the truest lady
living to her lord the king."
"Well," said the queen, "is this your answer, that ye refuse us all?"
"Yea, on my life," said Lancelot, "refused ye be of me."
So they departed from him in great wrath, and left him sorrowfully
grieving in his dungeon.
At noon the damsel came to him and brought his dinner, and asked him as
before, "What cheer?"
"Truly, fair damsel," said Sir Lancelot, "in all my life never so ill."
"Sir," replied she, "I grieve to see ye so, but if ye do as I advise, I
can help ye out of this distress, and will do so if you promise me a
boon."
"Fair damsel," said Sir Lancelot, "right willingly will I grant it
thee, for sorely do I dread these four witch-queens, who have destroyed
and slain many a good knight with their enchantments."
Then said the damsel, "Sir, wilt thou promise me to help my father on
next Tuesday, for he hath a tournament with the King of Northgales, and
last Tuesday lost the field through three knights of King Arthur's
court, who came against him. And if next Tuesday thou wilt aid him,
to-morrow, before daylight, by God's grace, I will deliver thee."
"Fair maiden," said Sir Lancelot, "tell me thy father's name and I will
answer thee."
"My father is King Bagdemagus," said she.
"I know him well," replied Sir Lancelot, "for a noble king and a good
knight; and by the faith of my body I will do him all the service I am
able on that day."
"Gramercy to thee, Sir knight," said the damsel. "To-morrow, when thou
art delivered from this place, ride ten miles hence unto an abbey of
white monks, and there abide until I bring my father to thee."
"So be it," said Sir Lancelot, "as I am a true knight."
So she departed, and on the morrow, early, came again, and let him out
of twelve gates, differently locked, and brought him to his armor; and
when he was all armed, she brought him his horse also, and lightly he
saddled him, and took a great spear in his hand, and mounted and rode
forth, saying, as he went, "Fair damsel, I shall not fail thee, by the
grace of God."
And all that day he rode in a great forest, and could find no highway,
and spent the night in the wood; but the next morning found his road,
and came to the abbey of white monks. And there he saw King Bagdemagus
and his daughter waiting for him. So when they were together in a
chamber, Sir Lancelot told the king how he had been betrayed by an
enchantment, and how his brother Lionel was gone he knew not where, and
how the damsel had delivered him from the castle of Queen Morgan le Fay.
"Wherefore while I live," said he, "I shall do service to herself and
all her kindred."
"Then am I sure of thy aid," said the king, "on Tuesday now next
coming?"
"Yea, sir, I shall not fail thee," said Sir Lancelot; "but what knights