King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table
all that is done amiss I will amend as ye will counsel me."
And therewith she kneeled down upon both her knees before Sir Bors, and
besought him to have mercy on her.
Anon came in King Arthur also, and prayed him of his courtesy to help
her, saying, "I require you for the love of Lancelot."
"My lord," said he, "ye require the greatest thing of me that any man
can ask, for if I do this battle for the queen I shall anger all my
fellows of the Table Round; nevertheless, for my lord Sir Lancelot's
sake, and for yours, I will that day be the queen's champion, unless
there chance to come a better knight than I am to do battle for her."
And this he promised on his faith.
Then were the king and queen passing glad, and thanked him heartily, and
so departed.
But Sir Bors rode in secret to the hermitage where Sir Lancelot was, and
told him all these tidings.
"It has chanced as I would have it," said Sir Lancelot; "yet make ye
ready for the battle, but tarry till ye see me come."
"Sir," said Sir Bors, "doubt not but ye shall have your will."
But many of the knights were greatly wroth with him when they heard he
was to be the queen's champion, for there were few in the court but
deemed her guilty.
Then said Sir Bors, "Wit ye will, fair lords, it were a shame to us all
to suffer so fair and noble a lady to be burnt for lack of a champion,
for ever hath she proved herself a lover of good knights; wherefore I
doubt not she is guiltless of this treason."
At that were some well pleased, but others rested passing wroth.
And when the day was come, the king and queen and all the knights went
to the meadow beside Westminster, where the battle should be fought.
Then the queen was put in ward, and a great fire was made round the iron
stake, where she must be burnt if Sir Mador won the day.
So when the heralds blew, Sir Mador rode forth, and took oath that Queen
Guinevere was guilty of Sir Patrice's death, and his oath he would prove
with his body against any who would say the contrary. Then came forth
Sir Bors, and said, "Queen Guinevere is in the right, and that will I
prove with my hands."
With that they both departed to their tents to make ready for the
battle. But Sir Bors tarried long, hoping Sir Lancelot would come, till
Sir Mador cried out to King Arthur, "Bid thy champion come forth, unless
he dare not." Then was Sir Bors ashamed, and took his horse and rode to
the end of the lists.
But ere he could meet Sir Mador he was aware of a knight upon a white
horse, armed at all points, and with a strange shield, who rode to him
and said, "I pray you withdraw from this quarrel, for it is mine, and I
have ridden far to fight in it."
Thereat Sir Bors rode to King Arthur, and told him that another knight
was come who would do battle for the queen.
"Who is he?" said King Arthur.
"I may not tell you," said Sir Bors; "but he made a covenant with me to
be here to-day, wherefore I am discharged."
Then the king called that knight, and asked him if he would fight for
the queen.
"Therefore came I hither, Sir king," answered he; "but let us tarry no
longer, for anon I have other matters to do. But wit ye well," said he
to the Knights of the Round Table, "it is shame to ye for such a
courteous queen to suffer this dishonor."
And all men marveled who this knight might be, for none knew him save
Sir Bors.
Then Sir Mador and the knight rode to either end of the lists, and
couching their spears, ran one against the other with all their might;
and Sir Mador's spear broke short, but the strange knight bore both him
and his horse down to the ground. Then lightly they leaped from their
saddles and drew their swords, and so came eagerly to the battle, and
either gave the other many sad strokes and sore and deep wounds.
Thus they fought nigh an hour, for Sir Mador was a full strong and
valiant knight. But at last the strange knight smote him to the earth,
and gave him such a buffet on the helm as wellnigh killed him. Then did
Sir Mador yield, and prayed his life.
"I will but grant it thee," said the strange knight, "if thou wilt
release the queen from this quarrel forever, and promise that no mention
shall be made upon Sir Patrice's tomb that ever she consented to that
treason."
"All this shall be done," said Sir Mador.
Then the knights parters took up Sir Mador and led him to his tent, and
the other knight went straight to the stair foot of King Arthur's
throne; and by that time was the queen come to the king again, and
kissed him lovingly.
Then both the king and she stooped down, and thanked the knight, and
prayed him to put off his helm and rest him, and to take a cup of wine.
And when he put his helmet off to drink, all people saw it was Sir
Lancelot. But when the queen beheld him she sank almost to the ground
weeping for sorrow and for joy, that he had done her such great goodness
when she had showed him such unkindness.
Then the knights of his blood gathered round him, and there was great
joy and mirth in the court. And Sir Mador and Sir Lancelot were soon
healed of their wounds; and not long after came the Lady of the Lake to
the court, and told all there by her enchantments how Sir Pinell, and
not the queen, was guilty of Sir Patrice's death. Whereat the queen was
held excused of all men, and Sir Pinell fled the country.
So Sir Patrice was buried in the church of Winchester, and it was
written on his tomb that Sir Pinell slew him with a poisoned apple, in
error for Sir Gawain. Then, through Sir Lancelot's favor, the queen was
reconciled to Sir Mador, and all was forgiven.
Now fifteen days before the Feast of the Assumption of our Lady, the
king proclaimed a tourney to be held that feast-day at Camelot, whereat
himself and the King of Scotland would joust with all who should come
against them. So thither went the King of North Wales, and King Anguish
of Ireland, and Sir Galahaut the noble prince, and many other nobles of
divers countries.
And King Arthur made ready to go, and would have had the queen go with
him, but she said that she was sick. Sir Lancelot, also, made excuses,
saying he was not yet whole of his wounds.
At that the king was passing heavy and grieved, and so departed alone
towards Camelot. And by the way he lodged in a town called Astolat, and
lay that night in the castle.
As soon as he had gone, Sir Lancelot said to the queen, "This night I
will rest, and to-morrow betimes will I take my way to Camelot; for at
these jousts I will be against the king and his fellowship."
"Ye may do as ye list," said Queen Guinevere; "but by my counsel ye will
not be against the king, for in his company are many hardy knights, as
ye well know."
"Madam," said Sir Lancelot, "I pray ye be not displeased with me, for I
will take the adventure that God may send me."
And on the morrow he went to the church and heard mass, and took his
leave of the queen, and so departed.
Then he rode long till he came to Astolat, and there lodged at the
castle of an old baron called Sir Bernard of Astolat, which was near the
castle where King Arthur lodged. And as Sir Lancelot entered the king
espied him, and knew him. Then said he to the knights, "I have just seen
a knight who will fight full well at the joust toward which we go."
"Who is it?" asked they.
"As yet ye shall not know," he answered smiling.
When Sir Lancelot was in his chamber unarming the old baron came to him,
saluting him, though as yet he knew not who he was.
Now Sir Bernard had a daughter passing beautiful, called the Fair Maid
of Astolat, and when she saw Sir Lancelot she loved him from that
instant with her whole heart, and could not stay from gazing on him.
On the morrow, Sir Lancelot asked the old baron to lend him a strange
shield. "For," said he, "I would be unknown."
"Sir," said his host, "ye shall have your desire, for here is the shield
of my eldest son, Sir Torre, who was hurt the day he was made knight, so
that he cannot ride; and his shield, therefore, is not known. And, if it
please you, my youngest son, Sir Lavaine, shall ride with you to the
jousts, for he is of his age full strong and mighty; and I deem ye be a
noble knight, wherefore I pray ye tell me your name."
"As to that," said Sir Lancelot, "ye must hold me excused at this time,
but if I speed well at the jousts, I will come again and tell you; but
in anywise let me have your son, Sir Lavaine, with me, and lend me his
brother's shield."
Then, ere they departed, came Elaine, the baron's daughter, and said to
Sir Lancelot, "I pray thee, gentle knight, to wear my token at
to-morrow's tourney."
"If I should grant you that, fair damsel," said he, "ye might say that I
did more for you than ever I have done for lady or damsel."
Then he bethought him that if he granted her request he would be the
more disguised, for never before had he worn any lady's token. So anon
he said, "Fair damsel, I will wear thy token on my helmet if thou wilt
show it me."
Thereat was she passing glad, and brought him a scarlet sleeve broidered
with pearls, which Sir Lancelot took, and put upon his helm. Then he
prayed her to keep his shield for him until he came again, and taking
Sir Torre's shield instead, rode forth with Sir Lavaine towards Camelot.
On the morrow the trumpets blew for the tourney, and there was a great
press of dukes and earls and barons and many noble knights; and King
Arthur sat in a gallery to behold who did the best. So the King of
Scotland and his knights, and King Anguish of Ireland rode forth on King
Arthur's side; and against them came the King of North Wales, the King
of a Hundred Knights, the King of Northumberland, and the noble prince
Sir Galahaut.
But Sir Lancelot and Sir Lavaine rode into a little wood behind the
party which was against King Arthur, to watch which side should prove
the weakest.
Then was there a strong fight between the two parties, for the King of a
Hundred Knights smote down the King of Scotland; and Sir Palomedes, who
was on King Arthur's side, overthrew Sir Galahaut. Then came fifteen
Knights of the Round Table and beat back the Kings of Northumberland and
North Wales with their knights.
"Now," said Sir Lancelot to Sir Lavaine, "if ye will help me, ye shall
see yonder fellowship go back as fast as they came."
"Sir," said Sir Lavaine, "I will do what I can."
Then they rode together into the thickest of the press, and there, with
one spear, Sir Lancelot smote down five Knights of the Round Table, one
after other, and Sir Lavaine overthrew two. And taking another spear,
for his own was broken, Sir Lancelot smote down four more knights, and
Sir Lavaine a fifth. Then, drawing his sword, Sir Lancelot fought
fiercely on the right hand and the left, and unhorsed Sir Safire, Sir
Epinogris, and Sir Galleron. At that the Knights of the Round Table
withdrew themselves as well as they were able.
"Now, mercy," said Sir Gawain, who sat by King Arthur; "what knight is
that who doth such marvelous deeds of arms? I should deem him by his
force to be Sir Lancelot, but that he wears a lady's token on his helm
as never Lancelot doth."
"Let him be," said King Arthur; "he will be better known, and do more
ere he depart."
Thus the party against King Arthur prospered at this time, and his
knights were sore ashamed. Then Sir Bors, Sir Ector, and Sir Lionel
called together the knights of their blood, nine in number, and agreed
to join together in one band against the two strange knights. So they
encountered Sir Lancelot all at once, and by main force smote his horse
to the ground; and by misfortune Sir Bors struck Sir Lancelot through
the shield into the side, and the spear broke off and left the head in
the wound.
When Sir Lavaine saw that, he ran to the King of Scotland and struck