Le Morte Darthur
earth flatling, and therewith he strode to him for to have pulled off
his helm off his head. And then Sir Mador prayed that knight to save
his life, and so he yielded him as overcome, and released the queen of
his quarrel. I will not grant thee thy life, said that knight, only
that thou freely release the queen for ever, and that no mention be
made upon Sir Patrise’s tomb that ever queen Guenever consented to that
treason. All this shall be done, said Sir Mador, I clearly discharge my
quarrel for ever. Then the knights parters of the lists took up Sir
Mador and led him to his tent. And the other knight went straight to
the stair foot where sat king Arthur, and by that time was the queen
come to the king, and either kissed other heartily. And when the king
saw that knight, he stooped down to him and thanked him, and in
likewise did the queen: and the king prayed him to put off his helmet,
and to repose him, and to take a sop of wine, and then he put off his
helm to drink, and then every knight knew him that it was Sir Launcelot
du Lake. Anon as the king wist that, he took the queen in his hand, and
went unto Sir Launcelot, and said, Sir, grant mercy of your great
travail that ye have had this day for me and for my queen. My lord,
said Sir Launcelot, wit ye well I ought of right ever to be in your
quarrel, and in my lady the queen’s quarrel to do battle, for ye are
the man that gave me the high honour of knighthood, and that day my
lady your queen did me great worship, and else I had been shamed; for
that same day ye made me knight through my hastiness I lost my sword,
and my lady your queen found it, and lapped it in her train, and gave
me my sword when I had need thereto, and else had I been shamed among
all knights. And therefore, my lord Arthur, I promised her at that day
ever to be her knight in right or in wrong. Grant mercy, said king
Arthur, for this journey, and wit ye well, said the king, I shall
acquit your goodness. And ever the queen beheld Sir Launcelot, and wept
so tenderly that she sank almost to the ground for sorrow that he had
done to her so great goodness, where she shewed him great unkindness.
Then the knights of his blood drew unto him, and there either of them
made great joy of other. And so came all the knights of the Table Round
that were there at that time, and welcomed him. And then Sir Mador was
had to leech-craft, and Sir Launcelot was healed of his wound. And then
there was made great joy and mirths in that court.
CHAP. VIII.
_How the truth was known by the maiden of the lake, and of divers other
matters._
And so it befell that the damsel of the lake, her name was Nimue, the
which wedded the good knight Sir Pelleas, and so she came to the court,
for ever she did great goodness unto king Arthur, and to all his
knights, through her sorcery and enchantments. And so when she heard
how the queen was an angered for the death of Sir Patrise, then she
told it openly that she was never guilty, and there she disclosed by
whom it was done, and named him Sir Pinel, and for what cause he did
it. There it was openly disclosed, and so the queen was excused, and
the knight Pinel fled into his country. Then was it openly known that
Sir Pinel enpoisoned the apples at the feast, to that intent to have
destroyed Sir Gawaine, because Sir Gawaine and his brethren destroyed
Sir Lamorak de Galis, to the which Sir Pinel was cousin unto. Then was
Sir Patrise buried in the church of Westminster, in a tomb, and
thereupon was written, Here lieth Sir Patrise of Ireland, slain by Sir
Pinel le Savage, that enpoisoned apples to have slain Sir Gawaine, and
by misfortune Sir Patrise eat one of those apples, and then suddenly he
brast. Also there was written upon the tomb, that queen Guenever was
appealed of treason of the death of Sir Patrise by Sir Mador de la
Porte, and there was made mention how Sir Launcelot fought with him for
queen Guenever, and overcame him in plain battle. All this was written
upon the tomb of Sir Patrise, in excusing of the queen. And then Sir
Mador sued daily and long to have the queen’s good grace. And so by the
means of Sir Launcelot he caused him to stand in the queen’s grace, and
all was forgiven. Thus it passed forth till our Lady day, Assumption.
Within a fifteen days of that feast the king let cry a great justs and
a tournament that should be at that day at Camelot, that is Winchester.
And the king let cry that he and the king of Scots would just against
all that would come against them. And when this cry was made, thither
came many knights. So there came thither the king of Northgalis, and
king Anguish of Ireland, and the king with the hundred knights, and Sir
Galahalt the haut prince, and the king of Northumberland, and many
other noble dukes and earls of divers countries. So king Arthur made
him ready to depart to these justs, and would have had the queen with
him: but at that time she would not, she said, for she was sick and
might not ride at that time. That me repenteth, said the king, for this
seven year ye saw not such a fellowship together, except at Whitsuntide
when Galahad departed from the court. Truly, said the queen to the
king, ye must hold me excused. I may not be there, and that me
repenteth. And many deemed the queen would not be there because of Sir
Launcelot du Lake, for Sir Launcelot would not ride with the king; for
he said that he was not whole of the wound the which Sir Mador had
given him. Wherefore the king was heavy and passing wroth, and so he
departed towards Winchester with his fellowship. And so by the way the
king lodged in a town called Astolat, that is now in English called
Gilford, and there the king lay in the castle. So when the king was
departed, the queen called Sir Launcelot unto her, and said, Sir
Launcelot ye are greatly to blame, thus to hold you behind my lord:
what trow ye, what will your enemies and mine say and deem? nought else
but see how Sir Launcelot holdeth him ever behind the king, and so doth
the queen, for that they would be together; and thus will they say,
said the queen to Sir Launcelot, have ye no doubt thereof.
CHAP. IX.
_How Sir Launcelot rode to Astolat, and received a sleeve to bear upon
his helm at the request of a maid._
Madam, said Sir Launcelot, I allow your wit, it is of late come sin ye
were wise, and therefore, madam, as at this time I will be ruled by
your counsel, and this night I will take my rest, and to-morrow by time
will take my way toward Winchester. But wit you well, said Sir
Launcelot to the queen, that at that justs I will be against the king
and all his fellowship. Ye may there do as ye list, said the queen, but
by my counsel ye shall not be against your king and your fellowship,
for therein be full many hardy knights of your blood, as ye wot well
enough, it needeth not to rehearse them. Madam, said Sir Launcelot, I
pray you that ye be not displeased with me, for I will take the
adventure that God will send me. And so upon the morn early Sir
Launcelot heard mass, and brake his fast, and so took his leave of the
queen, and departed. And then he rode so much until he came to Astolat,
that is Gilford; and there it happed him in the eventide he came to an
old baron’s place, that hight Sir Bernard of Astolat. And as Sir
Launcelot entered into his lodging, king Arthur espied him as he did
walk in a garden beside the castle, how he took his lodging, and knew
him full well. It is well, said king Arthur unto the knights that were
with him in that garden beside the castle, I have now espied one knight
that will play his play at the justs to the which we be gone toward, I
undertake he will do marvels. Who is that, we pray you tell us, said
many knights that were there at that time. Ye shall not wit for me,
said the king, at this time. And so the king smiled, and went to his
lodging. So when Sir Launcelot was in his lodging, and unarmed him in
his chamber, the old baron and hermit came unto him, making his
reverence, and welcomed him in the best manner; but the old knight knew
not Sir Launcelot. Fair sir, said Sir Launcelot to his host, I would
pray you to lend me a shield that were not openly known, for mine is
well known. Sir, said his host, ye shall have your desire, for me
seemeth ye be one of the likeliest knights of the world, and therefore
I shall shew you friendship. Sir, wit you well I have two sons which
were but late made knights, and the eldest hight Sir Tirre, and he was
hurt that same day that he was made knight, that he may not ride, and
his shield ye shall have, for that is not known, I dare say, but here
and in no place else. And my youngest son hight Sir Lavaine, and if it
please you he shall ride with you unto that justs, and he is of his age
strong and wight. For much my heart giveth unto you that ye should be a
noble knight, therefore, I pray you tell me your name, said Sir
Bernard. As for that, said Sir Launcelot, ye must hold me excused as at
this time, and if God give me grace to speed well at the justs I shall
come again and tell you. But I pray you, said Sir Launcelot, in any
wise let me have your son Sir Lavaine with me, and that I may have his
brother’s shield. Also this shall be done, said Sir Bernard.
This old baron had a daughter that time that was called that time the
fair maid of Astolat. And ever she beheld Sir Launcelot wonderfully.
And, as the book saith, she cast such a love unto Sir Launcelot that
she could never withdraw her love, wherefore she died; and her name was
Elaine le Blank. So thus as she came to and fro, she was so hot in her
love that she besought Sir Launcelot to wear upon him at the justs a
token of hers. Fair damsel, said Sir Launcelot, and if I grant you
that, ye may say I do more for your love than ever I did for lady or
damsel. Then he remembered him that he would go to the justs disguised,
and for because he had never afore that time borne no manner of token
of no damsel, then he bethought him that he would bear one of her, that
none of his blood thereby might know him. And then he said, Fair
maiden, I will grant you to wear a token of yours upon my helmet, and
therefore what it is shew it me. Sir, she said, it is a red sleeve of
mine, of scarlet well embroidered with great pearls. And so she brought
it him. So Sir Launcelot received it and said, Never did I erst so much
for no damsel. And then Sir Launcelot betook the fair maiden his shield
in keeping, and prayed her to keep that until that he came again. And
so that night he had merry rest and great cheer. For ever the damsel
Elaine was about Sir Launcelot, all the while she might be suffered.
CHAP. X.
_How the tourney began at Winchester, and what knights were at the
justs, and other things._
So upon a day on the morn, king Arthur and all his knights departed;
for their king had tarried there three days to abide his noble knights.
And so when the king was riden, Sir Launcelot and Sir Lavaine made them
ready for to ride, and either of them had white shields, and the red
sleeve Sir Launcelot let carry with him. And so they took their leave
at Sir Bernard the old baron, and at his daughter the fair maiden of
Astolat. And then they rode so long till they came to Camelot, that
time called Winchester. And there was great press of kings, dukes,
earls, and barons, and many noble knights. But there Sir Launcelot was
lodged privily, by the means of Sir Lavaine, with a rich burgess, that
no man in that town was ware what they were. And so they sojourned
there till our Lady day, Assumption, as the great feast should be. So
then trumpets blew unto the field, and king Arthur was set on high upon
a scaffold, to behold who did best. But, as the French book saith, king