Le Morte Darthur
and a knight adventurous that laboureth throughout many realms for to
win worship. Then the hermit advised him better, and saw by a wound on
his cheek that he was Sir Launcelot. Alas, said the hermit, mine own
lord, why hide you your name from me: forsooth I ought to know you of
right, for ye are the most noblest knight of the world; for well I know
you for Sir Launcelot. Sir, said he, sith ye know me, help me and ye
may, for God’s sake; for I would be out of this pain at once, either to
death or to life. Have ye no doubt, said the hermit, ye shall live and
fare right well. And so the hermit called to him two of his servants,
and so he and his servants bare him into the hermitage, and lightly
unarmed him and laid him in his bed. And then anon the hermit stanched
his blood, and made him to drink good wine, so that Sir Launcelot was
well refreshed, and knew himself. For in those days it was not the
guise of hermits as is now adays. For there were none hermits in those
days but that they had been men of worship and of prowess, and those
hermits held great household, and refreshed people that were in
distress.
Now turn we unto king Arthur, and leave we Sir Launcelot in the
hermitage. So when the kings were come together on both parties, and
the great feast should be holden, king Arthur asked the king of
Northgalis and their fellowship where was that knight that bare the red
sleeve:—Bring him before me, that he may have his laud and honour and
the prize, as it is right. Then spake Sir Galahalt the haut prince and
the king with the hundred knights: We suppose that knight is
mischieved, and that he is never like to see you, nor none of us all,
and that is the greatest pity that ever we wist of any knight. Alas,
said Arthur, how may this be? is he so hurt? What is his name? said
king Arthur. Truly, said they all, we know not his name, nor from
whence he came, nor whither he would. Alas, said the king, these be to
me the worst tidings that came to me this seven year: for I would not
for all the lands I hold, to know and wit it were so that that noble
knight were slain. Know ye him? said they all. As for that, said
Arthur, whether I know him or know him not, ye shall not know for me
what man he is, but Almighty Jesu send me good tidings of him. And so
said they all. By my head, said Sir Gawaine, if it be so, that the good
knight be so sore hurt, it is great damage and pity to all this land,
for he is one of the noblest knights that ever I saw in a field handle
a spear or a sword. And if he may be found I shall find him, for I am
sure he is not far from this town. Bear you well, said king Arthur, and
ye may find him, unless that he be in such a plight that he may not
hold himself. Jesu defend, said Sir Gawaine, but wit I shall what he
is, and I may find him. Right so, Sir Gawaine took a squire with him,
upon hackneys, and rode all about Camelot within six or seven miles.
But so he came again, and could hear no word of him.
Then within two days king Arthur and all the fellowship returned unto
London again. And so as they rode by the way, it happed Sir Gawaine at
Astolat to lodge with Sir Bernard, there as was Sir Launcelot lodged.
And so as Sir Gawaine was in his chamber to repose him, Sir Bernard the
old baron came unto him, and his daughter Elaine, for to cheer him, and
to ask him what tidings, and who did best at that tournament of
Winchester. Truly, said Sir Gawaine, there were two knights that bare
two white shields; but the one of them bare a red sleeve upon his head,
and certainly he was one of the best knights that ever I saw just in
field. For I dare say, said Sir Gawaine, that one knight with the red
sleeve smote down forty valiant knights of the Table Round, and his
fellow did right well and worshipfully. Now blessed be God, said the
fair maiden of Astolat, that that knight sped so well, for he is the
man in the world that I first loved, and truly he shall be the last
that ever I shall love. Now fair maid, said Sir Gawaine, is that good
knight your love? Certainly, sir, said she, wit ye well he is my love.
Then know ye his name, said Sir Gawaine. Nay, truly, said the damsel, I
know not his name, nor from whence he cometh, but to say that I love
him, I promise you and God that I love him. How had ye knowledge of him
first? said Sir Gawaine.
CHAP. XIV.
_How Sir Gawaine was lodged with the lord of Astolat, and there had
knowledge that it was Sir Launcelot that bare the red sleeve._
Then she told him as ye have heard tofore, and how her father betook
him her brother to do him service, and how her father lent him her
brother Sir Tirre’s shield,—And here with me he left his own shield.
For what cause did he so? said Sir Gawaine. For this cause, said the
damsel, for his shield was too well known among many noble knights. Ah,
fair damsel, said Sir Gawaine, please it you let me have a sight of
that shield. Sir, said she, it is in my chamber covered with a case,
and if ye will come with me, ye shall see it. Not so, said Sir Bernard,
till his daughter let send for it. So when the shield was come, Sir
Gawaine took off the case: and when he beheld that shield, he knew anon
that it was Sir Launcelot’s shield, and his own arms. Ah, mercy, said
Sir Gawaine, now is my heart more heavier then ever it was tofore. Why?
said Elaine. For I have great cause, said Sir Gawaine: is that knight
that owneth this shield your love? Yea truly, said she, my love he is,
God would I were his love. Truly, said Sir Gawaine, fair damsel, ye
have right, for, and he be your love, ye love the most honourable
knight of the world, and the man of most worship. So me thought ever,
said the damsel, for never, or that time, for no knight that ever I saw
loved I never none erst. God grant, said Sir Gawaine, that either of
you may rejoice other, but that is in a great adventure. But truly,
said Sir Gawaine unto the damsel, ye may say ye have a fair grace, for
why, I have known that noble knight this four and twenty year, and
never or that day I nor none other knight, I dare make it good, saw nor
heard say that ever he bare token or sign of no lady, gentlewoman, nor
maiden, at no justs nor tournament. And therefore, fair maiden, said
Sir Gawaine, ye are much beholden to him to give him thanks. But I
dread me, said Sir Gawaine, that ye shall never see him in this world,
and that is great pity that ever was of earthly knight. Alas, said she,
how may this be? Is he slain? I say not so, said Sir Gawaine, but wit
ye well, he is grievously wounded, by all manner of signs, and by men’s
sight more likely to be dead then to be on live; and wit ye well he is
the noble knight Sir Launcelot, for by this shield I know him. Alas,
said the fair maiden of Astolat, how may this be, and what was his
hurt? Truly, said Sir Gawaine, the man in the world that loved him best
hurt him so, and I dare say, said Sir Gawaine, and that knight that
hurt him knew the very certainty that he had hurt Sir Launcelot, it
would be the most sorrow that ever came to his heart. Now, fair father,
said then Elaine, I require you give me leave to ride and to seek him,
or else I wot well I shall go out of my mind, for I shall never stint
till that I find him and my brother Sir Lavaine. Do as it liketh you,
said her father, for me right sore repenteth of the hurt of that noble
knight. Right so the maid made her ready, and before Sir Gawaine making
great dole. Then on the morn Sir Gawaine came to king Arthur, and told
him how he had found Sir Launcelot’s shield in the keeping of the fair
maiden of Astolat. All that knew I aforehand, said king Arthur, and
that caused me I would not suffer you to have ado at the great justs:
for I espied, said king Arthur, when he came in till his lodging, full
late in the evening in Astolat. But marvel have I, said Arthur, that
ever he would bear any sign of any damsel: for, or now, I never heard
say nor knew that ever he bare any token of none earthly woman. By my
head, said Sir Gawaine, the fair maiden of Astolat loveth him
marvellously well; what it meaneth I cannot say; and she is ridden
after to seek him. So the king and all came to London, and there Sir
Gawaine openly disclosed to all the court that it was Sir Launcelot
that justed best.
CHAP. XV.
_Of the sorrow that Sir Bors had for the hurt of Launcelot; and of the
anger that the queen had because Launcelot bore the sleeve._
And when Sir Bors heard that, wit ye well he was a heavy man, and so
were all his kinsmen. But when queen Guenever wist that Sir Launcelot
bare the red sleeve of the fair maiden of Astolat, she was nigh out of
her mind for wrath. And then she sent for Sir Bors de Ganis in all the
haste that might be. So when Sir Bors was come tofore the queen, then
she said, Ah, Sir Bors, have ye heard say how falsely Sir Launcelot
hath betrayed me? Alas, madam, said Sir Bors, I am afraid he hath
betrayed himself, and us all. No force, said the queen, though he be
destroyed, for he is a false traitor knight. Madam, said Sir Bors, I
pray you say ye not so, for wit you well I may not hear such language
of him. Why, Sir Bors, said she, should I not call him traitor, when he
bare the red sleeve upon his head at Winchester, at the great justs?
Madam, said Sir Bors, that sleeve-bearing repenteth me sore, but I dare
say he did it to none evil intent, but for this cause he bare the red
sleeve, that none of his blood should know him; for, or then, we nor
none of us all never knew that ever he bare token or sign of maid,
lady, ne gentlewoman. Fie on him, said the queen, yet for all his pride
and boasting, there ye proved yourself his better. Nay, madam, say ye
never more so, for he beat me and my fellows, and might have slain us,
and he had would. Fie on him, said the queen, for I heard Sir Gawaine
say before my lord Arthur, that it were marvel to tell the great love
that is between the fair maiden of Astolat and him. Madam, said Sir
Bors, I may not warn Sir Gawaine to say what it pleased him: but I dare
say as for my lord Sir Launcelot, that he loveth no lady, gentlewoman,
nor maid, but all he loveth in like much, and therefore, madam, said
Sir Bors, ye may say what ye will, but wit ye well I will haste me to
seek him, and find him wheresoever he be, and God send me good tidings
of him. And so leave we them there, and speak we of Sir Launcelot, that
lay in great peril.
So as fair Elaine came to Winchester, she sought there all about, and
by fortune Sir Lavaine was ridden to play him, to enchafe his horse.
And anon as Elaine saw him she knew him, and then she cried onloud
until him. And when he heard her, anon he came to her; and then she
asked her brother, How did my lord, Sir Launcelot? Who told you,
sister, that my lord’s name was Sir Launcelot? Then she told him how
Sir Gawaine by his shield knew him. So they rode together till that
they came to the hermitage, and anon she alight. So Sir Lavaine brought
her in to Sir Launcelot. And when she saw him lie so sick and pale in
his bed, she might not speak, but suddenly she fell to the earth down
suddenly in a swoon, and there she lay a great while. And when she was
relieved she sighed, and said, My lord Sir Launcelot, alas, why be ye
in this plight? and then she swooned again. And then Sir Launcelot
prayed Sir Lavaine to take her up,—And bring her to me. And when she
came to herself, Sir Launcelot kissed her, and said, Fair maiden, why
fare ye thus? Ye put me to pain; wherefore make ye no more such cheer,
for, and ye be come to comfort me, ye be right welcome, and of this
little hurt that I have, I shall be right hastily whole, by the grace
of God. But I marvel, said Sir Launcelot, who told you my name. Then
the fair maiden told him all how Sir Gawaine was lodged with her