Le Morte Darthur
ever. As for world’s shame, Jesu defend me; and as for my distress, it
is welcome, whatsoever it be that God sendeth me. So she came to him
the same day that the battle should be, and said, Sir Launcelot, me
thinketh ye are too hard-hearted, but wouldest thou but kiss me once I
should deliver thee and thine armour, and the best horse that is within
Sir Meliagrance’s stable. As for to kiss you, said Sir Launcelot, I may
do that, and lose no worship, and wit ye well, and I understood there
were any disworship for to kiss you, I would not do it. Then he kissed
her, and then she gat him and brought him to his armour. And when he
was armed, she brought him to a stable, where stood twelve good
coursers, and bad him choose the best. Then Sir Launcelot looked upon a
white courser, the which liked him best, and anon he commanded the
keepers fast to saddle him with the best saddle of war that there was,
and so it was done as he bade. Then gat he his spear in his hand, and
his sword by his side, and commanded the lady unto God, and said, Lady,
for this good deed I shall do you service if ever it be in my power.
CHAP. IX.
_How Sir Launcelot came the same time that Sir Meliagraunce abode him
in the field, and dressed him to battle._
Now leave we Sir Launcelot gallop all that he might, and speak we of
queen Guenever that was brought to a fire to be burnt, for Sir
Meliagrance was sure, him thought, that Sir Launcelot should not be at
that battle, therefore he ever cried upon king Arthur to do him
justice, or else bring forth Sir Launcelot du Lake. Then was the king
and all the court full sore abashed and shamed that the queen should be
burnt in the default of Sir Launcelot. My lord Arthur, said Sir
Lavaine, ye may understand that it is not well with my lord Sir
Launcelot, for and he were on live, so that he be not sick or in
prison, wit ye well he would be here, for never heard ye that ever he
failed his part for whom he should do battle for. And therefore, said
Sir Lavaine, my lord king Arthur, I beseech you give me licence to do
battle here this day for my lord and master, and for to save my lady
the queen. Gramercy, gentle knight, Sir Lavaine, said king Arthur, for
I dare say all that Sir Meliagrance putteth upon my lady the queen is
wrong, for I have spoken with all the ten wounded knights, and there is
not one of them, and he were whole and able to do battle, but he would
prove upon Sir Meliagrance’s body that it is false that he putteth upon
my queen. So shall I, said Sir Lavaine, in the defence of my lord Sir
Launcelot, and ye will give me leave. Now I give you leave, said king
Arthur, and do your best, for I dare well say there is some treason
done to Sir Launcelot. Then was Sir Lavaine horsed, and suddenly at the
list’s end he rode to perform this battle. And right as the heralds
should cry Lesses les aler, right so came in Sir Launcelot driving with
all the force of his horse. And then Arthur cried, Ho! and Abide! Then
was Sir Launcelot called on horseback tofore king Arthur, and there he
told openly tofore the king and all, how Sir Meliagrance had served him
first and last. And when the king and the queen and all the lords knew
of the treason of Sir Meliagrance, they were all ashamed on his behalf.
Then was queen Guenever sent for, and set by the king in great trust of
her champion. And then there was no more else to say, but Sir Launcelot
and Sir Meliagrance dressed them unto battle, and took their spears,
and so they came together as thunder, and there Sir Launcelot bare him
down quite over his horse croup. And then Sir Launcelot alight, and
dressed his shield on his shoulder with his sword in his hand, and Sir
Meliagrance in the same wise dressed him unto him, and there they smote
many great strokes together, and at the last Sir Launcelot smote him
such a buffet upon the helmet, that he fell on the one side to the
earth, and then he cried upon him aloud, Most noble knight, Sir
Launcelot du Lake, save my life, for I yield me unto you, and I beseech
you, as ye be a knight and fellow of the Table Round, slay me not, for
I yield me as overcomen, and whether I shall live or die I put me in
the king’s hands and yours. Then Sir Launcelot wist not what to do, for
he had lever than all the good of the world he might have been revenged
upon Sir Meliagrance; and Sir Launcelot looked toward queen Guenever if
he might espy by any sign or countenance what she would have done. And
then the queen wagged her head upon Sir Launcelot, as though she would
say slay him. Full well knew Sir Launcelot by the wagging of her head
that she would have had him dead: then Sir Launcelot bad him rise for
shame, and perform that battle to the utterance. Nay, said Sir
Meliagrance, I will never arise until ye take me as yielden and
recreant. I shall proffer you large proffers, said Sir Launcelot, that
is to say, I shall unarm my head and my left quarter of my body, all
that may be unarmed, and let bind my left hand behind me, so that it
shall not help me, and right so I shall do battle with you. Then Sir
Meliagrance start up upon his legs, and said on high, My lord Arthur,
take heed to this proffer, for I will take it, and let him be disarmed
and bounden according to his proffer. What say ye, said king Arthur
unto Sir Launcelot, will ye abide by your proffer? Yea, my lord, said
Sir Launcelot, I will never go from that I have once said. Then the
knights parters of the field disarmed Sir Launcelot, first his head,
and sithen his left arm and his left side, and they bound his left arm
behind his back, without shield or anything, and then they were put
together. Wit you well there was many a lady and knight marvelled that
Sir Launcelot would jeopardy himself in such wise. Then Sir Meliagrance
came with his sword all on high, and Sir Launcelot shewed him openly
his bare head and the bare left side. And when he wend to have smitten
him upon the bare head, then lightly he avoided the left leg and the
left side, and put his right hand and his sword to that stroke, and so
put it on side with great sleight, and then with great force Sir
Launcelot smote him on the helmet such a buffet that the stroke carved
the head in two parts. Then there was no more to do but he was drawn
out of the field. And at the great instance of the knights of the Table
Round the king suffered him to be interred, and the mention made upon
him who slew him, and for what cause he was slain. And then the king
and the queen made more of Sir Launcelot, and more he was cherished,
than ever he was aforehand.
CHAP. X.
_How Sir Urre came into Arthur’s court for to be healed of his wounds,
and how king Arthur would begin to handle him._
Then, as the French book maketh mention, there was a good knight in the
land of Hungary, his name was Sir Urre, and he was an adventurous
knight, and in all places where he might hear of any deeds of worship,
there would he be. So it happened in Spain there was an earl’s son, his
name was Alphegus, and at a great tournament in Spain this Sir Urre,
knight of Hungary, and Sir Alphegus of Spain, encountered together for
very envy, and so either undertook other to the utterance, and by
fortune Sir Urre slew Sir Alphegus, the earl’s son of Spain. But this
knight that was slain had given Sir Urre, or ever he was slain, seven
great wounds, three on the head, and four on his body and upon his left
hand. And this Sir Alphegus had a mother, the which was a great
sorceress, and she, for the despite of her son’s death, wrought by her
subtile crafts that Sir Urre should never be whole, but ever his wounds
should one time fester and another time bleed, so that he should never
be whole, until the best knight of the world had searched his wounds,
and thus she made her avaunt, where through it was known that Sir Urre
should never be whole. Then his mother let make an horse-litter, and
put him therein under two palfreys, and then she took Sir Urre’s sister
with him, a full fair damsel, whose name was Felelolie, and then she
took a page with him to keep their horses, and so they led Sir Urre
through many countries. For, as the French book saith, she led him so
seven year through all lands christened, and never she could find no
knight that might ease her son. So she came into Scotland, and into the
lands of England, and by fortune she came nigh the feast of Pentecost
until Arthur’s court, that at that time was holden at Carlisle. And
when she came there, then she made it openly to be known how that she
was come into that land for to heal her son.
Then king Arthur let call the lady, and asked her the cause why she
brought that hurt knight into that land. My most noble king, said that
lady, wit you well I brought him hither for to be healed of his wounds,
that of all this seven year he might not be whole. And then she told
the king where he was wounded, and of whom, and how his mother had
discovered in her pride how she had wrought that by enchantment, so
that he should never be whole until the best knight of the world had
searched his wounds:—And so I have passed through all the lands
christened to have him healed, except this land: and if I fail to heal
him here in this land, I will never take more pain upon me, and that is
pity, for he was a good knight, and of great nobleness. What is his
name? said Arthur. My good and gracious lord, she said, his name is Sir
Urre of the Mount. In good time, said the king, and sith ye are come
into this land ye are right welcome. And wit you well here shall your
son be healed, and ever any christian man may heal him. And for to give
all other men of worship courage I myself will assay to handle your
son, and so shall all the kings, dukes, and earls that be here present
with me at this time; thereto will I command them, and well I wot they
shall obey and do after my commandment. And wit you well, said king
Arthur unto Urre’s sister, I shall begin to handle him and search unto
my power, not presuming upon me that I am so worthy to heal your son by
my deeds, but I will encourage other men of worship to do as I will do.
And then the king commanded all the kings, dukes, and earls, and all
noble knights of the Round Table that were there that time present, to
come into the meadow of Carlisle. And so at that time there were but an
hundred and ten of the Round Table, for forty knights were that time
away. And so here we must begin at king Arthur, as is kindly to begin
at him that was the most man of worship that was christened at that
time.
CHAP. XI.
_How king Arthur handled Sir Urre, and after him many other knights of
the Round Table._
Then king Arthur looked upon Sir Urre, and the king thought he was a
full likely man when he was whole. And king Arthur made him to be taken
down off the litter, and laid him upon the earth, and there was laid a
cushion of gold that he should kneel upon. And then Arthur said, Noble
fair knight, me repenteth of thy hurt, and for to courage all other
noble knights I will pray thee softly to suffer me to handle your
wounds. Most noble christened king, said Urre, do as ye list, for I am
at the mercy of God, and at your commandment. So then Arthur softly
handled him, and then some of his wounds renewed upon bleeding. Then
the king Clariance of Northumberland searched, and it would not be. And
then Sir Barant le Apres, that was called the king with the hundred
knights, he assayed, and failed; and so did king Urience, of the land
of Gore. So did king Anguissance of Ireland; so did king Nentres of
Garloth; so did king Carados of Scotland; so did the duke Galahalt, the
haut prince; so did Constantine, that was Sir Carados’s son, of