Le Morte Darthur
Cornwall; so did duke Chalance of Clarance; so did the earl Ulbause; so
did the earl Lambaile; so did the earl Aristause. Then came in Sir
Gawaine, with his three sons, Sir Gingalin, Sir Florence, and Sir
Lovel; these two were begotten upon Sir Brandiles’s sister; and all
they failed. Then came in Sir Agravaine, Sir Gaheris, Sir Mordred, and
the good knight Sir Gareth, which was of very knighthood worth all the
brethren. So came knights of Launcelot’s kin, but Sir Launcelot was not
that time in the court, for he was that time upon his adventures. Then
Sir Lionel, Sir Ector de Maris, Sir Bors de Ganis, Sir Blamor de Ganis,
Sir Bleoberis de Ganis, Sir Gahalantine, Sir Galihodin, Sir Menadeuke,
Sir Villiars the valiant, Sir Hebes le Renoumes. All these were of Sir
Launcelot’s kin, and all they failed. Then came in Sir Sagramor le
Desirous, Sir Dodinas le Savage, Sir Dinadan, Sir Bruin le Noire, that
Sir Kay named la Cote Male Taile, and Sir Kay the seneschal, Sir Kay de
Stranges, Sir Meliot de Logris, Sir Petipase of Winchelsea, Sir
Galleron of Galway, Sir Melion of the mountain, Sir Cardok, Sir Uwaine
les Avoutres, and Sir Ozanna le Cure Hardy. Then came in Sir Astamore,
and Sir Gromere, Grummor’s son, Sir Crosselme, Sir Servause le Breuse,
that was called a passing strong knight. For, as the book saith, the
chief Lady of the lake feasted this Sir Launcelot, and Sir Servause le
Breuse, and when she had feasted them both at sundry times, she prayed
them to give her a boon, and they granted it her, and then she prayed
Sir Servause that he would promise her never to do battle against Sir
Launcelot du Lake; and in the same wise she prayed Sir Launcelot never
to do battle against Sir Servause; and so either promised her. For the
French book saith that Sir Servause had never courage nor lust to do
battle against no man, but if it were against giants, and against
dragons, and wild beasts. So we pass unto them that, at the king’s
request, made them all that were there at that high feast, as of the
knights of the Table Round, for to search Sir Urre: to that intent the
king did it, to wit which was the noblest knight among them.
Then there came Sir Aglovale, Sir Durnore, Sir Tor, and king Pellinore
begat them all, first, Sir Tor, Sir Aglovale, Sir Durnore, Sir Lamorak,
the most noblest knight, one that ever was in Arthur’s days as for a
worldly knight, and Sir Percivale that was peerless, except Sir
Galahad, in holy deeds, but they died in the quest of the Sancgreal.
Then came Sir Griflet le Fise de Dieu, Sir Luca the botteler, Sir
Bedivere his brother, Sir Brandiles, Sir Constantine, Sir Cador’s son
of Cornwall, that was king after Arthur’s days, and Sir Clegis, Sir
Sadok, Sir Dinas le seneschal of Cornwall, Sir Fergus, Sir Driant, Sir
Lambegus, Sir Clarrus of Cleremont, Sir Cloddrus, Sir Hectimere, Sir
Edward of Carnarvan, Sir Dinas, Sir Priamus, that was christened by Sir
Tristram the noble knight, and these three were brethren; Sir Hellaine
le Blank, that was son unto Sir Bors and king Brandegoris’s daughter,
and Sir Brian de Listinoise; Sir Gautere, Sir Reynold, Sir Gillemere,
were three brethren that Sir Launcelot won upon a bridge in Sir Kay’s
arms. Sir Guiart le Petite, Sir Bellangere le Beuse, that was son to
the good knight Sir Alisander le Orphelin, that was slain by the
treason of king Mark. Also that traitor king slew the noble knight Sir
Tristram, as he sat harping afore his lady La Beale Isoud, with a
trenchant glaive, for whose death was much bewailing of every knight
that ever were in Arthur’s days: there were never none so bewailed as
was Sir Tristram and Sir Lamorak, for they were traitorously slain, Sir
Tristram by king Mark, and Sir Lamorak by Sir Gawaine and his brethren.
And this Sir Bellangere revenged the death of his father Alisander, and
Sir Tristram, slew king Mark, and La Beale Isoud died, swooning upon
the cross of Sir Tristram, whereof was great pity. And all that were
with king Mark, that were consenting to the death of Sir Tristram, were
slain, as Sir Andred, and many other. Then came Sir Hebes, Sir
Morganore, Sir Sentraile, Sir Suppinabiles, Sir Bellangere le Orgulous,
that the good knight Sir Lamorak wan in plain battle; Sir Nerovens, and
Sir Plenorius, two good knights that Sir Launcelot wan; Sir Darras, Sir
Harry le Fise Lake, Sir Erminide, brother to king Hermance for whom Sir
Palamides fought at the red city with two brethren; and Sir Selises of
the dolorous tower, Sir Edward of Orkney, and Sir Ironside, that was
called the noble knight of the red lawns, that Sir Gareth wan for the
love of dame Liones; Sir Arrok de Grevant, Sir Degrane Sance Vilany,
that fought with the giant of the black lowe; Sir Epinogris, that was
the king’s son of Northumberland; Sir Pelleas, that loved the lady
Ettard, and he had died for her love, had not been one of the ladies of
the lake, her name was dame Nimue, and she wedded Sir Pelleas, and she
saved him that he was never slain, and he was a full noble knight; and
Sir Lamiel of Cardiff, that was a great lover; Sir Plaine de Force, Sir
Meleaus de Lile, Sir Bobart le Cure Hardy, that was king Arthur’s son,
Sir Mador de la Porte, Sir Colgrevance, Sir Hervise de la Forest
Savage, Sir Marrok, the good knight that was betrayed with his wife,
for she made him seven year a werwolf; Sir Persant, Sir Pertilope his
brother, that was called the green knight, and Sir Perimones, brother
to them both, that was called the red knight, that Sir Gareth wan when
he was called Beaumains. All these hundred knights and ten searched Sir
Urre’s wounds, by the commandment of king Arthur.
CHAP. XII.
_How Sir Launcelot was commanded by Arthur to handle his wounds, and
anon he was all whole, and how they thanked God._
Mercy, said king Arthur, where is Sir Launcelot du Lake, that he is not
here at this time? Thus as they stood and spake of many things, there
was espied Sir Launcelot, that came riding toward them, and told the
king. Peace, said the king, let no manner thing be said until he be
come to us. So when Sir Launcelot espied king Arthur he descended from
his horse, and came to the king, and saluted him, and them all. Anon as
the maid, Sir Urre’s sister, saw Sir Launcelot, she ran to her brother
there as he lay in his litter, and said, Brother, here is come a knight
that my heart giveth greatly unto. Fair sister, said Sir Urre, so doth
my heart light against him, and certainly I hope now to be healed, for
my heart giveth unto him more than to all these that have searched me.
Then said king Arthur unto Sir Launcelot, Ye must do as we have done;
and told Sir Launcelot what they had done, and shewed him them all that
had searched him. Heaven defend me, said Sir Launcelot, when so many
kings and knights have assayed and failed, that I should presume upon
me to achieve that all ye my lords might not achieve. Ye shall not
choose, said king Arthur, for I will command you for to do as we all
have done. My most renowned lord, said Sir Launcelot, ye know well I
dare not nor may not disobey your commandment, but and I might or
durst, wit you well I would not take upon me to touch that wounded
knight, to that intent that I should pass all other knights; heaven
defend me from that shame. Ye take it wrong, said king Arthur, ye shall
not do it for no presumption, but for to bear us fellowship, insomuch
ye be a fellow of the Table Round, and wit you well, said king Arthur,
and ye prevail not and heal him, I dare say there is no knight in this
land may heal him, and therefore I pray you do as we have done. And
then all the kings and knights for the most part prayed Sir Launcelot
to search him, and then the wounded knight Sir Urre set him up weakly,
and prayed Sir Launcelot heartily, saying, Courteous knight, I require
thee for God’s sake heal my wounds, for me thinketh, ever sithen ye
came here my wounds grieve me not. Ah my fair lord, said Sir Launcelot,
Jesu would that I might help you, I shame me sore that I should be thus
rebuked, for never was I able in worthiness to do so high a thing. Then
Sir Launcelot kneeled down by the wounded knight, saying, My lord
Arthur, I must do your commandment, the which is sore against my heart.
And then he held up his hands, and looked into the east, saying
secretly unto himself, Thou blessed Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, I
beseech thee of thy mercy, that my simple worship and honesty be saved,
and thou, blessed Trinity, thou mayest give power to heal this sick
knight, by thy great virtue and grace of thee, but, good Lord, never of
myself. And then Sir Launcelot prayed Sir Urre to let him see his head;
and then, devoutly kneeling, he ransacked the three wounds, that they
bled a little, and forthwith all the wounds fair healed, and seemed as
they had been whole a seven year. And in likewise he searched his body
of other three wounds, and they healed in likewise. And then the last
of all he searched the which was in his hand, and, anon, it healed
fair. Then king Arthur, and all the kings and knights, kneeled down,
and gave thanks and lovings unto God, and to his blessed mother, and
ever Sir Launcelot wept as he had been a child that had been beaten.
Then king Arthur let array priests and clerks in the most devoutest
manner, to bring in Sir Urre within Carlisle, with singing and loving
to God. And when this was done, the king let clothe him in the richest
manner that could be thought; and then were but few better made knights
in all the court, for he was passingly well made and bigly: and Arthur
asked Sir Urre how he felt himself. My good lord, he said, I felt
myself never so lusty. Will ye just, and do deeds of arms? said king
Arthur. Sir, said Sir Urre, and I had all that longed unto justs, I
would soon be ready.
CHAP. XIII.
_How there was a party made of an hundred knights against an hundred
knights, and of other matters._
Then king Arthur made a party of hundred knights to be against an
hundred knights. And so, upon the morn, they justed for a diamond; but
there justed none of the dangerous knights; and so, for to shorten this
tale, Sir Urre and Sir Lavaine justed best that day, for there was none
of them but he overthrew and pulled down thirty knights; and then, by
the assent of all the kings and lords, Sir Urre and Sir Lavaine were
made knights of the Table Round. And Sir Lavaine cast his love to dame
Felelolie, Sir Urre’s sister, and then they were wedded together with
great joy, and king Arthur gave to every each of them a barony of
lands. And this Sir Urre would never go from Sir Launcelot, but he, and
Sir Lavaine, awaited evermore upon him; and they were in all the court
accounted for good knights, and full desirous in arms; and many noble
deeds they did, for they would have no rest, but ever sought
adventures. Thus they lived in the court, with great nobleness and joy,
long time. But every night and day Sir Agravaine, Sir Gawaine’s
brother, awaited queen Guenever and Sir Launcelot du Lake, to put them
to a rebuke and shame. And so leave I here of this tale, and overskip
great books of Sir Launcelot du Lake, what great adventures he did when
he was called Le Chevaler du Chariot. For, as the French book saith,
because of despite that knights and ladies called him the knight that
rode in the chariot, as he were judged to the gallows; therefore, in
despite of all them that named him so, he was carried in a chariot a
twelve month, for but little after that he had slain Sir Meliagrance in
the queen’s quarrel, he never in a twelve month came on horseback. And,
as the French book saith, he did that twelve month more than forty
battles. And because I have lost the very matter of Le Chevaler du
Chariot, I depart from the tale of Sir Launcelot, and here I go unto