Le Morte Darthur
armed him lightly, and mounted upon his horse. And either of the
knights gat great spears in their hands, and the host without stood
still all apart, and the noble knights came out of the city by a great
number, insomuch that when Arthur saw the number of men and knights he
marvelled, and said to himself, Alas, that ever Sir Launcelot was
against me, for now I see he hath forborne me. And so the covenant was
made, there should no man nigh them, nor deal with them, till the one
were dead or yielden.
CHAP. XXI.
_How Sir Gawaine and Sir Launcelot did battle together, and how Sir
Gawaine was overthrown and hurt._
Then Sir Gawaine and Sir Launcelot departed a great way in sunder, and
then they came together with all their horses’ might as they might run,
and either smote other in midst of their shields, but the knights were
so strong, and their spears so big, that their horses might not endure
their buffets, and so the horses fell to the earth. And then they
avoided their horses, and dressed their shields afore them. Then they
stood together, and gave many sad strokes on divers places of their
bodies, that the blood brast out on many sides and places. Then had Sir
Gawaine such a grace and gift that an holy man had given to him, that
every day in the year, from underne till high noon, his might increased
those three hours, as much as thrice his strength, and that caused Sir
Gawaine to win great honour. And for his sake king Arthur made an
ordinance that all manner of battles for any quarrels that should be
done before king Arthur, should begin at underne, and all was done for
Sir Gawaine’s love, that by likelihood if that Sir Gawaine were on the
one part he should have the better in battle, while his strength
endured three hours, but there were but few knights that time living
that knew this advantage that Sir Gawaine had, but king Arthur all
only. Thus Sir Launcelot fought with Sir Gawaine, and when Sir
Launcelot felt his might evermore increase, Sir Launcelot wondered, and
dread him sore to be shamed. For, as the French book saith, Sir
Launcelot wend, when he felt Sir Gawaine double his strength, that he
had been a fiend and no earthly man, wherefore Sir Launcelot traced and
traversed, and covered himself with his shield, and kept his might and
his braid during three hours: and that while Sir Gawaine gave him many
sad brunts and many sad strokes, that all the knights that beheld Sir
Launcelot marvelled how he might endure him, but full little understood
they that travail that Sir Launcelot had for to endure him. And then
when it was past noon, Sir Gawaine had no more but his own might. Then
Sir Launcelot felt him so come down; then he stretched him up, and
stood near Sir Gawaine, and said thus, My lord Sir Gawaine, now I feel
ye have done, now my lord Sir Gawaine I must do my part, for many great
and grievous strokes I have endured you this day with great pain. Then
Sir Launcelot doubled his strokes, and gave Sir Gawaine such a buffet
on the helmet, that he fell down on his side, and Sir Launcelot
withdrew him from him. Why withdrawest thou thee? said Sir Gawaine; now
turn again, false traitor knight, and slay me; for and thou leave me
thus, when I am whole I shall do battle with thee again.—I shall
endure you, sir, by God’s grace, but wit thou well, Sir Gawaine, I will
never smite a felled knight. And so Sir Launcelot went into the city,
and Sir Gawaine was borne into one of king Arthur’s pavilions, and
leeches were brought to him, and searched and salved with soft
ointments. And then Sir Launcelot said, Now have good day, my lord the
king, for, wit you well, ye win no worship at these walls; and if I
would my knights out bring, there should many a man die. Therefore, my
lord Arthur, remember you of old kindness, and however I fare Jesu be
your guide in all places.
CHAP. XXII.
_Of the sorrow that king Arthur made for the war, and of another battle
where also Sir Gawaine had the worse._
Alas, said the king, that ever this unhappy war was begun, for ever Sir
Launcelot forbeareth me in all places, and in likewise my kin, and that
is seen well this day by my nephew Sir Gawaine. Then king Arthur fell
sick for sorrow of Sir Gawaine, that he was sore hurt, and because of
the war betwixt him and Sir Launcelot. So then they on king Arthur’s
party kept the siege with little war withoutforth, and they withinforth
kept their walls, and defended them when need was. Thus Sir Gawaine lay
sick about three weeks in his tents, with all manner of leech-craft
that might be had: and as soon as Sir Gawaine might go and ride, he
armed him at all points, and start upon a courser, and gat a spear in
his hand, and so he came riding afore the chief gate of Benwick, and
there he cried on high, Where art thou, Sir Launcelot? come forth thou
false traitor knight, and recreant, for I am here, Sir Gawaine, will
prove this that I say on thee. All this language Sir Launcelot heard,
and then he said thus, Sir Gawaine, me repenteth of your foul saying,
that ye will not cease of your language, for you wot well, Sir Gawaine,
I know your might, and all that ye may do, and well ye wot, Sir
Gawaine, ye may not greatly hurt me. Come down, traitor knight, said
he, and make it good the contrary with thy hands; for it mishapped me
the last battle to be hurt of thy hands, therefore, wit thou well, that
I am come this day to make amends, for I ween this day to lay thee as
low as thou laidest me. Defend me, said Sir Launcelot, that ever I be
so far in your danger as ye have been in mine, for then my days were
done. But Sir Gawaine, said Sir Launcelot, ye shall not think that I
tarry long, but sithen that ye so unknightly call me of treason, ye
shall have both your hands full of me. And then Sir Launcelot armed him
at all points, and mounted upon his horse, and gat a great spear in his
hand, and rode out at the gate. And both the hosts were assembled, of
them without, and of them within, and stood in array full manly. And
both parties were charged to hold them still, to see and behold the
battle of these two noble knights. And then they laid their spears in
their rests, and they came together as thunder. And Sir Gawaine brake
his spear upon Sir Launcelot in an hundred pieces unto his hand, and
Sir Launcelot smote him with a greater might, that Sir Gawaine’s horse
feet raised, and so the horse and he fell to the earth. Then Sir
Gawaine deliverly avoided his horse, and put his shield afore him, and
eagerly drew his sword, and bad Sir Launcelot, Alight, traitor knight,
for if this mare’s son hath failed me, wit thou well a king’s son and a
queen’s son shall not fail thee.
Then Sir Launcelot avoided his horse, and dressed his shield afore him,
and drew his sword, and so stood they together, and gave many sad
strokes, that all men on both parties had thereof passing great wonder.
But when Sir Launcelot felt Sir Gawaine’s might so marvellously
increase, he then withheld his courage and his wind, and kept himself
wonder covert of his might, and under his shield he traced and
traversed here and there, to break Sir Gawaine’s strokes and his
courage; and Sir Gawaine enforced himself with all his might and power
to destroy Sir Launcelot, for, as the French book saith, ever as Sir
Gawaine’s might increased, right so increased his wind and his evil
will. Thus Sir Gawaine did great pain unto Sir Launcelot three hours,
that he had great pain for to defend him. And when the three hours were
passed, that Sir Launcelot felt that Sir Gawaine was come to his own
proper strength, then Sir Launcelot said unto Sir Gawaine, Now have I
proved you twice, that ye are a full dangerous knight, and a wonderful
man of your might, and many wonderful deeds have you done in your days:
for by your might increasing you have deceived many a full noble and
valiant knight; and now I feel that ye have done your mighty deeds. Now
wit you well I must do my deeds. And then Sir Launcelot stood near Sir
Gawaine, and then Sir Launcelot doubled his strokes, and Sir Gawaine
defended him mightily. But nevertheless Sir Launcelot smote such a
stroke upon Sir Gawaine’s helm, and upon the old wound, that Sir
Gawaine sinked down upon his one side in a swoon. And anon as he did
awake, he waved and foined at Sir Launcelot as he lay, and said,
Traitor knight, wit thou well I am not yet slain: come thou near me,
and perform this battle unto the uttermost. I will no more do than I
have done, said Sir Launcelot; for when I see you on foot I will do
battle upon you all the while I see you stand on your feet; but for to
smite a wounded man, that may not stand, God defend me from such a
shame. And then he turned him and went his way toward the city, and Sir
Gawaine evermore calling him traitor knight, and said, Wit thou well,
Sir Launcelot, when I am whole, I shall do battle with thee again; for
I shall never leave thee till that one of us be slain. Thus as this
siege endured, and as Sir Gawaine lay sick near a month, and when he
was well recovered, and ready within three days to do battle again with
Sir Launcelot, right so came tidings unto Arthur from England, that
made king Arthur and all his host to remove.
Here foloweth the xxi book.
The Twenty-first Book.
CHAP. I.
_How Sir Mordred presumed and took on him to be king of England, and
would have married the queen, his uncle’s wife._
As Sir Mordred was ruler of all England, he did do make letters as
though that they came from beyond the sea, and the letters specified
that king Arthur was slain in battle with Sir Launcelot. Wherefore Sir
Mordred made a Parliament, and called the lords together, and there he
made them to choose him king, and so was he crowned at Canterbury, and
held a feast there fifteen days, and afterward he drew him unto
Winchester, and there he took the queen Guenever, and said plainly,
that he would wed her which was his uncle’s wife, and his father’s
wife. And so he made ready for the feast, and a day prefixed that they
should be wedded; wherefore queen Guenever was passing heavy. But she
durst not discover her heart, but spake fair, and agreed to Sir
Mordred’s will. Then she desired of Sir Mordred for to go to London, to
buy all manner of things that longed unto the wedding. And because of
her fair speech Sir Mordred trusted her well enough, and gave her leave
to go. And so when she came to London, she took the tower of London,
and suddenly, in all haste possible, she stuffed it with all manner of
victual, and well garnished it with men, and so kept it. Then when Sir
Mordred wist and understood how he was beguiled, he was passing wroth
out of measure. And a short tale for to make, he went and laid a mighty
siege about the tower of London, and made many great assaults thereat,
and threw many great engines unto them, and shot great guns. But all
might not prevail Sir Mordred, for queen Guenever would never, for fair
speech nor for foul, would never trust to come in his hands again. And
then came the bishop of Canterbury, the which was a noble clerk and an
holy man, and thus he said to Sir Mordred: Sir, what will ye do, will
ye first displease God, and sithen shame yourself and all knighthood?
Is not king Arthur your uncle, no further but your mother’s brother,
and are ye not his son, therefore how may ye wed your father’s wife?
Sir, said the noble clerk, leave this opinion, or else I shall curse
you with book, and bell, and candle. Do thou thy worst, said Sir
Mordred, wit thou well I shall defy thee. Sir, said the bishop, and wit
you well I shall not fear me to do that me ought to do. Also where ye