Le Morte Darthur
_How by misadventure of an adder the battle began, where Mordred was
slain, and Arthur hurt to the death._
Then were they condescended that king Arthur and Sir Mordred should
meet betwixt both their hosts, and every each of them should bring
fourteen persons. And they came with this word unto king Arthur. Then
said he, I am glad that this is done. And so he went into the field.
And when Arthur should depart, he warned all his host that and they see
any sword drawn, Look ye come on fiercely, and slay that traitor Sir
Mordred, for I in no wise trust him. In like wise Sir Mordred warned
his host that,—And ye see any sword drawn, look that ye come on
fiercely, and so slay all that ever before you standeth: for in no wise
I will not trust for this treaty: for I know well my father will be
avenged upon me. And so they met as their pointment was, and so they
were agreed and accorded thoroughly: and wine was fetched, and they
drank. Right so came an adder out of a little heath bush, and it stung
a knight on the foot. And when the knight felt him stungen, he looked
down and saw the adder, and then he drew his sword to slay the adder,
and thought of none other harm. And when the host on both parties saw
that sword drawn, then they blew beames, trumpets, and horns, and
shouted grimly. And so both hosts dressed them together. And king
Arthur took his horse, and said, Alas this unhappy day, and so rode to
his party: and Sir Mordred in likewise. And never was there seen a more
dolefuller battle in no christian land. For there was but rushing and
riding, foining and striking, and many a grim word was there spoken
either to other, and many a deadly stroke. But ever king Arthur rode
throughout the battle of Sir Mordred many times, and did full nobly as
a noble king should; and at all times he fainted never. And Sir Mordred
that day put him in devoir, and in great peril. And thus they fought
all the long day, and never stinted, till the noble knights were laid
to the cold ground, and ever they fought still, till it was near night,
and by that time was there an hundred thousand laid dead upon the down.
Then was Arthur wroth out of measure, when he saw his people so slain
from him. Then the king looked about him, and then was he ware of all
his host, and of all his good knights, were left no more on live but
two knights, that was Sir Lucan de butlere, and his brother Sir
Bedivere: and they full were sore wounded. Jesu mercy, said the king,
where are all my noble knights becomen. Alas that ever I should see
this doleful day. For now, said Arthur, I am come to mine end. But
would to God that I wist where were that traitor Sir Mordred, that hath
caused all this mischief. Then was king Arthur ware where Sir Mordred
leaned upon his sword among a great heap of dead men. Now give me my
spear, said Arthur unto Sir Lucan, for yonder I have espied the traitor
that all this woe hath wrought. Sir, let him be, said Sir Lucan, for he
is unhappy: and if ye pass this unhappy day, ye shall be right well
revenged upon him. Good lord, remember ye of your night’s dream, and
what the spirit of Sir Gawaine told you this night, yet God of his
great goodness hath preserved you hitherto. Therefore, for God’s sake,
my lord, leave off by this. For blessed be God ye have won the field:
for here we be three on live, and with Sir Mordred is none on live. And
if ye leave off now, this wicked day of destiny is past. Tide me death,
betide me life, saith the king, now I see him yonder alone, he shall
never escape mine hands, for at a better avail shall I never have him.
God speed you well, said Sir Bedivere. Then the king gat his spear in
both his hands, and ran toward Sir Mordred, crying, Traitor, now is thy
death day come. And when Sir Mordred heard Sir Arthur, he ran until him
with his sword drawn in his hand. And then king Arthur smote Sir
Mordred under the shield, with a foin of his spear throughout the body
more than a fathom. And when Sir Mordred felt that he had his death’s
wound, he thrust himself, with the might that he had, up to the bur of
king Arthur’s spear. And right so he smote his father Arthur with his
sword holden in both his hands, on the side of the head, that the sword
pierced the helmet and the brain-pan, and therewithal Sir Mordred fell
stark dead to the earth. And the noble Arthur fell in a swoon to the
earth, and there he swooned oft-times. And Sir Lucan de butlere and Sir
Bedivere oft-times heaved him up, and so weakly they led him betwixt
them both to a little chapel not far from the sea side. And when the
king was there, he thought him well eased. Then heard they people cry
in the field. Now go thou, Sir Lucan, said the king, and do me to wit
what betokens that noise in the field. So Sir Lucan departed, for he
was grievously wounded in many places. And so as he went, he saw and
hearkened by the moon-light, how the pillers and robbers were come into
the field to pill and to rob many a full noble knight of broaches and
beads, of many a good ring, and of many a rich jewel; and who that were
not dead all out, there they slew them for their harness and their
riches. When Sir Lucan understood this work, he came to the king as
soon as he might, and told him all what he had heard and seen.
Therefore by mine advice, said Sir Lucan, it is best that we bring you
to some town. I would it were so, said the king,—
CHAP. V.
_How king Arthur commanded to cast his sword Excalibur into the water,
and how he was delivered to ladies in a barge._
But I may not stand, my head works so. Ah, Sir Launcelot, said king
Arthur, this day have I sore missed thee. Alas, that ever I was against
thee, for now have I my death, whereof Sir Gawaine me warned in my
dream. Then Sir Lucan took up the king the one part, and Sir Bedivere
the other part, and in the lifting, the king swooned, and Sir Lucan
fell in a swoon with the lift, that the part of his bowels fell out of
his body, and therewith the noble knight’s heart brast. And when king
Arthur came to himself again, he beheld Sir Lucan how he lay foaming at
the mouth, and part of his bowels lay at his feet. Alas, said the king,
this is unto me a full heavy sight to see this noble duke so die for my
sake, for he would have holpen me that had more need of help than I.
Alas, he would not complain him, his heart was so set to help me. Now
Jesu have mercy upon his soul. Then Sir Bedivere wept for the death of
his brother. Leave this mourning and weeping, said the king, for all
this will not avail me: for, wit thou well, and I might live myself the
death of Sir Lucan would grieve me evermore; but my time hieth fast,
said the king. Therefore, said Arthur, take thou Excalibur, my good
sword, and go with it to yonder water side, and when thou comest there,
I charge thee throw my sword in that water, and come again, and tell me
what thou there seest. My lord, said Bedivere, your commandment shall
be done, and lightly bring you word again. So Sir Bedivere departed,
and by the way he beheld that noble sword, that the pommel and haft
were all of precious stones, and then he said to himself, If I throw
this rich sword in the water, thereof shall never come good, but harm
and loss. And then Sir Bedivere hid Excalibur under a tree. And as soon
as he might he came again unto the king, and said he had been at the
water, and had thrown the sword into the water. What sawest thou there?
said the king. Sir, he said, I saw nothing but waves and winds. That is
untruly said of thee, said the king; therefore go thou lightly again,
and do my command as thou art to me lief and dear, spare not, but throw
it in. Then Sir Bedivere returned again, and took the sword in his
hand; and then him thought sin and shame to throw away that noble
sword; and so eft he hid the sword, and returned again, and told to the
king that he had been at the water, and done his commandment. What saw
thou there? said the king. Sir, he said, I saw nothing but the waters
wap and the waves wan. Ah traitor, untrue, said king Arthur, now hast
thou betrayed me twice. Who would have wend that thou that hast been to
me so lief and dear, and thou art named a noble knight, and would
betray me for the riches of the sword. But now go again lightly, for
thy long tarrying putteth me in great jeopardy of my life, for I have
taken cold. And but if thou do now as I bid thee, if ever I may see
thee, I shall slay thee with mine own hands, for thou wouldest for my
rich sword see me dead. Then Sir Bedivere departed, and went to the
sword, and lightly took it up, and went to the water side, and there he
bound the girdle about the hilts, and then he threw the sword as far
into the water as he might, and there came an arm and an hand above the
water, and met it, and caught it, and so shook it thrice and
brandished, and then vanished away the hand with the sword in the
water. So Sir Bedivere came again to the king, and told him what he
saw. Alas, said the king, help me hence, for I dread me I have tarried
over long. Then Sir Bedivere took the king upon his back, and so went
with him to that water side. And when they were at the water side, even
fast by the bank hoved a little barge, with many fair ladies in it, and
among them all was a queen, and all they had black hoods, and all they
wept and shrieked when they saw king Arthur. Now put me into the barge,
said the king: and so he did softly. And there received him three
queens with great mourning, and so they set him down, and in one of
their laps king Arthur laid his head, and then that queen said, Ah,
dear brother, why have ye tarried so long from me? Alas, this wound on
your head hath caught over much cold. And so then they rowed from the
land; and Sir Bedivere beheld all those ladies go from him. Then Sir
Bedivere cried, Ah, my lord Arthur, what shall become of me now ye go
from me, and leave me here alone among mine enemies. Comfort thyself,
said the king, and do as well as thou mayest, for in me is no trust for
to trust in. For I will into the vale of Avilion, to heal me of my
grievous wound. And if thou hear never more of me, pray for my soul.
But ever the queens and the ladies wept and shrieked, that it was pity
to hear. And as soon as Sir Bedivere had lost the sight of the barge,
he wept and wailed, and so took the forest, and so he went all that
night, and in the morning he was ware betwixt two holts hoar of a
chapel and an hermitage.
CHAP. VI.
_How Sir Bedivere found him on the morrow dead in an hermitage, and how
he abode there with the hermit._
Then was Sir Bedivere glad, and thither he went; and when he came into
the chapel, he saw where lay an hermit groveling on all four, there
fast by a tomb was new graven. When the hermit saw Sir Bedivere, he
knew him well, for he was but a little before bishop of Canterbury,
that Sir Mordred banished. Sir, said Sir Bedivere, what man is there
interred that ye pray so fast for? Fair son, said the hermit, I wot not
verily, but by deeming. But this night, at midnight, here came a number
of ladies, and brought hither a dead corpse, and prayed me to bury him;
and here they offered an hundred tapers, and gave me an hundred
besants. Alas, said Sir Bedivere, that was my lord king Arthur, that
here lieth buried in this chapel! Then Sir Bedivere swooned, and when
he awoke he prayed the hermit he might abide with him still there, to
live with fasting and prayers. For from hence will I never go, said Sir
Bedivere, by my will, but all the days of my life here to pray for my
lord Arthur. Ye are welcome to me, said the hermit, for I know you
better than ye ween that I do. Ye are the bold Bedivere, and the full
noble duke Sir Lucan de butlere was your brother. Then Sir Bedivere