Le Morte Darthur
brother. Then the bishop said, I will gladly: and there he put an habit
upon Sir Launcelot, and there he served God day and night with prayers
and fastings.
Thus the great host abode at Dover. And then Sir Lionel took fifteen
lords with him, and rode to London to seek Sir Launcelot. And there Sir
Lionel was slain and many of his lords. Then Sir Bors de Ganis made the
great host for to go home again. And Sir Bors, Sir Ector de Maris, Sir
Blamor, Sir Bleoberis, with more other of Sir Launcelot’s kin, look on
them to ride all England overthwart and endlong, to seek Sir Launcelot.
So Sir Bors by fortune rode so long till he came to the same chapel
where Sir Launcelot was. And so Sir Bors heard a little bell knell that
rang to mass, and there he alight, and heard mass. And when mass was
done, the bishop, Sir Launcelot, and Sir Bedivere came to Sir Bors. And
when Sir Bors saw Sir Launcelot in that manner clothing, then he prayed
the bishop that he might be in the same suit. And so there was an habit
put upon him, and there he lived in prayers and fasting. And within
half a year there was come Sir Galihud, Sir Galihodin, Sir Blamor, Sir
Bleoberis, Sir Williars, Sir Clarrus, and Sir Gahalantine. So all these
seven noble knights there abode still. And when they saw Sir Launcelot
had taken him unto such perfection, they had no list to depart, but
took such an habit as he had. Thus they endured in great penance six
year, and then Sir Launcelot took the habit of priesthood, and a
twelvemonth he sang mass. And there was none of these other knights but
they read in books, and holp to sing mass, and rang bells, and did
bodily all manner of service. And so their horses went where they
would, for they took no regard of no worldly riches. For when they saw
Sir Launcelot endure such penance, in prayers and fasting, they took no
force what pain they endured, for to see the noblest knight of the
world take such abstinence, that he waxed full lean. And thus upon a
night there came a vision to Sir Launcelot, and charged him, in
remission of his sins, to haste him unto Almesbury,—And by then thou
come there, thou shalt find queen Guenever dead: and therefore take thy
fellows with thee, and purvey them of an horse bier, and fetch thou the
corpse of her, and bury her by her husband the noble king Arthur. So
this vision came to Launcelot thrice in one night.
CHAP. XI.
_How Sir Launcelot went with his seven fellows to Almesbury, and found
there queen Guenever dead, whom they brought to Glastonbury._
Then Sir Launcelot rose up or day, and told the hermit. It were well
done, said the hermit, that ye made you ready, and that ye disobey not
the vision. Then Sir Launcelot took his seven fellows with him, and on
foot they went from Glastonbury to Almesbury, the which is little more
than thirty miles. And thither they came within two days, for they were
weak and feeble to go. And when Sir Launcelot was come to Almesbury,
within the nunnery, queen Guenever died but half an hour before. And
the ladies told Sir Launcelot that queen Guenever told them all, or she
passed, that Sir Launcelot had been priest near a twelvemonth,—And
hither he cometh as fast as he may to fetch my corpse: and beside my
lord king Arthur he shall bury me. Wherefore the queen said in hearing
of them all, I beseech Almighty God that I may never have power to see
Sir Launcelot with my worldly eyes. And thus, said all the ladies, was
ever her prayer these two days, till she was dead. Then Sir Launcelot
saw her visage, but he wept not greatly, but sighed. And so he did all
the observance of the service himself, both the Dirige, and on the morn
he sang mass. And there was ordained an horse bier; and so with an
hundred torches ever burning about the corpse of the queen, and ever
Sir Launcelot with his eight fellows went about the horse bier singing
and reading many an holy orison, and frankincense upon the corpse
incensed. Thus Sir Launcelot and his eight fellows went on foot from
Almesbury unto Glastonbury; and when they were come to the chapel and
the hermitage, there she had a Dirige with great devotion. And on the
morn the hermit, that sometime was bishop of Canterbury, sang the mass
of Requiem with great devotion: and Sir Launcelot was the first that
offered, and then all his eight fellows. And then she was wrapped in
cered cloth of Raines, from the top to the toe in thirty fold, and
after she was put in a web of lead, and then in a coffin of marble. And
when she was put in the earth, Sir Launcelot swooned, and lay long
still, while the hermit came out and awaked him, and said, Ye be to
blame, for ye displease God with such manner of sorrow making. Truly,
said Sir Launcelot, I trust I do not displease God, for He knoweth mine
intent, for my sorrow was not, nor is not, for any rejoicing of sin,
but my sorrow may never have end. For when I remember of her beauty,
and of her noblesse, that was both with her king and with her; so when
I saw his corpse and her corpse so lie together, truly mine heart would
not serve to sustain my careful body. Also when I remember me, how by
my default, mine orgule, and my pride, that they were both laid full
low, that were peerless that ever was living of Christian people, wit
you well, said Sir Launcelot, this remembered, of their kindness and
mine unkindness, sank so to my heart, that I might not sustain myself.
So the French book maketh mention.
CHAP. XII.
_How Sir Launcelot began to sicken, and after died, whose body was
borne to Joyous Gard for to be buried._
Then Sir Launcelot never after eat but little meat, nor drank, till he
was dead; for then he sickened more and more, and dried and dwined
away; for the bishop nor none of his fellows might not make him to eat,
and little he drank, that he was waxen by a cubit shorter than he was,
that the people could not know him; for evermore day and night he
prayed, but sometime he slumbered a broken sleep, and ever he was lying
groveling on the tomb of king Arthur and queen Guenever. And there was
no comfort that the bishop, nor Sir Bors, nor none of his fellows could
make him, it availed not. So within six weeks after, Sir Launcelot fell
sick, and lay in his bed; and then he sent for the bishop that there
was hermit, and all his true fellows. Then Sir Launcelot said with
dreary voice, Sir bishop, I pray you give to me all my rights that
longeth to a Christian man. It shall not need you, said the hermit and
all his fellows, it is but heaviness of your blood: ye shall be well
amended by the grace of God to-morn. My fair lords, said Sir Launcelot,
wit you well, my careful body will into the earth. I have warning more
then now I will say, therefore give me my rights. So when he was
houseled and eneled, and had all that a Christian man ought to have, he
prayed the bishop that his fellows might bear his body to Joyous Gard.
Some men say it was Anwick, and some men say it was Bamborow. Howbeit,
said Sir Launcelot, me repenteth sore, but I made mine avow sometime
that in Joyous Gard I would be buried, and because of breaking of mine
avow, I pray you all lead me thither. Then there was weeping and
wringing of hands among his fellows. So at a season of the night they
went all to their beds, for they all lay in one chamber. And so after
midnight, against day, the bishop that was hermit, as he lay in his bed
asleep, he fell upon a great laughter: and therewith all the fellowship
awoke, and came unto the bishop, and asked him what he ailed. Alas,
said the bishop, why did ye awake me, I was never in all my life so
merry and so well at ease. Wherefore? said Sir Bors. Truly, said the
bishop, here was Sir Launcelot with me, with more angels than ever I
saw men upon one day; and I saw the angels heave Sir Launcelot unto
heaven, and the gates of heaven opened against him. It is but the
vexing of dreams, said Sir Bors, for I doubt not Sir Launcelot aileth
nothing but good. It may well be, said the bishop, go ye to his bed,
and then shall ye prove the sooth. So when Sir Bors and his fellows
came to his bed they found him stark dead, and he lay as he had smiled,
and the sweetest savour about him that ever they felt. Then was there
weeping and wringing of hands, and the greatest dole they made that
ever made men. And on the morn the bishop did his mass of Requiem; and
after the bishop and all the nine knights put Sir Launcelot in the same
horse bier that queen Guenever was laid in tofore that she was buried:
and so the bishop and they altogether went with the corpse of Sir
Launcelot daily, till they came to Joyous Gard, and ever they had an
hundred torches burning about him; and so within fifteen days they came
to Joyous Gard. And there they laid his corpse in the body of the
quire, and sang and read many psalters and prayers over him and about
him; and ever his visage was laid open and naked, that all folk might
behold him; for such was the custom in those days, that all men of
worship should so lie with open visage till that they were buried. And
right thus as they were at their service, there came Sir Ector de
Maris, that had seven year sought all England, Scotland, and Wales,
seeking his brother Sir Launcelot.
CHAP. XIII.
_How Sir Ector found Sir Launcelot his brother dead. And how
Constantine reigned next after Arthur, and of the end of this book._
And when Sir Ector heard such noise and light in the quire of Joyous
Gard, he alight and put his horse from him, and came into the quire,
and there he saw men sing and weep. And all they knew Sir Ector, but he
knew not them. Then went Sir Bors unto Sir Ector, and told him how
there lay his brother Sir Launcelot dead. And then Sir Ector threw his
shield, sword, and helm from him; and when he beheld Sir Launcelot’s
visage he fell down in a swoon. And when he awaked it were hard any
tongue to tell the doleful complaints that he made for his brother. Ah,
Launcelot, he said, thou were head of all Christian knights; and now I
dare say, said Sir Ector, thou Sir Launcelot, there thou liest, that
thou were never matched of earthly knight’s hand; and thou were the
courtiest knight that ever bare shield; and thou were the truest friend
to thy lover that ever bestrode horse; and thou were the truest lover
of a sinful man that ever loved woman; and thou were the kindest man
that ever strake with sword; and thou were the goodliest person ever
came among press of knights; and thou was the meekest man and the
gentlest that ever ate in hall among ladies; and thou were the sternest
knight to thy mortal foe that ever put spear in the rest.
Then there was weeping and dolour out of measure. Thus they kept Sir
Launcelot’s corpse on loft fifteen days, and then they buried it with
great devotion. And then at leisure they went all with the bishop of
Canterbury to his hermitage, and there they were together more than a
month. Then Sir Constantine, that was Sir Cador’s son, of Cornwall, was
chosen king of England; and he was a full noble knight, and
worshipfully he ruled this realm. And then this king Constantine sent
for the bishop of Canterbury, for he heard say where he was; and so he
was restored unto his bishopric, and left that hermitage; and Sir
Bedivere was there ever still hermit to his life’s end. Then Sir Bors
de Ganis, Sir Ector de Maris, Sir Gahalantine, Sir Galihud, Sir
Galihodin, Sir Blamor, Sir Bleoberis, Sir Williars le Valiant, Sir
Clarrus of Cleremont; all these knights drew them to their countries.
Howbeit king Constantine would have had them with him, but they would
not abide in this realm; and there they lived in their countries as
holy men. And some English books make mention that they went never out