Le Morte Darthur
else with a sharp sword, and that shall not be long, by my father’s
soul, Uther Pendragon. And therewith the messagers departed passingly
wroth, and king Arthur as wroth, for in evil time came they then, for
the king was passingly wroth for the hurt of Sir Griflet. And so he
commanded a privyman of his chamber, that or it be day his best horse
and armour, with all that belongeth unto his person, be without the
city or to-morrow day. Right so, or to-morrow day, he met with his man
and his horse, and so mounted up, and dressed his shield, and took his
spear, and bade his chamberlain tarry there till he came again.
And so Arthur rode a soft pace till it was day, and then was he aware
of three churls chasing Merlin, and would have slain him. Then the king
rode unto them and bade them, Flee churls! Then were they afeard when
they saw a knight, and fled. O Merlin, said Arthur, here haddest thou
been slain for all thy crafts, had I not been. Nay, said Merlin, not
so, for I could save myself an I would, and thou art more near thy
death than I am, for thou goest to the death-ward, and God be not thy
friend. So as they went thus talking they came to the fountain, and the
rich pavilion there by it. Then king Arthur was ware where sat a knight
armed in a chair. Sir knight, said Arthur, for what cause abidest thou
here, that there may no knight ride this way but if he just with thee,
said the king: I rede thee leave that custom, said Arthur. This custom,
said the knight, have I used and will use maugre who saith nay; and who
is grieved with my custom let him amend it that will. I will amend it,
said Arthur. I shall defend thee, said the knight. Anon he took his
horse, and dressed his shield, and took a spear, and they met so hard
either in other’s shields that they all to-shivered their spears.
Therewith Arthur anon pulled out his sword. Nay, not so, said the
knight, it is fairer that we twain run more together with sharp spears.
I will well, said Arthur, and I had any more spears. I have enow, said
the knight. So there came a squire, and brought two good spears, and
Arthur chose one and he another, so they spurred their horses, and came
together with all their mights, that either brake their spears to their
hands. Then Arthur set hand on his sword. Nay, said the knight, ye
shall do better; ye are a passing good juster as ever I met withal, and
once for the love of the high order of knighthood let us just once
again. I assent me, said Arthur. Anon there were brought two great
spears, and every knight gat a spear, and therewith they ran together
that Arthur’s spear all to-shivered. But the other knight hit him so
hard in midst of the shield that horse and man fell to the earth, and
therewith Arthur was eager, and pulled out his sword, and said, I will
assay thee, Sir knight, on foot, for I have lost the honour on
horseback. I will be on horseback, said the knight. Then was Arthur
wroth, and dressed his shield towards him with his sword drawn. When
the knight saw that, he alight, for him thought no worship to have a
knight at such avail, he to be on horseback, and he on foot, and so he
alight and dressed his shield unto Arthur. And there began a strong
battle with many great strokes, and so hewed with their swords that the
cantels flew in the fields, and much blood they bled both, that all the
place there as they fought was over-bled with blood, and thus they
fought long, and rested them, and then they went to the battle again,
and so hurtled together like two rams that either fell to the earth. So
at the last they smote together, that both their swords met even
together. But the sword of the knight smote king Arthur’s sword in two
pieces, wherefore he was heavy. Then said the knight unto Arthur, Thou
art in my danger whether me list to save thee or slay thee, and but
thou yield thee as overcome and recreant thou shalt die. As for death,
said king Arthur, welcome be it when it cometh; but to yield me unto
thee as recreant I had lever die than to be so shamed. And therewithal
the king leapt unto Pellinore, and took him by the middle, and threw
him down, and rased off his helmet. When the knight felt that he was
adread, for he was a passing big man of might, and anon he brought
Arthur under him, and rased off his helm, and would have smitten off
his head.
CHAP. XXII.
_How Merlin saved Arthur’s life, and threw an enchantment upon king
Pellinore, and made him to sleep._
Therewithal came Merlin, and said, Knight, hold thy hand, for and thou
slay that knight thou puttest this realm in the greatest damage that
ever was realm: for this knight is a man of more worship than thou
wotest of. Why, who is he? said the knight. It is king Arthur. Then
would he have slain him for dread of his wrath, and heaved up his
sword, and therewith Merlin cast an enchantment to the knight, that he
fell to the earth in a great sleep. Then Merlin took up king Arthur,
and rode forth on the knight’s horse. Alas, said Arthur, what hast thou
done, Merlin? hast thou slain this good knight by thy crafts? There
lived not so worshipful a knight as he was; I had lever than the stint
of my land a year that he were onlive. Care ye not, said Merlin, for he
is wholer than ye, for he is but on sleep, and will awake within three
hours. I told you, said Merlin, what a knight he was; here had ye be
slain had I not been. Also there liveth not a bigger knight than he is
one, and he shall hereafter do you right good service, and his name is
Pellinore, and he shall have two sons that shall be passing good men;
save one, they shall have no fellow of prowess and of good living; and
their names shall be Percivale of Wales and Lamerake of Wales: and he
shall tell you the name of your sister’s son that shall be the
destruction of all this realm.
CHAP. XXIII.
_How Arthur by the mean of Merlin gat Excalibur his sword of the Lady
of the lake._
Right so the king and he departed, and went until an hermit that was a
good man and a great leach. So the hermit searched all his wounds and
gave him good salves; so the king was there three days, and then were
his wounds well amended that he might ride and go, and so departed. And
as they rode, Arthur said, I have no sword. No force, said Merlin,
hereby is a sword that shall be yours and I may. So they rode till they
came to a lake, the which was a fair water and broad, and in the midst
of the lake Arthur was ware of an arm clothed in white samite, that
held a fair sword in that hand. Lo, said Merlin, yonder is that sword
that I spake of. With that they saw a damsel going upon the lake: What
damsel is that? said Arthur. That is the Lady of the lake, said Merlin;
and within that lake is a rock, and therein is as fair a place as any
on earth, and richly beseen, and this damsel will come to you anon, and
then speak ye fair to her that she will give you that sword. Anon
withal came the damsel unto Arthur and saluted him, and he her again.
Damsel, said Arthur, what sword is that, that yonder the arm holdeth
above the water? I would it were mine, for I have no sword. Sir Arthur
king, said the damsel, that sword is mine, and if ye will give me a
gift when I ask it you, ye shall have it. By my faith, said Arthur, I
will give you what gift ye will ask. Well, said the damsel, go ye into
yonder barge and row yourself to the sword, and take it and the
scabbard with you, and I will ask my gift when I see my time. So Sir
Arthur and Merlin alight, and tied their horses to two trees, and so
they went into the ship, and when they came to the sword that the hand
held, Sir Arthur took it up by the handles, and took it with him. And
the arm and the hand went under the water; and so they came unto the
land and rode forth. And then Sir Arthur saw a rich pavilion: What
signifieth yonder pavilion? It is the knight’s pavilion, said Merlin,
that ye fought with last, Sir Pellinore, but he is out, he is not
there; he hath ado with a knight of yours, that hight Egglame, and they
have fought together, but at the last Egglame fled, and else he had
been dead, and he hath chased him even to Carlion, and we shall meet
with him anon in the high way. That is well said, said Arthur, now have
I a sword, now will I wage battle with him and be avenged on him. Sir,
ye shall not so, said Merlin, for the knight is weary of fighting and
chasing, so that ye shall have no worship to have ado with him; also he
will not lightly be matched of one knight living; and therefore it is
my counsel, let him pass, for he shall do you good service in short
time, and his sons after his days. Also ye shall see that day in short
space, ye shall be right glad to give him your sister to wed. When I
see him, I will do as ye advise me, said Arthur. Then Sir Arthur looked
on the sword, and liked it passing well. Whether liketh you better,
said Merlin, the sword or the scabbard? Me liketh better the sword,
said Arthur. Ye are more unwise, said Merlin, for the scabbard is worth
ten of the sword, for while ye have the scabbard upon you ye shall
never lose no blood, be ye never so sore wounded, therefore keep well
the scabbard always with you. So they rode unto Carlion, and by the way
they met with Sir Pellinore; but Merlin had done such a craft that
Pellinore saw not Arthur, and he passed by without any words. I marvel,
said Arthur, that the knight would not speak. Sir, said Merlin, he saw
you not, for and he had seen you ye had not lightly departed. So they
came unto Carlion, whereof his knights were passing glad. And when they
heard of his adventures they marvelled that he would jeopard his person
so alone. But all men of worship said it was merry to be under such a
chieftain that would put his person in adventure as other poor knights
did.
CHAP. XXIV.
_How tidings came to Arthur that king Ryons had overcome eleven kings,
and how he desired Arthur’s beard to trim his mantle._
This meanwhile came a messager from king Ryons of North Wales, and king
he was of all Ireland, and of many Isles. And this was his message,
greeting well king Arthur in this manner wise, saying that king Ryons
had discomfited and overcome eleven kings, and every each of them did
him homage, and that was this—they gave him their beards clean flayed
off, as much as there was; wherefore the messager came for king
Arthur’s beard. For king Ryons had trimmed a mantle with kings’ beards,
and there lacked one place of the mantle, wherefore he sent for his
beard, or else he would enter into his lands, and burn and slay, and
never leave till he have the head and the beard. Well, said Arthur,
thou hast said thy message, the which is the most villainous and
lewdest message that ever man heard sent unto a king: also thou mayest
see my beard is full young yet to make a trimming of it. But tell thou
thy king this: I owe him none homage, nor none of mine elders; but or
it be long he shall do me homage on both his knees, or else he shall
lose his head, by the faith of my body, for this is the most
shamefulest message that ever I heard speak of. I see well thy king met
never yet with worshipful man, but tell him I will have his head
without he do me homage. Then the messager departed. Now is there any
here, said Arthur, that knoweth king Ryons? Then answered a knight that
hight Naram, Sir, I know the king well; he is a passing good man of his
body as few be living, and a passing proud man; and, Sir, doubt ye not
he will make war on you with a mighty puissance. Well, said Arthur, I
shall ordain for him in short time.
CHAP. XXV.
_How all the children were sent for that were born on May-day, and how
Mordred was saved._