Le Morte Darthur
Then king Arthur let send for all the children born on May-day of lords
and ladies, for Merlin told king Arthur that he that should destroy him
should be born on May-day, wherefore he sent for them all upon pain of
death. And so there were found many lords’ sons, and all were sent unto
the king, and so was Mordred sent by king Lot’s wife, and all were put
in a ship to the sea, and some were four weeks old, and some less. And
so by fortune the ship drove unto a castle, and was all to-riven, and
destroyed the most part, save that Mordred was cast up, and a good man
found him, and nourished him till he was fourteen year old, and then he
brought him to the court, as it rehearseth afterward toward the end of
the Death of Arthur. So many lords and barons of this realm were
displeased, for their children were so lost, and many put the blame on
Merlin more than on Arthur; so what for dread and for love they held
their peace. But when the messager came to king Ryons then was he wood
out of measure, and purveyed him for a great host, as it rehearseth
after in the book of Balin le Savage that followeth next after, how by
adventure Balin gat the sword.
Explicit liber primus. Incipit liber secundus.
Book the Second.
CHAP. I.
_Of a damsel which came girt with a sword for to find a man of such
virtue to draw it out of the scabbard._
After the death of Uther Pendragon reigned Arthur his son, the which
had great war in his days for to get all England into his hand. For
there were many kings within the realm of England, and in Wales,
Scotland, and Cornwall. So it befel on a time when king Arthur was at
London, there came a knight and told the king tidings how that the king
Ryons of North Wales had reared a great number of people, and were
entered into the land, and burnt and slew the king’s true liege people.
If this be true, said Arthur, it were great shame unto mine estate but
that he were mightily withstood. It is truth, said the knight, for I
saw the host myself. Well, said the king, let make a cry, that all the
lords, knights, and gentlemen of arms, should draw unto a castle,
called Camelot in those days, and there the king would let make a
council general, and a great justs.
So when the king was come thither with all his baronage, and lodged as
they seemed best, there was come a damsel the which was sent on message
from the great lady Lile of Avelion. And when she came before king
Arthur, she told from whom she came, and how she was sent on message
unto him for these causes. Then she let her mantle fall that was richly
furred; and then was she girt with a noble sword, whereof the king had
marvel, and said, Damsel, for what cause are ye girt with that sword?
it beseemeth you not. Now shall I tell you, said the damsel: this sword
that I am girt withal doth me great sorrow and cumberance, for I may
not be delivered of this sword but by a knight, but he must be a
passing good man of his hands and of his deeds, and without villainy or
treachery, and without treason. And if I may find such a knight that
hath all these virtues, he may draw out this sword out of the sheath.
For I have been at king Ryons’; it was told me there were passing good
knights, and he and all his knights have assayed it, and none can
speed. This is a great marvel, said Arthur; if this be sooth, I will
myself assay to draw out the sword, not presuming upon myself that I am
the best knight, but that I will begin to draw at your sword in giving
example to all the barons, that they shall assay every one after other
when I have assayed it. Then Arthur took the sword by the sheath and by
the girdle, and pulled at it eagerly, but the sword would not out. Sir,
said the damsel, ye need not to pull half so hard, for he that shall
pull it out, shall do it with little might. Ye say well, said Arthur:
now assay ye, all my barons, but beware ye be not defiled with shame,
treachery, nor guile. Then it will not avail, said the damsel, for he
must be a clean knight without villainy, and of a gentle stock of
father side and mother side. Most of all the barons of the Round Table
that were there at that time assayed all by row, but there might none
speed; wherefore the damsel made great sorrow out of measure, and said,
Alas! I wend in this court had been the best knights, without treachery
or treason. By my faith, saith Arthur, here are good knights as I deem
any been in the world, but their grace is not to help you, wherefore I
am displeased.
CHAP. II.
_How Balin, arrayed like a poor knight, pulled out the sword, which
afterward was cause of his death._
Then fell it so that time there was a poor knight with king Arthur,
that had been prisoner with him half a year and more, for slaying of a
knight the which was cousin unto king Arthur. The name of this knight
was called Balin, and by good means of the barons he was delivered out
of prison, for he was a good man named of his body, and he was born in
Northumberland. And so he went privily into the court, and saw this
adventure, whereof it raised his heart, and he would assay it as other
knights did, but for he was poor and poorly arrayed he put him not far
in press; but in his heart he was fully assured to do as well, if his
grace happed him, as any knight that there was. And as the damsel took
her leave of Arthur and of all the barons, so departing, this knight
Balin called unto her and said, Damsel, I pray you of your courtesy
suffer me as well to assay as these lords; though that I be so poorly
clothed, in mine heart me seemeth I am fully assured as some of these
other, and me seemeth in my heart to speed right well. The damsel
beheld the poor knight, and saw he was a likely man, but for of his
poor arrayment she thought he should be of no worship without villainy
or treachery. And then she said unto the knight, Sir, it needeth not to
put me to more pain or labour, for it seemeth not you to speed there as
other have failed. Ah, fair damsel, said Balin, worthiness and good
qualities and good deeds are not all only in arrayment, but manhood and
worship is hid within man’s person, and many a worshipful knight is not
known unto all people, and therefore worship and hardiness is not in
arrayment. Ye say sooth, said the damsel, therefore ye shall assay to
do what ye may. Then Balin took the sword by the girdle and sheath and
drew it out easily, and when he looked on the sword it pleased him
much. Then had the king and all the barons great marvel that Balin had
done that adventure, and many knights had great despite of Balin.
Certes, said the damsel, this is a passing good knight, and the best
that ever I found, and most of worship without treason, treachery, or
villainy, and many marvels shall he do. Now, gentle and courteous
knight, give me the sword again. Nay, said Balin, for this sword will I
keep, but it be taken from me by force. Well, said the damsel, ye are
not wise to keep the sword from me, for ye shall slay with the sword
the best friend that ye have, and the man that ye most love in the
world, and the sword shall be your destruction. I shall take the
adventure, said Balin, that God will ordain me, but the sword ye shall
not have at this time, by the faith of my body. Ye shall repent it
within short time, said the damsel, for I would have the sword more for
your avail than for mine, for I am passing heavy for your sake; for ye
will not believe that sword shall be your destruction, and that is
great pity. With that the damsel departed, making great sorrow.
Anon after Balin sent for his horse and his armour, and so would depart
from the court, and took his leave of king Arthur. Nay, said the king,
I suppose ye will not depart so lightly from this fellowship. I suppose
that ye are displeased that I have shewed you unkindness; blame me the
less, for I was misinformed against you, but I wend you had not been
such a knight as ye are of worship and prowess, and if ye will abide in
this court among my fellowship, I shall so advance you as ye shall be
pleased. God thank your highness, said Balin, for your bounty and
highness may no man praise half to the value; but at this time I must
needs depart, beseeching you alway of your good grace. Truly, said the
king, I am right wroth for your departing: I pray you, fair knight,
that ye tarry not long, and ye shall be right welcome to me and to my
barons, and I shall amend all amiss that I have done against you. God
thank your great lordship, said Balin, and therewith made him ready to
depart. Then the most part of the knights of the Round Table said that
Balin did not this adventure all only by might, but by witchcraft.
CHAP. III.
_How the Lady of the lake demanded the knight’s head that had won the
sword, or the maiden’s head._
The meanwhile that this knight was making him ready to depart, there
came into the court a lady that hight the Lady of the lake. And she
came on horseback, richly beseen, and saluted king Arthur; and there
asked him a gift that he promised her when she gave him the sword. That
is sooth, said Arthur, a gift I promised you, but I have forgotten the
name of my sword that ye gave me. The name of it, said the lady, is
Excalibur, that is as much to say as Cut-steel. Ye say well, said the
king, ask what ye will and ye shall have it, and it lie in my power to
give it. Well, said the lady, I ask the head of the knight that hath
won the sword, or else the damsel’s head that brought it; I take no
force though I have both their heads, for he slew my brother, a good
knight and a true, and that gentlewoman was causer of my father’s
death. Truly, said king Arthur, I may not grant neither of their heads
with my worship, therefore ask what ye will else, and I shall fulfil
your desire. I will ask none other thing, said the lady. When Balin was
ready to depart he saw the Lady of the lake that by her means had slain
Balin’s mother, and he had sought her three years, and when it was told
him that she asked his head of king Arthur he went to her straight and
said, Evil be you found, ye would have my head and therefore ye shall
lose yours. And with his sword lightly he smote off her head before
king Arthur. Alas! for shame, said Arthur, why have you done so? ye
have shamed me and all my court, for this was a lady that I was
beholden to, and hither she came under my safe conduct; I shall never
forgive you that trespass. Sir, said Balin, me forthinketh of your
displeasure, for this same lady was the untruest lady living, and by
enchantment and sorcery she hath been the destroyer of many good
knights, and she was causer that my mother was burnt through her
falsehood and treachery. What cause so ever ye had, said Arthur, ye
should have forborne her in my presence; therefore, think not the
contrary, ye shall repent it, for such another despite had I never in
my court: therefore withdraw you out of my court in all haste that ye
may. Then Balin took up the head of the lady, and bare it with him to
his hostry, and there he met with his squire, that was sorry he had
displeased king Arthur, and so they rode forth out of the town. Now,
said Balin, we must part; take thou this head and bear it to my
friends, and tell them how I have sped, and tell my friends in
Northumberland that my most foe is dead. Also tell them how I am out of
prison, and also what adventure befel me at the getting of this sword.
Alas, said the squire, ye are greatly to blame for to displease king
Arthur. As for that, said Balin, I will hie me in all the haste that I
may, to meet with king Ryons and destroy him, or else to die therefore;
and if it may hap me to win him, then will king Arthur be my good and