Le Morte Darthur
and some more and some less. For what cause? said Arthur. We shall tell
you, said the knights; This lord of this castle his name is Sir Damas,
and he is the falsest knight that liveth, and full of treason, and a
very coward as any liveth, and he hath a younger brother, a good knight
of prowess, his name is Sir Ontzlake, and this traitor Damas, the elder
brother, will give him no part of his livelihood but as Sir Ontzlake
keepeth through prowess of his hands, and so he keepeth from him a full
fair manor and a rich, and therein Sir Ontzlake dwelleth worshipfully
and is well beloved of all people. And this Sir Damas our master is as
evil beloved, for he is without mercy, and he is a coward, and great
war hath been betwixt them both, but Ontzlake hath ever the better, and
ever he proffereth Sir Damas to fight for the livelihood, body for
body; but if he will not do it to find a knight to fight for him. Unto
that Sir Damas hath granted to find a knight, but he is so evil beloved
and hated, that there is never a knight will fight for him. And when
Damas saw this, that there was never a knight would fight for him, he
hath daily lain await with many knights with him and taken all the
knights in this country to see and espy their adventures: he hath taken
them by force and brought them to his prison. And so he took us
severally as we rode on our adventures, and many good knights have died
in this prison for hunger, to the number of eighteen knights: and if
any of us all that here is or hath been, would have fought with his
brother Ontzlake he would have delivered us, but for because this Damas
is so false and so full of treason, we would never fight for him to die
for it. And we be so lean with hunger that hardly we may stand on our
feet. God deliver you for his mercy, said Arthur. Anon therewithal
there came a damsel unto Arthur, and asked him, What cheer? I cannot
say, said he. Sir, said she, and ye will fight for my lord, ye shall be
delivered out of prison, and else ye escape never with life. Now, said
Arthur, that is hard, yet had I lever to fight with a knight than to
die in prison: with this, said Arthur, that I may be delivered and all
these prisoners I will do the battle. Yes, said the damsel. I am ready,
said Arthur, and I had horse and armour. Ye shall lack none, said the
damsel. Me seemeth, damsel, that I should have seen you in the court of
Arthur. Nay, said the damsel, I came never there, I am the lord’s
daughter of this castle. Yet was she false, for she was one of the
damsels of Morgan le Fay. Anon she went unto Sir Damas, and told him
how he would do battle for him, and so he sent for Arthur. And when he
came he was well coloured, and well made of his limbs, that all knights
that saw him said it were pity that such a knight should die in prison.
So Sir Damas and he were agreed that he should fight for him upon this
covenant, that all other knights should be delivered; and unto that was
Sir Damas sworn unto Arthur, and also to do the battle to the
uttermost. And with that all the twenty knights were brought out of the
dark prison into the hall and delivered. And so they all abode to see
the battle.
CHAP. VIII.
_How Accolon found himself by a well, and he took upon him to do battle
against Arthur._
Now turn we unto Accolon of Gaul, that when he awoke he found himself
by a deep well side, within half a foot, in great peril of death. And
there came out of that fountain a pipe of silver, and out of that pipe
ran water all on high in a stone of marble. When Sir Accolon saw this
he blessed him and said: Jesu save my lord king Arthur, and king
Uriens, for these damsels in this ship have betrayed us. They were
devils and no women, and if I may escape this misadventure, I shall
destroy all where I may find these false damsels that use enchantments.
Right with that there came a dwarf with a great mouth and a flat nose,
and saluted Sir Accolon, and said how he came from queen Morgan le Fay;
and she greeteth you well, and biddeth you be of strong heart, for ye
shall fight to morn with a knight at the hour of prime, and therefore
she hath sent you here Excalibur Arthur’s sword, and the scabbard, and
she biddeth you as ye love her, that ye do the battle to the uttermost
without any mercy, like as ye had promised her when ye spake together
in private: and what damsel that bringeth her the knight’s head that ye
shall fight withal, she will make her a queen. Now I understand you
well, said Accolon: I shall hold that I have promised her, now I have
the sword: when saw ye my lady queen Morgan le Fay? Right late, said
the dwarf. Then Accolon took him in his arms, and said, Recommend me
unto my lady queen, and tell her all shall be done that I have promised
her, and else I will die for it. Now I suppose, said Accolon, she hath
made all these crafts and enchantments for this battle. Ye may well
believe it, said the dwarf. Right so there came a knight and a lady
with six squires, and saluted Sir Accolon and prayed him for to arise,
and come and rest him at his manor. And so Accolon mounted upon a void
horse, and went with the knight unto a fair manor by a priory, and
there he had passing good cheer. Then Sir Damas sent unto his brother
Sir Ontzlake, and bade make him ready by to morn at the hour of prime,
and to be in the field to fight with a good knight, for he had found a
good knight that was ready to do battle at all points. When this word
came unto Sir Ontzlake he was passing heavy, for he was wounded a
little tofore through both his thighs with a spear, and made great
dole: but as he was wounded he would have taken the battle on hand. So
it happed at that time, by the means of Morgan le Fay, Accolon was with
Sir Ontzlake lodged; and when he heard of that battle, and how Ontzlake
was wounded, he said he would fight for him, because Morgan le Fay had
sent him Excalibur and the sheath for to fight with the knight on the
morn; this was the cause Sir Accolon took the battle on hand. Then Sir
Ontzlake was passing glad, and thanked Sir Accolon with all his heart
that he would do so much for him. And therewithal Sir Ontzlake sent
word unto his brother Sir Damas that he had a knight that for him
should be ready in the field by the hour of prime. So on the morn Sir
Arthur was armed and well horsed, and asked Sir Damas, When shall we to
the field? Sir, said Sir Damas, ye shall hear mass; and so Arthur heard
a mass. And when mass was done there came a squire on a great horse,
and asked Sir Damas if his knight were ready, for our knight is ready
in the field. Then Sir Arthur mounted upon horseback, and there were
all the knights and commons of that country; and so by all advices
there were chosen twelve good men of the country for to wait upon the
two knights. And right as Arthur was upon horseback there came a damsel
from Morgan le Fay, and brought unto Sir Arthur a sword like unto
Excalibur, and the scabbard, and said unto Arthur, Morgan le Fay
sendeth you here your sword for great love. And he thanked her, and
wend it had been so, but she was false, for the sword and the scabbard
was counterfeit, and brittle, and false.
CHAP. IX.
_Of the battle between king Arthur and Accolon._
And then they dressed them on both parts of the field, and let their
horses run so fast that either smote other in the midst of the shield
with their spears’ head, that both horse and man went to the earth; and
then they started up both, and pulled out their swords. The mean while
that they were thus at the battle, came the damsel of the lake into the
field, that put Merlin under the stone, and she came thither for love
of king Arthur, for she knew how Morgan le Fay had so ordained that
king Arthur should have been slain that day, and therefore she came to
save his life. And so they went eagerly to the battle, and gave many
great strokes. But alway king Arthur’s sword bit not like Accolon’s
sword, but for the most part every stroke that Accolon gave wounded he
sore Arthur, that it was marvel he stood; and alway his blood fell from
him fast. When Arthur beheld the ground so sore be-bled he was
dismayed, and then he deemed treason, that his sword was changed; for
his sword bit not steel as it was wont to do, therefore he dread him
sore to be dead, for ever him seemed that the sword in Accolon’s hand
was Excalibur, for at every stroke that Sir Accolon struck he drew
blood on Arthur. Now knight, said Accolon unto Arthur, keep thee well
from me: but Arthur answered not again, and gave him such a buffet on
the helm that he made him to stoop, nigh falling down to the earth.
Then Sir Accolon withdrew him a little, and came on with Excalibur on
high, and smote Sir Arthur such a buffet that he fell nigh to the
earth. Then were they wroth both, and gave each other many sore
strokes, but always Sir Arthur lost so much blood that it was marvel he
stood on his feet, but he was so full of knighthood that knightly he
endured the pain. And Sir Accolon lost not a deal of blood, therefore
he waxed passing light, and Sir Arthur was passing feeble, and wend
verily to have died; but for all that he made countenance as though he
might endure, and held Accolon as short as he might. But Accolon was so
bold because of Excalibur that he waxed passing hardy. But all men that
beheld him said they never saw knight fight so well as Arthur did,
considering the blood that he bled. So was all the people sorry for
him, but the two brethren would not accord; then always they fought
together as fierce knights, and Sir Arthur withdrew him a little for to
rest him, and Sir Accolon called him to battle, and said, It is no time
for me to suffer thee to rest. And therewith he came fiercely upon
Arthur, and Sir Arthur was wroth for the blood that he had lost, and
smote Accolon on high upon the helm so mightily that he made him nigh
to fall to the earth; and therewith Arthur’s sword brast at the cross,
and fell in the grass among the blood, and the pommel and the sure
handles he held in his hands. When Sir Arthur saw that, he was in great
fear to die, but always he held up his shield, and lost no ground, nor
bated no cheer.
CHAP. X.
_How king Arthur’s sword that he fought with brake, and how he
recovered of Accolon his own sword Excalibur, and overcame his enemy._
Then Sir Accolon began with words of treason, and said, Knight, thou
art overcome, and mayest not endure, and also thou art weaponless, and
thou hast lost much of thy blood, and I am full loth to slay thee,
therefore yield thee to me as recreant. Nay, said Sir Arthur, I may not
so, for I have promised to do the battle to the uttermost by the faith
of my body while me lasteth the life, and therefore I had lever to die
with honour than to live with shame; and if it were possible for me to
die an hundred times I had lever to die so oft than yield me to thee;
for though I lack weapon I shall lack no worship, and if thou slay me
weaponless that shall be thy shame. Well, said Accolon, as for the
shame I will not spare: now keep thee from me, for thou art but a dead
man. And therewith Accolon gave him such a stroke that he fell nigh to
the earth, and would have had Arthur to have cried him mercy. But Sir
Arthur pressed unto Accolon with his shield, and gave him with the
pommel in his hand such a buffet that he went three strides aback. When
the damsel of the lake beheld Arthur, how full of prowess his body was,
and the false treason that was wrought for him to have had him slain,
she had great pity that so good a knight and such a man of worship
should be destroyed. And at the next stroke Sir Accolon struck him such
a stroke, that by the damsel’s enchantment the sword Excalibur fell out