Le Morte Darthur
brother. What knight was that, said Sir Lamorak, that ye would fain
meet withal. Sir, they said, it is Sir Launcelot that slew our brother,
and if ever we may meet with him he shall not escape but we shall slay
him. Ye take upon you a great charge, said Sir Lamorak, for Sir
Launcelot is a noble proved knight. As for that we doubt not, for there
is none of us but we are good enough for him. I will not believe that,
said Sir Lamorak, for I heard never yet of no knight the days of my
life but Sir Launcelot was too big for him.
CHAP. XIII.
_How Sir Lamorak met with Sir Meliagaunce, and how they fought together
for the beauty of queen Guenever._
Right so as they stood talking thus, Sir Lamorak was ware how Sir
Launcelot came riding straight toward them; then Sir Lamorak saluted
him, and he him again. And then Sir Lamorak asked Sir Launcelot if
there were any thing that he might do for him in these marches. Nay,
said Sir Launcelot, not at this time, I thank you. Then either departed
from other, and Sir Lamorak rode again there as he left the two
knights, and then he found them hid in the leaved wood. Fie on you,
said Sir Lamorak, false cowards, pity and shame it is that any of you
should take the high order of knighthood. So Sir Lamorak departed from
them, and within a while he met with Sir Meliagaunce, and then Sir
Lamorak asked him why he loved queen Guenever as he did: For I was not
far from you when ye made your complaint by the chapel. Did ye so, said
Sir Meliagaunce, then will I abide by it: I love queen Guenever; what
will ye with it? I will prove and make good that she is the fairest
lady and most of beauty in the world. As to that, said Sir Lamorak, I
say nay thereto, for queen Morgause of Orkney, mother to Sir Gawaine,
and his mother is the fairest queen and lady that beareth the life.
That is not so, said Sir Meliagaunce, and that will I prove with my
hands upon thy body. Will ye so, said Sir Lamorak, and in a better
quarrel keep I not to fight. Then they departed either from other in
great wrath. And then they came riding together as it had been thunder,
and either smote other so sore that their horses fell backward to the
earth. And then they avoided their horses, and dressed their shields,
and drew their swords. And then they hurtled together as wild boars,
and thus they fought a great while. For Meliagaunce was a good man and
of great might, but Sir Lamorak was hard big for him, and put him
always aback; but either had wounded other sore. And as they stood thus
fighting, by fortune came Sir Launcelot and Sir Bleoberis riding. And
then Sir Launcelot rode betwixt them, and asked them for what cause
they fought so together, and ye are both knights of king Arthur.
CHAP. XIV.
_How Sir Meliagaunce told for what cause they fought, and how Sir
Lamorak justed with king Arthur._
Sir, said Meliagaunce, I shall tell you for what cause we do this
battle. I praised my lady queen Guenever, and said she was the fairest
lady of the world, and Sir Lamorak said nay thereto, for he said queen
Morgause of Orkney was fairer than she, and more of beauty. Ah Sir
Lamorak, why sayest thou so? It is not thy part to dispraise thy
princess that thou art under her obeisance and we all. And therewith he
alight on foot, and said, For this quarrel make thee ready, for I will
prove upon thee that queen Guenever is the fairest lady and most of
bounty in the world. Sir, said Sir Lamorak, I am loth to have ado with
you in this quarrel. For every man thinketh his own lady fairest; and
though I praise the lady that I love most, ye should not be wroth. For
though my lady queen Guenever be fairest in your eye, wit ye well queen
Morgause of Orkney is fairest in mine eye, and so every knight thinketh
his own lady fairest; and, wit ye well, Sir, ye are the man in the
world, except Sir Tristram, that I am most lothest to have ado withal.
But and ye will needs fight with me, I shall endure you as long as I
may. Then spake Sir Bleoberis, and said, My lord Sir Launcelot, I wist
you never so misadvised as ye are now. For Sir Lamorak saith you but
reason and knightly. For I warn you I have a lady, and me thinketh that
she is the fairest lady of the world. Were this a great reason that ye
should be wroth with me for such language? And well ye wot that Sir
Lamorak is as noble a knight as I know, and he hath owed you and us
ever good will, and therefore I pray you be good friends. Then Sir
Launcelot said unto Sir Lamorak: I pray you forgive me mine evil will;
and if I was misadvised I will amend it. Sir, said Sir Lamorak, the
amends is soon made betwixt you and me. And so Sir Launcelot and Sir
Bleoberis departed. And Sir Meliagaunce and Sir Lamorak took their
horses, and either departed from other. And within a while came king
Arthur, and met with Sir Lamorak, and justed with him, and there he
smote down Sir Lamorak, and wounded him sore with a spear, and so he
rode from him, wherefore Sir Lamorak was wroth that he would not fight
with him on foot; how be it that Sir Lamorak knew not king Arthur.
CHAP. XV.
_How Sir Kay met with Sir Tristram, and after of the shame spoken of
the knights of Cornwall, and how they justed._
Now leave we of this tale, and speak we of Sir Tristram, that as he
rode he met with Sir Kay the seneschal, and there Sir Kay asked Sir
Tristram of what country he was. He answered that he was of the country
of Cornwall. It may well be, said Sir Kay, for yet heard I never that
ever good knight came out of Cornwall. That is evil spoken, said Sir
Tristram, but and it please you to tell me your name I require you.
Sir, wit ye well, said Sir Kay, that my name is Sir Kay the seneschal.
Is that your name? said Sir Tristram; now wit ye well that ye are named
the shamefullest knight of your tongue that now is living, how be it ye
are called a good knight, but ye are called unfortunate, and passing
overthwart of your tongue. And thus they rode together till they came
to a bridge. And there was a knight would not let them pass till one of
them justed with him. And so that knight justed with Sir Kay, and there
that knight gave Sir Kay a fall; his name was Sir Tor, Sir Lamorak’s
half brother. And then they two rode to their lodging, and there they
found Sir Brandiles; and Sir Tor came thither anon after.
And as they sat at supper, these four knights, three of them spake all
shame by Cornish knights. Sir Tristram heard all that they said, and he
said but little, but he thought the more; but at that time he
discovered not his name. Upon the morn Sir Tristram took his horse and
abode them upon their way; and there Sir Brandiles proffered to just
with Sir Tristram, and Sir Tristram smote him down, horse and all, to
the earth. Then Sir Tor le Fise de Vayshoure encountered with Sir
Tristram, and there Sir Tristram smote him down. And then he rode his
way, and Sir Kay followed him, but he would not of his fellowship. Then
Sir Brandiles came to Sir Kay, and said, I would wit fain what is that
knight’s name. Come on with me, said Sir Kay, and we shall pray him to
tell us his name. So they rode together till they came nigh him; and
then they were ware where he sat by a well, and had put off his helm to
drink at the well. And when he saw them come, he laced on his helm
lightly, and took his horse, and proffered them to just. Nay, said Sir
Brandiles, we justed late enough with you; we come not in that intent.
But for this we come, to require you of knighthood to tell us your
name. My fair knights, since that is your desire, and to please you, ye
shall wit that my name is Sir Tristram de Liones, nephew unto king Mark
of Cornwall. In good time, said Sir Brandiles, and well ye be found;
and wit ye well that we be right glad that we have found you, and we be
of a fellowship that would be right glad of your company. For ye are
the knight in the world that the noble fellowship of the Round Table
most desireth to have the company of. I thank them, said Sir Tristram,
of their great goodness; but as yet I feel well that I am unable to be
of their fellowship. For I was never of such deeds of worthiness to be
in the company of such a fellowship. Ah, said Sir Kay, and ye be Sir
Tristram de Liones, ye are the man now called most of prowess, except
Sir Launcelot du Lake. For he beareth not the life, christian ne
heathen, that can find such another knight, to speak of his prowess,
and of his hands, and his truth withal. For yet could there never
creature say of him dishonour and make it good. Thus they talked a
great while; and then they departed either from other, such ways as
them seemed best.
CHAP. XVI.
_How king Arthur was brought into the forest perilous, and how Sir
Tristram saved his life._
Now shall ye hear what was the cause that king Arthur came into the
forest perilous, that was in North Wales, by the means of a lady. Her
name was Annowre, and this lady came to king Arthur at Cardiff, and
she, by fair promise and fair behests, made king Arthur to ride with
her into that forest perilous; and she was a great sorceress, and many
days she had loved king Arthur, and therefore she came into that
country. So when the king was gone with her, many of his knights
followed after king Arthur when they missed him, as Sir Launcelot,
Brandiles, and many other. And when she had brought him to her tower,
she desired him to love her. And then the king remembered him of his
lady, and would not love her for no craft that she could do. Then every
day she would make him ride into that forest with his own knights, to
the intent to have had king Arthur slain. For when this lady Annowre
saw that she might not have him at her will, then she laboured by false
means to have destroyed king Arthur and slain. Then the Lady of the
lake, that was alway friendly to king Arthur, she understood by her
subtle crafts that king Arthur was like to be destroyed. And therefore
this Lady of the lake, that hight Nimue, came into that forest to seek
after Sir Launcelot du Lake, or Sir Tristram, for to help king Arthur;
for as that same day this Lady of the lake knew well that king Arthur
should be slain, unless that he had help of one of these two knights.
And thus she rode up and down till she met with Sir Tristram, and anon
as she saw him she knew him. O my lord Sir Tristram, she said, well be
ye met, and blessed be the time that I have met with you; for this same
day, and within these two hours, shall be done the foulest deed that
ever was done in this land. O fair damsel, said Sir Tristram, may I
amend it? Come on with me, she said, and that in all the haste ye may,
for ye shall see the most worshipfullest knight of the world hard
bested. Then said Sir Tristram, I am ready to help such a noble man. He
is neither better nor worse, said the Lady of the lake, but the noble
king Arthur himself. God defend, said Sir Tristram, that ever he should
be in such distress. Then they rode together a great pace, until they
came to a little turret or castle, and underneath that castle they saw
a knight standing upon foot fighting with two knights; and so Sir
Tristram beheld them, and at the last the two knights smote down the
one knight, and that one of them unlaced his helm to have slain him.
And the lady Annowre gat king Arthur’s sword in her hand to have
stricken off his head. And therewithal came Sir Tristram with all his
might, crying, Traitress, traitress, leave that. And anon there Sir
Tristram smote one of the knights through the body, that he fell dead;
and then he rashed to the other and smote his back in sunder, and in
the mean while the Lady of the lake cried to king Arthur, Let not that