Le Morte Darthur
Lamorak the honourable knight that here is lodged, ye shall have none
ill lodging. For it is pity that ever ye should be in the company of
good knights, for ye are the most villainous knight or king that is now
known on live; for ye are a destroyer of good knights, and all that ye
do is but treason.
CHAP. X.
_How Sir Berluse met with king Mark, and how Sir Dinadan took his part._
Then was king Mark sore ashamed, and said but little again. But when
Sir Lamorak and Sir Dinadan wist that he was king Mark they were sorry
of his fellowship. So after supper they went to lodging. So on the morn
they arose early, and king Mark and Sir Dinadan rode together; and
three mile from their lodging there met with them three knights, and
Sir Berluse was one, and the other his two cousins. Sir Berluse saw
king Mark, and then he cried on high, Traitor, keep thee from me, for
wit thou well that I am Berluse. Sir knight, said Sir Dinadan, I
counsel you to leave off at this time, for he is riding to king Arthur;
and because I have promised to conduct him to my lord king Arthur,
needs must I take a part with him, howbeit I love not his condition,
and fain I would be from him. Well Dinadan, said Sir Berluse, me
repenteth that ye will take part with him, but now do your best. And
then he hurtled to king Mark, and smote him sore upon the shield that
he bare him clean out of his saddle to the earth. That saw Sir Dinadan,
and he feutred his spear, and ran to one of Berluse’s fellows, and
smote him down off his saddle. Then Dinadan turned his horse, and smote
the third knight in the same wise to the earth, for Sir Dinadan was a
good knight on horseback. And there began a great battle, for Berluse
and his fellows held them together strongly on foot. And so through the
great force of Sir Dinadan, king Mark had Sir Berluse to the earth, and
his two fellows fled; and had not been Sir Dinadan, king Mark would
have slain him; and so Sir Dinadan rescued him of his life, for king
Mark was but a murderer. And then they took their horses and departed,
and left Sir Berluse there sore wounded. Then king Mark and Sir Dinadan
rode forth a four leagues English till that they came to a bridge,
where hoved a knight on horseback, armed and ready to just. Lo, said
Sir Dinadan unto king Mark, yonder hoveth a knight that will just, for
there shall none pass this bridge but he must just with that knight. It
is well, said king Mark, for this justs falleth with thee. Sir Dinadan
knew the knight well that he was a noble knight, and fain he would have
justed, but he had lever king Mark had justed with him, but by no mean
king Mark would not just. Then Sir Dinadan might not refuse him in no
manner. And then either dressed their spears and their shields and
smote together, so that through fine force Sir Dinadan was smitten to
the earth. And lightly he arose up, and gat his horse, and required
that knight to do battle with swords. And he answered and said, Fair
knight, as at this time I may not have ado with you no more; for the
custom of this passage is such. Then was Sir Dinadan passing wroth,
that he might not be revenged of that knight; and so he departed. And
in no wise would that knight tell his name; but ever Sir Dinadan
thought that he should know him by his shield that it should be Sir Tor.
CHAP. XI.
_How king Mark mocked Sir Dinadan, and how they met with six knights of
the Round Table._
So as they rode by the way, king Mark then began to mock Sir Dinadan,
and said, I wend you knights of the Table Round might in no wise find
their matches. Ye say well, said Sir Dinadan, as for you, on my life I
call you none of the best knights; but sith ye have such a despite at
me, I require you to just with me, to prove my strength. Not so, said
king Mark, for I will not have ado with you in no manner. But I require
you of one thing, that when ye come to Arthur’s court, discover not my
name, for I am there so hated. It is shame to you, said Sir Dinadan,
that ye govern yourself so shamefully; for I see by you ye are full of
cowardice, and ye are a murderer, and that is the greatest shame that a
knight may have, for never a knight being a murderer hath worship, nor
never shall have. For I saw but late through my force ye would have
slain Sir Berluse, a better knight than ye, or ever ye shall be, and
more of prowess.
Thus they rode forth talking, till they came to a fair place where
stood a knight, and prayed them to take their lodging with him. So at
the request of that knight they reposed them there, and made them well
at ease, and had great cheer. For all errant knights were welcome to
him, and especially all those of Arthur’s court. Then Sir Dinadan
demanded his host, what was the knight’s name that kept the bridge. For
what cause ask you it? said his host. For it is not long ago, said Sir
Dinadan, since he gave me a fall. Ah, fair knight, said his host,
thereof have ye no marvel, for he is a passing good knight, and his
name is Sir Tor, the son of Aries le Vaysher. Ah, said Sir Dinadan, was
that Sir Tor, for truly so ever me thought. Right as they stood thus
talking together, they saw come riding to them over a plain six knights
of the court of king Arthur, well armed at all points. And there by
their shields Sir Dinadan knew them well. The first was the good knight
Sir Uwaine, the son of king Uriens; the second was the noble knight Sir
Brandiles; the third was Ozana le Cure Hardy; the fourth was Uwaine les
Adventurous; the fifth was Sir Agravaine; the sixth Sir Mordred,
brother to Sir Gawaine. When Sir Dinadan had seen these six knights, he
thought in himself he would bring king Mark by some wile to just with
one of them. And anon they took their horses and ran after these
knights well a three mile English. Then was king Mark ware where they
sat all six about a well, and eat and drank such meats as they had, and
their horses walking and some tied, and their shields hung in divers
places about them. Lo, said Sir Dinadan, yonder are knights errant that
will just with us. God forbid, said king Mark, for they be six, and we
but two. As for that, said Sir Dinadan, let us not spare, for I will
assay the foremost. And therewith he made him ready. When king Mark saw
him do so, as fast as Sir Dinadan rode toward them king Mark rode
froward them with all his menial company. So when Sir Dinadan saw king
Mark was gone, he set the spear out of the rest, and threw his shield
upon his back, and came riding to the fellowship of the Table Round.
And anon Sir Uwaine knew Sir Dinadan, and welcomed him, and so did all
his fellowship.
CHAP. XII.
_How the six knights sent Sir Dagonet to just with king Mark, and how
king Mark refused him._
And then they asked him of his adventures, and whether he had seen Sir
Tristram, or Sir Launcelot. Truly, said Sir Dinadan, I saw none of them
since I departed from Camelot. What knight is that, said Sir Brandiles,
that so suddenly departed from you, and rode over yonder field? Sir,
said he, it was a knight of Cornwall, and the most horrible coward that
ever bestrode horse. What is his name? said all the knights. I wot not,
said Sir Dinadan. So when they had reposed them, and spoken together,
they took their horses and rode to a castle where dwelled an old knight
that made all knights errant good cheer. Then in the mean while that
they were talking came into the castle Sir Griflet le Fise de Dieu, and
there was he welcome, and they asked him whether he had seen Sir
Launcelot or Sir Tristram? Sirs, he answered, I saw him not since he
departed from Camelot. So as Sir Dinadan walked and beheld the castle,
thereby in a chamber he espied king Mark, and then he rebuked him, and
asked him why he departed so? Sir, said he, for I durst not abide
because they were so many. But how escaped ye? said king Mark. Sir,
said Sir Dinadan, they were better friends than I wend they had been.
Who is captain of that fellowship? said the king. Then for to fear him
Sir Dinadan said it was Sir Launcelot. Oh, said the king, might I know
Sir Launcelot by his shield? Yea, said Dinadan, for he beareth a shield
of silver and black bends. All this he said to fear the king, for Sir
Launcelot was not in his fellowship. Now I pray you, said king Mark,
that ye will ride in my fellowship? That is me loth to do, said Sir
Dinadan, because ye forsook my fellowship. Right so Sir Dinadan went
from king Mark and went to his own fellowship. And so they mounted upon
their horses, and rode on their ways, and talked of the Cornish knight,
for Dinadan told them that he was in the castle where they were lodged.
It is well said, said Sir Griflet, for here have I brought Sir Dagonet
king Arthur’s fool, that is the best fellow and the merriest in the
world. Will ye do well? said Sir Dinadan; I have told the Cornish
knight that here is Sir Launcelot, and the Cornish knight asked me what
shield he bare. Truly I told him that he bare the same shield that Sir
Mordred beareth. Will ye do well? said Sir Mordred; I am hurt and may
not well bear my shield nor harness, and therefore put my shield and my
harness upon Sir Dagonet, and let him set upon the Cornish knight. That
shall be done, said Sir Dagonet, by my faith. Then anon was Dagonet
armed in Mordred’s harness and his shield, and he was set on a great
horse and a spear in his hand. Now, said Dagonet, shew me the knight,
and I trow I shall bear him down. So all these knights rode to a wood
side, and abode till king Mark came by the way. Then they put forth Sir
Dagonet, and he came on all the while his horse might run, straight
upon king Mark. And when he came nigh king Mark, he cried as he were
wood, and said, Keep thee, knight of Cornwall, for I will slay thee.
Anon as king Mark beheld his shield he said to himself, Yonder is Sir
Launcelot: alas, now am I destroyed. And therewithal he made his horse
to run as fast as it might through thick and thin. And ever Sir Dagonet
followed king Mark crying and rating him as a wood man through a great
forest. When Sir Uwaine and Sir Brandiles saw Dagonet so chase king
Mark, they laughed all as they were wood. And then they took their
horses and rode after to see how Sir Dagonet sped. For they would not
for no good that Sir Dagonet were hurt, for king Arthur loved him
passing well, and made him knight with his own hands. And at every
tournament he began to make king Arthur to laugh. Then the knights rode
here and there crying and chasing after king Mark, that all the forest
rang of the noise.
CHAP. XIII.
_How Sir Palamides by adventure met king Mark flying, and how he
overthrew Dagonet and other knights._
So king Mark rode by fortune by a well in the way where stood a knight
errant on horseback armed at all points with a great spear in his hand.
And when he saw king Mark coming flying he said, Knight, return again
for shame, and stand with me, and I shall be thy warrant. Ah, fair
knight, said king Mark, let me pass, for yonder cometh after me the
best knight of the world, with the black bended shield. Fie for shame,
said the knight, he is none of the worthy knights. And if he were Sir
Launcelot or Sir Tristram I should not doubt to meet the better of them
both. When king Mark heard him say that word he turned his horse and
abode by him. And then that strong knight bare a spear to Dagonet, and
smote him so sore that he bare him over his horse tail, and nigh he had
broken his neck. And anon after him came Sir Brandiles, and when he saw
Dagonet have that fall he was passing wroth, and cried, Keep thee
knight! And so they hurtled together wonderous sore. But the knight
smote Sir Brandiles so sore that he went to the earth, horse and man.