The Story of King Arthur and his Knights
himself suffering any mishap. I prithee, dear Griflet, consider and ask
some other boon.”
But young Griflet only cried the more, “A boon! A boon! and thou hast
granted it unto me.”
Thereupon King Arthur said, “Thou shalt have thy boon, though my heart
much misgiveth me that thou wilt suffer great ill and misfortune from
this adventure.”
[Sidenote: _King Arthur makes Griflet a knight._]
So that night Griflet kept watch upon his armor in a chapel of the
forest, and, in the morning, having received the Sacrament, he was
created a knight by the hand of King Arthur--and it was not possible for
any knight to have greater honor than that. Then King Arthur fastened
the golden spurs to Sir Griflet’s heels with his own hand.
So Griflet was made a knight, and having mounted his charger, he rode
straightway upon his adventure, much rejoicing and singing for pure
pleasure.
And it was at this time that Sir Myles died of his hurt, for it is often
so that death and misfortune befall some, whiles others laugh and sing
for hope and joy, as though such grievous things as sorrow and death
could never happen in the world wherein they live.
Now that afternoon King Arthur sat waiting with great anxiety for word
of that young knight, but there was no word until toward evening, when
there came hurrying to him certain of his attendants, proclaiming that
Sir Griflet was returning, but without his shield, and in such guise
that it seemed as though a great misfortune had befallen him. And
straightway thereafter came Sir Griflet himself, sustained upon his
horse on the one hand by Sir Constantine and upon the other by Sir
Brandiles. And, lo! Sir Griflet’s head hung down upon his breast, and
his fair new armor was all broken and stained with blood and dust. And
so woful was he of appearance that King Arthur’s heart was contracted
with sorrow to behold that young knight in so pitiable a condition.
So, at King Arthur’s bidding, they conducted Sir Griflet to the Royal
Pavilion, and there they laid him down upon a soft couch. Then the
King’s chirurgeon searched his wounds and found that the head of a spear
and a part of the shaft thereof were still piercing Sir Griflet’s side,
so that he was in most woful and grievous pain.
And when King Arthur beheld in what a parlous state Sir Griflet lay he
cried out, “Alas! my dear young knight, what hath happened thee to bring
thee unto such a woful condition as this which I behold?”
[Sidenote: _Sir Griflet telleth how he was hurt._]
Then Sir Griflet, speaking in a very weak voice, told King Arthur how he
had fared. And he said that he had proceeded through the forest, until
he had discovered the three beautiful damsels whereof the page of Sir
Myles had spoken. And he said that these damsels had directed him as to
the manner in which he should pursue his adventure. And he said that he
had found the bridge whereon hung the shield and the brazen mall, and
that he had there beheld the apple-tree hung full of shields; and he
said that he smote the shield of the Sable Knight with the brazen mall,
and that the Sable Knight had thereupon come riding out against him. And
he said that this knight did not appear of a mind to fight with him;
instead, he cried out to him with a great deal of nobleness that he was
too young and too untried in arms to have to do with a seasoned knight;
wherefore he advised Sir Griflet to withdraw him from that adventure ere
it was too late. But, notwithstanding this advice, Sir Griflet would not
withdraw but declared that he would certainly have to do with that other
knight in sable. Now at the very first onset Sir Griflet’s spear had
burst into pieces, but the spear of the Sable Knight had held and had
pierced through Sir Griflet’s shield and into his side, causing him this
grievous wound whereof he suffered. And Sir Griflet said that the Sable
Knight had then, most courteously, uplifted him upon his horse again
(albeit he had kept Sir Griflet’s shield and had hung it upon the tree
with those others that hung there) and had then directed him upon his
way, so that he had made shift to ride thither, though with great pain
and dole.
[Sidenote: _King Arthur is very angry._]
Then was King Arthur very wode and greatly disturbed in his mind, for
indeed he loved Sir Griflet exceedingly well. Wherefore he declared that
he himself would now go forth for to punish that Sable Knight, and for
to humble him with his own hand. And, though the knights of his Court
strove to dissuade him from that adventure, yet he declared that he with
his own hand would accomplish that proud knight’s humiliation, and that
he would undertake the adventure, with God His Grace, upon the very next
day.
And so disturbed was he that he could scarce eat his food that evening
for vexation, nor would he go to his couch to sleep, but, having
inquired very narrowly of Sir Griflet where he might find that valley of
flowers and those three damsels, he spent the night in walking up and
down his pavilion, awaiting for the dawning of the day.
Now, as soon as the birds first began to chirp and the east to brighten
with the coming of the daylight, King Arthur summoned his two esquires,
and, having with their aid donned his armor and mounted a milk-white
war-horse, he presently took his departure upon that adventure which he
had determined upon.
[Sidenote: _King Arthur sets forth upon his adventure._]
And, indeed it is a very pleasant thing for to ride forth in the dawning
of a Springtime day. For then the little birds do sing their sweetest
song, all joining in one joyous medley, whereof one may scarce tell one
note from another, so multitudinous is that pretty roundelay; then do
the growing things of the earth smell the sweetest in the freshness of
the early daytime--the fair flowers, the shrubs, and the blossoms upon
the trees; then doth the dew bespangle all the sward as with an
incredible multitude of jewels of various colors; then is all the world
sweet and clean and new, as though it had been fresh created for him who
came to roam abroad so early in the morning.
So King Arthur’s heart expanded with great joy, and he chanted a quaint
song as he rode through the forest upon the quest of that knightly
adventure.
[Sidenote: _King Arthur cometh to the Valley of Delight._]
So, about noon-tide, he came to that part of the forest lands whereof he
had heard those several times before. For of a sudden, he discovered
before him a wide and gently sloping valley, a-down which ran a stream
as bright as silver. And, lo! the valley was strewn all over with an
infinite multitude of fair and fragrant flowers of divers sorts. And in
the midst of the valley there stood a comely castle, with tall red roofs
and many bright windows, so that it seemed to King Arthur that it was a
very fine castle indeed. And upon a smooth green lawn he perceived those
three damoiselles clad in flame-colored satin of whom the page of Sir
Myles and Sir Griflet had spoken. And they played at ball with a golden
ball, and the hair of each was of the hue of gold, and it seemed to King
Arthur, as he drew nigh, that they were the most beautiful damoiselles
that he had ever beheld in all of his life.
Now as King Arthur came unto them the three ceased tossing the ball, and
she who was the fairest of all damoiselles demanded of him whither he
went and upon what errand he was bound.
Then King Arthur made reply: “Ha! fair lady! whither should a belted
knight ride upon such a day as this, and upon what business, other than
the search of adventure such as beseemeth a knight of a proper strength
of heart and frame who would be errant?”
[Sidenote: _The damoiselles greet King Arthur._]
Then the three damoiselles smiled upon the King, for he was exceedingly
comely of face and they liked him very well. “Alas, Sir Knight!” said
she who had before spoken, “I prithee be in no such haste to undertake a
dangerous adventure, but rather tarry with us for a day or two or three,
for to feast and make merry with us. For surely good cheer doth greatly
enlarge the heart, and we would fain enjoy the company of so gallant a
knight as thou appearest to be. Yonder castle is ours and all this gay
valley is ours, and those who have visited it are pleased, because of
its joyousness, to call it the Valley of Delight. So tarry with us for a
little and be not in such haste to go forward.”
“Nay,” said King Arthur, “I may not tarry with ye, fair ladies, for I am
bent upon an adventure of which ye may wot right well, when I tell ye
that I seek that Sable Knight, who hath overcome so many other knights
and hath taken away their shields. So I do pray ye of your grace for to
tell me where I may find him.”
“Grace of Heaven!” cried she who spake for the others, “this is
certainly a sorry adventure which ye seek, Sir Knight! For already, in
these two days, have two knights assayed with that knight, and both have
fallen into great pain and disregard. Ne’theless, an thou wilt undertake
this peril, yet shalt thou not go until thou hast eaten and refreshed
thyself.” So saying, she lifted a little ivory whistle that hung from
her neck by a chain of gold, and blew upon it very shrilly.
In answer to this summons there came forth from the castle three fair
young pages, clad all in flame-colored raiment, bearing among them a
silver table covered with a white napkin. And after them came five
other pages of the same appearance, bearing flagons of white wine and
red, dried fruits and comfits and manchets of white fair bread.
[Sidenote: _King Arthur eats and drinks in the Valley of Delight._]
Then King Arthur descended from his war-horse with great gladness, for
he was both hungry and athirst, and, seating himself at the table with
the damsels beside him, he ate with great enjoyment, discoursing
pleasantly the while with those fair ladies, who listened to him with
great cheerfulness of spirit. Yet he told them not who he was, though
they greatly marvelled who might be the noble warrior who had come thus
into that place.
So, having satisfied his hunger and his thirst, King Arthur mounted his
steed again, and the three damsels conducted him across the valley a
little way--he riding upon his horse and they walking beside him. So, by
and by, he perceived where was a dark pathway that led into the farther
side of the forest land; and when he had come thither the lady who had
addressed him before said to him, “Yonder is the way that thou must take
an thou wouldst enter upon this adventure. So fare thee well, and may
good hap go with thee, for, certes, thou art the Knight most pleasant of
address who hath come hitherward for this long time.”
Thereupon King Arthur, having saluted those ladies right courteously,
rode away with very great joy of that pleasant adventure through which
he had thus passed.
* * * * *
Now when King Arthur had gone some ways he came, by and by, to a certain
place where charcoal burners plied their trade. For here were many
mounds of earth, all a-smoke with the smouldering logs within, whilst
all the air was filled with the smell of the dampened fires.
As the King approached this spot, he presently beheld that something was
toward that was sadly amiss. For, in the open clearing, he beheld three
sooty fellows with long knives in their hands, who pursued one old man,
whose beard was as white as snow. And he beheld that the reverend old
man, who was clad richly in black, and whose horse stood at a little
distance, was running hither and thither, as though to escape from those
wicked men, and he appeared to be very hard pressed and in great danger
of his life.
“Pardee!” quoth the young King to himself, “here, certes, is one in sore
need of succor.” Whereupon he cried out in a great voice, “Hold,