Complete Works of Sir Thomas Malory

by Thomas Malory

  ‘That is trouthe,’ seyde sir Gareth, ‘and I have nat you and welde you as my wyff, there shall never lady nother jantyllwoman rejoyse me.’

  ‘What, nevewe?’ seyde the kynge, ‘Is the wynde in that dore? For wete you well I wolde nat for the stynte of my crowne to be causer to withdraw your hertys. And wete you well ye can nat love so well but I shall rather encrece hyt than discrece hit; and also ye shall have my love and my lordeshyp in the uttirmuste wyse that may lye in my power.’ And in the same wyse seyde sir Garethys modir.

  So anone there was made a provision for the day of maryaige, and by the kynges advyse hit was provyded that hit sholde be at Mychaelmasse folowyng, at Kyng Kenadowne, by the seesyde; for there is a plenteuouse contrey. And so hit was cryed in all the placis thorow the realme.

  And than sir Gareth sente his somons to all the knyghtes and ladyes that he had wonne in batayle tofore, that they sholde be at his day of maryage at Kyng Kenadowne, by the seeseyde.

  And than dame Lyonesse and the damesell Lyonet wyth sir Gryngamour rode to their castell, and a goodly and a ryche rynge she gaff to sir Gareth, and he gaff hir another. And kynge Arthure gaff hir a ryche bye of golde, and so she departed.

  And kynge Arthure and his felyshyp rode towarde Kyng Kenadowne; and sir Gareth brought his lady on the way, and so cam to the kynge agayne, and rode wyth hym. Lorde, the grete chere that sir Launcelot made of sir Gareth and he of hym! For there was no knyght that sir Gareth loved so well as he dud sir Launcelot; and ever for the moste party he wolde ever be in sir Launcelottis company.

  For evir aftir sir Gareth had aspyed sir Gawaynes conducions, he wythdrewe hymself fro his brother sir Gawaynes felyship, for he was evir vengeable, and where he hated he wolde be avenged with murther: and that hated sir Gareth.

  [36] So hit drew faste to Mychaelmas, that hydir cam the lady dame Lyonesse, the lady of the Castell Perelus, and hir sister, the damesell Lyonet, with sir Gryngamour, her brother, with hem; for he had the conduyte of thes ladyes. And there they were lodged at the devyse of kynge Arthure.

  And uppon Myghelmas day the bysshop of Caunturbyry made the weddyng betwene sir Gareth and dame Lyonesse with grete solempnyté. And kynge Arthure made sir Gaherys to wedde the damesell Saveage, dame Lyonet. And sir Aggravayne kynge Arthure made to wedde dame Lyonesseis neese, a fayre lady; hir name was dame Lawrell.

  And so whan this solempnyté was done, than com in the Grene Knyght, sir Pertolope, with thirty knyghtes; and there he dud omage and feauté to sir Gareth, and all thes knyghtes to holde of hym for evermore. Also sir Pertolope seyde, ‘I pray you that at this feste I may be your chambirlayne.’

  ‘With good wyll,’ seyde sir Gareth, syth hit lyke you to take so symple an offyce.’

  Than com in the Rede Knyght wyth three score knyghtes with hym, and dud to sir Gareth omage and feauté, and all the knyghtes to holde of hym for evermore. And than sir Perimones prayde sir Gareth to graunte hym to be his chyeff butler at the hygh feste.

  ‘I woll well,’ seyde sir Gareth, ‘that ye have this offyce and hit were bettir.’

  Than com in sir Persaunte of Inde wyth an hondred knyghtes with hym, and there he dud omage and feauté, and all his knyghtes sholde do hym servyse and holde their londis of hym for evir. And there he prayde sir Gareth to make hym his sewear cheyff at that hyghe feste.

  ‘I woll well,’ seyde sir Gareth, ‘that ye have hit and hit were bettir.’

  Than com in the deuke de la Rouse with an hondred knyghtes with hym; and there he dud omage and feauté to sir Gareth, and so to holde there londis of hym for evermore. And he requyred sir Gareth that he myght serve hym of the wyne that day of the hyghe feste.

  ‘I woll well,’ seyde sir Gareth, and hit were bettir.’

  Than cam the Rede Knyght of the Rede Laundis that hyght sir Ironsyde, and he brought with hym three hondred knyghtes; and there he dud omage and feauté, and all the knyghtes to holde their londys of hym for ever. And than he asked of sir Gareth to be his kerver.

  ‘I woll well,’ seyde sir Gareth, ‘and hit please you.’

  Than com into the courte thirty ladyes, and all they semed wydows; and the ladyes brought with hem many fayre jantyllwomen, and all they kneled downe at onys unto kynge Arthure and unto sir Gareth; and there all the ladyes tolde the kynge how that sir Gareth had delyverde them fro the Dolorous Towre, and slew the Browne Knyght withoute Pyté: ‘and therefore all we and oure ayres for evermore woll do omage unto sir Gareth of Orkeney.’

  So than the kynges, quenys, pryncis, erlys, barouns, and many bolde knyghtes wente to mete; and well may ye wete that there was all maner of plenté and all maner revels and game, with all maner of mynstralsy that was used the dayes. Also there was grete justys three dayes, but the kynge wolde nat suffir sir Gareth to juste, because of his new bryde; for, as the Freynsh boke seyth, that dame Lyonesse desyred of the kynge that none that were wedded sholde juste at that feste.

  So the fyrste day there justed sir Lameroke de Gelys, for he overthrewe thirty knyghtes and dud passyng mervelus dedis of armys. And than kynge Arthure made sir Persaunte and his bretherne knyghtes of the Rounde Table to their lyvys ende, and gaff hem grete landys.

  Also the secunde day there justed sir Trystrams beste, and he overthrew fourty knyghtes, and dud there mervelus dedis of armys. And there kynge Arthure made sir Ironsyde, that was the Rede Knyght of the Rede Laundys, a knyght of the Table Rounde to his lyvis ende, and gaff hym grete landis.

  Than the thirde day there justed sir Launcelot, and he overthrew fyfty knyghtes and dud many dedis of armys, that all men wondird. And there kynge Arthure made the deuke de la Rowse a knyght of the Table Rounde to his lyvys ende, and gaff hym grete londis to spende.

  But whan this justis was done, sir Lameroke and sir Trystrams departed suddeynly and wolde nat be knowyn; for the whych kyng Arthure and all the courte was sore dysplesid.

  And so they helde the courte fourty dayes with grete solempnyté. And thus sir Gareth of Orkeney was a noble knyght, that wedded dame Lyonesse of the Castell Parelus. And also sir Gaheris wedded her sistir, dame Lyonette, that was called the damesell Saveaige. And sir Aggravayne wedded dame Lawrell, a fayre lady wyth grete and myghty londys, wyth grete ryches igyffyn wyth them, that ryally they myght lyve tyll theire lyvis ende.

  AND I PRAY YOU ALL THAT REDYTH THIS TALE TO PRAY FOR HYM THAT THIS WROTE, THAT GOD SENDE HYM GOOD DELYVERAUNCE SONE AND HASTELY. AMEN.

  HERE ENDYTH THE TALE OF SIR GARETH OF ORKENEY.

  BOOK V. THE BOOK OF SIR TRISTRAM DE LYONES

  I. ISODE THE FAIR

  HERE BEGYNNYTH THE FYRSTE BOKE OF SYR TRYSTRAMS DE LYONES, AND WHO WAS HIS FADIR AND HYS MODYR, AND HOW HE WAS BORNE AND FOSTYRD, AND HOW HE WAS MADE KNYGHT OF KYNGE MARKE OF CORNUAYLE

  [1] There was a kynge that hyght Melyodas, and he was lorde of the contrey of Lyones. And this Melyodas was a lykly knyght as ony was that tyme lyvyng. And by fortune he wedded kynge Markis sister of Cornuayle, and she was called Elyzabeth, that was called bothe good and fayre.

  And at that tyme kynge Arthure regned, and he was hole kynge of Ingelonde, Walys, Scotlonde, and of many othir realmys. Howbehit there were many kynges that were lordys of many contreyes, but all they helde their londys of kynge Arthure; for in Walys were two kynges, and in the Northe were many kynges, and in Cornuayle and in the Weste were two kynges; also in Irelonde were two or three kynges, and all were undir the obeysaunce of kynge Arthure; so was the kynge of Fraunce and the kyng of Bretayne, and all the lordshyppis unto Roome.

  So whan this kynge Melyodas had bene with his wyff, wythin a whyle she wexed grete with chylde. And she was a full meke lady, and well she loved hir lorde and he hir agayne, so there was grete joy betwyxte hem.

  So there was a lady in that contrey that had loved kynge Melyodas longe, and by no meane she never cowde gete his love. Therefore she let ordayne uppon a day as kynge Melyodas rode an-huntynge, for he was a grete chacer of dere, and there by enchauntemente she made hym chace an harte by hymself alone tyll that he c
om to an olde castell, and there anone he was takyn presoner by the lady that loved hym.

  Whan Elyzabeth, kynge Melyodas his wyff, myssed hir lorde she was nyghe oute of hir wytte, and also, as grete with chylde as she was, she toke a jantylwoman with hir and ran into the foreste suddeynly to seke hir lorde. And whan she was farre in the foreste she myght no farther, but ryght there she gan to travayle faste of hir chylde, and she had many grymly throwys, but hir jantyllwoman halpe hit all that she myght.

  And so by myracle of oure Lady of Hevyn she was delyverde with grete paynes, but she had takyn suche colde for the defaute of helpe that the depe draughtys of deth toke hir, that nedys she muste dye and departe oute of thys worlde; there was none othir boote. Whan this quene Elyzabeth saw that she myght nat ascape she made grete dole and seyde unto hir jantylwoman, ‘Whan ye se my lorde, kynge Melyodas, recommaunde me unto hym and tell hym what paynes I endure here for his love, and how I muste dye here for his sake for defawte of good helpe, and lat hym wete that I am full sory to departe oute of this worlde fro hym. Therefore pray hym to be frende to my soule. Now lat me se my lytyll chylde for whom I have had all this sorrow.’

  And whan she sye hym she seyde thus: ‘A, my lytyll son, thou haste murtherd thy modir! And therefore I suppose thou that arte a murtherer so yonge, thow arte full lykly to be a manly man in thyne ayge; and bycause I shall dye of the byrth of the, I charge my jantyllwoman that she pray my lorde, the kynge Melyodas, that whan he is crystened let calle hym Trystrams, that is as muche to say as a sorowfull byrth.’

  And therewith the quene gaff up the goste and dyed. Than the jantyllwoman leyde hir undir an umbir of a grete tre, and than she lapped the chylde as well as she myght fro colde.

  Ryght so there cam the barowns of kynge Melyodas folowyng aftir the quene. And whan they sye that she was dede and undirstode none othir but that the kynge was destroyed, than sertayne of [2] them wolde have slayne the chylde bycause they wolde have bene lordys of that contrey of Lyonesse. But than, thorow the fayre speche of the jantyllwoman and by the meanys that she made, the moste party of the barowns wolde nat assente thereto. But than they latte cary home the dede quene and muche sorow was made for hir.

  Than this meanewhyle Merlyon had delyverde kynge Melyodas oute of preson on the morne aftir his quene was dede. And so whan the kynge was com home the moste party of the barowns made grete joy, but the sorow that the kynge made for his quene there myght no tonge tell. So than the kynge let entyre hir rychely, and aftir he let crystyn his chylde as his wyff had commaunded byfore hir deth. And than he lette calle hym Trystrams, ‘the sorowfull-borne chylde.’

  Than kynge Melyodas endured aftir that seven yere withoute a wyff, and all this tyme Trystrams was fostred well. Than hit befelle that the kynge Melyodas wedded kynge Howellys of Bretaynes doughter, and anone she had chyldirne by kynge Melyodas. Than was she hevy and wroth that hir chyldirne sholde nat rejoyse the contrey of Lyonesse, wherefore this quene ordayned for to poyson yong Trystrams.

  So at the laste she let poyson be putt in a pees of sylver in the chambir where Trystrams and hir chyldir were togydyrs, unto that entente that whan Trystrams were thirsty he sholde drynke that drynke. And so hit felle uppon a day the quenys son, as he was in that chambir, aspyed the pyese with poyson, and he wente hit had bene good drynke; and because the chylde was thirsty he toke the pyese with poyson and dranke frely, and therewith the chylde suddaynly braste and was dede.

  So whan the quene of Melyodas wyste of the deth of hir sone, wete you well that she was hevy; but yet the kynge undirstood nothynge of hir treson. Notwythstondynge the quene wolde not leve by this, but effte she lette ordeyne more poyson and putt hit in a pyese. And by fortune kyng Melyodas, hir husbonde, founde the pyese with wyne wherein was the poyson, and as he that was thirstelew toke the pyse for to drynke; and as he wolde have drunken thereof the quene aspyed hym and ran unto hym and pulde the pyse from hym sodeynly. The kynge mervayled of hir why she ded so and remembred hym suddaynly how hir son was slayne with poyson. And than he toke hir by the honde and sayde, ‘Thou false traytoures! Thou shalt telle me what maner of drynke this is, other ellys I shall sle the!’ And therewith he pulde oute his swerde and sware a grete othe that he sholde sle hir but yf she tolde hym the trouthe.

  ‘A! mercy, my lorde,’ she seyde, ‘and I shall telle you all.’ And than she tolde hym why she wolde have slayne Trystrams, because her chyldir sholde rejoyse his londe.

  ‘Well,’ seyde the kynge, ‘and therefore ye shall have the lawe.’

  And so she was dampned by the assente of the barownes to be brente. And ryght as she was at the fyre to take hir excussion this same yonge Trystrams kneled byfore his fadir kynge Melyodas and besought hym to gyff hym a done.

  ‘I woll well,’ seyde the kynge.

  Than seyde yonge Trystrams, ‘Geff me the lyff of your quene, my stepmodir.’

  ‘That is unryghtfully asked,’ seyde the kynge Melyodas, ‘for thou oughte of ryght to hate hir, for she wolde have slayne the with poyson, and for thy sake moste is my cause that she sholde be dede.’

  ‘Sir,’ seyde Trystrams, ‘as for that, I beseche you of your mercy that ye woll forgyff hir. And as for my parte, God forgyff hir and I do. And hit lyked so muche your hyghenesse to graunte me my boone, for Goddis love I requyre you holde your promyse.’

  ‘Sytthen hit is so,’ seyde the kynge, ‘I woll that ye have hir lyff,’ and sayde: ‘I gyff hir you, and go ye to the fyre and take hir and do with hir what ye woll.’

  So this sir Trystramys wente to the fyre, and by the commaundemente of the kynge delyverde hir from the deth. But afftir that kynge Melyodas wolde never have ado with hir as at bedde and at bourde. But by the meanys of yonge Trystrams he made the kynge and hir accorded, but than the kynge wolde nat suffir yonge Trystrams to abyde but lytyll in his courte.

  And than he lett ordayne a jantyllman that was well lerned and [3] taught, and his name was Governayle, and than he sente yonge Tristrams with Governayle into Fraunce to lerne the langage and nurture and dedis of armys. And there was Trystrams more than seven yere. So whan he had lerned what he myght in the contreyes, than he com home to his fadir kynge Melyodas agayne.

  And so Trystrams lerned to be an harper passyng all other, that there was none suche called in no contrey. And so in harpynge and on instrumentys of musyke in his youthe he applyed hym for to lerne. And aftir, as he growed in myght and strength, he laboured in huntynge and in hawkynge — never jantylman more that ever we herde rede of. And as the booke seyth, he began good mesures of blowynge of beestes of venery and beestes of chaace and all maner of vermaynes, and all the tearmys we have yet of hawkynge and huntynge. And therefore the booke of venery, of hawkynge and huntynge is called the booke of sir Trystrams.

  Wherefore, as me semyth, all jantyllmen that beryth olde armys ought of ryght to honoure sir Tristrams for the goodly tearmys that jantylmen have and use and shall do unto the Day of Dome, that thereby in a maner all men of worshyp may discever a jantylman frome a yoman and a yoman frome a vylayne. For he that jantyll is woll drawe hym to jantyll tacchis and to folow the noble customys of jantylmen.

  Thus Trystrams enduryd in Cornewayle unto that he was stronge and bygge, unto the ayge of eyghtene yere. And than kyng Melyodas had grete joy of yonge Trystrams, and so had the quene his wyff for ever after in hir lyff, because sir Trystrams saved hir frome the fyre: she ded never hate hym more afftir, but ever loved hym and gaff hym many grete gyfftys; for every astate loved hym where that he wente.

  [4] Than hit befelle that kynge Angwysh of Irelonde sente unto kynge Marke of Cornwayle for his trwayge that Cornuayle had payde many wyntyrs, and at that tyme kynge Marke was behynde of the trwayge for seven yerys.

  And kynge Marke and his barownes gaff unto the messyngers of Irelonde thes wordis and answere that they wolde none pay, and bade the messyngers go unto their kynge Angwysh, ‘and tell hym we woll pay hym no trwayge, but tell youre lorde, and he woll allwayes have trwayge of us of Cornwayle, bydde hym sende a trusty
knyght of his londe that woll fyght for his ryght, and we shall fynde another for to defende us.’

  So the messyngers departed into Irelonde, and whan kynge Angwysh undyrstoode the answere of the messyngers he was wrothe. And than he called unto hym sir Marhalt, the good knyght that was nobly proved and a knyght of the Rounde Table. And this Marhaltt was brother unto the quene of Irelonde. Than the kyng seyde thus: ‘Fayre brother, sir Marhalt, I pray you go unto Cornewayle for my sake to do batayle for oure trwayge that we of ryght ought to have. And whatsomevir ye spende, ye shall have suffyciauntely more than ye shall nede.’

  ‘Sir,’ seyde sir Marhalte, ‘wete you well that I shall nat be loth to do batyle in the ryght of you and your londe with the beste knyght of Table Rounde, for I know them for the moste party what bene their dedis. And for to avaunce my dedis and to encrece my worshyp I woll ryght gladly go unto this journey.’

  So in all haste there was made purvyaunce for sir Marhalte, and he had all thynge that hym neded, and so he departed oute of Irelonde and aryved up in Cornwayle evyn by Castell of Tyntagyll. And whan kynge Marke undirstood that he was there aryved for to fyght for Irelonde, than made kynge Marke grete sorow, whan he undirstood that the good knyght sir Marhalt was com; for they knew no knyght that durste have ado with hym, for at that tyme sir Marhalte was called one of the famuste knyghtes of the worlde.

  And thus sir Marhalte abode in the see, and every day he sente unto kynge Marke for to pay the trwayge that was behynde seven yere, other ellys to fynde a knyght to fyght with hym for the trewayge. This maner of message sir Marhalte sente unto kynge Marke.

  Than they of Cornwayle lete make cryes that what knyght that wolde fyght for to save the trwayge of Cornwayle he shold be rewarded to fare the bettir, terme of his lyff. Than som of the barowns seyde to kynge Marke and counceyled hym to sende to the courte of kynge Arthure for to seke sir Launcelott du Lake that was that tyme named for the mervaylyste knyght of the worlde.