Complete Works of Sir Thomas Malory

by Thomas Malory

  ‘Now, fayre damesell,’ seyde sir Launcelot, ‘who tolde you my name?’

  ‘Sir,’ seyde she, ‘there cam a damesel frome a knyght that ye fought withall at a brydge, and she tolde me that youre name was sir Launcelot du Lake.’

  ‘Blame have she therefore,’ seyde he, ‘but her lord, sir Neroveus, had tolde hir. But, damesell,’ seyde sir Launcelot, ‘uppon thys covenaunte I woll ryde with you, so that ye wyll nat rebuke thys knyght sir La Cote Male Tayle no more, for he ys a good knyght, and I doute nat but he shall preve a noble man. And for hys sake and pité, that he sholde nat be destroyed, I folowed hym to succour hym in thys grete nede.’

  ‘A, Jesu thanke you!’ seyde the damesell, ‘for now I woll sey unto you and to hym bothe, I rebuked hym never for none hate that I hated hym, but for grete love that I had to hym, for ever I supposed that he had bene to yonge and to tendur of ayge to take uppon hym thys aventure. And therefore be my wyll I wolde have dryvyn hym away for jelosy that I had of hys lyff. For hit may be no yonge knyghtes dede that shall enchyve thys adventure to the ende.”Perde!’ seyd sir Launcelot, ‘hit ys well seyde of you! And where ye ar called the Damesell Maledysaunt, I woll calle you the Damesell Byeau-Pansaunte.’

  And so they rode forth togydirs a grete whyle unto they cam unto the contreye of Surluse, and there they founde a fayre vyllayge wyth a stronge brydge lyke a fortresse. And whan sir Launcelot and they were at the brydge there sterte forthe afore them of jantyllmen and yomen many that seyde, ‘Fayre lordis! Ye may nat passe thys brydge and thys fortresse because of that blacke shylde that I se one of you beare, and therefore there shall nat passe but one of you at onys. Therefore chose you whych of you shall entir within thys brydge fyrst.’

  Than sir Launcelot profird hymselfe firste to juste and entir within thys brydge.

  ‘Sir,’ seyde sir La Cote Male Tayle, ‘I besech you to lette me entir within thys fortresse. And if I may spede well I woll sende for you, and if hit so be that I be slayne, there hit goth. And if I be takyn presonere, than may you rescowe me.’

  ‘Sir, I am loth that ye sholde passe this passage first,’ seyde sir Launcelot.

  ‘Sir,’ seyde sir La Cote Male Tayle, ‘I pray you lat me put my body in that adventure.’

  ‘Now go youre way,’ seyde sir Launcelot, and Jesu be your spede!’

  So he entird anone, and there mette with hym two brethirne, the tone hyght sir Playne de Fors and that othir hyght sir Playne de Amoris. And anone they justed with La Cote Male Tayle, and sir La Cote Male Tayle smote downe sir Playne de Fors, and aftir he smote downe sir Playne de Amoris.

  And than they dressed their shyldis and swerdys and bade sir La Cote Male Tayle alyght, and so he ded. And there was daysshynge and foynynge with swerdis, and so they began to assayle othir full harde, and they gaff sir La Cote Male Tayle many grete woundis uppon hed and breste and uppon shuldirs. And as he myght ever amonge he gaff sad strokis agayne, and than the two brethirne traced and traverced for to be of both hondis of sir La Cote Male Tale, but he by fyne forse and knyghtly proues gate hem afore hym. And whan he felte hym so wounded than he doubled hys strokis and gaffe them so many woundis that he felde hem to the erthe, and wolde have slayne them had they nat yelded them.

  And ryght so sir La Cote Male Tayle toke the beste horse that there was of them three, and so he rode forth hys way to the othir fortres and brydge. And there he mette with the thirde brother, hys name was sir Plenoryus, a full noble knyght, and there they justed togydirs, and aythir smote other downe, horse and man, to the erthe.

  And than they avoyded their horsys and dressed their shyldis and swerdis, and than they gaff many sad strokis. And one whyle the one knyght was afore on the brydge, and another whyle the other. And thus they faught two owres and more and never rested, and ever sir Launcelot and the damesell behylde them.

  ‘Alas!’ seyde the damesell, ‘my knyght fyghttyth passynge sore and overlonge.’

  ‘Now may ye se,’ seyde sir Launcelot, ‘that he ys a noble knyght, for to considir hys firste batayle and his grevous woundis. And evyn forthwithall, so wounded as he ys, hit ys mervayle that he may endure thys longe batayle with that good knyght.’

  Thys meanewhyle sir La Cote Male Tayle sanke ryght downe [8] uppon the erthe, what forwounded and forbled he myght nat stonde. Than the tothir knyght had pyté off hym and seyde, ‘Fayre knyght, dismay you not, for had ye bene freysshe whan ye mette with me as I was, I wote well that I coude nat have endured you. And therefore, for youre noble dedys of armys, I shall shew to you kyndenes and jantilnes all that I may.’

  And furthewithall thys noble knyght sir Plenoryus toke hym up in hys armys and ledde hym into hys towre. And than he commaunded hym the wyne and made to serch hym and to stop hys bledynge woundys.

  ‘Sir,’ seyde sir La Cote Mal Tayle, ‘withdraw you from me and hyghe you to yondir brydge agayne, for there woll mete with you another maner a knyght than ever was I.’

  ‘Why,’ seyde sir Plenoryus, ‘ys there behynde ony me of youre felyship?’

  ‘Ye, sir, wete you well there ys a muche bettir knyght than I am.’

  ‘What ys hys name?’ seyde sir Plenoryus.

  ‘Sir, ye shall nat know for me.’

  ‘Well,’ seyde the knyght, ‘he shall be encountird withall, whatsomever he be.’

  And anone he herde a knyght calle that seyde, ‘Sir Plenoryus, where arte thou? Othir thou muste delyver me that presoner that thou haste lad into thy towre, othir ellis com and do batayle with me!’

  Than sir Plenoryus gate hys horse and cam, with a speare in hys honde, walopynge towarde sir Launcelot. And than they began to feauter theire spearys, and cam togydir as thundir, and smote aythir othir so myghtyly that their horsis felle downe undir them.

  And than they avoyded their horsis and pulled oute their swerdis, and lyke too bullis they laysshed togydirs with grete strokis and foynys. But ever sir Launcelot recoverde grounde uppon hym, and sir Plenoryus traced to have gone aboute hym, but sir Launcelot wolde nat suffir that, but bare hym backer and backer tylle he cam nye hys towre gate. And than seyde sir Launcelot, ‘I know you well for a good knyght, but wyte thou well thy lyff and deth ys in my honde, and therefore yelde the to me and thy presonere!’

  But he answerde no worde, but strake myghtyly uppon sir Launcelotis helme, that the fyre sprange oute of hys yen. Than sir Launcelot doubeled his strokes so thycke, and smote at hym so myghtyly, that he made hym knele uppon his kneys. And therewithall sir Launcelot lepe uppon hym and pulled hym grovelynge downe. Than sir Plenoryus yelded hym and hys towre and all his presoners at hys wylle. Than sir Launcelot receyved hym and toke hys trowthe.

  And than he rode to the tothir brydge, and there sir Launcelot justed with othir three of hys brethirn, that one hyght sir Pyllownes, and the othir hyght sir Pellogres, and the thirde hyght sir Pelaundris. And first uppon horsebacke sir Launcelot smote hem doune, and aftirwarde he bete hem on foote and made them to yelde them unto hym.

  And than he returned ayen unto sir Pleonoryus, and there he founde in hys preson kynge Carados of Scotlonde and many other knyghtes, and all they were delyverde.

  And than sir La Cote Male Tale cam to sir Launcelot, and than sir Launcelot wolde have gyvyn hym all thys fortresse and the brydges.

  ‘Nay, sir,’ seyde La Cote Male Tayle, ‘I woll nat have sir Plenoryus lyvelode. With that he wyll graunte you, my lorde sir Launcelot, to com unto kynge Arthurs house and to be hys knyght and all hys brethirne, I woll pray you, my lorde, to latte hym have hys lyvelode.’

  ‘I woll well,’ seyde sir Launcelot, ‘wyth thys, that he woll com to the courte of kyng Arthure and bycom hys man, and hys brethern fyve. And as for you, sir Plenoryus, I woll undirtake,’ seyde sir Launcelot, at the nexte feste, so there be a place voyde, that ye shall be knyght of the Rounde Table.’

  ‘Sir,’ seyde sir Plenoryus, at the nexte feste of Pentecoste I woll be at kynge Arthurs courte, and at that tyme I woll be gyded and ruled as kynge Arthure and ye woll have me.’

 
Than sir Launcelot and sir La Cote Male Tayle reposed them there untyll they were hole of hir woundis, and there they had myry chere and good reste and many good gamys, and there were many fayre ladyes. And so in the meanewhyle cam sir Kay the Senesciall and sir [9] Brandiles, and anone they felyshipped with them, and so within ten dayes they departed, the knyghtes of kynge Arthurs courte, from thes fortres.

  And as sir Launcelot cam by the Castell of Pendragon, there he put sir Bryan de Lese lies from his londes, for because he wolde never be withholde with kynge Arthur. And all the castell of Pendragon and all the londis thereof he gaff to sir La Cote Male Tayle. And than sir Launcelot sente for sir Neroveus that he made onys knyght, and he made hym to have all the rule of that castell and of that contrey undir sir La Cote Male Tayle. And so they rode unto kynge Arthurs courte all hole togydirs.

  And at Pentecoste nexte folowynge there was sir Plenoryus, and sir La Cote Male Tayle was called otherwyse be ryght sir Brewne le Noyre. And bothe they were made knyghtes of the Rounde Table, and grete londis kynge Arthure gaff them.

  And there sir Breune le Noyre wedded that damesell Maledysaunte, and aftir she was called the lady Byeaue-Vyvante. But ever aftir for the more party he was called La Cote Male Tayle, and he preved a passyng noble knyght and a myghty, and many worshipfull dedys he ded aftir in hys lyff.

  And sir Plenoryus preved a good knyght and was full of proues, and all the dayes of theyre lyff for the moste party they awayted uppon sir Launcelot.

  And sir Plenoryus brethirne were ever knyghtes of kynge Arthurs, and also, as the Freynshe booke makith mencion, sir La Cote Male Tayle revenged the deth of hys fadir.

  IV. TRISTRAM’S MADNESS AND EXILE

  [10] Now leve we here sir Launcelot du Lake and sir La Cote Male Tayle, and turne we unto sir Trystram de Lyones that was in Bretayne, that whan La Beall Isode undirstood that he was wedded she sente to hym by hir maydyn, dame Brangwayn, pyteuous lettirs as coude be thought and made, and hir conclusyon was thus, that if hit pleased sir Trystram, to com to hir courte and brynge with hym Isode le Blaunche Maynys; and they shulde be kepte als well as herselff.

  Than sir Trystram called unto hym sir Keyhydyns and asked hym whether he wolde go with hym into Cornwayle secretely. He answerde hym and seyde that he was redy at all tymes. And than he lete ordayne prevayly a lityll vessel, and therein they sayled, sir Trystram, sir Keyhydyns, and dame Brangwayne and Govemayle, sir Trystrams squyar.

  So whan they were in the see a contraryous wynde blew them unto the costis of North Walis, ny the Foreyste Perelus. Than seyde sir Trystrames, ‘Here shall ye abyde me thes ten dayes, and Governayle, my squyer, with you. And if so be I com nat agayne by that day, take the nexte way into Cornwayle, for in thys foreyste ar many strange adventures, as I have harde sey, and som of hem I caste to preve or that I departe. And whan I may I shall hyghe me aftir you.’

  Than sir Trystrams and sir Keyhydyns toke their horsis and departed frome theire felyship. And so they rode within that foreyste a myle and more, and at the laste sir Trystramys saw before them a lykely knyght syttyng armed by a well. And a stronge myghty horse stood passyng nyghe hym ityed to an oke, and a man hovyng and rydynge by hym, ledynge an horse lode with spearys. And thys knyght that sate at the well semyd by hys countenaunce to be passyng hevy. Than sir Trystramys rode nere hym and seyde, ‘Fayre knyght! Why sitte you so droupynge? Ye seme to be a knyghte arraunte by youre armys and harneys, and therefore dresse you to juste with one of us other with bothe!’

  Therewithall that knyght made no wordes, but toke hys shylde and buckeled hit aboute hys necke, and lyghtly he toke hys horse and lepte uppon hym, and than he toke a grete speare of hys squyre and departed hys way a furlonge.

  Then sir Kehydyns asked leve of sir Trystrames to juste firste.

  ‘Sir, do your beste!’ seyde sir Trystrames.

  So they mette togydirs, and there sir Kehydins had a falle and was sore wounded an hyghe abovyn the pappis. Than sir Trystramys seyde, ‘Knyght that ys well justed, now make you redy unto me!’

  ‘Sir, I am redy,’ seyde the knyght.

  And anone he toke a grete speare and encountird with sir Trystramys. And there by fortune and by grete force that knyght smote downe sir Trystramys frome hys horse, and had a grete falle. Tha’ sir Trystramys was sore ashamed, and lyghtly he avoyded hys horse and put hys shylde afore hys shulder and drew hys swerde, and than sir Trystramys requyred that knyght of hys knyghthode to alyghte uppon foote and fyght with hym.

  ‘I woll well,’ seyde the knyght.

  And so he alyght uppon foote and avoyded hys horse and kest hys shylde uppon hys shulder and drew oute hys swerde, and there they fought a longe batayle togydirs, nyghe two owrys. Than sir Trystramys seyde, ‘Fayre knyght, holde thyne honde a lytyll whyle and telle me of whens thou arte and what is thy name.’

  ‘As for that,’ seyde the knyght, ‘I woll be avysed; but and ye woll telle me youre name, peradventure I woll telle you myne.’

  [11] ‘Now, fayre knyght,’ he seyde, my name ys sir Trystram de Lyones.’

  ‘Sir, and my name ys sir Lamerok de Galys.’

  ‘A, sir Lamerok!’ seyde sir Trystram, “well be we mette! And bethynke the now of the despite thou dedist me of the sendynge of the horne unto kynge Markis courte, to the entente to have slayne or dishonourde my lady, quene La Beall Isode. And therefore wyte thou well,’ seyde sir Trystramys, ‘the tone of us two shall dy or we departe.’

  ‘Sir,’ seyde sir Lamerok, ‘that tyme that we were togydirs in the Ile of Servage ye promysed me bettir frendeship.’

  So sir Trystramys wolde make no lenger delayes, but laysshed at sir Lamerok, and thus they faught longe tylle aythir were wery of other. Than sir Trystrams seyde unto sir Lamorak, ‘In all my lyff mette I never with such a knyght that was so bygge and so well-brethed. Therefore,’ sayde sir Trystramys, ‘hit were pité that ony of us bothe sholde here be myscheved.’

  ‘Sir,’ seyde sir Lamerok, ‘for youre renowne and your name I woll that ye have the worship, and therefore I woll yelde me unto you.’ And therewith he toke the poynte of hys swerde in hys honde to yelde hym.

  ‘Nay,’ seyde sir Trystrames, ‘ye shall nat do so, for well I know youre profirs are more of your jantilnes than for ony feare or drede ye have of me.’

  And therewithall sir Trystramys profferde hym hys swerde and seyde, ‘Sir Lamerak, as an overcom knyght I yelde me to you as a man of moste noble proues that I ever mette!’

  ‘Nay,’ seyde sir Lamerok, ‘I woll do you jantylnes: I requyre you, lat us be sworne togydirs that never none of us shall aftir thys day have ado with other.’

  And therewithall sir Trystrames and sir Lamorak sware that never none of hem sholde fyght agaynste othir, for well nother for woo.

  [12] And thys meanewhyle com sir Palomydes, the good knyght, folowyng the questyng beste that had in shap lyke a serpentis hede and a body lyke a lybud, buttokked lyke a lyon and footed lyke an harte. And in hys body there was such a noyse as hit had bene twenty couple of houndys questynge, and suche noyse that beste made wheresomever he wente. And thys beste evermore sir Palomydes folowed, for hit was called hys queste.

  And ryght so as he folowed this beste, hit cam by sir Trystram, and sone aftir cam sir Palomydes. And to breff thys mater, he smote downe sir Trystramys and sir Lamorak bothe with one speare, and so he departed aftir the Beste Glatyssaunte that was called the Questynge Beste, wherefore thes two knyghtes were passynge wrothe that sir Palomydes wold nat fyght with hem on foote.

  Here men may undirstonde that bene men of worshyp that man was never fourmed that all tymes myght attayne, but somtyme he was put to the worse by malefortune and at som tyme the wayker knyght put the byggar knyght to a rebuke.

  Than sir Trystrams and sir Lamerok gate sir Kayhydyns uppon a shylde betwyxte them bothe and led hym to a fosters lodge. And there they gaff hym in charge to kepe hym well, and with hym they abode three dayes. Than thes two knyghtes toke their horsys and at a crosse they departed. And than seyde sir Trystr
amys to sir Lamorak, ‘I requyre you, if ye hap to mete with sir Palomydes, say to hym that he shall fynde me at the same welle there we mette tofore, and there I, sir Trystramys, shall preve whether he be bettir knyght than I.’

  And so ayther departed frome othir a sondry way, and sir Trystramys rode nyghe thereas was sir Keyhydyns, and sir Lamorak rode untyll he cam to a chapell, and there he put hys horse unto pastoure.

  And anone there cam sir Mellyagaunce that was kynge Bagdemagus sonne, and he there put hys horse to pasture, and was nat ware of sir Lamerok. And than thys knyght sir Mellyagaunce made hys mone of the love that he had to quene Gwenyver, and there he made a wofull complaynte.

  All thys harde sir Lamorak, and on the morne sir Lamorak toke hys horse and rode unto the foreyste, and there he mette with two knyghtes hovyng undir the woodshaw.

  ‘Fayre knyghtes!’ seyde sir Lamerok, ‘what do ye, hovynge here and wacchynge? And yff ye be knyghtes arraunte that wyll juste, lo I am redy!’

  ‘Nay, sir knyght,’ they seyde, ‘we abyde nat here for to juste with you, but we lye in a wayte uppon a knyght that slew oure brothir.’

  ‘What knyght was that,’ seyde sir Lamorak, ‘that ye wolde fayne mete withall?’

  ‘Sir,’ they seyde, ‘hit ys sir Launcelot that we woll slee and he com thys way.’

  ‘Ye take uppon you a grete charge,’ seyde sir Lamorake, ‘for sir Launcelot ys a noble proved knyght.’

  ‘As for that, sir, we doute nat, for there ys none of us but we ar good inowghe for hym.’

  ‘I woll nat beleve that,’ seyde sir Lamerok, ‘for I harde never yet of no knyght dayes of oure lyff but sir Launcelot was to bygge for hym.’

  [13] Ryght as they talked sir Lameroke was ware how sir Launcelot com rydynge streyte towarde them. Than sir Lamorak salewed hym and he hym agayne, and than sir Lamorak asked sir Launcelot if there were onythynge that he myght do for hym in thys marchys.

  ‘Nay,’ seyde sir Launcelot, ‘nat at thys tyme, I thanke you.’