Le Morte Darthur: The Winchester Manuscript (Oxford World's Classics)

by Malory, Thomas

  ‘Let them be,’ said Sir Gawain, ‘for they four have no peers. And if one thing were not, Sir Lancelot had no fellow of an earthly man; but he is as we be, but if he take the more pain upon him.* But and these four be met together they will be loath that any man meet with them; for and they fail of the Sangrail, it is in waste of all the remnant* to recover it.’

  Thus Sir Ector and Sir Gawain rode more than eight days; and on a Saturday they found an ancient chapel which was wasted, that there seemed no man nor woman thither repaired. And there they alit and set their spears at the door; and so they entered into the chapel and there made their orisons a great while. And then they sat them down in the sieges* of the chapel; and as they spoke of one thing and of other, for heaviness they fell asleep, and there befell them both marvellous adventures.

  Sir Gawain him seemed he came into a meadow full of herbs and flowers, and there he saw a rack* of bulls, a hundred and fifty, that were proud and black, save three of them were all white, and one had a black spot. And the other two were so fair and so white that they might be no whiter; and these three bulls which were so fair were tied with two strong cords. And the remnant of the bulls said among them, ‘Go we hence to seek better pasture.’ And so some went, and some came again, but they were so meagre that they might not stand upright. And of the bulls that were so white, that one came again, and no more. But when this white bull was come again and among these others, there rose up a great cry for lack of viand* that failed them; and so they departed, one here and another there. This vision befell Gawain that night.

  [2]

  But to Sir Ector de Maris befell another vision, the contrary. For it seemed him that his brother Sir Lancelot and he alit out of a chair and leapt upon two horses, and the one said to the other, ‘Go we to seek that we shall not find.’ And him thought that a man beat Sir Lancelot, and despoiled him, and clothed him in another array which was all full of knots, and set him upon an ass.* And in the meanwhile he trowed* that himself, Sir Ector, rode till that he came to a rich man’s house where there was a wedding. And there he saw a king which said, ‘Sir knight, here is no place for you.’ And then he turned again unto the chair that he came from.

  And so within a while both Sir Gawain and Sir Ector awoke, and either told other of their vision, which marvelled them greatly.

  ‘Truly,’ said Ector, ‘I shall never be merry till I hear tidings of my brother Sir Lancelot.’

  So as they sat thus talking they saw a hand showing unto the elbow, and was covered with red samite, and upon that a bridle not right rich, that held within the fist a great candle which burned right clear; and so passed before them and entered into the chapel, and then vanished away they wist not whither. And anon came down a voice which said, ‘Knights of full evil faith and of poor belief, these two things have failed you, and therefore ye may not come to the adventures of the Sangrail.’

  Then first spoke Sir Gawain and said, ‘Sir Ector, have ye heard these words?’

  ‘Yea, truly,’ said Sir Ector, ‘I heard all. Now go we,’ said Sir Ector, ‘unto some hermit that will tell us of our vision, for it seemeth me we labour all in waste.’

  And so they departed and rode into a valley; and there they met with a squire which rode on a hackney, and anon they saluted him fair.

  ‘Sir,’ said Sir Gawain, ‘can thou teach us to any hermit?’

  ‘Sir, here is one in a little mountain; but it is so rough there may no horse go thither, and therefore ye must go on foot, and there ye shall find a poor house. And therein is Nacien the hermit, which is the holiest man in this country.’

  And so they departed either from other. And then in a valley they met with a knight all armed, which proffered them to fight and joust as soon as he saw them.

  ‘In the name of God,’ said Sir Gawain, ‘for sithen I departed from Camelot there was none that proffered me to joust but once, and now.’

  ‘Sir,’ said Sir Ector, ‘let me joust with him.’

  ‘Nay, ye shall not; but if I be beaten, it shall not then forthink me* if ye go to him.’

  And then either embraced other to joust; and so they came together as fast as they might run, that they brast their shields and mails, and the one more than the other. But Sir Gawain was wounded in the left side, and this other knight was smitten through the breast that the spear came out on the other side. And so they fell both out of their saddles, and in the falling they broke both their spears. And anon Sir Gawain arose and set his hand to his sword, and cast his shield before him. But all for naught was it, for the knight had no power to arise against him.

  Then said Sir Gawain, ‘Ye must yield you as an overcome man, or else I must slay you.’

  ‘Ah, sir knight,’ he said, ‘I am but dead! Therefore for God’s sake and of your gentleness, lead me here unto an abbey that I may receive my Creator.’*

  ‘Sir,’ said Sir Gawain, ‘I know no house of religion here nigh.’

  ‘Sir, set me on a horse before you, and I shall teach you.’

  So Sir Gawain set him up in the saddle, and he leapt up behind him to sustain him; and so they came to the abbey, and there were well received. And anon he was unarmed, and received his Creator. Then he prayed Sir Gawain to draw out the truncheon of the spear out of his body. Then Sir Gawain asked him what he was.

  ‘Sir,’ he said, ‘I am of King Arthur’s court, and was a fellow of the Round Table, and we were sworn together; and now Sir Gawain, thou hast slain me. And my name is Sir Uwain le Avoutres, that sometime was son unto King Uriens; and I was in the quest of the Sangrail. And now God forgive thee, for it shall be ever rehearsed that the one sworn brother hath slain the other.’

  [3]

  ‘Alas,’ said Gawain, ‘that ever this misadventure befell me.’

  ‘No force,’* said Sir Uwain, ‘sithen I shall die this death, of a much more worshipfuller man’s hand might I not die. But when ye come to the court, recommend me unto my lord Arthur and to all them that be left alive. And for old brotherhood think on me.’

  Then began Sir Gawain to weep, and also Sir Ector. And then Sir Uwain bade him draw out the truncheon of the spear; and then Sir Gawain drew it out, and anon departed the soul from the body. Then Sir Gawain and Sir Ector buried him as them ought to bury a king’s son, and made it written upon his tomb what was his name and by whom he was slain.

  Then departed Sir Gawain and Sir Ector as heavy as they might for their misadventure, and so rode till they came to the rough mountain, and there they tied their horses and went on foot to the hermitage. And when they were come up they saw a poor house, and beside the chapel a little curtilage* where Nacien the hermit gathered worts to his meat,* as he which had tasted no other meat of a great while. And when he saw the errant knights he came to them and saluted them, and they him again.

  ‘Fair lords,’ said he, ‘what adventure brought you hither?’

  Then said Sir Gawain, ‘To speak with you for to be confessed.’

  ‘Sir,’ said the hermit, ‘I am ready.’

  Then they told him so much that he wist well what they were; and then he thought to counsel them if he might.

  Then began Sir Gawain and told him of his vision that he had in the chapel; and Ector told him all as it is before rehearsed.

  ‘Sir,’ said the hermit unto Sir Gawain, ‘by the fair meadow and the rack therein ought to be understood the Round Table, and by the meadow ought to be understood humility and patience: those be the things which be always green and quick.* At the rack ate a hundred and fifty bulls; but they ate not in the meadow, for if they had, their hearts should have been set in humility and patience; and the bulls were proud and black save only three. And by the bulls is understood the fellowship of the Round Table, which for their sin and their wickedness be black: blackness is as much to say without good virtues or works. And the three bulls which were white save only one had been spotted, the two white betoken Sir Galahad and Sir Percival, for they be maidens and clean without spot; and the third that had a spot s
ignifieth Sir Bors de Ganis, which trespassed but once in his virginity, but sithen he keepeth himself so well in chastity that all is forgiven him and his misdeeds. And why those three were tied by the necks, they be three knights in virginity and chastity, and there is no pride smitten in them.

  ‘And the black bulls which said, “Go we hence,” they were those which at Pentecost at the high feast took upon them the quest of the Sangrail without confession: they might not enter in the meadow of humility and patience. And therefore they turned into waste countries, that signifieth death, for there shall die many of them. For each of them shall slay other for sin, and they that shall escape shall be so meagre that it shall be marvel to see them. And of the three bulls without spot, the one shall come again, and the other two never.’

  [4]

  Then spake Nacien unto Sir Ector, ‘Sooth it is that Lancelot and ye came down off one chair: the chair betokeneth mastership and lordship which ye two came down from. But ye two knights,’ said the hermit, ‘ye go to seek that ye shall not find, that is the Sangrail; for it is the secret things of Our Lord Jesu Christ. But what is to mean that Sir Lancelot fell down off his horse: he hath left pride and taken to humility, for he hath cried mercy loud for his sin and sore repented him, and Our Lord hath clothed him in his clothing which is full of knots, that is the hair that he weareth daily. And the ass that he rode upon is a beast of humility, for God would not ride upon no steed, nor upon no palfrey, in an example that an ass betokeneth meekness;* that thou saw Sir Lancelot ride in thy sleep.

  ‘Now will I tell you what betokeneth the hand with the candle and the bridle: that is to understand the Holy Ghost where charity is ever. And the bridle signifieth abstinence, for when she is bridled in a Christian man’s heart she holdeth him so short that he falleth not in deadly sin. And the candle which showeth clearness and light signifieth the right way of Jesu Christ. And when they went he said, “Knights of poor faith and of wicked belief, these three things failed, charity, abstinence, and truth: therefore ye may not attain this adventure of the Sangrail.” ’

  [5]

  ‘Sir,’ said Sir Gawain, ‘it seemeth me by your words that for our sins it will not avail us to travel in this quest.’

  ‘Truly,’ said the good man, ‘there be a hundred such as ye be shall never prevail but to have shame.’

  And when they had heard these words they commended him unto God. Then the good man called Sir Gawain and said, ‘It is long time passed sith that ye were made knight, and never since served thou thy Maker; and now thou art so old a tree that in thee is neither leaf nor grass nor fruit. Wherefore bethink thee that thou yield to Our Lord the bare rind,* sith the fiend hath the leaves and the fruit.’

  ‘Sir,’ said Sir Gawain, ‘and I had leisure I would speak with you; but my fellow Sir Ector is gone, and abideth me yonder beneath the hill.’

  ‘Well,’ said the good man, ‘thou were better to be counselled.’

  Then departed Sir Gawain and came to Sir Ector, and so took their horses and rode till that they came to a forester’s house, which harboured them right well. And on the morn they departed from their host, and rode long or they could find any adventure.

  Now turneth this tale unto Sir Bors de Ganis.

  Of Sir Bors de Ganis

  [6]

  When Sir Bors was departed from Camelot he met with a religious man riding on an ass, and anon Sir Bors saluted him. And anon the good man knew that he was one of the knights errant that was in the quest of the Sangrail.

  ‘What are ye?’ said the good man.

  ‘Sir,’ said he, ‘I am a knight that fain would be counselled, that is entered into the quest of the Sangrail; for he shall have much earthly worship that may bring it to an end.’

  ‘Certes,’ said the good man, ‘that is sooth without fail, for he shall be the best knight of the world and the fairest of the fellowship. But wit you well there shall none attain it but by cleanness, that is pure confession.’

  So rode they together till that they came unto a little hermitage, and there he prayed Sir Bors to dwell all that night. And so he put off his armour, and prayed him that he might be confessed; and so they went into the chapel, and there he was clean confessed. And so they ate bread and drank water together.

  ‘Now,’ said the good man, ‘I pray thee that thou eat none other till that thou sit at the table where the Sangrail shall be.’

  ‘Sir,’ said he, ‘I agree me thereto; but how know ye that I shall sit there?’

  ‘Yes,’ said the good man, ‘that know I well, but there shall be but few of your fellows with you.’

  ‘All is welcome,’ said Sir Bors, ‘that God sendeth me.’

  ‘Also,’ said the good man, ‘instead of a shirt, and in sign of chastisement, ye shall wear a garment; therefore I pray you do off all your clothes and your shirt.’

  And so he did; and then he took him a scarlet coat, so that should be his instead of his shirt till he had fulfilled the quest of the Sangrail.* And this good man found him in so marvellous a life and so stable that he felt he was never greatly corrupt in fleshly lusts, but in one time that he begat Helian le Blanc.

  [7]

  Then he armed him and took his leave, and so departed. And so a little from thence he looked up into a tree, and there he saw a passing great bird upon that old tree, and it was passing dry, without leaf; so he sat above, and had birds which were dead for hunger. So at the last he smote himself with his beak, which was great and sharp, and so the great bird bled so fast that that he died among his birds; and the young birds took life by the blood of the great bird. When Sir Bors saw this he wist well it was a great tokening; for when he saw the great bird arose not, then he took his horse and yode his way. And so by adventure by evensong time, he came to a strong tower and a high, and there was he harboured gladly. And when he was unarmed they led him into a high tower where was a lady, young, lusty, and fair; and she received him with great joy and made him to sit down by her. And anon he was set to supper with flesh and many dainties. But when Sir Bors saw that, he bethought him on his penance, and bade a squire to bring him water. And so he brought him, and he made sops therein and ate them.

  ‘Ah,’ said the lady, ‘I trow ye like not your meat.’

  ‘Yes, truly,’ said Sir Bors, ‘God thank you, madam, but I may eat no other meat today.’

  Then she spoke no more as at that time, for she was loath to displease him. Then after supper they spoke of one thing and of other.

  So with that there came a squire and said, ‘Madam, ye must purvey you tomorrow for a champion, for else your sister will have this castle and also your lands, except ye can find a knight that will fight tomorrow in your quarrel against Sir Pridam le Noir.’

  Then she made great sorrow and said, ‘Ah, Lord God, wherefore granted Ye me to hold my land whereof I should now be disinherited without reason and right?’

  And when Sir Bors had heard her say thus, he said, ‘I shall comfort you.’

  ‘Sir,’ said she, ‘I shall tell you. There was here a king that hight Aniause, which held all this land in his keeping. So it mishapped he loved a gentlewoman a great deal elder than I; and so he took her all this land in her keeping and all his men to govern, and she brought up many evil customs whereby she put to death a great part of his kinsmen. And when he saw that, he commanded her out of this land, and betook* it me, and all this land in my domains. But anon as that worthy king was dead, this other lady began to war upon me, and hath destroyed many of my men and turned them against me, that I have wellnigh no man left me; and I have nought else but this high tower that she left me. And yet she hath promised me to have this tower, without* I can find a knight to fight with her champion.’

  ‘Now tell me,’ said Sir Bors, ‘what is that Pridam le Noir?’

  ‘Sir, he is the most doubted* man of this land.’

  ‘Then may ye send her word that ye have found a knight that shall fight with that Pridam le Noir in God’s quarrel and yours.’

 
So that lady was then glad, and sent her word that she was provided. And so that night Sir Bors had passing good cheer; but in no bed he would come, but laid him on the floor, nor never would do otherwise till that he had met with the quest of the Sangrail.

  And anon as he was asleep him befell a vision, that there came two birds, the one white as a swan, and the other was marvellous black; but he was not so great as was the other, but in the likeness of a raven. Then the white bird came to him and said, ‘And thou wouldst give me meat and serve me, I should give thee all the riches of the world, and I shall make thee as fair and as white as I am.’ So the white bird departed; and then came the black bird to him and said, ‘And thou serve me tomorrow and have me in no despite though I be black, for wit thou well that more availeth my blackness* than the other’s whiteness.’ And then he departed.

  Then he had another vision: that he came to a great place which seemed a chapel, and there he found a chair set, on the left side of which was a worm-eaten and feeble tree beside it; and on the right hand were two flowers like a lily, and the one would have benome the others* their whiteness. But a good man parted them, that they touched not one another;* and then out of each flower came out many flowers, and fruit great plenty. Then him thought the good man said, ‘Should not he do great folly that would let these two flowers perish for to succour the rotten tree, that it fell not to the earth?’

  ‘Sir,’ said he, ‘it seemeth me that this wood might not avail.’*

  ‘Now keep thee,’ said the good man, ‘that thou never see such adventure befall thee.’

  Then he awoke and made a sign of the cross in midst of the forehead, and so he arose and clothed him. And anon there came the lady of the place, and she saluted him and he her again, and so went to a chapel and heard their service. And anon there came a company of knights that the lady had sent for to lead Sir Bors unto the battle. Then asked he his arms; and when he was armed, she prayed him to take a little morsel to dine.