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

by Malory, Thomas

  Then she said, ‘Why should I leave such thoughts? Am I not an earthly woman? And all the while the breath is in my body I may complain me, for my belief is that I do no offence, though I love an earthly man, unto God; for He formed me thereto, and all manner of good love cometh of God, and other than good love loved I never Sir Lancelot du Lake. And I take God to record, I loved never none but him, nor never shall, of earthly creatures; and a clean maiden I am for him and for all others. And sithen it is the sufferance* of God that I shall die for so noble a knight, I beseech the High Father of Heaven have mercy upon me and my soul, and upon my innumerable pains that I suffer may be allegiance* of part of my sins. For sweet Lord Jesu,’ said the fair maiden, ‘I take God to record I was never to Thee great offender, nor against Thy laws, but that I loved this noble knight Sir Lancelot out of measure. And of myself, good Lord, I had no might to withstand the fervent love, wherefore I have my death.’

  And then she called her father Sir Barnard and her brother Sir Tirry, and heartily she prayed her father that her brother might write a letter like as she did indite;* and so her father granted her. And when the letter was written word by word like as she devised it, then she prayed her father that she might be watched until she were dead. ‘And while my body is hot let this letter be put in my right hand, and my hand bound fast to the letter until that I be cold; and let me be put in a fair bed with all the richest clothes that I have about me, and so let my bed and all my richest clothes be led with me in a chariot unto the next place where the Thames is. And there let me be put within a barget,* and but one man with me such as ye trust to steer me thither, and that my barget be covered with black samite over and over. And thus, father, I beseech you let it be done.’

  So her father granted her faithfully all things should be done like as she had devised; then her father and her brother made great dole for her. And when this was done, anon she died. And when she was dead the corpse and the bed all was led the next way unto the Thames, and there a man and the corpse and all things as she had devised was put in the Thames. And so the man steered the barget unto Westminster, and there it rubbed and rolled a great while to and fro or any man espied it.

  [20]

  So by fortune King Arthur and Queen Guenivere were talking together at a window, and so as they looked into the Thames they espied that black barget, and had marvel what it meant. Then the King called Sir Kay and showed it him.

  ‘Sir,’ said Sir Kay, ‘wit you well there is some new tidings.’

  ‘Therefore go ye thither,’ said the King to Sir Kay, ‘and take with you Sir Brandiles and Sir Agravain, and bring me ready word what is there.’

  Then these three knights departed and came to the barget and went in; and there they found the fairest corpse lying in a rich bed that ever they saw, and a poor man sitting in the barget’s end, and no word would speak. So these three knights returned unto the King again and told him what they found.

  ‘That fair corpse will I see,’ said the King.

  And so the King took the Queen by the hand and went thither. Then the King made the barget to be held fast, and then the King and the Queen went in with certain knights with them; and there he saw the fairest woman lie in a rich bed, covered unto her middle with many rich clothes, and all was of cloth of gold. And she lay as she had smiled.

  Then the Queen espied the letter in her right hand, and told the King. Then the King took it and said, ‘Now am I sure this letter will tell us what she was, and why she is come hither.’

  So then the King and the Queen went out of the barget, and so commanded a certain to wait upon* the barget. And so when the King was come to his chamber, he called many knights about him, and said that he would wit openly what was written within that letter. Then the King broke it* and made a clerk to read it, and this was the intent of the letter:

  ‘Most noble knight, my lord Sir Lancelot, now hath death made us two at debate for your love. And I was your lover, that men called the Fair Maiden of Ascolat. Therefore unto all ladies I make my moan; yet for my soul ye pray and bury me at the least, and offer ye my mass-penny;* this is my last request. And a clean maiden I died, I take God to witness. And pray for my soul, Sir Lancelot, as thou art peerless.’

  This was all the substance in the letter. And when it was read, the King, the Queen, and all the knights wept for pity of the doleful complaints. Then was Sir Lancelot sent for, and when he was come King Arthur made the letter to be read to him. And when Sir Lancelot heard it word by word, he said, ‘My lord Arthur, wit you well I am right heavy of the death of this fair lady. And God knoweth I was never causer of her death by my willing, and that will I report me unto her own brother that here is, Sir Lavain. I will not say nay,’ said Sir Lancelot, ‘but that she was both fair and good, and much I was beholden unto her; but she loved me out of measure.’

  ‘Sir,’ said the Queen, ‘ye might have showed her some bounty and gentleness which might have preserved her life.’

  ‘Madam,’ said Sir Lancelot, ‘she would no other ways be answered but that she would be my wife or else my paramour, and of these two I would not grant her. But I proffered her, for her good love that she showed me, a thousand pounds yearly to her and to her heirs, and to wed any manner of knight that she could find best to love in her heart. For, madam,’ said Sir Lancelot, ‘I love not to be constrained to love; for love must only arise of the heart’s self, and not by no constraint.’

  ‘That is truth, sir,’ said the King. ‘And with many knights, love is free in himself and never will be bound; for where he is bound, he looseth himself.’ Then said the King unto Sir Lancelot, ‘Sir, it will be your worship that ye oversee that she be interred worshipfully.’

  ‘Sir,’ said Sir Lancelot, ‘that shall be done as I can best devise.’

  And so many knights yode thither to behold that fair dead maiden. And so upon the morn she was interred richly, and Sir Lancelot offered her mass-penny; and all the knights of the Table Round that were there at that time offered with Sir Lancelot. And then the poor man went again* with the barget.

  Then the Queen sent for Sir Lancelot, and prayed him of mercy for why that she had been wroth with him causeless.

  ‘This is not the first time’, said Sir Lancelot, ‘that ye have been displeased with me causeless, but, madam, ever I must suffer you. But what sorrow that I endure, ye take no force.’*

  So this passed on all that winter, with all manner of hunting and hawking; and jousts and tourneys were many betwixt many great lords. And ever in all places Sir Lavain got great worship, that he was nobly famed among many knights of the Table Round.

  [21]

  Thus it passed on till Christmas, and then every day there was jousts made for a diamond: who that jousted best should have a diamond. But Sir Lancelot would not joust but if it were at a great jousts cried.* But Sir Lavain jousted there all the Christmas passingly well, and was best praised, for there were but few that did so well; wherefore all manner of knights deemed that Sir Lavain should be made knight of the Table Round at the next feast of Pentecost.

  So at after Christmas King Arthur let call unto him many knights, and there they advised together to make a party and a great tournament and jousts.* And the cry was made that the day of jousts should be beside Westminster upon Candlemas Day, whereof many knights were glad, and made them ready to be at that jousts in the freshest manner.

  Then Queen Guenivere sent for Sir Lancelot, and said thus: ‘I warn* you that ye ride no more in no jousts nor tournaments but that your kinsmen may know you; and at these jousts that shall be ye shall have of me a sleeve of gold. And I pray you for my sake to force* yourself there, that men may speak you worship. But I charge you as ye will have my love, that ye warn your kinsmen that ye will bear that day the sleeve of gold upon your helmet.’

  ‘Madam,’ said Sir Lancelot, ‘it shall be done.’ And either made great joy of other.

  And when Sir Lancelot saw his time he told Sir Bors that he would depart, and no more with him b
ut Sir Lavain, unto the good hermit that dwelled in the forest of Windsor whose name was Sir Brastias; and there he thought to repose him and to take all the rest that he might, because he would be fresh at that day of jousts. So Sir Lancelot and Sir Lavain departed, that no creature wist where he was become but the noble men of his blood. And when he was come to the hermitage, wit you well he had great cheer. And so daily Sir Lancelot used to go to a well by the hermitage, and there he would lie down and see the well spring and burble, and sometimes he slept there.

  So at that time there was a lady that dwelled in that forest, and she was a great huntress, and daily she used to hunt; and ever she bore her bow with her, and no men went never with her, but always women. And they were all shooters and could well kill a deer at the stalk and at the trist;* and they daily bore bows, arrows, horns, and wood knives, and many good dogs they had, both for the string and for abait.* So it happened the lady the huntress had abaited her dog for the bow at a barren hind;* and so she took the flight over hedges and woods, and ever this lady and part of her women coasted* the hind and checked it by the noise of the hound, to have met with the hind at some water. And so it happened that the hind came to the same well there as Sir Lancelot was sleeping and slumbering.

  And so the hind, when she came to the well, for heat she went to soil,* and there she lay a great while; and the dog came after and cast about, for she had lost the very perfect feute* of the hind. Right so came that lady the huntress, that knew by her dog that the hind was at the soil by that well; and there she came straight and found the hind. And anon as she had spied her she put a broad arrow in her bow and shot at the hind; and so she overshot the hind, and so by misfortune the arrow smote Sir Lancelot in the thick of the buttock, over the barbs. When Sir Lancelot felt himself so hurt he whirled up woodly, and saw the lady that had smitten him. And when he knew she was a woman, he said thus: ‘Lady or damosel, whatsoever ye be, in an evil time bore ye this bow: the devil made you a shooter.’

  [22]

  ‘Now mercy, fair sir,’ said the lady, ‘I am a gentlewoman that useth here in this forest hunting, and God knoweth I saw you not; but as here was a barren hind at the soil in this well, and I weened I had done well, but my hand swerved.’

  ‘Alas,’ said Sir Lancelot, ‘ye have mischieved me.’

  And so the lady departed. And Sir Lancelot as he might pulled out the arrow, and left the head still in his buttock, and so he went weakly unto the hermitage evermore bleeding as he went. And when Sir Lavain and the hermit espied that Sir Lancelot was so sore hurt, wit you well they were passing heavy; but Sir Lavain wist not how that he was hurt nor by whom, and then were they wroth out of measure. And so with great pain the hermit got out the arrowhead out of Sir Lancelot’s buttock, and much of his blood he shed. And the wound was passing sore, and unhappily* smitten, for it was in such a place that he might not sit in no saddle.

  ‘Ah, mercy, Jesu,’ said Sir Lancelot, ‘I may call myself the most unhappy man that liveth, for ever when I would fainest have worship there befalleth me ever some unhappy thing. Now so Jesu me help,’ said Sir Lancelot, ‘and if no man would but God, I shall be in the field on Candlemas Day at the jousts, whatsoever fall of it.’ So all that might be gotten to heal Sir Lancelot was had.

  So when the day was come Sir Lancelot let devise* that he was arrayed, and Sir Lavain and their horses, as they had been Saracens; and so they departed and came nigh to the field.

  And King Arthur himself came into the field with two hundred knights, and the most part were knights of the Round Table that were all proved noble men; and there were old knights set on scaffolds for to judge with the Queen who did best.

  [23]

  Then they blew unto the field. And there the King of Northgales encountered with the King of Scots, and there the King of Scots had a fall; and the King of Ireland smote down King Uriens; and the King of Northumberland smote down King Howell of Brittany; and Sir Galahalt the Haut Prince smote down Duke Chalance of Clarence. And then King Arthur was wood wroth and ran to the King with the Hundred Knights, and so King Arthur smote him down; and after with that same spear he smote down other three knights, and then his spear broke, and did passingly well. And so therewith came in Sir Gawain and Sir Gaheris, Sir Agravain and Sir Mordred, and there each of them smote down a knight, and Sir Gawain smote down four knights. And then there began a great melée, for then came in the knights of Sir Lancelot’s blood and Sir Gareth and Sir Palomides with them, and many knights of the Round Table; and they began to hold the four kings and the mighty duke so hard that they were nigh discomfited. But this Sir Galahalt the Haut Prince was a noble knight, and by his mighty prowess of arms he held the knights of the Table Round strait.*

  So all this doing saw Sir Lancelot, and then he came into the field with Sir Lavain with him as it had been thunder. And then anon Sir Bors and the knights of his blood espied Sir Lancelot anon, and said unto them all, ‘I warn you beware of him with the sleeve of gold upon his head, for he is himself my lord Sir Lancelot.’ And for great goodness Sir Bors warned Sir Gareth.

  ‘Sir, I am well paid’,* said Sir Gareth, ‘that I may know him.’

  ‘But who is he’, said they all, ‘that rideth with him in the same array?’

  ‘Sir, that is the good and gentle knight Sir Lavain,’ said Sir Bors.

  So Sir Lancelot encountered with Sir Gawain, and there by force Sir Lancelot smote down Sir Gawain and his horse to the earth. And so he smote down Sir Agravain and Sir Gaheris, and also he smote down Sir Mordred, and all this was with one spear. And then met Sir Lancelot with Sir Palomides, and there Sir Palomides had a fall. And so Sir Lancelot, or ever he stinted, and as fast as he might get spears, he smote down thirty knights, and the most part were knights of the Round Table. And ever the knights of his blood withdrew them, and made them ado in other places where Sir Lancelot came not.

  And then King Arthur was wroth when he saw Sir Lancelot do such deeds; and then the King called unto him Sir Gawain, Sir Gaheris, Sir Agravain, Sir Mordred, Sir Kay, Sir Griflet, Sir Lucan the Butler, Sir Bedivere, Sir Palomides, and Sir Safer his brother; and so the King with these nine knights made them ready to set upon Sir Lancelot and upon Sir Lavain. And all this espied Sir Bors and Sir Gareth.

  ‘Now I dread me sore,’ said Sir Bors, ‘that my lord Sir Lancelot will be hard matched.’

  ‘Now by my head,’ said Sir Gareth, ‘I will ride unto my lord Sir Lancelot for to help him, whatsoever me betide, for he is the same man that made me knight.’

  ‘Sir, ye shall not do so,’ said Sir Bors, ‘by my counsel, unless that ye were disguised.’

  ‘Sir, ye shall see me soon disguised,’ said Sir Gareth. And therewith he had espied a Welsh knight where he was to repose him, for he was sore hurt before of Sir Gawain. And unto him Sir Gareth rode, and prayed him of his knighthood to lend him his shield for his.

  ‘I will well,’ said the Welsh knight.

  And when Sir Gareth had his shield (the book saith it was green, with a maiden which seemed* in it), then Sir Gareth came driving unto Sir Lancelot all that ever he might, and said, ‘Sir knight, take keep to thyself, for yonder cometh King Arthur with nine noble knights with him to put you to a rebuke; and so I am come to bear you fellowship for the old love ye have showed unto me.’

  ‘Grantmercy,’ said Sir Lancelot.

  ‘But sir,’ said Sir Gareth, ‘encounter ye with Sir Gawain, and I shall encounter with Sir Palomides; and let Sir Lavain match with the noble King Arthur. And when we have delivered* them, let us three hold us sadly* together.’

  So then came in King Arthur with his nine knights with him, and Sir Lancelot encountered with Sir Gawain and gave him such a buffet that the arson* of his saddle brast, and Sir Gawain fell to the earth. Then Sir Gareth encountered with Sir Palomides, and he gave him such a buffet that both his horse and he dashed to the earth. Then encountered King Arthur with Sir Lavain, and there either of them smote other to the earth, horse and all, that they lay both a gre
at while. Then Sir Lancelot smote down Sir Agravain, and Sir Gaheris, and Sir Mordred; and Sir Gareth smote down Sir Kay, Sir Safer, and Sir Griflet. And then Sir Lavain was horsed again, and he smote down Sir Lucan the Butler and Sir Bedivere; and then there began great throng of good knights.

  Then Sir Lancelot hurtled here and there, and rased and pulled off helms, that at that time there might none sit* him a buffet with spear nor with sword. And Sir Gareth did such deeds of arms that all men marvelled what knight he was with the green shield, for he smote down that day and pulled down more than thirty knights. And as the French book saith, Sir Lancelot marvelled when he beheld Sir Gareth do such deeds what knight he might be. And Sir Lavain smote and pulled down more than twenty knights. And yet for all this Sir Lancelot knew not Sir Gareth; for and Sir Tristram de Lyonesse or Sir Lamorak de Gales had been alive, Sir Lancelot would have deemed he had been one of them twain.

  [24]

  So this tournament and jousts endured long, till it was near night, for the knights of the Round Table relieved* ever unto King Arthur; for the King was wroth out of measure that he and his knights might not prevail that day.

  Then Sir Gawain said to the King, ‘Sir, I marvel where are all this day Sir Bors de Ganis and his fellowship of Sir Lancelot’s blood, that all this day they be not about you. And therefore I deem it is for some cause,’ said Sir Gawain.

  ‘By my head,’ said Sir Kay, ‘Sir Bors is yonder all this day upon the right hand of this field, and there he and his blood do more worshipfully than we do.’

  ‘It may well be,’ said Sir Gawain, ‘but I dread me ever of guile; for on pain of my life, that same knight with the red sleeve of gold is himself Sir Lancelot, for I see well by his riding and by his great strokes; and the other knight in the same colours is the good young knight Sir Lavain. And that knight with the green shield is my brother Sir Gareth, and yet he hath disguised himself, for no man shall make him be against Sir Lancelot, because he made him knight.’