And so I leave here of this tale, and overleap great books of Sir Lancelot, what great adventures he did when he was called le Chevalier de Chariot.* For as the French book saith, because of despite that knights and ladies called him ‘the knight that rode in the chariot’ like as he were judged to the gibbet, therefore in the despite of all them that named him so, he was carried in a chariot a twelvemonth; for but little after that he had slain Sir Meliagaunt in the Queen’s quarrel, he never of a twelvemonth came on horseback.* And as the French book saith, he did that twelvemonth more than forty battles. And because I have lost the very matter of le Chevalier du Chariot, I depart from the tale of Sir Lancelot; and here I go unto the morte* Arthur, and that caused Sir Agravain.*
And here on the other side followeth the most piteous tale of the Morte Arthur sans guerdon, par le chevalier Sir Thomas Malory, knight. Jesu, aide-le pour votre bonne merci* Amen.
THE DEATH OF ARTHUR
[XX.I]
In May, when every heart flourisheth and burgeoneth—for as the season is lusty to behold and comfortable, so man and woman rejoiceth and gladdeth of summer coming with his fresh flowers, for winter with his rough winds and blasts causeth lusty men and women to cower and to sit by fires—so this season it befell in the month of May a great anger and unhappy, that stinted not till the flower of chivalry of the world was destroyed and slain. And all was long upon* two unhappy knights which were named Sir Agravain and Sir Mordred, that were brethren unto Sir Gawain; for this Sir Agravain and Sir Mordred had ever a privy hate unto the Queen, Dame Guenivere, and to Sir Lancelot. And daily and nightly they ever watched upon Sir Lancelot.
So it misfortuned Sir Gawain and all his brethren were in King Arthur’s chamber, and then Sir Agravain said thus openly, and not in no counsel,* that many knights might hear,
‘I marvel that we all be not ashamed both to see and to know how Sir Lancelot lieth daily and nightly by the Queen; and all we know well that it is so, and it is shamefully suffered of us all that we should suffer so noble a king as King Arthur is to be shamed.’
Then spoke Sir Gawain and said,’ Brother Sir Agravain, I pray you and charge you, move no such matters no more before me; for wit you well, I will not be of your counsel.’
‘So God me help,’ said Sir Gaheris and Sir Gareth, ‘we will not be knowing of your deeds.’
‘Then will I,’ said Sir Mordred.
‘I believe you well,’ said Sir Gawain, ‘for ever unto all unhappiness, Sir, ye will grant. And I would that ye left all this, and make you not so busy! For I know’, said Sir Gawain, ‘what will fall of it.’
‘Fall whatsoever fall may,’ said Sir Agravain, ‘I will disclose it to the King.’
‘Not by my counsel,’ said Sir Gawain. ‘For and there arise war and wrack* betwixt Sir Lancelot and us, wit you well, brother, there will many knights and great lords hold with Sir Lancelot. Also, brother Sir Agravain,’ said Sir Gawain, ‘ye must remember how oftentimes Sir Lancelot hath rescued the King and the Queen; and the best of us all had been full cold at the heart root had not Sir Lancelot been better than we, and that hath he proved himself full oft. And as for my part,’ said Sir Gawain, ‘I will never be against Sir Lancelot for one day’s deed: that was when he rescued me from King Carados of the Dolorous Tower, and slew him and saved my life. Also, brother Sir Agravain and Sir Mordred, in like wise Sir Lancelot rescued you both, and three score and two, from Sir Tarquin.* And therefore, brother, methinks such noble deeds and kindness should be remembered.’
‘Do as ye list,’ said Sir Agravain, ‘for I will lain* it no longer.’
So with these words came in Sir Arthur.
‘Now, brother,’ said Sir Gawain, ‘stint your strife.’
‘That will I not,’ said Sir Agravain and Sir Mordred.
‘Well, will ye so?’ said Sir Gawain. ‘Then God speed you, for I will not hear of your tales, neither be of your counsel.’
‘No more will I,’ said Sir Gaheris.
‘Neither I,’ said Sir Gareth, ‘for I shall never say evil by that man that made me knight.’
And therewith they three departed, making great dole.
[2]
‘Alas!’ said Sir Gawain and Sir Gareth. ‘Now is this realm wholly destroyed and mischieved, and the noble fellowship of the Round Table shall be disparbled.’* So they departed; and then King Arthur asked them what noise they made.
‘My lord,’ said Sir Agravain, ‘I shall tell you, for I may keep it no longer. Here is I and my brother Sir Mordred broke unto my brother Sir Gawain, Sir Gaheris, and to Sir Gareth—for this is all, to make it short: we know all that Sir Lancelot holdeth your queen, and hath done long. And we be your sister’s sons; we may suffer it no longer. And all we wot that ye should be above Sir Lancelot; and ye are the king that made him knight, and therefore we will prove it that he is a traitor to your person.’
‘If it be so,’ said the King, ‘wit you well, he is none other; but I would be loath to begin such a thing but I might have proofs of it. For Sir Lancelot is a hardy knight, and all ye know that he is the best knight among us all; and but if he be taken with the deed* he will fight with him that bringeth up the noise, and I know no knight that is able to match him. Therefore, and it be sooth as ye say, I would that he were taken with the deed.’
For as the French book saith, the King was full loath that such a noise should be upon Sir Lancelot and his queen. For the King had a deeming of it; but he would not hear thereof, for Sir Lancelot had done so much for him and for the Queen so many times that, wit you well, the King loved him passingly well.
‘My lord,’’said Sir Agravain, ‘ye shall ride tomorrow an-hunting; and doubt ye not, Sir Lancelot will not go with you. And so, when it draweth toward night, ye may send the Queen word that ye will lie out all that night, and so ye may send for your cooks. And then, upon pain of death, that night we shall take him with the Queen, and we shall bring him unto you quick or dead.’
‘I will well,’ said the King. ‘Then I counsel you to take with you sure fellowship.’
‘Sir,’ said Sir Agravain, ‘my brother Sir Mordred and I will take with us twelve knights of the Round Table.’
‘Beware,’ said King Arthur, ‘for I warn you, ye shall find him wight.’*
‘Let us deal,’ said Sir Agravain and Sir Mordred.
So on the morn King Arthur rode an-hunting and sent word to the Queen that he would be out all that night. Then Sir Agravain and Sir Mordred got to them twelve knights, and hid themselves in a chamber in the castle of Carlisle. And these were their names: Sir Colgrevance, Sir Mador de la Porte, Sir Gingalin, Sir Meliot de Logris, Sir Petipace of Winchelsea, Sir Galleron of Galloway, Sir Melion de la Mountain, Sir Ascamore, Sir Gromore Somer Jour,* Sir Curselain, Sir Florence, and Sir Lovell. So these twelve knights were with Sir Mordred and Sir Agravain, and all they were of Scotland,* or else of Sir Gawain’s kin, or well-willers to his brother.
So when the night came, Sir Lancelot told Sir Bors how he would go that night and speak with the Queen.
‘Sir,’ said Sir Bors, ‘ye shall not go this night by my counsel.’
‘Why?’ said Sir Lancelot.
‘Sir, for I dread me ever of Sir Agravain, that waiteth upon you daily to do you shame, and us all. And never gave my heart against no going that ever ye went to the Queen so much as now, for I mistrust that the King is out this night from the Queen because peradventure he hath laid some watch for you and the Queen; therefore I dread me sore of some treason.’
‘Have ye no dread,’ said Sir Lancelot, ‘for I shall go and come again and make no tarrying.’
‘Sir,’ said Sir Bors, ‘that me repents, for I dread me sore that your going this night shall wrath* us all.’
‘Fair nephew,’ said Sir Lancelot, ‘I marvel me much why ye say thus, sithen the Queen hath sent for me; and wit you well, I will not be so much a coward, but she shall understand I will see her good grace.’
‘God speed you well,’ said Sir Bors, ‘and
send you sound and safe again!’
[3]
So Sir Lancelot departed and took his sword under his arm; and so he walked in his mantle, that noble knight, and put himself in great jeopardy, and so he passed on till he came to the Queen’s chamber. And so lightly he was had into the chamber; for as the French book saith, the Queen and Sir Lancelot were together. And whether they were abed or at other manner of disports, me list not thereof make no mention, for love that time was not as love is nowadays. But thus as they were together, there came Sir Agravain and Sir Mordred with twelve knights with them of the Round Table, and they said with great crying and scaring voice, ‘Thou traitor Sir Lancelot, now art thou taken!’ And thus they cried with a loud voice, that all the court might hear it. And these fourteen knights were armed at all points, as they should fight in a battle.
‘Alas!’ said Queen Guenivere, ‘now are we mischieved both.’
‘Madam,’ said Sir Lancelot, ‘is there here any armour within your chamber that might cover my body withal? And if there be any, give it me, and I shall soon stint their malice, by the grace of God!’
‘Now truly,’ said the Queen, ‘I have no armour, neither helm, shield, sword nor spear, wherefore I dread me sore our long love is come to a mischievous end. For I hear by their noise there be many noble knights, and well I wot they be surely armed; and against them ye may make no resistance, wherefore ye are likely to be slain, and then shall I be burnt. For and ye might escape them,’ said the Queen, ‘I would not doubt but that ye would rescue me, in what danger that I ever stood in.’
‘Alas,’ said Sir Lancelot, ‘in all my life thus was I never bestead, that I should be thus shamefully slain for lack of my armour.’
But ever Sir Agravain and Sir Mordred cried, ‘Traitor knight, come out of the Queen’s chamber, for wit thou well thou art beset so that thou shalt not escape!’
‘Ah, Jesu mercy!’ said Sir Lancelot. ‘This shameful cry and noise I may not suffer! For better were death at once than thus to endure this pain.’ Then he took the Queen in his arms and kissed her and said, ‘Most noblest Christian queen, I beseech you, as ye have ever been my special good lady, and I at all times your poor knight and true unto my power, and as I never failed you in right nor in wrong sithen the first day King Arthur made me knight, that ye will pray for my soul if that I be slain. For well I am assured that Sir Bors, my nephew, and all the remnant of my kin, with Sir Lavain and Sir Urry, that they will not fail you to rescue you from the fire. And therefore, mine own lady, comfort yourself, whatsoever come of me, that ye go with Sir Bors, my nephew; and they all will do you all the pleasure that they may, and ye shall live like a queen upon my lands.’
‘Nay, Sir Lancelot, nay!’ said the Queen, ‘wit thou well that I will never live long after thy days.* But and ye be slain, I will take my death as meekly as ever did martyr take his death for Jesu Christ’s sake.’
‘Well, madam,’ said Sir Lancelot, ‘sith it is so that the day is come that our love must depart, wit you well I shall sell my life as dear as I may. And a thousandfold,’ said Sir Lancelot, ‘I am more heavier for you than for myself. And now I had liever than to be lord of all Christendom that I had sure armour upon me, that men might speak of my deeds or ever I were slain.’
‘Truly,’ said the Queen, ‘and it might please God, I would that they would take me and slay me and suffer you to escape.’
‘That shall never be,’ said Sir Lancelot. ‘God defend me from such a shame! But Jesu Christ, be Thou my shield and mine armour.’
[4]
And therewith Sir Lancelot wrapped his mantle about his arm well and surely; and by then they had got a great form* out of the hall, and therewith they all rushed at the door.
‘Now, fair lords,’ said Sir Lancelot, ‘leave your noise and your rushing, and I shall set open this door; and then may ye do with me what it liketh you.’
‘Come off,’ then said they all, ‘and do it, for it availeth thee not to strive against us all. And therefore let us into this chamber, and we shall save thy life—until thou come to King Arthur.’
Then Sir Lancelot unbarred the door, and with his left hand he held it open a little that but one man might come in at once. And so there came striding a good knight, a much man and a large, and his name was called Sir Colgrevance of Gore. And he with a sword struck at Sir Lancelot mightily; and so he put aside the stroke, and gave him such a buffet upon the helmet that he fell grovelling dead within the chamber door. Then Sir Lancelot with great might drew the knight within the chamber door. And then Sir Lancelot, with help of the Queen and her ladies, he was lightly armed in Colgrevance’s armour. And ever stood Sir Agravain and Sir Mordred crying, ‘Traitor knight, come forth out of the Queen’s chamber!’
‘Sirs, leave your noise,’ said Sir Lancelot, ‘for wit you well, Sir Agravain, ye shall not prison me this night. And therefore, and ye do by my counsel, go ye all from this chamber door and make you no such crying and such manner of slander as ye do. For I promise you by my knighthood, and ye will depart and make no more noise, I shall tomorrow appear before you all and before the King; and then let it be seen which of you all, or else ye all, that will deprave* me of treason. And there shall I answer you as a knight should, that hither I came to the Queen for no manner of mal engine;* and that will I prove and make it good upon you with my hands.’
‘Fie upon thee, traitor!’ said Sir Agravain and Sir Mordred, ‘for we will have thee maugre thy head, and slay thee and we list—for we let thee wit we have the choice of King Arthur to save thee or slay thee.’
‘Ah, sirs,’ said Sir Lancelot, ‘is there no other grace with you? Then keep yourself!’
And then Sir Lancelot set all open the chamber door, and mightily and knightly he strode in among them; and anon at the first stroke he slew Sir Agravain, and anon after twelve of his fellows—within a while he had laid them down cold to the earth, for there was none of the twelve knights might stand Sir Lancelot one buffet. And also he wounded Sir Mordred, and therewith he fled with all his might.
And then Sir Lancelot returned again unto the Queen and said, ‘Madam, now wit you well, all our true love is brought to an end, for now will King Arthur ever be my foe. And therefore, madam, and it like you that I may have you with me, I shall save you from all manner adventures dangerous.’
‘Sir, that is not best,’ said the Queen, ‘me seemeth, for now ye have done so much harm, it will be best that ye hold you still with this. And if ye see that tomorrow they will put me to death, then may ye rescue me as ye think best.’
‘I will well,’ said Sir Lancelot. ‘For have ye no doubt, while I am a man living I shall rescue you.’ And then he kissed her, and either of them gave other a ring. And so the Queen he left there, and went unto his lodging.
[5]
When Sir Bors saw Sir Lancelot, he was never so glad of his home-coming.
‘Jesu mercy,’ said Sir Lancelot, ‘why be ye all armed? What meaneth this?’
‘Sir,’ said Sir Bors, ‘after ye were departed from us, we all that be of your blood, and your well-willers, were so a-dreamed that some of us leapt out of our beds naked, and some in their dreams caught naked swords in their hands. And therefore,’ said Sir Bors, ‘we deemed there was some great strife on hand; and so we deemed that ye were betrapped with some treason, and therefore we made us thus ready, what need that ever ye were in.’
‘My fair nephew,’ said Sir Lancelot unto Sir Bors, ‘now shall ye wit all, that this night I was more hard bestead than ever I was days of my life; and thanked be God, I am myself escaped their danger.’ And so he told them all how and in what manner, as ye have heard beforehand. ‘And therefore, my fellows,’ said Sir Lancelot, ‘I pray you all that ye will be of heart good, and help me in what need that ever I stand, for now is war come to us all.’
‘Sir,’ said Sir Bors, ‘all is welcome that God sendeth us. And as we have taken much weal* with you and much worship, we will take the woe with you as we have taken the weal.’
>
And therefore they said, all the good knights, ‘Look ye take no discomfort; for there is no bands of knights under heaven but we shall be able to grieve them as much as they us, and therefore discomfort not yourself by no manner. And we shall gather together all that we love and that love us, and what that ye will have done shall be done. And therefore let us take the woe and the joy together.’
‘Grantmercy,’ said Sir Lancelot, ‘of your good comfort, for in my great distress, fair nephew, ye comfort me greatly. But thus, my fair nephew, I would that ye did, in all haste that ye may, for it is far past day: that ye will look in their lodgings that be lodged nigh here about the King, which will hold with me and which will not, for now I would know which were my friends from my foes.’
‘Sir,’ said Sir Bors, ‘I shall do my pain, and or it be seven of the clock I shall wit of such as ye have done for* who that will hold with you.’
Then Sir Bors called unto him Sir Lionel, Sir Ector de Maris, Sir Blamor de Ganis, Sir Gahalantine, Sir Galihodin, Sir Galihud, Sir Menaduke, Sir Villiars the Valiant, Sir Hebes le Renowne, Sir Lavain, Sir Urry of Hungary, Sir Neroveus, Sir Plenorius (for these two were knights that Sir Lancelot won upon a bridge, and therefore they would never be against him); and Sir Harry le Fils Lake, and Sir Selises of the Dolorous Tower, Sir Melias de l’Isle, and Sir Bellenger le Beau that was Sir Alexander le Orphelin’s son—because his mother was kin unto Sir Lancelot, he held with him. So came Sir Palomides and Sir Safer, his brother; Sir Clegis, Sir Sadok, Sir Dinas, and Sir Clarrus of Cleremont. So these four-and-twenty knights drew them together; and by then they were armed and on horseback, they promised Sir Lancelot to do what he would. Then there fell to* them, what of North Wales and of Cornwall, for Sir Lamorak’s sake and Sir Tristram’s sake, to the number of four score knights.
Then spoke Sir Lancelot, ‘Wit you well, I have been ever since I came to this court well-willed unto my lord Arthur, and unto my lady Queen Guenivere unto my power. And this night, because my lady the Queen sent for me to speak with her—I suppose it was made by treason; how be it, I dare largely excuse her person, notwithstanding I was there nearhand slain, but as Jesu provided for me.’ And then that noble knight Sir Lancelot told them how he was hard bestead in the Queen’s chamber, and how and in what manner he escaped from them. ‘And therefore wit you well, my fair lords, I am sure there is but war unto me and to mine, and for cause I have slain this night Sir Agravain, Sir Gawain’s brother, and at the least twelve of his fellows. And for this cause now am I sure of mortal war, for these knights were sent by King Arthur to betray me. And therefore the King will in this heat* and malice judge the Queen unto burning, and that may not I suffer that she should be burned for my sake. For and I may be heard and suffered and so taken,* I will fight for the Queen, that she is a true lady unto her lord. But the King, in his heat, I dread will not take me as I ought to be taken.’
Le Morte Darthur: The Winchester Manuscript (Oxford World's Classics) Page 60
