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

by Malory, Thomas

  ‘Yea, sir,’ she said, ‘therefore came I hither, to speak with my lord the King.’

  ‘Alas,’ said Sir Lucan, ‘my lord Arthur would accord with Sir Lancelot, but Sir Gawain will not suffer him.’ And then he said, ‘I pray to God, damosel, that ye may speed well, for all we that be about the King would that Lancelot did best of any knight living.’ And so with this, Sir Lucan led the damosel to the King where he sat with Sir Gawain, for to hear what she would say.

  So when she had told her tale, the water ran out of the King’s eyes. And all the lords were full glad for to advise the King to be accorded with Sir Lancelot, save all only Sir Gawain. And he said, ‘My lord, my uncle, what will ye do? Will ye now turn again, now ye are passed this far upon your journey? All the world will speak of you villainy and shame.’

  ‘Now,’ said King Arthur, ‘wit you well, Sir Gawain, I will do as ye advise me. And yet me seemeth,’ said King Arthur, ‘his fair proffers were not good to be refused. But sithen I am come so far upon this journey, I will that ye give the damosel her answer; for I may not speak to her for pity, for her proffers be so large.’

  [20]

  Then Sir Gawain said unto the damosel, ‘Thus say ye to Sir Lancelot, that it is waste labour now to sue to my uncle; for tell him, and he would have made any labour for peace, he should have made it or this time, for tell him, now it is too late. And say to him that I, Sir Gawain, so send him word, that I promise him by the faith that I owe to God and to knighthood, I shall never leave him till he hath slain me or I him.’

  And so the damosel wept and departed; and so there was many a weeping eye. And then Sir Lucan brought the damosel to her palfrey, and so she came to Sir Lancelot where he was among all his knights.

  And when Sir Lancelot had heard her answer, then the tears ran down by his cheeks. And then his noble knights came about him and said, ‘Sir Lancelot, wherefore make ye such cheer? Now think what ye are and what men we are, and let us noble knights match them in midst of the field.’

  ‘That may be lightly done,’ said Sir Lancelot, ‘but I was never so loath to do battle; and therefore I pray you, sirs, as you love me, be ruled at this time as I will have you. For I will always flee that noble king that made me knight; and when I may no further, I must needs defend me. And that will be more worship for me and us all than to compare* with that noble king whom we have all served.’

  Then they held their language, and that night they took their rest. And upon the morning early, in the dawning of the day, as the knights looked out, they saw the city of Benwick besieged round about, and began fast to set up ladders.* And they within kept them out of the town and beat them mightily from the walls.

  Than came forth Sir Gawain, well armed upon a stiff* steed, and he came before the chief gate with his spear in his hand, crying, ‘Where art thou, Sir Lancelot? Is there none of all your proud knights that dare break a spear with me?’

  Then Sir Bors made him ready and came forth out of the town. And there Sir Gawain encountered with Sir Bors, and at that time he smote him down from his horse, and almost he had slain him. And so Sir Bors was rescued and borne into the town.

  Then came forth Sir Lionel and thought to revenge him, and either fewtered their spears and so ran together, and there they met dispiteously. But Sir Gawain had such a grace that he smote Sir Lionel down, and wounded him there passingly sore; and then Sir Lionel was rescued and borne into the town. And thus Sir Gawain came every day, and failed not but that he smote down one knight or other. So thus they endured half a year, and much slaughter was of people on both parties.

  Then it befell upon a day that Sir Gawain came before the gates armed at all pieces, on a noble horse, with a great spear in his hand. And then he cried with loud voice and said, ‘Where art thou now, thou false traitor Sir Lancelot? Why boldest thou thyself within holes and walls, like a coward? Look out, thou false traitor knight, and here I shall revenge upon thy body the death of my three brethren.’

  And all this language heard Sir Lancelot every deal. Then his kin and his knights drew about him, and all they said at once unto Sir Lancelot, ‘Sir, now you must defend you like a knight, or else ye be shamed for ever; for now ye be called upon treason,* it is time for you to stir, for ye have slept overlong and suffered overmuch.’

  ‘So God me help,’ said Sir Lancelot, ‘I am right heavy at Sir Gawain’s words, for now he chargeth me with a great charge; and therefore I wot as well as ye, I must needs defend me, or else to be recreant.’

  Then Sir Lancelot bade saddle his strongest horse, and bade let fetch his arms and bring all to the tower of the gate. And then Sir Lancelot spoke on high unto the King and said, ‘My lord Arthur, and noble king that made me knight, wit you well, I am right heavy for your sake that ye thus sue* upon me; and always I forbear you, for and I would be vengeable I might have met you in midst the field or this time, and there to have made your boldest knights full tame. And now I have forborne you and suffered you half a year, and Sir Gawain, to do what ye would do. And now I may no longer suffer to endure, but needs must I defend myself in so much as Sir Gawain hath becalled* me of treason; which is greatly against my will that ever I should fight against any of your blood. But now I may not forsake it, for I am driven thereto as a beast to a bay.’*

  Then Sir Gawain said unto Sir Lancelot, ‘And thou darest do battle, leave thy babbling and come off, and let us ease our hearts!’

  Then Sir Lancelot armed him and mounted upon his horse, and either of them got great spears in their hands. And so the host without stood still all apart. And the noble knights of the city came a great number, that when King Arthur saw the number of men and knights he marvelled and said to himself, ‘Alas that ever Sir Lancelot was against me, for now I see that he hath forborne me.’

  And so the covenant was made, there should no man nigh them nor deal with them till the one were dead or yielded.

  [21]

  Then Sir Lancelot and Sir Gawain departed a great way asunder; and then they came together with all their horses’ mights as fast as they might run, and either smote other in midst of their shields. But the knights were so strong and their spears so big that their horses might not endure their buffets, and so their horses fell to the earth. And then they avoided their horses and dressed their shields before them. Then they came together and gave many sad strokes on divers places of their bodies, that the blood brast out on many sides.

  Then had Sir Gawain such a grace and gift that a holy man had given him, that every day in the year from undern till high noon, his might increased those three hours as much as thrice his strength; and that caused Sir Gawain to win great honour. And for his sake, King Arthur made an ordinance that all manner of battles for any quarrels that should be done before King Arthur should begin at undern. And all was done for Sir Gawain’s love, that by likelihood, if Sir Gawain were on the one party, he should have the better in battle while his strength endured three hours. But there were that time but few knights living that knew this advantage that Sir Gawain had, but King Arthur all only.

  So Sir Lancelot fought with Sir Gawain. And when Sir Lancelot felt his might evermore increase, Sir Lancelot wondered and dreaded him sore to be shamed; for as the French book saith, he weened, when he felt Sir Gawain double his strength, that he had been a fiend and no earthly man. Wherefore Sir Lancelot traced and traversed, and covered himself with his shield, and kept his might and his breath during three hours. And that while Sir Gawain gave him many sad brunts,* that all knights that beheld Sir Lancelot marvelled how he might endure him; but full little understood they that travail that Sir Lancelot had to endure him. And then when it was past noon, Sir Gawain’s strength was gone, and he had no more but his own might.

  When Sir Lancelot felt him so come down, then he stretched him up and strode near Sir Gawain, and said thus: ‘Now I feel ye have done your worst! And now, my lord Sir Gawain, I must do my part, for many great and grievous strokes I have endured you this day with great pain.’ And so Sir Lance
lot doubled his strokes, and gave Sir Gawain such a stroke upon the helmet that sidelong he fell down upon his one side; and Sir Lancelot withdrew from him.

  ‘Why withdrawest thou thee?’ said Sir Gawain. ‘Turn again, false traitor knight, and slay me outright, for and thou leave me thus, anon as I am whole I shall do battle with thee again.’

  ‘Sir,’ said Sir Lancelot, ‘I shall endure you, by God’s grace! But wit thou well, Sir Gawain, I will never smite a felled knight.’

  And so Sir Lancelot departed and went unto the city. And Sir Gawain was borne unto King Arthur’s pavilion, and anon leeches were brought unto him of the best and searched and salved him with soft ointments. And then Sir Lancelot said, ‘Now have good day, my lord the King, for wit you well, ye win no worship at these walls. For and I would my knights out bring,* there should many a doughty man die. And therefore, my lord Arthur, remember you of old kindness, and howsoever I fare, Jesu be your guide in all places.’

  [22]

  ‘Now alas,’ said the King, ‘that ever this unhappy war began! For ever Sir Lancelot forbeareth me in all places, and in like wise my kin; and that is seen well this day, what courtesy he showed my nephew Sir Gawain.’ Then King Arthur fell sick for sorrow of Sir Gawain, that he was so sore hurt, and because of the war betwixt him and Sir Lancelot.

  So after that, they on King Arthur’s party kept the siege with little war without; and they within kept their walls, and defended them when need was.

  Thus Sir Gawain lay sick and unsound three weeks in his tents with all manner of leechcraft* that might be had. And as soon as Sir Gawain might go and ride, he armed him at all points and bestrode a stiff courser and got a great spear in his hand, and so he came riding before the chief gate of Ben wick. And there he cried on high and said, ‘Where art thou, Sir Lancelot? Come forth, thou false traitor knight and recrayed, for I am here, Sir Gawain, that will prove this that I say upon thee!’

  And all this language Sir Lancelot heard, and said thus: ‘Sir Gawain, me repents of your foul saying, that ye will not cease your language. For ye wot well, Sir Gawain, I know your might, and all that ye may do. And well ye wot, Sir Gawain, ye may not greatly hurt me.’

  ‘Come down, traitor knight,’ said he, ‘and make it good the contrary with thy hands! For it mishapped me the last battle to be hurt of thy hands, therefore wit thou well I am come this day to make amends, for I ween this day to lay thee as low as thou laidest me.’

  ‘Jesu defend me,’ said Sir Lancelot, ‘that ever I be so far in your danger as ye have been in mine, for then my days were done. But, Sir Gawain,’ said Sir Lancelot, ‘ye shall not think that I shall tarry long. But sithen that ye unknightly call me thus of treason, ye shall have both your hands full of me.’

  And then Sir Lancelot armed him at all points and mounted upon his horse, and got a great spear in his hand and rode out at the gate; and both their hosts were assembled, of them without and within, and stood in array full manly. And both parties were charged to hold them still to see and behold the battle of these two noble knights; and then they laid their spears in their rests and so came together as thunder. And Sir Gawain broke his spear in a hundred pieces to his hand; and Sir Lancelot smote him with a greater might, that Sir Gawain’s horse’s feet raised, and so the horse and he fell to the earth. Then Sir Gawain deliverly avoided his horse, and put his shield before him and eagerly drew his sword; and bade Sir Lancelot ‘Alight, traitor knight!’ and said, ‘If a mare’s son hath failed me, wit thou well a king’s son and a queen’s son shall not fail thee.’

  Then Sir Lancelot avoided his horse and dressed his shield before him and drew his sword; and so they came eagerly together and gave many sad strokes, that all men on both parties had wonder. But when Sir Lancelot felt Sir Gawain’s might so marvellously increase, he then withheld his courage and his wind, and so he kept him under cover of his might and of his shield; he traced and traversed here and there to break Sir Gawain’s strokes and his courage. And ever Sir Gawain enforced himself with all his might and power to destroy Sir Lancelot, for, as the French book saith, ever as Sir Gawain’s might increased, right so increased his wind and his evil will. And thus he did great pain unto Sir Lancelot three hours, that he had much ado to defend him. And when the three hours were past, that he felt Sir Gawain was come home to his own proper strength, then Sir Lancelot said,

  ‘Sir, now I have proved you twice that ye are a full dangerous knight and a wonderful man of might, and many wondrous deeds have ye done in your days, for by your might increasing ye have deceived many a full noble knight. And now I feel that ye have done your mighty deeds, now wit you well I must do my deeds.’

  And then Sir Lancelot strode near Sir Gawain and doubled his strokes; and ever Sir Gawain defended him mightily. But nevertheless, Sir Lancelot smote such a stroke upon his helm, and upon the old wound, that Sir Gawain sank down and swooned. And anon as he awoke he waved and foined at Sir Lancelot as he lay, and said, ‘Traitor knight, wit thou well I am not yet slain. Therefore come thou near me, and perform this battle to the utterance!’

  ‘I will no more do than I have done,’ said Sir Lancelot, ‘for when I see you on foot I will do battle upon you all the while I see you stand upon your feet; but to smite a wounded man that may not stand, God defend me from such a shame.’

  And then he turned his way toward the city, and Sir Gawain ever-more calling him traitor knight, and said, ‘Traitor knight, wit thou well, Sir Lancelot, when I am whole I shall do battle with thee again, for I shall never leave thee till the one of us be slain.’

  Thus as this siege endured, and as Sir Gawain lay sick nearhand a month; and when he was well recovered, and ready within three days to do battle again with Sir Lancelot; right so came tidings unto King Arthur from England that made King Arthur and all his host to remove.

  [XXI.I]

  As Sir Mordred was ruler of all England, he let make letters as though that they had come from beyond the sea, and the letters specified that King Arthur was slain in battle with Sir Lancelot. Wherefore Sir Mordred made a parliament and called the lords together, and there he made them to choose him king; and so was he crowned at Canterbury, and held a feast there fifteen days. And afterward he drew him unto Winchester, and there he took Queen Guenivere and said plainly that he would wed her, which was his uncle’s wife and his father’s wife. And so he made ready for the feast, and a day prefixed that they should be wedded, wherefore Queen Guenivere was passing heavy; but she durst not discover her heart, but spoke fair and agreed to Sir Mordred’s will. And anon she desired of Sir Mordred to go to London to buy all manner of things that longed to the bridal; and because of her fair speech, Sir Mordred trusted her and gave her leave. And so when she came to London she took the Tower of London, and suddenly in all haste possible she stuffed it with all manner of victual, and well garnished it with men, and so kept it.

  And when Sir Mordred wist this, he was passing wroth out of measure; and short tale to make, he laid a mighty siege about the Tower and made many assaults, and threw engines* unto them and shot great guns.* But all might not prevail, for Queen Guenivere would never, for fair speech nor for foul, never trust unto Sir Mordred to come in his hands again.

  Then came the Bishop of Canterbury, which was a noble clerk and a holy man, and thus he said unto Sir Mordred: ‘Sir, what will ye do? Will ye first displease God, and sithen shame yourself and all knight-hood? For is not King Arthur your uncle, and no further but your mother’s brother, and upon her he himself begot you, upon his own sister? therefore how may ye wed your own father’s wife? And therefore, sir,’ said the bishop, ‘leave this opinion, or else I shall curse you with book, bell, and candle.’*

  ‘Do thou thy worst,’ said Sir Mordred, ‘and I defy thee.’

  ‘Sir,’ said the bishop, ‘wit you well I shall not fear me to do that me ought to do. And also ye noise that my lord Arthur is slain, and that is not so; and therefore ye will make a foul work in this land.’

  ‘Peace, thou
false priest,’ said Sir Mordred, ‘for and thou chafe* me any more, I shall strike off thy head.’

  So the bishop departed, and did the cursing in the most orgulest* wise that might be done; and then Sir Mordred sought the Bishop of Canterbury for to have slain him. Then the bishop fled and took part of his goods with him, and went nigh unto Glastonbury; and there he was a priest hermit in a chapel, and lived in poverty and in holy prayers, for well he understood that mischievous war was at hand.

  Then Sir Mordred sought upon* Queen Guenivere by letters and sondes,* and by fair means and foul means, to have her to come out of the Tower of London; but all this availed nought, for she answered him shortly, openly and privily, that she had liever slay herself than to be married with him.

  Then came there word unto Sir Mordred that King Arthur had raised the siege from Sir Lancelot and was coming homeward with a great host to be avenged upon Sir Mordred; wherefore Sir Mordred made writs unto all the barony of this land, and much people drew unto him. For then was the common voice among them that with King Arthur was never other life but war and strife, and with Sir Mordred was great joy and bliss. Thus was King Arthur depraved* and evil said of. And many there were that King Arthur had brought up of nought,* and given them lands, that might not then say him a good word. Lo ye all Englishmen, see ye not what a mischief was here? For he that was the most king* and noblest knight of the world, and most loved the fellowship of noble knights, and by him they all were upheld, and yet might not these Englishmen hold them content with him. Lo, thus was the old custom and usages of this land; and men say that we of this land have not yet lost that custom. Alas, this is a great default of us Englishmen, for there may nothing please us no term.*

  And so fared the people at that time; they were better pleased with Sir Mordred than they were with the noble King Arthur, and much people drew unto Sir Mordred and said they would abide with him for better and for worse. And so Sir Mordred drew with a great host to Dover, for there he heard say that King Arthur would arrive, and so he thought to beat his own father from his own lands. And the most part of all England held with Sir Mordred, the people were so new-fangle.*