The Acts of King Arthur and His Noble Knights

by John Steinbeck

  "Sir," said Gryfflet, "I beg you to make me a knight."

  And Merlin said, "It would be a pity to do this and send him to his death, for he will be a good fighting man when he is of age and he will be loyal to you all his life. But if he goes against the knight in the forest, you may never see him again, for that knight is one of the best and strongest and cleverest knights in the world."

  Arthur considered and he said, "Because of your service to me, I cannot refuse you even if I wished to," and he touched Gryfflet with his sword and made him a knight. And then Arthur said, "Now that I have given you the gift of knighthood, I claim a gift from you."

  "Whatever you wish, I will do," said Sir Gryfflet.

  King Arthur said, "You must promise me, on your honor, that you will run only one course against the knight in the forest, only one, and that you will then come back here without further fighting."

  "I promise this," said Sir Gryfflet.

  Then Gryfflet armed himself quickly, and mounted his horse and took shield and spear, and he rode at great speed until he came to the well near the forest path. Beside it he saw a rich pavilion, and a war horse ready saddled and bridled. On a tree nearby there hung a shield of bright colors and a spear leaned against the tree beside it. Then Gryfflet struck the shield with the butt of his spear and knocked it to the ground. And an armored man came from the tent and asked, "Why did you strike down my shield, sir?"

  "Because I want to joust with you," said Gryfflet.

  Then the knight sighed. "Sir," he said, "it is better if you do not. You are very young and inexperienced. I am much stronger than you and tempered in war. Do not force me to fight you, young sir."

  "You have no choice," Sir Gryfflet said. "I am a knight and I have challenged you."

  "It is not fair," said the knight, "but under knightly rules I must if you insist on it." And he asked, "Where do you come from, young sir?"

  "I am a knight of King Arthur's court," Gryfflet said, "and I demand the joust."

  Then, reluctantly, the knight mounted and took his place, and the two couched their spears and ran together. On the impact Sir Gryfflet's spear shattered but the strong knight's spear drove through shield and armor and pierced Gryfflet's left side and then broke off, leaving the truncheon in his body. And Sir Gryfflet fell to the ground.

  The knight looked sadly at the fallen young man, and he went to him and unlaced his helm and saw that he was badly wounded, and he pitied him. He lifted Gryfflet in his arms and placed him on his horse and he prayed to God for the young man. "He has a mighty heart," the knight said. "And if his life can be saved he will one day prove himself." Then he started the horse back the way he had come. The horse carried the bleeding Gryfflet to the court and there was great sorrow for him. They cleaned his wound and cared for him and it was a long time before his life came back to him.

  While Arthur was sad and troubled at Sir Gryfflet's wound, twelve aged knights rode to his court. They were messengers, they said, from the Emperor of Rome. They demanded tribute in the name of the emperor and said that if it were not paid Arthur and all his kingdom would be destroyed.

  Then Arthur raged and he said, "If you did not have the safe conduct of messengers I would kill you now. But I respect your immunity. Take this answer back. I owe no tribute to the emperor, but if he demands it I shall give him his tribute with spears and swords. By my father's soul I swear this. Take this message back with you."

  The messengers departed angrily. They had arrived at an evil time.

  The king was angry and vengeful because Sir Gryfflet was hurt. He felt that he was responsible, for if he had taken advice and refused the knighthood, Gryfflet would not have challenged the knight of the fountain. Therefore, feeling that he had caused the hurt, Arthur himself must take the consequence. When night had fallen he ordered a servant to take his horse and armor, his shield and spear, and convey them to a place outside the city and there to wait for him. And before dawn the king went privately out and met his man, and armed himself, and mounted, and he commanded his servant to wait where he was, and so King Arthur rode out alone to avenge Sir Gryfflet or to pay for his bad judgment, for he valued his manhood above his kingship.

  The king rode softly away from the city and he entered the forest in the first light of dawn. And among the trees he saw three rough-dressed peasants running after Merlin with clubs in their hands, trying to kill him. Arthur galloped toward them, and when they saw the armed knight they turned and ran for their lives and hid themselves in the deep forest. Arthur came up to Merlin and he said, "You see, for all your magic and your craft, they would have killed you if I had not come along."

  Merlin replied, "It pleases you to think it, but it is not true. I could have saved myself any time I wished. You are nearer to danger than I was, for you are riding in the direction of your death and God is not your friend."

  They moved on until they came to the fountain by the path and the rich pavilion beside it with the rising sun shining on it. And in a chair beside the tent an armed knight sat quietly and Arthur addressed him.

  "Sir Knight," he said, "why do you guard this way and challenge every knight who passes by?"

  "It is my custom," said the knight.

  "Then I tell you to change your custom," said the king.

  "It is my custom," the knight repeated, "and I will continue it. Whoever does not approve of it is at liberty to change it if he can."

  "I shall change it," said Arthur.

  "And I shall defend it," said the knight. And he mounted his horse and dressed his shield before him and took a great spear in his hand. The two rode together with great force and with such perfect control that the spear of each struck the center of the shield of each and both lances shattered. Then Arthur drew his sword, but the knight called to him, "Not that! Let us joust again with spears."

  "I have no more spears," said Arthur.

  "You shall have one of mine, I have enough," said the knight, and his squire brought two new spears from the tent and gave one to each of them. Then again they spurred their horses and crashed together with all speed and force, and again both spears struck true and both shattered. And again Arthur laid hand to his sword. But the knight said, "Sir, you are the best jouster I have ever met. In honor of our knighthood, let us joust again."

  "I agree," said Arthur.

  Then two more spears were brought and they ran together again, but this time Arthur's spear shattered while his opponent's held and drove both horse and man to the ground. And Arthur stepped clear of his horse and drew his sword and he said, "I shall fight you on foot since I have lost to you on horseback."

  And the knight said mockingly, "I am still mounted."

  Then the king was furious and he put his shield before him and advanced toward the mounted knight.

  When the knight saw this fierce bravery he quickly dismounted, for he was an honorable man and took no pleasure in unfair advantage. He drew his sword and the two fought fiercely, striking and slashing and parrying, and the swords cut through shields and carved through armor, and blood dripped and flowed, and their hands were slippery with blood. After a time they rested, panting with weariness and weak from loss of blood. Then in renewed fury they rushed together again like two rams. Their sword blades collided in mid-stroke and Arthur's sword broke in two pieces, and he backed away and lowered his hand and stood sad and silent.

  Then the knight said courteously, "So I have won and I have the choice either to kill you or to let you live. Yield to me and admit that you are beaten or you must die."

  Then Arthur said, "Death is welcome when it comes. But defeat is not welcome. I will not yield." And with that, unarmed, he leaped at the knight and grasped him around the middle and threw him down and ripped off his helmet. But the knight was powerful. He wrestled and twisted until he rolled free and tore Arthur's helmet off and raised his sword to kill him.

  Then Merlin intervened, saying, "Knight, hold your hand. This one is much more than you know. If you kill h
im you give a dreadful wound to the whole kingdom."

  "What do you mean?"

  "This is King Arthur," said Merlin.

  Then panic, fear of the wrath of the king, came over the knight, and again he raised his sword to kill him. But Merlin looked in his eyes and made an enchantment, and the knight's sword dropped and he fell into a deep sleep.

  Then Arthur cried, "Merlin, what have you done? Have you killed this good knight with your magic? He was one of the best knights in the world. I would give anything if he were alive."

  Merlin said, "Do not worry about him, my lord. He is not as badly hurt as you are. He is asleep and will awaken within the hour." And Merlin said, "I warned you this morning what a knight he was. He would surely have killed you if I had not been here. There is no knight living better than he. In the future he will render you good service."

  "Who is he?" asked Arthur.

  "He is called King Pellinore. And I foresee that he will have two sons named Percival and Lamorake, who will grow up to be great knights."

  The king was weak and wounded and Merlin took him to a hermitage nearby where the hermit cleaned his wounds and stopped the blood with bandages and healing balms. For three days the king rested there before he was able to mount his horse and go on his way. And as he rode with Merlin by his side, the king said bitterly, "You must be proud to serve me, Merlin, a defeated king, a great and worthy knight who does not even have a sword, disarmed, wounded, and helpless. What is a knight without a sword? A nothing--even less than a nothing."

  "It is a child speaking," said Merlin, "not a king and not a knight, but a hurt and angry child, or you would know, my lord, that there is more to a king than a crown, and far more to a knight than a sword. You were a knight when you grappled Pellinore unarmed."

  "And he defeated me."

  "You were a knight," said Merlin. "Somewhere in the world there is defeat for everyone. Some are destroyed by defeat, and some made small and mean by victory. Greatness lives in one who triumphs equally over defeat and victory. But you want a sword. Very well, you shall have one. There is a sword nearby that shall be yours if I can get it for you."

  They rode on until they came to a broad lake of clear and lovely water. And in the middle of the lake Arthur saw an arm with a sleeve of rich white silk, and the hand held up a sword by its scabbard.

  Merlin said, "There is the sword I spoke of."

  Then they saw a damsel who walked lightly on the surface of the lake.

  "This is a wonder," said the king. "Who is that damsel?"

  "She is the Lady of the Lake," said Merlin, "and there are other wonders. Under a great rock deep in the lake is a palace as rich and beautiful as any on earth where the lady lives. She will come to you now, and if you are courteous and ask her nicely, she may give you the sword."

  Then the lady drew near and saluted Arthur, and he greeted her and asked, "Lady, please tell me what is that sword that I see in the lake. I wish I might have it, for I have no sword."

  The damsel said, "The sword is mine, my lord, but if you will give me a gift when I ask it, you shall have the sword."

  "On my honor, I will give you anything you ask for," said the king.

  The lady said, "Then it is yours. Go to the little boat you see there and row out to the arm and take both the sword and the scabbard. I will ask for my gift when the time comes."

  Then Arthur and Merlin dismounted and tied their horses to trees, and they went to the little boat and rowed to the arm. And Arthur gently took the sword, and the hand released it and hand and arm disappeared under the water. And the two rowed back to the shore and mounted and rode on their way.

  Near the pathside they came to a rich tent and Arthur asked about it.

  "Don't you remember?" Merlin said. "That is the pavilion of your late enemy King Pellinore. But he is not here. He fought with one of your knights, Sir Egglame, who finally turned and fled to save his life. And Pellinore gave chase and followed him as far as Caerleon. We will meet him soon returning."

  "Good," said Arthur. "Now that I have a sword I will fight him again, and this time I will not lose."

  "That is not well spoken, sir," Merlin said. "Sir Pellinore is weary with fighting and chasing. There will be little honor in beating him now. I advise you to let him pass, for he will give you good service soon and his sons will serve you after his death. In a short time you will be so pleased with him that you will give him your sister for his wife. Therefore, do not challenge him when he passes."

  "I will do as you advise," said the king, and he looked at his new sword and admired its beauty.

  Merlin asked, "Which do you like better, the sword or the scabbard?"

  "The sword, of course," said Arthur.

  "The scabbard is far more precious," said Merlin. "While you wear the scabbard you can lose no blood no matter how deeply you are wounded. It is a magic scabbard. You will do well to keep it always near you."

  As they came near to Caerleon they met King Pellinore, but Merlin did not trust the temper of either of the knights and he cast a spell so that Pellinore did not see them.

  "It is strange that he did not speak," Arthur said.

  "He did not see you," Merlin explained. "If he had, there would have been a fight."

  And so they came to Caerleon and Arthur's knights were glad when they heard the story of his adventures. They were amazed that the king would endanger himself alone, and the bravest men were filled with happiness to serve under a chieftain who rode to his adventure as any poor knight would. They gave King Arthur honor and love, but also fellowship.

  But Arthur could not taste the full flower of the fellowship because his mind went brooding back to Merlin's words about the king's sin with his sister and the bitter prophecy that his own son would destroy him.

  Meanwhile, King Royns of North Wales, so lately defeated by Arthur, had been raging continuously in the north and had taken Ireland and the Isles. Now he sent messengers to King Arthur with a savage and arrogant demand. King Royns, the message said, had overcome the eleven lords of the north, and as wild tribute he had skinned off their beards to trim his cloak. Eleven beards Royns had and he demanded the twelfth--King Arthur's beard. Unless Arthur sent his beard Royns promised to invade the land and put it to burning ruin and take King Arthur's beard and his head also.

  Arthur heard the messengers and he responded almost with joy, for it took him for a moment from his foreboding.

  "Say to your master that his boastful, shameful demand has been received. Tell him my beard is not well grown enough to line his cloak. And as for giving him homage, I promise to bring him to his knees, crawling for my mercy. If he had ever associated with honorable men, he could not have sent so shameful a message. Now take those words with you." And he sent the messengers away.

  Then Arthur asked his assembled men, "Does anyone here know this King Royns?"

  And one of the knights, Sir Naram, answered, "I know him well, my lord. He is a wild, proud, passionate man. But do not hold him lightly because of his arrogance, for he is one of the best fighting men alive. And do not doubt that he will try with all his force to carry out his threat."

  "I will take care of him," said the king. "When I have time I will deal with him as he deserves."

  And his brooding fell on him again. He called Merlin and questioned him. "Is the child you spoke of born?"

  "Yes, my lord."

  "When?"

  "On May Day, my lord," said Merlin. Arthur sent him away and sat thinking with narrowed eyes, and his inward thoughts were dark and mean. He could not bear to have his incestuous shame known, and at the same time he was frightened at the prophecy. He sought a way to escape from ill fame and his fate. Then a cruel and cowardly plan grew in his mind with which to save his honor and his life. He was ashamed to tell his plan to Merlin before he put it into action. To conceal his incestuous sin, couriers went out to all his barons and his knights, ordering that any male child born on May Day must be sent to the king on pain of
death. The barons were angry and afraid and many put the blame on Merlin more than on Arthur, but they did not dare refuse and many children born on May Day were taken to the king, and they were only four weeks old. Then the king conveyed the babies to the coast, for he could not bring himself to slaughter them. He placed the month-old babies in a little ship and set the sail to an offshore wind and it moved out to sea unattended. King Arthur, with shamed and evil eyes, watched the little ship carry its evidence of his fate away, shrinking in the distance. And the king turned and rode heavily away.

  The wind arose, shouting, and veered about and drove the ship back on the land. Below a castle it struck a sunken rock and spilled its wailing cargo into the waves. On the shore a good man sitting in his hut heard a cry above the whining wind and lash of surf. He walked to the beach and in the soil he found a baby wedged in a bit of wreckage. He took it up and warmed it under his cloak and carried it home with him, and his wife took Mordred to her breast and suckled him.

  THE KNIGHT WITH THE TWO SWORDS

  IN THE LONG AND LAWLESSS TIME AFTER Uther Pendragon's death and before his son Arthur became king, in England and Wales, in Cornwall and Scotland and the Outer Isles, many lords took lawless power to themselves, and some of them refused to give it up, so that Arthur's first kingly years were given to restoring his realm by law, by order, and by force of arms.

  One of his most persistent enemies was the Lord Royns of Wales whose growing strength in the west and north was a constant threat to the kingdom.

  When Arthur held court at London, a faithful knight rode in with the news that Royns in his arrogance had raised a large army and invaded the land, burning crops and houses and killing Arthur's subjects as he came.

  "If this is true, I must protect my people," Arthur said.

  "It is true enough," said the knight. "I myself saw the invaders and their destructive work."

  "Then I must fight this Royns and destroy him," said the king. And he sent out an order to all loyal lords and knights and gentlemen of arms to meet in general council at Camelot, where plans would be made to defend the kingdom.

  And when the barons and the knights had gathered and sat in the great hall below the king, a damsel came before them saying she was sent by the great lady Lyle of Avalon.