Complete Works of Sir Thomas Malory

by Thomas Malory

  Whan sir Lyonell had sene hym do thus, he thought to assay hym and made hym redy, and pryvaly he toke his horse and thought nat for to awake sir Launcelot, and so mounted uppon his hors and overtoke the strong knyght. He bade hym turne, and so he turned and smote sir Lyonell so harde that hors and man he bare to the erth. And so he alyght downe and bounde hym faste and threw hym over-thwarte his owne horse as he had served the other three, and so rode with hem tyll he com to his owne castell. Than he unarmed them and bete them with thornys all naked, and aftir put them in depe preson where were many me knyghtes that made grete dole.

  So whan sir Ector de Marys wyste that sir Launcelot was paste [2] oute of the courte to seke adventures, he was wroth with hymself and made hym redy to seke sir Launcelot. And as he had redyn longe in a grete foreste, he mette with a man was lyke a foster.

  ‘Fayre felow,’ seyde sir Ector, ‘doste thou know this contrey or ony adventures that bene nyghe here honde?’

  ‘Sir,’ seyde the foster, ‘this contrey know I well. And hereby within this myle is a stronge maner and well dyked, and by that maner on the lyffte honde there is a fayre fourde for horse to drynke off, and over that fourde there growys a fayre tre. And thereon hongyth many fayre shyldys that welded somtyme good knyghtes, and at the bele of the tre hongys a basyn of couper and latyne. And stryke uppon that basyn with the butte of thy spere three tymes, and sone aftir thou shalt hyre new tydynges; and ellys haste thou the fayreste grace that ever had knyghte this many yeres that passed thorow this foreste.’

  ‘Gramercy,’ seyde sir Ector and departed. And com unto this tre and sawe many fayre shyldys, and amonge them all he sawe hys brothirs shylde, sir Lyonell, and many me that he knew that were of his felowys of the Rounde Table, the whyche greved his herte, and promysed to revenge his brother. Than anone sir Ector bete on the basyn as he were woode, and than he gaff his horse drynke at the fourde.

  And there com a knyghte behynde hym and bade hym com oute of the water and make hym redy. Sir Ector turned hym shortly, and in feawtir caste his spere and smote the other knyght a grete buffette, that his horse turned twyse abowte.

  ‘That was well done,’ seyde the stronge knyght, and knyghtly thou haste strykyn me.’

  And therewith he russhed his horse on sir Ector and caught hym undir his ryght arme and bare hym clene oute of the sadyll, and so rode with hym away into his castell and threw hym downe in myddyll of the floure. The name of this knyghte was sir Tarquyn. Than this seyde Tarquyn seyde unto sir Ector, ‘For thou hast done this day more unto me than ony knyght dud this twelve yere, now woll I graunte the thy lyff, so thou wolt be sworne to be my trew presoner.’

  ‘Nay,’ sayde sir Ector, ‘that woll I never promyse the but that I woll do myne advauntage.’

  ‘That me repentis,’ seyde sir Tarquyn. Than he gan unarme hym and bete hym with thornys all naked, and sytthyn put hym downe into a depe dongeon, and there he knewe many of his felowys.

  But whan sir Ector saw sir Lyonell, than made he grete sorow. ‘Alas, brother!’ seyde sir Ector, ‘how may this be, and where is my brothir sir Launcelot?’

  ‘Fayre brother, I leffte hym on slepe, whan that I frome hym yode, undir an appil-tre, and what is becom of hym I can nat telle you.”Alas,’ seyde the presoneres, ‘but yf sir Launcelot helpe us we shall never be delyverde, for we know now no knyght that is able to macch with oure maystir Tarquyne.’

  [3] Now leve we thes knyghtes presoners, and speke we of sir Launcelot de Lake that lyeth undir the appil-tre slepynge. Aboute the none so there com by hym four queenys of a grete astate; and for the hete sholde nat nyghe hem, there rode four knyghtes aboute hem and bare a cloth of grene sylke on four sperys betwyxte hem and the sonne. And the quenys rode on four whyghte mulys.

  Thus as they rode they herde a grete horse besyde them grymly nyghe. Than they loked and were ware of a slepynge knyght lay all armed undir an appil-tre. And anone as they loked on his face they knew well hit was sir Launcelot, and began to stryve for that knyght, and every of hem seyde they wolde have hym to hir love.

  ‘We shall nat stryve,’ seyde Morgan le Fay, that was kyng Arthurs sister. ‘I shall put an inchauntement uppon hym that he shall nat awake of all this seven owres, and than I woll lede hym away unto my castell. And whan he is surely within my holde, I shall take the inchauntement frome hym, and than lette hym chose whych of us he woll have unto peramour.’

  So this enchauntemente was caste uppon sir Launcelot, and than they leyde hym uppon his shylde and bare hym so on horsebak betwyxte two knyghtes, and brought hym unto the Castell Charyot; and there they leyde hym in a chambir colde, and at nyght they sente unto hym a fayre dameselle with his souper redy idyght. Be that the enchauntement was paste.

  And whan she com she salewed hym and asked hym what chere.

  ‘I can not sey, fayre damesel,’ seyde sir Launcelot, ‘for I wote not how I com into this castell but hit be by inchauntemente.’

  ‘Sir,’ seyde she, ye muste make good chere; and yf ye be suche a knyght as is seyde ye be, I shall telle you more to-morn be pryme of the day.’

  ‘Gramercy, fayre damesel,’ seyde sir Launcelot, ‘of your good wylle.’

  And so she departed, and there he laye all that nyght withoute ony comforte. And on the morne erly com thes four quenys passyngly well besene, and all they byddynge hym good morne, and he them agayne.

  ‘Sir knyght,’ the four quenys seyde, ‘thou muste undirstonde thou art oure presonere, and we know the well that thou art sir Launcelot du Lake, kynge Banis sonne. And because that we undirstonde youre worthynesse, that thou art the noblest knyght lyvyng, and also we know well there can no lady have thy love but one, and that is quene Gwenyvere, and now thou shalt hir love lose for ever, and she thyne. For hit behovyth the now to chose one of us four, for I am quene Morgan le Fay, quene of the londe of Gore, and here is the quene of North Galys, and the quene of Estlonde, and the quene of the Oute lies. Now chose one of us, whyche that thou wolte have to thy peramour, other ellys to dye in this preson.’

  ‘This is an harde case,’ seyde sir Launcelot, ‘that other I muste dye other to chose one of you. Yet had I lever dye in this preson with worshyp than to have one of you to my peramoure, magré myne hede. And therefore ye be answeryd: I woll none of you, for ye be false enchauntfresses. And as for my lady, dame Gwenyvere, were I at my lyberté as I was, I wolde prove hit on youres that she is the treweste lady unto hir lorde lyvynge.’

  ‘Well,’ seyde the quenys, ys this your answere, that ye woll refuse us?’

  ‘Ye, on my lyff,’ seyde sir Launcelot, ‘refused ye bene of me.’

  So they departed and leffte hym there alone that made grete sorow.

  [4] So aftir that noone com the damesel unto hym with his dyner and asked hym what chere.

  ‘Truly, damesel,’ seyde sir Launcelot, ‘never so ylle.’

  ‘Sir,’ she seyde, ‘that me repentis, but and ye woll be ruled by me I shall helpe you oute of this dystresse, and ye shall have no shame nor velony, so that ye wold hold my promyse.’

  ‘Fayre damesel, I graunte you; but sore I am of thes quenys crauftis aferde, for they have destroyed many a good knyght.’

  ‘Sir,’ seyde she, ‘that is soth, and for the renowne and bounté that they here of you they woll have your love. And, sir, they sey youre name is sir Launcelot du Lake, the floure of knyghtes, and they be passyng wroth with you that ye have refused hem. But, sir, and ye wolde promyse me to helpe my fadir on Tewysday nexte commynge, that hath made a turnemente betwyxt hym and the kynge of North Galys — for the laste Tewysday past my fadir loste the felde thorow three knyghtes of Arthurs courte — and yf ye woll be there on Tewysday next commynge and helpe my fadir, and to-morne be pryme by the grace of God I shall delyver you clene.’

  ‘Now, fayre damesell,’ seyde sir Launcelot, ‘telle me your fadyrs name, and than shall I gyff you an answere.’

  ‘Sir knyght,’ she seyde, ‘my fadyrs name is kynge Bagdemagus, that was foule rebuked at the laste turnemente.’


  ‘I knowe your fadir well,’ seyde sir Launcelot, ‘for a noble kyng and a good knyght, and by the fayth of my body, your fadir shall have my servyse, and you bothe at that day.’

  ‘Sir,’ she seyde, ‘gramercy, and to-morne loke ye be redy betymys, and I shall delyver you and take you your armoure, your horse, shelde and spere. And hereby wythin this ten myle is an abbey of whyght monkys, and there I pray you to abyde me, and thydir shall I brynge my fadir unto you.’

  And all this shall be done,’ seyde sir Launcelot, ‘as I am trew knyght.’

  And so she departed and come on the morne erly and founde hym redy. Than she brought hym oute of twelve lockys, and toke hym his armour and his owne horse; and lyghtly he sadyld hym and toke his spere in his honde, and so rode forth, and sayde, ‘Damesell, I shall not fayle, by the grace of God.’

  And so he rode into a grete foreste all that day, and never coude fynde no hygheway. And so the nyght fell on hym, and than was he ware in a slade of a pavylyon of rede sendele. ‘Be my feyth,’ seyde sir Launcelot, ‘in that pavylyon woll I lodge all this nyght.’ And so he there alyght downe, and tyed his horse to the pavylyon, and there he unarmed hym. And there he founde a bed, and layde hym therein, and felle on slepe sadly.

  Than within an owre there com that knyght that ought the [5] pavylyon. He wente that his lemman had layne in that bed, and so he leyde hym adowne by sir Launcelot and toke hym in his armys and began to kysse hym. And whan sir Launcelot felte a rough berde kyssyng hym he sterte oute of the bedde lyghtly, and the othir knyght after hym. And eythir of hem gate their swerdys in their hondis, and oute at the pavyiyon dore wente the knyght of the pavylyon, and sir Launcelot folowed hym. And there by a lytyll slad sir Launcelot wounded hym sore nyghe unto the deth. And than he yelded hym to sir Launcelot, and so he graunted hym, so that he wolde telle hym why he com into the bed.

  ‘Sir,’ sayde the knyghte, ‘the pavylyon is myne owne. And as this nyght I had assigned my lady to have slepte with hir, and now I am lykly to dye of this wounde.’

  ‘That me repentyth,’ seyde sir Launcelot, ‘of youre hurte, but I was adrad of treson, for I was late begyled. And therefore com on your way into youre pavylyon, and take youre reste, and as I suppose I shall staunche your bloode.’

  And so they wente bothe into the pavylyon, and anone sir Launcelot staunched his bloode.

  Therewithal! com the knyghtes lady that was a passynge fayre lady. And whan she aspyed that her lorde Belleus was sore wounded she cryed oute on sir Launcelot and made grete dole oute of mesure.

  ‘Pease, my lady and my love,’ seyde sir Belleus, ‘for this knyght is a good man and a knyght of aventures.’ And there he tolde hir all the case how he was wounded. ‘And whan that I yelded me unto hym he laffte me goodly, and hath staunched my bloode.’

  ‘Sir,’ seyde the lady, ‘I require the, telle me what knyght thou art, and what is youre name.’

  ‘Fayre lady,’ he sayde, ‘my name is sir Launcelot du Lake.’

  ‘So me thought ever be youre speche,’ seyde the lady, ‘for I have sene you oftyn or this, and I know you bettir than ye wene. But now wolde ye promyse me of youre curtesye, for the harmys that ye have done to me and to my lorde, sir Belleus, that whan ye com unto kyng Arthurs court for to cause hym to be made knyght of the Rounde Table? For he is a passyng good man of armys and a myghty lorde of londys of many oute iles.’

  ‘Fayre lady,’ sayde sir Launcelot, latte hym com unto the courte the next hyghe feste, and loke ye com with hym, and I shall do my power; and he preve hym doughty of his hondis he shall have his desyre.’

  So within a whyle the nyght passed and the day shone. Than sir Launcelot armed hym and toke his horse, and so he was taughte to the abbey, and thydir he rode within the pace of two owrys.

  [6] And as sone as he come thydir the doughter of kyng Bagdemagus herde a grete horse trotte on the pavy mente, and she than arose and yode to a wyndowe, and there she sawe sir Launcelot. And anone she made men faste to take his horse frome hym, and lette lede hym into a stable; and hymself was ledde unto a chambir and unarmed hym. And this lady sente hym a longe gowne, and com hirself and made hym good chere; and she seyde he was the knyght in the worlde that was moste welcom unto hir.

  Than in all haste she sente for hir fadir Bagdemagus that was within twelve myle of that abbey, and afore evyn he come with a fayre felyshyp of knyghtes with hym. And whan the kynge was alyght of his horse he yode streyte unto sir Launcelotte his chambir, and there he founde his doughtir. And than the kynge toke hym in his armys and eythir made other good chere.

  Than sir Launcelot made his complaynte unto the kynge, how he was betrayed; and how he was brother unto sir Lyonell, whyche was departed frome hym he wyste not where, and how his doughter had delyverde hym oute of preson. Therefore, whyle that I lyve, I shall do hir servyse and all hir kynrede.’

  ‘Than am I sure of your helpe,’ seyde the kyng, ‘on Tewysday next commyng?’

  ‘Yee, sir,’ seyde sir Launcelot, ‘I shall nat fayle you, for so have I promysed my lady youre doughter. But, sir, what knyghtes be the of my lorde kyng Arthurs that were with the kyng of North Galys?’

  ‘Sir, hit was sir Madore de la Porte and sir Mordred and sir Gahalantyne that all forfared my knyghtes, for agaynste hem three I nother none of myne myght bere no strenghthe.’

  ‘Sir,’ seyde sir Launcelot, ‘as I here sey that turnement shall be here within this three myle of this abbay. But, sir, ye shall sende unto me three knyghtes of youres suche as ye truste, and loke that the three knyghtes have all whyght sheldis and no picture on their shyldis, and ye shall sende me another of the same sewte; and we four wyll oute of a lytyll wood in myddys of bothe partyes com, and we shall falle on the frunte of oure enemyes and greve hem that we may. And thus shall I not be knowyn what maner a knyght I am.’

  So they toke their reste that nyght. And this was on the Sonday, and so the kynge departed and sente unto sir Launcelot three knyghtes with four whyght shyldys. And on the Tewysday they lodged hem in a lytyll leved wood besyde thereas the turnemente sholde be. And there were scaffoldys and Tholes’!, that lordys and ladyes myght beholde and gyff the pryse.

  Than com into the fylde the kynge of North Galys with nyne score helmys, and than the three knyghtis of kyng Arthurs stood by themself. Than com into the felde kynge Bagdemagus with four score helmys; and than they feautred their sperys and come togydyrs with a grete daysshe. And there was slayne of knyghtes at the fyrste recountir twelve knyghtes of kynge Bagdemagus parté, and syx of the kynge of North Galys syde and party; and kynge Bagdemagus his party were ferre sette asyde and abak.

  — Wyth that com in sir Launcelot, and he threste in with his spere in the thyckyst of the pres; and there he smote downe with one spere fyve knyghtes, and of four of them he brake their backys. And in that thrange he smote downe the kynge of North Galys, and brake his thygh in that falle. All this doynge of sir Launcelot saw the three knyghtes of Arthurs, and seyde, ‘Yondir is a shrewde geste,’ seyde sir Mador de la Porte, ‘therefore have here ons at hym.’ So they encountred, and sir Launcelot bare hym downe horse and man so that his sholdir wente oute of joynte.

  ‘Now hit befallyth me,’ seyde sir Mordred, ‘to stirre me, for sir Mador hath a sore falle.’ And than sir Launcelot was ware of hym, and gate a spere in his honde and mette with hym. And sir Mordred brake his spere uppon hym; and sir Launcelot gaff hym suche a buffette that the arson of the sadill brake, and so he drove over the horse tayle, that his helme smote into the erthe a foote and more, that nyghe his nek was broke, and there he lay longe in a swowe.

  Than com in sir Gahalantyne with a grete spere, and sir Launcelot agaynste hym in all that they myght dryve, that bothe hir sperys to-braste evyn to their hondys; and than they flange oute with her swerdes and gaff many sore strokys. Than was sir Launcelot wroth oute of mesure, and than he smote sir Gahalantyne on the helme, that his nose, erys and mowthe braste oute on bloode; and therewith his hede hynge low, and with that his horse ran away wit
h hym, and he felle downe to the erthe.

  Anone therewithall sir Launcelot gate a speare in his honde, and or ever that speare brake he bare downe to the erthe syxtene knyghtes, som horse and man and som the man and nat the horse; and there was none that he hitte surely but that he bare none armys that day. And than he gate a spere and smote downe twelve knyghtes, and the moste party of hem never throoff aftir. And than the knyghtes of the kyng of North Galys party wolde jouste no more, and there the gre was gevyn to kyng Bagdemagus.

  So eythir party departed unto his owne, and sir Launcelot rode forth with kynge Bagdemagus unto his castel. And there he had passynge good chere bothe with the kyng and with his doughter, and they profyrde hym grete yefftes. And on the morne he toke his leve and tolde the kynge that he wolde seke his brothir sir Lyonell that wente frome hym whan he slepte. So he toke his horse and betaughte hem all to God, and there he seyde unto the kynges doughter, ‘Yf that ye have nede ony tyme of my servyse, I pray you let me have knowlecche, and I shall nat fayle you, as I am trewe knyght.’

  And so sir Launcelot departed, and by adventure he com into the same foreste there he was takynge his slepe before; and in the myddys of an hygheway he mette a damesel rydynge on a whyght palfray, and there eythir salewed other.

  ‘Fayre damesel,’ seyde sir Launcelot, ‘know ye in this contrey ony adventures nere hande?’

  ‘Sir knyght,’ seyde the damesel, ‘here ar adventures nyghe, and thou durste preve hem.’

  ‘Why sholde I not preve?’ seyde sir Launcelot. ‘For for that cause com I hydir.’