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

by Malory, Thomas

  [10]

  So after the feast and journey, King Arthur drew him unto London, and so by the counsel of Merlin the King let call his barons to council, for Merlin had told the King that the six kings that made war upon him would in all haste be awroke* on him and on his lands; wherefore the King asked counsel at them all. They could no counsel give, but said they were big enough.

  ‘Ye say well,’ said Arthur; ‘I thank you for your good courage, but will ye all that loveth me speak with Merlin? Ye know well that he hath done much for me, and he knoweth many things, and when he is before you, I would that ye prayed him heartily of his best advice.’

  All the barons said they would pray him and desire him. So Merlin was sent for, and fair desired of all the barons to give them best counsel.

  ‘I shall say you,’ said Merlin, ‘I warn you all, your enemies are passing strong for you, and they are good men of arms as be alive, and by this time they have gotten to them four kings more and a mighty duke; and unless that our king have more chivalry with him than he may make* within the bounds of his own realm, and he fight with them in battle, he shall be overcome and slain.’

  ‘What were best to do in this cause?’ said all the barons.

  ‘I shall tell you’, said Merlin, ‘my advice: there are two brethren beyond the sea, and they be kings both and marvellous good men of their hands; and the one hight King Ban of Benwick, and the other hight King Bors of Gaul, that is France. And on these two kings warreth a mighty man of men, the King Claudas, and striveth with them for a castle, and great war is betwixt them; but this Claudas is so mighty of goods whereof he getteth good knights, that he putteth these two kings the most part to the worse. Wherefore this is my counsel: that our king and sovereign lord send unto the kings Ban and Bors by two trusty knights with letters well devised, that and they will come and see* King Arthur and his court, and to help him in his wars, that he would be sworn unto them to help them in their wars against King Claudas. Now, what say ye unto this counsel?’ said Merlin.

  ‘This is well counselled,’ said the King.

  [King Ban and King Bors agree to help Arthur, and they meet in battle with the eleven kings.]

  [16]

  By then came into the field King Ban as fierce as a lion, with bands of green and thereupon gold.*

  ‘A ha!’ said King Lot, ‘we must be discomfited, for yonder I see the most valiant knight of the world, and the man of most renown. For such two brethren as is King Ban and King Bors are not living, wherefore we must needs avoid* or die. And but if we avoid manly and wisely there is but death.’

  So when these two kings, Ban and Bors, came into the battle, they came in so fiercely that the strokes rebounded again from the wood and the water; wherefore King Lot wept for pity and dole that he saw so many good knights take their end. But through the great force of King Ban they made both the northern battles* that were departed hurtle together for great dread. And the three kings and their knights slew on ever, that it was pity to see and to behold the multitude of the people that fled. But King Lot and the King with the Hundred Knights and King Morganor gathered the people together passing knightly, and did great prowess of arms, and held the battle all the day alike hard.

  When the King with the Hundred Knights beheld the great damage that King Ban did, he thrust unto him with his horse, and smote him on high on the helm a great stroke, and astoned* him sore. Then King Ban was wood* wroth with him, and followed on him fiercely; the other saw that, and cast up his shield and spurred his horse forward. But the stroke of King Ban down fell and carved a cantle* off the shield, and the sword slid down by the hauberk behind his back, and cut through the trapper* of steel and the horse even in two pieces, that the sword fell to the earth. Then the King of the Hundred Knights voided the horse lightly, and with his sword he broached* the horse of King Ban through and through. With that King Ban voided lightly from the dead horse, and smote at that other so eagerly on the helm that he fell to the earth. Also in that ire he felled King Morganor, and there was great slaughter of good knights and much people.

  By that time came into the press King Arthur, and found King Ban standing among the dead men and dead horses, fighting on foot as a wood lion, that there came none nigh him as far as he might reach with his sword but he caught a grievous buffet; whereof King Arthur had great pity. And King Arthur was so bloody that by his shield there might no man know him, for all was blood and brains that stuck on his sword and on his shield. And as King Arthur looked beside him he saw a knight that was passingly well horsed; and therewith King Arthur ran to him and smote him on the helm that his sword went unto his teeth, and the knight sank down to the earth dead. And anon King Arthur took the horse by the rein and led him unto King Ban, and said, ‘Fair brother, have ye this horse, for ye have great mister* thereof, and me repents* sore of your great damage.’

  ‘It shall be soon revenged,’ said King Ban, ‘for, I trust in God, my hurt is none such but some of them may sore repent this.’

  ‘I will well,’ said King Arthur, ‘for I see your deeds full actual;* nevertheless, I might not come to you at that time.’

  But when King Ban was mounted on horseback, then there began a new battle which was sore and hard, and passing great slaughter. And so through great force King Arthur, King Ban, and King Bors made their knights a little to withdraw them to a little wood, and so over a little river, and there they rested them; for on the night before they had no great rest in the field. And then the eleven kings put them on a heap all together,* as men adread and out of all comfort. But there was no man that might pass them, they held them so hard together both behind and before, that King Arthur had marvel of their deeds of arms and was passing wroth.

  ‘Ah, Sir Arthur,’ said King Ban and King Bors, ‘blame them not, for they do as good men ought to do. For, by my faith,’ said King Ban, ‘they are the best fighting men, and knights of most prowess, that ever I saw or heard speak of. And those eleven kings are men of great worship; and if they were belonging to you there were no king under heaven that had such eleven kings, nor of such worship.’

  ‘I may not love them,’ said King Arthur, ‘for they would destroy me.’

  ‘That know we well,’ said King Ban and King Bors, ‘for they are your mortal enemies; and that hath been proved beforehand. And this day they have done their part, and that is great pity of their wilfulness.’

  Then all the eleven kings drew them together. And then said King Lot, ‘Lords, ye must do otherwise than ye do, or else the great loss is behind. For ye may see what people we have lost, and what good men we lose, because we wait always on these foot-men; and ever in saving of one of these foot-men we lose ten horsemen for him. Therefore this is my advice: let us put our foot-men from us, for it is near night. For this noble King Arthur will not tarry on the foot-men, for they may save themselves; the wood is near hand. And when we horsemen be together, look every each of you kings let make such ordinance that none break upon pain of death. And who that seeth any man dress him* to flee, lightly that he be slain;* for it is better we slay a coward, than through a coward all we be slain. How say ye?’ said King Lot, ‘Answer me, all ye kings.’

  ‘Ye say well,’ said King Nentres. So said the King with the Hundred Knights; the same said King Carados, and King Uriens; so said King Idres and King Brandegoris; so did King Cradelmas, and the Duke of Caudebenet; the same said King Clariancc, and so did King Angwissance, and swore they would never fail other for life nor for death. And whoso that fled, all they should be slain.

  Then they amended their harness and righted their shields, and took new spears and set them on their thighs, and stood still as it had been a plumb* of wood.

  [17]

  When King Arthur and King Ban and Bors beheld them and all their knights, they praised them much for their noble cheer of chivalry, for the hardiest fighters that ever they heard or saw.*

  So there came into the thick of the press Arthur, Ban, and Bors, and slew downright on both hands, that
their horses went in blood up to the fetlocks. But ever the eleven kings and the host was ever in the visage of Arthur. Wherefore King Ban and Bors had great marvel, considering the great slaughter that there was; but at the last they were driven aback over a little river.

  With that came Merlin on a great black horse, and said unto King Arthur, ‘Thou hast never done, hast thou not done enough? Of three score thousand this day hast thou left alive but fifteen thousand, therefore it is time to say “Whoa!” For God is wroth with thee, for thou wilt never have done. For yonder eleven kings at this time will not be overthrown; but and thou tarry on them any longer, thy fortune will turn and they shall increase. And therefore withdraw you unto your lodging and rest you as soon as ye may, and reward your good knights with gold and with silver, for they have well deserved it; there may no riches be too dear for them, for of so few men as ye have, there were never men did more worshipfully in prowess than ye have done today. For ye have matched this day with the best fighters of the world.’

  ‘That is truth,’ said King Ban and Bors.

  Then Merlin bade them, ‘Withdraw where ye list, for these three years I dare undertake they shall not dere* you; and by that time ye shall hear new tidings.’ Then Merlin said unto Arthur, ‘These eleven kings have more on hand than they are aware of. For the Saracens are landed in their countries, more than forty thousand, and burn and slay, and have laid siege to the Castle Wandesborough, and make great destruction; therefore dread you not these three years. Also, sir, all the goods that be gotten at this battle, let it be searched, and when ye have it in your hands, let it be given friendly unto these two kings, Ban and Bors, that they may reward their knights withal; and that shall cause strangers to be of better will to do you service at need. Also ye be able to reward your own knights at what time soever it liketh you.’

  ‘Ye say well,’ said Arthur, ‘and as thou hast devised, so shall it be done.’

  When it was delivered to these kings, Ban and Bors, they gave the goods as freely to their knights as it was given to them. Then Merlin took his leave of King Arthur and of the two kings for to go see his master Bloise, that dwelled in Northumberland; and so he departed and came to his master, that was passing glad of his coming. And there he told how Arthur and the two kings had sped at the great battle, and how it was ended, and told the names of every king and knight of worship that was there. And so Bloise wrote the battle word by word as Merlin told him, how it began, and by whom; and in like wise how it was ended, and who had the worst. And all the battles that were done in Arthur’s days, Merlin did his master Bloise write them;* also he did write all the battles that every worthy knight did of Arthur’s court.*

  So after this Merlin departed from his master and came to King Arthur, that was in the castle of Bedgraine, that was one of the castles that standeth in the forest of Sherwood. And Merlin* was so disguised that King Arthur knew him not, for he was all befurred in black sheepskins, and a great pair of boots, and a bow and arrows, in a russet gown, and brought wild geese in his hand. And it was on the morn after Candlemas Day. But King Arthur knew him not.

  ‘Sir,’ said Merlin unto the King, ‘will ye give me a gift?’

  ‘Wherefore,’ said King Arthur, ‘should I give thee a gift, churl?’

  ‘Sir,’ said Merlin, ‘ye were better to give me a gift that is not in your hand than to lose great riches. For here, in the same place where the great battle was, is great treasure hid in the earth.’

  ‘Who told thee so, churl?’

  ‘Sir, Merlin told me so,’ said he.

  Then Ulfius and Brastias knew him well enough, and smiled. ‘Sir,’ said these two knights, ‘it is Merlin that so speaketh unto you.’

  Then King Arthur was greatly abashed, and had marvel of Merlin; and so had King Ban and Bors. So they had great disport* at him.

  Then in the meanwhile there came a damosel that was an earl’s daughter—his name was Sanam, and her name was Lionors, a passing fair damosel—and so she came thither for to do homage, as other lords did after that great battle. And King Arthur set his love greatly on her, and so did she upon him; and so the King had ado with her and begot on her a child. And his name was Borre, that was after a good knight, and of the Table Round.

  Then there came word that King Roince of North Wales made great war on King Lodegreance of Camelard, for the which King Arthur was wroth, for he loved him well, and hated King Roince, for always he was against him.*

  [18]

  And then King Arthur, King Ban, and King Bors departed with their fellowship, a twenty thousand, and came within six days into the country of Camelard, and there rescued King Lodegreance, and slew there much people of King Roince unto the number often thousand, and put them to flight. And then had these three kings great cheer of King Lodegreance, that thanked them of their great goodness, that they would revenge him of his enemies. And there had Arthur the first sight of Queen Guenivere, the king’s daughter of the land of Camelard, and ever after he loved her; and after, they were wedded, as it telleth in the book.

  So, briefly to make an end, they took their leave to go into their own countries, for King Claudas did great destruction on their lands. Then said Arthur, ‘I will go with you.’

  ‘Nay,’ said the kings, ‘ye shall not at this time, for ye have much to do yet in this land. Therefore we will depart; with the great goods that we have gotten in this land by your gifts, we shall wage good knights and withstand the King Claudas’ malice. For by the grace of God, and we have need, we will send to you for succour. And ye have need, send for us, and we will not tarry, by the faith of our bodies.’

  ‘It shall not need’, said Merlin, ‘these two kings to come again in the way of war. But I know well King Arthur may not be long from you; for within a year or two ye shall have great need, then shall he revenge you of your enemies as ye have done on his. For these eleven kings shall die all in one day by the great might and prowess of arms of two valiant knights’ (as it telleth after; their names were Balin le Savage and Balan, his brother, that were marvellous knights as any was then living).*

  [19]

  Then after the departing of King Ban and Bors, King Arthur rode unto Caerleon. And thither came unto him King Lot’s wife of Orkney, in manner of a message, but she was sent thither to espy the court of King Arthur; and she came richly beseen, with her four sons Gawain, Gaheris, Agravain, and Gareth, with many other knights and ladies, for she was a passing fair lady. Wherefore the King cast great love unto her, and desired to lie by her. And so they were agreed, and he begot upon her Sir Mordred, and she was sister on the mother’s side, Igraine, unto Arthur. So there she rested her a month, and at the last she departed.

  Then the King dreamed a marvellous dream whereof he was sore adread. But all this time King Arthur knew not King Lot’s wife was his sister.

  But thus was the dream of Arthur: he thought there was come into his land griffins and serpents, and he thought they burnt and slew all the people in the land; and then he thought he fought with them and they did him great harm and wounded him full sore, but at the last he slew them.

  When the King waked, he was passing heavy of his dream. And so to put it out of thought, he made him ready with many knights to ride on hunting; and as soon as he was in the forest the King saw a great hart before him.

  ‘This hart will I chase,’ said King Arthur, and so he spurred his horse, and rode after long.

  And so by fine force often he was like to have smitten the hart; wherefore as the King had chased the hart so long, his horse lost his breath and fell down dead. Then a yeoman fetched the King another horse. So the King saw the hart imbossed* and his horse dead, he set him down by a fountain, and there he fell down in great thought. And as he sat so, him thought he heard a noise of hounds, to the sum of thirty. And with that the King saw coming toward him the strangest beast that ever he saw or heard of. So this beast went to the well and drank, and the noise was in the beast’s belly like unto the questing of thirty couple hounds; but al
l the while the beast drank there was no noise in the beast’s belly.* And therewith the beast departed with a great noise, whereof the King had great marvel; and so he was in a great thought, and therewith he fell asleep.

  Right so there came a knight on foot unto Arthur and said, ‘Knight full of thought and sleepy, tell me if thou saw any strange beast pass this way.’

  ‘Such one saw I,’ said King Arthur, ‘that is passed nigh two miles. What would ye with that beast?’ said Arthur.

  ‘Sir, I have followed that beast long and killed my horse, so would God I had another to follow my quest.’

  Right so came one with the King’s horse; and when the knight saw the horse, he prayed the King to give him the horse: ‘for I have followed this quest this twelvemonth, and either I shall achieve him, or bleed of the best blood in my body.’ (His name was King Pellinore that that time followed the Questing Beast, and after his death Sir Palomides followed it.)