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

by Malory, Thomas

  ‘Sir, it shall be at your commandment,’ said Sir Tristram.

  ‘Well,’ said King Arthur, ‘I will desire that ye shall abide in my court.’

  ‘Sir,’ said Sir Tristram, ‘thereto me is loath, for I have to do in many countries.’

  ‘Not so,’ said King Arthur. ‘Ye have promised me; ye may not say nay.’

  ‘Sir,’ said Sir Tristram, ‘I will as ye will.’

  Then went King Arthur unto the sieges about the Round Table, and looked on every siege which were void that lacked knights. And then the King saw in the siege of Sir Marhalt letters that said, ‘This is the siege of the noble knight Sir Tristram.’ And then King Arthur made Sir Tristram a knight of the Round Table, with as great noblesse and feast as might be thought.

  So leave we Sir Tristram and turn we unto King Mark.*

  [7]

  So when Sir Tristram was departed out of Cornwall into England, King Mark heard of the great prowess that Sir Tristram did there, with the which he grieved. So he sent on his part men to espy what deeds he did; and the queen sent privily on her part spies to know what deeds he had done, for full great love was between them. So when the messengers were come home they told the truth as they heard, and how he passed all other knights but if it were Sir Lancelot. Then King Mark was right heavy of those tidings, and as glad was La Belle Isode.

  Then great despite King Mark had at him; and so he took with him two knights and two squires, and disguised himself, and took his way into England, to the intent to slay Sir Tristram. And one of those knights hight Sir Bersules, and the other knight was called Amant. So as they rode, King Mark asked a knight that he met, where he should find King Arthur.

  ‘Sir,’ he said, ‘at Camelot.’

  Also he asked that knight after Sir Tristram, whether he heard of him in the court of King Arthur.

  ‘Wit you well,’ said that knight, ‘ye shall find Sir Tristram there for a man of worship most that is now living; for through his prowess he won the tournament of the Castle of Maidens that standeth by the Roche Dure. And sithen he hath won with his hands thirty knights that were men of great honour; and the last battle that ever he did he fought with Sir Lancelot, and that was a marvellous battle. And by love not by force Sir Lancelot brought Sir Tristram to the court. And of him King Arthur made passing great joy and so made him knight of the Table Round, and his seat is in the same place where Sir Marhalt the good knight’s seat was.’

  Then was King Mark passing sorry when he heard of the honour of Sir Tristram; and so they departed. Then said King Mark unto his two knights, ‘Now will I tell you my counsel, for ye are the men that I most trust alive. And I will that ye wit my coming hither is to this intent, for to destroy Sir Tristram by some wiles or by treason; and it shall be hard and ever he escape our hands.’*

  ‘Alas,’ said Sir Bersules, ‘my lord, what mean you? For and ye be set in such a way, ye are disposed shamefully; for Sir Tristram is the knight of most worship that we know living, and therefore I warn you plainly I will not consent to the death of him—and therefore I will yield him my service, and forsake you.’

  When King Mark heard him say so, suddenly he drew his sword and said, ‘Ah, traitor!’ and smote Sir Bersules on the head, that the sword went to his teeth. When Sir Amant, his fellow, saw him do that villainous deed, and his squire also, they said to the king it was foully done, and mischievously: ‘Wherefore we will do you no more service; and wit you well, we will appeal* you of treason before King Arthur.’

  Then was King Mark wonderly wroth and would have slain Amant; but he and the two squires held them together, and set nought by his malice. So when King Mark saw he might not be revenged on them, he said thus unto the knight Amant, ‘Wit thou well, and thou impeach* me of treason I shall thereof defend me before King Arthur; but I require thee that thou tell not my name, that I am King Mark, whatsoever come of me.’

  ‘As for that,’ said Sir Amant, ‘I will not discover your name.’

  And so they departed, and Amant and his fellows took the body of Bersules and buried it.

  [King Mark encounters Sir Lamorak lamenting for the love of Queen Morgause, and then Sir Dinadan; he proves himself a notable coward in their company. He also overhears Sir Palomides lamenting for the love of La Belle Isode.]

  [14]

  And so King Mark rode as fast as he might unto Camelot; and the same day he found there Sir Amant, the knight, ready, that before King Arthur had appealed him of treason; and so, lightly the King commanded them to do battle. And by misadventure King Mark smote Sir Amant through the body, and yet was Sir Amant in the righteous quarrel. And right so he took his horse and departed from the court for dread of Sir Dinadan, that he would tell Sir Tristram and Sir Palomides what he was.

  [15]

  Then was there damosels that La Belle Isode had sent to Sir Tris tram, that knew Sir Amant well. Then by the licence of King Arthur they went to him and spoke with him, for while the truncheon of the spear stuck in his body he spoke.*

  ‘Ah, fair damosels,’ said Amant, ‘recommend me unto La Belle Isode, and tell her that I am slain for the love of her and of Sir Tristram.’ And there he told the damosels how cowardly King Mark had slain him, and Sir Bersules, his fellow. ‘And for that deed I appealed him of treason, and here am I slain in a righteous quarrel; and all was because Sir Bersules and I would not consent by treason to slay the noble knight Sir Tristram.’

  Then the two maidens cried aloud that all the court might hear, and said, ‘Ah, sweet Jesu that knowest all hidden things, why sufferest Thou so false a traitor to vanquish and slay a true knight that fought in a righteous quarrel?’

  Then anon it was sprung to the King and the Queen and to all the lords that it was King Mark that had slain Sir Amant, and Sir Bersules beforehand, wherefore they did there that battle. Then was King Arthur wroth out of measure, and so was all other knights. But when Sir Tristram wist all, he wept for sorrow for the loss of Sir Bersules and of Sir Amant. When Sir Lancelot espied Sir Tristram weep, he went hastily to King Arthur, and said, ‘Sir, I pray you, give me leave to return again* yonder false king and knight.’

  ‘I pray you,’ said King Arthur, ‘fetch him again; but I would not ye slew him, for my worship.’

  Then Sir Lancelot armed him in all haste, and mounted upon a great horse, and took a spear in his hand and rode after King Mark. And from thence three miles English,* Sir Lancelot overtook him and bade him turn him: ‘Recreant king and knight! for whether thou wilt or not, thou shalt go with me to King Arthur’s court.’

  Then King Mark returned and looked upon Sir Lancelot, and said, ‘Fair sir, what is your name?’

  ‘Wit you well, my name is Sir Lancelot, and therefore defend thee.’

  And when King Mark knew that it was Sir Lancelot and came so fast upon him with a spear, he cried then aloud and said, ‘I yield me to thee, Sir Lancelot, honourable knight.’

  But Sir Lancelot would not hear him, but came fast upon him. King Mark saw that, and made no defence, but tumbled down out of his saddle to the earth as a sack, and there he lay still and cried, ‘Sir Lancelot, have mercy upon me.’

  ‘Arise, recreant king and knight!’

  ‘Sir, I will not fight,’ said King Mark, ‘but whither that ye will I will go with you.’

  ‘Alas,’ said Sir Lancelot, ‘that I might not give thee one buffet for the love of Sir Tristram and of La Belle Isode, and for the two knights that thou hast slain traitorly.’

  And so he mounted upon his horse and brought him to King Arthur; and there King Mark alit in that same place, and threw his helm from him upon the earth, and his sword, and fell flat to the earth at King Arthur’s feet, and put him in his grace and mercy.

  ‘So God me help,’ said King Arthur, ‘ye are welcome in a manner, and in a manner ye are not welcome. In this manner ye are welcome, that ye come hither maugre your head, as I suppose.’

  ‘That is truth,’ said King Mark, ‘and else I had not been here now, for my lord Sir Lanc
elot brought me hither by fine* force, and to him am I yielded to as recreant.’

  ‘Well,’ said King Arthur, ‘ye ought to do me service, homage, and fealty; and never would ye do me none, but ever ye have been against me, and a destroyer of my knights. Now how will ye acquit you?’

  ‘Sir,’ said King Mark, ‘right as your lordship will require me, unto my power, I will make a large amends.’ For he was a fair speaker, and false thereunder.

  Then for great pleasure of Sir Tristram, to make them two accorded, the King withheld* King Mark as at that time, and made a broken love day between them.*

  [Sir Dinadan meets Sir Palomides, who reveals that he was in prison at the time when he should have encountered Sir Tristram for their promised combat.]

  [21]

  So within three days after, the King let make a jousting at a priory, and there made them ready many knights of the Round Table. And Sir Gawain and his brethren made them ready to joust; but Sir Lancelot, Sir Tristram, nor Sir Dinadan would not joust, but suffered Sir Gawain, for the love of King Arthur, with his brethren to win the degree* if they might. So on the morn they apparelled them to joust, Sir Gawain and his four brethren; they did great deeds of arms, and Sir Ector de Maris did marvellously well. But Sir Gawain passed all that fellowship, wherefore King Arthur and all the knights gave Sir Gawain the honour at the beginning.

  Right so was King Arthur ware of a knight and two squires that came out of a forest side, with a covered shield of leather. Then he came in stiffly* and hurtled here and there, and anon with one spear he had smitten down two knights of the Round Table. And so with his hurtling he lost the covering of his shield; then was the King and all others ware that he bore a red shield.

  ‘Ah, Jesu,’ said King Arthur, ‘see where rideth a strong knight, he with the red shield.’

  And there was a noise and a great cry, ‘Beware the knight with the red shield!’

  So within a little while he had overthrown three brethren of Sir Gawain’s.

  ‘So God me help,’ said King Arthur, ‘me seemeth yonder is the best jouster that ever I saw.’

  So he looked about and saw him encounter with Sir Gawain, and he smote him down with so great force that he made his horse to avoid* his saddle.

  ‘How now?’ said the King to Sir Gawain, ‘methinketh ye have a fall; well were me and I knew what knight he were with the red shield.’

  ‘I know him well enough,’ said Sir Dinadan, ‘but as at this time ye shall not know his name.’

  ‘By my head,’ said Sir Tristram, ‘he jousteth better than Sir Palomides, and if ye list to know, his name is Sir Lamorak de Gales.’

  And as they stood thus, they saw Sir Gawain and he encountered together again; and there he smote Sir Gawain from his horse and bruised him sore. And in the sight of King Arthur he smote down twenty knights, beside Sir Gawain; and so clearly was the prize given him as a knight peerless. Then slyly and marvellously* Sir Lamorak withdrew him from all the fellowship into the forest’s side. All this espied King Arthur, for his eye went never from him. Then the King, Sir Lancelot, and Sir Tristram and Sir Dinadan took their hackneys, and rode straight after the good knight Sir Lamorak de Gales, and there found him. And thus said the King, ‘Ah, fair knight, well be ye found.’

  When he saw the King, he put off his helm and saluted him; and when he saw Sir Tristram he alit down off his horse and ran to take him by the stirrup. But Sir Tristram would not suffer him, but he alit or that he came, and either took other in arms and made great joy of other.

  Then the King was glad, and so was all the fellowship of the Round Table, except Sir Gawain and his brethren. And when they wist that it was Sir Lamorak, they had great despite of him, and were wonderly wroth with him that he had put him to such a dishonour that day.

  Then he called to him privily in council all his brethren, and to them said thus: ‘Fair brethren, here may ye see, whom that we hate King Arthur loveth, and whom that we love he hateth. And wit you well, my fair brethren, that this Sir Lamorak will never love us, because we slew his father, King Pellinore, for we deemed that he slew our father, King Lot of Orkney. And for the death of King Pellinore, Sir Lamorak did us a shame to our mother; therefore I will be revenged.’

  ‘Sir,’ said Sir Gawain’s brethren, ‘let see devise* how ye will be revenged, and ye shall find us ready.’

  ‘Well,’ said Sir Gawain, ‘hold ye still, and we shall espy our time.’

  [22]

  Now pass we on our matter, and leave we Sir Gawain; and speak we of King Arthur, that on a day said unto King Mark, ‘Sir, I pray you give me a gift that I shall ask you.’

  ‘Sir,’ said King Mark, ‘I will give you what gift I may give you.’

  ‘Sir, gramercy,’ said King Arthur. ‘This will I ask you: that ye be good lord* unto Sir Tristram, for he is a man of great honour; and that ye will take him with you into Cornwall and let him see his friends, and there cherish him for my sake.’

  ‘Sir,’ said King Mark, ‘I promise you by my faith and by the faith that I owe unto God and to you, I shall worship him for your sake all that I can or may.’

  ‘Sir,’ said King Arthur, ‘and I will forgive you all the evil will that ever I owed you, and ye swear that upon a book before me.’

  ‘With a good will,’ said King Mark; and so he there swore upon a book before him and all his knights, and therewith King Mark and Sir Tristram took each other by the hands hard knit together. But for all this King Mark thought falsely, as it proved after; for he put Sir Tristram in prison, and cowardly would have slain him.

  Then soon after, King Mark took his leave to ride into Cornwall; and Sir Tristram made him ready to ride with him, whereof the most part of the Round Table were wroth and heavy, and in especial Sir Lancelot and Sir Lamorak and Sir Dinadan were wroth out of measure. For well they wist King Mark would slay or destroy Sir Tristram.

  ‘Alas,’ said Sir Dinadan, ‘that my lord Sir Tristram shall depart!’

  And Sir Tristram took such a sorrow that he was amazed.*

  ‘Alas,’ said Sir Lancelot unto King Arthur, ‘what have ye done? for ye shall lose the man of most worship that ever came into your court.’

  ‘Sir, it was his own desire,’ said King Arthur, ‘and therefore I might not do withal;* for I have done all that I can and made them at accord.’

  ‘Accord?’ said Sir Lancelot, ‘now fie on that accord! For ye shall hear that he shall slay Sir Tristram or put him in prison, for he is the most coward and the villainest king and knight that is now living.’

  And therewith Sir Lancelot departed, and came to King Mark and said to him thus: ‘Sir king, wit you well the good knight Sir Tristram shall go with thee. Beware, I rede thee, of treason, for and thou mischief that knight by any manner of falsehood or treason, by the faith I owe to God and to the order of knighthood, I shall slay thee with mine own hands.’

  ‘Sir Lancelot, overmuch have ye said unto me, and I have sworn and said over-largely before King Arthur in hearing of all his knights, and overmuch shame it were to me to break my promise.’

  ‘Ye say well,’ said Sir Lancelot, ‘but ye are called so false and full of felony that no man may believe you. Pardieu, it is known well for what cause ye came into this country, and for none other cause but to slay Sir Tristram.’*

  So with great dole King Mark and Sir Tristram rode together; for it was by Sir Tristram’s will and his means to go with King Mark, and all was for the intent to see La Belle Isode, for without the sight of her Sir Tristram might not endure.

  [23]

  Now turn we again unto Sir Lamorak, and speak we of his brethren: Sir Tor, which was King Pellinore’s first son and begotten of Aries’ wife the cowherd, for he was a bastard; and Sir Agloval was his first son begotten in wedlock; Sir Lamorak, Dornar, Percival, these were his sons too in wedlock.

  So when King Mark and Sir Tristram were departed from the court there was made great dole and sorrow for the departing of Sir Tristram. Then the King and his knights made
no manner of joys eight days after. And at the eight days’ end there came to the court a knight with a young squire with him; and when this knight was unarmed, he went to the King and required him to make the young squire a knight.

  ‘Of what lineage is he come?’ said King Arthur.

  ‘Sir,’ said the knight, ‘he is the son of King Pellinore, that did you some time good service, and he is brother unto Sir Lamorak de Gales, the good knight.’

  ‘Well,’ said the King, ‘for what cause desire ye that of me, that I should make him knight?’

  ‘Wit you well, my lord the king, that this young squire is brother to me as well as to Sir Lamorak, and my name is Agloval.’

  ‘Sir Agloval,’ said Arthur, ‘for the love of Sir Lamorak and for his father’s love, he shall be made knight tomorrow. Now tell me,’ said Arthur, ‘what is his name?’

  ‘Sir,’ said the knight, ‘his name is Percival de Gales.’

  So on the morn the King made him knight in Camelot; but the King and all the knights thought it would be long or that he proved a good knight. Then at the dinner, when the King was set at the table, and every knight after he was* of prowess, the King commanded him to be set among mean knights; and so was Sir Percival set as the King commanded.

  Then was there a maiden in the Queen’s court that was come of high blood, and she was dumb and never spoke word. Right so she came straight into the hall, and went unto Sir Percival, and took him by the hand and said aloud, that the King and all the knights might hear it, ‘Arise, Sir Percival, the noble knight and God’s knight, and go with me.’

  And so he did; and there she brought him to the right side of the Siege Perilous, and said, ‘Fair knight, take here thy siege, for that siege appertaineth to thee and to none other.’

  Right so she departed and asked a priest; and as she was confessed and houselled,* then she died. Then the King and all the court made great joy of Sir Percival.