Many answered him again, ‘As for our most noble King Arthur, we love him and honour him as well as ye do; but as for Queen Guenivere, we love her not, because she is a destroyer of good knights.’
‘Fair lords,’ said Sir Bors, ‘me seemeth ye say not as ye should say, for never yet in my days knew I never nor heard say that ever she was a destroyer of good knights. But at all times as far as ever I could know she was a maintainer of good knights; and ever she hath been large* and free of her goods to all good knights, and the most bounteous lady of her gifts and her good grace that ever I saw or heard speak of. And therefore it were shame to us all and to our most noble king’s wife, whom we serve, and we suffered her to be shamefully slain. And wit you well,’ said Sir Bors, ‘I will not suffer it, for I dare say so much, for the Queen is not guilty of Sir Patrise’s death; for she owed him never no evil will, nor none of the four and twenty knights that were at that dinner, for I dare say for good love she bade us to dinner and not for no mal engine.* And that I doubt not shall be proved hereafter, for howsoever the game goeth, there was treason among us.’
Then some said to Sir Bors, ‘We may well believe your words.’ And so some were well pleased, and some were not.
[6]
So the day came on fast until the eve that the battle should be. Then the Queen sent for Sir Bors and asked him how he was disposed.
‘Truly, madam,’ said he, ‘I am disposed in like wise as I promised you, that is to say I shall not fail you, unless there by adventure come a better knight than I am to do battle for you; then, madam, I am of you discharged of my promise.’
‘Will ye’, said the Queen, ‘that I tell my lord the King thus?’
‘Do as it pleaseth you, madam.’
Then the Queen yode unto the King and told the answer of Sir Bors.
‘Well, have ye no doubt’, said the King, ‘of Sir Bors, for I call him now that is living one of the noblest knights of the world, and most perfect man.’
And thus it passed on till the morrow; and so the King and the Queen and all manner of knights that were there at that time drew them unto the meadow beside Winchester where the battle should be. And so when the King was come with the Queen and many knights of the Table Round, so the Queen was then put in the constable’s ward, and a great fire made about an iron stake, that and Sir Mador de la Porte had the better, she should there be burned. For such custom was used in those days, for favour, love, nor affinity* there should be none other but righteous judgement, as well upon a king as upon a knight, and as well upon a queen as upon another poor lady.*
So this meanwhile came in Sir Mador de la Porte, and took his oath before the King how that the Queen did this treason unto his cousin Sir Patrise. ‘And unto my oath I will prove it with my body, hand for hand, who that will say the contrary.’
Right so came in Sir Bors de Ganis, and said that as for Queen Guenivere, ‘she is in the right, and that will I make good that she is not culpable of this treason that is put upon her.’
‘Then make thee ready,’ said Sir Mador, ‘and we shall prove whether thou be in the right or I.’
‘Sir Mador,’ said Sir Bors, ‘wit you well, I know you for a good knight; not for that I shall not fear you so greatly but I trust to God I shall be able to withstand your malice. But thus much have I promised my lord Arthur and my lady the Queen, that I shall do battle for her in this cause to the utterest, unless that there come a better knight than I am and discharge me.’
‘Is that all?’ said Sir Mador, ‘Either come thou off and do battle with me, or else say nay.’
‘Take your horse,’ said Sir Bors, ‘and as I suppose, I shall not tarry long but ye shall be answered.’
Then either departed to their tents and made them ready to horseback as they thought best. And anon Sir Mador came into the field with his shield on his shoulder and his spear in his hand, and so rode about the place crying unto King Arthur, ‘Bid your champion come forth, and he dare!’
Then was Sir Bors ashamed, and took his horse and came to the lists’ end. And then was he ware where came from a wood there fast by a knight all armed upon a white horse, with a strange shield of strange arms; and he came driving* all that his horse might run. And so he came to Sir Bors, and said thus: ‘Fair knight, I pray you be not displeased, for here must a better knight than ye are have this battle, therefore I pray you withdraw you. For wit you well, I have had this day a right great journey, and this battle ought to be mine; and so I promised you when I spoke with you last. And with all my heart I thank you of your good will.’
Then Sir Bors rode unto King Arthur and told him how there was a knight come that would have the battle to fight for the Queen.
‘What knight is he?’ said the King.
‘I wot not,’ said Sir Bors, ‘but such covenant he made with me to be here this day. Now my lord,’ said Sir Bors, ‘here I am discharged.’
[7]
Then the King called to that knight, and asked him if he would fight for the Queen.
Then he answered and said, ‘Sir, therefore came I hither. And therefore, sir king, tarry me no longer; for anon as I have finished this battle I must depart hence, for I have to do many battles elsewhere. For wit you well,’ said that knight, ‘this is dishonour to you and to all knights of the Round Table, to see and know so noble a lady and so courteous as Queen Guenivere is, thus to be rebuked and shamed amongst you.’
Then they all marvelled what knight that might be that so took the battle upon him, for there was not one that knew him but if it were Sir Bors.
Then said Sir Mador de la Porte unto the King, ‘Now let me wit with whom I shall have ado.’
And then they rode to the lists’ end, and there they couched their spears and ran together with all their mights; and Sir Mador’s spear broke all to pieces, but the other’s spear held, and bore Sir Mador’s horse and all backward to the earth a great fall. But mightily and deliverly he avoided his horse from him, and put his shield before him and drew his sword, and bade the other knight alight and do battle with him on foot.
Then that knight descended down from his horse, and put his shield before him and drew his sword; and so they came eagerly unto battle, and either gave other many sad strokes, tracing and traversing and foining together with their swords as it were wild boars, thus fighting nigh an hour; for this Sir Mador was a strong knight, and mightily proved in many strong battles. But at the last this knight smote Sir Mador grovelling upon the earth, and he stepped near him to have pulled Sir Mador flatling upon the ground; and therewith Sir Mador arose, and in his rising he smote that knight through the thick of the thighs that the blood brast out fiercely. And when he felt himself so wounded and saw his blood, he let him arise upon his feet; and then he gave him such a buffet upon the helm that he fell to the earth flatling, and therewith he strode to him to have pulled off his helm off his head. And so Sir Mador prayed that knight to save his life, and so he yielded him as overcome, and released the Queen of his quarrel.
‘I will not grant thee thy life,’ said that knight, ‘only that thou freely release the Queen for ever, and that no mention be made upon Sir Patrise’s tomb that ever Queen Guenivere consented to that treason.’
‘All this shall be done,’ said Sir Mador. ‘I clearly discharge my quarrel for ever.’
Then the knights parters* of the lists took up Sir Mador and led him to his tent, and the other knight went straight to the stair-foot where sat King Arthur. And by that time was the Queen come to the King, and either kissed other heartily. And when the King saw that knight, he stooped down to him and thanked him, and in like wise did the Queen; and the King prayed him to put off his helmet and to repose him and to take a sop of wine.* And then he put off his helmet to drink, and then every knight knew him that it was Sir Lancelot. And anon as the King wist that, he took the Queen in his hand, and yode unto Sir Lancelot and said, ‘Sir, grantmercy of your great travail that ye have had this day for me and for my queen.’
‘My lord,’
said Sir Lancelot, ‘wit you well I ought of right ever in your quarrel and in my lady the Queen’s quarrel to do battle; for ye are the man that gave me the high order of knighthood, and that day my lady, your Queen, did me worship, and else had I been shamed; for that same day that ye made me knight, through my hastiness I lost my sword, and my lady your queen found it and lapped it in her train,* and gave me my sword when I had need thereto, and else had I been shamed among all knights.* And therefore, my lord Arthur, I promised her at that day ever to be her knight in right or in wrong.’
‘Grantmercy,’ said the King, ‘for this journey!* And wit you well,’ said the King, ‘I shall acquit* your goodness.’
And evermore the Queen beheld Sir Lancelot, and wept so tenderly that she sank almost to the ground for sorrow that he had done to her so great kindness where she showed him great unkindness. Then the knights of his blood drew unto him, and there either of them made great joy of other. And so came all the knights of the Table Round that were there at that time, and welcomed him. And then Sir Mador was healed through leechcraft, and Sir Lancelot was healed of his plaie;* and so there was made great joy, and many mirths were made in that court.
[8]
And so it befell that the Damosel of the Lake that hight Nenive, which wedded the good knight Sir Pelleas, and so she came to the court; for ever she did great goodness unto King Arthur and to all his knights through her sorcery and enchantments. And so when she heard how the Queen was grieved for the death of Sir Patrise, then she told it openly that she was never guilty; and there she disclosed by whom it was done, and named him, Sir Pinel; and for what cause he did it, there it was openly known and disclosed, and so the Queen was excused. And this knight Sir Pinel fled unto his country, and was openly known that he empoisoned the apples at that feast to that intent to have destroyed Sir Gawain, because Sir Gawain and his brethren destroyed Sir Lamorak de Gales, which Sir Pinel was cousin unto.
Then was Sir Patrise buried in the church of Westminster in a tomb, and thereupon was written: ‘Here lieth Sir Patrise of Ireland, slain by Sir Pinel le Savage, that empoisoned apples to have slain Sir Gawain. And by misfortune Sir Patrise ate one of the apples, and then suddenly he brast.’ Also there was written upon the tomb that Queen Guenivere was appealed of treason of the death of Sir Patrise by Sir Mador de la Porte; and there was made mention how Sir Lancelot fought with him for Queen Guenivere and overcame him in plain battle. All this was written upon the tomb of Sir Patrise in excusing of the Queen.
And then Sir Mador sued daily and long to have the Queen’s good grace; and so by the means of Sir Lancelot he caused him to stand in the Queen’s good grace, and all was forgiven.
Thus it passed until Our Lady Day of the Assumption.* Within fifteen days* of that feast the King let cry a great jousts and a tournament that should be at that day at Camelot, otherwise called Winchester; and the King let cry that he and the King of Scots would joust against all the world. And when this cry was made, thither came many good knights.*
So King Arthur made him ready to depart to his jousts, and would have had the Queen with him; but at that time she would not, she said, for she was sick and might not ride.
‘That me repenteth,’ said the King, ‘for these seven years ye saw not such a noble fellowship together, except the Whitsuntide when Sir Galahad departed from the court.’
‘Truly,’ said the Queen, ‘ye must hold me excused: I may not be there.’
And many deemed the Queen would not be there because of Sir Lancelot; for he would not ride with the King, for he said that he was not whole of the plaie of Sir Mador, wherefore the King was heavy and passing wroth; and so he departed toward Winchester with his fellowship. And so by the way the King lodged at a town that was called Ascolat,* that is in English Guildford, and there the King lay in the castle.
So when the King was departed, the Queen called Sir Lancelot unto her and said thus: ‘Sir, ye are greatly to blame thus to hold you behind my lord. What will your enemies and mine say and deem? “See how Sir Lancelot holdeth him ever behind the King, and so the Queen doth also, for that they would have their pleasure together.” And thus will they say,’ said the Queen.
[9]
‘Have ye no doubt, madam,’ said Sir Lancelot, ‘I allow* your wit; it is of late come since ye were waxed so wise.* And therefore, madam, at this time I will be ruled by your counsel, and this night I will take my rest, and tomorrow betimes I will take my way toward Winchester. But wit you well,’ said Sir Lancelot unto the Queen, ‘at that jousts I will be against the King, and against all his fellowship.’
‘Sir, ye may there do as ye list,’ said the Queen, ‘but by my counsel ye shall not be against your king and your fellowship, for there be full many hardy knights of your blood.’
‘Madam,’ said Sir Lancelot, ‘I shall take the adventure that God will give me.’
And so upon the morn early he heard Mass and dined, and so he took his leave of the Queen and departed. And then he rode so much unto the time he came to Ascolat; and there it happened him that in the eveningtide he came to an old baron’s place that hight Sir Barnard of Ascolat. And as Sir Lancelot entered into his lodging, King Arthur espied him as he did walk in a garden beside the castle: he knew him well enough.
‘Well, sirs,’ said King Arthur unto his knights that were by him beside the castle, ‘I have now espied one knight,’ he said, ‘that will play his play at the jousts, I undertake.’
‘Who is that?’ said the knights.
‘At this time ye shall not wit for me,’ said the King, and smiled, and went to his lodging.
So when Sir Lancelot was in his lodging and unarmed in his chamber, the old baron Sir Barnard came to him and welcomed him in the best manner; but he knew not Sir Lancelot.
‘Fair sir,’ said Sir Lancelot to his host, ‘I would pray you to lend me a shield that were not openly known, for mine is well known.’
‘Sir,’ said his host, ‘ye shall have your desire, for me seemeth ye be one of the likeliest knights that ever I saw, and therefore, sir, I shall show you friendship. And sir, wit you well I have two sons that were but late made knights, and the eldest hight Sir Tirry; and he was hurt that same day he was made knight, and he may not ride. And his shield ye shall have, for that is not known I dare say but here, and in no place else.’ And his younger son hight Sir Lavain; ‘and if it please you, he shall ride with you unto that jousts, for he is of his age strong and wight.* For much my heart giveth unto you that ye should be a noble knight; and therefore I pray you to tell me your name,’ said Sir Barnard.
‘As for that,’ said Sir Lancelot, ‘ye must hold me excused as at this time; and if God give me grace to speed well at the jousts, I shall come again and tell you my name. But I pray you, in any wise let me have your son Sir Lavain with me, and that I may have his brother’s shield.’
‘Sir, all this shall be done,’ said Sir Barnard.
So this old baron had a daughter that was called that time the Fair Maiden of Ascolat; and ever she beheld Sir Lancelot wonderfully. And as the book saith, she cast such a love unto Sir Lancelot that she could never withdraw her love, wherefore she died; and her name was Elaine la Blanche.
So thus, as she came to and fro she was so hot in love that she besought Sir Lancelot to wear upon him at the jousts a token of hers.
‘Damosel,’ said Sir Lancelot, ‘and if I grant you that, ye may say that I do more for your love than ever I did for lady or gentlewoman.’
Then he remembered himself that he would go to the jousts disguised; and because he had never before borne no manner of token of no damosel, he bethought him to bear a token of hers, that none of his blood thereby might know him. And then he said, ‘Fair maiden, I will grant you to wear a token of yours upon my helmet. And therefore, what is it?—show ye it me.’
‘Sir,’ she said, ‘it is a red sleeve of mine of scarlet, well embroidered with great pearls.’ And so she brought it him.
So Sir Lancelot received it, and said, �
�Never did I erst so much for no damosel.’
Then Sir Lancelot betook* the fair maiden his shield in keeping, and prayed her to keep it until time that he came again. And so that night he had merry rest and great cheer, for this damosel Elaine was ever about Sir Lancelot all the while she might be suffered.*
[10]
So upon a day, on the morn, King Arthur and all his knights departed, for there the King had tarried three days to abide his noble knights. And so when the King was ridden, Sir Lancelot and Sir Lavain made them ready to ride, and either of them had white shields, and the red sleeve Sir Lancelot let carry with him; and so they took their leave at Sir Barnard the old baron, and at his daughter the fair maiden. And then they rode so long till that they came to Camelot, that time called Winchester; and there was great press of kings, dukes, earls, and barons, and many noble knights. But there Sir Lancelot was lodged privily by the means of Sir Lavain with a rich burgess, that no man in that town was ware what they were. And so they reposed them there till Our Lady Day of the Assumption, that the great jousts should be.
So when trumpets blew unto the field, and King Arthur was set on high upon a chaflet* to behold who did best—but as the French book saith, the King would not suffer Sir Gawain to go from him, for never had Sir Gawain the better and Sir Lancelot were in the field, and many times was Sir Gawain rebuked so when Sir Lancelot was in the field in any jousts disguised—then some of the kings, as King Angwish of Ireland and the King of Scots, were that time turned to be upon the side of King Arthur. And then the other party was the King of Northgales, and the King with the Hundred Knights, and the King of Northumberland, and Sir Galahalt the Haut Prince. But these three kings and this duke were passing weak to hold against Arthur’s party, for with him were the noblest knights of the world.
Le Morte Darthur: The Winchester Manuscript (Oxford World's Classics) Page 53