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

by Malory, Thomas

  [6]

  ‘My lord Sir Lancelot,’ said Sir Bors, ‘by my advice, ye shall take the woe with the weal; and sithen it is fallen as it is, I counsel you to keep yourself—for and ye will keep yourself, there is no fellowship of knights christened that shall do you wrong. And also I will counsel you, my lord, that my lady Queen Guenivere, and she be in any distress, in so much as she is in pain for your sake, that ye knightly rescue her; for and ye did any otherwise, all the world would speak you shame to the world’s end. Insomuch as ye were taken with her, whether ye did right or wrong, it is now your part to hold with the Queen, that she be not slain and put to a mischievous death; for and she so die, the shame shall be evermore yours.’

  ‘Now Jesu defend me from shame,’ said Sir Lancelot, ‘and keep and save my lady the Queen from villainy and shameful death, and that she never be destroyed in my default!* Wherefore, my fair lords, my kin and my friends,’ said Sir Lancelot, ‘what will ye do?’

  And anon they all said with one voice, ‘We will do as ye will do.’

  ‘Then I put this case unto you,’ said Sir Lancelot, ‘that my lord King Arthur by evil counsel will tomorrow in his heat put my lady the Queen unto the fire, and there to be burned. Then, I pray you, counsel me what is best for me to do.’

  Then they said all at once with one voice, ‘Sir, us thinks best that ye knightly rescue the Queen: insomuch as she shall be burned, it is for your sake. And it is to suppose, and ye might be handled,* ye should have the same death, or else a more shamefuller death. And, sir, we say all that ye have rescued her from her death many times for other men’s quarrels; therefore it seemeth it is more your worship that ye rescue the Queen from this quarrel, insomuch that she hath it for your sake.’

  Then Sir Lancelot stood still and said, ‘My fair lords, wit you well I would be loath to do that thing that should dishonour you or my blood, and wit you well I would be full loath that my lady the Queen should die such a shameful death. But and it be so that ye will counsel me to rescue her, I must do much harm or I rescue her, and peradventure I shall destroy there some of my best friends. And if so be that I may win the Queen away, where shall I keep her?’

  ‘Sir, that shall be the least care of us all,’ said Sir Bors. ‘For how did the most noble knight Sir Tristram? By your good will kept he not with him La Belle Isode near three years in Joyous Gard, the which was done by your althers advice?* And that same place is your own, and in like wise ye may do and ye list, and take the Queen knightly away with you if so be that the King will judge her to be burned. And in Joyous Gard may ye keep her long enough until the heat be passed of the King. And then it may fortune you to bring the Queen again to the King with great worship, and peradventure ye shall have then thanks for your bringing home where others may happen to have magré.’*

  ‘That is hard for to do,’ said Sir Lancelot, ‘for by Sir Tristram I may have a warning. For when by means of treaty Sir Tristram brought again La Belle Isode unto King Mark from Joyous Gard, look ye now what befell in the end, how shamefully that false traitor King Mark slew him as he sat harping before his lady, La Belle Isode—with a grounden glaive* he thrust him in behind to the heart; which grieveth me sore’, said Sir Lancelot, ‘to speak of his death, for all the world may not find such another knight.’

  ‘All this is truth,’ said Sir Bors, ‘but there is one thing shall courage you and us all. Ye know well that King Arthur and King Mark were never like of conditions,* for there was never yet man that ever could prove King Arthur untrue of his promise.’

  But so to make short tale, they were all condescended* that for better or for worse, if so were that the Queen were brought on that morn to the fire, shortly they all would rescue her. And so, by the advice of Sir Lancelot, they put them all in a wood as nigh Carlisle as they might, and there they abode still to wit what the King would do.

  [7]

  Now turn we again, that when Sir Mordred was escaped from Sir Lancelot, he got his horse and came to King Arthur sore wounded and all for-bled,* and there he told the King all how it was, and how they were all slain save himself alone.

  ‘Ah, Jesu mercy! how may this be?’ said the King. ‘Took ye him in the Queen’s chamber?’

  ‘Yea, so God me help,’ said Sir Mordred, ‘there we found him unarmed. And anon he slew Sir Colgrevance and armed him in his armour.’ And so he told the King from the beginning to the ending.

  ‘Jesu mercy,’ said the King, ‘he is a marvellous knight of prowess. And alas,’ said the King, ‘me sore repenteth that ever Sir Lancelot should be against me, for now I am sure the noble fellowship of the Round Table is broken for ever, for with him will many a noble knight hold. And now it is fallen so’, said the King, ‘that I may not with my worship* but my Queen must suffer death’—and was sore moved.

  So then there was made great ordinance in this ire, and the Queen must needs be judged to the death. And the law was such in those days, that whosoever they were, of what estate or degree, if they were found guilty of treason* there should be none other remedy but death, and either the mainour* or the taking with the deed should be causer of their hasty judgement.* And right so was it ordained for Queen Guenivere: because Sir Mordred was escaped sore wounded, and the death of thirteen knights of the Round Table, these proofs and experiences caused King Arthur to command the Queen to the fire, and there to be burned.

  Then spoke Sir Gawain and said, ‘My lord Arthur, I would counsel you not to be over hasty, but that ye would put it in respite this judgement of my lady the Queen, for many causes. One is this: though it were so that Sir Lancelot were found in the Queen’s chamber, yet it might be so that he came thither for no evil. For ye know, my lord,’ said Sir Gawain, ‘that my lady the Queen hath oftentimes been greatly beholden unto Sir Lancelot, more than to any other knight, for often-times he hath saved her life and done battle for her when all the court refused the Queen. And peradventure she sent for him for goodness and for no evil, to reward him for his good deeds that he had done to her in times past. And peradventure my lady the Queen sent for him to that intent, that Sir Lancelot should have come privily to her, weening that it had been best in eschewing of slander; for oftentimes we do many things that we ween be for the best, and yet peradventure it turneth to the worst. For I dare say,’ said Sir Gawain, ‘my lady your Queen is to you both good and true. And as for Sir Lancelot, I dare say he will make it good upon any knight living that will put upon him villainy or shame, and in like wise he will make good for my lady the Queen.’

  ‘That I believe well,’ said King Arthur. ‘But I will not that way work with Sir Lancelot, for he trusteth so much upon his hands and his might that he doubteth* no man. And therefore for my queen he shall never more fight, for she shall have the law. And if I may get Sir Lancelot, wit you well he shall have as shameful a death.’

  ‘Jesu defend me,’ said Sir Gawain, ‘that I never see it nor know it.’

  ‘Why say you so?’ said King Arthur. ‘For pardieu, you have no cause to love him, for this last night past he slew your brother Sir Agravain, a full good knight. And almost he had slain your other brother, Sir Mordred; and also there he slew thirteen noble knights. And also remember you, Sir Gawain, he slew two sons of yours, Sir Florence and Sir Lovell.’

  ‘My lord,’ said Sir Gawain, ‘of all this I have a knowledge, which of their deaths sore repents me. But in so much as I gave them warning and told my brother and my sons beforehand what would fall in the end, and in so much as they would not do by my counsel, I will not meddle me thereof, nor revenge me nothing of their deaths, for I told them there was no boot to strive with Sir Lancelot. How be it, I am sorry of the death of my brother and of my two sons; but they are the causers of their own death, for oftentimes I warned my brother Sir Agravain, and I told him of the perils.’

  [8]

  Then said King Arthur unto Sir Gawain, ‘Make you ready, I pray you, in your best armour, with your brethren Sir Gaheris and Sir Gareth, to bring my queen to the fire and there to h
ave her judgement.’

  ‘Nay, my most noble king,’ said Sir Gawain, ‘that will I never do! For wit you well I will never be in that place where so noble a queen as is my lady Dame Guenivere shall take such a shameful end. For wit you well,’ said Sir Gawain, ‘my heart will not serve me for to see her die; and it shall never be said that ever I was of your counsel for her death.’

  Then said the King unto Sir Gawain, ‘Suffer your brethren Sir Gaheris and Sir Gareth to be there.’

  ‘My lord,’ said Sir Gawain, ‘wit you well they will be loath to be there present because of many adventures that is like to fall; but they are young, and full unable to say you nay.’

  Then spoke Sir Gaheris and the good knight Sir Gareth unto King Arthur, ‘Sir, ye may well command us to be there, but wit you well it shall be sore against our will. But and we be there by your strait commandment, ye shall plainly hold us there excused: we will be there in peaceable wise, and bear no harness of war upon us.’

  ‘In the name of God,’ said the King, ‘then make you ready, for she shall have soon her judgement.’

  ‘Alas,’ said Sir Gawain, ‘that ever I should endure to see this woeful day!’

  So Sir Gawain turned him and wept heartily, and so he went into his chamber. And so the Queen was led forth without Carlisle, and anon she was despoiled into her smock. And then her ghostly father* was brought her, to be shriven of her misdeeds. Then was there weeping and wailing and wringing of hands of many lords and ladies; but there were but few in comparison that would bear any armour for to strengthen* the death of the Queen.

  Then was there one that Sir Lancelot had sent unto, which went to espy what time the Queen should go unto her death. And anon as he saw the Queen despoiled into her smock and shriven, then he gave Sir Lancelot warning anon. Then was there but spurring and plucking up of horses, and right so they came unto the fire. And who that stood against them, there were they slain, full many a noble knight: for there was slain Sir Belliance le Orgulous, Sir Segwarides, Sir Griflet, Sir Brandiles, Sir Agloval, Sir Tor; Sir Gauter, Sir Gillimer, Sir Reynold, three brethren; and Sir Damas, Sir Priamus, Sir Kay l’Estrange, Sir Driant, Sir Lambegus, Sir Herminde; Sir Pertolepe and Sir Perimones, two brethren which were called the Green Knight and the Red Knight. And so in this rushing and hurling, as Sir Lancelot thrang here and there, it misfortuned him to slay Sir Gaheris and Sir Gareth, the noble knight, for they were unarmed and unwares. As the French book saith, Sir Lancelot smote Sir Gaheris and Sir Gareth upon the brain-pans, where through that they were slain in the field; how be it, in very truth, Sir Lancelot saw them not. And so they were found dead among the thickest of the press.

  Then Sir Lancelot, when he had thus done, and slain and put to flight all that would withstand him, then he rode straight unto Queen Guenivere and made cast a kirtle and a gown upon her, and then he made her to be set behind him, and prayed her to be of good cheer. Now wit you well, the Queen was glad that she was at that time escaped from the death, and then she thanked God and Sir Lancelot. And so he rode his way with the Queen, as the French book saith, unto Joyous Gard, and there he kept her as a noble knight should. And many great lords and many good knights were sent him, and many full noble knights drew unto him. When they heard that King Arthur and Sir Lancelot were at debate, many knights were glad, and many were sorry of their debate.

  [9]

  Now turn we again unto King Arthur, that when it was told him how and in what manner the Queen was taken away from the fire, and when he heard of the death of his noble knights, and in especial Sir Gaheris and Sir Gareth—then he swooned for very pure sorrow. And when he awoke of his swoon, then he said,

  ‘Alas, that ever I bore crown upon my head, for now have I lost the fairest fellowship of noble knights that ever Christian king held together. Alas, my good knights be slain and gone away from me, that now within these two days I have lost nigh forty knights, and also the noble fellowship of Sir Lancelot and his blood; for now may I never more hold them together with my worship. Now alas, that ever this war began! Now, fair fellows,’ said the King, ‘I charge you that no man tell Sir Gawain of the death of his two brethren, for I am sure,’ said the King, ‘when he heareth tell that Sir Gareth is dead, he will go nigh out of his mind. Mercy Jesu,’ said the King, ‘why slew he Sir Gaheris and Sir Gareth? for I dare say as for Sir Gareth, he loved Sir Lancelot of all men earthly.’

  ‘That is truth,’ said some knights, ‘but they were slain in the hurling, as Sir Lancelot thrang in the thickest of the press; and as they were unarmed, he smote them and wist not whom that he smote,* and unhappily they were slain.’

  ‘Well, said Arthur, ‘the death of them will cause the greatest mortal war that ever was; for I am sure that when Sir Gawain knoweth hereof, that Sir Gareth is slain, I shall never have rest of him till I have destroyed Sir Lancelot’s kin and himself both, or else he to destroy me. And therefore,’ said the King, ‘wit you well, my heart was never so heavy as it is now. And much more am I sorrier for my good knights’ loss than for the loss of my fair queen; for queens I might have enough, but such a fellowship of good knights shall never be together in no company. And now I dare say,’ said King Arthur, ‘there was never Christian king that ever held such a fellowship together. And alas, that ever Sir Lancelot and I should be at debate! Ah, Agravain, Agravain,’ said the King, ‘Jesu forgive it thy soul, for thy evil will that thou hadst, and Sir Mordred thy brother, unto Sir Lancelot, hath caused all this sorrow.’ And ever among these complaints the King wept and swooned.

  Then came there one to Sir Gawain and told how the Queen was led away with Sir Lancelot, and nigh four-and-twenty knights slain.

  ‘Ah, Jesu save me my two brethren,’ said Sir Gawain. ‘For full well wist I’, said Sir Gawain, ‘that Sir Lancelot would rescue her, or else he would die in that field; and to say the truth, he were not of worship but if he had rescued the Queen, insomuch as she should have been burned for his sake. And as in that,’ said Sir Gawain, ‘he hath done but knightly, and as I would have done myself and I had stood in like case. But where are my brethren?’ said Sir Gawain. ‘I marvel that I see not of them.’

  Than said that man, ‘Truly, Sir Gaheris and Sir Gareth be slain.’

  ‘Jesu defend!’ said Sir Gawain. ‘For all this world I would not that they were slain, and in especial my good brother Sir Gareth.’

  ‘Sir,’ said the man, ‘he is slain, and that is great pity.’

  ‘Who slew him?’ said Sir Gawain.

  ‘Sir Lancelot,’ said the man, ‘slew them both.’

  ‘That may I not believe,’ said Sir Gawain, ‘that ever he slew my good brother Sir Gareth, for I dare say my brother loved him better than me and all his brethren and the King both. Also I dare say, and Sir Lancelot had desired my brother Sir Gareth with him, he would have been with him against the King and us all. And therefore I may never believe that Sir Lancelot slew my brethren.’

  ‘Verily, sir,’ said the man, ‘it is noised that he slew him.’

  [10]

  ‘Alas,’ said Sir Gawain, ‘now is my joy gone!’ And then he fell down and swooned, and long he lay there as he had been dead. And when he arose out of his swoon he cried out sorrowfully and said, ‘Alas!’ And forthwith he ran unto the King, crying and weeping, and said, ‘Ah, my uncle, King Arthur, my good brother Sir Gareth is slain, and so is my brother Sir Gaheris, which were two noble knights.’

  Then the King wept and he both, and so they fell on swooning. And when they were revived, then spoke Sir Gawain and said, ‘Sir, I will go and see my brother Sir Gareth.’

  ‘Sir, ye may not see him,’ said the King, ‘for I caused him to be interred and Sir Gaheris both, for I well understood that ye would make overmuch sorrow, and the sight of Sir Gareth should have caused your double sorrow.’

  ‘Alas, my lord,’ said Sir Gawain, ‘how slew he my brother Sir Gareth? I pray you tell me.’

  ‘Truly,’ said the King, ‘I shall tell you as it hath been told me. Sir Lancelot
slew him and Sir Gaheris both.’

  ‘Alas,’ said Sir Gawain, ‘they bore no arms against him, neither of them both.’

  ‘I wot not how it was,’ said the King, ‘but as it is said, Sir Lancelot slew them in the thick press and knew them not. And therefore let us shape a remedy for to revenge their deaths.’

  ‘My king, my lord, and mine uncle,’ said Sir Gawain, ‘wit you well, now I shall make you a promise which I shall hold by my knighthood, that from this day forward I shall never fail Sir Lancelot until that one of us have slain the other; and therefore I require you, my lord and king, dress you unto the wars, for wit you well, I will be revenged upon Sir Lancelot. And therefore, as ye will have my service and my love, now haste ye thereto and assay your friends.* For I promise unto God,’ said Sir Gawain, ‘for the death of my brother Sir Gareth, I shall seek Sir Lancelot throughout seven kings’ realms, but I shall slay him, or else he shall slay me.’