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

by Malory, Thomas

  [2]

  And so as Sir Mordred was at Dover with his host, so came King Arthur with a great navy of ships and galleys and carracks.* And there was Sir Mordred ready awaiting upon his landing, to let* his own father to land upon the land that he was king over. Then there was launching of great boats and small, and full of noble men of arms; and there was much slaughter of gentle knights, and many a full bold baron was laid full low on both parties. But King Arthur was so courageous that there might no manner of knight let him to land, and his knights fiercely followed him; and so they landed maugre Sir Mordred’s head and all his power, and put Sir Mordred aback and all his people.

  So when this battle was done, King Arthur let search his people that were hurt and dead. And then was noble Sir Gawain found in a great boat, lying more than half dead. When King Arthur knew that he was laid so low, he went unto him and so found him; and there the King made great sorrow out of measure and took Sir Gawain in his arms, and thrice he there swooned. And then when he was waked, King Arthur said, ‘Alas, Sir Gawain, my sister’s son, here now thou liest, the man in the world that I loved most, and now is my joy gone; for now, my nephew Sir Gawain, I will discover me* unto you, that in your person and in Sir Lancelot I most had my joy and my affiance.* And now have I lost my joy of you both, wherefore all my earthly joy is gone from me.’

  ‘Ah, mine uncle,’ said Sir Gawain, ‘now I will that ye wit that my death-day be come; and all I may wite* mine own hastiness and my wilfulness, for through my wilfulness I was causer of my own death. For I was this day hurt and smitten upon my old wound that Sir Lancelot gave me, and I feel myself that I must needs be dead by the hour of noon.* And through me and my pride ye have all this shame and disease, for had that noble knight Sir Lancelot been with you, as he was and would have been, this unhappy war had never been begun, for he through his noble knighthood and his noble blood held all your cankered enemies in subjection and danger. And now,’ said Sir Gawain, ‘ye shall miss Sir Lancelot. But alas that I would not accord with him! And therefore, fair uncle, I pray you that I may have paper, pen, and ink, that I may write unto Sir Lancelot a letter written with my own hand.’

  So when paper, pen, and ink was brought, then Sir Gawain was set up weakly by King Arthur (for he was shriven a little before); and then he took his pen and wrote thus, as the French book maketh mention:

  ‘Unto thee, Sir Lancelot, flower of all noble knights that ever I heard of or saw by my days, I, Sir Gawain, King Lot’s son of Orkney and sister’s son unto the noble King Arthur, send thee greeting, letting thee to have knowledge that the tenth day of May I was smitten upon the old wound that thou gave me before the city of Benwick, and through that wound I am come to my death-day. And I will that all the world wit that I, Sir Gawain, knight of the Table Round, sought my death, and not through thy deserving, but my own seeking. Wherefore I beseech thee, Sir Lancelot, to return again unto this realm, and see my tomb and pray some prayer more or less for my soul. And this same day that I wrote this same sedle,* I was hurt to the death, which wound was first given of thy hand, Sir Lancelot; for of a more nobler man might I not be slain.

  ‘Also, Sir Lancelot, for all the love that ever was betwixt us, make no tarrying, but come over the sea in all the goodly haste that ye may with your noble knights, and rescue that noble king that made thee knight; for he is full straitly bestead with a false traitor, which is my half-brother Sir Mordred. For he hath crowned himself king, and would have wedded my lady Queen Guenivere, and so had he done had she not kept the Tower of London with strong hand. And so the tenth day of May last past, my lord King Arthur and we all landed upon them at Dover, and there he put that false traitor Sir Mordred to flight; and so there it misfortuned me to be smitten upon the stroke that ye gave me of old. And the date of this letter was written but two hours and a half before my death, written with my own hand, and subscribed with part of my heart’s blood. And therefore I require thee, most famous knight of the world, that thou wilt see my tomb.’

  And then he wept and King Arthur both, and swooned. And when they were awaked both, the King made Sir Gawain to receive his sacrament. And then Sir Gawain prayed the King for to send for Sir Lancelot, and to cherish him above all other knights. And so at the hour of noon Sir Gawain yielded up the ghost.

  And then the King let inter him in a chapel within Dover Castle; and there yet all men may see the skull of him, and the same wound is seen that Sir Lancelot gave in battle.

  [3]

  Then was it told the King that Sir Mordred had pitched a new field* upon Barham Down. And so upon the morn King Arthur rode thither to him, and there was a great battle betwixt them and much people were slain on both parties. But at the last King Arthur’s party stood best, and Sir Mordred and his party fled unto Canterbury. And then the King let search all the downs for his knights that were slain, and interred them; and salved them with soft salves that full sore were wounded.

  Then much people drew unto King Arthur, and then they said that Sir Mordred warred upon King Arthur with wrong. And anon King Arthur drew him with his host down by the seaside westward toward Salisbury. And there was a day assigned betwixt King Arthur and Sir Mordred, that they should meet upon a down beside Salisbury and not far from the seaside, and this day was assigned on Monday after Trinity Sunday; whereof King Arthur was passing glad that he might be avenged upon Sir Mordred.

  Then Sir Mordred raised much people about London, for they of Kent, Sussex, and Surrey, Essex, Suffolk, and Norfolk held the most part with Sir Mordred; and many a full noble knight drew unto him, and also to the King. But they that loved Sir Lancelot drew unto Sir Mordred.

  So upon Trinity Sunday at night, King Arthur dreamed a wonderful dream; and in his dream him seemed that he sat upon a chaflet* in a chair, and the chair was fast to a wheel, and thereupon sat King Arthur in the richest cloth of gold that might be made. And the King thought there was under him, far from him, a hideous deep black water, and therein was all manner of serpents and worms and wild beasts, foul and horrible. And suddenly the King thought that the wheel turned upside down, and he fell among the serpents, and every beast took him by a limb. And then the King cried as he lay in his bed, ‘Help, help!’

  And then knights, squires, and yeomen awaked the King, and then he was so amazed that he wist not where he was. And then so he waked until it was nigh day, and then he fell on slumbering again, not sleeping nor thoroughly waking.

  So the King seemed verily that there came Sir Gawain unto him with a number of fair ladies with him. So when King Arthur saw him, he said, ‘Welcome, my sister’s son! I weened ye had been dead, and now I see thee alive, much am I beholden unto almighty Jesu. Ah, fair nephew, what be these ladies that hither be come with you?’

  ‘Sir,’ said Sir Gawain, ‘all these be ladies for whom I have fought when I was man living, and all these are those that I did battle for in righteous quarrels; and God hath given them that grace at their great prayer, because I did battle for them for their right, that they should bring me hither unto you. Thus much hath God given me leave, for to warn you of your death; for and ye fight tomorrow with Sir Mordred as ye both have assigned, doubt ye not ye shall be slain, and the most part of your people on both parties. And for the great grace and goodness that almighty Jesu hath unto you, and for pity of you and many more other good men there shall be slain, God hath sent me to you of His special grace to give you warning that in no wise ye do battle tomorrow, but that ye take a treaty for a month day, and proffer you largely* so that tomorrow ye put in a delay. For within a month shall come Sir Lancelot with all his noble knights, and rescue you worshipfully, and slay Sir Mordred and all that ever will hold with him.’

  Then Sir Gawain and all the ladies vanished; and anon the King called upon his knights, squires, and yeomen, and charged them wightly* to fetch his noble lords and wise bishops unto him. And when they were come, the King told them of his vision, that Sir Gawain had told him and warned him that and he fought on the morn he should be sl
ain. Then the King commanded Sir Lucan the Butler and his brother Sir Bedivere the bold, with two bishops with them, and charged them in any wise to take a treaty for a month day with Sir Mordred, ‘and spare not, proffer him lands and goods as much as ye think reasonable.’

  So then they departed, and came to Sir Mordred where he had a grim host of a hundred thousand; and there they entreated Sir Mordred long time. And at the last Sir Mordred was agreed for to have Cornwall and Kent by King Arthur’s days, and after that all England, after the days of King Arthur.

  [4]

  Then were they condescended* that King Arthur and Sir Mordred should meet betwixt both their hosts, and each of them should bring fourteen persons; and so they came with this word unto Arthur. Then said he, ‘I am glad that this is done’; and so he went into the field.

  And when King Arthur should depart, he warned all his host that and they see any sword drawn, ‘Look ye come on fiercely, and slay that traitor Sir Mordred, for in no wise trust him.’

  In like wise Sir Mordred warned his host, that ‘and ye see any manner of sword drawn, look that ye come on fiercely, and so slay all that ever before you standeth; for in no wise I will not trust for this treaty.’ And in the same wise said Sir Mordred unto his host, ‘for I know well my father will be avenged upon me’.

  And so they met as their appointment was, and were agreed and accorded thoroughly; and wine was fetched, and they drank together. Right so came out an adder of a little heath bush, and it stung a knight in the foot. And so when the knight felt him so stung, he looked down and saw the adder; and anon he drew his sword to slay the adder, and thought no other harm. And when the host on both parties saw that sword drawn, then they blew beams,* trumpets, and horns, and shouted grimly; and so both hosts dressed them together. And King Arthur took his horse and said, ‘Alas, this unhappy day!’ and so rode to his party; and Sir Mordred in like wise.

  And never since was there seen a more dolefuller battle in no Christian land; for there was but rushing and riding, foining and striking, and many a grim word was there spoken of either to other, and many a deadly stroke. But ever King Arthur rode throughout the battle of Sir Mordred many times, and did full nobly as a noble king should do, and at all times he fainted* never. And Sir Mordred did his devoir* that day, and put himself in great peril.

  And thus they fought all the long day, and never stinted till the noble knights were laid to the cold earth. And ever they fought still till it was near night, and by then was there a hundred thousand laid dead upon the earth. Then was King Arthur wood wroth out of measure, when he saw his people so slain from him. And so he looked about him, and could see no more of all his host and good knights left no more alive but two knights; the one was Sir Lucan the Butler, and his brother Sir Bedivere, and yet they were full sore wounded.

  ‘Jesu mercy,’ said the King, ‘where are all my noble knights become? Alas, that ever I should see this doleful day! For now’, said King Arthur, ‘I am come to my end. But would to God’, said he, ‘that I wist now where were that traitor Sir Mordred, that hath caused all this mischief

  Then King Arthur looked about, and was ware where stood Sir Mordred leaning upon his sword among a great heap of dead men.

  ‘Now give me my spear,’ said King Arthur unto Sir Lucan, ‘for yonder I have espied the traitor that all this woe hath wrought.’

  ‘Sir, let him be,’ said Sir Lucan, ‘for he is unhappy; and if ye pass this unhappy day ye shall be right well revenged. And, good lord, remember ye of your night’s dream, and what the spirit of Sir Gawain told you tonight, and yet God of His great goodness hath preserved you hitherto. And for God’s sake, my lord, leave off this, for blessed be God, ye have won the field; for yet we be here three alive, and with Sir Mordred is not one alive. And therefore if ye leave off now, this wicked day of destiny is past.’

  ‘Now tide* me death, tide me life,’ said the King, ‘now I see him yonder alone he shall never escape my hands, for at a better avail* shall I never have him.’

  ‘God speed you well,’ said Sir Bedivere.

  Then the King got his spear in both his hands and ran toward Sir Mordred, crying and saying, ‘Traitor, now is thy death-day come!’

  And when Sir Mordred saw King Arthur, he ran unto him with his sword drawn in his hand; and there King Arthur smote Sir Mordred under the shield with a foin of his spear, throughout the body, more than a fathom.* And when Sir Mordred felt that he had his death’s wound, he thrust himself with the might that he had up to the bur* of King Arthur’s spear; and right so he smote his father, King Arthur, with his sword holding in both his hands, upon the side of the head, that the sword pierced the helmet and the tay* of the brain. And there-with Mordred dashed down stark dead to the earth.

  And noble King Arthur fell in a swoon to the earth, and there he swooned oftentimes. And Sir Lucan and Sir Bedivere ofttimes heaved him up, and so weakly betwixt them they led him to a little chapel not far from the sea; and when the King was there, he thought him reasonably eased. Then heard they people cry in the field.

  ‘Now go thou, Sir Lucan,’ said the King, ‘and do me to wit what betokens that noise in the field.’

  So Sir Lucan departed, for he was grievously wounded in many places. And so as he yode, he saw and hearkened by the moonlight how that pillagers and robbers were come into the field to pillage and to rob many a full noble knight of brooches and bees,* and of many a good ring and many a rich jewel. And who that were not dead all out, there they slew them for their harness and their riches.

  When Sir Lucan understood this work, he came to the King as soon as he might, and told him all what he had heard and seen.

  ‘Therefore by my rede,’ said Sir Lucan, ‘it is best that we bring you to some town.’

  [5]

  ‘I would it were so,’ said the King, ‘but I may not stand, my head works* so. Ah, Sir Lancelot,’ said King Arthur, ‘this day have I sore missed thee. And alas that ever I was against thee, for now have I my death, whereof Sir Gawain warned me in my dream.’

  Then Sir Lucan took up the King the one part, and Sir Bedivere the other part, and in the lifting up the King swooned; and in the lifting Sir Lucan fell in a swoon, that part of his guts fell out of his body, and therewith the noble knight’s heart brast. And when the King awoke, he beheld Sir Lucan how he lay foaming at the mouth, and part of his guts lay at his feet.

  ‘Alas,’ said the King, ‘this is to me a full heavy sight, to see this noble duke so die for my sake; for he would have helped me, that had more need of help than I. Alas that he would not complain him, for his heart was so set to help me! Now Jesu have mercy upon his soul.’

  Then Sir Bedivere wept for the death of his brother.

  ‘Now leave this mourning and weeping, gentle knight,’ said the King, ‘for all this will not avail me; for wit thou well, and I might live myself, the death of Sir Lucan would grieve me evermore. But my time passeth on fast,’ said the King. ‘Therefore,’ said King Arthur unto Sir Bedivere, ‘take thou here Excalibur, my good sword, and go with it to yonder water’s side; and when thou comest there, I charge thee throw my sword in that water, and come again and tell me what thou seest there.’

  ‘My lord,’ said Sir Bedivere, ‘your commandment shall be done, and lightly bring you word again.’

  So Sir Bedivere departed, and by the way he beheld that noble sword; and the pommel and the haft was all precious stones. And then he said to himself, ‘If I throw this rich sword in the water, thereof shall never come good, but harm and loss.’ And then Sir Bedivere hid Excalibur under a tree. And so as soon as he might he came again unto the King, and said he had been at the water, and had thrown the sword into the water.

  ‘What saw thou there?’ said the King.

  ‘Sir,’ he said, he saw nothing but waves and winds.

  ‘That is untruly said of thee,’ said the King. ‘And therefore go thou lightly again, and do my commandment; as thou art to me lief* and dear, spare not, but throw it in.’


  Then Sir Bedivere returned again, and took the sword in his hand; and yet him thought sin and shame to throw away that noble sword. And so eft* he hid the sword, and returned again, and told the King that he had been at the water and done his commandment.

  ‘What sawest thou there?’ said the King.

  ‘Sir,’ he said, ‘I saw nothing but waters wap* and waves wan.’*,*

  ‘Ah, traitor unto me and untrue,’ said King Arthur, ‘now hast thou betrayed me twice! Who would ween that thou that hast been to me so lief and dear, and also named so noble a knight, that thou would betray me for the riches of the sword? But now go again lightly, for thy long tarrying putteth me in great jeopardy of my life, for I have taken cold. And but if thou do now as I bid thee, if ever I may see thee, I shall slay thee with my own hands; for thou wouldst for my rich sword see me dead.’

  Then Sir Bedivere departed, and went to the sword and lightly took it up, and so he went unto the water’s side; and there he bound the girdle about the hilts, and threw the sword as far into the water as he might. And there came an arm and a hand above the water and took it and clutched it, and shook it thrice and brandished, and then vanished with the sword into the water. So Sir Bedivere came again to the King, and told him what he saw.

  ‘Alas,’ said the King, ‘help me hence, for I dread me I have tarried over long.’

  Then Sir Bedivere took the King upon his back, and so went with him to the water’s side. And when they were there, even fast by the bank hoved* a little barge with many fair ladies in it, and among them all was a queen. And all they had black hoods, and all they wept and shrieked when they saw King Arthur.