Complete Works of Howard Pyle

by Howard Pyle

  So in a little she saw that the wounded man began to bestir himself and move his arms this way and that. Anon he uplifted himself from where he lay and gazed all about him, and so, being revived, remembered all that he had aforetime forgotten. Then he groaned with great travail of soul, for the memory of his dishonor came upon him and he still suffered a grievous pain from that sore wound in his shoulder. Then anon he beheld the horse near by and the garments that were beside the horse, and he thought that maybe those things had been placed there for his use, though who had been so kind to him he knew not. So he arose with great pain and he took the clothes from the horse and he went to the lake and bathed himself. After that he put on the clothes and mounted upon the horse with intent to depart from that place.

  Then the maiden, who had beheld all that he did, came forth from the thicket where she had been hidden and whence she had observed him, and when Sir Ewaine saw her he said, “Maiden, was it thou who purveyed me with this horse and with these garments?” She said, “Nay, it was the lady to whom this place belongs.” Sir Ewaine said, “Who is that lady?” And the maiden replied: “She is the widow of a very powerful lord, and she hath saved thy life this day. For she sent me with an ointment with which I bathed thee, and which gave thee strength to arise again. And she sent thee that horse and those clothes which thou hast put on.” Sir Ewaine said: “Certes, she is most kind and charitable in her heart. Perhaps some time I may do her a service that will be equal to this service which she hath rendered to me.”

  Now the maiden did not suspect who it was with whom she spake, for his face was white like milk, and very haggard and wild with pain and weakness, so that his countenance showed none of that nobility that belonged to him. And, as aforesaid, he had no armor, for the thieves had taken away his armor and he had left it behind him in the hut whence he had escaped. So the maiden had no cause to think that he was one of great worship whom she beheld, so she said: “Good fellow, my lady hath need enough of aid, but I do not believe that thou art one who may help her in her trouble.”

  “Why dost thou think that?” quoth Sir Ewaine. “Thou shouldst not judge of my ability from what thou seest, for I may be other than what I appear to be.”

  Sir Ewaine declareth himself to the maiden.

  Then the damsel was greatly astonished at the dignity of manner with which he spoke, for he spoke as one having authority and very calmly and haughtily. So she began to misdoubt that this was some one else than she had first thought him to be, wherefore she said, “I pray you, Sir, tell me who you are?” To the which he replied: “I am Sir Ewaine of King Arthur’s court and of his Round Table, son to King Uriens of Gore and of the Lady Queen Morgana surnamed le Fay.”

  At this proclamation the damsel was greatly astonished, wherefore she cried out aloud: “Is it indeed possible that this is so, and that so famous and so remarkable a knight should have come to such a pass as that in which you were found?” and the damsel said: “Now the lady of this castle will be very highly honored when she comes to know that she hath lent succor to so noble and haughty a champion as you proclaim yourself to be. Let us go to her so that you may tell her the story of your misfortunes.” And Sir Ewaine said: “So be it, and let us go.”

  So they both departed from that place and as they wended their way thence Sir Ewaine said: “Now tell me, damsel, what is the need of help that thy lady hath and concerning which thou didst speak to me anon?”

  The damsel telleth Sir Ewaine concerning the lady of the castle.

  The damsel said: “I will tell thee. The lady of this castle is a widow, and at the death of her husband she had two very noble castles and two great estates belonging to those castles. Those castles and that land her lord bequeathed to her to have and to hold for her own. Now after she was thus left a widow, it befell that a certain very proud and haughty lord who was her neighbor, desired to make her his wife; but she would not listen to his suit, having great love for that worthy knight her husband who was dead. So she refused the knight who desired to wed her and at that he was very angry. After that he came with a great array of armed men, and he despoiled her of one of her estates by force. And now, unless she should yield to him, he threatens to take away this other estate whereon she dwelleth and which is all that she hath in the world.

  “So my lady is in a great pass and knoweth not what to do, having no knight for to defend her; for all those who should defend her, fall away from her in this time of trouble for fear of the anger of that lord who seeks her hand.”

  “Certes, this is a sad story which thou tellest me,” said Sir Ewaine, “and indeed I will do what I may to help thy lady, who hath been so kind to me.”

  Thus talking together, they two approached the castle, and the lady of the castle, beholding them coming from a distance, was greatly surprised to see the damsel conversing in that wise with the wounded man whom she had been sent to succor.

  Then when they were come to her the lady said to the damsel, “Didst thou use that balm as I told thee to do?” And the damsel said, “Yea.” The lady said, “How much didst thou use thereof?” And the damsel said, “I used it all.”

  The lady of the castle is affronted at the maiden.

  Then the lady when she heard how that the damsel had poured all of that balm at one time upon Sir Ewaine, was much affronted and very angry with her, and she said: “What is this that thou hast done? I cannot easily forgive thee this, for thou hast wasted several score pounds worth of the precious ointment upon a stranger whom we know not and who hath no appearance of worship.”

  Unto her the maiden made reply: “Lady, be not offended at this, for wit you that this stranger is of far greater worth than all the balm you could pour upon him.”

  At these words the lady was much surprised, wherefore she said, “Who is he that is of such great worth as thou sayst?” and the damsel replied: “Lady, this is none other than Sir Ewaine, Knight of the Round Table and nephew of King Arthur.”

  The lady giveth welcome to Sir Ewaine.

  Then the lady of the castle cried out with astonishment and said, “Is this true that I hear?” And Sir Ewaine said, “Yea, Lady.” Then the lady of the castle came to Sir Ewaine and took him by the hand, and said: “Welcome, welcome, Sir Ewaine! Now this is a great honor that hath befallen us at this place to have given aid and succor to a knight so famous in chivalry as thou art.”

  “Lady,” quoth Sir Ewaine, “you do me honor beyond my worth, and so you put me under still greater obligations than I rested under afore this. Now I am most desirous of repaying you in some measure for all the kindness that you have visited upon me, wherefore, if it be sooth as I have been informed by this maiden that you have need of such a knight-champion at this place, then do I offer myself as such a champion, trusting that I may be of aid to you and so repay to you in some measure those favors which you have bestowed upon me.”

  At this the lady was rejoiced beyond all measure, and she said: “Messire, I accept thy offer of championship with all gratitude and with much pride, for indeed I believe it would not be possible to find in all of the world a champion as haughty and as puissant as thou art.”

  So it came about that Sir Ewaine abided at the castle of that widowed chatelaine for a long time, and until he was altogether healed of his wound. And every day he grew more strong and sturdy of body and more noble of appearance, so that all they of the castle took great pride in having him there as their champion.

  Now it befell upon a day that there came to this castle that evil-minded lord of whom the damsel had spoken to Sir Ewaine, and this lord brought with him six other knights, and all these seven knights pitched their pavilions before the castle gates. And they mocked at those in the castle and dared any one to come forth therefrom, for they knew not, as you may believe, that Sir Ewaine was there as the champion of the castle.

  So when Sir Ewaine heard how that knight mocked at the people of the castle, he was very wroth, wherefore he quickly made him ready, and donned a suit of rich armor that
the lady had provided for him. And he mounted upon his horse, and so being in all wise prepared, he gave command to uplift the portcullis and to let fall the drawbridge. Then he rode forth from the castle, his horse’s hoofs smiting the planks of the drawbridge with a noise like to thunder as he rode. And all of the people of the castle crowded out upon the walls, and when they beheld him ride past in that wise, they shouted with a loud voice because that such a champion was to defend the rights of their lady chatelaine.

  Sir Ewaine doeth battle for the lady of the castle.

  But when the knight and his companions who had come against the lady of the castle beheld that one champion ride forth in defence thereof, he was greatly surprised, and wist not what to think. So presently he rode forward to meet Sir Ewaine, and he said to him, “Sir, what knight art thou?” Sir Ewaine said: “I am the champion of the lady of this castle, and I come forth with intent to do battle in her behalf.” Then that lord said, “What is thy estate?” To the which, Sir Ewaine, speaking with great pride and haughtiness, made reply: “It matters not that I tell thee at this present, but I may assure thee of this, that mine is a higher estate and a greater credit than thine own.” Then the knight said, “Wouldst thou fight against us who are seven?” And Sir Ewaine said, “Yea, verily.” And the knight said, “Thou art very foolish, but be it so.”

  So Sir Ewaine withdrew himself a little, and made himself ready in all wise for battle. Meantime that knight who had bespoken him withdrew to his party and he said to a knight who was the champion of his party, “Go thou forth against yon fellow.” And the champion of that party did so.

  Now that knight was the greatest and most powerful knight in all the country in which he dwelt. And he was very huge of girth and thick of limb, and so great had been his success at arms that he made sure that he could easily be able to overthrow his opponent. Wherefore he made him ready very proudly and took his station with great confidence. And when he was in all wise prepared, he shouted aloud and launched his horse against the horse of Sir Ewaine with full expectation that he would overthrow his enemy.

  So they two rushed together like thunder and so met in the very middle of the course with such a crash of encounter that those who heard it stood appalled at the sound. But in that encounter the spear of the champion of that wicked lord’s party broke all into splinters, but the spear of Sir Ewaine held so that the other was cast to earth with such force that he lay stunned and altogether devoid of life and motion.

  How Sir Ewaine overthrew the enemies of the lady.

  Then when the other knights of that party beheld how their champion had been overthrown so violently to earth, all they were greatly amazed at the result of that encounter; for as was said, there was no knight in all of that region who was so strong as that champion. Then they were filled with rage, and dropping their lances in rest, they all rushed upon Sir Ewaine together, with intent to overthrow him by force of numbers and might of metal, and afterward to slay him when he was unhorsed. But Sir Ewaine did not give them their will, but wheeled his horse with great address and dexterity and in such a wise as to separate those who thus came upon him in a body. Then suddenly he wheeled about again, and ere they were prepared for attack, he smote down one knight and then another and another, so that only three of those who assailed him were left. With that the others were filled with a great terror of the woeful buffets that Sir Ewaine struck, wherefore, without further combat, they all three turned and fled. But ever Sir Ewaine pursued them with great fury and he came nigh to one who was fleeing and smote him down from his horse. And he came nigh to another and smote him down also. Then last of all he overtook that lord who was the enemy of that lady, and he smote him so sorely with his sword that he would have fallen from his horse had not Sir Ewaine catched him ere he fell. Then Sir Ewaine plucked that knight out of his saddle and he laid him across the bow of his own saddle. So after having overthrown all those seven knights in that wise, he rode back again into the castle bearing that wicked lord lying across his saddle bow.

  Now when those who stood upon the castle walls beheld what wonderful battle their champion did, they were amazed beyond measure at his prowess and they shouted aloud for joy at the victory of their champion over their enemies. So Sir Ewaine rode into the castle, in the midst of all that shouting and loud acclaim. And he came to where the lady was standing in a balcony that overlooked the courtyard of the castle, and he looked up to where she stood and he said: “Lady, lo! I have brought you back your enemy in payment for that blessed balm with which you brought me back to life.”

  The lady of the castle giveth praise to Sir Ewaine.

  Then the lady of the castle knew not what to do for joy. Wherefore she came down from where she was and catched Sir Ewaine by the hand and kissed it repeatedly. And she called upon Sir Ewaine as her savior, but Sir Ewaine withdrew his hand in great confusion, and said: “Lady, do not do so, for wit you I am a man who hath done a dishonorable thing. And though I did that ill thing unwittingly, yet I am attainted because of that which I did.”

  Then the lady said: “Sir, I will not believe that you were ever dishonorable, and I would that you would remain always in this castle.”

  Then Sir Ewaine smiled and said: “I thank you for that wish. But it may not be, for now that I have done my service in your behalf and have brought your enemy to you to deal with at your pleasure, to-morrow I must depart upon my way once more.”

  Then Sir Ewaine delivered the captive knight from the pommel of his saddle into the hands of the lady, and afterward that wicked knight was bound with many securities and hostages to good behavior, and so he tormented that lady no more from that time forth unto the end of her life.

  Sir Ewaine departeth from the castle as a pilgrim.

  Now when the next day was come Sir Ewaine appeared before the lady of the castle and besought her that she would take back the armor she had given him and that in place of that armor she would purvey him the dress of a pilgrim. So that lady did as she was asked, and when she had done so Sir Ewaine clad himself as a pilgrim and departed from the castle of that chatelaine.

  And Sir Ewaine wandered hither and thither as a pilgrim for several weeks; and after much journeying he came at last to that valley where dwelt the Lady of the Fountain. For ever his will led him thitherward, and so it came about that at last he beheld that town and castle once more. And when he beheld that place and when he brought to mind all that had befallen him of good and of ill thereat the tears arose into his eyes so that all things that he beheld swam as in a flood of water.

  Sir Ewaine returneth to the Castle of the Fountain.

  Then by and by he went toward that Castle of the Fountain and when he had come thereunto, he knocked upon the postern door and besought those who opened to him that he might have speech with the lady of the castle. So anon he was shown into the apartment where the lady was, and Elose was with her, and several others of the damsels of her court.

  Now the hood of the cloak that Sir Ewaine wore, and the pilgrim’s hat, so concealed his face that no one who was there knew who he was. Wherefore the Lady Lesolie, speaking as to a stranger, said, “Sir, what wouldst thou have of me?” And Sir Ewaine answered saying: “Lady, I come hither to bear to you a message from one who has unwittingly done you a great injury.”

  Upon this the lady cried out very vehemently: “Sir, if you come from that recreant knight, Sir Ewaine, then you may return unto him again who hath sent you hither.” To which Sir Ewaine said, “Lady, I cannot return unto him, for it would be impossible.”

  At these words the Lady Lesolie’s countenance fell, and for a while she spake not. Then after a while she said, “Dost thou bring ill news of him?” And Sir Ewaine said: “I know not whether the news be ill unto thee or not, but some while ago I beheld that unfortunate knight where he lay dying in a park beside a lake of water.”

  Then the Lady of the Fountain pressed her handkerchief to her lips as though to check an outcry, and after a little while she said, “Good Sir,
tell me what you know.” Sir Ewaine said, “I will do so.” And he said: “You are to know that when Sir Ewaine left this court to return to the court of King Arthur, he fell in with the Enchantress Vivien, who gave him a ring of forgetfulness so that he disremembered all that had happened to him at your court. Afterward there came a young damsel from this place who put him to shame before all those who were his companions at the court of King Arthur. This that damsel did because she thought that Sir Ewaine was unfaithful to you. But he was not unfaithful and so he was shamed for no good reason. Now after being thus shamed before all the court of King Arthur in that wise, this woeful knight departed from his friends because he could not bear to dwell in his humiliation before them. So he left all those his friends and journeyed afar, and in his journeyings he fell among thieves, and these finding him unarmed, bound him whilst he slept, and robbed him and wounded him to death. So it was that I beheld him lying by the wayside, pierced through with a javelin and dying of that wound, and so have I come thither to tell you of this story.”

  Now when the Lady of the Fountain heard what that pilgrim had to say, she shrieked with great violence and immediately swooned away and fell upon the ground.

  Then several of her maidens ran to her and these served her until by and by she revived from her swoon. Yet when she was thus recovered she straightway fell to smiting her hands together and crying aloud in a very bitter agony of spirit: “Woe is me that I should have disbelieved in the honor of that noble and worthy knight, for now because of my disbelief in him I perceive that I have lost him forever. For so hath died the best and truest knight that ever lived in all of the world.” Saying this, she fell to weeping in great measure, and Elose strove to comfort her, also weeping, but the lady would not be comforted. Then Sir Ewaine said, “Lady, hast thou yet such a kind regard for the knight as this?” And the Lady Lesolie said with great passion: “Yea, truly, and so I always shall have, for methinks that never such another knight as he lived in this world.”