Book: Le Morte Darthur

T >> Thomas Malory >> Le Morte Darthur






CHAPTER IV

How the hermit expounded to Sir Launcelot his advision, and
told him that Sir Galahad was his son.


LO, Sir Launcelot, said the good man, there thou mightest
understand the high lineage that thou art come of, and
thine advision betokeneth. After the passion of Jesu
Christ forty year, Joseph of Aramathie preached the victory
of King Evelake, that he had in the battles the better of
his enemies. And of the seven kings and the two knights:
the first of them is called Nappus, an holy man; and the
second hight Nacien, in remembrance of his grandsire, and
in him dwelled our Lord Jesu Christ; and the third was
called Helias le Grose; and the fourth hight Lisais; and
the fifth hight Jonas, he departed out of his country and
went into Wales, and took there the daughter of Manuel,
whereby he had the land of Gaul, and he came to dwell in
this country. And of him came King Launcelot thy
grandsire, the which there wedded the king's daughter of
Ireland, and he was as worthy a man as thou art, and of
him came King Ban, thy father, the which was the last of
the seven kings. And by thee, Sir Launcelot, it signifieth
that the angels said thou were none of the seven fellowships.
And the last was the ninth knight, he was signified
to a lion, for he should pass all manner of earthly knights,
that is Sir Galahad, the which thou gat on King Pelles'
daughter; and thou ought to thank God more than any
other man living, for of a sinner earthly thou hast no peer
as in knighthood, nor never shall be. But little thank hast
thou given to God for all the great virtues that God hath
lent thee. Sir, said Launcelot, ye say that that good
knight is my son. That oughtest thou to know and no
man better, said the good man, for thou knewest the
daughter of King Pelles fleshly, and on her thou begattest
Galahad, and that was he that at the feast of Pentecost sat
in the Siege Perilous; and therefore make thou it known
openly that he is one of thy begetting on King Pelles'
daughter, for that will be your worship and honour, and to
all thy kindred. And I counsel you in no place press not
upon him to have ado with him. Well, said Launcelot,
meseemeth that good knight should pray for me unto the
High Father, that I fall not to sin again. Trust thou
well, said the good man, thou farest mickle the better for
his prayer; but the son shall not bear the wickedness of
the father, nor the father shall not bear the wickedness of
the son, but everych shall bear his own burden. And
therefore beseek thou only God, and He will help thee in
all thy needs. And then Sir Launcelot and he went to
supper, and so laid him to rest, and the hair pricked so Sir
Launcelot's skin which grieved him full sore, but he took
it meekly, and suffered the pain. And so on the morn
he heard his mass and took his arms, and so took his
leave.



CHAPTER V

How Sir Launcelot jousted with many knights, and
how he was taken.


AND then mounted upon his horse, and rode into a forest,
and held no highway. And as he looked afore him he
saw a fair plain, and beside that a fair castle, and afore the
castle were many pavilions of silk and of diverse hue.
And him seemed that he saw there five hundred knights
riding on horseback; and there were two parties: they
that were of the castle were all on black horses and their
trappings black, and they that were without were all on
white horses and trappings, and everych hurtled to other
that it marvelled Sir Launcelot. And at the last him
thought they of the castle were put to the worse.

Then thought Sir Launcelot for to help there the
weaker party in increasing of his chivalry. And so Sir
Launcelot thrust in among the party of the castle, and
smote down a knight, horse and man, to the earth. And
then he rashed here and there, and did marvellous deeds
of arms. And then he drew out his sword, and struck
many knights to the earth, so that all those that saw him
marvelled that ever one knight might do so great deeds
of arms. But always the white knights held them nigh
about Sir Launcelot, for to tire him and wind him. But
at the last, as a man may not ever endure, Sir Launcelot
waxed so faint of fighting and travailing, and was so weary
of his great deeds, that[1] he might not lift up his arms for
to give one stroke, so that he weened never to have borne
arms; and then they all took and led him away into a
forest, and there made him to alight and to rest him.
And then all the fellowship of the castle were overcome
for the default of him. Then they said all unto Sir
Launcelot: Blessed be God that ye be now of our fellowship,
for we shall hold you in our prison; and so they left


[1] So W. de Worde; Caxton ``but.''


him with few words. And then Sir Launcelot made great
sorrow, For never or now was I never at tournament nor
jousts but I had the best, and now I am shamed; and
then he said: Now I am sure that I am more sinfuller
than ever I was.

Thus he rode sorrowing, and half a day he was out of
despair, till that he came into a deep valley. And when
Sir Launcelot saw he might not ride up into the mountain,
he there alighted under an apple tree, and there he left
his helm and his shield, and put his horse unto pasture.
And then he laid him down to sleep. And then him
thought there came an old man afore him, the which said:
Ah, Launcelot of evil faith and poor belief, wherefore is
thy will turned so lightly toward thy deadly sin? And
when he had said thus he vanished away, and Launcelot
wist not where he was become. Then he took his horse,
and armed him; and as he rode by the way he saw a
chapel where was a recluse, which had a window that she
might see up to the altar. And all aloud she called
Launcelot, for that he seemed a knight errant. And then
he came, and she asked him what he was, and of what
place, and where about he went to seek.



CHAPTER VI

How Sir Launcelot told his advision to a woman, and
how she expounded it to him.


AND then he told her altogether word by word, and the
truth how it befell him at the tournament. And after
told her his advision that he had had that night in his
sleep, and prayed her to tell him what it might mean, for
he was not well content with it. Ah, Launcelot, said she,
as long as ye were knight of earthly knighthood ye were
the most marvellous man of the world, and most adventurous.
Now, said the lady, sithen ye be set among the
knights of heavenly adventures, if adventure fell thee
contrary at that tournament have thou no marvel, for that
tournament yesterday was but a tokening of Our Lord.
And not for then there was none enchantment, for they
at the tournament were earthly knights. The tournament
was a token to see who should have most knights, either
Eliazar, the son of King Pelles, or Argustus, the son of
King Harlon. But Eliazar was all clothed in white, and
Argustus was covered in black, the which were [over]come.

All what this betokeneth I shall tell you. The day of
Pentecost, when King Arthur held his court, it befell that
earthly kings and knights took a tournament together,
that is to say the quest of the Sangreal. The earthly
knights were they the which were clothed all in black,
and the covering betokeneth the sins whereof they be not
confessed. And they with the covering of white betokeneth
virginity, and they that chose chastity. And
thus was the quest begun in them. Then thou beheld
the sinners and the good men, and when thou sawest the
sinners overcome, thou inclinest to that party for bobaunce
and pride of the world, and all that must be left in that
quest, for in this quest thou shalt have many fellows and
thy betters. For thou art so feeble of evil trust and good
belief, this made it when thou were there where they took
thee and led thee into the forest. And anon there appeared
the Sangreal unto the white knights, but thou was so feeble
of good belief and faith that thou mightest not abide it for
all the teaching of the good man, but anon thou turnest
to the sinners, and that caused thy misadventure that thou
should'st know good from evil and vain glory of the
world, the which is not worth a pear. And for great
pride thou madest great sorrow that thou hadst not
overcome all the white knights with the covering of white, by
whom was betokened virginity and chastity; and therefore
God was wroth with you, for God loveth no such deeds
in this quest. And this advision signifieth that thou were
of evil faith and of poor belief, the which will make thee
to fall into the deep pit of hell if thou keep thee not.
Now have I warned thee of thy vain glory and of thy
pride, that thou hast many times erred against thy Maker.
Beware of everlasting pain, for of all earthly knights I
have most pity of thee, for I know well thou hast not thy
peer of any earthly sinful man.

And so she commended Sir Launcelot to dinner. And
after dinner he took his horse and commended her to God,
and so rode into a deep valley, and there he saw a river
and an high mountain. And through the water he must
needs pass, the which was hideous; and then in the name
of God he took it with good heart. And when he came
over he saw an armed knight, horse and man black as any
bear; without any word he smote Sir Launcelot's horse to
the earth; and so he passed on, he wist not where he was
become. And then he took his helm and his shield, and
thanked God of his adventure.

of Sir Gawaine, the which is the sixteenth book.>



BOOK XVI


CHAPTER I

How Sir Gawaine was nigh weary of the quest of the
Sangreal, and of his marvellous dream.


WHEN Sir Gawaine was departed from his fellowship he
rode long without any adventure. For he found not the
tenth part of adventure as he was wont to do. For Sir
Gawaine rode from Whitsuntide until Michaelmas and
found none adventure that pleased him. So on a day it
befell Gawaine met with Sir Ector de Maris, and either
made great joy of other that it were marvel to tell. And
so they told everych other, and complained them greatly
that they could find none adventure. Truly, said Sir
Gawaine unto Sir Ector, I am nigh weary of this quest,
and loath I am to follow further in strange countries.
One thing marvelled me, said Sir Ector, I have met with
twenty knights, fellows of mine, and all they complain as
I do. I have marvel, said Sir Gawaine, where that Sir
Launcelot, your brother, is. Truly, said Sir Ector, I
cannot hear of him, nor of Sir Galahad, Percivale, nor
Sir Bors. Let them be, said Sir Gawaine, for they four
have no peers. And if one thing were not in Sir Launcelot
he had no fellow of none earthly man; but he is as we be,
but if he took more pain upon him. But an these four
be met together they will be loath that any man meet with
them; for an they fail of the Sangreal it is in waste of all
the remnant to recover it.

Thus Ector and Gawaine rode more than eight days,
and on a Saturday they found an old chapel, the which
was wasted that there seemed no man thither repaired;
and there they alighted, and set their spears at the door,
and in they entered into the chapel, and there made their
orisons a great while, and set them down in the sieges of
the chapel. And as they spake of one thing and other,
for heaviness they fell asleep, and there befell them both
marvellous adventures. Sir Gawaine him seemed he
came into a meadow full of herbs and flowers, and there
he saw a rack of bulls, an hundred and fifty, that were
proud and black, save three of them were all white, and
one had a black spot, and the other two were so fair and
so white that they might be no whiter. And these three
bulls which were so fair were tied with two strong cords.
And the remnant of the bulls said among them: Go we
hence to seek better pasture. And so some went, and
some came again, but they were so lean that they might
not stand upright; and of the bulls that were so white,
that one came again and no mo. But when this white bull
was come again among these other there rose up a great
cry for lack of wind that failed them; and so they
departed one here and another there: this advision befell
Gawaine that night.



CHAPTER II

Of the advision of Sir Ector, and how he jousted with Sir
Uwaine les Avoutres, his sworn brother.


BUT to Ector de Maris befell another vision the contrary.
For it seemed him that his brother, Sir Launcelot, and
he alighted out of a chair and leapt upon two horses,
and the one said to the other: Go we seek that we shall
not find. And him thought that a man beat Sir Launcelot,
and despoiled him, and clothed him in another array,
the which was all full of knots, and set him upon an ass,
and so he rode till he came to the fairest well that ever he
saw; and Sir Launcelot alighted and would have drunk
of that well. And when he stooped to drink of the water
the water sank from him. And when Sir Launcelot saw
that, he turned and went thither as the head came from.
And in the meanwhile he trowed that himself and Sir
Ector rode till that they came to a rich man's house
where there was a wedding. And there he saw a king the
which said: Sir knight, here is no place for you. And
then he turned again unto the chair that he came from.

Thus within a while both Gawaine and Ector awaked,
and either told other of their advision, the which marvelled
them greatly. Truly, said Ector, I shall never be merry
till I hear tidings of my brother Launcelot. Now as they
sat thus talking they saw an hand showing unto the elbow,
and was covered with red samite, and upon that hung a
bridle not right rich, and held within the fist a great
candle which burned right clear, and so passed afore them,
and entered into the chapel, and then vanished away and
they wist not where. And anon came down a voice which
said: Knights of full evil faith and of poor belief, these
two things have failed you, and therefore ye may not come
to the adventures of the Sangreal.

Then first spake Gawaine and said: Ector, have ye
heard these words? Yea truly, said Sir Ector, I heard
all. Now go we, said Sir Ector, unto some hermit that
will tell us of our advision, for it seemeth me we labour
all in vain. And so they departed and rode into a valley,
and there met with a squire which rode on an hackney,
and they saluted him fair. Sir, said Gawaine, can thou
teach us to any hermit? Here is one in a little mountain,
but it is so rough there may no horse go thither, and
therefore ye must go upon foot; there shall ye find a poor
house, and there is Nacien the hermit, which is the holiest
man in this country. And so they departed either from
other.

And then in a valley they met with a knight all armed,
which proffered them to joust as far as he saw them. In
the name of God, said Sir Gawaine, sith I departed from
Camelot there was none proffered me to joust but once.
And now, sir, said Ector, let me joust with him. Nay,
said Gawaine, ye shall not but if I be beat; it shall not
for-think me then if ye go after me. And then either
embraced other to joust and came together as fast as their
horses might run, and brast their shields and the mails,
and the one more than the other; and Gawaine was
wounded in the left side, but the other knight was smitten
through the breast, and the spear came out on the other
side, and so they fell both out of their saddles, and in the
falling they brake both their spears.

Anon Gawaine arose and set his hand to his sword,
and cast his shield afore him. But all for naught was it,
for the knight had no power to arise against him. Then
said Gawaine: Ye must yield you as an overcome man, or
else I may slay you. Ah, sir knight, said he, I am but
dead, for God's sake and of your gentleness lead me here
unto an abbey that I may receive my Creator. Sir, said
Gawaine, I know no house of religion hereby. Sir, said
the knight, set me on an horse to-fore you, and I shall
teach you. Gawaine set him up in the saddle, and he
leapt up behind him for to sustain him, and so came to
an abbey where they were well received; and anon he
was unarmed, and received his Creator. Then he prayed
Gawaine to draw out the truncheon of the spear out of his
body. Then Gawaine asked him what he was, that knew
him not. I am, said he, of King Arthur's court, and was
a fellow of the Round Table, and we were brethren sworn
together; and now Sir Gawaine, thou hast slain me, and
my name is Uwaine les Avoutres, that sometime was son
unto King Uriens, and was in the quest of the Sangreal;
and now forgive it thee God, for it shall ever be said that
the one sworn brother hath slain the other.



CHAPTER III

How Sir Gawaine and Sir Ector came to an hermitage to be
confessed, and how they told to the hermit their advisions.


ALAS, said Gawaine, that ever this misadventure is befallen
me. No force, said Uwaine, sith I shall die this death, of
a much more worshipfuller man's hand might I not die;
but when ye come to the court recommend me unto my
lord, King Arthur, and all those that be left alive, and for
old brotherhood think on me. Then began Gawaine to
weep, and Ector also. And then Uwaine himself and Sir
Gawaine drew out the truncheon of the spear, and anon
departed the soul from the body. Then Sir Gawaine and
Sir Ector buried him as men ought to bury a king's son,
and made write upon his name, and by whom he was
slain.

Then departed Gawaine and Ector, as heavy as they
might for their misadventure, and so rode till that they
came to the rough mountain, and there they tied their
horses and went on foot to the hermitage. And when
they were come up they saw a poor house, and beside
the chapel a little courtelage, where Nacien the hermit
gathered worts, as he which had tasted none other meat
of a great while. And when he saw the errant knights he
came toward them and saluted them, and they him again.
Fair lords, said he, what adventure brought you hither?
Sir, said Gawaine, to speak with you for to be confessed.
Sir, said the hermit, I am ready. Then they told him so
much that he wist well what they were. And then he
thought to counsel them if he might.

Then began Gawaine first and told him of his advision
that he had had in the chapel, and Ector told him all as it is
afore rehearsed. Sir, said the hermit unto Sir Gawaine, the
fair meadow and the rack therein ought to be understood the
Round Table, and by the meadow ought to be understood
humility and patience, those be the things which be always
green and quick; for men may no time overcome humility
and patience, therefore was the Round Table founded,
and the chivalry hath been at all times so by the fraternity
which was there that she might not be overcome; for men
said she was founded in patience and in humility. At the
rack ate an hundred and fifty bulls; but they ate not in
the meadow, for their hearts should be set in humility and
patience, and the bulls were proud and black save only
three. By the bulls is to understand the fellowship of
the Round Table, which for their sin and their wickedness
be black. Blackness is to say without good or virtuous
works. And the three bulls which were white save only
one that was spotted: the two white betoken Sir Galahad
and Sir Percivale, for they be maidens clean and without
spot; and the third that had a spot signifieth Sir Bors de
Ganis, which trespassed but once in his virginity, but
sithen he kept himself so well in chastity that all is forgiven
him and his misdeeds. And why those three were
tied by the necks, they be three knights in virginity and
chastity, and there is no pride smitten in them. And the
black bulls which said: Go we hence, they were those
which at Pentecost at the high feast took upon them to go
in the quest of the Sangreal without confession: they
might not enter in the meadow of humility and patience.
And therefore they returned into waste countries, that
signifieth death, for there shall die many of them: everych
of them shall slay other for sin, and they that shall
escape shall be so lean that it shall be marvel to see them.
And of the three bulls without spot, the one shall come
again, and the other two never.



CHAPTER IV

How the hermit expounded their advision.


THEN spake Nacien unto Ector: Sooth it is that Launcelot
and ye came down off one chair: the chair betokeneth
mastership and lordship which ye came down from. But
ye two knights, said the hermit, ye go to seek that ye shall
never find, that is the Sangreal; for it is the secret thing of
our Lord Jesu Christ. What is to mean that Sir Launcelot
fell down off his horse: he hath left pride and taken him
to humility, for he hath cried mercy loud for his sin, and
sore repented him, and our Lord hath clothed him in his
clothing which is full of knots, that is the hair that he
weareth daily. And the ass that he rode upon is a beast
of humility, for God would not ride upon no steed, nor
upon no palfrey; so in ensample that an ass betokeneth
meekness, that thou sawest Sir Launcelot ride on in thy
sleep. And the well whereas the water sank from him
when he should have taken thereof, and when he saw he
might not have it, he returned thither from whence he
came, for the well betokeneth the high grace of God, the
more men desire it to take it, the more shall be their
desire. So when he came nigh the Sangreal, he meeked
him that he held him not a man worthy to be so nigh the
Holy Vessel, for he had been so defouled in deadly sin by
the space of many years; yet when he kneeled to drink of
the well, there he saw great providence of the Sangreal.
And for he had served so long the devil, he shall have
vengeance four-and-twenty days long, for that he hath
been the devil's servant four-and-twenty years. And
then soon after he shall return unto Camelot out of this
country, and he shall say a part of such things as he hath
found.

Now will I tell you what betokeneth the hand with the
candle and the bridle: that is to understand the Holy
Ghost where charity is ever, and the bridle signifieth
abstinence. For when she is bridled in Christian man's
heart she holdeth him so short that he falleth not in deadly
sin. And the candle which sheweth clearness and sight
signifieth the right way of Jesu Christ. And when he
went and said: Knights of poor faith and of wicked
belief, these three things failed, charity, abstinence, and
truth; therefore ye may not attain that high adventure of
the Sangreal.



CHAPTER V

Of the good counsel that the hermit gave to them.


CERTES, said Gawaine, soothly have ye said, that I see it
openly. Now, I pray you, good man and holy father, tell
me why we met not with so many adventures as we were
wont to do, and commonly have the better. I shall tell
you gladly, said the good man; the adventure of the
Sangreal which ye and many other have undertaken the
quest of it and find it not, the cause is for it appeareth
not to sinners. Wherefore marvel not though ye fail
thereof, and many other. For ye be an untrue knight
and a great murderer, and to good men signifieth other
things than murder. For I dare say, as sinful as Sir
Launcelot hath been, sith that he went into the quest of
the Sangreal he slew never man, nor nought shall, till that
he come unto Camelot again, for he hath taken upon him
for to forsake sin. And nere that he nis not stable, but
by his thought he is likely to turn again, he should be next
to enchieve it save Galahad, his son. But God knoweth his
thought and his unstableness, and yet shall he die right an
holy man, and no doubt he hath no fellow of no earthly
sinful man. Sir, said Gawaine, it seemeth me by your words
that for our sins it will not avail us to travel in this quest
Truly, said the good man, there be an hundred such as ye
be that never shall prevail, but to have shame. And when
they had heard these voices they commended him unto
God.

Then the good man called Gawaine, and said: It is
long time passed sith that ye were made knight, and never
sithen thou servedst thy Maker, and now thou art so old
a tree that in thee is neither life nor fruit; wherefore bethink
thee that thou yield to Our Lord the bare rind, sith
the fiend hath the leaves and the fruit. Sir, said Gawaine
an I had leisure I would speak with you, but my fellow
here, Sir Ector, is gone, and abideth me yonder beneath
the hill. Well, said the good man, thou were better to be
counselled. Then departed Gawaine and came to Ector,
and so took their horses and rode till they came to a
forester's house, which harboured them right well. And
on the morn they departed from their host, and rode long
or they could find any adventure.



CHAPTER VI

How Sir Bors met with an hermit, and how he was confessed
to him, and of his penance enjoined to him.


WHEN Bors was departed from Camelot he met with a
religious man riding on an ass, and Sir Bors saluted him.
Anon the good man knew him that he was one of the
knights-errant that was in the quest of the Sangreal.
What are ye? said the good man. Sir, said he, I am
a knight that fain would be counselled in the quest of the
Sangreal, for he shall have much earthly worship that may
bring it to an end. Certes, said the good man, that is sooth,
for he shall be the best knight of the world, and the fairest
of all the fellowship. But wit you well there shall none
attain it but by cleanness, that is pure confession.

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