Book: Le Morte Darthur

T >> Thomas Malory >> Le Morte Darthur




So they went toward the bed to behold all about it, and
above the head there hung two swords. Also there were
two spindles which were as white as any snow, and other
that were as red as blood, and other above green as any
emerald: of these three colours were the spindles, and of
natural colour within, and without any painting. These
spindles, said the damosel, were when sinful Eve came to
gather fruit, for which Adam and she were put out of
paradise, she took with her the bough on which the apple
hung on. Then perceived she that the branch was fair
and green, and she remembered her the loss which came
from the tree. Then she thought to keep the branch as
long as she might. And for she had no coffer to keep it
in, she put it in the earth. So by the will of Our Lord
the branch grew to a great tree within a little while, and
was as white as any snow, branches, boughs, and leaves:
that was a token a maiden planted it. But after God
came to Adam, and bade him know his wife fleshly as
nature required. So lay Adam with his wife under the
same tree; and anon the tree which was white was full
green as any grass, and all that came out of it; and in
the same time that they medled together there was Abel
begotten: thus was the tree long of green colour. And
so it befell many days after, under the same tree Caym
slew Abel, whereof befell great marvel. For anon as
Abel had received the death under the green tree, it lost
the green colour and became red; and that was in tokening
of the blood. And anon all the plants died thereof,
but the tree grew and waxed marvellously fair, and it was
the fairest tree and the most delectable that any man might
behold and see; and so died the plants that grew out of
it to-fore that Abel was slain under it. So long dured
the tree till that Solomon, King David's son, reigned, and
held the land after his father. This Solomon was wise
and knew all the virtues of stones and trees, and so he
knew the course of the stars, and many other divers things.
This Solomon had an evil wife, wherethrough he weened
that there had been no good woman, and so he despised
them in his books. So answered a voice him once:
Solomon, if heaviness come to a man by a woman, ne
reck thou never; for yet shall there come a woman
whereof there shall come greater joy to man an hundred
times more than this heaviness giveth sorrow; and that
woman shall be born of thy lineage. Tho when Solomon
heard these words he held himself but a fool, and the
truth he perceived by old books. Also the Holy Ghost
showed him the coming of the glorious Virgin Mary.
Then asked he of the voice, if it should be in the yerde
of his lineage. Nay, said the voice, but there shall come
a man which shall be a maid, and the last of your blood,
and he shall be as good a knight as Duke Josua, thy
brother-in-law.



CHAPTER VI

How Solomon took David's sword by the counsel of his
wife, and of other matters marvellous.


NOW have I certified thee of that thou stoodest in doubt.
Then was Solomon glad that there should come any such
of his lineage; but ever he marvelled and studied who
that should be, and what his name might be. His wife
perceived that he studied, and thought she would know it
at some season; and so she waited her time, and asked of
him the cause of his studying, and there he told her altogether
how the voice told him. Well, said she, I shall let
make a ship of the best wood and most durable that men
may find. So Solomon sent for all the carpenters of the
land, and the best. And when they had made the ship
the lady said to Solomon: Sir, said she, since it is so that
this knight ought to pass all knights of chivalry which
have been to-fore him and shall come after him, moreover
I shall tell you, said she, ye shall go into Our Lord's
temple, where is King David's sword, your father, the
which is the marvelloust and the sharpest that ever was
taken in any knight's hand. Therefore take that, and
take off the pommel, and thereto make ye a pommel of
precious stones, that it be so subtly made that no man
perceive it but that they be all one; and after make there
an hilt so marvellously and wonderly that no man may
know it; and after make a marvellous sheath. And when
ye have made all this I shall let make a girdle thereto, such
as shall please me.

All this King Solomon did let make as she devised,
both the ship and all the remnant. And when the ship
was ready in the sea to sail, the lady let make a great bed
and marvellous rich, and set her upon the bed's head,
covered with silk, and laid the sword at the feet, and the
girdles were of hemp, and therewith the king was angry.
Sir, wit ye well, said she, that I have none so high a thing
which were worthy to sustain so high a sword, and a maid
shall bring other knights thereto, but I wot not when it
shall be, nor what time. And there she let make a covering
to the ship, of cloth of silk that should never rot for
no manner of weather. Yet went that lady and made a
carpenter to come to the tree which Abel was slain under.
Now, said she, carve me out of this tree as much wood as
will make me a spindle. Ah madam, said he, this is the
tree the which our first mother planted. Do it, said she,
or else I shall destroy thee. Anon as he began to work
there came out drops of blood; and then would he have
left, but she would not suffer him, and so he took away
as much wood as might make a spindle: and so she made
him to take as much of the green tree and of the white
tree. And when these three spindles were shapen she made
them to be fastened upon the selar of the bed. When
Solomon saw this, he said to his wife: Ye have done
marvellously, for though all the world were here right
now, he could not devise wherefore all this was made, but
Our Lord Himself; and thou that hast done it wottest
not what it shall betoken. Now let it be, said she, for ye
shall hear tidings sooner than ye ween. Now shall ye hear
a wonderful tale of King Solomon and his wife.



CHAPTER VII

A wonderful tale of King Solomon and his wife.


THAT night lay Solomon before the ship with little
fellowship. And when he was asleep him thought there came
from heaven a great company of angels, and alighted into
the ship, and took water which was brought by an angel,
in a vessel of silver, and sprent all the ship. And after
he came to the sword, and drew letters on the hilt. And
after went to the ship's board, and wrote there other letters
which said: Thou man that wilt enter within me, beware
that thou be full within the faith, for I ne am but Faith
and Belief. When Solomon espied these letters he was
abashed, so that he durst not enter, and so drew him
aback; and the ship was anon shoven in the sea, and he
went so fast that he lost sight of him within a little while.
And then a little voice said: Solomon, the last knight of
thy lineage shall rest in this bed. Then went Solomon
and awaked his wife, and told her of the adventures of
the ship.

Now saith the history that a great while the three
fellows beheld the bed and the three spindles. Then they
were at certain that they were of natural colours without
painting. Then they lift up a cloth which was above the
ground, and there found a rich purse by seeming. And
Percivale took it, and found therein a writ and so he read
it, and devised the manner of the spindles and of the ship,
whence it came, and by whom it was made. Now, said
Galahad, where shall we find the gentlewoman that shall
make new girdles to the sword? Fair sir, said Percivale's
sister, dismay you not, for by the leave of God I shall let
make a girdle to the sword, such one as shall long thereto.
And then she opened a box, and took out girdles which
were seemly wrought with golden threads, and upon that
were set full precious stones, and a rich buckle of gold.
Lo, lords, said she, here is a girdle that ought to be set
about the sword. And wit ye well the greatest part of
this girdle was made of my hair, which I loved well while
that I was a woman of the world. But as soon as I wist
that this adventure was ordained me I clipped off my hair,
and made this girdle in the name of God. Ye be well
found, said Sir Bors, for certes ye have put us out of great
pain, wherein we should have entered ne had your tidings
been.

Then went the gentlewoman and set it on the girdle of
the sword. Now, said the fellowship, what is the name of
the sword, and what shall we call it? Truly, said she, the
name of the sword is the Sword with the Strange Girdles;
and the sheath, Mover of Blood; for no man that hath
blood in him ne shall never see the one part of the sheath
which was made of the Tree of Life. Then they said to
Galahad: In the name of Jesu Christ, and pray you that
ye gird you with this sword which hath been desired so
much in the realm of Logris. Now let me begin, said
Galahad, to grip this sword for to give you courage; but
wit ye well it longeth no more to me than it doth to you.
And then he gripped about it with his fingers a great deal;
and then she girt him about the middle with the sword.
Now reck I not though I die, for now I hold me one of the
blessed maidens of the world, which hath made the worthiest
knight of the world. Damosel, said Galahad, ye have done
so much that I shall be your knight all the days of my life.

Then they went from that ship, and went to the other.
And anon the wind drove them into the sea a great pace,
but they had no victuals: but it befell that they came on
the morn to a castle that men call Carteloise, that was in
the marches of Scotland. And when they had passed the
port, the gentlewoman said: Lords, here be men arriven
that, an they wist that ye were of King Arthur's court, ye
should be assailed anon. Damosel, said Galahad, He that
cast us out of the rock shall deliver us from them.



CHAPTER VIII

How Galahad and his fellows came to a castle, and how they
were fought withal, and how they slew their adversaries,
and other matters.


SO it befell as they spoke thus there came a squire by them,
and asked what they were; and they said they were of
King Arthur's house. Is that sooth? said he. Now by
my head, said he, ye be ill arrayed; and then turned he
again unto the cliff fortress. And within a while they
heard an horn blow. Then a gentlewoman came to them,
and asked them of whence they were; and they told her.
Fair lords, said she, for God's love turn again if ye may,
for ye be come unto your death. Nay, they said, we will
not turn again, for He shall help us in whose service we be
entered in. Then as they stood talking there came knights
well armed, and bade them yield them or else to die. That
yielding, said they, shall be noyous to you. And therewith
they let their horses run, and Sir Percivale smote the
foremost to the earth, and took his horse, and mounted
thereupon, and the same did Galahad. Also Bors served
another so, for they had no horses in that country, for they
left their horses when they took their ship in other countries.
And so when they were horsed then began they to
set upon them; and they of the castle fled into the strong
fortress, and the three knights after them into the castle,
and so alighted on foot, and with their swords slew them
down, and gat into the hall.

Then when they beheld the great multitude of people
that they had slain, they held themself great sinners.
Certes, said Bors, I ween an God had loved them that we
should not have had power to have slain them thus. But
they have done so much against Our Lord that He would
not suffer them to reign no longer. Say ye not so, said
Galahad, for if they misdid against God, the vengeance is
not ours, but to Him which hath power thereof.

So came there out of a chamber a good man which was
a priest, and bare God's body in a cup. And when he saw
them which lay dead in the hall he was all abashed; and
Galahad did off his helm and kneeled down, and so did his
two fellows. Sir, said they, have ye no dread of us, for
we be of King Arthur's court. Then asked the good man
how they were slain so suddenly, and they told it him.
Truly, said the good man, an ye might live as long as the
world might endure, ne might ye have done so great an
alms-deed as this. Sir, said Galahad, I repent me much,
inasmuch as they were christened. Nay, repent you not,
said he, for they were not christened, and I shall tell you
how that I wot of this castle. Here was Lord Earl Hernox
not but one year, and he had three sons, good knights of
arms, and a daughter, the fairest gentlewoman that men
knew. So those three knights loved their sister so sore
that they brent in love, and so they lay by her, maugre her
head. And for she cried to her father they slew her, and
took their father and put him in prison, and wounded him
nigh to the death, but a cousin of hers rescued him. And
then did they great untruth: they slew clerks and priests,
and made beat down chapels, that Our Lord's service might
not be served nor said. And this same day her father sent
to me for to be confessed and houseled; but such shame
had never man as I had this day with the three brethren,
but the earl bade me suffer, for he said they should not
long endure, for three servants of Our Lord should destroy
them, and now it is brought to an end. And by this may
ye wit that Our Lord is not displeased with your deeds.
Certes, said Galahad, an it had not pleased Our Lord, never
should we have slain so many men in so little a while.

And then they brought the Earl Hernox out of prison
into the midst of the hall, that knew Galahad anon, and yet
he saw him never afore but by revelation of Our Lord.



CHAPTER IX

How the three knights, with Percivale's sister, came unto
the same forest, and of an hart and four lions, and
other things.



THEN began he to weep right tenderly, and said: Long
have I abiden your coming, but for God's love hold me in
your arms, that my soul may depart out of my body in so
good a man's arms as ye be. Gladly, said Galahad. And
then one said on high, that all heard: Galahad, well hast
thou avenged me on God's enemies. Now behoveth thee
to go to the Maimed King as soon as thou mayest, for he
shall receive by thee health which he hath abiden so long.
And therewith the soul departed from the body, and
Galahad made him to be buried as him ought to be.

Right so departed the three knights, and Percivale's
sister with them. And so they came into a waste forest,
and there they saw afore them a white hart which four
lions led. Then they took them to assent for to follow
after for to know whither they repaired; and so they rode
after a great pace till that they came to a valley, and thereby
was an hermitage where a good man dwelled, and the hart
and the lions entered also. So when they saw all this they
turned to the chapel, and saw the good man in a religious
weed and in the armour of Our Lord, for he would sing
mass of the Holy Ghost; and so they entered in and heard
mass. And at the secrets of the mass they three saw the
hart become a man, the which marvelled them, and set him
upon the altar in a rich siege; and saw the four lions were
changed, the one to the form of a man, the other to the
form of a lion, and the third to an eagle, and the fourth
was changed unto an ox. Then took they their siege
where the hart sat, and went out through a glass window,
and there was nothing perished nor broken; and they heard
a voice say: In such a manner entered the Son of God in
the womb of a maid Mary, whose virginity ne was perished
ne hurt. And when they heard these words they fell down
to the earth and were astonied; and therewith was a great
clearness.

And when they were come to theirself again they went
to the good man and prayed him that he would say them
truth. What thing have ye seen? said he. And they told
him all that they had seen. Ah lords, said he, ye be welcome;
now wot I well ye be the good knights the which
shall bring the Sangreal to an end; for ye be they unto
whom Our Lord shall shew great secrets. And well ought
Our Lord be signified to an hart, for the hart when he is
old he waxeth young again in his white skin. Right so
cometh again Our Lord from death to life, for He lost
earthly flesh that was the deadly flesh, which He had taken
in the womb of the blessed Virgin Mary; and for that cause
appeared Our Lord as a white hart without spot. And
the four that were with Him is to understand the four
evangelists which set in writing a part of Jesu Christ's
deeds that He did sometime when He was among you an
earthly man; for wit ye well never erst ne might no knight
know the truth, for ofttimes or this Our Lord showed Him
unto good men and unto good knights, in likeness of an
hart, but I suppose from henceforth ye shall see no more.
And then they joyed much, and dwelled there all that day.
And upon the morrow when they had heard mass they
departed and commended the good man to God: and so
they came to a castle and passed by. So there came a
knight armed after them and said: Lords, hark what I shall
say to you.



CHAPTER X

How they were desired of a strange custom, the which they
would not obey; wherefore they fought and slew many
knights.


THIS gentlewoman that ye lead with you is a maid?
Sir, said she, a maid I am. Then he took her by the
bridle and said: By the Holy Cross, ye shall not escape
me to-fore ye have yolden the custom of this castle. Let
her go, said Percivale, ye be not wise, for a maid in what
place she cometh is free. So in the meanwhile there came
out a ten or twelve knights armed, out of the castle, and
with them came gentlewomen which held a dish of silver.
And then they said: This gentlewoman must yield us
the custom of this castle. Sir, said a knight, what maid
passeth hereby shall give this dish full of blood of her
right arm. Blame have ye, said Galahad, that brought
up such customs, and so God me save, I ensure you of
this gentlewoman ye shall fail while that I live. So God
me help, said Percivale, I had liefer be slain. And I also,
said Sir Bors. By my troth, said the knight, then shall
ye die, for ye may not endure against us though ye were
the best knights of the world.

Then let they run each to other, and the three fellows
beat the ten knights, and then set their hands to their
swords and beat them down and slew them. Then there
came out of the castle a three score knights armed. Fair
lords, said the three fellows, have mercy on yourself and
have not ado with us. Nay, fair lords, said the knights
of the castle, we counsel you to withdraw you, for ye be
the best knights of the world, and therefore do no more,
for ye have done enough. We will let you go with this
harm, but we must needs have the custom. Certes, said
Galahad, for nought speak ye. Well, said they, will ye die?
We be not yet come thereto, said Galahad. Then began
they to meddle together, and Galahad, with the strange
girdles, drew his sword, and smote on the right hand and
on the left hand, and slew what that ever abode him, and
did such marvels that there was none that saw him but
weened he had been none earthly man, but a monster.
And his two fellows halp him passing well, and so they
held the journey everych in like hard till it was night:
then must they needs depart.

So came in a good knight, and said to the three
fellows: If ye will come in to-night and take such harbour
as here is ye shall be right welcome, and we shall ensure
you by the faith of our bodies, and as we be true knights,
to leave you in such estate to-morrow as we find you,
without any falsehood. And as soon as ye know of the
custom we dare say ye will accord therefore. For God's
love, said the gentlewoman, go thither and spare not for
me. Go we, said Galahad; and so they entered into the
chapel. And when they were alighted they made great
joy of them. So within a while the three knights asked
the custom of the castle and wherefore it was. What it
is, said they, we will say you sooth.



CHAPTER XI

How Sir Percivale's sister bled a dish full of blood for to
heal a lady, wherefore she died; and how that the
body was put in a ship.


THERE is in this castle a gentlewoman which we and this
castle is hers, and many other. So it befell many years
agone there fell upon her a malady; and when she had
lain a great while she fell unto a measle, and of no leech
she could have no remedy. But at the last an old man
said an she might have a dish full of blood of a maid and
a clean virgin in will and in work, and a king's daughter,
that blood should be her health, and for to anoint her
withal; and for this thing was this custom made. Now,
said Percivale's sister, fair knights, I see well that this
gentlewoman is but dead. Certes, said Galahad, an ye
bleed so much ye may die. Truly, said she, an I die for
to heal her I shall get me great worship and soul's health,
and worship to my lineage, and better is one harm than
twain. And therefore there shall be no more battle, but
to-morn I shall yield you your custom of this castle. And
then there was great joy more than there was to-fore, for
else had there been mortal war upon the morn; notwithstanding
she would none other, whether they wold or nold.

That night were the three fellows eased with the best;
and on the morn they heard mass, and Sir Percivale's
sister bade bring forth the sick lady. So she was, the
which was evil at ease. Then said she: Who shall let
me blood? So one came forth and let her blood, and she
bled so much that the dish was full. Then she lift up
her hand and blessed her; and then she said to the lady:
Madam, I am come to the death for to make you whole,
for God's love pray for me. With that she fell in a
swoon. Then Galahad and his two fellows start up to
her, and lift her up and staunched her, but she had bled
so much that she might not live. Then she said when
she was awaked: Fair brother Percivale, I die for the
healing of this lady, so I require you that ye bury me
not in this country, but as soon as I am dead put me in
a boat at the next haven, and let me go as adventure will
lead me; and as soon as ye three come to the City of
Sarras, there to enchieve the Holy Grail, ye shall find me
under a tower arrived, and there bury me in the spiritual
place; for I say you so much, there Galahad shall be
buried, and ye also, in the same place.

Then Percivale understood these words, and granted
it her, weeping. And then said a voice: Lords and
fellows, to-morrow at the hour of prime ye three shall
depart everych from other, till the adventure bring you
to the Maimed King. Then asked she her Saviour; and
as soon as she had received it the soul departed from the
body. So the same day was the lady healed, when she
was anointed withal. Then Sir Percivale made a letter of
all that she had holpen them as in strange adventures, and
put it in her right hand, and so laid her in a barge, and
covered it with black silk; and so the wind arose, and
drove the barge from the land, and all knights beheld it
till it was out of their sight. Then they drew all to the
castle, and so forthwith there fell a sudden tempest and a
thunder, lightning, and rain, as all the earth would have
broken. So half the castle turned up-so-down. So it
passed evensong or the tempest was ceased.

Then they saw afore them a knight armed and
wounded hard in the body and in the head, that said: O
God, succour me for now it is need. After this knight
came another knight and a dwarf, which cried to them
afar: Stand, ye may not escape. Then the wounded knight
held up his hands to God that he should not die in such
tribulation. Truly, said Galahad, I shall succour him for
His sake that he calleth upon. Sir, said Bors, I shall do
it, for it is not for you, for he is but one knight. Sir, said
he, I grant. So Sir Bors took his horse, and commended
him to God, and rode after, to rescue the wounded knight.
Now turn we to the two fellows.



CHAPTER XII

How Galahad and Percivale found in a castle many tombs
of maidens that had bled to death.


NOW saith the story that all night Galahad and Percivale
were in a chapel in their prayers, for to save Sir Bors. So
on the morrow they dressed them in their harness toward
the castle, to wit what was fallen of them therein. And
when they came there they found neither man nor woman
that he ne was dead by the vengeance of Our Lord.
With that they heard a voice that said: This vengeance
is for blood-shedding of maidens. Also they found at the
end of the chapel a churchyard, and therein might they
see a three score fair tombs, and that place was so fair and
so delectable that it seemed them there had been none
tempest, for there lay the bodies of all the good maidens
which were martyred for the sick lady's sake. Also they
found the names of everych, and of what blood they were
come, and all were of kings' blood, and twelve of them
were kings' daughters. Then they departed and went
into a forest. Now, said Percivale unto Galahad, we
must depart, so pray we Our Lord that we may meet
together in short time: then they did off their helms and
kissed together, and wept at their departing.

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