Book: Le Morte Darthur

T >> Thomas Malory >> Le Morte Darthur






CHAPTER XVII

How Sir Launcelot departed from the king and from Joyous
Gard over seaward, and what knights went with him


THEN Sir Launcelot sighed, and therewith the tears fell
on his cheeks, and then he said thus: Alas, most noble
Christian realm, whom I have loved above all other realms,
and in thee I have gotten a great part of my worship, and
now I shall depart in this wise. Truly me repenteth that
ever I came in this realm, that should be thus shamefully
banished, undeserved and causeless; but fortune is so
variant, and the wheel so moveable, there nis none
constant abiding, and that may be proved by many old
chronicles, of noble Ector, and Troilus, and Alisander,
the mighty conqueror, and many mo other; when
they were most in their royalty, they alighted lowest.
And so fareth it by me, said Sir Launcelot, for in this
realm I had worship, and by me and mine all the whole
Round Table hath been increased more in worship, by me
and mine blood, than by any other. And therefore wit
thou well, Sir Gawaine, I may live upon my lands as well
as any knight that here is. And if ye, most redoubted
king, will come upon my lands with Sir Gawaine to war
upon me, I must endure you as well as I may. But as
to you, Sir Gawaine, if that ye come there, I pray you
charge me not with treason nor felony, for an ye do, I
must answer you. Do thou thy best, said Sir Gawaine;
therefore hie thee fast that thou were gone, and wit thou
well we shall soon come after, and break the strongest
castle that thou hast, upon thy head. That shall not
need, said Sir Launcelot, for an I were as orgulous set as
ye are, wit you well I should meet you in midst of the
field. Make thou no more language, said Sir Gawaine,
but deliver the queen from thee, and pike thee lightly out
of this court. Well, said Sir Launcelot, an I had wist of
this short coming, I would have advised me twice or that
I had come hither; for an the queen had been so dear to
me as ye noise her, I durst have kept her from the fellowship
of the best knights under heaven.

And then Sir Launcelot said unto Guenever, in hearing
of the king and them all: Madam, now I must
depart from you and this noble fellowship for ever; and
sithen it is so, I beseech you to pray for me, and say me
well; and if ye be hard bestead by any false tongues,
lightly my lady send me word, and if any knight's hands
may deliver you by battle, I shall deliver you. And
therewithal Sir Launcelot kissed the queen; and then he
said all openly . Now let see what he be in this place that
dare say the queen is not true unto my lord Arthur, let
see who will speak an he dare speak. And therewith he
brought the queen to the king, and then Sir Launcelot
took his leave and departed; and there was neither king,
duke, nor earl, baron nor knight, lady nor gentlewoman,
but all they wept as people out of their mind, except Sir
Gawaine. And when the noble Sir Launcelot took his
horse to ride out of Carlisle, there was sobbing and weeping
for pure dole of his departing; and so he took his
way unto Joyous Gard. And then ever after he called it
the Dolorous Gard. And thus departed Sir Launcelot
from the court for ever.

And so when he came to Joyous Gard he called his
fellowship unto him, and asked them what they would do
Then they answered all wholly together with one voice
they would as he would do. My fair fellows, said Sir
Launcelot, I must depart out of this most noble realm,
and now I shall depart it grieveth me sore, for I shall
depart with no worship, for a flemed man departed never
out of a realm with no worship; and that is my heaviness,
for ever I fear after my days that men shall chronicle upon
me that I was flemed out of this land; and else, my fair
lords, be ye sure, an I had not dread shame, my lady,
Queen Guenever, and I should never have departed.

Then spake many noble knights, as Sir Palomides, Sir
Safere his brother, and Sir Bellingere le Beuse, and Sir
Urre, with Sir Lavaine, with many others: Sir, an ye be
so disposed to abide in this land we will never fail you;
and if ye list not to abide in this land there nis none of
the good knights that here be will fail you, for many
causes. One is, all we that be not of your blood shall
never be welcome to the court. And sithen it liked us to
take a part with you in your distress and heaviness in this
realm, wit you well it shall like us as well to go in other
countries with you, and there to take such part as ye do.
My fair lords, said Sir Launcelot, I well understand you,
and as I can, thank you: and ye shall understand, such
livelihood as I am born unto I shall depart with you in
this manner of wise; that is for to say, I shall depart all
my livelihood and all my lands freely among you, and I
myself will have as little as any of you, for have I
sufficient that may long to my person, I will ask none other
rich array; and I trust to God to maintain you on my
lands as well as ever were maintained any knights. Then
spake all the knights at once: He have shame that will
leave you; for we all understand in this realm will be now
no quiet, but ever strife and debate, now the fellowship of
the Round Table is broken; for by the noble fellowship
of the Round Table was King Arthur upborne, and by
their noblesse the king and all his realm was in quiet and
rest, and a great part they said all was because of your
noblesse.



CHAPTER XVIII

How Sir Launcelot passed over the sea, and how he made
great lords of the knights that went with him


TRULY, said Sir Launcelot, I thank you all of your good
saying, howbeit, I wot well, in me was not all the stability
of this realm, but in that I might I did my devoir; and
well I am sure I knew many rebellions in my days that by
me were peaced, and I trow we all shall hear of them in
short space, and that me sore repenteth. For ever I dread
me, said Sir Launcelot, that Sir Mordred will make trouble,
for he is passing envious and applieth him to trouble. So
they were accorded to go with Sir Launcelot to his lands;
and to make short tale, they trussed, and paid all that
would ask them; and wholly an hundred knights departed
with Sir Launcelot at once, and made their avows they
would never leave him for weal nor for woe.

And so they shipped at Cardiff, and sailed unto Benwick:
some men call it Bayonne, and some men call it
Beaune, where the wine of Beaune is. But to say the
sooth, Sir Launcelot and his nephews were lords of all
France, and of all the lands that longed unto France; he
and his kindred rejoiced it all through Sir Launcelot's
noble prowess. And then Sir Launcelot stuffed and
furnished and garnished all his noble towns and castles.
Then all the people of those lands came to Sir Launcelot
on foot and hands. And so when he had stablished all
these countries, he shortly called a parliament; and there
he crowned Sir Lionel, King of France; and Sir Bors [he]
crowned him king of all King Claudas' lands; and Sir
Ector de Maris, that was Sir Launcelot's youngest brother,
he crowned him King of Benwick, and king of all Guienne,
that was Sir Launcelot's own land. And he made Sir Ector
prince of them all, and thus he departed.

Then Sir Launcelot advanced all his noble knights,
and first he advanced them of his blood; that was Sir
Blamore, he made him Duke of Limosin in Guienne
and Sir Bleoberis he made him Duke of Poictiers, and
Sir Gahalantine he made him Duke of Querne, and
Sir Galihodin he made him Duke of Sentonge, and Sir
Galihud he made him Earl of Perigot, and Sir Menadeuke
he made him Earl of Roerge, and Sir Villiars the
Valiant he made him Earl of Bearn, and Sir Hebes le
Renoumes he made him Earl of Comange, and Sir
Lavaine he made him Earl of Arminak, and Sir Urre
he made him Earl of Estrake, and Sir Neroneus he made him
Earl of Pardiak, and Sir Plenorius he made Earl of Foise,
and Sir Selises of the Dolorous Tower he made him Earl
of Masauke, and Sir Melias de Lile he made him Earl of
Tursauk, and Sir Bellangere le Beuse he made Earl of the
Launds, and Sir Palomides he made him Duke of the
Provence, and Sir Safere he made him Duke of Landok, and
Sir Clegis he gave him the Earldom of Agente, and Sir
Sadok he gave the Earldom of Surlat, and Sir Dinas le
Seneschal he made him Duke of Anjou, and Sir Clarrus
he made him Duke of Normandy. Thus Sir Launcelot
rewarded his noble knights and many more, that meseemeth
it were too long to rehearse



CHAPTER XIX

How King Arthur and Sir Gawaine made a great host ready
to go over sea to make war on Sir Launcelot


SO leave we Sir Launcelot in his lands, and his noble
knights with him, and return we again unto King Arthur
and to Sir Gawaine, that made a great host ready, to the
number of threescore thousand; and all thing was made
ready for their shipping to pass over the sea, and so they
shipped at Cardiff. And there King Arthur made Sir
Mordred chief ruler of all England, and also he put
Queen Guenever under his governance; because Sir
Mordred was King Arthur's son, he gave him the rule
of his land and of his wife; and so the king passed the
sea and landed upon Sir Launcelot's lands, and there he
brent and wasted, through the vengeance of Sir Gawaine,
all that they might overrun.

When this word came to Sir Launcelot, that King
Arthur and Sir Gawaine were landed upon his lands, and
made a full great destruction and waste, then spake Sir
Bors, and said: My lord Sir Launcelot, it is shame that
we suffer them thus to ride over our lands, for wit you
well, suffer ye them as long as ye will, they will do you
no favour an they may handle you. Then said Sir Lionel
that was wary and wise: My lord Sir Launcelot, I will
give this counsel, let us keep our strong walled towns
until they have hunger and cold, and blow on their nails;
and then let us freshly set upon them, and shred them
down as sheep in a field, that aliens may take example for
ever how they land upon our lands.

Then spake King Bagdemagus to Sir Launcelot: Sir,
your courtesy will shende us all, and thy courtesy hath
waked all this sorrow; for an they thus over our lands
ride, they shall by process bring us all to nought whilst
we thus in holes us hide. Then said Sir Galihud unto Sir
Launcelot: Sir, here be knights come of kings' blood,
that will not long droop, and they are within these walls;
therefore give us leave, like as we be knights, to meet
them in the field, and we shall slay them, that they shall
curse the time that ever they came into this country.
Then spake seven brethren of North Wales, and they
were seven noble knights; a man might seek in seven
kings' lands or he might find such seven knights. Then
they all said at once: Sir Launcelot, for Christ's sake let
us out ride with Sir Galihud, for we be never wont to
cower in castles nor in noble towns.

Then spake Sir Launcelot, that was master and
governor of them all: My fair lords, wit you well I
am full loath to ride out with my knights for shedding
of Christian blood; and yet my lands I understand be full
bare for to sustain any host awhile, for the mighty wars
that whilom made King Claudas upon this country, upon
my father King Ban, and on mine uncle King Bors; howbeit
we will as at this time keep our strong walls, and
I shall send a messenger unto my lord Arthur, a treaty
for to take; for better is peace than always war.

So Sir Launcelot sent forth a damosel and a dwarf
with her, requiring King Arthur to leave his warring
upon his lands; and so she start upon a palfrey, and the
dwarf ran by her side. And when she came to the
pavilion of King Arthur, there she alighted; and there
met her a gentle knight, Sir Lucan the Butler, and said:
Fair damosel, come ye from Sir Launcelot du Lake?
Yea sir, she said, therefore I come hither to speak with
my lord the king. Alas, said Sir Lucan, my lord Arthur
would love Launcelot, but Sir Gawaine will not suffer
him. And then he said: I pray to God, damosel, ye may
speed well, for all we that be about the king would Sir
Launcelot did best of any knight living. And so with
this Lucan led the damosel unto the king where he sat
with Sir Gawaine, for to hear what she would say. So
when she had told her tale, the water ran out of the king's
eyen, and all the lords were full glad for to advise the
king as to be accorded with Sir Launcelot, save all only
Sir Gawaine, and he said: My lord mine uncle, what will
ye do? Will ye now turn again, now ye are passed thus
far upon this journey? all the world will speak of your
villainy. Nay, said Arthur, wit thou well, Sir Gawaine,
I will do as ye will advise me; and yet meseemeth, said
Arthur, his fair proffers were not good to be refused; but
sithen I am come so far upon this journey, I will that ye
give the damosel her answer, for I may not speak to her
for pity, for her proffers be so large.



CHAPTER XX

What message Sir Gawaine sent to Sir Launcelot; and how
King Arthur laid siege to Benwick, and other matters


THEN Sir Gawaine said to the damosel thus: Damosel,
say ye to Sir Launcelot that it is waste labour now to sue
to mine uncle; for tell him, an he would have made any
labour for peace, he should have made it or this time, for
tell him now it is too late; and say that I, Sir Gawaine,
so send him word, that I promise him by the faith I owe
unto God and to knighthood, I shall never leave him till
he have slain me or I him. So the damosel wept and
departed, and there were many weeping eyen; and so Sir
Lucan brought the damosel to her palfrey, and so she
came to Sir Launcelot where he was among all his knights.
And when Sir Launcelot had heard this answer, then
the tears ran down by his cheeks. And then his noble
knights strode about him, and said: Sir Launcelot,
wherefore make ye such cheer, think what ye are, and what
men we are, and let us noble knights match them in
midst of the field. That may be lightly done, said Sir
Launcelot, but I was never so loath to do battle, and
therefore I pray you, fair sirs, as ye love me, be ruled as
I will have you, for I will always flee that noble king that
made me knight. And when I may no further, I must
needs defend me, and that will be more worship for me
and us all than to compare with that noble king whom we
have all served. Then they held their language, and as
that night they took their rest.

And upon the morn early, in the dawning of the day,
as knights looked out, they saw the city of Benwick
besieged round about; and fast they began to set up
ladders, and then they defied them out of the town, and
beat them from the walls wightly. Then came forth Sir
Gawaine well armed upon a stiff steed, and he came before
the chief gate, with his spear in his hand, crying: Sir
Launcelot, where art thou? is there none of you proud
knights dare break a spear with me? Then Sir Bors
made him ready, and came forth out of the town, and
there Sir Gawaine encountered with Sir Bors. And at
that time he smote Sir Bors down from his horse, and
almost he had slain him; and so Sir Bors was rescued and
borne into the town. Then came forth Sir Lionel, brother
to Sir Bors, and thought to revenge him; and either
feutred their spears, and ran together; and there they
met spitefully, but Sir Gawaine had such grace that he
smote Sir Lionel down, and wounded him there passing
sore; and then Sir Lionel was rescued and borne into the
town. And this Sir Gawaine came every day, and he
failed not but that he smote down one knight or other.

So thus they endured half a year, and much slaughter
was of people on both parties. Then it befell upon a day,
Sir Gawaine came afore the gates armed at all pieces on a
noble horse, with a great spear in his hand; and then he
cried with a loud voice: Where art thou now, thou false
traitor, Sir Launcelot? Why hidest thou thyself within
holes and walls like a coward? Look out now, thou
false traitor knight, and here I shall revenge upon thy
body the death of my three brethren. All this language
heard Sir Launcelot every deal; and his kin and his
knights drew about him, and all they said at once to Sir
Launcelot: Sir Launcelot, now must ye defend you like a
knight, or else ye be shamed for ever; for, now ye be
called upon treason, it is time for you to stir, for ye have
slept over-long and suffered over-much. So God me
help, said Sir Launcelot, I am right heavy of Sir Gawaine's
words, for now he charged me with a great charge; and
therefore I wot it as well as ye, that I must defend me, or
else to be recreant.

Then Sir Launcelot bade saddle his strongest horse,
and bade let fetch his arms, and bring all unto the gate
of the tower; and then Sir Launcelot spake on high unto
King Arthur, and said: My lord Arthur, and noble king
that made me knight, wit you well I am right heavy for
your sake, that ye thus sue upon me; and always I forbare
you, for an I would have been vengeable, I might
have met you in midst of the field, and there to have
made your boldest knights full tame. And now I have
forborne half a year, and suffered you and Sir Gawaine
to do what ye would do; and now may I endure it no
longer, for now must I needs defend myself, insomuch
Sir Gawaine hath appealed me of treason; the which is
greatly against my will that ever I should fight against
any of your blood, but now I may not forsake it, I am
driven thereto as a beast till a bay.

Then Sir Gawaine said: Sir Launcelot, an thou durst
do battle, leave thy babbling and come off, and let us ease
our hearts. Then Sir Launcelot armed him lightly, and
mounted upon his horse, and either of the knights gat
great spears in their hands, and the host without stood
still all apart, and the noble knights came out of the city
by a great number, insomuch that when Arthur saw the
number of men and knights, he marvelled, and said to
himself: Alas, that ever Sir Launcelot was against me, for
now I see he hath forborne me. And so the covenant
was made, there should no man nigh them, nor deal with
them, till the one were dead or yelden.



CHAPTER XXI

How Sir Launcelot and Sir Gawaine did battle together,
and how Sir Gawaine was overthrown and hurt


THEN Sir Gawaine and Sir Launcelot departed a great
way asunder, and then they came together with all their
horses' might as they might run, and either smote other
in midst of their shields; but the knights were so strong,
and their spears so big, that their horses might not endure
their buffets, and so their horses fell to the earth; and
then they avoided their horses, and dressed their shields
afore them. Then they stood together and gave many sad
strokes on divers places of their bodies, that the blood
brast out on many sides and places. Then had Sir
Gawaine such a grace and gift that an holy man had
given to him, that every day in the year, from underne
till high noon, his might increased those three hours as
much as thrice his strength, and that caused Sir Gawaine
to win great honour. And for his sake King Arthur
made an ordinance, that all manner of battles for any
quarrels that should be done afore King Arthur should
begin at underne; and all was done for Sir Gawaine's love,
that by likelihood, if Sir Gawaine were on the one part,
he should have the better in battle while his strength
endureth three hours; but there were but few knights
that time living that knew this advantage that Sir Gawaine
had, but King Arthur all only.

Thus Sir Launcelot fought with Sir Gawaine, and
when Sir Launcelot felt his might evermore increase, Sir
Launcelot wondered and dread him sore to be shamed.
For as the French book saith, Sir Launcelot weened, when
he felt Sir Gawaine double his strength, that he had been
a fiend and none earthly man; wherefore Sir Launcelot
traced and traversed, and covered himself with his shield,
and kept his might and his braide during three hours;
and that while Sir Gawaine gave him many sad brunts,
and many sad strokes, that all the knights that beheld
Sir Launcelot marvelled how that he might endure him;
but full little understood they that travail that Sir
Launcelot had for to endure him. And then when it was
past noon Sir Gawaine had no more but his own might.
When Sir Launcelot felt him so come down, then he
stretched him up and stood near Sir Gawaine, and said
thus: My lord Sir Gawaine, now I feel ye have done;
now my lord Sir Gawaine, I must do my part, for many
great and grievous strokes I have endured you this day
with great pain.

Then Sir Launcelot doubled his strokes and gave Sir
Gawaine such a buffet on the helmet that he fell down
on his side, and Sir Launcelot withdrew him from him.
Why withdrawest thou thee? said Sir Gawaine; now turn
again, false traitor knight, and slay me, for an thou leave
me thus, when I am whole I shall do battle with thee
again. I shall endure you, Sir, by God's grace, but wit
thou well, Sir Gawaine, I will never smite a felled knight.
And so Sir Launcelot went into the city; and Sir Gawaine
was borne into King Arthur's pavilion, and leeches were
brought to him, and searched and salved with soft ointments.
And then Sir Launcelot said: Now have good
day, my lord the king, for wit you well ye win no worship
at these walls; and if I would my knights outbring, there
should many a man die. Therefore, my lord Arthur,
remember you of old kindness; and however I fare, Jesu
be your guide in all places.



CHAPTER XXII

Of the sorrow that King Arthur made for the war, and of
another battle where also Sir Gawaine had the worse


ALAS, said the king, that ever this unhappy war was
begun; for ever Sir Launcelot forbeareth me in all places,
and in likewise my kin, and that is seen well this day by
my nephew Sir Gawaine. Then King Arthur fell sick for
sorrow of Sir Gawaine, that he was so sore hurt, and
because of the war betwixt him and Sir Launcelot. So
then they on King Arthur's part kept the siege with little
war withoutforth; and they withinforth kept their walls,
and defended them when need was. Thus Sir Gawaine
lay sick three weeks in his tents, with all manner
of leech-craft that might be had. And as soon as Sir Gawaine
might go and ride, he armed him at all points, and start
upon a courser, and gat a spear in his hand, and so he came
riding afore the chief gate of Benwick; and there he cried
on height: Where art thou, Sir Launcelot? Come forth,
thou false traitor knight and recreant, for I am here, Sir
Gawaine, will prove this that I say on thee.

All this language Sir Launcelot heard, and then he
said thus: Sir Gawaine, me repents of your foul saying,
that ye will not cease of your language; for you wot well,
Sir Gawaine, I know your might and all that ye may do;
and well ye wot, Sir Gawaine, ye may not greatly hurt
me. Come down, traitor knight, said he, and make it
good the contrary with thy hands, for it mishapped me
the last battle to be hurt of thy hands; therefore wit thou
well I am come this day to make amends, for I ween this
day to lay thee as low as thou laidest me. Jesu defend
me, said Sir Launcelot, that ever I be so far in your
danger as ye have been in mine, for then my days were
done. But Sir Gawaine, said Sir Launcelot, ye shall not
think that I tarry long, but sithen that ye so unknightly
call me of treason, ye shall have both your hands full of
me. And then Sir Launcelot armed him at all points,
and mounted upon his horse, and gat a great spear in his
hand, and rode out at the gate. And both the hosts were
assembled, of them without and of them within, and stood
in array full manly. And both parties were charged to
hold them still, to see and behold the battle of these two
noble knights. And then they laid their spears in their
rests, and they came together as thunder, and Sir Gawaine
brake his spear upon Sir Launcelot in a hundred pieces
unto his hand; and Sir Launcelot smote him with a greater
might, that Sir Gawaine's horse's feet raised, and so the
horse and he fell to the earth. Then Sir Gawaine deliverly
avoided his horse, and put his shield afore him, and eagerly
drew his sword, and bade Sir Launcelot: Alight, traitor
knight, for if this mare's son hath failed me, wit thou well
a king's son and a queen's son shall not fail thee.

Then Sir Launcelot avoided his horse, and dressed his
shield afore him, and drew his sword; and so stood they
together and gave many sad strokes, that all men on both
parties had thereof passing great wonder. But when Sir
Launcelot felt Sir Gawaine's might so marvellously
increase, he then withheld his courage and his wind, and
kept himself wonder covert of his might; and under his
shield he traced and traversed here and there, to break
Sir Gawaine's strokes and his courage; and Sir Gawaine
enforced himself with all his might and power to destroy
Sir Launcelot; for as the French book saith, ever as Sir
Gawaine's might increased, right so increased his wind
and his evil will. Thus Sir Gawaine did great pain unto
Sir Launcelot three hours, that he had right great pain for
to defend him.

And when the three hours were passed, that Sir
Launcelot felt that Sir Gawaine was come to his own
proper strength, then Sir Launcelot said unto Sir Gawaine:
Now have I proved you twice, that ye are a full dangerous
knight, and a wonderful man of your might; and many
wonderful deeds have ye done in your days, for by your
might increasing you have deceived many a full noble and
valiant knight; and, now I feel that ye have done your
mighty deeds, now wit you well I must do my deeds.
And then Sir Launcelot stood near Sir Gawaine, and then
Sir Launcelot doubled his strokes; and Sir Gawaine
defended him mightily, but nevertheless Sir Launcelot smote
such a stroke upon Sir Gawaine's helm, and upon the old
wound, that Sir Gawaine sinked down upon his one side
in a swoon. And anon as he did awake he waved and
foined at Sir Launcelot as he lay, and said: Traitor
knight, wit thou well I am not yet slain, come thou near
me and perform this battle unto the uttermost. I will no
more do than I have done, said Sir Launcelot, for when I
see you on foot I will do battle upon you all the while I
see you stand on your feet; but for to smite a wounded
man that may not stand, God defend me from such a
shame. And then he turned him and went his way
toward the city. And Sir Gawaine evermore calling him
traitor knight, and said: Wit thou well Sir Launcelot,
when I am whole I shall do battle with thee again, for I
shall never leave thee till that one of us be slain. Thus
as this siege endured, and as Sir Gawaine lay sick near a
month; and when he was well recovered and ready within
three days to do battle again with Sir Launcelot, right so
came tidings unto Arthur from England that made King
Arthur and all his host to remove.

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