Book: Le Morte Darthur

T >> Thomas Malory >> Le Morte Darthur




Thus of Arthur I find never more written in books
that be authorised, nor more of the very certainty of his
death heard I never read, but thus was he led away in a
ship wherein were three queens; that one was King
Arthur's sister, Queen Morgan le Fay; the other was the
Queen of Northgalis; the third was the Queen of the
Waste Lands. Also there was Nimue, the chief lady of
the lake, that had wedded Pelleas the good knight; and
this lady had done much for King Arthur, for she would
never suffer Sir Pelleas to be in no place where he should
be in danger of his life; and so he lived to the uttermost
of his days with her in great rest. More of the death of
King Arthur could I never find, but that ladies brought
him to his burials; and such one was buried there, that
the hermit bare witness that sometime was Bishop of
Canterbury, but yet the hermit knew not in certain that
he was verily the body of King Arthur: for this tale Sir
Bedivere, knight of the Table Round, made it to be
written.



CHAPTER VII

Of the opinion of some men of the death of King Arthur;
and how Queen Guenever made her a nun in Almesbury


YET some men say in many parts of England that King
Arthur is not dead, but had by the will of our Lord Jesu
into another place; and men say that he shall come again,
and he shall win the holy cross. I will not say it shall be
so, but rather I will say: here in this world he changed
his life. But many men say that there is written upon his
tomb this verse: Rexque futurus.> Thus leave I here Sir Bedivere with the
hermit, that dwelled that time in a chapel beside Glastonbury,
and there was his hermitage. And so they lived in
their prayers, and fastings, and great abstinence. And
when Queen Guenever understood that King Arthur was
slain, and all the noble knights, Sir Mordred and all the
remnant, then the queen stole away, and five ladies with
her, and so she went to Almesbury; and there she let
make herself a nun, and ware white clothes and black,
and great penance she took, as ever did sinful lady in this
land, and never creature could make her merry; but lived
in fasting, prayers, and alms-deeds, that all manner of
people marvelled how virtuously she was changed. Now
leave we Queen Guenever in Almesbury, a nun in white
clothes and black, and there she was Abbess and ruler
as reason would; and turn we from her, and speak we of
Sir Launcelot du Lake.



CHAPTER VIII

How when Sir Lancelot heard of the death of King
Arthur, and of Sir Gawaine, and other matters, he
came into England


AND when he heard in his country that Sir Mordred was
crowned king in England, and made war against King
Arthur, his own father, and would let him to land in his
own land; also it was told Sir Launcelot how that Sir Mordred
had laid siege about the Tower of London, because the
queen would not wed him; then was Sir Launcelot wroth
out of measure, and said to his kinsmen: Alas, that
double traitor Sir Mordred, now me repenteth that ever he
escaped my hands, for much shame hath he done unto my
lord Arthur; for all I feel by the doleful letter that my
lord Sir Gawaine sent me, on whose soul Jesu have mercy
that my lord Arthur is full hard bestead. Alas, said Sir
Launcelot, that ever I should live to hear that most noble
king that made me knight thus to be overset with his subject
in his own realm. And this doleful letter that my
lord, Sir Gawaine, hath sent me afore his death, praying
me to see his tomb, wit you well his doleful words shall
never go from mine heart, for he was a full noble knight
as ever was born; and in an unhappy hour was I born
that ever I should have that unhap to slay first Sir
Gawaine, Sir Gaheris the good knight, and mine own
friend Sir Gareth, that full noble knight. Alas, I may
say I am unhappy, said Sir Launcelot, that ever I should
do thus unhappily, and, alas, yet might I never have hap
to slay that traitor, Sir Mordred.

Leave your complaints, said Sir Bors, and first revenge
you of the death of Sir Gawaine; and it will be well done
that ye see Sir Gawaine's tomb, and secondly that ye
revenge my lord Arthur, and my lady, Queen Guenever
I thank you, said Sir Launcelot, for ever ye will my
worship.

Then they made them ready in all the haste that
might be, with ships and galleys, with Sir Launcelot and
his host to pass into England. And so he passed over
the sea till he came to Dover, and there he landed with
seven kings, and the number was hideous to behold.
Then Sir Launcelot spered of men of Dover where was
King Arthur become. Then the people told him how
that he was slain, and Sir Mordred and an hundred thousand
died on a day; and how Sir Mordred gave King
Arthur there the first battle at his landing, and there was
good Sir Gawaine slain; and on the morn Sir Mordred
fought with the king upon Barham Down, and there the
king put Sir Mordred to the worse. Alas, said Sir
Launcelot, this is the heaviest tidings that ever came to
me. Now, fair sirs, said Sir Launcelot, shew me the
tomb of Sir Gawaine. And then certain people of the
town brought him into the castle of Dover, and shewed
him the tomb. Then Sir Launcelot kneeled down and
wept, and prayed heartily for his soul. And that night he
made a dole, and all they that would come had as much
flesh, fish, wine and ale, and every man and woman had
twelve pence, come who would. Thus with his own hand
dealt he this money, in a mourning gown; and ever he
wept, and prayed them to pray for the soul of Sir
Gawaine. And on the morn all the priests and clerks that
might be gotten in the country were there, and sang mass
of Requiem; and there offered first Sir Launcelot, and he
offered an hundred pound; and then the seven kings
offered forty pound apiece; and also there was a thousand
knights, and each of them offered a pound; and the
offering dured from morn till night, and Sir Launcelot lay
two nights on his tomb in prayers and weeping.

Then on the third day Sir Launcelot called the kings,
dukes, earls, barons, and knights, and said thus: My fair
lords, I thank you all of your coming into this country
with me, but we came too late, and that shall repent me
while I live, but against death may no man rebel. But
sithen it is so, said Sir Launcelot, I will myself ride and
seek my lady, Queen Guenever, for as I hear say she hath
had great pain and much disease; and I heard say that
she is fled into the west. Therefore ye all shall abide me
here, and but if I come again within fifteen days, then
take your ships and your fellowship, and depart into your
country, for I will do as I say to you.



CHAPTER IX

How Sir Launcelot departed to seek the Queen Guenever, and
how he found her at Almesbury


THEN came Sir Bors de Ganis, and said: My lord Sir
Launcelot, what think ye for to do, now to ride in this
realm? wit ye well ye shall find few friends. Be as be
may, said Sir Launcelot, keep you still here, for I will
forth on my journey, and no man nor child shall go with
me. So it was no boot to strive, but he departed and
rode westerly, and there he sought a seven or eight days;
and at the last he came to a nunnery, and then was Queen
Guenever ware of Sir Launcelot as he walked in the
cloister. And when she saw him there she swooned
thrice, that all the ladies and gentlewomen had work
enough to hold the queen up. So when she might speak,
she called ladies and gentlewomen to her, and said: Ye
marvel, fair ladies, why I make this fare. Truly, she
said, it is for the sight of yonder knight that yonder
standeth; wherefore I pray you all call him to me.

When Sir Launcelot was brought to her, then she said
to all the ladies: Through this man and me hath all this
war been wrought, and the death of the most noblest
knights of the world; for through our love that we have
loved together is my most noble lord slain. Therefore,
Sir Launcelot, wit thou well I am set in such a plight to
get my soul-heal; and yet I trust through God's grace
that after my death to have a sight of the blessed face of
Christ, and at domesday to sit on his right side, for as
sinful as ever I was are saints in heaven. Therefore, Sir
Launcelot, I require thee and beseech thee heartily, for all
the love that ever was betwixt us, that thou never see me
more in the visage; and I command thee, on God's
behalf, that thou forsake my company, and to thy kingdom
thou turn again, and keep well thy realm from war and
wrack; for as well as I have loved thee, mine heart will
not serve me to see thee, for through thee and me is
the flower of kings and knights destroyed; therefore, Sir
Launcelot, go to thy realm, and there take thee a wife,
and live with her with joy and bliss; and I pray thee
heartily, pray for me to our Lord that I may amend
my misliving. Now, sweet madam, said Sir Launcelot,
would ye that I should now return again unto my country,
and there to wed a lady? Nay, madam, wit you well that
shall I never do, for I shall never be so false to you of
that I have promised; but the same destiny that ye have
taken you to, I will take me unto, for to please Jesu, and
ever for you I cast me specially to pray. If thou wilt do
so, said the queen, hold thy promise, but I may never
believe but that thou wilt turn to the world again. Well,
madam, said he, ye say as pleaseth you, yet wist you me
never false of my promise, and God defend but I should
forsake the world as ye have done. For in the quest of
the Sangreal I had forsaken the vanities of the world had
not your lord been. And if I had done so at that time,
with my heart, will, and thought, I had passed all the
knights that were in the Sangreal except Sir Galahad, my
son. And therefore, lady, sithen ye have taken you to
perfection, I must needs take me to perfection, of right.
For I take record of God, in you I have had mine earthly
joy; and if I had found you now so disposed, I had cast
me to have had you into mine own realm.



CHAPTER X

How Sir Launcelot came to the hermitage where the Archbishop
of Canterbury was, and how he took the habit on
him


BUT sithen I find you thus disposed, I ensure you faithfully,
I will ever take me to penance, and pray while my life
lasteth, if I may find any hermit, either gray or white, that
will receive me. Wherefore, madam, I pray you kiss me
and never no more. Nay, said the queen, that shall I
never do, but abstain you from such works: and they
departed. But there was never so hard an hearted man
but he would have wept to see the dolour that they made;
for there was lamentation as they had been stung with
spears; and many times they swooned, and the ladies bare
the queen to her chamber.

And Sir Launcelot awoke, and went and took his horse,
and rode all that day and all night in a forest, weeping.
And at the last he was ware of an hermitage and a chapel
stood betwixt two cliffs; and then he heard a little bell
ring to mass, and thither he rode and alighted, and tied his
horse to the gate, and heard mass. And he that sang
mass was the Bishop of Canterbury. Both the Bishop and
Sir Bedivere knew Sir Launcelot, and they spake together
after mass. But when Sir Bedivere had told his tale all
whole, Sir Launcelot's heart almost brast for sorrow, and
Sir Launcelot threw his arms abroad, and said: Alas, who
may trust this world. And then he kneeled down on his
knee, and prayed the Bishop to shrive him and assoil him.
And then he besought the Bishop that he might be his
brother. Then the Bishop said: I will gladly; and there
he put an habit upon Sir Launcelot, and there he served God
day and night with prayers and fastings.

Thus the great host abode at Dover. And then Sir
Lionel took fifteen lords with him, and rode to London to
seek Sir Launcelot; and there Sir Lionel was slain and
many of his lords. Then Sir Bors de Ganis made the
great host for to go home again; and Sir Bors, Sir Ector
de Maris, Sir Blamore, Sir Bleoberis, with more other of
Sir Launcelot's kin, took on them to ride all England
overthwart and endlong, to seek Sir Launcelot. So Sir
Bors by fortune rode so long till he came to the same
chapel where Sir Launcelot was; and so Sir Bors heard a
little bell knell, that rang to mass; and there he alighted
and heard mass. And when mass was done, the Bishop
Sir Launcelot, and Sir Bedivere, came to Sir Bors. And
when Sir Bors saw Sir Launcelot in that manner clothing,
then he prayed the Bishop that he might be in the same
suit. And so there was an habit put upon him, and there
he lived in prayers and fasting. And within half a year,
there was come Sir Galihud, Sir Galihodin, Sir Blamore, Sir
Bleoberis, Sir Villiars, Sir Clarras, and Sir Gahalantine. So
all these seven noble knights there abode still. And when
they saw Sir Launcelot had taken him to such perfection,
they had no lust to depart, but took such an habit as he
had.

Thus they endured in great penance six year; and then
Sir Launcelot took the habit of priesthood of the Bishop,
and a twelvemonth he sang mass. And there was none
of these other knights but they read in books, and holp
for to sing mass, and rang bells, and did bodily all manner
of service. And so their horses went where they would,
for they took no regard of no worldly riches. For when
they saw Sir Launcelot endure such penance, in prayers, and
fastings, they took no force what pain they endured, for to
see the noblest knight of the world take such abstinence
that he waxed full lean. And thus upon a night, there
came a vision to Sir Launcelot, and charged him, in remission
of his sins, to haste him unto Almesbury: And by
then thou come there, thou shalt find Queen Guenever
dead. And therefore take thy fellows with thee, and
purvey them of an horse bier, and fetch thou the corpse of
her, and bury her by her husband, the noble King Arthur.
So this avision came to Sir Launcelot thrice in one
night.



CHAPTER XI

How Sir Launcelot went with his seven fellows to Almesbury,
and found there Queen Guenever dead, whom they
brought to Glastonbury


THEN Sir Launcelot rose up or day, and told the
hermit. It were well done, said the hermit, that ye made
you ready, and that you disobey not the avision. Then
Sir Launcelot took his eight fellows with him, and on foot
they yede from Glastonbury to Almesbury, the which is
little more than thirty mile. And thither they came
within two days, for they were weak and feeble to go.
And when Sir Launcelot was come to Almesbury within
the nunnery, Queen Guenever died but half an hour afore.
And the ladies told Sir Launcelot that Queen Guenever
told them all or she passed, that Sir Launcelot had been
priest near a twelvemonth, And hither he cometh as fast
as he may to fetch my corpse; and beside my lord, King
Arthur, he shall bury me. Wherefore the queen said in
hearing of them all: I beseech Almighty God that I may
never have power to see Sir Launcelot with my worldly
eyen; and thus, said all the ladies, was ever her prayer
these two days, till she was dead. Then Sir Launcelot
saw her visage, but he wept not greatly, but sighed. And
so he did all the observance of the service himself, both
the dirige, and on the morn he sang mass. And there
was ordained an horse bier; and so with an hundred
torches ever brenning about the corpse of the queen, and
ever Sir Launcelot with his eight fellows went about the
horse bier, singing and reading many an holy orison, and
frankincense upon the corpse incensed. Thus Sir Launcelot
and his eight fellows went on foot from Almesbury
unto Glastonbury.

And when they were come to the chapel and the
hermitage, there she had a dirige, with great devotion.
And on the morn the hermit that sometime was Bishop of
Canterbury sang the mass of Requiem with great devotion.
And Sir Launcelot was the first that offered, and then also
his eight fellows. And then she was wrapped in cered
cloth of Raines, from the top to the toe, in thirtyfold,
and after she was put in a web of lead, and then in a coffin
of marble. And when she was put in the earth Sir Launcelot
swooned, and lay long still, while the hermit came
and awaked him, and said: Ye be to blame, for ye
displease God with such manner of sorrow-making. Truly,
said Sir Launcelot, I trust I do not displease God, for He
knoweth mine intent. For my sorrow was not, nor is not
for any rejoicing of sin, but my sorrow may never have
end. For when I remember of her beauty, and of her
noblesse, that was both with her king and with her, so
when I saw his corpse and her corpse so lie together, truly
mine heart would not serve to sustain my careful body.
Also when I remember me how by my default, mine orgule
and my pride, that they were both laid full low, that were
peerless that ever was living of Christian people, wit you
well, said Sir Launcelot, this remembered, of their kindness
and mine unkindness, sank so to mine heart, that I
might not sustain myself. So the French book maketh
mention.



CHAPTER XII

How Sir Launcelot began to sicken, and after died, whose
body was borne to Joyous Gard for to be buried


THEN Sir Launcelot never after ate but little meat, ne
drank, till he was dead. For then he sickened more and
more, and dried, and dwined away. For the Bishop nor
none of his fellows might not make him to eat, and little
he drank, that he was waxen by a cubit shorter than he
was, that the people could not know him. For evermore,
day and night, he prayed, but sometime he slumbered a
broken sleep; ever he was lying grovelling on the tomb
of King Arthur and Queen Guenever. And there was no
comfort that the Bishop, nor Sir Bors, nor none of his
fellows, could make him, it availed not. So within six
weeks after, Sir Launcelot fell sick, and lay in his bed; and
then he sent for the Bishop that there was hermit, and all
his true fellows. Then Sir Launcelot said with dreary
steven: Sir Bishop, I pray you give to me all my rites that
longeth to a Christian man. It shall not need you, said
the hermit and all his fellows, it is but heaviness of your
blood, ye shall be well mended by the grace of God
to-morn. My fair lords, said Sir Launcelot, wit you well
my careful body will into the earth, I have warning more
than now I will say; therefore give me my rites. So
when he was houseled and anealed, and had all that a
Christian man ought to have, he prayed the Bishop that his
fellows might bear his body to Joyous Gard. Some men
say it was Alnwick, and some men say it was Bamborough.
Howbeit, said Sir Launcelot, me repenteth sore, but I made
mine avow sometime, that in Joyous Gard I would be
buried. And because of breaking of mine avow, I pray
you all, lead me thither. Then there was weeping and
wringing of hands among his fellows.

So at a season of the night they all went to their beds,
for they all lay in one chamber. And so after midnight,
against day, the Bishop [that] then was hermit, as he lay in
his bed asleep, he fell upon a great laughter. And
therewith all the fellowship awoke, and came to the Bishop, and
asked him what he ailed. Ah Jesu mercy, said the Bishop,
why did ye awake me? I was never in all my life so merry
and so well at ease. Wherefore? said Sir Bors. Truly
said the Bishop, here was Sir Launcelot with me with mo
angels than ever I saw men in one day. And I saw the
angels heave up Sir Launcelot unto heaven, and the gates
of heaven opened against him. It is but dretching of
swevens, said Sir Bors, for I doubt not Sir Launcelot aileth
nothing but good. It may well be, said the Bishop; go
ye to his bed, and then shall ye prove the sooth. So when
Sir Bors and his fellows came to his bed they found him
stark dead, and he lay as he had smiled, and the sweetest
savour about him that ever they felt.

Then was there weeping and wringing of hands, and
the greatest dole they made that ever made men. And
on the morn the Bishop did his mass of Requiem,
and after, the Bishop and all the nine knights put Sir
Launcelot in the same horse bier that Queen Guenever
was laid in to-fore that she was buried. And so the Bishop
and they all together went with the body of Sir Launcelot
daily, till they came to Joyous Gard; and ever they had
an hundred torches brenning about him. And so within
fifteen days they came to Joyous Gard. And there they
laid his corpse in the body of the quire, and sang and
read many psalters and prayers over him and about him.

And ever his visage was laid open and naked, that all
folks might behold him. For such was the custom in
those days, that all men of worship should so lie with
open visage till that they were buried. And right thus
as they were at their service, there came Sir Ector de
Maris, that had seven years sought all England, Scotland,
and Wales, seeking his brother, Sir Launcelot.



CHAPTER XIII

How Sir Ector found Sir Launcelot his brother dead, and
how Constantine reigned next after Arthur; and of the
end of this book


AND when Sir Ector heard such noise and light in the
quire of Joyous Gard, he alighted and put his horse from
him, and came into the quire, and there he saw men sing
and weep. And all they knew Sir Ector, but he knew
not them. Then went Sir Bors unto Sir Ector, and told
him how there lay his brother, Sir Launcelot, dead; and
then Sir Ector threw his shield, sword, and helm from
him. And when he beheld Sir Launcelot's visage, he fell
down in a swoon. And when he waked it were hard any
tongue to tell the doleful complaints that he made for his
brother. Ah Launcelot, he said, thou were head of all
Christian knights, and now I dare say, said Sir Ector,
thou Sir Launcelot, there thou liest, that thou were never
matched of earthly knight's hand. And thou were the
courteoust knight that ever bare shield. And thou were
the truest friend to thy lover that ever bestrad horse.
And thou were the truest lover of a sinful man that ever
loved woman. And thou were the kindest man that ever
struck with sword. And thou were the goodliest person
that ever came among press of knights. And thou was
the meekest man and the gentlest that ever ate in hall
among ladies. And thou were the sternest knight to thy
mortal foe that ever put spear in the rest. Then there
was weeping and dolour out of measure.

Thus they kept Sir Launcelot's corpse aloft fifteen
days, and then they buried it with great devotion. And
then at leisure they went all with the Bishop of Canterbury
to his hermitage, and there they were together more than
a month. Then Sir Constantine, that was Sir Cador's
son of Cornwall, was chosen king of England. And he
was a full noble knight, and worshipfully he ruled this
realm. And then this King Constantine sent for the
Bishop of Canterbury, for he heard say where he was.
And so he was restored unto his Bishopric, and left that
hermitage. And Sir Bedivere was there ever still hermit
to his life's end. Then Sir Bors de Ganis, Sir Ector de
Maris, Sir Gahalantine, Sir Galihud, Sir Galihodin, Sir
Blamore, Sir Bleoberis, Sir Villiars le Valiant, Sir Clarrus
of Clermont, all these knights drew them to their
countries. Howbeit King Constantine would have had
them with him, but they would not abide in this realm.
And there they all lived in their countries as holy men.
And some English books make mention that they went
never out of England after the death of Sir Launcelot,
but that was but favour of makers. For the French book
maketh mention, and is authorised, that Sir Bors, Sir
Ector, Sir Blamore, and Sir Bleoberis, went into the Holy
Land thereas Jesu Christ was quick and dead, and anon as
they had stablished their lands. For the book saith, so
Sir Launcelot commanded them for to do, or ever he passed
out of this world. And these four knights did many
battles upon the miscreants or Turks. And there they
died upon a Good Friday for God's sake.

noble knights of the Round Table, that when they
were whole together there was ever an hundred and
forty. And here is the end of the death of Arthur.
I pray you all, gentlemen and gentlewomen that>
the beginning to the ending, pray for me while I
am alive, that God send me good deliverance, and
when I am dead, I pray you all pray for my soul.
For this book was ended the ninth year of the
reign of King Edward the Fourth, by Sir Thomas
Maleore, knight, as Jesu help him for his great
might, as he is the servant of Jesu both day and
night.>

Darthur. Notwithstanding it treateth of the birth,
life, and acts of the said King Arthur, of his noble
knights of the Round Table, their marvellous enquests
and adventures, the achieving of the Sangreal,
and in the end the dolorous death and departing out
of this world of them all. Which book was reduced
into English by Sir Thomas Malory, knight, as
afore is said, and by me divided into twenty-one
books, chaptered and emprinted, and finished in the
abbey, Westminster, the last day of July the year of
our Lord MCCCCLXXX{?}.>

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