Book: Le Morte Darthur

T >> Thomas Malory >> Le Morte Darthur






CHAPTER XX

How it was told Sir Launcelot that Dagonet chased King
Mark, and how a knight overthrew him and six knights.


Now turn we again. When Sir Ganis and Sir Brandiles
with his fellows came to the court of King Arthur they
told the king, Sir Launcelot, and Sir Tristram, how Sir
Dagonet, the fool, chased King Mark through the forest,
and how the strong knight smote them down all seven
with one spear. There was great laughing and japing
at King Mark and at Sir Dagonet. But all these knights
could not tell what knight it was that rescued King
Mark. Then they asked King Mark if that he knew
him, and he answered and said: He named himself the
Knight that followed the Questing Beast, and on that
name he sent one of my varlets to a place where was his
mother; and when she heard from whence he came she
made passing great dole, and discovered to my varlet
his name, and said: Oh, my dear son, Sir Palomides,
why wilt thou not see me? And therefore, sir, said King
Mark, it is to understand his name is Sir Palomides, a
noble knight. Then were all these seven knights glad
that they knew his name.

Now turn we again, for on the morn they took their
horses, both Sir Lamorak, Palomides, and Dinadan, with
their squires and varlets, till they saw a fair castle that
stood on a mountain well closed, and thither they rode,
and there they found a knight that hight Galahalt, that
was lord of that castle, and there they had great cheer
and were well eased. Sir Dinadan, said Sir Lamorak,
what will ye do? Oh sir, said Dinadan, I will to-morrow
to the court of King Arthur. By my head, said Sir
Palomides, I will not ride these three days, for I am sore
hurt, and much have I bled, and therefore I will repose
me here. Truly, said Sir Lamorak, and I will abide here
with you; and when ye ride, then will I ride, unless that
ye tarry over long; then will I take my horse. Therefore
I pray you, Sir Dinadan, abide and ride with us. Faithfully,
said Dinadan, I will not abide, for I have such a
talent to see Sir Tristram that I may not abide long
from him. Ah, Dinadan, said Sir Palomides, now do I
understand that ye love my mortal enemy, and therefore
how should I trust you. Well, said Dinadan, I love my
lord Sir Tristram, above all other, and him will I serve
and do honour. So shall I, said Sir Lamorak, in all that
may lie in my power.

So on the morn Sir Dinadan rode unto the court of
King Arthur; and by the way as he rode he saw where
stood an errant knight, and made him ready for to joust.
Not so, said Dinadan, for I have no will to joust. With
me shall ye joust, said the knight, or that ye pass this
way. Whether ask ye jousts, by love or by hate? The
knight answered: Wit ye well I ask it for love, and not
for hate. It may well be so, said Sir Dinadan, but ye
proffer me hard love when ye will joust with me with a
sharp spear. But, fair knight, said Sir Dinadan, sith ye
will joust with me, meet with me in the court of King
Arthur, and there shall I joust with you. Well, said
the knight, sith ye will not joust with me, I pray you
tell me your name. Sir knight, said he, my name is Sir
Dinadan. Ah, said the knight, full well know I you
for a good knight and a gentle, and wit you well I love
you heartily. Then shall there be no jousts, said
Dinadan, betwixt us. So they departed. And the same
day he came to Camelot, where lay King Arthur. And
there he saluted the king and the queen, Sir Launcelot,
and Sir Tristram; and all the court was glad of Sir
Dinadan, for he was gentle, wise, and courteous, and a
good knight. And in especial, the valiant knight Sir
Tristram loved Sir Dinadan passing well above all other
knights save Sir Launcelot.

Then the king asked Sir Dinadan what adventures
he had seen. Sir, said Dinadan, I have seen many
adventures, and of some King Mark knoweth, but not
all. Then the king hearkened Sir Dinadan, how he told
that Sir Palomides and he were afore the castle of
Morgan le Fay, and how Sir Lamorak took the jousts
afore them, and how he forjousted twelve knights, and
of them four he slew, and how after he smote down Sir
Palomides and me both. t I may not believe that, said
the king, for Sir Palomides is a passing good knight.
That is very truth, said Sir Dinadan, but yet I saw him
better proved, hand for hand. And then he told the
king all that battle, and how Sir Palomides was more
weaker, and more hurt, and more lost of his blood. And
without doubt, said Sir Dinadan, had the battle longer
lasted, Palomides had been slain. O Jesu, said King
Arthur, this is to me a great marvel. Sir, said Tristram,
marvel ye nothing thereof, for at mine advice there is
not a valianter knight in the world living, for I know
his might. And now I will say you, I was never so
weary of knight but if it were Sir Launcelot. And
there is no knight in the world except Sir Launcelot that
did so well as Sir Lamorak. So God me help, said the
king, I would that knight, Sir Lamorak, came to this
Court. Sir, said Dinadan, he will be here in short space,
and Sir Palomides both, but I fear that Palomides may
not yet travel.



CHAPTER XXI

How King Arthur let do cry a jousts, and how Sir
Lamorak came in, and overthrew Sir Gawaine and
many other.


THEN within three days after the king let make a jousting
at a priory. And there made them ready many knights
of the Round Table, for Sir Gawaine and his brethren
made them ready to joust; but Tristram, Launcelot,
nor Dinadan, would not joust, but suffered Sir Gawaine,
for the love of King Arthur, with his brethren, to win
the gree if they might. Then on the morn they apparelled
them to joust, Sir Gawaine and his four brethren, and
did there great deeds of arms. And Sir Ector de Maris
did marvellously well, but Sir Gawaine passed all that
fellowship; wherefore King Arthur and all the knights
gave Sir Gawaine the honour at the beginning.

Right so King Arthur was ware of a knight and two
squires, the which came out of a forest side, with a shield
covered with leather, and then he came slyly and hurtled
here and there, and anon with one spear he had smitten
down two knights of the Round Table. Then with his
hurtling he lost the covering of his shield, then was the
king and all other ware that he bare a red shield. O Jesu,
said King Arthur, see where rideth a stout knight, he
with the red shield. And there was noise and crying
Beware the Knight with the Red Shield. So within a little
while he had overthrown three brethren of Sir Gawaine's.
So God me help, said King Arthur, meseemeth yonder is
the best jouster that ever I saw. With that he saw him
encounter with Sir Gawaine, and he smote him down with
so great force that he made his horse to avoid his
saddle. How now, said the king, Sir Gawaine hath a
fall; well were me an I knew what knight he were with
the red shield. I know him well, said Dinadan, but as
at this time ye shall not know his name. By my head,
said Sir Tristram, he jousted better than Sir Palomides,
and if ye list to know his name, wit ye well his name is
Sir Lamorak de Galis.

As they stood thus talking, Sir Gawaine and he encountered
together again, and there he smote Sir Gawaine
from his horse, and bruised him sore. And in the sight
of King Arthur he smote down twenty knights, beside Sir
Gawaine and his brethren. And so clearly was the prize
given him as a knight peerless. Then slyly and marvellously
Sir Lamorak withdrew him from all the fellowship
into the forest side. All this espied King Arthur, for his
eye went never from him. Then the king, Sir Launcelot,
Sir Tristram, and Sir Dinadan, took their hackneys, and
rode straight after the good knight, Sir Lamorak de Galis,
and there found him. And thus said the king: Ah, fair
knight, well be ye found. When he saw the king he put
off his helm and saluted him, and when he saw Sir Tristram
he alighted down off his horse and ran to him to take him
by the thighs, but Sir Tristram would not suffer him, but
he alighted or that he came, and either took other in arms,
and made great joy of other. The king was glad, and
also was all the fellowship of the Round Table, except Sir
Gawaine and his brethren. And when they wist that he
was Sir Lamorak, they had great despite at him, and were
wonderly wroth with him that he had put him to dishonour that day.

Then Gawaine called privily in council all his brethren,
and to them said thus: Fair brethren, here may ye see,
whom that we hate King Arthur loveth, and whom that
we love he hateth. And wit ye well, my fair brethren,
that this Sir Lamorak will never love us, because we slew
his father, King Pellinore, for we deemed that he slew our
father, King of Orkney. And for the despite of Pellinore,
Sir Lamorak did us a shame to our mother, therefore I will
be revenged. Sir, said Sir Gawaine's brethren, let see how
ye will or may be revenged, and ye shall find us ready.
Well, said Gawaine, hold you still and we shall espy our
time.



CHAPTER XXII

How King Arthur made King Mark to be accorded with
Sir Tristram, and how they departed toward Cornwall.


NOW pass we our matter, and leave we Sir Gawaine, and
speak of King Arthur, that on a day said unto King Mark:
Sir, I pray you give me a gift that I shall ask you. Sir, said
King Mark, I will give you whatsomever ye desire an it be
in my power. Sir, gramercy, said Arthur. This I will ask
you, that ye will be good lord unto Sir Tristram, for he is a
man of great honour; and that ye will take him with you
into Cornwall, and let him see his friends, and there cherish
him for my sake. Sir, said King Mark, I promise you by
the faith of my body, and by the faith that I owe to God
and to you, I shall worship him for your sake in all that I
can or may. Sir, said Arthur, and I will forgive you all
the evil will that ever I ought you, an so be that you swear
that upon a book before me. With a good will, said King
Mark; and so he there sware upon a book afore him and
all his knights, and therewith King Mark and Sir Tristram
took either other by the hands hard knit together. But
for all this King Mark thought falsely, as it proved after,
for he put Sir Tristram in prison, and cowardly would
have slain him.

Then soon after King Mark took his leave to ride into
Cornwall, and Sir Tristram made him ready to ride with
him, whereof the most part of the Round Table were
wroth and heavy, and in especial Sir Launcelot, and Sir
Lamorak, and Sir Dinadan, were wroth out of measure
For well they wist King Mark would slay or destroy Sir
Tristram. Alas, said Dinadan, that my lord, Sir Tristram,
shall depart. And Sir Tristram took such sorrow that he
was amazed like a fool. Alas, said Sir Launcelot unto
King Arthur, what have ye done, for ye shall lose the most
man of worship that ever came into your court. It was
his own desire, said Arthur, and therefore I might not do
withal, for I have done all that I can and made them at
accord. Accord, said Sir Launcelot, fie upon that accord,
for ye shall hear that he shall slay Sir Tristram, or put him
in a prison, for he is the most coward and the villainest
king and knight that is now living.

And therewith Sir Launcelot departed, and came to
King Mark, and said to him thus: Sir king, wit thou well
the good knight Sir Tristram shall go with thee. Beware,
I rede thee, of treason, for an thou mischief that knight
by any manner of falsehood or treason, by the faith I owe
to God and to the order of knighthood, I shall slay thee
with mine own hands. Sir Launcelot, said the king,
overmuch have ye said to me, and I have sworn and said over
largely afore King Arthur in hearing of all his knights,
that I shall not slay nor betray him. It were to me
overmuch shame to break my promise. Ye say well, said Sir
Launcelot, but ye are called so false and full of treason
that no man may believe you. Forsooth it is known well
wherefore ye came into this country, and for none other
cause but for to slay Sir Tristram. So with great dole
King Mark and Sir Tristram rode together, for it was by
Sir Tristram's will and his means to go with King Mark,
and all was for the intent to see La Beale Isoud, for
without the sight of her Sir Tristram might not endure.



CHAPTER XXIII

How Sir Percivale was made knight of King Arthur, and
how a dumb maid spake, and brought him to the
Round Table.


NOW turn we again unto Sir Lamorak, and speak we of
his brethren, Sir Tor, which was King Pellinore's first son
and begotten of Aryes, wife of the cowherd, for he was a
bastard; and Sir Aglovale was his first son begotten in
wedlock; Sir Lamorak, Dornar, Percivale, these were his
sons too in wedlock. So when King Mark and Sir Tristram
were departed from the court there was made great
dole and sorrow for the departing of Sir Tristram. Then
the king and his knights made no manner of joys eight days
after. And at the eight days' end there came to the court
a knight with a young squire with him. And when this
knight was unarmed, he went to the king and required him
to make the young squire a knight. Of what lineage is he
come? said King Arthur. Sir, said the knight, he is the
son of King Pellinore, that did you some time good service,
and he is a brother unto Sir Lamorak de Galis, the good
knight. Well, said the king, for what cause desire ye that
of me that I should make him knight? Wit you well, my
lord the king, that this young squire is brother to me as
well as to Sir Lamorak, and my name is Aglavale. Sir
Aglavale, said Arthur, for the love of Sir Lamorak, and
for his father's love, he shall be made knight to-morrow.
Now tell me, said Arthur, what is his name? Sir, said
the knight, his name is Percivale de Galis. So on the
morn the king made him knight in Camelot. But the
king and all the knights thought it would be long or that
he proved a good knight.

Then at the dinner, when the king was set at the table,
and every knight after he was of prowess, the king
commanded him to be set among mean knights; and so was
Sir Percivale set as the king commanded. Then was
there a maiden in the queen's court that was come of high
blood, and she was dumb and never spake word. Right
so she came straight into the hall, and went unto Sir
Percivale, and took him by the hand and said aloud, that
the king and all the knights might hear it: Arise, Sir
Percivale, the noble knight and God's knight, and go with
me; and so he did. And there she brought him to the
right side of the Siege Perilous, and said, Fair knight, take
here thy siege, for that siege appertaineth to thee and to
none other. Right so she departed and asked a priest.
And as she was confessed and houselled then she died.
Then the king and all the court made great joy of Sir
Percivale.



CHAPTER XXIV

How Sir Lamorak visited King Lot's wife, and how Sir
Gaheris slew her which was his own mother.


NOW turn we unto Sir Lamorak, that much was there praised.
Then, by the mean of Sir Gawaine and his brethren, they
sent for their mother there besides, fast by a castle beside
Camelot; and all was to that intent to slay Sir Lamorak.
The Queen of Orkney was there but a while, but Sir
Lamorak wist of their being, and was full fain; and for to
make an end of this matter, he sent unto her, and there
betwixt them was a night assigned that Sir Lamorak should
come to her. Thereof was ware Sir Gaheris, and there he
rode afore the same night, and waited upon Sir Lamorak,
and then he saw where he came all armed. And where
Sir Lamorak alighted he tied his horse to a privy postern,
and so he went into a parlour and unarmed him; and
then he went unto the queen's bed, and she made of him
passing great joy, and he of her again, for either loved
other passing sore. So when the knight, Sir Gaheris, saw
his time, he came to their bedside all armed, with his sword
naked, and suddenly gat his mother by the hair and struck
off her head.

When Sir Lamorak saw the blood dash upon him all
hot, the which he loved passing well, wit you well he was
sore abashed and dismayed of that dolorous knight. And
therewithal, Sir Lamorak leapt out of the bed in his shirt
as a knight dismayed, saying thus: Ah, Sir Gaheris, knight
of the Table Round, foul and evil have ye done, and to you
great shame. Alas, why have ye slain your mother that
bare you? with more right ye should have slain me. The
offence hast thou done, said Gaheris, notwithstanding a
man is born to offer his service; but yet shouldst thou
beware with whom thou meddlest, for thou hast put me
and my brethren to a shame, and thy father slew our
father; and thou to lie by our mother is too much shame
for us to suffer. And as for thy father, King Pellinore
my brother Sir Gawaine and I slew him. Ye did him
the more wrong, said Sir Lamorak, for my father slew
not your father, it was Balin le Savage: and as yet my
father's death is not revenged. Leave those words, said Sir
Gaheris, for an thou speak feloniously I will slay thee. But
because thou art naked I am ashamed to slay thee. But
wit thou well, in what place I may get thee I shall slay
thee; and now my mother is quit of thee; and withdraw
thee and take thine armour, that thou were gone. Sir
Lamorak saw there was none other bote, but fast armed
him, and took his horse and rode his way making great
sorrow. But for the shame and dolour he would not ride
to King Arthur's court, but rode another way.

But when it was known that Gaheris had slain his
mother the king was passing wroth, and commanded him
to go out of his court. Wit ye well Sir Gawaine was
wroth that Gaheris had slain his mother and let Sir Lamorak
escape. And for this matter was the king passing wroth,
and so was Sir Launcelot, and many other knights. Sir, said
Sir Launcelot, here is a great mischief befallen by felony,
and by forecast treason, that your sister is thus shamefully
slain. And I dare say that it was wrought by treason,
and I dare say ye shall lose that good knight, Sir Lamorak
the which is great pity. I wot well and am sure, an Sir
Tristram wist it, he would never more come within your
court, the which should grieve you much more and all your
knights. God defend, said the noble King Arthur, that I
should lose Sir Lamorak or Sir Tristram, for then twain
of my chief knights of the Table Round were gone. Sir,
said Sir Launcelot, I am sure ye shall lose Sir Lamorak, for
Sir Gawaine and his brethren will slay him by one mean or
other; for they among them have concluded and sworn to
slay him an ever they may see their time. That shall I
let, said Arthur.



CHAPTER XXV

How Sir Agravaine and Sir Mordred met with a knight
fleeing, and how they both were overthrown, and of Sir
Dinadan.


NOW leave we of Sir Lamorak, and speak of Sir Gawaine's
brethren, and specially of Sir Agravaine and Sir Mordred.
As they rode on their adventures they met with a knight
fleeing, sore wounded; and they asked him what tidings.
Fair knights, said he, here cometh a knight after me that
will slay me. With that came Sir Dinadan riding to them
by adventure, but he would promise them no help. But
Sir Agravaine and Sir Mordred promised him to rescue
him. Therewithal came that knight straight unto them,
and anon he proffered to joust. That saw Sir Mordred
and rode to him, but he struck Mordred over his horse's
tail. That saw Sir Agravaine, and straight he rode toward
that knight, and right so as he served Mordred so he
served Agravaine, and said to them: Sirs, wit ye well both
that I am Breuse Saunce Pit, that hath done this to you.
And yet he rode over Agravaine five or six times. When
Dinadan saw this, he must needs joust with him for shame.
And so Dinadan and he encountered together, that with
pure strength Sir Dinadan smote him over his horse's tail
Then he took his horse and fled, for he was on foot one
of the valiantest knights in Arthur's days, and a great
destroyer of all good knights.

Then rode Sir Dinadan unto Sir Mordred and unto Sir
Agravaine. Sir knight, said they all, well have ye done,
and well have ye revenged us, wherefore we pray you tell
us your name. Fair sirs, ye ought to know my name, the
which is called Sir Dinadan. When they understood that it
was Dinadan they were more wroth than they were before,
for they hated him out of measure because of Sir Lamorak.
For Dinadan had such a custom that he loved all good
knights that were valiant, and he hated all those that were
destroyers of good knights. And there were none that
hated Dinadan but those that ever were called murderers.
Then spake the hurt knight that Breuse Saunce Pit had
chased, his name was Dalan, and said: If thou be Dinadan
thou slewest my father. It may well be so, said Dinadan,
but then it was in my defence and at his request. By my
head, said Dalan, thou shalt die therefore, and therewith
he dressed his spear and his shield. And to make the
shorter tale, Sir Dinadan smote him down off his horse,
that his neck was nigh broken. And in the same wise he
smote Sir Mordred and Sir Agravaine. And after, in the
quest of the Sangreal, cowardly and feloniously they slew
Dinadan, the which was great damage, for he was a great
bourder and a passing good knight.

And so Sir Dinadan rode to a castle that hight Beale-
Valet. And there he found Sir Palomides that was not
yet whole of the wound that Sir Lamorak gave him. And
there Dinadan told Palomides all the tidings that he heard
and saw of Sir Tristram, and how he was gone with King
Mark, and with him he hath all his will and desire.
Therewith Sir Palomides waxed wroth, for he loved La
Beale Isoud. And then he wist well that Sir Tristram
enjoyed her.



CHAPTER XXVI

How King Arthur, the Queen, and Launcelot received letters
out of Cornwall, and of the answer again.


NOW leave we Sir Palomides and Sir Dinadan in the Castle
of Beale-Valet, and turn we again unto King Arthur.
There came a knight out of Cornwall, his name was Fergus,
a fellow of the Round Table. And there he told the king
and Sir Launcelot good tidings of Sir Tristram, and there
were brought goodly letters, and how he left him in the
castle of Tintagil. Then came the damosel that brought
goodly letters unto King Arthur and unto Sir Launcelot,
and there she had passing good cheer of the king, and of
the Queen Guenever, and of Sir Launcelot. Then they
wrote goodly letters again. But Sir Launcelot bade ever
Sir Tristram beware of King Mark, for ever he called him
in his letters King Fox, as who saith, he fareth all with
wiles and treason. Whereof Sir Tristram in his heart
thanked Sir Launcelot. Then the damosel went unto La
Beale Isoud, and bare her letters from the king and from
Sir Launcelot, whereof she was in passing great joy. Fair
damosel, said La Beale Isoud, how fareth my Lord Arthur,
and the Queen Guenever, and the noble knight, Sir
Launcelot? She answered, and to make short tale: Much
the better that ye and Sir Tristram be in joy. God reward
them, said La Beale Isoud, for Sir Tristram suffereth great
pain for me, and I for him.

So the damosel departed, and brought letters to King
Mark. And when he had read them, and understood
them, he was wroth with Sir Tristram, for he deemed that
he had sent the damosel unto King Arthur. For Arthur
and Launcelot in a manner threated King Mark. And
as King Mark read these letters he deemed treason by Sir
Tristram. Damosel, said King Mark, will ye ride again
and bear letters from me unto King Arthur? Sir, she
said, I will be at your commandment to ride when ye will.
Ye say well, said the king; come again, said the king,
to-morn, and fetch your letters. Then she departed and told
them how she should ride again with letters unto Arthur.
Then we pray you, said La Beale Isoud and Sir Tristram,
that when ye have received your letters, that ye would
come by us that we may see the privity of your letters.
All that I may do, madam, ye wot well I must do for Sir
Tristram, for I have been long his own maiden.

So on the morn the damosel went to King Mark to
have had his letters and to depart. I am not avised, said
King Mark, as at this time to send my letters. Then
privily and secretly he sent letters unto King Arthur, and
unto Queen Guenever, and unto Sir Launcelot. So the
varlet departed, and found the king and the queen in
Wales, at Carlion. And as the king and the queen were
at mass the varlet came with the letters. And when mass
was done the king and the queen opened the letters privily
by themself. And the beginning of the king's letters
spake wonderly short unto King Arthur, and bade him
entermete with himself and with his wife, and of his
knights; for he was able enough to rule and keep his
wife.



CHAPTER XXVII

How Sir Launcelot was wroth with the letter that he received
from King Mark, and of Dinadan which made a lay
of King Mark.


WHEN King Arthur understood the letter, he mused of
many things, and thought on his sister's words, Queen
Morgan le Fay, that she had said betwixt Queen Guenever
and Sir Launcelot. And in this thought he studied a
great while. Then he bethought him again how his sister
was his own enemy, and that she hated the queen and Sir
Launcelot, and so he put all that out of his thought.
Then King Arthur read the letter again, and the latter
clause said that King Mark took Sir Tristram for his
mortal enemy; wherefore he put Arthur out of doubt he
would be revenged of Sir Tristram. Then was King
Arthur wroth with King Mark. And when Queen
Guenever read her letter and understood it, she was wroth
out of measure, for the letter spake shame by her and by
Sir Launcelot. And so privily she sent the letter unto Sir
Launcelot. And when he wist the intent of the letter he
was so wroth that he laid him down on his bed to sleep,
whereof Sir Dinadan was ware, for it was his manner to be
privy with all good knights. And as Sir Launcelot slept he
stole the letter out of his hand, and read it word by word.
And then he made great sorrow for anger. And so Sir
Launcelot awaked, and went to a window, and read the
letter again, the which made him angry.

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